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Sustainable tourism needs to be built with the help of locals

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alfonso-vargas-sanchez-1205745">Alfonso Vargas Sánchez</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/universidad-de-huelva-3977">Universidad de Huelva</a> In the wake of the pandemic, tourism is experiencing a period of transition in which <a href="https://theconversation.com/el-futuro-del-turismo-inteligente-digital-y-sostenible-153965">two trends</a> which were already prevalent pre Covid-19 have gained momentum: <ul> <li> Sustainability, together with climate change, the circular economy and the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda. </li> <li> Digitalization, together with the new technological revolution. </li> </ul> If we focus on sustainability – whilst still emphasizing that technological ecosystems are essential for the development of tourism – we have to be aware that making sustainable that which has not been designed as such (a destination, a resort, a mode of transport, etc.) is not easy, fast or affordable. This is especially true since, rather than conforming to standards, labels or certifications, we must change our relationship with the environment in order to be sustainable, rather than just appearing to be so. <h2>Sustainability must be economical, environmental and social</h2> When a term is used so frequently, its meaning tends to become diluted. In fact, in this case, the term sustainable tourism is increasingly being replaced by regenerative tourism. <a href="https://doughnuteconomics.org/">Not all aspects of sustainability</a> are addressed with equal emphasis. Economic sustainability is taken for granted and environmental sustainability is taken into immediate consideration, while social sustainability is put on the back burner (see, among many others, <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/is-the-party-over-in-the-balearics-b9qw9j7qp">the case of Ibiza and the cost of housing</a>). If there is to be true social sustainability, which in turn drives economic and environmental sustainability, the governance of tourism has to evolve. Before the pandemic, and in the post-pandemic period, news related to the sustainability of tourism appeared in the media. Negative attitudes towards tourism are once again prevalent, although in reality these are not directed against tourism itself but against certain models of tourism development, the product of a certain governance where it is important to take a look at who makes decisions and how. More than a one-off phenomenon, the problem of mass tourism is being tackled with various types of measures, such as the following: <ul> <li> The use of fiscal measures(e.g. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_tax">ecotaxes</a>). </li> <li> Limiting the capacity of certain spaces (or even temporarily closing them). </li> <li> The use of the variable prices to regulate demand. </li> <li> The use of technological tools that assist in redirecting tourist flows, in an attempt to disperse the masses to other attractions that are not overcrowded (assuming that those affected wish to do so). </li> <li> The sanctioning of certain behaviour. </li> <li> Limiting accommodation options. </li> </ul> The case of <a href="https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/06/22/sardinia-popular-beaches-protected-with-towel-bans-pre-booked-tickets-and-entry-fees">the island of Sardinia and its beaches</a> is perhaps less well known than others, but very telling in this context. <h2>Appreciating tourism</h2> The positive attitude of the population towards the impact of tourism development in their area may change significantly if <a href="https://theconversation.com/saturacion-turistica-un-problema-global-creciente-100778">the negative impact is perceived as outweighing the positive effects of it</a>. This happens when the tolerance level of the local community is exceeded and tourism no longer contributes positively to their quality of life. The problem arises when those who live there permanently begin to feel that friction with tourists disturbs and damages their lives to excess. When no one asks them, listens to them, takes them into account and decisions are made that severely affect their lives, it is not surprising that citizens turn against tourism when, in reality, the problem is not tourism, but the management of it. It is only by involving these communities in decision-making that we will find the missing link in tourism governance. Today, we usually speak of co-governance rather than governance. In other words, public-private partnership: a two-way governance which, although necessary, is not sufficient because they alone are not the only stakeholders involved. <a href="https://theconversation.com/como-superar-el-efecto-guggenheim-196421">A partnership with citizens</a>, in a broad sense, is essential to ensure their welfare and to avoid or reverse the trend of disconnection with tourism activities. The point is that tourism is required as an economic activity that affects the entire community, and the latter is something that seems to be missing or unwilling to be addressed. Tourism should not be created by political and business representatives without the local people, but with them. That’s the big difference. There is an added complexity, particularly in terms of legitimacy, in identifying the representatives of stakeholders in the territory and establishing effective participation mechanisms – not only with a voice, but also with a vote in certain decisions. However, this is the best way to support the tourism industry and to overcome mistrust and detachment. We must move towards inclusive and integrative governance, with <a href="https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/pdf/10.18111/9789284420841">a three-pronged approach</a>: public, private and community, whose study and application are virtually unknown fields. The question is not so much of what to do, but how to do it: a new model of shared leadership must include a redistribution of power within the system, which will require an extra effort to break down barriers and overcome resistance. <h2>Co-governance and well-being</h2> To avoid negative attitudes towards tourism, and promote harmonious relationships between locals and visitors as a path to sustainability, tourism must be able to forge a broad alliance with society. It is not about managing a destination, but a community with permanent residents and tourists, the latter being understood as temporary residents. The well-being of both must be at the core of the governance architecture. Although there is usually short-sightedness in political decisions – marked by electoral horizons – and in business decision-making – especially if they are geared towards speculation and immediate returns – the lack of support from the local population will end up generating a boomerang effect. Do we know the type of tourism development desired (or tolerated) by host communities? Are the voices of the local population heard and taken into account in the decision making processes, with a view to their well-being? Local communities have a much more decisive role to play in consolidating democracies. A tourism-oriented society must be geared towards tourism and committed to its development and co-creation.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/211296/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alfonso-vargas-sanchez-1205745">Alfonso Vargas Sánchez</a>, Catedrático de Universidad, área de Organización de Empresas, Dirección Estratégica, Turismo (empresas y destinos) - Jubilado, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/universidad-de-huelva-3977">Universidad de Huelva</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/sustainable-tourism-needs-to-be-built-with-the-help-of-locals-211296">original article</a>.

