It’s not a nightclub, but you now have to pay a $1,000 cover charge to enter one of Indonesia’s most lusted after archipelagos: Komodo Island. Not in the know? Home to one of only seven pink-sand beaches in the world, Komodo is an offbeat travel hotspot where you can hang with prehistoric lizards, scrunch your toes in rosy silica and submerge yourself in translucent waters.

In other words: a travel blogger’s dream locale.

Not coincidentally, Komodo Island has seen an influx of tourists in recent years (176,000 visited last year alone) which – as we reported in August – led the Indonesian government to consider closing the island – which sits to the far east of Jakarta – to the public, in a bid to preserve its rare Komodo Dragon population.

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A post shared by Joyful Travel Journey (@explorer.cracker) on Sep 17, 2019 at 5:57am PDT

Fortunately for intrepid travellers yet to make the journey, they have now taken a softer approach, deciding instead to introduce a $1,000 cover charge, instead of banning tourists altogether.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment has said the $1,000 per person fee will fund conservation efforts to protect the dragons. While this seems reasonable, cynics (read: us) might argue this is what they wanted in the first place (as the saying goes, if you want a 5% tax hike, your first port of call will be to float a 10% increase).

A report by The Guardian, which details how Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat, governor of East Nusa Tenggara, proposed targeting high-end customers with a $US500 entry fee as early as 2018, suggests there may be something to the cynical point of view after all…

“Only people with deep pockets are allowed to (see Komodo dragons),” he said. “Those who don’t have the money shouldn’t visit the park since it specifically caters to extraordinary people.”

Not great optics.

Anyhow, that was then and this is now. And now, according to state news agency Antara, there will be two membership levels for visitors, with premium members being allowed to visit Komodo island, and non-premium members not permitted to visit Komodo, but able to visit other islands in the Komodo national park, where dragons also live.

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“The growth of the community on the island will be restricted so that the village does not become too big and threaten conservation efforts,” Marius Jelamu, spokesman for Mr Laiskodat, told the BBC.

“There will also be more education programs in the village to make sure the community are fully part of the conservation effort.”

The Komodo dragon, which can grow up to three metres long, has long called the island home. And – for those interested in morbid details – News.com.au this morning happily obliged, reporting that, “The reptiles kill their prey by biting it and infecting it with venomous saliva before letting the animal bleed to death.”

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A post shared by J.J. Emerson (@jjemerson_wildlife) on Sep 16, 2019 at 12:12am PDT

Want to pay $1,000 to see it? Your Lord of the Flies trip awaits.

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The post Komodo Island Fee: Indonesia Slaps Tourists With $1,000 Cover Charge To Visit appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Do you think you’ve seen all the possible suit & shirt combinations? Well, think again because this is one combination that has genuinely blown our mind.

Australian actor Joel Edgerton was at the New York premiere for his latest film The King which not only stars Joel but the screenplay was also written by the actor alongside Director David Michôd. For us though the real star of the night was Joel’s blue on blue suit, far from looking like a new member of the Blue Man Group, Edgerton pulled off this look with class.

Royal blue is a tricky colour to pull off but Joel does it perfectly by breaking all the rules. The shirt and suit are not only made out of the same fabric but are also the exact same shade. Normally these are things that at D’Marge we would say avoid but Joel is absolutely rocking this suit, which just goes to show the rule are made to be broken. The perfectly tailored DZOJCHEN suit is hemmed at just the right place to show off his shiny black lace-up oxfords. It’s a grown-up look for the star who has been killing it in the red carpet game, ever since growing out his beard in fact.

It’s a change of colour for the star who was at the Venice premiere of the same film in a green jacket with a white shirt. His co-stars Timothee Chamalet rocked an edgier colour this time around with a lime turtleneck under a black suit. The cast of The King is rounded out by Lily Rose-Depp, Robert Pattinson and fellow Australian Ben Mendelsohn.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3GGaipJTRr/

It is the second major film that Joel has written the screenplay following Boy Erased which he also directed. It seems though that for the next year at least Joel will be firmly in front of the camera, with roles in the upcoming drama The Underground Railroad and a sequel to his Netflix film Bright.

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The post Joel Edgerton Style: This Suit & Shirt Combo Literally Just Blue Our Mind appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]A quality pair of comfy trousers isn't probably on the top of your 'to buy' list, but they really should be. Gone are the days where it was acceptable to wear some ripped and stained grey tracksuit pants out, these days you need a pai...

↬ Click here to view the full article/gallery on D'Marge

The post Improve Your Style Game With The $188 Camo Trousers That Keep The Cold Out All Year Round appeared first on D'MARGE.

