I’d be the first to admit that in my rush to see as much of the world as possible, patience has sometimes not been uppermost in my mind. But now that I’ve seen half the world, and I am probably about halfway through my life as well – and much wealthier than when I started out – my priorities have started to shift. This has come in tandem with an increased interest in sustainable travel, in the widest possible sense.
I do believe that travel is a force for good, but as the world shrinks thanks to globalisation, there’s a sense that what we do locally is more important than ever. Sustainable travel shouldn’t just be about using public transport, staying in small huts or reducing time in the shower. It’s no good doing these things and then shoving your camera into people’s faces, pushing into queues, tooting your horn, losing your temper or ignoring other travellers.
Truly holistic travel is about how you treat other people as you go, how you engage with a place and what you get back from the experience. Driving is the only option in much of the United States, but I drive compact, efficient cars in an efficient way, and have started to believe that one can "offset" the pollution caused in one activity with positive actions in another.
This week, as smoke from forest fires cleared in southern Oregon, I wasn't going to let the Labour Day weekend crowds spoil the experience. I could either get annoyed or embrace it. So, despite covering more than 1,500 kilometres in four days, I've taken things slowly. Instead of staying at a motel chain or camping, I've splashed out on a couple of Holiday Inns. Yes, you may laugh, but it does make a difference not having to walk 500 metres to the nearest bathroom or staying at a place where your room looks like a crime scene, and where you can chat to other guests or staff without fear for your safety or seeming eccentric. I've spent two nights in each place instead of one, which reduces the level of stress and allows you to explore at a sane pace, with time for diversions.
I’ve stopped to talk to people. Unless they’re crucial to a story, I’m often reluctant to do a “stop and chat” with random strangers since – well – there isn’t time and they usually aren’t that interesting. This week though, I’ve stopped, and, to an extent, I’ve chatted. At Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, I helped several people with their photos, and the encounters, strangely, made me feel more connected to the place. I waited patiently in the queue to get into the park and was held in a lengthy and entertaining chat with a British park ranger there.
Instead of jostling to the front of a line of hikers, I hung out near the middle. I got chatting to a bearded man in a bandana who told me in hushed tones how data from global seismic monitoring is showing that earthquakes on one side of the world have a corresponding effect on the other, making accurate prediction imminent.
Back at the hotel, there was another revelation. An almost offhand complaint/comment to reception about my room’s air conditioning – old, noisy, on-off throughout the night – resulted in a big discount.
Sometimes, being patient pays off in the most unexpected of ways.
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Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Amitabh Bachchan
Rating: 2/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: SmartCrowd
Started: 2018
Founder: Siddiq Farid and Musfique Ahmed
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech / PropTech
Initial investment: $650,000
Current number of staff: 35
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Various institutional investors and notable angel investors (500 MENA, Shurooq, Mada, Seedstar, Tricap)
The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre
How Beautiful this world is!
TECH SPECS: APPLE WATCH SE (second generation)
Display: 40mm, 324 x 394; 44mm, 368 x 448; Retina LTPO OLED, up to 1000 nits; Ion-X glass
Processor: Apple S8, W3 wireless
Capacity: 32GB
Memory: 1GB
Platform: watchOS 9
Health metrics: 2nd-gen heart rate sensor, workouts, fall/crash detection; emergency SOS, international emergency calling
Connectivity: GPS/GPS + cellular; Wi-Fi, LTE, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC (Apple Pay)
Durability: Water resistant up to 50m
Battery: 269mAh Li-ion, up to 18h, wireless charging
Cards: eSIM
Finishes: Aluminium; midnight, silver, starlight
In the box: Watch SE, magnetic-to-USB-C charging cable, band/loop
Price: Starts at Dh999 (40mm) / 1,119 (44mm)
A general guide to how active you are:
Less than 5,000 steps - sedentary
5,000 - 9,999 steps - lightly active
10,000 - 12,500 steps - active
12,500+ - highly active
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
Super heroes
Iron Man
Reduced risk of dementia
Alcohol consumption could be an issue
Hulk
Cardiac disease, stroke and dementia from high heart rate
Spider-Man
Agility reduces risk of falls
Increased risk of obesity and mental health issues
Black Panther
Vegetarian diet reduces obesity
Unknown risks of potion drinking
Black Widow
Childhood traumas increase risk of mental illnesses
Thor
He's a god
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
Company Profile
Company name: Hoopla
Date started: March 2023
Founder: Jacqueline Perrottet
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Investment required: $500,000
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Confirmed bouts (more to be added)
Cory Sandhagen v Umar Nurmagomedov
Nick Diaz v Vicente Luque
Michael Chiesa v Tony Ferguson
Deiveson Figueiredo v Marlon Vera
Mackenzie Dern v Loopy Godinez
Tickets for the August 3 Fight Night, held in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, went on sale earlier this month, through www.etihadarena.ae and www.ticketmaster.ae.
Specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo 4-cylinder / 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder (S3)
Power: 148bhp / 328bhp (S3)
Torque: 250Nm / 420Nm (S3)
On sale: December
Price: TBA
UAE SQUAD
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Mohamed Usman (vice captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Tahir Mughal, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Abdul Shakoor, Sultan Ahmed, CP Rizwan