International Travel

Unique ‘Butterfly House’ built for heartwarming reason

If you’re sick and tired of the modern penchant for monotone homes, this unique property, dubbed “The Butterfly House”, could be the remedy you need. The home, adorned in vibrant colours and plenty of butterflies both inside and outside, started out as a standard, if somewhat run-down, house in Pacific Grove, California, that was transformed for a heartwarming reason. Its original owners, J and Sonja Jackson, purchased the house in 1977 for just $US 37,500, equivalent to about $191,000 ($NZ 300,000) in today’s money, per the <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/11/18/inside-californias-butterfly-house-listed-for-998k/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a>. Given its state, with the floor one day collapsing under J’s feet while he was washing dishes, the retired school counsellor rebuilt the home from the studs up, but began to decorate it in the 1990s, when his wife began suffering from a degenerative eye disease. Sonja, the secretary of the Blind & Visually Impaired Center of Monterey County, was losing her eyesight but still able to see bright colours, so J took it upon himself to make it as bright as he could. As for the butterflies, J chose them as a tribute to the unofficial mascot for Pacific Grove: the Monarch butterfly. J made many of the butterflies by hand, spending an average of six hours a day creating them. What’s more, the property is just a kilometre away from the county’s Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary, a small wooded area that has been preserved as a habitat for the butterflies. Now, the two-bedroom, two-bathroom home is up for sale, with a listing price of $US 998,000 ($NZ 1.57 million). Sotheby’s International Realty agent Arleen Hardenstein, who is managing the sale, told The Post that Sonja is selling the home because of her changing needs, with J passing away several years ago. “I love the eclectic artwork,” she said “One whimsical section flows to another — it’s very sparkly, fun and pretty.” Given its celebrity status in the local area, Ms Hardenstein said the new owners would have to both love the home and “be willing to live in a bit of a fishbowl”. “The P.G. Butterfly House is well known in the community and attracts a fairly constant stream of visitors who are curious to see it,” she said. So far, Ms Hardenstein has received “an enormous amount of interest” from prospective buyers, with many loving the home, its story, or both. As of publication, the home is contingent, less than a month after being listed for sale. Images: Sotheby’s International Realty

Real Estate

Own the house that Dr Seuss built

The sprawling and glamorous estate where Dr. Seuss wrote his iconic children’s books could be all yours after it has hit the market for the first time in 75 years. The home contains four lots, coming up to a total of over four acres located in La Jolla, California. The property, listed by Barry Estates is for sale with a staggering price tag sitting at $US18.9 million ($AUD27 million). If you’ve got some spare change, you can purchase all four lots or settle on one of the four parcels of land. The estate is in a prime location with 270 degree pacific ocean and mountain views, a stunning outdoor pool and terrace, surrounded by lush greenery and makes a great spot to unwind. Pricing for the individual lots starts at $US3.9 million to $US11.9 million. No interior shots are currently available but one standout feature includes the office which contains a bookshelf with a door leading to a secret hideaway. Images: Barry Estates

