Summer is a season with many tough, albeit fun, decisions — like what to sip. You don’t have to sacrifice taste for calories with the right summer cocktails that balance out the more indulgent BBQ and ice cream.

Be sure to buy local produce, and skip the mixes when making any of the following healthy beverages. Everyone (including you) will notice the punch of flavor.

Lavender Sangria

Nothing promotes a relaxing evening like a chilled glass of white wine and the soothing scent of lavender. Combine the two with your favorite fresh fruit for a classic drink from Jessica Merchant.

Skip the simple syrup, or make it with a sugar-free sweetener to lower the calorie count.

Strawberry Basil Lime Cooler

We are extra excited about this mocktail offering, a combo of club soda, lime wedges, strawberries, and fresh mint.

You could always throw in a shot of something carb-free like tequila, vodka, or gin.

Rosé Chilton

Get in touch with your inner Southern belle and enjoy this rosy twist on a classic Texas beverage. It gives you an excuse to try out that rosé vodka you keep seeing around.

Blood Orange Moscow Mule

Usually mules make us think of copper cups and cold nights by the fire; however, this summery take will have you dreaming about beaches and citrus sunsets.

Since oranges are already pretty sweet, opt for a sugar-free ginger beer to top things off.

Strawberry Thyme Prosecco

Sparkling wine is good all on its own, yet drop in a few strawberries blended with limoncello, and you’ve got a refreshing drink for your summer.

Peach Mojito

Fruity mint mojitos FTW. The fresh peaches and mint here make this drink something special.

You can always sub out the teaspoon of sugar with stevia, Splenda, or your choice of sugar-free sweetener

The Bramble Cocktail

Blackberries and gin come together in a sour, sweet, and all together refreshing cocktail.

The muddled berries in the bottom of the glass are a lovely boozy snack when you’re finished. If your blackberries are ripe, you can probably get away with using just a smidge of stevia over the simple syrup to round out the cocktail.

Glitzy Dubai is the United Arab Emirates' holiday hot spot. This city of high-rises and shopping malls has transformed itself from a desert outpost to a destination du-jour, where tourists flock for sales bargains, sunshine, and family fun.

Dubai is famous for sightseeing attractions such as the Burj Khalifa (the world's tallest building) and shopping malls that come complete with mammoth aquariums and indoor ski slopes.

But this city has many cultural highlights and things to do as well as all the glamorous modern add-ons.

Take a wander around the Bastakia district, and you'll discover the Dubai of old, then cruise along Dubai Creek in a traditional dhow, and you'll soon realize there's more to this city than its flashy veneer.

Burj Khalifa

Dubai's landmark building is the Burj Khalifa, which at 829.8 meters is the tallest building in the world and the most famous of the city's points of interest.

For most visitors, a trip to the observation deck on the 124th floor here is a must-do while in the city. The views across the city skyline from this bird's-eye perspective are simply staggering.

The slick observation deck experience includes a multimedia presentation on both Dubai and the building of the Burj Khalifa (completed in 2010) before a high-speed elevator whizzes you up to the observation deck for those 360-degree views out across the skyscrapers to the desert on one side and the ocean on the other.

Nighttime visits are particularly popular with photographers due to Dubai's famous city-lights panoramas. Buy your Burj Khalifa "At the Top" Entrance Ticket in advance to avoid long line-ups, especially if you are planning to visit on a weekend.

Back on the ground, wrapping around the Burj Khalifa, are the building's beautifully designed gardens, with winding walkways. There are plenty of water features including the Dubai Fountain, the world's tallest performing fountain, modeled on the famous Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas.

• Location: Entry from Dubai Mall, Sheikh Zayed Road, Downtown
• Official site: www.burjkhalifa.ae 2 Dubai Mall

Deira

Deira lies on the northern bank of Dubai Creek, and the winding streets here unveil the melting pot of different nationalities that have come to call Dubai home.

On the shore, ancient dhows load and unload with modern banks, hotels, and office buildings as a backdrop. For travelers, Deira is most famous for its traditional souks (markets), which bustle with shoppers at all times of the day.

Deira Gold Souk is world-renowned as the largest gold bazaar in the world. The Deira Spice Souk sells every imaginable spice, with stalls overflowing with bags of frankincense, cumin, paprika, saffron, sumac, and thyme, as well as the fragrant oud wood, rose water, and incense.

The fish market provides a much less touristy experience. While in the district, culture lovers shouldn't miss two of Deira's finely restored architectural gems.

Heritage House was built in 1890 as the home of a wealthy Iranian merchant and later became the home of Sheik Ahmed bin Dalmouk (a famous pearl merchant in Dubai).

Today, it's a great chance to see the interior of a traditional family home. The Al-Ahmadiya School, constructed in 1912, is the oldest school in Dubai and is now a museum of public education.

• Location: Dubai Creek

Dubai Aquarium

One of the city's top tourist attractions, the Dubai Aquarium houses 140 species of sea life in the huge suspended tank on the ground floor of the Dubai Mall.

As well as free viewing from the mall, if you enter the Underwater Zoo, you can walk through the aquarium tunnels.

