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Handwritten in-flight menu debacle

Airlines often have little incentive to keep their food menus exciting as they’re pretty much dealing with a captive audience. One Instagrammer, however, is trying to keep them honest. Rius Vernanes, a self-described “miles geek” with over 100k followers, was flying business class on Garuda Indonesia last weekend when he was appalled by the in-flight food menu he was given. It was a handwritten (although very neatly written) menu on a sheet of spiral-bound paper — a shock to the expectations of anyone flying in business class. Vernanes posted a photo of the menu on his Instagram Story with the caption, “They told me the menu was still being printed,” and of course, it went viral.

Garuda Indonesia wasn’t amused. The airline responded that the menu was intended for use by the cabin crew and wasn’t meant for customers at all. They also took it one step further, announcing that they would consider banning all photos or videos aboard their flights, and if that wasn’t enough, they even tried prosecuting Vernanes for his photo. On Wednesday, he posted Instagram photos of two envelopes from a local police department telling him to come in for questioning. Apparently, airline employees had filed a police report accusing Vernandes of “using a negative perception… towards the country’s national flag carrier.”

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A post shared by Rius Vernandes (@rius.vernandes) on Jul 15, 2019 at 10:30pm PDT

To his followers, Vernanes wrote, “I hope you can help share and support me through this problem because I don’t want to see that, in the future, whenever we review something as is, whenever we give constructive criticism, we can be criminalized.”

The charges have since been dropped, and Garuda Indonesia has offered him two free flights as an apology.

H/T: Vice

More like this: The best (and worst) airline food in the world, according to a pro airline food reviewer

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How to see best architecture in Kiev

After regaining independence in 1991 with the fall of the USSR, Ukraine has often struggled to find its own voice, divided between the decades spent under Soviet domination and European influence. The opening of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone to tourists in 2011, plus the recent uptick in interest thanks to the HBO show, has led to an increasing number of tourists to Ukraine, and its capital city of Kiev. The city saw more than 850,000 visitors in the first half of 2018 according to official records. But the charm of this city of three million stretched along the Dnieper River is its historic architecture. Kiev’s skyline has been no stranger to this dichotomy, and the eclectic compound of buildings from different styles include classical, Baroque, and Art Nouveau, and socialist modernism. The skyline has turned Kiev into an exciting European destination. Here are the must-see structures for both European architecture enthusiasts, and those with Soviet curiosity.

European Architecture
1. Kiev Monastery of the Caves

Photo: LittleElephant/Shutterstock

The Kiev Monastery of the Caves was founded in 1051 AD and has been the center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity ever since. Nowadays, the facility works as both a monastery and museum containing many buildings of interest including the Great Lavra Bell Tower, with its classical-style construction that was the highest free-standing bell tower between 1731 and 1745 at 316 feet tall. You could easily spend hours walking through the captivating square and visiting all its cathedrals and churches. The most striking is the Dormition Church, which was originally built in the 11th century and destroyed in 1941 during World War II. Who destroyed the church is still unknown, since both Germans and Soviets blame each other for its destruction. The church reconstruction began after Ukraine regained its independence in 1995, taking two years to complete.

You can also see the wall fortification, which is as prominent from the inside of the complex as from the outside gardens down the hill. Finally, as its name promises, there is a cave system. These narrow corridors are not for the claustrophobic type. They are about eight feet high and just under five feet wide, and are generally full of tourists and worshippers alike. These underground passageways take you through chapels, living quarters, and catacombs that despite the crowds, are a dark contrast to the bright architecture above ground.

Where: Lavrska St, 15, Kyiv, Ukraine, 01015

2. Saint Sophia Cathedral

Photo: VIKVAD/Shutterstock

Saint Sophia Cathedral, the best example of Byzantine architecture in the city, was built in the 11th century. After centuries of looting, the cathedral had decayed quite a bit and it was only in 1633 that major reconstruction began. It was decided to keep the Byzantine interior and redo the upper part of the building in the Ukranian Baroque style. Inside the complex, you can walk through its garden and see inside the cathedral mosaics and frescoes that date back to its original construction date. You may find your knees weak when visiting the bell tower, perhaps the most vertigo-inducing spot in Kiev. Climb up the stairs and walk through thin balconies that provide incredible views of the city, the cathedral’s entire complex, and St. Michael’s church across the street.

Where: Volodymyrska St, 24, Kyiv, Ukraine, 01001

3. Maidan Nezalezhnosti

Photo: Review News/Shutterstock

Also known as Independence Square, Maidan Nezalezhnosti is one of the main squares in Kiev. Since the 1990s, this central location has become a place of political protests including the Euromaidan occurence in 2014 that ousted President Viktor Yanukovych from office. During the Soviet period, the structure was reconstructed a couple of times before taking its current look in the reconstruction of 2001, which included new monuments and the striking glass dome in the fountains. In this square you can really feel the vibe of the city and it is a great place to do some people-watching — kids play in the water fountains and locals sell everything from old stamps to coins, pins, and other souvenirs.

