Completion of the Burj Dubai

By the 2 december the highest building in the world Burj Dubai should be completed!

See the video by Phil Blizzard, reporter for the AMEinfo web, Middle East business resource.
Video

INTERCONTINENTAL RESIDENCE SUITES

Luxury apartments in Dubai..for longer stay

Check the video and see what the InterContinental Residence Suites offers, the stylish, comfortable accommodation..

Festival of Mass Animal Sacrifice Begins in Nepal

Recently I have read shocking article about this festival in Nepal... It makes me wonder why don´t "the animal protectors" do anything about it?
The thing is that a big part of this festival is worshiping the Hindu god of power Gadhimai... Although that doesn´t sound as bad as it actually is... To worship this god properly Hinduists have to kill about 200, 000 buffaloes, goats, chickens and pigeons! This festival takes place every five years...
''I am here with my mother who had promised the goddess she would sacrifice a goat. It was her wish and promise and I am glad we were able to fulfill it,'' said Pramod Das, a farmer from the nearby village of Sarlahi. ''I believe now my mother's wishes will come true.''

For more information go to: www.nytimes.com

Queenscliff Music Festival

The Queenscliff Music Festival is a family friendly event for music lovers of all ages. Held in the seaside town of Queenscliff on the shores of Swan Bay, only 90 minutes from Melbourne. It will last from November 27th - 29th. The 2009 Festival will feature artists playing across a variety of stages including marquees, intimate church spaces, grand ballrooms, community buildings and even a stream train!
For more information please visit: www.qmf.net.au

24th Festival International de Louisiane

Festival International de Louisiane is a community-based, non-profit arts organization formed in 1986 to produce an annual visual and performing arts festival celebrating the French cultural heritage of southern Louisiana – primarily a combination of French, African, Caribbean and Hispanic influences.
Good thing is that the festival is FREE :) you can enjoy over 100 musical performances for free. So the only thing you have to do is to buy a ticket to Louisiana. You wil hear several kinds of music. From rock to folk, jazz, blues to funk, reggae,...There is something for everyone! The annual 5-day festival is held during the last full week of April.(April 21-25, 2010) Historic downtown Lafayette, Louisiana, is transformed into an entertainment mecca featuring six music stages, food court areas, street musicians and animators, arts and crafts boutiques, art galleries, beverage stands, cultural workshops, international cooking demonstrations and a world music store.
For more information keep track on: www.festivalinternational.com

12th French Film Festival

You have probably seen many billboards and posters around Prague with this colorful popcorn box. I was wondering what they are and had to find out more about this festival. This 12th French Film Festival will start tomorrow and will last until November 25th. The tickets will cost 89 czech crowns and you can buy them mostly in every cinema. Movies will be shown in four main cinemas : Lucerna, Světozor, Slovanský dům and Kino 35. The tickets will be also available in Palace Cinemas.
If you are not from Prague you have other seven cities to choose from : Brno, České Budějovice, Hradec Králové, Olomouc, Ostrava, Pardubice and Plzeň.
Enjoy :)
www.festivalff.cz

33rd Cairo International Film Festival 2009

The Head of the Supreme Council for the CIFF said about the festival: "Once again Cairo is ready to celebrate the fine art of Cinema during its annual Cairo International Film Festival.It is imperative that we re-emphasize international communication and understanding between nations.Ours is the oldest festival in the Middle East and has beenan inspiration to several other budding festivals of which we are proud. We extend a hand of friendship and co-operation to them and to all festivals, hoping that the exchange of ideas and concepts will be beneficial to all.
This is the positive direction to achieve our dreams and develop and enhance the Egyptian, Arab and African film industry. Hard work & devotion are necessary to allow us to project in a comprehensive manner the reality of our culture & tradition.
We dream of bringing the four corners of the globe together at this time of violence, conflicts, wars, the mesmerizing art of Cinema is the most effective approach to narrow the gap between the various viewpoints."
This year´s festival started yesterday- November 11th and will last until November 20th 2009.


For more information visit the official website: www.cairofilmfest.org

World Architecture Festival

I know, it is very different from my previous festivals, but I find this one very interesting. It is a festival which was held in Barcelona, Spain from November 4th to November 6th. It is the only international festival which focuses on architecture. Every year they choose "the building of a year." It is a festival for poeple who are interested in architecture. They could meet many famous architects out there. What I especially like about this festival is that they also appreciate work of students from architectural schools. This way they have a chance to present their own works and be known worldwide.
This year´s World Building (which you can see on the picture) became "Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre" in South Africa done by Peter Rich Architects.

Where for massage??

One of the largest massage and wellness centre in United Arab Emirates is opening already the ninth massage centre in just two years in Dubai, the Dreamworks arranged a cooperation with Gold Swiss-Belhotel and opened the Dreamworks Spa and massage Centre on the 5th floor of the hotel.
The massage centre specializes in traditional Balinese massage and foot reflexology.
There was opened 3 treatment rooms, with separate ladies and gents facilities, including stream, sauna and lockers. More than 40staff is employed there. You can enjoy all the pleasures of various massages of high quality, including the four hand massage

Price list of Dreamworks massages

Enjoy little bit of massage secrets in Prague...

