Because you can enjoy a juicy steak for lunch not just for dinner, because in the metro many people read books and not only free newspapers, because locals dress according to their style and not according to a national-uniform, because the city feels big but you can easily escape it by car via the clever tunnels system, because you can take a walk in a huge forest and still be within the city limits, because you can reach London, Amsterdam, Cologne and Paris in less than 2 hours by train, because of many other reasons...

This morning, during a very patriotic breakfast, I realised 2 things. One...I need to continue this blog and two...the chocolate I held in my hand was one of the most powerful Romanian brands around.

Only two weeks ago, while checking the Cannes Lions festival website, I came across a great achievement for the Romanian creative media sector: McCANN Erickson won 2 lion awards for a great campaign. If you haven't seen it, check it here. It's such a great trick, a trigger on our historic-built-and-quick-forgotten patriotism, arousing the need for a constant bla-bla on the street, on TV and in the newspapers. I am super curious how this campaign was received at home in Romania, during the execution phase? Anyone?

But as good as the campaign and the awards were, the follow up is disastrous. After a simple google search for "Rom ciocolate" I ended up on the brand website  where I am invited to take part in a Valentine's Day promotion. Really???...it ended almost 5 months ago. And trying to find more about the chocolate company, I googled "Kandia chocolate" the producers of ROM. Disaster strikes again, their page returns an error "The page is no longer available". Either they are plain stupid or they want to lower their company price for a future takeover. Let's go Mars!

 

Asteptand la Otopeni sa ma imbarc in Airbusul 318 de Bruxelles, dupa scurta calatorie in Romania, mi-am dat seama ca in 3 zile nu am avut destul timp:

- sa ma intalnesc cu prietenii din Bucuresti

- sa ma plimb cu masina pe Calea Victoriei si Magheru, iar apoi sa ma chinui sa gasesc un loc de parcare in fata blocului

- sa dau o tura pe la Carturesti pentru carti si CDuri romanesti

- sa mananc o capriciosa delicioasa la Cuptorul cu Lemne

- sa vad pomii infloriti din Parcul Circului sau Herastrau

- sa mananc o saorma de la Genin sau de la Dristor

- sa beau un ceai si un pahar de vorba la Cafe Milena

- sa mananc mici si sa beau o bere La Motoare

- sa fiu uimit de dezvoltarea continua a centrului vechi

 

Am avut insa destul timp:

- sa aflu toate dedesupturile foursome-ului dintre Pepe, Tudy, Oana si mama ei. 

- sa observ cum Romanii au talent, insa mai putin cei care chiar castiga emisiunea de mare anvergura nationala

- sa vad inca o victorie (mica ce-i drept) a lui Dinamo pe Ghencea si sa observ o super strategie de pacalire a jandarmilor: jucatorii lui Dinamo, necontrolati, arunca fanilor fulare cu fumigene si torte, ce sunt folosite ulterior de acestia pentru a incendia atmosfera din "el clasicutzul" nostru dintre caini si echipa cealalta

- sa il vad pe Gigi trecand de la statutul de erou ce mananca pita cu slana cucerind muntele Athos, la cel de injurat si fugarit cu pietre de fanii echipei sale.

- sa vad ca ne chinuim foarte mult cu inceperea constructiilor de autostrazi, insa reusim totusi sa demolam Str. Buzesti, sa facem un terminal mic si luminos la Otopeni, plus o centura la Sibiu si cateva poduri supra inaltate. Totul e gata ... sa vina turistii schengen...

- sa observ ca unele drumuri din Romania sunt mai bune ca in Wallonia, iar Bucurestiul este un oras curat in a doua zi de Paste. Pe bune!

- sa urmaresc deja traditionalele stiri "cum se cuvine" (multumesc Baronu) cu nebunia din supermarketuri inainte, in timpul si dupa sarbatori, cu gratarele traditionale si mizeria lasata in urma petrecaretilor, cu felul in care sarbatoresc expatii intorsi acasa Pastele: imbatandu-se ca porcii si chemand salvarea in ziua sfanta.

 

In concluzie Romanica a ramas tot Romanica ... cateodata tampa, uneori socanta, cateodata primitoare, uneori bizara, cateodata atragatoare, uneori imprevizibila, dar intotdeauna foarte amuzanta si familiara.

 

The fellow EU passengers were ok, the ride was smooth and funny, the cabin crew smiled, the new terminal at Otopeni was spotless clean and the streets of Bucharest empty at midnight. It helped that I didn't need to take a cab to get home, that food was as always great and that the tv remained on stand by.

