Статьи - Annabel Li OUTLOOK

Leather Tanneries in Fez: Rainbow palette of the East

Ancient Fez medina is firmly holding time in a criss-crossing maze of tiny alleyways and picturesque shops. The medieval town of craftsmen does not recognize modern technology, however, it is not difficult to trace a full production of cute handbag with embossed lettering. The leather for souvenir is produced there, in courtyards, and at a reasonable cost a tannery owner would reveal details of folk art with a millennial history.

21.02.2022 | travel, Morocco

Step over threshold: The magical art of the huichol

Dazzling flashes of ancient knowledge manifested in colourful shimmering beads and in elaborated yarn mosaics by Huichol Indians, captivate the imagination calling for an endless journey through branches of the world tree. Spiritual images take on flesh in intricate ornaments that accompany a Mexican peasant throughout his life.

10.02.2022 | art, Mexico

Unforgettable Tschäggättä: Horrors in Lötschental Valley

In February Switzerland changes beyond recognition: reckless power of pre-Lent carnivals, insatiable gluttony and cat’s choirs of Guggenmusik rush into the streets. Only evil spirits are kind of weak – same glamorous vampires and emaciated zombies. Want it to become really scary? Head to Lötschental Valley to celebrate Tschäggättä: infernal characters from Alpine folklore will haunt you in your dreams!

03.02.2022 | Switzerland

Amazons from tribe mosuo: Conservation of feminism in the shadow of Himalayas

Composers of antiutopias predict hundreds of sorrows to the people of the future who are from times to times forbidden to celebrate weddings, however, it seems, everything is not so terrible. In Chinese province Yun Nan near the foot of Himalayas the matriarch tribe mosuo resides that is not familiar with the concept of marriage at all.

01.02.2022 | traditions, China

Malanka and Vasyl winter fun: Carnival in Ukrainian style

The New Year in Ukraine did not always start with a Christmas tree, and instead of Santa Claus and Snow Maiden, guests were waiting fora minx girl - Malanka and motor-boy Vasyl accompanied by the retinue. All the follies were out of hand: the ridiculed riddles carried a sacred content, dictated by the logic of the myth of the duel of spring and winter.

13.01.2022 | traditions, Ukraine

Let's ride! On four paws through Switzerland

Dog sledding is a national passion in Switzerland: it is for a good reason that one of the best European camps for training sled dogs is located in the forest village of Saint-Cergue, nested behind the Jura mountain. The way into the huskies’ realm goes through sunny pine forest along the picturesque route Jura Alpine Trail from the mountain of La Dôle in the valley of the Col de la Givrine.

30.12.2021 | Switzerland

Eskimo igloo: It is easy as a pie to build castles in ...snow

A little son came to his father and suggested to run away from mom and granny to the North Pole? Now, do not indulge into tragic speeches of severe frosts, pitch darkness of the polar night and hungry polar bears! Give a conspiracy wink to a little brave one, and give him a real man's job for his school winter holidays that is to learn how to build an igloo, night shelter in ever-frost lands.

28.12.2021 | traditions, Finland, Canada

Unique Lapland: country of wonders within the Polar circle

The closer winter holidays are, the louder all-nation weeping for the lost charms of New Year night is. Rains, fogs, and ordinary tiredness obstructed the way of joy into city, and fairy-tale stands back at the North, in far Lapland. The shivering glow of the polar lights fleshes out the ancient tales and blows off the golden dust from the holiday cards...

24.12.2021 | Norway, Sweden, Finland

Nan Madol: A City over an Abyss

Only an abandoned artificial archipelago with traces of extinct civilizations can better than a deserted island! Cadent splash of oars that plows blue dreams of the Pacific Ocean quells drumroll of ecstasy in your temples while preparing will and mind to the meeting with the greatest mystery of Micronesia. Nan Madol lies empty for more than one hundred years...

28.11.2021 | travel, Micronesia

Kabuki: thorny path of flower

Traditional Japanese kabuki theatre has always been a mystery to the European mentality: only an expert on the culture of the Land of the Rising Sun can understand a play without guide’s tips. The word kabuki is sometimes translated as "the art of singing and dancing". Why not an operetta? The essence of performance is not confined to musical presentation only...

