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.
ARTICLES FROM THE ARCHIVES
The Best ARTICLES from the Archives​
To celebrate the launch of our fifth issue, our team went through the archives to select our all-time favourite articles
Words by: The Editors
18 August 2022
We are proud to have launched five print issues and are eternally grateful for the opportunity to share our travel experiences with you. We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for joining us on this journey as we put together stories, travel essays and photo guides meant to help you get to know the lesser-travelled paths of the world a bit better.
​
Ever since we launched NOMADSofORIGIN Magazine, we have worked to establish the print as a physical form of armchair travel, a glimpse into the kaleidoscopic world of wanderlust and an atlas to the cultural mosaic that different destination have to offer. From grabbing a bite from world-renowned street vendors in Bangkok to booking a safari trip in the Kenyan wilderness and diving underwater with the 'sea nomads', here are our team's top pick of articles from the print archives.
​
​
Creativity in Stillness
(from #04 The ESCAPISM Issue)
Modern-day art means to create in isolation. During the time of the global pandemic, we looked up to artists who created some of the most valued masterpieces in the art history whilst in solitude. This essay is meant to inspire you to keep creating and always return to your artistic roots.
​
​
Underwater Escapism
(from #04 The ESCAPISM Issue)
With adventure travel on the rise, we shine light on the sea level rise, the ocean pollution crisis and the increasing need of marine preservation and sustainable diving. Follow us to underwater caves in the depths of Mexico, the Barrier Reef of Belize and the stunning islands of Ecuador to explore what the future holds for abstract tourism.
​
​
Bangkok: city of contrasts
(from #04 The ESCAPISM Issue)
World-renowned as the best place on the planet to taste Thai food, Bangkok's streets hold incomparable authenticity. To eat like a local in Thailand's capital often means to taste $2 Michelin star dishes off street stalls. We take you on a journey across the city to explore the Asian culture in the best way possible - through the delicious food.
​
‘‘Late 14th century travellers from the Middle East and India settled down in Thailand and brought along recipes of meat dishes with rich dried spices flavours. For an authentic dish that has barely changed over time, try the Islamic-world-influenced fried bread, known as roh-dee.’’
​
The ESCAPISM Issue
NOMADSofORIGIN Magazine
​
​
Travel To... Pig Island, the Bahamas
(from #04 The ESCAPISM Issue)
We take you to the island of Exuma - the home of the swimming pigs and exotic iguanas. At this destination, uninhabited by humans, iguanas roam the coastline, sea turtles swim in the bays and sharks rule the depths. Take a walk along the white-sandy beaches of one of the most peaceful and scenic island known to man.
​
​
Chasing Footsteps in the Desert
(from #03 The NOMADIC Issue)
Desert dust footsteps mark our way, bonding our generation to a time of Indians and Native American tribes. A story of how we are all connected to nature, this article is a story of how the rocks and deserts shape the tale of the lifetime of the nations that were the first to call the area their home.
​
.jpg)
​
Women Who Surf
(from #03 The NOMADIC Issue)
In a world where waves have been dominated by men, generations of female surfers are ready to be recognised for their unmatchable achievements. The tides are about to turn around for a sport based on gender inequality. From the Big Wave surfing in Malibu to the world's toughest and most prestigious surf competitions, the queens of the waves prove that they are surf legends in the making.
​
​
Nomadic Explorers
(from #03 The NOMADIC Issue)
Trace how travelling has changed over the past couple of decades and how the human became the nomadic explorers of our own home planet. From a time before the rise of the internet to the era of internet travel, the way we explore the world has changed and with it our view of exploring has shifted as well.
​
‘‘Although much has changed in the world of travelling in the past few decades, one thing remains. We all keep walking in the footsteps of our ancestors, continuing a path that would lead the future nomadic explorers.’’
​
The NOMADIC Issue
NOMADSofORIGIN Magazine
​
​
No One's Land
(from #01 The LAND Issue)
From the way the First Nation worshipped the land to what it represents nowadays to travellers, our team explored the connection between nomads and the land so we can gain a better understanding of how nature and people co-exist in balance.
​
Masseria Moroseta
(from #01 The LAND Issue)
To design a house that captures the essence of a home is one thing, but to encapsulate the philosophy of an entire country in a guesthouse is another thing entirely. Our exclusive interview with the architects and creative thinkers behind the charming Masseria Moroseta set just outside of Ostuni will have you fall in love with Puglia and all things Italy.
​
Barrow, Alaska
(from #02 The CLIMATE CHANGE Issue)
In this scenic photo guide we take you to a place that feels like it exists on the edge of the world. Deep into the ice-cold Alaskan embrace, the mountains are a safe heaven to a nation unlike any other. From the customs of the Taranaki people of New Zealand to the Greek mythology and Mount Olympus, the mountains symbolism preservers through cultures, generations and time.
​
​
Destination Inspiration: Venice, Italy
(from #02 The CLIMATE CHANGE Issue)
A study published in the Nature Communications journal looks into the raise of the ocean levels and how that could affect cites by the middle of the century. Take a look at why 150 million people are currently living in places that could be underwater in 25 years’ time.
​
‘‘A future that is defined by climate changes is not a myth, nor is it a possibility any longer. Global warming is already affecting nature and in turn it changes the lifestyle of entire nations.’’
​
The CLIMATE CHANGE Issue
NOMADSofORIGIN Magazine
​
​
Behind the Lens
(from #05 The WANDERLUST Issue)
Adrenaline-pumping sport photography reveals the dangers of living life on the edge and the beauty of testing the limits of what is humanly possible. We talked to professional photographers who risk it all for the perfect shot. They shared their advice about how to capture the award-winning shot when you snap athletes in the ideal moment flipping mid-air on a motorcycle over a dune in a desert track or hanging upside down from a major cliff. From what gear to pack to calculating what is the perfect time of the day to shoot, their tips are helpful for beginners and fellow pro photographers.
​
​
Solo Female Travellers
(from #05 The WANDERLUST Issue)
The future is female and this is especially true for the world of travel. When it comes to adventurers, men might dominate the history books, but we take a moment to celebrate record-breaking female explorers. Planning a trip as a female explorer comes with a set of different rules and we made a list of pro tips for the solo female travellers.
​
‘‘When it comes to adventurers, men might dominate history books, but we take a moment to celebrate record-breaking female explorers and share our best safety tips for solo female travellers.’’
​
The WANDERLUST Issue
NOMADSofORIGIN Magazine
​
​
​One Thousand and One Arabian Nights
(from #05 The WANDERLUST Issue)
Follow our week-long itinerary to Saudi Arabia designed to help you navigate your travels to the Kingdom and immerse yourself in a dreamlike expedition that has only recently become available to most travellers.
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.