MOROCCO'S INCREDIBLE AIT BENHADDOU

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Aït Benhaddou – a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco – is a fortified mud-brick also called a ksar, on the edge of the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco. It is situated in Souss-Massa-Drâa on a hill along the Ounila River. Aït Benhaddou has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and several films, such as Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy, Gladiator, Alexander, Babel, Kingdom of Heaven and Prince of Persia have been shot there as well as some scenes from Game of Thrones. Today, although only inhabited by around half-a-dozen families, visitors are attracted by the number and variety of its kasbahs (mud-built structures), some of which are thought to date back to the sixteenth century.

The Ksar has a high defensive earthen wall with angle towers and baffle gate, surrounding a remarkable ensemble of dwellings, with narrow alleys climbing the hillside. There is also communal areas that include a mosque, a public square, a loft and two cemeteries. Some of the homes of the wealthy traders are grand multi-storey structures with quite elaborate decorative motifs and angular corner towers resembling small castles. On the top of the hill there is large fortified granary, or agadir.

Historically, traders carrying spices, slaves, and gold on the Sahara Trade Route passed by Aït Benhaddou and its Ksours on their way to Timbuktu or the Western Sahara. Today, the old trade route is no longer in use and the Kasbahs have turned into a popular tourist destination. The village  of Aït Benhaddou is divided in two parts. The modern part is filled with tourist shops and parking spaces. Upon crossing the Oued (dry riverbed), you will enter into the Ksar, the real highlight.

The architectural style of the buildings are well preserved because the earthen structures were build to adapt to the climatic conditions of the environment, however it does need regular maintenance since its abandonment by most of its inhabitants (10 families still live inside the ksar). Today, under the protection of CERKAS (Centre for the conservation and rehabilitation of the architectural heritage of atlas and sub-atlas zones) the site is able to maintain its authenticity. Various workshops are held where local local people are taught how to maintain the site and various management committees have been established.

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UNUSUAL HOTEL #6: CAMBODIA’S INCREDIBLE 4- RIVERS FLOATING LODGE

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The 4-Rivers Floating Lodge is a boutique resort in Cambodia, situated in Tatai, next to the Thai border and halfway between Bangkok and Phnom Penh. It is a place of unspoilt virgin forest, rare orchids and fragrant frangipani. The startling colours and calls of birds of paradise, secretive jungle creatures and perfumed air of peace and solitude is as close to Eden as you can get.

Rich in natural beauty, Tatai River is your highway to the wonders of the Cardamoms and Southeast Asia’s largest coastal mangrove. According to the Wildlife Alliance, World Wildlife Fund and other concerned charities, this remarkable rainforest ecoregion is considered to harbour more than 100 mammal species including numerous endangered animals such as the clouded leopard, pileated gibbon and Malaysian sun bear. The lush forested slopes of the Cardamoms are a perfect hiding place for the rare Javan rhinoceros, Indochinese tiger and Asian elephant.

The resort aims to spoil their guests endlessly with so many activities and luxuries. Guests can embark on trekking trips into the jungle and will have many opportunities to explore the untouched tropical rainforests. Kayak trips down the river with experienced guides will lead guests through the mangrove waterways that reach back into the jungle. Guests can also try their hand at fishing. Back at the resort guest can indulge with a hydro massage, go on a romantic sunset cruise, take a dip in the river and lounge at the restaurant, to name a few. 

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POPEYE'S REAL-LIFE VILLAGE

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Tucked away in the small European country of Malta, is a place you’d probably never expect to find in the real world – Popeye’s Village. The village, located in Anchor Bay, also known as Sweethaven village, was the actual set built for the 1980 musical film Popeye, produced by Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney Productions and starring Robin Williams. Today, its open to the public as a theme park and is popular family vacation spot and one of Malta’s major tourist attractions.

The construction of the film set started in June 1979. A construction crew of 165 working over seven months was needed to build the village, which consists of nineteen authentic wooden buildings. Hundreds of logs and several thousand wooden planks were imported from the Netherlands, while wood shingles used in the construction of the roof tops were imported from Canada. Eight tons of nails and two thousand gallons of paint were also used in construction.In addition, a 200–250 foot breakwater was built around Anchor Bay's mouth to protect the set from high seas during the shooting.

Thing you can expect when visiting the village are shows, rides, boat ride and museums, as well as play houses where children can climb and explore the village. Children may also get to meet the main characters from the show such as Popeye, Olive Oyl, Bluto and Wimpy. Visitors can enjoy a twenty-minute boat trip around Anchor Bay where one can photograph the scenery.
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UNUSUAL HOTEL #5: AUSTRIA'S INCREDIBLE AQUA DOME

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While Langenveld, Austria is known for it's cross-country skiing, its here of all places, amid the snow covered mountains that visitors may rather choose to take a swim. Why? Its the location of the 4-star Aqua Dome Wellness Hotel. Here guests can choose from outdoor pools, saunas, baths and steam rooms for ways to relax.

The dome-ceilinged, glass-walled thermal spring hall Ursprung (Origins) is the main indoor area with two pools and a huge waterfall. From there, you swim via two canal pools to the amazing outdoor area, Talfrische (Freshness Valley). With its illuminated structures and steaming vessels it resembles the potion-making lab of a gigantic but friendly sorcerer. The two canals lead to a cone-shaped illuminated tower. From there you proceed to the three bowl pools that look like gigantic martini glasses. Bobbing in one of these eight-metre-high bowls that are 12 to 16 meters in diameter, you can gaze upon the Alps and contemplate your good fortune (via).

