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The unique travel hack that is guaranteed to help beat jet lag

Experts have revealed how to beat jet lag on your next overseas holiday, and it all comes down to your modes of transport. Sleep researchers said it's good news for cruise lovers, as exposure to sea air and bright natural light improves sleep to cure the annoying condition quickly. Some experts say to avoid travelling by plane all together, and always opt for cruising holidays instead. However, if you have to travel to your cruise by plane, being on board is a great way to tackle the dreadful feeling, compared with holidaying on land, Panache Cruises said. Dr Lindsay Browning, expert at Trouble Sleeping said exposing yourself to bright lights at the right time after a long-haul flight is one of the most powerful things we can do to boost and help shift circadian rhythm, and being on a ship is the perfect place for that. "As a general rule, you want to get lots of bright light exposure during the daytime and avoid light at night," Browning said. "When travelling on a cruise ship, you will naturally get a lot of bright light exposure during the day, helping your circadian rhythm.” "Further, when travelling by ship you will have a cabin with a proper bed and curtain, enabling you to sleep at night when you want to." The company claimed research showed how prolonged exposure to sea air can improve blood oxygen levels, boost vitamin D, and improve breathing leading to higher-quality sleep, helping to rid travellers of pesky jet lag so they can enjoy their holidays. Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Tips

Your unique smell can provide clues about how healthy you are

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/aoife-morrin-1478132">Aoife Morrin</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/dublin-city-university-1528">Dublin City University</a> Hundreds of chemicals stream from our bodies into the air every second. These chemicals release into the air easily as they have high vapour pressures, meaning they boil and turn into gases at room temperature. They give clues about who we are, and how healthy we are. Since ancient Greek times, we’ve known that we smell differently when we are unwell. While we rely on blood analysis today, ancient Greek physicians used smell to diagnose maladies. If they took a whiff of your breath and described it as fetor hepaticus (meaning bad liver), it meant you could be headed for liver failure. If a person’s whiff was sweet or fruity, physicians thought this meant that sugars in the digestive system were not being broken down, and that person had probably diabetes. Science has since shown the ancient Greeks were right – liver failure and <a href="https://tisserandinstitute.org/human-volatilome/">diabetes</a> and many <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00216-023-04986-z">other diseases</a> including infectious diseases give your breath a distinctive smell. In 1971, <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1962/pauling/facts/">Nobel Laureate chemist Linus Pauling</a> <a href="https://edu.rsc.org/feature/breath-analysis/2020106.article#:%7E:text=The%20'modern%20era'%20of%20breath,in%20an%20average%20breath%20sample.">counted 250 different</a> gaseous chemicals in breath. These gaseous chemicals are called volatile organic compounds or VOCs. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RzozmYPfCmM?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Since Pauling’s discovery, other scientists have <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40291-023-00640-7">discovered hundreds more VOCs</a> in our breath. We have learned that many of these VOCs have distinctive odours, but some have no odour that our noses can perceive. Scientists believe that whether a VOC <a href="https://tisserandinstitute.org/human-volatilome/">has an odour</a> that our noses can detect or not, they can reveal information about how healthy someone is. A Scottish man’s Parkinson’s disease onset was <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-47627179">identified by his wife</a>, retired nurse Joy Milner, after she was convinced the way he smelled had changed, years before he was diagnosed in 2005. This discovery has <a href="https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/smell-of-skin-could-lead-to-early-diagnosis-for-parkinsons/">led to research programmes</a> involving Joy Milner to identify <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-supersmeller-can-detect-the-scent-of-parkinsons-leading-to-an-experimental-test-for-the-illness/">the precise smell</a> of this disease. Dogs can <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01629-8">sniff out more diseases</a> than humans because of their more <a href="https://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/news/the-science-of-sniffs-disease-smelling-dogs%20-%20I%20think%20the%20previous%20nature%20link%20has%20more%20credibility%20for%20here%20also">sophisticated olfactory talents</a>. But technological techniques, like <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/mass-spectrometry">analytical tool mass spectrometry</a>, picks up even more subtle changes in VOC profiles that are being linked to <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(20)30100-6/fulltext">gut</a>, <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.dcu.idm.oclc.org/science/article/pii/S0165993618305168">skin</a> and <a href="https://err.ersjournals.com/content/28/152/190011">respiratory</a> diseases as well as neurological diseases like Parkinson’s. Researchers believe that one day some diseases will be diagnosed simply by breathing into a device. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xjo2M-XMYfs?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>Where do VOCs come from?</h2> Breath is not the only source of VOCs in the body. They are also emitted from skin, urine and faeces. VOCs from skin are the result of millions of skin glands removing metabolic waste from the body, as well as waste generated by bacteria and other microbes that live on our skin. Sweating produces extra nutrients for these bacteria to metabolise which can result in particularly odorous VOCs. Odour from sweat only makes up a fraction of the scents from VOCs though. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrmicro.2017.157">Our skin</a> and also our gut microbiomes are made up from a delicate balance of these microbes. Scientists think <a href="https://journals.lww.com/co-gastroenterology/abstract/2015/01000/the_gut_microbiome_in_health_and_in_disease.12.aspx">they influence our health</a>, but we don’t yet understand a lot about how this relationship works. Unlike the gut, the skin is relatively easy to study – you can collect skin samples from living humans without having to go deep into the body. <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.dcu.idm.oclc.org/science/article/pii/S1471492221002087">Scientists think</a> skin VOCs can offer insights into how the microbiome’s bacteria and the human body work together to maintain our health and protect us from disease. In my team’s laboratory, <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1752-7163/abf20a">we are investigating</a> whether the skin VOC signature can reveal different attributes of the person it belongs to. These signals in skin VOC signatures are probably how dogs distinguish between people by smell. We are at a relatively early stage in this research area but we have shown that you can tell males from females based on how acidic the VOCs from skin are. We use mass spectrometry to see this as the average human nose is not sophisticated enough to detect these VOCs. We can also predict a person’s age with reasonable accuracy to within a few years from their skin VOC profile. This is not surprising considering that oxidative stress in our bodies increases as we age. <a href="https://www.metabolismjournal.com/article/S0026-0495(00)80077-3/pdf">Oxidative stress</a> happens when your antioxidant levels are low and causes irreversible damage to our cells and organs. <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jasms.3c00315">Our recent research</a> found by-products of this oxidative damage in skin VOC profiles. Not only are these VOCs responsible for personal scent – they are used by plants, insects and animals as a communication channel. Plants are in a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-10975-x">constant VOC dialogue</a> with other organisms including pollinators, herbivores, other plants and their natural enemies such as harmful bacteria and insects. VOCs used for this back and forth dialogue are known as pheromones. <h2>What has science shown about love pheromones?</h2> In the animal kingdom, there is good evidence VOCs can act as aphrodisiacs. Mice for example have microbes which contribute to a particularly <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982212012687">smelly compound called trimethylamine</a>, which allows mice to verify the species of a potential mate. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0093691X21003083">Pigs</a> and <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/4381097a">elephants</a> have sex pheromones too. It is possible that humans also produce VOCs for attracting the perfect mate. Scientists have yet to fully decode skin – or other VOCs that are released from our bodies. But evidence for human love pheromones so far is <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/do-human-pheromones-actually-exist">controversial at best</a>. <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3835-colour-vision-ended-human-pheromone-use/">One theory suggests</a> that they were lost about 23 million years ago when primates developed full colour vision and started relying on their enhanced vision to choose a mate. However, we believe that whether human pheromones exist or not, skin VOCs can reveal who and how we are, in terms of things like ageing, nutrition and fitness, fertility and even stress levels. This signature probably contains markers we can use to monitor our health and diagnose disease.<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/215311/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/aoife-morrin-1478132">Aoife Morrin</a>, Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/dublin-city-university-1528">Dublin City University</a> Image credits: Getty Images 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/your-unique-smell-can-provide-clues-about-how-healthy-you-are-215311">original article</a>.

