Beaches, volcanoes, and sacred dances: understanding the Solomon Islands.
Tucked away in the vast expanse of Melanesia lies one of the planet’s least-visited destinations: the Solomon Islands. Only 30’000 people visit this country each year, making it the 7th least visited place in the world. Known affectionately as the “Happy Isles,” this magnificent archipelago of over 900 islands remains an untouched realm of dramatic…
Where glaciers meet rainforests: the natural and human wonders of New Guinea
Few places on Earth retain an air of genuine mystery quite like New Guinea. As the second-largest island on the planet – surpassed in size only by Greenland – this massive landmass stretches across the southwestern Pacific, split down the middle into two political entities: the independent nation of Papua New Guinea to the east…
The Kimberley in Northwest Australia: ancient earth and living heritage.
Stretching across nearly 420,000 square kilometers in the northern reaches of Western Australia, the Kimberley is one of the world’s last great wildernesses. The size of California, but with a population of less than 40’000, it is a land sculpted by vast stretches of deep time, where ancient geology defines the landscape, and where living…
Australian rock art: a timeless expression of Aboriginal culture
Aboriginal rock art in Australia is a profound testament to the enduring cultural heritage of the continent’s Indigenous peoples. These artworks, found across the vast landscapes of Australia, but strongly present in the Kimberly area in the northwest of the country, are not merely decorative but serve as vital records of social laws, environmental knowledge,…
Domestic life’s influence on Northern Thai dance.
Many of the traditional dances in the northern part of Thailand, which are performed to this day, are inspired by everyday tasks such as weaving and other home activities. Aj. Waewdao Sirisook, National Artist in Contemporary Performing Arts, accompanied by her students, took us through the origin of four dances, and through them, offered us…
Beyond the blue: uncovering the culture and history of the Maldives
Most people have heard of the Maldive Islands as a paradise for holiday makers, which it certainly is. But there is a lot more to this unique collection of islands located to the southwest of India and Sri Lanka. The Maldives is a collection of over 1,200 coral islands, grouped into a double chain of…
Southern Sri Lanka: European charm and untouched beaches.
Sri Lanka is often described as “Asia in a nutshell” because it manages to pack into one island a large amount of geographic and cultural diversity. Unlike much larger countries, where you can spend days just getting from one area to another, in Sri Lanka you can have breakfast in misty, cool mountains, lunch in…
Rajasthan: survival and splendour in India’s desert frontier.
The geography, history, and culture of Rajasthan make it one of India’s most compelling regions, defined by a stark landscape and a strategic past that continues to shape its modern identity. Understanding Rajasthan requires looking past the “Land of Kings” (as this area of India is historically known) to the practical realities of its desert…
Amulets, tattoos, and the spiritual world of modern Thailand
In modern Thailand, the interplay between religion, lifestyle and commerce is vividly illustrated through the practices surrounding amulets and tattoos. The latter are not merely cultural artifacts but are deeply embedded into the socio-economic fabric of Thai society. They serve as much more than just spiritual tokens, they are nowadays in fact pragmatic tools for…
Australia: the vast and undiscovered jewel.
Australia is a truly unique travel destination, the only country that is also an entire continent (often called the “island continent”). This results in a staggering diversity of landscapes, climates, and life, and a history of human occupation, that is found nowhere else on Earth. We spent five weeks visiting only a small portion of Australia, essentially…
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