Blog — Page 197 of 277

High Adventure in the Great Outdoors – Outdoor watches

Living in the southern hemisphere, it is mildly difficulty to not get into and enjoy water sports to at least some degree.

We are talking surfing, diving, snorkeling, swimming in the ocean and not the sexual kink variant – get your mind out of the gutter, filthy deviant!

With the territory comes the need for appropriate gear – ideally, gear that does not look like being a merely utilitarian device but not so much on the fashion end that it breaks halfway through your adventures.

Specifically in the realm of diving and scuba diving, it is vital to keep an eye on time and a watch can be the ideal backup to keep things on an even keel.

Sure, there are simple watches that are cheap and might do the job but you might not want to be seen with an eyesore outside the wet realm. You also might be turned off by the idea of being identified as an action movie hero wannabe by the size of what you are lugging around and showboating on your wrist.

Having tried different models, I found that the notion of watches suitable for diving and their short half-life do not seem to hold true. Most of what I have tried lasted surprisingly long and survived some pretty harsh, unplanned maneuvers.

Alright, let’s delve into the world of affordable aquatic timepieces, i.e. ones that are not emissions from big luxury brands:

Canada, of all places, offers the Seaforth model via its brand Halios, which is affordable and easy on the eye as is Italy’s Modello Uno out of the house of Unimatic, which is a watch proffered as an Aqua Compressor combining traditional design with a modern twist.

However, my go to aquatic timepieces have come for a while now courtesy of Freestyle USA. 

Yes, I am with you – some of their designs are a bit much on the “youthful” end of the scale, i.e. an LSD trip come alive, but they have models that look both classy, enduring and reliable.

What makes Freestyle USA’s more affordable models tick is the fact that they are really comfortable to wear with their silicone straps, yet do not lack resistance – I have been pounded numerous times by waves I had underestimated and the watch survived without as much as a scratch.

Their tide functionality for 150 beaches around this earthround and the fact that the buttons can be easily pushed underwater come as an added bonus.

The appearance of their Shark Tide collection is very much on the stylish, cool end of the spectrum, which makes them watches that you can wear in more formal environments as well.

It has the ability to display different time zones, accommodating your travel destination, and I have yet to encounter any problems that are related to condensation. Again, it tells you all relevant info about tide movements and when your surf session will get the most out of the local break as well as chronometer, sunset/-rise, night illumination function and I have yet to encounter a scenario where I could not see the display clearly, no matter if the sun was glaring or in darker scenarios.

Compared to its size, the weight is minimal and it fits easily underneath shirts, i.e. does not look freakish on dry ground and it waterproof up to one hundred meters.

Freetyle USA’s Precision 2.0 is on the fresher yet subtle side of things with its mélange of analogue and digital modes and a solid 200 meter water resistance.

Freestyle USA’s watches all come with lifetime warranty, which makes perfect sense given the elements they will be exposed to.

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Photos from Freestyle USA website

Wanderlust

Hiking on Legendary Trails

Gestalten Verlag

Into traveling?

Inhabited by that innate, unexplainably strong desire to roam and impetus to go wandering?

I hear you.

Does your traveling culminate in booking packages and tours?

Or are you into exploring per pedes?

No matter where I have roamed on this earthround, exploring cities and nature by foot has always been the most rewarding way to really engage with your surrounding.

Wanderlust illustrates and describes the merits of both the world’s most renowned walking trails but also sheds light on hidden gems that might make it on your bucket list. This opulently illustrated coffee table book depicts the routes, outlines maps and an effort is made to not merely focus on one part of the world – no matter if it is pilgrimages in Japan (i.e. Kumano Kodo, the series of routes zig-zagging one of the largest islands of Japan), Spain (the classic King’s Little Pathway, i.e. Caminito del Rey, one of the world’s most dangerous) or up North in the neither region of majestic Norway covering all kinds of terrain running the gamut from nice via deserts to lush forests from below sea level to lofty heights.

The accompanying essays shed light on the trecks, with first-hand experiences being shared and advice being dished out both for the seasoned trekker as well as the novice.

Wanderlust is enjoyable on different levels as apart from serving as a hands-on guide, Wanderlust can also just be a nice form of escapism to delve into when you are over your current surroundings and a source of inspiration for taking on future challenges.
Picturesque, diverse, a good ratio of text to photos, factual as well as historical and seasonal contextualization – a must-have for any passionate globetrotter.

The Aints play The Saints part 2.

Manning Bar

Sydney, Australia

March 9, 2018

We have clarified before that The Saints have left an imprint on the music scene that make some sandwich them in between the Ramones and Sex Pistols when it comes to relevance in the realm of punk rock.

“The Aints” is a variation on The Saints, headed by the prolific Ed Kuepper, who along with his worthy constituents revisited their classic material.

Framed by Peter Oxley on bass and the Celibate Rifles’ Paul Larsen on drums, along with a horn section and long-term collaborator Alister Spence on keyboards, Kuepper’s band is tight unit built for purpose.

The Aints performed tonight not only the hymns and crowd-pleasers which have inspired juvenile delinquents the world over, but managed to enthuse the audience with unreleased gems that did not lack impact. It is beyond me how those tracks did not make it on any of their regular releases, especially the goosebumps evoking, more melancholic, feedback-drenched ditties with a Neil Young-tinge that had the audience swaying along and brought out Ed Kuepper’s best.

The band is a well-oiled machine that is enjoying itself, which seamlessly translates to the audience comprised of predominantly older semesters caught in awe of seeing their heroes in the flesh in such fine form.

