Last weekend there was a massive festival in Zürich. The Züri Fäscht. The triannual event, began on Friday and ended on Sunday at midnight. Throughout the city centre and around the lake, there were colorful funfairs, free concerts, outdoor dance arenas and lotsa food and drink stall. It also featured impressive air shows, water shows and fireworks! Züri Fäscht is such a huge festival that almost the entire city shuts down.
Tons of tents selling Caipirinha were littered everywhere!
I only started to get anxious well after we bought the tokens... Too late!
I don't know what was I thinking to get myself on that ride...
It has to be the MOST scariest ride I’ve ever been on. It’s called the Transformer. Seriously, I love thrill rides. But not that one! It’s a badass! It looked harmless but I scared myself shitless! I was praying over and over! Basically everyone was seated in a circle. Then after making you wait for 15 whole minutes, the ride slowly lifted and turned clockwise gaining speed by the second. After about 30 seconds of spinning clockwise, it turned anti-clockwise and suddenly it went upside down and round and round and downside up and round and round again. Maybe my explanation wouldn’t do it justice. But it was seriously f*cking crazy! Never again!
We went over to a friend's place the next day before heading for the 2nd night at the Züri Fäscht
One of the many outdoor discotheques
I can’t wait for the next one! And that’s gonna be in 1,095 days. Pfft!
Real name Maxime Nouchy, born on February 23, 1979 in Créteil, France. At 6, he joined the Conservatoire and learnt guitar. At 15, he joined London’s Musician’s Institute, where he bacame the youngest guitar teacher. Playing bass, guitar and keyboard, Maxim has been noticed by Santi in 2001 and signed to Mercury. Collaborations followed… After his first album Maxim Nucci in 2006, he went on a tour. He has been Vanessa Paradis’ supporting act in Brussels and at Paris Européen and Ilene Barnes’ supporting act at Paris’ Elysée-Montmartre.
In 2008, it was the redemption, the turning or the revolution. Yodelice came in, a new artist. With his hat, he looks like characters that inspired Tom Waits & Bob Dylan. With his voice, we think about magnificent artists like Cat Stevens or Ray LaMontagne. Maxim went to a house in Spain to write songs. Ethnic/folk songs came to him, between JJ Cale & America. “Sincerity goes through words & English-speaking themes. There’s a more natural side in English, that’s not my native language. But it’s really my culture, Anglo-Saxon. I just wanted to record an album & be proud of it, to play it on stage.” The house was named La Casa Yodelice, he borrowed this name. This English-speaking singer, unknown by Maxim Nucci’s fans, became Yodelice. Maxim & Sébastien Grandgambe performed the songs in a guitar/cello version. To find the right words, Maxim worked with a Canadian actress, Marianne Groves. She understood stories in his melodies… Maxim called director Bastien Duval to build Yodelice’s universe. Bastien drew Maxim’s guitar with a skull. For his album Tree Of Life, Maxim recorded the rhythm section in Los Angeles, took the bass & hired drummer Abraham Laboriel Jr. Other musicians came to play brass & Sébastien Grandgambe came with his cello. Back in France, he played electric guitar & also used his skull guitar. He didn’t want to leave the stage, he loved it. Like a new birth, Yodelice was born.
source: lastfm
EDIT: Yodelice blow me away song after song during their performance last Saturday. Maxim is one truly talented singer with a unique style. I was expecting Milow (who was also featured in the festival) to take the stage but he was beyond comparison.
The evening of December 24th is very much a family celebration in Switzerland. This is the evening on which the Christmas tree is brightly lit and decorated in all its splendor complete with wrapped gifts underneath.
Presents under the Christmas tree!
Starters : Shrimp cocktail with cognac & grapefruit sauce
Main course : Filet mignon with chestnuts & brusselsprouts & spätzle
No feast would be complete without cheese platter
And finally, dessert : Paradiso cake
Presents comes after midnight where everyone gathered together to give and receive while enjoying a glass or two of Amaretto and Williamine.
Since I’m writing this in Switzerland and we’re behind by 7 hours from Singapore, technically, it’s not the new year for me. At least not yet. So here we go…
For 2010, my resolutions are :-
Quit smoking
No timeline exactly but I’m giving myself some time till after our wedding (before the end of the year). YES! I’m getting MARRIED!!! Back to that in another post.
Get a driving license
I could’ve gotten it way before 2010 but unfortunately, I failed the test. Looking at the bright side, I don’t have to do the theories and practical lessons all over again. Next test: 17th February 2010. Wish me luck!
