Zioume.....

Ken Lee - Bulgarian Idol (WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

2008-03-20T15:27:00.000+02:00

Vienna

2007-11-10T17:53:00.000+02:00

I went to Vienna last week for a conference. The conference was good, and on top of that, I had some time for sightseeing.

The Parliament (a bit Greek)

HHHmmmmm sausages.....

In Freud's house

The golden room in the palace full of mirrors

Underground tavern

My Engagement

2007-11-10T17:15:00.000+02:00

In case you missed it, I got engaged in September, and my engagement party was last week. The party was great, and so was the food. The photo is of the restarant - I didn't want to post too personal photos.

Every night

2007-08-29T19:46:00.000+03:00

Every night, from my house, I have to see the Turkish Flag illuminated on the mountains of Cyprus. And there are people in the world that support such a regime. :(

Summer rain

2007-08-29T19:36:00.000+03:00

What do you think?

Italy opens first women-only beach

2007-06-25T15:50:00.000+03:00

Italy’s long-standing tradition of male chauvinism has been delivered a bitter blow with the opening of the country’s first women-only beach. Visitors to Beach no 134 on the 50-mile stretch of coastline linking Rimini to Riccione on the Adriatic coast are welcomed with a large sign of a macho man covered with a pink cross saying "No Men".

The sandy beach, which is also closed to children, has been dubbed the "Pink Beach".

Click here for the rest of the story.

IS THIS WRONG OR NOT???? What if someone starts a WHITE STRAIGHT MEN beach? No one will go there, but what if?

Beach Party

2007-06-24T14:56:00.000+03:00

Have you seen a better view at night? By the way, I am the guy on the left with 2 friends.

Barcelona 4/4

2007-05-21T21:54:00.000+03:00

I left the best for last. Random pictures of buildings and squares around Barcelona. Starting from the bridge near the marina at the end of La Rambla, all the way past Placa de Catalunya and through the Quadrat d'O, a block of streets with weird (once again) buildings.

Barcelona 3/4

2007-05-21T21:39:00.000+03:00

On Sunday, we visited La Sagrada Familia and the Parc Guell. Both were designed by the same MAD architect (I think). The walls of La Sagrada Familia are covered with statues and even though the construction started more than 100 years ago, it is still not completed.

The Parc Guell was a huge park full of mosaics of animals and, well... it was just weird...

Barcelona 2/4

2007-05-21T21:26:00.000+03:00

The first day, we went around the city and visited La Rambla, the Cathedral and the Picasso Museum. The photos below were taken inside the Cathedral (more pics to follow...)

St George slaying the Dragon

Inside the Cathedral

The Crypt

Barcelona 1/4

2007-05-21T18:19:00.000+03:00

Last weekend, I went to Barcelona, Spain for 4 days for the wedding of two close friends... In this set of pics are photos of the various parties and the wedding.

Me and the happy couple the night before the big day :)

Old friends reunited

The view from the hotel where the wedding took place

The marine at night from the best restaurant in Barcelona.

HHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT

2007-05-15T20:13:00.000+03:00

It's already 30-33C in Cyprus....HOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTT

Japanese Culture in Cyprus

2007-05-07T19:07:00.000+03:00

Hirano Kae, living in Cyprus, presented her paintings at Tehnis Dromena Gallery as part of a Japanese experience including music, books and films.

ASIMO also came on stage in Cyprus as part of Honda's celebrations for their 40 years on the island.

Cypriot Villages

2007-04-25T19:01:00.000+02:00

A few weekends ago, I went to Platres and Omodos, two small villages at the Troodos Mountains. When I was a kid, I used to spend my whole summer holidays at Platres; the first picture is the view from my parent's house. You can see all the way to the sea side on the south side of the island.

Omodos is a famous village known for its wine-making, its "arkatena" rusks and its laces -the celebrated "pipiles" (or Narrow-Knit Laces). You can learn more about the laces here.

Hardline feminists

2007-04-16T15:43:00.000+02:00

If you believe hardline feminists, the sort of people who have Amazonian lady-gardens and wear dungarees made from hemp, then all men are intrinsically rapists and the only reason we don’t actually molest every single girl we see is because we’re all at home beating up our wives.

JEREMY CLARKSON

Swimming at Konnos

2007-04-10T16:53:00.000+02:00

Best thing in the world....

