#wonderland is blocked off from the main fairytale world…

[allforthesapphic]

20 minutes into Rise of Red and my only thought is

[themonotonysyndrome]

The Holy Quintet in Twisted Wonderland!

While I was having a writer’s block for ‘A Modern Fairytale’, I complained to my friend and we chatted on Discord. I told her about TW and she asked me if TW ever gonna have an anime adaptation since Magia Record:PMMM had an anime after the game is released. We love the Madoka Magica series and since they’re some similarities between the two, I thought why not have the main girls (I haven’t watch Magia Record yet though I’m aware of the existence of Doppels) react to the world of TW? 

For those who don’t know about Puella Magi Madoka Magica, here’s a brief summary: It’s basically an anime about cute magical girls fighting evils where absolutely nothing bad ever happened. Like, ever. 

Anyway, hopefully by the time I’m done with this, I can get my flow back for my previous writings...  

*Since the First-Years are 16, I aged up the Holy Quintet just to match. 

Homura could’ve unleashed a thousand bombs and grenades onto the wretched white rat the moment she realise that they were no longer in Mitakihara City or even on Earth! 

Her day has been going on so well, too.

Morning arrives with the same monotonous routine. It’s a new day and a new timeline which means a whole new planning she needed to do before the fated day. But that can wait after school.

The teachers and students followed their scripts perfectly. Homura deftly ignore the hallway where the History teacher would request her help carrying the journals for the woman’s next class, spin around before the clumsy girl from the class next door would spill her water bottle onto her and even freezing time to whisper into Hitomi Shizuki’s ear who is lingering outside their shared class; how she had been neglecting her dear friend Sayaka lately in favour of Kyousuke Kamijou, how unfair her treatment of Sayaka has been lately. 

By the time recess roll by, Madoka is alone just like Homura planned. Sayaka is pulled away by Hitomi. It wasn’t hard to wait quietly in her seat before the other girl spotted her and asked if they could have lunch together. 

Homura accepts without hesitation. 

She let the hours went by at their own pace until the moon is high in the sky. There’s a Witch that has been causing quite a ruckus near the shopping district. One that Homura would have no problem killing on her own, but Kyouko found it first and not even a day later, Mami caught wind of it as well. 

As the clock is about to strike midnight, the Holy Quintet are standing in front of the Witch’s Labyrinth; the back door of a luxurious shoe shop. Homura ponder on what was the connection of the shop and the Witch, before Kyouko suddenly declare to kill the Witch herself. 

“Hey, I was the one who found it first! This kill is my right!” The redhead Magical Girl announced with a Pocky stick pointing sternly at them to back off.

“Shouldn’t we work together to stop the Witch? Tomoe-san mentioned that it’s strong...” Madoka softly countered. Kyouko’s loud voice didn’t scare her but since the prize is a Grief Seed, everyone wanted it. Madoka wouldn’t dream of rebuking her friends of it. Not when they dearly need it for their magic. 

“I don’t want to add more to the fire, but if we work together, who’s going to claim the grief Seed?” Sayaka interjects, her hand up in the air as if they were in class. They haven’t transform for battle yet; it’d be a waste of magic to transform only to have half of them returning home later or search out for another Witch all night long if Kyouko won’t budge from this one. 

Madoka, Sayaka and Kyouko all turn to Mami when she remains silent for too long. 

“It can’t be help then.” Mami shrugs. “If Kyouko is adamant to kill this Witch, then we should leave it to her. She was the one to discover it after all.” 

When Kyouko whoop and cheer, Sayaka went ahead to scold her. But their relationship had progress to a stage where they could banter easily with no hard feelings involve, so Madoka is at ease. 

Homura, however, is not as it slightly deter from the script but she wisely keeps it to herself. 

Homura’s day went wrong when Madoka sweetly offer, “I still have some Grief Seeds on me, so I’m more than happy to help Sakura-san out!” 

“Madoka - ” Homura automatically begin, she would rather have Madoka reserve her magic but luckily Kyouko beats her to it. 