Speak better French
I can’t express how crappy my français is right now.
Eat right & keep fit With all the junk food and no exercise I’m getting, I wouldn’t be surprise if I get a heart attack or gain 10kg in 3 months. Salads, vegetables, cereals, grains… here I come!
I can’t think of more resolutions for the time being. So that’s all for now. Too much going on in my life at this very moment and I’m just dying to settle down and be quiet. Yes! That’s it! That’s one of my resolution for 2010…
Eid ul-Adha “Festival of Sacrifice” is a holiday celebrated by the Muslims. It marks the end of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca). It takes place on the 10th of Dzul-Hijjah which is the last month of the Islamic calendar. Although only the pilgrims to Makkah can celebrate it fully, Muslims elsewhere can also mark the occasion of Eid ul-Adha by thanking Allah (God) for all the blessings they have received.
Hajj
The Hajj is the ‘Fifth Pillar of Islam’ and therefore a very important part of the Islamic faith. All physically fit Muslims who can afford it should make the visit to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, at least once in their lives. Each year millions of Muslims converge on Makkah. They visit a shrine in the city known as Ka’bah, built by Ibrahim (Abraham) and Isma’il (Ishmael) at the command of Allah (God). It is a place for all Muslims who want to reaffirm their faith.
The sacrifice
Ibrahim had a dream in which he was sacrificing his only son, Isma’il. He mentioned it to Isma’il and at once he said that he (Isma’il) should be sacrificed. Ibrahim and Isma’il went on a spot which they chose for sacrificial purpose. On the way, Satan appeared and ask Isma’il to move away from fulfilling his father’s dream but Isma’il moved away those thoughts. When they both reached the place, Isma’il then laid down and Ibrahim tied a cloth around his eyes. Just when he was about to sacrifice his son, Allah sent a ram and replaced Isma’il with that ram (lamb / goat). Abraham then unknowingly sacrifices the ram and when he open his eyes, his joys knew no boundaries on what he saw.
Eid ul-Adha is celebrated in remembrance of the sacrifice.
Last Sunday marked the end of the Muslim fasting month, Ramadhan, and Muslims all around the world celebrated Eid ul-Fitr. Main feature of the celebration is Eid congregations, where the rich and poor irrespective of their social status embraced each other demonstrating the fraternity among the Muslims. Eid is also a time of forgiveness, and making amends.
I spent my Eid with my loved ones…
While the men lounge in the living room at my mom's...
...the women get busy in the kitchen.
Mom made my favorite Roti Kirai, Bamia and Lemak Lodeh, and my sister came over with more food.
For those of you who don’t know, Roti Kirai is basically a pancake. The only difference in between the normal breakfast pancake and this particular one is in the method of cooking and use of coloring. Using a special ladle with 5 holes at the bottom, the mixture is then poured over a lightly greased hot pan to give it a special lacy effect. Once ready, it will be folded and served with curry.
Making the Roti Kirai
Making Roti Kirai
Greasing the Roti Kirai
No eve of Eid would be complete without making a trip to Geylang Serai for the hustles and bustles…
Each year, during the month of Ramadhan, Geylang Serai is transformed into a bazaar. Vendors selling from food, clothes, curtains, carpets to even furniture display their colorful wares amongst others. Towards the end of Ramadhan, also marking the closure of the bazaar for Eid, vendors can be heard auctioning off their products at an exteme bargain.
Yummy calorie loaded cookies on sale at a very low price
Baju Kebaya; A traditional costume worn by women from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore...
Geylang; festively decorated with bright lights and bustling atmosphere
I woke up to the scent of Lemak Lodeh lingering around the house... Miam !
For all the Muslims throughout the world, Ramadan is a whole month for inner reflection, devotion to God and self-control. It takes place in the ninth month of the Islamic year, the holy month is a time of fasting. During the fasting period (from dawn until sunset), Muslims are refrained from eating, drinking, smoking and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured.
Ramadan was the month in which the first verses of Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad. The sighting of the new moon at the end of Ramadan heralds the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr (the beginning of Syawal, the tenth month of the Islamic year).
Family gathering, Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr is a joyous occasion, similar to Christmas in its celebration but with strong religious significance. The giving of a special charity for this occasion is obligatory. Muslims dress in holiday attire, attend a special community prayer in the morning and visit friends and relatives. Sometimes, some people will visit the grave of their lost loved ones. Greetings of “‘Eid mubarak,” or “a blessed ‘Eid” are exchanged. In some places, children are given gifts or money by their parents and relatives.
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