Culture BlogA blog on all things cultural…

Think of a Russian Doll and what image comes to mind?  Think not only of the colours but also the face.  If you instantly thought of the ‘grandmother’ doll then you would not be alone.  This is the first answer many of our customers give.  This familiarity might also account for the reason why the dolls are also referred to as Babushka dolls.  Some may have guessed the Russian word ‘Babushka’ literally translates in to ‘grandmother’ in English but, how many are familiar with the legend of Babushka?

It’s a story that dates back to the turn of the twentieth century.  In fact, I remember re-enacting the story for one of my school naivety plays.  That was a long time ago so unfortunately I had to re-familiarise myself with the story before telling it here!

The story of Babushka is one that is told to many Russian children on Christmas Eve.  It is a beautiful but very sad story that will fascinate children of all ages.

Once upon a time there lived an old lady who lived beside a crossroads.  She lived a very lonely life with only the passing wagons and the farmers and donkeys to break the silence.  During the long Russian winter, when the roads were too treacherous for the carts to use the lonely old lady had only the sounds of the birds to keep her company.  This sad lady would feed the birds her left over crumbs of bread to pass away the hours.

The winter nights are very long in Russia.  Because Babushka was so old and frail she did not have the strength to cut the wood to heat her home.  She had no money either so could not afford to buy the candles to light up her home.  She would spend her winter nights in her dark, cold and lonely cottage dreaming of the summer nights and the people she would meet.

One night when Babushka was trying to sleep she heard a tingling noise outside.  “It must be the icicles on the trees” the lady said to herself.  There was another tingle only this time it was louder than before.  There were no carts or farmers around so from where could this sound be coming?  The tingling grew louder and to her surprise Babushka could hear voices and grunts coming from animals.  I wonder what is happening outside? thought Babushka.

Babushka pulled back her quilt and lit the very last candle she owned.  Wrapping a scarf around her head she held her candle to the window.  Before she could see outside there was a knock at the door.  Knock.  Knock.  Knock.  Who could it be?  Babushka opened the door and was surprised to see a caravan parked outside.  There were also three large animals the likes of which Babushka had never seen before.  They were very strange and almost looked like they had come from another world!  Each of these beasts was very tall and had very large humps in their backs.  Their feet were padded with lots of fur and each one was as large as two grown-ups feet!  On the back of these beasts sat three very rich men.  They wore fur wraps and crowns that Babushka could not afford…she had only heard of such things in fairy tales!

Why were these men here?  Why did they stop to speak to Babushka?

One of the men whispered some words in to the ear of beast he rode.  The beast instantly knelt to allow the man to step off.  “We are kings from a long far away” he told Babushka.  “This evening we have seen the brightest star ever to appear in the sky and this will lead us to a newborn baby.  But the star is lost behind the clouds and we need shelter for tonight.  Where is the next village?”.

For the men to travel so far in freezing cold and snow this baby must be very important!  So, Babushka asked “Who is this child?”.  “The child is a Kind and we will find him with our gifts,” replied the man.  “Please, come with us to meet this very special child”.  Babushka wanted to go with the men but she was an old lady and didn’t like the cold.  When she was a young woman Babushka would have joined the men on their journey to see this special child.  But tonight, she simply could not.

After Babushka declined to join the men they rode off into the distance.  The noise of the bells attached to the reigns of the beasts disappeared in to the night.  Once again there was silence and the Babushka felt alone once more.  Why did I not go?  The old lady asked herself.  She had no company where she lived and would have had fun on the adventure.

No!  I must join the men, Babushka told herself.  She wrapped herself up nice and warm and filled her basket with breads and sweets to give to this newborn King.  The men were heading to the next village perhaps she would find them there?  Babushka walked through many villages for many hours but could not find the men.  The villagers could not help her and eventually when daylight broke through the clouds Babushka fell asleep.

Many, many years have passed since the night Babushka met the three men.  The baby would have been born many years ago and would today be a man.  However, to Babushka it still feels like she was visited only yesterday and so she still seeks this special baby.  Every Christmas Eve she searches through every nursery looking for this child.  If you look closely you may see a tear on their pillow left by Babushka when she realises the child is not the one she seeks.

I hope you agree, this is a beautiful and poignant story.

Gary Mullen from Russian Dolls.

