Matador Network's Blog, page 2328

When every place seems the same

Photo: Chris Ford

It is midnight on Mindil Beach in Darwin, Australia. The air is hot and wet and carries the salt reek of the sea. Backpackers sit scattered on the floor of the parking lot outside their vans rolling cigarettes and giving each other massages.

On this clear but moonless night the surrounding mangroves and palms are barely shadows, but we know them well; many of the backpackers sleep in them every night, as well as in caves or tents or under trees. One French guy, Marco, is so at home he has even started growing his own vegetable garden. The soft yellow lights of the parking lot are weak but allow enough light for a lazy game of hacky sack on the road. I am chatting with friends and watching the players when out of the darkness two Aboriginal fellas approach.

“Hey, hey, you got a light?” the first guy says gruffly, while his friend sways behind him. They wear t-shirts, shorts, and no shoes. I pass him the lighter and he lights his cigarette. “Where are you all from?” he asks.

“South Africa,” I say. The fella’s eyes light up. “Africa? Respect!” I laugh and give him a fist bump.

“Where are you from?” I ask.

“Arnhem Land, ya ya, I come from bush. I’ve come to see my missus. I have a missus here in Darwin and a couple of kids… a white missus.” He smiles knowingly. My friends and I nod silently.

“Ya ya, a white missus. But we got problems you know, we fight a lot. I never stay long, ha ha.” His cigarette goes out and he asks again for the lighter.

“Ya, I just come up from Arnhem Land you know and then I go back.” His friend wants to leave and pulls on his arm but the smoker ignores him.

I have heard these recycled conversations before and I begin to feel bored.

I look at the two guys. Traveling a year through Australia — from Melbourne through Sydney up to Brisbane — I have barely seen any Aboriginals — until I landed in Darwin. For some reason, I haven’t pursued conversations or prolonged the interactions. Deep down I would like to find out more about them, where they come from exactly and what they do, but I don’t. Instead of reaching out, I surprise myself with how I casually brush them off. Where is that old curious spirit that used to revel in these situations? I seem to have lost interest and I wonder if, after a period of long-term travel, I’ve become jaded.

The two men decide to keep moving. As they wander off, my focus returns to the familiar sight of the backpackers being backpackers. I drift over to them and overhear a chat about finding farm work in Queensland and a story about the full moon party in Thailand. I have heard these recycled conversations before and I begin to feel bored.

Alex Garland wrote about this type of malaise in The Beach. He observed that we might go travelling to find something different, but we always wind up doing the same damn thing. I walk away from the group into the semi-darkness of the tropical night and lean against a palm tree. If travelling is about new experiences, then why do I keep on hanging around with the same people, talking about the same things? Continuously travelling with other backpackers means I only ever really experience that one community. As much as I love it, it sometimes seems all too familiar, a little too easy.

I seem to have fallen into a travel rut and con myself with thinking that I am brave and adventurous purely because I am travelling. The truth, however, is that I have allowed myself to be sucked into a comfortable on-the-road routine and am not really breaking out from the cocoon of backpacker life. It is so easy to aimlessly wander and plod along when you have the right company. That, I inconveniently admit to myself, is not the point. The challenge is to be our own pioneers, for each day to encounter new and changing faces under a new and changing sun.

As I watch the two guys falter along under the dim lights of the parking lot, I think for a second that maybe I should follow them and join them on their mission, whatever that is. I could see and experience something completely novel, a real adventure. I could break out of my safe existence and try something new. I could possibly learn more than what I think I know about Aboriginals and move past my limited ideas. Instead, I retreat back to my friends and to that stale feeling of few surprises, to the very same familiarity I once found so unbearable that it spurred me to travel in the first place. [image error]

Win a trip to Breckenridge, CO!

Enter to win a trip for two to Breckenridge, Colorado (deadline: January 31).
About the contest

Matador is proud to be working with our friends at GoBreck, home to some of the most epic terrain and activities in Colorado. Matador Ambassador Brian DiFeo is in Breck now and will be providing Matador readers with ground-level beta and images of the area, but we’re also looking to offer a few lucky folks the chance to experience the awesomeness that is Breckenridge for themselves in our #BRECKBECAUSE giveaway.

Summit County sees 300 days of sunshine a year, making it good to go in both winter (snowmobiling, dog sledding, world-class skiing / riding) and summer (whitewater rafting, fishing, hiking / mountaineering). Matador and GoBreck want to know what you would do if you got the chance to visit Breckenridge — your response could win you a free trip!

How to enter

Use the hashtag #BRECKBECAUSE to tell us what you’d do if you won a trip to Breckenridge! Examples include (but are not limited to):

“I want to go to #BRECKBECAUSE I want to experience the best snowboard scene in Colorado.”
“I love #BRECKBECAUSE I can go dog sledding in the SUMMER!”

We’ll be fielding entries from Twitter and Instagram, so make sure to follow @GoBreck and @MatadorNetwork. We’ll retweet and regram the best ones, and two winners will be selected.

