*rugenius - 08.10.12 , 00:00 -

NotVentures Roundup

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Exploring the Gobi Desert, the wilderness of Antarctica and private safari lodges are all part of this week’s roundup from NotVentures. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.

*rugenius - 07.27.12 , 00:00 -

NotVentures Roundup

roundup notventures #4711 notventures #4719 notventures #4733 notventures #4716 notventures #4729 notventures #4737 notventures #4715 notventures #4723 notventures #4717 notventures #4718 notventures #4731 notventures #4721 notventures #4739 notventures #4725 notventures #4738

Escape to Cocos Island, French alpine lakes and the rooftops of Chicago with this week’s roundup from NotVentures. To find out more about each destination, click on its individual image.

*notcot - 07.24.12 , 15:28 -

NOTlabs: Wedding Photobooth Guestbook

ist24.jpg A peek at our late nights between SDCC and Istanbul flight in NOTlabs… we had a few days to figure out a photobooth guestbook setup for the wedding that we could pack and pop up on site! Laser cut wood frame (designed by Linhchi Tang) on an ipad running Pocketbooth on a tripod worked like a charm! See the making of on the next page…

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*notcot - , 12:05 -

A Week in Istanbul

ist0.jpg What a week it has been! Here in Istanbul for the wedding of one of my friends since high school… we were supposed to be on vacation… but of course even while running around, Shawn and i couldn’t resist snapping and sharing pics of all the inspiration and amusement on our cell phones… many of them making it to our NOTlabs instagram (and his personal one too)… As far as proper features go ~ so far you’ve gotten a peek at our flight in to istanbul as well as inside our room at the House Hotel Galatasaray… and the adorable Emel Loves Istanbul city guide that arrived! So for all the other randomness ~ from touristy adventures to Blue Mosque and Ayasofya to the leeches and peacocks near the spice bazaar ~ to random shopping inspiration and museum finds ~ to the wedding on the bosphorus and boat ride ~ to cafes, tiles, graffiti, and so much more… get a flash overview of what we’ve experienced on the next page!

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*notcot - 07.22.12 , 01:00 -

Emel Kurhan Loves Istanbul & Paris by Jotun

jotun0.jpg In Istanbul all week, and while we’re here for one of my dearest friend’s wedding ~ amongst the festivities, it has been hard to figure out what to do and where to go to really get to know Istanbul! Surely there are the usual monuments, museums, bazaars and other must see spots that you find in the touristy guides… then there are the high end luxury shopping sections with brands you can probably find in any major city… and even the Wallpaper guide had a bunch of the same old stuff… but finding resources to share the fun, unexpected in betweens has been surprisingly tough! Even chatting with local friends of the bride, it’s not always easy for people to step back and help direct you to the uniquely different little shops, galleries and spots that they may take for granted…

Thanks to twitter and the internet in general making travel and exploration a smaller world than ever ~ i got the sweetest tweet from the folks at Jotun the other day, which lead to a magical little package arriving on the hotel room bed hours later! Artist, Emel Kurhan, has created a set of guide books (Emel Loves Istanbul and Emel Loves Paris!) that feel like a scrapbook of favorite spots (and why they are loved, which turn to take/door to open for secret spots, etc) leading you into a whole over side of Istanbul! “The 2 Guides are for sale together the price for 2 books is 40TL, the money will be donated to different animal shelters, they come with a ribbon(each has a different color), only 2000 books has been printed and has been numbered by myself!” she says on her site.

So while i still may not get a taste of all facets of Istanbul in this week ~ we’ve done a few cliche tourist things, attended a stunning wedding on the edge of the Bosphorus (and ended up on a boat on it till 4am) with our hand carried NOTlabs photobooth guestbook setup, hidden out at the House Hotel Galatasaray… regardless of what the remaining 3 days hold, this adorable little book is definitely helping fill in more of the blanks! Take a peek inside it as well as a cute video teaser for them on the next page!

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*rugenius - 07.20.12 , 00:00 -

NotVentures Roundup

roundup notventures #4683 notventures #4700 notventures #4699 notventures #4692 notventures #4689 notventures #4680 notventures #4690 notventures #4709 notventures #4703 notventures #4691 notventures #4707 notventures #4695 notventures #4686 notventures #4687 notventures #4696

Majestic New Zealand’s Alps, sunshine in the Balaerics and diving in the Maldives are all part of this week’s roundup from NotVentures. To find out more about each destination, click on its individual image.

