The Happy Explorer

The glass staircase at the Apple Store Amsterdam

Happy — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:53:51 +0000

I’m a big fan of Apple so I was very excited when Apple recently opened Europe’s largest Apple Store in my town, Amsterdam. Housed in the Hirsch building (a former bank office), the store is indeed huge and the interior, with its clean surfaces and gorgeous columns, is stunning. The Apple products are beautifully displayed but it’s the spectacular glass staircase that will grab your attention when you enter the store.

Aerial view of the Cambodian countryside

Happy — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:40:48 +0000

The Cambodian countryside is a patchwork of rice fields, villages and lakes. This photo was taken near the town of Siem Reap, which is famous as the gateway to the ancient city of Angkor Wat.

Read the accompanying post: ‘The Wonders of Angkor Wat‘.

The camels of Timanfaya

Happy — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:24:09 +0000

The Timanfaya National Park is one of the major attractions on the island of Lanzarote off the coast of Africa. With its surreal volcanic landscapes, the national park looks more like the surface of Mars than anything else on our planet. A popular tour in the park is a camel ride around the volcanic cones.

Read the accompanying post: ‘Ten Things To Do in Lanzarote‘.

Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius

Happy — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:00:10 +0000

The famous Roman city of Pompeii was completely destroyed by an eruption of nearby Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79. Today, Pompeii is one of Italy’s most popular tourist attractions, drawing visitors from around the world who come here to explore the ruins of the city and admire it’s impressive frescoes and statues. Wherever you are in the city, the cone of Mt. Vesuvius looms large in the distance, a reminder of the city’s tragic fate.

Read the accompanying posts: ‘The Faces of Pompeii‘ and ‘Aerial views of Mt. Vesuvius‘.

The magnetic stones of Easter Island

Happy — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:30:11 +0000

One of the lesser-known attractions on Easter Island (or Rapa Nui) is a mysterious ancient ceremonial site that features a large globe-like magnetic stone, surrounded by four other smaller stones. If you put your hands on the globe’s smooth surface, you might feel little electro-magnetic pulses emanate through your hands and arms.

Read the accompanying post: ‘Mystical Rapa Nui‘.

The magnetic stones of Easter Island

You might feel little electromagnetic pulses when you touch the big globe

Inside the Transcantabrico Gran Lujo

Happy — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:03:32 +0000

The Transcantabrico Gran Lujo is a luxury train that crosses five provinces in northern Spain, from San Sebastian to Santiago de Compostela. Along the way, guests are treated to views of the beautiful coastline, gushing rivers, verdant meadows and impressive mountains. The Gran Lujo is one of the world’s most luxurious trains, with two suites in each car (complete with en-suite bathrooms) and an exquisite Pullman dining car.

Read the accompanying post: “Onboard the luxurious Transcantabrico Gran Lujo“.

The dining car

A spacious suite in the Gran Lujo

The bedroom in the suite

Man Mo temple in Hong Kong

Happy — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:10:13 +0000

The 19th century Man Mo temple is one of Hong Kong’s oldest surviving monuments. Located on Hollywood Road, it doesn’t look like much from the outside but step inside and you’ll find a wonderfully atmospheric temple, with its hanging coils, incense-filled air, statues and altars heaped with offerings to the gods.

Read the accompanying post: ‘Ten Things To Do in Hong Kong‘.

Rowing on the Amstel River

Happy — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:22:29 +0000

Rowing is a popular sport in the Netherlands. In Amsterdam, the Amstel River is often used for rowing competitions. The start often takes place near the village of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel (just outside Amsterdam) and follows the meandering Amstel River, past stately villas, verdant meadows and windmills, before reaching the city centre.

Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton

Happy — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:12:35 +0000

The present structure of the Art Gallery of Alberta stands on the site of the old Edmonton Museum of Arts and was completed in 2010. Designed by Randall Stout, a Los Angeles-based architect, the new gallery in downtown Edmonton houses more than 6,000 historical and contemporary art works.

Chocolate delights in Lucca

Happy — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:03:11 +0000

Lucca is a lovely historic town in northern Tuscany, Italy. Famous for its Renaissance architecture, including its magnificent Cathedral and the Piazza Anfiteatro, Lucca is also home to more edible delights like chocolates.

Chocolate & pistachio shavings. YUM!

Tools made of chocolate!