In what country people are the happiest?

Here is the question asked from the OECD (organization for economic co-operation and development). After a survey, they got an answer.

This analyze is base on the economic power, social data and subjective facts from 140 countries.

According to investigated people, here are 6 different feelings, negative or positive; they had theses last 24h.

Most of the countries on the top of this list have a high income per capita, they are North European countries.

1. Denmark
2. Finland
3. Netherland
4. Sweden
5. Ireland
6. Canada
7. Switzerland
8. New Zealand
9. Norway
10. Belgium

We can suppose that this question didn’t reach to children taking a shower in The Mekong River, neither to the one climbing trees In India, or to those living in a lost temple in Bhutan.

In spite of economical difficulties in these countries, OECD’s members could have a big surprise.

Ever since the alarm jumped on the first cases of transmission of tripartite virus H1N1 (human/to make haste/pig) of the pig to the man, newspapers speak on a daily basis of swine flu. The WHO (World-wide Organization of the Health) is thinking about raising the pandemic alert until level 5 on 6, since the virus extends quickly and its spread is already at world-wide level. Nevertheless, confirmed mortal cases of pig influenza outside Mexico do not exist.

What it is more hopeful is that to confront the pig influenza, we count on past experiences and tools that we have nowadays: Antiviral drugs, systems of attention and monitoring epidemiologist system, the WHO, a greater organization and cooperation between countries, etc.
On the other hand, it is a disease that is transmitted by the air, not by the consumption of pig meat.

Going to the hospital with the first symptoms (high fever, headache, nasal congestion and general fatigue), doctors have 24 to 48h to diagnose the disease and to administer an antiviral drug called Tamiflu (used in the bird influenza). Symptoms appear within 10 days after having been in contact with the virus.
We have to highlight that in spite of the fast expansion of the virus, treatments are successful and people are safe within a few days.

Lamentably, the government of Mexico, place of origin of the epidemic, is not absolutely transparent. It is the only place where mortal cases happened, and it does not know itself why this virus has arisen in this country.

We hope that the virus does not mutate, and that Mexico clarifies some details still unknown. In any case, the pig is not guilty … after all; we passed the influenza to him. Unfortunately, it has been given back to the Human.

Couchsurfing consists in welcoming one or more people in lending your sofa, for a night (or more…), a piece of your garden in order to plant a tent, or, even better, a room with a real bed, or simply, having a cup of coffee with a foreigner to do some culture exchanges. Rules are not specified which makes all the charm of it.

According to a survey done by “Réseau de Veille en Tourisme de l’UQAM” more than hosting, it’s all the travel philosophy that’s changing: “Couchsurfing moves aside travelers from usual touristic places, stimulates better behavior to the host community and strengthens intercultural understanding”. What do we need else?

Where to get informed?

You can go on the website www.couchsurfing.com; there are a lot of offers. Thus, don’t miss the opportunity to get to know new people from other cultures by traveling for cheap.

Here are some websites where you can get more information.
Couchsurfing.com
hospitality club
Let me stay for a day

Melkevoll Bretun, is a little paradise in the North West of Norway, only an hour away from The Briksdal glacier . You won’t remain stony-faced with this amazing landscape.

The Olderdalen Valley, houses the biggest European icecap.
On your way, you might meet some otters and gulls. This valley offers unique landscapes; there are rivers with plenty of salmons, its fiords and waterfalls.

@ Melkevoll Bretun

Inge and Gro have settled in here, and offer this unusual accommodation.
Everyone, while being a child, has already thought about living as our ancestors.

This couple got the idea to do up a former prehistoric cave in order to give you an accommodation for some nights and they are really proud of it.

The concept: you sleep in a cave with animal’s skin as a blanket and a fire to warm you up. You get everything to wake up your bestial side!

Various activities are available, such as hiking, fishing on the lack, bouldering (new kind of climbing), and a sightseeing tour.

Moreover, there are a lot of parking places for caravans, plenty of rooms to put tents, as well as upscale chalets.

In the main building you will find: the front desk, a kiosk, a coffee bar with internet access, a laundry room, toilets, bathroom and sauna.
Everyone is allowed to get into “the barn”, a large building from where you can enjoy a panoramic view onto The Briksdal glacier.

So, if you don’t where to spend your next holiday, get more information about this outstanding place, endowed with amazing landscapes.

Even if everyone knows that nothing is cheap in Norway, costs are not unconscionable.

Contact:
Nordfjiord. N-6792 Briksdalsbre Oldedalen
00 47 57 87 38 64

Two artists from Switzerland, Sabina Lang and Daniel Baumann (L/B), got the idea of this original concept.

The Everland hotel combines art, design and accommodation of quality.
The concept is simple: Putting down a modern capsule on the top of a monument, a museum, an unusual place to create an absolute illusion as you are in a hotel room.

Customers must feel like being in a hotel room and must get the impression to merge with the building.
The room, 35m2, provides a king-size bed, a bathroom, a mini bar and has everything expected from a luxury hotel. The difference? An exceptional view!

We have already seen this capsule in 2002 at the Expo 02, in Switzerland, at the edge of the lack Neuchâtel. This project was a success. Public were invited to spend a night inside.

Then, this capsule was in Germany, on the Museum of fine arts in Leipzig, and for the first time in France, in Paris, on the top of the Tokyo Palace.