Easter in Cyprus

2007-04-10T16:42:00.000+02:00

During Easter, on Good Friday, it is a custom in Cyprus to visit an odd number of Churches (we did 7) and pray at the "Christ's grave". The first two pictures show the decorations that go around the picture of Christ and each Church compits for the best flower decoration. The last one is of 1 of the 7 churches.

I am back

2007-03-02T20:18:00.000+02:00

After spending 6 months in Tokyo, I have returned to Europe. I am in London for 3 days and then off to Cyprus. Hopefully, to a job...

GM Food

2007-02-02T06:02:00.000+02:00

Things I did not know about GM food:

1) GM food is patented; so if GM seed mixes with your seed, it is illegal for you to use any of your crop.

2) GM seed is classified as "almost identical"; so no need for special testing, but yet different enough to be patented.

3) GM seeds have a "termination" gene; so that after 1 generation, the seed is sterile and you have to buy new seeds; CAN THIS BE TRUE?????

4) GM food is not labeled on products in USA; so there is no way of tracking it's effect

For the full documentary: http://www.ichblog.eu/content/view/266/59/

Free Hugs

2007-01-28T08:48:00.000+02:00

Skiing at Nikko

2007-01-28T08:43:00.000+02:00

4 months ago, Nikko was completely different. And now, the whole are was covered in snow... On saturday I went with two Honda engineers to Nikko for cross country skiing. It was fun, but very tiring...　たいへんね。。。

Kabuki Theatre (歌舞伎）

2007-01-24T06:50:00.000+02:00

On Tuesday, I went to see Kabuki in Ginza. We saw two stories; Shunkyo Kagami Jishi (a dance performance) and Kirara Otomi (a theatre).

SHUNKYO KAGAMI JISHI (Young Yayoi and the Spirit of the Lion)
Kagami Jishi is one of the most important dances for onnagata female role specialists and is an audience favorite. The maidservant Yayoi performs an auspicious lion dance for the shogun in his opulent palace, but she gradually finds herself under the control of the lion spirit. In the second half of the dance, the lion spirit itself appears and performs its crazed dance among peonies and fluttering butterflies.

KIRARE OTOMI (Scarfaced Otomi)
The story of scarfaced Yosaburo is popular in kabuki. Yosaburo is the handsome young son of a wealthy family, but he falls in love with Otomi, the mistress of a gang boss and ends up being cut up and tossed overboard at sea, together with Otomi. He survives, terribly scarred, and becomes a criminal. He goes to blackmail a woman who seems to be kept by a wealthy merchant only to discover that it is Otomi. In this version, it is Otomi that is scarred.

P.s. Without an english translation, I would have been lost :P

Children see, children do.

2007-01-24T04:19:00.000+02:00

SUMO

2007-01-22T03:52:00.000+02:00

And the next day, I woke up from 5am to go buy tickets for the Sumo final in Tokyo. I never thought Sumo could be so interesting.

As for the final, Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu won over Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu (youtube decreased the video quality)

Greek and Turkish Music

2007-01-22T03:48:00.000+02:00

On Saturday night, I went to a friend's concert in Ikebukuro. He has studied 8 years of Arabic music in Konstantinoupoli and 1 year of bouzouki in Athens. He was amazing, and I will be going to hear him play again.

ZAMBARTAS WINERIES

2007-01-18T09:20:00.000+02:00

ΖΑΜΠΑΡΤΑΣ ΡΟΖΕ 2006

Από αγάπη για το καλό κρασί

Με πολύ κέφι και ενθουσιασμό αποφασίσαμε να μπούμε στο κόσμο του κρασιού με δική μας παραγωγή.

Θεωρήσαμε καλό να ξεκινήσουμε με ένα ροζέ κρασί. Τα ροζέ κρασιά βρίσκονται σε άνοδο στην Κύπρο και στην υπόλοιπη Ευρώπη αφού θεωρείται το κρασί όλων των εποχών, η καλύτερη επιλογή σε τραπέζια με ποικίλες γεύσεις.

Οι Ποικιλίες

Το Ζαμπάρτας Ροζέ περιέχει δύο ποικιλίες που ξέρουμε καλά τις δυνατότητες τους στην παραγωγή ποιοτικού κρασιού. Τη δική μας Λευκάδα που μεταφυτεύτηκε στην Κύπρο από το νησί Λευκάδα 80 χρόνια πριν. Το όνομα της είναι Βερτζαμί. Συνώνυμα Βαρσαμί, Μαρζαβί και Ματζαβί. Στην Ελλάδα εκτός από την Λευκάδα, υπάρχουν λιγοστοί αμπελώνες και στο Αγρίνιο και στην Πρέβεζα, αλλά δύσκολη στην οινοποίηση της δεν αναπτύχθηκε στην Ελλάδα.

