Wales, UK, is a place near and dear to our hearts, here at Matouring. Often forgotten or misunderstood when compared to larger-than-life London, Manchester, Liverpool and Brighton as destinations, Wales offers a quieter side to the UK. Green, lush with mountains and valleys that are second to none, if you haven't been to Wales, put…
Sustainability
What lovely animals, the dolphins. Gentle, smart, quick, adaptive and friendly. They seem to have a genuine love of humans. You just want to kiss them. Well, here's the next best thing.
Get up close to dolphins on this fantastic 9-hour snorkel trip from Hurghada, Egypt. Enjoy a boat cruise to areas in the open sea…
We don't know about you, but sometimes we pause and marvel at what amazing machines we are, we humans. How many automobiles or airplanes live past sixty years? How many of our fellow creatures on this earth drive those cars or fly those jets? Makes you think, doesn't it? And why do we live so…
France is a many-splendoured thing; the food, the wine, the scenery, the joie de vivre. No matter how many times you visit the country, you always find something new or unexpected.
And, anyone who loves winter sports knows that France has some of the best ski runs in the world. But, alas, things are changing
At the…
Once a German city before World War Two and physically unrelated from the remainder of Russia, Kaliningrad is still an enigma to many mainland Russians and their European next-door neighbours. Still, how does a 50-year-old unfinished building inform the complicated history of the Kaliningrad and inspire the restoration of other nearby dilapidated crumbling buildings? Watch the video…
We here at Matouring love India and always look to make it shine here on the site.
Well, we're happy to say that we've added Vistara airlines as affiliate friends. Vistara is a joint venture of Tata Sons Private Limited and Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA)
Vistara has rapidly expanded its footprint, both in terms of network and…
It can be done. It can be done. The tiny Danish Island of Ærø was awarded the designation of the EU’s most sustainable island. All it takes is willpower. The island has been experimenting with renewable energy since the 1970s, and today, produces more electricity than it uses. Watch the BBC video below that demonstrates…
A marvelous thing about our world and our planet (with all of its residents) is how much change happens every minute of every day. Not all of it is necessarily good, but there is so much good in humanity that, sometimes, it's nice to simply celebrate the good.
For example, Bangkok is a sprawling, diverse and…
The planet is in trouble. We keep hoping that we'll be writing less and less about how the earth is being decimated by human beings. But, so far, that just isn't happening. Between the floods and the fires and other related disasters, things don't seem to be changing.
So, witness another example of this trend in…
You'll probably be asking what a cargo ship has to do with cruises. Well, right now, not much. But, watch this video to see what the smart boffins are doing now to help create a better world.
Dubbed ‘the Tesla of the seas’ this fully-electrified, fully-autonomous cargo ship is already making waves. How does it work?…
Russia, in particular Moscow, has so many magnificent buildings, structures and the accompanying history that goes with them, that it should definitely be on your "must see" list if it isn't already.
One thing that the Russians should be proud of is their capacity to rehabilitate forlorn structures into the original magnificence that they once had.
The…
If you visit our site, you'll know that we are huge proponents of rail travel. What's not to like? High-speed, comfort and better for the environment.
Most countries have highspeed rail options in place, and have had for many years. But there has always been one rather glaring exception - the USA. Train travel works there…
We won't blather on about the necessity (or not) of humans eating animals in this enlightened day and age, but let us have a moment of silence especially for the poor chickens of the world.
Not only are they food, they have also had a somewhat unenviable role to play in aviation. Bird strikes of jet…
By default, just because you're reading this (and have visited our site,) we can assume that you're a smart, aware, thoughtful, curious and fun human being. But, we always have room for improvement, it's safe to say.
The choices we make on the road can have a big impact on the people and places we encounter…
The world is certainly not getting any smaller, that's for sure. And its capacity to hold us all is starting to become a strain on the planet. But, as ever, there are clever humans who have ideas.
The 15-minute city urban theory received the 2021 Obel Prize in recognition of the concept's value for creating sustainable…
In this day and age of diminishing everything, it's good to know that the clever people are still trying to do their best to make a better world.
For example, Airbus has demonstrated how formation flying can aid sustainability with two of its test A350s flying across the Atlantic Ocean.
Dubbed the quote-unquote “final demonstration,” Airbus is…
Residents of Okinawa are some of the world’s healthiest and happiest. Strong social networks and good food may be why.
The island unlocked the secret to long life—and knows how to get through tough times.
Read more here courtesy of NationalGeographic.com
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Let 12go show you around Okinawa. Click above.
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…
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…
Loo = toilet (UK)
Public works are often joyless, utilitarian, just-get-it-done affairs. Whether it's a road, or a bridge or even public restrooms, it makes you wonder why a little je ne sais quoi can't be in the building specifications.
Happily, though, that's not always the case. And here are some fine examples of where good taste…