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Copper artifacts reveal new cultural connections in southern Africa
Chemical and isotopic analysis of copper artifacts from southern Africa reveals new cultural connections among people living in the region between the 5th and 20th centuries according to a University of Missouri researcher and colleagues.
The paper is published in the journal PLOS ONE.
People in the area between northern South Africa and the Copperbelt region in central Africa were more connected to one another than scholars previously thought, said Jay Stephens, a post-doctoral fellow in the MU Research Reactor (MURR) Archaeometry Lab.
"Over the past 20 to 30 years, most archaeologists have framed the archaeological record of southern Africa in a global way with a major focus on its connection to imports coming from the Indian Ocean," he said. "But it's also important to recognize the interconnected relationships that existed among the many groups of people living in southern Africa. The data shows the interaction between these groups not only involved the movement of goods, but also flows of information and the sharing of technological practices that come with that exchange."
Mining copper ore
For years, scholars debated whether these artifacts, called rectangular, fishtail and croisette copper ingots, were made exclusively from copper ore mined in the Copperbelt region or from Zimbabwe's Magondi Belt. As it turns out, both theories are correct, Stephens said.
"We now have tangible linkages to reconstruct connectivity at various points in time in the archeological record," he said. "There is a massive history of interconnectivity found throughout the region in areas now known as the countries of Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This also includes people from the contemporary Ingombe Ilede, Harare, and Musengezi traditions of northern Zimbabwe between at least the 14th and 18th centuries A.D."
To determine their findings, researchers took small samples from 33 copper ingots and analyzed them at the University of Arizona. All samples were carefully selected by researchers from archeological samples found in the collections of the Museum of Human Sciences in Harare, Zimbabwe, and the Livingstone Museum in Livingstone, Zambia.
"We didn't want to impact the display of an object, so we tried to be aware of how museums and institutions would want to interact with the data we collected and share it with the general public," Stephens said. "We also want our knowledge to be accessible for the individuals in these communities who continue to interact with these objects. Hopefully, some of the skills linked with these analyses can be used by whomever wants to ask similar questions in the future."
Stephens said copper ingots are excellent objects for this type of analysis because they often have emblematic shapes that allow archaeologists to identify specific markings and follow changes over different time periods.
"By looking at their changes in shape and morphology over time, we can pair those changes with how technology changed over time," he said. "This often comes from observing the decorative features produced from the cast object or mold, or other surface attributes found on these objects."
Gathering scientific evidence
Once the samples arrived at the University of Arizona lab, researchers took a small amount of each sample—less than one gram—and dissolved it with specific acids to leave behind a liquid mixture of chemical ions. Then the samples were analyzed for lead isotopes and other chemical elements. One challenge the team encountered was a lack of existing data to match their samples with.
"One part of the project included analyzing hundreds of ore samples from different geological deposits in southern Africa—especially ones mined before the arrival of European colonial forces—to create a robust data set," Stephens said. "The data can provide a scientific foundation to help back up the inferences and conclusions we make in the study."
Historical connections
Stephens said the data they collect is one of the only remaining tangible links that exist today to those precolonial mines in Africa.
"Unfortunately, large open pit mines have destroyed a lot of the archaeological sites and broader cultural landscapes around these geological deposits," he said. "This makes it a challenge to reconstruct the history related to these mines. It's a concerning development, especially with the global push toward more electric vehicles which use minerals like copper and cobalt found in the Copperbelt."
More information: Jay Stephens et al, Reconstructing the geological provenance and long-distance movement of rectangular, fishtail, and croisette copper ingots in Iron Age Zambia and Zimbabwe, PLOS ONE (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282660
Journal information: PLoS ONE
Provided by University of Missouri
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Art and Culture
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For once, say its curators, “the chance of a lifetime” may be right: never before have so many works by Johannes Vermeer, the luminous 17th-century Dutch master, been assembled in the same place – and it is highly unlikely they will be again.
Of the fewer than 40 paintings most experts attribute to the artist, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has obtained 28. Opening next week, its first Vermeer retrospective has sold more advance tickets than any show in the museum’s history.
“Vermeer makes the clock stop,” Taco Dibbits, the Rijksmuseum’s general director, said. “He gives you the feeling you are there, with that person, in that room, and that time has stopped. And time, most especially today, is what we all long for.”
Born in 1632, Vermeer is the most enigmatic of the Dutch masters. Besides his canvases, nothing of him remains: no letters, no writings, no diary. Trained as an artist, his work was barely recognised during his lifetime, mainly because, in a strongly Protestant country, he converted to Catholicism when he married at the age of 21.
Museums and private owners in seven countries have loaned masterpieces for the show, including almost all of the intimate, atmospherically lit domestic scenes – a maid pouring a jug of milk, a girl stitching lace, a woman at a virginal – for which Vermeer is best known.
London’s National Gallery has sent Young Woman Seated at a Virginal; the Louvre in Paris supplied The Lacemaker; and the National Gallery in Dublin loaned Woman Writing a Letter With Her Maid. Other artworks have come from Berlin, New York and Tokyo.
Some have not journeyed far, of course: the Rijksmuseum’s four Vermeers, including The Milkmaid, are on show, and perhaps the artist’s most famous work of all, Girl With a Pearl Earring, was just down the road at the Mauritshuis in The Hague.
But the great fragility of the paintings, most of which were completed between 1655 and 1670, their value, and the fact that they have become the prize possessions of many of the museums that house them, mean they very rarely travel.
“It’s been incredible to see,” Dibbits said. “This is an artist who produced 45, maybe 50, paintings. We know of 37 of them, and to get 28 together … When you have a party, you hope everyone you invite will come. Well, pretty much everyone who could, has.”
The initial spark for the show came, he said, when the Rijksmuseum’s team of curators realised that the Frick Collection, in New York, which has not allowed its three Vermeers to travel for more than a century, would close in 2023 for refurbishment.
It took “a lot of hard work”, but in the end only nine known works by the artist will be missing. One was stolen from a Boston museum in 1990; two, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, cannot be loaned because of the terms of their bequest; and another, from the Louvre, is on loan elsewhere. Most of the rest are too frail to travel.
The exhibition is not without controversy. Late last year, the Rijksmuseum said that after painstaking scientific and comparative research, it was confirming the attribution to Vermeer of three works whose authenticity some experts had questioned.
The most surprising was Girl With a Flute, of which the National Gallery of Art in Washington said as recently as last October it did not believe was a genuine Vermeer, but had probably been produced by an unspecified associate.
Dibbits said: “Look, there are differences of opinion over Rembrandts, with more than 300 paintings to compare. When you have so few works to go on, you can draw different conclusions from the same data. Attribution is not a hard science.”
He said recent exhaustive study had shown that beneath the meticulous detail of Vermeer’s pictures were broad, vigorous strokes that ran counter to previous notions of how he worked.
The research also revealed the profound Jesuit influence on his art. Light, optics and focus were a recurring theme in Jesuit literature: the order regarded, for example, the camera obscura, a forerunner of the camera that projects an image on to a surface from a small hole in the opposite side, as a tool for the observation of God’s divine light.
One of the camera obscura’s effects is to focus the light on one point, while blurring and distorting the rest; precisely the effects found in many of Vermeer’s tranquil, atmospherically lit interiors. This was clear evidence, Dibbits said, of a Jesuit connection that was “not just religious, but artistic”.
Vermeer runs from 10 February to 4 June at the Rijksmuseum, whose groundbreaking exhibition of slavery – the source of so much of the wealth generated by the Dutch Golden Age – goes on display this month at the UN headquarters in New York: timely recognition, Dibbits said, of “the continuing impact of slavery on world history”.
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Art and Culture
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The godfather of the Florentine republic sighed. Perhaps he also stroked a cat, Vito Corleone-style, as he considered yet another request for a favour. This time it was the sculptor Donatello who needed help from his patron, Cosimo de’ Medici, the boss of mid-15th-century Florence. It was a case of boyfriend trouble.
Donatello had fallen out with his apprentice, who was also his lover. The young man had run off to Ferrara so Donatello, consumed with possessive rage, wanted Cosimo to give him a letter addressed to the ruler of Ferrara to explain that Donatello was there to murder his boyfriend. Cosimo provided the letter and sent a separate message asking Ferrara’s ruler to be gentle with Donatello for he was an artist and could get a bit emotional. When Donatello found his beloved, the youth “fell about laughing and Donatello, melting instantly, started laughing too”.
What a story. It paints Donatello as an openly gay artist and his main employer, Cosimo, as having a relaxed, supportive understanding of his sexuality, despite living in a medieval Christian age when you could be burned at the stake for “sodomy”.
As the V&A prepares to unveil an exhibition of Donatello, this tale suggests he is an artist who can speak directly to our time. For it means Donatello, who was born circa 1386 and died in 1466, was the first artist in history to express a gay or queer identity.
This is all the more significant as Donatello created, for Cosimo, the first lifesized statue of a male nude erected anywhere in Europe since pagan antiquity. His bronze David, planting a foot in the soft beard hair of the older man he’s slain, is a dazzling work even when you don’t know the 15th-century gossip. If the story is true, it means that when Cosimo commissioned Donatello to cast David for his palace courtyard he knew he was getting a sexualised male nude by a queer artist.
Art historians have argued for decades about this extremely old gossip and how relevant it might be to understanding Donatello’s David. One sceptic was the former V&A director John Pope-Hennessy. He shuddered at the idea of David as a gay artwork, describing it as “aberrant nonsense” and claiming such theories “left a little trail of slime on a great work of art.”
So is a word of this bold tale actually true? It was, after all, recorded in a 15th-century manuscript of jokes and anecdotes called Detti Piacevoli, which roughly translates as “pleasant things people said”. When I came across the story I thought it was illuminating, even if entirely fictional. For it surely suggests a lot about how Donatello’s contemporaries saw him. But the more you find out about the man who wrote this story, Angelo Poliziano, the more likely it is he told the plain, honest truth about the gay sculptor and his wealthy protector.
In a fresco painted in the 1480s in the church of Santa Trinita, Florence, Poliziano gravely poses with long hair, leading a group of boys to see their powerful father. These are the sons of Lorenzo de’ Medici, “the Magnificent”: Poliziano was their tutor. One giveaway clue that he wrote Detti Piacevoli is that its author casually mentions this is his job. Lorenzo greets him in the painting with a welcoming gesture, for Poliziano was his close friend as well as his kids’ teacher. Born in Montepulciano in Tuscany, he grew up in poverty after his father was murdered yet learned Greek, a rare achievement at the time, and started a brilliant translation of Homer’s Odyssey when he was in his teens.
Lorenzo the Magnificent was so impressed by “the Adolescent Homer”, as Poliziano was called, that he invited him to live in his house. Even after the Magnifico’s wife, Clarice Orsini, threw him out of the house where they were locked down during a plague outbreak, possibly for teaching more pagan authors than Christian ones, Poliziano’s friendship with the cultivated ruler of Florence was unbreakable. In a moving letter he describes sitting in tears at Lorenzo’s deathbed in 1492.
So this is the first reason for taking Poliziano’s claims about Donatello’s turbulent love life seriously: he was privy to the innermost secrets of the Medici. Donatello’s patron Cosimo de’ Medici, “the elder”, was the grandfather of Poliziano’s protector Lorenzo. When Cosimo died Lorenzo was 15, old enough to pick up adult gossip. So Poliziano could literally have got the Donatello story from Lorenzo the Magnificent: a piece of Medici collective memory about one of the family’s favourite artists.
Donatello worked his whole life in the orbit of the Medici. He created his bronze David and a statue of Judith and Holofernes for their palace. This, too, delights in the male form: Judith is thickly robed and cowled, while Donatello lavishes his sensuality on the naked muscled torso of the man she’s beheading. It’s unlikely the Medici would have spread random ribaldry about an artist so close to their hearts. Instead, it seems Poliziano is sharing his benefactor’s private knowledge. If Lorenzo and Poliziano chatted about Donatello and his sexuality they had the visual evidence right in front of them: David still stood in the family palace. But it would also have been a self-conscious conversation. For in the generous and liberal relationship the tale depicts between Cosimo the Elder and Donatello, Poliziano must have seen a mirror of himself and Lorenzo.
Just how much protection Lorenzo gave Poliziano’s own sexuality became obvious in 1492. Even as the Magnifico lay dying that April, a public accusation of “sodomy” was being made against Poliziano. Moralists couldn’t even wait for Lorenzo’s last breath as a crackdown on male bathhouses and sodomy-positive taverns sought to end the perceived laxity of the Magnifico. Without his protector Poliziano fell into the arms, possibly literally, of his dear friend and fellow intellectual Pico della Mirandola. This maverick philosopher was chased out of Rome for daring to argue that classical paganism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam were all very similar under the surface. Lorenzo offered his protection and Pico became another of his friends. Poliziano and Pico flirt brazenly in their letters: Pico, thanking Poliziano for a critique of his love poems, says the verses “are enormously in your debt for pricking them at all. Yes, who wouldn’t want to die on the receiving end of that sword of yours?”
Poliziano and Pico died mysteriously, just two months apart, in 1494. In the year they died Florence became a theocratic republic ruled by the religious zealot Savonarola after the Medici family had been briefly driven out – yet both men were buried, next to each other, at Savonarola’s monastery San Marco. In 2007 they were exhumed for a very belated autopsy. It established that Pico almost certainly, and Poliziano very possibly, died of arsenic poisoning.
Poliziano, then, did not share the gossip about Donatello in a malign or sniggering way. He found it recognisable as a man who himself loved men. He doesn’t judge Donatello at all: his tale ends in laughter and reconciliation. It’s a cheerful love story.
Another reason to trust Poliziano is that, almost uniquely for a 15th-century intellectual, he respected and understood artists. Traditionally, artists were seen as mere manual workers with none of the high status of a poet like Poliziano. But Poliziano is on record as someone who ignored that social stratification.
Decades after Poliziano died he was fondly remembered by none other than Michelangelo, whose own nude statue of David by now towered over Donatello’s, literally and in its fame. Talking to his biographer, the ageing Michelangelo remembered how, as a teenager in the early 1490s, he was “discovered” by Lorenzo de’ Medici. He was invited to banquets in the Medici palace and met Lorenzo’s starry friends. Kindest of them all was Poliziano. In fact he gave Michelangelo the idea for his first nude masterpiece, Battle of the Centaurs, a pounding nightclub ecstasy of a sculpture, all sweating bodies, done when he was about 17.
Donatello, Poliziano, Michelangelo – it’s a queer line of descent. Michelangelo, while claiming his affairs with men were spiritual and “platonic”, acknowledged that his passion for the male nude was charged with desire.
The nude was claimed by later aesthetes such as Pope-Hennessy as a pure art form unrelated to sex, but it was never that in the Renaissance. Michelangelo wrestled with desire. Donatello gleefully flaunted it. His David is dangerous, even disturbing. And the story of his affair with an apprentice is the key to it. David has defeated an older man: is this Donatello himself? The meeting of David’s foot and Goliath’s hair suggests they are more intimate than anything the Bible ever suggested.
Donatello constantly foregrounds his own feelings. When he portrays women lamenting the (naked) dead Christ, you are sucked into his sorrow. In his equestrian statue of the soldier Gattamelata, he unleashes so much energy you feel he’s thrilled by this warrior. The V&A show will even include the museum’s lovely Madonna he gave his doctor as a present for helping him when he was ill. Fear of illness and death, desire and joy in life: it’s all there in this great artist’s intensely imagined forms.
You have to hand it to Cosimo the Elder: he knew artistic genius when he saw it. And he knew it needed to be free.
Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance opens at the V&A on 11 February.
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Art and Culture
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In the Seven Ages of Man speech from As You Like It, Shakespeare tracks the stages of life from infancy to the second childishness that comes with old age. This collection of short plays by Anthony Clark takes the phases as stimulus for seven scenes but maps them on to women of different classes and experiences. Together, they form an eloquent meditation on life, mortality and the passing of time, reflecting on the state of the world and our intrinsic desire to make it a better place.
Two actors, Safeena Ladha and Chenise Lynette, take on new roles in each story but She brings out humankind’s innate similarities as well as highlighting each individual’s unique path. In the first play (perhaps the least dynamic), we are introduced to a young, clinically depressed woman coming to terms with her new baby and its conception. Soon, we move on to a restaurant where two old school friends bicker, banter and bawl, in the hope of getting their own back on a waitress who once bullied them in the playground.
As we reach the chapters that tackle death and its inevitability, we feel so connected to the performers that we can’t help but get a lump in our throats when one woman reveals her early terminal diagnosis. Though every life period Clark has written is contrasting in form and feeling, he has a way of making you contemplate what has happened to each of his characters in their lives previously. The play asks: what has made people the ones we now see? Clark is a master of writing flawed, chaotic personalities with verve. When you view these short pieces as one entity, what strikes you is how they grow in might.
Co-directed by Poppy Sutch and Maddy Corner, each piece has its title incorporated in its set, designed by Jessica Curtis. All the titles are present for the final episode in which two young improv performers grapple to understand the minds of 90-year-old dementia sufferers, their own immaturity making it jovial. She is a tableau of growth, of the knowledge that comes with age, and a fascinating analysis of the human condition.
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Art and Culture
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A Glasgow artist, who did not start painting until he retired, is showing off his work for the last time.
In his own words, Thomas McGoran "wants the world to see his art before he dies".
Dozens of his oil paintings have gone on display in a city shopping centre for members of the public to enjoy looking at, as much as he enjoyed painting them.
At 95 years old he is still active enough to attend his pop-up gallery every day, but he acknowledges this may be the last opportunity to share his work.
"I have the last chance to let the world see my paintings," he said. "When I go the pictures will still be here and every picture tells a story.
"I am leaving my mark on the world."
Thomas was talented at drawing as a child, but it was a retirement gift from his wife Jenny that got him painting.
He told BBC Scotland: "I worked on the railways. With three children and shift work, there was not a lot of spare time.
"I was made redundant in 1988 and my wife gave me a retirement present of a box of oil paints and brushes.
"I had never used oils in my life - But through trial and error I persevered and learned how to paint and I love working with them."
His inspiration comes from his memories.
His vivid recall of growing up in Glasgow in the 1930s inspired images packed with details of childhood games, tenements and washing greens.
"I was born in Ayr and my family moved to Glasgow in 1932 when I was four years old," he said.
"We spent the 1930s living in a small street in Dennistoun. My paintings show the mischief we got up to and the games we played.
"It was a great time. The 1930s, then the war and after the war we just picked up again. Life was great in those days.
"We had to make own entertainment, do our own thing. Our parents let us run wild. It was marvellous. Best time in my life."
Of transferring this into his paintings, he said: "I have always had an eye for detail. I look at things and I see things other people don't see."
Thomas wanted to put his work out for people to see and convinced the Forge Shopping Centre to give him an empty shop.
He brought almost 60 paintings, which had been stored in a wardrobe, to go on display.
The centre helped him set up a gallery which is open until 26 February.
A new idea for the centre, it has been a huge success. Marketing manager Jade Wilkie said: "The response is lovely. Watching people going round, you can tell they are having a chat about their own childhoods.
"Thomas may be 95 but he has been here every day, talking to everyone. His story touched me and we were happy to help."
None of the paintings are for sale, but people have been making donations at the gallery, all of which will go to local charity With Kids and the Turkey and Syria earthquake appeal.
Said Mr McGoran: "The public have been wonderful. It has been so exhilarating, talking to people while they are remembering things they did when they were young."
Visit the 1930s is at The Forge Shopping Centre until 26 February
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Art and Culture
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Roald Dahl’s children’s books are being rewritten to remove language deemed offensive by the publisher Puffin.
Puffin has hired sensitivity readers to rewrite chunks of the author’s text to make sure the books “can continue to be enjoyed by all today”, resulting in extensive changes across Dahl’s work.
Edits have been made to descriptions of characters’ physical appearances. The word “fat” has been cut from every new edition of relevant books, while the word “ugly” has also been culled, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is now described as “enormous”. In The Twits, Mrs Twit is no longer “ugly and beastly” but just “beastly”.
Hundreds of changes were made to the original text – and some passages not written by Dahl have been added. But the Roald Dahl Story Company said “it’s not unusual to review the language” during a new print run and any changes were “small and carefully considered”.
In The Witches, a paragraph explaining that witches are bald beneath their wigs ends with the new line: “There are plenty of other reasons why women might wear wigs and there is certainly nothing wrong with that.”
In previous editions of James and the Giant Peach, the Centipede sings: “Aunt Sponge was terrifically fat / And tremendously flabby at that,” and, “Aunt Spiker was thin as a wire / And dry as a bone, only drier.”
Both verses have been removed, and in their place are the rhymes: “Aunt Sponge was a nasty old brute / And deserved to be squashed by the fruit,” and, “Aunt Spiker was much of the same / And deserves half of the blame.”
References to “female” characters have disappeared. Miss Trunchbull in Matilda, once a “most formidable female”, is now a “most formidable woman”.
Gender-neutral terms have been added in places – where Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s Oompa Loompas were “small men”, they are now “small people”. The Cloud-Men in James and the Giant Peach have become Cloud-People.
Puffin and the Roald Dahl Story Company made the changes in conjunction with Inclusive Minds, which its spokesperson describes as “a collective for people who are passionate about inclusion and accessibility in children’s literature”.
Alexandra Strick, a co-founder of Inclusive Minds, said they “aim to ensure authentic representation, by working closely with the book world and with those who have lived experience of any facet of diversity”.
A notice from the publisher sits at the bottom of the copyright page of the latest editions of Dahl’s books: “The wonderful words of Roald Dahl can transport you to different worlds and introduce you to the most marvellous characters. This book was written many years ago, and so we regularly review the language to ensure that it can continue to be enjoyed by all today.”
A spokesperson for the Roald Dahl Story Company said: “When publishing new print runs of books written years ago, it’s not unusual to review the language used alongside updating other details including a book’s cover and page layout. Our guiding principle throughout has been to maintain the storylines, characters, and the irreverence and sharp-edged spirit of the original text. Any changes made have been small and carefully considered.”
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Art and Culture
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About three months after the Iranian Revolution of 1979, Soheila Sokhanvari was in the nurse’s office at her new school in the U.K. suffering an upset stomach. An old TV in an adjacent room was idly playing the news—flickering with violent images of protest in Iran, as thousands united in remonstrance of the nation’s government. The volume was set to low, and music from a dance class across the hall filled the corridors. From that moment on, Sokhanvari’s every memory of the revolution has been recalled to the beat of “Boogie Wonderland.”Fast-forward 43 years, and Iran’s protests are once again the subject of breaking news broadcasts across the globe. In the weeks that have followed the death of Kurdish 22-year-old Zhina (Mahsa) Amini, at least 133 demonstrators have been killed in Iran as the country mobilzses in protest over women’s fundamental human rights. This time, Sokhanvari’s soundtrack has been David Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel”—coinciding with her first major U.K. commission of the same name.On display at London’s Barbican through February 26th, Rebel Rebel is an homage to the pre-revolutionary feminists of Iran’s recent past, which has gained a tragic poignance amid the nation’s current protests. In her series of 28 intricate Persian miniatures, Sokhanvari honors curious creatives and pioneering thinkers who were persecuted and dismissed as motrebs by wider society—a pejorative slur used to describe low-class female entertainers. In vibrant portraits adorned with dazzling Persian patterns, Rebel Rebel celebrates poets, actors, writers, and singers who were arrested, exiled, sentenced to death, and forced to renounce their careers and possessions following the overthrowing of Mohammad Reza Shah, the former king of Iran.It’s not unusual for traditional Persian miniatures to borrow their titles from songs and folklore, but to Sokhanvari, Bowie’s Diamond Dogs classic harnessed her paintings’ sentiment like no other. “These are women who were considered whores both by the conservatives and their own families,” the artist explains, “and I wanted to show my reverence for them. I wanted the song’s lyrics to become a banner for the exhibition: ‘Rebel rebel, how could they know? Hot tramp, I love you so!’”Soheila Sokhanvari at the “Rebel Rebel” installation at Barbican Centre.(Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images for Barbican Centre)From her choice of subjects—many of whom are relatively unknown, even in Iran—to the way in which she renders them, Sokhanvari’s works are steeped in symbolism. She works with egg tempera and paints onto calf vellum—a material signaling a renouncement of the individual due to the calf’s sacrificial role in monotheistic religion. They are exhibited in the Barbican’s Curve against a dizzying mural based on Islamic geometries to deliberately induce delirium, resulting in what she calls “a radical decentering,” which disarms the viewer to allow for a deeper contemplation of these women’s stories.To hone their likeness, Sokhanvari painted each woman from photographs, taking care to choose an image that framed them in a respectful and honest light, given that their authors had been mainly men. The resulting portraits hearken back to a time when young women were styling themselves—after then-empress Queen Farah Diba, who is herself remembered for a vested interest in shaping and upholding Iranian art and culture. Their high-coiffed hair and characteristically ’70s clothing is a stark contrast to the image of Iranian womanhood propagated by the Western media.The portraits in Rebel Rebel paint a reverential and nostalgic picture of the feminist icons of Iran's past, but also serve as a pertinent reminder of the severe and fatal consequences Iranian women have faced in pursuit of their own autonomy for decades. Sokhanvari’s tribute to Iran’s feminist rebels traces a largely untold history that is fundamental in the understanding of the present, and in shaping a better future. “I see the project as pivotal in the story of Iranian culture,” she explains. “I felt these women were fast becoming forgotten, and it was essential they be immortalized to provide an alternative narrative of Iranian women for a new audience.”As Rebel Rebel opens in London, Sokhanvari shares the stories of four of the women within its paintings.Roohangiz Saminejad (1916-1997)Soheila Sokhanvari, The Lor Girl (Portrait of Roohangiz Saminejad). Courtesy of the artist.Courtesy of the artist“Roohangiz is the first woman to appear in Rebel Rebel. She was the first woman to star in a Persian-language film, and appeared unveiled. I remember Roohangiz speaking in an interview about the death threats she received for her appearance in Lor Girl (1934)and having to live in anonymity for years afterward. Filmmaker Abdolhossein Sepenta had to shoot the movie in India, because it was still taboo to appear without a veil in Iran at that time.”Kobra Saeedi (b. 1946)Soheila Sokhanvari, Kobra (Portrait of Kobra Saeedi). Courtesy of the artist.“Better known as Shahrzad, Kobra Saeedi was born to a very conservative family who strongly objected to her wanting to become an actor. She ran away from home in her late teens and put herself through college by performing in downtown theater and dancing in cabaret. By 1978, she had starred in 27 movies and directed three. She was also a renowned poet and dancer. Following the 1979 revolution—like many of her contemporaries—she was arrested and taken to Evin Prison. After signing a letter of penitence and confiscation of all her assets, she was released. She was abandoned by her family, and consequently became homeless. It wasn’t until 2015, when owing to the generosity of some of her past contemporaries, and a documentary film made about her life, she was given a small one-bedroom hut in slums outside Tehran.”Forough Farrokhzad (1934-1967)Soheila Sokhanvari, Let Us Believe in the Beginning of the Cold Season (Portrait of Forough Farrokhzad). Courtesy of the artist.“Forough Farrokhzad was Iran’s most famous feminist poet and documentary filmmaker. She received an incredible amount of negative attention and disapproval for daring to write about her sexual desires. She was gravely injured after crashing her car on a snowy day in Tehran in ’67, and I remember her lover, Ebrahim Golestan, speaking about carrying her lifeless body in his arms to the nearest hospital. The private clinic refused to accept her, because its director disapproved of Farrokhzad’s lifestyle and poetry. Her work was banned for many years after the revolution, and recently very few of her poems have been republished, with many extracts remaining censored.”Googoosh (b. 1950)Soheila Sokhanvari, The Love Addict (Portrait of Googoosh). Courtesy of the artist.“Googoosh was (and still maybe is) Iran’s most famous pop-star and actor. She was the country’s biggest fashion icon—all her hairstyles and clothes were copied by Iranian women of all ages. Growing up, I didn’t realize how difficult and complicated her life was, I just saw her as my favorite singer, and tried to emulate her—singing and dancing in front of the mirror. She was imprisoned for almost a month after the Iranian Revolution, and didn't perform again until after 2000, after 21 years of silence, when she moved to Canada.”Fereshteh Jenabi (1948-1998)Soheila Sokhanvari, The Woman in the Mirror (Portrait of Freshteh Jenabi). Courtesy of the artist. “Little is known about Fereshteh Jenabi (born Fereshteh Jenabi Namin), other than she played in 11 films between 1971-1978. In two of these films—Resurrection of Love (1973) and Speeding Naked till High Noon—she appeared semi-nude, and was portrayed performing sexual acts and reaching orgasm. Following the revolution, she received the death sentence for such appearances, and, fearing for her life, went into hiding. She subsequently struggled with addiction, and it is not clear if she died by suicide or from an accidental overdose. She passed away in 1998 at the age of 50.”Forouzan (1937-2016)Soheila Sokhanvari, Hey, Baby I’m a Star (Portrait of Forouzan). Courtesy of the artist.“Born Parvin Kheir-Bakhsh, Forouzan became famous for her sex appeal and risqué onscreen dancing, which made her extremely appealing to the largely male audience of Iranian cinema—so much so that her presence in any film was a guarantee for the financial success of the production. Pre-revolutionary Iranian cinema was akin to Bollywood, and young female actors like Forouzan had little opportunity to take serious parts—perhaps not dissimilar to the plight of Western actors like Marilyn Monroe. Forouzan remained in Iran after the Islamic revolution, despite many others fleeing the country, and was summoned to the Evin Prison, where she was made to sign away all her assets. Her house was seized and became a center for the young revolutionary magazine, but she would come every day and water the garden before quietly leaving. She died in 2016 in anonymity.”Nosrat PartoviSoheila Sokhanvari, Baptism of Fire (Portrait of Nosrat Partovi). Courtesy of the artist. “Nosrat Partovi’s is the last portrait of Rebel Rebel. She was only able to star in one film—1974’s The Deer—before the revolution. It was this film that was screening in Cinema Rex on August 19, 1978 when a fatal arson attack killed as many as 470 people (the actual numbers are unknown.) She was the last woman to appear unveiled in an Iranian film.”
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Art and Culture
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Every corner of the Potterverse mourned the loss of Robbie Coltrane last October.
Before he left his sizable stamp on the cultural phenomenon that was the Harry Potter franchise, the Scottish actor had enjoyed a prolific career in film and television, and was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to drama. But it was his portrayal of lovable half-giant Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper who looks out for Harry and his mates, that secured his cinematic immortality—in both the hearts of the movies' fans and the young actors who basically grew up on set.
Tom Felton, who was 12 when he was cast as Potter nemesis Draco Malfoy, has his own stash of memories from those formative days when he and his fellow newcomers cut their acting teeth alongside a who's who of British cinema. And in honor of what would have been Coltrane's 73rd birthday March 30, the author of Beyond the Wand: The Magic & Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard penned a tribute to his late co-star exclusively for E! News:
In the early days of Harry Potter, the cast comprised two distinct groups: children and adults. Emma Watson was 9 when we started shooting; Dan Radcliffe was 11; I was 13. Maggie Smith and Richard Harris, by comparison, were in their sixties and seventies. Do the math: You were either one of the kids, or you were one of the grown-ups.
Unless, that is, you were Robbie Coltrane.
Somehow, Robbie managed to be an adult and a child at the same time, maintaining a foot in both camps.
His knowledge of the world was astounding. He was well-versed in any topic you might care to mention, from engineering to geography, from history to travel—and that meant he had something to contribute to any grown-up conversation that might be happening on set. You could tell that the older actors valued and respected his experience.
We kids, though, didn't have much time for that stuff. We just wanted to be, well, kids—mischievous, impish and high-spirited. But so did Robbie. He had more mischief in him than a common room full of Slytherins. He could fool around with the best of us. He might have had the mind of an adult, but he truly had the heart of a child.
Robbie was always looking to lighten the mood and make us laugh. My earliest memory of him was at the table read before the first film started shooting. It was intimidating, 40 or 50 of us all sitting around a massive table to read through the script for the first time together.
Before we started, we all introduced ourselves: "I'm Dan, and I'll be playing Harry Potter." "I'm Tom, and I'll be playing Draco Malfoy." Robbie and Emma were sitting side by side. When their turn came, he persuaded her to swap characters. "I'm Emma and I'll be playing Rubeus Hagrid." "I'm Robbie and I'll be playing Hermione Granger." We all giggled into our scripts as this huge, friendly, charming, smiling man reminded us with that one little joke that we should approach this endeavor with a sense of fun. We were only making a film. We weren't saving lives.
That's not to say he wasn't a true professional. Robbie knew how important it was to know your lines, to be on your mark, to play to camera. We learned our trade from watching him. He set a great example to us all on how to nail the basic skills of being on set, but never in a boring or patronizing way. Although he routinely had to deal with a crazy amount of hair and make-up and suits and stilts, he still somehow managed to create an environment that allowed us all to be playful.
And Robbie was endlessly playful. He was constantly cheeky. Most of all he was always kind. He never took himself too seriously—and these characteristics lay at the heart of everything, I think, because if Robbie took himself too seriously, if he forgot what it meant to be kind, there would have been no Hagrid.
Without Hagrid, there's no Hogwarts. And nobody could, would or ever will play that gentle giant half as well as my dearly missed friend Robbie Coltrane.
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Art and Culture
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Examining late medieval to early modern stone engravings created by prisoners in a castle dungeon
Castles served to enforce law and order during the Middle Ages and the early modern era. Often, they had facilities to hold people captive. The Questenburg near Sangerhausen (Mansfeld-Südharz district) was probably built in the middle of the 13th century. In the basement of its tower, someone has immortalized themselves with numerous stone engravings.
Among them are tools, agricultural implements, everyday objects, Christian, heraldic or magical symbols, geometric shapes, sexual images and scenic representations. The latter include perhaps deeply symbolic images such as a composition of a lock and a key.
During the Middle Ages and early modern times, castles served to enforce law and order. Their masters usually held at least lower jurisdiction. They also exercised military power in feuds and other military conflicts. In both contexts, prisoners could be taken. At times, the abduction of people for the purpose of extorting ransom could even be a source of income, especially in the later phases of the Middle Ages.
Accordingly, castles often had facilities to hold people captive. These dungeons are often found in the basements of keeps or other towers, which frequently had basements only accessible through an opening in the ceiling. Windowless, deep, dark and barely visible from above through the "fear hole," such dungeons are now one of the eerie attractions of many castles open to tourists.
The Questenburg near Sangerhausen (Mansfeld-Südharz district) was probably built in the middle of the 13th century by the counts of Beichlingen-Rothenburg. Today the fortification is preserved as a quaint castle ruin in a commanding position above a valley. In the elongated main or upper castle are the ruins of the palace, some adjacent buildings and the round stump of the keep, which has largely been stripped of its outer shells by stone quarrying.
The tower covered the fortification from attacks from the northwest, deep trenches dug into the rock provided further protection. To the south-west below the main castle there is a walled outer bailey and another terrace, probably also included in the fortification complex. In front of this area no stone buildings are visible, probably constructions made of wood were located there. The building material was otherwise predominantly a light gray, quite soft dolomite limestone or gypsum.
In the round basement of about 3.2 m diameter of the now roofless but still a good 7 m high tower, someone has immortalized themselves with numerous engravings. The insides of the soft, rather roughly mortared limestone blocks served as the canvas. While more than 70 depictions were still visible in the 1920s, a new recording has revealed about 60 different depictions.
Stylistically, most of them can be assigned to one person, and in a smaller number of depictions, a second and third prisoner can be identified, concludes Prof. Dr. Felix Biermann, who has now published the representations in the current volume of the journal Jahresschrift für Mitteldeutsche Vorgeschichte (in German).
The graffiti must have been created in the late Middle Ages or the earliest modern period, because the tools depicted can be dated to that era based on their style. The images include craftsmen's tools, agricultural implements, everyday objects, Christian, heraldic or magical symbols, geometric shapes, sexual imagery and scenic representations. The latter include, for example, hammers striking an anvil and—perhaps deeply symbolic—compositions such as a lock and key.
The graffiti starts about 0.5 m above the current base of the tower. Since not a single engraving was made deeper, the lower parts of the room were probably covered by a filling at that time—rubble or rubbish, an eloquent testimony to the circumstances under which the prisoners were incarcerated.
More information: Felix Biermann, Botschaften aus Burgverliesen—spätmittelalterlich-frühneuzeitliche Ritzzeichnungen in Questenberg (Harz) und Greiffenberg (Uckermark), Jahresschrift für mitteldeutsche Vorgeschichte (2023). DOI: 10.11588/jsmv.2023.1.100718
Provided by Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte
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Art and Culture
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A charity has revealed its plans to save a barn built by the Scottish poet Robert Burns where he wrote some of his most famous works, including Auld Lang Syne.
Ellisland Farm, on the banks of the River Nith in Dumfries and Galloway, was built by Burns in 1788 for his wife, Jean Armour, and their family, and it was where wrote pieces such as Auld Lang Syne and Tam O’Shanter.
The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust has revealed plans to turn the site into a visitor attraction, with the farmhouse becoming an “immersive space” where visitors can experience the couple’s domestic life.
The proposals, published on Monday, also include artistic residencies in the buildings, which the charity said would allow a new generation of artists, musicians and writers to be inspired by the same landscape that Burns described as “sweet poetic ground”.
Accommodation would be modelled on the Hermitage, a tiny bothy on the neighbouring Friars Carse estate, where Burns would escape to write, the trust said.
Dr David Hopes, the acting chair of the trust, said: “Ellisland is the place to fall in love with Burns and see nature through the poet’s eyes. These plans mean we will preserve and enhance the landscape which inspired Burns by improving biodiversity and enhancing accessibility. There will be opportunities to do that working with partners in the community.”
The proposals are based on the principle of “conservation through use”, with money raised from visitors and creative retreats used to subsidise community, heritage and educational events.
The trust also plans to create an exhibition space where various items and artefacts from Ellisland’s collection will go on display, including manuscripts and some of Burns’ possessions, such as his books, flute and fishing rod.
Hopes said the Ellisland conservation management plan, funded by Historic Environment Scotland and published last year, identified the site as being of “exceptional significance” but said it was at risk unless extensive repairs were carried out.
“These plans will save the buildings by conserving them through use, safeguard the important collection and allow many more people to enjoy the site and benefit from it,” he said.
Joan McAlpine, the business development manager at the trust, said: “We believe people will want to come from all over the world to immerse themselves in the landscape which inspired Auld Lang Syne, Ye Banks and Braes, John Anderson and many more songs.”
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Art and Culture
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Ever since she arrived in New York from Detroit in the early 1970s, Ming Smith says, she’s led an aesthetically rich, if not always financially secure, life. “There was no way to support yourself as an artist back then,” recalls the photographer. “I did it for the love, for the legacy; it was what my life stood for.”
This month, visitors to the Museum of Modern Art in New York will be able to see a little of that legacy. The new exhibition, Projects: Ming Smith, goes deep into Smith’s archive to draw together images of seminal jazz musicians, such as Pharoah Sanders and Sun Ra, alongside quasi-documentary images of important sites of Black culture, such as New York’s African Burial Ground, as well as more fluid, impressionistic works, including her August Wilson series, a tribute to the playwright. All these images blur, both figuratively and literally (Smith favours hazy, long exposures), into a body of work in which it’s hard to distinguish the artist behind the camera from the surrounding culture.
For the exhibition, staged in conjunction with the Studio Museum in Harlem, Smith worked with Thelma Golden, its director and chief curator, and Oluremi “Remi” C Onabanjo, from MoMA’s photography department, to select the pictures, many of which are going on display publicly for the first time.
Smith recalls feeling vulnerable as Golden and Onabanjo dug through two separate storage spaces, as well as the photographer’s current studio, to choose works, but she’s very pleased with the selection. “I think the editing was just brilliant,” she says. “You could take one image and it would introduce you to a whole mindset in the African American culture.”
Today, collectors, art-fair patrons and gallery-goers around the world know and admire Smith’s radical, evocative, black-and-white prints; the hip-hop producer Swizz Beats and the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld are just two of the prominent figures who have publicly praised her work. However, Smith’s route to success was long and varied.
Born in Detroit (her father chose Ming’s first name because of his love of Chinese culture) and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Smith studied at Howard University in Washington DC with the intention of becoming a doctor, before her squeamishness made her change her plans.
“I couldn’t cut the frog,” she recalls of her early dissection classes, “and just the thought of having to cut someone’s head open, and having the confidence to operate on someone’s brain, was awful! I didn’t even like to clean fish.”
Arriving in New York in the early 1970s, she started modelling, earning $100 an hour, more money than her father – a pharmacy graduate of Ohio State – was making in a week back home. “I didn’t care that New York was a big, bad city,” she remembers.” I knew who I was, and $100 an hour? That was my main focus.”
Smith already had some camera skills, and, in visiting photographers’ studios, she gained greater insight into the form. She joined the Black photography collective the Kamoinge Workshop in 1972, then at the vanguard of the Black Arts movement (a kind of cultural counterpart to the Black Power movement), and developed a distinctive style and cultural focus. “That was the mindset with Kamoinge, to have our own personal take on Black culture,” she explains. “In Harlem there were painters, there were writers, but the world knew Harlem as a place of drug addicts, and poverty and children in dirty, torn clothes.”
Smith also worked as a dancer, which, combined with her modelling career, provided her access behind the velvet rope . In 1977, Grace Jones, the model turned singer, invited Smith to photograph her performance at Studio 54. The pair had first met at a notable hair salon, Cinandre, and hit it off.
“I went to get my hair done. She was a model, I was a model,” says Smith. “She was telling me her woes. We were women expressing our fears, doubts and our discontent about being a Black model.”
In 1978, a friend who was considering dancing for the jazz musician Sun Ra accompanied Smith to one of his concerts, where the photographer shot the band leader. “I got a call from this dancer friend. She was doing some kind of Egyptian dancing, and she invited me to the concert, so I took my camera,” she recalls. “That’s one of my most iconic photographs.”
And in 1984, an invitation to appear in Tina Turner’s video for What’s Love Got to Do With It? led to Smith photographing Turner at the peak of her career.
Despite these encounters, Smith earned little from her photography for much of her working life. That changed about six years ago. In 2017, many museum visitors in the UK and the US enjoyed her work as part of the internationally acclaimed travelling exhibition Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power; following this show, Smith’s photographs were the subject of many commercial gallery solo exhibitions on both sides of the Atlantic, and she received plaudits in London and New York from the Frieze Art Fair. Later this month, a series of rare and never-before-seen works by Smith can be seen at Frieze Los Angeles in The Things She Knows. Next month, New York’s International Center for Photography will add to these accolades, when it bestows its annual lifetime achievement award on the photographer.
Though she is pleased to have received such praise, Smith says the work itself has always been her true reward. “It wasn’t necessarily having an exhibition or selling print, it’s the doing of it, that’s where the beauty of it, the joy comes from,” she says. “You can have some power; it’s not about beautiful clothes or the biggest house. It’s a lifestyle, it’s a mindset, it’s something about spirit.”
With this exhibition, she hopes to pass some of that spirit on to MoMA’s visitors. “The love of Black culture, that’s what’s important to me. Someone could see an image of [the acclaimed dance troupe] the Dunham Dancers, and it could open up a whole world; they could see a picture of [the jazz musicians] Randy Weston or Pharoah Sanders, and that could inspire them; they could see an image of the African burial grounds or August Wilson, and that could inspire them. It would be this wonderful, beautiful world that would open up to them.”
Projects: Ming Smith is on view in the the Museum of Modern Art’s street-level galleries until 29 May. Nicola Vassell Gallery presents Ming Smith: The Things She Knows at Frieze Los Angeles from 16-19 February
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Art and Culture
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It’s pink, it’s long, and it comes in plenty of different sizes. That’s right, it’s the hot dog — America’s favorite sausage.Normally, you’ll find the meat products lining supermarket shelves and concession stands everywhere, but for just a brief moment in time, you could find them splashed across a Pennsylvania highway in mush form.About 15,000 pounds of pink hot dog meat oozed out of a massive tractor trailer that turned over on May 20, according to photos that went viral. The driver lost control of the vehicle, which was found to have brake failure, on Interstate 70 in Westmoreland County, a police report says.Luckily, the meat spillage didn’t smell too funky, despite the stomach-churning looks of it, according to the Rostraver Central Fire Department, which responded to the accident.“The only odor was from the product itself, which was minimal, and nothing out of the ordinary. Not what would be described as something that ‘smelled,’” the fire department told BuzzFeed News over Facebook DM. “It was definitely a unique product, but we have encountered other things on the highway before… actually a load of Twizzlers in nearly the same spot.”The accident, which thankfully didn’t seriously injure the driver or passenger (they both declined to receive medical treatment), got us thinking: What are hot dogs even made of? Are they bad for you? (One thing to know, they are definitely not considered sandwiches, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.)You might be pleasantly surprised to hear that we spoke to several registered dietitians who all agreed that the hot dogs you consume on the 4th of July or any other time of the year, are perfectly fine to eat, nutritionwise. But moderation is key, of course.“What is the summertime without grilled franks on the grill with some sauerkraut?” said Keri Gans, a registered dietitian nutritionist in New York. “Let's be real.”(Fun fact: Americans will eat 150 million hot dogs on the 4th of July, the NHDSC says, “enough to stretch from D.C. to L.A. more than five times.” What’s more, July is National Hot Dog Month.)What are hot dogs made of?Hot dogs have long been referred to as a mystery meat, but you can actually find a comprehensive list of ingredients online. Brands may differ slightly, but the NHDSC offers a guide on what you will generally find inside your hot dogs, which are regulated by the USDA.“People have all kinds of ideas about the mythology of what goes into a hot dog, but generally it is mythology,” Eric Mittenthal, president of the NHDSC, told BuzzFeed News. “It’s a very simple process and what you see on the label of a package is exactly what you're getting.”The sausages can be made of beef trimmed from steaks or roasts, pork from larger cuts like chops and tenderloins, or chicken and turkey — or a mixture of the different meats.Certain curing agents, such as sodium nitrite and celery powder, are added to the dogs to not only give them their taste and pink color, but also prevent the growth of bacteria. Then other ingredients such as ascorbic acid, sodium erythorbate, and cherry powder (all different forms of vitamin C), are thrown in the batch to quicken the curing process.Some other contents include corn syrup, yeast extract, and flavorings made up of herbs, spices, and vegetables.The majority of hot dogs are enveloped in a cellulose casing during the cooking process, which is later stripped before they’re packaged. Others have what’s called “natural casing,” which comprises “cleaned lamb or pig intestine,” the NHDSC says. This kind of casing is what gives you that “snap” sensation when biting into them. The skin of the hot dog can be made of a different animal than the hot dog itself; if so, that information must be included on the label, the USDA says.The meat used in the filler is cut and ground into small pieces and thrown into a mixer that blends all of the ingredients into a cakelike batter. The mixture is then stuffed into a machine that shapes it into links and wraps the casing around them. Next, the meat is cooked in a “smokehouse” and then showered in cool water to remove the casing until finally vacuum sealed into its packaging.Some hot dogs may contain animal byproducts, such as the heart, kidney, or liver, also known as organ meats, but these are not common in North American hot dogs, Mittenthal said. They’re actually considered “delicacy parts” in some states. Labels will say “with variety meats” or “with meat byproducts” if they have them.If you’re still hesitant about what exactly makes up a hot dog, Mittenthal said there are “USDA establishment numbers” found on the packaging that you can use to look up where the meat comes from and how it was produced.Are hot dogs bad for you? Hot dogs, as well as ham and bacon, are considered processed meats, meaning they have been modified in some way to extend the shelf life or improve taste. Common methods include salting, curing, fermentation, and smoking.The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies processed meat as a carcinogen, but it all comes down to how often you’re eating this kind of food.“I know that a lot of people fear a lot of the ingredients in hot dogs, but I think we also have to take that with a grain of salt,” Gans said. “It depends on how much we're eating of something, so the occasional hot dog is not bad for anybody's health.”“It's the idea of a diet that consists of overly processed food on a regular basis,” she said. “That's where there's cause for concern.”The American Cancer Society says research shows that eating 50 grams of processed meat every day — equivalent to about four pieces of bacon or one hot dog — increases your risk of colorectal cancer by 18%, or an average lifetime risk of about 6%.As long as you’re keeping up with your fruits, vegetables, and whole grains intake, you’ll be fine, Gans said: “Hot dogs have minimal nutritional value. That’s all it comes down to.”Sodium nitrate has been linked to certain health risks like diabetes and heart disease, but none of the associations found to date are conclusive. Otherwise, hot dogs are usually high in saturated fats, salts, and sugars, which may cause some gastric issues and bloating in some people with sensitivities to those ingredients, according to Vanessa Rissetto, a registered dietitian and nutritionist.Hot dogs are already fully cooked, but the USDA recommends you reheat them before eating “until steaming hot,” to avoid the risk of developing listeriosis — a bacterial illness that can be serious for pregnant people, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems. The bacteria can grow slowly at refrigerator temperatures and can be found in cold cuts, soft cheeses, and unpasteurized milk as well.There are ways to make your hot dog healthier Experts agree you shouldn’t feel bad for eating hot dogs, but there are ways to make your meal slightly “healthier” if you’re concerned about it.“Go into your 4th of July celebration equipped with knowledge that all foods can fit into a healthy lifestyle,” said Vandana Sheth, a registered dietitian nutritionist based in Los Angeles and author of My Indian Table — Quick & Tasty Vegetarian Recipes. “Either find healthier options that serve you well or enjoy your favorite hot dog but only one and balance out your meal with lots of veggies and fruits.”For example, switch your white flour bun with a whole wheat one, Gans suggests— that way you get some fiber from the whole grains. And try adding some sauerkraut, which will gift you with probiotics that are good for gut health.If you want to minimize your exposure to sodium nitrates and nitrites, you can look for “uncured, nitrate free” hot dogs at the grocery store; she said the company Applegate has some good options.And of course, there are some plant-based alternatives you can find, although Gans said “don’t fool yourself into thinking” they’ll taste as good. These options generally contain less saturated fat, more fiber, and extra protein than a regular hot dog, but may still be high in sodium, Sheth said.The Signature Stadium Dog from Fieldroast and the Smart Dogs from Lightlife are some plant-based options to consider, Sheth added.“Bottom line: Enjoy a hot dog and don’t feel terrible about it,” Gans said.
