The World’s Best National Parks

by | Jul 18, 2022 | Guides, Travel

Did you know that there are more than three thousand national parks in the world? Consider the amount of space provided for people to connect with nature; parks take up a huge amount of space. Every continent is rich in its own natural wealth.

When compared to each other, national parks are assessed by a range of factors. Accessibility, occupancy, beauty, amenities—these are only a few things that people use to observe on their visit to the national park. Some parks are definitely worth visiting at least once in life, and they are listed below.‍

Yellowstone National Park (USA) — the park at the top of the dormant volcano

Protected by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Yellowstone National Park is a true jewel of American natural resources. Occupying more than 8,983.18 km2 of the western United States, Yellowstone extends over Wyoming, corners of Idaho and Montana.

One third of the park is taken by the Yellowstone Caldera – a supervolcano that was formed over the last two million years as the result of three eruptions. There is some activity noticed, but scientists consider it safe, and the park welcomes visitors from all over the world.

Yellowstone is a unique place for local wildlife: wolves, grizzly bears, and bison herds (the largest and oldest in the country’s territory) – these animals, and many more, are a gift to photographers, animal activists, and lovers.

Grand Teton National Park (USA) – the national park in the country to have its own airport

Grand Teton National Park is located south of Yellowstone National Park in northwest Wyoming. In 2029, it will celebrate its first 100 years. The radius of the park is approximately 310, 000 acres.

The park was established twice in the past: first time in 1929, when locals have introduced a protection plan for the lake and mountains; second time – 31 years later, in 1950, when it was united with the valley floors. Grand Teton, the highest local mountain that gave its name to the park, is 4199 metres high. Another landmark of the park is Jackson Lake, remainder of a gouging glacier.

There are 61 species of mammals living on the park’s territory, and over 300 kinds of birds.

One interesting fact about Grand Teton is that it was given its own airport. Opened in 1930, the Jackson Hole Airport is still providing commercial flights in 21 different routes on the US territory.

Killarney (Ireland) – the local version of Grand Teton National Park

Like Grand Teton Park, Killarney National Park provides its guests with accommodation (hotels and residences nearby), has amazing hiking opportunities and is home to at least 140 animal species, including animals, fish and birds. It was opened in 1932 in Killarney and became the first national park in the country.

Since opening, Killarney Park has been extended to 102.89 km2 to this day. The park is notable for its unusual climate. It has an oceanic climate, and the Gulf Stream has a strong influence on the weather in the park.Winter here is almost warm, yet summer feels cool. Killarney is also home to the Lakes of Killarney – three lakes (Upper Lake, Lough Leane, and Middle Lake) in a low valley.

Queen Victoria visited the park in 1861, and her court lady called it the best view point in the park. Thus, it has received her name – Ladies View.

Tarangire (Tanzania) – Home to unique animals

Tarangire National Park in Africa, Manyara Region, is a park named after the river that is a major source of water for the local fauna. The area of the park is 2850 square kilometres. Tarangire national park was established in 1970.

The list of things to do in the park leaves you a wide choice. A walking safari tour with a guide that will tell you everything you need to know is a favourite choice of visitors. You can also book a trip for several days and visit local villages, Barabaig and Maasai, or go look at the ancient paintings.

The world-famous Baobab tree is growing here. The age of this specie is more than 500 years, and it serves as a source of food for the animals of the park. The animals are, indeed, a prior reason to visit Tarangire National Park, apart from its beautiful landscape. Nowhere else in the world will you see a white giraffe and lions that are capable of climbing trees. The population of elephants in Tarangire National Park is enormous and the biggest in northern Tanzania: almost two and a half thousand of them are concentrated in the park.

Torres del Paine (Chile) – the place of historical discoveries

In the Magallanes region of Chile, 112 km north of the city of Puerto Natales and 312 km north of Punta Arenas, Torres del Paine National Park is waiting for all the connoisseurs of beauty to come and lose their sense of speech. If you doubt that you can see forests, deserts, and shrubb-land in one place, Torres del Paine is ruining your concerns.

The park was opened in 1959, under a different name, Lake Grey Tourist National Park. When climbing up above, you will explore a breathtaking experience: the Paine Massif, which is a collection of spires and rocks forming a granite intrusion. Three of them are the highest and most massive, and they form the popular Torres del Paine. The radius of Torres del Paine is almost 600,000 acres. 

A very rare animal, the guanaco (which is a relative of the alpaca and llama), can be found only here and in a few other places in the world. Other notable animals living in the Torres del Paine are foxes and pumas. Wild horses are inhabited in herds. If talking about birds, there are over one hundred species in Torres del Paine, and many flowers, too: lupin is the most common of them. 

