Music of the world => Belgium: Selah Sue

Music is also a way of travelling and learning more about the culture...so here goes one of my favourite belgian singers. Only 19 years old and so talented.
Bet that Selah Sue will make it big time!
And Nathalie should be happier that I'm not spending all my time listening to Lady Gaga lol

Love this song:


Amy who?

Where the hell is... MARIANA ISLANDS?

The Marianas of the world have their own country!

I am a Mariana myself and was always curious to discover what they have over there to offer, but being islands and all, there is not much space left for imagination...

The Mariana Islands (also the Marianas; up to the early 20th century sometimes called Ladrones Islands, from Spanish Islas de los Ladrones meaning "Islands of Thieves") are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean. The islands were named after Spanish Queen Mariana of Austria in the 17th century, when Spain started the colonization of the archipielago.

The Marianas islands are the northern part of the Micronesia island group, although their government is under a different jurisdiction from much of the rest of geographical Micronesia.

There is even the Mariana Islands in the back of dollars,how cool is that?

Just out of curiosity I was checking ticket prices...and they are waaay to much: around €1.429 for a return ticket. WOW. Don't think I am going to take myself to Marianaland anytime soon lol
How many trips with Ryanair can you do with this money? 800?

You can always take a look here for more information.

"It is not down in any map; true places never are."Herman Melville

Wroclaw, Poland.
I'm here during a week for work and I'm in love with the place, it's drinks and food.
Through Couchsurfing I got myself a pretty busy schedule here: on Sunday I went to have some beers with Anna, tonight I'll go watch "Alice in Wonderland" with another 10 people from CS and tomorrow and Thursday Anna has already invited to hit the clubs in town.So I'll play good tourist and do what locals do ;)

So far I have been to the Spiz, a brewery that has the best honey beer ever, called Miodowe, or something of the kind.
I have been to Galeria Dominikanska, which seems to be a pretty famous shopping mall around here, but I found it a bit disappointing.
Well, it's obviously a lot cheaper than Belgium, people are VERY friendly and the city is very cute. Too bad is snowing a lot, spoiling a bit of my sightseeing vibe.
Ryanair flies here from Charleroi, so if you ever get a good promotion, it's worth the trip!

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” (Marcel Proust)

So I have been to Paris once again and finally decide to go to the Eiffel Tower.

I never felt really motivated because of the huge queues, but this time I haven't spent 5 minutes on it. The cold must have scared the hell out of the tourists. Or I am just really blessed LOL

The other reason why I hadn't gone on it yet is because the soldiers that stay downstairs have those huge guns, and I didn't feel very...safe.

And I suppose that terrorist groups plan all the time to bomb it, even if people say it wouldn't be destroyed by a bomb attack.

Well, been there, done that, don't need to worry about my life and safety anymore LOL

Obviously I have to recommend it. The view is indeed amazing.

But if you are afraid of heights (would people in this cases consider going anyway?), avoid going to the top. I was pretty scared in the second elevator ride. And yeah, it shakes a bit up there on windy days. Living proof talking here!

“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” – Aldous Huxley

So I have been a bit absent here lately, but I am back in business :)

After a week working in Warwick, a weekend in London, Brazil for 3 weeks and another weekend in Paris, I'm finally in Belgium, but leaving for work in Poland on Sunday again.

It's tiring, but I love this crazy routine.

Lonely Planet, hire me! LOL

So I have been to London with my dear Nathalie and it was a pity she was so sick!

At least we went out on Friday night to this club called G.A.Y (the name says it all: great music and cute guys that don't even see you exist!) with, obviously, some gay friends of mine and I couldn't believe my eyes when Nathalie (a.k.a. the rock chic!) was singing Lady Gaga and Beyoncé songs!

I know they are comercial and all that, but I love them anyway.

Then on Valentine's day I was probably the only person alone on Ne-Yo's concert, but I really enjoyed. I tried to make some videos, but you can see, I have no talent at all :(

My first couchsurfing music festival!