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Food
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Dallas-Fort Worth is teeming with hamburger joints. We offer happy homes to drive-thrus like Whataburger and In-N-Out, and we’re equally hospitable to homegrown companies like Goff’s Hamburgers, Keller’s Drive-In and Twisted Root Burger Co.Longtime favorite Off-Site Kitchen closed in West Dallas in 2020. It served one of the best burgers in Dallas, but don’t fret: Here’s a list of essential burger joints in Dallas-Fort Worth.If you don’t see your favorite burger joint on our list, tweet us at @dmnfood with your top pick.Or, make one at home! Here’s how three experts make the perfect cheeseburger.Related:How do you build the perfect cheeseburger? We asked 3 burger-obsessed Dallas folksYour cheeseburger checklist: Dallas and Fort Worth favoritesIt was nearly impossibly to cull the list of essential burger joints into five or 10 spots, so 15 it is.Bubba’s 33: The sign might also tout pizza and beer, but burgers are one of the biggest stars. The national chain from Kent Taylor, who founded Texas Roadhouse, has a heavy Texas presence, so you’re sure to pass by one as you travel the state. Make it a Monday so you can indulge in “Monday Madness” by ordering a so-good-that-condiments-are-an-afterthought single-patty burger with your choice of three toppings for less than $9. Bubba’s 33 restaurants are at 19089 Interstate 635, Mesquite; 4025 State Highway 121, The Colony.Burger House: This favorite has been serving the Park Cities for more than 70 years. Burger House is a family-friendly place known for thin burger patties and crispy seasoned fries. Get a double double: two patties, two slices of cheese. Original is at 6913 Hillcrest Ave., Dallas; others are at 6248 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas and 14248 Marsh Lane, Addison.The original Fred's Texas Cafe closed on Currie Street in Fort Worth in late 2021. It has relocated.Fred’s Texas Cafe: It’s a Fort Worth institution. The FredBurgers and the fries are the things to get here. But we also have to love a restaurant that offers loaded queso and chips as an appetizer. If you’re dining with anyone who doesn’t want a burger, first, why?, and second, point them to Fred’s famous chicken-fried steaks. Fred’s Texas Cafes are at 7101 Camp Bowie West and 2730 Western Center, both in Fort Worth.Related:Fred’s in Fort Worth is back: Here’s where the 43-year-old burger joint movedGoff’s Hamburgers: Another Park Cities hamburger institution, Goff’s boasts nearly 70 years of Dallas history. Its new restaurant is near Mockingbird Lane and Central Expressway. It reopened after a fire destroyed the burger joint on Hillcrest Avenue in 2016. Goff’s is at 3032 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas.Goodfriend Beer Garden and Burger House: This East Dallas restaurant is a hippie-cool spot to eat a great burger and drink local beer. Kids are welcome, too. Branch out from the typical meat-and-cheese burger and you’ll be rewarded with a dressed-up version of a classic, like this one: smoked brie, egg and pepper bacon on the East Side burger. Goodfriend is at 1154 Peavy Road, Dallas.Hat Creek Burger Company: It’s quickly making its way into Dallas-Fort Worth. North Texas’ first Hat Creek opened in McKinney in November 2017. Since then, restaurants have opened in Allen, Coppell, Dallas, Keller, Little Elm/Frisco, Mansfield, Rowlett, Richardson, Roanoke and Sachse. Interestingly, and unlike most of the other burger joints in North Texas, this restaurant serves breakfast. Find a Hat Creek here.Keller’s Drive-In: Go back in time at Keller’s Drive-In, easily one of Dallas’ best longtime restaurants. The late Jack Keller helmed it for years. Pull into the drive-in, hop in the bed of your pickup and order a cheeseburger and a beer, “dressed” (which means covered in salt, with a slice of lime). It’s probably not possible to replicate these burgers at home, but here’s the recipe if you want to try. They take credit cards now. The original Keller’s is at 6537 E. Northwest Highway, Dallas. Find others at 10226 Garland Road and 10554 Harry Hines Blvd., both in Dallas.A patron chows down on a burger at Kincaid's on Camp Bowie in Fort Worth.(Robert W. Hart / Special Contributor)Kincaid’s Hamburgers: This Fort Worth original started as a small grocery on Camp Bowie Boulevard. Kincaid’s stores in Fort Worth, plus ones in Southlake and Arlington, all keep the small-town grocery theme, but it’s more for show. The loaded burgers are legendary, especially those loaded “the Cowtown way” with grilled onions and jalapeños. The shakes and fries are top notch, too. But it’s the atmosphere that always wins. Original is at 4901 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth.Related:Delicious history: the stories behind Dallas-Fort Worth’s oldest restaurantsLiberty Burger: Pick a city in D-FW and you might find a Liberty Burger there. This burger joint has popped up in Dallas, Addison, Allen and Richardson. Burgers range from The Napa — gorgonzola, arugula, tomatoes, red onions, green olives, basil-garlic aioli — to the South of the Burger — avocado, shredded lettuce, cheddar, tortilla strips, refried beans and pico de gallo. And seriously, you must order a milkshake. Several D-FW locations; original is at 5211 Forest Lane, Dallas.Maple and Motor: Maple and Motor’s website says it celebrates “low-class cool.” And really, this place doesn’t need a website; its allure is that it serves a simple, small menu in a no-nonsense setting that most people probably heard about by word of mouth. Pretty much everything here is good. Maple and Motor is at 4810 Maple Ave., Dallas.The Whiskey burger from Rodeo Goat was served at a food festival in Dallas-Fort Worth a few years back.(Alexandra Olivia / Special Contributor)Rodeo Goat: While it might be easy to pick a favorite burger at Rodeo Goat, the best idea here is to try one of the specials, which are off-the-menu options that sometimes make it onto the menu permanently when they get enough customer attention. Rodeo Goat is a Fort Worth original, and its Dallas offshoot offers a decidedly relaxed vibe. New restaurants open in July 2022 in Frisco and East Dallas. Find one of Rodeo Goat’s six locations.Shake Shack: This New York City burger joint’s move into Dallas was one of the beefiest food stories in Dallas in 2016. This is the kind of place where people wait in long lines to order a burger and crinkle-cut fries. Some consider it overhyped, but if they’re bringing their A-game, Shake Shack serves up simple, delicious cheeseburgers. Instagram or it didn’t happen. Find a Shake Shack in D-FW.Snuffer’s Restaurant and Bar: Snuffer’s is as famous for its cheddar fries as it is for its cheeseburgers. Both are great. Look out for deals, like $5 Classic Cheeseburger Tuesdays or $2 domestic draft beers and $3 margaritas during happy hour (weekdays from 3-7 p.m.). Lots of locations in North Texas; original is at 3526 Greenville Ave., Dallas.Twisted Root Burger Co.: Though Twisted Root has grown to nearly two-dozen restaurants in the South, each one feels a little bit different. In addition to serving varieties of beef burgers, Twisted Root also offers buffalo meat and at least one other exotic offering like ostrich. Find a Twisted Root in North Texas.Wingfield’s Breakfast & Burger: South Oak Cliff restaurant Wingfield’s starts with pancakes in the mornings, then switches over to bacon cheeseburgers at lunchtime. Those with a serious appetite should go for Wingfield’s triple meat burgers. Triple meat! 2615 S. Beckley Ave., Dallas.The big burger chainsLet's say you're looking for a quicker bite: A drive-through where you can order a reliable burger you might be able to find at hundreds of fast-food joints across the country. Here's your essential list:Whataburger: Duh. This Texas tradition is the best option on your list of big burger chains.Five Guys: Their motto is "burgers and fries done right," and many agree they are. This chain makes some of the most delicious french fries — but they're also some of the unhealthiest.In-N-Out: One of this California company's buzziest traits is its secret menu (which isn't really that much of a secret). When In-N-Out opened its first Texas store, one woman cried happy tears.Other mega chains include Burger King, McDonald's and Wendy's, of course. But we prefer the list above.Dallas celebrities pick favorite burger spotsFormer Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus likes In-N-Out.(Jae S. Lee / Staff Photographer)Elvis Andrus, former Texas Rangers shortstop: While San Francisco is his favorite city to get a cheeseburger, he does like a fast-food joint that you can find in North Texas. “[I] love In-N-Out,” he says. “When I want a cheeseburger, I just go there.”Jenna Owens, former co-host of the Kidd Kraddick Morning Show: “Angry Dog, no question,” she says. “Cheeseburger with jalapeños. It’s not trying too hard — and they have the best buns.”Related:Jenna Owens of ‘The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show’ is leaving KISS FMLeeAnne Locken, former cast member on Bravo TV show Real Housewives of Dallas: “In my opinion, Snuffers serves the perfect burger. It’s the perfect size, cooked to your liking and the service is always speedy! Not to mention, their ooey-gooey cheese fries make for a perfect pairing,” she says.Related:What’s next for LeeAnne Locken, the controversial woman who quit 'Real Housewives of Dallas’?Dawn M. Burkes, Dave Lieber and Tiney Ricciardi contributed to this story. Story originally published May 24, 2018 and updated in May 2019, May 2020 and June 2022.For more food news, follow Sarah Blaskovich on Twitter at @sblaskovich.
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The way you prepare your vegetables affects their nutritional value. What is the healthiest method to prepare them?First things first, a journey to a healthy meal commonly starts at the supermarket. It may be interesting to know what type of vegetables are the best to buy when it comes to nutritional value. Be sure to check out our article about the differences between fresh vegetables, frozen vegetables, and canned vegetables. (spoiler: perhaps counterintuitively, fresh vegetables aren't always the healthiest choice) Does cooking vegetables remove nutrients?Let's continue with the topic at hand. As you can imagine, all methods of cooking vegetables cause them to heat up. Heating vegetables causes cell walls to become porous and cell membranes to break, which leads to nutritions leaking out. Additionally, some nutritions do not withstand high temperatures very well, especially not when they are exposed to these temperatures for a longer period of time. All in all, we always lose some of the nutrients during the heating process. However, the method of heating vegetables can make a big difference in the amount of nutrition that remains. Let's go over a few preparation methods:Boiling vegetables in waterYou may have noticed in the past that water tends to discolor while bioling certain vegetables.People commonly let this colored water drain after the vegetables are cooked, but unfortunately, the colored water doesn't merely contain natural colorants but also many nutrients. By draining it, you can unintentionally lose over 50% of the healthy substances previously contained within the vegetables. The nutrients you lose are, of course, mainly the ones that are soluble in water, such as vitamin c and b, but also more exotic substances such as glucosinolates and flavonoids. The more water you use and the longer you boil your vegetables, the greater the effect and the more nutrition you lose.Steaming vegetablesThe idea behind steaming is that you cook food in the vapor of boiling water for a short period of time, which has the advantage that tastes are better preserved.Taking the aforementioned issues with conventional cooking into consideration, steaming is a much better option for preserving healthy nutrients because the vegetables come into contact with far less water. Preparing vegetables in a microwaveInstinctively you may think that food prepared in a microwave is much less healthy; this is a misconception.A microwave oven uses microwaves to heat food. These microwaves are non-radioactive and non-hazardous. The microwaves solely cause water molecules in your food to vibrate. Because of this vibration, a lot of heat is generated, meaning that you only need to heat the vegetables for a short period of time. Because you only need to heat vegetables for a short period of time, fewer healthy substances are broken down in the process. Microwaves do tend to damage the cell walls of vegetables, but because no extra water is used, most of the nutritions remain within the vegetables.Preparing vegetables in an ovenCommonly the oven is set to about 180 degrees Celsius when preparing vegetables, but as long as there is still water within the vegetables, they won't get hotter than 100 degrees Celcius.Be sure not to leave the vegetables in the oven for too long as they will eventually dry out, creating dark brown edges. The vegetables will become very hot in this scenario, breaking down healthy nutrition. Overall, using the oven is a good option as long as you don't put the vegetables in for too long. Using an oven to prepare vegetables will lose you about the same amount of nutrition as using a microwave. Stir-frying vegetablesThe healthiest way to prepare vegetables is by stir-frying them, using a small amount of oil.
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Brush up on your French, Los Gatos, because Chez Phillipe will soon enter its soft opening phase. The new French bistro should be open by June 21 for lunch and dinner, as well as weekend brunch.
“I want this concept to be authentic French,” says chef/owner Phillip Leroy, a native of France and a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, who lived in Palo Alto for 30 years. There, he opened several restaurants, including Pastis and La Boheme, before moving to Los Gatos five years ago. “Living in Palo Alto, we thought it was the best. But then we came to Los Gatos, and I thought, ‘This is where I belong.’”
He and his partner Deena had been looking for the right spot in downtown Los Gatos to open a restaurant that focused on classic French food. In 2021, while walking their son’s dog, they noticed a sublease notice at The Maid’s Quarters adjacent to the Jennifer Croll Little Black Dress Shop. Et voila!
Although it’s been a bit of work to gut and remodel two spaces that had not been touched in decades, he’s really pleased with the results. The decor is light blue and airy, with a French country cottage feel. “We want guests to feel like they are walking into our home and not into a restaurant,” says Leroy. “The ambiance is designed specifically to feel as if you have accepted a personal invitation to dine at our house. It will be very informal, with rustic tables and classic white plates. There will be a blackboard with specials—very French.”
Leroy is particularly excited about the big courtyard out back that used to be part of The Maid’s Quarters. “It’s covered with grapevines and is so cool!”
He praises the town of Los Gatos for adopting the parklet concept early on in the pandemic, and is thrilled to have his own outdoor dining space going in out front.
As for the menu, expect classics like coq au vin, moules frites, steak tartare and escargot. He’ll serve salmon, even though that’s not big in France.
“People in Los Gatos love their salmon,” he notes. “I want to add things like monkfish—maybe monkfish meuniere. I love calf’s liver, but we will see what the audience wants.” Asked if he will serve rabbit, he laughs, recalling the reaction he got when he served lapin on Easter at La Boheme in Palo Alto. His humor was lost on his customers.
The wine list will be completely French, and will offer 12 well-priced wines by the glass. They do not have a full liquor license.
“Don’t ask about Sancerre,” he says of the wine appellation from the Loire Valley. “French people are not so fond of it. This is an American thing. But we will have Chablis; it’s perfect with moules frites.”
Guests will enjoy fresh-baked French bread from a source in San Francisco. Leroy describes it as so light and airy that you have to eat the whole thing right away. Twist our arm.
The menu will include different kinds of paté, charcuterie and exclusively French cheeses. What, no Sonoma or Monterey selections? Non.
“This gig is French all the way! From A to Z!” says Leroy. “We’ll have three different kinds of French imported cheeses weekly.”
Save room for the tarte tatin; he promises it’s epic.
On the brunch menu will be fresh-baked croissants and pastries, as well as French toast, a variety of Benedicts, including duck confit, plus Croques Monsieur et Madame, and both sweet and savory crêpes.
What about Champagne? “It is not my thing,” Leroy says. “But I do like Veuve Cliquot; that’s my go-to, even though my wine friends think it is gauche.”
Chez Philippe, located at at 34 N. Santa Cruz Ave., will be open for lunch Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., with brunch from 9 a.m. -2:30 p.m. on weekends and dinner Tuesday-Thursday, 5-9 p.m., and Friday-Saturday, 5-9:30 p.m.
Reservations are suggested to 408-442-5353. For more information, visit www.chezphilippelosgatos.com.
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CHICAGO -- When it comes to the Sweet & Sour Chicken Sandwich at 3 Little Pigs Chi, representation matters. "This sandwich is more than just a sandwich to me. It kind of symbolizes who I am," said Henry Cai, the chef and owner of 3 Little Pigs Chi.3 Little Pigs Chi operates as a ghost kitchen in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood."3 Little Pigs is a Chinese-American cuisine focused on ribs, barbecued pork, chicken sandwiches, [and] fried rice," Cai said. Cai, 34, grew up in Chinatown. Steeped in Chinese culture and cuisine, he didn't try truly American dishes until he entered high school. "My first taste of mayonnaise was during school lunch," Cai said. "I started dipping it in pizza and I was like, 'Dude, what is this sauce?!" Mayonnaise is now Cai's favorite condiment, and he created a walnut shrimp-inspired version of it for his Salt & Pepper Chicken Sandwich, which also includes jalapenos and fried garlic. "I'm just a guy who wants to cook food for people and hopefully they enjoy it," he said.Cai says he originally wanted to start a brick-and-mortar restaurant, but the COVID-19 crisis forced him to think outside the box. "I started posting [pictures] on Instagram and people just started messaging me," Cai said. "I would just do orders for my friends and then they would tell their friends."Now 3 Little Pigs regularly appears on listicles for blogs and other food websites. Cai says that despite some pushback that his Chinese food is untraditional in form, he's humbled by the feedback and exposure. "I'm not a Michelin [starred] chef," Cai said. "I just want to cook good food." To order 3 Little Pigs chicken sandwiches or other offerings, visit https://www.3lpchi.com/.
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The futuristic robot at the Florida bowling alley brings food to customers and even sings to guests Robots have taken over a bowling alley in Clearwater, Florida. At least in the food area at Maples Lanes Countryside Bowling Alley. Bella, the robot, is garnering attention for creatively serving guests. Bella is a server robot designed to deliver food and sing to visitors. BellaBot delivers food and snacks to guests at their bowling lane at a bowling alley in Clearwater, FL. (Fox 13)"We recently just got Bella. She’s been fantastic. She is a robot that delivers food and also creates a great customer experience singing happy birthday. She’s just overall fantastic," Megan Briody, the general manager at Maples Lanes Countryside Bowling Alley, told Fox 13. US ROBOT ORDERS SURGE 40% AS LABOR SHORTAGES, INFLATION PERSISTChildren especially love interacting with BellaBot as parents pull out their cell phones to capture pictures and videos. "I like how workers don’t have to carry the pizza," said Bailee Estep, a child who loves interacting with BellaBot. Children love interacting with BellaBot, a robot designed to deliver food and beverages to guests at a Clearwater, FL bowling alley. (Fox 13 Tampa)Robots like Bella are new to the restaurant scene, and many find the next technology an exciting addition. The futuristic server is aware of it surroundings with built-in censors. "I haven’t seen many bowling centers with it or many locations with it, so we’re kind of ahead of the game on having that technology here," Briody mentioned.MEET PROTEUS: AMAZON'S FIRST ‘FULLY AUTONOMOUS’ MOBILE WAREHOUSE ROBOTThe server not only can deliver pizza, but can direct customers to their bowling lane and can even be programmed to celebrate a great bowling game. "On a business side, it’s been great for our café. When we have two cooks cooking instead of pulling away from the cooking to run the food, Bella then takes that role, runs the food to the lane," Briody explained to Fox 13. BellaBot is a new addition to a bowling alley in Clearwater, FL. Managers told Fox 13 that the robot relieves employees by delivering food and drinks to bowling lanes. (Fox 13 Tampa)Happy birthday mode can be programmed with a simple app. Bella will sing the celebratory song down the lane when welcoming the birthday person and deliver their snacks and drinks.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS"A lot of people here like it and everybody would come here back again, everyday maybe, to get pizza just to see that thing," Lawson Estep mentioned.
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If you used the last drop of Sriracha sauce you had on your eggs this morning, you may find yourself in a predicament at your next grocery store trip. Huy Fong Foods Inc., the maker of Sriracha sauce, said in an April letter to its customers that it's experiencing a chili pepper shortage. As a result, it's now suspending production of the spicy sauce until after Labor Day.The food company said it has faced a tight supply of pepper since July 2020. Other Huy Fong Foods products affected include its Chili Garlic and Sambal Oelek sauces.Sriracha isn't the only product you'll have a hard time finding on the shelves. There's currently an ongoing low supply of baby formula, as well as a tampon shortage.We'll explain why there's a Sriracha shortage, how long it could last and alternative sauces you can try.Why is there a Sriracha shortage?The scarcity of Sriracha sauce was caused by a chili peppers shortage that has lasted for nearly two years now. But why is there a chili peppers shortage? "Due to weather conditions affecting the quality of chili peppers, we now face a more severe shortage of chili," Huy Fong Foods Inc. said.The company gets its peppers from Mexico, which is currently experiencing a drought, the company told Axios. How long could the Sriracha shortage last?The California-based food company said any orders submitted on or after April 19 will be scheduled after Labor Day, which falls on Sept. 6 this year, in the order it was received. That means the shortage is likely to last all summer long and through September. The company said it isn't accepting any new orders placed before September because it won't have enough inventory to fulfill the orders. That could mean some businesses won't receive their shipments until closer to the end of the year.If you already can't find Sriracha sauce on the shelves at your local grocery store, it could be several months before you can restock your supply. Check online stores like Walmart to see if there's any Sriracha sauce available. Walmart/Screenshot by CNET Can I find Sriracha sauce online?Depending on your location, you may be able to find Sriracha sauce online at stores like Walmart, Target and Kroger. Be aware that if you check Amazon, there are several sellers price-gouging the hot sauce. Later this summer, Sriracha sauce may be harder to find, so it may be best to get a bottle now, if possible. However, as with other shortages, we don't recommend hoarding bottles of the spicy sauce. If it's like other products experiencing shortages, there will likely be a limit on how many you can buy.Is there anything similar to Sriracha sauce I can try?If Sriracha is your go-to chili sauce, you may not find an exact incandescent replacement. But if you can't live without red-hot sauce on your eggs and other food items, here are some alternatives you could check out until your sauce of choice becomes available in your area again.Cholula hot sauceFrank's Red Hot sauceLouisiana hot sauceTabasco pepper sauceTapatio hot sauce
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CBS Saturday Morning June 18, 2022 / 11:57 AM / CBS News Japan gets creative amid french fry shortage Japanese restaurant swaps fries for ramen noodles amid french fry shortage 03:03 A side of fries with a burger is a staple. But countries like Japan depend on American growers for most of the frozen potatoes that are processed into fries and sold at major chains — and a dwindling stock of potatoes has put fast-food chains in a pickle. Burger King, which operates over 150 restaurants in Japan, found a way around the shortage. Until new supplies finally arrive, customers are being asked to swap out fries for something Japan has no shortage of: ramen noodles. Customers in Japan can have a side of crunchy ramen with their burgers instead of french fries CBS News Burger King calls it the "almost-potato set," which includes a burger and a side of crunchy ramen noodles. The noodles are are nice and salty, but aren't the same. Customers in Japan told CBS News' Lucy Craft that the ramen couldn't be a permanent solution. "I'd be sad without fries," one person said. "I always get fries with my burger." "If Burger King had only crunchy ramen, maybe I'd just go to McDonald's," another said. Burger King said its unusual offerings have earned it devoted fans, adding that many have given up fries as a show of loyalty. The chain also considered substituting fries with options like broiled squid, apple pie and even boiled ramen. Burger King isn't the only fast-food chain grappling with spud shortfalls. Last winter, rival McDonald's was forced to ration fries and potato nuggets for nearly a month. In: Supply Chain Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue
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Taco Bell's newest food idea features a giant Cheez-It that is 16 times bigger than the normal cracker. The Big Cheez-It tostada is topped with seasoned beef, sour cream, tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and shredded cheddar cheese and will be available at one location in Irvine, California, for two weeks, the fast-food chain announced Tuesday. “There are few things that everyone can agree on … but the iconic flavors from Taco Bell menu items and Cheez-It snacks appeal to all,” said Liz Matthews, Taco Bell’s chief food innovation officer. “We’re thrilled about this new concept with Cheez-It, which gives our fans the chance to experience the real cheese and crunch they love from both of our brands in a whole new way.” VEGAN BURGER MARKETED AS TASTING LIKE HUMAN MEAT WINS AWARD Another new product revealed by Taco Bell, the Big Cheez-It crunchwrap supreme, features the same giant Cheez-It and all of the same ingredients as the tostada but is wrapped in a grilled tortilla. The crunchwrap will only be available on Taco Bell's website and its mobile app and marks the company's first digital exclusive as part of a one-restaurant test. The tostada will cost $2.49, while the crunchwrap will set customers back $4.29. Taco Bell is no stranger to trying out new menu items featuring items one can find in the grocery story snack aisle. The chain revealed its Doritos Locos tacos in 2012 and went on to sell over 500 million of them within about a year, according to Delish. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The restaurant chain tested a subscription service in 2021 called the "Taco Lover's Pass" that would give subscribers one free taco every day for a month. The service, which is no longer available, was tested in Arizona from September through November 2021 before being made widely available in January 2022. Taco Bell has not responded to the Washington Examiner's request for comment.
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This big grain salad pops with texture, color and flavor from crunchy purple cabbage, fresh corn and jicama, succulent mango and bright and crispy green onion. Doused in an impossible-not-to-love chimichurri dressing, this salad is a hit at every party I’ve taken it to. Vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free folks, kids, adults, pregnant people, sweet tooths, savory folks, sour fiends and everyone in between all love piling it high and topping it with some roasted pepitas and maybe even some cotija cheese. Don’t have a party to go to? Make a big batch for yourself to have a week’s worth of gourmet lunches.
As with all salads, the choice of veggies is not set in stone and can be switched up to match your preference or what you have in your fridge. That being said, I almost want to insist on jicama being in the mix, as it stays extra-crunchy and won’t make the salad soggy. Make sure to add the dressing and mango right before consuming to avoid muddling.
Crunchy Cabbage and Quinoa Salad with Mango and Chimichurri
Serves
INGREDIENTS
3 cups uncooked quinoa 4½ cups water
1 small purple cabbage, finely shredded
2 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen
1 small jicama, peeled and diced
2 bunches green onions, white and light green parts finely sliced 2 ripe mangos, diced
For the chimichurri:
1 bunch cilantro
1 bunch parsley
3 small cloves garlic
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
½ cup olive oil
Optional Toppings:
Roasted pepitas
Crumbled Cotija cheese
DIRECTIONS
Add the quinoa to 4½ cups salted boiling water; cover and simmer on low for 18 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
Meanwhile, make the chimichurri by blending the ingredients in a blender or food processor until achieving the texture of thin pesto.
Combine the cooked quinoa, cabbage, corn, jicama, green onion and mango (if not eating immediately, add the mango just before serving to avoid it getting mushy). Toss with the chimichurri, reserving some to drizzle over the top. Serve with a bowl of pepitas and cotija cheese to sprinkle over the top.
Registered dietician and food writer Laura McLively is the author of “The Berkeley Bowl Cookbook.” Follow her at @myberkeleybowl and www.lauramclively.com.
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Last summer, the Jimenez siblings, JJ and Rudy, thought it would be really sweet if they could make some extra cash by selling their homemade Mexican-American candies to friends and family, and maybe a few followers on social media.A year later, what started as a side-hustle is a full-time business with six-figure annual revenue, called Enchilositos Treats, which now ships spicy and sour-sweet candy concoctions all across the country.JJ, 26, and Rudy Jimenez, 19, started making the treats, called chilitos, or dulces enchilados — sour-sweet candies like Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, or Gushers coated with traditional Mexican spices like chili powder and chamoy — after they saw others doing it in viral videos on social media."We kind of looked at each other and had that first little bite," Rudy says. "[And, JJ said,] 'we can do something with this.... Let's start trying to sell it to our friends and family and just locals if we possibly can." Within its first 12 months, Enchilositos Treats brought in over $105,000 in revenue from online sales.JJ and Rudy Jimenez coat sweet and sour candies, like Gushers, with traditional Mexican spices, including chamoy paste and chili powder.Source: CNBC Make It Video"It started off as a side hustle...our goal was not to make a lot of money or even get big. It just did it on its own," JJ says. "Once you try them, you just fall in love."How they got startedInitially, Rudy wanted to make the candy to try them — the combination of common American snack foods with Mexican spices reminded her of her and her brother's childhood growing up in Southern California with their Mexican immigrant parents, who put Mexican spices on a lot of food, including fruit."The way we grew up, our parents always kind of told us to make [things] ourselves, if we were able to," she says.And at first, JJ wasn't sure about his sister's idea to sell candy. "I thought it would just not work out," because he worried spicy Mexican candy couldn't compare to the sweetness or sour flavors of American candy.But after making their first batch with Gushers and other gummy candies coated in chamoy (a spicy-sweet paste made from pickled fruit and chiles), chili powder and other spices, "it was delicious," he says.The siblings started the candy business with ingredients bought at their local grocery store and mixed in the kitchen of their parents' small apartment in California. (They have since moved to Brenham, Texas, about an hour outside of Houston.)They made an Instagram page to advertise their treats in June 2020, and a day later, they say the account had over 100 followers and people were messaging them to order bags of candy. (Now, that same account has nearly 16,000 followers.)While Rudy was wrapping up her high school degree, JJ had already dabbled in a variety of jobs, including working for various restaurants and at a manufacturing company, as well as delivering food for GrubHub. He also had a side-hustle reselling items on eBay, from toys to DVDs to purses his mother bought at yard sales.That experience gave him the confidence to try starting his own venture with Rudy.JJ had saved a little bit over $10,000 from his various jobs, and he invested that into their new business venture, including building a website to make it easier to handle online orders, as well as branded packaging and shipping materials to send their treats to more customers outside of their local market.That same summer, Rudy began reaching out to social media influencers. The biggest by far who responded was Yasmin "BeautyyBird" Maya, a Mexican-American beauty vlogger who also happens to be from Carpinteria. After Maya promoted the Jimenez siblings' candies to her 1.1 million Instagram followers, JJ and Rudy saw an influx of orders on social media.Within a few months of launching, JJ says he and Rudy would usually average 30 candy orders per day (60 on a really good day), which they would make fresh each day and deliver themselves."As we kept progressing through the months and getting more and more orders, we were like, 'That's crazy,'" Rudy says now.As the orders mounted, and JJ and Rudy spent much of their days making and delivering candy, JJ quit his job at a manufacturing company — roughly three months into the business and in the middle of the pandemic — to focus on Enchilositos Treats full-time. Rudy, who is attending cosmetology school but plans to focus solely on Enchilositos Treats once she graduates, admits she was "a little bit scared" when her brother told her he'd quit his job, because it put more pressure on their business to succeed."It was a big moment where I was like, 'OK... if you already did it, let's just go for it, then. And we have to put all our effort into this little business that we just started,'" Rudy says.Rudy Jimenez, co-owner of Enchilositos Treats, poses with some of the Mexican-American candies she makes with her brother, JJ, and sells online.Source: Enchilositos TreatsSweet successA year later, JJ's gamble has paid off, with Enchilositos Treats growing into a business with six-figure sales, even with just the brother and sister (who are both co-owners) as the only two employees.In December, the siblings moved with their parents to Brenham, Texas to house with a "pretty big kitchen" as well as more than enough storage space for ingredients and shipping materials, Rudy says. (The move had already been in the works pre-candy business.) They've also cut out local deliveries in order to focus all of their time on shipping online orders."Now we're able to sustain ourselves with it and pay off our bills and things like that," JJ say. "And we're hoping to continue to grow bigger and bigger."JJ and Rudy Jimenez carry boxes of Enchilositos Treats candies to be shipped to customers across the country.Source: CNBC Make It VideoNow the Enchilositos Treats website offers a wider range of spice-covered candies, including Jolly Ranchers, Gushers, Fruit Roll-Ups, Nerds, gummy bears, gummy peach rings, and many others. Prices start at $4 for a 4-ounce bag of candy. JJ and Rudy say they keep roughly half of that amount after factoring in the cost of goods, which includes buying the brand-name candies in bulk at grocery stores like Sam's Club.JJ and Rudy also sell some of their spice mixes and pastes separately.As online orders from customers have rolled in from all over the U.S. (and, they've even had order requests from Canada and Mexico), JJ and Rudy quickly realized how many people want to try the candy, whether it reminds them of the flavors of their childhoods or if they're just intrigued by an interesting new flavor combination that crosses between cultures.Their business has been popular enough that JJ and Rudy are even hoping to open a physical location. "It's time for us to be able to do that, so we're ready to be able to open up a location very soon here in Texas," Rudy says.—Additional reporting contributed by Emma FierbergSign up now: Get smarter about your money and career with our weekly newsletterDon't miss:Founder of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? dropped out of college to haul junk — now, he's eyeing a billion-dollar businessGT Dave started brewing kombucha in his bedroom and turned it into a nearly $1 billion empire
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There’s a hidden ingredient used as a whitener in an array of foods, from candies and pastries to cheeses and gum. It’s called titanium dioxide, and while commonly used in the US, it’s being banned in the EU as a possible carcinogen.The additive, also known as E171, joins a host of other chemicals that are banned in foods in the European Union but allowed in the US.These include Azodicarbonamide, a whitening agent found in food such as breads, bagels, pizza, and pastries in the US, which has been banned in the EU for more than a decade. Known as the “yoga mat’’ chemical because it is often found in foamed plastic, the additive has been linked to asthma and respiratory issues in exposed workers and, when baked, to cancer in mice studies.Potassium bromate, an oxidizing agent often found in bread and dough and linked in animal studies to kidney and thyroid cancers, has been banned in the EU since 1990 but is still commonly used in the US. Brominated vegetable oil is also banned in the EU but is used as an emulsifier in citrus sodas and drinks in the US. Long-term exposure has been linked to headaches, memory loss and impaired coordination.The Food and Drug Administration classifies these food chemicals, and many others prohibited by the EU, as “generally recognized as safe”.Chemical safety processes in the EU and US work in starkly different ways. Where European policy tends to take a precautionary approach – trying to prevent harm before it happens – the US is usually more reactive.There is more of a “wait and see approach”, said Tatiana Santos, chemicals manager at the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), a network of environmental citizens’ organizations. “The US often waits until the harm is done and the EU tries to prevent it to a certain extent. It often seems the US favors the market over protection.”The EU’s decision to phase out titanium dioxide came after a re-evaluation of the safety of the food additive conducted by the European Food Safety Association (EFSA), an agency that delivers independent scientific advice to the EU about food-related risks.EFSA scientists screened nearly 12,000 scientific publications. They were particularly interested in recent research on the “genotoxicity” of titanium dioxide nanoparticles – their ability to damage DNA and lead to cell mutations, potentially causing cancer. In animal studies, nanoparticles have been found to affect microorganisms in the gut, which could trigger diseases like intestinal and bowel inflammation and colorectal cancer.EFSA’s expert panel on food additives and flavorings found it could not rule out concerns about the genotoxicity of the nanoparticles, which accumulate in the body over time, meaning it could “no longer be considered safe as a food additive”.Titanium dioxide, known as E171, is used as a whitener in several foods Photograph: Roberto Hunger/AlamyUnlike the EU, the US does not have agencies like EFSA that offer independent scientific evaluation of new chemicals brought to the market. And while the EU has consistently updated its methods and processes for evaluating new chemicals, some experts say the US system, set up more than half a century ago, needs updating.EFSA, funded by the EU, was created in 2002 to determine existing and emerging risks in the food chain. European manufacturers interested in using new chemicals must undergo EFSA’s scientific evaluation, which analyzes manufacturing process, proposed uses and toxicity to humans, among other factors. EFSA then provides scientific advice to the European Commission, member state authorities and the European parliament.While there have been previous criticisms about conflicts of interest, an EFSA spokesperson said the body had “a strict set of internal mechanisms and working processes to safeguard the independence of our science”.In the US, the Food Additive Amendment was created in 1958, after public concern about the safety of food chemicals. All new food chemicals were required to be evaluated and approved by the FDA, although chemicals already in the food system before the amendment were not re-evaluated.In the case of additives like titanium dioxide, manufacturers petition the FDA for its approval by submitting evidence that the substance is safe for its intended use. The FDA evaluates the application, and will authorize the additive if it concludes the data provided demonstrates that the substance is safe to use.This is “a clear conflict of interest”, said Thomas Galligan, principal scientist for food additives and supplements at the non-profit watchdog and consumer advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest. “Of course [companies] are going to want to say it’s safe.”An FDA spokesperson said that in addition to evidence from the manufacturer, the organization will do its “own review of the literature and other relevant information”.Alongside the lack of independent evaluation, the guidance on how to conduct these food safety assessments has not been updated at the FDA since 2007.“So even when these chemicals are being evaluated, they’re not using modern science in those evaluations, whereas the EU updates their guidance pretty regularly,” said Galligan. “There’s been a lot of research in toxicology in the last 15 years that isn’t necessarily being implemented by the FDA.”Galligan said this includes a better understanding of how different chemicals interact and how exposure to multiple chemicals may have a more significant impact on someone’s health than being exposed to each one alone.Most serious diseases like cancer are multifactorial, said EEB’s Santos. “You can get cancer for many different reasons and one of them is exposure to carcinogens. We are exposed to hundreds of chemicals on a daily basis. It’s so difficult to prove in hindsight, though, that a certain chemical is the reason for causing, say, cancer, and that’s why a precautionary principle should be used.”An FDA spokesperson said the organization’s “evaluation of the safety of food additives and color additives is based on the most current science available at the time, and this includes information made public by other regulatory bodies.”It says titanium dioxide is safe on current evidence. “The available safety studies do not demonstrate safety concerns connected to the use of titanium dioxide as a color additive,” said the FDA spokesperson.The American Chemistry Council (ACC), an industry body representing US chemical companies, said in a statement: “The EFSA assessment did not conclude that E171 is genotoxic but identified uncertainties with a need to further investigate the effects of the substance.” The association added that the industry “is investing in new science to generate data to confirm the safety of E171”.The titanium dioxide global market was valued at $17.19bn in 2020 and is projected to grow more than 6% over the next five years.The EU’s phase-out of titanium dioxide comes in the midst of chemical overhaul. Up to 12,000 chemicals found in food packaging, cleaning supplies, cosmetics, children’s products, pesticides and more will be banned over the next five years. The bloc is promising to outlaw chemicals linked to cancers and endocrine disorders in an effort dubbed the “great detox”.As the EU continues its sweep of chemical regulation, some hope the FDA will be pushed to do the same. “If the worry is that these regulations will damage the market, look at Europe,” said Santos. “It banned or regulated thousands of chemicals in the market and we’re still among the most competitive in the world.”Santos also noted that research has shown strong legislation can actually spur innovation, “pushing companies to innovate when chemicals may be banned”. She said: “Why not design chemicals that are safe in the first place, so that they won’t need to be potentially banned in the future?”
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NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Sometimes, a French Toast craving arrives, and you can’t do anything else until you give into it. Well, next time that occurs, feast on this incredible French toast made with St. Pierre Bakery’s brioche loaf for a sweet and delicious breakfast that brings a taste of Paris into your home. Try this easy, unique French toast recipe from St. Pierre Bakery. (StPierreBakery.com)BAKED OATMEAL IS TIKTOK'S LATEST FOOD TREND: HERE ARE 3 VIRAL RECIPES TO TRY St. Pierre Bakery has been voted America’s favorite brioche, and it is a favorite of celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and we’re betting it will quickly become a beloved staple in your household, too, after sinking your teeth into the first bite.BEST BREAKFAST EVER: MAPLE BACON CINNAMON ROLLSBrioche French Toast by St. Pierre BakeryMakes 1 servingPrep time: 10 minutesCook time: 10 minutesIngredients:- 2 slices of St. Pierre Brioche Loaf- 1 egg- 1.4 fl oz milk- ½ tsp cinnamon- Butter or oil for frying- Fresh berries- SyrupDirections:Pour the milk into a mixing bowl, add the egg and the cinnamon.Whisk together lightly until thoroughly mixed.Pour the mixture into a large, shallow dish that's bigger than the slices of brioche.Melt the butter in a frying pan (or add the oil).Dip both sides of the brioche into the egg mixture.Add the brioche to the frying pan, and cook both sides until they’re golden brown.Top with fresh berries of your choice, and drizzle with your favorite type of syrup.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThis original recipe is owned by stpierrebakery.com and was shared with Fox News Digital. Perri Ormont Blumberg is a contributing lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent on Twitter at @66PerriStreet.
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Tampa, Florida -- When Suzanne Perry and her husband, Roger, moved to the Tampa Bay area, they found themselves with extra time on their hands.That presented them with an opportunity to act on a dream to open a big restaurant.And "Datz" just what they did.Datz Restaurant is inspired by historic Midwest and Northeast delicatessens that offer huge servings, even down to the name, with the faint echo of restaurants with "Z" in their names, like Katz's Delicatessen in New York City. But that's where the similarities end."Our customers here in South Tampa told us that they wanted a little bit of something different. They liked the general idea of the deli sandwiches and whatnot, but they really wanted more comfort food," Perry said,If it's comfort customers wanted, it's comfort customers got.Datz closed for a few days and reopened with the concept that exists today -- over-the-top American comfort food, including favorites like the Nashville chicken sandwich, featuring two big tenders slathered in hot sauce. But the big cheese on the menu, that has attracted attention from the likes of "Good Morning America," is The Cheesy Todd."It's just a burger, and instead of a regular bun, it has fried mac and cheese. And we have people come in from out of town to eat that, a lot of locals love it. It's a giant big eat, which is what we're known for," said Datz project manager John Camisa. "I want them to leave out of here almost disgustingly full and talking about it to other people. like 'Go there hungry, make sure you're real hungry when you walk in the door there because they're going to leave out of there real real full," Camisa said. The staff prides itself on offering a unique, relaxed experience, reflected even in its quirky name, chosen from hundreds of contenders, but never Googled in advance. It turns out there's a family by that name living just a couple of blocks from the restaurant."They're probably to this very day getting phone calls about the pastrami sandwich from Datz," Perry said. The Datz experience, after all, is about having fun."What makes Datz really unique and different is it's a place to have fun. Just come, relax, let your hair down, wear your shorts, wear your golf clothes or tennis outfit, home from the beach, and have an excellent down-home American comfort food, but spun up a little bit," Perry said.