Different activities help you get a closer look at the sea life. Glass bottom boat tours (on top of the tank) are particularly popular. Cage snorkeling and shark diving activities are also on offer.

• Location: Dubai Mall, Sheikh Zayed Road
• Official site: http://www.thedubaiaquarium.com

Dear Lifehacker, I’m in the market for a new pair of headphones, and  I’ve been eyeballing the Beats By Dre Studios.

I like a lot of bass in  my music, but some people tell me they suck and are overpriced.

Are they  actually horrible, or are these people just snobby audiophiles who like  to hate on popular headphones? Will I notice a difference?

People have been asking us this question for years, so let’s settle this once and for all.

As  snobby as (some) audiophiles may seem, they’re right on this one: Beats  are... not great. Not only are they not worth their price, there are a  lot of headphones that will give you better sound—with lots of bass—for less.

Here’s the issue surrounding these fashionable cans, and what we recommend looking at instead.

The problem with Beats

I tried Beats years ago, before my foray into high-end headphones, and I  thought they sounded awesome.

Since then, I’ve tried numerous other  headphones, but never really hated on Beats. I assumed that people hated  Beats just because it was fashionable to do so.

I figured they were  decent enough quality, but overpriced due to the brand name. However, I  recently tried a pair of Beats Studios again, and was shocked to find  that I was wrong: they really aren’t very good at all.

Many audiophiles would have you believe Beats are bad because have too much bass. I disagree. It’s that they have too much low quality bass, with even worse mids and treble.

If you want to hear what Beats sound like, pull up your equalizer and ram the midbass frequencies up. Hear that loud, boomy, awful noise? That’s what Beats sound like.

There’s not nearly enough definition to make the bass sound good, and it drowns out nearly everything else in the music—which is probably okay, because the treble and mids sound like they’re coming from inside a well.

Bass-heavy alternatives to beats

So what should you buy instead? If you search around the internet, you’ll find a lot of articles recommending a bunch of random high-end headphones,  but we know that’s not what you want.

You’re looking for something  specific: bass, and lots of it. You probably listen to a lot of hip hop  or electronic music, and bass-heavy cans are going to make it sound  awesome.

Some of these headphones may be good for rock and pop, too, but  those genres usually excel with a more balanced headphone.

• Denon AH-D600  ($268 on Amazon).
• V-Moda Crossfade M-100  ($299 on Amazon, shown above).
• Audio Technica ATH-M50 ($149 on Amazon).
• Shure SRH750DJ  ($149 on Amazon).
• Ultrasone HFI-580  ($183 on Amazon).
• Sennheiser’s Momentum and Urbanite  line ($85 and up).

These are far from the only bassy headphones out there, but if you’re  considering Beats, these are some of the most oft-recommended  replacements at a few different price points.

I highly recommend you  listen to a few before you run off and buy one (as my impressions and  tastes will differ from yours), and you should also check out this giant thread at Head-Fi which has a ton of information on bass-heavy cans.

Blueberries are sweet, nutritious and wildly popular. Often labelled a "superfood," they are low in calories and incredibly good for you.

They are so tasty and convenient that many people consider them to be their favorite fruit.

Here are 3 health benefits of blueberries that are supported by research.

Blueberries are low in calories, but high in nutrients

The blueberry is a flowering shrub that produces berries that are colored blue to purple, also known as blueberries.

It is strongly related to similar shrubs, such as those that produce cranberries and huckleberries.

Blueberries are small, around 5-16 millimeters (0.2-0.6 inches) in diameter, and have a flared crown at the end.

They are green in color at first, then change to blue-purple as they ripen. These are the two most common types:

1. Highbush blueberries are the most commonly grown species in the US.
2. Lowbush blueberries are often referred to as "wild" blueberries. They are typically smaller and richer in some antioxidants.

Blueberries are among the most nutrient dense berries. A 1 cup serving (148 grams) of blueberries contains:

• Fiber: 4 grams.
• Vitamin C: 24% of the RDA.
• Vitamin K: 36% of the RDA.
• Manganese: 25% of the RDA.
• Then it contains small amounts of various other nutrients.

They are also about 85% water, and an entire cup contains only 84 calories, with 15 grams of carbohydrates.

Calorie for calorie, this makes them an excellent source of several important nutrients.

The blueberry is a very popular berry. It is low in calories, but high in fiber, vitamin C and vitamin K.

Blueberries are the king of antioxidant foods

Antioxidants are important.

They  protect our bodies from damage by free radicals, unstable molecules  that can damage cellular structures and contribute to aging and diseases  like cancer.

Blueberries are believed to contain the highest antioxidant capacity of ALL commonly consumed fruits and vegetables.

The main antioxidant compounds in blueberries belong to a large family of polyphenols, called flavonoids.

One group of flavonoids in particular, anthocyanins, is thought to be responsible for much of the beneficial health effects.

They have been shown to directly increase antioxidant levels inside the body.

Blueberries have the highest antioxidant capacity of all commonly  consumed fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids appear to be the major  antioxidant compounds.

Blueberries protect cholesterol in the blood from becoming damaged

Oxidative damage is not limited to our cells and DNA.

