The world like you've never seen it before: Stunning aerial images snapped by a British pilot reveal tall peaks, winding rivers and glittering skylines under infrared light

These incredible photos provide a rare look at stunning landscapes or famous landmarks under infrared light 

Photos capture everything from Dubai's man-made Palm Islands to the rugged coast of Labrador, in Canada 

Aerial images were taken by British pilot Jon Bowles, 55, from Bolton, during his travels around the world 

By Chris Kitching for MailOnline

Published: 05:37 EST, 5 June 2016 | Updated: 10:00 EST, 5 June 2016

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The world is best viewed from above, and these incredible aerial snaps of stunning landscapes or famous landmarks reveal what it looks like under infrared light.

The photos of everything from Dubai's man-made Palm islands to the Canada's frozen Labrador coast were taken by British pilot Captain Jon Bowles from his cockpit at altitudes of up to 40,000ft.

Some of his best snaps show the peaks of K2 - the second-highest mountain in the world - and Kilimanjaro, the sacred waters of the Ganges Delta, and the salt flats of Pakistan.

Bowles, 55, from Bolton, used a modified Sony Nex 5N camera to capture these awe-inspiring views in a completely different spectrum.

His amazing photography shows the world in a light impossible for the human eye to detect.

Scroll down for video 

British pilot Jon Bowles snapped this image of a winding river and land that was once under Lake Urmia, in northwestern Iran

Dubai's man-made Palm Jumeirah islands and its glittering skyline, which includes the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world

Bowles photographed K2, the world's second-tallest mountain, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums, in the Himalayas and Karakoram ranges

The Bangladesh side of the Ganges Delta, which is the world's largest delta. The Ganges is the most sacred river to Hindus

An open cast mine has a reddish glow in this photo, which was taken under infrared light from the cockpit of an airliner

One of the perks of the job for piltos is seeing some of the most amazing sights in the world, including Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro

Bowles infrared photo of the Padma River, in Bangladesh, looks more like a work of art than a photograph taken from as high as 40,000ft

Kunyang Chhish mountain is located in the Karakoram range of Pakistan, near the country's northeastern border with China

Canada's frozen Labrador coast, on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the mainland portion of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador

Bowles snapped this remarkable photgraph of a hydrothermal vent while flying over the 3,700-mile Great Rift Valley in Africa

The British pilot's amazing photography shows the world in a light impossible for the human eye to detect (pictured: the Great Rift Valley)

Many of Bowles' best photos show rugged mountain ranges in Asia or Africa. This snap shows the Kunlun Mountains in China

Iran's Lake Urmia, near the border with Turkey, was once the largest lake in the Middle East but has shrunk due to the damming of rivers

These rolling fields and small towns in Bulgaria look they're part of a puzzle in this snap taken from the cockpit by Bowles

Bowles used a modified Sony Nex 5N camera to capture these views in a completely different spectrum (pictured: rugged hills in Iran)

Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey. The saline soda lake is fed by water from small streams that run from the surrounding mountains

Bowles snapped this photo while flying over Dubai. It shows Dubai Marina, the desert city's artificial canal district

An aerial view of an industrial zone shows different shades of colour that are invisible to the naked eye

The Red River, pictured in northern Vietnam, runs from the province of Yunnan in southwest China to the Gulf of Tonkin

Known for its wine, the city of Stellenbosch, near Cape Town in South Africa, was a European settlement

Source: The world like you've never seen it before: Stunning aerial images snapped by a British pilot reveal tall peaks, winding rivers and glittering skylines under infrared light

Fairmount Avenue Arts Crawl Brings Paintings, Sculptures And Photography To City Sidewalks

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Art Museum area had a very artsy feel to it on Saturday afternoon.

Unexpectedly nice weather made it a perfect day for the Fairmount Avenue Arts Crawl.

Kevin Moran with the Fairmount CDC says the art consisted of paintings, sculptures and photography:

"We transform roughly 25 store fronts in the Art Museum area of Philadelphia into popup art galleries for the day. We program the sidewalk with kids activities, there's vendors on the street, we have live music."

Russell Brown was showcasing his cityscapes of Philly.

"I try to put Philadelphia in its best light," he tells KYW Newsradio. "I do long exposures and infrared photography to really show Philadelphia for the beautiful place that it is."

Russell Brown showcasing some of his art work. Photo credit: KYW's Andrew Kramer

One of the more unique features was the Haiku Mile, a collection of neighborhood haikus placed along the sidewalk throughout the festival. And in front of Neil Patterson's store….