“Aww, it’s fine Kaname-san. I’m a big girl, ya know? I can’t handle one Witch.” Kyouko assured her with a bright smile that’s enough to dissipate Madoka’s worries. “Beside, you guys have been working hard these past few nights hunting Witches. You guys deserve a break for once.” 

“I can’t argue with that...” Mami ruefully reply. The girls all decide to leave this Witch to Kyouko’s capable hands and was about to make their way home (with Mami escorting them back even if she didn’t have to) when the door to the Witch’s Labyrinth suddenly flings open. Light, colours, myriad of voices and music flood out from the shop. 

“D-Did the Witch realised we’re here already!?” Sayaka said through gritted teeth. The corrupted Magic that’s spilling from the door is overwhelming, trying to pull the girls inside. 

“That can’t be!” Kyouko retort with her spear already in hand and stab to the ground to anchor her. Her other hand is gripping Sayaka’s to hold her steady in place. “A Witch only have absolute reign in its Labyrinth. Not in the real world!”

The Magic then began to slowly drag their feet towards the door. Madoka, who is the closest to Homura, touch her Soul Gem. Homura didn’t want her to fight, she’d rather deal with the Witch herself. 

“Madoka, wait!” Homura shouted and lunge to grab her. Her Shield is already on her arm despite that she’s still in her school uniform. She just needed to freeze time and then  - 

“Now this is interesting. This doesn’t feel like a Witch’s magic at all.” Perch on top of the many lamp post and unbothered by the overwhelming magic is Kyuubey. The Incubator blink its pink, beady eyes before jumping down and landed beside Homura. 

“You - You’re not needed here!” Homura hissed viciously.

“Look carefully through the door there, Akemi Homura. Doesn’t that look like a mirror?” Kyuubey instruct in a pleasant tone that irked the girl. 

“What are you - ”

“Akemi-san, look! There’s a mirror!” Mami’s urgent voice snapped Homura to attention. 

Indeed. There’s a black mirror inside the shop, floating in air. 

“Is that how the Witch noticed us!?” Kyouko is already brandishing her spear to throw it straight through the mirror.

Before any of the Magical Girls could do anything, the mirror forcefully yank them towards it and swallow them whole. Silence descend on the streets. 

Homura fought to stay awake but the magic lull her to close her eyes and sleep. 

-

“Did.. did a mirror just appear from the ceiling and spat out... girls?” An unfamiliar, incredulous voice was what stirred Homura up. Something feels off.  

When Homura open her eyes and realise that she and her friends are surrounded by people in strange robes staring at them as if they were aliens, a man wearing a mask and a mirror with a green face floating in it, she immediately went for the offence. 

She withdraws a gun from her Shield and aim straight at the masked man standing beside the mirror, her eyes never waver away from the crowd in robes in front of her. With a quick glance underneath her, Madoka and the rest are still unconscious before focusing on the enigma of this world and something in her whisper that she should hold the masked man accountable. 

“Where are we?” Homura demanded in the calmest voice she could muster, her finger is light as a feather against the trigger. The scripts has gone completely off the rail. “Who are you people?”

“Well now, I think that would be my question!” The masked man rebuked. Homura’s ears picked up the dumbstruck and lividness in his tone. “Really... a mirror suddenly summoned in the middle of the dorm sorting ceremony and you girls interrupted it!” 

A bullet wheeze past by the masked man’s head, only grazing a lock of his hair. Just like that, the crowd is silent. Finally realise the strange and uneasy atmosphere that curtains them, courtesy of one Magical Girl.

“I won’t ask again.” She threatens. Her eyes narrowed when a few of the people in front of her shifted. A short boy with red hair and a bespectacled boy with a beauty mark on his lower lip. She studied them warily and they did the same towards her. The fingers twitch to a small... pen? The red and grey gems will become her targets if they so much as move. 

“Geez... the situation suddenly turn dangerous.” A voice said through a floating tablet. He sounds meek and scared. 

Murmurs follow soon after. She's losing control on the situation. 

