A romantic night under the stars is one thing, but a crystal clear view of the Northern Lights from your own private igloo is definitely another treat entirely. The Igloo Village of Hotel Kakslauttanen in Finland boasts 20 thermal glass igloos that allow visitors to enjoy incredible views of the Aurora Borealis from the warmth and comfort of their own geodesic hut.
Nestled in the wilderness near Finland’s Urho Kekkonen National Park, Hotel Kakslauttanen has one of the Arctic Circle’s best views of the Aurora Borealis. The sparse trees and complete lack of light pollution reveal millions of stars each night, and during the peak winter months the location offers incredible views of the Northern Lights.
Each glass igloo is fitted with thermal glass walls and ceilings, that insulate the interior to keep it warm and cozy at night. The glass also contains a frost preventative, maintaining crystal clear panoramic views even when temperatures outside drop to -22 degrees fahrenheit. Fitted for two people, the igloos are small enough to be efficiently heated without consuming too much energy.
One of the world’s seven natural wonders, Aurora Borealis results from the collision of gaseous particles from the earth’s atmosphere with charged particles released from the sun. The resulting burst of colored light can last from less than a second to nearly two minutes. Though the lights are visible from August to April, the peak viewing time is in the darkness of the winter months.
Although the hotel does not guarantee a view of the Northern Lights, they keep constant watch over the weather conditions and ring a signaling bell for visitors to look to the sky when the phenomenon is visible.
The main hotel also includes the world’s largest smoke sauna complete with its own restaurant, and an ice bar and snow chapel that is built fresh every winter. For the more adventurous, the hotel also offers lodging in a dozen traditional igloos made of ice. These ice houses have an internal temperature of only 21 degrees fahrenheit, so you better pack warm!
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Dessert is the best part of a meal; whether the entire meal was a disaster or a scrumptious affair, ending it on a high note is all that really counts. So if you want an opulent cake, pudding or chocolate to start with, the options are endless. Or you can go for the world's most expensive dessert instead. The dessert in question is a haute cuisine chocolate pudding that resembles a Faberge Easter egg but features a several mouth watering and high-priced ingredients like gold and champagne caviar. The pudding is the handy work of Marc Guibert, head chef at Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel in Windemere, Cumbria, and marks the start of the National Chocolate Week. Priced at a whopping L22,000 ($34,370), the pudding is finished with a two-carat diamond on top!
The pudding is created with edible gold leaf, and features a layer of champagne jelly and four different types of the Belgian chocolates, which is further flavored with a peach, orange and whiskey. If you plan to order this dizzying dessert, be prepared for a three weeks waiting period.
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Inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's crazy drawings of flying objects, the world-renowned French arts group La Machine designed Aeroflorale II - an animated industrial garden that originally appeared at the Bauhaus Color Festival in Germany last year. Although it doesn't fly, the 18 meter tall sculpture is adorned with hanging flora, propellers, fins, balloons, and other interesting objects that give the impression that this unusual structure actually is airborne. More than just a publicity stunt, this project also has a wonderful environmental ethos. Hit the jump for more details and a peek at the flying garden in motion.
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Villagers in Meghalaya, India have come up with a unique construction technique that harnesses nature in its purest form - they grow their own living bridges! Using the roots of the Ficus elastica tree (rubber fig tree), the residents have woven an elaborate system of living bridges, some of which are thought to be over 500 years old. These extraordinary examples of living architecture are also lessons in patience, since they take about 15 years to grow. With age though, the living root bridges grow stronger and can often support the weight of 50 or more people at a time!
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