We all consider ourselves worldly. Not Columbus worldly, but at least ‘well travelled.’

I thought of myself as such up until 12 hours ago, when an Instagram post swung out of my phone and slapped me square in the face.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Paradise found in Croatia. This is Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia’s oldest and one of its largest national parks. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. This park is renowned for its natural beauty and spectacular scenery, which has made it one of Europe’s most popular parks—up to 15,000 people per day in peak season! Due to the advent of social media, however, the increased tourism to this place in the past few years has started to cause issues. One part of the problem is the construction of vacation homes and clearing of land near the borders of the park, resulting in damage to the park. The main problem, however, lies with visitors who do not respect the rules of the park. To accommodate the 1.3M+ annual visitors to the park while minimizing ecological impact, park officials built bridges and walkways that offer unbeatable views and safe paths (some right over the water). Over the past few years, visitors wanting selfies have wandered off the wooden paths, sometimes into the water, and some have died as a result. Reckless tourists have also caused significant damage to the park. Today, Plitvice Lakes National Park is at risk of losing its UNESCO status. Park officials are considering a number of options because the recklessness and careless attitude of tourists caused harm to both the visitors and the park. In mid-2017, Croatian officials began to limit the number of visitors to another park to 10,000 per day, and a similar limit is being considered for Plitvice Lakes. Again, rules are necessary for protection of visitors and the natural spaces we want to enjoy. Please stick to designated paths, and follow restrictions that can be looked up before visiting any park. This is a collaborative effort that requires individual integrity, and we hope that you can hold yourself to a higher standard. #RulesForExploring Featured | @eyes.abroad Location | Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia #WWTTY | Where Will TOTEM Take You? ____________________ #TOTEMMade #PlitviceLakes #Croatia

A post shared by TOTEM Made (@totem_made) on Oct 30, 2018 at 8:53am PDT

The post alerted me to two things.

Firstly: I am the travel equivalent of an anti-vaxxer, naively believing in ‘gravity’ and blissfully unaware that the “falling lakes” existed, despite thousands of people taking selfies of them every day.

Secondly: this incredible natural wonder is under threat from the very people that alerted me to its presence. Pie munching Aussies. Beer swilling Brits. Sauerkraut happy Germans. Americans.

Which leaves me (us?) with a dilemma. Do we visit this real-life manifestation of an old Microsoft screensaver before it collapses under the weight of Augustus Gloop worshipping backpackers? Or do we stay away and hope the Plitvice lake authorities and UNESCO get their act together?

But before we get into all that: what are the falling lakes? Basically, also known as “Plitvice Lakes,” the falling lakes are a series of 16 crystalline lakes and waterfalls that run down one of Croatia’s largest national parks.

The lakes’ limestone basin makes for calcium carbonate rich waters (and a malleable base) that moves and hardens over time, following the pattern of moss and water flow—which is how the chain-like barriers have been formed between pools.

At a glacial pace, the water flowing underneath then reclaims the limestone, breaking down the rock, and the lakes shift, or ‘fall’ steadily downhill.

As for the unbelievably azure water, this is thanks to the moss that gets fossilised into this particular rock. This algae blooms and releases gases (particularly in the summer months) which react with the water to create shades of electric blue and inviting green, where fish hang, as if suspended in glass.

But enough of the poetry: we have a problem on our hands.

Although other Croatian national parks currently have a limit of 10,000 people per day, this policy does not apply to Plitvice. This means that upwards of 1.3M+ visitors trundle through the Falling Lakes each year.

Even though officials have built bridges and walkways over the water to mitigate this, selfie-seeking visitors consistently wander off the wooden paths, sometimes into the water, which has led to various injuries, deaths, and significant damage to the ecosystem.

Cruelly, and in light of this, Plitvice Lakes National Park is allegedly at risk of losing its UNESCO status—which would make its park officials even less equipped to look after it than before.

“Park officials are considering a number of options because the recklessness and careless attitude of tourists caused harm to both the visitors and the park.”

The problem is also being exacerbated by the construction of vacation homes and clearing of land near the borders of the park. So before the place turns into a reservoir for coke cans instead of fish, get in quick because as long as you don’t wander off piste or buy a house, your tourism dollars could help save the Falling Lakes.

The post Croatia’s Falling Lakes: A Secret Spot You Need To Know appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Whether you’re smooth as melted ghee or the most awkward human alive we all have one thing in common: we all cringe at the thought of confrontation. You don’t fire someone: you let them go. You don’t dump someone: you ‘mutually’ separate. You don’t reject a date: you tell them you had a great time but unfortunately you’re busy next weekend.

