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LAX to ban ride shares from curbside

The convenience of booking your ride from the airport as you swipe your gear from the baggage claim at LAX and head towards the exit will come to an end on October 29. As of that date, Uber and Lyft drivers will no longer be permitted to pick up passengers curbside outside of the airport’s terminals. In an effort to reduce congestion at passenger pick-up, officials at Los Angeles International Airport have enacted a new policy that prohibits ride-hailing drivers from accessing the airport’s nine terminals.

Don’t fret just yet, however. You’ll still be able to use your favorite ride-hailing service the next time you fly into LAX. It will just require waiting a few minutes to click the “Book Now” button as you hop a quick shuttle ride to the pick-up point first, located in the parking lot near Terminal 1. LAX joins other major airports including those in San Francisco and Boston in removing direct passenger pick-up from ride-hailing services. Passenger drop-off is not affected by the upcoming policy change — Uber and Lyft drivers will remain able to drop passengers directly at the terminals.

Ending curbside passenger pick-up comes as the airport undergoes a massive renovation of its road and terminal infrastructure, which has caused frequent traffic delays and back-ups throughout ever since construction began in 2018. Due to the significant increase in passenger traffic — up more than 20 million annually since 2012 — the airport’s passenger pick-up area faces regular congestion. “We understand that trying to get into the central terminal area is a challenge and has been for a long time, and we’ve been working to make that much better,” said Keith Wilschetz, the deputy executive director of the Operations and Emergency Management Division at Los Angeles World Airports, to the Los Angeles Times. “This is a way we can do that.”


More like this: The 7 worst airports in the world for getting an Uber (and how to get one)

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History of pumpkin beer in America

There are few things we can be sure of in this world. One of them is that pumpkin beer will take over the shelves of American grocery stores from October to November, and then disappear just as quickly. This doesn’t happen in other beer-loving countries, making it a beloved (or hated) tradition that’s special to the US of A. But it wasn’t always this way.

The modern pumpkin beer obsession can be traced back to Buffalo Bill’s Brewery in Hayward, California, in 1985. It was there that Bill Owens created what would become the pumpkin beer that inspired all other pumpkin beers. Today, a pilgrimage to Buffalo Bill’s is like a pilgrimage to the origin of the most American of beer styles.

Legend has it that Owens was inspired to create a pumpkin beer after reading that President George Washington brewed beer using squash. Pumpkin was the most popular and accessible squash at the time, so it was likely pumpkin that Washington used. Owens grew a pumpkin, baked it in the pizza oven at his brewpub, and then mixed it in with the rest of the malt.

There was just one major problem: The finished beer simply tasted like a regular beer, Owens told All About Beer. The sugars in the meat of the pumpkin fermented like the sugars in traditional brewing grains, and there was no hint of pumpkin. So Owens bought a can of pumpkin pie spices and added it to the mix. Voilà, the modern pumpkin beer (or pumpkin pie beer) was born.

Photo: Dawn LeFever/Shutterstock

Owen’s spices made Buffalo Bill’s pumpkin beer the first modern iteration, but it was far from the first overall. Pumpkin was one of the lifelines for early American colonists. Grains they had used in Europe to make beer weren’t as available in the New World. Water was unsafe to drink. These early colonists needed some alcohol to sip throughout the day, and they needed it fast. Enter the big orange gourd.

Pumpkins grew wild and free in North America. They’re easy to grow and easy to cook. Best of all, they’re easy to ferment into beer. If it weren’t for pumpkins, in fact, the colonists would have been in hot water. Hot, bacteria-filled water they couldn’t drink.

One old saying reprinted in the Vermont Phoenix in September of 1879 puts it best: “Pumpkin bread and pumpkin beer, if t’want for pumpkin we couldn’t live here; Pumpkin pudding and pumpkin pie, If t’want for pumpkin we should die.”

Catchy. And it wasn’t even the only rhyme dedicated to pumpkins and pumpkin beer. What’s believed to be the first folk song in American history was written down in 1643. It, too, credits pumpkin beer for the very existence of colonial life.

“Instead of pottage and puddings and custards and pies

Our pumpkins and parsnips are common supplies;

We have pumpkin at morning and pumpkin at noon;

If it was not for pumpkins we should be undone.

Hey down, down, hey down Derry down.

If barley be wanting to make into malt

We must be contented and think it no fault

For we can make liquor to sweeten our lips

Of pumpkins and parsnips and walnut tree chips.”

America’s beer wasn’t the spiced-up brew we know today, but it was even more ubiquitous. It was a cost and availability thing that drew people to it rather than the nostalgia of tasting Thanksgiving flavors in an alcoholic beverage, though. As a 1939 story in Washington DC’s Evening Star puts it, “Pumpkin beer was a beverage that owed much of its popularity to its low cost of making.”

