L'articolo Hotel di charme in Sardegna per le vacanze 2013 e la nave è gratis! sembra essere il primo su Liliana Monticone.

Ethiopia. In a poor village in Africa for a rare privilege. A group of Europeans, after an appropriate payment to the village chief, can assist at the rite of initiation of a young man that marks the transition to adulthood. Strong and touching scenes absolutely impossible to understand  for us travelers.

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South-west of the country. Isolated Hammer’s village in the Omo Valley. This area is mostly unknown to traditional tour operators and the usual tourist routes. The day is very special. Today it’s possibile to watch an initiation rite. A great privilege.

Comes with 4×4 tour as far as you can go in this desolate landscape. Now the cracks in the ground make impossible to continue with cross-country vehicle.

You will arrive at the village after more than an hour of walking long, hard and tiring in the hot sun. The two things most indelible memory of this journey on foot: thirst and heat.

A warm unbearable at times interrupted by a warm wind that blows and it gives a slightly indescribable relief, but when his blowing strong the crashing of dust, creeps everywhere and pieces of bushes and branches in contact with sweaty skin is terrible.

How not to think of our air conditioning? Who live in these lands inexorably and probably not even aware of the existence of our comfort.

The welcome at the village is cheerful and friendly and the whole group is breathing a sigh of relief at the sight of the dancing and singing, remembering the experiences of encounter of the previous days, with people Karo and Mursi in particular, which haven’t been the same welcome.

A child has his back ruined by a burn in the fire just happened. Nurse in the group with a scalpel and iodine does his best to try to remove the dead skin. Don’t forgot that the  AIDS and other infectious diseases reaches here very high apices.

She rejects the dirty water drawn from their wells and uses sealed bottles of water, trying to clean the wound. It is indescribable the pain tolerance of these little ones.

Unfortunately, with the non-existent resources available, she can’t do much. Pointing to the villagers of the large leaves of a tree, would she try to cover the wound to keep it clean from dust that reigns supreme here and limit the risk of infection (they are all naked and it is impossible to find cloth or gauze), but men the village suggest that the leaves are not suitable for use, showing the milky liquid that comes out when they are cut.

The possible is being done. Again contact with poverty puts into question not only the richness of our developed countries, but the very meaning of our existence and emptiness of the problems that beset every day and the daily toil in vain, in a more impetuous vortex that is literally lose the meaning and the importance of things.

Here we can only accept the fact that we could do nothing. Impotence reigns in extreme poverty.

Trying to put aside these thoughts, you can immediately see how much the Hammer people is friendly.

The bull jumping is a very special and privileged occasion. It’s a practice that permit the passage of the young – in this case seventeen – at adulthood. If the test fails may be repeated the following year but the young will have a terrible year of ridicule by the other members of the village.

The guide contracted with the village chief, the cost of 100 bir/head to attend. So the group is accepted.

Some guys are working to prepare the young initiate. He’s high and thin with an athletic body. Here there aren’t a problems of “turtle upside down” that we know!

The head is shaved from above the forehead and the remaining frizzy long hair are let free and swollen. Only after passing the test, the young will be cut them. During the following month he will be also found a wife.

His first wife will bring a round collar with a handle on the front. The handle is a privilege denied to the other four wives that the young can choose in the years to come.

Some girls of the village play a trumpet with insistence and reach a clearing where other young women jumping, playing, dancing in a circle, moving their body in a frantic and almost ecstatic movement. They are all incredibly sweaty.

On the mats with leather, a little out of the sun (!) sit in a privileged place relatives of the young. Women, obviously, back of the group. The other people of the villagers see the show everywhere.

Women with trumpets break their dances and reach the young men of the village, who are to wield the branches collected in bundles, which will be used as rods.

The women begin to incite like a crazy the men who whip their bodies, above with animal fat to well withstand, heavily sprinkled. At least that’s what the guide says!

It is a strong and baffling show.

The women seem happy to receive lashes, crying out because they are stronger,  gesturing imitating the men. At the end of this stage, their backs are marked and bleeding heavily.

Some of them don’t wait a time and the noise of the whip breaks heavily in the sound of their dances. Once that they used the whip, it is thrown to the ground and left there, who knows whether to limit infection or to which tribal absurd reason!

