A Sustainable Resort in Mauritius

On the east coast of Mauritius, SALT of Palmar is a delightful eco boutique property that's infused with sustainability, a playful design aesthetic that reflects the island's bold colors, and a sense of connectedness between the land, its people and their culture. These photos provide a window into this property with more stories to follow down the road.

 

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A New Green Space on Roosevelt Island

It's certainly curious that so many New Yorkers have never visited Roosevelt Island, which is just a five-minute tram ride from Manhattan. (It's also a stop on the subway.) The two-mile-long island is serene, scenic and safe. But, now there's more reason than ever to visit. In fall 2017, the Cornell Tech campus opened as a sustainable university campus, and the newest campus in the city. The best thing for the public is the expansive green spaces, pedestrian paths, and numerous seating options on this 12-acre campus that features the Bloomberg Center. This contemporary, energy efficient structure was named for the daughters of Michael Bloomberg, the City's former mayor who spearheaded the initiative to develop the campus. This building is decked out with a rooftop of solar panels. And it also has the ability to capture rainwater that's used for irrigation, cooling and the plumbing system. Grassy lawns, ornamental grasses, and numerous small trees pepper the landscape where there are numerous seating options. And, no matter what time you visit, you'll notice that the facade of the Bloomberg Center takes on a different sheen depending on the time of the day. (It's because of the way the metal disk cladding reflecting the light.) A hotel is planned to open in 2020.

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Fijian Resorts Centered On Protecting The Environment

As the seas are heating up, one of the consequences is a dramatic decline in coral that are vital for the health of coastlines and seas. Among the many countries affected by climate change is the island nation of Fiji. Thankfully, there are Fijian resorts, including family-friendly ones, that strive to pamper adults with all manner of amenities while educating everyone on how to preserve and conserve natural resources. This is my recent article for Forbes on three of these stunning resorts.

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Gardens Resembling Works of Art

I’ve always been in awe of the creative works of Brazilian native, Roberto Burle Marx, a conservationist and legendary landscape architect who’s most noted for his wavy patterns on the sidewalk of Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. He used plants as anyone else would work with paint pigments to design gardens that are unique in their patterns, forms and color palette. I was delighted to recently visit the New York Botanical Garden that has a tribute to him -- “Brazilian Modern: The Living Art of Roberto Burle Marx: -- that’s open until September 29. It’s a must see whether you know anything about this legendary man or not. The exhibition, which includes tropical plants that are native to Brazil, is divided into four sections. The Modernist Garden has paths that are curvy as are the planting beds. Here you find elephant's ears, bromeliads as well as Caribbean and Brazilian palms. The Explorer’s Garden is lush with tropical rain forest plants such as philodendrons. The Water Garden has a whimsical wall dripping with staghorn ferns, as well as a large pool dotted with water lilies and other aquatic plants, including the Victoria amazonica whose leaves can grow as wide as nine feet. There’s also an indoor exhibition of his boldly-hued abstract textiles, drawings and paintings. As part of that exhibition, the Rotunda is where visitors are given insights into Burle Marx’s estate, referred to as the Sitio that served as his studio and home. The re-creation includes wall graphics that reference the hand painted blue and white tiles that line his studio’s walls.

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Gear Review: Ultra-Light, Collapsable Day Pack

Even when I’m not hiking, it’s good to pack a backpack, one that’s small, light, waterproof and very collapsible. It’s perfect for carrying a water bottle, rain jacket, lunch or snacks and other items if I decide to rent a bicycle in a city, or do some light hiking. It works to carry a book, umbrella, hat, or sunscreen if I’m strolling around town, visiting museums and shopping. I just discovered a backpack that fits these criteria. The Backpack FreeFly16 is produced by Matador. It’s so small when rolled into its storage bag that it fits into the palm of your hand. (Because I don’t check luggage, this backpack easily slips into my carry-on.) It barely weighs five ounces. The shoulder straps are breathable so you don’t feel sweaty in summer heat. And even in a drenching downpour, it’ll keep the rain out. It has one main zippered compartment, and a much smaller one that's ideal for a notebook, pens and other ancillary items.