Body

"Uniquely, magically, indescribably us": Read the emotional love letter from Suzanne Somers' husband

Just one day before her death, Suzanne Somers' husband gave her a handwritten love letter as part of an early birthday present. Somers' husband, Alan Hamel, gave the letter to his wife of 45 years just 24 hours before she passed away at the age of 76. According to Somers' publicist, R. Couri Hay, Hamel “gave it to her a day early and she read the poem and went to bed and later died peacefully in her sleep.” The emotional poem was an expression of love from Somers' husband, as he struggled to define their intense relationships. “Love I use it every day, sometimes several times a day. I use it at the end of emails to my loving family. I even use it in emails to close friends. I use it when I’m leaving the house,” the note began, via <a href="https://people.com/read-love-letter-suzanne-somers-husband-alan-hamel-wrote-to-her-day-before-her-death-8358234">People</a>. “There’s love, then love you and I love you!! Therein lies some of the different ways we use love. Sometimes I feel obliged to use love, responding to someone who signed love in their email, when I’m uncomfortable using love but I use it anyway. “I also use love to describe a great meal. I use it to express how I feel about a show on Netflix. I often use love referring to my home, my cat Gloria, to things Gloria does, to the taste of a cantaloupe I grew in my garden.” “I love the taste of a freshly harvested organic royal jumbo medjool date. I love biting a fig off the tree. I love watching two giant blackbirds who live nearby swooping by my window in a power dive. My daily life encompasses things and people I love and things and people I am indifferent to,” he continued. “I could go on ad infinitum, but you get it. What brand of love do I feel for my wife Suzanne? Can I find it in any of the above? A resounding no!!!! There is no version of the word that is applicable to Suzanne and I even use the word applicable advisedly.” “The closest version in words isn’t even close. It’s not even a fraction of a fraction of a fraction. Unconditional love does not do it. I’ll take a bullet for you doesn’t do it. I weep when I think about my feelings for you. Feelings… That’s getting close, but not all the way.” “55 years together, 46 married and not even one hour apart for 42 of those years. Even that doesn’t do it,” he added. “Even going to bed at 6 o’clock and holding hands while we sleep doesn’t do it. Staring at your beautiful face while you sleep doesn’t do it.” “I’m back to feelings. There are no words,” he concluded. “There are no actions. No promises. No declarations. Even the green shaded scholars of the Oxford University Press have spent 150 years and still have failed to come up with that one word. So I will call it, ‘Us,’ uniquely, magically, indescribably wonderful ‘Us.’” Somers and Hamel tied the knot in 1977, giving them 45 years together as husband and wife. Somers died on Sunday morning after “an aggressive form of breast cancer for over 23 years,” her publicist said in a statement. Suzanne was best known for playing Chrissy Snow on the 1970s sitcom Three’s Company and Carol Foster Lambert on the ’90s family comedy Step by Step. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

7 strange and unique airports

Making a connection at one of these airports would be quite an experience, and we’ve taken a look at seven strange and unique airports from all around the world. US Federal Transfer Centre, Oklahoma City, USA If you find yourself at the US Federal Transfer Centre, needless to say things have taken an interesting turn in your life. Located next to Will Rogers World Airport, this facility is used for holding inmates and transferring them between federal prisons. Black Rock City Municipal Airport, USA This airport is unique in the sense that it only operates for a week every year. Black Rock City Municipal Airport opens briefly every year for the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert, playing host to around about 150 aeroplanes during the week. Kansai International Airport, Japan Entirely offshore, Kansai International Airport services a region that has no space to run a 24 hour airport in the city where no land can be expropriated. Over 21 million square metres of landfill was excavated from nearby mountains to put it together. Kai Tai Airport, Hong Kong While it’s no longer operational, Kai Tai Airport was once instrumental with linking Hong Kong with the outside world. From 1925 to 1998 landing on this little chunk of reclaimed land with high-rises on both sides was a harrowing experience in larger aircraft. Sea Ice Runway, McMurdo Station, Antarctica During the summer Antarctic field season the Sea Ice Runway acts as the principle runway for the US Antarctic Program. A proper runway for wheeled aircraft is constructed at the start of each season and used up until early December, until the ice breaks up. Paro Airport, Bhutan Flying into the only international airport in Bhutan is no easy task, with pilots having to navigate through two treacherously narrow valleys and performing a turn in its approach to the strip. Paro Airport is serviced by Bhutan’s National Airline Druk Air. Barra Airport, Scotland What makes this short-runway airport located at the north tip of the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides is the fact that it’s the one airport in the world where scheduled flights use the beach as a runway (provided of course that the tide is out). Images: Getty