When arriving at the park, you can go hiking, kayaking on the azure waters with an instructor among isolated glaciers, ice hiking, or go for a horse ride. Make sure you do not miss the Fauna Trail, where you will find ancient art, and Milodon Caves, which were formed almost 20 000 years ago. This place is unique in the park. In Torres del Paine, people unite with nature; the present unites with the past.

The Scent Is Lavender

The Scent Is Lavender

by | Jul 18, 2022 | Guides, Travel

The Blue Gold of Provence

Here, in the South of France, you stroll peacefully through the fragrance of the lavender fields, as the gravel creaks under your feet. The sound of your steps, the buzzing bumblebees – barely anything else could interfere with celestial harmony.

Once you reach out to touch the lavender petals, it reaches towards you, too, touching tenderly, soothingly, your fingertips. Breath in – the pervading flower scent widens the lungs. Here, many years before, at that same place, has been roaming the fields, perhaps, the most beloved painter of them all – Vincent van Gogh.

The scent of violet and blue flowers is lowering your shoulders. Ancient Romans knew about lavender’s properties and used its essential oil for bathing. To this day, one can meet local farmers on their way, who, though working hard, still live their tranquil, unhurried life – here, in Provence.

Walking through lavender fields

How?

Today’s Province is quite welcoming towards tourists. Due to the place’s popularity, it has fantastically coordinated infrastructure: maps, guides, info-boards, buses, car rental services, hotels, and everything else. Moreover, people do speak English, so you’d never face any communication difficulties. Though, there are a few things you should know before the trip to the lavender fields. Those are: early closing shops and hot temperatures in the evening. With that being said, don’t forget to bring some food, water with you, and a hat to avoid sunstroke. Every lavender sea differs from one another. Therefore, if you are to see every shade, consider renting a car. In such a place, being independent and using a rented vehicle – just the thing for you.

When?

The best time to see the blooming fields is from the last week of June to the beginning of August. And it’s around mid-July, when fields are in their richest bloom.

Where?

Though you’ll find lavender fields here and there in Provence, here are the most famous and frequently photographed places.

‍

The Valensole Plateau lavender fields

That’s the one you’ve probably seen on postcards, souvenirs, and maybe, even in movies. That area is the journey of itself, for the beauty falls deeply into your soul right along the way. Wheat fields, flaming sunflowers, souvenir shops, local fruit vendors, and the Verdon – one of the largest rivers in France. It is also worth mentioning the ancient church of Saint Blaise, which one should most definitely visit, too. Here, even small treats like lavender honey may conserve your memories, for it is itself made of purple flowers. For that, we shall appreciate the labor of the hard-working bees, flying over flowers from dusk ’till dawn, intensively extracting precious nectar. They receive some assistance from farmers, who collect honey, so you can take a piece of Provence with you.

Yes, there are quite a lot of bumblebees here – do not be afraid! They are much more interested in pollinating lavender than tourists passing by. Nevertheless, here, as it is similar to hiking, there are mosquitoes. We suggest you bring some additional clothes with you to wear after the photo shoot.

Luberon Valley lavender fields

If you’re looking for something slightly architectural, yet still wanting to enjoy the lavender – look no further, and you’ll get an evening to remember in Luberon Valley. Besides the lilac seas, you are going to have a chance to explore the old quaint streets and old scenic villages. Lavender fields lying between olive and vine fields waiting to be discovered. Those are just as gorgeous, vast and fragrant as other fields in Provence.

Sault Plateau lavender fields

The Sault village is looking up from the mountain range. It is constantly being guarded by a forest and a hilly valley on both sides. As you’re entering the village, the medieval authenticity reveals distant times majestically. Lavender fields stand almost side by side here, and therefore it is easier for a tourist to explore this area on foot: for instance, walking along the 5 km lavender ladder. It’s a perfect mountain view as well, mantled in greenery. Consider yourself a treasure hunter as you stumble upon an old stone hut.

Is there more?

Certainly!

For the guests of Provence, the various festivals take place here. One can not only learn plenty of curious things about collecting, conversion, tourism itself in the lavender fields of Provence, but also support local small businesses by buying lavender products. The place also attracts couples as well: imagine the atmosphere and aesthetics of the wedding ceremony here or making a marriage proposal!

