PragueBuzz!

Hosting Travelers and Pingpong

cd — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:45:26 +0000

I’m now hosting a Chinese university student who is traveling in Europe before heading to Massachusetts for his study. I could have hosted another Turkish student too but we ended up hanging out instead. It was fun and stamped out any doubt I have about meeting complete strangers. Next month, hopefully I will be a hostee myself and really look forward
for the experience. This is one of they best way to meet people while I’m not traveling as I can rehash their travel stories and get a tipsor two. Also I know how much accommodation cost can dent a frugal traveler’s budget. I didn’t choose to host at the moment since I have no free space in my flat other than the kitchen, the narrow hallway and the floor in my own room, but I accepted their requests anyway. Next year when I move out to a new flat, guests can stay more comfortably in the living room.

There is a thing called “chance” which I believe, and we meet a particular someone for a reason. To find a great example, I don’t have to look very far. Next week, the community where I work organizes a multiple-event competition; one of games is table tennis. Now, I don’t play ping pong no care so much about it. I didn’t even consider in this competition at all, let alone ping-pong. But out of a whimsical moment after learning that my team leader registered for this event, I thought to myself “Oh maybe I should do it too.” And so I did. After all, I do know how to hit the ball over the net and into the table…sometime. They keyword here is “sometime.” My euphoria lasted only momentarily because then I realized I will surely look like an idiot the ping-pong table; I played ping-pong only five times in my entire life. No, to be correct, I stood by the table and hit the ball back and forth five times in my life.

Then there comes the handy Chinese who knew and can teach a few tips or two about the games. And then the Turkish joined in and he also was good, beating the Chinese 2-1. Can I get better coaches than that? So for two hours, they taught me how to hold the racket, serve, backhand, forehand…Well, I still desperately hit balls after balls into the net and smash 9/10 outside the table. Yuck!!!! The only thing that can change my potential idiot status next week is other girls handling the balls just the same.

Free stay resource

Globalfreeloaders (Chinese guy)
Place2stay (Turkish guy)
Couchsurfing (Me looking for hosts)

Film - Bathory

cd — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:55:48 +0000

Should I or shouldn’t I? I objected watching this movie because my damaged-from-childhood-by-grandma-ghost-story brain could not tolerate horror scenes where some murderess bludgeons helpless girls to death, sliced them up to draw out blood. “How about Kungfu Panda?” I offered the alternative. Ignoring my plea, my boyfriend blabbed on, “It’s the most expensive Czech film ever, costing 300 millions Czech crowns.” “So it’s not another Hollywood box-office wannabe?” I asked. “No. The event happened in Slovakia when it belonged to Hungary.” We spent another fifteen minute to debate our Saturday evening’s fate: laughing-off-the-chair, noodle-maker-aspire, Jackie-Chan cartoon or scared-off-the-seat, sophisticate, historical Hungarian/Slovak epic. I opted for the latter.

Elizabeth or Erzsebet (in Hungarian) Bathory, a Hungarian countess from a powerful noble family in the 16th century, makes the Geniuses for murdering 600 virgins to bath in their blood, believing that it would made her eternally young. Her arranged marriage at 11 to a Ferenc Nadasdy, another noble breed, multiplies the wealth and status of her name. Throughout the first part of the film, Elizabeth is seen innocently harmless with no shred of evil in words, manner or intention. She wonders in her wedding night how she and her husband can make a baby boy to further their family line. To that, her husband replies, “My uncle taught me all.” Far from the image of a murderess, Elizabeth is a mother of two young daughters; a benevolent ruler who heals many peasant girls with her herbs and a lonely wife whose husband being away from home most of the time, commanding the Hungarian troops to fight off the Turks. One of his gift to his young wife is a talent Italian painter, Merisi captured by the Turks on his way to Vienna and then later by Ferenc’ army. Merisi later reveals to be Caravaggio, a famous Italian painter at the time. Elizabeth and Merisi carries on their master-slave and artist-model relationship for a while until pained by her husband indiscreet behavior with her maids, she commits adultery with the young painter. Ferenc returns and gets madly jealous by rumors about her alleged affair; he offers Merisi a cup of poison-spiked wine which Elizabeth unknowingly take and drank herself.