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After spending a few months writing for this blog I am interested to see if anybody actually reads it!

If you are a regular visitor to the site it would be great if you could leave a comment below.  That way I know that I’m not just talking to myself!!

Gary

I was looking around the internet this morning for inspiration on an article to write about Russian dolls.  Searching through Google Russia I hit a dead end.  It was only when I did a search in the UK that I came across the most extraordinary thing!  Images of a beautiful square (Taowa Square) covered with matryoshka buildings and shops within the square selling more matryoshka than most of us have had hot dinners!

Surprisingly, matryoshka square is in the Chinese city of Manzhouli and not in Russia as one may have expected.  As you can see from the photograph above, visitors are greeted with a truly striking site on their approach to the square.  The Russian doll in the centre holds the world record as the largest in the world measuring an amazing 30 metres (98 feet) tall!

When visitors reach the centre of the square they can see the stunning artwork painted upon each of the matryoshka.  Interestingly, each of the Russian dolls are painted with the images of Russian, Chinese and Mongolian girls to reflect the ethnicities in the region (the city borders both Russia and Mongolia).

As well as the three larger Russian dolls to be seen there are over 200 other dolls, each decorated with paintings of famous people from around the world.  Even the gift shops are in the shape of nesting dolls and, well, you don’t really need me to tell you what they sell!

The square has been open since 2006 and is a must-see attraction for anyone fascinated with Russian dolls.  To make visits extra memorable, there is a light and fountain show in the square every evening at 9pm.  I can imagine this must make for a great experience seeing the dolls come to life under the lights!

I myself would love to visit this city…now it’s just a case of trying to find some money to get there!

Written by Gary Mullen, Russian Dolls.

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Images supplied courtesy of Sina.com.

As you may have read in our article ‘origin of the panpipes‘ the instrument was being made across many different continents in its own unique way. Below, is a small summary of just some of the pan pipes produced. Each entry has the name and photograph of the instrument, its origins, its unique characteristics and an interesting fact that may surprise you!

Antara Origin: Somewhere along the Andes! Characteristics: Usually 13 pipes made from bamboo. Curved shape. Interesting Fact: Traditionally played by only men or boys.

Firlinfeu Origin: Unknown. However, popular in the Brianza region of Italy. Characteristics: Curved shape with pipes decreasing in size from left to right. Usually contains around 24 pipes. Interesting Fact: Difficult to obtain outside of Italy, the firlinfeu is kept alive by the “La Primavera” (translation: ‘the Spring Group’).

Khene Origin: Lao Characteristics: A free reed instrument (air flows past brass or silver placed inside the instrument). Usually between 14-16 pipes. The pipes are all connected with a small, hollowed-out reservoir into which the player blows. Interesting Fact: According to Lao legend, the khene was created by a woman who was trying to imitate the sound of a garawek bird which she heard whilst walking through the forest one day. You can read more about the story here.

Kuvytsi Origin: Ukraine. Characteristics: Contain various numbers of pipes. Many versions exist; the one sided kuvytsi has the pipe lengths in descending order whilst the two-sided has the largest pipe in the centre. Interesting Fact: The oldest kuvytsi ever found is over 5000 years old!

Nai Origin: Romania and Moldova. Invented in the 17th century. Characteristics: Usually 22 pipes made from bamboo or reed. Curved with lower pipes on the left. Interesting Fact: Often found in gypsy tarafs throughout Moldova.

Paixiao Origin: Ancient China. The earliest surviving sample dates back to 6th century BC. Characteristics: Differs from South American and European panpipes as the holes at the top are cut at an angle. This allows the pitch to be ‘bent’. Usually 16 tubes. Interesting Fact: The Paixiao died out in ancient times but recent interest has seen the instrument being reborn during the 20th century.

Zampoña (also known as the Siku) Origin: Peru. Characteristics: Many different varieties but often made from bamboo and contain 13 pipes. Pipes split over two rows which the player must alternate between. Interesting Fact: It is tradition that two people usually play the different rows on the same siku.

So, there are seven of the most popular pan pipe variations that can be found across the world. There are literally hundreds (if not thousands?) of different types of pan pipes so it would have been impossible to cover all of them! However, I hope those explained above whet your appetite to investigate this amazing instrument further.

