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 TROPICAL ISLAND VACATION GETAWAYS
From dreamy beaches and silky seas to thriving coral reefs, these are our editor's 10 pick of the tropical vacation hot spots not to be missed out this summer
Words: Aleksandra Georgieva
Photography: Nathana Reboucas, Oliver Sjostrom, Parker Amstutz, Diana Kulenyuk
08 June 2020
Silky warm seas and sleepy beaches await your next best tropical island vacation. endless sunshine glows over the lush scenery of some of the best tropical destinations on Earth. Exotic customs, natural beauty, cultural attractions, vivid architecture and dreamy cuisine are among the sultry charms of these tropical holiday islands. Surf perfect waves, dive among thriving coral reefs or enjoy wildlife-rich wilderness and eco-adventures.
Whether you seek accommodation in over-the-water luxury Caribbean villas or bamboo huts within Bali's forests, these picks are for you. Browse through our editors' 10 favourite tropical island vacation hot spots.
1. Bora Bora, Tahiti – this beautiful island in French Polynesia neighbours with an azure lagoon. Bora Bora is known for its natural beauty and cultural appeal. The gourmet cuisine alone will tempt you to visit this once-in-a-lifetime place tropical honeymoon destination. Roam around coconut palms lined around the beaches of this South Pacific paradise. Here you can go as wild as to shark dive, hike picturesque trails or attempt water sport adventures. Stay at luxury bungalows with glass floor panels lifted over the crystal waters of the thriving sea below.
2. The Abacos, The Bahamas – seduces travellers with peaceful setting, sleepy fishing villages and thriving coral reefs. The Atlantic islands are also known as Family Islands or Out Islands, intoxicating visitors with the feeling of being worlds away from the tourist crowds of nearby Florida. Abacos lays ashore some of the world’s best waters for sailing and boating. The island’s narrow streets are graced with colourful colonial cottages while the pine-fringed beaches host the notable candy-striped lighthouse. Whether you seek relaxation at the white-sand beaches surrounded by technicolour turquoise waters or you’re a diving enthusiast, the Abacos is for you. Feel invited to travel back in time to old Bahamas at the Green Turtle Cay or enjoy the beach life at Treasure Cay, Walker's Cay and Guana Cay.
3. Aitutaki, Cook Islands – part of an archipelago of 15 ravishing tropical isles, Aitutaki is the jewel in the crown of the Cook Islands. Near New Zealand, this dream vacation destination thrives with lush palm beaches and friendly locals of the South Pacific, who have plenty to teach you about the laid-back village life. Aitutaki in the Cook Islands offers an array of fun from snorkelling to kayaking and swimming the warm tropical coast waters. The island also greets visitors with lavish over-the-water bungalows and a luminous aqua lagoon. Visit over 20 motu (small islands) scattered across the lagoon, including the small island of Tapuaetai (One Foot Island), located in its southeast corner.
4. Kaua'i, Hawaii – switch the cliché coastlines for green coastal peaks, spectacular waterfalls and wild rainforests. This little Eden lays over dramatic lava-sculpted landscape. Dare to go underwater where tropical fish and turtles swim among coral reefs. Hike the peaks of the Napali Coast, discover the natural splendour of Waimea Canyon and get a birds-eye view of the golden beaches from the cliffs above Hanalei Bay. Kaua'I is known as the Garden Isle. It is one of the rainiest places on the planet, yet the island is also home to several microclimates. The coastal towns inspire a laid-back vibe. Kaua'I is a top surf break destination where the nature’s allure takes visitors among tropical gardens and cloud-capped seaside scenery.
5. Maldives – surrounded by luminous blue waters lay the 26 natural atolls of the Maldives, southwest of India and Sri Lanka. This is not just a top tropical island destination spot, it is also the home to a low-lying island nation, surviving on income by the tourism and travel industry. Most visitors trade the capital city of Male’ for the remote atolls where surfing and snorkelling are world-class. A good alternative is a cruise vacation along the Maldives’ famous crystal clear waters. Indulge into the world of luxury resorts, soul-warming seas and bone-white beaches of this tropical island paradise.
6. The Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica – with jungle forests and long beaches the Nicoya Peninsula is a hot spot for eco-travellers and surfers. Playa Tamarindo welcomes surfing enthusiasts of all skill levels. The towns of the peninsula are well developed for tourists, fun-loving backpackers, families, horseback riders and the lovers of zip lining, snorkelling and diving. Found on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, the Nicoya Peninsula is famous for boutique hideaways, yoga retreats, organic eateries and fantastic surf spots. Visit the peaceful undeveloped town of Samara, the greenery of Nosara and the continent's last unspoiled pockets of cloud forest at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Fans of the raw coastline nature can also watch turtles nesting. Head for Playa Grande between October and March to witness one of Costa Rica's most important nesting grounds for leatherback turtles.
7. Florida Keys, US – the coral islands are linked by causeways, reached by the Overseas Highway more than 110 miles south of Miami and within about 90 miles of Cuba. Florida Keys is the home to the United States’ only coral reef. Enjoy the tropical vibe of this island destination, graced with mesmerising palm-lined stretches of sand. Indulge into top-class snorkelling and diving sites past history-rich towns layered with colourful Caribbean-style cottages. Some of the biggest fishing tournaments are held in the area of Islamorada, self-proclaimed as the "sport fishing capital of the world". Don’t forget to also pay a visit to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary off Key Largo and the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
8. Riviera Maya, Mexico – is among the affordable top tropical destinations where zesty cuisine, vibrant culture and pristine beaches tempt summer-loving travellers. On the tip of the Yucatán peninsula, along the Caribbean coast, the Riviera Maya (Mayan Riviera) offers a mix of lavish all-inclusive resorts and independent accommodations facing the postcard-worthy beaches. Those, who prefer yoga retreats and boutique hotels will not be disappointed either. Choose between the resort destinations of Playa del Carmen, Cancún and the island of Cozumel. Here tropical travellers can enjoy diving and snorkelling amid clear warm water where swimming with dolphins and stingrays is a common summertime practice. Witness the turquoise Caribbean Sea from above when you indulge in the local culture among the magnificent ancient ruins of Tulum.
9. Port Douglas, Australia – is a small paradise for adventure and nature lovers. Once a sleepy fishing village, Port Douglas has evolved into a popular tropical tourist resort. Roam the upscale town and choose between attempting a wilderness safari and a reef trip. The destination is also a short-drive away from Australia’s richest ecosystems – the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, splashed next to the reef-dappled waters of Cape Tribulation. The area praises itself with the jungle-fringed sandy Four Mile Beach. Culture bursts indoors of the local art galleries, cafés and upscale shope scattered across palm and mango tree-lined streets.
10. The Andaman Coast, Thailand – offers one of the planet's most striking seascapes. The coast is convenient for exploring the islands of the Andaman Sea – lush limestone peaks rising above turquoise waters. The famous resort towns of the Phi Phi Islands in the area are popular among seekers of a peaceful patch of tropical paradise. Phang Nga Bay is home to over a hundred emerald islands, featured in major Hollywood films. Visitors choose between budget-friendly beachfront bamboo shacks and luxury villas scattered over sea cliffs. High end resorts tend to be more affordable at the Andaman Coast than other tropical destinations. Get familiar with fiery food, exotic culture and dazzling natural scenery, including jungle-cloaked peaks and wild elephants’ home at the Khao Sok National Park. Avoid visiting between May and October when the southwest monsoon strikes the coast.
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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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