All posts filed under: PLANETA

Torino

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English: TORINO Turin is the capital of the Piedmont region in northwestern Italy, surrounded by the fertile agricultural plains east of the Alps and neighbouring Lombardia, Liguria, Valle D’aosta and France. This region has rich and diverse culinary traditions and a wide variety of locally cultivated ingredients and food produces. Not surprisingly, this is the cradle and global headquarters of the Slow Food movement. The region is also one of Italy’s industrial centres and home of world recognised food brands like Nutella, Lavazza or Martini. The House of Savoy, established in 1003 and one of Europe’s most influential royal families, made Turin their royal city and the grand architectural buildings, palaces and monuments of Turin showcase a fascinating illustration of that period. By 1720 Turin was the capital of the kingdom of Sardinia in a time when today’s Italy was a mix of kingdoms, republics, duchies and papal states. The Risorgimento, the movement for Italian unification, has its historical, intellectual and political center in Turin. The city became the first capital of unified Italy in 1861, before Rome. …

Hill Tribes / Tribos das Montanhas

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English: HILL TRIBES The diversity of ethnic minorities in Southeast Asia is fascinating. Outnumbered and hidden behind populous ethnic majorities, like the Han in china or the Kinh in Vietnam, these tribal groups have endured and survived pressures of assimilation, flourishing within their communities for centuries, preserving and developing their identities, languages and customs. The genealogy of these peoples doesn’t recognise modern country borders. The lineage of language and DNA show thriving adaptable and evolving cultures spattered throughout Southeast Asia’s landscape. Some good examples of these are found in China, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar (苗族, ແມ້ວ ມົ້ງ, H’Mông, แม้ว ม้ง, မုံလူမျိုး). Youth and women play a vital role in the cohesion of these societies.   Português: TRIBOS DAS MONTANHAS A diversidade de minorias étnicas no sudeste asiático é fascinante. Em menor número e ofuscados por detrás de maiorias étnicas populosas como os Han na China ou Kinh no Vietnam, estes grupos tribais resistiram e sobreviveram pressões de assimilação. Prosperaram dentro das suas comunidades durante séculos, preservando e desenvolvendo as suas identidades, línguas e costumes. …

Andalusians / Andaluzes

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English: ANDALUSIANS Tartessos, Romans and Moors. These are some of the peoples that populated the Andalusian region of Spain. The Moors left a rich influence in cooking, agriculture and architecture. The assimilation of Moorish culture by Christians is central to the history of Andalusia. But like no other people the ‘Gitanos’ have influenced the Andalusian character the most. Its influence created a unique variant of integration of the Indo-Aryan migration that started from northern India over a thousand years ago. There is a depth in the Andalusian soul where elements of north Africa and south Asia blend with Iberian traits creating one of the most unique regional characters of Europe. A tri-continental symbiosis of genes, culture and way of life.   Português: ANDALUZES Tartessos, Romanos e Mouros. Estes são alguns dos povos que povoaram a região da Andaluzia em Espanha. Os Mouros deixaram uma grande influência na cozinha, agricultura e arquitetura. A assimilação da cultura mourisca pelos cristãos é de importância central na história da Andaluzia. Mas mais do que qualquer outro povo os ‘Gitanos’ …

Honshu

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English: HONSHU We often think of Japan as a heavily industrialised and urbanised country but beyond the megacities there is tranquil preserved wilderness. The forests, mountains, volcanoes and hot springs of the central island of Honshu are an essential experience. Breathing and contemplating the beauty of these landscapes helps the western mind to immerse itself in the Japanese appreciation of nature, Japanese aesthetic ideals and zen buddhism.   Português: HONSHU Normalmente pensamos no Japão como um país altamente industrializado e urbano mas para além das megacidades há regiões tranquilas de natureza preservada. As florestas, montanhas, vulcões e fontes termais da ilha central de Honshu são uma experiência essencial. Respirar e contemplar a beleza destas paisagens ajuda a mente ocidental a se imergir na apreciação japonesa da natureza, dos ideais estéticos japoneses e do Zen-budismo.

Pâtisserie Française

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English: PÂTISSERIE FRANÇAISE Savouring sweets, deserts and pastries in France is a cultural affair. From Alsace to Normandy, from Paris to Provence, local pastry chefs master their craft and orchestrate their expressions to a local audience. There is traditional and modern, old and young. Perfectly baked pastries with carefully balanced custards and crèmes, generous amounts of cream and butter, fresh fruit, wild berries and an unconditional commitment to palate, texture and aesthetics. It was from as early as the middle ages that the pastry kitchen took its own path within the culinary arts of France. During the 17th and 18th centuries the pastry craft developed a wide range of techniques. Many pastries, cakes and confections from this period are still celebrated today. French patisserie is delicate and complex and requires specialised skill to execute and time for preparation. Freshness is never compromised. Reputation is earned, mastery respected.   Português: PÂTISSERIE FRANÇAISE Em França saborear doces, sobremesas e pasteis é um assunto cultural. Da Alsácia à Normandia, de Paris à Provença, pasteleiros locais produzem a sua …

