La Meca se encuentra en Arabia Saudita y es la capital mundial del Islam,todos los años millones de fieles musulmanes peregrinan hasta su Mezquita
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Music for lazy days
- Buena Vista Social Club - Ruben Gonzales - Piano solo
- Cinematic Orchestra - Arrival of the birds
- The Knife - Pass this on
- Black seeds - The answer
- Snoop Dogg - Sixx minutes
- Moodyman - Sweet yesterday
- Janis Joplin - To love somebody
- Portishead - Numb
- Metallica - One
- Fleetwood mac - Dreams
- Chet Baker - Almost blue
- Pink Floyd - Hey you
- Via Crucis - Maria (Sopra la Carpinese)
- Massive attack - Paradise circus
- Koop, Ane Brun - Koop island Blues
- Depeche Mode - The love thieves
- In the mood for love - Yumeji's theme
- Chris Isaac - Wicked games
- The Cure - Lullaby
- D'angelo - Smooth
- Bob Marley - Turn your lights down low
- Air - Talisman
- Damian Marley - Road to zion
- Rashid Behbudov - kuchalara su sapmisham
- Kid Cudi - Do It Alone
- Amy Winehouse - Take the box
- Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower
- Stereotyp & Soothsayer - Dub Club Track
Alex has by the way made the mastering for one version of the last dub track and it's album Hi-Fidelity Dub Session 3. Extremely good shit. I don't know if you guys know, but Alex has mastering engineering as his primary profession and he's also the founder and former owner of Hitmakers studio in Barcelona. /T
Phuket Vegetarian Festival - My favourite event in Phuket!
The 2011 Phuket Vegetarian Festival starts in the evening of September 26th. The date changes every year as it's based on the Chinese lunar calendar. Only another 4 months to wait! I will post the full 2011 schedule on the blog nearer the time. My favourite time of year, and it's not because of the food. I am not a vegetarian, though I try to stick to "the diet" during the festival, meaning no meat, no alcohol, no dairy, no onion or garlic, no eggs. Over the years on this blog, I have posted many times about the festival.. no need to repeat everything here. For more general information and links to just about every post about the festival with photos from 2006 - 2010, information about the shrines and food and more - start here : The Amazing Phuket Vegetarian Festival.
It's not for everyone. If you know about the festival, you'll know why... some people love it, some moan about the street processions blocking traffic for a week (around Phuket Town, true enough), some consider it to be "just a show for tourists" (very untrue), and lots of people are turned off by the more bloody aspects of the festival. The festival has a long, long history. This is not a show, not a fake. The history, the tradition and the respect for the festival among the local people is plain to see. Just to be clear, not all local people get involved. The vegetarian festival is based on Chinese beliefs and the participants are generally from Phuket's Chinese-Thai community which makes up around 30% of the population. Most of the participating shrines are in and around Phuket Town or Thalang, the 2 old centers of Phuket.
(above) Prayers and Respect - Kathu village shrine outside Phuket Town is one of the main centers for the vegetarian festival. Dressed all in white, local people carry incense at the start of the fire walking ceremony.
Why do I love this festival so much? You know, the first couple of years I was in Phuket, I saw almost nothing of the real local life, knew nothing of the history of Phuket .. I just dived and hung around with diving people, went out to bars and never went out to explore the island. The first time I saw anything of this festival was in about 2003, driving into Phuket Town to pay my tax, and got stuck in traffic caused by some damn local street procession! Over the years we have enjoyed exploring Phuket and the surrounding area and discovering new back roads and new events. And I have read a lot about the history and traditions here. The vegetarian festival is celebrated in other parts of Thailand where there are Chinese-Thai communites, but Phuket is where it started back in 1825.
(above) Kathu shrine is my "local". We live about a mile from old Kathu village where the shrine is located. Kathu is actually where the history of the festival began, being the center of the tin mining boom which attracted many Chinese people to Phuket in the 19th century. I like to head to the shrine at any time during the festival to "people watch". I love the atmosphere. Everyone is dressed in white. I mean not everyone in Phuket, but around the shrines, pretty much everyone. In the weeks before the festival, shops are selling the white clothes. It's a sign of purity. I like to visit the shrines to catch a glimpse of the tradition of the festival. On the first day (see below) the Go Teng pole is raised to allow the spirits of the Emperor Gods to enter the shrine.
