THE BEATLES SAY...
"Here comes the sun, and I say it’s all right!"

XVIII |April 14, 2021

THE EDITOR'S NOTE

The times, they're a changing. There's been such a vivid metamorphosis in the trees and the climate around me that I'm still trying to get used to the fact that a year has gone by so quickly. This time last year, pollution levels were dropping and nature was allowed to heal at its own pace, making way for a spectacle that we rarely get to witness. This year too, the trend continues. Nature is at her evergreen best and we wanted to showcase it in our feature with some stories from Ancient Greek literature and also Native American folklore. We also talk about one of the most coveted arrivals in Spring and where you'd actually have fun witnessing it.

Our Reels selection this time is relatively less popular (two of the movies tanked, in fact) but I feel they are worth a watch, especially with family. We hope the food section inspires you to make your own rice spring rolls, and we've finally decided to change things up with the puzzle a little and let you get creative in your own way, with the help of the Google Arts And Culture experiment.

Sharing the mutual love for travel and color!

Ashish

STORIES

Throughout history, there have been different stories about the coming of Spring.

WHAT YOU'RE MISSING

Sakura blooms in Japan are popular worldwide. But have you heard of the sakura bloom in Taiwan?

LET'S GET

Hobbes loves fall for a reason.

MOVIES

More movies of adventure, friendships and the people we meet on the road!

INSPIRATION

Once a year, you can walk from one island of South Korea to the other. Only once a year.

THOUGHTS

Who said owls aren't colorful?

FOOD

Vietnamese Spring Rolls to add some new tastes and colors to the dining table!

MUSIC

A summer collection of songs to keep you company with a drink in the toasty afternoons!

PUZZLED?

A special puzzle this time that is calming yet engaging!

01 Stories That Matter

A deep dive into a story that's arcane, thoughtful, and sometimes humorous!

Shifting seasons, shifting tales

As the Earth has gotten closer to the sun this year, the colors have shifted in some parts of the world. Life becomes reinvigorated with this new warmth. There have been several tales both grand and simple about this changing through the passage of time, through metaphors or literal narrations.

We’d love for you to know more about some of these stories that take you through the three main seasons. Each story tells a tale about a different season and how it connects to the real world!

Most of you will have heard of the tale of Persephone. The daughter of great Zeus himself, Persephone is a free spirited world who falls prey to the whims of Hades, god of the underworld. Hades forcefully kidnaps her and drags her to the underworld to make her his wife. A distraught Demeter (her mother) searches throughout the Earth for her, but Persephone cannot be found. Being the goddess of the harvest and fertility, Demeter’s depression affects all those living on the planet. Helios, God of the Sun, finally interjects and tells Demeter where Persephone is. Hades meanwhile figured out a trick to keep Persephone in the underworld forever; he gives her six seeds of a pomegranate fruit to eat which barrs her from exiting the realm. Demeter demands the release of her daughter on the pretext that Hades had tricked her but Hades was adamant. Finally, Zeus interjects and orders that Persephone spend 6 months up on Earth with her mother and 6 months in the underworld. This is the tale of summer and spring!

Yet another story comes from a Cherokee legend. A sparrow was desperately looking for shelter in the winter among various trees. Each tree he went to refused to give him shelter with their leaves because they did not want to share their space with guests at this time of the year. It was the hardy pine tree with prickly leaves that in the end tried to help out the sparrow as best as he could. The creator of the world thereby cursed all trees except the pine tree that they would lose their leaves in the winter henceforth, which is why pine trees are the only ones that stand out during cold months.

Next time you think of the shifting of time throughout the year and the effect it has on people and lives around us, there may be more mysticism involved than what you feel!

02 What You Missed When Grounded

Taiwan also happens to be blessed with Cherry Blossom blooms!

Taiwan As A Spring Destination

Taiwan usually plays second fiddle when considering where to travel to in the world. The much more vivid images and culture of Japan made it hugely popular among travellers.

But if there's one place you should travel to for your next vacation, make it Taiwan. Especially if travelling in Spring.

For in Spring, the famed Sakura blossoms make an appearance here too. Especially in the cities of Taipei, Nantou, Chiyai or Taichung. Even in places like the Yangmingshan National Park that's home to several hot springs and volcanic activity. Yangmingshan is one of Taiwan's 9 major national parks and contains Taiwan's largest dormant volcano (which may be the source of the hot springs and sulfur springs).

To commemorate the cherry blossoms, Taiwan hosts a Yangmingshan Flower Festival with this year's edition happening in February and extending into March. This was the country's lunar period, an auspicious moment to host such an event. Cherry trees are not the only trees in profusion here; plums, peaches and other varieties of flowering trees grow in abundance throughout. Fortunately for those who have missed out on the action this year, the Flower Festival does happen yearly during every lunar period!

