Category Archives: Culture

Culture, Leisure, Magazines, Travel

Magazines: The Cultured Traveller – December 2020

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The Cultured Traveller, December 2020-February 2021 Issue 32  

Music has always had the power to heal, lift and transport us to another place. And so, embodying a spirit of optimism, issue 32 has a decidedly musical feel, led by a special feature about the legendary SHIRLEY BASSEY, who is celebrating 70 years in the music business. The only performer to have ever had an album in the UK top 40 in seven consecutive decades, Dame Shirley speaks exclusively to The Cultured Traveller.

We sit down with New Orleans-born HARRY CONNICK JR., who is globally adored for his jazz, swing and big-band numbers. And sultry songstress MELODY GARDOT talks about recording her new album during lockdown. Scratching beneath the surface of the Cypriot port city of LARNACA, we uncover a dynamic energy that pulsates through the cobbled streets and sun-drenched promenades of this cultural gem in the eastern Med. And because we are all likely to be in need of a restorative trip next year, we check into a dozen IDYLLIC ISLAND RETREATS, any of which would make for the perfect post pandemic getaway.

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Culinary Arts, Culture, Food, Travel, Videos

Food & Travel: A Michelin Guide To ‘Malta’ (Video)

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The MICHELIN Guide makes you travel to Malta to discover the treasures of this island, their products and their producers. Following the launch of the first MICHELIN Guide Malta in February 2020, we take a closer look at this popular destination in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea.

At the crossroads of cultures, the Maltese gastronomic scene is a reflection of its rich past by marrying culinary influences from Italy, Mediterranean countries, North Africa, and also Great Britain – not to mention contemporary trends. “Malta is a very attractive cultural destination with a unique cuisine style which beautifully combines European influences and local traditions”, explained Gwendal POULLENNEC, International Director of the MICHELIN guides.

Let’s discover some quality products and producers which make the gastronomic reputation of the country! Know more about the destination: https://guide.michelin.com/mt/en/arti…

Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast. It’s a nation known for historic sites related to a succession of rulers including the Romans, Moors, Knights of Saint John, French and British. It has numerous fortresses, megalithic temples and the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, a subterranean complex of halls and burial chambers dating to circa 4000 B.C. 

Culture, Travel, Videos

Travel & Culture: ‘Winter In Champ Du Feu’, Vosges Mountains, France (Video)

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Located in France’s eastern Vosges region, the Champ du Feu is a stunning patch of wildlife; a giant meadow that stretches out 1,099 metres above sea level. This vast area can be crossed on Icelandic horses during magical wintry treks. But during the harsh Vosges winters, some locals prefer more indoor activities such as fruit distillation, which produces different kinds of alcohol. The result is a pure concentrate of the Vosges: a wild region brimming with natural beauty all year round.

The Vosges are a range of low mountains in eastern France, near its border with Germany. Together with the Palatine Forest to the north on the German side of the border, they form a single geomorphological unit and low mountain range of around 8,000 km² in area.

Architecture, Culture, Food, Travel, Videos

Culture: The Food, Sights & Architecture Of Japan

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From wandering between Tateyama’s Snow Wall to spending a night in a Koyasan temple, we take you through Japan’s travel spectrum showing the best food places, architecture, sights, thrills, and shopping experiences.

Food – Dotonbori District: The Dotonbori district is the most colorful area in Osaka. When visiting you must try takoyaki and okonomiyaki. Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum: Taste nine different types of ramen at the world’s first food-themed amusement park.

Architecture – Koyasan: Temples and shrines can be found all throughout Japan. Tourists can experience Buddhist lifestyle through traditional practices by spending a night in a Koyasan temple. Reversible Destiny Lofts: The space is meant to challenge your mind and body to interact with your living space in a new way to allow new possibilities daily. It is made up of only three shapes. Shirakawa-go Village: Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995 for its gassho-zukuri houses, the thatched roofs without nails are symbolic of hands pressed together in prayer.

Sights – Tateyama Snow Wall: The Snow Corridor of Tateyama rises up to 65 feet. Bonin Islands: During the second world war, the islands were used as military bases, so if you enjoy diving, you are likely to see many shipwrecks. Nagano’s Jigokudani Monkey Park: In Nagano’s Jigokudani Monkey Park there are no barriers. These monkeys are the only ones in the world that enjoy bathing in hot springs.

Thrills – Hokkaido: Hokkaido has light, powdery snow perfect for snowboarding or skiing in the winter. Yonaguni: Nevertheless, the Yonaguni monument requires a 9 to 52 foot dive to reach the bottom, and it is recommended that you have at least 100 hours of logged diving experience.