Το Cabernet Franc είναι μια γνωστή Γαλλική ποικιλία, κυρίως από το Bordeaux, που συμμετέχει μαζί με το Cabernet Sauvignon και το Merlot στην Ονομασία Προέλευσης της περιοχής. Στην Κύπρο είναι πολύ λιγότερο διαδεδομένη.

Η Περιοχή

Διαλέξαμε αμπέλια από τον Ακάμα στην Πάφο. Η περιοχή παράγει καλό φρούτο σε σχετικά χαμηλούς βαθμούς στην ωρίμανση με μαλακές τανίνες, πλούσιο ποικιλιακό άρωμα και ισορροπημένη οξύτητα. Τα αμπέλια, χαμηλής παραγωγής, ανήκουν σε επαγγελματίες και φίλους αμπελουργούς που φροντίδα τους είναι η παραγωγή καλού φρούτου για οινοποίηση.

Ο Τρύγος

Τρυγήσαμε τα αμπέλια αρχές του Σεπτέμβρη αφού κρίναμε ότι το αρωματικό δυναμικό, οι τανίνες, η ισορροπία μεταξύ σακχάρων και οξύτητας βρίσκονταν σε απόλυτη αρμονία. Με προσεκτική μεταφορά στο οινοποιείο, με διαλογή των τσαμπιών, προχωρήσαμε στη χυμοποίηση.

Η Οινοποίηση

Χρησιμοποιήσαμε μια τεχνική εκχύλισης σε πολύ χαμηλές θερμοκρασίες, προστατεύοντας το χυμό από την οξείδωση (επαφή με οξυγόνο). Μετά από συνεχή γευστολογική εξέταση διαχωρίσαμε το μούστο από τα στέμφυλα, έχοντας εκχυλίσει τα αρώματα και το κόκκινο χρώμα από τη φλούδα.

Η ζύμωση έγινε με επιλεγμένες ζύμες, αργά, σταθερά σε πολύ χαμηλές θερμοκρασίες για τρεις εβδομάδες. Αφήσαμε το κρασί να ηρεμήσει, το διαχωρίσαμε από τις οινολάσπες και τον κατάλληλο χρόνο πολύ προσεκτικά το εμφιαλώσαμε. Η παραγωγή μας είναι μικρή. Κάπου 2200 μπουκάλια.

Το κρασί

Διατηρήθηκαν όλα τα ποικιλιακά αρώματα της Λευκάδας και του Cabernet Franc, ενισχυμένα από τα δευτερογενή αρώματα της ζύμωσης. Είναι αρώματα από βατόμουρα, από ρόδι, έντονα και ευχάριστα. Η γεύση είναι απαλή, ισορροπημένη. Οι τανίνες, απαλές, χαϊδεύουν τον ουρανίσκο και με συνεργό την οξύτητα κτίζουν τους συνδυασμούς των αρωμάτων και των γεύσεων για τη μοναδική γευστική εμπειρία που ένα καλά προσεγμένο κρασί προσφέρει στον ενημερωμένο και απαιτητικό καταναλωτή.

Το λαμπερό, βαθύ ροζέ χρώμα του Ζαμπάρτας Ροζέ, συμπληρώνει την απόλαυση των αισθήσεων.

Το δοκιμάσαμε και το συστήνουμε ελαφρά παγωμένο, γύρω στους 10 βαθμούς με ψάρι, κρέας και κοτόπουλο στη σχάρα, με καπνιστό σολωμό, με άσπρα τυριά, με πλούσιες σαλάτες.

Που θα μας βρείτε

Πλησιάσαμε φίλους εστιάτορες, γνωστούς για την ποιότητα τους, τον επαγγελματισμό τους, την αγάπη και τη γνώση τους για το καλό κρασί.

Με αλφαβητική σειρά, στη Λεμεσό, στην Αλιάδα του Ανδρέα, στο Barolo του Μάριου και του Γιώργου, στο Charcoal House του Αντώνη, στο Θέας Αξιον του Κώστα, στην Κυανή Ακτή του Αντώνη και της Ελένης, στο Λαδά του Μάριου και της Ελένης στο παλιό λιμάνι, στο LONDA και στο Νέο Φάληρο του Αντώνη.

