Readers Digest Asia - English Edition, Apri 2023 PDF

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GO AHEAD
AND GOSSIP
It’s Good For You!
PAGE 102
GET CLUED IN
About Solving
Crosswords
PAGE 40
The Future Of
MEDICAL CURES
PAGE 28
APRIL 2023
ISSN 0034-0383
MY STORY
Meet The Man Who
Cycled 35,000km
SINGAPORE $9.90
PAGE 8 MALAYSIA RM 15
CONTENTS
APRIL 2023
28
Features
18 40 58
entertainment 13 things health
Exploring Life Get Clued-In What It’s Like To
Award-winning actor On Crosswords Be In A Coma
Cate Blanchett on We fill in the blanks Hearing the stories
broadening horizons behind this popular of patients who have
and why she is grateful form of word play. woken from comas
for her privileges. EMILY GOODMAN is helping doctors
RÜDIGER STURM better understand
22 44 this strange
humour phenomenon.
health Blinded By LAUREN CAHN
The Surprising
PHOTO: (COVER) GE T T Y IMAGES; ILLUS TR ATION (DOCTOR) GET T Y IMAGES
The Light
Benefits Of Pets
As well as keeping you
The novelty of 62
sampling shiny bright art of living
active, pets are good products. OLLY MANN Misguided
news for your physical Poor advice can
and mental wellbeing.
ANNA-KAISA WALKER 48 make a tough decision
environment even tougher.
28 Floating Life CHRISTINA PALASSIO
health A water community

The Future may offer answers for 66
Of Medicine rising sea levels. quiz
Breakthroughs in SHIRA RUBIN FROM Museums
THE WASHINGTON POST Of The World
medical research –
and diseases that Examine the exhibits
may be cured in ON THE COVER: THE as we test you on your
our lifetime.
SURPRISING BENEFITS knowledge.
OF PETS – PAGE 22 DORIS KOCHANEK
HELEN FOSTER
rdasia.com 1
CONTENTS
APRIL 2023
78
72
culture Departments
Pulling The
Strings Of History the digest
The puppeteers of 14 Health
Sicily are determined 17 News From
to preserve their The World Of
legacy. Medicine
ANNA STAROPOLI
regulars
FROM ATLAS OBSCURA
4 Letters
5 Editor’s Note
80 8 My Story
HAVE YOU
travel VISITED THE
Six Places 12 Smart Animals READER’S
PHOTO: (FACEBOOK) GE T T Y IMAGES; ILLUS TR ATION: (HERO) GE T T Y IMAGES

Cheese Lovers 36 Look Twice DIGEST
Should Visit 71 Quotable Quotes FACEBOOK
Top destinations for humour PAGE LATELY?
foodies who can’t 34 Life’s Like That Constantly
get enough of the
56 Laughter updated, our
dairy product. Facebook feed
SAM O’BRIEN
78 All In A Day’s
FROM GASTRO OBSCURA Work offers stories,
videos, advice,
the genius section
88 102 Gossip: Why
humour, quotable
quotes, cartoons,
bonus read We Need It quirky
Splendid Isolation 106 Puzzles photographs
Mysterious and
109 Trivia and more.
primal, Iceland is
perched on the edge 110 Puzzle Answers
FOLLOW US
of the North Atlantic. 111 Word Power @ReadersDigestAsia
DOUGLAS KENNEDY
FROM LE FIGARO
2 april 2023
LETTERS
Reader’s Comments
And Opinions
An Effective Cure
It was my good luck that the
article ‘A Day At The Beach’
(January) appeared when I needed
it. I was under the weather and
desperate for some motivation. So,
like the doctor advised in the
article, I went to a happy place prescription, ‘Write your worries
with good memories. on the sand’, eased my anxiety and
All four ‘prescriptions’ were shifted the focus to inner
short but impactful. The last happiness and peace. SANA SHOAIB
Singing Along All Wrong caught me singing the wrong lyrics.

‘Like a Dino in the Sky’ (My Story, Apparently, what I was singing had
February) resonated deeply with a totally different meaning!
me. It’s hilarious how creative the AL ARICE TEO
mind can be when you don’t know
the actual lyrics; automatically filling Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
in the empty spaces with words I had to smile all the way through
that sound similar to make it more Patricia Pearson’s humorous piece
convenient to sing along to. ‘The Perfect Salon? A Barber Shop’
I am very proud to say that as (February). After years of listening
a fan, I can sing to almost every to complaints about his barber shop,
K-pop song. One day, however, as I I finally convinced my husband to
PHOTO: GE T T Y IMAGES
was singing, my friend from Korea make a joint appointment with ➤
Let us know if you are moved – or provoked – by any item in the magazine,
share your thoughts. See page 7 for how to join the discussion.
4 april 2023
EDITOR’S NOTE
LUXURY JEWELLERY
Connecting With Others PRIZES TO WIN!
GOSSIP, RUMOUR-MONGERI NG, TOTAL
HEARSAY, call it what you will, it VALUE OF
PRIZES OVER
seems that few of us are immune to
this very human, some say flawed,
US
$10,000
activity. But not all gossip is bad CAMEO
ITALIANO
– it can be one of the best ways to BURGUNDY
LEATHER
connect with others. In ‘Gossip: STRAP
WATCH
Why We Need It’ (page 102), we 18CT
YELLOW
GOLD
learn why psychologists think COIN
PENDANT
gossiping can genuinely be a good 14CT
YELLOW
thing, and discover their tips on how GOLD
BRACELET
to keep it civil.
Also featured in this month’s
issue is an interview with Oscar-
winning actor Cate Blanchett
(page 18) and an investigation into
the diseases and conditions close
YELLOW
to big breakthroughs (‘The Future GOLD
EMERALD
CLUSTER
Of Medicine’, page 28). We also visit PENDANT
14CT
a community of floating houses YELLOW
GOLD
BYZANTINE
that could serve as a prototype to NECKLACE
protect against rising sea levels

(page 48). Oh, and for crossword
fans, don’t forget to read Clued-In
On Crosswords (page 40). COMPETITION BEGINS ON
These stories and so much more APRIL 1, 2023
for your reading pleasure in the
SUBSCRIBE TODAY FOR
April 2023 issue. MULTIPLE CHANCES TO WIN!
Enjoy! WWW.RDASIA.COM/SUBSCRIBE
FOR DETAILS AND TERMS & CONDITIONS GO
TO WWW.RDASIA.COM/COMPETITIONS
Lucky draws to include entries from new, renewal or gift
subscriptions. Multiple draw entries for multiple years subscriptions.
LOUISE WATERSON
Editor-in-Chief
R E A DER’S DIGE ST
➤ me at my hairdresser. Now we go
together. Laura has a home-based
salon and knows how he likes his
hair and what he likes to chat about.
We make an appointment so there’s
no sitting and waiting to take your
turn. And we don’t pay an arm and a
leg for the privilege. It’s all a matter
of perspective, isn’t it? Different
things suit different people. DEB AYERS LOAN SHARK AHEAD
We asked you to think up a funny
Defiance And Compassion caption for this photo.
I am always overcome with emotion My car has a new Shark Absorber!
whenever I hear ‘La Marseillaise’ MERRAN TOONE
sung by Madeleine LeBeau in What a shark-ing sight!

JESSICA CHENG HUI MIN
Casablanca. Her defiance permeates
every note that was made possible by Just out for a quick bite.
CHRIS RAMOS
the courage of one man. Aristides de
Sousa Mendes (‘Portugal’s Schindler’, I think that red car might be lost.
February) risked his own life to save It just keeps circling.
ADAM WILLIAMS
the lives of many, including that of
Car pooling!
LeBeau. MICHAEL WOUTERS
SUKHDEEP SINGH
Congratulations to this month’s

WIN A PILOT CAPLESS winner, Merran Toone.
FOUNTAIN PEN
The best letter each month will WIN!
win a Pilot Capless Fountain Pen,
valued at over $200. The Capless
is the perfect combination
of luxury and ingenious
technology, featuring a one-
of-a-kind retractable fountain
pen nib, durable metal body,
CAPTION CONTEST
PHOTOS: GE T T Y IMAGES
beautiful rhodium accents and

a 14K gold nib. Congratulations Come up with the funniest caption
to this month’s winner, Michael for the above photo and you could win
Wouters. $100. To enter, email
[email protected]
or see details on page 7.
6 april 2023
ASIA
Vol. 123
CONTRIBUTE
No. 722
April 2023 RE ADERSDIGESTASIA
EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Louise Waterson

Managing Editor Zoë Meunier
Anecdotes And Jokes
Chief Subeditor Melanie Egan $50–$100
Art Director Hugh Hanson Send in your real-life laugh for
Senior Art Designer Adele Burley
Art Designer Annie Li Life’s Like That or All In A Day’s Work.
Senior Editor Diane Godley Got a joke? Send it in for Laughter
Associate Editor Victoria Polzot
DIGITAL Head of Digital Content Greg Barton
Is The Best Medicine!
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Smart Animals

Group Advertising Director, Asia Pacific
Sheron White
Up to $100
Mobile: +61 421 897 140 Tel: +61 2 9004 4407 Share antics of unique pets
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or wildlife in up to 300 words.
National Account Manager, Singapore
and Malaysia
Rifdi Akmal Ramlee Tel: +6018 373 5994 My Story $250
Email: [email protected] Do you have an inspiring or
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Maricarl Garcia Tel: +63939 9248158 life-changing tale to tell?
Email: [email protected] Submissions must be true,
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Advertising Sales, Taipei Here’s how to reach us:
Andrew Tsao Email: asiaeditor@readersdigest.
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rdasia.com 7
MY STORY
Cycle
Of Life
Pedalling through
adventures,
adversity and joy
The author
BY Roger McDougall on a long-
distance trip
M
y long-distance cycling
career of 13 years and coping with change. Things are never
35,000 kilometres ended as good as they were when we were
as I approached 75 in young, it seems. With introspection,
2019. The realisation of this dawned I can see that things are indeed
on me slowly during my last ride in different but not necessarily better or
the US summer of that same year. worse, just different.
Over the 13 years I cycled across Long distance cycling brings
Australia from Sydney to Perth, four pain, anxiety and exhaustion,
times across North America, west to but these pale into insignificance
east, the UK from Land’s End in the compared to the joy and exhilaration
PHOTO: COURTESY ROGER MCDOUGALL
south to John O’Groats in the north, and satisfaction of climbing huge

and finally up the east coast of the mountains or seeing spectacular
US, from Key West, Florida, to Bar sights for the first time. These
Harbor, Maine. memories are indelibly imprinted.
Although I am now no longer Real joy would come when I was
strong enough to endure the long alone, on my bicycle, in some remote
days and big climbs, day in and day and beautiful place. You could say
out, I have my memories. that these same feelings could have
One of the challenges of ageing is been experienced in a car, but I know
8 april 2023
My Story
this not to be true. I had time to rain or terrain, no matter how hard
observe nature and life, all of which or easy the ride, I always enjoyed the
would have been by-passed in a car. achievement of arriving, followed by
The road ahead always loomed a hot shower and bed, when I could
large, as did the mountains, the cold, find a motel. On the other nights, I
the mosquitoes and the rain. The was happy to camp.
road behind is just memories, devoid Meeting a diversity of people with
of pain and anxiety, some soon to different perspectives on life was
be forgotten, others to be cherished easy. The cycling gear allowed me to
and enhanced with the retelling. A strike up conversations in pubs and
6000-kilometre cross-country ride cafés and I got to see and experience
initially appears daunting but, once the very best in people. In 2007, on
done, it is simply done, much like the a lonely section of road across the
challenges that life throws. Nullarbor, in the middle of nowhere,
I experienced moments of a complete stranger, Pat McGovern,
exhilaration and joy, long hours stopped her car alongside me and
of anxiety, even fear and many offered me a ‘cuppa’. She pulled out
hours of frustration. Every day held a gas cooker and proceeded to make
something to which I could look me a most welcome cup of tea.
forward to, the planning, setting Checking out of a motel on
goals and ride. my 2014 across-Canada trip, the
I enjoyed meeting and beating receptionist became emotional as
the daily schedule I had set for he learned of my trip – I must have
myself. I enjoyed the technical stirred something in him.
challenges faced by punctures and On that same trip, a couple,
broken spokes, but admittedly, not Darlene and Marvin, who had
at the time. I enjoyed the ever- tracked me down through my public
changing vegetation, the people, blog, offered me accommodation
kind, unkind and indifferent, whom at their home in Portage La Prairie.
I met along the way. I loved cycling I spent the night at their place. The
with a strong tailwind pushing me support and comfort they offered
along. I hated battling into a strong was a pleasant change from the long
headwind. Regardless of the wind, hours I had spent alone on the bike.
In 2016, my older brother Bruce
Roger McDougall is 78 years old and lives accompanied me on my UK trip. We
in Sydney with his partner Carol. Roger spent 36 days together and became
discovered cycling after a long career in
the IT industry. He has three children, five very close during that time.
grandchildren, four stepchildren and loves Across the continents, I saw nature
animals, in particular Rottweilers. at its best and worst. I saw magical
rdasia.com 9
places that will live with me forever. have had regarding my impending
The Nullarbor, the spectacular demise were always overwhelmed
Niagara Falls and the beautiful state by being fit and feeling alive.
of Utah, were the highlights of all my I cannot satisfactorily answer the
cycling adventures. question of why I committed myself,
As each trip neared its end, I each time, to two, sometimes three
gradually forgot the long hours of months or more, of hard work,
riding up mountains, the frost- agony and frustration. Possibly it
bitten hands while descending at was a last grasp at my youth and
65 kilometres per hour in strength. Maybe it was
the rain and bitter cold, THESE TRIPS to satisfy a sense of
the interminable hills ALL REQUIRED adventure not satisfied
and the nothingness. The
pain and frustrations I
COURAGE; during my youth.
I am not an avid
experienced on every trip COURAGE cyclist. I do not love
quickly receded, to be WHICH I NEVER cycling. I do, however,
replaced by only happy
memories of the trip.
KNEW I enjoy the sense
of adventure and
I had time to reflect on POSSESSED achievement, arriving in
my life and the death of remote places, knowing
my daughter. Time heals and with that I got there, unsupported,
the healing comes guilt – guilt for through sheer tenacity.
being happy to be alive when she is These were the adventures of
not, guilt for feeling joy when she my life, and I accomplished each
cannot. My reflections on her life one. They are unlike all the other
brought me closer to her. achievements and failures in my
Cycling taught me to like who life, which seemed to just happen. I
I am. I am finally happy with could never be sure if they were due
and accepting of my introverted to luck or me. They were always a
personality. I have more tenacity by-product of living. With cycling,
and courage than I ever envisaged. the outcome must be planned, and
These trips all required courage; the success or failure cannot be due
courage which I never knew I to luck or circumstance. Succeed or
possessed. fail, it was up to me and me alone.
Many people have asked me
why I cycle. I have had plenty Do you have a tale to tell? We’ll pay
of opportunity to reflect on this cash for any original and unpublished
question. Unfortunately, I still do story we print. See page 7 for details
not know why. Any concerns I may on how to contribute.
10 april 2023
OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR
OF JOOLA PICKLEBALL EQUIPMENT
IN THE PHILIPPINES
+639663404512
joolaph_pickleball Joola PH
SMART ANIMALS
Animals are very vocal when they want to communicate with us
Parental Instincts A few weeks later, the birds

XINMING WANG
reappeared. I found them crouching
Last year in early summer, I was beside a tree off to the side of my
walking up the hill to my house in driveway. As I approached them, I
suburban Brisbane when I saw two imagined that they’d run away like
birds, each about 60 centimetres they did last time, but instead they
tall, standing in my driveway. They stuck out their heads and made a
didn’t seem to notice me until I menacing croaking sound that came
was right in front of them and then from deep inside their throats.
ILLUS TR ATIONS: GE T T Y IMAGES
they immediately scattered into the I did some research and found
nearby bushes. that the birds are Burhinus
I was quite excited by the idea of
two special birds making a nest in You could earn cash by telling us
my front yard, although I didn’t really about the antics of unique pets or
expect them to as wild birds don’t wildlife. Turn to page 7 for details
usually nest so close. on how to contribute.
12 april 2023
grallarius, or bush-stone curlews.
I still didn’t know why they were
croaking at me until a short time
later I made an amazing discovery:
they had laid two eggs which had
hatched into the two small birds
which were now racing around.
As I crept towards the birds,
careful not to make any sudden
movements, they started their
croaking again, stretching their
necks forwards so they seemed
longer and more threatening.
The mother ushered the chicks
under her wings and carefully
crouched down over them, fluffing
out her feathers so her babies were and six-year-old daughter were
well hidden. delighted.
I was watching them in awe when The cat, Smokey, was a pleasure
I suddenly tripped and fell to the to mind. She loved the cuddles
ground. The curlews took this as a bestowed enthusiastically upon
threat and the father raced towards her and, other than relying on us to
me, spreading his wings to shield put her meals out, she looked after
the mother and the chicks while herself.
making himself appear larger. The only behaviour we found
I was sorry to have startled them odd was whenever any of us
and left quickly. showered or bathed, Smokey
I am amazed by their bold would stand at the bathroom door
actions. Their parental instincts and cry. Her meowing was clearly
kicked in and made them so one of distress and we couldn’t
courageous. It is hard not to be work out why.
awed by nature. When I mentioned this to my
brother, he informed us that as a
Cats Don’t Like Water kitten she was sprayed with the
MARK O’BRIEN
hose whenever she went near their
We recently looked after my veggie patch and she has been
brother’s two-year-old grey Persian traumatised by water ever since.
cat. We don’t have any pets of our Smokey must have been trying to
own and my four-year-old son warn us of the ‘danger’ we were in.
rdasia.com 13
HEALTH
Abdominal
Pains
Which ones should
you worry about?
BY Susan Jara
W
hat many of us refer bloating, burping, poor appetite
to as a stomach ache and weight loss. The pain can often
can indicate different be relieved by taking antacids or
things that are eating certain foods, such as those
happening in the abdomen, not high in fibre to regulate the bowels.
all of which affect the stomach. Peptic ulcers are sores on the
Often the discomfort we’re feeling lining of the stomach or at the top
is due to indigestion, gas or an of the small intestine. And despite
intestinal virus. what many think, they’re not
But certain symptoms may signal caused by stress. Instead, you can
something more serious that you blame one of two major culprits:
should get checked out by a doctor, Helicobacter pylori (or H. pylori), a
especially if it involves severe pain type of bacteria that damages the
ILLUS TR ATION: GE T T Y IMAGES
or persists beyond a few days. mucous coating of the stomach; or

