Thursday, September 25, 2014

J-Fest is in Full Swing


























  The Juggling Festival finally got started on the 22th of September. After having two weeks of work we finally are free to enjoy a full week of craziness and entertainement. The place is already got packed by the jugglers coming all around the world. Like every year there are mindblowing colorful toys all around i can't even decide what to pick. Anyway, let me tell you guys about the vibe around a little bit.


  We woke up like everyday, having a morning dive in the water with Culu then went to the last meeting with all the volunteers at the bar. I told my mates the things we need to take care of during the festival and distribute them their jobs and went to the registration desk.

   As you can see the volunteers were carefully listening my speech. After finishing the paperwork i left the meeting for my registration.

  I was a little bit late because i hurt my nail and Culu made me a bandage. At first i thought he was making me another one but not, the second one was just the festival ticket.


  Stupid Culu binding my ticket. It was to tight bro.

  Culu was finishing my registration process. I was registered right before my dear friend Enis. He is one of the founders of the festival and also bigtime developer of juggling concept in Turkey. He is the one who first got introduce juggling to Culu as well long before i was born. Well, i am cutting the crap and leave you alone with J-Fest.



























                                       

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Ouch!

  Hey there. It started as an ordinary day today. We woke up, had breakfast then start to work as like everyday. Then i lost Culu because of some administrative work i was busy on. After a while i've heard that Culu got bitten by some spider or scorpion and they took him to a hospital but i don't know the rest because i wasn't there. I'll update you with the news later on.


Here are some images i have captured later on



Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Getting Married


  It's the first time in my life that i went to a thing called "wedding". At first i thought we were going to these parties we are going often which people gather to move around each other in colorful objects above and a loud bass rythm at the background. But no this was way much different than these ones.
  As far as i listen the chats around during the wedding, i learned that this beautiful girl "Deniz" and this handsome boy called "Till" are getting married. You see? Another new word to learn. Marriage is another weird human custom guys. Which simply means if two human love each other sooooooooooo much, sometimes they promise to support each other for a lifetime in good or bad days. I don't know why they are celebrating it though. We dogs don't do that. We usually love our partner all our lifetime from the first time we met but never celebrate. I think it's worthed to celebrate love. Celebrating the presence of the one you spend most of your life with. Love should be an infinite celebration then. After all, i kinda like this wedding thing. There even was a very good looking cake which i shouldn't suppose to eat. You know, first rule of the dog club is you should not eat anything which contains sugar. The cake was made by Zeynep and Irmak. Culu ate three or four of them whitout hesitation. Anyway there was a lot of acts at night on stage they build on the beach. Some juggling, dances, flamenko (the girl was an extremely good singer) and at the end bunch of friends play some live music while the youngsters freaks out. We even get in the water while these air blowing candles flying into the air.
  After the little introduction let me tell you what we did yesterday as three Romans going to a wedding representing Phaselis.


  The wedding ceremony was at Apollon Temple in Side. One hour drive from Antalya to the east. The antique Greek city was an important science and cultural center for centuries. There were ruins of ancient civilisations everywhere. So i think that's why Deniz, Serdar and Culu dressed their togas and leaf crowns before we leave sundance. It was a two and a half hour drive from Phaselis, Tekirova to Side and it was again too hot. Deniz drove us there while my two other Roman looking friends were enjoying the ride. Then we all got hungry and stop by a bakery to get something to eat. But it is definitely not like buying food like usual.

 Here is Serdar trying to get something to eat for us. The owner lady at first got scared of that half naked pilgrim. You should see her face when a roman came into her shop and asks for snack.

  A Roman buying "börek" seems quite a weird combination huh?


  When we arrived Side we went to join our crew at the agora of the ancient city by taking all the attention of the curious tourists and locals around. Culu was playing constantly his ukulele when we are entering the site. Here you see Serdar and me at the main gate of the temple ruins.


The Phaselis Senate


Pride with Gods

   We were the only Romans who came to the ceremony. While people were having sensible moments i turn around to check if there is anybody like me who joins the party. Since i am the only one who's four feet touching the ground i thought it's better to chill and enjoy the atmosphere.

  Deniz und Till are about to declare that they already got married. Let me tell you something folks. Most of the job about marriage is to show some patience and respect to each other. Well i respect these guys and patiently wait untill the end of the ceremony for some new attractions. But after a while we all move to a beach club to celebrate the day and have some fun. 

 A lot of dancing performances held on stage during the night. The flamenko pieces was the part i like the most. After the singing part Deniz herself also performs some  "Allegria" style dances which she was practicing recently.