Unless you’re a low-key sadist you don’t like telling people they suck. Especially in person. Which means that the whole “thanks but no thanks” interaction is a zone of social psychology ripe for the plucking. Which may explain why one woman’s simple story, told on Reddit, has gained so much interest. What’s it like to reject someone in person? Wonder no more.

I rejected somebody in person last night from TwoXChromosomes

The story begins with a situation we all know: you go on a date and before Bumblewoman (or Tinderman) opens their mouth you already know they aren’t for you. A sixth sense, subconscious bias, a set of functioning eyes: call it what you will—you know it ain’t going to happen.

Normal protocol would be to see out the next forty minutes, decline their suggestion to try out the bar down the road, ignore their Facebook friend request and hope they get the hint. But what if there was another way?

Reddit user r/TwoXChromosomes proves that indeed there is, and judging on the response from the Reddit commentariat—which is known for being male-centric and unforgiving—harsh rejection could actually be best for both parties involved.

“I came back to the table, and he asked me where I would like to go next. I thought about it for a moment and said, ‘honestly I don’t feel any chemistry here, and I don’t want to waste any more of your time. If you want me to pay for my ice cream, I’m more than willing to do that.’ He was taken aback but respectful.”

The general consensus among the commenters was that you should never date someone out of kindness, with the most up-voted opinion being, “Honestly if he was any sort of decent guy he probably appreciated that too – imagine sinking 3 weeks of dating into someone just to find out they were never really into you.”

“Imagine being in a relationship for 3 years where you hear your ex actually didn’t see a future after 6 months.”

This was followed up with the following:

• As a guy, thank you… It’s better to know up front than to think it all went fine and then get ghosted when you try to follow up.
• Honestly, the sooner you know and the more open you are, just means you are more respectful of someone else’s time (AND your own).
• You gave the guy a chance to change your mind and when it was clear it was not happening you were honest and respectful. That is all someone could ask, I wish more people did that.
• Agreed. It’s quite liberating for a guy as well.
• Can confirm. I’ve been turned down like this and though it stung for a moment I realised it was much better then being ghosted.

Other users warned that rejecting someone in person isn’t always this easy, “One time I had a guy at a bar who was clearly interested in me and when I politely told him I wasn’t interested, he just dug his heels and then got really nasty with me.”

So although you should rethink the amount of time you sink getting to know someone you don’t like — don’t write off the rejection text completely.

The post 'I Rejected My Date In Person Last Night…' appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The wait is over: Apple have launched an all new Macbook Air. And where else but New York. Some are underwhelmed, calling it more “catch up” than “cutting edge,” while others are impressed, saying, “This is the Macbook most people should get.”

The Pro’s skinny cousin, this revamped Macbook Air brings a stunning 13-inch Retina display, Touch ID, the latest processors and an even more portable design to the world’s most loved notebook. And with the three pastel finishes — gold, silver and space grey — you’re sure to want to use it all day, or at least show it off on the corner table of your nearest hipster cafe (hence the all day battery).

It’s also the most affordable Mac with a Retina display, a spacious Force Touch trackpad, fast SSDs, wide stereo sound, the Apple T2 Security Chip and Thunderbolt 3.

“The first MacBook Air revolutionised Mac with its thin wedge-shaped aluminium design. It forever changed the entire industry for portable computers and became the world’s most loved notebook,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

But have they done it again?

Whether you’re a die-hard Apple fan, or Android ’til you die, here is everything you need to know about the new Macbook Air, so that you can make up your own mind.

It’s Finally Got Retina Display

Whether you want to take higher quality screenshots, or you just want your screen to do justice to your favourite 4K Vimeo clips, the new MacBook Air features a stunning 13.3-inch retina display with over 4 million pixels of resolution—so text and images in macOS Mojave (the new operating software) look sharp and stunning. With 48 per cent more colour than the previous generation, images are more lifelike than ever.

There’s A Built In Face-Time HD Camera

Perfect for group FaceTime calls, the new Macbook Air’s built in Face-Time camera allows you to see your friends and relatives (and colleagues) in HD. Oh and this is combined with  an array of three microphones—for better sound quality when making calls and improved voice recognition in Siri.

It Will Give Your Password-Remembering-Abilities Atrophy

Like the more expensive models before it, MacBook Air now includes Touch ID—a fingerprint sensor built into the keyboard—which allows you to conveniently and instantly unlock it; authenticate your identity; and make fast, simple and secure purchases using Apple Pay. To support Touch ID, MacBook Air comes with the Apple T2 Security Chip, making your laptop far more secure. The T2 Security Chip features an always-on processor that enables Hey Siri, letting you use just your voice to ask Siri for things like finding files or opening an app.

