And so starts the aussie adventure.
We landed 5 hours ago in Perth, after a 6-hour long flight from Brunei.
I confirm, Brunei is a very boring place and Malaysia is certainly worth the trip. People are always very friendly although they tend to say "OK" or "yes" to everything we ask about. We later do notice that they did not understand the question at all. No worries though.
Our last night in Brunei was particular. We stayed in the same (and only) Youth Hostel in Brunei, where I met Kaku, a japanese backpacker, Arnaud and Severine, a french couple, a german bloke and some bruneian kids. The night was spent with some heavy Poi and Juggling practice at the hostel entrance. All 4 of us, Kaku (learning Poi), Beck, Bron and I taking the whole area for ourselves. Portishead was the right music for the moment, a slow and moody beat influencing with some drama the improvised choreographies (my Behind-The-Back 3 beat weave is half through).
Aus is much drier and for the present being, cooler (as in cold) than Malaysia. They are optimistic and expect 38˚C for christmas day:D
Going through aussie customs was... fun. I was submitted to a small interview in order to make them understand what I am doing here. Illegal immigration is a problem, my actual visa is only valid for 3 months and I am not authorized to work. If I'd want to move in here (which may well happen), the sponsorship of a company might be required to obtain a bigger or permanent visa.
Other than that, they did not like our juggling balls. After opening a stitch of one of them and seeing that they are filled with seeds, these got confiscated. Now the funny side is, my swiss army knife was in my hand luggage and they just ignored it. They are seriously more worried about pests brought in by travellers than about people trying to hijack a plane with a McGyver knife.
Tomorrow's a big day, I want to meet up with another traveller and see if we can establish a travel plan to ride together. I hate traveling alone (even if backpacking involves meeting heaps of people along the way).
Still, pics are for later...
Cheers mate,
n.-
Dec 19, 2007
Dec 15, 2007
Seramat Pagi
The first name of our SE Asia passage was Brunei, which is a waste of time if staying more than 1 day. It's a very wealthy Sultanate and besides the town on water, the monkeys and the mosque, there is not much to see.
So Malaysia, namely KK (Kota Kinabalu) was an easy choice. It's the capital of Sabah (the northern malaysian part).
It's hot and humid here (duuuh, we're just above the equator line). It rains everyday around the same time in the evening but there is no real rush to run into cover.
Terima Kasih is our word of choice to make the locals giggle. It means "thank you" and us being some of the few westerners around, it's easy to understand why.
This place is not overly touristy (yet) and prices are (very) decent. We can eat for 5-10 Ringet, which converts 1:5 with EUR.
A normal routine goes around, taking a boat to a nearby island and enjoy its beach, snorkle and/or dive, come back, have dinner while seating outside next to the ocean followed by have an hour-long massage, stroll through the markets, have some local snacks...
I'll go more in depth the next time, I can't spend too much time online right now and post pictures.
n.-
So Malaysia, namely KK (Kota Kinabalu) was an easy choice. It's the capital of Sabah (the northern malaysian part).
It's hot and humid here (duuuh, we're just above the equator line). It rains everyday around the same time in the evening but there is no real rush to run into cover.
Terima Kasih is our word of choice to make the locals giggle. It means "thank you" and us being some of the few westerners around, it's easy to understand why.
This place is not overly touristy (yet) and prices are (very) decent. We can eat for 5-10 Ringet, which converts 1:5 with EUR.
A normal routine goes around, taking a boat to a nearby island and enjoy its beach, snorkle and/or dive, come back, have dinner while seating outside next to the ocean followed by have an hour-long massage, stroll through the markets, have some local snacks...
I'll go more in depth the next time, I can't spend too much time online right now and post pictures.
n.-
Dec 3, 2007
Dedicatória
O que precisava era mesmo alguém assim como tu
Eras o estilo certo para mim, quero ficar contigo até ao fim
Nunca tive ninguem como tu mas sempre the procurei
Agora que te encontrei, que te vi, quero ficar contigo até ao fim
Good old times of 1997 when good rhymes and low budget walked hand in hand.
n.-
Eras o estilo certo para mim, quero ficar contigo até ao fim
Nunca tive ninguem como tu mas sempre the procurei
Agora que te encontrei, que te vi, quero ficar contigo até ao fim
Good old times of 1997 when good rhymes and low budget walked hand in hand.
n.-
Nov 29, 2007
The time has come...
