Thursday, June 28, 2012

The beauties of Venezia

Venice. Ah Venice. I reckon I've pinched myself more in 2 weeks than my entire life put together. Europe is so special in its European ways. The natural beauties of the Austrian alps. The 800 years + of buildings and magnificent architecture of Venice. To think that these buildings were built on many many hundreds of islands then to have the water rise to create what is Venice today!
We took the overnight train from Salzburg to Venice, arriving nice and early to head to the Novotel.
Two days were spent walking and getting lost in the heart of Venice with dinners (as advised to eat out in Mestre for much more quality and authentic food) in restaurants in Mestre (with the help of Trip Advisor).
Of course being gluten intolerant, I was a bit weary of what I'd be able to eat but with the endless amounts of granite, gelato, olives, Italian cold cuts, risotto, cheeses, wines and then glutenfree pasta, I was fulfilled. What was most amazing was the seafood on offer in Venice.
The highlight was definitely Conte Sconta in Mestre on our final night. Not having any glutenfree pastas or pizzas, I opted for the grilled cuttlefish as well as Salad No.9 (rockets, Parmesan slabs, olives, mushrooms, cucumbers). When the cuttlefish came out, I almost had a food coma on the spot!

You could taste the freshness of the seafood, killer prawns and scallops complete with a flame!




The beauty of Venice itself is indescribable. Even without the water, it would be beautiful but the water just makes it that much more unique. Getting off the bus into Piazalle Roma from Mestre, I was greeted with souvenir shops/huts (of course) but walking past that, there was the water, the small canals, the gondoliers, water taxis and bridges from one side to the next, mottled colored buildings adorned with balconies and flowers on the window sills.
We decided to just walk and get lost (as lame as it sounds) but it was way better than a map.
We eventually jumped on a gondolier (how can you not!), also caught a public gondola, a normal public boat and soaked up what Venice had to offer.
San Marco Square is phenomenal. The Rialto Bridge was awesome to sail under. I felt like I was in the movie The Tourist!

A most enjoyable 2 days in Venice filled with vibrant colors, food, wine and just soaking up the culture.

I'm still loving Verona the most on this trip and that is the very reason I'm back on a train to get to Verona :-)

With love and grace from an excited 24 year old,
Van-Anh

Thursday, June 21, 2012

From Verona to Vienna...

I love Verona. I love Vienna. I might love Verona a bit more right now, but no favoritism :-) the first day in Vienna has been perfect so far ... From eating at a traditional Viennese restaurant, listening to an argument between 2 germans who couldnt agree to agree to watching the eurocup in a biergarten drinking spritz with my old friend Chris (who I went to Macquarie University studying German with) and his friends of whom are from all parts of Europe, working and studying in Vienna.

I've just finished my rehearsal for tonight's concert here in Vienna and can't wait to play. The acoustics in these old 19th century halls are phenomenal. It gives me a good vibe to play in.
Backtracking to Verona, what can I say except it was like a dream.
From the very start, staying at Le Suite di Giulietta and having the most magnificent view of Juliet's balcony....
Then of course, the sheer beauty of the streets of Verona .. Every corner, every nook and cranny, i walked for hours around the centre, along the river... the astronomical Arena di Verona is truly magnificent. Then to think that I'm playing in the Palazza de la gran Guardia tops it off. Directly in front of the Arena, I had to keep pinching myself that it was reality that I, for one, was in Italy and secondly, performing!
the incredible Suite di Giulietta, Verona.
the view from my window - straight down onto Juliet's Balcony, Verona | Italy!
sight-seeing in Verona - the castle :-)
My favourite experience is still the first night, my organizers took me to a street where the local Verona people ate... The waiter sang to us to entice us in, sat us down, had prosecco, divine food with amazing olive oils and balsamic.. Whilst an accordionist, 2 guitarists and a violinist played gypsy music across the street for what seemed like a ceramic store opening. People spilling onto the streets laughing and drinking, dancing and parting for scooters to zoom past then continue dancing.. I truly felt I was in the heart of it all. I ran across the road to have a photo taken with the musicians (yes, what a tourist) and before I knew it, they were surrounding me playing into my ears. We jammed ... Me on the keys of the accordion and laughed to our hearts content.
What surprised me even more was that they came to my concert the next day! We hung out, ate and drank more divine food and wine, grappa and gelato, they even managed to find me gluten free fettuccine :-) the people, the culture, the architecture, the way people are dressed and hold themselves ... There's never been a European country that I've taken to so strongly.
I could have stayed in Verona for another week but alas, work must be done and the next stop is here ... VIENNA.
I feel incredibly lucky to have had all these experiences with such wonderful people in every city coming to catch up and meet me. It makes all of this solo traveling that much more delightful.

I must not forget that I did stop in Saigon and Frankfurt before all of this. Saigon was as wild as usual. Playing at the Ly Club for an invite only crowd was so special because I recognized all the faces in the crowd (98%), I could feel and hear people breathing and their reactions to my playing. It was warm, intimate and I know for many of my friends in Saigon, it was the first chance they got to see me do what I do.
performance at Ly Club, Saigon - June 10th 2012.
I also did 2 shoots with Elle Magazine which will be featured in the August issue :-) Of course, our partying ways never fail to create mischief and memories. Let's just say we passed out like a light on the flight to Frankfurt and even the 2 days in Frankfurt were a bit of a blur .... It was cold, it was bleak, it was not a nice welcome to the European summer. With nice company, We still made the most of it and walked forever and forever around all the streets of Frankfurt ... Can't say I like Frankfurt that much and the flight to Verona was something I really looked forward to.

