XixiMundis

2011-09-25T07:34:00.001-10:00

"By being yourself, you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before." - Edwin Elliot

2011-08-30T01:38:00.000-10:00

Well, well well. Yesturday I could post and I could not read now I cant even post. However if I remember correctly I should be able to send this email and it will get posted on the blog!! Lets give it a try, although this does mean no pictures. A few minuts ago my keyboard changed into chinese characters so I couldnt write a single email but I think its now back to normal!!!

Yesturday I flew from Shanghai to Guilin, in Guanxi a 2hour flight. Thursday night excitment didnt let me sleep much, friday night festes de sants, saturday night flight so technically speaking I should have been able to sleep on sunday but that was imposible. Jet laged became my enemy and I spend 4h tumbing in bed. I had to wake up at 5 in the morning to go to the airport, which we had guessed might take 1h took me 20min :) Shanghai has various airports, this one was clearly super modern and nice, I felt so tiered but there was no way I fell asleep in the airport or the plane itself. When I arrived in Guilin, I went to find the family that was going to host me and that I had met thorugh couchsurfing. I took a taxi to their place and there was the little kid who is three ," hello sister, nice meet you" jejeje so cute. Qiong (the mom) welcomed me very warmly and I finally took a shower. She did say they had no hot water but that was clearly not an issue for me!!! So we had some delicious chinese food and then I decided what to do, she told me I could go to yao san, this mountain where you can see the view of all the little mountains surrounding Guilin. First (the kid) was very excited and wanted to join so we all went but by the time we got there he had gotten asleep. This region is full of small round looking mountains, a type of Halong Bay style in Vietnam. I took a chair lift up, and it was so long, at the end so high !!! So there I was getting burned. These places have quite a few chinese tourists but I have not found many westerners, james gave me a Learn Chinese booklet, I serioulsy cant pronunce shit... but well I will try. On the way back home we had to walk for 30 min which was nice as I saw some villagers playing what for me were extremly exotic cards :D

Then we fuxed up and had tot ake 3 busses, by then 5pm I was dead and even if I tried not to I fell asleep in every single bus there was, always being the only westener. Thanks to Qiong I got around. She has writen for me tons of chinese things in my notebook so I can ask for directions. We then had dinner and I played with First but by 8 o clock I was snoring... now finally think I have recovered all my tierenes..

2011-08-29T00:35:00.002-10:00

the austrlian look outs or miradores in spanish have a more clear name in chinese " place of viewing the beauty"

Multiple ways in which someone can fall, you slip, you fall down or the floor starts trembling under you....

Doraimon is guarding the house where im staying at

National Hamburger Day..may 28th lets take all note of that!

2011-08-29T00:02:00.006-10:00

Frankfurt never ending wait was long, the flight itslef went by quickly, only 10 hours!! i am so used to the 24hours flights to Sydney in which once you are in asia you still have 10 more to go that it felt like nothing. Nevertheless I bearly slept, also Air China literally suxs. it was already1 10 years ago since I took my first flight where every economy seat had its own little tv. So here i am on an air china flight in 2011 which litteral has 2 tvs for the entire middle section of the plane and to add to it they play a bad movie and i ask for another headphones and the repy is "yeah later..." whatever... food was OK but the woman gave fish to everyone who ordered meat and vice versa. I had a good laugh. Fat guy sitting by me, wierdo actually he had checked in a black luggage and when the black luggages were coming out of the convery belt he would take each one of them out and start checking if it was his. Dude put some tag that makes it clear its yours!!!! Also I LOVE watching the map in the plane knowing where we are,but since there was 1 tv I saw we were in Frankfurt but next thing I know we are in Shanghai...

So at border control in Shanghai you can actually rate the person that controls your passport. are u satisfied very satisfied unsatisfied or very unsatisfied. Loved this idea! The airport seemed extremly modern.

I then had to take a shuttle bus to HongKou...so I asked and people thoguht I wanted a flight to HongKong...damn... then I got send to the long distance busses which go to other provinces and eventually i made it to shuttle bus 4 that took me to HongKou..seriously it wasnt that hard, I just made it hard after 2h flight 6 h transfer 10h flight and 1h bus I made it and saw James again. Well so we bought some amazing water pears HUGE went for some delicious food.. I was starving!! And also booked our flights back to Shanghai after our trip... to my suprise 30 min later when I checked my mail again I had an email saying my flights would be canceled if before 9pm I didnt send photocopies of my ID, credit cards and a document signed. Of course to sign the document I first need it to print it...there started the hassle. Back on the streets looking for an internet cafe. We found one but couldnt print...what a mess. Suddenly I saw a tour agency, I asked James to stay outside as I had to put on my poor foreigner face. I went in and

I said "hi you speak english?? I need to print" yeah they didnt understand me so I pointed to the printer. THey said NO. I insited this was very important I really need it that sheet. And after a while I gave them the USB and they printed out the page! Phew saved by my poor foreigners i dnot speak chinese face. Back to James to sign the paper take a pic and send it to the reservation company. A few phone calls up and down and back on the streets for a 1h neck and foot massage 2,5euros. Wonderful. we then went for some tea with milk and beans, it was goooood!! Delicious...it just made me go to the toilet quite a few times in the night :(

