the arts, ice skating, and photography

Christchurch Arts festival is currently on  - until 9th August 2009 – and covers everything form the visual arts, theatre, and ice-skating.   A series of photos about whitebaiters (exhibition developed by Murray Hedwig and Anita Peters over the last eighteen months as they documented whitebaiters through photographs and interviews)  lead us from Cathedral Square, where the ice dome has been errected right beside the Chalice, through to the Robert McDougal Art gallery – at the rear of the Museum - where contemporay artists respond to birds in the Canterbury Museums collection. ( mahanga/snare – on until 13th Sept and is really well worth visiting)

Here are a few photos I (the kiwitravelwriter) took yesterday: for info on iceskating in Christchurch see www.alpineice.co.nz

most bombed country in the world

Most Bombed Country in the World

Pausing for a photo, we then walk under an archway that tells us ‘Welcome to Indo China.’

Polly and I met on a beach in Malaysia two months ago. Hearing travellers extolling the beauty, the friendliness and non-tourist-like qualities of Laos, we succumb to the temptation to visit ‘the most bombed country in the world’ and two days ago we met as arranged in northern Thailand. We’re about to cross into a country that neither of us knows about except those good reports.

A borrowed guidebook has given me a few facts: during the late sixties and early seventies, American B-52s dropped some 6000 tonnes of bombs on this narrow country in an attempt to destroy the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Special guerrilla units, trained by the CIA, caused such havoc that locals planted and harvested their rice at night and 300,000 people fled to refuge camps in Thailand: it’s the heaviest bombing any country has ever encountered. Although one of the poorest nations in the world and with a life expectancy of only 52 years, these five million, mainly Buddhist people, remain resilient.

‘Can I take my gun?’ I ask the guard. Crossing borders can be fraught with problems but I smile and hope all will be well as she holds out her hands and I hand it over. Solemnly taking it, she looks at her fellow officer, lines the barrel with his chest and fires!

We laugh; his uniform is covered with water. For the first time I witness humour from customs officials but in spite of our shared laughter I’m not allowed to take a photo of them having fun. Nevertheless I can take my new, bright-green, double-barrelled, pump action water pistol with me: Polly takes her red and yellow one.

Read more in Naked in Budapest: travels with a passionate nomad by Heather Hapeta

festivals around the world

Here are some festivals in May 2009  also check out  2camels for many others both for not only May and but all the other months 

I have written about varoius international festivals on their website

 

Tulip Time Festival, Holland, Michigan, USA02 May 2009 to 09 May 2009

The Tulip Time Festival celebrates Dutch heritage and culture in Michigan and includes a display of over six million tulips, parades, market, children’s festival, carnival and fireworks. Around 1100 authentically costumed Klompen Dancers, complete with wooden shoes, perform.

Attracting over 500,000 visitors it was named Best Small Town Festival by Readers Digest in its Top 100 Events in North America poll. www.tuliptime.com.

Cannes International Film Festival, France 13 May 2009 to 24 May 2009

The international film community gathers to promote new films and actors, to launch productions and generate business. The festival opens with world-premiere digital 3D screening of Pixar’s new film Up. www.festival-cannes.fr.

Prague Spring International Music Festival, Czech Republic12 May 2009 to 03 June 2009

A showcase for outstanding performing artists, symphony orchestras and chamber music ensembles of the world. Also features an international music competition. www.festival.cz.

Sydney Writer’s Fest, Australia18 May 2009 to 24 May 2009

A festival of literary talks and workshops featuring over 300 literary guests from around Australia and the world.  www.swf.org.au.

Festspillene: Bergen International Festival, Norway20 May 2009 to 04 June 2009

The largest event of its kind in the Nordic countries focuses on opera, dance, drama, literature and visual arts. Over 180 performances take place. www.festspillene.no.

Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), Washington State, USA21 May 2009 to 14 June 2009

SIFF showcases over 550 screenings. Includes 270 features and 140 shorts. Also has industry seminars, panels, tributes, retrospectives and an educational outreach programme.

Largest and most highly attended film festival in the US. Features The Golden Space Needle Audience Awards. A further $23k in cash prizes is awarded in categories including New Directors Competition, New American Cinema Competition, Documentary Competition and Short Film.  www.seattlefilm.org.

 European World Of Bluegrass (EWOB) Festival, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands 21 May 2009 to 23 May 2009

Over 40 European bands perform. Features a trade show and markets. Takes place during International Bluegrass Month (May).  www.ewob.eu. 

Bath International Music Festival, UK 22 May 2009 to 06 June 2009

The Bath International Music Festival features an eclectic line-up of classical, world, folk, contemporary and jazz music.  www.bathmusicfest.org.uk

Bath Fringe Festival, UK 22 May 2009 to 07 June 2009

 Over 200 performances take place, including music, visual arts, street arts and outdoor performances alongside children’s events. One of the UK’s longest established and biggest events of its kind features a variety of music, fringe theatre and comedy, including some Edinburgh Festival previews. www.bathfringe.co.uk. 

22 May 2009 to 07 June 2009

The festival was founded by composer Gian Carlo Menotti as a counterpart to The Festival dei Due Mondi (Festival of Two Worlds) which takes place in Spoleto, Italy.  It features opera, dance, theatre, classical music and jazz. www.spoletousa.org.

Salzburg Festival, Austria 26 May 2009 to 01 June 2009

The festival takes place in the birthplace of Mozart and features theatre, ballet, opera and classical music performances. www.salzburgfestival.at

Berlin Carnival Of Cultures, Germany 29 May 2009 to 01 June 2009

 A multi-cultural parade and street festival features music, dance and art. Over 100 bands and 4300 paraders from 70 countries participate in procession. It attracts over 1.3 million visitors. www.karneval-berlin.de

international garden show in my city

It’s only one week until I get a sneak, media preview of the Ellerslie  International Flower   being hosted in my city Christchurch New Zealand .

out of bare earth - beauty

Follow the link – above - for more infomation and come back to this blog next week to see what I thought:  especially if you can’t get here.

Maybe you can diary it in for 2010 as this is an annual event in this, the ‘Garden City’ of New Zealand

welcome to the year of the ox

This past weekend Christchurch celebrated the start of the year of the ox –  in the Chinese New Year.

Check out the Chinese communities website about the new year  

For other New Year ethnic celebrations in New Zealand read here

Scroll down to see a few photos I took on Saturday night.

welcome to the year of the ox

fisherman in the Avon river

a dragon or serpent floats in the fountain

 

Lanterns in the trees

the local lion dancers are always loved