As last week on the 18th was International Museum Day, we at Travel and Deal have been contemplating some of the most weird, wonderful and downright bizarre museums across the world. Here is our top 5:

1) The Torture Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

For those of us who have seen the Hostel movies, the idea of this museum definitely sends a shiver down the spine! Amsterdam has long been hailed as the ‘city of museums’ and this is just one of the niche museums the city has to offer. The museum provides a painful insight into the archaic legal practices of the dark past, for example displaying the instruments used during the Spanish Inquisition, and those used by Ecclesiastical lawyers who devised special punishments for the exceptional crimes of witchery and heresy.

For those interested in the terrifying, sadistic side of European History, this museum is a must see.

2) The Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, Osaka, Japan.

This museum in Japan is, as the name suggests, dedicated solely to instant Ramen noodles and their creator Momofuku Ando. Since their invention Ramen noodles have become somewhat of a cultural phenomenon world over, and at this museum you  can even make your own, and of course enjoy the variety of Ramen noodles on offer in The Tasting Room.

So whether you want to pay homage to Mr. Ando for creating the snack which saved many of us from starvation in our student days, or simply want to learn more about the snack which has become integral to various cultures over the world; this is sure to be a fun day out.

3) The Mutter Museum, Philadelphia, USA

Philadelphia’s Mutter Museum is home to one of the most impressive (and obscure!) collections of medical oddities in the world. The museum boasts a collection of 20,000 specimens both wet and osteological, of which only around 13% are on display. As well as a variety of specimens the museum also houses a variety of wax models and historical medical instruments.

The museums collection, originally donated by Thomas Dent Mutter in 1858, was to be used for biomedical research, and to this day if a focal point of interest for scientists, artists and the curious tourist alike.

This cabinet of medical curiosities includes the liver of famous conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker, a piece of tissue removed from the thorax of John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln, and even part of Albert Einsteins Brain.

4)The Condom Museum, Bangkok, Thailand

This is definitely one of the cities quirkier attractions, but far from being sleazy or a barrel or laughs, it’s actually a fantastic initiative by the countries Ministry Of Health to promote sexual health and overcome any negative stereotypes associated with condom use. The museum has several rooms detailing the history of the development of external contraception in Thailand, as well as displaying condoms and other sexual health items from all over the world. Perhaps more interesting is the live testing of the strength and durability of the condoms which takes place. Throughout the museum, the importance of sexual health is highlighted and encouraged. Perhaps more countries need a condom museum!

5) Icelandic Phallological Museum, Reykjavik, Iceland

We’ve saved the wildest for last! Yes, this is what it sounds like – this museum houses the worlds largest collection of penises and penile parts. The collection of 208 specimens from 93 species of animal includes 55 whale penises, 36 from seals and 118 from Land Mammals. In 2011 the museum received it’s first human donation, however due to a mishap it’s detachment and preservation didn’t go quite to plan, so to this day the museum continues to look for a better one (Just in case you’ve ever considered organ donation!)
According to its mission statement the museum seeks to enable individuals to undertake serious study into the field of Phallology in an organised and scientific fashion. After all, it’s a natural part of physiology in which research continues to save lives.

Ayahuasca at Caya Shobo Healing Centre – The sacred Amazonian medicine path.

http://www.cayashobo.com/

Peru is often heralded as the most fascinating country in South America, with its diverse geography encompassing the beautiful Andes mountains, the Atacama desert, breathtaking coastlines and of course the vast and mysterious jungle of the Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest and host to a wonder of unparalleled natural diversity.

Along with these natural riches, Peru is also home to a multitude of Hispanic and native peoples, of many varied languages and traditions, and of rich cultural history, artfully expressed through brightly coloured quality textiles, precious jewelry, pottery, music, exquisite cuisines, and wondrous enchantments from the ancient world. The sacred city of Machu Pichu, for instance, the “Holy City of the Incas”, is world-acclaimed as one of Peru’s most exciting and spectacularly beautiful destinations. The city of Cusco also, which was once capital of the Inca’s vast Empire which spanned more than 60% of South America, is the oldest continually inhabited city in the Western hemisphere.