... (again and) today ! At least for some of the details of my departure.
I hate goodbyes, I have this strange and uncomfortable feeling, having to say goodbye and spending a day or two seeing people, do this, do that... If only it would all go so fast as a snap of my fingers. So I am doing what I can to achieve this while also not leaving people upset. It's not really an issue to not say goodbye, my feelings about the people don't change when I don't visit someone or don't send a letter/e-mail etc... but then again, emotions do have to be expressed, how else are people know you will miss them.
But this feels like I will be away forever! I better ignore my own complainin', the amount of stuff to do, pack or organize is just driving me nuts. I better just lift my arse and go see people before I leave. People can't really guess how much I can miss them, not everyone has the gift/curse of telepathy.
DISCLAIMER: If anyone is reading this and I did not bid farewell, it means I just forgot about you for a moment, because I was already thinking about so much more stuff.
As a personal reminder, something worth engraving in my stubborn head, I have to express feelings to the people I love, to the girls I love. I don't mean saying "Je t'aime", "I love you" or "Amo-te" every single day, I mean expressing it more than with just a look once in a while. It's about avoiding being boring/predictible/repetitive and still showing there is care coming out of the pounding chest for them.
I always wanted to write someone a love song. I never decided on anything decent because my lyrics were just too plain and direct, they had no (good) little word tricks, metaphores or insinuations. I will have 2 months to stop thinking about computers, my job and customers... and spend some time with some books, a moleskin, a sketchpad, my MP3 player and my digital camera. I'll see if there is enough freedom to let it flow...
n.-
PS: How often did I tell myself that I am just loving Bat for Lashes and that they'll go with me to Australia?
Nov 24, 2007
Only you
We suffer everyday, what is it for
These crimes of illusion, are fooling us all
And now I am weary and I feel like I do
It's only you, who can tell me apart
And it's only you, who can turn my wooden heart
The size of our fight, it's just a dream
We've crushed everything I can see, in this morning selfishly
How we've failed and I feel like I do
It's only you, who can tell me apart
And it's only you, who can turn my wooden heart
Now that we've chosen to take all we can
This shade of autumn, a stale bitter end
Years of frustration lay down side by side
And it's only you, who can tell me apart
And it's only you, who can turn my wooden heart
It's only you, who can tell me apart
And it's only you, who can turn my wooden heart
These crimes of illusion, are fooling us all
And now I am weary and I feel like I do
It's only you, who can tell me apart
And it's only you, who can turn my wooden heart
The size of our fight, it's just a dream
We've crushed everything I can see, in this morning selfishly
How we've failed and I feel like I do
It's only you, who can tell me apart
And it's only you, who can turn my wooden heart
Now that we've chosen to take all we can
This shade of autumn, a stale bitter end
Years of frustration lay down side by side
And it's only you, who can tell me apart
And it's only you, who can turn my wooden heart
It's only you, who can tell me apart
And it's only you, who can turn my wooden heart
Nov 19, 2007
klaxons
This was a speed job, I just showed up late, waited 10 mins in the exctatic crowd and experienced a 1hr or so long (short) concert.
My hopes were the lowest possible. How could they not be, after watching so many crappy live performances on youtube?
But here's a dedication to today's effort. Of course we (munich) were not treated any better than any other location they played at, but I appreciate the relatively good surprise. The crowd liked it a lot though, judging from the jumping and crowd-surfing.
Here's "It's not over yet" in some of its several shapes;
A Klaxons studio recording:
... out of tune maaaan! Get your singing sorted out or stay out of booze and drugs!
The original (unless you did not know, klaxons covered the song),
pretty much an 80-90s reminescent dance song and very typical video.
... and tonight's performance:
... pretty much okay, isn't it? I thought so. I have some samples of "Golden Skans", "Magick", "Two Receivers" and a single not included on the album.