But what if... if I would have left one hour early on the Blue Air flight, sharing a plane painted with a huge "Radio Zu in da sky" with the "trendy" romanians working in Belgium, listening to the "last call for passengers" 6 times and seeing huge duty-free bags board the plane instead of people, landing on the sound of the thankful applauses at one of the Ikea's warehouses that seem to be known as an international airport, fighting for my bag on the conveyor belt and for my money and future while beeing dragged inside of a pirate taxi I didn't want to take, listening to manele and beeing questioned about my take on Pepe's betrayal all the way to Colentina.

For some of you KENT is a known cigarettes brand or an old chewing-gum brand that brings nice memories of the past or even a province in South-England known for the Canterbury cathedral or the white cliffs of Dover. For me it's all this and a bit more. kENT is a great Swedish alternative rock band. I would like to invite you to discover it today.

My first contact with their music took place on a warm Saronic island in Greece. There were no premises there to dive into Scandinavian indie rock, but despite that "If you were here" and "Music Non Stop" got me hooked. They sing in both English and Swedish. While the album in English was easy to digest, I used to wonder what they sang in their native swedish, because it always sounded better. Time went by, they stop "translating" their songs and I lost track of their career. I had to wait 8 years to rediscover them after an inspiring train ride. Now, my iPod can't stop playing "Svarta lijner" and my big wish would be to see them in concert in Belgium in the near future. Pukkelpop organisers...please invite them :)

Out of their 9 albums and more than 30 singles, I selected 5(6) of their most famous pieces. Enjoy!

"747" - 1997 - Swedish song about an aircraft crash, that got lost in translation ... literally. A hypnotic beat that surprinsingly reminds me of their 2009 album

"IF YOU WERE HERE" - 1998 - Possibly their most famous song ... a simple rock ballad of late 90s

"MUSIK NON-STOP" (SWEDISH) - 1999 - My favourite kENT song, one of their few songs that is better in English.

"MUSIC NON-STOP" (ENGLISH) - 1999 

"DOM ANDRA" - 2002 - Isn't it addictive already to listen to them and whistle? Maybe it's just me...

"SVARTA LINJER" - 2009 - I think it is a great song about lines, black and white, past and future, choices and life. I need to learn some Swedish to understand them better :)

 

and for those who are already hooked, here's the launch concert of Röd in New York:

Today I understood better why you must keep your seat belt fastened until the aircraft comes to a complete stop....and even beyond that point. Wonder how many of the 62 passengers on the Comair - CRJ 700 followed this advice. Their arrival in New York today was one to remember: "Welcome to the city that rocks!"

Several months ago I discovered an interesting way to help people in need. Kiva.org. Let me sell it to you please...

When was the last time you've donated money. Japan's tsunami disaster, Pakistan's floods, Haiti's earthquake? Natural disasters occur nowadays more often than ever. It could be the power of the omni-present mass media that covers everything or it could just be an increase in probability. In any case,I think the world's governments should be able to help people in need. National budgets should include a "cover" for potential quick-response to disasters. I would be happy to pay this in my taxes; at least it is for a good cause.

But people need help not only when disaster strikes. It's where Kiva brings value! It is different! It offers a transparent link between "lucky" and "not-so-lucky" people. It's a microcredit scheme for those who need a little help to set up a small business, buy some seeds for agriculture or a new transportation vehicle or just want to invest in their offspring's education for example. They post their case on the website, with the help of a local micro-finance organization. Once the case is on the Kiva website, you can contribute with your loan of 25$ or more towards their goal. The website has an optional fee of 2.5$ for every "investment" (you can choose to support them or not). Once the amount of money requested by the borrower is collected from the different sources, he/she receives the money and engages to pay it back within a certain period of time. Then a small interest is paid to the micro-finance institution, and as a lender you receive nothing more than your initial investment. This of course can be reinvested or withdraw. Here is their explanation.

That's it! It's as simple as that to help. Just remember that you are lucky to read this on smartphones or fancy notebooks, lucky to buy books on Amazon, go on citytrips, receive proper education, have access to safe drinking water and good health-care. They were not that lucky! 

www.kiva.org

I once told myself to never try competing with the big guys: Lonely Planet and Wikitravel but, never say never. Here is my invite for you to discover Singapore...if you have several days to spare in South East Asia the city awaits you. Now it's time to go!

Almost every large airline flies to Singapore, but if you have a choice I would recommend Singapore Airlines. Apparently their service is outstanding even in economy. I flew Qatar, because it offered me the lowest price from Brussels. Approaching Singapore first you need to reposition your lower jaw that drops in amazement at the sight of the harbour. Which harbour? I bet you don't know that Singapore port is the bussiest port in the world and that half of the world oil production transits through here. Singapore Straits is where all ships from China pass if they need to reach the West. 

Once landed, you don't arrive at a normal airport, but an green oasis with wide open spaces. Changi Airport, won the best airport of the world title for almost 20 years ... and they are continuously improving themselves. For me the highlights in the airport are the free-24h-cinema, the swimming pool and the botanical garden. It's nice to see your luggage arrive on conveyor belts surrounded by palm trees.

