10 Most Unique Churches In The World

1) Harajuku: Japanese Futuristic Church


This futuristic church is located in Tokyo and it was first unveiled by the design firm of Ciel Rouge Creation in 2005. The ceiling is specially made to reverberate natural sound for 2 seconds to provide a unique listening experience for worshipers and tourists.

2) Saint Basil’s Cathedral: The Red Square ’s Colorful Church


The St. Basil’s Cathedral is located on the Red Square in Moscow, Russia . A Russian Orthodox church, the Cathedral sports a series of colorful bulbous domes that taper to a point, aptly named onion domes, that are part of Moscow ’s Kremlin skyline.

The cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the capture of the Khanate of Kazan. In 1588 Tsar Fedor Ivanovich had a chapel added on the eastern side above the grave of Basil Fool for Christ, a Russian Orthodox saint after whom the cathedral was popularly named.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lst1984/1403497370/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Basil%27s_Cathedral

3) Hallgrìmskirkja: Iceland ’s Most Amazing Church


The Hallgrìmskirkja (literally, the church of Hallgrìmur ) is a Lutheran parish church located in Reykjavìk , Iceland . At 74.5 meters (244 ft), it is the fourth tallest architectural structure in Iceland. The church is named after the Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrìmur Pétursson (1614 to 1674), author of the Passion Hymns. State architect design of the church was commissioned in 1937; it took 38 years old to build it.

http://www.tripwolf.com/en/guide/show/14763/Iceland/Reykjavik/Hallgrimskirkja-Church

4) Temppeliaukio Kirkko: The Rock Church


The Temppeliaukio Kirkko (Rock Church) is a thrilling work of modern architecture in Helsinki. Completed in 1952, it is built entirely underground and has a ceiling made of copper wire. It was designed by architect brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and completed in 1969. They chose a rocky outcrop rising about 40 feet above street level, and blasted out the walls from the inside. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Helsinki and frequently full of visitors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temppeliaukio_church



5) Cathedral of Brasi¬lia: The Modern Church of architect Oscar Niemeyer


The Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida in the capital of Brazil is an expression of the architect Oscar Niemeyer. This concrete-framed hyperboloid structure, seems with its glass roof to be reaching up, open, to heaven. On 31 May 1970, the Cathedral’s structure was finished, and only the 70 m diameter of the circular area were visible. Niemeyer’s project of Cathedral of Brasìlia is based in the hyperboloid of revolution which sections are asymmetric. The hyperboloid structure itself is a result of 16 identical assembled concrete columns. These columns, having hyperbolic section and weighing 90 t, represent two hands moving upwards to heaven. The Cathedral was dedicated on 31 May 1970.

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/brasilia/A31060.html

6) Borgund Church: Best Preserved Stave Church


The Borgund Stave Church is the best preserved of Norway’s 28 extant stave churches. This wooden church, probably built in the end of the 12th century, has not changed structure or had a major reconstruction since the date it was built. The church is also featured as a Wonder for the Viking civilization in the video game Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borgund_stave_church

7) Las Lajas Cathedral: A Gothic Church Worthy of a Fairy Tale


The Las Lajas Cathedral is located in southern Colombia and built in 1916 inside the canyon of the Guaitara River . According to the legend, this was the place where an Indian woman named Marìa Mueses de Quiñones was carrying her deaf-mute daughter Rosa on her back near Las Lajas (”The Rocks”). Weary of the climb, the Marìa sat down on a rock when Rosa spoke (for the first time) about an apparition in a cave.

Later on, a mysterious painting of the Virgin Mary carrying a baby was discovered on the wall of the cave. Supposedly, studies of the painting showed no proof of paint or pigments on the rock - instead, when a core sample was taken, it was found that the colors were impregnated in the rock itself to a depth of several feet. Whether true or not, the legend spurred the building of this amazing church.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Lajas_Cathedral

8. St. Joseph Church: Known for its Thirteen Gold Domed Roof


The St. Joseph The Betrothed is an Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in Chicago . Built in 1956, it is most known for its ultra-modern thirteen gold domed roof symbolizing the twelve Apostles and Jesus Christ as the largest center dome. The interior of the church is completely adorned with Byzantine style icons (frescoes). Unfortunately the iconographer was deported back to his homeland before he was able to write the names of all the saints as prescribed by iconographic traditions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Joseph_the_Betrothed_Ukrainian_Greek_Catholic_Church


9) Ruzica Church: Where Chandeliers are made of Bullet Shells


Located over the Kalemegdan Fortress in Belgrade, Serbia, the Ruzica Church is a small chapel decorated with… with trench art! Its chandeliers are entirely made of spent bullet casing, swords, and cannon parts.

