MAY 2014

FEATURED ARTICLETraveling the USA

Death Valley National Park

(PICTURED: Death Valley National Park.)

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Do Language and Music Mimic Nature?

Extreme Adventures

Andy Goldsworthy

5. Do Language and Music Mimic Nature?

17. Outdoor Health

5. Take a Hike

28. Nature Photography

36. Extreme Adventures

42. Architecture Up Above

67. Travel the World

74. Andy Goldsworthy

FEATURED ARTICLE

11. Traveling the USADeath Valley National Park

(Right: Devil’s Corn Field Death Valley National Park.)

20. Solar Charging

26. Jellyfi sh

31. Music Meets Science

38. Cold Weather Fashion

59. Gear and Gadgets

71. Fonfest

5

BY MARK CHANGIZI

Do language and music mimic

NATURE?

In a new book, neuroscientist and author Mark Changizi explores how language and music separate us from our primate ancestors.

NATURE?

If one of our last nonspeaking ancestors were found

frozen in a glacier and revived, we imagine that he

would fi nd our world jarringly alien. His brain was

built for nature, not for the freak-of-nature modern

landscape we humans inhabit. Th e concrete, the cars,

the clothes, the constant jabbering—it’s enough to

make a hominid jump into the nearest freezer and

hope to be reawakened after the apocalypse.

Indian Women performing a traditional Indian dance.

But would modernity really seem so frightening to our guest? Although cities and savannas would appear to have little in common, might there ac-tually be deep similarities? Could civilization have retained vestiges of nature, easing our ancestor’s transition? And if so, why should it—why would civilization care about being a hospitable host to the freshly thawed really-really-great-uncle? Th e answer is that, although we were born into civili-

zation rather than melted into it, from an evolu-tionary point of view we’re an uncivilized beast dropped into cultured society. We prefer nature as much as the next hominid, in the sense that our brains work best when their computation-ally sophisticated mechanisms can be applied as evolution intended. Living in modern civilization is not what our bodies and brains were selected to be good at.

Perhaps civilization possesses signature features of nature in order to squeeze every drop of evolu-tion’s genius out of our brains for use in the mod-ern world. Perhaps we’re hospitable to our ances-tor because we have been hospitable to ourselves. Does civilization mimic nature? I believe so. And I won’t merely suggest that civilization mimics nature by, for example, planting trees along the

boulevards. Rather, I will make the case that some of the most fundamental pillars of humanity are thoroughly infused with signs of the ancestral world…and that, without this infusion of nature, the pillars would crumble, leaving us as very smart hominids (or “apes,” as I say at times), but something considerably less than the humans we take ourselves to be today.

“PERHAPS, THEN, CIVILIZATION SHAPED ITSELF FOR US.”

RIGHT: The Bannock tribe of fhe Great Basin

LEFT: Two Tlingit girls of Alaska

“IN PARTICULAR, THOSE FUNDAMENTAL PILLARS OF HUMANKIND ARE (SPOKEN) LANGUAGE AND MUSIC.”

LEFT: Two boys

from the Omo

Valley tribes.

Language is at the heart of what makes us apes so special, and music is one of the principal examples of our uniquely human artistic side. As you will see, the fact that speech and music sound like other aspects of the natural world is crucial to the story about how we apes got language and music. Speech and music culturally evolved over time to be simulacra of nature.

Now that’s a deep, ancient secret, one that has remained hidden despite language and music being right in front of our eyes and ears, and being obsessively studied by generations of scientists. And like any great secret code, it has

great power—it is so powerful it turned clever apes into Earth-conquering humans. By mimicking nature, language and music could be effortlessly absorbed by our ancient brains, which did not evolve to process language and music. In this way, culture fi gured out how to trick nonlinguistic, nonmusical ape brains into becoming master communicators and music connoisseurs.

One consequence of this secret is that the brain of the long-lost, illiterate, and unmusical ancestor we unthaw is no different in its fundamental design from yours or mine. Our thawed ancestor might do just fi ne here, because our language

and music would harness his brain as well. Rather than jumping into a freezer, our long-lost relative might instead choose to enter engineering school and invent the next-generation refrigerator.

Th e origins of language and music may be attributable, not to brains having evolved language and music instincts, but rather to language and music having culturally evolved brain instincts. Language and music shaped themselves over many thousands of years to be tailored to our brains, and because our brains were cut for nature, language and music mimicked nature…and transformed ape to man.

7

Badwater Springs at SunriseDEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

TRAVELING THE USADeath Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park gives

new meaning to the word extreme.

Telescope Peak, the highest peak in the

Park and in the Panamint Mountains,

rises 11,049 feet above sea level and

lies only 15 miles from the lowest point

in the United States in the Badwater

Basin salt pan, 282 feet below sea level.

Th e highest temperatures in the United

States are regularly recorded here, as are

winter snows and near-zero nighttime

temperatures. Hemmed in by nine

mountain ranges, Death Valley is cut off

from rejuvenating rainfall and cooling

Pacifi c winds, making it one of the driest

and hottest places in the world.