China

2011-08-28T23:33:00.003-10:00

At Martas 2h before the flight and running late... my Estrella Damn I love festes de Sants Hat is traveling with me to China

Current destination.... CHINA! Im back in China, 10 years after my last visit, the visit that I thought was OK but which clearly did not make it to my top rankings of best trip ever. So here I am, my second Berlin visit made me change my mind...so will this one do so too?? I will try and do some updates, I dont know how often this will happend but here we go... This trip is to Shanghai (modern china) and to the rural parts of Sichuan and Guanxi.

The night pre China was Festes de Sants, which were just AMAZING. Festes de sants are the street parties of the neighourhood Sants in Barcelona. It doesnt stop to amaze me how life is in Spain, pepople will be in the streets having dinners with all the neighbours, concerts for the elderly, story tellers for the young, traditional songs... its a blast!! I left my luggage at Martas place as she lives right by pl.catalunya place where the bus departs to the airport ...went out partying. At 4am when I got back at Martas I ended up calling a friend who works on TV in one of those shows that predicts your future, he put me live on TV and the woman answered all my doubts of my life. So it seems that my life will be fine ....phew!! So be it I forgot to put an alarm clock to go to the airport!! Luckily I woke up! marta had put the alarmclock anyways for double saftey. I was running I got to the airport and flight delayed, more delyas, due to a major storm in my transfering airport Frankfurt. It al lmade sense when the plane was tumbling in the air over germany, claps came along when we landed. People were freaking out as many lost their connections, I had a never ending long wait in Europes hub so I just waited waited and waited. Recharged my phone as im using it as MP3 in mcdonalds and waited seeing the 747-400 being prepared for the following departures.

Anecdote 1: my luggage is only 10kilos, how did I manage? I think experience made me smarter!! :)
Anecdote 2: The moment Im putting in my stuff in the security tray the kid infront of me takes every object I leave out of the tray, I put it back in he puts it back up. Mom doesnt even care to look at what son is doing.

2011-07-16T23:39:00.001-10:00

"The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best."

Epictetuts

2011-06-05T07:54:00.001-10:00

Arrels Fundació ha presentat als partits polítics de Barcelona un document amb 18 propostes per millorar l'atenció a les persones sense llar. Es tracta de propostes realistes i concretes, adreçades als partits que participaran a les eleccions municipals del 22 de maig.

Les propostes de millora s'adrecen als partits i als polítics que lideraran l'Ajuntament de Barcelona durant el nou mandat municipal, per tal que ofereixin una millor atenció a les aproximadament 2000 persones sense llar de la ciutat.

Les 18 propostes de millora s'engloben en quatre grans temes:

Serveis d'atenció a persones sense llar

Els serveis d'atenció a persones sense sostre estan configurats en forma d'itinerari. Arrels Fundació fa propostes concretes per als diferents serveis que intervenen en aquest procés.

En referència als centres de primera acollida, Arrels veu necessària una millor coordinació entre centres, de manera que s'aprofitin totes les places disponibles. A més, considera desitjable oferir un número suficient d'habitatges d'inclusió per tal de cobrir de forma àgil la continuïtat del procés cap a l'autonomia personal.

També proposa crear nous centres de convalescència i destaca la necessitat d'ampliar l'horari dels serveis de menjador i millorar la distribució en el territori.

Mesures dirigides a persones en situació cronificada de carrer

Quant a les mesures adreçades a persones en situació cronificada de carrer, es proposa crear espais d'atenció diürns, senzills i accessibles que contribueixin a pal·liar la seva situació.

De la mateixa manera, es proposa oferir espais nocturns de molt baixa exigència (serviria perquè les persones que en fessin ús adquirissin major confiança en els agents socials) i la compra d'una pensió per part de l'ajuntament per posar-la a disposició de la xarxa per atendre situacions específiques a un cost més reduït, ja que el cost d’aquest tipus d’allotjament és cada vegada més elevat.

L'atenció primària i especialitzada

Per evitar futures situacions d’exclusió severa, Arrels proposa dotar els serveis d'Atenció Primària de serveis i recursos que permeti fer front a les situacions de risc.

Per cobrir les necessitats i els drets de les persones amb baix nivell d'autonomia, Arrels considera necessari avançar en el desplegament previst de la Llei de la Dependència.

Hi ha situacions, com el cas de les persones en exclusió que necessiten suport a llarg termini, en què hi ha una indefinició sobre qui ha de garantir la cobertura social. Arrels demana dotar de competències el Consorci de Serveis Socials de Barcelona per fer front a aquest tipus de situacions.

Relacions institucionals i gestió de l'acció social

Aquest apartat inclou propostes molt diverses, com ara, simplificar els mecanismes d'ajuts i subvencions a les entitats que ofereixen serveis adreçats a persones sense llar; la regularització de determinats casos de persones en situació irregular amb caràcter humanitari per poder fer una intervenció social integral; i establir procediments per garantir la impossibilitat d'embargaments a persones amb pensions o prestacions mínimes.