Crazy is the only word that can describe the scene in some way. Thoughts can only focus on the meaning that we give to each trip. About the lack of judgment that must accompany every situation you encounter and about acceptance of the situation that we can’t understand. However, it is all confusing and impossible to accept.

To leave even more surprised and amazed are the tears of a uncontrollable crying fit of a young girl – still a child! – who, after being herself  sprinkled with care of animal fat, she isn’t accepted in the group because is too young. Endure the frustrated is considered a sign of honor and strength, and the girl will still have to wait another year. Before this, every European silenced completely and can’t commented anything!

Fortunately, this phase ends and comes the time of the makeup. All the male relatives of the initiate are colored the face with natural colors derived from earth and clay and produce a red outline on their faces, speckled with white.

The initiate at this point makes his promise to behave like a man for the future and for all the life that awaits him. What will they mean exactly with behavior of a real man … maybe it’s better don’t know!

Older women take off their jars placed on the fire and begin to serve all guests the ready coffee. Once this phase, more women begin to incite men to make them stand up and be able to continue with the jumping of the bull, which is the central and most important part of the ceremony. The young man at this point he gets up and, naked, running towards the hill outside the village, to hide in the forest.

The all people follows him and stop in a space where there is already a herd of zebu and the three godfathers, with oily body, that will be the witnesses to the event.

The men hold firm zebus by the tail and horns. The young will have to choose an animal. They all have a name. He will take the name of his choice.

The ceremony lasts a long time and the time passes quickly.

It is the long-awaited moment. Observers are arranged in a circle. The darkness is already dropped but still stands out clearly the dark silhouette of young man jumping on the first zebu, then the second and so on.

The passage should be repeated eight times, and only if there are no errors the test is considered passed.

At the penultimate step, the young man has a hesitation and a slip leaves the spectators with bated breath for a moment. Observers agree, however, that the test as passed and the people rejoiced and began to dance and celebrate. It will continue throughout the night.

The march of return on foot to the 4×4 is a real running against time. The group has only one torch that despite the dim light, he reveals providential. The return is even more tiring of going and the fast pace and the darkness does not allow you to see where you put your feet. Fatigue is infinite, and the darkness in the middle of the forest, with no references it is really disturbing.

After yet another endless toil of the day, the agreed signal, that is the sound of the whistles of the drivers of 4×4 that indicate that they have reached their position, gives an unexpected relief.

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Never sound of an ordinary whistle was so appreciated and desired. But you know … in Africa everything is possible!

L'articolo Ethiopia. In a remote Hammer’s village for an initiation rite. sembra essere il primo su Liliana Monticone.

Today we go to discovery a luxury charme hotel in Sicily (South Italy) for a wellness’break and totally relax. The Hotel Al Castello di San Marco in Catalabiano, on Ionio’s sea, in Catania’s province.

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It’s near Taormina and Etna volcano, and less famous but fascinating River Park of Alcantara and Nebrodi’s mountains park.

The hotel is very social: Facebook, Twitter and Youtube and wi-fi is free for all guests.

Their homepage defines it like a castle between fire and water, luxurious sicilian rooms. I think that you understand what type of hotel it is.  The services are carried out in every detail!

The common areas are tastefully furnished, with full respect for the area surrounding.

Room and suite will make you dream.

They are furnished with heed and lighting is discreet and relaxing.

The exterior is equipped with every comfort for guests relaxation.

But there are corners discrete and reserved to accommodate all guests.

The restaurant emphasizes local produce with dishes that make you hungry to see.

The chef of the restaurant even has a blog !

And when it comes to food, we Italians can only come to mind immediately the combination par excellence: the wine!

And not only that. Look up here!

In the evenings the village lights up and there is nothing more beautiful than to walk among the ancient walls and gardens.

The enhancement of local traditions finds its highest expression in the Mediterranean botanical garden .

The time passes quickly while walking quietly in this maze.

A place of honor is on the Aquae Leonis spa.

An oasis where harmony reigns to regenerate the body and mind, with professional treatments and exclusive products of the highest quality. Sauna, turkish bath, jacuzzi, collaboration with the Baths of Salsomaggiore and cosmetics Temple of Health, and much more.

The private beach, accessible directly, ensures privacy and relaxation and allow you to enjoy the crystal clear waters of the Ionian Sea.