"I'm doing pottery demonstrations for the public to come and watch," he explains. "Get a little education on what we do here and just get to see something exciting to look at."

Source: Fairmount Avenue Arts Crawl Brings Paintings, Sculptures And Photography To City Sidewalks

The world like you've never seen it before: Stunning aerial images snapped by a British pilot reveal tall peaks, winding rivers and glittering skylines under infrared light

These incredible photos provide a rare look at stunning landscapes or famous landmarks under infrared light 

Photos capture everything from Dubai's man-made Palm Islands to the rugged coast of Labrador, in Canada 

Aerial images were taken by British pilot Jon Bowles, 55, from Bolton, during his travels around the world 

By Chris Kitching for MailOnline

Published: 05:37 EST, 5 June 2016 | Updated: 10:00 EST, 5 June 2016

8

View comments

The world is best viewed from above, and these incredible aerial snaps of stunning landscapes or famous landmarks reveal what it looks like under infrared light.

The photos of everything from Dubai's man-made Palm islands to the Canada's frozen Labrador coast were taken by British pilot Captain Jon Bowles from his cockpit at altitudes of up to 40,000ft.

Some of his best snaps show the peaks of K2 - the second-highest mountain in the world - and Kilimanjaro, the sacred waters of the Ganges Delta, and the salt flats of Pakistan.

Bowles, 55, from Bolton, used a modified Sony Nex 5N camera to capture these awe-inspiring views in a completely different spectrum.

His amazing photography shows the world in a light impossible for the human eye to detect.

Scroll down for video 

British pilot Jon Bowles snapped this image of a winding river and land that was once under Lake Urmia, in northwestern Iran

Dubai's man-made Palm Jumeirah islands and its glittering skyline, which includes the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world

Bowles photographed K2, the world's second-tallest mountain, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums, in the Himalayas and Karakoram ranges

The Bangladesh side of the Ganges Delta, which is the world's largest delta. The Ganges is the most sacred river to Hindus

An open cast mine has a reddish glow in this photo, which was taken under infrared light from the cockpit of an airliner

One of the perks of the job for piltos is seeing some of the most amazing sights in the world, including Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro

Bowles infrared photo of the Padma River, in Bangladesh, looks more like a work of art than a photograph taken from as high as 40,000ft

Kunyang Chhish mountain is located in the Karakoram range of Pakistan, near the country's northeastern border with China

Canada's frozen Labrador coast, on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the mainland portion of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador

Bowles snapped this remarkable photgraph of a hydrothermal vent while flying over the 3,700-mile Great Rift Valley in Africa

The British pilot's amazing photography shows the world in a light impossible for the human eye to detect (pictured: the Great Rift Valley)

Many of Bowles' best photos show rugged mountain ranges in Asia or Africa. This snap shows the Kunlun Mountains in China

Iran's Lake Urmia, near the border with Turkey, was once the largest lake in the Middle East but has shrunk due to the damming of rivers

These rolling fields and small towns in Bulgaria look they're part of a puzzle in this snap taken from the cockpit by Bowles

Bowles used a modified Sony Nex 5N camera to capture these views in a completely different spectrum (pictured: rugged hills in Iran)

Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey. The saline soda lake is fed by water from small streams that run from the surrounding mountains

Bowles snapped this photo while flying over Dubai. It shows Dubai Marina, the desert city's artificial canal district

An aerial view of an industrial zone shows different shades of colour that are invisible to the naked eye

The Red River, pictured in northern Vietnam, runs from the province of Yunnan in southwest China to the Gulf of Tonkin

Known for its wine, the city of Stellenbosch, near Cape Town in South Africa, was a European settlement

Source: The world like you've never seen it before: Stunning aerial images snapped by a British pilot reveal tall peaks, winding rivers and glittering skylines under infrared light

Fairmount Avenue Arts Crawl Brings Paintings, Sculptures And Photography To City Sidewalks

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — One Philadelphia neighborhood had a very artsy feel to it on Saturday afternoon.

Unexpectedly nice weather made for a perfect day for the Fairmount Avenue Arts Crawl.

Kevin Moran with the Fairmount CDC says the art consisted of paintings, sculptures and photography.

"We transform roughly 25 store fronts in the Art Museum area of Philadelphia into popup art galleries for the day," Moran said. "We program the sidewalk with kids activities, there's vendors on the street, we have live music, pottery demonstrations."

Russell Brown was showcasing his cityscapes of Philly.

