Author: Ms. R.

Denmark is a notoriously flat country, with an average elevation of just 101 feet. As such, climbing its highest point is not a particularly strenuous feat. However, finding that elusive location has proven difficult. Møllehøj, what is currently considered the highest peak in the country, was identified in 2005, and only rises above the rest by an inch or so. Previously, Himmelbjerget, 10 miles to the northwest of Møllehøj, was regarded as the tallest mountain in the country. When……

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Janez Bratovž, aka JB, founded his eponymous, Michelin-recommended restaurant at a time when nouvelle cuisine was unknown in Yugoslavia. He learned his trade in Austria and introduced specialties like carpaccio and foams to a land of hearty but simple dishes.  He’s been described as the godfather of fine dining in this part of the world and while Ana Roš is the highest profile Slovenian chef, her flagship restaurant is in a rural area near the Italian border, and JB……

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On August 21, 1937, Philippine President Manuel Quezon issued Proclamation No. 173, initiating an open-door policy for the country so that it could receive persecuted Jews fleeing Europe. Under this program, the local Jewish community in the Philippines assumed responsibility for the refugees, ensuring they would not burden the local community. The same year, the Jewish Refugee Committee (JRC) was established. The program was selective; only refugees with ‘desirable’ professions such as doctors and scientists, along with their families,……

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Just outside of Idaho Springs, Colorado—over 10,000 feet above sea level—lies a pristine alpine lake. While Saint Mary’s Lake is beautiful, most visitors to this area are looking for something a little bit further up the trail: a small, somewhat dirty patch of snow, known as Saint Mary’s Glacier. Despite its name, it isn’t a glacier at all. A true glacier is defined as a mass of ice and rock that moves downhill under its own weight. While slow,……

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Located north of central Hirosaki, the former village of Onizawa has an evocative name. Oni, of course, refers to Japanese demons resembling two-horned ogres, powerful and strong. Naturally, there is a story behind such name. According to local folklore, a rice farmer named Yajuro once befriended an Oni from Mount Iwaki, and the two would often meet for lunch, sitting together on the branch of a great daimyo oak tree. When Yajuro mentioned that water kept leaking from his……

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With the rise of automated ticket machines, hundreds of ticket offices across the London underground network became redundant. Instead of allowing these prime locations to fall into disuse, an innovative initiative emerged to transform the former ticket office windows into “Tiny Parks.” The first of these miniature gardens, introduced in 2017 at St James’s Park Station in partnership with The Edible Bus Stop, aims to bring greenery into urban spaces, where it is often lacking. Nine of these pocket-sized……

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Between 1862 and 1874, the Metropolitan Board of Works in London created the Thames Embankment by redeveloping a significant portion of the riverside. This project extended the shoreline by reclaiming land from the river and constructing new riverside walkways and gardens. One of the smaller details of this project was the manufacturing and installation of new lamps that would stand alongside the riverfront, lighting the path. Three different iron lamp designs were proposed for the embankment. One design created……

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Zapurza Museum of Art & Culture is located next to Khadakwasla Lake, around 20-25 kilometers south west of Pune, India. It is a museum, an art gallery, a lakeside picnic spot, and a cultural center all rolled into one. The museum also conducts workshops and hosts events on art-related subjects.  The museum is spread out over a huge area. A beautiful statue of Nataraja (which is a depiction of Lord Shiva) welcomes visitors into the museum. Inside, there are 10……

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According to legend, beneath Kashima Jingu lies a mythical being of earth-shattering proportions. Japanese mythology tells that this colossal catfish causes earthquakes with its restless thrashing. Kashima Jingu is said to be key in keeping the sea monster, known as Namazu, from wreaking havoc. The shrine contains a single sacred stone: Kaname-ishi. It is is said to have been set in place by Takemikazuchi-no-Okami, the shrine’s main deity. According to Japanese mythology, the powerful god of thunder and swords……

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