Sean Paul @ Jasmine Court, Girne9 Aug 2010In a busy week of concerts in North Cyprus (see Englebert Humperdink concert review ) a superstar from a different generation was doing his thing on the island.
Sean Paul kept it blazing but the crowd didn’t quite warm up - The audience was singing along as he sang songs from his multi-platinum Grammy winning album, Dutty Rock, and kept the party aflame with hits like ‘Temperature’ and ‘We Be Burning’, from his 2005 Trinity album. Jasmine Court’s garden/beach, with the stage in front of the sea, was the perfect setting for Sean Paul – who has sold 10 million albums world wide – to show case his latest sizzling fire-works. Nevertheless, we had a fantastic time and it was an honour to see Sean Paul in North Cyprus. Many thanks to Sirin for the review of the show.. Posted in: Going out|Live Music
The King of Romance Entertains9 Aug 2010
The man is a legend in his own lifetime and for more than four decades, Engelbert Humperdinck has shared a legacy of love with fans of every age, on every continent. The crooner, born Arnold Dorsey in Madras, India, was the youngest of ten children born to British army officer Mervyn Dorsey and his wife, Olive. At the age of 17 his impression of Jerry Lewis prompted him to he change his name to Gerry Dorsey and he found early success performing in the UK. At the suggestion of his then-manager, Gordon Mills, he decided to reinvent himself with a new, mysterious image. Once more, this led to a new name: that of Engelbert Humperdinck, the noted 19th century German composer of such classic operas as “Hansel and Gretel.” Thus he changed his name legally to his stage name at the height of his career. Looking and sounding much younger than his 74 years Engelbert Humperdinck, entertained a full house at the Rocks Hotel on Sunday 8th August as part of his world Legacy of Love tour. Playing to the applause after Let me into Your Life, Am I That Easy to Forget (1968)and Lonely is a Man without Love, he took a sip from a wine glass saying “I don’t drink as a rule, but as a habit. No alcohol has passed through these lips in 18 years,” he confessed, to the cheers of the audience. Then he admitted: “I also lie. If I don’t have a little drink before the night, I die.” As he joked with the audience saying, “I know what you’re thinking, ‘43 years have gone by and he still looks so young’ he began the song My Wife the Dancer and this was his cue to remove his jacket, take off his bow time and open the shirt and gyrate his hips. He will never be a Tom Jones in this department, but made a good effort, “for his age”. Bringing young mum of one Rachel from the audience he sat her on a chair and serenaded her with You Don’t Know Me whilst all the time flirting outrageously with her. She was young enough to be his grand-daughter but she played along, much to the amusement of the audience who, with catcalls and clapping lapped it up. After she wiped his sweaty chest with his handkerchief he draped it around her neck and sent the satisfied lady back to her seat. His No1 in UK in August 1967, The Last Waltz, encouraged several couples to take to the floor to recapture their memories of the first time they had heard this song. Wrapping up with a medley of old favourites, including There Goes My Everything, Les Bicyclettes de Belsize, This Moment in Time and Spanish Eyes he left the stage to thunderous applause and shouts of Encore, Encore. He came back saying “I was coming back anyway!”and sang My Way as his final number Finally leaving the stage in a red bathrobe he threw handkerchiefs to eager ladies clamouring to the front of the stage. It would seem his popularity transcends the generations and his easy manner and sophistication means that he continues to be unequalled in the world of entertainment. Marsha Marlowe 
Posted in: Events|Going out|Live Music
The aromas of summer9 Aug 2010
Dear Sis, Yes, Jashan’s Indian restaurant has opened on our estate. We went to the pre-opening night and it was OK. The food was not the best Indian I have had but it was their first night so leeway has to be given perhaps. They have done all they can to minimise the effect on us residents but the smell, when we get a southerly wind, is most unpleasant …smells of burnt offerings (and I know that smell only too well!). It is early days yet so we must be a little patient but I hope they can sort out their ventilation system. I do wonder though at the sense of painting the restaurant terracotta colour when in a couple of months it will have faded to a sickly pink. We went to see Dionne Warwick at The Rocks Hotel and she was great, a little throaty at times, well she is 69, but her son, David Elliott, who sang with her on a couple of numbers, is definitely lush. I am hoping to go and see Englebert Humperdinck there this week. He is 74 now you know so I wonder why he keeps going; surely he cannot need the money? The estate is starting to come alive now summer is truly here. Holiday home-owners are obviously coming soon as I see their houses being cleaned and gardens being tidied up. Its good when the place has more people around, makes it feel a little less isolated. Maybe we can have a street party…. poppadoms anyone? I am becoming increasingly more frustrated with the dumping of rubbish here. It’s everywhere. I walk the dogs along the old coast road in the mornings and there are supermarket plastic bags, old oil containers and so much more along the sides of the road. When will they learn that this island is a place of beauty and dumping rubbish anywhere is just lunacy. Even our new young Cypriot neighbours, having cut down a tree from their garden, just left the branches on the pavement. I had to go and ask him to move them and he just said “where”. Well, you can imagine…. I could have given him a good option but was polite and, even though it took a further 3 days, he has moved them. Result! I promise to write more often even though there is every chance I will soon just be a melted blob on the landscape of life. Oh and remember, don’t take life too seriously; no one gets out alive.
