Статьи - Elena Rasenko OUTLOOK

Art of topiary

When I, as a little girl, for the first time passed my hand over trimmed bush, my palm got scratched with sharp edges of twigs and lasting arborvitae fragrance hit my nose. Mesmerized, I was not able to take my eyes away from the cones, balls and squares that surrounded me in the park of a small resort town. I felt like being inside a fairy tale, where behind the leaves I could notice a smile of the Cheshire Cat.

16.02.2022 | art, nature

Eternal love. Monuments to love in Ukraine

How much love weights and can its volume be measued? Does it have a garvity center and how it behaves in hours of ardent heat ot snow storms? Sure enough, love is an ethereal feeling that rather resembles crazy butterflies dancing in your stomach. However people, who have deep feelings, have learned to "create love" and convey its meaning in stone, wood or metal for others.

14.02.2022 | Ukraine

Lekh. On top of the world

From the first sight it is not clear, whether this cliffs are tightly pressed against the dilapidated Buddhist temples or the ancient buildings are looking for support and comfort from the boulders. Lekh, the ancient city, is located in northern India at an altitude of three thousand meters in Jammu state...

02.02.2022 | India

Jaipur. Pink city. Part 2

Jaipur is always invaded by hordes of tourists. The city is included into the most of India travel guides. There are enough hotels, many street diners and comfortable cafes, no problem with the choice of transport. The local people are friendly and helpful to visitors. If this impulse is encouraged with a few rupees, the Indians will be happy to share information...

31.01.2022 | India

Jaipur. Pink city

Someone compares Jaipur with lace tablecloth; others with a box of pink marshmallows; and some admirers claim this is a hive densely inhabited by bees. However, everyone agrees on one thing: there is the wonderful air full of freedom which cannot be found in Europe. It fills the lungs and breathing it a traveller loses count of hours and even centuries.

24.01.2022 | travel, India

Departure: Satoyama

In Japan there is a city with the citizens who trust each other. It seems that they drink water from one source that flows along their houses. As well, they wash hands after the meals in the same places. Satoyama in translation means an ideal place for life in harmony with the nature. It is situated in Northern prefecture Gifu that is isolated from the rest of the world with the mountain tops and rice fields.

16.01.2022 | Japan, departure

Richard Gannon: The Faroe Islands - Sheep islands

Only three months a year air connection between the United Kingdom and Faroe Islands operates. I was excited about my future trip although I didn’t realize the whole nine yards of what was expecting me there, in the North. Sometimes I was picturing the Faroes as the land covered in ice. Next moment it seemed that strong wind persists in the islands which meant that I would be blown off some cliff into cold water.

15.01.2022 | we were there, the Faroe Islands

We were there: Gudauri

In Gudauri it is easy to feel time, pinch it between your fingers and stretch it in space, tuning up your inner rhythm to a sensation mode. There are no deadlines, annoying neighbours and reckless guys driving out to oncoming traffic lane. All this hustle and bustle seem illusory and momentary. Here, in Gudauri values are different. The mountains do not tolerate fuss, inner dialogue and self-criticism. The greatest pleasure is just to contemplate at them.

11.01.2022 | Georgia, we were there

Handicraft: persian carpets

In those days when the Persian soldiers were second to none, and both the Roman Empire and the Arabian Peninsula were conquered by their power, skilful fingers of winner nation craftswomen created their first masterpiece. The carpet called The Springtime passed into history as the most precious of all time. It symbolized powerful rule of the Persians, and its beauty told about the divine origin of the king Khosrow I.

19.12.2021 | art, traditions, Iran

Chan Chan. Peru city from clay

Experienced travelers tell that one could watch the ruins of ancient settlements in the Andes during several months, moving from one region to another. Particularly, the richest one in archaeological complexes of is the western coast of the Southern continent. A long time ago, some of them, such as Machu Picchu, have become popular with tourists, others are just beginning to open their doors to curious people.

15.12.2021 | travel, Peru

Baalbek. The City of the Sun

This might have been Titans with about three meters of height or aliens who accidentally happened to wander on Earth and had to build a spaceport. Or maybe the Phoenicians tried to express their obeisance to the supreme god Ba’al with a gigantic construction. Till now nobody managed to answer what kind of civilization erected Baalbek – one of the most majestic monuments of Lebanon.

30.11.2021 | Lebanon

Time to go to Chișinău!

Come on! You have not been there yet! Your friends are mistaken if they discourage you to visit this city. Be sure to take the nearest train, bus or plane and head to enjoy the world most delicious mămăligă (a cornmeal mush or porridge), gogoshar (bell pepper), and dessert Guguta's cap. And if you are lucky to arrive at the right time, go to festivals of sweet cherry, lavender or wine.