  There you see stupid Culu enjoying the party with his Roman mate. The wedding party ends with the live band formed by our legendary "Kuyumcu Sistas" then everybody get in the water including me. I can't resist to bite these fluffy waves foaming towards me. Well my real party starts when we all got back to Deniz und Till's house to sleep. Suprisingly my two new friends were waiting at the gate for my visit. They were two very gentle person who welcomes us in their sanctuary.


This is Kiki

 And here is Baloo when we are inside this gigantic circus space they are building in their backyard. It's a beautiful construction in the middle of the woods. What i heard, one side will be all glass looking at the woods and the opposing side will be mirrors therefore when you are practicing you will be all covered by trees. Quite a lucky young couple huh? 


  Me and Baloo chating in the garden. They were too generous to show me around.



As you can see size doesn't matter.



  


  The place itself is like a botanical garden with an organic pool inside it. Like all the time i spend most of the time at the pool side with my new cool mates.



 In the morning after having a little swimming at the pool my Roman friends slowly by slowly wokes up and then we return back to our paradise to continue on working for the J-Fest Juggling Festival. It was only a day trip for three of us but it is just the beginning of a long journey for these two youngsters. I personally enjoy witnessing it and i hope you do it as much as i do.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Field Work and Some Boat Trip


We start working on the field today. Our mission is to hide the cables in the ground. I help the boys to dig the soil and install the electricity cables. The weather was too humid and hot. While digging the ground i play with these cockroach looking flying grasshopers. The wildlife around here is vibrant. We went for a little field search with Culu behind these trees and found a chicken. I don't know why but i have a inevitable desire about chasing animal with wings. He was a tough runner though. As far as i know if you apply olive oil on a rooster's butthole he can't crow anymore. If you know what i mean:)    


The installation process needs to be made very carefuly. One should put the cables 10 to 15 cm in the soil and then cover it with dry earth. I made all the handwork with my bare mouth.


In this photo you can see how hard we are working.




























In the afternoon Culu and his friends took a boat trip to chill. This is Taylan Von Aygar. A good friend of Culu. Luckily he was having a holliday in Sundance. So we hangout couple of days with him. He looks like a rockstar but actually he is a cellist. We will hopefully be seeing him in Thailand in the next episodes.



Our captain Murat Pazar. He really is a rockstar. Playing guitar with "Teoman" a famous turkish rock singer and songwriter. He kinda lives here about half a year and go sailing everyday also taking people to boat trips around these coasts. Another real sundance dude. 


After having 10 minutes of boat ride we jump in the water with a beautiful view of the mountains at the back. I enjoy swimming and catching the waves but can't resist being wet. Thanx to Culu who's helping me drying out after a swimming session.



























Tahtalı Mountain


Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Road to J-Fest


Yesheeeee! Yesterday i finally have convinced my man Culu and his friend Serdar to hit the road to join our crew in Tekirova, Antalya. The road was quite an easy ride. Most of the time guys just slept at the back while i was driving. As you can see the guys are not around when i had a little meat stop.

 The reason we are here is to setting up the 9. Turkish Juggling Convention. It is taking place every year at the last week of september in Sundance Camp. www.sundancecamp.com  I am coming here every year with Culu since i was born which seems only two years for you humans but it is approximately around 14 years guys ! Sundance is one of the most beautiful place i have ever been. It is located in a wonderful bay surrounded by the pine forests. At the back you have this huge mountain called "Tahtali" which is believed to be the mythological mountain "Olympos" in ancient times. The place is so unique because of the antique greek city  "Phaselis" is facing the camp from the other side of the bay.

Today bunch of men arrived to set the tents of two domes we will be using at the festival. At the festival time. In the little one people gather at nights and play some weird games. Doing some stupid jokes to each other (of course some senseless human jokes) and looking at this white screen which turns into a tv like view after a while. At thee big one jugglers practise during day and night and at the last day of the festival they organise a big event and a lot of human comes to watch the other humans making tricks on stage. The acoustic of the dome is so good for those who want to play music. Jugglers do really enjoy if there's some beats and rhtym going on at the background just like a metronom they can follow while throwing things to the air.
  So folks we are starting to setting up this amazing festival with some wonderful people and waiting for all who want to join this circus crew. If you are a beginner or not even have started to juggle it is a great oportunity to learn how to do it. If you are already juggling it is a heaven to meet other jugglers from all around the world and develop your skills. Or you just come here to relax with this wonderful people in a heaven like place to have a week holliday. Entrance fee is only 100 turkish liras for a week of camping and juggling. You may see me around if you are comming then we can have some more chat if you like. I might take a little bite of you if you wiggle around to much :)


There's a lot to do tomorrow and i want to enjoy the night with Culu. So have a good night guys and see you at the festival.

                                                      http://www.j-fest.com/anasayfa-2/