Contest #39 Answer

Lots of people got this one right. The answer is of course the Masjid al-Haram, the Sacred Mosque, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is the focal point of Islam and the direction to which all Muslims pray five times each day. The large black cube in the middle is the Kaaba. Inside the Kaaba is the Black Stone.

I have often wondered what place on Earth has been view in person by the most living human beings. The Eiffel Tower? Time Square? St. Peter’s Basilica? A good candidate would have to be the Masjid al-Haram. About 4m people per year make the Haji to Mecca to visit.

Most people can’t visit however, as Mecca is closed to all non-Muslims.

Looking at the satellite photo, I’m fascinated by the buildings across the street. Are they offices or hotel? How much does it cost to have a view of the Mosque? Who owns the property there? Who owns the Mosque? (the Saudi Royal Family I assume)

A note, that the leaderboard will reset after contest #40, so everyone new will have a shot at climbing to the top. I’m going to let the winner pick the locations for the next set of contests.

Getting this one right:

  • Brian
  • Ewen
  • Antha
  • Enrique S
  • Wolfpackman92
  • Matt S
  • Charlie My Boy
  • Andy McConnell
  • Dr. Ben Bayer
  • Chad G.
  • Jordi H
  • Jasen
  • PK
  • ACG
  • Bas
  • Nathan D
  • Karel
  • Devin
  • Skip from Austin

Mecca
Image by the Madesen Collection, 1910


Image by Ammar abd Rabbo

Contest #38 Answer

Lots of people got this one. I wonder if people know buildings better than geographic features? The answer is the Palace of Versailles outside Paris, France. If you haven’t seen it, check out the movie Marie Antoinette by Sophia Coppola. It was shot on location in Versailles and gives a great idea of how ostentatious life at the French court was.

Lots of new people took part on this one. Remember to also leave a last initial or a nickname which is somewhat unique. Also, the leaderboard resets every 10 contests.

Getting this one right:

  • Adam
  • Nils
  • Matt
  • Chloe Chandless
  • Chris
  • Jack Vanders
  • Devin
  • Enrique
  • Wayne
  • Linda Holland
  • Skip from Austin
  • David S
  • Nathan D
  • Wendy Ng
  • Ben Bayer
  • Chris Christensen
  • ACG
  • Karel


Image by Panoramas


Image by Marcia Salviato

Contest #37 Answer

As I will occasionally do from time to time, this contest was taken from one of my recent travels. A few Over the last several weeks I drove from Darwin to Perth, Australia. On the way I visited Purnululu National Park, a World Heritage Site in Western Australia. There, I visited the Bee Hive Domes in the Bugle Bungle Mountain Range. The Bee Hive domes are a unique erosional formation which have developed on the south side of the Bungle Bungles. Other parts of the range feature stunning gorges and chasms.

I hope to speed up the posts now that I’m back in civilization. On another note, I’ve launched a new video podcast. You can check out episode 1 here.

  • Karel
  • Enrique S
  • Roland
  • ACG
  • Skip from Austin

Bee Hive Domes, Purnululu, Bungle Bungles

Bee Hive Domes, Purnululu National Park, Bungles Bungles, Rive

Contest #36 Answer

I thought more people would get this one. The answer is one of the new seven wonders of the world, Petra Jordan. Getting it right was:

  • Enrique S
  • Skip
  • Karel
  • ACG
  • David S

Petra, Jordan (by B r e w)

Small Petra (by Dani3D)