A record high temperature of 134

degrees Fahrenheit was recorded there

in 1913 (although this was the world

record at the time, it has since been

exceeded by two degrees Fahrenheit at a

weather station in Libya), and a ground

temperature of 201 degrees has also been

registered—11 degrees shy of the boiling

point for water. Death Valley is generally

sunny, dry, and clear throughout the year.

Th e winters, November through March,

are mild with occasional winter storms,

but summers are extremely hot and dry.

Summer high temperatures commonly

run above 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

BY: MAURICE LEONARD

11

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARKPhoto Credit: Mary S. Spears

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Salt Flats at Sunset

14

Th e park’s size is no less extreme. It sprawls

across 3.4 million acres, making Death Valley

the largest national park in the contiguous

United States, almost fi ve times larger than its

glamorous California neighbor, Yosemite. Good

news for nature lovers: All but a tiny fraction

of that expanse is federal wilderness, which

preserves a Connecticut-size chunk of unique

terrain for its rugged animal inhabitants and

the brave and adventurous visitor.

BAG TELESCOPE PEAK

Since extreme summer temperatures make

hiking diffi cult at lower elevations, smart

hikers take to the hills. Try the high-elevation

hike to Telescope Peak, which begins at

8,133 feet and crests at 11,049 feet. You’ll

navigate pinyon and limber pine forests and

ancient bristlecone pines near the summit.

Hiking boots and minimal equipment are

recommended. Plan for a six- to nine-hour

round-trip. Other day hikes to investigate:

Titanothere Canyon, Jayhawker Canyon,

Bighorn Gorge, Wildrose Peak.

MORE ON HIKING DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL

PARK

Camp amid Moving Mountains

Centrally located in the park, Stovepipe Wells

is home to the most photographed sand dunes

in the world and is within hiking distance of

Keane Wonder Mine and Mill. You’ll also be a

quick drive from two must-see ghost towns:

Leadfi eld, California, and Rhyolite, Nevada.

Th e nearby campground has 200 sites and is

open annually from October to April.

RIGHT: DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Photo Credit: Jim Shoemaker

15

FROM THE HARVARD HEALTH LETTER Summer is almost here, and the outdoors beckons. Heed that call and you’ll reap physical and mental

health benefi ts, reports the July 2010 issue of the

Harvard Health Letter. Even simple activities like

going on a short hike or going on a family picnic in the

park can increase you and your family’s health.

17

YOUR VITAMIN D LEVELS RISESunlight hitting the skin begins a process that

leads to the creation and activation of vitamin

D. Studies suggest that this vitamin helps fi ght

certain conditions, from osteoporosis and cancer to

depression and heart attacks. Limited sun exposure

(don’t overdo it), supplemented with vitamin D pills

if necessary, is a good regimen.

YOU’LL GET MORE EXERCISEIf you make getting outside a goal, that should mean

less time in front of the television and computer and

more time walking and doing other things that put

the body in motion.

YOU’LL BE HAPPIERLight tends to elevate people’s mood, and there’s

usually more light available outside than in.

Physical activity has been shown to help people

relax and cheer up, so if being outside replaces

inactive pursuits with active ones, it might also

mean more smiles.

YOU’RE CONCENTRATION WILL IMPROVEChildren with ADHD seem to focus better after

being outdoors. It might be a stretch to say

that applies to adults, but if you have trouble

concentrating, outdoor activity may help.

YOU’LL HEAL FASTERIn one study, people recovering from spinal

surgery experienced less pain and stress and took

fewer pain medications when they were exposed

to natural light. An older study showed that the

view out the window (trees vs. a brick wall) helped

recovery in the hospital.

Whatever your reason for spending time outdoors, it can’t be denied that spending time, even if just a little, with nature rather than infoors being constantly stimulated by technology of today is relazing and can help relieve one’s stress. So grab a picnic blanket and walk to the park every now and again. You won’t regret it.

19

SOLAR CHARGINGA watch that can charge your phone

A new solar charging unit by Energy Bionics is so small it is worn on the

wrist as a watch. Th e device can be used to charge a phone or other USB device. Th e Carbon wearable charger uses solar power to charge an internal 2.96 watt-hour (3.7 v 800 mAh) lithium ion battery. It comes in two models, one that has an analogue watch face and another that is simply a charger. Carbon claims that, when fully charged, it will give a 25 to 30 percent boost to an iPhone 4. Having used a lot of solar charging devices, I

think this would be an impressive feat for something so small. I’d like to see it fi rst hand. Once fully discharged, the watch takes about four hours to charge in full sun, or about eight hours in shade, claims the company. Th e battery can also be charged more quickly via USB.Th e brand is currently raising funds for the device on Kickstarter. If it makes it to production, the Carbon will retail for $120 to $135 depending on accessories and will be available in August 2014.

