Paulette on what’s she’s  learned about a place and its culture through its food…

Central Market, Mombasa, Kenya. Image courtesy Paulette Mitchell

“In my opinion, the local market is the best place to begin in any city. Locals come to the market not just to shop, but also to eat, drink, and to mingle with friends. We are visitors and voyeurs, but the real shoppers in the markets are choosing what to feed their families for dinner. I love to watch how people relate to one another. Sometimes they are jovial, and in other countries everyone seems quite solemn. Some populations are quiet and sophisticated, others more frenzied. Shoppers may bargain, yet in other locales that is not acceptable. When greeting one another, friends may hug and even kiss. Yet sometimes a polite distance is maintained between people. This not only is interesting to view but also offers an incite in how to behave as a traveler.

We are visitors and voyeurs, but the real shoppers in the markets are choosing what to feed their families for dinner.

I like to chat with vendors about favorite recipes using the ingredients at their market stands. I also like to ask them, “What do you do on your day off.” Their minds switch from talking to me as a tourist, and this is how I find some of the most interesting places to go, as well as the best local restaurants.”

The market in Mombasa, Kenya. Image courtesy Paulette Mitchell

In Stone Town, Zanzibar, Paulette discovered a simple yet tasty recipe for Zanzibar Chicken. Scroll down for the recipe!

Paulette’s favorite food markets around the world…

“All food markets fascinate me because they not only offer a feast for the senses but also provide insight into the culture.

Stone Town, Zanzibar. Image courtesy Paulette Mitchell

For example, I love the sophisticated neighborhood markets in Paris, where shoppers arrive without a list and let their five senses take over. In China, freshness in imperative and this is evident in their markets. Live chickens squawk, and fish swim in bins. Even herbs and many vegetables are sold with roots attached so they also are still “alive.” The Chinese believe that food is consumed not only for good flavor but also to promote health, and I think that Americans can learn a great deal from this philosophy.

All is not, however, beautiful and pleasantly aromatic and exploring a local market can force you out of your comfort zone. For example, I’ve witnessed stands of camel heads at the central market in Mombasa, and at sidewalk markets in Luganville, Vanuatu, I was surprised to see piles of fruit bats, which are considered a delicacy in many Asian and Pacific Rim cultures.In Cambodia and parts of Asia, you can smell the pungent odor of durian from afar. So not all is beautiful and pleasantly aromatic. Yet, I love the way that markets show the reality of life around the world.”

Camel Heads in Mombasa’s Central Market, Rambutans in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Images courtesy Paulette Mitchell

So not all is beautiful and pleasantly aromatic.Yet, I love the way that markets show the reality of life around the world.

Paulette on unusual foods she’s encountered…

“When visiting food markets around the world, I seek the distinctive, local ingredients, especially those that are unfamiliar. Rambutan is Malay for “hairy,” and this is the name of a red, spiky fruit native to tropical Southeast Asia. It has now spread to other parts of the world, including Africa. At the Darajani Central Market in the Stone Town area of Zanzibar, the fruit is displayed in colorful clusters in giant bins on the streets. The fruit beneath the hairy exterior is white or pale pink with a sweet, mildly acidic flavor reminiscent of grapes.

I first saw screw pine at a market in Male, Maldives. It’s colorful and photogenic. This fruit, sometimes called pandanus, comes from a tropical plant that grows in rain forests. It changes from green to bright orange or red as it matures. The fleshy pulp of the fruit may be eaten raw or cooked. Sometimes it is pressed to make juice.

Suri Worms and Screw Pine. Images courtesy Paulette Mitchell.

A popular Peruvian food is “suri worms,” a type of Amazonian grub. They are found in the trunks of aguaje palms, which grow in wet areas of South America. Brochettes of this delicacy are skewered and grilled  to make a treat described as “soft, mushy, and delicious.” While in Lima, I photographed vendors selling the worms, but I didn’t have an opportunity to sample this specialty. Maybe next time!”

Paulette’s favorite street food from around the world…

“Street vendors in Mumbai grill corn on the cob over charcoal fires until the sweet kernels are tender and blackened. The corn is then rubbed with fresh lime juice and a potent mixture of spices. The irresistible combination is sweet, tangy, smoky, salty, and spicy.”

Corn on the cob street side in Mumbai, India. Image courtesy Paulette Mitchell

“In Cairo, I just can’t get enough of the traditionally-baked Egyptian pita bread, which rolls out of street-side ovens warm, lightly browned, puffy, and airy on the inside. This bread is the cornerstone of Egyptian cuisine. It’s not only a major component of the meal, but bread is also used as an eating utensil. For me, it’s a welcome snack.”