Here are four examples. the overuse of nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such
Dull burning pain, often in the as ibuprofen.
upper part of the abdomen If you also experience symptoms
This is the hallmark sign of a peptic including nausea, vomiting, blood
ulcer and usually comes with in your stool, chest pain or back
14 april 2023
Health
pain, you should arrange to see a Dr Lawrence J. Brandt, gallstones

doctor right away. can go undetected for years. They
are generally painless unless they
Sharp pain in the lower right side get stuck in the cystic duct – a tube
This kind of pain could be caused by that connects the gallbladder with
appendicitis, especially if you also another tube that carries bile from
have a low-grade fever, vomiting the liver – in which case you should
and constipation or diarrhoea, discuss surgical and medication
according to the Mayo Clinic. If you options with your doctor.
do have appendicitis, the pain will
likely increase whenever you move Sudden pain in the lower left area
around, take deep breaths, cough or If abdominal pain strikes suddenly,
sneeze. along with gas, it may
Appendicitis happens
when the appendix
OFTEN THE signal diverticulitis.
This is an inflammation
becomes inflamed and DISCOMFORT of small pouches
filled with pus, often WE’RE FEELING called diverticula that
from an infection.
Treatment usually
IS DUE TO can form in the large
intestine.
requires surgery to INDIGESTION, Diverticulitis is
remove the appendix GAS OR AN a fairly common
before it ruptures
and spreads infection
INTESTINAL gastrointestinal
disorder among
throughout the VIRUS older adults, and risk
abdominal cavity. factors include being
overweight, smoking,
Discomfort around the belly button the overuse of NSAIDs, and having
If this type of pain is coupled with a diet that is high in animal fat but
dull pain near the shoulder, and low in fibre.
seems to act up after eating fatty Most people don’t experience
meals, gallstones may be to blame. any symptoms, but when they do
And if you’re over the age of 40, occur, they usually include fever,
and you’ve been pregnant, you’re nausea, cramping and a change in
at greater risk than the rest of the bowel habits.
population. This is because spikes According to the Mayo Clinic, mild
in oestrogen, common during diverticulitis can be treated with rest,
pregnancy, may cause these tiny changes to your diet and antibiotics.
stones to form in the gallbladder. But severe or recurring cases may
According to gastroenterologist need surgery.
rdasia.com 15
STAGE 1: the ‘dozing off’ period;
HEALTH STAGE 2: muscles, heart rate and

brain activity slow down;
STAGE 3: deep, restorative sleep;
STAGE 4: REM (rapid eye movement)
sleep, when brain activity increases
and you’re most likely to dream.
Ideal napping times are based
around this four-stage cycle.
THE 20-MINUTE NAP Between

20 and 30 minutes is a napping sweet
spot, says Mednick, as you get enough
Stage 2 sleep to switch your body
and mind into full relaxation mode,
helping boost memory.
The Best THE 60-MINUTE NAP Stage 3
Ways To sleep is a time for your body to repair
tissue, fortify the immune system and
Take A Nap recharge energy stores. But waking up
during this phase can make you feel
BY Leslie Finlay groggy, Mednick says. Most people
N
start to move out of Stage 3 after
aps don’t just feel amazing around 60 minutes, which makes it a
– they are amazing. A study good time to set your alarm.
published in the journal
Heart found a link between THE 90-MINUTE NAP A complete
healthy napping and a lowered sleep cycle is about an hour and a half,
risk of heart disease. The American and napping for a full cycle can have
Psychological Association points big benefits. But naps longer than
ILLUS TR ATION: JAMES S TEINBERG
out that naps can improve memory, 90 minutes can interfere with night-
learning capacity, immune system time sleep and might even impair
function and mood. Cognitive memory retention, according to a
neuroscientist Professor Sara Mednick study in the Journal of the American
and author of The Power of the Geriatrics Society. Not a regular
Downstate, explains that when you napper? That’s OK. “Everyone needs
fall asleep, your body moves through to rest, but not everyone necessarily
stages that each play a role in health: needs to nap,” says Mednick.
16 april 2023
News From The
WORLD OF MEDICINE
THE BALANCE CHALLENGE their appearance is an issue.

Can you stand on one leg for ten In some jurisdictions, mole- and
seconds? This question could help skin-tag removal kits are sold for
doctors evaluate the overall health home use. But these products can
of their middle-aged and older contain a large amount of salicylic
patients, argues a Brazilian-led study acid and could leave you with
published in the British Journal of permanent scarring. The US FDA
Sports Medicine. The subjects who recently issued a warning about
couldn’t perform this balancing feat these kits after receiving reports
had an 84 per cent higher risk of death about consumers who had injured
during a median follow-up period of themselves. You’re better off visiting
seven years, after accounting for basic a dermatologist, who can safely
factors like age and sex. remove a lesion. Plus, they can
Besides causing falls, poor balance perform the all-important screening
can also signal underlying medical for skin cancer.
issues, such as declining eyesight or
nerve damage caused by diabetes. TAILOR VITAMIN C INTAKE
Much like grip strength and walking TO YOUR WEIGHT
speed, balancing ability doesn’t tell When taking vitamin C, it’s best
the whole story of your health, but it’s to take your weight into account.
a useful clue. Researchers from the New University
of Otago in New Zealand recommend
DON’T REMOVE SKIN TAGS a 60-kilogram person consume
AND MOLES YOURSELF 110 milligrams of vitamin C per
Two of the most common day through a balanced diet,
types of skin blemishes while someone weighing

among adults are dark 90 kilograms needs
spots known as moles 140 milligrams. Eating
and the growths known foods like oranges
as skin tags. Both are – which contain on
harmless and don’t average 70 milligrams of
require treatment unless vitamin C each – can help.
rdasia.com 17
18 april 2023
ENTERTAINMENT
Exploring
Actor Cate Blanchett on praise,

self-criticism and the desire to use her
fame for a good cause
BY Rüdiger Sturm
A
t 53, Cate Blanchett is already an
acting legend. The Australian ac-
tor is just as impressive in block-
busters such as Lord of the Rings
and Thor: Judgment Day as she is
in sophisticated dramas such as Babel and her
most recent film, Tár. In it, the Academy Award
winner plays a power-conscious conductor who
becomes entangled in an intrigue.
rdasia.com 19
Blanchett in her multi-award-winning role as German
composer-conductor Lydia Tár in Tár
Reader’s Digest: You’ve enjoyed suc- I prefer the theatre, because there I
cess at the highest level. Does the can continue to perfect my perfor-
praise you keep getting ever go to mance every night.
PHOTOS: (PRE VIOUS PAGE) GE T T Y IMAGES/HANNA L A SSEN; (THIS PAGE) © 2022 FOCUS FE ATURES, LLC
your head?
Cate Blanchett: No, actually I find so Was that also the case with your
much applause a little scary. Also I’m current film, Tár?
not constantly being cheered. I know, I feel that way all the time. I console
for example, what it’s like to perform myself with the fact that I can explore
in front of a very small audience. And human life even more deeply in my
with all the praise I receive to my face, next role.
I am aware that people are equally
tearing their mouths apart about me In Tár, your character gets entangled
behind my back. If I were to believe in a sex scandal and jeopardises her
all the nice words, I would have to do entire career. Can it get uncomforta-
the same with the slurs. ble if you let characters like that get
too close?
Some people are the harshest critics It’s true, a small residue of your char-
of themselves. acters remains inside you. But I find
I sometimes think, What a mess I’ve that rather enriching, because that’s
made. However, that thought also how your understanding of the world
drives me, makes me try to constant- grows. Every great novel we read,
ly get better. Still, that doesn’t mean every good conversation and every
I drive my fellow filmmakers crazy great role broadens our horizons.
striving for perfection. Because in
filmmaking you don’t have much Does that also apply to working with
time. You have to think practically your husband, playwright and direc-
and let it go sometimes. In that sense, tor Andrew Upton?
20 april 2023
Exploring Life
The more interesting your partner, is the right thing to do to take them
the more he enriches you. From our with me as often as possible.
very first conversation, I found An-
drew fascinating. That’s why I also If you dive deep into the world of art,
enjoy working with him immensely. you can lose sight of the hardships of
reality.
To what extent have you involved I don’t, if only because I have been
your four children in your work? an ambassador for the UN Refugee
The lives of creative people are Agency since 2014. I have been to
shaped by the whims of fate. That’s refugee camps in Bangladesh and
why we wanted to keep our children Jordan, among other places. The peo-
out of it as much as possible. But then ple I met there have had a profound
we quickly realised how much they impact on my outlook on life. I am
enjoyed the theatre. The back-and- even more grateful for my privileges.
forth behind the scenes was like a For example, I met a Rohingya wom-
big party for them. I also didn’t want an from Myanmar with her six-month-
to leave my kids alone so often. Every old baby. She had given birth to her
day I was away from them because child in the jungle while fleeing and
of my work felt like I was cheating had done everything she could to
on them. From that point of view, it keep the little one alive. I had to think
about the birth of my first child, and
the thought that I would not be able
CATE BLANCHETT to feed him and that we would be in
Cate Blanchett was born May 14, constant danger of being attacked – it
1969, in Melbourne. After finishing was unbearable. I can’t get those im-
her studies in 1992, she made her ages out of my head.
international cinema debut in 1997
with Paradise Road. In 1998, her Do such experiences become too
title role in the historical drama much for you?
Elizabeth earned her the first of On the contrary, I would like to ex-
eight Academy Award nominations. pand my activities. Of course, I can
In 2005, she won Best Supporting
feel particularly important in the
Actress in Martin Scorsese’s Aviator,
followed by Best Actress in a process, which I even do sometimes,
Leading Role in Woody Allen’s but seriously, I want to bring the sto-
Blue Jasmine in 2014. With her ries of these people to the public so
husband Andrew Upton, who that they are not a faceless mass but
she married in 1997, she has three regain their dignity. Since I have such
sons and a daughter. a platform thanks to my fame, it is my
responsibility to use it.
rdasia.com 21
Sunny keeps Heidi
Torreiter and Mike
Johnston living active
and healthy lives
22 april 2023
HEALTH
Whether they’re furry, feathered or scaly,

the non-human members of your family help
you in more ways than you know –
especially when it comes to your health
The
Surprising
Benefits Of
BY Anna-Kaisa Walker
PHOTOGR APH BY JAIME HOGGE
rdasia.com 23
1 THEY KEEP exercise during the day also seems

YOU ACTIVE to set the stage for better nights. Ac-
cording to a survey of 6500 retired
If you have a dog, chances are you’re London civil servants conducted a
walking it at least 30 minutes a day, decade ago, dog owners were more
and likely more – an activity that likely to report having an easier time
goes a long way towards keeping falling asleep at night than those who
you fit. In fact, a 2017 British study didn’t own dogs.
published in the journal BMC Public
Health found that, on average, walk- 2 THEY BOOST YOUR
ing a dog added an extra 2700 steps to IMMUNE SYSTEM
a person’s daily total, about 20 more
minutes of physical activity per day According to the so-called hygiene
than people who don’t own dogs. hy pothesis proposed in the late
What’s more, most of that walking 1980s, growing up indoors in dis-
was done at a ‘moderate infected spaces later
cadence’ – enough to get causes our bodies to
your heart pumping but overreact to harmless
still carry on a conver- substances, making us
sation – the minimum more prone to allergies
intensity the UK’s Na-
tional Health Ser vice
DOGS’ SALIVA and asthma. Dogs and
cats, w ith their dirt y
recommends adults get CONTAINS paws, copious dander
for 2.5 hours a week. ABOUT 600 and love of licking us,
Walking your pooch
for that amount of time
DIFFERENT introduce more microbi-
al diversity that frequent
could even prolong your TYPES OF our immune systems.
life. Getting 150 minutes BACTERIA, Of course, pets can
of moderate exercise a
week reduces your risk
WHICH THEY bring you into contact
with dangerous bacte-
of heart disease by up GENEROUSLY ria. But research shows
to 15 per cent, cuts your SHARE WITH that children who live
chances of developing
breast, stomach, kidney,
THEIR w it h pets f rom bir t h
have lower rates of al-
and other cancers by up HUMANS, lergies and asthma, and
to 20 per cent, and helps DIVERSIFYING the more animals, the
prevent a nd ma nage
type 2 diabetes.
OUR GUT greater the protection.
Kids with four or more
And, as a bonus, more FLORA cats or dogs had half the
24 april 2023
The Surprising Benefits Of Pets
rate of allergies as non- Given you don’t need

pet owners. to take a cat for walks,
Even i n adu lt hood, what accounts for the
there’s new evidence to l o w e r r i s k ? T he r e -
suggest pets may have RESEARCH searchers hypothesised
a positive effect on our
guts – with links to both
HAS SHOWN – and most cat owners
ment a l a nd ph y s ic a l THAT would agree – that cats’

inherently unbothered
health. Researchers at SPENDING nature has a calming
the University of Arizo- TIME WITH A effect. And research has
na are studying whether
the sharing of bacteria PET LOWERS shown that, like exercise,
spending time with a pet
between dogs and their STRESS, AN lowers stress, an impor-
owners can alter our mi- IMPORTANT tant contributor to heart
crobiome – the commu-
nity of microorganisms CONTRIBUTOR disease.
In fact, st udents at
inside our bodies – and TO HEART Washington State Uni-
change our brain chem-
istry, alleviating major
DISEASE versit y showed signif-
icantly lower levels of
depression. the stress hormone cortisol in their
“We were intrigued by previous re- saliva after spending just ten minutes
search that found that dogs and hu- patting a cat or dog. Other studies
mans share gut bacteria just by living have shown that human-animal in-
in the same home, and you get the teraction lowers your blood pressure
same amount from your dog as you and releases the bonding hormone
do from your spouse,” says Dieter oxytocin, which reduces anxiety and
Steklis, co-director of the Human-An- pain and improves cardiovascular
imal Interaction Research Initiative. function.
3 THEY LOWER 4 THEY HELP YOU

YOUR RISK OF A FATAL MANAGE A CHRONIC
HEART ATTACK CONDITION
Researchers at the Universit y of Along with their needs for feeding,

Minnesota tracked 4000 people – walks, affection and play, animals
most of them for more than a dec- have expectations of their owners
ade – and found that cat owners had – and that can be a good thing for
a 30 per cent lower risk of dying of a chronic disease sufferers of all types.
heart attack. The benefits of animals in health
rdasia.com 25
care were first noted by Florence against chronic suffering is their tal-
Nightingale in 1860, when she wrote ent for drawing attention and focus.
that a pet tortoise named Jimmy pro- “If you’re distracted from the pain,
vided great comfort to wounded sol- you perceive less pain, and therefore
diers in hospital. In the 1960s, child you are in less pain,” she explains.
psychologist Boris Levinson ob- Kelly Redmon, a therapist based
served that a withdrawn, non-verbal in the US state of Virginia who suf-
child suddenly began communicating fers from complex regional pain
when Levinson’s dog was in the room. syndrome, says fostering guinea
The field of ‘pet therapy’ was born, pigs from a local rescue group has
and visits from trained therapy ani- helped her cope with what is an of-
mals are now commonplace in hos- ten excruciating condition.
pitals and nursing homes. “When I care for my
But outside of institu- animals, I have to stay
tional settings, pets can present even through a
help people on an ongo- flare-up,” she says.
ing basis with the daily
ma nagement of long-
REGULAR Sometimes her pets
provide vicarious joy.
term health conditions. DOMESTIC “When I watch my guin-
According to University CATS ARE ea pigs run around their
of M ich iga n resea rch
scientist Mar y Janevic,
KNOWN little playpen through
all the tunnels, I can see
this is especially true of TO MAKE that it makes them hap-
chronic pain suf ferers AFFECTIONATE, py, and that makes me
looking for non-pharma-
cological interventions.
QUIRKY happy, too.”
In 2019, Janevic led a COMPANIONS. 5 THEY REDUCE

small study of older adults PUREBRED INFLAMMATION
with arthritis, lower back
pain, and other condi-
CATS FAMOUS Inf lammation is how
tions, and found that pets FOR THEIR your body responds to
not only helped improve CUDDLINESS a perceived injur y or
mood, but also compelled
their owners to stick to
INCLUDE infection, and normally
it’s a good thing – when
routines that alleviated RAGDOLLS, a cut becomes red and
their pain in the long run. BIRMANS, swollen, for example,
I n add it ion to t hat,
Janevic points out that
PERSIANS, it’s because an army of
white blood cells are
pets’ greatest superpower AND SIAMESE swarming in to fight off
26 april 2023
The Surprising Benefits Of Pets
harmf ul bacteria. But 6 THEY IMPROVE

sometimes your immune YOUR MENTAL
system doesn’t switch off HEALTH
after the fight is over, and
when inflammation be- LABRADOR W h e n 4 0 -y e a r- o l d
comes chronic, it can si-
lently lay the groundwork
RETRIEVERS Sharmeen Abeysinghe
left her job as an early
for killer diseases, like ARE THE MOST childhood educator in
diabetes, heart disease, COMMON 2019, she was suffering
and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease.
SERVICE DOGS. f rom depression a nd
burnout. Her doctor pre-
In a small preliminary AS THEY ARE scribed antidepressants
trial, researchers at the PATIENT, and she began to feel
University of Wisconsin–
Madison assigned foster
FRIENDLY, functional again. Then
came the pandemic and
dogs to a group of volun- AND VERY mu l t i p l e l o c k d ow n s,
teers aged 50 to 80. TRAINABLE, causing more stress.
A f ter t hree mont hs,
some blood tests showed
THEY’RE Fortunately, Abeysin-
ghe and her husband,
a drop of up to 30 per cent THE IDEAL who have two children,
in markers of inf lam- THERAPY AND decided to adopt a nine-
mation, including IL-6,
which has been linked to
EMOTIONAL month-old terrier-lab.
“We thought having a
many inflammatory dis- SUPPORT dog would give us some-
eases, including diabetes, ANIMAL thing to do while we’re at
rheumatoid arthritis, de- home, and she has just
mentia, heart disease and cancer. transformed our lives,” Abeysinghe
“Some of the subjects also reported says. “I feel so lifted by her joy, ener-
that they felt an increase in their sense gy and unconditional love. I’ve even
of wellbeing and improved social told my doctor I don’t think I need my
function,” says psychiatrist and study medication anymore.”
director Charles Raison. A number of studies have shown
“We don’t know for sure whether that pet ownership is beneficial for
there was an association between IL-6 people with depression, anxiet y,
levels and mental health, but it may PTSD, schizophrenia and other long-
work as a virtuous cycle – having a dog term mental health conditions, while
makes you feel better, which makes pet owners report that their pets
inflammation drop, and lower levels provide unconditional emotional
of inflammation make you happier.” support.
rdasia.com 27
HEALTH
The
Of Medicine While medicine can often work