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TravelNorfolk and Virginia Beach are some of the best places to learn about Filipino American culture, history—and food.Over a heaping plate of Philippine egg rolls, Amado Laxa is explaining how he became the reigning lumpia-eating champion. “I’m the tallest Filipino around here, and I didn’t have breakfast that day—that’s it,” says the six-foot-three-inch Amado Laxa, age 69, who gobbled 18 of the cigarillo-shaped fried food in under four minutes to win the title of lumpia king at last October’s Fil Fest USA.Today he’s taking the time to savor every bite. We’re at FeLynn, a cafeteria-style eatery in Virginia Beach, Virginia. “They hand-roll the lumpia in the back and it’s always fresh and hot,” he says. More than a restaurant, FeLynn is a community gathering place; there’s karaoke or line dancing four nights a week. Laxa greets a klatch of men in their 70s and 80s. “They’re all retired Navy,” he says, “from all different [Philippine] provinces.” Like them, Laxa is retired from the Navy.Roy and Naomi Estaris, founders of Fil Fest USA, pull up chairs. They rattle off other Philippine restaurants for me to try: Ihaw Ihaw, “right there across the parking lot”; Kainan, “across the street from your hotel;” Ray Ray’s, “near the Oceanfront”; the popular fast-food chain Jollibee; and on and on. The fact that there are some 30 choices within a 30-minute drive speaks to the unique culture in this heavily populated area near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, better known for its she-crab soup and Lynnhaven oysters.In the 1960s and ’70s, businesses and organizations sprouted in the suburban strip malls of southeastern Virginia to serve Filipino Americans, many with U.S. naval ties; today they lure a wider audience of residents and visitors. Travel agencies and dental offices, groceries and martial arts studios, bakeries and barbershops are the hallmarks of this tight-knit community of at least 50,000, concentrated in Norfolk and Virginia Beach.Last year, Virginia governor Ralph Northam designated five historical highway markers acknowledging the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. One marker honors Filipinos in the U.S. Navy and is due to be placed later this month in front of the Philippine Cultural Center (PCC) in Virginia Beach. Here’s how the Hampton Roads region became one of the largest Filipino communities on the East Coast.A seafaring historyHailing from an archipelago of 7,641 islands in the South China Sea, Filipinos are historically a seafaring people, and their ties to North America date back to before there was even a United States. In 1587 a Spanish galleon landed in Morro Bay, California, with a party that included “Luzon Indios.” In the mid-1760s, Filipino castaways from the Spanish galleons—called Manila men—established a village in the marshlands of Louisiana; Saint Malo was likely the first Asian American settlement in the U.S. Even today, Filipino men and women are employed as sailors and staff in the world’s cargo ships and cruise liners worldwide, more than any other nationality.Filipino participation in the U.S. Navy can be traced to the Civil War: At least 38 served aboard ships such as the USS New Ironsides. They have served in every war since.In the mess hall of the USS Wisconsin, a decommissioned battleship now museum on the Norfolk waterfront, I meet Jeffrey Acosta. “Like many other Filipinos, my father-in-law started in the Navy as a cook, on a ship like this,” he says. A retired Marine who now teaches history at Tidewater Community College, Acosta married into the Filipino American community and serves as the historian for the local chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society. He explains that the U.S. Navy had its biggest base in Subic Bay in the Philippines and recruited Filipinos directly to work on its ships and bases.“In the early days, only positions such as mess hall attendants and stewards were open to Filipinos, and they were paid less than their American counterparts,” says Acosta, “but the pay was lucrative by Philippine standards and it offered a path to U.S. citizenship.” Between 1952 and 1991, 35,000 Filipino nationals joined the Navy.Filipino Americans have distinguished themselves in and outside the Navy despite barriers. Telesforo Trinidad was the first and only Asian American in the U.S. Navy to receive a Medal of Honor for rescuing two men after a boiler explosion in 1915; there’s currently a campaign to name a warship after him. Connie Mariano was not only the first Filipino American to become a rear admiral, she also was the first female director of the White House medical unit. Virginia representative Bobby Scott is the first American of Philippine descent in Congress. And Virginia Beach native Chad Hugo, whose father is retired Navy, is half of the music-producing duo the Neptunes, with Pharrell Williams.Filipino culture in a resort townRadiating out of the base in Norfolk, many families settled in the Kempsville neighborhood of Virginia Beach, today the heart of the Philippine American community. At the PCC—scheduled to re-open this summer—anyone can take classes in Tagalog and other dialects, traditional dance, and kuntaw (a Philippine martial art). “We are now seeing the second and third generations of families who first came in the ’60s or earlier,” says Cynthia Romero, chairperson of the organization that oversees the PCC. “Some of them no longer speak the language. We’re here to introduce them and others to the culture and the community.”The most populous city (with 460,000 people) in the commonwealth, Virginia Beach is a resort destination with a 35-mile-long beach. “We always take out-of-town guests there—Filipinos love the beach,” says Romero. The center of the action is Oceanfront, with its wide, three-mile-long boardwalk lined with hotels, pocket parks, mini stages, and monuments. A peace pole, located near 27th Street, honors Virginia Beach’s five sister cities; one marker points in the direction of Olongapo, Philippines, site of the former naval base of Subic Bay, 8,720 miles away.At Kempes Landing Park, a ship’s anchor commemorates Virginia Beach’s bond with sister city Olongapo. “It’s a great program of partnership,” says Naomi Estaris, who has deep ties to the community as a business owner and civic activist. “The mayors of each city have each other’s cell phones, firefighters have trained together, there are student exchanges with host families.”A Philippine American cultural tour isn’t complete without visiting the final resting place of Douglas MacArthur, the so-called “Liberator of the Philippines.” The general is buried under the rotunda of Norfolk’s old City Hall, and his memorabilia—including his signature aviator sunglasses, cap, and pipe—displayed at the museum. MacArthur spent years in Manila before becoming supreme allied commander of the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II. Forced to retreat, he uttered the famous words: “I shall return.”“Not only did he keep his promise, but he truly loved the Philippines and respected its people. His wife, Jean, once told me that if he hadn’t been recalled to active duty, they would never have left the Philippines,” says Jeffrey Acosta, the site’s former museum curator. “In a way he was ahead of his time. When his only son was born, he picked Filipinos to be the godparents—in 1938!”The next generation takes the helm“Filipino American history is American history,” says Allan Bergano, who with his wife, Edwina, opened the first Filipino-owned dental practice in the area in 1983. The couple worked on an oral history project about local naval families in their spare time. “It’s our duty to capture this overlooked history for future generations.”Everywhere there are signs of the next generation taking the helm. At Angie’s Bakery, Ken Garcia Olaes has taken over his uncle’s bakery—during a pandemic, no less—and given the 32-year-old business a buzz of energy and a designer’s aesthetic. As head baker, Olaes creates everything from spiralled brioches (ensaymada) to traditional rolls (pandesal). His hand-crafted ube lattes (flavored with purple yam) are a cult favorite. “I’m an artist even when I’m not sketching,” he says. “And it’s not just what comes out of the oven. It’s about the entire sensory experience, from the aroma when you enter to the way our products are displayed.”In another Virginia Beach strip mall just south of the Naval Air Station Oceana, Emma Dizon is prepping for the Sunday brunch rush at her restaurant, Only at Renee’s. While I wait for my to-go order, she presents me with a speckled blue plate lined with a square-cut banana leaf on which five perfectly rolled lumpia sit.“I want to make street food look as good as it tastes,” says the Fashion Institute of Technology graduate and New York City transplant. She uses fresh ingredients—and her grandmother’s recipes. “We make everything by hand here, except for the longganisa [sausage], which my father makes in New York and brings to me,” says Dizon. “Making food with love is what I saw in my grandmother’s restaurant in Pampanga, and my mother’s restaurant in Queens.”And now here it is in Virginia Beach. A culture captured in a lumpia roll: well-adapted to various environments, its essence unchanged.Filipino American writer Norie Quintos is a National Geographic contributing editor based in Alexandria, Virginia. Follow her on Instagram.
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We did the hard work of munching, sniffing, and nibbling to help you level up your nosh game.I love snacks. I'm a grazer—someone who likes to eat small amounts of things throughout the day, so I usually have a hodgepodge of various foods scattered throughout my home. I'm not picky. I'll try sweet, savory, salty, or spicy. But I do get bored quickly. Aside from a few old standbys, I'm always on the hunt for new things to try. Combine that with recurring waves of coronavirus variants that prevent me from going out and leisurely scouring shelves in the grocery store, and my already-snacky disposition turned into what one could call a full-fledged snack attack.Enter snack box subscriptions: For a recurring fee, you can get a package of goodies delivered to your door every month. But which snack boxes are worth your money? Which one gets you the most bang for your buck? Which will best fulfill your hankering for something tasty? I, and my tastebuds, did the research for you. Here are my favorites (and ones to avoid).Be sure to check out our many other guides, including Best Meal Kit Delivery Services, and Best Bar Accessories.Updated April 2022: We added a few new picks and updated pricing.Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you'd like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIREDPhotograph: Universal YumsBest OverallUniversal Yums Snack BoxStuck on which box to get? Make it this one. Universal Yums has small, medium, and large boxes, with snacks arriving from a different country each month. My first box was filled with goodies from France, and it came with a booklet packed with information on the snacks, games, trivia, and more. It's a really good option for snackers with kids, though if you're kidless it's still nice to read through the booklet while you're munching. My France-themed box came with these strawberry candies that changed my life (and thankfully, you can order them or any other snacks à la carte). The prices are palatable too—the smallest box costs $17 per month, or $15 per month if you purchase annually. Photograph: Carnivore ClubBest for Meat EatersCarnivore Club Snack BoxCarnivore Club snack boxes are all about the jerky. You might get classic options like beef jerky, but other possible additions include things like turkey jerky and venison sticks. Flavors run the gamut. My box had everything from serrano pepper to maple barbecue, but past boxes have included chipotle lime, sesame teriyaki, and so much more. This box has good value; despite the shipping fees, you'll still save cash in the long run if you're frequently buying $10 bags of jerky at the store. And you have options to choose from, like buying a box every other month or every three months instead of monthly. There's also a $40 Classic Box you can get, which includes four to six premium cured meats, from prosciutto to bacon, and more.Photograph: MunchpakBest for Custom QuantitiesMunchPak Snack BoxMunchPak lets you choose how many items you get per month. You can opt for a minimum of five snacks, which is smaller than the smallest size most other services offer, but 10+ and 20+ snack sizes are available as well. That makes it a good option for solo snackers (you lucky ducks) or big families where a few snacks just won't be enough to feel satisfied.This service also has a smartphone app that lets you see your snacking history, so if a few months down the road you find yourself craving “that one crunchy thing from that one snack box,” you'll be able to look back and see exactly what it was. MunchPak ships treats from various countries too. Ever wanted to try Wasabi Cheese Cheetos? This box can make it happen—but be warned, you will not be able to stop eating them. Photograph: TokyoTreatBest Japanese BoxTokyoTreat Snack BoxThere are a lot of Japan-themed snack boxes, and for good reason. Japan has some of the quirkiest snacks out there. (Tomato-flavored chocolates, anyone?) I like TokyoTreat the most, as it covers the whole spectrum, offering sweet, spicy, and salty treats. The snacks are generous in size too. I was able to share the contents of my TokyoTreat box with five other people. But it's pricey, running you $38 per month if you don't subscribe annually. It also has longer shipping times than some of the other boxes on this list.Each box comes with dagashi (which is similar to penny candy), a DIY candy kit, and several other snacks. Mine had a bag of sakura-flavored Kit-Kats, which were my favorite, but really, every snack inside was awesome. You can also “activate” your box by confirming delivery each month, which will earn things like discounts and giveaway entries.Photograph: AmazonAnd If You Can’t Get Enough of Japanese SnacksBokksu Snack BoxRemember how I said there are a lot of Japan-themed snack boxes out there? Bokksu is another, but it takes a slightly different approach. Rather than focusing solely on Tokyo, candy, or ramen, Bokksu's monthly boxes revolve around various Japanese regions. You might get an Osaka-themed box, a cherry-blossom box, or a box full of cultural foods significant to a rural Japanese island. If you want boxes full of typical kawaii Japanese snacks, there are others on this list that might be a better fit. But if you're like me and you've already tried several Japanese snacks, Bokksu will expand your horizons.The first Bokksu is themed around Japan's seasons. It's pretty incredible—offering tea, crackers, chips, mochi, hard candy, cakes, and a bunch of other delightful morsels. If you want spoilers, you can view the full list here. You can choose between Classic (20-25 snacks) or Tasting (10-14 snacks) size options.Photograph: Munch AddictBest Cheap Snack BoxMunch Addict Snack BoxMunch Addict is our cheapest recommendation (though it's by a narrow margin.) The smallest size option gets you five snacks for $15 shipped. Prices get a bit cheaper if you subscribe for six months or a year rather than month-to-month. Like most other snack boxes, there's a rotating selection from many different countries, and a snack guide is included with every box. Unlike most other snack boxes, Munch Addict lets subscribers choose add-ons from a rotating variety. You can add things like seasonal Oreos, unique Lays potato chips, or other special snacks to your subscription every month. It's optional, though, and the service sends good snacks regardless of whether you add anything to a box. Photograph: Japan Candy Box Other Good OptionsSnack Box Runners-UpSnackCrate (from $18) monthly boxes are themed around locations. It has a diverse variety at a fair price point, and there are multiple box sizes to choose from. The medium-size Denmark box I received had a wide variety of snacks that I'd never tried before. As a lover of all things licorice, I was thrilled with the salted black Super Flyers, but there were less aggressive snacks (like corn chips and chocolate) in the box as well.Japan Candy Box (from $25), as the name suggests, is all about candy. Occasionally, you'll find one or two savory snacks in the box, but most of the contents are sweet. Among other things, my box had the weirdest mix of snacks, from fried-bread candy bar (the best) and fun yogurt-y marshmallows to a bag filled with dagashi. Each box contains 10 snacks. If you've got more of a sweet tooth than a savory one, this is a good fit.ZenPop (from $27), conversely, offers ramen as well as sweets. I tried the ramen and sweets mixed box, and it was really enjoyable. In fact, it had some of the best instant ramen packs I've ever had in my life, and I consider myself somewhat of an instant ramen expert.Snakku (from $55) is another great option for Japanese snack lovers. It's really authentic. Most boxes contain at least one snack that's exclusive to Japan and quite difficult to find anywhere else—even in other snack boxes. My sakura-themed box had a plethora of goodies, my favorite of which was the elusive sake-flavored Kit Kat (which actually contains alcohol!). This box is quite expensive compared to other options.TasteCrate ($40) should come with a warning: This box focuses solely on healthy snacks. I don't love the “guilt-free” language used by the company—food should never make someone feel guilty—but nevertheless, if you're conscious of calories, gluten content, ingredients, or dietary restrictions, this may be a good option for you. Every box includes 10 to 12 snacks. Mine included things like air-dried biltong, a fiber-rich cookie, and probiotic vanilla almond bites. I personally wouldn't classify most of the items as indulgent, but I also have been known to eat five servings of Hot Cheetos in a single snacking session. Your mileage and snack preferences may vary.Photograph: KetokrateTread LightlySnack Boxes We Didn't LoveCareCrate (from $40) almost earned a spot in our “honorable mentions” category. Each box includes a variety of snacks, but if you're based in the United States, the assortment could be found at your local grocery store. My box included such items as Rice Krispies Treats, that ubiquitous orange-and-yellow chicken-flavored ramen, and microwave popcorn. This box would be awesome for the grocery store averse, but if you're trying to find new snacks, there are better options available.Mantry ($75 bimonthly), a small-batch food subscription service, sent me its Spice Route box. Per my calculations, the box was valued at around $47, so a one-time purchase is likely overpriced. My box included cookies, chocolate, and jerky as well as hot sauce, salsa, and chickpea butter. The latter three options aren't what I would call a "snack"—one shouldn't need to shop to eat food in a snack box. All of the products were fine, but needlessly gendered language always leaves a bad taste in my mouth.VeganCuts ($25) has a great assortment of products, but the definition of "snack" here is a little loose. My box had traditional snacks, but also items like pho broth and overnight oats. This would be a good discovery tool for vegans who are sick of Oreos and Sour Patch Kids, but I'm not going to whip up a plate of pasta at midnight for a snack.KetoKrate ($40) included everything from low-carb cereal to protein bars. However, we don't endorse restrictive diets unless deemed medically necessary by a doctor, especially one whose long-term side effects are unknown. If you're diabetic or have another medical condition and are searching for high-protein snacks, KetoKrate may be worth looking into. Never start a new diet without talking to your doctor first.Louryn Strampe is a product writer and reviewer at WIRED covering a little bit of everything. She especially loves discounts, video games … and discounted video games. She previously wrote for Future PLC and Rakuten. She currently resides in northern Illinois with two fluffy cats.
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MoneyWatch July 1, 2022 / 12:58 PM / MoneyWatch Fourth of July weekend travel chaos Fourth of July weekend travel chaos 03:37 Like pretty much everything else, Fourth of July cookouts will be pricier this year.Ingredients for a home-prepared quarter-pound cheeseburger ran $2.07 in May, with ground beef accounting for $1.20 and cheddar cheese 35 cents, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That's 11.3% higher than the $1.86 it cost for the same burger last year, the USDA said.The retail price of ground beef is up 16.9% from 2021, and accounts for 17 cents of the added cost, while cheddar cheese and bread costs each rose about 1 cent per burger. The price of iceberg lettuce has jumped 23.3% from a year ago, but adds only 2 cents to the total, according to the agency. Cost of a home-grilled cheeseburger up 21 cents from 2021 U.S. Department of Agriculture Of course, burgers are only part of the menu as many Americans celebrate Independence Day. In addition to cheeseburgers, the American Farm Bureau Federation is adding pork chops, chicken breasts, homemade potato salad, strawberries and ice cream to the table, and calculates the cost of a summer cookout for 10 at $69.68, or about $7 a person. The overall cost is about $10, or 17% higher, than last year, "a result of ongoing supply chain disruptions, inflation and the war in Ukraine," the trade group stated. Farmers are feeling the pain along with consumers, as the supplies used in growing and raising food are also more expensive, according to Roger Cryan, the AFBF's chief economist. "In many cases the higher prices farmers are being paid aren't covering the increase in their farm expenses. The cost of fuel is up and fertilizer prices have tripled," he said in a news release. The AFBF's pricing survey found the retail price for two pounds of ground beef at $11.12, up 36% from last year, with the cost of chicken breasts, pork chops, buns and cookies also higher. Strawberries, however, are a major bright spot, as their price fell by 86 cents per quart from a year ago. The AFBF also found the price of sliced cheese and potato chips to have fallen from last year, by 48 cents and 22 cents respectively. Here are the results collected by 176 volunteer shoppers across the country and in Puerto Rico: Individual Prices, AFBF 2022 Summer Cookout2 pounds of ground beef, $11.12 (+36%)2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, $8.99 (+33%)32 ounces of pork & beans, $2.53 (+33%)3 pounds of center cut pork chops, $15.26 (+31%)2.5 quarts of fresh-squeezed lemonade, $4.43 (+22%)2.5 pounds of homemade potato salad, $3.27 (+19%)8 hamburger buns, $1.93 (+16%)Half-gallon of vanilla ice cream, $5.16 (+10%)13-ounce bag of chocolate chip cookies, $4.31 (+7%)2 pints of strawberries, $4.44 (-16%)1 pound of sliced cheese, $3.53 (-13%)16-ounce bag of potato chips, $4.71 (-4%)In: Inflation Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue
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Pasta is coming back in different shapes and flavors, drinking vinegar is cool, and comfort food favorites like pancakes are being made with new ingredients.That's according to the hundreds of items on display at the Summer Fancy Food Show, a trade show that has gained a reputation for being a place to spot the next big flavors and foods that will dominate restaurant menus and grocery store shelves. The show returned for the first time since the pandemic this week, running Sunday through Tuesday at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.More than 1,800 exhibitors displayed specialty food and drinks for restaurant owners, foodservice operators and other industry players. The trade show, which is hosted by the Specialty Food Association, in the past has featured up-and-coming trends including fermented foods, floral flavors and packaged snacks made with cauliflower.Here are some highlights from this year's show spotted by the trade group and CNBC:Pasta revampedCarbone's booth at the 2022 Summer Fancy Food Show highlighted its new line of pasta saucesAmelia Lucas | CNBCPasta is back − but in flavors and shapes people likely haven't tried before.The SFA's trend spotters said new noodle shapes are hitting the U.S. market, such as cascatelli, a j-shaped pasta with ridges. Pasta makers are also experimenting with different flavors and ingredients. Greenomic Deli, for example, showed off cacao-infused pasta as part of its Good Hair Day line.After years of lagging sales growth, noodles in general are staging a comeback, according to the SFA's preliminary trend report for the trade show. People who had cut back on carbs started eating pasta again during the pandemic as they cooked more at home and sought comfort food.Plant-based comfort foodsRind's vegan cheese tasting display at the Summer Fancy Food ShowAmelia Lucas | CNBCThe latest plant-based foods aren't milk or meat substitutes. Instead, they're about giving people another way to indulge in comfort foods, according to the SFA.The up-and-coming category is meant to appeal to people who want plant-based versions of their favorite snacks and treats. Whoa Dough showed off vegan cookie dough bars with four grams of protein at its table, while Rind displayed plant-based cheeses that mimic the richness of blue and camembert cheese. Bean Bops presented its crispy fava beans, with packaging that touts its protein content.PancakesHappy Grub's squeezable instant pancake mix on display at the 2022 Summer Fancy Food ShowAmelia Lucas | CNBCOne comfort food seemed to get extra attention from exhibitors: pancakes.Companies presented their takes on the breakfast favorite, playing with both packaging and ingredients. Happy Grub presented its squeezable instant pancake mix, designed for parents and children to use together. Jus Chill International's pancake mix swaps out traditional all-purpose flour for a flour made from breadfruit, a starchy tropical fruit it sources from Jamaica.Vinegar shrub drinksTait Farm Foods' Sofi award-winning shrubAmelia Lucas | CNBCWellness culture introduced shots of apple cider vinegar to many Americans' daily routines. Now some companies are trying to balance vinegar's health benefits with its sharp flavor.One way is by reviving shrubs, a once-popular drink that mixes vinegar syrup with fruit and sparkling water or spirits. Its popularity in the U.S. peaked in the colonial era then waned as refrigerators became increasingly common in homes. Shrubs started popping up again in cocktail bars over the last decade, and now drink makers are taking notice.Tait Farm Foods said its shrubs can be used as a cocktail or mocktail mixer. Newcomer Shrubbly Superdrink showed off its shrubs that add fruit, herbs, spices and apple cider vinegar to its sparkling water base.Spirits-inspired flavorsA display of Santa Sofia's agave vinegar at the trade showAmelia Lucas | CNBCCocktails and food culture have always gone hand-in-hand, but now the relationship might be getting even more intertwined.Santa Sofia, for example, showed off its agave vinegar, designed to be used in salad dressings or sprinkled on potato chips. It doesn't contain any alcohol, but the vinegar is made using fermented agave, giving it a flavor reminiscent of tequila. Agave-based spirits have been soaring in popularity in recent years, and tequila is expected to overtake vodka as the most popular liquor category in the U.S. this year.Andres Confiserie Suisse, a chocolate maker based in Kansas City, Missouri, stuck with the more classic whiskey flavor for its whiskey caramel chocolate drops, which are made in collaboration with a local distiller and can be eaten solo or dropped into hot chocolate or coffee.Food with extra benefitsBeyond Resilience's table showed off its chocolate-flavored spreadsAmelia Lucas | CNBCThe association said foods with added benefits are another trend to watch. The pandemic has heightened people's desire to strengthen their immune systems, and snack makers are adding ingredients they say have benefits like anti-aging.Austrian company Beyond Resilience, for example, showed off an array of "nutricosmetics," which are functional foods that contain ingredients believed to help improve hair, skin and nails. Its products included chocolate-flavored protein spreads that contain biotin and amino acids.
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By Leah Dowling - Swinburne University of TechnologyWholemeal, wholegrain, multigrain, sourdough, rye, white, high fibre white, low GI, low FODMAP, gluten free. With so many choices of bread available, how are we to know which is best for our health?Bread has always been a dietary staple in Australian households. It’s a good source of carbohydrate, it’s low in fat, and wholegrain varieties are a good source of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals, as well as healthy fats.Wholegrains are high in dietary fibre, which helps keep us feeling full. Diets high in wholegrains are linked to a reduced risk of health conditions such as excess weight and obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. Dietary fibre is also beneficial for bowel health by preventing constipation and feeding the “good” gut bacteria which is likely to result in a number of health benefits. A recent study found a diet high in wholegrains was associated with a lower risk of bowel cancer.Due to the grains being ground down during processing, white and wholemeal breads have a higher glycaemic index (GI) than wholegrain bread, which results in glucose being released into the bloodstream more quickly. Regular consumption of lower GI foods helps to regulate blood glucose levels, keeping us fuller for longer, and helping us eat fewer calories to keep our weight in check.White bread is made from wheat that has had the germ and bran removed, thereby reducing the fibre, B group vitamins, vitamin E and minerals such as iron, zinc, magnesium and phosphorus. MultigrainOften multigrain bread is made from white flour with some added grains. Despite this, multigrain breads tend to have more fibre and a lower GI than white bread, resulting in longer lasting energy.Example: Tip Top Multigrain. WholemealWholemeal bread is made from wholegrains that have been milled to a fine texture, giving a plain brown appearance. Wholemeal flour contains more fibre than white flour. Wholemeal bread also contains more vitamins and minerals than many white breads, but has a higher GI than wholegrain breads. Example: Helga’s Wholemeal.WholegrainWholegrain bread contains the entire grain: the bran (outer layer), endosperm (starchy middle layer) and germ (nutrient rich inner part). It’s a rich source of carbohydrates, protein, unsaturated (good) fats, vitamins and minerals, as well as three types of fibre: soluble, insoluble and resistant starch. Wholegrain bread has a dense wholemeal flour base and well as lots of grain and seeds. Look for “whole grain” in the ingredient list.Soy and linseed bread has the added benefit of healthy omega 3 fats. Wholegrain bread is low GI as are wholemeal breads with added grains.Example: Helga’s wholemeal grain, Burgen wholemeal & seeds, Burgen wholegrain and oats, Schwobbs wholegrain, Tip top 9 grain (wholemeal), Bakers Delight Capeseed (wholegrain). RyeRye bread has a heavier texture due to a lower gluten content (but it’s not gluten free). Wholegrain rye with added grains has a higher fibre and vitamin content than light rye and has a lower GI, as does rye sourdough. Wholegrain rye is a good choice for health and even light rye is better than white. Example: Burgen Rye bread, Schwobb’s kibbled rye, Dench’s rye sourdoughSourdoughSourdough bread has a lower GI due to the higher acidity level. Fibre, vitamin and mineral levels vary with the flour used, with wholegrain sourdough being the preferred choice. Be sure to choose an authentic sourdough, as some are faux sourdough and contain yeast rather than the traditional starter.Authentic sourdough takes a long time to produce and results in an acidic and chewy bread, two features that lower the GI. Look for a chewy texture and the absence of yeast in the ingredients, preferably with wholewheat flour or rye wholemeal, grains and seeds.Example: Dench bakers (esp. superseed or grain sourdough), Phillippa’s, Firebrand sourdough bread. High fibre whiteHigh fibre white breads are white breads that have fibre added to them. This makes them a better choice than regular white bread especially for children (or big kids) who won’t eat wholegrain bread. Example: Wonder white low GI bread, Bakers Delight High Fibre low GIGluten-freeGluten-free breads are made from an alternative grain to wheat, so as to avoid the wheat protein gluten. Traditionally, gluten-free breads have had a lower fibre content and higher GI than their wheat-containing counterparts, although, there are now some with added seeds.These breads are useful for people with a gluten intolerance such as coeliac disease, but offer no additional health benefits beyond regular breads for the rest of us.Example: Abbott’s gluten free mixed seeds and gluten free soy and linseed, Helga’s gluten free. Low FODMAPSimilarly, low FODMAP breads have recently hit the market. These breads are suitable for people such as those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), who are sensitive to a group of carbohydrates known collectively as FODMAPS. FODMAPS are found in a number of foods including wheat. These breads still contain gluten and are not suitable for people with coeliac disease.Although better than regular white bread as they contain seeds and grains, the fibre content varies between brands, so people without sensitivities are generally better to choose wholegrain breads.Example: Bakers Delight LO-FO loaf, Helga’s lower carb 5 seed (low GI).Not all breads are created equal. Ideally look for heavy, dense breads with lots of grains and seeds. Ingredient lists on food labels are written in descending order so look for words such as wholegrain, kibbled grain, nuts and seeds at the beginning of the ingredients list. Foods with more than 4g fibre per serve are considered a good source of fibre under the Australian food standards code. Go for a wholegrain, wholegrain rye or authentic sourdough breads (particularly rye or grain sourdough). The soft fluffy white breads are best left for the occasional Bunnings sausage sizzle, where the only decision to make is onions or no onions.Source: The Conversation If you enjoy our selection of content please consider following Universal-Sci on social media:
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Food writer Casey Barber says to cool off from this month's sticky heat with a glass of iced tea. Stay tuned for her July recipe selection, and for all the months that follow. (CNN)It's the middle of the day, and your morning caffeine rush has sputtered to a slow crawl. You're starting to slump but don't want another turbocharged cup of coffee. Why not turn to a refreshing glass of iced tea? "It's a wonderful pick-me-up, but not so much of a boost that you won't be able to sleep that night," said Annelies Zijderveld, author of "Steeped: Recipes Infused With Tea."As the heat and humidity rise, iced tea seems like the perfect antidote for sticky weather. First, a quick tea primer: "Tea in general comes from the camellia sinensis plant," Zijderveld said. "The varieties come from how the tea is processed and how long." Black tea is the most processed and has the most caffeine; green tea is less processed and lighter in caffeine, and white tea the least processed. Herbal teas, on the other hand, are not technically "tea" because they are not made from the camellia sinensis leaves -- and most do not contain caffeine. Chamomile tea, for example, is made from chamomile flowers, and mint tea is made from mint leaves. "We call it tisane or an infusion," Zijderveld said, to differentiate the two types of drinks. While you can make iced tea from any variety of tea or tisane, Zijderveld recommends two techniques to make the most flavorful cold tea. With either of these methods, you can play with different flavor combinations, such as green tea and mint tea, hibiscus tea and rooibos tea, black tea and citrus tea or jasmine tea and oolong tea.How to make an iced tea concentrateIced tea concentrate is simply a stronger brew that can be diluted to your liking, similar to a cold coffee concentrate that can be cut with water or poured over ice. This method ensures that your iced tea won't taste too weak or watery once the ice in your glass starts to melt.To make tea concentrate, simply use twice the amount of loose-leaf tea or number of tea bags as you normally would when brewing hot tea. If you typically use one tea bag per 12 fluid ounces of water, use two bags for a stronger concentrate. Concentrates can also be scaled up for larger quantities.To serve, you can either pour the concentrate directly over ice and allow it to dilute the tea as it melts or dilute the concentrate further with water or milk for a tea latte. Start with a 1:1 ratio of tea concentrate to water or milk and adjust to your taste.How to make a cold tea infusionAlong the same lines as cold brew coffee, a cold tea infusion or cold brew tea is a hands-off method that can be made with any bagged or loose-leaf tea. Cold infusions are "a lot less tannic with very smooth tea flavor," Zijderveld said, because there's no heat involved and the tea steeps at a slow rate.To cold brew tea, fill a jar with cold water and add tea bags or loose-leaf tea, which can be held in a tea ball or reusable muslin tea bag for easier straining. My preferred ratio is two tea bags or two teaspoons loose black tea per quart of water, but the amount can be adjusted for more delicately flavored teas such as jasmine or white tea. Seal the jar and refrigerate for at least six hours or overnight to let the tea steep.While it may seem quicker and simpler to let the tea steep on the counter at room temperature or in the sun, it's a potential food safety hazard, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "The one kind of iced tea I never advocate for is sun tea," Zijderveld said. "That's the one kind of method that I think it's best to stay away from" due to the possibility of bacteria growing in the warm water as the tea steeps.Letting the tea infuse in the refrigerator overnight, instead of on the counter at room temperature or in the sun, keeps the temperature of the water in a bacteria-safe zone below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (about 4 degrees Celsius).Now that you have your ideal iced tea, you can certainly drink it straight. Or you can use it in a variety of drinks, desserts and even savory dishes. Tea drinksThe most famous iced tea drink (after simple sweet tea) has to be the Arnold Palmer. A half-and-half combination of iced black tea and lemonade, it's easy to make from scratch and lends itself to a number of variations. Swap out the regular lemonade for a fruit-infused version, or add a splash of booze to enliven the drink. Add vodka to make it a John Daly, as the old golf joke goes, or make a Pimm's Palmer with British Pimm's No. 1 liqueur (which is gin-based).Another low alcohol-by-volume drink with a simple half-and-half formula is the shandy, a cocktail that traditionally mixes beer with lemon-lime soda or sparkling lemonade. For a fruitier drink, think pink and mix a fruit beer or sour beer with tart hibiscus tea to make a hibiscus shandy.There's also a way you can have iced tea for breakfast. In "Steeped," Zijderveld features smoothies that blend fresh fruit and ice with tea in place of milk, juice or yogurt. Try green tea in your favorite green smoothie or mild English breakfast tea in a sweet berry smoothie.Tea dessertsOne of Zijderveld's favorite ways to turn iced tea into a summer dessert is to make homemade ice pops. She recommends a sweetened hibiscus concentrate as a base, because "nobody says that sweet tea has to be traditional black tea," she said. "It's a refreshing afternoon treat that does not have caffeine and rehydrates you." If your pop molds are large enough to accommodate fruit pieces, she recommends adding blueberries, raspberries, or sliced peaches to the pops. Water isn't the only liquid you can infuse with tea. Milk, cream and even yogurt will take on tea flavors when steeped. The distinctively floral bergamot flavor of Earl Grey tea infuses the custard in Earl Grey panna cotta tarts, and a chai vanilla brûlée incorporates the warmly spiced flavors of chai.Savory tea recipesIt's possible to make an entire meal with tea-infused elements. Let your chicken (or pork chop) drink tea to give it more flavor and moisture with a sweet tea brine. Brining isn't just for Thanksgiving turkeys but for any lean cut of meat that has the tendency to become dry and overcooked. Once your brined chicken is cooked, finish it off with a sweet and sticky tea glaze made by infusing juice and honey with tea. To round out the meal, serve a side salad tossed in a tea-infused vinaigrette, like a smoky lapsang souchong honey mustard dressing or a chamomile honey dressing.Casey Barber is a food writer, illustrator and photographer; the author of "Pierogi Love: New Takes on an Old-World Comfort Food" and "Classic Snacks Made From Scratch: 70 Homemade Versions of Your Favorite Brand-Name Treats"; and editor of the website Good. Food. Stories.
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The idea at Belly, the new Asian- and Cali-inspired eatery in Oakland’s Rockridge district, is to fill your tummy with no-frills good food that comes in the form of tacos, burritos and bowls.
Owner Alice Woo unveiled the second location of her bright, fast-casual restaurant last week in the spot formerly housing The Hideaway at 5634 College Ave. While the original Belly, located downtown on San Pablo Avenue, serves lunch and dinner, Woo’s new location is starting with lunch service only, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Monday.
There are 10 mouth-watering tacos on the menu, from the Belly (house-marinated steak, rice, Korean slaw, kimchi aioli) to the Spicy Chicken (spicy honey-fried chicken, peanuts, sesame slaw, cucumbers) and each will run you about $6.50 each.
Upgrade to a green tortilla-wrapped burrito or a bowl stuffed with fries, like the Surf, made with tempura fish, avocado, pico de gallo, sambal aioli, spicy crema and multigrain rice, for $16-$18. Belly offers six types of fries — the Korean Cali fries feature a fried egg, cheddar and marinated sirloin — as well as tots, onion rings and salads. Don’t miss craft sodas and housemade seasonal lemonades. Details: www.bellyrestaurants.com
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Published June 21, 2022 12:46PM article Starbucks Refreshers beverages trio SEATTLE - Starbucks is adding new items to its summer menu Tuesday, including two cold drinks and two food items. The Pineapple Passionfruit Starbucks Refreshers® beverage features tropical flavors of pineapple and passion fruit, shaken with real diced pineapple pieces and ice. Add coconut milk to the beverage to create the new Paradise Drink Starbucks Refreshers® beverage for a nondairy, creamy alternative. RELATED: Workers at Everett Starbucks vote to unionize Customers can also order the Chicken, Maple Butter and Egg Sandwich, which includes chicken, fluffy eggs and a maple butter spread on a toasted oat biscuit roll. Another new item is the Cookies & Cream Cake Pop, which combines chocolate cake with sandwich cookie buttercream and cookie bits, dipped in white chocolate coating and finished with dark chocolate cookie crumbs. RELATED: Starbucks may close bathrooms to public again, CEO reportedly says Customers can also find a new selection of summer-inspired reusable drinkware at Starbucks stores this summer. Starbucks trying out boba tea drinks Starbucks is getting into the boba tea game.
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Associated Press/Tony Gutierrez U.S. Army soldiers of the 36th Infantry Division hand out frozen turkeys and other food items during a Tarrant Area Food Bank mobile pantry distribution event in Arlington, Texas, on Nov. 20, 2020. Many members of the military and their families are experiencing food insecurity themselves, because of low pay. Inadequate access to nutrition has become a threat to public health in the U.S., amplifying existing food insecurity and social issues, the American College of Physicians declared on Monday. With about 10 percent of the U.S. population suffering from food insecurity, more needs to be done to address the source of the problem and strengthen public health, the organization said in a new position paper. Achieving these goals means empowering physicians and other medical professionals to better account for social drivers of health that are happening beyond their office doors, according to the paper, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. “Strengthening access to good nutrition is a public health imperative,” Ryan Mire, president of the American College of Physicians, said in a video statement accompanying the paper. “We know that food insecurity is associated with worse mental and physical health, worse health outcomes, and an increased risk of diet-related illnesses and health conditions,” added Mire, whose organization, which represents U.S. internists, is the largest medical specialty group in the country. Food insecurity in the U.S. is linked to a variety of health issues, such as greater risks of birth defects, anemia, lower nutrient intakes, cognitive issues, asthma, poor oral health, and a heightened risk of mental and behavioral health issues in children, according to the position paper. For nonsenior adults who are food insecure, the paper identified a connection to lower nutrient intakes, higher rates of mental health problems, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and poorer reported sleep and health exam outcomes. As far as seniors are concerned, the authors likewise observed lower nutrient intakes, as well as poorer reported health, higher rates of depression and increased limitations on daily activity. “Physicians and other clinicians should learn about the prevalence of food insecurity and its health consequences,” Mire said. The American College of Physicians therefore suggests that physicians and health care professionals incorporate “screening tools for food nutrition and other social drivers of health as an integral part of medical practice,” Mire added. The position paper provided several specific recommendations, calling upon officials to make food insecurity a policy and funding priority as part of a broader effort to encourage safe and healthful diets. The authors urged lawmakers to improve the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to better serve the needs and health of food-insecure individuals. Meanwhile, they suggested that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services develop, test and support innovative models that incorporate benefits related to food-insecurity issues. “Strict qualification requirements and inadequate benefit calculation formulas have created a case scenario where it is still inadequate for patients to be able to afford healthy and nutritious foods,” Mire said. “Nearly 2 out of 3 food assistance recipients have had to choose between paying for food versus paying for their medical bills or medications within the past year,” he added. Medical professionals should take initiative on activities that might help them understand and mitigate food insecurity issues experienced by their patients, according to the paper. In addition to screening patients for food insecurity, some such efforts could include the incorporation of food insecurity into medical education curricula as well as establishing tools for referring patients in need to community and government resources, the authors explained. “Physicians cannot do this alone. These efforts need to be supported by governments, payers and other stakeholders,” Mire said. “Looking more big picture, we need to undertake efforts to reform our food nutrition systems and to research and implement innovative and sustainable systems in addressing food insecurity,” he added.
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Desperate times call for extremely large Cheez-Its. Maybe that's the message behind Taco Bell's newest menu items. Or maybe the message is just: big Cheez-It. The fast-food chain said Tuesday that it's creating a Cheez-It 16 times larger than your regular snack for two new menu items available only in Southern California. The Big Cheez-It Tostada replaces the crispy tortilla with the humongous cheddar cracker, and it layers on Taco Bell's ground beef, sour cream, tomatoes, lettuce and cheddar cheese. It'll cost $2.49.The other, more exclusive, menu item is called the Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme. It can be ordered through Taco Bell's website and mobile app. The new Crunchwrap takes all the highlights from the original and replaces the crispy tortilla, again, with the Cheez-It. It costs $4.29.Taco Bell is testing these two menu items at a Southern California location for two weeks, or while supplies last, according to a release from the company. The chain recently opened its first futuristic four-lane drive thru store, in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Named Taco Bell Defy, the restaurant guarantees a speedier drive-thru experience with vertical lifts that move meals from the upstairs kitchen to the drive-thru down below. The company also revived its Mexican Pizza in May after fans and celebrities, like singer/rapper Doja Cat, requested its return.
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Make the pastry: put 180g of plain flour in the bowl of a food processor, add 90g butter cut into chunks and process for a few seconds until they resemble fine, fresh breadcrumbs. Add 1 heaped tablespoon of icing sugar. Pour in enough cold water (about 2 tbsp) to bring the dough together, then roll into a ball. Wrap in greaseproof paper and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes while you make the filling.Stone 500g of cherries. It’s a 10-minute job by hand, but much quicker with a cherry or olive stoner if you are lucky enough to have such a thing. Put them in a bowl with 250g of blueberries, the juice of a lemon and 65g of caster sugar, and leave over a moderate heat until the sugar has melted and the fruit is starting to give out its juices. Stir in 2 lightly heaped tbsp of cornflour and continue cooking for a minute or so until the filling starts to thicken. Remove immediately from the heat and set aside.Set the oven at 180C/gas mark 4. Roll the pastry out and use it to line a 20cm pie tin, then return to the fridge. Mix together 80g of soft white breadcrumbs and 65g of soft brown sugar. Melt 60g of butter in a small pan. Stir 35g of rolled oats into the crumbs, pour in the butter and mix lightly together.Spoon the cherry filling into the pastry case. Scatter the crumbs over the filling and bake for 35 minutes till the top is crisp. Serves 6. Make this with only cherries if you wish – the blueberries do add a depth of flavour, though. A jug of cream is my preferred addition, although vanilla ice-cream would be a close second. Please do stone the cherries – it won’t take very long. There are few more annoying things to eat than a slice of cherry pie or tart where the stones have been left in.Follow Nigel on Twitter @NigelSlaterAs a reader of the Guardian’s food journalism, we’d love to hear from you. Participate in our survey for a chance to win a Feast apron and mug, or a Guardian tote bag. Take the survey here.
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If you haven’t made the rounds of Bay Area food halls lately, you’re in for a treat. There are new eateries, new cocktails and, at some, summertime music and activities. Here are five of our favorites:
Market & Main, Martinez
Inside the brick walls of this downtown hall you’ll find a small but well-rounded selection of purveyors: East Bay Artisan, featuring bread, sandwiches and pasta; Craft & Fire, a taproom with artisanal pizza; Mamounia Moroccan Cafe; the Shuck It! oyster bar; TL Custom Cakes; plus fresh produce. Coming soon is a new stand, Banh Mi & Rolls.
Details: 610 Market St., Martinez; www.marketandmainmartinez.com
Castro Valley Marketplace
They’ve got the butcher (Barons), the baker (Seven Hills) and the sushi maker (Akemi), along with Oculto, the Cannery Kitchen & Tap, Castro Valley Natural Grocery, Cordial Cellar & Lounge and Night Owl. Niche specialists include Amphora Nueva Olive Oil Works and the Oaktown Spice Shop. Check the website for a schedule of live music and other events this summer. Details: 3295 Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley; www.castrovalleymarketplace.com
San Pedro Square Market, San Jose
A tequila bar, the Alma Tequileria, has joined Hyland Sushi, Jora Peruvian, Urban Momo, Loteria, Pasta Fresca, Hella Good Burger, Three Sisters and the rest of the food/drink gang at this always-evolving downtown marketplace. This summer, the market will present live music five nights a week, Wednesday-Sunday, on the expansive courtyard, and Kavaia Tea will pop up on Saturdays.
San Pedro Square Market in San Jose woos passersby with its mix of markets and eateries. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
Details: 87 N. San Pedro St., San Jose; www.sanpedrosquaremarket.com
State Street Market, Los Altos
This Peninsula food hall has been filling out nicely since its opening in September with four eateries (Ostro, Murdoch’s, Banks & Braes, Grains & Greens). Celeb chef Traci Des Jardin’s El Alto made its debut across the courtyard, and Little Blue Door, Bao Bei and Tin Pot Creamery have joined the array in the main building. There’s a farmers market on Thursday afternoons and a schedule of in-house cooking classes.
Details: 170 State St., Los Altos; www.statestreetmarket.com Ferry Building Marketplace, San Francisco
Four food purveyors are among the newest tenants at this sprawling market hall on the city’s waterfront: A craft pudding bakery, Yes Pudding; a caviar specialist, Tsar Nicolai; the Grande Creperie spinoff from Le Marais; and Obour Foods, a maker of artisanal hummus and tahini. Summertime, naturally, is a great time to visit the legendary farmers market here. It’s held Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Details: One Ferry Building, San Francisco; www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com
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Cook 500g of peas for 4-5 minutes in boiling, lightly salted water. Drain in a colander and leave to cool under cold running water. Tip the peas into a food processor, add 40g of butter and process to a thick, smooth paste. Do not overprocess. Transfer to a mixing bowl and chill.Once the mixture is cold, beat 2 egg yolks lightly and stir in thoroughly, then mix in 5 tbsp of fine, dry breadcrumbs and 1 small tsp of wasabi paste.Put a couple of large handfuls of dried breadcrumbs – about 70g – in a shallow dish. In a second dish, beat 2 eggs – just enough to mix the whites and yolks. Shape the pea mixture into six small, round cakes (easiest done with lightly floured hands), then press them, one at a time, first into the beaten egg, then into the breadcrumbs and place them on a tray or baking sheet. Chill for 20 minutes.Make a herb sauce by stirring together 1 heaped tbsp each of chopped mint, parsley and basil with 200ml of plain, unstrained yoghurt. Add a small, finely mashed clove of garlic and a twist of black pepper.Warm a thin layer of olive or groundnut oil in a shallow pan that doesn’t stick, then lower in the pea cakes and cook for 4 or 5 minutes over a moderate heat, until the crumbs outside are crisp and golden. Serve immediately, while still hot, with the herb sauce. Makes 6-9, depending on their size. Serves 2-3 You really don’t need much wasabi paste here. The point is to lend a little warmth to the peas, so I start with no more than a teaspoon. Used with care, wasabi is a gentle and welcome seasoning, but can easily overpower the sweet peas, so I proceed with caution. You could omit the wasabi and stir in a handful of the chopped mint, parsley and basil instead.Follow Nigel on Twitter @NigelSlater
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Dog food sold in more than a dozen states is being recalled over fears that it may be contaminated with salmonella. Freshpet Inc. is voluntarily recalling a single lot of its Freshpet Select Fresh From the Kitchen Home Cooked Chicken Recipe, which has a sell-by date of Oct. 29, 2022, according to a recall notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "Our Freshpet Team had designated this single lot for destruction, but a small portion of the lot was inadvertently shipped to retailers in limited geographic markets in the last two weeks," the company wrote, adding that no other Freshpet products or lot codes were impacted by the recall.PET FOOD RECALL EXPANDS OVER SALMONELLA, LISTERIA CONCERNS According to the notice, the affected lot may have been sold to a limited number of Walmart stores in Alabama and Georgia. It may have also been sold to limited Target stores as well as other select retailers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia, the notice continued. Dogs in a row eating their food at training school. (iStock / iStock) To date, the company hasn't received any reports of illnesses or adverse reactions related to the recalled product. However, the bacteria can affect animals after consumption and pose a risk to people, "notably children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised, when handling contaminated products," according to the recall notice.DOG FOOD RECALLED OVER SALMONELLA, LISTERIA CONCERNS: FDAAn infected pet may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, vomiting, decreased appetite and abdominal pain. Some pets may be infected without showing symptoms, although they can still infect other animals or humans, according to the recall. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESSConsumers who are infected with salmonella may have nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. In some cases, they may suffer from "more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms," according to the recall.
