August09 (IPP29, Greece, Rubik, Puzzle Ninja Meeting photos)

kastellorizo · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:52 am

Well, the month of August 2009, was BY FAR the craziest month in my entire life.
Please allow me to share all the moments.

For those who have slow connection, my apologies, but I also have little time!

I will be posting replies to this same thread until I have covered all photos.
The captions can tell some of the story behind each pic!

Pantazis

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First Stop: Sydney, meeting with Warwick, a Sydney puzzle collector
(mostly into pentominos etc). We spent five hours chatting before I had to to San Francisco!

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In USA! When I landed I met Dave Litwin and his wonderful kids.
And just a couple hours later, I *had* to go to Nick Baxter's open house auction
of some Ergatoudis collection puzzles. Lots of puzzles sold for peanuts!!! :-)

This photo with Oscar and Tom, was taken in the middle of the "raid"!

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Here, Bram and me are chatting about the jumbleabilty and deep cuts...!!!
(many thanks to the hotel for providing the appropriate spheres LOL)

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The next day, there was the visit to the Museum of Tutankhamun!
Just look at the city view from the top of the museum!

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The Cubedron figure is in fact, King Tut, which is why I hold it with me!
(many thanks to Juozas, who joined me in this trip!

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Puzzle Exchange! I was there, and so was Dave, and so were 100 IPP-edrons!!!

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And so was the Chu Chu Puzzle Train!

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Tanya was also there!

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Playing with Oskar's and Bram's puzzles, (i.e. being in puzzle paradise!)

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Interesting photo this one... from left to right, Jason, me, Dave (from Eureka
Puzzles - the first person who sold our Cubedron!), Oskar and his wife.

dextir · **Joined:** Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:10 am **Location:** Norway

Aww man! You are always around Pantazis

I dont know how you do it, but you pull it off:)

Looks amazing

Thanks for sharing the photos

<3 Alex

kastellorizo · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 7:05 am

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Me and the Japanese connection. Teddy Sakamoto is a really good friend! :-)

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Some of the Twisty Puzzle Forum gang!
(Jason, me, Adam, Dave)

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Never expect me and David Calvo to co-exist in a normal photo! LOL

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Me and Dave from Eureka Puzzles!

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Did I tell you that I literally re-stringed from scratch a friend's Flexible Hexagon?
(and I didn't even have to use any tool, just bare hands!)

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Me Dave Calvo and the marusenko spheres!

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Me, the Teraminx, and Adam!

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This is Mrs Wu, the wife of the Face Turning Octahedron inventor!

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And now for some puzzle display... no comments here!

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I said... no comments!!!!

kastellorizo · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 7:19 am

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More puzzles...

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Yes more puzzles.....

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Even more puzzles...!

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Many mathematical puzzle were displayed in those
glass boxes for the IPP people to view.

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Many have contributed to this display!

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Cali Meeting, Bram's talk. Oskar, Adam, and Dave
with his camera in the background.
(It took me a while to realise what was going on,
and I was standing like an idiot in the middle...
call it jetlag combined with being clueless!)

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Lots of droolicious puzzles! TBTTyler on the right.
Garrett on the left. And can anyone see Hendrik?

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Bridge time!!! (was a bit foggy, making the atmosphere more mysterious...)

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I am a bridge starfish! (yes I know, totally random)

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Juozas: I am folding starfish (now *that* is random!)

kastellorizo · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 7:32 am

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An interesting Dragon Puzzle in Sonoma's Museum.
(near George Miller's house)

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Now that is a HUGE Superplexus puzzle!
(but it moved so smoothly)

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At George Miller's home... some prototypes...
(in fact, I have a lots of photos, so I will only post
some nice ones!)

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Among others, the Cubedron prototype.
George helped me to make the first prototype in 2008.

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Nice view of more prototypes...

