Capital Gate Abu Dhabi down plays the Pisa
(via People Daily)
The new (inclining) hotel in Abu Dhabi, Capital Gate, has entered the Guinness Book of Records being the world’s most inclined tower with a height of 160 meters that leans westward at 18 degrees, 14 degrees more than the 4 only Pisa in Italy. Ofcourse the beauty of the Pisa remains in it’s original uninteded incline, but this will definitely turn heads to UAE once more now. The project is expected to complete by end 2010.
Official Hotel Page: http://www.capitalgate.ae
Find Hotels in Abu Dhabi starting at $53/night.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Companies bidding for world tallest, 1 KM, Jeddah Kingdom Tower
Tallest man-built construction in the world, Burj Khalifa, has not yet celebrated it’s first birthday, and haven’t even yet recovered from the public observation deck shutdown, and Jeddah is already expecting bids on it’s 1 KM tallest Kingdom Tower in the world project on April 14th. When completed, this will be more than 400 m taller than the Makkah Clock Tower opening this August, and over 150 m taller than the tallest Burj Khalifa building.
It’s the war of skyscrapers, and it’s costing a fortune.
[via MEED]
Popularity: 6% [?]
Burj Khalifa – Dubai, tallest structure in the world
When it comes to Guinness records in construction, very often you’re being chased, and will get left only second best, by Dubai. Their latest Burj Khalifa skycraper which opened in the 4th of January this year, is just another perfect example, setting up 14 world records, mostly related to heights. The construction which took 5 years to complete now resembles the tallest man-made structure ever built, rising up 828 m high, leaving Warsaw radio mast second with 646.38 m, and that’s not even for residential use.
The cost of this project alone is $1.5 billions, part of the $20 billion Downtown Dubai. Only in Dubai in such down time worldwide economic crisis would you see these spendings. Spendings that in March 2009 made office space of 1 sq ft cost $4,000, that’s $43,000 per square meter. Now when the project was still in construction, I used to ask my self how comfortable would I be living in a never tried before heights, how convenient would it be if I reach 800 m high, only to realize I forgot my laptop in the car. That’s a long ride isn’t it?
But that’s just me, and they probably have it figured out. And it’s not like I’ll be able to afford it anyhow. But with such prices, who can? How many would be able to, and how many would agree to make such an investment. Is there really a payback period for this project? Or is it meant as another symbol for Dubai like Burj Al-Arab? Remember we’re not adding up the maintenance cost here. Can you imagine the cost of just cleaning up these windows?
Apparently, it would take 36 workers three to four months to wash up the 24,348 windows of the building. Mind you these aren’t regular window washers, but rather ones with exceptional bravery for heights and strong winds.
The Observation Deck:
On January 5th, At The Top, third highest observation deck in the world, opened on the 124th floor, at a hight of 442 m, only to be closed to the public 3 days later, after a power supply failure locked tourists in the elevator for 45 minutes. Rumors spread about the reopening of the deck on February 14th, but apparently they are just that, rumors. So tourists don’t raise your hopes in getting anything more than a close look at the building from outside right now, or else you’ll end up like others.
Outside Burj Khalifa:
Outside the skycraper lays the the $217 million record fountain system called Dubai Fountain. The fountain is a masterpiece by it self (see video below). Also, Burj Khalifa park surrounds the building spreading across 27-acre, mimicing the core design concepts of the building it self, which is based on the desert flower, Hymenocallis.
Videos:
Something that beautiful can’t be described in words, and no, not even a picture would do. Enjoy these video collections.
Did you see the writings on the wall?
First day of observation deck opening.
Window cleaning has never been more difficult.
Dubai Fountain
World record base jumping off Burj Khalifa
References:
Popularity: 8% [?]
Mardan Palace – Europe’s most expensive hotel opening in June
No recession, and neither a disease spread is gonna half the opening of the newest most expensive hotel in Europe, situated in Antalya, Turkey with a cost of $1.4 billion dollar. Mardan Palace is scheduled to open this June offering 560 rooms, 2 of which are royal suites that are in the reach of people welling to spend $18,000 for a night of sleep.
Official Website: http://www.mardanpalace.com/
News Source & More Info: Gadling
Compare Hotel Prices (once available): http://hotels.7ojozat.com/Hotel/Mardan_Palace_Hotel_Antalya.htm
More Hotels in Antalya: http://hotels.7ojozat.com/City/Antalya.htm
Popularity: 12% [?]
Wanna visit the Grand Canyon? Here is a tip!
Wanna go there?
I’ve been to it as a teenager. It’s long and hard trip. I don’t recall the ring road over the edge, but the Helicopter ride is so much breath taking. Plan to go there? TravelMuse has the tips for you.
Accommodations In Grand Canyon.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Best and most affordable adventure plans
SmarterTravel have published two great articles for adventure and hiking lovers. The first gives you the best new adventure trips of 2009, covering places in Scotland, Philippines, West Africa and others. The other is a list of ten amazing adventures you can take for less than $1,000! If you’re adventure and hiking seeker, don’t miss it.
To find your best hotel for the trip, 7ojozat.com.
Popularity: 3% [?]
What happens to unclaimed luggage?
After a period of search, those unclaimed luggage at the airport gets auctioned, and someone has developed a bizarre hobby of buying and photoing them as something he says less odd than stamp collection. The guy then thought of creating a website he called IsThisYourLuggage.com to help find the real owners of the unclaimed luggage, showing photos of the luggage and all it’s inside content. Who would want to go really to claim his publicly disclosed missing underwear? Unless there’s something else more fancy in his bag.
[via GADLING]
Popularity: 2% [?]
Social Media Is There To Help Travelers
The power of social networks and sites is irreplaceable really no matter how you try, people are swearing by it as the future of the web. Social sites are not only for chatting and wasting time, but has a much greater value in them for the people seeking it. You can use it to reach out, learn from different cultures, get targeted advise where you need it from people who want to help. And the same applies for traveling. You can use these social sites to learn more about the different destinations, use what people shared from their experience, and then use other interactive social sites, like Facebook and Twitter to get the extra help you need. In fact, a British guy named Paul Smith (TwitchHiker) is doing just that with his half-across the world trip to raise charity money, relying solely on Twitter for followers offering help, advise, stay, and transportation. So far, he’s already approaching the end of his trip with about 11,000 followers and saying “11,000 people and managing to twitchhiker around the world can’t be wrong“.
Ofcourse, you don’t have to go to that extreme, but Mashable have prepared a very nice article about how and what to use of the social media for your travel needs.
Popularity: 2% [?]
iStopOver – Save By Renting House Space
Rather than leasing hotels or apartments, iStopOver.com gives you the traveler a way to rent a space in people’s houses and apartments, at an average much better rate. House owners could also make extra money from their unused extra space by listing and renting it. While this may seem like a cheap way to spend the vacation, the look of some of the house listings are quite amazing, with various photos and a map location as well. Heck, some even list Wifi and free long distance calls (however they can manage to do that). The site seems still a bit new, so it’s low on the amount of listings and more on the reviews. As it grows further, you can even find reviews for the places before renting them, or you can contribute your own.
[via mashable]
Popularity: 2% [?]
Hotels.com offering pillowcase with your favorite photo on it
Kinda weird, yes. Hotels.com now offers it’s customers the ability to upload or email a photo of anyone or anything (here comes a load of debate and lawsuits I guess), and the company will send over a pillowcase with your photo on it to the hotel you’re staying in. Does that sound fun?
via Travel In Light.
Popularity: 3% [?]
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