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Food and Drink Now playing The big business of Frankenfoods Now playing Russia's war in Ukraine threatens one of England's most famous dishes Now playing See rebranded McDonald's restaurants unveiled in Russia Now playing How AriZona Beverages has kept iced tea prices at 99 cents for 30 years Taco Bell Corp. Now playing New Taco Bell drive-thru restaurant serves tacos using mini elevators Sean Clark Now playing The fastest growing trend in adult beverages will surprise you CNN Now playing See Russian merchant ship's journey across Mediterranean with stolen grain CNN Now playing Mother describes 'anxiety provoking' search for baby formula PETA Now playing Actor superglues his hand to Starbucks counter in protest Now playing Americans are tipping less in the wake of tipping fatigue Now playing Forget oil. Here's how Russia's war in Ukraine is jacking up food prices. Kaburgaci Yasar Now playing What's that long skinny thing a restaurant just tried sending to space? Now playing Pusha T isn't 'lovin' it' anymore. Hear his new song for Arby's Now playing Wendy's CEO: Expect menu price increases of 5% this year Now playing Watch CNN's 1990 coverage of McDonald's first opening in Russia Now playing McDonald's suspends business in Russia. Here's why it's a big deal New York CNN Business — Cinnabon’s newest menu item is missing its cinn-onymous ingredient. For the first time ever in the United States, the sweet treat chain is selling a new food item that doesn’t contain cinnamon. Until September, the chain is selling Chocolate BonBites, which are bite-sized chocolate rolls that Cinnabon describes as a “chocolatey take” on its miniature sized cinnamon rolls. Available in four-count and 16-count packs, the treats are baked with sweet dough, layered with chocolate schmear and topped with both chocolate and cream cheese frosting. Prices for the limited-time offering begins at $4.79 for the four-count pack. “It’s something familiar to our guests, where we have our legendary dough and what we do really well. Now we’re adding that chocolate twist to it,” said Tracey Young, Cinnabon’s chief brand officer, in an interview with CNN Business. “We’re really excited about bringing — after 35 years — a chocolate product to our lineup.” Chocolate has long been on Cinnabon’s radar, with Young saying the flavor “always scores high, but even higher now,” prompting them to explore a chocolate-centric product. It already exists on the menu in some drinks and in Cookie BonBites, a treat that combines cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip cookies. “When people come to us, they tend to be wanting to get that indulgent thing we’re known for,” Young said nodding to cinnamon. “Now that as chocolate has become a little bit more relevant and forward with our guests, this is the best opportunity to introduce an limited time offering.” As for settling on the new product, the chain has found success with it overseas. A version of Chocolate BonBites has been sold at Cinnabon’s international locations in over 20 countries, including in Spain, India and the United Kingdom for the past few years. However, the US version includes cream cheese frosting, which the international product doesn’t. Chocolate BonBites could become a permanent addition to its menu if customers enjoy it, Young said. Other products were tested in its research, but this treat outscored “by far” the other food it trialed, she added. Cinnabon is owned by privately held Focus Brands, which also controls other food court staples like Auntie Anne’s and Carvel. Total sales across its roughly 1,000 US locations raked in $224 million last year, an increase of more than 35% compared to the year prior according to data from Technomic. Like other chains, Cinnabon has been hurt by inflation as commodity costs rise. Cinnabon locations are largely franchised, with some opting to raise menu prices and others haven’t. “We’re always looking at ways to bring value top of mind,. but of course the economy and inflationary pressures don’t help,” Young admitted.
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Craving some mouth-watering wings and crispy french fries? You don't have to go to your local pizzeria to get either one when you have a good air fryer to take the heavy cooking duty off your shoulders. Save $80 when you buy this Insignia 5-quart digital air fryer for just $40 today at Best Buy. Though it didn't quite make it on our best air fryers for 2022 list, this deal is good enough to jump on right now. It's only available at this price today, so get yours while you can.
Using an air fryer is a great way to make those tasty fried foods without all the grease of oils and without the heat of the kitchen. This 5-quart air fryer can hold 3 to 5 servings of food, helping you prepare a snack or meal for a group of people. It has a temperature range between 180 and 400 degrees, allowing you to roast, bake or fry your favorite foods. The best part is that the basket and pan that comes with the air fryer are dishwasher-safe, meaning you don't have to scrub away anything after using it.
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Discovering that your pricey jar of barbecue rub is basically colored salt is disappointing — and problematic. Add too little to your food and the flavor is bland; add too much and you’ve created a salt bomb. The salt level in so many blends made for chicken, fish and meats is simply too high.
Enter a new category of seasoning blends — salt-free rubs that deliver a blast of complex flavors without relying on salt. Flavor without salt allows the cook to control the salt level of the finished product — and it’s perfect for those on salt-restrictive diets.
Companies both large and small have introduced salt-free rubs, including Lawry’s and Walnut Creek-based Kinder’s. Dak’s, an Alabama company, sells nearly two dozen kinds of salt-free seasonings. As plentiful as salt-free offerings have become, they are difficult to find in stores. The best place to get them is online.
To get a sense of what these salt-free offerings are about, we gathered nine brands and put them to work on a range of proteins. Sadly, while most salt-free rubs are harmless in terms of health, not all of them are food-worthy. Bad salt-free rubs are disappointing, off-kilter blends that beg for more or less of something. The worst are nothing more than garlic and onion powder with a touch of color.
Great salt-free rubs are made with top-quality, freshly ground spices and aromatic herbs that deliver a burst of flavor. Those elements are expertly crafted into a balanced, flavorful blend that transforms plain protein into a bite of extraordinary, restaurant-worthy tastiness.
Here are details on the most flavorful barbecue rubs and the dusty, disappointing duds. Nutrition info is not included, as none of the rubs have calories, fat or sodium.
Kinder’s Blackened
The pop of freshly ground black pepper, a touch of smoke and a kick of fresh herbs makes for a terrific seasoning for steak, pork or anything else. This brand includes potassium chloride, a salt substitute. Note that the Kinder’s Ancho Chili & Lime is also good, but not quite as impressive. $4.59 for 2 ounces at Raley’s. (4 stars)
Dak’s Original Red
Those looking for a traditional barbecue rub that hits the expected notes of smoke, heat and sweet will love this. It has a big punch of garlic and lots of spice, but the flavors mellow on the grill. Dak’s Blackened is also good. $9.95 for 2 ounces online. (4 stars) Spice House West Indies Barbecue Rub
Adventurous eaters will fall for this bold rub that reflects Caribbean grill flavors. Allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon balance the heat of the chiles; thyme and dill add bright notes. Those looking for a more traditional flavor profile might prefer the company’s Central Street Old World Seasoning. $8.99 for 2.5 ounces at www.thespicehouse.com (3½ stars)
Dizzy Pig Dizzy Dust Barbecue Rub
A hint of pine, a dash of herbs and a pinch of sweet make this complex, flavorful and ready to take on any protein. Note that this is best used in saucy dishes or on slow-cook proteins as the sugar makes it prone to burning. $13.39 for 6.7 ounces online. (3½ stars)
The Spice Lab Salt Free Salmon
It could be argued that this is not a rub — it’s more of a sprinkle — but it’s far too fun to leave out. A few shakes of this peppery mix of dill, parsley, oregano and thyme plus onion and garlic wake up even the most bland hunk of fish. This is so tasty that it makes you forget that it’s salt-free. $10.95 for 2.9 ounces at Walmart. (3 stars)
Dizzy Pig Pork, Poultry, Salmon Rub
Medium heat and lots of smoky paprika provide a balanced mouthful of traditional barbecue notes. The flavors are good, but not terribly exciting. $13.39 for 6.4 ounces online. (2½ stars)
Fat Boy BBQ Rub
It smells like celery salt, but this light-colored dust delivers a surprising kick of heat and smoke. It’s ordinary, but completely usable. $9.99 for 4 ounces online. (2 stars)
Dash Chicken Grilling Blend
The ingredient list on this super chunky blend is impressive; it includes herbs, carrots, orange peel and lemon oil. But the garlic obliterates every other flavor. $2.92 for 2.4 ounces at Walmart. (1½ stars)
Lawry’s Southwest Sweet & Smoky
If color and texture were the primary considerations, this dark orange rub would win. Unfortunately, too much tomato dims the heat and smoke, making it decidedly bland. $12.39 for 13 ounces online. (½ a star)
Bolner’s Fiesta Extra Fancy Brisket Rub
This light colored dust — rice powder is the first ingredient — is a huge disappointment. It delivers a pinch of garlic and that’s about it. $9.99 for 5 ounces online. (No stars)
Reviews are based on product samples purchased by this newspaper or provided by manufacturers. Contact Jolene Thym at timespickyeater@gmail.com. Read more Taste-off columns at www.mercurynews.com/tag/taste-off.
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Food and Drink Now playing This is how Coca-Cola comes up with new flavors Now playing See rebranded McDonald's restaurants unveiled in Russia Now playing How AriZona Beverages has kept iced tea prices at 99 cents for 30 years Taco Bell Corp. Now playing New Taco Bell drive-thru restaurant serves tacos using mini elevators Sean Clark Now playing The fastest growing trend in adult beverages will surprise you CNN Now playing See Russian merchant ship's journey across Mediterranean with stolen grain CNN Now playing Mother describes 'anxiety provoking' search for baby formula PETA Now playing Actor superglues his hand to Starbucks counter in protest Now playing Americans are tipping less in the wake of tipping fatigue Now playing Forget oil. Here's how Russia's war in Ukraine is jacking up food prices. Kaburgaci Yasar Now playing What's that long skinny thing a restaurant just tried sending to space? Now playing Pusha T isn't 'lovin' it' anymore. Hear his new song for Arby's Now playing Wendy's CEO: Expect menu price increases of 5% this year Now playing Watch CNN's 1990 coverage of McDonald's first opening in Russia Now playing McDonald's suspends business in Russia. Here's why it's a big deal Tim Hortons Now playing Justin Bieber donuts help boost Tim Hortons sales New York CNN Business — Drinking a Jack and Coke is about to become, somehow, even easier. Coca-Cola is partnering with Brown-Forman to make a new canned cocktail combining Coke and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. The drink, which also will be available in a zero-sugar option, is hitting shelves in Mexico later this year before expanding globally. The combination brings together “two of the world’s most recognizable and valuable trademarks,” the companies said in a press release, and will include “clear responsibility symbols” to indicate the beverage is for legal-aged drinkers. It will typically have 5% alcohol by volume, but that will vary depending on country. Brown‑Forman CEO Lawson Whiting said that the partnership “brings together two classic American icons to deliver consumers a taste experience they love in a way that is consistent, convenient, and portable.” He added that the new drink will “accelerate expansion and continue to grow our business around the world.” Mexico was picked as a launch market because both brands are popular there and the country has a well-developed ready-to-drink market, a Brown-Forman spokesperson told CNN Business. A US launch is intended for sometime in 2023. Coca-Cola (KO) has been aggressively expanding its alcoholic drink options as the trend grows. Jack and Coke joins Topo Chico Hard Seltzer and Simply Spiked Lemonade, both made in partnership with MolsonCoors. The company is also scheduled to launch Fresca Mixed later this year, a spirit-based cocktail created in conjunction with Corona brewer Constellation Brands (STZ). Sales of canned cocktails have exploded as drinkers look for convenience and new flavors beyond wine and beer. The beverage category grew 53% last year and is projected to grow another 29% over the next three years, according to data from IWSR Drinks Analysis. Punchier flavors and drinks from recognizable brand names might also help companies breakthrough in the quickly growing sector. Brown‑Forman said in a recent earnings release that Jack Daniels is experiencing a “resurgence” in sales and the company has plans to grow the whiskey even more this year. Meanwhile, rival Pepsi (PEP) is also eying the trend: HARD MTN DEW, a sugar-free canned cocktail with 5% alcohol by volume, hit shelves a few months ago.
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CASTAWAY CAY, Bahamas -- Castaway Cay in the Bahamas is Disney's Cruise Line private destination where guests can enjoy balmy tropical weather, swim with stingrays, and even go snorkeling in the ocean."You can find fun, excitement, there's immersive experiences," says Joey Gaskins, Regional Public Affairs Director, The Bahamas and Caribbean, for Disney Cruise Line. "We have counselors here for the very youngest among us to make sure that they are taken care of, and we have a private beach for those who are over 18, called Serenity Bay," adds Gaskins.The 1,000-acre island provides the ultimate escape, whether guests are seeking adventure, relaxation, or quality time with the family. The crystal-clear turquoise waters and the powdery white sand beaches all come with Disney touches.Disney is the parent company of ABC Localish.
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The Future of Travel: Exploring SkyDrive's Electric-Powered Compact Aircraft and the Dawn of Flying Revolution
Picture this: a compact aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, powered by electricity and equipped with a range of 6.2 miles. With a maximum speed of 62 mph, it's not just fast, it's furiously fast! It's important to note that the price tag of this awe-inspiring flying vehicle doesn't encompass the realm of running costs.
"We're not just building a flying vehicle; we're paving the way for a new era of air taxis," exclaims a SkyDrive representative. With the SD-05, their dream of making air travel accessible to the masses is taking flight. This marvel of engineering is designed to comfortably accommodate a pilot and a passenger, providing a breathtaking and seamless flying experience. How do they achieve this feat, you ask? With the help of advanced computer-controlled assistance, the SD-05 ensures stable flights.
While the thrill of soaring through the sky might seem like a distant dream, SkyDrive is determined to turn it into a reality sooner than you think. The company plans to start delivering these extraordinary flying vehicles to individual customers as early as 2025. And that's not all—SkyDrive aims to put these magnificent machines into practical operation just in time for the 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo. Talk about an entrance!
Already, the SD-05 has caught the attention of enthusiastic
customers. A Vietnamese business has placed an order for a whopping 100 units,
highlighting the widespread excitement surrounding this groundbreaking
innovation. But SkyDrive's first individual customer, investor Kotaro Chiba,
takes the crown as the pioneer in experiencing the wonder of the SD-05.
To truly appreciate the SD-05's rise to fame, we have to rewind to a dramatic moment on the small screen. SkyDrive's creation took the spotlight in the closing episodes of Japan Broadcasting Corp.'s thrilling drama series "Mai Agare!" (Fly high!), capturing the imagination of viewers across the nation. This extraordinary exposure catapulted the SD-05 into the limelight, cementing its status as a technological marvel and a symbol of human ingenuity.
As we witness the dawn of a new era of transportation, where flying vehicles grace our skies and turn ordinary journeys into extraordinary adventures, we invite you to imagine a future where the limits of travel are shattered, and the sky truly becomes the playground of humanity.
Will you be among the first to embrace this exhilarating
evolution of transportation? Can you picture yourself soaring above the clouds,
feeling the rush of wind against your face as you navigate the urban landscape
with unprecedented freedom? Or perhaps you're a dreamer, envisioning a world
where flying vehicles become as commonplace as cars, revolutionizing our daily
commutes and transforming the way we connect with one another.
The future is unfolding before our eyes, and the choice is yours. Will you embrace the thrill of flight, or will you remain grounded in the familiar? Join us on this remarkable journey as we take to the skies and shape the course of history. The adventure awaits—will you spread your wings and take flight, or will you let the opportunity slip through your fingers like a passing breeze? The choice is yours. Choose wisely.
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Cruise Line Debuts Its 'Longest Voyage Ever,' Will Visit 51 Destinations on 6 Continents
Princess Cruises' 116-day long trip will span over 33,500 nautical miles.
Cruise lovers looking to travel the world have a new option with Princess Cruises' debut route, which is set to be the longest in the company's history. The ship will take passengers to six continents over 116 days.
Sailing aboard the Island Princess, cruise-goers will have the opportunity to visit 51 destinations in 26 countries from either Fort Lauderdale, Florida (with a January 5, 2025 start date) or a few weeks later on January 20, 2025, departing from Los Angeles, California.
The Island Princess can hold up to 2,200 passengers.
"We're highly regarded for our World Cruises, and our 2025 voyage promises to be one for the ages as our longest adventure ever offered," said John Padgett, the president of Princess Cruises, in a company release. "Our expert itinerary planners have assembled an unmatched combination of popular ports and off-the-beaten-path locales for a global journey not found anywhere else."
Stops include visits to all 27 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the pyramids in Egypt and Cairo, the Singapore Botanical Gardens, and the Ancient Greek City of Ephesus. There's also an overnight stay in Dubai. The entire cruise will span over 33,500 nautical miles and crosses the equator twice.
Spots on the trip will begin at $20,539 per person for an interior stateroom at the lowest cost.
Those who book early will have access to a slew of benefits, including $500 of spending money onboard and specialty dining options that won't require cover charges.
For guests who can't fully commit to the full 116 days, the option to shorten the voyage to 51 or 66 days is available if guests wish to depart from Los Angeles or Fort Lauderdale and hop off in Dubai, with the reverse option also being available.
Interested parties are encouraged to book by May 31 to reap the benefits of booking early.
Princess Cruises is a part of the Carnival Corporation. The parent company was down just over 47% in a one-year period as of Monday morning.
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Team from N.L. travelling to Antarctica in search of the elusive colossal squid
Camera technicians from SubC Imaging and graduate students from Marine Institute are part of the expedition
Somewhere in the Antarctic Ocean lives the colossal squid, a creature so rare and mysterious that it has never been filmed in its natural habitat. But right now, a team from Newfoundland and Labrador is sailing the ocean, hoping to be the first.
The trip is the culmination of seven years of planning what the team calls Project Kolossal, an exploration and conservation initiative centred on finding and filming the elusive colossal squid. Kolossal was founded by Matthew Mulrennan, an ocean scientist based in California, and much of the expertise he recruited for the project comes from Newfoundland and Labrador, where cold water science is a specialty.
Watch the video below to see how the team plans to record the world's first video of the colossal squid:
Jennifer Herbig and Eugenie Jacobsen are graduate students at Memorial University's Marine Institute. They were studying marine life in the arctic onboard a Canadian Coast Guard ship, when they got a call asking if they wanted to go to Earth's other pole, in search of colossal squid. They're joining an expedition team that includes Mulrennan and a camera technician from SubC Imaging, a Clarenville company that makes specialized cameras for underwater videography.
"I think the first discovery of the colossal squid was in 1925," said Herbig. "It's been a long time coming that we haven't been able to capture this organism on film and really characterize what it's doing. So I think it would be a huge discovery."
There's also a huge cost associated with getting to Antarctica, in both money and carbon emissions. But the Kolossal team have found an innovative way to save on both: instead of taking a research vessel, they're hitching a ride on a cruise ship.
"We think this is one of the best platforms to do it, because they're already going down there," said Matthew Mulrennan. "It's an incredibly efficient way to do research."
It's a model that's catching on, using adventure tourism to subsidize science. Last summer, SubC Imaging's cameras were used on another expedition that took researchers and well-heeled tourists to the wreck of the Titanic.
But the Titanic lies just off Newfoundland's east coast, and we know exactly where it is. Finding the colossal squid will be a different kettle of fish. The team is prepared to make several trips over several years, if necessary. But they say the potential reward of a world's first video is worth the colossal effort.
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In May 2020, former NASA Administrator Jim
Bridenstine announced the agency will collaborate with Hollywood action movie
actor Tom Cruise to film a movie at the International Space Station (ISS). “NASA
is excited to work with Tom Cruise on a film aboard the Space Station! We need
popular media to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to make
NASA’s ambitious plans a reality,” said Bridenstine. – “Should be a lot of
fun!” the founder of SpaceX Elon Musk said in response to the announcement. Cruise is expected to launch to ISS atop a
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the NASA Kennedy Space Center aboard the Crew
Dragon spacecraft, which is capable of docking to the ISS autonomously. A
specific launch date has not been officially announced yet. The actor’s spaceflight is managed by Axiom
Space, a company from Houston, Texas, that offers spaceflight management
services for civilians to visit the ISS. The company is also a space
infrastructure manufacturer; it has ambitious plans to build its own space station
in low Earth orbit. Earlier this year, on January 20, Axiom
announced it will build an ‘inflatable media venue module’ that will be
attached to the Space Station to be used by Cruise upon arrival. It is set to
be “the world’s first content and
entertainment studios and multipurpose arena in space.” The module is scheduled
to be installed at the Space Station in 2024 [date is subject to change]. Tom Cruise is known for doing his own stunts
in action movies. He could become “the first civilian to do a spacewalk”
outside of the Space Station, the head of Universal Pictures Donna Langley
told BBC in an interview this week. The
yet-to-be-titled action movie has a budget of around $200 million. Cruise will
go on a SpaceX adventure with action film director Doug Liman, who will be
in charge of recording movie scenes in zero gravity. “Tom Cruise is taking us to space. He’s
taking the world to space. That’s the plan,” said Langley. "We have a
great project in development with Tom, that does contemplate him doing just
that. Taking a rocket up to the space station and shooting and hopefully being
the first civilian to do a spacewalk outside of the space station," said
Langley. They also shared that most of the movie “takes place on Earth, and
then the character needs to go up to space to save the day.”
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WEATHER ALERTCoastal Flood AdvisoryABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News StreamTHE LOOP | NYC Weather and Traffic CamsWATCH LIVEWelcome, Your AccountLog OutFrom craft breweries in South Korea to turtle nesting grounds in Trinidad and Tobago, the list highlights adventures near and far.Need inspiration for your next travel destination? National Geographic has you covered.Its "Best of the World 2023" list, unveiled Wednesday, highlights 25 must-see destinations near and far, from craft breweries in Busan, South Korea, to the world's densest leatherback turtle nesting ground in Trinidad and Tobago.The silhouettes of visitors are seen as they look at the city skyline at an observation deck in Busan, South Korea, on Aug. 1, 2015.SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesCreated in close collaboration with NatGeo's team of travel experts and international editors, "Best of the World" takes a "deeper dive into places all over the globe that are providing experiences that are unique and beneficial for both locals and travelers," Amy Alipio, senior editor at National Geographic Travel."We also worked hard to provide lesser-known gems on the list, equally inspiring alternatives to destinations that have become overcrowded (think Choquequirao vs. Machu Picchu in Peru)," Alipio said in a statement.Hidden in the Peruvian Andes, the Inca ruins of Choquequirao are reachable only on foot -- for now.Victor Zea, National GeographicNational Geographic groups the list into five categories: Family, educational journeys for all generations; Adventure, exciting activities in breathtaking places; Culture, explorations of history and heritage; Nature, escapes to wild, beautiful places; and the newly-added Community, healing journeys, community conservation, giving back, sustainable places and more.Among domestic destinations, Utah is highlighted for its rugged landscape and Milwaukee is featured for its revitalized warehouse district, the Historic Third Ward.Twilight falls over Delicate Arch and other red rock formations in Arches National Park, one of Utah's five national parks.Chad Copeland, Nat Geo Image CollectionThose jonesing for international adventure should consider The Greek island of Karpathos, a growing center of ecotourism, or Egypt, with its well preserved 4,300-year-old tomb of Khuwy.National Geographic's "Best of the World 2023" listCultureRome's third-century Arch of Drusus marks the start of a planned 360-mile walking route across Italy along the Appian Way.Andrea Frazzetta, National GeographicAppian Way, ItalyBusan, South KoreaLongmen Grottoes, Henan Province, ChinaEgyptCharleston, South CarolinaNatureA zebra herd wades through the waters of the Okavango Delta in the Selinda Spillway, a channel that attracts abundant wildlife in northern Botswana.Beverly Joubert, Nat Geo Image CollectionScottish HighlandsBotswanaSloveniaBig Bend National Park, TexasAzoresAdventureThe resident bottlenose dolphins of Revillagigedo National Park frequently show curiosity toward divers.Enric Sala, Nat Geo Image CollectionNew ZealandChoquequirao, PeruUtahAustrian AlpsRevillagigedo National Park, MexicoCommunityA small white chapel perches on the peak of Mount Profitis Ilias on Karpathos, one of the lesser known islands in Greece’s Dodecanese archipelago.Ciril Jazbec, National GeographicDodecanese Islands, GreeceMilwaukee, WisconsinAlberta, CanadaLaosGhanaFamilyRigi Railways’ cogwheel trains present dazzling views of Lake Lucerne as they ascend Mount Rigi, known as the “queen of the mountains” in Switzerland.Christian Meixner, Switzerland TourismTrinidad and TobagoSan Francisco, CaliforniaColombiaManchester, UKSwitzerlandFind out more about the "Best of the World 2023" list online at NatGeo.com/BestOfTheWorld.The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of National Geographic Partners and this ABC station.Copyright © 2022 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
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Thehighlights the surge in what some are calling "extreme tourism," in which generally well-heeled travelers scale remote mountains, paraglide into canyons, ski down slopes accessible only by helicopter and embark on other exciting — but potentially risky — adventures.
This summer, for example, a record 106,000 tourists are expected to set foot in Antarctica after crossing the Drake Passage, a stretch of violent sea between South America and Antarctica. The Nepalese government this year also granted a record number of permits to climb Mount Everest, despite concerns about overcrowding and a spike in deaths that put 2023 on track to be one of the deadliest for the world's tallest mountain.
For $2,500, adventurers in search of warmer climes can book a week-long survival trek in the Guyanese jungle or go on a 10-day trip to the remote Solomon Islands, learning to fish and forage from the locals and then being transported to a desert island to put those skills to the test (cost: $42,000 and up.) Pelorus, a luxury travel company that arranged the Solomon Islands trip for a mother and her son, also offers customized experiences like trekking in Alaska ($19,600) or a three-week private-jet tour of the world ($178,000.)
The adventure travel business was worth nearly $300 billion last year and is projected to hit $1 trillion in a decade, according to a report from consulting firm Grand View Research.
The price of experience
Demand for adventure travel has shot up since COVID-19, according to Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue, a company that evacuates travelers in the event of a medical or other emergency.
"As opposed to sitting in a hotel somewhere and going to a museum or two, people want experiential travel — they want to go and actually do something," he said.
"I think we're seeing people trading aspirational purchases," Richards added. Where once people might have splurged on a Porsche, now "they're saying, I'm not going to spend $100,000 on the car, I'm going to take five trips to Africa with my family."
African safaris have seen the fastest growth, Richards said, with coverage for safari trips up 75% from last year. Hiking and camping trips are up nearly 50%, in a continuation of pandemic-era trends, and demand for motorcycle tours has also increased.
Along with rising disposable incomes and a growing desire for "authentic" experiences in an increasingly globalized and connected world, social media is also playing a role in the adventure travel boom, Richards believes.
"People are definitely going after the bucket-list experiences," he said.
Of course, the pursuit of adventure raises the risks that things can go wrong.
On Friday, when he spoke with CBS MoneyWatch, Richards said that Global Rescue was in the process of arranging transport for a traveler who had crashed his motorcycle in a remote part of Mongolia to a hospital in the country's capital, Ulaanbaatar.
A day earlier, the company evacuated three travelers from a paragliding expedition in the Kashmir region of the Karakoram, the rugged mountain chain that spans five Asian countries — one man who had a heart attack, a companion who injured himself rushing to his aid and a third person with severe gastrointestinal distress.
In a typical year, Richards said his company will help rescue between 2,000 and 3,000 travelers, most for medical reasons.
"If you dream it, you can do it"
The growth of extreme tourism also reflects the commercial opportunities in allowing the moneyed masses to engage in the kind of exploits once reserved for hardened professionals.
Blue Origin, the commercial space exploration company started by Jeff Bezos, touts its missions to fly "customer astronauts" to space (at a price going into the tens of millions of dollars), with the Amazon founder himself among those . And Virgin Galactic, the company launched by British billionaire Richard Branson to enable commercial spaceflight, declares in its marketing materials that "space belongs to everyone: the adventurous, the audacious and the curious."
OceanGate, the company that made the 21-foot sub that suffered what U.S. Coast Guard officials described as a "website.," charged to see the wreckage of the Titanic. A three-day trip to "explore hydrothermal vents" in the Azores archipelago off Portugal also costs $250,000, according to the company's
OceanGate's website also invites prospective clients to "follow in Jacques Cousteau's footsteps and become an underwater explorer," enticing them to "join the adventure of a lifetime."
Such marketing pitches can attract customers unable to either properly assess the risks or withstand the hardships of what are by design often arduous, envelope-pushing journeys.
"We're certainly seeing an influx of people who are not well suited to do these things," said Global Rescue's Richards. "One would think there would be some kind of test."
"A lot of the self-care and self-help message that people are receiving is, 'If you dream it you can do it,'" he continued. "That kind of aspirational messaging is good for society overall but can be life-threatening if you take it too far."
Patrick Luff, a tort lawyer based in Texas, expressed concern that the growing popularity of adventure travel would attract fly-by-night operators that might cut corners on safety or security. After all, a traveler drawn in by a slick website advertising once-in-a-lifetime thrills can't easily judge the strength of the company's equipment or the training and knowledge of its staff.
"If you have a huge demand for a risky behavior… you can get unsophisticated entrants into the market," he said. "Whether that's an inexperienced skydiving operation or a submarine company with a tin can and a dream, that's what really becomes concerning."
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Adventure
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TravelThe pine-scented Troodos Mountains and turtle-nesting beaches of the Akamas Peninsula are a timeless antidote to the island’s sun-kissed resorts.The ancient Greeks held that Cyprus was so beautiful, it was a playground of their gods and the birthplace of the fairest, Aphrodite, the goddess of love. While there’s little chance of bumping into any deities, travelers can find the Mediterranean island’s most timeless swaths on a drive through the Troodos Mountains and the sprawling Paphos Forest in the west of the country.While tourism has altered its fringes, the interior of Cyprus suggests a time before cruise ships and resort holidays. To look out the car window here is to see life from another era, decades ago, perhaps, or maybe even centuries. By the roadside, a stooped woman with knees seemingly older than the hills climbs slowly toward the next village. Cats and dogs snooze in the sun. Behind them, buildings appear as though they’ve emerged from the mountains rather than been constructed.My journey begins in Limassol, where I make my way to the Artemis Nature Trail, a four-hour hike named after the goddess of the wilderness that offers a satisfying route around Mount Olympos’ peak—the island’s highest mountain at 6,404 feet. Above, benevolent clouds seem to have snagged on the summit, offering a sort of parasol. Around me, a loose pine forest cloaks the mountainside, countless fallen cones lying at the feet of the trees, a billion pristine needles beside them.I mostly have the trail to myself, which means I can appreciate the lichen hugging the tree trunks and spend what witnesses would likely describe as an embarrassing amount of time trying to photograph the local wildlife (mostly birds and butterflies). Defeated, I rest on a bench looking across Cyprus toward its contested north.Following years of unrest, Turkey invaded this island just 62 miles west of Syria in July 1974, resulting in the loss of around 10,000 lives. Today Nicosia, invisible through the haze, is the world’s last divided capital city. Prior to the conflict, in the early 1950s the great British writer Lawrence Durrell chose a village in the now-seized territory to make his home, a bold decision that he detailed in his seminal, often hilarious novel, Bitter Lemons of Cyprus.More than 60 years separate our time in Cyprus, and so much has changed that it’s perhaps futile to compare our experiences. But as I reach the end of the path and find my car the only one parked at the trailhead, I realize that we have at least one thing in common. Durrell was born in 1912 and would have been a boy during the 1918 flu outbreak, so he must have known something of the monumental devastation caused by pandemics. I wonder what he would have remembered about it. I wonder how he was able to move on.Climbing into the car and thinking about this, I switch off the air-conditioning and roll down the windows, allowing Olympos’ warm, pine-scented breeze to drift in. In a year where I’ve found myself mistrusting the very air I breathe, these alpine conditions feel something like a miracle, so I savor a couple of extra lungfuls before heading back down the mountain.Dinner and the devoutI let the car enjoy meandering downhill, stopping only to buy a bag of dried cherries from a farmer at the roadside. Nothing is too far away as the phoenix flies in the Troodos, but there’s rarely a chance to take a direct route. Tunnels are uncommon and roads tend to loop extravagantly around valleys like lines on a topographical map. As with village life, there seems no point in even attempting to rush; consequently, the driving is delightful, and scheduling must be flexible.There are dozens of scenic mountain settlements in the island’s interior. “Such beauties as it had were in its hidden villages,” wrote Durrell of this region, “tucked into pockets and valleys among the foothills, some rich in apples and vines, some higher up smothered in bracken and pine.”In recent years, small towns such as Kalopanagiotis have been developed and improved by the arrival of boutique hotels—new life has been breathed into old buildings that were crumbling into oblivion. Elsewhere, in Kakopetria, Cypriots like to escape the crushing heat of the coast and spend the evenings in the town square, drinking Keo beer on plastic chairs before shambling home to murder some karaoke late into the night.I push on to the rose-scented village of Agros, where I pull up a chair outside Pezema Tavern and ask the waiter for some recommendations. He says he’ll bring me what he’d have. Not eating traditional halloumi cheese in Cyprus is proving to be something of an impossibility, so I’m a little relieved when I’m instead presented with a hearty salad and some village sausage.“Nothing here comes from outside this valley,” says my new friend with the proud smile of a parent, before dropping off a glass of table wine. Is it too sweet? Right now, it hardly seems to matter. I fill my cheeks and eat slowly as the sun gently sinks behind the mountains. Around me, gangs of villainous cats skulk in the dark, drifting through alleys like wraiths, while in the night sky an eyelash of a new moon does little to illuminate the valley below.Byzantine churches and monasteries dot the Cypriot interior; many are recognized by UNESCO and protected by locals. A site of worship since before Richard the Lionheart conquered Cyprus in the 12th century, today Kykkos Monastery is perhaps the finest and grandest religious institution anywhere on the island. As much a fortress as it is a church, it lies under a monolithic white cross that seems to challenge the rest of Cyprus to question its magnificence.Many of its current buildings were constructed as late as the 18th century following a fire that devastated the originals. Nonetheless, even for this committed atheist, Kykkos today is an impressive place, polished but not sanitary, ostentatious but not obnoxious. Monks with knitted eyebrows and hurricane-proof beards look as though they could have been here for centuries, right up until they reach into their black robes to check their mobile phones.While there are plenty of tourists with cameras, there’s no shortage of serious pilgrims, too. Inside the oldest, most ornate and sacred part of the complex, photography is banned, which seems right considering just how rapt many of the clergy become.(France’s most famous pilgrimage site plans a new tourism future.)Preserving a wild coastFor the first 10 minutes of the drive to Lara Beach, I believe that reports of the road’s notoriety have been greatly exaggerated. Then, for the next half an hour, my faithful and much abused Toyota must traverse an unsealed, pot-holed route that violently reminds me to trust local advice in the future. While four-wheel drive vehicles and quad bikes zip past, I nervously bump down the road, making painstakingly slow progress toward the famous beach, flanked by the rolling Mediterranean and dusty scrubland.Lara Beach is in the southern reaches of what’s now called the Akamas Peninsula National Park, perhaps the last untamed part of the island. The designation only came about in the last five years, but the extra protection national park status affords should go some way to help prevent significant human encroachment.“I’ve had the Akamas in my heart since I first started touring here with people back in 1996,” says Paphos naturalist Andreas Tsokkalides. “It’s got fascinating geology, the virgin beaches, the mythology and history, plus the arrival of the turtles every summer. But for me, what makes it special is the amazing flora. There’s a plethora of wildflowers, including many different types of wild orchids, and for a few weeks only, there are two areas where you can spot the endangered Cyprus tulip.”(Learn how locals are protecting Italy’s famed wildflower bloom from overtourism.)The Akamas is home to 35 of the 142 endemic Cypriot plant species and was left undeveloped for years, thanks in part to the occupying British conducting military exercises in the region. It seems strange to consider conservation through annihilation, but had they been asked, the rare flora and fauna in the region would likely have accepted the odd mortar going off or squaddie trampling over them for a better chance at long-term survival.The isolation of Lara Beach means that it’s also one of Europe’s largest nesting sites for endangered green and hawksbill turtles. While their nests are clearly marked by volunteers and surrounded by signs too large to ignore, the creatures’ future is perilous enough that local conservation groups gather turtle eggs in June and July and transport them to a hatchery to give the babies a better chance of at least making it to the ocean.Conservation pioneers Andreas Demetropoulos and Myroula Hadjichristophorou have spent almost 40 years trying to protect the reptiles from the ill-effects of tourism, first through work at the government’s Department of Fisheries, now through their own Turtle Conservation Project.“The beaches of the Mediterranean are under so much pressure from tourism and everything that goes with it,” says Andreas of his motivation. “With this kind of project, thankfully, we’re able to try to save the species and save the valuable coastal zone at the same time.”(Turtle-watching tours help conservation. Here’s how.)When I arrive an hour before sunset, these interventions seem very prudent. Despite the harrowing condition of the road and the lack of even basic facilities, Lara’s raw, distant beauty has attracted dozens of visitors to its pristine shores. While I observe them from the back of the beach, I keep an eye out for Mediterranean monk seals in the surf. They’re severely endangered, with only around 700 thought to remain globally. But just north from here, in almost inaccessible caves away from prying eyes, a handful of survivors endure.The following morning, I plan to head deeper into the peninsula, the westernmost part of Cyprus, but having learned hard lessons on the riotous road to Lara, I decide to leave the Toyota behind and instead follow Andreas’ advice. “The Aphrodite Nature Trail is by far the best route for seeing many of the wildflowers, and even though it’s quite steep, you’ll be rewarded with some of the greatest views of Cyprus,” he’d told me, before adding that he wouldn’t recommend it in the middle of July, when I was visiting.The story goes that Aphrodite was born on Cyprus’ south coast, but that she traveled up here to bathe with nymphs in a cave at what’s now the start of a trail named in her honor. Rising from the dusty road, the craggy stone path may be brutally exposed to the sun, but it’s not long before it offers cascading views down the brilliant coast.(This mythological river in Greece lures adventure travelers.)Perhaps it’s my bad timing, perhaps it’s the lingering effects of the pandemic, but over the three hours I walk the astonishing trail, I find myself alone; just me and a few indignant lizards and itinerant goats listening to the hum of cicadas and the distant hush of the sea.Under the boughs of an old carob tree, I find a weathered bench and gratefully get out of the sun for a rest. In the Troodos, the air carried the fragrance of toasting pine; here it’s wild oregano and ancient juniper. Retrieving my copy of Durrell’s book from my backpack, I’m disappointed to find that he made no mention of this part of the island, though that’s perhaps testament to just how distant the Akamas Peninsula has always felt, even to Cypriot residents.Instead, my eye lands on another passage in his story, one with which I can heartily agree. Loading my bag back onto my shoulders and looking up the steep hill ahead of me, I repeat it out loud: “Nothing must be done in a hurry, for that would be hostile to the spirit of this place.”A version of this story first published in the December 2021 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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Adventure
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The ULTIMATE A-list escape: Inside the LAVISH and VERY remote $6K-a-night Utah resort that boasts jaw-dropping views, incredible architecture - and a slew of celebrity fans from Miley Cyrus and Emily Ratajkowski to Kanye West and Kylie Jenner
- Thanks to its lavish amenities and glamorous accommodations, celebrities have been flocking to the resort
- It's located on 600-acres of land near the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, and the picturesque Lake Powell
- The surrounding dessert and mountains offer breathtaking views and serene privacy
The sleek Amangiri hotel, nestled in the heart of the Utah dessert, may be one of the most star-studded hotels in the world.
Thanks to its stunning surroundings, supreme privacy, lavish amenities, and glamorous accommodations, celebrities have flocked to the luxury resort in droves.
Everyone from Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and Kourtney Kardashian to Ivanka Trump, Miley Cyrus, Hailey and Justin Bieber, Candice Swanepoel, Emily Ratajkowski, Ariana Grande, Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie have been picking the extravagant hotel for their vacations since it opened in 2009, and on first glance, it's obvious why.
Located almost four-and-a-half-hours from the closest public airport - Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas - most of the rich and famous arrive by private jet.
And as soon as they land, they're met with VIP treatment, breathtaking views, classy décor and architecture, delicious food, and a slew of opulent services and facilities designed to make their stay as glorious as possible.
The sleek Amangiri hotel, nestled in the heart of the Utah dessert, may be one of the most star-studded hotels in the world
Thanks to its stunning surroundings, lavish amenities, and glamorous accommodations, celebrities have been flocking to the luxury resort in droves recently. Emily Ratajkowski (left) and Miley Cyrus (right) are seen at the resort
Everyone from Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner (seen), and Kourtney Kardashian to Ivanka Trump, Ariana Grande, Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie have been picking the extravagant hotel for their vacations since it opened in 2009
Located almost four-and-a-half-hours from the closest public airport - Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas - most of the rich and famous arrive by private jet
And as soon as they land, they're met with VIP treatment , breathtaking views, classy décor and architecture, delicious food, and a slew of opulent services and facilities designed to make their stay as glorious as possible
Arguably one of the most sought after amenities is the 25,000-square-foot spa, which 'looks out over the tranquility of America's Canyon Country.' One of the pools at the spa is pictured
It comes at a steep cost! Inside Amangiri's sky-high prices
Desert suite - $3,200 a night
Mesa suite - $3,200 a night
Desert pool suite - $4,200 a night
Mesa pool suite - $4,300 a night
One-bedroom sunset pavilion - $5,150 a night
One-bedroom private canyon pavilion - $5,540
The Girijaala suite - $5,300 a night
The Amangiri suite - $5,600
Two-bedroom mesa pavilion - $6,600
Private four-bedroom home - price not available
Arguably one of the most sought after amenities is the 25,000-square-foot spa, which 'looks out over the tranquility of America's Canyon Country.'
'Amangiri’s expert therapists offer treatments shaped by the healing traditions of the Navajo, drawing on the elements of earth, wind, fire and water,' its website reads.
It offers an 'extensive menu of massages, beauty treatments, and restorative therapies.'
There is also a yoga studio on site, which sits at the top of a rock formation to really give you a 'one-of-a-kind experience,' as well as a water pavilion with steam room, sauna, plunge pool, and separate heated step pool.
The hotel of course offers only the best food for its guests, boasting about 'showcasing local ingredients' and 'taking inspiration from Native American cuisine, tempered with modern global influences.'
For those looking for an extra special experience, it offers a custom-selected catered meal brought to you on a sunset trail, so you can eat surrounded by 'ancient landscape.'
You can also book a private dinner beneath the 'star-spangled dessert sky' besides the hotel central, outdoor fireplace.
When it comes to the accommodations, the hotel offers 34 suites that range in price, starting at $3,200 for the lowest and $6,600 for the highest - as well as a separate four-bedroom private home, which doesn't list its price on the website.
The four-bedroom home 'offers consummate privacy' while boasting 'spectacular desert views.'
It comes with its own 50-foot swimming pool, a large terrace with sun loungers and a dining area, a private courtyard, a living room with a fireplace, a formal dining area and professional-grade kitchen, multiple bathrooms with rain showers and soaking tubs, air-conditioning and underfloor heating, and a personal bar.
'The home’s relaxed aesthetic and muted palette is ideal for families or small groups of friends,' a description on its website reads.
'Amangiri’s expert therapists offer treatments shaped by the healing traditions of the Navajo, drawing on the elements of earth, wind, fire and water,' its website reads. One of the pools at the spa is pictured
It offers an 'extensive menu of massages, beauty treatments, and restorative therapies'
There is also a yoga studio on site (seen), which sits at the top of a rock formation to really give you a 'one-of-a-kind experience,' as well as a water pavilion with steam room, sauna, plunge pool, and separate heated step pool CHANGE PIC
The hotel of course offers only the best food for its guests, boasting about 'showcasing local ingredients' and 'taking inspiration from Native American cuisine, tempered with modern global influences'
You can also book a private dinner beneath the 'star-spangled dessert sky' besides the hotel central, outdoor fireplace
For those looking for an extra special experience, it offers a custom-selected catered meal brought to you on a sunset trail, so you can eat surrounded by 'ancient landscape'
As well as the private pools that come with the suites and the ones in the spa, there is also one shared pool that guests can use, which is surrounded by comfortable-looking, queen-sized beds to soak up the sun
'It has ample space to entertain and the connection with the desert views that surround is unrivalled.'
The suites range in size from 1,000-square-feet to 3,472-square-feet. The largest suite, called the Amangiri Suite, comes with its own private swimming pool, sun deck, and private courtyard.
There's also a separate area known as Camp Sarika, which offers one to two-bedroom tented-pavilions, to give you a more rustic feel.
'A five-minute drive across the desert from Amangiri, Camp Sarika’s elegant, spacious pavilions bring peerless comfort and privacy to the wilderness experience – with indoor living and dining areas, as well as terraces with fire pits and plunge pools,' it said on its website.
There are many activities offered at the resort, which sits on 600 acres of land, including Ultimate Terrain Vehicle (UTV) tours, E-bike rentals, horseback riding, and even private helicopter tours.
In addition, the Amangiri is situated close to the Via Ferrata Challenge - 'a series of cables and ladder rungs, fixed to the rock face to enable the ascent of steep mountain routes.'
When it comes to the accommodations, the hotel offers 34 suites that range in price, starting at $3,200 for the lowest and $6,600 for the highest. Some of the suites are seen above
It also has a separate four-bedroom private home (seen), which doesn't list its price on the website but 'offers consummate privacy' while boasting 'spectacular desert views'
It comes with its own 50-foot swimming pool (seen), a large terrace with sun loungers and a dining area, and a private courtyard
It also has a living room with a fireplace, a formal dining area, and professional-grade kitchen
The home has numerous living spaces and floor-to-ceiling open-air windows throughout, which show off the serene landscape
It has multiple bathrooms with rain showers and soaking tubs, air-conditioning and underfloor heating, and a personal bar
'The home’s relaxed aesthetic and muted palette is ideal for families or small groups of friends,' a description on its website reads. 'It has ample space to entertain and the connection with the desert views that surround is unrivalled'
The suites range in size from 1,000-square-feet to 3,472-square-feet. The largest suite, called the Amangiri Suite, comes with its own private swimming pool, sun deck, and private courtyard
There are various sun decks and terraces scattered throughout the resort
There's also a separate area known as Camp Sarika, which offers one to two-bedroom tented-pavilions, to give you a more rustic feel
'A five-minute drive across the desert from Amangiri, Camp Sarika’s elegant, spacious pavilions bring peerless comfort and privacy to the wilderness experience,' it said on its website
Indoors, the pavilions have living and dining areas, and outdoors, they each boast their own terraces with fire pits and plunge pools
It also has a newly created Cave Peak Stairway - which opened in 2021 and contains 120 steps 400-feet off the ground.
Suited for 'thrill seekers,' it offers 'incredible panorama views from the top' and is 'destined to be an iconic and exhilarating adventure.'
The hotel is just 'a stone's throw away' from the stunning Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Monument Valley Tribal Park, and the picturesque Lake Powell, it's the perfect place to disconnect from the world and spend time in the true wilderness.
The hotel opened in 2009, and is owned by the resort chain Aman, which also has resorts in numerous places around the world like the Dominic Republic, Turks and Caicos, New York, Italy, Greece, France, Morocco, and Turkey.
There are many activities offered at the resort, which sits on 600 acres of land
It offers Ultimate Terrain Vehicle (UTV) tours, E-bike rentals, horseback riding, and even private helicopter tours
In addition, the Amangiri is situated close to the Via Ferrata Challenge - 'a series of cables and ladder rungs, fixed to the rock face to enable the ascent of steep mountain routes'
It also has a newly created Cave Peak Stairway - which opened in 2021 and contains 120 steps 400-feet off the ground
Suited for 'thrill seekers,' it offers 'incredible panorama views from the top' and is 'destined to be an iconic and exhilarating adventure'
The hotel is just 'a stone's throw away' from the stunning Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Monument Valley Tribal Park, and the picturesque Lake Powell
It's the perfect place to disconnect from the world and spend time in the true wilderness.
