St. George’s Church, Czech Republic

If you are looking for a spooky destination to visit this Halloween, you might want to consider St. George's Church in Luková, a small village in the Czech Republic. This 14th-century church is filled with ghostly figures that will send shivers down your spine.

St. George's Church was built in 1352 and has witnessed many fires and wars over the centuries. But the final straw came in 1968, when part of the roof collapsed during a funeral service. The terrified congregation fled and never returned, believing that the church was cursed or haunted by evil spirits.

The church was left to decay and looted by thieves, who stole paintings, statues, clocks, and even the bell. The only thing that remained was a pile of rubble and dust.

But in 2012, a local artist named Jakub Hadrava decided to give new life to the abandoned church. He created 32 life-sized sculptures of ghosts, using plaster casts of his classmates wrapped in sheets. He placed them in the pews, at the altar, and at the doorways, creating a haunting scene that attracts visitors from all over the world.

Hadrava's installation is not only a way to raise funds for the restoration of the church, but also a tribute to the history of the area. Luková was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and had a large population of German-speaking people, who were expelled from Czechoslovakia after World War II. Hadrava's ghosts represent the lost souls of these people, who once lived and worshipped here.

Today, St. George's Church is open to the public, but you have to make an appointment in advance. You can also attend mass here once a month, where you can sit among the ghosts and feel their presence. Some say they are friendly and peaceful, others say they are eerie and unsettling. But one thing is certain: they will make you remember this place forever.

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Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia

If you are looking for a unique and thrilling diving experience, you might want to consider visiting the haunted Chuuk Lagoon in Micronesia. This tropical paradise is home to one of the largest and most eerie underwater graveyards in the world, where hundreds of sunken ships and planes from World War II lie in their watery tombs.

Chuuk Lagoon, also known as Truk Lagoon, was a strategic base for the Japanese Imperial Navy during the war. It housed a large fleet of warships, submarines, aircraft carriers, and planes, as well as thousands of soldiers and civilians. However, on February 17, 1944, the US Navy launched a surprise attack on Chuuk Lagoon, codenamed Operation Hailstone. The attack lasted for two days and resulted in the destruction of more than 50 ships, 250 planes, and 4,500 lives.

The sunken vessels and aircrafts remained largely undisturbed for decades, until the French explorer Jacques Cousteau filmed a documentary about them in 1969. Since then, Chuuk Lagoon has become a popular destination for divers who want to explore the ghostly wrecks and witness the remnants of history. Some of the wrecks are still intact and contain personal belongings, weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and even human remains. The lagoon is also teeming with marine life, such as corals, fish, sharks, turtles, and rays.

Diving in Chuuk Lagoon is not for the faint-hearted. The wrecks are scattered across a large area and vary in depth and condition. Some are easily accessible from the surface, while others require advanced skills and equipment. The wrecks can also be hazardous due to sharp edges, entanglement risks, oil leaks, and unexploded ordnance. Moreover, some divers report feeling a sense of dread or sadness when diving in Chuuk Lagoon, as if they are disturbing the spirits of the fallen.

If you are interested in visiting Chuuk Lagoon, you will need to fly to Chuuk International Airport and book a dive operator or liveaboard boat. There are several dive sites to choose from, each with its own history and attractions. Some of the most famous wrecks include:

- Fujikawa Maru: A cargo ship that was converted into an aircraft ferry. It was sunk by a torpedo and now lies at a depth of 15 to 35 meters. It contains several Zero fighter planes and parts in its cargo holds, as well as machine guns, gas masks, sake bottles, and coral-encrusted artifacts.

- Shinkoku Maru: A tanker that was hit by several bombs and now rests at a depth of 12 to 40 meters. It is one of the most colorful wrecks in Chuuk Lagoon, covered with soft corals and sponges. It also has a large engine room, a medical room with a human skull, and a bathtub with a resident turtle.

- San Francisco Maru: A passenger-cargo ship that was carrying munitions and supplies when it was sunk by a bomb. It lies at a depth of 45 to 65 meters and is considered one of the most challenging dives in Chuuk Lagoon. It holds three tanks, trucks, mines, shells, rifles, and torpedoes in its holds.

- Nippo Maru: A transport ship that was carrying tanks, trucks, artillery pieces, mines, and ammunition when it was bombed. It lies at a depth of 15 to 48 meters and is one of the most intact wrecks in Chuuk Lagoon. It has a bridge with a steering wheel and compass, a radio room with equipment, and a galley with dishes.

Chuuk Lagoon is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating and haunting dive sites in the world. It offers a rare opportunity to witness the relics of war and the effects of time and nature on them. If you are looking for an adventure that will challenge your skills and stir your emotions, you should definitely add Chuuk Lagoon to your bucket list.

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The gateway to Hell: Exploring the world's most fiery natural wonders

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to visit the gateway to hell? No, we're not talking about a mythical underworld, but rather some of the most spectacular and dangerous natural phenomena on Earth: burning gas craters, volcanic eruptions, and acidic pools.