Στη Λευκωσία στο Παραγάδι του Κωστάκη, στο Living του Πόλη και στο ξενοδοχείο Κλεοπάτρα..

Η Κάβα Νοστρα, του Λάμπρου και της Κασσάνδρας, στη Λευκωσία το διαθέτει στους οινόφιλους.

Ακης και Μάρκος Ζαμπάρτας

Zambartas Wineries, TK 70513, CY-3840, Λεμεσός

Τηλέφωνα 25 877499, 99 300166, 99 615566

Fax 25 819656

e-mail a.zambartas@winestories.com.cy

Birthday party

2007-01-16T09:34:00.000+02:00

The guys from work organised a party for my birthday. First we went to an all you can eat and drink place with a magician (either we were too drunk, or he was too fast).

After drinking 5-6 beers, one has to make funny faces to the camera.

We then went to an all-you-can-drink Karaoke, where the drinks were very colourful. I think they were vodka based... I hope.

One advice!!!! NEVER GO KARAOKE WITH ME. YOU WILL BE DEAF AFTER THAT!?!?!?!

Kamakura

2007-01-16T09:20:00.000+02:00

Kamakura is the Kyoto of east Japan. It is a small town by the sea with more than 15 temples within walking distance (I only had time to see about 9 of them). Most of them are Zen temples (Zen came to Japan from China). They say that when a priest started a new temple, he planted seeds from China at the entrance. Hence, pic 1.

This pebble style garden is very common and I have to admit, very relaxing to watch.

One of the temples was hidden in a small valley between the hills, and you could only access it through a small hole in the hils.

Last but not least, the Great Buddha. Its shape is distorted so that it will appear normal from the far; apparently this idea was imported from Greece.

Izu (伊豆) Peninsula

2007-01-09T06:09:00.000+02:00

On Sunday, I went to Izu (伊豆) Peninsula. I visited 3 small villages, all very beautiful.

I had some of the best sashimi I have ever tried, visited the Jogasaki coast and suspension bridge and went to a hot spring - of course - with an amazing view

よかったああああああああ。

Happy New Year

2007-01-01T08:32:00.000+02:00

New Year's Eve in Tokyo was better that I expected. Instead of a 5-7ppl party, it ended up to a 20-25ppl party. There was no countdown in Shibuya :( :( on the big screens, but the atmopshere was amazing. And the DJ at the club (NIC FANCIULLI) was amazing...well worth the 17 CYP to go and see him on New Year's Eve.

Hall Party

Random Guy at Shibuya

Clubbing at Womb

How to make rice cakes

2006-12-29T05:08:00.000+02:00

Step 1. Steam-cook the rice

Step 2. Hit it until it becomes a uniform paste

Step 3. Open it up, and then cut it in pieces

Step 4. Eat it afterwards

It was a great day yesterday. Thank you Ishibashi-san for teaching me how to make rice cakes.

The view from the toilet of my workplace

2006-12-27T07:09:00.000+02:00

Mt Fuji (富士山)

Shnijuku (新宿)

Last night it was raining heavily and thus the sky was very clear today.

Long live the memory of James Brown

2006-12-25T09:59:00.001+02:00

One of the best singers or our times...May his soul rest in peace... :(

Roppongi (六本木）

2006-12-24T17:27:00.000+02:00

On my way back from St. Nicolai Church, I stopped at Roppongi. Full of people, full of lights... Great night over all.

Tokyo Tower from Roppongi

Free Concert

I WON

2006-12-18T03:36:00.001+02:00

In your face...

FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2006

2006-12-17T16:39:00.000+02:00

I was soooo lucky today. I went to the stadium with no ticket, and I found one at no extra cost... Europe (Barcelona) lost, but hey....all good.

I am ashamed....I did not know most of this :(

2006-12-13T04:06:00.000+02:00

History of Cyprus

The name

The metal copper is named after Cyprus. The Romans called it aes Cyprium, the 'metal of Cyprus', which was shortened to cyprium and then corrupted to cuprum. The ancient Greek word for copper is chalkos.

