Matador Network's Blog, page 2246

Barefoot in Yangon

Photo: Jose Javier Martin Espartosa

The white marble platform of the Shwedagon Pagoda is warm under my bare feet. Yangon, Myanmar, is already steamy, and it’s only 8am. Up here the hum of engines and sharp bursts of car horns below sound distant, but the humidity is as thick as it is on the root-tangled streets.

A smiling woman in uniform points at my ticket. It’s a kitsch photograph of the gold-plated cone of the Shwedagon. She checks the date stamped on it while I look at the creamy smudges of thanaka on her cheeks — tree-bark paste that’s dried like thick brush strokes. She nods and points down a quiet alley between rows of shrines.

I set off slowly. There are reverent groups of men in dark sarongs and smart shirts, women in bright oranges and pinks. I find myself looking at everyone’s toes. Their bare toes poke out bold and separated. They’re not jammed together, not like the toes of the old French women I’ve met, swollen and bulging with bunions in tight, low-heeled loafers. I look down at my own feet, my Zimbabwean feet that’ve seen the insides of too many winter boots. I find myself hoping no one notices how my big toes have started to point inwards, because in my heart I’m the kind of person who has the country feet of hot countries, and since I can’t speak a word of the Myanmar language, my toes are all that can speak for me. I want them to say we have something in common.

The spiritual citadel of the Shwedagon is bustling with activity, but all I can hear is the quiet mutter of voices and the tinkle of small bells. Each shrine holds a different version of the Buddha. In one he’s cloaked in gold, in another his untroubled face rests at the centre of a strobing, multi-coloured halo.

At the end of the alley of shrines I join the inner circle around the base of the towering golden cone, or stupa. Each part of the gilded stupa has a beautiful name: the inverted alms bowl, the lotus petals, the banana bud. The gleaming pagoda creates a horizon line that no part of my experience can relate to. The power it commands is literal. Even on this cloudy day it glows with weighty riches.

I want to stand and stare at the monks in their crimson robes. I want to watch their fingers flick through their prayer beads. I want to ask them about the tattoos on their feet, but I don’t. I keep walking slowly around the wide golden base.

“There you go,” he says, “The danger is gone.”

He sounds so certain and his voice is so soothing that I believe him.

Two monks sitting cross-legged on the raised terrace of a shrine catch my attention. The one on the left is wearing a pair of dark shades. The one on the right is wearing a pair of wire-framed spectacles, and our eyes meet. I panic and consider turning away when he mimes taking a picture and points to his friend. I point to my camera, eyebrows raised. He nods, and I walk towards them.

There’s a sudden burst of dialogue, and the one in shades gets up. He looks angry, with a face like his friend has played one too many tricks for this to be funny. I falter. I’m just an annoying tourist with a camera, but this is my only chance. I want his permission. I gesture again to check that it’s OK. The one in shades is standing next to a statue of the Buddha with his back to me, but the monk in spectacles obliges, caught out by his own joke.

He draws himself up, his spine straightening. A sudden, striking serenity washes over his face. I snap a few shots and show them to him, careful not to come too close.

* * *

I’m standing in front of my golden zodiac animal. In Myanmar, the day of the week you were born on is of great astrological importance. There’s a sign for each day of the week and two for Wednesdays. My sign is the lion. I’m watching visitors pour cups of water onto its golden head when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn to find a small man with a cowlick of grey hair and thick Coke-bottle glasses.

“Hello, my name is Alexander.”

I look at his crisp white shirt and long sarong. I see his bare, hot-country toes. He seems timeless, like he’d belong just as well if this were the 1940s. He seems like the kind of man that would own a typewriter. He smiles.

“You were born on a Tuesday? Let me show you what to do.”

He teaches me how many cups of water I must pour onto the lion’s head and how many I must pour onto the Buddha to chase away bad spirits.

“Now you must make a wish,” he says, and I silently wish that everything will be OK.