It Features The Latest Generation Keyboard and Top Of The Range Trackpad

The new MacBook Air’s keyboard has been redesigned so that each key is individually backlit using low-power LEDs for more accurate illumination. The industry-best Force Touch trackpad also delivers pressure-sensing capabilities and sensory feedback. It’s also 20 per cent larger than the trackpad on the previous-generation MacBook Air, offering a quieter and more capable trackpad experience.

It Has Better Speakers

With more advanced speakers and audio processing technology, this MacBook Air delivers a higher-quality audio experience and wide stereo playback that makes watching movies and listening to music more immersive than it has ever been. The speakers are 25 per cent louder with twice as much bass as the previous generation, for more vigorous range and tastier sound.

It Launches Apps More Quickly

With an 8th generation Intel Core i5 processor, Intel UHD graphics and faster 2133 MHz system memory up to 16GB, the new Macbook Air goes above and beyond the performance you need for everyday activities like browsing the web, editing photos, creating presentations, and watching videos. MacBook Air also features SSDs up to 1.5TB in capacity, that are up to 60 per cent faster than the previous generation and make launching apps and opening files feel snappier and more responsive.

It Has More Ports

The MacBook Air now comes with two Thunderbolt 3 ports, so you can charge your laptop; quickly transfer data via USB and Thunderbolt; output video in three formats; and connect to a whole host of devices including external storage, docks for additional ports, 4K and 5K displays, and eGPUs for faster graphics. In a sentence: it’s the most versatile port yet.

It’s More Portable

The Macbook Air comes in a new, distinctive wedge-shaped design that’s now even more compact and portable: taking up 17 per cent less volume than its predecessor. It’s 10 per cent thinner (measuring just 1.56 centimetres at its thickest point), and at just 1.25 kilograms it comes in 100 grams lighter than the previous generation.

It Has A Better Battery Than The Macbook Pro

It has arguably made Macbook Pros without touch-bars irrelevant for the average consumer, as it is priced in the same price range, contains much the same features and delivers up to 12 hours of battery life during wireless web use (and up to 13 hours of iTunes movie playback). Whether you use that for Netflix or ‘naughty’ movies is up to you…

Apple’s New MacBook Air Features Impressive Battery Life That Bests MacBook and MacBook Pro https://t.co/HuvRGusFpA by @julipuli pic.twitter.com/cxzdJJHX6F

— MacRumors.com (@MacRumors) October 30, 2018

It’s More Eco-Friendly

For this model Apple have designed a new aluminium alloy that enables the use of 100 per cent recycled aluminium for the first time, which has the same strength, durability and beautiful finish as the aluminium in all Apple products. Using this custom aluminium alloy helps reduce the MacBook Air’s carbon footprint by nearly 50 per cent, making it the ‘greenest’ Mac so far.

It Will (Try) To Give You Your Mojo Back

“Inspired by pros but designed for everyone,” is how Apple summed up the latest version of its desktop operating system: macOS Mojave. Dark Mode is a welcome new feature, which transforms the desktop with a dramatic new look that puts the focus on your content. In addition, the new Stacks feature organises messy desktops by automatically stacking files into neat groups.

It Costs Less Than A Touch-Bar-Less Macbook Pro

Starting at a recommended retail price of A$1849, the new MacBook Air is available to order today on apple.com/au (for comparison, a 13″ Macbook Pro without a touch-bar costs $1,899). The new Macbook Air will be available at Apple Store locations and through Apple Authorised Resellers starting on Wednesday, 7 November.

Our conclusion is this: it costs less, has more battery than, and is lighter than a touch-bar less Macbook Pro, while providing much the same features and speed. So for the average consumer it no longer makes sense to buy a standard Macbook or Macbook Pro.

The post Everything You Need To Know About The New Apple Macbook Air appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Airline industry titan Sir Richard Branson just claimed Virgin Atlantic would start operating direct flights between the UK and Australia, “As soon as possible.”

The comment, made during an interview with Your Money, a tech & lifestyle news program, has sparked a furore online, with Virgin Atlantic management back-pedalling from their ex-colleague’s comments (Branson still has a 20% stake in the company, but is no longer on the executive team).

“We don’t have any plans to launch flights to Perth,” a spokesperson told The Telegraph; “Richard was probably speaking in an aspirational sense.”

“Although our current fleet doesn’t have the right configuration for this route,” the spokesperson added, “We are always evaluating new destinations for our customers – and Perth is a great city.” So although Virgin Atlantic are downplaying their eccentric founder’s comments, there could be some truth to them after all.

