Pretty Cool Things

The huge storm system that struck western Europe on Monday March 10, 2008, caused the beaching of the Artemis, a Dutch registered cargo ship, in Les Sables d’Olonne on France’s west coast. Maritime officials said the Artemis was approaching the port when high winds pushed it off course. Here are some cool photos courtesy of surf-report.com and a video of the stranded freighter.

Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe… This spot at the top of the Falls, known as the Devil’s Pool, is not exactly my first choice of swimming pool. Actually it’s a naturally formed safe pool, accessible between September and December, when the water levels are lower. The drop below is a mere 100 metres.

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Here’s a cool promo ad for FIFA Street 3 with some of the most incredible ball control skills you’ll ever witness.  Some of the craziest tricks were likely doctored.

Eclipsed by its flashier cousin to the north, Abu Dhabi is actually bigger and more powerful than Dubai and is aiming to brand itself as a culture capital and and stylish Middle East alternative. With 9% of the world’s oil reserves, Abu Dhabi is the largest of the emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE), comprising 87% of the territory. Although it’s playing catchup to Dubai on the construction front, there are some spectacular projects in the works. Here’s a sampling.

Saadiyat Island – The Island of Happiness

At 27 square km, it’s half the size of the island of Bermuda, and will become one of the Middle East’s largest natural island developments.

Features of the US$27 billion island include:

• A Louvre Museum
• The Performing Arts Centre
• The Guggenheim
• Large-scale shopping complexes
• Several luxury resorts
• Nine kilometers of pristine beaches
• A championship golf course
• A protected wetlands area with boutique retreats and eco-tourism activities

Ferrari Theme Park

The ever expanding Ferrari brand is now moving into the realm of Disneyland. Ferrari is opening a 2,500 acre theme park that will include over 24 attractions. Highlights include a 70-metre tall G-Force Tower, the world’s first F1 branded twin roller coaster ride (allowing races between carriages), simulator rides, a race track, luxury hotels, apartments, villas, a golf course, and dozens of restaurants. The project is expected to cost over US $600 million US and will open in 2009.

Desert Islands Project

The Desert Islands will be created off the coast of Abu Dhabi and will be comprised of eight separate islands. The islands will include a nature preserve, a cultural destination, and a showcase for world-class environmental, conservation and ecological tourism. All will be linked by a ferry and hydrofoil service, water taxis and sea planes.

Development will be phased – with an estimated price tag of more than US $3 billion, with the first phase expected to be completed by 2010.

Abu Dhabi Louvre

The Louvre has sold Abu Dhabi’s royal family a €700 million share in the franchise. This will allow them to transfer several hundred works of art to the new Abu Dhabi Louvre for an initial term of 20 years.

The first exhibits will be available for viewing in 2012, and the entire project is scheduled for completion by 2018.

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