“Well?” Homura pressed and this time, she aims the gun right between the masked man’s eyes. Adults in strange coloured clothings that stood behind the mirror with the green face slowly tried to separate Homura from the crowd. Their expressions severe and cautious. 

They don’t feel like familiars. This strange room doesn’t feel like a product of a Witch’s magic. What’s worse, Kyuubey is nowhere in sight. 

“Young Miss, I don’t know what you’re trying to pull here but you’re in the prestigious Night Raven College. Did you and your friends forcefully unlock your coffins?” The masked man asked, with his hands on his hips like a scolding parent yet tentative when addressing Homura after her warning shot. 

“Night Raven... College? Coffins?” Homura repeated, growing confused by the minute. She’s never heard such institution before! 

Her gun lowered slightly when she caught pieces of conversations floating from the crowd. 

“... a mistake? Night Raven College is an all-boys school after all.” 

“We woken up every first year students before coming here. There’s no way we could missed them!”

“So they somehow broke out from the coffins on their own earlier?” 

“...that in her hand? It looks some kind of weapon but I’ve never seen anything like it...” That came from the floating tablet. 

“It happened so fast that headmaster couldn’t even react! Whatever that thing is, it’s dangerous.” The short redhead boy added, his fingers nearly brushing his red gem now. 

“Where is Mitakihara City?” Homura asked instead.

The masked man titled his head at her question. “Mita... what? There’s no such city with a name like that. Did the mirror where you came from malfuction? And what’s with your clothing, Young Lady? Is that supposed to be a school uniform?” 

This is bad. Nothing makes sense. “Students of this college would already be wearing their ceremonial robes the moment they step out of their coffins.” The masked man continued, oblivious to Homura’s concern. The other Magical Girls remain sleeping. It’s up to her to get them out safely or try to figure out what’s going on. 

This couldn’t be the incubator’s game. 

Homura pulls her gun back and relax her shoulders just a little. Enough to show that she’s calm and not going to attack any time soon. “A college you say? My friends and I were forcefully pulled in through a mirror and then I woke up here. Tell me, are we even on Earth?” 

Now the masked man is perplexed. “Earth? I’ve never heard such a word before! Why, this is Twisted Wonderland!”

Homura bit her lower lip to prevent herself from calling the masked man out as a liar. She doesn’t have any prove or any information that the man is joking after all. 

Homura comfort herself by tugging on her magic and grip her gun. Good. She still has her full arsenals and useful items as well as her magic is in its peak form. 

Her mind is racing now. If one wants information, one must offer their piece first, yes? 

“I believe there’s been a... mishap. My friends and I aren’t from here. We came from a place call Mitakihara City. Twisted Wonderland doesn’t exist for us.” Homura begins. That should suffice for now. 

The floating tablet floated near Homura although there is still some distance between them. “A-Are you serious!? A bunch of girls literally isekai’ed into Night Raven College!? I can’t believe this is actually happening! My manga is a reality!” 

Homura is taken aback at the sudden enthusiastic voice. Truly not expecting a 180 from his previous meek tone. 

“Eh? Another world? Did you and your friends came from another world!?” A white haired boy with ruby eyes intervenes. Despite how odd the situation is now that he said it out loud, he’s excited about the notion. 

“It would seem so...” Homura murmus. If this is meant to be a college then the crowd must be students and adults here are their teachers. There’s magic lingering in the air. It’s unfamiliar to Homura but it’s magic nonetheless. 

“The sorting ceremony must continue on.” The mirror with the face boomed. Its voice deep and unsettling. The masked man react accordingly to it. 

“Yes, yes, we musn’t dawdle! Now then Young Miss, if you’d be so kind to help bring your unconscious friends here beside me so that the others students could - ”

“Step forth you who have mastered time and space.” The mirror with the face ordered. 

Another silence descend the room before the white haired boy with red eyes shattered it. 

“So they ARE students! This is so exciting, isn’t it Jamil? We never had students from another world before!” The boy exclaim with a beaming smile. Somehow, his smile reminded Homura of Madoka’s when she’s in a really good mood. 

“We still don’t know what’s really going on, Kalim.” A boy with complex, braided hair chastise him. Though it doesn’t deter his friend’s excitement at all. “After all, she was willing to attack the headmaster.” 

“I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding! Won’t you be confused and scared too if you’re suddenly teleported to a strange land, Jamil?” The white haired boy countered before shooing Homura to the mirror behind her. “Go see what the Mirror of Darkness has to say! Maybe it could help you.” 

The masked man sigh. “I guess it can’t be help. Young Miss, please address the mirror properly.” 

Homura tucked the gun back into her Shield and slowly turn around. The mirror with the face doesn’t strike fear in her like Kyuubey or Walpurgisnacht do, so she slowly padded towards it. 

And thus begin the Holy Quintet role as students in the world of Twisted Wonderland right after each one of the girls has been sorted. 

-

The next continuation will be dorm sorting! It was a little tough trying to sort 5 of them when there are 7 dorms but I have a idea how to get around this. Hope I did Homura justice and you guys enjoyed this piece. I adore crossovers! 

A big shoutout to @twsted-caramel​ (I hope it’s ok to tag you here) for giving me the big inspiration. Please check out their crossover of KNY and TW pieces! It’s amazing!)              

[tripstations]

Top 5 ski resorts in the Alps

There are more ski resorts in the Alps than you could shake a stick at. It would probably take a lifetime to visit them all. If you’re a regular visitor to the Alps and you love to ski, then you’ll probably already have your favourite resort and perhaps you’ll return there year after year. Nothing wrong with that. After all, you’ve probably fallen in love with the place of your choice and it delivers every year, so why not stay with the tried and tested. However, you never know, you might make a change to one of the below resorts and wonder what you’ve been missing.

Zermatt

As Switzerland’s premier resort, Zermatt attracts visitors all year around, the skiing ranks amongst the very best to be found in the Alps. However skiing isn’t the only thing that Zermatt offers its visitors. The hills are alive with the sound of walkers and mountain bikers, while the colourful canopies of Paragliders swoop and glide overhead. The summer months affords the opportunity to enjoy the lush forests and Alpine pastures that rise up from the village to dizzying heights.

Zermatt lies in the Matter valley in South-Western Switzerland, part of the Pennine Alps. At 1,620m Zermatt is the highest town in the valley, and though famed for the iconic Matterhorn mountain surprisingly this is not the highest peak in the valley. Zermatt is surrounded by 38 summits over 4,000m.

Zermatt was part of a farming valley and in the area next to the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof several old buildings show the traditional building style of the original Walser residents. Some of the old barns and grain stores in the resort are up to 500 years old. Today, Zermatt is formed of several small farming hamlets which have gradually spread to become one town, housing its unique collection of classically Swiss hotels, and it’s modern, super deluxe collection of chalets.

At the northern side of Zermatt sits the exclusive ‘Petite Village’ with its collection of stunning chalets all lit by night to produce a fairytale scene. These chalets dot the mountain flank above Zermatt giving stunning views of the whole valley and village below. Petite Village is a premium location boasting premium chalets.

Central Zermatt hosts a collection of hotels and some exceptional chalets that hug the river Vispa, which bisects the town. Church Square is the hub for most town events, including the New Year’s Eve fireworks display, and there are some fabulous restaurants nearby. As a car free town, one of Zermatt’s unique sights are the electric taxis and buses which transport both skiers and pedestrians from one sector of town to another, allowing you to explore the full area wherever you choose to stay. For the romantics among us there are also horse drawn carriages and sleighs.

Verbier

Visitors flock to Verbier from all over the world for the authentic Swiss charm, beautiful traditional ski chalets and the vibrant and buzzing town. Verbier plays host to some amazing international events year round including overnight mountaineering and ski touring races, the Ski Alpinism World Cup event and an International Show Jumping Grand Prix. A truly international and glamorous ski destination.

