Kayaker Attempting Amazon River Speed Record

by Kraig Becker on

This past Saturday, Texas native West Hansen set off on what is sure to be an epic adventure in South America. The avid paddler from Austin launched his attempt to set a new speed record for kayaking the length of the Amazon River, a waterway that runs more than 4400 miles (7081 kilometers) in length. The entire expedition is expected to last several months.

Hansen began his journey on Mount Mismi, a snow-capped peak located in a remote section of the Peruvian Andes. The 18,363-foot (5597-meter) mountain has been identified as the most distant source of the Amazon with the Rio Apurimac, one of the prime tributaries for the river, beginning on its slopes. As it rushes down the mountain, the water picks up speed and power, creating dangerous Class V and VI+ rapids. West will need to successfully navigate those treacherous waters in the early days of the expedition.

Reading the early updates on Hansen’s Amazon Express website, it seems that low water flow at the headwaters have made it tough going over the first few days. At times there hasn’t been enough water to even paddle, forcing him to portage around certain sections. Carrying gear and a kayak through lush rainforests isn’t easy either, which only serves to cause further delays.

The relative calm won’t last long, however, and the volume of water will most definitely pick up. Before he reaches the slower, more tranquil waters of the Amazon itself, West will have to run the dreaded Acobamba Abyss, a 40-mile (64-kilometer) stretch of river that is amongst the most difficult whitewater on the planet. The section flows through a towering slot canyon that once paddlers enter, there is no escape or turning back. He’ll have to successfully navigate Class V+ rapids on a river of no return, relying on his skills as a paddler to successfully make it out the other side.

That will simply be the start of what promises to be quite an adventure for Hansen and his support crew. He doesn’t offer up a definitive estimate of how long it will take to complete the journey, which will pass through both Peru and Brazil on its way to the Atlantic Ocean. Regular updates should provide plenty of insights into his progress, however, and it should be fun see what he discovers along the way.

Brazil Hosts 3-D Show Over Thames River To Start Countdown To 2016 Rio Olympics

by Jessica Festa on



On Monday night, spectators lined up along the Thames River in London to take in the sights and sounds of Brazil. A projection of eye-popping images splashed across the water to mark the end of the 2012 London Summer Olympics, and begin the countdown to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

As part of a $40 million campaign investment put on by Brazil’s Ministry of Tourism and the Brazilian Tourism Board to attract travelers for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, the free show featured images projected onto a wall of water created by massive pumps. Computer programs Maya 2012, Real Flow and After Effects were used by designers to display 3-D images of iconic Brazilian attractions like Christ the Redeemer and Cathedral of Brasília, plus various sporting activities including kite surfing, hand-gliding and Capoeira. The entire event ended with the closing message: “Thank you London. See you in Brazil. Come celebrate life!”

For a more visual idea of the event, check out the video above and the gallery below.

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[Images via Embratur, The Brazilian Tourism Board]

Video Of The Day: ‘Samsara’ Captures Imagery From Across The Globe

by Libby Zay on

Today’s Video of the Day is an exclusive clip from “Samsara,” a new movie featuring mesmerizing scenes from more than 20 countries. Filmed over a period of five years, the footage covers sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial sites and natural wonders, demonstrating that human’s life cycle mirrors that of the rest of the planet. The film’s title is a Sanskrit word meaning “the ever turning wheel of life.”

Although it is a documentary, Samsara has no dialogue or descriptive text. Instead, the viewer is encouraged to find inspiration from the images on screen and musical score in order to make their own interpretations. Director Ron Fricke and producer Mark Magidson sought out to make the film in order to capture the “elusive current of interconnection that runs through our lives.” In other words, the filmmakers hoped to encapsulate the essence of a subject, not just its physical presence. They traveled across the globe in order to make the film, including the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii, a village in Ethiopia, Chateau de Versailles in France, and a doll factory in Japan.

Samsara will be shown on the big screen in select cities starting Friday, August 24. For a full schedule of screenings in the United States, click here. You can also watch the theatrical trailer after the jump.

Waterfall Skyscraper To Power Rio And The 2016 Olympics

by Jessica Festa on




While the 2012 Olympic Games haven’t even finished yet, planning for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has already begun. And, one designer has dreams of taking solar power to new heights.

According to Digital Trends, Zurich-based RAFAA Architecture & Design wants to design an energy-generating waterfall skyscraper (shown above), that will not only power the Olympic Village, but also the city of Rio.

“It is less about an expressive, iconic architectural form; rather, it is a return to content and actual, real challenges for the imminent post-oil-era,” the firm says on their website. “This project represents a message of a society facing the future … Our project, standing in the tradition of ‘a building/city as a machine,’ shall provide energy both to the city of Rio de Janeiro and its citizens while using natural resources.”

Looking for some adventure with your ecotourism? The structure includes a bungee platform at level 90. Moreover, on special occasions water will be pumped over the sides to create an actual waterfall.

Video: Guitar Pee, The Electric Guitar Urinal

by Elizabeth Seward on

If you’re a male who urinates in public bathrooms and likes the sound of an electric guitar, the Guitar Pee made by Billboard Brasil is a urinal you’ll have to try out for yourself the next time you’re in Sao Paulo. The Guitar Pee is a guitar-shaped urinal brilliantly engineered so that men can make music with their stream of urine. Currently touring bars in Sao Paulo, the Guitar Pee is making the routine bathroom trip a lot more rockin’ for the lucky men who have had the chance to try it out (this is not sarcasm, I actually think this is amazing). This video demonstrates men trying it out. Furthermore, Guitar Pee has its own mobile app complete with “MPee3s” captured from the gadget.