Menorca

El Jáleo, The Menorca Fiesta

Every Menorcan fiesta features the es jáleo in which horses with manes and tails colourfully festooned with embroidered ribbons and their elaborately dressed riders, known as caixers, enter the main square amidst the thousands of revellers and dance on their hind legs to the live music. […]

Asia

Oruwa Fishing Boats

The Oruwa is the traditional Sri Lanka fishing sailing vessel used by the Sinhalese fishermen on the western and southwestern coasts of the island. The only place where Oruwa fishing boats are still used in in any number is in the fishing village of Negombo […] […]

Asia

The Rock Fortress of Sigiriya

The rock fortress of Sigiriya dates back to 473 AD when Kasyapa, the illegitimate son of King Dhatusena of Anuradhapura, fearing invasion from his half brother, built the impregnable fortress and on its summit created […] […]

Food & drink

Mahón Gin

The English occupation of Menorca from 1713 to 1755 has left an eclectic legacy which includes the cultivation of apples, rearing of livestock, some rather nice Georgian style buildings and gin – to my mind, the best of the aforementioned. […]

Asia

Surviving Sigiriya

“What are those tiny ledges cut into the face of the rock for?” I asked my guide.
“That is where the guards stood, Madam, and if the guard fell asleep, the rock would exact punishment.”
“What do you mean?”
“The guard simply fell to his death, Madam.”
[…]