Is you on holiday?

I tried to remember the last time I had two weeks of vacation. I mean real vacation, not the ones when you work at nicer places. I couldn't remember, so it's either never or about the freaking time to have one already! I wanted to wait another week but my body said "no" to my workaholic schedule. So a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

For the next few weeks I'll be on my vacation mode. Which means:

• no internet, no phone (OK, I might cheat on the internet part a bit),
• no work related stuff whatsoever,
• have a good time,
  
• visit old friends (and maybe make some new ones),
• do something I've never done before (suggestions welcome),
• go to a few concerts,
• take photos (Japanese tourists style),
  
• relax a lot.
  

This year I'm not doing any sun bathing. Intentionally. I guess that shouldn't be too difficult considering where I'm going.

Have a hint:


Now excuse me while I get my tired ass to that beer-relax-enjoy land :)

Blogs and marketing

Being a blogger it's only a matter of time before you start getting spam invitations to join communities or adding some widgets to your site. Most of those are generic invitations, sent to everyone and usually doomed to end up in your Trash. I got this two:

Marketing executive from SocialMatic Team is pleased to inform me my blog is not a total waste of other people's time:


Well, Ms. Alicia Yap, I'd never hire you to do marketing for me and to be honest I don't like your website nor your approach. You offering signing up for me just shows how desperate you are to get more traffic. Besides, I don't want to automatically sign up to 13 more social websites and get more spam to my Inbox.

However there are also people who know how to approach bloggers without fancy titles and big words. I got kind invitation from Pocket cultures' Blogs of the world, who focus on life in different countries. Not only I like the concept AND the blog, their approach is individual, cute and obviously effective. Plus they give the impression the really did read at least one of my posts. Needles to say I said "yes".

Now this is what I call proper marketing:

See Ms. Yap, lousy marketing can do you more damage than the ugly aggressive red banner on your website ;)

This fire is out of control

What on Earth can motivate people to drive in the unbearable summer heat to anther country? Got two words for you: Franz Ferdinand. Even though I've already seen them live I knew it was one of those "longlasting" relationships so I couldn't resist convincing Jota to go with me to the concert. Spinach Fairy tagged along and so we headed towards beautiful Italian city of Ferrara.

Our timing was amazingly perfect. Despite an hour long waiting at the Italian "pay toll" stop we arrived just in time to hear Franz Ferdinand rehearsal, have a couple of beers and some cheap junk food and to take a walk in the city.

The concert was held in the open space of Ferrara Castel and the place was not too crowded. The Cribs seemed fairly average but then again they were not even close to what we all were waiting for - almost two hours of pure joy provided by four Scotsmen.

And so they did - the concert was outstanding! Set list consisted mostly of Franz Ferdinand album, few songs were taken from You could have it so much better and we got to hear quite a lot of new stuff - soon to be released in their third album. What an energy! What a music! What a performance!

40' , Come one home and This Fire were absolute highlights of the evening, not to mention Jacqueline, Fallen and Michael. I missed Darts of pleasure and This boy but I guess the idea of concerts is to leave the audience wanting more. Well, it was successful.

According to what I heard, third album will be much better than the second one and a bit more diverse than the first one. I simply can't wait to get my hands on it. Until then - enjoy the highlights:

Ferrara:

Franz Ferdinand sound check:



High male shoe fashion for Tadej and his shoe fetish ;)

The Cribs:



Franz Ferdinand



Till next time!

Lent 2008

After a while I took time to visit Lent, Slovenian traditional summer festival which is happening at the beautiful riverside of Maribor. To be more exact I went to see Grimmski and to visit a friend.

Besides their album material they played two non album tracks (want to have those, especially Necromancer) and some new great covers from Air and Santana. The atmosphere was relaxed and the audience quite excited.

Of course cheap beer and the fact that the singer is quite cute and the audience was female dominated might have something to do with that :) Grimmski indeed show major potential and once they figure out their image style and do more PR, they will take the lead.

Captured moments:

Naughty Haiku

Stripped in the summer.
Trembling for their existence.
How long will they last?