Kosmos

Culture, travel, fashion and culinary delights: the Kosmos pages of Lufthansa Magazin bring you interesting and useful tidbits from around the world

Ghosts

CULTURE CLASH

Ghosts? There’s no such thing! But are you sure? In some countries, people believe in disembodied beings – and they know how to deal with them, too

Southeast Asia
A roof, rice, fruit and rice wine will placate the worst-tempered ghost. That’s why there are tiny ghost dwellings with sacrificial offerings outside buildings in Thailand and Cambodia.

RUSSIA
Household spirits bring protection and good fortune and are welcome in Russia. Every home has its own and when people move, they take theirs with them – inside an old slipper. In the new home, they are fed milk and cookies.

Iceland
Living with elves and trolls – the Icelanders expect to find their creatures of fable in special natural spots. Urban planning offices commission elf surveys before issuing building permits and even change plans if necessary.

London, Great Britain

Feet, meet floor

Sebastian Erras travels the world with his eyes on the ground, taking pictures of fanciful mosaic floors and snapping characteristic patterns in Paris, Barcelona and London (photo). The signature detail is the German photographer’s stylishly shod feet at the lower edge of every picture.

Jaipur, India

Palace of the windows

The Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, India, was built in 1799 for the sole purpose of allowing the ladies of the royal household to watch processions unobserved. Hence the 953 intricately screened windows in its facade.

Mr. Know It All

Daily boat

Summer and water sports are a perfect combination of fun and activity. But why not take it up a notch by building your own surfboard, sailing boat or raft? See you in the water!

Timber!

At a top speed of three kilometers an hour, a rafting trip on Sweden’s Klarälven River is a leisurely drift. But first you have to build your own raft – using whole tree trunks.

vildmark.se

Boat ahoy

Build your own kayak, row- or sailboat in only a week at the Great Lakes Boat Building School in the U.S. state of Michigan. Then set sail straight into the water sports arenas that are the Great Lakes on the doorstep.

glbbs.edu

Against the grain

Foam surfboards are a dime a dozen. At Patrick Burnett in Cape Town, you can make your own beautiful, ecofriendly, custom wooden board – and then test it at South Africa’s top surf spots.

burnettwoodsurfboards.co.za

Kultur-Themenparks

Culture clash

Exploring Indonesia, Mexico or France can take years. If you’re strapped for time why not try a cultural theme park instead?

Island hopping

At the Taman Mini park near Jakarta, you’ll find Indonesia’s over 17 500 islands in miniature format plus architecture, dances, crafts and culinary specialties from across the archipelago.

tamanmini.com

Mexico Express

Enjoy dance and music shows, watch traditional potters and smiths at work, stroll the ruins of a real Maya settlement – all at Xcaret, the Mexican culture park near Cancún.

xcaret.com

Showtime

Puy du Fou in Vendée, France, has been named the world’s best theme park multiple times. Its spectacular shows spotlight French historical and mythological heroes.

puydufou.com

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Old swings, new roundabouts

Just go ahead and do it!

Dance, dance, dance

Where ideas learn to fly

„I knew the accent had to go!”