YOU WILL TRAVEL IN A LAND OF MARVELS. – JULES VERNE
INTRODUCING
voyage BRILLIANTLY CRISP DISPLAY • REMARKABLE THIN DESIGN EFFORTLESS PAGE TURNING • LIGHT THAT ADJUST WITH YOU
[ EDITOR'S NOTE ]
MID-YEAR COULD BE ONE OF THE HOTTEST MONTHS BUT THAT’S NOT A REASON TO HIDE AT HOME
ISSUE #
03
Once upon a time, work took place outside of the home during designated hours. Today, that world is a fairy tale. Seeking work-life balance is now an aspiration and a growing realization that it is never worth it to compromise health over other commitments, especially work.
June is an appropriate mid-year milestone to keep your life incheck against any frustrations or complications that lies within. In this issue, Lifestyle covers an interesting aspect where poor work-life balance actually increases your expenses. To improve your happiness quotient, cultivate new habits in your daily routine to see the difference. We cannot afford to neglect the first world health problem which is threatening to urbanites like you and me. Now I’m sure many of you would have thought that the concept that living green in Singapore is expensive, but Nadya Hutalalung tells us how to do it, cheap.
Notably the hottest month of the year, we’ve thoughtfully provided a list of travel ideas so you may plan for a short getaway. Choose between private places or mountain climbing, or both? We always admire full-time travel bloggers because their job is to travel. Matthew Karsten, The Expert Vagabond, will share his most exciting experience "working" as a travel blogger. Self-drive trips aren't measured by miles makers, but by moments. Continue to be excited and look forward to our Roadtrip segment. This time the spotlight is on Hokkaido in Japan and includes a collaboration with Lomography where we treat our readers with a visual treat of Tokyo and Shirakawago in pictures. Wood is coming into trend. Like what Matias Brecher mentioned, "Wood is a human material." Yes, Profile presents inspiring young entrepreneurs who deals with wood in their venture. Enjoy!
– Yeo Z –
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[ CONTENT ]
LIFESTYLE 08 LIFE
poor work-life balance is MORE EXPENSIVE
12 LIFE
nine life changing HABITS
14 living green INTERVIEW
NADYA HUTAGALUNG
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HEALTH
busy lifestyle syndrome FIRST WORLD PROBLEM
18 FITNESS
seven effective exercises ANYTIME, ANYWHERE
20 FITNESS
weight remains stagnant CARDIO vs WEIGHT
24 RECIPES
classic guacamole, beef stroganoff, chocolate raspberry almond butter bars and smoothies START COOKING
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[ CONTENT ]
TRAVEL 38 WEEKEND GETAWAY
away from the city,get some peace NIKOI ISLAND, UBUD & KHAO LAK
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52
ROAD TRIP
hokkaido JAPAN
INTERVIEW
the expert vagabond MATTHEW KARSTEN
66 SPECIAL EDITION
tokyo – shirakawago JAPAN
44 ACTIVE VACATION
kite surfing, BORACAY hiking, MOUNT KOTA KINABALU
PROFILE 72 INTERVIEW
handicraft goods for a great purpose TOAST, LSTN & PROOF
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[ LIFESTYLE | LIFE ]
POOR WORK-LIFE BALANCE MAKES LIFE MORE EXPENSIVE Joanne Poh
" So many people spend their health gaining wealth, and then have to spend their wealth to regain their health " - A.J. Reb Materi
In Singapore, it’s pretty much understood that if you want money you’re going to have to sacrifice time-lots and lots of time, judging by the fact that Singaporeans work the longest hours in the world and even kids are turning into mini cubicle slaves thanks to an obsession with tuition. I sometimes wonder if Singaporeans are so prone to overspending because they have so little free time. High cost of property and cars aside, there is a growing body of evidence that shows that middle class Singaporeans are increasingly losing control over their spending. In fact, over half of the people who showed up at Credit Counselling Singapore in 2013 ended up there not because of poverty or unexpected illness but because of a lack of discipline, plain and simple. Instead of trying to clock extra hours at the office in hopes that the boss will notice and bestow upon you a bigger bonus, perhaps it’s time to examine some ways in which a lack of free time might actually be hurting you financially.
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[ LIFESTYLE | LIFE ]
OUTSOURCING YOUR LIFE The image of the Filipino maid carrying a child’s school bag is by now a classic Singapore image. Our fast-paced lives and long working hours have made it necessary to outsource so many areas of our lives, from child-rearing to cooking and cleaning. Saving money usually means doing things yourself instead of paying someone to do it.
BUYING CONVENIENCE Saving money takes time. It often means doing your own cooking instead of eating out again, having the perseverance to take public transport instead of hailing a cab and having the patience to comparison shop. When you’re a stressed out Singaporean whose main goal is to just collapse into bed exhausted at the end of the day, that $30 cab ride can mean an extra hour of much-needed sleep. Imagine your life if you could leave the office at 5 or 6pm on the dot. Would you spend your time and money any differently?
TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR A LACK OF TIME AND EXPERIENCES BY BUYING PLEASURE When you don’t have the time to do the things you love, you start to look for ways to continue being immersed in a hobby or interest without having to spend much time actually doing it. Let’s say you’re into yoga but haven’t had time to practise. To feed your interest, you go online and start reading articles about yoga and surfing for yoga-related merchandise. Before you know it, you’ve bought a new mat and a new outfit for those sweaty hot yoga sessions.
Then you feel a bit better because you’ve indulged your interest without actually having to spend the 3 hours going to the yoga studio. But you’re also the poorer for it. On the other hand, if you went on leave for a week and suddenly had more free time, you would probably end up actually hauling yourself to your mat and practising, instead of merely consuming.
WHAT’S THE SOLUTION? Schedule your work and leisure time: Productivity gurus swear by scheduling their work day. If you give yourself only 1 hour to complete a certain task at the office, it gets finished much faster. Scheduling your free time can help you get a lot more out of it, too. Let’s say you get home at 8pm every day. From 8pm to 9pm, you can either choose to practise guitar/hone your poledancing skills/spend quality time with your pet fish, or Facebook/Channel 8 will choose you. Get rid of social media: Deleting the Facebook app from my phone was one of the best decisions in my life. It’s a little sad that whenever we do have a sliver of space to relax and immerse ourselves in our surroundings, we immediately get sucked into our smartphones. Then we complain that we don’t have time to smell the roses etc. Do less: If you’re trying to juggle three jobs while practising for next year’s Singapore Idol, searching for a cure for cancer in your home lab and going for intensive kung fu training, your life is going to be a blur of missed appointments and running from one thing to the next. Take a look at what activities you really want to focus on and then cut out the stuff that’s just weighing you down. ABOVE: "City
life" by Bodie Chewning
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Inspired by nature and fueled by design
Connect with us!
Visit us at our 7,000 sqft galleria at HortPark, Singapore.
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[ LIFESTYLE | LIFE ]
LIFE CHANGING DAILY HABITS YOU CAN LEARN FROM Krissy Brady
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VISUALISE
I used to find it hard to fall asleep until I began visualizing how I wanted the next day to go. Instead of my mind wandering from topic to topic, I focused on what “might” go wrong, I started on what “would” go right. If you not only list in your mind what you’re going to do the next day but visualize yourself doing it, this planning process helps keep uncertainty at bay (and the next day goes much smoother!).
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GET UP EARLIER
I now get all of my important work done before everyone else is even awake—you would not believe the difference this makes! There’s no better feeling than knowing no matter what happens for the rest of the day, you’ve accomplished what you set out to. Bring on the interruptions and distractions; you’ll be armed and ready!
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DRINK WATER
Having a glass of water first thing in the morning helps rid your body of toxins that have been stored overnight. Not only does it aid your digestive tract, it also boosts your metabolism, helping you feel energized sooner.