4. Golden Gate

Photo: Nickolay Vinokurov/Shutterstock

Located in the park of the same name, the Golden Gate was the main gate of the fortifications of Kiev in the 11th century. In 1832 the remains were excavated and conservation work started. In the 1970s a museum of the gate was added, but a major reconstruction of this building done in 1982 proved to be controversial since the original structure had been dismantled in the Middle Ages and there were no images that showed its original look. Many historians claim it should be torn down and leave only the original remains. Inside there is a museum about its construction and you can see the ruins of the original gate. In the top of the gate, there is a chapel that can be visited as well with a really simple yet beautiful style. Be sure to step outside to the balcony to see the stunning views of the city.

Where: Volodymyrska St, 40А, Kyiv, Ukraine, 01034

5. House of Chimaeras

Photo: Barbara Bednarz/Shutterstock

Located in a government area a 15-minute walk from Independence Square, this Art Nouveau building constructed in 1901-1902 proves, to many visitors at least, hard to see. This is due to the security involved — because of the proximity to the Presidential Administration Building, you’re likely to encounter security forces milling about. Be sure to carry your passport with you to get a better view of the incredible chimaeras, which are decorative concrete animals on the top of the structure. A visit to the equally interesting interior can be arranged for some Saturdays by booking a tour in advance.

Where: Bankova St, 10, Kyiv, Ukraine, 02000

Soviet Architecture

After World War II, the Soviet Union’s socialist realism took over and functional, gray, neoclassical buildings were created on a large scale. It wasn’t until the ‘70s that architects were able to have an individual style which led to the Soviet modernism era. This gave the city some of its most notable facades, and although there are many scattered throughout Kiev, the following are the most impressive ones:

1. Kiev’s crematorium

Photo: Galler/Shutterstock

Also known as Memory Park, the crematorium was created between the years 1968 and 1981. This still-working crematorium was a controversial project because of what the crematoriums symbolized after WWII. Precisely to avoid this association, this white concrete building takes a curvy unique and bizarre shape straight out of a sci-fi movie with a sole intent to take the mind of the mourners away from grief. A visit to this architectural oddity is probably unlike anything you may have seen.

Where: Baikova St, 16, Kyiv, Ukraine, 03039

2. Institute of Scientific Research

Photo: Sirio Carnevalino/Shutterstock

This UFO-shaped building was built in 1971. The design’s original purpose was to be a hall with a perfect system of sound and light transmission, so the flying-saucer shape was determined for purely practical needs — not just to look cool. Like many buildings of the Soviet era, it’s a bit run down, but that hasn’t taken away from its appeal. The ISR is still one of the city’s most peculiar structures.

Where: Antonovycha St, 180, Kyiv, Ukraine, 03150

3. Hotel Salyut

Photo: IStock Studio/Shutterstock

This building, constructed between 1976 and 1984, was originally designed to be a skyscraper. But problems within the Communist Party led to a lack of funding, and the construction was literally cut in half. It’s a visible mark of the former Communist vision that almost was, and a quick visit to its lobby and restaurant feels like traveling back in time.

Where: Ivana Mazepy St, 11-Б, Kyiv, Ukraine, 01010

4. Mother Motherland

Photo: MaxxjaNe/Shutterstock

A visit to this 102-meter tall statue, part of the Museum of the Great Patriotic War and inaugurated in 1981, makes the perfect final stop on an architectural tour of Kiev. It’s far less mentioned and even less frequently visited than others on this list, but equally impressive is its brutalist gray concrete WWII memorial located in the same complex. The great size and angular shapes can be overwhelming, a feeling that isn’t helped by the coronating “Fire of Glory,” which was supposed to be an eternal flame but is now only lit on special occasions.

Where: Zapecherna St, Kyiv, Ukraine, 02000


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Best artisans in Florence, Italy

While Florence is recognized as a place where you can appreciate the work of great artists like Da Vinci and Michelangelo, it’s also home to other masters of their craft: artisans.

Along the cobblestone streets of this Tuscan city, there is a variety of local makers, from bookbinders to leather tailors. In most cases, their skills have been passed down through decades of family traditions, and their work is a labor of love.

If you’re interested in discovering more than what you’ll find in museums and churches, and buying souvenirs that go beyond fridge magnets and snow globes, here are the best seven artisan shops in Florence that we’d recommend you visit.

1. La Casa Della Stampa Di Sarubbi Lorenzo

Photo: Maggie Zhang

This antique print workshop is located on a tiny pedestrian street right off Pitti Palace. The walls are covered with handmade maps and landscapes of Florence, which look like they belong right in the hands of an old-world explorer. There are also prints of anatomical drawings of animals and sea life, which are based on 17th- and 18th-century documents.

If you want to bring a piece of this time capsule home with you, it’s easy — the pieces aren’t framed, so you can simply roll them up to bring back home or send them to your house by mail via poster tubes.

The artist, Sarubbi Lorenzo, usually restores old prints or paints new ones in the back of the room. He practices an art form called lithography, which involves hand-printing images from a stone or metal plate onto paper with black ink, and then painting the rest of the colors on with watercolor. You can watch him work and even ask him questions as you browse through his art.

Where: Sdrucciolo de’ Pitti, 11, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy

2. Alberto Cozzi

Photo: Maggie Zhang

If you’re lucky, you’ll walk into this stationery store while the artist, Riccardo Luci, is working on a new piece. He specializes in hand-marbling paper, which results in beautiful, intricate patterns.