Russell Brown showcasing some of his art work. Photo credit: KYW's Andrew Kramer

"I try to put Philadelphia in its best light," he said. "I do long exposures and infrared photography to really show Philadelphia for the beautiful place that it is."

One of the more unique features was the Haiku Mile, a collection of neighborhood haikus placed along the sidewalk throughout the festival.

There were vendors outside, paintings and sculptures inside, and in front of Neil Patterson's store.

"I'm doing pottery demonstrations for the public to come and watch," Patterson said. "Get a little education on what we do here and just get to see something exciting to look at."

Source: Fairmount Avenue Arts Crawl Brings Paintings, Sculptures And Photography To City Sidewalks

Researchers Find Intricate Tattoos on a 3,000-Year-Old Egyptian Woman

Researchers at Stanford University have found intricately designed body art on the well-preserved remains of a 3,000-year-old woman's body from Ancient Egypt.

The human remains were from Deir el-Medina, the village of artisans who built the tombs of the pharaoh during Egypt's New Kingdom (1550 to 1070 B.C.E.), Anne Austin, an archaeologist at Stanford University, told ABC News.

"Though the site was excavated nearly a century ago, the human remains were never studied. In 2014, I identified the mummy of a woman covered in tattoos; however, it wasn't until this year when we did infrared photography and we were able to identify all of the tattoos on her shoulders, neck, arms, and back."

Stanford University archaeologist Anne Austin found intricately designed tattoos on the body of a 3,000-year-old woman from Ancient Egypt.

The woman, who Austin said lived in the Ramesside period, more than 3,000 years ago, is covered with tattoos that Austin said have religious meanings.

"The tattoos include important religious imagery like the cows of the goddess Hathor and Wadjet eyes -- a divine protective eye in ancient Egypt. The placement in the religious iconography of the tattoos suggests that they had a deeply symbolic religious purpose."

This woman is one of three tattooed mummies buried in Egyptian cemeteries, Austin said, although it is likely that more have yet to be discovered. The tattoo artistry for this one is unique, however, as it is the first to have Egyptian figures while the others had geometric tattoos.

Austin told ABC News it is not know what tools or ink Ancient Egyptian tattoo artists used.

The tattoos may also indicate the advanced roles of women in Ancient Egypt. "This mummy not only documents an Egyptian tradition of tattooing that we have not yet seen before, but the religious symbolism of the tattoos reveal important ways that women could participate in religion in this time period in ancient Egypt."

Source: Researchers Find Intricate Tattoos on a 3,000-Year-Old Egyptian Woman

Around Salem

Get Listed

To publish notice of your event in a timely manner, items should be received 14 days before the Friday publication date in which your item is to be printed. To get listed, email salem@wickedlocal.com; mail Salem Gazette, 75 Sylvan St., Suite C-105, Danvers MA 01923; fax 978-739-8501. For information, call 978-739-1377.

Friday, June 3

Pride Flag Raising Ceremony: 10:30 a.m., Riley Plaza, downtown Salem. Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll, along with local officials and community groups, will kick off LGBT Pride Month in Salem with a Pride Flag Raising Ceremony at Riley Plaza. Salem resident and LGBTQ activist Gary "Gigi" Gill donated pride flags to the city to be flown above Riley Plaza and Salem City Hall. The flag raising ceremony, open to the public, will consist of a brief speaking program, including an interfaith prayer and song, followed by the raising of the pride flags at Riley Plaza.

Monday, June 6

Growing Strong: 6 p.m., Children's Friend and Family Services, 110 Boston St., Salem. Children's Friend and Family Services created Growing Strong, a group journey for women exploring mindfulness and relaxation. Growing Strong will be held over the course of 12 Monday evenings at the Children's Friend Salem site beginning June 6. The group will provide an opportunity to collaborate on gardening activities and focus on the tranquil sensory experience of tending to a garden. Group leaders will incorporate quiet journal time and lead a relaxation activity at the start and ending of each session. Other activities might include pressing flowers or herbs, planting a tea garden and creating artistic signs for the garden. For information: 978-219-1516; cbrown@childrensfriend.net.

Thursday, June 9

Punch Lines for Felines: 7:30 p.m., Finz Seafood and Grill, 76 Wharf St., Salem. Punch Lines for Felines, a comedy fundraiser for PALS Animal Life Savers, will feature local comedians Tony V., Steve Calechman and Dave Rattigan. Proceeds benefit Salem's only all-volunteer feline rescue group. Doors open at 6 p.m.; the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Raffles, a cash bar and a limited menu will be included. Tickets cost $25 each. For tickets: 781-535-8635; palscats.org.