Grand prize includes: A trip for two to Breckenridge, airfare stipend up to $300 per person (additional airfare costs at winner’s expense), three nights’ lodging, airport transfers, and activity of choice (up to a $120 value per person). Participants must use prize by December, 2014. Blackout dates apply.

Check out GoBreck.com for a list of cool things to do and see in Breckenridge, and follow GoBreck.tumblr.com for inspiration.

Contest deadline

Entries must be received by midnight EST on January 31, 2014. Winners will be announced on February 5, 2014.

12 looks at the modern Dubai skyline

FEW LANDSCAPES have been so utterly transformed in so little time as the slice of coastal Arabian Desert that is Dubai. The southern border of the emirate abuts a region that, until a few decades ago, was referred to on maps as “The Empty Quarter.” The terrain of the city itself consists of sandy coastal plains, high dunes, and, a little farther inland, the arid Hajar Mountains.

And yet, within the last 20 years, Dubai has been meticulously engineered to become one of the world’s great metropolises, with the tallest skyline on the planet. Below are some looks at 21st-century Dubai.

1

Dubai from the water
People have been arriving in Dubia via the Persian Gulf for at least 1,000 years, and probably much longer, as the area was home to multiple centers of trade. It's only within the last few years, though, that they've been met with a sight like this.

Photo: LA(Phot) Jay Allen





2

The geography of modern-day Dubai
This shot gives a good overview of the modern city, looking northeast up the coast. In the foreground is the Dubai Marina district, which in many respects functions as its own city / community. Jumeirah Beach stretches on to the ultra-lux Burj Al Arab Hotel. And in the hazy distance is Dubai proper, dominated by the newly completed Burj Khalifa. Just on the other side of downtown is the international airport, where airlines like the local Emirates operate dozens of flights to Dubai daily.

Photo: Ehsan Khakbaz H.





3

Dubai in the fog
Climatic conditions sometimes conspire to blanket the city in fog, which snarls traffic and creates opportunities for some memorable photos.

Photo: Joi Ito





Intermission





The dopest Dubai timelapse





9 ‘extreme’ places you can visit (fairly) easily [pics]





40 of the most creative custom bikes on the road [pics]












4

Downtown Dubai
This shot was captured on the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa, looking down on Downtown Dubai in various stages of construction. One of many carefully designed, mixed-use complexes, Downtown Dubai came with a price tag of US$20 billion.

Photo: Tom Olliver





5

A city constructed
The speed at which modern Dubai has sprung up is hard to conceptualize. In the mid-2000s, there were reports that one out of every four construction cranes in the world was in use here. That'd be 30,000 cranes. As this photographer noted, "When I first visited Dubai in 2000 there were 6 skyscrapers. By 2012 the projected development [in this small area along Sheikh Zayed Road] will bring more than 90."

Photo: Jake Brewer





6

Dubai Marina
Many of the iconic skyline views of Dubai actually belong to the Dubai Marina district. Here it is, as seen from the Palm Jumeirah development.

Photo: Pieter van Marion





7

Burj Khalifa at night
Completed in 2009, the 829.8m (2,722ft) Burj Khalifa is far and away the tallest human-made structure in the world—nothing else even tops 700. Its design incorporates various regional and Islamic influences.

Photo: Chris Hopkins Images





8

Needling the sky
A portrait showing the extent to which the Burj Khalifa has come to the define the skyline of modern Dubai.

Photo: KhanSaqib





9

Cayan Tower
An up-close view of the 90-degree twist of the Cayan Tower, a 306m (1,004ft) residential tower in Dubai Marina, and another great example of the groundbreaking architecture on display in Dubai.

Photo: Pieter van Marion





Intermission





13 classic travel moments





You’ve never seen water like this [65 photos]





15 of the most haunted places in the world [pics]












10

Dubai workers
Today's Dubai has been built on the backs of an army of hundreds of thousands of workers, mostly South and Southeast Asians, who live in conditions in stark contrast to the luxury they have constructed. Stories of deception, withheld wages and identification documents, and indentured labor abound.

Photo: Pieter van Marion





11

Burj Al Arab
The world's most luxurious hotel, depending on who you ask, sits adjacent to Jumeirah Beach, connected to the mainland by a private bridge. A quick Google search turned up rooms at around US$1,800 per night.

Photo: Pieter van Marion





12

Sand and sky
Two decades have brought such monumental change—what will Dubai look like in two more?

Photo: Hamama Harib

How not to look like an idiot in Korea

Photo: Mo Riza

For those who’ve never been to Northeast Asia, there’s only so much googling that can prepare you. If you’re from a Western country, you’ll be bringing a knapsack full of cultural norms that are invisible to you but glaring to Koreans. Some of these will make you look like the new kid on the first day of school — and just about as popular. Here are some tips for avoiding embarrassment when you first arrive.

Figure out the food.

