Old Iranian town with little people
Up until a century ago, residents of Makhunik were half a metre shorter than the average Iranian. In the first part of Jonathan Swift’s book Gulliver’s Travels, Lemuel Gulliver washes ashore on the island country of Lilliput, where he encounters the Lilliputians, …
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The national breakfast of Jamaica is ackee and saltfish.
How did a meal that combines a preserved North Atlantic fish and a potentially deadly West African fruit become Jamaica’s national dish? Ackee and saltfish is synonymous with Jamaica, as entwined with the national identity as reggae or cricket. Spiked …
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Rice with a spicy, creative twist from Bangladesh
Combining two of Bangladesh’s greatest loves – rice and spice – jhal muri is a pungent snack prepared with drama by street-side vendors with cult followings. For cookbook author Saira Hamilton, a childhood visit to see her grandmother was never as simple …
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Five nations where women are more secure
Despite the growing trend in solo travel, women still encounter challenges when they travel abroad alone. But some places are topping the rankings when it comes to safety and equality. After a long pandemic pause on travel, people aren’t waiting around …
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British beach communities have a fresh lease of life.
Seaside resorts across the UK have struggled in recent decades, but Folkestone, Hastings and Margate – once frequented by royalty – are shrewdly reinventing themselves through art. There is no mistaking the Grand Burstin. This monstrous 550-bed hotel, …
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San Diego: Unknown LGBTQ+ hotspot of the US
While San Francisco and Los Angeles are renowned for their gay scenes, San Diego has long been one of the US’ most tolerant cities. California has long been known as one of the most progressive, tolerant and LGBTQ+-friendly states in the US. Los Angeles …
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Where folks eat breakfast while drinking beer
Known as a “Weißwurstfrühstück”, this traditional sausage-pretzel-and-beer-breakfast might be Germany’s most “German” meal. It was Saturday morning at Gaststätte Großmarkthalle , and it felt like Friday night. The wood-panelled rooms were full of people, …
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The 1,300 kilometre Atlantic rail line in Canada
The Ocean line is often seen as a budget-conscious way to travel between Nova Scotia and Quebec. But for those in the know, it offers a nod to the luxurious train travel of yesteryear. Travelling while lying comfortably in bed isn’t easily achievable …
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10,000 abandoned villas in India
Once symbolic of the power and wealth of the Nattukottai Chettiar community, thousands of gigantic and glamourous mansions in Tamil Nadu now lie in ruins. Evening had fallen by the time I alighted from my train in Karaikudi, a town in the Chettinad region …
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