Real Estate

"Walk the rooms": Inside the house that Johnny Cash built

Johnny Cash's former home has hit the market, with the California property expected to sell for up to $1.8 million. Cash, who passed away in 2003 at the age of 71, shared the property with his first wife, Vivian Liberto, and the home is adorned with the relics of Johnny's love for music. The house features a wood-panelled recording studio, wall-mounted turn tables and a country motif living room. The artist reportedly built the 4,500 sq. ft. home in Casitas Springs, California, back in 1961 as an escape from his demanding lifestyle. Johnny and Vivian, along with their three daughters, spent six years in the homestead retreat, which was rumoured to be built to Cash's exact wishes. According to the listing agents of Douglas Elliman, "Johnny bought the land and built the house to his exact specifications, walking the rooms and deciding on exact placement and layout. He created a secluded sanctuary, unique to this rural small-town enclave. Longtime locals recount stories of Johnny setting up speakers on the hillside outside the house and playing concerts for the townspeople down below." Inside the five bedroom home, most rooms remain original to Johnny and Vivian's vision, with painted ceilings featuring a touch of glitter, an original wall-mounted turntable and intercom system, and curved brick fireplace in the family room. Despite a modern uplift in the his and hers suites, the property is undeniably Cash's with custom wood built-ins, exposed brick walls, natural wooden beams and a country motif living room. The grounds are equally mesmerizing with live oaks, verdant gardens, a sparkling swimming pool, and corrals and fields ready for horses, pigs, goats, chickens or other rural uses. Image credits: Douglas Elliman Realty

Real Estate

Why are homes still being built along rivers? Flooded residents disagree on the solution

