Πέμπτη 30 Ιανουαρίου 2014

Bedroom Design Ideas You'll Love

Our guide to bedroom design is jam-packed with more than 90 decorating tips and tricks to help you transform your room into a cozy retreat.

Cottage Bedroom


Century-old quilts in Pinwheel (left) and Bear's Paw patterns dress the antique wrought-iron beds in one of this Nantucket cottage's bedrooms. The new rag rug was handwoven by area artisans at the Weaving Room, and the demijohn lamp hails from an antiques shop.
Bright idea: Loosen up a traditional bedroom with mismatched quilts.

Τρίτη 28 Ιανουαρίου 2014


Gallery: Super Resilient Tsunami House...

Located on Camano Island in Washington State, the Tsunami House was built by Designs Northwest Architects to withstand conditions not normally faced by a residential property. The main level features a foundation capable of withstanding high velocity tsunami wave action, while the lower levels were built with walls that are able to break away in the event of a storm surge. Built with durable and low-maintenance materials, the house is perfectly equipped to weather any storm.

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Κυριακή 26 Ιανουαρίου 2014

i(ce)-Tunes: Sweden's incredible ice orchestra
By Simon Busch, CNN


They're among the rarest instruments in the world, but they'll be discarded come spring.
They're so fragile even the players' breath risks nudging them out of tune.
Turn up the temperature in the concert hall and you'd have, not a finely chiseled viola, flute or conga, but a glass of water.
"And you'd be healthier for drinking it!" says Tim Linhart, ice-instrument maker extraordinaire to an orchestra playing a series of concerts throughout the winter in the remote Swedish town of Luleå, just beneath the Arctic Circle.
Vegan Black Bean, Butternut Squash, and Corn Soup (aka Three Sisters Soup)






1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup diced carrot
1 cup diced onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups peeled, seeded, diced butternut squash
2 cups fresh or frozen corn
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans (or 1 15oz can black beans, drained and rinsed)
4 cups vegetable broth
Salt, about 3/4 tsp or to taste
1/2 tsp cumin (optional but encouraged)
Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a medium-sized soup pot. Add the garlic, onions, and carrot and sauté for about 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent and the carrots have softened slightly. Stir occasionally to keep from sticking to the pot.Add the beans, butternut squash, and corn, and sauté for another 2 or 3 minutes. Add the vegetable stock and raise the heat so that the soup comes to a boil. Lower the heat to medium or medium-low and simmer about 10 minutes until vegetables are tender.Add salt to taste and cumin (if using) and cook another 4-5 minutes. For a different texture, you can also puree some of the veggies in the blender and then add them back to the soup pot. Serve warm! Enjoy by itself or serve with cornbread or over rice, quinoa, or millet. - See more at: http://www.inhabitots.com/how-to-make-a-hearty-and-healthy-vegan-bean-squash-and-corn-soup-aka-three-sisters-soup/dsc_0244/?extend=1#sthash.DouLGLLi.dpuf

Σάββατο 25 Ιανουαρίου 2014

Edoheart’s Lingerie Collection Preserves African Textile Culture
by Kirin Rinehart
Eseohe Arhebamen-Yamasaki, better known as Edoheart, has a vision. It’s one of rediscovering, rebuilding, and replenishing local traditions and communities in Africa through art. She hopes that by starting small, but dreaming big, her debut lingerie collection will improve the massive problem of poverty throughout Africa through the encouragement of local African textile art traditions. Edoheart’s first collection of three patterned fair trade silk bralette-and-brief lingerie sets are made by small-scale artisans and craftspeople in sub-Saharan Africa. Production of the collection enables local artisans to make a living by bringing money into communities and protecting an ancient art. Although it’s a small step, Edoheart is hopeful that this collection is just the beginning for real change.

Παρασκευή 24 Ιανουαρίου 2014

Dream destinations for 2014
Giraffe Manor (Kenya)

Having a giraffe -- unscientifically the most beautiful creature on earth -- poke its head through a window to steal your breakfast is a breach of privacy you have to get used to at Kenya's Giraffe Manor.
The 10-suite Nairobi hotel sits amid 140 acres of forest and has a family of endangered Rothschild giraffes as permanent residents.
CHASING WATERFALLS
Collected By: Charu Suri


Τρίτη 21 Ιανουαρίου 2014

10 of the best free museums in Europe

Continuing our series on seeing the world for free, we round up 10 attractions, from Istanbul to Reykjavik, that don't cost a cent


We like to grumble, but when it comes to museums, we've got it pretty good in the UK, with free entry to many major museums. In London, for example, it's possible to pop into places like the National Gallery, the British Museum or the Tate on your lunch break without making a dent in your sandwich money. Most museums in Europe do charge an entry fee, but there are still plenty of opportunities for budget travellers to get a free culture fix. Many cities have adopted a free first Sundays scheme, giving visitors access to the permanent collections once a month, while many other museums offer free entry on other days. And of course there are still museums around Europe that offer free entry every day. Some may be small, specialised, or hard to get to – such as the Florence Nightingale Museum in Istanbul – but many, such as the Modern Art Museum in Paris, or the Berardo Collection in Lisbon, are just as grand and comprehensive as their pricier counterparts. Here are 10 free museums across that are worth checking out.