I’ve seen The Saints in various incarnations and The Aints a couple of times as well, but there was a “je ne sais quoi” factor that came into the equation and filled their performance on the ground of Sydney University with something magical.

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See also: The Aints play The Saints @ Factory Theatre

Quicksand / Thursday

Metro Theatre

Sydney Australia

March 7, 2018

Stating that one Walter Schreifels with the myriad of his musical incarnations has had a significant impact on my musical evolution during my early formative years would be an understatement par excellence.

One would need a flipchart to outline his projects and how they cross-pollinated and served as the driving force of whole sub-genres – be it straight edge hardcore a la Youth of Today, the excellent short lived Moondog or NYHC flagship Gorilla Biscuits, melodic endeavours via CIV, indie-esque Rival Schools, his project World’s Fastest Car, Smiths-esque Walking Concert, his acoustic solo project or the entity that he brought to Sydney tonight, post-hardcore outfit Quicksand.

In their heyday, i.e. between their two classic albums “Slip” and “Manic Compression”, Quicksand served as the bridge between bands like Fugazi and noisier alternative metal like Helmet – crafting melodies emerging from harsher sounds. Tonight was a fine display of their musical abilities that infused a passionate set, much to the approval of a predominantly older crowd that seemed to have come out of show retirement to witness Schreifels and co and relive some of the 1990s glory. The fact that they effortlessly conjuring such a massive wall of sound as a trio as Tom Capone could not join the tour, is testament to their relevance and craft.

If you get the chance, make sure to catch them before they disappear again.

Thursday followed with a vital set that emphasized the emissions of their albums War All The Time and Full Collapse, which resonated well with the younger portion of the crowd.

Frontman Geoff Rickly worked the staged and engaged the audience, which was more than happy to oblige.

A well-rounded package of bands that was more than a mere exercise in nostalgia.

Bar Patrón by Neil Perry

Sydney, Australia

Now, in theory this should be an easy one.

Guilty as charged – I do harbour a weak spot for the distilled emissions of the blue agave plant from the state of Jalisco – be it the sharper blanco, joven or the subtle flavoured, well rounded reposado, anejo or extra anejo varieties with their smooth finishes.

I could harp on about scents of sawdust, nuances of oakwood and earthly hints of broiled zucchini, but I guess you get the drift: I savour a good glass of tequila.

Specifically Patrón – a Tequila brand that made it its mission to change the perception of the tipple: Patron made it about taste and sophistication rather than it being a mere accelerator for quick intoxication.

Another passion revolves around the empire founded by one Neil Perry.

The cured, dry aged meats along with the twist he infused his Rockpool Bar & Grill with to give it his own idiosyncratic Australian spin is something you would not want to miss out on if you ever visit Sydney or Melbourne and fancy a great steak.

Rockpool Bar & Grill being only one constitutent of Perry’s many ventures, which run the gamut from being the curator of Australia’s national airline Qantas’ cuisines, author of books and columns and a range of celebrated restaurants.

So in theory, it should be easy to pen an article about Australian cuisine royalty Neil Perry teaming up with Patrón to open the world’s first Bar Patrón.

Yet having experienced it firsthand, it proves to be harder than it seems to do it justice due to the mélange of sophistication and down-to-earthiness that Neil Perry’s approach is informed by.

See, Tex-Mex cuisine is popular around the world, but hand to heart: More often than not it is not what it set out to be and culminates in a carbohydrate heavy indefinable something drowned in a bucket of guacamole – the antithesis of what it should be.

Enter Neil Perry.

With emphasis put on fresh- and lightness, subtle flavour nuances, and a myriad of herbs added to the mix, based on his ability to create a welcoming and engaging experience that attracts a variety of crowds, from foodies via the hospitality crowd to the yet to be inducted and voilà – you got yourself a great establishment that lives up to the expectations one has from having frequented any of his Rockpool incarnations.

Mexican native Pamela Valdes, formerly of Rosetta and Xalapa fame, is at the helm of kitchen operations. Authenticity is the name of her game and heavenly trombones sounded when her prawns with chili, coriander and citrus dressing hit the palate of your humble narrator - authentic, fresh, light and delicious Mexican fare without any pretense. Divine.

Same goes for the libation: Tequila can be a beautiful, crafted libation that should be sipped neat from a snifter glass, rather than consumed “tequila cruda”-style, i.e. knocked back with detracting condiments like licking salt from a trail of lime.

While this might have been a bonding rite of passage of your college days, wasting tequila in that manner is borderline sacrilegious.

Patrón has specifically created a range of bespoke tequilas apart from rare and limited edition ones, which serves as the foundation for Bar Patrón to create a Tequila flavoured alternative to any cocktail you usually enjoy.

I’d go as far as to claim that a visit to Bar Patrón will convert even the most Tequila averse Scotch or Gin snob.

Bar Patrón is situated in a prime location at Circular Quay where Café Ananas resided previously and has undergone a major revamp:

Australian architect and Rockpool Group’s go-to interior designer extraordinaire Grant Cheyne, who has translated Neil Perry’s various times before, transformed the space into an Australian equivalent to a hacienda – think a beautiful marble bar against a scenic backdrop of the Sydney Harbour.

Add a 5am license and a revolving line-up of quality DJs, quality bartenders that can hold a conversation and never seem to be to busy to educate you if you find yourself trapped in indecision when it comes to ordering your next drink.

Sophisticated.

Authentic.

Fun.