Caribana Festival is an annual festival in Toronto to celebrate the vibrant culture, music, dance and people of countries in the Caribbean. It's a massive celebration which ends today with the most disorganized parade I've ever seen from 10:00 - 6:00 p.m. Imagine a parade that lasts for 8 hours! Beat that.
The parade is not just loooonggggg but also delayed. And it's NOT continuous. I pity those people who were waiting at the parade street (which is so narrow) that they had to endure the agony of waiting under the scorching sun before the next set of dancers would appear.
Gezz, Caribana people, get your act together--be systematic and improve your choreography! It's crap. After the performance / contest, the dancers just threw away some of their props on the side street and trash were everywhere. Disgusting.
It's my first Caribana Festival and I was half-impressed! And that means, it's gonna be my first and last Caribana!
The dancers, the costumes, the music, the beat and the saucy dance moves never failed to amaze me. They creativity impressed me much and the huge props alone were, for sure, gargantuan tasks.
Obviously, it was a parade of skimpy-clad women of all sizes and colors. The costumes were bright, colorful and stunning! I love all their headdresses but not the rubber shoes that go with their super uber fantabulous costume!
There were men, of course, but were overshadowed by the presence of women who titillated them with their nasty, pumping butt moves---which I loved, by the way. :))
The best place to spend the summer is not on the beach where you will be distracted with bikinis and trunks---but on your patio roof. Unless you are, of course, a sex maniac.
Grab a beer, call some friends and sit on the roof with them for a hip conversation under the warm heat of an afternoon sun. Distractions? There's none. You're the one distracting the passerby for sure.
Wish I were friends with this bunch of cool people.
If I were here on this roof, I'd lay down my beach towel, apply tanning / sunblock spray all over me, wear my sunglasses, show off my pink swimming trunks and let Taylor Lautner in his thong serve my margarita. Hahahahaha!!!
This girl seriously needs a serious fashion re-education for her not to commit the shoe-fashion faux pas of the century. Obviously, she has no gay biatch to smash her shoes into million pieces.
With medical reason or not, it's a NO-NO-NO thing to goo around Toronto in this footwear. Better stay at home and recuperate than show off such fugly plastic boot (I dunno how you call that invention). I'm at loss of words. Duh.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.... This is what that guy, Justin (?) in The Bachelorette wore in one of the episodes. What a shoe!
I haven't seen a lot of musicals. In fact, only 7 so far. No, I don't mean musical movies but musicals LIVE on stage. And if I were allowed to only watch ONE musical in MY LIFETIME, it would be, MISS SAIGON. No doubt.
I might be subjective in my pick--because the original lead cast for the role Kim, a young Vietnamese woman who gave up her life for her son, was a Filipina, Leah Salonga, who later won Tony and Olivier's Best Actress Award for her moving, soulful portrayal of the role. Cameron McKintosh and his hang searched and travelled countries for open audition---to find the perfect role of Kim. And they did---in Manila: Leah Salonga who was then 17 years old.
Anyway, I saw Miss Saigon today at Four Seasons here in Toronto. I didn't cry but tears welled up around my eyes. Obviously, I held them back. I'm a cry baby and when I cry, it's like Niagara falls.
What makes Miss Saigon so powerful are the songs, the melodious lines of every note that would prick your conscience, heart and soul. Ma-Anne Dionisio's (another Filipina) performance didn't just give justice to the role she played but moved and captured the audience to total silence. WE, too, suffered with her, sacrificed with her and truly loved with her.
She made us believe that it's okay to dream and love---even in war---and hold on to those 'till the end. The musical is a tearjerker, yes, but those tears you shed while watching were not meant to just fall. They fall because you weren't just moved by what you heard and saw but also because, a part of your life is right there in front you. That's how powerful Miss Saigon is---so powerful and moving that for two hours and a half---you are in an emotional turmoil.
Four of the ladies who were in my row were crying and perhaps, thinking that some of songs in the musical are true to them.
