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 SPANISH VILLAGES FOR A RELAXED HOLIDAY
With flower-adorned balconies and ruin sites the whitewashed villages across Spain define the colourful nation of the country. This is our guide to the rural Spanish villages you should pay a visit to
Words: Aleksandra Georgieva
Photography: Johan Mouchet, Ines Alvarez, Anca Gabriela, Roberto Nickson, Dave Herring
04 October 2020
Spain is a country of colourful history with warm-hearted nation that adores everything involving good food and great fun. From cobbled streets, white-washed villages, ancient castles, ruin sites, flowers-adorned balconies and cosy corners Spanish villages have a certain charm that is hard to put into words. On your next trip to this sunny destination, make sure to leave time for a detour to some of the rural villages of Spain.
Explore spots form the Mediterranean Coast to Catalonia and the Basque Country and then head for the little towns and villages scattered all across the country. You will discover each region is different. Some places like Malaga can easily be explored on a day trip. Nearly all of the hundreds of Spanish villages that are often overlooked by travel guides, are easily accessible and truly beautiful. This is our guide to some of the best Spanish villages you should visit.
Ronda, Málaga
Located in Province of Málaga, the charming village of Ronda is one of the most representative rural spots of Spain. If you ever find yourself in this this beautiful Andalusian town, make sure to cross the Puente Nuevo and look down into the deep 'Tajo' gorge. This is the home to some of the Serranía de Ronda’s best wineries with produce originating from Sierras de Málaga. Across the little streets lay many tapas bars and restaurants serving fresh local cuisine.
Valldemossa, Sierra de Tramontana, Mallorca
Valldemossa is one of the most romantic spots in Spain and we are not the only ones to think so. Chopin was a well-known visitor of the area and admired the village so much, he referred to it as the most beautiful town in the world. This Mallorcan village is found among the luxury setting of the Sierra de Tramuntana. Stay at a holiday home and roam the cobblestone streets where lovers admire the elegant Valldemossa architecture.
Cudillero, Asturias
Cudillero is layered with houses facing the sea – an ideal setting for the lovers of a relaxed summer holiday. The colours of the buildings contrast with the shades of the sea in beautiful harmony. It is no wonder that visitors of Asturias often make their way to Cudillero to photograph the doorways of this fishing village. Instead of letting us try to describe the village’s charm, head for the north of Spain and capture its true essence for yourself. Visit Puerto Pesquero, go down to Playa del Silencio (Silence Beach) and admire the coastline around Cabo Vidio.
Masca, Tenerife
Travellers often head for Tenerife but many fail to explore its rural side alongside the top resort sport. The small village of Masca is just the spot for the lovers of tranquillity. With only 150 locals inhabiting houses built on ravines, the location is a true gem in the crown of Spain’s villages.
Zahara de la Sierra, Cádiz
With beautiful white houses gracing the landscape, Zahara de la Sierra is truly a picturesque town. Tourists can book a stay at any of the holiday homes that allow visitors to indulge into the serenity of the area. Zahara de la Sierra also hosts a castle that overlooks the reservoir. This little corner of the province of Cádiz is both peaceful and beautiful.
Aínsa, Huesca
Authentic Spanish cuisine dictates the rules in Plaza Mayor. Located among the charming villages of the Aragonese Pyrenees, this spot will have you feeling like you’ve taken a historic journey. Aínsa preserves five doors of the walled enclosure. Visitors can stay in a holiday home and take a stroll down the cobbled streets of the medieval town. More adventurous travellers can also ski or hike in the Aragonese Pyrenees.
Combarro
Another fishing village, this time a tiny one, is Combarro. It is located only a twenty-minute drive from Pontevedra. The laid-back spot is easy to find on the north-west coast, where the freshest fish in the region is served in O Bocoi. Make sure to visit the fisherman harbour in Combarro where historic huts and fishing boats fleet the water.
Albarracín, Teruel
Among our selection is what was chosen as the most beautiful town in Spain in 2018. Teruel and the Albarracín is surrounded by cobblestoned streets and the famous Castillo del Andador. The town is charming and elegant within the Sierra de Albarracín – a medieval dreamy location for the non-commercial travellers.
Sallent de Gállego, Huesca
Sallent de Gállego is found in the Valle de Tena within the Aragonese Pyrenees. The rural getaway spot is high in the mountains combining the cosy vibe of houses with stone walls meets the adventurous spirit of the ski resort of Formigal, located only 15 minutes away.