International Travel

Couple with the same name share the story of their unique path to love

Married couple Nunzia and Nunzio Varricchio took sharing to the extreme on the day of their births. With matching Christian names, the pair were born with mere hours between them in the same Italian village, with the same midwife overseeing both occasions. As their daughter, Vicki Brunello, explained to 7 News, “[the midwife] happened to be Dad’s grandmother. She delivered my dad, hopped on her bike, and a few hours later she delivered my mum.” Apparently, that same grandmother had joked that she’d found her grandson a girlfriend. And although she hadn’t been (entirely) serious at the time, it turns out she’d been right on the money. Cut to 15 years later, when Nunzio decided that he’d ask his partner-in-name to be his girlfriend - just as his grandmother had predicted. Nunzio believed that it had been “love at first sight”, although it seems that Nunzia didn’t quite share his opinion. Although she did eventually fall for him, it took “a little bit of time” to get to the same point. As she put it, “I didn’t say yes straight away.” Nor did the couple make it official immediately. Nunzio and his family actually moved to Australia in the 1960s, far from the village where the two had grown up. He made the decision to farewell Nunzia before he joined his family overseas, and while he might have been hoping for a sweet moment for the subject of his affections, Nunzia - once again - had other ideas. He had hoped to give her a kiss, even going so far as to tell her as much, but as Nunzia explained, “I said ‘forget about it’.” And as she added, she’d even threatened to throw a bucket on his head, far from the heartfelt goodbye he’d envisioned. Nunzia was determined not to be forgotten, and Nunzio was in no position to do so. Writing to her regularly, he told her all about his new life in Australia, and although she took “a little longer” to respond to him, she still did, with the two remaining in constant - if not a little irregular - contact. But even Nunzia couldn’t play hard to get forever, and at just 21 years old, she packed her bags and moved to join Nunzio in Australia, with the couple marrying soon after. However, their shared history decided the time had come to cause a little chaos, with Australian authorities assuming they’d made a mistake on their paperwork while registering their marriage. The issue? The similarities in their applications - their matching names, birthdays, and places of births. It was one they unfortunately encountered again when trying to organise passports. As for problems with their life, neither had anything to report - nor did their three children and six grandchildren, who claimed they’d never so much as seen the 80-year-old Nunzio and Nunzia argue. Nunzio put their success in marriage down to their amicable conflict resolution strategy, and explained that after their wedding, his wife had informed him to “keep quiet” if she started arguing while upset. From there, he said, they simply “cool down and we don’t argue.” “Dad’s a big softie,” daughter Vicki added, “you know, and there’s a lot of love.” “We’re very happy,” Nunzia agreed. Images: 7 News

Relationships

“Rarest species of feline on Earth”: Unique cat mystifies the internet

A photo of the “rarest species of feline on Earth”, a cat with black and neon yellow stripes, has mystified the internet. The incredible photo of the “Amazon snake cat” is truly unbelievable. The image of the so-called “Serpens Cattus”, a feline with black and neon-yellow stripes resembling a snake, made waves online, with social media posts claiming it was the “rarest species of feline on Earth”. “Serpens Cattus is the rarest species of feline on Earth. These Animals live in hard-to-reach regions of the Amazon rainforest, and therefore they are relatively poorly studied,” a Twitter user claimed. “The first images capturing the snake cat appeared only in 2020. Weighs up to 4 stone (25kgs).” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://t.co/rpeMQKCF4I">pic.twitter.com/rpeMQKCF4I</a> — Jeff_kamara2 (@Kamara2R) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kamara2R/status/1635669633553367040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote> A now-deleted Reddit post of the “Serpens Cattus” attracted several comments who flagged the feline as not being real. “Obvious fake. No known gene can produce natural hair or fur of those (navy and bright yellow) colours,” one commented. “Really rough attempt at a fake Latin name,” a second person chimed in. “One google about species naming would have made this a lot less obvious.” The post caught the eye of zoology experts to verify the authenticity of the photo. However, the colours and patterns on the female bare a strong resemblance to the reptilian boiga dendrophila, which is commonly referred to as the “gold-ringed cat snake”. According to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, the snake is found in the same countries where the “Amazon snake cat” was rumoured to be found. The serpent-like feline slid over to TikTok, where one user claimed that the species lived in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname. “He’s in the next fantastic beasts,” laughed one user referencing the Harry Potter spin-off franchise. “Use this s**t for good not to misinform,” another user wrote. “Stop sharing bulls**t,” a third commented. It's clear to see the mysterious feline has certainly left some in hiss-belief. Image credit: Twitter

