ethnic tourism

On the sand dunes of Lisse, multi-coloured carpets of blooming flowers covered thousands of of fertile plains. The brilliance of the sunshine augments the palettes of patterned farm under the wings of passing flocks of egrets.

It was 7:00 a.m. as I strolled along the perimeter of the Tulip rows. The serenity of the blissful morning brought a rush of joy as my viewfinder absorbed hundreds of images into the camera. From the quaint town center I took a bus to the Keukenhof Garden and arrived just as the gates were opening. Already a sizeable throng had gathered in front of the ticket office. We were greeted by a pair of beautiful Dutch girls who were selling the 60 Year Anniversary Souvenir Book. If you have ever dreamt about heaven or a paradise of myriads of splendid floral parks, this is it! You are standing on the threshold of your dream -the Keukenhof Garden is the Virtual Reality. The impact of the scenery around you is enough to get your ardrenalin pumping. At once you are mesmerized and completely lost in a wonderful land of aromatic flowers.

In this ‘Sen-surround’ you hear nothing but the continual choruses of applause and ovations from the flow of passing eye-witnesses. They are busy with their compact cameras whispering under restrained outbursts of bewilderment. Gradually the traffic turns into a snarl with a cacophony of foreign tongues. The congestion is exacerbated by the model-posing and clicking away of the shutter. At its peak every standing space along the paths, in the restaurants, and even off-limits areas are filled with noisy chatterings.

As Ir. H. Van Os, the Chairman of the 50th Keukenhof Committee, explained, “Keukenhof’s 60th anniversary is not only a moment to reflect on the past, but also to look forward to future innovations in the art of floral exhibition. From now on,’a new style every year and a fresh look every day’ will be our motto when we open each spring until we close after the last golden days of each summer. Keukenhof received over 35 million Dutch and foreign visitors and has developed into a showcase for the flower bulb and ornamental plant industry and the Netherlands’s calling card”.

AT ONCE YOU ARE MESMERIZED AND COMPLETELY LOST IN A WONDERFUL LAND OF AROMATIC FLOWERS.

Known and loved internationally, Keukenhof receives more than 800,000 visitors from all over the world each year. Keukenhof is something that has to be experienced to understand how breathtakingly beautiful nature can be and how the flower bulb industry can enhance that beauty.

The Keukenhof was formerly a sea-side forest for hunting where plenty of herbal plants originated from the wilds. The owner, Countess Jacoba van Beieren, a descendent of Teylingen Castle (1401 - 1436), and a passionate and obsessive herb collector turned the estate into the source of her kitchen supply, hence, Keukenhof-meaning kitchen courtyard. But it was the work of the German landscape architect, J.D. Zocher who was inspired by English landscaping and gardening who created the concept of the ideal park with its majestic beech trees (Beukenlaan) lining the path. Later in the mid 20th century a group of enthusiastic bulb growers and exporters practically turned the park into a showcase for tulip gardens.

The highlights of my Keukenhof sojourn, were the Grand Royal flower bed with its classical and modern bulbs, and the Historical Garden which has an interesting collection of bulbs dating back to Jacoba van Beieren’s time.

The mysterious aura of the Keukenhof draws annual throngs of curious tourists, nature lovers, specialists, professional gardeners and botanists like a pilgrimage as a holy land. It is estimated that about 7 million bulbs of different varieties such as Tulips, Narcissus, Daffodils, Hyacinths etc. are planted - the orchestration of such a gigantic project on 32 hectares of cultivated land is in itself a miracle.

During the long winter months, the team of gardeners and landscape artists are already planning for the simultaneous flowering, the synchronization for the 8 week programme is truly a task of great magnitude and coordination.

Fact file

• Getting there: upon your arrival in Amsterdam, take a train to Haarlem. The bus terminal outside Haarlem’s Central Station has a special Keukenhof bus to Lisse.
• Opening Hours: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm daily during the period 21st March until 21st May. The best time between 15 April to 1 May.
• The writer was late last year, a hot spell in late April had damaged most of the blooms. This year I did not want to take any chances. I arrived on time and was greatly rewarded. ‘Visions and Voices of Spring’ made my stay unforgettable experience.
• Suggestion: Book your accomodation in advance, even rooms at a youth hostel were almost impossible to get.

[View with PicLens]

Local success story, Mario Silver in Bali has grown from a one-man show to become Bali’s leader in silver jewelery design, manufacture and export.

The seventies were a remarkable period of discovery. Hippies and backpackers weren’t only discovering themselves - they were unveiling new worlds that had scarcely been seen before. The rise and rise of the commercial airline industry meant that it became affordable for almost anyone to travel to the exotic corners of the earth. And whereas Bali had previously been accessible only for avant-garde personalities like Charlie Chaplin and Miguel Covarrubias - in the seventies, the “hippy trail” meandered its way to Bali for many a Tom, Dick and Nigel. Surfers too were discovering the virtues of Bali’s breaks as the island began dabbling in mass-hospitality and high-scale tourism.

