2021-05-01
Cherry blossoms in bloom at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California (© luisascanio/iStock/Getty Images)
金门公园中日本茶园里盛开的樱花，加州旧金山 (© luisascanio/iStock/Getty Images)
With Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month kicking off today, we're visiting the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Originally designed as a temporary exhibit in the 1894 World's Fair, the gardens became a permanent fixture in the park, overseen by landscape designer Makoto Hagiwara.
Cherry blossoms in bloom at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California (© luisascanio/iStock/Getty Images)
金门公园中日本茶园里盛开的樱花，加州旧金山 (© luisascanio/iStock/Getty Images)
With Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month kicking off today, we're visiting the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Originally designed as a temporary exhibit in the 1894 World's Fair, the gardens became a permanent fixture in the park, overseen by landscape designer Makoto Hagiwara.
2021-05-02
Burchell's zebra stallions, Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa (© Richard Du Toit/Minden Pictures)
Rietvlei自然保护区内的雄性布氏斑马，南非 (© Richard Du Toit/Minden Pictures)
Even though these Burchell's zebras are probably fighting, to us it kind of looked like they were sharing a laugh. And since today is World Laughter Day, we've been trying to imagine what kind of joke would make a zebra laugh. Why did the lion spit out the clown? Because he tasted funny. Maybe. Anyway, World Laughter Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of May to remind people of the very real physical and mental health benefits of laughter. It's no joke that laughter has a clinically proven positive effect on your well-being. And experts (yes, there are experts) agree that laughing lowers blood pressure, releases endorphins, works your abs, reduces stress hormones, and even boosts T cells that fight infection. And even if you're not feeling it, faking it still works.
Burchell's zebra stallions, Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa (© Richard Du Toit/Minden Pictures)
Rietvlei自然保护区内的雄性布氏斑马，南非 (© Richard Du Toit/Minden Pictures)
Even though these Burchell's zebras are probably fighting, to us it kind of looked like they were sharing a laugh. And since today is World Laughter Day, we've been trying to imagine what kind of joke would make a zebra laugh. Why did the lion spit out the clown? Because he tasted funny. Maybe. Anyway, World Laughter Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of May to remind people of the very real physical and mental health benefits of laughter. It's no joke that laughter has a clinically proven positive effect on your well-being. And experts (yes, there are experts) agree that laughing lowers blood pressure, releases endorphins, works your abs, reduces stress hormones, and even boosts T cells that fight infection. And even if you're not feeling it, faking it still works.
2021-05-03
Aerial view of the island of Mainau on Lake Constance, Germany (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)
鸟瞰博登湖上的迈瑙岛，德国 (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)
From this height it is not immediately apparent why this island is nicknamed the “flower island”. But even a bird's eye view already suggests that the island of Mainau in Lake Constance is a special kind of natural experience - in every season of the year. Millions of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths bloom there in spring, rhododendrons, azaleas and roses can be admired in summer, dahlias bloom in autumn and in the cold months the island is transformed into a magical winter garden.
Aerial view of the island of Mainau on Lake Constance, Germany (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)
鸟瞰博登湖上的迈瑙岛，德国 (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)
From this height it is not immediately apparent why this island is nicknamed the “flower island”. But even a bird's eye view already suggests that the island of Mainau in Lake Constance is a special kind of natural experience - in every season of the year. Millions of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths bloom there in spring, rhododendrons, azaleas and roses can be admired in summer, dahlias bloom in autumn and in the cold months the island is transformed into a magical winter garden.