TRAVEL
treating the structures to deter overzealous revellers from shimmying up to the coveted balcony space. Positioned next to the Mississippi River is the vast Mardi Gras World, a warehouse where the magic of the Mardi Gras is in the making as a year-round industry. Here artists, sculptors and even the robot Pixi are busy crafting over 500 floats and bringing characters to life in a range of materials from paper-mache, clay and fibre glass. It’s like a sculpture wonderland of figures, from a styrofoam Shrek to King Kong. It’s also a den of floats which feature multi-sections that can stretch up to 200 feet long, complete with hydraulic moving parts, LED lighting, and pyrotechnic effects. Mardi Gras World is a tourist attraction with tours and fun facts for all the family. It originated in 1932 as Kern Studios when the first mule-drawn float was built on the back of a garbage wagon. The buzz, spirit and energy of the Mardi Gras does not disappear after the police have cleared the streets on the last day. The party atmosphere in the French Quarter continues with jazz, restaurants, tours and attractions all year round. THE SOUNDS OF JAZZ Jazz was born in New Orleans but its roots lay in the musical traditions of Europe and Africa. The music representing the artistic expression of dreams and destiny. Around the streets today, the distinctive sound seems to bubble up from the streets, trumpets blaring, a crash of the cymbal and blows of a horn, laced with vocals form the rich bass band culture. Visit the New Orleans jazz museum, dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of jazz music. It’s easy to imagine the jazz funerals and slow shuffle march often portrayed in Hollywood in James Bond, Live & Let Die. And jazz legend Louis Armstrong was born here, an airport named after him and a park dedicated to his gift. Of the many accolades he received, being elected King of Zulu during Mardi Gras was the one that he often said meant the most. A photo of him as Zulu made the cover of TIME magazine in 1949. Armstrong’s best- known songs include When the Saints Go Marching In, “What a Wonderful World” and “Hello, Dolly!”
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EC Magazines | Seoul Edition 2025
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