21 of the world’s sexiest rooftop pools [PICS]

1

Marina Bay Sands

In Singapore. 57 floors up, this 500 foot long pool is not for the faint of heart. Photo by williamcho

2

Hotel Joule

In Dallas. Part of the pool juts out from the building with only a thick pane of glass between swimmers and the city ten floors below. Photo by the urban fabric

3

Thompson Toronto Hotel

Opened in June 2010, the heated infinity pool is on the 16th floor and overlooks downtown Toronto. Photo by Thompson Hotels

4

Harbour Plaza Hotel

In Hong Kong. Glass-walled pool with views of downtown Hong Kong and the distant hills. Photo by PVCG

5

Old Sydney Holiday Inn

Could there be better views of Sydney? It seems unlikely as this pool looks onto the city spanning from the Harbour Bridge to the Opera House. Photo by Starr Public Relations.

6

Colonnade Boston Hotel

The only rooftop pool in Boston, the Colonnade's is 11 stories up and non-hotel guests are welcome during the week. Photo by colonnade

7

Vine Hotel

In Funchal, Portugal. This heated pool gives 360 degree views of Madeira Island. Photo by Vine Hotel

8

Standard Hotel

In Los Angeles. Astroturf lawn, panoramic views of downtown, vibrating waterbed pods, a fireplace, dance floor and plenty of lounge chairs make this a place to see and be seen in LA. Photo by skampy

9

Grand Hotel Central

In Barcelona. The infinity pool gives great views of Barcelona's famous Gothic District. Photo by Grand Hotel Barcelona

10

Gansevoort Pool

In New York City. In Manhattan's trendy Meatpacking District, this pool is open year round and has underwater music and lights. Photo by Gansevoort.

11

Hotel Udai Kothi

In Udaipur, India. Dine in the alcoves poolside or enjoy the view from the water over the palaces of old town Udaipur. Photo by mathias

12

Intercontinental Hotel

In Hong Kong. The infinity hot tubs of the spa make it seem as though you're taking a dip in the harbor. Photo by InterContinentalHongKong

13

SLS Hotel

In Beverly Hills. Sophistication and glamour surround you at this 6th floor hotspot between Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. If you get tired of swimming, you can relax in one of the poolside cabanas. Photo by Florian SEROUSSI

14

Fasano Hotel

In Rio de Janeiro. Relax and enjoy the full view of Ipanema beach 8 floors down. Keep an eye out for celebrities as well; Yoko Ono, Calvin Klein, and Madonna stay at the Fasano when they're in Rio. Photo by LyDzzz

15

Club 50 Viceroy

In Miami. 50 stories up, this club doesn't encourage swimming in the roof pool, though after a few cocktails it will seem pretty tempting. If you feel desperate for a swim, check out the 50-person hot tub in the Viceroy Hotel spa. Photo by Viceroy Hotels.

16

Fullerton Bay Hotel

In Singapore. With a great view of the Marina Sands casino and the Singapore River, the Fullerton Bay Hotel infinity pool is over 75 feet long. Photo by williamcho

17

Thompson LES

Stills of Andy Warhol are featured on the bottom of this pool in New York's Lower East Side. Photo by Thompson Hotels

18

Sky Bar

In Kuala Lampur. Snuggle up in a private booth or dance poolside with views of the Petronas Towers, but don't jump in - it's not for swimming. Photo by Stuck in Customs

19

Habita Monterrey

In Mexico. Swim year round with a hot pool on one side of the hotel and a cold pool on the other. Photo by Habita Monterrey

20

W Hotel

In Hong Kong. The world's highest pool - it's a breathtaking 76 floors up. Photo by randomwire

21

Luna Bar

In Kuala Lampur. A sunset drink poolside at Luna Bar is practically a must if you're in the city. Photo by Mr. Bone

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Almost Untouched Nature – Waterfall Restaurant, Philippines

Visiting this interesting Waterfall Restaurant located in San Pablo City, Philippines at the Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort can be a truly unique and memorable experience. Visitors can enjoy in lunch served on bamboo dining tables while the crystalline running water flows under their feet.

Besides enjoying the authentic local cuisine, you can enjoy the almost untouched nature of the region formerly occupied by a farm and coconut plantations. If you need to spend calories after lunch then you have opportunity to do some sports activities like Bamboo rafts . Try your hand at paddling a native bamboo raft on lake Labasin.

Image credit

Also, guests have the opportunity to watch the Philippine Experience Show where the country’s rich culture comes to life, from its ethnic diversity to its colonial legacy. The dances were painstakingly recreated by the late National Artist for Dance Ramon Obusan of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Mr. Obusan’s insistence on authenticity sets this show, performed by resort employees and accompanied by the resort’s own musicians and rondalla ensemble, makes this show a far cry from the stylized performances one sees today.

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The cheapest places to live in the world. $500 a month

Are you tired of busy cities, crowded streets, high rents and almost non-affordable mortgage? Well...there are places in the world where you can live well for less. The cheapest places to live are also the most beautiful and exotic destinations. So why not make your dreams come true, pack your bags and move to one of those paradise locations, if not for a lifetime, then at least for a year or two?

There are two simple rules to follow while searching for low cost destinations. Firstly: if you find a place cheap enough to travel to, then most probably you will also find it cheap to live in. Secondly: wherever you are, the further from the big cities and large agglomerations, the cheaper it gets.   

Of course 'cheap' is a very relative concept, and what is cheap for you may not be cheap for people living some place else in the world. 

But if 'cheap' means spending just a few dollars/euro/pounds a day, then these locations in Asia and Central America may interest you...