The hotel opened in 2009, and is owned by the resort chain Aman, which also has resorts in numerous places around the world like the Dominic Republic, Turks and Caicos, New York, Italy, Greece, France, Morocco, and Turkey
The resort appears to be a favorite of the Kardashian/Jenner clan. Kylie is seen at Amangiri
Last month, Kanye, 45, chose the resort as his honeymoon location following his wedding to Australian architect Bianca Censori, 27. He also vacationed there in April 2022 with his girlfriend at the time, Chaney Jones (seen)
It also has some in multiple cities across China and Indonesia, as well as in India, Japan, and the Philippines. More in Beverly Hills and Miami Beach are coming soon.
The resort appears to be a favorite of the Kardashian/Jenner clan. Last month, Kanye, 45, chose the resort as his honeymoon location following his wedding to Australian architect Bianca Censori, 27.
An onlooker spotted the newly weds dining in one of the hotel's numerous restaurants.
He also vacationed there in April 2022 with his girlfriend at the time, Chaney Jones.
Together, they rode horses and took in the serene landscape, which the model - who split from Kanye two months later - shared to her Instagram Stories.
The rapper previously brought ex-wife, Kim, to Amangiri to celebrate her 37th birthday in 2017.
Kylie also seems to be a fan of the resort, and has visited it multiple times - and every time she does, she makes sure to show off the lavish resort on her social media.
In June 2022, she jetted off to Amangiri with a group of friends, during which they explored the Utah dessert and went tubing in the nearby Lake Powell.
She also headed to the resort in November 2020, where she got adventurous and completed the Via Ferrata Challenge.
The makeup mogul visited it again in July 2020, sharing a series of snaps that showed her laying in the sun, posing in front of the surrounding cliffs, and enjoying one of the hotel's pools.
The rapper previously brought ex-wife, Kim, to Amangiri to celebrate her 37th birthday in 2017
Kylie has visited it multiple times - and every time she does, she makes sure to show off the lavish resort on her social media
In June 2022, she jetted off to Amangiri with a group of friends , during which they explored the Utah dessert and went tubing in the nearby Lake Powell
She also headed to the resort in November 2020, where she got adventurous and completed the Via Ferrata Challenge
The makeup mogul visited it again in July 2020, sharing a series of snaps that showed her laying in the sun , posing in front of the surrounding cliffs, and enjoying one of the hotel's pools
Kourtney headed to Amangiri in 2018 with her boyfriend at the time, Younes Bendjima, as well as in 2021 with her now-husband, Travis Barker (seen)
In addition, Ariana visited it with her beau Dalton Gomez in 2020
Miley vacationed there in 2019, and Brad and Angelina chose the resort for their romantic getaway in 2011
Emily vacationed there with her ex Sebastian Bear-McClard in 2018 and again in 2020, when she was pregnant (seen)
Hailey and Justin Bieber took a 'road trip' to Amangiri in June 2020
Hailey posted numerous pics from inside the resort to her Instagram
Ivanka has been to Amangiri on numerous occasions over the years
Most recently, she shared snaps of herself and her husband, Jared Kushner, enjoying the resort to Instagram earlier this week
Scott Disick also celebrated his 37th birthday at the secluded retreat in 2020, and his ex-wife Kourtney has enjoyed all the Utah resort had to offer during multiple getaways.
She headed to Amangiri in 2018 with her boyfriend at the time, Younes Bendjima, as well as in 2021 with her now-husband, Travis Barker.
In addition, Ariana visited it with her beau Dalton Gomez in 2020, Miley vacationed there in 2019, and Brad and Angelina chose the resort for their romantic getaway in 2011.
Hailey and Justin took a 'road trip' to Amangiri in June 2020, while Emily vacationed there with her ex Sebastian Bear-McClard in 2018 and again in 2020, when she was pregnant.
Ivanka has been to Amangiri on numerous occasions over the years - most recently, she shared snaps of herself and her husband, Jared Kushner, enjoying the resort to Instagram earlier this week.
The area was also used as the filming location for John Travolta and Christian Slater's movie Broken Arrow in 1996, years before the resort opened.
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Sparks fly in Bretten Hannam's audacious road adventure about an angsty teen runaway searching for his indigenous roots. How do you find yourself while running away from who you are? That’s the essential question at the heart of “Wildhood,” the impressive sophomore feature from Two Spirit L’nu filmmaker Bretten Hannam. Enlivened by elegant handheld cinematography and a galvanizing breakout performance from Phillip Lewitski, “Wildhood” is a beautiful testament to the power of authentic storytelling.
Filmed in English and Mi’kmaw, the film shares the Mi’kmaw culture with the greater world through the eyes of a wayward youth in search of his estranged mother. As he thrashes through the landscape with wild abandon, he slowly softens to the kind strangers he meets along the way, discovering himself with the gentle guidance of his people. It’s a vital coming-of-age road adventure with a healthy sprinkle of queer romance.
“Wildhood” opens with Lincoln, or Link (Lewitski), hunched over as his little brother Travis (Avery Winters-Anthony) scrubs bleach into his hair in their modest trailer home. Stretching lithely in the mirror, he allows a sly smile at his sweeping blonde locks, a rare moment of joy. After botching a petty theft and winding up in jail, he awakens to the healing touch of a Mi’kmaw woman speaking a language he doesn’t understand. When his gruff white father bails him out, he waits until they’re home to deliver Link’s hair-raising punishment. While rooting around his dad’s room for the key to his motorbike, he comes across a box of unopened cards from his mother, whom he thought was dead. Enraged by this deceit, he takes off with Travis in search of his mother, leaving his dad’s scorching pick-up truck ablaze. Thus begins the first leg of their epic adventure, which begins on foot but soon leads to the generosity of Pasmay (Joshua Odjick), a gentle dancer who takes pity on the hapless duo. Drawn in by Link’s rough charms, Pasmay agrees to drive the brothers to the last address Link has for his mother. Though his ties with his own family are also fraught, Pasmay was raised with Mi’kmaw traditions and offers a connection to Link’s family culture. Though Link’s response is tepid at first, he eventually acquiesces to Pasmay’s lessons, slowly learning Mi’kmaw phrases and dances. “Float your arms like an eagle,” he directs, and his tightly wound protective layers unfurl for a brief moment.
“Wildhood”Hulu
Link’s aching need for belonging is explosively embodied in a daring performance by Lewitski, a live wire who vibrates with a kind of unbridled desire for something he cannot name. He rarely drops his tough exterior, but we know it’s there when he sends Travis to bed at a decent hour even though they’re sleeping outside with nowhere to be. Of course, Pasmay sees something softer behind his raging act, or is it just his sharp jawline? Their intimacy builds slowly but surely, eventually colliding under a raging waterfall, their glistening bodies pressed against wet stone. The actors share an easy chemistry, with Lewitski and Odjick mirroring two sides of the pain of late adolescence; one hard, one soft. Hannam fills out the world of the film with an exciting cast of Indigenous performers; Michael Greyeyes (“True Detective”) picks the kids up along the road, enlisting them in a favor before driving them to a dance club where Link’s mother once worked. He brings a much-needed comedic warmth to the austere drama, especially with the way he proudly delivers the line: “I’m a pastry chef. French trained. Studied at Le Cordon Bleu.”
Though the romance is somewhat secondary to Link’s hero’s journey, there are overt markers of queerness throughout the film. When Link calls a sassy gas store worker “some dyke,” Greyeyes’ character sternly corrects him: “That’s my nephew.” The Tiger Lily club is run by an elegant Two-Spirit mother who makes Link blow on her fresh manicure before giving him the last piece of information he needs to find his mother.
The original music in the film feels both fresh and familiar, easily shifting from plaintive classical guitar to energizing hip-hop. Guy Godfree’s gentle handheld cinematography never feels overly present, but underscores each frame wth a subtle rhythm, cradling the characters in a graceful fluidity. Hannam was ambitious to write the script in English and Mi’kmaw, and though it’s unclear why certain lines remain untranslated, it casts a sacred sheen over Link’s connection with his culture, keeping some parts private. He eventually finds where he belongs, and outsiders can only travel so far with him on that journey.
Grade: B
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Brad Ryan, 41, and his 92-year-old grandmother, Joy Ryan, are nearing the finish line on a goal they once thought was impossible: visiting all 63 U.S. national parks together.The duo from Duncan Falls, Ohio, kicked off their adventure in October 2015, when Brad was looking for a way to spend a three-day weekend during veterinary school. He said the idea was sparked by a conversation he had with "Grandma Joy" about his past adventures on the Appalachian Trail."I felt bad that she was always living vicariously through my stories," Brad told "GMA." "And so just knowing that she had never seen deserts and mountains and the ocean and these incredible wild places on Earth, it just felt like a responsibility that I had to her to make sure that she had some memories to take away in her life story as well."Brad invited his grandma on a weekend trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, anticipating it would be their only excursion together."You don't assume going into that that your 85-year-old grandmother going with you on a camping trip is going to be anything less than challenging," Brad said. "That was my fault. That was my misperception of what age means and more importantly, what her spirit would allow her to do.""I've always tried to be positive in my life and it didn't hurt to try something once," Grandma Joy said. "I didn't want to have to regret the next day that you didn't do it."Joy Ryan, 92, gleefully watches bears catch fish at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska.Brad Ryan, @GrandmaJoysRoadTripBrad began documenting their adventures on Instagram and Facebook to the account @GrandmaJoysRoadtrip in 2019, and they quickly acquired a large following. Today, they boast nearly 58k followers on Instagram."We didn't expect that," Grandma Joy said. "He just put that on the social media so the people back home in Duncan Falls knew what we were doing."National Parks Services Chief of Public Affairs and Chief Spokesperson Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles said in a statement that "Grandma Joy, and her grandson Brad, are an inspiration to us all.""National parks are best enjoyed with the people we love, and it is clear to see that Joy and Brad share a special bond, which has been strengthened by their time traveling together," Anzelmo-Sarles said.They had visited 29 parks until the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to slow down."All we could do was hope that things would change and that those opportunities would still be there and then be grateful for everything that we had been able to do and see up until that point," Brad said.In July 2021, Grandma Joy and Brad embarked on one of their wildest adventures yet: visiting the eight National Parks of Alaska, where they went white water rafting down class three rapids, hiked near glaciers and fjords and crossed a wild animal encounter off Grandma Joy's bucket list."I always wanted to see the bears get the fish and I finally got to see it. And it was fun, it really was," Grandma Joy said.Joy Ryan, 92, poses while hiking in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska.Brad Ryan, @GrandmaJoysRoadTripAfter years of planning and traveling, Grandma Joy and Brad are almost able to hang up their hiking boots: the duo has just one national park left to explore, the National Park of American Samoa which is over 6,700 miles from their home town of Duncan Falls.While they're looking forward to the day they visit their final park, Brad said completing their extraordinary feat will be "bittersweet.""It's been a grand adventure, it really has," Grandma Joy said. "It's really been a beautiful, beautiful time. And I wouldn't trade it for anything."As for advice from Brad and Grandma Joy, they encourage everyone to seek out opportunities for exploration."We realize that not everybody is going to be able to travel to every U.S. National Park," Brad said. "But there is some adventure to be found in every corner of of the country and we hope that people will go out and seek that adventure."Copyright © 2022 ABC News Internet Ventures.
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8-year-old hopes to break record in climb up summit in Yosemite 02:22 - Source: CNN Stories worth watching 16 videos 8-year-old hopes to break record in climb up summit in Yosemite 02:22 Now playing - Source: CNN Feast your eyes on the most elaborate salad you've ever seen 00:56 Now playing - Source: CNN More Americans are getting their news from TikTok. Can it be trusted? 01:28 Now playing - Source: CNN Elon Musk just bought Twitter. Here are the winners and losers 01:46 Now playing - Source: CNN Kanye West's Hitler 'obsession' helped create hostile work environment, source says 03:25 Now playing - Source: CNN Video shows frightening moment before damaged plane makes emergency landing 00:47 Now playing - Source: CNN Listen to Trump pressure Blake Masters over election denialism 01:39 Now playing - Source: CNN Motorcyclist bursts into flames after being tased by police 01:17 Now playing - Source: CNN Watch Taylor Swift's reaction when Jimmy Fallon mentions she hasn't toured in 4 years 02:13 Now playing - Source: CNN Business Watch: James Corden addresses restaurant ban on 'Late Late Show' 01:14 Now playing - Source: CNN Biden turns to Elon Musk to aid Iranian protesters. Defense official calls Musk 'a loose cannon' 03:13 Now playing - Source: CNN 'Boris Johnson had Covid parties that were longer than that.' Trevor Noah reacts to Liz Truss resigning A head of lettuce bests Liz Truss in tabloid Prime minister race 01:06 Now playing - Source: CNN Bread sculptors recreate classic 'Star Wars' scene 01:25 Now playing - Source: CNN Business You should probably change your passwords. Here's why 03:43 Now playing - Source: CNN This Motorola rollable phone can change size with a press of a button 01:12 Now playing - Source: CNN Business CNN — The Colorado 8-year-old who set out this week to become the youngest person to climb El Capitan in California’s Yosemite National Park is over halfway to reaching the summit, his father – and climbing companion – said. Sam Adventure Baker and his father, Joe Baker, started their trek on Tuesday and the journey is expected to last four days. They plan to camp one night on the top of El Capitan and then hike down 8 miles on the fifth day. “We just crawled into our sacs on our port-a-ledge. Sam is out like a light,” Joe Baker said in a Facebook post just after 1 a.m. PT Thursday. “Lots of fun still to go. We got another big day tomorrow to get to our next hanging camp. Sam showed so much courage today. I was blown away at his resilience and stamina into the night. We have already crossed the halfway point. Up we go.” Joe said the climbing experience has already been life changing for both him and his son. El Capitan – the park’s iconic vertical rock formation – sits more than 3,000 feet above the valley floor. That’s 2.5 times as tall as the Empire State Building, according to the Yosemite National Park website. El Capitan is a Class 5 climb, according to Rei.com – the highest and most difficult of classifications. “He seems really happy to be up there and spirits are high,” Sam’s mother, Ann Baker, told CNN in an interview. Ann said Sam grew up in a climbing family and she has always been “100% supportive of Sam’s climbing adventures.” Ann and Joe fell in love rock climbing and Sam “was in a harness before he could walk,” Joe told CNN. After making it about a third of the way up El Capitan, Sam and his father “ate Mac and Cheese and watched the first half of the Lion King,” before camping for the night, Joe said in a post overnight Wednesday. “The stars are so bright that they cast shadows as they beautifully silhouette behind the Captian that ominously hangs over us. The coming pitches look so much steeper,” Joe posted. Sam had been training to take on El Capitan “every day for the last at least 18 months,” his father said. The father-son duo are climbing in a four-person team, which involves one person climbing ahead of the others and setting the ropes for the others to follow. CNN’s Stephanie Gallman contributed to this report.
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Sally Webster, 85, has always had a passion for adventure.
She paraglided over Morzine, France, in her mid-60s and was determined to complete the 500ft-high Penrhyn Slate Quarry.
Along with her daughter, Juliet, and members of the team at her care home Deewater Grange in Chester, Ms Webster travelled to Gwynedd in north Wales to attempt the 1.5km zipline.
In no time at all, she was enjoying the incredible views over Snowdonia at 100mph.
Speaking after the experience, Ms Webster said: "Doing the zipline today really made me feel alive.
"I was nervous at first but so excited.
"I never thought at my age I'd see myself at the top of Snowdonia - never mind ziplining down it."
She added: "The best part was getting to do the zipline together with my daughter.
"The drive to the summit was breathtaking, and seeing the mountain ranges and the fresh country air reminded me of where I grew up as a child.
"All I can say is a big thank you to the team for organising it, and once again wow."
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The home manager at Deewater Grange, Sally Cooper, added: "Here at Deewater Grange, no wish is too big or too small and so when Sally said she wanted to complete the world's fastest zipline, we knew we had to make her daring dream a reality.
"We are thrilled to have helped Sally complete her once-in-a-lifetime wish and it was wonderful to see the excitement on her face as she landed after her zipline - a big thank you to the team at Zip World too for helping make Sally's dream come true."
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This Is the Best Cruise Line for Food in 2023, According to a New Report
The cruise line boasts cooking classes and a fresh herb garden on every ship.
Cruisegoers take to the seas for a multitude of reasons—adventure, relaxation, amenities, entertainment, and, of course, food.
Part of the appeal is undoubtedly the dining experiences that vacationers get to experience onboard, from five-star restaurants to unlimited buffets.
But which cruise lines have the best food options? Food & Wine recently ranked the best cruise lines for diners — and it notably left off some of the bigger known boats.
Viking Cruises, which offers river and ocean cruises around the world, took the top spot. The cruise line doesn't charge extra to dine at its fancier restaurants and each ship comes with the option to take a cooking class. There's also an onboard herb garden.
"Regional cuisine, always available classics and the most al fresco dining at sea," the company boasts, touting everything from sit-down Italian restaurants to cafes to a tea garden.
Viking made headlines in December when a passenger was killed by a rogue wave that crashed into the ship while passing through the infamous Drake Passage, a turbulent stretch of the sea located off the coast of South America. The ship made it to Argentina the next day.
The second spot for the best cruises for food of 2023 went to Regent Seven Seas Cruise, a luxury cruise line known for its indulgent, upscale restaurants and experiences like wine tastings and talks from renowned chefs.
Oceana Cruises, AmaWaterways, and Princess Cruises rounded out the top five, with Disney Cruises coming in at No.7.
Carnival Cruises did not crack the top ten, nor did Virgin Voyages. Royal Caribbean, however, came in at No. 10.
To view the full Top 10 list, click here.
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The monsoon season in Maharashtra is the best time to go on an adventure with your friends.
The Lohagad Fort is in Maval tehsil of Pune District in Maharashtra. It is a hill fort near Lonavala and Khandala. It is one of the most visited forts in Maharashtra and falls in the beginners' category in trekking.
This fort is a trekkers paradise and a witness of Maratha history. Rajgad fort was the capital of the Maratha Empire till 1672 CE. The fort is in the Sahyadri mountain ranges at an elevation of 1,395 metres above sea level.
Also known as the Everest of Maharashtra, Kalsubai is the highest peak in the Sahyadri mountain range. This is one of the most popular trekking venue in the state. It is located in Ahmednagar district.
Prabalgad Fort is located between Matheran and Panvel at an elevation of 2300 feet in the Western Ghats. The fort contains a Ganesha temple and some stone ruins.
For tourists or trekkers, Tikona Fort is a stunning spot. This is Maharashtra’s popular one-day trekking spot. It is located near Kamshet around 60 km from Pune.
It is a hilly fort and one of the most famous trekking places in Maharashtra. The fort is situated in Ahmednagar district. One can enjoy the natural waterfalls and overflowing dams in the region.
Naneghat is a mountain pass in the Western Ghats range between the Konkan coast and the ancient town of Junnar in the Deccan plateau in Pune district. The trek difficulty at Naneghat is moderate. An individual will take up to 2.5 to 3 hours to complete the trek.
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Disney's latest vacation experience takes hospitality out of this world and to a galaxy far, far away for an immersive, first-of-its-kind voyage aboard the brand new Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
Guests become passengers and heroes in their own Star Wars story as they live out a tailor-made galactic adventure at their own pace aboard the Halcyon Starcruiser. The vessel is known for its impeccable service and exotic destinations, like the bustling Black Spire Outpost on Batuu. Plus, you can finally live out your childhood dreams and wield a lightsaber in a training pod and dine on delicacies like Felucian-inspired blue shrimp.
Before Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser debuts at Walt Disney World Resort on March 1, we got an inside look at the two-night voyage aboard the Chandrila Star Line and after an exhilarating 48 hours we brought the highlights, sights and sounds back to Earth.
Storyline and characters
Familiar faces like Chewbacca and new characters emerge throughout the journey as the storyline spins forward.
Captain Keevan is at the helm, encouraging exploration, as cruise director Lenka Mok notifies people they can try their hand at defending the ship with operations training on the bridge, and Sammie the mechanic makes a name for himself while working on more than just systems in the engineering room. Guests also get to enjoy the music stylings of intergalactic superstar Gaya and meet her charismatic manager, Raithe Cole, who has his eyes on more than the stage throughout the voyage.
Guests become characters and legacy cast members can become allies thanks to the creative development from Lucasfilm Vice President and Executive Creative Director Doug Chiang and Walt Disney Imagineering Producer Travis Finstein.
"We are seeing people play with our characters as if they are action figures in a big Star Wars play set. They get their own personal interaction with them for extended periods of time and run around the ship with these characters leading them on missions," Finstein told "GMA." "They participate in Star Wars in a scale that they have never had a chance to do before. If you're a Star Wars fan you are going to experience Star Wars in a new way and it's very exciting."
As the storyline unfolds, we meet Lieutenant Croy of the First Order and his stormtroopers when they board the ship to investigate suspicious Resistance activity.
Toward the climax of the final night, without giving away any spoilers, guests are stunned by an interaction with a handful of iconic characters as an intense battle unfolds.
"It's really a lot of fun," Chiang added, "anything Star Wars for me, but this level of immersion is unlike anything I've ever done."
Lightsaber training and more!
Lightsaber training was no doubt the most-buzzed-about activity and for good reason.
The Saja, who trains a group of about 15 passengers at a time, leads you in the pod and lines you up in rows before powering up the electric blue weapon.
Upon instruction, students square up and ground their ready stance holding the base of the lightsaber at their body's center, pushing the button to illuminate the shaft and following a guided laser that sends a low-frequency buzz through your grip as you connect the weapon to the force.
Excursion to Black Spire Outpost on Batuu at Galaxy's Edge
Early on the second day, passengers are invited onto luxurious private transport shuttles to de-board and explore the galaxy's Outer Rim. At this point in each passenger's journey, their interactions have led to curated communications on their datapad to attempt missions for the characters they are helping while exploring the outpost.
A private reservation can be set up for Halcyon guests at the infamous Oga's Cantina, where I made friends with a chemist in order to get some pertinent information back to the ship for my own storyline's mission. The brightly colored, foaming, fizzing and bubbling beverages are a welcome libation break at this point in the planetside adventure and the perfect fuel before enjoying activities like hacking droids and running covert ops for either the dark side or the Resistance.
Amenities
Guests enjoy a well-appointed pod complete with stunning viewports that overlook the galaxy. The room we stayed in, but really only relaxed in to shower and sleep, had the Earth's equivalent of a king-size bed and two bunk pods. The sleek design was complete with modern functionality like ports for datapad charging and even an in-room digital logistics droid who goes by D3-09 and acts as a catalyst for each individual's daily story to continue with helpful information. By the end, she also became a confidant and friend who I was sad to say goodbye to.
As for off-ship, the special transport shuttle is reminiscent of a luxury bus-like liner and takes less than a 10-minute blast to planet where you are greeted by a private concierge service with cold water, charging ports and offered a direct contact to drop off any goods secured along the excursion, so if you purchase a porg plushy toy or local garments, you can leave them safely with the crew who will free your hands and take it back to the ship. Before departing Batuu, where temperatures can run hot, the crew offers chilled, wet towels and more beverages while waiting for your pod departure.
Specialty Magic Band
The specialty Magic Band that is worn throughout the voyage, available exclusively to passengers of the Halcyon cruise, also gives you access to information pads on ship, unlocks rooms and helps save and scan pivotal information specific to your personal adventure that sends feedback to your profile.
Additionally, it is preloaded with lightning lane passes for the two highly popular rides on Galaxy's Edge -- Rise of the Resistance and Smuggler's Run.
Food and drinks
The imaginative dining program developed especially for this experience plates up dishes with familiar tastes but unexpected textures, colors and ingredient names to further deepen the immersion of your galactic voyage.
Similar to an Earth-bound cruise, all-you-can-eat breakfast and lunch buffets are available inside the sleek Crown of Corellia Dining Room during the day, but then each night of the voyage it transforms to serve diners a lavish multicourse, table-service menu of both otherworldly and familiar origins.
Night one boasts dinner and a show where I enjoyed a seat at the captain's table in the center of the sunken seating area with an interactive live performance from Gaya -- the Twi'lek musical superstar who moves throughout the room singing her greatest and new hits. The second night offers a Taste Around the Galaxy experience with each course that hails from a different planet, including the highly buzzed about blue crustacean, Felucian shrimp.
Guests looking for a late-night libation or a game of Sabaac can snag a seat in the Sublight Lounge for drinks like the Fiery Mustafarian complete with lava extract and smokey mezcal or a Hoth Icebreaker made with lemon foam inspired by the icy desolate planet.
Exclusive merchandise
A one-of-a-kind Chandrila Collection boutique on board offers an extensive selection of never-before-seen merchandise to enhance the role-play vacation experience. The shop has a sweeping assortment of apparel and accessories for purchase from Lekku head tails, trading pins with the ship's logo and authentic apparel to home goods, hats and backpacks.
Disney is the parent company of Good Morning America and ABC News.
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PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The newest cruise ship to join Disney's fleet set sail on its "christening cruise" from Port Canaveral, Florida to Disney's private destination, Castaway Cay in the Bahamas. 'Disney Wish' is the fifth ship in the company's cruise line fleet, and its first newly-designed ship to launch in a decade.In celebration of this milestone, ABC's Michael Koenigs and his family embarked on a 3-day adventure aboard the 'Disney Wish', experiencing all the new enchantments the sailing vessel had to offer.The 1,119-foot ship built in Germany has 15 decks of adventure including ten pools and water areas featuring Mickey Mouse, the cast of Toy Story, and other characters. The ship also features Disney's first-ever attraction at sea, the 760-foot waterslide called AquaMouse.'Disney Wish' offers a variety of unique dining experiences, including a Frozen-themed theatrical feast set within the Kingdom of Arendelle. Another restaurant invites guests to help Ant-Man and the Wasp during the cinematic dining experience, "Avengers: Quantum Encounter."For those looking for adult cocktails, Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge transports guests via a high-end bar during a first-of-a-kind tour of a galaxy far, far away.ABC Localish spoke with Josh D'Amaro, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products. "I feel a lot of pride today, walking through the Grand Hall here for the first time and seeing the cast members and seeing guests aboard gives me chills," says D'Amaro. "I've been here for almost 25 years, I love this place, I love the cast, I love Disney."Disney is the parent company of ABC Localish.
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TL;DR: As of July 22, get the Outdoor Movie Bundle: Wemax Go Portable Projector with 50-inch Portable Screen for only $249.97 (reg. $798.98) — a 68% discount.
Ready to spice up your summer nights? Imagine relaxing under the stars, watching your favorite flicks with your family, hosting a blockbuster night with your pals, or binge-watching your go-to comfort show while camping.
This outdoor movie bundle gives you everything you need to watch movies anywhere. It comes with the Wemax Go Smallest ALPD Laser Projector to stream your content, and the Wemax 50-inch ALR Portable Projector Screen to watch it all on, no matter where you end up. And you can currently score both of these items for just $249.97 — that's a savings of $549, now through July 23.
Get your blankets ready as you settle in for a night of fun with the outdoor movie bundle. It comes with the Wemax Go Smallest ALPD Laser Projector, a miniaturized cinema-grade laser projector that can tag along in your pocket for any adventure. It's equipped with built-in WiFi, as well as an HDMI port, USB, and a Type-C port for easy connectivity. And it offers easy viewing, with a smart eye projection that makes sure the laser light reflects off the screen instead of uncomfortably beaming right into your eyes.
Speaking of screens, you'll also receive a Wemax 50-inch ALR projector screen that's equally portable. Ideal for taking along anywhere, this screen is compact and free-standing. It offers a seven-layer optics precision structure with uniform brightness image projection for an enjoyable viewing experience. Want to enjoy a matinee showing while camping? It can be used in daylight too, as it's designed to reject 85% of ambient light.
Stream under the stars all summer long and beyond with the Outdoor Movie Bundle: Wemax Go Portable Projector with 50-inch Portable Screen, all for the low price of $249.97 until July 23 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Prices subject to change.
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Discover the breathtaking views as you explore the gems of Goa during this rainy season.
Embark on a thrilling monsoon adventure in Goa! The Goa Tourism Development Corporation is presenting an enticing Monsoon Trekking program, featuring some famous treks. According to Travelxp, these treks are:
Sonsogor, the highest peak in Goa, India, stands at 1,026 meters above sea level, offering a chance to touch the clouds within a 2-3 hour climb.
(Source: Representative image/Pexels)
Dudhsagar Falls, the 5th tallest waterfall in India, captivates with its ethereal charm during the monsoon season.
The Hivrem-Valpoi Fall awaits adventurous trekkers. This moderately challenging trek through lush fields, steep climbs, and refreshing streams.
(Source: Representative image/Pexels)
A thrilling adventure through dense forests with slippery paths and breathtaking views. Moderate yet suitable for beginners, expect vertical climbs and an abundance of slippery rocks along the way.
(Source: Representative image/Freepik)
Discover Mann Falls, a secret oasis nestled amidst lush forests, offering breathtaking beauty of a 40-meter-high waterfall, indulging in a natural Jacuzzi and serene pools along the way.
(Source: Representative image/Freepik)
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The Tennessee National Guard airlifted Appalachian Trail hikers in a daring rescue effort caught on camera after two adventure seekers became stranded overnight in the dark mountain wilderness. Shortly after 5:15 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, the Tennessee Military Department and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency were notified of two hikers needing assistance in the Sampson Mountain Wilderness Area, south of Johnson City.The hikers were stranded in the darkness of night and surrounded by cliffs and drop-offs in the area, according to the Tennessee National Guard.The Greene County Sheriff’s Office was the first to receive the call, but they could not access the hikers, prompting the request for air support.TENNESSEE WINTER WEATHER CAUSES MULTIPLE STORM-RELATED DEATHS, INCLUDING KIDS: REPORT Staff Sgt. Ryan McKnight lowers Staff Sgt. John Sharbel during a recovery mission on the Appalachian Trail, Dec. 31, 2022. Local authorities requested help from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the Tennessee National Guard to rescue two stranded hikers the morning of New Year’s Eve. (Tennessee National Guard)The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency approved the emergency air evacuation mission, and Tennessee National Guardsmen, assigned to 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion in Knoxville, began preparing a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. A medical flight crew of five – two pilots, two flight paramedics and the crew chief – left shortly after 8 a.m. local time and located the hikers at 8:45 a.m. Staff Sgt. Ryan McKnight pulls a patient onboard a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter during a recovery mission on the Appalachian Trail, Dec. 31, 2022. Local authorities requested help from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the Tennessee National Guard to rescue two stranded hikers the morning of New Year’s Eve. The two hikers were airlifted to Johnson City Medical Center where they recovered from minor injuries before being released. (Tennessee National Guard)Staff Sgt. John Sharbel, one of the paramedics, led the on-ground hoist mission. Crew chief Staff Sgt. Ryan McKnight was seen in one image shared by the Tennessee National Guard lowering Sharbel down from the helicopter to reach the two stranded hikers. McKnight later is seen pulling up one of the patients into the Blackhawk. Both hikers were lifted into the aircraft shortly after 9:00 a.m. This file image shows views on a hike throughout Lead Cove Trail and Bote Mountain Trail towards the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, Nov. 10, 2018. (Patrick Gorski/NurPhoto via Getty Images)CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe paramedics rendered aid during the short flight to Johnson City Medical Center, where the patients were transferred to medical personnel at the hospital at 9:16 a.m. They recovered from minor injuries before being released. Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace.
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It's been a banner year for big screen animation tentpoles so far, with crowd-pleasers such as Dreamworks' "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" and Universal Illumination's "The Super Mario Brothers Movie" taking audiences by storm and ringing up huge box office numbers worldwide.
Disney/Pixar has been strangely quiet of late with "Elemental" arriving this weekend without much fanfare or high praise, so it's time to raise our gaze down the calendar a bit to 2024 when Pixar's next family-friendly sci-fi feature, "Elio," is slated to land and here's a new teaser to tempt young viewers and their folks.
Directed by Adrian Molina (screenwriter and co-director of "Coco") and produced by Mary Alice Drumm (associate producer of "Coco"), "Elio" showcases the vocal talents of Yonas Kibreab as Elio, America Ferrera as Elio's mom, Olga, Jameela Jamil as Ambassador Questa, and Brad Garrett as Ambassador Grigon. Its intergalactic absurdities amid a serious case of mistaken identity could prove to be a winning combination for this big-screen cosmic adventure.
Related: Best animated space movies for kids
Here's the official synopsis:
"For centuries, people have called out to the universe looking for answers — in Disney and Pixar's all-new movie "Elio," the universe calls back! The original feature film introduces Elio, an underdog with an active imagination who finds himself inadvertently beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide. Mistakenly identified as Earth's ambassador to the rest of the universe, and completely unprepared for that kind of pressure, Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, survive a series of formidable trials and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be."
Amazingly, this will be Disney and Pixar's 28th feature film and with its "Coco" creators' pedigree, precocious kid star, striking visuals and outer space premise that plays on the age-old sci-fi catch phrase, "Take Me To Your Leader," "Elio" seems poised for a successful spring launch suitable for children of all ages.
"Elio" arrives in theaters on March 1, 2024.
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Kevin Love Watches Lions Devour Prey ... 'Africa is DIFFERENT' 7/29/2022 9:41 AM PT Kevin Love's honeymoon in Africa just took a WILD turn -- the NBA star watched lions hunt down a wildebeest ... and then saw them completely devour it from limb to limb! Love, who's with his model wife, Kate Bock, in Tanzania celebrating their recent nuptials, shared video of the scene on Friday morning ... and, warning, it's pretty graphic. In the footage, you can see a group of lions snacking on their prey -- all while Love recorded just feet away in a vehicle. "We were told it’s very rare (and lucky) to see a kill play out in front of your eyes from start to finish," Love said, before adding, "It’s an ugly and yet beautiful game out there." Love and Bock have been in Africa for a few days now, and the two seem to be thrilled with their experience so far. The couple has been spotted watching elephants, giraffes and other exotic animals, all while enjoying some food and drink. "This place is everything we dreamed of & more," Bock said. "The views, the animals, the light, the warm people, the adventure, the wildness…. Tanzania, you’re something special." Have fun on the trip, guys ... but try not to get TOO close to the feeding animals now!!
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Puppy Bus Founders Good Boys/Girls Get Fun Outings ... Some Pups Even Have Fan Clubs Now!!! 1/16/2023 12:09 PM PT TMZ.com The so-called "Puppy Bus" is already a viral sensation, and we got its founders to break down all the tricks and treats behind their suddenly booming dog walking/training service. Mo and Lee Thompson joined "TMZ Live" to talk all about their biz, "Mo Mountain Mutts" ... after their dog bus unexpectedly became a social media phenomenon. The husband/wife duo told us the bus is just one part of a day filled with dog training and dog walking around Skagway, Alaska -- and after those incredibly calm bus rides, the pups get out for an adventure, full of exercise and socializing. Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media. They say the outings are planned to be physically and mentally engaging for their 4-legged clients ... like challenging hikes or a beach run. The Thompsons admit their popular bus videos are the product of carefully choosing which pups have enough obedience training to go to their assigned seats without causing a ruckus. They added that the dogs' personalities, ages and manners are also factors. As for how it all started ... Mo says at first she was just walking friends' dogs during work breaks, and then she started doing biking and hiking trips with 'em. Six years later, it's evolved into a full-blown biz ... with a very popular bus!!!
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A real cliffhanger! Inside the $450-a-night Airbnb 'pods' in Peru which dangle 1,300ft in the air from the side of a MOUNTAIN - and the only way to get there is by climbing or ZIPLINING... so would you brave it?The transparent Skylodge Adventure Suites is listed on Airbnb for $450 per nightIt comprises three transparent pods which are held to the rock via strong cablesTo get there, there is a demanding route guests must climb with a zipline down Published: 12:23 EST, 9 January 2023 | Updated: 12:23 EST, 9 January 2023 Advertisement Talk about a room with a view. Perched 1,300 feet in the air on the side of a mountain in Peru's Sacred Valley, there's an accommodation option catering to real thrill-seekers.The Skylodge Adventure Suites, which is listed on Airbnb for $450 per night, comprises three transparent pods which are attached to the rock via strong cables.To get to the quirky guesthouse, travelers must get harnessed up and climb a demanding route decked out with steep stairs, ladders and steel cables and to descend there are six ziplines to whizz down. The Skylodge Adventure Suites, which is listed on Airbnb for $450 per night, comprises three transparent pods which are attached to the rock via strong cables To get to the quirky guesthouse, travelers must get harnessed up and climb a demanding route decked out with steep stairs, ladders and steel cables and to descend there are six ziplines to whizz down In terms of space, each lodge serves up four beds, a dining area and a bathroom complete with a dry toilet and sink behind a private wall Photos reveal the breathtaking views the pods offer, with a gaping valley running belowPhotos reveal the breathtaking views the pods offer, with a gaping valley running below. In terms of space, each lodge serves up four beds, a dining area and a bathroom complete with a dry toilet and sink behind a private wall. There are no showers so guests are instructed to bring their own personal hygiene items.As there is no heating, travelers are also told to wear warm clothes, with the coldest months running from June to August. The lofty hotel first opened in 2013 as the world's first hanging lodge and it has proved popular with daredevil travelers since. The bathrooms also serve up stunning views thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows As there is no heating, travelers are told to wear warm clothes, with the coldest months running from June to AugustAll stays at the Skylodge include transportation from Cuzco, dinner with wine, breakfast and the necessary climbing equipment to get there and professional guides. It has a 4.9 rating out of 5 on Airbnb with guests deeming it as a 'must-do' experience. Emily, who stayed there in November 2022, wrote: 'Absolutely incredible experience. Completely unique and totally worth it. 'Definitely one of the coolest things I have ever done.' While Greg described the Skylodge as a 'a combination of incredible views, adrenaline inducing activities, and great food' following his stay in October 2022. The lofty hotel first opened in 2013 as the world's first hanging lodge and it has proved popular with daredevil travelers since The lodge has a 4.9 rating out of 5 on Airbnb with guests deeming it as a 'must-do' experience All stays at the Skylodge include transportation from Cuzco, dinner with wine, breakfast and the necessary climbing equipment to get there and professional guidesHowever Laura, who checked into the lodge in 2019 with her boyfriend, warned that this spot isn't for the faint-hearted. She explained: 'I'm not a natural climber and haven't done anything like this before but wanted to push myself to do something scary and once in a lifetime. And that's exactly what it was.'[Spending] 1 hour 40 minutes climbing a mountain face was the hardest and scariest thing I've ever done... but overall the most rewarding. The zip lines down are so much fun though. 'I was so glad to have my boyfriend who does climbing get me through it.'For those who need to calm their nerves following their sky-high stay there is an open-air spa on the way back down the mountain complete with hot tubs and treatment huts. If you enjoyed reading this article... 'Kim Kardashian went to the toilet with NO SHOES and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley ate nothing for seven hours': Ex-Delta flight attendant reveals what celebrities are REALLY like in the skies 'You're so discriminatory!' Couple on a Southwest flight sparks yet ANOTHER furious airplane etiquette scandal after blocking off row of three seats so they could critique fellow passengers and select a 'cool' person to join them You've been using sunscreen wrong your whole life: Brand shocks thousands after revealing how many pumps you should be applying Advertisement
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By the time she was 85 years old, Joy Ryan of Duncan Falls, Ohio, had never seen the ocean or mountains. Now, she's 93 years old and has seen every corner of the U.S. – after visiting all 63 U.S. National Parks. Joy went on the epic journey with her grandson, Brad Ryan, who was first inspired to travel with is grandmother in 2015.
"When I learned she had never seen the great wildernesses of America – deserts, mountains, oceans, you name it – I thought that was something that would haunt me if I didn't intervene in some way," Brad told CBS News in October 2022.
Joy told CBS News all the traveling she had done was "to the fishing hole."
"Every winter, my husband took me to Okeechobee and we fished. That was about the extent of my wandering," she said.
So, Brad decided to take her to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and that trip sparked an idea.
"The more I kept reading about the parks and I saw how close they were to one another, that we could make this giant loop, it became an obsession," Brad said.
"And all I could think about was, 'I've got to see Grandma Joy at Old Faithful, I've got to see her at the Redwoods, I've got to see her at the Grand Canyon. I just have to do this, I just have to have those memories for my own long-term happiness. I think we're two peas in a pod when it comes to just our desire for travel, adventure, connection.'"
The pair started planning road trips, hitting multiple parks each time they embarked on the road. When they spoke to CBS News in 2022, they had hit 62.
While the pair have found themselves on many adventures during their travels – whale watching in the Channel Islands and seeing larger-than-life trees in the Redwood Forest – some of their best moments happen in the car.
"We hit the road together and we start talking about our lives," Brad said. "And she told me things in her 80s and 90s about her life, some of the difficult things that she's been through, that she's never spoken to anybody in here life. And I was able to open up to her about some of the trials and tribulations of my own life. That's what, I think, is so powerful about the open road, is that you only can drive so far before those memories start to creep forward."
Joy, who has three children and four grandchildren, can still keep up with Brad when they're hiking mountains. Her secret to staying active? "Well, I guess it helps to be optimistic. And you have to have the will to do it. And I've been lucky health-wise that I'm able to do that," she said.
"She went white water rafting at 91," Brad said. "Class three rapids. She was braver than I was."
The 63rd and final stop on their epic tour was the National Park of American Samoa.
"It's about 6,700 miles from Ohio, where we live," Brad said. "It's the only U.S. National Park that's south of the equator. Way out in the South Pacific. It's a long haul, but we're excited to go."
There was a reason they left this park until the very end. "We can enjoy the beach, we can enjoy the beautiful tropical paradise. But as we've come to learn from the rangers that work there, American Samoa is an island community that is very firmly rooted in family," he said. "And I think that there's a bit of a poetic beauty to ending it there as well."
This week, the pair arrived in the tiny Pacific Island, more than 3,600 miles off the coast of Australia, and completed their goal. There, park rangers gave them certificates to celebrate the feat – one that Brad says "defied erroneous assumptions about the limitations of aging."
The fact that a grandmother in her 90s completed such a long journey may inspire others, but Brad has always known his grandmother as an inspiration who lived up to her name.
"She has already lived from a place of gratitude and joy. And that's a choice that she made," he said. "That's a power that we all have and a choice that we all have. And I think that's been my greatest lesson. And I think there's really no end in sight for Grandma Joy."
Meanwhile, Joy offered insight on living a long life.
"... I thank the Lord every morning for giving me another day. And it's your choice whether you're going to have a grumpy day or a sunny day. So, smile at everybody, and let everybody know you're having a whale of a time," she said.