Saturday, June 11

Mark Archer campaign kickoff: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Salem Willows, 167 Fort Ave. Mark Archer will kick off his campaign for Essex County sheriff. Children's activities and refreshments will be included. For information: markarcherforsheriff.com.

Sunday, June 17

Friends of the Salem Council on Aging seventh annual spaghetti dinner-dance: 5:30-9:30 p.m., Loyal Order of Moose Lodge, 50 Grove St., Salem. The Friends of the Salem Council on Aging announced that their group will collaborate with the Salem Moose Lodge to hold their seventh annual spaghetti dinner-dance. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. The Friends are volunteers who raise and disburse funds to support a broad variety of activities for Salem's senior citizens. After the dinner, dancing will be provided by Dawn and Phil Boltas, a Salem DJ. Additionally, door prizes and a 50/50 raffle will be available. Proceeds benefit the Friends' efforts to enhance services and programs offered through Salem's Council on Aging. Tickets cost $7 and may be purchased at the Salem Council on Aging offices, 5 Broad St., between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. For questions: 978-744-0924; 978-578-0185.

Page 2 of 5 - Saturday, June 18

Friends of Greenlawn tour and fundraiser: 10 a.m., Greenlawn Cemetery, 57 Orne St., Salem. Friends of Greenlawn will hold a tour and fundraiser. The tour, "Salem's Good Citizens," will start at 10 a.m. at Greenlawn's Dickson Memorial Chapel, which will be open for viewing from 9:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day. The tour will feature the gravestones and lives of some of Salem's most noteworthy good citizens, including several prominent military men, a resident well known for his exhibitions of sleight of hand and tight rope walking, and a mother and daughter from one of the city's most historic families, the Narbonnes. In addition, recent findings from genealogical research on the Dickson family will be revealed. The tour is free, however the Friends will be selling T-shirts, hats and cards to raise funds to support preservation efforts for the Dickson Chapel. Donations will be accepted. Silent auctions for a painting from artist Debra Freeman Highberger's Greenlawn series and an infrared photo of the Dickson Chapel by Jim Bostick will be included. For information: friendsofgreenlawn@gmail.com. Rain date is June 19.

Sunday, June 26

2016 north Shore Cancer walk: 7:30 a.m., Salem Willows Park, 167 Fort Ave. The annual 10K North Shore Cancer Walk is now open for registration at northshorecancerwalk.org. Registration on the day of the event will begin at 7:30 a.m.; welcome and warm up will begin at 8 a.m.; and the walk will launch at 8:30 a.m. The walk route is a journey of shared purpose and commitment. It winds through historic Salem, featuring an array of entertainers that lend a festive air to this community event. As a walker, volunteer or donor, participants are part of an inspirational day in the fight against cancer. Since its inception in 1991, the North Shore Cancer walk/run has raised more than $21 million and has attracted over 5,000 participants each year. Proceeds from the walk benefit oncology services at North Shore Medical Center and the Massachusetts General/North Shore Cancer Center. In the past, contributions have supported renovations, clinical trials, wellness services such as massage and a cupuncture to help alleviate pain and nausea, as well as supportive care programs for patients and their families. For information and registration: northshorecancerwalk.org.

Essex Heritage trivia night: 6-9 p.m., Opus Underground, 87 Washington St., Salem. Join Essex Heritage for fun, prizes and facts about the Essex National Heritage Area. Trivia is free. Treats will be provided by Opus, and a cash bar will be included. Prizes include Around the World cards provided by the Serenttee Group and Bakers Island Light Station swag. Registration is requested, but not required. To RSVP: EssexHeritage.org/trivia-night-opus.

Page 3 of 5 - Monday, June 27

Salem Sons of Italy ice cream social: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Salem Recreation and Senior Center, 5 Broad St. Treadwell's Ice Cream will scoop the sundaes, with toppings. Local historian Jim McAllister will present his lecture, "Broad Street and Roast Meat Hill Over the Centuries," tracing the evolution of the neighborhood and spotlighting important buildings, residents and events. Seating is limited. To register: 978-744-7609; jcsrks@verizon.net.