També s'incentiva l'aprovació en Ple Municipal del compromís "Imagina un 2015 sense ningú al carrer" i la creació d’una taxa turística social per a hotels, restaurants i creuers que fomenti el caràcter de ciutat turística i solidària de Barcelona.

Per anar més enllà de les conjuntures i canvis polítics, Arrels proposa que es mantingui l'Acord Ciutadà per una Barcelona Inclusiva i les xarxes que en formen part.

Per aprofundir en aquestes propostes pots consultar el document sencer: Per a una millor atenció a les persones sense llar. Propostes als partits polítics que es presenten a les eleccions a l’Ajuntament de Barcelona .

2011-06-05T07:43:00.000-10:00

Jo marco la casella del 0,7 i tu també tens raons per fer-ho!

Xarxanet.org impulsa una campanya a través de les xarxes socials per a fomentar la casella del 0,7% de l’IRPF per a fins socials en la declaració de la rendaLa campanya “Jo també marco el 0,7% per a fins socials” vol convèncer de la importància de marcar la casella solidària a través d’una pàgina web on es recullen els projectes de diferents entitats catalanes referents del tercer sector que s’han beneficiat d’aquesta aportació. L’objectiu central de la iniciativa és donar raons a la ciutadania per a que marqui la casella del 0,7% per a fins socials.

L'any 2010 el 57% dels catalans va marcar la casella solidària del 0,7% de l’IRPF en la declaració de la renda. D'aquesta manera es van generar 66 milions d'euros que han anat a parar a entitats sense ànim de lucre. Amb aquests recursos econòmics s'ha donat energia a projectes dirigits a infants, joves, dones i gent gran, a col·lectius en risc d'exclusió social i a famílies que passen per mals moments.

Tothom qui ho vulgui pot contribuir a la difusió de la casella del 0,7% per a fins socials a través de les xarxes socials: seguint la pàgina de Facebook “Jo també marco la casella del 0,7 per a fins socials”, fent servir el hashtag #jomarco07 a Twitter o afegint una icona a la imatge dels perfils.

2011-04-30T04:21:00.001-10:00

“el corazón tiene razones que la razón no entiende”

Blaise Pascal

2011-04-30T02:55:00.001-10:00

Vida ciudadana: millones de seres viviendo juntos en soledad.

Henry David Thoreau

Tourists.... spain, the center of the universe.

2011-02-26T11:17:00.003-10:00

What is this, sangria and frozen paella!!! This is shameful!!! And a bunch of restaurants have it. This city is flooded od spaniards who seem to believe spanish is the only language spoken in the entire peninsula. Its so embarassing, most are so disrespectful and loud!! So many people from the south of Spain!! Next time i come i want to see the portuguese lisbon and avoid the touristy part, but for now tourist area it is. This moring though i was able to hang aroung the alfama area and get lost in small streets with no tourists. Maybe it is because i left extremly early, but i really enjoyed it and tool some photos im looking forwards to see in my pc!!

Im not talking to any tourist has i dont feel the need to but im really getting irritated by a few catalan, spanish and french who talk believing no one understands them. Also, this italian guy wanted to stop a taxi but ended up stoping a police car.what a show, i couldnt stop laughing. Well neither could his family members!! Oh, these kids were singing in the train and the only reaction a spanish came up w was " loookkkk portueguese sevillanas" seriously...??!!!

Porto

2011-02-26T11:00:00.002-10:00

The best way to end the day, a shower and porto wine! This hostel is great, very cozy,welcoming and clean. Time to relax after hours and hours of walking in belem, barrio alto and alfama

The commom area

2011-02-25T23:10:00.002-10:00

Random lamp

2011-02-25T23:05:00.001-10:00

Room 3

2011-02-25T22:32:00.000-10:00

Room 2

2011-02-25T22:03:00.001-10:00

Room

2011-02-25T22:02:00.001-10:00

In portugal!!

2011-02-25T12:42:00.002-10:00

The flight was smooth and short. I suppose after such a long flight down under this one just seemed short despite it being 1.5h long and us leaving with a delay . When i arrived i stoped at the tourist information for a map and once that was done i headed to catch the local bus that took me to rossio, the center of the city. With my map i kept following where we were and i quickly realized were to get off. I arrived at the hostel that joao had recommended and wow. It did have a lot of awards at hostel world and great rankings and indeed the thing is just great!! So each room is decorated completly different, mine has a very intresting design with a bird cage as a lamp, and a hanging chain in which ppl hang their cloths. Ill post up pictures tommorrow. Most important is how clean it is and how clean the toilets are. You have your own locker,wifi, you get free breakfast a lamp for your bed, free porto wine a place to leave little things by bed etc.. The atmosphere looks just great and the cleanness outstanding. I met one of the guys in my room who is from brazil but i really couldnt bother talk.... And then it was time ti go explore the city!