20.11.2021 | Japan, art, traditions

Happiness moves in mysterious way: Places to make wishes in Latvia

Trip to Latvia breaks the chain of mundanity, awakes secret fantasies which usually remain dormant in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Wandering between the centuries-old pine trees, fresh Baltic breeze languidly runs over strings in wait for off-beat adventure. Dreams do come true – you just need to know a right place to make a wish.

31.10.2021 | traditions, tourism, Latvia

Fight like a woman. The fight club of flying cholit

The free fight has not feminine face. The good girl could smile in a pretty way and care colorful dress but not strike out wildly. But in the fierce Ands such gentle flowers do not grow. The true Bolivian cholit will be quick on the uptake, and it is able to fill in if necessary. But on Sunday, having gathered the starched skirts, she will desperately go to fight

08.10.2021 | traditions, Bolivia

Kagoshima: City with kamikaze fame

Build your cities on the slopes of Vesuvius!, Nietzsche exclaimed in a prophetic ecstasy. Gloomy pathos of the philosopher could be hardly understood by the residents of the Japanese city of Kagoshima, located at the bottom of the caldera Aira resulting from the explosion about 22 thousand years ago. Farmers were hoeing edges of the hollow from the Bronze Age, as usual fending off the ashes scattered in the air.

05.09.2021 | Japan, travels

Made In Sweden: Dalecarlian Horse

And since winged horses of Valkyries darted away to Valhalla forever, Dalecarlian horse has remained the guardian of Vikings’ traditions – painted folk toy, first mentioned in chronicles of 17th century. Dalecarlian horse serves as an amulet of non-touristic Sweden by saving from oblivion ancient fables and beliefs.

04.09.2021 | art, Sweden

What do they eat: Ukraine

Spoiled with home-made borshch, holubtsy and cotlets, we are under an illusion that we know Ukrainian cuisine like the tips of own fingers and there is nothing distinctive about it while in fact gastronomic heritage of our country is far richer than a grandma’s ingenuous menu. Time has come to recall original Ukrainian dishes that were undeservedly forgotten in the era of semi-cooked products and fast food.

24.08.2021 | Ukraine, what do they eat

Kalamaja: First line of Estonian avant-garde

Quiet fishing villages are seething with whirlpools of ideas and brilliant minds. Tallinn bohemians revived to life the ancient seaside neighbourhood Kalamaja. Since the Middle Ages, the area was traditionally dominated by fishermen, fishmongers and boat wrights, and nowadays catchers of souls are flocking towards the place, twining variegated networks of studios...

11.08.2021 | Estonia

Along the waves of time: historic Sailing vessels of Estonia

History of Estonia isn’t preserved in scrolls of parchment but in leaden chronicles of the North Sea. Winding coastline three thousand kilometers long has seen millions of sails starting with striped cloths of drakkars to nap-of-the-earth flight of clippers over the waves in the era of steam and electricity.

17.07.2021 | traditions, Estonia, craft

Lost island of Yap. The land of big money

How can you understand the nature of finance, if there is no desire to go deep into the jungle of science? It is better to see once, than to read a hundred times: a trip to the island of Yap in Micronesia replaces the entire university course of monetary theory. Yap roads are lined up with giant doughnut-shaped, carved disks the size of a millstone - rampant inflation has made the world biggest money into fun for tourists.

15.05.2021 | traditions, Micronesia

What do they eat: Belgium

There is no other country in the world that has suffered so much from restaurant critics as Belgium. Riding superficially on waves of French-Italian mainstream, glossy publications scold Belgians mercilessly for their provincial tastes and universal cult of potatoes. Just think of it: to chase seafood with vulgar French fries and serve potato pudding as a main dish!

14.05.2021 | Belgium, what do they eat

Belgian lace: Waltz of a thousand threads

At the sight of Flemish lacework it is hard to shake the feeling that miraculous flowers, artfully braided into a wreath of a pattern, were born from loose sparks that had escaped a magic wand. On the inside of the beauty there are efforts and days of jetsam girls, stolen from life by labyrinth of openwork loops.

