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You asked for it, the universe delivered. Another glorious week has drawn to a close, leaving behind a swathe of interesting news stories and tidbits of information to hand your hat on. Whether it is NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s blockbuster contract eligibility or the reveal of a wine industry secret, the last seven days delivered no shortage of future water-cooler conversations, and we’ve got a few more. To usher in the weekend, we’re offering up our latest and greatest, with another instalment of Man of Many’s Staff Favourites. Read on to find out more.
Olympus XA2
Nick Hall – Editor-in-Chief
I am a bit of a sucker for film photography, and while I love using my old Canon AE-1, it’s not exactly inconspicuous. Its large size and increased weight make taking it with me, alongside my work gear, gym clothes, study material, and everything else that I have to carry to and from work, nigh-on impossible. I really wanted to shoot every day, so a few weeks back, I picked up an ’80s-era icon: the Olympus XA2 35mm point-and-shoot.
Small and sleek, this little number is about as basic as a 35mm camera can be. There are no aperture settings or shutter speed indicators, just an awkward range-focus design that is both simple and entirely confusing. The shutter click is far from satisfying and you never really know if what you are shooting will look good, bad or borderline incomprehensible. Perhaps that is why I like it so much. In my consistent quest to be less digital and more offline, this handheld addition feels like the perfect embodiment of the anti-technology movement.
Favourite Article of the Week: Bottle Shock: How Marc Fennell is Uncorking the Wine Industry’s Dirtiest Secrets
Roar & Snore at Taronga Zoo
Scott Purcell – Co-Founder
Roar & Snore at Taronga Zoo is the closest thing Sydney city has to a true safari, and, at about $669 for two adults, it is worth every cent. Having access to a ton of experiences through Man of Many, this event did not disappoint with the perfect setting to enjoy some drinks overlooking the giraffes walking in front of the cityscape as the sun set.
Shortly after, we checked into a canvas tent that looked out across the harbour and city lights. The keepers guided us on a torch-lit night safari where lions rumbled, the sun bear greeted us for a late snack, and the nocturnal animals came out to play. We drifted off to the distant call of big lions roaring and were awoken by monkeys howling. Breakfast by the harbour followed, and with the zoo still closed to regular visitors, we wandered empty paths that felt like a private backstage pass.
I arrived with mixed feelings about zoos, yet Taronga and its keepers quickly won me over: most (animal) residents are either rescues or zoo-born animals that could never fend for themselves, the last two Asian elephants have just been moved to a vast sanctuary in South Australia, the new Tiger Trek immerses guests in Sumatran rainforest and has already sparked more than 130,000 emails urging brands to drop unsustainable palm oil, and every dollar from Roar & Snore drives Wild Futures, a campaign building state of the art wildlife hospitals in Sydney and Dubbo. So you can sleep over at Roar and Snore with a clear conscience, wake up to the best harbour view in town, and know your stay is actively helping protect Australia’s wildlife.
Disclosure: Man of Many was invited for a free stay courtesy of Taronga Zoo.
