22

The number two symbolises duality, selflessness and balance, which means that 22 represents double the amount of this energy. This angel number [sequences of numbers with spiritual significance] also strongly links with emotions, intuition, and idealism. We got inspired by it to put together lists of 22 things in various categories to try in the New Year. We bring unusual things to learn, places to visit, good books to read, podcasts to listen to and traditional foods from around the globe to try. We hope you enjoy them!

Learning is the eye of the mind. Embrace new skills to improve your abilities or just to have some fun!

  1. Fencing.
  2. Sign language.
  3. How to play poker.
  4. Learn to Moonwalk.
  5. Whistle with your fingers.
  6. Juggling.
  7. Play the harmonica.
  8. Grow a vegetable garden.
  9. Best ways to invest your money.
  10. Speed reading.
  11. How to perform CPR.
  12. Self-defence.
  13. Develop elegant-looking handwriting.
  14. How to make homemade pasta.
  15. How to make flower arrangements.
  16. Become a braider.
  17. Learn cabinetry.
  18. How to give a relaxing massage.
  19. Create home remedies.
  20. How to roast your own coffee beans.
  21. Master the art of make-up.
  22. How to train a pet.

Oh, The Places You’ll Go
– Dr Seuss

  1. The State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia. One of the largest art and culture museums in the world with over three million items in its collection.
  2. Český Krumlov in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. An outstanding example of a small Central European medieval town whose architectural heritage has remained intact.
  3. El Nido on Palawan Island in the Philippines. One of the most stunning places in the world for its natural beauty composed of lagoons, white-sand beaches, rocky islets, and towering cliffs.
  4. Gudauri ski resort in Georgia. It has 57km of downhill skiing with nine marked pistes and is served by seven ski lifts.
  5. Naivasha Lake National Park in Kenya, outside the town of Naivasha in Nakuru County, which lies northwest of Nairobi. Go for the walking safari.
  6. Bonito, a town and ecotourism hub in southern Brazil’s Mato Grosso do Sul state. Perfect for freshwater snorkelling and exploring the country’s impressive tropical wetlands.
  7. The fjords in Norway. The most iconic ones, seen on postcards, are the Nærøyfjord, the Sognefjord, the Lysefjord, and the Geirangerfjord.
  8. Pissouri in Cyprus. A picturesque village in the hills overlooking the Mediterranean between Paphos and Limassol. Best visited during summer to enjoy the typical tavernas in the square.
  9. Elafonisi beach, located 76km west of Chania, on the southwestern tip of Crete. Elafonisi is an oblong peninsula with pinkish sand due to the millions of crushed shells.
  10. Cappadocia in Turkey. A place known for its fairy chimneys, tall and cone-shaped rock formations. The perfect scenario for a hot air balloon ride at sunrise.
  11. Tongariro National Park, in the centre of the North Island, a few kilometres from Lake Taupo in New Zealand. The park has volcanic features and is an important site to the Maori culture.
  12. The Atacama Desert in Chile. The driest non-Polar desert on earth, with stunning geologic formations, from cone-shaped volcanos and rugged valleys to salt lakes.
  13. Wadis in Oman. The country is divided between mountains, beaches and deserts, promoting the best condition for the wadi formation.
  14. Singapore Changi Airport. Unlike other airports that you want to get out of as soon as possible, at Changi, you want to explore the nature-themed entertainment complex.
  15. Mount Yoshino in Nara Prefecture, Japan. The mountain is Japan’s most famous cherry blossom viewing spot, covered by approximately 30,000 cherry trees.
  16. Lake Como in Northern Italy in the Lombardy region. One of the deepest lakes in Europe, it is set against the foothills of the Alps, creating dramatic scenery.
  17. Machu Picchu, an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru. Built in the 15th century, it’s renowned for its sophisticated dry-stone walls with huge blocks.
  18. Blue Lagoon in Iceland. Located southwest of Reykjavik, the attraction gets its colour from the silica-rich waters that feed it. Besides its beauty, geothermal water is great for your skin.
  19. Sossusvlei in Namibia. Characterised by the large red dunes, Sossusvlei is a huge, white, salt and clay pan. The dunes in this area are some of the highest in the world.
  20. Tromso, Norway; the Swedish Lapland; Reykjavik, Iceland; Yucon, Canada; Rovaniemi, in Finnish Lapland and Ilulissat, Greenland, are the best places to watch the colourful Northern Lights.
  21. Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, India. One of the most beautiful architecture spots in Jaipur, painted in the city’s colour – pink. Its name can be translated to Palace of the Winds.
  22. Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka to visit the impressive tea plantations. You can reach the small village by train from Kandy for stunning views of the surrounding tea farms.

