In the distant year of 1979, for a period of 7 months, a team of 165 people built 19 wooden houses, using a few thousand logs, 8 tons of nails, and more than 7 500 liters of paint.

After it served its purpose as a movie set, Popeye s Village became one of the most popular tourist destinations in Malta. The fun is for people of all ages and includes water trampolines, boat rides, wooden deck chairs for sunbathing (which is why you are in Malta anyway), and educational games.

Useful information: Popeye s Village is located 3 kilometers away from the Mellieha, Malta. From Valletta, the capital, you can board bus number 42; from Sliema or St. Julian s take bus number 222. Get off in Mellieha – every hour you can take bus number 237, which will take you to Popeye’s Village. More information here.

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There’s nothing better than the bad weather. Don’t get us wrong, we love summery weather and sunshine, but when it’s wet outside we also appreciate the chance to slow down for a moment and just relax… or not.

There are a bunch of things you can do at home: catch up on sleep, snuggle up with a good book and a cup of hot cocoa, organize the photos from your last trip, have a hot bath, share an intimate moment with your partner, or simply do nothing (like the Italians do). As explorers with itchy feet, we know that this last suggestion is by far the most difficult challenge for active people. But if you are swamped with studies and can’t really enjoy the bad weather, you can always use help by simply typing do my research paper into the search engine line, thus freeing up your free time.

If you can’t keep still, but the weather outside is frightful, here’s what you can do.

20 ideas with friends

1. Go to a museum or an art gallery

Bet you haven’t seen all of them, have you? And it doesn’t rain inside (unless there’s a leak). Plus, visiting galleries has reached whole new levels with this app that lets you scan the painting and then tells you its story. 

2. Visit a cave

Exploring caves is a great way to enjoy nature, even in bad weather. It doesn’t rain there either.

3. Go on a spontaneous road trip or catch a train

Pack a light lunch or snacks and admire the scenery out the rain-streaked window.

4. Plan a trip

Can’t go right away? Then start planning your next escape! Write down a list of dream destinations and begin your research from the comfort of your own home.

5. Create a road trip playlist

Add an extra harmonic to your next journey with a custom playlist. Get together with some friends to brainstorm a list of great driving songs to play along the way. It’s been proven that starting the trip with the same song every day is the best way to create lasting memories.

6. Unwind at a hot spring or spa

Treat yourself with a sauna session or a relaxing massage. Because why not?

7. Find the best brunch spot in town

Enjoy food, drinks and long afternoons? Then visit your favorite cafe and try something new on the menu.

8. Bake some goodies

You might suck at baking, but your friends probably don’t. Put yourself in charge of the wine while they sweat away in the kitchen.

9. Invite your friends over and cook a themed dinner

You brought home some interesting recipes from your last trip? And your best friend is a master cocktail-maker? Looks like you have the perfect ingredients for a night of food from whichever country you choose.

10. Have a movie marathon

Popcorn, beer, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Star Wars… The perfect companion for such an occasion is a hooded blanket like this one https://nygex.ie/p/warm-hooded-blanket/. Imagine sinking into the embrace of this plush blanket, while you embark on a cinematic journey. This  warm hooded blanket becomes an indispensable part of your movie evening, warding off the chill and inviting a sense of unparalleled comfort. So, as you gather your loved ones and prepare for a movie marathon, make sure you’re armed with the most essential of accessorize, and let the cinematic journey begin! What are you waiting for?”

11. Throw a pajama party

Your dinner party or movie marathon can turn into a PJ party or a sleepover. Keep the fun going!

When you want to throw a great slumber party in your home, try a custom neon signs in your home that not only serves as the perfect ambient light for the party to get your friends who are visiting your home into the mood, but after the party is over, it will also serve as a beautiful piece of home décor for your beautiful home, and you can just turn it on when your heart is in the right place to dance or have a drink.

12. Organize a games night

Make use of your long-forgotten stash of board games, or search online for new games you can download and print. If you feel creative, you can even make a game yourself. Some popular games to play with friends on a rainy day include Solitaire, jigsaw puzzles, and Hearts, all of which can be played online or in person.