It is also problematic when our circulating LDL lipoproteins (the "bad" cholesterol) are oxidized. In fact, oxidation of LDL is a crucial step in the heart disease process.

Fortunately for us, the antioxidants in blueberries are strongly linked to reduced levels of oxidized LDL.

A daily 50 gram serving of blueberries lowered LDL oxidation by 27% in obese participants, after a period of eight weeks.

Another study showed that 75 grams of blueberries with a main meal significantly reduced the oxidation of LDL lipoproteins.

The antioxidants in blueberries have been shown to protect LDL  lipoproteins (the "bad" cholesterol) from oxidative damage, a crucial  step in the pathway towards heart disease.

Ralph Lauren began sewing neckties out of a cramped rental in the Empire State Building in 1967, inspired by European cuts and determined to shake up American menswear.

Within five years, his line was retailing at Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s, and his first freestanding Polo boutique opened on Beverly Hill’s ritzy Rodeo Drive in 1971.

Before long he began collecting cars. Some of his earliest purchases were his 1971 Mercedes 280SE 4.5 convertible, a 1979 Porsche 930 and a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing coupe bought in 1983.

Today, his collection of more than 70 cars is perhaps the  highest-valued in the world, estimated by Forbes to be worth at least  $300 million, making up a significant portion of the fashion designer’s  personal assets outside his shares in his fashion company.

“I’ve always seen cars as art. Moving art. While friends of mine were  into paintings, I somehow felt that the real beauty of owning a rare  and magnificently designed car was the fact that you can use it. You can  look at it, enjoy its visual qualities, as with a painting, but you can  also get inside and drive it - which means both enjoying the drive  itself and going somewhere with it,” Lauren said in a 2004 interview for a book detailing his collection.

The exhibitions of the cars

The Louvre exhibited 17 of Lauren’s cars in a standalone, four-month  show in 2011. Most of his cars are either rare, limited edition models  or one-of-a-kind vintage race cars with history in their seats.

Many of  Lauren’s cars were built before he was born in the Bronx to  Russian-Jewish immigrant parents in 1939.

There’s the 1929 Bentley  4.5-liter 'Blower', ridden at the world’s oldest car race, The 24 Hours  of Le Mans, in 1930, 1932 and 1933.

His 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Mille  Miglia, is widely reported to be one of the best pre-war sports car ever  built.

Others are symbols of the 1950s, the decade when Lauren was coming of  age. There is his 1955 Mercedes Gullwing, which was a favorite of  A-list celebrities like Sophia Loren and Elvis Presley, and his 1955  Jaguar XKD Long-Nose, of which only 10 were built.

It is thought to be  the fastest race car of that decade, clearing 190 miles per hour.

Inclusion of modern vehicles

Though he is known for his love of vintage designs, he has been  looking to add modern "super cars" built on cutting-edge technology to  his collection.

In June 2015, for instance, he picked up a Ferrari LaFerrari, the brand's first hybrid sports car.

Perhaps the most prized car collection is a Bugatti 57SC Atlantic of  1938, which has an aerolithe body and runs on a 3.3-liter, supercharged  engine.

That car is one of two in existence today. Only four were ever  built. The other was sold to a museum in California for about $40  million in 2010, and experts believe that should Lauren ever sell, his  could command a price tag as high as $50 million.

Lauren has said the  car is “the most beautiful in the world.” It won Best in Show at the 1990 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and  also won the 2012 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, widely thought to be  the world’s most prestigious car show.

Within the architecture field, the relationship between design and education has gained prominence, especially when it comes to children’s education.

The relationship between architecture, philosophy, and sociology is well known. Frequently, when designing, issues introduced by these fields work as tools to reflect upon the relationship between the space and the user.

When we consider children’s education, we must go beyond ergonomics and think of architecture as an educational tool.

Therefore, the space-architecture-user experience triad is thought alongside other areas, being that children have different needs, their processes of assimilation and transformation happen in tandem.

Specifically within sociology, for instance, the process known as primary socialization – also called infancy – is responsible for the intellectual built up and social habits that form between 0 and 6 years old, acting to incur social, moral, and behavioral notions in their character formation.

Research shows that a baby is born with approximately 100 billion neurons, which are capable of making a quadrillion connections – five times more than an adult brain.

Of these, around 80 billion are lost because even as a fetus the baby begins to form these connections, known as synapses, and the unused cells die.

In other words, infancy is the main neural development phase in the entire life cycle and can have a significant psychic and physical impact in adult life.

It is misguided to focus the brunt of educational investments during adulthood, and therefore we should begin pedagogical development soon after birth.

Supported by researches from all over the world, much investment in childhood education has been made in the past few years, both in the public and private sectors.

When it comes to architecture, many projects have been designed alongside educational methodologies. The private sector has aimed to develop enterprises with a social impact that seeks to educate children with intellectual skills and tools.

Four new schools with international and/or contemporary teaching methodologies were/will be inaugurated in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 2018:

• Beacon School
• Colégio Renascença
• Concept School
• Red House

In the public sector, a number of architects from all over the world have been contracted to develop school projects focusing on the spatial design of educational areas.