marvels, the cure for some diseases,
such as motor neurone disease or
pancreatic cancer, is proving more
elusive. We asked the experts why
this might be and reveal some of the
ILLUS TR ATIONS: GE T T Y IMAGES
exciting new developments that are

bringing us closer to treatments
BY Helen Foster
28 april 2023
rdasia.com 29
treatment means even people in the

placebo arm of MND trials are doing
better than ever before; combining
different medications might only im-
prove this further.”
All these developments have led
some experts to suggest that a cure
for genetic MND could be as little as
three years away, and foresee an end
to the sporadic form in ten.
Motor Neurone Disease
Motor neurone disease (MND) is a

life-limiting condition that affects
the nerves. It can be genetic, but
90 per cent of cases occur sporadi-
cally with no known cause – which
is one reason it’s hard to find a cure.
“But we have made some progress
recently,” says Professor Matthew
Kiernan from the Brain and Mind Pancreatic Cancer
Centre at the University of Sydney.
A recent study at the Brain and Pancreatic cancer is the 12th most
Mind Centre has found that changes common cancer worldwide. “The
in a protein called SOD1 that damages main issue is there are few outward
cells in the genetic form of the disease, symptoms so by the time it’s diag-
also damages cells in the sporadic nosed it’s already spread,” says Pro-
form. “So that might take us some- fessor Paul Timpson from Sydney’s
where,” says Professor Kiernan. “We Gar van Institute of Medical Re-
are also currently trialling a new drug search. Early diagnosis is therefore
made from gold nanoparticles that, an important area of research inter-
so far, has been shown to improve est – but so are new ways to attack the
survival by 70 per cent, and are about tumours, and Professor Timpson and
to start a new trial using lithium. We his team recently found a potential
already know that multidisciplinary new avenue from which to do this.
30 april 2023
The Future Of Medicine
Pancreatic cancer is surrounded by like chemotherapy or radiotherapy,”

a dense fibrotic tissue that causes the says Professor Elgene Lim, medical
blood vessels leading to the tumour oncologist at the Garvan Institute of
to collapse, which makes it harder Medical Research. “Advanced breast
for drugs like chemotherapy to get to cancer – where the cancer has either
work. The team discovered that a drug already spread or is inoperable – is still
called AMP945 softens these fibres, currently incurable, but we do have
which opens up the blood vessels. treatments that prolong lifespan.”
“So, if you give this drug for a cou-
ple of days, then provide chemo and WE’RE AHEAD OF THE
repeat that in a metronomic way, you
increase the effect that the chemo has CURVE WITH CURING
on the cells,” says Professor Timpson. SOME FORMS OF
Changes to the tumour environment BREAST CANCER
also seems to stop it spreading. Right
now the team is recruiting for further
stages of the trial to confirm the effi- With those, she says, “we’ve turned
cacy in humans. a disease which, when I first started
medical school, had a prognosis of
18 months, to something that a wom-
an can survive for a very long period
of time – and with a good quality of
life, too.”
Professor Lim says that future ad-
vances that turn even aggressive
breast cancer into a treatable prob-
lem we can live with long-term, like
heart disease or diabetes, may mean
we don’t need a ‘cure’ per se but, that
doesn’t stop researchers from trying.
A new trial at the Garvan is exploring
a drug called seviteronel, which stops
breast cancer cells becoming resist-
Breast Cancer ant to chemotherapy. Another team
at the Garvan has found that collagen
We’re already ahead of the curve with around breast cancer plays a role in
curing some forms of breast cancer. how quickly it’s likely to spread – and
“Early-stage breast cancer is already this could also create new avenues for
curable with surgery and medication treatment or prevention in the future.
rdasia.com 31
proliferation. By inhibiting CDK4

activity, Auceliciclib blocks tumour
growth and spread. “Although pro-
gressing rapidly, the drug trials are
still in the early stages and results
on efficacy are yet to be revealed, but
we are very excited about what we’ve
seen so far,” says Professor Wang.
Brain Cancer
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is

the most aggressive and lethal type of
brain tumour with no effective treat-
ment options. Again, it’s often diag-
nosed very late but it also spreads in
a way that makes surgical removal
very difficult and, most importantly,
any drug to treat it must cross what’s Multiple Sclerosis
known as the blood-brain barrier.
“The job of this is to protect the Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a condi-
brain, the body’s most vital organ, tion where the immune system dam-
from toxins and pathogens, but that ages the myelin sheaths that serve
high level of protection also keeps to protect the nerves in the brain
out medication,” explains Professor and spinal cord. Curing MS would
Shudong Wang from the University involve stopping and reversing this
of South Australia. damage.
Now t houg h, Professor Wa ng We’re not there yet, but an inter-
and her team have developed a esting new trial from US research-
drug – Auceliciclib – that can cross ers, using stem cells, has helped
the blood-brain barrier effective- increase mobility in those with MS.
ly. Auceliciclib targets a protein In initial results, the team at Tisch
called Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 MS Research Centre in New York
(CDK4), which drives cancer cell saw an improvement in upper limb
32 april 2023
The Future Of Medicine
dexterity and walking speed in 36 being here in five years – a generation

per cent of patients. Much more re- ago that was more like a 30-40 per
search is needed but “these findings cent chance.”
are unprecedented for the treat- However, he says, there are still
ment of MS patients,” said Dr Saud challenges in finding a cure. Ovarian
A. Sadiq, director and chief research cancer is not a single disease entity
scientist at the Tisch in a statement. and the type of cancer in one person is
“While in the past patients could not the same as another. “This means
have experienced loss of mobility we’re unlikely to find one big develop-
and muscle strength each year due to ment that changes everything, but in-
their MS, this treatment has opened
the possibility that such life-altering OVARIAN CANCER IS
symptoms may not occur at all if the
treatment is administered early in NOT A SINGLE DISEASE
their disease progression.” ENTITY AND THE TYPE
OF CANCER IN ONE
PERSON IS NOT THE
SAME AS ANOTHER
stead make lots of small, incremental

advances that help us manage it more
effectively.”
The focus of researchers is also
moving strongly into preventing dis-
ease. In August 2022, a team at
Monash University announced the
trial of a new DNA screening pro-
gramme for 10,000 people aged 18-
Ovarian Cancer 40, to try and identify those at high
genetic risk of conditions, including
“We’ve already dramatically improved breast and ovarian cancer. The idea
survival rates for ovarian cancer,” says is that by finding people at higher
Jim Nicklin, Professor of Gynaeco- risk before disease presents, they can
logical Oncology at the University of be offered targeted screening, or use
Queensland. “When a patient comes prophylactic measures like surgery,
to me now I can tell her she probably or possibly medications, to avoid dis-
has at least a 50 per cent chance of still ease entirely.
rdasia.com 33
LIFE’S LIKE THAT

Seeing The Funny Side
I keep writing ‘Stone Age’ instead

of ‘Bronze Age’ on all my cheques.
Olden Days Puss To The Rescue

The word ‘vintage’ means different My neighbour has three cats. One
things to different people. To of her cats likes to jump up on her
me, at 71, vintage means early shoulder. Recently, when she went
20th century. To my 43-year-old to have a shower and didn’t want
daughter, it’s the 1950s. So, when my him in the bathroom with her, she
13-year-old granddaughter wanted put him outside and locked the door.
something vintage for a birthday Unfortunately, while doing so, she
CARTOON: BOB ECKS TEIN
present, I had to ask what she knocked the key from the lock, and it
considered vintage. slipped out under the door. She was
“Oh, you know,” she said, “back locked in, and she did not have her
when they used to communicate phone with her, so she was stuck.
using paper.” She tried to reach the key but
SUBMITTED BY SUSAN REYNOLDS failed, so she played a game with
34 april 2023
Life’s Like That
the cat and a stick. Bit by bit, the cat

moved the key nearer the door until
she could reach it.
So she was rescued by the cat.
“Talk about a get-out claws!” she
said. SUBMIT TED BY IDA LEE THE GREAT TWEET-OFF:
SOUNDS WILD
Not That Great The folks of Twitter enjoy a bit of
good music to tweet by.
Growing up, we called one set of
grandparents Big Mama and Big If you’re a classic rock fan, and an
Daddy. No one thought much of it insufferable snob, your favourite
until the day one of the grandkids band is The Whom.
told them they were soon to become @CONANOBRIEN
great-grandparents. You may be tough, but you’re

That’s when Big Mama put her not ‘just sat through a Year Four
foot down and told us that, while recorder concert’ tough.
@MCDADSTUFF
she had never minded her nickname
before, she refused to be called Why does the inside of a cheese
grater look like every rap music
Great Big Mama.
video from the early 2000s?
SUBMITTED BY RICHARD HUDSON @THEROCKLE.COM
Rage Against the Machine never

Puppy Love specified what type of machine they
My husband just asked me in the were furious with, but I reckon it
kindest voice if I wanted some water, was probably the printer.
and I said, “I’d love some.” I turned @JOHNMOYNES
around and he was carrying the dog’s “Hey, Mr Tambourine Man,

water bowl to her. @ADALIMON play a song for me.”
*Shakes tambourine*
“Got any others?”
MEAT FREE *Shakes tambourine*
When my son was young, he “Sounds a lot like the last one.”
@OJEDGE
became vegetarian for a year. We
always thought it was because of

his kind heart and love of animals.
Now a teenager, he revealed he
became a vegetarian to get out of
eating the meatloaf they served
for lunch at preschool.
JESSICA HOLMES, COMEDIAN
rdasia.com 35
36 april 2023
SEE Turn
THEtheWORLD...
page ››
rdasia.com 37
...DIFFERENTLY
Tiptoe Through The Tulips

Tulips love balmy days and cool
nights; and moist, but not wet,
soil. The Netherlands offers all
these conditions in spring. By
mid-April millions of beautifully-
coloured tulips are in bloom.
The cut flowers are sold all over
the world but it’s the tulips’
bulbs that make up the lion’s
share of Dutch tulip exports.
PHOTOS: GE T T Y IMAGES/K ARL HENDON;
GE T T Y IMAGES/DARRELL GULIN
38 april 2023
rdasia.com 39
13 THINGS
Get Clued-In On
Crosswords
BY Emily Goodman
1
If you’ve ever picked up, and
promptly put down a crossword
puzzle, don’t be discouraged.
Crosswords are less about intelli-
gence and vocabulary as you might
think. The real key is understand-
ing the clues. For instance, question
marks indicate some element
of word play. So, while the
answer to, ‘Job that involves
watching the kids’ might be
BABYSITTER, with a ques-
tion mark at the end, it’s more
likely to be GOAT HERD.
2
Speaking of kids, they
were among the ear-
liest solvers of cross-
ILLUS TR ATION: SERGE BLOCH
words. Primitive versions of the

puzzle first appeared in British chil-
dren’s books in the 1800s. In the US,
crosswords developed into an adult
pastime after Arthur Wynne pub-
lished his original Word-Cross puzzle
in the New York World in December
40 april 2023
6
1913. Weeks later, a typesetting error Much like mysteries, crossword
permanently changed the name to clues can deceive and mislead,
Cross-Word. which is what makes their solu-
tions so satisfying. Not surprising,
3
Soon almost all daily newspa- then, that they come up in crime
pers were running crosswords, novels, notably in Ruth Rendell’s
with one notable exception. In One Across, Two Down and in Agatha
1924, the New York Times described Christie’s The Curtain. Here’s a clue
the craze as “a sinful waste in the Hercule Poirot contends with: ‘The
utterly futile finding of words”, and chaps between the hills are unkind.’
didn’t publish a puzzle until 1942. With MEN (for ‘chaps’) between two
Now, t he ma ker of perhaps t he TORs (for ‘hills’), you get TORMEN-
world’s most famous crossword has TOR. Quite a workout for those little
a different outlook, likening the puz- grey cells!
zle to ‘mental yoga’, both challenging
7
and relaxing at the same time. Whether or not regular cross-
wording can improve mental
4
Cryptic crosswords are par- acuity and even delay cognitive
ticularly popular in Austral- decline is the subject of much scien-
ia, New Zealand and the UK. tific research and debate. One of the
Each clue in a cryptic crossword is more interesting case studies was
a riddle, often relying on anagrams, that of an amnesiac who was able to
double meanings and words hidden acquire and recall information about
inside other words. For instance, events that happened after his amne-
the clue ‘Tours streets and wishes sia set in when he learned that infor-
one hadn’t’ could yield RUES, as the mation through crossword puzzles.
French for ‘streets’ is also the Eng-
8
lish for ‘regret’. To become a better solver, learn
these words: alee (the side of a
5
The point of these puzzles is to ship that is sheltered from the
revel in their cleverness. Last wind), aga (a Turkish officer), eider
year, the New York Times de- (a type of duck), eland (an African
lighted devotees with the clue, ‘The antelope), epee (a practice sword in
better of two major sci-fi franchises?’ fencing), etui (a cosmetics case), and
because both STAR WARS and STAR oleo (another word for butter). Oth-
TREK fitted – even in the other direc- erwise uncommon, these all show
tion. With the last letter, for example, up disproportionately often in cross-
the clue ‘Let out, in a way’ worked words due to their unique letter com-
with either LEASED or LEAKED. binations.
rdasia.com 41
9
The brand name OREO also Shortz of the New York Times, who
continually makes its way into generally has a rule against putting
crossword grids, so much so proposals in puzzles, made an excep-
that it has been dubbed by some as tion to help a fellow crossword enthu-
the puzzle’s ‘official’ cookie. OREO siast pop the question back in 2019.
has appeared in the New York Times
12
crossword alone at least 389 times. Famous crossworders in-
Perhaps more remarkable: it’s been clude Hol l y wood st a r s
clued nearly 300 different ways, some Kristen Bell, Ellen Burstyn
mundane (‘Nabisco cookie’), others and Daniel Craig, astrophysicist Neil
head-scratching (‘It has 12 flowers DeGrasse Tyson, and cartoonist Gary
on each side’). Trudeau. Former US President Bill
Clinton does crosswords – in pen –
10
With many papers that print while carrying on conversations. The
a daily crossword, the puz- puzzle has even propelled at least one
zles get harder as the week person to relative fame: Rex Parker
goes on. Mondays are the easiest (so (real name Michael Sharp) who posts
start there if you’re a newbie) and a daily blog revealing the answers to
Saturdays are the hardest. Sunday the New York Times crossword.
puzzles are typically of midweek dif-
13
ficulty. Is looking up the answers
cheating? Some solvers say
11
Crossword creators have so, but when you look things
been known to help solv- up, you learn, and that’s a huge part
ers get hitched. In 2007 and of crosswords’ appeal. As far as
2008, editors at The Boston Globe and teaching tools go, few are more fun.
USA Today worked WILLYOUMAR- The ruling from the Times is one
RYME into their puzzles at the spe- we’re inclined to agree with: it’s your
cial request of loyal solvers. Even Will puzzle. Solve it any way you like.
Feather Boas Lure Wildlife

