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The cheapest places to travel in 2024

With the cost of living continuing to rise, many people are looking for cost-friendly ways to travel the world in 2024. Some destinations are more economic than others, with these somewhat overlooked holiday hotspots showcasing the best of travelling without breaking the bank. If you’re looking for a new adventure this year, these corners of the globe are the cheapest places to travel in 2024. The Philippines The underrated gem located only a few hours northeast of Australia is one of the cheapest destinations in Asia, it's a wonder why more tourists don’t visit. Not only is it home to over 7,500 picturesque islands, six UNESCO World Heritage Sites and an endless chain of pristine beaches, it's also very affordable with resort accommodation under $100 a night is not hard to find. On top of accommodation, day tours and activities (snorkelling, for example) will set you back around $30 to $40. Flights are also reasonable in cost, with return flights from Sydney to Manila coming in around $600 per person. Turkey Travellers can get to Istanbul from Melbourne and back for approximately $1,300 per person, to visit some of the world’s most historical sites. Turkey is a paradise for those travelling on a budget, with mouthwatering meals can be found regularly for as little as $5, and even less for street food. To make it even better, striking accommodation in the historic Galata region can be as low as $50 a night. Hungary Hungary is regularly dubbed one of Europe’s cheapest tourist destinations, with accommodation, dining and entertainment costs significantly lower than the neighbouring countries. Expect to part with $60 to $100 a night for a pretty-as-a-picture hotel in the city centre, around $10 to $15 for meals in restaurants, and anywhere between $7 to $30 for activities. There are also tourist passes available that make these costs even cheaper. Albania Located on the western part of the Balkan peninsula, this destination is often overlooked by tourists, making it an ideal budget-friendly destination. The stunning country is home to UNESCO World Heritage sites and turquoise beaches, all while keeping your budget in mind. Beachside accommodation can be found for as little as $70 a night, with prices comparable to Turkey for restaurant meals. Image credits: Getty Images

International Travel

8 places you should never keep your phone

In your pocket Keeping your phone in your pocket seems logical, but you could be doing more harm than good. According to Dr Lilly Friedman, this is actually the worst place to store your phone. “When phones are on, connected to a wireless network, and placed in a pocket, the radiation is two to seven times higher than if it were placed in a purse or holster,” she says. There is a correlation between radiation from a mobile phone and tumour growth, she adds. Plus, radiation can change the structure of DNA and affect male fertility, according to Dr Friedman. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer also found that mobile phone radiation is additionally carcinogenic to humans. Merely sitting on your phone could cause health issues such as sciatica or back problems. In your bra Some research and case studies show that keeping your phone in your bra could be linked to breast cancer due to the radiations and vibrations from the phone. That said, there is not enough evidence to establish a definite relationship between the two. Still, keeping your phone in your bra, especially a sports bra, is a bad idea due to the skin-irritating bacteria it could harbour, Muscle & Fitness reports. In your bed or under your pillow Sleeping with your phone is a bad idea for a few reasons. First, keeping your phone under your pillow could build up heat and present a potential fire hazard, especially if your phone is charging or has a defect. It’s also known that the LED light from phone screens can disrupt melatonin production and circadian rhythms, hurting your sleep quality, according to the National Sleep Foundation. And, of course, there’s also radiation to consider. The amounts of radio frequency radiation mobile phones give off are the same ones emitted from microwaves. There is also concern about the safety of mobile phone use with respect to cancer and brain tumours, per the American Cancer Society. Plugged in Keeping your phone plugged in when it has a full battery causes damage to the battery itself, according to pcmag.com. It’s not that your phone ‘overloads’ with power, but heat build-ups from stacking things on top of your phone or keeping it under your pillow, making your phone hotter and damaging your battery. Close to your face Keeping your phone close to your face means bacteria transfers to and from your phone, making your skin and phone dirtier. This combination leads to more acne, skin irritation and even wrinkles, according to Allure. Try using ear pods instead to keep the surface of your phone at a distance from your face. In your glovebox Extreme temperatures are the worst conditions for your phone. So keeping your device in your car’s glovebox during the extremely hot or cold months of the year could lead to problems. According to Time, excess heat can cause everything from data loss or corruption to battery leakage. The cold weather presents just as many issues for your device. In cold temperatures, many smartphones shut off, have display problems, shortened battery life and in rare cases screen shattering. On your beach towel Notice a theme here? The extreme sun and heat at the beach is a recipe for phone disaster. Protect your device after you finish taking beautiful beach pictures. Hot and sunny conditions could, again, cause your phone to overheat – and getting sand in your phone won’t help either. Anywhere in the bathroom Although phones could arguably be the new newspaper, it’s not a good idea to take yours into the bathroom. Even if you keep your device on a counter or away from the toilet, anything within a metre of a flushing toilet could mean bacteria or viruses in the air end up on your phone, according to a study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. “The detection of bacteria and viruses falling out onto surfaces in bathrooms after flushing indicated that they remain airborne long enough to settle on surfaces throughout the bathroom,” wrote the study authors. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/8-places-you-should-never-keep-your-phone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Technology

14 best places to travel in 2024

If you’ve been to an airport recently, what we’re about to tell you will come as no surprise: Travel is back in a BIG way. Travellers are hitting the skies – and the rails, roads and seas – in record numbers, looking for the best places to travel. So what does that mean for 2024? “We’re looking at a wave of excitement over travelling with family and friends,” according to Heather Heverling, managing director of Audley Travel. “One thing we’re seeing a lot of is ‘skip-gen’ travel,” when grandparents take their grandkids on holidays but leave the parents at home. (We say: Those are some lucky kids!) And while domestic travel will certainly be popular, people are also looking to expand their horizons. Interest in Japan is booming, says Heverling. And there’s a desire to leave the crowds behind and find hidden gems in spots like France, where many people will be headed to watch the Olympics this summer. We know – there are so many amazing places to go and cool things to see, and it’s hard to narrow things down! To help you pick the perfect spot, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to visit in 2024, whether you’re looking for quick trips, beach getaways, cheap places to travel, city experiences or far-flung adventures. Read on to get a whole year’s worth of inspiration! South Island, New Zealand Wondering which hot spot to visit first? Our pick for 2024 is South Island, New Zealand. Christchurch is considered the base camp for South Island explorations. During the day, kayak in the emerald waters of Abel Tasman National Park, bike or hike to gorgeous hot springs, or sample New Zealand’s best pours at spots like Tussock Hill Vineyards (where you can also spend the night in new luxury suites nestled in the vineyard). When the sun goes down, it will be time for spectacular stargazing at Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, which recently became the first Dark Sky Reserve in New Zealand. Where to stay: Find a hotel that puts you right in the heart of Christchurch and within walking distance of restaurants, shops and the Botanical Gardens. Paris, France Everyone is talking about visiting France this year, and for good reason. Paris will be hosting the Summer Olympics, with events held throughout the City of Lights and the surrounding area – including boating and swimming events on the Seine River and dressage events at Versailles. (According to France’s tourism office, 95 per cent of the Olympic and Paralympic events will be held in existing locations for a more sustainable world event.) The city is in full-throttle preparation mode, with new hotels opening, art exhibits launching and plenty of projects underway to make Paris shine even brighter than usual. And that’s not all France has going on. June 6, 2024, is the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy. To get the most context out of a visit, it helps to go with a guide who can take you through the area and bring the past to life through storytelling and interactive exhibits. Where to stay: If possible, base yourself in the ever-popular Left Bank neighbourhood in the 6tharrondissement of the city, where you’ll be able to enjoy views right across the river of the stunning Notre Dame Cathedral, which is set to reopen in late 2024 after its devastating 2019 fire. Like we said, it’s a big year! Cambodia Why you should go: More ways to explore and two new airports to reach the country Cambodia is a bucket-list destination for many travellers. “With the addition of luxury lodges and resorts, travellers can now enjoy a true luxury immersion in Cambodia – blending ancient ruins and culture, cuisine and handicrafts, rainforest and jungle, and ending with a sublime beach stay,” says Brady Binstadt, CEO of GeoEx, an adventure-travel company. In the little-visited Cardamom Forest Protected Area, options for hiking, mountain biking, boating and bird-watching abound, says Binstadt, who also recommends boating through lush forest to Tatai village, where visitors can walk by the river, kayak through mangroves and listen to the symphonic sounds of wildlife from a floating lodge. You’ll also want to visit Angkor Wat, famed for its glorious temples. Happily, reaching Angkor Wat just became a lot easier with the brand-new, $1 billion Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport, which is just a short drive from the UNESCO Heritage Site temple complex. Later in 2024, the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, will also unveil a new $1.5 billion airport, providing even more ways to reach the country. Where to stay: Shinta Mani Wild in the Cardamom Mountains is a luxury jungle retreat about three hours from Phnom Penh; it boasts its own zip line over the waterfalls and river where the remote lodge is located. Another unique option is Six Senses Krabey Island off the southern coast, where 40 glass-front villas are tucked into the dense foliage of this romantic resort. Indulge in a treatment at the luxe spa after exploring the nearby Kbal Chhay waterfalls and the waterways of Ream National Park. Los Angeles, California Yes, we know, you hear “LA” and think beach and sand. But for 2024, replace that with cool art and culture, since Los Angeles will be hosting two awesome openings. When it opens in February, Destination Crenshaw will be the largest Black art program in the US, with a two-kilometre stretch of Crenshaw Boulevard in South LA, containing 100 commissioned works by Black artists displayed within beautifully landscaped community spaces. And September will see the launch of Getty’s colossal PST ART: Art & Science Collide. The latest edition of the initiative (previously known as Pacific Standard Time) will include more than 50 exhibitions across the Los Angeles area, including iconic spots like the Griffith Observatory, the LA County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the Getty Center. The exhibits aren’t just paintings and sculptures. They are intersections of art, science and the natural world – including “Color in Motion: Chromatic Explorations of Cinema” at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures; “From Fire We Are Born,” which explores Native American culture at the Fowler Museum at UCLA; and “Seeing the Unseeable: Data, Design, Art” at the ArtCenter College of Design. Where to stay: No matter which room or suite you book at the InterContinental Los Angeles, you’ll be greeted with what feels like a never-ending view. You’ll see everything from the Pacific Ocean to the Hollywood sign and downtown skyscrapers. And not only is it the tallest building west of Chicago, but the location puts you right in the middle of all the arts action. Okavango Delta, Botswana Why you should go: Sustainable new safari camps deep in the Delta. Always dreamed of going on safari? Botswana should be at the top of your 2024 travel list. A decade after being designated the 1000th site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, Botswana’s watery Okavango Delta remains a captivating marvel of nature that differentiates it from other safari destinations. The intricate network of waterways, lush greenery and diverse ecosystems presents amazing opportunities to observe animals like elephants, impala, kudu, zebra and more from a mokoro, or dugout boat, as you float silently through the area. For an intimate stay in the wilderness areas, try the new tented camps. If that’s not your thing, there are also fancy, all-inclusive hotels that wrap game drives into their included offerings. Where to stay: First, there’s the Natural Selection’s Tawana Camp, which is set to open in May 2024 in the Moremi Game Reserve. It will combine modern luxury (think: multi-bedroom, free-standing suites with private pools) with intimate safari experiences. Bonus: This corner of Botswana is known for its high population of lions and leopards. Atzaro Okavango from African Bush Camps opens in March 2024, offering sustainable luxury in the heart of the Delta. This eco-friendly property is made from recycled materials and powered entirely by solar energy. Guests stay in air-conditioned suites with their own plunge pools and will be treated to year-round sightings of elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, giraffes, hippos and other African wildlife. Turks and Caicos Why you should go: Because kiteboarding will be the thing to do in 2024 – and Turks and Caicos is also heaven on earth. We’re calling it: When kiteboarding makes its official Olympic debut in 2024, the sport will surge in popularity. But don’t go to Paris to do it. Instead, head to Turks and Caicos, a fabulous warm-weather winter getaway that offers some of the best kiteboarding conditions in the world. “The island’s consistent trade winds, shallow warm waters and large areas of flat, uncrowded riding make it an ideal destination for this thrilling water sport,” says Vasco Borges, the owner of Beach Enclave Turks and Caicos and a passionate kiteboarder. Swimming and snorkelling are popular activities on the island as well, and avid divers love the mammoth undersea coral wall off Grand Turk. Plus, Turks and Caicos is home to some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. In other words, it’s always one of the best places to travel! Where to stay: New for 2024, Beach Enclave will offer new beach houses with privacy, tranquility and an oceanfront private pool on the North Shore. The Grace Bay location of the multi-location resort is introducing contemporary villas with a blend of indoor and outdoor living, called the Reserve at Grace Bay. And finally, at the resort’s Long Bay location, which is known as a kiteboarder’s haven, you’ll find new beach houses along the pristine white-sand beachfront, ideal for families and water-sports enthusiasts. Belize Have you heard of the Great Barrier Reef? We thought so. How about Belize’s Barrier Reef? Not so much, right? We’re here to tell you that in 2024, it’s time to put this natural wonder on your must-visit list. The world’s second-largest barrier reef (behind Australia’s), it is actually the biggest reef in both the northern and western hemispheres. The snorkelling here is magnificent, and so is the diving – plus, it’s not as crowded as the better-known Australian alternative. If you’re looking for the perfect home base while visiting, consider Belize’s largest island, Ambergris Caye. The Belize Barrier Reef is just a 400-metres offshore, and you’ll definitely want to check out the protected Hol Chan Marine Reserve, which is just a 10-minute boat ride from the main town of San Pedro. When you’re not snorkelling or swimming, spend your days popping into Belizean art galleries and souvenir shops or just lounging on the white sand. Where to stay: Try the Alaia Belize, an Autograph Collection hotel in the island’s historic town of San Pedro. This beachfront hotel is just 600 metres from the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve and has stunning views of the Caribbean Sea. Plus, it has an on-site dive shop and three pools, including Belize’s first-ever suspended rooftop pool and a lounge with 360-degree views. Paros, Greece Have you heard of destination dupes? According to Expedia, these are “places that are a little unexpected, sometimes more affordable and every bit as delightful as the tried-and-true destinations travellers love.” One of our favourites on Expedia’s list is this stunning Greek island that usually sails under the most travellers’ Mediterranean radars in uncrowded bliss while the hordes of tourists head to Mykonos and Santorini. Visiting the island, which is about a two-hour ferry ride south of well-known party island Mykonos and right next to Naxos, is one of the best things to do in Greece, since it means enjoying idyllic beaches framed by the azure waters of the Aegean Sea. While you’re here, explore the winding streets and charming villages of Naoussa and Lefkes, and sip whipped coffee frappes or ouzo at the picturesque port of Parikia (the island’s capital), home to whitewashed houses adorned with vibrant bougainvillea. Where to stay: You can’t go wrong at the newly opened Minois hotel, where the whitewashed walls hold luxurious touches, such as decadent dining at Olvo and pampering spa treatments. But the best part may be simply floating in the infinity pool with views of the sea spread out in front of you. Kyoto, Japan Why you should go: An array of new luxury hotels and the opening of the first Nintendo Museum. “One thing we can say for sure is that interest in visiting Japan is not slowing down,” says Audley Travel’s Heverling. Japan finally welcomed visitors back in 2023, and the numbers are soaring. And for 2024, we’re seeing cool new openings and numerous developments that will make your trip even easier. Kyoto, especially, will be the city to watch in the new year, when the world’s first Nintendo Museum opens in spring 2024 in the former Nintendo Uji Kokura factory site in Kyoto. This will be a big draw for pop-culture lovers and gamers. Even if you don’t know a controller from a cruller, though, Kyoto will enthral you with ancient temples and beautiful architecture that make it look like a real-life fairy-tale town. Plus, there are four amazing new hotels opening in Kyoto in 2024, where you can happily rest, relax and enjoy. Where to stay: Luxury brand Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto will feature a private onsen bath; elegant Six Senses Kyoto will have a spa and zen-like rooms situated around seasonal gardens; and the 313-room Hilton Kyoto will be the brand’s first flagship hotel in Kyoto. Finally, the new Regent Kyoto (an IHG property) is opening a resort-like property in a hundred-year-old garden complex that’s also home to a Michelin-starred restaurant. Northern Territories, Canada Why you should go: An almost-guaranteed opportunity to see the northern lights during the “solar max”. There are two truths about seeing the northern lights: They’re beautiful, and they’re elusive. Unlike the solar eclipse, there’s no date or time that you’re guaranteed to see the night-time spectacular. You do need, however, to go north… in winter… and then wait. That’s why we’re so excited about the news from the Northern Territories of Canada, where a “solar max” cycle is going to make it possible to see the aurora borealis with new ease. According to the Canada Tourism Board, in the Northwest Territories, “travellers have a 98 per cent chance of witnessing the spectacle” during a three-night stay November through March, when longer hours of darkness each day and clear nights make it easier to spot the lights. The jewelled green, purple and gold lights can be seen due to the perfect combination of clear nights, flat landscape, low humidity and the location beneath the earth’s auroral oval. Even better, 2024 is the peak of the 11-year solar cycle, which means the light show will be even more dramatic than usual. Where to stay: The main gateway to the area is Yellowknife, the location of Aurora Village, an entirely Indigenous-owned experience that leads guided night-time tours and where you can go dog sledding and snowshoeing. You can also spend the evening in a cosy teepee, complete with a wood stove, which makes it easy to pop out and see the aurora borealis when it lights up the sky. Mexico City Why you should go: Tour tourism for live-music lovers – and Madonna fans! Expedia predicts that “tour tourism,” following a favourite artist on their headlining tour, will thrive in 2024. “In 2023, the cultural impact of the Eras and Renaissance tours was undeniable, driving ticket sales but also travel and tourism,” according to Expedia Brands travel expert Melanie Fish. Perhaps driven by ticket prices, 30 per cent of travellers told Expedia they would travel outside of their home city for a concert because tickets were cheaper elsewhere, with Mexico City coming out near the top of that list. We’re totally in on the trend, especially since Madonna will play four dates the Palacio de los Desportes in 2024, making Mexico City a live-music hot spot for the coming year. And as an extra bonus, Mexico City is an affordable warm-weather destination, not to mention a hub for art, culture and cuisine. Translation: There’s plenty to do and see when you’re not rocking out. Check out the Colonia Roma neighbourhood, called CDMX – often referred to as “the Williamsburg of Mexico City” for its hipster vibe and cool architecture, art galleries and restaurants. Where to stay: The new boutique hotel Colima 71 features hundreds of authentic Mexican art pieces, a craft coffee bar with an on-site barista and plenty of communal spaces perfect for mingling with fellow travellers. Located in the heart of artsy CDMX, it’s also a super convenient and central location. Washington, D.C. Why you should go: To watch democracy at work during an election year… and visit some cool museums, too. Following a record year of tourism to the US capital, 2024 will likely see visits continue to rise, thanks to the upcoming presidential election in November. But even if you’re not a pollster, there are plenty of other attractions in the nation’s capital that make it one of the best places to travel year-round. First, travellers will be happy to hear that it’s easier to get into the heart of the city now that the Metro added service to Dulles International Airport with direct service on the Silver Line of the underground train system – and it’s never more than $6! While you’re in town, check out the newly renovated and reopened National Museum of Women in the Arts, which spotlights women artists from the 17th century to the present. And in 2024, the Smithsonian’s contemporary art museum, the Hirshhorn, will be celebrating its 50th anniversary with a collection of new exhibits. Also, remember: Nearly all D.C. museums are free, so the sightseeing part of your trip will be super affordable. Where to stay: Book a room at The Dupont Circle, a hotel that successfully walks the line between feeling luxurious and homey. It’s steps away from dozens of art galleries and museums, and it boasts an impressive art collection of its own. Don’t miss brunch and dinner at the delicious new American on-site Pembroke restaurant. The Pekoe Trail, Sri Lanka Why you should go: To check out amazing new hiking trails and old cultures. The newly opened Pekoe Trail in Sri Lanka is a fantastic way to explore the country’s varied landscapes. Ten years in the making, the Pekoe Trail is the first collection of destination-based walking trails that aims to support remote communities, promote cultural heritage and showcase Sri Lankan scenery. Most of the trails opened in the fall of 2023, with a few more opening at the beginning of 2024. The 300-kilometre route starts in the central city of Kandy, famous for the Temple of the Tooth, and meanders through to stunning mountain views of Ella. Audley Travel, says Heverling, can arrange treks to the most scenic parts of the Sri Lanka trail. Hikers will walk on the region’s famed tea trails, as well as through forests, jungle and remote towns and villages. Where to stay: The experts at Audley recommend Mountain Heavens for its fantastic infinity pool that will make you feel like you’re literally floating over the valley. Big, comfy beds and modern amenities, not to mention a delicious included breakfast, all add up to a very luxurious end to a hike. Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates Why you should go: Seaside vibes in Dubai’s under-the-radar neighbour to the north. Dubai is always popular, and always full of flashy new attractions and frenetic energy. But if you want an Emirates vacation that’s a little more relaxing, head 40 minutes north of the city to this under-the-radar gem. Well, under the radar until 2024, that is, when the luxury Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort opens and more people realise that it’s one of the best places to travel. It’s set amid the area’s stunning mountains and mangroves in the seaside neighbourhood of Mina Al Arab, which is quickly becoming a trendy destination, with new openings and plenty of sunshine. Ras Al Khaimah is a great spot for outdoorsy types, who can snorkel or swim in the crystal-clear turquoise waters, then head off for a quad biking adventure in the desert or soar over the desert on the world’s longest zipline. And speaking of world records: If you get a chance to spend New Year’s Eve here, don’t miss it. The Emirate holds multiple Guinness World Records for its spectacular fireworks performances held during its New Year’s celebrations. Where to stay: The Anantara Resort here is more than just a getaway from the bustling city. It also boasts Bali-style overwater bungalows for an over-the-top romantic getaway. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/flightstravel-hints-tips/14-best-places-to-travel-in-2024?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