The services that the hotel offers are still many and numerous.

We, like a travelers, opt for a excursion to the nearby Etna volcano. We can’t only watch it from afar!

The others will opt to enjoy the sun between beach and pool.

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Well … any preference do you have, this dream place is always the right choice!!

L'articolo At Castello di San Marco in Sicily (Italy) for a luxury break. sembra essere il primo su Liliana Monticone.

Un luogo di culto curato minuziosamente, meta di pellegrini e turisti, dove risuonano i tipici richiami.

A place of worship treated in detail, which attracts pilgrims and tourists and where you can listen the typical calls.

L'articolo La grande Moschea. The grand Mosque. sembra essere il primo su Liliana Monticone.

The first “X tutti i gusti” event’s in 2013, that works to promote regional cuisine, was held in the elegant location of the Malpensa’s Sheraton, as always masterfully organized by  Carlo Vischi.

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This time, the executive chef of Il Canneto ‘s Restaurant hosted the excellence of the Region of Liguria.

We started with Claudio Tiranini of a Spurcacciun-a’s Restaurant in Savona.

Some delicacies are a delight only to see them!

The classics are combined with less common such as quail eggs to produce the most unusual plates

The show is the ice’s cones with holes. The ice, melting, do not go to water down the flavors inside.

Should be eaten, of course, before the container melt, hence you can imagine why the name “out of time”.

Sea urchins are placed with extreme care.

And the decorations with great skill.

And the end result is truly a work of art.

But sea urchins are use again.

This is the float sea.

Another beautiful creation that combine the beauty of glass with the goodness of the fish.

What will be created with scallops and quail eggs?

Here is the result! The grimace of scallops. But be careful: you only use the egg yolk.

Among the great chef,  Carlo Vischi, heart and mind of the whole initiative, presents us with some local producers. The first is extremely curious.

Do you know the “Abyss“? This wine is produced by Società Agricola Bisson di Chiavari. The bottles, during the maturation phase, are deposited at a depth of 60 meters in the sea, as explains us Pierluigi Lugano. The mix of microclimate, tides and sediment created a final product very special … you can just enjoy!

And also the beauty of the decorated bottles by the sea, has a really unique.

And now Giuseppe Ricchebuono of Fornace Barbablù’s Restaurant at Palazzo Vescovile in Noli.

Thanks to its eastern collaborators, its cuisine has many excursions.

The dumplings.

The care for the more detailed decorations. In this case the net that is seen is … guess what!

Ok, I tell you. Rise!

This is La Pietra del focolare.  Laura Angelini show us her Vermentino Solarancio.

If you wants to know the history, read here.

Flavio Costa of Arco Antico’ Restaurant in Savona. He, too, uses only top quality products and from the area, as this oil.

In a few minutes he prepares his cream.

It’s really tasty.

The candied lemon zest gives the dish a very particular taste.

In a few minutes he immediately prepared another dish: smoked eggs with cream of potato, dried mushrooms and truffles, chestnuts and hazelnuts with cocoa nib.

Now Mauro Feola of Azienda Agricola Specchio di Vitae showed us her wine.

Every wines have a curios history.

The next chef is Ivano Ricchebono of The Cook Restaurant in Genova.

This is his creations: mullet and eggplant.

The ravioli are prepared in a few moments.

There are many difference about the way to prepare the ravioli in Genoa and the cappelletti in Bologna!

The parmigiana out by the oven

Potato ravioli with green beans and pesto.

After the Terre Bianche company with Rossese wine.

The pesto! It’s the boss. The pesto is known throughout the world and is the third most produced sauce in the world and the second most widely used for pasta.

Roberto Panizza from Il Genovese Restaurant prepares an amazing pesto! Besides, he is the President of the World Championship Pesto!

The time to recharge iphone and ipad, to exchange some impressions with Michela, and here’s the appetizer finger food prepared by the staff of Il Canneto’s Restaurant.

The choreography is unique.

The luxury  tables. In the center the Ligurian focaccia (at our table we eat two chilos each!).

Some extravagant gadget. II saw them the first time in Finland.

The delicious artichoke.

The fish dishes.

Comes quickly the thanks. Chef, employees, staff, and, of course, the Director of the Sheraton.

