Magic happens

Welcome to Land of Smiles.

2011-04-17T19:06:00.004+01:00

If you want to integrate with the local culture at least a bit, there are some DOs and DON’Ts that you should keep in mind at all times.

94% of Thai population is Buddhist. And you can feel it around. The gentle and calm Buddhist approach is something that you can feel from behaviour of chilled locals.

That is the reason why all of them smile all the time. It is really important to smile BACK:) In Thai culture not being nice is considered as impolite and being angry and arguing is a complete rudeness.

What a great country, I wish we could learn this.

Vitajte v Krajine Usmevov.

Ak sa chcete co najlepsie zintegrovat s lokalnou kulturou tu je zopar rad co Ano a co Nie.

Usmievajte sa!

94% populacie su Budhisti.A skutocne jemny a pokojny budhisticky postoj je nieco co mozete citit vsade naokolo. To je dovod preco sa vsetci stale usmievaju. Nezabudajte: Je velmi dolezite usmievat sa naspat!

V Thajsku sa clovek, ktory je nahnevany, nevrly alebo ak sa niekto nebodaj zacne hadat… toto spravanie sa proste povazuje za najhorsie porusenie spolocenskej etikety. Je to proste jedna z najneslusnejsich veci akych sa mozete dopustit. (Toto je ake super, to by sa mohli nasi predavaci, uradnicky a politici naucit)

No Bare Feet

2011-04-17T18:48:00.005+01:00

The head is regarded as the highest part of the body and you should never touch another person on the head. By contrast, the foot is regarded as the lowest and dirtiest part of the body.

It is considered extremely offensive to show someone the sole of your foot. It is also very rude to have your foot higher than someone else's head. Also, it is customary for anyone to remove his or her shoes or other footwear when going inside a house, shop, restaurant, internet café, palace or museum.

This is a little fact that might seem so insignificant because nobody will ever tell you.

But it is not OK. People hate it.

There'll be no one to come to you and say "hey, don't do that"(it’s also rude to be angry as you remember) On the other hand they know that visitors "don't know" so it's forgivable. But deep down. I can tell you, everybody here hates it.

Safest way is to keep your feet lower than knee-level. Just don't go crazy with them.

Neukazujte nikomu bose chodidla.
Hlava sa povazuje za najvyssiu a najdolezitejsiu cast tela. Preto, by ste nikdy nemali nikoho chytat za hlavu. Toto pravidlo mi vzdy pride dost vtipne, lebo si nedokazem uplne predstavit z akeho dovodu by som niekedy chcela niekoho chytat za hlavu. No nevadi. Proste si zapamatajte, ze nemate stracat hlavu(vlastnu ani cudziu) a vsetko bude ok.
Na druhej strane chodidla sa povazuju za najnizsiu a najspinavejsiu cast tela. Povazuje sa za neslusne ak:
• Niekomu ukazete bose chodidlo ーcize ziadne vykladanie si noh na stolicky, na stol ani nikde inde.
• Mate svoje chodidlo vyssie ako ma druhy clovek hlavu
• Nevyzujete sa predtym ako vstupite do chramu, obchodu, restautacie, internetovej kaviarne. Toto nie je pravidlo v uplne vsetkych pripadoch, ale proste ak mate znacnu kopku flipflopov pred dverami asi si viete domysliet co treba spravit.
• Ukazujete na nieco bosou nohou.
• To nieco je napriklad socha Buddhu.
Toto vsetko su male drobnosti, ktore sa mozu zdat nedolezite. Ak sa nahodou rozhodnete ich vsetky nasilu porusit, nic ocividnesa nestane. Preco? Pozrite sa napredchadzajuce pravidlo. Nie je slusne sa rozculovat.
Cize nikto k vam nepride aby vam povedal, toto sa nema, nepatri je to strasne slusne. Ale v skutku ludia budu urazeny a jednoducho nemaju to radi.

Monks

2011-04-17T18:44:00.007+01:00

Thailand is a country with one of the highest numbers of monks. And you should always remember to treat them in a special way.

If you are a woman, never ever touch them. They are not allowed to touch a woman, even their own mothers, during the time they are monks. Even if you want to give them a gift, as a woman you can never pass it directly just put it to other man or somewhere where they can pick it up on their own.

A lot of people buy statue of Buddha, because it just looks very cool, however they are not too many who are that keen on understanding what is behind.

Buddhism isn't actually seen as a "religion", it is a non-theistic philosophy & a system of psychology. According to Buddhist belief, the current Dalai Lama is a reincarnation of a past lama who decided to be reborn to continue his important work.

Buddhism is quite a laissez faire concept, and apparently you can choose to be a monk for any length of time during your life. From devoting your entire life to being a monk for just one day...

Yes. I know. Monk with a mobile phone! :)

O mnichoch.

Thajsko je jedna z krajin s najvacsim poctom mnichov, ku ktorym sa vzdy treba spravat specialne.

Ako zena, nikdy sa ich nesmiete dotknut. Ani omylom.

Thajski mnisi nemaju povolene dotknut sa zeny, dokonca ani vlastnej matky. Ak im chcete nieco podarovat,bud to podajte nejakemu muzovi, alebo po polozte niekam kde si to mozu zdvyhnut.

Vela ludi si prinesie z dovolenky na pamiatku sosku buddhu, ktora doda do kazdeho interieru trocha exotiky a spirituality. Na druhej strane nie je mnoho tych, ktory si daju tu namahu objavit, ze za touto “dekoraciou” je aj nieco viac.

Buddhizmus vlastne nie je nabozenstvo. Je to zivotna filozofia, ktora neuznava jedneho boha ale skor veri v urcite hodnoty. Buddhizmus je dost laissez faire koncept, pocas vasho zivota sa mozete rozhodnut stat sa mnichom na presne taku dobu aku chcete. Moze to bytjeden den alebo aj cely zivot.

To Bargain or Not To Bargain ?

2011-04-17T18:36:00.005+01:00

Everything is open to discussion and you will never find a price tag on something.

When to Bargain?

1) Always bargain for a cab.

Basically you have two choices before you hop in:

Either agree to put it on the meter ーThere is no way you will know how to get somewhere in city like Bangkok, so just forget about it, as I have to inform you they will drive you all around just to make the number higher.
Agree on the price before you sit in the cab ー just try to guess how far it is, and how much you should pay, agree on expected price and he will take you straight to where you want to go.

2) On the market. It is meant to be fun, so just don’t get angry with the sellers(remember it’s rude). Most probably they will show you a calculator with a figure and they will want you to see the same. The best way to start is to go 50ー60 % down, they will laugh at you, you will laugh too, and in the end you will settle down on 20ー30% discount.

When not to bargain?

Don’t bargain for 10 Baht. This is just pure ridiculousness and that 5p does not mean anything for you so just smile and enjoy giving a bit and supporting these poor happy people.
Don’t bargain if you know you are not going to buy something. This is so rude, and poor guy will loose customer cuz of wasting time with you.

Prices of everything are so cheap, and you will be having a great time, so don’t worry too much about getting ripped off. Whatever you do, you will be ripped of at some point. This is not that they are bad people, it is just the way economy is. Rather enjoy supporting local producers and enjoying the feeling that they will be a bit better of because of you.

Vyjednavat, ci nevyjednavat ?To je otazka
Ceny nie su nikdy presne stanovene a vsetci obchodnici su vacsinou otvoreni diskusii.Kedy vyjednavat?1) pred jazdou v taxiku. Tu je dolezite podciarknut Pred jazdou v taxiku. Ak naskocite bez dohodnutia, uz je proste neskoro , prehrali ste a ohdalili ste ze ste proste turista, ktory, zaplati sumu, ktoru sofer nadiktuje:)
Takze pred tym ako nasokcite mate 2 moznosti:
• Bud sa dohodnite nech si to pekne odmeria. Moznoze,tymto stylom usetrite peniaze, ale urcite nie cas, pretoze na stopro nepojdete tou najkratsou a najefektivnejsou cestou akou sa dostat k vytuzenemu cielu.
• Dohodnite sa na cene. Ak si myslite, ze sa to da zjendat aj nizsie, kludne povedzte nie, v priebehu dalsich piatich sekund vam zastavi dalsi.
2) Na trhu
Hlavne sa nezacnite rozculovat. Pamatate si prvu radu, je to neslusne!  Hociaku cenu Vam povedia, povedzte nieco co bude o 50 alebo 60 percent nizsie, oni san a va zasmeju, vy sa tiez zasmejete a stretnete sa niekde pri zlave 20, 30 ak sa podari 40 percent. Moja najoblubenejsia taktika je odist ked mi predavac povie, ze nie uz nizsie sa to neda, ja sa otocim, zacnem kracat prec, v duchu napocitam do 4, a zrazu pocujem, ze predavac krici, ze ok on mi to da za moju cenu.
Kedy nevyjednavat?
Nevyjednavajte za 10 bathov.Tych 10 korun za to nestoji. Je to proste strata casu a energie.
Nevyjednavajte ak si dany product nechcete kupit a robite to iba pre srandu kralikov. Chudak predavac, sa musi sa vami natahovat a v priebeju vasho rozhovoru pravdepodobne strati zakaznika. Tentokrat skutocneho.
Netrapte sa prilis tym, ze Vas niekto oklame pri cenach, lebo skor ci neskor sa to urcite stane. Skor sa teste z toho, ze cenova hladina je vo vseobecnosti velmi pozitivne nizka.

