Word of the Day- Hongi. A traditional Maori greeting in New Zealand, where two people press their noses and forehead together. This is more than just a greeting - it’s about sharing “ the breath of life. “ According to one of the stories I read, God created the first woman called Hineahuone, who was shaped out of the earth. She was embraced by the Gods who then breathed life into her nostrils.
However, Kia Ora is the informal greeting by the Maori, which is similar to hello or good day or even cheers. It is now a part of the English vocabulary in New Zealand. It loosely translates to being healthy and refers to the essence of life.
And greetings on this issue of Journeys and Jottings. Here is wishing everyone great health. I love the way words and phrases in different languages are inherent to the culture of a community and they tell you more about the culture of a place than a destination would do. I realized that travel is more than just sights and sounds. There is so much more to learn about cultures and concepts and we often gloss through them when we travel. A true traveller is a constant seeker of not just new experiences, but also new ideas and thoughts, and beliefs that have enriched civilizations.
In Journeys and Jottings, I try to bring out these little nuances that we normally miss during our trips. We talk about ruins bars in Budapest and visit a few unusual museums in the world. And in People Make Places, we meet PEM from Mauritius.
Unusual Museums of the World
It was International Museum Day a few days ago and I thought I would share a listicle on some of the most unusual museums overseas that I had been to. I have consciously not included India, but having said that, there are several museums in India, which are unusual and quirky that I would like to visit. But here is a list for you and let me know which interests you.
1, International Perfume Museum in Grasse, France
Sensual, romantic, and erotic, the international perfume museum in Grasse near Cannes and Nice is literally an assault on your senses. Musee International de la Parfumerie is unique in its own way. It is not a museum, but an experience.
2. Comic Strip Museum, Brussels, Belgium
I went looking for the museum on Tin tin but I found this little enchanting museum in Brussels. The Comic Strip museum is very fascinating. Besides Tintin, there are sections dedicated to other artists and talks in detail about the history of comic strip and the various techniques used in creating them
3. Toy Museum, Seiffen, Germany
There are several toy museums in the world but nothing is quainter than the world of toys created by the miners of the Ore Mountains in a little fairy tale town called Seiffen in Germany. Called the Ore Mountain Toy Museum or in Germany, it showcases the traditions, art, architecture, folklore, and the crafts of the region.
4.Hash Marijuana and Hemp Museum in Amsterdam
There are so many museums in Amsterdam – from art to erotica. And if you are in the red light area, then three of them catch your fancy – the sex museum, the erotic museum, the hash, marijuana, and hemp museum. I personally liked the last
5. Museum of Broken Relationships, Zagreb, Croatia
Started by a couple who had broken up, it was initially meant to showcase their personal souvenirs of their relationship. However, the museum eventually became a monument of heart-wrenching stories. Every story tells a tale from around the world of lost love and broken relationships, and it is woven around an object that stood for their failed love — be it a shoe, a car, or an axe.
6. Blue Penny Museum, Mauritius
The Blue Penny Museum showcases the history of Mauritius but it also narrates a love story based on the novel, “Paul et Virginie. Sculptures, paintings, and artifacts narrate this romance set in the island nation. But the showstoppers of this fascinating museum are the legendary red and blue Mauritius Post Office stamps and their journeys around the world.
7. The Mob Museum, Las Vegas
You don’t think of a museum usually dedicated to mobs and mafia but this fascinating museum in downtown Las Vegas tells you the story of organized crime and its impact on American society. No wonder there are so many crime shows today across media.
8. Szamos Marzipan Museum, Szentendre, Hungary
I have seen museums of sugar and chocolates, but this is the most delicious museum that I saw of marzipan. From Biblical scenes to fairy tale legends, to life size figurines of celebrities to cartoon characters, everything here is nutty, yummy and made with marzipan.
9. Sex Machine Museum , Prague, Czech
This is one of the most quirky and kinky museums I have been to . Over 300 sex machines and contrapments are in display and some of the techniques even date back to the 16th century. Dont miss this if you are in the Czech capital .
10. Ice Palace, Jungfrau, Switzerland
They call it the Ice Palace, but what you actually see at the Top of Europe in Switzerland is a museum of ice, filled with carvings and sculptures. There are many ice palaces in the world but what makes the oneat Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps special is that it is like a series of ice caverns.
If you want to visit more fascinating museums in the world, then read this article for inspiration.
Ruin Bars of Budapest
Have you heard of Ruin Bars in Budapest? Old derelict pre-war buildings that are reminiscent of the communist era were converted into quirky bars with rusty, painted, and mismatched furniture and colourful graffiti, lending it the term “ Ruin Bar.” If you visit Budapest and you have not been to a ruin bar, then you are definitely missing something.
And the most iconic is also the oldest called Szimpla Kurt located in Jewish Quarter. It even has a garden with an old Trabant car where you can sit and have a drink. There are farmer markets and flea markets and even movie screenings but it’s the art and architecture that adds to the atmosphere. Ruin bars are all about a vibe and there are quite a few of them in the city today.
People Make Places
It was a beautiful day in Mauritius and I was walking around the Caudan Waterfront in Port Louis when I saw a fascinating man with a long flowing beard working on even more fascinating sculptures. Surrounding him were wooden carvings of faces looking as interesting as him.
I went over and introduced myself and asked his permission to take his photos and videos. And as we got chatting, he pointed to the initials that he carved on a piece of wood he was working on and told me his story.
Meet PEM - Philip Edwin Marie, an iconic craftsman who creates magic out of wood.
He was working as a labourer for the last 40 years but he became a craftsman when he created a small figurine out of local wood out of sheer passion . And today his work as an artist is known all over Mauritius. PEM is a self taught artist and his masterpieces are part of a beautiful open air museum .
If you visit Port Louis the capital town , you will always find PEM as he calls himself at the Caudan Waterfront opposite the Blue Penny Museum . He told me that while tourists admire his work, a lot of hotels have bought them and he is learning how to sell online as well.
His open-air workshop can be seen as The Artist’s Corner or L’Allée des Artistes, the colourful promenade where you can see craftsmen and women, artists, performers, and you can do some shopping as well. The entire atmosphere is a riot of colours with pretty umbrellas creating a roof above your head while the artisans sell their paintings and you can buy souvenirs too.
Do you like to meet local craftsmen and listen to their stories when you travel?
I made an instagram reel on his work if you would like to see it.
Feedback Please
I do hope that you enjoyed reading this issue. Looking forward to your feedback as always. We are going to keep the flow of conversations going and I would really appreciate it if you will share my newsletter with your friends and family.
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Wow! I said, what a fascinating story about different kind of museums around the world. Thanks for the compilation. And of course, the story about the craftsman was amazing! Thanks!