“Come, did you know there’s the footprint of the Buddha here?”

I let him lead me through the maze of shrines, happy to have a friend to decode this place. Inside a dark room there’s a large basin full of water, its edges draped with garlands of fragrant white flowers with long yellow anthers.

“This is his footprint.”

I look at the ornamental tub of placid water. I only feel slightly disappointed and try to remind myself that it’s the symbolism that counts.

Alexander dips his hand into the water and runs it through my short hair.

“There you go,” he says, “The danger is gone.”

He sounds so certain and his voice is so soothing that I believe him.

Out in the daylight there’s an awkward silence, and I realize he’s waiting for something.

“Would you mind giving me a little something for the tour?” he asks.

“Oh, yes, of course,” I say and fumble with my bag, only slightly disappointed.

“50 kyat would be fine. I’m saving to pay for an eye operation,” he says and points to his thick glasses. I hand him the note, and we continue to walk together a little.

“Are you married?” he asks.

“No, no I’m not,” I smile.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty,” I lie.

He stops and looks at me with paternal gravity.

“Ah, it’s too late…”

5 California trip ideas for families

MORE AND MORE REPORTS are trickling in about the potential problems that arise with kids spending an excessive amount of time staring at screens. It can affect their mental well-being, it can make them less active, and, as all parents know, it renders them a lot less engaged with the world around them. So naturally, when planning a family vacation, a good priority is to seek out a place that will get kids off their phones, away from TVs and computers, and out into the real world.

One of the best ways to do this is to take them into nature, and one of the best places in the country to do this is California. The Golden State has more national parks than any other — nine of the total 59 — literally hundreds of state parks, and an incredible diversity of landscapes, from beaches to mountains to deserts. Here are 5 ideas for quick weekend trips that will make your kids forget all about their electronic devices.

1. Shasta Cascade

Burney Falls. Photo: Miles Sabin

The Shasta Cascade region comprises the southernmost part of the Cascade Range that extends north to the border with Canada and beyond. The mountain chain is known for being home to a number of volcanoes, including California’s Lassen Peak. Lassen erupted in the early 20th century, and as a result, much of the surrounding land was utterly transformed. In 1916, the area was designated Lassen Volcanic National Park (among the oldest national parks in the system).

Thanks to this volcanic activity, the surrounding landscape is dramatic, and the national and state parks services have done a really great job preserving the region. Aside from the national park, there are dozens of national forests, national monuments, national wildlife refuges, and state parks in this northeastern corner of California. Hikers can join up with sections of the Pacific Crest Trail, climb Mount Shasta, visit the beautiful Burney Falls (a favorite site of Teddy Roosevelt), and even walk through underground lava tunnels (which, I’m not kidding, contain a thing called “lavasicles”) at Lava Beds National Monument.

No, there’s no cell reception inside a lava tunnel, but do you think your kids will notice?

2. Death Valley and the deserts

Badwater Basin, Death Valley. Photo: Pedro Szekely

On the opposite end of the spectrum from the cool northern mountains is California’s desert region in the southeast of the state. The area contains three deserts: the Great Basin, the Colorado, and the Mojave. While the word “desert” is typically associated with others like “empty” and “barren,” those are hardly accurate descriptors of this region. It makes for a great sightseeing trip and offers a ton of outdoor, screen-free activities.

First, you’ve got Death Valley, the lowest, driest, and hottest place in the country. The lowest elevation in North America is at Badwater Basin, which you can easily get to by car. Or go hiking on the dunes at Mesquite Flats, one of the few places in America’s national parks where there aren’t trails you have to stay on.

If you head southwest you’ll be in the Colorado Desert, which is part of the larger Sonoran Desert. There you’ll find the gorgeous Joshua Tree National Park, with Palm Springs just down the road. While there’s certainly plenty of wildlife to find in Joshua Tree, you can also detour to the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert if you don’t want to search — the zoo contains 150 different species of animals in both American and African desert habitats.