Family & Pets

Unique ‘Butterfly House’ built for heartwarming reason

If you’re sick and tired of the modern penchant for monotone homes, this unique property, dubbed “The Butterfly House”, could be the remedy you need. The home, adorned in vibrant colours and plenty of butterflies both inside and outside, started out as a standard, if somewhat run-down, house in Pacific Grove, California, that was transformed for a heartwarming reason. Its original owners, J and Sonja Jackson, purchased the house in 1977 for just $US 37,500, equivalent to about $191,000 ($NZ 300,000) in today’s money, per the <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/11/18/inside-californias-butterfly-house-listed-for-998k/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a>. Given its state, with the floor one day collapsing under J’s feet while he was washing dishes, the retired school counsellor rebuilt the home from the studs up, but began to decorate it in the 1990s, when his wife began suffering from a degenerative eye disease. Sonja, the secretary of the Blind & Visually Impaired Center of Monterey County, was losing her eyesight but still able to see bright colours, so J took it upon himself to make it as bright as he could. As for the butterflies, J chose them as a tribute to the unofficial mascot for Pacific Grove: the Monarch butterfly. J made many of the butterflies by hand, spending an average of six hours a day creating them. What’s more, the property is just a kilometre away from the county’s Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary, a small wooded area that has been preserved as a habitat for the butterflies. Now, the two-bedroom, two-bathroom home is up for sale, with a listing price of $US 998,000 ($NZ 1.57 million). Sotheby’s International Realty agent Arleen Hardenstein, who is managing the sale, told The Post that Sonja is selling the home because of her changing needs, with J passing away several years ago. “I love the eclectic artwork,” she said “One whimsical section flows to another — it’s very sparkly, fun and pretty.” Given its celebrity status in the local area, Ms Hardenstein said the new owners would have to both love the home and “be willing to live in a bit of a fishbowl”. “The P.G. Butterfly House is well known in the community and attracts a fairly constant stream of visitors who are curious to see it,” she said. So far, Ms Hardenstein has received “an enormous amount of interest” from prospective buyers, with many loving the home, its story, or both. As of publication, the home is contingent, less than a month after being listed for sale. Images: Sotheby’s International Realty

Real Estate

The world’s coolest swimming pool could be yours

A unique home in the “opal capital of the world” has hit the market, but its location isn’t the coolest thing about it. The three-bedroom, one-bathroom home in Coober Pedy, South Australia, is both completely underground and boasts its very own indoor swimming pool, located in the main entertaining room. Dubbed “Faye’s Underground Home”, the property is lived-in - a rarity for the area - and open to tourists, who can pay a small fee to go on a guided tour. The home’s six main rooms include the three bedrooms and entertaining room, as well as a kitchen, lounge and dining room with a built-in bar, and a wine cellar. According to <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/25-old-water-tank-road-coober-pedy-sa-5723-2013265706?utm_source=nine.com.au&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=editorial-content" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the listing</a>, the home features jade walls, timber details, and bursts of retro colour. It was originally a one-bedroom dug-out that the local mail truck driver called home, before being converted into the residence it is today. While a price guide hasn’t been set for the home, <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/coober-pedys-underground-home-with-indoor-pool-is-a-rare-gem-1186477/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Domain</a> has reported that the median house price for Coober Pedy sits at around $74,500 ($NZ 79,650), having increased by 12.9 percent since last year. Located 846 kilometres north of Adelaide, Coober Pedy has a population of 1769 people mostly over the age of 60. Images: Lin Andrews Real Estate

Real Estate

Australia’s ‘most isolated’ property could be yours

A parcel of land in Tasmania is up for grabs, but unlike other vacant lots on the market right now, this one offers seclusion and undisturbed ocean views. The 100-acre lot is located on the western side of King Island, Bungaree, overlooking the Southern Ocean. According to <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/253-buttons-road-bungaree-tas-7256-2017573996?gclid=Cj0KCQiAg_KbBhDLARIsANx7wAw9ka8CM9bZOC-j1ZlJxaoSebxdZwvNNYs1NYPIUosFh-7dIBZZF5waAr97EALw_wcB?utm_source=nine.com.au&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=editorial-content" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the listing</a>, made through Circa Heritage and Lifestyle Property Specialists, the block serves as the perfect opportunity “to create an oasis” fit for nature lovers, environmentalists or “anyone in search of seclusion and privacy”. Along with its proximity to the ocean, the property includes a heart-shaped dam and creek that runs into the ocean. There are no other properties in sight either, so if its new owner builds their dream home they will just have the birds, fish, and kangaroos to keep them company. “It is said there is 'something special' about the water quality on this acreage with it's heart shaped dam and permanent creek running to the ocean where thousands of crayfish were released by the Tasmanian Government and where the locals say the crayfish from these waters gown three years faster than anywhere else in the Southern Hemisphere!” the listing says. “Add to this abalone fishing at your fingertips, an enormous array of fish and bird species passing through throughout the year from the Northern Hemisphere, a private sandy swimming and surfing beach, a well-protected bay for launching your own boat safely and easily and even a cray fishing licence available and you have what can only be described as a nature lover's paradise.” The property has potential for cattle, sheep and goats, while abalone and cray fishing are on its doorstep. While it is isolated and private, the property’s future owner can still socialise, with the island offering golf courses, cafes and restaurants at its heart and Melbourne at just a 45-minute flight away. “'253 Buttons Road' offers the opportunity to create a stunning and secluded family home, holiday retreat, boutique tourism venture or off-grid, eco-friendly haven in a pristine and unspoiled location,” the listing reads. Images: Circa Heritage and Lifestyle Property Specialists

Real Estate

You could become King of this medieval castle

You could become a lord or lady of your very own medieval castle, after the sprawling home in Rochester, Minnesota hit the market for just $2.5 million ($NZD 4.07 million). The sprawling property, complete with 26 rooms, a wine cellar, hot tub, and its very own pub, was built in the 1990s and has been <a href="http://www.signaturesir.com/property/detail.php?market=MI_REALCOMP&mlsn=20221030870" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listed</a> on Zillow and Signature Sotheby’s International Realty. Enclosed by a wrought-iron fence, the 567-square-metre home also boasts two gated towers, a drawbridge, arched windows and soaring ceilings. Other highlights include timbered and mirrored walls, ceilings covered in artwork, chandeliers, and a red-carpeted grand staircase in the foyer, as well as a portcullis, five fireplaces and an elevator. Each of the seven bathrooms - which outnumber the five bedrooms - is decorated with statues, marble details, and gold railings. The listing describes the home as “the perfect private palace”, which took over a team of international artisans over six years to construct. The castle is 18 metres tall - rising above a standard four-storey building - and comes with a few surprises, including secret rooms and passageways, as well as a hidden staircase. Images: Signature Sotheby’s International Realty