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Images courtesy of:

http://thaoworra.blogspot.com (Khene)

http://www.bandura.net (Kuvytsi)

http://arts.cultural-china.com (Paixiao)

Let’s start this post by saying that tracing the exact origin of the pan pipes is an impossible task. Why is this? Well, as this post will explain it appears that many cultures across the world constructed pan pipes of their own accord. Many did not ‘learn’ the technique of making them from other cultures as the instrument is a very basic one to make. As you will see, there is much evidence to suggest that various versions of pan pipe were being made across all the different continents.

Pan Pipes (otherwise known as the Pan Flute) are an ancient instrument considered to be over 6000 years old. The instrument may have perhaps been born when tribes living near to rivers used the hollow plants growing nearby to turn into instruments. In truth, nobody can be sure!

The earliest forms of pan pipes found in Oceania show evidence that they were constructed from one single pipe. In fact, some of these early pipes can still be found in some of the indigenous tribes from Papa New Guinea. It is believed the pipes grew more complex with wider note ranges as people began to learn about tonal differences. The pan pipes began to be constructed of longer and more numerous tubes to reflect these new findings.

Example of Peruvian Panpipes

The earliest documented pan pipe finding comes from the pre-Colombian civilizations in South America. In Cahuachi, Peru a set of pan pipes dating as far back as 42BC have been found. Pan pipes dating back to 32BC have also been unearthed nearby in the Chilca district. These pan pipes were made from many different materials (e.g. bone, reed, bamboo) and used in indigenous music, religious ceremonies and for dancing. And, archaeological records suggest the pan pipes from this region originated from the Aymare and Quechua civilisations and spread throughout South America and North America via trade routes.

There is evidence of pan pipes being played during the Ptolemaic Dynasty in ancient Egypt (332 – 30BC). This comes in the form of many small figurines depicting individuals playing early forms of pan pipes. An amusing anecdote is that Cleopatra VII’s father, Ptolemy XII, earned the nickname of ‘Auletes’ (Greek for flute player), because he spent all his time playing pan pipes and neglecting his duties!

An old set of pan pipes

On the European continent, a set of pan pipes dating from 2500BC were found on the Cyclades Islands in the Aegean Sea. In 146BC when Rome conquered Greece they adopted many aspects of their culture and made it their ‘own’. The pan pipes (or syrinx as it was called in Greek culture) is an example in that they adopted the instrument but gave it the new name ‘auenis’. An interesting find was unearthed recently in the ancient city of Pompeii. After being buried underneath the volcano ash from Mount Vesuvius in 79AD, many of the items covered were preserved. Of these items frescos have been discovered which depict people playing the pan pipes. This demonstrates that pan pipes had become a part of Roman culture and were being played by the peoples.

Whilst we are on the subject, it might be of interest to explain why the pan pipes were referred to as the syrinx by the Greeks. Well, according to Greek mythology the God, Pan, fell in love with a nymph called Syrinx. She rejected him and retreated to the riverside turning into a reed to disguise herself from the following God. Pan could not find Syrinx and in his sadness cut the reed to make an instrument!

Chinese figure playing the pai xiao

During the same period that the syrinx was being played in Greece and Rome, pan pipes were being played in China. The pai xiao was reported to be used in court ensembles and religious rituals. Evidence of their existence comes from an excavation of an 11th century BC tomb in Luyi, Henan Provence where a pai xiao constructed of over 30 pipes was among the funery goods discovered.

Two early forms of pan pipes can be found upon the African continent, the nyanja and the ngororombe. These pan pipes are still being played in the African countries of Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The origins of the ngororombe can be traced back to the Shona people who built the Great Zimbabwe kingdom (13-15th centuries BC). They still play the pan pipes to this day!

The British Museum in London has a stone bas-relief from India dating back to the Ganhara period (1st-5th centuries AD). This bas-relief depicts women making music on a syrinx, double aulos’ and drum. So, a version of the pan pipes were also being played on the Indian continent many centuries ago.

Evidence of pan pipes constructed by the Viking’s have also been found recently in York, England. These are unusual from the form of pan pipes that we are familiar with today as they were made from a solid block of wood in which holes were drilled. The discovery of these pipes confirms that pan pipes were being used in Northern Europe sometime between the 5th – 15th centuries AD. Perhaps the Vikings may even have encountered them during their many voyages or raids!

