My first YouTube video: Antwerp city funfair

I’m as proud as a five yo child: my first steps, My First YouTube Video – well, we all have to start somewhere

Protected: Lost – the personal edition

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

Antwerp in 1,294 photos and videos, on a google map

In need of scanning lots of amateur shots and videos from all over the Antwerp area, interactively presented on a Google map?
http://wiki.worldflicks.org/antwerp.html is a great resource, especially giving the visible link between location/photos and the
material on flickr. Saves me a lot of work uploading/posting my own. But I might reconsider if you really  insist

Euro trash II, the 2008 Eurovision song contest winner

‘He really sounds like your gay hairdresser, although your hairdresser keeps his shirt on while working’, my s/o said Anyway, the Russians won this ‘European’ quality song contest tonight. Having expected an avalanche of utterly trashy songs, it’s hard to believe this event once launched the carriers of Abba and Celine Dion. Some former Soviet countries sent half-naked, visually wild Barbie dolls with peroxided hair, bleached teeth, fake boobs and a dark spray-on suntan, with nothing worth remembering musically. Most Belgian commenters felt it was basically time to say goodbye to what has become the most campy musical show on the planet. But rest assured, this show will go on: camp has become the crowd-pulling hallmark of the current [YouTube:] Eurovision Song Contest. “See you next year in Moscow!”

Euro Trash: the 2008 Eurovision song contest

I just switched channels. The 2008 Eurovision song contest semi-final, live from Belgrade, Serbia resembled a cheap cabaret show, covered in an expensive high-tech wrapping. Mariah Carey body-doubles from Poland, weird Nordic groups with outrageously loud, atonal mega-show packaging that hurt my ears, no, this was no music contest, this was an attempt by 40+ musically obscure countries (hello Russia, hello Azerbaijan!) to prove they could get away with raping a musical heritage that was not theirs. While I admired the rare Transylvanian (whatever) acts that desperately tried to remain authentic, most countries/acts kept on pretending to be an MTV music video from LA. They failed.

Basically, they all forgot one basic prerequisite to really be that great star: ‘talent’, a commodity replaced by exploding fireworks, fake exotic (but mostly plain weird) charm and equally fake boob-jobs. Time for some real music. Oh, Belgium dropped out almost instantly, after a disgraceful act presented a song in a non-existent language. Really [My screen capture from the 2008 Eurovision song contest website (watch the final Sat May 24 and have a laugh!): Poland tried to sell some lingerie, hoping we wouldn't listen to the music]

Gay pride Brussels: the ultimate drag queen shot

Last weekend Belgium saw the annual Brussels gay pride. I’m no longer into ‘gay prides’, not even the Antwerp edition next June. I can post a long write-up, but this single stunning shot by talented photographer Jacques Verees perfectly managed to capture why I avoid these ‘prides’. Take a long look at this shot. Can you imagine that, no matter how tolerant I may be, no matter how comfortable I feel ‘just letting go, being crazy and wild’, I feel like I have nothing in common with these men? That I don’t want to be associated with the public provocative behavior they stand for? Notice they have bad teeth, bad taste, but oh boy, they are sooo proud My significant other rolled on the floor laughing when he looked at this shot – did it induce the same emotions with you? [Image link courtesy of Jaco]

Edible sex: Sharon Osbourne did not flash a nipple here

You’re looking at some (partially edible) merchandise on sale at ‘Swiet & Seksie‘, Antwerp’s most successful erotic food store: huge penises in quality chocolate or home-made cake, ‘Lesbian SM couple’ nipples in prime grade marzipan, huge breasts made of ice-cream: you name it, they sell it (do check out their website). The place was closed today and I’ve alway been hesitant asking for permission to take shots inside, hence the window shots. But anyway, who needs reading my boring post on Sharon Osbourne’s nipples if you can both watch, order and actually eat all this delightful (eye)candy?

The Antwerp 2008 ‘Sinksenfoor’ funfair: look, don’t touch

The Antwerp 2008 ‘Sinksenfoor’ funfair: opening evening nightshot – May 10, 2008. You’re looking at thrill-seekers in one of the 100 fast-moving attractions, pulling a huge crowd until June 22. The opening was a real party: 28°C/82°F, a clear blue sky and countless visitors having the time of their life. I’m still trying to figure out a way to process my 200 opening night shots. I may choose for a Flickr photo selection and maybe post some videos on my YouTube account. Shouldn’t have gotten that new camera

I only regret not being able to ride one of these speed-monsters myself: ever since my injury it has become a look, don’t touch experience. Anyway, many attraction do not catapult me higher than Antwerp cathedral: the selection of food on sale is amazing (waffles!)

A tropical day in paradise: Antwerp’s best outdoor sauna

Like you may have noticed, the 28°C/85°F temperatures didn’t exactly incite me to post during the past week. With a violent thunderstorm ending the fun tonight, I will share a day of unashamed pampering in the sun with you all. And pampering was definitely on the menu, over at Kouros (do check out their website in English), Antwerp’s most exclusive male-only ’sauna and leisure club’. Kouros is a refreshing breath of fresh air compared with the (often rightfully earned) sleazy reputation of “male-only saunas”. This particular place not only oozes with class but manages to provide its services as if they all came out of a well-prepared package deal: dining along the outside pool, a wine label of their own, top quality service and infrastructure in what used to be a classic green suburbia mansion.

I talked for hours to some amazingly interesting people (many were not local, several spoke a multitude of languages) until the first drops of rain hit the outside hot-tub, not really a problem since we were all wet anyway. Diner was equally superb, turning the day into a real experience. If you’re even in the neighborhood, this place is worth checking out. Being gay is not a requirement, being male is

When cars get too smart

Sometime reality beats fiction. On my way to the Antwerp leftbank city beach tonight (28°C/85°F) I had to avoid these 30 ton trucks, making a narrow escape as the Antwerp Kennedy river tunnel is a notorious death-trap. Anyway, I arrived safely and tried to check the onboard computer. When I clicked “disengage anti-carjacking door lock” I got a complete system reset and 10 seconds of utter disbelief, before one of the displays came up with this message: “I don’t want to”. Great, just what I needed

A friend of mine claimed up to 30% of roadside assistance interventions are caused by freaky car electronics behavior. Do you still feel safe, in cars stuffed with more electronics than an average PC?