The technique starts with preparing a mixture of thickened algae-water. The mixture sits for a few days in a tray, and when it’s ready, Riccardo dips a paintbrush into oil paint and splashes a variety of colors into the liquid. Then, he drags a tool of his choice (like a small comb or straw) through the dotted pigments to create arch-like, feathered, or swirling patterns. Once satisfied with the design, he carefully dips a piece of paper into the liquid to transfer the image onto it. The paper dries on a wooden board for hours before it’s ready to be used.

After watching this process, you’ll look at this store’s paper products, like journals and paper boxes, in a whole new light.

Founded by Alberto Cozzi in 1908, this store is now run by Cozzi’s four great-grandchildren: Riccardo, Massimo, Francesca, and Letizia. The techniques they use have been passed down for generations. In addition to hand-marbling paper, they also practice book-binding and use their great-grandfather’s original tools for stamping their leather books with gold-leaf foil.

Where: Via del Parione, 35, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

3. Officina Profumo — Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella Firenze

Photo: Officina Profumo – Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella/Facebook

One of the world’s oldest pharmacies, the 400-year Officina Profumo is designed more like a museum than a shop. Though its roots are in herbal medicine and healing, the store’s focus today is on perfumes, cosmetics, and soap, and the word pharmacy in its name has become merely symbolic.

The store displays its wares alongside art pieces, 16th- and 17th-century pottery, and beneath intricately designed vaulted ceilings. Individual stations are spaced throughout the grand Sales Hall, which used to be a monastery chapel, with attendants behind them to help find the right scent for you.

Interestingly, there’s no advertising for this store. It’s hard to just walk by and discover it from the streets since it’s located down a long, inconspicuous hallway. Most people hear about this store from word of mouth, which has been effective enough to bring customers from all over the world.

Where: Via della Scala, 16, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

4. AquaFlor

Photo: Maggie Zhang

AquaFlor is a perfumery located in a Renaissance palace on a narrow street just around the corner from Florence’s famous cathedral, The Duomo. It’s a place that engages all your senses, with soaps displayed beautifully among the natural materials the scents are made from, and over 1,500 bottles of essences sitting in glass bottles on the wooden shelves.

If you want to do more than just shop, you can sign up for Aquaflor Experiences. You can make your own fragrance in a three-hour session with a professional perfumer for 1,500 euros ($1,684) or take a one-hour tour of the scent laboratory inside the store starting at 750 euros ($842). The store is typically open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Where: Borgo Santa Croce, 6, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy

5. Osteria All’Antico Vinaio

Photo: Maggie Zhang

You might not think of sandwich making as an artisanal craft, but you’ll be convinced once you’ve tried the paninis at Osteria All’ Antico Vinaio. Started by the Mazzanti family in the ‘90s, this small store combines the simple meats and cheeses of Tuscan cuisine with ingredients like truffle cream and spicy eggplant to make delicious and affordable sandwiches.

There are three shops on the same street, but there always seems to be a crowd outside each of them. The ambiance is lively, and you’ll often find the sandwich makers cracking jokes with each other and the customers as they slap a spread of cream onto bread.

The store is typically open from 10:00 AM to 10:30 PM, which means it’s ready to satisfy your sandwich cravings whether it’s for breakfast or a late-night snack.

Where: Via dei Neri, 74 R, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy

6. Alessandro Dari Gioielli

Photo: Maggie Zhang

Alessandro Dari Gioielli’s workshop is found on a small cobblestone street, just after you cross the Ponte alle Grazie bridge leading from the city center into the Oltrarno neighborhood. Though the artist works inside the space, it was officially recognized by Italy’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage as a museum, and it’s open daily to the public from 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM.

When you step inside, the first thing you’ll notice is all the sounds: chimes and bells, an organ playing music, or the twinkle of a music box. Sometimes, you might even hear welding and firing — the sounds of Alessandro himself creating his next work of art.

With a background in sculpture, jewelry, and music, Alessandro creates decorative objects from gold. But you won’t find your typical earrings or necklaces here — the pieces all feel like the result of a mad scientist meeting a medieval alchemist. One of the pieces, an 18-karat gold sculptural necklace called Unicorn of the Abyss, looks like a unicorn trying to fight its way through an intricate tangle of coral.

Alessandro’s work has been displayed at the Pitti Palace and Fiesole Cathedral, and in 2006, he was nominated as an official artist of the Vatican, making ceremonial chalices for the church. His current collection features themed pieces around space and time and lights and shadows.

Where: Via di S. Niccolò, 115R, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy

7. Benheart

Photo: Maggie Zhang

Of all the leather stores in Florence, Benheart stands out because of the way it combines traditional Italian craftsmanship with cooler, modern styles. Although it was opened quite recently, it has quickly made its mark throughout Italy (and Japan, as well, with its new store opening in Tokyo).

Benheart’s hand-made jackets, shoes, and bags reflect a deep attention to detail, with a richness in color that results from the technique of dying garments after they are assembled.

The story behind the store is also quite heartwarming. Several years ago, the founder Ben (whose full name is Hicham Ben’Mbarek) was struggling with a heart condition. He received a heart transplant, and during his recovery, he decided to partner with his friend Matteo to realize his dream of creating a leather goods store. To this day, the floors of the store are covered with children’s drawings, which were created by his kids and their classmates while he was in the hospital.

