10 Mouthwatering Rice Dishes from Around the World

The world is filled with a variety of rice dishes. 

Rice grains. Verch. CC2.0

No matter where you are in the world, rice is a much loved staple. First cultivated in China and spread through international trade and migration, every region has its own way of preparing rice with local spices and ingredients. Here is a sample of 10 unique and culturally significant rice dishes from around the world. 

Morasa polo with tahdig. Moos. CC2.0

1. Morasa polo (jeweled rice): Iran

Morasa polo (jeweled rice in Farsi) is one of Iran’s most festive dishes, traditionally served at celebrations and weddings to bring “sweetness” to a married couple. The rice is topped with various types of fruits and nuts, each representing a desired jewel. For example, barberries represent rubies and pistachios represent emeralds. Each component of the rice is cooked separately in sugar to give the dish a little sweetness. No plate of rice in Iran is complete without tahdig (literally “bottom of the pot”), referring to the crispy layer of rice at the bottom of the pan. One of the most coveted and challenging techniques to master in Persian cuisine, tahdig can be made several ways by using ghee, saffron, potatoes and lavash bread to give that desired crunch. 

Nasi tumpeng. Kenwrick. CC2.0

2. Nasi tumpeng: Indonesia

Nasi tumpeng is a traditional rice dish served at a selamatan, a traditional ceremony for special occasions such as birthdays and weddings. The dish consists of a tall rice cone in the center, usually yellow rice, which represents the mountains and volcanoes of Indonesia’s landscapes. According to tradition, the yellow mountain of rice refers to Mount Semeru, home of the hyang, the spirits of Indonesian ancestors and the Hindu gods. The dish is accompanied by seven side dishes with a balance of chicken, seafood, eggs and vegetables that represent the helping hands of God. Nowadays, the dish has been ingrained in Indonesia’s Muslim culture representing gratitude toward God. 

Jollof rice. Secretlondon123. CC2.0

3. Jollof rice: West Africa

Widely enjoyed across Africa, there is perhaps no dish that has sparked such heated discussion over its origins as jollof. A staple in social gatherings and weddings across West Africa, the rice is cooked with tomatoes, onions and peppers with additional seasonings depending on the region. Historians credit the origin of jollof rice to the Senegambia region, with cultural exchange then spreading it across the rest of West Africa. However, Nigerians, Ghanaians and Senegalese all claim the origins of this dish and are eager to debate which version is better with online battles (#JollofWars) and cook-offs. The dish is also popular among the African diaspora in the American South. In fact, popular dishes such as jambalaya and gumbo are believed to have their origins in jollof rice.  

Hamsili pilav. Vardar. CC2.0

4. Hamsili pilav: Turkey 

Although there are many types of pilaf in Turkey and the Middle East, hamsili pilav is one of the most unique and visually striking versions, with layers of fish covering up rice. Hamsi, also known as European anchovies, are considered Turkey’s national fish and play a crucial role in the culture and cuisine of the Black Sea region. Many poems and songs have been written about hamsi and the small but mighty fish is used in a variety of dishes, from breads to pickles and even jam. Known to be a favorite of the sultans during the Ottoman Empire, hamsili pilav is still a favorite in Turkish homes, especially among the Laz people living in the northeastern regions of the country. 

Khichdi. Tushar. Wikimedia Commons. CC4.0

5. Khichdi: Indian Subcontinent

This humble but delicious dish is heavily ingrained in South Asian food culture. Most commonly made with rice and moong dal (a type of legume), it is one of the first foods that babies eat in Hindu culture. Easily digestible and nutritious, khichdi is popular across South Asia, including in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Many regional variations of khichdi exist, adding available ingredients such as vegetables, spices, dried fruits and coconut. The Bengali variation, known as khichuri, is a rather elaborate version, served with an array of vegetable dishes, fried fish and curries. 

Maqluba. Homan. CC2.0.

6. Maqluba: Palestine 

Often considered Palestine’s national dish, maqluba is enjoyed at least once a week by many Palestinian families. Meaning “upside down” in Arabic, the dish is cooked in one pot with layers of meat (chicken or lamb), vegetables (most commonly potato and eggplant) and rice. Once the dish is cooked, it is flipped over onto a plate and served. 