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This is George's workshop... and what do you know?
A Topsy Turvy puzzle!!! :mrgreen:

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Tom and his puzzle (also prototyped by George)

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Me and Kate Jones!

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Me and Akio Yamamoto!

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And guess who loves to play tennis in 40 degree Celsius heat
wearing long pants! Oscar!!! (note that there is one Oscar with "c"
and one Oskar with "k".

kastellorizo · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 7:46 am

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Me and George Miller!

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Me and Vladimir (meanwhile, Oskar is swimming inside the pool behind us)

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Awards night! Aquadron...!

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Krystalledron!

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Trihx, the Puzzle Ninja!

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The big winner: Katsuhiko san's Super Floppy Cube!

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Some of the twisty puzzle gang!

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Jason called to the stage to receive an award for his contribution!

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David Calvo performing some juggling + one hand solving tricks!!!

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Now this was the FUNNIEST moment of the entire IPP.
Two IPP members, were called to the scene so that two
crazy scientists could perform some sort of IQ testing.
LOL I was crying laughing when Oscar hit the bouncing ball
on the ground so hard, that it hit the rear of the the other member!!!
(and no, that was NOT planned LOLOLOLOL)

kastellorizo · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:01 am

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In Greece, Athens airport... receiving a puzzle present from
a well known Rubik's distributor... sorry but I cannot reveal
the super limited edition puzzle gift I received... at least not yet! 8-)

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Arriving to Kastellorizo island...

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Yes, this photo was taken three weeks ago!

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In beautiful and scenic Hungary...

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Traditional footpaths of Budapest...

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Oh yes, I also had to present a seminar at the European Conference!!!

I almost forgot to even go, because... (see next photo)

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... I had to go to Varosmayor street, and find Rubik Studio!

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To go there, you must go through a bridge, and then through a tunnel...!
(sounds like a video game, doesn't it???)

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A memorable photo with Prof. Erno Rubik, the Mt Everest of puzzlers!

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This is one of the Hungarian flea markets, some really rare puzzles
are usually found here! (many thanks to Gabor for bringing me there!)

kastellorizo · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:17 am

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In Singapore!

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The Puzzle Ninja Meeting starts with some puzzle displays... magics!

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Pi-Spheres and some old rare puzzles, as well as some new interesting ones!

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And the introductory talk resumes!

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The room was small, but cosy!

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Introducing the plan for MindStrat Puzzles.

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Singaporean speedsolvers... they are fast!

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ok... enough talk... time for action!

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The posters...

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Raymond, probably the biggest twisty puzzle collector in Singapore.
He came along with many of his puzzle heads, as well as his
collection of custom made puzzles! (Thanks Raymond!)

kastellorizo · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:25 am

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Some more nice puzzles...

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Some more...

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And some more!

Then, the speedsolving competition started...! 3x3x3, 4x4x4, and 5x5x5.

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kastellorizo · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:35 am

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More twisty puzzle competitions!

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And the highlight of the evening... the DoTS competition!!!

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It was so popular, almost everyone took part!

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The goal was to make all "4"s into "1"s.
The two first qualify, the two last are eliminated!!!

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Semifinals....

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The big final was very close and the adrenaline high...
the runner up lost by just a fraction of a second!

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The winners of the competitions, including Alexander Goh,
the big $1000 (+puzzle) winner of our speedcubedron competition!

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Aaaah... back in Australia, with a ton of puzzles, and a ton of things
to take care of!!!!

One of our priorities is to finish off some deals, and then take care of the
competition winners (please be a patient, we will contact you soon!)

I hope you enjoyed the photos.

Pantazis

Bumrang · **Joined:** Sat Sep 05, 2009 8:38 pm **Location:** Here.

Look's awesome. I wish I knew because I live in CA too. When was this?

Apollo · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:34 am

thank-you again for sharing your adventures with us. I always love reading your posts and viewing the amazing pictures.

TBTTyler · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:38 am

Just WOW!!
That's probably one of the coolest trips I've ever seen anybody take!!

