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.
A LOCAL'S GUIDE TO BUDAPEST
In a conversation with Rebeka, she shares her local's insights about the trendiest bars and restaurants to visit in Budapest, how to explore the art scene and where to find the best bakeries in the city
Words: Emily Georgieva
Photography: Klara Kulikova, Tomas Jasovsky, Kevin Jackson, Zoran Borojevic
08 April 2021
Budapest is one of the trendiest destinations in Europe. Designer-looking speciality cafés meet fine-dining restaurants; buildings with traditional exterior share space with façades with a modern twist. The Hungarian capital city is more than what meets the eye. It has a diverse scene for young people, and it is also the ideal destination for travellers who are in need of a relaxing city break. Head to a rooftop bar to grab a drink with friends or plan a day at the thermal baths, which have been attracting attention from travellers and locals for over a century.
Situated between Eastern and Western Europe, Budapest reflects this connection when it comes to traditions, culture and cuisine. The local food will have you want to learn how to prepare traditional dishes so you can share them with your friends and family at home. Each desert or pastry you try is simply better than the last. The city is designed for travel lovers as the more you walk, the more you will learn about the past and present of this European destination. Castle Hill (District 1) is directly next to the Danube River where you can also pay a visit to the Buda Castle, if you want to explore the architecture of the area. To discover the must-see places, head to the old Jewish Quarter (District 7) where you will be surrounded by the lively dining scene of bars, restaurants and coffee shops.
NOMADSofORIGIN's editor-in-chief caught up with Rebeka Banu, a friend from Budapest, who told us about the best spots to dine out and grab a drink with friends, as well as the must-visit bakeries travellers should know about. This is our insider guide designed to help you experience the capital city of Hungary like a true local.
NOMADSofORIGIN: What are your favourite coffee shops in Budapest?
Rebeka: Espresso Embassy
Flow
Fekete
Kávétársaság
Kontakt
Nanushka
Cafe Hygge
Massolit Books and Cafe
NOMADSofORIGIN: What about bakeries/restaurants?
Rebeka: Freya Croissantery
Chez Dodo
Bors
Ramenka
Horizont
Pad Thai
A la Maison
26 Budapest
Budapest Bagel
Fruccola
NOMADSofORIGIN: What are the top three things we shouldn't forget to pack for a trip to the city?
Rebeka: 1. Camera.
2. If it's spring or autumn, bring an umbrella (sudden and quick showers). If it's summer, bring a water bottle, sunglasses and a hat (extremely hot weather).
3. Comfy shoes.
NOMADSofORIGIN: What is a must-try Hungarian dish?
Rebeka: Lángos
Pogácsa
Bundáskenyér
Kürtöskalács
Csirkepaprikás
Anything with cottage cheese.
NOMADSofORIGIN: Can you teach our readers an interesting phrase in Hungarian that would come in handy when visiting?
Rebeka: Köszönöm! (Thank you).
Jó napot! (Good day to you).
NOMADSofORIGIN: What are your tips for making the most out of a trip to Budapest?
Rebeka: Just get lost and don’t be scared to wander around and go to small local shops, antique shops, cafes, museums. Use trams instead of metro when you can because you can see the city without walking. Ask for directions from young people, old people don’t speak English there. Taxis are very expensive compared to public transport. Try not to eat or shop right next to tourist spots, they are very likely to scam you and charge you extra.
NOMADSofORIGIN: What under-the-radar destinations sustainable travellers should know about?
Rebeka: Outdoor pubs along the Danube and rooftop bars are just as atmospheric like overpriced ruin bars. Thrift shops and antique markets are awesome and all scattered around the city. Humana is my absolute favourite where they do sales all the time as well (everything is around £2 close to the end of the month).
NOMADSofORIGIN: What are the best locations across the city to explore art and local culture?
Rebeka: Ludwig Modern Museum
National Gallery
Fine Art Museum
House of Terror
Fofoto
Jewish Quarter
NOMADSofORIGIN: What do you miss most about the city?
Rebeka: Sziget festival, speciality coffee shops everywhere, bakeries, public transport, architecture, the seasons, the Danube and exploring with my friends.
NOMADSofORIGIN: How would you sum up Budapest in a sentence?
Rebeka: Budapest is a rewarding experience in every season while being very affordable and charming.
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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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