Like many residents living near Calgary’s rivers, Irene’s house flooded in June 2013 when heavy rainfall melted the snowpack in the Rocky Mountains, inundating much of southern Alberta in what was, at the time, <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/2810070/top-10-most-costly-disasters-in-canadian-history-for-insurers/">the costliest disaster in Canadian history</a>. Irene watched as her belongings floated down the street. Everything in her basement and the first level of her home had to be discarded into a trash pile in her front yard. Reflecting on this trauma and her home’s devastation, she said: “Developers get away with a lot of shit they shouldn’t get away with.” She recalled arguing years earlier with the developer about how close to the river it planned to build the houses, and wondered if it might have been worse had her home been built as close to the river as initially planned. I was part of a team <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/15356841211046265">studying housing, environmental views and hazards</a> who interviewed residents of Calgary’s flood-affected neighbourhoods. Remarks like Irene’s were common. Calgary and many other cities, including <a href="https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/housing-development-in-ste-marthe-sur-le-lac-was-mainly-in-flood-zone">Montréal</a>, <a href="https://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/maple-ridge-council-proceeds-with-riverfront-subdivision/">Vancouver</a>, <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2019-10-08/commentary-the-danger-of-development-in-flood-prone-areas">Myrtle Beach</a> and <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Even-after-Harvey-Houston-keeps-adding-new-homes-13285865.php">Houston</a>, continue to build houses in areas that hydrologists and engineers have designated as being high-risk for flooding. In most jurisdictions, home-builders are not financially liable for flooding for very long. In <a href="https://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/Acts/n03p2.pdf">Alberta, the window of liability is one year</a>, at which point the risk is transferred to homeowners. Following floods and other disasters, research shows that the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1353/sof.0.0047">development of new housing does not slow</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/sox054">but intensifies</a>, as flooded properties lose value, are bought by developers and, as memory of flooding fades, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/calgary-home-built-after-alberta-floods-11604521775">become lucrative investments</a>. <h2>The residents’ point of view</h2> The residents I spoke with viewed developers as myopic capitalists who choose profit over safety. Scott told me that while developers are responsible for driving the hazard risk, “You can’t blame the developers, they are … there to make bucks, right? And if the city says you can build there then, bingo!… They make a pile.” Surprisingly, even though their homes had been flooded, residents were not angry at developers for situating the houses close to a hazard. Rather, they were resigned to it. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434534/original/file-20211129-19-1bqnj0l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="A man wearing a mask and work gloves throws muddy debris into a pile next to a house." /> Yahya Abougoush helps clean up his parents’ house in High River, Alta., on July 3, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh When asked what they thought should be done to keep people safe from floods, residents had two very different suggestions. <h2>Better regulations</h2> A sizeable group of Calgarians favoured new government regulations limiting development in flood-prone areas to rein in developers. Rachel said, “They can’t build where the city says they can’t…. It has to be government who says it can’t be done.” Gary said he believes Calgary’s municipal government “lacks the balls” to stand up to developers and regulate floodplain development. When asked why that was, he said, “It’s about money” and the political influence that developers wield over city council. Residents viewed the municipal government as weak, ineffectual and unwilling to stand up to developers. Quite often, the same people who argued for better government regulations on floodplain development also insisted that government should provide home buyers with a disclosure of a home’s location in a flood-prone area, a move that the real estate industry has dubbed “idiotic” and one that would “<a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jeff-goodell/the-water-will-come/9780316260206/">kill the market</a>.” <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/431443/original/file-20211111-27-1w1jkn7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="A gravel path and some strips of grass separate a row of homes from a river." /> New homes in Riverstone, with Bow River visible on the left. (Timothy Haney), Author provided Tasha wished she had been informed of the risk prior to buying her home, and told us, “I have lived here for 42 years and I have never heard of ‘flood fringe’ … maybe realtors should be more upfront about that.” The flood fringe is the area adjacent to the river with measurable flood risk — usually greater than one per cent annual probability of flooding. Angela said any declaration must go beyond a simple disclosure and “explain what it means.” Many preferred this type of new regulation. <h2>Buyer beware</h2> As one might expect in Alberta, a place known for <a href="https://press.ucalgary.ca/books/9781773850252/">right-wing populism</a>, other participants pushed back against new regulations and said individuals must bear responsibility. They deferred to the sanctity of private property rights and their distaste for government overreach. They felt that buyers must beware, often mentioning the need for “common sense.” Caleb said, “I think people can live wherever they want, but I think they have to carry that risk.” Others called it “instinctual.” Sociologists, like me, are often critical of “common sense,” looking at how such taken-for-granted knowledge is a culturally dependent and contextually specific <a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/678271">product of socialization</a>. Still, many Calgarians did not see it this way and did not believe that the government should infringe on private property rights. <h2>Precaution over profits</h2> Calgary, like many cities, continues to develop <a href="https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/development-dispute-chaparral-residents-say-proposed-community-would-put-their-homes-at-risk-1.5326215">new housing close to rivers</a>. New neighbourhoods like Riverstone and Quarry Park offer housing marketed for their picturesque living and river access. In other areas, older homes near the river are being <a href="https://calgaryherald.com/life/homes/condos/white-the-evolution-of-calgarys-infill-housing">razed to make room for infills</a> — usually two or more homes on an existing lot. These infill developments increase the density in river-adjacent communities, putting more residents at risk. The lack of consensus among the study participants was also noteworthy. Citizen activism tends to get mixed results in influencing government decision-making on development <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/13604813.2019.1690337">even when</a> there is <a href="https://uwapress.uw.edu/book/9780295748696/pushed-out/">relative consensus</a>. But in the case of restricting development near rivers, there is no such consensus, which may make it difficult for residents to mobilize. My own view is that municipal governments must stand up to moneyed development and home-building interests by restricting growth near rivers, which should instead be preserved as green space. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434535/original/file-20211129-59784-d6hlez.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="aerial view of a bend in a river with some elongated islands, several bridges and homes and business developments on each bank." /> After floods in 1993 and 1995, and facing future flooding due to climate change, the Dutch city of Nijmegen gave more room to the Waal River during periods of high water by relocating a dike and dredging a new channel. (DaMatriX/Wikimedia), <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" class="license">CC BY-SA</a> This approach is often called “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/15715124.2020.1723604">room for the river</a>,” and is particularly popular in northern and western Europe. With this approach, areas immediately adjacent to waterways are preserved, providing esthetic and recreational value, and people are moved away via buyouts when necessary. New development is restricted. It has been imported and applied in North American cities such as <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/cities-around-globe-eagerly-importing-dutch-speciality-flood-prevention-180973679/">Norfolk, Va.</a>, though with varying degrees of consistency and success. The more volatile climate we are experiencing as a result of climate change will undoubtedly bring new flood events near rivers and mounting flood losses. Society must work harder to keep people and property away from the water, starting with halting new developments near these hazards. The first step in getting out of a hole, of course, is to stop digging.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/171660/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/timothy-j-haney-1032153">Timothy J. Haney</a>, Professor of Sociology and Board of Governors Research Chair in Resilience & Sustainability, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/mount-royal-university-966">Mount Royal University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-are-homes-still-being-built-along-rivers-flooded-residents-disagree-on-the-solution-171660">original article</a>. Image: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Home Hints & Tips

