Being stuck below ground is our worst nightmare, but imagine if you were forced to look the devil in the eye every morning as you headed into the subterranean world. Intrepid traveller Jacqueline Donaldson discovered what it was like for the underground workers of Bolivia…
“If God is in the sky then the devil must be in the ground” was what a Potosi miner told me when I was surprised by an effigy of the devil on entering the dark entrance to a mine in the intriguing city of Potosi. As I watched, miners filed past giving small offerings to the devil to keep them safe for the working day.
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On the full moon of the eleventh lunar month, a magical phenomenon occurs in Laos and Thailand. From the murky waters of the Mekong incredible fireballs rise high into the night, then suddenly vanish. You can witness the spectacle for yourself on 04 October this year, and as Intrepid’s Nicola Gibson’s explains, the Mekong and this enigmatic event shouldn’t be missed…
“Travelling down the mighty Mekong River (Mae Nam Khong) between Thailand and Laos on a traditional wooden longboat, it’s very easy to truly relax and lose yourself in the surrounding scenery of towering mountains, lush green flora and fauna as birds fly over head.
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In June each year, the city of Fes hosts a festival of sacred music. This international gathering draws performers and spectators from far and wide to Morocco, and Intrepid’s Laura Carroll recommends you put this festival high on your list if you love hearing world-class music from a variety of countries and cultures…
“Created in 1994, the festival serves as a bridge between cultures, to create a musical dialogue between faiths. The themes always reflect that goal, with performers coming from America, France, Spain, Norway, Lebanon, Mali, Senegal, India, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Bali, Vietnam and beyond.
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With the arrival of spring, a special festival has just taken place in China and Intrepid’s Sunny Bin helps explain the history behind the local traditions…
“I always think that the Chinese farmer’s calendar is more sensitive, and really makes you realise the passage of time. This calendar divides the whole year into 24 segments based on the slightest change in nature, such as the walking of the insect and the first spring rain.
It seems like only yesterday I was introducing the Spring Equinox customs to my Intrepid group on the way to Great Wall on 20th of March, then all of a sudden, I’m in southern China on the 5th of April telling them stories about Qingming, or Grave-sweeping Day.
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Renowned for its majestic mountain beauty, the remote north Indian region of Ladakh is also famous for its auspicious Hemis Festival. Held each year in late June or early July, the monastic festival entertainment includes masked dancers and much celebration, as Express reader Lauren Matthews discovered when she visited the ‘land of high passes’…
“The first night we were in Hemis for the festival we heard faint music coming from a tent on the other side of the river, so a couple of us decided to check it out. We followed the tunes to a tent where we found several locals dancing around a table to Ladakhi grooves as well as some Bollywood classics, including “It’s the time to disco”, a song that continues to ring in my ears to this day.
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The weeks surrounding the summer solstice in northern Russia are known as the ‘White Nights’, when the sun barely sets and the country celebrates its round-the-clock glow.
From May to July each year St Petersburg basks in the cultural light of ballet, opera and musical events. While in more remote regions the festivities may be a little less flamboyant, as Intrepid’s Tara Kennaway discovered, seeing the sun almost set on Solovki is a very special experience…
“It’s 2am and the sun is only just starting to set, streaking the sky with strips of pink and purple which reflect on the waters of the lake and mingle with the image of the 12th century monastery that stands in front of us. This is summer on the Solovetsky Islands and White Nights celebrations are in full swing.
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There are few festivals in Italy that don’t feature delicious local cuisine in their celebrations, and where there is food alongside fun you can expect to find Intrepid group leader Tamara Palinkas…
“This summer I was really lucky, when in the small town of Maiori on the Amalfi Coast I got to celebrate Ferragosto with an Italian family. This is one of the most important Italian holidays and on 15 August the country shuts down for a mid-summer feast celebrated with music and fireworks.
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