Where: Multiple locations throughout Florence


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Drug-resistant malaria spreading

A new strain of drug-resistant malaria is quickly spreading through Southeast Asia. So far, the disease has hit Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, with half of patients failing to be cured by the typically reliable drugs.

Usually, malaria is treated by artemisinin and piperaquine, but now it appears the malaria parasites have developed a resistance to these medicines.

According to a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, which analyzed blood samples from across the region as well as the parasites’ DNA, in some areas, up to 80 percent of malaria parasites are drug resistant.

Professor Olivo Miotto, from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and University of Oxford, said, “This highly successful resistant parasite strain is capable of invading new territories and acquiring new genetic properties, raising the terrifying prospect that it could spread to Africa, where most malaria cases occur, as resistance to chloroquine did in the 1980s, contributing to millions of deaths.”

All hope is not lost, however. Traditional medicines might be proving ineffective, but alternative drugs can still be used to overcome the resistance. Staying abreast of parasite trends and continuing genetic analysis will help doctors adapt to increasingly drug-resistant malaria, and prescribe appropriate treatment for patients.

Travelers should know that there is currently no vaccine for malaria. Note that since malaria is a disease transmitted through mosquitoes, travelers should prevent mosquito bites by using repellent; covering their skin with long sleeves, long pants, and hats; using mosquito nets; staying in screened accommodations; staying indoors when mosquitoes are most active; and using permethrin-treated clothing and gear.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “In 2017 an estimated 219 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide and 435,000 people died, mostly children in the African Region.”


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New shark species

This new shark species might be having an identity crisis, as it looks exactly like a miniature sperm whale. The Mollisquama mississippiensis, a 5.5-inch-long shark, was first discovered in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. While it was originally thought to be the same species as a similar tiny shark found in 1979 (the Mollisquama parini, or pocket shark), research has revealed that the M. mississippiensis, which resembles a small sperm whale, is a different species entirely.

Since the research team didn’t want to dissect the animal, given its rarity, they studied it using advanced, non-invasive technologies such as a dissecting microscope and high resolution CT scans. They also had the shark imaged by the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in France. After extensive evaluation, the researchers observed that the new shark specimen had fewer vertebrae than the one discovered in 1979, as well as light-producing organs called photophores, which may facilitate predatory behavior by making sharks nearly invisible from below.

Researchers landed on the name M. mississippiensis, or the American pocket shark. Pocket sharks are not dubbed as such because of their size, but in reference to the pocket glands the animals have on each side near the gills.

Mark Grace, a biologist from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said, “The fact that only one pocket shark has ever been reported from the Gulf of Mexico, and that it is a new species, underscores how little we know about the Gulf — especially its deeper waters — and how many additional new species from these waters await discovery.”


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Royal Thai cuisine in Thailand

When King Rama X took the throne this past May, it was Thailand’s first coronation in nearly 70 years. The country and its subjects were awash in yellow (the decreed color) and paid homage with banners, portraits, and monuments to King Maha Vajiralongkorn in the months leading up to the grand event. With the excitement around crowning a new monarch has also come renewed interest in Royal Thai cuisine.

Royal Thai cuisine encompasses the dishes traditionally served only to members of the royal court. Very specific rules exist for this type of cuisine, long considered to be country’s most elevated gastronomy. Parameters include using the best ingredients, removing bones and pits, selecting natural ingredients to boost color, cutting elements precisely, and serving dishes in bite-sized portions to make them easier to eat. Royal Thai cuisine is also a study in balance, and chefs avoid extremes in aromas and flavors, choosing ingredients that are uniform in size and shape. It’s as much artistry as it is sustenance.

Royal Thai cuisine has its roots in the palace of the Ayutthaya kingdom, which lasted from 1351 to 1767, during which the practice of dining on cushions set around low tables originated. For hundreds of years, recipes were closely guarded secrets and non-royals were strictly forbidden from eating or even preparing these dishes. Today, these class restrictions no longer exist.

“Royal Thai cuisine is famous for its quality, delicacy, and exquisite preparation,” says Mekhala Netipo, deputing marketing director for Food of Asia, a food service company headquartered in Bangkok. “[It’s] not like any other Thai food… it’s truly the best Thai food one could imagine.” Netipo goes on to say that all dishes that fall under this category must please both the eye and the palate, with fresh and clean ingredients that are elegantly plated.

Take, for example, miang kham bua luang, a small, one-bite appetizer of shrimp or other meat and vegetables wrapped in a lotus petal.

Photo: Kattiya.L/Shutterstock

A Royal Thai meal is generally ordered as a set, with mildly seasoned dishes served first (including a platter of raw or deep-fried, hand-carved vegetables with dipping sauces), after which stir-fries, salads, curries, and deep-fried foods arrive at the table accompanied by jasmine rice.

One of the dishes that epitomizes Royal Thai cuisine is spicy pomelo salad with grilled jumbo river prawns. “It’s a great combination of sweetness from fresh pomelo, sour lime juice, and other vegetables that make this salad truly refreshing and delicious,” Netipo says. “No added sugar or fish sauce is used [and] it’s a piece of culinary magic.”