But deep in the Amazon jungle lies a less well-known gem of the ancient native world. Namely, the noble medicine of Ayahuasca, the “Vine of the Soul”, and the Shipibo tribal people, whose Shamanic Maestros and Maestras are the advanced knowledge bearers of Ayahuasca’s mysterious and esteemed healing powers, and holders of the secrets of attainment of more elevated levels of spiritual consciousness through the sacramental use of Ayahuasca – a plant brew that is ingested in ceremonial context under the guidance and care of experienced practitioners.

The Shipibo are a special tribe, one of the oldest and largest tribes of the western Amazon basin, with their own language, and an ancient culture estimated at over 2,000 years old. Living as they do in the embrace of the earth’s most vast and primeval natural environment, the Shipibo people hold a deep connection with the nature of the rainforest which infuses all aspects of their life – physical, cultural and spiritual. They were never conquered by the Inca empire and resisted colonization by Spanish priests. Through the passing down of their ancestral knowledge from generation to generation, the Shipibo shamanic healers have preserved their traditions and their age-old treasure of knowledge of the medicine plants of the jungle in a way that no other culture possesses today.

The Shipibo people believe the master plants are physical hosts of advanced teaching spirits; spirits of a high sentience and intelligence, profoundly different from our human intelligence, but that hold immense sacred knowledge, and are able to be accessed through special shamanic practices and dietary restrictions. During Ayahuasca ceremonies the Master healer or curandero administers healing treatments through the singing or chanting of ‘Icaros’ or songs that embody the spiritual energy and healing knowledge of the shaman, as passed down by his ancestors and enhanced through his own dream vision learning while in ‘dieta’ with the master plants.

Luz Universal by Luis Tamani. Peruvian Visionary Artist

Ayahuasca is believed to be the Great Mother of these plant spirits, the Cosmic Serpent, the great master teacher who can provide us a portal to the spiritual world of the plants, and who awakens our lost memories, reminds us of the beauty of our soul, and shows us the pathways to healing through helping us to access the deepest parts of our sub-conscious mind. Some believe the spirit of Ayahuasca has deliberately come forth from the depths of the Amazon and is now emerging into the global consciousness in order to bring peace, healing and harmony into a modern world that is far from its roots and contact with Mother Nature.

There is a growing stream of international interest in this relatively recent discovery of one of the world’s most fascinating ancient mysteries, with seekers journeying to the heart of Peru to find relief from a variety of physical ailments and disease, from the psychological anxieties and stresses of modern life, and to explore the possibility of a more significant and higher spiritual understanding through the experience of entering Ayahuasca ceremony and master plant dieta.

In the past decade many new centres of Ayahuasca healing have opened throughout the Amazon, with a variety of offerings, often combining traditional Amazonian shamanic healing with other western and eastern traditions such as Yoga and Massage.  It is important to note that their are risks associated with the ingestion of Ayahuasca, in particular when combined with other plants that may be destabilizing to the function of the body or mind, or when it is used without the oversight and protection of experienced practitioners. Caya Shobo Healing Centre is a unique place of its kind: for its beautiful environs and for its seriousness and commitment to the deepest and oldest Amazonian shamanic tradition of the Shipibo medicine path, and the safety and well being of all its visitors. Caya Shobo is the only western owned Ayahuasca centre in the world to have received endorsement from Coshicox (the Shipibo Conibo Xetebo Tribal Council) as to the authenticity of its Maestros and its medicine offering in accordance with the true Shipibo traditions. Under the care of Caya Shobo’s expert teachers and experienced facilitators, this centre welcomes all who wish to explore the millennial medicine path of Ayahuasca in a beautiful, safe and natural setting in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.

Caya Shobo is conveniently located just 45minutes from the famed jungle city of Iquitos, where guests can take time out to take a tour down the Amazon river, explore the artisanal markets, or visit the popular local restaurants. Iquitos is easily accessible by a short flight from Lima. Bookings to stay at Caya Shobo can be made online at www.cayashobo.com

Travel Tales to Palakkad

- Hama Iyer Ramani

The best way to learn I have discovered is to travel. It is like reading an original book- discovering things first-hand. There is tremendous joy in always leaving behind a home that is ridden with mundane problems, seemingly endless chores, the drudgery of a routine in short! It is like the frog in the well experiencing and breathing new freedom outside- an entire world waiting to be discovered with all its beauty and short-comings.