Po Cha

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English: PO CHA Po Cha is made from churning tea, salt and yak butter. The type of tea used is usually black brick tea from Pemagul. A portion of this brick tea is crumbled into water and boiled until producing a smoky, bitter brew called chaku. The chaku is poured in a wooden cylindrical churn with a hunk of yak butter and salt and churned for a few minutes before serving. Lhagang (Tagong in Chinese), at the edge of the Tibetan plateau, is surrounded by grasslands where Tibetan nomads graze their herds of yaks. Po Cha is drunk several times a day by Tibetans, its calories and warming qualities help keep energy levels up in the harshness of the cold, high altitude environment. Mount Yala, at an altitude of 5,820m, is covered with snow all year round and is worshiped by the Tibetan people. At the foothills of the sacred mountain, in honour of the Living Buddha, the Muya Golden Pagoda has a 100-kilogram pure gold roof in the center of the monastery’s towers. There has …

Tartufo Bianco d’Alba

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English: TARTUFO BIANCO D’ALBA – White Truffle There is serious sniffing by chefs and truffle aficionados at the Alba International White Truffle Fair in the Italian town of Alba, in Piedmont. This ‘diamond’ of the culinary world takes great expertise to find in the wild beneath the surface of the soil among the roots of certain species of trees. Traditional truffle hunting was done by female pigs drawn to the truffles due to a compound in the truffles that resembles a pheromone produced by boars. Truffle dogs, used today, have to be trained to detect truffles, but they are easier to control and less likely to eat the truffles they find. Ancient Romans believed truffles had divine powers and aphrodisiacal properties. The ancient Roman cookbook Apicius compiles truffle recipes from texts dating as far back as the 1st century. The winter white truffle of Alba has an intense aroma and is mostly used uncooked to best preserve the fragrance. These are very rare truffles that can only be hunted and harvested in the wild and …

Gobi

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English: GOBI DESERT Time stands still in the Khongoryn Els sand dunes. It’s an unforgettable experience climbing to the top of these giant sand dunes. The ‘singing sands’ whistle with the blowing wind. The wind shapes the dunes into elegant curved and sharp edges and patterns. The 360 degree view of the Gobi desert’s vastness makes us feel minuscule. The Bactrian camels have adapted to the fierce environment of Mongolia’s Gobi desert. They have a ‘coat’ that protects them in winter and falls away with the warmer climate in summer. Temperatures are extreme, ranging from −40 °C in winter to 40 °C in summer. Beyond the dunes the bare landscape is rocky with sparse vegetation and limited water sources. These majestic animals have an impressive adaptability to the most inhospitable environments of hight mountains and freezing steppes and deserts. They were essential for the Silk Road caravans that crossed Asia.   Português: DESERTO DO GOBI O tempo estagna nas dunas de Khongoryn Els. É uma experiência inesquecível escalar até ao topo destas dunas gigantes. A ‘areia cantante’ …

Sea Celebration / Festejo do Mar

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English: SEA CELEBRATION South Koreans are passionate about seafood. Their appreciation of what the sea offers is a serious and respected activity. The seafood markets are a great theatre of the traditions of handling the sensitive ‘fruits of the sea’ in a fine balance with modern technology. Sitting around a table sharing seafood with South Koreans is like opening a cultural window into this distinctive north Asian nation. The South Koreans are amongst the greatest aficionados of the sea ingredients. Fun loving and outgoing, they are also always ready to celebrate!   Português: FESTEJO DO MAR Os sul-coreanos adoram marisco e peixe e têm uma grande apreciação e respeito pelo que o mar oferece. Os mercados pesqueiros são um grande teatro das tradições de manuseamento dos sensíveis ‘frutos do mar’ com um uso refinado de novas tecnologias. Sentar à volta da mesa partilhando marisco com sul-coreanos é como abrir uma janela cultural desta nação do norte da Ásia. Os sul-coreanos são dos povos mais fascinados com os ingredientes do mar. Extrovertidos, festivos e amantes do …

Artisans Angkor

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English: ARTISANS ANGKOR Empowering people with their own means of raising their quality of life is a sustainable form of development. When an enterprise does that and also revives ancient crafts and skills it becomes a transformative process that dignifies local culture and contributes to a much more diversified and interesting ‘global village’. Learn and get inspired with Artisans Angkor. Stone sculptors, weavers, silk painters, woodcarvers, silversmiths… meeting these Cambodian artisans completes the full experience of a visit to Cambodia’s World Heritage Angkor complex. It’s Khmer culture alive in the 21st century. These Cambodian artisans prove that is possible to be ancient in a modern world.   Português: ARTISANS ANGKOR Potencializar pessoas com meios próprios para elevar a sua qualidade de vida é uma forma de desenvolvimento sustentável. Quando um empreendimento alcança esse resultado e ao mesmo tempo revitaliza competências artísticas e artesanais antigas torna-se num processo transformativo que contribui para uma ‘aldeia global’ muito mais diversificada e interessante. Aprenda e inspire-se com Artisans Angkor. Escultores da pedra, tecelões, pintores da seda, entalhadores de madeira, …