It appears that we humans are not alone in our fascination with
feather boas. Scientists in Tasmania are trialling different lures
in bushland to tackle the problem of feral cats, including feather
boas. Cameras caught both native animals and cats interacting
with the boas. One pademelon even returned four nights in a row
to canoodle with the feathers. ABC.NET.AU
42 april 2023
9 20
HUMOUR
By The Light
Olly Mann finds himself something of
an unofficial ‘brand ambassador’
Y
esterday I met Liz, a high- “Yes,” he replied. “What a shame
ly intelligent woman in she’s wasted her brain, rather than
her 50s. She’s a school doing something PROPER.”
friend of my mate Brett, I smiled at this and indicated agree-
and she’s spent the last ment – I knew what he meant; it’s not
20 years working in brand market- like she’s curing cancer or engineer-
ing. As a result, she has a swimming ing electric planes – but then, having
ILLUS TR ATION: ELLY WALTON
pool. And a designer handbag. And a thought about it for a second, I found
job title I can’t quite bring myself to myself responding defensively.
recall: ‘Chief Inspiration Leader’ or “It’s quite a rigorous job she has
‘Treasurer of Top Ideas’ calculated to though, isn’t it? I mean, she’ll take
put the FUN in ‘strategy-led market a product that seems… pedestri-
research’. an, and think about it so deeply
“She’s very smart,” I said to Brett. that she’ll know exactly why, say,
44 april 2023
rdasia.com 45
Pepsi Max is associated with extreme Peanut Butter. Even though I knew
sports, but Pepsi Max Cherry isn’t. It exactly how it would taste – ‘Kit Kat’
seems trivial, but I guess if they sell equating to wafer and chocolate,
more products as a result, then more ‘Chunky’ indicating an oblong gob-
people keep their jobs.” full, and ‘Peanut Butter’ promising an
Brett looked at me like I was to- umami hit of salty-sugar yumminess
tally mad. “There are scientists,” he – I still felt compelled to pick one up
said softly, sipping from his smooth- as soon as they hit the shelves. I was
ie, “dermatologists, with PhDs and not disappointed. In fact, I have seri-
CBEs [Commander of the Order of ously considered travelling to Japan to
the British Empire] and everything, try the 300+ limited edition flavours
working on formulas they’ve released over
for make-up.” THERE’S A PART there.
He v i r t ua l ly spat Even when I have
out the words.
OF MY BRAIN a b s ol u t e l y no i n-
“Cosmet ic s a l- THAT BEHAVES t ent ion of bu y i n g
ready exist! The world AS IF IT RUNS the products being
doesn’t need more thrown at my brain,
wrink le cream! You
ITS OWN TEST I still obligingly in-
can’t reverse the pro- KITCHEN hale those newspaper
gress of time! They columns in which a
could be doing something that ben- food writer tries out ten supermar-
efits everybody, instead of shilling ket brands of rosé, or compares the
something pointless!” rind of blue cheeses, or rates the
Again, I ref lected for a moment. best brandy butters at Christmas. It
Brett was correct, of course, that somehow matters to me when a su-
someone with a sharp mind and a permarket brand tastes better than
state-subsidised further education its more gourmet equivalent.
turning their back on public service, Scanning back through my Am-
and accepting the most lucrative job azon history is to encounter a time
offer on the table, is, to some extent, capsule of household goods and
unethical. But, truth be told, I for one pop-cultural ephemera (my first
enjoy the novelty of trying and buy- purchase, in 1999, was The Best of
ing new products. I like that clever Texas on CD; my most recent bar-
people spend time planning how to gain is an anti-microbial copper
tell me about them. I want to be told tongue scraper).
about them. It’s also proof of my efforts over
Take, for instance, the day that the years to try out different items;
Nestlé launched Kit Kat Chunk y always seemingly on some unspoken
46 april 2023
Blinded By The Light
quest to uncover the ultimate exem- from France; and my phone holder
plar of each product category. from Typo. I could go on.
It’s weird, but there’s a part of my Brett, meanwhile, is a Head and
brain that behaves as if it runs its Shoulders shampoo k ind of guy;
own Test Kitchen. Perhaps that’s just he considers it a waste of energy to
what happens when you’re brought think about stuff like this. When he
up with consumerism all around goes shopping, he simply selects a
you, a nd you’ve well-known product
lo s t r e l i g ion . For I SYMPATHISE he knows works just
instance, I experi- WITH BRETT’S f ine, and if t here’s
mented with dozens PREJUDICES – an ow n-brand rip-
of tea bag bra nds off on offer for less,
before settling upon BUT I CAN’T DENY he’ll buy that one in-
Welsh Brew. I had MY INTEREST IN stead, even if it’s not
a free sample at a SHINY BRIGHT as good.
food fair, and fell in I’m jealous, in a
love with their calm- NEW THINGS way, of this approach
ing Kenyan Assam to life. I sympathise
blend. with Brett’s prejudices – but I can’t
I’m equally evangelistic about deny my interest in shiny bright new
Dua l Act ion Microf ibre Sponge things. Would I like, in an ideal world,
and Scourer pads (so soft, yet so ro- to turn off, or at least turn down,
bust!); my Powerbeats Pro wireless the part of my brain so flooded with
earphones (so low-key! So reliable!); pointless knowledge about peripheral
Lush’s Big shampoo (sea salt flakes! brands? Perhaps.
But MOIST!); the Baby Jogger City But Brett should feel a little jealous
Mini Stroller (a pram you can steer of me, too. When the apocalypse
with one hand!); Mayonnaise de Di- comes, I’ll be the one eating the best
jon, by Amora, specially imported baked beans.
Very Hoppy Bunnies

Luxury ‘pet boarding’ accommodation for cats and dogs when
their owners are away may be put in the shade by Bunny Style, a
luxury resort for pet rabbits in Hong Kong. Rabbits get to climb a
castle made of wood and explore a cotton tunnel. The bunnies
are also kept happy with regular exercise, parties, spa treatments
and lots of hay. AP
rdasia.com 47
ENVIRONMENT
PHOTOS: ILV Y NJIOKIK TJIEN
A unique neighbourhood in Amsterdam is showing

BY Shira Rubin F R O M T H E W A S H I N G T O N P O S T
48 April 2023
Schoonschip is setting
an example for ‘floating
homes’ communities
around the world
how cities can prepare for rising sea levels

rdasia.com 49
arjan de Blok re- on mostly as usual. De Blok chatted

adjusts her body with neighbours while the homes
weig ht as she glided up and down their steel foun-
treads along the dational poles with the movement of
jet t y l i n k i ng a the water below.
floating commu- “It feels like living at the beach, with
nit y on a canal the water, the saltiness of the air and
off the River IJ. Through the whip- the seagulls,” she says. “But it also feels
ping winds, she shouts greetings to special because, initially, we were told
many of her neighbours. that building your own neighbourhood
On the day I visited in autumn is just impossible.”
2021, heavy rains and 80 kilometre- A long list of European lawmakers,
an-hour winds put Amsterdam, just urban planners, entrepreneurs and
a short ferr y ride away, on alert. citizens have visited Schoonschip
But in t he nor t hern neighbour- to see the real-life manifestation of
hood of Schoonschip, life carried a once science-fiction idea. De Blok,
a Dutch reality-TV director,
has shown them Schoonschip’s
patchwork of environmentally
focused social projects: lush
floating gardens beloved by the
water birds; a community cen-
tre featuring floating architec-
ture diagrams; and nearby on-
land, a vegetable patch. But the
homes’ industrial-chic design
and their immediate proximity
to the city, she says, are what
surprise visitors most.
Schoonschip can serve as a
prototype for the more than
600 million people – close
to ten per cent of the world’s
population – who live near the
coast and less than ten metres
above sea level. As the effects
of climate change intensif y,
Marjan de Blok with her family in her sea levels are forecast to rise
floating home somewhere between 30 and 240
50 april 2023
Floating Life
The Dutch have historically lived on water. Canal houses reflecting in the water on a
sunny day in Amsterdam
centimetres this century, and storms of the country is below sea level and
are expected to increase in frequency close to two-thirds is flood-prone.
and intensity. In the summer of 2021, Since the Middle Ages, Dutch farm-
at least 220 people died in Germany er collectives have drained water to
and Belgium from a once-in-400-year make room for agricultural land. The
rain event. In Zhengzhou, China, groups evolved into regional water
630 millimetres of rain fell in one day, boards that keep the land dry using
killing nearly 300 people. canals, dikes, dams and sea gates.
By the end of this century, the kind Water management is such a normal
of intense precipitation events that part of Dutch discourse that many
would typically occur two times per citizens are surprised to be asked
century, will happen twice as often, about it, assuming it is common in
and more extreme events that would every country.
occur once every 200 years would be- The Dutch have historically lived
come up to four times as frequent, ac- on water. As international commerce
cording to a study published last year flourished in the 17th century, for-
by a team at the University of Freiburg. eign tradespeople moored their boats
to the land to sell their goods. In the
THE NETHERLANDS has long con- 1970s, people started converting
tended with water – nearly a third boats into homes.
rdasia.com 51
And over the past decade, Dutch house, and interior design is carried
water management strategists have out in line with the Dutch principle
sought to embrace, rather than resist, of gezelligheid, or ‘cosiness’. Many
the rising sea levels brought on by rooms are outfitted with modular
climate change, with floating com- furniture that can be easily disas-
munities emerging in Amsterdam, sembled or reassembled to accom-
Rotterdam and Utrecht. modate life changes such as the birth
These homes are relatively low- of children.
tech, constructed off-site and weight- “It’s evident that sea waters will
ed by basins filled with recycled, wa- rise, and that many big cities are re-
ter-resistant concrete, then pulled ally close to that water,” says Schoon-
across the water by tugboats and schip resident Sascha Glasl, whose
moored in place. Heavy pieces such architectural firm, Space & Matter,
as pianos are counterweighted with designed several of the community’s
bricks on the opposite side of the homes. “It’s amazing that not more of
this innovation and building on
water is being executed.”
DE BLOK, who has no engi-

neering, architecture or hydro-
logical training, says that she
never intended to spearhead
a movement in floating urban
development. In 2009, she had
become disenchanted with her
life in Amsterdam. She worked
all the time, bought things she
rarely used, and had little time
to see friends.
On a winter’s day, she visited
a solar-panelled floating event
venue called GeWoonboot as
part of a series of documentaries
she was shooting on sustainable
living. She was stunned by its
contemporary feel, its immedia-
cy to the water and the city, and
Eelke Kingma helped design Schoonschip’s its use of experimental sustain-
renewable-energy grid ability practices.
52 april 2023
Floating Life
Schoonschip residents hang decorative lights among the houses
“Before I visited that boat, I wasn’t When ‘Schoonschip’ is made into

really conscious that I didn’t like the a verb, ‘to do Schoonschip’, it means
way I was living,” she says. ‘to cleanse’. Looking to make a dif-
When she asked friends if they had ferent kind of community, De Blok
interest in building a floating com- had all residents sign a manifesto
munity, she was unprepared for the committing them to constructing,
deluge of responses. She cut off the insulating and finishing their homes
list at 120 people. with eco-friendly materials such as
She scouted waters around Buik- straw, burlap and bamboo.
sloterham, a 100-hectare, post-in- They also informally signed up for
dustrial area that had been largely eating together, swimming together
abandoned after manufacturers (in- and conducting their lives largely in
cluding Shell and the Fokker airplane common view of one another, with
factory) left the city for lower-wage curtains only rarely drawn. They use
countries in the second part of the a vibrant WhatsApp group to request
20th century. When she learned that almost any service or borrow items
the city was planning to develop tens from neighbours, including bikes
of thousands of housing units in the and cars.
area, she realised that they could be T he neig hbourhood feels li ke
pioneers there. an ex tended block part y most ly
rdasia.com 53
because many of the residents are from the water below. They then
actually De Blok’s friends, or friends store it in enormous batteries be-
of friends, including colleagues from low the homes and sell any sur-
the TV and entertainment indus- plus to each other, as well as to the
try. Most of them joined the project national grid.
in their 20s and 30s, when they had An AI-automated program under
no kids and ample time to invest in development will use the homes’
building a community. Twelve years smart meters to inform residents
later, t hose young couples have when they can earn the most from
young families. selling their electricity, based on the
During the summer months, their fluctuations in energy market pric-
children jump out of es. This would make
t hei r bed room w i n- “LIVING ON WATER Schoonschip the first
dows directly into the
water below. On clear
DOES SOMETHING residential neighbour-
hood in the country to
w i nter n ig hts, t he TO YOU,” turn a profit from gen-
neighbourhood gleams SAYS DE BLOK. erating energ y, King-
with soft lighting and
buzzes with the hum of
“THERE’S SOME ma says.
chattering residents on MAGIC TO IT” OVER THE PAST DEC-

their top-floor porches. ADE, the floating-house
To realise Schoonschip’s sustain- movement has been gaining momen-
ability goals, De Blok drew on the tum in the Netherlands. The Dutch
residents themselves. Siti Boelen, a government is amending legislation to
Dutch television producer, mediated redefine floating homes as ‘immova-
between the Schoonschip represent- ble homes’ rather than ‘boats’, to sim-
ative committee and the local mu- plify the process of obtaining permits.
nicipality. Glasl, the architect, helped Amsterdam and Rotterdam are re-
design the jetty that connects the porting a sharp uptick in requests for
houses to each other and to the land. permits to build on the water. The
Eelke K ing ma, a resident and trend is coinciding with a national
renewable tech expert, joined a water awareness campaign for an era
community task force that co-de- in which climate change is already a
signed the neighbourhood’s smart fact of life. The government launched
grid system. Residents collect en- an app called Overstroom Ik?, which
ergy from more than 500 solar pan- translates to ‘Will I flood?’, that allows
els – placed on roughly a third of residents to check if their area is at risk
the community’s roofs – and from of flooding. And the ‘Room for the Riv-
30 efficient heat pumps that draw er’ programme has run more than 30
54 april 2023
Floating Life
projects to manage high water levels firm, along with Dutch Docklands,
in flood-prone districts over the past which specialises in floating devel-
15 years. opments, will oversee construction
The people behind Schoonschip on a 200-hectare lagoon off Malé, the
and other floating neighbourhoods, capital of the Maldives. The city sits
office buildings and event spaces less than one metre above sea lev-
across the Netherlands are increasing- el, making it vulnerable to even the
ly being consulted for projects across slightest rise.
the world. The small, simply designed com-
In 2013, the architectural firm Wa- plex will house 20,000 people. Pumps
terstudio, which designed several of will draw energy from deep-sea water
the houses in Schoonschip, sent a and the homes’ artificial coral-clad
floating, internet-connected convert- hulls will encourage marine life.
ed cargo container, called ‘City App’, to Dutch and international projects
the Korail Bosti slum of Dhaka, Bang- are showing that “we can cope with
ladesh. Children attended remote the challenges of sea-level rises,” Ol-
classes in it during the day, and adults thuis says.
used it to develop business projects at Back in Schoonschip, De Blok
night. hopes that one day everyone will be
In 2019, the vessel was relocated to able to live in communities built in
a slum near Alexandria, Egypt, where harmony with the natural environ-
it remains stationed. “We want to ment.
upgrade cities near the water,” says “Living on water does something
Koen Olthuis, a Waterstudio archi- to you, being aware t hat under
tect. “Now we’re at a tipping point your house everything is moving,”
where it’s actually happening. We’re she says.
getting requests from all over the “There’s some magic to it.”
world.” THE WASHINGTON POST (DECEMBER 17, 2021),
After two decades of planning, his © 2021 BY THE WASHINGTON POST
Living In A Tip
Fed up with rising rents, London-based artist Harrison Marshall,
28, has moved into a converted seven-metre metal skip bin to
make a statement about the “crazy” cost of living. He aims to live
in the skip bin, usually used for storing, moving and dumping
building waste material, for the rest of this year.
SKY NEWS
rdasia.com 55
LAUGHTER
The Best Medicine
“Would you like

a drink?” the flight
attendant asks a
businesswoman.
“Yes,” she replies.
“I’ll have whatever the
pilot’s having.”
ajokeaday.com
Banking It
A man walked into a
bank in the city centre
and asked for a loan for
$4000.
“Well, before we lend
you the money we are
“Can’t I just send you the link to my going to need some
Instagram, Miss?”
kind of security,” the
bank teller said.
“No problem,” the
Making A Home man responded. “Here
“By my age, my parents had a house are the keys to my car. It’s a black
and a family, and to be fair to me, so Porsche parked in the back of the
do I – but it is the same house and it is bank’s parking lot.”
the same family.” A few weeks later the man returned
HANNAH FAIRWEATHER to pay off his loan. While he was
paying it, along with the interest of
Flying High
CARTOON: ROYS TON
$20, the manager came over.

A plane encounters turbulence and “Sir, we are very happy to have
starts rocking from side to side. The your business,” said the manager.
flight crew quickly wheels out the “But if you don’t mind me asking,
drinks cart for the jittery passengers. after you left we looked into you and
56 april 2023
Laughter
found out that you are a millionaire.

Why would you need to borrow
$4000?
BRANCHING OUT
“Well, it’s quite simple,” the man Tree jokes to leaf
responded. “Where else can I park you laughing
my car for three straight weeks in
the city centre for $20?”
greatcleanjokes.com
Travel With Kids

People with babies: “I don’t see why
people stop travelling when they
have kids. You can just strap the baby
in and go hiking. Grab a stroller, A woodchopper walks into
fly to Europe, it’s really all in your an enchanted forest and tries
mindset!” to cut down a talking tree.
Those people a year later with a “You can’t cut me down,”
toddler: “It only took us 23 minutes the tree exclaims,
to get down the stairs this morning.” “I’m a talking tree!”
LUCY HUBER, WRITER The woodchopper responds,
“You may be a talking tree,
Full Plate but you will dialogue.”
What’s the difference between an
all-you-can-eat restaurant and your Why did the pine tree
grandmother’s cooking? At an all- get in trouble?
you-can-eat place, you get to decide Because it was being knotty.
when you’re full. mytowntutors.com What kind of tree can
fit into your hand?
A palm tree.
What is every single tree’s
SAFETY MEASURES least favourite month?
SepTIMMMBERRR!
Passwords are like underwear.
Don’t share them, hide them How do trees access
under your keyboard or hang the internet?
They log on.
them from your monitor. Above
Sources: Upjoke.com; thoughtcatalog.com
all, change them frequently.
GCFL.NET
rdasia.com 57
58 april 2023
HEALTH
What It’s Like To

