Blogs

There was no chat. No WhatsApp, no LINE groups. No smartphones, no social media, not even emails. We had landlines, sure, but they were always monopolized by our parents. The pinnacle of technology was the pager, allowing us to convey the anticipation of waiting for a call from a friend. Yet, in reality, if we already knew through a call, was it really necessary? Our friends knew where we were, when we were leaving, and where everyone else was. Ultimately, our lives revolved around bar tables and benches that became our second homes. Always occupied with something, there were those unpredictable latecomers who never knew when to show up. Someone […]

The Philosophy of the Sea A young child lost his shoes in the ocean, and he wrote on the shore, “This sea is a thief.” After a while, a fisherman with a bounty of fish arrived, and he wrote on the shore, “This sea is gentle.” A child drowned in the sea, and his mother wrote on the shore, “This sea is a murderer.” A sailor faced a storm, and he wrote on the shore, “This sea is perilous.” After some time, a man who found pearls in the depths of the sea arrived, and he wrote on the shore, “This sea is filled with blessings.” Meanwhile, the sea never […]

Awakening the Heart of Dolphins The Secrets of Free Diving Dive in one breath, and you encounter yourself. This is the essence of why free diving is called underwater meditation. The year is 1957. Miami. A robust 30-year-old man with rich black hair and a thin mustache enters the aquarium. His name is Jacques Mayol, an editor for the French newspaper “La Floride Française” and a correspondent for Radio-Canada. He has been assigned to report on the first underwater surgery performed on a grouper living in one of the tanks. In his autobiography, “Homo Delphinus,” written 43 years later, Mayol reflects, “Unbeknownst to me, I was about to take a […]

Tomatoes never betray. In a world with approximately 7,000 varieties of tomatoes, only 2% of them are currently cultivated. Once, all seeds were a common heritage, shared by everyone. Today, we are returning to this model through initiatives like “Open Source Seed” and “Guerrilla Gardening.” Why not become a guerrilla gardener yourself? Rebuilding the Stream Currently, seven companies control 70% of the world’s seed market. Monsanto, in particular, has systematically dominated the seed market since the 1990s and holds patents for the majority of genetically modified plants. This not only entails economic control by corporations and the loss of biodiversity but also signifies the closure of seed cycles (effectively obtaining […]

Cashmere, a wool originating from the region of the same name in the Indian subcontinent during the 15th century, holds a significant presence. Sajjad Hussain / AFP According to a report released by the market research and consulting firm Grand View Research in 2019, the global cashmere market in the apparel sector, which reached $26.6 billion in 2018, is predicted to grow at an annual rate of approximately 3.96% from 2019 to 2025. The surge in demand is associated with the essential characteristics of Kashmir wool produced in the region spanning Pakistan, India, and China during the 15th century, characterized by “softness,” “fineness,” “resilience,” and “warmth.” This aligns with the […]

The popularity of the Moomins has reached unprecedented heights. Now, 75 years later, the origin of the Moomins reveals the reasons behind their enduring charm. On the anniversary of Tove Jansson’s debut, “The Moomins and the Great Flood,” born during wartime, we reflect on her works and ponder why they continue to be beloved. Even if you’re not familiar with Tove Jansson’s comics, adored worldwide, you surely know the Moomins. Like iconic characters such as Winnie the Pooh and Peanuts, you’ve likely seen these round, upright creatures with a mix of bear and horse features on book covers, cards, bed sheets, and television, radiating kindness with curious eyes. But if […]

Jungle, Our Healer Botanical Therapy in Central and South America First, the botanist prepared a decoction of various plants, and then he filled a bottle with a medicine made from a plant known as the “snake’s tongue.” This treatment proved to be remarkably effective. In February of this year, I was in Panama, gathering material for a book about the Naso indigenous people living in the tropical hardwood forests along the Teribe River in the Bocas del Toro region. I had caught a strange cold. In the high humidity, amidst the loud chirping of crickets throughout the night, I struggled to breathe with a cough and developed a fever. I […]

In the heart of the rugged Himalayan landscapes, where the mountains stand as ancient sentinels, an unnamed wanderer found himself in the company of a creature as mystical as the peaks themselves—a wild yak. This is the tale of an encounter that transcended the ordinary, a communion with the untamed, and a conversation that unraveled the enigmatic mysteries of our Earth. Amidst the craggy terrain of Ladakh, where the air is thin, and time seems to echo through the valleys, our wanderer stumbled upon a lone yak, its shaggy coat blending seamlessly with the raw beauty of the surroundings. Wanderer: “Greetings, majestic one. What secrets do you guard in the […]

In the ethereal realm where Earth touches the sky, there lies a sentinel of solitude, a behemoth in the Himalayan tapestry – Stok Kangri. Venturing into the heart of this celestial kingdom, I embarked on an odyssey that transcended the physical conquest of altitude; it became a symphony, a harmonious dance with the very soul of the Himalayas. The journey commenced amidst the aromatic whispers of juniper, the vibrant prayer flags fluttering as spiritual sentinels, invoking blessings for the arduous ascent. The trail unveiled itself gradually, a labyrinth of jagged crags and icy precipices that demanded not just physical prowess but a surrender to the unseen forces orchestrating the theater […]

In the vast expanse of the ocean, there exists a whale with a mysterious presence. This whale is known as “52,” not so much a name as a representation of the frequency of its vocalizations in hertz, a measured value. It is said that this whale has been singing for many years. Unfortunately, other whales, quite literally, do not resonate with his frequency. Perhaps they hear his voice, but his song is so distinct from theirs that they cannot comprehend it, never responding. Nevertheless, 52 persists in calling out. He continues to sing. Into the abyss of oblivion, a lone voice echoes across the sea. This melancholic, solitary existence, akin […]