February 2023 – Old Town, or Staré Mesto, is a lively cobblestoned hub with landmark attractions such as the medieval Astronomical Clock and the Gothic Church of Our Lady Before Týn, on Old Town Square. The Rudolfinum concert hall hosts classical music, while the Estates Theatre stages ballet and opera. Student nightlife is centered around the vast 5-story Karlovy Lázně dance club.
Tag Archives: Videos
Nature: Hummingbirds In Argentina And Brazil (BBC)
In the Atlantic Rainforest of Argentina and Brazil, hummingbirds gather around flowers in a spectacular dance.
Culture: A Nomadic Life In The Gobi Desert, Mongolia
DW Documentary (February 25, 2023) – Otgo is the youngest child of a nomadic family in the Gobi desert. They make their living breeding cattle. Otgo loves their life, in harmony with nature and old traditions. Yet she dreams of becoming a dancer at the opera house in Ulan Bator.
In Mongolia, it is becoming increasingly common for the younger generation to leave traditional life behind. Otgo’s dream would take her far from her family’s yurt. She wants to become a dancer and later, a dance teacher. Her parents leave it up to her to decide how she wants to shape her life. They agree to support her, if she embarks on her great endeavor. In the meantime, Otgo has become an almost indispensable help to the family.
She gets up early in the morning to water the camels with her father, and it fills her with pride that she can help her family. The breathtaking landscape of the Gobi Desert and the strong bonds between the different nomadic families do not make it easy for Otgo to follow her dream. Otgo’s story paints a portrait of her world and of the men and women who have long passed on their culture from generation to generation, through the eyes of a child.
World Economic Forum: Top Stories – Feb 25, 2023
World Economic Forum (February 25, 2023) – This week’s top stories of the week include:
0:15 This zero-emission truck drives itself – The truck is made by Swedish firm Einride. It says autonomous trucks could succeed where self-driving cars, so far, haven’t because freight trucks follow specific routes. Unlike car drivers, who often want freedom and spontaneity and specific, predictable routes require less complex autonomous technology. “But for a lot of transport, it’s actually the exact opposite. You don’t want it to be spontaneous. You don’t want it to suddenly be in another part of the country than it’s expected to be. [Trucks] need predictability. And they need to make sure that it actually arrives on time.”
2:48 Plastic-eating enzymes help recycle clothing – Scientists at the University of Portsmouth have identified more than 70 plastic-eating enzymes. This could divert millions of tonnes of textiles from landfill.
3:59 Why the ‘nowhere office’ is the future of work – This author thinks work will no longer be defined by a fixed time and place and that the culture of office presenteeism is over. The pandemic has changed people’s work habits forever. Many workers now see flexibility as a right, not a privilege. 40% of workers say they wouldn’t take a job without remote or hybrid options. Hobsbawm says we should be campaigning for new ways to value and pay for work, based around set outcomes rather than fixed hours as part of a momentous culture shift she calls ‘the great re-evaluation’.
7:04 Spain approves menstrual leave – It’s the first ‘menstrual leave’ law in Europe. People can take up to 3 days of leave a month paid for by the state if they suffer from cramps, nausea, dizziness or vomiting. In extreme cases, it can even be extended to 5 days. The sick leave will require a doctor’s note and will not cover those in mild discomfort. Similar laws exist in South Korea, Japan, Zambia and Indonesia
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The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.
Tours: Brighton House In Melbourne, Australia
The Local Project (February 24, 2023) – Located in the Victorian seaside suburb of Brighton, Brighton House is a sophisticated family home that maximises living space and the surrounding gardens. Responding to the clients’ briefs, Hecker Guthrie has imbued a sophisticated family home with hints of the clients’ tastes and world travels.
Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Sophisticated Family Home 00:35 – The Brief 01:02 – The Process and the result 01:19 – Split Between Heritage and Modern 01:36 – Appealing Aspects of the Home 02:04 – A Walkthrough of the Contemporary Part of the Home 02:24 – A Southern Italian Aesthetic 02:50 – Framing Nature Through Windows 03:30 – An Insight into The Staircase 04:29 – Proud Moments 05:00 – Evoking Joy
Melding the modern and historical together, the architects have divided Brighton House into two zones, keeping the heritage form at the front and the contemporary extension to the rear. From the front of the sophisticated family home, the interior design adds a layer of charm and character. The structure has been renovated with care so that the original elements shine alongside the contemporary additions. In the modern section, light and space is introduced through large windows and doors to the gardens.
