Showing posts with label Beyond. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beyond. Show all posts
World Cup 2018
The
weather has been so nice these days.
Forget
about transitional jacket, I cant’t even remember when was the last time I put
on a jacket.
Seemed
like, after winter it just skipped into summer.
Been
wondering if there’s a big screen to watch the match and chill out to beat the
heat.
Belgium vs Panama (June 18, 2018 - 5 pm)
Went to Grand Place after the first goal on the second half, waiting for Prince Charming got back from work.
So excited to go out to show off my new jersey (bought and personalized it at Decathlon just two days ago).
It was such a quiet walk, nobody was around at the street.
We passed a bar and of course people were already inside and watching intensely .
When we’re walking closer to Marché aux Herbes, I suddenly felt the atmosphere. A lot of people were dressing up.. and I could hear people were cheering at Grand Place.
When we got there, had to pass security check (this is something new in Mons). People were not allowed to bring canned beer. It should be opened.
Then to my surprise.. there’s a 3-side big screen installed at the Grand Place. It was so packed full of people, I could barely see anything! Tried to move around and stuck just in front of McDonald's.
There were also drink stand for “Belgium” (Jupiler rebranded during the World Cup) for only 2 Euro, Hyundai photo booth (free), merchandise tent etc.
This year is seriously huge!
Few minutes watching, another goal for Belgium!
Final score 3-0!
Belgium
vs Tunisia (June 23, 2018 - 2 pm)
We
were late because I needed to dress up (of course). Prince Charming was waiting
impatiently.
I just put on my jersey when Belgium scored
the first goal. Another goal when I haven’t even put my lipstick!
More people at the Grand Place because it’s
weekend, including our Mayor (standing few meters away from me, wearing red
polo).
This time’s position: just in the middle of
the crowd/ center screen. Bad choice! I could see the whole match closer but it
was chaotic! After one of the goals, I got hit by a full bottle of Coke and
people were throwing and spraying beers. I was wet and sticky all over.
Final score 5-2!
Belgium vs England (June 28, 2018 - 8 pm)
I skipped an invitation for apéro before match and decided to go yoga. I told Prince
Charming to wait for me while I had a chat with my friend. Long story short.. I
was late for the match. Almost an hour late! So sorry.. you know girls,
chit-chat seemed more interesting than soccer match *grin.
Just when we passed a bar, people were going nuts over our
first goal!
Since we haven’t got dinner, we only spent few minutes at
the Grand Place and went to Bily and had burger frites (it’s like cheating
after yoga), went home and watch the replay on BBC.
Final score 1-0!
Belgium
vs Japan (July 2, 2018 - 8 pm)
Knockout
stage!
An emotional
match.
Tonight we
support both team, the country we called home for the past 13 years. So we were
thinking to watch the match from the sofa, in the comfort of our home (eventhough
it’s uncomfortably hot inside). At the beginning it’s so calm. But when the
second half just started, Japan quickly
scored 2 goals, I got panic!
Was too lazy to
go out but told myself: brace yourself, get out.. we gotta win! I mean Belgium.
So we grab our
lucky jerseys and run to Grand Place.
Along the way
people were looking at us, they probably thought we’re Japanese.
It happened again.. just within minutes we arrived, it
was Belgium’s first goal!
We easily catched up.. even the last few minutes we scored and won the match!
We just smile at the end.
Japan is also the winner, the team bowed to the
audience and picked up the trash at the stadium. Still amazed by their
attitude.
Was started to believe I’m the lucky charm, hahaha…
Final
score 3-2!
Quarter-finals: Belgium vs Brazil
(July 6, 2018 - 8 pm)
 |
| left photo from @gisele instagram |
OMG it’s Brazil!
Feeling
not so optimistic.. since they’re people’s fav.
Decided
to go out for the match, thinking it’s Friday night. Win or loose, it would be
fun anyway.