The pics look pretty shit, here are the best ones anyway:
n.-
My hopes were the lowest possible. How could they not be, after watching so many crappy live performances on youtube?
But here's a dedication to today's effort. Of course we (munich) were not treated any better than any other location they played at, but I appreciate the relatively good surprise. The crowd liked it a lot though, judging from the jumping and crowd-surfing.
Here's "It's not over yet" in some of its several shapes;
A Klaxons studio recording:
... out of tune maaaan! Get your singing sorted out or stay out of booze and drugs!
The original (unless you did not know, klaxons covered the song),
pretty much an 80-90s reminescent dance song and very typical video.
... and tonight's performance:
... pretty much okay, isn't it? I thought so. I have some samples of "Golden Skans", "Magick", "Two Receivers" and a single not included on the album.
The pics look pretty shit, here are the best ones anyway:
n.-
Nov 17, 2007
Interpol
Showing up late at the venue, I barely managed to see the Blonde Redhead, but I will definitely be (re)searching about them and add them to my ToDo list.
This was also the night to put my camera to the test. I was pretty impressed... this means I'll be carrying it to concerts quite frequently.
After working through some SMS and the crowd, I finally met the people I was supposed to. Joanna even managed with a subtle perseverance to get the setlist.
The performance was really good, sound was fab, all to make it quite a soul-penetrating experience without the need for drugs or alcohol. Some guy decided to smoke the strongest joint ever and all the smoke twirling around us might have influenced... I can't really tell.
And now some video memories of the event.
Upcoming, Klaxons on sunday and Joshua Bell on monday.
n.-
This was also the night to put my camera to the test. I was pretty impressed... this means I'll be carrying it to concerts quite frequently.
After working through some SMS and the crowd, I finally met the people I was supposed to. Joanna even managed with a subtle perseverance to get the setlist.
The performance was really good, sound was fab, all to make it quite a soul-penetrating experience without the need for drugs or alcohol. Some guy decided to smoke the strongest joint ever and all the smoke twirling around us might have influenced... I can't really tell.
And now some video memories of the event.
Upcoming, Klaxons on sunday and Joshua Bell on monday.
n.-
Nov 16, 2007
Ich glaube ich könnte kotzen
Anger management
No more mr. Nice-guy-oh-Munich-is-just-so-nice attitude!
This morning, I thought I could just break somebody's neck/face/ with a nice long kung-fu blow!
Jeeeesus! When these guys (germans) strike and they tell us there are backup measures, I will stay at friggin'home.
I need 2 transportation means btw home and work. A subway followed by a train when going to work, and vice-versa on the way back.
Not only is that train the most delayed train in town, but there's a 2-day strike going on too. I had everything planned, I would take the subway at a specific time, which would allow me to be at the train station and wait max 10mins for the train, which is expected to arrive every hour at the same minute. I considered the actual climate, COLD ,when thinking that I did NOT want to wait outside too long! Murphy's Law stepped in... and there were no subways... at least when I needed them... Maaaan, does this shit happen in Barcelona, Berlin or Paris?
I felt like I was in a country with a lesser transportation system where the companies would not inform their customers about the shit that was going on...
The more I write about it, the more I have the feeling I am making a storm in a glass of water (as we say in portuguese)...
I had to relieve my tension and I had nowhere to release it upon... until now.
Done, I feel better already!
Definition of the day, here.
n.-
No more mr. Nice-guy-oh-Munich-is-just-so-nice attitude!
This morning, I thought I could just break somebody's neck/face/
Jeeeesus! When these guys (germans) strike and they tell us there are backup measures, I will stay at friggin'home.
I need 2 transportation means btw home and work. A subway followed by a train when going to work, and vice-versa on the way back.
Not only is that train the most delayed train in town, but there's a 2-day strike going on too. I had everything planned, I would take the subway at a specific time, which would allow me to be at the train station and wait max 10mins for the train, which is expected to arrive every hour at the same minute. I considered the actual climate, COLD ,when thinking that I did NOT want to wait outside too long! Murphy's Law stepped in... and there were no subways... at least when I needed them... Maaaan, does this shit happen in Barcelona, Berlin or Paris?