I'm sitting at Wien Meidling station right now to wait for my friend Steve to arrive from Prague then we'll go to hang at the pool near a vineyard to chill out before my show tonight.
For now, tchüs!
Love and grace,
Van-Anh xx

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Addictions and Ignorance .. is it bliss?

I was watching the documentary (wait, i mean e-doco attached to the album bought on iTunes) which Emeli Sande included on the record (my favourite record right now) and she said one thing which really struck a chord with me: everyone is addicted to something

As a musician, i totally agree with this. I really think to be a musician, you'd have to be addicted to it. Some call it being crazy. It is a drug, it is something that you can't live without. Some musos might also have other side addictions ('drugs, sex and rock n roll' springs to mind) however we are passionate human-beings, dedicated to our art. I smile when i see someone tapping their fingers on the table at coffee, spaced out ... their mind being elsewhere... some might say it's rude but I giggle on the inside and consider it cute. I thrive on the intensity and absolute dedication to creativity and it is those people who I make sure i surround myself with day in, day out. It is when someone has no real passion, i start to question what is wrong with the world? 

I've come across situations where I really DO question life and what people consider fulfilment in life:

Me: 'so what sort of music do you listen to?'
Acquaintance: 'oh, everything. stuff that's on the radio'.... *tumbleweed, tumbleweed* 

Am i meant to sit there and smile and be like 'oh great! wonderful, me too?!' whilst cringing on the inside?
Let's not get ahead of ourselves now though. Every now and then, we all do like to indulge in mindless pop trash. White noise with lyrics that consist of 4 words and 3 notes repeated throughout so you can learn it in 5 seconds and sing along. Drive in our cars and pretend we're the drummer and smack that steering wheel. Or maybe that's just my delirious self. But that's ignorance. Decide on something. Surely there is a style that gels and others that are not.

Acquaintance: 'so where do you live?'
Me: 'Kellyville'
Acquaintance: 'oh Canley Vale, that's 5 minutes from me, i'm in Cabramatta'
Me: 'no, KELLYVILLE... in the Hills District'
Acquaintance: 'errr... where's that?'
*crickets...crickets*

Ok, by no means don't I expect everyone to know where Kellyville is but when you are living in a country that has so much to offer, go and explore! Get out of that neighbourhood of yours. If you've moved to a new country where you cannot speak the language (at all or well), yet settle in an area which includes the same people of your race and you end up speaking your own language, shop in the same area, that is not going to further you or make you grow. Then don't go back to your country and speak a broken English and think you're all that when in actual fact, you're not really speaking English in your new home anyways. What are you trying to hide from? 

Acquaintance: 'What did you do last weekend?'
Me: 'Oh, i flew to Melbourne to see Miss Saigon'
Acquaintance: 'oh was she pretty?'
Me: 'errrr ... it's the musical' *stunned*

When one says 'Miss Saigon', i can't say a pageant is the first thing that springs to mind. More like the fricken awesome musical (one of my favourites for SURE!) Life is not all beauty pageants and designer shopping. I'm not going to lie about indulging in some of those but there's another whole world out there.

Me: 'Oh, you have that new LV bag, that's gorgeous!'
Acquaintance: 'yeah, it's my 6th one in my collection. I'm saved up for 6 months to get it. Saving up for a Fendi cuff next... oh and those Louboutin heels ... and Ferragamo flats'.
Me: 'oh, well all my savings are going to my trip to Italy ... along the North of Italy from Venice to Verona to Trento through to Cinque Terre ...'
Acquaintance: 'where's that? are there outlets there?'

OK, so this person is addicted to fashion, just like i am. The real problem i have here is one should not be SAVING for these luxuries! Luxury items such as these do not reflect you as a person. Sure, indulge in them as I do from time to time but only when you're comfortable to do so. Don't be flashing them around and then not know a single thing other than designer labels and names. P.S Life doesn't revolve around shopping.

This may sound like a rant but in all honestly, people puzzle me. If you grow up insulated in a little suburb, go to the same places to shop, listen to whatever is fed to you on the radio, save for consumables rather than experiences, is your life really fulfilling?

I'm in no position to think of kids at this point in time however when that day comes, i want to be able to tell my kids first hand experiences of what my eyes saw of Italy, of Africa; what Turadot sounded like in Europe as opposed to Australia; how fast cars drive on the Autobahn; how frustrating it is to get around China without knowing the language; how beautiful the vineyards of the South of France are; how ridiculous Coachella was.

Hating to come down to cliche quotes but the world is your oyster. Make it yours. Not Paspaley's.

And for the 'RIGHT NOW':
Fav food: cheesie toasties

Reading: music for the Fior Di Loto Festival
Wishlist: Burberry wellingtons
Current city: Sydney
Listening to: Jon Hopkins .. Inside album! Amazing!
Fav clothing item: socks. stripey socks. because Sydney weather is so fricken awful right now!
Next destination: Vietnam
Missing: hugs
 

Tickling the ivories Copyright © 2011 -- Template created by O Pregador -- Powered by Blogger