Tuesday, September 10, 2013

There is a cafe that sits right on the borderline between Belgium and Netherlands

There are 22 Belgian exclaves in the Netherlands and 6 Dutch exclaves located within the largest Belgian exclave. Such land distribution results in complexity of borders between the two countries.

It is not unusual that one part of the building is located in Belgium and the other in Netherlands. This cafe, for example, is located right on the borderline between Belgium and Netherlands. This border runs across the town of Baarle-Nassau.



There must be quite a few entrepreneurs in this town using its location and difference in laws to their own benefit.

source: today i learned

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Friday, August 30, 2013

The World’s First All-glass Undersea Restaurant Opens

15 th April marks the day that the first ever all-glass undersea restaurant in the world opens its doors for business at the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. It will sit five meters below the waves of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and encased in clear acrylic offering diners 270-degrees of panoramic underwater views.



“We have used aquarium technology to put diners face-to-face with the stunning underwater environment of the Maldives”, says Carsten Schieck, General Manager of Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. “Our guests always comment on being blown aw ay by the colour, clarity, and beauty of the underwater world in the Maldives, so it seemed the perfect idea to build a restaurant where diners can experience fine cuisine and take time to enjoy the views - without ever getting their feet wet.”






Created by MJ Murphy Ltd, a design consultancy based in New Zealand, Ithaa’s distinctive feature is the use of curved transparent acrylic walls and roof, similar to those used in aquarium attractions. “The fact that the entire restaurant except for the floor is made of clear ac rylic makes this unique in the world,” continues Schieck, “We are currently planting a coral garden on the reef to add to the spectacular views of the rays, sharks and many colorful fish that live around the area.