International Travel

The 30 best places to explore in London, according to a local

Top things to do in London London ranks high among the best places to travel in the world, attracting millions of visitors from all corners of the globe every year. It may not be one of the cheap places to travel, but there are so many things to do in London that it’s definitely worth a visit. So, once you’ve figured out the best time to visit London and the best time to book a flight – and you’ve watched King Charles’s coronation to get in the mood – where to start? If you’ve never been to London, you’ll want to make sure to see the most important sights, but also some hidden gems we locals enjoy. I have been living in London for more than five years. I planned to just stay for a few weeks, but I fell in love with the city at first sight – and I still schedule in regular time for exploring my adopted home. I love to share my favourite spots as a travel writer, and I am on speed dial for friends, family and friends of friends who are visiting. It’s impossible to fit everything London has to offer into one trip (or even one lifetime!), but it’s easy to make the most of your time if you just know how. Big Ben Big Ben is London’s most famous landmark, so it’s a must-see for all travellers. The name refers to the huge bell inside the clock tower, which first chimed on May 31, 1859, but the whole building at the north end of the Houses of Parliament goes by this nickname. Big Ben was renamed Elizabeth Tower in honour of Queen Elizabeth II‘s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, but most people don’t call it that. The tower underwent extensive renovations from summer 2017, and there was much excitement when the bells first rang again in November 2022. It’s still not possible to climb up Big Ben quite yet, but the big reopening for visitors is scheduled for later in 2023. Your best bet for a picture-perfect view of the tower and the Houses of Parliament is from Westminster Bridge. Pro tip: If you want to take a selfie with Big Ben, the best spot is just behind the landmark, on Great George Street. When coming from Westminster Bridge, walk past the tower and the tube station (Westminster) toward St James’s Park, Westminster Abbey to your left. While it might be a bit cliché to pose next to a red phone box, the photo will still look great on your Instagram – and many Londoners snap this shot too. Westminster Abbey If you followed King Charles‘s coronation (or other festive royal events such as Prince William and Kate Middleton‘s wedding) you’re probably already familiar with Westminster Abbey. But London’s most iconic church is even more impressive when you step foot inside yourself. Westminster Abbey was founded in 960 AD and has been the coronation church since 1066. It is also the final resting place of no fewer than 17 monarchs (the late Queen Elizabeth is buried in Windsor Castle), scientists such as Sir Isaac Newton and world-famous writers including Charles Dickens. Westminster Abbey is both one of London’s top tourist attractions and a working church with daily services – so be prepared for crowds and parts of the abbey closed. The church is busiest in the mornings, so visit after lunchtime if you can book a time slot. Pro tip: While it’s perfectly possible to explore the abbey with an audio guide (included in the ticket price), their guided tours are worth a bit of extra money. You will get to see parts of Westminster Abbey that are normally closed to the public, including royal tombs, the Poets’ Corner and Lady Chapel – and you’ll get to hear lots of interesting facts and anecdotes. The London Eye The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the Thames River, and it’s been a London landmark of its own for over 20 years, so no list of the things to do in London would be complete without mentioning it. But is it really worth it? Let’s face it, the 30-minute-ride comes with a big price tag and potentially long queuing times on top. However, on a sunny day (or at night!) the views are truly stunning. If you’re lucky, you’ll not only see all the London sights including Big Ben, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and the Tower Bridge but all the way up to Windsor Castle too. So, if you are new to London and don’t mind spending some cash, go for it. Fun fact, the London Eye is also one of the top places in the UK for people on romantic getaways – and, in fact, to get engaged. They even offer special proposal packages with private pods and champagne. Pro tip: Technically, you can just show up and buy your ticket on-site, but booking online saves you time and money. There are also discounted combination tickets including a river cruise or entry to Madame Tussaud’s. The Tate Modern Museums rank high among the most popular attractions in London – and not just because you can visit them regardless of the weather. If you only have time for one, make it the Tate Modern, which is one of the most popular museums in the world. The massive art space with its iconic tower is housed in the former Bankside Power Station and sits right near the Thames, across from St Paul’s Cathedral. The exhibition spaces spread over seven floors and include original works by the likes of Picasso, Matisse and Warhol. Like most museums in London, the Tate Modern is free to visit, unless you want to see a special exhibition (book well in advance in that case). Should you be keen to see the Tate’s sister gallery Tate Britain as well, hop on the Tate Boat right in front of the building and travel door to door in style. Boats run every 20 to 30 minutes during museum open hours. Pro tip: Fancy turning your Tate Modern visit into a fun night out? Keep an eye on the monthly Tate Lates, a mix of art workshops and talks, DJs, bars and live music. Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace has been the official residence of the British monarchs since 1837, and even though all the royal family currently live at other royal estates, it remains the place most associated with the crown. A highlight not to be missed is the Changing of the Guard, a traditional ceremony that sees one detachment of troops taking over from the other, marching along The Mall to Buckingham Palace with musical accompaniment (expect both traditional tunes and pop songs). It takes place on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and daily during the summer, at 11 AM. It’s one of the best free tourist attractions in London. For a prime spot, arrive at least one hour in advance, as the area gets packed year-round. Pro tip: The State Rooms inside Buckingham Palace are open to visitors on selected dates during winter and spring, as well as for 10 weeks in summer. Tour tickets sell out quickly, so check dates and book as early as you can. The Tower Bridge Walking across the Tower Bridge is a must-do when in London. But nothing beats watching the landmark lift for tall vessels, including cruise ships, to pass through. River traffic has priority on this stretch of the Thames by law, meaning ships can request a lift any time of the day, bringing the traffic on the bridge to a complete halt. On average, the Tower Bridge opens twice a day. But what’s the secret behind being at the right place at the right time? Luckily, it’s pretty simple, as you can check online to see when the bridge next lifts. Then, make sure to arrive on time to watch the spectacle unfold. Pro tip: For a full view of the lift (and great photo opportunities), position yourself on the river banks or a bridge opposite Tower Bridge. For a more close-up experience, stand on either end of the bridge. Portobello Road Market In the 1990s, the movie Notting Hill, starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, made the West London neighbourhood of the same name known around the world as a romantic travel destination. But even if you’re not a fan of rom-coms, Notting Hill and its famous Portobello Road Market – considered the largest antique market on the planet – have a lot to offer. The stalls, fold-out tables and shops are packed with vintage treasures, from lamps and chairs to paintings, jewellery and second-hand clothing, which makes it a great place for souvenir hunting. The market is open six days a week, but Saturday is the main day when all the sellers, antique hunters and street food vendors are out. Pro tip: Notting Hill’s signature pastel houses are just as famous as the market, and selfies on the steps around the Hillgate Place and Lancaster Road area are high on many visitors’ bucket lists. Please keep in mind though that people actually live in these houses, so don’t stare into their windows or leave trash behind. The West End The West End is the heart of London’s commercial theatre and musical productions in the UK. More than 16 million people watched performances here in 2022, making tickets one of the hottest holiday gifts. Whether you’re into the classics such as Les Miserables (running since 1985) and The Phantom of the Opera (since 1986) or want to see a feel-good musical featuring songs by Tina Turner, ABBA or Queen, this is the place. The Disney musicals are among the most popular things to do in London with kids, but they’re just as fun to watch as an adult. For crime fans, Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap is a must-see. Pro tip: If you haven’t set your mind on a specific show, you can score excellent last-minute deals on the day using the TodayTix app (look for “rush tickets” at 10 a.m. sharp). I’ve found myself sitting in some of the best seats in the house for around $30, especially on weeknights. Ticket booths around Leicester Square also sell discounted tickets. The Tower of London No list of the best things to do in London would be complete without the Tower of London: an iconic castle, former prison and execution location – as well as the home of the crown jewels. The royals’ precious accessories have been stored here since 1661 and only leave the Tower when used on official occasions. Want to see King Charles’s and Queen Camilla’s crowns? They are right here! The Tower of London is more than 900 years old, and you can feel its history in every corner. Keep in mind that the complex is not only impressive but also huge, so plan at least a few hours to see everything. Besides its exhibitions, historic halls and the guards with their signature fur hats, the Tower is famous for its wild ravens. According to legend, the kingdom will fall if the six resident ravens ever decide to leave. Pro tip: Tickets to the Tower of London come with audio guides. If you’d rather have a human companion, opt for a tour with a Beefeater, a working guard at the fortress. Borough Market Dating back to the 13th century, Borough Market, on the south side of the Thames, is London’s oldest food market and a great food travel destination with more than 100 stalls and plenty of small restaurants and wine bars where you can enjoy lunch or dinner. While the market originally focused on British produce, you can now get Indian curries, pad Thai, Ethiopian stews, falafel wraps, pasta dishes and, of course, the obligatory fish and chips. There are also plenty of stalls to stock up on bread, veggies, wines and sweets to take home or have later in the day. The market is open Tuesday to Sunday. Pro tip: Borough Market is a lunch favourite with people working at the nearby offices, so expect long queues around noon. If you can’t find a quiet spot to eat, make yourself comfy at the riverbank a few minutes away by foot. Warner Bros. Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter London is full of locations featured in the Harry Potter movies (think St. Paul’s Cathedral, Leadenhall Market, Borough Market or Tower Bridge), which you can explore on your own. But no place gets “muggles” (non-magic people) closer to Harry Potter’s world than the Warner Bros. Studio Tour just outside the city. Here you will walk through Diagon Alley, peek into Harry’s cupboard under the stairs and explore Hogwarts rooms such as the Great Hall or Dumbledore’s office. You can even sample butter beer! The studio decoration changes according to season. I have seen the summer and Christmas versions so far, and Halloween is next on my list. Pro tip: Advance booking is essential, even during shoulder seasons. Since muggles are, unfortunately, unable to arrive by broom, a shuttle bus from London’s Watford Junction is included in the ticket price. Columbia Road Market Columbia Road Flower Market may be London’s most popular place for flower shopping, and it’s a weekend institution in East London. Rain or shine, the whole street gets packed from 8am every Sunday with dozens of stalls that sell tulips, roses, cacti, spider plants and banana trees. Judging by Instagram posts and people with cameras around their necks, the market might look like a bit of a tourist trap at first glance. But the majority of the visitors are locals who stock up on flowers after coffee or brunch at one of the little cafes in the neighbourhood. The flowers are certainly the main selling point on a Sunday, but Columbia Road is dotted with little art shops and galleries too, so take your time to have a look around. Pro tip: Columbia Road Market tends to be busy year-round, but if you want to avoid the largest crowds, it pays to show up right when it starts. For the best flower deals, come after lunchtime. The stalls close at around 3pm. Sky Garden London’s highest public garden, Sky Garden, sits on the 35th floor of the “Walkie Talkie,” one of the city’s landmark skyscrapers, and it provides spectacular panoramic views. Sky Garden is an oasis of plants, with an observation deck, an open-air terrace and two restaurants. Entry is free, but advance booking is essential. However, once you’re in, you’re in, so you can technically spend a whole day among the plants. If you can’t get into Sky Garden (or want to shoot more skyline pictures from a different angle), head to The Garden at 120, an open-air rooftop garden on the 15th floor about a five-minute walk away. It might not be as fancy as Sky Garden, but it’s usually a lot quieter. I have had the whole garden to myself on weekday mornings more than once. Pro tip: Tickets for the Sky Garden are released every Monday, and you can book up to three weeks in advance. If you’re in the area but don’t have a ticket, it’s still worth trying your luck at the door, as they sometimes accept walk-ins. Traditional afternoon tea While Brits are the champions of tea drinking, afternoon tea is a lot more than just sipping on your favourite blend. The ritual dates back to the 19th century, when the ladies of the high society met for a light meal to shorten the time until dinner was served. Today, it’s mainly saved for special occasions, but it also makes one of the most fun things to do in London when on a city break. A traditional afternoon tea menu includes small sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam and a selection of pastries and cakes. Earl Grey, Darjeeling and English Breakfast are the classic tea blends. If you really want to treat yourself, book a table at the glamorous salon at Cafe Royal. Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, Princess Diana and David Bowie were regulars here. Live piano music and champagne are included too. Pro tip: Looking for a more casual afternoon tea option that doubles as a sightseeing tour? Hop on the Afternoon Tea Bus for a 90-minute ride. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre While the Globe Theatre on the South Bank of the Thames isn’t the original one from Shakespeare’s time (that one burned down in 1613), it’s still considered the writer’s London home and the closest you could ever get to the original experience. The venue was rebuilt in the same shape and layout, using the original type of wood (green oak) and building techniques. Watch world-famous plays such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth and The Comedy of Errors and fully immerse yourself in the world of Shakespeare. Pro tip: The cheapest way to see a play (or get into an otherwise sold-out show) is the “5£ Rush Tickets.” These are standing tickets right in front of the stage. While you might miss the comfort of a seat, you’ll be closer to the action than anyone else (and save a lot of money too!). Tickets are released every Friday at 11 am for the following week. Little Venice London is an amazing city to explore on foot, and once you’ve ticked off all the major sights, it’s time to enjoy one of the locals’ favourite walks. When I moved to London, I was amazed at how many locals lived on houseboats – it reminded me of The Netherlands, where I spent my college semester abroad. Regent’s Canal is dotted with colourful narrowboats, and you can often watch their owners navigate them to and from their mooring spots. The most beautiful stretch is from King’s Cross to Little Venice, a beautiful water canal area full of cafés and pubs and framed by willow trees. You will pass Camden and Regent’s Park along the way. Pro tip: Before you head on your two-hour walk, check out Coal Drop’s Yard right behind the King’s Cross station, with its restaurants, pubs and artsy shops, and Word on the Water, a floating bookstore. Shoreditch East London’s Shoreditch is one of the hippest districts in the city, with little cafes, quirky shops and bars on every corner. It’s also the heart of London’s street-art scene. Living in Shoreditch, I’m continuously amazed by all the murals and graffiti popping up overnight (and, sadly, often disappearing just as quickly). If you are like me and love taking edgy pictures, you will feel right at home. I always recommend Shoreditch Street Art Tours to friends visiting, a fun and comprehensive introduction to the local street-art scene. If you head out on your own, save Brick Lane, Fashion Street, Hanbury Street, Princelet Street, New Inn Yard, Redchurch Street and Shoreditch Highstreet Station on Google Maps. To kill two birds with one stone, visit Shoreditch on a weekend when Brick Lane market (lots of food and some art and clothes stalls) takes place. Truman Brewery on Brick Lane is also home to the biggest indoor vintage market in the U.K., which is open seven days a week. Pro tip: For a quick and inexpensive snack to go, head to Beigel Bake. The 24-hour shop is the most famous bagel place in London. Attention: They only take cash! Kensington Gardens One of London’s eight royal parks and formerly part of Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens is a popular recreational area where you can take a stroll, have a picnic, check out exhibitions at the Serpentine galleries, visit Kensington Palace or – if you’re traveling with kids – make the most of the Diana Memorial Playground (including a wooden pirate ship and sculptures inspired by Peter Pan). Ring-necked parakeets have spread all over London, but this park is your best bet to see them up close. And while nobody seems to be quite sure how they originally ended up in London, thousands have called it home since the 1990s. Here, the parakeets are so used to people they will land on your outstretched hands (or your shoulders or your head!) when you bring snacks (apples or seeds) – and sometimes even if you don’t. Be aware, though, that the cute birds have surprisingly sharp claws, so your arms might end up looking like you’ve just been scratched by an angry cat. Pro tip: The parakeets can be found near the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Garden. If you arrive by tube, get off at Lancaster Gate, walk past the lake and follow the squawking. Barbican Conservatory The Barbican Centre is London’s largest multi-arts venue. Movies, live gigs, plays, exhibitions, restaurants – you name it, the iconic complex has it all. One of the lesser known gems is their indoor garden on Level 3, which houses 2000 species of plants and trees as well as three small ponds. It’s a great place if you need a break from sightseeing or want to spend a relaxing hour or two hiding from the rain. Plus, it’s quite romantic – a friend of mine got engaged amidst the plants! Unfortunately, the whole Barbican complex tends to feel like a labyrinth with tons of confusing walkways. Schedule in some extra time just in case you get lost, and don’t sweat it, because it regularly happens to pretty much every Londoner. Pro tip: The Conservatory is only open on selected days. Entry is free, but book a time slot in advance to make sure you’ll get in. Tickets are released one week in advance on Fridays at 10 am, with a limited number of additional ones available at 9.30am on the day. God's Own Junkyard God’s Own Junkyard is a surreal exhibition place packed with blinking neon signs, old movie props, circus lighting and retro displays. It’s the private collection of the late owner Chris Bracey, who made signs for Soho’s strip clubs before he went on to work with some of our greatest directors, including Tim Burton (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Christopher Nolan (Batman) and Stanley Kubrick (Eyes Wide Shut). The gallery-turned-warehouse isn’t exactly close to the city centre, but it ranks high among the best things to do in London. Entry is free, however you might end up taking a neon sign home from their small shop. There’s also a cafe and fully licensed bar, if you want to linger for a bit. Pro tip: It might be tempting, but God’s Own Junkyard is, unfortunately, not the place to try out your latest camera gear. You are allowed to take pictures with your phone (for personal use and social media) but not with any cameras or professional equipment. Cahoots Underground If you like colourful cocktails and immersive experiences, make sure to check out some of London’s hidden bars. One of the coolest places I’ve been is the 1940s-inspired Cahoots Underground, located in a retired tube station around the corner from Soho’s Carnaby Street. The speakeasy bar is decorated with tube signs and maps, the cocktails (with names like “Winston Churchill” and “Judy Garland”) are listed in a newspaper instead of a regular menu, and the waiters are dressed up as ticket inspectors. What’s more, there’s a live piano player taking requests from guests (everything from Frank Sinatra to Miley Cyrus). Be prepared for spontaneous singalongs and people dancing between the tables. Other hidden bars worth checking out include Nightjar Shoreditch (old-school glamour, candlelit tables and live jazz and swing), Discount Suit Company (in a former suit tailor’s storeroom), Opium in Chinatown (a 1920s Shanghai-themed bar tucked away behind red curtains), Purl (1920s theme, live music and cocktail mixing classes) and Ladies & Gents (in a former public washroom). Pro tip: Better safe than sorry – all the above-mentioned bars are very popular, so book a table just in case. Dennis Severs' House If you’ve ever wondered what every day London life looked like in the 18th century, Dennis Severs’ House gives you a first-hand taste. The building was left exactly as when the original owners, a family of silk weavers, lived there. The rooms are lit by fire and candlelight, and visitors are encouraged to tour them in complete silence to “not disturb the family.” You will find yourself wandering around the living room full of faded photographs, old carpets, mugs and books. The kitchen has a fully laid table – bitten apples included! It almost feels like the family is about to return and go on with their daily routine any moment. To make the time-travel experience even more authentic, there are also added scents of food, woodsmoke and chatters of the occupants. Pro tip: Walk-up tickets are available, but unless you don’t mind standing in line for up to an hour or two, I’d recommend booking a time slot. Camden Talk to any Londoner and they’ll probably tell you that Camden is just not what it used to be. And I’m not going to lie, the North London neighbourhood has dramatically changed in recent years. Its edgy, alternative vibe is pretty much gone. Many of the charming parts of Camden Market were replaced by fancy stalls, food courts and colourful hanging umbrellas. However, Camden is still well worth a visit, you just need to do a bit more digging. Ignore the souvenir shops and look for the small creative sellers that have stood their ground. Then head to The Hawley Arms, my go-to Camden pub and a musician’s hangout. The late, great Amy Winehouse was a regular. Camden’s music scene is legendary, and many pubs have live gigs and open-mic nights. Some of the most iconic venues to check out for gigs include KOKO (frequented by supermodels such as Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss in their heydays), Electric Ballroom, Spiritual Records, Dingwalls and Jazz Cafe. Pro tip: The annual Camden Rocks Festival sees hundreds of gigs around Camden Town. A pub for Sunday roast Sunday roast is a British meal traditionally consisting of roasted meat of some sort (beef is the most common), mashed and roasted potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, carrots, seasonal greens, gravy and apple or mint sauce. It’s a big, hearty meal typically enjoyed early or late Sunday afternoon. Classic drinks to go with the foodie feast include local beers and ciders. Sunday roasts rank high among the top things to do in London, and luckily there are plenty of options all around the city. One of the most popular is Camberwell Arms, which features five options served for two people to share. Other good choices are the trendy Blacklock Shoreditch (located inside a former furniture factory) and Quality Chop House, which has fed hungry guests since 1869. If you’re a vegan, like me, or just curious about a meat-free option, head to The Spread Eagle, London’s first fully plant-based pub. Pro tip: All the above pubs (and many others around the city) are packed on Sunday, so booking is essential. Royal Albert Hall pened in 1871 by Queen Victoria (and dedicated to her husband Albert, hence the name), Royal Albert Hall is probably the world’s most famous concert hall. Its annual highlight is The Proms, an eight-week series of classical music organized by the BBC. But even if you’re not a fan of orchestra performances, the venue is worth a visit. It’s stunning inside and out and has the best acoustics you can find in the city. What’s more, the program is a lot more varied than you might expect. They also feature regular pop and rock gigs, and Eric Clapton, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, David Bowie and the Beatles have played here. You can also catch circus performances, movie nights, yoga sessions with live music and the occasional sumo wrestling event. If you go to a live gig, be prepared for the band to leave the stage mid-concert for a mandatory interval. When I saw Bryan Adams in 2022, he apologised for the break, then jokingly explained that even rock stars had to follow the Royal Albert Hall’s strict house rules. Pro tip: Many of the events at Royal Albert Hall are instant sell-outs, but it’s always worth checking at the box office or their website for last-minute tickets on the day of the event. If you’re interested in a peek behind the scenes, book a backstage tour. Natural History Museum The Natural History Museum in posh South Kensington is one of the best things to do in London with kids. It houses more than 80 million animals, plants and rocks spanning 4.5 billion years that are displayed in about 20 galleries. The main eye-catcher upon arrival is a 25.2-metre-long blue whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling. The female animal died in Ireland more than 120 years ago and was given a name when moved to its new home: Hope. Other highlights include dinosaurs, a giant gorilla, a Moon rock sample from the 1972 Apollo 16 mission, meteorites and an earthquake simulator. The Natural History Museum is free to visit except for special exhibitions. Pro tip: Watch out for museum events such as yoga and tai chi classes, silent disco nights or sleepovers for grown-ups. Greenwich Greenwich makes a fun day out of the city – without actually leaving the city. Located in the southeast of London, it’s home to an artsy market with lots of food stalls, a beautiful park perfect for taking London skyline pictures, the National Maritime Museum and the Cutty Sark, one of the oldest and best-known tea clipper ships in the world. There’s also the Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory, where you can stand with one foot in the western hemisphere and the other foot in the eastern. Greenwich can be reached by tube, bus and train, but the most fun way is to take a boat from central London. Hop on board at Westminster Pier and see famous landmarks such as Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge from the water. Pro tip: While it’s possible to buy tickets for the boats from the ticket booths and machines at the pier, the easiest way is to just use your bank or credit card and tap in and out like you would at the bus or tube. Highgate Cemetery Walking around graves might not seem the most obvious choice for a fun day out in London, but Highgate Cemetery is worth making an exception. The Victorian cemetery looks a bit cramped and chaotic, but the sunken headstones, faded engravings and missing names on the tombs make it beautiful and charming at the same time. Highgate is the final resting place of no less than 170,000 people, including many celebrities. The one resident most visitors are looking for is German philosopher Karl Marx. His grave can be found in the east part of the cemetery and is easily recognisable by a giant sculpture of his head. Pro tip: To enter the cemetery, you need a ticket, which you can buy online or on site. If you want some background info (and to hear morbid anecdotes), you can also book a guided tour. Hackney City Farm Big cities and farms might not go together well at first glance, but London does have several working farms close to its busiest districts. One of the loveliest is Hackney City Farm in East London, which has pigs, donkeys, ponies, sheep, ducks, a vegetable garden, a small shop that sells homemade produce and a restaurant. The farm opened in 1984 and regularly welcomes local school kids. They also run workshops in animal handling and arts classes including pottery and woodworking. Pro tip: Visits are free, but donations are welcome. Don’t leave without a drink in their cute backyard garden. Independent cinemas While London’s big-chain movie theatres around Leicester Square all come with XXL screens and the latest technology, the independent ones are where the real magic happens. Just around the corner from Leicester Square towards China Town is Prince Charles Cinema, where both the latest blockbusters and classic movies are shown. They also have movie marathons – from Harry Potter to Terminator and Lord of the Rings – where fans gather for up to 24 hours to watch the whole series. They even encourage singalongs during music-movie marathons by projecting lyrics on the screen for a karaoke vibe. I am a regular at Genesis Cinema in East London, which has been showing movies since 1912 and comes with bar events such as open-mic and comedy nights on top. They also charge only £5 Monday to Thursday, which is less than a third of what you’d pay on Leicester Square. Other great places include Electric Cinema, which has leather armchairs and double beds in the front row; Lexi Cinema, a volunteer-run place supporting charities in South Africa); and Everyman Screen on the Green, where wine and pizza are served to your seat. Pro tip: London hosts tons of small and large film festivals throughout the year, so watch out for premieres, Q&As and other special events. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/tips/the-30-best-places-to-explore-in-london-according-to-a-local?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