Δευτέρα 20 Ιανουαρίου 2014

World's 85 richest people have as much as poorest 3.5 billion: Oxfam warns Davos of ‘pernicious impact’ of the widening wealth gap


The 85 richest people on the planet have accumulated as much wealth between them as half of the world’s population, political and financial leaders have been warned ahead of their annual gathering in the Swiss resort of Davos.

Πέμπτη 16 Ιανουαρίου 2014

SAHARA

And then I met him. The lodge assigned a desert guide to me for two glorious afternoons. And I had him - Abdallah - all to myself. Little did I know this Berber farmer cum United Nations award-recipient/eco-lodge co-founder would star in my life as an agent of change. First on the agenda, drive for miles into the Great Sand Sea, pick a spot to set up a makeshift campfire, and brew a pot of hibiscus tea for two. Run your fingers through the velvet sand, watch the sun set, talk about philosophy, watch the stars come out, talk about how sometimes it's better to just not talk and rather listen, and then make the journey home, guided not by roads but by the sparkling stars above.
Figure Skater Jason Brown Really Knows How to Work a Crowd


Jason Brown, the 19-year-old from Illinois, proved to be an impeccable showman at the 2014 U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Sunday in Boston. His free skate routine wowed the crowd, earning him the silver medal and a ticket to the Sochi Olympics in February.
Brown glided smoothly and elegantly on ice. Announcers pointed out that Brown wasn't much of a jumper, like some of this competition, but the skater's slow, methodical movements proved to be only his warmup. The audience went wild as Brown completed an impressive sequence of footwork. "It's his Riverdance," the announcer said as the crowd cheered

Τετάρτη 15 Ιανουαρίου 2014

In Pictures: Orphans of the Sahara

Al Jazeera chronicles the Tuareg struggle for an independent homeland.


The Tuareg are the indigenous people of the Sahara desert.
They are one of the poorest and most isolated peoples in the world - and one of the most militarised.
They are an army of the poor in a land of astounding natural wealth; an animal-herding people in a dying world of drought.
For decades, many Tuareg men have left their homes in search of work in neighbouring countries. Thousands ended up in Libya, as workers and fighters, and many as mercenaries for slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Syrian refugee girl to marry to pay the rent
14-year-old promised to landlord in Lebanon after her family could no longer afford to pay the rent.
Over one million Syrian refugees have fled to Lebanon, but not all are eligible for aid.
Refugees who are not registered with the United Nations have been forced to take desperate measures to survive.
Fourteen-year-old Hanifa has agreed to marry a 44-year-old Lebanese landlord. Her family can not afford to pay their monthly rent, so the owner of the house has demanded Hanifa become his second wife.
Lebanon hosts the largest number of refugees from Syria and aid agencies are calling the Syrian refugee crisis a humanitarian tragedy.
Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reports from northeastern Lebanon

Τρίτη 14 Ιανουαρίου 2014

Why do we have such a problem with being alone?


Personal freedom has never been more celebrated, yet we are terrified of being alone, and regard those who choose to be so with suspicion. Sara Maitland on the joy of solitude
I live alone. I have lived alone for more than 20 years now. I do not just mean that I am single – I live in what might seem to many people to be "isolation" rather than simply "solitude". My home is in a region of Scotland with one of the lowest population densities in Europe, and I live in one of the emptiest parts of it: the average population density of the UK is 674 people per sq mile (246 per sq km). In my valley, we have (on average) more than three sq miles each. The nearest shop is 10 miles away, and the nearest supermarket more than 20. There is no mobile-phone connection and very little through-traffic uses the single-track road that runs a quarter of a mile below my house. On occasion, I do not see another person all day. I love it.

Κυριακή 12 Ιανουαρίου 2014

Pussy Riot’s Next Act: Exclusive Photos of Life After Prison

If the government of Vladimir Putin was counting on a spell behind bars to change Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina, it could hardly have anticipated the manner of their transformation. Most Russian political prisoners are never heard from again, but the jailing of the two members of the punk-protest group Pussy Riot had the opposite effect: it made them internationally famous — Paul McCartney and Madonna sent messages of solidarity, German Chancellor Angela Merkel name-checked them in a conversation with the Russian President — and vastly amplified their anti-Putin message. That fame ensured that Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina were released by Putin as part of a prisoner amnesty in late December, a naked attempt to clean up the image of his regime ahead of February’s Winter Olympics in Sochi.