Cooking traditional foods allows Palestinians to cherish their culture while empowering themselves and their families. The Noor Women’s Empowerment Group is run by 13 Palestinian women working to overcome social stigmas faced by women and disabled children in Aida refugee camp. The organization holds traditional Palestinian cooking classes as a way to generate income to support their families and give visitors an insight into Palestinian life and culture. The organization has garnered international attention and received a visit by celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain in 2013. 

Arroz con pollo. Sea turtle. CC2.0

7. Arroz con pollo: Latin America and Spain

Translating as “rice with chicken,” this incredibly versatile rice dish is enjoyed across Latin America and Spain. The dish is thought to be connected to the Spanish paella and could have its origins from Arab influence in Spain as early as the 8th century. However, there is some debate as to whether the dish actually originated in Puerto Rico, as it is one of the island’s classic dishes. Arroz con pollo is seared chicken cooked with rice and vegetables, although seasonings vary from country to country across Latin America. For example, Mexican versions use chile, Colombian versions use a sofrito (blend of flavors including tomato and saffron) and Peruvian versions include cilantro and dark beer. 

Ozoni. David Z. CC2.0

8. Ozoni: Japan 

Ozoni (also spelled as zoni) is a soup that is eaten on the morning of New Year’s Day in Japan. The soup contains mochi cakes, either round or square-shaped, a clear dashi broth (made of dried kelp and bonito flakes) and other ingredients depending on the region. In areas closer to the water, seafood is added to the broth while more vegetables are used in inland areas. All ingredients have a special meaning that guarantees luck for the upcoming year. As mochi is stretchable, it represents longevity. Local produce is added for a bountiful harvest in the new year. 

Wild rice. Emily. CC2.0. 

9. Wild rice: North America

Considered to actually be an “aquatic grass seed,” wild rice has a higher nutritional value than regular rice. Wild rice is a staple of the Ojibwe people of southern Canada and the United States’ northern Midwest. The month of September was called “ricing moon”, when the Ojibwe left their homes to begin the weeklong process of harvesting the rice. Wild rice was a popular commodity at trading posts and was used to feed canoers transporting fur to and from the posts. The Ojibwe people would wait near rice fields to hunt birds, as ducks and geese use wild rice as a food source. 

Rice and beans. The Marmot. CC2.0

10. Rice and beans: widely consumed across Latin America and Africa

Rice and beans is a staple in many Latin American and African countries and has become a pivotal part of their cuisines. Nutritious and filling, rice and beans have been a pairing in Latin America for thousands of years, known as the “matrimonio” or marriage in Central America. The types of beans and the preparation of the dish varies from country to country. For example, pinto beans are common in Mexico, fava beans are popular in Peru and black beans are a staple in Brazil and Cuba. Kidney beans and black-eyed peas are widely enjoyed across West Africa and the rest of the continent as well as in the American South. In Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean, rice and pigeon or field peas are quite popular, while the rice is cooked in coconut milk. 

From Iran to North America, the preparation of rice differs vastly. Despite many differences, food is something that brings the world together and fosters an appreciation of Earth’s incredible cultural diversity.

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Megan Gürer

Megan is a Turkish-American student at Wellesley College in Massachusetts studying Biological Sciences. Passionate about environmental issues and learning about other cultures, she dreams of exploring the globe. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, singing, and composing music.

NOW IS THE TIME: Totem Poles and the Haida Spirit

When internationally renowned Haida carver Robert Davidson was only 22 years old, he carved the first new totem pole on British Columbia’s Haida Gwaii in almost a century. On the 50th anniversary of the pole’s raising, Haida filmmaker Christopher Auchter steps easily through history to revisit that day in August 1969, when the entire village of Old Massett gathered to celebrate the event that would signal the rebirth of the Haida spirit.

10 Places to Honor Black History and Culture

Through artwork, literature, music and history, these institutions amplify Black voices and address race relations in America.  

George Floyd protests in Charlotte, North Carolina. Clay Banks. Unsplash.

Amid global protests against racial injustice, a growing number of people are educating themselves on systemic racism and white privilege.

1. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park - Atlanta, Georgia

Martin Luther King Jr. locating civil rights protests. Thomas Hawk. CC BY-NC 2.0

Located in one of Atlanta’s historic districts, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park honors the activist who strove for racial equality. The site includes a museum chronicling the American civil rights movement, as well as Dr. King’s childhood home, garden and gravesite. With 185 varieties of roses, the “I Have a Dream” World Peace Rose Garden promotes peace between diverse world communities. Each year, students from the greater Atlanta area write poems that express the ideals of MLK, such as using civil disobedience to reach seemingly impossible goals. These “Inspirational Messages of Peace” are exhibited among the flowers and are read by thousands of visitors each year. Directly across the street is the final resting place of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King, his wife, surrounded by a reflection pool. 