“That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.”
– Jhumpa Lahiri

  1. Paradise – Abdulrazak Gumah (Winner of Nobel Prize 2021 for literature)
  2. The Promise – Damon Galgut
  3. At Night All Blood is Black – David Diop (Winner of Booker Prize 2021)
  4. Girl, Woman, Other – Bernardine Evaristo
  5. Circe – Madeline Miller
  6. Nausea – Jean-Paul Sartre
  7. One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
  8. A Room of One’s Own – Virginia Woolf
  9. Beloved – Toni Morrison
  10. The Forty Rules of Love – Elif Shafak
  11. Men Without Women – Haruki Murakami
  12. And Still I Rise – Maya Angelou
  13. Reading Lolita in Tehran – Azar Nafisi
  14. The Diary of Anais Nin – Anais Nin
  15. Corregidora – Gayl Jones
  16. Patch Work: A Life Amongst Clothes – Claire Wilcox (Winner of 2021 Pen Ackerley Prize)
  17. The Night Watchmen – Louise Endrich (Winner of Pulitzer Prize 2021)
  18. De Gaulle – Julian Jackson
  19. Balzac’s Lives – Peter Brooks
  20. Long Live the Post Horn! – Vigdis Hjorth (trans. Charlotte Barslund)
  21. Harrow: A Novel – Joy Williams
  22. Korma, Kheer Kismat: Five Seasons in Old Delhi – Pamela Timms

Listening means taking a second to consider what they are saying, not just hearing their words.

  1. How to Fail with Elizabeth Day – A celebration of failure and the joy it can bring to life.
  2. Griefcast with Cariad Lloyd – For anyone who has lost a loved one and needs a bit of reassurance.
  3. 365 Stories I want to tell you before we both die – A story a day, every day of 2021, of the life of Caveh Zahedi by Caveh Zahedi.
  4. Why do I feel? – For anyone who needs to be reminded that they are not alone.
  5. History Extra Podcast – BBC’s bite-sized history lessons.
  6. Criticism is Dead – A discussion on our consumption of TV, film and pop culture.
  7. The Sporkful – Understanding the nature of eating.
  8. Poog – A comedic exploration of the wellness industry.
  9. Fighting in the War Room – A film and pop-culture podcast.
  10. Literary Friction – A conversation about books and ideas with author interviews, book recommendations and some music, too.
  11. Broken Record – Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam, and Justin Richmond talks on life, inspiration and music.
  12. Articles of Interest – An exploration of what we wear and why.
  13. Call Your Girlfriend – Two long-distance best friends have fun and wholesome chats about everything from news to books and social inequality
  14. Stuff the British Stole – The history behind objects stolen by the British empire from across the globe.
  15. The Climate Question – A discussion on why we find it difficult to save the environment and how we might change that.
  16. Off Menu – A comedy duo invites guests into their magical restaurant and asks them about their dream five-course meal.
  17. Binge Mode: Marvel – Entering the fantasy world of Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.
  18. The Secret History of the Future – The Economist’s podcast on past innovations, modern technology and the lessons we can learn.
  19. Ctrl Alt Delete – A podcast about work, wellbeing and creativity.
  20. Sway – A discussion on power, those who wield it, those who don’t, and those who
    strive to.
  21. Science of Happiness – Research-based tips on leading a happier and more fulfilled life.
  22. Sleep with Me – Bedtime stories for a restless mind.

PS.: All podcasts are available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

“When someone cooks for you, they are saying something. They are telling you about themselves: where they come from, who they are, what makes them happy.”
– Anthony Bourdain

  1. Khoresh-e Fesenjoon – A classic Iranian chicken dish with pomegranate and walnut.
  2. Beeh Patata – A North-Indian dish with potato and lotus stem.
  3. Unagi no Kabayaki – Japanese grilled freshwater eel.
  4. Arroz con Gandules – Puerto Rican rice with pigeon peas, green olives and sofrito (a sauce that consists of tomato paste, olive oil, onions, garlic, herbs, and peppers).
  5. Amok Trei – Cambodian Khmer steamed fish curry cooked in coconut sauce and served on a banana leaf.
  6. Soupe à l’Oignon Gratinée – French oven-baked onion soup.
  7. Pastel de Choclo – Chilean sweetcorn and beef pie baked with hardboiled eggs, raisins and olives.
  8. Borscht – Ukrainian sour beetroot soup.
  9. Picante de Pollo – Bolivian spicy chicken with Aji peppers.
  10. Sharba – Libyan lamb soup made with chickpeas and orzo pasta.
  11. Satsivi – A Georgian chicken dish with garlic and walnut, usually served cold.
  12. Jollof Rice – A Nigerian rice dish with tomatoes, onions and your choice of meat.
  13. Koktal – Khazakhstani freshwater fish smoked on willow branches.
  14. Colcannon – A traditional Irish dish of mashed potatoes and your choice of cabbage or kale.
  15. Kjøttkaker – Norwegian meatballs made with beef and a host of aromatic spices like nutmeg and allspice.
  16. Nasi Rawon – Indonesian beef soup originating from East Java famous for its dark colour, which comes from the black Keluak nut.
  17. Dolma Mahshi – Iraqi onions stuffed with rice, parsley, cilantro and tomato, spiced with cumin and coriander.
  18. Sopa de Tomate à Alentejana – Portuguese tomato soup with poached eggs originally from the Alentejo region.
  19. Daraba – Chadian stew made with chopped okra, mixed vegetables, tomatoes, stock cubes, and smooth peanut butter.
  20. Kaukau – Papa New Guinean baked sweet potato with coconut oil, orange juice and cinnamon.
  21. Ropa Vieja or ‘Old Clothes’ – Traditional Cuban dish made of shredded beef, onions, peppers and green olives.
  22. Cape Malay Chicken Curry – South African chicken curry made with tomato puree, onions, spices, and lemon dash.
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