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.
TRAVEL SAFELY IN SAUDI ARABIA
Planning a trip to the Asian country? Here is how to travel safely and visit all the must-see locations across Saudi Arabia
Words: Emily Georgieva
Photography: Mohammed Hassan, Felipe Pires, Numan Shah, Bady Abbas, Haidan, J Ahmed Sait, Alswedi, Afdhallul Ziqri
25 November 2020
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As Saudi Arabia started issuing travellers e-visas, Westerners started planning trips to and from Saudi Arabia. Known for being forbidden for the outside world for decades, nowadays the country is welcoming travellers and the charm of Saudi being a new land for exploring makes it an even more intriguing place to visit.
Famous as a religious hub, Saudi Arabia is a one-of-a-kind place. The complex geographical contrast makes the country vivid and diverse. From witnessing Bedouins riding camels in the deserts to getting lost in a sea of skyscrapers in the cities, every day in the Asian country will be different. Here is a list of some of the places that travellers can head to so they can make the most of their stay and explore the destination safely.
Riyadh
The capital city will probably be a natural start as most if the flights from Asia and Europe as well will land in Riyadh. The city can't be defined as a modern one, but it is extremely rich in culture, heritage and history. In fact, it is one of the most interesting capital cities in the Arab Peninsula. From the Masmak Fort and the National Museum in the Old City to the ruined cities in the outskirts.
The Skybridge tower
If you have enough time, explore the tower as it is one of the most iconic places in the country. It is best to visit at sunset when the soft shades of the setting sun colour the land on the horizon and make the place seem magical.
Red Sand Dunes
If you are visiting Saudi Arabia to admire the land and the beauty of nature make sure to pay a visit to the Red Sand Dunes. It is the ideal spot to take a peaceful moment and see the country in an authentic way.
Jeddah
The second largest and most progressive city on the territory of Saudi Arabia, Jeddah has something for everyone. Usually travellers make it a definite stop on their itinerary because there is so much you can learn about the Arab culture from the locals there. It was the way for Muslims who arrived by sea from Africa and were headed to Mecca in 7th century AD.
Al Balad
If you have done the obligatory hanging out in hipster café shops and trendy restaurants, it's time to head to Al Balad. The place has been recognised as a UNESCO world Heritage site.
The Red Sea
When you get tired of exploring the heritage sites, why don't you enjoy a day at the beach?! The coast along the Red Sea is the ideal place for it as the beach is mixed allowing men and women to enjoy sunbathing in their swimming suits.
The Floating Mosque
To learn more about the culture of Saudi Arabia, making a stop at the mosques is always a good idea. After prayer times the mosques tend to get busy. This one makes no exception so plan your visit with this in mind.
Abha
Another one for nature lovers - the mountain range in the region will have you in awe of the stunning landscape of the country. However, the view from the mountain tops is not the oy reason we recommend including this as a stop on your itinerary. You will likely see wild monkeys in their natural habitat.
The markets
Get a taste of Saudi Arabia by making a stop at the local markets. There is a possibility that you will stumble on one of those in the bigger cities so make the most of their traditional bargains of honey, spices, fruit and veg.
Rijal Almaa Heritage Village
The village is worth a visit. It has served as a trading spot for a very long time and over the years it has turned into an iconic destination that represents the beautiful old-fashioned charm of Almaa. It is off-the-beaten-track so expect less tourists and more influence from the locals.
Fayfa and Absiyah
The mountain villages are not too far off from Jizan (100 km) and they are a great starting point of getting to know the area better. The nearby villages have managed to preserve their traditions and ooze Arabic culture.
The desert near Al-Ula
Have you always dreamt of going to Wadi Rum? Don't worry, Saudi Arabia has a desert that is almost an exact reflection of it. The desert near Al-Ula is a must stop for those who want to explore the country to the fullest.
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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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