A baker in Cairo, Image Courtesy Paulette Mitchell.

One of the advantages of taking time to explore food markets and chat with local shoppers and vendors, is discovering new recipes. Paulette shares one of her favorites, a tasty simple chicken dish from Zanzibar. 

ZANZIBAR CHICKEN

Zanzibar is known as the “Spice Island,” and cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper are essential ingredients in their cuisine. If you have the opportunity to visit Zanzibar, be sure to include a spice plantation tour. It’s interesting to see how spices grow and also to learn about their health-promoting properties. For example, in Zanzibar cinnamon is used as a remedy for headaches.

Makes 4 servings

Chicken thighs are traditional, but this aromatic dish can also be made with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Serve with rice.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 1/2 pounds chicken thighs (2 thighs per serving)

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 medium onion, coarsely chopped

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

3/4 cup fresh orange juice

1/4 cup raisins

1/3 cup slivered or sliced almonds

Preparation

Step 1: Combine the cinnamon, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Season both sides of the chicken with the spice mixture.

Step 2: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken. Cook, turning occasionally, for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned but not thoroughly cooked. Use tongs to transfer the chicken to a bowl.

Step 3: Add the onion to the pan. Cook for about 3 minutes or until softened. Add the garlic and stir for about 1 minute.

Step 4: Return the chicken to the pan. Add the orange juice and raisins. When the liquid begins to bubble, reduce the heat to medium. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the chicken is tender.

Serve: Drizzle some of the sweet sauce over the chicken and garnish with almonds.

You can purchase Paulette’s cook books over here! 

At Project Bly, we believe that a city is a living, breathing organism, and to get to know it you have to wander its streets, the veins that fork and converge and inevitably lead you to its heart—the marketplace.

www.projectbly.com

The post What’s Cooking Around the World appeared first on Project Bly Blog.

Photo credit: La Carmina

La Carmina’s path to success seemed laid out along fairly conventional lines, except for one notable exception. Whether on an annual family trip to Hong Kong or pursuing her JDL at Yale Law School, she remained true to her sartorial self-expression, developing a playful Gothic-Lolita style that drew heavily on both traditional dress and modern couture.But when her career took an unexpected left turn, La Carmina found the perfect venue to showcase her penchant for fashion, ethnicity, and street culture beyond the mainstream.

How did you transition from a budding law career to being a travel and fashion blogger?

It all happened gradually. I started the blog while I was in school, so I developed it first as a hobby. My posts about cute food in Japan and weird theme restaurants got the attention of a literary agent, and by the time I graduated, I had two book contracts. I was able to focus on blogging and related work, and it all grew from there–to TV, travel partnerships, and more.

Why do you travel?

I’m lucky that my family exposed me to travel from an early age. We went to Asia almost every year to see family, and I had been around the US and Europe by the time I was in my teens. Even as a child, I loved seeing new places and feeling inspired by the local culture and architecture. I knew travel would always be part of my life, but I never imagined in a million years that I’d be able to make it my job, and see all these far-off dream destinations.

Photo credit: La Carmina

With her purple hair, cat-eye makeup and penchant for black, La Carmina creates a sartorial base that is both distinctive and oddly universal. In the way that a cartoon can sometimes be a truer rendition than a photograph, her Gothic context makes the details and structure of traditional dress uniquely accessible, be it a Balinese robe or a German dirndl.

Do you ever go out without your signature look? 

All the time. On planes, I’ll wear comfortable clothes, no makeup, and glasses. I’m never without my colorful hair, and my t-shirt may have a bat print on it, but I don’t feel I need to dress to the nines at all times.

Does traveling with such a standout look ever get in your way when exploring a place, or does it help?

 I actually enjoy dressing up in styles that are inspired by the local culture, but still fit my aesthetic. For example, in Bali, I wore an Indian-style outfit–but with my signature purple hair, and hippie glasses! Likewise, I wore rainbow colors in Cape Town (known for its bright Bo Kaap district) and Japanese street style in Tokyo. I feel fashion is a huge part of my personal expression, and a way for readers to make a strong visual connection to the places I’m writing about. Everywhere I’ve traveled, I’ve always gotten positive feedback on my style–and it’s a fantastic way to get conversations started with locals.

