Thursday, October 31, 2013

Bodi Tribe

The tribe where big is definitely beautiful: Ethiopian men compete to be the fattest in the village by drinking a gruesome mixture of blood and milk while living in isolation for SIX months

  • Men from the Bodi tribe compete to become the fattest during the new year or Ka'el ceremony
  • They spend six months guzzling a mixture of blood and milk in a bid to fatten up as fast as they can
  • The winning fat man doesn't get a prize but is feted as a hero for life by the rest of the tribe
  • Bodi want to retain their traditions but they are threatened by government resettlement plans
By Ruth Styles
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Slim might be in elsewhere but for Ethiopia's Bodi or Me'en people, bigger is always better. The tribe, which lives in a remote corner of Ethiopia's Omo Valley, is home to an unusual ritual which sees young men gorge on cow's blood and milk in a bid to be crowned the fattest man.
Six months after starting the regime, the men emerge to show off their newly engorged physiques and for a winner to be chosen. The champion fat man is then feted as a hero for the rest of his life.
Now the little known rite is the subject of incredible photos taken by French shutterbug Eric Lafforgue - who spent time with the Bodi while travelling through south-western Ethiopia during the run up to the Bodi New Year or Ka'el ceremony.
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Hero: Every child wants to become one of the fat men, according to Lafforgue, who are feted as heroes by the rest of the tribe for their incredible feat
Hero: Every child wants to become one of the fat men, according to Lafforgue, who are feted as heroes by the rest of the tribe for their incredible feat
Competition: On the day of the Ka'el ceremony, the tribe's fat men walk for hours around a sacred tree, watched by other men and helped out by the women
Competition: On the day of the Ka'el ceremony, the tribe's fat men walk for hours around a sacred tree, watched by other men and helped out by the women
Challenge: The feat begins six months before the Ka'el ceremony when participants retire to their huts where they stay, while the women bring them food
Challenge: The feat begins six months before the Ka'el ceremony when participants retire to their huts where they stay, while the women bring them food
Too much! A Bodi man finds that his morning bowl of blood and milk is a little too much and is ill outside his hut - watched by a baffled-looking herd of cows
Too much! A Bodi man finds that his morning bowl of blood and milk is a little too much and is ill outside his hut - watched by a baffled-looking herd of cows
One of the Bodi tribe's fat men with his family
One of the men enjoys his last blood and milk meals of the day
Regime: Each competitor is nominated by his family who then spend the next six months helping him to fatten up on a diet of cow's blood and milk
Sadly, the Ka'el ritual and the Bodi's traditional way of life is under threat from the Ethiopian government who plan to resettle 300,000 people from all over the country on their lands.
For now, the tribe continue as they always have, and still celebrate Ka'el in traditional style each June.

The contest begins six months before the ceremony. Every family is allowed to present an unmarried man for the challenge, who, after being chosen, retires to his hut and must not move or have sex for the duration.
Food comes in the form of a cow's blood and milk mixture, served regularly to the men by women from the village. 'The cows are sacred to the Bodi tribe so they are not killed,' explains Lafforgue. 'The blood is taken by making a hole in a vein with a spear or an axe, and after that, they close it with clay.'
Because of the scorching temperatures, the men have to drink the two-litre bowl of blood and milk quickly before it coagulates but as Lafforgue reveals, not everyone can handle drinking so much at speed.
'The fat men drink milk and blood all day long,' he says. 'The first bowl of blood is drunk at sunrise. The place is invaded by flies. The man must drink it quickly before it coagulates but some cannot drink everything and vomit it.'
On the day itself, the men cover their bodies with clay and ashes before emerging from their huts for the walk to the spot where the ceremony will take place. 