The photo is by Tracey Price from our living in northern cyprus photo group, our members have shared some fantastic pictures of Northern Cyprus you can view them here. Stay up to date with Northern Cyprus latest news, events, competitions and articles from Lincguide, by subscribing to our free service. Click here to activate Posted in: food
North Cyprus Legal advice August / Sept 20107 Aug 2010
Posted in: Legal Advice Sister Sledge @ the Rocks5 Aug 2010Another week and another great concert at the Rocks in Kyrenia. The Hotel and Casino has been flying over some of the greats recently to North Cyprus for concerts via their poolside. Paul Anka, Gloria Gaynor and Dionne Warwick have all given shows and this week it was Sister Sledge, the legendary girl group.
It is hard to believe, ‘The Sledge’ have been together for nearly 40 years and they have come along way since their first concerts singing in the choir at the Second Macedonia Baptist Church in Philadelphia, world tours, millions of records sold, tv and films – they have done the lot and unlike J-Lo refuse to let politics get in the way of a good time. As is usual at these concerts the Rocks makes sure the guests are well looked after, and the hospitality is almost as legendary as the acts who appear. The finest food and drink is supplied free of charge before a fantastic firework display by the poolside. Once the show was underway the girl (who really are sisters) performed all their hits including “We are family”, “Lost in Music” , and my favourite “He’s the greatest dancer”. Their backing band were terrific and the large crowd loved every second. Despite it being an extremely warm night with temperatures in the nineties, they gave it everything. Lets hope they are still going strong 40 years from now! Many thanks to Sabahat at the rocks for all their hospitality. Englebert Humperdink is next this weekend (you can get tickets from the rocks on +90 392 650 0400). Posted in: Live Music
Classic cars in North Cyprus4 Aug 2010My Dad has been living happily in North Cyprus now for several years and is a keen car fanatic, he is especially interested in classic cars and was surprised to find Cyprus had so many unusual and rare examples of old classics. Here is an article he wrote especially for Lincguide.
By P Graham Snr To the rest of the world Northern Cyprus is something of a mystery. It remains a relatively unspoilt part of the Mediterranean, which, has only started to modernise in the last 5 years or so. I noticed that a Vauxhall Viscount, Ford 100e, Opel rekord, 2 Mk2 Jaguars and and an FB Victor have all recently vanished from their resting places. All but the 2 jags being in good condition and very easily restored. Luckily there is a vibrant Classic car movement with at least one official club and also a number of small collections one of which includes a Riley RMA owned since new and immaculate. There is also a motor museum at the Near east university in Lefkosa. The collection of about 60 cars there are mostly the property of the universities founder Dr Suat Gunsel. The museum has a permanent staff of 6 engaged in restoring the vehicles and welcome visitors to take a look. Included is an Xk 120 Jaguar, one of the first hand built ones. Other cars include a Jowett Javelin, a Lotus Elan, a Morgan from 1936,a 1909 Buick and a 1906 Wolseley. By contrast there is also a Ford GT and a Lamborghini Murcielago. I have amassed a photograph collection of around 50 cars that are still there, mostly left abandoned and know of another 20 or so. The cars are not only confined to the North of the Island, I have observed many classic cars in the South, including a Mk10 Jaguar and an immaculate 1950′s Singer Hunter. Seeing these wonderful relics of yesteryear on a daily basis in Northern Cyprus is a reminder of the islands troubled history and the people who left this part of Cyprus. As the modernisation of Northern Cyprus continues the fate of the older abandoned cars in Cyprus is uncertain. For the lucky ones, some may become restoration projects returned to their former glory, but many will vanish forever. 
Posted in: Art & Culture|Going out
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