Author: Antonio Diaz

Categories
Art Exhibitions Outside Finland Travel

MOCA – Museum of Contemporary Art. A delight for the senses in Bangkok

One of my hidden pleasures when I am in a new city is visiting its art museums. I have wandered around most of the famous museums in the world: El Prado, Louvre, Hermitage, Vienna Museum Quarters, Metropolitan in NY, etc.

So as an art aficionado, I have to say that MOCA, Museum of Contemporary Art, in Bangkok, is my favorite museum in Thailand, and probably one of the best I have visited nor just in Asia, but around the world.

Moca Bangkok is located in the north area of the capital, and unfortunately not so easy to reach by public transportation, so probably the easiest option to arrive there is by taxi, but believe me, it is worth the trip.

With 20.000 sqm, it is an experience to be visited for quite an affordable price (280 baht for normal adult entrance) from the moment you step into the lobby.

Although due to its quality if might look like a state museum, in fact this is a private museum put together by businessman and art lover Boonchai Bencharongkul, and as in some other impressive private collections open to the public like the Thyssen one in Madrid, you notice the special care with the tight security with floormen watching in every of the 5 floors.

However, the museum space lets you breathe and bathe in art, the building is spacious and bright, with a lot of places also to sit and rest while contemplating the art in its rooms, so you really feel welcome there, and the personnel is pretty polite and speaks English.

The array of art forms displayed there is notable, from sculptures to cinema posters, a huge collection of Thai Ramayana and other Asian masks, shadow puppets, drawings and pictures

Some of the highlights that you can see around is an extensive collection of one of the most famous Thai artist, Thawan Duchanee with his trademark style of black and white or red beasts drawing and tools carved from animals teeth and fangs that is beautiful and unsettling at the same time. Also it is notable the huge space, similar to the chapel of a church, dedicated to contemplate the modern triptic “The Three Kingdoms“.

One thing that can be shocking for some visitors is that, even when located in a country such as Thailand that can be very conservative in some areas, nudity is all over the art work here, sometimes even full nudity in some of the pictures displayed. So this museum is not for the conservative minded.

I also love that the museum is big, but not huge, as I usually start to lose focus roaming rooms when a museum contains too many works to contemplate. It is perfect to spend a couple of hours and fully bathed in its art, but you will not end up tired or unable to concentrate anymore, so it makes it perfect for a half day visit.

Besides, when the visit is done, it counts with a very cosy cafe on the ground floor and some tables on the outside terrace with a beautiful view of outdoors amphitheater garden and a couple of beautiful permanent installations there, perfect for a coffee and a snack before leaving the venue.

As I said, not just for the quality of the artwork, but for the sense of meticulously care given in arraying the collection, the beautiful architecture of the building and the space to roam in peace around, this has become one of my favorite museums in the world. And the best part is that every time I visited, it was not crowded at all (apart from the annoying youngsters and teenage girls that do not care about contemplating the art and just want to shoot a million pictures for their instagram). In a way, it is a hidden gem in Bangkok standing in plain view. If you like art, or just feel bored one day and want to discover one more nice spot of the Thai capital, go and visit it. It will not disappoint!

MOCA official website: https://mocabangkok.com/

For more awesome museums in Bangkok, check:

Bangkok hidden gem: Batcat Museum & Toys
A Bangkok hidden gem: Bangkok Dolls Museum
Bangkok Hidden Gem: Royal Thai Air Force Museum
Bangkok Hidden Gem: Sam Sen Nai Philatelic Museum
Categories
Outside Finland Travel

Vilnius Dresses its Sculptures in Cozy Knits for Holiday Season

ImageVilnius’ Monument for Lithuanian Hound Dogs. Photo by Ahoy

Vilnius is celebrating the holiday season by dressing its iconic monuments in hand-knitted Christmas attire–eleven sculptures are wrapped in festive red garments. This creative initiative highlights the city’s cultural spirit, contributing to its recent title of European Christmas Capital 2025. Visitors can locate and visit the decorated sculptures with the help of an interactive map.

December 5, 2024. While many are searching for the perfect Christmas sweater this season, Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, is dressing up the city’s monuments in hand-knitted holiday attire for the Christmas season.  

The sculptures in the capital are dressed in scarves, socks, hats, capes, and various other festive accessories. The project aims to create a cozy feel by bringing warmth and festive cheer to the city. And in line with its motto “Unexpectedly Magical,” Vilnius channels a sense of wonder through these adorned sculptures, transforming them into symbols of festive magic.

