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The traveler who quit studying to visit 97 countries by the time he's 27 (judging by these amazing images it doesn't look like he needed photography lessons, anyway) Norwegian school student Christian Lindgren left school at 18 and headed out into the world in pursuit of adventure Now, aged 27, he has visited a staggering 97 countries, and his photographs reveal his incredible experiences Preferring to go off the beaten track Christian has travelled to some of the less-visited corners of the world When you're 18, choosing whether you want to carry on studying can be a tricky decision - but one student decided he wanted his next classroom to be the entire world. Norwegian Christian Lindgren left school and headed out into the world in pursuit of adventures and to develop his love of photography. Now aged 27, he has travelled to a staggering 97 countries, and his awe-inspiring photographs reveal his incredible experiences. +20 Norwegian school student Christian Lindgren left school at 18 and headed out into the world in pursuit of adventures and to develop his love of photography. Pictured here is Northern Pakistan last year with a stunning sunset over the Karakoram mountains +20 Now aged 27, Lindgren has travelled to a staggering 97 countries, and his awe-inspiring photographs reveal his incredible experiences along the way. Pictured is a decorated Pakistani truck +20 Explosive experience: The magnificent Mount Bromo, which is an active volcano located in Indonesia, measuring 7,641 feet Stunning timelapse footage of Mount Bromo   +20 Photographer Christian biking around Tadjikistan, which is a mountainous landlocked area in central Asia 'Travelling has been in my blood since I was young,' Christian told MailOnline Travel. 'Both my grandparents and parents travelled a lot in their young days and I have been growing up with different artefacts from around the world in my house since I was young.' The intrepid explorer used savings to buy his first plane ticket and he headed off to start his nine-year travels. From seeing rainforests in Africa to scaling mountains in Pakistan, Christian has never looked back, but it hasn't always been plain sailing. One of his more notable escapades occurred while trying to cross a border from Burkina Faso to Ghana in western Africa. He said: 'One of the border guards in Burkina Faso claimed that I had to pay for a extremely expensive ride with one of them to cross the border, I was not allowed to walk across like the locals, I had to take a taxi across.' Christian decided in the heat of the moment that the only way to avoid the expensive taxi fare was to buy a donkey and ride it across the border.  He said: 'I bought a donkey from a local man sitting by the road just to prove a point that not every tourist will let then get screwed by the corrupt guards. 'The donkey wast cheap, but still a lot cheaper then going with the corrupt guards.' Although the Ghanaian Immigration Control initially said he needed vehicle registration to be registered, when he wrote donkey on the form the guards laughed and waved him through. +20 An enchanting sunset in Dunedin, New Zealand, which is one of Christian's favourite places for hiking around the beautiful landscape +20 View from the top: One of the many window sights Christian witnessed on his worldwide adventures +20 The resplendent Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, which is located in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of the Sultanate of Brunei +20 The treasures Lindgren has featured on his blog include abandoned boats in The Aral Sea. Nowadays, the lake is not more than six or seven per cent of its original size, because of environmental degradation CHRISTIAN'S TRAVEL GUIDE Most beautiful city in the world: Esfahan in Iran. Nothing else in the world even gets close. Favourite beach: Jaco Island East Timor Favourite food: Morelia, Mexico, Chengdu, China and Cape Town, South Africa Favourite natural landscapes: Rainforest Gabon and the mountains in Northern Pakistan Most welcoming people in the world: Iran and Nepal Best country to go drinking: Japan Favourite countries to go hiking: Nepal and New Zealand Preferring to go off the beaten track Christian has travelled to some of the less-visited corners of the world, and even created a blog called UnusualTraveler. One of the treasures he has featured on his blog is that of abandoned boats in The Aral Sea. 'Back in 1960, Aral Sea known as the fourth biggest lake in the world,' Christian wrote in a blog post about the location. 'Nowadays, the lake size is not more than six or seven per cent of its original size, because of environmental degradation. 'Everything around the Aral Sea in now deserted and left behind in the middle of Moynaq. It was once become a popular holiday destination in the old Soviet; with its beaches, seaside restaurants with fresh seafood, and hotels.' 'But these days, you will only see ruins of the former glory. Moynaq is truly a depressing place, but still worth a visit if you are in Central Asia.' Christian has not only experienced a wealth of culture, but also a range of unusual jobs to fund his travels. His varied CV now includes teaching, farm labour, hostel work and he has even spent time in a dive centre. 'All the money I have spent on my travelling is money that I have earned myself. Since I now know a lot of people from all over the world it makes it possible to sleep at their couch or floor if I'm in the area,' he commented. 