Surfing On The Gold Coast

by | Jul 18, 2022 | Guides, Travel

White sugar soft sands, warm breezes rifle through lone palms, seagulls levitate above crystal waters, dozens of surfers wait for the perfect wave… It’s the Gold Coast of Australia, one of the best holiday destinations in the world. The Gold Coast is a continuous line that extends for 70 kilometers from Paradise Point along the Pacific Highway to Coolangatta at the New South Wales border. This part of Australia is famous for beaches, shopping, nightlife as well as the fine environment, mild climate, and hospitable citizens.

Location 

The Gold Coast is located in southeast Queensland, about 30 km away from Brisbane. The trip from Brisbane takes just one hour by car. The Gold Coast extends from Oxenford in the north to Coolangatta in the south, South Stradbroke Island in the east, and incorporates Surfers Paradise on the coast.

You can travel to the Gold Coast by train or bus. On the way you will be met by popular attractions such as SeaWorld, MovieWorld, Wet n Wild, Dreamworld. All of these are easy to get to on public transport. However, if you want to have more freedom of traveling and the comfort of keeping stuff, you will need to rent a car.

Check the GetRentacar. It’s a rental service from local owners with better prices. There you will find a proper car to make your trip easier. For example, GetRentacar offers Toyota Yaris ($66 per day), Kia Carnival ($107 per day), Audi Q7 ($400 per day), and even Lamborghini Urus ($3329 per day). Use promo VALENTINA5 to get a discount.

Beaches of the Gold Coast

We can take much time to talk about the features of the Gold Coast, but let’s pay attention to the most significant thing that attracts tourists from all over the world — beaches.

Surfers Paradise

Pearl of the Gold Coast is Surfers Paradise beach. There is enough sand for everyone, even on busy weekends, and waves please even the most sophisticated surfers. Besides the sea shore, you’ll find arcade halls, ice-cream shops, and other locations where surfers chill after riding the wave.

A wide clean path lines the entire cost and appears great for walking, biking, skateboarding, or roller-blading. Pandanus palms and Tamarisk pines complete the stunning view so all you want is to feel the fresh breeze and meet the sunset sitting on the sand.

Broadbeach

Picturesque Broadbeach has a relaxed vibe with sophisticated restaurants and bars, glamorous shopping centers, and pleasant events. This place is full of art classes and craft local markets, yoga and surf training, and plenty of water sports to be enjoyed by all ages. This center of tourism is located 10 minutes south of Surfers Paradise, is centered around Kurrawa Beach. 

Mermaid Beach

Originally it was called Nobby beach, but inhabitants call this beach Mermaid after the cutter HMS Mermaid. This golden shore is popular with surfers looking to escape the tons of people. Mermaid Beach offers plenty of entertainment, restaurants, and sports activities.Burleigh Heads

Burleigh Heads isn’t a calm surf town as it might seem, but a noisy center of the local community with an abundance of offerings for surfers, families, and lonely tourists. Patrolled and often well-protected from a southerly wind or swell, this beach is popular with surfers and makes the Gold Coast complete shore.

Mind-blowing beaches, lush rainforest, attractions and parks – there are millions of reasons to desire to visit the Gold Coast. This stunning place is a must-visit to taste the quintessential “Aussie lifestyle.”

Is Your Car As Green As You Thought

by | Jul 18, 2022 | Trends

The number of electric vehicles on the world’s roads is surging, hitting a record number last year. That would seem to be good news, as the world tries to wean itself off fossil fuels that are wrecking the global climate. But as electric cars become more popular, some question just how environmentally friendly they are. The batteries in electric vehicles, for example, charge on the power that is coming straight off the electric grid — which is itself often powered by fossil fuels. And there are questions about how energy-intensive it is to build an EV or an EV battery, versus building a comparable traditional vehicle.

Are electric vehicles greener?

Yes — but their full green potential is still many years away. Experts broadly agree that electric vehicles create a lower carbon footprint throughout their lifetime than do cars and trucks that use traditional, internal combustion engines. In 2019 researchers from the universities of Cambridge, Exeter, and Nijmegen in The Netherlands found that in 95% of the world, driving an electric car is better for the environment than driving a gasoline-powered car. Electricity grids in most of the world are still powered by fossil fuels such as coal or oil, and EVs depend on that energy to get charged. Separately, EV battery production remains an energy-intensive process. A study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative found that the battery and fuel production for an EV generates higher emissions than the manufacturing of an automobile. But those higher environmental costs are offset by EVs’ superior energy efficiency over time. In short, the total emissions per mile for battery-powered cars are lower than comparable cars with internal combustion engines.

If we are going to take a look at the current situation, in some countries, electric vehicles are better even with the current grid.