World Green Tourism Congress

Abu Dhabi, the capital of United Arab Emirates will host the first-of-its-kind international World green Tourism Congress in 2010. It has been chosen for its easy access from Europe and Asia as well and because of its excellent business tourism infrastructure.
Organised by Streamline Marketing Group (UAE) and Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority the congress should be held from 6 to 8 December 2010.

„The congress should reflect the main values of the Abu Dhabi Government´s 2030 plan, which clearly identifies tourism as a key economic diversification driver and environmental sustainability as an underlying fundamental of all we do,“ said Dayne Lim, Product Development Director of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.
The conference is concentrated on discussing the environmental challenges in tourism, highlighting the green tourism aims and influencing the integration of environment friendly tourism industry. The congress is also expected to reinforce Abu Dhabi´s reputation as a determined supporter of environmental protection.

Read more

http://www.worldgreentourism.com/

Yemeni rebels suppressed

Saudi soldiers gained back control over the mountainous region Jabal Dokhan that was occupied by probably Houthi rebels from Yemen who are intermittently in conflict with Yemeni forces for 5 years.
Soldiers were able to suppress the rebels within Saudi borders. The clashes killed 3 members of the Saudi security forces and wounded 15.

The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Yemen is said to be not affected.


Source

Property Exhibition in Kuwait

An amazing Real Estate Exhibition will take place in Kuwait from 9 to 13 December. The exhibition will be organized by Durrat Al Bahrain, the largest planned luxury tourist resort development.

The exhibition is expected to attract investors and estate professionals from the region, more than 45 companies should participate in the exhibition introducing more then 100 real estate projects from 17 countries.

Organizers of the exhibition want also show how Durrat Al Bahrain is an ideal lifestyle destination where over 1000 luxury villas, gardens, beaches are ready to provide you all the comfort and peace needed.

Expansion and renovation!

Mövenpick Hotel and Apartments Bur Dubai in United Emirates has strongly enhanced its facilities and launched also new hotel apartments building. Visitors can also enjoy pleasant time, relaxation and also privacy of renovated and redecorated 255 hotel rooms that will be available for hotel guests very soon. The hotel has also improved food and beverages service, guests can expect delicious meal, excellent quality. Introducing an Executive Lounge with complimentary breakfasts and evening drinks for executive guests. New restaurant Chutneys is also launched, offering North-Indian cuisine.

The Rose Rayhaan by Rotana

Rotana is opening the tallest hotel in the world in Dubai.

Check the video..

New York Butoh Festival

From October 23 to November 25, 2009, CAVE will present its fourth biennial Butoh Festival. Events will be presented at Dixon Place in Soho, Dance New Amsterdam in Tribeca and CAVE in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Butoh-kan offers rigorous physical training and enriches students with first person contact with international masters. It is an integrative opportunity for the dancers, actors and interdisciplinary performers. This year’s festival presents a striking roster of master teachers and performers. With performances, artist talks, workshops and participatory opportunities for scholars, it offers a unique platform for the development of local dancers and encourages active dialogue on Butoh’s origins, evolution and global status.

"The New York Butoh Festival allowed connoisseurs and novices alike to steep themselves in this enigmatic dance… You couldn’t explain it, perhaps, but the raw experience was undeniable.”
– The New York Times

Sources:
www.nytimes.com

Europalia Arts Festival

This International Arts Festival started on October 8th, 2009 and will last until February 14th, 2010 in Belgium and its neighbouring regions. Europalia is a major international arts festival held every two years to celebrate one invited country. This year it will be China. Its name is a combination of two words: “Europe” and “Opalia,” an ancient Roman harvest festival held in mid-December in honour of Ops, earth-goddess and fertility deity. Her name lies at the root of the Latin word “Opus”, that denotes a work of art. Since 1969, Europalia has organised some twenty-one festivals. People will be able to experience the music, fine arts, photography, cinema, theatre, dance and literature of China.It has brought new insight into the many different countries that form Europe including Italy, the Netherlands, Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Greece, Spain, Austria, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria, as well as into more distant lands: Mexico, Japan and Russia. Sources: www.europalia.eu www.chinaculture.org

Back to Mezipatra Queer Festival

Today at 10 pm you can watch "The Minutes from Mezipatra!" It will be shown on ČT 2... It will probably be in Czech language, but at least you will see what does it look like on the festival...
So don´t forget! :)

Mezipatra Queer Film Festival 2009

I have just got back from one of the movies shown on this years Mezipatra Queer Film Festival. It took place in Brno from October 23rd to October 31st, next day it moved to Prague where it will last until November 8th. To explain the use of the word queer I will use an explanation I have found on the official websites of the festival. It says that: Queer is a liberation from the traditional understanding of sexual and tender identities based on fixed categories male / female, gay / straight.
The movie I saw is called Pedro and talks about young HIV positive gay activist who participated in the 90´s reality-show "The Real World", named Pedro Zamora. The movie focuses on Pedro´s life from his childhood, how he got inficated, the relationship with his husband. It was very interesting movie and made me kind of change my opinion on homosexuals and HIV positive people. I highly recommend to go to see at least one of the movies shown on this festival. Most of them are in English with Czech subtitles.