Real Estate

Historic first as unique WWII sea fort bunker goes on sale

A decommissioned World War II fort in the middle of the ocean is being auctioned off for the first time in an historic sale. Starting at £50,000 (A$87k), the abandoned concrete vessel was initially built between 1915 and 1919 for naval defence during World War I, but was not operational until WWII. The property, which is located in the Humber Estuary of Northern England, is defined by the United Kingdom as a “grade II” building or structure that is “of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve it”, making it a historic listing. The unique marine dwelling under the hammer on July 19th through <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124641977?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-zillowgonewild&utm_content=later-28287929&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkin.bio#/?channel=RES_BUY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Savills National Auctions</a>. The ship once featured 30cm of armour on one side and an arsenal of weapons on the other, which was enough to support a garrison of up to 200 soldiers, according to the listing. The armour and weaponry were stripped from the site back in 1956. The sea fort is made up of three floors with a basement and a chamber below sea level, and also features a central two-storey observation tower. “In need of refurbishment throughout with potential for development /alternative uses, subject to consent.” the listing explains. The sea fort itself can only be accessed ‘by private boat’ from a port just south of Hull, located approximately five hours from London. Image credits: rightmove.co.uk

Real Estate

Sir David Attenborough receives unique honour

Sir David Attenborough now has not one, but two knighthoods, after receiving the honour in recognition of his conservation and television broadcasting work. The iconic naturalist was awarded the prestigious Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George - an honour usually reserved for diplomats - by the Prince of Wales, a fellow passionate campaigner for environmental issues. Sir David was first knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1985, and collected his newest medal at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, June 8. The 96-year-old is also the first recipient of the award without a diplomatic background. "At Windsor Castle, Sir David Attenborough is invested by the Prince of Wales as a Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George," the royal family's official Twitter account read. "Congratulations Sir David!" <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"> 🌍 Well done to Sir David Attenborough, who was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George, for his lifetime of work in broadcasting and promoting the importance of the natural world and its conservation. <a href="https://t.co/tRLEIreV3R">pic.twitter.com/tRLEIreV3R</a> — The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClarenceHouse/status/1534582171440230404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2022</a></blockquote> Clarence House, the social media account for Prince Charles and Camilla, also shared the news, along with one photo from the investiture and another of Sir David with a young Prince Charles and Princess Anne meeting a cockatoo. The nature presenter has had a close relationship with the royals for a number of years, particularly with the Queen, her late husband Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Prince William. In 2019, he established the Earthshot Prize with Prince William to inspire innovative solutions to current global environmental challenges. As part of the recent Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Sir David delivered a message about climate change and the planet that was projected onto the front of Buckingham Palace. His speech was followed by one from Prince William, who praised Sir David and the Queen for their commitment to the environment "Today, in 2022, as the Queen celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, the pressing need to protect and restore our planet has never been more urgent," Prince William told the audience. "But like her, I am an optimist. "It's my firm hope that my grandmother's words are as true in 70 years time as they are tonight. That as nations we come together in common cause because then there is always room for hope." Image: Getty Images

Retirement Life

Mega mansion with odes to Hollywood hits the market

A mansion on the top of a mountain with “million-dollar views” of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Hinterland has hit the market - but its unique interior could be its biggest drawcard. Not only does it come with seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms, it also boasts its own medieval throne room, a Wild West-style saloon bar, and a Hollywood-style theatrette. Ray White Beerwah agent Alex Garden said the property, known as Chateau Cedarton, was built by a concreter who wanted his own mega mansion. “It is really unique,” Mr Garden told <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/live-like-royalty-in-qlds-own-game-of-thrones-house/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">realestate.com.au</a>. “In its heyday, it would have been a really cool venue.” The medieval throne room, styled with stone tiles to create a classic castle look, is complete with two full-sized replica knights and leads into the 25-metre-long red-carpeted theatrette, decorated with Hollywood-style movie posters. The Wild West-style saloon room features timber panelling, appropriately-themed wall art and a cellar. Other internal features include a sauna and spa, as well as a formal reception area, statement kitchen, formal dining room, space for 10 cars, a pool/rumpus room, and a commercial kitchen and laundry. Outside, the 16.19-hectare block boasts just as many interesting features, such as Roman columns, a pool with its own public bathroom, and replicas of European fountains. There is also a wraparound verandah, a resort-style pool, a gazebo, fruit trees, three dams, and a workers cottage. According to the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-cedarton-139351039" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listing</a>, the home has complete privacy despite being surrounded by large acreage homes and “hosts scenic breathtaking million-dollar views”. After spending a weekend at the home more than a decade ago, owners Victor and Lana, who have asked for their surname not to be published, said they fell in love with the property. But, their plans for transforming the home were put on hold after Victor suffered an accident which saw him undergo extensive rehabilitation two months after they moved in. “We had huge plans for it and we did open it as a function centre, restaurant and accommodation for a while, we also had visits from the elderly, from retirement villages and children with disabilities,” Lana said. “And our direction changed towards that, towards helping people who needed some peace and tranquillity.” With COVID-19 lockdowns keeping them away from half of their family in Victoria, the couple then decided it was time to sell - giving them the opportunity to move south and start their new business venture. They have freshened up the home ahead of the sale, softening some of the Tuscan palette to create a more neutral vibe. But, they have left its unique rooms untouched. “That’s what makes it so unique,” Lana said. They hope that the next owner has their own vision for the property, as Lana says the estate has “so much potential”. “It needs someone with some big plans and the ability to make them happen. “The views, the privacy, the grounds, the possibilities are endless.” Images: Ray White

