the joys of a giant sandcastle hotel
By on June 24th, 2009
Oh you Brits, there you go again being creative and innovative. This is actually a real sand castle hotel, the first in the world located in Weymouth Beach in Dorset, UK.
Front view of the hotel which was designed by sculptor Mark Anderson and commissioned by the website LateRooms.com, created to look like a giant sand castle.
The sand hotel was orchestrated as a publicity stunt by the hotel company, and the biggest sand structure ever built in the UK, designed for the renaissance of beach holidays after its research found that 57% of the country’s holiday-makers were shunning foreign destinations in favor of British seaside resorts. Source: Life in the Fast Lane
For a mere US$21 a night you can stay here. Sleeping under the stars sounds sweet. Cute beds. Feels like a sandy doll house, kind of like a 7 year-old’s dream.
As Life in the Fast Lane mentions, “You can book reservations to sleep in the gigantic sandcastle, but you’d best hurry, as it’s only available from now until the tide or rain washes it away.”
Talk about being in the moment.
european ceiling architecture
By on May 23rd, 2009
Alhambra, Spain
When Seattle based artist Jeff Mihalyo came back from his European sojourn, he brought with him images of these other-worldly ceilings:
Alhabra, Spain
Alhambra, Spain
Cordoba, Spain. Gold, glorious, and heavenly.
Cordoba, Spain. Crown me, oh jewel.
Rome, Italy. Love the center space emanating out.
Rome, Italy. Religious influence indeed.
Rome, Italy. Stately wise. Paternal.
Ronda, Spain. Spinning wheel of Light.
Seville, Spain. Moorish influence.
Seville, Spain. Organic flavor.
Seville, Spain. Feels like the grand opera.
Seville, Spain.
Seville, Spain. There is something about the color palette of this one that elicits pure joy.
Look for these influences in Jeff Mihalyo’s artwork.
guayas: a thriving destination for ecotourism
By on October 12th, 2008
Who doesn’t love to daydream about exotic eco-travel destinations? One day in the not so distance past as I happened to be thinking about that very subject, I Stumbled Upon Travel Blissful–a place to be inspired to see more of the world.
I instantly became enamored with the plethora of great information that the site provided and reached out to author Erica Johannson. She agreed to contribute to PPnG from time to time with some fabulous eco-destinations around the world.
Here’s a post she wrote on eco-travel in Ecuador; a country I visited 12 years ago and have been longing to return to since.
The south-western province of Ecuador offers some of the top agro-tourism and eco-tourism sites in South America. Home to the nation’s largest city, Guayaquil, the region Guayas (pronounced gwī-äs) attracts travelers year-around.
The Canton of Bucay
Located east of Guayaquil, the Bucay Canton boasts more natural resources than any other canton in Guayas. The most visited attractions include El Bosque Humedo de la Esperanza (The Rainforest of Hope), and El Balneario de Agua Clara (The Clear Water Spa), where scenic waterfalls flow into the Chimbo river – a great place for rafting and tubing.
The Botanical Garden
Throughout the year, visitors to the Botanical Garden north of Guayaquil can observe more than 60 butterfly species, 70 bird species, 80 varieties of orchids, unique stones and minerals, and several medical plants.
Cerro Blanco (White Hill) Forest Reserve
Home to more than 200 species of birds, the Cerro Blanco (White Hill) Forest Reserve in Guayaquil serves as a shelter for plant species and animals such as the jaguar and howling monkey. With a large network of nature trails, three guided walking tours, camping and picnic spots, and an exhibit hall specifying the area’s ecosystem, Cerro’s guests can choose between many ways to experience the reserve’s abounding biodiversity.
Puerto El Morro
Often called “Las Pequeñas Galápagos” (The Mini Galápagos), Puerto El Morro acts as a start point for boat tours to the island of Manglesito and La Isla de los Pajaros (Island of Birds), home to more than 50 migratory bird species. Puerto El Morro is located about an hour and a half drive from Guayaquil, along the southeast coast of Guayas.
The Manglares-Churute Ecological Reserve
Considered one of the most important ecological reserves in South America, the Manglares-Churute Ecological Reserve situated in the Naranjal province features numerous ecosystems. Almost 70% of the park is covered in protected mangroves, where visitors can spot shorebirds such as egrets and laughing gulls.
Apart from observing protected ecological reserves and beautiful plants and wildlife, visitors to Guayas can enjoy cultural festivals, kayak and horseback ride along the coast, and tour banana, cacao, mango and coffee “haciendas” (plantations). To make the experience more personal, plantation farmers often invites guests home for a traditional meal with their family.
In an effort to prevent deforestation in Guayas, the region and Fundación Natura launched the “Amigo Árbol” (Friend of the Trees) program in May 2008.
Up to now, everyone from local school children to employees of large corporations have helped keep Guayas green for generations to come by planting miles of trees throughout the region.
Travelers wanting to help can visit the organization’s site www.amigoarbol.org (friends of trees) for more information.
sweet eco-shed getaway for two
By on July 14th, 2008
This sweet 280 square foot guest suite was designed with the earth in mind. It’s called the Eco-Shed and is located on the hillside above Snug Cove Village on Bown Island in B.C.
Here are some eco-details: Its numerous green qualities include passive-solar design, extensive reclaimed and FSC-certified wood, highly efficient fixtures and windows, nontoxic materials and finishes, and excellent ventilation. The building’s spray-foam insulation system also offers excellent soundproofing. Via:: Eco-Shed
a hot new hotel
By on July 11th, 2008
The Limes Hotel by Argentinian designer Alexander Lotersztain opened at the end of last month in Brisbane, Australia.
Okay, so talk about aesthetics up the yin yang. There’s an internal buzz happening on my end. This is just hot stuff. Check it out.
Roof setting overlooking the city of Brisbane, which is now officially on my radar.
Another rooftop view. I love those odd shaped tables that glow in the dark. So seductive.
“Drawing inspiration from a lifetime of international travel, with countless hours spent in airplanes and hotel rooms, Alexander concentrated his design focus on the 21 rooms to cater for the independent traveler, rejecting the 5-star norms and opting to focus on guests’ primary travel requirements through unique design solutions in styled lodgings.” Source:: Dezeen
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