This incident leads to the second part of the movie, “Darvulia”, named after a healer who nurses Elizabeth back to life with secret portions and herbs. Darvulia claims to know the cure to the countess’ pale complexion. The blood, her own, Elizabeth dabs on her face seems to signal the beginning of an evil mystery with her bathing in red, blood-like water and her stabbing a maid to death. At the same time,bodies of murdered peasant girls found along with Bathory family seal. A humorous, good-hearted, mismatched duo is sent to a village by the Cardinal to investigate the accusation rumored about Elizabeth. Elizabeth plunges more into madness and paranoia as she jails her once trusted confidante Darvulia after Darvulia admits that Elizabeth killed her hair dresser.

Elizabeth, now a widow, faces challenges from Thurzio (title of the third part), her husband trusted ally who demands a share of her family property which Ferenc allegedly promised him while they fought together. Again and again she shrugs him off and publically humiliates him. Despite his love and lust for the Elizabeth, Thurzio plots revenge with the the most unexpected people.

140 minute is too long for any movie to remain interesting to the audience. Additionally, the film’s plot is not well-connected; some events happens too quickly without any explanation making it difficult to follow the story. But I find “Bathory” worth every crowns. Directed by Slovak’s best, Juraj Jakubisko, who favors a strong visual quality (*), the film impresses me with vivid colorful costumes and design and the simple yet breath-taking rural depiction of Slovakia. And of course, kudos to Anna Friel’s performance of the murderous scountess.

(*) Juraj started his prestigious career as a painter and a photography teacher.

Photos: Yummy Czech Dishes

cd — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:20:06 +0000

A friend visited Prague and took the nicest food pictures. Too nice I behold them at one instance and pinch my butt out of jealousy for not being able to do the same

Czech Chicken at Hotel              Czech Pepa Cheese at Hotel
restaurant “U Divadlo”               restaurant “U Divadlo”

Ham and Potatao Pancakes       Beef Goulash
with sauerkraut

Ham and flour dumpling with     Potato dumpling with Sauerkraut
spinach

Boar steak and bacon Grilled meat
dumpling

Risotto Black Squid with rice

Bread goulash

[Source]

Canoeing, Kayaking and Rafting at Týnec nad Sázavou River

cd — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:29:40 +0000

To
the South of Prague hidden a wonderful summer recreational center where you can rent a boat, drifting along the Sazava river and camping outside on the river bank. The place has not been overrun by tourists and remains unknown to many local Czechs; an expat friend of mine accidentally discovered the spot during a car trip outside of Prague.

The basic one-day, 16-km, six-hour trip from Tyznec nad Sazavou to Petrov carrying you through various scenic routes where you can catch glimpses of Czechs’ summer pastime. Canoeing has been very popular activity for the Czechs, from avid sport-lovers who exersise religiously to couch potatoes who go on canoe trip because of school requirement. Honza told me that almost every Czech had gone on a canoe trip at least once.

Czech rivers might not fulfil a hard-core adventurer’s adrenaline dream but they do
statisfy every average Joe’s weekend escape. The still current will surely indulge a lazy person who fancies nothing than to sip on a beer can. But by the time you finish that
beer, you will find yourself struggling in rippling water fully of rocks and have to paddle hard to avoid cap-side. The water level can be low at some parts that your ass will bump against one rock after another, sharp, round and irregular-shaped. Sometimes you find yourself and your boat sitting on top of stubborn rocks and continue staying there no
matter how rhythmic and synchronized your and fellow riders’ butt-movement are to slide the boat down. When the water is high enough, it’s fun sliding down flat bedded rock slope, dropping two-meters or so and getting soaking wet.