Your favourite coffee shops



Whether it stirs up a sense of adventure for the day ahead, or helps you settle in for a cosy evening of contemplation - there's nothing quite like a good cup o' joe. So when we travel, we just follow the locals to the best spot in town! From Bangkok to San Francisco, London to Seoul, our readers shared snapshots of their favourite coffee shops from around the globe.


THE BEST OF TWO WORLDS: FUSION CUISINE AROUND THE WORLD

KOREA MEETS MEXICO: HOTNESS FUSION!

During my recent trip to Atlanta, my friends and I had the pleasure of visiting this under-the-radar spot for lunch. Alton Brown named one of its signature dishes as the best thing he's ever had. Enough said—I had to try it.

How to make vinegar


In our new series, Phil Daoust explains how you can make vinegar using almost any unfortified booze, from wine to cider. It's quick and easy, and well worth the wait ...

Παρασκευή 10 Ιανουαρίου 2014

States With Highest Child Homelessness

EVASON MA'IN HOT SPRINGS
SPA

The classically designed Six Senses Spa sits directly beneath one of the natural hot spring waterfalls that cascade into the spa pool and relaxation area.
The Six Senses Spa is a stand alone building featuring 10 treatment rooms and a unique steam cave, which offers an experience of intimate privacy and relaxation.
Treatments focus on the therapeutic properties of the mineral-rich waters, offering healing and Dead Sea therapies combined with Six Senses signature treatments to ensure pure rejuvenationSPA
The classically designed Six Senses Spa sits directly beneath one of the natural hot spring waterfalls that cascade into the spa pool and relaxation area.
The Six Senses Spa is a stand alone building featuring 10 treatment rooms and a unique steam cave, which offers an experience of intimate privacy and relaxation.
Treatments focus on the therapeutic properties of the mineral-rich waters, offering healing and Dead Sea therapies combined with Six Senses signature treatments to ensure pure rejuvenation
World's 100 best beaches

(CNN) -- Is it possible to rank the world's best beaches?
Of course it is. This is the Internet.
Will everyone agree with our ranking, murmuring respectfully among themselves about how perfectly accurate every placement is?
Maybe not. This is the Internet.
But that's why we've scoured the planet, demanded answers from our most well traveled friends, colleagues and cohorts, absorbed passionate pleas from readers, researched, investigated and examined the evidence then finally tipped the sand from our shoes, washed the brine from our eyes and put together a pretty good guide to the best beaches on the planet.

Τετάρτη 8 Ιανουαρίου 2014

U.S. News Ranks Best And Worst Diets Of 2014


U.S. News evaluated and ranked the 32 diets below with input from a panel of health experts. To be top-rated, a diet had to be relatively easy to follow, nutritious, safe and effective for weight loss and against diabetes and heart disease. The government-endorsed Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) snagged the top spot.

Devilishly good food to be found on Tasmania

Storm-stoked breakers pound a white crescent bay and send up mist tinged pink by the setting sun. I smell salty sea from our patio table overlooking Binalong Bay, but it's from a plate of plump oysters Jo Lisson has just set down.
"Lease 65, down the road," she aims a thumb south toward a premium aqua-farm in St. Helens. "And this is from just over there," the compass-thumb aiming southwest as she pours a sweaty 2010 Spring Vale Reserve Chardonnay crafted on a nearby 1842 convict-built estate.

5 examples for how mobile helps travel businesses engage with customers
According to a research done by Analyst Strategy Analytics, the consumers’ appetite for mobile will grow exponentially in the coming years. This is based on its forecast which states that worldwide mobile subscriptions will rise to 8.9 billion over the next five years. The growing penetration of mobile devices has also led to the rise in mobile data usage. Today one fifth of search queries for the hospitality industry come from mobile, tablet or other connected devices. So much so that travel companies can no longer ignore mobile.

Τρίτη 7 Ιανουαρίου 2014

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES & GADGETS


The G-Paws GPS Data Recorder is a unique data recorder which attaches to your pets collar and uses GPS technology to record where your pet is or how far and fast he runs when off the lead.
The collected data is then uploaded to the pets profile located on the g-paws.com website and can also be transferred to any PC or laptop via USB.
MARVELOUS MARKETS

I love markets; the hustle and bustle, the smells, the colours, the people. This is a collections of some of my favourites and a few I'd love to visit in person.


18 Delicious Breakfasts From Around The World
Reddit user Sonicbomb complied photos of breakfasts from around the world that will put your cereal to shame.

