1. Virada Cultural event, Brazil
This gravity-defying image of Brazilian pianist Ricardo de Castro Monteiro was only one of many awe-inspiring performances during Sao Paulo’s Virada Cultural event on May 5 – 6. Other highlights of the festival included poetry readings, theatre performaces, wrestling and a woman suspended in the air by steel hooks.
2. Olympic flame, Greece
The countdown to the 2012 London Olympic games officially began this week with the lighting of the Olympic flame in Greece. Actress Ino Menegaki, dressed in robes, played the role of high priestess in front of the ruins of the Temple of Hera in ancient Olympia at the traditional lighting ceremony.
via redicecreations
3. Victory Day, Russia
I’ve already mentioned that May 9 is Victory Day over in Russia here in this week’s regional spotlight on Nokia Connects – so here’s a photo of the festivities to provide some visual stimulation. Red Square + military parade eat your heart out!
vie blogs.voa
4. Royal Ploughing Ceremony, Cambodia
Moving from a cold country to a hot one, May 9 was also the day of Cambodia’s Royal Ploughing Ceremony – a traditional ceremony aimed at forecasting the weather and crop yields for the coming season. Cambodians believe that they can predict the state of this year’s harvest based on what foods the royal oxen choose to eat following the Ploughing Ceremony procession.
via hungeree
5. Marilyn Monroe statue, Chicago
Last, but by no means least, is this bizarre photo of the semi-dismantled Marilyn Monroe statue in Chicago. The giant statue, called ‘Forever Marilyn’ showed the actress in her most famous stance from ‘The Seven Year Itch’ and has been described as one of the world’s worst public art eyesores’. Poor Marilyn!