Carlo gives us meet at the next event in February with the Marche region.

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Unsurpassed trio of desserts, served on a slab of slate, with the inevitable fish in white chocolate! I can not describe how good it is …

L'articolo The Ligurian excellence at the Milan Malpensa’s Sheraton. sembra essere il primo su Liliana Monticone.

Una giornata tipica al Lago Inle.

L'articolo Inle Lake. Myanmar. A tipical day. sembra essere il primo su Liliana Monticone.

After exploring almost all the southern coast of Sri Lanka and having touched every town and every village, we are in the direction of Galle.

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Today we chatted with  Amila, our guide Roadtosrilanka and he told us that there are many beautiful beaches in the area. Immediately we have answered that we don’t have a time for sea life because we still have too many things to see and soon after we change idea and said him: “Ok! Come on, let’s go to sleep near the Ocean tonight!”

Amila gets immediately to work. Roadtosrilanka is really the perfect choice for who want to visit Sri Lanka, independent or everything organized. Prices are very reasonable and competitive and for those who, like us, does not want to have programs, it is perfect!

Anyone is willing to let you travel without a pre-planned tour!

Their professionalism is clear when they able to satisfying every needs of tourists.

And I assure you that if they made us live a really wonderful holiday, despite all the difficulties that we have their asked with all our requests, they’re really the best!

A rapid coordination with Priyanthi in the office, some phone calls and some agreements and in less than no time we come together to Unawatuna Beach.

It is a beautiful beach: it is a dream beach!

We don’t  unloaded our luggage. The afternoon is already later and we have to leave early tomorrow morning.

We don’t want to lose anything. So, with our shoes in hand, we go  to explore the beach.

Valeria doesn’t lost a second and now she’s fully entered in the traditions and customs of the place. The locals do not use the swimsuits. What do she do? The same thing and she enter the water “just a moment to wet my feet.” Then she begins to talk to a lady and while she was focused on english language , “the waves take me unprepared.”  Her words!

I don’t have a time to scream a small part of everything I think, that my voice lose in the sound of the ocean and the waves!

Perhaps with a little envy for the thoughtlessness of her age that we adults don’t have more!

To jump into the water, however, she took off her t-shirt to not wet it! she don’t have a problems if her swimsuit is in your suitcase!

Walking arrive near the islet and what Valeria do at this point? Try a little to guess!

We can’t miss anything and so she is swimming to the island and she climbs barefoot. It’s normal!

If they can do… she can does!

In a short time she reaches the top and only then turns to make sure that someone will take a picture. On the other hand, now she can listen to come back!

Along the walk you can meet a fishermen who go out to sea in the evening, …

… and you can see the bars and hotels finest (and most expensive) to ensure total relaxation and most renowned Ayurvedic treatments.

It is approaching the time for dinner and the locals are preparing to attract customers by exposing all sorts of goodness.

The choice is really difficult.

One much more inviting than the other. And the prices are not exactly cheap compared to the rest of the island, but they are very affordable, especially considering the place where we are. So, again, you should always negotiate the price!

Of course here would be really nice to have a little ‘dinners and not just one like us, to try them all!!

And the lobsters are indescibable good and fresh!

The evening comes and we still haven’t go to swim.

It will mean that our only swim in this dream place, we’ll do half and half with the light and the dark! Even more beautiful.

In some place the sea is calm, in other place the violence of the waves they get up  at night is a lot of fun!

Valeria! But you don’t think that is the time to get out of the water???

In the evening, this beach takes on a special charm.

The bars and restaurants are at a suitable distance from each other not to let the idea of overcrowding. There are lit barbecue on the beach and torches to illuminate the beach.

It looks really magical atmosphere that makes it even more difficult to choose the place to have a dinner!

And of course they all have tables on the beach and rigorously with your feet in the sand. Forget your shoes!

Our tiredness it’s hard and we don’t want to go to sleep and did not enjoy until late at night of this place. But tomorrow morning we must get up early.

You can choose to sleep with the open window and the sound of the ocean, or with the air conditioning at best. Of course we chose the air conditioning, but the sound of the ocean, this noise is so different from all other seas, gently lulls us while we fall asleep!

In both cases, the sunrise comes in a short time. The time, during the journey is always too short!