Verbier is located in southwestern Switzerland in the canton of Valais. Lying on a south oriented terrace at around 1,500 metres and facing the Grand Combin massif; the resort benefits from the south-facing vista with some glorious sunny days on the mountain. Famous for its off-piste; with the surrounding peaks full of impressive chutes, gullies and couloirs it has some of the most challenging terrain in the Alps.

From Verbier’s high point at the top of Mont Fort (3330m) you are treated to panoramic views across the Alps including the Matterhorn, Dom, Dent Blanche, Dent d’Hérens, Grand Combin and the Mont Blanc massif. As part of the Four Valleys ski domain you can ski Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, La Tzoumaz and Thyon under the one lift pass, with over 410 km of marked pistes.

As with most Alpine ski resorts Verbier was originally a farming hamlet; when the first recorded attempt at skiing in Verbier took place in 1925 the companions would have been cows and herdsmen who must have thought it a strange site. It wasn’t until 1946 that the first lift system was installed, but it was the snow sport boom of the 1960s that began to transform this small farming village into the world leading ski resort  that it is today. Verbier has a number of fascinating museums and galleries that are well worth visiting and display the journey that Verbier has taken from farming hamlet to international ski destination.

Today accommodation in Verbier consists predominantly of traditional Swiss-styled chalets, but there are also a number of outstanding international hotels here including the stylish W Hotel, which opened its doors in 2013.

Meribel

Méribel lies in the Les Allues Valley at the centre of the world’s 
largest linked ski area, les Trois Vallées, giving access to over 600km of piste and unlimited off-piste. Owing to it’s enviable position at the centre of les Trois Vallées, Méribel is the perfect base from which to explore the extensive skiing on offer. Val Thorens, the highest skiing in the area at 2,300m, can be reached on skis in under an hour, and Courchevel is even closer. As well as the two main resorts, Méribel and Méribel- Mottaret, the valley also includes a number of villages. Together they form one of the most popular destinations for British skiers (the resort was, in fact, founded by a British Colonel, Peter Lindsay, in 1938).

The resort’s perennial popularity is due not only to its extensive skiing, but also to the attractive traditional Savoyard-style architecture. Unlike many purpose-built ski resorts Méribel has retained its alpine charm and consists entirely of chalet-style wood and stone buildings. As the largest of the villages in the valley Méribel has plenty more than its skiing on offer; the ice rink regularly hosts national and international ice hockey matches, and there is an indoor swimming pool, a bowling alley, and plenty of shopping on offer. The whole area sits on the edge of the Vanoise National Park making for truly stunning scenery for walking and snowshoeing.

At the top of the valley, about 4 km from Méribel, is Mottaret (1700 to 1800m). This village was developed in the early 1970’s and therefore has a more modern (but still attractive) look. It is quieter than Méribel, but still has a good selection of shops and bars, and the added bonus of lots of ski-in /ski out accommodation. Méribel-Village lies at 1400m and is approximately 2 km from Méribel on the road to La Tania and Courchevel. This tiny hamlet provides peaceful accommodation; making it popular with families and beginners and has a supermarket, an excellent boulangerie, a lively bar for après and a couple of restaurants. It has its own chair lift that runs up to the Altiport area (which is good for beginners. Les Allues is a charming village at 1100m that has a more traditional feel to it.

The village is served by the Olympe gondola that whisks you up to the Chaudanne in the heart of Méribel’s ski area. Les Allues has a supermarket, ski hire shop and several restaurants. If you want to head up to Méribel, there is a public bus service – the journey time is around 15 – 20 minutes, alternatively you can take the gondola lift or you can easily hire a local taxi.

Val d’Isere

Arguably the most iconic of the French Alpine resorts, Val d’Isère has a lively and vibrant ambience, and carries itself well as one of Europe’s top ski destinations, with a fearsome reputation for its challenging black pistes and off-piste itineraries, and its buzzing après ski scene. Val d’Isère lies at the far end of the steep Isère Valley, at the farthest end of the larger Tarentaise Valley region where you will find the biggest concentration of world class ski resorts in the world. Of these Tarentaise super-resorts Val d’Isère more than holds its own. Alpine skiing began here in the 1930s, and was later linked into the neighbouring ski resort of Tignes, to form the extensive Espace Killy ski domain.

