9th J-Fest Has Ended

  What an incredible week it was folks. After having two weeks of preparation and a weekful of juggling we finally got back to Istanbul yesterday night and i have a lot to talk about and share with you all. This post will be mostly filled with the highlights of the amazing festival to document it for next generations. Culu and i most probably wont be at the 10th one, so that's why it was a special one for both of us.

    

  That's Nahit, Culu's good friend while he was practising in the first days of the festival. He was constantly asking questions about our relationship with Culu cuz he and his girlfriend got a puppy called "Pepper" and he wants to know how we are getting along that well with Culu. I've learned later that his girlfriend changed her mind at the last minute and stayed at home to take care of Pepper instead of coming together to the festival. What a pity. Anyways, i hope i will meet Pepper one day. 

  You can't believe how much is happening around during the daytime in the "green area". That's the place where jugglers can practice, learning new tricks, giving workshops to each other or simply watch what's happening. There also was a music tent where anyone can join and play live music to accelerate the vibe.

At the music tent you can always find an instrument or somebody busy with playing already. Three guys from Ankara were with us at the festival and they were incredible. Never say no to play even it is very late at night. Jamming and howling with them was so much fun.

  Here you see Culu practicing doubles with clubs early in the morning.

  Culu was giving a workshop about how to convert the festival badges into a flipbook. The festival badge is an item which indicates that you are part of the festival. This year's one is a little empty booklet. So Culu decided to fill it up with some drawings to animate it.

   Badge production at the workshop.

  The third day of the festival is the time for juggling games. Here you see everybody's eagerly waiting for the games to start with my whistle. The games are one of the main events of the festival.

   Limbo is a very good start to the games. Like every year people got eliminated when the stick goes down. My mate Serdar had a good beginning but that was it.

 Limbo winner Till

 Club balancing

Two finalists Rob and Till still keep on going even naked.

 Hand stand takes place after club balancing and this years winner is again Gokhan on the far left.

Legendary team "Serefsizler" trying so hard to win the game.

 Our friend Yavru performed his own songs with the guys on the little stage we set up next to the bar in sundance. Canberk on drums, Günes on bass, Taylan von Aygar on cello and Kamil on udu. This stage was used as a jamming space on the next days.

The dome called kubbe's state after the contemporary dancer Mihran Tomasyan's one man performance.

  At the fourth day i was keen to play some frisbee while people are enjoying the day on the green area. Then Eda came and play with me a little. 

With her help i was improving my jumping skills.

 An ordinary day from the green area

 Culu and Efe

Our team "serefsizler" unexpectedly loose the volleyclub game at the first round.

 One of the night jams

  Big dome at night. That dome was the main practice space at night where people juggle and play. "The Gala Show" is also taking place here at the last night of the festival.

   We were waiting for the jugglers to light their toys at the fire night. It was a chilly night that one, so i sneak in Culu's hoody to warm up a little during the show.

                                                                      these three photos taken by Onur Kawthar

  These kids never stop playing with fire during that night.

  At the last day of the festival Gizmo suddenly got clicked and start juggling three balls. It is a wonderful feeling to achieve something you want to do. I am proud of Gizmo by finishing the festival with something in her pocket. After practicing for a while Culu, Gizmo and i leave the green area for the gala show meeting. Culu and Gizmo were the stage hands during the show with Lea.

  The preparations of the show held on the big dome with all the performers and the sound and light crew. Everything has to be so precise and in time, so under my surveillance the guys were studying their homework very well.

   Of course i was inspecting every single detail on stage. 

   Me and Culu were having a nap while the performers were making their finishing touches to their acts. Somehow every year at the gala night Poseidon's heavy storms hit the festival. But luckily this year it is just passing by us with a gorgeous view outside the tent.

   Two of the musicians of the night: Cagri and Johannes

   Culu was acting weird at the backstage while waiting for his part to come.

I've found a corner at the backstage to chill a bit during the gala cuz there will be a party afterwards. 

   Here you see me still chilling in Alpacook's arms. He was the one who is feeding all the volunteers with his delicious meals. He will also be joining us in Thailand on our journey later on.

  I can't find the true words to describe the effort and respect we had before, during and after the festival. We met with so much great souls that our hearts were connected forever. The level of friendship and solidarity was so high that i believe with such a big family there's no obstacle we can remove of the path. I don't know when me and Culu will see this huge family back but we know that they will be living within our souls wherever we go. We will miss you all guys.

  Well folks, that was the ninth turkish juggling convention. It was one of the best we had since the beginning. And this was the first time we tried our new camera we'll be using on our south east asia trip. It wasn't the best result we were expecting but we will get better using this technology soon, i promise.   

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.

                                       

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

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.

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

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/