Getting the Most Out Of A Music Festival

by Marcela De Vivo

Photo courtesy of blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com

01. Before The Festival 

So, you've snagged the tickets, taken the time off work and dreamed about your mini-vacation to the upcoming music festival for months... but are you completely prepared for the weekend that lies ahead? 

Below are a few tips that will help you avoid any mishaps before, during and after your stay at the festival:

Brush Up On Music 

Photo courtesy of independent.co.uk

Even if you’re an audiophile, chances are you don’t know every artist on the lineup of the festival you’re attending. Google a list of the lineup and plug in artists one by one to sample the music you haven’t heard before. This will help you discover bands that you may have otherwise missed by not researching them beforehand. 

There’s also the option of finding pre-made playlists or channels; many major music sites will offer music streams or download samples of the line-up in preparation for the big festivals. For example, check out this channel put together for the upcoming 2013 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. 

Prepare Your Outfits 

Photo courtesy of seventeen.com

Festivals are a great excuse to throw together a cool weekend wardrobe. Here are a few quick tips if you have no idea where to start: 

• Depending on the season, pack shorts or long pants - if you’re camping for two or more days, try and pack light by re-using your bottoms with multiple different tops.
  
  Quick tip: If you’re attending a music festival in the desert, the temperature during the day may be significantly different than at night. Pack extra layers like sweatshirts for night time and consider snagging a locker if you don’t want to carry a lot of extra baggage. 

• Add your own personal flair - a lot of guys and girls like to wear cool sunglasses, jewelry like floral headbands or belly chains and band t-shirts showing off their favorite artists. 

• Pack comfy shoes - if it’s hot out you may decide to simple wear your comfiest pair of flip flops or even go barefoot. If it’s a bit on the chilly side, any shoe that is going to give your foot all-day support is best. The worst thing at a music festival is being uncomfortable running around and/or standing for prolonged periods of time while you listen to your favorite bands. 

Create a Personal Set-List 

Photo courtesy of 977music.com

The schedule of which artists will be playing and at what times is posted a few days before most music festivals. Decide who you want to see and create a schedule to ensure you won’t miss anyone because of not doing the research beforehand. Coachella, the annual music festival in Indio, California even has an app so everything can be done seamlessly on your phone --and be handily waiting in your pocket throughout the weekend. 

02. During The Festival 

Photo courtesy of flightfox.com

• Wear Sunscreen 

This goes for anybody, during any season that is spending more than 2-3 hours in the sun. Even if it is overcast outside, you will get sunburnt --especially if you are fair skinned. 

Getting sunburnt, especially on the first day of the festival will really put a hamper on your overall experience. If you’re mostly covered up in colder weather, don’t forget to put sunscreen on your cheeks and nose. 

• Stay Hydrated

This is especially important for people who are going to be out in the sun during their festival. Drink at least 4 bottles of water throughout the day, more if you are drinking a lot of alcohol --which tends to dehydrate people. 

A lot of people end up spending hours in the first-aid tent because they think they are immune to dehydration. Dehydration is serious and is the cause of people passing or blacking out. 

• Be Flexible 

Unfortunately, you may not be able to see every band you planned on. It may rain on you in 90 degree weather and ruin your outfit. Somebody may spill a drink on your white shirt or ruin your shoes by stepping on them having set foot in the mud. 

Whatever the case, it’s best to relax and go with the flow. Things are bound to go wrong a few times when surrounded by thousands of strangers and hundred and bands. If you expect these things to happen and take them with a grain of salt, you’ll definitely have more fun. 

03. After The Festival 

Share Your Experience 

Post photos of yourself on your Facebook and links to the best bands you saw during your stay, that way other people can explore their music as well, especially if they aren't an especially well-known band. 

Make sure you’re prepared to attend the music festival you've got tickets for to ensure the best experience possible. Simple things like wearing sunscreen and deciding which bands  you are going to watch can make a world of difference that weekend.

Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer from Los Angeles. She writes on everything from marketing to health & wellness, but as an avid music fan and concert-goer, she loves the chance to cover music. 



"Seize the day, Caper Diem"

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Top 5 Fashion Blogs You Should Know Now

by Max Law from MaxMayo.com 

New fashion blogs pop up out of nowhere every single day and it's difficult to really keep an eye on who's next. Over the years, there's only a few that eventually made it into the "Hall of Fame." What sets them apart? Their distinctive photography works and unique voices.

Here's the Top 5 Fashion blogs that you should know now even if you're not really into fashion:

1. The Sartorialist

The Sartorialist can be said as the father of all street style bloggers. Scott Schuman, the author has been wandering on the street and fashion shows of Milan, New York, Paris etc to capture inspiring and stunning fashion style worn by both ordinary people and fashion pro in the industry.

http://www.thesartorialist.com/


2. Jak & Jil

If Scott Schuman is the father of all street style bloggers, then Tommy Ton is the son. He is the second wave, and also the living evidence of how the somehow undemocratic fashion world is starting to embrace the blogging world. Tommy Ton captures great pictures from street style to runway.

http://jakandjil.com/


3. Bryan Boy

The infamous Bryan Boy is a success story in his own right. Started at his home in Phillippine, Bryan blogged his way into the front row of international labels like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci and the last gag - he's one of the judges in American Next Top Model Cycle 20. His quirky posts and tweets, not to forget his flamboyant fashion style, are what propelled him to his current position.

http://www.bryanboy.com/


4. Garance Dore

I absolutely love Garance Dore and her blog. She's funny and her photographs are always very artistic. Originally from France, she's also an illustrator and Scott Schuman's girlfriend. Together with Scott, they make a powerful duo.

http://www.garancedore.fr/en


5. Man Repeller

I love this lady! As the blog name suggests, Leandra Medine writes about fashion that men hate but women like. It is her funny posing and creative writing that really caught my attention. The New Yorker is currently the shiniest rising star in the fashion blogging world. (She also inspired my one blog posts here.)

http://www.manrepeller.com/


Check out these 5 bloggers now and I hope you'll enjoy their blogs.





