Luxurious water house: Anyone wanting to live in a luxurious home, which is also a boat, can fork over $5.5 million (USD) to buy a floating home called the Arkup. It is set up like a real home, complete with living room, lounge, four bedrooms, a kitchen, and lots of windows through which to enjoy ocean views. Available in Miami, Florida (U.S.), it is a perfect vessel for touring coastal waters, although it’s not built to travel in rough seas. It has a rainwater purification system and solar energy, as well as hydraulic stilts, should the owner choose to raise it out of the water.

Clean water: In a city in Japan, colourful koi fish swim in the drain channels that border the streets. The city of Shimabara islocated on Kyushu Island. The water is exceptionally clean in these drain channels because of an earthquake that happened over two centuries ago. The quake caused freshwater springs to gush. In more recent years, city officials decided to stock the channels with the fish, which today are a tourist attraction. Shimabara is known as the City of Swimming Carp. There areonly a few other towns in Japan with fish swimming in their drain gutters.

Damaged merchandise: If parents plan to go to a dealership to shop for a new car, it’s best to find a babysitter for their small child. A couple from Guilin, Guangxi Region, China, learned this the hard way. The couple, accompanying a friend, were talking to salespeople and gawking at the luxurious new cars in the showroom. Left to her own devices, their child decided to doodle on a number of the new cars, using a stone to scratch designs into the paint. The little girl’s creative streak led to her father being sued by the dealership for damages.

Black and white: Who knew that a few drops of ink mixed with a bit of water could result in beautiful works of art? Well, perhaps it’s not as easy as that, but French artist David Bayo has figured it out. Using this medium, he creates subtle paintings of his subjects, including animals and people. Bayo has tried different ways to make art, and his experimentation led him to an ability to understand how ink and water work together. The paintings he creates, which are often black and white, are distinctive and understated representations of the subject at hand.

Two names: In Tamaulipas, Mexico, a pet cat has two owners who did not know about each other until recently. Mary Lore Barra calls the cat “Pixi,” and she was accustomed to her pet being away for a few days at a time, presumably on the prowl. Then one day Pixi came home with a new collar. Barra put a note under the collar identifying the cat as Pixi and herself as Pixi’s owner. Soon Pixi came home with a note from another family, who call the cat “Huarache.” Luckily, the two owners think it’s a funny situation, and they continue to share Pixi/Huarache.

ATM captive: A contractor in Corpus Christi, Texas (U.S.), was just trying to do his job. He was fixing a lock in the automatic teller machine (ATM) room when he locked himself in. The man had left his cell phone in his vehicle, so he couldn’t call for assistance. Instead, he wrote notes asking for help and fed them through the receipt slot of the ATM. People using the machine thought the notes were a joke. But finally, one person took it seriously and called police, who broke down the door and got him out.

Rustic ramblings: Travellers to South America who want to go somewhere off the beaten track could try visiting Cabo Polonio, Uruguay. Located on the Atlantic coast and only a few hours from luxurious beach resorts, this isolated village attracts those who don’t care about the comforts of a modern home. There is no electricity or running water in the rustic cottages, and only a few people with generators have Wi-Fi. But the people who live there like it that way. Villagers use well or rainwater, and they cook by candlelight. The land is a designated national park and is a beloved destination of backpackers.

New friend: A man on a hike to raise money for men’s health found a new friend along the way. Max Adams was on a long trek in an area near High Prairie, Alberta, Canada. When on a side road, he could hear a loud meowing, which turned out to be a half-grown kitten sitting in the snowy branches of a tree. Adams took the desperate little feline with him because he couldn’t imagine leaving it such a long distance away from any homes. He tried to find the owner, to no avail. After the kitten was tended by a vet, Adams took it home ashis own pet.

Stolen goods: A woman in St. Paul, Minnesota (U.S.), was miffed when she discovered that a package she ordered had been stolen from her porch. Hilary Smith received a text saying that the package, which contained a phone charger, had been delivered, so she expected to find it upon arriving home from work. In its place was a handwritten note thanking her for leaving the package on her porch so it could be stolen. The thief signed the note, “The new owner of your package.” Police in the area are warning residents to have parcels delivered when someone is home to receive them.