As a active member of CS, I am very proud to present a CS Live Music Party, with inspiring music by artists touring and travelling 'the CouchSurfing way'.
I like to see it also as a collaberation between cs-kortrijk, gigswap.org and cs-artists from everywhere.

If you are from belgium, or at the time in belgium, swing by and have some fun with cool people and awesome music!

The bands playing for you this night are 'Trike', from Canada, 'Cloaks and Feathers', from Gent, Belgium, and 'Skiff', from the Netherlands.

'Trike' are a class on their own and they makes liberating music, guaranteed to get you fully excited. They're like a refreshing summer shower for your cultural taste centre - they're hard to compare to anything out there, but as hot as underground comes on top, a crafty treat for your mind and ears and a big fat invitation to be yourself for once. Check their myspace and learn their contagious 'Macho man Waltz', from the clip they have on there:
http://www.myspace.com/trikefangroup

'Cloaks and Feathers' are an 'Indie Acoustic' band, bringing you songs with an unmistakable medieval fairytale feel.
Quoting from their website:
"In certain shamanic traditions the feathered cloak stands as a symbol for travelling to other worlds...which is exactly we want you to do with our little stories... "
It's very beautifully sung, well composed and played, sure to be giving the night a totally magical atmosphere.
Have a pre-listen here:
http://www.myspace.com/cloaksandfeathers

'Skiff' is barely one man and a guitar, singing songs.
From dead-serious to plain laughter and than some, Skiff is as much into storytelling as into personal reflection too - a poetic lyricist with a versatile style and a compelling voice.
In this case hoever, don't expect an entertaining spectacle, nifty tricks or mind-bending instrumental acrobatics.
Just sit yourself down and slip into the landscape.
http://www.myspace.com/skiffspace



The GigSwap Motel
The show they've come together for, to present to you, is 'The GigSwap

Motel', where each of them booked their room, and where anyone of you may sign in too, to enjoy a memorable evening with your international and local CS friends.

alternative neighbourhoods - Christiania (Denmark)

Every big city in the world always has a spot where artistic people gather together and create awesome stuff.
I really love those kinds of neigbourhoods, and always try to discover them if I am travelling.
So in this new item, I want you to discover alternative neighbourhoods around the world.

 The first alternative neighbourhood that I really do like and want to mention, is in Kopenhagen, denmark, Christiania.  Also known as Freetown Christiania (Danish: Fristaden Christiania)it's a
partially self-governing neighbourhood of about 850 residents, covering 34 hectares (85 acres) in the borough of Christianshavn in Copenhagen. Christiania has established semi-legal status as an independent community, but has been a source of controversy since its creation in a squatted military area in 1971.

If you go there the first time, It all feels a bit wierd at the start.  But if you walk around and then finally get the idea behind it, is actually quite cool.
You can find awesome grafitti work, can discover very cool pubs with live music, can eat in very alternative  "restaurants", explore very creative houses,....
The place just has a really cool vibe.

They also like to call it the "losers' Paradise," because the creative and recreational values are found in rich measure in the area. In fact, the green ramparts of Christiania appear much more recreational and attractive to visitors than the well kept, deserted areas under the care of municipal Copenhagen. Many people, however, abstain from exploring and using Christiania, simply because they cannot find their way around.

They are also strict rules in christiana town, the coolest rule that I found, was the fact that there aren't any cars allowed inside, so everyone uses the famous 'Christiania Bike".
I would kill for having such a cool bike.  I still want to go back and purchase one.

But the neighbourhood is still dealing with threats from the danish gouverment, who want to close it.
Partly because the area is still owned by the Danish Ministry of Defence and they squatted the place.  But also because of the open canabis trade. And in other places in Denmark, offcourse it's prohibited.

Anyhow, I really liked the place. And if you are an open-minded person, you should give it a try as well!

Maybe you will end up loving the place.