Until his assassination in 1968, King preached at Ebenezer Baptist Church, known as “America’s Freedom Church.” The church has continued to serve the Atlanta community since his death, vowing to “feed the poor, liberate the oppressed, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked and visit those who are sick or imprisoned.” While sitting in the pews, visitors hear prerecorded sermons and speeches from Martin Luther King Jr. Most recently, the funeral of Rayshard Brooks, a Black man fatally shot by police, was held at the church, with hundreds of prominent pastors, elected officials and activists in attendance. 

2. National Museum of African American History and Culture - Washington, D.C.

A student at the NMAAHC uses an interactive learning tool. U.S. Department of Education. CC BY 2.0

The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is the only museum devoted exclusively to African American life, history and culture. In the words of Lonnie Bunch III, founding director of the NMAAHC, “The African American experience is the lens through which we understand what it is to be an American.” From slavery to the civil rights movement, the museum aims to preserve and document Black experiences in America. With the launch of the Many Lenses initiative, students will gain a greater understanding of African American history by studying museum artifacts and discussing cultural perspectives alongside scholars, curators and community educators. Through the Talking About Race program, the museum provides tools and guidance to empower people of color and inspire conversations about racial injustice. 

3. Black Writers Museum - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Langston Hughes, a famous writer featured at the BWM, signs autographs. Washington Area Spark. CC BY-NC 2.0

Built in 1803, the historic Vernon House includes the Black Writers Museum (BWM), the first museum in the country to exhibit classic and contemporary Black literature. The BWM celebrates Black authors, like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, who documented the resilience and resistance of African Americans throughout history. Supreme D. Dow, founder and executive director of the Black Writers Museum, noted, “There was a time in American history when Black people were denied the human right to read or write. But, because of the innate drive to satisfy the unquenchable thirst for self determination, our ancestors taught themselves how to read and write in righteous defiance of the law, and in the face of fatal repercussions.” Through books, newspapers, journals and magazines, the museum honors the Black narrators of history. The BWM also strives to inspire future African American authors with community activities like poetry readings, cultural arts festivals and book signings. 

4. Tubman Museum - Macon, Georgia

Artwork depicting Harriet Tubman on the Underground Railroad. UGArdener. CC BY-NC 2.0

Named after Harriet Tubman, the “Black Moses” who led hundreds of slaves to freedom, the Tubman Museum has become a key educational and cultural center for the entire American Southeast. Through artwork and artifacts, the main exhibits recount the struggles and triumphs of Tubman, a former slave, abolitionist and spy. The “From the Minds of African Americans” Gallery displays inventions from Black inventors, scientists and entrepreneurs, such as Madam C.J. Walker and George Washington Carver. The Tubman Museum also actively contributes to the Macon, Georgia, community. The Arts & History Outreach program takes Black history beyond museum walls. Local African American artists and teachers bring museum resources into the classroom, promoting hands-on learning. Due to COVID-19, the museum recently launched a distance learning program to provide people at home with a deeper understanding of the African American experience. 

5. Museum of the African Diaspora - San Francisco, California

Contemporary art by Kehinde Wiley exhibited at the MoAD. Garret Ziegler. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), a contemporary art museum, celebrates Black culture from the perspective of African diaspora. Focused exclusively on African migration throughout history, the museum presents artwork, photography and artifacts related to the themes of origin, movement, adaptation and transformation. Currently, MoAD is featuring various exhibitions from emerging artists that explore ancestral memory and Black visibility. As active members of the San Francisco community, museum curators offer various programs like public film screenings, artist talks and musical performances. In response to worldwide protests, the museum created a guide with resources to support Black Americans, as well as a video series that promotes community resilience. Monetta White, MoAD’s executive director, announced, “Now more than ever, we affirm that Museums are Not Neutral. As humanitarian educators and forums for conversation, museums are a space to confront some of the most uncomfortable conversations in human history.”

6. National Museum of African American Music - Nashville, Tennessee

Jimi Hendrix, a featured musician at the NMAAM. Clausule. Public Domain.

