Would you spend the night in a hotel made of sand?

Many tourists only come to the Netherlands to visit Amsterdam. But this small yet fascinating country has a lot to offer outside its capital. There are many wonderful canals, splendid beaches, picturesque windmills, colorful flower fields and unique hotels: Castles in the countryside, trendy boutique hotels, hotels situated on the water, and these two new hotels built entirely out of sand.

The SandHotels were constructed recently in the Dutch cities of Oss and Sneek, as part of the Friesland and Brabant sand sculpture festivals. The lodgings, which took four weeks to complete, include fully furnished one-room suites decorated with intricate sand carvings. The one in Oss looks like a medieval castle, while the one in Sneek is inspired by Chinese architecture and features sculptures of dragons and the Terracotta Army.

Rooms go for $172 a night, which includes free breakfast, a guided tour of the festival grounds, a bottle of Prosecco and other treats. Like the ice hotels in Sweden and Finland, the SandHotels are only temporary, but the organizers plan to build the hotels again next year.

[h/t: gizmag]

Comments

The Adorable Sculptures of Yen Yen Lo

These images are from a series of wall sculptures created by Yen Yen Lo . Here you can see her intricately textured ceramic pieces, looking downright adorable. Yen Yen Lo's eye for the unique and whimsical is delightful. Apparently they are not intended for kids under 16. Fifteen-year-olds cannot be trusted with fragile stuff. Get them a Funko Pop instead.

A story about a duck who likes being different

The hilarious "Duckie Duck" by Kate Toms is one of my recommendations for kids learning to read. My son got this book from his aunt in Calgary a few years ago and since then has become one of his favorites. First of all, this is not your average duck tale. This is a story about a fowl who, candidly, seems to have missed the memo on duck protocol. Most ducks quack, but Duckie whistles. Others love to swim, but not him — Duckie likes boat rides. While other water birds fly, he enjoys floating inside a hot air balloon. The rhyming text and delightful hand-stitched illustrations make the book visually appealing to children. So, if you're looking for a book to teach your quirky little kids to read, "Duckie Duck" is just perfect.

Acorn-shaped meditation pod

Created by LFZ Studio , this giant acorn in France is a cool space to escape the digital deluge. For some, the wooden pod is a temporary escape from reality. For others, it’s a nice place to take a nap. And for a select few, it’s a nerve-wracking dive into claustrophobia. The pod blends perfectly with the forest and the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds create a natural soundtrack for meditation. In this sanctuary, time seems to slow down, allowing for a deeper connection with oneself and nature. |h/t: Design Boom |

finding cain

Search This Blog