3. The High Sierra

On the shores of Lake Tahoe. Photo: Matt Molinari

In the eastern part of the state, within the High Sierra region, is California’s Yosemite National Park. You’ve probably heard of that one, though, so let’s look at some of your other options. First off, if your family is the road-tripping type, just 80 miles from the sub-sea-level elevations of Death Valley is Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States. That drive — a little under three hours — will take you through both the majesty of the desert and the forests of Sequoia National Park.

Sequoia is home General Sherman, the largest tree in the world, as well as the High Sierra Trail. If hiking is a bit too rugged, or your kids are younger, you can always take them glamping (“glamor camping” — basically just really comfortable camping) in Sequoia. And Sequoia is adjacent to yet another of California’s national parks, Kings Canyon.

To the north, there’s great skiing in the Lake Tahoe area if you’re visiting in winter, or parasailing if you’re going in the summer. For the former, though, don’t overlook Mammoth Mountain, which has the added bonus of being located in striking distance of several hot springs — the perfect way to round out a day of skiing.

4. The North Coast

Exploring the redwoods. Photo: Alejandro De La Cruz

The North Coast of California is much less populated than the central and southern coasts, so there will be much less in the way of distractions for you and your kids, but no shortage of gorgeous views. The area is known as the “Redwood Empire,” thanks to Redwood National Park and its associated state parks. One of the best (and easiest) ways to see the redwoods is on the Avenue of the Giants, a 31-mile stretch of road through Humboldt Redwoods State Park. But really, anywhere you can get the kids into the middle of a grove of 300ft redwoods is an experience they’ll keep with them for life.

Just west of the forests, you have unparalleled views of the Pacific Coast. One of the cooler experiences you can have here is crashing for a few nights at a lightkeeper’s house, a bed and breakfast near the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse just north of Mendocino. Another convenient aspect of this region is that it can be easily combined with a trip to the Bay Area and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which includes Alcatraz, Muir Woods National Monument, and a large number of incredible campgrounds and hiking trails.

5. Gold Country

Panning for gold. Photo: David Goehring

California’s Gold Country is best known, not surprisingly, as the home of the 1849 California Gold Rush. Comprising sections of the western Sierra Nevada and Sacramento Valley, it has a ton of great outdoor and family activities. There are many towns, of both the ghost and very much alive-and-kicking variety, centered around mining history.

Check out the 19th-century buildings on display in Nevada City, or go gold panning on the Mokelumne River, where they’ll let you keep the gold you find (the panning is followed by a barbecue, so it’s a win even if you don’t find any gold).

Five bucks says that’ll motivate your kids to put down the phone.

There’s also world-class whitewater (of many different classes and difficulties) on the American River, you can go apple-picking in Placerville, and you’re always within an easy drive of the state capital, Sacramento, which you can tour by bike, train, or even steamboat. The only reason your family will need a cell phone on this trip is for the camera.

Our friends at Visit California asked Matador how we #dreambig in California. This post is part of a series we’re publishing to answer that question. Click here for more.

30 signs you're too old for hostels

Photo: Avarty Photos

1. You’re this fucking close to knocking on the next room’s door and telling them to keep the noise down.

2. You’d rather read your book in peace than go meet new people.

3. You wake up before noon.

4. You realize you forgot your shower sandals and consider checking out.

5. You start using the word “splurge” unironically when looking at the private rooms.

6. You like the idea of bringing just a single bag, but, seriously, you’re not wearing four pairs of underwear for the duration of the trip.

7. You have no interest in discussing the difference between a “traveler” and a “tourist.”

8. You’re beginning to develop vaguely racist opinions about Australians.

9. Your impulse at the take-a-book-leave-a-book shelf is to just burn all the goddamn copies of Shantaram.

10. Someone mentions having sex in the hammock, and instead of thinking, “How does that even work?” you think, “God, why would you even want to?”

11. “Puff puff pass” seems to be losing one or two of the puffs lately.