Don’t assume there will be a fork, a knife, or a salt shaker on the table. Do assume there will be some fabulous side dishes. Don’t be afraid to dive into them.

Unless you’re in an international restaurant offering international cuisine, most restaurants serve food eaten with chopsticks and spoons. The meal you order will likely come with some side dishes and sauces that are intended to complement your meal.

Don’t use chopsticks to eat your rice.

This is the custom in other Asian countries, but not in Korea. Alongside your chopsticks you’ll find a handy spoon for rice and soup. Locals may deviate from this norm, but if you do you’ll just look like a noob.

Don’t admit to hating kimchi.

Not every tourist or expat likes it, and for some it takes getting used to. If you’re not a fan, keep it to yourself. Kimchi has become symbolic of Korea, and your opinion on it will be read as a sign of your feelings about the country as a whole. Saying you like kimchi, or at least one of the many kinds of kimchi, is sure to make you far more endearing to locals.

Don’t mistake tofu for feta.

This unfortunate assumption has led many expats to harbour a festering hatred for tofu. The same applies to the brown goo inside bread and on ice cream: That is bean paste, not chocolate. Much of your enjoyment of food in Korea will depend on your expectations. Unlike the Japanese, Koreans don’t eat with their eyes. Presentation of food isn’t always a priority, but taste certainly is. Now that you’re expecting tofu and sweet bean, you’ll be spared oral shock.

Don’t bring food for one.

Sharing is the norm, and bringing a portion for one will make you feel selfish and sad, especially when someone hands you some awesome homemade kimbap.

Don’t refill someone’s glass unless it’s empty.

You’ll never pour your own drink in Korea — the youngest person at the table is responsible for keeping everyone’s glass full. If you find yourself in this position, note that a little left in the bottom of the glass is a sign that the person doesn’t want a refill.

Do eat when you’re drinking.

It’s customary to order food when drinking alcohol. This is presumably to ensure that, despite drinking rituals, everyone makes it out standing. At makgeolli bars, ordering anju is mandatory. Considering the high alcohol content of rice wine, this helps prevent disaster.

Learn the language.

Learning to read and speak basic Korean will not only improve and ease your experience significantly, but also show respect for others — whether they can speak English or not. I recommend learning some compliments: Flattery will make you charming, and charming has more fun.

Don’t expect people to speak English.

There is very little English spoken in any given clinic, hair salon, or post office, and this can be alienating at first. Even if more people in Korea were bilingual (a national goal), it’s unlikely to ever be the language people use on the street.

Don’t ask people for an English name.

Korean names might be difficult on the tongue at first, but asking people for an English name — or worse, giving them one — shows an about a world very different from your own. Some people will prefer to be called by their English name, but that’s up to them, not you. They’ll let you know without you having to ask.

Leave your traditions at home.

At least in the first few months. If you’re resistant to change or protective of your home comforts, you’re likely to spend your time disappointed and uncomfortable.

Don’t use the word “real” or “proper” when you mean “Western.”

Do they have any proper toilets? How much is W50 000 in real money? Do they sell real bread? Really now, assuming your culture is the norm makes you look silly. Plus, you’ll spend all your time searching for things that probably aren’t popular in Korea — like feta cheese!

Try not to be offended by stares.

Previously known as the Hermit Kingdom, South Korea is finding its international feet at an economically rapid, but culturally slow, pace. You will likely be wearing or doing something that’s highly unfamiliar to some people. Feel free to stare back, as you’ll likely find something equally ‘strange’ to stare at.

Don’t generalise about Korean people.

This is tempting at times, because of the cultural homogeneity evident in the country, and because Korean people sometimes generalise about themselves, often in the third person. “Korean people like x or y” is a common refrain. Nonetheless, assuming certain unshakable truths about all Koreans is forgetting the rapid social changes in the country that have characterised the last few decades and ignoring certain subcultures and idiosyncrasies that make Korea so interesting.

Do let people know when they’re stereotyping you.

Your idiosyncrasies are interesting too. The assumption that all foreigners dislike spicy food, eat hamburgers and pizza, and don’t speak Korean must be crushed, and you can help.

Look the part.

Cover up.

Showing your shoulders and chest is taboo here, particularly for a woman. Regardless of the humid summers, vests and low-cut tops are not commonly worn.

Don’t wear your shoes indoors.

And soon you won’t want to. Apart from the fact that dragging street dirt into your bedroom is gross, the glorious underfloor heating called ondol will make you want to lie face down on the floor in winter, never mind warm your socks.

Be experimental and intrepid.

Whatever adventurous bone in your body took you to a foreign country, use it to try things that make you curious and a little nervous. The rewards are usually excellent.

Do press all the buttons on the robotic toilets.

You know you want to. Proceed with caution, but proceed nonetheless. You’ll leave dry and warm, trust me.

Do accept invitations to do things and go places that you would normally avoid.