Bangkok. Gate to South East Asia.

2011-04-17T18:21:00.002+01:00

As sweet as Thai people are, from time to time they can be quite unhelpful or in better words completely useless.

During my first days in Bangkok I was just wandering around, trying to find my way, and couple of beautiful spots that I’ve seen on the map. Great achievement: I had a map. However if you ever seen Thai Sanskrit, you will see that is it quite a challenge to actually define: "Where on the map am I, exactly?"

I have the suspicion that Thai people maybe don’t use maps. It happened to me so many times, that I showed the map to tuk tuk or cab driver, he looked at it with this very curious grin (like when I see new issue of fashion magazine) looked in very different place then were we should be and then just gave it back. Great.

It was around 6pm, I knew it is going to be dark quite soon and my tuk tuk driver just left me on a random spot where I was supposed to have a quick look at some Buddha temple and then come back and go to my hostel. That would be fine, if he didn’t left me in a place that I really could not indentify with not too many Baths, as I was bargaining for the whole day and went slightly over the budget. Brilliant.

I asked around 6 people how to get to train station called Nana, and all of them pointed in the same direction and said yeah just go straight and then to the right. Then I asked the 7^th.

He made it more than clear to me that I am approximately 20 km from the station and the previous guys did not speak English very well most probably.

That is the tricky thing, that Thai people really don’t want to upset you, and tell you that they actually don't really know, they will always tell you something. Although we both speak English (com si, com sa), we just have very different understanding of meaning of the words. Perfect example:

ー “ Is this food spicy ?”

ー “Noooo, just a little bit :)”

In this case, you can be soooo sure it is the most hottest chilli spicy little piece of hell you’ve ever put in your mouth. It will be so hot that you won’t be able to recognize if it is actually spicy or its just the food that has 100 degrees.

2 weeks after I came back from my holiday I went for a dinner with my good friend Mark, I was telling him the same story and what he said just struck me so much.

ー “Don’t you see that there is a parallel between your life and getting lost in Bangkok? “

In our lives we have a map that is showing us where we should go on our journey called ー life. Now the fact that you have a map, does not mean anything if you cannot read it. There will be a lot of people who you will meet on the way telling you to go straight and to the right, without having any clue where you should actually go. These are our teachers, managers, parents(sorry mum!:) friends, celebrities and whoever else is influencing you. They are also completely clueless.

Great story, but what is the conclusion? Next time, if I go to travel, I’ll buy a compass. What can be your compass in real life though? For me, I think every single day about the place where I want to get. If you know what is it exactly that you want to do in your life, if you know what is the direction that you want to take, it will not matter that people might set you on a wrong track.

In the end of the day, life is not about reaching the goal. It is about enjoying the journey.

Swimming with the sharks without being eaten alive.

2011-04-17T18:07:00.003+01:00

Koh Phi Phi.

No words can describe the beauty of Koh Phi Phi. You can only see it:

One of the first views that you see once you landed in the main Pier.

Maya bay. This is the beach from the Movie that changed the whole country. The Beach. However is it not exactly the same, as Tsunami and loads of tourists really changed the way it looked 11 years ago.

Luckily, some places are still very difficult to access and you can get there only with your private long boat or your canoe.

View from the top of the Island.

Dangerously Beautiful and Beautifully Dangerous

2011-04-17T17:50:00.002+01:00

Koh Phan Gan.

Oh yes, "Some" people on this Island die. You can hire a scooter for 3 pounds, without having neither helmet nor driving license. It has never been easier and cheaper to buy some serious drugs or plenty of alcohol, and the Haad Rin beach is really dangerous for swimming even during the day. (Actually, Interesting thing, I've never seen any "salvatagio's" in Thailand.)

Full moon party is one in a lifetime experience. Just don't loose all your money, mobile phones, cameras and common sense.

I really loved Phan Gan, please don't take me wrong, I had the time of my life and parties are just awesome. Looking at it now, Koh Phan Gan is simply: Dangerously Beautiful and Beautifully Dangerous, at the same time.

Full Moon Party. Morning After. Hundreds of people still enjoying as I call it "Full Sun Party":)

Personally, this was mu favorite place ー Chill house. Calm and relaxed place with beautiful view on crazy Haad Rin beach.

Yes I survived. Everybody else survived. However I met couple of Canadian guys, who were driving their scooters quite drunk and for the last party they had to wear very trendy outfits ーloads of bandages.

Zhora dole. Od Akko az po En Gedi.

2011-04-17T01:26:00.001+01:00

Izrael je velmi rozmanita krajina, s dobrou infrastrukturou a relativne malymi vzdialenostami medzi jednotlivymi mestami. Ja som okrem Tel Avivu a Jeruzalemu stihla vidiet aj nasledujuce:

Akko. Hranica s Lebanonom.

Jazero Galilei.

Haifa. Bahaisky chram a Bahaiske zahrady.

Jaffo.

Macada.

Engedy a Mrtve more.

Moments...

2011-04-17T00:41:00.002+01:00

Enjoy London through my eyes. These are my favourite moments from 2011 so far.

Very inspirational street in the City...

Pillow Fight on Trafalgar Square.

Tube.

St Pauls

British Museum.

London Eye overlooking Westminster.

The animal instinct.

2011-01-24T12:53:00.001Z

Friend of mine once said (and by ‘said’, obviously, I mean his facebook status said): “Fighting for peace is like having sex to reach virginity. “

I would disagree with that. At least, with the first part:)

Last week I had a chance to understand better the addiction of Barney Stinson for laser tag.

You have it all: Adrenalin. Excitement. Fear. Exhausting physical activity (I couldn’t walk down the stairs for 5 days!). Your brain is 100% busy, aiming to the right spot and at the same time thinking about the next best strategy. Surprise when somebody just shot you from the back. Sweet pleasure when you see somebody being shot thanks to you.

I couldn’t help it but wonder about all the previous generations and people who are still today, struggling through so many wars. Isn’t it a bit absurd, that now that we live in peace, we create fake battle fields? Should I feel guilty?

I was thinking a bit more and I realized how peaceful I was the following days. According to our genetics, we all are made to be angry, furious and aggressive. We all have it inside. The animal instinct.

Whether you are a kindergarten teacher, priest, investment banker or cleaning lady.

You can’t hide it. You can't push it away.
Most of all, you can’t Ignore it.

Because one day all this energy will accumulate and hit you back into your face. Most probably, somebody else’s face.

We are aloud to make a scene and to be angry and I think it is great that we have all the computer games, martial arts classes and boxing rings, where you can do whatever you need to do. After that you will come back to REALITY and you can be calm like Budha and without feeling like running around and shooting your classmates and teachers.

Peace, love and ice-cream everybody!

PS: “What Happened after” or “How much would You pay for London Bridge?”

2011-01-24T12:35:00.006Z

In the last post I was talking about London Bridge and the truth is, I did not tell you the whole story. This is for people who are asking ‘what happened after?’

By 1763 all the houses were removed, and in 1831 new bridge was build once again. By 1960, it was not able to cope with modern traffic and all those red double deckers and that is why Government decided to put it up on SALE.