Photo: Buffalo Bill’s Brewery/Facebook

Pumpkin respect has come a long way since those days of gourdy folk songs. Pumpkins are just as likely to be launched out of a catapult or turned into a boat at US pumpkin festivals as they are to be eaten. Mention “pumpkin” in the context of food, and people in the US will think of pumpkin pie spices and Starbucks, not the lifeblood of an entire colony. For better or for worse, “pumpkin flavor” now means cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves. Pumpkin beer is no different.

“Some modern pumpkin beers do use actual pumpkins,” says Neal Ryan, a cicerone and the sales manager at Boise Brewing in Idaho. “Most likely in a puree form or juice. Some will actually use the pumpkin or another squash in the process.”

But, he adds, “the key is the flavor and the spices and not the actual veg/pumpkin. It just needs to taste like fall.”

Because the spice is the key component, pumpkin beers really don’t even have to be tied to fall. Pumpkins are harvested in the fall, so beers made the old way with real pumpkin, can’t be released until much later. It would take a brewer sourcing pumpkins by late August to have a fresh pumpkin beer on the shelves by October 1, Ryan says.

Which brings us to the ultimate conclusion: When it comes to the great American pumpkin beer tradition, it’s about sweater-weather flavors, not actual pumpkins.

Buffalo Bill’s played its own not-so-small role in shaping what we know as pumpkin flavor. It claims its history whole-heartedly, and today, the brewery’s Pumpkin Ale packaging declares “America’s original.” Love it or hate it, the brewery has created a modern American classic that’s based off a 1600s American classic. That in itself is worth popping a top.


More like this: 8 pumpkin beers made with real pumpkin

The post Pumpkin beer is the most American of all beers. Time to give it some respect. appeared first on Matador Network.

Avalon Beach, Australia, travel tips

Most tourists visiting Australia make it to Sydney and hit hot spots like the Sydney Opera House and Bondi Beach. However, the small coastal town of Avalon often goes unheard of and unvisited. This makes it both a secret hideaway for the rich and famous and a place that continues to provide a relaxed lifestyle for locals. Flights to Australia from pretty much anywhere can be expensive and long, but ask those who’ve been to Avalon and they’ll tell you it’s well worth the 14 hours crammed in economy class. Fresh food, rip curls, and Australia’s famous sun make this badass surf town totally worth the day trip from Sydney.

How to get to Avalon from Sydney

Photo: LizCoughlan/Shutterstock

Avalon is only about 30 miles north of Sydney, but there are multiple routes to get there. If you’re driving, the fastest route is to take the M1 highway to the A8, heading north and hugging the coast. But the slightly longer M2 to A3 route passes by two national parks, Garigal and Ku-Ring-Gai Chase, and takes an additional 10 minutes (unless you stop to sightsee in one of the parks, of course). Be prepared for small tolls on both routes. If you don’t have a car, you’re looking at a 72-minute bus ride with one transfer about halfway there at the Collaroy B-Line station, from the B-1 bus to the 199. The fare is about $4.

Diving into the cafe scene

Photo: Bookoccino/Facebook

In the late 1990s, the hit TV show Baywatch had plans to relocate and film at Avalon Beach. Unimpressed with Hollywood’s takeover of their quiet surf town, locals insisted the show relocate after one episode was filmed. That said, Avalon is still a town where millionaires can frequently be found walking the streets barefoot with sea-salted hair, and it follows that the cafe and food scenes here are on point. The trick is to go where the locals go and where they aren’t fussed with celebrities or stardom.

At La Banette, just a few blocks from the beach on the Avalon Parade strip, the smell of buttery croissants and warm bread begins wafting through the salty air at 5:50 AM. This patisserie is so good that even the gluten-free are tempted to break their diet. But don’t sleep on the pastries as locals are prepared to start lining up bright and early before they sell out. If you come later in the morning, buy a $5 (about US$3.40) baguette along with some cheese and cold meats, and enjoy a cheap lunch on the beach. If you have a sweet tooth, opt for the $20 ($13.50) box of petit fours. It’s a little pricey, but beyond fish tacos, rarely does a small beach town do something this good.

On the cafe front, Bookoccino is a must-visit. It’s difficult to describe how important Bookoccino is to locals. This bookstore has been the heart and soul of Avalon’s surprising literary scene since the early ’90s and recently added a coffee shop and wine bar to its international collection of literature. Start your day with a cup of coffee surrounded by books at this newly renovated and beautifully designed bookstore, or grab a coffee to go and head to South Avalon Beach headland to watch the sunrise over the ocean.