Prehistory

Main article: Cyprus (Prehistory)

ca. 8500 BC: Possible first human settlement by epipalaeolithic hunters and gatherers at Aetokremnos possibly arriving from Rumelia

7000-5300 BC: Neolithic

ca. 7000: Settlement of the island by Neolithic farmers from the Levant (PPN B) who introduced domesticated wheat, cattle, sheep, goats, dogs and fallow deer, wild foxes and tamed cats.
6th Millennium: aceramic Khirokitia-culture with round houses
4500-4000: first pottery produced during the Sotira-Phase

4000-2500 Chalcolithic

Erimi-Phase (Chalcolithic I), copper known, but used sparingly
Ambelikou/Ayios Georghios (Chalcolithic II)

2700-1050 Bronze Age

...click here for the rest of the history of Cyprus

Why asian guys can't get white girls

2006-12-11T04:16:00.000+02:00

Great things about Japan.

2006-12-05T12:37:00.000+02:00

1. It only takes 15minutes to open a bank account.

2. You are only 10minutes away from a good restaurant.

3. If you ask someone for directions, they might even take you there.

4. If you go to a restaurant and they tell you the soup will take 5minutes, not only they will say sorry 100 times, but will also give you a 10% discount (without you saying anything).

Please feel free to add more in comments .

I will be on Japanese TV

2006-12-03T14:04:00.000+02:00

Belly Dancers at La Fabrique in Tokyo

2006-12-03T14:02:00.000+02:00

The Cypriots and the Kurds

2006-11-30T10:22:00.000+02:00

Turkey complains vociferously about the European Union's unfair treatment of the politically and economically isolated Turkish Cypriots. Why then shouldn't Turkey grant a big chunk of its own citizens - the Kurds - the same rights it demands for people who are not even Turkish nationals?

There are many similarities between Northern Cyprus and the Turkish southeast, where many of Turkey's estimated 15 to 20 million Kurds live. They are geographically similar and are located in sensitive areas - the one off Syria's coast, the other bordering Iran, Iraq and Syria.

Both are relatively isolated and poor, though the Kurds are a lot poorer than the Turkish Cypriots. In both cases, poverty is linked to the unresolved political and security issues around their identity and political status.

But it's the differences that are more striking. Turkey is loudly championing the rights of Turkish Cypriots in the EU. But anyone who champions Kurdish rights in Turkey risks being accused of separatism and even terrorism.

While Turkey expects international support for its Cyprus solution, based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality between the two communities, it argues the precise opposite for its own Kurdish citizens.

Full article in IHT.

Izakaya　（居酒屋）

2006-11-30T09:10:00.000+02:00

People compained that I post to many pics of food.
So this is one is of me eating at an Izakaya style restaurant.
THIS IS NOT A PIC OF FOOD.

Mt. Fuji (富士山)

2006-11-25T15:50:00.000+02:00

Yokohama

2006-11-25T15:48:00.000+02:00

At a japanese restaurant with friends
(Kyriakos asked me not to show him in this picture)

Yokohama from 69 stories up.

Yokohama by night

Karaoke

2006-11-25T15:45:00.000+02:00

It was a great night...awful singing, free drinks, all good...

Fatal lack of protein and essential fats

2006-11-17T04:04:00.000+02:00

The death of Ana Carolina Reston illustrates the dangers of anorexia. She was a 5ft 7in Brazilian model who had worked for Giorgio Armani died aged 21 weighing six stone after eating a diet of tomatoes and apples

Anorexia has an appreciable death rate — up to 10 per cent — and even in patients who don’t die many are permanently damaged. Ana Reston also suffered from bulimia, a much more common complication of anorexia over the past 10 to 15 years. It increases the danger of serious metabolic disorders as the recurrent vomiting alters the body’s electrolytes and biochemical balance. It is also very bad for the teeth, destroying the enamel.

Although Ms Reston was still six stone she was tall. In her case renal failure was her cause of death. The kidneys, and other vital organs, need at least 800 calories a day to function efficiently, but her diet would also have been seriously deficient without the essential proteins necessary to maintain the structure of them and other vital organs.

A correct balance of proteins, fats, hydrates as well as vitamins and minerals would have been needed to keep Ana Reston’s metabolism working, even if the protein lack hadn’t induced kidney failure.

Full Article in Times

Kyoto, Nara and Himeji

2006-11-06T08:39:00.000+02:00

Himeji Castle

At Himeji Castle

Nara

Kyoto

And the best of Kyoto for last...