I went to barrio alto in the search of cervejeria
trinidade that both joao and the guide recommended but when i got there it was packed and in addittion had 40 ppl waiting. The place was nice with tiles all around it! I will try it tommorrow and if not at least take a few pics. I went through the streets in search of some food and the first place that i saw had bacalau and arroz dolce i walked in. Had it and then went around chaido and rossio to digest all that i had eaten! Took a few pics but really missed the company of my slr friend ms. Irumtje!! I started to feel some ppl were following me so since it was dark and i was tiered i headed back to the hostel!

So far i like what i have seen, some very modern shops, some rather old decadent streets, a lighted castle, a big cristo (reminds me of rio). What i really like is the amount of fish around the restaurants and how it is displayed, reminds me of galicia! The city seems to have small allys and its all on hills, the trams are old but glamorous. So far, i like the stlyle, just wish i could speak portuguese!

.wonderfull weekend ahead!!!

2011-02-25T06:24:00.001-10:00

Time for departure.
I love electronic tickets and online checkin. The world is progressing!

I Miss you.

2011-02-25T06:21:00.002-10:00

There is a strange feeling everytime i come to this terminal, terminal 2 of barcelona airport. I dont understand why it is called terminal 2 if it is the first one which was build!! The more i travel in terminal 1 the more i like it and start accepting that terminal 2 is part of the past. I have departed so many times from the now called terminal 2, many memories are linked to it, our first trip to argentina, the returns to spain after years abroad, the good byes and the hellos. There is a specific spot my dad would always stand when waiting for me to arrive from schipol... I used to love this terminal with all the shops. The airport seemed crowded but i knew my way around very well. Having so many early flights to go back to holland and paris i had learned which cafe was the one i liked the best for its location,atmosphere and which shops had the free food to taste. Its sad to walk in terminal 2 and see it completly empty with all the bars and shops closed. Only a few remain open for the easy jet and ryanair flights. Hopefully one day Barcelona airport will be given the right to operate long haul international flights and this terminal will have the life that was stolen from it in june 2009.

Aerobus

2011-02-25T05:40:00.001-10:00

Something is clearly wrong when you get on this bus, the aerobus, and you recognize the driver. This bus is getting more expensive every day but its the only way to get from the airport home at a normal speed. If compared to other countries the price is at least quite acceptable! I still think that the best thing is to be droped and picked up in any airport but well...

Im already surrounded by portuguese people, 5 guys that are hitting the window every time a woman walks by.... Giving me a great image of portuguese people! I just love the language, the accent sounds great!! Too bad its not a brazilian accent!!

Excited, neighbour country here i come!!

2011-02-20T09:51:00.000-10:00

El pájaro tiene su nido, la araña su tela, el hombre la amistad.

William Blake

Favorite Places on Earth 3

2011-02-09T13:08:00.001-10:00

Sunshine Beach, Noosa, Australia

...favorite moment running on the beach at dawn. No camera when running.

Australia Day!

2011-01-26T15:44:00.004-10:00

26th of January - AUSTRALIA DAY

Australia day, everybody goes out, barbeque, picnics, beach,concerts,flags flags and more flags. Dad and I went up to the Harbour Bridge to see the boats ferry race on the BAY and took a few pictures. We later headed through the Rocks as a few bands were playing, got some free water and later had a hot dog at Hyde Park. We even saw the Qantas A380 flying around!! My dad got all excited and bought a flag which we walked around with and I was given some small plastic flags and tatoos with the Australian flag that I put on my arms and face :) All this took us almost 6 hours. Exhausted we came home. Later at around 7pm we headed to Darling Harbour to see the night and fireworks show!! Now just have to wait for 26th of January 2012 for the next Australia Day!

STOP!! Kangaroo on the Road!

2011-01-23T15:44:00.002-10:00

I had not taken the car in about 5 years.... I decided to drive around 150 Kilometers...and in 7 occasions I had Kangaroos jump infront of the car! Luckily I was alert and on the watch for animals, so I was able to stop on time. My dad taped this as I drove.

You have to be extra carefull around 6-8am and between 6-8pm when the sun rises and the sun sets as kangaroos jump onto the road. During the day they are resting under the trees. We found a lot of dead Kangaroos by the road. Kangaroos dont always follow a straight path, and therefore you are adviced to keep driving straight as most accidents caused by kangaroos crossing the road are car frontal crashes. When you rent a car, some companies do not insure your car if you are driving at dawn in areas in which it is known kangaroos tend to be.

2011-01-21T15:22:00.010-10:00

Hurray!! I’m sitting in the airplane direction Adelaide with my dad’s work laptop and typing this! Whenever I get some proper internet connection I will post it.Unlike during some other trips like the Northern Australia in 2009, this time I’m trying to record what goes on. Let’s face it, having a laptop also facilitates the task; pen and paper are becoming at fast pace too old fashion. No way to go back and delete or reededit and the worst, not possible to write what I’m thinking at a proper speed.