Getting in the water

Photo: llmiz/Shutterstock

The town of Avalon may be little, with just 10,000 residents, but the surf is often not. You can’t visit Avalon without taking a dip in the ocean, but if you’re not accustomed to Aussie surf, don’t underestimate the power of even the smaller waves crashing onto the shore. Park yourself in between the red and yellow flags at Avalon Beach, or at least stick to the ocean pool at South Avalon. Avalon has produced multiple iconic water sports athletes, including bodyboarder Mandy Zieren and pro surfer Ces Wilson who, along with his brother Stephen, has been fortunate enough to surf some of the worlds best surf breaks. Still, the pair prefer Avalon.

“[Ces has] … surfed everything from Uluwatu to Mundaka, but Avalon is still his favorite place to surf,” Stephen Wilson told me. “The variety of breaks and the local vibe is unlike anywhere else. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never been on a board before or are a seasoned pro, there is a wave for everyone.”

Walking for the view

Photo: Taras Vyshnya/Shutterstock

If surfing isn’t your vibe, head over to the Pittwater side of town to Clareville or Paradise Beach. With its swimming enclosure and wharf to jump off, it’s the perfect spot to take the kids and have a picnic or try stand-up paddleboarding. Palm Beach is a must-experience place to burn some calories after visiting La Banette, just a five-minute drive north of Avalon. The beach was made famous by the hit TV show Home & Away.

From there, take a walk to the Australian heritage-listed lighthouse at Barrenjoey Headland and marvel in its natural beauty. Forget the expensive Harbour Bridge climb; the lighthouse walk is free, and many locals would argue it’s the best view you can find anywhere in the Sydney area. The walk takes between 20 and 30 minutes each way, and you’ll be able to select from two different tracks depending on fitness level. One is more scenic but steeper than the other route.

The ocean has always been the core of Avalon’s identity. Pick up your beachwear and surf gear at Beach Without Sand. This surf shop first opened in the early ’80s and has provided Northern Beaches residents with the best-quality surf products and knowledge ever since, becoming something of a cultural icon in the process. Locals are fiercely proud of Avalon’s natural beauty and advocate that everyone keep the ocean and beaches clean. You won’t find plastic bags at the supermarket, and reusable mugs are always encouraged at the local coffee shops.

Hitting the town and spending the night

Photo: The Boathouse Palm Beach/Facebook

After your hike, treat yourself to a bucket of prawns and oysters at The Palm Beach Boathouse. This might be one of the most Instagrammed locations in Sydney. The restaurant’s attention to detail, vibrant floral arrangements, and water views make it an influencer’s dream. The hot spot in town at the moment is Alma, a Mexican inspired restaurant and bar focusing on fresh, locally sourced seafood and organic wines. Its prime position in town — it’s less than two blocks from La Banette — makes it the best place for a sunset spicy margarita while people watching over lime and chili crickets or tacos. For a nightcap, head to Flourish. The relaxed, sophisticated atmosphere often includes live music and always has a bloody good Negroni for $15.

As in any small coastal town in Australia, you won’t find large hotel chains in which to rest your head, but you will find million-dollar beachfront properties to rent via short-term rental sites. But I warn you, plan well in advance if you plan to visit during Australia’s summer. These holiday homes are often snatched up a year in advance if they aren’t used by their owners. Search on Airbnb for the surrounding suburbs of Palm Beach, Whale Beach, Bilgola, or Newport. There is everything from one-bedroom beach shacks to large beachfront properties with ocean views. Alternatively, check out Barrenjoey House or the iconic Jonahs if you’re traveling for just the weekend and wanting something romantic or special.


More like this: Kangaroo Island should be on your Australian outdoors itinerary

The post Sample Sydney’s surfer lifestyle with a day in Avalon, Australia appeared first on Matador Network.

Corn mazes in the US

Corn mazes are marketed as fun family activities during the fall, especially for those with young children. Some are, but America’s most impressive corn mazes generally require adult supervision, often even for teens. This may sound strict, but have enough panicked people call 911 while attempting your monster maze, as happens too often, and you’re going to establish some ground rules. Most of these crazy big corn mazes also choose a theme every year, planting crops to resemble everything from political figures to literary characters. In recent years, some have even gone high-tech, creating modern maze experiences that any escape-room-loving adult looking to channel their inner child will simply adore.