International Travel

Marine species are being pushed towards the poles. From dugong to octopuses, here are 8 marine species you might spot in new places

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gretta-pecl-128477">Gretta Pecl</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/curtis-champion-1373045">Curtis Champion</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/zoe-doubleday-393169">Zoe Doubleday</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> If you take a plunge in the sea this winter, you might notice it’s warmer than you expect. And if you’re fishing off Sydney and catch a tropical coral trout, you might wonder what’s going on. The reason is simple: hotter water. The ocean has absorbed the vast majority of the extra heat trapped by carbon dioxide and other greenhouses gases. It’s no wonder heat in the oceans is building up rapidly – and this year is <a href="https://theconversation.com/ocean-heat-is-off-the-charts-heres-what-that-means-for-humans-and-ecosystems-around-the-world-207902">off the charts</a>. That’s even without the likely arrival of El Niño, where the Pacific Ocean gets warmer than usual and affects weather all over the world. Our coastal waters <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/oceanography/oceantemp/sst-outlook-map.shtml">are forecast</a> to be especially warm over the coming months, up to 2.5℃ warmer than usual in many places. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533327/original/file-20230622-27-cqb9j1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533327/original/file-20230622-27-cqb9j1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=482&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533327/original/file-20230622-27-cqb9j1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=482&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533327/original/file-20230622-27-cqb9j1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=482&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533327/original/file-20230622-27-cqb9j1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=605&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533327/original/file-20230622-27-cqb9j1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=605&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533327/original/file-20230622-27-cqb9j1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=605&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption>Oceans around Australia are forecast to be much warmer than usual. SSTA stands for projected Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly, the difference between forecast ocean temperatures and a historical baseline period encompassing 1990–2012. Bureau of Meteorology</figcaption></figure> Many marine species live within a narrow temperature range. If the water heats up, they have to move, and if they don’t, they might die. So those that can move, are moving. In Australia, at least 200 marine species have <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gcb.15634">shifted distributions</a> since 2003, with 87% heading south. This pattern is happening all around the world, both on land and <a href="https://theconversation.com/thousands-of-photos-captured-by-everyday-australians-reveal-the-secrets-of-our-marine-life-as-oceans-warm-189231">in the ocean</a>. This year, the warmer ocean temperatures during winter mean Australia’s seascapes are likely to be more like summer. So, the next time you go fishing or diving or beachcombing, keep your eyes peeled and your camera ready. You may glimpse the enormous disruption happening underwater for yourself. <h2>Here are eight species on the move</h2> 1. Moorish idol (Zanclus cornutus) Historic range: northern Australia Now: This <a href="https://www.redmap.org.au/species/1/204/">striking fish</a> can now be seen south of Geraldton in Western Australia and Eden in New South Wales. This is a great fish for divers to spot on hard-bottomed habitats. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533373/original/file-20230622-21-6g6xk8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533373/original/file-20230622-21-6g6xk8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533373/original/file-20230622-21-6g6xk8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533373/original/file-20230622-21-6g6xk8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533373/original/file-20230622-21-6g6xk8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533373/original/file-20230622-21-6g6xk8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533373/original/file-20230622-21-6g6xk8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533373/original/file-20230622-21-6g6xk8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="moorish idol" /></a><figcaption>Moorish Idols are heading south to escape the heat. Shutterstock</figcaption></figure> 2. Branching coral (Pocillopora aliciae) Historic range: northern NSW Now: Look out for this <a href="https://www.redmap.org.au/species/2/255">pale pink beauty</a> south of Port Stephens, not far from Sydney. Seemingly immovable species like coral are fleeing the heat too. They’re already providing habitat for a range of other shifting species like tropical fish and crab species. 3. Eastern rock lobster (Sagmariasus verreauxi) Historic range: common in NSW Now: South, as far as <a href="https://www.redmap.org.au/species/2/167">it can get.</a> It’s now found in Tasmania and even in <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-marine-biological-association-of-the-united-kingdom/article/westward-range-expansion-of-the-eastern-rock-lobster-sagmariasus-verreauxi-in-australia/8DE945E58E1DDA1A2BB7431065AAC8EC">South Australia</a>. This tasty greenish crustacean <a href="https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v624/p1-11/">doesn’t like heat</a> and has moved south into the territory of red southern rock lobsters (Jasus edwardsii). 4. Gloomy octopus (Octopus tetricus) Previous range: common in NSW Now: As far south as Tasmania. Look out for this slippery, smart invertebrate in <a href="https://www.redmap.org.au/species/2/127">Tasmanian waters</a> this winter. You might even spot the octopus nestled down with some eggs, as this looks to be a <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/mf/mf14126">permanent sea change</a>. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533376/original/file-20230622-17-lf2y8r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533376/original/file-20230622-17-lf2y8r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533376/original/file-20230622-17-lf2y8r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=462&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533376/original/file-20230622-17-lf2y8r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=462&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533376/original/file-20230622-17-lf2y8r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=462&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533376/original/file-20230622-17-lf2y8r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=581&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533376/original/file-20230622-17-lf2y8r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=581&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533376/original/file-20230622-17-lf2y8r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=581&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="gloomy octopus" /></a><figcaption>The gloomy octopus is also known as the common Sydney octopus. Niki Hubbard, Wikimedia, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></figcaption></figure> 5. Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) Previous range: northern Australia Now: <a href="https://www.redmap.org.au/species/3/185">South of K'gari</a> (formerly known as Fraser Island). Classed as vulnerable in parts of the world, this tropical shark is a slow swimmer and never sleeps. It poses very little danger to humans. 6. Dugongs (Dugong dugon) Previous range: northern Australia Now: As far south as Shark Bay in WA and <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-17/tweed-river-dugong-sighting-boaties-warned/102355438">Tweed River</a> in New South Wales. Our waters are home to the largest number of dugong in the world. But as waters warm, they’re heading south. That means more of us may see these elusive sea-cows as they graze on seagrass meadows. Some of the most adventurous have gone way out of their normal range – in 2014, a kitesurfer <a href="https://www.redmap.org.au/articles/2021/07/26/are-dugongs-hitching-a-ride-south/">reported</a> passing a dugong at City Beach, Perth. As a WA wildlife expert says, dugongs may occasionally stray further south of Shark Bay but “given the recent warming trend […] more dugong sightings might be expected in the future” 7. Red emperor (Lutjanus sebae) and other warm water game fish Previous range: northern Australia Now: Appearing much further south – especially in WA. Look for <a href="https://www.redmap.org.au/species/1/108/">red</a>, threadfin, and redthroat emperors in southwest WA as the Leeuwin current carries these <a href="https://www.redmap.org.au/articles/2021/07/26/game-fish-follow-warm-route-south/">warm water species</a> south. As WA fisheries expert Gary Jackson has said, this current is a warming hotspot, acting like a warm water highway for certain marine species. These fish are highly <a href="https://goodfish.org.au/species/red-emperor/">sought after</a> by fishers. 8. Long-spined sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii) Historic range: NSW and Victoria Now: Tasmania Look out for these <a href="https://www.redmap.org.au/species/2/34/">spiky critters</a> in southern and western Tasmania. The larvae of these urchins have crossed the Bass Strait and found a new home, due to warming waters. Urchins are grazers and can scrape rocks clean, creating urchin barrens where nothing grows. That’s bad news for kelp forests and the species which depend on them. In response, Tasmanian authorities are working to create a <a href="https://fishing.tas.gov.au/community/long-spined-sea-urchin-management/long-spined-sea-urchin-strategy#:%7E:text=%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8BTackling%20the%20longspined%20sea%20urchin&text=Unchecked%2C%20the%20urchin's%20presence%20is,at%20around%2020%20million%20individuals.">viable urchin fishery</a> to keep numbers down. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533379/original/file-20230622-33216-7lslyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533379/original/file-20230622-33216-7lslyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533379/original/file-20230622-33216-7lslyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533379/original/file-20230622-33216-7lslyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533379/original/file-20230622-33216-7lslyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533379/original/file-20230622-33216-7lslyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533379/original/file-20230622-33216-7lslyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533379/original/file-20230622-33216-7lslyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="long spined sea urchins" /></a><figcaption>Long-spiked sea urchins are voracious eaters of seaweed. <a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnwturnbull/32131133496/in/photostream/">John Turnbull/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></figcaption></figure> <h2>You can help keep watch</h2> For years, fishers, snorkellers, spearfishers and the general public have contributed their unusual marine sightings to <a href="https://www.redmap.org.au/">Redmap</a>, the Australian citizen science project aimed at mapping range extensions of species. If you spot a creature that wouldn’t normally live in the waters near you, you can upload a photo to log your sighting. For example, avid spearfisher Derrick Cruz logged a <a href="https://www.redmap.org.au/sightings/1624/">startling discovery</a> with Redmap in 2015: A coral trout in Sydney’s waters. As he told us: “I’ve seen plenty of coral trout in tropical waters, where they’re at home within the coral. But it was surreal to see one swimming through a kelp forest in the local waters off Sydney, much further south than I’ve ever seen that species before!” How does tracking these movements help scientists? Many hands make light work. These vital observations from citizen scientists <a href="https://data-blog.gbif.org/post/gbif-citizen-science-data">have helped</a> researchers gain deeper understanding of what climate change is doing to the natural world in many places, from bird migrations to flowering plants to marine creatures. So, please keep an eye out this year. The heat is on in our oceans, and that can mean sudden change. <img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/207115/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gretta-pecl-128477">Gretta Pecl</a>, Professor, ARC Future Fellow & Director of the Centre for Marine Socioecology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/curtis-champion-1373045">Curtis Champion</a>, Research Scientist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/zoe-doubleday-393169">Zoe Doubleday</a>, Marine Ecologist and ARC Future Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/marine-species-are-being-pushed-towards-the-poles-from-dugong-to-octopuses-here-are-8-marine-species-you-might-spot-in-new-places-207115">original article</a>. Images: Getty

International Travel

World’s worst places for pickpockets revealed

When a bag containing my laptop and smartphone was stolen in London, it was something of a shock to me - but not to any locals. The bag, a simple library bag, was under the table in a Baker Street restaurant, comfortably at my feet, as there was nowhere else to leave it. The thieves, it seems, worked as a pair. One caused a distraction, even as I was engrossed in a conversation with friends. With all this happening, I certainly didn't notice his partner in crime snatching the bag from my feet. By the time I noticed, they had well and truly gone. As the restaurant was about to close, police offered to meet me at my accommodation. They finally arrived five hours later, at around 2am. After recent cutbacks, in which many stations have closed, the British police force is now spread very thin. Nonetheless, they took my report, and confessed that the problem was very common. "London's very lively," said one. "It's one of the cities in Europe most notorious for its thieves." The others, he suggested, were Rome, Barcelona and Prague. None of those have crime rates as bad as, say, Cape Town or Caracas - but while such places have high crime levels, they don't have especially high tourism levels. In most of the world, crime has decreased over the years. Throughout the US, for example, violent crime has fallen by 32 per cent since 1990 (and 64 per cent in the largest cities). But while violent crimes are down, you must guard against lesser (but still traumatising) crimes such as robbery. Among the cities adored by tourists, some are known for their distinctive crime scenes, among them: 1. Ho Chi Minh City The Motorised Bag-snatch: Two years ago, a colleague - travelling by motor-scooter on these scooter-heavy roads - had her purse snatched by a rider next to her, who immediately sped away. The next morning, our guide was calmly confident that he could retrieve her bag. He phoned the nearest police, and yes, it was at the station, complete with smartphone. "They just want the cash," he said. "They want nothing that can track them. Bags always end up at the station." 2. London The Sneak Attack: In Europe, it is often a more sophisticated operation, in which phones and laptops are flown abroad, erased and re-sold overnight. A day after my own bag was taken from the floor of a cheap restaurant, a woman told me that her handbag was once stolen from a chair at the Ritz - so nowhere is completely safe. However, the hot spots include Stratford (where the Olympic Village area remains busy) and the huge Westfield mall at Shepherd's Bush. 3. Rome The Pickpocket: Rome is infamous for its thieves, though an Italian friend thinks that it doesn't deserve such ill repute. "I can think of dozens of places in Italy that are far worse," he says, singling out Naples. Still, Italy's robbery rate is not as bad as, say, England or Wales. Robbery, however, involves physical confrontation - not pickpocketing, at which Roman thieves excel. Per capita, the world's worst crime nation is Vatican City, with 1.5 crimes per citizen - thanks to the thieves from across the border who congregate to relieve tourists of their wallets. 4. Prague The Conspirators: Prague is littered with signs saying "Beware of Pickpockets", car break-ins (don't leave your valuables on the seat), and gangs using clever diversions, including posses of sweet-faced schoolchildren. Tourist areas such as Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square are magnets for pickpockets. 5. Washington DC The Gangs: Among US cities, the Capital ranks 21st in violent crime. Its robbery incidents, however, are among the nation's worst, especially in the south-east of the city. For the record, San Francisco ranks 80th, and New York City is 96th. Of course, as you would have read, those cities are all worth visiting. When you are there (or anywhere else), it is worth taking a few precautions: <ul> <li>Dress like a local, not like a tourist.</li> <li>Take out travel insurance. You probably won't use it, but take it anyway.</li> <li>A money belt might be a nuisance, but it is the safest place for your valuables. Don't pull out your wallet in public. If you must take a handbag, hold it close.</li> <li>Be especially careful on crowded trains, buses and subways.</li> <li>Make sure you take down your phone's IMEI number (as printed on the original packaging) and your computer's serial number. Police might be ineffectual, but it should still be reported.</li> <li>In some countries (e.g. France, the Czech Republic), visitors are required to carry their passport at all times. In such places, a photocopy of the passport, kept in your hotel, will make it easier to replace.</li> </ul> Written by Mark Juddery. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Images: Getty