One charming American decided to bid $ 2,460,000 (this always keeps me wondering; why not 2,5 mil?). Apparently, he thought that he is buying the more elegant Tower Bridge(yes that’s the one, you know with towers, opening in the middle…). You might be laughing, but this is very common mistake, even I and Google do this. I was under the wrong impression for first 12 months of my stay here, Google always shows the wrong pictures if you type “London Bridge”. Back to the story, he took it anyway, and today you can find this milestone of London on Colorado river in Arizona.

The current London Bridge as we know it today was built in 1973, it is the only hollow bridge on the river Thames, and in the winter they turn on the floor heating so your little feet are not too cold. (or maybe to prevent icing? Now, I don’t remember which one…)

If you are in the area today, you might see a giant slowly, but surely standing up and changing the whole landscape of the City. We are supposed to enjoy the tallest building by Olympics 2012. The Eiffel Tower of London. The Shard.

Talk to the left cuz you aint right.

2010-12-31T20:25:00.002Z

I am crossing London Bridge every day. If I get lucky sometimes even twice.

London bridge is where it all began. It was built for the first time around AD 52, by emperor Claudius who managed to come all the way up to Thames with his Roman army. After that couple of other, less famous versions existed, even a ferry-ride-system for a while.

Up to a very important year 1209. The new fancy, super wide, stone version of the London Bridge was build. It took 33 years, but it was worth it. It became one of the wonders of the world, and it lasted for 600 years. King John decided that they should build couple of houses and shops on the bridge, so they can use the rent for maintenance of the bridge. Hey, such a brilliant idea, why are we not doing this more often?

Water in the Thames was flowing, time was passing and houses on London Bridge were growing more and more. Buildings lined the whole bridge and some of them were 7 or 8 floors high. They created a little tunnel on the top of the bridge and because London was always as busy as now, heavy traffic problems started.

This is the important moment. Britain needed a solution.
And in 1722 Lord Mayor came up with one. He officially ruled that in traffic you always need to keep LEFT.

Why Left?

Because, back in times, when you were on a busy and dangerous street, you had to keep you sword-hand free. And surprise surprise, majority of people were always right handed. Try to imagine it, it doesn't seem like the most clever idea to walk on the right side and hit or cut every single person in the opposite direction with your beautiful long sword.

Why Right?

Our Continental habit of keeping on the right was introduced by Napoleon. As he was pretty much all over the Europe and left handed!, he was the one to introduce on continent the official traffic system that tells us till today to keep on the right.

I can’t help it but wonder about importance of keeping traditions and obeying authorities. Just because one short guy with big ego was left handed and obviously selfish, till the end of the world we are going to drive on the wrong side of the street? And on top of that, we keep thinking that those crazy English people are Left and Wrong.

Well the truth is, we are Right and Wrong!

This is reminding my one fascinating story about habits.

Once upon a time, there was a freshly married couple, the wife was a brilliant cook. With one very strange habit. Every time she was making steak, she always always always cut off one third and fry it separately. Husband was getting more and more curious by this strange habit every time they had a steak, so he asked his lovely wife:

- My dear, why do you always cut off one third?

- Because my mother used to do it like this.

Later on, they went to visit dear mother in law for Sunday lunch and the husband asked impatiently again:

- Your daughter always does this strange thing. She cuts off one third of the steak before frying, and says she is doing so because she learned that from you. I’ve never seen this anywhere, why do you do it like this?

- Because my mother used to do it like this.

Couple of days after that, they went see the grandma. Again the same questions from the husband:

- You know grandma, your daughter and grand daughter have very strange habit. They always cut off one third of the steak before frying, and say they do it, because they learned so from you. What is the special reason for this, grandma?

- Because in my times, we didn't have a bigger pan.

I can feel that most probably you are smiling now. There are so many things that we do, just out of the habit, without thinking and questioning the reasons behind. Status quo changes, however we don't. Our education systems, rules in the offices or factories, eating habits or love idols are the same as our parents and grandparents had. And there is a slight chance that our children will follow.

For the New Years Eve resolutions I wish you to question everybody and everything telling you what to do.

Cuz you might wake up in 2012 and realize that for the whole year you were driving on the wrong side of the road, but never realized it as everybody else was wrong, too.

Happy New Year !

Sky is your playground...

2010-12-05T22:02:00.005Z

7.15 pm. Wednesday night is starting. Awfully long queue full of students and young professionals in their fancy outfits. Doors are finally opened. Security check. Introductory glass of wine.

Sounds familiar?

The circumstances feel like “well, I've done this before”, however the location is quite unique. This is the scene from South Kensington’s Science Museum on every last Wednesday in a month.

The museum is kept open till 10 pm, I personally saw 3 different DJs placed all around (btw their play-lists were much better than in any night club in West End), you can get a drink on every floor, if you feel like dancing there is a special part dedicated to silent disco... But personally, I believe that the best thing is: However stressful your life is, whatever serious businessman you need to be in your office, for these 5 hours you can become a child again.

You can play with water energy, light and rainbows, get electric shock (over and over again, right Helen?) and finally be yourself. You have the special opportunity to learn something in interactive way (finally!) or make new friends… To be very honest isn’t this that kind of story you would want to tell your grandkids? That you met their grandfather over sophisticated conversation on science and everything?

I feel very positive that museums are going to become the “new nightclubs” of 10's. There are literally hundreds of people coming every month to science museum, and if for example, you go to TATE Modern on Friday or Saturday night (opened till 10 pm every week!) guess what? You won’t find it empty either. First of all because they have my favourite caffe/bar place on the top with the most amazing view and second of all because of their “controversial” exhibitions.

The thought-provoking sculpture that everybody in London is currently talking about is, I have to say, impressive and scary.

Have you ever seen 10 million sunflower seeds? Maybe.

Have you ever seen 10 million fake sunflower seeds? I did!

… “Sunflower Seeds” is made up of millions of small works, each apparently identical, but actually unique. However realistic they may seem, these life-sized sunflower seed husks are in fact intricately hand-crafted in porcelain. “

What was the author trying to say? What’s the point? Why did he do it? These are the questions that I bet, you will ask once you see it.

From my point of view, well, maybe he is not trying to give us any answers, maybe the whole piece is just a question to be answered…

I am one of them...

2010-11-07T17:59:00.065Z

Working women in "The City" have a very specific feature in common. Except of being absolutely fabulous, they share one more thing: comfortable footwear! Imagine perfect make-up, hair, smart suit, shirt, skirt ...you look down and find pair of big white socks and "not that casual" running trainers.

After living in London for 16 months, I found myself walking on the street, coming home from my office (where I sometimes feel like in "the office") wearing super smart clothes and some happy shoes, that don't make me feel like I want to die half way home.

On top of everything, I found what is behind the big mystery of two bags! It used to keep my mind busy all the time; why do these women always carry two bags? Answer is very simple: you carry your fancy shoes in one of them:)

Once you get your shoes and you are ready to walk, I invite you for a journey. I want to show you something and share my discoveries from last 16 months. Here are my favorite places in London:

Neil's Yard

Surprisingly enough, I discovered this place thanks to my good friend "magician". To be very honest, I don't think I would be able to find this place without his shamanistic skills. Even though every time I visit this place and I always always always follow the map, somehow I manage to miss it. Every single time.

To get to Neil's yard is like going through a little maze, but you can be sure that the treasure inside is worth it. Neil's yard is exotic square, size of a bigger living room, that will make you smile and bring a bit of positivity and warmth to your heart on a rainy Tuesday morning.

Neasden temple

2,828 tonnes of Bulgarian limestone, 2,000 tonnes of Italian marble, 1526 sculptors and only 3 years of construction works. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir also known as Neasden temple, is cited in Guinness World Records for being the biggest Hindi temple outside of India.

Thank you Tal, for showing me this place. It is so hard to believe this is in London (Zone 3 just 10 minutes from IKEA) even though I visited it several times. It is such a surprising and breathtaking experience. I wouldn't be surprised if this place becomes the "new big ben" in next couple of years.

Last time I visited this place, I wanted to look very "integrated". So, I decided to wear my punjabi suit, originally brought by my dear natas from her trip to India. And I have to tell you, I definitely confused everybody working in the temple and I strongly believe that this security guy who asked me where I am from, is still searching on google till today where this great country Slovakia is:)

Postman's Park

This place is only 10 min walking distance from my office. But I have to admit, I've found it just by accident. Accident being: no free pianos at Barbican or St Pauls, during the great summer campaign -Street pianos - Play me, I'm yours. Postman's park is place exactly between St Pauls cathedral and London Wall and that time it was the only place that musical businessman did not occupy during lunch break.