In more recent history, the African-American slaves were considered to have introduced a version of the pan pipes (known as ‘the quills’) into the United States during the late 18th century. The quills were first mentioned in recounts of plantation slave histories and, lack of evidence for these pipes existing in the region before this period suggest that it was these slaves that bought them into North American shores. The quills are still being used within United States folk music to this day.

So pan pipes were constructed and played by many different cultures throughout the world. From ancient civilisations through to those in the modern world there seems to have been a construction of pan pipes popular upon every continent. Nobody can be sure of the exact origins, if indeed there are any, but it is safe to say that since they came into being pan pipes have been a popular instrument from the inception and will, hopefully, continue to be so.

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Many people have contacted us regarding the use of singing bowl for healing work. The most common questions have been, ‘Can I use a singing bowl to heal?’, ‘Which note is related to a particular chakra?’ and, ‘Which of your singing bowls plays the correct note for my desired chakra?’ In fact, they are questions we get so frequently that I thought it would be a good idea to share the answers with a wider audience!

Can I use a singing bowl for healing work?

Absolutely! Singing bowls have been around for centuries and used for healing work for much of this time. And today, even those practising ‘modern’ healing techniques use the bowls alongside their treatments; We have provided many bowls to the National Health Service within the UK for this purpose. In relation to chakra work, it is believed that the pure tones created by the vibrations from the singing bowl penetrate through the body to stimulate the chakra that corresponds with the note associated with that bowl.

Which notes relate to each chakra?

This is probably the most common question we are asked. Those using singing bowls will know that they need their singing bowl to play a particular note to stimulate the chakra they need to work upon. Hopefully, the table below will answer these questions.

Which Singing Bowl do I Need?

Finding a singing bowl tuned to the note you need for your desired chakra can be done in only one way…playing it! Although bowls of similar sizes are likely to have similar tuning, the handmade nature of singing bowls means that there are variations in the notes each bowl plays. As a rule, the larger the singing bowl the lower the note it produces. If you need a singing bowl tuned to a particular chakra then please contact us and we will find one for you and send you a quote.

Please check our site again in the future for an article exploring how to use a singing bowl for healing work.

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As something that appeals to a wide range of people, it’s only natural there be a wide variety of styles of Russian Dolls to cater for varying tastes. As well as needing to appeal to a spectrum of different people, the style of Russian Dolls also varies depending upon the personal style of the artist that paints them. This guarantees that there is a great choice of dolls available in the marketplace for the consumer, each with it’s own unique theme. There are thousands of different painting designs available, however most of them will belong to one of the following themes:

Traditional The Russian dolls that probably most people are familiar with. These are usually painted with the face of a female with a body painted with pretty floral patterns.

Animals Russian dolls painted with the images of animals can go with a cartoon feel or, a realistic painted image (left).

Christmas Obviously popular during the winter months, Russian Dolls painted with a Christmas theme feature the paintings of anything traditionally associated with the festive season. For example, these Santa Russian Dolls.

Musicians For music fans they can find Russian Dolls of their favourite artist or band. For example, these sets of Beatles Russian Dolls are popular throughout the world.

Television and Films Russian Dolls featuring the images of iconic figures associated with television and film are widely available. These Charlie Chaplin dolls are an example of Russian Dolls from this genre.

Religion No matter what the religion, you’re almost sure to find a Russian Doll depicting something from yours. These Christian themed Russian Dolls are an example.

Political Especially popular during the Soviet era, political Russian dolls are still some of the most popular available.

Sports Russian Dolls featuring the images of sports people and events are easy to find. They are more prominent during high-profile events such as the world cup and Olympics.

I’m sure there are many other styles of Russian Dolls that are available to collect however, I think these cover the most popular themes. If you can think of some dolls that have not been covered or, would like to comment on this post then it would be great if you could share your thoughts and post a comment below.