You may find that moments shared in these situations make some of the best memories. Only at the top of a mountain, after four hours of hiking with people you don’t share a language with, will someone offer to share the best lunch you’ve ever tasted — and a view you’ll remember for decades.

Do go somewhere on the map that’s difficult to find.

While it’s hard to imagine there’s anywhere without apartment buildings and neon lights, there are villages tucked between mountains and on tiny islands that will make you feel well and truly lost. It will likely be very inconvenient to get there, but in these places you’ll see a Korea that differs from the pervading frantic pace in towns and cities. And the food alone will be worth your trouble. [image error]

10 lessons for the American traveler

Photo: W3155Y

1. It doesn’t matter that you’re American.

When East German border guards tromped through the tight train corridor, stopped my study abroad program director, and pantomimed the click of a camera, I knew I’d messed up. Big time. Just moments earlier, as the train slowly rolled across the border from West Germany into East Germany and communism, I’d snapped a picture of a patrol tower. Really bad move. It was 1989, during the Cold War, and I’d left the flash on.

While ultimately nothing resulted from my minor lapse in judgement (7 months before the fall of the Berlin Wall, I’m guessing the East German government had more pressing matters than throwing me in a gulag), at the very least it was a major reality check: It didn’t matter that I was an American and guaranteed unalienable rights in the US. I was an American in a communist country, and border guards in East Germany didn’t have to acknowledge my freedom of expression or any other US First Amendment rights.

2. We don’t have the greatest rep.

It’s hard to face sometimes, when coming from a country that celebrates itself, that the rest of the world doesn’t adore the US. Our foreign policies and the legacies of our unpopular wars and international “incidents” understandably have pissed off a lot of people.

Controversial drone strikes in the Middle East and the NSA’s enthusiasm for spying on world leaders have not helped either. When traveling, be prepared to discuss our government’s latest shenanigans. Also, with all the senseless mass shootings in recent years, you’ll probably be asked if you own a gun and your stance on guns. You learn not to get defensive…when people have a problem, it’s usually with the US government and not with individual citizens.

3. But you kinda still represent McDonald’s.

Most people will refrain from holding you personally responsible for the decisions of the US government, but you’re not totally off the hook. Many people think we’re ethnocentric, materialistic, and envision us with those massive wagging foam fingers screaming “We’re Number One!” or shoving old ladies around to get the cheapest toaster oven during a Black Friday frenzy.

I once asked my Dutch friend, Ernst, what he thought about Americans. His response: “Americans are fat, eat at McDonald’s, and drive big cars.” I made it a point never to eat a Big Mac around Ernst.

4. Some countries actually LIKE the US, or at least our pop culture.

As an American traveler, you might feel the urge to be apologetic or keep your identity on the down-low. Perhaps you’ve considered hot glue gunning a maple leaf patch to your backpack (don’t do it).

But before going overboard with mea culpas, realize that many cultures appreciate Americans. In Indonesia, where Barack Obama lived during part of his childhood, my husband and I ran into locals who chanted “USA” and gave us the thumbs up when they found out our nationality. Some countries even revere American pop culture. Check out how many magazines on international newsstands keep up with the Kardashians. And let’s not forget the lasting impact of Baywatch.

And apparently, our accents aren’t always nails on a chalkboard. My Australian friend, Nicole, assured me, “I love listening to you talk…I feel like I’m at the movies.”

5. The rules change.

In the US, you know you can drive 60 in a 55mph zone and not get a speeding ticket and that, as a pedestrian, you generally can cross the street with little hassle on a red light. But when traveling outside the US, you won’t know the laws, customs, or the consequences.

Try jaywalking in Germany. There’s nothing like being the target of a Teutonic tirade by a hunched old man who actually waves his cane at you when you cross an empty street against the light. Or try to take a photo of your friends pretending to kiss a Buddha statue in devoutly Buddhist Sri Lanka, and then develop the photos at a shop where the clerk will notify local authorities about the offense.

6. Hold your mom’s hand when crossing crazy streets.

Jaywalking may never be an issue when the street is too terrifying to cross in the first place. In some cities, the volume of vehicles and lack of discernible traffic rules are intimidating. Saigon, for example, is famous for tentacles of traffic with weaving motorbikes, cyclos, buses, and cars all beeping incessantly. In some countries, along with vehicles, you may also need to yield to cows, water buffalo, or elephants.

Or it might just be the direction cars are driving that freaks you out as an American traveler. In London, paranoia about crossing streets comes easily when you almost get sideswiped by one of the city’s trademark black cabs. Remember to look right and then left, or just keep looking side to side until you get across the street.

7. Cover up, even in heinous humidity.

Lounging in a bikini or board shorts may be acceptable at many beaches, but once you go into town and, more importantly, into a temple, church, or mosque, you need to cover up. Even if the heat is unbearably heavy, respect the local culture.

