Thursday, July 30, 2009

Bodrum/Kiz Kumu


So, now that I’ve finished University I’m having a summer enjoying every moment and looking forward to starting my masters next year in London. Until then, I have a month in Turkey. I’ve just spent a week with my friends in Bodrum (South West) having an absolutely fantastic time staying in a small hotel by bar street. It has a terrace that looks over the beach and it is very good value for the amount you pay each night. I would recommend it to anyone. (Especially students and backpackers)

See: Merhaba Otel - http://www.merhabaotel.com/eng.php

After waking up with a few hangovers, ruining both my phones at a foam party (Halikarnas disco, the oldest disco in Bodrum – Mum said she used to go when she was my age), swimming every day and going on a boat trip, I now find myself in a small sea village called Bozburun with my parents.

Dad hired a car and from Bodrum we went on a ferryboat to cross over to Datça – this is where my grandparents have had a summer place for years and I have been going there since I was a baby. Everyone knows everyone, there are no tourists and it has a ‘blue flag’ beach (meaning it is one of the cleanest places in the world). I absolutely love it.

Anyway, we stayed there a night (I will be going back in a few days) but we thought that for a change we would drive around and stay in some bays we haven’t been to before. Yesterday we thought we’d drive to Bozburun and Selimiye, which are about an hour away from Datça and Marmaris. On the way, we stopped off at ‘Kız Kumu’, which is a beautiful place where there is sand in the middle of the sea across two bays, so when people walk across it, it looks as if people are walking on the water. From above (the mountains) the colour change below is fantastic, as you can see the red sand path dividing the deep blue sea on either side.

There is a myth behind this path. Apparently a King took over the pirate’s area and so the pirates were angered and killed the king. While the king’s daughter was trying to escape the wrath of the pirates, she collected sand in her skirt and tried to lay out a path for her to cross the sea (all because she didn’t know how to swim). Unfortunately, the story did not end well and she end up drowning because she ran out of sand. Sad times. I would recommend anyone to go to this place just because it feels quite magical walking around in the sand with sea on either side of you.
(Image used from: )

Next we ended up in Selimiye, which has a story of its own. This one however, isn’t a myth; it is our own opinion of one of the funniest places my parents and I have ever been to in our travels. This place has to have an entry of its own.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Yann Tiersen Live

(image from Wikipedia)

Yann Tiersen is one of those musicians who surprise you when you least expect it. Known best for his music on the soundtrack for Amélie, Tiersen has come a long way, creating several albums full of different instruments and themes that fail to impress. After wanting to see him for the past five years, I was lucky enough to see him live on Sunday in the venue The Dutchess in York, U.K on the 10th May. His live stuff is less like his recordings and a taste of this can been heard on his live album On Tour (2006). His experimental music with guitars, violins and keyboards provide a night of wonder, allowing one to disappear into a world of a fairytales filled with images and colours. He plays with such energy, charisma and emotion that reflects in the reactions of the audience. An atmosphere that is incredible, it is definitely worth seeing him if you get the chance. It was the best gig I've been to in a while...

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Things II

5 Things that annoy me right now:

1. Being constantly tired.
2. The messiness of my room and kitchen.
3. My favourite jeans have a massive rip in the backside. Had to bin it! =(
4. The lack of food (or good food) in my cupboard and fridge.
5. How my hair makes me look like something from the Adam's family. (I had to blow dry it earlier)

5 Things that I love right now:

1. Bacon sandwiches.
2. Chocolate buttons mixed with bacon frazzles.
3. Reading the newspaper with a nice cup of tea. (earl gray, bit of milk and sugar)
4. The coziness of my bed (I have 2 duvets. oh yes)
5. Noisettes - "Every Now and Then", "Wild Young Hearts", "Atticus" =)

Girl Talk


Girl Talk is DJ Greg Michael Gillis. He is a legend. Remixes samples from several different tracks so most times there are more than 10 songs within one of his remixed songs. Here is an example: "Hold up" from the "Night Ripper" album which has 13 samples in it including Pixies - "Where is my Mind?" and 50 Cent - "In da Club". One excellent thing about this guy is that he can mash music from different genres and make it sound brilliant. Check it out:


Here is a video with the song "Hold Up". I did not make the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ggSQCZuC-4

You need to be patient with his music to appreciate it. The songs all blend into each other as well, which is very impressive. Such DJing skills are rare! To date he has four studio albums:

- Secret Diary
- Unstoppable
- Night Ripper
- Feed The Animals


Let's see what you think...

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Well then.

I have just discovered "Greg Rutter's definitive list of the 99 things you should have already on the internet unless you're old or a loser or something." The link is:

http://youshouldhaveseenthis.com/

It has put a smile on my face more than once this week. I personally recommend Charlie the Unicorn. Definitely a winner. And "I like Turtles" boy. He's definitely going to grow up to be a promising young man. I'm always fascinated by the amount of videos that are made in relation to the 'original' video. Thousands of remixes, thousands of spin-offs. Everyone's seen the dramatic chipmunk. Who's idea was it to make him wear a monocle and a hat. Sheer brilliance if you ask me. Also just discovered "I kissed a squirrel and I liked it" - a parody? of Katy Perry's "I kissed a girl."

What more can I say: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzVvZw39b_s&feature=related

Just terrible. (or amazing?)