Miss Saigon's songs are very impressive. The words go deep to your bones and give you a feeling like it's you---are the one singing them. The songs that are still playing in my head now are: Sun and Moon, Last Night of the World, I Still Believe, I'd Give My Life for You and This Is The Hour.
Would I watch it again? Yes, for sure. Before it ends on August 1.
I couldn't find good quality photos of Ma-Anne playing Kim so I posted Leah's. I hope next time I'll be there I could secretly break the rule of NO Photos in the theater. Just one. Just one. If Ma-Anne is reading this, I hope she'll leave a message and gives me a backstage pass next time I see the show. :))
Performance Dates: July 9 - August 1, 2010 Theater:Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts (145 Queen Street West) Nearest subway: Osgoode Subway Station Running time: 2 hours and 30 minutes Age appropriate: Miss Saigon contains adult themes and is not recommended for children under 13 years old.
Rush Seating:
Rush tickets are $25.00 (Rings Rush) and $35.00
(Orchestra Rush). Rush tickets go on sale 2 hours prior to the
performance. Cash only. Tickets subject to availability.
To those who have known me as a funny, happy and bubbly person, not all of them know that I am an incurable romantic. Really. Not joking. No, not I used to be....but I still am. ;)
I have a scented candle in my room to help imagine that I am in some kind of a romantic place. Being alone in your room doesn't mean you can't be romantic. Of course, you can. But then, you know.... there's someone missing in the picture.
I went to Toronto's Harbourfront last weekend and I was surprised on how many lovebirds were acting like they're the only ones in the area. It's a beautiful sight to see these people hugging, smooching, teasing, holding hands, etc... oblivious to everyone. There was even one guy who just just sitting with his dog and both of them seemed to be looking and admiring at the shy moon.
Yeah, it made me wish I were the dog. Hahahahaha...
Day and night, Harbourfront comes alive with musicians, food lovers, strollers, joggers, dogwalkers, tourists, lovers, photographers, romantics, lunatics, children and some homeless adults. There are hosts of festivals, too, that are fun-filled celebrations! It's a good place to spend summer outdoor under some tree shades or even just lay down there in mid afternoon sun and get your tan.
It is estimated that, currently, there are about 600+ carilloneurs around the world. And it was a great honor to meet just even one of them, who will be having a Carillon Concert Tour in Europe next month.
But, what is a CARILLON, you ask? I didn't even know what this thing was until I joined one of Gerard's Carillon tours via the couchsurfing group. And I'm glad I joined because I learned more than what I expected to learn.
The Metropolitan United Church has a secret not known to everybody. Though passersby and churchgoers hear bells ringing from time to time but only few of these individuals have seen the bells and know how these bells produce a sound that give comfort to the patients of the St. Michael's hospital nearby, call worshippers to church services and awaken the weary commuters everyday.
"A CARILLON is a set of 23 bells or more played from a keyboard (above). Playing the Carillon demands much physical exertion by the carillonneur. The keys, or batons, are struck, not with the fingers in the manner of a piano, but with the underside of a loosely clenched fist. The foot-pedals sound the heavier/bigger bells."
Play the video and take note that the sound that is produced here---is not from the console itself but from the bells above us.
But before you can see, touch and try that "piano-looking" thing that Gerald play, you have to endure 174 steps up to enjoy and see an expensive instrument that is worth 1 million dollars!
CARILLON CHURCH SCHEDULE: Every Sunday morning from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m., Guided tours: On a weekend in late May (Doors Open Toronto) and special services such as easter Sunday morning. Tours may be arranged at other times by calling the church office. Private instruction in the art of carillon playing may be arranged through Gerald Martindale by phoning him at the Metropolitan United Church at 416 363 0331, ext. 30.