ImageVilnius’ sculpture “Lithuanian Ballad”. Photo by Ahoy

According to Vilma Daubarienė, Head of the Tourism Department at Vilnius Tourism and Business Development Agency Go Vilnius, during the holiday season, we all want to believe in miracles, and Vilnius will help make that happen.

“Next year, Vilnius will become the European Green and Christmas Capital, and we are already preparing for this by combining sustainability with the holiday spirit and adding a touch of magic,” says Vilma Daubarienė. 

By dressing historical figures–beloved national symbols–and quirky urban art in festive, handcrafted outfits, Vilnius celebrates its creative energy, cozy festive season, and also draws on a pagan belief that animals and inanimate objects can come to life on Christmas Eve, adding an extra layer of magic to this project.

The initiative to create cozy outfits for monuments quickly gained popularity among the local knitting community–out of 30 applicants, 10 talented knitters were selected to bring this vision to life, who then created decorations crafted from eco-friendly materials like wool and rope. 

Jūratė Jaseliūnienė, one of the knitters involved in the project, expressed excitement about the idea and the opportunity to dress up the city’s sculptures.

“I had been thinking for a while about how fun it would be to decorate Vilnius’s sculptures with patterned scarves for Christmas, and this project gave me the chance to wrap one of my scarfs around Kristijonas Donelaitis himself—a very important Lithuanian writer whose monument is at the Vilnius University. The book he holds in his hands also connects to one of my favorite activities,” shared journalist and Knitted Lines founder Jūratė Jaseliūnienė.

Highlights of the initiative also include the Grand Duke Gediminas Monument in the Cathedral Square, now elegantly draped in a Christmas scarf.

The wings of the Vilnius Užupis Angel sculpture, often associated with the city’s image, have been dressed with a red sweater.

A famous Lithuanian woman writer Žemaitė is remembered not only for her distinctive writing style but also for embodying the image of a traditional Lithuanian grandmother. To honor her legacy, the initiative creators adorned her monument with a knitting basket and scarf.

The modern-day Lithuanian writer Jurga Ivanauskaitė, known for her love of cats and angels, inspired a sculpture of a cat, made in her honor. For the Christmas Knits project, the cat is playfully depicted caught in a checky mishap with a fallen Christmas tree and a bright red hat.

ImageVilnius’ Monument for Lithuanian Writer Jurga Ivanauskaitė. Photo by Ahoy

The monument featuring Lithuanian hound dogs reimagines them as Santa’s reindeers. This dog breed, native to Lithuania, dates back to the medieval Grand Duchy. Known for their energy, Lithuanian Hounds are perfectly suited to the role of Santa’s helpers.

In the newly developed Paupys district of Vilnius stands a striking sculpture of a gorilla, inspired by a motif from the painting of Čiurlionis, an internationally known Lithuanian painter and composer. Normally resting in a bath, for this Christmas, the massive gorilla has been playfully reimagined sitting in a festive sleigh.

To help visitors explore these and many other decorated sculptures, Go Vilnius has created an interactive Vilnius Christmas Map, guiding everyone to the key landmarks, activities, and photo spots throughout the city.

With its festive spirit, artistic flair, and cultural heritage, Vilnius offers a special holiday experience, where iconic sculptures and landmarks come to life in a way that celebrates both the season and the city’s vibrant community.

The city has been honored as European Christmas Capital 2025 by the Christmas Cities Network, which is supported by the European Parliament. This recognition celebrates the city’s embrace of sustainable and endearing holiday traditions that brings back the cozy, unifying feeling of community and connection.

Categories
Cinema Features

Revisiting a hidden gem cinema classic: The Bear

The Bear, released in 1988 by famous French director Jean Jacques-Annaud is a movie that not so many of the younger generations have heard about, even when was relatively famous title in the 80s when released.

For many, the movie is considered one of the best “animal” movies ever shot in cinema history, following the story of a bear cub that gets orphaned, losing the bear mother in a tragic accident at the beginning of the film, and then ending following and pairing up with a huge alpha Grizzly bear male while they are tracked and hunted by some human hunters in astonishing beautiful forest and mountain landscapes.

But I think the movie is just much more than an “animals” movie, even when is starred by animals.

First is already to raise the hat to the director and the crowd to create such a beautiful film when is well known that movies starring animals and children are the most difficult to shoot and control. The landscapes and movie pictures are beautiful and outstanding, some of the most beautiful nature shots you will ever see on film, and the little cub is just totally cute and adorable all over the movie.

