The Ethiopian Cross

The Ethiopian Cross

Added 3 months ago

One of the oldest symbols adopted by the Church, the cross, retains its purest form in Ethiopia, where it can be found in three principal forms: the processional cross, hand cross and the pendant cross...

0 Comments

Birthstone for February: the Amethyst

Birthstone for February: the Amethyst

Added 4 months ago

Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz (SiO2). The name originates from Greek and means “not intoxicated", a reference to the belief held by the ancient Greeks and Romans that the stone prevented drunkenness...

0 Comments

Polyandry, or the practice of taking multiple husbands

Polyandry, or the practice of taking multiple husbands

Added 9 months ago

The custom of taking multiple wives, or polygyny, is well known. The opposite custom, the taking of two or more husbands or polyandry, is rather less well known, and is becoming a very rare practice indeed in the modern world...

Tibetan polyandry. Picture courtesy of the Tibet Travel Centre

0 Comments

The Evil Eye

The Evil Eye

Added 11 months ago

I remember, as a small child, my mother doing a curious thing. She placed a pot of water on the stove to boil, then threw in a handful of lubia as she called them, black-eyed beans. As the pot boiled furiously, several of the beans jumped out, and each time one did my mother called “emshee! emshee!” (go away ! go away!) in Arabic. She was, as she explained to me later, removing the evil eye from our house...

0 Comments

Lawar: a Balinese Delicacy

Lawar: a Balinese Delicacy

Added about 1 year ago

If you’ve ever been to Bali, you’ve probably sampled a version of the local savory delicacy called lawar. One of the island’s most iconic dishes, lawar literally means “thinly sliced” or “finely chopped”, and consists of chopped meat and vegetables mixed together with fragrant spices and herbs. It is typically served at important Balinese events and ceremonies. However, visitors to Bali can easily find different versions of lawar in most restaurants and warungs...

0 Comments

Anzac Day 2012

Anzac Day 2012

Added about 1 year ago

ANZAC Day – 25 April – is probably Australia's most important national occasion. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. But what does Anzac Day really mean to you? For me, it is the day that our dead ask us "would you have done the same for us?" and we answer "yes we would"...

Picture by: Braden Fastier, courtesy of News.com.au

0 Comments

Balinese House Compounds: a Microcosom of the Universe

Balinese House Compounds: a Microcosom of the Universe

Added about 1 year ago

A visitor to the smaller towns and villages of Bali would be forgiven for thinking that temples adorn every street corner and all of the spaces in between. High walls with the smallest of doorways allow only the briefest of views by passers-by, while above the walls there are tantalizing glimpses of exquisitely carved shrines, some no larger than birdcages. However, these are all in fact private residences, more properly called compounds or karangs, which may house several generations of Balinese families at one time.

0 Comments

Chinese Year of the Water Dragon Raises Hopes of a Better Year For All

Chinese Year of the Water Dragon Raises Hopes of a Better Year For All

Added about 1 year ago

While celebrations are taking place all over the world today to herald in the Chinese New Year, this year’s festivities are being conducted with particular enthusiasm as 2012 is the Year of the Water Dragon, considered by many to be the most auspicious sign in the Chinese zodiac.

Picture by Katsushika Hokusai, renouned Japanese artist 1760 – 1849

0 Comments

Suporting the Twenty10 Cause

Suporting the Twenty10 Cause

Added about 1 year ago

This Christmas, Kashgar is helping to support Twenty10, a wonderful not-for-profit organisation based in Newtown, Sydney, which (amongst many other things) supports GLBTQI youth who are homeless...

0 Comments

Christmas at Kashgar!

Christmas at Kashgar!

Added about 1 year ago

It's Christmas time once again! Want to know when we're open over the holiday season? Or when our special Christmas shopping night is on? Read this for all our Kashgar news...

0 Comments

1 of 12 Next »