Showing posts with label coolest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coolest. Show all posts

Tuesday, 12 November 2013

This is the coolest world map, ever

Map of what each country leads in the world in. Picture: Doghouse Diaries Map of what each country leads in the world in. Picture: Doghouse Diaries Source: Supplied

DID you know that Australia has the most deadly animals, deadly shark attacks and highest rate of melanoma in the world?

Gotta be proud of that, right?! Umm ...

A new world map created by comic website Doghouse Diaries highlights what each country around the world leads at. And the results are bound to raise a few eyebrows.

The map was based on articles from Wikipedia so may not be the most accurate, but it sure is amusing.

"Most countries lead the world in something," Doghouse Diaries artist Ray Yamartino said. "Sometimes good things, sometimes not so good things, and sometimes funny things. This map shows what each country does best compared to all other countries."

Here are some of the highlights:

Russia: Raspberries and nuclear warheads

Cameroon: Killer lakes

Mongolia: Velociraptor bones

US: Death by lawnmower

Mexico: Getting struck by lightning

South Africa: Ostriches

Finland: Coffee-drinking

Spain: Cocaine use

Canada: Maple syrup and asteroid impacts

New Zealand: Sheep and rugby

Malaysia: Caves

Greenland: Personal space

Ireland: Highest quality of life

Democratic Republic of Congo: Pygmy chimpanzees

Cambodia: Longest alphabet

India: Movies

South Pole: Emperor penguins

Sweden: Atheism

Japan: Robots

Click here for a full-sized version of the map.


View the original article here

Sunday, 10 November 2013

These are the world's coolest cube hotels

Hotel Endémico Ensenad. Picture: Supplied Hotel Endémico Ensenad. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

STRUGGLING to find inspiration for your next trip? Try thinking inside the box.

The cube-shaped hotel concept sprouted up first in Spain, and in recent years has grown rapidly in popularity, spreading around the world - from the Swedish Lapland all the way to our own backyard.

Here are 10 of the best, according to travel website Trivago.com.au.

Hotel Endémico Ensenada, Mexico (pictured above)

Perched high above wineries in Mexico, Hotel Endémico has 20 luxury hillside bungalows overlooking the Guadalupe valley, plus an infinity pool.

Casa de la Flora, Phuket, Thailand

This hotel is situated on the edge of the Khao Lok rainforest in southern Thailand, with 36 cube-shaped villas that face toward the Andaman Sea.

Step straight into the pool. Step straight into the pool. Source: Supplied

Treehotel Harads, Sweden

Sleeping above the ground in a structure suspended in the tall Nordic forest, guests have spectacular views of the Lule River. Treehouse room designs range from the Bird's Nest to the UFO and the illusions created by the Mirrorcube (pictured below).

This is pretty cool. This is pretty cool. Source: Supplied

Longitude 131° Yulara, Australia

Longitude 131° is an encampment of 15 tents in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

The longitude. Picture: Supplied The longitude. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Sleepbox Hotel Tverskaya, Moscow, Russia

Stepping into one of the Tverskaya Sleepboxes is like stepping into the future. The first capsule-style hotel in the city offers guests of pricey Moscow an affordable, no-fuss nook in which to retire after a long day of sightseeing. The 60-room structure has a TV, noise-insulated walls and a lobby with a wall of iPads. But it's not for claustrophobics!

The Sleepbox Hotel. Picture: Supplied The Sleepbox Hotel. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Aire de Bardenas, Navarre, Spain

Described as somewhat of a mirage, the Aire de Bardenas sits adjacent to the Biosphere Reserve, with views of The Bardenas Reales National Park, a 100,000-acre semidesert expanse with dramatic sandstone plateaus. For extra luxury, book a night in a suite with a large exterior private patio that holds a sizeable, bowl-shaped bathtub - ideal for stargazing.

Aire de Bardenas. Picture: Supplied Aire de Bardenas. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Hotel Viura, La Rioja, Spain

This hotel is located in a Spanish Rioja village known for its sprawling vineyards. It also has panoramic views of the Sierra de Cantabria and the neighbouring 16th-century San Andrée Church.

Hotel Viura. Picture: Supplied Hotel Viura. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Areias do Seixo Charm, Póvoa de Penafirme, Portugal

Areias do Seixo Charm is a majestic property that lies on Portugal's coastline, less than an hour north of Lisbon.

Areias do Seixo Charm. Picture: Supplied Areias do Seixo Charm. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Consolación Aragon, Spain

In 2003, three Barcelona-based lovers of modern architecture put their minds and wallets together to create this property - which has 11 structures in total. The centrepiece is a 14th century former hermitage, connected to a 17th century church (the hotel's namesake) - which now houses a restaurant, a library, lounge, kitchen, and a few double rooms. The 10 cube-shaped cabins are scattered atop the hill among the pine and olive trees.

Consolación Aragon. Picture: Supplied Consolación Aragon. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Free Spirit Spheres, Vancouver Island Canada

OK, so this isn't a cube, but these suspended spherical tree house pods tucked away in the forests of Vancouver Island sure are unique. If you've ever wanted to live in the trees for a night, this is your chance.

Free Spirit Spheres. Picture: Supplied Free Spirit Spheres. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

For more travel information go to Trivago.com.au.


View the original article here