My brief stay in Palakkad helped me rediscover the simple joys of life that I seemed to have forgotten at least for a while. While the bustling city life has its numerous advantages, I sometimes feel the disconnect that it also brings with it. In the quiet village home in Palakkad, I am quite happy to be without wi-fi and my laptop. My senses are alert and I realized I had become more observant. Summers in Palakkad are quite unbearable and the monsoons are awaited eagerly.

There are row houses facing each other, and every morning would see the women of the homes wash the black Cuddappah stone laid neatly in front of each home and draw out the perfectly drawn kolam out of rice flour to be seen in contrast to the back background. Kolams are almost like graphology- just as you can read from a handwriting, so also kolams tell stories about their authors ! Some are drawn out of mere routine, some in a hurry, some out of compulsion , but the ones that stand out are simple ones drawn out of love. There is a delicacy in each perfect line , and festive occasions would mean more elaborate kolams, drawn out of freshly soaked and ground rice, a liquid that like paint is ore free-flowing and does not get erased away that easily unless the intention is deliberate!

Palakkad is essentially the corridor that allows entry into Kerala because of the Palakkad gap, that is a low mountain pass that bridges Coimbatore to Palakkad and cuts through Nilgiri hills and Anaimalai hills. The Bharatapuzha river that originates from here caresses the entire place along with her tributaries . It is a feast to the eyes to watch the lush green paddy fields , the many rivulets, the swaying coconut palms dotting the horizon and the shore and the several colourful birds that find haven in these surroundings. The clear blue skies add to the hues of the blue green waters of the rivers, and it is here that I have found every home with at least a few “basic” trees!

The evening sky glows with the red sky reflecting its glory on its red-tiled roofs. Then as darkness spreads its blanket across the sky, the moon rises shining like a large lamp and the temple priest lights up the temple bringing light from the corner of the street. Then one by one, all lights in the villages are lit. The evening prayers begin and as the priest raises the aarti plate, the entire village stands with folded palms praying from the sacred space of their own homes, thus symbolically taking in the sacredness from across the temple to the altar of their homes. The villages in Palakkad were essentially agraharams(Brahmin residents) and the oldest among them being Kalpathy , which has been regarded as a heritage village. The temple chariot rituals in each of these villages are worthy of participation and are rich memories to carry back home.

The village homes are large and airy, well ventilated with wooden roofs and beams and wooden stairs that lead to the bedrooms of the main part of the house. There is a central court yard which doubles as a wash area to clean hands and legs should one come in from outside. It is quite a treat to hear the sound of rain on these tiled roofs and when they pour down the roof, they almost resemble a mini waterfall !

There is a sense of participation from the entire village when it comes to temple festivals, weddings or even solemn occasions of the passing away of a village resident. It is then that we understand how much we miss the human strength and support when we distance ourselves from the cultural roots.

It was here that I enjoyed teaching my children how to learn from residents how to be resourceful. When my son wanted to play cricket and we did not have a bat- (we had to go to the town to source it), my uncle came with a solution. He used the thick base portion of the coconut frond and easily chiselled out a well-shaped out though rustic bat. When my son found the grip on the handle not too good, my mother promptly came up with a solution- use the jute rope; when the rope was coiled around the handle, it not only looked aesthetically beautiful, it also enabled better grip. It was the first lesson in resourcefulness. The ability to think quickly comes in with being thrown to basics- when solutions do not land on a plate, the mind begins to work. They soon learnt how to send rockets flying in the air using the coconut leaves! Children learnt to make bracelets and coconut –leaf balls too! By the end of the vacation , they had learnt to identify the vegetables and flowers better- Botany seemed fun this way , and all without any compulsion! Soon they found that among all other trees in the garden- a small farm(!), the coconut and the plantain tree could be regarded truly special- every part of the tree could be put to use!

As we plucked the jasmine flowers for my mother who would weave it into a beautiful strand, I found my uncle suddenly quiet as he drew me away from the malli bush. High alert. None of us moved- all remained quiet. After six minutes, we saw a long snake slither away! I gasped- my uncle said: “Pooh, it is only a cherai (rat snake)!” It drew my attention to the fact that living in the quiet of the countryside perhaps teaches us to be alert and sensitive to Nature around us- to be conscious of little sounds, little movements, and more importantly the ability to respect space and species.