Rainbow Village in Taichung, Taiwan
Photo credit: La Carmina

Along with many amazing opportunities with worldwide media outlets (such as National Geographic CNN and the Travel Channel), La Carmina’s inimitable travel style has brought her access to international subcultures that are virtually unnoticed (if not ignored) by outside visitors. While any traveler can benefit from her reports on where to stay, local festivals, and cultural notes, La Carmina offers travel guides specifically for alternative communities whose aesthetics she represents.

Have your particular interests in lifestyle and fashion helped you see sides of destinations that you might not otherwise experience? (Helped you meet certain people, gain certain experiences, etc.)

Marrakech, Morocco
Photo credit: La Carmina

Over the past eight years, La Carmina has covered nearly every major destination of note, from standbys like Paris and Bali to newer trendy destinations like Vietnam and Iceland. She makes herself at home in every place she visits, showing how looking different need be no barrier to accessing the cultural riches all over the globe.

Where is a place in the world where you feel perfectly at home?

I always feel at home in Hong Kong, since my parents are from here and I’ve been coming here annually since I was a year old. Picture walking down the street and looking up and neon signs in Chinese characters, next to cute character posters. You’ll smell Chinese food coming from market stands and local eateries, and hear people talking in Cantonese (peppered with the signature Ai-yahh! expression). The humidity will stand out on your skin, followed by brisk air conditioning as you enter one of the many giant malls. Perhaps you’ll stop for a cup of jasmine tea and egg tarts. Hong Kong is truly a feast for the five senses.

What does your way of traveling bring to the world that no one else’s does?

Hopefully, I can bring awareness to alternative and sometimes misunderstood cultures around the world. Right now, my team and I are delving into the new technology of Virtual Reality, which lets you capture environments in 360 degrees. With a headset, you’ll feel like you are actually traveling with me, in the Fez market or looking over a view of Lisbon! Our most recent virtual reality travel films are found on their Radius VR site–we’re excited to grow this new medium. Check out my La Carmina blog for my latest adventures and add me on Instagram and Snapchat (@lacarmina) to see my latest travels on the go!

Photo credit: La Carmina

The post Uncovering the World’s Alternative Side appeared first on Project Bly Blog.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

1. Energy and Strength Handwoven basket from Marrakech, Morocco

2. Antique Tomoe Japanese Indigo Ikat from Wajima, Japan

3. El Jems Pouch from Tunis, Tunisia

4. Silver Coin Necklace from Bukhara, Uzbekistan

5. Red Dao Brass Memory Bracelet from Ta Phin, Vietnam

6. The New Bohemians: Cool and Collected Homes by Justina Blakeney

7. Modern Blue Earth Striped Bowl from Kanazawa, Japan

8. Orchid Silk Scarf from Bukhara, Uzbekistan

9.Miao Pink Wedding Pillow from Beijing, China

10. Nzuri Agate and Bronze Necklace from Mombasa, Kenya

11. Jazah Suzani from Bukhara, Uzbekistan

12. Jing’an Round Copper Teapot from Shanghai, China

At Bly, we believe in craftsmanship and one-of-a-kind and we are committed to the idea that there is something special in the hand-to-hand transaction. We believe in stories, in history and the way an object can come to encapsulate something much bigger than itself. We believe that a city is a living, breathing organism, and to get to know it you have to wander its streets, the veins that fork and converge and inevitably lead you to its heart—the marketplace. Explore and shop streets of cities around the world at Project Bly. 

The post Bly’s Bohemian Gift Guide appeared first on Project Bly Blog.

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Edmund de Waal inherited a collection of Japanese netsuke— finely carved wood and ivory miniatures animals from an Uncle. The only family heirlooms to survive the Nazis and World War II, de Waal is the fifth generation to inherit these carvings– a hare, a tiger, a rat- and his exquisitely written book, The Hare with Amber Eyes: A Hidden Inheritance, tells the story of his Jewish ancestors through the netsuke. It is a book exploring  memories contained within objects.

I want to know what the relationship has been between this wooden object that I am rolling between my fingers… and where it has been. I want to walk into each room where this object has lived, to feel the volume of the space, to know what pictures were on the walls, how the light fell from the windows. And I want to know whose hands it has been in, and what they have felt about it. I want to know what it has witnessed.

De Waal’s family memoir is a haunting story of the Ephrussi family’s journey from Odessa to Vienna and Paris. It is about loss and resilience, but it is also a book about inheritance and the giving of a gift from one generation to the next. In many cultures, gifts are given to be passed on. We’ve had the privilege of acquiring such gifts from around the world. While we don’t know whose hands they’ve been in and what they’ve witnessed, each one is special; they’re gifts that were given on occasions like weddings and births and were then re-gifted. They’re gifts to create memories with and gifts to pass down to the next generation.

