CONVERSATION
CONVERSATION
CONVERSATION
HUMAN TRACES:
ETHIOPIA
HUMAN TRACES:
ETHIOPIA
THE BALANCE OF FACTS
THE BALANCE OF FACTS
THE BALANCE OF FACTS
THE BALANCE OF FACTS
DESTINATIONS
DESTINATIONS
The Dreamtime, or the Dreaming, portrays the Aboriginal beliefs in spiritual existence. According to the tribes that first settled down in the continent, the Dreaming's roots date all the way back to the very begging of the creation of the world. The meaning and ideology of the term is generally not so well-understood by non-indigenous people as it is referred to as part of the culture of one of the early nations, which differs from modern perceptions.
The Spirits were the creators of everything. They made the land and the seas, the rocks and the plants, the sky and the earth. They were the higher power and the Australian Aborigines spent their lifetimes honoring this power, which guided their path and shaped their way of thinking. Not only creators of everything, which could be seen as well as felt, the Spirits also gave the Aborigines the Dreaming.
The time when everything started existing according to the initial Australians, was called the Dreaming. This is the foundation of the continent's culture. The origin of the Dreaming goes way back - 65 000 years back in time to be exact. The Ancestors of the nation shaped the land, forming some parts of it as sacred. The Aborigines were very careful and overprotective of those places, strongly believing in their significance.
The Australian Aborigines are known to have believed that the world didn't have any shape and was therefore empty. Darkness dominated, and life was simply asleep, but this changed when the creation began happening. After the Dreaming and the influence of the Spirits, objects began taking shapes and came to be. They created the four elements: water, earth, air and fire, as well as all the planets, the Sun and the Moon. The Dreaming therefore is a continuous process, which never ended. It is a small cosmos on its own, unifying the past, present and the future into one.
The Australian Aborigines' home riches so many vivid areas of the continent, including Fraser Island, Tasmania, Palm Island, Groote Eylandt and Mornington Island. The Aborigines had very strong believes in relation to the powers of the land, claiming that they never owned it - it rather owned them. The only reason they were able to call it their home is because they were looking after it and the land was taking care of the people in return.
Equally important to the Dreaming was the tribes' understandings of the disappearance of the Spirits. There came a time, when the creators of everything vanished from sight. Some of them were thought to have started living in sacred places, which is why the Aborigines perceived their homeland to be so sacred. The ancestors of today's Australians used to believe that the creators started living in rocks, in water holes and some went up to the sky to guide the people from above and keep them safe. Others transformed completely, taking the forms of the rain, the lightnings and the thunderstorms so they could be part of peoples' life.
Among the hundred's different Aboriginal languages, there isn't a word to describe 'time', because to them this simply doesn't exist. Dreaming and Dreamtime are used to replace it and summarize the ideologies of the Aborigines about everything they knew, everything they could see, feel and experience. This is why the Dreaming has such a vivid, and overwhelming meaning and has survived the obstacles of time. For the past couple thousand years, the Dreaming has built a rich cultural heritage that can identify a whole nation.
Read more about the Land, its connection to people and the way it has been perceived from different generations in the very first print issue of ORIGIN. The Land Issue covers varied topics, most of which remain related to cultural aspects of the land and its importance.
A lot of people travel to explore places and learn about them which is the message that ORIGIN wants to spread. With traveling, however, comes certain responsibilities that we should all be aware of. Elephants riding has become a popular way to explore locations by land. People have been doing this as part of their trips, mostly to places such as Thailand, Nepal, Cambodia and other parts of Asia. It is a common thing to see in certain places in Africa as well. We investigated the activity to explain why it is wrong and riding elephants should be banned everywhere.
Our first print issue studies culture and traveling represented through the land. We explored various location around the globe and learned what makes the land so valuable, which nations cherish it and how it helps us establish an identity. Traveling is important to us but traveling responsibly and making an impact is what we feel proud to stand behind. This is why riding elephants as a way of amusement should be reconsidered.
Let’s talk about the details. Elephants are very caring and extremely intelligent animals. It is a well-known fact that they never forget anything. When kept in captivity instead of spending their life in the wild, elephants die younger. Unlike in other species, this is common for the gentle giants and is often a result for stress.