Scheduled to open its doors for the first time on Sept. 5, the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) will be the first museum in the world to showcase African American influence on various genres of music, such as classical, country, jazz and hip-hop. NMAAM will integrate history and interactive technology to share music through the lens of Black Americans. “African American music has long been a reflection of American culture. Additionally, African American musicians often used their art as a ‘safe’ way to express the way they felt about the turbulent times our country faced,” said Kim Johnson, director of programs at the museum. NMAAM will also support the Nashville community through various outreach programs. From Nothing to Something explores the music that early African Americans created using tools like spoons, banjos, cigar box guitars and washtub basins. Children receive their own instruments, learning how simple resources influenced future music genres. Another program, Music Legends and Heroes, promotes leadership, teamwork and creativity in young adults. Students work together to produce a musical showcase in honor of Black musicians. In 2015, student guitarists paid tribute to Jimi Hendrix, the rock icon. “This opportunity gave them a real-life connection to an artist they had only seen in their textbooks or online,” said Hope Hall, librarian at the Nashville School of the Arts.

7. The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration - Montgomery, Alabama

Exterior of the Legacy Museum. Sonia Kapadia. CC BY-SA 4.0

The Legacy Museum is located in a former slave auction warehouse, where thousands of Black people were trafficked during the domestic slave trade. The museum employs unique technology to portray the enslavement of African Americans, the evolution of racial terror lynchings, legalized racial segregation and racial hierarchy in America. Visitors encounter replicas of slave pens and hear first-person accounts of enslaved people, along with looking at photographs and videos from the Jim Crow laws, which segregated Black Americans until 1965. The Legacy Museum also explores contemporary issues of inequality, like mass incarceration and police violence. As part of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), the museum is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, with proceeds going toward marginalized communities. “Our hope is that by telling the history of the African American experience in this country, we expose the narratives that have allowed us to tolerate suffering and injustice among people of color,” says Sia Sanneh, member of EJI. 

8. African American Military History Museum - Hattiesburg, Mississippi 

Circa 1942, the Tuskegee Airmen pose in front of their aircraft. Signaleer. Public Domain.

The African American Military History Museum educates the public about African American contributions to the United States’ military. During World War II, the building functioned as a segregated club for African American soldiers. Transformed in 2009, the museum now commemorates the courage and patriotism of Black soldiers, who have served in every American conflict since the Revolutionary War. Artifacts, photographs and medals tell the story of how African Americans overcame racial boundaries to serve their country. For instance, the World War II exhibit features the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American soldiers to successfully enter the Army Air Corps. 

9. National Voting Rights Museum and Institute - Selma, Alabama 

The 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery for the right to vote. Abernathy Family. Public Domain.

In the historic district of Selma, Alabama, the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute honors the movement to end voter discrimination. With memorabilia and documentation, the museum illustrates the struggle of Black Americans to obtain voting rights. In 1965, nearly 600 civil rights marchers crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, hoping to reach Montgomery. However, the day became known as “Bloody Sunday” as local law enforcement attacked peaceful protesters with clubs and tear gas. While the Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawed voting practices that disenfranchised African Americans, many believe voter suppression still exists through strict photo ID laws for voters, a failure to provide bilingual ballots, and ex-felon disenfranchisement laws. By educating the public, the museum hopes to forever dismantle the barriers of voting in the United States. 

10. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center - Cincinnati, Ohio

On the banks of the Ohio River, a statue depicts a mother and her child escaping slavery. Living-Learning Programs. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Near the Ohio River, where thousands of slaves traveled in search of freedom, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center reveals the ongoing struggle for autonomy. From the historical vantage point of the Underground Railroad, the museum promotes the modern abolition of slavery. Due to widespread human trafficking, nearly 40 million people are currently enslaved around the world. As stated on the museum’s website, “Despite the triumphant prose of our American history books, slavery didn’t fully end 150 years ago. Today and throughout time, people around the world have struggled for their freedom. Yet, as forms of slavery evolve, so do the imaginations of those fighting for freedom.” Through artifacts, photographs and first-person accounts, the museum introduces the men and women who have resisted slavery. “Invisible: Slavery Today” is the world's first permanent exhibition on the subjects of modern-day slavery and human trafficking, challenging and inspiring visitors to promote freedom today. 

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Shannon Moran

is a Journalism major at the University of Georgia, minoring in English and Spanish. As a fluent Spanish speaker, she is passionate about languages, cultural immersion, and human rights activism. She has visited seven countries and thirty states and hopes to continue traveling the world in pursuit of compelling stories.