Food in Japan

2006-11-06T06:23:00.000+02:00

Roach (Small Fish)

Whale

Various Sashimi

Sasmimi Salad

Okonomiyaki (お好み焼)

Muscle

Sushi

Shark Fin

What is real beauty?

2006-10-18T07:34:00.000+02:00

Mighty mouse! Rare discovery in Europe

2006-10-13T04:04:00.000+02:00

LONDON, England (AP) -- Using DNA testing, scientists have discovered what is believed to be the first terrestrial mammal found in Europe in decades: a mouse with a big head, ears, eyes and teeth that lives in a mountainous area of Cyprus.

The mouse was native to the eastern Mediterranean island, survived the arrival of man on Cyprus and could be considered a "living fossil," experts said.

"New mammal species are mainly discovered in hot spots of biodiversity like Southeast Asia, and it was generally believed that every species of mammal in Europe had been identified," said Thomas Cucchi, a research fellow at Durham University in northeast England.

"This is why the discovery of a new species of mouse on Cyprus was so unexpected and exciting," he said in an interview Thursday.

Click here for the rest of the article.

2 of the Top 20 Universities...

2006-10-10T08:05:00.000+02:00

I dropped from 9 to 19

Nikko　（日光）

2006-10-10T07:39:00.000+02:00

A Japanese proverb says: 'Think nothing splendid, until you have seen Nikko.'

AIG Japan Open

2006-10-10T07:27:00.000+02:00

On Saturday, I woke up at 8am, went to the tennis courts by 9.30, stayed in queue for 30min, got great seats for 16pounds and watched 5 semifinals (inc. Henman and Federer). Just like Wimbledon...

Baseball

2006-10-10T07:26:00.000+02:00

Golf and Cricket are actually better than baseball...

Odaiba

2006-10-01T14:15:00.000+02:00

Best view in Tokyo so far.

Asakusa

2006-10-01T14:05:00.000+02:00

Another day, another area to visit. In Asakusa, the streets are full of small shops that sell anything you can imagine. George, this is one of the "knife" shops...

Yes, this is the true definition of an "open bar". From Asakusa, I took the boat to Odaiba. It was raining though, so no good pictures of the trip. :(

Weclome Party

2006-09-29T06:39:00.000+02:00

For my welcome party, we went to a restaurant in Shinjuku. We had loads of drinks, sashimi, cooked fish, salad, chicken kebab (yakitori), beef stew (gyuniku), jirashisushi (a mixture of sushi - see below) and ice-cream. All these for less than 20 pounds.

Komaba International Lodge

2006-09-29T06:29:00.000+02:00

I finally moved to my new place, where I will be staying for the next 5 months. The building is a bit old, but the rooms are great.

My room

My kitchen

The view from my balcony.

My bathroom (a bit small).

Ikebukuro

2006-09-25T05:19:00.000+02:00

On a visit to Ikebukuro, I got to see another traditional festival, with loads of live music. The rythum and the beat that they can keep on is amazing.

I even went to an art gallery where I met two of the painters.

Ginza

2006-09-25T05:18:00.000+02:00

If youy want to go shopping, then Ginza (and Omode-sando) are the places to go. Both places are full of brand shops.

Karaoke

2006-09-25T05:15:00.000+02:00

Yes...Ka-ra-o-ke (カラオケ) is big in Japan.

Roppongi

2006-09-25T05:11:00.000+02:00

Roppongi was crap but atleast I got to see the Mori Gardens and the Mori Building.

Nedujinja festival

2006-09-17T12:37:00.000+03:00

On sunday, I went to the Nedujinja festival, just north of Ueno. Basically, it was a massive parade of 3 small shrines (like the one in the pic below) and a big one carried by 10s of people.

The parade finished at the temple, where there was LOADS of food :) The pic below is of takoyaki; octopus cooked in a mixture of flour/egg/spices/etc.

At the end of the day, we went to the local hill. Apparently, 10 years ago, you could see Mt. Fuji from there. While we were sitting there, an old guy asked us if he could take our picture from the back. It turned out to be 8 of them in a "photography" class that were on a course. They must have taken 10-20 pics of us... VERY strange.

Shinagawa to Shimbashi

2006-09-17T12:23:00.000+03:00

On Saturday, I did some sightseeing. I walked from Shinagawa through Hamamatsucho to Shimbashi... it took me about 6-7 hours to do the lot :) :) :) I took loads more pics, but I am too lazy to post all of them.

