Topics

Oct

Memorable Moments: When the Spirits Move You

by Your friends at OIC on October 29, 2018

Read on . . . if you dare!
© ThinkStock

No tricks, just treats, as we invite you to take a look at some of our favorite Halloween-inspired posts from the past.

Halloween Traditions: Spooks, Saints, and Souls

Cultural traditions abound at this time of year, when Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day converge. Wherever you land on the globe, you’ll find a melange of traditions—religious and cultural—that invite ghosts and goblins, honor saints, or pay respect to the dead during one or all of these three days. Go to the post.

Travel Tip: Savvy Travelers Hire Tour Guides

by Joyce McGreevy on October 23, 2018

A tour guide with travelers in Athens, Greece provides the cultural context that elevates travel into a life-changing experience. Image © Joyce McGreevy

In Athens, tour guide Constantin Kalafakakos decodes an array
of native herbs and their traditional uses.
© Joyce McGreevy

It’s All About Cultural Context

Who needs a tour guide? Today 48-59% of U.S., European, and Asian smartphone users research and plan their entire trip to a new destination using only a mobile device. “I get all the travel tips I need online for free” is standard operating procedure.

Trouble is, the top research sites comprise brief impressions by first-time, short-term visitors—folks who arrived a few weeks before you. Read more...

Joyce McGreevy 4 Comments

Art of Travel/Cultural Encounters/Worldwide Sites

Oct

Cultural Traditions of the Japanese Tea Ceremony

by Meredith Mullins on October 15, 2018

Japanese woman presents a tea caddy for the Japanese tea ceremony, showing the cultural traditions of Japan. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Ichi-go Ichi-e: Life Lessons

Let the tea be simple and your hospitality heartfelt.—Sen no Rikyu*

When I entered the tea house, I suddenly felt reverential—a guest of some greater spirit.

The simple wooden walls, tatami floor, and perfect Ikebana arrangement created a sanctuary so serene that the only sounds were that of the birds in the garden and the simmering water for the tea.

I met Kozue, a student who was dressed in a silk kimono of muted tones of lilac and plum that had been passed through generations of her family. I asked her how long she has been studying the Japanese tea ceremony. Read more...

Meredith Mullins 4 Comments

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/Japan/Life Lessons

World Views: