It’s astounding, but not for very much longer, madness takes its toll… at a deadly pace, it came from outer space, a “Science Fiction – Double Feature” hit Hamilton, again. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is probably the most successful indie-cult-classic-science-fiction-horror-comedy-musical to hit the stage and screens on this planet schmanet of ours. In the […]
Shhh! You do not want to wake this one up! Sopona, the Yorùbá god of smallpox and infectious disease originated in northern Nigeria in the 17th century, possibly by the Nupa, Tapa or Hausa people. Also known as Sakpata in voodoo, Sopona migrated to the new world with the slave trade. He became known as Sakpata in Brazil, Shakpana in Trinidad, and Babalú Ayé in Cuban Santeria where he was disguised […]
He whanau a Punga koe, for you are a child of a god – but don’t let it get to you head. Punga, your forefather is the god of ugliness, and all ugly things are his descendants. This old-fashioned insult (also “te aitanga a Punga”) is used to describe anything ugly or undesirable and has […]
Tombs of the pharaohs, or pathways to the gods for sacrificial rituals. Pyramids are regarded as the most symbolic icon of several of the world’s ancient cultures. Stories of how and why they were built and the powers they hold are fantasied by storytellers, authors, movie creators and by the millions of tourists visiting every […]
The mobile phone. One of the most pivotal technological advances of the 20th century. Mobile phones and telecommunications have affected almost every single aspect of human life. If you had a major telecommunications company, how would you show the world your company’s technological superiority, and what sort of headquarters should you build? If your answer […]
What do you get when you mix a box of matches with a napkin? Answer: The executive wing of the New Zealand government. Not the answer you’re expecting, but it the true story of why New Zealand has arguably the ugliest government building in the world. The Fire Since Wellington became the nation’s capital in […]
Decadent, exquisite, and of the finest architectural achievements of the Teutonic Order are what could be said about the magnificent castle in the heart of Kaliningrad. Unfortunately, the Königsberg Castle was destroyed in the 1960s and in its place was erected the boring but bold, blueish-grey monstrosity representing the most depressive nature of Soviet style […]
Woken by a flock of chooks up a tree, you get out of bed, slip on some jandals and and make your way outside. It’s not cold, but not hot either, you hear waves crashing into rocks in the distance. Crossing the road to a field scattered with canoes, you are greeted by a couple […]
“Very often when lost in admiration at its beauty, I have experienced a pang of regret that a scene so enchanting should be hidden from the world in these remote seas.” – Typee, by Herman Melville. The land of men, Te Henua ‘Enana, or Te Fenua Enana in the south are more commonly known as […]
Galloping down the beach, you see your target: a half-naked man holding his slippery wooden ball. But it’s not his ball, it’s your ball, and you need to get it back to church before sundown. He’s sprinting as fast as he can, but the beach was a foolish passage for him to take, with nothing […]