*notcot - 07.19.12 , 18:40 -

Operation Window Seat: LAX-IST

opist0.jpg It’s been a while since a Operation Window Seat has come along… but it was pretty spectacular flying in to Istanbul this week not to snap a few shots. Unfortunately it snuck up on us (after a long long direct flight of a nap from LAX!) so the pictures are from the iPhone! Take a peek on the next page…

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*notcot - , 18:16 -

The House Hotel Galatasaray, Istanbul

house1.jpg This post is part of a content series presented by smartwater… smartwater, good taste travels well. Click here to learn more. The opinions and content in this post are 100% NOTCOT, smartwater is supporting us to share what we love with you! Advertisement

Currently in Istanbul! While here, decided to try The House Hotel Galatasaray. One of the three House Hotels (all in Istanbul), this is the four-storey mansion built in 1890′s and renovated by renowned Autoban Design. The result is a beautiful and unexpected mixture of late 1800 turkish styles with lots of geometric patterns which feel like modern takes on more traditional tile patterns… from the reception area to the closet to the ceiling of the bathroom. Additionally the juxtaposition of modern (custom!) furnishings, chandeliers, tvs and more to the wood flooring and ornate walls and ceilings leave you in a beautifully unique space! As Mr & Mrs Smith says, “The House Hotel Galatasaray in Istanbul is a masterfully modernised mansion, elegantly imperial with a hint of contemporary magic.” Take a peek inside our room on the next page!

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*rugenius - 07.13.12 , 00:00 -

NotVentures Roundup

roundup notventures #4666 notventures #4662 notventures #4674 notventures #4663 notventures #4661 notventures #4653 notventures #4678 notventures #4673 notventures #4676 notventures #4655 notventures #4649 notventures #4650 notventures #4670 notventures #4667 notventures #4651

Cap Ferret, the Maldives and Mauritious are all featured destinations this week in our roundup from NotVentures. To find out more about each post, click on is individual image.

*rugenius - 07.06.12 , 00:45 -

NotVentures Roundup

roundup notventures #4619 notventures #4622 notventures #4643 notventures #4638 notventures #4621 notventures #4626 notventures #4633 notventures #4640 notventures #4630 notventures #4637 notventures #4645 notventures #4632 notventures #4641 notventures #4642 notventures #4620

This week’s roundup from NotVentures includes dining in the Dolomites, camping in hanging tents and an escape to Paris. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.

*rugenius - 06.29.12 , 08:30 -

NotVentures Roundup

roundup notventures #4586 notventures #4566 notventures #4567 notventures #4600 notventures #4569 notventures #4594 notventures #4599 notventures #4588 notventures #4605 notventures #4568 notventures #4560 notventures #4581 notventures #4597 notventures #4577 notventures #4595

This week’s roundup from NotVentures features skiing in South Korea, Brazilian hot spots and amazing underwater attractions. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.

*rugenius - 06.16.12 , 21:00 -

NotVentures Roundup

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An aviator hotel, cycling through northern Argentina and visiting the Vatican in a day are all part of this week’s roundup from NotVentures. To find out more about each destination, click on its individual image.

*rugenius - 06.08.12 , 00:00 -

NotVentures Roundup

roundup notventures #4507 notventures #4525 notventures #4501 notventures #4499 notventures #4498 notventures #4497 notventures #4524 notventures #4517 notventures #4510 notventures #4513 notventures #4509 notventures #4519 notventures #4502 notventures #4506 notventures #4514

24 hours of light in Iceland, island hopping in Thailand and hillwalking in the Scottish highlands are all part of this week’s roundup from NotVentures. To find out more about each destination, click on its individual image.

*notcot - 06.05.12 , 01:47 -

Hotelifying Your Bathroom

flozmain.jpg This post is presented by HomeAway. Discover the world’s largest selection of vacation home rentals with HomeAway.com. Let’s stay together.

One of my favorite things about traveling has always been hotel bathrooms and amenities. With such variety in bathroom fixtures and shower designs it always feels like shopping and testing bathroom layouts and details for my future home design… and the same goes for amenities! You get the chance to test so many different scents and brands and products as you bounce from hotel to hotel.

So while surprise toiletries are often a hotel luxury, when doing a vacation rental, there’s no reason to forego the playful newness and experimentation of toiletries! So instead of packing your usuals and making mini bottles of everything currently in your bathroom, why not have a little fun and grab a set from an awesome brand you’ve been curious about? On the next page i’ve rounded up some favorites, some i’m curious about, and an awesome site that’s bound to have something you’ve yet to try!

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*rugenius - 06.01.12 , 00:00 -

Notventures Roundup

roundup notventures #4484 notventures #4495 notventures #4477 notventures #4482 notventures #4466 notventures #4469 notventures #4464 notventures #4467 notventures #4461 notventures #4473 notventures #4479 notventures #4468 notventures #4476 notventures #4475 notventures #4489

Whale-watching in Sri Lanka, breakfast with kangaroos and Scottish boltholes are all part of this week’s roundup from NotVentures. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.

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