Tuesday 27 November 2012

Vietnam: Hanoi

Hanoi is a wonderful city. On my first day there and after overcoming my fear of crossing the street I visited several temples and museums which I thoroughly enjoyed despite the heat and the crowds.

By BP



Hallmark Christmas Card

A great idea for a Christmas card .

Monday 26 November 2012

Hibiscus

Hibiscuses are one of my favourite flowers, so when I saw this pendrive I just had to have it.


Thursday 22 November 2012

The Orange Beach Umbrella

Even though it is cold and raining outside I close my eyes and I am lying down on a deck chair in the Thai island of Koh Samui feeling the soft breeze in my face and looking at this wonderful turquoise sea under an orange beach umbrella.

This colourful umbrella takes me back to those idle summer days by the coast.The bright orange reminds me of the robes of the monks in the Buddhist temples and makes me feel at peace.

That umbrella is what the writer Roland Barthes in his book Camera Lucida, called the "punctum" of a photograph, an element that rises from the scene and strikes a chord in the viewer.


Tuesday 20 November 2012

Bull Race in Bali

The island of Bali not only boasts incredible beaches, amazing temples,beautiful rice terraces and exotic food but it also has an incredible variety of colourful celebrations. From July to October "Mekepung" or bull races are held in Bali. On my way to one of the many temples I was able to photograph a local race in which two bulls are harnessed to a chariot guided by a jockey.These races appeal mainly to Balinese families and are an off-the-beaten track attraction for tourists as well.  
By B.B.


Monday 19 November 2012

Shailene Woodley may be divergent

Shailene Woodley the teen mother from The Secret Life of the American teenager is very likely to be Tris Prior on the Divergent movie according to the author of the dystopian trilogy Veronica Roth.

Some people believe that the heroine in Divergent is just another Mary Sue,well, I think that if we decided not to read this book or any other novel for this reason we would miss many great stories some of which have become classics in world literature.

Neil Burger who directer The Illusionist will be in charge of the film.But ,who will play Four?

Black Friday: 5 tips for customers and shop assistants.

Black Friday is a crazy sales day just before the Christmas period in the U.S.A. Sometimes spending your money can be a tiring experience and working on that day is not a piece of cake either.Here are some tips that may help .

For  shoppers:

1- Plan in advance: make a list of what you need and what you really can afford.

2-Try to get some discounted gift cards and  go online to find out about good deals and extra discounts.  It is also a good idea to download some price comparison apps for your smartphone to use in the store.

3-While you are in the store keep calm, check the price tag and make sure that the store next door is not offering a better deal.

4-High-end electronics will probably be cheaper in January , toys will have lower prices as Christmas approaches and on Cyber Monday you may get better discounts on clothes.

5-It's almost impossible not to eat too much on Thanksgiving so try to have a healthy breakfast before shopping . Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and don't forget that the shop assistants are working hard for you that day.

Happy bargain hunting!

For  shop assistants:

1-Try to enjoy Thanksgiving even if you have to get up really early on Friday.

2- It will be like running a marathon without moving from your store, so you will need supplies: water or energy drinks and food.

3-If possible wear comfortable shoes and try to put a smile in your face (easier said than done after working for very long hours ).

4-Even if they act like a crazy group of aliens from another planet invading your store ,shoppers are human, you may even know some of them.

5-Breath deeply and think that it will be over.

Good luck !

Monday 12 November 2012

Gossip Girl: Season Finale Spoiler

According to TV line Kristen Bell will appear on the season finale of Gossip Girl. We'll have to wait and see whether she turns out  to be "you-know-who".

Friday 2 November 2012

The Vampire Diaries: 4x05 promo

Enthralled by YA authors

Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions A collection of short paranormal stories by several YA authors: Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely), Kelley Armstrong (Darkest Powers), Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires),Claudia Gray (Fateful), Ally Condie (Matched), Kami Garcia (Beautiful Creatures) , Carrie Ryan (The Forest of Hands and Teeth), Jackson Pearce (As You Wish) ,Rachel Vincent (Shifters) , Sarah Rees Brennan (Demon's Lexicon),Jeri Smith-Ready (Wicked Game) ,Kimberly Derting (The Body Finder), Jessica Verday (The Hollow) , Mary E.Pearson (The Adoration of Jenna Fox),Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Raised by Wolves)  and Margaret Stohl (Beautiful Creatures).

Fringe: "An Origin Story" 5x05 promo