Fun, Fails & Random Acts of Kindness

We are traveling on motorbikes since 2016. Right now we have an iconic Royal Enfield Himalayan under our swollen butts, from countless road and off- road trips. We enjoy the freedom, the independence. Stopping along the way to smell “the roses” and enjoy the view. Riding on broken roads bears no real issues, even on a tricky stage we are passed by a grandpa in flip flops on a moped with his family on the back…

Over the past years we’ve hiked Volcanoes in Thailand and Indonesia, the Alps – Switzerland, North Italy, Tirol, Austria – the Andes in Chile, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia – the Himalayas of Nepal and India.

We spend one and a half year criss-crossing South America exploring Patagonias wilderness and the Life in the Amazon rain forest. Discovering the jungles of Madagascar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, the forests of India and Nepal and the woods of Norway, Sweden and Finland. Fascinated with all things green – the natural heritage of a destination, collecting treelore and observing wildlife.

Could you spend from dawn till noon sitting surrounded by trees and birds? Amateur Bird watching is really all about the quest for balance – between the curious animal at the near end of the binoculars and the wild animal at the far end – between the identifiable and the indescribably mysterious – between a tremendous yearning to be outside looking at creatures – between disturbing them and conservation. Sometimes, I want to see them all… Who knows, maybe someday I’ll do a proper bird list…

Observing wildlife can be a gateway into recognizing and appreciating a wider world that was there all along. Exploring the bountiful gifts of nature, the wealth of edible and medicinal plants of earth – Ethnobotany gives us meaningful learning opportunities.

We rode camels in the Gobi of Mongolia and inhaled the sand of the Sahara in Egypt, the Atacama of Argentina, Peru and Bolivia and the Rub’ al Khali in Oman – grasping the mystical expanse of the deserts. Like the Indian Rann of Kutch (Kachchh), a salt marsh of the Thar Desert, or the visit to the Salar de Uyuni of Bolivia and Chile proved that a dry place is not, by default hot.

And the trip to Kap horn – that I can get seasick…really sick.

Diving and snorkeling in Indonesia thought us how to wonder: Creatures, so strange we couldn’t even attribute them – plant, animal or both? Pristine, candy-hued coral stretching out like a Monet. Forests shooting up from the seabed. There were giants, like whales and mantas and tiny plankton type organisms that shine at night – a dance of bio luminescence – brilliant.

We’ve spent countless nights in the middle of nowhere, usually near a majestic tree, a gentle river, the rough ocean or a calm lake, and sometimes a filthy roadside… and my partner has all the mosquito bites to prove it.

“In any walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.”

John Muir

History & Heritage

At earthstoriez, we particularly treasure those threads of the fabric of knowledge that carry an awareness of how a folk is woven into a place.

Lore has for millennia informed young people in how to be human in a natural world. Lore comes from the same root word as learn. It includes both historical knowledge and know-how, passed down from one generation to another. Because the passing on of stories – history, mythology, legend and folklore – and traditions is intrinsically human, and something we can all come together to share.

Everything here on earthstOriez is based on our personal experience.

We compile, share and preserve stories from history & heritage.

The word history can refer to the past; the study of the past; and/or the meaning(s) of the past. History is not just about things ‘long ago and far away’ – though it includes that – but it is about all that makes humanity human – up close and personal. The term heritage has evolved considerably over time. Initially referring exclusively to the monumental remains of cultures – the concept of heritage has gradually been expanded to embrace – living culture and contemporary expressions – IDENTITY & MEMORY – and history connects them between past and present.

There is no history of mankind, there are only many
histories of all kinds of aspects of human life.

Karl Popper, philosopher of science (1902-94)

Cultural heritage is in the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the religions we follow, the skills we learn – the stories we tell. Sometimes we can touch and see what makes up a culture — other times it is intangible. Like knowledge apparent in the worldview of a people, preserved through books, artifacts, objects, pictures, photographs, art, and oral tradition. Stories bear the characteristics of the culture, folklore and customs of the people from which they originate.

Using history & heritage to tell the story of our journey.

By delving into stories and traditions of communities, we can explore the similarities that run through our EARTH. – STORIEZ are a great way of connecting to a heritage, and an excellent way of learning about us – appreciating how we’re different and how we are all the same – and those moments, when just for an instant – we feel close to the people and the meaning of a place. It is growing in the process — making the strange familiar, and the familiar strange.