In later years, it was perhaps his training in early childhood that probably taught my son to respect creatures around him on his university campus too. He once used a long stick waiting for the snake that had slithered on to the main road, allowed it to settle on the stick before he could carefully put it away from the main road where it could possibly run the chance of being killed.

Vacations in Palakkad taught us to be happy with little, taught us to notice the animals at closer quarter- we understood the calls of birds- the large chemboth (Greater Coucal) , the king fisher, the wood pecker. We watched the flowers bloom, the fruits appearing and the ecstasy of drinking tender coconut fresh from the tree!

As I return to the city and get on to Facebook , I am reminded of the several thinnai ( small platforms ) conversations that we had as we got together each evening waiting for the temple priest to come. I realize the intimacy of the conversations with real people as the against the several ‘friends’ on FB who I have not seen in flesh!

— Hama Iyer Ramani

(A former lecturer of Political Science at Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, Chennai-based writer Hemalatha Ramani contributes to newspapers, magazines and blogs. She is the author of a travel book, Soulscapes: Travels and Conversations in India). She writes under the name of Hema Iyer Ramani.

Brazil | Amazonian Buffalo Experience

- W. Huynh

Marajó Island is the largest fluvial island in the world by the mouth of the Amazon River, and it’s buffalo central! Buffalo cheese, buffalo meat, buffalo pizza and policemen riding buffaloes. I stayed at the Soure municipality which is right next to Salvaterra. Apparently all the activities are at Soure so it’s better to stay there.

The island itself is absolutely stunning! Soft-sand beaches that make cute, squeaky noises when you walk, mangroves all over the island and a chilled, island vibe. I also watched (and attempted) carimbó dancing and experienced “clubbing” Brazilian style (maybe it’s a South American thing?) where people dance salsa (probably not salsa but it’s similar) in partners rather than jumping up and down and fist pumping. People also don’t dance non-stop. They dance for a minute or so, and then stop for another minute based on what the DJ is doing. Personally, I wasn’t a huge fan of all the talking the DJs do in the middle of the song either…really breaks the continuity!

If you like the beach, hot weather, the jungle and want to experience riding a buffalo (the buffalos are well looked after and are free to roam as they please on the farm), then it’s worth checking out and supporting the local communities. I got a more local experience with the blokus (street party leading up to Carnaval in Brazil) and carimbó dancing as I stayed at a couch surfing place.

I met Evaldor at the first pousada (hotel in Brazil) I stayed it. He was wonderful and took me around on his scooter to some nearby beaches and cheese farm while we waited for the buffalo farm tour to start. Pictured here is Praia do Pesqueiro (Pesquiero beach). Unfortunately, I had a bad experience at Pousada Asa Branca where one of the owners acted like a misogynist and made me feel unsafe when a young man harassed me for over an hour.

Enjoy a cold drink or fresh coconut while you sit on a beach chair under the many umbrellas or out in the sun.

Kids, wanna play on this swing? A buffalo swing in the buffalo cheese farm garden.

The canoe ride down a river with a lovely lady I met on the Sao Jeronimo Fanzenda tour (buffalo farm tour). It was so peaceful and the sounds of the birds and insects was exactly what I needed!

 A crab on the beach during out Sao Jeronimo tour. Mario (our tour guide) picked one up and let me hold it. This was a bit bigger than my hand but was he strong!

 Getting the buffaloes ready for the ride. We walked through the farm and had a small buffalo race at the end too. Get your butt pads ready as you should be expecting a sore behind after this! 

View from above. This guy really had a mind of his own wouldn’t go where I wanted him to go…

  Mangroves at Pesquiero Beach. 

How did I get there?

- Marajó Island is a great 2 or 3 day side-trip to make from Belém. I stayed at Galeria Hostel which has the loveliest receptionists and is within walking distance of the ferry terminal. They guided me as to where to go and how to book my ferry ticket to the island.

- Make your way to Terminal Hidroviário De Belém (the ferry terminal) before the morning ferry and choose between a fast or slow ferry.