13. Go to the nearest bookstore or cafe library with friends

You can enjoy a cup of coffee in the company of good friends and good books, and even leave cryptic notes inside your favorite ones (the books, not the friends).

Need a hint about a new travel book to feed your wanderlust? Check our latest favorite travel books (reviews, excerpts and interviews with authors).

14. Break out of an escape room

Escape rooms are becoming more popular by the minute. You’ll definitely have an awesome time (unless you fail and get trapped for all eternity).

15. Film a short movie with all your friends

This is your opportunity to get deep and arty. Ask your friends some fundamental life questions and film their responses.

16. Volunteer for a good cause

You can spread some sunshine on a rainy day by visiting an animal shelter or an aged-care home with a group of friends. For the latter, bring along some flowers, baked goods or sweets.

17. Do something extreme

There are a number of high-octane activities you can enjoy indoors, including rock climbing, ice skating, paintball, go karting or even ‘air yoga’.

18. Learn something new

Cooking classes or pottery lessons make for a cozy escape from the wintry weather outside.

19. Go for a walk and jump in the puddles

You’ll need good rubber boots, a raincoat and a child-like sense of fun.

20. Take pictures

Seriously, terrible weather makes for some great photo opportunities!

In Scandinavia they have words to describe the joy of bad weather

In Sweden they call it mysigt, in Norway it’s koselig, and the Danes call it hyggelig. Literally these words mean ‘cozy’, but actually the point is to dedicate time to enjoying yourself with good food, good company and good times.

And if you love being outside, just remember:

“There’s no such a thing as bad weather… just inappropriate clothing!“

>>> Read more: Oh, no! It’s raining on my birthday! What should I do?

Pin it for later because in everybody’s life there comes a rainy day and then you will wish to have this:

The post What to do on a rainy day – 20 ideas with friends appeared first on 203Challenges.

What are your dreams?

To see systemic change! To have war and corporate criminals, state terrorist countries prosecuted, taken out of our way, so the rest of the world can strive to have a decent life with more equality in distribution and be less victims of oppression and greed. It’s a big dream, not achievable within my lifetime, but that is what dreams are about: high goals! And if we take these greedy capitalists out of the way, all good things will also happen to wildlife, forests, oceans, rivers. Then on the level of the individual, more education and caring are needed so we don’t destroy the planet that nourishes us. Oh well, if we take baby steps, we can make progress. as the old saying tells us: to move a mountain, one needs to start by moving small rocks.

K2 and the Invisible Footmen is all about the real heroes in mountaineering. What was the trigger for you to delve into their stories?

I am an avid walker and wanted to hike to K2 basecamp to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first successful ascent. My film friends kept asking me to make a film about the journey but as a human rights activist, I did not really feel like making a film about climbers superstars, so I decided that it would be interesting to document the journey of the porters, the true heroes of the mountains, who don’t get acknowledged, respected, paid properly. My entire life is devoted to giving space and supporting the excluded, voiceless, oppressed, victims of occupation or war. we are in 2018 and there is no justice system, it is a lawless world with the powerful abusing the weak every step of the way. It is quite surreal how we can have so much technology and science and still behave like brutes!

Photo courtesy of Cultures of Resistance Network

What are your preferred topics when you shoot your movies?

War is imposed on us, innocent people, civilians, by monster politicians, greedy companies, war profiteers and we can’t really use their same tactics to combat war: weapons and violence, so we have to resort to creative means to be antiwar and that is what I document in my films: activist music, sports, poetry, photography, filmmaking, dance… a powerful song can move the minds and hearts of millions of people, a powerful photograph can give us tremendous insights on a culture or event happening in the world; we can also be provocative through sports, we just supported a marathon that includes girls in Afghanistan, and the message to the world was that Afghan girls demand equal rights and access. We call the marathon Freedom to Run. mountaineers can be avid environmentalists and help protect pristine areas that unscrupulous companies just want to destroy for profit. I am following the campaigns in Bulgaria to save Pirin and I am happy to see mountaineers there working to protect beloved nature.

