Kosmos

Down on your knee, out with the ring: This is how men traditionally propose in the West, but it’s only one of many traditions.

a matter of choice

“Would you make miso soup for me every day?” In the past, Japenese women could expect their suitor to pop this question, but these days, most would prefer to be admired for more than just their cooking skills. In traditional families, however, the parents have the final say.

a matter of respect

Men in Fiji first approach a woman’s parents, who can expect to receive a beautiful pair of whale teeth as an engagement gift.

a matter of convention

Talk about traditional: Among heterosexuals in the United States, men propose to women 95 percent of the time. In Scotland and Ireland, women like to take the initiative – but only in a leap year, on February 29.

Every summer, safari fans gather in the Masai Mara reserve in Kenya to see one of the world’s greatest natural spectacles: the mass migration of over a million wildebeests across the Serengeti savannah.

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.

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.

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!