Real Estate

Professional baby namer opens up about her unique career

A professional baby namer has opened up about her unique career, and how her clients pay up to $30,000 to find them the perfect baby names. Taylor A. Humphrey, aged 33 from New York, is the founder of 'What's in a Baby Name,' a boutique consultancy that offers everything from name lists based on parents’ answers to a questionnaire to a full-service baby naming concierge. Her services start at $1,500 for a bespoke list of options and can cost thousands more, depending on the job. For the price of $10,000, she will come up with a name that 'will be on-brand with a parent's business’. Humphrey, who doesn't have children of her own but also works as a doula, is willing to go to great lengths to help parents find the ideal name, including a genealogical investigation to find old family names. She has helped name more than 100 children last year, and part of her job is counselling parents through the process. The consultant offered a glimpse into how she finds new names, saying she scans everything from film credits to street signs for inspiration. She also follows trends using the Social Security database and notes the names that are in a sharp decline due to negative associations to things like natural disasters and certain brands. <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@whatsinababynamedoula/video/6989773817275059461" data-video-id="6989773817275059461"> <section><a title="@whatsinababynamedoula" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@whatsinababynamedoula" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@whatsinababynamedoula</a> Reply to @sastheobald 16 NYC-Inspired Baby Names! Comment Your Favorites below! <a title="babynames" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/babynames" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#babynames</a> <a title="babynameconsultant" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/babynameconsultant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#babynameconsultant</a> <a title="babynamer" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/babynamer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#babynamer</a> <a title="professionalbabynamer" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/professionalbabynamer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#professionalbabynamer</a> <a title="name" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#name</a> <a title="♬ New York New York (Instrumental) - Jack Ontario Soundorchestra" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/New-York-New-York-Instrumental-6969398451083675649" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ New York New York (Instrumental) - Jack Ontario Soundorchestra</a></section> </blockquote> The baby naming expert, who graduated from New York University, had tried other careers, including screenwriting, before she found her calling. 'The most exciting part of that entire venture was picking out the names of the characters,' she recalled. She fell into the baby naming business in 2015 when she launched her Instagram handle @whatsinababyname. She explained that she would share her favourite baby names and the numerology behind them. 'People were messaging me and asking me what they should name their babies,' she said. 'I think there was something about seeing the lists and people would see their names and they would think that I could help them find names for their children that could go with the ones of the other kids they had.' Humphrey said she was 'so flattered' at the time that she was 'giving out the advice for free.' It wasn't until she started studying to be a doula in 2018 that she realized she could turn the demand for her naming services into a niche business. She admitted there was some trial and error and 'a bit of ego involved' when she first started the business. Humphrey's personal services don't come cheap, but she has more than 46,700 followers on TikTok, where she gives baby naming advice for free. In one video, she responded to a follower who asked for a boy's name to go with Connor, suggesting Brady, Cooper, Foster, Greyson, and Lucas. Humphrey also gets plenty of questions from viewers who can't believe she names babies for a living. 'Believe it or not, this is my full-time job,' she said. Images: TikTok

Family & Pets

Five incredible new tiny houses in Victoria, perfect for a rural escape

Ecotourism tiny house company Tiny Away has added new tiny houses to its portfolio of rural getaways and they’re ready to welcome travellers looking for that perfectly quaint escape. The new houses span Mount Alexander and Moorabool Shire, the High Country, and the Macedon and Yarra Ranges. With the idea of seclusion and switching off becoming a modern-day luxury, these sustainable tiny getaways are perfect for a couple’s escape or for solo travellers looking for the ultimate me-time break. Some houses even have a little more room so you can plan a getaway with the kids, and even your furry friend. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/tiny-house1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The eco-friendly tiny houses are perfect for travellers seeking alternative and unique accommodation experiences. A step up from glamping, each tiny house offers hot showers, air conditioning, a cosy queen bed, and a kitchenette. Tiny Away now has over 100 unique short-stay tiny house accommodation options across Australia. Its tiny architecturally designed houses are set on private land in rural and regional locations and are designed to get visitors out of the city and into the outdoors. Tiny Away was created for guests to truly disconnect, recharge, and enjoy a minimalist lifestyle with loved ones. “All the properties offer something different. Some are only semi-secluded and close to activities, and others are in the middle of nowhere,” says Jeff Yeo, co-founder of Tiny Away. Quantum Field, Toolangi Located in Toolangi, in the stunning Yarra Valley, <a href="https://tinyaway.com/listing/quantum-field/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this house</a> is surrounded by a charming mix of native and exotic European and Japanese flora, backdropped by a picturesque, swimmable pond. Guests will enjoy a truly tranquil and remote getaway with world-famous wineries and activities right on the doorstep. The property follows ecologically sustainable principles, including a waterless eco-friendly compost toilet and a natural water spring that feeds the property's filtered water. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/tiny-house2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The Ridge, Korweinguboora Set on farmland in Central Victoria’s Wombat Forest, <a href="https://tinyaway.com/listing/the-ridge/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Ridge</a> is surrounded by productive gardens, including a fruit orchard, veggie garden and avenues of deciduous trees, all surrounded by tall eucalypt forests. The farm is home to a small flock of sheep, chickens, a (very) friendly border collie, and abundant birdlife. The rear of the property has 5 acres of forest to explore with elevated views beyond to the Wombat Forest. The nearby forest includes lush fern-covered gullies which form the headwaters of the Moorabool River. Just 10 minutes from the house is the thriving township of Daylesford, and close to all that the Macedon Ranges has to offer including mineral springs, truffle farms, wineries, organic produce, day spas, and fine dining. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/tiny-house3.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The Sanatorium, Yackandandah Tucked in a stunning, elevated bushing seeing with panoramic views cradled above the Yackandandah Valley lies <a href="https://tinyaway.com/listing/the-sanatorium/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sanatorium</a>. The tiny house’s panoramic views allow guests to experience clean mountain air, abundant wildlife and birdlife, enjoyed within a well maintained and beautifully presented farm setting. The house is framed perfectly by cattle grazing, meandering horses and surrounding countryside. The nearby Stanley Range provides mountain biking, horse riding and trail bike activities, as well as boutique breweries, distilleries, wineries and restaurants found in and around Yackandandah. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/tiny-house4.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Tiny Hideaway, Newham Hidden in a 97-acre property surrounded by farmland on all sides, <a href="https://tinyaway.com/listing/tiny-hideaway-at-cloverhills/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tiny Hideaway</a> is surrounded by long winding roads, perfect for walking experiences - or bring your bike, go horse riding, or just simply appreciate nature. The Cobaw Ranges are just a short drive for those who want to do some serious hiking. The house is in Newham, a small hamlet in the Macedon Ranges, nestled between Woodend, Kyneton, and Lancefield, making it an ideal position to explore the country town hospitality of the regions’ cafes and restaurants, as well as wineries and gin distilleries. Newham is close to the iconic Hanging Rock and nearby Hanging Rock Winery. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/tiny-house5.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Treetops Trail, Walmer <a href="https://tinyaway.com/listing/treetops-trail/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Treetops Trail</a> is set in a beautiful bush setting, amongst the trees, just five minutes from the historical town of Maldon. The property offers a plethora of activities from bushwalks and discovering hidden gold mines to local towns boasting fairs, festivals and local produce. The friendly wildlife and remote setting will guarantee a relaxing getaway and to get a taste of the area, visitors can easily follow the Maldon Taste of Gold food and wine trail, sampling the area’s best local wines and produce from farm gates and cellar doors. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/tiny-house6.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> About Tiny Away Founded in 2018, the Tiny Away network includes a range of comfy eco-friendly ‘tiny houses’ for travellers seeking alternative and unique accommodation experiences. Tiny Away offers adventurous road-trippers and weekenders the chance to immerse themselves in Australia’s vast flora and fauna, without compromising on comfort. A step up from glamping, each tiny house offers hot showers, air conditioning, a cosy queen bed, and a kitchenette. Using a profit-sharing arrangement that sees landowners earning up to 45% of rental revenue, Tiny Away considers itself a partner with landowner hosts on a mission to create rare and exceptional accommodation experiences. The sustainably built tiny houses are typically positioned on a working farm, often totally offgrid, and hosts offer all sorts of unique activities that give guests a taste of rural life. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/image001.png" alt="" width="250" height="137" /> Images: Supplied