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People plan vacations around all sorts of themes, from outdoor adventure to pop culture fandom and wine. In recent years, a newer travel area has become increasingly popular: cannabis tourism. “Cannabis tourism can be defined as leisure travel done for the purpose of indulging in marijuana use in areas where it is legal,” Sean Roby, CEO of the cannabis-friendly lodging marketplace Bud and Breakfast, told HuffPost. “It is akin to the wine industry, where travelers gather from all over the world to check out the vineyards in a specific region,” Roby added. “Similar is the case with cannabis tourism, when people visit the places where pot is legal. They can spend some time there, not just indulging in cannabis consumption but also doing other recreational things during the visit.”As more states and countries legalize marijuana for medical and recreational use, so grows the number of out-of-town visitors arriving in search of cannabis-based experiences.So, what should travelers know about cannabis tourism, or “canna-tourism”?Below, experts break down the offerings, history, controversy and projections for the future. The cannabis tourism experienceAs a growing area of the travel industry, cannabis tourism entails an increasingly wide range of activities and experiences. “Cannabis travel activities today center around well-being,” said Brian Applegarth, founder of the Cannabis Travel Association International and California Cannabis Tourism Association. “Cannabis is approached by travelers as a tool to improve quality of life and enhance experiences while on vacation. Cannabis visitors to a destination are medical-minded, leisure-orientated, or often a blend of both. Today’s travelers often include cannabis and CBD-infused activities like spa treatments as part of their destination itinerary.”There are also opportunities to learn about the history of the herb with cannabis tours and educational seminars. From farm stays to apartment rentals and weed-friendly hotels, various lodgings have their own unique offerings as well. “Our top hosts that are now sold out for three to six months in advance are the ones that have a bud bar, a cannabis yoga class, a professional chef that cooks micro-dosed infused meals for the guests, a CBD-infused masseuse on call, sushi and joint rolling, puff and paint, a zip line over a pinot noir and cannabis field,” Roby said. “We’ve seen them all and our hosts are getting very creative, to say the least.”At a minimum, a basic Bud and Breakfast host might offer lodging that allows marijuana (though perhaps requires that any smoking take place outside in the yard) and can provide information about nearby dispensaries or other recommendations. These accommodations may appeal to those who simply want a safe place to enjoy cannabis as part of their lifestyle ― or even to medical travelers seeking treatment for themselves or their children. The platform’s “super hosts,” however, go a step further by curating all-inclusive experiences.“Really, in our eyes, what defines a ‘super host’ is that they are basically a Wikipedia of all things cannabis,” Roby explained. “They have their finger on the pulse of all related activities/events that go well with cannabis and help the guest really experience the entire stay through the eyes of a local within this genre of travel.”Stefan Milosevic / EyeEm via Getty ImagesIncreasing legalization of marijuana in different states and countries has led to a boom in cannabis-related travel offerings. The rise of marijuana-motivated travelAlthough cannabis tourism has started getting more attention in recent years, it’s not exactly new. “I became aware of cannabis travel experiences in Amsterdam in the 1990s ― I remember hearing about The Bulldog and other cannabis cafes and coffee shops that were one-of-a-kind experiences for travelers to enjoy,” Applegarth said. “Going back a bit further with the cannabis travel trend, if you look closely at the history of the Silk Road, the hippie trail, or the surf culture of the 1950s, cannabis was absolutely a central part of it. After California legalized medical cannabis in 1996, the state welcomed patients from around the world seeking help.”The legalization of recreational marijuana in individual states starting in 2012 helped cannabis tourism grow into a more active sector of the travel industry. In fact, a 2022 report from Forbes estimates that cannabis tourism is a $17 billion industry in its own right. Cultivar Strategies, Applegarth’s cannabis travel consulting firm, partnered with the hospitality marketing agency MMGY Global to conduct research on the growing field.“The research revealed that 37% of the active leisure travel audience in the United States are cannabis-experience motivated, up 8% from 2020,” Applegarth explained. “Cannabis, hemp and CBD sales soared during the pandemic as people needed to cope with difficult and unpredictable situations. Today, 70% of Gen Z travelers say that legal access to cannabis while on vacation matters.”In the U.S., destinations like Oakland, California, have embraced the opportunity to stimulate the local economy through cannabis-motivated travel. The city’s official tourism bureau, Visit Oakland, even developed the Oakland Cannabis Trail to inspire travel plans, support local businesses and keep visitors comfortable and engaged along the way. “We created a program to capitalize on the growing cannabis travel trend and enrich our visitor experience,” said Peter Gamez, president and CEO of Visit Oakland. “If cannabis is part of one’s lifestyle, visitors want to access products while traveling. This has been good for local dispensaries in Oakland and beyond, as well as product makers across the country. Visitors can now access everything from edibles to health aids to cannabis strands that address different needs and appeal to an array of tastes.”Bud and Breakfast began in 2002 with a coastal inn in Mendocino, California, and expanded over time to connect a broader number of travelers to weed-friendly accommodations and experiences around the world. “Because more and more people are using cannabis and wanting it when they travel, this has opened up the door for business owners to fill a gap to accommodate 420 travelers,” Roby said.Ayanna Lawson believes marijuana-based tourism offers “a lower risk path into a highly volatile industry.” Her company, Front Row Travels, offers curated travel experiences for cannabis users, as well as education for marginalized community members looking to build a brand in cannabis tourism. “Far too often people try to the enter the industry through dispensary ownership or grow facilities not anticipating the hardships that many owners face,” Lawson explained. Cannabis tourism “is unique in that it touches multiple sectors within the cannabis industry ― farming/agriculture, technology, hospitality, arts/music, etc. The possibilities are endless. Cannabis-friendly destinations such as Mexico, Canada and Uruguay are also generating millions of dollars through cannabis-focused tourism.”The lingering controversyAlthough there’s been a great deal of progress in the understanding and acceptance of marijuana usage, stigma remains. “Cannabis travel is a controversial topic because it is still misunderstood by many,” Applegarth said. “Fear or judgment about cannabis itself and cannabis travel and tourism activities comes from those who are uninformed, and are often hyperfocused on smoking and the negative impacts from activated THC overconsumption.”Roby pointed out that the legalization of recreational cannabis only started within the last decade.“As with alcohol prohibition, it will take a few years to normalize on a social level but one only needs to look at states like Colorado, California, Massachusetts and most other recreational states to see how quickly attitudes change” post-prohibition, with cannabis becoming “a welcome attribute to the local people and economy,” Roby said. Westend61 via Getty ImagesAlthough there’s been a great deal of progress in the understanding and acceptance of marijuana usage, stigma remains.Beyond giving travelers the opportunity to relax and have fun, the growing cannabis tourism industry can educate people about the drug and help break down the stigma. “For decades we have been told misinformation and lies about cannabis and cannabis users,” Lawson said. “But people are starting to unlearn what they’ve been told about cannabis. Cannabis tourism can provide the answers to the questions many have through farm tours, workshops, networking events, infused dinners and more.”Even in states where the drug is legal, marijuana still feels outside many people’s comfort zones. There’s a lingering sense of taboo as it remains illegal on a federal level. “Over 30 states have a medical cannabis program and over 15 states have said yes to adult recreational cannabis,” Lawson explained. “Despite an overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens voting to decriminalize cannabis in some capacity, cannabis is still currently listed as a Schedule I drug and is federally prohibited. So, you essentially have an industry that is illegal and legal at the same time. This conflict is wreaking havoc on the cannabis industry.”The idea of cannabis tourism also presents a stark contradiction when you consider that more than 40,000 Americans are currently estimated to be incarcerated for marijuana-related offenses. It’s tough to reconcile the idea of people languishing behind bars because of weed while others have the privilege to plan vacations around it.Outside the U.S., there’s further confusion around the implications of recent decisions to decriminalize or legalize marijuana in various countries or regions within them. (And movies like “Midnight Express” and “Return to Paradise” instilled a sense of panic around drugs for many would-be international travelers.)“A patchwork of complicated laws and regulations regarding recreational cannabis use by overseas tourists means questions remain about the legality of consumption, the transport of cannabis vape pens overseas as well as issues of insurance coverage and health care, during and after travel,” Michael O’Regan wrote in The Conversation in June.Wherever your travels take you, do your best to research the regulations in place before making marijuana part of the experience. The future of cannabis tourismDespite the lingering stigma and legal confusion, industry experts remain optimistic about cannabis tourism. “Cannabis tourism will continue to grow,” Gamez predicted. “There are ready, willing, and surprisingly affluent cannabis travelers that prefer cannabis experiences while on vacation. Restaurants, attractions, shops, hotels and more will find ways to incorporate this in their daily offerings.”Applegarth pointed to the trend of “effect pairing cannabis” that’s taking off in certain sectors. “Like food pairs with wine, cannabis pairs with activities and experiences,” he explained. “Effect pairing is the art of selecting and consuming cannabis in an effort to optimally enhance an activity or experience. An example of this is a cannabis cultivar that when consumed, stimulates appetite and sharpens the palate prior to enjoying a Michelin star meal while on vacation.”Applegarth also believes cannabis tourism will continue to center around wellness-related experiences, both in a medical or leisure travel sense. “Cannabis, hemp and CBD will continue to intersect with culinary, spa, and beyond,” Applegarth said. “For altered state THC-rich cannabis travel experiences, ‘mindset and setting’ will increasingly become an area of focus and high-touch curation, playing up sensory experiences.”Unlike wine-related travel, which is limited to specific regions that specialize in quality production, cannabis tourism has wider geographic potential. “Cannabis is everywhere around the world in urban locations, rural locations and everything in between, which means it will exponentially grow much larger,” Roby said. “And there is no shoulder season with cannabis tourism. Our hosts have cannabis activities all year round.”And with countries like Germany moving to legalize cannabis on a federal level, Roby believes the market potential is endless. He noted that Bud and Breakfast had seen a triple increase in revenue every year until the pandemic slowdown and has finally returned to pre-pandemic levels of record growth.“Cannabis tourism is just getting started and will grow into the hundreds of billions of dollars within a few years time,” Roby said. “This will occur in conjunction with nations around the world developing compassionate and rational policies towards cannabis and its use.”
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“Sola?” “Si, sola.” Wherever I went, I was asked the same question: are you alone? When I replied in the affirmative, people were shocked and disapproving. Lone female travellers are still rare in Sicily’s hinterland, and those on foot are rarer still.I was walking the Magna Via Francigena – the Great Road of the Frankish Knights – a nine-day, 116-mile coast-to-coast pilgrimage from Palermo, the Sicilian capital in the north, to Agrigento in the south. The route, which follows ancient drovers’ paths, became a pilgrimage in 2017 and is little known outside Italy. It seemed the ideal crowd-free alternative to Spain’s Camino de Santiago.After a few days in Palermo, I collected my “pilgrim’s passport” and received my first stamp at the cathedral. Pilgrims then get a stamp after each of the nine stages – and a certificate if they walk at least 100km.MAP Pilgrim stamps. Photograph: Rachel DixonThe first 7km is a dull trudge through Palermo’s suburbs and the invaluable website viefrancigenedisicilia.it recommends taking the bus to the nearby hill town of Monreale, which I did, spending the night there and starting the pilgrimage proper in the morning.I was so glad I did. Of all Sicily’s glorious cathedrals, Monreale’s is surely the most magnificent, every inch resplendent with mosaicked bible scenes. At aperitivo time, when all the day trippers had returned to Palermo, I had the terrace of Fuori Orario trattoria to myself, watching the capital light up in the distance.View of homes and buildings in the ancient hill town of Prizzi, Province of Palermo. Photograph: Emily_M_Wilson/GettyI stayed in a charming apartment next to the cathedral for just €25. The Magna Via Francigena website lists discounted accommodation for pilgrims, from donation-only shared dorms to fancy hotels at fleabag prices.Finally, it was time to start walking. I had installed the maps.me app and downloaded the route to my phone. After an initial struggle to find the path (down a flight of steps, it turned out), navigation was plain sailing. I barely needed the map because the route was so well signposted: little stencilled pilgrim figures, Magna Via Francigena stickers, a splash of red and white paint. Whenever the path forked, a red arrow pointed the way, with a red “X” barring the wrong turn. It was like being on a treasure hunt.I pounded paved roads through the Oreto valley until the village of Altofonte, where I stopped to refill my two water bottles. It is essential to use the public water fountains – in September, temperatures were still 30C-plus; my hands would swell up when I hadn’t been drinking enough.From here, the terrain became wilder. I felt elated when I reached Santa Cristina Gela, the end of the first stage. The 20km walk had been easy enough and my rucksack was bearable. I had barely seen another soul along the route itself, and it felt completely safe. Whenever I reached a village, the people (mostly elderly men) I passed were happy to chat, despite my lack of Italian.That night I stayed in the same apartment as two Italian pilgrims, Stefano and Filippo. It was nice to have company for dinner at the cheap and cheerful Picasso Ristopub. Stefano was worried by the weather forecast, but I figured I was more used to rain than a Neapolitan.It rained all night. The next morning was dry, however, and I set off early. The route was off-road, climbing through farmland and forest to the Sanctuary of Tagliavia. The rain resumed as I left the church, and got heavier and heavier until I was no longer walking up a hillside but clambering up a waterfall.Temple of Juno, Valley of the Temples, Agrigento, Sicily. Photograph: Stefano Paterna/AlamyAfter nine hours of walking, Corleone was a little disappointing. Its mafia museum was closed, as were most of the restaurants (on a Saturday, of all days), and the hotel charged me €50 instead of the €30 on the Magna Via Francigena website.I was glad to move on in the morning – until I actually started moving. It was a steep climb out of town, my knee hurt and my new boots were starting to rub (I know, rookie error). Eventually I reached Prizzi’s lake, only to find the town itself looming above me: the final couple of miles felt practically vertical. It was a consolation to discover a fairytale place, with stepped and cobbled streets, and flower-bedecked houses. I pushed on to a panoramic viewpoint and my jaw dropped. A viewing platform jutted out over the precipitous drop, and the whole of Sicily seemed to stretch out below.On the 25km walk from Prizzi to Castronovo, I was greeted by yet another elderly gentleman wanting to know if I was alone. I braced myself, but he smiled and held up a clenched fist: “Forte. Donna forte [strong woman].” From then on, whenever the going got tough, I repeated his mantra. Today’s path went through two shady forest areas, the Monte Carcaci nature reserve and Santa Caterina, and past an abandoned village.I shared an apartment with Stefano and Filippo again in Castronovo. Our host Francesca took us on a tour of the town. Bar Gattuso on the main square, looked deserted but a table was quickly laid in the middle of the piazza, and soon we were eating arancini, caponata, local sausages and a host of other Sicilian delicacies. The best table in Castronovo, and only €20 a head for pilgrims.The next day, the three of us walked together. It was less meditative but more fun, with stops to pick fruit, explore caves and take selfies. We foraged for prickly pears and figs, then passed a vineyard where an old man, Mario, was tending the vines. He invited us to pick some grapes, and brewed the strongest coffee I’ve ever tasted. It turned out I was staying with his son-in-law Walter at my next stop – central Sicily is a small world.Jesus Christ mosaic in Monreale Cathedral near Palermo. Photograph: Peter Barritt/AlamyI parted company with the boys soon after. They were on a strict schedule but I had planned a couple of easy days, guessing that I might be glad of a rest. I was right: my blisters were killing me. My first stop was lovely Equiturismo San Lorenzo, where I had a tiny stone cottage all to myself, and complete peace and quiet.I walked through the lively twin towns of Cammarata and San Giovanni Gemini and an hour down the road to my next stop, Casale Margherita, a turismo rurale. Here I had the luxury of an afternoon by the swimming pool. Another short walk the next day took me to Tenuta Lanza “Il Mulino”, an agriturismo in an orange grove. The hotel was closed, but Giuseppe, the laid-back owner, was happy to let a pilgrim stay. The next day I walked through an arid land with patches of charred ground from the summer’s wildfires, some of it still smouldering. When I reached my destination, the fortress town of Sutera, I joined a guided walk to the top of Mount San Paolino, where we rang the huge old church bell and gazed across the island all the way to Mount Etna.From Sutera, I walked to Racalmuto, the picturesque birthplace of the writer Leonardo Sciascia, then pushed on a little further to bustling Grotte, where I stayed in a fantastic palazzo on the main square, in a boutique hotel-style room with a balcony, for €20 – including morning coffee and ricotta-filled doughnut at the bar downstairs. Sutera. Photograph: John G Wilbanks/AlamyThe penultimate day, to Joppolo Giancaxio, had the last real ascent of the trail. At the top, I looked back towards Palermo, hidden behind impossibly distant peaks, and onwards to Agrigento, almost within touching distance. It was hard to believe I had walked so far. When I reached Joppolo, my host Luana invited me to hang out with her and her friends at the adventure park. We drank gin and tonics, fired up the barbecue, and shared thick steaks of Sicilian cinisara beef and wedges of Joppolo yellow melon.I had mixed feelings on the last day of the walk: sadness that the journey was almost over; relief that I would soon be able to unlace those bloody boots; excitement about reaching my destination. The official end point is the cathedral of Agrigento and its museum, where I collected my final stamp and certificate. But it wasn’t until I visited the Valley of the Temples, just beyond the city, that I felt my pilgrimage was complete. I had reached one of the most astonishing archaeological sites in the world on foot – and I had done it alone.
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The only Inca trail most people have ever heard of is the 26-mile path from Piscacucho (near Cusco, Peru) to the jungle-clad ruins of Machu Picchu. One of the planet’s most iconic treks, it lures some 25,000 hikers each year. Meanwhile, the trails of the greater Qhapaq Ñan network have gone largely unnoticed, unused, and unprotected.But they are no less spectacular or significant, which makes recent efforts to develop and conserve areas around the cobblestoned paths of Qhapaq Ñan so important. This extraordinary feat of preindustrial engineering allowed the Inca to communicate, exchange goods, and consolidate power during the height of the empire in the late 15th century. That’s when the road system spanned nearly 19,000 miles, crossing the steamy rainforests, desiccated salt flats, and toothy Andean peaks between modern-day Colombia, to the north, and Chile and Argentina, to the south.The weathered trade route still links the crumbling ruins of ancient cities with terraced fields of potatoes sown by modern farmers, who gallop by on horseback, woolen ponchos flapping in the wind. In 2014, Unesco recognized the Qhapaq Ñan as a sprawling, multi-country World Heritage Site, solidifying years of research by Peruvian investigator Ricardo Espinosa.Now there’s a push within Peru—which holds the majority of the route—to preserve, restore, and add value to kickstart rural development and diversify tourism away from Machu Picchu, which became so overcrowded by 2019 that the government enacted a timed entry system to control the 5,000 daily visitors.(Meet Peru’s trailblazing women trekking porters.)Explorers, archeologists, and anthropologists have all traveled the Qhapaq Ñan in recent years to identify stretches of contiguous stone pathways, looking for communities prime for development, as well as ruins in need of conservation. Tourist routes are emerging along the sprawling network’s main corridor—known as the Great Inca Trail—which runs from Cuenca, Ecuador, in the north, to Cusco, Peru, in the south. The plan is to help save an old road by positioning it in a new light.The efforts around Qhapaq Ñan could provide a viable alternative to Machu Picchu-focused treks, as well as extend the reach of the tourism economy—and the potential for sustainable development—to new regions.A masterwork consolidates an empireMore than a simple path, the Qhapaq Ñan was like a line chart for administering an empire. The Incas crafted it—in many cases, atop existing paths—with a series of stone structures roughly nine miles apart. Called tambos, they were motels, military checkpoints, and supply hubs rolled into one.John Leivers, an Australian explorer and researcher of Andean history who’s walked stretches of the Qhapaq Ñan since 1994, praises the efficiency of its trails. “They [the Incas] perfected everything, from the lengths to the angles, altitudes, steps, and gradients,” he says. “You couldn’t ask for a better route from point A to point B.”Built on the backs of Inca men performing mit’a, or mandatory public service, the Qhapaq Ñan traverses one of the world’s most extreme terrains, including the driest non-polar desert on earth (the Atacama) and some of the highest peaks beyond the Himalayas. Yet, it rarely heads straight up or down, navigating geographic obstacles (mountains, river valleys) in such a mannered way that groups of soldiers or caravans of llamas could easily tackle it, trudging from tambo to tambo.“The Inca built the trails in very high places because the higher you go in the Andes, the fewer ravines you have to cross and the fewer hassles you have,” explains Leivers. “There are also more springs, lakes, and water.”The higher-altitude sections through the center of Peru—between 11,000 and 15,000 feet, behind the perennially snowcapped peaks of the Cordillera Huayhuash and Cordillera Blanca mountains—are the best preserved, Leivers says, due to their relative isolation and small population centers. Yet, even here, villagers have removed stones from paths to create corrals for animals or bases for mud-brick homes. Mining companies have also paved over sections of the Qhapaq Ñan to build access roads—even though Peruvian law safeguards the nation’s patrimony.Can tourism save the Qhapaq Ñan?Nick Stanziano, the Lima-based cofounder and CEO of adventure outfit SA Expeditions, sees ecotourism as the best way to combat the route’s rapid deterioration. After studying old maps, consulting centuries-old texts, and quizzing Peruvian researchers, he set off with Leivers on a series of expeditions beginning in 2017. The goal? To develop adventure tourism on the Qhapaq Ñan by assessing the best trails, opening them up to trekkers, and assembling support teams (cooks, mountain guides, and llama handlers) needed to manage journeys in the high Andes.Stanziano focused his efforts on the Great Inca Trail, the main Peruvian backbone of the Qhapaq Ñan network. It’s the most monumental road left in existence, and has the kind of aesthetic value needed to develop tourism.“This is the greatest preindustrial road that exists today, and it exists in a place that’s kind of been forgotten by the industrial world,” says Stanziano. “So, there have to be some economic incentives to preserve it, and I believe tourism is the best one you can offer this region, which is in dire need of more humane development.”(Learn why llama territory in Peru is threatened by climate change.)Stanziano’s e-book documents 220 days on the Qhapaq Ñan, making the case for how the 1,800-mile Great Inca Trail could become an epic tourist route akin to the Pacific Crest Trail, which he grew up next to in northern California. For now, he’s focusing on a roughly 100-mile stretch in the middle, offering five-day 50-mile treks north and south of Huánuco Pampa, located about 275 miles northeast of Lima.Peruvian tour operators such as Apumayo Expediciones and Lima Tours have followed suit with similar treks; larger international companies including Intrepid plan to launch routes in 2023, helping to guide adventurous hikers through this high-altitude terrain, where temperatures in the winter high season (May to September) can swing from the 60s with blazing sun to the low teens with frost.Most trips involve wild camping near tambos or villages, or on the farms of families along the way, injecting money into the local economy through camping fees, food purchases, and access to ruins.‘The future is on these roads’The village of Huánuco Pampa offers the best example of how the tourism industry, Peru’s Ministry of Culture, foreign donors, and local communities are working together to preserve the Qhapaq Ñan and showcase it to outsiders. Thanks in part to a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Embassy in 2018, archeologists are now restoring the ruins of a large administrative center here, which includes an Inca temple, terraced ushnu (ceremonial structure), and towering qollqas (storehouses) built between 1460 and 1539.This has attracted tourists, who stick around thanks to a new campground with dining facilities and guided tours, all provided by a tourism co-op run by 20 residents from the nearby community of Aguaymiro.“We’re privileged to have such a powerful legacy in Peru, but we don’t always recognize it or the ways in which we can transform this into development opportunities for rural communities,” explains Carla Córdova, a specialist with Peru’s Ministry of Culture who helped form the Huánuco Pampa co-op in 2017. To get communities invested in conservation, she adds, they first need to see some tangible benefits.José Valverde, a member of the co-op, says he was surprised that Huánuco Pampa could “attract foreigners just like Cusco.” He offers them guided tours of the ruins and prepares bountiful pachamanca meals, where meats and potatoes are cooked in an earthen oven over hot stones. “We as a community need to realize that, with tourism, we can also make a living,” he says. “It’s not working out so well for us just with agriculture.”There are seven sites like Huánuco Pampa along the Peruvian portions of the Qhapaq Ñan that now have teams from the Ministry of Culture working on investigation, conservation, and community outreach. This makes Stanziano hopeful that, over the next decade, key stretches of the Great Inca Trail might see a group or two passing through each day, with a variety of companies buying food from local farmers, camping on their land, and creating new economic opportunities as they go.“Peru has to think about what tourism is going to be in 20 years,” he says. “And I believe the future is on these roads.” TRIP PLANNERHow to get there: To reach Huánuco Pampa, take an eight-hour bus ride ($10) from Lima to La Unión, the closest village, and arrange a quick taxi to the ruins. Alternatively, travel outfits such as SA Expeditions offer transfers from Lima on booked tours.What to expect: Hikes along the center of the Great Inca Trail average between nine and 12 miles daily, depending on the length of the trip. This can be quite taxing due to the high altitude. There are no campgrounds beyond Huánuco Pampa, so most trekkers place their tents near tambos or on family farms (both typically next to fresh water), paying an informal fee of a few dollars per person to the local community. Basic Spanish is helpful for communication. Temperatures can dip well below freezing at night, but it’s often sunny and spring-like during the day.Booking a tour: The Great Inca Trail is generally easy to navigate (look for the stones!), but given the altitude and remoteness, most visitors opt for pack llamas to carry supplies, as well as cooks to source and prepare meals. A full eight-day tour package from Lima with transfers, guides, gear, cooks, llamas, and hotels on either end costs around $5,000 per person.Mark Johanson is a Chile-based journalist who covers travel, food, and culture. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.
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I’ve been running uphill for over an hour, scaling this narrow mountain trail, when we pass through some trees. This must be the top, I’m thinking, hopefully, as we crest the pass. But alas, rising up on the other side are more hulking mountains and snaking up through the middle of them, like a line of ants, are the tiny dots of the runners ahead of us.“Putain,” swears the French runner behind me. I know exactly how he feels. The 170km Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc is the most famous trail race in the world. In the fast-growing sport of Mountain Ultra Trail (MUT) running, it’s the big one, the sport’s Super Bowl. For a week at the end of August each year, the town of Chamonix in the French Alps is completely taken over by ultra runners and their supporters. Any unsuspecting visitors arriving in the area would be left baffled by this strange world of short shorts and little backpacks and super-fit people that they’d wandered into.During UTMB week – which acts as the climax of the brand new UTMB World Series – about 10,000 runners compete across seven different races of varying lengths. I’m here to run the 100km CCC race, which starts in Courmayeur in Italy and follows a route around Mont Blanc, scaling more than 6,000m of ascent along the way, passing through Switzerland, before finishing in Chamonix.Setting the pace: Adharanand Finn crosses the finish line in the middle of the nightWhy would anyone want to run so far? It’s a good question. On one level, taking part in these races is an adventure into the wild. By traversing such great distances on foot, you get to explore some of the most remote corners of these incredible mountains. Sure, you spend a lot of time looking down at your feet, but every time you look up, the landscape takes your breath away.But it is also a race. Despite my intention to primarily run to enjoy the experience, once we get going I find myself pushing hard and I finish in under 20 hours, an arbitrary goal I set myself before the start. You can choose to go slower, of course, but it doesn’t really make things any easier, since it just means you’re out there running for longer. So I decide to embrace the inherent competitiveness of the event and get my skates on. I can then spend the rest of the weekend relaxing and soaking up the unique atmosphere of Chamonix during UTMB week.It’s handy that my hotel, La Folie Douce, is so close to the finish, so that after finally making it to Chamonix in the middle of the night, I can hobble back to a hot shower and a blissfully comfy bed. The next morning I spend a heavenly few hours stretched out by the hotel’s outdoor pool with stunning views across the mountains that look a little unreal in the morning sunlight, like a huge Athena poster backdrop.Take a dip: the pool at La Folie Douce hotelChamonix also has an abundance of great places to eat – an essential part of the post-race recovery process – from the fine seasonal French cuisine at the Mont Blanc Hotel, the oldest, most elegant hotel in town, to the hearty Soul Bowls and vegan burgers at the Bighorn Bistro (a favourite haunt of the big-eating elite ultra runners).Once I feel recovered, I head back into town to sit outside a café and cheer the last UTMB runners home, each one creating a wave of noise from the crowds as they pass. For more than 100 miles and for up to 48 hours, they’ve been running up and down mountains, without sleep, and the effort is etched on their faces. Having done a race myself, I feel a connection to each runner that passes, and each time it brings a tear to my eye to see them so close to finishing their epic journey.For more details on UTMB Mont Blanc, go to utmbmontblanc.com. La Folie Douce has rooms from £90 per night (lafoliedoucehotels.com)Running highs: Other mountain trail events to test yourself onTo qualify for the UTMB races in Chamonix, you must compete in at least one of the 25 UTMB World Series events, where you can collect ‘running stones’ for the UTMB race lottery. Entries for the lottery open in December. Here are five of the best UTMB World Series events to consider. Photograph: Alessandro Zappalorto/AlamyLavaredo Ultra Trail, Italy The serene rocky monoliths of the Dolomites play host each June to this long-established race on the European mountain running calendar. Setting off late at night from the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo – host city of the 1956 Winter Olympics – the race is brilliantly supported, with large crowds lining the streets to cheer you on your way. Best of all, being in Italy, you get to feast on endless pizza after finishing the race (lavaredo.utmb.world).Speedgoat Mountain Races, USA Held in July on the slopes of one of the biggest ski resorts in the States, Snowbird in Utah, the Speedgoat 50k takes runners up gruelling climbs, across tricky, rocky terrain and through the breathtaking landscape of Utah’s Wasatch mountains. With the entire course situated above 2,300m, this is one of the toughest mountain races in the US (speedgoat.utmb.world). Photograph: SportografUltra Trail Snowdonia (UTS), Wales The only UK race in the UTMB World Series, the UTS follows challenging trails and traverses hairy ridges, summiting the most notable peaks in the north of the Snowdonia national park. Although the series of races – over 50km, 100km and 165km – take place in July, good weather is, of course, far from guaranteed (snowdonia.utmb.world).Puerto Vallarta, México After crossing the Sierra Madre mountains, this race takes runners down through forests and agave plantations, into the jungle and then finally along the beach in the beautiful bay of Puerto Vallarta on Mexico’s Pacific coast. Taking place for the first time in October 2022, this new event’s longest race is 100 miles, while there are also shorter options of 100km, 50km and 20km (puerto-vallarta.utmb.world).Doi Inthanon, Thailand This race takes place in December around the highest mountain in Thailand, Doi Inthanon, in the foothills of the Himalayas. The Doi Inthanon national park is famous for its waterfalls, remote villages and its sunsets – if you do the 170km race, you’ll run through at least one sunset and maybe even two, depending on how fast you are (inthanon.utmb.world).
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A small dot on the horizon grew larger as a group of 10 paddleboarders prepared to join it. Some of them whistled, hooted and yelled words of encouragement, waving their paddles in the air.And so Michael Shoreman reached the shore, equipped with a paddle and a bright blue board.At approximately 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, the 39-year-old Shoreman landed on North Avenue Beach after a 27-hour journey on paddleboard across Lake Michigan that started Tuesday at 5:40 a.m. According to his team, Shoreman is on the way to being the first athlete with a disability to cross the Great Lakes.He wiped away tears as his feet touched the sand. He had beaten his expectations to travel the 44.1 miles between Union Pier, Michigan, and Chicago in 30 hours.“This is the emotional part,” Shoreman’s manager Liana Neumann said. She picked up the pace to go give the paddleboarder a hug.Mike Shoreman, shouts out “We did it!" as he is greeted by his friend, crossing manager and support coach Liana Neumann after landing on North Avenue Beach on July 27, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)Shoreman has had plenty of these emotional moments over the summer. On July 5, he crossed Lake Superior in eight hours, after crossing Lake Huron in 28 hours on June 13 and Lake Erie in seven hours on May 19.“I feel really tired, but I’m really happy to be here,” Shoreman told the Tribune. “Chicago is one of my favorite cities in the world; it’s my favorite American city. And so to be able to arrive here, in front of this beautiful skyline and all these amazing paddleboarders, is just amazing.”In 2018, Shoreman suddenly developed Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a shingles variant and neurological condition. The disease attacked his ear, paralyzed and collapsed the right side of his face and gave him mobility, vision, speech, taste and hearing problems. He also has vertigo, which makes paddleboarding particularly difficult.“So I went from being very athletic to not being able to walk, and I spent a year learning how to retrain my brain how to walk properly,” Shoreman said. “And the doctors said I’d never paddleboard again. And I had a mental health breakdown.“And on the other side of learning how to walk and getting back on the paddleboard, I just wanted to work with mental health organizations that support youth and young people and help support them so this is to raise money to put mental health programs in schools for young people.”Escorted by local paddleboarders, Mike Shoreman nears North Avenue Beach in Chicago on July 27, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)Shoreman has been involved with many mental health advocacy organizations such as Kenneth Cole’s The Mental Health Coalition, The Trevor Project and the Tyler Clemente Foundation, and Canada’s youth mental health organization Jack.org.Neumann has been friends with Shoreman for about seven years — ever since she took a class with him back on the Toronto waterfront, where he was a paddleboard instructor.“I’ve been a mortician, a funeral director, for 22 years and so I’m off with PTSD. I’ve been off for two years,” she said. “And he’s doing this for mental health, so it’s dear to my heart.”During the crossings, Shoreman cramps, sits down, stands up, laughs, cries. But one thing he can’t do is stop paddling for too long — otherwise the board drifts away on the water.“Last night was very difficult,” he said. “It was very scary at times.”Yet every time the sun comes out, Shoreman is re-energized. Neumann said she has never met someone with “such raw determination.”“I don’t know where he gets it from. It’s really something to witness,” she said. “And he just pulls it from within and remembers why he’s doing this and then gets it done.”Closer to the city, paddleboarders from the group Chicago Stand-Up Paddleboarding joined Shoreman to give him one last push.“You guys are the best,” Mike told them once they were all ashore.“We’re just the support. YOU are the best,” an accompanying paddleboarder answered.Mike Shoreman left, receives a fist bump from a local paddleboard as he rests on the North Avenue Beach following his 27-hour journey across Lake Michigan on July 27, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)A support team of five accompanied Shoreman by boat during his last crossing, including two videographers, two captains and Neumann. They help keep his spirits up and assist with logistics such as feeding him a carbohydrate shake every 30 minutes and having him drink electrolytes every hour.The next and last Great Lake that Shoreman will attempt to cross is Lake Ontario. He tried to cross it from Rochester to Toronto in the summer of 2021, but was unsuccessful. He’ll face the challenge again mid-August.Afternoon BriefingDailyChicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon.Shoreman said his team says they love these trips and always ask him where the next adventure will take them.“I joke around, ‘Well, maybe we could do the Arctic next,’ ” he said in between chuckles. “No, I have interests, of course. But you know, this is purpose-driven.”He talked about how many people suffer mental health problems such as anxiety, stress and depression.“We don’t talk about it, and a lot of people suffer and they shouldn’t, and this is to raise awareness and to hopefully raise a lot of money to save young people’s lives,” he said.Whether Shoreman will attempt crossing other large bodies of water in the future remains to be seen. But regardless of what happens next, Neumann is convinced of one thing.“It won’t be the end of what you hear about Mike,” Neumann said. “He’ll keep being out there, making a difference.”adperez@chicagotribune.com
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BREAKING NEWSLIVE: Eyewitness News Town Hall | Superstorm Sandy: 10 years laterABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News StreamLIVE | Superstorm Sandy: 10 years laterTHE LOOP | NYC Weather and Traffic CamsWATCH LIVEWelcome, Your AccountLog OutFrom craft breweries in South Korea to turtle nesting grounds in Trinidad and Tobago, the list highlights adventures near and far.Need inspiration for your next travel destination? National Geographic has you covered.Its "Best of the World 2023" list, unveiled Wednesday, highlights 25 must-see destinations near and far, from craft breweries in Busan, South Korea, to the world's densest leatherback turtle nesting ground in Trinidad and Tobago.The silhouettes of visitors are seen as they look at the city skyline at an observation deck in Busan, South Korea, on Aug. 1, 2015.SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesCreated in close collaboration with NatGeo's team of travel experts and international editors, "Best of the World" takes a "deeper dive into places all over the globe that are providing experiences that are unique and beneficial for both locals and travelers," Amy Alipio, senior editor at National Geographic Travel."We also worked hard to provide lesser-known gems on the list, equally inspiring alternatives to destinations that have become overcrowded (think Choquequirao vs. Machu Picchu in Peru)," Alipio said in a statement.Hidden in the Peruvian Andes, the Inca ruins of Choquequirao are reachable only on foot -- for now.Victor Zea, National GeographicNational Geographic groups the list into five categories: Family, educational journeys for all generations; Adventure, exciting activities in breathtaking places; Culture, explorations of history and heritage; Nature, escapes to wild, beautiful places; and the newly-added Community, healing journeys, community conservation, giving back, sustainable places and more.Among domestic destinations, Utah is highlighted for its rugged landscape and Milwaukee is featured for its revitalized warehouse district, the Historic Third Ward.Twilight falls over Delicate Arch and other red rock formations in Arches National Park, one of Utah's five national parks.Chad Copeland, Nat Geo Image CollectionThose jonesing for international adventure should consider The Greek island of Karpathos, a growing center of ecotourism, or Egypt, with its well preserved 4,300-year-old tomb of Khuwy.National Geographic's "Best of the World 2023" listCultureRome's third-century Arch of Drusus marks the start of a planned 360-mile walking route across Italy along the Appian Way.Andrea Frazzetta, National GeographicAppian Way, ItalyBusan, South KoreaLongmen Grottoes, Henan Province, ChinaEgyptCharleston, South CarolinaNatureA zebra herd wades through the waters of the Okavango Delta in the Selinda Spillway, a channel that attracts abundant wildlife in northern Botswana.Beverly Joubert, Nat Geo Image CollectionScottish HighlandsBotswanaSloveniaBig Bend National Park, TexasAzoresAdventureThe resident bottlenose dolphins of Revillagigedo National Park frequently show curiosity toward divers.Enric Sala, Nat Geo Image CollectionNew ZealandChoquequirao, PeruUtahAustrian AlpsRevillagigedo National Park, MexicoCommunityA small white chapel perches on the peak of Mount Profitis Ilias on Karpathos, one of the lesser known islands in Greece’s Dodecanese archipelago.Ciril Jazbec, National GeographicDodecanese Islands, GreeceMilwaukee, WisconsinAlberta, CanadaLaosGhanaFamilyRigi Railways’ cogwheel trains present dazzling views of Lake Lucerne as they ascend Mount Rigi, known as the “queen of the mountains” in Switzerland.Christian Meixner, Switzerland TourismTrinidad and TobagoSan Francisco, CaliforniaColombiaManchester, UKSwitzerlandFind out more about the "Best of the World 2023" list online at NatGeo.com/BestOfTheWorld.The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of National Geographic Partners and this ABC station.Copyright © 2022 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
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Amazing travel deals for 2023 revealed, from £16.99 Easyjet flights to Malaga to 25 per cent off Galapagos cruises and Kenyan safarisBA has a flights and holidays sale with seven nights in the Algarve from £199pp Aer Lingus is selling return flights from Manchester to New York from £399 Idiliq is offering 30 per cent off its resorts in Spain, Turkey and Florida Published: 11:35 EST, 3 January 2023 | Updated: 11:35 EST, 3 January 2023 It's a new year - and with it comes a new batch of amazing travel deals.Here we round up some choice offers, from cheap-as-chips flights to Malaga to heavily discounted adventures to the Galapagos Islands.BA’S GRAND SALE Fly to the Algarve for a seven-night stay with British Airways - from just £199ppBritish Airways has a flights and holidays sale with seven nights in the Algarve from £199pp or in St Lucia from £749pp, including return flights from Gatwick, 23kg luggage and hotel. Book by January 31 (ba.com/sale).LOCAL KNOWLEDGEBradt Guides has 35 per cent off all travel guides and books until January 3, use code JAN 35 (bradtguides.com).SCENIC FLYING GIFTGet 25 per cent off gift cards valued £75 or more from Wingly, which arranges scenic flights in small planes around the UK. Buy by January 4 (wingly.io).ATLANTIC TRAVEL Flights with Aer Lingus from Manchester to NYC and back start from £399 if you book by January 16Aer Lingus is selling return flights from Manchester to New York from £399, and to Orlando and Barbados from £419. Book by January 16 for travel between February 1 and June 30 (aerlingus.com).EASYJET ESCAPES Easyjet is running its Big Orange Sale until January 10, with Malaga (above) one of the destinations on the discount listEasyjet has flights from Gatwick to Nice, Malaga, Venice and Dalaman from £16.99 one-way as part of its Big Orange Sale running until January 10. Other offers include Bristol to Reykjavik and Edinburgh to Amsterdam from £17.99 one-way (easyjet.com).SPANISH SUNSHINEIdiliq is offering 30 per cent off its resorts in Spain, Turkey and Florida, along with hotels in Austria, Cornwall and Perthshire. Book by January 8 for travel up to December 22 (idiliqhotels.com).BUCKET LIST FUNIntrepid has savings on its 2023 small group adventures including 25 per cent off a Galapagos cruise, Kenya safari or Antarctica voyage. Flights are extra, book by January 20 (intrepidtravel.com).All offers subject to availability; terms and conditions apply. Intrepid has savings on its 2023 small group adventures including 25 per cent off a cruise to the Galapagos Islands (above) Advertisement Read more: www.britishairwa... Bradt Guides | The world’s leading independent travel publisher Wingly, the flight sharing platform Aer Lingus easyJet | Cheap flights ✈️ Book low-cost flight tickets 2023 IDILIQ Hotels & Resorts | Official Website Best Small Group Tours & Adventure Travel | Intrepid Travel UK
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European scientists are turning an aircraft into a laboratory that simulates lunar gravity to prepare astronauts and technology for future moon landings as part of the NASA-led Artemis missions.
The moon is a strange little world. Only about 1.2% the mass of Earth, our planet's companion exerts a much weaker gravitational force on objects on its surface than its parent planet. As a result, an astronaut on the moon's surface feels as if he or she only weighs one sixth of their earthly weight. The same goes for all equipment the astronauts would use. It may sound like no big deal, but this feeble gravitational pull creates all sorts of unforeseen problems that are difficult to prepare for in research labs on Earth. There is, however, one way to experience lunar gravity while still in the confines of Earth and explore these challenges before going to the moon: On a parabolic flight.
Parabolic flights, better known for generating weightlessness, are frequently used to prepare astronauts for missions to the International Space Station. But in April this year, the European Space Agency (ESA) ran its first parabolic flight campaign focused solely on simulating lunar and Martian gravity. Researchers from all over Europe descended upon the French city of Bordeaux, the base of French company Novespace, Europe's only provider of parabolic flights for scientific purposes, and filled the company's converted Airbus' A310 with all sorts of experiments and technology demonstrations.
During that April test campaign, the plane rose to the sky three times to conduct three-hour roller-coaster flights, each involving 31 carefully executed parabolic maneuvers. During these maneuvers, pilots first climb with the plane at maximum speed at a 50-degree angle, then pull back the throttle to allow the plane to glide over the crest of the parabola in freefall. The plane then exits the parabola and enters a brief period of steady flight.
During the climb and the subsequent exit maneuver, objects and passengers inside the plane experience nearly double the force of Earth's gravity for about 20 seconds. During the freefall, they enjoy a little under half a minute of weightlessness or reduced gravity, depending on how the pilots execute the maneuver. These brief reduced gravity spells are all researchers can get to prepare for a challenging adventure that will take humans some 240,000 miles (385,000 kilometers) away from Earth. And there is a lot to prepare for.
"On the moon, there is still gravity but it's very low," Jean Francois Clervoy, Novespace founder and retired French astronaut, who in 1999 flew to the Hubble Space Telescope, told Space.com. "So because the gravity is light, you have to rethink the way in which you design mechanisms, whether it is moving a rover or all the hardware that will be used on the moon including space suits."
For example, astronauts on the moon can't walk like people do on Earth. In footage filmed during the 1970s Apollo landings, astronauts famously hop around like kangaroos. Thus, during the flight campaign in April, an ESA team tested how a hopping astronaut could control a simple device designed to transport equipment on the moon. The device, called LESA for Lunar Equipment Support Assembly, had previously been used in an underwater simulation. The April flight campaign, however, was LESA's first ride in lunar gravity.
"We want to test how an astronaut in lunar gravity will walk with [lunar] locomotion and pull or push this kind of equipment," Hervé Stevenin, the chief instructor of European astronauts, told Space.com. "We want to see how the equipment will react on uneven terrain in lunar gravity and how difficult it would be to control it."
The researchers therefore attached rocks to the floor of the Novespace plane's spacious padded cabin to create a miniature obstacle course over which they pushed and pulled LESA during the reduced gravity spells.
Stevenin has bold visions for the Novespace plane and its role in preparing astronauts for the coming era of moon exploration. During the April test campaign, he and his colleagues experimented with virtual reality, placing test subjects into a life-like simulation of the lunar surface through a virtual reality headset. The test subjects had to perform simple tasks during the lunar gravity spells, feeling just like they would on the real moon.
Since this was the first such campaign, the tasks involved were rather simple, such as moving a box of tools from point A to point B that the test subject could see in the headset, but which was also physically present in front of him or her. In the future, the virtual reality set-up could grow more complicated and the tasks more complex.
"With this headset, the resolution is so high that it feels like being on the moon," said Stevenin. "Now when in addition to what you are trying to grasp in the virtual environment you add partial gravity, you really move like if you are on the moon. You are really embedded into [the lunar environment] and we are hoping that there is high potential for astronaut training in the future combining these two technologies."
Many of the experiments onboard the plane during the April campaign focused on human health and performance in reduced gravity. Scientists know a lot about what weightlessness does to the human body thanks to years of research on the International Space Station. They know, however, very little about what happens in lunar gravity or the gravity of Mars.
"We know only very little about the effect of lunar gravity on the human being since people were on the moon for only a very limited period of time," Alexander Chouker, a professor of medicine and academic director at the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, Germany, told Space.com. "And there is an additional problem because we can't simulate lunar gravity on Earth so easily."
On Earth, space physiology researchers regularly conduct bed-rest studies, during which groups of volunteers spend days or even weeks just lying in bed. Their muscles and bones quickly weaken from disuse, just as they would in weightlessness. But scientists need to know whether the low gravity of the moon would be enough to offset such physical deterioration.
"Bed rest studies can simulate microgravity but no one really knows what is the right condition to simulate lunar gravity or the gravity of Mars," said Chouker. "We are still in a sort of a black box where we don't know what the human being will be faced with and how it will cope with these conditions on the moon when they stay for more than a few days."
While the longest of the Apollo-era landings lasted a little over three days, future Artemis missions may see astronauts staying on the moon's surface for up to one month.
During the April test campaign, Chouker and his team flew an experiment containing human immune cells, hoping to learn whether the human immune system would be equally impaired in lunar gravity as it appears to be in zero gravity. From previous experiments, the researchers know that immune cells struggle to reach the infection site, making astronauts prone to illness. This struggle is caused by the cells inability to attach to the wall of the vessel that carries them.
"We have seen in the experimental setting that when there is no gravity at all, we have a centralization of the cell flow in the middle of the flow chamber, so [the cells] move faster and it's centralized, so to get in contact with a vessel wall might be difficult," Dominique Moser, a biologist at the Department of Anaesthesiology at the University of Munich Hospital, told Space.com. "Now we are investigating this issue in lunar and Martian gravity."
Another team flew a 3D printer designed to manufacture simple tools from a mixture of lunar dust and a standard 3D printing plastic. Just like LESA, this device, too, performed in lunar gravity for the first time, and the researchers are now evaluating how lunar gravity would affect the 3D printing process.
The Artemis program expects to land humans on the moon in 2025. By the end of this decade, NASA plans to build a permanent base camp near the lunar south pole that will host regular visits from Earth. Before that happens, the Novespace parabolic flight airplane is likely to rise to the sky many times to help scientists and astronauts to better prepare for the 21st century's greatest adventure.