.@VirginAtlantic to fly London-Australia non-stop, says @richardbranson.https://t.co/X4S6vt7bl3#aviation #ausbiz

— Financial Review (@FinancialReview) October 29, 2018

The British business magnate revealed his ambitions to compete with Qantas not long after it came out that the Australian flagship airline not only broke records when it launched the first nonstop scheduled passenger flight between the two countries, but also lapped up pre-tax profits of A$1.6bn for the 2018 financial year in August (a 14 per cent increase on last year).

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce told The Independent: “The customers love (the direct Perth to London flight) and the seat factor that we’ve had on that service since it started in March is at 92 per cent, with the premium business class at 94 per cent; an amazing performance for a new operation.”

Although this is a good sign, it’s still not yet certain this flight route will prove sustainable for one airline—let alone two (especially when the latter is seen to be “catching up” as opposed to “innovating”, which serial entrepreneur Richard Branson may do well to remember).

That said, Virgin’s 787-9s are fitted with 264 seats, instead of Qantas’ 236, so maybe he’s onto something.

The post Virgin Atlantic To Launch Direct London-Australia Flights, Says Richard Branson appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Accuracy is a big deal in the Swiss watchmaking game. TAG Heuer wanted to make that point clear so they enlisted the independent testing body known as the Besançon Observatory to trial their latest watch.

The result is the TAG Heuer Carrera Tête de Vipère, the first ever TAG Heuer chronograph to wear the prestigious “Tête de Vipère” certification from the organisation.

What that stamp means for any timepiece is a guarantee of unrivalled precision and accuracy in timekeeping. The backstory of Besançon Observatory is interesting in itself. The organisation was abandoned in the 1970s only to be revived in 2006. Since then, only 500 timepieces have earned the “Tête de Vipère” stamp of approval. This TAG Heuer Carrera us is now one of them.

Watches which go through Besançon Observatory are fully assembled and undergo a protocol involving 16 days of testing across five different positions at three different temperatures.The Besançon Observatory, operating on behalf of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, is the only independent, public organisation able to inspect chronometers.

Naturally, the TAG Heuer Carrera Tête de Vipère will come as a limited edition of 155 pieces to celebrate 55 years since the Heuer Carrera was created.

RELATED: TAG Heuer Goes Carbon With Their Iconic Monaco Timepiece

The watch features a tourbillon movement in the HEUER-02T calibre which provides chronograph functions (Chronograph minute counter at 3 o’clock and Chronograph hour counter at 9 o’clock) alongside the standard hours, minutes and seconds.

The dial is a striking design in the form of a black skeleton face with Rhodium plated accents and blue SuperLuminova coatings. Finishing off the wildly masculine timepiece is a 45mm blue ceramic case with a steel sapphire case back brushed with black PVD coating.

The watch affords 100m of water resistance whilst paired to a matte black alligator strap sewn onto a rubber backing with blue stitching.

The post TAG Heuer Unveil One Of Their Most Accurate Watches In The Carrera Tête de Vipère appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

He’s known as a gun wizard on screen, but off it Benedict Cumberbatch is playing an entirely different character – a seedier version of 90s Jamioquai.

How do we figure that? Well let’s start by looking at his latest look featuring a full corduroy leisure suit in mustard brown. The 42-year-old actor was spotted in London yesterday rocking the outfit which was paired with a white tee, heavy scarf, green beanie, sunglasses and white sneakers. Oh, and let’s not forget about that epic moustache to help brave that British autumn brisk.

It’s a cool look in an odd kind of way which doesn’t even have a real definition, but it’s somewhere between casual winter wear paired with discreetness. The look is much improved once Cumberbatch loses the beanie and loosens the scarf for a more natural streetwear look.

And for those wondering what corduroy is, it’s basically a cloth with textural lines in vertical streams. Cords (as they’re known) was heavily championed in the 70s, 80s and 90s where they were often found in the form of bell bottoms and flares. They also make a cool scrubbing noise when you walk. In recent years some designers have been bringing them back for the colder seasons.

The post Benedict Cumberbatch's Leisure Suit Is Next Level 'WTF' appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Ferruccio Lamborghini began his career building tractors based on surplus WWII military hardware. When his business became a financial success, he began purchasing luxury automobiles.Upon discovering a flaw with one of the Ferraris in his collection, Lamborghini complained to Ferrari about the defect. Ferrari scoffed that a tractor maker could not possibly know anything about sports cars, and in response Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. was born.