And it’s not just Muslim countries that have cover-up codes. Eastern Orthodox churches often require that women wear headscarves and cover their legs. Some religious sites may have baskets of backup skirts for you to borrow. Wearing a scratchy burlap frock to enter a Greek Orthodox Church, I witnessed a moving christening take place. While it was worth every itchy moment, I would have been better off bringing along my own lightweight long skirt. In many places, you can buy sarongs, scarves, or saris at local markets.

8. The customer isn’t always right.

Customer service (or lack thereof) isn’t universal. At some shops owners barely acknowledge your existence, while in others you may not be left alone. And when you’re at a market or bazaar, bargaining is the name of the game and is a completely normal part of shopping in many countries.

Also, despite paying entrance fees that may be significantly higher than locals’ rates at famous tourist spots, you still need to wait in line just like everybody else. Patience is key.

9. You’ll reconsider saying you’re “poor.”

Once you see a child playing with a dirty sock as a toy, or you drive by a shantytown lined with houses made of rusty strips of corrugated metal and soggy cardboard boxes, it’s hard to complain about your own finances. Poverty exists everywhere, but sometimes it’s more overt in other nations. For the first-timer American traveler, it can be overwhelming, shocking, and emotional.

Bedraggled children may confront you and ask for money. Many travelers debate how to handle this scenario, and while some say that giving to begging kids continues the vicious cycle, I cracked and gave a few dollars to a crying child with amputated legs in Mexico. But then I turned around to see more children who, while not disabled, had the same desperate looks.

10. You may turn into that American traveler.

Ultimately, as enlightened and adventurous as you think you are, you may go to the dark side. Jet lag, humidity, homesickness, missed rides, mysterious meals, and miscommunications can sometimes gang up on you and make you a less than pleasant visitor. You may find yourself loudly telling an Athens airport ticket counter clerk who won’t let you check in late for your flight home that her country’s transportation system (with the exception of the island ferries) “totally sucks.” Cringe. [image error]

How to piss off your barista

Photo: Chris Ballard

I’ve spent most of my life living in the Pacific Northwest. This means essentially everyone I know has worked as a barista, including myself. So I understand that the barista is the unsung hero of the service industry — especially in this part of the country. I’m pretty sure the majority of people working downtown would simply cease to function if their caffeine was taken from them (I’m looking at you, Amazon).

What I have issue grasping is why people insist on treating the slingers of their drug of choice so poorly. Maybe they just don’t realize what they’re doing, so I’ve made this list to educate and simplify the issue. If you feel the need to make yourself into an asshole every morning (twice and once in the afternoon), follow these easy steps. If that isn’t your thing, then, you know, do the opposite.

1. Talk on your phone while ordering.

I know, you’re a very important person and that phone call about how hungover you are today is way more important than getting the coffee that will help pull you out of it. I understand completely. But believe it or not people in the service industry are — in fact — people and deserve your attention. Especially when they’re about to make something you’re going to ingest. Call whoever is on the line back. I promise they can wait five minutes, and so can just about anything else.

2. Get annoyed with the questions they’re asking.

Believe it or not, the list of questions about size and for here or to go preference are not because your barista loves to annoy you and waste your time. They’re trying to ensure you actually get what you want. Until they develop ESP skills — I’m sure Starbucks is working on that — they’re going to have to ask you questions. So smile, appreciate their effort, and just answer them.

3. Act like you’re better than every/anyone for ordering a simple beverage.

So you like Americanos or plain drip coffee. I like those things, too. As does my dad, Clint Eastwood (guessing), and a lot of other fucking people. In fact, most coffee enthusiasts do. But if you get some superiority complex about it, you’re just an asshole. Your ability to not put sugar in your drink doesn’t make you a hero, it just makes you someone that likes to drink their coffee like that.

The truth is, most baristas don’t give a shit if you want eleven flavors in your decaf latté or you want a shot of espresso. You want something they have all the tools to make and that’s awesome!

4. Make any comment about your beverage being overpriced.

Listen, you’re probably smart enough to understand the barista at the register or behind the bar is probably not the one who decides prices. That shit is out of their control. Moreover, a lot of baristas take their craft very seriously. Hell, they have competitions. This is a fucking art form. Don’t you dare tell an artist that their work is not worth the four bucks you’re paying for it. Especially when it’s made just for you and you get to consume it.

5. Go into a not Starbucks and order a “caramel macchiato.”

A real macchiato is served in a very small espresso cup and is made up of espresso and the tiniest amount of foam and milk to mark the top of the espresso. This is nothing like the macchiatos that come out of Starbucks.

Now, most baristas understand that when you order a “caramel macchiato,” what you really want is a caramel-vanilla latté. And most of them will even make it for you without feeling the need to correct you. What it really comes down to here is a respect thing. Using Starbucks terminology in a different coffeeshop is a lot like calling your new lover by your old lover’s name. It’s just rude.

Side note: Ordering a stirred caramel macchiato in a Starbucks is also a dick move. Starbucks macchiatos are all about the layering. So, again, what you’re really ordering is a caramel-vanilla latté. Stop acting like it’s not.