We are flying with Jet Star a low cost Australian airline. Jetstar and Virgin Blue are the Australian “vuelings/easyjets”. Im not too happy about being in a plane AGAIN, this is also my dads fifth plane of the week as he has had to fly to Melbourne a couple times this week for work and he isn’t too excited either. My travel sox helped a lot in my Barcelona to Sydney flight, and I arrived with minimal leg pain, but now I just want to arrive to Adelaide!!!

Something that I like to do at airports, whether I’m leaving myself or going to pick someone up is stare at the list of departing flights. Obviously the list changes radically depending on where in the world you are. So these are the flights that were leaving this morning from the domestic terminal of Sydney Airport. Ironically, if you fly domestic you can be taking a flight that is up to 5 hours, this is way longer than a Barcelona-Moscow flight! This obviously implies various time changes. Now flying to Adelaide, a “short flight” of only 1h45 minutes…so in other words as long as my Barcelona-London flight! There is also a zone change of 30 minutes between Adelaide and Sydney.

A rather strange thing in the airport is that we did the check in, went to baggage drop, passed the security check, got on the plane and nobody checked our ids. This has happened to me every time I take a domestic flight in this country. They never check that you are the person whose name is on the boarding ticket, somehow surreal in particular after all the security alarms there have been in the past years.Another thing that I really like to do in a foreign country is go to a local supermarket and stare at their products. I went to one yesterday and took a couple pics of products that I have not seen in Barcelona. I’m able to point out products which I would clearly not find in a local supermarket in Spain, but it’s hard for me to list what there is in Spain that is not here. I suppose Jamon Serrano would be one of the things. Due to the amount of mixed cultures that there is in the city the supermarket had a wide variety of Asian (from Japanese to Pakistani) food . Something which is found in the USA but also hard to find in Spain was Salad Dressings. In Spain and Italy we are way too used to using oil, vinegar salt and pepper for our salads , while here you can find any kind of salad dressing imaginable

Finally in Sydney!

2011-01-20T16:22:00.008-10:00

5 pounds went for a set of sushi. Clearly not worth 5 pounds, but the best way to spend exactly those 5 without getting back change. Sat down ate it, ate tons of mandarins and walked around. Sat down again and kept staring at the screen for my gate to be announced. There were 4 different flights to Sydney! Mine via Bangkok, a Qantas one also leaving same time also via Bangkok, one via Singapore and one via Hong Kong. Seriously it is hard for me to understand why so many people would be traveling to Australia. The flight was packed. So think about it 4 747 flying to Australia via south east asia. That is around 400 persons per plane = 1600 persons…and those were only the flights leaving from my terminal, there also Lufthansa, Emirates, and other airlines heading to Australia. Id like to know the story behind all these people moving up and down the globe. . .

The wait in Heathrow became long, and it included a kid spitting on me. At the end, fed up of the child, his dipper smell which was getting mixed with the smell of fried food his dad got and his attempt to spit on me again I stood up and finally the gate was announced, gate 42, the furthest possible gate in the terminal. I remembered it when I saw it, I had been there before. So we got on the plane. Had a girl next to me which was good, she was quite didn’t seem to want to talk too much and wasn’t taking up any of my space. I luckily had an aisle sit so I stood up and down quite a few times. Got offered some chicken with coconout and lime which was delicious and I ate quite a few mandarins. I dosed on and off during the entire flight, which made it go pretty quick. We went through Turkmenistan, Delhi, Varanasi, Myanmar and finally we made it to Bangkok. Spend my time watching a couple few films, start the book and got a bit drunk with some Bacardi coke. I ordered one and they gave me two…so yeah J I saw they had music so I tried to listen to it, but it was mainly crap. I saw they had “sleeping songs for adults and kids” so I put that on and this song started … “twinkle twinkle little star…” I couldn’t believe it! I stopped and moved on…in the search of some proper music. I did not find the entertainment system of BA particularly good, but it kept me bussy for a while. The BA crew gave us the welcome on board by letting us know that they would leave in Bangkok and a new crew would join then, but that crew was not at as good looking as the one flying to Bangkok. Haha.

The airport in Bangkok is very new but its so big that its very exhausting to have to do a stop over there. They made us get off the plane so they could clean it, but what we had to do, as always is walk for about 20 minutes, pass a security check, walk another 20 minutes pass another security check and finally show our passports again and board. Each security check of course with its own queues… just never ending. I saw that at least in this airport you could get free internet. Only 15 minutes and you had to register your passport number and nationality but that was good. Finally was able to connect my laptop to let people know where I was…and then I boarded again… the plane ran and ran and ran through the runway and up we were again. 9 more hours of flight ahead…

The girls sitting next to me got off at Bangkok and this fat, smelly guy sat next to me for this part of the flight I did everything possible not to talk to him. He kept trying to chat and I seriously stopped myself. He was or seemed drunk and kept ordering beers…and his smell.. bleh :S I watched a film and we were still over Indonesia… I read a book and we were still not in Australia… Finally we reached northern Australia…but we still had 4 hours to go to Sydney. It seemed never ending. They gave me chicken again but it wasn’t that great so I finished up all my mandarins and finished the other half of my jamon baguette, which gave another opportunity for the drunk fat guy to talk to me. He was jealous of my sandwich, who wouldn’t have ;-)

I filled in the immigration form…they sprayed the cabin to prevent any pest of entering Australia...