BY: SEAN MCCOY

20

22

BY REBECCA GONSALVES

TAKE A HIKE

Fashion followers have been supplanted into the wilds this season, as a host of designers head outward bound, says Rebecca Gonsalves.w

For many people, a couple of nights of booze-addled sleep at a festival is the closest they get to the great

outdoors, while others may throw themselves into hik-ing with reckless abandon – fi guratively only, hopeful-ly. Regardless of your levels of physical fi tness, there’s plenty of styling nous to be picked up from the sort of chap who is familiar with the business endof a crampon.

TAKE A HIKETAKE A HIKE

host of designers head outward bound, says Rebecca Gonsalves.w

24

At Topman Design, Gordon Richardson’s design team put a fashion spin on traditionally function-led items. Parkas were oversized or cropped and saturated with juicy shades of orange and red, inspired by an odys-sey to Tibet. Th e technical met the sublime as waxed fabrics, proofed cotton and gilded leather compass-holders embellished the narrative of the journey, as did the infl uence of Tibetan printed boiled wool and abstract intarsia Ohm symbols.At Louis Vuitton, Kim Jones took inspiration from the mountains. Th e men’s studio and style director suc-cinctly analysed the creation of a collection for the luxury house: “A collection is often an actual journey for us; it comprises what you take with you and what you bring back, both physically and mentally.

Literally speaking, the journey to autumn/winter 13’s quilted parkas, hiking boots and Sherpa-inspired ac-cessories involved: “Travelling to the Himalayas for research. It was the mountain kingdom of Bhutan that still had that mystery surrounding it... it feels so exotic, almost from another time.”Another brand taking a trip back in time is Bally, which throughout the year has been celebrating the 60th anniversary of the historic fi rst ascent of Mount Ever-est by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay – the latter shod in Bally. To mark the occasion, the Swiss brand recreated the duo’s base camp in a gated garden in central London, to showcase replica arte-facts such as Tenzing’s reindeer boots.

LEFT: Barbour x Jack Spade jacket, jackspade.com

TOP MIDDLE: Socks, Mantaray, debenhams.com

RIGHT: Bobble hat

“A COLLECTION IS OFTEN AN ACTUAL JOURNEY FOR US.”

JELLYFISHBeautiful dangers of the ocean

Walking on a beach or swimming in the ocean can be fun and relaxing, but just like any other activities, accidents can happen.

Jellyfi sh are often present in coastal waters, having been brought ashore by winds or ocean currents. � ey are most common in warm ocean waters, especially along the Atlantic coast of the United States. Stings result from contact with the tentacles, which trail from the jellyfi sh’s see-through body. Jellyfi sh swimming in the water are often hard to see. Beached jellyfi sh (right), can sting if touched.

Fortunately, most jellyfi sh stings are not severe. Jellyfi sh stings cause immediate, intense pain and burning that can last for several hours. Raised, red welts develop along the site of the sting, often in a whiplike fashion, and may last for 1 to 2 weeks. Itchy skin rashes may appear 1 to 4 weeks after the sting. Extensive stings, allergic reactions, or severe toxic reactions are not common but do occur.

Safe Sea Sunblock with Jellyfi sh Sting Protective Lotion is clinically proven to help protect the exposed skin of bathers, divers, and surfers from the stings of jellyfi sh, fi re coral, and many other types of venomous stinging marine life.

Now you can protect yourself from stings while using a high quality sunblock. � is amazing product is a real breakthrough in Protection gels for protection against the stings of jellyfi sh and sea lice.

27

What is nature photography?

Among those who practice the craft, there is certainly a great deal of debate over

what constitutes “true” nature photography. A few of the most hotly contested aspects of the defi nition include whether an animal is “captive” or is found “in the wild,” whether a species is native to a region or was introduced by man, or whether a fl oral subject is cultivated or naturally occurring. Put ten photographers in a room and ask each of them to defi ne “nature photography” and there’s a good chance you will be given ten different interpretations.

Photograph by Matthew Studebaker

If that doesn’t make the task of nailing down a single defi nition diffi cult enough, some of those ten may be quite passionate about their own point of view on the subject. SO WHAT IS NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY?

Why is it so diffi cult for a group of photographers to come up with a single, well-defi ned answer?

Perhaps the primary stumbling block in our quest for a universal defi nition is our individual interpretation of mans’ place in the natural world. Some see the human race as separate from the rest of God’s creation, where the world was created for mans’ benefi t and all other species are subservient. For others, the human race is viewed as a just another chapter in the evolution of life on Earth, nothing more than an inconsequential “fl ash in the pan” in the scope of geologic time and the incomprehensible vastness of the universe and the bounty of life it may contain. Are we Homo sapiens truly the masters of our

world by divine decree, or simply temporary rulers who, like the dinosaurs, are destined to be displaced by natural processes?