 

Preparation: On the big day, the contenders for the Bodi tribe's fattest man ceremony ready themselves by covering their bodies in a mixture of white clay and ash
Preparation: On the big day, the contenders for the Bodi tribe's fattest man ceremony ready themselves by covering their bodies in a mixture of white clay and ash
Decoration: The dress code for the ceremony also includes a selection of beautifully worked headdresses, in this case, one made from a mixture of cowrie shells and ostrich plumes
Decoration: The dress code for the ceremony also includes a selection of beautifully worked headdresses, in this case, one made from cowrie shells and ostrich plumes 
Covering: Every part of the men's bodies are daubed with the ash and clay mixture and the men also wear colourful beaded necklaces and bracelets
Covering: Every part of the men's bodies are daubed with the ash and clay mixture and the men also wear colourful beaded necklaces and bracelets
On the way: Once the men are ready to go, they walk to the sacred tree where the ceremony takes place - a challenge for them because of their weight
On the way: Once the men are ready to go, they walk to the sacred tree where the ceremony takes place - a challenge for them because of their weight
A Bodi woman wipes away the sweat of one of the fat men
Given a lift: Eric Lafforgue helped this man get to the Ka'el ceremony
Challenging: For many of the fat men, the walking proves exhausting. Luckily, the women (top) and Lafforgue himself (bottom) help them out
Relief: During the walk and the ceremony that follows, the Bodi women are on hand to help out the fat men with drinks of water and fortifying alcohol
Relief: During the walk and the ceremony that follows, the Bodi women are on hand to help out the fat men with drinks of water and fortifying alcohol
Thanks to the weight gain, many of them find covering the short distance tougher than the weeks spent fattening up. 'Some fat men are so big that they cannot walk anymore,' explains Lafforgue.
'One asked me if he could use my car to go to the ceremony area. Once in the car, he started to drink milk and blood again because he said he wanted to keep trying to be the fattest until the very last moment.'
The ceremony itself involves spending hours walking in a circle around a sacred tree, watched by the other men and helped by the women who ply them with alcohol and wipe away the sweat.
Once the fattest man has been chosen, the ceremony ends with the slaughter of a cow using a huge sacred stone. Village elders will then inspect the stomach and the blood to see whether the future will be a bright one or not.
After the ceremony, the men's lives return to normal and most lose their enormous bellies after a few weeks of eating sparingly. But a few weeks later, the next generation of competitively fat Bodi men will be chosen and the cycle will begin again.
'Becoming a fat man is the dream of every Bodi kid,' says Lafforgue. 'A few weeks [after the ceremony] he will recover a normal stomach but he will remain a hero for life.'

Sacred: The fat men run or walk around the village's special tree, watched by the tribe's elders and other men, and helped by the women
Sacred: The fat men run or walk around the village's special tree, watched by the tribe's elders and other men, and helped by the women
Exhausted: The men have to take regular breaks
Agonising: The men show the strain as they run
Exhausting: Because the men are so overweight and have been unable to exercise for six months, they need regular breaks during the ceremony
On tenterhooks: After hours of running around the tree in the scorching sun, the men wait to hear who will take the title of the Bodi's fattest man
On tenterhooks: After hours of running around the tree in the scorching sun, the men wait to hear who will take the title of the Bodi's fattest man
Nerves: The women await the results with just as much interest as the men - the majority of Bodi girls hope to one day marry one of the fat men if they can
Nerves: The women await the results with just as much interest as the men - the majority of Bodi girls hope to one day marry one of the fat men if they can
The winner: The 2013 champion will be considered a hero for the rest of his life
Runner up: This impressively chubby chap didn't quite make the grade
Winner: The 2013 champion is the man on the top, who beat off all comers - including the man on the bottom. Both will be feted as heroes for the rest of their lives
Slaughter: A cow is killed at the climax of the celebrations using a sacred stone
Augury: The elders look for future portents in the cow's blood
Sacrifice: The Bodi kill one of their precious cows at the end of the ceremony and the village elders inspect its blood and entrails to see what the future holds for them
Relief: After the ceremony has concluded, the men return to normal eating patterns and have usually lost the extra weight within a few weeks of Ka'el
Relief: After the ceremony has concluded, the men return to normal eating patterns and have usually lost the extra weight within a few weeks of Ka'el
Opportunity: The Bodi women also use the ceremony as an opportunity to inspect potential husbands
Beauty: Most of the women boast elaborate scar patterns on their skin
Opportunity: Women use the Ka'el ceremony to inspect potential future husbands - in the Bodi tribe, fat is considered extremely attractive
Threatened: The Bodi's traditional lifestyle is under threat because of government plans to settle 300,000 people from all over Ethiopia in Hana Mursi, the main Bodi town
Threatened: The Bodi's traditional lifestyle is under threat because of government plans to settle 300,000 people from all over Ethiopia in Hana Mursi, the main Bodi town
Beautiful: A Bodi woman living in the threatened village of Hana Mursi displays her spectacular scar patterns and elegant gold coiled cuff jewellery
Beautiful: A Bodi woman living in the threatened village of Hana Mursi displays her spectacular scar patterns and elegant gold coiled cuff jewellery
Stunning: The Bodi tribeswomen wear beautifully bright clothes for the ceremony
Bodi women also wear ash and white clay, but in this case, the woman pictured has used it only for her hair
Striking: The women attending the ceremony use it as an opportunity to show themselves off in their brightest and most beautiful clothes

