Read More

Best of Borough Awards – The Beachcombers

I don’t usually get into shameless plugging like this, because this blog’s all about integrity and the pursuit of some higher truth through professional styled journalism in a common-man’s world. But many of you problem know of the infamous Chris Croucher and Mark Beynon already, and if you don’t – quite possibly deserve to learn those names now while you can still say “oh yeah, I remember when they did…”

So I’m helping you, really. And in return, you can go ahead and watch their excellent short film ‘The Beachcombers’, which has been nominated into the top 6 of the Best of Borough Awards 2008.

And if you don’t like these sort of things, just vote for it anyway and go join the Facebook group. Like I said, shameless 😉

Read More

Mostar – The Old Bridge

The first of my catch-up posts written way back, but just now ready for public consumption (I have a stringent post approval process, as I’m sure you can tell). At least I can add pictures 😉

The (New) Old Bridge

I’m now in Mostar, one of the front lines in the Bosnian/Serbian war of the 90s, and one of the worst hit architecturally.

It was attacked by Serbian and Montenegrin forces in 1992 with an onslaught of heavy bombardment lasting 6 months. In May 1993 (just over 15 years ago, remember) – Bosnian Croat forces within the city attacked the Muslims living there. They were taken from their homes, moved to detention camps, dividing the once united city into two distinct halves.

There is a strong emphasis in Bosnia to never forget, through leaving some destroyed buildings as a monument, to simple plaques alongside rebuilt areas. “Forgive, yes … But never forget” says Bata. It seems a healthy way to be, but undoubtedly a lot easier said than done.

Don't Forget '93

The Old Bridge in Mostar once stood for 500 years, and was visited by people from all over the world throughout its lifetime. It’s the symbol of Mostar, and regular diving traditionally takes place from the highest 21m point into the freezing river below. Everything seems to be built around that single central point which draws the focus of the town.

Once it was gone, everything the bridge had stood for in the city went with it. Christians, Muslims and Jews became divided. After the war, it was replaced with a wooden bridge before being rebuilt to be identical to the old bridge and reopened in 2004. This meant using stone from the same quarry, as well as using the old methods with no modern technology. It’s said that the original Turkish architect fled to the nearby Dervish monastery after it was completed the first time, through fear that it would collapse once the scaffolding was removed. I like to think the same tradition was held to this time around, and if you stay real quiet, and watch very closely – you can still find that man hiding out amongst the pigeons in the caves below.

Read More

West Balkans Photo Story

As you probably worked out from the last post, I’ve been on holiday again. So, as is tradition – here’s the usual photo story. The pictures come from various West Balkanite countries; Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia. Facebook users will probably need to click through to the original article link to see the video.

The rest of the photos, including the ones in the video above will be on Blakepics shortly (as soon as I’ve got my server running again). Likewise, a full quality version of the video will be here. The music, “Let me be myself” by 3 Doors Down.

Incidentally, more blog posts from the trip are also on the way. Some are drafts, some are notes, some probably don’t exist yet – but they’ll be spreading across the site like mould on bread very shortly.

Read More

Sarajevo – don’t mention the war

Sarajevo is not one of the worlds most beautiful cities. It is a far cry from the coastal towns along the Adriatic, but it is one of the only places in the world that you would find the nearby Holiday Inn to be one of the local tourist attractions.

It was once known as the world’s Jerusalem, there the worlds three main religions sent their prayers upwards in harmony. It’s since seen its fair share of trouble though, and they may have been a little premature. From 1992-1997, Sarajevo suffered a siege which saw over 10,000 civilians killed, and left the city without food, or water as well as constant fear of attack from Serbian troops in the surrounding hills. What makes this especially thought provoking is that the war happpened in perfectly memorable times, for me. And whilst I was sitting at home watching the news of terrors in far away lands, other men and women my age were fighting for their lives and survival. 2,000 children were killed during the siege, enough to fill two of the schools that I was attending at the time. Everybody has a war just like that, this is mine, and I suspect many of yours..

On the few occassions the “don’t mention the war mantra falls apart, I have still had to do a double-take when people talk of it not as, “they travelled through here”, or even “we travelled through here”, but “I travelled through here”.

Anyway, as they say in Bosnia, “enough about the war already”, and amen.

The weather is stunning, the sun is beating down on my pasty white arms, and I think I’m building up a pretty good t-shirt tan, all in all. The people are amongst the most friendly, and welcoming you’ll find anywhere in the world. With a growing tourism industry, I get to take advantage of the fact that not everybody hates tourists, yet. A sad fact that has been in existence in London for some 700 years.

I realise from the lack of Rough Guides, and that the BA direct route only opened up last year, that this is not yet on this years hot list. Whilst the guide books suggestion of watching the locals chess game might not be everyones cup of tea. But I challenge you not to tense up and get sucked in by the enthusiasm of 20 people screaming at said player not to make the move that will end his fight.
We’ve also got more mosques than you can shake a stick at (120 in Old Town), a beautiful rich green valley to explore (not off the beaten track though, mine clearance is still underway), graffiti from Space Invader (well I saw one, anyway), Red Bull flavoured ice cream, churches, great food, cheap food, great cheap food, and a whole lot of bars that aren’t yet filled with the typical British Male Tour Gangs. You know who you are.

Last but not least, not one single fat person. Except the tourists. And the ones I haven’t seen.

Why would you not want to come here?

So with that, I’m leaving tomorrow for Mostar. I have a vague plan of where I am heading now. At least before the sun sets, the idea is Mostar, into Montenegro, Kotor, Bar, through Albania to Lake Ohrid in Macedonia, before heading back north to Skopje and my eventual flight home. Public transport permitting, of course. I might even stop off in Dubrovnik again, if the buses demand it.

Read More

Doctor Whippy – Ice cream for the depressed

This has to be a win-win situation. Courtesy of The London Daily Photo Blog, an inventor called Demitrios Kargotis combined with the almighty power of the Royal college of art has come up with a machine that analyses your voice, and dispenses appropriate amounts of ice cream based on your mood.

Unhappy people get more ice cream, presumably (or rather, obviously) making them happier.

http://londondailyphoto.blogspot.com/2008/05/doctor-whippy.html

You could have seen this in action at the Icon Experiment. But since it’s now closed, you can’t. I don’t know about you, but that makes me think I’d be getting a huge scoop of ice cream right now.