You are an activist too. What is a more effective way to convey your message – through protests, specific actions on the spot or movies?

All is valid and part of the process, but I chose movies as my vehicle of resistance and protest and we cover an array of topics because we are all intertwined and all the activists and concerned citizens need to work in solidarity with each other when it comes to human rights, ecology, antiwar, education, cultural diversity etc.

Share something inspiring with everyone who will read this!

As we enter a new year, lets remember:

If you found a man at the top of the mountain, he did not fall there.

Photo: Georgi Tabakov/ Featured: Todor Mitev

A river cuts through a rock, not because of its power but its persistence.

I am very happy to be part of Sofia MENAR festival because the Middle East is wonderful but very misunderstood and misinterpreted by the western world, brainwashed by USA/Israel propaganda! Luckily there are festivals promoting bridges with the Middle East and we are delighted to be part of it.

K2 and the Invisible Footmen will be screened in Bulgaria, at Sofia Middle East & North Africa Region Film Festival:

Jan 15 – Cinema House – 20.00′
Jan 27 – Cultural Center G8 – 20.15′
Feb 01 – Еuro Cinema – 19.00′

Filmography

As a filmmaker, Iara has directed/produced several full-length documentaries and dozens of short films over the past decade.

2018 –  Iara and her Bulgarian editor Dimo Petkov finished ‘BURKINABÈ RISING: the art of resistance in Burkina Faso’.

2015 – Iara completed two documentaries: K2 AND THE INVISIBLE FOOTMEN, shot in stunning northern Pakistan, chronicles the plight of the indigenous porters of majestic K2, the earth’s second-highest peak. LIFE IS WAITING: Referendum and Resistance in Western Sahara looks at forty years of Moroccan occupation and the Sahrawi nonviolent struggle for self-determination by a people for whom colonialism has never ended.

2013 – Iara made a short film titled THE KALASHA AND THE CRESCENT, which chronicles how this indigenous minority in northern Pakistan responded to the challenges facing their culture.

2012 – She directed a documentary called THE SUFFERING GRASSES: when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers, which examines the Syrian conflict through the humanity of the civilians who have been killed, abused, and displaced to the squalor of refugee camps.

2010 – She directed the feature-length documentary CULTURES OF RESISTANCE, which explores how creative action contributes to conflict prevention and resolution.

In May 2010, Iara was a passenger on the MV Mavi Marmara, a vessel in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla that was attacked in international waters by the Israeli navy, leading to the murder of nine humanitarian aid workers. Among the many people who recorded the events on that ship, her crew was the only one to successfully hide and retain most of the raid footage, which she later released to the world after a screening at the United Nations. Iara is dedicated to the support of Palestinian civilians who have been victims of war crimes committed by the Israeli military and who suffer from the Israeli government’s ongoing acts of collective punishment.

1989-2003 – She was based in New York City, where she ran the mixed-media company Caipirinha Productions, created to explore the synergy of different art forms, such as film, music, architecture, and poetry. Under that banner, Iara directed short and feature-length documentaries including SYNTHETIC PLEASURES, MODULATIONS, ARCHITETTURA, BENEATH THE BORQA, AN AUTUMN WIND and PRUFROCK.

1984-1989 – Iara was the producer of the Sao Paulo International Film Festival in Brazil.

Iara is a long-time supporter of many organizations around the world via her foundation Cultures Of Resistance Network.

The post Inspiring women on the road: Filmmaker Iara Lee appeared first on 203Challenges.