We approached…

Finally the 20 minute to landing announcement

Finally 44 kilometers away from Sydney “ Crew take your sits for landing”

And finally …. Touchdown!

Grabbed my luggage which seemed to never come out, went through quarantine check and took a taxi “home”. I didn’t really know where my parents live since they have changed apartment twice since I last came here.

Finally homeeeeeeeeeeeee, woman in black was home!!!

A bit exhausted…but it was time for a shower and to go for a walk J Australia, its sunny, its warm and it feels great. There is such tranquility. I don’t know the neighborhood around although my parents live very near the center…so we went for a short walk with my mom around the area…ah … I love it!! Sydney seems to me like an American city, but there is this relaxed atmosphere to it. It’s hard to describe it, but I’ll do my best in the coming up posts.

Im taking a plane tomorrow again…. To Adelaide!

In London with No Internet! :(

2011-01-19T23:24:00.002-10:00

This is really annoying, at a Hub like Heathrow and without internet. In Singapore you walk out of the plane and you have free internet, even if its s standing stations its available. But no, in terminal 3 of Heathrow there are huge signs saying WIFI and when you turn on your computer you are directed to a website where you have to pay. Is this the future life we face? Is this modern? Is this user friendly? This is crap! This is a monopoly. So I guess you only get internet if you got to a VIP lounge, which I cant go because I’m no longer a silver member (was only for a few month back in the time…) and I’m not traveling with my dad either. So here I am, bored and pissed off. I have 5 hour wait and I would have much prefer chatting to someone than being stuck in this carpeted KFC smelling room, with people moving up and down and kids crying. I’m not happy, and I’m tiered.

I realized I left my bb charger at home. Last night I packed it but I took it out again this morning to reacharge my phone. Since I don’t have much battery left I decided to turn off my phone (so no music either L ) because I must call my mom upon arrival in Australia so she comes to pick me up at the door of the building to pay the cab (no aussie dollars with me…) .

The day has been hectic. I woke up at 9.30 (OH YEAH!) and the first thing that came to mind was “hahahaha everyone is in the office…I imagine my department and ppl shouting around… and thought this was just wonderful I was under my covers with no need to go to the office”.I stood up and I literality didn’t stop running until 13.15 time at which me, woman in black, left the house. I had to sort out quite some stuff, had long chats with Lufthansa and Singapore to try and book with miles my flights to attend Dina’s Wedding, but was unsuccessful at it, called a few friends, made sure I said bye to grandma!! (done!) and then I went for a walk in town to finalize some things that I never have time to do. I’m so not used to walking in Sant Cugat during normal walking hours Monday to Friday. Oh man, how snobbish that place is. At a point I found myself staring at a woman with a discuss face. I was simply thinking “Seriously?” I mean, are there really so many snobbish people in this planet?

Once all was sorted I also stopped at the supermarket to buy a bunch of mandarins, jamon, bread and tomato to make a good huge pa amb tomaquet sandwich for my lunch. I knew id be getting no proper food until my departure from London. Indeed, I got some crap crackers on my flight from BCN- London, at least managed to have two orange juices! J I have a bunch of mandarins with me which I must eat between now and arrival time in Sydney as it is forbidden to take out of the plane and enter into the country any type of fruit or vegetable, among other things. You are thinking ”whatever?” Well controls are strict and they would catch me anyways. Gona eat them all within the next 28 hours.

So one of the random things about Barcelona Airport, is and I would have put my hand on fire that before at El Prat they used to announced the departure of flights. However now, there is simply a sign that says “proceed to gate that has been announced by your airline, you will not be called” and indeed there were no announcements. As I was flying outside of the “EU” I had to pass passport control and it clearly said “this is a point of no return”. The policemen said “are you sure you want to go through, there is no going back, there is no shopping in here only a McDonalds and 1 duty free shop”. I looked at him and said “SURE”… point of no return, there were signs everywhere NO RETURN BEYOND THIS POINT. The situation was just funny. Headed to McDonalds got myself a McFlurry, atehalf of my sandwich (which is huge…) ate a few mandarins, checked the duty free , ordered a cortado and headed to boarding gate. Here is a positive point about El Prat you can have a croissant and a coffee for a normal price. It’s a bit more expensive than in the city but not much more, and that I very much appreciate, that is why I had a cortado while enjoying a British woman try and order a “British tea” “we have early grey” “No! That isn’t British” “we have..” “No, that isn’t British””we have” “argh, whatever just give me that tea”. Hilarious.

Where I sat for more than 20 hours...

