Ludasko lake

Belgrade, June, 24. (Serbia Today) - Ludas, the second largest lake in Northern Backa, is about 6 km long and covers the surface of 387 ha. The lake is home to a great number of bird species among which outstand sorrel and yellow heron, bittern, kingfisher, blue-throat thrush... On lake you can see rabbits, does, boars and otter. Around the lake, there are objects of particular cultural, historical and archeological value. You can visit traditional houses, salas places, local manifestations, drink wine on the sandy shores and enjoy traditional specialties. The lake is surrounded by settlements such as Hajdukovo, Nosa, Ludas and Supljak. It is 12 km east from Subotica and 7 km away from the road E-75 towards Horgos.

Ana Ivanovic: I found my true friends

Belgrade, June, 23. 2010 (Serbia Today) - One of the world’s most attractive tennis players, Ana Ivanovic, has recently come out of a rough period. During the UNICEF Open at Hertogenbosch, where she failed to qualify for the quarter-finals, Ana came to find who her true friends were during a prolonged spell of poor form on the women’s tour. Speaking in an interview for Dutch TV channel NOS, Ana revealed how she has dealt with the drop in the WTA rankings and futile attempts to rediscover her form of late. “I expect a lot from myself, and I am a perfectionist in a way. If something doesn’t go the way I planned, then it’s a big problem and it affects my mood. I think it’s important not to expect too much, to try and stay in one moment and try to work hard,” said Ivanovic, who has been struggling with form for months. “You just start losing matches you should be winning and there is no hope unless you work hard. I think everyone has to go through a rough patch like this in their careers. It’s hard, but it’s positive I can see who my real friends are now. They are those who still believe in me in these hard times,” said Ana, who reflected on the fact the media see her not only as a tennis player, but an attractive magazine cover girl. “I enjoy being photographed – you have your hair done, they do the makeup for you, dress you in nice clothes, and every girl loves that. On the other hand, it’s harder than the toughest tennis practice session,” said Ana and confirmed her focus in the future would be on tennis. It was a year ago, in the first days of the Wimbledon, that Ivanovic’s relationship with Australian golfer Adam Scott was revealed. “Ana and I share a lot. For the last year, which was very hard for me, she has been there for me, just as I have been there for her in times of trouble. I am sure this has only got us closer to each other and made us stronger,” said Adam Scott.

Deronje - kingdom of Tamburiza fest

Belgrade, June 23. 2010. (Serbia Today) The third world “Tamburitza fest 2010“ will be held from 25th to 27th June in Deronje. The orchestras from the following countries will compete for the title of the best tamburitza orchestra in 2010: Austria, Romania, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. Since it has been established, the festival in Deronje has been supported by the Government of the AP of Vojvodina and the Municipality of Odžaci, while this year’s “Tamburitza Fest“is also under the auspices of the People’s Office of the President of the Republic of Serbia. Tamburitza Fest is much more than a music festival, since it promotes, through organization of numerous accompanying events, tradition and cultural values of Odžaci, Vojvodina and Serbia, and greatly contributes to the improvement of the intercultural dialogue. Led by this, the Provincial Secretariat for Culture has included “Tamburitza Fest” in the list of events of special importance. Tamburitza Fest“ of Deronje is definitely evolving into the traditional festival, into the new brand mark on the cultural and tourist map of Serbia. Bearing in mind its great attendance rate – over 100, 000 visitors from Serbia and the surrounding countries – this Festival becomes, aside from the top entertainment event, an important place for development of tolerance, mutual trust and friendship at the multiethnic level. 

Come beck after defeat

Belgrade, June 22, 2010. (Serbia Today) Serbia won Germany football team 1:0 at the South Africa World cup. That victory in Port Elizabeth over 10-man Germany has put the squad back on track to progressing to the next stage. Coach Radomir Antić fielded this starting 11 for the Group D second round clash with Germany: Stojković, Kolarov, Ivanović, Vidić, Subotić, Krasić, Stanković Kuzmanović, Jovanović, Ninković and Žigić. German striker Miroslav Klose was sent off in the 37th minute after his tackle on Dejan Stanković earned him his second yellow card. A minute later, Krasić ran away along the right side, to pass the ball to Žigić in the box, who dropped it for Milan Jovanović. Jovanović scored from five meters to put Serbia ahead, and set the game's final result. 15 minutes into the second half, the referee awarded a penalty for Germany, but Serbian keeper Vladimir Stojković kept his country's World Cup hopes alive with a save. Serbia, Germany and Ghana now have three points each, with Ghana yet to play their second round game against Australia. Serbia will clash with Australia in the last round of the group stage, while Germany will square off with Ghana

