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 TUCKED-AWAY BEACHES
We explored the five best tucked-away beaches that should be on your radar whether you prefer to spend a relaxing day sunbathing or you are after an alternative holiday involving horse riding on the sand
Words: Emily Georgieva
Photography: Braxton Apana, Simon Schafstall, Pablò
12 November 2020
We all crave a beach holiday sometimes. Soaking up that sunshine, getting some vitamin D and listening to the sound of the waves softly washing on the shore... It is the simple perks in life that make it worth living and if we have to choose a favourite spot for a holiday, it would definitely require some time spent at the beach.
These days it is harder to find a spot around the sea that is not crowded with tourists, especially at peak times when the sunshine is just too good to resist. Our editors made a list of the tucked-away beach spots ideal for the nomadic traveller. Whether you prefer to relax and sunbathe all day long or you are after a more alternative beach experience, we've got the right spot for you.
Brela Bach
Croatia
It is surprising to find a less-populated beach in a place like Croatia. With its thriving nightlife, plenty of sightseeing and a kaleidoscope of cultural influences, Croatia is a must-visit place that welcomed many tourists in the past couple of years. Fortunately, the natural beauty of this European country is as stunning as it has ever been and there are a lot of places scattered across its land that still look virgin. Head to Brela Beach for a relaxing day on the shore. Not as popular among tourists, the beach is a perfect place to get away from the busy city life and experience the tranquil side of the country. Biokovo Mountains, the natural park where you can expect to see eagles among many other animals, is just a short distance away and visible from the beach.
Notre Dame Beach
France
Sunshine - check. Stunning view of the azure sea - check. Quiet beach on the stretch of the French Riviera - check.
Notre Dame Beach should be your next stop when you visit France in the summer. The place really does the country justice as it is effortlessly beautiful and elegantly balanced. We consider it to be the underappreciated beach spot ideal for travellers looking to combine the French chick with a laid-back twist. If you want to experience the beach authentically, schedule a visit as soon as you can as the word of this under-the-radar shore is quickly spreading around.
Seychelles Beach
Greece
Santorini is stunning, there is no doubt about that, but how well have you explored the rest of Greece? There are so many islands that belong to the sunny country, each one more stunning than the last. It is difficult to grasp how beautiful Greece is without falling more in love with its pristine beaches, but there is one specific spot that will always be on the top of our list. Seychelles Beach is as gorgeous as the name suggests. Less crowded by tourists, the beach is one of a kind. Situated in the embrace of rock formations that belong to a cove, the beach will make you feel like you have hired your own little piece of paradise, completely isolated from the rest of the world.
Pacific Beach
San Diego
This one might not be exactly under-the-radar, but there is enough space to share. The beach made our list not just because of the calm waters and the relaxed atmosphere you can expect to find there, but because of how diverse your holiday there can be. Go roller-skating, jet-skiing or ride a horse on the beach - take your pick! San Diego is all about inclusivity and adventure. If you are thinking of planning a trip to the Pacific Beach, you may rest assured there is plenty of opportunity to have a different experience each day.
Playa de la Tejita
Tenerife
Known for having hosted the windsurfing championships in 2015, Playa de la Tejita is a great little spot for nomadic travellers who want to visit some of Spain's best-kept secrets. The beach's position makes it easy to relax along its coast as it is situated away from the heart of the island. With the beautiful view of the crystal-clear waters ahead, the soft sand beneath your feet and the sound of the waves colliding with the shore, how can you possibly want to be anywhere else?!
RELATED STORIES
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.
SOCIAL
© NOMADSofORIGIN Magazine 2023. All rights reserved.