Video

Video: Paharganj Delhi Main Bazaar – Heaven or hell?

The Main Bazaar in Paharganj is by some Delhiites considered hell due to it’s reputation for drugs and shady characters. But as my good Indian friend told me “you can find these things everywhere in Delhi – they are just more obvious in the Main Bazaar”.

However, unlike many capital cities, Delhi actually feels pretty safe to me. This might be an illusion of course, but I like Delhi a lot and I also like the Main Bazaar. I have stayed there three times now and feel both comfortable there and quite at home. It is also the cheapest place to stay in Delhi and has lots of cheap restaurants, travel agencies and shops.

This video gives you a small idea about the character of the Main Bazaar – heaven or hell? Judge for yourself.

Video: Windsurfing at Valdevaqueros beach, Tarifa, Spain

This is a short video compilation of clips taken at Valdevaqueros beach just outside Tarifa in Andalucia in the South of Spain – the principal destination in Europe for Kitesurfing and Windsurfing. It was a VERY windy day (force 8-9 for the sailors amongst you), which perhaps doesn’t come across as much as it should from the video. The windy girl is my sister, Laura, and the blob at the end is my mother. My, how she loved that wind…

Video: San Telmo Market, Buenos Aires

San Telmo is the oldest barrio (neighbourhood) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Cafes, tango parlors and antique shops line up the cobblestone streets, which are filled with artists and dancers. Sundays is the day of the main San Telmo market, and this video is a collection of four short clips I filmed during the Sunday market.

Links

Read more about San Telmo Market on Wikipedia here.

Video: Rio De Janeiro – the most beautiful big city in the world

Rio De Janeiro truly occupies the most spectacular setting on the earth. I have never been to a city with a more beautiful location. The city may have a reputation for being dangerous as well – but believe me -it’s worth a visit. Gorgeous mountains, rain forest and white-sand amazing beaches…what more can you possibly wish for?!? By nightfall, the seductive sound of samba fills the streets, and if you are not seduced by the incredibly friendly Brazilians, you will for surely be seduced by the music and dancing.

Few things you definitely should not miss while in Rio: the stunning view from Cristo Redentor, sunsets on Ipanema, people watching at Copacabana beach, a stroll through Santa Teresa and samba clubs in Lapa…all amazing things to do!

I am not a city person – but i really loved Rio De Janeiro and would love to return one day.

Video: Eco Yoga Park, Argentina

Here’s a short video compilation of clips I took whilst staying at the Eco Yoga Park just outside Buenos Aires in Argentina. You can also view a photo slide show of the Eco Yoga Park here, and listen to the Eco Yoga Park podcast here. Thanks to all who appear in the video. Pete, you’ll get it eventually :-).

Photos of the Eco Yoga Park

Watch the sea lions in Valdivia, Chile

Valdivia is, at first view, a beautiful city with a breezy riverfront, multiple universities, old architecture and good restaurant. However, a walk down the riverfront changes your opinion a bit. You notice the extremely smoky Celco-Arauco paper mill that sends up constant masses of smoke into the sky. In 2005 some 5000 black-necked swans died from contamination from this factory. This environmental catastrophe drew local and worldwide outrage, but the plant continues to operate unfortunately.

The city is still well-worth a visit though – even if only for a day. Head to the colourful Ferie Fluvial, the riverside fish and vegetable market, where sea lions paddle up for handouts. In this video you will see some of the huge, gorgeous sea lions that were literally 1 meter away from me. They are not in cages. They are swimming freely in the river…bless them and let’s pray that the river is not as polluted as it looked.

Video: La Bomba de Tiempo, Buenos Aires

Here’s a quick video clip of La Bomba de Tiempo (‘timebomb’), an incredible drum ensemble based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The first part of the video show the warm-up group, and the second part is the main La Bomba de Tiempo band. Unfortunately my camera ran out of batteries after a minute or so, but I will be going back to re-record in the near future!

Every Monday they play at Ciudad Cultural Konex in Buenos Aires, and most Mondays it turns into a percussion-driven rave. I was lucky enough to arrive in Buenos Aires on a Sunday and go to the Monday show – and I can honestly say I’ve never seen a percussion show like it. What’s unique about it is the series of complicated hand gestures they have built up to direct/orchestrate the complex, layered rhythms. You can see these particularly well in the second half of the video.

Bomba founder Santiago Vázquez used to be the only director for the group, but as more members learned the sign language to perfection, they too started directing. Now, there are usually 2 or 3 rotating directors each night, and they go back to playing their instruments when they finish directing.

La Bomba de Tiempo is a fantastic night out, and there are plenty of ‘after parties’ to go to if you’d like to continue the festivities ;-).