12. The free drink the hostel bar offers suddenly doesn’t seem all that enticing.

13. After you return, you tell people the hostel was in a “rough neighborhood.”

14. The long-term travelers you used to call vagabonds are now starting to feel a little bit more like bums.

15. Your standards for a “premium suite” don’t include a bunk bed.

16. You’re not totally sure you can make it up to the top bunk.

17. The prospect of hooking up with any of the backpackers starts to feel creepy.

18. The words “party boat” make you feel dead inside.

19. You think, “This icebreaker activity feels wildly inappropriate.”

20. “Hanging out a few days more” is absolute nonsense. You’ve got a plane to catch.

21. Just once, you check your work email.

22. You roll your eyes at anyone who says they’re “just living.”

23. You stop feeling apologetic for being an American and start feeling defensive.

24. You’re the bunkmate who’s snoring at night.

25. You can’t ask someone about their travels without sounding at least slightly condescending.

26. You check your mattress for bedbugs before sleeping in it for three nights.

27. You take the time to review the hostel online.

28. You’re not jealous of a single person in the hostel.

29. You suddenly realize, “I don’t miss college at all.”

30. Just fuck it. You’ll spend the extra cash on a hotel and work overtime for a couple weeks when you get back.

9 travel tips I got from restaurant work

Photo: Alba Soler

1. A smile can fix a lot of things.

There are times when going to a table is physically terrifying. The times when you have to inform eight people who already ordered lobster rolls that the kitchen’s run out of lobster. Or you have to wait agonizingly at the server station in plain view, while a 72-year-old tyrant of a woman pouts for 20 minutes because you forgot to order her pork chop.

There are moments when walking out on your job, just slipping out the delivery door in full uniform and immediately shooting a gram of heroin into your central artery with a used needle you found by the dumpster seems like a smarter alternative to showing your face at a table.

The only solution is to smile. Be bright. Nobody can write a (completely) bad Yelp review about you if you smiled while relaying the bad news.

2. If you can survive a Sunday brunch on Memorial Day weekend, you can survive anything.

When your pack gets heavy on that 14-mile hike to the next village in Uganda, just think back to how many high chairs you carried up to the third floor patio and how many bus buckets filled with cast-iron skillets you brought back down.

3. There’s power in numbers.

Working back-to-back 16-hour doubles every weekend isn’t so bad when you can escape to the back stairwell and swap New Jersey bachelor party impressions with the upstairs bartender.

4. Always keep your cool.

Four tables just sat themselves out on the patio, a mile away, you’ve got a completely full dining room with 10 new people at the bar, and the ladies’ room toilet is clogged to the brim with tampons.

So what? They’re all just hungry people. All they want to do is eat a burger and a pound of fries, drink a beer, and clog your toilet again.

5. Sometimes you need to stand up for yourself.

When some silk-, pinstriped-, popped-collar-clothed Spaniard with stale cigarette breath and crunchy hair doesn’t get the point at the bar, you need to say, “Fuck off.”

When some polo-, pinstriped-, popped-collar-clothed bro with stale cigarette breath and no hair calls you a raging bitch because you won’t serve him his sixth Long Island iced tea, you need to say, “Fuck off.”

6. Quick math is key.

When you’re trying to bargain your way to five leather bracelets for the price of four at that Spanish open-air market in Fuengirola, you’re going to be thankful for those speedy number-crunching skills.

7. Multitasking is an art.

If you can memorize a six-top’s order while simultaneously bussing a deuce and planning what you’re going to eat for staff meal, you can multitask. Negotiating cab fare in a foreign language while translating a map and decoding a bus schedule will be a breeze.

8. Some people will fool you.

That elderly couple at table 44 wanted to know all about your last trip and what your hometown is like. By dessert you were on a first-name and inside-joke basis. And they only left $13 on a $100 bill?

They totally hustled you. Just like that smiley, charismatic Dominican man selling sunglasses is going to totally hustle you.

