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Adventure

Adventure

Adios, el Avila

In 1986, at the age of 21, Alejandra Melfo moved to Mérida, Venezuela. There, in the mountain city, she often looked out toward the horizon at the vast Sierra Nevada de Mérida: a large, muscular, towering expanse three miles in the sky and blanketed by snow and the broad sheets of glaciers. As the years went by, Melfo saw…

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Where is Ultraman when you need him?

It is so nice to see when something actually means something to the people around it, and that they treasure it and preserve it. Especially when it is larger than life. Sendai Daikannon, officially known as the Sendai Tendou Byakue Daikannon, is a large statue of Byakue Kannon bearing a gem in her hand located…

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Watch for low-flying planes

Wanna get high? Dubai has turned breaking world records into something of an art form over the years, and the emirate now has yet another to add to its list. The world's first and highest 360-degree infinity pool has just opened at the Palm Tower, a hotel and residential building from developer Nakheel that offers showstopping views…

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An aerial photographer, overexposed

If you're of a certain age (like we are) you might have a penchant for music from the 80's.  In our case we're talking about alternative (or new wave) music. One of our favourite bands from that period was Wire, an artistic, uncompromising, challenging group of gentlemen.  Not easy listening for those who prefer easy listenng. In…

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Smells like common sense

In most of the world, inhaling radon for pain relief sounds like a bizarre idea. In some places, though, it's so accepted that it's prescribed by doctors and covered by health insurance. And I have no idea how to talk about it. Thanks to the team at the Radonstollen in Bad Kreuznach: Watch the video courtesy of…

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Run away, run away . . . runway!

This article is not meant to be funny, but it is, in a way.  Monty Python would think so, anyway.  (And, to be sure, no-one was hurt.) ETF Airways, a startup charter airline from Croatia, is preparing a lawsuit against Bremen Airport (BRE) in Germany over the damages caused by a rabbit strike in August, as…

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We can Kurgan

As we often write here, as we humans get more clever, we often discover magical places and things that sometimes make us question our own "superiority," even with our intellectual and technical prowess. A good example is the Royal Kurgan of Kerch.  The Royal Kurgan, also called the Tsarskiy Kurgan, is one of the most…

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Show me the way

We've just hooked up with WeGoTrip, an innovative company who create audio guides for when you want to travel "do it yourself." It make so much sense, and can make touring so much more fun.  No noise in the background, no distractions, focused narrative, you can rewind and listen again, and you can use your…

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Image: ANA PAULA LUSTOSA

Anthropological soup

Sometimes, you never know when you'll have an epiphany.  In this case, please form an orderly queue for the Brasilian surprise, Biatüwi. Located in Manaus, this unasuming eatery has burst into the limelight over this past year as the place to eat.  After much soul-searching, Clarinda Ramos (holding her breath) opened when enough friends, family…

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Lights! iPhone! ACTION!

We don't know about you, but we started crying like babies when we saw James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 being trashed in No Time to Die.   They don't make them like that anymore..  That's like adding glitter to the Mona Lisa. But, like little childen, we were soon distracted by the mesmerising, almost, surreal beauty of…

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Go, cat go!

Elvis Presley was a lot of things, but never boring. Whether it's his Army hip-shaking' days, to his Qaalude and banana sandwiches legend, The King will never disappear from the world stage. If you want to learn more, Peter Guralnick's two-volume work is currently considered the definitive Presley biography. His Last Train to Memphis: The Rise…

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Let’s get Pagan!

The more we keep digging, the more we find about our ancient history.  With this, we can understand who we are, and why we behave the way that we do.  It's fascinating stuff. In this article, we cover the tumuli of Bougon, also called the necropolis of Bougon, an archaeological site dating back to the Neolithic…

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300 kph kitty

Manga?  Man, go! Japan is a wonderous place of so many contrasts. Surgically-focused mega-corporations.  Almost unreal scenery.  Respectful and warm humans. And a Hello Kitty bullet train.  Never again will your commute be mundane.  You can even be the engineer - sort of. Enjoy the video below and experience it yourself.  Bullet trains in Japan are just…

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So says the National Geographic

If ever there was a venerable institution (especially in the USA) it would be The National Geographic (affiliate friends of ours.)  Decades old, the organisation has always been known for its global approach:  it makes no distinctions nor proffers favouritism in its activities.  In the past, it has opened doors to worlds that many people…

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Volk’s wagon

There can often be lots of fun things under your nose, and sometimes you miss them entirely.  Take the Brighton (UK) seashore, for example:  it has its own little railway.  Volk's Electric Railway (VER) is a narrow gauge heritage railway that runs along a length of the seafront of the English seaside resort of Brighton.…

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Take a look at Ghats

How lucky are we that there are so many fascinating places on earth, and that social media has made them so available to us.  No matter how long you have been alive, there is no shortage of new and wonderful places to go.  Take Yana, for example, in the western Ghats in India  Located 55 km…

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Fall to pieces

Some music lasts forever, even if their creators don't.  Country singer Patsy Cline is one of those artists.  Even if you're not from the USA and a country music fan, her outputs will still likely linger in your head.  Like far too many musicians, Patsy Cline's life was cut short by a plane crash in…

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Hope springs eternal

As always, hope springs eternal.  Mankind will always correct its errant ways and will always achieve its highest aspiratiions.  And, humans keep trying to make that so. In 1900, Ida Hofmann, a German pianist, and her companion Henry Oedenkoven, the 25-year-old son of a businessman from Antwerp, purchased a hill in Ascona which had been known…

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Just close your eyes – it’ll be fine

Sometimes when we stay at a hotel, we're miffed when it doesn't have our favourite brand of coffee, or the pillow is too stiff, or it took three minutes to have more towels delivered.  Sheesh! But, it could be worse . . much worse. Is this Britain’s WORST hotel? Inside filthy seaside spot with dirty kitchen &…

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