6. Ask for your beverage to be made “extra hot.”

Milk, like anything, burns. When you ask for a drink to be made “extra hot,” you’re essentially asking your barista to scald the hell out of your beverage. That’s disgusting. It makes it taste like shit and it ruins all the lovely nuances of your hand-crafted drink.

If you’re doing this because you’re traveling a distance before you drink it and you want it to stay hot, you get a double “fuck you.” There are coffeeshops everywhere. Go to one closer to your destination and consume your beverage in a timely fashion — while it still tastes good.

Side note: If you’re ordering something not containing milk and want it extra hot, you’re even more of an asshole. Hot water at a café comes in one temperature. Hot.

7. Order an espresso over ice.

I know this one has been the hot topic of debate for a while now. We could go on and on about how putting hot espresso on ice shocks it, dilutes the flavor, and is just gross. However, that’s not why your barista is pissed. You’re not as sly as you think, and the entire staff sees you walking over to the condiment bar and making your own iced latté with the creamer in the carafe. You’re a dick. That milk is there so people can put it in their coffee in one- or two-ounce increments, not so you can fill up a 24-ounce cup and save yourself a dollar.

You are not sneaky. You are not creative. Everyone behind that counter knew exactly what you were going to do when you ordered two shots in a gigantic cup of ice and would have happily given you the milk from the fridge. Don’t make them go out to the bar five times more often than necessary during a rush when they’re running on a skeleton crew because you wanted a latté but didn’t want to pay for it.

8. Order a bone-dry cappuccino.

Cappuccinos are made of one-third foam, one-third milk, and one-third espresso. That’s what they are. That’s why they come in their own special cups and most coffeeshops will only offer them in one size. Not only is ordering a bone-dry one changing what the actual drink is, but it’s a pain in the ass to make.

The larger the size of your order, the bigger of an asshole you are on this one. To make a 16-ounce bone-dry drink, your barista would easily have to steam 32 ounces of milk. It’s not just time consuming, it’s wasteful. Why are you doing this? I honestly want to know. I don’t even think you can drink those things (spoons don’t count). And if they ever see you put a lid on that drink (or any foam-heavy drink) your barista should be able to reserve the right to never serve you again.

9. Abandon your drink on the bar.

Espresso beverages have a timeframe that needs to be respected. True, the whole “a shot dies” thing was made up by Starbucks to make their baristas move faster. Yes, crema does dissipate and change the flavor of an espresso shot, but only bad espresso will taste bad like that.

That being said, your drinks should be enjoyed quickly after being made. The flavors don’t need time to marinate. Your foam starts collapsing, your temperature starts dropping, the beautiful crema on top of your Americano starts disappearing. The drink won’t look like it did when your barista made it, and it definitely won’t taste like they want it to.

10. Complain that your drink was made incorrectly, but shoot down offers to remedy this.

Accidents happen. Communication breaks down. This is especially true during rushes or when there are multiple people behind the counter at a time. Tell someone and they will happily remake it. They will do this even if you were the one who forgot to say decaf or iced.

What doesn’t do anyone any favors is saying your drink is messed up but insisting that you just “don’t have time” for them to remake it. Fuck you. Either take your drink and keep your mouth shut or let them fix the problem. Pointing out mistakes just for the sake of pointing them out just makes you look like a dick who felt the need to take someone down a notch, and nobody likes that asshole. [image error]

* This post was originally published at Medium and is reprinted here with permission.

Plan your next 'move' with this map

Photo: Business Insider

Everyone I know wants to live in New York City. As a NYC native however, I’m sick of hearing people complain about why their lives suck as a result of their move. Maybe if they saw this map of American migration patterns in 2013, they’d realize that New York had the highest amount of residents who left the state in search of presumably greener pastures (and a much lower cost of living).

The United Van Lines map is particularly telling, but what’s even cooler is this interactive map produced by Forbes in 2012. Type in any US city, and see where people from that community moved elsewhere to in the country, as well which counties had people crazy enough to move to your hometown.

It will be interesting to see how these patterns develop within the next ten years, as Millennials begin to influence the homeownership market – is this generation more apt to rent apartments in large cities, or will they desire to eventually have a home of their own in a more cost-effective area of the country?

(H/T Business Insider)

Guinness, Congo, and Les Sapeurs

“WE ARE THE SAPEURS. The society of elegant persons of the Congo.”

And one of the strongest visual sells of an ‘African’ story I can recall seeing in a very, very long time. I’ll stop looping it eventually, and the patina will fade one day, I’m sure. But until that happens, or until someone writes the incredibly dexterous media studies critique of it that I don’t expect, it’ll get to stay as a favourite. And here are some reasons why.

It’s a real story.