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Bed in a bottle

Bed in a bottle: French hotel where the rooms are plastic bubbles (but don't worry, you can cover up at night!)

  • Unique hotel rooms in woodland ten miles from Marseille
  • Stargazers are provided with a complimentary telescope
  • Bubble rooms popular with couples and there has been a marriage proposal
By Emma Thomas
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Guests at this hotel really are living in their own bubble as hotel rooms are contained in huge plastic globes.
French designers have created the otherworldly spheres deep in the heart of woodland just ten miles north of Marseille.
The Attrap'Rjves family hotel, in the Allauch commune, gives adventurous travellers the chance to spend a night under the stars without resorting to tents.
From £100 a night, outdoor lovers can enjoy a stay in a two-person bubble room, made from transparent plastic, and soak up stunning scenery, natural beauty and astronomy.
Bed in a bottle: Guests pay £100 a night to stay in the two person bubble rooms deep in the woodland
Bed in a bottle: Guests pay £100 a night to stay in the two person bubble rooms deep in the woodland
A little bit of privacy: The bubbles can be covered up at night to afford guests some privacy
A little bit of privacy: The bubbles can be covered up at night to afford guests some privacy

Inside the fishbowl: The bubble suite is made of transparent plastic and guests can enjoy stunning scenery, natural beauty and astronomy
Built by specialist French designers, the hotel is nestled in the heart of the Allauch commune, just ten miles north of Marseille
Inside the fishbowl: The bubble suite is made of transparent plastic and guests can enjoy stunning scenery, natural beauty and astronomy. Built by specialist French designers, the hotel is nestled in the heart of the Allauch commune, just ten miles north of Marseille
Each room comes with a complimentary telescope for budding stargazers to enjoy the night sky - they even have a chart to log their findings.
Visitors can choose from five rooms - Suite Chic, 1001 Nights, Zen, Glamour and Nature - but willing staff will also cater to specialist requests.

Since opening in 2010, the isolated retreat has become the dream destination for holidaymakers looking for a private getaway.
Owner Murielle Giovansili said: 'When guests first arrive they are extremely excited and happy to stay - it is the ultimate pleasure for us seeing them.
Stargazing: Each room comes with a complimentary telescope for budding stargazers to enjoy the night sky
Stargazing: Each room comes with a complimentary telescope for budding stargazers to enjoy the night sky

Experience: Visitors can choose from five rooms - Suite Chic, 1001 Nights, Zen, Glamour and Nature
Experience: Visitors can choose from five rooms - Suite Chic, 1001 Nights, Zen, Glamour and Nature