Again, no internet in El Prat either!! At least the area where I was (the D gates) I saw no WIFI signs. This is seriously crap. So much for the amazing rating of certain airlines and airports online…internet services at Heathrow and El Prat sux! And you better not be thinking I’m exaggerating because I’m sure quite a few people would enjoy talking to me right now as I would do myself! Ahhh!

Moving on… as we approached London the first thing that came to mind was “Oh Rigutto is here…” by the touchdown time it was pitch dark, I saw the cars on the other side of the road, everything is carpeted and there are Harrods signs. Im in the UK. I love the fact that there is a WHS Bookshop. Got myself two books as they had a get 1 get second half price. I didn’t take a book with me and really wanted to buy a specific one but….they didn’t have it L So now I have some reading for the plane. This is something I like about airports like Changi,Heathrow or Schipol… a wide range of English books available!! Although according to my opinion Schipol tends to have the best selection of books! I bought the books with Euros, so I got change in Pounds. I decided to go spend the 1 pound 63 pennies and as I was at the shop I saw another guy looking at prices of coke fanta and counting coins, looking at price of water and counting coins. It should have been taped, both of us trying to get rid of our pounds and optimize the best usage of them. I got myself a waterbotle which said 1.60 and then as I went to buy it the woman said “if you get the paper with it its only 1 pound” I thought she meant I had to pay 1 pound for the paper and I said “no thanks” but she insisted. The water was only 1 pound plus I got a free paper. Just strange!

Miquel before leaving gave me 5 pounds he had! J So in the coming hours I will decide on what I spend them. He said I should go for a starbucks which I have in front of me, I most probably will. I feel tiered, which makes me hope that I will get some sleep in the plane. If I fall asleep by the time we are flying over India ill be happy!! (I never truly fall asleep before that… if I do). However my legs are already hurting, and generally the pain is a major reason why I don’t fall asleep. Exhaustion kills me eventually and I fall asleep a few hours before touch down.

I’m sitting in a terminal in Heathrow I’ve never truly been to. Actually the security area I am quite convinced I have been to, it rang a bell, but this waiting area really doesn’t. I’m a bit deceived, I thought all BA flights would be leaving from the new terminal 5, and I had been hoping to go there. However departure is from this old terminal 3. Not truly sure why I’m here, there is a PIA flight leaving for Islamabad, one from Emirates, a couple to Barcelona, Hong Kong and others. Not sure why my BA flight is also leaving from this terminal. Here I am, and I truly feel in a hub, people don’t stop running up and down. People watching is interesting, quite a few pakis, which makes me think someday ill have to fly there and makes me really think Irum should be here L. Its clear this are long haul flights, most of the people are dressed properly for flying. I mean sneakers, loose clothing, etc. . . when I was in BCN it was so full of business men flying to London , when we landed, I was the only one walking to “Connecting Flights” the rest all went to “Baggage Claim”. I suppose that the business men that are gona be on my flght are all in the VIP lounge.. darn!

Multiple flights to Sydney!!

Gona go spend my 5 pounds!

(im in transit in Thailand currently, i have applied for 15 minutes of free internet and its taken me 20 minutes to log in, finally its working! gona send this and get on my plane again!! im in ASIAAAAAAA :):):) still half way to get home! :(

My beautiful 747-400!!

How to Survive

2011-01-18T14:45:00.007-10:00

Yes! I have tricks to travel with the least pain possible.I can not sit too long in flights, my legs swell a lot.

Tip 1 To cure it I used to walk up and down the aisle. In fact I have just changed my seat to make sure I am sitting in the aisle and do not disturb anyone by standing up every hour. However even walking,drinking liquids after 8 hours im exhausted and in great pain. How then to survive 32 hours? The travel socks are one of my secrets. These socks help in blood circulation and therefore make your legs swell and hurt less. They prevent deep blood thrombosis which is rare but happends when people take long flights.

Tip 2 are natural tranquilizers like Valeriana. I have recently gotten on these ones, but it helps me sleep a bit, be less anxious and specially if the pilot sais it is predicted to fly over a turbulence zone over X country I take one.
Tip 3 learned from Miquel a rhum and coke or two will get you sleeping in no time.
Tip 4 take a night flight to properly sleep.
Tip 5 travel with someone you can lean over, put your legs over them etc. If not, take a pillow with you and hope for the best.

The truth is that if you are not traveling Business or First class, a 32 hour trip can be physically painful. Space between seats are not any bigger than in a normal 1 hour European trip. The only difference, the plane is wider so you have 3 seats, aisle, 4 seats,aisle and 3 seats again.

These are the seats in the new A380 in economy class of Qantas. As you see, this is anything from luxurious. What I feel has made travel more enjoyable and less painful is the entertainment system that planes have adopted in which even in economy you have your own tv with movies,games,shows and news to watch. This to me has been the best change to keep your mind bussy. Also, its hard to believe it, but when I was younger people would smoke on planes! Still sounds surreal to me!

24h for Departure!!

2011-01-18T14:30:00.005-10:00

Skype Tijd!Dank je wel!

