Theresa May in Mons

Photo: Gareth Fuller/ PA

As part of the commemoration of the centenary of the Armistice, British Prime Minister Theresa May and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel paid tribute to British soldiers who fell during the First World War at The cemetery of Saint-Symphorien on November 9, 2018.

During the ceremony, she laid wreaths at the graves of John Parr, the first UK soldier to be killed in 1914, and the last, George Ellison (he was killed on the Western Front at 09:30 GMT, before the Armistice came into effect at 11:00).

“We remember the heroes who lost their lives in the horror of the trenches. As the sun sets on one hundred years of remembrance, we will never forget their sacrifice.”

Where Hands Touch

Commemorating Remembrance month, The Armistice and The Great War Centenary (2014-18) with BAFTA Award winning writer/ director, Amma Asante who begins shooting for her upcoming movie “Where Hands Touch”, a romantic drama starring Amandla Stenberg (The Hunger Games) and George MacKay (Captain Fantastic) in Mons on October 31 – November 4, 2016.

Rue Jean Lescart – rue d’Enghien - rue de la Poterie - Collégiale Sainte-Waudru - rue de la Réunion - rue des Cinq visages - rue des Soeurs Grises - rue le la Petite Guirlande.

Set in Germany in 1940s during World War II, the movie tells the relationship between a 16-17 year-old German mixed-race girl and a 19-year-old German soldier. It’s really about two teenagers who are coming of age against a back-drop of utter madness… teenagers who are witnessing horrible, sad, devastating elements of our humanity.

Belgian cities chosen as filming locations because the historic old towns remained intact with cobblestone streets and beautiful façade.  

Release date: 2017

Tantrum Films/ Pinewood Pictures Production – Protagonist Pictures

Pray for Belgium

When I decided to extend my holiday in the tropics last year and skipped the Brussels lockdown, I was pretty naïve thinking things will slowly get better.

Compared to the busy airports like Amsterdam Schiphol or even the main one in my home country, walking easy breezy with minimum security at Brussels Airport had always made me worry. Then it happened…

The day before I went to Brussels for an event at the Embassy and had dinner with friends. As usual, I always park my car in front of my friend’s old apartment at Residence Palace across Malbeek metro station. For me it’s one of the most convenient and favorite location. Only 3 metro stops to the city center. The restaurant we had dinner was only few hundreds meters away.

So shocked when I woke up late that morning and read my brother’s message on the phone. He told me about the blasts. My family, relatives and friends were asking if I was okay. Some of them thought I was having a déjà vu. When I was living in paradise, it even happened twice! In my neighbourhood, where I worked and hung out!

Before in small island, now in small country.

I wonder where to go now…

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

The Cottage was on fire!

Around midnight on the first weekend of July 2015 it was too hot inside our home so I opened our bedroom window to breathe fresh air. Suddenly my eyes caught unusual sight. Huge plumes of smoke in the skyline.. like there was a blaze or explosion. I noticed it didn’t look far from the Belfry. Prince Charming was half asleep and mumbling it’s probably smoke from a barbecue. This late?

I was really sure something was happening eventhough didn’t hear sirens of fire trucks. It was calm. And it kept me wondering… 

The next day, Dimanche Gratuit (free visit to museums on the first Sunday of the month) we’re thinking to have a look to The Doudou Museum, near The Cottage- a hut inspired by Van Gogh paintings in 1885, located in the Mayor’s Garden, just a short walk from the Grand Place. I’ve been planning to see the inside, but seeing (short) queue in few attemps gave me the idea to do it later (and later). Anyway, it will be there until September 27, 2015. 

telemb

What I look today is so disappointing. The Cottage is now gone, there’s nothing left. 

Watching the damage, I told myself to stop procrastinating!

This is already the second incident happening to the art installations during the Mons 2015 project, after “The Passenger” was collapsed. But in this case, The Foundation Mons 2015 won’t rebuilt The Cottage.

*The hut then replaced by a giant boots, taken after the event of Sun City, which also inspired by one of the famous works of Van Gogh.

On International News

Fête d'Ouverture Mons 2015 story published in the travel section of Kompas, Indonesia’s leading and most credible news and multimedia portal.

So proud!

Not only it’s important for me that I finally back on track, writing for a media again (after a while) and a good promotion for Mons.

Link to the article: Mons, Semarak Perayaan Ibu Kota Kebudayaan Eropa 

Thank you my bff Fina, and the editor Kadek.

It means a lot to me :)

CNN Top 10 destinations to visit in 2015

“Mons, Belgium, has a population of just 93,072 people, but the small city expects 2 million visitors to ply its medieval streets when it hosts more than 1,000 cultural and artistic events in 2015 as the offical European Capital of Culture.

Highlights of the yearlong celebration include an illuminating new Van Gogh exhibit, three multidisciplinary arts festivals, numerous public installations and art-infused parties.

Moreover, Mons will unveil not one, not two, but an astounding five new museums in April, including The Artotheque (art library) and Mons Memorial Museum.

Think of 2015 as a coming out party for this former mining and industrial center that's completely reinventing itself.”