9. Learn to let things go.

Maybe you had to escape to the beer cooler and cry a little bit because you dropped the last order of calamari and that pregnant lady’s insult really got to you. Maybe your flight out of Maine in the middle of January got postponed indefinitely due to a severe ice storm. Take a deep breath. Let it go.

Ultimate world etiquette cheat sheet

I ALWAYS RESEARCH what is considered polite, as well as what is considered rude behavior, before traveling outside of the United States. I think it’s because I have this irrational fear of embarrassing myself over something I could have easily prevented, but all the same, my pre-planning hasn’t failed me yet.

This infographic provides some good, basic information on how to conduct yourself abroad, especially concerning business matters. Although I’m a bit skeptical about some — like not wearing shirts with pockets in Great Britain. Is that really a rude gesture, or just a fashion faux pas? (Click to enlarge)

How NOT to buy weed in Colorado

Photo: Mark

1. Get your bearings.

Cruise around the block six times, whispering Is this the place? Is this it?!? over and over and over to your boyfriend. Park right up front, feed the meter, then change your mind and decide you’re a little too close. Get back in your rental car, circle the block one more time, and park three blocks away.

Casually stroll up the street, as though you’re going somewhere else. “There’s a Whole Foods just around the corner, right? I think we need some more jicama.” Then, once you’re right in front of your target building, turn on a dime and dive into the first open doorway you see.

2. Look like you know what you’re doing.

My mom calls this “walking with purpose.” Aggressively march up to a display of glass pipes. Pick up an elaborate-looking one and loudly comment on its heft and shine. Spin on your heel and sidle your way through a group of angsty youths clustered around a case containing what seems to be metal pens. Offer some words of wisdom, like, “Fountain pens! What a great idea. Sort of an all-in-one shop.”

This will prompt one of the troubled teens to give you a condescending look before mumble-sighing at you about the health benefits of vaporizers. Now you’ve made a friend and learned some valuable insider tips.

After careening around the store for 20 minutes, you will eventually realize that you haven’t actually happened upon any weed. Slink up to the front counter and smile at the girl who looks like a Hot Topic wet-heaved all over her. Lean over conspiratorially and ask her where the good stuff is. The you-know.

“It’s next door, in the dispensary. This is the head shop. And you don’t have to whisper.”

Smile knowingly and wink before slithering out the front door.

3. Make a seamless entry.

Now you’ll become cognizant of some exciting differences between this entrance and the one you just came out of, such as the metal, windowless door and large red-and-black sign that reads “HOLD ID UP TO DOOR AND RING BELL.”

“Oh shit, that sounds like a secret password type of situation, doesn’t it?”

“No,” your boyfriend will say as he opens his wallet.

“Oh man, it’s like a speakeasy or something. What do we do?”

“You could start by getting out your license.”

Try to refrain from your instinctive urge to throw yourself flat against the wall as the door opens and five raucous hooligans pour out onto the sidewalk.

“IDs?” the muscular, bouncer-type dude at the door will say.

Giggle awkwardly while pawing at your boyfriend to go first. This will give you time to sift through your travel-safe money belt for your license.

4. Survey the premises.

The décor in here is much more reserved than next door — like a Southwest-themed Pier 1. Your new-age aunt who moved to Sedona to pursue her dream of becoming a certified crystal healer would love this place. Sepia-toned walls are strewn with vaguely-native-American-themed wrought-iron figures and faux-leather dreamcatchers. Clay pots of unknown purpose list to one side in the corner. A legalization map is prominently featured.

A weed dispensary is a lot like a winery or brewery, except in Colorado dispensaries, half the room is devoted to recreational users and half to medical users. The only difference is price; those with a medical card pay about 1/3 of the recreational cost. Consider what life would be like if your crippling anxiety could get you a medical beer card and reduce your alcohol bills by 2/3. Maybe with all that extra money, you could have finished grad school and MADE SOMETHING OF YOURSELF.