'I do stay in a lot of hostels, guest houses and hotels around the world, and if I'm going very rural I'll stay in my tent.' +20 The intrepid explorer used money he had saved to buy his first plane ticket and he headed off to start his nine-year travels. They included seeing the Larung Gar in China, the largest Buddhist settlement in the world +20 City life: The incredible skyline of Hong Kong. Though he's seen the main sights around the world, Lindgren prefers off beaten track +20 +20 Making friends: One of the holy people in Katmandu (left) and a headhunter (right). Tobu, 83, is one of the last living real headhunters in Nagaland in India. Lindgren said he killed two people by cutting their head and hands off as a sign of glory back before 1960 +20 Lindgren travelled to see the Mayan Pyramid Of Kukulkan At Chichen Itza in Mexico - and captured it in this stunning image In order to meet as many people as possible Christian recommends travelling alone, although he has been with friends in the past. Along with the highs of meeting other travellers, are the lows, such as having his expensive camera equipment has been stolen on two occasions. However this has not deterred him from his passion. He said: 'Photography has been an interest of mine for years, although you need a lot of patience. For some of the photos I have taken I have been waiting hours in the same spot to wait for the right light, animal or locals to show up. 'You don't need an expensive camera to take good photos these days, the small point and shoot cameras take great photos too. I currently use an Olympus om-d1 to get the best shots.' +20 +20 Lindgren has seen some incredible sights on his travels such as the Bamboo Forest in Japan and a wealth of animals +20 Christian shared a hotspring experience in Jigokudai Park in Japan with a host of snow monkeys Christian travels home once a year to see his family, although this has involved missing Christmas and his birthday for the past eight years. Aside from his family and friends, he said that he misses Norwegian Brown Cheese the most. The aim now is to visit every country in the world, but he's in no hurry. He said: 'I have been to Central Asia twice, Nepal  six times ,every country in South East Asia at least  three times, America a few times, China more then 10 times. I prefer to go back to a country I like and explore more of it before rushing to do more countries. Next on the agenda is to go to Europe to see some old friends, before heading to the Middle East and then hopefully Papua New Guinea and Madagascar. 'Everyone should travel, people will learn a lot more about themselves, the world and other cultures then they will ever learn from watching TV and reading.' +20 Colourful landscapes: Christian saw Kinkaku-ji, officially named Rokuon-ji, which is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan +20 One of the most beautiful places in the whole world for the 27-year-old traveller from Norway is Esfhahan in Iran +20 Along the way Lindgren has visited Kiev in Ukraine. His varied CV now includes teaching, farm labour, hostel work and he has even spent time in a dive centre +20 Khor Virap (right), an Armenian Apostolic Church monastery located in the Ararat plain in Armenia with the vast Mount Ararat looming behind

Michelangelo's sprawling eight-bedroom Italian villa can now be your holiday home... for £5MILLION Near Siena, in Tuscany, an estate - formerly owned by the famed Florentine artist - is now on the market Michelangelo purchased the prestigious property in 1549, about 30 years after he completed the Sistine Chapel The current owner is selling the home for €7,065,705 (£5,148,118) and the buyer will also get the original deed Sitting pretty as a picture - this is a holiday home that will especially appeal to art lovers. In Tuscany, near Siena, a luxurious eight-bedroom villa has just gone on the market. But this isn't just your standard sprawling Italian countryside escape - it once belonged to famed Florentine artist, Michelangelo Buonarroti. In 1549, Michelangelo himself bought the prestigious property after having completed painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling between 1508 and 1512. +6 Near Siena, in Tuscany, a sprawling Italian villa, which was once owned by famed painter, Michelangelo Buonarroti, is now for sale His family owned the property until 1867, though the current owner has gone to great lengths to restore the home to its former glory. In fact, he even has the original deed to the home, which identifies Michelangelo as a 'dear sculptor and Florentine citizen.' RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Police set to patrol beaches in Dubai after increase in the...Arch on Malaga's city centre bridge used as a BED by drunk...Would YOU dare to walk on this? Gigantic glass viewing... SHARE THIS ARTICLE Share The estate is surrounded by Chianti vineyards, complete with extraordinary views of the rolling Italian countryside. Composed of three buildings, the villa itself is actually built around an ancient tower, believed to date back to the 11th century. +6 Michalengelo purchased the stately home in 1549, over three decades after completing the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel +6 Inside the home, there are eight bedrooms and seven bathrooms, along with several original accents, such as the wood-beamed ceiling +6 On the 2.5 hectare (25,000 sq m) property, there's also parkland and an original oil mill, as well as both a lemon and an olive