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Images supplied by: greatrussiagifts.com, ladyoksanablog.com, listsgalore.blogspot.com, nesting-dolls.blogspot.com

For the first time on the culture blog we asked you to contribute.   And, we weren’t disappointed with the response!  Going on vacation can be a great chance to meet some interesting people you would never interact with at home.  However, talking to the wrong people can often make you wish you’d stayed at home!  We asked visitors to the culture blog to share their personal experiences of holiday scams and the advice they would give to others so they didn’t fall victim to the same fate.  Here are the responses:

My biggest blunder happened in Rome several years ago. After arriving late to the city via train (surprise, surprise), my buddy and I checked in to our hotel around midnight. Weary but still adventuresome, we decided to take a stroll to see what a Wednesday night in the eternal city had to offer. Upon approaching a street corner, a seemingly lost looking fellow grabbed our attention and, in slightly accented English, asked if we knew where a certain street was (sorry, I forget its name). Well, we just happened to pass by it while walking, so we pointed him in the right direction. He proceeded by telling us that he was a business man in town for the night and heading to a Piano Bar recommended by his hotel concierge…”Would we like to join him?” he asked. He seemed like a good enough chap, so we joined, chatted while walking, and found the place.

We entered the bar, moved to the back room, and sat. As if on cue, three very scantily clad ladies joined us at our table. A waiter poured them some champagne. They started talking with us, and gradually began losing more of their clothing. Sensing my friend’s scepticism, we nodded at each other and announced our need to return to our hotel. As we got up to leave, a rather large male approached us and handed us a piece of paper that simply stated “Bill” at the top, with “$250 For the Ladies Champagne” written at the bottom. We each had $20 with us, which we reluctantly forked over, and thankfully the guy believed that we had no other access to funds. We skedaddled, realizing in the end that our street corner friend was a scamming recruiter for this little brothel house. Hook, line, and sinker, we fell for it.

My advice – Day or night, unless you know the person who approaches you or are connected to him via a group in some way, do not follow. And if you do, ALWAYS tell him/her that you’re part of a larger group, that the group knows your general whereabouts, and that they are expecting you to return shortly….this was the only leverage that we had when later negotiating with the big guy who looked like a professional torturer.

Ricco Ardemagni, NYC

My husband and I were on our honeymoon in Cozumel, Mexico; we rented a car for the trip. We were actually warned of this scam beforehand, but were not properly prepared. When we pulled in to a gas station, 5 or 6 guys ran over to the car and wouldn’t let us pump our own gas despite our protests. One of them stood directly in front of the pump to block the price. They told the amount we owed, and there was nothing we could do about it. They weren’t mean or threatening in any way, but we had no choice but to pay the amount without knowing how much gas was put in and what the actual price should be.

My advice to others would be to use a gas station where you see customers pumping their own gas, or just wave a $5 bill at them and tell them it’s all you have.

Dan and Lauren Milligan, Cozumel, Mexico

My wife and I went to Mexico.
Hurricane ensued.
3 days later after no electricity she freaked and said we need to rent a car. We argued because I’m a white guy in Mexico renting a car. And I didn’t think it was a good idea.
We rent a car.
5 minutes into driving I’m pulled over by cops in a pickup truck.
They ask me to step out of the car and begin to arrest me because I was speeding, swerving and not wearing a seat belt.
I was doing 10mph and swerving to avoid trees and coconuts in the road from the hurricane.
I ask why they were arresting me and they said I had to pay 150.00 fine at the police station. I asked if I could pay 100.00 now, they asked to step off the street and went on the sidewalk to avoid anyone seeing us. I already had 100.00 bill in my hand. They took it and sent me on my way.
We turned around and took the car right back.
Rental car 55.00. Time in rental car 5 minutes.  Cost of “excursion” 155.00. Not spending a night in a Mexican jail…Priceless!

My wife was travelling in Spain and stopped at a red light. Someone knocked on her passenger window and kept pointing towards and saying “tire flat tire flat”  She got out of the car to look and they opened up the passenger door and took her purse off the seat.

Pickpockets are everywhere. Use a money pouch that hangs from your neck under your shirt or around your belly.  The most common forms of theft occur in your hotel room. Leave nothing of value in your room or in its safe. Take it with you.   Unfortunately travellers are targets because they look out of place. However, by blending in with the locals style of dress will help. Have a constant awareness 50-100 feet around the perimeter of your body and expect people to try to distract you while they remove your wallet or bag that’s sitting next to you. Hyper awareness while travelling lets you see 10 times more of the environment for both entertainment and security value.

Robert Siciliano, SafteTravelSecurity.com

My husband and I were in a park in the tourist section of Mexico City when a young man in his early 20′s approached us. He was an American, well spoken and nicely dressed. He asked for our help. Said he was a student on vacation that had been pulled from a taxi, beaten, and robbed. All his money had been stolen. He even showed me a large bloody wound on the back of his head. He said that his father had wired him money for his plane ticket but he just needed cab fare, $25, to get to the airport.