At the entrance of a small park near Shinagawa Prince Hotel

Shinagawa Pier

Zojoji Temple with the Tokyo Tower in the background

Hmmm...well, it's modern art at the Hara Museum...

Live Jazz Night

2006-09-17T12:20:00.000+03:00

Almost as good as WTF :)

6 hours of walking...

2006-09-10T11:34:00.000+03:00

Ok..so on Saturday I decided to walk from college to Shibuya, and through the yoyogi park to Shinjuku. Needless to say, it took about 5-6 hours, but it was worth it. The park was amazing.

Next to the park, one can find the Meiji Shrine, where I was lucky enough to see a traditional ceremony.

At Shinjuku, I went on th 45th floor of the Tokyo City Hall. The view was amazing :) :)

Shibuya by night

2006-09-10T11:31:00.000+03:00

Shinsei Bank

2006-09-08T07:19:00.000+03:00

So... I needed to open a bank account for the 6 months I would be in Japan. I went to Shinsei Bank at 3pm, and by 3:15pm I left with an account and a working debit card...

IN LESS THAN 15MIN...

Basketball World Championship Final at Saitama Arena

2006-09-04T11:52:00.000+03:00

Ticket to the Basketball World Championship Final: 19,000 Yen

Train Ticket from Ueno t0 Saitama: 900 Yen

Casio Camera: 38,000 Yen

Seeing the National Team of Greece play in the final: Priceless

P.s. Kwsta, I stole your idea :P

Nasu Village

2006-09-02T13:58:00.000+03:00

For my first weekend in Japan, the guys organised a trip to Nasu, the second most popular resort for people living in Tokyo. We stayed in a house that was in the middle of a forrest...

...slept on tatami...

...had bath in a hot spring...

...and had a great outdoors bbq.

And the following day, we went to a "cow" park to learn how to make butter and milk :) :)

Japanese Food

2006-09-02T13:33:00.000+03:00

You will either like or hate Japanese food. The first picture is of a noodle soup with milk and mince meat (it was actually very nice), and the second of raw horse (a bit bitter).

Shibuya

2006-08-30T09:18:00.000+03:00

After the first day at work, the guys took me to Shibuya. They are all very friendly and help me out a lot...

We first went to a beer garden...

...followed by a game of darts.

And before going home, we walked a bit around the area.

Ueno Garden

2006-08-30T09:08:00.001+03:00

My room for the first week is at the main campus next to Ueno garden. It takes about 30min to go to work, but the area is amazing so mondainai :). On monday, after I arrived at Tokyo, I spent the afternoon exploring the area and especially the gardens.

JAPAN

2006-08-30T08:54:00.000+03:00

Finally...in Tokyo. After 12 hours of flight and Virgin trying to charge me 680 pounds for excess laguage, I have finally arrived at Narita Airport Tokyo, I got the train to go to Tokyo...

To my surprise (not really), the trains are spotless, there is plenty of leg room and the seats can recline...

And nothing but green fields and mountains full of trees can be seen from the window...

How to make a Cypriot BBQ (or Souvla)

2006-08-17T14:02:00.000+03:00

This is a simple guide on how to make a bbq:

1) Light a fire

2) Put pieces of meat (lamb, chicken) on the skewers

3) Using a motor, turn the meat to cook evenly, from raw...

4) ... to cooked...

5) ... and enjoy with potatoes and salad.

On a Boat at Konnos Bay

2006-08-17T13:28:00.000+03:00

I have spent the holidays of the 15th of Aug on a boat outside Konnos Bay in Ayia Napa. It was the most relaxing holidays ever. Enjoy the pictures.

ME :) :)

Sunset

View of Konnos Bay

View of the hotel

Girlfriend taking a shower

Driving in Cyprus :P

2006-08-11T17:13:00.000+03:00

Last Party in London

2006-08-10T16:04:00.000+03:00

Just some photos from the party. Enjoy...

Update

2006-08-10T15:54:00.000+03:00

To the 2 people that actually read this (including myself), please forgive my laziness to update...

So...

1) I am in Cyprus having a great time

2) I will be going to Japan for 6months in Sept.

I promise to keep you all updated.

Hockey Game & Dinner

2006-03-29T13:57:00.000+02:00

Old Boys and the new team... Old against Young... Experience against Power...eee...ok..let's cut the crap

the hockey game was just an excuse to go drinking afterwards..