Domestic Travel

Schapelle Corby's unique career change

Former convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby has turned her creative passion into a new career move. The 44-year-old began making beach-themed epoxy clocks in her spare time, after she taught herself the art in 2020. Each clock she makes takes five days to complete, is made on recycled wood and features her signature, as she sells her creations on Instagram. “I’m self taught and through a lot of trial and error I’m happy with where I am creatively with my clocks,” Corby told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/drug-smuggler-schapelle-corbys-bizarre-career-change/news-story/91cdd64b005a180df8bff19806d6943e" target="_blank">Confidential</a>. “I’m mainly inspired to do beach theme art work. I do all the work by myself, sanding, drilling etc. All of the shells used are collected by myself mainly on the low tide of a full moon. I remember each shell I find and while I’m working on my creations I really feel love for each piece of the process.” <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CO1v3kULRA4/?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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CO1v3kULRA4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Schapellecorby (@schapelle.corby)</a> </div> </blockquote> Schapelle became somewhat of a reality TV star following her release from spending 10 years in Bali's infamous Kerobokan prison. She appeared on the first season of SAS Australia, before also trying her hand at Dancing With The Stars. Now residing in Brisbane, her epoxy clock business takes up most of her time. “Epoxy resin has become more than just a hobby for me. It really occupies most of my thoughts,” she said. “I’m continually thinking of an epoxy problem, and finding solutions fills my dreams also. “I’ve dreamt of certain creations vividly, woke and got to work creating what came to me in a dream. This creative art form has given me so much purpose to my days; I absolutely love this passion of mine.” Image credits: Instagram @schapelle.corby

Money & Banking

“There’s nothing like it”: Unique ‘sculpture’ house hits the market

A home built from nearly 100 tonnes of salvaged steel has become known as the “Steel House” in Ransom Canyon, Texas, and its new owners are hoping to sell it. Courtney and Blake Bartosh, realtors with Taylor Reid Realty, bought the home several months ago from the builder’s daughter, before putting it <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/85-E-Canyonview-Dr_Ransom-Canyon_TX_79366_M70027-66092" target="_blank">back on the market</a> for $USD 1.75 million ($NZD 2.6 million). ‘We purchased it with every intention of turning it into an Airbnb or VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner). We’re getting a cash out [refinance] to finish the house, because the inside of it is not done,” Courtney Bartosh told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/steel-house-in-texas-live-inside-a-scuplture/" target="_blank">realtor.com</a>. “If it sells for what we’re asking, great. If not, as soon as we get our refinancing done, we will take it off the market, and we will finish it.” Construction of the Steel House began in 1974, but its builder, Robert Bruno, never finished it, passing away from colon cancer in 2008. The structure has been unoccupied ever since. “Robert built an incredible house, and nobody has ever really been allowed in it,” Bartosh added. “He built it for a reason, not to just sit there and have people drive by and look at it. He wanted people to see inside of it. We don’t want someone to buy it and never open it up. Robert built this incredible thing. People drive by it constantly, and they should be able to go in and see it.” The unfinished home is made up of two steel shells with insulation between them, and features stained glass windows, winding stairs connecting the different floors, and archways and curved designs throughout. Bartosh said some of the walls could be painted, but that the steel still comes through. “I don’t think that the house is meant to be a warm and cozy house. People are not going to go stay in it because it is warm and cozy,” she said. “They’re going to want to stay in it because it’s iconic. It’s different. There’s nothing like it.” Currently, the home’s configuration includes three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms inside the 200-square metre steel structure. However, its new owners will need to put some work in to get it ready to live in. “There’s subfloor and tile in some places. Some areas need some flooring. Some of the windows need to be worked on. One of the bathrooms is not finished, and the kitchen needs to be finished out,” Bartosh said. The house sits on four legs - which also contain rooms including a sitting area and an office - and boasts views of the Ransom Canyon below. “The house sits on three lots, and it overlooks the Ransom Canyon and the lake. The main window in the living room is incredible to look out of. It’s an incredible view,” Bartosh said. Despite the majority of the house appearing suspended, you enter through a regular front door. “Where you park in the street, you just walk straight into the house,” Bartosh explained. “When you walk in, you’re on the main level.” This level also houses the living space, dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms, and a couple of bathrooms, and the master bedroom is found upstairs. Bartosh said she and her husband plan to finish construction in about six months, but they know they might encounter obstacles once the work begins. Though she said she is OK if the home doesn’t sell, Bartosh added that it is a unique opportunity for a new owner. “Who else can say they live inside a sculpture?” she asks. “We love the house. It’s an incredible home. Nobody else in the world can say they’ve owned something like it.” Images: Realtor.com, Courtney Bartosh, The Bartosh Realty Group