Usually, when we imagine a school or a classroom, we immediately think of the traditional model, with rows of desks, a blackboard, and the teacher at the front of the class giving lectures.

However, have you asked yourself why do most schools all over the world have this configuration? The “current” model is not new at all; it is at least 300 years old. Why do we keep designing spaces as we did in the 19^th century?

Time has passed, but the model has remained the same. And, it may not be the best option. Teaching methodologies have changed, but only a fraction of projects have followed.  

With the emergence of alternative teaching methods such as the inverted classroom, holistic education, constructivism, Waldorf, etc, the discourse has broadened.

The common ground is a design which considers not only children's ergonomics, but places them as co-authors, by allowing for spatial reconfiguration, open layouts, and featuring designs to work the physical, intellectual, and psychological systems.

I've written about the beer industry for TheStreet for roughly six years, but I've seldom had the opportunity to do so from the European birthplaces of some of the most beloved U.S. styles.

Though I've had the pleasure of sipping England's “real ale” out of the casks of London pubs, savoring Czech pilsner in Prague's beer halls, it all predated my tenure here.

While I had the pleasure of witnessing U.S. craft beer win over taprooms in Amsterdam and Barcelona, it didn't hold the same weight of history as walking into an old Bavarian brewery that's hewed to Reinheitsgebot beer purity laws for 500 years.

However, being able to enjoy the breweries, taprooms and beer-reliant restaurants of Belgium with my wife without viewing it all through the lens of U.S. craft beer is liberating.

We've told you before that without Belgian brewer Pierre Celis, who revived the Hoegaarden brewery and its lemony, spicy witbier style, U.S. beer drinkers wouldn't have Blue Moon Belgian White from MillerCoors, Anheuser-Busch InBev's Shock Top or Allagash White to sip during long summers.

We've also mentioned that without Jeff Lebesch's European bike trips and a long stop inside Bruge beer hall t'Brugs Beertje in 1989, his partner Kim Jordan and he may never have founded Fort Collins, Colo.'s New Belgium Brewing Company or expanded it to Asheville, N.C. We've even showed you how a trip to Belgium inspired Pfriem Family Brewers to not only build a brewery, but to name their son after the Belgian town that is home to Browerij St. Bernardus.

But taking the train from Amsterdam and its expanding thirst for U.S. craft beer to Brussels, which is too concerned with hundreds of Belgian beers to give U.S. craft anything but a passing thought, was eye-opening.

Beyond some offerings from Denver's Crooked Stave at the Moeder Lambic taproom and aging bottles of Rogue and Sierra Nevada at the Beer Mania bottle shop, U.S. craft beer wasn't part of the discussion, nor should it have been.

Beer has been been brewed there in various forms since the 12th Century. Brasserie de Rochefort -- one of seven Belgian breweries run by Trappist monks -- brewed its first beers in 1595.The lambic style of spontaneously fermented beers dates back more than five centuries.

Even Anheuser-Busch InBev, which has a headquarters in Leuven, still produces Leffe beer that traces back to an abbey established in the 12th Century.

As breeze filled mornings melt into lazy afternoons and the sun reaches its vibrant seasonal heights, there is a sense of tender nostalgia that prevails as summer sets in.

People line parade-filled streets, colorful flowers show their charming faces, gardens hang heavy with plump veggies and bright berries, and sandy toes bring traces of the beach into our homes.

With the ample hours of sunlight bringing an opportunity to frolic about outdoors, summer certainly provides a chance to refresh and revitalize both the body and mind.

Yet, one of the last things you probably want is to end up with is a raw, stinging sunburn nor is it desirable to take a time out to slather yourself in slippery, white, chemical-ridden sunblock. So, let’s explore some all natural solutions for your sun-worshipping woes.

Here comes the sun...

Generally, we tend to think of sunlight as a relatively basic concept- something that can be simplified to a circle with a bunch of lines around it, drawn onto a page with a yellow crayon.

Yet scientifically speaking, sunlight is actually quite complex. Sunlight can be more technically defined as the total frequency spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation emanated from the sun.

Made up of about 1,500 different wavelengths, it is comprised of infrared, visible and ultraviolet light, which filter through the atmosphere to reach us on earth in what we experience as crisp, beautiful daylight.

Apart from the obvious necessity of sunlight for visibility, warmth and also for photosynthesis of the plants we eat, studies have revealed numerous benefits for humans including:

• Vitamin D synthesizing: the UVB rays of the sun react with cholesterol derivatives in the skin to produce this important nutrient. Without sunlight, this conversion cannot occur and the body must rely on the available sources in foods.
• Increased daytime awareness: studies show that natural light (over artificial) enhances alertness, drive and focus.
• Natural pain killer: several studies have shown that sunlight can have an analgesic effect, easing pain.
• Mood enhancing: spending time in the sun increases serotonin, your feel-good hormone.
• Cortisol regulating: research has highlighted the effects of natural light/dark cycles on maintaining a diurnal flow of cortisol to modulate energy and stress.
• Energy creating: researchers are currently looking into the potential of the sun to use a pigment in the skin called melatin to create energy for the cells.