Zacatecas: a Vibrant Community in the Heart of Mexico

Travel deep enough into the Chihuahuan Desert and you’ll find yourself in Zacatecas. The Mexican state known for its mining industry and colonial architecture is often overlooked by travelers in favor of more popular cities such as Guadalajara, Mexico City and Acapulco.

That said, one would be remiss to overlook the desert state while planning a trip to Mexico. I had the privilege to visit the state’s capital city of Zacatecas along with Jerez de Garcia Salinas a couple of years ago, and I can truly say that Zacatecas is one of the most unique and beautiful places I have ever been to.

The state of Zacatecas is located in the center of northern Mexico, and is home to mountains that are a part of Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental mountain ranges. However, much of the state is located on the Mexican Plateau, and as a result is predominantly known for its small mesas and large areas of flat land, which feature a cool, dry climate.

Zacatecas, like much of Mexico, has a predominantly Roman Catholic culture, with 94% of the population identifying with the religion. This is reflected in the numerous religious festivals held throughout the year in the state, including Sept. 8 being dedicated to the Virgen del Patrocinio in the capital city, the last week of August highlighting the Morismas de Bracho, which is a rendition of the historical struggle between the Christians and the Moors in Spain, and the annual Holy Week and Spring Festival held in Jerez de Garcia Salinas.

Recently, the state has seen many Zacatecans protesting to demand social change within Mexico and abroad. Many women and allies participated in local protests throughout the state to demand the government address femicide and gender inequality on March 8 as a part of International Women’s Day. 

Whether you are a lover of Spanish architecture, enjoy learning about Mexican history or simply want to travel somewhere you may have never heard of before, Zacatecas is an ideal next stop on your agenda once the pandemic is over.

Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas

The Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas at night. Jesús Ricardo Flores Márquez. CC BY-SA.

Rising above the two-story buildings in the heart of downtown, the Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas is arguably the most recognizable landmark in all of the city. The current cathedral, which was preceded by two temples on the same site which were constructed in 1568 and 1625, was constructed between 1730 and 1760 and features a facade showcasing the Baroque art of the time period. The cathedral was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the surrounding city center in 1993.

Mass is held daily Monday through Saturday at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., noon, 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., with additional services held on Sunday hourly from 7 a.m. to noon, followed by 1:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Jerez de Garcia Salinas

The Portal Inguanzo in Jerez de Garcia Salinas. Thelmadatter. CC BY-SA .

Located approximately 45 minutes away by car from the city of Zacatecas, Jerez de Garcia Salinas is an agricultural town rich in history and culture. The small city features a number of shops, museums and restaurants located inside colonial buildings. Several popular sites include the Rafael Paez Garden, the Hinojosa Theater and the De La Torre building.

One of the most notable events in the city is the annual Holy Week and Spring Festival leading up to Easter Sunday. Serving as a homecoming for many Jerez natives who have moved away, the festival sees the streets of the city taken over by cowboys on horseback who drag effigies through the streets. Musicians perform throughout the city as residents either join in the celebration on the streets or view the festivities from their balconies.

La Quemada

La Quemada, one of largest Indigineous architectural sites in Mexico. Javier Do. CC BY-SA.

La Quemada, also known as Chicomoztoc, is an archaeological site located approximately 40 minutes by car south of the city of Zacatecas. While historians have not definitively determined who built it, several theories include the ruins being home to the original Aztec people, as a fortress for Teotihuacan, as a Toltec trading post or simply as an abandoned city. What is known, however, is that many of the structures were burned in a fire, giving the site the name “La Quemada,” which means “the burned city.”

Popular structures at La Quemada include the Hall of the Columns, the Votive Pyramid and the Sacrificial Pyramid. Visitors are able to catch a bus from downtown Zacatecas to La Quemada, or alternatively can take a taxi.

Sierra de Organos National Park

Rock formations in Sierra de Organos National Park. Alejandro Hernández Osuna. Public Domain.

The Sierra de Organos National Park is the only national park in the state. Located approximately 120 miles to the northwest of the capital near the city of Durango, this national park is known for its conifer forests, rock formations and organ pipe cactuses, from which the park is named. Visitors to the park are able to hike, cycle, rock climb and get up close to the native flora and fauna of the region. While camping is permitted, visitors are encouraged to maintain sustainability and cleanliness, as the park is home to several endangered species.