1. Antique Hanging Bell from Mumbai, India

2. Miao Red Chrysanthemum Pillow from Beijing, China

3. Antique Cannetille Pendant from Krakow, Poland

4. Antique Spring Dao Wedding Scarf from Ta Phin, Vietnam

5. Antique Brass Ceremonial Bowl from Malacca, Malaysia

6. Vintage Lacquered Comb and Hair Pin from Kanazawa, Japan

7. Vintage Nkyim Nkyim Kente Cloth from Kumasi, Ghana

8. Antique Brass Anklet from Kumasi, Ghana

9. Four Winds Silver Sinia Tea Tray 

10. Gulnar Vintage Suzani from Bukhara, Uzbekistan

The post Gifts to Pass Down from One Generation to the Next appeared first on Project Bly Blog.

Photography by Leyla Kazim

After a day getting drenched by super-soakers and buckets of water being thrown over us during the annual festivities of Songkran (Thai new year), we settled down in sodden clothes to an early dinner of khao mok, Thai biryani. Here with tender goat meat and spiced rice, topped with crisp fried shallots and coriander, served with a sweet and sour side sauce of coriander and mint, and a generous helping of dry roasted chillies, pounded and mixed with a bit of oil. Enjoyed at Khaosoi Isalam, down as the best place in Chiang Mai for this staple of the Thai Muslim community.

~ Leyla 

Leyla, was brought up in London by a Mauritian mother and Turkish-Cypriot father, and her blog chronicles her discovery of food around the world. Read our interview with this inspiring woman who incidentally has a degree in Astrophysics and her path to the Cutlery Chronicles below!

The post Thai Biryani from Chiang Mai, Thailand appeared first on Project Bly Blog.

What all of this has taught us, is that as diverse cultures are across the world, they’re also the same. We take pleasure in celebrating the uniqueness of each place we visit, but we also love the similarities we find across cultures. In this series, Same but Different, we give you a glimpse into our connected world through Project Bly’s lens.

Balloon Sellers from Mumbai to Mexico.

A Balloon Vendor in Mumbai, Photography by Shriti Bannerjee for Project Bly.

Kids everywhere love balloons! This balloon vendor was photographed near Bhendi Bazaar in South Mumbai, India.

Balloon vendors in Oaxaca, Mexico. Photography by Marcela Taboada for Project Bly.

The zócalo (main square) is the heart of  Oaxaca, and is where locals and tourists gather in the evenings and weekends to play and people watch.

Project Bly is a website built on the philosophy that to know a city, one must wander its streets. 

www.projectbly.com

The post Same But Different: Balloons Around the World appeared first on Project Bly Blog.

Victory Cigarette Poster; Manchurian Cigarette Poster

Dude looks like a lady—and he is! As the saying goes “sex sells” and cigarette companies world-wide have been using sex and women in advertisements around the world since the 188os. But back in the China of the 1920s, it wasn’t considered appropriate to have women appear in ads, so middle-aged men dressed in imperial-style drag served as stand-ins. By the 1930s real women began appearing in ads often with western style hair-dos, like this Manchurian Cigarette Company poster, signaling the transition between imperial and republican China.

The Manchurian Cigarette Company and the cigarette industry in Manchuria also has a fascinating history.  From 1932-1935, the territory historically known as Manchuria, which covers northeast China and inner-Mongolia, was a Japanese puppet state, “ruled” by the deposed Qing emperor Puyi (also known as the last emperor of China). The Manchurian Tobacco Company was most likely a Japanese controlled-enterprise established during this period when cigarettes were a booming industry in Manchuria. Credit for introducing the machine-made cigarette in China is given to The British Tobacco Company (BAT) which began selling cigarettes in China in the early 1900s. BAT soon established factories through Chinese subsidiaries in Manchuria and at its peak in 1937  sold  55 billion cigarettes in China. Few Chinese companies were able to compete with BAT and almost all went out of business in the 1920s;  BAT’s only competitors were Japanese companies.  Eventually BAT’s assets were seized in 1941 by the Japanese following their 1937 invasion. BAT was kicked out of China in 1953 when the Republic of China was established.