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Product Review: Spa Treatment from Northern Europe

Typically, when I choose a product for a gear review, it’s not a skin care product. I’m making an exception this time because it does involve a product I heard about when I had traveled to the Northern European Baltic countries, especially Estonia. Recently, someone sent me a sample of this product, which I admit not having thought about in a long while. This is peat mud, which is sourced from bogs in these countries – though it’s found elsewhere in the world. Peat mud comes from decomposed plant life, typically that means shrubs, mosses and sedges, and it’s long been espoused for its rejuvenating and therapeutic properties. It’s used in Nordic spas who claim it improves metabolism, stimulates blood flow in the skin, smooths wrinkles and much more. While I’m all about scientific-based evidence, when I was sent a sample of a peat mud mask (from Sphagnum Botanicals), I decided to try it as part of a staycation spa treatment that might help my skin condition. (I’ve long been plagued with facial seborrheic dermatitis.) The pitch black mud has a neutral aroma and a thick, creamy texture. I applied it all over my face that I had already rinsed and allowed to remain wet, and then I Ieft the mud on my face for five minutes until it was quite dry, then rinsing it off thoroughly. I was surprised to find my facial itching, scaling and redness was dramatically diminished after even one use and this relief lasted for a few days. Additional skin benefits: my skin felt moist and any blackheads were easily removed. Clearly, this is no scientific study. It’s simply my experience. But I’ve used it once a week since for its moisturizing and skin cleansing properties as well as for some relief from my dermatitis symptoms.

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A Five-Star Accommodation for Garden Lovers

I have a love affair with botanical gardens or actually gardens of any sort. That's why finding a boutique accommodation in Madeira, a Portuguese island, that's enveloped by blooming flowers and other verdancy was a surprise. No matter where you walk on this property, whether one of two swimming pools, any of the restaurants or cafes, or your accommodation, you'll have garden views. To find out more, check out my recent article for Forbes on Estalagem Quinta da Casa Branca.

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Dealing with Blisters when Traveling

Blisters can ruin a hiking trip. That’s what almost happened to a friend of mine who tackled a 10+-day hike in northern Spain. He developed a very large blister on the sole of his foot. I ended up giving him blister tips via WhatsApp that allowed him to complete his trip with minimal discomfort.

Basically, once a blister forms and becomes quite large, it needs to be pierced, so that the fluid can drain. However, he was doing this with a sterilized needle, but it wasn’t working. I determined that the reason was that the gauge of the needle was too small to allow adequate drainage. And also that a callus formed over the blister as he repeatedly hiked on it day after day. (It was the body’s way of protecting the skin.) I suggested he find a pharmacy that sells manicure supplies, including a small cuticle clipper. Then, after adequately cleaning the skin with soap and water and also cleaning the clipper with alcohol, he could ever so gently make a nick in the side of the blister, which would allow the fluid to drain. He did this and it provided some relief but there was still pain -- from the overlying callus tissue. So I suggested that, again, after carefully cleaning the skin and the clipper, he gently attempt to debride the callus to reduce its thickness and size. After that, he would need to protect the area, either with a little foam donut or with a gel pad, such as Compeed, or with a dab of Aquafor. And this all worked!

My advice for blisters is to prevent them from getting getting so large. When I find a hot spot on my foot, I immediately apply Aquafor to reduce friction. And to prevent blisters in the first place, I wear Merino wool socks that wick away sweat and that have no seams nor do they bunch up. Two companies that I love are Smart Wool and Feetures.

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Gear Review: Wool Underwear for Hot Summer Temperatures

With temperatures soaring above 90 F in large swaths of the U.S. this summer, many people may be surprised to learn that I’m perfectly comfortable wearing Merino wool underwear. Yes, you read that correctly: wool underwear. This natural fiber easily wicks away sweat, keeping you perfectly cool, dry, and comfortable, whether you’re running for a bus or hiking a strenuous trail. I prefer SmartWool undergarments because they are a Colorado-based company with the garments made in America. They manufacture a select variety of underwear styles for men and women: bikinis, bras and boxer shorts. These undergarments don’t retain odor and they dry rapidly when washed. The fibers also stand the test of time. (I have two pairs of underwear that I bought more than five years ago, and they still wear well despite being repeatedly washed.)

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