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.
WHAT'S IN THE TRAILBLAZERS ISSUE
The TRAILBLAZERS Issue #06
Follow the ethos of slow travel as we journey from the sun-kissed African savannahs to the picturesque river walks in Paris and the pristine azure beaches of Croatia
Words by: The Editors
20 June 2023
The TRAILBLAZERS Issue is dedicated to living in the moment and taking the slow approach to travelling. Connecting to new cultures and destinations can feel overwhelming so it is important to take time to appreciate the little things so we can truly open ourselves to the beauty that the world has to offer. We embarked on journeys across the globe from the sun-kissed African savannahs to the picturesque hidden aquamarine beaches in Croatia and the romantic riverside bridges in Paris. We spoke to some incredible creatives whose passion to draw inspiration from the places and cultures that shaped them into the artists they are changes the barriers of what it means to be a trailblazer.
Our sixth print issue goes out to all good trouble makers, adventure seekers and trailblazers - your restless adventurous spirits is what keeps this magazine going. Here is a break-down of what you can expect to find in the sixth issue of the publication.
The Red Sea Fishing Gateway
Dusty landscapes, cinematic cities and timeless temple sites - Egypt is a land of so much mystery and magic. Millennia-old monuments, tales of powerful pharaohs and a vision of the Nile River come to mind as soon as Egypt is mentioned, but the essence of the country goes deeper than what travellers are often exposed to. Explore an alternative side of Egypt which pays a tribute to the country's ancestors' past by putting fishing practices at the heart of how the locals connect with nature and honour its gifts.
Living on Island Time
Explore the island of Croatia, soak up the sunshine by the bays that guard the hidden beaches in Dubrovnik and fall in love with the slow rhythm of the nightlife in palm tree covered Hvar. Follow us as we navigate a five day stay in this beautiful getaway dream destination.
Wildlife Trade
Global travelling is a growing aspect of tourism and with more access to remote destinations, as well as tourist hotspots, it becomes our responsibility to take care in travelling ethically and remaining mindful when shopping for souvenirs to bring home from our holidays. From animal skins to hummingbird charms, read how you can avoid wildlife trade and help endangered animal species.
Julia Steinle
Julia fell in love with gliding at the age of 14 when she was first introduced to sport. To this day she keeps evolving at capturing stunning photographs while gracing the skies with style and sharing her experiences with her followers. From collecting memories of the incredible views over the Apls and South Africa to sharing insights of her life around gliders and planes, Julia combines her love for flying with her passion for photography in the most awe-inspiring way.
Natalie's photography has a postcard-worthy feel of endless summer vacations. To see the world through her camera lens is to dip in the warm waters of European beaches, to spend the day relaxing by the rainbow sun umbrellas that cool down Capri's coastline and to allow yourself to enjoy the moment for all its freeing, glamorous joy that only summer can bring. Read our exclusive interview with the photographer.
The Unethical Side of Avocados
The avocado conflict of recent years created major issues regarding the livelihood of farmers and threatened the environmental health in areas around the world. We explore the unethical side of avocado consumption and seek out ways to become part of the solution to this global crisis.
Five of the Best Mountain Tops to Climb
If you are among the enthusiasts who dream of summiting the tallest peak in the world, you might be interested in Mount Everest’s controversy and the hiking alternatives. Join us in exploring five epic locations, which give thrill seekers that top-of-the-world feeling.
The Getaway Trip to Paris
Want to explore the iconic parts of Paris on a tight schedule? Follow our itinerary through the most famous locations scattered around the city - from the world-renowned Louvre to the glamorous Tour Eiffel, this is the best route for the ultimate weekend getaway to the French capital.
Being "That Girl" in 2023
In the era of social media influencers and successful entrepreneurs, we explore how to trailblaze a path that is true to your own talents and passions.
Analog Travel Memorabilia
Modern-day travelling has changed the way we capture moments we spend away from home and want to treasure forever. Social media has made it so easy to keep digital diaries of our travel experiences, but we explore what we can gain from going back to basics. Is ditching the digital for the analog alternative the new nomadic travellers' way of rebellion?
Elegant, timeless and authentic the garments by Matia Beachwear are created for the modern-day traveller, who is often on the go and likes to pack light. The Germany-based label works with manufacturers in Italy and tailors in Portugal to create seamless pieces that embody the idea of a carefree summer. Pack the swims for a last-minute sunkissed getaway, a long-weekend Asian remote work/beach vacation or a summer-long stay along the azure coasts of breathtaking European beaches. Wherever you are headed, the pieces by Matia Beachwear are our favourite swimsuit essentials this summer season.
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.