Although it often sounds tempting to throw everything up, pack your bags and leave, you can’t. You’re a full-time mom with 3 little children. No way! You’re in college and can’t work your head around how people travel the globe at the age of 20 when you have enough money to live until next Tuesday… You’ve just found your dream job; you’ve decided to give yourself a break from traveling or you simply don’t like winter and prefer staying in your cozy bed. Whatever the reason, you don’t have to give up the pleasure of going to places completely. There are plenty of alternatives! Read on:

Read a book! There are so many intriguing traveling stories worth reading. And no, I’m not talking about National Geographic’s Travel section or Lonely Planet. I’m talking about books. Books that literally take you along the way. As I myself am keen on traveling, I have a list of favorite titles. Among them:

Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love – many would consider it a women’s book, but I would recommend giving it a try because it reveals undeniable truths about life after divorce and how traveling can help you find yourself. On the other hand,

On the Road by Jack Kerouac will take you on a ride across the United States back in the 1940s. Dirty roads, hitchhiking, young boys dreaming of becoming writers testing the limits of the American dream;

Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild tells a more recent story of a young man – Christopher McCandless, who refuses to take part and be accepted into society. Instead, he tries to find his way and some sort of enlightenment in the wild, vast lands of Alaska. A touching book about the extreme conflict between the material and philosophical in Christopher’s life.

Into the WIld

The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner is a mixture of travel, psychology, science and humor that will take you from the USA through Iceland all the way to Bhutan and India. Weiner sets out around the globe in search of the happiest people on Earth. The book is part self-help guide, part memoir. It is full of ideas, asking important questions of our time, and maybe if you look closely, it will give you some answers.

Dan Kieran’s The Idle Traveller, is trying to show us the author’s philosophy of slow travelling developed over the past 20 years. Dan is an English travel writer and humorist. Afraid of flying, he is always taking the long way looking for alternative routes to arrive. And still, with Dan it’s not about the destination, it’s all about the journey.

Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes will take you on a gourmet trip all the way across the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll land in delicious Italy, to be more precise in the heart of Tuscany.  The book is the author’s memoir from when she embarked on her journey and ended up buying an abandoned villa in the countryside of Tuscany. Frances Mayes seduces with a number of traditional Italian recipes and invites you to feast at her table. Local wine, little towns, colorful markets, vibrant atmosphere. The pleasure of Italian life!

Wild by Cheryl Strayed, another life-changing adventure that takes place in the United States. This time the main character is a woman who thinks she has lost everything in life. Running away from death, divorce, and drug addiction Cheryl Strayed takes on a 1000-mile self-discovery hike following the Pacific Crest Trail. Cheryl sets out on her journey all alone with barely any hiking experience. Past and present mix up while she challenges herself both physically and spiritually on the trail. Will the journey heal her?

Wild

Peter Mayle’s A Good Year set in Provence is a gripping tale about how the pleasure of wine takes over the business. The story is quite entertaining – full of intrigue, witty, local humor and color. Once again you will be awed by the beauty and simplicity of life in the countryside. Whether it’s Italy or France, the people there take pleasure in the little things – good wine, great company, exceptional food. To sum up, a good year.

The list goes on and on. However, if you prefer visuals rather than words, then you could watch a movie on travel. Most of the titles I mentioned have been filmed over the years – some more successfully than others. Anyway, it’s still a good way to get carried away without getting up from bed.

Finally, if I still haven’t satiated your will to travel, you could start planning and organizing your next big trip. That would definitely be an exciting activity that will keep you busy and take you places.

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Realizing they exist and finding the most precious city’s gems is like realizing that pocket microscopes are easy to use. You think of it as hard to find, but it is actually right under your nose.

For those who want to see Paris from another perspective and enjoy cinematography, we have made a list of locations where some of the most popular movies in the world were filmed, places that would be a pity for you to miss out on, especially if you happen to spend a few days in the beautiful French city.

1. Le Cafe de Deux Moulins – Amélie 

Amelie is the main character of the movie and while enjoying her wonderful love story she works at a coffee shop which actually exists and is located in Montmartre. You will even be able to eat a salad named after this beautiful character played by Audry Tautou.

Anybody who has seen Amelie will want to visit this place and it would be a pity not to do so if you are visiting Paris. If you have never seen Amelie, you should know that it is one of the most beautiful French modern movies and that you should watch it as soon as possible because you will not be disappointed. 

2. Rodin Museum – Midnight in Paris

Woody Allen did not lower the bars when he filmed Midnight in Paris and has chosen a location that most art enthusiasts feel really comfortable in, the Rodin Museum. Auguste Rodin was one of the most prolific French sculptors and this museum is dedicated to him and has been open since 1919.

