Santorini, Rhodes and Crete are famous for being glorious beach destinations, while the beautiful secluded coasts of mainland Greece are often foolishly overlooked. Chloe Marshall explores these hidden treasures on a unique retreat at Artisa, nestled in the mountainous Pelopenesse region of southern Greece.

Landing at Athens and promptly heading west on the train to Kiato, I follow the journey that defeated Nero across the Corinth canal, taking in the towering mountains on one side and the deep blue sea on the other. Breathing in the clean, citrus scented air and looking across the breathtaking landscape, I think about the mythical and historical background of this picturesque peninsula.

The Peloponnese is the mythical heart of Greece, with many towns and former city states named after the Greek gods and goddesses, such as the nearby Sparta. There’s a cast of ancient characters including Agamemnon as he perilously returned from the Trojan War to Mycenae, and Nestor’s Palace at Pylos, where Odysseus’s son set off in search of his father. Thanks to being the birthplace of Apollo’s healer son Asclepeios, Epidauros has the most celebrated healing centre of the Classical world; people travelled from far and wide to be cured at the sanctuary and mineral springs. In the 4^th Century BC, the prosperity brought by the Asklepieion funded the making of a large theatre with astounding acoustics, which is still used for performances to this day.

I get off the train at Corinth, a once mighty city state of ancient Greece, and as I jump in a taxi for the short last leg of my journey, the winding roads become narrower and smaller, yet my sense of relaxation and isolation only gets bigger. In between the mountains there’s deep gorges, lush forests, green valleys and flowery meadows and as I scan across the coastline I joyfully note that there’s not one single hotel chain in sight. Although there’s some small guest houses dotted in between the residential housing and traditional tavernas, the whole place feels totally unspoilt and nature abounds – in short, this is the perfect place for a retreat.

I’m not here to work on anything, or to even speak to anyone for that matter, and any interaction will be kept to a minimum. I’m here to spend a week in silence on a silent retreat, and to be taken on a journey of self discovery, emotional exploration and mindfulness. Before we go quiet, together we discuss our reasons for seeking silence and there are some touching, intriguing and truly moving stories. From dealing with the loss of a loved one to facing some pivotal life choices, or for some, simply seeking a sense of inner calm, our group already seems to have a few unifying themes that link us all together despite our obvious differences in age, background and nationality.

Throughout the week, we are taken on a wonderful journey despite staying in the same place, and through being quiet I find myself developing a deeper sense of self awareness. Free from the usual demands of the daily grind and the pressure to communicate, I become more observant of my surroundings and I begin to appreciate them on a whole new level, recognising how much I have to be grateful for. Without being prompted, I stop to question myself in ways that I wouldn’t normally dare to, including the biggies such as asking what I really want out of life, and whether my current set up is really making me happy. I begin to identify some changes that I’d like to make, and I realise that familiarity isn’t an excuse for complacency. Not all of my fresh questions are easy to approach, but I definitely find some clarity and honesty in myself that will help to eventually find the answers.

Through exploring different meditative and physical activities, we are taken on an emotional roller-coaster of highs and lows that bring back the memories that triggered these feelings in the first place, then we face up to them and see how it might be possible to let them go. While I’m pretty sure that I haven’t found total enlightenment yet, and that I’d probably need to spend the rest of my days living in a cave to even get close, I definitely feel an inner peace that is only reachable through the absence of communication. And by the end of the week, I’m so elated that I don’t want to speak – even when I am finally invited to do so. For the first time ever, the words don’t naturally come to me and even now, I’m struggling to find the vocabulary to describe something so profound.

Artisa retreats run every year from early April through to late June and from mid September to mid November, and a full programme of events is available online: http://www.artisagreece.org and you can get in touch via email nfo@artisagreece.org or by phone +30 6947570690 or +31 (0)611387147. Don’t forget to check out the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Artisa.Retreat and follow them on twitter: @ArtisaRetreat

Keep your eyes peeled for the full version of Chloe’s article, along with a special Artisa discount for Globetrotters members in the next Globe magazine.