Jared · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:15 pm

Bumrang wrote:

Look's awesome. I wish I knew because I live in CA too. When was this?

If you're thinking you missed out on the IPP, each one is a private event, so you need to be invited.

kastellorizo · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:21 pm

Jared wrote:

Bumrang wrote:

Look's awesome. I wish I knew because I live in CA too. When was this?

If you're thinking you missed out on the IPP, each one is a private event, so you need to be invited.

Yes, that is true for the IPP, but there was also the California Meeting, which was for all twisty puzzle fans!
(and it was quite a meeting!!!)

Pantazis

David Calvo · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:38 pm

Thans for sharing the pictures that make all your comments about your journey a reality!!

And who says you and me could not share a normal picture? The one in front of the Marusenko Sphere stand is pretty normal!

In fact, one out of two is just a 50% of "normallity".... (Good way to lie, cause we both know that there are tons of ankward ones... ahhaha)

Kapusta · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:54 pm

Wow, that's simply amazing. Usually I don't post on these event threads, but this one was just unbelievable! And congrats on meeting Erno Rubik!

Garrett · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 5:42 pm

Wow. One "wow" doesn't cover it. WOW!

That's better

Looks like an amazing puzzle trip. I'm so glad I could be a small part of it! Nice meeting you, Dave, David Calvo, and all the others who went to the CCE.

sausage · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:38 pm

Staggeringly cool post! Thanks so much for all the pictures, so great to see all you guys in the flesh (kind of).

Pantazis, maybe next trip I'll hide in your luggage.

kastellorizo · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:17 pm

Thanks everyone for the lovely comments!

My goal will always be to spread interest in puzzles, and I hope I am doing ok.

@ David Calvo: How was Las Vegas? hehehe, By the way, I met one of the Marusenko guys
at the check in (in SF airport), and he saw me wearing the marusenko shirt. He said: "TEN POINTS FOR YOU!"

@ Kapusta: LOL thanks, I am glad I made you post here!

@ Garrett: I am sure we will meet again in another future Cali meeting!

@ sausage: ok ok then... in the future, whoever of the two of us travels,
must bring the other one in his luggage... deal?

Now let me look in my wish list... whom I have not met yet... hmmm... Tony, Katsuhiko-san,
Jaap, Hidetoshi-san, Geert, Andrew, Tim, Wayne, Sandy, Aleksey, Darren, Aleh, Stefan, Richard,
Taylor, Matt, Klara, Celia, Juan, Sven, Mark, Vadim, Ton, Jean Louis, Frank, Bryan, Scott, Tom, Kyler,
a few more Davids(!!!)... seems this list has still more than 50 people!
Oh well... time to book some more tickets then!

As for Rox, every time I meet her is like the first time! (Isn't that the most romantic thing you have ever heard? LOL)

8-)

Pantazis

sausage · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:29 pm

kastellorizo wrote:

@ sausage: ok ok then... in the future, whoever of the two of us travels,
must bring the other one in his luggage... deal?

Done!

kastellorizo wrote:

Wayne

Next time, I'm just driving down. 6 hour return trip won't kill me.

You know, perhaps a twistypuzzles.com world summit may not be too crazy an idea one day.

elijah · **Joined:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:55 am **Location:** WA, USA

kastellorizo wrote:

Now let me look in my wish list... whom I have not met yet... hmmm... Tony, Katsuhiko-san,
Jaap, Hidetoshi-san, Geert, Andrew, Tim, Wayne, Sandy, Aleksey, Darren, Aleh, Stefan, Richard,
Taylor, Matt, Klara, Celia, Juan, Sven, Mark, Vadim, Ton, Jean Louis, Frank, Bryan, Scott, Tom, Kyler,
a few more Davids(!!!)... seems this list has still more than 50 people!
Oh well... time to book some more tickets then!