Cosy: The owners say the bubbles are a hit with couples and they have even had a marriage proposal
Cosy: The owners say the bubbles are a hit with couples and they have even had a marriage proposal
'It's a real experience for our guests. They can relive their childhood dreams or spend a romantic night together with loved ones. We've even had a wedding proposal.
'The cosy cocoons are an ingenious concept that can be enjoyed all year long even with bad weather.
'Each bubble has its own identity and the decor varies depending on the ambiance guests want - they are truly fantastic.'
Isolated: Since opening in 2010, the isolated retreat has become the dream destination for holidaymakers looking for a private getaway
Isolated: Since opening in 2010, the isolated retreat has become the dream destination for holidaymakers looking for a private getaway

Gaudy gold BMW

All this bodywork is dragon me down: Gaudy gold BMW complete with wings, tail and feet made from yak bones

  • BMW Z4 has been sprayed gold and adorned with bone scales and feathers
  • The dragon car has wings on its doors, claws on the wheels and a long tail
  • Adornments are made from yak bones and would greatly affect performance
By Daily Mail Repoter
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Many BMW fans will likely be horrified by the customised 'paint job' that this Z4 has endured.
But a rare few may actually love it.
At the very least it's difficult not to appreciate the amount of work that has gone into this dragon auto-job.
A matter of taste: To some this might be their dream BMW 'paint-job' but it's unlikely to appeal to the masses
A matter of taste: To some this might be their dream BMW 'paint-job' but it's unlikely to appeal to the masses

The scaly vehicle is made from yak bone, decorated and painted gold
The scaly vehicle is made from yak bone, each scale decorated or painted gold

But effort is no guarantee of achievement, and its questionable whether anyone would genuinely be seen in this vehicle.
Or whether it could still get anywhere near the Z4's usual top speed of 156mph.

Sprayed a gaudy gold, the BMW Z4 has then painstakingly been adorned with the limbs of a dragon, including legs and feet with golden claws, wings on the scissor doors, a tail that sashays behind it and a bonnet that is covered in scales.

Each and every scale is made from the bone of China's indigenous mountain yak, and is designed with a dragon-inspired pattern.
The dragons claws clasp around the car's wheels
The dragon's claws clasp around the car's wheels

A fiery tail sashays from the Z4's boot
A fiery tail sashays from the Z4's boot

It might be eye-catching, but whether or not the vehicle performs well is another question, given the excess weight from the bone, and resistance from the design.
The unique design was on display last week at the China Import and Export Fair, in the southern Guangdong province.
It's not known if this model was for sale - and if so, if it sold - but it certainly stood out from the crowd.
The vehicle's bonnet is entirely covered in the boney scales, forming the dragon's giant nose
The vehicle's bonnet is entirely covered in the boney scales, forming the dragon's giant nose

The unusual design got some bizarre looks from spectators attending the trade fair in the southern Guangdong province
Baffled: The unusual design got some bizarre looks from spectators attending the trade fair in the southern Guangdong province
It is not known if the unique model was for sale at the import/export trade fair
It is not known if the unique model was for sale at the import/export trade fair
Difficult to miss: The BMW Z4 has then painstakingly been adorned with the limbs of a dragon
Difficult to miss: The BMW Z4 has then painstakingly been adorned with the limbs of a dragon

The doomsday vault

Just in case we come a cropper: The doomsday vault that keeps seeds for every type of agriculture mankind relies upon should a disaster ever wipe them out

  • The Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway is home to more than two billion seeds
  • The seed bank can withstand a nuclear strike and aims to preserve crops in the face of natural disasters and war
  • Rare images of the food ark, which has 4.5 million varieties of seeds, were taken by photographer Jim Richardson
  • Vault was started by conservationist Cary Fowler from the Global Crop Diversity Trust and cost £4million to construct
By Tara Brady
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These incredible images give a rare glimpse inside the 'Doomsday' seed vault which protects the world's food supply.
On an Arctic island off the coast of Norway lies the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which is home to more than two billion seeds.
The secure seed bank which can withstand a nuclear strike, aims to preserve crops in the face of climate change, war and natural disasters.