Photo: Rain of joy/Shutterstock

Other quintessential Royal Thai dishes include deboned honey-roasted duck, sliced marinated eye fillet of beef with sesame oil, and crispy tilapia topped with stir-fried fresh chili, garlic, bell peppers, basil leaves, and cashew nuts in a mango sauce. There’s sangkaya fak tong (pumpkin with coconut custard) and gaeng ranjuan (a beef soup with shrimp paste). Then there are brightly colored dishes like chor muang, a purple steamed dumpling filled with chicken or pork and peanuts.

Despite access no longer being limited to the royal families, true Royal Thai cuisine can be hard to find. It’s very worth the search, however. These are the restaurants to try it and which dishes to order.

The best Royal Thai cuisine in Bangkok

Photo: Blue Elephant Cooking School & Restaurant Bangkok/Facebook

Blue Elephant: With six locations around the globe, including outposts in Bangkok and Phuket, this chain of restaurants and cooking schools has long been a pioneer in promoting and elevating Royal Thai cuisine. Overseen by founder and master chef Nooror Somany-Steppe, who is considered to be one of the top chefs in the country, the two Thai locations incorporate regional dishes. Blue Elephant Phuket is located in an antique governor’s house in the center of Phuket Town, and the Peranakan Menu draws influence from Chinese-Phuketian and Penantian. The Bangkok location is in a traditional colonial-style home on Sathon Road. The royal dishes here include dishes like steamed floral-shaped butterfly dumplings filled with free-range chicken and herbs.

Thanying: Named in honor of Her Serene High Princess Sulabh-Valleng Visuddhi, who served as the head cook in the Sukhothai Palace kitchen for her half-sister Queen Rambhai Barni of King Rama the Seventh, this Bangkok restaurant serves the types of dishes the Queen would have requested. Order khao tang na tang (crispy rice crackers with minced pork and peanuts served with coconut milk), gai hor bai toey (deep-fried chicken wrapped in pandan leaves), and poo jaa (steamed mixed crabmeat with minced pork on a crab shell).

Photo: บุษราคัม Bussaracum Royal Thai Cuisine/Facebook

Bussaracum Royal Thai Cuisine: This Bangkok restaurant, opened in 1982, was the first in the kingdom to specialize in dishes popular in royal households. Located in a renovated home that’s surrounded by gardens that the kitchen sources herbs and spices from, the culinary team draws on regional variations for its recipes. Dishes include toong ngern yuang made with minced shrimp and crab meat wrapped in crispy bean curd meant to resemble golden bags. Nam prik ong and nam prik num — dips popular in the northern part of the country — are served with hand-carved vegetables and pork cracklings. Khao op sapparot mixes smoked ham, shrimp, raisins, peas, and pineapple fried rice, and it’s plated in a carved-out pineapple. Bussaracum also offers cooking classes if you’d like to bring some of the techniques home with you.

Baan Suriyasai: This restaurant, tearoom, cooking school, and cocktail bar is located in a restored early-20th-century family compound in Bangkok that dates back to 1922. The philosophy here is the “Soontaree Life,” a “refined and leisurely want of enjoying the beautiful things in life,” and royal dishes are often given a contemporary twist. Balls of watermelon are served atop fried fish flakes in a refreshing dish that mimics prosciutto and melon, beef shank massaman curry comes with lotus seeds and blood orange rather than pineapple and fried peanuts, and a dessert of braised banana with fresh cream and roselle syrup uses a recipe personally handed down to the restaurant from the royal kitchen of King Rama VII.

Photo: Ruen Mallika Royal Thai Cuisine/Facebook

Ruen Mallika Royal Thai Cuisine: This Bangkok restaurant opened in 2002, and it’s a place where details matter, from the celadon tableware to the meticulously carved fruits and vegetables to the jasmine-adorned finger bowls to the staff uniforms finished with sashes of locally made fabric. Housed in a traditional teak house built around 180 years ago during King Rama II’s reign, the menu is a mash-up of the owner’s name and the concept of “authentic Thai” dining. Royal Thai cuisine is always beautifully plated, but Ruen Mallika is a standout. A platter of deep-fried assorted flowers is served with chili dipping sauce, a bowl of spicy caramel paste sits in the middle of a platter of bite-sized carved and deep-fried vegetables, and glazed pork and rice and fish and crabmeat souffles are plated in tiny ceramic cups.


More like this: Thailand’s best dishes are found in Chiang Mai, not Bangkok

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Where to see New Zealand wildlife

Third eyes. Birds with a taste for ovine flesh. Lost creatures rediscovered. Wildlife in New Zealand can be adorable, wacky, heroic, and, often, all three at once. From forest floors and soaring alpine skies to cavernous fjords and coastal waters, an assortment of habitats have spawned one-of-a-kind species — though their well-being is strained by a combination of environmental changes and non-native predators introduced in recent centuries. Below are nine animals, most of which are protected, that you can find and support on your New Zealand travels.

1. Penguins

Photo: Vladislav T. Jirousek/Shutterstock

Three species of well-dressed birds can be found on New Zealand’s North and South Islands: the yellow-eyed penguin, Fiordland crested penguin, and little blue penguins. As with the kea, the former two are classified as threatened, though in this case, it’s due to such factors as habitat pollution and loss of eggs and young to stoats, rats, and other scavengers.