Bufa Hill

The prominent hill which sits just next to the heart of downtown Zacatecas. Chanilim714. CC BY-SA.

Rising above the city center, Bufa Hill is a large hill located immediately next to the city of Zacatecas’ downtown. The hill, which is accessible by road or cable car, features breathtaking views of the city and surrounding area. It also looks over a number of historic sites from the Battle of Zacatecas, the bloodiest battle to take place during the war to overthrow President Victoriano Huerta in 1914.

Visitors to the hill can visit the Capilla de la Virgen del Patrocinio (Chapel of the Virgin of Patronage), a small chapel which is said to have healing powers for the sick, and the Museo Toma de Zacatecas, which commemorates the aforementioned battle.

Jacob Sutherland

is a recent graduate from the University of California San Diego where he majored in Political Science and minored in Spanish Language Studies. He previously served as the News Editor for The UCSD Guardian, and hopes to shed light on social justice issues in his work.

The Truffle Kingpin And Young Entrepreneur Based In New York City

At first glance, 24-year-old Ian Purkayastha seems like any other entrepreneur: he's motivated, crafty, disciplined, and personable. But behind the facade of a clever businessman lies a youthful energy and a passion for selling some of the rarest food on the planet: truffles. Purkayastha sells all kinds of truffles to 90 percent of New York's fine dining restaurants and has been peddling the fungi out of his backpack to the likes of Eleven Madison Park, Le Bernadin, and other Michelin-starred restaurants for nine years now.​

THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON GREAT BIG STORY

Living Beyond the Gender Binary for Centuries

In Tehuantepec, a town in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, Lukas Avendaño and fellow muxes live beyond the gender binary. A muxe is an individual assigned male at birth who behaves outside roles traditionally associated with masculinity. Sometimes referred to as a third gender, muxe identity pre-dates Spanish imperialism in the Zapotec region. For Lukas, dressing in feminine Zapotec clothing is a political act, giving everybody the power and the liberty to decide who they want to be.

Mexico

The videographer is Face du Monde and these are his comments on the video:

“Since I was a kid, it always has been a dream of mine to see "El dia de los Muertos" in Mexico. So last October my friend Max and I decided to travel there. It was my second time in this country I really fell in love with. We spent 3 weeks travelling around Quintana Roo, Yucatán and Campeche states. I made this video to show how this country has his own culture, his own history that you will find nowhere else in the world. "El dia de los Muertos" is an event everybody should see once in his life, it really represents the Mexican soul. I would like to thank all amazing people I met there who made this journey unforgettable.”

In Japan, Repairing Buildings Without a Single Nail

In the past, making and developing metal was too costly for carpenters in Japan. So instead of using nails, carpenters called “miyadaiku” developed unique methods for interlocking pieces of wood together, similar to a giant 3D puzzle. Takahiro Matsumoto has been a miyadaiku carpenter for over 40 years. He runs his company in Kamakura, Japan, where he assesses and repairs damage sustained by the many ancient temples in his city. Using ancient techniques, he ensures that these spiritual structures stay standing for generations to come.

Cultivating Japan’s Rare White Strawberry

In Japan, there's a specialty fruit craze sweeping the nation, from square watermelons to grapes the size of Ping-Pong balls. Still, the crown jewel of the luxury fruit basket is the white strawberry, bred to be a whole lot bigger and a whole lot sweeter than its classic red counterpart. We took a tour of Yasuhito Teshima's farm in Karatsu, Japan, to find out why so many people are spending a pretty penny for a taste of these famous white berries.

In Tokyo, These Trains Jingle All the Way

While most train stations alert passengers with basic dings and dongs, metro riders in Japan are treated to uniquely crafted melodies. Minoru Mukaiya is the mastermind behind these jingles—he’s made around 200 distinct chimes for over 110 stations. For Minoru, there’s no greater joy than bringing a little bit of music to millions across Japan every day.

Turmoil, Pain, and Beauty: Colombia’s Blossoming Art Scene

With its rich, diverse culture, picturesque landscapes and lush natural resources, Colombia should be one of the most popular tourist destinations in South America. However, the country’s image took a hit in the 1980s, with the rise of cocaine and the drug cartels that controlled it, most notably, Pablo Escobar and his Medellin cartel. In recent years the Colombian government has addressed this problem head-on, dismantling drug rings and adopting a national slogan designed to put visitors at ease: “The only risk is never wanting to leave”. A recent spike in Colombia’s art scene may also help lift the stigma that shrouds the country, adding a new dimension to a people and culture the world thought it knew, and helping Colombia develop a new identity, or perhaps, reclaim an old one.

