***beautiful pics used to be in this post but due to the recent lawsuits for using photos on blogs I took them down.***
It's Friday, so let's dive into the world of imagination.
We all know I might be a little obsessed with my sea creatures at the moment. How can you not love a bunch of people that can live on land or underwater? Not to mention my characters have some other awesome traits, but most of you will have to wait until the book is published--if and when it's published--to learn more about that.
For now, let's take a look at some hotels that may be the closest we as humans will ever get to living like merfolk. Or selkies. Or fish, or dolphins, or whatever your underwater life of choice would be.
I present to you, underwater hotels.
No, I kid you not. The Poseidon Resort in Fiji is scheduled to open this year. For only $30,000 per couple you can purchase a fabulous week long package and stay at this Jules Verne inspired resort .
(I haven't found proof that it's actually open for business and I didn't want to look too hard. I like to pretend that if I win the lotto tomorrow, I can book online and be sleeping underwater next week. Don't burst my bubble if you find out construction was delayed or something.)
There are also plans for something similar in Dubai. The Hydropolis where you can vacation and sleep 60 feet below the surface. *sigh*
I read that yet another underwater hotel is being planned in Istanbul. A 7-story, 7-star hotel, but from what I've read only one or two stories will actually be underwater. More research needed on this one. (I'm still dreaming of Fiji.)
And then, as if I've opened up a real life storybook, I discover Shanghai Shimao Wonderland
"The project covers a land area of 428,200 square meters, which fixes its position as theme park, experience center, exotic idyllic resort area and consumption center. The main part is the theme park and a modern five-star hotel built on the cliff of the quarry in Sheshan Hill with one floor above ground and 17 under ground. There are over 400 guestrooms on the first to fifteenth floors under ground, one thermal spring pool on the sixteenth floor under ground, and underwater restaurant and café on the seventeenth floor below the water surface, accompanied by a 100-meter-high waterfall alongside. The experience center offers a service package of indoor entertainment facilities, ocean world, sports & recreational center, water-face park, movie & TV heaven, super shopping mall, cuisine paradise etc. The resort village includes 5 resorts such as European and Southern China styled ones. Shimao Wonderland is a destination for multifold experience of tour & relaxation, food & accommodations, interactions & attractions, and retail & entertainment."One second, let me pick up my jaw off the ground.
So maybe imagination can turn into reality. Maybe that's why we writers write. The things and worlds we imagine become real in the minds of our readers.
And, if you happen to have millions of dollars you might be able to turn some of your ideas into an extraordinary resort.
However, if you're a smoker, don't build in Minnesota.What about you? Would you want to vacation underwater? If not, what is your ultimate vacation fantasy?
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53 comments:
Forget the mile-high club! That suite under the sea is soooooo sexy! -G
I'm more of a mountain & lake guy...then beach and ocean. Book me on a cruise to Alaska and I'll be happy. :)
Now all we need are some resorts in the sky and we can become winged mere-people.
I'm not currently a smoker, but I was thinking about taking it up. So I thought to myself, where would be the best place to start? Naturally, Minnesota seemed like the ideal state. Well, then I had to consider where, specifically, in Minnesota I would like to begin my newfound endeavor. I thought about it and thought about it when finally it struck me... underwater!! How fabulous would that be, starting my smoking career underwater in The Land of 10,000 Lakes?
But then I read this post... and dang it all! Back to the drawing board.
What a cool idea -- and the pictures are awe-inspiring! I'm not sure if I'd want to vacay underwater. Especially for the price tag. I think I might want to go to Harry Potter world more. And then take another trip. And then maybe another for the $30K price tag. You know?
Good thing I quit underwater smoking and don't live there. Otherwise I'd be bummed. And I can totally swing $30,000/couple. Pft...shsh...
I'm not into beaches, yet always have liked the ocean. When I was a kid, out at the ranch visiting great grandma, I said I wanted to be a marine biologist when I grew up. Living in Wyoming makes it sound kind of funny. Never did end up following that particular dream.
I would so enjoy staying in a hotel room under water. I love water.
:-D
Oh, wow! That would be unbelievable - I would LOVE it!! How on earth did you find all this cool stuff?! Fun post, Karen! :-)
No....way!
I don't know about you, Karen. But I'm totally heading to Fiji now!
Well, once I sell a few books maybe =P
Oh, the Fiji underwater hotel is dreamy. I remember spending all day at Disney's Living Seas because it was so cool being "underwater". Maybe for us poor folk we could sleep in a tiki hut on the beach, and pay $100 for a ticket to visit during the day, like Disney?
Hmm, I like Elana's idea about Harry Potter world too.
Scuba diving is my favorite thing in the world. I am a mermaid at heart. I'd LOVE to stay at that hotel in Fiji! (but 30K? Holy Cow!)
Wow. These places are so cool. How crazy is it that these places exist? I'd love to stay in one and spend all my time snorkeling. :)
There are a million vacation spots I want to visit though.
I think if I had to choose, I'd pick A tropical island with tons of ruins/caves/waterfalls to explore. Or Hawaii, which pretty much fits that description! :)
One day, when I'm rich and famous.
So, I'm asking all the blogs I follow to come visit me at my site and help support the chimera. You'll see what I mean if you're kind enough to stop by and click on our blog link! :)
Very, very cool. I don't think I'd sleep too soundly - because of the fear of drowning added to the loss of $30,000. But the pics are great. :)
Absolutely I'd vacation under water! What a spectacular experience that would be!!!
There's an underwater restaurant at a resort in the Maldives (http://www.clubairtravel.co.uk/rangali/hilton_maldives_ithaa.asp). I want to go there so much!!!
Okay, so when either one of us wins the lotto we are SO going there. Though if I have a claustrophobic panic attack, you'll have to talk me down from it.