Lamborghini 350GTV (1963)

The Lamborghini 350GTV has “classic” written all over it. It was Lamborghini’s first prototype design, and the forerunner of the later 350 GT, Lamborghini’s first production model. The 350GTV was presented to the public during the 1963 Turin Auto Show, though it was incomplete at the time, then was placed into storage where it remained until the mid-1980s. After changing hands a few times, the car was placed on display at the Lamborghini Museum in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy.

1975 Lamborghini Urraco

Named after the Spanish slang for “little bull,” the Lamborghini Urraco was unveiled at the Turin Auto Show in 1970 to compete with the likes of the Porsche 911 and the Ferrari Dino. Lamborghini predicted major sales for the car, but it failed to predict the labor strikes, management changes, and mechanical problems that prevented the Urraco from being made available to buyers until 1973. From January to April 1974, the company sold just 19 cars, and in total only 791 Urracos were built before production ended in 1979.

Lamborghini Miura (1966–73)

There are many reasons the Lamborghini Miura deserves to be called a classic automobile. At the time of its launch, it was the fastest production road car available. It is also considered by many to be the vehicle that inspired the trend of high performance, two-seater, mid-engined sports cars. The Miura remained Lamborghini’s flagship car until production ceased in 1972 and it was replaced in the automaker’s lineup by the Countach in 1974.

Lamborghini Countach (‎1974–1990)

The word countach is an exclamation of astonishment in the local Piedmontese language, generally used by men upon seeing an extraordinarily beautiful woman. The name is certainly appropriate for the car that pioneered the wedge-shaped, sharply angled look that is now so popular in high-performance sports cars. The Lamborghini Countach scored itself the #3 spot on Sports Car International’s list of Top Sports Cars of the 1970s and was listed as #10 on their list of Top Sports Cars of the 1980s.

Lamborghini LM002 (1986–1993)

The LM002 earns a spot on this list for being the first four-wheel drive model manufactured by Lamborghini. The SUV, built by the company from 1986 to 1993, was an unusual departure for an automaker primarily known for high-performance grand tourers and sports cars. Dubbed the “Rambo-Lambo,” the LM002 debuted at the Brussels Auto Show in 1986 and was an immediate success. The car will forever be known for its bizarre assortment of fans, which includes Sylvester Stallone, Muammar Gaddafi, Mike Tyson, and Pablo Escobar.

The post 5 All-time Classic Lamborghini Automobiles appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The Bremont name has long been built on the concept of flight and their latest timepiece continues this fine tradition.

The Supersonic was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Concorde, one of the world’s most advanced passenger planes during its time which could reach a speed of 2,179km/h (twice the speed of sound). This enabled the British-French-built plane to halve the time of transatlantic flights. Whilst the Concorde was eventually retired due to a tragic accident almost two decades ago, its legacy lives on in the latest Bremont timepiece.

The Supersonic features a striking 70s aesthetic alongside the manufacturer’s first ever manual wound movement that boasts an 8-day power reserve and an indicator on the dial. The watch’s livery is lifted directly from British Airways’ own signature colours and accompanied by the plane’s silhouette on the 6 o’clock sub-dial.

The Concorde’s DNA even runs through the watch’s mechanics with Bremont acquiring metal from the G-BOAB Concorde which took to the skies in 1976. Aluminium was taken from the plane and machined into a decorated ring within the case back design just underneath the crystal.

The aforementioned movement affords functions like hours, minutes, small seconds and a power reserve indicator. The 43mm case meanwhile will be offered in stainless steel, white gold and rose gold. Water resistance has been rated at 100 metres and wearers will have the choice of a Connolly leather strap in Concorde blue, blue crocodile or brown alligator strap.

The post Bremont Supersonic Pays Tribute To One Of The World's Fastest Passenger Planes appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Well this is a minor upgrade from your usual $30 of Red Label. Johnnie Walker, the affordable go-to whisky for years have finally gone premium. And by premium we mean insanely expensive. The US$25,000 (AU$35,000) John Walker Masters’ Edition is the whisky maker’s most collectible bottle yet.

This serious coin also guarantees you a Scotch whisky that’s been aged for 50 years – the first ever from the Scottish distillery – that’s limited to just 100 bottles worldwide.

The six single malt whiskies that have been blended to create the Masters’ Edition originate from historic distilleries owned by John Walker which operated between 1805 and 1857. Five of those six distilleries no longer exist today so that gives you an idea of what you’re getting in this five-digit Johnnie Walker expression.

Helping to justify this hefty price tag is a bespoke double case black crystal Baccarat decanter which is individually numbered and housed in a wooden cabinet crafted by N.E.J. Stevenson, Cabinet Makers by Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen.

The post Johnnie Walker Have Released A $35,000 Bottle Of Whisky appeared first on DMARGE Australia.