And then the street processions begin. Every day for a week. Each day with participants from different shrines. And this is where things get weird. Shrines, candles, prayers, traditions... and self mutilation and extreme piercing. By their suffering does the whole town receive good luck and blessings for the year. Purification by eating the right food, by wearing white and by sticking sharp objects in your face. If you have not seen this before, it's a shock. It's also a photographers paradise! Well, I am not a pro photographer, but during the festival I will take hundreds of pictures. Trying to select just a few for this blog is hard! You can find lots of photos on Flickr - see Vegetarian Festival 2010 - Vegetarian Festival 2009.
(above) Vegetarian Festival procession carrying statues of the gods led by the "Ma Song" who have let the spirits of the gods enter their bodies. Some of these Ma Song are quite freaky. I have been up close in the shrines and in the streets. I do not believe they are pretending. Well, not all of them!
Sorry should have warned that was coming.. The Ma Song above walks the streets cutting himself with an axe. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I love the blood, but it all adds to the intensity of the experience. I try to get to some shrines early in the morning, like 6 - 7am before they start their processions. Photography a bit harder in the dim early morning light, but this is when the piercing takes place. The blood is fresh.... anyone who wants to vomit now should click here for a photo of a nice pretty cat. Don't come back just yet .. it gets worse. Too late.
If you go and watch any of the processions or early morning goings-on at the shrines, like I said, if you have not seen this before, you might be shocked. In fact I am still shocked. Swords in your cheek? No thanks! Oh, come on, just a small one... or an umbrella? Sometimes I don't know where to look. One pair of eyes, one camera. Many times I "miss" a photo opportunity. I try to take as many pictures as possible. Some will be good and it's true - better camera = better photos. Last couple of years I was using a Canon EOS 20D - hoping to get a newer model before September. Getting a really good photo here you need to get into the shrines or walk along with the processions and get involved, get close. Watching from the side of the road, hard to get a decent photo. Last year, when the Bang Neow shrine in Phuket Town had it's procession, I was running around in the sun for 2 hours, getting covered in firecrackers and loving it!
(above) in Phuket Town, carrying the gods through a constant barrage of firecrackers. Only the bravest local lads sign up for god-carrying duty! I like to follow them through the deafening noise and choking smoke trying to get a good photo!
(above) Statues of the gods being carried through Kathu village - can get a bit crazy in Phuket Town. The 2 main shrines in town are Bang Neow and Jui Tui. On the days when they have their processions, the crowds are at their largest. In Kathu it's much easier to get a photo, not so many people around early morning as they begin walking to town, which is about 6km away.
The banana guy is also a local policeman. For weeks after the festival I see local guys with fresh scars! The scar tissue is often quite obvious especially on those who have been participating for many years. Old and young take part. The tradition is passed down, though there is the suspicion that some youngsters might be doing it for the street cred. And there seems to be a level of competition - who can do the biggest or most bizarre piercing.. Some examples:
(above) The classic "gun in face" style.
(above) 4 swords. Beat that.
8 swords. I thank you. Meanwhile, the young generation watch and learn.
Young Rambo (above) carrying firecrackers.. or maybe his Mum had enough of him. "If you don't stop that, I'll light those firecrackers!" - and below - respect.
I love the tradition, the history, the firecrackers, the craziness, the street processions, the prayers at the shrines, the food is worth a try too. I love the way the local community comes together. The Phuket vegetarian festival is my favourite thing in Phuket. 2011 dates - from September 27th (actually 26th evening) until October 5th. And this year I want to see even more!