Beautiful harvest: Some farmers in Bangladesh work in an environment of great beauty - at least during the time of harvest. These farmers collect water lily blossoms in the Canal of Water Lilies in the country’s Barisal district. They paddle their long wooden boats through a sea of green leaves and deep pink water lily flowers, collecting the blossoms as they go. Collection is done carefully and by hand. These blossoms are a popular item at local markets, where the farmers go to sell their floral gems.

High design: A city high in the mountains of Bolivia is getting a facelift. El Alto, close to the administrative city of La Paz, is enjoying attention because of the building designs of architect Freddy Mamani. He calls his style New Andean architecture. His modern buildings, called cholets, are usually several stories high with shops at street level, party and gallery space in the next levels, and living space on the top floor. The designs combine vibrant colours and geometric shapes reminiscent of indigenous textile patterns. For Mamani, the architecture of his buildings is a way of promoting his culture’s pre-Columbian roots.

Tree tuggers: A group of friends who like to run took part in the Cape Town, South Africa, marathon, but they were doing more than just running. The group ran the race with tree saplings tied to their backs. Their purpose was to raise awareness about the country’s problem with invasive species, which are taking over indigenous plants. One of the runners, Siyabulela Sokomani, ran with a wild olive sapling, and he sports tattoos of his favourite trees. He and his fellow runners support the nationwide effort to plant trees and rid the country of the damaging species.

Please Note: The economy is slowing opening up but not all businesses are back to 100%, some of our advertisements may have incorrect info (hours, days open, etc.) If in doubt, please contact them directly for more information. Click links to their websites. We plan to return our printed editions in the coming weeks. Stay safe!

Ice queen: It’s not all that unusual for young teenagers to drift away from their parents. After all, that is the time of life when young people want to start doing their own thing. But mother Rhian Hughes of Clayton-le-Moors, Lancashire, England, found a way to stay close to her son Harry. She secretly took up figure skating, something Harry loves to do. While training with an instructor was gruelling, Rhian soon was able to perform a routine, which she tricked Harry into seeing. He was very impressed, and now Harry, Rhian, and the rest of the family go skating together regularly, cementing the parent-child bond.

Say “Yes” to the dress: A woman from Adelaide, Australia, is tired of consumerism. After visiting India, Tammy Hall came home and decided stop buying new clothes and to be happy with what she had for at least a year. She didn’t have any trouble doing that, but she did have trouble with the thought of spending a large sum of money for her wedding dress, which she would wear for only a day. To avoid this wasteful practice, she started wearing the dress everywhere after her wedding day. That includes hiking trails, basketball courts, the gym, and even the voting station. She plans to continue saying “Yes” to the dress!

Please Note: The economy is slowing opening up but not all businesses are back to 100%, some of our advertisements may have incorrect info (hours, days open, etc.) If in doubt, please contact them directly for more information. Click links to their websites. We plan to return our printed editions in the coming weeks. Stay safe!

Small but beautiful: Visitors to Iceland might want to try booking a tiny house for their vacation. The tiny house in question has some very special qualities. It’s part of the Panorama Glass Lodge, located about a 30-minute drive from Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital. The bedroom walls and ceiling are made of glass so visitors can go to sleep watching the Northern Lights dance in the sky. The amazing scenery includes Hvalfjörour (fjord of the whales) as well as snowcapped mountains. The little place has many luxury amenities, including an outdoor hot tub.

Big banknote: When people open a new bank account, they usually take a cheque or a bit of cash to deposit into their chosen financial institution. However, tellers at a bank in Lincoln, Nebraska (U.S.), were surprised when a man presented them with a $1 million banknote and asked them to open an account and deposit the money. The bank employees knew that a real $1 million bill doesn’t exist. In fact, the largest bill currently in circulation in the United States is $100. The bank manager called police, who are trying to find the man.