The next time you want to visit Japan, consider this lesser known destination within Taiwan that hosts its own festival for the Sakura and see how it compares to the more popular phenomena that you have read about!

03 Let's Get Comical

Hobbes loves fall.

04 The Reel

Movies about the people we meet on the journeys we make!

The Big Year has an ensemble cast, a charming synopsis and hilarity ensuing in subtle, wholesome and sometimes outlandish ways. What's not to like?

Three men: One devoid of a purpose in life, one going through a crisis and one who's seen and done it all decide to embark on one of the most unique challenges this world has to offer: Observing as many birds as possible throughout a year and beating the previous record.

It seems like a harmless pastime but the pursuit to record every species possible is a pursuit that has to be watched!

WATCH ON HOTSTAR

Wouldn't you like to escape to a hidden world with a friend you just made over the summer?
Bridge To Terabithia is all that and more.

This tale of friendships, betrayal, trust and heartbreak is set in a magical world where almost anything is possible while at the same time serving as a harsh reminder for the reality that exists outside. But it also has an important message; don't leave your childish past and the memory of your loved ones behind!

Do not miss Bridge Of Terabithia if you're looking for an emotional movie on friendship and forming bonds.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

Nim's Island is a tale of getting out there, far beyond your comfort zone, and facing what great adventures lie ahead!

With an impeccable Gerard Butler playing a loving father slash marine biologist who is always at sea, Jodie Foster playing an extremely introverted author and a little girl that brings them together in the most unique way, this is a movie of adventure that takes place on a remote island in the pacific

A fun tale that is family friendly and takes you through some gorgeous locations, don't miss Nim's Island!

WATCH ON PRIME

05 The Improbable

A notorious phenomenon is now a forlorn figure of the past.

The Parting Of The Sea At Korea!

We've heard a variety of tales where humans have endeavored to cross the seas and face the impossible.

Whether it was Moses who parted the waters with one wave of his hand or the mythical Ram and his legion of monkeys that built a bridge to cross over.

But in this situation, a phenomenon that takes place every year actually parts the sea on both sides, leaving a trail for people to walk on for over 3km. Known as the Miracle Sea Road, the event occurs once a year at the Jindo sea between two islands. Thousands of people flock to witness the improbable; the sea naturally reduces at this point, letting people walk across the Jindo and Modo islands.

Of course, there is a scientific rationale to this too. As this occurs during the tidal periods of the sea. Jindo happens to be located exactly where the high tide and low tide become increasingly low and high when the tide does move in, causing a much bigger wake of water to disappear than usual and giving the impression that the sea has actually parted. Nonetheless, it is an impressive phenomenon and one with an equally interesting tale to boot.

The island of Jindo was once inhabited by vicious tigers who began laying destruction on the villages. The villagers of course fleed, but one woman was left behind. In an attempt to reunite with her loved ones, she prayed day and night to be reuinted with them until the God Of The Sea showed her the path...by parting the sea!

06 The Thinking Owl

Have you seen the number of colors on an Owl? We may not be Spring but we can hold our own. And they call us dull colored.

07 Food for Thought

From Vietnam comes a classic Spring roll recipe!

the recipe...

The Ingredients

Vietnamese Spring Rolls
Ingredients
2 ounces rice vermicelli
8 rice wrappers (8.5 inch diameter)
8 large cooked shrimp - peeled, deveined and cut in half
1 ⅓ tablespoons chopped fresh Thai basil
½ teaspoon garlic chili sauce

3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 leaves lettuce, chopped
4 teaspoons fish sauce
¼ cup water
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons white sugar
3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon finely chopped peanuts

Directions

Bring a medium saucepan of water to boil. Boil rice vermicelli 3 to 5 minutes, or until al dente, and drain.
Fill a large bowl with warm water. Dip one wrapper into the hot water for 1 second to soften. Lay wrapper flat. In a row across the center, place 2 shrimp halves, a handful of vermicelli, basil, mint, cilantro and lettuce, leaving about 2 inches uncovered on each side. Fold uncovered sides inward, then tightly roll the wrapper, beginning at the end with the lettuce. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
In a small bowl, mix the fish sauce, water, lime juice, garlic, sugar and chili sauce.
In another small bowl, mix the hoisin sauce and peanuts.
Serve rolled spring rolls with the fish sauce and hoisin sauce mixture.

08 The Travel Record

Summertime tunes to keep you company with that drink, in the summer heat!

09 Puzzled?

We finally have a new addition to the puzzle! Google has an interactive art platform that allows you to color some of the world's most famous paintings. Click here to discover them!

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THE BEATLES SAY..."Here comes the sun, and I say it’s all right!"