Street pianos are over for this year, but my enjoyment of this inspiring place is not. Postman's park is best known as the location of the Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice.

In 1900, the park became a memorial to ordinary people who died saving the lives of others and might otherwise have been forgotten. On the long wall you will find 54 memorial tablets describing these stories.

I have to say, I was well surprised, when I watched movie Closer couple of weeks ago and I realized that one of the key scenes is happening in my very favorite park.

Isn't it amazing when you watch a movie and it is reminding you a memory of your own life, not the other way?

Randy Glasbergen

2010-09-04T16:28:00.000+01:00

I love Randy Glasbergen , because he can describe so well how I feel:)

Never give in ...

2010-08-30T00:04:00.005+01:00

Footage in this video is from London full of art, Barcelona full of snow and Israel full of sunshine. I decided to create this piece as an entry for video competition by World Nomads. First prize - 1 week of documentary making in Amazon. I thought: Well, the competition is high, but! if you never try you never know.

The competition was high and I can tell you I am not sitting in the middle of Amazon right now. However, I feel very happy I took the time and energy to create something and to re-discover one of my big passions.

As you most probably know, in last couple of years I've been traveling a bit around. To be more specific: 24 abroad visits in 4 years. And, prior to most of them, I had to go through some sort of application process or competition. Interesting thing is, approximately 50% of my tries were "unsuccessful".

Despite of this fact, I traveled more than majority of people in my age.

You're asking : So what? What is the conclusion?

The message for tonight is:
Don't give up.
I am more than sure that at some point you will be rejected.
So prepare for it, don't act so surprised, count with all the possibilities, stand up, shake it off, and let's do it again!

“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

Winston Churchill

My favourite talks and speakers.

2010-06-20T14:36:00.004+01:00

Long time no speak:) We are back and in english(as google analytics shows that 50 percent of readers are not slovak speakers and google translator does not have this option for my special nitra's slang:)

Anyway. This is the list of my favourite talks, these guys are not only clever and inspirational, they are absolutely hilarious, funny, witty and most of all they have something important to say:)

Gary, the arrogant wine guy; Look into the mirror and ask yourself: 'What is it that I want to do everyday till the end of my life?' And do it!

JK Rowling, simply the best woman speaker I ever saw.

Simon Sinek starts with why.

David Blaine: How I held my breath for 17 min.

Derek Sivers about leadership and how first followers are underestimated form of leadership. Because the first follower is what transforms alone nutter into a leader.

Jazero Galilei. Kibuc.

2010-03-01T10:21:00.004Z

Stary rodicia terajsich mladych izraelcanov, vymysleli jediny fungujuci koncept komunizmu - Kibuc. Hlavne motto toho ako to tu funguje je: Daj vsetko co mas, a dostan tolko kolko potrebujes.

Ako to bolo az donedavna?

Na zaciatku, sa mesacna vyplata odovzdavala kibucu (komunita/mala dedinka, ktore je samostatna a vacsinu veci si sama vyraba a dopestuje) Za to obyvatelia kibucu, dostali pekny maly domcek, miesto kde mozete byvat. Mali spolocnu jedalen a presne tolko potravin kolko potrebujete. Ak ste potrebovali auto, mohli ste si vziat to spolocne. Ako som sa dozvedela, zo skusenosti mojich rovesnikov, ktory tu vyrastli, je to uzasne detstvo. Ked zacnete chodit do skoly, po case sa odstahujete do boarding school, kde byvate spolocne s vasimi rovesnikmi, ktory sa neskor stanu vasimi skvelymi kamaratmi, jednou velkou rodinou. A nie, nemusite sa bat ze stratite rodicov. Rodicia byvaju len o jednu ulicu dalej a aj tak k nim chodite kazdy den na veceru. Vacsinu casu travite vonku, nikdy nekonciacimi hrami s vasimi kamosmi, popripade sa starate o cokolvek co mate radi od malych zajacikov az po statne kone. Ked mate 16 dostanete vlastny byt spolu s dalsim vasim kamaratom. Ale nemusite sa bat, nezomriete od nedostatku jedla alebo prebytku spiny. Vasi rodicia stale byvaju len o dve ulice dalej a stale sa chodite casto navstevot. Ked mate 18 dostanete svoj vlastny byt. A ked mate 30 tak sa musite rozhodnut ci sa chcete stat clenom kibucu alebo ci chcete ist dalej.

Tento system znie ako rozpravka, a par desiatok rokov aj fungoval. Pretoze ti stari rodicia, tomuto systemu verili, postavili kibuc svojimi vlastnymi rukami a sami sa rozhodli ze chcu zit tymto zivotnym stylom.

Avsak niektory dnesny obyvatelia kibucu, sa do tohto systemu narodili, nevybrali si ho sami a preto ho aj po case zacali zneuzivat, bud tym ze prestali pracovat(ci nemuseli nikomu davat vyplatu ale dostavali vsetko co bolo treba) alebo tym si svoju vyplatu proste nechali.

Z tohto dovodu je uz dnes len velmi zriedkave vidiet tento povodny system rozpravkoveho zivota v kibuci.

Ja som navstivila kibuc pri jazere Galilei, otazka pre vas, cim je toto jazero zname?

Sabat v Jeruzaleme.

2010-02-08T23:38:00.012Z

Do Jeruzalema sme dorazili piatok vecer. Sabat sa zacina kazdy piatok, ked sa objavia prve tri hviezdy na oblohe. Trva dalsich 24 hodin do soboty vecera.

Bol to velmi zvlastny pocit. Nachadzat sa v hlavnom meste, ktore bolo ludoprazdne. Vsade okolo vidiet siroke ullice bez jedineho auta, vsetky obchody pozatvarane. A iba raz za cas vidiet par pesiakov na ceste zo synagogy v typickom ortodoxnom obleceni.

Sobotnajsie rano vyzeralo podobne. Vsade okolo mna velkomesto, len ja sa citim ako by mi zabudli povedat, ze kde je ta party. Avsak, vsetko sa zmenilo ked sme prisli do rusneho stareho mesta. Toto je presne ta cast Jeruzalema, kde sa to vsetko "zevraj" udialo, a kazdy kamen ma par tisic rokov a niekto velmi vyznamny nanho raz stupil, pri este vyznamnejsej udalosti.

Zaujimave je, ze na tomto malom kusku spolu dokazu uplne vsetci v pohodicke nazivat, krestania s vianocnou vyzdobou, maju svoje obchodiky vedla tych moslimskych(tiez s vianocnou vyzdobout) len na kusok od muru narekov.

Dostat sa k Muru Narekov je ciel kazdeho navstevnika Jeruzalema, a preto je aj vseobecna bezpecnost zvysena. Avsak, tu sa nam vyskytuje tazka polemicka otazka, ci je to uplne koser pouzivat detektor na sabat? Ked hlavne mitzvah(dobre skutky) na sabat hovoria ze nemate vytvarat elektrinu(pracu pre niekoho ineho) pouzivat peniaze, cestovat v automobiloch, alebo vykonavat hocijaku narocnejsiu pracovnu cinnost... Nebojte sa maju to premyslene...

Anyway, Mur Narekov je znamy tym, ze ludia sa sem chodia modlit a zastrcit do znamej steny svoj maly papierik, zelanie, ktore velmi chcu aby sa splnilo. Samozrejme, aj tu je par dolezitych pravidiel, ktore treba dodrziavat aby sa zelania splnili:

1) Oddelit muzsku a zensku cast, aby sa navzajom nevyrusovali

2) Samozrejme nepouzivat fotoaparaty a podobne zariadenia (ak ale vidite niekoho pouzivat fotoaparat je dovolene byt nanho velmi agresivny, vysvetlit ako to tu funguje, v pripade potreby hadzat kamene)

3) Nikdy sa neobraciat stene chrbtom. Cize, ak chcete odist musite chodit pospiatky. Jediny, ktori toto pravidlo dodrziavaju su iba turisti. Hm. Niektory ludia su proste "More religious than pope."

A ano aj ja som si napisala zelanie. Co tam bolo, to vam nepoviem. Len neviem, ci sa mi splni, lebo pri porusovani vsetkych tych pravidiel som ho tam zabudla zastrcit.

