Big Brother is watching You

Yo yo yo!! Tudo bom???

I'm gonna totaly ignore the fact that we're back in Sweden and focus on what we have done these days since the last post. We've been busy!!! We've been extremely busy! Having fun ;-)

Copa, Copacabanaaa lalallallaaa =)

After a really nice stay with Alex and Jackie at the Hostel we left for another lovely bus trip. This time only 8 hours, first stop at least. Maybe that was even better as we had been living after the wrong hour for 3 days... Well, it's not that hard as we haven't had a watch for 3 weeks but when we book a trip we do need to catch the bus as well right? So we had been living on Rio time in Salvador, no biggie except that we had dinner last night there at 6pm.... does not happen... not even in Sweden... =) And we really needed some nice calm time after being rather rude to people.... Can you imagine the two of us being rude?? NO neither can I but we had to. At the beach in Salvador for example, after a certain hour there was a rush of guys wanting to talk or wahtever and it really doesn't help pretending you don't speak portuguese. Really, no change for that and it's actually rather interesting as most of the guys wanting to know us, in english, had an extremely limited english. So what do they do? They explain that they come from Brazil, ok i got that one some time ago... Then their name and that was about it. SO instead of realising there will not be much more, they took a seat next to our spots and just sat there. Then the next one could come and so on... Imagine that! =)

So we actually ended up feeling rude at the end of the days. I've never read as much on a beach before so I guess something good comes with the bad as well. However we were also told by a brazilian that we were acting rude and should socialise more instead of hiding our heads in our books. Well, forst of all, can't help we're pretty. Secondly, i still wonder what is expected if you started having a conversation following their intensions? Talk and then sex on the beach or what?? We haven't figured out really. We're pretty blessed anyway =) But it's interesting I must admit and quite some difference to Sweden...

One thing we thought about is how this whole thing works in Sweden... What pick up lines do guys use in Sweden? What are the approaches and how is the persistance? We concluded this theory quite shortly after opening the discussion: we don't date swedes... ;-)

Speaking of people without borders, we got some extra luggage at the hostel. An extremely annoying american or more exactly a free loader who was joining us to Itacaré.... Well he wasn't really joining us, rather stalking us. Alex had told him that we were going to Itacaré so he asked for some tips and nice as we are we gave him tip and all of a sudden he was our best friend and was nothing else but joining us. However, I don't mind people, both me and Fishy are really openminded and love to meet new people. But what we don't like are freeloaders. People who just take things for granted and wount do a thing if not really necessary. Fishy & me made up our minds and checked hostels and buses and took help from Alex to book tickets and all of a sudden we were 3 persons going. Doesn't end there. Fishy and me arranged taxi and there was not even one single question of this bloke could come with us or a question of how we were getting there. The only thing we heard was "So are we going out to the taxi?"

I've never been so embarrased taking a cab before. Fishy couldn't bare the guy and I did what I could to be patient. We got in the cab and Fichy & me greeted the driver who was really sweet. But we had hardly closed the doors until the annoying luggage asked "how much?" I took a look at Fishy and couldn't believe my ears. The cab driver asked in Portuguese where we were heading and the american just kept on asking How much. At first I didn't want to say a thing but I felt sorry for the driver and told him in Portuguese that we were heading to the bus station and that we prefer he use the taxametre. The driver looked reliefed. Then the american turned to us and said he was also fixing a price in advance, i wonder how that was possible since he didn't speak portuguese but didn't bother to comment.

So yeah, I had to do the talk for him as well for the entire trip. Thank god he didn't stay at our hostel, we would probably have changed it. When we arrived we were asked by a cute boy if he could help us but we already knew where to go. The boy worked for a project in this place where they show tourists to their hostels, don't even think it'll cost you anything unless you want to give something. But of course the american just threw a piece of paper in my face and told me, yeah didn't even ask but told me to tell the boy to take him there. Well said and done but please, an adult man around his 40's who can't carry his own luggage consisting of a small bag but will let a young boy carry it for him??? Please! We had our backpacks both front and back and didn't complain but the american didn't find it akward letting a child carry his luggage. Sorry to nag about this but it's totally against my moral.

we finally got rid of him and only met 2 more times in this village, thank god. For those of you who know me, i am patient so you can just imagine....

Soooooooooooooooooo to the fun part of Itacaré!!!! Weeeeeeeeeeheeeeee what a place and perfect place to cool off the last days! We stayed at an incredible hostel with the coolest people ever! Itacaré, known for good surf, parties and great hippie people!