The Reserve Bank of Australia lowered the official cash rate to 0.75% yesterday, meaning that Australia is officially in the lowest interest rate environment that we have ever seen. This is the third time the cash rate has dropped this year but it was a move that was predicted by experts.However, what does this actually mean for Australians because after 28 years of growth this event it is uncharted territories for the financial institutions and the Government. Australia’s longest-serving treasurer Peter Costello said that every rate cut brings a little less of a return than the one before and this latest one probably would not do much.

“We’ve already got a cash rate of 1 per cent; suppose it goes to 0.75, suppose it goes to 0.5. Take 25 basis points off, [is that] going to make a big difference? I don’t think so.”

The Big Short did it better than we ever could by getting Margot Robbie in a bathtub with champagne to explain the complex financial stuff.Unfortunately, we don’t have Margot Robbie at hand to do it, so you’ll have to read it but we promise we have kept it just as easy and brief. There are three main aspects that will impact you but there are ways you can minimise your spend and maximise your money.

 

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1. Ignore everything & stop saving

In a nutshell, forget about savings. This latest cut, according to financial comparison site Mozo will see the average interest rate for savings drop to 0.90%, well below 1.60% inflation. Yes, admittedly the cuts are to bat off a recession so you should be saving some money to prepare, but in all honesty if you’re savings plan is to keep it in the bank then forget about it. You’re pretty much losing money there, as your returns minus inflation means your money is actually worthless in future years.Even if you’ve read the Barefoot Investor and are with ING, your savings rate is only minimally above 2% and that’s before we find out if the bank will be passing on the cut. Instead, in this environment you should go shopping around for the best deal and a good place to start is with the newer entrants to the market, the likes of 86 400 and Up Bank both offering a competitive rate.

2. But Can I splurge?

Well no it’s not the time and in fact we are sorry to say that it might be time to start paying off your credit card and yes we know how deeply boring of a sentence that is. But think about it, it makes sense. If your savings account is earning you pretty much less than nothing then why bother putting money aside to save? Instead redirect that money to paying off debt. Australian household debts are at a record high to be around 190%, now only a small number of that is due to credit cards but credit cards have the biggest impact on families.Also just because rates are being cut, your interest on the credit card is not being. Unpaid interest on credit cards can quickly compound and leave you with a bigger debt. So yes we know its not fun, we know its the boring financial advice you never listen to, but if you were ever going to pay off the card now is the time.

3. The Big One: Mortgages

This is obviously the big one. This is the reason more or less for the cuts every time and it is what impacts people the most. Despite this move being predicted to happen, the banks, for the most part, have yet to respond to the cut. CBA was the first to respond and failed to pass on the full cut and as of last October the owner-occupier variable rate will be 4.8% with the investor rate to start from 5.38%. NAB’s new owner-occupier variable rate will be 4.77% and investor rate from 5.37%. Westpac’s owner-occupier rate will be 4.83% and ANZ’s will be 4.79%. So as you can see, huge competition.For most borrowers, it is likely your rate will be below 4% with the lowest in the market likely to come to between 2.74% and 2.84%. So if you’re with one of the big banks, get shopping. Go look at the other lenders, newer entrants to the market and other banks, there is an opportunity to pay less and you should grab it with both hands.Now as Margot Robbie said “Got it? Good. Now, f*** off.”

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The post How Margot Robbie Would Explain Ways To Benefit From Australia's Latest Interest Rate Cut appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Imagine wearing a watch so exclusive and complex that it required an entirely new material to be created in order to make it? Well, that is exactly what Chopard has done with their new Alpine Eagle sports watch collection.

The Alpine Eagle is a reinterpretation of the St. Mortiz, the first watch created by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, now co-president of Chopard. To bring the watch to life Chopard crafted a new material, Lucent Steel A223, which is comparable to surgical steel and is 50% more resistant to abrasion. Thanks to its homogeneous crystal structure it also reflects light differently to steel, giving it a brightness that is comparable to that of gold. 

The inside of the watch is just as rare as the outside featuring two movements with automatic winding embedded which has been developed by Chopard & is chronometer-certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Control. All components of the Alpine Eagle have been produced and assembled in-house, including the round bezel which has replaced the notches around the screws. 

The watch comes in two case sizes, the 41mm with a 60-hour power reserve while the 36mm has a 42 power reserve with the latter’s 8-ligne movement being one of the smallest to receive COSC certification. The case at 9.7mm isn’t ultra-thin but sleek enough to be comfortable without being fragile.