To be fair, Colombia is still the world's top producer of cocaine, and the legal status of cocaine within the country, combined with the high demand for it outside of the country makes the drug trade a recurrent enemy of the government. To make matters worse, drugs are not the only vice thriving in Colombia. Prostitution is also legal and readily available, making Colombia a popular destination for sex tourism, like Thailand or the Netherlands. In 2012, American secret service agents made international headlines when they got into a spat with a prostitute over an unpaid bill for “services rendered” while then President Barack Obama was visiting Cartagena. While the incident was a PR nightmare for the US, it also added to Colombia’s already prevalent image as a haven for illicit activity.

There is, however, much more to Colombia than sex and dope—and there always has been. In the heart of Medellin, the very city Escobar called home, lies the Museo de Antioquia, one of Colombia’s oldest museums. The museum features the work of famed Medellin artist Fernando Botero, known for his voluminous depictions of people and animals. This “Boterismo” style won Botero international fame, with many of his paintings and sculptures being featured in museums around the world. There was even a restaurant named after him in Las Vegas. Medellin is not the only city to get swept up in the art craze. The capital city of Bogota is home to over 100 commercial art galleries, a byproduct of an economic boom that Colombia experienced as the drug wars began to subside and the country began to stabilize.

The works of Fernando Botero are prominently featured at the museum. Jonathan Robinson.

Sometimes, in the scramble to create a compelling story, media outlets may narrow or oversimplify the identities of people. Colombians are joining a long list of ethnic, gender, and religious groups who take issue with the way they are portrayed in the media and are taking it upon themselves to help the world understand that their culture may be a bit more nuanced than it has been led to believe. While the rise of Colombia's art scene may not refute the bloody images the media has shown in the past, it does add to them, creating a separate narrative for the country that exists alongside the current one. In the end, understanding Colombia may not require the world to empty its cup, but rather, to invest in a larger one.

JONATHAN ROBINSON is an intern at CATALYST. He is a travel enthusiast always adding new people, places, experiences to his story. He hopes to use writing as a means to connect with others like himself. 

VIDEO: Germany's Oasis for Humanity

In the heart of Magdeburg, Germany is a mosaic superstructure known as the Green Citadel. Equipped with residential apartments, shops, cafes, hotels and a preschool, the complex was built to be an oasis for all mankind. Taking only two years to complete construction, the Citadel is considered one of the first pre-fabricated buildings in Germany. With its incredible pink exterior and bright green gardens, the building stands as the last work of architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser, built to be "an oasis for humanity and nature in a sea of rational houses."

Savor Japan’s Deep-Fried Maple Leaves

Maple leaf tempura, also known as “momiji,” is a snack native to the Japanese town of Minoh. Battered and deep-fried to a golden crisp, making momiji is a delicate process that takes about a year to prepare. Just ask Setsuko Hisakuni—she’s been making them for over 50 years, carrying on a tradition that began in the 1300s.

VIDEO: Hello Tokyo

This video was shot over a 5 day trip to Tokyo in January 2016. It was Christoph Gelep’s (videographer) first time visiting Japan, a place he had always wanted to see. With a population of 35 million, Tokyo is the largest metropolitan area in the world. Due to this, Christophe soon realized how lively and energetic this city really is.

Anthony Bourdain’s Window into Africa

Anthony Bourdain might have been a celebrity chef, but viewers of his Emmy Award-winning travel show, “Parts Unknown,” didn’t tune in for curry and noodle recipes.

Cooking was simply the conceit Bourdain used to have a conversation about the culture, politics, struggles and triumphs of people around the world.

As a human geographer, I was drawn to how Bourdain upended the travel show genre, telling compelling and complicated stories about people and places most Western viewers tend to view through a lens of simplistic stereotypes or caricatures.

Even more remarkable, his work wasn’t relegated to obscurity. The show aired on CNN – a mainstream cable outlet with millions of viewers.

I was especially interested in the way the show depicted Africa, a continent Western media tends to portray using what novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie famously called a “single story” – a monolithic narrative of poverty, backwardness and hopelessness.