The space the church now occupies was used by the Turks as gunpowder storage for over 100 years and it had to be largely rebuilt in 1920 after WWI. Though damaged by bombings there was an upshot to the terrible carnage of The Great War. While fighting alongside England and the US , Serbian soldiers on the Thessaloniki front took the time to put together these amazing chandeliers. It is one of the world’s finest examples of trench art.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiousexpeditions/1137416084/


10) Chapel of St-Gildas: Built into the base of a bare rocky cliff


The Chapel of St-Gildas sits upon the bank of the Canal du Blavet in Brittany, France. Built like a stone barn into the base of a bare rocky cliff, this was once a holy place of the Druids. Gildas appears to have traveled widely throughout the Celtic world of Cornwall, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. He arrived in Brittany in about AD 540 and is said to have preached Christianity to the people from a rough pulpit, now contained within the chapel.

http://www.bretongites.com/brittany_chapelle_st_guildas.asp

Tips of Borneo

Tips of Borneo, the Sabahan heavenly headland was situated in the northern-most tip of BORNEO, the third largest island in the world, after Greenland and New Guinea. It is located in the Kudat Peninsula, about three and a half hours (or 215 kilometres) drive from Kota Kinabalu City, and about 30 minutes from a the Town of Kudat.

This meeting point of Sulu Sea and South China Sea, is called Tanjung Sampang Magazo in the Rungus dialect, meaning a junction where a battle took place.

Tanjung = Foreland; Headland
Sampang = Junction
Magazo = Engage in Battle

For them, this is the historical place where the local warriors made a stand against invading pirates who always attack their village during 18th and 19th centuries.
According to historians, Ferdinand Magellan (Spanish Maritime Explorer), had stopped there for 42 days to repairs his ships on his way voyaging the globe.


This Sabahan wonderland was officially opened to public on July 2004 by Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Musa Aman, turn it into one of the most must-see tourism spot on Sabah. Sabah goverment itself has spent a million just to improve the infrastructure for the visitor convenient.

As you set your foot on the ground, as far as you can see is the magnificent view of God handiwork surrounding you. There was a peace and warmness in there, and it's atmosphere is just so wonderful. I can assure you something, it's much more than what you can imagine. It's a best holiday site ever.

While enjoying the panorama, just make a easy stroll to the Globe, the flagpole and the rocky outcrop which is form the 'Tip of Borneo'. And feel the sensation.. You will have no regret of being there. So, drop by sometime.

Don't worry, it'll cost you nothing for going around. No admission, there is a cafe, a souvenir shop and washrooms too.

Kudat district has some of Sabah's finest beaches. In Kudat,Kampung Bavanggazo is known for its Rungus longhouses.Kampung Sumangkap, on the other hand, is a gong-making village while honeybees are synonymous with Kampung Gombizau.

Kudat is also a seafood paradise as there are plenty of fishing villages there. You can buy fresh crabs, prawns, fish and shellfish here andhad have it cooked at beachfront stalls or restaurants.

Kudat is also the home of the Rungus, where many still live in longhouses and observe age-old customs and traditions.
For those who want to stay over night, there was a Rungus Longhouse that provide a homestay package which is surely will give you a new excitement. No doubt about it.

Kampung Bavanggazo (Rungus Longhouse)
Kudat

In the old day, the Rungus people live in longhouses built on stilts, but the shift to modern-day living has meant that the sight of such longhouses are getting more rare. In Kg. Bavanggazo nearTinangol in the Kudat district, you can still experience this fascinating traditional lifestyle in a longhouse fully constructed by entirely traditional materials excepts for the modern comforts like toilets and showers.

It's about 41 kilometres south of Kudat Town and about 98 kilometres Kota Kinabalu City, you can get a taste of real Rungus living through their food, daily rituals and music on a day trip or overnight stay.

Contact for Kg. Bavanggazo Rungus Longhouse for further information
• Mr. Angkung
Tel : +60 88 614088, 621971

Maranjak Longhouse Homestay
Kudat

The Maranjak Longhouse Homestay is also located near Tinangol, not very far from the main road leading to Kudat. Same as Kg. Bavanggazo Rungus Longhouse, Maranjak Longhouse Homestay is also made out of traditional materials such as split bamboos for walls and nipah palm leaves for roofing. The longhouse is fully furnished in traditional style with traditionally-styled dining table, rooms, lightings, as well as in terms of the food that are being served. It’s a perfect chances of getting real experience of a real life of the local tribe especially Rungus clan in a traditional way. Although it's a bit rare of being practise among themself today though, it's pretty interesting to test it out. Wanna try? Just come, anyway you are always welcome..

The Maranjak Homestay Longhouse can accommodate an estimated of 30 to 40 people at one time. Besides the truly traditional atmosphere, visitors will also have a wide set of things to do such as fishing in the river, jungle trekking, sightseeing in the herbal botanical garden, crab catching, and monkey watching.

Visitors will also be able to get a taste of seven different local wines which are served at night. Besides the wining experience, visitors will also be entertained with traditional Rungus dance and serenaded by performances of traditional musical instruments after dinner.

Here, visitors too will be able to take a close look at how beaded accessories are made and how intricate Rungus tapestries are woven—all done by women dressed in beautifully ornamental traditional Rungus costumes.

Contact for Maranjak Longhouse Homestay for further information
For bookings and inquiries, please contact the Borneo Rungus Longhouse Resort & Tours at
• telephone/fax number ( 088-622524 )