For more information go to: www.mezipatra.cz

By Julie H.

Holland Animation FIlm Festival

If you did not make it to the Viennale you can visit Utrecht, Holland. Especially if you love animation and comics. Today is the opening day of thirtteenth edition of the Holland Animation Film Festival. It will last until November 8th. During these five days the festival takes place at locations in the historical heart of the city Utrecht. The festival devotes special attention to autonomous art films and the latest developments, but also commercials, educational films, music videos and student films from the Netherlands and Belgium will be screened. There are expositions, lectures, workshops and talkshows, thematic programmes, sfx/vfx and feature films.
The opening movie is the Japanese Russian co-production, First Squad: The Moment of Truth by Yoshiharu Ashino, Aljoscha Klimov and Misha Shprits. "The film is combination of fiction and documentary.The film is a combination of fiction and documentary, adapted from the Russian comic stripPioneer Heroes, from the 1980s. During the winter of 1942, the Red Army valiantly resists the Nazi invasion. Nadya, a Russian adolescent, has the ability to foresee the moment of truth, the crucial point where all powers converge. This ability becomes indispensable to the ultra-secret 6th Division of Russian Military Intelligence that is waging war against an occult order within the SS." (Haff Magazine)

Sources: www.youtube.com
www.haff.awn.com
www.nytimes.com

by Julie H.

The Viennale is almost over!

Most of us has heard about Biennale which was held in Prague on May 2009 and showed artworks of several artist coming from all over the world. Nevertheless Viennale is a movie festival held in Vienna. It lasted from October 22nd until today, November 4th.

Facts about Viennale:
- it took place for the first time in 1960
- takes place for 47th time this year
- it is the biggest international film festival in Austria
- it shows over 300 feature films, documentaries and short films
- it has more than 90, 000 visitors
- it has approximately 700 accredited guests from film, the film industry and the press
- it devotes smaller-scale shows of works, the so-called TRIBUTES, to prominent filmmakers, directors, actors and producers from all over the world
- it presents selected examples from the history of film and rediscovered films in restored versions
- it organizes public interviews and audience discussions with film-makers and other festival guests, as well as bokk presentation, exhibitions, concerts and other events

"I give the Viennale credit for being much more genuinely interested in independent work than most festivals are now. Each time I’ve been here, I’ve seen work, that I probably wouldn’t have seen very easily anywhere else."
(Jem Cohen, filmmaker)

(source: www.viennale.at)

by Julie H.

Sharjah Water Festival

One of the major annual events in United Arab Emirates is coming!
Traditional and very popular water festival takes place on Sharjah´s Khalid Lagoon and in the Al Majaz Park, Sharjah, from 2nd to 12th December. The festival has became very popular in Emirates, it is seen as great sport and family-oriented tourism event organised by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority. Providing a variety of entertainment, educational activities, sport competitions the water festival became one of the most highly anticipated event in Emirates and a huge attraction for visitors.. The Water Festival focuses also on the emirate´s history, culture and heritage and will culminate in the Sharjah´s Grand Prix 09, the final F1 Powerboat Championship.

The main sponsors of the Sharjah water festival are Etisalat, telecommunications services provider and Dana Gas, private natural gas company.

The SWF

Middle East and Medical Tourism

During the economic crisis the medical tourism has grown compared to other tourism sectors.
The growth of medical tourism is significant opportunity for Middle East. Current situation of Middle East is now changed. While in last years medical tourists from the Middle East were attracted by medical providers outside of the region nowadays the ME is more and more attracting people from Europe and USA where the cost of health care have risen.

The ME should now focus on establishing legal protections and guidelines, which are still lacking, to avoid problems connected with increase of arriving medical tourists to the ME.

To capture more from the international market, the ME will also need to focus on the critical factors in tourism industry as a quality of offered care, destination and its safety and quality of facilities and leisure or cultural attraction of the destination.

Reuters
Read more!

Touristic countries statistics

Lebanese local newspaper the Daily Star is bringing information that Lebanon is at first place among the countries with increase in tourism.

According to research by UNWTO Lebanon saw a 46,3 % increase in the first month of this year (2009) compared to the first months in last year. It is the highest growth rate among 165 examined countries.

As a second that witness increase in tourism in ranked Kenya with 43% growth in the number of tourists, third South Korea with 15 %.

Until August 2009 more than 1,28 million tourists came to Lebanon, in the whole year the number is expected to exceed 2 million.

Source