Koto is a traditional and national Japanese stringed musical instrument.
It is made of kiri wood: the bridges used to be made of ivory, but are nowadays made of plastic (rarer of wood), the strings (of which there are 13 in the traditional, or 17, 20, 21, even 25 in the newer versions of the instrument) are made of either plastic or silk.
The body of koto resembles the shape of a dragon; there is a traditional name for every part of the instrument:
• the top (dragon’s shell) – the Asian dragon is believed to have a shell like that
• the bottom (dragon’s stomach)
• the top end of the instrument (dragon’s head) which consists of:
* dragon’s horns (the saddle of the bridge)
* dragon’s tung
* dragon’s eyes (the holes for strings)
* dragon’s forehead (the space above the bridge)
• the other end (dragon’s tail)
• the string nut (cloud horn)
…
Koto is played by placing the instrument on the floor, neeling and then using three finger picks (on thumb, index, and middle finger) to pluck the strings.
If needed, a player may adjust the pitch (tuning) of the strings by moving the white bridges.
some of the best and the most popular koto players are: Reiko Obata, Miya Masaoka, Kazue Sawai, and Michiyo Yagi.
Today, koto is used in music genres such as Jazz, experimental, and even Pop.

Nohkan

The nohkan is a Japanese bamboo flute.
It was first created in the fifteenth century by Kan’ami and Zeami, and has been used in Noh and Kabuki theater.
The instrument is made of split and tapered strips of either smoked or burned bamboo, which is then glued together to form a tapering conical bore.
In order to achieve better acoustics, The split strips of bamboo are reversed (the hard bamboo surface inside).
It is the conical bore and its unique internal restriction of about 2/3 mm (called nodo – throat) which gives the nohkan its distinctive high-pitched sound by using the venturi effect.
It has seven holes which are used to play; the player covers the holes thus blocking the airway to them, and leaves the needed ones uncovered so that the air can go through and produce the tone.

Shakuhachi

The shakuhachi is a very popular Japanese end-blown flute.
It has arrived to Japan from China in the sixth century.
Shakuhachi got its name from its length – 1.8 shaku = almost 55 cm (the standard length of the instrument).
It is traditionally made of bamboo, but the plastic, pvc, and wood versions exist, too.
Shakuhachi is the extremely versatile instrument – a professional player can produce any pitch they want, and play a wide range of genres (e.g., ensemble, folk, jazz).
This is possible due to the various fingering and blowing techniques (e.g., a player might cover the holes fully, or only partially, blow in different angles to achieve different pitches).
Shakuhachi has 5 holes which are used to play; a player covers the holes thus blocking the airway, and leaves the desired one[s] uncovered so that the air goes through and makes the sound.
This instrument is very popular even outside of the japanese culture; even American players play it (the first one was Riley Lee).
It is also used in modern music genres (electronica, pop-rock, jazz…).
The notable Shakuhachi players are Henry Johnson, Iwamoto Yoshikazu, Tsukitani Tsuneko, Riley Lee…

Shamisen

The Shamisen is a Japanese three-stringed musical instrument.
It originated from the Chinese instrument “sanxian”, and is similar to the guitar/banjo construction-wise.
There are different versions of the Shamisen (hosozao –small, chuzao – medium, futozao – big…), and all of them are used for playing different genres.
The instrument consists of
• the body (do) – hollow and covered with the cat/dog skin, or paper/plastic
• the neck (sao) – usually divided into 3/4 pieces which lock together. It acts as the anchor for the strings
• the pegs for winding the strings – long, thin, and hexagonal; made of ivory/wood/plastic.
• the strings – made traditionally of silk, or nowadays nylon.
The strings are plucked either with the fingers or plectrum “bachi” (depending on the genre and the version of the instrument), which comes in different sizes and is made of plastic/wood/ivory.
The shamisen is used for playing modern genres nowadays; Takeharu Kunimoto plays bluegrass music on it, Michihiro Sato plays free improvisations, the band Zenitrash plays metal on it, Hiromitsu Agatsuma plays jazz, funk, electro and traditional Japanese styles…

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If you like rock music, there are museums offering the experience of learning more about the music, as well as learning about your favorite artists or bands. Here are some of the museums every fan of rock music would certainly love to visit.

Graceland Mansion – this museum is made in the home of Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee, and it is a must-visit destination for all the fans of Elvis, as well as for the fans of rock and roll music in general. In 2006, this place was declared a National Historic Landmark, and it is one of the most visited private homes in the USA. While most of the estate is open for public, the entire second floor is completely closed for visitors. This includes Elvis’ bedroom and the bathroom where he died.

The Johnny Cash Museum – Nashville, Tennessee was home to one of the most influential country musicians of the 20^th century, and it is now home to the museum made in his honor. Aside from displaying a vast number of Cash’s personal items, instruments and photos, it also contains a bar where you can have a drink, but also host an event.