Be In A
The twilight zone between life and death is

a mystery that doctors hope to solve
BY Lauren Cahn
W
hen T. Renee Gar- began experiencing leg cramping so
ner was 32 weeks severe it left her weeping in the hos-
pregnant w it h pital. Then everything went black –
her son, she was for three days.
rushed to the hos- Doctors determined t hat Gar-
ILLUS TR ATION: JAMES S TEINBERG
pital with extremely high blood pres- ner’s coma was the result of a severe
sure, her foetus in distress. Intrave- electrolyte imbalance – her sodium
nous medication lowered her blood had dropped precipitously – caused
pressure and her baby was delivered by the IV medication she’d received.
safely before being taken to the ne- Garner says that while she was in
onatal intensive care unit. But when the coma, she heard a siren and then
Garner went to visit him there the the words “it died”, which she took
next day, she still wasn’t well, and she to mean that she had died. “It” was
rdasia.com 59
actually a battery on a monitor that Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit at

had died. She also recounts having the University of Virginia.
horrible dreams. “I can’t remember Dr Provencio has had patients tell
them, but I know they tormented him they remember when doctors
me,” she says. “Every dream I had and nurses came into the room and
during my coma was a nightmare.” pinched their big toe so hard it hurt,
Zaida Khaze was 19 when she was though they didn’t respond at the time
travelling in a car that was hit by a and were completely unconscious.
drunk driver. Her The pinch is a way
head injury was so for doctors to see
severe that she lost COMA PATIENTS whether people in a
the ability to walk, SAY THEY coma will respond to
speak and swallow,
REMEMBER WHEN the pain.
and she lapsed into “Some remember
a coma t hat last- DOCTORS AND nothing; some re-
ed ten days. When NURSES CAME member a great deal
she started to ful- of feelings but noth-
INTO THE ROOM ing specific. Some
ly awa ken i n t he
rehab hospita l to people hallucinate
which she had been transferred, she that people came to visit them who
remembered none of it: not the ac- never actually did,” he says.
cident nor the aftermath. The only On the other hand, there are peo-
thing she did remember was having ple like Jennifer Beaver. In June 2017,
her entire family gathered around she was riding in a golf cart with her
her. But, in fact, they were never all husband and two friends. When she
there at the same time. turned to talk to one of them, she
What an individual patient will ex- slipped and fell off the moving cart,
perience during a coma remains a landing on her head. She suffered a
mystery to doctors. Even the medical massive brain bleed and was rushed
definition is vague. The Mayo Clinic to hospital, and then put in a med-
in the US calls it “a state of prolonged ically induced coma for a week to
unconsciousness that can be caused allow her brain to heal. The doctors
by a variety of problems.” Technical- told Beaver’s husband that she was
ly, someone in a coma is unrespon- unlikely to survive and that if she did,
sive to light, sound, touch and verbal she might be severely disabled.
communication, but that doesn’t nec- And yet when doctors gradually
essarily mean the patient isn’t aware, brought her out of the coma, Beaver
says Dr J. Javier Provencio, professor in not only was relatively healthy but
neurology and director of the Nerancy also could recall pieces of discussions
60 april 2023
What It’s Like To Be In A Coma
she’d overheard. “I remember friends Westchester Medical Center Health

and family in the room, and one friend Network in New York. Many pa-
who flew in from Los Angeles to see tients whose doctors thought had
me,” she says. no hope of them waking have come
“Later on, I texted the friend and out of their comas. “After about ten
asked her if she had been in the room years of doing this I realised I knew
because I was certain I’d heard her less about prognosis than ever,” says
voice, although I couldn’t recall seeing Dr Mayer.
her.” The friend had, Becoming clearer
in fact, been there. about the best treat-
Even with brain THE HUMAN ments for coma pa-
imaging and other BRAIN IS A tients – and about
tests, doctors can LOT MORE how to better pre-
never be certain dict recovery pros-
whether a specific RESILIENT THAN pects – are thriving
patient will emerge DOCTORS ONCE areas of study. Dr
from a coma or how THOUGHT Provencio is one of
they will recover. But the founders of the
hearing the stories of Curing Coma Cam-
patients who have come out of their paign, a group of neurocritical care
comas and recovered helps doctors specialists from all over the world
learn more about this strange phe- who are developing coma treatment
nomenon. One of the most important strategies. The campaign website
lessons: the human brain is a lot more (curingcoma.org) provides informa-
resilient than they once thought. tion for patients, families and health-
“For a long time we were vastly care providers.
underestimating the brain’s poten- “We’re looking for people who have
tial for recovery,” says Dr Stephan A. been affected by coma to help us learn
Mayer, a specialist in neurocritical about their experiences before, dur-
care and emergency neurology at ing, and after,” says Dr Provencio.
Corn Field Tribute

Lionel Messi has been immortalised in Argentina in tributes ranging
from tattoos to murals after leading the national team to win the
soccer World Cup. Now his face can be seen from the heavens too –
on a specially planted corn field in central Cordoba. The ripened corn
will create a huge visual image of Messi’s bearded visage. REUTERS
rdasia.com 61
ART OF LIVING
How To Spot
Bad Advice was immediately off the mark. She
didn’t ask me questions or consider
BY Christina Palassio
how my goals might differ from hers.
I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y J E A N N I E P H A N She simply told me what she would
do, and I quickly found myself tuning
I RECENTLY FOUND MYSELF out her monologue. The exchange left
agonising over a financial decision. I me feeling discouraged.
had three options, and having spent When we ask someone for advice,
considerable time researching them, we look for a range of responses: a
felt reasonably informed, but I was thoughtful and objective perspective,
still not fully confident in which to information to fill a knowledge gap,
choose. So when I later saw a finan- guidance from someone we trust.
cially savvy acquaintance at a party, Done well, the exchange can benefit
I decided to ask for her advice. both parties, adding nuance to each
As the conversation deepened, person’s thinking and strengthening
however, I felt my stomach tighten their bonds. Bad advice, on the oth-
in frustration. While I’m sure my er hand, can harm relationships and
friend wanted to help, her advice make a tough decision even tougher.
62 april 2023
rdasia.com 63
The worst advice-givers can invite mean someone is challenging your

second-guessing, undermine your own biases and assumptions. Take
values and lead you astray. Even the the time to check in with yourself on
most well-intentioned bad guidance which it is.
can leave us feeling exasperated and
confused. ARE THEY ENGAGED?
David Eddie was an advice columnist
CONSIDER YOUR NEEDS for nearly two decades. In that time,
To help head off bad advice, be clear he learned that good advice-givers
on your needs. Are you asking some- ask questions that help them better
one to help you think through options understand where you’re coming
you might take to resolve a problem? from and what your goals are. They
Are you asking someone to provide don’t assume they know the answer
advice as your friend or – or that you have the
as an objective observ- t i me, re s ou rc e s or
er? Do you want help “YOU WANT ability to approach the
with something that’s SOMEONE WHO’S challenge in the same
closer to instruction or
coaching – like how to GOING TO TAKE way they would. “You
want someone who’s
plant a spring garden THE TIME TO going to drill dow n
or ensure you get the UNDERSTAND THE into the problem with
next big promotion at
work? Communicating SHAPE OF THE you and take the time
t o u nde r s t a nd t he
both your problem and PROBLEM” shape of it,” he says.
your expectations will It can take time to
help your advice-giver formulate smart, em-
approach your questions thoughtfully pathetic questions – and a chat at a
and with a goal of their own in mind. party, for example, may not be the
Next, make sure you’re intentional best setting for true consideration.
about whom you ask, and consider if
you need a range of opinions or one DO THEY UNDERSTAND
well-informed perspective. Don’t be YOUR VALUES?
afraid to get creative with who you ask, When it comes to human relation-
and don’t assume you know every- ships, things can get murky. Our
one’s expertise. When you receive the different backgrounds, beliefs and
advice, listen to your body. Are you philosophies mean there often aren’t
tensing up or resisting? It could be a one-size-fits-all solutions. When ad-
sign that the advice that’s coming your vice-givers assume that what’s best
way isn’t right for you – or it could for them is also what’s best for you, or
64 april 2023
Misguided
that their advice should always guide prestige or financial independence. A

you to what’s most socially or cultural- friend may advise their secret crush to
ly acceptable, problems can arise. leave their current partner. It’s hard-
Sahaj Kaur Kohli knows this first- er when people don’t recognise their
hand. When she was 30, she founded own underlying biases.
Brown Girl Therapy, an Instagram
mental health community for chil- TRUST YOURSELF
dren of immigrants that now has over That’s why Eddie often gathers a
200,000 followers. But when Kohli range of perspectives. He calls his
decided to study further to become group of advice-givers ‘The Panel’,
a clinical mental health counsellor, and it’s made up of his wife, moth-
she was advised to delete her social er and some friends and colleagues.
media accounts and try to remove in- Their advice helps him see different
formation about herself from the in- sides of sticky issues – pushing him to
ternet. The advice-giver felt it might consider different outcomes.
interfere with her new career as a But in the end, he’s the one who
counsellor. But Kohli disagreed. makes the decision. “I believe in the
“It felt like a rejection of what I saying, ‘Seek the advice of many,
wanted to do with my life,” she says. but follow your own counsel’,” he
Whereas her advice-giver saw her says. Kohli subscribes to the same
social media presence as a career approach for herself and her clients.
blocker, Kohli saw no reason to hide One of t he biggest lessons she’s
her lived experience. learned as a mental health profes-
While Kohli ultimately ignored the sional, she says, is that everyone is
advice, she wishes she’d asked herself an expert on their own life.
if the other party understood her val- She sees her role as asking ques-
ues before fretting over their advice. tions to help a person get the per-
Personally motivated advice is usu- spective they need to make a choice
ally pretty easy to spot. A parent may – even if those around them may
encourage a certain university path disagree with it.
because they believe it brings more Now that’s good advice.
Quite A Number
A ‘lucky’ number plate with just the letter ‘R’ was sold at auction
in Hong Kong for a staggering US$3.1 million. ‘R’ is associated
with racing cars and is also a lucky character in Chinese fortune
telling. DAILY STAR
rdasia.com 65
MUSEUMS
Of The World
Whether your interest is history,
science or art, test your curated
knowledge with these 11 questions
BY Doris Kochanek
66 april 2023
QUIZ
QUESTIONS
1
The Louvre in Paris used to be
the residence of the French mon-
archy. Its rooms alone are worth
a visit. In 1989, five glass pyramids
designed by Chinese-American ar-
chitect I.M. Pei were added. One of
them is upside down, its top reach-
ing into the ground. What is hidden
beneath it in the movie The Da Vinci
Code, starring Tom Hanks?
a) the original tablets of the Ten
Commandments
b) Mary Magdalene’s
sarcophagus
c) the crown of thorns said to be
worn by Jesus Christ
d) the holy grail
2
The Dulwich Picture Gallery in
London has experienced bur-
glaries on several occasions.
PHOTO: (LOUVRE) GE T T Y IMAGES
Between 1966 and 1983, the same

painting was stolen four times. What
nickname did the work earn as a
result?
a) Picasso for all
b) Takeaway Rembrandt
c) Pocket Titian
d) Runaway Rembrandt
rdasia.com 67
3
Not every museum is dedicated a) Thomas Bruce, Lord Elgin
to art, culture, history or sci- b) Ferdinand Rothschild
ence and technology. Some are c) Hans Sloane
also about food. What is the focus of d) Archibald Spencer
a museum in the Czech city of Pilsen?
5
a) sausages The more t han a t housand
b) dumplings sculptures at Haw Par Villa in
c) pancakes Singapore teach visitors about
d) beer Buddhist traditions and beliefs. Ad-
mission to the park is free. However,
4
The crowd pullers of some mu- if you want to see the main attrac-
seums have come into their tion, you have to pay. What are vis-
possession under questiona- itors only allowed to marvel at after
ble circumstances. In many cases, buying a ticket?
the countries of the exhibit’s origin a) the flying horse
demand their return. For example, b) the golden Buddha
there is a bitter dispute over the Par- c) the ‘Ten Courts of Hell’
thenon Sculptures which can be seen d) a roaring tiger
in the British Museum. They used to
6
be exhibited there under the name of The Vatican Museums in Rome
the man who brought the treasures date back to 1506, when Pope
from Athens to London. What was his Julius II acquired a sculpture
name? that he made accessible to the public
a short time later. Today it is
Singapore’s Haw Par Villa provides
a must-see for every visitor.
a very special museum for visitors
Which sculpture is it?
a) David by Michelangelo
b) Venus of Willendorf
c) Laocoön and His Sons
d) a bronze pinecone
7
The Palace Museum in
PHOTO: (TIGER) GE T T Y IMAGES
Beijing – as well as sim-

ilarly named museums
in Hong Kong and Taipei –
display art treasures from a
collection of Chinese emper-
ors. Where should visitors go
to see the Jadeite Cabbage
68 april 2023
and the Meat-Shaped Stone,
two exhibits that are as fa-
mous as they are unusual?
a) Beijing
b) Hong Kong
c) Shanghai
d) Taipei
8
Big cities like to deco-
rate themselves w ith
museu ms. W hen it
comes to new bu i ld i ngs, A very successful movie starring Ben Stiller
they also like to employ fa- set in a museum of natural history was based
mou s a rc h it e c t s . W h ic h on a children’s book
building complex was de-
signed by the Canadian-American for supporting the Apollo
star architect Frank Gehry? programme
a) the Centre Pompidou, Paris,
10
France In which movie does Ben
b) the Guggenheim Museum, Stiller fight with exhibits
Bilbao, Spain that come to life and make
c) the Riverside Museum, mischief after dark?
Glasgow, Scotland a) The Mummy
d) the Tate Gallery, St Ives, b) Ghostbusters
Cornwall c) Zoolander
d) Night at the Museum
9
T he Trea su re C ha mber i n
11
Liechtenstein owns not only Many museums reside in
gold and jewels, but also lunar buildings that were previ-
rocks. Why did the US government ously used for other pur-
donate this treasure to the small poses. What did the building of the
principality? Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art
a) A local company was involved Africa in Cape Town serve as?
in the space programme a) a prison
b) Buzz Aldrin, the second man b) a grain silo
on the moon, was born there c) a cathedral
c) Ex-US President Nixon used it d) a court
to solicit money for NASA
d) As a general thank you >> Turn to page70 for quiz answers
rdasia.com 69
ANSWERS: MUSEUMS OF THE WORLD QUIZ
1 b) In the film, Mary Magdalene’s

sarcophagus is hidden under the
Louvre.
the papal collection to be official-
ly exhibited. The ancient sculpture
of a Trojan priest being attacked by
snakes was probably created in the
2 b) Fortunately, the gallery got

back the portrait of Jacob de
first century in Rhodes.
Gheyn III painted by Rembrandt

after each theft. 7 d) The Jadeite Cabbage and the
Meat-Shaped Stone are on dis-
play in Taipei. Both exhibits look de-
3 d) A brewery museum provides

information on the history of the
art of brewing beer, the beginnings of
ceptively similar to food. There are
even two small insects sitting on the
leaves of the vegetable.
which date back thousands of years
and which reached a peak in Pilsen.
In 1842, Joseph Groll, a brewmaster
who moved there from Bavaria, creat-
8 b) Frank Gehry designed the Gug-
genheim Museum Bilbao in Spain.
Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers de-
ed Pilsner lager. signed the Centre Pompidou, Paris.
The Riverside Museum in Glasgow
4 a) Thomas Bruce, Lord Elgin,

had the Parthenon Sculptures
shipped to London from Athens dur-
was designed by Zaha Hadid, and the
Tate Gallery in Cornwall was designed
by Eldred Evans and David Shalev.
ing 1801 to 1805. Greece was then
under the rule of the Ottoman Em-
pire. The British Museum argues
that Lord Elgin had the permission
9 a) A Liechtenstein-based compa-
ny was at the time a leader in vac-
uum technology as well as the manu-
of the Turkish administration. Greece facturer of thin protective layers that
argues that Lord Elgin far exceeded supplied important components for
his authority and demands the return the Apollo programme.
of the ancient art treasures.
5 c) The ‘Ten Courts of Hell’ show

visitors ver y graphically what
10 d) In Night at the Museum,
the character played by Ben
Stiller is a night watchman at New
torments await them in the afterlife York’s American Museum of Natural
if they are guilty of certain offences. History.
6 c) The statue of Laocoön and His

Sons was the first work of art in 11 b) A grain silo was converted for
the museum.
70 april 2023
QUOTABLE QUOTES
I’d advise people

I take a fact, that if you want to
put a top hat go into business, you
on it, a silk shirt have to have the
and bow tie and passion and not just
because you want to
striped trousers make money.
and a tailcoat AR A MINA,
ACTRESS AND CAKE SHOP OWNER
and a pair of tap
shoes and I do a
Fred Astaire with It’s the job of
a fact. But I don’t scientists to
ruin the fact ... explore black holes
I’m just giving in the universe, but
the job of a poet
it life.
BRYCE COURTENAY, WRITER
is to explore black
holes in the psyche.
SANDR A CISNEROS,
POET
What you see is
not what others
I’M THE see. We inhabit
WORST COOK. parallel worlds
BUT I’M of perception,
PHOTOS: GE T T Y IMAGES
A REALLY bounded by our

GOOD HOST. interests and
PRIYANK A CHOPR A JONAS,
experience.
GEORGE MONBIOT,
ACTRESS
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST
rdasia.com 71
CULTURE
PULLING
THE
STRINGS
OF
HISTORY
Sicily’s puppeteers are
finding novel ways to
keep their art form alive
BY Anna Staropoli
F R O M AT L A S O B S C U R A
72 april 2023
PHOTO: ROSELENA R AMIS TELL A
Salvatore Bumbello stages

daily shows at the Antonio
Pasqualino International
Puppet Museum in Sicily
rdasia.com 73
Deep in the historic heart of the Sicilian capital of

Palermo, a dragon stirs. A drumbeat thuds through the
darkened room as the creature takes ﬂight. The dragon
lurches towards our armour-clad hero, Orlando, but it
is no match for a knight. Orlando’s sword slices through
the beast and its body falls to the ground. Its bloodied
head dangles by a string above the stage. A burst of fun-
house music from a barrel organ closes out the scene.
Here at t he A ntonio Pasqualino tales of Orlando and Rinaldo, two
I nter nat iona l P uppet Museu m, legendary knights, or paladins, of
housed in a grand building that Charlemagne’s court. The pair take
was once home to the 18th-century on dragons, demons and other foes
Hotel de France, slaying dragons is – staple fare for this distinctive style
a family affair. Salvatore Bumbello of Sicilian puppetry, which began in
stages daily live shows at the mu- the early 19th century.
seum’s theatre, often with the help Weat her ing war and econom-
of his ten-year-old daughter Marti- ic turmoil, the Opera dei Pupi has
na and her older brothers Luciano been performed without interrup-
and Francesco. During the dragon tion for more than 200 years. COV-
show, Martina cranked the handle ID-19 threatened that run, forcing
of the barrel organ while her broth- Palermo’s puppeteers to tweak the
ers worked backstage. very elements that set their tradition
The productions follow tradition- apart – or risk losing it altogether.
al storylines from the Renaissance Palermo had dozens of puppet
period and earlier, in particular the theatres before 1950, when interest
in the art form began
to decline. Today, there
are only four left, each
using handmade mario-
nettes that stand nearly
a metre tall and weigh
nine kilograms.
P upp e t r y i n s pi r e d
by regional tales crops
up across cu lt u res,
f rom a nc ient I nd ia’s
74 april 2023
Pulling The Strings Of History
(Above) Martina Bumbello plays the barrel organ during a performance at

the Antonio Pasqualino Museum; (opposite) three of the museum’s
thousands of marionettes
Ramayana and Mahabharata to Salvatore Bumbello learned the art