1. Cool Patch Pumpkins — Dixon, California

Photo: Cool Patch Pumpkins/Facebook

Matt and Mark Cooley, brothers and co-owners of Cool Patch Pumpkins, created their first corn maze in 2013 in an effort to draw more visitors to their pumpkin patch. It spanned 15 acres. By 2007, it had grown to 40 acres, and Guinness World Records declared it the world’s largest temporary corn maze. Today, it covers a whopping 60-plus acres. The design this year features the Cool Patch Pumpkins logo, as well as a salute to the area’s first responders. Given the maze’s size and difficulty, you have to be 18 to purchase tickets, and anyone under needs adult supervision.

Where: 6150 Dixon Ave W, Dixon, CA 95620

2. Connors Farm — Danvers, Massachusetts

Photo: Connors Farm/Facebook

Connors Farm goes all out with its seven-acre corn maze, choosing themes like Charlie Brown, Clint Eastwood, Family Guy, and the witches of Salem. We’re not sure how they’re selected, exactly, but the nod to Massachusetts’ spookiest city makes sense as Danvers is just 15 minutes north of Salem. The theme this year is Fun on the Farm. In addition to general admission, you can tackle the maze by flashlight after dark on Friday and Saturday nights through November, as well as on Halloween. On Saturday, October 5, you can also hit up Singles Night to find love around the campfire, or perhaps while finding your way out of the maze.

Where: 30 Valley Rd, Danvers, MA 01923

3. Richardson Adventure Farm — Spring Grove, Illinois

Photo: Richardson “World’s Largest” Corn Maze/Facebook

Fall ushers in much of the adventure this farm’s name promises. There are pig races, wagon rides, and a zip line, as well as staples like a pumpkin patch and corn maze. And not just any corn maze either: It’s one of the largest in the US, with nearly 10 miles of trails and 28 acres of corn crops. This year’s maze pays homage to the Apollo 11 mission and first moon landing in honor of its 50th anniversary. As an added challenge, try to find the 24 hidden checkpoints not on the map provided as you navigate the maze.

Where: 909 English Prairie Rd, Spring Grove, IL 60081

4. Great Vermont Corn Maze — Danville, Vermont

Photo: Great Vermont Corn Maze/Facebook

There are two ways to do the Great Vermont Corn Maze. You can either dive into the 24-acre Big Maze, which amounts to as much exercise as a 2.5-mile hike given its hilltop location, or you can opt for the Scenic Maze, which is actually a set of directions that you discover as you go, which reveal a shortcut through the Big Maze. Though the Scenic Maze is suitable for all ages, the website warns against even teenagers attempting the Big Maze, claiming that most give up quickly. Teens also need to be accompanied by adults here, so you know it means business.

Where: 1404 Wheelock Rd, Danville, VT 05828

5. Treinen Farm — Lodi, Wisconsin

Photo: Treinen Farm Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch/Facebook

Treinen Farm describes its corn mazes as “part work of art, part outdoor game, part social experiment.” They’re also labors of love, designed and planted by the Treinen family. Past mazes have depicted various animals and mythological figures, as well as miscellany like a pirate ship, T. rex, and the “Vitruvian Man.” Maps are available to guide visitors through this year’s Dance of the Cranes maze honoring Wisconsin’s Whooping and Sandhill cranes, the latter of which was recently on the brink of extinction. For something trickier, try to find all the numbers hidden in the crowd-favorite Circle Maze, where you get no map. Your first task? Locate the maze itself. Treinen Farm offers prizes to those who complete its challenges.

Where: W12420 WI-60 Trunk, Lodi, WI 53555

6. Happy Day Farm — Manalapan, New Jersey

Photo: Happy Day Farm/Facebook

Happy Day Farm splits its 10-acre corn maze between two paths: one that’s perfect for kids and another befitting more experienced mazers. Themes here waffle between patriotism and pop culture, having included John Deere tractors, the Super Bowl XLVIII, and the Civil War. This year is dedicated to Marvel’s Avengers. Bringing corn mazes into the modern era, Happy Day Farm offers a GPS locator to help if you get lost and also lets visitors earn hints to the way out by answering questions via text. Alternately, guests can try their hands at Maize-O-Poly, during which players look for squares from their game boards in a bid to be “Farmer of the Ear.”

Where: 106 Iron Ore Rd, Manalapan Township, NJ 07726

7. Queens County Farm Museum — Queens, New York

Photo: The Queens County Farm Museum/Facebook

Queens County Farm Museum’s maze offers visitors a different sort of challenge. Squeezed into just three acres, it compensates with tight twists and turns that, appropriately for the Halloween season, look like intestines from above. Clues and puzzles are provided to help you get through the maze, which takes around an hour from start to finish. After completing the only corn maze in New York City, the 21-plus crowd can hit the city for a round of pumpkin beer.

Where: 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy, Queens, NY 11004


More like this: The most popular Halloween candy in every state

The post 7 insane corn mazes that aren’t just for kids appeared first on Matador Network.