From Changi Airport, Singapore city centre is a 30 minutes ride on the super-air-conditioned MRT. Culture shock is replaced in Singapore by Airco shock. It took me several days and half-dozen handkerchiefs packs to get used to the cold breeze that welcomes you in the metro, in shops, restaurants, hostels and museums.

Getting off at Raffles Square you feel very small around the huge skyscrapers noticing you are right in the centre of the financial district. For me it was a Saturday afternoon and everything seemed deserted.

I continued to the hostel I selected by sorting all available options on Hostelworld.com on ratings and picking the first one: River City Inn. Located in Chinatown, 5 minutes from the riverfront and also the closest MRT station, it offered me the cleanliest hostel experience ever. Showers, toilets, dorms, play area were all spotless clean, plus every room had air-purifying systems. Highly highly recommended, although the street looks average for Singapore.

After a short check-in I went out to discover the "wonders", just when a tropical rain decided to further clean to ultra-tidy streets of the city. But remembering a famous commercial from Piata Revoloutiei, I said to myself: "Keep walking!". In Chinatown I got an induction into Budhism, Hinduism and Islam. Everything took place within 3 adjacent streets. At Lau Pa Sat Market I got invited to taste the fusion of Malay-Chinese and Indian foods. At the riverfront I stood speechless at the sight of the new Marina Bay Sands hotel, the true landmark of the new Singapore. I searched in vain for Merlion, before finding out he is under repairs right now (Merlion - the lion is the city's symbol).

Singapore has more shopping malls than one can imagine. But the thing that amazed me was the big number of Chanel or Vertu price range shops, compared to the Esprit or Uniqlo. Either the standard of living is super high or Singaporeans shop only at special ocasions. As a big Asian touristic city, Singapore catters to the needs of the "nouveau riches" from mainland Asia and Middle East. Is it that super fancy to buy a pair of 1000$ shoes on Orchard Rd? Everybody seemed to be there...

At night the city turns into a rainbow of neon lights. Bridges and skyscrapers change their colours from red to blue,  projections on waterfalls enhance the visual appearance of the bay and jazz music could be heard at the Esplanade Theatre. But, nothing compares with the views from the upper terrace of the Marina Bay Sands. If you are lucky enough to have a room there, you can take a late night swim in the pool that goes right to the edge of the roof-terrace.

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Some people think that Singapore is dull, but I disagree completely. This is the perfect place to adjust your senses to Asia, before discovering wilder beauties or tastes. It is a great place to fight jet-lag,since the city rarely sleeps at night. If you are hungry or thirsty it’s the place to be. Here is my list of 5 foods you should not miss:

1.      Rojak - vegetable/fruit salad toped with dark prawn sauce

2.      Bak Kut Teh - pork rib soup with Chinese spices

3.      Laksa - rice noodles in a coconut curry gravy with shrimp, egg and chicken

4.      Chili Crab - the name says it all

5.      Singapore Satay - skewered chicken/beef served with rice cakes and fresh cucumber plus a spicy peanut sauce

And if you are thirsty drink one  Singapore Sling - a mildly alcoholic cocktail that should be tried at the Raffles Hotel, as every guide book will tell you.

 

Rain in Singapore is welcoming. It washes down the heat and gives the crowded island the freshness of a new start. Outside the city-centre buzz, Singapore is a residential island with high-rise apartment buildings, multi-lane highways and laid-back green residential districts like Holland Park or Queensway (the British influence is still present). Up there, in the north of the island the magic of the rainforest gets up close and personal in the impressive "Night Safari". An experience that should be lived, not told.

Depuis longtemps Paris est une énigme pour moi. Au début, c'était ma ville préfère avant avoir vu Londrès, mais après j'ai toujours trouve Paris plus sale, plus touristique et plus vaniteux. Ce weekend, comme chaque printemps je pris de nouveau le Thalys pour essayer changer mes idées préconçues. 

 

 

After a weird week at work, on my way home today, I was listening to Bloc Party, the band of London.

Each time I listen to them, I still remember, London. I remember waiting for the 7.18 at Notting Hill Gate to go to work or a lazy Sunday in Hyde Park, with a good book or the Sunday Times that featured a special issue on the price of gasoline. The sky was ussually blue in April, everybody was out relaxing or playing football in the park and running like eating grass in their Chelsea uniform. Back then, I would have loved to see London from above, from a helicopter, to make plans how to drive to Brighton for the weekend or why not to be part of the queen's royal banquet receiving compliments and one month off (from work just to prepare). On rainy Sundays, I could've gone hunting for witches in Brick Lane, watch the prayer at St Paul or smile at an angel's halo from a classic painting in National Gallery.

For now, London is 3 months away. Hyde Park should be by then greener and busier than ever, with plenty of common people.