Welcome to Telosa: the $400 billion city built from scratch

The city of Telosa: where everyone is equal, the future is sustainable, the opportunities are innovative and the city is for everyone. While this utopian city sounds like the perfect place to live, it doesn’t actually exist yet. Telosa is the latest project from former Walmart executive and e-commerce billionaire Marc Lore, who wants to create the world’s first “woke” city from scratch. He unveiled his elaborate plans with an <a href="https://cityoftelosa.com/#telosa">interactive website</a>, where he explains that the name Telosa comes from the Ancient Greek word Telos, meaning “highest purpose.” “The mission of Telosa is to create a more equitable, sustainable future. That’s our North Star,” Lore said in a promotional video. “We are going to be the most open, the most fair and the most inclusive city in the world.” The city will run to Lore’s unique economic vision that he dubs “Equitism” in which the land upon which the city is built will be donated to a community endowment. “If you went into the desert where the land was worth nothing, or very little, and you created a foundation that owned the land, and people moved there and tax dollars built infrastructure and we built one of the greatest cities in the world, the foundation could be worth a trillion dollars,” Lore told <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-09-01/how-diapers-com-founder-marc-lore-plans-to-build-utopian-city-telosa">Bloomberg Businessweek</a>. “And if the foundation’s mission was to take the appreciation of the land and give it back to the citizens in the form of medicine, education, affordable housing, social services: Wow, that’s it!” The city aims to tackle America’s rapidly growing wealth gap, which Lore believes is “going to bring down America”. “While the current economic system is a growth engine, it has led to increasing inequality,” the project’s website explains. “Equitism is inclusive growth.” The beginning phase of the project will be built to accommodate 50,000 residents across roughly 1,500 acres at a cost of $25 billion, and is targeted for completion by 2030. The project’s planners have yet to commit to a location for Telosa, but the website identifies Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Texas and the Appalachian region as possible sites. Digital renderings of the utopia show an expanse of space for pedestrians to stroll through the metropolis, as well as including aircrafts known as the electric “air taxi” start-up, in which Lore is a key investor. Another image on the site shows a skyscraper called Equitism tower that houses elevated water storage, aeroponic farms and an energy-producing roof. Despite the buzz about the unique city, Sarah Moser, an associate professor of geography at Montreal’s McGill University, puts Lore’s chances of success at roughly zero. She cites approximately 150 similar projects that have been pitched, and all resulted in failure. Image credits: cityoftelosa.com

Technology

Record-breaking sandcastle built in Denmark

The world’s tallest sandcastle has been constructed in Denmark, standing more than 20 metres high and made up of nearly 5000 tonnes of sand, according to its designers. At 21.16 metres tall, the castle is over three metres taller than the previous holder of the title which was built in Germany in 2019, according to Guinness World Records. Using a total of 4860 tonnes of sand, the intricately decorated structure was designed by Wilfred Stijger and built with the assistance of 30 of the world’s best sand sculptors in the small seaside town of Blokhus. Stijger said he wanted the structure to represent the power coronavirus has had over the world since the start of the pandemic, and topped the sandcastle with a model of the virus wearing a crown. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRACXXLjgCp/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRACXXLjgCp/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Wilfred Stijger (@stijgerart)</a> </div> </blockquote> “It’s ruling our lives everywhere,” Stijger said. “It tells you what to do … It tells you to stay away from your family and not go to nice places. Don’t do activities, stay home.” To stabilise the sandcastle against the chilly and windy conditions of the autumn and winter, the sand contains approximately 10 percent clay and a layer of glue that was applied after completion. Blokhus residents have enjoyed the local features incorporated into the sandcastle, such as beach houses and lighthouses, and depictions of windsurfing and kitesurfing. The castle is expected to stand until around early next year, until the onset of heavy frost.

International Travel

"Scarily good": Parents in shock at kid's Halloween costume

USA father Greg Dietzenbach, a creative director at an advertising and marketing agency, has a reputation for creative and hilarious Halloween costumes for his children in his neighbourhood. This year proved no exception, as he decided to take some modern inspiration and created the "Zoom scaries". "My kids challenge me every year to make a unique costume. Building a <a rel="noopener" href="https://youtu.be/ggjSoEsBcH4" target="_blank" class="editor-rtflink">'Transformers' sock robot</a> for my son almost broke my brain... another year [my daughter] <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.halfcrow.art/blog/door-costume" target="_blank" class="editor-rtflink">went as our neighbors' doors</a>. So, this year I wanted to make it a lot simpler." He created the Zoom interface, with other people attending the meeting, for his 12-year-old daughter Ava's costume. The Zoom interface has nine spooky participants, including photos of Ava dressed as the Invisible Man, Wolf Man, Frankenstein, Dracula, a Mummy, Blair With and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. The eighth participant is Ava herself, poking her head out of the costume through a cutout. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838459/halloween-body.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a2d2d8e49a564a91964f50763d27a1db" /> <div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Dietzenbach recreated the Zoom interface with subtly spooky changes -- replacing "End Meeting for All" with "End Life" and "Share Screen" with "Share Scream" and of course -- "666 Participants." "The best part of this costume creation was the photoshoot I had with my daughter," Dietzenbach said of the seven monsters/meeting attendees his daughter transformed into. "We were laughing the whole time as we tried to make all the monster faces." "Halloween was one of my favourite holidays when I was a kid and I'm happy to share my love of Halloween with my kids," Dietzenbach said. "2020 has been tough, it's nice to know we'll be giving some joy to others (at a safe distance of course)." Photo credit: <a rel="noopener" href="https://honey.nine.com.au/latest/coronavirus-dads-zoom-halloween-costume/a9e78e96-8e01-4cc5-a426-a6b7592f6ebd" target="_blank" class="editor-rtflink">Honey</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"></div> </div> </div>