Dining at El Prat Airport, Barcelona

Eating at the Barcelona El Prat Airport is better than it ever has been. In 2017, the airport signed a deal to bring in or update some 50 new restaurants. Some of those are already in place, while more will be added through 2026. Especially attractive to those who hate being stuck inside a stuffy airport: an outdoor patio with seating and restaurants. When the construction is all said and done, people flying into and out of Barcelona will have a variety of options that celebrate Spanish, Catalan, and international cuisine.

These are the best restaurants and bars to eat and drink at the Barcelona El Prat Airport.

Terminal 1

ALAS: A bar and kitchen with a cooking area in the center of the restaurant so you can watch the chefs prepare both your food and drinks while you wait. Food is typical Spanish cuisine and small plates, and there’s a decent local wine and beer selection.

Location: Sky Center

Boldú: A bakery with roots that date back to Barcelona in 1939. There are sweet breads, pastries, and treats perfect for breakfast or any time you need a little snack and a cup of coffee.

Location: Sky Center

Dehesa Santa María: A tapas bar with a focus on goods from the Iberian Peninsula. Pair your small plates with regional wines by the glass or bottle — or, if you’re catching an early flight, a pastry, fruit cup, and coffee. The well-designed restaurant has plenty of places to sit down but also offers takeaway.

Location: Sky Center

Enrique Tomás Experience: Where to go for fine dining before your flight. Enrique Tomás Experience has favorites like true Iberian ham, chorizo, and salchichón. For drinks, there’s a healthy list of Spanish wines. The option is there to take some ham with you on your travels.

Location: Sky Center

Mediterranean Terrace: An indoor-outdoor restaurant focusing on tapas and light Mediterranean food. Wine and beer available as well.

Location: Sky Center

Piscolabis: An indoor-outdoor tapas restaurant and wine bar that also serves pastries and coffee.

Location: Sky Center

MásQMenos: Spanish beer and wine with tapas, salads, and Iberico ham products.

Location: Floor 3, boarding area D

Montesquiu + Dry Martini: While many places serve beer and wine in the airport, Montesquiu is where to go if cocktails are more your speed. For food, there’s tapas, tacos, and sandwiches.

Location: Floor 1, boarding area A

Tapa Tapa: Just as the name suggests, this is a place with a focus on tapas — lots of tapas. There are 50 options ranging from classic (patatas bravas) to out of the box (truffle mozzarella with Iberian ham). Seafood and paellas are available as well.

Location: Floor 1, boarding area B

Terminal 2

Enrique Tomás: The smaller Terminal 2 version of the Enrique Tomás Experience in Terminal 1. Like the larger iteration, the restaurant focuses on Spanish cuisine and Spanish wines.

Location: Floor 1, boarding area U

Food Market: If you can’t decide or are afraid of commitment, Food Market is a congregation of the coffeeshop Café Central, Asian fast-food spot Wok Street, and Italian restaurant O Mamma Mia.

Location: Floor 1, boarding area U

Ribs: American food likely isn’t your first craving after being in Spain, but if that’s what you’re looking for, Ribs has burgers and grilled meats with an American ambiance.

Location: Floor 1, boarding area U

Innis & Gunn: A sports bar from the Scottish brewery of the same name. Craft beer and pub food like burgers and hot dogs.

Location: Floor 0, boarding area M


More like this: The ultimate guide to Barcelona, Spain

The post The best bars and restaurants at Barcelona’s El Prat Airport appeared first on Matador Network.

'Schitt’s Creek’ pop-up in NYC, LA

Fans waiting for the final season of Schitt’s Creek to premiere next year can tide themselves over with a new pop-up headed to NYC and LA this winter.

“Visit Schitt’s Creek” will be an interactive experience created by Pop TV, the television channel where the sitcom airs in the United States. Fans can expect to step into some of the show’s most famous locations, such as Cafe Tropical, Rose Apothecary, and the Rosebud Motel. There will also be plenty of photo-ops and access to limited merchandise, among other, yet-to-be revealed details.

According to Brad Scwartz, president of Pop TV, “We are constantly asked by fans if Schitt’s Creek is a real place they can visit, and it is beyond exciting to finally be able to say ‘Yes!’ It is the perfect way to kick off our final season and say one big final ‘thank you’ to the best fans in the world that have made all this possible.”

Tickets to the pop-up will be free, though reservations are required and only a limited amount of them will be available. Not much else has been released about the pop-up, so be sure to keep an eye on the official website, as well as Pop TV’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.


More like this: Why themed pop-ups are taking over bars and hotel rooms

The post An immersive ‘Schitt’s Creek’ pop-up is coming to NYC and LA this winter appeared first on Matador Network.