It's not for everyone. If you know about the festival, you'll know why... some people love it, some moan about the street processions blocking traffic for a week (around Phuket Town, true enough), some consider it to be "just a show for tourists" (very untrue), and lots of people are turned off by the more bloody aspects of the festival. The festival has a long, long history. This is not a show, not a fake. The history, the tradition and the respect for the festival among the local people is plain to see. Just to be clear, not all local people get involved. The vegetarian festival is based on Chinese beliefs and the participants are generally from Phuket's Chinese-Thai community which makes up around 30% of the population. Most of the participating shrines are in and around Phuket Town or Thalang, the 2 old centers of Phuket.
(above) Prayers and Respect - Kathu village shrine outside Phuket Town is one of the main centers for the vegetarian festival. Dressed all in white, local people carry incense at the start of the fire walking ceremony.
Why do I love this festival so much? You know, the first couple of years I was in Phuket, I saw almost nothing of the real local life, knew nothing of the history of Phuket .. I just dived and hung around with diving people, went out to bars and never went out to explore the island. The first time I saw anything of this festival was in about 2003, driving into Phuket Town to pay my tax, and got stuck in traffic caused by some damn local street procession! Over the years we have enjoyed exploring Phuket and the surrounding area and discovering new back roads and new events. And I have read a lot about the history and traditions here. The vegetarian festival is celebrated in other parts of Thailand where there are Chinese-Thai communites, but Phuket is where it started back in 1825.
(above) Kathu shrine is my "local". We live about a mile from old Kathu village where the shrine is located. Kathu is actually where the history of the festival began, being the center of the tin mining boom which attracted many Chinese people to Phuket in the 19th century. I like to head to the shrine at any time during the festival to "people watch". I love the atmosphere. Everyone is dressed in white. I mean not everyone in Phuket, but around the shrines, pretty much everyone. In the weeks before the festival, shops are selling the white clothes. It's a sign of purity. I like to visit the shrines to catch a glimpse of the tradition of the festival. On the first day (see below) the Go Teng pole is raised to allow the spirits of the Emperor Gods to enter the shrine.
And then the street processions begin. Every day for a week. Each day with participants from different shrines. And this is where things get weird. Shrines, candles, prayers, traditions... and self mutilation and extreme piercing. By their suffering does the whole town receive good luck and blessings for the year. Purification by eating the right food, by wearing white and by sticking sharp objects in your face. If you have not seen this before, it's a shock. It's also a photographers paradise! Well, I am not a pro photographer, but during the festival I will take hundreds of pictures. Trying to select just a few for this blog is hard! You can find lots of photos on Flickr - see Vegetarian Festival 2010 - Vegetarian Festival 2009.
(above) Vegetarian Festival procession carrying statues of the gods led by the "Ma Song" who have let the spirits of the gods enter their bodies. Some of these Ma Song are quite freaky. I have been up close in the shrines and in the streets. I do not believe they are pretending. Well, not all of them!
Sorry should have warned that was coming.. The Ma Song above walks the streets cutting himself with an axe. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I love the blood, but it all adds to the intensity of the experience. I try to get to some shrines early in the morning, like 6 - 7am before they start their processions. Photography a bit harder in the dim early morning light, but this is when the piercing takes place. The blood is fresh.... anyone who wants to vomit now should click here for a photo of a nice pretty cat. Don't come back just yet .. it gets worse. Too late.
If you go and watch any of the processions or early morning goings-on at the shrines, like I said, if you have not seen this before, you might be shocked. In fact I am still shocked. Swords in your cheek? No thanks! Oh, come on, just a small one... or an umbrella? Sometimes I don't know where to look. One pair of eyes, one camera. Many times I "miss" a photo opportunity. I try to take as many pictures as possible. Some will be good and it's true - better camera = better photos. Last couple of years I was using a Canon EOS 20D - hoping to get a newer model before September. Getting a really good photo here you need to get into the shrines or walk along with the processions and get involved, get close. Watching from the side of the road, hard to get a decent photo. Last year, when the Bang Neow shrine in Phuket Town had it's procession, I was running around in the sun for 2 hours, getting covered in firecrackers and loving it!