But if you forget for a second that the movie displays mainly bears and it has not much dialog, apart from the scenes when humans communicate, the movie is really an amazing tale where you have everything you would have dreamed in a classic drama starred by only humans: you have tragedy, you have humor (the scene when the cub eats some magic mushrooms and hallucinates with grotesque frogs is hilarious), it has sex encounters, it has revenge and it has redemption.

On top of that, it also has 2 of the best cinema scenes ever filmed that will be forged into your memory forever: the epic scene when the huge grizzly bear confronts one of the hunters and lets him go, and the scene when such a hunter stops his colleague from shooting, one that has made more than 1 tear fall from my eyes.

The Bear is a sublime cinema opera, and it is just amazing that with so little dialogue was able to accomplish so much. A masterpiece, and one that I cannot stop encouraging you to discover if you never watched it, or revisit it again.

Categories
Art Exhibitions Features

798·751 On Site Music Project: An Electronic Music Festival in a Post-Industrial Setting

From November 8th to 10th, 2024, the On Site Music Project took over the 798 Art Center, delivering Asia’s largest modular synthesizer music event to an enthusiastic crowd.

On Site Music Project 1

On Site Music Project 1

The On Site Music Project is a newly launched cross-genre music festival by 798·751. It spans over 2,000 square meters, featuring eight distinct zones brimming with opportunities to connect, explore, and celebrate electronic music. It also seamlessly blends music and contemporary art, while highlights the raw power of live performance. On Site created a dynamic cultural space where art, music, and the audience converge, each became an integral part of the “on-site” experience.

On Site Music Project 2

On Site Music Project 2

As an extension of the International Art Season, the three-day event showcased more than 100 electronic musicians from 13 countries and regions, delivering nearly 100 electrifying performances.

Notable music labels, including DAWless Teahouse, Metasonar, and Pantheon, collaborated to present an exhilarating lineup of live performances, offering an unparalleled “on-site” experience for the audience.

The On Site Music Project also enlisted two visionary artists to elevate the event beyond sound, creating fully immersive installations that redefined the boundaries of space, perception, and emotion.

Artist chenshizen explored the dialogue between humanity and nature through plant-based installations, while Yang Song used metal sculptures to reflect on the interplay of speed, light, time, and space. These installations added a tactile and conceptual dimension to the festival, transforming music into a multi-sensory journey.

Installation View, Yang Song, Net, 2024

Installation View, Yang Song, Net, 2024

Installation View, chenshizen, Leafy Mud Resembling, 2024

Installation View, chenshizen, Leafy Mud Resembling, 2024

Speaking at the event forum, Miranda Yan, Deputy General Manager of Beijing 798 Culture Technology Co., Ltd., emphasized the festival’s mission: to showcase Beijing’s vibrant creativity. “Whether it’s through the cool exhibitions or through music, theater, or dance, they provide rooms for inspiration, encouraging people to cross boundaries and explore new creative frontiers,” Yan said.

798·751 community is hosting a diverse array of cultural and tech events, offering unique experiences to the public while fostering international cultural exchange. Through these efforts, 798·751 continues to contribute to Beijing’s growth as a global cultural and exchange hub.

Categories
Art Articles Misc News

Kuopio Dance Festival full programme announced!

The nine-day festival will feature a celebration of street dance, an iconic environmental art piece and new venues at Olvi Arena. 
Kuopio Dance Festival has announced performers for next summer throughout the autumn, and now the full main program is revealed, excluding the Gala. 

This festival marks Kenneth Kvarnström’s first year as the artistic director. The program he has curated revolves around street dance and poetry. 

“Street dance has recently brought new perspectives and techniques to contemporary dance. Many choreographers started as street dancers and are now creating diverse works,” he explains. 

“Street dance and poetry are an intriguing combination. Poetry appears in each performance in its own way – it may be ‘silent’ or hidden yet filled with various experiences.” 

The city’s 250th anniversary celebrations will also be reflected in the festival’s program in many ways. The event expands from the usual week-long duration to nine days, crossing over two weekends. 

To mark the milestone year, the festival will also bring one of Finland’s most famous environmental art piece to the city: Reijo Kela‘s iconic The Silent People will have its own version in Syvänniemi, with 250 figures installed.

Compagnie Hervé Koubi – Sol Invictus (© Mélanie Lhôte) &  Reijo Kela – The Silent People (© Hannu Huttu)Grand performance will dazzle at the Arena
 
Furthermore, the city’s 250th anniversary is celebrated with new performance venues, as the festival expands to Olvi Arena. 