In this blog post, we will take you on a journey to some of the places that have earned the nickname of the gateway to hell, and show you why they are both fascinating and frightening.

One of the most famous gateways to hell is the Darvaza gas crater in Turkmenistan, also known as the Door to Hell or Gates of Hell. This huge pit, measuring 70 meters wide and 20 meters deep, has been burning continuously since 1971, when a Soviet drilling operation accidentally hit a gas cavern and caused a collapse. To prevent the gas from spreading, the Soviets decided to set it on fire, hoping it would burn out in a few days. But it never did.

The Darvaza gas crater is a popular tourist attraction in Turkmenistan (Credit: Getty Images)

The Darvaza gas crater emits a bright orange glow that can be seen from miles away at night. It attracts thousands of tourists every year, who brave the scorching heat and the smell of sulfur to witness this surreal spectacle. Some even camp near the crater, despite the risk of explosions or landslides. The crater is also home to some hardy creatures, such as spiders and scorpions, that have adapted to the extreme conditions.

Another place that has been dubbed the gateway to hell is the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia, one of the hottest and lowest places on Earth. The average temperature here is 34°C (93°F), but it can reach up to 50°C (122°F) in summer. The depression lies below sea level and is part of the East African Rift System, where three tectonic plates are pulling apart.

The Danakil Depression is one of the most alien places on Earth (Credit: Alamy)

The Danakil Depression is a landscape of salt flats, geysers, hot springs, and volcanic activity. One of its most striking features is the Dallol hydrothermal field, where colorful pools of acidic water and mineral deposits create a psychedelic scenery. The pH level of some of these pools is below zero, meaning they are extremely acidic and corrosive. Yet surprisingly, scientists have found evidence of microbial life in these harsh environments, suggesting that life can thrive in places we least expect.

A third example of a gateway to hell is Mount Etna on Sicily, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Mount Etna has been erupting for thousands of years, creating lava flows, ash clouds, and pyroclastic surges that have shaped the landscape and affected the lives of millions of people. The volcano has also been associated with myths and legends since ancient times, when it was believed to be an entryway to hell or the home of fire gods.

Mount Etna on Sicily is one of the most active volcanoes in the world (Credit: Alamy)

Mount Etna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular destination for tourists and scientists alike. Visitors can hike on its slopes, explore its craters, or watch its eruptions from a safe distance. The volcano also provides fertile soil for agriculture and geothermal energy for electricity. However, Mount Etna also poses a constant threat to nearby towns and villages, as well as air traffic and wildlife. The volcano can erupt without warning and produce lava flows that can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h (37 mph).

These are just some of the places that have been called the gateway to hell by locals or travelers. They are awe-inspiring examples of nature's power and beauty, but also reminders of its dangers and unpredictability. 

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The Death Number 999-9999

Have you ever heard of the death number 999-9999? It's a phone number that allegedly grants your wishes, but at a terrible cost: your life. This urban legend has been circulating in Thailand for years, and it was even the basis of a horror movie in 2002. But where did this legend come from, and is there any truth behind it?

The origin of the death number 999-9999 is unclear, but some sources suggest that it may have been inspired by a real phone number that was used by a radio station in Bangkok in the late 1990s. The station, FM 99.5, had a popular segment called "The Wish Line", where listeners could call in and make a wish on air. The phone number for this segment was 999-9999, and it was often busy due to the high demand. Some people believed that the wishes made on this line actually came true, while others speculated that there was something sinister behind it.

The legend gained more popularity after the release of the movie 999-9999, directed by Peter Manus and starring Hugo Chakrabongse and Sririta Jensen. The movie follows a group of students who discover the death number from a mysterious new transfer student named Rainbow. She tells them that if they call the number after midnight and make a wish, their wish will be granted, but they will also die soon after. The students are skeptical at first, but they decide to try it out for fun. However, they soon realize that Rainbow is not who she seems, and that they have made a fatal mistake.

The movie was a hit in Thailand, and it also attracted some international attention. It was screened at several film festivals around the world, and it received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. Some praised its originality and suspense, while others criticized its plot holes and clichés. The movie also sparked some controversy, as some people claimed that it encouraged suicide and violence among young people.

The death number 999-9999 is still a popular topic of discussion among horror fans and urban legend enthusiasts. Some people have tried to call the number themselves, either out of curiosity or as a prank. However, most of them have reported that the number is either disconnected or not in service. Others have claimed that they have reached someone on the other end, but they have hung up before making a wish. There are also some stories of people who have allegedly made a wish on the death number and died shortly after, but these stories are mostly unverified and anecdotal.

So, is there any truth behind the death number 999-9999? The answer is probably no. It is most likely a fictional story that was created for entertainment purposes, and that has been embellished over time by word of mouth and media exposure. There is no evidence that such a phone number exists or has any supernatural power. However, the legend does reflect some common themes and fears that many people have, such as the desire to fulfill one's dreams, the consequences of one's actions, and the inevitability of death.

The death number 999-9999 is a fascinating example of how urban legends can evolve and spread across cultures and media platforms. It is also a reminder that sometimes, be careful what you wish for - you might just get it.

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