Since I had been robbed myself a few years before that while on a business trip in Bangkok, I knew how frightening it can be in a foreign country to be without your passport and stranded, so I ‘loaned’ him $25 and gave him my business card so he could send me a check with the $25 when he got home. (After all, his request for help was so realistic and he only needed a little bit of money.) In the end, I left the park feeling like a Good Samaritan.

The next day, my husband was back in the park taking photographs, when the same young man approached him, asking if he could help him. Before the ‘victimized’ student could begin his spiel, my husband said, “My wife gave you $25 yesterday. You still need more?” That’s when the student aka scam artist left in quite a hurry. Only later when I recounted the story to a clerk at our hotel, did I learn that this was a popular tourist con and I had been scammed.

Don’t ‘loan’ any money to people that tell you hardship stories whilst on vacation!

Diane N. Bates, Loganville, GA.

I spent a blissful week sightseeing in Paris charmed by the people and wowed by the art, history and cuisine. I had saved enough francs to pay our cab driver with paper money and handed him the bills folded together when we arrived at the airport. He then turned to me as I got out of the cab and claimed I had shorted him on the fare. I knew I didn’t because I had double counted the bills before handing them to him. Because I had a plane to catch and my bags were still locked in his trunk I paid him more USD because the hassle of calling him on the scam wasn’t worth the anxiety. Lesson learned I now tell people to count the bills as they pay their cab drivers when travelling abroad so that this doesn’t happen to them.

Stacie Tamaki, The Flirty Guide

When my girlfriend and I took a low-budget tour across Western Europe a few years ago, we ended up pay $60 for what amounted to a 5 min. cab ride in Italy.

We were headed to Rome and used a discount airliner to fly into Ciampino.  Our flight landed at 11pm and all the public transit was closed.  We didn’t speak any Italian and we didn’t know exactly where our hotel for the night was, so we just hopped into the first available cab and told them the name of the hotel.  The driver took us, literally, around the block and down about 4 streets and then asked us for 40 Euros (US$60 at the time).  We were shocked, but it was late, we were in a foreign place, and we were inexperienced travellers.

What I know now is that in Italy this is a very common practice and cab fare is almost always negotiable as long as you settle on a price BEFORE accepting the ride.  If we’d done our homework, we’d at least have had a better idea of how far we needed to go to get to our hotel and would have just walked.

Tyler Tervooren

Here is my personal experience of a holiday scam:

Whilst on holiday in Cuba a man approached me trying to engage me in conversation.  I said no but then he made me feel bad by saying ‘Don’t you want to speak to a local?  I’m not trying to sell you anything’.  Feeling bad, I gave him my name, where I was staying and other little bits of information about me.  The man went on his way 5 minutes later.

Later that day a different man approached me and said ‘Hey, Gary’.  Shocked he knew my name I started to talk to him and he told me that he was friends with the hotel owner and that he would show me around.  We spent a few hours together where he cleverly made me build up my trust and it got to the point where I needed to withdraw some money from the bank.  In Cuba, they have a separate currency for tourists so my new ‘friend’ told me he could get me the currency of the locals at a great exchange rate.  I handed over my money and, strangely enough he did come back.

He told me we could visit his grandmother’s house but before we were able to he would need to go in and speak to her.  He disappeared around the corner and I never saw him again.  Later, when reporting the incident to the police I found out that the money he had given me was worth virtually nothing.

That was my first major trip abroad and it taught me a lot.  Basically, do not trust anybody no matter who they are.  Sure, become friendly with people but never EVER let down your guard.

Gary Mullen, HandcraftedUK

And finally, just to show there is some good out there here is a positive experience:

My girlfriend and I were on a beach in Antigua where a native looking guy walks up and we buy a necklace.

Anyway, I give him a twenty and he says he has to get change. After he left my girl friend looked at me and told me I was an idiot and that he was not coming back…

I told her that he would be back. She said no way. Somehow I felt I could trust him and that he would be back. After talking with her though I was much less sure of myself.

However, he did come back! I just gave her that look and she mumbled something about it was still stupid. LOL!

I find it interesting that no matter how many times you prove yourself right; they still don’t listen to you. LOL!