Family & Pets

Meet the retired women who built their own community

Certain cities – no matter how much we may love them – simply aren’t cutting it when it comes to creating age-friendly communities and providing services for the elderly. So, dissatisfied with their options in London, a group of retired women have banded together and taken action, creating their very own co-housing retirement community. Maria Brenton, a vocal proponent of older people maintaining their independence for as long as possible, was inspired to create her own community after reading about similar projects in the Netherlands and Denmark. “I ran a workshop for women [on co-housing] in London at the end of the ‘90s, and a small group afterwards said, ‘Let’s do it,’” she recalled to the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/uk/sisters-retired-women-built-community/?WT.mc_id=tmg_share_fb" target="_blank">Telegraph</a>. “And I have been working with them ever since.” Almost two decades later, and with 25 women by her side, Brenton has finally seen her vision come to life. The New Ground development, located in Barnet, north London, is the first of its kind, providing accommodation for 26 independent women between the ages of 50 and 87. <img width="497" height="310" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/37850/image__497x310.jpg" alt="Image_ (334)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> “It’s a very active group,” Brenton explains. “Some are still working – including the oldest member.” While she herself does not live there, Brenton hopes more cities will take cues from New Ground and start creating modern, age-friendly communities, where each resident pitches in and everyone gets the support they need. “Most of the older population do not wish to have everything done for them,” she believes. “Now we have shown the way, we are a living, breathing example, it will encourage people enormously.” Does co-housing sound appealing to you? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. Image credit: Tim Crocker and Joe Okpako/The Telegraph.

Retirement Income

This elegant contemporary home was built in 48 hours

Good, fast and cheap: you can have two, but not all three. That has long been the catch-phrase of building and manufacturing - the idea that if you want something that's inexpensive, and you want it quickly, what you're going to get is not going to be of great quality. This stunning contemporary house, by Desai Chia Architecture, might prove the old adage wrong. Located in rural New York was it was designed for maximum efficiency and then built using prefabricated elements in just a couple of days. It's situated on a rocky outcrop that overlooks a trout pond and open farmland. The house integrates a number of sustainable design elements, including geothermal heating and cooling, radiant floors, natural ventilation, motorised solar shades and photovoltaic panels. The middle of the structure houses the bedrooms, bathroom, and storage rooms within a perforated timber core. The timber slats are part of a larger wall system that allows for natural daylight to permeate the space during the day. The system also contributes to home's overall ventilation. The foundation of the home is provided by four steel columns that are embedded into that timber core. This structural solution creates expansive, open living areas at both ends of the house The surrounding structure is constructed using as few materials as possible. The facade of the house is made up of triple-paned glass units. All the elements of the house were prefabricated off-site, shipped to the site in one container, and erected by crane in just two days. Written by Kathleen Kinney. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz.</a> Image credit: Desai Chia Architecture/ Stuff.co.nz.

Home & Garden

Another cruise line has built a mega-ship

Earlier this week we told you about <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/cruising/2017/05/royal-caribbean-symphony-of-the-seas-biggest-cruise-ship/">Royal Caribbean’s plans to build the 230,000-tonne megaship</a>, Symphony of the Seas, and it appears it’s not the only cruise line starting to ascribe to the motto, “bigger is better.” Princess Cruises is getting in on the act as well, with the brand-new 143,000-tonne Majestic Princess expected to set sail to Australian waters soon. The numbers of this vessel are staggering. The Majestic Princess is 330 metres long (roughly the length of six Olympic swimming pools) and 68.3 metres high, with 19 decks and the ability to carry 3,560 guests in consummate style. The Majestic Princess has just hit the water after construction in Monfalcone, Italy, and reportedly cost $AU 868 million to construct. That’s not far off the $AU 1.3 billion spent ot make the Ovation of the Seas, which visited Sydney earlier this year. Majestic Princess will debut in Australia in September next year, and home port in Sydney over the 2018-19 summer season.

