Rojak #90

Stories at the Edge: Where Traditions, Truths, and Time Collide

This month’s Rojak travels through curious crossroads - where old rituals meet new challenges, where forgotten species and recipes return with quiet resilience, and where sacred objects and contested histories stir debate across generations. From unlikely heroes in unexpected forms to cultural traditions at risk of fading, the stories gathered here trace how memory, meaning, and identity are continually reimagined in shifting times. Some pasts are lovingly revived, others fiercely protected, and a few - no matter how controversial - refuse to stay buried.

From highlands to hearths, sacred spaces to humble kitchens, traditions face familiar questions: who will inherit them, and will they still matter tomorrow? Some fade softly, as younger generations turn away. Others return, revived with fresh meaning by new hands and curious minds. Even the most unlikely customs and crafts — once dismissed or endangered — may find themselves unexpectedly reborn as cultural anchors or quiet acts of resistance.

This edition travels across continents to find the living pulse in rituals, recipes, and identities that refuse to be forgotten. The rojak is made possible through the support of readers who believe that archaeology - and the stories that surround it - are richer when they embrace the strange, the overlooked, and the unresolved. This monthly edition is reserved for supporters, whose contributions help keep this space thoughtful, independent, and ad-free. If you enjoy these glimpses into the offbeat and in-between, consider becoming a supporter to unlock the full stories by Buying me a Coffee. Your support helps make room for the deeper and often messier narratives behind the headlines.