Talk about a conversation starter on your wall! Check out some interiors that inspire us with their China 1930s style!

via Lucy Gough Stylist

Stylist Lucy Gough pairs this vintage 1930s Chinese poster with moody walls and silver. Explore more of her work here!

via Apartment Therapy

Where else to display vintage posters but in the bathroom! We love everything about Vanessa Dingwell’s bohemian Californian pad. Check it out on Apartment Therapy.

via We Heart

We love the 1930s Chinese poster-inspired art in Zhou Zhou, a bar in Melbourne, Australia that serves brews from all over the world including hard-to-find Japanese stout. Read more at We Heart.

Get the look! 

Victory Cigarette Poster

Manchurian Cigarette Poster

Project Bly lets you explore and shop street markets around the world. At Bly, we believe in one-of-a-kind and we are committed to the idea that there is something special in the hand-to-hand transaction. We believe in stories, in history and the way an object can come to encapsulate something much bigger than itself. We believe that a city is a living, breathing organism, and to get to know it you have to wander its streets, the veins that fork and converge and inevitably lead you to its heart—the marketplace.

www.projectbly.com

The post Cigarettes and Sex in Manchuria appeared first on Project Bly Blog.

Baskets often tell stories about the earth, its forests, meadows and rivers. Take the Bolga basket for example, sturdy, round colorful baskets that come from Bolgatanga, the Savannah grasslands of North East Ghana. The baskets are woven from Guinea grass that grows in the Red Volta river valley, home to elephants, antelope and crocodiles.

Bolga Baskets from Ghana. Photography by Jessica Comingore for Project Bly.

While people in Bolgatanga have always woven baskets, they were originally used to strain pito beer made from fermented millet. As global demand for these sturdy baskets grew, they’re now commonly used as market baskets, and are strong enough to hold the heaviest of yams.

Yam seller, Hajjia (left), with a friend in Kejetia Market, said to be the largest in West Africa, in Kumasi, Ghana. Photography by Nyani Quarmyne for Project Bly.

Depending on where you go in Vietnam, you’ll find bamboo baskets in all shapes and sizes and used for a variety of everyday activities. Large baskets with back straps are used to collect grain during the harvest, lidded baskets are used to store grains, and smaller ones used to pack a lunch of sticky rice to take to the field.

Most baskets in Vietnam are made from Bamboo. Photography by Ehrin Macksey for Project Bly.

In Hanoi, the Old Quarter is organized by craft with each street selling a different craft. These streets correspond to ancient craft guilds which originated and are linked to craft villages surrounding the city. Hang Bo street for example was home to rattan basket weavers who likely originated in the villages of Bang So and Phu Vinh both about 20 miles or so from Hanoi.

(L) Abastos Market (B) Valeria shows us how to weave a basket. Photography by Marcela Taboada for Project Bly

In the State of Oaxaca, San Juan Guelavia not far from the market town of Tlacolula is known for its baskets. Most baskets are made from cornhusks or palm fronds, are simple and utilitarian and used for holding tortillas, fruits and vegetables or storing grain. Mercado Abastos in Oaxaca is a good place to shop for these baskets.

At the Mercado Benito Juarez, the craft market in Oaxaca, Mexico we met the lovely Valeria who hand weaves baskets called tanates de palma from strips of palm leaves. Pretty and functional, the precision of the weaving and geometric perfection of the design is all the more impressive considering that she makes up the designs as she weaves. Valeria hails from the town of Miahutlan de Porfirio Diaz, and learned the art of basket-weaving from her mother, who learned it from her mother.

Guaraní baskets and other market finds from La Paz, Bolivia. Photography by Kelly Ishikawa for Project Bly.

In the department of Tarija located in Southern Bolivia, the Guaraní people are famous amongst other things for their folklore and mad basket weaving skills. These baskets are made with a reed called tankuarans, and are typically woven by men. Found in La Paz, Bolivia, these baskets tell a story of migration. The lowlands are the fertile bread -basket of Boliva, but with the expansion of cash-crop agriculture and the oil and gas industry, its poorest inhabitants have been forced to migrate elsewhere.

A Baker in Marrakech, Morocco. Photography by Shantanu Starick for Project Bly.

In Marrakech, Morocco bread known as khobz is a symbol of hospitality, friendship and generosity, and if invited into a local’s home, you always be offered bread. It’s no surprise then that bread- baskets are found all over Morocco.

Baskets from Marrakech, Morocco. Photography by Jessica Comingore for Project Bly.

Shop baskets from around the world! 

Follow us on Pinterest for inspiration on incorporating global market finds into your home.

The post Basket Case: Baskets from Around the World appeared first on Project Bly Blog.