Friday, July 29

Salem High Class of 1966 50th reunion: July 29-31, Hawthorne Hotel, 18 Washington Square W., Salem. The Salem High School Class of 1966 will celebrate their 50th reunion the weekend of July 29-31 at the Hawthorne Hotel. A welcome reception will be held the evening of July 29, and a dinner buffet with a DJ will be held on July 30. A brunch will take place the morning of July 31 to close out the reunion. For information: shsclass1966@yahoo.com

Ongoing

YouthBuild North Shore spring enrollment: Youthbuild North Shore is recruiting young adults between the ages of 16-24 for their spring program. YouthBuild aims to empower young adults with the competency and desire to transform their lives and improve their communities through education, employment and leadership development. Those enrolled will have the opportunity to work toward a High School Equivalency Diploma (HiSET, formerly known as GED) and receive training in the construction trade. This hands-on construction component provides certified pre-apprentice certification and 10-hour Occupational Safety and Health Administration certification. To learn more about YouthBuild North Shore, stop by one of their upcoming recruitment events. Open houses are held at 1 p.m. Wednesdays at the office, 98 Lafayette St., Salem, and walk-ins are welcome from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Applications are available at the office, and interest forms are available at bit.ly/1SZQSX5.

"Ghost Stories of New England": 7:15 p.m. Tuesdays, SATV Studios, 285 Derby St., Salem. Heritage Films presents "Ghost Stories of New England," a presentation with film and stories about local area ghostly happenings, every Tuesday. Other times are available. Space is limited; reservations are required. To RSVP: 978-777-2711. This program is for general audiences.

LifeBridge Thrift Shop accepting donations: Any who have furniture or quality items they no longer need are encouraged to donate their items to LifeBridge Thrift Shop, 47 Canal St., Salem. The store is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All profits go toward the effort to end homelessness. Furniture must be in good condition. For information: 978-745-2459.

Spring yoga series: 3 p.m. Sundays, Peabody Essex Museum, 161 Essex St., Salem. The Peabody Essex Museum teamed up with three area studios — Yoga Sakti and Green Tea Yoga in Salem and Yoga Loft, of Marblehead — to launch a spring yoga series inside an award-winning art installation. Join local instructors on Sunday afternoons for an ongoing series of gentle yoga classes inside Anila Quayyum Agha's "Intersections," in which a laser-cut steel lantern conjures the design of the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, a historic site of cross-cultural intersection where Islamic and Western cultures thrived in coexistence a thousand years ago. Participants should bring a yoga mat. For registration: pem.org/calendar. Reservations are required by the Friday before each Sunday class.

Page 4 of 5 - Salem Public Schools lottery: Salem residents with children between the ages of 3 and 4 may participate in the fall 2016 Preschool Lottery for a chance to be placed in the Salem Early Childhood Center preschool program. Students must be 3 years old before Sept. 1, 2016, in order to enter the lottery. Financial assistance may be available for those with proven need. The lottery process is open to all. Those who have not completed the city census but are interested in a preschool placement may call 978-740-1181.

Meals on Wheels drivers needed to help the Salem Council on Aging deliver every day in Salem. A route takes about an hour and drivers receive a daily stipend of a little more than $18 per day. For information or to volunteer, call Nutrition Coordinator Sophia Hines at 978-744-0924, or by email at shines@salem.com.

ILCNSCA programs: Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann Inc. presents a regular series of programs. Request communications accommodations at least two weeks in advance. For more information: 978-741-0077; 978-745-1735.

Over the Rainbow Dinner Club: 5-8 p.m. second Tuesday of every month, The House of Seven Gables 115 Derby St., Salem.

"Better Days" workshop: 3-4 p.m. Wednesdays, North Shore CDC, 104 Lafayette St., Salem. Presented by NERLC and ILCNSCA.

LGBTQIA — Living with Disabilities Peer Run Support Group: 1:30-3:30 p.m. the third Thursday of every month, ILCNSCA office, 27 Congress St., Suite 107, Salem.

Assistance with Completion of Universal Housing Application: 2-4 p.m., first Wednesday of every month, ILCNSCA office, 27 Congress St., Suite 107, Salem.

Community Access Advocacy Team Meeting: 1:30-2:30 p.m., second Wednesday of every month, ILCNSCA office, 27 Congress St., Suite 107, Salem.

All People Accessible Business Meeting: 2:30-3:15 p.m., second Wednesday of every month, ILCNSCA office, 27 Congress St., Suite 107, Salem.

NERLC Peer Support Group: 5:15-6:15 p.m., every Thursday, ILCNSCA office, 27 Congress St., Suite 107, Salem.