Reputed for their talent as natural crafts people, the Balinese began crafting rough and very “ethnic-looking” pieces to cater to a tourist demand for silver jewellery. Out of those humble beginnings, Bali’s fledgling jewellery industry grew into the multi-million dollar industry that it is today, exporting to all corners of the globe with some of the most modern and innovative designs anywhere.

At the forefront of this transformation from backyard peddling to global enterprise has been Mario Silver. Formed in 1989, Mario Silver has grown from a single shop to become one of the island’s most successful manufacturers and exporters of genuine 925 silver jewellery. The brainchild of Tony Isijima, (his name gives away his Italian/Japanese roots) Mario Silver was named after his son. Says expatriate Japanese designer Bhakto who has lived in Bali for 19 years “our silver is different from the products that are available in Thailand for example, because they are all 100% hand made. Cheaper jewellery is made from casts, but ours achieves a subtly different effect. Each piece is slightly different as it has been completely crafted by hand. The effect is warmer, more human.” With an incredible 25,000 designs under his belt, the wall behind Bhakto’s head is plastered with jewellery designs from past present and future, showing a slow but sure evolution in style. Another of Mario’s success “secrets” is that they stay ahead of the game. Through close customer relations they are able to constantly monitor market trends and come up with designs that suit current tastes. Hugely popular in Europe and Japan, Mario’s sleek, elegant designs are now finding a foothold in the American and Australian markets.

With four shops in and around Kuta, Mario’s designs are readily available to the public, but their main trade is in wholesale export. While other competitors are scrambling to meet an order, Mario’s huge range of ready stock means that they are able to meet many orders immediately. The racks and racks of ready stock on display upstairs at the main showroom in Jl Legian are enough to reassure any would-be customer that they’re dealing with very efficient professionals. Quality assurance, finishing and creation of the prototype masterpieces is done here, in the maze of interconnecting rooms and studios that form the nerve-centre of the Mario Silver operation.

If ready stock is not available, or if it is a new design (customers are welcome to bring their own designs) Mario Silver’s team of some 200 craftspeople on Bali and in the jewellery heartland of East Java, will be able to fill the order within a matter of days or weeks, depending on the quantity. Small orders of around 10-20 pieces can usually be completed within three days.

A final note on the quality of silver. Using only imported pure silver granules, Mario Silver guarantees that every piece is made from pure 925 sterling silver. As Bhakto said “less pure silver tarnishes more easily.” While the Bali silver industry has come a long way since the 70’s there are still some shady backyard operators that continue to prove the maxim that “not all that shines is silver”. If you’re not careful you can get taken for a ride. When you’re buying silver, buy from a reputable dealer like Mario Silver, your satisfaction will come from the many years of enjoyment you get out wearing your own authentic Balinese masterpiece.

Mario Silver, Jl. Raya Seminyak 19, Kuta, Bali, Indonesia. Tel: 62-(0)361-730 977, fax: 62-(0)361-730 926

[View with PicLens]

The name Cyprus has a somewhat uncertain etymology. One suggestion is that it comes from the Greek word for the Mediterranean cypress tree (Cupressus sempervirens), κυπάρισσος (kypárissos), or even from the Greek name of the henna plant (Lawsonia alba), κύπρος (kýpros).Read More…

Northumberland lies in the north east of England, south of the border with Scotland and has more castles than any other English county. This is mainly due to the numerous battles between the English and the Scots in the 14 - 16th century.Read More…

Lubeck is a charming Hanseatic city, surrounded by a canal and a river. It has plenty of parks trees and open spaces. The best known symbol of the city is the Holtesten gate, built in 1477.Read More…

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, sometimes translated as Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is a state in northern Germany. The capital city is Schwerin. The state was formed through the merger of the historic regions Mecklenburg and Vorpommern after World War II, dissolved in 1952 and recreated prior to the German reunification in 1990. Due to its lengthy name, it is often abbreviated as MV or (colloquially) shortened to Meck-Pomm.Read More…

Nicoplos, the city of victory, was built by Augustus Caesar, known earlier in his life as Octavian, to commemorate his victory at the naval Battle of Actium, 31 BC. The battle itself was not one of the great triumphs of antiquity but the significance of the victory was immense. To understand this, you have to look at the balance of power in the Roman Empire during this period.Read More…

Preveza is situated on the west coast of mainland Greece, south of Corfu. The photos of the town and surrounding area impressed me. Preveza looked more Italian than Greek and the coastal scenery was a beautiful contrast of the green land and the turquoise sea.Read More…

Apulia (from Italian: Puglia) is a region in southeastern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its southern portion known as Salento, a peninsula, forms a high heel on the “boot” of Italy.Read More…

Bassano del Grappa sits in a stunning location by the River Brenta with Monte Grappa in the background. It is about 35 kilometres north east of Vicenza. The town’s symbols are said to be the Palladian bridge, white asparagus, ceramics and the Grappa liqueur.Read More…