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.
BEST DESTINATIONS FOR A GIRLS HOLIDAY
Get your passports ready, pack the sunscreen and the shades and get ready for the ultimate relaxation experience! We made a list of some of our favourite destinations for a classy girls holiday that will guarantee you'll have a great time
Words: Emily Georgieva
Photography: Apostolos Vamvouras, The Pineapple Concept
20 April 2020
Nothing beats a girls holiday! When life gets too much, going away for a trip can just be the remedy you need. We know this is easier said than done as everyone nowadays is too busy dealing with their day-to-day life to make a group plan. However, our team is believers of the philosophy that there is no time like the present, especially when it comes to tarvelling.
It's about time you organise your friends and finally book that vacation you always talk about but never really get around to. Get your passports ready, pack the sunscreen and the shades and get ready for the ultimate relaxation experience! We made a list of some of our favourite destinations for a classy girls holiday and we guarantee you won't be able to resist them.
GREECE
This is an obvious destination and we don't even have to try and explain why. Every island that is part of Greece will be the right choice. Soak up the sunshine when you go for your daily sunbathing sessions, try some ouzo after dinner at a restaurant situated by the beach and enjoy a diet dedicated to freshly caught and cooked seafood. It is no wander why Greece was once the territory of gods and goddesses - a holiday there is an absolute dream!
FRANCE
What better way to destress and enjoy some time with your best friends than a sty in France?! The country of style has a lot to offer that goes beyond the stunning beauty of Paris. Head to Nice to enjoy the beach lifestyle or drive through the breathtaking vineyards starting from Domaine Cazes in Roussillon to Domaine de Mourchon in Rhône and Château Thieuley in Bordeaux.
SPAIN
Paella plus sun plus sangria equals great time! Trust us on that one, we explored this destination as a girls holiday for ourselves. A day trip to Barcelona is a must because no matter how many times you visit, the city will take you by surprise with how incredible it is. For an ultimate authentic stay, head to any of the beaches. We picked Salou as our destination and instantly fell in love with it. You can make a schedule so you can enjoy the seaside by day and dive into the cultural side of the city by night when you dine at the beach restaurants situated right on the sandy coastline.
MOROCCO
If you are looking for a historic type of holiday, then Morocco is your go-to destination. There is plenty to learn about the past of the country, the culture of the locals and their day-to-day life. Morocco is fascination because it seems to function as a world of its own kind. If you've already been to Marrakesh and had the opportunity to emerge yourself into the hectic markets, then consider planning a trip to Fes. There you can enjoy lunching at an unpretentious restaurant in one of the many side streets and listen to live music at night.
CROATIA
A trip to Croatia goes without saying. The summertime is the most favorable period of the year to visit. Plan a trip to Hvar or Split if you are looking for familiarity or if you want to head to more off-the-beaten-track beach towns consider Island Vis. You and your girlfriends can go for a swim or a snorkeling experience. To get a taste of the locals' lifestyle, stay at Komiza and search for fresh fish in the hidden restaurants scattered around the fishing village.
PORTUGAL
A Mediterranean lifestyle is awaiting you in Portugal. If you want to plan a city break or a trip to Europe, Portugal should be on your radar. The country is a wonderful oasis perfect for escaping the busy routine of a big city lifestyle. Relax by exploring the charming villages on foot and go sightseeing in the bigger cities. Let the palm trees and sunshine be the only thing on your mind for a few days and enjoy the view with a nice chilled glass of white wine or rose. You can even plan a group activity such as a cooking class so the whole girl gang can get a taste of Portugal and bring that memory back home by sharing authentic Portuguese recipes with family and friends.
HUNGARY
Bars, restaurants and beautiful architecture. Hungary is a dreamy destination. A visit there is a great way to experience Europe with style. You can't really plan a visit in Hungary. Instead, let yourself go with the flow. See where sightseeing and street-walking takes you. Dive into an adventure like no other and explore Hungary like a pro by taking every opportunity that comes your way to get closer to the culture.
DUBAI
A bit further away from European destinations, Dubai is a great destination for people who are on the search for the ultimate relaxation experience. Visit the Burj Khalifa, known as the tallest building in the world where you can chill out and find a shelter from the heat at the atmosphere bar that has a view like no other and reveals the city from the perspective of 122nd floor. During the day make sure to catch the sunshine at the beach and when the night falls, head to the busy city to let loose and experience the nightlife like a local.
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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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