- tradition
- (12)
-
Barretos, a small, sleepy, typical Alentejo village near Marvao, comes alive on the 2nd weekend in August with a bull run through the village, followed by a festa (festival) which continues well into the night. See the real Portugal and join the friendly locals in their tradition (they do not kill the bulls here in Portugal).
It's an incredible medieval event, with the best choreography ever. Watch it from a private balcony or window (you won't see very much otherwise). Unforgettable!
Arezzo, June 21st and September 7
eventsinitaly@gmail.com
If you are curious to see this bloody tourist show, please consider that:
24 hours beforehand, the bull is shut in a dark wooden box, denied food, and weakened and disorientated by having the ends of his horns painfully cut off.
At the moment of the bullfight, the bull is released from the darkness straight into the arena. Blinded and disorientated by the light, he looks for a chance to escape. But here he will be tortured with a 45cm-long spear tipped with a conical blade to cut the muscles at the base of his neck, force him to lower his head, and start the blood loss.
Then, in the same part of his body, ‘banderillas’ (harpoons of 8cm in length) will be thrust in and left there to painfully sever nerves and muscles with every movement the bull makes. Finally, a sword of 80-100cm in length is plunged in, which penetrates the bull’s body, perforating his heart, his lungs, his diaphragm or liver, causing him to die.
The horses too are the victims. Often gored and disemboweled, their wounds are hidden by the long blankets they wear. Their vocal chords are cut, so that you are unable to hear their cries. Do not encourage the torture of animals: Spain has many bloodless festivals that demonstrate it is possible to enjoy yourself without being cruel. 75% of Spaniards are against this practice but it is the financial support of tourists that allows this butchery to continue.
The annual event takes places in Appleby over the second weekend of June. It is an opportunity for travellers all over the world to gather and exchange news.
In the fields you can see people with their beautiful vardos engaged in old crafts - horse shoeing, embroidery, wooden peg making and have your fortune told. In the evening watch the horse and buddy races and throughout the day you can watch the washing of the horses followed by the horse parade. Go to church and witness a travellers wedding or baptism.
Great to be surrounded by beautiful countryside with a community long forgotten by mainstream society.
Fruit is prohibitively expensive for islanders, and stationery is a very welcome gift for the children.
If staying overnight, you'll be allocated a family home to stay by the island council or elders. This is to ensure income from tourists gets spread fairly.
You can buy the fruit on the edge of Lake Titicaca, and just give it out to islanders you encounter walking up from the boat and in the town.
If you would like to visit the school, go with your guide to ask to donate stationery for/to the children.
You may find it one of the most rewarding aspects of your trip.
Lake Titicaca
There are a lot of traditional religious feasts and festivals on the island of Karpathos in the summer. Don't miss the festival of Kyra Panagia on August 23 at the church of this small village, another one is held in Vroukounda village at the church of St.John on August 27.
The medina is still split into sectors of interdependent activity. One street is nothing but knife-grinders who sharpen knives for the next street, which is full of babouche (slipper) makers.
A hammering will lead you to a courtyard where gigantic tureens are made for weddings. In some streets you will see braid being made. Men also perform kaftan embroidery.
Unlike Marrakech, the Fes medina has no mopeds or vehicles, just mules carrying anything from gas bottles to wet sheepskins, and with a cry of Balek! (Arabic for 'get out of the way', the mules wear rubber soles for grip so you don't hear them).
In the tannery you are right back in the middle ages, where you can see, and more importantly smell, the entire process of flensing to washing to dyeing. The skins are cured with dog and pigeon poo amongst many other revolting things.
Brand new holiday three-bedroom teak wood home in Bangkok Taling Chan district.
Around are traditional houses with orchards, gardens, peace and clean air.
Suit family with children and animals as the place is safe and has a terrace under the elevated on stilts house.
A much better option of staying in Bangkok than the town centre, with its noise, pollution, traffic jams and crowds of tourists.
In a Taling Chan home-stay you will immerse yourself in a traditional lifestyle and learn a little bit about Thai culture and customs. Walks through the fruit orchards and flower groves make a very challenging experience.
You can feel here like living in a traditional thai village - yet five minutes walk is 7/11 shop, cash machine and a daily street market. A short ride there is a famous traditional thai floating market in Taling Chan by the Chakphra Canal.
There are several nice homestays in that area - old thai teak wood houses on stilts just overlooking slowly moving canals. You are in the middle of verdant and vast, lush gardens.
There is nothing comparable to it in the whole of Thailand - a dream student home stay or a holiday accommodation.
172/9 m 11 Kanchanapisek
Salathammasop
Thawi Wattana
Bangkok 10160
Caretaker - Mr Nan +66 896619266, fax +6628063629
Owner/Booking - +44 7957473617
It's by Thanon Wongwan Rob Nok (Outer Western Ring Road)and by the Klong Bang Tal - 5 minutes drive to Southern Bus Terminal (towards Kanchanaburi, Cha Am, Hua Hin, Phuket, Krabi and Malaysia) on Thonburi & 15 minutes to Chao Phraya River, Khaosan Rd, the Old King's Palace & the Wat Pho. Air con Bus 516 from Khaosan Rd/Kings Palace area (25 minutes), bus 127 from PATA department store (15 minutes). There is also a frequent direct air con bus 556 to Suvarnabhumi Airport (1h).
check it out on google maps:
www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/AUN57CEM
lat=13.79381307 latitude
lon=100.408499781 longitude
These are the women who traditionally engage in pearl/ seaweed diving on Jeju Island. It is a tradition that is passed on from mother to daughter. These women are very strong, independent and have strong organisations. It is very interesting to watch them at work. The tradition is dying out as mothers don't want their daughters to take up such hard work.
It's best to check with the Korean tourism dept on Jeju Island about the various hay-nyaw diving sites dotting the island. They also run inns where you can stay.
The Silk Farm and Carving Workshop are excellent places for free and informative tours of the work the Artisans d'Angkor group is doing to re-invigorate the ancient Cambodian arts.
Better yet, you can browse the air-conditioned gift shop of beautiful creations at the end.
I learn something new everytime I go!
The Silk Farm is 20km west of town in Puok District.
The Carving Workshop is within walking distance of the Old Market.
wwww.artisansdangkor.com
The first statue to be placed on Charles Bridge was that of St. John Nepomuk in 1623. St. John Nepomuk was arrested by Wenceslas IV in 1393 after displeasing the King. He died under torture and his body was thrown from the Charles Bridge into the Vltava. On the base of the statue are bronze relief panels depicting his martyrdom. These have become polished over time as touching the reliefs is said to bring luck and there is usually a fair queue of people testing this out.
On the Charles Bridge - towards the Mala Strana side
You what? Cormorant fishing - it's a traditional practise involving painstakingly-trained birds on the end of strings. These then dive into the river and catch fish on behalf of their handler. At Yangshuo it's been touristified, so with floodlit barges full of tourists on the scene it's not ideal, but still a rare chance to view a way of life that few know still exists.
Book through cafes and hotels - and it goes on at night, so bring a torch, warm clothing and loads and loads of mosquito repellent.
Send your feedback or queries to been.there@guardian.co.uk
Search Been there