Les Sapeurs really exist as an institution in both the Congo of Kinshasa and the Congo of Brazzaville. It’s not some hokey story involving lions, or invented tribal traditions. These people are really out there, really dress like this, and really do the whole organised fashion showdowns and being a gentleman thing. Even more inspiring is that there is truth to the idea of ‘La Sape’ as a political practice, which is about transcending one’s class, wealth, and everyday grind to become something else. To reach beyond circumstance.

It’s easy to make quick judgments about the tradition being an ostentatious display of fashion by people in circumstances where there are better ‘practical’ things to spend money on. But those critiques fall short. Many Sapeurs get their clothes made locally. Or trade and swap items to create new combinations out of what they have in common. The point is reinvention, not consumption. Don’t believe me? Watch the documentary. Oh yes, Guinness made a short additional documentary too. How about that?

…told using real people

The people in the video are actual, practicing Sapeurs, doing what they do. Yes, it was apparently filmed in South Africa, and Guinness supplied some of the wardrobe items to bling it up, but the people are real, and the combinations are real. In fact, the outfits in the video incorporated a mix of the stars’ own collections with the stuff Guinness had in the end.

…without a white narrator / hero / anyone

There are people who’ve said you can’t tell a compelling story out of Africa without putting a Westerner in it. Because otherwise nobody will care. Well here’s exactly 100 seconds of beautifully produced ‘neener neener’ to that argument. May it die in shame.

…by a company that kept to the sidelines.

Yes, it’s a Guinness ad. But it’s the story of the Sapeurs first. And that exquisitely light touch is something the inevitable stampede of followers would do well to remember. The video carries itself with dignity and kickass power because it’s not primarily an advert. Or if it is, it’s an advert for the Sapeurs first, and Guinness afterwards.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a sudden need to burn my wardrobe, and look for an Irish pub.

15 surprising facts about MLK Jr.

1. He changed his name.

Born Michael King Jr., his father Michael King Sr. changed his own name to Martin Luther King Sr. after traveling to Germany in 1931 and becoming a minister, in reverence to Martin Luther. There is still some controversy over whether King Sr. changed his son’s name, or whether King Jr. changed his own name, as well as whether either name was ever changed legally.

2. He powered through academia.

Martin Luther King Jr. skipped the 9th and 12th grades of high school, entered Morehouse College in 1944 at the age of 15, and had earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology by 19.

3. He got a C in public speaking.

Genius and renowned orator though he may have been, Dr. King actually got a C in his first public speaking course. By the end of his studies, however, he had climbed to class valedictorian, student body president, and had worked up to straight A’s.

4. His most famous words were improvised.

The “I have a dream” portion of Dr. King’s famous speech was, in fact, never written as part of that particular script. King Jr. had written it for a previous speech, and it hadn’t landed as powerfully the first time around. While he was delivering the historic speech on August 28, 1963, singer Mahalia Jackson shouted “Tell ‘em about the dream, Martin,” from the audience. Hearing this, King set aside his prepared speech and improvised the rest. That event would lead to the circulation of a memo among members of the FBI that read:

In the light of King’s powerful demagogic speech yesterday he stands heads and shoulders over all other Negro leaders put together when it comes to influencing great masses of Negros. We must mark him now, if we have not done so before, as the most dangerous Negro of the future in this nation from the standpoint of communism, the Negro, and national security.

5. He won a Grammy.

Though Martin Luther King Jr. was an accomplished singer, performing with the Ebenezer Baptist choir at the “Gone with the Wind” premier in Atlanta, his Grammy was awarded posthumously for “Why I Oppose the War in Vietnam,” in the category of Best Spoken Word Album.

6. He had the idea for the Occupy movement 45 years before we actually did it.

In what has been called his “last great campaign,” Dr. King sought to bring together the impoverished and underprivileged. Dubbed the “Poor People’s Campaign,” King was championing the essential core tenets of the Occupy movement in 1968. At the time of his death, some 3,000 protesters were living in tented villages around the National Mall in DC, but the campaign lost traction when it lost its figurehead.

7. He picked tobacco as a teen, which changed his life.

At the age of 15, and again at 18, the young and privileged Martin Luther King Jr. harvested tobacco on plantations in Simsbury, Connecticut as a summer job. There he experienced the closest thing to racial equality he had ever seen in his young life, and marveled about being able to eat at any table in any place in Hartford in letters to his father. This served as a strong foundation for the rights Dr. King would later champion.

8. He was the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner.

In 1964, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and was at the time the youngest person ever to receive that recognition. Since then, the prize has been awarded to Tawakkol Karman (age 32, in 2011), though Dr. King remains the youngest male recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He donated the $54,000 prize to the Civil Rights effort.

9. He was the first African American “Man of the Year.”

Now “Person of the Year,” the 1963 issue of Time Magazine featured Dr. King on the cover, hailing him as “Man of the Year,” the first African American man to be recognized as such. The only other African American man to receive the title was Barack Obama, in 2008.