For me, nature photography is the joy of viewing a beautiful fl ower through the viewfi nder, the inspiration of a majestic scene coming into focus, the emotional connection made when the eyes of the subject make contact with mine through a telephoto lens. For those brief periods of time behind the camera, when life’s trials and tribulations give way to something more fundamentally signifi cant, it matters not where I am or how the subject got there.

I believe the defi nition of “nature photography” is strictly a personal one, at least partially dependent on aspects of our existence that are diffi cult to comprehend and impossible to defi ne. In the fi nal analysis, perhaps what truly defi nes “nature photography” is based entirely on what we as individuals bring to it spiritually and intellectually, thus rendering the need for a universal defi nition pointless.

Rocks on the shore at sunrise

MUSIC MEETS SCIENCE

What do Paul McCartney and Stephen Hawking have in common? One is

recognized as one of the most successful composers and recording artists of all time; the other is a world-acclaimed theoretical physicist and a pioneer in uncovering the mysteries of the Universe. But both infused their respective fi elds with creativity.

Th e relationship between science, music and the arts has been demonstrated in various contexts. In the 1979 book Gödel, Escher, Bach (Basic Books), for example, author Douglas Hofstadter used the exploits of mathematician Kurt Gödel, artist Maurits Cornelis Escher and composer Johann Sebastian Bach to illustrate the cognitive underpinnings that their fi elds have in common.

Less well documented is the idea that scientifi c research and musical composition share a number of essential stepping stones. One might loosely classify them into four steps: onset, development, refi nement and exposition.

Ideas start germinating in many ways. Scientifi c collaborators often engage in ‘jamming’, for example, when they interact to decide on a structured way to answer a question. Sometimes researchers notice connections across fi elds, realizing that a given question has been answered using a certain technique, and that a similar approach can be exploited to tackle another problem — something like introducing a string octet or a sitar into a Beatles song.

BY: Stephane Detournay

Successful musical composition and scientifi c research

share important traits, argues Stephane Detournay.

31

Or a scientist might just think hard about

how to achieve a particular objective.

‘A-HA’ MOMENTS CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE, AT ANY TIME: WHILE ATTENDING A CONFERENCE, STANDING AT A CONCERT, OR WATCHING A CAPTIVATING MOVIE OR A BORING TALK.

The same is true in music: McCartney

said that the 1965 song ‘Yesterday’, one of

the greatest hits of all time, came to him

in a dream and that he himself could not

believe that he had composed it.

After the early excitement of a new idea

comes the next phase: development. Then,

once a nebulous idea has been honed and

better defined, it is time for practical imple-

mentation. Both scientists and musicians

can work alone, or embark on a collabora-

tion. Hawking’s work with mathematician

Roger Penrose led the pair to conclude

that the Universe began as a singularity.

McCartney’s contribution to The Beatles is

hard to disentangle from John Lennon’s.

But both Hawking and McCartney also

have long track records of brilliant solo

contributions.

Refinement is the last part of a project.

You know that you have some nice results

and that the work has potential, yet it has

to be presented and rendered accurately.

This phase can sometimes be frustrating.

The song has been written, but still needs

recording; computations work, but must

be submitted to a journal for review. Musi-

cians can spend hours on detailed clean-

up in the same way that scientists might

repeatedly review their arguments to weed

out weak points, eradicate misplaced as-

sumptions or identify overlooked data.

Once the songs are released and the papers

are published, there is the last phase: expo-

sition. How will people judge your work?

Papers will be read and songs listened to by

a varied audience: scientists will give talks

and musicians will perform at concerts.

A community will perhaps slowly start

to form an opinion on the materials you

obsessed over for weeks, months or years.

You might feel great pride or satisfaction —

or you might become disillusioned.

Some musicians will be lucky enough to

land a recording contract and find suc-

cess; some scientists will earn an academic

post or tenure. For the rest, there is always

the option of instilling Hawking’s dream

— to spread into space and reach out to

the stars, across the Universe — into their

career pursuits. Many will search out alter-

native scenarios and then find the means

to uncover their own professional niche —

a cross-disciplinary, cross-genre space in

which few have dared to jam before.

Extreme AdventuresFive of the Most Extreme Adventure Trips

Forget the Mountain Dew commercial acrobatics and reality TV stunts. � ese are the most diffi cult trips that you can realistically do in your lifetime, from high-altitude hikes to the slimmest singletrack. Edit your life list accordingly.

NEPAL XTREME WITH LOST EARTH ADVENTURESRaft the waters of the Himalayas, plunge down narrow trails on a mountain bike, rappel into the heart of Nepal’s deepest canyons, ride motorcycles and paraglide…and try to keep your knuckles from turning permanently white.

RONGAI ROUTE WITH IEXPLORETaking this more extreme route up the tallest peak in Africa means you’ll see fewer hikers along the way, making the pain of the ascent a satisfying, solitary experience that’ll let you savor the summit all the more.