Travel Trouble

8 fictional places you can visit in real life

Step into the world of your favourite book, movie or TV show with a visit to these fictional locations that represented the original. Hogwarts, Harry Potter You won’t see anyone playing Quidditch on the lawns, but Alnwick Castle in Northumberland in the UK played Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films (with a little digital trickery thrown in). The castle has been the home of the Dukes of Northumberland for more than 700 years and is in high demand with film and TV crews – it also stars in the Downton Abbey Christmas specials. Jurassic Park The lush jungle foliage and towering waterfalls of the island of Kauai in Hawaii served as the backdrop for Stephen Spielberg’s rampaging dinosaurs in all three Jurassic Park movies. You can rent a four-wheel drive and travel through the national park where the movie was filmed though, sadly, none of the dinosaurs remained behind after shooting wrapped. West Egg, The Great Gatsby F Scott Fitzgerald modelled West Egg on Great Neck in Long Island, New York. This area on the north coast of Long Island was known as the Gold Coast because of the huge mansions, polo fields, golf courses and country clubs built there by America’s super wealthy (think Vanderbilt, Astor or Guggenheim). The very grand Oheka Castle in nearby Huntington partly inspired Gatsby’s house. Amity Island, Jaws Don’t go in the water! The beach on Amity Island was the setting for the first scene in the classic 1970s horror movie, Jaws. As well as looking the part of the perfect American seaside resort, the shallow water of the bay made it easier for the crew to operate the mechanical sharks. Hundred Acre Wood, Winnie the Pooh Just over an hour from London you can walk in the footsteps of Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin through Ashdown Forest. There’s only about 25 square kilometres of wooded area left from what was once a mighty forest, but it is still quintessentially English and one could almost expect Pooh, Tigger and Piglet to come bounding around a shady corner. Greenbow, Forrest Gump Life is like a box of chocolates in Varnville, South Carolina, which served as the fictional town of Greenbow in the Oscar winning movie Forrest Gump. The old Southern mansion that Forrest and his mamma lived in was a fake however, built just for production (and torn down right after), and even some of the Vietnam War scenes were shot around Varnville. Thank goodness for special effects. King’s Landing, Game of Thrones The historic Maltese capital of Mdina played the part of Kings Landing in the first series of Game of Thrones. The medieval walled city is in the centre of the island and has a population of just 300 – many of whom weren’t happy about the series. Maltese officials complained about the damage done and filming moved to Croatia for the following series. Hobbiton, The Lord of the Rings The three Lord of the Rings movies were such a smash hit that the village of Hobbiton was completely rebuilt in the original film location near Matamata in the North Island of New Zealand. You can step inside the tiny hobbit holes, visit the Green Dragon Inn and (of course) buy a souvenir at the gift shop. Images: Getty

International Travel

8 best places to go on holiday that zap stress (even after you get home), according to experts

Health benefits of holidaying aking regular holidays offers a wealth of physical and mental health benefits – in fact, research says getting enough holiday time may help you live longer. Psychologist Dr Carla Manly, author of Joy from Fear, says just the process of planning a holiday brings an immediate sense of wellbeing. “Having something wonderful to anticipate gives the mind and spirit a surge of happiness,” Dr Manly says. “Particularly when issues such as burnout cause additional stress and anxiety, having upcoming travel adventures to look forward to can make all the difference in mental health and overall wellbeing.” But when your heart is set on seriously escaping the demands of work and life, research suggests there are a handful of best places to go on holiday that will rejuvenate you the most. Science, local lore, and a bit of esoteric legend suggest some destinations go the extra mile when it comes to soothing our bodies, relieving stress, and delivering a holiday experience that really does the job. Where are the world’s greatest places to go on holiday to relieve stress? Here are eight destinations that are said to maximally inspire awe and renewal (and that may inspire you to start searching for flights immediately). Okinawa, Japan Shinrin-yoku, which has become known as “forest bathing,” is a form of ecotherapy developed in the 1980s by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. The idea of forest bathing is that spending time in nature awakens the senses to promote physical and mental health benefits. A wealth of research supports these claims. A review of studies published in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine found that forest bathing improves heart health, endocrine system function, metabolism, immunity, and inflammation levels, as well as psychological and emotional health. There are dozens of certified Shinrin-yoku forests throughout Japan (and really, you can practise forest bathing in any natural surroundings). But what makes Okinawa special is that it’s one of the world’s five Blue Zones, the geographical areas where data consistently show the residents live the longest lives. Researchers have found common traits among people living in Blue Zones, such as prioritising stress relief, engaging in regular movement, following a balanced diet, and having strong social bonds. Yanburu is a particularly popular spot for forest-bathing stress away. Located in the north of Okinawa, Yanburu is a subtropical rainforest with incredible biodiversity. Grindavik, Iceland With its towering waterfalls, vast glaciers, and dramatic landscapes, Iceland has been one of the world’s most up-and-coming travel destinations of this century. In fact, a March 2023 analysis of Google search volume named it the most popular destination for solo female travellers in 2023. But before you make a beeline for the capital city, Reykjavik, consider stopping in the less-travelled town of Grindavik. Grindavik is a sleepy former fishing village just 20 minutes from the airport and offers easy access to many of Iceland’s top sites. Most notably, it’s home to the Blue Lagoon, a natural geothermal spa with a unique composition of minerals and algae not found anywhere else on Earth. Research in 2022 in the peer-reviewed medical journal, Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, stated that the Blue Lagoon’s waters are known to improve skin health for some of the most stubborn psoriasis cases. The Blue Lagoon’s consistency also allows you to float weightlessly. Peer-reviewed findings in the Natural Medicine Journal in 2021 concluded that flotation therapy stimulates a “robust relaxation response,” supporting stress reduction, energy levels, and general wellbeing. The review’s authors stated that their research “revealed beneﬁts of ﬂoating, speciﬁcally regarding participants experiencing muscular pain, depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders.” Helsinki, Finland According to Gallup’s March 2023 world happiness report, Finland has claimed the top spot since 2017 – and Travel & Leisure Asia has named Finland’s capital, Helsinki, among the globe’s “least stressed” cities. Researchers suggest that this sense of wellbeing among Finns comes down to the culture’s gravitation towards nature and a slow living lifestyle – an experience wellness-seekers must see for themselves. Around 75% of Finland is covered by forests, and there are almost 200,000 lakes. Research has shown the country’s high accessibility to varied, multi-sensory natural environments leads to a range of wellbeing benefits. For instance, a 2023 study led by researchers from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare even found that Helsinki’s abundant green and blue spaces reduced people’s use of medications for depression and anxiety, blood pressure, and asthma. Bali, Indonesia An island of sandy coastline, jungles, volcanoes, and waterfalls, Bali is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, with ecotherapy opportunities around every corner. A 2022 psychiatry and public health study found that tropical holidays in particular support mental health. Some believe that it’s no coincidence that Bali leaves visitors with a particularly high sense of wellbeing. The theory of Ley lines asserts that major historic and sacred landmarks – such as Stonehenge, the Pyramids, and ancient burial grounds – are connected by an “energy grid.” Bali falls at the intersection of two lines on this conceptual map, which believers say creates a powerful healing energy. Science has found no evidence to support the theory of Ley lines, but an analysis of research published in Humanities suggests that the concept itself – whether true or not – gives rise to valuable opportunities to connect with our surroundings physically and spiritually. Las Catalinas, Costa Rica A 2013 study found that people are at their happiest near the ocean – and numerous studies since have supported the link between “blue views” and wellbeing. While any coastline seems like an invitation to de-stress, the small oceanside town of Las Catalinas shores up wellness in unique ways. Las Catalinas is entirely car-free – you get around on foot or by bike – which encourages a slower pace of life, more time in nature, and a stronger sense of local community. Las Catalinas is also a great jumping-off point to explore the Nicoya Peninsula, another of the world’s five Blue Zones (where residents are twice as likely than Americans to live to age 100!). Sedona, Arizona With its sandstone cliffs, year-round blue skies, and unique red-green landscapes, Sedona is a revered destination for anyone looking to get back to nature. It’s also one of only 36 certified Dark Sky communities in the world, offering magical Milky Way stargazing opportunities. Research has shown that light pollution is associated with increases in stress, mood disorders, and physical health issues – while dark skies promote relaxation and ultra-healthy sleep. Sedona, like Bali, lies at the intersection of Ley lines, which contributes in part to the town’s deep spiritual history. Native American tribes considered the area sacred, amplified by a serene, healing energy that can intensify your connection with nature and promote greater self-awareness. Today, people continue to believe there are four “energy vortex” locations with energy so strong it twists the desert flora. While juniper trees, like those in Arizona, are known to get kinks in their trunk, Sedona’s harmony-seeking pilgrims will say not to knock the area’s peaceful vibe until you experience it. Exuma, Bahamas Exuma is a collection of more than 360 islands known for having some of the clearest, sapphire-blue ocean water in the world. You could spend days island-hopping, swapping out stress for blue views – or jump right in for even greater wellbeing. Psychiatry research in 2022 showed that the weightlessness and pressure we experience in the water have a calming effect on the mind. In fact, humans have what’s called a mammalian dive reflex, a physiological response that occurs when our face is submerged in water. This reflex slows our heart rate and soothes our nervous system, with studies showing that activating it is effective in relieving feelings of stress, anxiety, and panic. (Plus, Exuma is home to the famous Pig Beach – and a little time with animals goes a long way in reducing stress, according to studies.) Southern Ibiza, Spain Dancing the night away in Ibiza’s legendary music scene can certainly zap your daily stresses in a special way…but if you’re looking for tranquillity, turn to the south. On the Southwest coast of Ibiza, rising from the sea you’ll find the mythical limestone rock called Es Vedrà, which legend says is the tip of the lost city of Atlantis. Es Vedrà is thought to be one of the most magnetic spots on Earth. This is said to confuse compasses and even birds, but some believe the location creates an energetic, healing atmosphere. To the Southeast lies Las Salinas, a UNESCO World Heritage site with unique biodiversity. This salt lagoon makes for particularly floaty, salty seawater believed to promote skin health, circulation, and stress relief. The area is also home to the cotton candy pink Lake Torrevieja (and its flocks of pink flamingos). Lake Torrevieja is a mineral-rich body of water thought to have healing powers. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/travel/8-best-places-to-go-on-holiday-that-zap-stress-even-after-you-get-home-according-to-experts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Travel Tips

Make your bedroom a place you’ll never want to leave

Not all of us can pop into a local homeware store and score a $1,000 bed spread, but there are some little changes you can make to create the look of a super luxe bedroom. 1. Pillows, pillows, pillows! Plump, over-stuffed pillows are what you see at fancy hotels, so bring the same look home. Overstuff your decorative throw cushions to give them a more sophisticated look. Pile on more pillows with a colour scheme of your choice and transform your bed. 2. Make a blanket statement Luxury bedding isn’t attainable for all, so focus on a throw blanket instead. Choose a nice colour, one that suits your pillows and other decor and drape it off the end of your bed. It will take the focus off your duvet. 3. Style your bed side table Don’t let it evolve into a junk drawer! Empty your dining classes and clear things like hand creams and loose papers. To make the room more glamorous, get a new lamp, add in a plant and think about hanging something small in the empty wall space above the table. 4. Upgrade your mirror Try an antique-inspired brass mirror or one with an interesting shape to draw attention to it. There are also mirrors with a shelf attached, so you’ll gain a little vertical storage where you can place candles, indoor plants or whatever decor you fancy. Image credit: Shutterstock

Home Hints & Tips

The world’s most magical places to swim

<h2>Red Beach, Santorini, Greece</h2> A crescent-shaped island in the middle of the Aegean Sea, Santorini was once a massive volcano – archaeologists say it blew its top way back in the Bronze Age. It left behind a fascinating place where whitewashed buildings cling to the edge of towering sea cliffs, and beaches come in many colours, including black, brown, white and even red. At Red Beach, iron-rich sands – and the cliffs that hem them in – have taken a curious and beautiful rust-coloured hue, which forms a stark contrast when they intersect with the beach’s deep blue waters. <h2>Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Queensland, Australia</h2> While the pristine, azure waters of Whitehaven beach on North-East Queensland’s Whitsunday coast are superlative-worthy in themselves, it’s the sand that really makes it unforgettable. Soft and blindingly white, it is made of almost 98 per cent silica – a mysterious geographical phenomenon that scientists can’t explain – but that you simply have to experience burying your toes into. While the waters are divine to swim in year round, it’s worth remembering that stinger season is from October to May, when warmer waters attract larger numbers of Box and Irukandji jellyfish – a stinger suit is recommended for extra protection. <h2>Blue Lagoon, Fiji</h2> In many ways, Fiji – a cluster of 330 islands in the South Pacific – is the ultimate paradise, an almost mystical place where the palms seem taller, the water always feels bathtub warm, and coral reefs extend themselves and their aquatic bounty before snorkellers from all over the world. While pretty much any spot in Fiji would do for a dip, one of the most beautiful places you can swim is the remote Blue Lagoon. Part of the Yasawa Islands, Blue Lagoon is a spot where the water seems bluer, the often empty beaches appear whiter, and the aquatic wonders, from starfish to seahorses to sharks, are truly mind-boggling. <h2>Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil</h2> One of the world’s best places to swim (and be seen swimming), this curving beach is a major draw for visitors to Rio. While it’s perhaps most famous for the skimpy bikinis (and, yes, Speedos) that can always be found here on a sunny day, this it truly is a great place for a dip in the South Atlantic. Afterward, dry off with a game of foot volley, a form of beach volleyball unique to Rio and its cariocas. <h2>Panama City Beach, Florida, USA</h2> While much of the good press goes to the sun spots further south on the peninsula (think Miami, Tampa and Key West), Florida’s very best beach is up on the panhandle. With sugary white sand (composed of quartz, not the grainier, brown silica found in most of the state), Panama City Beach sits at the heart of the Emerald Coast, a stretch of very clear, very warm, very emerald Gulf of Mexico water. Walk the beach, then spend the evening at Pier Park, a remarkable shopping complex that’s steps from the sea and keeps up the beach theme. <h2>The Amazon River, South America</h2> Contrary to popular belief, the warm, brown, slow-moving waters of the Amazon are actually safe for swimming – if you know what you’re doing. Yes, you will be sharing the river with caimans (a kind of crocodile), piranhas and the bizarre-looking pink freshwater river dolphins (called boto) that are found only here, but an experienced guide can tell you where, and when, it’s safe to dive in. You may even get a visit from a boto – a favourite excursion takes swimmers out to a mid-river sandbar, where you wait for the arrival of this mysterious, playful animal. <h2>Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam</h2> Southeast Asia definitely has a wealth of beautiful swimming spots and this one also happens to be a UNESCO world heritage site – and its easy to see why. With its stunning limestone islands jutting out of the water crystal-clear water the temperature of bath water, bathing doesn’t come with much more of a stunning view than this. From small, peaceful Titop Beach to the vast Ngoc Vung beach, you’ll be assured of a blissful experience wherever you go. <h2>Manly Beach, Sydney, NSW, Australia</h2> Reachable via what has to be the world’s most breathtaking ferry ride – the boat directly passes the city’s world-famous opera house and provides on-the-water views of the towering Sydney Harbour Bridge – Manly is everything a beach should be: soft sand, lovely water, and people-watching a-plenty. If calm waters are more your thing, bypass Manly’s main beach to nearby Shelly Beach, a protected marine reserve with clear, shallow waters featuring a large variety of marine life, ideal for scuba divers and snorkellers for its large variety of marine life. Post-swim, take the winding track up the headland for a scenic view of North Head and neighbouring beaches, or wander through the shops and eateries of the Corso, a pedestrian mall. <h2>Cartagena, Colombia, South America</h2> This beautiful, historic city – think horse-drawn carriages, cobblestone lanes and squares bordered by aging church clock towers – sits at the heart of a Caribbean playground. Just beyond its own sun-kissed beaches lie the 27 Rosario Islands (above), reachable by a short boat ride, which are filled with palms and fringed by aquamarine waters. Spend your day on the beach, then dance the night away in the city’s amazing array of salsa clubs. Image credit: Shutterstock This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/travel/destinations/the-worlds-most-magical-places-to-swim" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

