Switzerland ( Schweiz, Suisse, Svizzera, Svizra ). A voyage to Switzerland, Europe.

Look past the silk-smooth chocolate, cuckoo clocks and yodelling – contemporary Switzerland, land of four languages, is all about epic journeys and sublime experiences.

The Good Life

What giddy romance Zermatt, St Moritz and other legendary names evoke. From the intoxicating chink of Verbier glitterati hobnobbing over Champagne in ice-carved flutes, to the reassuring bell jangle of cows coming home in the Engadine Valley, Switzerland is a harmonious tableau of beautiful images.
 This small, landlocked country was an essential stop on every Grand Tour – the place where winter tourism was born, where Golden Age mountaineers conquered new heights – and for good reason: no slideshow of such epic proportions is so darn easy to step into, experience and get your hands nice and dirty with. Ride a little red train between peak and pine, soak in mountain spa water, snowshoe to your igloo, cross medieval bridges and know that life in Switzerland is good.

Action Stations

This country begs outdoor escapade with its larger-than-life canvas of hallucinatory landscapes etched so perfectly one wants to cry – or at least grab boots, leap on board, toot the bike bell and let spirits rip. Skiing and snowboarding in the winter wonderlands of Graubünden, Bernese Oberland and Central Switzerland are obvious choices. But there is plenty to do when pastures are green. Hiking and biking trails abound in both glacier-encrusted mountain areas and lower down along lost valleys, mythical lakeshores and pea-green vines. View the natural grandeur from the sky in a balloon basket or parachute, or afloat from a white-water raft. Then there are those must-do-before-death moments like encountering the chiselled north face of the Eiger up close or reaching crevassed ice on Jungfraujoch (3454m). Most appealing of all, you don’t need to be a mountaineer to do it.

Alpine & Urban

Variety is the spice of life in this rich land where Alpine tradition is rooted in the agricultural calendar, and soaring mountain backdrops are as common as muck. Travels are mapped by mountain villages with timber storage barns on stilts to keep the rats out and chalet farmsteads brightened with red geraniums and milk churns on a bench waiting to be filled. Ancient markets (Märit), folkloric fairs (Chilbi), flag waving and gastronomic celebrations engrave the passing of seasons in every soul.

The perfect antidote is a surprise set of cities: the capital Bern with its medieval Old Town and world-class modern art, deeply Germanic Basel and its bold architecture, shopping-chic Geneva astraddle Europe’s largest lake, tycoon-magnet Zug (play millionaire over a slice of liqueur-soaked cherry cake) and uber-cool Zürich with its rooftop bars and atypical Swiss street grit.

Beard cutting or stone throwing, Paul Klee art or hip club gig: what a euphoric journey indeed.

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Hearthstone comes into Open Beta finally!

Hearthstone, the long-awaited TCG from Blizzard has just gone into open beta in North America, rest of world to follow shortly.

The long wait is over and at last the gates of Hearthstone have been flung open to the gibbering card hungry masses! As of today, North America will begin its open beta and according to the official post, Hearthstone “plan[s] to go open beta in all [their] other regions within the next few days.”

Also it seems that from today onward your cards are safe as Blizzard has “no plans to perform anymore card wipes,” so feel free to get collecting without worrying about whether your favourite card will be with you next week.

Why are you still here? Go play Hearthstone now!

Source: gamesinasia

Attack on Titan: Roar of Freedom launching in Japan soon

A brand-new mobile game based on the popular manga and anime series, Attack on Titan, titled Roar of Freedom, will launch in Japan this March. The game is developed by DeNA and will be available on the Mobage platform. Familiar characters will be in the game as well.

The gameplay of Attack on Titan: Roar of Freedom is for players to build up their cities and defend against the rampaging Titans sent by other players. There will be resources to gather, structures to both build and upgrade, and Titan units to produce as well.

Overall, it can be said that Attack on Titan: Roar of Freedom borrows gameplay of the well-known tower-defense Clash of Clans and blends it with the unique art style from Japan.

  

Source: mmoculture

The completed Family room tour

I thought that I should take some photos of our completed family room ...that feels so good to say , completed! The kitchen is completed the powder room is completed and now the family room is completed. So many room are just not there yet. But these things takes time. 

 Drapes are linen from Ikea 2 pairs for fullness. The rug is from Home depot and is an 8'x10' synthetic sisal which we love. The fan is from Lowe's.

 I added book cases to the fireplace and added a marble hearth and tile to the surround.

 My daughter Mason and I added the chair rail moulding for her bring your kid to work day. The little side table is from Winners.

 All our soft seating is from the Ikea Ektorp collection. The lamps are from a second hand store. The frames are from Ikea. Most of the pillows I made from Tonic living fabrics.

 The coffered ceiling is my latest project which is the crowning touch this room needed. The coffee table is from Urban Barn.

And of course the 6" pine flooring finished in dark Kona stain and top coated with satin varathane, it is getting worn daily which is all part of the plan.

I hope you like my little tour ...thanks for stopping by.