V podvecer, ked zapadlo slnko sa len tak zrazu sabat skoncil, obrovske masy ludi sa vratili naspat do ulic a zaplnili konecne otvorene restauracie a obchody(otvarat obchod na sabat je zakazana zo strany statu a ak ho aj chcete otvorit mozte, len si najprv musite dobre vyratat ci budete ziskovy, pretoze za otvorenie pocas sabatu dostanete pokutu.)

Jeruzalem je uzasne miesto, kde z po za kazdeho jedneho rohu ciha neuveritelny pohlad na historicke ulicky a budovy, ktore vyzeraju presne tak ako keby sa za poslednych par tisic rokov nic nezmenilo.

Tel Aviv.

2010-02-01T19:01:00.013Z

Pred tym ako som priletela do Tel Avivu mi niekto povedal: "Tel Aviv je uplne ako New York". Ten niekto asi tiez zazil tento vyhlad z Davidovho bytu...no co vam budem o tom pisat, je to proste neskutocne:) Aj ked ja by som povedala, ze asi skor take stredozemne Miami:)

Tel Aviv ma iba 100 rokov. Povodne ho zalozili ako okrajovu cast starodavneho Yafo (okolo 4000 rokov). Tel Aviv sa ale nedal a velmi rychlo prerastol do druheho najvacsieho mesta(400 tis obyv) v celom Izraeli(cca 6 mil obyv). Tel Aviv je presne to miesto, kde sa vyvijaju vsetky super technologie. Od googlu po apple, vsetky velke dolezite firmy tu maju svoje vyvojove strediska. Napriklad aj iphone sa developoval prave tu(zaujimave je ze, na trh v izraeli bol uvedeny medzi poslednymi az v Januari 2010)

Rozvinuty, funky Tel Aviv je uplny opozit tradicneho a ortodoxneho Jeruzalemu. Prave tu sa koncentruju tie najlepsie parties, tel avivcania sa prevazaju vsade v super autach (dalsia zaujimava informacia, v Izraeli chcu coskoro zaviest povinnost prevazania sa iba v elektronickych autach! no uvidime ako to dopadne:) hocikde v meste to mate len na skok na plaz ( a nic nie je lepsie ako dat si pravy stredozemny obed/ranajky na plazi:) proste "troma slovami" Tel Aviv je uzasne miesto kde mozete objavovat zaujimave ulicky a super male restiky, alebo najnovsie modernosti: jogurtove bary (nieco ako zmrzlinaren len s yogurtom, tak si normalne zajdete do baru na jeden...jogurt:) Pri vsetkych tychto stravovacich zariadeniach sa normalne aj pomaly ucim citat hebrejcinu...

Mala som moznost navstivit aj Univerzitu v Tel Avive, velmi priatelsky campus, super high tech vybavenie vo vsetkych ucebniach, studenti cez obed pekne vyvaleny na travicke pod palmami, no proste super atmoska na ucenie. A toto je len velmi mala cast univerzitneho parkoviska:)

A je to tam bezpecne?

2010-02-01T16:24:00.003Z

A je to tam bezpecne?

To je otazka, ktoru si ako prvu asi kladu vsetci, po tom ako im oznamim ze idem/som bola v Izraeli. Pravda je taka, ze v kazdodennej realite je domaca kriminalita velmi, velmi nizka.

Napriklad ja som navstivila kamosa, ktory byva v byte, ktory sa nachadza v budove s dalsimi 6timi bytmi. Na dverach ktorymi vchadzate do tohto bytu, maju ZVONKA nie gulu, ale klucku, tieto dvere nezamykaju, takze kazdy moze vojst a niekedy ich nezamykaju dokonca ani ked opustaju byt. Zaujimave je to, ze presne to iste sa mi stalo, ked som bolo v Belehrade. Presne ten isty pribeh. Vsetci boli uplne vystresovany, ze sak ale sa ti tam volaco stane a pritom tiez na byte kamosky, u ktorej som byvala mali zvonka klucku.

Na druhej strane, zase mate vsade pritomnych vojakov. V Izraeli je armada povinna pre vsetkych. Aj pre zeny. A preto vojakov vsetci beru velmi priatelsky. Lebo kazdy ma kamosa, suseda alebo sam bol v armade. Armada nie je policia, oni su tam neni na to, aby kontrolovali ci sa dodrziavaju zakony. Armada je tu na to aby Vas ochranovala. V realite to bol pre mna dost velky sok ked si k Vam oproti v autobuse sadne vojak(ci uz v uniforme alebo aj v civile) a cez plece ma len tak lazo plazo prehodene nieco taketo:

קרולינה - אף אחד לא בא לי

2010-02-01T16:13:00.004Z

Pokial citate, vypocujte si nieco pekne. Moja oblubena hudba z Izraelu.

יִשְׂרָאֵל‎

2010-02-01T15:08:00.008Z

Urcite ste uz milion krat poculi znamu mudrost, ze ak si nieco velmi, velmi prajete a dost casto si to niekam pisete a silno vizualizujete, tak sa vam to po istom case aj splni. (Ak nie tak si precitajte "Secret" )

A ja som si tiez pisala a vizualizovala, peknych par rokov a ono to normalne funguje. Splnil sa mi moj davny sen a prednedavnom som sa ocitla na 3 tyzdne v Izraeli.

Predtym ako napisem ako bolo? (supeer!) Napisem nieco o historii Izraelu, lebo su to neskutocne zaujimave veci.

14teho Maja 1948,konecne po par tisickach rokov putovania zidov sem a tam, konecne vznikol nezavisly stat Izrael. Velmi dolezita osoba v tomto procese je Theodor Herzl , ktory je zakladatelom Zionizmu - hnutie za vytvorenie krajiny pre zidovsky narod. Po dlhom dohadovani, kde tato krajina bude, Afrika, Australia, Amerika? sa nakoniec rozhodlo, ze to spravne uzemie je prave sucha neurodna poda a pust, ktoru dnes pozname ako Izrael. Takze aj ked Izrael je stat velmi novy v danom regione, ostatne susedne krajiny predbehol v raste niekolko krat a dnes patri medzi krajiny s najvyssim HDP per capita.

Susedne krajiny nikdy neboli tymto faktom nadseny, a pocas uplynulych 60 rokov napadli Izrael prilis mnoho krat. Na nestastie pre nich Izrael vzdy ziskal viac a viac uzemia. (Kliknite na mapku a uvidite ako)

Znama je napriklad vojna pocas Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur je jediny den v roku kedy sa zidia postia pocas 24 hodin, nie je dovolene vykonavat ziadne narocne aktivity, od zakazu zapalenia lampy(pretoze tak vyrabate elektrinu=pracu pre niekoho ineho) po zakaz pouzivania penazi alebo aut. A prave pocas tohto dna, v 1973, sa vsetkych susednych 6 krajin dohodlo ze napadnu Izrael. Naraz. Avsak im to nevyslo a Izrael ziskal opat viac a viac uzemia.

Ako vidite na mape, na isty cas sa Izraelu podarilo ziskat aj Sinai v Egypte, ktory nakoniec odovzdali spat v ramci mierovych dohod. Zaujimave je ze v ponuke bol Sinai aj s Gazou, ktoru ale Egypt odmietol. Hm.

Ako je to teraz s Palestinou?
Palestina ma dve casti West Bank a Gaza na Juhu.

West Bank je cast na zapade, ktora je ta rozvinutejsia, Izraelu sa dari komunikovat a kontrolovat tuto cast, dokonca aj mne sa podarilo prejst cez West Bank a vidiet stenu, ktoru okolo neho stavaju.

Na juhu na hranici s Egyptom je Gaza. Gaza je kontrolovana hnutim Hamas , ktore je zodpovedne ze teroristicke utoky na Izrael.
A tuto nastava konflikt, kde media prezentuju, ze Izrael je ten, ktory utoci. Pravda je taka, ze Izrael sa brani a je len velmi zly v PR a vacsinou skoci na vsetky nastrahy, ktore Hamas pripravi. Je znamych vela udalosti, ked Izrael zautocil na Palestinu, ale co noviny nehovoria, je ze vzdy utoci iba na military basis,kde su skryvane zbrane(no trikrat hadajte na co?) a vzdy da dopredu vediet obyvatelom tohto uzemia, ze toto miesto bude bombardovane. Hamas vsak ide o krok dalej a ich tajne military basis umiestnuje do skol a nemocnic, kazde rano dava obyvatelom zijucim v tejto chudobnej oblasti jedlo a peniaze, aby len ostali a boli obetami utokov Izraelu.

