Category Archives: Culture

Travel & Culture: The Peloponnese In Greece

The Peloponnese is a hotspot for people from all over the world but still remains to its traditional Greek roots. The olive groves, its rich history and the stunning coastline, which provides kilometres of golden beaches – it never gets old.

The Peloponnese or Peloponnesus is a peninsula and geographic region in southern Greece. It is connected to the central part of the country by the Isthmus of Corinth land bridge which separates the Gulf of Corinth from the Saronic Gulf. 

Poetic Short Films: “Home” – The Himalayas Of Ladakh

Going the distance is not about how far away will you get, But from what length you are willing to return.

Seldom, we get to do projects crafted with so much perseverance, honesty, and love. Shooting at one of the most humble places in the world – Ladakh and exploring a side we hadn’t seen before, be it the raw beauty of the place or the wholehearted emotions of its people – it was a process that got us close to the feeling of being a Himalayan. Their way of life made us think if we are missing a point when we say we need to go the distance in life. Maybe at times going the distance could mean going back, to your roots. This introspection is what fuelled our latest project ‘Home’ for the Royal Enfield Himalayan.

We would like to thank some really talented minds who got associated with the project because they felt what we felt. It was an ever-evolving collaboration where each crew member brought something special to the film. A project that started with a casual conversation about doing something meaningful to shaping a strong idea and concept, to multiple jamming sessions with some of the best writers in the industry, to finally shooting in the extreme winter conditions of Ladakh (-17°C at 17,000 Feet to be precise), to endless hours on the edit, grade, and music. Yes, it’s been a long journey and a beautiful one.


We feel proud & blessed to be a part of this project and to having some of the most beautiful people in our team without whom this film wouldn’t be what it is. Grateful to each one of you for making this piece your own.
We’re excited to share our latest film with you all. Hope this finds a place in your heart as well.

Concept & Directed By : Aiman Ali
Starring : Chum Darang
Executive Producers : Nupur Guha & Tushar Raut
Senior Producer : Mrudangi Jasani Baidya
Producer : Suraj Shetty

Views: Mining Gold On Sangihe Island, Indonesia

There is gold on Indonesia’s Sangihe island, and a Canadian-listed mining company has a permit to exploit it. Environmentalists say the gold mine threatens the island’s ancient forests, which are home to endemic birds. Locals fear it will affect their water supply. The BBC visited the remote island to see what’s at stake.

1950’s: A ‘Moral Panic’ That Targeted Comic Books

Comic books have been a staple of American pop culture for the better part of 90 years. The origin story of comics as we know them, however, is much more complicated. In the 1950s, a moral panic swept across the country — one in which parents and children burned comic books by the bushel in public gatherings — and led to the near destruction of the comic book industry. Comics were big business even by the 1940s. They reached millions of readers each week. And the superheroes created then have now become billion-dollar franchises, showcased in blockbuster films and massive conventions such as Comic-Con. Events in 1954, however, almost changed that. Laws were passed. Careers were ruined. And comics fell under a strict censorship regime that lasted for decades to come.

Culture & Photography: ‘Japan – 1900’ (Taschen)

1868 saw Japan open its doors to the outside world, putting an end to more than 200 years of national seclusion and heralding a new era that brought the country firmly into the modern age. 

Curating some of the first photographic images of the country, Sabine Arqué and Sebastian Dobson unveil an epic panorama of 1900s Japan, guiding us from Beppu’s hot springs to bustling Osaka, from the historic capitals of Nara and Kyoto to their modern successor, Tokyo.

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Travel & Culture Books: ‘Havana Blues’ (July 2021)

Crumbling pastel-colored facades line its streets, parked vintage cars evoke times past, live music permeates the air. Welcome to Havana, home to an overwhelming energy. Situated along the Straits of Florida, the capital of Cuba has been through several identities: Spanish colonial settlement, mobster rule in the 1930s, glamour of the 1950s, Cuban revolution and, most recently, a cultural renaissance. 

Havana’s bold, provocative approach to art, cuisine and entertainment—as well as the eclectic blend of African, French, Spanish and North American influences—including its range of architecture styles from the sixteenth century to the modern day, confer this epic city with a legendary status on par with the world’s greatest cities. While some of the building are in disrepair, the beauty of the baroque, neoclassical and art deco features triumphs.

The iconic Copa Room cabaret that hosted Ginger Rogers and Abbott and Costello still stands. The Gran Teatro de la Habana, built in the early twentieth century, is now home to the Cuban National Ballet. Habana Vieja is undergoing a massive restoration to its former glory. Havana could be seen as a work-in-progress, but it is more a testament to its never-ending determination to improve and progress, which might be the allure that attracts so many visitors. So take a seat at an authentic paladar (family-run restaurant) and enjoy the vibrant evolution of Havana.

Pamela Ruiz came to Cuba in the 1990s and fell in love, both with the country and her husband, Cuban artist Damian Aquiles. Formerly a location scout for photography shoots, she soon began to turn her attention to art, specifically bridging the international art world and Cuba.

Read more at Assouline

French Views: The Lasting Legacy Of King Louis XIV

Louis XIV embodies absolute monarchy more than any other French king. The Sun King, who ruled from 1643 to 1715, left his mark on many places in France, from Versailles to Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the Gobelins tapestry factory in Paris. Even today, his legacy lives on in all of them. FRANCE 24 takes you on a tour.

Magazines: ‘Monocle’ July/August 2021 Preview

Monocle’s July/August issue marks the return of our annual Quality of Life special edition that is guaranteed to get you in the mood for the sunnier months. Review our index of the world’s 20 most liveable cities, our choices for your perfect summer playlist and an eagerly anticipated visit to the Venice Architecture Biennale. After a challenging year, it’s time to get excited for summer again.

Travel & Culture: Paris And ‘Les Parisiens’ (Video)

#Paris has been a source of fascination for centuries and the #French capital is one of the most visited cities in the world. By day or by night, it’s a beautiful city packed with towering #monuments, inspiring #museums and romantic cafés and yet, #tourists often say Paris would be so nice if it weren’t for the Parisians. So where does this bad reputation come from? In this episode of French Connections Plus, Florence Villeminot and Genie Gordula turn the spotlight on the City of Lights and its peculiar inhabitants: les Parisiens.

Views: The Horseback Fisherwomen Of Belgium

The tradition of horseback fishing for fish and shrimp goes back to the 16th century. Large Belgian Draft horses trawl across the beach with fishing nets attached to their saddles. In Oostduinkerke, at the Belgian coast, this 500-year-old shrimping tradition has remained unchanged, except in 2015, when a small but significant change occurred: for the first time ever, 2 women joined the ranks of what was long considered a “man’s job”. We met up with the women who brave the waves on Belgians weighing up to 1 ton every day.