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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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You can read the rest of the article as published in the LAND issue.
CASTAWAY
THE ISLAND BRAND THAT BRINGS TROPICAL MINIMALISM TO YOUR WARDROBE
Bring the true essence of island living along on your travels with Castaway's boutique for the conscious traveller. We caught up with founder, Daisy Sophia, to talk about how she uses mother nature's hidden treasures to draw inspiration for her designs and recommends destinations for the sustainable traveller
Words: Aleksandra Georgieva
Photography courtesy of Castaway
Collection photography on models by Suzanne @atthebeachphoto
Influencers
19 August 2022
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This summer we seek the shade of coconut trees amid the hidden beaches of deserted islands where the sound of tropical birds starts the day which can only be spent in absolute bliss near tranquil ocean waters. If you are anything like us, you also believe that there has never been a better time to return to wilderness and consciously slow down when exploring mother nature's hidden treasures. Whether this summer you are heading to faraway islands, or you simply wish to bring some tropical vibes to your home, Castaway is the brand that will inspire you to embrace a pure, conscious lifestyle—the true essence of island living.
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Born from nomadic heredity, Castaway ˈkɑst-əweɪ/ is an island boutique for the conscious traveller, which not only creates a community but is also built alongside a journal where founder Daisy Sophia shares her solo travel experiences to remote islands and the mesmerising locals who thrive in these sacred places. In the past ten years, she has travelled to destinations like Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Australia and Costa Rica searching for handmade treasures and souvenirs. Her passion for taking back a little something from each journey, lead Daisy Sophia to create the Castaway community where she can share her keepsakes on a bigger platform with like-minded island travellers.
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THE NOMADIC HEREDITY
Daisy Sophia's love for travelling developed from a young age as she looked up to her grandparents who were always on an expedition to a destination somewhere in the tropics. The spirit of island life became an even stronger influence on her experiences in the following several years of her childhood when she lived with her dad on the island of Curacao. Before long, collecting memories and travel stories to pass on became a second nature to her when visiting new places.
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Daisy Sophia's fascination with the Indonesian islands and lifestyle was first sparked when she came across her dad's post stamp collection from Netherland-Indie. Ever since she was a child, one of her favourite pastimes was listening to her family's island stories, flipping through faded photo albums and imagining her own travels to otherworldly islands in the future. The distinct creativity and appreciation for handicrafts was passed down to Daisy Sophia from her mother, which is now among the biggest influences of Castaway's founder when designing the one-of-a-kind pieces. It is precisely these years of inspiration, experience and shared knowledge of family that stands in the core of the Castaway brand.
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THE CASTAWAY BOUTIQUE
The boutique is a curated, season-less collection designed for the perfect hidden island escapes. From effortless resort wear to island essentials and handpicked souvenirs from around the globe, the Castaway products are sourced with a conscious approach for a lifetime of use.
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THE CASTAWAY COMMUNITY
The community connects like-minded island travellers, muses and locals, who share their authentic experiences and personal stories in an aim to inspire fellow travellers to commit to a conscious approach of exploring island living.
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Vaiava Necklace
Poseidon Comb Tortoise
Papeete Sunglasses Black
‘‘With Castaway I wish to inspire our conscious community by sharing our island inspired findings and stories and advocate for our reconnection with mother nature.’’
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Daisy Sophia, Founder & Creative Director of Castaway
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If like us, you enjoy little more than reading about tropical escapes, than the beautiful hideaways listed among the pages of the Castaway journal are your brand new must read this summer season. From local experiences to memoirs from the team's favourite island muses and the perfect barefoot escapes, this section of the brand's media presence will leave you insatiable whether you seek to get lost in the beauty of a distant shore or feel inspired to create an island oasis in the sanctuary of your own home.
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Look no further for stunning island accommodation with a sustainable approach because Daisy Sophia has got you covered. Her section on hideaways offers an array of unique boutique villas tucked away between Indonesian rice fields and the beaches of Berawa in Bali; wooden guesthouse retreats in the lush green jungles of Canggu; tree hut inspired sustainable casas amid a pristine stretch of coastline where rainforest and Atlantic mangrove meet the ocean; and a tropical oasis hotels nestled between vibrant surfing hotspots where you'll find a fusion of Indonesian and western architecture, eclectic interior design, art and cuisine.
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Our team caught up with Daisy Sophia in an exclusive interview where she shares what keeps her inspired in times when travelling is restricted, she gives destination recommendations and advice to the sustainable traveller and talks about the items she simply cannot embark on a journey without while sharing some of her favourite Castaway pieces.
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Voyanics - Aloe Vera Toner Mist
Palm Swimwear - Viper Bikini Set Black Rib
Savannah Morrow - Rena Skirt
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NOMADSofORIGIN: What inspires your brand?
