Mediaboss Marketing

A place to relax ... an Iranian woman emerges from the water after riding a jetski at Kish Island. Photo: Getty Images

As the scorching rays of the Middle Eastern sun bore down, I plunged into the sea, desperately happy to feel cool water against my skin. I had been wrapped in a hijab all day in 45-degree heat. A dip at the beach offered the only respite.

But in the Islamic Republic of Iran, women must not show their hair or skin, let alone wear bikinis in public. A woman caught wearing a miniskirt could be sentenced to 50 lashes. Could wearing a bikini land me in jail?

With its white-sand beaches, tax-free shopping and luxury hotels, Kish Island is the Iranian equivalent of Hawaii or Bali. It's well known for being more relaxed than the mainland and is popular with holidaying Persians. Iranian women can be a bit more carefree, mingling with the opposite sex, riding jet skis and walking on the beach with their headscarves loosened and trousers rolled up. But this island is no Ibiza. The strict laws of the Islamic regime apply.

Advertisement: Story continues below

Dancing is forbidden, as I discovered while watching a live Farsi band at a restaurant. Iranians make do with clapping their hands to the music.

Though beachside touts offered me bootleg booze in whispered hisses ("Absolut vodka? Johnnie Walker?"), alcohol is otherwise illegal, meaning no pina coladas by the pool. And while the island is surrounded by calm beaches fringed by swaying palm trees, men and women are forbidden to swim together. A bikini in public? It seemed unlikely.

There is one place on the island where bikinis and skimpy thongs are permitted, however: behind the three-metre walls of a women-only beach.

Eager to escape the sweaty confines of my hijab, I paid the entrance fee and passed a security desk, staffed by uniformed female security guards, to ensure no cameras or mobile phones made it past the gate.

Beyond the doors was a beach that could have been anywhere in the world. The sand was lined with umbrellas and towels. A kiosk served cold drinks and food. There was even a scuba diving centre.

See the original post here:
From hijab to skimpy bikini: behind the walled beach

OK, we admit it – we miss the ‘90s! And with their dancefloor-filling crowdpleaser hits like Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, We’re Going To Ibiza and We Like to Party, it’s high-time Amsterdam’s The Vengaboys hopped on their Vengabus and paid us another visit down under to share their mad uplifting tracks again.

Vengaboy Kim Sasabone chatted to JoyFM’s Kyle and Kane ahead of the four-piece poppers’ Aussie tour next month…

KIM: Hi Kyle and Kane! How cute are those names? Kyle and Kane…

KANE: I know, they’re so similar. In Australia, we all start with a ‘K’ (laughs).

I know, Kath and Kim!

KYLE: You’ll fit in!

KANE: You will! We’ll welcome you with open arms here.

I know and we’re so super excited to come down to Australia. We’re really looking forward to it.

KANE: Kim, have you been to Australia before?

Yes, we’ve been to Australia before but that was such a long time ago, about ten or twelve years ago.

KYLE: Well, it’s fantastic here. The sun doesn’t stop shining, it never rains – everything’s perfect. (laughs)

I know! And, you know, in January here in the Netherlands, the weather is so cold so we’re so happy to come and be in Australia in the warmth and the sun and the beaches and everything.

KANE: Well, Kim, it seems Australia loves the Vengaboys – you’ve got three shows in Melbourne alone. The first two have already sold out and you’ve put on a third show. What do you think it is about the Vengaboys that Australia loves?

I couldn’t believe it when I heard that we had almost all of the Australian shows sold out. Three times in Melbourne – isn’t that great? I think Australians are really into partying and positive, uplifting music. We sold platinum and double platinum back in the day in Australia and the reception was always really, really good. We have so much fun with sold out shows.

We used to do all these meet and greets and in-store signing sessions, which were always so crowded with so many lovely people – we met so many great people over there.

KYLE: Well, I remember being at school and the Vengaboys craze was going off – everyone would talk about the Vengaboys so it’s always really exciting to hear a band like that is coming back to Australia. Also, The Best of the Vengaboys album is being released here in time for Christmas.

That’s so hilarious. I just found out that not so long ago that the album was going to be released. It’s a special Australian tour edition – how cool is that? I posted it on my Facebook and immediately there were so many reactions of people like, “I need to have that album!” and “Please bring a few from Australia!” People here in Europe are really happy for us and they’re so excited.

KANE: Now, one of the questions on the tip of everyone’s tongue here – well, it’s on mine and Kyle’s tongue – is, does the ‘Vengabus’ actually exist?

It does.

KYLE: You’d get asked that all the time but surely it’s just going to be hidden away in a little factory somewhere or do you party on it?

Yeah, it doesn’t really… he’s not alive anymore…

KANE: Oh no.

He still exists but we couldn’t get it out of the garage because it’s stored somewhere but that’s where it actually all started with…

KYLE: ‘We Like to Party’.

KANE: Yeah, it did – on the ‘Vengabus’.

Yep.

KYLE: Where would the Vengabus travel? If it could travel anywhere?

Oh wow, that’s a really hard question because we were so fortunate to see so many great places in the world and there are so many great places we wanted to go back and we’re so happy to come back to Australia. Yeah, so I think Australia, at this time, would be number one. The Vengabus would come to Australia.

KYLE: Great! It’s a flying Vengabus.

See original here:
Music: Make some noise for the Vengaboys!

24-01-2012 16:33 Ibiza Beaches Salinas

See original here:
Ibiza Beaches Salinas - Video

07-09-2011 04:17 Cala Moli - http://www.onthebeach.co.uk Take only a 15 minute drive or bus journey from either San Jose or San Antonio to the secluded beach of Cala Moli and you will experience the pure unspoiled beauty of Ibiza. Set at the end of a 'Torrent' (a cleft in the hillside) this beautiful pebble beach with its crystal clear waters, attracts many tourist and locals year on year who enjoy the castaway feeling of tranquillity. Small caves that sit at the foot of the ocean reflect the glorious climate and are great for snorkelling and sampling the marine life of the Mediterranean. Not lined with sun loungers or commercial parasols the beach is natural and the only sight of modern day facilities are found at the beachside bar ,which also boasts a pool with loungers. Do take notice that these facilities are only available to the clients or paying guests.

See more here:
Cala Moli - Ibiza holidays, Balearics - Video

16-08-2011 09:17 youtube.com IBIZA - The party is in full effect and the bubbly is flowing at the Blue Marlin Beach Club party. It's hot outside and bottles of Moet

See the rest here:
Blue Marlin Ibiza - Beach Club Opening Party 2011 | FashionTV - FTV.com - Video