Encounters 
Japan: Tokyo Bird Carver’s Club(0)
Ornithologists are a breed apart. And ornithologists who are also wood carvers surely form a distinct sub-category. In Tokyo, the “Bird Carver’s Club” exhibited its masterpieces at the Shinjuku-gyoen Garden. And masterworks they were: from the right proportions to the distinctive details of each species, each piece was astonishingly life-like. The hours of study, contemplation [...]
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Japan: Tokyo’s “cat cafes”
By now it is a known fact that pets can help to combat stress symptoms. So it is a logical conclusion to combine two pleasurable activities in order to achieve a positive result: have a tea or coffee break and pet a cat to feel relaxed. The Japanese solution: visit a “Cat Cafe”. What can [...]
Iceland: Hotpooling with heroes
Although the north west region of Iceland was only permanently settled by Norwegians in the mid 19th century, a natural hot pool located about 18 km north of the town of Saudhakrokur was already mentioned as being enjoyed by the great outlaw hero Grettir, protagonist of Grettis Saga, one of the famous Icelandic sagas from [...]
Thailand: Spending a day with tigers
Poachers had killed the female tiger but left the new-born cub to fend for itself. Passing villagers found it whimpering in the bush and decided to take it to the newly established temple near Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Little did the Buddhist monks realize that they were embarking on a unique venture in 1994 with that very [...]