Hawk

If you have your own story then share it here for everyone to read.

After all the hard work we put in at home, taking a holiday is a great chance to take a break from everything.  We can leave any worries at home, throw caution to the wind and concentrate on letting go and enjoying ourselves.  There are many things to take into consideration whilst travelling and this list will give you some tips on things to consider to make your holiday a safer, well organised and highly enjoyable experience.

Before you leave

1. Check up to 6 months ahead what vaccinations you may need.

2. Photocopy passport and, if possible, save a copy onto your email account.

3. Take recent photographs of your children with you so it will be easier to identify them should you become separated.

4. Get phone number and address for your country’s embassy at your destination.

5. Give someone at home contact details for you.

6. Get a comprehensive travel insurance policy.  If you have any existing conditions, check these are not excluded.  Some travel insurance policies exclude acts of terrorism, make sure yours doesn’t!

7. Do not buy insurance directly from your agent or airline.  These are often overpriced and by shopping around you can get the same protection for a fraction of the price.

8. Check the weather patterns for time of your visit and plan for this.  Pack appropriate clothing.

9. Stock up on essentials before you leave (sun creams, repellents, medicines etc.) as they may be difficult to obtain at your destination.

10. Check tripadvisor for information regarding your destination.  The forum can provide many useful hints and tips.

11. Check with your country’s government body about travel advice to the country you are visiting.

12. Take a compass so you know which direction to head when looking at a map.

13. Take ear plugs in case you have a noisy hotel room.

14. Take a torch.

15. If you are taking a mobile telephone, make sure your operator has unlocked it to work abroad.  Contact them to check.

16. If you are abroad for a while investigate buying a local sim card for your phone.  This can make calls much cheaper.  Make sure your phone is unlocked to accept other operator’s sim cards.

17. Take a basic first aid kit.

18. Purchase a personal alarm that emits a loud sound.

19. Take an extra pair of glasses.

20. If you are on medication, take a copy of your prescription with you.  Ensure it is legal to import your prescription medication.

21. Before leaving for your holiday, do a Google search on ‘(holiday destination) scams’.

22. Before leaving, make a note of the accommodation you will be staying in.  This often needs to be given to customs officials.

23. Before your flight, pack essentials into your carry bag.  This will come in useful should your hold baggage go missing.

24. Do not put home address on luggage tag as this could compromise security.  Use the address of friends/workplace instead.

25. Pack your own bags and do not leave them unattended.

At your Destination

26. Do not approach animals as they may carry disease.

27. Be wary of people who approach you.  Don’t let your guard down!

28. Do not reveal any confidential details to anybody.

29. Do not accept drinks from strangers.  If someone insists in buying you one, go to the bar with them and keep a close eye on it!

30. Be wary of strangers who approach you.  They could be scammers!

31. Beware of pick-pockets.  These people often work in pairs and will strike up a conversation with you or create a disturbance of some kind.

32. Respect local customs.  Check what is appropriate behaviour and act accordingly.

33. Respect local dress codes, especially in Islamic countries.

34. Try to dress like a local.  This will make you less of a target to hustlers/thieves and make your holiday more enjoyable.

35. Do not keep valuables on display as this may make you a target for thieves.  If possible, leave any unnecessary valuables at home.

36. Avoid public protests as these can be dangerous.

37. Remain alert, if something feels potentially dangerous then steer clear.

38. If visiting a beach, check it is safe to swim.  If in doubt, do not go into the water.

39. Do not photograph military personnel or installations.  This can get you accused of being a spy and lead to prosecution!

40. Be careful when using taxis.  If possible, use only taxis from registered firms.  If your taxi is unmetered, agree a price before you get in.

41. Buy a phrasebook and map for your destination.

42. Make your children carry a card with your name, hotel and contact details on it.

43. Keep your hand on or draped over your bag at all times.

44. If confronted do not fight back, it’s better to lose some valuables than it is your life!

45. If you need to ask directions, ask only people in a position of authority (e.g. Police).

46. Avoid walking and travelling during the night.

47. In hotels, make note of the emergency exit procedures.  If you are unable to find them, ask, if there isn’t one…leave!

48. If someone approaches you and claims to be in a position of authority ask for some ID.  It’s not unknown for scammers to pretend to be policemen!

