The Arrival Of New Millennium In Addis Ababa, Ityop'iya!

Tuesday September 11, 2007 was an important day for the Ethiopian as it was the new millennium, i.e the year 2000 according to the traditional Ethiopian Calender. Tens of thousands packed the central square in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, to celebrate the arrival of a new era.

The calender is based on the one used in ancient Egypt where there were also 12 months in a year but with extra 5 - 6 days period that serves as a 13th month. It thus caused a lag of 7 years period in the Western Calender we are using now.

More info: Time and weather in Addis Ababa

2007 World Beard And Mustache Championship

As seen in the pictures, everybody's beards and mustaches were smiling at the audience as the participants parade through the east Sussex town.

The 2007 competition attracted over 250 men from all over the world to Brighton to participate in the competition.

Dye, hairpins and extensions are strictly prohibited in the competition but participants were free to use hair spray and wax.

Of all the beards, I personally love this one. If you are interested in the competition or you think it'll make you looked cool, the next championship is take place in Alaska, 2009. Good luck!

Source: BBC

What's New In Venice Film Fest? Brad Pitt Under Attacked!

Brad Pitt was smiling broadly to the crowd.

See the girl in the center?

Ok, easy now. Let go of me!

The girl said:"I just wanna give him a hug".

If every body wants to hug Brad Pitt, you'll have to line up. Maybe it's your turn after 5 million light years. No offense though, but your way is a little too rough and ugly.

Pictures: Daily Mail

Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race

5th May 2007,

It was a beautiful day for the largest-ever Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race, featuring the creative work of 32 artist-engineer teams. As the race grows, each year seems to have an inadvertent theme. Largely by coincidence, this ninth running of the East Coast Championship included eight entries that were boats or boat-like in theme or design. All these boats did well on the water. However, three entries that were not boats capsized. Draw your own conclusions. Here are the complete results for your viewing pleasure.

2007 Champion, The Patapsico Quees! more...

Fifi the Pink Poodle. more...

The Moon Buggy. more...

Wilma the blue skater gurl wombat bears. more...

Even the spectators, pit crews, volunteers and pilots were dressed up to a delightful extent. See more...

Source: Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race

Festes de le Merce, Barcelona's Biggest Annual Festival

The biggest annual festival, Festes de le Merce, in Barcelona takes place on the 24th September with Giants parading around the street. It is an even celebrating the day of city's patron saint.

The wooden giants, gegants, are operated by people. A series of events will start on the 22nd September and end on 24th, which is public holiday.

In Placa de Sant Jaume, participants in traditional costume (castellers), climb on top of each other to form the highest human pyramid. The pyramids often reaches around 8 levels, Wow!

If you are happened to be in the area a few weeks later, don't miss the Cava Week around 12th October. Cava ... Catalonia's very own champagne.

Source: Spanish-Fiestas

Giant Tomato Fight Kick Off In Bunol, Spain

In the small Spanish town named Bunol, the annual food fight has brought tens of thousands of "warrier" hurled tons of ripe tomatoes at each other. The "war" started precisely at 0900 GMT where town municipal truck unloaded 117 tons of ripe tomatoes on the main square of Bunol. The annual warfare lasted one hour. Wish I was there. ^^

Read more: IHT

Japan Paddy Field Art

Each year, farmers in the town of Inakadate in Aomori prefecture create works of crop art by growing a little purple and yellow-leafed kodaimai rice along with their local green-leafed tsugaru-roman variety. This year’s creation — a pair of grassy reproductions of famous woodblock prints from Hokusai’s 36 Views of Mount Fuji — has begun to appear (below). It will be visible until the rice is harvested in September. From: Pink Tentacle

In the preparation of making picture below.

Below are pictures from the past years and other prefectures.





If you have no problem reading Japanese or you simply want to see more creation of rice field art in Japan, you can either visit Inakadate or Aomori.

What Do You Do With Inflated Rubber Doll? Russians Swims With Them Though

The fifth Bubble Baba Challenge has brought 400 Russian men and women together to raft down the wildwater Vuoksa River with "sex dolls" as floating devices.

The idea of the event is suppose to be a joke where the men was drunk and the women were not around. Dmitry Bulawinov, as the mastermind and organizer, and the other organizers were trying to be fair by leaving open option for lady contestant to use men dolls.

However, men dolls will not be rent out as they are more expensive then the women dolls.

Ridiculous? Not if you think that the doll will keep you from drowning in those wildwater rapids.

Source: Daily Mail

Don't Fight With The Pigs

People says:" Don't fight with the pigs, it will only make you dirty". These gentlemen here are not fighting with the pigs though, they are playin with the mud upon celebration of a festival. Would you like to join them?

See more pictures