Andrey Zaruev

an ESG Corporate Standards Expert

Zaruev explained that the full benefits of EVs will be realized only after the electricity sources become renewable, and it might take several decades for that to happen. “ Currently, the electric vehicle in the U.S., on average, would emit about 200 grams of CO2 per mile,” he said. “ We are projecting that with cleaning up the grid, we can reduce emissions from electric vehicles by 75%, from about 200 (grams) today to about 50 grams of CO2 per mile in 2050.” Similarly, Zaruev said MIT research showed non-plug-in hybrid cars with internal combustion engines currently emit about 275 grams of CO2 per mile. In 2050, their projected emissions are expected to be between 160 to 205 grams of CO2 per mile — the range is wider than EVs because fuel standards vary from place to place.

Decarbonization is the process of reducing greenhouse gas emissions produced by burning fossil fuels. Efforts to cut down pollution across various industries are expected to further reduce the environmental impact of EV production and charging overtime. “ When you look forward to the rest of the decade, where we will see massive amounts of decarbonization in power generation and a massive amount of decarbonization in the industrial sector, EVs will benefit from all of that decarbonization,” Andrey Zaruev concluded.

Batteries are the biggest emitter

EVs rely on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries to run. The process of making those batteries — from using mining raw materials like cobalt and lithium to production in gigafactories and transportation — is energy-intensive, and one of the biggest sources of carbon emissions from EVs today. Gigafactories are facilities that produce EV batteries on a large scale. “ Producing electric vehicles leads to significantly more emissions than producing petrol cars. Depending on the country of production, that’s between 30% to 40% extra in production emissions, which is mostly from the battery production,” experts said. Those higher production emission numbers are seen as “ an initial investment, which pays off rather quickly due to the reduced lifetime emissions.”

China currently dominates battery production, with 93 gigafactories producing lithium-ion battery cells versus only four in the U.S., the Washington Post reported last year. The battery is the most complicated component in the EV and has the most complex supply chain, plus the energy source used in battery production makes a huge difference in the carbon footprint for EVs. Batteries made in older gigafactories in China are usually powered by fossil fuels because that was the trend five to 10 years ago, he explained. So, EVs that are built with batteries from existing factories are going to have large carbon footprints. But that’s changing, experts pointed, as “ people have realized that’s a huge carbon footprint.” They include unethical and environmentally unsustainable mining practices, as well as a complex geopolitical nature of the supply chain, where countries do not want to rely on other nations for raw materials like cobalt and lithium, or the finished batteries. Mining raw materials needed for battery production will likely be the last to get decarbonized, according to experts.

Recycling and decarbonizing the grid

Today, very few of the spent battery cells are recycled. Experts said that can change over time as raw materials needed for battery production are in limited supply, leaving firms with no choice but to recycle. There are other reasons for companies to step by their recycling efforts including a regulatory environment where producers, by law, would have to deal with spent batteries — and disposing of them could be more expensive. People who point to a lack of a recycling infrastructure as a problem aren’t recognizing that we don’t need extensive recycling infrastructure yet. Most auto companies are already working to ensure they have a significant recycling capacity in place before EVs start reaching the end of life over the next decade.

Experts from Cambridge University said a lot of research is going into improving battery technology, to make them more environmentally sustainable and less reliant on scarce raw materials. More efforts are also needed in decarbonizing the electricity grid, he added. More renewable electricity generation capacity must be added to the grid each year, than coal generation capacity. “ Nowadays, it’s much easier to build large-scale solar or offshore wind compared to building new fossil fuel power plant. What we see is more renewable electricity coming into the grid all over the world,” Knobloch, a Cambridge Center for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance expert, pointed. Generating electricity by using renewable sources will still emit greenhouse gases as there are emissions from producing solar panels and wind turbines. “ What we look at is how long will it take until the electricity grid is sufficiently decarbonized so that you see a large benefit from electric vehicles,” Knobloch added.

Policies needed for societal change

Experts agree that a transition from gasoline-powered cars to EVs is not a panacea for the global fight against climate change. It needs to go hand-in-hand with societal change that promotes greater use of public transportation and alternative modes of travel, including bicycles and walking. Reducing the use of private vehicles requires plenty of funding and policy planning. It’s considered that there are currently about 1.2 billion fuel-powered cars on the road globally – that number is expected to increase to between 1.8 billion to 2 billion. In comparison, there are only about 10 million electric vehicles currently. People underestimate how many new cars have to be produced and how much materials will be needed to produce those electric vehicles. The International Energy Agency predicts that the number of electric cars, buses, vans, and heavy trucks on roads is expected to hit 145 million by 2030. Even if everyone drove EVs instead of gasoline-powered cars, there would still be plenty of emissions from plug-in vehicles due to their sheer volume. So, it’s no silver bullet for climate change mitigation. Ideally, you also try to reduce the number of cars massively and try to push things such as public transport. Getting people away from individual car transport is as important.