At the Arena, French-Algerian choreographer Hervé Koubi’s stunning production Sol Invictus will be performed by 17 dancers. This piece celebrates the passion for both dance and life, fusing intricate acrobatics with elements of street and contemporary dance. 

“Koubi creates something magical that speaks to many senses. I dare say Sol Invictus is one of the top five productions currently touring the world,” says Kvarnström. 

“I dare say Sol Invictus is one of the top five productions currently touring the world.” – Kenneth Kvarnström

German Miller de Nobili will present PACK, a dynamic and virtuoso performance with five male dancers that incorporates elements of urban and contemporary dance while challenging masculine stereotypes in breaking culture. 

The Gala is a festival’s classic, which takea place 13th–14t of June. The performers and content will be revealed in the spring. As usual, the Gala showcases a diverse range of dance art interpreted by both international and Finnish dancers. This year, a well-known TV personality will host the Gala.
 
Elle Sofe Company (© Lars Opstad) & The Finnish National Opera and Ballet’s ballet school (© Roosa Oksaharju)Nordic expertise and family-friendly program 

Miller de Nobili will also present another piece at the festival, There Was Still Time, which blends street and contemporary art inspired by Samuel Beckett’s famous play Waiting for Godot. 

Fernando Melo’s mystical LEANING TREE, performed by Dansk Danseteater, takes the audience to a dreamlike world combining contemporary dance to magical and illusory elements. 

Norwegian Elle Sofe Company will also showcase their powerful piece, drawing inspiration from Sámi traditions and experiences. The performance brings the traditions of northern indigenous peoples to the stage, combining dance, music and joik. 

The Finnish National Opera and Ballet’s ballet school charmed its audience last summer with a sold-out performance and will return next summer. 

For the youngest members of the family, Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth will present The Four Seasons, choreographed by Jyrki Karttunen. This creative and entertaining show follows the journey of garden gnomes as they travel through the changing seasons, promising to put a smile on every face. 

In addition to the main program, Kuopio Dance Festival offers a wide range of events, courses, camps, seminars, and much more dance-related programme. Other program will be announced throughout the spring of 2025. 

Tickets for all performances are now available at lippu.fi! 
Categories
At the cinema Cinema

Movie Review: Gladiator II

Taking opportunity that I have an excellent cinema theater 15 minutes walking from my place, with affordable prices and always empty seats (sadly people hardly go to the movies anymore) I spontaneously decided 1 hour before the show started to buy a ticket for Gladiator II, the must awaited return for director Ridley Scott to the blockbuster from year 2000.

As many other people, I love the original Gladiator movie. From the amazing initial sequence of the battle, its cinematography, the outstading and powerful performance of Russell Crowe, the dialogues, the unforgettable duels in the arena… so many moments to be remembered in cinema history.

So Gladiator II had a very high bar to reach if wanted to be close to the quality of its sequel. Did it succeed? Well…sadly no.

Let’s start with the positives, as not everything is negative here: the initial naval attack battle has some outstanding photography and it really kicks to a promising start of the movie, and Pedro Pascal‘s performance as Marcus Acacius is pretty strong (as almost everything this actor does in the last years). And I was also happy to see Lior Raz, an actor that I really love from the series “Fauda” casted pretty nicely as Viggo, the ruthless trainer of the slave gladiators.

Also some winks to the original movie here and there will cast you a smile.That’s about it about the good.

For the non so good part, the script and history feels like put together in a night of heavy drugs involved, same as most of the battles scenes in the arena and Coliseum (crazy monkeys, rhinos that act like trained warhorses, sharks with a higher IQ than most of your co-workers invading a flooded Coliseum (yes, the Romans did naval battles in the arenas, but I never hears of a highly superior intelligent race of sharks inhabiting there…). It just feels ridiculous most of the times, instead of epic, and the cuts between the scenes feel sometimes like an intern was the one putting the cuts together.

About the rest of the cast, Paul Mescal as Lucius does just not feel right to the role, he is not charismatic, powerful or likable, even when you try to. Even Denzel Washington, one of my favorite actors in Hollywood, feels hateful in his histrionic performance of Macrinus.

So, if you are really a hardcore Gladiator fan, well, you can give it a shot and be disappointed. If not, better skip this one. The 250 million of production cost were really not well used here.

Rating: 1.5/5

Movie review: We Live in Time
Categories
Articles Misc

Finland Ranks 2nd Globally for Winter Depression Risk

Healthnews has released an extensive study that ranks 194 countries based on their winter-pattern Seasonal Depression Disorder (SAD) risk.