The Beatles Story – even the most devoted fans of The Beatles are certain to discover something new about the Fab Four when they visit this museum. It is located in Liverpool, UK, the hometown of this world-famous band. There are plenty of items that belonged to the band members, but also many rare photos and items you have no opportunity to see anywhere else.

The Alman Brothers Museum at the Big House– the fans of blues and country rock will certainly enjoy this museum, made from the band’s residence in Macon, Georgia. The museum includes the band’s instruments, as well as clothes, photos and other items that cannot be seen anywhere else.

Ramones Museum and Bar – if punk rock is your music of choice, the chances are slim that you haven’t listened to Ramones. Although the band was from New York, the museum is located in Berlin, Germany. This is because it was established by a Ramones fan, whose memorabilia collection became too large to be kept in his apartment. Apart from displaying the band-related items, this museum also includes a bar where punk and rock concerts are hosted.

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It’s impossible not to fall in love with San Sebastian. The food alone, in the bars groaning with tapas, here known as pintxos, and the many Michelin-starred restaurants, is the stuff of obsession.

Here’s a few extra tips if you plan on going:

• Don’t pay for pintxos when you order. Eat first, then pay before you leave. You might want more.
• Don’t turn up at the funicular for Monte Igueldo too early – it doesn’t start until 11 am.
• Take care if you explore the English cemetery. The tombs are linked by narrow muddy paths frequently obscured by boulders.
• When it’s windy and the tide is in, do be wary of the sea smashing into the promenade – you’ll easily get drenched if you are not careful.

The locals’ favourite after-dinner drink is gin and tonic, served in huge spherical glasses. Try one, and the notion might make sense.

La Bretxa shopping mall is not very nice, but in the basement you’ll find a fish market with displays of hake, monkfish, tuna, cockles and so on that are almost works of art.

Don’t restrict yourself to the Old Town. The Haussmann-designed boulevards of the newer part of the city are just as attractive, and filled with glamorous shops.

Try a few Basque words: kaixo means hello; agur is goodbye; eskerrik asko is thank you. It’s Europe’s oldest language.

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La Tomatina (Buñol, Spain) – as you can guess from the name, this festival is dedicated to tomatoes. But it is not about eating them – it is about throwing them! This festival is held every last Wednesday of August near Valencia, in a small town named Buñol, and it is known as the world’s biggest food fight. The tickets for the event are sold online and since 2013 they have been limited to the number of 20,000, while before that it happened that the festival had between 40,000 and 50,000 visitors.

Ivrea Orange Festival (Ivrea, Italy) – while people throw tomatoes in Spain, it the town of Ivrea in Italy they fight with oranges. Carnevale di Ivrea is the largest food fight in Italy, and unlike La Tomatina, it is very structured, organized, and people fight in teams. It is held during the traditional carnival days in February – Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Batalla de Vino (Haro, La Rioja, Spain) – Batalla de Vino or Wine Fight is held every year from June 28 to June 30, and it begins with street parties on the first festival day and night. After this, locals and tourists climb a mountain 5 km away from the town, where there are water trucks, water pistols, barrels and buckets – all filled with wine! People cover each other with wine, drink some of it as well and they dance to music until wee hours.

Pumpkin Festival (Ludwigsburg, Germany) – This festival is held every year in Ludwigsburg, a town near Stuttgart, and it is home to over 400,000 pumpkins. The date varies, but it is always held in fall, and in 2016 the festival will take place from September 2 to November 6. There are all sorts of pumpkin art, pumpkin food you cannot even imagine, and various competitions for children and adults, such as pumpkin carving. For those who like eating pumpkins and carving them for Halloween, the world’s largest pumpkin festival is certainly going to be an event of interest.

Cheese Rolling (Gloucestershire, UK) – this interesting event takes place on every Spring Bank Holiday and it is held on Cooper’s Hill near the town of Gloucestershire. It is a sort of a race, where a round of Double Gloucester cheese is rolled down the hill, and the participants begin racing down the hill after it in order to catch it. Although it is a quite fun event, attracting both locals and tourists, the cheese can speed up to 112 km/h, which can cause injuries and knock the spectators over.

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Golden palaces, floating markets, majestic porcelain-laid spires…you’ve never seen a capital city quite like Bangkok. It has many things to offer, and here are some of it:

1. Wat Pra Kaew and Grand Palace Complex
2. Wat Po
3. National Museum
4. Dusit Palace Park
5. Wat Arun
6. Wat Traimit, Chinatown
7. Lumphini Park
8. Jim Thompson’s House
9. Mahamariamman Temple
10. Tha Pra Chan

Best time to visit

The short window of winter lasts between late December and early January, and these cooler temperatures coincide with peak tourist season. November and February are cooler with (typically) fewer people.

Know Before Visiting

The hottest season runs from March to August. Rainy season is unpredictable and varies, but normally runs from June to early October. While it is classified as monsoon season, the rains infrequently last more than an hour or two at a time.