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DEFINE YOUR PRIORITIES
One of the reasons why you’re not reaching your goals is likely to do with how much you have on your plate, professionally and personally. It’s likely you’re trying to do too many things at the same time. Ask yourself: what are your ultimate goals? Once you’ve defined them, drop everything that doesn’t cater to them. You can always come back to these things later, after you’ve established what’s most important to you.
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CREATE A MORNING ROUTINE
Wake up and do the same things in the same order before you start your day: have a glass of water, exercise, read, etc. Do things that you normally don’t have time for that make you happy. Easing into your day instead of rushing to get started not only depletes your stress level significantly, but puts you in a proactive frame of mind for the remainder of the day.
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SINGLE TASK
Only 2% of the world’s population can successfully multitask. The rest of us posers are serial-tasking: flitting from one task to another, nudging ourselves forward with each instead of focusing on one at a time. I broke this habit by choosing one item on my to-do list, then hiding it in a drawer until I was done. It’s a tough habit to break, but once you do your mind feels clearer, you feel less restless, and the quality of your work skyrockets across the board.
[ LIFESTYLE | LIFE ]
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GO MINIMAL
External clutter leads to mental clutter. Do a clean sweep of your home and get rid of everything you no longer use or have never used. By the end of my own clean sweep last year, it looked like I’d been robbed! There’s no better feeling than knowing you actually need and use everything you’re surrounded by. Bonus: you also save time by not having as much to clean!
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SET ONLINE BOUNDARIES
It’s too easy to get sucked into an online world of status updates, memes, list posts, and videos. Before you know it, over half your day is gone and you have nothing to show for it. This is especially difficult for those of us who work on the Internet. One of the best daily habits I’ve established is not checking my e-mail or social media accounts first thing in the morning. Create specific windows of time for your online tasks. It’s okay to check your e-mail periodically in case you receive urgent requests from your boss or co-workers, but if you check and there aren’t any, abort and get back to your day.
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+ Tips + HOW TO DEVELOP DAILY HABITS? Focus on building one habit per month. • Don’t give yourself a deadline: Some daily habits will be easier to build than others, and it doesn’t matter how long it takes to build the habit, as long as you build it. • Commit fully and don’t back down. • Go easy on yourself if you stumble. Instead of getting angry with yourself, use it as a learning experience. Figure out what caused you to stumble, deal with any external influences causing you problems, and try again. • Each time you hit a milestone—one week, one month, six months, etc.—reward yourself in some way. How is completely up to you. • Once you’re able to complete the habit without having to think about it, it’s time to move onto establishing your next habit.
CREATE AN EVENING ROUTINE
Your evening routine is just as important as your morning routine, as it prepares your body for a solid night’s sleep. Create a relaxing routine that starts about an hour before you go to bed, and use it as your body’s “signal” that it’s time to go to sleep.
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[ LIFESTYLE | INTERVIEW ]
NADYA HUTAGALUNG LIVING GREEN Genna Tan
" People have the biggest misconception about being green is expensive. Yet the easiest way to be green is to cut back your consumption. " – Nadya H. She may support environmental causes like the reduction of global warming, but let’s face it – temperatures will definitely rise when Nadya Hutagalung is around. When she’s not busy being a supermodel, mother and host of Asia’s Next Top Model, Nadya Hutagalung spends most of her time promoting eco-friendly practices. The Indonesian-Australian beauty has been nominated for Most Responsible Celebrity at the International Green Awards, along with other celebs like George Clooney, Penelope Cruz and Vivienne Westwood. Find out how Nadya Hutagalung goes green, while still looking like a million bucks.
You’re one of the few celebs in Asia who are passionate about being eco-friendly. What first got you interested in going green? I would have to say it was my mother who inspired me, as she has been talking about these concepts of living off the grid and being self-sustainable before I could even understand what that meant. Since becoming a mother myself, I felt an urgent need to be active in the world we are leaving behind for our children. If I were to do nothing, I would not be able to ease the feeling of guilt deep in my soul.
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[ LIFESTYLE | INTERVIEW ]
+ Nadya + Most people in Singapore are still kind of apathetic about being green. What are some easy ways people can be eco-friendly at work or at home? Less meat, less heat – try to adapt a plantbased diet, as the factory farming of meat has a very heavy carbon footprint.
What do you have to say to people who think it’s just too much of a hassle to be green? Learning to adapt to the effects of climate change, rising food prices, water shortages, rising sea levels etc. will be more of a hassle than small lifestyle changes – which can actually prove to be cost saving and fun too.
What word you’d use to describe the eco-friendly scene in Singapore? Blossoming.
We hear you’ve got an eco-friendly home. What green aspects did you try and integrate into your house? Everything from the facing of the house to cut back on exposure to heat, to the design of the home helps to create a passive house. We have thermal heating for our water supply and a mineral water swimming pool which uses NASA technology to clean the pool (this means we don’t need to use chlorine). We also use LED lights and don’t use air-conditioning, except when I’m getting ready for work. We used a no-kill, nopoison termite technology during the build as well. Our power bills are about half of what a similar-sized house would be, so we’re saving in the long run.
If you had the chance to completely eliminate any non-eco-friendly thing e.g.plastic/cars/etc. What would it be? Ignorance. OPPOSITE: Nadya
Hutagalung actively supports Let Elephants Be Elephants
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[ LIFESTYLE | HEALTH ]
FIRST WORLD PROBLEM: BUSY LIFESTYLE SYNDROME Josh Hrala
‘Busy Lifestyle Syndrome’ Is A New Condition That Makes You Forget There just isn’t enough time in the day to keep up with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, e-mails, and, oh yeah, work and family. There’s just so much to do and not enough time to do it. It’s hard having a world of knowledge at our fingertips. We forget these things are luxuries of modern technology. Many people in impoverished countries will never get to waste time Instagramming their meals because they lack both internet and food. It makes our complaints seem pretty stupid. However, too much information can have its downsides, like making you forgetful. Have you ever walked into a room and forgotten what you were doing? Left your keys in the door after coming home? Or, forgotten the name of a person you just met? If you have, you
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may showing symptoms of Busy Lifestyle Syndrome, or BLS, which isn’t BS. According to CPS Research, every day we are bombarded with information, which overloads our minds and makes us forgetful. Our short-term memory is often distracted by constant e-mails, text messages and a slew of other new age communication. Researchers are even devising a pill that will boost short-term memory in young people suffering from BLS. Some researchers believe these lapses are completely normal because our minds are trying to figure out what is important and what isn’t, and it causes us to sometimes forget things we shouldn’t. So if you are constantly racking your brain to figure out where exactly you’re heading on the highway, you should probably take a time-out from your electronics.
[ LIFESTYLE | FITNESS ]
7 MOST EFFECTIVE EXERCISES YOU CAN DO ANYTIME, ANYWHERE Karla Jennings
20 per leg
Mountain Climber
Abs Bikes
20 per leg
15 reps
Burpees
Push-Ups
10 reps
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[ LIFESTYLE | FITNESS ]
Do you find yourself always procrastinating when you have a bunch of stuff to do? Here are some simple exercises to to help tone your body without having to go to the gym. You can even do this when you go travel! By doing two rounds of these exercise only takes about 30 mins of your time for the day. You will definitely see results if you do the exercises two to three times a week. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. And the benefits of exercise are yours for the taking, regardless of your age, sex or physical ability. Check out these seven ways exercise can improve your life: • help maintain weight loss • combats health conditions and diseases • boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem • boost your energy • sleeps better Exercise and physical activity are a great way to feel better, gain health benefits and have fun. As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to exercise more. Remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you haven't exercised for a long time, have chronic health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes or arthritis, or you have any concerns.
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Jump Squats
reps
+ Tips + 4 WAYS TO STOP PROCRASTINATING Creating a to do list really helps to sort out your tasks and also prioritise them in order of importance. • The little things pile up and suddenly our to do list is three pages long. If some task take only 5 minutes to complete, do it. • Accept things don’t need to be perfect. If you have finished a task and want to perfect it, stop when you are finished, move onto the next thing and then come back later to make it perfect. • Cut out distractions. If you can't seem to get your work done, try put away your smartphone. This also applies to anything else like books, TV shows and even your pets!