I think your still missing a few!

kastellorizo · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:06 pm

elijah wrote:

I think your still missing a few!

Well, just because I did not mention them, that doesn't mean they are not in my list!

And as stated, this is my wish list for those puzzlers that I have *not* met yet.
In the recent past, I was fortunate to have already met quite a few already (i.e. Panagiotis,
Uwe, Oskar, Erno, etc)

8-)

Pantazis

Darren Grewe · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:13 pm

kastellorizo wrote:

Darren

Pantazis

Thank you I feel so honored. I'm so jealous of you also.

katsmom · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:14 pm

kastellorizo wrote:

As for Rox, every time I meet her is like the first time! (Isn't that the most romantic thing you have ever heard? LOL)

Aren't you just the sweetest thing! I can't wait to meet you again for the first time in January! Along with a few others that should be ariving :wink:

Maybe then I won't be so envious of your recent adventure.

Thanks for all the photos. Now when is that webpage of yours going to be updated?????

kastellorizo · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:22 pm

Darren Grewe wrote:

Thank you I feel so honored. I'm so jealous of you also.

You will also not escape from meeting me! LOL Your days are numbered!!! :lol:

(not that anything bad will happen, I just want to make it sound more... adventurous!)

katsmom wrote:

kastellorizo wrote:

As for Rox, every time I meet her is like the first time! (Isn't that the most romantic thing you have ever heard? LOL)

Aren't you just the sweetest thing! I can't wait to meet you again for the first time in January! Along with a few others that should be ariving :wink:

Maybe then I won't be so envious of your recent adventure.
Thanks for all the photos. Now when is that webpage of yours going to be updated?????

I also cannot wait! There will be few more surprises too!

As for my collection website, if you remember last year, the IPP28 "arrivals" were updated just before
I flew to Singapore and Vietnam (early December). So I hope this time, I could do it faster than that!

:lol:

Pantazis

Ben · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:01 pm

Dr. Pantazis,

It sounds like you had an awesome month, and I'm very jealous at how much you got to travel!

Even if I am able to go anywhere without any worries, I honestly don't think I would have the will to do so much!

-Ben

wozzarelli · **Posted:** Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:16 pm

I'm honoured to be the first stop on such a historic journey!

Warwick.

kastellorizo · **Posted:** Fri Sep 11, 2009 4:01 am

Ben wrote:

Dr. Pantazis, It sounds like you had an awesome month, and I'm very jealous at how much you got to travel!
Even if I am able to go anywhere without any worries, I honestly don't think I would have the will to do so much!
-Ben

It wasn't too bad... just my body-clock is completely dismantled!!! :lol:

(for example, nowadays I have breakfast at... 8pm)

wozzarelli wrote:

I'm honoured to be the first stop on such a historic journey!

Warwick.

Same here! It was lovely to meet you.

In fact, it was one of those super rare cases where I travel to Sydney,
especially as my usual main route is through my beloved Singapore.

And please keep me updated with the collector TV series! I won't want to miss that.
(If possible, video-record it!)

Pantazis

512456 · **Joined:** Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:54 am **Location:** Malaysia

For the Puzzle Ninja Meeting, I do have some photos that I posted to my blog here:
http://alexgohblogs.blogspot.com/2009/0 ... eting.html

kastellorizo · **Posted:** Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:41 pm

512456 wrote:

For the Puzzle Ninja Meeting, I do have some photos that I posted to my blog here:
http://alexgohblogs.blogspot.com/2009/0 ... eting.html

Nice photos Alex! Also, we will contact you and others within the next two weeks to finalise the speed-cubedron
competition details for the awards (and I must admit, your transfer suggestion is a very efficient one!).

Pantazis

flambore · **Posted:** Sun Sep 13, 2009 8:38 pm

Fantastic photos! Must've been a fantastic month traveling like that. I hope to do that someday.

August09 (IPP29, Greece, Rubik, Puzzle Ninja Meeting photos)

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