A quick swim with the beach still empty before breakfast. This time too, as yesterday, “Mom, I go with my suitcase and I wait you on the beach.”

And when we get there, she going out of the water! “I swimming with my clothes today, so, while we have breakfast, dries everything, don’t worry!”

Do we have to review her spirit of independence or she simply growing too fast?

The view from the wooden balcony of our room allows us to watch the sun rises for another day of relaxation here, on this beach.

But only for the lucky ones who remain today! Not for us!!

Who doesn’t love relax, there are so many activities available: surfing, snorkeling, glass bottom boats, … and much more. In any place you choose to sleep, they will be happy to help you choose the best and the most different activities.

Breakfast done, the Valeria’s clothes are dried… it’s time to leave.

With regret we leave this beach and this view that we don’t have unfortunately had time to enjoy as it deserves, but the journey continues and awaits the discovery of other wonderful sights of this beautiful island every day always with new surprises!

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L'articolo Enjoy the sea, no… the Ocean! Unawatuna Beach (Sri Lanka). sembra essere il primo su Liliana Monticone.

Excursion at wonderful Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia.

Escursione al meraviglioso Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia.

L'articolo Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia). sembra essere il primo su Liliana Monticone.

Durante la nostra vacanza in Sri Lanka siamo andati al parco dello Yala.

Ci è venuta a prendere in albergo una jeep tutta aperta. Mi è piaciuta subito e già il tutto si presentava molto bene! Mi piaceva proprio.

Lungo la strada verso il parco abbiamo subito avvistato alcuni bufali vicino alla strada.

Quando siamo finalmente entrati li abbiamo rivisti, ma questa volta era molto più bello, perché erano dentro alle pozze di acqua e fango.

Abbiamo anche avvistato molti uccellini di tutti i colori e di tutte le dimensioni tra cui i pappagalli verdi e il martin pescatore.

Ad un certo punto il nostro autista ha accelerato e si è messo a guidare fortissimo. Pensava di aver visto un leopardo, cosa molto difficile e quasi impossibile. Tra noi scherzavamo in italiano, tanto non poteva capirci, sul fatto che ci aveva presi in giro e non ci credevamo.

E invece, dietro una curva, eccolo! Bellissimo! Il famoso leopardo così difficile da vedere era lì davanti a noi e stava bevendo in una pozzanghera. La vista è purtroppo durata poco perchè al nostro arrivo è subito rientrato nella fitta vegetazione. Però, anche se per pochi istanti, è stato davvero meraviglioso vederlo così vicino.

Durante il nostro giro del parco abbiamo visto moltissimi animali come: due manguste che si inseguivano, dei branchi di cerbiatti che stavano vicino alla strada, molti pavoni e anche uno  che faceva la ruota, dei leprotti nascosti sotto i cespugli, un gallo cedrone però molto lontano, una mamma elefante con il suo cucciolo in mezzo a un lago di ninfee. Questi ultimi erano davvero bellissimi… mi piacciono molto gli elefanti!

Un’altra esperienza bellissima vissuta è stata quando un coccodrillo molto grande ci ha attraversato la strada in un tratto dove c’era molta acqua. E’ stato bellissimo, anche se un po’ impressionante vederselo spuntare dall’acqua all’improvviso mentre noi, tranquillamente,  guardavamo gli uccelli.

Verso la fine della giornata,  mentre stavamo rientrando, abbiamo visto altre jeep e molto più lontano del primo, siamo riusciti ad avvistare un altro leopardo che se ne stava accucciato tranquillamente a riposarsi all’ombra.

Questa giornata é stata bellissima perché ho visto tantissimi nuovi animali che non avevo mai visto prima se non nei documentari.

Le manguste sono tra gli animali che più mi sono piaciuti. I miei genitori continuavano a prendermi in giro per questo fatto, ma… per me è così!

Non vedo davvero l’ora di poter tornare in un vero Parco Safari.

E’ bellissimo vedere così tanti animali strani, vivere liberi nella natura!

L'articolo I favolosi animali dello Yala (Sri Lanka) ! sembra essere il primo su Liliana Monticone.

L'articolo Paso fronterizo Rio don Guillermo.(Chile) sembra essere il primo su Liliana Monticone.