2 min
Plank
1
Skipping
min 19
[ LIFESTYLE | FITNESS ]
WEIGHTS vs. CARDIO
YOU CAN'T BURN FAT WITH STRENGTH TRAINING.
RESISTANCE TRAINING MAKES WOMEN BULKY.
Far too many people are focused on how many calories they burn while they’re in the gym, but this is shortsighted.
This myth just won’t die and, unfortunately, it’s horribly misguided.
Stop focusing on how many calories you burn in the gym and instead focus on how your body expends calories outside the gym. You burn calories throughout the day regardless of what you are doing, but exercise helps increase the rate at which you burn those calories. With most forms of traditional steady-state cardio, you expend calories while you’re exercising, but once you stop, you quickly go back to your normal metabolic rate. Strength training, however, builds muscle, and more muscle helps you burn more calories -- even when you’re doing nothing but sitting on the couch. "Strength training is a critical component of any program than emphasizes longterm fat loss," said Alwyn Cosgrove, co-author of the book "The New Rules of Lifting." Think of it like this: Muscles are “thirsty” from a metabolic perspective. The more muscle you have, the more fuel you are constantly burning. This is the advantage strength training offers if your goal is to lean out. A treadmill or elliptical trainer is often seen as the quick fix to shed body fat, and they are certainly useful if your goal is to improve cardiovascular health, endurance or simply to burn some extra calories, but strength training is a powerful ally."
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And to prove it, just go to any big-box gym in America and see how many 140-lb. guys with pencil-thin arms and a beer gut are in the gym multiple days a week, trying to get “big” or “huge.” Clearly something isn’t working. It takes a lot of work both in and out of the gym to get big or bulky. You not only need to be dedicated to your training, but you need proper nutrition if you’re serious about putting on size. "There is a big misconception about what causes bulk. Bulk isn't muscle; it is muscle covered by fat," said Mike Roussell, author and nutritional consultant. "So if you feel that you are too bulky, then it is important to fine-tune your diet to lose the excess fat -- not give up weight training." Women have a disadvantage if the goal is to put on size. They have about one-tenth the testosterone of males, and testosterone is a key component in the muscle-building process. So even if you’re working out just as hard as a man, lifting the same amount of weight and gorging on calories, you still won’t see the same results with regard to muscle building. Women can, though, build muscles. Instead of big and bulky, they will be the type of long and lean muscles many women desire.
[ LIFESTYLE | FITNESS ]
CARDIO vs. WEIGHTS
WEIGHT TRAINING LIMITS ATHLETICISM
RUNNING ISN'T THE BEST WAY TO GET FIT
If your goal is to move and look like the Hulk, then feel free to continue performing body-part splits and hitting every machine in the gym. Those machines have their place, but they are not indicative of every weight-training routine.
It’s not that running as an exercise is bad, but it puts a fair amount of stress on your muscles and joints. Recreational runners can have injuries caused by weakness in the core and hip-stabilizing muscles. The better plan is to take time to develop the muscles of your core and hips first instead of jumping off the couch and running three miles.
If your goal is to look, move and feel like an athlete, you need a different approach. "Elite athletes need their body to function as an efficient unit. Splitting the body into parts like legs, chest, back and biceps will not meet that goal," said Wil Fleming, performance coach and coowner of Force Fitness and Performance in Bloomington, Indiana. "Instead, focus on big-bang movements that utilize multiple muscle groups -- both the prime movers and the smaller stabilizers." The premise here is simple: Stop isolating body parts and pumping away mindlessly on the machines. Focus on bigbang, compound, multi-joint exercises. Hire a trainer or coach and learn how to squat, deadlift, chin and overhead press safely and effectively. The only reason your athleticism will be limited in the gym is if you follow an ineffective program or one that’s designed for “show” versus “go.”
For the hip stabilizers, start off with basic single-leg exercises like split-squats, lunges and step-ups. For the core, exercises like front planks, side planks and bird dogs will help get you stronger and more stable, making you much less likely to injure yourself when you do decide to run that 5K. Some people need activities that are a bit more joint-friendly, as the pounding caused by running on a treadmill or pavement is simply too much. If you like more traditional options, a dual-action exercise bike or rower will not only engage a ton of muscles, but take some of the stress off your joints as well. If you want newer (and possibly more exciting) variations, consider kettlebell swings, medicine ball or barbell circuits, Prowler pushes, or even battling rope variations. There are many different ways to get into shape, and while running is great, it’s just one option you have at your disposal.
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SPORT COLLECTION
[ LIFESTYLE | FOOD ]
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[ LIFESTYLE | FOOD ]
+ Healthy Superfood + CLASSIC GUACAMOLE Roberto SantibaĂąez'
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
2 tablespoons fine chopped white onion
Mash the onion, chile, salt (the coarseness of kosher salt helps you make the paste), and half of the cilantro to a paste in a molcajete or other mortar. You can also mince and mash the ingredients together on a cutting board with a large knife or a fork, and then transfer the paste to a bowl.
1 tablespoon minced fresh serrano or jalapeno chile, including seeds, or more to taste 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or 1/4 teaspoon fine salt 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, divided 1 large or 2 small ripe Mexican Hass avocados, halved and pitted
NOTES There is a very important textural thing to guacamole – we never really mush up the avocado. You want to feel everything. Crushes only enough of the avocado to warrant it consideration as a dip rather than a salad, but leaves the rest of the cubes intact, bathing them in the vividly flavored chile sauce
Score the flesh in the avocado halves in a crosshatch pattern (not through the skin) with a knife and then scoop it with a spoon into the mortar or bowl. Toss well (it should be like salad properly dressed in vinaigrette), then add the rest of the cilantro and mash very coarsely with a pestle or a fork. Season to taste with lime juice (if you'd like) and additional chile and salt. { SERVES 2 } OPPOSITE: Photo
by James Ransom
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[ LIFESTYLE | FOOD ]
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[ LIFESTYLE | FOOD ]
+ Quick and Easy + BEEF STROGANOFF The Chunky Chef
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
1 tablespoon oil
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium low heat. Add the onions and saute for a few minutes until the onions are fragrant and softened. Add the chicken and curry paste; saute for 3-5 minutes. Add the potatoes and stir to coat with the curry paste.
½ a yellow onion, sliced thinly 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces 1 cup yellow curry paste 10 baby golden yukon potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 14-ounce can coconut cream (it's like coconut milk, but even more luscious) ½ - 1 cup water 2 teaspoons fish sauce (optional) 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar (optional) cilantro and rice for serving
NOTES It's super easy to make. It takes about 45 minutes, but then you'll have enough to last you through five batches of curry (and you can freeze it).
Add the coconut cream and ½ cup water to the pot - simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the chicken and potatoes are fully cooked, adding more water depending on the consistency you want for the sauce. Stir in the fish sauce and brown sugar to really take it up a notch. Seriously - so good. Serve over rice. { SERVES 1 } OPPOSITE: Photo
by The Chunky Chef
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[ LIFESTYLE | FOOD ]
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[ LIFESTYLE | FOOD ]
+ Indulgance + CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY ALMOND BUTTER BARS Claire Saffitz
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
8 tablespoons salted butter
Line a pie plate with parchment paper or foil. Arrange the raspberries and the pecans in a single layer.
8 tablespoons coconut oil 2 tablespoons cocoa powder 4 tablespoons honey, divided 2 tablespoons almond butter 1 teaspoon vanilla a couple pinches of salt (to taste) 1 heaping cup frozen raspberries ½ cup whole or chopped pecans cacao nibs, hazel nuts, flaked coconut, sea salt, or anything else you might like as a topping
NOTES You could mix the two melted mixtures together but I sort of liked having them in two layers. You can necessarily tell (I tried to swirl but it didn't really work) but I just liked the idea of them layered better than mixing them all together.