Real Estate

Winners of the Wotif Uniquely Aussie Awards crowned

With every small Aussie town claiming to have the best pubs, bakeries and hot chips, the <a href="https://www.wotif.com/vc/blog/australia/trending/2021-uniquely-aussie-awards/">Wotif.com Uniquely Aussie Awards</a> have made the definitive decisions. The travel site announced the winners of the six prestigious awards, as an annual guide to Australia’s quintessential experiences in both food and culture. The awards were designed to highlight some of the nation’s best kept secrets in small towns, beachside communities and occasionally, the big cities. The awards are Best Jaffle, Best Vanilla Slice, Best Country Pub, Best Hot Chips, Best Hotel Pool and Best National Park. This year, New South Wales took home the crown for the Best Jaffle, with the award going to Miss Jaffles in Cronulla, and Best Country Pub going to the Beechwood Hotel in Beechwood (just half an hour drive from Port Macquarie). Queensland’s JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa claimed the title of Best Hotel Pool, while the iconic Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory was named Best National Park. The elite foodie awards went to the Bridgewater Bakehouse in Victoria for the Best Vanilla Slice, and Chicken Chef in Blair Athol, South Australia took home the Best Hot Chips title. Wotif managing director Daniel Finch said the awards are an opportunity for locals to nominate the unsung heroes of their community for national recognition. “Country charm, cheesy jaffles and creamy vanilla slices - no one does them quite like Australia, and the thousands of nominations we received this year shows Aussies are a passionate bunch,” he said. “There's so much to love and discover about Australia, and with a really exciting summer period ahead, we hope to inspire and encourage Aussies to plan their next adventure and support local businesses.” With the awards in their fourth year, Daniel said the 2021 awards have showcased an outpouring of community spirit, especially as local businesses have had a tough 18 months due to the pandemic. With thousands of votes from all over the country, it's clear to see that Aussies are passionate about their homegrown customs, and supporting their local communities along the way. Image credit: Getty Images

Food & Wine

Nirvana superfan’s unique tribute

One inventive cyclist has found a unique way to pay tribute to the 30th anniversary of Nirvana’s Nevermind album. Adelaide’s Peter Stokes took to the streets to recreate the iconic image of a baby swimming towards a dollar bill. Using the popular fitness app Strava, which tracks exercise routes, Peter traced out the image using the streets of Adelaide as his canvas. Mr Stokes said the project took several months of planning to carve out his route, and took eight hours in total to complete. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844441/never-mind.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ff7e5bec975e42eb9fbba9962f88cce7" /> Image credit: Instagram He also said he listened to the 12-track album for the entirety of the 150 kilometre journey. "Definitely it was something I'd thought about a lot and been quite keen to do, to be a tribute to what I think is a really great album," Peter said. "Earlier in the year [I was] going through my old record collection and going, 'Oh my God, that album's 30 years old this year', and just thinking, 'You know what, that deserves its own little piece'." Nevermind was released on September 24th 1991, and features Nirvana’s most iconic hits Come As You Are and Smells Like Teen Spirit. Peter timed his pilgrimage to coincide with the date of the album’s release, as he stretched his journey from Campbelltown in the north-east to Plympton in the south-west. "The face was really difficult … but it's good enough," he said. "We've got so much green space, so many parks which, from my point of view for doing this, are great to be able to cut through and take shortcuts." The Nirvana album cover was not Mr Stokes’ first cycling artwork, as last year he completed a depiction of composer Ludwig van Beethoven. He's already setting his sights, and his handlebars, in the direction of even more ambitious street art projects. "I'd kind of be really keen to do some major artworks," he said. "I did start playing around with trying to design one for Van Gogh's Starry Night, but that got a bit tricky, so I might have to try some simpler artworks first." Image credits: Shutterstock / Instagram

Music

Is purple your favourite colour? This wine is for you

Whether you prefer your wine to be red, yellow or pink, you’ve never seen wine in this shade before. An Australian winery has created a purple wine, made from a blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc with an infusion of botanicals. <a href="https://purplereign.com.au/">Purple Reign Wine</a>, the vineyard behind this unique wine, says they have “harnessed nature’s rarest colour and most powerful visible wave-length to create a popular style of wine embellished with mystery and nobility.” <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CH7Jf2ij2Ck/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CH7Jf2ij2Ck/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The World’s First Purple Wine! (@purplereignwine)</a> </div> </blockquote> The winery goes on to say the drop “is infused with natural, organic, plant-based botanicals to minimise the use of sulphites.” The move away from using sulphites in wine stems from a theory that avoiding synthetic additives like sulphites could lessen a hangover. According to this theory, natural wines that replace synthetic additives with botanicals have less acetaldehyde, a chemical that your body breaks down after drinking alcohol. A <a href="https://www.saveur.com/story/drink/truth-about-natural-wine-and-hangovers/">2013 study</a> by the University of Rome found lower amounts of acetaldehyde in blood meant the liver had less work to do and could process alcohol faster. Co-developer Ross Stewart told <a href="https://www.perthnow.com.au/travel/food-wine/worlds-first-purple-wine-purple-reign-developed-in-wa-and-it-might-lessen-your-hangover-ng-b881858722z">Perth Now</a> that one customer claimed the wine didn’t trigger his asthma like other drops. “We’ve had many similar stories from customers over the last two years,” Mr Ross said. “We believe using antioxidant rich compounds in winemaking could also translate to a clearer, less foggy head after drinking, compared to other wines.” Mr Ross added, “We’ve also found that when our wines are stored correctly after opening, they stay fresh for longer than other wines, all by using natural means.” As for the flavour profile, Purple Reign says the “lush style wine exhibits a hint of grass and a touch of minerals with a perfect balance of natural acidity and freshness complemented by a crisp dry finish.” Image credit: Purple Reign Wine / Instagram

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