Yet through its unique implementation, the natural light does not overpower the extensions but instead works with each design element. Drawing from the clients’ travels for inspiration, Brighton Residence is crafted from rustic materiality, limestone and timber joinery. In addition to wanting an extension of space, the clients also desired a level of connection to nature and the sky. Each window within the home provides glimpses of nature or skies above, connecting the owners to the outside no matter the weather.
Built in between the old home and new extensions, an American Oak staircase by S&A Stairs takes advantage of the double height void and shines through the home like a form of art. With its smooth curves, the staircase complements the soft and sophisticated interior design choices made by Hecker Guthrie and turns an otherwise forgotten part of the home into one of its most memorable moments. As a sophisticated family home, Brighton Residence is a home that offers its owners a space to find reprieve while being surrounded by all that they love.
Coastal Views: Gwadar In Southwestern Pakistan
Oculus Films (February 24, 2023) – Gwadar, town and seaport, southwestern Balochistan province, southwestern Pakistan. Located on the sandy Nuh headland that juts southward into the Arabian Sea, the town is an important fishing (sardines and sharks) and trade centre.
The main industrial concern is a fish-processing factory; salt is obtained by the evaporation of seawater. Gwadar became part of the sultanate of Muscat and Oman in 1797, and it was not until 1958 that the town and adjoining hinterland were given up by Oman to Pakistan.
Putin’s Hidden War: The Russians Fighting Back
The Economist (February 23, 2023): The invasion of Ukraine left Russians with a stark choice: carry on as normal or make a stand against the war. But speaking out in Russia carries huge risks. How is the opposition managing to resist the regime – and at what personal cost?
Video timeline: 00:00 – One year on 01:37 – The first wave of protests 05:43 – Crackdown on dissent 10:04 – Individual acts of rebellion 13:51 – Partial mobilisation 16:20 – Russia’s mass exodus 23:06 – The future of Russian rebellion
Travel Tours: Cross River State In Southern Nigeria
DW Travel (February 22, 2023) – Follow Nigerian YouTuber Tayo Aina on his trip to the southern Nigerian state of Cross River! From spectacular waterfalls to the dark history of slave trade and brutal ancient traditions, Cross River state is truly a destination for adventurers!
Video timeline: 0:00 Intro 0:12 Calabar 0:43 Agbokim Waterfalls 2:10 Slave History Museum, Calabar 3:47 Pandrillus Drill Ranch 5:05 Mary Slessor House
Cross River State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named for the Cross River, the state was formed from the eastern part of the Eastern Region on 27 May 1967.
Travel Guides: The Best Places To Visit In Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, island country lying in the Indian Ocean and separated from peninsular India by the Palk Strait. It is located between latitudes 5°55′ and 9°51′ N and longitudes 79°41′ and 81°53′ E and has a maximum length of 268 miles (432 km) and a maximum width of 139 miles (224 km).

Proximity to the Indian subcontinent has facilitated close cultural interaction between Sri Lanka and India from ancient times. At a crossroads of maritime routes traversing the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has also been exposed to cultural influences from other Asian civilizations. Ancient Greek geographers called it Taprobane. Arabs referred to it as Serendib. Later European mapmakers called it Ceylon, a name still used occasionally for trade purposes. It officially became Sri Lanka in 1972.
The distinctive civilization of Sri Lanka, with roots that can be traced back to the 6th century BCE, is characterized by two factors: the preservation of Theravada Buddhism (the orthodox school of Buddhism having its literary traditions in the Pali language) and the development over two millennia of a sophisticated system of irrigation in the drier parts of the country. This civilization was further enriched by the influences of Hinduism and Islam.
Filmed and Edited by: Misk Travel Guide
Movie Industry Profiles: Peris Costumes In Madrid
Monocle Films (February 20, 2023) – Peris Costumes is the world’s largest company dedicated to selling and renting costumes for film, stocking more than 10 million garments. Monocle took a peek behind the scenes of its Madrid-based HQ to meet its artisans and see how the industry is booming, thanks to the rise of streaming platforms.