10. He was a huge Trekkie.

Tying his love for civil rights and Star Trek together, Dr. King convinced Nichelle Nichols (who played Uhura on the show) not to leave after the first season, as she had planned. Nichols later revealed that King had urged her to stay because her character broke the norm as an intelligent and equal member of the crew, a departure from the typical black persona on television at that time.

Nichols’ presence on Star Trek is said to have inspired and empowered a young Whoopi Goldberg, as well as astronaut Ronald McNair.

11. He was stabbed.

In 1958, a mentally ill woman named Izola Curry stabbed a seven-inch letter opener into Dr. King’s chest. The blade was on the verge of perforating his aorta; an emergency surgery saved his live. He later forgave his attacker, issuing the statement:

I am deeply sorry that a deranged woman should have injured herself in seeking to injure me. I can say, in all sincerity, that I bear no bitterness toward her and I have felt no resentment from the sad moment that the experience occurred. I know that we want her to receive the necessary treatment so that she may become a constructive citizen in an integrated society where a disorganized personality need not become a menace to any man. (Papers 4:513)

12. He was arrested almost 30 times.

Any activist will tell you that an extensive arrest record comes with the job, and for his many protests Dr. King went to jail 29 times in his 39 years of life.

13. His house was blown up.

During the 385-day Montgomery Bus Boycott (ignited by the protest action of Rosa Parks), Martin Luther King Jr.’s house was bombed in an effort to intimidate him into calling off the protest. Dr. King then held a mass gathering in the ruins, and pled for nonviolence.

14. His birthday was not fully recognized as a national holiday until this century.

Though President Reagan signed it into law in 1983, MLK Day wasn’t fully recognized by all 50 states until the year 2000. The last states to hop on the appreciation bandwagon were Arizona in 1992, New Hampshire in 1999, and finally Utah, in 2000.

15. He is globally revered.

Outside the US, MLK Day is also celebrated in Toronto, Canada, and Hiroshima, Japan, and there are monuments in his honor in Sweden, England, Havana, Australia, Colombia, Kenya, and Jerusalem. The statue of him in Westminster Abbey is one of ten 20th-century world martyrs immortalized there.

Hunting black rhinos to 'save' them?

Photo: Martin Teschner

CAN A SPORT HUNTER be an animal conservationist? Carey Knowlton, who bid $350,000 for a permit to hunt black rhino in Namibia, claims he’s doing it to save the animals from total extinction. “I am a passionate conservationist,” he says, and the Dallas Safari Club, who offered the permit for sale, will donate the money to the government of Namibia for their continued efforts to preserve the species.

The debate on the topic has been heated, and you might wonder how there can be a debate at all: Isn’t paying a pile of money to hunt a critically endangered animal one of the things movies use to indicate when someone is a supervillain? But believe it or not, Knowlton has some wildlife conservationists on his side.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature points out that emotional responses to the situation ignore the larger issues. They claim that hunting the occasional weak rhino will make the remaining few more precious to the local community, increasing incentives to save them. Much in the same way that Rwanda sells permits to visit mountain gorillas, disrupting their natural habitat for the sake of raising awareness, the IUCN believes drawing attention to the rhinos can only help them.

Both Namibia and South Africa release 5 hunting permits every year, with purchasers receiving permission to hunt one specific rhino — not shoot wildly through the herd at large. Knowlton’s permit is for a “surplus” rhino, which are designated as male rhinos past breeding age, who often become dangerously aggressive towards other members of the herd. Fighting between males can kill females and calves in the crossfire, and studies have shown that herds with fewer males actually reproduce faster. As Knowlton says, “One of the other ear-tagged killer rhinos is going to injure it. And then either lions or hyenas are going to drag it down. It’s going to die [in] a horrible manner, slowly.”

Knowlton is very outspoken about his passion for animals…he’s so passionate that he’s hunted over 120 different species on 7 continents. As the owner of a trophy-hunting tour company based in Dallas, this is an unprecedented opportunity to hunt an animal that almost nobody in North America has hunted before. “I want to experience the black rhino,” Knowlton is quoted as saying, which reveals the truth behind his conservationist ideals: You don’t talk about “experiencing” an animal through killing it unless what you’re really interested in is the feather in your cap…or in this case, the rhino head on your wall.

It also doesn’t hurt the government of Namibia to have so much controversial attention aimed their way at a time when they’ve just been voted one of the top 10 “Places to Go” by The New York Times. Those who believe any publicity is good publicity might side-eye the government’s support of Knowlton’s efforts.

While there may be benefits to removing the dangerous rhinos and preventing them from damaging the rest of the all-too-precious herd, one has to wonder: If Knowlton cares more about the welfare of the animals than the head on his wall…why not just buy the permit and tear it up? The money would be donated to conservation anyway, and he wouldn’t be getting death threats. His eagerness to rush to Africa and bag a rhino, while painting himself purely as a wildlife enthusiast with an endangered species’ best interests at heart, is the reason the whole sale rings false.

It feels like just one more opportunity for a dude with way too much money to treat the world like his playground.

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