International Travel

Devastating leaked email places Jenny Craig on brink of collapse

Weight loss firm Jenny Craig is reportedly closing its doors after four decades leading the industry. According to leaked staff communications, NBC News have shared that the company’s corporate and salaried field employees will face their final day of work on May 5, while their hourly staff will experience theirs on May 9. In the email, Jenny Craig explained that this was occurring “due to its inability to secure additional financing”. Employees were informed, however, that they would be receiving a “final pay cheque, including your full compensation earned through your last day of work and all accrued, unused paid time off”. Rumours have circled the company for some time, with Bloomberg reporting in just April 2023 that they were on the hunt for a buyer. The publication claimed that a source told them the company was “considering a bankruptcy filing” if their efforts to secure a buyer failed. Bloomberg also shared the news that the company was in around $250,000 USD in debt (~$376,000 AUD/NZD). Around the same time, corporate staff at the company’s California office received notice that they would be closing June 24, but that that day may actually be as soon as the next Friday. An FAQ was also released to them, alongside an explanation that they would be decreasing their physical operations to make way for their more e-commerce focussed business model. As a spokesperson told NBC News in the wake of the reports of potential layoffs, the company was “embarking on the next phase of our business to evolve with the changing landscape of today’s consumers. “Like many other companies, we’re currently transitioning from a brick-and-mortar retail business to a customer-friendly, e-commerce driven model. We will have more details to share in the coming weeks as our plans are solidified.” Despite this assurance, even coupled with the latest communications, it remains unclear whether or not that transition will still be taking place, with employees left in a state of limbo. The industry supergiant currently employs over 1,000 members of staff, with approximately 500 stores - both company-owned and franchised - across just the United States and Canada, with a further 600 around the rest of the world, including Australia. The company was actually founded in Melbourne in 1983, by husband and wife Jenny and Sidney Craig. The American couple went on to take their venture back to the states, but not until two years later in 1985. And while the situation looks dire overseas, an employee did tell Bloomberg that franchise-owned locations “may remain open”, though this is yet to be confirmed. Images: Getty

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The world’s 14 most underrated places in 2023

The list is aimed at “inspiring and enabling people to discover places which pack a punch in terms of food, culture and experiences but are often overlooked by travellers”, including Plymouth in the UK, Bray in Ireland, Burlington in Vermont, USA, and Gippsland in Australia. Let’s see how they rank. 14. Eastern Highlands, Zimbabwe “While most travellers to Zimbabwe will make a beeline for the majestic Victoria Falls or the renowned Hwange National Park,” Time Out said, “the country's eastern border is home to a place of equally astonishing beauty that has remained relatively unknown.” The Eastern Highlands was formed off a trio of hilly ranges, Bvumba, Nyanga, and Chimanimani - and home to the epic Mutarazi Falls, which are 772 metres in height. Visitors can biplane and step out onto a “dizzying” skywalk. 13. Bray, Ireland When the railway arrived in Bray in 1854, it was an instant attraction, Time Out explained. It was so popular that it became known as the “Brighton of Ireland”. Now, this seaside town 12 miles south of Dublin “buzzes with cafes and restaurants” after years of decline. Time Out added, “Stroll from the harbour along the esplanade to the 800-foot-high (243m) Bray Head, worth the hour’s climb for panoramic views from its rocky summit. Refuel at Butler & Barry on the beach, before a Guinness at ace local institution, the Harbour Bar.” 12. Sao Tome and Principe The volcanic Atlantic Ocean islands of Sao Tome and Principe in the Gulf of Guinea together form Africa's second-smallest country, “remain one of the unsung beauties of African travel’" according to Time Out. 11. Lombok, Indonesia “Considering how crowded the beaches can get in neighbouring Bali, it’s astonishing that more people don’t make the short trip over to the island of Lombok,” Time Out said. “The south’s white-sand beaches see more slow-moving buffalo than traffic, while Instagrammers are a rare breed in the east’s terraced rice fields. Up north, the majestic Mount Rinjani, Indonesia’s second-tallest active volcano at 3,726m/12,224ft in height, offers tough climbs and epic views. For the non-hikers, lush rainforests and thundering waterfalls beckon.” 10. Karpathos, Greece “While tourists flock to watch the sunset in overcrowded Santorini or bronze back-to-back on Mykonos’s packed beaches,” said Time Out, “Greeks in the know take the four-hour ferry ride from Rhodes to the Dodecanese island of Karpathos. “Do the same and you’ll find yourself chilling on a string of near-deserted beaches lapped by pristine waters and frequented by Mediterranean monk seals.” 9. Turku, Finland Nicknamed the “Paris of Finland” - “thanks to its waterside charms on the Aura river and thriving cafe and canteen culture”. Time Out also mentioned that it’s Finland’s oldest city and is “teeming with medieval attractions like its castle and cathedral”. 8. Burlington, Vermont The waterfront university town of Burlington has “charm”, Time Out explained and a “bustling restaurant and bar scene”. The guide said it’s becoming one of America’s’ “unmissable food and drink destinations”. The two stand-out eateries in the guide are Eastern Mediterranean-influenced Honey Road and May Day. 7. Plymouth, England Huw Oliver, Time Out’s UK editor, explained why the city on the south coast of Devon made the list, “Plymouth doesn’t cross a lot of people’s minds when it comes to planning a seaside getaway or a city break, but it should: you get two for the price of one here. It’s got culture in spades, with The Box offering world-class exhibitions in a beautiful setting and the Market Hall dazzling with its "immersive art dome”. “And that’s not to mention all the amazing food and drink, from classic fish and chips to England’s oldest gin distillery, plus quite possibly the UK’s best outdoor pool in the Tinside Lido. It offers an idyllic weekend away, right on the stunning Devon coast, and best of all, you’ll likely have a lot of it to yourself.” 6. Gippsland, Australia “Located in Victoria’s eastern corner - around a 4.5-hour drive from Melbourne - Gippsland is a bountiful wonderland encompassing alpine roads, snaking waterways, fertile farmland and deserted stretches of white-sand beaches,” according to Time Out. “It also has one-of-a-kind villages and a fast-growing food and drink scene that’s all about championing local produce.” 5. Cabo Roji, Puerto Rico Time out describes this location as "a colourful beach town on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico, Cabo Rojo is home to all the white sands and turquoise seas you expect from a Caribbean getaway. It’s three hours by car from San Juan with a laidback vibe that feels light years away from the hustle and bustle of the capital. “Void of big resorts, you can find small family-owned inns and vacation rentals such as the family-friendly Combate Beach Resort or the luxury Cuatro Casitas. “End your day sipping a passion fruit mojito with a view of the sunset the west coast of Puerto Rico is known for.” 4. Srebrenik, Bosnia and Herzegovina “Bosnia and Herzegovina is packed with charming towns, and Srebrenik (87 miles north of Sarajevo) is as charming as it gets,” Time Out explained. Here you can find Bosnia's “best-preserved medieval fortress”, “vibrant cafes”, and “graceful mosques”. “A darling waiting to be discovered,” said Time Out. 3. Cuenca, Ecuador "For a relatively small city, Cuenca packs a mighty punch when it comes to culture,” according to Time Out. “It’s an architectural beauty whose historic centre was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1999. It’s home to many artisans and artists, who showcase their work at the city’s annual arts festival, the Bienal de Cuenca.” The guide added, “it’s here that the renowned Panama hat is made, and travellers can visit workshops to see the intricate hat-making process in full swing”. 2. Lake Bacalar, Mexico “The tourist towns of Tulum and Cancun tend to dominate dialogue about Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula," Time Out said, 'while 30-mile-long Lake Bacalar – also known as the Lagoon of Seven Colours thanks to its forget-me-not, peacock and cyan waters – is often overlooked. “It makes for a welcome change of pace, where you can take in all the beauty this corner of Mexico has to offer away from the influencers and spring breakers.” 1. Mongolia Mongolia is the number one most underrated destination and “has to be experienced to be believed”, Time Out said. The guide notes it’s a land that’s known for its traditional gets, friendly nomadic people, and heard of wild horses, and is now more accessible than ever thanks to a new international airport. Time Out added, “For a perfect introduction to the country, spend a couple of days in the capital, Ulaanbaatar – it’s surprisingly clustered and easy to explore – then take in the picture-perfect ranges and fresh mountain air of Gorkhi Terelj National Park. Stay the night under the stars in your own ger, and don’t be surprised if nomadic herders stop by to welcome you.” Image credit: Shutterstock

International Travel

"I'm lovin' it": McDonald's face public outcry over unfortunately placed ad

McDonald's has faced the wrath of angry locals in Cornwall, UK, after a poorly placed advertisement was called out for being "tasteless". The advertisement in question was for the fast food franchise's new McCrispy burger, which was placed in a prime position on the side of a bus stop. However, what the company didn't realise was that the sign right next to it pointed to Penmount Crematorium across the road, in an unfortunate yet humorous coincidence. Local media outlet <a href="https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/mcdonalds-remove-tasteless-sign-opposite-8133444" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CornwallLive</a> was the first to report on the poorly placed ad, and asked local residents if they thought the sign should stay or go. "Fell off the chair laughing," one commenter who saw the picture online said. "I'm lovin' it," wrote another, in reference to the popular McDonald's slogan. "I only recently lost 2 loved ones & to be honest if I'd seen that sign near the crematorium I would have smiled. I don't find it offensive at all," said another. "My parents are in this crematorium. My old man had a brilliant sense of humour, so I'm sure he would have chuckled at this!" another added. One concerned local said, "I think how funny it is will probably depend on how long ago you followed the crematorium sign wearing a black tie." One woman, who's mother-in-law was cremated at the crematorium, said, "Although I can see the funny side, it is tasteless and I'm sure some grieving family members won't like to see it when visiting Penmount for the funeral and cremation of a loved one." Cornwall Council, who are in charge of both the crematorium and the bus shelter, have yet to comment on the matter, while McDonald's are taking the concerns about the ad seriously. A spokesperson told CornwallLive, "We were unaware of the road sign in the vicinity of this bus stop. However, in light of the concerns raised by CornwallLive, we have asked for our advertisement to be removed." Image credits: Twitter