Both case sizes come in a range of colours including 18-carat rose gold, slate grey & mother-of-pearl and also a range of bracelet options. Our favourite though is the blue dial with a lucent steel bracelet, for a classic timeless look.

The Alpine Eagle has also given Chopard the opportunity to launch the Eagle Wings Foundation to demonstrate the brand’s commitment to the Alpine Environment. The foundation, of which co-president Scheufele is a founding member of, is designed to raise awareness about the importance and beauty of Alpine biotopes.

• Chopard Unveils A Wearable Modern Classic With The L.U.C Chrono One Flyback
• Iconic Watches Created For Car Lovers & Driving Enthusiasts

The post Chopard Alpine Eagle: Chopard Goes To Extreme Heights Creating Their Latest Men’s Collection appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Sydney is hardly Paris, but speak to any backpacker – or one of the disenchanted locals – and you’ll soon see how this city of sun, sandstone buildings and waterfront views can be as brooding, cliquey and absurd as a Camus novel.

If you’re from the Northern Beaches you’re either a parent, a personal trainer or a faux-hemian. If you’re from Campelltown you’re a drag racer or a collector of Nike TN’s. If you’re from Bondi you spend half the year in Europe, a quarter in Bali and the other quarter trying to seduce your au pair. And if you don’t fit into any of those categories you “find yourself” in Newtown or Surry Hills.

That’s the stereotype, anyway.

And while all stereotypes are doomed to fail, talking to Melbourne transplants, people that grew up here, and exchange students who have lived here for a couple of years reveals the cliches aren’t as far off as we might hope.

Speaking to a friend who recently had his mind peeled in Europe, I began to understand why Sydney has developed a reputation for not being an easy place to make new social connections in: “I’ve spoken with a lot of backpackers coming through Sydney who said they find it difficult to make friends with the locals,” he told D’Marge.

“I think it’s cos Sydney is quite cliquey and they [the locals] feel they won’t make a long term connection out of it. They don’t just enjoy the interaction for what it is. Europeans are used to travelling regionally though, so are used to meeting more people.”

He then told us that it’s not just Sydney; technology has affected his chances of meeting people too: “Tinder has definitely overtaken. I’m not sure if that means our generation is dating more. If anything I think it’s less because you’ve just put another obstacle between you and meeting someone.”

“You waste all your time swiping and chasing loose threads when you could be out actually just talking to people. So yeah, dating is definitely changed.”

However, talking to another friend, from New Caledonia, who studied a masters degree in Australia for two years, offers a more hopeful perspective: “In my opinion, most Australians are really easy going and friendly!”

“I think it’s not difficult to establish friendships with Aussies as long as you make the effort to open yourself to others.”

“From my experience at Uni as an international student, in all my classes there was a mix of international and local students, I found it challenging to build stronger relationships with others and not only Aussies,” she added, “Simply because the courses are so short and when a lecture is finished everyone is quickly going back home and everyone seems busy with their own life.”

So far so Sydney.

However, she then told us, “I can’t complain because I adopted the same attitude at Uni. However, I found it easier to meet people including Australians out of uni, with my Australian flatmates and Australian working buddies for example, maybe because it was in a more relaxed environment.”

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The post The Truth About Why Sydneysiders Are So Rude To Tourists appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Yesterday we praised Brooklyn Beckham’s skate style turned red carpet that not many people can pull off. It seems though that the eldest Beckham still has much to learn from his father, as David proved once again why he is a style icon for men everywhere.

The ex-footballer was recently in London at his wife Victoria’s Andy Warhol exhibition. The exhibition is being put on by tequila brand Don Julio 1942 in collaboration with Sotheby’s and features 12 works by Andy Warhol that will be on display for a limited time.

The famous couple teamed up for the event, both sporting all-black ensembles with flashes of white on David. Beckham appeared more casual with a plain white t-shirt hidden under his black jacket and his favourite white sneakers on, something that has become a staple in the celebrity’s wardrobe. As expected, his haircut was just as slick, with David opting for a quiff style.

David is clearly bringing back the wide trouser leg which could finally take off in 2020. At DMARGE we have been talking about the trend for over a year but it has yet to really hit the mainstream despite some of the hottest designers creating them. However this is now the second occasion Beckham has been spotted with the look, so it could soon be hitting the streets for everyday males.

Black seemed to be the theme for the evening according to David’s Instagram of the evening, with other artists sporting all black ensembles with exception of artists Takashi Murakami, who is known for his oversized ‘daggy’ outfits. The evening was a star-studded affair with actors like Russell Tovey and Eva Longoria as well as artists like Brian Donnelly in attendance.