Cruising

Inside the largest cruise ship ever built

It's 362-metres long, cost US$1 billion to make, can carry 6780 guests and 2100 crew, and took more than two-and-a-half years to construct. The mammoth Harmony of the Seas arrived at Southampton ahead of its maiden voyage. The Royal Caribbean ship boasts 20 restaurants but who cares about food when you have a 10-storey water slide on board? The slide, aptly named The Ultimate Abyss, features a 30m drop, making it the tallest at sea. The water slide is one of many features aboard the beautifully gigantic Harmony. It even has its own park, which contains 10,587 plants, 48 vine plants and 52 trees, while a total of 11,252 works of art are showcased across the vessel. Harmony is built on the same platform as Royal Caribbean's giant Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, the current size leaders in the cruise world, but it eclipses its siblings by nearly 1700 tons and offers a number of new features. Stuart Leven, managing director UK and Ireland, Royal Caribbean International, said: "Cruising is changing - it's becoming a holiday for all the family, it's not just white tablecloths and ties at dinnertime - now the sort of holiday you get at all-inclusive resorts on land can be replicated on the seas. "We have a 10-storey slide, surf machines, plenty of restaurants like Jamie Oliver's Italian on board, a great choice, and you can wake up with a different view from your balcony each day. "My favourite facility is the robotic bartenders where you go in with an iPad to place your order and they will mix your cocktail. We are really pushing the boundaries. "It's all about variety - when you have a ship of this scale, you can offer so many things." Harmony also has larger cabins than Oasis and Allure in some categories, and windowless "inside" cabins are being outfitted with Royal Caribbean's exclusive Virtual Balconies, which offer a real-time view of the outdoors. It's a concept that first debuted in 2014 on the line's Navigator of the Seas. Wider than Oasis and Allure by about 5.5m and a tad longer, too, Harmony holds nearly 100 more passengers than its sisters at double occupancy. Harmony's first voyage with paying passengers is scheduled for May 22 out of Southampton, England. After an initial series of cruises in Europe, it will move to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to offer alternating, seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages. With this new addition, Royal Caribbean will have 25 ships. Have you ever cruised with Royal Caribbean? Do you think you’d love to try the Harmony of the Seas? Let us know in the comments below. Written by Gene Sloan. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Video credit: Royal Caribbean Related links: <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/07/queen-mary-2-cruise-ship-gets-pet-friendly-makeover/">Queen Mary 2 cruise ship gets pet-friendly makeover</a> <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/06/best-cruise-lines-in-the-world-revealed/">The world’s best cruise lines revealed</a> <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/04/cunard-queen-mary-marilyn-monroe-showcase/">Cunard to showcase world’s largest Marilyn Monroe collection</a>

Cruising

The winter coat with in-built heating

In centuries gone by, if you wanted to stay extra toasty on a cold winter's day, you might take a pull of whisky from the hip flask in your pocket. More recently you could opt for a pocket warmer. This nifty device involved the use of lighter fluid and a flame, which you carried around in your trouser pocket. Nope, nothing could possibly go wrong in that scenario. Fast-forward to 2016, and the subject of a successful Kickstarter campaign is a range of coats heated by technology a lot more sophisticated than trying to set your nether regions on fire. British company <a href="http://emelandaris.com/" target="_blank">Emel and Aris</a> is raising funds to put what is claimed to be the world's first smart coat into production. In their design, lightweight polymers produce infrared heat energy which is absorbed by the skin to heat the muscles and increase the flow of blood. The heat is transferred via discreet lightweight panels sewn into the jacket on the shoulders, sides and lower back, and connected to a slim battery located in a waterproof pocket that can also be used to charge your smartphone. You might expect such a jacket to look like some sort of futuristic aluminium foil space suit from the Jetsons, but you'd be wrong. Designer Rana Nakhal Solset has come up with elegant, streamlined styles: for men, an overcoat made from a waterproof treated blend of Loro Piana cashmere and wool; and a lighter-weight raincoat in water repellent Loro Piana cotton, with a detachable vest. For women, a Loro Piana cashmere and wool blend wrap coat, and a more lightweight Loro Piana cotton classic trench coat. It's another sign that high-tech is making inroads into haute couture; by 2025, it's likely that almost every item of clothing you buy will contain some type of embedded technology. Written by Stephen Lacey, first appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz.</a> Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/04/tommy-hilfiger-adaptive-clothing-line/">Tommy Hilfiger designs clothes for kids with disabilities</a> <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/03/style-meets-comfort-at-homyped/">5 Orthopaedic shoes that don’t compromise on style</a> <a href="/entertainment/technology/2016/04/how-to-plan-public-transport-journey-using-google-maps/">How to plan your public transport journey using Google Maps</a>

