Canberra Multicultural festival

So this years adventure began for us heading up the Hume highway, Thursday evening after work, our first stop being "Abancay" the homestead of Ada & Freddy Gasser of Latin American Camping fame. Karen & I left work a few minutes earlier than the prescribed 5:30pm to hit the road by 6pm for the three hour drive northwards. A quick pit stop at one of the Multinational Service centers to gas up and purchase supplies and we were off.

We arrived around 9:00pm , just as dark was falling to Ada siting up for us waiting with a nice cup of coffee and a friendly chat. We gossiped and caught up on social events for about an hour, Mr Sandman was making an appearance as we all felt drowsy as we thought about tomorrows early start, and destination Canberra.

Nest stop was Gundagai about 5 hours up the freeway from Wangaratta, and the  

Dog on the tucker box an interesting Australian folk tail about a dog that waited for its owner to come back from the war.We kept planning to stop for a bite or a coffee, but as the road was so easy going, dual lane freeway virtually from Melbourne to Canberra, the need to stop and rest wasn't that great. Any way were being entertained by the music of Inka Marka at full blast, singing along with the tunes we knew, and making up the words to those that we didn't.

We finally made it to Canberra with an hour or two to spare before the first nights Appearance for Inka marka on the Latin American stage. We still had to find our host, Aline to collect the key to her apartment where we were staying and contact Jose & Michel to find out where to meet them and where the stage was located within the festival precinct as some last minute changes had been made by the organizers and stage locations moved and  performance times changed. 

Our local man on the ground, Andy Jaragui Singer of Los Chavos fame was going to help out on the stage. We also had to locate him and make sure he knew the set list of songs before the guys headed on stage. 

From left to right, Jose, Andy, Karen and Michel 

Karen in her Otavaleno  ( from Otavalo in Ecuador) costume

Jose & Andy in serious moment also wearing Ponchos from Ecuador.Pretty funny for 2 Proud Bolivians to be wearing the National dress of a neighboring country, They looked great on stage, and that was the main motivation.

Later that night we wandered around the Canberra walk, checking out the many other stages Food stalls and Information booths.

The next morning we headed out early, but not early enough it seemed as when we arrived, Jose & Michel had already set everything up.

Next morning , set up in our allocated position to provide some Street Entertainment for the duration of the 2 day festival , all hyped and ready to go.
The day's weather prediction wasn't good, but we managed to get a few hours in before the rains came down. Although Canberra wasn't hard hit, we heard later that just a few hours up the road, Hail stones the size of Cricket balls had fallen, and that this town had been "attacked" as the local news report stated from the devastating size of the ice balls and the destruction they caused

Inka Marka playing a few tunes from the festival. Hit the link below to see a great little video clip   A beautiful tune from Ecuador 

Hard at work trying to sell a few CD's for the band, and hand out Business cards and generally SCHMOOZE

TROUBLE: 

After two days of playing, singing, dancing and generally performing till they dropped, the Inka's gave Karen & I, Sunday evening off. I might add that was because the festival had officially ended as far as our participation went, and we could now relax and enjoy the final evening of events. We hooked up with our beautiful host, Aline, and headed off to a search for an exceptional dinner, We had spent literally all weekend staring at the Peruvian and Ecuadorian food stalls, strategically placed near Inka Marka to generate interest in that part of the world. 

Whilst we thoroughly enjoyed the smells of the food cooking, by the time we got to purchase any, it was all gone , most of the food was meat based, and had lashings of spicy "picante "or as we call it EXTRA HOT BUM BURNING CHILI in English ! 

 We finally found somewhere civilized where we could sit down and enjoy a Sangria or two, or three. Our final resting place for the night was a 2 block walk to Aline' place, so safe to imbibe a few of the local drinks. As you can see Karen only had one !

MOnday Morning arrived and it was time to Head home !

Not before a quick circuit of the famous Lake Burley Griffin 

Final Stop breakfast at the Canberra center for a quick

Sandwich and coffee before hitting the frog and toad.

& hours later I was depositing Karen at her front door, 

her husband greeted us with a "back already? " 

Sonia's wedding Taiwan Style

Touring Taiwan : Sonia's Wedding Part 1

KL- Taipei

I took the usual el cheapo Air Asia flight to Kuala Lumpar leaving Melbourne at Midnight ( that Im famous for taking on any of my Asian adventures)  arriving KL around 6:30 am local time the next day. I had a small wait of 4 hours for my  connecting flight to Taipei which I filled with window shopping and checking out the latest duty free items to buy at  KL international airport . Boarding the flight for Taipei I was shocked to find that I was the only person sitting in the Quiet zone up front, so had the plane and the stewardess completely to myself. The back part of the plane wasn't much fuller, so I almost felt I had my own private jet.! The attendant was so sweet she gave me a blanket and neck rest, and meal because there was no one to attend to.
Arriving at the Taipei International airport I was greeted by friends , who were also attending Sonia & Kai's wedding but  who had taken a much more indirect flight, via Guangzhou China , and had not fared well with the Chinese autocratic nonsense on board or whilst waiting for their connecting flights to Taipei, connecting internet.. for the daughter of one of the travelling companions who came on China airways... ( well what else does a 14 year care about really ) and phone cards etc..
  

 Day 1.Taipei

Sonia had arranged a mini bus, and transport to out hotel, so we could unpack, unwind, get dressed again and head on out for a night of festivities with the Strike Pro team, who as well as being Nora & Stu's close business associates, were also very close friends of Sonia's as well. . The dinner reflected the strong respect they have for Sonia,  as their Multi lingual translator and travelling associate.

I was completely flabbergasted  at the presentation of the food. I had never seen anything such as this  in my life. The courses just kept coming, and we had a private room to ourselves. As soon as the glass was filled a waiter appears with a bottle of chilled Saki, Argentinean wine, or something stronger if one wished. The courses kept coming and the tastes reflected in each new dish were exquisite.
I could post a hundred photos of the food, but it would only serve to make me hungry and not do the dishes enough justice.

Day 2
The Wedding Banquet
The reason we had all traveled to taiwan was to attend Sonia & Kai's wedding. Sonia is like a daughter to Nora & Stu. As part of Sonia's extended Aussie family we were invited to attend the weeding also.
Going to Taiwan seemed like a great idea, one of those places I have always wanted to visit, but lacked a compelling reason to go alone. As the invitations were accepted, our little party of wedding guests from OZ grew into a small group.

 Sonia & Kai the happy couple - Western Wedding Dress No 1

 Nora & Stu, Sonia's Aussie Mum & Dad

 Momento of the Happy day

 Ladies & Gentleman the Bride & Groom

One of many many courses that appeared throughout the afternoon


Crispy skin Pork Belly

Giant Prawns in a Chinese style shallot sauce 









Wedding Dress 2 Chinese style Red 

 Dress number 3 Yellow for Happiness 

Post Wedding dinner ( same night ! )

As if we hadn't eaten or drunk enough, Sonia, Kai, and Nini, her sister, decided to take us all out to an iconic Taiwanese restaurant, that makes American Pickers like look like amateur hour, But thats a whole other BLOG

Day 3 Breakfast and the adventure begins

And were off, Sonia's 7 days of Taiwan all exclusive private tour begins !

First stop - Supplies 7/11 Taiwanese Style


so in this location in the middle of no-where we find Argentinean wine !

then we find Japanese Whiskey

 Lunch Day 2 Hamburgers Taiwanese style

Buskers.. Of course.!

And we found a Chocolate shop called Nina ! Cant get away from those Spanish people !

And after Lunch a snooze was in order..as we had barely recovered from the day before...

    

PART Two to come