- Get off at Soure and try to stay with a hostel/[pousada where they speak English. I made the mistake of staying at a pousada, and then couch surfing place where it was hard to get proper assistance.

- Get help from your hostel/pousada as to how to return to Belém. I had to take a bus to the Balsa Camará – Icoaraci which I believe is a slower ferry and terminal located elsewhere from where you enter Soure from.

Sao Jeronimo Farm Tour

     - This tour lasts a few hours and takes you down a river on a canoe, through a beach and on a buffalo ride. I organised mine on the day through the pousada when I arrived.

Recommendations

- Take enough cash with you as the ATMs charge an extremely high commission rate (20% when I was there). I had to take a slower ferry back because I had money stolen from me at the couch surfing accommodation and couldn’t pay for the faster ferry I had originally planned on taking.

- Stay at a hostel with English speakers even if it means very basic accommodation. You will enjoy it more with the help as barely anyone speaks English.

We’ve all heard of the threats humanity poses to the animal kingdom in the form of hunting and deforestation. But it appears that now as a result of severe droughts in Kerala, tigers have killed six elephants over the last six months in Kerala’s Wayanad wildlife sanctuary, with a total of eighteen having perished on account of the water shortage.

Experts say these tiger attacks are due to large scare migration directly influenced by the droughts in the area, as the animals came to clash in search of water. Though six elephants were killed by tigers, two also died fighting each other.

This inter-species violence is indeed rare, elephants tending to move around in large herds, however this is the worst drought in Kerela in the last 115 years.

Whispers of the human impact on climate change are no new phenomena; could the collective environmental degradation carried out by humans also be affecting inter-species relations?..

Read more at:  http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/drought-triggers-fierce-water-war-in-kerala-s-wayanad-as-tigers-kill-elephants/story-LBZn6Yf9hjFROwkjqGXoeK.html

Today Travel and Deal features ‘Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary’ a non-profit organisation dedicated to the protection of elephants in Thailand, bringing these beautiful giants back into their natural habitats and providing alternative livelihood for their previous owners. This sanctuary offers a unique experience for travelers to Thailand to contribute to the conservation of the bountiful flora and fauna of the country, by helping to rehabilitate elephants and experiencing the natural beauty of Thailand.
Here is what Kerri McCrea, Manager & Co-Founder of Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary has to say:

My journey started off with my studies – I spent 3 years studying Zoology at Queen’s University Belfast & spent my summers volunteering abroad. Due to my degree & volunteering experience, I was able to land a job working with rehabilitating captive elephants in Thailand. From working on the ground here, I was able to see the situation for captive elephants; being ridden & paraded around all in the name of human entertainment.

I decided I needed to know more; I carried out a lot of research on many types of elephant tourism during my 3 years here. What I found wasn’t what I exactly what I first thought. Although many of the conditions the elephants are kept in shocked me to my core and a lot of places just used these majestic creatures to make an income at any cost, I was also relieved to find hope. Many places and elephants owners want to do everything they can to give their elephants a better life, but just haven’t been given the opportunity or an alternative to do so.

This is when I decided to take action. I met Sombat, my Thai boyfriend through one of the organisations I worked for. He is part of the Karen Hilltribe who are the elephant keepers of Thailand and his family has had elephants passed down through their generations. His family care for their elephants very much, but due to the complex situation, they where forced to keep them in some of the worst conditions I have seen. Together, me and Sombat started working on an alternative. A way for his family to allow their elephants to live as natural a life as possible and still be able to make a living from them.

What makes our project different is that we bring elephants back to their home environment to live in semi-wild conditions with as little human interaction as possible. Due to huge deforestation in Thailand, captive elephants will always have a relationship with man, but our project allows us to keep this to a minimum so the elephants can have the most natural life possible. We also work with our community to provide them with an alternative & educate them on sustainable eco-tourism, that if spreads, will also combat illegal trade.

We need visitors & volunteers to come & help us take care of the elephants, keep them in semi-wild conditions, carry out research on their natural behaviors & help us educate our community. Volunteer’s day will start with hiking to find the elephants in the forest, feeding fruit, carrying out a health check & observing their natural behaviors as they roam through the forest. Afternoons & evenings will be spent carrying out community projects to both help & educate the locals.

