Photographs: http://www.beachhouse.be Shrimp fishing using heavy draught horses was for centuries a common sight along the coast of Belgium, the Netherlands and parts of France and England. Now it is only practiced in Oostduinkerke in Belgium. Two hours before and an hour after low tide the paardenvissers or horse fishermen ride with their Belgium Draught horses or Brabants into the sea. A net is dragged between two horses wading breast deep through the water. The catch is then emptied into huge wicker baskets hanging from the side of the horses. Although the tradition goes back 500 years, today there are only 7 fishermen left who fish shrimp this way. In 2013 UNESCO recognized shrimp fishing on horseback as intangible cultural heritage Everything about this speaks to me: the gentle giants, the rituals that are part of manual labour and tradition, the sea. A visit to Oostduinkerke – definitely ...
The Restory is a Retreat Centre nestled against Tafelkop, a singular mountain head near Wakkerstroom, South Africa. Here we live a simple life as contemplatives. It is a place of re-connection: with ourselves, people, Nature, Silence and Creativity. Our retreats are aimed at this. Our conversations, writing and art centre around the univocity of life. We need a place that reminds us that we are all one. The Restory hopes to be such a place and space.