At dusk on the Otago Peninsula and in the coastal Catlins region, catch yellow-eyed penguins returning to their nests after a day at sea. If you’ve got a sharp eye (and luck), you might spot Fiordland crested penguins wiggling their coattails in their namesake national park. Blue penguins are more abundant and can be found on the coastline around both main islands, such as on Miramar Peninsula in Wellington and at the blue penguin colony in Oamaru.

2. South Island takahē

Photo: Sheryl Watson/Shutterstock

Flightless birds, takahē found their food sources depleted on the ground and little legs not quite fast enough when new fauna made landfall in New Zealand, along with migrating humans. This, in combination with hunting and environmental factors, led to their suspected extinction in 1898 until a tramper tracked them down in the Murchison Mountains near Te Anau 50 years later.

As an endangered species, wild takahē can only be found in those same mountains where they were rediscovered, an unlikely trek unless you’re skilled in backcountry tramps. Instead, visit wildlife reserves like the bird sanctuary in Te Anau, where Department of Conservation (DOC) rangers will host takahē feedings for a donation of two NZD ($.135), or the eco-sanctuary Zealandia in Wellington.

3. Kea

Photo: Pavlina Trauskeova/Shutterstock

Polly want a sheep? No, really. This alpine parrot wields its talons and beak as a knife and fork, dining on a platter of ovine fat deep beneath the skin of a sheep. As livestock succumbed to infections in kea-caused wounds, the bird became public enemy number one and was swiftly overhunted. Now a threatened species, keas are known for less violent, albeit odd, antics like tearing up backpacks and bike seats. Presumably for fun.

Locals use the word “cheeky” to describe keas, and most encounters with them confirm this trait. See them firsthand in Fiordland National Park on alpine tramping tracks like Routeburn and Kepler. On walks in Mount Cook and Arthur’s Pass, the kea’s distinct, piercing call is also likely to fall on your ears, and you’ll spot a flash of their emerald and burnt orange feathers gliding through the sky.

4. New Zealand fantail

Photo: Hayley Crews/Shutterstock

Perhaps unsurprisingly given the name, this miniature bird’s tail feathers unfurl like a fan, giving them a delicate, graceful appearance. Despite loss of eggs to hungry rats, three of the country’s subspecies have done well in post-settled New Zealand, thanks in large part to their swift reproductive abilities. With their iconic tails disproportionately large in comparison to their bodies, fantails are easy to identify. You should be able to spot them flitting about on nearly any walk in the bush. Get used to the lilting birdsong of the fantail and other New Zealand avifauna, which set a charming soundtrack for all your tramping adventures.

5. Dolphins

Photo: Evgeny Gorodetsky/Shutterstock

Time to step away from birds for a minute. Though they certainly dominate the landscape of New Zealand fauna, the country’s coastal waters also house loveable creatures. Among the seafaring crowd, Hector’s dolphins and their subspecies Māui dolphins, known for their small size and marked fins, are both unique to New Zealand.

Endangered, the former can be found along Banks Peninsula near Christchurch. Māui numbers have sunk to just double digits, making sightings scarce. The West Coast North Island Marine Mammal Sanctuary, running from Maunganui Bluff to Oakura beach, protects the Māui’s habitat. If you don’t get to spot either, bottlenose dolphins are aplenty, and you’re able to pursue up-close experiences like swimming with them in the Bay of Islands or watching them follow your boat in Milford or Doubtful Sound.

6. Hooker’s sea lion

Photo: Khoroshunova Olga/Shutterstock

As with dolphins, disease and accidental capture in commercial fishing nets are major factors to the decrease of sea lions in New Zealand. Until the end of the 19th century, harvesting sea lions was a practiced trade, and due to all of this plus food shortages, the population hasn’t really had a chance to bounce back. Spot sea lions in protected areas on Stewart Island and Otago Peninsula. Take note: Sea lions might charge you if you linger too long, so don’t be a loiterer.

7. Fur seals

Photo: Jiri Kubin/Shutterstock

From the Bay of Islands in the north to Fiordland National Park in the south, fur seals can be found across New Zealand’s main islands lazing on rocks in the sun. A non–threatened species, fur seals can be found perched on rocky coastal crags and pups romping together in the water. Popular places to spot wild fur seals splashing about include Adele Island in Abel Tasman National Park, Cape Palliser at the southern point of the North Island, and Kaikoura.

8. Tuatara

Photo: Alizada Studios/Shutterstock

Dubbed “living fossils,” tuatara are the lone representatives of the Sphenodontia, an order of reptiles with roots in the Triassic Period. This isn’t the only cool fact you can tote around about tuatara. They also have a third eye that you can’t fully see but that is sensitive to light and is speculated to help them detect avian predators.

While this trait lends them an indestructible air, they do have a kryptonite. Rats, former stowaways of Māori and European vessels, scamper off with tuatara eggs and vulnerable hatchlings, and a slow breeding cycle makes recovery a losing battle. With low genetic diversity, tuatara also struggle to adapt, a dangerous trait in a world where human impact is altering our environment.