Tips for safe sun exposure

Limit Time in the Sun

Especially early in the season, your skin needs time to adjust so that the melanocytes kick into gear to produce their protective pigment (resulting in a tan).

Also note that the body reaches its full capacity of producing Vitamin D in anywhere from 20 minutes to 1 hour midday, depending on your skin tone.

So after this amount of time, cover up using loose, white clothing or by finding shade. And yes, although it may be counterintuitive, white clothing has actually been scientifically proven to help keep the body cooler than wearing no clothing.

Consume more Vitamin D

While the sun helps us to manufacture vitamin D, consuming vitamin D rich foods like fermented cod liver oil and/or supplementing with quality source of oral vitamin D3 can in turn help to protect us from the UV radiation of the sun.

What a brilliant cycle nature created! Learn how to best absorb vitamin D from your foods and you may very well find that your tolerance to sun exposure increases significantly.

Eat saturated fats

It’s true, healthy fats do truly relate to everything. Including stable, robust fats in the diet is crucial to resilient skin. Dietary fats and oils provide building blocks for skin tissues.

Logically, if your skin is enriched with fragile oils, it will be much more sensitive to damage by the sun.

Balance your mineral intake

Deficiencies in certain minerals such as zinc and magnesium can cause photosensitivity and sun rashes.

Be sure to have your mineral status checked and consume mineral rich foods from both plant and animal sources.

Bone broths and organ meats like liver are particularly balanced in trace minerals.

Rub coconut oil on the skin

It may be delicious to eat, but cold pressed coconut oil is also a powerful healing agent when applied to the skin. There is anecdotal evidence showing that Polynesians frequently rubbed this precious oil on before spending long periods of time in the sun.

Although it has been tested to block only about 20% of the sun’s rays, its value lies more in the powerful antioxidants it releases into the skin, which bolster natural defenses and prevents damage from long term sun exposure. Try making your own whipped coconut oil lotion.

Hong Kong is a big, complicated, cosmopolitan city, but if you just compare it to, say, New York or London, you're not getting the whole picture.

To really get a sense of Cantonese culture, you have to get out of Central and explore the outlying islands, New Territories, and surrounding fishing villages—and to help you get the most out of your next trip, we’ve quizzed a few local residents for their insider guide to the city.

The Basics

The British ruled Hong Kong from 1841 to 1997 before handing sovereignty over to China. This agreement established a 50-year period of autonomy when Hong Kong would be governed by a “One Country, Two Systems” agreement.

As such, Hong Kong is currently a “Special Administrative Region” of China with its own constitution, currency, passports, and official languages (Cantonese and English).

“Hongkongers are generally quite proud of their cultural heritage,” says Daniel Cheung, a restaurant public relations professional and director of the Little Adventures in Hong Kong culture and food walking tours.

“They would like to identify as Hongkongers first and, by extension, Cantonese, before identifying as Chinese.”

In the major urban districts, most residents will speak English but Cantonese is the local language. A big no-no: “Please do not speak to us in Mandarin, if it isn’t your native language,” says Cheung. “No, it’s not similar to Canto.”

How to Get Around

By public transit—it's efficient, clean, and affordable. About a quarter buys a ride on the famous Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour. Another historic mode of transit, the tram costs just 30 cents per journey.

But before you do anything, buy an Octopus card. It can be used on all public transit, at convenience stores, and even at some coffee shops. Hong Kong also has Uber and affordable taxis (starting at just $3); however, the latter sees a “changeover” hour, when drivers switch shifts, from roughly 3 to 4 p.m. daily—an impossible time to hail a cab.

How to Greet People

First thing in the morning, a friendly “Joh sun” (good morning) is an easy phrase to master. For something more complicated, Hongkongers often greet each other with “Nei hou ma? Sek jor faan mei?”(How are you? Have you eaten rice yet?). “Yes, we really are this obsessed with food,” says Cheung.

What to Pack

Bring lots of layers—Hong Kong never turns off its air-conditioning. In July, you'll be sweating on the streets one minute and shivering inside a department store the next.

Come springtime (late March–early June), carry an umbrella and pack a classic trench coat to prepare for the non-stop rain.

“Definitely pack good walking shoes or plan to buy them,” says Kitty Wong, a Hong Kong-based illustrator. “Hong Kong has so many hills and public transport is the best ways to get around, so expect to be walking a lot.

Luckily Hongkongers love colorful sneakers, so get yourself a pair while you're here—the louder and more colorful, the better.”

Do's and Don'ts

• Do take the Airport Express train from the airport into town. It’s just a 24-minute trip to Central.
• Do turn the teapot lid upside down or place it on top of the handle if you need a refill.
• Do make a wave motion with your hand to signify to taxis that you’d like to cross the harbor. Cross-harbor taxis usually have a white cover over their lights.
• Do take pictures of everything—your food, scenery, yourself.... Unlike most destinations, it’s not just tourists who are snap-happy. Hongkongers love to document everything.
• Do feel free to carry around a beer of glass of wine in the street. Hong Kong has lax open-container laws.
• Don’t stick your chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice, as it’s associated with funerals.
• Don’t try to hail a cab if you see double yellow lines by the curb. Taxis can only stop if there is a single line—or none at all.
• Don’t feel obliged to leave a 20 percent tip, unless the server goes above and beyond. There’s a 10 percent service charge on the check already—anything extra should reflect the experience.

