Today’s Where on Earth is obviously some type of war memorial or monument. But what country is it in and what war does it refer to?
If you think you know the answer, or want to take a guess, please post your try in the comments section below. On Friday we will reveal the exact location and tell you a little bit more about this place. Wherever it is.
Feeling lucky punk? I can only presume the correspondence from Tony Wheeler’s legal team got lost in the mail. See if you’re a big wiinner on Friday.
I’m going to directly quote the words of Gadling reader Sean who responded to Wednesday’s Where on Earth contest with the following:
Well, the polluted sky, vehicles, and signs say it’s in China. The architecture of the left-side building means it’s somewhere north. It’s a big city, and fairly developed, but I know it’s not Harbin. I’ll say Shenyang?
Bingo! This is the most impressive example of deductive reasoning we’ve seen for this feature since Jim nailed the Channel Islands back in Week 15. Great job, Sean!
So yes, folks, it is indeed the northern China city of Shenyang. I spent a few days here on the way to North Korea a couple of weeks ago. There is a sizeable North Korean population here as well as a North Korean consult. It is also one of the few places which has direct flights to Pyongyang–although such flights are rarely full of North Koreans.Shenyang itself is nothing to write home about. Many descriptions I had read about the city before arriving actually incorporated the word “armpit” as an adjective. Sadly, I think they were spot on. Although, Shenyang has a rather impressive Forbidden City, there really isn’t too much else to enjoy other than an outdoor market and an impressive Mao statue. And, perhaps, some tasty restaurants.
I’m sure that someone out there will disagree with me and sing praises to this northern town, and I welcome their insight. Perhaps I just needed to spend more time there. Or, perhaps not.
Okay. I’m pretty certain that no one is going to get this week’s Where on Earth. But then again, I’ve been wrong before underestimating the geographic mastery of our well-traveled readers.
The building pictured is rather unique in shape and may look a bit familiar, but I think it’s still going to stump you. There are a few clues that might help you narrow down the country, but you’ll have to do better than that and take a stab at the city itself.
Think you know? Type your answer in the comments section below and come back on Friday for the answer.
Well done to Beverly Blass for identifying these kids as coming from the Kuna people who inhabit the San Blas Islands off the northern coast of Panama. This shot was taken on Achutupu Island, just a short boat ride from a great eco-friendly place called Dolphin Lodge. The fabric is a mola, one of the finely appliqued textiles which the Kuna are renowned for.