(above) in Phuket Town, carrying the gods through a constant barrage of firecrackers. Only the bravest local lads sign up for god-carrying duty! I like to follow them through the deafening noise and choking smoke trying to get a good photo!
(above) Statues of the gods being carried through Kathu village - can get a bit crazy in Phuket Town. The 2 main shrines in town are Bang Neow and Jui Tui. On the days when they have their processions, the crowds are at their largest. In Kathu it's much easier to get a photo, not so many people around early morning as they begin walking to town, which is about 6km away.
The banana guy is also a local policeman. For weeks after the festival I see local guys with fresh scars! The scar tissue is often quite obvious especially on those who have been participating for many years. Old and young take part. The tradition is passed down, though there is the suspicion that some youngsters might be doing it for the street cred. And there seems to be a level of competition - who can do the biggest or most bizarre piercing.. Some examples:
(above) The classic "gun in face" style.
(above) 4 swords. Beat that.
8 swords. I thank you. Meanwhile, the young generation watch and learn.
Young Rambo (above) carrying firecrackers.. or maybe his Mum had enough of him. "If you don't stop that, I'll light those firecrackers!" - and below - respect.
I love the tradition, the history, the firecrackers, the craziness, the street processions, the prayers at the shrines, the food is worth a try too. I love the way the local community comes together. The Phuket vegetarian festival is my favourite thing in Phuket. 2011 dates - from September 27th (actually 26th evening) until October 5th. And this year I want to see even more!
Fong Chia Night Market (逢甲夜市) at Taichung - Taiwan
Our driver dropped us at the junction of FuXing Rd & FongChia Rd (N24.178803 E120.645136), and we started to hunt for our dinner....
We noticed the the Lane 20 of Fong Chia Rd (N24.178985 E120.645696) has many food stalls around, which is part if the Fong Chia Night Market (逢甲夜市), so decided to have our dinner here...
Wah! There were many food stalls in the lane, and we were confused what to try....as you can see from the photo below...all kind of foods available! Certain stall really interested! Like this one at the bottom right of the photo below...:)
All of us agree to had the Oyster Vermicelli for the first hit...and I ordered mine with extra intestine...
I don't know whether because we were so hungry or the vermicelli was so Delicious?! I finished mine within 3 minutes! YUMMY! We were NOT done yet! It was just the first meal of the night market...
Noticed many stalls selling Deep Fried Chicken Chop along the street, our temptation told us...Don't reject it! And we found one of the stall with long queue...and grab one of it!
Waited about 10 minutes...we got our chicken chop!
It was served in pieces in a small paper bag.
After we finished the chicken chop, we walked to the main road - Fuxing Road. There are more shops and food stalls along the road too!
Some interesting food stalls...'Wolf Sausage'??!! Wah! I doubt....
We didn't try on it, well...we bought the Big Sausage & Small Sausage opposite of the Wolf Sausage stall. :)
Surprised! It was delicious too! I like the mixture of some cucumber, onion and others...
About few hundred meters away from Fongchia road, we came to another junction and saw this...
I believe this was another part of the night market in Wenhua road. We tried not to miss any lane here and so...just simply explore the street!
As I look on top of me, there are cables Flying everywhere! Haha!
We discovered another Flagship Night Market within the night market! Interesting! Night market within night market.
We explored the night market until midnight and I bought a few cans of Taiwan beer back to hotel.
We called it the night!
Related post :-
* My Taiwan Trip on May, 2011
Dedicated lane for motorcycle at Fuxing Rd, Taichung.
Fong Chia Road, Taichung
We noticed the the Lane 20 of Fong Chia Rd (N24.178985 E120.645696) has many food stalls around, which is part if the Fong Chia Night Market (逢甲夜市), so decided to have our dinner here...
Lane 20 Fongchia road, Taichung - Taiwan
Wah! There were many food stalls in the lane, and we were confused what to try....as you can see from the photo below...all kind of foods available! Certain stall really interested! Like this one at the bottom right of the photo below...:)
Food stalls along the Lane 20 - Fong Chia Road, Taichung
Colourful Sports Shoes!