Next, Melt 4 tablespoons butter and 4 tablespoons coconut oil together until smooth. Whisk in the cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons honey, ½ teaspoon vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Taste, adjust, and pour the mixture over the berries in the pie plate. Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and 4 tablespoons coconut oil together until smooth. Add the almond butter, 2 tablespoons honey, ½ teaspoon vanilla, and a pinch of salt - stir until melted. Taste, adjust, and pour the mixture over the chocolate mixture in the pan. Freeze for at least 30 minutes - right around the 30 minute mark they will be sturdy and solid but still awesomely semi-soft and bite-able. Cut into wedges to serve. (I stored my leftovers in the freezer and then just let them thaw a bit before eating each time.) { 10-12 SLICES, SERVES 12 } OPPOSITE: Photo
by Alex Lau
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[ LIFESTYLE | FOOD ]
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[ LIFESTYLE | FOOD ]
+ Mood Boost + 1
CHOCOLATE MALT SUPERFOOD SMOOTHIE
2
SPINACH FLAX PROTEIN SMOOTHIE
Ashley Melillo | Blissful Basil
The Blonde Buckeye
INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
2 frozen bananas
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1½ tablespoons maca root powder
1 large handful of organic baby spinach,
1 tablespoon raw cacao powder or 2 tablespoons cocoa
¼ cup frozen mango chunks
powder
¼ cup frozen pineapple
1 medjool date, pitted
½ of a banana (fresh or frozen)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 Tbsp flax meal (optional)
2-4 tablespoons water
1 Tbsp chia seeds (optional)
optional: cocoa nibs
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional)
TOP LEFT: Photo
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by Alex Lau
BLUEBERRY PEANUT BUTTER SMOOTHIE Averie Sunshine
TOP LEFT: Photo
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by Alex Lau
LEMON CREAM PIE SMOOTHIE Comesticate Me
INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
1 cup frozen blueberries
2 ripe bananas, frozen
1/2 frozen banana
1 teaspoon fresh orange zest
1 cup almond milk
1½ cups fresh squeezed lemon juice
3 ice cubes
¾ cup unsweetened almond milk
1 spoonful of organic crunchy peanut butter
¾ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 scoop vanilla Live Rite
4-6 ice cubes
TOP LEFT: Photo
by Alex Lau
TOP LEFT: Photo
by Alex Lau
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USE THE COLOURED TRANSPARENCY AS A FILTER FOR YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
ROUND HAY BALES ON THE FIELD
43°58'33"N 142°46'67"E
Hokkaido
+ Biei +
OPPOSITE: TRAVEL JOURNEY IS FILLED WITH COLOUR,
677.2 km²
美 瑛 町
[ TRAVEL | WEEKEND ]
AWAY FROM THE CITY. GET SOME PEACE.
" We travel not to escape life. But for life not to escape us. "
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[ TRAVEL | WEEKEND ]
+ Nikoi Island + Indonesia Nikoi Island Nikoi is a 15 hectare private island 8km off the east coast of Bintan, Indonesia. Located less than 85km from Singapore, travelling time from Tanah Merah ferry terminal is approximately two and a half hours. Long regarded as one of the most stunning islands on this relatively unspoilt coast, Nikoi is fortunate to have remained in pristine condition. It is ringed with white sandy beaches and coral reefs of spectacular colour and diversity and a coastline studded with magnificent white granite boulders that seemingly defy gravity. Rising to a height of 30m, the island also boasts a rain forest where colossal trees, including native Banyan trees, provide a sanctuary to a diverse population of local birds. The design of the beach houses reflects both traditional Indonesian architecture and contemporary form. Using driftwood and alang alang roofing to blend into the environment, each beach house incorporates a modern ensuite bathroom. This cooling system is enhanced by the use of overhead fans and the siting of each beach house just metres from the beach. Ocean breezes and the unique cooling effect of the land mass provide a working example of “nature’s air-con”. Activities available to guests includes serious relaxation, swimming, sailing, snorkeling, diving, massage, nature discovery and island hopping, windsurfing, standup paddle boarding, kayaking, tennis, croquet, and boule. If you are looking for a quiet place to relax, Nikoi is the perfect private island to go. TOP: Nikoi Island from far CENTER: Private sunbathing platform BOTTOM: Just hatched turtles heading
back to the sea
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[ TRAVEL | WEEKEND ]
+ Ubud + Bali Yeo Z Ubud, a town in central Bali, is far removed from the beach party scene in Kuta, and is regarded as the cultural centre of Bali. It is famous as an arts and crafts hub, and much of the town and nearby villages seems to consist of artists' workshops and galleries. There are some remarkable architectural and other sights to be found, and a general feeling of well being to be enjoyed, all thanks to the spirit, surroundings, and climate of the place. The Ubud Monkey Forest is a nature reserve and Hindu temple complex in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. Its official name is the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. The Monkey Forest lies within the village of Padangtegal, which owns it. The village's residents view the Monkey Forest as an important spiritual, economic, educational, and conservation center for the village. Ubud's famous local dish is called the Bebek Bengil (Dirty Duck). It's worth to try and you might just get hooked on for every meal! There are so many to do in Ubud. Some activities you might consider like cycling along the paddy fields, water rafting, hike the Volcano Batur and Volcano Agung, and many more. TOP: Tourist ridden by Monkey at Sacred CENTER: Sunset at Ubud rice paddy walk BOTTOM: Hike just outside od Ubud
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Monkey Forest
[ TRAVEL | WEEKEND ]
+ Khao Lak + Thailand Yeo Z Khao Lak is a 20 km long strip of coastal resorts in Phang Nga Province on the Andaman Sea beaches of Southern Thailand, about 100 km north of Phuket Town. When the disastrous tsunami of 2004 struck South Asia, the Khao Lak region was the hardest-hit area in Thailand with over 4,000 fatalities, more than 3,000 more who were never accounted for, and thousands who were injured. It has since made an impressive recovery and is once again a popular tourist destination. Unlike Phuket, the many resorts in the Khao Lak area cater mainly to families and those looking for peace, quiet, and nature. The attractions of Khao Lak are impressive and many, but they are not flashy. The expanses of lovely uncrowded parks, mountains, roads, caves and beaches, relatively unspoiled nature, easy access to great off-shore diving, accommodations ranging from luxury to basic, and an infrastructure that supports western tourism, but not at the expense of local customs or the Thai way of life, appeal to an increasing number of visitors. It’s an excellent vacation spot for people seeking to get off the treadmill, for family getaways, and for nature-lovers. TOP: Heading to ilsland hopping CENTER: Phang Nga Bay BOTTOM: Sea Cave Canoe
on a speed boat
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[ TRAVEL | INTERVIEW ]
THE EXPERT VAGABOND MATTHEW KARSTEN Jannell
Please tell us about your travels.
Most people are surprised at how inexpensive a travel lifestyle can be. With a modest and consistent online income, a life abroad is probably a lot easier than you think. This interview with Matthew Karsten, of ExpertVagabond.com, is a great case study on what is possible.
I first began traveling longterm in November 2010. Before I left for good, I took a “practice” trip in Mexico for 5 weeks to see if I’d like it, and to learn about any logistical problems that might pop up (mail, banking, internet, etc.). After that I flew into Guatemala and have been working my way South through Central America for the last 10 months.
I dramatically cut down on unnecessary expenses to save for the trip, but I didn’t spend years saving up like some people do. I maybe saved for a year or so. The difference is I also spent 3 years building up a business in my spare time that could support me while I was traveling. I was aiming for a certain monthly income, not a certain savings amount.
Please tell us about your travels.
Please tell us about your website?