Inferno Metal Festival In Oslo

by | Jul 18, 2022 | Events

Norway’s biggest extreme music festival can rightly be considered a truly privileged opportunity to join the world’s most exclusive music community. This is without a doubt the most elegant way to celebrate Catholic Easter.

14-17 April 2022 

If you are looking for a brutal vacation, this is the place to go. The next four days will provide an unforgettable experience for those adventure seekers who really boast the nerves of steel. Or better say, of metal. The venue is in Oslo. Although not Black Metal’s homeland, this place put this style to a new media level in the early 90’s.

What Oslo was for Black Metal?

In short, this is where scandal-known Mayhem from, and where the legendary «Black Circle» was born. Local guys drove sound to a benchmark lo-fi quality and also generated many lifestyle attributes that have shaped Black Metal image in mass culture. Anti-social, anti-religious, and all sorts of «anti» ideals have grown stronger, inflaming the atmosphere for the new generation’s arousal.

«Lords of Chaos» – a provocative thriller showing the story of Mayhem. It’s not that it was a full conceptual-guide resource, but it is a worthwhile movie that perfectly captures the vibe of True Norwegian Black Metal.

What you really need to know about Black Metal

There’s one funny paradox: if black metalheads don’t burn churches and praise Satan, they are sell-outs and aren’t TRUE. If black metalheads burn churches and praise Satan, they are posers and aren’t TRUE. So, this just illustrates the eye of a needle you need to fit through to be TRUE.

The important thing to remember is that anyone can get a thick ear for anything because whatever it means is controversial. Of course, that is a figurative note, but it shows maybe the most demanding subculture ever.

Locations of April Bacchanalia

Traditionally, it’s Rockefeller Music Hall, one of Norway’s huge concert venues, hosting about 2000 people. Headliners will perform in the main hall:

Djerv, Cadaver, Kampfar, Ihsahn, Triumph of Death, Hamferd, Einherjer, Ved Buens Ende, Gorgoroth, Venom Dark Fortress, Asphyx, Vreid, Marduk, Mayhem, Whoredom Rife, Oranssi Pazuzu, Myrkskog, Kreator, and Taake.

Another venue is the John Dee bar in the lower and basement floors of the same complex, which may be suitable for 500 visitors. There will be play:

Regarde Les Hommes Tomber, Konvent, Sylvaine, Bølzer, Solbrud, Asagraum, The Great Old Ones, Benighted, Gnida, Xenoblight, Valkyrja, Tulus, Eridu, Nyrst, Dyscarnate and Order.

Clarion Hotel – the space for chilling and a 24-hour after-party for those who can’t limp their way to the live sets. The icing on the cake is the daily breakfasts at the local restaurant, normally looking like zombie apocalypse scenes. Isn’t that cute?

By the way, it’s worth noting that for those looking to spend their holidays at this festival, it is better to leave all the uncomfortable shoes at home. Rockefeller’s stairways climb steeply like ladders; they definitely won’t forgive you for high heels. And, better yet, come up there in a bathrobe – it’s going to be really hot around ex Market Street Bath these days.

Black Metal Museum

If you need to clear your head a little, you can visit Helvete, or in other words, the Black Metal Museum.

Helvete means «hell» in Norwegian. This music store was opened by Mayhem guitarist Euronymous in 1991. Helvete was also the headquarters of his record label, Deathlike Silence. 

«Black Circle» parties took place in the basement of the house, they attracted store visitors, musicians, and fans hanging around. It wasn’t some “serious secret organization” at that time, although the charismatic commotion boss was a grandmaster of creating adrenaline-pumping speculation. 

As another charismatic dude in the music industry said: “When you have to choose between the truth and the legend, choose the legend.” Euronymous successfully used this principle in all of his actions, sometimes just for fun, playing to the mob and drawing public attention. Sadly, he failed to assess the effect of those legends in time.

After a couple of years, the store closed. Twenty years later, it was revived by Fenriz of duo Darkthrone. Now you can purchase music on cassettes, CDs, and vinyl. Find  lots of rare merchandise, and, of course, go down to the inner sanctum — the basement. The interior has been well-preserved in its original form: medieval arms, a black throne, a coffin with red velvet upholstered, posters on the walls – everything is in place, keeping the spirit of those unforgettable times. In short, it’s the most iconic black metal place in the world. As Oslo itself.