Co bude dalej?
Konflikt je to komplikovany, pretoze na obidvoch stranach su male skupiny extremne nabozenskych hnutich, ktore su neoblomne. A v strede je velka vacsina, ktoru nabozenstva a to kam patrite, az tak nezaujima a jedine co chcu je zit pokojny kazdodenny zivot...

Welcome to Lithuania

2010-01-27T16:04:00.006Z

V novembri ma pozvali ako trenera na konferenciu do Litvy. Skusenost to bola super, opat som sa vela naucila, hlavne to, ze je lahke radit ostatnym (moje nove hobby btw) ale je druha vec radit sam sebe(to uz je volaco vaznejsie, lebo sa to tyka mna a faktu ze to by som asi mala nieco robit/zmenit:)

Aka je litva?

Mne osobne, vonia ako Slovensko, aj sa velmi podoba, len tam rozpravaju takym cudnym jazykom co sa nepodoba vobec nicomu. Jedna z veci, ktora ma ocarila najviac je, ze nejakou zahadou tam proste vsetko funguje. Ci uz je to doprava(normalne mi sofer vratil peniaze za listok lebo som nasadla na zly autobus a odviezla sa uplne zlym smerom:) alebo su to studenti, ktory sa proste uplne vazne chcu ucit a zdokonalovat cez vikend. Dost vela casu som stravila na ich Univerzite a kazda trieda, proste mala pocitac a projektor a repraky proste vsetko ako ma byt. (a to vam poviem, je to uplne iny pohlad ked na konferencii o prezentacnych a trenerskych zrucnostiach, sa vidite na velkom platne 2x2m:)

Takze ano, vsetko funguje ako ma, ale kedze sa pomaly dostavame do severnejsich krajin, malo by to znamenat to ze aj ludia su chladnejsi... ale nie zas tak uplne. Nie nadarmo volaju litovcanov "balticky latinos":) Litovcania zase maju o estonskej odmeranosti super ftip: Ako pri rozhovore rozoznate ci je estonec introvert alebo extrovert? Introvert sa pri rozhovore pozera na svoje topanky, extrovert na tie vase!

A konecne zacinam mat anglicky prizvuk! Anglicania sice o tom este asi nevedia, ale v litve to pocuju vsetci:) Ale je to na dobrej caste. Posledny vecer, ked sme objavovali "nocny zivot v litve" (wuhuu casnici na kolieskovych korculiach a modern talking, co som bez nich robila cely ten cas!!:) som stretla suseda od londyna, a proste chalan bol uplne stastny, lebo som bola prvy clovek, ktory rozumel co hovori a ani nemusel spomalit:)

A na zaver, moja najoblubenejsia pesnicka o Litve:

Perfect Plaice

2009-10-28T14:27:00.007Z

Nieco nove a zaujimave. Prestahovali sme sa! Takze nova adresa Hampstead!:) Clovek by ani neveril ako neskutocne chodza do prace dokaze zvysit kvalitu zivotu(dost bolo hodin stravenych v metre) Napriklad prvy den sme sa vydali na obhliadku okolia (ze kde to vlastne byvame) a po 10 - 15 minutach kam dorazime? ze sak my sme v strede camdenu!:) A z druhej strany 7 minut od Heath - mrte velky park, kam urcite budem rano chodievat behavat:)

Ano, ano. Behavat. BEHAVAT. Uz som aj zacala a som rada ze som tak spravila lebo mam aj jednu ftipnu prihodu navyse. Momentalne sa nachadzam v obdobi, ked mi strasne chyba energia (ano mne:) a vela odbornikov mi poradilo ze sport je odpoved. Tak som si povedala idem do toho. Takze prve rano uplne natesena vstanem, pekne teplacky, tenisky a ideme. Mala som uplne super napad, ze preco ist dverami ked mozem ist oknom. A ako tak skacem z nasho okna(na prvom poschodi) uz som cela vyskocena vonku ale pozeram ze nejako to nejde?! Pozriem na spat a vidim ze ved ja som zavesena na klinci! takze hned dierka sup do teplackov a do konca aj do spodneho pradla! Ale ani to ma neodradilo a ano zabehla som. Potom ma neskutocne boleli nohy asi tyzden tak som si pozrela par videi na youtube ze ako sa ma spravne behat.

Takze mam vsetko co potrebujem(park, cas, nohy, tenisky, teplacky a hlavne motivaciu) a hor sa do behania!

... byt je super, jednoizbovy, trojposchodovy a dokonca sa nachadza priamo nad trubkami s kurenim, co znamena ze mame staaale neskutocne teplucko zadarmo. Ale hlavne sa citim ako doma.

PS Ano ta fotka je skutocne z londyna! kto mi neveri nech ide checknut do finsbury parku:)

Cim viacej ludi oslovis, tym viacej je prilezitosti ze ti povedia ano.

2009-10-28T14:00:00.004Z

Od mojho posledneho prispevku sa toho vela zmenilo:) Dnes som bola na interview v tejto firme a prave pred par minutami som dostala telefonat ze spomedzi vsetkych ucastnikov si vyberaju mna:)
Takze v pondelok zacinam opat nieco nove, zaujimave a s pracovnou dobou od 10 do 6:)

Ako to dopadlo s mojou karierou promotera? Pre tuto pracu je typicke ze ludia sa velmi rychlo menia. Vacsina mojich kolegov bud odisla do svojich domacich krajin, bola prepustena alebo ich jednoducho policia zrusila...a aj ja som sa rozhodla ze je na case ist dalej (dovodov je vela: turisti odisli domov aj s teplym pocasim, ale agresivna konkurencia ostala:) Ked sa tak pozeram na tie dva mesiace okrem zaujimavych kontaktov a financnej odmeny si beriem vela mudrosti:

KEEP SMILING - Nezalezi na tom ci mas dobry den, zly den alebo si unaveny/chory...pokym sa usmievas a "zabavas" vsetci su velmi spokojny zakaznici.

ASK ASK ASK Cim viacej ludi oslovis, tym viacej je prilezitosti ze ti povedia ano.

LISTEN Pocuvaj co ostatni ludia chcu a snaz sa odhalit co potrebuju(a niekedy ani sami o tom nevedia)

GET OVER IT Cim skor tym lepsie sa prenes cez odmietnutie, sklamanie alebo proste smolu, lebo aj take dni su.

Karierny postup, jamajsky festival a tak

2009-09-01T12:45:00.005+01:00

Dalsi tyzden ubehol. A strasne rychlo:) Promoterovanie ide velmi dobre, ale aj tak si nadalej hladam pracu aktivne hladam pracu, trosku sa nam ochladzuje takze to asi nebudem robit donekonecna :) Dostala som prilezitost vyskusat si to aj za barovym pultom. Mam za sebou prvych par dni a prvych par tipov a kazdy den v sebe objavujem skryty talent:) Dokonca som aj postupila z baru na prizemi do baru na poschodi, kde na moje velke potesenie maju umyvacku riadu, menej ludi a menej stresu a kolegynu Isabellu zo Spanielska, ktorej anglictina neni zrovna dokonala ale o to je to ftipnejsia osoba:) Aj ostatni kolegovia su podareni, taka mensia rodina, kopec mladych ludi, ktori maju velke sny a niekde sa ich snazia zacat. Pracovna doba je dost vycerpavajuca, ale to nam vobec nezabranilo aby sme ostali v bare sediet hodu po zaverecnej a dali si vinko na ucet podniku (nie to lacne hihi:)

Pondelok boli statny sviatok a este k tomu aj v notting hille bol jamajsky festival, uplne obrovsky a plny tancujucich, cudne oblecenych ludi pocas celych 48 hodin.