Words and phrases to know

Jo sun—A traditional and simple way to say “Good morning” to anyone who passes by.

Lah— Tack on a “lah” at the end of sentences to indicate the tone you’re hoping to achieve—whether it be exasperation, excitement, or emphatic agreement.

Mm goi—This is a two-for-one. You can say “mm goi” to express gratitude at a restaurant, or to say “excuse me” while navigating crowded streets.

Jeng—A quick and easy catchall phrase for "that’s cool” or “awesome.”

Apple Watch is amazing, but you might be after an alternative. Here we run down the best rivals to the Watch that work with your iPhone or Android smartphone.

When the Apple Watch launched back in 2015, it made quite a splash in the smartwatch market - and with the latest version, the Apple Watch 3, including cellular connectivity, GPS, improved water-resistance, and a boosted battery life, Apple has a firm hold on the smart watch market.

However, whether you're an iOS or Android (or Windows!) user, you’re probably here because you want to know what else is available to connect to your phone and slap on your wrist.

The Apple Watch is far from the only option and the might be an alternative that will suit your needs better and maybe even save you hundreds of pounds.

Here we take a look at the best alternatives to the Apple Watch – be sure to check the details to see what’s compatible with your smartphone.

If you're not sure you need a full smartwatch, be sure to check out our guide to the best fitness trackers that work with Apple Health instead.

Huawei Watch 2

• RRP: $299

Huawei's second-generation smartwatch has a strong focus on sport and fitness - though that's by no means all it offers.

It features a built-in heart rate monitor, along with an accelerometer, three-axis gyroscope, barometer, compass and a capacitive sensor, and offers in-depth stat-tracking and workout advice.

In terms of the normal smart stuff, there's Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and optional 4G, and the Watch 2 comes loaded with Android Wear 2, a hugely improved version of the smartwatch OS, along with Google Assistant support.

Finally, it boasts a 1.2in circular AMOLED display with a 390 x 390 resolution, 4GB of storage for music and apps, and is IP68 dust and water resistant.

Fitbit Ionic

• RRP: $299

Fitbit's first proper attempt at a smartwatch is a confident stride into new ground for the company.

If the fitness aspect of the Apple Watch appeals to you, then this is a good alternative.

The notification and app integration isn't as polished as Apple's but for raw fitness tracking it is debatably better, and has built in GPS for less than the Apple Watch.

The Fitbit app is also excellent, presenting a clear accessible path to your data. The draw here is 4 day battery life, GPS and above average fitness tracking. Recommended.

Fossil Q Founder

• RRP: $259

Fossil is one of the few traditional watchmakers that is daring to get into the smartwatch market.

The stainless steel bracelet design gives away this heritage, and its quite chunky, but some will like this – there is a leather strap version available though.

It runs Android Wear, and works with Android and iPhone devices. Its 1GB of RAM is double most of its rivals and helps it zip through the operating system nicely.

However, it has an annoying ‘flat tyre’ effect at the bottom of the screen where the light sensor is.

If you can put up with that small sliver of black, then the Q Founder is a great choice for those that don’t want to be wearing something obviously technological.

Our colleagues at Tech Advisor wrote a review, which you can find here.

Motorola Moto 360 Sport

• RRP: $186

The Motorola Moto 360 Sport is one of the best smartwatches for fitness. You get the some of the regular 360 style in a design which is practical for activities like running.

The GPS tracking is accurate but it's a shame the same can't be said of the heart rate monitor.

A solid effort but hard-ore fitness fans might need something which is more in-depth.

One small niggle is that there’s a black section right at the bottom of the watch face where the screen stops, to allow for a light sensor.

As has been proven by other circular designs, this annoyance isn’t necessary, and stands out when you set a white watch face.

To avoid the hassle of removing the shells, we went with peeled shrimp for our grilled shrimp recipe and then crammed them onto a skewer, which prevented them from overcooking.

We took the shrimp off of the grill before they were completely cooked and finished cooking them in a heated sauce waiting on the cool side of the grill; this final simmer gave our broiled shrimp recipe tons of flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds extra-large shrimp (21/25), peeled and deveined, tails left on.
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil for brushing skewers.
• Salt and ground black pepper.
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar.
• 1 recipe Spicy Lemon-Garlic Sauce, Charmoula Sauce, or Fresh Tomato Sauce with Feta and Olives (see recipes below).
• Lemon wedges for serving.

Directions

Step 1

Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Thread shrimp onto 3 skewers, alternating direction of heads and tails.

Brush both sides of shrimp with oil and season lightly with salt and pepper. Sprinkle one side of each skewer with sugar.

Step 2

Light large chimney starter filled with charcoal (6 quarts, or about 100 briquettes) and allow to burn until coals are fully ignited and partially covered with thin layer of ash, about 20 minutes.

Empty coals into grill; build modified two-level fire by arranging coals to cover one-half of grill, piling them about 3 briquettes high, leaving other half empty.

Position cooking grate over coals, cover grill, and heat until hot, about 5 minutes; scrape grate clean with grill brush.