SAD begins in late autumn and continues through winter. Google Trends data from the past decade show that searches for “SAD” peak globally each November, highlighting significant public interest and the optimal timing for articles on this topic.

Trustworthy Authors and Rigorous Methodology

Our report — prepared by a specialist with a life sciences background and peer-reviewed by a psychology expert from our internal research team — uses carefully selected metrics based on reliable medical and scientific sources (encompassing all known risk factors), resulting in findings that are closer to reality compared to similar reports.

Finland Ranks 2nd Globally for SAD Risk

Finland, ranked second, has a SAD risk index score of 69.3.

With a latitude rank of third in the world, Finland is quite far from the equator, contributing to its exposure to seasonal light variations.

Finland is among the top 50 countries for the prevalence of depressive disorders and bipolar disorder.

According to Google Trends analysis, over the past five years, it has ranked 15th in Google search volume for the term “SAD. “

The Full Report is Available Here: 

https://healthnews.com/reports/a-global-map-of-winter-depression-2024-index-reveals-top-risk-nations

Interactive Tools and Visuals for Further Exploration

Healthnews offers an interactive global map and country-specific data tables to help readers explore the study’s insights.

Feel free to use any of the visuals available in the report. Please contact us if you require assistance embedding our interactive map into your website. We will be happy to help.

Categories
Art Exhibitions

“Antonio López y los maestros del Realismo español” Exhibition Opened at 798·751 Community

On November 6, 2024, as part of the “Beijing Design Week Guest City” program, the art exhibition “Antonio López y los Maestros del Realismo Español” officially opened at Train Street in the 798·751 Community. This exhibition showcases 45 exquisite works by eight renowned Spanish artists and will be open to the public from November 6 to December 15.

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The installation view of the exhibition (1)

The exhibition is organized by the Embassy of Spain in China, in collaboration with the Spanish National Tourist Office and Instituto Cervantes. It also benefits from the professional expertise of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museo Nacional and Estudio de Antonio López y María Moreno, with additional support from Beijing Design Week and 798 Culture Technology Co., Ltd.

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Antonio López, a leading figure in Spanish art history, is often referred to as a “maverick of the Spanish art scene.” Known for his unparalleled ability to bring reality to life on canvas, López’s profound depictions of urban landscapes and portraits have earned him the title of “the greatest living realist painter.” His work bridging traditional techniques with modern contexts. Alongside López, works by seven other contemporary realism masters across various media offering a comprehensive view of Spanish realist art.

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Guests visiting the exhibition (1)

This exhibition provides Beijing residents with a rare opportunity to experience the exceptional artistry and profound themes of Spanish realist masters up close, fostering deeper insights into Spain’s history, culture, and social realities.

As China’s largest cluster of art and creative industries, 798·751 has long been dedicated to promoting cross-cultural exchange. The “Antonio López and Spanish Realist Masters” exhibition at Train Street embarks on a new cultural journey, reinforcing 798·751’s reputation as a “Global Art Destination” and deepening the dialogue between Chinese and Spanish artistic spirits.

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Guests visiting the exhibition (2)

This year, through the “International Art Season,” 798 Culture Technology Co., Ltd. has hosted a variety of international and multicultural events. Leveraging its contemporary art strengths and Chaoyang District’s role as an “international pioneer” and “cultural innovator,” the International Art Season fosters global exchange and cooperation. It also attracts more international cultural and artistic institutions to the community, driving industrial upgrades and further solidifying its global influence.

Categories
At the cinema Cinema Features

Movie review: We Live in Time

Sometimes I still cherish the small pleasure when I have a free evening to spontaneously buy a ticket for the nearest cinema theatre to enjoy a newly released film.

Last week, that urge brought me to see “We Live in Time“, the new romantic drama movie starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, and I spent quite an entertaining 1:45 minutes going through the up and downs in the relation of Almut and Tobias.

Firstly, I have to see that the non linear timeline of events can make the movie a bit difficult to follow at first until you get used to it. The movie jumps back and forth in the timeline of the couple, before they met, when they met, through the adversities, parenthood, arguments, etc. It does not harm the overall picture of the movie, but it is true that sometimes it is harder for the spectator to empathize, or you can purely guess how is gonna be the outcome in the future of a discussion (for example having a child or not) when it was already previously shown that they have a daughter.