Great fun, loads of beer, loads of food... and for presents we got t-shirts for kids (for ages 8-12) thats we had to wear around London...

ooohh... we lost 6-3, but hey, who cares??

Back to the UK

2006-03-21T14:50:00.000+02:00

so...after 5 days in Cyprus I am back in the UK. Holidays were great...loads of food, coffees and going out...

if you see the ads for cyprus on TV, they say: "Cyprus - the island of all seasons". Well, it's true...on saturday went on a friend's boat out in the sea and at night went to the mountains where there was snow...just perfect :) :)

and now back to work...so much to do, so little time

Cyprus

2006-03-15T18:19:00.000+02:00

I am going to Cyprus for a few days to relax...you can all join me.

Party at Beaufort House

2006-03-12T17:33:00.000+02:00

Hmmm...the fact that I did not take a camera was a bit stupid...

this is the only pic we took...

and noooo...we were not drunk :P

I am a Dr now...you can trust me...

2006-03-09T21:07:00.000+02:00

They liked me... they really liked me... :)

Ancient Cypriots fed olive oil to furnaces-study

2006-03-09T17:09:00.000+02:00

It is praised for its culinary and health properties by any cook worth his salt, but long before olive oil made it into the Mediterranean diet Cypriots used it as fuel to melt copper, archaeologists say.

Italian researchers have discovered that environmentally friendly olive oil was used in furnaces at a site in southern Cyprus up to 4,000 years ago, instead of the fume-belching charcoal used in industry for hundreds of years since.

Described as "liquid gold" by the ancient Greek poet Homer, olive oil has long been associated with grooming, pampering and the religious rites of the ancients, but not - at least in the Mediterranean - with heavy industry.

"We know that olive oil made it into our food around 1,000 BC, but it is the first time we have laboratory evidence that it was used in smelting as a fuel," archaeologist Maria Rosaria Belgiorno told Reuters.

Cyprus was famed in antiquity for its copper and is believed to have given its name to the Latin term for the metal, Cuprum.

Read the rest of the article here...

Viva Party

2006-03-07T17:38:00.000+02:00

If all goes well, you are all invited for a party at:

Beaufort House
354 King's Road, Chelsea,
London, SW3 5UZ

See you all there at 9pm.

2006-03-06T19:49:00.000+02:00

3 days to go for my viva....

so i will either be a Dr... or I wil lfail.... lol :) :)

Zioume.....

Ken Lee - Bulgarian Idol (WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

Vienna

My Engagement

Every night

Summer rain

Italy opens first women-only beach

Beach Party

Barcelona 4/4

Barcelona 3/4

Barcelona 2/4

Barcelona 1/4

HHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT

Japanese Culture in Cyprus

Cypriot Villages

Hardline feminists

Swimming at Konnos

Easter in Cyprus

I am back

GM Food

Free Hugs

Skiing at Nikko

Kabuki Theatre (歌舞伎）

Children see, children do.

SUMO

Greek and Turkish Music

ZAMBARTAS WINERIES

Birthday party

Kamakura

Izu (伊豆) Peninsula

Happy New Year

How to make rice cakes

The view from the toilet of my workplace

Long live the memory of James Brown

Roppongi (六本木）

I WON

FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2006

I am ashamed....I did not know most of this :(

Why asian guys can't get white girls

Great things about Japan.

I will be on Japanese TV

Belly Dancers at La Fabrique in Tokyo

The Cypriots and the Kurds

Izakaya （居酒屋）

Mt. Fuji (富士山)

Yokohama

Karaoke

Fatal lack of protein and essential fats

Kyoto, Nara and Himeji

Food in Japan

What is real beauty?

Mighty mouse! Rare discovery in Europe

2 of the Top 20 Universities...

Nikko （日光）

AIG Japan Open

Baseball

Odaiba

Asakusa

Weclome Party

Komaba International Lodge

Ikebukuro

Ginza

Karaoke

Roppongi

Nedujinja festival

Shinagawa to Shimbashi

Live Jazz Night

6 hours of walking...

Shibuya by night

Shinsei Bank

Basketball World Championship Final at Saitama Arena

Nasu Village

Japanese Food

Shibuya

Ueno Garden

JAPAN

How to make a Cypriot BBQ (or Souvla)

On a Boat at Konnos Bay

Driving in Cyprus :P

Last Party in London

Izakaya　（居酒屋）

Nikko　（日光）