'Round The World Travel Feel like conquering the world? Give us the run down, your game plan, the strategy...
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09-04-2008, 04:01 PM
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#1
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always trippin'
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Horses in Argentina, Chile, Australia, Mongolia and France
I'm looking for advice/contacts/experience/anything/resources on horse-centered cultures and herdsmen in the named countries (and maybe Morocco too), ie the Gauchos in South America, Moroccan and Mongolian nomads, Australian Jackaroos/drovers, and Gardians in the Camargue.
I guess questions I have are...
Do these communities still exist? and...
How easy/difficult would it be to integrate myself into them? and...
Anything on the subject, really.
Also, any cultural representations in literature/film/music that you might recommend that deal with these communities.
Sorry, I'm a bit incoherent right now but hopefully someone has something to offer.
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09-04-2008, 05:31 PM
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#2
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Certified Wise
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Australia
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There are definitely opportunities to do that sort of thing in Oz. Here they are called Stockmen, a trainee male is called a Jackeroo and a female is called a Jillaroo.
A quick Google turned up this http://www.jjoz.com.au/jackjill.htm which is a training thing that could lead to a job but I'm sure you'll be able to find other things. I've had friends go and work on outback properties.
As for literature/film/music, try and track down an Australian movie called The Man From Snowy River and also the poem it was based on if you're interested. Also by the same poet, Banjo Patterson (probably Australias most famous) is a poem called Clancy of the Overflow which I think probably sums up how we're all felling when not travelling. Also check out various poems by Adam Lindsay Gordon
Also the upcoming Nicole Kidman/Hugh Jackman epic is bound to have a bit of Stockman stuff in it. Imaginitively titled Australia
Hope that helped out a little bit. I'm sure other Aussie TPunks will know more about it than me. It's about time you started thinking more about Aus.
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One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die -HST
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09-04-2008, 06:40 PM
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#3
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french touch
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Québec
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Have you seen Urga ? Beautiful russian movie by Mikhalkov. t think this could inspire you a lot, but it is about Inner Mongolia (in China).
I know tourism in Mongolia evolves around this mythical way of living. You can rent a yourte (whatever the english spelling!). But do some people still live so for real, I have no idea.
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people are people
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09-04-2008, 09:38 PM
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#4
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TPunk Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Buenos Aires
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Let's see... gauchos are representative of the Argentine Pampas which is basically where most of the farm land is, but you'lle find them everywhjere there are ranchs. Here is a quick good description
Gauchos from different provinces have different clothes, as seen here:
Literature... oh how to explain all of this in English when I know so little in Spanish!! Hahaha let's see. We have a literary type (?) called "Literatura gauchesca" and it deals with carachters such as gauchos and their problematics, lifestyles, etc (?) I hope you get what I mean!! Quick explanation in wiki here. The best known book is Martín Fierro, by José Hernández. Plot. Charachter description. Is the book we ALL read here at school. It was first published in 1872. You have to know that Argentina always had this division (even now, 200 years after this country was created) between people who wanted to copy Europe (people from the city of Buenos Aires), who saw the provinces as the "wild". There was a book written by Domingo Sarmiento (president in 1868) called Civilización y barbarie (civilization and barbarism)... I mean, it doesnt get more clear than that.
Anyway, the gauchos where considered to be that "wilderness" most people in BA wanted to straighten up. The gauchos where described as lazy... even if that wasn't always the case. They also formed lines in the first Argentine regiments... this land was huge.. and explained really fast the idea was to conquer land and take it from the native americans, so they formed armies to go on the "Conquistas del Desierto" (Conquest of the desert).
You can still find gauchos today. Most of them work at a ranch for a land owner. But it's not like a "close community" as some of the others you have named. They do resemble a lot the America cowboy, with completely differnt traditoions, of course. Things that are typical in gauchos are: bombachas de gaucho (their pants), they wear a facón (lovely decorated knives), drink mate (though now EVERYONE here has mate), play pato ( horseball), etc etc etc. Some towns and cities are very traditional and keep their values and traditions alive. Many cities here in Argentina stand out for something they do, weather it's apples, chees, cattle, lake area, etc. San Antonio de Areco is the Tradion City. You should look that up: Once a year they hold a big parade with people in original clothes and all, playing traditional gaucho games and all. Even though gauchos where "the help" now a lot of land owners keep the same traditions, dress the same way, etc.
Hope all this helps.. sorry it's a bit of a mess and ewxplaionedin super easy language... but it's kindda late... if you need anything else just ask!! And if you do come here I'm gonna sit you with my best friend Florencia who knows ALL about this!!
FACÓN
BOLEADORAS (to throw and catch cattle with)
BUNCH OF PEOPLE SHARING A ROUND OF MATE
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Been to: Argentina, Chile, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt. Greece, Turkey, England, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgium, USA, Mexico, Spain, Monaco, Czech Republic, Ireland and Uruguay.
Next trip: Still pondering the possibilities for January 2009... * OH THE MYSTERY!! *
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09-04-2008, 09:40 PM
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#5
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TPunk Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2005
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Oh! gauchos from Uruguay are PRETTY MUCH THE SAME as in Argentina!
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Been to: Argentina, Chile, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt. Greece, Turkey, England, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgium, USA, Mexico, Spain, Monaco, Czech Republic, Ireland and Uruguay.
Next trip: Still pondering the possibilities for January 2009... * OH THE MYSTERY!! *
The travel bug is insatiable
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09-05-2008, 12:43 PM
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#6
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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I had a dream about owning a horse with my friend Shaina two nights ago... Hope this helps!
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US Soccer and Toronto FC Fanatic.
July 23 - Sept 13: Back in Europe! Off to Brest, France for a French language course. Schedule is open before August 7 and after August 28, suggestions?
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09-05-2008, 10:26 PM
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#7
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always trippin'
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Thanks for the amazing info so far guys...this is all very very helpful. I will let you know what turns up - I am definitely thinking very seriously about these places!
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