The acting of both Garfield and Pugh is very good and you can feel that they have quite a nice chemistry in the film. Truly Garfield can come up sometimes like too nice on the edge of silly, and Pugh’s rebellious side can come up sometimes like a bit hateful, but all in all we are not perfect humans in a not perfect world, and the relation dynamic is plausible. I got myself inmersed both in moments when a tear was escaping my eyes or when you have a good laugh to some bizarre comical situation that they encounter.

One feels that even the 1:45 length is not enough and would have loved if the movie would explore deeper in some branches like the relation of Tobias with his father, Almut with her daughter, her passion for cooking, Tobias’s divorce, etc but all in all, the movie is entertaining, it will touch the hearts of the spectators and the acting is solid, so I would totally recommend it to give it a worthy try!

Rating: 4/5

Movie Review: Gladiator II
Categories
Concerts Music

MONO concert at Bangkok Siam Pic Ganesha Theatre

Mono has become through the years in one of my favorite Japanese bands. I discovered them long time ago in Tartu, Estonia, where I could make an interview with Taka and was able to see their show in a small club sitting at the edge on one side of the stage, one of the most memorable inmersive experience I have had watching a live gig where I could feel almost literally sorrounded by the band itself.

14 years have passed by, and 25 years in total since Mono started their career, therefore this 25th Anniversary Tour. The band certainly has gone far from as I remember them in Estonia carrying their own gear after the gig to the van, being one of the few international bands that dared to visit Tartu for a live show at that time, and this time they were sorrounded by a 12 people orchestra, which makes the concert even more amazing.

It was my first time at Siam Pic-Ganesha theatre, easy to reach by transportation by stopping at Siam BTS, but not so easy to find if you have never been there before, as you need to go to the 7th floor of the Siam Square One mall to find it, and also for a westerner like me, feels odd that you need to waste a few minutes to exchange your qr code purchased ticket for a wristband to access the venue that is 1 floor upper the “lobby” of the theatre.

The theatre is cosy and the acoustics were really good, so I think it was a great choice for this kind of concert. Mono appeared on stage a few minutes delayed, and although the venue was not sold out, there would be probably a 2/3 packed with a mixed audience of foreigners and local Thai fans, plus of course quite many Japanese, as there is a big community living and working in Bangkok.

What can I say about the concert?! It was memorable, with the band performing one after another beautiful songs that were sounding even sharper in company of the orchestra, shining specially in those moments when their music goes in crescendo and they lose control in a beautiful wall sound that makes almost impossible not to move your body in synchronization.

In that sense I was actually surprised that the public was really quiet on their seats, I would really have preferred a standing up venue where I could dance to the music, as for me is awkward to see a rock show sitting… but still, memorable music.

As a nice bonus, when the show ended and I had purchased a CD from merchandising section, I got the surprise that the band was gonna sit out for a few minutes to sign the albums of the fans, so this was a chance I could not let go, and I got my CD signed as well.

A very unique special band with a very unique special music. I wish that Bangkok could count with more rock and metal live shows through the year, as the scene here seems to be filled almost entirely of electronic/rap/hip hop music, but at least yesterday, it was a nice day to see amazing live music performed!

Mono Setlist:

Oath
Run On
Reflection
Hear the Wind Sing
Hourglass
Moonlight Drawing
Holy Winter
We All Shine On
Time Goes By
Ashes in the Snow
Everlasting Light

Interview with Taka from the Japanese band MONO

Categories
Videogames

Ps4 hidden gem: Horizon Chase Turbo

It was quite a long time that I had not played a driving game, as lately I was more focused on Beat ’em up, Shoot ’em up or “Metroidvainia” kind of games, but oh boy! Horizon Chase Turbo has got me hooked for hours to my ps4 in the last weeks!

Developed by the Brasilian studio Aquiris, the game has a very lovely retro art style that will remind you inmediately of some famous mega classic games like the Outrun saga.

The mechanics of playing offer also some reminiscence to Outrun in the way the car drifts through the curves, the dialog boxes, etc. Being more on the side of arcade games than of a real simulation, which is fine by me, as I am a kind of player that, when playing driving games, I do not want to touch the brake button so much and just decide when to accelerate or skip the acceleration for a few seconds in a difficult curve.

The game is super addictive from start, and offers several game modes like Campaigns, Adventures, Tournaments and Endurance, but I miss some online mode to compete with other players around the world (even though I am not a great online multiplayer myself).

The soundtrack is a delight and fits perfectly with the circuits, I have some songs stuck in my head now for days, and the visual art, though is not super flashy, embeds itself perfectly in the different tracks and circuits, being beautiful but not intrusive.

