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 HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE
From reaching Cappadocia to recommendations on when to visit and where to stay, this is our guide to everything you need to know before riding a hot air balloon over the valley’s picturesque volcanic landscape
Words: Aleksandra Georgieva
Photography: Alex Azabache
24 March 2021
If you have ever dreamt of riding a hot air balloon over volcanic “fairy chimney” formations and scenic valleys, Cappadocia is the place to be. Located in central Turkey, the region is well-known among adventure travellers for the panoramic postcard-worthy views of hundreds of hot air balloons gracing the skies. Cappadocia is only around 3 hours southeast from Turkey’s capital city Ankara. You can get there by plane, and it takes just over an hour to fly from Istanbul to either of the two airports – Kayseri and Nevşehir.
Prior to visiting Cappadocia remember to book accommodation ahead, especially during peak season. The infamous cave hotels in the region ensure a unique stay, but their Instagram-appeal also makes them quite expensive. Yet, if you ever heard to Cappadocia, we recommend at least a night’s stay at the authentic rooms carved into mountainsides, where you can have a coffee on the rooftop in the mornings and watch the balloons fly overhead. One of the best towns to stay in the region is Göreme as it is situated closely to various landmarks, grocery stores, restaurants and hotels. Other main towns in Cappadocia are Selime, Uçhisar, Ihlara Valley, Ürgüp, Zelve and Guzelyurt.
The peak season for visiting Cappadocia is between June and August, and during the winter months it gets quite cold. The best time to visit the region is between March and June which is when the weather is warmer and there are less crowds. Yet, the hot air balloon season in the area is almost all year round, as opposed to other locations in Europe, meaning that you can enjoy scenic rides over winter wonderland scenery or witness the valleys at the peak of springtime. However, even in the summer months, the temperatures in Cappadocia can fluctuate and it can get especially cold in the early mornings. Make sure to pack a jacket and bear in mind that although there is no dress code to riding a hot air balloon, slightly conservative clothing is recommended in order to be respectful when visiting Turkey.
Here are the top five things to know before you hop in a hot air balloon basket for the opportunity to feel weightless across Cappadocia’s skies.
1. Book your ride early
Cappadocia is perhaps the only place in the world where up to 100 balloons ae allowed to take off before sunrise and another 50 follow half an hour afterwards. Over a couple thousand people a day get to ride the infamous hot air balloons in Cappadocia, which means that the spots for each take-off can sometimes fill up months in advance. For the best chance of getting on a flight, make sure to book a spot early or plan for a stay in the region of at least three nights.
2. Get ready to go high
Whether you have a fear of heights or are an adventure traveller, bear in mind that hot air balloons can fly high above the ground and depending on the wind can reach various speed – from 2km up to 22km per hour. Apart from the extreme altitude, experienced pilots can also take travellers right down into Cappadocia’s valleys, manoeuvring past the unique rock formations of the traditional cave hotels in Göreme.
3. Choose wisely
The hot air balloon industry in Cappadocia is blossoming thanks to the picturesque region and social media. Although the first commercial passenger balloon in Turkey took flight in 1991, today over 25 companies have registered around 200 balloons. Depending on the company and the amount of people in the basket, a ride across Cappadocia’s skies can cost between 130-180 Euros per person. A “deluxe” flight, although slightly more expensive, can last slightly longer and fits less passengers in the basket resulting in a more comfortable experience.
4. Expect flight cancellation
Hot air ballooning in Cappadocia may happen on approximately 250 days of the year, but weather conditions may occasionally get a flight cancelled. Even if you wake up before sunrise, pay the fee and watch at the take-off site as the balloons fill up with hot air, with seemingly no indication of bad weather, sometimes there may be strong winds high above the ground. Apart from wind, natural occurrences such as snow, rain, for and thunderstorms can leave you watching your guide deflate the balloon at the very last minute.
Tip: Book a few-nights’ stay in Cappadocia to avoid missing a hot air balloon spot in the occasional event of your flight getting cancelled. If you experience flight cancellation, try to immediately reschedule with the same company. In peak season even next-day flights are often fully booked. In such case, call and email as many companies in Cappadocia as you can about spaces on various (deluxe, post-sunrise, sunset) flights, although they can be more expensive. Make sure to check your inbox regularly as most companies hold a spot only for an hour before moving on to the next person on their waitlist.
5. Enjoy the ride
Even n the safest conditions and with the most experienced crew, accidents can happen, yet much like aircrafts, balloons are subject to regular safety checks and get registered with the aviation authority. Pilots pass flight tests and medical checks, gaining a number of flight hours before starting to gain more experience. Hot air ballooning involves some level of risk and while there have been accidents in the past, as long as you choose an experienced balloon company that prioritises passenger safety, a weightless ride across Cappadocia’s picturesque terrain can be the ride of your lifetime.
As fun as hot air balloon rides can be, witnessing the balloons from any of Cappadocia’s viewpoints, is a rivalry enchanting experience. The region bursts with open air museums, sprawling underground cities and archaeological sites that await the curious travellers.
Bonus tip: Visitors that stay in Cappadocia for a few days, benefit from purchasing the Museum Pass Cappadocia card, which is accepted in most tourist locations such as Ihlara Valley, Zelve Archaeological Site, Derinkuyu Underground City and the Goreme Open Air Museum. The Museum Pass Turkey on the other hand is ideal for travellers, who wish to visit other cities across Turkey including Pamukkale and Istanbul.
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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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