It is composed of 2 parts, one of them is represented by a hotel, the hotel Biron, and the other one is composed of the sculptor’s original home. The place where Midnight in Paris was filmed is found in the 7th arrondissement and you will not be disappointed by the beauty of this place.

3. Saint-Sulpice Church – The Da Vinci Code 

Dan Brown’s books have been a hit and now the movies that were made based on his books are a hit also. The Da Vinci Code has kept those who haven’t read his books close to the screen while Tom Hanks has been making his way through Paris to resolve a great mystery.

The Saint-Sulpice Church is an architectural marvel and it holds the second place when it comes to size among the churches in Paris. It dates from the 12th century and it is one of the most visited churches in the beautiful capital of France.

4. Le Caveau du Huchette – La La Land 

Ryan Gosling has made a lot of women fall in love with him even before La La Land came out, but after that, we can definitely say that he became the long-distance crush of almost every woman in the world. The movie has also been a hit and, even though jazz lovers used to visit this place long before La La Land, now it gathers more and more visitors.

If you enter this beautiful place you will feel like you have traveled through time and turned up in 1920. Le Caveau du Huchette is a great place to spend a great night in Paris and you can be sure that you will remember it for a long time.

5. Bistrot La Renaissance – Inglorious Bastards 

Quentin Tarantino is an absolute genius when it comes to delivering above expectations and Inglorious Bastards will always remain among his great legacies. Shosanna is seduced in this bistro by Fredrick Zoller and this scene of the movie is one that will always be remembered by fans.

If you happen to be in Paris, you can pass by this beautiful cafe and look inside through the windows, maybe even take some pictures in front of it because, unfortunately, it has been closed for some time now. However, it is a must-see and you definitely have to put it on your list.

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If you are blocked at home but you, really, REALLY feel like traveling, do so from the armchair. 

So here are 6 of our favorite travel movies:

Timbuktu

The first film from Mauritania which has ever received an Oscar nomination will bring you to the peaceful world of a family which breeds flocks among the sand-hills of an ancient city called Timbuktu. But everything changes with the advent of jihadists. They have already banned music, smoking, and all other earthly entertainment. This film is not only extremely impactful with its visuality, but with the great performances of the world-famous Malian singer-  Fatoumata Diwara. (Her music aims to promote traditional Malian chants via collaborations with the electronic band ‘Disclosure’) Diawara’s performances will make you put the soundtrack of ‘Timbuktu’ in your favorite playlists.

A Map for Saturday

When you travel the world for a long time, every day feels like a Saturday. This film collects in itself the stories of solo travelers from four continents who travel for different reasons. If you trust the comments on the internet to those who have watched the movie, there is a great danger then you would want to go on a journey without an end date.

Tracks

This is the true story of a woman who decides to travel over 2700 km in the Australian wilderness on her own (more precisely in the company of four camels and her loyal dog.) The exceptional visual mastery which the film is created with and the thought that the story is true makes this movie perfect for the moments when we need inspiration. (The movie makes us  think that everything in life is possible) 

Seven Years in Tibet

The main character is an Australian climber who befriends the Dalai Lama during the Chinese occupation of Tibet. The tape with the young Brad Pitt in the lead role doesn’t need advertising but rather a reminder to watch it again or fill that hole in your cinema culture.

Benvenuti al Sud and Benvenuti al Nord

If you have been to Italy more than once or if you have any acquaintances there, you must have heard of the famous Nord-South rivalry. Both parts of the country suffer from its clichés which are overexposed and beautifully developed in both films by director Luca Miniro. In addition to landscapes from Italy, the films will also show you pieces of Italian life philosophy to understand it a little better. 

The Bucket List

If you need to laugh, recall one of the classics on the topic ‘Bucket lists’ (some achievements or experiences that we hope to have or accomplish before we kick the bucket). Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman are two deadly ill friends who have gone out of their way to complete all of their life goals.

Authors: Maria Angelova and Borislav Georgiev

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