According to the “World Happiness Report”, these are the 20 happiest countries for 2013. There are various measures that contribute to the average overall happiness of any given country, including GDP per capita, life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, and even overall generosity and social support. Continue reading for more.
Always wanted to be one with nature, and love animals? Then look no further than Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya. In addition to being able to eat breakfast with giraffes, it features 10 rooms and can accommodate up to 25 guests. Notable visitors in the past include: Mick Jagger, Walter Cronkite, Johnny Carson, Brooke Shields, Richard Branson and Ewan McGregor. Continue reading for more.
For many years, a basketball half-court existed inside Disneyland’s Matterhorn structure above the coaster, near the top of the mountain, where the mountain climbers could play between climbs. As internal access to the mountain was locked for safety reasons, the court was accessible only to the climbers. The court was relocated slightly during the installation of the Tinkerbell flight equipment prior to the 50th anniversary celebration; the hoop and playing area remain intact. There is a cast member break room inside the mountain at the base. The court is said to still be there today by many cast members and the mountain’s climbers. Continue reading for more.
Many fans of the show already know that it’s basically an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Martin’s series of fantasy novels, the first of which is titled A Game of Thrones. The series, set on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos at the end of a decade-long summer, interweaves several plot lines. Continue reading for more real-life places that look to be straight from the television series.
While drilling in 1971, Soviet geologists tapped into a cavern filled with natural gas. The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a large hole with a diameter of 70m. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided the best solution was to burn it off. Geologists had hoped the fire would use all the fuel in a matter of days, but the gas is still burning today. Locals have dubbed the cavern “The Door to Hell”. Continue reading for more.
Designed by Minister Horace Burgess, the world’s largest tree house spans six oak trees and uses them as the base to support all five stories, which together, stands 97-feet-high. Inside, you’ll find more than 80 rooms, including a sanctuary, which doubles as a small basketball court. There’s also a church, complete with bell tower, an antique church pew, a stained-glass window of Jesus, and a choir loft. Continue reading for more pictures and information
While there may still be a few days left until the weekend, it’s never too early to start planning at least one activity. Some like watching sports and / or bar hopping, while others, going on food adventures. These weird, yet real, fast food items from around the world just might be what the latter is looking for. They go great with these strange Lay’s flavors, weird Doritos flavors, bizarre Pepsi flavors and craziest Pringles flavors from around the world. Continue reading for more.
Called Gruner See (Green Lake), this beautiful lake in Styria, Austria is best known for its shimmering, emerald-green hue and its fluctuating depth throughout the year. Thanks to the variance in water levels, you’ll sometimes find the park completely submerged. It’s a big hit with divers and is fully adorned with a bridge, a bench, and submerged trees. Continue reading for a video and more information.
The Disneyland-inspired Nara Dreamland was a real theme park near Nara, Japan which was built in 1961. The entrance to the park was designed to look almost identical to Disneyland, including the Train depot, a Main Street, U.S.A. and the familiar Sleeping Beauty Castle at the hub. On August 31, 2006, Nara Dreamland closed permanently. Continue reading to see more beautiful abandoned places from around the world.
Now that you’ve seen the Gundam Cafe, Gundam Hotel, and Vampire Cafe, it’s time to check out a “Smart Restaurant” in Japan. First off, there are no waiters, just cooks who prepare the food in a back kitchen and a cashier. The food itself is self-service via a conveyor belt, with a tablet-based menu for ordering. Plus, a high-speed conveyer belt delivers the higher-priced specialty dishes in no time. Continue reading for a video and more information.