Then you can relax again beholding serene landscape along the way: old men fishing, wooden cottages dotted along the river bank, inhabitants sitting outside their cottages having picnics or simply watching people watching them. Made-shift sausage and refreshment stands offering typical Czech greesy, oil-dripping sausages and cold beers await you at a couple of spots the river bank. Eat and drink the unhealthy food as much as your heart desires because your boat trip probably sheds a few decagrams off your body fat. Besides, those sausages and foamed beer make your Czech experience more Czech.

Hurry up while the summer is young and the sky is dry even though it has been pissing baby rain shower for the last month.

Tips

Saturdays are packed, so you should book one week in advanced.
Reservation:You don’t pay for reservation, but please do cancel one day before. You
will have to pay for all reserved boats if canceling on the spot. Even if this happens, try to sweet talk the cashier for a discount.
Late fee: you must reach the final destination by 6 p.m. to avoid late fee. I don’t know if they charge by boats or by the hours. We paid 300 czk for 2 canoes and 2 rafts one hour and a half late.
Pickup time is from 9 to 12 am.
Raft or canoe: The minimum required water level is 45 cm. It’s really no fun to row and row on shallow water. Do not rent a raft unless you have your own or want to ruin your boating experience. Rafts are not made for Czech rivers, especially on low water. You will spend most of your energy and time to push the raft of rocks.Canoeing is very safe even forbeginners.

Website: http://www.bisport.cz/?lg=en

How to get there

By car: Takes only 50 minutes. [See map]

By train: Train departs from either Hlavni Nadrazi or Nadrazi Vrovice to Tynec
nad Sazavou and takes from 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 45 minutes. [Sample train schedule @ idos.cz]. On your way home, you can either returing to where you started, Tynec nad Sazavou, to pick up your car or can take the train back to Prague. The trains for both directions will start at the same station, Petrov u Prahy, on the same track heading opposite directions.

Where to Buy Guitars in Prague and Czech

cd — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:17:09 +0000

Most of you probably want to shop at stores where you can choose, play and feel your guitar. Also, it’s easier to return the guitar to the shop for repair. Three weeks ago, I started hunting for my first guitar and indeed had a hard time locate shops and online stores. Maybe you did and will too. But worry no more, I have compiled a list of stores and sites.

Stores

* Muziker.cz: You can buy online or at the store too. They have hundreds of guitars for sale together with other instruments and gears. In deed, I bought my SX acoustic guitar there. The guys who work there are very helpful too. Take tram number 5 and get off at “U horou”, 3 stops after Vlatava. Turn left at the street and you will see Meca Club, the store is located in building 5/827. There is no sign, just a name on the building door, so you might miss it.
* Kytary.cz: This is another store where you can buy either online or at the store. They have stores at Nusle and in Chodov Centrum.
* www.harfa.com : Have a small collection of used guitars. I almost bought used guitar there before opted for a new one.
* Liskapiana.cz

Online

* www.aukro.cz : This is similar to Ebay; however, you don’t have to link your bank, credit card because you can pay upon delivery or in person in which you and the seller meet up. But remember, Aukro takes 14 days to verify your account and address, so if you consider this route, please register before hand. You can try to contact the seller and agree on the price without going through the bidding process.
* www.muzikant.cz
* vyhledavani.hyperinzerce.cz : Sold directly by the seller (Czech only).
* www.eorchestr.cz
* www.a-znastroje.cz
* www.music-city.cz
* www.hudebni-dum.cz
* hudba.inzertal.cz (2nd hand)
* www.bachmusik.com : Out of Prague. It’s a guitar maker and distributor. But I think you can get a guitar from them too.
* www.super-bazar.cz : Not a guitar shop, but you can find a few used guitars.
* www.humlmusic.cz
* www.vecerekinstrwuments.com

Bazaar

It’s not easy to find a cheap (money-wise) guitar. I notice that guitars are more expensive sold from Bazaar sites. Additionally, pawn shops are other options.

If you want a guitar lesson, you can try cool American Rob at 420 775 566389