What is a baci ceremony in Laos

An old man sits cross-legged on the living room floor adjusting his ankle-length robe. In front of him is a two-foot-tall, Christmas tree-shaped tower made of woven palm leaves and decorated with bright orange marigolds. Several people pile the last of their offerings — boiled eggs, sticky rice, and other food — around its base.

Lengths of white cotton string tied to the top of the tower span out in every direction into the crowded room. Aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, cousins, friends, and neighbors sit on the floor around the centerpiece, the women tucking their legs underneath their sinhs (traditional Lao skirts). Everyone is given a length of string to hold between their palms. In the silence, the old man begins to chant, calling on the spirits, or khuans.

In Laos, luck — along with health, wealth, and happiness — comes from the spirits. A baci, or good luck ceremony, calls them with chanting, while cotton string ties them and the good luck they bring in place.

After all, once you’ve gone to the trouble of getting luck to come to you, you wouldn’t want it to get away.

Ancient history

Photo: Heather Sinclair

Baci ceremonies are unique to Laos — a practice several thousand years old, the baci tradition predates both Buddhism and Hinduism. Lao people hold a baci to collect good fortune and celebrate life events, such as a wedding or a new baby. Baci ceremonies honor important visitors, gather luck for someone starting a new job, and give a sick person strength to get well again. A funeral baci fortifies a family’s luck for the future.

At the center of every baci ceremony is the pha khuan, a delicate pyramid-like tower made of green palm leaves decorated with orange marigolds. Attendees gather around the pha khuan while a mor phon (an elderly gentleman, usually a former Buddhist monk) chants to the spirits.

The body’s 32 spirits ensure harmony and luck when they’re in their proper place. But khuans have a tendency to wander, which is why you need a baci to call them back. After the khuans are called, tying a baci string around your wrist keeps them (and your luck) from leaving anytime soon.

Good luck for all

Photo: Heather Sinclair

The women around the pha khuan chat and laugh as they build the conical, tree-like tower, attaching stiff, woven palm leaves to its wide base and peaked top. Some decorate the pha khuan with marigolds while others fold money into small triangles to attach to the tower. Shrieking children chase each other around the house. The elders scold them with a smile, reminding them not to ruin their good clothes before the baci begins.

The pha khuan is finished and the room buzzes with noisy excitement. White cotton strings hang down from the top of the tower and at its base is a pile of food. In addition to the boiled eggs and sticky rice, fruit, crackers, cookies, whiskey, beer, and a whole boiled chicken make up the offering.

The elderly mor phon eases into his place on the floor in front of the pha khuan. The mood calms and everyone gathers around, seating themselves on the floor. The white strings radiate out from the centerpiece like a web. The host lights the candles at the top of the pha khuan and silence settles over the room. The elder begins his chant, summoning the khuans.

After 30 minutes to an hour, the chanting ends along with the solemn mood and then a handful of rice is thrown through the air. Children squeal with glee as the grains rain down, symbolizing the luck and good fortune that’s arrived along with the khuans.

To keep the luck from drifting away, the next step is to tie the khuans in place. The boisterous atmosphere resumes as attendees take the strings from the pha khuan and cut them into pieces about eight inches long. Soon everyone has a fistful of baci strings, ready to become baci bracelets.

Tying one on

Photo: Heather Sinclair

Guests mill about the room tying baci strings on each others’ wrists while bestowing wishes for good fortune. At this point, the food under the pha khuan is up for grabs. Children crack the boiled eggs and tear open packaged snacks. Glasses of beer and whiskey fuel animated conversation.

Even the boiled chicken is passed around, people tearing off pieces of meat with their hands and passing the plate holding the carcass to the next person. The offering is thoroughly picked over — guests crack cartilage, separate bones, and scrape off hidden pockets of meat with their fingernails.

When the baci strings are all tied to wrists and nothing edible remains of the boiled chicken, the good luck ceremony comes to an end. Festivities continue with more eating and drinking, Lao dancing, and karaoke.

Get lucky

An ancient Lao tradition, a baci ceremony is held to gather luck for all sorts of life milestones and special occasions. The ritual is especially popular during the country’s most important holiday, Lao New Year, which takes place in mid-April.

Tourists visiting during Laos New Year may be invited to a baci through their accommodation or by a Lao friend. Visitors should be sure to dress conservatively by covering their shoulders and legs (women should wear a sinh if they have one), be respectful, and bring a small gift of money to give to the host. And by all means, dig into the chicken.


More like this: 5 fascinating caves in Laos you need to explore

The post In Laos, a good luck ceremony involves tossing rice, tying strings, and manhandling a boiled chicken appeared first on Matador Network.

