Two of Dubai’s most prominent real estate developers are being merged and rolled into the personal portfolio of the emirate’s ruler.
29.02.2024 - 08:13 / breakingtravelnews.com
In anticipation of International Women’s Day on March 8th, Visit Estonia is shining the spotlight on the island of Kihnu, where a matrifocal society thrives amidst the Baltic Sea. For travellers looking for inspiration for a unique island escape this summer, Kihnu provides a welcoming and fascinating destination to explore, where the local women are known for preserving the rich cultural heritage dating back centuries and riding motorbikes in colourful, traditional homespun folk dress.
While often described as a matriarchy, local guide Mare Mätas sheds light on Kihnu’s cultural dynamics, emphasizing the essential roles played by both women and men in sustaining the island’s vibrant heritage. Located in the Baltic Sea off the west coast of Estonia, Kihnu Island is a close-knit community of seven hundred inhabitants with a history deeply rooted in maritime traditions. Kihnu has fostered a society where women have long been the custodians of cultural heritage, passing down traditions through generations, which include handicrafts, dances, games, and music, playing pivotal roles in the island’s socio-economic fabric.
Mätas explains, “Kihnu culture is not a matriarchy, but rather matrifocal. Men’s contributions are integral, though distinct from women’s roles.” In this unique setting, married women hold elevated status, and divorce is rare. Traditionally, with men often away at sea fishing or on the mainland for work, Kihnu’s women assumed multifaceted responsibilities, from managing households and farms to preserving cultural practices. They are the pillars of the community, adept at balancing time-honoured traditions with contemporary demands. As Mare aptly states, “Women keep the gears running on Kihnu Island, literally and figuratively.”
This International Women’s Day, consider a visit to Kihnu Island where the resilience and ingenuity of women, epitomizes empowerment and cultural guardianship. Visitors will be captivated by the vibrant cultural events, folk music performances, local artisan scene, welcoming home-cafes, truck tours of the islands’ four villages and the timeless spectacle of women donning brightly coloured, striped skirts - each hue signifying a unique status within the community. These skirts, along with other cultural artifacts, have earned Kihnu coveted recognition on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list since 2008.
Despite its ancient roots, Kihnu’s culture is not stagnant. Whilst the island’s women, including Mare, continue to wear traditional attire as part of daily life, this is seamlessly integrated with modern tools like her Apple Watch, illustrating the island’s harmonious blend of tradition and progress. As Kihnu looks to the future, the preservation of its unique
Two of Dubai’s most prominent real estate developers are being merged and rolled into the personal portfolio of the emirate’s ruler.
As Earth Day draws near, it's time to reflect on the beauty and diversity of our planet's ecosystems. For those with both a serious case of wanderlust and a passion for the environment, there's no better way to celebrate than by immersing yourself in the natural world. Here’s a selection of 4 of the best destinations that offer not just a getaway, but a chance to engage with wildlife and contribute to conservation efforts.
The island paradise of Sir Richard Branson, Necker Island in the idyllic British Virgin Islands, is affording guests a newly enhanced insight into its wide-reaching conservation efforts.
These cruises are going to be rare ones, Holland America fans. So get ready to book before they fill up.
A host of eclectic and enticing events will entertain and educate visitors to the Florida Keys & Key West this spring and summer. From fancy dress to food, fetes and street parades, underwater musical performances to boat parades, events are guaranteed to be colourful and memorable.
Somewhere between Iceland and the fictitious kingdom of Westeros sits the land that time forgot. On a map it’s called Greenland (aka the world’s largest island), model habitat for the Game of Thrones’ White Walkers. Arrive here in early March and green is the last color that comes to mind, however, for the landscape palette is decidedly white, save for a few gray rocks that nose their way out of the ermine blanket of snow. It’s a land where ancient muskox still roam as they have for 60,000 years, undoubtedly waiting for the next great extinction to see what new cast of characters will emerge.
“First we have to cross the icebergs,” our guide, Herling Mesi, says, pointing to a barely visible ridge on the otherwise flat expanse of frozen lake.
The World Travel Awards are some of the travel industry’s most prestigious accolades, and the winners in the European categories have been crowned at the thirty-first edition of the ceremony in Berlin. Leaders in tourism, airline, hotel and hospitality sectors are all included in the programme, but it’s the destinations themselves that we’re most excited about. And claiming the award for Europe’s next emerging destination, a title won by Batumi in Georgia for the last five years, it was Braga, a city not too far from the coast nestled in north-western Portugal.
For those looking for a wild adventure on their next vacation, the editors of Forbes Travel Guide have rounded up some of the best lodges where guests can enjoy exotic animals in their natural habitats. From Tanzania to Texas, here are 14 luxury wildlife hotels featuring giraffes and jaguars—and a Noah’s ark of creatures.
No matter what you're looking for in a vacation – adventure, relaxation, romance, cultural experiences, food – Hawaii has it all.
Calling all beach bums: the Maldives is a region famous for its palm-fringed desert islands, most of them surrounded by gin-clear water teeming with tropical fish.
Sri Lanka Tourism is all set to give it’s best at the ITB Berlin this year, which will kick off on the 5th of March 2024 and continue till 7th March 2024 at Messe Berlin, Germany. The Island paradise will showcase all its Tourism Products to lure the International tourists to come and have an experience of a lifetime. Sri Lanka is seeing continuous increase in the number of Tourist arrivals since 2022 and is celebrating a remarkable comeback with 1.5million tourists in 2023. Sri Lanka is a regular participant of the ITB and as a result of its promotional efforts, the number of German travelers to the destination has doubled in 2023 compared to 2022. Germany is one of the top source markets for Sri Lanka Tourism, which has the second highest number of arrivals from Europe after UK. This time, Sri Lanka Tourism will have a myriad of travel and holiday opportunities to offer for the German counterparts, with new initiatives and projects rolled up on its sleeve, in order to highlight that Sri Lanka is still one of the most renowned travel destinations in the world. The number of Airlines to Sri Lanka have increased and several top Airlines including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish airlines and Lot polish Airlines have resumed flights to Sri Lanka, as a result of the continuous promotional efforts carried out by Sri Lanka Tourism.