Philharmonic of Kyiv hosted guests of the Embassy of Belgium in Ukraine on the occasion of the King's Feast. Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Finland, Japan, Norway, Slovenia, Armenia, Brazil, Argentina and other countries attended the solemn reception and the concert program.
Gala night began with a salutatory speech of theAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium to Ukraine AlexLenaertswho stated the following:
«November, 15th is a special date for us. For over 150 years this day has been celebrated in Belgium in honor of the King. Celebration of the King's Feast in Kyiv hasbecome a good tradition, too.
For me personally, this day is an opportunity to ponder strong ties between our countries. The history of relations between Ukraine and Belgium is pretty long. The history of modern diplomatic cooperation between our countries however accounts for merely 27 years. A lot has been done over the last several years to support the strive of the Ukrainians for freedom, democracy and reforms. I am glad to be a witness of significant achievements and I am looking forward to future changes. All of these is a testimony to determination to take active part in creating new Ukraine. Changes are an integral part of success in a long-term perspective. This is why latest transformations in your country not only have benefited Ukraine but also have worked for the common advatage. We are looking forward to continuing our successful partnership in the areas of foreign affairs, investments, cultural tiesand partnership between our citizens as a whole as well. Today's concert is another opportunity to make one more step towards strengthening ties between the two countries.
I am sure that close relations between Belgium and Ukraine will continue blossoming further more.
Music and art bring together, overcoming cultural and ethnic differences. Music is like a universal language that unites people, strengthens the communiy and ultimately - the entire society. I hope thatthis concert will bring us together and advance us towards our common goals".
Concert program was made of jazz pieces by a Ukrainian singer Tetyana Amirova that had lived in Antwerpen for a long time and started her musical education there. T. Amirova is known to the vast audience throuh her participation in The Voice TV show. Colorful accompainment to the performance was ensured by Victor Pavlenko (saxophone), Olexander Ohnevets (keyboard), Anton Samutin (trumpet and flugelhorn), Borys Yaroslav (percussion), Mykola Kistenev (double-bass) and Arina Azarova (harp).
Marina Orlova is a project manager in a cultural and public organization. Working on one of her international projects, she met her love - Wim, a guy from Belgium. She succeeded to visit his country only when Ukraine obtained visa-free regime and Marina shared with OUTLOOK her observations about how the Belgians live, what they eat for breakfast and how they relax.
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Austrian tour operators launched an unusual touristic tourdesigned for fans of singing style called yodel. Hikers wander through the Ziller Valley, a broad trail narrows opening the way for only the most avid travellers, then track leads upwards. Tourists look into the interactive station shaped as a giantsonorous walk-in cowbell, then they go around thelargest alpine horn and head to place...
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Today OUTLOOK travels along the cities and countries that are considered as the most interesting from the point of view of geography and administrative management. Moreover, they are enclaves as they are located within the territories of other states.
Throughout its history, the town has seen many famed guests: Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Descartes, Peter the Great of Russia... And now everyone can easily join a number of these outstanding personalities just by visiting a cosy town of Spa, which since the 18th century is the most popular in the highest circles European health resort and the ancestor of all spas in the world.
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There is no other country in the world that has suffered so much from restaurant critics as Belgium. Riding superficially on waves of French-Italian mainstream, glossy publications scold Belgians mercilessly for their provincial tastes and universal cult of potatoes. Just think of it: to chase seafood with vulgar French fries and serve potato pudding as a main dish!
When Bahriddin’s mother was getting ready for work, she was assiduously arranging her hair around her tubeteika. It resulted in some sort of a crown. On holidays she plaited special adornments into her black hair with a tinge of blue. When she walked, they were tinkling slightly to create an aura of a dance. And in evenings little Bahriddin couldn’t fall asleep without holding her tight braid in his hands.
The best gift for ladies is flowers. The truth is, it is incredibly romantic and beautiful, suitable for any age and status. Especially nice it is when there is plenty of flowers. Dozens upon dozens! And where else can you admire floral beauty if not at the festival? We selected five the most famous and flowery fests from around the world.
At the sight of Flemish lacework it is hard to shake the feeling that miraculous flowers, artfully braided into a wreath of a pattern, were born from loose sparks that had escaped a magic wand. On the inside of the beauty there are efforts and days of jetsam girls, stolen from life by labyrinth of openwork loops.
In this day and age, it is difficult to surprise anyone, especially an urban resident, with some large department store or market, since nowadays one can buy everything from a humble convenience store next door. However, the iconic bazaars and flea markets are still operating across the globe, they are famous in legends and described with delight.
The well-known saying goes: east is a delicate matter. All-in-all, it is true as evidenced even by details. Due to specific climate, eastern women have similar type of appearance, and their nations are united by close cultures. Therefore, they prefer the same beauty standards. Women are supposed to be modest, to dress so as to completely or almost completely conceal figure.
Magic dance of a snake in time with flute’s melody often described in Eastern fairy tales and depicted in movies is no fiction but a true symbol of those countries. In Egypt, India, African countries and some other states slithering tribe are tamed to make a spectacular entertainment out of it. Profession of reptile charmers exists there; it is believed to be as nearly as the most amazing on Earth.
What is it that characterizes any nation without much words and long explanations? Dances, of course, because it is these movements, refined over centuries, that can tell a foreigner about other peoples much more than thick history books. If you carefully watch and feel the way people dance in different countries, their mind set will become much more comprehensible. And these aren’t mere words.
Shagai, chükö, asyk, ashyk, oshuq... This game has many names and one great love for it unities a lot of generation in Central Asia. According to old legends, Nasreddin Hodja loved to play it. Sultans and merchants, ordinary people and children played it. For the youngest, it was a popular entertainment until the end of the last century, while new technologies did not supplant yard games.
If early morning you walk along sandy beaches of Oostduinkerke, located in one of Belgium western provinces, you can see several suns. One, of course, is in the sky, and others are bright yellow spots riding horses carrying heavy wicker baskets, while plying the shallows along the North Sea coast for shrimps. Oostduinkerke and shrimps are hand and glove, so horseback shrimping is still practiced here.