Here’s a few more tips:

• If it’s not rush hour, taxis are a quick way to get around Bangkok. Always insist your driver uses the meter. If they refuse, get out and find another who will.
• Always agree on a set price before getting in a tuk tuk. Beware if drivers tell you that big attractions like the Grand Palace are closed; it’s probably a scam to get you to go elsewhere, where they’ll receive a commission.
• When visiting temples, women should wear clothes that cover shoulders and knees. Always remove shoes when entering temples and do not sit with your feet facing the Buddha/altar.

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Whale’s tooth for the father-in-law – in Fiji, men are required to ask a woman’s hand from her father before the marriage. In order to do so, they are required to present the future father-in-law with an unusual gift – a whale’s tooth.

The blackening of the bride – there is a quite nasty wedding tradition in Scotland, intended to put the happy couple on a sort of a test. Food trash, including even fish and rotten eggs, is splashed all over the couple. The belief says that, if they can withstand this process, then they will withstand anything in the marriage.

The wall of bridesmaids – in some parts of China, before the groom is allowed to get his bride, there is one obstacle for him to beat. Bridesmaids form a “wall” and do their best to prevent the groom from getting the bride, while he is supposed to outsmart them and pass the wall. This ceremony serves as a symbolic test for the groom to show how strong his love is.

Marrying a tree – in some parts of India, if a bride is born during a certain astrological period, she is considered to be cursed. The curse is broken before the wedding by marrying the girl to a tree first, and the tree is then cut down and destroyed. After the curse is broken, she is allowed to marry her groom.

A different kissing ceremony – while many wedding traditions in the world involve kisses between a bride and a groom, in Sweden this tradition takes a twist. At Swedish weddings, if the bride leaves the room during the reception, all the female guests are allowed to kiss the groom. The same goes for the men kissing the bride in case the groom leaves the reception.

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The park’s paths are actually wooden walkways suspended right over the lakes, curving through the clear waters around rocky outcroppings, and past the park’s many waterfalls. The paths are well marked and it’s easy to make the hike easier or more difficult as abilities allow.

Camping is not allowed throughout most of the park, but there are some campsites and hotels located close to the park’s entrances, including the Ethnos House, which is seemingly designed with children in mind. The rustic lodgings have a petting zoo, obstacle course, archery, and putt-putt golf course on site that’s completely free for guests. (There’s also a spa, including salt rooms, for the grown-ups).

Plitvice Lakes National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979 and within the first few moments of your journey, it’s easy to see why—the park is truly one of the world’s natural wonders.

Included in the price of admission to the park you can travel up the lake on electric boats and then hike around the waterfalls. You’ll see absolutely beautiful scenery. Note: in the high season it gets very crowded in the afternoon so get out early and take the first (8 am) boat.

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If you are still not accustomed to the prices, make sure to examine them at a few shops before you begin haggling and shopping, in order to get a certain insight. Before you start lowering the price of the item you want to buy, you should determine how much you are willing to pay for it. If you hear from someone else that he bought the same item for a lower price, do not worry – if you have your price limit and you have reached it, it means that you got the item for the value you determined.

Once you see the item you like, do not be overly enthusiastic, because the sellers might take advantage of it when determining the price. Let the seller quote the first price. If he happen to asks you how much you will pay, return the question and ask for a price. The sellers usually quote much

higher price than they expect you to pay, so it is now your turn to start lowering the price. If you have agreed on the price, then it means that you will pay the item. In case you didn’t make the agreement, do not be afraid to walk away. You can return later and then you sometimes may expect more success in haggling than the first time. In case you are not too comfortable with haggling, you can achieve a discount by buying a few items from the same seller, and he or she will usually offer the goods for a lower total price.

Although haggling may feel awkward and even unpleasant to those who are not used to it, when you visit a Turkish market, you should simply embrace this custom and try to enjoy it. You will see, it will soon become a very fun activity, and you are very likely to become successful in it!

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The city was founded by the Romans, ruled by the Muslims and finally came under Spanish rule in the 13th century. With its cultural history, its buildings and structures are elaborate and a sight to be seen. Travel to Seville to admire the architecture, and visit the second-oldest cathedral in the world. Stroll past palaces, picnic in the gardens and later experience the city’s wild nightlife. Walk through local markets and try bitter Seville oranges (they’re famous for them).

Things not to miss in Seville:

• El Alcázar
• La Giralda and Cathedral of St. Mary
• Parque María Luisa
• The Palacio de la Condesa de Lebrija
• Torre Del Orro
• Triana
• Plaza de España

When to go to Seville:

November is an excellent time to visit Seville, because flights are cheaper and the weather is still nice. However, the best time to visit Seville is during April, May, September or October. Seville is hot almost year round, with milder temperatures in the winter. The average temperature is 25 degrees during the day, 13 degrees at night. Temperatures can reach above 40 degrees occasionally during summer. July and August are the best months to avoid tourists, since it can be a little on the sweaty side. Most rain happens between October and April. If you visit Seville in April, you’ll experience La Feria, a great festival to experience.

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