Met 2 french equvalent of ours and also got to know our neighbours next door who joined us for parties and great drinks. Days were spent on the beach and nights on the main street crowded with cool bars, rastas and handicraft. Our first day we were quite exhausted of the trip and spent the entire day on the beach doing absolutely N A D A. Kind of cool for being two rather super energetci persons. In the evening we asked the french girls to join for a caipirinha and we headed to Djungle bar. A tiny bar with lots of places on the street and a rasta making great caipirinhas on a tbale outside which was crowded with frech fruit. A rather calm and
relaxing evening. Next day we were reliefed breakfast wasn't included in the room as we could sleep and get up later and do whatever.

I met Kate outdoors in the hammock and after a great café da manha, including fresh fruit, great coffee and fresh juice of mango/pineapples the 3 of us headed to the 3rd beach called Tiririca. A small but lovely beach where we found some shadow. Fishy & me had quite a nice tan (burn) from the former day and Kate wasn't really excited being in the sun either. We spent the afternoon chatting and really got to like Kate, a calm and extremely friendly person who will, after south america go to africa. Guess if me and Fishy envy her.... =)) AND she's already been to India. Did I mentione we like her?? =))

We got back home and met Kate's room mate Telma, probably the absolutely coolest and most positive woman I met in my life! Extremely happy, talkative and up for any party! So we were invited to see Capoeira and afterwards to dance Forró... Well we all know what happens when forró is in the picture....

But hey capoeira is cool. Finding there is even cooler... The bar was located on Rua A, in a village without streets.... It took time but we managed!!! we arrived to an incredible Capoeira performance! All I can say is Swedish guys... just give up, you got nothing to compare to this. The guys were spinning in all kinds of ways and turns in the air and didn't even seem to be especially exhausted about it. It's an incredible art and so full of charisma and spirit. Afterwards this wellbuilt guys danced samba.. Do I really need to say more??

No I woun't I'll stop here and will continue some other day ;-)

Will however upload some pics, just in case you think YOU are having a good time :-P

BELEZA!!!!!!

Magnificent beauty

Rio de Janeiro


Kevin Adams & Fishy

Gerry & Kevin´s wild night out....

So finally Gerry (Fishy) and Kevin adams made it... we survived the 28 hour long ride with the most annoying family in brazil in front of us. Yeah not 2 hours not 8 hrs but twentyeight hours. I can´t tell you we didn´t even notice how crowded the beach was when we got in just after finiding our hostel. We started our journey from ilha grande on thursday, saying good bye to loads of people we got to know, including Big Joe and funny Betty :) It was leaving home in a way as we felt like home in Joes big house. Anyway, a 2 hour boatride (sleeping) and 3 hour busride later we arrive to Rio to find that the last bus to Salvador just left... so we just called around some hostels and stayed one night in Santa Teresa (Well a much better one than the first we had) It was a cool hostel but there must have been loads of swedes as people looked scared when you just said hello....

Anyway hitting the busstaion early and getting on at 8.20 we had no clue that highways don´t exist in Brazil... Neither does straight or non-bumpy roads....

Anyway, we´ve seen lots of green fields, red dust and too much of a family that couldn´t sit still neither could hold them to their own seats. But better was that we had no clue where the hell we were, what time it was and what the hell the driver was talking about! Believe me Portugues from portugal is hard, but brazilian is harder for me and not to mention brazilian in Salvador. I just cant even concentrate anymore!

Anyways, we thought of making it to the famous Pelourinho tonight, the danger hood that looks very familiar to Bairro alto. But believe me.... brazil is waaaaaaaaaaaaaay different from sweden. While the swedish blokes take time to drink as much as they can, brazilian guys just start hitting at you, from the first second. AAAANNNDDDD i´ve never felt so famous as this night as everybody, I mean everybody was looking at us (yes primarly ze german girl Gerry....) We just went with this really strange bus in hoods more deserted than Vaxjo on a saturday night and our only coordination was a "cute" couple... yeah this is Fishy & Kevin adams backpacking.... Anyway we ended up at this big square where there was a light show and music and as we´re really early we saw the end of the show which was great... ;)

Still with no coordination, more than the fact that I was looking for Mezcal, we followed the crowd and found the heart of Pelourinho. lots of bars with live music and crowded with people. We weren´t really in to any place until we heard a band playing african-samba-reagge and looked for this and entered a really simple door and found heaven. We were hoping to see Olodum but there was Filhos da Gandhi playing and a crowd dancing samba, afro whatever.... Oh my god... Fishy & I got crazy because can brazilians dance or can they dance???? God damn they can daaance baby!