MONT BLANC ASCENT WITH WORLD EXPEDITIONSAll that you need to climb this iconic European landmark is peak physical fi tness and nerves of granite. � e guides will teach you alpine skills, and the views of the surrounding mountains should help distract you from the punishing full-day fi nal push.

GLOBAL ADVENTURE GUIDEPatagonia is home to legendary massive mountains, even in the Lake District. And that’s where you ride, hop-scotching between Argentina and Chile to experience the best singletrack in the region, and a whole new level of fatigue at the end of each day.El Salvador Volcanoes and Surf Adventure with GreenspotEl Salvador makes up for its small size by boasting some of the most extreme environments in the region—and this eight-day trip puts you right at the heart of it all.

H2O PATAGONIARainforest, roiling whitewater, sleek granite cliffs…this extreme landscape affords seven to 10 days of adrenaline-fueled paddling bliss.

NEPAL XTREME

RONGAI ROUTE

MONT BLANC

H2O PATAGONIA

RIGHT:GOLBAL ADVENTURE GUIDEPatagonia Walking Trek

36

COLD WEATHER FASHION

Baby, it may be cold outside, but that’s no reason not to look fashionable.

At the Jan. 1 inaugural day ceremony for the newly elected mayor, Bill de Blasio, with the

temperature hovering around 30 degrees, Diana Taylor, the companion of the outgoing mayor, Mi-chael R. Bloomberg, sat comfortably among the other notables on the dais, keeping warm with a pair of sensible earmuffs and an overcoat that fashion insiders immediately recognized by the distinctive red-rimmed logo on the left sleeve.

COLD WEATHER FASHION

Diana Taylor keeps warm on inaugural day. CREDIT SETH WENIG/ASSOCIATED PRESS

BY BEE SHAPIRO Anna Wintour in a fur coat from Prada .

Elizabeth D. Herman for The New York Times

39

LEFT: Models wearing

Moncler Grenoble. Credit

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

It was a thigh-length parka by Canada Goose, most likely the Mystique model, which is trimmed in coyote fur and sells for about $750, and that has recently been seen on celebrities like Claire Danes, Blake Lively, Emma Stone and Lucy Liu. (It was also listed as sold out

on both Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom sites this week.) “Th e biggest trend in outerwear is this love affair with Canada Goose,” said Brooke Jaffe, the operating vice president for fashion direction at Bloomingdale’s. Th e brand, which was founded over 50 years ago for winter

adventures like skiing and arctic exploration, has become a top seller for the department store, as well as for boutique retailers like Intermix. It is also carried by outdoor shops like REI. Th is week, as the polar vortex settled over the Northeast, and much of the rest of the country

was experiencing record-low temperatures, men and women both struggled with a way to keep warm without giving up all pretense of fashion — though few went as far as Anna Wintour at the “Girls” premiere in Manhattan on Monday night, showing up in an eye-popping,

multicolored fur coat from Prada adorned with a huge portrait of a woman’s face on its front. (Girl power, indeed.)

As Ms. Jaffe noted in an interview conducted before the most recent plunge in temperatures: “the winter coat

this season is the equivalent of having a car somewhere else,” adding that when New Yorkers hit the wintry sidewalks, perhaps on their way to work or a night out on the town, “they’re looking for both a fashion statement and something that will function properly.”

“THE BIGGEST TREND IN OUTERWEAR IS THIS LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CANADA GOOSE”

41

42

ARCHITECTURE UP ABOVETreehouses from around the World

Gone are the days when a treehouse was nothing more than a bunch of uneven wooden planks nailed together to a tree. Today, architects around the world are taking treehouses to a whole new level.

Now, you can stay in a classic two-story castle in the sky complete with a hot tub, an eco-village among the trees -- even a bird-house shaped treeehouse. From Japan to Tennessee, we found more amazing treehouses you can perch awhile and engage in life’s more leafy pursuits.

1. Minister’s Treehouse, Crossville, TennesseeTh e minister who built this 100-foot, 10-story treehouse is said to have built it after receiving a message from God. Th e treehouse is one of the largest in the world and includes a basketball court, choir loft and spiral staircase. Although opened to the public in the past, the treehouse is now closed due to safety issues --but you can still have a look at its magnifi cence from outside.

BY: LAURA KELLY

43

The Mirrorcube,Harads, Sweden

The Bird’s Nest,Harads, Sweden

2. The MirrorcubeSwedenIf it wasn’t for the attached ropes and bridge, you might not even notice this treehouse in the woods Harads, a small town in northern Sweden close to the Arctic Circle. Its walls are covered in mirrors that reflect and blend in with its surroundings. Because the treehouse camouflages so well, the walls are lined with an infrared color only visible to birds to prevent them from flying into it. But inside, the treehouse is a comfy hotel room for two people --which includes a living room, double bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and even a rooftop terrace.