Many African cultures respect elephants, believing they symbolize strength, loyalty and power. However, power can be a very tender concept. Elephant used as a tourism tool suffer from great pain daily. Elephants can be hurt very severely from the weight of carrying people and a trainer on their backs. The reason for this is the design of their spines. They have sharp protrusions, extending upwards from their spine instead of having round spinal disks. The protrusions and the tissue that serves to protect them can be harmed easily from weight pressure. Once a damage to their spine has been made, there is no going back and sometimes the harm can be irreversible. While this can’t be physically seen, the harm that the chairs can do to the elephants’ skin is. It is often the case that the chairs and the weight on their back can damage the animal’s skin and cause pain to their body. The chair, called Howdah, that gets attached to their backs, rubs on their skin and can cause blisters, which can sometimes get infected.
The training that elephants are required to go through when in captivity sometimes adopts a traditional Thai ‘phajaan’ or ‘crush’ technique. Explaining the technique would compare it to the animals’ spirits constantly and continuously being broken by the means of torture and social isolation. This is done in order to tame them. Elephants are wild animals, this is their nature as they are born in such conditions. Making them safe and obedient around people requires them to go through such training. As horrible as it sounds, in some places young elephants are taken away from their mothers to be abused with nails, bull hooks and bamboo sticks to make them obey rules, given by people. The animals often lack sleep and are starved to become submissive.
Actions from such nature are cruel and harmful as the technique is used to crash the animals’ spirit. Once wild and free, elephants become a source of tourism and entertainment. Nobody, who cared about sustainable tourism should ever ride an elephant.
In a sense, elephants have a human soul. They socialise and feel everything – pain, happiness, grief, sadness etc. They spend their life building families and finding friends. The largest land animals are a gift from nature and it is our responsibility to take special care of them and make sure they live according to their nature. Many animals, who are kept in captivity, are forced to live in isolation and carry heavy loads all day long, which is a wrong way to treat them. Their strength and power shouldn’t be abused but treated gently and celebrated by people. Elephants require minimal care to stay happy and healthy, which comes from giving them freedom to behave naturally and socialise. It is our responsibility to be culturally aware while traveling and make sure to spread awareness about the problem.
You can read the rest of the article as published in the LAND issue.
ARCTIC TREEHOUSE HOTEL - SPEND CHRISTMAS AT THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
Travel to Lapland this winter, for a carbon footprint-free holiday of authentic Arctic experiences. Cross the Arctic Circle, embrace nature, learn about Lapland’s history and see the Northern Lights through the window walls of the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel
Words: Aleksandra Georgieva
Photography: The Arctic TreeHouse Hotel
15 December 2019
Planning a holiday getaway this holiday season might just be the perfect gift for you and your loved ones. And what better destination to visit this Christmas than Lapland!
Finland’s northernmost region greets visitors with ski resorts, subarctic wilderness and above all exceptional gifts of nature including the Northern Lights and the midnight sun. Situated within the Arctic Circle, Lapland is a one-of-a-kind destination with 200 long days of winter and glittering snow-white panoramic scenery views. The region is home to the indigenous Sámi people and various arctic wildlife. To learn more about the local’s folklore, traditions and lifestyle, visit the Arktikum. The museum is the 4th best travel attraction in Finland, displaying the culture of the Arctic region and Finnish Lapland from prehistoric times to present days.
Visitors of Lapland often take on a snowmobile, husky or reindeer safari to explore the area and its forests covered in fresh crunchy snow. Skiers and snowboarders adore the winter sports resorts, while less adventurous tourists travel from afar to witness one of nature’s most spectacular shows on the planet. On a clear dark night between January and April, the Northern Lights can be witnessed gracing the Arctic sky of Finnish Lapland. Kids and adults alike enjoy the Santa Claus Village and the underground amusement Santa Park, where family-friendly workshops, ice galleries and sleigh rides guarantee great experiences.
At the heart of the forest, the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel was built for a stay saturated with unforgettable winter experiences. It is located on the Arctic Circle in the town of Rovaniemi, Lapland; approximately 800 kilometres north of the capital city Helsinki.
“It all started with a childhood dream and a close relationship with nature. They inspired us to create the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel.”