Alaska Fat Bear Week voting is open

In the Alaskan bear community, there’s no such thing as fat-shaming. When you’re the fattest bear in town, you not only guaranteed a healthy hibernation, but also earn the prestige that comes with winning Fat Bear Week. For the sixth year in a row, Katmai National Park and Preserve in King Salmon, Alaska, is kicking off its tribute to its heftiest bears with this annual weeklong celebration of ursine girth. Organized in a bracket system, bears commonly seen on the park’s Bear Cam are pitted against each other for public voting, until one bear is deemed the fattest.

The tradition began back in 2014 when park rangers asked visitors to vote on which bear was the fattest. Now, the park has developed a more sophisticated voting system, presenting two bears each day to the public, who can decide which one moves on to the next round.

According to the park, this isn’t about fat-shaming, but should be viewed more as a celebration of life. “There is no shame in winning this contest,” it said, “as large amounts of body fat in brown bears is indicative of good health and strong chances of survival [over the winter].”

Between now and October 8, the park will post pictures of the various bear matchups (March Madness-style) on its Facebook page, and ask people to vote on which ones look fattest.

Welcome to Fat Bear Week Round 1! Today's first match-up features the nervous nelly 775 Lefty vs. the cool customer 480 Otis. To vote, roll over to Katmai's Facebook page and "like" the photo of your favorite fatty!#FatBearWeek #FindYourPark #BearCamshttps://t.co/jI1lvCSatz pic.twitter.com/C3pfatxmzv

— Katmai National Park (@KatmaiNPS) October 2, 2019

Last year, Beadnose took home the top prize, but unfortunately (or fortunately for the other contestants) she isn’t returning this year. She’s pretty old for a brown bear at 20 years old, and hasn’t been seen in the park this year.

May the fattest bear win.


More like this: The 7 best places to see a polar bear in the wild

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Venice to vote on splitting

One of the world’s most popular cities is in the midst of an identity crisis. Venice is considering splitting into two autonomous municipalities — the historic and touristy lagoon area of Venice on one side, and the mainland, less touristy area of Mestre on the other. A referendum vote will take place on December 1, when the 260,000 residents of Venice will determine whether or not they want to split the city in two. This is the fifth such referendum on the issue, with the previous four resulting in a resounding “No.”

Pro-split groups believe that dividing the city would allow each part to more effectively manage the struggles of overtourism, and deal with issues more locally. According to We Are Here Venice, a nonprofit group that addresses the problems of the municipality, “Venice and Mestre are two completely different realities that were united during fascism in 1926 and whose history and issues are entirely different.”

Venice receives over 20 million visitors per year, mostly to the historic lagoon section. Because of this area’s popularity, many of the city’s resources are also poured into this area, meaning the Mestre part of the city is sometimes neglected. By splitting the city in two, those in favor of the referendum believe it would allow both sides to allocate resources however they see fit.


More like this: A non-tourist guide to Venice

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What are electric mountain bikes?

Electric mountain bikes, or eMTBS, are the high-altitude version of the pedal-assisted e-bikes you’ve seen cruising through hipster neighborhoods for the past few years. These trail runners have a similar battery pack and motor like their big-city brethren. Likewise, they’re also capped by a governor that prevents the rider from going full-bore down a trail — as there could be a group of hikers just around the next switchback. But, since their recent inception, they’ve been met with scrutiny both from within the mountain biking community and from trail regulators. Here’s everything you need to know about the debate that surrounds this new chapter in the sport, and what you should consider before hopping on one yourself.

How does an electric mountain bike work?

Photo: PR_DE/Shutterstock

At their core, these semi-powered bikes are designed to ease the burden of heavy pedaling, particularly during uphill and cross-country stretches of trail. To those uninitiated in the physical exertion required to pedal up a steep mountain trail, well, let’s just say that it’s not uncommon to see newer riders pushing their bikes or hunched over the handlebars on the side of the trail on particularly steep stretches.

This isn’t to say that eMTBs are going to turn cross-country riding into a leisurely stroll at the park. They’re far from a motorcycle and still require pedaling. There are three classifications of eMTBs:

Class 1: pedal-assisted mountain bike with a governor capping the speed at 20 miles per hour
Class 2: still capped at 20 miles per hour but with a throttle-assist that removes the need to pedal
Class 3: pedal assist, capped at 28 miles per hour

Anything above Class 3, meaning a bike that goes faster than 20 miles per hour without requiring pedaling, technically loses its classification as a bicycle and is moved into the motorcycle realm. Currently, only Class 1 eMTBs are permitted on most trails, the most important term in the definition being “pedal-assist.” You might make it up faster, but you’ll still put some work in. Think of it as loosening up for the downhill portion of the ride.