Less than 5 km from the border of Italy, and on the border of the Vanoise National Park Val d’Isère is for the most part now a traditional-looking alpine village, nestled between the famously steep sides of the Isère Valley. Historically a small farming hamlet just providing accommodation for farmers grazing their animals on the high alpine pastures, the village developed first into a summer destination, before winter sports enthusiasts encouraged the development of the ski resort we know today.

The first major lift, a cable car to the Solaise, was even built during the Second World War, and after the war ended the resort really took off, including the opening up of the Glacier for summer skiing.

In the 1960s the resort’s architecture took a turn for the worse with high-rise buildings and apartment blocks. Luckily thanks largely to the 1992 Albertville Olympics bringing the men’s downhill events to Val d’Isère improvements were made to the look of the resort, and many of the high rise buildings were slowly changed into buildings reflecting traditional design and using local materials, leaving us with the pretty resort we know today.

In addition to the ‘beautification’ of the resort carried out in the run up to the 1992 Olympics there is also now a strictly-enforced no parking policy in the town centre; roads are left snow covered and mature trees line the route where cars once parked, much improving the winter wonderland feel of the resort. The iconic church of Saint Bernard de Menthonwas built in 1664 and is undoubtedly the most charming feature of the resort, forming a central focal point around which the town has developed.

Le Fornet is a beautiful and quaint hamlet, just 5 km to the east of Val d’Isère. The architecture here is particularly appealing – traditional Savoyard stone and wood designs and not a high rise in sight. The beautiful River Isère bisects the hamlet, with an ancient stone bridge crossing, very picturesque, but also practical. In summer this area marks the start of the Col d’Iseran; snow covered and inaccessible in winter it opens up some of the Espace Killy’s best off-piste skiing. Traditionally quieter than central Val d’Isère with only a handful of (chic) chalets, the access to the skiing is often less crowded at the start of the day, meaning less queuing of course. Just above Le Fornet lies the Glacier du Pisaillas, at 3,400m it offers summer skiing, and ensures excellent conditions in winter.

At the far western side of town lies the hamlet of La Daille; constructed in the 1960s, accommodation was purpose-built to house the growing numbers of winter clients, now flooding to the resort, which had firmly established a reputation for being one of the finest ski resorts in the Alps. Although there are a number of large apartment blocks here, the area also houses a couple of the resort’s most spectacular chalets, and a rather nice restaurant, the Edelweiss.  The skiing access here as you would expect is superb, with the ‘Funival’ funicular taking skiers to the start of the infamous men’s downhill track ‘Le Face’, but also accessing the linking runs and lifts across to the neighbouring resort of Tignes.

St Anton

St Anton is a legendary Austrian ski resort in the South Tyrolean Alps, boasting both fantastic skiing and its own infamous brand of après ski. It was an early starter in terms of winter Alpinism; the first skiing in the Arlberg regions was actually recorded in 1895 when the parish priest of Lech made a first attempt at skiing – to the ridicule of his parishioners. Despite their obvious amusement the sport steadily grew, and on 3rd January 1901 a group of friends together formed the Arlberg Ski Club – which still exists today. They held their first internal races in 1903, and since have hosted many international racing competitions including several Alpine Skiing World Championships – the most recent in 2001.

The skiing in St Anton & the Arlberg region peaks at 2,811m, and the resort offers a skiable range of 1,507 m, with St Anton village itself sitting at 1,300m. The resort is fast becoming one of the most popular in Europe, and for good reason; it has an excellent snow record, sits within a two-hour drive of three major international airports, and has a train station if you prefer to travel by rail. Easily accessible, and retaining a cosy, village atmosphere, St Anton is known for being incredibly warm and welcoming.

It is also the home of modern Alpine skiing, as the birthplace of Johann ‘Hannes’ Schneider, who invented the ‘Arlberg Technique’ of downhill skiing and tuition. He was the first to pioneer the stages of instruction from snowplough to parallel turns that is still taught today. Schneider himself was self-taught, crafting his own makeshift skis as a child from a sledge maker’s scraps and a sieve nailed on to the runners as a binding. He often practised by moonlight to avoid the laughter of friends and family.