Step 3

Set disposable aluminum pie plate with sauce ingredients over hot side of grill and cook, stirring occasionally, until hot, about 1 1/2 minutes; transfer plate to cooler side of grill.

Place shrimp skewers, sugared sides down, on hot side of grate; use tongs to push shrimp together on skewer if they have separated. Grill shrimp, uncovered, until lightly charred, 4 to 5 minutes.

Using tongs, flip and grill until second side is pink and slightly translucent, 1 to 2 minutes longer.

Step 4

Using potholder or oven mitt, carefully lift each skewer from grill; use tongs to slide shrimp off skewers into pie plate with sauce.

Toss shrimp and sauce to combine and transfer pie plate to hot side of grill; cook, stirring, until shrimp are opaque and fully cooked, about 30 seconds.

Remove from grill, add remaining sauce ingredients and toss to combine. Transfer to serving platter and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

Scuba diving is unlike any other activity. Whether you are hovering  weightlessly in a pool or interacting with some colorful and curious  marine life, diving will enrich your life.

But it’s not something we are  born knowing how to do. It takes both a time and monetary commitment to  learn how to scuba dive.

We hope the following information will answer  some of your questions about learning to dive.We want to shed some  light on some common questions, so that you can get started diving  today.

How do I learn to dive?

In order to become a scuba diver, you will  have to complete a short course and obtain a certificate.

The course  consists of three parts. First, you will need to partake in knowledge  development. This will include practical classes with an instructor or  in an online setting.

Most courses require you to pass a test or a  series of short quizzes in order to progress. You will learn the basics  of what you will do in your confined and open water dives, and what to  expect when you breathe underwater for the first time.

Is it safe?

As with any adventurous sport, scuba diving  does carry some risk. During your open water course, you will learn  about the dangers involved in diving including decompression sickness,  unruly currents, and equipment failures.

However, through proper  training, adequate preparation before each dive and a well-executed dive  plan, the probability of an accident occurring is minimal.

As an added  precaution, divemasters and instructors are trained in recognizing  potential dangers and diver rescue in the unlikely event that any  accident should occur during your training course.

How long does it take to get certified?

That’s really up to you! The length of the  open water certification course varies, most dive centers offer a  variety of plans to fit your schedule and needs.

Courses last a minimum  of three days, but the practical sessions, confined dives and open water  dives can be spread out over a few months if your schedule requires thiss.

Am I fit enough? Do I have to be a good swimmer?

Scuba diving does have some basic fitness  requirements, but they probably aren’t as stringent as you think.

First,  you must be at least 10 years old and have a medical release from a  doctor if you suffer from or have previously suffered from a serious  medical condition.

Second, you must be able to swim 200 yards (200  meters) and be able to float or tread water for 10 minutes. If that  sounds like a piece of cake, then you are definitely fit enough to  become a scuba diver.

So you just unboxed your new aluminum and glass Apple MacBook Pro. We walk you through the best way to set it up.

The new Apple MacBook Pro$1,490.00 at Amazon comes with a speedy Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, brilliant Retina  display, a Touch Bar (if you're lucky), and enough juice to last a  coast-to-coast flight with power to spare.

Now that you've brought it  home, what do you need to do to get it up and running? Here's a quick  primer.

1.  Plug it in

Even though  the system comes with a bit of juice in the battery from its  post-assembly testing, you'll still need to plug the system in "just in  case."

There's no way of knowing how long the system has been sitting around  since it left the factory thousands of miles away, and it would be  unfortunate if it lost power during the setup process, because you'd  likely have to start over. Plug the USB-C charger in, and you're ready  to move on to the next step.

2.  Press the power button

The  power button is the top-most right key above the delete key. If you've upgraded from an older pre-2012 MacBook or MacBook Pro, you'll notice  this is where the DVD eject button used to reside.

3. Choose your country

The MacBook  Pro will ask you what country you're in. This will guide which language  you're using, as well as determining the format for things like dates,  time, and the language in in macOS.

Choose correctly for your habits, since most people are picky about  things like day-month-year sequence and whether to use 24-hour time or  AM/PM. You can change or correct this setting later in the Language  & Text control panel.

4.  Choose your keyboard

Right off the bat, it should suggest the US QWERTY keyboard as standard.

Choose Show All if you need to plug in a foreign keyboard or if you're setting up a MacBook Pro that you've bought overseas.

5.  Connect to Wi-Fi

The system will ask you to connect to a Wi-Fi network. Choose your  router from the list of SSIDs presented, or click on the "use another  network" button if you're using an Ethernet adapter or don't wish to  connect to a network at this time.

The MacBook Pro has an 802.11ac Wi-Fi adapter in it, so it should connect to any Wi-Fi router. (For more, check out How to Set Up and Optimize Your Wireless Router.)

6.  Migrate your stuff

The  MacBook Pro will give you the option to migrate your accounts, password, apps, documents, and environment from another Mac. If you have a  Thunderbolt cable and adapter, you can connect your old Mac at this  time.

If you're using a Time Machine backup from an older Mac, you can connect  the drive now. Once you connect the drive and click next, you can  choose a backup or account to move over to your new MacBook Pro.