Is Horizon Chase Turbo a perfect game? Far from it. The AI and balance of the rival cars sometimes plays funny, with cars accelerating too much without sense or flipping over magically or creating too much of a bottleneck on your path in certain areas. Some stages in the World Tour are almost impossible to win with a normal advancing level and you will need to return with a better unlocked car to win them over, and probably the rookie Campaign should have appear unlocked from start, cause once you play the normal campaign, it loses the appeal.

But all in all, although not being a technically flawless game and having a few bugs and design improvements that could benefit from, it is still one of the funniest and most addictive games that I have played in the last years. Sometimes I lost count of the hours I played inmersed in repeating a race again and again until winning, or thinking “ok just one more race” but playing 2 more hours instead. It is a simple but beautiful and catchy games, and I fully recommend it to you if you like driving games with a retro arcade touch.

Categories
Antonio's blog Blogs Outside Finland Travel

The most exclusive Starbucks cafe in Bangkok with the best views

Bangkok, like any other big major cities in the world, does not lack of all kind of amazing, great and cosy cafes. You can find them all over the city in a huge variety of sizes, styles, decoration, drinks and food offer, terraces or indoors, more or less picturesque for those Instagram posts that young ladies seem to be addicted to, etc.

Of course among that variety, Starbucks chain is also present in the Thai capital (and not, this is not any sponsored post, I am writing it as a traveller’s tip cause I want to, but if anybody from Starbucks marketing is reading, I am listening for collaborations :) ).

What some of you might or might not know (I did not know until recently) is that apart from the normal Starbuck cafes that the chain spread wide all over the world, there are a few special branded Starbucks “Reserve” cafes that offer some special blends for the really coffee addicted and connoseiurs.

Although is not a roastery one, the Starbucks on the 7th floor of Iconsiam, one of the most visited and breathtaking malls in Bangkok (there is even a small artificial waterfall, similar to what you can see inside Singapore airport, inside), counts not only with the normal array of offer you can find in Starbucks, but also with the Reserve rounded section where you are able to taste some assorted selected blends from all over the world (and I think that bar section sells even alcoholic beverages, which is also you do not see in your normal Starbucks).

But apart from the drinks and food selection that you can get there, the highlight of visiting that Starbucks is that counts with an outdoors terrace space with a breathtaking view of Bangkok’s river and skyline. Bear in mind that tourists will not stop lingering around taking photos, so if what you want is a more relaxed sitting space to chat or read a book, maybe the indoors area is more for you, counting with 2 floors that accomodate clients.

Give a try to the place if you are a coffee lover or you just want to admire some amazing views of the city while losing yourself inside the huge Iconsiam mall on a shopping spree! A must see if you visit that side of the river in Bangkok!

Other great cafes in Bangkok:

A charming hidden gem cafe in Thonglor: Herringbone at Volve Hotel
New amazing cafe for lovers of sports cars opens in Bangkok Thonglor: Curvistan Bangkok
Categories
Outside Finland Travel

One of the most beautiful Mosque in South East Asia: Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Masjid Mosque in Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur is an exciting destination if you happen to be in South East Asia. One of the most multicultural environments you can find, where Arabic, African, Chinese, Western and Malay cultures interconnect.

Apart from its amazing malls and gastronomy, Kuala Lumpur also offers a rich cultural offer for those eager to discover it. This time we went to the outskirts of the city to visit the impressive Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Masjid mosque, which undoubtedly can be named as one of the most beautiful ones that you can find in SEA region.

The mosque is the main state mosque in Selangor and to reach it you will have to travel by car around 50 minutes – 1 hour outside of the centre of Kuala Lumpur. Luckily in the Malaysian city, services like Grab taxi work like a charm, and pretty unexpensive. A trip to the mosque and back to the city centre would cost you around 50-55 ringgit total, so around 10-12 euro. Not bad for one hour trip to go and 1 hour to return, right?

The mosque closes at 12:00 am and reopens at 14:00, so be mindful not to arrive there during lunch time, or you will have to wait for quite a bit.

Once you arrive, please remove inmediately your shoes or the ladies in the info desk will not be happy that you are stepping with shoes on. Visiting alone by yourselves is not allowed, but after a bit of waiting at the front of the building, a guide will appear and kindly will give you a free tour around the facilities.

Also be aware that being a Muslim religious site, you must wear correct attire. For men it is recommended to wear long trousers and for ladies clothes covering the legs and the shoulders, but do not worry if you did not prepare for it, cause before starting the tour, the guide will also provide appropiated clothes to cover to those that need to.