Are e-MTBs allowed on public trails?

Photo: angelaflu/Shutterstock

One major debate surrounding eMTBs is whether or not they should be allowed on public land, and on the trail systems currently designed to accommodate both hikers and bikers. Those who have been around the sport awhile know that this is not the first time mountain bikes have been viewed as controversial. In the 1964 Wilderness Act, mechanized transport was deemed a sin within the designated expanses of pure wilderness the act sought to protect. Bicycles, being the chain-and-frame machines that they are, fell into that category.

The mountain bike lobby, led by the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) and smaller groups around the US, successfully maintained that a bicycle is far different from a 4×4, side by side, or any of the other loud and destructive machines that some recreationists use. Their position was largely adopted into the Wilderness Act, allowing what was then a small but dedicated collection of mountain bikers around the country access to many of the same trails that hikers were using.

Everything changed in 1977 when the US government removed the privilege of mountain bikes from designated wilderness areas. Mountain bikers were all of a sudden cast aside once again, only to see their privilege reinstated seven years later. Ever since, mountain biking has gained popularity much the same way snowboarding did in the 1990s, increasingly being seen as a viable and sustainable way to enjoy the outdoors.

Adding a motor onto said bicycles has re-framed the argument and is potentially casting this new development back into the category that mountain bikers have for so long sought to avoid. The IMBA has been slow to embrace the idea, initially coming out against eMTBs. But they offered qualified support to Class 1 eMTBs in 2017 and early this year amended their stance further.

“We support trail access for Class 1 eMTBs and support shared use on trails as long as access is not lost or impeded for traditional mountain bikes,” the organization says on its website. “IMBA recommends Class 1 eMTBs be managed independently from traditional mountain bikes, and we encourage land managers to develop separate regulations.”

A debate simmering from within

Photo: sportpoint/Shutterstock

The irony in all this lies in the fact that the biggest resistance to eMTBs has actually come from within the mountain bike community itself. Mountain bike puritans argue that if you aren’t putting in the work, you don’t deserve the reward. There seems to be an initial reaction along the lines of, “That’s a cop-out. Earning your turns is half of what mountain biking is all about!”

We get that, but we also think that may be a reactionary point of view that says, “If I had to sweat beads while pedaling up the 401 Trail, everyone else must do the same.”

I beg you to dig deeper. There are multiple angles at play, beginning with the idea of trail accessibility. On August 29, the US Department of the Interior released an executive order noting, among other things, that eMTBs have the capacity to increase access to public lands because they provide people with physical disabilities a way to enjoy the wilderness and established trail systems. The order instructed the directors of public agencies managing land to establish a policy on electric bikes consistent with the beliefs of the department.

Trail use and sustainability

Photo: Alex Kravtsov/Shutterstock

Then there’s the topic of responsible trail use. While the concerns about trail impact are valid, it’s not uncommon for experienced mountain bikers on a regular bike to reach speeds exceeding 30 miles per hour when traveling downhill on an open trail, no less than 10 miles per hour faster than what a Class 1 pedal-assist motor can provide. Add to this the fact that pedal-assist requires pedaling to even work, and mountain bikers shouldn’t be majorly concerned about a tiny motor making bikes more dangerous to other trail users or more destructive to the trails.

To those still whining about a tiny motor ruining the natural authenticity of the sport, I ask you to look to the humble ski lift. For decades, gas-powered lifts have carried downhillers — among the most respected and hardcore athletes in the mountain biking community — to the top of 12,000-foot peaks and sent them careening down towards the base, only to re-board the lift once again and avoid the uphill aspect altogether.

Supporting the growth of e-cycling

Photo: Jasmine_K/Shutterstock

When regulated effectively and consistently, eMTBs are not the threat they appear at first throttle. Heck, if you live near a trail, you could even use the pedal-assist to reach the trailhead and leave your car parked at home. That points to another big advantage of eMTBs: off the trail, they can be a more attractive option for your daily commute to work or school than bikes that rely on pedal power alone. We desperately need alternatives to cars, so we should support them wherever they emerge.

Increasing public interest in and use of established trail systems is also critical to fostering public support for the protection of our natural environment. If propping an electric motor on a bicycle is going to get more people out of four wheels and onto two, and provide trail access to those who otherwise couldn’t enjoy it, I believe it’s misguided to stand against it. As the eMTB industry grows, so will the amount of people who enjoy the sport, and hopefully, advocacy for the protection of the land. The world will be a better place because of it.

Are eMTBs a cop-out? Only if you’re a puritan.


More like this: Bike your way across the US on this epic 4,000-mile seamless trail

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