26.11.2021 | Moldova

The citizens of Otavalo valley. Useful Indians

They didn’t get as much problems from conquistadors as other native people of Latin America had. The rumors touched the interesting fact how the inhabitants of valley Otavalo quickly reached royal chambers. They also were masterful in getting the cloth from wool of lamas and vicunas created by the Indians. Spanish men put a render fee to the high art while Otavalo citizens were called as ‘useful Indians’.

06.11.2021 | Ecuador

In the rhythm of heart. Japanese drums taiko

Its sounds penetrate the heart, stop the flow of thoughts and cause the blood to move in some kind of magical rhythm. It's a roll of thunder. It gives the shivers. It's a secret. Japanese drums in their homeland are elevated to the rank of cult. Without them, not a single official event is possible, their melodies delight the hearing during joy and help to experience sadness.

03.10.2021 | Japan, travel

Desperate Futurism: Japan. Part 4

So, to wash your hands, you have to leave indoor slippers before bathroom threshold, step into the bathroom, slip into the special footwear, wash hands, remove those special bathroom slippers, and switch for indoor slippers when re-entering the living area. Earlier, probably in jest, Oba-san warned me that if I step onto the living area in the toilet slippers, he will tell me about hara-kiri rules.

30.08.2021 | Japan, desperate futurism

Cabo Polonio. Special Town of Uruguay

Candles substitute lamps there, white sand whispers beneath your threads and from small coffee houses hidden in thick spinney songs about love, freedom and ocean sound till morning. Ocean is main and essential there. Life of Cabo Polonio whirls around it. Or, more precisely, rolls over lazily because in this tiny Uruguayan town nobody observes time or follows recent news.

21.08.2021 | Uruguay

Desperate Futurism: Japan. Part 3. “Samurai Spirit”

If what they show in cinematograph is true than a typical samurai appears to be austere, taciturn and even slightly unsociable person. But this image in actual fact doesn’t get in line with reality... You don’t believe it? Our journalist Elena Rasenko suggests you make sure of it for yourself.

20.08.2021 | Japan, traditions, travel, desperate futurism

Under the South Cross. Queenstown

Residents of Queenstown, like all New Zealanders, are among the first on the planet to meet the dawn. There are no children's homes, homeless animals. People are resistant to cold, so much so that at zero degrees go in T-shirts. Each of them has an average of nine sheep, and in nature there are practically no such dangers as mosquitoes and snakes.

18.08.2021 | travel, New Zealand

Welcome to Gabon

Once upon the time, Pygmy peoples lived on the west coast of Africa. They did not have any conflicts with anyone. When they were hungry, they went hunting, picked up nuts and bananas. Then the Mpongwé and the Fang tribes came. After them, the Portuguese arrived and named these lands Gabon. They were followed by the French who acquired the land and declared it as their colony.

17.08.2021 | travel, Gabon

Desperate Futurism: Japan. Part 2 “Fish Day”

It is just as hard to imagine a Japanese who doesn’t eat fish as to picture a Scott who doesn’t drink whiskey. OUTLOOK journalist Elena Rasenko will tell you about a unique place where successors of samurai purchase fine seafood for their tables.

10.08.2021 | Japan, traditions, travel, desperate futurism

Desperate Futurism: Japan. Part 1

OUTLOOK journalist Elena Rasenko came back from Japan and launches a special series of articles devoted to this country. Warning for very sensitive readers: Beware! After reading, you will get a keen desire to break away, buy a ticket and fly to such a marvelous and fascinating Land of the Rising Sun!

01.08.2021 | Japan, traditions, travel, desperate futurism

City on 19 Hills. Amman

Half of the population of the Hashemite Kingdom dwells in Amman. Ramified suburbs, straight avenues, beautiful houses with huge satellite antennas, olive trees and even gold-gilded trees. These are its rich suburbs. In a cramped centre of Amman traditional craft stalls and shops, cookshops and numerous monuments of architecture are concentrated.

04.07.2021 | Jordan

Departure: Edinburgh

If you see gloomy brown buildings, dark reddish buses, sky covered by grey clouds, and in the morning it is already drizzling so that no umbrella can save you from getting fully wet - your dream has come true, you are in Edinburgh! However, there is a good news: this city hosts the best pubs, has almost no unemployment and is packed with the world's largest number of architectural monuments.

27.06.2021 | departure, Scotland

Vivid dance. Polka

In this cheerful and mischievous dance, the all Europe and America are spinning, modestly adding to their word "polka" their geographical location. For example, there are Finnish, Andijon or even Mexican kinds of dance. It is with this choreography that the children begin, they consider it to be the "upper class", which only the hardy dancers with a strong vestibular apparatus can do.

