GBA Lifestyle News
While social distancing restrictions are easing up here in Hong Kong, there’s no telling when we’ll be able to travel again. These virtual adventures might not compare to the real thing, but are great ways to explore the world and the experiences it has to offer from the comfort of your living room.
Summer usually signals the start of music festival season. Thankfully, even with restrictions in place, there’s something for all music fans available online. On June 6, YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020” featured the likes of BTS, Beyoncre and Alicia Keys. London’s Wireless Festival, which has been called off, is putting on a three-day virtual music event dubbed Wireless Connect from July 3-5; Electric Blockaloo, taking place June 25-28, is a music festival that will take place inside the world of legendary video game Minecraft. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Opera of New York City streams performances every night, as does EDM DJ and producer extraordinaire Diplo, who spins from his living room. Check out artists like John Legend and Chris Martin, who’ve all performed for fans from social media.
Whether you have the world’s most famous natural wonders on your bucket list or just want a change from mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, give these beautiful sights a go online. Explore the base camp of Mount Everest, the highest mountain the world, using a dedicated interactive map; and “climb” a mountain at Yosemite National Park in California, both via Google Street View Trek. Meanwhile, discover the legendary rock formations of Giant’s Causeway on the coast off of Northern Ireland through virtual tours created by the National Trust.
Always dreamed of catching Aurora Borealis? Explore.org offers live streams of various natural sights, including the northern lights in Canada, for 24 hours a day. If you need a switch of scenery, check out the site’s other live cams featuring the shores of Lake Tahoe in the US and animal sanctuaries in Africa.
Los Angeles is most famous for its iconic Hollywood sign, sunny weather — and a magnificent sunset that’s also known as “magic hour.” Thanks to Discover Los Angeles, you can now catch the rays that pretty much inspired the film industry every day at 7pm PDT (10am HKT). While you’re there, check out other virtual sessions from the heart of LA, like tours of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery as well as renowned film and TV locations in the city.
Lots of museums and galleries alike around the world offer virtual experiences, meaning you can check out vast collections of priceless art from the comfort of your couch. Google Arts and Culture is an online platform that lets you “stroll” through art establishments: zoom in for closer looks at historical and contemporary pieces. The world-famous British Museum in London runs The Museum of the World, a magnificent interactive online experience that offers viewers a closer look at artefacts, some of which can be traced as far back as 2,000,000 BC.