Arctic TreeHouse Hotel's team for NOMADSofORIGIN Magazine
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THE ARCTIC TREEHOUSE HOTEL
The hotel was created by the entrepreneurial couple Ilkka Länkinen and Katja Ikäheimo-Länkinen. A stay at this accommodation inspires guests to get familiar with the local traditions and to cherish the owners’ values of cultural and natural awareness. The single-clad suites are positioned on hillslope resembling pine cone cows. The hotel is situated amid forest trees offering guests a morning like no other, surrounded by the pure beauty of nature at its most magical and snowy landscape. The building entrance takes visitors to a reception area with a fireplace centrepiece. The lavish open plan is designed like a five-pointed snowflake hosting the reception and bar with a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The Arctic TreeHouse Hotel was created as individual accommodation units located on a natural hillside. Studio Puisto was commissioned with the architectural work. Important to them was to avoid building a large urban hotel. Instead preservation of nature was ensured. The studio designed a hotel that reflects the sensitive Arctic side of the area and the fairy tale-like Lappish culture. The hotel also features the Rakas restaurant offering seasonal dishes and private hire.
“It is not just an accommodation: it is an experience where you are surrounded by the arctic nature throughout your stay.”
Arctic TreeHouse Hotel's team for NOMADSofORIGIN Magazine
THE ROOMS
The hotel has seven suites that can be adjusted into bigger rooms for family stay. The five, two-bedroom Arctic GlassHouses combine a private sauna, kitchenette and fireplace. The warm interior features natural materials with light shade surroundings, designed to breathe in comfort and warmth to each cabin.
The luxurious ArcticScene Executive Suites upgrade visitors to a wellness area with spa atmosphere alongside separate bedroom and living room. The northern-facing wall of the building is entirely made of glass to allow for rare views of the Arctic skies and surrounding forest. And the panoramic windows are just the tip of the experience.
Artificial light pollution is taken seriously at the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel. Lighting is designed to have minimal disruption to the nature and wildlife in the area, while it also does not obstruct the witnessing of the Northern Lights phenomena.
AWARENESS OF NATURE
The Arctic TreeHouse Hotel highly cherishes ecological sustainability and respect for nature. The owners strived for protecting all aspects of Arctic’s fragile nature. The hotel was built with the mindset of preservation and creating a better environment for the generations to come.
Renewable materials were used for the making of the building including sustainably sourced Finnish wood. The interior surfaces are also made of wood, which provides healthy air conditions, comfort and great acoustics. The hotel’s green rooftop is another addition to sustainability bringing down the building’s environmental footprint.
The construction of the building’s very foundations took great care of the surrounding area as well. Instead of building straight onto the fragile Arctic ground, damages to nature were minimised by building the accommodation units indoors. The finishing touches were added, and the units were then transported to the woodland to be placed onto pillars straight from the truck. The only on-site construction that took place in the area was the floor-to-ceiling window installation and the infrastructure network connections.
In June 2019 the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel was awarded the Green Key eco-label for being private hotel in Finnish Lapland with such respect for sustainability. Measuring their carbon footprint, the hotel focuses on improving their water saving solutions, solar thermal energy implementation, effective waste reduction and sorting and sustainable energy use. The green values reach even the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel restaurant. The menu changes according to season using up to 65% local ingredients to enhance the place and its guests’ ecological awareness.
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EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES
The Arctic TreeHouse Hotel team additionally offers guests with experience packages to complete their adventurous visit to Lapland. All the preparations of your arctic activities and Christmas fun have been made in advance. All you have to do is leave your worries behind and enjoy the arctic holiday of a lifetime in the fairytale world of Northern Lights.
The design and accommodation innovation embedded into the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel have been recognised through many flattering testimonials and awards. The hotel is also known for the local and international charity work they do. The Arctic TreeHouse team conveys Christmas values by pioneering in preserving the raw nature and authentic experiences for guests in the area.
This Christmas season leave the urban megapolis world behind for a warm experience of nature and centuries-old local traditions. This is your chance for a holiday in a carbon footprint-free world where crossing the Arctic Circle is a daily experience for locals. Visitors are encouraged to experience the best of Lapland, where individuals and communities are inspired to help one another grow and create positive changes to their surroundings.
GETTING AROUND
It takes only an 8km drive between the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel and the Rovaniemi town centre. The Santa’s Express Bus (no. 8) also covers the same route, while SantaPark is located right next to the hotel, at 2.2km forest walk away from the Santa Claus Village.
Book your stay at the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel for a once-in-a-lifetime winter experience.
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NOMADSofORIGIN is an independent annual publication with a focus on sustainable travelling and global cultural values. Each issue features interviews, engaging articles and photo guides, which take our nomadic readers through different destinations and introduce them to local people's perspectives.
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