25.06.2021 | traditions

Ecuador: To be an indian

Our journalist came back from Ecuador with unique experience and we share it with you. For the first time I was suspected of drug trafficking. Alone, in the country where there is no Ukrainian Embassy, I was standing and feverishly figuring out if someone could plant something on me on the way to the airport.

16.06.2021 | traditions, Ecuador

Twelve guises of South Korea

Only dancing and wearing mask, Korean peasants were able to express their disgust towards rudeness or greed of the hosts or apply to some deity with extraordinary request. Keeping anonymity, the people played out the scenes from life, cried, and laughed. At the end of the performance the destiny awarded the good characters and punished villains.

20.05.2021 | art, traditions, South Korea

Tajik сombs of beauty

When Bahriddin’s mother was getting ready for work, she was assiduously arranging her hair around her tubeteika. It resulted in some sort of a crown. On holidays she plaited special adornments into her black hair with a tinge of blue. When she walked, they were tinkling slightly to create an aura of a dance. And in evenings little Bahriddin couldn’t fall asleep without holding her tight braid in his hands.

05.05.2021 | traditions, culture, Tajikistan

Asunción. The City for Brave Hearts and Adventure Seekers…

Located on low hills, this country hides in tropical rainforest in the very center of Latin America. There are no beaches and modern concert halls yet it amazes with its access to wild nature. Some come to Paraguay to explore territory of the Indies, others – to get excited with ancient colonial erections, some – for shopping.

29.04.2021 | Paraguay, travel

Aqaba resort: Sea in Jordan style

Nine months per year Aqaba is blessed with perfect weather. It is time for sailing, snorkelling, water skiing, windsurfing, scuba diving or sunbathing. Travelers who arrive at this southern city from the north, say that Aqaba is like a breath of fresh air, a very sought-after gateway in hot winds blowing through the pink sands of Jordan.

14.04.2021 | Jordan, tourism

Baltic gold: Amber running through veins

We have amber flowing through our veins, joke the Balts. They believe that a sunny stone comes from tear drops of their goddess Jūratė. According to legend, she was careless enough to fall in love with a mere mortal fisherman named Kastytis who day by day cast his nets to the Baltic Sea.

31.03.2021 | art, Lithuania

Filthy creativity

Dirty cars are like a host for an artist. One may treat such art differently. Someone will wrinkle his nose and disdainfully wrestle his clothes. Others necessarily want to put a finger in such a picture in order to check the fragility of the "canvas" and smear its outlines. However, others will definitely make a selfie. However, nobody can pass by.

29.03.2021 | art

Travel to Columbia. Another Cartagena

In the world there are two Cartagenas. In both, their inhabitants speak Spanish, love bullfighting, and in the evenings they go to the beach to skip the mojito and breathe the salty wind. But only in one of them a rhythm of hot salsa, placers of emeralds and pearls can burst into a languid city walk, and bright, hot beauties can cross the road. And this is Colombia!

17.03.2021 | travel, Columbia

Let's play Chuko Bones

Shagai, chükö, asyk, ashyk, oshuq... This game has many names and one great love for it unities a lot of generation in Central Asia. According to old legends, Nasreddin Hodja loved to play it. Sultans and merchants, ordinary people and children played it. For the youngest, it was a popular entertainment until the end of the last century, while new technologies did not supplant yard games.

16.03.2021 | culture

Timanfaya. Devastatingly beautiful

Canary Islands are not only the sea, beaches and cocktails. They are also the charred history of this part of the earth, the fire-breathing vents and salt mines. Especially hot temper among the rest of the islands, the land of Lanzarote is famous. Earlier on this land, volcanic eruptions occurred with an enviable regularity. Now, here tourists go to see the power of fire and magma and even look into the "underworld".

13.03.2021 | nature, Canary Islands

Gobi Syndrome. Mysterioius Land of Mongolia.

When winds start wandering among those stone, caressing peaks of sand barchans and forcing down rare vegetationm entire space around gets filled with marvellous sounds. Herdsmen, who happen to spend nights in one of the most mysterious deserts of the globe, tell about drumrolls, enchanting sounds of flute and voices, murmuring something indistinguishable.

17.02.2021 | travel, Mongolia

Mandala Therapy

Yesterday I created a Universe. I took some peas, rice, buckwheat, millet, black and white pepper seeds and cardamom. Grabbed a handful of coffee and aniseeds. Then it all acquired a centre. It kept growing and calming my thoughts. When the last seed landed in the circle, I felt forgotten harmony again, heard birds singing through the noise of cars on the avenue...

13.02.2021 | art, traditions, culture

In search of gastronomic Eldorado

I admit, this is not an easy topic - to describe the kitchen, which has recently become the main one for me. Now I live in Ecuador and have not tasted cabbage rolls, dumplings and even black bread for a long time. Although, I confess, I cooked borsch several times. Someone else's kitchen initially surprises, then becomes cloying and only at the third stage of acquaintance with it, begins to open its secrets.