Luc Besson to shoot in Belgrade

Belgrade, June 19. 2010. (Serbia Today) - Famous French director and producer Luc Besson is to film his next project – a science-fiction thriller named Lock Out – on location in Belgrade, writes daily Blic. Besson is pleased with the business cooperation with Serbian partners and film studios. His company, Europa Corp, has worked with Work In Progress and created movies such as District 13 Ultimatum (2008), Human Zoo (2009), and Big Picture (2009). After major success with the film Taken, Besson’s company decided to invest into a number of film projects, one of which will be Lock Out. It is yet to be disclosed what cast the film will include, but what is a fact at this stage is that the film will be directed by a duo of young Irish directors, Stephen St. Leger and James Mather. The movie is an outer space version of Prison Break with 500 of the world’s most dangerous convicts are being kept in an orbital space station 50km from Earth, named Section 8. All 500 hardened criminals are in state of deep hibernation, while sophisticated technology helps them wake up simultaneously, and there the action begins. The film will be produced in latest 3D technology, with the budget reported to be around $30 million.

Guca is getting closer and closer

Belgrade June 17. 2010. (Serbia Today) - The 50th Guca Trumpet Festival is scheduled from the period between 13 and 22 August and will feature 2.000 orchestras from fourteen countries battling for first prize. The final event of the competition, according to organizers, will be officially opened by Serbia president Boris Tadic. Also, visitors to the jubilee event will have an opportunity to hear the performances of Goran Bregovic and the Stars of Grand. The Best Trumpet competition will take place on Thursday, 19 August at 9pm. The interest of international orchestras is running high, with most individual applications coming from France – as many as five. Four bands from Slovenia and Poland have also applied to the organizers, as well as three orchestras from Macedonia and Slovakia and one orchestra from Israel. “We have scrutinised all applications and the documents they submitted. There was not enough room for everyone, so we have decided on 16 orchestras which will represent the 14 foreign nations at the Guca Trumpet Festival,” says Adam Tadic, Guca Cultural Centre director. Serbia will be represented by last year’s winners of the festival – Ekrem Mamutovic’s orchestra from Vranje and Dejan Petrovic’s orchestra from Duboko near Uzice. “We submitted the official programme of the festival and an invitation to be the patron of this year’s event to the Government of Serbia late last year. Also, president Boris Tadic has been officially invited to open the proceedings at Guca. We expect their positive replies,” says this year’s Guca Festival host Slobodan Jolovic.

Tiganjica - place to relax

Belgrade, June 17. 2010. (Serbia Today) - The etno village of Tiganjica is situated in Banat, the eastern part of Vojvodina, about ten kilometers away from the town of Zrenjanin, and two hour drive from Belgrade. It is placed at the very entrance to the Carska bara natural reserve, and in an imaginative way paints the picture of life in Banat. This ethno complex was built in the old “Banatian” style, and contains exact replicas of traditional Banatian houses. The complex has a total of six rooms, equipped with restored antique furniture. It is known for a big Banatian windmill, a beautiful park with floral alleys, ethno sculptures, and, of course, the “Trophy”, a restaurant that served as architectural basis for Tiganjica’s placement and image. The “Trophy” is a local favorite restaurant for wild game fine dining with an authentic hunting atmosphere. At the restaurant’s entrance, there is an open and decorated fireplace, where culinary masterpieces such as barbeque meals, fish dishes, stews, wild game entrees, and even home baked bread are being prepared. Tiganjica features a mini zoo, a charming artificial habitat of roosters, peacocks, does and ducks. But the trademark of the complex is Misa the bear, who, 13 years ago, under unfortunate circumstances, lost his mother. Misa was instantly adopted and grew into the zoo’s beloved chief star. As it is a part of a natural reserve, Tiganjica makes an attractive relaxing and leisure site. Refreshment can be found within a bathing resort, near the bridge of Zabalj. Even closer to the complex, there is a renovated sandy terrain, surrounding a lake and resembling a seaside resort. For those who prefer being active, there are horses available for riding.