Previously, the tuatara presence on both islands was nearly wiped out, and the New Zealand Department of Conservation created programs to strengthen their habitats on offshoot islands, like Matiu Somes in Wellington Harbour and more along the northeast corridor of the North Island, before reintroducing them to the “mainland.” Like with the takahē, a wild tuatara encounter is unlikely, but that just means you get to lend support to a deserving sanctuary — like the West Coast Wildlife Center in Franz Josef and Kiwi Birdlife Park in Queenstown.

9. Kiwi

Photo: Jiri Prochazka/Shutterstock

In Māori mythology, the kiwi bravely volunteered to do what no other bird would: give up the ability to fly and oversee the realm of the forest floor. Taking a new place in the food chain, kiwis consumed the insects that were ravaging trees and roots, thus serving as the savior to New Zealand’s woodlands.

Other than being heroes in Māori legend, kiwis are New Zealand’s present-day mascot. Like many animals on this list, they’ve been victim to introduced predators, whether it’s stoats and ferrets preying on kiwi eggs and chicks or possums devouring food sources and habitats. For a shot at tracking one in the wild, take the ferry from Bluff to Stewart Island and search at dusk. Kiwis can also be seen in nocturnal houses at some of the wildlife centers on this list and elsewhere in the country, where conservationists are always helping these and other animals get back on their feet and reenter the wild.


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The best lazy rivers in the world

Given the heatwave that is currently enveloping much of the United States and Europe, we know we aren’t the only ones ready to hop on a tube or jump into a lake. According to Eldorado Weather, Phoenix, Arizona, hit 109 degrees on July 22 while Granada, Spain, hit 105. In this light, we have both bad news and good news for you. First, the bad: It’s hot outside, and forecasts don’t look to cool down anytime soon. In Britain, for example, forecasters expect the hottest start to August since the 1800s, according to Express.

The good news is that lazy rivers, undoubtedly one of mankind’s best inventions for combatting such heat, continue to get better and better. We question the sanity of anyone who shames the tranquil act of just lying there, legs flopped over an inner tube and arms flailing to keep balance as you circle around a tubular hunk of plastic. It doesn’t even matter how old you are. Lazy rivers are epic, and these are the best of the best to cool off in this August and beyond — because there’s no telling how September will fare either.

1. Grand Resort Deck, Galaxy Macau — Macau

Photo: Galaxy Macau

In the grand tradition of one-upmanship that gambling-driven resort cities like Las Vegas and Atlantic City have employed for decades, nearly every new construction project in Macau is designed to break some kind of record. Galaxy, a massive consortium of luxury hotels, shopping, and general revelry in Coloane took the city’s muggy climate into consideration and included a massive waterpark-meets-forest-walk-meets-beach resort on top of the lobby.

It’s home to the world’s longest Skytop adventure river ride, an eccentric title for the lazy river that stretches nearly 1,900 feet across the complex. The lazy river is accessible via the park entrance inside the Hotel Okura and is free to guests staying in the hotel or at any of the five properties within the Galaxy complex. If you aren’t a guest, expect to pay MOP 568, about $70, but keep in mind this gives you access to everything in the park. And because it’s Macau, the Grand Resort Deck is done up like a full-on amusement park complete with three water slides, a white-sand beach with a waterside bar, and a wave pool that you can actually surf on (board rentals available). Take that, Six Flags.

2. BSR Cable Park — Waco, Texas

Photo: BSR Cable Park/Facebook

One of the most well-known attractions in Waco, Texas, is the world’s longest lazy river, located within the BSR Cable Park. It may not be located on a rooftop like the one in Macau, but this one stretches for a full mile — 5,280 feet — and hosts significantly more adults than screaming kids, a true rarity among water parks. The park is also BYOB, and you can actually rent a cooler to take with you on the river — so even your buddy who thinks he’s too cool to ride a brightly colored tube through a park lined with picnic lunchers just lost any reason to not show up. Beyond the lazy river, the Royal Flush water slides shoot riders into the air before plunging down into the pool and necessitate signing a waiver to ride, probably a good thing to do before you hit the inner tube and crack open a cold one.

3. Backlot River, Grand Pool Complex at MGM Grand — Las Vegas, Nevada

Photo: MGM Grand

Backlot River, part of the Grand Pool Complex at the MGM Grand, is uniquely Vegas. By that, we mean that it’s more like a clubbing experience than a relaxing float across a controlled jet current. The ride is adjacent to the West Republic Ultra Pool, which hosts DJs on weekends and is the type of place where those who never actually made it back to their hotel room the night before tend to end up. The river itself is 1,000 feet of winding, tropical bliss complementing the private party cabanas and sunbathers parked along its side. Oh, and no kids are allowed — so the fist-pumping can continue uninterrupted.

4. Marriot Marquis — Houston, Texas

Photo: Marriott Marquis Houston/Facebook

The draw to the lazy river at Houston’s Marriot Marquis is that the course is shaped like Texas. Regardless of whether you have ties to the Lone Star state, the ride is super mellow, and the deck both surrounding the river and within its confines tends to get festive in the evenings, with both locals and hotel guests letting loose on the surrounding Parkview Terrace. In addition, the views of Houston are just as impressive as the lazy river itself — and may induce vertigo if you gaze out too quickly after getting off the river.