Beauty & Style

Australia’s first purpose-built cruise ship to extend maiden season

Last month we told you the world’s newest, biggest, most technologically advanced cruise ship has <a href="/news/news/2016/03/newest-cruise-ship-set-for-aussie-waters/" target="_blank">successfully completed its conveyance process</a>. Now Royal Caribbean’s hotly anticipated Ovation of the Seas is set to extend her maiden season down under. Royal Caribbean has announced four extra cruises for the forthcoming summer 2016/17 season, with Ovation of the Seas set to return for a second season in the summer of 2017/18. Together, these programs add 60,000 new beds to the local cruise market. Final deployment and itinerary details are set to be released later this month. Adam Armstrong, managing director, Royal Caribbean Australasia said, “The level of interest for Ovation of the Seas has exceeded all of our expectations; we’re currently over 90 per cent sold for next summer’s sailings. She is a true game-changer and such was the high demand for the ship that we’ve been able to secure four extra cruises from Sydney, which will extend the season into late February 2017.” “This extension of her maiden season – plus her subsequent return in summer 2017/18 – reaffirms Australia’s position as one of the most significant cruising markets in the world and Royal Caribbean’s position as Sydney’s leading cruise line.” <img width="497" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/18559/ovation-of-the-seas-image-two_497x280.jpg" alt="Ovation Of The Seas Image Two"/> The Ovation of the Seas will be the third-ship in the ground-breaking Quantum Class, bringing a set of first-at-sea experiences to Australia including the opportunity to experience a heart-pounding skydiving experience, the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea and the line's largest, most advanced staterooms ever. The $1.3 billion ship will be biggest and most technologically advanced cruise ship to sail into Australian waters. The mega-liner will feature 18 decks and 2090 staterooms, and a capacity to carry a maximum of 4180 guests at double occupancy. Royal Caribbean has also advised that guests who are booked on the 23 January 2017 repositioning cruise from Sydney to Singapore will be contacted directly and offered first choice of sailings to rebook, including the revised repositioning itinerary scheduled. For more information regarding the Ovation of the Seas <a href="http://www.royalcaribbean.com.nz/findacruise/ships/class/ship/home.do?shipCode=OV&wuc=AUS" target="_blank">click here</a>. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/cruising/2016/03/how-to-make-cruise-ship-towel-animals/">How to make cruise ship towel animals</a> <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/04/new-shore-excursions-for-royal-caribbean-cruises/">New shore excursions for Royal Caribbean cruises</a> <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/03/cruise-lines-cancel-scheduled-bali-stops/">Cruise lines cancel scheduled Bali stops</a>

Cruising

Village to be built on moon by 2030

The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced plans to have a village built on the moon by the year 2030, which could potentially help mankind explore the far reaches of the galaxy. ESA chiefs have touted the possibility of landing robots on the surface of the moon to prepare it for human life, with the construction completed by a 3D printing system. <img width="497" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/13266/moon-village_497x280.jpg" alt="Moon Village" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> The plan may seem a little far-fetched, but ESA chiefs are very serious, and confirmed their plans at a conference entitled Moon 2020-2030 — A New Era of Coordinated Human and Robotic Exploration. A moon base could open up a range of possibilities in regards to exploring Mars and could potentially act as a stepping stone for astronauts headed to the red planet. <img width="497" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/13267/moon-village-two_497x280.jpg" alt="Moon Village Two" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> NASA’s Kathy Laurini told Space.com, “The ESA space-exploration strategy sets the Moon as a priority destination for humans on the way to Mars.” “And the recent talk of a ‘Moon Village’ certainly has generated a lot of positive energy in Europe — [of] Europe playing a role in a global human exploration scenario. The timing is right to get started on the capabilities which allow Europe to meet its exploration objectives and ensure it remains a strong partner as humans begin to explore the solar system.” Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/01/stunning-mid-air-firework-video/">Drone captures footage of fireworks display mid-air in this spectacular video</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/01/tips-to-make-dairy-products-last-longer/">7 tips to make dairy products last longer</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/01/spot-the-panda-hidden-in-this-vintage-school-photo/">Spot the panda hidden in this vintage school photo</a>

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"Scarily good": Parents in shock at kid's Halloween costume

Meet the retired women who built their own community

This elegant contemporary home was built in 48 hours

Another cruise line has built a mega-ship

Inside the largest cruise ship ever built

The winter coat with in-built heating

Australia’s first purpose-built cruise ship to extend maiden season

Village to be built on moon by 2030