St Anton remains an innovator, with spectacular new lifts such as the pioneering Galzig gondola, which uses Ferris wheel technology to allow visitors to enter the lift at ground level. It is also a member of the USA Epic Pass scheme, which allows holders of season passes in many of the USA’s major resorts (including Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek & Heavenly) to spend 5 days skiing in St Anton, included on their lift pass. Likewise holders of an Arlberg season pass can return the favour by visiting each of the US resorts for up to 5 days. Fantastic, and sure to recommend St Anton to a whole new crowd of skiers from the USA, not forgetting Perisher in Australia, which is also a member of the scheme.

The layout of St Anton has of course changed over the years with the resort’s continued development, but it has retained the village feel and has avoided the pitfalls of over-development. The village sits in the valley with steep mountains either side, and the beautiful Rosanna River running through the middle. The centre of the village is also pedestrianised, and the main street ‘Dorfstrasse’ is often snow covered, with many of the resort’s hotels, bars and restaurants spilling off it. Many of these are still the original, timber-clad buildings and contribute to the unique ambiance of St Anton, as does the church with its ‘onion dome’ roof, dating back to the 17th century.

Accommodation in St Anton is still predominantly located in the centre of the village, however prime location is certainly to be close to the Galzig gondola if you want to catch that first lift. That said, taking a chalet a little further out will offer you more space and privacy, and with the chauffeur service included you will not miss out on that first lift – but be transported to it in total comfort and warmth, avoiding any un-necessary walking in ski boots. Taking this into consideration Nasserein opens itself up as an excellent location; previously its own little hamlet it has now ‘merged’ with St Anton, and is home to the nursery slopes so a great spot with small children just beginning to learn.

While there is a wide variety of skiing available to skiers of all levels, St Anton is perhaps best for intermediate and advanced skiers; from the nursery slopes at the bottom it is quite a step up to the blue pistes further up the mountain. The blue runs here are known to be tricky, the reds tougher still. It is however perfect for enthusiastic intermediates looking to improve their technique and relish the challenge, and experienced skiers will have lots to keep them interested with steep reds and blacks, and challenging off-piste itineraries, especially in the Valluga area.

Danny Frith is Director at SkiBoutique. SkiBoutique is a luxury ski chalet agency based in Switzerland.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

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[homedecorlov1]

New Post has been published on Best Interior Design Ideas - Beautiful Home

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Inspiring Modern Bedrooms For Kids: Colorful, Quirky, And Fun

What could be more exciting than decorating a bedroom with your creative youngsters? Although you may not be able to adopt all of their ideas (chocolate fountains and real life petting zoos are probably off the table), it’s definitely possible to incorporate their tastes and preferences into a design that parents and kids alike can enjoy. This post looks at several childhood bedrooms that go beyond everyday expectations. After you check out the incredible photos below, make sure to check out this list of kid’s room wall decor to enhance your scrapbook of ideas.

Colorful and eclectic, this bedroom design would be sure to appeal to young boys and girls alike – and even teens might secretly harbor a little jealousy at some of the more creative features within. This mini tour opens with a look at the colorful study area, complete with an a-frame table and whimsical patchwork chair, a window seating area covering expansive storage in the background. 

But a glance over the rest of the room reveals so much more fun to enjoy. The jungle gym offers a fun way to exercise, leading up to a cool netted ceiling where the kids can sit and look over their playtime empire below. 

Composed of polka dots on plywood, the world map makes for a fabulous accent wall with educational appeal. Chalkboards, whiteboards, and corkboards offer a place to showcase creative activities. 

Even the bed area has some creative inspiration to offer. Shelves house books for bedtime stories, cute planters hang from rungs, and a stylish wooden monkey appropriately takes advantage of the ladder. 