Food ark: Entrance to the Global Seed Vault in Norway which is home to more than two billion of the world's seeds
Food ark: Entrance to the Global Seed Vault in Norway which is home to more than two billion of the world's seeds
Supplies: Carey Fowler at the Doomsday seed bank in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway, which protects the world's food supply
Supplies: Carey Fowler at the Doomsday seed bank in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway, which protects the world's food supply

Life-saving: The seed bank was dug into frozen mountainside on an Arctic island in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway
Life-saving: The seed bank was dug into frozen mountainside on an Arctic island in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway

These rare images taken by photographer Jim Richardson offer a visual tour of the food ark, which safely homes up to 4.5 million varieties of seeds from almost every country in the world.
It preserves duplicate collections of seeds for everything from peas to wheat on behalf of the world's genebanks.

The seeds in the vault can only be accessed when the original seed collections have been lost.
The seeds are stored inside sealed envelopes, then placed into plastic tote containers on metal shelving racks and kept at a temperature of -18C. 
Unique: Carey Fowler at the Doomsday seed bank in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway which was dug into the frozen mountainside above the town
Unique: Carey Fowler at the Doomsday seed bank in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway which was dug into the frozen mountainside above the town

The seed bank was dug into a frozen mountainside above the town as a last chance repository for millions of seeds, that could be used to restore agriculture should a disaster wipe out plants we depend upon for food
The seed bank was dug into a frozen mountainside above the town as a last chance repository for millions of seeds, that could be used to restore agriculture should a disaster wipe out plants we depend upon for food

The secure seed bank which can withstand a nuclear strike, aims to preserve crops in the face of climate change, war and natural disasters
The secure seed bank which can withstand a nuclear strike, aims to preserve crops in the face of climate change, war and natural disasters

Cary Fowler speaks to visitors who have arrived to see the Svalbard Global Seed Bank, also known as the Doomsday seed bank
Cary Fowler speaks to visitors who have arrived to see the Svalbard Global Seed Bank, also known as the Doomsday seed bank

The seeds are stored inside sealed envelopes in the vault and can only be accessed when the original seed collections have been lost
The seeds are stored inside sealed envelopes in the vault and can only be accessed when the original seed collections have been lost

These rare images taken by photographer Jim Richardson offer a visual tour of the food ark, which safely homes up to 4.5 million varieties of seeds
These rare images taken by photographer Jim Richardson offer a visual tour of the food ark which safely homes up to 4.5 million varieties of seeds

Fascinating: Cary Fowler speaks to a crowd of people at the Svalbard Global Seed Bank, also known as the Doomsday seed bank, in Norway, about the collection
Fascinating: Cary Fowler speaks to a crowd of people at the Svalbard Global Seed Bank, also known as the Doomsday seed bank, in Norway, about the collection

Preservation: The seed bank contains more than two billion seeds in case the world's food supply is destroyed by a disaster
Preservation: The seed bank contains more than two billion seeds in case the world's food supply is destroyed by a disaster

Genius: The food bank preserves duplicate collections of seeds for everything from peas to wheat which are kept at a temperature of -18C
Genius: The food bank preserves duplicate collections of seeds for everything from peas to wheat which are kept at a temperature of -18C

The permafrost surrounding the facility helps maintain the low temperature of the seeds should the electricity supply ever fail
The permafrost surrounding the facility helps maintain the low temperature of the seeds should the electricity supply ever fail

The low temperature and limited supply of oxygen inside the vault prevents the seeds from ageing.
The permafrost surrounding the facility helps maintain the low temperature of the seeds should the electricity supply fail.
The vault was started by conservationist Cary Fowler from the Global Crop Diversity Trust. 
It cost £4 million to construct and since it's opening in 2006 it has accepted deposits of seeds from all over the world.