Caring

17 best places to travel in 2023

Let's hit the road! From Europe to Asia, Africa to the Caribbean and the US, we’re seeing a return to full-throttle events and the debut of new attractions and hotels that will make you want to break out your calendar and start planning your holiday days. Not sure where to go? To get you started, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to travel in 2023, whether you want beach getaways, cheap places to travel, hidden gems, city breaks or a far-flung adventure. All you need to do is pick the place that appeals to you. Happy travels! New Orleans, USA The Big Easy is ready to let the good times roll in 2023. After several scaled-down Mardi Gras celebrations due to the pandemic, the Carnival parades and parties are back in full swing, leading up to the epic party and celebration that will be held on February 21. Another reason New Orleans makes our list of best places to travel this year: a fully renovated Audubon Aquarium newly integrated with the Audubon Insectarium will reopen in time for northern summer 2023. Don’t miss dining spots include the new and old in this delicious city. No trip would be complete without indulging in the Sunday jazz brunch at Arnaud’s and a visit to the recently opened French-influenced Couvant. Stay at the Eliza Jane, a popular Hyatt Unbound property just steps away from the French Quarter on Magazine Street. Once the headquarters of the Times-Picayune, NOLA’s local newspaper, the hotel embraces its historic setting and history (Eliza Jane was the paper’s owner in the late 1800s, one of the first women to run a newspaper) with new offerings this year, including a women’s literary circle. London, UK Welcome to the era of King Charles. After the outpouring of support for the royal family in 2022 – first for Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Jubilee, and then for the queen’s funeral a few months later – all eyes are once again on the House of Windsor in 2023. King Charles will step into the limelight with his coronation on May 6, the first such event in the country since Queen Elizabeth’s ascent to the throne more than 70 years ago. Expect pomp, circumstance and lots of parties. To explore the city, check out the Go City, which gives you front-of-the-line access to some of the most popular London sights, including the Tower of London, where the British crown jewels are housed. If you’re looking for a royal-worthy hotel, check out The Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair, not far from Buckingham Palace. The iconic property celebrated its 185th anniversary in 2022, and its jewel-box lobby looks fit for a king (the hotel claims it’s the most Instagrammed lobby in the world). A splurge-worthy tea, one of the most coveted seats in London, awaits in the plush lounge downstairs – order a glass of champers and toast the new monarch. Namibia Wildlife and adventure lovers looking for an off-the-beaten-path African Safari bucket-list trip should head straight to Namibia in 2023 – this country in southern Africa is the perfect place to travel to reconnect with nature and escape the modern stresses of life. On the wildlife front, you may see lions and cheetahs along with giraffes and elephants, in addition to strong populations of both black and white rhinos. Other bucket-list activities range from climbing the world’s tallest sand dunes at Sossusvlei to discovering the stark beauty of the windswept Skeleton Coast. There’s also something else completely unique here for your 2023 travel: a ‘shipwreck’ lodge where you can stay in private villas that look, and feel, like you’ve crashed upon the shores as a Robinson Crusoe – style castaway. Don’t worry, you’ll still have great food and service and access to guided safaris while you’re in this desert hideaway. Yellowstone National Park, USA As close to a natural theme park as you’ll ever find, Yellowstone dazzles with rainbow pools, steaming geysers, bubbling mud pits and even a ‘Grand Canyon’ – not to mention amazing wildlife. The park is the perfect 2023 destination, especially since travellers find inspiration in outdoorsy destinations and mind-blowing landscapes, according to a recent travel trends report from Expedia Travel Group. Think log-lined cabins, flickering fires and sweeping vistas. To experience the park in style, visit the new for 2023 glamping destination Under Canvas North Yellowstone Paradise in Montana (the area may look familiar from the series Yellowstone). Expect exceptional views of the mountains and plains as well as direct access to the Yellowstone River via unparalleled flying and river-float experiences. Japan After a multi-year pandemic break from tourism, Japan finally reopened to all travellers at the end of 2022, and we’re here to tell you that 2023 will be the year we all go to Japan (or at the very least, daydream about visiting). After all, there are so many things you can only find in Japan. Kyoto, the cultural and historic heart of Japan, will present its famed Gion Festival in summer 2023, the first time visitors can attend since before the pandemic. Based on the indigenous Shinto faith, this festival features two processions of floats, a wealth of food and drink vendors and the Gozan no Okuribi, a Kyoto-based bonfire culmination of the Obon festival that will also be ramping up to pre-Covid excitement levels. For travellers looking for something different, head north to Mount Niseko Annupur, where you’ll find Niseko Village, a winter wonderland that boasts exceptional accommodations, a ski school and an extensive network of groomed ski trails. Paris, France Adore Emily or shun her crazy chapeaux, but Paris is front-and-centre on the small screen this year with the return of Emily in Paris and all the drool-worthy scenery the show provides. (By the way, you won’t be alone if you’re booking a trip based on a favourite television show – according to Expedia’s 2023 Trend Report, two-thirds of global travellers have considered booking a trip based on a favourite show or movie.) Not a fan? That’s OK, there’s plenty more shining in the City of Lights as it gets ready to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. New hotels are already opening their doors to guests, offering high style and reasonable rates in Paris before the crowds arrive next year. One to watch: Maisons Pariente’s Le Grand Mazarin in the trendy Le Marais neighbourhood, sure to be the chicest opening in 2023. Sicily Speaking of TV inspiration, the most recent season of White Lotus, set on the southern Italian island of Sicily, made us all want to hit the beach (sans murder and mayhem, please). Google Trends data showed searches for Sicily doubled before the December finale, with specific searches for Taormina and Noto, which also feature in the show, skyrocketing as well. Even without its star turn, there’s a lot to love here. Bustling cities, quaint villages, pristine beaches and rich heritage – Sicily, Italy, the largest of the Mediterranean islands, has it all. The capital, Palermo, is home to compelling architecture, such as Cappella Palatina, a breathtaking chapel dating back to the 12th century. On the east side of Sicily, between the cities of Messina and Catania lies Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Costa Rica For a 2023 vacation, look no further than the happiest country in Latin America, Costa Rica. Why is this such a happy place and one of the best places to travel? It’s what Costa Ricans call ‘Pura Vida,’ or a ‘simple life,’ focused on optimism, happiness and living life to the fullest. This popular Central American paradise designated more than a quarter of its country to protect its natural resources, offering 28 national parks, reserves and wildlife refuges to explore. A few highlights: Tortuguero National Park, created to protect endangered turtles; Poas Volcano National Park, home to one of the country’s largest and most active volcanoes; and Manuel Antonio National Park – considered Costa Rica’s crown jewel – which has both lush tropical rainforests and dazzling white-sand beaches, not to mention three-toed sloths and white-faced Capuchin monkeys. Experience Costa Rica’s Pura Vida lifestyle on the beach at Hotel Nantipa – A Tico Beach Experience in Santa Teresa. Located in one of the five official Blue Zones in the world, the area’s known for having longer-than-average life expectancy due to a daily life full to the brim with happiness-driving health benefits including relaxed days and diets fresh from the sea. Copenhagen, Denmark What was once a Viking fishing settlement has transformed into one of the most gloriously livable and immaculately clean cities on earth. Copenhagen, one of the world’s most colourful cities, touts high-profile restaurants, curved canals, cycling routes, superb public transportation and magnificent landmarks. Now it’s been named the 2023 UNESCO World Capital of Architecture, and as part of that, the city will offer a series of major events and programs sure to delight art and design lovers. Base your stay at the NH Collection Copenhagen, located in a unique historical and sustainable building in the picturesque, centrally located district of Christianshavn. Overlooking the harbour, it offers direct access to the waterfront, and the city’s landmarks are all within a short distance. Bhutan For travellers with a sense of adventure and a love of discovery, Bhutan has always been a bucket-list trip. And in 2023, travellers can once again explore via the Trans-Bhutan Walking Trail, which reopened in late 2022 after a renovation. This is the first time it has been open to tourists in 60 years! This ancient trail runs 400 kilometres from east to west, offering views of the Himalayan Kingdom’s one-of-a-kind landscape and visits to the century-old communities along the journey. The trail spans across 18 major bridges and one national park as it connects more than 400 historic and cultural sites. Bordeaux, France The coming years will be decidedly sporty in the historical wine region of Bordeaux in France. In 2023, the city will host the Rugby World Cup and the Tour de France before raising the colourful flags of the Olympic Games in 2024, when it will host the men’s and women’s football, aka soccer, matches. Beyond sports, Bordeaux is one of our favourite historical cities, with more than 350 structures that are either nationally or regionally listed Historical Monuments (Monuments Historiques), and the entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s easy to get there from Paris, since there’s a TGV train that can whisk you there in just two hours. According to GlobalData, France is set to become the most visited country by 2025. Go now, before everyone else does! Dubai Waterpark and thrill-ride fans, take note: when The Atlantis, The Royal opens this year in Dubai on man-made The Palm island, it will have 105 waterslides and 90 pools! Yes, you read that right. It will surpass any water park, any hotel or any other Atlantis property, for that matter. If there’s only one hotel opening you focus on this year for a best place to travel in 2023, this is the one. No wonder Dubai is the most popular travel destination of 2023, as ranked by TripAdvisor users. The Atlantis, The Royal is not just a water park, of course. The 43-storey ultra-luxury resort will sit in the heart of Dubai, featuring 795 rooms and suites with views of the futuristic city skyline and Arabian Gulf. Situated on two kilometres of beachfront, Atlantis, The Royal will boast 17 onsite restaurants curated by celebrity and Michelin-starred chefs, including Heston Blumenthal and Jose Andres. And all stays come with complimentary entrance to what’s being called the world’s leading aquatic theme park. We’re already breaking out the sunscreen! South Africa South Africa is one of our favourite places to travel and one of the top bucket-list destinations that won’t break the bank for its mix of contemporary cities, melting pot of cultures and incredible natural areas, including wildlife safaris to see the Big 5 (lion, hippo, Cape buffalo, rhino and leopard) in world-renowned Kruger National Park and the private Sabi Sand Reserve. Bali, Indonesia Bali is known for its spectacular beaches, fabulous hotels and gorgeous turquoise water, best explored by jumping in and exploring the sea. So it’s no wonder that in 2023 it’s been chosen to host the ANOC World Beach Games from August 5–15, 2023. Thousands of athletes from 100 countries across the globe will be in Bali for the event, as well as spectators from all over the world. Away from the beach is another equally mesmerising side to the island known as the Land of the Gods. For travellers looking to immerse themselves in the deeply rooted culture and spiritual history that Bali has to offer, Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Ubud, is the perfect fit. Beautifully set where the lush jungle meets the Ayung River and temples stand majestic against a backdrop of rice terraces, it’s a true sanctuary to relax one’s mind, body and soul. Curaçao If you’re looking for an exotic trip to a beautiful beach in 2023, we’ve got just the ticket. The Caribbean island of Curaçao is known for its vibrant, Dutch-influenced architecture, 300 days of sun per year, rich coral reefs and diverse mix of cultures. After you arrive at the sunny island, head to the newly renovated Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort, five minutes from the capital and nestled on six acres of oceanfront property. New to the resort, the property recently opened its onsite dive shop Goby Divers, where guests can learn to scuba and earn their PADI certification, or experience dives based on their level of experience. Chilean Patagonia Climate change tourism has seen an increase in recent years as global warming has become a front-and-centre topic in travel – last-chance trips to see gigantic glaciers and ice caves before they melt away have specifically seen a rise. Patagonia fits perfectly with this trend. Here you’ll see Grey Glacier, the Balmaceda Glacier and the Serrano Glacier, among others. The Singular Patagonia, Kau Rio Serrano and Quasar Expeditions offer excursions that allow guests to get up close and personal with the glaciers. From kayaking Grey Lake to walking Grey Peninsula, ice trekking, hiking in Torres del Paine or Bernardo O’Higgins National Park, or taking boat rides right up to the glacier walls, travellers can catch a glimpse of the magnificent glaciers before it’s too late or becomes too dangerous. Chilean Patagonia is also becoming more accessible, as there are new flights launching to connect Santiago to Puerto Natales on a regular basis. Prague, Czech Republic Prague is one of our favourite hidden gems in Europe and one of the best places to travel for charm and culture. The perfectly preserved city has bright red trolleys traversing original cobblestone streets lined with charming stone buildings. Around every corner, you’ll find a new treat, like the Charles Bridge lined with majestic stone statues, Michelin-starred restaurants and classic pilsner bars. Another highlight: an entire ‘castle district’ centred around majestic Prague Castle. New for 2023, this ancient kingdom meets modern times with William Rudolf Lobkowicz, the 14th prince of Bohemia, who is modernising the way philanthropy takes place with NFTs (yes, those NFTs). This new technology can help prove provenance of historic art and also help fund its restoration, which is of particular interest to a family that lost its kingdom of treasures twice – first to the Nazis, and then to the Communists. You can see many of these works of art and hear about their ‘Non-Fungible Castle’ project at the lovely Lobkowicz Palace. Stay at a true historical gem, the NH Collection Prague Carlo IV. A former grand bank headquarters, it features marble and crystal in the lobby, gorgeous vaulted ceilings in the breakfast dining room and a truly special pool in the downstairs spa level. The trolley runs just outside the property, but the hotel would be happy to arrange special transportation such as a vintage red convertible to whisk you to the castle. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/flightstravel-hints-tips/17-best-places-to-travel-in-2023?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

International Travel

Here are the must-see places you won’t want to miss in 2023

Travel is back on the cards for many of us, and if you’re setting your sights on travelling next year, National Geographic has you covered with its Best of the World list. The annual list is made up of 25 destinations across five categories that are “filled with wonder, rewarding travellers of all ages, and supportive of local communities and ecosystems”. Amy Alipio, the senior editor for National Geographic Travel, said the hope is that 2023 marks a return to travel and rediscovering wonder. "Because when you are awed by something, you treat it with respect. And that spirit is something we want to encourage with this list," Alipio said. Destinations that made the list have community-led conservation efforts, heritage journeys, ways for visitors to give back, and are doing important work in ecotourism, sustainability and inclusive travel. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkKi3IMt3a2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkKi3IMt3a2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by sally areson (@sallysellssouthflorida)</a> </div> </blockquote> A new category With that in mind, this year’s list has a new category, replacing the category of “sustainability” with “community”. "It's about broadening the focus on the people striving for sustainable destinations and the various ways that manifests, from making travel more accessible to supporting local businesses," Alipio said. The five destinations recognised under “community” are: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Ghana, Africa, praised as an important destination for Black heritage travellers </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Alberta, Canada, noted as leaders in Indigenous tourism and educating travellers in the stories and ways of life of First Nations people </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Laos, recognised for introducing a new high-speed train that is making lesser-known regions more accessible to tourists and providing more economic opportunities for locals </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which makes the list for its support of the creative community, including the opening of a cultural centre focused on African American art </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> The Dodecanese Islands, Greece, a standout for women-led ventures in sustainable tourism. </li> </ul> Along with community, the remaining categories include nature, culture, adventure and family. Destinations that made the list under these categories include the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum outside Cairo, as well as Charleston, South Carolina, which will be home to the International African American Museum that opens in January. Programs aimed to rehabilitate endangered species and restore original landscapes saw Botswana and the Scottish Highlands make the list under the “nature” category along with Slovenia, which was recognised as a “longtime leader in sustainable tourism”. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CJBNfTUA0wR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CJBNfTUA0wR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Wild Eye Destinations & Photography (@wildeyesa)</a> </div> </blockquote> The five locales that made the list for promising adventure span the globe, including New Zealand, the Austrian Alps, and Choquequirao in Peru. For those looking for places to visit that the whole family can enjoy, the “family” category promises that in spades. Colombia, the location of Disney’s Encanto, made the list not just for its fictional depiction, but also as an avian paradise that is perfect for birdwatching. To find out more about the destinations that made the list, head <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/best-of-the-world-2023?loggedin=true&rnd=1667196683239" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. National Geographic’s Best of the World 2023 list: Culture <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Appian Way, Italy </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Busan, South Korea </li> </ul> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Longmen Grottoes, Henan Province, China </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Egypt </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Charleston, South Carolina </li> </ul> Nature <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Scottish Highlands </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Botswana </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Slovenia </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Big Bend National Park, Texas </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Azores </li> </ul> Adventure <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> New Zealand </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Choquequirao, Peru </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Utah </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Austrian Alps </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Revillagigedo National Park, Mexico </li> </ul> Community <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Dodecanese Islands, Greece </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Milwaukee, Wisconsin </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Alberta, Canada </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Laos </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Ghana </li> </ul> Family <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Trinidad & Tobago </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> San Francisco Crosstown Trail, California </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Colombia </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Manchester, United Kingdom </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Switzerland </li> </ul> Image: Getty Images

International Travel

5 places in the world that have the best weather

It’s just about the first question anyone asks you when you return from a holiday – “how was the weather?” It can make or break a holiday. These are the places you should go if you want to leave the wellies at home. Los Angeles <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/los-angeles.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> California is a pretty safe bet all round and has easily the best weather in the USA. You can expect “perfect” days for close to half the year. That means an average temperature between 12 and 23 degrees Celsius, and temperatures that never fall below seven degrees or rise above 30. And on top of that there’s almost no rain. Sounds pretty good to us. Canary Islands <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/canary-islands2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> This island group off the northern coast of West Africa is technically a Spanish territory and a popular holiday spot for the Brits. With an average temperature of 22 degrees Celsius all year round and no extremes of hot or cold, the Canaries claim to have the best climate in the world. The capital, Gran Canaria, gets a minimum of six hours of sunshine per day in winter and up to almost eight hours in summer. Plenty of time then to indulge in a round of golf – there are eight world-class courses on the island. Sao Paulo <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/sao-paulo.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Whatever time of year you visit Brazil’s largest city, you probably won’t need to bring a jacket. Even in the middle of winter (July or August) temperatures rarely get below 20 degrees and they don’t rise much over 30 in summer. It can be rainy, but the city rarely gets big storms. Its inland location and high elevation work together to create a perfect microclimate. This is in contrast to the coastal city of Rio de Janeiro, just 400 kilometres away, which swelters through the hotter months. Lisbon <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/lisbon.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The Portuguese capital sits on the Atlantic coast, which moderates its weather and helps it avoid the uncomfortably hot summers that you’ll find in many other European capitals. Lisbon gets around 30 inches of rain each year but the majority of this falls during winter, so you’re likely to get weeks on end of pure sunshine in the summer months. Sydney <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/opera-house7.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Despite Australia having some of the most extreme weather in the world, Sydney is famous for its dry summers, mild winters and endless hours of sparkling sunshine. Even a run of cold days is quickly forgotten when the harbour city turns on a warm, sunny August afternoon. Images: Getty Images

International Travel

We studied the ‘bibles’ of jazz standards – and found sexism lurking in the strangest place

