In Bruges (again), the Soccer World Cup and Rock Werchter! Also Wikileaks on the side.

24 June 2010


Rock Werchter
Wow, the time has finally come. It's a week until Rock Werchter, the best festival in the world. (Thats not just me talking, it has actually been voted the best festival in the world... don't ask me how they work it out or decides though). Either way, I'm starting to get pretty excited. Wolfmother was meant to be there, which would have been awesome, but apparently the lead singer had a severe case of screwjamesoverlitus, so they can't make it anymore. Nevertheless, with a line-up like this one, its still gonna be incredible. Here's a taste of what I'll be pushing and shoving my way through the hordes to see (I say to see them cause I have a feeling the hearing will go pretty quickly): (These are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head, don't like all of them, but all are undeniably pretty big names)

• Pearl Jam
• Muse
• Vampire Weekend
• Them crooked vultures
• Jack Johnson
• Rise Against
• Greenday
• Rammstein
• Pink
• Corene Bailey Rae
• Arcade Fire
• The Black Box Revelation
• The Black Keys
• 30 Seconds to Mars
• Alice in Chains
• Paramore

Now you may not like all the bands there, but you have to agree, thats one awesome line-up!
Seriously. Well it all starts next Thurs and goes until the Sun, so its going to be four hardcore days of music, bad smells and possibly a few broken ribs. Hopefully it doesnt rain... Cause that'll suck big time.

World Cup Soccer
New Zealand are playing Paraguay today. Tense times. I'm hoping for a miracle. Italy are playing Slovakia as well and we kinda need Slovakia to do well... So maybe 2 miracles then.. Don't want to say anything more lest I jinx everything... Either way, good luck to the All Whites, they've done much better than everyone expected regardless of what happens now, so we'll at least have that I guess.

A shout out to all my peeps in South Korea and Uruguay, well done for making it through to the second round, you know I've got your back(s)   ;)

In Bruges (Again)
In other news, I'm going back to Bruges tomorrow - staying for the weekend. Bert is coming with. We both love the movie and he hasn't been to Bruges, which I think is blasphemy, especially considering the fact that he is indeed Belgian. Going to try and get to some of the places they filmed, recreate some scenes etc. Think I've mentioned that already in a previous post, hell I don't care, I'm gonna do it and everyone should know. So yeah, pretty psyched about the whole thing really. Will be good to see the city at night as well. You know, different atmosphere and everything. Maybe I'll see a midget or two. Fingers crossed eh.

Hmmm wonder who I offended with that last line... If I keep it up I might find myself running short of viewers.. Hahaha, get it get it get it???? Its funny cause midgets are short. And South African New Zealanders are mildly offensive...

Homework
I've been going extra crazy on listening to Pearl Jam lately - got 349 songs by them on my i-pod. Live albums and all. Also been brushing up on Muse.

Wikileaks
I'm not going to go on about this but if you haven't heard of Wikileaks, check it out here. Its revolutionary. A guy by the name of Julian Assange founded it - Aussie guy. At the moment he's kinda my idol. Regardless of what you think of him or the site, it is very interesting and I really recommend checking it out. Look up some stuff about Julian as well. He's like a modern day hero. For now anyway. He's what every government conspiracy theorist wishes they could be. Fair enough too. If you google either wikileaks or Julian Assange you'll find plenty of info so go wild.  For me its one of the biggest world-wide news worthy stories in a long time... ok Enough of that. Just have a look okay? Consider it your daily duty to humanity or something, you know, whatever chokes your puppy.


Conc.
To all those who have commented on my posts, (you know who you are) thanks a lot, really appreciate them, keep them coming. To those who haven't commented, feel free to do so, its great to hear what you have to say about all of this (whether I know you or not). Looking forward to hearing from you all.

Over and out.

Amsterdam: sex, drugs and the Hard Rock Cafe

Wow. What a weekend. (Four days since it was a long weekend). The trip to Amsterdam was a big success I think. Firstly, the city is completely bizarre. It's the strangest mix of sex, drugs and culture. I'll try tackle each of the above individually.

First off, the drugs (marijuana). God its seriously everywhere. Coffeshops can be found usually just by glancing vaguely at your surroundings. It gets smoked a bit in the street as well so I'm pretty sick of the smell by now. The streets are so dirty. Maybe I've just been spoiled by the relatively clean Belgian and New Zealand streets, but Amsterdams streets were shocking. Have to see it to believe it. I concluded that the reason for this can be attributed to just about the whole city getting high, getting the munchies and heading off to the closest fast food joint (joint, haha get it get it get it???). Once the trash cans are filled the gutter is apparently the next best thing. So much weed merchandise in the tourist shops as well. Think of any touristy gimmick that you can buy. They probably have the same thing, except the weed version. Like actually.

The sex. Well, I can now say, I went to Amsterdam, and I went to the redlight district. Found it pretty strange. The prostitutes are all standing on display in windows down the street. Talk about window shopping eh.  They have loads of 'live pornos' in between all the prostitutes as well. A slightly odd feeling to walk down a street knowing that there are people all around you having sex - and some are being watched! Oh, I went to the sex museum. One of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. Glorified porn from way back. People keep telling me how much more conservative things were back in the 50's... I think not. Those horny oldies.

Elise is a bitch.  a lovely person.


The culture. I know what you're thinking, you're thinking, "Thank god, finally, the exciting stuff!" Boy do I have a treat for you guys... Well... I'm afraid its going to be a bit of an anti-climax, because the museums I saw were amazing, but not exactly the kind of stuff that translates well into blogging. So I'll just say that I went to the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh museum and the Anne Frank museum (the house where they hid). Without going on about it too much, (you can relax, I really am not going to ramble about it) the Rijksmuseum was by far the best - the history had me sold pretty much. They had old weapons on the display. God. The things I would have done to own them. Terrible things. Disgusting things. But it would be worth it.. Probably.

While I was there we went to the Hard Rock Cafe. It was really good - always get such good service there. I mean, you actually get the impression that the waitresses like you. Maybe they were just smiling because they spat in my food or something.Still, you come out of that place feeling like you've had a good time you know. Plus the food is good, and the prices weren't too bad by European standards. The music is always pretty decent as well - although at one point they had the Ting Tings on, which really lost them some credibility. They still came out pretty well though.  - Got some merchandise as well. I got a shirt which apprently confirms for all observers that I have, indeed, been to the Hard Rock Cafe in Amsterdam .Despite the cynical tone of that last sentence I actually think its really cool- I mean if you're going to get a Hard Rock shirt, where better to get it from right? (Its a rhetorical question but if you genuinely have a better place then let me know, I'll make it my life ambition to but a shirt there.. I'll think about it anyway..)

Ah yes, the John Malkovich play. Firstly, I have to correct myself, its called the Infernal Comedy, not the Divine Comedy as i previously stated. Back to impromptu and highly acclaimed reviewing. Generally pretty interesting.  The play essentially could be divided into two sections - the bits with John doing his thing (it was essentially a one man show so only he spoke), and these two chicks who sung opera when thy felt the burning desire. My problem was that they felt the burning desire way too bloody much. I like to consider myself as vaguely cultured (don't laugh ok), but 10 - 15 mins of unintelligible opera is simply too much when nothing else is happening. The John Malkovich part was great. He acted incredibly well - I actually found it  little unsettling as I struggled to tell where John Malkovich ended and his murderer character began.

That's all for my update, wishing you all well. I feel lik I should be singing out with some profound statement or amusingly altered quote but my mind is empty at present so you're being spared... for now...

So long fair people