Why not swap it for grazing cows in the rural fields of the Philippines? Or the dazzling lights of the Manhattan skyline? Or perhaps even the endless rooftops of a city centre in Budapest?
Travel may still be restricted, but a new video project is here to virtually transport you around the world, giving users the chance to watch the view from someone else’s window, and with millions of us having to settle into life amid tougher new restrictions once again, the lockdown wanderlust has never been stronger than it is right now.
The project was created by Sonali Ranjit and her husband Vaishnav Balasubramaniam – two advertising creatives based in Singapore – last summer, and between them, they’ve previously lived and worked in India, Shanghai, Singapore, San Francisco and Stockholm.
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Naturally, they spent the first lockdown wondering how their friends abroad were getting on, and so, WindowSwap was born.
Some of the viewpoints on WindowSwap offer expansive scenes or slightly-abstract yet immersive shots with a silhouetted window frame, others really lean into the window part, offering balcony corners, fluttering curtains, and plant-lined windowsills.
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Most come with background noise too, with everything from distant traffic or local kids playing, to faint music and household chatter in various languages.
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Now while you may be perfectly willing to admit you find it a little repetitive to look at the same view outside of your window everyday, that doesn’t mean everyone else with think the same, which is why WindowSwap is a brilliant two-way street that also allows you to submit your own view for others all across the world to enjoy.
It couldn’t be easier to get your window featured either, because all WindowSwap requires you to do is:
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1. Record a 10 minute, horizontal HD video of your view with part of your window frame in the shot.
2. Make sure not to shake or move while recording.
3. Rename the video with your name and location for credits (if possible).
And that’s it.
WindowSwap also provides you with some additional filming tips and tricks should you require them to get the best shot possible, and also makes those who submit their window aware that it has thousands of submissions to go through on a regular basis, so your view will likely take some time to appear, but you will be contacted once it’s live.
This not only means you get the opportunity to virtually travel the world right from the comfort of your own home, but you can also show the world life from your unique perspective too and spread the word of Greater Manchester to the masses.
You can head on over to WindowSwap to get started here.
Happy travels.
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Manchester Airport releases list of its 10 fastest-growing holiday hotspots – including ‘Maldives of Europe’
Emily Sergeant
Holiday season is well underway, and now Manchester Airport has released a list of its 10 fastest-growing beach destinations.
Want to visit somewhere new? Destinations in Portugal, Greece, and Croatia are among the 10 fastest-growing summer holiday hotspots on Manchester Airport’s route network.
Following the completion of the £1.3bn Terminal 2 transformation, and a major project to redevelop Terminal 3 also now in the works, the airport is expecting a record summer season this year, which is why, with a couple of weeks left, a list of the top 10 fastest-growing destinations has been revealed, so if you’re short of some travel inspiration, this is it.
Sunseekers’ favourites are all expected to see extra visitors from Manchester this summer, but other lesser-known destinations are seeing an even greater surge in popularity – with the number of people travelling there this summer versus last summer set to double (or even triple) in some cases.
Manchester Airport has released a list of its 10 fastest-growing holiday destinations / Credit: Marie Volkert | Northleg Official (via Unsplash)
These destinations are spread across the Mediterranean, and all offer a rich blend of sun, sea, sand, history, culture, and foodie delights.
As you’d expect, there are a number of Spanish spots on the list, including the emerging Canary Islands favourite of La Palma, Jerez de la Frontera near the historic city of Cadiz, and the popular Valencia.
Elsewhere, you’ll also find the major cities of Marseille in France, Porto in Portugal, and Verona in Italy on the list, but if you’re keen to visit somewhere a little more off the beaten track, why not try and trip to Zadar in Croatia or Preveza in Greece, which both appear to be growing in popularity.
One of the real stand-out gems on the list though has to be what is dubbed the ‘Maldives of Europe’.
Holiday season is well underway at Manchester Airport / Credit: Ivan Shimko (via Unsplash)
Albania’s capital Tirana is not only a great candidate for a city break, but it’s also the starting point for intrepid explorers seeking out the stunning beaches on the Albanian Riviera – which have become famous on social media over the past couple of years, and have drawn comparisons to the bucket list destination of the Maldives.
“Sometimes, a destination will go viral on social media or see a spike in demand as adventurous travellers discover it,” explained Stephen Turner, who is the Chief Commercial Officer at Manchester Airport. “And we then see that translate into airlines adding extra flights or flying larger aircraft to those destinations to meet that demand.
“We keep our finger on the pulse to analyse these trends and we work with our airline partners to ensure that if a particular destination is in vogue, or emerging as a new favourite, you can get there from Manchester.”
See the full list of stunning destinations and get booking your next trip here.
Featured Image – Nick Karvounis (via Unsplash)
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SpudBros are returning to the Trafford Centre following HUGELY successful debut
Emily Sergeant
Viral internet sensation SpudBros are returning to the Trafford Centre following their hugely successful debut.
Following the ‘overwhelming’ success of their first Trafford Centre residency earlier this summer, the UK’s most-followed jacket potato creators SpudBros are returning to the iconic retail destination for a second pop-up later this month.
Shoppers will once again be able to tuck into freshly prepared, fully loaded jacket potatoes served up in minutes, all without compromising on quality, flavour, or portion size.
The SpudBros – also known as Jacob and Harley Nelson – will, once again, be returning as part of Trafford Centre‘s annual summer fair.
At the pop-up, you’ll be able to pick from fan favourites like the Tram Classic, which is loaded with garlic butter, the signature three-cheese mix, beans, crispy onions, and world-famous ‘tram’ sauce, to the Spudfather topped with chilli con carne, tuna, and coleslaw.
There’s also a range of other flavour-packed options to tuck into, alongside the option to build your own potato, allowing every customer to create their perfect lunch.
“The response to our first week at Trafford Centre was incredible, so we couldn’t be more excited to return,” commented SpudBros co-founder, Jacob Nelson.
Viral internet sensation SpudBros are launching a special pop-up at Trafford Centre this summer / Credit: The Manc Group
“Manchester has always shown us so much support online and it was amazing to finally bring SpudBros to the city. We’re looking forward to serving even more visitors and welcoming back everyone who came to see us the first time around.”
Simon Layton, Centre Director at Trafford Centre, added: “SpudBros was a fantastic addition to our summer line-up and proved hugely popular with our visitors, so we’re delighted to welcome the team back for a second pop-up.”
The SpudBros pop-up will be located outside The Great Hall next week from Monday 24 to Saturday 29 August, serving signature loaded potatoes daily from 12-8pm.
Emily Sergeant -
5th January 2021 