All of us agree to had the Oyster Vermicelli for the first hit...and I ordered mine with extra intestine...
Oyster Vermicelli + Intestine = YUMMY!
Noticed many stalls selling Deep Fried Chicken Chop along the street, our temptation told us...Don't reject it! And we found one of the stall with long queue...and grab one of it!
The Chicken Chop stall with some write up...
We chose this stall because of the queue...
The friendly boss of the stall, he was A Good salesman! Haha!
Waited about 10 minutes...we got our chicken chop!
It was served in pieces in a small paper bag.
I like the sauce, but the chicken was average...(TWD50)
After we finished the chicken chop, we walked to the main road - Fuxing Road. There are more shops and food stalls along the road too!
Fuxing road (福星路), Taichung.
Some interesting food stalls...'Wolf Sausage'??!! Wah! I doubt....
The Wolf Sausage stall @ Fuxing road, Taichung
We didn't try on it, well...we bought the Big Sausage & Small Sausage opposite of the Wolf Sausage stall. :)
The Big Sausage and Small Sausage stall
The Taiwan Sausage - TWD40
About few hundred meters away from Fongchia road, we came to another junction and saw this...
Welcome to Fong Chia Night Market (逢甲夜市)
I believe this was another part of the night market in Wenhua road. We tried not to miss any lane here and so...just simply explore the street!
Fong Chia Night Market (逢甲夜市)
Colourful slippers!
The interesting helmet stall. Which is your favorite? :)
As I look on top of me, there are cables Flying everywhere! Haha!
The cables on top of my head...
We discovered another Flagship Night Market within the night market! Interesting! Night market within night market.
Privilege parking
We explored the night market until midnight and I bought a few cans of Taiwan beer back to hotel.
We called it the night!
Full Of Angry Birds!
Related post :-
* My Taiwan Trip on May, 2011
Location map of Fong Chia Night Market at Taichung, Taiwan
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Sile playas cerca de Estambul
Sile es el destino de playa más cerca de Estambul, lo que provoca que los fines de semana las playas estén abarrotadas.
Durante la semana, sin masificaciones es un destino atractivo que además de playa cuenta con su faro pintado en blanco y negro, y las ruinas del castillo genovés del siglo XIV en una isla cercana.
Al lado está Agva, un tranquilo pueblo pesquero situado entre dos ríos.
Desde aquí podemos tomar un barco a la isla semidesierta de Karabatak.
Vitamin bomb
Not too hard to stay healthy in the West indies. Almost everyday we're having some fresh and incredibly sweet mango, the juiciest pineapple straight from the field and new passion fruit made in heaven...
Monday, May 16, 2011
Alcohol did not build this body
You guys keep asking about my hair and I love you for that, loving your enthusiasm and interest in such a dull subject. And the truth is that it is alright when I have it up like this, when it's down the whole carrot thing is visible and that is basically what I'm trying to avoid to not scare anyone around. Will bleach it all to blonde one day soon, just giving my hair an additional healthy time off the chemicals.
I've been pretty good with staying off the chemicals myself as of late, and the fourteen (OK thirteen, I cheated) days as a complete teetotaler and non-smoker have made good for my body. I also stayed off chocolate and other toxins during this very same time and that was more or less what my body needed to get back in shape. That and the daily sit-ups, lunges and donkey kicks of course.
The non-alcohol period lasted until Saturday night when I had a couple of glasses of an amazing Bordeaux wine served at the hotel and the following delightful pina coladas on the terrace. Can't stay off the spirits forever right. Tobacco, on the other hand, will continue to be off my list of necessities in life for the time being.
Did you all note that down now? Very important information I'm sharing today. /T
Tan carefully.
The non-alcohol period lasted until Saturday night when I had a couple of glasses of an amazing Bordeaux wine served at the hotel and the following delightful pina coladas on the terrace. Can't stay off the spirits forever right. Tobacco, on the other hand, will continue to be off my list of necessities in life for the time being.
Did you all note that down now? Very important information I'm sharing today. /T
Tan carefully.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