05.02.2021 | Ecuador, what do they eat

Rice canvas. Tambo Art

The Japanese are very creative people, especially when it comes to rice. If they have some extra spare time and large spacious rice paddies, then routine process of growing an agricultural crop turns into art...

24.01.2021 | Japan, art, travel

Wadi Rum. Moon Valley

American writer Jon Krakauer wrote: ‘To the deserts go prophets and hermits; through deserts go pilgrims and exiles. Here the leaders of the great religions have sought the therapeutic and spiritual values of retreat, not to escape but to find reality’. OUTLOOK journalist Yelena Rasenko tried not to escape reality but find it in Jordan in one of the most amazing deserts of the world, in Wadi Rum.

11.12.2020 | nature, Jordan

The Language of God. Maaloula

The word is, the ones born in Maaloula are gods a bit. They do not walk on water or turn water into wine, not at all, but they belong to the few who still speak the language of Jesus Christ – Aramaic, its Western dialect to be precise. Several thousand people remain guardians of such unique linguistic heritage. This is the language they talk to each other, pray, hate and love in.

10.12.2020 | Syria

Rainbow-colored Flower

Everybody remembers a child’s fairy tale about the magical rainbow-colored flower that could make wishes come true. But some of us don’t know that it actually exists. Not so much in the shape of a flower but more like in granular state. We mean the sand that one of the villages on Mauritius, called Shamarel, is covered with.

09.12.2020 | travel, Mauritius

Rwanda: Oh Africa, that’s Africa!

Despite the tragic past, not so long ago Rwandas shot a film called “Living Forgiveness” where they told how they live after a period of survival. The Civil War could not break them. Moreover, nowadays Rwanda, according to tourist standards, is catching up with Singapore. Can you believe in it? Then read the article asap!

19.11.2020 | Africa, Rwanda

Palaces of the desert

They have been on duty for many years. Beaten down, crippled, lost friends in battles, they are still staring into endless sand landscapes to see whether an enemy is approaching, and every day they lose their memories crumb by crumb. About thirty palaces and castles live out their remaining days scattered throughout the deserts of Jordan. Once majestic, terrifying and awaking mystical awe, even now these fortified palaces are able to captivate a traveller.

29.10.2020 | architecture, Jordan

Blood. Money. Feather

This entertainment is strictly forbidden in almost all countries of the world. But lovers of cockfights do not stop. Partly illegal competitions always gather full halls or courtyards, depending on the fact where the deadly bird fights are. Spectators literally savor the way the birds tear each other to shreds, without showing pity for themselves and their rivals.

12.10.2020 | traditions, culture

A Country that knows how to make you like it: Armenia. Part 2

Elena Rasenko has visited Armenia and shares with readers the original charm of the country in which one really wants to stay. Armenians treat their national treasure - khachkars - very reverently and respectfully. These are processed and refined cross stones with a unique ornate pattern. So OUTLOOK proceeds with its story about Armenia.

16.09.2020 | travel, Armenia

A Country that knows how to make you like it: Armenia

I was heading to this Caucasian state all by myself to completely strange people. Prior to the trip all my friends and relatives warned me more than a dozen times about harsh temper of the hillmen and painted a vivid picture of what kind of difficulties were expecting me, a young woman travelling alone.

06.09.2020 | travel, Armenia

"Goat-dragging"

“To drag a goat with one’s hands” is a national entertainment of Tajik men however it enjoys huge popularity around Central Asia in the whole. As a rule a couple dozens, sometimes as many as a hundred, skilled and nimble horse riders gather to drag the goat. There is such a throng during the event that people fall off their horses, lose consciousness and even get maimed.

26.07.2020 | traditions, sports, culture, Asia

What do they eat. The Netherlands

First thing that stirs up a newcomer in the Netherlands is food vandalism. It is customary for citizens of this small northern country not to handle dishes with kid gloves, even if those are bacon or hot ribs richly seasoned with berry sauce. Therefore anything that a stomach can't accommodate over lunch or dinner gets thrown away by Dutchmen with ease...

14.07.2020 | Netherlands, what do they eat

Mechoui: Heavy Treat

Destiny often hatches surprises and you can never know for sure what you’ll try at a festive table especially when travelling around Middle East countries.

25.06.2020 | traditions, world cuisine

Pompei East: Jerash

I put my finger into the gap of column, froze for a moment and cried out with delight - it moves! There was a heavy stone pillar above my hand, once carved and piled up on a pedestal by some Roman architect or his Arab assistants. This amazing column and hundreds of others alike are a part of the ancient city of Jerash situated in the north of Jordan.

18.06.2020 | Jordan