3. The Bird’s NestSwedenAlong with the Mirrorcube, the Bird’s Nest is part of the Treehotel- a hotel consisting of six eccentric treehouses (this is where you’ll also find the UFO treehouse). The Bird’s Nest includes a bathroom, lounge, and two bedrooms, but to access it, guests must climb up a retractable staircase. Here, a one night stay for two will set you back roughly $660.

4. Big Beach in the Sky Hainan, ChinaOn the island of Hainan in the South China Sea, you’ll find the Sanya Nanshan Treehouse Resort. This resort features four oceanfront treehouses, one of which is the playful two-level Big Beach in the Sky treehouse. This funky house comes equipped with a couple of swings and even has electricity, but guests will have to walk 35 feet for a shower.

RIGHT: Big Beach in the Sky, Hainan, China

Bird ApartmentKomoro City, Japan

Free Spirit Spheres, Qualicum Beach, BC Canada

5. Bird ApartmentKomoro City, JapanCalling all bird lovers. Th is unusual treehouse in Komoro City not only houses birds, but has room for a human, too. A wall with peepholes divides the inside of the treehouse. On one side of the wall, there are 78 individual birdhouses and on the other, there is a space where bird enthusiasts can spy on their feathered friends through the peepholes. While visitors can’t stay over night, the structure encourages people to climb the ladder and get an up-close-and-personal glimpse of the local wildlife.

6. Free Spirit SpheresQualicum Beach, BC, CanadaLooking like a few giant eyeballs, these suspended structures- located on Vancouver Island- could be something out of a sci-fi fl ick. Th e spherical dwellings (which each take about three years to complete) are open for overnight stays yearlong. Just be prepared for a little rocking when the wind blows.

7. Mis OjosPiedras Blancas, Costa RicaTucked away in the Costa Rican rainforest is the remote treehouse community, Finca Bellavista, built by two Americans who wanted to create a village like that of the Ewoks of Endor in the movie “Star Wars” who lived high among the trees. Th e eco-friendly village features many tree homes, including Mis Ojos. Th is two-level abode includes a porch, kitchenette, bathroom and outdoor shower and offers amazing cliff and waterfall views. Th e off-the-grid complex relies on solar and wind power for energy, composting toilets and running water collected in gravity-fed rainwater catch tanks mounted above the abodes.

RIGHT: Mis Ojos, Piedras Blancas, Costa Rica

52

8. Monbazillac Treehouse Dordogne, France A stay at this majestic, castle-like

treehouse will make you feel like royalty.

Nestled amongst the treetops on a 27-acre

property in Dordogne, the French château-

style Monbazillac treehouse includes a

bathroom, a double bedroom, a ground

level pool, a hot tub and an expansive

deck. Have dinner prepared and delivered

to any of the terraces for private dining

and end the evening stargazing on your

private balcony. How’s that for luxury?

BOTTOM: Monbazillac Treehouse, Dordogne, France

56

BY BRIAN VOO

GEAR & GADGETS

20 Examples of New High Tech Outdoor Camping Equiptment

Th is article is written and dedicated for the hardworking geek who also has a love for sweet mother nature. If you are into hiking with your family members, traversing the outdoors, climbing hills or peaks and would like to bask in the sounds of nature while keep your gadgets closeby, there are solutions listed here that you will probably love.

GEAR & GADGETS

59

ETON SCORPION 59

ETON SCORPIONA rugged & splashproof NOAA weather/AM/FM radio with LED fl ashlight ,and it doubles as a tool to charge your devices in the outdoors, either by hand crank or solar panels. [$49.99]

SAWYER SQUEEZE WATER FILTER SYSTEMEasily get clean water by fi lling the bag up and squeezing the water out through the water fi lter device. A must have for long hikes or mountain climbs. [$59.99]

X-1 SURGE CONTACT WATERPROOF HEADSETWaterproof earphones with a built-in microphone for the hiker who likes to listen to an ebook or music while hiking. [$69.99]

CAMELBAK ALL CLEAR BOTTLEFill it with dirty water, turn on the UV cap and shake for 60 seconds for clean, drinkable water. Uses USB to recharge but a full battery lets you use it for 80 cycles, you’re good. [$89]

NEMO HELIO PRESSURE SHOWERFill the bag with water, step on the foot pump a few times and you’ll have high pressured, warm (if left under the sun) showers in the most unforgiv-ing jungles. [$99.95]

HANDSPRESSO WILD HYBRIDFor coffee addicts who need a tasteful espresso every morning throughout their travels, hikes and outdoor adventures. [€99]

PETZL NAO HEADLAMPA ‘smart’ headlamp with a light sensor that auto-matically gives you the right amount of light you need when you read a map, walk on a trail or look into the distance. [$140]

LIFEPROOF BRAVEN BRV-1 WATERPROOF BLUETOOTH SPEAKERSFor that picnic by the waterfall with a bunch of friends who want to listen to their favorite tunes. [$179.99]