We visit communities, because some stories you won’t find anywhere else in the world but from the mouths of the people themselves.

earthstOriez & place

We take to the back streets and try to understand what makes a community tick.

Riding off with no clue where we will end up to. Having no very clear idea what may happen along the way, nor indeed when we shall reach. That very uncertainty is disquieting for some, we delight in the magic of the unexpected. A punched tire can create new opportunities… kindness everywhere, we stay invited into private houses by perfect strangers.

While travelling we were often shown kindness, generosity and courtesy by perfect strangers – hospitality everywhere.

Thank you all.

earthstoriez

We try to visit places cherished by the local community, these are not necessarily the same as the big tourist sights. In fact there are no “must-see” places. At earthstoriez, we find the process of experiencing a place is essentially phenomenological. The city square or local market was not designed for tourists, but rather as the context for everyday lives. Deserving more than a casual glance — cityscapes are there to be studied and observed in detail. They are spurs to meditation, and only much later can words flow — and what is true of cities is equally true, often even more true, of rural places.

Behind every place lie stories, traditions and time-honored practices, preserved by women and men whose identities and cultures have been constructed over centuries.

Incorporating changes alongside continuities, hence there’s nothing like a rigid divide between past and present. We can see this in the landscape of agriculture and forested land, as well, as in buildings, towns, and in archaeological remains.

earthstOriez & people

No matter which country we traveled, we found women and men to be welcoming, kind and generous.

earthstoriez

At earthstoriez, we share without expecting anything.

Slowly and attentively we try to immerse in a culture and seek out people whose knowledge and passion can deepen our own understanding and appreciation of a place. All people and peoples are living histories. It’s a pleasure to discover somewhere through those who know and love it. By choosing to travel slowly, we have time to shape our relationship with the communities through which we pass on our journey.

Swirling with myth, rippling with history and surrounded by some of the most haunting landscapes, travelling to rural communities, is time travel – it’s visiting the ancients – giving us a literal way of touching the past.

Nothing brings us together like festivals do, so we try to be there – celebrating the sacred and profane together, because festivals are about sharing happy moments and creating memories. Observing social practices – customs & rituals – , listening to oral traditions and watching performing arts, like dance and music, universal languages, that we all have the ability to speak.

We feel enormously fortunate to have the pleasure of meeting people who enjoy sharing stories, challenge our thinking and keep moving forward.

A living culture is made of practices concerning nature and the universe or/and the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts and of course – gastronomic traditions. Like savoring café culture and espresso for us is a way to experience a place. We skip coffee at chains, and stick to locally owned roadside stalls and enjoy regional specialties. Those places without our beloved espresso are full of caffeinated surprises: Türk Kahvesi, Indian filter kaapi, kopi Aceh, white kopi, mate, tea and cocoa.

Eating and drinking is a mind-broadening and an enjoyable cultural experience. Joining in with culinary traditions does enrich our taste buds. However, there are likely to be many surprises along the way.

Etc.

What you read is derived from our experiences, encounters and observations, only then we go and try to deepen our knowledge using scholarly literature, historical papers and reports. There is a PhD in history, carefully writing each and every word on earthstoriez.

We want to educate with our culture stories and try to keep our content accurate and trustworthy.

Do not expect a peer-reviewed academic article from amateur writers. We are bikers and nature lovers with degrees, visiting places with an essence of heritage, history and biodiversity.

Languages give us the power to communicate in an attempt to make sense of people and places. Both of us grew up Bi lingual, making us aware that languages open doors & hearts. That is why we take time to get a feel for the languages and dialects of locals we visit and study a few phrases. Or learn the language.

English isn’t our native language and we have the impudence to write also in other languages – not often good but for that seldom. We do not use automation or AI-generation when we write, but we do not know if we quote someone using it. We use tools for proofreading and our friend Klaus (PhD in Mathematic and Music) helps us with that. Guest posts are marked with a star * . We kill e- mails.

Guido grazie for the photograph.

The authors of this website are anonymous, only friends know who we are.

We are a money free educational website.

If you find any inspiration in HISTORY & HERITAGE – MYTH & FOLKLORE  & what earthstoriez does, please consider a

Donation

Storiez were preserved so they could be told and retold – feel free to share. Browse through the rich wealth of storiez that are capable of leading you to special places.

After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.

Philip Pullman

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

We’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’d like to give a feedback, you can use the form on the end of this page – just scroll down. Use your language if you like.

Thanks.