I first began traveling long term in November 2010. Before I left for good, I took a “practice” trip in Mexico for 5 weeks to see if I’d like it, and to learn about any logistical problems that might pop up (mail, banking, internet, etc.). After that I flew into Guatemala and have been working my way South through Central America for the last 10 months.
My travel blog was created about 6 months prior to the start of my trip. I knew I wanted to record the many travel experiences I’d have for friends & family. I was hoping that others might find it interesting too, because I always loved reading other travel blogs. Eventually I’d like to turn my travel blog into another solid source of income, but my main goal with the site is to effectively share my experiences with others in the hopes that they’ll be inspired to take some risks and explore.
What made you decide to begin a nomadic life? There really wasn’t a single big reason, more like a combination of many. I was bored with my life. I moved around a lot, and it was something I actually looked forward to doing. I guess I just couldn’t stay in one place for too long before I started wondering what it would be like living somewhere else. I think I was just born with a nomadic gene.
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Did you have a lot of savings when you started?
Your videos are very high quality, do you think video is more effective than text on a blog? At the moment I use 3 different cameras to record my adventures, and all of them record HD video. I wouldn’t consider them pro cameras, but all combined they aren’t cheap.
[ TRAVEL | INTERVIEW ]
+ Matthew +
Right now it’s about $5000 worth of camera gear. All the short films on the site are edited by me, but I have no formal training. I slowly taught myself (and still have a lot more to learn). I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to have video on a travel blog, but it certainly helps add a different dimension. My videos tend to focus on the visual experiences, I don’t talk much in them. Shooting & editing video is a TON of work, and if you don’t really enjoy it, it can be a nightmare. Luckily I enjoy it very much.
What did you do to build such a large online following? At the moment I have over 13,000 followers on Twitter, and over 1400 fans on Facebook. One of my techniques for gathering new followers is to make it very easy for people to follow me. At the end of every blog post, I just ask people to follow if they enjoyed the story or photos. The process has to be easy & quick.
Do you make much money from your website?
While I’d obviously like that to increase, I also don’t want my blog to become an ugly billboard that’s unpleasant to visit. I turn down advertisers all the time if I think their ads will degrade the experience for my readers.
How do you earn an income now? The quick explanation is that I create membership websites. Customers pay for information or access to online courses about particular topics. The topics vary widely. I plan on writing a detailed blog post about this in the future. It’s taken me years to earn an income this way.
What are your approximate monthly living expenses? I spend about $800-$1000 a month on living expenses while traveling. About 30% is for food, 30% for accommodation, 20% transportation, and 20% for entertainment. The breakdown can change depending where I am and what I’m doing though. TOP: Photo by Matthew
Karsten embarking his travel adventure
I don’t make a ton of money from my travel blog yet. Maybe $300-$400 a month with some affiliate links & advertising. 41
[ TRAVEL | INTERVIEW ]
+ Matthew + An investment in travel is an investment in yourself. – Matthew Karsten
What do you dislike about always being on the road? Generating meaningful friendships & relationships can be hard to when you’re always on the road. I plan on taking long breaks for a few months in one location every so often to help remedy that, but I’m not sure if it will work yet. I possibly see myself getting sick of the nomadic lifestyle sometime in the future. But for now, the benefits outweigh the costs.
Have you had any serious problems on your travels? Plenty of minor annoyances, like missed flights & buses, delayed baggage, broken cameras, cuts & sprains, etc. But so far no robberies, major accidents, illnesses, animal attacks, or things like that. I’ve had food poisoning only once in 10 months, and I drink local tap water most of the time.
How do you deal with administrative issues like banking, bills and health care? I do my banking with Charles Schwab, a great bank for travel. They refund all your ATM fees no matter where you are. I
have a catastrophic health insurance plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield in the United States that only covers major problems, and I use local doctors for other things. I also subscribe to a virtual mail-forwarding service called Earth Class Mail for cashing the occasional physical check and managing my mail.
Do you have any advice for people considering longterm traveling? It may seem like there are too many obligations & obstacles stopping you from long-term travel, but I’ve learned that nothing is impossible. The only thing stopping you, is you. If you really want to travel, there’s always a way to make it happen. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy though. To help conquer fears, I’d also like to recommend the following piece of advice from the philosopher Seneca: “Set aside a certain number of days, during which you shall be content with the scantiest and cheapest fare, with course and rough dress, saying to yourself the while: Is this the condition that I feared?” TOP: Photo by Matthew
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Karsten self-grooming
[ TRAVEL | ACTIVE ]
KITE SURFING GLIDE WITH THE WIND Jannell
Boracay is one of the most beautiful of the Philippine islands, located approximately 315 km (200 miles) south of Manila and 2 km off the northwest tip of Panay Island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. The White Beach may be the face of tourism on this resorty island of the archipelago nation in Southeast Asia, but on the other, windier side of the island lies plenty of kiteboarders hangin’ with the hangin — the native Tagalog word for wind. The windy season runs from November to April which makes Boracay a perfect winter getaway for those looking for an idyllic beautiful location with fantastic hotels. Kite surfers use inflatable kites tethered to harnesses to glide through water and air. Kite surfing is still in its infancy, but is quickly becoming a safer sport due to innovations in kite design and safety systems. Many riding styles have evolved to suit different types of riders, i.e. 'wake' style, wave riding, freestyle, jumping, and cruising.
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[ TRAVEL | ACTIVE ]
+ BoracayPhilippines +
11째96'94"N 121째92'72"E
Kitesufing is a complex, but rewarding sport, therefore beginners will start off with a few lessons with instructor and a basic level of fitness is all you need. Modern gear provided can be adjusted to work for people in a broad range of physical abilities. Once you coomplete the course with the instructors, you can move on to advance moves and enjoy the fun surfing on the sea! OPPOSITE: Silhouette of kite ABOVE: Surfer preparing to
surfer flying over the sea surf from shore
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[ TRAVEL | ACTIVE ]
MOUNT KINABALU OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE Yeo Z
Mt Kinabalu (4095m) is one of the tallest mountains in SouthEast Asia and is situated in the Kinabalu National Park in the province of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo. Thousands of tourists visit Kinabalu National Park each year and most come with the intention of climbing Mt Kinabalu. Fortunately, Mt Kinabalu is one of the easiest peaks in the world to conquer. It takes just two days and climbers don't need any previous experience at mountain climbing. At sunrise, the views from the Mt Kinabalu's summit at Low's Peak are spectacular, making all the effort worthwhile.
Most climbers take two days to ascend and descend Mt Kinabalu. The eight-kilometre climb generally starts from the the Timpohon Gate near park headquarters (1800m), with an overnight stay at one of the guest houses at Laban Rata (3273m), before pushing on to the summit early next morning. Mt Kinabalu's summit is usually reached in time to view the sunrise, before returning to Laban Rata for breakfast. Climbers then descend the mountain, generally reaching the park headquarters by mid-afternoon. Anyone with a reasonable level of fitness and the willpower to push through fatigue and discomfort can climb to the summit of Mt Kinabalu. It is achievable and incredibly rewarding. ABOVE: Climbing the mountain starts as early as 4am OPPOSITE: Guide rope along the slope for climbers
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[ TRAVEL | ACTIVE ]
Before you climb Mount Kinabalu, do a quick check on your packing list to ensure that you have the following five essential items. They are headlight, waterproof gloves, a good pair of trekking shoes, warm clothing and panadol. Of course, there are more stuffs you might want to bring along, but be careful the load you are carrying. If you bag is too heavy, it might hinder you during the climb.
