Norway

Sometimes getting around oppressive tax laws requires a little bit of...shall we say, creativity. Which is exactly what the Norwegian importer for Porsche cars appears to be displaying with this latest loophole.

Although the Porsche Cayman and Boxster are built in neighboring Finland, next door in Norway they're subject to heavy tariffs due to their high horsepower outputs and carbon emissions. So what did the importer do? Cut the engine's output to below the threshold. The result is a coupe and convertible with 211 horsepower each – 44 and 34 hp less than what they leave the nearby factory with – which qualifies them for significant tax rebates: nearly $19,000 for the Cayman and over $15,000 for the Boxster. The kicker, though, is that according to the same spec sheet, the sportscars haven't suffered any performance degradation, leading us to wonder if the engines were really modified or if they just doctored the numbers.

If you're in the been-there, done-that traveler club, here's something to add to your next itinerary: Kosterhavet, Sweden's first national marine park, has just opened. It's about 175 square miles, most of it open ocean, home to some 600 marine species. The park's northern water boundary is shared with Norway, and in fact Kosterhavet National Park runs right into Norway's new marine national park, Ytre Hvaler, which opened at the same time. Together, both parks encompass about 300 square miles.

Kosterhavet gets its name for the land that it surrounds, the Koster Islands, which are themselves a nature reserve. North Koster and South Koster are so close together that they really feel like one island, and together they're the westernmost settled area in Sweden. They're also ridiculously charming -- near the water, they're just what you'd picture a small Scandinavian fishing village to look like, and towards the center, it's all rolling countryside ripe for hiking and cycling, dotted with red-roofed houses.

But of course, the main event is what's below the surface. The water separating Koster Islands from Sweden's main land is actually a fjord, which achieves such a depth that it's home to deep sea species. Kosterhavet also includes Sweden's only cold-water coral reef, which makes for excellent cold-water scuba diving -- the rocky coast also means that there are also a number of shipwrecks to check out beneath the waves. Above the water, a sea kayak is the way to go --- take a look at Sweden's largest population of seals, and from a respectful distance, admire nesting areas for Arctic terns.

The 120-passenger MS Expedition is the latest yacht to offer cruises to the remote frozen land of Spitsbergen through Hurtigruten cruises. The MS Expedition is no spring chicken. It was built in Helsingør, Denmark in 1972 but underwent a complete rebuilding and modernization last year. The ship features a panorama lounge, expedition lounge, restaurant, library, bar, fitness room and sauna. All cabins face outside and have their own window. Zodiacs are used for expedition landings as well as for navigating the narrow straits of the arctic landscape for up-close views of the glaciers and wildlife. The frozen ecosystem is rich in natural beauty and supports walrus, polar bears, reindeer, seabirds and geese. Tours of Spitsbergen and surrounded areas are available in nine, 12 and 16-day packages and early booking fares start at $5,686. Dress warm.

Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko's long-awaited yacht is getting some pricey decoration. The wildly distinctive yacht, known simply as "A" named after Melnichenko's wife Aleksandra, was designed by Philippe Starck. The Times Online reports that the $400 million megayacht recently motored to Norway to pick up three Monet paintings. It is believed that Melnichenko chose Norway to avoid EU import taxes.

The 390-foot ship was built by Blohm & Voss and features details including a glass roof looking up into one of the two swimming pools. It has six guest cabins but room for 42 staff members.

Check out more pictures of this incredible yacht at Monaco Eye.

Dad's big day is this Sunday and to celebrate we wanted to share some inventive ways to show your Pops how much you care. Forget the Big Bertha driver, new desk accessories or certificate for a hot towel shave and consider a trip of a lifetime that is sure to show your appreciation better than a "World's Greatest Dad" mug from the Hallmark store. If I had to guess I would say these trips would fit the bill for most fathers out there.

• Abercrombie & Kent present Norweigan Dog Sledding or a Tanzanian Safari
• Kennedy Space Center offers the Astronaut Training Experience
• Fairmont Hotels & Resorts provide Ultimate Golf Packages at St. Andrews or Turnberry Isle
• The Resort at Paws Up in Montana showcases a Fly-Fisherman's Heaven

You never know...maybe your thoughtful gift will win you the role of sidekick! He'll need someone to share it with...right?!

It seems like a new list of the world's most expensive cities is released every month, with Moscow on top just a few weeks ago. Compiled by Swiss bank UBS, the list was based on the cost of a group of 122 goods and services. Oslo topped the list, followed closely by London, Copenhagen, Zurich and Tokyo. The highest ranked North American city was New York. The cost of housing was not included in the main study, but when it was taken into account, the two most expensive cities were listed as London and New York.

The least expensive cities were Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Buenos Aires and Delhi.

The Juno Sofa is described as being "sensual, clear and unpretentious." By this, of course, they mean that it looks like a giant Tetris piece, though that's not necessarily a bad thing at all. Produced by the design group Norway Says, the sofa manages to look good from every angle. In fact, you can almost see well-dressed party-goers lounging against the sides of the couch over cocktails, as well as picturing a single person relaxing with a good book. The couch is made of upholstered hardwood on a frame of chromium-plated steel, so it is stable enough to be functional from all sides. The single cushion is movable and doubles as an armrest for anyone sitting anywhere on the sofa. Price: $7,495 (3-seater, pictured).

Shortly after setting out with their brand new Fairline Squadron 58, a 60-foot luxury yacht, two Norwegian men ran it into some submerged rocks and it sank. The men abandoned the sinking ship in the rubber lifeboat, which also started to sink. The Norwegian rescue crews believe that the men were relying too much on their electronic charts and it was an error in navigation (either an error in reading the charts or in the charts themselves) that caused the boat to hit the rocks. The yacht was valued at $2 million and featured four bedrooms, with room for 10 people.

The lesson learned here is that, while fancy electronic equipment is great in a yacht, it's also good if you know how to sail before you set out. And that it's probably a good idea to check the condition of the life boat, just to be safe.

[Image Aftenposten]