Additionally, Georgina's comment just made her one of my new favorite people =)
Way cool! Sign me up, but then I'm already in Neverland. LOL. Smoking underwater...what silly signage!
www.a-pen-in-neverland.blogspot.com
Love it. So cool. I'm not sure if I would want to actually sleep in a room like that though- I'd be too afraid the windows would break or something...
I wonder if the sea life consider this hotel THEIR human aquarium. Somewhere down there families of fish are paying outrageous amounts of money for tickets to observe the humans lounging and possibly recreating. Schools of fish book this as a field trip.. Wonder what the souvenir shop would have in it?....
Well, now I know what to spend that spare $30,000 on! Lol. It would be cool, though!
I write about selkies, and my last novel (sadly an under-the-mattress book now) was about merfolk, so I am with you on the sea-creature fascination :)
Really How fabulous would that be, starting my smoking career underwater in The Land of 10,000 Lakes?
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Oh my goodness. These places are absolutely amazing. I'm in shock. Honestly. If only we could all be rich enough to afford something as cool as this.
My dream vacation is still to visit Atlantis. They do actually have some underwater viewing area kind of stuff. BUt yeah, dream resort/vacation, right here:
http://www.atlantis.com/
I think staying underwater would freak me out. I have weird claustrophobia that would probably stop me, but they look AMAZING.
Dude, hurry up and get your book published already. Me wants to read it!
Magical and enchanting places to stay. What a fabulous and inspiring post, Karen. Oh, and I'm looking forward to reading your book! xx
I like the idea of sleeping underwater. Pretty cool. However, I prefer to sleep BY the water or ON the water. Love the sound of waves, or water lapping the side of a boat.
Great post! What beautiful places! Someday I'll have to tackle an underwater adventure. The raw material is endless! :)
Wicked cool! Not sure about the price tag though. My dream destination is on top of a cliff face, overlooking a waterfall. (Hugs)Indigo
Oh, my. This reminds me of the detailed plans I drew for an underwater lab, including an elevator to get groceries up and down, when I was 11 or so. I eventually came up with a story to go along with it -- a romance, of course, of a lady scientist and a guy scientist.
That is so cool! I want to go to any one of those places. Smoking underwater???? Sounds interesting. Is there really a way to pull that off?
Hmmm, I wonder if we could go to Fiji and have a drink at the bar in the Poseidon? Of course, the drink would probably be $45. That is the coolest photo. You rock for finding these. :D
Hmm, yes and no. To be inside an aquarium, neat. But I'd be afraid that one crack of the glass and my family would all be drowned. Ick!
Um, yeah, I'd go to any of those places in a heartbeat. But there's the whole $30,000 price tag that ruins everything. Here's to dreaming of a lotto win or major pub deal:)
Very cool post, Karen! Wow, $30,000 is pretty steep.
Wow, those are absolutely incredible! I don't know if I'd want to be there for a week, but I would love a tour. Awesome!
LOL... underwater smoking...
The rest seems like something right out of Jules Vern and beyond. I'd go to the Dubai or Fiji one in a heart beat!
Have a great weekend!
That's awesome. I'd love to spend a few nights in one of these.
Wow, that's amazing. I've never seen a reason to vacation in Fiji before because of all the dictatorship there... I dunno if they want NZ people like me over there...but the underwater thing is cool. The Shanghai Shimao Wonderland looks spectacular. Makes me realize how stuck I am. How stuck we all are. Curse you "grass is always greener" mind of mine! When you find such beautiful and enchanting places, though, it really is hard to look away.♥
I have an award for you over at my place today. :)
Ooooh, I couldn't do it. I would freak the eff out.
Holy cow those are some amazing hotels! Dubai is known for some of the most rockin places ever! I personally never would want to stay in an underwater hotel but I also really don't want to watch sharks traveling over me... not really my cup of tea!
Those look AMAZING. I think you should totally go when you get your 7 figure advance. :)
Fantastic pics! Looks beautiful and WARM.
At the risk of sounding like a debbie downer, I'd much rather imagine what it would be like to live as a merman underwater than to 'sell out' and stay at a resort that destroyed some animal's natural habitat for the sake of a quick [insert currency here]. On a positive note, I love that pic with the girl 'hugging' her book!
How awesome - I've never even heard of a 7 star hotel before.
These are SO cool. I'm freezing right now and drooling over those pictures *sigh* Can't wait to hit the lottery and just travel and do cool things like those!
Price tag aside, I would love to vacation in one of these underwater resorts. The Poseidon Resort and Shanghai Shimao look awesome.
Spectacular post!
$30,000 a couple? WOW!!! If I ever win the lottery, I'll be there!
HOLY COW that looks AWESOME.
i want i want i wantttttttt
I think it would be an amazing way to vacation, underwater. The ocean always fascinates me and water is ultra therapeutic and healing on every level.
I know Crys would KILL for such a holiday! lol well maybe not literally but ....
Those pictures are amazing! I've always been fascinated with the ocean, I would so want to stay there. That Minnesota smoking sign is too funny. :)
Anything to do with water and the things that live under it freak me out, so I'd rather go to the mountains.
Came by to check out your Blogfest entry and stumbled on this post. Yes, very cool indeed, if I could afford it as a vacation home, but alas....
Consider yourself added to my bookmarks under Writers.
Cheers!
An underwater hotel sounds unbelievably amazing, especially since I love love LOVE the ocean! (Read: I want to die of exposure after falling off a boat into the waves of the Pacific. It's not that I want to die, but everyone's got to, right?) :) I just found your blog and that first line of this post sent me straight to the follow button. Diving into imagination - on any day - is the best idea ever. EVER. :D
Hostels are generally cheaper for both the operator and the occupants.
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