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Nature & the Environment

Nature & the Environment

Visit the land of snow monsters

Collectively, we are so used to seeing Japan as squeaky clean streets, gracious and polite residents and - almost - not a hair out of place.  Cherry blossoms.  Mount Fuji.  Bullet trains.  Mind-blowing food. And, of course all of that is correct.  But there are some places in Japan that don't always bubble up to the…

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Ghost with the most, USA

America is a big place, with wide open spaces and curiosities around every every corner.  Those corners can be a long way away from each other, and the curiosities can be even further. Alaska  is the 49th and largest state in the USA.  Separated from the rest of the country, (the "lower 48"), by Canada, Alaska lies on…

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The hills are alive…

... with the sound of savings! Chances are, when you think of visiting Europe, you might find yourself defaulting to the "classic" locations:  Italy, Spain, France etc.  And as much as we love those places, too, there are so many other countries that are "bubbling under" that deserve a little love from you. One of…

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Get away from it all, mate

Doesn't that look relaxing? If you ever feel like you're surrounded and need to make a fast dash to the door, then put New Zealand on your list of relaxed destinations. Its diverse regions and landscapes stretching across two main, small off-shore islands. This multi-cultural nation paves the way to a vibrant and embracing culture, inspired by…

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Vertical sky

If you've ever had dreams about sleeping in the clouds, then we have something to excite you. Vertical Sky Luxury Suites, situated in Ollantaytambo, Peru, promise an almost one-of-a-kind experience.  In addition to breathtaking sunsets and spectacular views, you can also enjoy activities like Via Ferrata, Zipline, Bungee jumping, suspension bridge and Rapelling - all…

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No stranger to danger?

If you're easily bored, fashion yourself to be unbreakable and are always ready to show your friends how extreme you are, then we have some travel ideas for you.  Hiking, in this case. In this article, we're focusing on the USA - specifically the West Coast (Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, California, Alaska, New Mexico, Montana,…

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War is over (if you want)

It will be trite to say too much about how awful war is.  You would think that after all of these decades and thousands lost, humanity would get the point that war is not a solution.  And yet, war marches on. It is useful to look back and reflect (and perhaps learn) on all that has…

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Sleepwalk on the water

How often do you have a dream come true?  This one almost defies belief, and certainly exceeds expectations. Once a monastery, Argos in Cappadocia is an exclusive hotel featuring elegant rooms with elaborate stone carvings and antique furnishings. Some of the suites even have a private indoor pool, perfect for guests dreaming about a romantic…

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Sleeping village

This article will either make you shake with fright, long for your teenage years   . .  or both. Designers are clever, especially when it comes to transforming something simple and relaxing into the stuff of nightmares.  It doesn't take much, and our imaginations have a tendency to run away from reality, especially when you desire that. And,…

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Ride the Hong Kong dragon

As if Hong Kong is not enough on its own, it also shyly features quiet joys. Fear not.  We're not discussing a fiery Cantonese dish (most aren't.)  Nor are we proposing some kind of thrill ride that requires diapers (although this activity features thrills of its own.) One little-known joy of Hong Kong is Shek O Peak,…

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RUN! HURRY! THE MATTERHORN IS MELTING!!

They keep warning us about global warming but, for some reason, we don't listen. The Matterhorn is global warming’s latest victim.  Researchers installed 50 movement sensors at 13,000 feet to monitor how the mountain is coping with rising temperatures and melting permafrost, the layer of frozen soil beneath the Earth’s surface. They found developing and expanding fissures…

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Maui Wowwee

One thing that can be said about the USA is that it has Hawaii.  The islands are a place where almost everyone wil agree that it is a "destination" for them.  Spectacular ocean waters, beaches, mountains and on average, 240 sunny days per year, you're almost guaranteed a good time. But, of all the islands,…

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The desert is an ocean

The desert is an ocean, with its life underground.  And a perfect disguise above. In the arid heart of Australia, in the Central Tablelands of NSW, paleontologists have found new evidence of an abundance of life. A new fossil site that can most aptly be described as "exceptional" has turned up fossils of spiders, insects, fish, plants…

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The town in Spain with two time zones

Even the church looks surprised. Rihonor de Castilla is a town in Castilla y León with just over 100 inhabitants. Despite its small size, it can boast of being the only town in Spain with two time zones. How is it possible? Because, in reality, it belongs to two countries, Spain and Portugal. The village is situated to…

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Mountains come out of the sky

The first thing that strikes you when you visit Banff, Canada is the sheer size of the mountains.  Words can't describe it -  until you actually see it for yourself. And every time you round a bend in the road, an even bigger mountain presents itself.  It really is something that you need to experience…

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Floating Himalayas

In the remote northern region of Kashmir, the gorgeous Dal Lake provides livelihood to the growing population surrounding Srinagar city. But for a variety of reasons, the beautiful and historic region is under threat.  There has been a government conservation act in place for over two decades, but it will take even more than that to…

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Silence is golden

Sometimes there's nothing better than being out on your own, doing what you want to do on your schedule. And if you want a little peace, what could be a better choice than some of the expansive and - in many places - crowd-free places in Asia.  Just you, your backback, your phone and .…

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A mooving tale

Much of the developed world is rethinking how it eats.  Less meat, more vegetables, more water, less junk. One popular food that is booming is milk substitutes (we really like Chobani) as some of us can't (or won't) drink milk from an animal.  Some of us are simply looking for a more sensible alternative to help…

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