After an excellent talk and screening at London Globetrotters earlier in the year, Sarah tells Globe magazine about her dreams, her adventures and the results of her groundbreaking film.

I stared at the blackboard in total fascination. Then back at the textbook. The words, “Amazon Rainforest” overlapped the thoughts in my mind. The seed of a dream had been planted and I had no idea what was to come 12 years later… At nine years old, I was learning about deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest and how it affected the tribes living there. Instantly, I felt a connection to the jungle and its people. I had ever since fantasized about visiting the Amazon and sometimes in the night, I would experience visions of tribes people calling me.

At the age of 21, I was studying Filmmaking at Kingston University but I didn’t want a career that would fade into oblivion, so I took fate into my own hands. I quit my job, used all my savings, found a tribe that still practise ancient traditions, hired a Cinematographer and a Sound/Boom Operator and headed out to make my first film in the Amazon Rainforest.

I was lying on the canoe, staring up into the clear blue sky and wondering what life with the Huaorani would be like. Already I had passed some oil fields on my way, and the deforestation images from my childhood sprung to mind. Unable to stop, I wondered if we were going to enter a big patch of nothing amongst dense forest? Or did they live in a magical jungle from a mythical world full of wondrous species existing in an emerald green paradise? I had no idea what to expect.

As the canoe stopped at the village, I stared up at the Huao community staring back at me with smiles spread across their faces. A truly tribal welcome. I trudged up the thick muddy hill to greet one of the women and caught sight of my first fully naked Huaorani man – Kemperi, a shaman. He had only a string made out of the hammock leaf fibres tied around his waist.

I was challenged in every imaginable way to immerse fully into the Huaorani culture from weaving hammocks and gathering food in the forest with the women, to making blowguns and hunting with the warriors. With nerves flying frantically all over the place at first, I settled, found deep respect for their ancient traditions and even chose to strip my western identity to fully become like one of them.

Walking through the forest with the women seemed like such a magical journey; a quest back in time to glimpse the world at its most pristine state. I felt my dream had come true and that I had finally found freedom, walking through such natural wonder and breathing in this air. I was secretly hoping to stay there forever. The Huaorani women gathered their food and resources in the jungle with an effortless elegance – everything they need exists in the forest. From collecting plant fibres to make their hammocks and fishnets to cultivating yucca for food, this was definitely the Huaorani Super Store! To think that the destruction of these forests exists not only in the Amazon, but in jungles around the world is horrific.

My time with the Huaorani was definitely the most defining experience of my life. For that, I vowed to be their messenger forever and spread their message through my film and in whatever way I can, to teach people about what is truly important in life. Before I had to force myself to get on the plane back to civilization, I promised them that I would return and show them the film. My mission is to make that return possible and to complete the film by documenting their current situation, which will in effect become, “Amazon Souls part 2”. Now, I need all the help I can get to make this happen!

Amazon Souls was premiered at Cannes Film Festival, shown at the Sheffield Doc/Fest Videoteque, Native Spirit Festival, Sanctum Cinema, Globetrotters Club followed by Sarah’s talk and has been endorsed by Celebrity TV Presenter and Adventurer Bear Grylls as well as support from Sky Rainforest Rescue, Rainforest Alliance and Rainforest Concern. Currently with a sales agents Spier Films, Amazon Souls is aiming to be available to the public by either broadcast, series commission or an online platform.

Please follow Sarah Begum’s work and the progress of Amazon Souls and share these links and stories with everyone to help her raise awareness of the film, the tribe, the issues and the stories interlinking them all. Check out Sarah’s website www.sarahbegum.tv and why not befriend her on facebook www.facebook.com/sarahbegumtv and twitter @Sarah_Begum and you can follow her showreel on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU8woIzcdqp5DUHWC8MVuuQ

To find out more about her film, check out facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmazonSouls twitter: @Amazon_Souls and take a look at the trailer here 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/VeCOSCyhfqg

For the full version of this article, check out the next issue of Globe magazine.

This newsletter was written by Chloe Marshall and Ian Packham, with a contribution from Sarah Begum

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