We are two female jazz singers, jazz researchers and lovers of jazz. And we have discovered jazz gave us another shared experience – sexism. We’d both experienced garden variety sexism. Wendy was asked by a male school principal if her recent marriage meant she would resign from teaching to start a family. Melissa received passionate advice from a male audience member to swap her comfortable outfit with a “glamorous dress” when she sang jazz. But as university music students, neither of us imagined something as innocent as a key signature in a textbook might be a symptom of gender discrimination. A <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/key-music">key</a> tells musicians which set of notes a song uses. In singing, a key affects whether the notes will be sung in the low, middle or high part of the voice. But when we looked at what keys the “bibles” of jazz standards used, we found a hidden form of sexism. <h2>The Real books</h2> This unusual story begins in 1975 at the Berklee College of Music in the United States. Two music students, tired of reading shoddy, error-filled song sheets, created The Real Book to accurately notate jazz songs. Sold illegally to avoid copyright fees, it was a phenomenal success. After years in surreptitious worldwide circulation, publisher Hal Leonard transformed The Real Book into a <a href="https://officialrealbook.com/history/">legal edition</a>. In 1988, Sher Music joined the act and produced The New Real Book. Despite similar titles, Sher’s book was unrelated but mimicked the idea of clearly notating jazz songs. Together the two books cornered the market. The real books remain the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/10/arts/pop-music-flying-below-the-radar-of-copyrights.html">bibles of jazz musicians</a> everywhere because they contain hundreds of songs called <a href="https://www.jazzstandards.com/overview.definition.htm">standards</a>. Standards are common jazz songs jazz musicians are expected to know. Knowing them is your ticket to participating in jazz ensembles, and so universities use these books to train students. However, few educators realise one decision in 1975 about notating standards cemented a practice excluding women. Jazz is valued as a “conversational” style of music where musicians express personal ideas and real stories. “Authentic” jazz singing is associated with the lower voice we use when speaking. The human voice is a <a href="https://soundbridge.io/human-voice-instruments/">biological musical instrument</a> coming in a variety of sizes, with the male larynx (or voice box) generally larger than the female. This means men generally sing (and talk) in lower pitches, and keys that sit in the middle of the male voice are usually too low for women to sing. When our Berklee students and Sher Music notated songs, they chose keys used by jazz musicians. And during that era, male instrumentalists and male singers dominated the jazz community. So, when the real books were being developed, the editors didn’t choose keys that suited female voices. <h2>What’s in a key?</h2> <a href="https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Companion-to-Jazz-and-Gender/Reddan-Herzig-Kahr/p/book/9780367534141">Our research</a> examined the recordings of 16 renowned female jazz vocalists, including <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ella-Fitzgerald">Ella Fitzgerald</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/search?query=sarah+vaughan">Sarah Vaughan</a>. We sampled 20 songs from The Real Book and 20 songs from The New Real Book and compared the keys in the books with the keys of the female recordings. Less than 5% of 248 recordings fully matched the printed key. If women sing songs straight from The Real Book or The New Real Book, they are likely to be singing too low for their voices. And if they shift the male key up one <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/octave-music">octave</a>, it will be too high. Consequently, female jazz vocal students are disadvantaged. If they comply with the keys of the iconic texts, they won’t sound as “authentically jazz” as male students. The male voice will produce the conversational tone we have come to expect from jazz; the female voice will be too low or too high for this conversational style. The female professional singers we studied <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transposition_(music)">transposed</a> the standards to keys that suited a jazz style. But this skill takes time for students to learn. Transposing requires understanding music theory and having confidence to advocate for your needs as a singer. Experienced jazz singers inevitably acquire these skills, but what about novice female singers? For many young female singers, their introduction to jazz is coloured by keys ill-suited to their voices. Place them in a band where the instrumentalists are predominantly male with little understanding of voice production, and it is an uncomfortable situation for aspiring singers. Fortunately, technology has advanced to a point where many standards are available on phones and can be transposed instantly. But this won’t happen until music teachers and jazz musicians understand and respect female singers by using the appropriate keys. So, can a key signature be sexist? Yes, it can when it’s presented as the only choice of key for female students learning jazz standards. It’s time to update our jazz bibles with sources including keys used by Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, and acknowledge sexism has been hiding in the strangest place. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-studied-the-bibles-of-jazz-standards-and-found-sexism-lurking-in-the-strangest-place-189553" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Music

14 historic places that are now abandoned

Abandoned places From train stations to hotels to entire islands, there are a surprising number of abandoned locales around the world. Some are even on par with the <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/destinations/15-of-the-worlds-spookiest-travel-destinations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">world’s spookiest travel destinations.</a> City Hall Subway, New York, USA <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/02-new-york-usa-january-30-2016-city-hall-subway-station-in-manhattan-landmark-station-built-in-1904-to-inaugurate-the-nyc-subway-system-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="513" /> New York City’s very first subway station opened underneath City Hall in downtown Manhattan in 1904, with gorgeous vaulted, tiled ceilings and even leaded-glass skylights. But this Gilded-Age treasure closed in 1945 due to safety concerns with new, longer trains – and never opened again. You can catch a glimpse of the City Hall station if you ride the downtown 6 train past its terminal stop, as trains still use the City Hall track as a turn-around before heading back uptown. But for a better look, the New York Transit Museum offers guided tours for members. Sarajevo Olympic Venues, Bosnia and Herzegovina <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/03-shutterstock_1146065324-1-scaled-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="513" /> Once the place gold medal dreams came true, the 1984 Olympic venues in Sarajevo now stand as more of a memorial of civil unrest than a tribute to athletic achievement. The first Communist state to hold a Winter Games, Yugoslavia broke up in the 1990s amid a devastating war in Bosnia. Some of the Olympic sites, including the bobsled track and ski jump, were used as battlements and strongholds during the Siege of Sarajevo, and still bear bullet holes. Today, tours are offered as part of a look back at the devastation of war; some of the venues, such as Zetra Olympic Hall, are being rebuilt. Garnet, Montana, USA <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/04-shutterstock_704394976-scaled-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="513" /> You can actually visit a real-life ghost town in remote Garnet, Montana, near Missoula in the US. Now just a memory of the Old West, this place was once a bustling gold mining town, attracting miners in the late 19th century who hastily constructed buildings to live in. At its height in 1898, 1,000 people lived in Garnet – but by 1905, the gold ran out, and the population shrunk to 150. Then in 1912, a fire destroyed half the town. By the 1940s, no one was left, and everything, including furniture, had been left behind. Now a walk-through museum, visitors can help support the preservation efforts for this piece of history. Maunsell Sea Forts, United Kingdom <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/05-346697708-scaled-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="513" /> These other-worldly, rusting structures still stand sentinel at the mouth of England’s Thames River, protecting the island from a long-past threat. During World War II, the anti-aircraft sea forts guarded the country, shooting down Nazi planes and sinking a submarine. After being decommissioned in the 1950s, they served as the base of a pirate radio station in the ’60s. Now abandoned, the forts were possibly going to become a spa hotel, but those plans are now on the rocks. So for now, you’ll have to settle for getting a glimpse as you pass by via boat. Pripyat, Ukraine <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/06-1368054212-scaled-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="513" /> This town close to the site of the 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster has provided some of the most chilling photos of abandoned places in the world. Thirty-six hours after the explosion, the city was evacuated, with nearly 50,000 people fleeing for their lives and leaving almost everything behind. What’s left are the desolate remains of schools, houses and communities, with clocks frozen at 11:55, the time the power went out. It looks positively post-apocalyptic. Although it may not be safe for humans to live there again due to radioactivity (well, at least not for 24,000 years at the actual disaster site, according to some estimates), a brief visit arranged by tour operators to certain areas is – reportedly – okay. These tours have seen a huge boost in popularity thanks to HBO’s recent mini-series Chernobyl. Ta Prohm Temple, Angkor, Cambodia <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/07-1163637748-scaled-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="513" /> Not all abandoned places are spooky. Those from hundreds of years ago reflect a more natural cycle of human civilisation on Earth, with historical ruins reminding us how we used to live, work and worship. Take the Ta Prohm Temple, built in the 12th century: Unlike the other better-preserved temples in the Angkor area, such as the famous Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm was left to ruin in the 14th century, after which it was reclaimed by the jungle. Today, with vines and tree roots climbing over the building, this beautiful mix of human architecture and nature looks like something out of a movie – and in fact was used in the filming of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Happily for us, it’s open to tourists. Catskills Resorts, New York, USA <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/08-735515071-scaled-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="513" /> In the heyday of the 1950s, the Catskills were home to over 500 resorts catering to New York’s Jewish families, and the “Borscht Belt” continues to live on in movies and shows like Dirty Dancing and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. But in real life, many of these hotels, including The Pines (pictured) – once a sprawling resort with an indoor skating rink, pool with a huge concrete arch spanning across it, and “sky bridge” to the restaurant – declined in popularity and now dot the countryside in a state of ruin, ghostly remnants of the joy they were once filled with. Michigan Central Station, Detroit, USA <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/09-1055756234-scaled-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="513" /> See this historic train station in its abandoned state (safely from the outside) while you can: Last year, Ford Motor Co. announced a $740 million project to redevelop the area. When it opened in 1913, the gorgeous building, with an interior featuring huge arches and marble pillars, was the tallest train station in the world. The station was Detroit’s main depot but declined in use in the 1950s until finally closing in 1988. Although its historic status saved it from demolition, the building was considered an eyesore, plundered by looters and defaced by vandals. For the people of Detroit, the station served as a metaphor for the rise and fall of the city – but hopefully, the new project can bring it back to its former glory. Bombay Beach, California, USA <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/10-63100468-scaled-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="513" /> This short-lived resort area and its abandoned hotels that will give you the chills have to have one of the most bizarre histories ever. The Salton Sea, California’s largest lake, was accidentally created in 1905 after man-made canals from the Colorado River flooded over into the valley. In the 1950s, it seemed like the perfect spot for a holiday, and the Bombay Beach community popped up. But soon, increasing salinity in the lake rendered life unsustainable, resulting in dead fish washing up onshore and a horrendous stench; the lake also became polluted from agricultural runoff. So, Bombay Beach was abandoned, although a few salty souls (get it?) still live in the area. Littered with fish skeletons and the detritus of beach living, this place is a paradise lost. Hashima Island, Japan <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/11-1179676483-scaled-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="513" /> It’s no surprise why this island of concrete and steel is nicknamed “Ghost Island”: No one lives here anymore. Also called “Battleship Island” for its shape, the site stands as a monument to Japan’s rapid industrialisation. With more than 5000 people crowded into high-rise apartment buildings in the mid-20th century, Hashima was one of the most densely populated places on earth. Most of those who lived here were coal miners and their families, although the island’s place in history is controversial because it was also the site of forced labour. In 1974, the mine was closed, and everyone up and left. Tours of Hashima to see the crumbling buildings are available; you can also catch the island in the 2012 James Bond film Skyfall. Cahawba, Alabama, USA <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/12-1228163863-scaled-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="513" /> It’s hard to believe, but this site of decomposing cabins was once the capital of Alabama. Now, it’s one of the creepy but real ghost towns around the world. The history of Old Cahawba (also spelled Cahaba) goes in fits and starts: Chosen as the state capital in 1820, the town was abandoned after flooding and the capital moved in 1826, but it reemerged as a distribution point for cotton shipping. During the Civil War, though, its railroad tracks were ripped up and the town was host to a prison for Union soldiers; after the war, another flood drove the remaining residents out. However, the town again found new life as a community for former slave families – at least until around 1900. Since then, the town has been in ruins but is now enjoying yet another rebirth as an archaeological park. Castle Frankenstein, Germany <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/13-81631069-scaled-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="513" /> Abandoned castle ruins can be seen all over Europe, but the history of 13th century Castle Frankenstein is creepily curious because of its connection to the hidden origins of one of Halloween’s spookiest creatures. A real-life scientist named Johann Konrad Dippel conducted strange experiments here in the early 18th century – including, reportedly, on corpses. Could Dippel have inspired the fictional scientist who shares the castle’s name, and his monster? Although Frankenstein author Mary Shelley never mentioned the castle in her journals, she did pass by on a trip down the Rhine in 1814. Did she hear stories about Dippel from locals? Or perhaps her stepmother, a translator for the Brothers Grimm, read the tale and passed it on? In any case, after being abandoned in the 18th century and rumoured to be the home of a dragon, the ruins of the castle are now open to tourists. Iron Goat Trail, Washington, USA <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/14-748018750-scaled-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="513" /> This lovely hiking trail passes by the site of one of the worst train accidents and the deadliest avalanche in US history. Known as the Wellington Avalanche Disaster, the incident occurred when two snowed-in trains on the Great Northern Railroad were knocked off the tracks by what one witness described as “white death.” The snow buried the trains in the canyon below and killed nearly 100 people. Afterward, safer tracks and tunnels were built, but the old abandoned ones remain – some say they’re haunted, with hikers hearing screams and sounds around the crash site. It’s not safe to go into the tunnels, so don’t try it, but you can take a peek from outside. SS Ayrfield, Australia <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/15-shutterstock_1327747472-scaled-770.jpg" alt="" width="770" height="513" /> This is not your average shipwreck. The SS Ayrfield, built in 1911 and used as a supply ship during World War II, was left to rot where it was moored in Homebush Bay after being decommissioned in 1972, one of many wrecks in the bay. This industrial area was contaminated with toxic waste, but eventually cleaned up, revitalised for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and now home to suburbs. But the ship had been reclaimed by mangrove trees, and so the “floating forest,” as it’s now known, was kept as it was – a strange juxtaposition of the man-made and the natural. Written by Tina Donovito. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/travel/14-historic-places-that-are-now-abandoned" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> Images: Getty Images, Shutterstock

International Travel

First look at Queen Elizabeth's final place of resting

Buckingham Palace have released an official photograph of Queen Elizabeth II’s final resting place within the St George Chapel. The engraved ledger stone, featuring the name of the late Queen was installed in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, an annex to the main chapel on the evening of September 19, following a private service that was attended by family only. The slab is hand-carved from Belgian black marble, and features brass letter inlays reading the names of her parents, Queen George VI and Queen Elizabeth, followed by the late Queen’s name along with that of her husband, Prince Philip and sister, Princess Margaret. A garter star separates the two royal couples, and the years of birth and death have been inscribed next to each name. The four royals were members of the Order of the Garter, the country’s most senior order of chivalry that dates back to medieval times and the reign of King Edward III. The group’s members are personally chosen by the sovereign in recognition of an individual’s service to the nation and include several members of the royal family, former prime ministers and other senior figures. The order’s spiritual home is St. George’s Chapel. Image: Royal Family Twitter

Caring

Flight attendant reveals the surprising dirtiest place on a plane

It’s no secret that planes are often rife with germs, but it turns out some unexpected parts of the aircraft are much dirtier than others. One flight attendant has shared the part of the plane that often gets overlooked when cleaning, and it's not where you would think. The cabin crew member from the US, who regularly posts travel tips on her FlightBae TikTok account, shared that it's actually the seat pockets you should steer clear of. "They're dirtier than the lavatories, they're dirtier than the seat cushion, and they're dirtier than the tray tables," she said in a clip that's had over 3,000 likes. "Let me tell you why." She goes on to say the seat pockets are "never cleaned". "Unless somebody vomits or there is something ooey or gooey in there, it doesn't get cleaned. All cleaners do is go in and take out the trash," she explained. "So all of those germs have accumulated and there is no regular cleaning of those surfaces, whereas the lavatories are regularly wiped down and sanitised." Her followers were understandably disgusted, with one person even sharing: "This is very true! I once saw a parent place a used diaper in the seat back pocket." "Never touching it again," another said, while a third wrote: "I don't use them. I'll always see people their feet in them." Image credits: Getty Images

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Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

The cheapest places to travel in 2024

8 places you should never keep your phone

14 best places to travel in 2024

The 30 best places to explore in London, according to a local

Marine species are being pushed towards the poles. From dugong to octopuses, here are 8 marine species you might spot in new places

World’s worst places for pickpockets revealed

8 fictional places you can visit in real life

8 best places to go on holiday that zap stress (even after you get home), according to experts

Make your bedroom a place you’ll never want to leave

The world’s most magical places to swim

Devastating leaked email places Jenny Craig on brink of collapse

The world’s 14 most underrated places in 2023

"I'm lovin' it": McDonald's face public outcry over unfortunately placed ad

17 best places to travel in 2023

Here are the must-see places you won’t want to miss in 2023

5 places in the world that have the best weather

We studied the ‘bibles’ of jazz standards – and found sexism lurking in the strangest place

14 historic places that are now abandoned

First look at Queen Elizabeth's final place of resting

Flight attendant reveals the surprising dirtiest place on a plane

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