This
time we came early because I wanted to be with everyone when they sing
the national anthem.
We
noted that it’s actually better to come later, less people at security check so
no queue. Especially today, more people came to watch.
We
got a good spot just near the fountain at piétonnier. Higher
terrain, so we could see the whole screen even it’s not that close. We’re behind
the security barriers, police and gardien de la paix. The only
drawback was a teen boy next to us who didn’t seem to care watching, just shouting
and screaming and felt misplaced.
When we finally win, I got text across my social media to
congrats Belgium.. from friends in the US who just had brunch and even Mom was
still awake around 3 am back home!
We party that night and people parading through the streets.
Final score 2-1!
Semi-finals: Belgium vs France (July 10, 2018 - 8 pm)
Grey
sky and misty evening.. suddenly I felt mellow, even less optimistic.
Forced
myself and we went to Grand Place during the half-time break.. thinking we
could win.
Not
so many people and the atmosphere was so different.
Maybe
because of the weather.
People
were grumpy and scream in desperation.
We
lost today, to our next door neighbour.
On July 14, 2018 watched at home Belgium-England
(2-0), 3rd Place win and marks history as the best result for
Belgium in FIFA World Cup (while Thibaut Courtois awarded the Golden Glove as
best goalkeeper).
The next day watched the
celebration on tv.#WEAREBELGIUM
#REDTOGETHER
Visitor from Home #3: "On Paradise"
Jompet
Kuswidananto
(Yogyakarta,
Indonesia)
Visited:
21-22 October, 2017
(Actually had spent 3 weeks in
Mons, and daily commute to Hornu).
As part of the Europalia arts festival which
this year is celebrating Indonesia, the MAC’s Grand Hornu presents On Paradise, a brand new installation by the
transdisciplinary artist Jompet Kuswidananto, 22 October 2017 – 14 January
2018.
After the vernissage on the 21st of October 2017, we had
dinner with the MAC’s team at Tocco d’Italia and the next day exploring Mons
before he went back to our home country the next few days.
Took the artist to Mundaneum for the Top Secret expo.
It was the first time I revisited Mundaneum after the
renovation.
Visitors from Home #1 - Day 2
Visited: 18 October, 2017
Day two of Saman performance-workshop, at Bibliothèque de Jemappes/ main public library of Mons
(see previous post).
I never visited this place before.
It’s inside and old Maison Communale building, so it’s huge.. with many
rooms, sections and entrance.
Young kids and their parents were so excited asking the dancers and
learning the basic dance movement.
I can really feel the vibe of Europalia here.
Lots of photo and books about home, guest country of Europalia 2017
arts festival.
Maison Van Gogh
On June 5, 2016 we celebrated Fête des
Voisins (The Neighbour’s Party) visiting Maison
Van Gogh in neighbouring area of Cuesmes located only 3 km away.
During 11 am – 12.30 pm there’s a
free visit and music performance by Bastien Loriou
with his barrel organ.
It’s our second visit to the house that Van Gogh
lived from 1879 to 1880, the first time after several renovations (having been
abandoned for nearly a century, The Van Gogh House almost disappeared due to
the poor condition).
Today we have the chance to have a look inside
and see the new layout.
It begins with an
introduction at the entrance of the garden. There’s also a new building allows
us to discover the context of Van Gogh’s arrival in the region and gives us an
overview of this “pays noir” (black country) called the Borinage. In this
little house, it’s completely redesigned. One media room plays the film narrating
the life of Van Gogh and his move to Borinage. The other contains replica works, period documents and letters, with multilingual interactive
screen. That’s it!
It’s a way shorter visit
compared to the Van Gogh exhibition at BAM last year. But this
venue was a major milestone. It was here, in this modest home, Van Gogh, one of the greatest painters from the 19th century took the first steps in his artistic career.
Smells Like Home
Oh how I really miss the smell of the ocean breeze.
The smell of simmering offerings to the gods.
The burning incense.