Daisy Sophia: Inspiration to us comes in many forms. Our greatest source is mother nature as it is endless and close to who we really are. From the shapes of seashells, shadows of palm trees, the smell of Tiare flowers, to the fresh taste of seafood, inspiration literally comes from anything in any form. The art of travelling ourselves or reading travel journals from other people also really inspires us as no story or experience is the same.
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NOMADSofORIGIN: Family is a core value of Castaway. What else drives the creativity of the brand?
Daisy Sophia: It's the elements, craftsmanship and habits of other cultures that drive the creativity of the brand. Listening to local people’s stories, interacting with them, learning their habits and crafts. Our community of travellers is the most valuable drive as we wish for our brand to stay creative. With Castaway I wish to inspire our conscious community by sharing our island inspired findings and stories and advocate for our reconnection with mother nature.
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NOMADSofORIGIN: You have been to Costa Rica, Australia and Sri Lanka. What are your favourite travel destinations you've been to and can you give us recommendations on the best things to do there?
Daisy Sophia: My favourite travel destinations are definitely Indonesia & Morocco. They also have something in common although their climate is different. Both a welcoming family culture, happy people and super diverse in their landscapes.
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In Indonesia I can recommend making a boat trip around Flores & Komodo Islands, it is stunning! And such an incredible experience living on a boat for a couple of days, being alone on a hidden island. In Morocco I would recommend travelling from Marrakech to Skoura, a beautiful village in the palm oasis of Morocco. Eat a locally made tagine, drink some minty Moroccan teas at locals’ home, bake some potteries, surround yourself with souks of endless artisanal treasures and see the most enchanting bright starry sky.
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NOMADSofORIGIN: Your grandparents have influenced your passion for travelling. What is your most treasured travel memory?
Daisy Sophia My most treasured memory is by far my first time in Morocco together with my mum. We stayed in Le Riad Yasmine for some days exploring the city of Marrakech and ended with 2 nights in Berberlodge, a countryside boutique hotel in a berber village 30 min away from the city. Berberlodge is by far the most amazing experience I've ever had and as I am living in Morocco now, my favourite weekend hideaway a couple of times a year. The owner Romain became a good friend, the staff, our second family and the hotel itself always surprises us. The traditional Moroccan cooking, olive trees in the garden and warm evenings around the fireplace, this place goes beyond my imagination, so pure and comfortable.
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NOMADSofORIGIN: What advice would you give to the sustainable traveller?
Daisy Sophia: Travel local. We can't say this enough. Local communities & businesses nowadays are being destroyed by big hospitality projects built by money driven companies. Get yourself a local taxi driver, eat in a locally owned restaurant (the food most of the time is 100 times better) and stay for some nights of your trip in a guest home instead of that fancy hotel to really immerse yourself in the culture. Respect their culture, nature, and way of living as you are a guest in their daily livelihood.
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Palm Swimwear - Viper Bikini Set Black Rib
Coqui Coqui - Body Oil
Palm Swimwear - Flavia Bikini Set Brown
‘‘The only footprint we should leave is our barefoot in the sand of an exotic island. Nothing more, nothing less.’’
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Daisy Sophia, Founder & Creative Director of Castaway
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NOMADSofORIGIN: The Castaway boutique has unique pieces. Which are the items you cannot travel without?
Daisy Sophia: I can't travel without one of Savannah Morrow's incredible long knitted dresses, Coqui Coqui's coconut body oil to protect me from the sun and of course our very own gemstone jewellery pieces, the Shell necklace is my favourite.
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NOMADSofORIGIN: Your old family albums filled with faded photos of island-like pages sparked your love for exploring. In the age of digital exploration, what do you think is the best way to collect travel memories?
Daisy Sophia: The best way to collect travel memories is keeping it in your heart, treasure it and learn from these experiences. We are currently losing the connection with what travelling really is, namely an experience. Not an IG photo of a famous Geotag. As much as we'd love to capture our travels too, sometimes it is soothing to completely live in the moment without an iPhone in your hand.
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NOMADSofORIGIN: Nowadays, what does it take to be an entrepreneur as a woman and a traveller and how do you stay creative in times when travelling has been restricted?
Daisy Sophia: I believe anyone, male or female, that has a passion will be a good entrepreneur. Times like these definitely make it harder as our freedom to travel is slowly being taken from us, but you have to find ways to stay creative. We worked with people living on different islands worldwide who helped us out creating content as we couldn't go ourselves, it gives an extra personal twist to your brand.
NOMADSofORIGIN: Thank you so much for this interview. Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
Daisy Sophia: The only footprint we should leave is our barefoot in the sand of an exotic island. Nothing more, nothing less.
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Shop the boutique pieces online
See the pieces we love and follow @castaway.ltd on social media.
NOMADSofORIGIN x Castaway
This interview appears in NOMADSofORIGIN Magazine print #05 The Wanderlust Issue
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