Dnes mam volno(konecne!:) takze sa idem opat pustit do hladania prace aj tej serioznej. Inak co je taky zaujimavy trend ze ako velmi je namahave najst si pracu tak o to lahsie je stretnut nejakych novych kamosov. Hocikde kam idem ludia sa strasne radi porozpravaju, a pri praci promotera sa najde baarsdo, od kuzelnika po ucitela baletu, vsetci su slusni, priatelski a tak neako sa tu proste zacinam citit ako doma:))

Money, money, money, must be funny...:)

2009-08-24T15:32:00.004+01:00

ano ano, MAM PRACU:)

Od stredy mam v zivotopise novu kolonku s nadpisom Promoter. Robota je super, ziadne umyvanie podlah, len sa clovek cely vecer umieva, rozprava s ludmi a snazi sa ich poslat tym spravnym smerom. Financne ohodnotenie je prijemne prekvapanie. Ked som isla prvy den len tak na skusku, za menej ako 3 hodky som dostala 48 pounds (prerataje si to na nase a uvidite ze to fakt neni zle:)
Za posledne 4 dni mam zarobenych 200 libier, tak som momentalne pozitivne naladena ze ano budem mat co jest aj nadalej:))

Tak si asi poviete ze a sak ta kriza neni taka zla, ked hned druhy tyzden si clovek najde v pohode roboticku. No ja neviem, osobne si nepamatam kedy napoledy som poslala 100 zivotopisov ( a vsetkcyh 100 krat to bolo bud bez odpovede alebo odmietnutie:)
Ale ako sa hovori, bez prace nie su kolace, alebo ked sa chce tak sa setko da:)

Neviem kedy ste naposledy poslali niekam 100 zivotopisov, ale co som proste chcela pre dnesok povedat je ze, vazte si ze na Slovensku to ide omnoho lahsie:)

FAQs - Zaciatky v Londyne

2009-08-18T16:25:00.005+01:00

A co to domca, ty si sa prestahovala do Londyna?

Ano prestahovala. Vo veku svojich krasnych 21 rokov som sa slobodne rozhodla ze najlepsie pre moj karierny rast bude ak ochutnam kusok tvrdej reality cudzieho sveta na vlastnej kozi a naucim sa nieco nove o zodpovednosti za seba sameho.

A skola co?

Do skoly som vzdycky chodila velmi rada a nehovorim ze sa tam uz nikdy v zivote nevratim. Skor prave preto ze sa necitim ze by som sa ucila dost a nieco uzitocne, som sa vydala tymto smerom.

Ty si sa vydala?

:) hehe
Nie nevydala som sa a najblizsich 5 rokov sa ani neplanujem.
Momentalne byvam zo svojim priatelom Noamom(povodom belgican, pracuje v londyne, pozname sa 2 a pol roka, momentalne je na rodinnej dovolenke po Azii, konkretne v Mongolsku a Vietname(ano ja viem haluz ze:) a pravdepodobne este tu o nom budete nieco citat)

A co tam chces teda robit?

Pracovat, ucit sa, zlepsit si anglictinu(ano aj po tolkych rokoch ma vedia tieto vselijake british akcentiky uplne vyhodit z konceptu:) proste jednym slovom ZIT.

Ale ved je kriza???

Ale ved ja som sikovna. Stale sa rekrujtuje. Aj ked je "trosku vacsia konkurencia" povedzme. Ako mi povedala Marie Teresse zo Svedka minuly tyzden, kriza je len skvela vyhovorka aby firmy mohli vyhodit z prace ludi ktorych nemaju radi:)
Proste sa snazim ako mozem, ak mi niekto vie nejako pomoct tam mu vopred dakujem ak mi chce pisat o tom jak sa to neda tak dakujem tiez:)

A nenudis sa tam?

Nie nenudim, londyn je uplne uzasne mesto co sa tyka spolocenskeho zivota. Tym nemyslim len to ze sa tu furt nieco niekde deje. Myslim tym pristup ludi, Pre mna stredoeuropana co si rad udrziava bezpecny 6,5 metrovy odstup od cudzich ludi na ulici, je to pocit ako keby som bola Alenka v risi zazrakov. Normalne s hocikym koho stretnete na ulici, v metre, v obchode mozete viest casovo neohranicenu konverzaciu o nicom a vsetkom,

Jezis,a neni to nebezpecne?

Neni. Proste sa tu len hladaju kamosi a vytvaraju priatelstva ovela lahsie ako inde, lebo ludia sa proste CHCU rozpravat aj ked o blbostiach (a vzdy su z toho strasne nadseny akeho zaujimaveho cloveka - a.k.a. mna stretli a co noveho sa dozvedeli:)

A teraz ta najdolezitejsia otazka, pozor, pozor prosim...

MAS CO JEST?

Ano, mam.

Prekvapivo, anglicko je jedna z krajin kde ano maju tu take zariadenia kde sa da dostat jedlo. A nie nezobrala som si zo sebou zasobu vifoniek "pre istotu", lebo som uz v kufri nemala miesto.

:)))

Ako sa mas?

Mam sa velmi dobre.(dakujem za opytanie:) Tym nehovorim ze je to lahke, a vsetko je super ruzove. Ale "in the end of the day" som velmi stastna tu kde som a to je to najdolezitejsie.

Krajina, v ktorej sa urcite zalubite.

2009-08-18T16:23:00.003+01:00

Nie nadarmo sa hovori Cyprus ostrov lasky.
Zevraj kedysi tu Afrodita velmi rada travila kopu volneho casu pomedzi jej narocnu job description.
A ani sa jej necudujem.

nie je podobny nicomu na co sme zvyknuty

Prve pocity, ktore sa mi velmi silno vryly do pamati, su urcite este tie pred dotknutim sa pevniny. Ako vzdy sedim v lietadle pri okienku, pre zmenu sama a nie s neakou granny, ktora si vzdy objedna od letusky seeetko co sa len da(btw pozdravujem setky lietajuce grannies), no a co nevidim... spln mesiaca, odrazajuci sa na hladine mora, osvetlujuci huste oblaciky a k tomu vsetkemu vrhajuci dostatok svetla na to, aby ste si vsimli ze nieco tu nesedi. Pristali sme na mesici! Pohlad na cyprus pri pristavani nie je podobny nicomu na co sme zvyknuty v Europe.

Krajina, kde nikdy neprsi

2009-08-18T16:21:00.003+01:00

Ked zacnete patrat nad tym co by, tento unikatny mesacny vzhlad, asi tak mohlo sposobit, urcite pridete k jednej velmi vzacnej informacii.
Na Cypre nikdy neprsi. Pocas zimy prsalo minuly rok dvakrat. To znamena, ak sa tam vyberete v lete, rifle si neberte. Ani mikiny ani zadne ine sustaky.
Ale co si urcite zoberte, je nalada na viac ako 300 slnecnych dni v roku.

Ak zacnete patrat este dalej zistite, ze to ze tu nikdy neprsi sposobuje dostat velke problemy so zdrojmi ostrova. Voda v kelimkoch je fun, na umyvanie si zubov v slanej vode si po par tyzdnoch tiez zvyknete(dokonca vam to aj zacne chybat, pre takychto ludi uz vymysleli novy druh zubnej pasty s pridanymi vytazkami z morskych mineralov, vyhradny distributor je tesco) ale po pravde ked sa tak zobudite sobotu na obed s tym ze dokelu voda neni, neni vam zas secko jedno.

Horucava vie byt skutocne narocna, avska na Cypre je vzdy dost vela moznosti ako sa schladit...

Jedina krajina, ktora uznala nezavislost Severneho Cypru je Turecko.

2009-08-18T16:17:00.003+01:00

No takze zatial mame problemy s vodou, to znamena ze pestovat toho asi tiez moc nebudeme. Dalsia vec co to vsetko ein bischen komplikuje je ze jedina krajina, ktora uznala nezavislost Severneho Cypru je Turecko. To znamena, ze turecki turci nikdy nemozu prekrocit hranicu a prejst na juznu cast(cyperski turci ale mozu). Ak by ste napriklad chceli poslat neaku postu napisete tam Turecko nie Severny Cyprus. Na severnej casti sa nachadza aj letisko, ale jedine miesto kam mozete letiet je Istanbul. Ziadne suroviny, nesmu prichadzat z juznej polky na tu severnu. Toto vsetko dokopy dost zvysuje cenovu uroven. Vsetkeho.