grove There's also an original oil mill, which is now used as an outbuilding, and an expansive lemon grove. The entire 1200 square metre estate boasts eight bedrooms and seven bathrooms, all of which have been updated with conservation in mind. The 2.5 hectare (25,000 sq m) property, which is currently being listed by Handsome Properties International at €7,065,705 (or about £5,148,118), also consists of parkland and an olive grove. +6 The lucky buyer will also receive the original deed to the house, which identifies Michelangelo as a 'dear sculptor and Florentine citizen' +6 The estate, including an old oil mill (pictured) is surrounded by Chianti vineyards, complete with views of the rolling Italian countryside     Incredible pictures of the world's most breathtaking waterfalls from the stunning frozen landscapes of Iceland to the rainforests of South America While some are famous tourist destinations, such as Niagara Falls, some lesser known falls are just as beautiful At the Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia, magnificent waterfalls cascade through lush and colourful vegetation Meanwhile, Iceland is known for its stunning waterfalls, such as Seljalandsfoss, Gullfoss and Godafoss One of nature's most beautiful creations, waterfalls can come in all shapes and sizes. Some mark borders, such as the spectacular Iguazu Falls, which separate Argentina and Brazil, while others, like Niagara Falls, are beloved tourist destinations. And then there are still others, which are perhaps lesser known, but equally stunning. In Kanchanaburi, Thailand, for example, a deep forest waterfall looks as though it's been plucked out of an enchanted fairytale, complete with a vivid turquoise pool below. Meanwhile, across the world in Iceland, gorgeous glacial waterfalls are the norm during the winter months. Standouts include Seljalandsfoss in the southern part of the country, Gullfoss in the southwest and Godafoss, which translates to The Waterfall of The Gods. California's Alamere Falls, on the other hand, are an example of a rare 'tidefall,' which is a waterfall that flows directly into the ocean. But one thing's for sure: all of these cascading delights are magnificent in their own ways. +25 In Luang Prabang, Laos, the three-tier Kuang Si Falls are a favourite side trip for tourists visiting the city, which is about 29km away +25 The Lower Yellowstone Falls is one of two major waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, USA +25 This deep forest waterfall in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, empties into an unbelievably bright blue pool Wet your whistle at the Waterfall restaurant in Villa Escudero, Philippines   +25 Silver Falls at its namesake state park in Oregon, USA, is a beloved spot among hikers and photographers alike +25 The majestic Waipoo Falls at Waimea Canyon in Kokee State Park, Kauai, is also known as the 'Grand Canyon of the Pacific' +25 The border between Brazil and Argentina is marked by the stunning Iguazu Falls, which are part of the National Park +25 An aerial view of Seljalandsfoss displays just how gorgeous the falls, which are located in southern Iceland, truly are +25 +25 Helmcken Falls are found at Wells Gray Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada (left), while a hiker takes in the spectacular Kuang Si Falls in Laos (right) Daredevil kayaker takes 50ft plunge down rapid waterfall   +25 At the Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia, the magnificent waterfalls cascade through lush and colourful vegetation +25 Nohkalikai Falls is the tallest plunge waterfall in India, measuring 1115 ft. It's located near Cherrapunji, which is one of the wettest places on earth  +25 +25 The Ouzoud waterfalls, located on the fast flowing El Abid River, can be found in the Middle Atlas mountains in Morocco (left) and it's clear that the Riva waterfalls in Italy (right) are similarly powerful +25 California's Alamere Falls is a rare 'tidefall,' which means it's an example of waterfall that flows directly into the ocean +25 Havasu Falls in Arizona, USA, are world-famous waterfalls along Havasu Creek, which is part of the Grand Canyon +25 Water cascades into Lake Oeschinensee in the Bernese Alps above Kandersteg in Switzerland. It's also a Unesco World Heritage Site +25 The Gullfoss waterfall is located in the canyon of Hvíta river in southwest Iceland and is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations +25 +25 New Zealand's Sutherland Falls (left) are believed to be the tallest in the country, while Venezuela's Angel Falls (right), which top 994 metres, are the tallest uninterrupted falls in the world +25 Iceland's Godafoss waterfall, which translates to The Waterfall of The Gods, in Northern Iceland, is one of the biggest in Europe +25 A rainbow forms out of the mist at Snoqualmie Falls in one of the most popular scenic spots in western Washington state  +25 Wallaman Falls in Girringun National Park, North Queensland, Australia, measures an impressive 268 metres  +25 Niagara Falls is the name for three waterfalls that straddle the international border between Canada and the United States. Pictured: The Horseshoe Falls A perfect circle! Circle rainbow seen over Niagara Falls   +25 A double rainbow forms over Africa's Victoria Falls, which are some of the world's most spectacular - and act as a border between Zimbabwe and Zambia +25 Iceland is home to many waterfalls, including the stunning Skogafoss, situated on the Skoga River at the cliffs of the former coastline