TOP: X-1 Surge Contact Waterproof HeadsetLEFT: Nemo Helio Pressure Shower

CAMELBAK ALL CLEAR BOTTLE

59

LEFT: Jakpak Waterproof Jacket, Sleeping Bag & Tent

RIGHT: Biolite

Campstove with

Portable Grill

POWERTRAVELLER POWERMONKEY EXTREMEA very slim, rugged, waterproof and portable solar charger that has a USB port and 9000mAh battery for when the clouds block the sun. [£120]

VICTORINOX EXPEDITION KITA multi-tool kit that fi ts into your pocket with 41 functions including a built-in digital alarm clock, altimeter, barometer, thermometer and LED light. [$185]

BIOLITE CAMPSTOVE WITH PORTABLE GRILLEasily create a fi re for cooking where it then uses heat to charge the battery pack. Charge your de-vices via USB with the battery pack. [$189.90]

JAKPAK WATERPROOF JACKET, SLEEPING BAG & TENTYou can wear it as a jacket and instantly unzip some material to make it into a sleeping bag. It then can deploy a tent over your head for a warm, dry and comfortable sleep. [$199.99]

MEET EARL SURVIVAL TABLETGPS, weather sensor, barometer, thermometer, compass, AM/FM/SW/LW radio, solar charging, Bluetooth 4.0, built in walkie-talkie that works up to 20 miles and Android 4.1 displayed on a e-ink screen for low battery consumption. [$299]

GARMIN QUATIXHands-free navigation with built-in GPS, al-timeter, barometer, compass & thermometer. It can wirelessly connect to heart rate monitors and smartphones, and is rechargeable via USB. [$399.99]

LUMIX TS5 TOUGH CAMERAA waterproof, shockproof, dustproof and freeze-proof camera that has Wi-Fi capabilities to wire-lessly transfer your content. Also NFC-enabled letting you use your smartphone as a camera remote. [$399.99]

59

GARMIN MONTERRAA GPS device that’s almost a smartphone with Android and Google Play apps, 8-megapixel cam-era, 3D Maps, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC which is navigated on a touch screen. [$649.99]

HEIMPLANET TENTA tent that fi ts into a small bag which is then in-fl ated with an air pump in minutes and can fi t 2 to 3 people. [€499-€549]

OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5A weatherproof powerful camera that can take 16.1-megapixel pictures and 1080p video record-ing with a touch-enabled LCD that can be tilted for those hard to reach angles. [$1299.99]

SONY DIGITAL RECORDING BINOCULARS25x binocular magnifi cation with image stabili-zation during video recording in full HD and 3D modes. [$1999.99]

TOP: Sony Digital Recording BinocularsRIGHT: Heimplanet Tent

64

THE WORLD’S BEST OUTDOOR TRAVEL SPOTS

Go to India, not Nepal, for the best mountain experience, and to South Georgia Island, not Antarctica, for the best polar trip. And to Lake Tahoe in California and Nevada because it’s “freakishly perfect for just about every pursuit.” So says Outside magazine, which recently announced 2014 Travel Awards that focus on places with a big adrenaline kick — and outfi tters that will take you there.

ABOVE: Squam Lake, NHLEFT: Morning Glory Patck, Yellowstone National Park

67

Th e list is compiled by editors and writers, not readers, in a “best of” format that distills winners and runners-up into a neat, tantalizing paragraph each.

Best desert trip goes to the 1,000-mile Atlantic coast of Namibia. Best beach goes to South Water Caye, Belize (TripAdvisor users voted the country’s Ambergris Caye as the best island in the world). And the top “certifi ed SUP boomtown” (SUP is stand-up paddle-boarding) is Bend, Ore.

Outdoors gave Tahoe (best lake) high marks for its mountain bike routes (14-mile Flume Trail), kayak and SUP quotient, and high-altitude hiking potential — as well as its proximity to gambling. Other U.S. destinations that came in tops:

— Bicycling through the Blue Ridge Mountains;— Ramble along the Seafood Sensation route of southern Louisiana;— Walking in the “warm arroyos and alpine trails” of Santa Fe, N.M.;— Fly-casting, mountain biking and wolf-watching at Yellowstone National Park (near Bozeman, Mont.);— Having an old-school camp experience at Squam Lake, N.H.

Along with Belize, top international adventures include:

— Cycling around Flanders and Wallonia in Belgium;— Wilderness hiking trek in the Grand St. Bernard Pass, Switzerland;— Hut hopping amid alpine valleys and high peaks in Italy’s Dolomites.

Lake TahoeCalifornia/Nevada, USA68

FONFESTFriends of Nature Music Festival

FONFEST aims to become the fi rst Carbon

Neutral Event to be held in the City of Miami.