I found the visit pretty pleasant, as the guide was cheerful, funny and intelligent to explain about the building (the biggest mosque in Malaysia and the 4 minarets are some of the highest in this kind of construnction in the world). Visiting with just the guided tour means that the place was pretty empty, and you are given a lot of time and freedom to take all the pictures and videos that you wish. There is also a nice explanation of the help and services given to the local community, and you can also take some funny memory pictures in the wedding room at the basement of the building.

All in all, if you have half a day free in Kuala Lumpur, I would totally recommend visiting the mosque. Just the view from outside is breathtaking, and inside as you can appreciate in the pictures, it is a delight of architecture to be contemplated. The building was finished in 1989, so it is still very well preserved.

Discover other amazing hidden gems to explore in Asia:

Bangkok Hidden Gem: Royal Thai Air Force Museum
Bangkok hidden gem: Batcat Museum & Toys
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Articles Misc Outside Finland Travel

A charming hidden gem cafe in Thonglor: Herringbone at Volve Hotel

Thonglor is one of the upscale districts in Bangkok and one of the most vibrant ones in terms of amazing cocktail bars, restaurants, nightclubs and cafes.

However, it is not so easy to find around a cafe that counts with an outdoors terrace and offers high quality service, food and drinks.

Herringbone cafe, located at the basement of Volve boutique hotel, has been for the last years my favorite place to sit down for brunch, lunch or coffee. A total hidden gem, easy to reach just 5 minutes walking from BTS Thonglor station.

The service is great, fast and friendly and they can speak English. The coffee is tasty and the array of food is great for a fantastic brunch, with a mix offer of Western and Asian cuisines. In addition to that, the small outdoors area is very cozy and fresh with the fans that ventilate the area, and it is one of the few places left in Bangkok where smoking at the terrace is totally allowed.

Try as some highlights in the menu the amazing chocolate panacotta, the Vietnamese sandwich Bahn Mi or the Eggs Benedict. Totally yummy!

Apart from the outdoor area, you also have a comfortable, stylist and spacious indoors area in the cafe, which is also suitable for digital nomads to work, as counts with tables with electricity sockets incorporated.

Although the price is not cheap for Bangkok (most of Thonglor cafes and restaurants are more on the higher tier of prices in Bangkok), it is totally fair for the quality received, nonetheless it has become a very popular spot for young Thai local females to go there and do endless sessions of pics and selfies for their social media.

Herringbone official site: https://www.herringbonebkk.com/

Discover other hidden gems cafes in Bangkok:

A very nice new artsy cafe in Bangkok: Just a Garden
New amazing cafe for lovers of sports cars opens in Bangkok Thonglor: Curvistan Bangkok
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PR: Annual Revenue from Esports Betting Set to Reach $2.5 Billion in 2024

The rise in the popularity of Esports has also led to an increase in betting on its events. The esports betting market might still be in its nascent stage, but it is growing at an impressive rate. According to the numbers presented by NoKyc.com, the esports betting market is set to generate $2.5 billion in revenue in 2024.

Revenue from esports betting has grown more than four-fold in six years

Esports betting is a relatively new segment in the betting market, but it has already carved out a significant market share. All prominent betting companies currently offer betting on esports events. And as the popularity of esports continues to grow, as the number of esports every year grows, one can expect the same for the market size of esports betting.

As per the latest data from Statista Market Insights, the esports betting market is set to generate around $2.5 billion in 2024. An annual revenue of $2.5 billion would represent a healthy growth of $0.4 billion from $2.1 billion generated in 2023. Thus, on a year-on-year basis, the esports betting market is expected to grow by more than 19%.

If we go further back in time, the annual revenue from esports betting stood at just $0.6 billion in 2018. The growth of annual revenue from $0.6 billion in 2018 to $2.5 billion in 2024 means that the market has grown by more than 4x in the space of six years, which is an impressive growth rate for any market. However, as per the estimates from the report, the growth in esports betting is expected to plateau a bit in the coming years.

The market is expected to grow by another 12% to $2.8 billion in 2025. Over the course of the next four years, from 2025 to 2029, the esports betting market size is expected to grow to $3.5 billion.

As things stand, the United States represent the biggest market for the esports betting industry, followed by countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, and Japan.

You can find the original story with graphs and statistics here: 

https://nokyc.com/blog/revenue-from-esports-betting-set-to-reach-2-5-billion-in-2024/