Δευτέρα 6 Ιανουαρίου 2014

FAVORITE FOODIE INDULGENCES AROUND THE WORLD

One of the few commonalities all travelers share is food – we all have to eat. It’s much more than that though, food is arguably the most important part of the travel experience. It is through food that we get that first glimpse into the soul of a new destination and it’s how we best remember it after we are long gone. I’ve enjoyed many great bites around the world and here are some of my favorite foodie indulgences.

AUSTRIAN NATIONAL LIBRARY ÖSTERREICHISCHE NATIONALBIBLIOTHEK

Entering the Austrian National Library is a jaw dropping moment in ones life. After buying my ticket, then having it scanned, then looking up I was drooling with delight. This place looks like something out of Harry Potter but its here and in front of me! I wasn't allowed to use my tripod inside for this triple exposure 4 shot panorama but it obviously didn't matter.

Filmmaker Randy Olson: Climate Change Is 'Bo-Ho-Horing'

Has the climate change "brand" been ruined? Scientist-turned-filmmaker Randy Olson says that the problem with trying to raise awareness about global warming is that it's the most boring subject on earth.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Dr. Olson, you say you've figured out the most boring subject humanity has ever confronted: global warming. So I have to ask, I have studied the subject and ...

Κυριακή 5 Ιανουαρίου 2014

Roma in Berlin: 'I've Lived in a Car Since I Was Two'

By Lena Reich

Marietta is sitting in the trunk of a car with the tailgate wide open, her wailing child in her arms. She's lived in this Renault parked in front of St. Stephen's Church in Berlin's Wedding district since April. She is 25 years old; her child just 10 days, after being born in the city's Virchow Clinic. Marietta was already pregnant when she made the journey from Romania to Germany.
She needs help. A Roma, she already had two kids, aged four and six, but cannot now breastfeed properly. Her breasts are inflamed and swollen. She could seek assistance from the local authorities, but she's afraid they would take away her baby



Jamieoliver.com,

Pan-fried lemon sole fillets with salsa verde

Served with greens and new potatoes

Storming the Food Banks: Charities Struggle with Growing Demand

By Guido KleinhubberFood banks and soup kitchens in many German cities are having trouble keeping up with growing demand. Some are now abandoning their free food models in their effirts to continue helping the needy.
In mid-October in a Wetzlar church hall, about 200 visitors sat in rows of tightly packed chairs, leaning against the walls with their arms crossed and sullen expressions on their faces, or standing in front of the open doorway, hoping to hear at least some of what was being said at an event that will have a significant impact on their lives. Some stood under open umbrellas, a symbolic gesture meant to convey the message that they don't want to be left standing out in the rain.

Σάββατο 4 Ιανουαρίου 2014

GREEK MOUSSAKA


Londoners to watch in 2014: the author, the sculptor and the menswear designers, these talented high-flyers are the faces of the future
School 'labelled me as special needs', says chef Jamie Oliver who suffers from dyslexia

Jamie Oliver has criticised his schooling - saying he was labelled as “special needs” and teased for being taken out of class for extra help.
The TV chef, who is dyslexic, went to school with farmer and presenter Jimmy Doherty and said they were both selected for the special needs stream at their comprehensive Newport Free Grammar School in Newport, Essex.
Speaking on the set of their new show, Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast, Oliver said: “While we were at school, I struggled. Imagine a boys’ school. Thirty boys in the middle of English, bang bang bang on the door, ‘Can we have Jimmy and Jamie for special needs? Just us two out of our class.”

Πέμπτη 2 Ιανουαρίου 2014

Jacob Applebaum: To Protect And Infect, Part 2 [30c3]
FLY AWAY! PLACES TO BIRD SPOT AROUND THE WORLD

STAY: BLACK ROCK LODGE
Black Rock Lodge is the ultimate Belizean jungle lodge, located a few miles outside San Ignacio and down a dirt road that leads you into a high-walled, karstic river valley. All the cabinas are perched on the hillside with spectacular river views and wildlife viewing opportunities from the front porch. The main dining area offers more opportunities to spot birds and monkeys on the opposing hillside or watch intrepid guests go over the waterfall on an inner tube directly below. The lodge is a great place to base yourself for a range of activities and sights, such as Maya ruins, cave exploration, canoeing and rafting, hiking and bird watching.
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Τετάρτη 1 Ιανουαρίου 2014

How the World Celebrates New Year’s Eve



Around the globe, people say goodbye to 2013 and ring in '14


City of emperors: Why Nanjing's beauty still resonates in China
Photographer Sun Chen, 50, has lived his entire life in Nanjing. He began photographing the city a decade ago when parts of Nanjing became threatened by demolition. Jimingsi Road (pictured) outside Jiming Temple offers one of the best views of Nanjing, especially in spring.
"Cherry blossoms are at their fullest in March," says Sun. "The blossoms along the Jimingsi Road usually last three to four days."