Japan’s Tale of the Heike. But, says from his late father, beginning when
Jo Ann Cavallo, chair of the Italian he was Martina’s age. Today, he de-
Department at Columbia University signs and creates the elaborate pup-
in New York and who studied Opera pets for his shows as well as for other
dei Pupi extensively in her research puppeteers. Some of his marionettes
PHOTOS: ROSELENA R AMIS TELL A
on Renaissance literature, “Only Si- can be found in the museum’s exten-

cilian Opera dei Pupi stages epic sto- sive collection – with thousands of
ries with intricately structured and Opera dei Pupi puppets, it’s the larg-
painted wooden puppets, in elabo- est of its kind in the world.
rate metal armour, and with swords
and shields made to withstand heavy IN ADDITION to the Sicilian mar-
fighting.” Cavallo says Sicilian pup- ionettes, the museum houses rare
pet theatres are often family-run: water puppets from Vietnam and
rdasia.com 75
Luciano and Francesco Bumbello help their father during a performance
enormous, human-sized puppets his current production – have exist-

desig ned for a show w r it ten by ed for centuries.
Italian fairytale author Italo Calvi- Since the start of the pandemic,
no. Too large to be operated us- however, change was unavoidable
ing strings, the puppets had to be for Palermo’s puppeteers. The the-
strapped to the backs of puppeteers. atres closed temporarily in March
They were retired after a single per- 2020, which Bumbello says jeop-
formance and now occupy an en- ardised their status, recognised by
tire room in the museum, serving, UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Her-
perhaps, as a warning of the risks itage of Humanity list, as the only
of abandoning deeply established uninterrupted puppetry tradition of
conventions, something Palermo’s its kind.
puppeteers have long avoided. “The pandemic devastated the
PHOTO: ROSELENA R AMIS TELL A
“We have not changed anything,” world of puppetr y,” he says. “We
Bumbello says when asked to com- could not act out our stories and
pare his productions with those of consequently could not have an au-
his father. Even the special effects dience.”
he uses – such as pull-apart puppets Rather than shut down complete-
that can be dismembered or behead- ly, the museum took to the inter-
ed, including the doomed dragon in net, allowing viewers to live-stream
76 april 2023
Pulling The Strings Of History
performances until in-person shows without knowledge of the Italian lan-

returned in October 2021. Stream- guage or the stories the productions
ing shows helped keep the tradition were based on, the shows became
going – but for some of the Paler- more action-heavy and disconnected
mo’s puppeteers, evolution of their from their literary inspiration.
art form has been ongoing for years. Some see the challenges created
Third-generation puparo Vincenzo by the pandemic as an opportuni-
Argento, who runs Teatro Famiglia ty for Opera dei Pupi puppeteers to
Argento with his son Nicolò, started experiment with technolog y and
experimenting with new approach- update traditional themes. Expand-
es to Opera dei Pupi to keep his ing to online performances has also
business alive long before the pan- allowed Sicilian puppeteers to try
demic hit. out new, more modern stories and to
Hunched over a desk stage plays that haven’t
in his workshop, Argen- “THE ART been performed in dec-
to chisels fragments of WAS HANDED ades. The Antonio Pas-
metal that w ill form qualino Museum has
the helmet of a puppet
DOWN TO ME. taken this new digital
destined for sale in his I’LL HAND IT direction even further
shop beside feathered, DOWN TO MY by incorporating aug-
puppet-shaped w ine mented reality into its
corks and other items
CHILDREN” puppetry, creating an
intended to appeal to interactive component
tourists. Setting aside traditional sto- for virtual visitors.
ries, he and Nicolò have written orig- Back at t he museum, Martina
inal scripts and added more daring cranks the barrel organ as the show
special effects to their shows. “[Oth- comes to an end. Before the curtain
er puppeteers] don’t always accept closes, three final characters make
these changes,” Argento says, his an appearance. Bumbello, Luciano,
eyes intent on his handiwork. “When and Francesco crouch down, visible
we began, it was much simpler.” at last in front of the wooden set, and
wave at their audience.
TODAY’S OPERA DEI PUPI shows of- “The art was handed down to me,
ten depict knights fighting their way and I will hand it down to my chil-
through one battle after another and dren, as they will do with theirs,” says
emerging victorious before the cur- Salvatore Bumbello. “This way, tradi-
tain falls. As local audiences shrank tion will not be lost.”
in the second half of the 20th century ATLAS OBSCURA (DECEMBER 10, 2021),
and were replaced largely by tourists © 2021 BY ATLAS OBSCURA
rdasia.com 77
ALL IN A DAY’S WORK

Humour On The Job
CARTOON: HARLE Y SCHWADRON. ILLUS TR ATION: GE T T Y IMAGES

Memorable Title Overly Honest LinkedIn
To ensure that a new business Confessions
contact would remember his name, z “I have managed to keep up a sales
my father introduced himself by job for the last ten years without
using a mnemonic device: “My completely losing my soul.”
name is Ron Reader – Reader, like in z “Would prefer job with no real
Reader’s Digest.” responsibility.”
It worked, as evidenced by the z “I don’t believe in spamming
fact that later that day, his new people. Unless you do, in which case
acquaintance introduced Dad to I’m totally fine with that.”
an associate by saying, “Jim, meet z “Able to sit in my chair for
Ron Digest.” extended periods of time without
SUBMITTED BY PAM HERTNER numbness or fatigue.”
78 april 2023
All In A Day’s Work
z “Quite possibly the only person

on LinkedIn who isn’t a ‘results- YOU DO WHAT?
orientated team player with Strange job titles are
excellent interpersonal skills’. ” becoming more common as
https://coburgbanks.co.uk companies look to make their
job adverts and brands stand
Reality Bites out in the marketplace.
ME AT 14: Can’t wait to travel the
Dream Alchemist
whole world once I’m earning my (ACCOUNT MANAGER)
own money.
King/Queen of Rigour
ME NOW: Mustn’t forget that
(ACCOUNT DIRECTOR WITHIN A PUBLIC
Tupperware at work – it’s my RELATIONS AGENCY)
only one. @itsbombardier
Mother Repairer
Above And Beyond (SOMEONE TO REPAIR A METAL
PHONOGRAPH RECORD MATRICE)
The phone rang in our office, and
Chief Troublemaker
my colleague quickly picked it up. (DISRUPTER CEO)
After a few seconds I heard her say,
“Sorry, there’s no one here by that Digital Prophet
(SEEK OUT NEW DIGITAL BUSINESS)
name.”
Not wanting to simply hang up, she Galactic Travel Agent
politely, but not so helpfully, asked, (WORKING FOR VIRGIN GALACTIC TO
HELP SPACE TRAVELLERS)
“May I take a message?”
SUBMITTED BY JOHN BOUCHARD Fashion Evangelist
(ONLINE FASHION EDITOR)
Order Needs A-Dressing Word Wizard
Our rookie restaurant waiter handed (WRITER)
the cook a slip with the customer’s Happiness Hero
order. Next to salad, he’d written the (CUSTOMER SERVICE OPERATIVE)
letter ‘A’. Digital Overlord
Now, we often abbreviate salad (WEBSITE MANAGER)
dressings, like F for French or R for Resumecoach.com
ranch. But neither the cook nor I
could figure out what A was.
So I asked.
“A?” said the new guy,
incredulously.
“A is for AH-talian.”
SUBMITTED BY HOPE VANDER HEIDE
Ancient caves,
monasteries and other
must-sees for fromage fans
BY Sam O’Brien F R O M G A S T R O O B S C U R A
Six Places
CHEESE
LOVERS
80
Should Visit
april 2023
PHOTO: CHA SE DEKKER WILD-LIFE IMAGES/GE T T Y IMAGES IMAGES
TRAVEL
rdasia.com
The iconic dairy cows
of the Swiss Alps
81
here’s some- blue company logo and Swiss cross.
thing about But few know that the cheese is me-
cheese that elicits a ticulously aged in the Kaltbach Cave,
kind of passion and a tunnel-like sandstone formation
loyalty unrivalled in inside Santenberg mountain with cli-
t he culinar y world. matic conditions that are just right for
T hat m ig ht be why ripening cheese. The cool subterra-
people are willing to nean labyrinth, said to be 22 million
t raverse mou nt a i ns, years old, is the natural incubator for
wander through caves, up to 120,000 wheels of cheese, mostly
and milk even t he most-might y Gruyère and Emmental.
beasts, all in the pursuit of a delicious Stacked shelves stretching more
dairy product. than one-and-a-half kilometres hold
Beyond the storied, classic pur- the cheese at a temperature of 12.5°C
veyors of Brie and burrata, however, year-round, and the cool waters of the
there’s a vast network of adventurous stream (Kaltbach means ‘cold stream’)
cheesemakers and aficionados. Here that runs through the cave keep hu-
are six places where fans can fulfil midity levels at around 96 per cent.
their love for fromage. The cave’s unique climate and the
interaction between the sandstone’s
1
KALTBACH,
Kaltbach Cave provides ideal conditions
SWITZERLAND
for ripening cheese
Kaltbach Cave
In t he undulat ing g reen
sprawl of an A lpine val-
ley not far from Lucerne,
PHOTO: REUTERS/MICHAEL BUHOL ZER/AL AMY IMAGES
where clouds swim against
snow-capped mountains
and placid cows graze on
verdant meadows, a cave
formed from a prehistoric
seabed carries a glorious
culinary secret. Many shop-
pers browsing cheese aisles
in supermarkets around the
world will recognise the little
wedges of Emmi Kaltbach Le
Gruyère, with their distinc-
tive black labels featuring a
82 april 2023
Six Places Cheese Lovers Should Visit
3
mineral deposits and the cheese cre- TILLAMOOK, USA
ate a distinctive flavour and aroma, Tillamook County
and give the rinds their signature dark Creamery Association
brown colour. In the northwest state of Oregon,
Like artists working on their mas- cheese cubes hang from the ceiling in
terpiece, cave masters turn, wash and this creamery’s recently renovated vis-
brush the wheels with a brine solution itors centre, which also features such
every seven to ten days. The cheeses memorabilia as a 1927 butter churn-
stay in the cave for up to nine months, er and a stamp used to authenticate
diligently monitored until they reach packaged blocks as genuine Tillam-
just the right aromatic and textural ook cheese. Most impressive is the
maturity. The art of caring for and view of the factory floor, where blocks
gauging the maturity of cheese is a of cheese as big as milk crates roll
skill transferred down through gen- down a conveyor belt and are boxed,
erations of cave masters at Kaltbach, then transported to a warehouse
with no written record of the training. where they are aged from 60 days to
The cave was discovered in 1953; in ten years. You can also get a behind-
need of storage space, local cheese- the-scenes glimpse of the production
makers began keeping their cheese and packaging process; each day, the
there. In 1993, Emmi acquired the creamery processes 800,000 kilograms
cave and has been crafting, storing of milk and churns out at least 85,000
and ageing their finest cheeses in it kilograms of cheese. It is both a mar-
since. vel of cheese engineering and a slice
of the past.
2
BJURHOLM, SWEDEN Cheddar cheese has a long history
The Elk House in Tillamook County. A local ched-
(Älgens Hus) dar won the grand prize at the 1904
Moose milk is sold commercially in St Louis World’s Fair. In 1909, sev-
both Russia and Sweden, but one eral creameries in the area formed
small farm with a herd of 11 moose, the Tillamook County Creamery As-
The Elk House (moose are also known sociation (TCCA) to act as a quality
as elk in some communities) is the control organisation for the cheddar
only place in the world that produc- made throughout the county. A ched-
es moose cheese. The proprietors of dar recipe first developed in the 19th
the farm are famous enough for their century is still used, and the spirit of
moose-based dairy products that they excellence has not waned. In July last
now have an upscale restaurant, gift year the TCCA took home four golds,
shop and museum for visitors, who one silver and two bronzes at the In-
can meet the domesticated moose. ternational Cheese and Dairy Awards.
rdasia.com 83
France’s Tamié Abbey specialises in soft cheese made from raw cow’s milk PHOTO: ANDIA/UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP VIA
4
PLANCHERINE, FRANCE As of 2021, the monastery pro-
Tamié Abbey cessed around 3500 litres of milk per
Tamié Abbey sits in serene day, making about 420 kilograms of
surroundings in the Bauges moun- Abbaye de Tamié cheese, which is
tain range in France’s Savoie depart- pressed and moulded into wheels.
ment. Founded in the 12th century, it It’s then immersed in a brine bath
is today home to around 25 Trappist for two to three hours before being
monks who run a small dairy and moved to the abbey’s cellars, where
GE T T Y IMAGES
cheesemaking operation that pro- it is turned every other day and aged
duces Abbaye de Tamié, a soft cheese for four weeks.
made from raw cow’s milk. Not wanting to waste anything
84 april 2023
during the cheesemaking pro- the same name, spearheaded the

cess, the monks at Tamié Abbey abbey’s foray into the artisanal mar-
came up with an innovative use ket. A local farmer gave the abbey its
for their by-products. In 2003, first cow in the 1970s and the nuns
they built an anaerobic diges- began creating their specialty: the
tion plant, and are able to use raw milk, uncooked, fungal-ripened
excess whey and wash-water to Bethlehem Cheese, which is similar
produce bio-gas. This is used to France’s Saint-Nectaire cheese.
to power the abbey’s hot-water They learned their technique from
system. The success of this ini- a third-generation French cheese-
tiative has inspired similar sys- maker.
tems in France, most notably Mother Noella was even able to
the ‘cheese-based’ power plant use Bethlehem Cheese as the basis
in nearby Albertville, which for her graduate research, earning
supplies enough electricity to
meet the annual needs of more A nun holds a fungal-ripened cheese
than 300 local homes. from the Abbey of Regina Laudis
Abbaye de Tamié cheese is
often compared to Reblochon,
but is slightly thicker. Both
cheeses are made using raw
milk, enhancing its terroir – or
the characteristic taste and fla-
vour imparted to the cheese by
the environment in which it is
made. This helps give Abbaye
de Tamié its nutty, fruity and
distinctively earthy flavour.
5
BETHLEHEM, USA
Abbey of Regina Laudis
The Abbey of Regina Laudis,
appropriately located in the town of
PHOTO: ROBERT FALCE T TI
Bethlehem in the northeastern state

of Connecticut, is home to Benedic-
tine nuns with a taste for life’s finer
cheeses. Mother Noella, who earned
the nickname the ‘Cheese Nun’ after
appearing in a 2002 documentary of
rdasia.com 85
her a doctorate in microbi-

olog y from the Universit y
of Connecticut. A Fulbright
scholarship later brought
her to France, where she
ventured into the country’s
cheese caves to study fun-
gus. She used her research
to determine how fungus
affects the odour and taste
of different cheeses as they
mature.
When she first began cre-
ating cheese at the abbey,
t here was only one ot her
artisanal cheesemaker in
Connect icut. Though t he
industry has since boomed
in the US, the Abbey of Regi-
na Laudis remains one of a
small number of dairies that
are licensed to produce and
sell raw milk products. The Cheesemakers Helmet Pöschel (left) and Christian
nuns still make Bethlehem Schmelzer with their monument to the cheese mite
Cheese at the abbey, as well
as other varieties like ricotta, mozza- this mite, locals could not produce
rella and cheddar. Most of the cheese t hei r fa mous specia lt y cheese,
is consumed by residents of the ab- Milbenkäse.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MILBENK Ä SE MUSEUM
bey and guests, but it is sometimes Milbenkäse has been produced

sold in the abbey’s gift shop along in the Saxony-Anhalt region since
with other homemade treats like the Middle Ages, but the traditional
bread, honey and jams. method was almost lost in the mid-
1900s when the East German gov-
6
ZEITZ, GERMANY ernment outlawed the production
Cheese Mite Memorial and sale of mite-infested products.
In the tiny eastern German vil- After the fall of the Soviet Union and
lage of Würchwitz stands a memori- the reunification of Germany, local
al in honour of a microscopic local science teacher Helmut Pöschel, us-
hero: the cheese mite. For without ing techniques passed down by his
86 april 2023
mother and grandmother, managed black. Well done, cheese mites. When
to preser ve the tradition. Today, the cheese is ready to eat, the mites
Milbenkäse is produced only in the are not removed; instead they are
small village of Würchwitz. eaten along with the cheese. There
Milbenkäse is made by f lavour- are other cheeses, such as Mimolette
ing a soft, white, and unaged cheese from France, that use mites to create a
called quark with caraway, dried el- pitted rind, but Milbenkäse is unique
derflowers, and salt. The cheese is in using them throughout the cheese-
shaped into balls, wheels, or cylin- making process.
ders, which are then dried and left It’s no wonder that local cheese-
in a wooden box containing rye flour makers in Würchwitz decided to
and cheese mites (Tyrophagus casei). honour the hard-working cheese
This is when the magic happens. mites with a memorial. It’s not the
For at least three months, the cheese prettiest of things, but it is a fitting
mites secrete enz y mes over t he tribute to both the mites and the
cheese, causing it to turn yellow and cheese they help produce.
then a darker reddish-brown as it
ripens. Some cheesemakers let the THIS ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED ON ATLAS
OBSCURA (ATLASOBSCURA.COM). © ATLAS
process continue for up to one year, OBSCURA INCORPORATED. REPRINTED BY
by which time the cheese has turned SPECIAL PERMISSION.
Shocking Events
South Korean social media and internet sites were abuzz with
messages late last year from people who said they saw a soaring
object and mysterious lights which appeared to be a UFO. To quash
rumours that triggered the public scare, the country’s military
confirmed it had test-fired a rocket. In a statement, the Defence
Ministry said it didn’t notify the general public of the launch in
advance because it involved sensitive military security issues.
The launch is part of the country’s efforts to build a space-based
surveillance capability.
Meanwhile, closer to the ground, a woman from Hobart in
Tasmania was left shocked when she mistook a real live Tasmanian
devil hiding under her couch for her dog’s plush toy. Her husband
came to the rescue and ushered the furry carnivorous marsupial
out of the house with a broom. HUFFPOST.COM
rdasia.com 87
BONUS READ
Splendid
p
88 april 2023
Vestrahorn Mountain
is the backdrop for
Stokksnes beach
On a visit to Iceland, I discovered an

island of primal landscapes and enigmas –
and a sense that you are never alone
BY Douglas Kennedy
FROM LE FIGARO
rdasia.com 89
I
t was 5am over an airport called Keflavík. It
was dark. It was wet. There was an edgy wind
that made my flight’s touchdown from Boston
one of those Hail Mary moments where even a
non-believer like myself asks for divine intervention.
None was needed. The Icelandair couldn’t help but think that arriving
pilots negotiated this f leeting ex- in pre-dawn blackness, with the rain
istential crisis with aplomb – as if sheeting down like something out
such epic, crazed crosswinds were of Nordic film noir, was the perfect
the usual welcome home. start to my August 2021 journey into
An hour later, still in the dark geographic isolation.
and relieved that I had resisted al- Travel is always freighted with ex-
cohol during the last three hours of pectations. Coming to this distant
the f light – owing to Iceland’s low outpost of human habitation – a
tolerance for booze in your system one-time Danish dependency whose
when driving – I was behind the nearest landmass was that cartolog-
PHOTO: (PRE VIOUS PAGE AND OPPOSITE) GE T T Y IMAGES; (THIS PAGE) MA X KENNEDY
wheel of a rented car, negotiating ical tabula rasa called Greenland – I
the 50 kilometres into Reykjavík. I didn’t know what I would find in this
vast, underpopulated (376,000
inhabitants) subarctic island
nation, whose global position
and its co-habiting arrange-
ment with the European Union
made it the balcony of Europe.
What I didn’t expect to en-
counter, as I approached the
fringes of its capital, was a traf-
fic jam, one of those vast auto-
motive blockages that stretched
to the edge of vision. Having
sped along at 90 kilometres per
Author Douglas Kennedy is an