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All around the world and back again.That’s the goal of Hudson and Emily Crider of Lancaster, Pennsylvania — who are aiming to complete this ambitious challenge in the year 2024.The married couple has so far visited 112 countries — out of 195 — since they began traveling internationally in 2020.NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SPOTLIGHTS EXTRAORDINARY PHOTOGRAPHY AS ‘PICTURES OF THE YEAR’: HERE ARE 10 GREAT SHOTSWith only areas in the Asia Pacific, West Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean left to explore, the Criders are on track to visit every country across the globe. (SEE the video at the top of this article in which they reveal their amazing travels.)With a savvy strategy that includes working remotely and planning carefully (they saved for years for this), the adventurous couple have finally been able to afford their dream. Hudson and Emily Crider take in the views of Patagonia, far left, and India's Taj Mahal, far right. The couple is also pictured holding their passports. (Hudson and Emily )Calling from a spot in Thailand for a phone interview with Fox News Digital, the Criders, who were high school sweethearts, explained that their passion for travel started with a dream of taking an RV trip across the U.S. to visit all 50 states.A dad's lasting influenceWhen Hudson’s father suddenly passed away from a heart attack, the pair felt more inspired than ever to set out on a cross-country adventure in January 2017, they said.DANGEROUS TRIP ACROSS ATLANTIC OCEAN: MAN ROWS BOAT FROM IRELAND TO NYC"[My dad] was a huge encourager of our travel," said Hudson Crider, 32. "And that just made us realize we didn’t want to wait to live our dreams."After successfully completing their road trip, the Criders started a "bucket list" of places they wished to visit outside the country. Hudson and Emily Crider, pictured here, set off from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on their cross-country road trip in an RV they purchased via Craigslist and renovated to suit their needs. (Hudson and Emily)Their list grew into a goal to visit 100 countries, which now seems increasingly achievable, they noted."We fell in love with travel along the way," Hudson Crider said of their international travels."I’m so grateful for Hudson’s example of having joy and living with purpose." Despite there being "a lot of work ahead," the couple is still "really excited" about the journey, said Emily Crider, 31.Where it all began Hudson and Emily Crider grew up in Lancaster and began dating in their junior year of high school.They married in 2012 and went off to college. High school sweethearts Hudson and Emily Crider tied the knot in 2012, they shared. (Hudson and Emily)After graduating from college and then earning their MBAs, the pair moved to Washington, D.C. — where they both worked in marketing for four years.Once they realized that retaining jobs in corporate America wasn’t their dream, the couple decided to make travel their full-time work. AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL: 50 MUST-SEE LANDMARKS THAT TELL OUR NATIONAL STORY"I’m so grateful for Hudson’s example of having joy and living with purpose," Emily Crider said."Through the loss of his dad, it just really made us realize how short life is and [we] want to make the most of each day — and I think that looks different for everybody," she said. Hudson and Emily Crider (shown above) met during their junior year of high school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, they said. (Hudson and Emily )For the Criders, making the most of each day means traveling to destinations that a vast majority of the population has never seen.More people have been to outer space than have visited every country around the globe, according to Hudson Crider.And only a handful of couples have completed the journey they are now on, according to the couple.People all over the world are ‘kind and caring’ Seeing each country has been fun, said Emily Crider — but meeting people and recognizing the "kindness" of others all around the world has been her biggest takeaway."There are definitely ups and downs, but we’ve found people are way more kind and caring no matter where we’ve gone." She told the story of an Uber driver in Saudi Arabia who profusely apologized for not presenting them with a gift upon their arrival in his country.FIVE US DESTINATIONS MADE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S ‘BEST OF THE WORLD’ TRAVEL LIST: ARE YOU SURPRISED?The Uber driver then pulled over to a Starbucks, bought the couple a coffee and gave them travel tips for the area. Hudson and Emily Crider experienced paragliding in Switzerland. (Hudson and Emily )"And he would not take anything in return," Emily Crider said. "It really inspired us.""Middle Eastern hospitality is something that’s above and beyond," Hudson Crider added.He also said, "There are definitely ups and downs, but we’ve found people are way more kind and caring no matter where we’ve gone.""Coming across rhinos on safari was just something that felt like we were in a movie." The couple agreed that one of their favorite destinations was Kenya.That's due to the people they met there, they said, and the proximity to wildlife that is so unique. next Pictured above, Hudson and Emily Crider walk with Kenyan locals. (Hudson and Emily ) prev Emily Crider shared that one of her favorite travel memories was experiencing a safari in Kenya. (Hudson and Emily )"To wake up to the sound of lions at night … [and then] elephants were walking through our camp," Emily Crider said. "Coming across rhinos on safari was just something that felt like we were in a movie."Hudson Crider highlighted a more adventurous moment in Zambia. The pair visited Victoria Falls and were "dunked" upside down while swimming in Devil’s Pool at the top of the falls.The couple does extensive research before visiting a new country to ensure their safety. "And the waters were not calm," Emily said, laughing. It was "probably one of the more scary things we’ve done," she said — "but also one of the most beautiful places we’ve been."‘No wrong way to travel'While traveling to unfamiliar countries can bring a certain level of fear and trepidation, Hudson Crider said it’s important to spot the difference between feeling uncomfortable and feeling unsafe.CONSIDERING A CRUISE? HIGH SEAS MAY BE THE RIGHT OPTION FOR BOTH FAMILY AND WALLET"In travel, pretty much every day you’re going to be uncomfortable, especially with language barriers or maybe not knowing the culture," he said."But we found that people are generally very understanding if you’re kind." Hudson and Emily Crider are experiencing the wonders of the world, including the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt while traveling across the globe. (Hudson and Emily )The couple does extensive research before visiting each new country to ensure their safety, noted Hudson Crider.They stay out of potentially dangerous areas and avoid travel at night, he also said."When we plan our travels, we try to look for experiences that are either true to the region or only possible in certain areas." The couple has planned their travel by carefully selecting parts of the world to focus on, one at a time — and have also planned out the cheapest ways to get around.CALIFORNIA CLIMBER LEADS FIRST-KNOWN ASCENT OF ONE OF THE TALLEST SEA CLIFFS ON EARTHWhether it’s taking an overnight bus ride or staying in small hostels, Emily Crider said they try to "remember to enjoy the journey" despite what it looks like each day.'Planning ahead of time' is key The couple has been able to afford their world travels by saving for four years prior to the trip.They've also earned money for their trip by teaching English online, creating their own content and racking up credit card points to cover flights, Hudson Crider said. Hudson and Emily Crider are pictured visiting the Tower Bridge in London. (Hudson and Emily )"The most helpful thing" about keeping expenses low is "planning out ahead of time," as well as staying in hostels, eating street food and using public transpiration, he also said."Think of the stories you want to tell someday — and then go out and live them." These steps kept their living expenses less than what they were "when we lived outside D.C.," he also said. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERChoosing humble amenities has also allowed the couple to experience the most authentic parts of each country’s culture, Emily Crider said."When we plan our travels, we try to look for experiences that are either true to the region or only possible to find in certain areas," she said. next A whale shark swims nearby while the Criders were diving in Mexico. (Hudson and Emily ) prev The Criders are pictured standing in front of massive Skogafoss Falls in Iceland. (Hudson and Emily )For others who are looking to see the world, Emily Crider suggested starting small — and enjoying various destinations right here in the U.S."Think of the stories you want to tell someday — and then go out and live them," Emily Crider said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"There’s no wrong way to travel," Hudson Crider said. "Go with an open mind." Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle writer for Fox News Digital.
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Editor’s Note: This CNN Travel series is, or was, sponsored by the country it highlights. CNN retains full editorial control over subject matter, reporting and frequency of the articles and videos within the sponsorship, in compliance with our policy.
Due to its remoteness and short summer season, Mongolia has long been a destination overlooked by travelers.
But as the country moves to further open up to tourism by easing its entry conditions for international visitors and upgrading its infrastructure, 2023 might just be the best time yet to get there.
Here are 10 reasons travelers should start planning their long-dreamed-of Mongolia visit now.
A growing visa-free list
With the government of Mongolia declaring 2023 through 2025 the “Years to Visit Mongolia,” citizens from 34 new countries can now visit the country visa-free through the end of 2025.
The addition of several European countries, including Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Norway, Spain, and the UK, as well as citizens from Australia and New Zealand, now brings the total number of visa-free countries to 61.
The full list is here.
A new $650 million airport opens its doors
After years of delays, a pandemic and several controversies, the newly built Chinggis Khaan International Airport finally opened in the summer of 2021.
With the ability to handle approximately 3 million passengers a year (double that of the old airport), the addition of 500 new aircraft parking spaces and the infrastructure to support an increase in domestic as well as budget flights, the airport is a welcome addition to the country’s efforts to grow tourism.
Budget flights to Hong Kong from EZNIS Airways have been relaunched since the airport’s opening, and talks to resume direct flights to the United States are reportedly underway.
A modern new museum
The recently opened Chinggis Khaan Museum offers a beautiful, fresh look at Mongolia’s tumultuous history.
With more than 10,000 artifacts spanning over 2,000 years, the museum explores the history of the Mongols and the empire they created – and eventually lost.
The museum’s artifacts are presented over eight floors, with six permanent and two temporary exhibition halls. Guided tours are offered in English every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. free of charge.
Mongolia’s answer to Coachella
When most people think of Mongolia, music festivals and conservation-focused art installations in the heart of one of the world’s largest deserts are the last things to come to mind.
Placing international bands, DJs, and musicians from around the world alongside Mongolia’s eclectic mix of rappers, bands and folk singers, the country just might be one of the world’s most underrated places for festival lovers.
Celebrate Naadam as it turns the century
The annual Naadam event has always been a great reason to visit Mongolia, but now that the festival has just celebrated its 100 year anniversary, 2023 is as good a time as ever to attend.
While the festival’s origins are rooted in the days of Genghis Khan, when he used horse racing, wrestling and archery competitions to keep his warriors in shape between battles, Naadam only officially became a national holiday 100 years ago.
Today, the festival – held in Ulaanbaatar at the National Sports Stadium, has a few more bells and whistles than it did during the days of the Great Khan.
A seat at July 11’s opening ceremony is always one of the hardest tickets to score in town.
Try your hand at archery the Mongolian way
Mounted archery is seeing a resurgence in Mongolia thanks to guys like Altankhuyag Nergui, one of the most accomplished archers in the sport and his archery academy, Namnaa.
Here, locals learn the fundamentals of Mongolian archery before mounting a horse and taking their new found skills to another level.
In the summer months, students and academy members put on weekly shows for interested spectators. The academy also offers day-long training sessions for those wanting to try this intense sport.
Learn about Mongolian calligraphy from a master
Speaking of giving life to Mongolia’s most ancient traditions, the resurrection of Mongol bichig, or the traditional Mongolian script written from top to bottom and read from left to right, has also seen a major resurgence in recent years.
Visit the Erdenesiin Khuree Mongolian Calligraphy Center in Karakorum to learn from master calligraphist Tamir Samandbadraa Purev about this important cultural heritage. And, while you’re there, browse the yurts filled with Tamir’s works.
Ditch the horse for horsepower
Pair the release of Husqvarna’s new Norden 901 Expedition motorbike with Nomadic Off-Road’s newly announced Eagle Hunter Tour, and you have one of the fastest adventures in Mongolia.
The tour takes six riders 1,700 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar to Bayan-Ulgii, where riders eventually meet their hosts, Mongolia’s famous eagle hunters.
The only thing faster than this adventure is the rate at which Nomadic Off-Road’s tours sell out.
Winter tours offer new insights
Professional musher Joel Rauzy has been leading dogsledding tours across the frozen Lake Khuvsgul for 18 years.
With fewer crowds, lower hotel rates and the chance to see one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world completely frozen over, winter in Mongolia is something else to see and experience.
Rauzy’s company, Wind of Mongolia, offers tours of the lake, where each person is assigned their own sled and dogs for the journey. Following Rauzy’s lead, mushers will make a loop of the lake. Activities include ice fishing, while travelers stay in winterized yurts and spend time with nomadic families along the journey.
Scandinavian design hits Mongolia at Yeruu Lodge
Nestled in the heart of Selenge province on the Yeruu River, Yeruu Lodge is the brainchild of Norwegian founder Eirik Gulsrud Johnsen, who first visited Mongolia in 2017.
With a minimal Scandinavian-style restaurant and dining area, a handful of fully kitted out yurts for guests to stay in, two pétanque courts, kayaks, a driving range, mountain bikes and a yoga area, the lodge is a destination for nature lovers.
Completely off-grid, the lodge runs off solar panels, uses of thermal heating, and all of the property’s water comes from an on-property well and is recycled after use.
Additionally, all glass, metal and plastic used at the lodge is also recycled, and food waste is turned into compost used to grow vegetables, berries and herbs onsite.
The lodge is set to open in April 2023.
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TL;DR: As of May 9, get HD Digital Camera Binoculars(opens in a new tab) for just $121.99 — A 39% discount.
It’s officially spring, which means a summer full of hiking, hunting, bird-watching, or enjoying wildlife is just around the corner. If you want to capture memories while still appreciating the beauty of nature, you may be interested in these HD digital camera binoculars.
View from afar and snap photos and videos(opens in a new tab) with a set of binoculars that fits right in your pocket. Grab one for just $121.99 (reg. $199).
View from afar and capture moments
The HD Digital Camera Binoculars pack in the power of a camcorder and a telescope into one gadget. Get a clear field of vision, 12X magnification(opens in a new tab), and precise focus adjustment from a viewing distance of up to one kilometer.
Look through the binoculars as usual and capture any part of your adventures in HD(opens in a new tab). Take photos of up to 5M resolution and videos up to 1440x1080p. If you spot a falcon or buck, take photos or videos without compromising your viewing experience. Adjust the LCD screen at the top of your binoculars to an optimal angle for viewing and comfort.
Photos are saved onto the included TF card(opens in a new tab) so you can transfer them to another device when you’re back home. Share your moments on social media or put together a collection to document your discoveries.
Powerful and portable
These binoculars are built to enhance your adventures, not weigh you down. Slip them right into your pocket or bag since they measure under six inches and weigh less than a pound.
Worry less about the natural elements damaging your binoculars since they are waterproof, anti-fog, anti-dust, and anti-shock. Take them on your next camping trip or hike in just about any weather condition.
Wipe them clean with the included cloth when you’re done to keep them in good shape for your next outing.
Level up your next outdoor adventure with the HD Digital Camera Binoculars(opens in a new tab) for just $121.99 (reg. $199) for a limited time.
Prices subject to change.
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TL;DR: You can get a £40 aloSIM Mobile Data Traveller eSIM Credit for £20 — that's 50% in savings for a limited time.
When you’re budgeting for international travel, the big things like airfare and lodging may stand out as the major expenses, but the little things can add up too. If you want to save money while you travel, make sure you aren't dealing with extra data charges whenever you use your phone. Instead, try aloSIM and use your phone in 120+ countries without all the roaming charges. For a limited time, you can pay £20 and get a £40 eSIM credit with aloSIM.
Make sure you can use your phone abroad. Once you step off the plane, select one of aloSIM’s data packages and activate your plan to get £40 of travel data. aloSIM claims a £4 data package could last up to 30 days for some users. Your travel data credit never expires, so you may have some leftover for your next trip. If you do run out, you can top up any time. You can only use your eSIM on one device at a time, but it works for desktop or mobile. Just make sure to check that your device is eSIM compatible.
Considering roaming costs per network could get as high as £0.50 per SMS and £8 per MB of data, that’s a cumulative cost you may want to avoid. There’s no reason to go through all that work finding a cheap flight just to blow your budget by sending travel pics back home. An eSIM could help you travel on a budget, and it’s all digital. Pack light and have a fun, affordable adventure.
Travel smart and stretch your budget further with this easy international travel hack. Get a £40 aloSIM Mobile Data Traveller eSIM Credit for just £20.
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Australia's 10 best beaches named in annual tourism list - and the top spot goes to one you've probably never heard ofTop prize for best Aussie beach went to a South Australian 'natural beauty'Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island topped the annual list this weekIt beat contenders from NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Christmas Island Published: 23:08 EST, 27 January 2023 | Updated: 23:10 EST, 27 January 2023 The gong for best beach in Australia has gone to a little-known South Australian 'natural beauty' after it knocked out popular favourites vying for the top spot. Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island edged out beaches in NSW and Queensland to become the state's first-ever beach to reach the number one position. The picturesque and secluded Stokes Bay beat almost 12,000 beaches nationwide to be crowned Australia's best beach for 2023. Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island (pictured) edged out beaches in NSW and Queensland to become the state's first-ever beach to reach the number one position The beach (pictured) is touted by locals as Kangaroo Island's 'hidden gem' and hailed for its family-friendly appeal The secluded South Australian beach eclipsed more famous strips of sand such as Sydney's Balmoral Beach (pictured) and the sunshine state's Rainbow Beach, which came in at number 10 and three respectivelyIt eclipsed more famous strips of sand such as Sydney's Balmoral Beach and Rainbow Beach on Queensland's Cooloola Coast, which came in at number 10 and three respectively. Tourism Australia's beach ambassador Brad Farmer compiled the list and gave his reasons why Stokes Bay went to number one. 'This is a sprawling island of immense natural beauty, brimming with wildlife on land and in sea,' Mr Farmer told Nine News. It is also home to one of the most famous wine regions in the country and has been described as 'uniquely Australian'. Touted by locals as Kangaroo Island's 'hidden gem' and hailed for its family-friendly appeal, Stokes Bay features a tidal swimming pool that makes it ideal for wading and snorkelling. Apollo Bay (pictured) on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria made it to the top five at number four Rainbow Beach on Queensland's Cooloola Coast took out number three position (pictured), with 4WD vehicles on the sand and sailing boats anchored in shallow waters) Second place went to NSW's Boomerang Beach, near Forster on the mid-north coast (pictured)Second place went to NSW's Boomerang Beach, near Forster on the mid-north coast.Other less-known beaches made the list, with Christmas Island's Flying Fishing Cove coming in at number nine. It has been described as the 'Galapagos of the Indian Ocean' and sits closer to Indonesia than Australia's mainland.Little Bondi Beach in the Northern Territory featured at number seven, kicking its internationally-renowned namesake in Sydney out of the ballpark. Federal Tourism Minister Don Farrell said Australian beaches were among the best in the world.'Australia boasts the world's best coastline and many international travellers who are returning to our shores in growing numbers want to explore the idyllic beaches we have to offer,' he said. Flying Fish Cove at Christmas Island (pictured) came in at number nine on the best beaches list'Every beach on the 2023 list is not just among the best in Australia but the best in the world,' Federal Tourism Minister Don Farrell said (pictured, kangaroos on Stokes Island) Little Bondi Beach in the Northern Territory (pictured) featured at number seven, kicking its internationally-renowned namesake in Sydney out of the ballpark Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison said Australian coasts were a drawcard for tourists (pictured, Rainbow Beach in Queensland) Boomerang Beach (pictured) on the NSW mid-north coast was pipped for the top spot, coming in at number two'Every beach on the 2023 list is not just among the best in Australia but the best in the world.'Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison said Australian coasts were a drawcard for tourists.'There is no doubt Australia is globally renowned for its beaches and they are a major reason international travellers visit,' she said.'With about 12,000 beaches to explore across our country, including many of the best in the world, it is not easy to name a top 10.' Top 10 Best Beaches in Australia for 2023 1. Stokes Bay - SA, Kangaroo Island2. Boomerang Beach - NSW, mid-north coast3. Rainbow Beach - Qld, Cooloola coast4. Apollo Bay - Vic, Great Ocean Road5. Adventure Bay - Tas, Bruny Island6. Hamelin Bay - WA, South-West7. Little Bondi Beach - NT, East Arnhem Land8. British Admiralty Beach - Tas, King Island, Bass Strait9. Flying Fish Cove - Christmas Island10. Balmoral Beach - NSW, Sydney Harbour Advertisement
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The life-changing epiphany that would take Christian Lewis on a 12,000-mile journey on foot from despair to joy via an uninhabited Scottish island happened on a surfboard.
While struggling with depression and facing homelessness, the former soldier would find respite from his suicidal thoughts by surfing at a nearby beach.
And it was while riding the waves that he had a flash of inspiration to attempt to walk the entire coastline of the UK, a challenge that so far has taken him nearly six years.
On that mammoth trek, he has found the companionship of a dog, the love of a fellow traveller, fatherhood once more... and he has raised £280,000 for a charity close to this heart. That is one giant joyous wave to ride, all thanks to the smaller ones he tackled that fateful day on Llangennith beach on the Gower Peninsula in Wales.
Now Christian has written a book, Finding Hildasay, which is named after a remote island off the Shetland mainland where he spent three months during the first lockdown.
The book, written on a notepad while travelling, has his own mental health journey as the driving force behind the story of his adventure.
“I thought it would be something nice to look back on in years to come, and try to get as many of the experiences down as possible.
“It was also important to me to talk about the mental health side of things and show that you can come out of a dark hole, there is hope for everybody that things will get better,” he says. Christian, now 42, left the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment in 2005, after winning custody of his daughter Caitlin.
But he struggled as a single parent, and it was Caitlin’s decision to leave home when she turned 16 that drove him on to make a change.
Christian had mounting bills, debt and the tenancy on his rented flat was coming to an end, and then he hit upon his big idea.
On August 1 2017, he set out on his walk from his home city of Swansea with just £10 in his pocket and camping supplies. At first, he struggled, going days without food and trying to sleep in a leaking tent.
But he refused to give up, deciding to fundraise for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, as they had offered him support when he was unwell.
He often relied on the kindness of strangers who helped him as he took on his fundraising mission. Well-wishers bought him a new tent when his old one got destroyed by harsh winds and offered him food and places to stay.
Despite the support, he admits he sometimes felt lonely.
But things changed in March 2018 when he adopted Jet, a lurcher cross who would become his faithful travelling companion.
“I knew she hadn’t been well looked after, but we seemed to recognise something in each other and we hit it off immediately,” he says. “Looking back I can see that I was still a little bit broken and she was too. She just followed me and that was that.
“When I was in the Army I was always with people, it was very much a teamwork thing and I had never spent weeks on my own in the middle of nowhere.
“Having Jet with me brought a new element to the walk, as I had somebody to look after again. I couldn’t ask for a better dog, she is so loyal.”
Christian was camping in Whaligoe, on the North East tip of Scotland, in November 2020 when he met his future fiancee, Kate Barron, 36.
“It was a case of being in the right place at the right time,” he says. “I was camped at the bottom of cliffs and she noticed my tent so she came over and briefly stopped to talk to me.
“Then, an hour later, Kate returned with some fish and chips and a couple of beers, and asked to camp next to me. We immediately clicked and spent the whole night chatting.”
Kate had initially planned to go on a round-the-world trip, but her plans had been thwarted by the pandemic.
Instead, she had been driving and camping around Scotland.
The next morning, Kate had to leave to return to her job as a teacher trainer. But six weeks later she joined him on his walk, where she has remained by his side ever since.
His book, Finding Hildasay, which is out now, focuses on the experiences Christian had before meeting Kate.
He documents how he learned to forage for food such as crabs so he could eat while camping on the UK’s rugged coastlines.
And he describes how he spent lockdown on Hildasay, which has no electricity or heating, along with a tale of how he reunited a message in a bottle with its owner after 20 years.
Christian’s journey understandably has changed since Kate gave birth to their son Magnus last May.
They no longer could stay in tents, so Christian used some of the money from his book deal to buy a vehicle which he converted into a camper van. Magnus is strapped to his parents in a sling while they walk.
And the family’s journey is not over yet. While speaking to the Mirror, Christian was about to board a ferry to leave the Channel Islands for Weymouth, Dorset.
He says: “We still have the South West of England to cover, then we will go up to Bristol then back over the Severn Bridge into Wales.
“I expect it’ll take another five months to finish. With Kate and I having a baby things are different and we are making slower progress, but we are really enjoying it. We want to bring Magnus up to love and appreciate the outside world and nature.”
The pair are planning to marry once their challenge is finished.
Christian says doing his walk, estimated at more than 12,000 miles, has made him the happiest man.
He adds: “If somebody had told me I would be crossing the finish line as a seriously happy man with a family, I would have laughed at them.
“Caitlin is also proud of me. I wanted to show her that if you put your mind to anything you can do it. It’s been an incredible experience.”
- Finding Hildasay: How one man walked the UK’s coastline and found hope and happiness by Christian Lewis is out now, £16.99.
- To donate to SSAFA, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/chriswalks
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Sunday Morning November 27, 2022 / 10:14 AM / CBS News A visit to RMS Titanic A visit to RMS Titanic 10:30 Maybe you've heard the story of the Titanic. I think there was a movie about it? For the most part, the only people who've ever seen the Titanic since the night of April 15, 1912, when it sunk beneath the North Atlantic, have been scientists. Until now.Stockton Rush is CEO of OceanGate, a company that offers dives to the Titanic in a one-of-a-kind, carbon-fiber submersible, for $250,000 per person. "It's a very unusual business," he said. "It's its own category. It's a new type of travel."Correspondent David Pogue asked, "Who are the typical clientele for these missions?" "We have clients that are Titanic enthusiasts, which we refer to as Titaniacs," Rush replied. "We've had people who have mortgaged their home to come and do the trip. And we have people who don't think twice about a trip of this cost. We had one gentleman who had won the lottery."And this summer, Rush invited "CBS Sunday Morning" to come along. We departed from St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada, the easternmost tip of North America, about 400 miles from the Titanic site, aboard a chartered oil-rig servicing ship. During our two-day journey into the North Atlantic, we got to know our fellow adventurers. They included everyone from Indian industry mogul Shrenik Baldota ("They call me the wild monk," he said, "because I look like a monk, I'm very calm, but I have these extreme interests that I do"), to bank executive Renata Rojas ("I'm trying to fulfill a dream; I've been wanting to go to Titanic and see with my own eyes since before they found it"). Rojas has been saving up to see the Titanic for 30 years. "Dreams don't have a price," she said. "Some people want a Ferrari. Some people buy a house. I wanted to go to Titanic."But the star of the show is the Titan: Stockton Rush's custom-built submersible, made of five-inch-thick carbon fiber, capped on each end by a dome of titanium. The OceanGate Titan submersible. CBS News If all went well, I would be spending about 12 hours sealed inside on a dive to the Titanic. Not gonna lie; I was a little nervous, especially given the paperwork, which read, "This experimental vessel has not been approved or certified by any regulatory body, and could result in physical injury, emotional trauma, or death." Where do I sign? This is not your grandfather's submersible; inside, the sub has about as much room as a minivan. It has one button. "That's it," said Rush. "It should be like an elevator, you know? It shouldn't take a lot of skill."The Titan is the only five-person sub in the world that can reach Titanic's depth, 2.4 miles below the sea. It's also the only one with a toilet (sort of).And yet, I couldn't help noticing how many pieces of this sub seemed improvised, with off-the-shelf components. Piloting the craft is run with a video game controller. Pogue said, "It seems like this submersible has some elements of MacGyver jerry-riggedness. I mean, you're putting construction pipes as ballast.""I don't know if I'd use that description of it," Rush said. "But, there are certain things that you want to be buttoned down. The pressure vessel is not MacGyver at all, because that's where we worked with Boeing and NASA and the University of Washington. Everything else can fail, your thrusters can go, your lights can go. You're still going to be safe."But when expedition manager Kyle Bingham studied the forecast for our Titanic dive, he concluded the waves would be too big to launch the sub. Our Titanic adventure would have to wait. But Stockton Rush offered our CBS crew a consolation dive to the Continental Shelf, 80 miles way. Apparently, there's a lot of sheer cliffs underwater to see, shark breeding grounds. They say it's really cool! The crew closes the hatch, from the outside, with 17 bolts. There's no other way out. Here's how the launch is supposed to go: The sub is attached to a huge floating platform. Motorboats drag it down the big orange ramp into the sea. The platform submerges to about 30 feet, where the water is much calmer than on the surface. Divers detach the sub from the platform … and away you go!In theory. The Titan submersible on its launch ramp. CBS News Our dive in the OceanGate submersible had made it down only 37 feet when floats came off the platform. And that wasn't supposed to happen. The mission was scrubbed.I was crushed. My diving adventures were over. Renata Rojas said, "Every expedition has its challenges, all of them. I have not been in one expedition where things haven't had to be adjusted, adapted, changed or cancelled at the end of the day. You're at the mercy of the weather."Rojas speaks from painful experience. Over the years, she's been booked on three Titanic expeditions. All three were canceled. "You just cry a lot," she said, "and just keep the dream alive, because it's something that I have to do."Our expedition had to wait out two more days of rough seas. Fortunately, there's a lot to do in the North Atlantic, from dancing to channeling your inner Leonardo DiCaprio. ("I'm the king of the surface vessel!") There's sea life, ship tours, and atmospheric effects, like a sundog. An optical phenomenon known as a sundog, or parhelion, caused by a refraction of sunlight. CBS News You can also hang out with scientists. Researchers like deep-sea biologist Steve Ross and ocean archaeologist Rod Mather join every expedition. In effect, the passengers are funding their science.I asked, "How scientific is this this expedition?""I don't do show science," Ross said. "Our job is to do real and important and valid work.""While you're down there, will you look for this giant heart-shaped diamond on a chain?""I think that's not there," Mather replied. On our sixth day at sea, the weather cleared. The dive was a go! Titan reported arriving "on bottom," sitting at 3,742 meters. But that was the last of the good news.There's no GPS underwater, so the surface ship is supposed to guide the sub to the shipwreck by sending text messages. Rush recalled, "I said, 'Do you know where we are?' '100 meters to the bow, then 470 to the bow. If you are lost, so are we!'" The submersible is guided to the shipwreck by way of text messaging directions. CBS News But on this dive, communications somehow broke down. The sub never found the wreck. "We were lost," said Shrenik Baldota. "We were lost for two-and-a-half hours." Rush said he'll offer those passengers a free do-over next year. And that's just one cost of doing this business.I asked, "Are you making money on this operation?""Ahhh, no. So, not yet," he replied. "People might say, 'Hey, that's a lot of money, $250,000.' But we went through over a million dollars of gas." It was our last day at sea. There was one last chance to reach the Titanic. And this time good weather and good fortune were aligned. An anchor was spotted. "Oh my God. There's the bow, guys! Do you guys see it?"And there it was. The famous bow, emerging from the darkness. The bow of the RMS Titanic. CBS News The ship's wheel pedestal, and memorial plaques from old expeditions. Signs of past visitors. CBS News The bollards that once secured the ship in port. The ship's bollards. CBS News And the davits that lowered the lifeboats. A lifeboat davit. CBS News The hole where a huge smokestack once stood. A missing smokestack funnel. CBS News And the skylight over the radio room that sent out distress signals. Skylight over the radio room. CBS News Now, Titanic tourism has its detractors. But these expeditions don't disturb the wreck or retrieve artifacts, and Stockton Rush said that they're valuable to history: "At some point, there will be no Titanic. It will be eaten by the bacteria. It will be an artificial reef that doesn't look like the Titanic." Renata Rojas would agree. After 30 years of trying, she finally got to see the most famous shipwreck in the world. Stockton Rush plans to return to the wreck next summer. Until then, the Titanic will once again be alone. For more info:OceanGate Story produced by Anthony Laudato. Editor: Joseph Frandino. See also: Titanic: A tragedy very much alive ("Sunday Morning")The Titanic is vanishing. An expedition will monitor the ship's decay "before it all disappears"Cameron on Titanic: "Death in slow motion" ("CBS This Morning") Titanic: The untold story 06:54 In: RMS Titanic Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue
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A husband and wife from Aberdeen aim to drive from the Arctic to Antarctica in an electric car.
Chris and Julie Ramsey will set off to travel 17,000 miles (27,000km) from the Magnetic North to South Pole this week.
Their vehicle will be powered for much of the trip by solar and wind energy.
The couple will navigate into Canada, then head south through the United States and into warmer temperatures in South America over the space of 10 challenging months.
They will travel through Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Argentina.
They accept the journey could put a lot to the test, including their relationship.
And coming from Aberdeen, they will take supplies of the humble buttery - the famous long-lasting local delicacy made of lard, butter and sugar, which is also known as a rowie or Aberdeen roll - to help keep their strength up.
"One of the most common questions we get asked is how we're going to charge the car in the polar regions where there's no electricity source," Mrs Ramsey said.
"There will be a wind turbine and full double solar on this device which will be towed along, harnessing the renewable energy sources - the wind and the sun - to power the car.
"That has been really challenging, innovative, pioneering - it's never been done before."
She explained: "It's to dispel common myths that people have when they question electric vehicles - things like range and how far can they go.
"We are putting the car through the harshest of environments - minus temperatures and extreme heat - so we're really pushing the car to its limits and seeing what capability it has."
Large tyres have been fitted to the vehicle in a bid to cope with harsh terrain.
There are also some mod-cons, such as a coffee machine in the boot. And there is a drone launcher, so the couple can film their journey.
Season to season
Mr Ramsey said: "Pole to Pole is the world's first drive from a magnetic North Pole location - up in the Artic - all the way through the Americas and then all the way into the South Pole in Antarctica.
"No car in history has ever attempted this - and certainly no electric vehicle.
"People might think it's 10 months because of the limitations of the car, but it's not. We're travelling in 10 months because we're going from season to season.
"So summer season in the Arctic, we'll benefit from the sun for solar, and in Antarctica the expedition season is December. And that's 24/7 daylight as well, which helps us with the solar."
The couple are no stranger to defying the odds.
In 2017, they were the first team to complete the Mongol Rally in an electric car - a 10,000-mile (16,000km) journey from London to Mongolia.
"Having done the Mongol Rally, it has given me confidence that we can do this," Mrs Ramsey said.
"We have put the right measures in place and are working with the right people. With our passion and belief and the car being capable I have every confidence that we can do it.
"Yes there will be challenges, it's not going to be an easy ride, but what's an adventure without a challenge?"
She added that the couple would not be forgetting their rowie supplies.
"We'll take a bit of Scotland over with us," she said.
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Charlie Moretti of Luxury Treasure Hunts Luxury Treasure Hunts Charlie Moretti—veteran TV producer and founder of Luxury Treasure Hunts—is on to something. I say this because he appears to have figured out a way to help busy families unwind and connect in surprisingly meaningful ways. And he’s doing it in a pretty unconventional way—by staging hyper realistic treasure hunts for superyacht charter guests and other well-heeled vacationers in the Mediterranean this summer. Superyacht Nero was the home base for a recent luxury treasure hunt in Greece. Luxury Treasure Hunts So, how does a treasure hunt help busy families connect in meaningful ways you ask? Well, I asked the same question too. Pitched as “Yachting meets Hollywood” Moretti has assembled a team comprised of artists, designers and producers who’ve worked at Disney, Marvel, Nat Geo and networks to create unique and immersive adventures in a live setting. Their high-end treasure hunts are built on detailed scripts that combine real-life historic figures and storylines with a professional filmmaker’s imagination and high-end production values. You never know what you might find on a Luxury Treasure Hunt Luxury Treasure Hunts The hunts are also tailored to each small group of guests and take factors, such as the age of the group, their interests (history, adventure) and of course the location and destination of their cruise in to account. Hunt’s can last between one, two and three days and are playable as a family, including children and young adults, or as a group of adults. Charlie Moretti fondateur Luxury Treasure Hunts Tim Reese “We’re finding the parents love our hunts just as much as the kids,” Moretti says. “Most of our guests lead busy successful lives. But many also find it hard to unplug even on a superyacht vacation. The cool thing is not only do we take people out of their normal routine in beautiful locations—like all superyacht charters do. We also give them exciting, realistic tasks that foster togetherness as well as providing an escape from the day-to-day mental stress of life. The kids enjoy the movie-magic we make happen. And they love unlocking the clues they need to accomplish each task to eventually find the treasure. But you know what, even the hard driving CEO-type parents we’ve worked with find they love being able to connect with their kids in an entirely unexpected ways too. And they love being emersed in the story and away from their phones!” Luxury Treasure Hunts are gaining in popularity Tim Rees Marcel Busse, the captain of the superyacht Nero sums it up pretty well. “We welcomed the Luxury Treasure Hunt team onboard Nero in the Ionian Islands. Our guests were able to become heroes in their own, real-life mini-production. The younger guests could not stop retelling the story of the incredible events they had experienced. It’s a memory they will not soon forget.”
And I know I speak for many parents out there when I say…I’ll try anything that fosters family connection, fun and escape from the day-to-day stress of life. Anything!!
Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website.
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'Hero' drone pilot tracks down lost dog in field four miles from owner's home after she escaped from garden and went missing for two hoursErica Hart used her drone to find black schnauzer Hilda on September 9Reunited her with owners Jamie and Leah Hollinshed from Clayton in YorkshireThe 33-year-old drone expert has rescued over 200 dogs in seven years for free She found Hilda in 20 minutes after the family had been searching for two hours Published: 06:55 EDT, 16 September 2022 | Updated: 06:57 EDT, 16 September 2022 A 'hero' animal lover rescued a lost dog by tracking it down with her drone after it escaped from its owner's garden and went missing for two hours.Erica Hart, 33, found Jamie and Leah Hollinshed's black schnauzer Hilda by locating her in a field four miles away from their home in Yorkshire just before a storm hit. Erica, who says she has rescued over 200 dogs using the technology, sometimes spends over £50 on petrol to help owners reunite with their animals but doesn't charge a penny, saying she does it for 'the love of dogs'. She managed to spot Hilda in 20 minutes after the family had been looking for two hours near their home in Clayton on Friday, September 9. The dramatic drone footage used to find Hilda shows the escaped schnauzer running down a residential road in Thurnscoe and narrowly dodging an oncoming vehicle. Erica Hart (pictured), 33, found Jamie and Leah Hollinshed's black schnauzer Hilda by tracking her down in a field four miles away from their home in Yorkshire using her drone She managed to spot Hilda in 20 minutes, after the family had looked for her for two hours near their home in Clayton on Friday, September 9. Pictured: Hilda with Leah's son Oliver McDougall, 13Hilda, a two-year-old rescue dog, then runs into a field before owner Jamie, 43, attempts to catch her. Using the drone, Erica told Leah, 37, to help Jamie close in on their pet - and helped the family to reunite. Jamie said: 'What she did is brilliant. She's a hero, a real superhero.'We'd had a couple of hours with no sighting but she spotted her in 20 minutes. It just shows how good these drones can be, we were so relieved when she found her. The dramatic drone footage shows the escaped schnauzer running down a residential road in Thurnscoe and narrowly dodging an oncoming vehicle'She saved her life. She could have been run over or the storms could have panicked her. You just think the worst straight away.'Erica was in constant communication with us. She knew what she was doing and where to look and told us all to split up.'I've no idea how she got out. It must have been a tiny gap in the fence, but the storm must have scared her. She doesn't leave my side usually, she's like my shadow.'As it was getting later, we thought we'd never see her again. The storms were going to start again and that was worrying. It brought a tear to my eye when we got her back.' Luckily Hilda managed to get onto the pavement in time to dodge the oncoming vehicle in a heartstopping moment in the footageThe drone expert had been on a shopping when Jamie phoned to say Hilda was missing, and immediately left to come and help out. In April she had helped to find Hilda a home with Jamie and Leah, so finding her again was a cause very close to her heart. Erica, from Goldthorpe, South Yorkshire, said: 'It was great to see the owner's face when they've been chasing the dog for hours, then I turn up and it's over in 20 minutes.'Thank god we found her when we did. They were over the moon and it's so rewarding. Hilda, a two-year-old rescue dog, then runs into a field before owner Jamie, 43, attempts to catch her'The storms started minutes after I got the drone down. It was good timing because Hilda could have darted and we wouldn't have seen her for hours.'Once that drone's above the dog, it's not going anyway because I can guide people in quick enough. It's like a military operation.'I'll interrogate the owners about what the dog's like and that builds a picture up.'Erica claims she has rescued more than 200 dogs in seven years. She runs a Facebook group called HARTSAR which she uses to help owners find their pets. Hilda ran past Jamie and out into the field again before Erica gave the couple further instructionsShe doesn't charge any money for the service, even if it means spending money on petrol instead of treating herself.Erica added: 'I go home some days and I've spent £50 out of my own pocket and I've gone without stuff for myself to put petrol in the car to find a dog.'When I post it on Facebook and I see the comments I lay in bed with a smile on my face and realise why I do it.'I do it for the love of the dogs.' Using the drone, Erica told Leah, 37, to help Jamie close in on their pet - and helped the family to reunite Leah posted on Facebook afterwards praising the work of 'star' Erica Hart in helping to find Hilda.She said: 'She's been on a right little adventure up Clayton, she's exhausted, filthy and starving bless her.'Thank you so much Erica Hart for all your help, you're a star.'Erica's post, including the drone footage, has been liked more than 100 times, with users praising her heroic work.Jamie commented: 'Cheers Ez you're a star mate.' Advertisement
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Last Updated on April 15, 2023
The Marathon des Sables, known as the “toughest footrace on earth,” will kick off on Friday, April 21 to Monday, May 1 in southern Morocco. The six-day, 250km (156-mile) ultra-marathon takes place in the Sahara Desert and requires competitors to traverse through harsh Saharan terrain, extreme heat, and carry their own supplies.
The race comprises six stages spread over seven days, with checkpoints every five to nine miles. These checkpoints provide fresh water, medical attention, and waste disposal. Although the exact route of the course is undisclosed, the race is marked every 500m, and each runner receives a detailed guidebook of the course.
Competitors must carry their entire food intake, consisting of 21,000-28,000 calories, for seven days. Freeze-dried food is the recommended choice to reduce weight, and they must also carry necessary proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. The race provides 120,000 litres of water at departure, checkpoints, and arrival each day.
With a distance of five and a half regular marathons and equipment on their backs, participants can walk some parts of the course. Runners must mentally prepare for the challenge, as the course is tough and mentally draining. The Sahara’s temperature can reach 50 degrees Celsius, making headwear mandatory. While rare, runners should inspect their gear daily for any wildlife, such as snakes, before starting the course.
The Marathon des Sables provides eight-man tents with groundsheets, called Bivouacs, for participants. Runners choose their tent from the reserved space for their registration country.
To register, runners can visit the Marathon des Sables’ official website, with an entry fee of €3,190 for an individual entry and €3,290 per team member for teams. The official website outlines the race requirements, including accepting the rules, meeting deadlines, providing medical certificates, and taking out insurance.
The Marathon des Sables provides a race tracking website to track competitors’ locations through spot tags. The tracking devices ensure that no competitors get lost on the course. The race tracking website link will be available to the public as soon as it is accessible.
Completing the Marathon des Sables requires exceptional physical and mental preparation. The winners’ list is impressive, with Morocco’s Lahcen Ahansal leading the men’s category with ten wins and France’s Laurence Fricotteaux-Klein winning the women’s category thrice. The record time for the race is held by France’s Bernard Gaudin, who completed it in 14:39:44.
As the “toughest footrace on earth” begins next week in southern Morocco, participants and fans can look forward to an exciting and challenging adventure in the Sahara Desert.
Your n°1 source of information on the world of sandsports and desert adventure travel. Our articles are the result of extensive research, personal experience, and knowledge-sharing within the global sandboarding community.
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Whether you’re planning a quick city break, heading off on a two-week summer holiday. Or getting stuck into a country’s culture for the foreseeable. There’s one thing you’ll almost certainly be packing – your smartphone. While some may argue this little device has taken the spontaneity out of travel. There’s no doubt that the array of travel apps available to us these days can turbocharge our trips.
Covering everything from the basics – cheap flights, money exchange and hotel bookings – to improving your experience with stargazing, making new friends and saving money on food, these best travel apps will come in handy on your next vacation.
And the best news? Most of these are free travel apps, meaning even more money in your wallet for that dream island vacation. So, here are my suggestions for the best apps for travel in 2023. That you should download before setting off on your next adventure!
Read Alsoo : 23 BEST DAY TRIPS FROM LAS VEGAS IN 2023
Best travel apps for flights
These are my go-to apps for travel planning regarding booking flights, delayed flights, and lounge access. You’ll also want to sign-up for cheap flight finding newsletters to get the best deals in your inbox.
Skyscanner
For over a decade, Skyscanner has been my preferred travel app for finding flights. While there are plenty of other options these days, such as Kiwi or Kayak, I still always opt for Skyscanner. It has a clean interface, there is no cookie tracking or worries about going incognito. And I nearly always find the best deals here.
Of course, the ‘search everywhere’ feature is always a winner for finding those bargain flights when you are up for going on a trip but don’t really mind where. The app also features ‘Price Alerts’ so you can track fares going up and down and 3rd party reviews. So you know how reliable the company advertising the flight is.
As a bonus, the app now has a ‘Top Deals’ tab for spontaneous trips away. And the Skyscanner app can also search for hotels and car hire.
Colibra
If you’ve ever dealt with trying to claim for a delayed flight under regulations. You’ll know it can be a challenging process. While there are various rights across the world in place for this. Sometimes it can be a drawn-out and even unsuccessful process.
Colibra takes a different approach. And pays out compensation within 24-hours for delays of over one hour due to any reason – strike, weather etc.
While the compensation through Colibra isn’t as high as doing it yourself. The model works by downloading the app. And registering your flight before take-off or even airport arrival. Essentially, if you experience a delay, you assign the legal right for Colibra to make the full claim. But regardless of if they are successful or not. You receive a payout within 24 hours.
The funds come from those who have been delayed for over three hours and get compensation via EU rules but take a lower share of their cut from Colibra’s claim. So those with shorter delays can also make a claim. There is also a flight booking feature called “Fly Now, Pay If Okay”. Which allows you to book flights and pay after flying – thus, if there is a delay of three hours or more, you don’t pay anything. You can read more about how this works on their website. Let’s see if they become one of the best flight booking apps as they expand this feature.
Priority Pass
If you don’t have a business class ticket or a credit card which gives lounge access. Frequent flyers may want to consider Priority Pass.
Offering membership to more than 1000 lounges in some 140-plus countries. This app will allow you, and potentially guests, to relax in the lounge pre-flight or on a layover. There are a few different pricing models, including a lower option with paid entrance to the lounges and a mid-range membership which allows for ten free lounge visits. Of course, if you’re only flying a couple of times a year, it’s likely not worth it.
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8-year-old hopes to break record in climb up summit in Yosemite 02:22 - Source: CNN CNN — If your parents name you “Adventure,” they probably hoped you’d do some adventurous things. Sam Adventure Baker understood his assignment. The Colorado 8-year-old sets out Monday to become the youngest person to reach the summit of El Capitan in California’s Yosemite National Park. The journey is expected to take four days “of hanging from your fingers or hanging from your anchors,” Sam’s dad Joe Baker told CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield on Sunday. Sam and Joe Baker will climb in a four-person team. One person climbs ahead of the others and sets the ropes for the others to follow. His dad said Sam will try to lead one of the sections, or “pitches,” of the climb. El Capitan – the park’s iconic vertical rock formation – sits more than 3,000 feet above the valley floor. That’s 2.5 times as tall as the Empire State Building, according to the Yosemite National Park website. El Capitan is a Class 5 climb, according to Rei.com – the highest and most difficult of classifications. “The routes are for expert climbers who train regularly and have a lot of natural ability,” the site says. Sam Baker was born into a climbing family, his dad said. Joe and his wife (Sam’s mom) fell in love rock climbing, he told CNN and his son “was in a harness before he could walk.” A website highlighting Sam’s climbs, aptly named SamAdventure.com, said the young climber completed his first multi-pitch route at age 3 – at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado. When he was 6, Sam took on Lost Arrow Spire, a three-pitch climb that starts 2,500 feet above Yosemite Valley. Only one other 6-year-old – world-class professional climber Tommy Caldwell – had ever done it. While making it to the top of El Capitan would set records, that’s not Sam’s motivation for attempting the ascent. “I’m most excited to climb with (my) Daddy,” Sam told CNN. Something else Sam’s looking forward to – lasagna. While suspended on a portaledge – a nylon hammock hanging from the rock face thousands of feet in the air – Sam and Joe and their fellow climbers will dine on lasagna they cook from little packets on a gas stove. They’re also carrying a chess set on their journey because, in addition to his climbing accomplishments, Sam “is getting really good at chess,” his dad said. Aside from the lasagna and the chess, Sam said “getting to the top” is his favorite part of climbing. Joe Baker told CNN that the weather was looking good for their summit – a little chilly but clear skies and no rain. Perfect conditions for what he said will be a “big adventure. A big, family adventure.”