Gerald's European Concert Tour Schedule. Attend and see him if you can. Date, Time, Institution, Location, No. of Bells
July 28 - 12 noon, St. Margaret’s, London, ENGLAND, 16 bells July 29 - 7:30 pm, Poulton Hall, Bedington, ENGLAND, 27 bells July 30 - 12 noon, All Hallows, London, ENGLAND, 18 bells July 30 - 5:00 pm, Old Bond St., London, ENGLAND, 23 bells July 31 - 2:00 pm, York Minster, York, ENGLAND, 35 bells Aug. 1 - 3:30 pm, War Memorial, Loughborough, ENG., 47 bells Aug. 3 - 10:30 am, Vor Frue Kirke, Svendborg, DENMARK, 36 bells Aug. 4 - 3:00 pm, St. Gertruds, Grenaa, DENMARK, 42 bells Aug. 5 - 12:15 pm, Domkirke Sct. Knud, Odense, DENMARK, 48 bells Aug. 6 - 3:00 pm, Domkirke, Aalborg, DENMARK, 48 bells Aug. 8 - 11:30 pm, Sofia Albertina, Landskrona, SWEDEN, 43 bells Aug. 8 - 3:30 pm, Sofia Albertina, Landskrona, SWEDEN, 43 bells Aug. 8 - 7:30 pm, Sofia Albertina, Landskrona, SWEDEN, 43 bells Aug. 9 - 5:00 pm, Domkyrka, Växjö, SWEDEN, 28 bells Aug. 10 - 6:00 pm, Rådhuset, Malmö, SWEDEN, 48 bells Aug. 11 - 8:30 pm, O.L. Vrouwetoren, Nieuwpoort, BELGIUM, 67 bells Aug. 13 - 12 noon, Alte Nicholaikirche, Frankfurt, GERMANY, 47 bells Aug. 14 - 5:00 pm, St. Nicholaikirche, Hamburg, GERMANY, 51 Aug. 15 - 5:00 pm, Katholische Stadkirche, Eppingen, GERMANY, 49 bells Aug. 18 - 5:30 pm, Neubaukirche, Wuerzburg, GERMANY, 51 bells Aug. 19 - 7:30 pm, Stabkirche, Hahnenklee, GERMANY, 49 bells Aug. 21 - 4:00 pm, Bell Tower, Kaunas, LITHUANIA, 35 bells Aug. 22 - 12 noon, Post Office, Klaipedia, LITHUANIA, 48 bells Aug. 24 - 12 noon, Stadhuistoren, Rotterdam, HOLLAND, 63 bells Aug. 26 - 10:30 am, Stadhuistoren, Vlissingen, HOLLAND, 47 bells Aug. 27 - 11:00 am, Sint Jacobstoren, Vlissingen, HOLLAND, 47 bells Aug. 28 - 4:30 pm, St. Julientoren, Ath, BELGIUM, 49 bells Aug. 29 - 4:00 pm, St. Gertrudistoren, Nivelles, BELGIUM, 47 bells
A fellow couchsurfer, Romain, gave me the right to publish his photos during the 2010 Euro Pride in Warsaw, Poland on July 17.
Yes, Poland! Can you believe that!?
This country has a very strong Catholic population who, of course, hates the homos but loves and listens to their priests, a.k.a. sex perverts, who live a life of hypocrisy. It must be recalled that in 2004, Pride Parade was banned in this country.
Despite VERY HEAVY police security, EURO PRIDE ended with rainbows' seven colors intact. While the march went on the streets and police on both sides, the Catholics were mere spectators who brought with them a weapon: a crucifix!
That's my friend's way of saying how the hell I am since the last time we wrote each other some sexy stuff.
Now, Argentina will not anymore be known as the country of football with super hot football players in the entire planet. They will now be known as the first Latin American country to legalise marriage. I can't imagine the flaming anger of The Catholic Church in that country.
Felicitacions, Argentina! I'll be waiting to hear the news of a mass gay wedding next! This morning, I woke up with these photos in one of my friend's facebook wall, Hannah. The photos are beautifully stunning and wonderfully captured the angst, joy and love of the crowd outside Argentina's capitol while waiting for the decision.
I sent a message to the photographer if I could publish his photos for blog purposes---and in seconds, he responded, "Yes!! feel free to publish our photos in your blog, and promote these
material. it´ll be a pleasure."