So in a paper published last fall, I analyzed Bourdain’s Africa episodes, which took viewers to Congo-Kinshasa, South Africa, Tanzania, Madagascar and Ethiopia.

In them, he largely rejects the “single story” approach taken by much travel writing, and later travel television, since at least the 16th century. While the stories told about Africa in the West have changed over time, they’ve often lacked nuance and multiple voices – something Bourdain was eager to provide.

A ‘single story’ of horror and hopelessness

In the imaginations of many Westerners, Africa exists as a silent, docile, set piece – a contrasting “other.”

Sociologist Jan Nederveen Pieterse notes that for centuries – through deliberate lies and well-meaning mistakes – travel writers, missionaries and popular media outlets have wrongly depicted Africa as a place devoid of civilization, a frontier of wilderness and savagery.

The dominant narrative goes something like this: If the West is stable, Africa must be chaotic; if the West is mature, Africa must be infantile; and if the West is technologically advanced, Africa must be primitive.

Reality television and travel shows often deploy these tropes. Cultural anthropologist Kathryn Mathers has written widely on media depictions of Africa, suggesting that programs like “Survior: Africa” and Nicholas Kristof’s popular newspaper columns tell predictable stories of poverty and chaos with little effort to contextualize them within a larger history.

The dynamic voices of Africans – hardly a monolithic category – are often absent in these narratives. In the rare event they do appear, they’re often presented as people without politics who exist only to welcome tourists and protect rhinos. Intrepid conservation officers and overburdened health workers are favorite characters, along with the traditional leader, the street vendor and the small child in school uniform.

Cable news coverage of Africa also tells a “single story.” As Mathers wryly notes, when the continent does get coverage, the stories can be distilled down to the same topic: “the horrors of the hopeless continent, as seen on CNN.”

Bourdain’s critical lens

But Anthony Bourdain was also “seen on CNN.”

Beginning with his memoir, “Kitchen Confidential,” Bourdain built his persona as a speaker of unspoken truths. Likewise, he steered his travel show to “parts unknown” – or, more accurately, parts only known through incomplete tropes.

In each episode, Bourdain gives a brief historical overview to remind the audience that places are made by their histories. He doesn’t gloss over the difficult ones. For example, when explaining contemporary Congo, he implicates his American viewers:

“When the new country managed to inaugurate their first democratically elected leader, Patrice Lumumba, the CIA and the British, working through the Belgians, had him killed. We helped to install this miserable bastard in his place: Joseph Mobutu.”

When Bourdain is in Madagascar, he reflects on his own conflicted relationship to tourism and colonialism.

In Season 6, Ethiopian-born, Swedish-raised chef Marcus Samuelssonjoins him in Ethiopia. Together, they explore the theme of home in the context of the African diaspora.

While one might criticize Bourdain’s perspectives, he could never be accused of taking a sanitized, apolitical approach.

In the episode on Tanzania, he visits a Maasai village – a common pit stop for travel shows about East Africa. But “Parts Unknown” rejects the stereotype that the Maasai are an isolated, backwards tribe that exists apart from the modern world.

When a villager learns that Bourdain was born in New Jersey, he tells the host that his son attends university there. The conversation picks up again later in the episode, when Bourdain and the Maasai man thoughtfully ponder globalization and the anxiety and opportunity of social change. Bourdain understands that his African hosts aren’t anchored to a static past. Instead, they are dynamic actors in a global economy.

Bourdain writes his own reflections into each script. In Madagascar, Bourdain reminds viewers that

“the camera is a liar. It shows everything. It shows nothing. It reveals only what we want. Often, what we see is seen only from a window, moving past and then gone. One window. My window. If you had been here, chances are you would have seen things differently.”

The episode then cuts to previously rolled footage but reedited in the style of Mathers’ “horrors of the hopeless.” It’s all done to show the ease with which dominant narratives are packaged and to emphasize that “Parts Unknown” seeks to convey something entirely different.

The greatest strength of “Parts Unknown” was its comfort with unknowns remaining unknown – its resistance to arriving at singular truths about complex places. Bourdain never claimed that the “artifice of making television” – as he called it – allowed more than “one window, his window.”

Yet it was an open window, a critical lens that helped his large audience disentangle the tropes so often served up by popular media. Bourdain was critical of the single story, critical of widely held stereotypes and perhaps most critical of his own position as a masterful storyteller.

THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED ON THE CONVERSATION

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