Created by musicians, artists, activists, scientists,

and young entrepreneuers who share a common

desire to save the planet and all the amazing

creatures we share it with. � e mission at FON is

to transcend the limitations of the commonplace

music festival and leave a meaningful and lasting

legacy of environmentally sound concerts. What we

intend to create is a veritable mecca for Art in all its

forms and for people who feel passionate about it; a

multitudinous celebration inclined specially to the

correct and loving preservation of nature, humanity,

and Earth. Coming along for the ride are numerous

guest speakers, artists, and activists including the

Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS) better known as

the masterminds behind “� e Cove” (one of the most

thrilling and inspirational documentaries about the

preservation of marine life).

� e Festival inaugurates with almost 100

performers (musicians and comedians along with

art installations, outdoor activities and workshops).

� e grounds will host 4 music areas, a comedy tent

and a fi lm tent. Doors open at 9 a.m. for those who

like an early start to their day with yoga, Kayaking,

meditation and other workshops. Performances start

at 11 a.m. and end at midnight.

71

72

ANDY GOLDSWORTHYContemporary Nature Art

Goldsworthy is well-known for his environmental art; collaborations

with the natural world ranging from permanent constructions of found stone or wood to objects and interventions using snow, ice or vegetation.Most of his ephemeral works such as Icicle Star, 2003(left) or Icicles Ilkley Moor, 1979 (below left) are recorded photographically; Goldsworthy very rarely displays objects in gallery settings, so the processes through which they eventually vanish remain implicit and unseen.Occasional public projects have, however,

allowed audiences to witness such pieces first-hand.The Midsummer Snowball Project (below, right) involved placing thirteen enormous snowballs around London, UK, at the height of summer in June 2001.Transported from the Scottish Highlands, they were left to melt in the midsummer sun - a process that took five days.As the snowballs disintegrated, they revealed hidden contents gathered at their place of origin: sheep’s wool; feathers; seeds; pine cones; berries - traces of one of the most remote regions of Britain left behind for urban Londoners.

74

ANDY GOLDSWORTHY

DO LANGUAGE AND MUSIC MIMIC NATURE?http://www.scientifi camerican.com/ar-ticle/language-music-mimic-nature/MARK CHANGIZI

TRAVELING THE USAhttp://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/death-valley-national-park-outdoor-pp2-guide-cid8944.html

OUTDOOR HEALTHhttp://www.health.harvard.edu/press_re-leases/spending-time-outdoors-is-good-for-you

SOLAR CHARGINGwww.gearjunkie.comSEAN MCCOY

OUTDOOR HEALTHhttp://www.health.harvard.edu/

TAKE A HIKEhttp://www.independent.co.ukREBECCA GONSALVES

NATURE PHOTOGRAPHYhttp://www.naturephotographers.net

MUSIC MEETS SCIENCEhttp://www.nature.com

EXTREME ADVENTUREShttp://www.gorp.com

WINTER WEATHER FASHIONhttp://www.nytimes.com

ARCHITECTUREhttp://www.foxnews.com/travel/2013/09/09/8-coolest-treehouses-around-world/

GEAR AND GADGETShttp://www.hongkiat.com/blog/high-tech-camping-gadgets/BRIAN WOO

TRAVEL THE WORLDhttp://www.latimes.com/trav-el/deals/la-trb-best-outdoor-travel-20140310,0,2155888.story#axzz2wuemwqDh

FONFESTwww.fonfest.com

DO LANGUAGE AND MUSIC MIMIC NATURE?http://hindustantimes.comhttp://urvivalinternational.org/tribes/omovalleycronkitenewsonline.comwikimedia.orghttp://www.legendsofamerica.com

TRAVEL THE USAwallpapers5.comwww.travelskyline.net

JELLYFISHhttp://wikimedia.orghttp://www.newautism.com http://www.credomag.com

NATURE PHOTOGRAPHYhttp://wholles.comhttp://psheringham.wordpress.com

MUSIC MEETS SCIENCEhttp://30daysout.wordpress.com

EXTREME ADVENTUREShttp://www.iexplore.comhttp://www.lostearthadventures.co.ukhttp://www.worldexpeditions.comhttp://www.tripadvisor.comhttp://ww1.prweb.com

WINTER WEATHER FASHIONhttp://www.jaffl eck.com huffpost.comhttp://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk http://www.daily-art.com/

ARCHITECTUREhttp://lynnho.com http://thebluefi sh.comwww.designboom.com www.bizlife.rshttp://www.blogcdn.comhttp://ichef.bbci.co.uk

GEAR AND GADGETShttp://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81rhySitGLL._SL1500_.jpghttp://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/615SWiq63kL._SL1500_.jpghttp://hypespec.com TRAVEL THE WORLDhttp://www.romanticasheville.comhttp://upload.wikimedia.orghttp://goista.com

FONFESThttp://www.fonfest.comhttp://digunderrock.comhttp://blogs.miaminewtimes.com

ANDY GOLDSWORTHYhttp://www.modernedition.comhttp://www.appstate.edu/~gotschce/sculptor/exhibition.html

CREDIT PAGEhttp://miriadna.com/desctopwalls/im-ages/max/Falling-asleep-forest.jpg

COVERhttp://hqwide.com