05째97'14"N 116째09'53"E
+ Sabah +Malaysia
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USE THE COLOURED TRANSPARENCY AS A FILTER FOR YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
FIELD OF SUNFLOWER ALONG ROUTE 241 FROM KAMISHIHORO TO ASHORO
43°27'44"N 143°40'20.92"E
+ Ashoro National Hwy + Hokkaido
OPPOSITE: TRAVEL JOURNEY IS FILLED WITH COLOUR,
Route
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足 寄 国 道
[ TRAVEL | ROAD TRIP ]
WARM COLOURS, COOL AIR Yeo Z
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[ TRAVEL | ROAD TRIP ]
43째00'00"N 142째00'00"E
+ HokkaidoJapan+
Hokkaido is a spacious island located at Japan's northern extremity with festivals throughout the seasons. A region with an abundance of natural beauty. Hokkaido is a spacious island located at Japan's northern extremity with festivals throughout the seasons. A region with an abundance of natural beauty. It is an island at Japan's northern extremity, surrounded by sea in all directions. It is an extensive land, accounting for 22% of Japan's total land area. Low humidity makes the summers pleasant, while in winter you can enjoy
winter sports. The island is gaining popularity as a tourist destination throughout the four seasons. After landed in Shin-Chitose Airport, we had an arranged pick-up by the car rental company located near the airport. Driving is really pleasant around the place with little cars and considerate drivers. Lifestyle there is slow and most of the time you feel you are totally out the rush hour. Traffic in the busiest city, Sapporo is not even comparable to Singapore, so it's very safe and relax to drive yourself around. Things to look out for are cycllist. Always double check before turning because they will dash across the road even when its their green light are turning red soon. OPPOSITE: Driving on Hokkaido suburb ABOVE: Mountains along the roa
area
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[ TRAVEL | ROAD TRIP ]
Take a day trip to Otaru. Walk along the famous canal, visit the Music Box Museum, create your own music box or glassware souvenir. Have a cream puff and coffee at Rokkatei when it is time to take a break. You must eat the seafood snacks during your walks around Otaru. Never miss out any dairy food there because everything we tried that are made of dairy and is the best we ever had before driving back to Sapporo for dinner. Sapporo is the prefectural capital of Hokkaido, it is a surprisingly dynamic and cosmopolitan urban centre that pulses with energy. Designed by European and American architects in the late 19th century, Sapporo is shaped by its wide grid of tree-
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lined streets and ample public parks, which contribute to the city's surprising level of liveability. Biei is a small town surrounded by a picturesque landscape of gently rolling hills and vast fields. A pleasant way to enjoy the charm of Biei is by cycling or driving through the hills and visiting some of the flower fields and famous trees along the way. The area northwest of the town center is named "Patchwork Road" and the area south of the town center "Panorama Road". ABOVE: Mountains along the road OPPOSITE TOP: Biei, wide field scenery in autumn OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Farm house along the way
[ TRAVEL | ROAD TRIP ]
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[ TRAVEL | ROAD TRIP ]
The Blue Pond is located in the left bank of the River Bieigawa, southeast of the town of Biei in Hokkaido, Japan, about 2.5 km northwest from the Platinum hot springs at the foot of Mt. Tokachi. The pond gets its name from the unnaturally bright blue hue of its water. With tree stumps protruding from the surface of the water, not unlike Lake Kaindy, the Blue Pond has an ethereal and enchanting appearance. The Blue Pond wasn’t there from very long. It’s an artificial pond created when a dam was erected to protect the region from mudflows that might occur from the nearby volcano on Mt. Tokachi. In the wake of the eruption on December 1988, the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau decided to construct a dam upstream on the Bieigawa river to prevent mudflow.
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Water blocked by the dam now accumulates in a depression in the forest creating the Blue Pond. The blue color of the pond has not been fully explained but is attributed to the presence of aluminum hydroxide in the water that reflects the shorter wavelength blue light the same way the earth’s atmosphere does. The color of the pond also changes depending on what angle you look at it from and even at different times of the day. Although the water appears blue when viewed from the land, the color is not found in the water itself. ABOVE: River part of the blue pond, Biei OPPOSITE: Hike to Mount Tokachi, Biei
[ TRAVEL | ROAD TRIP ]
You’ll want to wake up at 6am and be heading out the door around 6:30am, in order to make sure you get to the start of the hiking trail before it gets too hot! The area you’ll be hiking is in the Daisetsu-zan National Park. It’s regarded by many, to be the best hiking spot in Hokkaido. The ‘car park’ area you’ll want to hitchhike to is called 十勝岳 望岳台. Once you arrive it is easy to find the climbing trail for Mt. Tokachi. The views from the summit are so beautiful they honestly took my breath away.
The best mode of transport (even if you have your own car) is to hitchhike. That’s because dependant upon how much time you have, you’ll be able to do a route that will cover 3 mountain peaks and also means you’ll never have to go back on yourself. From the carpark/start of the hiking trail –> top of Mt Tokachi –> top of Mt kamihorokamettoku –> to the 十勝岳望岳台 onsen should take you between 5-6 hours. The areas surrounding Biei are honestly some of the prettiest sites that I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in Japan. If you go I’d advice you spend more than just one day hiking. I wish that I had spent at least 2 days if not 3 hiking. It was incredible and the views were out of this world… especially as you climbed up through the clouds and into the blue, blue sky of northern Japan.
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Located in Japan’s Tomamu Resort, the Unkai Terrace is a unique scenic spot perched high atop a mountain peak that is often above clouds. Get up early during summer mornings to catch breathtaking views of varying white, fluffy cloud formations! LEFT: The Unkai Terrace of Tomamu - A Magical Place Above the Clouds
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[ TRAVEL | ROAD TRIP ]
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[ TRAVEL | ROAD TRIP ]
Drive along Route 273-39 from Obihiro to Asahikawa and take in sights tinted with festive fall colors and towering mountains. LEFT: The Unkai Terrace of Tomamu - A Magical Place Scenic drive RIGHT: Driving through tunnel
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[ TRAVEL | ROAD TRIP ]
Be alert to surroundings and aware of factors (i.e. wind speed, potential crosswind) that may steer you from safe driving.
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[ TRAVEL | ROAD TRIP ]
Observe the endless complex interplay of clouds and light as the day transitioned to night. LEFT: End of Daisetsuzan National Park night drive RIGHT: Mountains silhouette
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+ Bon Voyage + TRAVEL IN STYLE WITH MUJI Spring/Summer 2015 collection
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Before you embark on your next adventure, step into the world of MUJI where you will find everything you need for light, easy and organized travelling. “MUJI to GO� is developed from the concept of Travel & Mobile, focusing on the basics essentials needs for mobility and comfort with specially crafted travel items highlighting capability that surround concepts of being capable, portable, pocketable and foldable, as well as quality that revolve around compactness, functionality and comfortability.
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[1] HARD TROLLEY / 33L / beige / S$199 [2] WELL FITTING NECK CUSHION MELANGE / NVYXGRY / S$29.70 [3] NYLON HANGING BOX CASE / L / beige / S$25.90 [4] NYLON FOLDABLE ASSORT CASE / L / black / S$20.90 [5] OXFORD BUTTON DOWN SHIRT / S$27.30 [6] ORGANIC COTTON UV CUT STOLE / S$39 [7] LINEN CROPPED EASYPANTS / raw white / S$49 [8] COTTON SNEAKERS / OFF WHITE / S$39 [9] FLAT TYPED HAT / raw white / S$69
[ TRAVEL | SPECIAL ]
A LOMO STYLE OF JAPAN WITH SPROCKET ROCKET Yeo Z The special edition section is a travel and photography collaboration with Lomography to Tokyo and Shirakawago. Accompanied with the Lomography's Sprocket Rocket, is undoubtedly a revolutionary technical wonder. It’s the world’s very first camera that takes super-sharp panoramic photographs with the classic sprocket hole detail – those tiny holes that run along the edges of your film. The camera delivers a panoramic perspective, about twice as wide as a standard camera, so you'll only get 18 shots on a 36-shot roll. Taking multiple exposures is easy with its smooth scrolling knobs – so that you can remix your shots as you wish!