Check out Filhos da Gandhi here

We had dressed down like crazy, no jelwerey, not even fake and only clothes with pockets and 50 bucks in the bikini... we were the stiff swedes on that dance floor i can tell you, but after a while the body just kept moving and we went with the flow. However, we stared just straight in front of us because if you turn your head and smile and get eyecontact with someone, boom you´re done! They will be upfront you in a sec. So of course Fishy ended up dancing soon and as I´m the package there´s always a poor friend that needs to be entertained ;) Filhos da Gandhi ended and we headed to a samba club with the guys. it was cool and great music but neither me nor Fishy wanted to spend time in jail for "byxmyndighets lagen" if you know what I mean ;) SO we left quickly and ended up on another samba bar where i ordered 2 beers not thinking that they are like 1 litre each in this country nor did i ask for cups and drink like everybody else does, no we did it the swedish way and had a bottle each in our hands. Of course we have to represent our country ;) If we could get paid for every ones eyes on us, we wouldn´t have to go back to work in sweden but could really live a luxy life in Brazil ;)

Getting enough of more people coming to us, i talk and Gerry is the show up girl ;) we headed back to the square for something to eat. There were 2 non-brazilians who sat down by our table and we actually talked. You know, one opens one mouth says some words and then the other answers... Yes this is rather unusual for us as we´re so hot every guy is getting on to us. So i wonder what these guys problems were.... ;) We´ll find out tomorrow as we´re heading for new adventures and new partys...

so long....

(today´s quote: 1. "wow you´re such a braslieira."
2. "it´s all like facelicking this brasilian kissing")

Ilha Grande

Kevin Adams & Fishy goes black....

Well today Fishy was feeling better. It was noticed of the time it took to have complete breakfast: 10 min hahaha. We had a long nice breakfast chatting with Lara & Joao and one brazilian and one argentinian who speaks as soon as he opens his mouth and doesnt shut it until he fells aslep. So yeah i´ll soon be fluent in spanish as well with a specialty of Argentinian spanish.... you´ll love it I´m sure.

So Lara & Joao left today, it has really been lovely to be able to hang out with them and Joao gave me lots of great tips for photography, cant wait to start when i head home.We went to Praia Preta today, which is a black&white beach, really cool and with a really smooth water. Liked it a lot. You know what they say: Once you go black..... ;)))

So tonight we have been haning out with the cool peopl of our cool hostel and the owner Big Joe is a really cool guy :) Were just now at the internet cafe checking buses for Salvador tomorrow, a trip that will take us 28 hrs... I can´t even imagine this but hey, life is a journey right ;)

Anyways, we had crepés today and the zerman girl (Fishy) managed to get all chocolate sauce on her feet, quite good huh? But even better is the fact that we got the crepes in paper plates and then the guy put another plate on top and stamped it together... maybe he though we were too fat to have this..... :)

Well, next time youll hear from us will be from our party place of this trip Salvador

(oohhhh gsus, 2 dogs are fighting outside and one of them just put his tale in the others but...... confusacaaaooo)

Haha to end this better: Its been raining a bit but thats cool as we´re rather hot after the beach today and now we´ll head to get some ice cold Brahma mmmmm
Happily unaware of the nice climbing that was coming...

Beijaaooooo

Kevin Adams & Fishy

Kevin Adams & Fishy goes Brazil


So finally we ended up in heaven, yes you can stop looking you can stop believing in jesus, heaven is located in Brazil!

After 3 days in lovely Rio, which is probably the most beautiful city in the world, we are now located on Ilha Grande, an Island abit outside Rio. The beaches are amazing, white sand that crunches when you walk on it and water so clear you can see everything and not to forget, all this GORGEUS PEOPLE!! God damn!!

We had probloems getting out cash from the ATMs so we were without money the fisrst days but the lovely owner of our hostel lend us some money so we could at least do some sightseeing.

We went to Corcovade with such a view that even though someone would hit you, you wouldn´t believe what you see!!
We also went to Copacaban and Ipanema with all cariocas and their fit bodies. Of course 2 swedes got burnt the first day so we kept out from the beach after that. We went to Pao de Acucar, with and even more incredible view of rio than anyone can imagine. We lived in a hood quite ner a favela so we didnt really dear geting out at night but will do that on our way back.

We met some cool argentinians in Rio who helped us finding the lovely stairs in St Teresa and also met them yesterday here at the island.

We have been at Ilha grande for 4 days and are planning to stay 1 or 2 more, its soooo beatuiful. The 1st day we met 2 brazilians at our hostel and they told us to go to a lovely beach. Easy walking about 40min. (there are only 3 cars on the whole island, the garbage car, the police and the fireman. No atms, no banks, nada de nada) So we waited to check in at this really cool hostel owned but Big Joe ;)))

Grabbed an icecream and started walking..... and walking.... we went hiking with flipflops! There were no good signs so instead of beach we were climbing rather steap and found a waterfall!! Wow!! In the middle of the green forest with monkeys and all kinds of animals we found a waterfall. I can tell you, it took like 1 hour upwards (at least) and to find the beach another 20min dowhills and we found the little bloody beach! Now we know that when brazilians say its easy... it really isnt haha

Anyway the guys showed us other beaches as well but we found Lopes Mendes and inbcredible one. about 1 hour from where we stay by boat and then some 20 min walking and you find this white beach and clear blue water (and gorgeus surfers.....) We were offered to spend the night there on a small party with the guys who work there (becuase of the fullmoon) but Fishy was feeling ill so we had toi head back with the last boat. Doesnt matter because the world is so small and what is ment to happen, happens.