You too can get involved through the following methods:

You can book a stay or find out more on the sanctuary website: www.kselephantsanctuary.org

Follow our updates on our facebook page: www.facebook.com/kselephantsanctuary

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kindredspiritelephantsanctuary
Twitter: twitter.com/KSES_Thailand

Delhi Art Slam is a breath of fresh air in our post-modern world. Where art is a but a commodity within the white walled space of the gallery.
The group, who had their first event earlier this year, is a community for Artists, art-lovers, art-enthusiasts, aiming to localize art galleries and museums into everyday public spaces.
Delhi has a rich art scene, yet what is lacking is the current of underground talent and activity which can be seen in other metropolitan cultural cities. And this is where Art Slam comes in to shake things up.

No matter what medium of art you create, there is a space for you at Delhi Art Slam. Whether you’re an artist by trade, or have a casual interest, art slam connects all.
The group curate walk through exhibitions featuring the work of independent artists throughout Delhi, providing a platform for undiscovered talent throughout the city.

The first official event Slam #1 at Hearken Cafe, on 5th Feb was able to create an art gallery in a cafe with talented underground artists, photographers, illustrators and sculptors and everyone who loved their art. Slam #1 was a hit, and now they are back with Slam #2!
Here is what Art Slam have to say about the next event;

“Delhi Art Slam in collaboration with The Education Tree and antiSocial is curating an art gallery, a make-shift museum for all art lovers and enthusiasts in Delhi, with all the contemporary underground and upcoming artists, designers, photographers, illustrators and sculptors. All visual artists are bringing their work and putting it up on display for you. Thus, making our space, a walkabout art gallery. If you’re art enthusiast in Delhi, this place is for you.”

 

The event takes place at AntiSocial in Hauz Khas Village on Sunday the 7th of May. from 12:00 – 16:00.

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Slam #1 – photo credit: Delhi Art Slam

Slam #1 – photo credit: Delhi Art Slam.

Isla de las Munecas – The Island of the Dolls

I was casually browsing through Instagram one lazy Sunday morning when I came across a string of images of ‘The Island of Dolls’ in Mexico. I thought I was looking at the set design of some new horror movie, but to my surprise found this was a real world location and only a two hour canal ride away from Mexico City. Being an avid reader and viewer of all things creepy, I thought this would the perfect destination for a horror movie fan like me.

Doll Island. Photo credit – Bec Plumbe, Flickr.

The legend of the island involves a man by the name of Don Julian Santana, who lived on the island as a caretaker, having left his family to live out his years as a recluse. Upon arriving at the island Santana soon discovered the body of a young girl who had drowned in a canal, and later found a toy doll floating nearby which he believed belonged to the little girl. As a mark of respect, Santana hung the doll in a tree, to help the girl’s spirit pass along. Thereafter he was reportedly haunted by the spirit of the young girls ghost, and in an attempt to appease her restless spirit, he began collecting dolls and stringing them up in the trees and throughout the island.

Photo credit – Kevin, Flickr.

There are local legends that the dolls themselves were possessed by the spirits of the dead, and according to those close to him Don Julian Santana was moved by a mysterious external force which completely changed his life. Whether Santana’s actions were part and parcel of an occult mystery, or the innocent tribute to the young girl he had found dead, Isla de las Munecas remains a tourist attraction for thrill seekers, photographers and lovers of all things creepy. Perhaps the most chilling aspect of the tale is that after almost 50 years of collecting dolls in 2001, Santana’s body was found drowned in the same place as he had found the body of the girl.

Photo credit – Kevin, Flickr.

The island to this day remains shrouded in mystery, with visitors claiming they have seen the dolls heads and limbs move, even claims of hearing whispers moving through the trees. In the present day thousands of visitors flock to the island each year eager to catch a glimpse of the urban legend.

Time has left it’s mark on the Islands many dolls. Some have been there for decades, truly weather beaten and in varying states of decay.

Photo credit – Kevin, Flickr.

The island is just 28km away from Mexico City Visitors can catch a ferry there from the Embarcedero Cuemanco or Embarcadero Fernando Celada, and it’s about a four-hour round trip. However not all ferry’s stop at the island so be sure to ask ahead.