The three levitating UFO-shaped outdoor pools are the most unique features of the Hotel. These pools were constructed to give the swimmer a further sense of weightlessness in addition to their natural buoyancy. The three pools consist of the whirl bowl, the sulfur bowl and the brine bowl. The whirl bowl has a whirlpool effect that is ideal for relaxation. In the sulphur bowl, sulphurous water runs into it every 15 minutes and massage benches can be found all around the edges. The brine bowl has a salt content of 5% with underwater music and light effects. The water temperature of the bowls varies between 32° to 36°. 

The thermal indoor pools are just as impressive. Two big pools, filled with 34° and 36° Celsius warm, sulphurous thermal water makes for healthy bathing throughout the whole year. The Thermal indoor area also includes huge windows – that offers panoramic views of the surrounding nature – a waterfall, solaria and heat oasis.

Under the name Gletscherglühen, the Aqua Dome also offers an equally diversified and sophisticated sauna world. The earth sauna, inside a pine wood cabin, is extremely hot and can reach about 90°, however, because its half embedded into the earth, it makes the heat bearable. The other saunas include a glacier cave with ice rain and a stimulating Kneipp trail.

The Aqua Dome offers a separate water world for children and families, the Alpen Arche Noah. This area has two large swimming pools, a water slide, a playroom, an underwater camera and even a cinema. The hotel also has a fitness centre and offers hiking and activity programmes and is renowed for its fine dining and luxurious rooms.

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Visit The Aqua Dome Website for more information.

ALBEROBELLO – ITALY'S HOBBITON

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The rows of whitewashed pitched-roof abodes are like something out of a fairy-tale. One glance at the Italian village of Alberobello and you might just think you have stumbled on Mediterranean Middle-earth Hobbit dwelling. This argitectural style, known as Trulli, is unique to the Apulia region of Italy. This style of architecture can also be found in the Italian villages of Locorotondo, Fasano, Cisternino and Martina Franca.

In 1644, the King of Naples sent tax collectors intermittently to the Puglia region, near the town of Alberobello. Although under the rule of the Spanish, the Kingdom of Naples was a powerful force in Italy at the time and one of the biggest cities in all of Europe. Fearing the immense power of the Kingdom, the local lord Count Acquaviva, needed to create a feudal settlement that could be dismantled easily to avoid a settlement tax. To accomplish that end, he forced local people into trullo houses that could be easily taken apart.

After years of feudal control by Acquaviva, the town of Alberobello finally overthrew the count and were granted royal town status by the King of Naples. Although they threw out their overseer, they kept the style of their house and the town has remained close to its roots for the last 200 years (via).

The architectural elements that distinguish Trulli from any other buildings are: the stone arcs, the cones, the ledges, the chimney pots, the gutters, the flat-stone roofs and the pinnacles. Most remarkable is also the symbols (monograms, emblems, initials and magical signs) used mostly on the roofs for decoration.

The whole structure is built with local limestone and no mortar. Made of concentric stone rings, the Trullo's roof is laid on the supporting structure, with a slight overhang towards the interior. The floors are the natural stone. The structure is painted white, while the roof, designed to  facilitate the flowing of the rain water, remain unpainted. Rain water is channeled towards an underground cistern. The pinnacle on top of the Trullo is not only for decorative purpose, but it also locks the last layers of stone in place. There are two walls, an interior and an exterior, with the gap in between filled with rubble that serves as an excellent insulation during winter and is cool during summer. The fireplaces and stoves are built into the walls, so no heat is wasted.

Alberobello's unique beauty and characteristics makes it a popular tourist destination. The Trulli represents one of the most extraordinary examples of Italian folk architecture. Alberobello currently has approximately 11 000 inhabitants whereof 1 500 trulli are still lived in. Some have been converted to restaurants, shops holiday houses or hotels. In 1996 it was declared an UNESCO world heritage site.

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Sources:
Atlas Obscura
Trullishire

THE INCREDIBLE FLOATING ISLANDS OF PERU

The Uros tribe, in Peru, South America, live most of their lives on man-made floating islands. Their living arrangements can easily be one the most unique in the world. The people of the Uros tribe has created these islands on the isolated Lake Titicaca for protection against stronger tribes. Tortura reeds are interwoven to create a dense foundation of about 2 m thick. To provide anchorage, large logs are drilled through the island into the floor of the lake, ropes are then attached to provide stability.  

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The Uros tribe also uses the reeds to build their huts and their boats. In many ways the reeds have become their livelihood. Iodine is produced from the reeds and sold. They are also used for general medicinal purposes – when wrapped around a painful part of the body, the pain is said to simply vanish. The flowers of the reeds are also used to brew coffee.

The Uros tribe have learned to overcome the many hurdles of island life. The islands needs regular maintenance and upkeep because the reeds rot and needs to be replace with fresh ones at least four times a year. Also, to avoid the reeds from catching fire, Uros avoids the open flame cooking method and instead opts for a more traditional method of making fire on top of a pile of rocks. A very small island near the larger ones serves the purpose of attending to nature’s calls.

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The Uros people represent a near-perfect community that has learned to live in great harmony with their surroundings but unfortunately, like many other unique cultures in the world, they are under threat from assimilation. They are said to have lost their own language half a century ago and now speak Aymara – the language of the mainland tribes. With the arrival of the Europeans the Uros were forced to pay taxes and also gave up many of their people as slaves.

Despite all the struggles they have been through over the years, the Uros are still thriving. Today Lake Titicaca is home to forty small islands and a large central one. The central island acts as the central point of the tribal community and also has a radio station that broadcasts for several hours of the day. Solar panels are installed on the homes help to run electronic appliances such as television sets. They also have several schools that provide education for children.

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