We were having breakfast at the hostel yesterday when fishy say that a person looks really like my friend. I didnt really notice until the girl goes back and meets up with us and say Maja??? There in front of me was Larissa... like really Larissa who according to Rosh should have been in Lisbon hahahahah. I cant really believe it yet but there are really here! We met Larissa&Joao on a small island in brazil hahaha. Lovely world!

Anyways, Fishy is a bit ill today so i grabbed the chance to write something. Well leave for Rio and Salvador in some day, we just dont know when yet ;) Were on vacation hahaha.

Entao, people I gotta go and enjoy bthe lovely views of ocean and mountains and lovely people :)))

Beijaaaaooooo

Kevin Adams & Fishy (will tell you about this names later....)

Para a Sonia, com um abraco =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n64Dwkh4Jyo

Saudades de Portugal =)

/M

Citizen of the world,

Came to think of one thing today, realising how much we actually travel and how many impressions we actually grasp while travelling.

Read an article about environmental travelling, that I have been thinking a lot about lately.

The whole idea arouse when 2/3 of my company went to Thailand last winter, all wanting to see unexplored paradise. It made me think that they are just a small percentage of all Swedes who go to Thailand during wintertime, and then not counting people from many other places.

When finding a paradise and giving it out there, it's like giving a treasure away as it gets famous, more and more people come and the rural inhabitants starts going from independent on their living (as farmers for example) to change the whole economy for the country where more and more hotels are built as well as restaurants. This evolves at the end to have hostels where rich tourists sleep, restaurants with international cousine (meaning meatballs for swedes) shops with goods adopted to tourists' tastes and requirements.

This all ends up in the fact that the farmers give up their business and are more or less forced to the areas where the tourists are located, the culture is ripped apart as sales people are forced to constantly increase sale and therefore become, sometimes a bit violent with tourists, the food culture changes as more and more fries are made in a country where fries aren't really a part of it.

Discos, bars and many more places get adopted for tourists so that the tourists can feel like home. But has anyone ever thought of the fisherman who once was completely alone at his beautiful beach, watching the sunrise all alone? The fisherman who had to move his house and boat as he couldn't afford fighting against the hotel chain that was to buy his beach?

There is a big difference in being a tourist and a citizen of the world. For example, many families claim that they need hotel chains and swedish food at the restaurants as the kids demand it. But please who wears the pants in those families? The parents or the children? It's very rare that kids at home get pizza everyday for dinner. Am I not right?

If the kids never experience and try something new, how will they learn but more important, how will they know and appreciate the difference between their culture and others? You can't constantly blaim the country you're visiting because they don't have meetballs at the restaurants. It's really not their fault.

The tourists often walks in the same pattern as other tourists, eating the same food, experiencing the same thing. However, the citizen of the world travels to a country ready to explore it. Not the big hotelchain nor the McD nor some international pizzas. A citizen of the world has a desire to not be seen as a tourist but to melt in as good as possible, eating at local restaurants, sleep in peoples' houses, or small family owned private bed& breakfast where you eat the breakfast that is served, not demanding panncakes, eggs, bacon, sausagges, fresh orange juice and so forth. Because that's what you eat at home isn't it? ;-)

You grasp what the country has to offer, not expecting anything. If nothing else there's a charm about the new culture (once you notice it) and you listen to what the inhabitans have to say, who are curious about you coming to their little village and not asking for the closest McD. A citizen of the world doesn't demand meatballs, swedish design at the hotel, a pool outside the terrace. There can be many memorable moments of a trip with small rooms, where there's just two dishes at the menu at the restaurant, but it's the best food you have in eaten in a long time.

Just mentioning some of many thoughts passing by my mind today. Talking about the environmental issues regarding touristic places is a totally new, and long topic which can be dealt with another time.

Hope it makes you think next time you book your trip and consider what kind of traveller you are and what new you actually experienced at yout trip.

Até logo pessoal!

Beijinho

/M

Well,

Time passes by rather fast and here I am once again without a good excuse of not writing. Well I got one, and it might be a good one: partying! =))

Just wanted to write a few lines before I give you the whole story =)

Went back home, to Lisbon in June and just felt complete, as every time i'm there. And then again even worse when returning hom. The difference this time is that I fell fysically ill getting on the train in Copenhagen to my town... Now that's a strong sign isn't it?

Well therefore I'm fed up with this! Until I reach home again i'll listen to this song once a day everyday. Until i'm back home....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fDQnkYwfNfk


Enjoy it and catch you mais tarde ;-)

Beijos

/M