26.04.2021 | art, Belgium

What do they eat: Malaysia

It is easier to try teasing odor of Malay cuisine than to describe it. Give a shot at throwing into a boiling kettle a thimbleful of India and a pinch of China, spice it up with pungent infusion of Indonesia and sultry spirit of Morocco, add a couple of drops of Siam and stew on slow fire for several hundred years watching scattering of Portuguese influence melt in checkered amalgam of culinary traditions of peoples of Malaysia – and you will taste bliss.

24.02.2021 | Malaysia, what do they eat

Sri Lankan Masks: Guides to the Kingdom of Spirits

Traditional carved mask is a desired souvenir for a tourist fascinated by distinctive bright tropical color of a wonderful island of Sri Lanka. Painted faces of monsters from fairy tales win hearts with liveliness and straightforwardness of emotions that our rational world so desperately lacks – and your hand surrenders to an impulse to reach for the wallet, owner of a shop is lavish in his praise of your taste…

21.10.2020 | Sri Lanka

Veuve Clicquot: Champagne of Merry WidIow

Today’s foodies probably would have disdained to drink this champagne in the beginning of 19th century: an elegant golden wine was concealed by cloudy veil of yeast introduced into the blend to produce carbon dioxide, a delightful bouquet of fruit and vanilla tones was destroyed by rough off-flavours. Such a product could not satisfy the refined tastes of wealthy public and, as a consequence...

18.10.2020 | brand history

What do they eat: Greece

Traditional Greek cuisine is full of paradoxes. The menu of Greek taverns contradicts all the laws of healthy eating: the descendants of the Hellenes loved fried meat, sheep cheese and sweets, dine late, honor the god Dionysus - and remain slim and fit up to having gray hair. Do not be afraid to make a mistake when counting calories: national Greek dishes - a joy for body and soul!

14.10.2020 | Greece, what do they eat

White gold of Tianxia. Chinese porcelain

The civilization of ancient China was one of the first to discover porcelain. It is established that back in II millennium BC the firing temperature of pottery found in the Yellow River was close to 1200 ° C. According to some researchers, the invention of porcelain was dictated by the desire to find a replacement for greenstone and jade.

02.10.2020 | art, traditions, China

What do they eat: the United Kingdom

Cuisine of the United Kingdom is a nightmare for nutritionists, gourmets and other healthy food experts. A typical Englishman doesn’t honor art of cooking much and for the sake of saving time often grabs a snack on the go with fresh vegetables and fruits present in the diet purely technically. We know exactly where to look for and will be happy to share with you!

30.08.2020 | Great Britain, what do they eat

Forgotten art: Chinese ceremony in South Korea

After the walking along the boisterous streets of Seoul one wants to take it easy in a café drinking a cup of flavored tea, however, it never happens like that. Good teahouses are found out only near Buddhist monasteries or at the bohemian pedestrian street Insadon. Chinese ceremony in Korea that is incomparable with the rough schedule of offices and remaining the joy of wise people and privilege of the masters.

17.01.2020 | traditions, history, South Korea

Armenian khachkars: Poem in stone

...The virtuoso chisel inhaled the heat of a living soul in a cold stone block and created a khachkar - an inspired narrative about the spiritual search and longing for a lost paradise, unhurriedly unfolding tenacious rings of ancient mysteries in the curls of mystical ornaments.

26.06.2019 | travel, Armenia

Brand history: Cirque du Soleil

Spectacular show project Cirque du Soleil rocked the world of circus art to remind that circus can not only entertain but also create new reality. Crazy experiments on human body defy any power on gravity and miracle-plays of sound and light lure the audience into a twilight labyrinth of philosophical dramas letting them get to the sun together with characters of stagings.

16.11.2017 | art, brand history

Ground-hog day in Switzerland: we are in response for those whom we have fed

The hospitality of Switzerland does not know borders. Not only administrators of hotels soaped down with generous tips but also wild animals try to serve the tourists. Maybe, only in Swiss Alps one can meet groundhogs who jump on the knees to the travelers. A smart animal any minute how could speak human voice as clinging beady eyes shine with the intelligence and slyness…

02.06.2017