This bedroom takes a more minimalistic approach compared to the previous one, but it’s not the “stark” type of minimalist popular with hardcore design fans – this style demonstrates a fresh and clean aesthetic with plenty of room for imagination. Bright yellow accents pop out from the backdrop of blue and pink pastels, with adorable animal characters prompting immediate smiles wherever found. 

Most inspiring is the bold graphic details. Strings of star-shaped lights rain down from the cutout cloud and mountaintop silhouettes adorn the cabinet doors, a neat little wonderland to explore. 

Mountain peaks recur as a way to decorate an otherwise plain wooden wardrobe. The bedframe is a cool detail that makes the bed feel closer and smaller. A little lamp stands by in case bad dreams awaken the little one. 

Overall, the look is exceptionally modern and sure to garner the approval of stylish parents and children alike. 

Here’s another charismatic child’s bedroom from the same designer. Forms and furniture remain just as simple as before, but the color theme is noticeably brighter and more powerful. Color blocking distinguishes each functional space in creative ways. Bunny rabbits and owls – both realistic and cartoonish – make up a large part of the overall decorative theme. 

And, of course, a few playfully quirky choices really stand out. The llama portrait is unexpected and so very delightful, and the alarm clock and planter combination is something most adults would want for their own office. 

The capital “A” bookshelf is an undeniable focal point of the room. Toys, books, and animal figures line the shelves – but the real stars are the expressive storage boxes down below! 

A glass-paneled wardrobe space ties the pastel side of the color theme together. There’s even a panel that reflects the zig zag rug, emphasized by indirect lighting that runs down one side. 

This entry is a little different, demonstrating two distinctive bed options for the same space. The first composition uses a classic four-poster bed with ethereal curtains hanging from the upper frame. This is a classic style, especially suitable for children who haven’t quite outgrown fairytales but still want something that demonstrates a sophisticated style. 

Alternatively, this room also looks adorable with the addition of an imaginative treehouse bed – a surefire way to convince younger children to embrace bedtime each night. 

Every other aspect of the decor is relatively age-agnostic. A cloud shaped rug, checkered wood floors, and a weightless feathered pendant light are among some of the most unforgettable features. 

The unique leaning wall clock is from Ari Kanerva and the sled base chair is the work of Mika Tolvanen, both accomplished Finnish designers. Also note that the rug transformed into a star shape, an alternative to the cloud. 

In the corner, the classically inspired birdcage floor lamp by Mathieu Challières underscores the bedroom’s whimsical theme. 

Powder blue, pink, and calming lavender serve as a lovely background in this pretty bedroom. But you’ll notice something else too – the textiles completely break away from the main color palette, avoiding the possibility of feeling too “matchy matchy” while also demonstrating that bold wall colors don’t have to limit your choice of accents. 

This bedroom has several cool features worth admiring. One is the typographic accent on the wall near the door, an invitation to dance that nobody could turn down. 

Unique shelving solutions also catch the eye right away. These little house-shaped shelves match the bed quite well. The colorful wallpaper backing is a touch anyone could add to their favorite shelves. 

Now let’s take a little break from structured room tours to enjoy this incredible collection of modern designs by Mateusz Minkina. This short series has a few recurring themes, like scaled-down versions of iconic furniture, treehouse-shaped bedframes, and bold modern patterns that define at least one element of each room. Here, you’ll find styles for little boys and girls alike. 

Finally, let’s close out this post with an awesome superhero-themed bedroom for two enthusiastic youngsters. It has everything! Make sure to check out our big list of superhero home decor to find comic inspired artwork and collectibles you can buy right now, so you can treat your own children (or inner child) to a room that looks as cool as this one. 

The wall murals are definitely an admirable touch. Captain America peeks out from behind the incredible jungle gym, and Spider-Man watches over the desks to encourage kids to do their best on homework. 

Each bed enjoys a different superhero as well. Framed prints of Batman and Superman represent the favorites of each sibling. Don’t miss the little Batman and Spidey figures on the floor! 

Although not superhero-related, the creative cabinets definitely seem to hint at a little LEGO inspiration with the round appliques. This transformation would make a cool DIY project for the weekend!