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David has really caught the fashion bug and recently launched the Fashion Study Apprenticeship with the British Fashion Council and activist Adwoa Aboah. The Apprenticeship is a new program to make careers in the fashion industry accessible to people from all backgrounds. Who knows, one of the apprentices could soon be designing clothes for the famous Beckhams.

He is still keeping himself in football as he is the proud owner of a football team in America, the Inter Miami CF. Beckham must be planning on making Miami his second home as he recently splashed out AUD$50 million on a Zaha Hadid-designed apartment in the city.

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The post David Beckham Style: He Keeps Wearing The One Fashion Trend We Can't Get Used To appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Ross Edgley, strongman, author of The World’s Fittest Book and cardio-fiend sometimes referred to as The World’s Fittest Man, has broken a number of records in his 33 years on the planet. These include being the first person to swim around the UK, completing a rope climb equivalent to Mount Everest’s height in 19 hours and running a marathon while tethered to a small car.He’s also proved that Adonis-like strength and triathlete-type fitness don’t have to be mutually exclusive.To that end: today he is going to show you a workout secret that could massively increase your gains: “Training anything and everything, anywhere and everywhere.” Or, put simply, if you want to get supremely jacked you need to do away with any notions of ‘going through the motions’ and pursue your goal with single-minded determination.There’s a reason The Vikings, with inferior equipment (and having travelled across the sea in a leaky boat), were able to belt such fear into the English soldier’s hearts, after all. But we digress.

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“Train anything and everything, anywhere and everywhere” as per the teachings of #TheWorldsFittestBook (see link in bio for your copy) Was AWESOME to introduce my American barefoot brobarian @devonlevesque the Lake District as we filmed some EPIC projects for @gymshark The vlog for this is being edited as we speak Tag someone who’d appreciate this “gym” media magic from @jasondowling23

A post shared by Ross Edgley (@rossedgley) on Oct 1, 2019 at 12:16am PDT

Taking to Instagram less than an hour ago, Ross Edgley encouraged his 492k followers to embrace that same message (the putting your soul into your workout part, not the pillaging and plundering bit), adding that working out barefoot could be another technique that could get your body into alignment (if done correctly) and potentially get you past a plateau.Edgley has spoken about the mental side of training before at length, including during a podcast with the now-renowned Joe Rogan, in which he spruiks the benefit of adding an ‘adventurous’ aspect (or goal) to your training, to keep it real.

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Prowlers for Hours (with my brother) Back practicing The Law of Body Basics (#TheWorldsFittestBook | Chapter 1, Page 32: See link in the bio for your copy) Also known as General Physical Preparedness and Horsepower Programming (Law of More), taken from the book: “The theory underlying this system was if an athlete developed a well-rounded athletic base their overall motor potential and just their ability to move would correspondingly improve. Over time, you can then specialize with this newly developed neurological efficiency and play any sport” Basically I will have the “overall motor potential” to tackle anything 2020 throws at me

A post shared by Ross Edgley (@rossedgley) on Sep 30, 2019 at 12:44am PDT

After all, lifting weights in the gym is all well and good, but if you have a greater aim in mind (whether it’s catching more waves during your next surf, or scaling Mount Kilimanjaro) you are likely to put a little more thrust into that ailing bench press.This leads into a broader discussion around the modern approach to working out, with icons like David Goggins, Laird Hamilton and Nate Robinson showing us how to use ancient pain-bearing techniques to work out better (without taking it too far and getting injured).So what are you waiting for? Quit scrolling and start kettle-bell swinging that table in front of you. Or something. Or – at least – resolve to put your damn phone away between sets next time you find yourself in the gym.

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The post ‘World’s Fittest Book’ Author Reveals Workout Secret That Could Massively Increase Your Gains appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Not content with letting the UK actors have all the fun, for the sixth James Bond adventure Australia decided to play along with our very own George Lazenby. You’d be forgiven for not remembering his tenure as it was his first and only Bond film and on the eve of the 50 year anniversary for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, OMEGA is celebrating the film with the release of a new Seamaster Diver 300M.

The new OMEGA is made out of 7,007 pieces and that is not the only nod towards the secret agent’s famous codename. The stainless steel watch features hands and indexes made of 18K yellow gold including the index which has been inspired by the Bond family coat-of-arms.

On the 7th day of each month, the number 7 on the date window uses the same font as the 007 logo and there is also a hidden ’50’ on the 10 o’clock index which appears by night as a secret signature.

Presented on a black rubber strap, the new 42mm watch features a black PVD on a black ceramic dial with a spiral-brushed gun barrel design with a 9mm bullet head at the center.

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The post OMEGA James Bond Watch: Brand Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of Australian 007 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.