Deciding where to take that long-anticipated summer vacation can be a daunting challenge.

Consider one of the following destinations where off-season deals, fewer crowds or special events make this the right time to go. Here are 18 great places to travel in the summer of 2018:

1. St. Barts

While  some of the island's more famous hotels are still closed due to damage  from hurricanes Irma and Maria (Hotel Le Toiny, Le Guanahani), about 60%  of St. Barts' villas have reopened, with some new additions.

The five-star Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa just introduced two new villas, Villa Bleu and Villa Aqua, which each  offer six bedrooms, a private pool and a prime beachfront setting.

Plus, summer's low-season rates make luxurious St. Barts a somewhat more affordable option.

2. Russia

Russia is set to host soccer fans for the 2018 World Cup, happening June 14-July 15 in 11 different cities.

The opening match and final games will be held in Moscow, with other  matches taking place in St. Petersburg, Sochi and lesser-known cities,  including Saransk and Kazan.

Of the 32 teams competing, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Portugal and Spain are among the in-demand matches, although there's still time to apply for tickets. Just be aware that the United States isn't competing this year.

3. Azores, Portugal

The Azores, a self-governing  Portuguese territory about 1,000 miles from Portugal, have remained  under the radar due to limited access from the United States. Not  so anymore, thanks to new flight routes.

In fact, Delta just started a  seasonal option that will fly direct five times a week between JFK in  New York City and the capital of Ponta Delgada.

Visitors  will be able to access the charming capital in less than six hours, but  the compact city isn't the only attraction.

The archipelago is  comprised of nine islands, with the main island of São Miguel as the  starting point.

4. Fiji

It's  been two years since a Category 5 cyclone struck Fiji, killing 44  people and leaving behind about a billion dollars worth of damage. But  Fiji has rebounded, as evidenced by a spate of new hotels.

Newcomers include the five-star Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay.

It's both Marriott's first foray into Fiji, and the first hotel on the  main island to offer overwater villas. The resort is a bargain compared  to other arrivals.

The more expensive Six Senses Fiji just opened in April on Malolo Island, and is notable for running solely on solar power thanks in part to Tesla batteries.

5. Tbilisi, Georgia

New direct flights from London on Georgian Airways and Wizz Air have made Tbilisi more accessible than ever.

The capital of this former Soviet Republic offers all of the appeal of a  European city (ancient landmarks, intimate cafes, excellent wine),  without the choking summer throngs.

But  Tbilisi is not easily defined, since throughout the centuries the  culture has been influenced by Europe, Asia and the Middle East,  although one can still find Soviet-era relics at flea markets.

Here we provide details of the top 5 foods considered to be the most  healthy, according to surveys and sources across the United States and  Western Europe.

There are numerous diets that promote weight loss, sometimes in an  unhealthy way. Fad crash dieting, for instance, is potentially  dangerous.

Nuts, pulses, and grains

Nuts, pulses, and grains can be highly nutritious. Here are some of the best:

Almonds

First on our list is almonds. Almonds are rich in nutrients, including magnesium, vitamin E, iron, calcium, fiber, and riboflavin. A scientific review published in Nutrition Reviews found that almonds as a food may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

The authors wrote:

"The message that almonds, in and of themselves, are a  heart-healthy snack should be emphasized to consumers. Moreover, when  almonds are incorporated into a healthy, balanced diet, the benefits are  even greater."

Almonds have more fiber than any other tree nut.

Brazil nut

Brazil nuts, (Bertholletia excels) are some of the most  healthful nuts on the planet. In Brazil, they are called  'castanhas-do-pará' - which translates as "chestnuts from Pará." Pará is  a state in northern Brazil.

The nuts come in a hard shell and are often served prepared ready to  eat, making them an excellent and nutritious, healthful snack.

Greens, fruits, and berries

Greens, fruits, and berries are easy to add to an existing diet:

Broccoli

Broccoli  is rich in fiber, calcium, potassium, folate, and phytonutrients.  Phytonutrients are compounds that reduce the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Broccoli also contains vitamin C, as well as beta-carotene, an antioxidant.

However, overcooking broccoli can destroy many of its nutrients. Eating it raw, or lightly steamed is best.

Apples

Apples are an excellent source of antioxidants, which combat free  radicals. Free radicals are damaging substances generated in the body  that cause undesirable changes.

They are involved in the aging process  and some diseases. Some animal studies have found that an antioxidant  found in apples (polyphenols) might extend lifespans.

Kale

Kale is a very underrated leafy green. There are a lot of different nutrients contained within the leaves of kale.

Vitamin C is a nutrient of kale, and, according to the United States  Department of Medicine (USDA), it contains a substantial amount of  vitamin K, 817 micrograms or 778 percent of the recommended daily intake.

Kale can be cooked or steamed like cabbage, spinach, or asparagus. It  can also be consumed in smoothies or juiced for a revitalizing nutrient  kick.

Balance and moderation

Overall it is important for health to have a balanced diet and one that does not focus on one specific type of food.

It's also important to remember that a treat once in a while can be a  part of a balanced diet, and one that is very healthful overall.