5. Sample the wares.

Pause that downward emotional spiral for a moment and head on over to the recreational-use counter. One or two helpful-looking fellows will be standing behind glass cases full of different types of pot. These will have names like “Peaches ‘N’ Cream” or “Green Crack.” Hide your confusion by asking an insider-sounding technical question, like, “Do you prefer the peach- or crack-flavored marijuana?”

The first guy will sneak a side-eye to the other one…probably to say, this girl knows what’s up. “Well, it depends what you’re looking to do. What are you gonna use this for?”

“To…smoke it,” you’ll reply knowingly.

“I mean, what kind of activity are you planning to do? Hiking? Partying? You wanna feel energized or relaxed?”

“Mostly high, is what I was thinking.” That was almost definitely a trick question.

The second guy, a skinny bald dude with lots of tattoos, will chime in now. “You know man, like, I’ve got my snowboarding weed, I’ve got my post-snowboarding weed, I’ve got my painting weed…then there’s my party weed, my thinking weed, you know?”

Number one will elaborate. “Each strain has different amounts of Sativas and Indicas. Sativa-dominant strains give you more of a head high; they’re good for creativity, but you can get a little amped up and paranoid too. Indicas are more relaxing.”

“Indicas is like ‘in the couch,’ that’s how I remember it,” number two will say, fingering his leather bracelet.

Consider the options before you. Swirl the weed around in each container, then ask to sniff the different strains. Wave your hand over the little glass jars, wafting the scent towards your nostrils like a pro. Inhale deeply and casually mention something about tannins. After a moment of contemplation, make your choice.

“We’ll take both types. One portion of both types.”

“How much do you want?”

“How much would you recommend for a week-long trip?”

“Maybe half a gram?”

Pause for a moment. “Great. We’ll take a gram of each.”

6. Enjoy.

11 stunning images of Arctic wildlife

Editor’s note: This photo essay comes to us from Espen Lie Dahl, showcasing his dual passions for nature and nature photography. When not out in the Norwegian wilderness shooting images, he spends his time doing nature research at a research institution. He also runs a small company together with his brother, renting out photo hides and guiding nature photographers on the coast of mid-Norway.

You can follow Espen’s work on Flickr, and connect with him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

All the images seen below were shot in Norway and on the remote Svalbard Islands in the Arctic Ocean.

1

White-tailed eagle
On the island of Smøla, mid-Norway, the densest population of white-tailed eagles in the world is found. Tours guided by eagle experts will take you out to get close encounters with these huge birds. With a wingspan of an impressive 2.5 meters, they look like small aircraft.





2

European shag
Some creatures are able to handle all sorts of conditions. The European shag is among the toughest of all birds found in the Northern Hemisphere, wintering along the rough Norwegian coastline. During spring they develop a stylish haircut to impress the other sex. Even a strong blizzard does not stop them from raising the feathers on their head to show the other sex how attractive they are.





3

Atlantic puffin
The parrot-like Atlantic Puffin spends the winter out in the open waters of the cold northern seas. In early spring they return to their breeding colonies to start the breeding season. They nest in steep cliffs, digging burrows in which they lay their single eggs. Puffins can become very old indeed; they are known to live for more than 40 years.












4

Polar bear on sea ice
Between Scandinavia and the North Pole—at 80°N—lies the archipelago of Svalbard. Circumnavigating the islands by boat used to be impossible because of sea ice, but not anymore. Due to climate change and ocean warming, the sea ice coverage is shrinking and it is now possible to sail around the archipelago during late summer. The polar bear spends most of its life on sea ice, hunting for seals. Without sea ice there will be no more polar bears.





5

Orca
Every winter, huge shoals of herring arrive on the coast of Norway in order to spawn. Along with the herring, pods of orcas and other whales can be seen. They come here to feed on the fish. This particular male orca was seen feeding on herring near the island of Smøla, off the coast of mid-Norway.