5. Aulani — Oahu, Hawaii

Photo: Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa/Facebook

Alani, a Disney resort on Oahu, Hawaii, has an incredible lazy river for families. It’s not the longest, nor the most extreme, but it is the most fantasy-like. Where this ride shines is the man-made volcano that you pass through en route. If Indiana Jones was seven years old when he was tasked with protecting the Ark of the Covenant, the film set would have looked a lot like this ride. There are some hazards along the way — splashing fountains, mostly — but these can be avoided with a few quick paddles towards the opposing wall. It’s the perfect pre-Luau activity.

6. The Current, Atlantis Paradise Island — Bahamas

Photo: Zoe Esteban/Shutterstock

The Current is one of two that make the list for most closely resembling an actual river-tubing experience. Located within the Aquaventure waterpark at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas, The Current sends you over rapids and down seven-foot drops at a speed that falls somewhere between lazy floating and whitewater rafting. As a tip, don’t approach the big drops and rugged rapids straight-on; come in at an angle and use your body weight to keep yourself balanced on the tube. Probably best to not chug a bunch of daiquiris before riding this one, though there’s also a more mellow lazy river if you’re just looking to chill.

7. Club Rio at The Springs Resort — Arenal, Costa Rica

Photo: The Springs Resort and Spa – Arenal, Costa Rica/Facebook

The Springs Resort in Costa Rica ups the ante even more by requiring riders to wear a helmet and life jacket as they coast through the Arenal River at Club Rio, just below the resort. The course is controlled and monitored, but you’re tubing on an actual river complete with fish and kayakers. There are some light rapids but nothing that requires the exertion of too much effort. Put-ins and take-outs are clearly marked, so don’t get too lazy and miss getting off the river at the right spot. Run either the full half-mile course or just the lower section, which never leaves the view of onshore onlookers. After you get out of the water, there’s fishing, a climbing wall, plenty of hiking, and horseback riding on site, as well.


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Facebook event to storm Loch Ness

As if the planned storming of Area 51 earlier this month wasn’t boneheaded enough, now people want to organize a massive search for the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland. About 38,000 people have responded to a Facebook event called “Storm Loch Ness,” slated to take place on September 21. But while the US Air Force could simply threaten force against the Area 51 truthers, Loch Ness authorities don’t exactly have the same resources to handle an ill-advised mass “storming.”

The Loch Ness Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), however, is concerned for the safety of these wannabe monster hunters, warning of deep water and potentially hazardous conditions.

According to one spokeswoman, “With no US Army involved, Loch Ness looks a little less hazardous than storming Area 51, but here we have our own set of problems. Our Atlantic 85 lifeboat has an impressive survivor-carrying capacity, but even that will be stretched by the ‘attendees’ of this event.”

Indeed, even without the US Army preventing an incursion, this campaign might actually be even more hazardous. Loch Ness is incredibly deep, with wave heights reaching 13 feet. And since the lake is freshwater, it’s more difficult to float if someone accidentally ends up in the water.

To anyone considering attending this event — you’d have better luck finding aliens than Nessie. Do everyone a favor and stay away.

H/T: BBC

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Thousands protest in Puerto Rico

The governor of Puerto Rico is under immense pressure from citizens as thousands are marching in the streets demanding his resignation. Leaked messages between Governor Ricardo Rossello and top aides included homophobic slurs and insults about victims of the 2017 Hurricane Maria, and people want him out of office immediately.

Footage has shown trains full of protestors headed to the capital of San Juan, with many protestors blocking highways and chanting “Ricky resign.” Experts have already predicted that the crowd sizes will be the largest in the history of Puerto Rico.

Wow. Puerto Rico.
You don’t get this perspective from the ground.
They are Loud.
Determined.
United. pic.twitter.com/3JMmbc8NY2

— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) July 22, 2019

Many politicians, including several 2020 presidential candidates, have appeared in Puerto Rico to offer support and show solidarity, and several Puerto Rican celebrities have also voiced their support.

President Trump, who has his own difficult past with Puerto Rican citizens following his response to Hurricane Maria, recently called Rossello a terrible governor. He told White House reporters, “You have totally grossly incompetent leadership at the top of Puerto Rico. The leadership is corrupt and incompetent.”

In a Facebook video, Rossello acknowledged, “I have made mistakes and I have apologized. I know that apologizing is not enough… I’m aware of the dissatisfaction and discomfort they feel. Only my work will help restore the trust of these sectors.”

The governor has even offered to step down as the leader of the New Progressive Party and promised to not seek re-election, but that’s not enough for protestors. El Nuevo Dia, the island’s largest newspaper, printed in an editorial, “Puerto Rico has spoken up, not only as a strong, broad and united voice, but as the right voice. With a gesture of nobility and humility, Governor, it is time to listen to the people. You have to resign.”

Those with current vacation plans to Puerto Rico need not be deterred from visiting. The protests are largely centered around San Juan, but the rest of the island is mostly undisturbed. Though visitors should expect traffic and large crowds upon arriving at the airport. But unless you are interested in experiencing a historical time in Puerto Rico first-hand, it is probably not the best time to stay in San Juan.

H/T: BBC

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