The function of the camera is great to fit any stunning landscapes. Even when the above photo was taken from the view of a hotel room. ABOVE: Tokyo skyline from hotel room
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[ TRAVEL | SPECIAL ]
35째68'33"N 139째68'33"E
+ Tokyo + Japan 67
[ TRAVEL | SPECIAL ]
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[ TRAVEL | SPECIAL ]
The rebuilt of Senso-ji, is a symbol of rebirth and peace to the japanese people. We visited the famous Tokyo Senso-ji Temple. During World War II, the temple was bombed and for the most part destroyed. It was rebuilt later and is a symbol of rebirth and peace to the Japanese people. Bringing the sprocket rocket along is light, comfortable to hold and is a joy to look at – just like the pictures you’ll get from it. Instagram type aesthetic with vignette effects and delicious distortion at each end of the panorama. The outcome of the photo is unknown until you are done with the roll of film and get it developed witha film developer. The excited feeling to look forward to see how supercool natural retro film look turn out to be is pretty cool. Enough said, enjoy the photos taken. TOP: Took a ferry to Bainbow Bridge Tokyo CENTER: Entrance of Tokyo Sensoji Temple BOTTOM: Old maket street outside Tokyo Sensoji Temple
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[ TRAVEL | SPECIAL ]
36째26'67"N 136째90'00"E
+ Japan Shiwakawago + 70
[ TRAVEL | SPECIAL ]
+ Tips + GETTING THERE FROM TOKYO From Tokyo : [Rail] 2hours to Nagoya Station by JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line, and 2hours 10min from Nagoya to Takayama Station by JR Takayama Line. 50min from Takayama-Nohi Bus Center by bus.
We felt like we were inside a japanese painting. Shirakawa-go’s Gassho-Zukuri Village was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 1995, along with the Gokayama Gassho-Zukuri Village. The gassho style of building is characterized by steep, thatched roofs. These steep roofs connect over massive wooden beams, shaped like hands folded in prayer (gassho in Japanese). The houses are unique to the region, able to endure the heavy snowfalls of winter, while the upper reaches are ideal for the cultivation of silkworms. The famous German architect Bruno Taut glowingly remarked on the singular character of these houses, praising that “This landscape is not like other Japanese
style. At least I have never seen it before.” Once there were an estimated 300 gassho style buildings in Shirakawa-go, of which only 114 remain. The oldest of these is said to be about three centuries old and is still in daily use. In Shirakawa-go Village, the Ogi-machi district is the largest settlement, located midway between Takayama and Kanazawa. A relaxing day-trip tour to Shirakawa-go is possible by a onehour bus ride from Takayama City, but an overnight stay at a historic Gassho-style house inn is recommended. ABOVE: World Heritage Shirakawago, across the suspension bridge, Winter
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[ PROFILE ]
HANDICRAFT GOODS FOR A GREATER PURPOSE
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[ PROFILE ]
" Human technology will help us. Nature will save us " We all love to feel the grains of the wood and we also love the way it changes over time. While communities are saving trees, there are people out there who make socialable efforts to use sustainable woods and materials for their products. The following are the three inspiring startups who share with us how their dreams and passion lead them to an idea that makes them an aspiring social enterprise.
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[ PROFILE | INTERVIEW ]
founder MATIAS BRECHER
company TOAST
location PORTLAND, OR, USA
founded 2012
products CUSTOM TECH COVERS environmental efforts LONG LASTING • DONATE ONE PERCENT OF OUR ANNUAL SALES TO ENVIRONMENTAL NON-PROFIT COMPANIES WORKING TO RESTORE AND PROTECT OUR NATURAL WORLD • 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY website WWW.TOASTMADE.COM
+ Toast + Woodulike Matias Brecher, shares with us the amazing experience of ToastMade, a wood covers startup he founded in Portland. For the first time we look outside Italy, looking for new business models, new entrepreneurial stories and experiences, but one thing in common: The love for Wood! Passion, design and difficulties: here what he told us.
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[ PROFILE | INTERVIEW ]
"Wood is a human material.Metal and glass are cold and more foreign to us." – Matias Brecher Could you tell me more about your story? From which inspiration did you start?
Have you ever had the temptation to give-up? Sure. After working 70 hours in a week, I am exhausted. It is tempting to go back to a normal job. But we get amazing letters from our customers, who really get our products and love how it transforms their gadgets. And it is satisfying to step back and see what we have created. I hope to have a better balance in my life soon.
I am an Industrial Designer by training. I worked designing everything from toys to tools. I didn’t quite fit in so I started working for myself and fell into designing and making custom furniture. I loved working with wood but found it so labor intensive that I wanted to find a way to combine craft and my love of natural materials with new manufacturing techniques. Toast combines laser cutting with hand finishing to create unique products that are warm and personal.
What would you have done, if you had not become an entrepreneur?
I launched the business on Kickstarter 3 years ago. I got the idea from necessity. I bought my first iPhone but hated the cases that were available. The iPhone is a beautiful industrial object but I felt it needed the warmth of wood and the ability to age gracefully. I love the contrast of this wood that gets a patina over time against the cold steel and glass of the phone.
We will have to change. Smartphones will no longer exist. Who knows what we will be carrying, if anything at all. I hope Toast will be a recognized brand, known for innovation and bringing gorgeous materials and products to whatever field we are in.
It is in my blood to work for myself in some capacity. I would be creating something else. It doesn’t really mater what, but I would be making, building, creating.
Where would you like to see Toast in a 20 years time?
BELOW: Toast Customise wood tablet cover
Which part of the Start-Up was particularly difficult? Building a viable business model and the challenges of having a quickly growing business that needs people, and space and resources. Everyday there is some new challenge that I never dealt with before or even thought of that I must comprehend and make a decision on so we can continue to move forward.
Why wood? Wood is a human material. We love the way it feels, the grain patterns, the way it changes over time. We can relate to wood, we understand it. Metal and glass are cold and more foreign to us. We have this intimate relationship with our phones and tablets and laptops but they aren’t necessarily materials we love to hold or touch. So we strive to bring personality and warmth and intimacy to these cold object of mass manufacture.
How do you pursue differentiation from your competitors? Through design and innovation. We are pushing the limits by taking flat pieces of wood and wrapping them around complex three dimensional objects. This takes a lot of design work and is a big challenge for manufacturing with wood, a non industrial material. Also, we really make it easy for our customers to customize their covers, they can get their artwork or logo or just their name engraved into the wood covers. By manufacturing ourselves, we can provide a level of customization that is unique.
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[ PROFILE | INTERVIEW ]
founder BRIDGET HILTON
company LSTN
location LOS ANGELES, CA, USA
founded 2012
products HEADPHONES environmental efforts MADE FROM SUSTAINABLE WOOD • FOR EVERY PAIR OF HEADPHONES SOLD, LSTN HELP RESTORE HEARING TO A PERSON IN NEED THROUGH STARKEY HEARING FOUNDATION. website WWW.LSTNHEADPHONES.COM
+ LSTN + Scott Petinga LSTN Headphones, is an exciting new social enterprise that provides a socially conscious and environmentally friendly alternative in the booming luxury headphone market. The high quality headphones benefit children in deaf schools by providing hearing aids, medical care and funding prevention efforts, a model that is enabled by LSTN's partnership with the charity Sound Seekers. We had the pleasure to chat with Bridget Hilton, founder of LSTN, who combined her passions to build a beneficial, changemaking business with admirable core values.
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[ PROFILE | INTERVIEW ]
"Find three things you’re passionate about and combine them into a career" – Bridget Hilton What was it about the video that inspired you to quit your job and focus on a social enterprise? I actually saw that video two and half years ago, while I was still at Universal [Music Group]. It was the catalyst that made me think, 'What am I doing with my life? Why am I working for someone else? Why am I not doing something to help other people?' It got me thinking about how my entire life has revolved around music and there are people who have never had the opportunity to hear it.
