Computer games, the latest form of travel writing
Indie game developer Jordan Magnuson has recently launched a website, GameTrekking.com, to help fund his trip around the world that he is planning to document through computer games. Here’s the idea described by its creator himself:
Hi, my name is Jordan Magnuson, and I have a plan: to travel the world, and make computer games about the things I see and experience; to use computer games as a form of travel writing, if you will. To put my plan into action, I need your help. Read more…
Things to do in London (or nearby) with kids
London is a vibrant city, but don’t assume your kid is going to share your enthusiasm for discounts at famous shops or for long strolls in the museums. I took my son to London for his 8th birthday and I tried to find things that he would find enjoyable. Kids love toys, no surprise there, so naturally Hamleys and Harrods (4th floor for the toy section) proved very successful destinations. I also wanted to take the pressure off as soon as possible so that we could focus on the rest of the journey, so we started with toy shopping soon after making it to London and checking in at the hotel. If your kid is anything like mine (and something tells me chances are 99% so), it might be a good idea to talk to him/her in advance about the maximum sum you’re willing to spend there, or the number of toys you’re willing to pay for. It makes them think, analyze and choose rather than run amok among shelves and throw tantrums when you refuse to pay for the entire store. You have been warned… A couple of hours later (and a hundred pounds lighter), we hid the stash in the hotel room and went out to see the city.
London has many great parks, and feeding the birds or the squirrels is always a major hit with children. Make sure you have bread for the ducks and pidgeons and nuts for squirrels and arm yourselves with patience and nicotine. You’re going to be there a while. On a second thought, forget the nicotine and take your shoes off.
If you are fond of nature, Kew Gardens is a great destination. It opens at 10 am and kids get in free. Adults pay 13 pounds, but there’s a lot to see and do inside. There’s the Kew Explorer, a 40-minute tour with commentary, the Treetop Walkway, the Climbers and Creepers and so much more. Read more…
Sardinian Treasures – Agriturismo Ca’ La Somara
If you’re visiting the beautiful island of Sardinia and are looking for a green retreat that’s quiet, relaxing, breathtakingly gorgeous, friendly, inspirational and also has donkeys and a cool pool, Ca’ La Somara is just the place for you.
Friendly staff, enough grounds to loose yourself and let your thoughts fly mixed with a communal dinner table allowing for fun and light conversation with the other guests, a modern spa and an authentic barn and farmhouse design and decor, this hidden treasure (yes, literally hidden, as the local taxi driver had a bit of a hard time finding it) suits almost everyone. Read more…
Looking for a place where to get away from the heat?
It’s extrmely hot in Bucharest. Somewhere around 40 degrees Celsius. It rained a bit, but the positive effect was short lived. So I started looking for places to run away from the heat, at least temporarily. And I am proud to say I found the perfect solution!
What do you think of when hearing Absolut Icebar? Nothing sounds chillier to me! A tiny bar with a constant temperature of -5°C where everything is made of ice – the bar, the chairs, the entire room, even the glasses you drink Absolut cocktails from! And not just any ice, but natural frozen Swedish Torne River ice! Usually part of a complex, together with a hotel and restaurant, Absolut Icebar welcomes a limited number of bar goers for only 20 minutes at a time. It is too cold to stay longer, on one hand, and there are lots of people that want to get in on the other. The friendly staff will prodive warm coats to you, to make sure you don’t catch a cold or freeze while visiting them 
Read more…
The wonderful treats of just wandering off
When we travel, we often get sucked into this powerful vortex taking us at a wild place from one tourist attraction to another. We have a plan, we need to stick to it if we want to see everything that’s beautiful in a certain location. We are dedicated tourists with a plan in our mind, a map in our hands and determination in our hearts.
But an important part of experiencing any place is allowing it time to surround us, take us over and introduce us to its spirit. To do so, we need to slow down, put the map away and just go where our intuition takes us. Stop for a coffee on a terrace, talk to the people we meet, look around, observe and just get lost in all the marvelous details surrounding us. Colors, scents, the light, the way people act or walk, they all differ from one place to another.
Besides, you can always discover little treasures! A passionate kiss of two dark statues…
Amsterdam
Happy New Year!
May the new year bring you joy, prosperity, love, fulfilled dreams and many, many wonderful journeys! All the best in 2010!