I felt like I was in a country with a lesser transportation system where the companies would not inform their customers about the shit that was going on...
The more I write about it, the more I have the feeling I am making a storm in a glass of water (as we say in portuguese)...
I had to relieve my tension and I had nowhere to release it upon... until now.
Done, I feel better already!
Definition of the day, here.
n.-
Nov 14, 2007
(healthy) time wasting as my doctor said
Images
Wow, this fellow sure applies some effort to his creations. http://www.chris-anthony.com/
Music
I am a member for a short time and still in the slow charming process of Last.Fm. Not tired of sharing online a whole wealth of shit and (shitty) oppinions on stuff (facebook, blog, forums, etc...), this platform allows me to share:
Wow, this fellow sure applies some effort to his creations. http://www.chris-anthony.com/
Music
I am a member for a short time and still in the slow charming process of Last.Fm. Not tired of sharing online a whole wealth of shit and (shitty) oppinions on stuff (facebook, blog, forums, etc...), this platform allows me to share:
- my taste, by specifically choosing songs;
- my listening habits, by letting iTunes, WMP and XBMC put in the "Recently Played" category the songs they play.
Tonight, after handling some burocracy at home while listening to some Kanye West (Flashing Lights is so yum...), 50cent and DJ Danger Mouse, I started the (Last.Fm) console, right-clicked on the first of my Neighbors and choose to play her radio...
Maaaan, I haven't heard Mew in so long, then comes Klaxons, digitalism... wow, this listener is cool.... then some unknown names show up, Tiger Lou (Sweden), Shiny Toy Guns (US), Plain White T's (US)...
This reminds me of the times of my search for music when I knew nobody that liked what I did. Back then I used a prog that would almost randomly propose me some stuff and that was when I listened to Fela Kuti, Louise Attaque and others I can't remember... audio-grabber... -scrobbler... -something... yeah, I think it was something like that...
Oh, juuuust great! By listening to Burning from The Whitest Boy Alive I noticed I just took it mistaken for a Kings of Convenience song for a little while now. As I listen to Radar at work (details posted here) and they don't display what they play, this kind of correction's pretty welcome and let's admit it, I don't like to be mistaken for somebody else either... except if his surname is Pitt and has an amazon as a wife.
And now (still on Last.Fm) this...
... the sound quality is pretty shite but it still is the sound of unavoidable shaking...
Aaaarrgggh... I'm dying because I can't get off the hook... ENOUGH! I'll disconnect, just add some more characters, a couple of CRs and call it a day!
N.-
Nov 8, 2007
Lights
I still love the light oh baby
Keeps me awake but I don't mind
Everything I always wanted
Is right there but soon it won't be
If fortune favors the brave
I am as awful as they come
I got a million things to say
I got a million things to
I still love the light oh baby
Keeps me awake but I don't mind
Everything I always wanted
Is right there but soon it won't be
If fortune favors the brave
I am as awful as they come
I got a million things to say
I got a million things to
I still love the light oh baby
I still love the light oh baby
I still love the light oh baby
I still love the light oh baby
If fortune favors the brave
I am as awful as they come
I got a million things to say
I got a million things to
A million things to say
A million things to say
Yesterday's concert was great! With a fab first half, a mild second one and a small negative note to Munich, I still loved it. Tom Smith did bring a lot of the brio to the show.
n.-
Keeps me awake but I don't mind
Everything I always wanted
Is right there but soon it won't be
If fortune favors the brave
I am as awful as they come
I got a million things to say
I got a million things to
I still love the light oh baby
Keeps me awake but I don't mind
Everything I always wanted
Is right there but soon it won't be
If fortune favors the brave
I am as awful as they come
I got a million things to say
I got a million things to
I still love the light oh baby
I still love the light oh baby
I still love the light oh baby
I still love the light oh baby
If fortune favors the brave
I am as awful as they come
I got a million things to say
I got a million things to
A million things to say
A million things to say
Yesterday's concert was great! With a fab first half, a mild second one and a small negative note to Munich, I still loved it. Tom Smith did bring a lot of the brio to the show.
n.-
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