Climbing obsession …11 people have already been killed on Mt. Everest this climbing season, and experts are blaming it on overcrowding. Seems the country of Nepal gave out a record number of permits this year, and there were so many people on the mountain that recent photos showed a line of people waiting for hours to try and make the summit. And the climb isn’t cheap. People are paying up to $130,000 to climb Everest – with some hiring personal photographers to chronicle the journey and others setting up private bars at base camp. (Insider)
- Do you get the allure of climbing Mt. Everest? It’s cold, it’s crowded, it’s dangerous, it’s difficult, and it can be deadly. Is it just about the challenge? About saying you did it? Aren’t there other challenges that could be just as rewarding?
Phones and first dates don’t mix …A new YouGov poll found that texting or being distracted by your phone during a first date is a major turn-off for both women (70%) and men (69%). Another no-no, according to the survey, is taking photos of your food. 25% of men said it would bother them if their date took photos of their food or drinks to post to social media. Women were less irritated by this behavior, with only 15% being irked by a food photoshoot. (The Ladders)
Life’s a beach …Need some vacation inspiration?Dr. Beach just released his list of the Top 10 Beaches of 2019:
- Kailua Beach Park, Oahu, Hawaii
- Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks of North Carolina
- Grayton Beach State Park Florida panhandle
- Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
- Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
- Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
- Caladesi Island State Park Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
- Hapuna Beach State Park, Big Island, Hawaii
- Coronado Beach, San Diego, California
- Beachwalker Park Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Speaking of the beach …Now you don’t have to bring a towel with you. You can wear one. Yep, there’s something called a “Towelkini” -- which is part bikini, part towel. Think terrycloth onesie meets bathrobe. (Travel and Leisure)