49. Avoid anybody approaching you claiming to be a tour guide.  If you need a guide, locate one yourself.

Money

50. Contact your credit card companies before travel.  It’s a nuisance to have your card blocked when abroad!

51. Keep a copy of your credit card numbers with someone you can trust at home.  In the event of loss, they can be easily cancelled.

52. Save the phone number of your credit card companies into your mobile telephone so it will be easier to contact them in the event of a loss.

53. Get some of your destinations currency at home. This will make things easier when you arrive at your destination if there are no ATM’s.

54. Have some of your local currency ready for when you arrive home.  This comes in useful for airport shops and taxis.

55. Take a small amount of cash and at least two credit cards.

56. Keep credit cards separate from one another.

57. When leaving the hotel only take one card…leave the others in the hotel safe.  Check it is secure.

58. Only carry as much money as you need for each day.

59. Have a dummy wallet with a small amount of cash in it.  This is useful in case you are confronted by a mugger.

60. Carry lots of small change ready to give as tips.

Food and Drink

61. Check if it is safe to drink the water.  If not, buy bottled water when you reach your destination.  Check the seal is unbroken.

62. If water is unsafe, make sure there is no ice in your drink.

63. Take water purification tablets in case you are unable to access bottled water.

64. Avoid foods that have been kept warm, bacteria could thrive on it!

65. Avoid uncooked fruit and vegetables unless you can peel them yourself.

66. Avoid food exposed to flies.

Driving Abroad

67. If driving, do your research on road customs, highway codes and conditions.

68. Check if your current driving licence is accepted.

69. Inspect the condition of the hire vehicle before accepting it.  Bring to attention any bumps and scrapes to the hire company and make sure they note them so that you will not be accused of the damage.

70. Collision damage waiver insurance is essential cover when hiring a car.  Try to buy this from a third party (not the hire company) as you can make huge savings.

Before Coming Home

71. Check what you are allowed to import.  Bringing items home which are not allowed could lead to prosecutions and fines.

I hope you find this list a useful guide on things to consider before you travel.  Of course, the list is not exhaustive and there may be things that you do that have not been covered.  If that is the case, then I encourage you to join in and leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

Reprint Rights

You may reproduce the content of this article onto your own website. However, to do so you must include a link back to HandcraftedUK. Thank you.

Used creatively for centuries, the ostrich feather has proved itself versatile when used artistically.  This article will explore how ostrich feathers have been used throughout the years.

In ancient times, the Pharaohs of Egypt used to carry fans made from ostrich feathers to protect them from the sun.  It has been documented that Roman Generals used ostrich feathers in their headgear to indicate rank.

Today, ostrich feathers are commonly used as a decoration during important ceremonies such as birthdays, weddings and anniversary parties.  Their versatile and elegant nature makes them a perfect choice for centrepieces.  The feathers can be dyed in a variety of different colours which can be used to create elaborate and eye-catching displays.

Fashion designers have also used ostrich feathers in their clothing and accessories for many years.  The versatility of the feathers allow for truly unique creations.  I know of a lady who creates Burlesque clothing for a living and uses many ostrich feathers in her designs.  And, only recently Sarah Jessica Parker could be seen with an ostrich feather handbag in the Sex and the City movie.

Whilst they have their creative uses, ostrich feathers can also have their practical advantages.  During the early 1900′s the natural oils contained within the feathers were discovered to attract dust particles.  This led to a demand for ostrich feather dusters which originally were viewed as a status symbol but have become a popular household item today.  Those who advocate the use of ostrich feather dusters cite their ability to attract the dust into them without scattering it around the room!

With demand so high for ostrich feathers many people are concerned with how the feathers are obtained.  In the past the ostrich was mainly hunted for its feathers but thankfully many are now farmed humanly.  There are many farms in India and China where the birds are kept until they are ready to shed their feathers and, when they are the feathers are gently plucked by the workers on the farms.  Of course, there are unfortunately some farms where conditions are poor but for the most part the birds are well looked after.

At HandcraftedUK we work closely with our overseas suppliers to ensure that the feathers we obtain are from farms where the birds live in humane conditions and are not harmed for their feathers.

Please visit the following link if you would like to view our ostrich feathers.

Reprint Rights

You may reproduce the content of this article onto your own website. However, to do so you must include a link back to HandcraftedUK. Thank you.