Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

Nature & the Environment

Nature & the Environment

Ingmar would be pleased

My gosh, we’d really like to go off-grid right now. Somewhere isolated. Somewhere barren but still beautiful. Somewhere where you almost feel like you’ve reached the very edge of the planet. The island of Hamneskär, off Sweden’s western coast, is just that sort of place. For decades, this rocky island has been home to a lighthouse,…

Read more

FantAsia

For many, this article will be a refresher. But, if you've not been to Thailand (or even if you have) there is always something new to explore. With astonishingly great food, a tropical climate, fascinating culture, majestic mountains and great beaches, Thailand is a magnet for travellers around the world, and quite rightly…

Read more

Roll out the barrel

Roll out the barrel, and we'll have a barrel of fun says polka master Frankie Yankovic. But in this case, we're talking about real drinking (tequila) in a real barrel (where you will sleep.) You may even do both in the same place. Can you think of anything more perfect? The Matices…

Read more

Turkey’s underground

We always get thrilled when we hear of another groundbreaking (literally and figuratively) archaeological excavation. Due to technology, they're happening ever more frequently with sometimes stunning quality. Situated in southeastern Turkey, the subterranean city of Matiate has recently been unearthed and is truly gasp-inducing in its size and quality. To give you an…

Read more

What on Earth day??

Mother Earth is still fighting the good fight, despite so many of us giving her a hard time. She keeps warning us, but many of us are still not listening. And if things keep going the way that they are, there won't be any rooms where she will send us when we've misbehaved:…

Read more

Copenhagen mountain

One of the things we like to expose and promote here is interesting architecture and its even more interesting usage. With the elastic and durable materials that architects have at their fingertips now, the sky is the limit. In this case - literally. We imagine that many of you were terrified when you…

Read more

Come as you are

If you're the shy type, then you might want to look away now. This article is about naturism. Naturism is a lifestyle of practising non-sexual social nudity in private and in public; the word also refers to the cultural movement which advocates and defends that lifestyle. Both may alternatively be called nudism. Though the two terms are broadly interchangeable, nudism emphasizes…

Read more

Tashkent – heaven sent

Say what you will about Social Media, one thing that it's done (well) is to open our eyes and minds to places that we may not have heard of, or perhaps have heard of but have not seen. Even if you consider yourself well-travelled, you can be sure that you've probably just scratched the…

Read more

Adios, Covid. Now, it’s time to work

We could be wrong, but it feels like Covid is on the decline and that we can again breath a collective sigh of relief, pun intended. But, to be sure, it's not gone completely so be safe out there, as they say. And, as thanks, we can start to live our lives again but,…

Read more

Glamping, not cramping, your style

Camping is one of those love it / hate it propositions. Most of us are not in love with mosquitos. And, even in the summer, sleeping on the ground in a tent can be a lumpy and cold prospect. But, to be sure, the outdoor locations are usually mind-bogglingly beautiful, and you…

Read more

Moosewood good

We're not too young here at Matouring, so we remember things. Back in the 1970's, the "earth" movement really took hold. Healthy food, lifestyle and clean thoughts were at the top of the list for most "aware" folks back then. Out of that heady period came a genuine interest in making the…

Read more

When normal just won’t do

There are thousands of hotels around the world who will give you what you want. But what if you don't know what you want, or want something completely different? We have a suggestion. Offering rooms and suites set in large caves, Le Grotte della Civita is located in the Matera's Sassi area, a…

Read more

Where you can embroider sarcastic opinions

You may recall that some time back, we created a post on Tollund Man. In 1950, the Tollund man was found in a peat bog west of Silkeborg. The interesting thing about Tollund man is that he was preserved in peat and was in incredibly good condition when found. He was also accompanied by…

Read more

It’s crystal clear

Despite all that (most) people and companies try to do to save the planet, we're still on the path of no return unless we pull our collective fingers out and get it together. The most bothersome thing is that we have most of the technology and the knowledge. But it's the willpower (or…

Read more