Frigiliana, Málaga
Located on the Costa del Sol in the province of Málaga, Frigiliana unveils unparalleled views of the Mediterranean. The white village is filled with craft shops and holiday homes. One of the most visited Andalusian towns, Frigiliana allows travellers to explore at their own pace.
Alarcón, Cuenca
In the province of Cuenca, surrounded by walls is Alarcón – a town of impressive beauty. The old town captivates visitors with the charm of narrow streets as the rest of the village overlooks the castle on top of a hill – a vital monument of Alarcón.
Campillo de Dueñas
Another Spanish village famous for hosting a castle is Campillo de Dueñas. If you are ever driving between Valencia and Zaragoza, you must visit this spot. The Castle of Zafra was featured is season 6 of Game of Thrones and it is located slightly outside of town, about ten kilometres from the A23 road.
Lastres, Asturias
The list of the most beautiful villages of the Principality of Asturias is also graced by Lastres, which was also recognised as Artistic Historic Site. With its geolocation on top of a hill, the village overlooks the sea as narrow streets join the ensemble of mansions, monuments, and homes all falling under similar architecture.
La Vilella Baixa
If you ever travel to Catalonia, you must make it to La Vilella Baixa. The historic village is located within the famous province of Tarragona, a couple-hours’ drive from Barcelona. It takes about a quarter of the hour to walk across the village, but the spot is perfect for a laid-back afternoon away from the business of crowds.
Bocairent, Valencia
More than forty years ago Bocairent was declared an Artistic Historic Site. Today it remains relatively undiscovered. The region preserves aspects of its medieval and Arab past. Roam the labyrinths of streets and narrow alleys in the place people say the ‘stones speak’.
Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz
Typical for Cádiz, the whitewashed houses and narrow streets in Vejer de la Frontera make it the perfect getaway from Spain’s major cities. Here you can rent a holiday home, enjoy the local cuisine and visit the Arch of the Nuns alongside the Jewish quarter next to the monastery.
Hondarribia, Guipúzcoa
If you appreciate authentic cuisine, the Basque food will spoil your senses. The coastal town of Hondarribia, positioned only 20 km from San Sebastian, offers delicious food and colourful stone houses that tempt photography enthusiasts. The town charms visitors on both rainy and hot summer days.
Soller
A truly traditional Spanish town is Soller, positioned in the north-west coast of Mallorca. At the train station you’ll witness exhibits of Picasso’s ceramics – Sala Picasso y Sala Miro. If you are after exploring the island, make sure to visit, as the village is surrounded by the lapping sea on one side and forests and mountains on the other. Dining at the pier is another option in town while the centre of Soller offers boutique hotel accommodation.
Codaques
Another gem in terms of the tastiest Mediterranean food in Spain is Cadaques. The small town is found on the bay of Punta de Sa Costa. Here you can visit the Dali Museum-House, the Cap de Creus National Park and the town’s beautiful cathedral Esglesia de Santa Maria.
Setenil de las Bodegas, Cádiz
Imagine picturesque streets attached to a large rock and you’ll be picturing Setenil’s narrow paths and distinctive setting alongside the Trejo river. Gastronomy enthusiasts will particularly enjoy Sierra de Cádiz, famous for its chorizo made from pigs bred. Setenil also offers stunning views of the hills surrounding the town.
Llastres
The seaside town of Llastres is found within the autonomous region of Asturias. Once you’re on the north coast, attempt the two-hour drive from the city of Bilbao and you’ll find yourself in beautiful Llastras, home to Torre del Reloj and Faro de Lastres. The region is famous for its food and Eutimio offers delicious seafood from the Bay of Biscay. The village also reveals a front-row view of the town from Mirador de San Roque.
Besalu
Another gem of Catalonia is the medieval town of Besalu just an hour away from Girona. Picture-perfect stone houses, narrow cobbled streets, delicious local wines and a Romanesque bridge crossing the Fluvià River add to the charm of this Spanish village. Here you can explore the Monasterio de San Pedro, relax at Lake Banyoles or walk to the local castle over the Bridge of Besalu.
Mojácar, Almería
A typical Spanish village is just what travellers seek to explore and Mojácar in Almería never fails to make the rankings for most charming towns in the area. The white Andalusian village bathes in bars with colourful flowers exhibited on their balconies. Whitewashed houses and tiny streets. The village guards the traces of all the past civilisations that have lived in the area, charming travellers with long-gone history and traditional Spanish beauty.
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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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