6

Lynx
Among the most mystical creatures in Scandinavian nature is the lynx. Humans rarely see this nocturnal feline. I was lucky to come across a roe deer killed by a lynx. While I was waiting around the kill, the big cat suddenly came out from the forest to feed, and I was able to get some images of this beautiful “Tiger of the North.”





7

Musk ox
The musk ox can still be found in the Dovre Mountains of mid-Norway, which is probably the most accessible place in the world to spot this creature of the past. Here, the musk ox coexists with animals such as arctic foxes, wolverines, and wild reindeer, making the area a hotspot for observing Arctic wildlife.





8

European eagle owl
The European eagle owl is among the biggest owls in the world. It is mostly nocturnal. However, at the high latitudes of Northern Norway—above the polar circle—the sun is above the horizon 24-7 during summer. This image is shot at 1am, with the midnight sun lighting up the owl as it lands.





9

Bearded seal
The most conspicuous feature of the bearded seal is its elegant whiskers. They use them as feelers as they search the ocean bottom for clams and squid. The bearded seal is a true Arctic seal, found only at high latitudes, and it serves as the main diet for the polar bear.





10

Northern Lights
Few things are more fascinating to watch than the aurora borealis. You stand the highest chance to see this in Northern Norway, though it's possible to see the Northern Lights in the south of the country too. All you need is clear skies, warm clothing, and a bit of luck.





11

Arctic fox
Having become almost extinct in Scandinavia, the Arctic fox is now making a comeback. An enormous conservation effort has been undertaken to protect the species and its habitat. The fox in this image was shot during fall, when they are changing their fur from the dark summer fur to completely white winter fur.

Iceland was made for road tripping

Iceland 2014 from Kieran Duncan on Vimeo.

IF YOU TRAVEL to Iceland and you don’t take a road trip, you’re haven’t really seen Iceland. I say this because Iceland is one of the only places I’ve ever traveled where I favored car travel over public transportation, mainly because it allowed me the freedom to stop, get out, and explore every inch of roadway I came across.

Iceland is one of the best places to immerse yourself in nature, a majority of it viewable along the Ring Road. This video encapsulates an epic road trip geared towards explorers and adventurers, but really anyone can hike on a glacier, go surfing on Iceland’s black sand beaches, or chill out in lava fields.

Are tiny houses the future?

The tiny house movement often seems more like it’s made for Pinterest boards than for actual practical use, but this recent video by The Atlantic, “The American Dream is Alive — and it’s Really, Really Tiny,” changes all that.

It focuses on the 128-square-foot house of Tammy Strobel and Logan Smith in Portland, Oregon, and how they’ve used it to improve their lives. They talk about how they used to be $30,000 in debt, and eventually decided that, in order to save time, space, and money, in order to simplify their lives, and in order to live more sustainably, they built a tiny house.

And it is small. The weird thing is, though, that while we watch them discussing the house, we can see that they appear to have a lot of room to spread out and move about. It just doesn’t look cramped. It’s a minimalist take on life, and one that cuts back on excessive materialism. I have to say that after watching this video, if I had any building skill at all, I’d consider this take on modern American living.

Could you see yourself living in a tiny house?

Drone captures fireworks from above

A FEW SUMMERS AGO, I was watching fireworks at the park near my house, and one of them malfunctioned and failed to shoot up in the air. It exploded on the ground, and for the first time, I got a context for just how huge the blast radius of a firework is. Obviously, that was a bit of a drag, because it nearly burned a half dozen people, so I started to think, “What would this look like in the air?” Fortunately, we live in the age of the drone and the GoPro.

Jos Stiglingh attached a GoPro camera onto a DJI Phantom drone and flew it through a spectacular fireworks show in West Palm Beach Florida. It looks kind of like an aerial scene from a World War II movie, but much more sparkly, and with way less violence. So kudos to Stiglingh for risking his drone – which totally could have been shot out of the sky by one of these fireworks – for the internet’s viewing pleasure.