To znamena, ze ak chcete byt Severny Cypriot, musite byt lepsie zabezpeceny(na druhej strane Turecko podporuje Severny Cyprus a jeho obyvatelov neskutocnymi financnymi dotaciami). Dalsia dolezita indicia, ktora Vam pomoze vela veci pochopit je, ze Cyprus je byvalou Anglickou koloniou.
Co to znamena. Jazdi sa na lavej strane(preto sa na cyprus pasuje obrovske mnoztvo kradnutych aut z anglicka-tak asi sade inde by si vsimli ze ten volant je volako cudne na krivo, resp na zlom mieste). Skoro vsade vam velmi ochotne ako platidlo zoberu aj anglicke libry. Vsade je kopa postarsich trochu nacervenalych anglickych turistov.

Ludia si proste nejako viac veria.

2009-08-18T16:14:00.003+01:00

Takze mensia rekapitulacia. Na jednej strane mame vysoky zivotny standard(sposobeny vysokou cenovou hladinou) na druhej strane mame vplyvy anglickej kultury. Ked si to date dokopy, pridete na to, ze na Cypre je proste bezpecne.A ked poviem bezpecne, myslim fakt bezpecne. Ludia si proste nejako viac veria.
Moj prvy shock(velmi pozitivny) som zazila hned prve rano ked sme si po ceste na office dali odbocku na plaz Glabsides. Uz len fakt ze moji turecki kolegovia idu do skoly v plavkach mi prisiel hm zaujimavy(a pocas tych 15 minut o 8 am aj uschnu – tak asi tak je tam teplo). No proste prideme na miesto cinu, krasny jemny piesok, priezracna modra voda, rybky mi veselo okolo noh plavaju, caner a umitcan(povodom turecki turci) veselo nechaju bez dozoru na lehatkach fotaky, mobily, mp3ky, compy(no proste klasicka vybava studenta ne;) a sup ho do vody. (kazdy kto si prave povedal, hm tak to by sa asi u nas nestalo ruky hore( a co ze setci?:))

Este jeden priklad, pre lepsie ujasnenie pojmu „anglicka kultura". V tom istom case, ako sa prave caner a umitcan veselo tesia na Glabsides, nasa Sarah(rodacka z Leedsu,UK) si ide prave kupit volaco na ranajky po ceste do prace. Je dost hladna, ruky ma plne vselijakych tureckych dobrot a popritom si podvedome omylom do svojej kabelky odlozi flasu s vodou(0,3 EUR). Ked uz konecne veselo sedi v praci, uvedomy is tento hrozny cin a neskutocne ju zacne hryzt svedomie. Svedomie neprestava a neprestava a tak sa po niekolkych hodinach trapenia rozhodne vratit naspat do obchodu a dany odcudzeny predmet zaplatit. (kazdy kto si prave povedal, hm tak to by sa asi u nas nestalo ruky hore (reklama na zubnu pastu, ze teta ukradla rubikovu kocku sa nerata!;))

Take it easy

2009-08-18T16:10:00.004+01:00

Aki vlastne cypercania su?
Podla mna ze uplne neskutocne stylovy. A sedi im to tak ako su. A oni o tom vedia a tiez sa vedia tak velmi elegatne namyslene aj spravat.
Zivotny styl asi najlepsie vyjadri veta „kolaj gasa" co je v preklade take it easy. A mozete to povedat asi na vsetko. Ked zaplatite v obchode a predavac vam na to povie „tesekurler" (dakujem) vy mu na to poviete „take it easy".

Ked uz sme pri tej hrdosti. Narodna hrdost. Ta sa da tiez rozne interpretovat. Ja ostanem pri tej, ze je to fajn ked su obyvatelia jednej krajiny hrdi na to s kade pochadzaju. Bodka. A davaju to aj patricne najavo. Napriklad aj takou najvacsou vlajkou na svete, ktoru je mozno vidiet aj z vesmiru.

Dalsiou celkom zaujimavou skupinou Cypercanov su ich ex-patrioti.Turci ktori prezili dost vela rokov v Anglicku a po navrate sa rozhodli odmietnut hovorit po turecky. Aj navzajom medzi sebou. Tuto sa to uz znacne skomplikovava, takze by som aj prestala s mojimi interpretaciami.

Inak ak ste sa niekedy pozastavovali nad tureckou anglictinou, tu tiez nezaskodi iny uhol pohladu. Vacsina z nich nema anglicky jazyk od 10 rokov, ak sme na to zvyknuti my(a aj tak to neni uplne tutti frutti ze?) ale niekedy iba, pocas uni, takze akekolvek naznaky anglictiny si terba v skutku vazit.

Niektore pocity vo mne ostanu este dlho. Facka vlhkeho tazkeho vzduchu po vystupeni z letiska. Cesta taxikom nocnym cyprom po ceste lemovanej palmami, vietor vo vlasoch a turecka hudba v usiach. Hodiny stravene v dokonale cistom stredozemnom mori, pod splnom mesiaca alebo slnkom, bud palivym alebo prave zapadajucim.

Moje 2 najoblubenejsie miesta vzdy budu :

Karpas - Golden Beach, nachadza sa na najsevernejsom bode ostrova, je preslaveny velkym vyskytom korytnaciek a tym, ze je to doslova raj na zemi:)

Bellapais, Kyrenia. mensia dedina par kilemotrov severne od Kyrenie, ktorej pokladom je Bellapais Abbey - klastor postaveny mnichmi v 13 storoci.

Pravidla su na to aby sa porusovali

2008-06-18T13:46:00.000+01:00

Finsko - krajina tisicich jazier, obrovskych lesov, polarnej ziary, noci aj dna, krajina santa clausa.

Krajina s vacsim poctom saun ako obyvatelov.
No len si to predstavte, v budove kde ma vasa studentska organizacia office(a to nehovorim ze kazda studentska organizacia ma budovu) mate aj saunu, a pocas konferencie si date saunovanie normalne do agendy, ako vzdelavaciu cinnost.
Saunovanie je nieco ako narodny sport, takze pozor pozor, netreba to brat na lahku vahu. Zakladne pravidla ako mi ich pekne pravy 100 percentny fin objasnil su:

1 V saune musite byt nahy-to znamena ziadne uteraciky obmotane kade tadem nedajboze este plavky, proste nie
2 Na saunovanie potrebujete mat okolo seba vela ludi. V ziadnom pripade sa nesaunujte sami
3 Nielen ze musite mat okolo seba vela ludi,ziadne oblecenie uplne najdolezitejsie je chodit do sauny aj s opacnym pohlavim. Ale pozor aj keby sa zdalo tak, Sauuna(dolezite spravne aj vyslovovat s prizukom na U) is not a sexy place. Ste tam cely cerveny a spoteny a urcite tam nechodite ostatnych ocumovat alebo nedajboze flirtovat.

No a kedze pravidla su tu na to aby sa porusovali, v ramci snahy o integrovanie sa do finskej spolocnosti, som ich teda porusila vsetky pekne jedno za druhym (teda logicky porusenim 2 automaticky porusujete 3). Nevadii nabuduce:)

Finsko - krajina tisicich jazier, obrovskych lesov, polarnej ziary, noci aj dna, krajina santa clausa. Krajina s vacsim poctom saun ako obyvatelov.

Bella ciao alebo 101 dovodov preco si dokazem predstavit zit v Taliansku

2008-06-18T13:17:00.000+01:00

-pretoze nepoznam iny jazyk v ktorom aj ked sa ludia hadaju mne to stale pripada ako keby spievali
-pretoze taliani sa pozeraju do oci o sekundu dlhsie
-pre talianske lasagne, a parmeggiano, cappucino a celkovo to ze sa z jedla strasne tesia a vedia ho uzasne pripravit
-pretoze taliani sa nikam neponahlaju
-pre vonu mora
-pretoze ked si spojim bod 3 a 4 tak mi z toho vyjde ze si vedia viac vychutnavat to co je prave teraz, a je jedno ci ste policajt alebo babicka na dochodku

-pre tie uz spominane babicky ktore sa aj napriek vysokemu vek vzdy vedia poriadne nahodit ked vybehnu do mesta
-pretoze ... este stale cakate ze ich bude az 101?:)
-pre milion carovnych miest ktore nenajdete v ziadnom turistickom sprievodcovi
-pretoze vacsina domov ma na oknach normalne drevenne okenice, a to potom doda kazdej osumelej ulicke taky romanticky-osumely vyraz
-pre taliansku modu
- a take ze filmy a divadlo su nahodou tiez neni od veci:)
-proste asi pretoze sa tam vzdy citim ako doma
-pretoze taliansko je vzdy dobry napad:)

Calvin

2008-05-26T17:15:00.000+01:00