During its stay in the French capital, staff from the famous Hotel Sezz, which is partner of the project, is in charge of cleanness.
However, the 2 idea men do not want to make a business of this capsule. They wish that customers enjoy a unique and artistic experience.

That’s why, only one night per person (or per couple) is available. You can book it only 2 months in advance.

Admittedly not everyone can afford it, but imagine you, in Paris, with unobstructed view guaranteed, rocked with city lights, lighting up your room…

This is an exclusive experience.
The only way to get to know where the hotel Everland will go next, is to register on the website.
So, take look on it, even just out of curiosity, maybe it will pass by around your city. For now, it is in Paris till the end of May…

Video tells more than pictures. Here is the overview of this unusual housing…

@ Youtube

Even with the crisis, we wish to escape, once, twice, event three times a year from our routine.

But what’s the price of it? Nowadays, there are low cost, flights cheaper than others. We are able to go all over Europe, and sometimes more, for really low-priced.

But, once we’ve got the flights we need to find accommodation, and most of the time, this fee is not low cost anymore. Here, the home exchange for holiday steps in.

The concept is simple. For instance, you go on holiday to US to M. X. While you are there, M.X is in your house, in UK.

Lending your own home is a kind of “special”, I agree. For sure, right now, you are thinking about “Ho my God! What about if someone steals something!!!” or “What about if they do strange things in my bed”. That’s true!
But after a bit of cleanup and changing sheets, it’s fine again. Moreover, I think there is no hotel that changes mattress and bed after each client.

Above all, think about all the saving you can make, by going anywhere in the world. Funds planed for the housing will be used to enjoy, even more, your holiday.

If you are still skeptical, take a look on the websites:
-> Home exchange
-> Switch home
-> Home link

There are offers and feedbacks.

“Thanks for your help to locate an exchange for us. We did find one for Germany and spent the most relaxing holiday we ever had, in the Harz Mountains, for 3 weeks. The other couple met us there and took us for dinner with their mother who would help us out during our stay. We had a great exchange! Both couples did and it all worked perfectly!
We met and made new friends.
Home exchanging is the BEST way to go and we’ll do it again as often as possible. Even people we corresponded with and couldn’t make it work out right, have become friends through email, and it is so interesting to hear from all over the world!”
Dianne and Ed Clowes: Canada”

According to Egyptians, pyramid is a peak where life on Earth was born.

Denis Duchêne and his son got the idea to build a pyramid made of glass, entirely transparent. This takes place in “La Ferme Aventure”, in the heart of “les Vosges”, in France.

Inside, you will find a king bed, from where you will enjoy the sunset, a starry night, all of that goes with a soft light supplied by a solar panel.

@La Ferme Aventure

All around this tetrahedron, there are some cairns covered with bracken: An association between the mineral and the vegetal world.

Sheets are not provided, and toilets are outside.
Furthermore you will have your breakfast at the farm.

La Ferme Aventure offers also some activities such as: balneology, visit of the medieval castle in Fontenois, hiking, fishing, and tennis.

@La Ferme Aventure

You will lucky to spend your holiday in this curious hotel in the south of Chile. It is located in the Huilo-Huilo reserve, a reserve of 60000 hectares. This reserve holds the snow-covered volcano Mocho-Choshuenco, fabulous fall waters, and mountains torrents. The Magic Mountains hotel looks like it has been taken from a Disney movie.
There are 13 rooms with unobstructed view as they are all around the core. All, made of wood, are furnished and have a large bathroom. They are reachable via a spiral staircase made of wood and stones.
From your room, you will be able to look up to eagles and condors flying.
A spring gushes out from the top of the hotel as a volcano and streams in the form of waterfall along walls which makes this hotel particular.
Moreover, this hotel offers one of the best restaurants in Chili, ‘The Forest Table’, Warless connection for all laptops, mini golf, sauna, trips to discover the wildlife.. they also have strange Jacuzzi, made in trunks located up on a terrace from where you can see all the forest… A dream…
Here is the dream …

Nearby, there are two villages where can ride bicycles, go kayaking on Pirhueinco lack. Summer is also the best period for fishing and hunting, where as winter provides boardsports

This a soothing and magic place that you can’t forget.

This video can give you a glimpse at this peaceful place.

In the Pyrenees, at an altitude of 9438.86 ft, in the Pic du Midi, the best panorama of the region takes place. At the top, you will go into ecstasies looking at this amazing view; you will also find a museum about astronomy, a traditional mountains restaurant, an observatory-hotel with bedrooms identical as while researchers were living there. Each room provides a bed and a washbasin; WC and showers are at the same floor. Hosts of this shelter have voluntarily left everything identical. Moreover, sheets, blankets and towels are provided.
There is not a single night alike. You will get to the pick via a cable car, from the Mongie, at the bottom of Tourmallet saddle point.
You will have the head in stars for a night

@ Andy Howell

Haven’t you already thought, during long flights, being on your own in a plane?
La Ferme Aventure, located in les Vosges, France offers the opportunity of sleeping in a caravel, a fabled plane from the fifties, in a huge leisure park.
This plane, made in 282 copies, was baptized Ohrid; it was sold in 1967 to JAT a Yugoslavian company. This plane flied for the last time in 1985. After 20000 hours of flying, it has been dismantled and moved toward les Voges in France.
Inside, you will enjoy an amazing white and blue décor, a bedroom with a shower unit, a living room, a bar near the cockpit.
An unusual night is waiting for you!!!

@La Ferme Aventure