INCREIBLES

Photo taken on Jan. 12, 2010 shows the scenery of the Expo Axis during a trial illumination in the Expo Park in Shanghai, east China. Ninety percent of the construction work has been completed in the expo site by far. Workers are busy working to greet the 100 days count down to the opening of Shanghai World Expo on Jan. 21. (Xinhua Photo)

Photo taken on Jan. 12, 2010 shows the scenery of the Information and Communications Pavilion during a trial illumination in the Expo Park in Shanghai, east China. Ninety percent of the construction work has been completed in the expo site by far. Workers are busy working to greet the 100 days count down to the opening of Shanghai World Expo on Jan. 21. (Xinhua Photo)

Photo taken on Jan. 12, 2010 shows the scenery of the Expo Axis during a trial illumination in the Expo Park in Shanghai, east China.(Xinhua Photo)

Photo taken on Jan. 12, 2010 shows the scenery of the Expo Axis during a trial illumination in the Expo Park in Shanghai, east China. Ninety percent of the construction work has been completed in the expo site by far. Workers are busy working to greet the 100 days count down to the opening of Shanghai World Expo on Jan. 21. (Xinhua Photo)

British artist Jason de Caires Taylor works on a sculpture called "The Man on Fire" underwater in this undated handout in the Mexican resort of Cancun. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

A diver swims near British artist Jason de Caires Taylor's sculpture "The Flower of Hope" in this undated handout in the Mexican resort of Cancun.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Divers swim near British artist Jason de Caires Taylor's sculpture "The Man on Fire" in this undated handout in the Mexican resort of Cancun. At the bottom of its turquoise waters and playing with the reflections of the sun at sea, a series of sculptures were immersed in the Mexican resort of Cancun in what aspires to be a huge underwater museum that harmonizes with the beauty of its coral reefs. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

CHINESE DANCERS

ICE HOTEL

The Ice Hotel itself is located about 20km away at a place called Jukkasjarvi (pron Yukkasyaravi). It certainly wasn't the Superman ice castle that I'd imagined for so long, more like a couple of snow-covered rounded-metal aircraft hangars you see about the place. But in its way it is beautiful, and the surrounding village and countryside also aim to please.

As you'd expect it has a 'warm' reception and other amenities like restaurants and bars that you don't have to freeze to eat or drink in. No detail required there. The Ice Hotel itself however is a long (60-70 metres) semi-circular corridor with guest wings branching off it one both sides. In the entry corridor is an ice reception and what would best be described as an ice dining hall, complete with ice table, chairs and chandelier.

There is also a church (above right, including spacey supernatural aura whisping about) and the all important Ice Bar located inside. All of it is hewn out of man-made blown white snow that is completely opaque when packed, carved and moulded into the superstructure.

The bar more resembled the ice castle of my aberrant conception. Big bricks of clear ice making a grand hall, where the bar serves Absolut vodka drinks of every variety in ice glasses that end up sticking to your hand. Lounge alcoves with reindeer skin covers on the seats are found down one side, but apart from that there is (not surprisingly) very little seating, as the whole complex maintains a temperature of between -5C and -9C.

On to the bedrooms. We ordered the basic room (above right) which was little more that a frosty alcove with a rough bed (again covered with reindeer skins) plonked in the middle. Sleeping bags and inners are provided because there ain't no electric blanket!

Management secures ice artists from all over the world to create their own little fantasy in one of the 30 or so deluxe or super deluxe rooms. There doesn't seem to be any theme so some of the creations are quite bizarre. All are very nicely executed so it's a shame to think that they will all melt away before mid year.

PECULIAR

In the city of In Gall, Niger, men from the Wodaabe tribe dance and sing at the Gerewol festival just as a massive sandstorm hits. The Gerewol is an annual courting festival where the men try to look as beautiful as possible so they are chosen for mates by Wodaabe women. The women can select up to four men, and a man if not chosen, will be very lonely for the next year. The Wodaabe may be related to the ancient human groups that lived in the Gobero area thousands of years ago. (© Mike Hettwer)

YEAP...WE DO THIS

THINGS WE DO