Why did you choose to create a headphone company? We started the company to change the world through the power of music. I chose headphones because while the market is way over-saturated, at the same time there was nothing cool or fashionable, at least in my opinion. I wanted something that reflected our values, our fashion sense, our sound quality. We have a saying, "Our product sounds good, looks good, does good."
Did Starkey help you with the development or did you come up with the idea and just run with it? Starkey didn't sign on until we had a finished product. They waited to say yes until everything was done and then we worked out the messaging and approval process. They are such a great company and an incredible partner.
What are the best practices for doing business in ways that favorably impact society? You really have to look at your margins as well as what impact you're making and figure that out first. You can't just give everything away. That's a big lesson to learn, to figure out the right amount to give to charity and still be able to grow as a company so you can give consistently in the long run.
What advice would you give to other new business leaders regarding how to start a company with a more philanthropic, socialpreneur mindset? Be authentic. Everyone should have a cause and that cause should be ingrained in your company from the start. We started the company to give to Starkey. Having a cause is good for business, good for morale, and good for you personally. We get to experience things as well as have incredible opportunities we never would have had if we were just a company. For example, Google even made a commercial about us. We've been to places like Sri Lanka and the Masai Mara. It's the best job ever!
What's next, any other companies on the horizon? Right now I'm focused on LSTN and making it the biggest company possible. It's my first real company so I'm really in the zone right now and it's awesome. We'll be doing this for a while but if it shut down tomorrow, I'd absolutely start another company. No question. BELOW: LSTN wood headphones
What impact have you had over the last two years? LSTN has been able to give the gift of sound to over 20,000 people through Starkey in six countries, and it's just the beginning.
How important is it for business leaders to buck the system and do their own thing? Down with the man! [Laughs] I think it's really important. Everything that's great has been started by one or two people. It's never a corporate initiative. Apple was a few people in a garage. I wanted to take the time I have and make the very best of it. I needed to do something that allowed me to travel, help people and do my own thing — and not have to answer to someone everyday.
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[ PROFILE | INTERVIEW ]
founder and brothers TANNER DAME, TAYLOR DAME, BROOKS DAME (left to right) location BOISE, ID, USA
company PROOF
products SUNGLASSES
founded 2010
environmental efforts MADE FROM SUSTAINABLE WOOD • COTTON BASED Acetate IS 100% BIODEGRADEABLE RENEWABLE AND SUSTAINABLE • DO GOOD PROGRAM: TSUNAMI RELIEF IN JAPAN, CHILD SOLDIER REHABILITATION IN AFRICA, USE A PORTION OF EACH SALE TO BUILD TWO EYE CLINICS IN INDIA website WWW.IWANTPROOF.COM
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+ Proof + Bianca Bartz We had the chance to interview Brooks Dame, the young and energetic founder of Proof Eyewear, a fashionable sunglass brand that's committed to doing good in the world through its social business model. One of their initiatives is providing sight saving surgery for someone in India for every pair of glasses sold. To top it off, their eyeglass frames are made of sustainable wood. In the following questions Brooks shares more about where the idea came from, having sawdust in his veins, and his advice on going after your dreams.
[ PROFILE | INTERVIEW ]
"Doing good and making money should go hand in hand" – Brooks Dame How did the idea for the business model come about? I was in my garage trying to make bamboo ski poles. I couldn't get it right so I bagged that idea but knew I wanted to do something with wood. I just love the look and feel of wood. It has so many great properties to it. My grandfather also started his own business 57 years ago in Southern Utah and it was a wood business, a sawmill to be exact. That business has grown and is still in our family today, so I guess I have sawdust in my veins. After stumbling upon a pair of vintage bamboo reading glasses, I thought, "Why not sunglasses?" So I developed my first pair of bamboo sunglasses and it expanded to other woods. We now have a ton of different wood options and six models with another one or two on the way.
How did you decide to join this sector? I'm a big accessories guy. I love watches, I love sunglasses -- I think accessories finish off a look. They are also small and you can take them with you or pass them down from generation to generation if they are timeless. I think our Wood Sunglasses are timeless. The Sunglass industry is huge, but there are so many plastic sunglass companies. It needed to be shaken up a little bit. Enter Proof Wood Sunglasses.
How do you get your inspiration? I find it in unlikely places. I find it in looking through vintage magazines, pictures and books. I find it in nature. I find it in other industries that you wouldn't expect. Inspiration is all around us. I get little pieces here and there that just get me excited. A closed mind is an uninspired mind. I think keeping your mind open to new ideas and concepts helps you push things to the next level.
How do you reset yourself to be creative? Do you have any rituals? I think it is good to stop what you are doing every once in a while. Push back from the table. You want to do it before you hit a wall. Go do something for you. Go do something you like. I like to recharge by just doing something that is a 180 degrees from what I was doing. I like to spend time with my family and friends. My son is a great way to reset and think differently. I watch him and his approach on things and it is totally different from how I would approach the same task or challenge, and looking through his eyes opens mine. Music is a good way to reset and to get some new inspiration. Sometimes a line from a song will set me off and I'm on another tear of inspiration.
Do you have any advice for aspiring social entrepreneurs? Don't sleep on your dreams. That is actually inscribed in one of our sunglass models. I think people sometimes lose sight of their dreams and don't pursue them. You have to keep it 100 and make things happen. Wood eyewear is a crazy idea. But you know what? That crazy idea has become a business and a passion, not just for me, but for the whole Proof family. People support us like you wouldn't believe. It's been an amazing trip for just launching a year ago.
What are your dreams for the future? I'm really encouraged by the future. We started Proof in a bad economy. There wasn't a lot of hope out there and we've scratched our way through our first year and made a lot of waves in the industry and as a company. We are always looking for ways to progress and get better. I see us as a company that keeps things moving and stays on the cutting edge. BELOW: Proof wood sunglasses
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[ RECAP ]
INTERVIEWS
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NADYA HUTALALUNG
MATTHEW KARSTEN
BRIDGET HILTON
LIVING GREEN
TRAVEL THE WORLD FOR 4 YEARS
GAVE SOUND TO 20,000 PEOPLE WHO LOSS HEARING IN THE WORLD
Nadya has devoted her time and voice to environmental advocacy. She made headlines with building one of Singapore’s first few eco-homes from scratch, a project three years in the making. Nadya was voted one of Asia’s Leading Trendmakers by Asiaweek magazine, alongside the Dalai Lama, Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun Fatt, for her special ability to inspire and fascinate. [ LIFESTYLE ]
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A professional vagabond who has been traveling non-stop for almost 4 years. He learned how to travel cheap and earn money in many different ways, including his popular travel blog. It's not easy, but it is possible to make travel a lifestyle. [ TRAVEL ]
There are 360 million people with disabling hearing loss in the world. Most of them are in developing countries and can be helped with just hearing aids. After being exposed to a YouTube video of a 20-something woman hearing for the very first time, Bridget Hilton couldn't imagine life without music. [ PROFILE ]
[ RECAP ]
VOYAGE
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KITE SURFING
WARM COLOURS, COOL WEATHER
LOMO STYLE OF JAPAN
GLIDE WITH THE WIND With its beautiful beaches, good wind and weather, very affordable stay and many no-wind activities, Boracay has become a prime kite spot in Asia and one of the most complete kitesurfing spots around the world. [ TRAVEL | ACTIVE ]
AN AUTUMN ROAD TRIP TO HOKKAIDO, JAPAN The excitment in road trip is the journey, encountering the unexpected that make us grow through experience. Our trip to Hokkaido is a rewarding one as we mange to catch the autumn season in its most beautiful way.
LIVING IN A JAPANESE PAINTING There are 360 million people with disabling hearing loss in the world. Most of them are in developing countries and can be helped with just hearing aids. After being exposed to a YouTube video of a 20-something woman hearing for the very first time, Bridget Hilton couldn't imagine life without music. [ TRAVEL | SPECIAL ]
[ TRAVEL | ROAD TRIP ]
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