American writer and novelist;
he has sold more than 15 million
books worldwide
Splendid Isolation
Reykjavík: in Iceland, twilight is a drawn-out dying of the light
hour on the dual carriageway from housing.

the airport, I suddenly found myself And, in the midst of this modern-
in Reykjavík’s morning rush hour. ist, concrete sprawl, a coagulation
Absolute gridlock. A long, slow slog of cars. Is there any better metaphor
towards the city centre. It took al- for the pitilessness of modern life
most an hour to travel the last ten than a traffic jam? Arriving in such
kilometres to my hotel. an inaccessible place and finding
W hat did I see as I crept along myself stuck in the usual Monday
to my destination? All the totemic morning nonsense, while passing
signs of global monoculture. The the usual chicken and hamburg-
usual fast-food outlets. The usu- er emporiums and big box stores, I
al shopping centres. Office blocks couldn’t help but think, is nowhere
with neon signs informing you that in the world free of the ferociously
here were far-flung outlets of inter- neutralising hand of the consumerist
national finance and banking. Sub- multi-national?
urban houses. Tower blocks in rath-
er pristine condition; possibly the EVENTUALLY I REACHED MY HOTEL .
Reykjavík variations of low-income I found a parking spot right outside
rdasia.com 91
The sky here was a moody, ever-changing cycle of grey irritability
its door. “You are lucky,” the woman The rain had subsided outside, but
behind the desk said. a boreal wind was blowing. Though
“Parking in central Reykjavík is im- winter was still some months off,
possible.” I could already feel it knocking on
I still had some hours before my t he door, informing all comers:
room was ready. The receptionist “This is Iceland … you can’t keep
directed me to The Sandholt right me away for long.” I drank my coffee
down the street. “The best place for and observed the couples at the oth-
breakfast in Reykjavík,” she said. er tables. All in their 30s and early
“But you will have to queue.” 40s, many with children, with their
She was right: the queue lasted edgy eyewear, designer prams and a
30 minutes. It was worth the wait. sense of discreet, non-ostentatious
PHOTO: MA X KENNEDY
The café was Scandinavian mini- professional class money behind

malist chic. The coffee was sublime. them.
They had their own baker y w ith I didn’t see anybody wearing a
dangerously good bread and pas- suit or carrying anything that hint-
tries. ed at serious office work. In fact, I
92 april 2023
Splendid Isolation
rarely saw formal business clothes on and a formidable social safety net,
anyone in Reykjavík. Maybe I wasn’t there was now massive insecurity
looking in the right places – law of- as Iceland suddenly found itself in
fices, government buildings, banks. fiscal freefall, courtesy of the sort of
For all of the Icelandic capital’s cowboy financial speculation that
suburban sprawl, its centre was once seemed improbable in such a
compac t a nd possessi ng a pr i- model of rectitude and communal-
mar y-colours charm. Small back ity.
streets with small wooden houses. T here were protests, ma ny of
Upmarket boutiques selling Icelan- which turned angry. The prime min-
dic designers, outdoor gear, handi- ister’s car was pelted by eggs. Many
crafts and Swiss watches. Subdued citizens lost their entire financial
prosperity. A sense of urban seren- foundation. A centre-left govern-
ity and order and quietude, as one ment came into power, and the for-
would expect from mer prime minister
a country that, until
2008, prided itself
IN 2008, was put on trial and
found guilty of one
on its social democ- BANKRUPTCY FOR c h a r ge of f a i l i ng
racy and communal THE ENTIRE to hold emergen-
calm.
But 2008 was the
NATION LOOKED cy meetings in the
lead-up to the crisis.
year when Iceland LIKE A REAL In a very Icelandic
lost its isolated in- POSSIBILITY move, he didn’t go
nocence; w hen it to prison.
w itnessed t he de- F i s c a l s t a bi l it y
fault of all three of its major private- was restored. Prudence and prag-
ly-owned commercial banks, follow- matism came back to the communal
ing their difficulties in refinancing fore. But the shadow of this near dis-
short-term debt. It triggered a run aster, the sense of anger and shame,
on its deposits in the Netherlands is still there below the countr y’s
and the United Kingdom. Relative calm surface. I discovered this on
to the size of its economy, Iceland my first night in Iceland, when I met
experienced what was claimed to a middle-aged university lecturer
be the largest systemic banking col- whom I’ll call Gunnar in a Reykjavík
lapse in economic history. There was bar. After sharing war stories about
a moment when bankruptcy for the our respective divorces (as one does
entire nation looked like a serious over booze late at night), he men-
possibility. tioned that he lost a significant part
W here there had been stability of his savings in the 2008 debacle.
rdasia.com 93
“What can I say?” he asked, mo- it was late summer, the temperature
tioning for the waiter to pour us two outside was around nine degrees
more local Flóki whiskies. Celsius and the sky was a moody, ev-
“I lost so much by trusting the er-changing cycle of grey irritability.
speculators. And like so many of us For almost an hour I passed only
here I am still dealing with its terri- one or two signs of human habita-
ble after-effects. But life is about sur- tion: the occasional house, a rural
mounting difficulties, isn’t it? Still, I shop.
feel we were all seduced by the cra- Radio transmission quickly faded
ziness of gamblers whom we mistak- away. The wonders of 4G signals also
enly believed could line our pockets. faded in and out, meaning that any
We forgot our essential values as a streamed music came and went: I
country … and we paid a price.” had chosen Sibelius for the first part
I mentioned the shock of all the of this journey – his Finnish melan-
fast-food and big-box detritus on cholia so suited the bleak terrain.
the outskirts of Rey- T here w a s some-
kjavík. And the traf-
fic jam. “Oh, I get it,” “EVEN IF YOU t h i ng i nt r ig u i ng-
ly distorted about
Gunnar said. “You THINK YOU HAVE the dark rhapsodic
come here with the ENOUGH PETROL, soundscape of his
usual false impres-
sions of us bei ng ALWAYS FILL UP Fif t h Sy mphony
– w it h its endless
socia l ist V i k i ngs, WHEN YOU CAN” st r ug g le bet ween
detached from the darkness and light –
modern world.” blasting for a time,
I smiled and said: “Don’t we all then vanishing as my little rented
think in picture postcards?” Toyota Yaris struggled up a hill, pro-
To w h i c h G u n n a r r e p l i e d : viding me with a sweeping vista of
“ T h e t h i n g a b o u t Ic e l a n d i s , epic sullenness.
30 kilometres outside of Reykjavík I passed just one petrol station
the modern world vanishes.” during my first hours on the road.
Actually, it was about 20 k ilo- The laconic guy at the car rental
metres out of Reykjavík that I found agency near the airport had asked
myself becoming detached from me about my itinerary and gave me
contemporary realities. I was driv- a curt warning: “Even if you think
ing along a two-lane road, traversing you’ve got enough petrol to get to the
a landscape that reminded me of the next town, always fill up whenever
west of Ireland in its austere verdan- you see a petrol station. Because,
cy and its craggy grandeur. Though truth be told, you won’t see many of
94 april 2023
Splendid Isolation
Strokkur Geyser sends hot water blasting 20 metres skywards from the ground
them outside of towns. And as you “Your tank was almost full.”
will discover, towns tend to be far “I was just being prudent,” I said.
apart here.” “No, you were being paranoid.”
I glanced at the gauge on my dash-
board and saw that I had enough A GEYSER: a blast of hot water that
petrol to cover the 400 kilometres I thermally explodes from the ground.
was driving today. I still decided to An aquatic eruption that has the
fill up. The petrol station was a one- potential to seriously scald anyone
pump affair with a tiny store. A real standing close by. In Strokkur, every-
middle-of-nowhere place. An old one was standing close by with their
man came out. He nodded gruff ly phones at the ready, awaiting the
then waited for my instructions. explosion.
“Fill it up please,” I said. I tend to dodge tourist spots, but

He did as requested. W hen the in Iceland certain natural phenom-
petrol pump stopped, he looked at ena made me put aside my deter-
me with world-weary incredulous- mination to avoid insidious tour-
ness. bus groups with their selfie sticks.
rdasia.com 95
Staring into the Kerid Crater gives one an idea of why Norse myths are so primal
It would have been foolish to miss the most quoted lines about sex from
the chance to see water blast up- Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the
wards from terra firma. Personally, Bell Tolls: “He felt the Earth move.”
I was more intrigued by the burbling In this instance that was the actual
brooks near the central geyser – the case. A fellow American standing
black earth and the low grey after- near me, in a reference to the famous
noon brought to mind Bela Lugosi’s US geyser Old Faithful [a geother-
Dracula from 1931. mal feature in Yellowstone National
But a l l t he bus people stood Park that erupts every 44 minutes to
around a large muddy mound. The two hours], asked his wife: “Do you
flatulent, subterraneous noises gave think that happens every hour on
the impression that it was having the hour?”
gastric problems or a bad case of To which the woman – large, for-
Tourette’s syndrome. And then, with midable, and clearly carrying dec-
one loud whoosh, it burst into ecsta- ades of grievances – hissed in reply:
sy, sending water 20 metres into the “It’s Mother Nature, you idiot.”
air. People immediately scattered.
I couldn’t help but think of one of A CR AT E R i n t he ea r t h – 30 0 0
96 april 2023
Splendid Isolation
years old, 170 metres wide, 55 me- When night finally falls, the nar-
tres deep. A seismic gash, proba- row roads in the hinterland (that is,
bly caused by a collapsed volcano. every where outside of Reykjavík)
I walked its upper ridge, staring down become even more lonely and truly
into its vertiginous cavern. I found eerie.
myself thinking: One of the many I found myself in a modernist ho-
reasons we are drawn to extreme tel in a tiny nowhere town of Vik.
natural phenomena that plunge into I sidestepped reindeer on the menu.
the earth – grottos, caves, the Grand I ate Arctic fish and drank over-
Canyon – is bound up in the human priced Argentinian white wine and
preoccupation of the netherworld be- got to talking with the waitress, an
ing beneath us. The earth from which émigré from Poland. How did she
mankind emerged and to which we find her way from Kraków to this
are all destined to return. back of the back of beyond, a town
A vast gash in the Earth is also a with a supermarket, a petrol station,
geophy sic a l met- this hotel, several
aphor for the sub- low-lying modern-
ter ra nea n hel l to FOR THOSE WHO ist blocks and little
which the damned LIVE HERE, THERE’S more?
are doomed – and
w here t hose w ho
A KNOWLEDGE Graznya (not her
actual name) told
embrace its shad- THAT YOU’RE me t h at s he w a s
ows are fated to be NEVER ALONE an artist; that she
env elop e d b y it s needed to run away
darker recesses. f rom t he popu list
Orpheus follows Eurydice into the realities and general erosion of civ-
underworld and loses the love he so il liberties in Poland; that Iceland,
craves because he reneges on Ha- with its cooperative agreement with
des’s command not to turn back and the European Union, gave her res-
look at her. idency and employment w ithout
In caverns nothing good can tran- bureaucratic hurdles; that she loved
spire, which is why we are drawn to the remoteness and visceral rush of
them. Staring down into this canyon its frequently hard landscape; that
– known as the Kerid Crater – I be- she knew where to “find myself in
gan to understand why Norse sagas places so remote, so raw, that I truly
and myths are so damn primal. believe I am not part of the shit of
The sun doesn’t go down with a modern life.”
dark vengeance in Iceland. Twilight She went on: “Yes, I live in a tiny
is a drawn-out dying of the light. village. But I can be an artist here
rdasia.com 97
and make enough here to maintain that regardless of its epic visual lone-
a good life. I do this job a few hours a liness, you were never alone.
week and spend the rest of my time
painting and heading out into the A BLACK BEACH. At the end of a nar-
wild. And I am far, far away from the row peninsula overshadowed by a
madness of Poland.” hill with a Matterhorn-like build.
I wanted to know more: did her There was nothing in this southeast
family or someone else in her life corner of Iceland except a little café
cause her to flee Poland, to live so and a very simple hotel for those
far off the grid? And what kind of wanting to hike in this ultra-remote
temperament was required to live place. And a couple of locals drink-
in such isolation with all its cultural ing beer in the early afternoon. I or-
limitations? As if reading my mind, dered a hot chocolate. The owner – a
she said: “I know what you’re think- woman in her 50s, the very embod-
ing: She came to Iceland to flee her iment of the Icelandic Earth-Moth-
past. And now, hav- er type – told me: “If
ing ended up at the
end of the world, will THE EARTH you want to go to the
black beach the road
she fall off its edge? BENEATH MY is private. So I have to
But one of the many FEET WAS BLACK charge you.”
good t h i ngs about
this country is that SAND, PROBABLY T he fee w as t he
equivalent of ten eu-
as isolated as we all VOLCANIC ros (US$10). I paid it.
are up here, there is “W hy t he charge
a sense that there are for the road?” I asked.
enough people looking out for you Madame Earth Mother rolled her
to ensure you don’t tumble into the eyes and said, “Capitalism.”
abyss. Not that I am planning to do The gate – the sort that keeps live-
that!” stock and wild animals from wander-
She went off to bring a couple at ing – opened with the smart card the
the adjoining table their main cours- woman handed me. I was amused
es. by this bit of modern technological
Intriguingly, that sense of a qui- gate-keeping in the absolute middle
et-but-present social safety net in of nowhere.
Iceland was confirmed by many oth- The road beyond was semi-paved
er outsiders I met during my travels and dead-ended some kilometres
– Dutch, Bulgarians, Swiss, and two away at a NATO post – a Cold War
more Poles. Living here is under- relic that was undoubtedly still being
scored by the communal knowledge used as a monitoring station at this
98 april 2023
Splendid Isolation
Akureyri is the only city at the top of Iceland; its population is less than 18,000
complex geopolitical time. (Iceland, choppy, Arctic waters of the North

by the way, is the only NATO member Atlantic, the black sand defined a
without any sort of standing army or horizon that ended at a black sea.
military force.) I did a U-turn when I This was a first for me. Though
reached its lightly barbed-wire con- my peripatetic life has taken me to
fines and bumped back along the many back-of-beyond places, I’d
road until, at the far side, I suddenly never felt so disconnected from the
saw what looked like a series of dark noise and detritus of the modern
hummocky mounds of earth. world as I did right now. Black sand
I parked and walked towards the and a black sea, capped by a sky of
round formations. My walking boots deep greyness. A geographic tabula
began to make scrunching sounds. I rasa.
bent down and felt the earth beneath The only city at the top of Iceland
me. It was granulated. It cascad- is called Akureyri. ‘City’ is a bit of a
ed through my fingers. It was sand. misnomer; Akureyri has a popula-
Black sand. Probably volcanic in ge- tion of less than 18,000, which still
ologic origin. And those hummocky makes it one of country’s biggest
structures were, in fact, sand dunes. population centres. It has chic shops
As I walked further from the un- and a modern cultural centre where
paved road, as I headed towards the Icelandic pop artists and a Reykjavík
rdasia.com 99
In the deserted barn, someone had written the same three words over and over
production of Madame Butterfly were “Coming here must have been quite
due some weeks after I left. I even the adjustment,” I said.
found a halal café and an émigré com- “Do I miss the blue skies of LA?
munity from the Middle East. How And the beaches? Sure. But there’s
on Earth did they make their way to snow here seven months a year, and
Akureyri? Every life is indeed a novel. I’ve come to love that. Just as I am
In a rather stylish boutique I heard happy to be away from all the polit-
a truly ethereal young woman speak ical extremism and craziness that is
fluent Icelandic, then switch into America today.”
American-inflected English. A native The next night, sitting in a shab-
of Los Angeles, she had “met a boy”, by hotel in a shabby seaside town
as she ironically put it, who grew up in on the country’s west coast – one of
Akureyri and wanted to return home. the few depressing places I’d been
PHOTO: MA X KENNEDY
Jump cut to several years later and in my travels here – the manager
here she was, the mother of two young poured me a drink and told me that
children, living in the far north of Ice- in the morning I should walk to the
land and running her own emporium back of the hotel and find a desert-
of Icelandic style. ed barn, inside which someone had
100 april 2023

Spendid
Bonus
Isolation
Read
written three words over and over. enigmas – which, like its potently
He wouldn’t tell me the words or ex- hypnotic terrain, play games with
plain how or why they were scrawled your sensibility and remind you of
there. He wanted me to see it and your own insignificance in the larger
draw my own conclusion. metaphysical scheme of things.
The next day, I threw on my clothes In a world so stratified and wracked
and headed out into the morning. I by ever-escalating extremism, Iceland
crossed to the barn. A tumbledown serves as a quiet, important reminder
structure, completely dark inside. that socially responsible democracy
Clicking on the torch in my phone, I can re-emerge from the extremity of
found myself immediately blindsided. fiscal imprudence and that shared
S c r aw l e d e v e r y - communal values are
where in white hand-
writing were indeed
“THERE’S SNOW still considered an
important civic un-
three words: I forgive HERE SEVEN derpinning to quotid-
you. I forgive you. I for- MONTHS ian life.
give you. I forgive you.
Wa s t h i s s o m e
A YEAR, AND I’VE And yet, even way
up here on a wind-
strange piece of per- COME TO LOVE blown corner of Ice-
formance art? A THAT” land’s west coast,
post-modernist prac- someone had taken
tical joke? Or an actual the time to proclaim,
declaration of forgiveness for some over and over again, mercy in the
inflicted pain? And what possessed wake of evident agony. I forgive you. I
somebody to execute many hundred forgive you. I forgive you. I forgive you.
perfectly penned ‘I forgive you’s’ in Crazed compassion and pardon in a
this nowhere barn in this nowhere forgotten barn. And the ultimate Ice-
town? land enigma.
It was a wonderful riddle. Then LE FIGARO (DECEMBER 30, 2021), © 2021 BY LE FIGARO
again Iceland likes its mysteries, its MAGAZINE
Malaysia’s First Reptile Cafe