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'Hero' drone pilot tracks down lost dog in field four miles from owner's home after she escaped from garden and went missing for two hoursErica Hart used her drone to find black schnauzer Hilda on September 9Reunited her with owners Jamie and Leah Hollinshed from Clayton in YorkshireThe 33-year-old drone expert has rescued over 200 dogs in seven years for free She found Hilda in 20 minutes after the family had been searching for two hours Published: 06:55 EDT, 16 September 2022 | Updated: 07:42 EDT, 16 September 2022 A 'hero' animal lover rescued a lost dog by tracking it down with her drone after it escaped from its owner's garden and went missing for two hours.Erica Hart, 33, found Jamie and Leah Hollinshed's black schnauzer Hilda by locating her in a field four miles away from their home in Yorkshire just before a storm hit. Erica, who says she has rescued over 200 dogs using the technology, sometimes spends over £50 on petrol to help owners reunite with their animals but doesn't charge a penny, saying she does it for 'the love of dogs'. She managed to spot Hilda in 20 minutes after the family had been looking for two hours near their home in Clayton on Friday, September 9. The dramatic drone footage used to find Hilda shows the escaped schnauzer running down a residential road in Thurnscoe and narrowly dodging an oncoming vehicle. Erica Hart (pictured), 33, found Jamie and Leah Hollinshed's black schnauzer Hilda by tracking her down in a field four miles away from their home in Yorkshire using her drone She managed to spot Hilda in 20 minutes, after the family had looked for her for two hours near their home in Clayton on Friday, September 9. Pictured: Hilda with Leah's son Oliver McDougall, 13Hilda, a two-year-old rescue dog, then runs into a field before owner Jamie, 43, attempts to catch her. Using the drone, Erica told Leah, 37, to help Jamie close in on their pet - and helped the family to reunite. Jamie said: 'What she did is brilliant. She's a hero, a real superhero.'We'd had a couple of hours with no sighting but she spotted her in 20 minutes. It just shows how good these drones can be, we were so relieved when she found her. The dramatic drone footage shows the escaped schnauzer running down a residential road in Thurnscoe and narrowly dodging an oncoming vehicle Luckily Hilda managed to get onto the pavement in time to dodge the oncoming vehicle in a heartstopping moment in the footage'She saved her life. She could have been run over or the storms could have panicked her. You just think the worst straight away.'Erica was in constant communication with us. She knew what she was doing and where to look and told us all to split up.'I've no idea how she got out. It must have been a tiny gap in the fence, but the storm must have scared her. She doesn't leave my side usually, she's like my shadow.'As it was getting later, we thought we'd never see her again. The storms were going to start again and that was worrying. It brought a tear to my eye when we got her back.'The drone expert had been on a shopping when Jamie phoned to say Hilda was missing, and immediately left to come and help out. In April she had helped to find Hilda a home with Jamie and Leah, so finding her again was a cause very close to her heart. Erica, from Goldthorpe, South Yorkshire, said: 'It was great to see the owner's face when they've been chasing the dog for hours, then I turn up and it's over in 20 minutes.'Thank god we found her when we did. They were over the moon and it's so rewarding. Hilda, a two-year-old rescue dog, then runs into a field before owner Jamie, 43, attempts to catch her Hilda ran past Jamie and out into the field again before Erica gave the couple further instructions'The storms started minutes after I got the drone down. It was good timing because Hilda could have darted and we wouldn't have seen her for hours.'Once that drone's above the dog, it's not going anyway because I can guide people in quick enough. It's like a military operation.'I'll interrogate the owners about what the dog's like and that builds a picture up.'Erica claims she has rescued more than 200 dogs in seven years. She runs a Facebook group called HARTSAR which she uses to help owners find their pets.She doesn't charge any money for the service, even if it means spending money on petrol instead of treating herself.Erica added: 'I go home some days and I've spent £50 out of my own pocket and I've gone without stuff for myself to put petrol in the car to find a dog.'When I post it on Facebook and I see the comments I lay in bed with a smile on my face and realise why I do it.'I do it for the love of the dogs.' Using the drone, Erica told Leah, 37, to help Jamie close in on their pet - and helped the family to reunite Leah posted on Facebook afterwards praising the work of 'star' Erica Hart in helping to find Hilda.She said: 'She's been on a right little adventure up Clayton, she's exhausted, filthy and starving bless her.'Thank you so much Erica Hart for all your help, you're a star.'Erica's post, including the drone footage, has been liked more than 100 times, with users praising her heroic work.Jamie commented: 'Cheers Ez you're a star mate.' Advertisement
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MontenegroWith the Adriatic to the south and mountain ranges in the north, Montenegro is an easy place to combine a beach break with a more active holiday. The beach scene is centred on the medieval walled city of Budva, which has a 22-mile strip of sandy and pebbly coastline. Lake Skadar, southern Europe’s biggest, is about an hour’s drive away, perfect for boating among water lilies and Dalmatian pelicans.Fjord-like, Unesco-listed Bay of Kotor, encircled by mountains, is unmissable. There are several medieval towns, numerous churches and monasteries around its shores; from baroque Perast, sightseers can visit the islet of Our Lady of the Rocks. In Kotor town, 1,355 steps lead to the Sveti Ivan fortress, with spectacular views. Budva. Photograph: Kuriyama Chikara/Getty ImagesHeading north, sights include the mountain-top mausoleum of 19th-century ruler Petar II Petrović-Njegoš; Cetinje, the former capital; and the Ostrog Monastery, built into a cliff. Durmitor national park, with its forests, lakes and mountains, is the ultimate destination for outdoor adventure. Zabljak, highest town in the Balkans (1,456 metres), is a good base. Visitors can zipline across the 1.3km-deep Tara Canyon; go white-water rafting on the Tara river; swim in the Black Lake; or brave wolves and bears as they hike 25 marked trails.KosovoMirusha waterfalls are in a protected park in central Kosovo known for its canyons and karst landscape. Photograph: Olivier Wullen/AlamyKosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and remains a largely undiscovered tourist destination for Britons, who perhaps still associate it with the year-long war in 1998. But today it is a safe place to travel, with few crowds and low prices. Landlocked Kosovo comprises two major plains surrounded by mountains with 50 peaks over 2,000 metres. That means great hiking, horse riding and skiing. With no sea, swimming in natural pools is popular: the Mirusha Waterfalls have canyons, caves and 13 lakes. There is a lively nightlife scene in Pristina, the capital, and in the second city Prizren. It’s partly thanks to this Balkan state having the youngest population in Europe – more than 65% of people are under 30. The two cities also have many mosques, museums and monuments, including Pristina’s Emin Gjiku ethnographic museum and the Newborn monument, unveiled for independence and painted in a different style every year.Elsewhere, top sights include four Unesco-listed monasteries and churches – Dečani, Peć, Gračanica and Ljeviš; the Bear Sanctuary, home to European brown bears rescued from captivity by the charity Four Paws; and Gadime Cave, full of crystallised stalagmites and stalactites.SloveniaLjubljana is a city of baroque and Habsburg buildings. Photograph: kasto80/Getty ImagesSlovenia has a charming capital city; mountains, lakes and forests; fine wines; and even a short stretch of coastline. Ljubljana, the compact capital, is built around the river Ljubljanica, with baroque and Habsburg buildings on both banks. A glass of wine on a riverside terrace is hard to beat, but the city also has a hilltop castle, art galleries, theatres and museums (featuring Europe’s only complete mammoth skeleton at the Museum of Natural History), iconic 20th-century architecture by Slovene Jože Plečnik, and wooded Tivoli Park.In the north-west of the country, the top sights are the spectacular Lakes Bled and Bohinj in the Julian Alps. On the other side of the mountains, the less-visited Soča Valley offers hiking, rafting and kayaking in summer, and skiing and snowboarding in winter.Heading south, must-visits include the Postojna and Škocjan caves, and Predjama Castle, built into a cave mouth. Piran is the postcard town on the coast, with Italianate architecture reflecting centuries of Venetian rule.East Slovenia is wine country – lively Maribor, the second city, boasts the world’s oldest vine – and is a good choice for a farm stay. Ptuj, the oldest town in Slovenia, is a pretty place for a day trip.Bosnia and HerzegovinaHikers in the Sutjeska national park. Photograph: Witold Skrypczak/AlamyAnother country associated with 1990s warfare, Bosnia and Herzegovina is back on the backpacker trail. The capital, Sarajevo, has been likened to a miniature Istanbul or Jerusalem, with its old town, Baščaršija, full of bazaars, mosques and restaurants. But recent history hasn’t been forgotten: the Historical Museum and Tunnel Museum both tell the story of the four-year siege that killed 10,000 people in the 1990s.Mostar, in the south, is the second-biggest draw, famed for its beautiful Old Bridge – visitors can pay to dive off it if they dare. Less touristy (and longer) is Arslanagić Bridge in the pretty town of Trebinje in the far south-west. Other notable towns include Travnik, the former Ottoman capital, and Jajce, with a spectacular waterfall.Baščaršija, Sarajevo’s old town. Photograph: Federica Gentile/Getty ImagesWhite-water rafting is popular from March to October; one of the best rafting regions is around the town of Bihać, handy for the rapids of the Una river. Other active options include multi-day hikes in the Sutjeska national park, overnighting in mountain huts, and the 10-day TransDinarica mountain biking trail from Mostar to Sarajevo. Riders stay in B&Bs and homestays and eat homegrown food. In winter, there is affordable skiing in the Bjelašnica and Jahorina mountains south of Sarajevo.North MacedoniaNorth Macedonia is blessed with lakes. Photograph: AleksandarGeorgiev/Getty ImagesNorth Macedonia – so-called since 2019 – is a mountainous but green Balkan state. While it may be landlocked, it is blessed with lakes: most famously Ohrid, one of Europe’s oldest and deepest, but also Prespa, Dojran and more than 50 smaller glacial lakes.Unesco-listed Lake Ohrid is the top attraction, surrounded by ancient monasteries, beach bars and seafood restaurants. Activities include lakeside cooking classes, e-biking, boat trips and paragliding. The town of the same name is full of churches and monuments, and dotted along the lake are picturesque fishing villages. Church of St John at Kaneo, Lake Ohrid. Photograph: Saraginov/Getty ImagesSkopje, the capital, is less immediately appealing, but retains a Byzantine fort and an Ottoman centre, plus modern additions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art. Mavrovo national park, on another lake and home to bears, wolves and lynx, offers hiking, biking, horse riding and swimming in the summer, and skiing in the winter. It’s also home to the picturesque, 11th-century Sveti Jovan Bigorski monastery. The other national parks are Galičica, found between lakes Ohrid and Prespa, and Pelister, a mountain with two glacial lakes.
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These locations offer breathtaking vistas making them the perfect summer destinations.
Manali is one of the most beautiful tourist places to visit in India during the summer. It has the perfect blend of natural beauty, adventure, and other essential elements for a fantastic holiday. The snow at the Rohtang Pass can be the highlight of your summer vacation.
Make the most of your summer vacation by visiting the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India, where you can unwind on the sand, explore the turquoise waters, tropical jungles, and historical landmarks. In addition, the location offers incredible adventure activities like swimming, scuba diving, snorkelling, and sea walking.
Dalhousie is a small town tucked away in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh. It boasts of stunning natural scenery, pine-covered valleys, majestic misty mountains, and some of the most breathtaking views in the world.
Kerala, also known as ‘God's Own Country’, is not far behind when it comes to hosting famous summer vacation spots in India. Munnar, which is located in the verdant Western Ghats, offers a retreat when the temperatures rise during summer.
One of the best locations in India for a summer holiday is Ladakh. The beige-coloured, rugged hills of Ladakh provide an alluring contrast to the turquoise lakes and blue sky, making it every biker's ideal vacation destination. Moreover, summer is considered to be the best time to visit Ladakh.
The best place to start experiencing the joy of the Northeast is at Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya. The stunning hill station is well-known for its pleasant weather, abundant vegetation, dazzling lakes, and waterfalls. Given that its geography and climate are comparable to Scotland, the city is also referred to as the "Scotland of the East."
Ranikhet, popularly known as Queen's Meadow, is a charming cantonment hill town in Uttarakhand and one of the most popular summer vacation spots in the country. It is thought to be the home of Kumaon's Queen Padmini. The revered shrines, abundant orchards, a nine-hole golf course, and magnificent scenery makes Ranikhet one of the top summer tourist destinations in India.
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There is little more exhilarating than seeing some of the world’s rarest and most spectacular wildlife in its natural habitat. And these habitats – the shadowy crags of mountains, dense green rainforests, vast expanses of ocean – are often remote and far flung from the usual tourist trails, so getting to them can be an entire adventure in itself.So if you’re ready to ditch the sunloungers in order to witness mother nature’s most jaw-dropping spectacles, here are the pick of the best holidays designed to showcase Earth’s extraordinary creatures while protecting them and their often fragile environments.Golden eagles in Scotland Golden eagles can be spotted patrolling the skies in the Alladale Wilderness Reserve in the heart of the Scottish Highlands (file photo) Enjoy splendid isolation at Alladale's on-site self-catering Deanich Lodge (above), thought to be one of the most remote buildings in BritainAlladale Wilderness Reserve, in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, is an out-and-out rewilding success story.The 23,000-acre utopia is just an hour north of Inverness, yet you’ll feel as if you’ve tumbled into Tolkien’s Middle-earth. That’s because the team here have been working tirelessly for years to restore the area to its former lush glory, reintroducing species and planting close to a million native trees.As such, wildlife-spotting opportunities are superlative – an otter here, a red squirrel there (there are now more than 300 in the area) – but it’s the golden eagles that patrol the skies above that truly demand attention.Alladale is a reliable location to try to secure a sighting of the stunning birds of prey. Book a guided hike with one of the rangers and you’ll get intel into the resident breeding pair and nesting sites, as well as the colossal white-tailed sea eagles that also roam these verdant hunting grounds. The lounge area inside Deanich Lodge, which can be booked from two to 16 guests from £40pp a nightWhy so special? The splendid isolation. This is a place where you really are getting away from it all – the on-site self-catering Deanich Lodge is thought to be one of the most remote buildings in Britain.What else can I see? Pine martens, ospreys and mighty stags. A programme is also in swing to breed and reintroduce Scottish wildcats – one of the world’s rarest felines – and if ambitions come to fruition, wolves.Dates: Available year-round. Deanich Lodge can be booked from 2-16 guests from £40pp a night (alladale.com).Wolves in Italy Much Better Adventures offers a two-night winter group trip to the Central Apennines - in search of Italy's most enigmatic creature (above). The sound of the wolves calling during torchlit evening walks will raise every hair on the back of your neckEver wondered what it feels like to hear a wolf pack howl under the light of a bright, clear moon?On this two-night winter group trip to the Central Apennines you’ll join expert wildlife trackers in search of Italy’s most enigmatic and rare creatures. Dawn is one of the best times to spot them, so, fuelled by fresh coffee, you’ll don snowshoes to hike up to the higher altitudes that they favour.You’ll spend the nights in family-run guesthouses in the mountains, tucking into hearty Italian fare and local wines, and enjoying torchlit evening walks to listen as the wolves call out long and loud – a haunting, unforgettable sound that will raise every hair on the back of your neck. Wolves were once close to extinction in the Central Apennines (pictured), but are making a comeback thanks to passionate conservation workWhy so special? This adventure has been created in partnership with the Rewilding Europe foundation, and ensures guests a safe and respectful passage through the wolves’ habitat.The creatures were once close to extinction here, but are making a comeback thanks to passionate conservation work, and this is the best, most sustainable way to see them.What else can I see? You’ll hike through forests frequented by bears, weasel-like martens and wild boar. With a bit of luck you could also spot golden eagles and griffon vultures soaring overhead, too.Dates from December. Costs from £580pp and includes guides, accommodation, meals and transfers (muchbetteradventures.com).Whale sharks in Indonesia Guests can swim among large groups of whale sharks in Indonesia's Cenderawasih Bay on Heritage Expeditions' 15-day tour (file photo) This cruise, run by specialist conservation operator Heritage Expeditions, meanders quietly through many of the vast archipelago’s more remote tropical islands.Wildlife-spotting opportunities abound, from Komodo National Park’s dragons to the rainbow corals and glittering fish at Wakatobi National Park – a place the French marine explorer Jacques Cousteau called ‘underwater Nirvana’.But the real treat comes when the boat heads towards West Papua. Here, guests can swim among large groups of whale sharks in Cenderawasih Bay.The graceful animals – the largest fish in the world which can grow to more than 40ft and weigh more than 20 tons – can be spotted roaming here almost every day of the year, often congregating in large numbers like nowhere else on Earth. Heritage Expeditions' trip takes in the Raja Ampat archipelago (above), where dazzling birds of paradise can be seenBut you won’t find huge crowds of tourists, meaning you’re free to share the waters with these gentle giants, gawping at their seemingly cavernous (but totally harmless) wide-open mouths as they feed.Why so special? The voyage ventures well off the tourist route, exploring islands that are rich in dense, untouched rainforests and home to rare flora and fauna.What else can I see? Take your pick from dazzling birds of paradise in Raja Ampat, blue-fronted lorikeets on remote Buru Island and rare dugong in the waters surrounding Misool.Dates from October. Fifteen days costs from £7,386pp, including accommodation, meals, activities and lectures (heritage-expeditions.com).Snow leopards in India And Beyond offers an 11-night trip to the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh, with guests taken into the wind-scoured landscape in search of snow leopards - predators so elusive they’re known as 'grey mountain ghosts' The Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh, nicknamed Little Tibet, is a high-altitude oasis for some of the rarest wildlife on the planet.This 12-day photographic expedition, on foot and in 4x4 vehicles, takes guests into the wind-scoured landscape in search of the magnificent snow leopards – predators so elusive they’re known as ‘grey mountain ghosts’.While winter temperatures plummet to -15C (5F), and as wolves pad through the snow and golden eagles wheel overhead, guests are led by an expert guide as local spotters help secure heart-pounding sightings. Ladakh has been hailed as one of the last frontiers for wildlife tourism, and Ulley village (pictured), where you’ll stay with a local family on And Beyond's tour, has only recently been developed for snow leopard viewingAnd when that moment comes, witnessing a snow leopard stalk a herd of blue sheep or a mother guiding her cubs across boulders and ravines, is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.Why so special? Ladakh has been hailed as one of the last frontiers for wildlife tourism, and Ulley village, where you’ll stay with a local family, has only recently been developed for snow leopard viewing. This means it’s completely free of crowds, so you will likely be the only visitors in the mountains.What else can I see? The valleys of Ladakh are great for spotting urials (wild sheep), Himalayan fox and ibex, which can climb and perch on virtually vertical cliffs.Dates from December 1. Eleven nights from £5,860pp, including meals, internal flights and activities (andbeyond.com).Gorillas in Uganda A one-year-old baby mountain gorilla hangs from a branch in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. G Adventures offers an eight-day trip to Uganda and Rwanda from £2,749pp that takes in the park Bask in the rich biodiversity of Uganda and Rwanda, and spend time with some of the most human-like animals around on this intimate small-group trip.You’ll need a relatively good level of fitness, as you’ll be trekking through the evergreen forests of Kibale National Park in search of rambunctious chimps, and hiking the lush, emerald green tangles of the daunting Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to find family groups of mighty mountain gorillas (although local porters can be hired to carry your pack and make things a little easier).There’s plenty of opportunity to kick back though, on safari drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park and peaceful nights spent on farms, falling asleep to a soothing soundtrack of monkeys and birds. You’ll need a relatively good level of fitness for G Adventures' odyssey as it involves a good deal of trekking, but local porters can be hired to carry your pack and make things a little easier. Pictured is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Why so special? The trip is endorsed by Dr Jane Goodall, the world-renowned primatologist, so you can be safe in the knowledge that as you travel you are helping to protect wildlife and empower local communities.What else can I see? While trundling along in your safari vehicle in Queen Elizabeth National Park, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for warthogs, elephants, buffalo, hippos and five species of primates.Dates from November 12. Eight days cost from £2,749pp, including activities, accommodation and some meals (gadventures.com).Emperor penguins in Antarctica Scenic offers a 19-day Antarctica cruise that includes an exhilarating helicopter excursion to view emperor penguins (above) in their natural habitat on Snow Hill Island in the remote Weddell Sea While cruising in the icy Weddell Sea, pictured, you might spy pods of humpback whales, orcas and minke whales breaching the glassy water’s surfaceSnow Hill Island in Antarctica’s remote Weddell Sea is mainly visited by scientists to study the Emperor penguins that live in this icy landscape.But for the first time, the ultra-luxury cruise ship Scenic Eclipse is offering its guests the opportunity to embark on an exhilarating helicopter excursion to view the penguins in their natural habitat.Available from December, the excursion has been planned to coincide with the end of the penguins’ breeding season, making it the perfect time to spot downy chicks as they shed their fluffy grey feathers and prepare for their first swims.Why so special? The penguin colony, situated on the very edge of the Antarctic Circle, was only discovered in the ’90s and is accessible only by helicopter. The ultra-luxury Scenic Eclipse, with two on-board helicopters, is one of the only cruise lines able to facilitate such an experience and take guests into such a hard-to-reach destination that few people will ever visit.What else can I see? While cruising the icy Weddell Sea, you could spy rookeries of plump elephant seals lazing on the beach, or pods of humpback whales, orcas and minke whales breaching the glassy water’s surface.Dates from December 19. The 19-day Antarctica and Weddell Sea voyage, which begins in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, costs from £16,145pp, including flights, all meals, drinks and activities. Helicopter experience costs extra (scenic.co.uk).Polar bears in Canada Visit Manitoba in summer with Responsible Travel and you might spot the magnificent polar bears who make their way to land with the warmer weatherManitoba in summer is an astonishingly beautiful place, where the tundra blossoms into a sea of pink and purple wildflowers and animals are out in abundance.This includes magnificent polar bears who make their way to land with the warmer weather, lounging in patches of dazzling fireweed or padding their way along the rocky shores (they can sometimes be spotted hunting beluga whales from the beaches).Guests on this eight-day trip will be based in a family-run lodge on the shore of Hudson Bay, surrounded by wild, bold landscapes and the extraordinary wildlife of this polar region.Days can be spent on marine tours – spotting and swimming with hundreds of white beluga whales – trekking in search of caribou or polar bears. Sometimes, however, you won’t even need to change out of your pyjamas, as the curious bears occasionally wander so close to the lodge you can sit and watch them with your morning cup of coffee. Go swimming with white beluga whales in Hudson Bay, pictured, on Responsible Travel's eight-day tour Why so special? The tour is run by Responsible Travel, and often it has the only boats on the quiet Seal River estuary, making spotting the polar bears an intimate experience.What else can I see? Caribou, foxes, wolves, grizzly bears and wonderful birdlife. And the stunning Aurora Borealis, which is particularly strong in this area, flickering across the night’s sky like waves of vivid green and purple silk.Dates from July. Eight days from £10,760pp, including meals, activities and flights (responsibletravel.com).
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Have you ever dreamed of packing up and hitting the road?Molly and Jaren Garcia of the lifestyle blog We Plus Threee did just that in 2019. They sold their three-bedroom, two-bathroom house in Joshua, Texas, whittled down their belongings, and moved with their three children into a recreational vehicle.Since then, the family has already traveled to 25 states and is now in their fifth RV -- a fifth-wheel that's a 44-foot motorhome.The Garcia family set out on their RV adventure in 2019 with a Coachman Chaparral.Courtesy Molly Garcia "We've hacked the freedom code for us," Jaren Garcia, 30, told "Good Morning America." "Everyone has what freedom [means] for them, but I think that we were pretty happy with what we chose."The Garcias said they made the big life change because they wanted to be together as a family while Jaren Garcia, who was working in sales at the time, traveled for work, and because they wanted to take control of their own schedules.Molly and Jaren Garcia are parents of 3 -- Lillie, 13, Jaxton, 9, and Willow, 5.Courtesy Molly Garcia "We were trying to figure out how we were going to live our lives separately. Like, I was at home with the kids and then he was gone out of state. He would only come home for a few days out of the month and then it was for months at a time and I was like, 'Well, I don't really care for being at home by myself anymore. I'd rather be with you even if it's in an RV,'" Molly Garcia, 29, explained. "And we ended up doing that."Molly Garcia now home-schools their children -- Lillie, 13; Jaxton, 9, and Willow, 5 -- and creates content for the family's blog and social media platforms. Jaren Garcia is in charge of driving and has switched jobs to become an independent insurance adjuster. They've also taken on other side businesses, including flipping a 1950s house.According to Molly Garcia, the kids have quickly adjusted to their new lives. "They love it. We asked them, we're like, 'Do you want to go live back in the house? Do you want to go to school?' And they're like, 'No, no, we like this,'" she said.The Garcias estimate that when they were living in a traditional house, they were spending approximately $3,000 per month. Now that they've switched to an RV, they spend much less per month, they said.Before switching to an RV lifestyle, the Garcias lived in a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house in Texas.Courtesy Molly Garcia "When we first started, we stayed at an RV park for the entire month and it was $650 per month and then we paid electric and water, which was about $130, so we were close to $800 and then we would pay for our RV payment and then we didn't have a truck payment then," Molly Garcia explained. Along with food, she estimated that they cut their living costs down to about $1,000 per month.They now cook many of their meals and have taken the time to figure out what they like to do and what possessions they don't need. They've also downsized and, over the years, customized each of their RVs to their liking."You can buy a $5,000 RV or you can buy a $500,000 RV, it's all dependent on the person," Jaren Garcia said. "It's just like owning a home but you got to know, you could sell your home for a good amount and then buy your RV cash and then know, OK, my home is paid for. I'm good. So it's all dependent on the person, but I wouldn't necessarily say it's cheaper because now your fuel costs have gone up, which will be a little more expensive."After living in the Coachman Chaparral RV for a year, the Garcias moved into a Wildwood Heritage Glen 378FL RV.Courtesy Molly Garcia"When you get into the RV life, if you bring a lot of weight into your RV, it'll weigh it down," Molly Garcia added. "You'll spend more money on gas, you might break things in your RV because there's so much weight in there. So, actually going through everything, and, like, really going through everything, it's a process."Today, the Garcias prioritize experiences and field trips to national parks, museums, zoos and libraries now that they're not tied to one location all the time. Two of their favorite destinations so far include Utah and Montana's national parks.The Garcias live full-time in a motorhome now and have traveled to 25 states already.Courtesy Molly Garcia When it comes to keeping costs reasonable, Molly Garcia said there are several ways to stay on budget. "A lot of people can make it cheaper. You can boondock, you can still get a membership at Thousand Trails [which offers campgrounds and RV parks for members] and stay for two weeks or more for free because you've spent a certain amount a year. You can stay with a friend or family, so there are ways you can move around to figure out how to save money," she said."We don't want to scare people away from this lifestyle because you could spend a lot of money, like way more than if you lived in a house," she continued. "But the outcome of everything is you're getting a lot more experiences and being able to travel and be on your own time.""We just want people to know that you can do it if you put your mind to it, like the biggest roadblock that you're gonna hit is the one that you make, so you can overcome it," Jaren Garcia added.
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Wales and I have history. It began on camping holidays in Pembrokeshire as a kid, then, as I discovered surfing, took me to sleeping in vans between waves on the Llŷn peninsula. The van made it easy to follow the surf and stay warm and dry at the same time: a safe space on wheels.More recently I set off on another Welsh trip as part of my research for a new guidebook about offbeat campervan adventures in England and Wales. Rather than the sea, a river would be the focus this time – the Teifi, which I planned to follow from outdoorsy, hip Cardigan to the Teifi Pools, a series of high lakes in the Cambrian Mountains, at 455 metres above sea level, with fishing and canoeing stops along the way. It’s only about 70 miles from sea to source but it takes you from a tiny beach, through a stunning gorge that’s recovering from Wales’s industrial past and into one of the UK’s last wildernesses. My fishing partner Andy and I did it over three days but could have easily hung about for much longer.A sunlit view of the sea at Cardigan Bay. Photograph: Martin DoreyThe journey began at Mwnt, a tiny hamlet on Cardigan Bay outside the city, with a night at the brilliantly located Tŷ Gwyn Caravan and Camping Park. On the first morning, when I opened the blinds and squinted into the rising sun, I saw red-legged choughs pecking at the grass outside the van. Down the hill, the tiny Holy Cross church reflected golden light beneath Foel y Mwnt’s bracken-covered slopes. We breakfasted in the sun in Cardigan outside Stiwdio 3 Cafe before our first rendezvous with the river: canoeing the Cilgerran Gorge with Heritage Canoes (2 hrs, £40 adult). Backlit trees cast deep shadows over the water, making it appear black, unfathomable and wild, as the mist rose and we paddled silently, hoping for an otter sighting (none came). The steep sides of the gorge were densely wooded, the only sounds birdsong and the splosh of paddles in water.Canoeing in the Cilgerran Gorge. Photograph: Martin DoreyWe returned to Mwnt via the beach at Patch, on the north side of the river. Here, as instructed by the people serving us in the chippy, we drove down a tiny lane and on to the foreshore, where we scoffed our fish, chips and mushy peas, the salt tang of the estuary mingled with the vinegar as we sat in the van with the doors flung open.Our communion with the water continued the following day. We headed out of Cardigan to Lampeter, following the river as closely as possible, passing the roaring rapids at Cenarth Falls. At Lampeter we bought fishing permits from the Llandysul Angling Association (from £10) and took to the river. We set up in a water meadow; woodpeckers knocked on a tree on the riverbank and buzzards swooped overhead. Despite a few takes there was little action besides a few tiny trout, but the peace and wildness of the river more than made up for the lack of fish. Whether we imagined those that got away or the flashes of the kingfisher zipping past is immaterial.The Teifi has a wide range of opportunities for fishing. Photograph: Martin DoreyWe continued upstream through Llanddewi Brefi (the village made famous by Little Britain) until we arrived at Ffair Rhos, a hamlet overlooking the valley and the last stop before the wilderness. Penrhiw Campsite (£5 a night), opposite the Teifi Inn, is fantastically rustic, with incredible views of mountains to the east and valley to the south. From here a tiny road heads off into the Cambrian Mountains and the river’s source, the Teifi Pools.Only 70 miles from the sea, the mountainous source of the Teifi is like another world. Photograph: Martin DoreyIt’s a wild, empty place with a winding, switchbacking road that looks like a ribbon dropped on a lonely moor. We rose early to be at the pools as the morning mist turned to bright sunshine and the water to glass (fishing passes from £13, tregaronangling.com). We cast in vain into the deep, black water.Views down to the valley revealed a patchwork of agriculture and “civilisation”. Up here there were no trees, just a sea of tufty sedges, gorse, heather and bracken. Our fishing luck was down again, but it didn’t matter. The pass allowed us to park the van for the day in Wales’s final, untamed wilderness. Beneath a deep blue sky, the mountains undulated like dunes, wagtails darted by the water’s edge and sheep stood on outcrops of rocks, bleating at each other across the reservoir. I’m used to driving through such places, but rarely stop – really stop – and immerse myself. Today, casting my line into the black, still water, I drank it all in.We dawdled home the very long way, over the Cambrian mountains via the twisty Ystwyth Valley. From there we took a tight right at Elan Bridge on to the tiny but stunning road that follows the Craig Goch reservoir into the picture-perfect landscape to beat them all: the Elan Valley.There are many beautiful spots on the river, from rugged hillside to broad estuary. Photograph: Martin DoreyI’ve travelled all over Wales in my campervan. But this is one of my favourite routes. This journey is Wales as you imagine it: tiny, bumpy roads through undulating, empty upland with peaty brown rivers tumbling into deep pools below stone bridges. With hearts and waders full, but fishing bags empty – and glad to have added another chapter to the story of my love affair with Wales – I pointed the van towards home.Three more of Martin’s top wild campervan routesForest of Bowland, LancashireMartin Dorey in the Forest of Bowland. Photograph: Martin DoreyThe Forest of Bowland, a diminutive Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, isn’t as popular as its neighbours The Lakes and the North Yorkshire Moors – and that’s a good thing. A lonely moor at the mid-point of Britain, it’s great for cycling and exploring on foot.I set off from Clitheroe, heading to the heart of the AONB in Slaidburn (good walking) and then taking a route through Dunsop Bridge and the Trough of Bowland to Caton and Bentham before making my way back to Slaidburn via the beautiful pass at the Cross of Greet. As epic road trips go it wasn’t the longest I’ve ever done, just about 60 miles, but it didn’t disappoint – taking in moorland, a gorge, and ancient wooded dales. A hike from Dunsop Bridge on to the moor and the Whitendale Hanging Stones is a must. Places to stay include the Clitheroe Camping and Caravanning Club site on the banks of the Ribble and Halsteads Farm, a working farm with basic but good facilities.Spurn Head and the HumberThe road to Spurn Head. Photograph: Martin DoreyFrom the Humber Bridge to Bempton Cliffs, east Yorkshire, the coastal route is around 88 miles – worthy of a mini-adventure, particularly for birdwatchers and lovers of wilderness and history. Stops along the way include Spurn Head, a spit of land that snakes out into the Humber estuary, a little forgotten these days, after the MOD left and nature moved in. The nature reserve at the top of Spurn Head is navigable only on foot or by bike (we cycled and were alone). We headed north to Withernsea and Hornsea and on to bustling Bridlington and Flamborough, and then the RSPB reserve at Bempton. Suggested campsites include Sandalwood on the outskirts of Easington (a 10-mile round-trip cycle to Spurn) and Cayton Bay Caravan and Motorhome Club Site up the coast from Flamborough.Northumberland coastStarting at Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, it’s just 75 miles to Berwick in Northumberland but the route takes in incredible beaches, castles and beguiling towns and villages – we took our time and stretched it out over five days. Highlights include Blyth (beach, beach huts, ice-cream), Alnmouth and Bamburgh, with its famous castle. Despite summer crowds there are still empty places to discover. A short walk through dune slacks and marram grass near Beadnell Bay rewarded us with a tiny wild cove. We missed the hordes at the Holy Island of Lindisfarne by waiting for a day when the tide had been in all day (so “trapping” day trippers). When the water drew back, the crowds rushed away and we drove over the last droplets of high water to enjoy a glorious, silent evening exploring one of Northumberland’s favourite attractions. Recommended places to say include Budle Farm near Bamburgh on Budle Bay (no website, just turn up and text the owner on 07707 299430), Beadnell Bay Camping and Caravan Club Site, on the coast, popular but vast and Berwick Motorhome and Caravan Club Site, overlooking the sea.Martin Dorey’s Off the Beaten Track: England and Wales: Wild Drives and Offbeat Adventures by Camper Van and Motorhome, is published by Conway (£20, available from the Guardian Bookshop at £17.40). Martin is also author of the Take the Slow Road series, which features inspirational journeys by campervan and motorhome in Scotland, England and Wales, Ireland and France
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Jesse Schoberg began plotting his escape from Elkhorn, Wisconsin, where he was born and raised, when he was a teenager. "It's your typical small town in the Midwest: small, quiet, not too much adventure," he tells CNBC Make It. "I always knew that I wanted to get out and explore the world."The 41-year-old entrepreneur has now been living abroad for 14 years, splitting his time among more than 40 countries — and he has no plans to return to the U.S. anytime soon. Schoberg bucked the traditional path of attending college and securing a 9-to-5 job, instead choosing to move to Madison when he was 19, sharpening his coding skills and helping businesses with their website design and development. By the time he turned 27, however, Schoberg began to feel restless. He decided to move to a new city and researched apartments in Austin and Denver, but his mind kept drifting to Panama City, the capital of Panama, where he had "one of the best vacations of his life," as he recalls. He moved to Panama City in 2008 and lived there for six years before packing his bags to travel the world full time as a digital nomad, a movement he had learned about, and was inspired to try, during a work retreat in Curaçao. In between his travels, Schoberg now calls Bangkok home. He relocated to Thailand in December 2021 and shares a one-bedroom apartment with his fiancée, Janine. "The quality of life in Thailand compared to the United States, is much better for 90% of things and more stress-free," he says. "It's also a lot easier to afford a luxurious lifestyle."Becoming a digital nomadSchoberg has built a formidable career as an entrepreneur and web developer, earning a six-figure salary each year — but his success didn't happen overnight.When he first moved to Panama, Schoberg brought the web design and development firm he established in the U.S. — and his list of clients — with him. In 2013, Schoberg and two of his friends who had worked with him on previous projects for the firm, Jason Mayfield and Laura Lee, created DropInBlog, a software start-up that helps website owners add an SEO-optimized blog to almost any platform in minutes. Today, DropInBlog has an all-remote staff of 12 employees, with Schoberg at the helm as CEO. Becoming his own boss gave Schoberg a more flexible schedule, and he used his newfound free time to travel: After visiting several countries in Central and South America, including Colombia and Costa Rica, he decided to check out Asia, living for short stints in Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines (where he met his fiancée on a Tinder date). In 2015, Schoberg stopped in Thailand — and he immediately knew he found his new home. "When I got to Bangkok for the first time, it just had that pulse that felt familiar to Panama City … there's just this incredible energy on the street and with the people," he says. "I knew right away that Bangkok was going to be my Panama City 2.0." Schoberg and his fiancée have been splitting their time between Mexico City and Bangkok as he waits for his Thai Elite Visa, a 5-year renewable visa that costs about $18,000 and gives you unlimited access to Thailand as well as entry and exit privileges. 'I live a lot better here than I did in the U.S.' Since moving to Bangkok, Schoberg has been able to spend more on travel, dining and other hobbies as well as boost his savings. "While I can afford a pretty nice life in the U.S., I live a lot better here than I did in the U.S.," he says. "The level of services that you get here — fancier movie theaters, nice cars — completely blow away what you get in the U.S." As an entrepreneur and CEO, Schoberg earns about $230,000 per year. His biggest expenses are his rent and utilities, which together are about $2,710 each month. Schoberg and his fiancée live in a one-bedroom apartment in a building with a private gym, pool, co-working space, restaurant and daily cleaning service. He and Janine spend about $1,900 each month on takeout and dining out, often ordering food from local restaurants on a popular app called Food Panda. Schoberg's go-to meals are khao soi, a coconut curry noodle soup with braised chicken, and pad krapow, a spicy basil chicken dish. Both meals usually cost $2-$3, Schoberg says, and local restaurants will often give long-term customers discounts. The food scene, he says, is a "huge plus" to living in Thailand, and one of the main reasons he chose to move to Bangkok. "Bangkok has an amazing culinary scene, you have pretty much every type of food in the world here," Schoberg says. "Just around the corner from my apartment, there's a Belgian sandwich shop and a Korean barbeque joint." Here's a monthly breakdown of Schoberg's spending (as of June 2022):Rent and utilities: $2,709.52 Food: $1,900.52Transportation: $197Phone: $40Health insurance: $280.39Subscriptions: $78.48Discretionary: $2,669.37 Total: $7,875.28The Thai culture and people are "much friendlier and more relaxed" than in the U.S., Schoberg adds, and while English is spoken in the more popular tourist regions, like Bangkok, learning Thai has given Schoberg "a huge advantage" as a foreigner.He attends two Thai classes per week, which costs $269.44 a month, and stresses that "you can really engage in the culture and have a better life" in Bangkok if you're able to understand Thai.As a new resident, Schoberg is still exploring Bangkok and all that it has to offer, including its many malls, parks, restaurants and concert venues — one of the magical aspects of living in Bangkok, he adds, is that it can feel like you're living in two different cities at once. "You've got the street-level city, which is your food vendors, people running to work, taxis and motorbikes," he says. "And then there's this sky city that's happening in the skyscrapers, with fancy rooftop bars, working spaces and malls … here, you have the contrast of the Chanel store to the 20-cent pork skewer being grilled on the street." Planning a life of travel
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10 Of The Best Destinations In India To Beat The Summer Heat
A short break to these hill stations will be a welcome respite from the increasing summer heat.
1. Shimla
1. Shimla
Best Time To Visit: March to June
Shimla is also known as the 'Queen of Hills', Shimla is a picturesque hill town nestled at an altitude of 2205 metres in the enchanting state of Himachal Pradesh.
2. Manali
Best Time To Visit: March to June
Manali, also known as the "resort town" of Himachal Pradesh, is often referred to as the "Valley of the Gods" and is well know for the scenic Rohtang Pass and the snow-laden Solang Valley.
3. Nainital
Best Time To Visit: March to June
Nainital is commonly known as the 'Lake District', situated in Uttarakhand it is surrounded by seven hills, popularly known as ‘Sapta-Shring’ – Ayarpata, Deopata, Handi-Bandi, Naina, Alma, Lariya-Kanta and Sher-Ka-Danda.
4. Ooty
Best Time To Visit: March to June
Ooty is popular hill station in Tamil Nadu, also known as Udagamandalam, is famous for its waterfalls, botanical gardens, bustling markets, beautiful lakes, and has the most prominent tea factories
5. Darjeeling
Best Time To Visit: April to June
Darjeeling situated in West Bengal, also known as 'the land of the thunderbolt', is known for its richness in cultural & natural heritage and the famous toy train that has been declared a UN heritage.
6. Gulmarg
Best Time To Visit: March to June
Gulmarg situated in western Jammu and Kashmir union territory literally means “Meadow of flowers”, it is famous among nature lovers and adventure seekers and is also referred to as the 'heartland of winter sports'
7. Auli
Best Time To Visit: April to June
Auli is also known as the skiing capital of India, located in the Indian territory of Uttarakhand it is famous for the intriguing ski resorts.
8. Kasol
Best Time To Visit: March to June
Kasol in Himachal Pradesh also known as the 'mini-Israel' of India because of a large number of foreigners and Israeli visitors. Kasol is the Himalayan hotspot for backpackers and acts as a base for nearby trekking spots.
9. Lansdowne
Best Time To Visit: April to June
Lansdowne in Uttarakhand, originally called Kaludanda was named after Lord Lansdowne – the then Viceroy of British India is known for its striking sceneries especially the Tip-n-Top (also known as Tiffin Top) spot.
10. Khajjiar
Best Time To Visit: April to June
Also known as the 'mini Switzerland of India', is a s a small hill station in Himachal Pradesh enveloped by lush green meadows and forests, and majestic mountain peaks.
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Image source, Anna Taylor/Mathew WrightImage caption, Anna Taylor completed her challenge on Cadair Idris, in WalesA climber who took on a challenge to scale 100 peaks as well as cycle, run and walk more than 1,000 miles (1,600km) across England, Scotland and Wales has described it as a "long, hard and at times scary journey".Anna Taylor tackled most of the ascents without ropes.The 24-year-old, from Windermere in the Lake District, finished the challenge this week having begun in the Scottish Highlands in late-July.She added it had been an "adventure".Image source, Anna Taylor/Mathew WrightImage caption, Ms Taylor climbed many of the peaks, such as this one at Glen Coe, in Scotland, without ropesThe ascents, which Ms Taylor completed in 53 days, were taken from a guide book published in 2020 called Mountain Rock.As well as the Highlands, the challenge took in the Lake District and Snowdonia in Wales.In all, Ms Taylor climbed more than 12,000m (39,000ft), cycled more than 1,000 miles (1,600km) and ran or walked almost 200 miles (340km).Image source, Anna Taylor/Mathew WrightImage caption, Ms Taylor was met with mist as she scaled Craig Yr Ysfa in SnowdoniaShe said: "Being the first person to complete a human-powered link-up of Mountain Rock is something that I'm really proud of, and I certainly hope that I won't be the last to do it."It's been a long, hard, and - at times - scary journey, but it's allowed me to travel to parts of the UK that I never would have otherwise seen, and challenges like this always remind me just how much of an adventure you can have on our little island, without having to fly off overseas."It was the second time Ms Taylor has combined climbing with cycling between sites as last year she completed a round of 83 routes featured in another book, Classic Rock.Image source, Anna Taylor/Mathew WrightImage caption, The challenge took in Ms Taylor's home area - the Lake District in CumbriaFollow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.
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Ari Daniel/Ari Daniel
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Joy Ryan and her grandson Brad at the National Park of American Samoa. The pair visited all 63 U.S. national parks together
Ari Daniel/Ari Daniel
Joy Ryan and her grandson Brad at the National Park of American Samoa. The pair visited all 63 U.S. national parks together
Ari Daniel/Ari Daniel
Two weeks ago, 93-year-old Joy Ryan set a world record.
In her words, "I'm the oldest old lady to ever visit every national park."
In just eight years, she and her 42-year-old grandson Brad Ryan managed to go to all 63 national parks, an adventure they've documented on Instagram. Their final stop was the National Park of American Samoa in the South Pacific, some 6,700 miles from their home in Duncan Falls, Ohio. The pair received certificates from the park commemorating their achievement.
In a way, the journey began 21 years ago when Brad's parents got divorced, and he became estranged from Joy. It wasn't until 2008, at his sister's wedding, that he saw her again. She was 78 and she didn't look good.
"She came into the church and she was gaunt," Brad recalls. "Very unsteady. It was hard to see this woman that was so important to me in my formative years on the cusp of dying, knowing that there was so much anger and distance between us."
But over a period of months, Joy recovered. And Brad, who'd just finished hiking the Appalachian Trail where he'd been thinking through what mattered to him, worked up the courage to call Joy and suggest they make raisin-filled cookies together.
However, "there was a little too much awkwardness for my liking," he says. "You can't pick up where you left off, I learned that quickly."
The best thing I ever did
Still, they stayed in touch. Then, in 2015, when Brad was in vet school, he found himself in a dark place. "It's so hyper-competitive... and I had boards and then this young man committed suicide," he says. "I knew where he had been and it scared me how close I had come to that."
That's when Joy remembers receiving a call from Brad. He "wanted to know if I wanted to go down to the Smoky Mountains and stay in a tent," she says. "And I said, 'Yes, I'll try it.' I'd never been in one before."
Brad saw it as a chance to right himself. "There are a lot of things I've gotten wrong in my life," he says. "The best thing I ever did was to call her that day."
Grandma Joy was 85 at the time. She'd never even seen a mountain before. But she and Brad set out to summit one of the park's peaks along the Alum Cave Trail. It was two and a half miles to the top.
"She was very, very wobbly," Brad says. "Her balance and coordination were very poor." But when she finally reached the top, she says with a laugh, "There was this big group of college kids and they all gave me a rousing cheer!"
Joy and Brad were hooked. They visited one national park after another, and Joy kept getting stronger.
They went zip lining in New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia. "She broke the record for the oldest person to complete the course by almost a decade," says Brad. Joy's favorite part was doing the zip line in tandem with the guides. "I had these handsome men. They was really something," she says with delight. "You oughta seen 'em! Give me a hug and down we went!"
In Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve in Alaska, the two signed up for a white water rafting trip. They thought it was a class 1 river, but it turned out to be a class 3. It was Brad who got cold feet. He looked over at his grandmother. "She looked disappointed that I was thinking about wriggling out of that experience," he says. Their guide reassured them that he'd get them safely down the river, and so they did it. "It was great," says Joy. "You just have to hang on, that's all."
When the pair got to Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve in Colorado, Joy told Brad she wanted to roll down one of the dunes. Brad couldn't believe it. "I said you are going to break a hip," he recalls. "And she goes, 'Kiss my grits,'" and down she went. In a video that Brad took, once she reached the bottom, he yelled out playfully, "Have fun getting back up!"
Finally, their goal of reaching all 63 national parks was in reach with just one remaining — the National Park of American Samoa. When their airplane landed in mid-May, the flight attendant announced to the passengers what the grandmother-grandson duo were about to achieve. The plane erupted in applause, a chorus of support that grew as they made their way the following day to the park. The tropical sunshine welcomed them.
After spending over a week in American Samoa and Samoa, on their final day, they returned to the national park to visit their favorite spot one last time — the Pola Island Trail. Joy and Brad gingerly made their way along a path in the rainforest, beneath a cathedral of green vines and flowers. Joy wore her sandals ("That's all I got with me — it's either that or my bare feet") and Brad was right beside her, holding her hand and helping her navigate the rocks and the roots.
Joy stopped in front of a plant with enormous leaves. "Oh my word," she said. "I never saw anything like it in my whole born days."
After a few more paces, the short trail opened onto a stunning view on the north side of the island. Massive stone archways stood off to the left and a crashing ocean tumbled ashore.
"Isn't that magnificent? Oh! It's so pretty, I love that. It's like it's a dream," Joy said.
Over the last eight years, Brad and Joy have had little dust-ups to be sure. But this tour of the national parks has healed the rift that once separated them. "You can't hold grudges forever," says Joy.
And there were times that the parks spoke to them personally. For example, several summers ago, when they hiked amongst the redwoods in Redwood National Park in California, Joy says those towering trees made her feel about two inches tall. It was when she looked up that she noticed something.
"They've been struck by lightning," she recalls. "And you think: that takes courage, after you've been struck by lightning to say, 'I'm gonna keep on growing.'"
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Subsets and Splits
List Unique Topics
Simple retrieval of unique topics from the dataset, useful for basic exploration but lacks deeper insights.