Shopping – Kanazawa: This city is most famous for its teahouses and geisha and samurai districts, along with its gold leaf production. Akihabara: Akihabara, also known as Electric Town, is a hub for all things electronics, game paraphernalia, anime, and manga. Canal City: Called a city within a city, Canal City is a large shopping mall and entertainment center in Fukuoka.

Books, Culture, Landscape, Photography

New Photography Books: ‘In Search Of Elsewhere’ By Steve McCurry (2020)

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 In Search of Elsewhere takes us across the globe and offers new perspectives on many of the locations that the photographer has already made famous – from India, Myanmar and Cuba, to Kashmir and the white-washed temples of the Himalayas. Each image is reproduced at large format and in remarkable detail and this new compilation reveals the incredible depth of his work.

A unique collection of previously unseen images spanning Steve McCurry’s extraordinary career.

Steve McCurry is known for creating some of the most iconic images of recent times and in this new collection, he shares previously unseen photographs from his incredibly rich archive.

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Culture, Films, History, Profiles, Videos

Short Films: ‘The Smithy’ – A Blacksmith In Northern England At His Old Forge

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Filmmaker Brendon Tyree

The word Smithy is a middle English word from Old Norse Smithja : meaning a blacksmith’s workshop or forge. In Sheffield and other parts or Northern England, blacksmiths themselves are often referred to as smithies.

Follow this Smithy on his gloomy walk to work and witness the dark forces, skill and energy that go into giving a new blade its shape, form and life. Filmed using a mixture of 16mm film and digital.

The feel and sound tip their cap to the old world view of the craft but in reality the subject is a non fictional blacksmith working at his beautiful old forge today in Sheffield.

Blacksmith David Southgate
Soundscape Jordan Hatfield
Atmospheres GYerro & Max H
Locations Sheffield UK

Culture, Travel, Videos

Travel & Culture Video: ‘Portrait Of Kazakh Eagle Hunter’ In Mongolia

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Directed and filmed by | Matteo Poddie

Could ever exist a bond of respect and love between an eagle and a human?

The ancient art of eagle hunting is one of the many traditions and skills which have been maintained by the Kazakhs over the past decades. For more than two centuries, Mongolian Kazakh men have been hunting on their horses with golden eagles, trained following old traditions which are fading over time.

This Art needs the development of a deep bond between man and his eagle in order to accomplish a successful hunt.

An interview to one of the remained descendants of this minority, who tries to spread and preserve this ancient practice, through love and sense of belonging to his roots. The eagle hunting would otherwise be facing the risk of disappearing forever with the development of the modern world.

It is outstanding how these birds still play a paramount role for these people’s lives.
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Narrator | MikeJfvo
Shot on location | Mongolia, Altaj region

Culture, Travel, Videos

Poetic Travel: ‘The Great Blasket’ – Ireland (Video)

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Filmed and Edited by: Arnie Hensman

An Blascaod Mór (The Great Blasket), is the largest of The Blasket Islands off the coast of Co. Kerry Ireland.

On the very edge of a continent, it was Europe’s most western community until 1953 when it was evacuated due to the pressures of securing the safety of such a remote location.

During its most thriving era, it had a population of several hundred. Now uninhabited, it is a protected monument. The island was home to many prolific writers who recorded their history and stories in the Irish language, leaving behind a literary and spiritual legacy of written works. the most famous of which is Peig Sayers, who made her home there.

Culture, Leisure, Travel, Videos

Road Trip Video: ‘Beulah To Moran Township’ In Northern Michigan

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From forests and farms to taverns and cafes, upstate Michigan will take you back to the old ways of life.

Northern Michigan, also known as Northern Lower Michigan or Upper Michigan, is a region of the U.S. state of Michigan. A popular tourist destination, it is home to several small- to medium-sized cities, extensive state and national forests, lakes and rivers, and a large portion of Great Lakes shoreline. 

Culture, Travel, Videos

Travel & Culture: ‘The Charm Of Saint-Pierre And Miquelon’, France (Video)

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It’s a scattering of French soil off the coast of #Canada. For two centuries, the archipelago of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, with its fish-rich waters, attracted people from Brittany, Normandy but above all from France’s Basque country. Their descendants still keep Basque heritage alive, such as pelota and traditional songs. FRANCE 24 takes you to discover these islands with their pretty seascapes and rich biodiversity. We also set sail with some fishermen to catch halibut.

Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a French archipelago south of the Canadian island of Newfoundland. Sparsely populated Miquelon-­Langlade island contains the Grand Barachois lagoon, home to seabirds and seals. The busier Saint Pierre island has a distinct French atmosphere, with a cathedral and the Musée Heritage, which celebrates regional history. An island nearby, Île-aux-Marins, features an abandoned fishing village.