Salem BNI Chapter: 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, the Hawthorne Hotel, 18 Washington St. The Salem Enterprise Chapter of Business Networking International meets in the Sophia Room of the Hawthorne Hotel to increase exposure to many other professionals and businesses, substantially increase referral business and build lasting relationships with local professionals. Guests are welcome to attend a meeting of The Salem Enterprise Chapter. For information, contact President Michael Kaloutas at mkaloutas@mycolorcraft.com.

Moose Lodge rentals: Salem Moose Lodge 218 is now renting its function hall to nonmembers. The lodge is located at 50 Grove St., Salem. For information: 978-745-6450.

Celebrate Recovery: 6:30 p.m. Mondays, 9 Church St. Receive help with habits, hurts and hang-ups. See how Celebrate Recovery can help. For information: 617-803-4589.

Weekly Wednesdays at St. Peter/San Pedro: The St. Peter/San Pedro Episcopal Church, 24 St. Peter St., is open Wednesdays for various activities. The schedule will be 10:30 a.m. to noon, craft time — bring knitting, carving, scrap booking and friends; noon to 1 p.m., light lunch (soup, bread, sandwiches, etc.); 12:30 p.m., individual silent prayer in the chapel; 1 p.m., prayer service in the chapel; 1-1:30 p.m., individual silent prayer; and 3-4 p.m., tutoring. For information: 978-745-2291.

Page 5 of 5 - Early childhood screenings: Salem Public Schools offers developmental screenings to locate, identify and refer for special education evaluation any 3-, 4- or 5-year-old living in Salem who might have disabilities. The screening will take place at the Salem Early Childhood Center in the Bentley School on Memorial Drive. For information: 978-740-1181.

Source: Around Salem

Creativity: Dare to leap into the deep

In an era when one time science fiction is becoming factual, the United States based National Aeronautis and Space Administration (NASA) sent one of its top scientist to Colombo to deliver yesterday a memorial tribute to internationally acclaimed space prophet Arthur C. Clarke, who was one of our most eminent guest citizens of the past few decades.

Dr. Sarath Gunapala, Director of the Centre for Infrared Photo-detectors of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, delivered the 2016 Sir Arthur C. Clarke Memorial Lecture on the theme of exploration of our solar system and beyond, today. 

During the past 25 years, digital technology has seen the world developing faster than it did over the past 250 years. The new technology is being creatively and imaginatively applied in fields ranging from medical science, space exploration and ocean-depth adventures to mobile communication, banking and manufacturing. 

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe giving the keynote address at a Rotary International Convention in the South Korean capital of Seoul last Sunday, said the National Government also intended to make maximum use of the marvels of modern technology to provide hundreds of thousands of new and productive jobs mainly to the young people even in rural areas. Last week the government gave interest-free loans to hundreds of university students to buy modern computers and use them in wi-fi zones. The Prime Minister told the students there were many good English teaching sites on the internet and he advised them to learn the English language and get a command of it while also developing their computer skills.  This would provide highly paid job opportunities for them to play a major role in the midterm all inclusive economic strategy to make Sri Lanka an economic and technological hub of Asia. 

Besides Arthur C. Clarke, Sri Lanka's younger generation needs to look at some of the great role models of this hi-tech era. For instance, Bill Gates -- the American business magnate, entrepreneur, philanthropist, investor and programmer -- co-founded Microsoft when he was only 20 years old. Microsoft became the world's largest Personal Computer software company and the Sri Lanka government yesterday announced plans for Microsoft to play a big role here through huge investments and creative job opportunities.

Then we have another wonderful example in Steve Jobs. At the age of 21 he co-founded Apple Inc to manufacture Apple I personal computers. The American information technology entrepreneur and inventor wisely advised young people to be 'foolish' -- that means not to be know-alls but to be ready to discover more and more by being creative, imaginative and innovative. He believed that the day we stopped learning, young or old would be the day of stagnation or disaster. Steve Jobs is widely recognized as a pioneer of the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s.  Shortly after his death on October 5, 2011, Steve Jobs' official biographer, Walter Isaacson, described him as a "creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries: Personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing."

If more young role models are needed then we have the Facebook founder Mark Elliot Zuckerber. At the age of 20 the American programmer, Internet entrepreneur, and philanthropist launched Facebook from his Harvard dormitory room in 2004. Now Facebook has more than 1.65 billion monthly active users worldwide.

So we call upon all people specially the younger generation to leave their boats or minds on familiar shores and leap into the era of technology in a spirit of creativity and imagination. 

Source: Creativity: Dare to leap into the deep