The smell of paradise, my happiest place on earth...
Princess Astrid Visited My Home Country!
Her visit on March 12-19, 2016 as part of her official state visit to boost bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
She took the opportunity to have her picture taken under the sign of Jalan Astrid (Astrid Street) at Bogor Botanical Garden, West Java .
Princess Astrid, who is the granddaughter of Queen Astrid and King Leopold III, visited the botanical garden as a follow-up visit made by her grandparents in 1928.
#prayforparis
When I was away for the holiday.
The Belfry lit up to honour the victims of the Paris attack in November
2015.
*Repost from @visitmons
Mons 2015 at Brussels Airport
Off we go!
Autumn-Winter getaway to the
tropics.
See you
[not very] soon, Mons!
Pairi Daiza: Jardin Impressionniste
Pairi Daiza, the Garden of the
Worlds, leads its visitors on a trip from one continent to another,
among the plant, animal, cultural and spiritual riches which can be
found hidden in this domain formerly inhabited by the Cistercian monks of
the Abbaye de Cambron located about 15 km away from the town center of
Mons.
Drawing inspiration from the
homage being given to Van Gogh, the park is opening, for Mons 2015, a
new garden inviting the visitor to take a path inspired by the most
beautiful works of impressionist artists. The theme of the garden is carried
out so that the views, lights and colours take us into the universe
of painters such as Monet, Manet, Pissarro or Renoir.
The garden becomes the easel, the
sky the canvas and the plants the brush strokes. The movement, the
fleeting impressions, the fluidity of the space materialise through a
movement, as it happens, of a flow of water which, like the
pictorial current, draws us into a universe that is both real
and bucolic inspired by the nature that surrounds us.
This garden open from April 4 –
November 8, 2015.
If you happen to be visiting or
around Mons, I would recommend to go to Pairi Daiza. It’s really a beautiful
park, whether you come alone or with your family. Honestly I haven’t visit all
the areas because it’s getting bigger every year and there’s always something
new.
Few months ago I was so happy
having the chance to meet the family who (mostly) built the park. They’re the
one who make me proud, making The Kingdom of Ganesha – the largest Indonesian
garden in Europe, which was opened in 2009. It reproduces the plant life and
feel of our beautiful and loving archipelago, particularly Bali because there’s
this massive Balinese Hindu temple called Pura Agung Shanti Bhuwana.
I still remember clearly when the first time I visited five
years ago.
Very emotional, knowing we have a piece of home in this
faraway land and located so close from our place.
The lush plantation and rice
terraces.
The jukung (Balinese traditional fishing boat).
The musical ensemble of gamelan.
The smell of incense which fills the air.
Thank you Mr. Eric Domb, the founder who has deep affection
to Bali.
“It is a symbol of my gratitude to Indonesia.
When I was 17 years old, I made the first visit to Indonesia and fell in love.
I came back thirty years later, 2006, with a project to build a real Balinese
temple, with the stone from Gunung Agung, with the best people to craft the
temple”.
This temple is a tribute to the
supreme deity that favours harmony, serenity, prosperity and happiness. Indeed,
'Agung' stands for large, Shanti for serene and Bhuwana for the Universe. Pairi
Daiza dedicated this temple to the Hindu community. So during the opening
season (April-November), along with Balinese people in Europe, we come and celebrate Balinese
Hindu ceremonies.
Apart from the Balinese temple, a miniature Borobudur, a
Timorese village, long Dayak houses and Papuan artifacts are also found in the
complex. The Indonesian government also sent a pair of Sumatran
elephants to enliven the Indonesian Park. It is the first endangered animal
breeding loan program that Indonesia ever had in Europe.
If you haven’t been to Bali or
Indonesia, come and join me on the festivities. Enjoy the traditional music,
dance performances and win special prizes. At least we have it three times a
year (check out Pairi Daiza website or Facebook for updates of the event).
See you there!
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