Floating away in the harbour of Tokyo is the Giant Japanese Battenburg storage depot.

Japan is the world’s second largest producer of oversized snacks, and over to the East they’re also farming massive Twiglets.

Seriously, can anyone solve the Battenburg mystery?

Thanks: Philipp Amann

Docked at the Russian Black Sea navy base in Sevastopol, Ukraine we can see an odd looking ship – a Bora Class hovercraft.

Designed in 1988, the Bora is by far the largest military hovercraft going and are odd in the fact that they are not for troop landing or transportation. The hovercraft are instead designed for coastal defense, particularly carrying out missile attacks on ships. They’re well suited to the task though, with 8 ‘Mosquito’ missiles, 20 anti-aircraft missiles, an artillery complex, a machine-gun and an interference creating device.

Only two such craft have been built and this is probably the first of the two. Wikipedia has more info and photos.

Thanks: SickFinga

Jumbolair Aviation Estates near Ocala in Florida is probably the most famous of the U.S.’s near 500 fly-in communities, a few of which we’ve previously featured.

It first gained media attention thanks to the efforts of the eccentric Arthur Jones who populated the place with his Jumbo jets, elephants, gorilla and the world’s largest crocodile in captivity.

However the animals are no longer there, instead replaced by flying nut (and all-round nut) John Travolta, after he was thrown out of his previous abode at Spruce Creek Fly-In Community (which incidentally features in The Google Sightseeing Book).

It’s claimed that the reason the residents of Spruce Creek wanted rid of Travolta was the excess noise produced by his Boeing 707, called Jett Clipper Ella. The 1964 former Qantas airliner was previously owned by Frank Sinatra, and was painted in the classic V-Jet colours in return for Travolta lending it to Qantas for a round-the-world tour.

Travolta’s residence is obvious, being the largest and right next to the runway. The 707 is parked under the southern canopy but the disco king himself must be out and about, as the smaller Gulfstream II Jet which resides in the northern canopy is missing.

More info on Jumbolair, Travolta’s 707 and his house.

The ostentatious Istana Nurul Iman palace is the official residence of the one-time richest man on the planet, the Sultan of Brunei.

Arguably this is the largest residential palace in the world, and possibly even the largest residence of any type. Beneath the golden domes and sculpted ceilings are reputedly some 1,788 rooms, 257 bathrooms, 5 swimming pools, a 1,500 person mosque, 564 chandeliers, 51,000 light bulbs, 44 stairwells, 18 elevators and of course, the Sultan’s staggeringly awesome, and totally unmatchable car collection is probably here somewhere too.

He also seems to have an awful lot of satellite dishes. How much TV can one guy watch huh?

Over in England, we’re informed that this is might well be the Sultan’s London residence. Which we were perfectly happy to accept when we saw for ourselves the beautiful waterfront location, the ominous-loooking gates, the private basketball court, and not forgetting the modest collection of cars parked outside.

OK, so it’s not the world’s largest palace . . . but that little holiday home has got to cost some serious money, right?

Thanks to Victor K. and Glenn.

It seems that Trey Parker and Matt Stone may have been more accurate with their parody of the US military in the South Park movie than they probably intended. Terrifyingly, here in Iraq, Google Earth has uncovered that the US military might really have an Operation Human Shield.

Thanks to Stephen Johnson and Chris Holland.