Regards,
Max Law
Menswear Fashion Blogger

Checkout Max at MaxMayo.com and follow him on twitter @maxmayo for more updates and fashion tips!
Max Law is also Nuffnang's Blogger of the month for September 2013!

"Seize the day, Caper Diem"

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Fresca Mexican Kitchen & Bar 1st Anniversary Exclusive Party

by Daniel Chiam 

Hola people! Make yourself available and do come to Fresca Mexican Kitchen & Bar at The Gardens Mall this Saturday (11 May 2013) for some Mexican heat because Fresca is celebrating their 1st year Anniversary and they are throwing a party for everyone to join! ¡Ay, caramba!

What are you waiting for? Come together with your friends and enjoy the Mexico fiesta together! It's only RM50 per ticket which includes one Margarita or Corona (Personally I will go with Margarita, haha), live performances by Latin American band - Alma Latina, fun games and also a photo booth for all you Insta lovers, haha. The Mexican Deputy Head of Mission, Ms. Lourdes Sosa Marquez (Charge d’Affaires, a.i.) and other members of the Mexican Embassy will grace this event with their presence. 

This is your chance to get into the Mexican groove, so be there and wear your serapes, sombreros or Speedy Gonzales tee to hype up the occasion!

Fresca Mexican Kitchen & Bar

Lot G242A (Ground floor)

The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley City

03-2201 2893 

Opening hours: 

Sunday – Thursday: 11am – 11pm

Friday – Saturday: 11am – Late

"Seize the day, Caper Diem"

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Malaysia is The Axiata Cup 2013 Champion!

by Daniel Chiam

Yesterday was my first time attended a live badminton finals match and it was for the Axiata Cup 2013 between Thailand and our very own team Malaysia! It was indeed an awesome experience. The atmosphere of being there personally to witness and to cheer along with the Malaysian supporters is really priceless.

The dude standing on the left was super excited for every performances in between matches.

The first match between Thai's Ratchanok Inthanon and Malaysia's Sonia Cheah was a blow to the home supporters because Ratchanok clearly dominated the match and with so many mistakes by Sonia, the first point of the night goes to Thailand. Ratchanok really played very well that night.

The second match was between the mix doubles Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee T against Goh Liu Ying and Chan Peng Soon. I have to say it was the most interestingly intense match to watch on that night. It was definitely the match that pleases the crowd the most. The long rally, exchanging smashes and fast pace of the game really got the crowd cheering and standing on their feet to cheer on our national heroes.

The last time I met Dato' Lee Chong Wei was last year when I got the opportunity to send him off at the airport to London for the Olympic 2012. Axiata Cup 2013 finals was my first time seeing the man himself playing live before my eyes. The match was clearly dominated by the world's number one and Thai's Tanongsak clearly had an experience disadvantage when facing Dato' LCW. 

Nonetheless, Dato' LCW's decision to play for the Malaysia's team in the finals was overwhelmed by the supporters and the whole night the crowd was cheering and chanting his name. At some point of the time, they event cheered for his newborn son's name - Kingston!

The passionate Malaysia's supporters that sit in front of me.

The last match of the night was the men's double between Boonsak Ponsana and Songphon A against Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong. It was clearly a win for Malaysia when half way through the game you realize our men's double are more experience than the Thais. 

To me that night was just simply amazing. It was the supporters that fascinates me the most. They kept on cheering and cheering and cheering the whole night. I was thinking when are they going to stopped, and they never did till the very last minute when Malaysia finally won the final. I am really glad and happy to be apart of that loud and noisy supporter that night.

Thank you again Axiata for the tickets and of course to Nuffnang for an experience that's going to be hard to forget.

"Seize the day, Caper Diem"

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[Movie Review] The Host (2013)

by Daniel Chiam 

A Twilight remake ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 3/10

I have never read the book before. So review will be solely base on the movie itself. I never like The Twilight saga, so my expectation for The Host aren't really high at all since its a story from the same author. 

The movie sets in the future where human race has been assimilated by extraterrestrial parasite that called themselves "Souls". Melanie Stryder who was captured by the Seeker was then infuse with a soul called "Wanderer". Melanie somehow survived the procedure and is struggling to take control of the body with "Wanderer".

I'm not quite sure how the peaceful creatures can really invade earth without violence. Then again, this sci-fi movie was anything but an action movie and some girls would just go gaga over this movie (especially the Twilight fans) because its a complicated-sort-of-love-story or just because a body needs to decide between two good looking guys of who should be kissed.

Sad for Malaysian because there were a lot of kissing scenes and it just had to be cut off (thanks to Malaysia's censorship). It's like someone fast forwarded in between scenes and somehow it spoiled the flow of the movie.

I'm not sure how Melanie talks with accent and yet Wanderer that took over her body can speak without an accent. Logically the parasite should have taken the ability of the body itself and be able to do exactly what the body already knows to do. 

Anyway, I find the movie overall was a lil' too dull, unintentionally funny at most part and its really feels like a remake of The Twilight in a much different version with all the actions taken out of it.

Movie Trailer |  Official Website

"Seize the day, Caper Diem"

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