A Malaysian reptile enthusiast hopes visitors to his pet-friendly cafe
in Kuala Lumpur will learn to appreciate snakes and lizards as much
as they do furrier creatures such as dogs and cats. Bearded dragons,
leopard geckos and corn snakes are among the species in glass tanks
stacked around Yap Ming Yang’s cafe. REUTERS
rdasia.com 101
W
hen I was in primary
school, t he teachers
insisted, “If you don’t
THE have anything nice to
GENIUS say, don’t say anything.” Alice Roo-
sevelt Longworth, a famous socialite
SECTION and gossip, took the opposite view.
Sharpen Your She kept a pillow on her sofa, needle-
Mind pointed with her still-popular mot-
to, “If you can’t say something good
about someone, sit right here by me.”
People who study gossip define it
as any talk about people who are not
present. It can be positive, neutral or
negative, but it’s the mean-spirited
variety – Alice Longworth’s favour-
ite – that has traditionally inspired
disapproval. For many of us, hearing
and telling scandalous stories counts
as a guilty pleasure.
And yet, gossip is by no means a
black and white affair. We have a
natural need for human connection,
and gossip feeds that for good and ill.
There is even evidence that negative
gossip can have merit, as it reinforces
social norms. Much depends on the
GOSSIP motivation of the gossiper: are they

aiming to warn people about a bad
actor or enjoying the malicious pleas-
Why We Need It ure of spreading a harmful story? It

ILLUS TR ATION: PAIGE S TAMPATORI
all comes down to learning how to

curb the mean variety while benefit-
Not all gossip is bad. ing from the useful.
Here’s how to quash the
Why We Gossip
mean-spirited kind
The reasons why people indulge in
gossip or shun it are as individual
BY Katherine Ashenburg as we are. In 20 years of friendship, I
102 april 2023

The Genius Section
have never heard Lyndsay Green, a Criticising those who have trans-
sociologist and author of You Could gressed social norms, for example, en-
Live A Long Time: Are You Ready?, dish courages good conduct and serves as a
the dirt on anyone. When I asked her deterrent to bad behaviour.
why she never gossips, she traced her Scholars also hypothesise that the
behaviour back to her school days – informational value of gossip was im-
and her own sense of security. portant for our ancestors: the people
“People telling hurtful secrets who knew what was going on in the
seem vulnerable,” she says. “They next cave were more likely to survive
use gossip like a chip in gambling: than more isolated individuals.
‘I’m going to throw this While it’s not a life-
in and I hope you will STUDIES and-death matter today,
like me more’.” It’s a tac- gossip’s informational
tic that might work to
HAVE SHOWN function remains use-
gain connection in the GOSSIP CAN f u l. You r col leag ues’
short-term, Green sur- ALLEVIATE speculation about the
mises, but even as a kid company’s change in
she doubted that it built
LONELINESS leadership or focus can
true friendship. keep employees in the
Still, it’s a tempting habit – and loop. The same goes for potential de-
many people can attest there’s some- velopments in your communities and
thing undeniably seductive about be- neighbourhoods.
ing the bearer of scandalous news. Studies have also shown that gos-
For better or worse, a feeling of su- sip can alleviate loneliness, serve
periority can accompany having a as a safety valve for frustration and
juicy – and exclusive – piece of news stimulate the part of our brains that
to share. Dishing the dirt can feel helps us deal with complicated re-
fun and it can also bring us together, lationships. It even calms down our
tightening social bonds. The trick is bodies when it’s used to help others,
learning the benign from the bad. says Matthew Feinberg, a professor
of organisational behaviour at the
Some Gossip Is Good Rotman School of Management in
Despite its longstanding bad name, Canada.
the past few decades have seen a sur- In one study, his subjects observed
prising appreciation of gossip. Psy- people cheating at a game. When
chologists, sociologists and experts they simply watched, their heart
in organisational behaviour write that rates sped up. But when they were
even snarkier gossip can be a powerful able to warn others, their heart rates
aid in bonding and social education. returned to normal.
rdasia.com 103
Motive Matters embroidering a discreditable story to

Is your gossip empathetic, compas- make it even more shameful? Are you
sionate or appreciative? Or is it some- knowingly passing on information
thing intended to wound or, as Green that is incomplete or incorrect?
recognised, to increase your status? When someone approaches her for
John Fraser, a journalist and author, coaching, Schmidt asks them, “Who
relishes and values gossip. Fraser’s do you want to be in the world?” As
gossiping ticks some familiar box- they work together, she keeps tug-
es: he uses it to bond with people, to ging them back to that ideal self. If
inform, to humiliate those he thinks she notices a client disparaging oth-
deserve scorn, and to celebrate ‘the er people, she’ll hold a mirror to the
human circus’. “Only in very rare cir- behaviour and say, “This is the lan-
cumstances do I believe in secrets,” guage you’re using. Does that align
he says. He likes ‘sharing stuff’, which with the person of integrity you say
includes other peoples’ secrets as you want to be?”
well as his own. Also try to analyse yourself as a
While Lisa Schmidt, a coach and listener. As Schmidt tells her clients,
consultant, believes secrets should “What you permit, you promote.”
be respected, she agrees with Fraser When people regularly come to you
on a key point: “Informational gossip with sniping gossip and you allow it,
greases the skids of the world.” you’re creating a culture that feeds
If permission is given, sharing sen- on meanness. You may simply say
sitive information may even provide that you don’t want to engage in that
opportunity for compassion. Say you kind of talk. But even a more subtle
learn that two friends are getting a response works.
divorce. Passing on the information I had a friend who, whenever I
may spare your friends the emotion- bad-mouthed someone, reminded
al exhaustion of telling ever yone me what was good about that person
themselves. The listener may also re- or about the difficulties in their life.
spond by reaching out in kindness to Without ever commenting direct-
one or both members of the couple ly, she taught me that my gossiping
to assure them of support. was not going to be reciprocated. So
I stopped.
Break The Habit Schmidt acknowledges that we
Delicious as it can be to share gossip, won’t always get it right. But if we
the malicious kind can – and often keep pulling ourselves back to the
should – leave a bad taste in your person we want to be, it will get easi-
mouth. Pay attention to your conver- er to chat about people in ways that
sation. How much of it is sneering, or are still fun, but never mean.
104 april 2023

BE CO
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NS PE
AP TIT
RI IO
L1 N
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02
LUXURY JEWELLERY 3
GIVEAWAY PRIZE DRAW

14CT 18CT
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PUZZLES
Challenge yourself by solving these puzzles and mind
stretchers, then check your answers on page 110.
Crossword
Test your general
knowledge.
DOWN
1 North Wales seaside
resort (4)
2 Incentive (6)
3 Shrill chirping insect (6)
4 Canons (5)
5 Landlocked SE Asian
nation (4)
6 Sketched (4)
7 Father (4)
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11 Spreading out (9)
13 Top brass (4-3)
14 Death for a cause (9)
15 Stead (4)
ACROSS 17 Earthquake scale (7)
24 Involuntary muscular
3 Ringed (7) contraction (3) 18 Value (5)
8 ------ Goldberg, actress (6) 25 Up-to-date (2,5) 19 Armistice (5)
9 Highway (4) 26 Covered (7) 22 Smoke duct (4)
10 Lax (5) 30 Young lady (4) 27 Approached (6)
11 Last (8) 34 Instruction for ‘don’t 28 Agree (6)
12 Heavy blow (4) panic’ (4,4) 29 Grey (5)
16 Predicted (7) 36 Northern Irish Tyrone 31 “Prince ---”, Borodin
19 Spark off (7) county town (5) opera (4)
20 Belonging to us (3) 37 Forbidden action (2-2) 32 Spoils (4)
21 Another name for Satan (7) 38 Vortices (6) 33 Individual facts (4)
23 Its capital is Montevideo (7) 39 Learned the ropes (7) 35 Sediment (4)
106 april 2023

BRAIN POWER
brought to you by
Puzzle
Answers
PAGES 110
10
5 2 6
2 9
5 4 3 1
6 2 7
8 7 3 6 9
3 4 5
6 4 7 9
2 4
7 9 8
Sudoku
HOW TO PLAY: To win, put a number from 1 to 9
in each outlined section so that:
• Every horizontal row and vertical column
contains all nine numerals (1-9) without repeating
any of them;
• Each of the outlined sections has all nine
numerals, none repeated.
IF YOU SOLVE IT WITHIN:

15 minutes, you’re a true expert
30 minutes, you’re no slouch
60 minutes or more, maybe numbers aren’t your thing
"Write, Erase, Rewrite"

FAMILY FUN Puzzle

Answers
PAGE 110
Spot The Difference

There are 12 differences. Can you find them?
Triangle
Wrangle
How many
triangles appear in
this diagram?
ILLUS TR ATION: VECTEEZ Y.COM
108 april 2023

The Genius Section
TRIVIA
Test Your General Knowledge
1. Why were the plant species 8. If you were at Point Nemo in

Lamprocapnos spectabilis and the Pacific Ocean, where would
Hoya kerrii especially popular in you find your nearest human
February? 1 point neighbours? 2 points
2. What was built in Austria in 2020 9. How many time zones does New
to be the tallest of its kind? 2 points Zealand have during the summer?
3. The first ever YouTube video, 1 point
posted in 2005, featured what 10. The arduous 1200-kilometre
animals at the San Diego Zoo? 1 point Finnmarksløpet, held every year in
4. When stores in Japan play the Norway, is Europe’s longest distance
song Hotaru no Hikari, known race in what sport? 1 point
elsewhere as Auld Lang Syne, what 11. In what ocean did the RMS
does it signify? 1 point Titanic, at the time the largest and
5. Due to wartime metal shortages, most luxurious ship in the world,
Academy Award winners from 1943 sink in April 1912? 1 point
to 1945 were given temporary 12. Adolescent mammals share
Oscars made of what? 1 point what feature that causes
6. Sweet frittelle and them to fall asleep and
galani are pastries wake up later than adult
traditionally eaten during populations? 1 point
what festival in Venice? 13. Eris, Makemake and
2 points Haumea are what kinds
7. What kind of nut can of objects in our solar
15. The toquilla straw hat,
spontaneously combust, known as the Panama hat, system? 1 point
making it a dangerous is made using a weaving 14. What language has
cargo to transport on technique from which the most letters in its
ships? 2 points country? 1 point alphabet? 2 points
16-20 Gold medal 11-15 Silver medal 6-10 Bronze medal 0-5 Wooden spoon
changes in the brain. 13. Dwarf planets. 14. Khmer (Cambodian), with 74 letters. 15. Ecuador.
Chatham Islands and Tokelau. 10. Dog sledding. 11. North Atlantic Ocean. 12. Temporary circadian-cycle
5. Painted plaster. 6. Carnival. 7. Pistachio. 8. At the International Space Station. 9. Three. New Zealand,
Answers: 1. They have heart-shaped flowers or leaves. 2. A snowman. 3. Elephants. 4. Closing time.
rdasia.com 109
PUZZLE ANSWERS
From Page 106
Crossword
Sudoku
1 3 4 5 8 2 7 6 9
2 6 8 7 9 1 5 4 3
7 9 5 6 4 3 1 2 8
CROSSWORD: CROSSWORDSITE.COM; SUDOKU: SUDOKUPUZZLER.COM ; ILLUS TR ATION: VECTEEZ Y.COM

6 4 2 8 5 9 3 1 7
5 8 7 1 3 4 6 9 2
3 1 9 2 6 7 4 8 5
8 2 6 4 7 5 9 3 1
9 5 1 3 2 6 8 7 4
4 7 3 9 1 8 2 5 6
Triangle Wrangle
Spot The Difference How many triangles appear
in this diagram?
Answer: 24.
Triangles are formed by the following segments:
1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10,1+4, 2+5, 3+4, 5+6, 7+8, 8+9,
9+10, 1+4+8, 2+5+9, 7+8+9, 8+9+10, 1+2+4+5,
3+4+5+6, 7+8+9+10, 3+4+7+8, 5+6+9+10.
1 2
3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10
110 april 2023

The Genius Section
WORD POWER
Show Your True Colours
Roll out the red carpet and prepare to be tickled pink:

these vocabulary words are all related to colour.
Will you win the blue ribbon or wave the white flag?
Head over the rainbow to the next page
for the answers.
BY Sarah Chassé
1. sanguine – A: canary yellow. 8. monochromatic – A: colour-

B: blood red. C: lime green. coded. B: silvery. C: having one hue.
2. blanch – A: become pale. 9. imbue – A: fade over time. B: glow

B: feel blue. C: black out. red. C: to tinge or dye deeply.
3. ombré – A: tie-dyed. 10. sepia – A: brown. B: peach.

B: bronze-plated. C: graduated C: lavender.
in tone.
11. hoary – A: inky. B: off-colour.
4. alabaster – A: white mineral. C: grey with age.
B: copper coin. C: violet-shaded
gemstone. 12. verdure – A: greenery.
B: undertone. C: painter’s palette.
5. variegated – A: striped.
B: camouflaged. C: multicoloured. 13. flaxen – A: pastel.
B: pale yellow. C: bleached.
6. brindled – A: tanned.
B: having dark streaks or spots. 14. celadon – A: navy blue.
C: rose-tinted. B: burnt orange. C: light green.
7. cerulean – A: sky blue. 15. tinge – A: whitewash.

B: royal purple. C: pink lavender. B: slight tint. C: rust.
rdasia.com 111
Answers
1. sanguine – (B) blood red. 9. imbue – (C) to tinge or dye
Smoke from bushfires can give deeply. The setting sun imbued
the sun a sanguine hue, even the sky with streaks of fuchsia.
thousands of kilometres away.
10. sepia – (A) brown. Rebecca
2. blanch – (A) become pale. uses a sepia Instagram filter to
Joe blanched with fear when he give her photos a nostalgic and
saw the snake. warm look.
3. ombré – (C) graduated in tone. 11. hoary – (C) grey with age.
Should I get ombré highlights in “I wasn’t always this hoary and
my hair or dye it all one colour? wrinkled, you know!” Grandpa
joked.
4. alabaster – (A) white mineral.
The museum has a large collection 12. verdure – (A) greenery.
of statues carved from alabaster, a The cottage is nestled in the valley,
soft stone similar to marble. surrounded by the verdure of the
forest.
5. variegated – (C) multicoloured.
Margo’s variegated outfit raised 13. flaxen – (B) pale yellow.
eyebrows at her grandfather’s Letting out a soft whinny, the
funeral. stallion shook his flaxen mane.
6. brindle – (B) having dark streaks 14. celadon – (C) light green.
or spots. We adopted two puppies: Dr Porter’s office is decorated in
Tiger is brindle and Pepsi is black. soothing shades of celadon and
teal.
7. cerulean – (A) sky blue. Known
for its cerulean waters and white- 15. tinge – (B) slight tint.
sand beaches, the island is a top The flower’s petals are usually
tourist destination. white with a lilac tinge at the
edges.
8. monochromatic – (C) having
one hue. The artist’s early work VOCABULARY RATINGS
was gloomy and monochromatic, 5-8: Fair
but her later canvases are bright 9–12: Good
and colourful. 13–15: Word Power Wizard
112 april 2023

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ASIA S I N C E 1922

health A water community

PHOTO: (FACEBOOK) GE T T Y IMAGES; ILLUS TR ATION: (HERO) GE T T Y IMAGES

Singing Along All Wrong caught me singing the wrong lyrics.

was singing, my friend from Korea make a joint appointment with ➤

protect against rising sea levels

sung by Madeleine LeBeau in What a shark-ing sight!

Congratulations to this month’s

beautiful rhodium accents and

EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Louise Waterson

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Smart Animals

south to John O’Groats in the north, and satisfaction of climbing huge

Parental Instincts A few weeks later, the birds

or persists beyond a few days. mucous coating of the stomach; or

pain, you should arrange to see a Dr Lawrence J. Brandt, gallstones

STAGE 1: the ‘dozing off’ period;

HEALTH STAGE 2: muscles, heart rate and

THE 20-MINUTE NAP Between

THE BALANCE CHALLENGE their appearance is an issue.

types of skin blemishes while someone weighing

Actor Cate Blanchett on praise,

Whether they’re furry, feathered or scaly,

PHOTOGR APH BY JAIME HOGGE

1 THEY KEEP exercise during the day also seems

rate of allergies as non- Given you don’t need

ment a l a nd ph y s ic a l THAT would agree – that cats’

3 THEY LOWER 4 THEY HELP YOU

Researchers at the Universit y of Along with their needs for feeding,

In 2019, Janevic led a COMPANIONS. 5 THEY REDUCE

harmf ul bacteria. But 6 THEY IMPROVE

Of Medicine While medicine can often work

exciting new developments that are

treatment means even people in the

Motor Neurone Disease

Motor neurone disease (MND) is a

Pancreatic cancer is surrounded by like chemotherapy or radiotherapy,”

proliferation. By inhibiting CDK4

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is

dexterity and walking speed in 36 being here in five years – a generation

stead make lots of small, incremental

LIFE’S LIKE THAT

I keep writing ‘Stone Age’ instead

Olden Days Puss To The Rescue

the cat and a stick. Bit by bit, the cat

great-grandparents. You may be tough, but you’re

Rage Against the Machine never

around and he was carrying the dog’s “Hey, Mr Tambourine Man,

always thought it was because of

Tiptoe Through The Tulips

words. Primitive versions of the

Feather Boas Lure Wildlife

Very Hoppy Bunnies

PHOTOS: ILV Y NJIOKIK TJIEN

A unique neighbourhood in Amsterdam is showing

how cities can prepare for rising sea levels

arjan de Blok re- on mostly as usual. De Blok chatted

DE BLOK, who has no engi-

Schoonschip residents hang decorative lights among the houses

“Before I visited that boat, I wasn’t When ‘Schoonschip’ is made into