Bicycles Around the World; Malacca, Marrakech, Oaxaca and Mumbai (Left to Right)

1. Women’s Rights in Afghanistan

The bicycle played an important role for women’s rights in the United States, and in 1896, our namesake, Nellie Bly, the globetrotting fearless journalist interviewed suffragette Susan B. Anthony about the bicycle for the New York World:

“Let me tell you what I think of bicycling,” Miss Anthony said, leaning forward and laying a slender hand on my arm. “I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel. It gives woman a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. It makes her feel as if she were independent.”

119 yeas later, the bicycle is responsible for another 2-wheeled gender revolution. In Afghanistan, a country where women had almost no rights under the Taliban’s oppressive regime, young Fatima Haidari founded a Kabul Bike Riding Club with the support of Girl Up, a U.N. organization that advocates for young girls around the world, and Mountains2Mountain. In an interview with NPR, Haidari says cycling allows “woman to be able to get somewhere without a male’s help”, an essential ingredient for self-reliance and independence.

Humans of Afghanistan met up with this Bicycle Club in Kabul.

2. New Words in Netherlands

The Netherlands is the undisputed bicycle capital of the world, and there just about as many bicycles as people in the bike-friendly capital, Amsterdam. The Dutch word for bicycle is “fiets” (pronounced feets), and one of the most popular fiets is the omafiat or the grandma bike. A sturdy roadster often with a basket for groceries, it’s ridden by men, women, children and yes, even grandmas. Omafiat might just be our new favorite word!

Summertime in Amsterdam.

3. Communism and a Changing China

In Mao’s China, the bicycle was a symbol of an egalitarian society, and people aspired to own sanshengyixiang, or “three rounds and sound” — a wristwatch, bicycle, sewing machine and radio. By the 1980s, a bicycle became a symbol of backwardness, but as the Atlantic reports, in an effort to battle the smog and traffic from cars, the government is trying hard to make them cool again!

A mobile vegetable stand in Xiamen, China; image by Claudio Zaccherini

4. Climate Change in Vietnam

In the 1970s and 80s in Vietnam, the bicycle was the main means of transport for most of the population. As the economy grew and standards of living rose, bicycles were traded in for motorcycles. Now 90% of vehicles on the roads of Hanoi are motorcycles, and Vietnam’s air quality ranks among the worst in the world.

A woman cycles past the gate to the village of Ha Thai on the outskirts of Hanoi, Vietnam; photography by Ehrin Macksey for Project Bly

5. The Partition of India 

Bicycles in Mumbai; Photography by Shriti Bannerjee for Project Bly

India, is the second largest manufacturer of bicycles, and leading the way is Hero, a company whose roots can be traced to four brothers who grew up in a little town in Pakistan called, Kamalia. This 70 year old company is not just a story of success, but one of resilience.  Forced to move from their hometown after the bloody partition between India and Pakistan in 1947,  the brothers eventually settled in Ludhiana, Punjab where they had to start their business all over again. The company now manufactures 18,500 bicycles a day, up from 25 a day in 1955!

6. Art in Malaysia 

“Little Children on a Bicycle” by Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia; Photography by R.M. Nunes

In Penang, Malaysia, Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic transformed the streets with a series of murals that used 3 dimensional props like bicycles! Zacharevic who calls Penang home says that “Penang island, with its heritage and rich blend of cultures, is an artistic inspiration in itself. I have always been fascinated by its culture and history; especially reflected in its textures, old walls and heritage shop houses. ”

7. Economic Development in Zambia

Masai woman in Ngorogoro, Tanzania; Photography by Meunierd

Bicycles can create access to everything from education to healthcare and economic opportunity. A Chicago entrepreneur,Frederick K.W. Day  recognized this, and started a non-profit called World Bicycle Relief that makes bicycles for rugged sub-saharan african roads. One of the biggest impacts is creating access to markets so that a farmer, can take his produce to market or a weaver his rugs.  Assembled in Zambia and Zimbabwe, the charity has employees in 8 countries, and its bicycles are available all over East Africa.

Pretty cool, huh?

Want more bicycles stories from around the world, follow Project Bly on instagram where we’ll be posting our favorite images this summer as well as yours! Use hashtag #blystreetlife for a chance to be featured!

#blystreetlife Bicycles Around the World: Arimatsu, Japan; Marrakech, Morocco; Malacca, Malaysia, Marrakech, Morocco (clockwise)

Project Bly is a website focused on street culture around the world. 

Cycle on!

The post Bicycle Stories from Afghanistan to Zambia appeared first on Project Bly Blog.