Pet rooster: Some people might love dogs, while others enjoy the company of cats, parrots, or hamsters. But for Martin Herrera of San Jose, Costa Rica, roosters are his pets of choice. He has been domesticating and training the birds for many years. His favourite is a rooster named Paquito. Herrera can be found walking the streets of the city with Paquito on a leash, taking him to markets and cafés. In San Jose, people are allowed to bring pets onto city buses, so Herrera takes his favourite bird on bus rides, too. The bird lover trained Paquito to sit on his shoulder, to the delight of onlookers.

Raining unicorns: Folks working at a television station in Calgary, Alberta (Canada), got a bit of a shock one Halloween morning when their weatherman arrived on the set. Jordan Witzel, a meteorologist, pranced in front of the camera dressed as a white unicorn, including pink hair, a horn, hooves, and a multi-coloured tail. A banner appeared on the screen identifying him as “Ferdinand: Mystical Meteorologist.” With the anchors laughing and exclaiming in disbelief, “Ferdinand” proved he could work the clicker with his hooves to present the weather report.

Flare for drama: A horse named Jingang, who shares a name with a town in China, has gained fame through social media postings showing his acting abilities. This smart steed has a unique way to avoid giving people rides. He lies down on the ground and refuses to get up until the would-be rider walks away. Not even a carrot or a sugar cube will lure him up! Apparently, Jingang does give people rides, but he plays this trick when he doesn’t want to cooperate. 

Living simply: Daniel Price doesn’t need much to live on. Originally from the state of Kentucky (U.S.), he now lives in the state of Oregon in a hillside dugout in the forest. He considers himself a “minimalist.” Many years ago, he left his job as a photojournalist to try to live as simply as possible. Before making his dugout, he lived in tents, a teepee, a hut, and a shed. He has made his dugout comfortable with rugs and furnishings, and he even has electricity. He pays only $100 (U.S.) a month in rent to the land’s owner, and he has a self-imposed annual budget of $5,000 to pay for all his needs.

Splashy entrance: Guests at a wedding in Anglesey, Wales, got a big surprise when the groom arrived at the venue. Wearing his tuxedo, Matt Knight rode a wakeboard behind a boat on the Menai Strait. Accompanying him were his groomsmen - brother Chris and friend Paul - who also wore tuxes. The three did a few tricks for the assembled guests who were waiting outside the hotel where the nuptials would be held. The trio were soaking wet, of course, but all had dry formal wear waiting for them. The bride, Kirsty, loved the show and said the groom made the exciting entrance due to his love of James Bond movies.

Extras: Finding chocolates on the pillow is a nice experience when staying at a hotel. Some luxury hotels are known to offer outlandish “extras” which may be part of the room rate or may incur an extra charge. A Fender guitar, for example, is available to Hard Rock Hotel guests around the world who choose the “Sound of Your Stay” program. The Acqualina Resort in Miami, Florida (U.S.), provides a Rolls-Royce Ghost to those renting a certain deluxe suite. And, if you are athletic, you can enjoy a free acrobatic skills program from Cirque du Soleil while staying at Club Med Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

Please Note: The economy is slowing opening up but not all businesses are back to 100%, some of our advertisements may have incorrect info (hours, days open, etc.) If in doubt, please contact them directly for more information. Click links to their websites. We, Coffee News, plan to return our printed editions in the coming weeks. Stay safe!

Seeing red: Zorica Rebernik of the small town of Breze, Bosnia, loves the colour red. In fact, she loves it so much that she tries to make sure everything around her is red. The retired schoolteacher lives in a red house filled with red furniture. Her hair is dyed bright red, and she dresses in red clothes. Red flowers adorn her table, she sleeps on red bed sheets and drinks out of red glasses. Rebernik claims that her love of red started at about age 18 and hasn’t abated. She wore a red wedding dress when she married her husband, Zoran.

Arctic adventure: Adventure tourists looking for a little luxury might want to call a travel agency called Luxury Action. The Scandinavian company plans to place portable “igloos” on the ice at the North Pole during the month of April. The igloos are heated and have glass walls and ceilings so guests can admire the northern lights in the Arctic sky. Those interested in the adventure, which also includes hikes on glaciers and wildlife sightings, will fly in by helicopter. Guests hoping to stay there will need plenty of money. The trip costs about $100,000 (US) per person.