It would only be fitting that some things in life are given and taken away. I knew that I went a little overboard buying cameras here. I have a total of 5 new ones now. It is why I am not surprised that the universe would take away at least one from me. In this case, its my original digital camera that I bought straight from Akihabara in Tokyo last year. You know, the one I actually NEED to take photos and post them on my blog. haha. Anyways. My digital is now in camera heaven. Unfortunately, I will not be able to post any up-to-date photos until I get myself a new digital. Until then, here is one that JP took of me at 6:00 am. We were getting ready to drive north to one of the flea markets. I look like death - nerd glasses still on - but at least my new Lomo Diana F looks cute.

can I be a total groupie and not feel totally embarrassed about it. LOL.

It reminded me of the time I met Jonas Mekas in Luxembourg. I remember going to an art show that he was hosting in NYC just to hear him speak. Unfortunately, I was unable to stay long enough to meet him at the show. But then, out of all places, I wind up meeting him at his film screening here in Luxembourg. Fast forward to the other night, I have attempted and failed several times to see Mars Volta live. Ever since my eyes first spotted Cedric and Omar at the Sundance Film Festival a few years back I had a growing curiousity about these two. Who are these guys?? Whats up with the hair? How do they make retro and goth look so good? I recall totally digging their look so much that I even took a snap shot of them. It was only after a while that I found out that that these two mystery guys in my photo were musicians from a hard rock band called the Mars Volta.

When I found out that the Mars Volta would be performing right here in Luxembourg in a small club I was overjoyed.. Of course, I assumed we would be like the only ppl at the show. To my surprise, the place was packed and we were suddenly packed in like sardines. When the music started I suddenly felt like a pebble stuck in a friggin crazy Luxembourgish mosh pit with overly huge men too overly huge to be moshing there overly huge bodies against a not so amused Korean girl. But I wont complain, why? bc Mars Volta friggin ROCK!!!! I was first fascinated by Cedric´s freakishly cryptic look and his perfect body spaz sequences but the real deal is Omar Rodriguez-Lopez on the guitar. Omar is the man! The last time I remember seeing a guitarist make my ass clinch was Benjamin Curtis performing First Wave Intact when he was part of The Secret Machines. Well, Im adding Mars Volta to my "Im going to check them out whenever they´re nearby" list! Their performance was solid and watching the unbelievably frail Omar tear that guitar apart is just sublime.

Okay, enough is enough. Im obsessed with buying old cameras. Okay, its true that I buy them at ridiculously low prices but still, I am running out of luggage space from all my flea market excursions in Europe. Once again, yesterday we commenced our flea market madness at 6:00 a.m. This time, we drove to Belgium. What was suppose to be two massive flea markets in one day turned into 3 massive flea market in one day when we decided to stop at Alon for a drink. As soon as we arrived, to our surprise, ANOTHER flea market. I can tell you that walking around in these markets for hours and hours under the scorching sun is madness! Yeah, we love every minute of it but still its absolute madness!

Of course, somehow I ended up buying another camera. This time it was a Canon AE-1 in absolute mint condition sold basically for nothing by a clueless offspring of a photographer.. After the purchase was done, we decided to get an extra lens for the camera for a couple of euros when suddenly the sister of the clueless offspring appeared out of nowhere to stop her clueless brother from the sale. She immediately took over and demanded the proper price for the lens. hahha.. if we were only a minute faster in the offer.

On the road home, we spotted something that looked a bit odd:

(how is this a gas station???)

Happy 4th of July to my family and friends back home!! I hope the weather is suitable for some nice bbq and fireworks. Fortunately, I was able to celebrate Luxembourg´s version of July 4th last month. Known as the National Holiday, I was told that folks from nearby countries would travel to Luxembourg on this particular holiday and participate in some massive celebration activities. To my surprise, my girlfriend from Tokyo who just happen to be in Germany with her fiance was also driving to Luxembourg for the celebration. What are the chances that I would meet up with an old friend here. It was like meeting Jonas Mekas in Luxembourg.

Well, I have to say that the National Day firework display here in Luxembourg has got to be one of the best firework shows I have seen in a looooong time... this is coming from a person not particularly crazy about them to begin with. I was able to capture a few moments of the 20+ min show on my camera. Hopefully I will be able to download soon.. until then, Happy Independence and enjoy the loong weekend USA!

It was nice to have my cousin come visit for a few days. It was a nice reminder of home. We took a train north of the country to visit The Family of Man exhibition at Chàteau de Clervaux. It was great that this reknown photo exhibition finally retired here in Luxembourg. There were some great photos exhibited in this 500+ exhibition. I particularly felt sentimental of this one from Bert Hardy.



Having YS here gave us incentive for another road trip. This time for a shopping trip to Maastricht, Netherlands. The shopping at Maastricht reminded me of 34th street in Manhattan. Ahhh.. Still, I love road trips. I love exploring.

Good times with my cuz.

In the wacky world of irony it would only be fitting that I should wind up with a car nut. Considering that at age 32 I am still void of a valid drivers license and was never interested in cars (or driving) to begin with I find it quite amusing that JP is a classic car nut! He attends tours all over Europe and this time around I happen to be his co-pilot on a tour here in Luxembourg. It was my second time in his old timer and this time I felt a bit more relaxed being in the passenger seat still void of an airbag and seat belt. Accompanied by an entourage of MG classic car nuts from all over Europe we toured the country side of Luxembourg for about 4 hours. To my surprise the tour was actually quite entertaining. Given the responsibility of guiding us to safe passage through corn fields and small villages I was an "excellent" co-pilot! (although told by a biased individual)

This whole experience with cars and car enthusiasts has slightly peaked my own interest in automobiles. Namely, I have found a car for the first time that would warrant my interest in obtaining a drivers license. It was a car that even I stopped and stared while in Paris. Of course, JP spotted it like a mile away and even insisted that I snap photos. The car is perfectly adorable and a classic. It will be mine someday. But for now, here is a photo that was taken in a friend´s car during the tour. The fine details of this car are nuts... So is the poser behind the wheel!

It´s not often you find someone who is a flea market junkie like yourself. Fortunately, JP and I are on the same page when it comes to antique flea markets. WE LOVE THEM!! Yesterday we woke up at the crack of dawn to head to a market in Diekirch. We were there before all the vendors even arrived. It appears that 6:00 am is the best time to get the best items for the best prices. Case in point: 2 polaroid cameras for 5 euros. Yeah! One of my favorite first purchases was a container full of old vintage matchboxes. The woman selling this must have collected them for most of her life only to have it disappear in 2 minutes for 15 euros. If my ticket stub collection I have collected for over twenty years was ever gone I think I would feel its gap. Especially if it was gone in 2 minutes for only 15 euros. What was the point of collecting in the first place?!

Anyhoot, to my new matchboxes (just some of them):