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Indiana Jonsein' for adventure

Pursuits

We get it. You've been social distancing, biding your time, getting that jab. And now you're Indiana Jonesin' to go big on adventure

The Seven Wonders of the World were the original bucket list—the Colossus of Rhodes, the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon—places every Socratic disciple wanted to visit.

The Roman ruins of Baalbek.

Photographer: DAI, OA I. Wagner

But forget all that: As we prepare for a post-pandemic reality, those with a thirst for adventure should go by a new list. Today's New Seven Wonders include archaeological marvels and natural treasures spanning far wider than the ancient Greek world and catering to all types of modern explorers.

Take Baalbek, situated 50 miles east of Beirut. The 2,000-year-old, 65-foot-tall ruins were originally created to honor Jupiter and Bacchus. It's the largest temple compound of its kind, making it more like a city complex than a single site.

An anthropomorphized statue at the complex of San Augustín.

Source: ProColombia

In Colombia, roughly 500 megalithic statues stand guard the mountain hamlet of San Agustín. With carved faces they recall the enigmatic moai of Easter Island and were erected about 2,000 years ago and abandoned in the 1300s. To get there requires a 400-mile drive from Bogotá. 

At the so-called Top End, the northernmost tip of Australia's Northern Territory, a swath of sparsely populated orange-hued land roughly the size of Portugal contains a constellation of elaborate rock paintings that are far far far oldersome more than 60,000 years ancient.

The elaborate rock paintings of Ubirr in the East Alligator region of Kakadu National Park.

Source: Tourism NT/Helen Orr

And under the sea near Cape Town, mammoth kelp vines form a swaying, ethereal jungle more than twice as wide as the Grand Canyon—and home to millions of creatures. You may recognize it as the prominent backdrop of the Academy Award-winning documentary My Octopus Teacher.

While not all of these wonders have a movie trumpeting their majesty (and they should), they all can be reached in some degree of luxury with plush hotels and expert guides.  Read on for the full list and to find out how.

A free diver swims through a kelp forest off the coast of South Africa.

Photographer: Peter Marshall

 

More for the bucket list!

Highlights from Bloomberg Businessweek's adventure issue

Four Explorers Club Members Relive Their Favorite Travel Memories
Why we still explore.
The New European Tour Is Best by Bike

A laid-back vacation is what you need. And two wheels are how to do it.

The Quest to Rescue the Dude Ranch, One City Slicker at a Time

It's the new home on the range.

Luxury Resorts Are Using Martial Arts to Highlight Local Cultures

Plan a trip that's worth fighting for.

It's No Longer Goodbye Forever If Your Luggage Is Lost or Stolen
The Apple AirTag, combined with a chic Hermès leather holster, is a major leap forward in the tracking game.

Grilling Season

Memorial Day weekend is here and that means one thing: burgers. 

But how do you go from grilling up the merely good to the great? Lauded Los Angeles chef Curtis Stone has some ideas.

"You want to find a way to make it special while not mucking it up with a heavy hand." For one: that means a good char. Or at least faking it.

Gwen's Cheeseburger also benefits from a secret sauce.

Source: Gwen

He recommends a secret sauce that's based on kimchi aioli: "That tart, funky tang and spice mixed with aioli adds something unexpected," says Stone. A spoonful of chipotle goes further to evoking the smokiness of charcoal cooking.

But Stone's best advice is to make the ground beef patties a little larger than the bun before they're cooked. That way, even with shrinkage, the bun won't overwhelm the beef. "There's nothing more anticlimactic than that first bite of a fresh burger off the grill, and all you get is a mouthful of bun."

Stone also advises to make a small inundation in the center of the patty to stop the burger from seizing and elevating off the grill's surface area; this guarantees a more even sear.

Here's his recipe for a triumphant two-handed cheeseburger, the juicy patty topped with a crown of salty melted Gruyere and the refreshing punch of lettuce and tomato. As an added bonus, it sits on a bed of caramelized onions spiked with an optional hit of bourbon.

Testers note: This recipe makes extra sauce that will work well on just about any sandwich that calls for mayo, including tuna.

The burger that will win all the Memorial Day cooking contests.

Photographer: Kate Krader/Bloomberg

Gwen Cheeseburgers With Secret Sauce

Serves 4

Sweet Onions


2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 pound yellow onions, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon bourbon (optional)

1 tablespoon light brown sugar (optional)

Secret Sauce


1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup ketchup

3 tablespoons chopped pickles, plus 1/2 teaspoon pickle juice

3 tablespoons kimchi, drained, chopped

1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1/2 tablespoon minced chipotle chile in adobo sauce

Burgers

1 1/4 pounds ground beef (80% lean)

1 1/4 cups grated Gruyere cheese (about 5 ounces)

4 brioche hamburger buns or your favorite buns, toasted

4 iceberg lettuce leaves, shredded, or other lettuce

1 heirloom tomato, sliced

Stone's secret sauce is a smart mix of a few ingredients, including kimchi.

Photographer: Kate Krader/Bloomberg

Make the onions: In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add onions and cook, stirring often, for about 15 minutes or until they are caramelized and tender. Remove pan from heat and stir in bourbon and sugar, if desired. Season onion marmalade with salt and pepper and keep warm.

Make the secret sauce: In medium bowl, mix all ingredients together.

Bloomberg's food editor shows off the burger to bun ratio.

Photographer: Kate Krader/Bloomberg

Make the burgers: Light a grill over high heat; alternatively, heat a grill pan over high heat. Divide the ground beef into four equal patties that are slightly wider than the buns. Using your fingers, make a shallow depression in the center of each patty, about 2 inches in diameter.

Season the patties with salt and pepper. Grill the burgers for about 3 minutes or until well-browned. Flip over and top each with cheese. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer the patties to a plate to rest for 5 minutes.

Spread the tops of the buns with secret sauce. Layer the bottom bun with onion marmalade, lettuce, and tomatoes. Top with the cheeseburger, cover with the bun tops and serve.

 

Also in Bloomberg Pursuits this week

An array of news items for your amusement and edification.

The Top Rosés for Summer Come With Bubbles, in Cans, and Even Boxed
London's Biggest Divorce Case Hinges on a $353 Million Superyacht
Ferrari Pitches $500,000 Hybrid Supercar as a Bargain for Daily Driving
Six New G-Shocks Bring the Sapphire Crystal Vibe to the Masses
The Hamptons Are Becoming a Legitimate Art Destination

And if you read just one thing...

Tour the Highlights of the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale

The 17th iteration of the famous exposition is ready for visitors.

 

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