THAILAND

This could be your home. By rene ehrhardt

Have you ever been to Thailand? Do you remember that feeling of paying $1 (€0.70) for a glass of beer? Did you ask yourself then what it would feel like to pay that much for a drink back home? Or the other way round... what would it feel like to enjoy such prices on a daily basis? If your answers are yes, yes, yes ...then why not consider moving to the Land of Smiles for a while?

Life is short and, really, no one forces you to spend your days sitting in the office with a computer as your best friend. Think about sandy beaches, constant sunshine and excellent food and realize that you can have it all for less than $500 (€350) a month.

Of course this amount will not pay a beach apartment but you can easily find cheap accommodation in places as beautiful as Chang Mai, up north, where you will pay around $30 (€21) a month for a small flat. Nearer the coast, a room in the apartments runs at roughly $90 (€63) upwards.

Chang Mai by Dj Badly

Cooking at home will cost you nothing as fruits, vegetables and meat at the local markets fall into the budget category. If you are too lazy to cook then try excellent Thai food from street-side food stalls. You can get spicy chicken with rice or noodles for around $1 (€0.70). Spending around $200 (€142) for food a month, you still have around $200 (€142) spare to enjoy local trips, restaurants, parties and some small shopping.

CAMBODIA

Angkor Wat. By Jon 2

Thinking about Cambodian history, the bloody regime of Pol Pot and poverty, no one would dare to call the country a paradise, but in terms of living cost Cambodia rivals Thailand. It does not have as great beaches as its Thai neighbor but, well, it is not all about beaches, right?  You can easily live for less than $500 (€350) in the country’s capital, Phnom Penh. 

As there are more and more foreigners living in the town, the accommodation prices are getting higher – it would be hard to find something below $200 (€142) a month, but you can always reduce this cost by sharing a flat with a friend or some long-term travelers.

With $300 (€213) left, you can easily get by in the country. The food prices are similar or lower than in Thailand. Eating in local restaurants will cost you around $2 (€1.40) a meal and $1 (€0.70) a beer but if you really aim to trim your budget, you can try food from street stalls- simple but delicious. Traveling by tuk tuk will cost you several bucks/euro a day. 

Getting around by tuk tuk. By tajai

Living in Phnom Penh, the town of no McDonald’s and Starbucks, may be a life changing experience for you. Be aware that Cambodians are extremely poor but modest people, so treat them with respect.  Getting to know a few natives may help you to understand the complex history and tough life in the country. You can always teach English or get involved with some non-governmental organizations to help change the reality around you.    

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10 Best Places to Live for Escaping World Conflict

Where would you be the safest if World War 3 broke out tomorrow? Perhaps it’s a grim subject, but safety and distance from world conflict can be a motivating factor in your choice to expatriate. At the very least, conflict around the world can weigh heavy on the soul, and it’s nice to know there are some places still left in the world where you might be left in peace. Thus, we’ve assembled a list of the 10 best places to live if you want to escape world conflict.

10. Switzerland

Switzerland’s long history of neutrality and its tucked away location among the valleys of the Alps still make it a safe bet, even despite having a high number of bordering nations. It helps that neighboring Austria is also considered a neutral nation.

9. Costa Rica

Costa Rica has a stable democracy, a disbanded military and a national policy of neutrality. It also ranks highly on the Global Peace Index, Happy Planet Index, and Life Satisfaction Index. Although it sits in the middle of a tumultuous region, there are far worse places to sit in peace as the world goes down in flames all around.

8. Papua New Guinea

There are regions of Papua New Guinea that are still being discovered for the first time. The canopy covered, mountainous nation contains some of the most isolated places in the world. Tuck yourself away in a nook here and it may be one of the few places left where you can completely insulate yourself from the outside world.

7. Canada

Canada is the second largest nation in the world, yet it only shares a land border with one other country– the U.S.A.– and it is a peaceful border. That means there is a great expanse to escape to, if need be. Furthermore, Canada has few world enemies, ranks consistently high on the Global Peace Index, and is relatively homogeneous.

6. Seychelles

Aside from being safely isolated from the rest of the world in the middle of the Indian Ocean, this beautiful island nation is a great place to forget about your worries. Isolation is the key here. And conflict is as transparent as the water.

5. Finland

Finland has a long history of desiring to stay out of international conflicts, is recognized as neutral and always ranks in the top 10 of the Global Peace Index. It’s northerly location also typically means the remote areas of this country are a perfect place to disappear.

4. Tuvalu

Isolated in the middle of Micronesia, Tuvalu is among the safest and most remote places in the world. It is the third least populated country on Earth, and the forth smallest. There are only a few places more distant from the world’s strife than Tuvalu.

3. Iceland

Iceland, of course, has no borders, has remote locations, is stable as a country and has virtually no world enemies. Its people are happy and the nation always ranks highly on the Global Peace Index. If world conflict erupts, Iceland is one of the few stable nations in the world unlikely to get caught up in the middle.

2. Bhutan

Landlocked among the Himalaya mountains, Bhutan is one of the most isolated nations in the world. It also showcases one of the most stable balances in the world between moderization and retention of ancient culture. Its religious population believes in peaceful resolution to all conflict, and although it sits in a troubled region, it remains protected by its geography.

1. New Zealand

New Zealand might be the most isolated and expansive fully developed nation in the world. It shares no borders, sits relatively distant from any other nation, has no real national enemies, has a safe democracy and a diverse landscape with many remote places to hide away within. Furthermore, it ranked #1 on the Global Peace Index in 2009.

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Funny and Crazy Asian People - Again

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