Whoever saw me this morning walking in Barcelona must have thought I was a total dumbass. My smile couldn't have been bigger as I crossed Rambla Catalunya and strolled down seeing the sun rise while my fingers danced to the rythm of the song that was playing on my phone. The first email I saw this morning at work stated "Gisela, don't bother sending us an email. We know it. YOU ARE GOING ON HOLIDAYS.Bitch". I knew it, last day of work and then 3 weeks of holidays!!!! Its ironic how happy I get now with 3 weeks of holidays when before I used to have never ending 3 months. In 2007 I spend 5 weeks in Australia as part of my around the world trip... and it flew by.These 3 weeks will simply run, but they exist, those 3 month holidays were the good times, something to look back and dream about.

This morning so many people seemed, irritated,tiered,bored and following their routine... but I had something to hope. Australia, Summer,Family. After 9 months its finally time for departure!!! It still sounds surreal to me and I know that I will only trully know Im there when I hear the magic words "ladies and gentlemen welcome to Sydney, were local time is 5 am. Please keep your seatbelt fasten until the plane has come to a complete stop. We thank you for flying British Airways and hope to see you onboard again soon." A sign that I will have survived a 32 hours trip.

I always have to hear the same repetitive speech from people: "you have traveled so much""you have seen the entire world""you cant get nervous". There is so much to see and discover that the words "so much" "the entire" are in my opinion completely out of place. I surely have traveled widely, part due to life circumstances but also and mainly to my interest and eagerness to do so.The magic about each trip is that even if you go to the same destination you were before, despite going to the town next to yours, you get to experience and see things that are completely different from eachother each time. The people you go have a great influence on what you live. Any opportunity to get out of our daily routine is a reason to get me nervous and excited. Today, I recieved an email when I had exactly 24hours until departure " less than a day before you start flying, We are looking forward to welcoming you onboard flight XXXX from Barcelona Terminal 1 on 19 January 2011". I dont like it when airlines remind you of flights, specially when its a return flight. However this mail put a big smile on my face..... and then:

5.00 Out of office message in the Office. Back on the 9th!
7.00 Grandmas Goodbye. Sweet
9.30 Skype ;-). Thanks.
9.50 Check in Online - Seat Selection
10.00 Booking Flights for Morrocco. Happy!
10.15 Gmail Chat. last detail plannings
11.15. Should maybe consider having dinner?
11.30 Tagging luggage
11.50 Hand luggage.
00.00 Should I have dinner?
00.01 Change alarm clock to make sure I dont wake up at 06.30 tommorrow
00.02 Take out work badge, leave it on the table. Not to be touched in weeks!
00.30 Clean the stair case of the house
00.42 Take out dishwasher
00.45 Should I have dinner? No, only some milk and cookies.
01.00 Clean part 1 of Kitchen.
01.15 Now. . . sleep? Dont feel tiered at all.

Strange. Grandma hasnt called today. Must do it myself tommorrow.

2011-01-17T10:59:00.003-10:00

Padres no podemos tener más que una vez; se promete demasiado el que entra en la vida con la esperanza de hallar muchos amigos.

Samuel Johnson

Too much excitment

2011-01-12T21:46:00.000-10:00

Despite the queensland floods and my clear exhaustion yesturday the nerves bout holidays kicked in. I was moving from right to left last nite in my bed, staring at the celing of my room, moving my pillow around.

No way to fall asleep, thinking bout the ba security video w the kid and a teddy bear, long live the king in bangkok airport,Manly,ferries,Bondy,fish market@sydney,lindt shop,australia day,fraser,kangaroo island,adelaide,security check at kingsforth,darling hatrbour,aussie accent,aussie flags,summer,holidays! And the WELCOME TO SYDNEY sign!!!!The day for departure is almost here. sleepinhg issues are starting. Im excited like a small kid and still have to wait 6 days for departure.

7 days to Australia - Queensland Flooded

2011-01-12T12:49:00.004-10:00

Anything but excited about the current situation in Queensland, particularly the water raising in Brisbane. Seems like its geting from the outback into the city.

So much for day dreaming about Fraser Island, Noosa and Rainbow beach during my previous trips to Sydney. I now see how the waters are raising and electricity is being shut in the city to avoid electrocutions. So far my flights to Brisbane are booked but I've decided to wait for the bookings of my trip/hostel to Fraser. We will evaluate the situation later in the week and figure out what we do.

This reminds me a bit of the big /disaster that we lived on August 12th 2002 in Prague and eastern Europe when an unprecedented flood wave left parts of the city such as touristy Mala Strana underwater. Not to say waters rose quickly, aftermath was tremendous, borders closed and Prague had to go through a lot of renovation with no metro working for a while etc. However, once the water came down tourism was still functioning, so I think we will be fine. Fingers crossed.

So this should be the title of my post!

2011-01-10T14:26:00.000-10:00

And here comes the body of my post! This is great,i think iyt works!magnificent!! It is has simple has writing any email and sending it to go@ blogger.com and it immediately gets posted online. So say im crossing a street in vietnam, i can write SoS im about to geyt smashed by a motorbike,send it and you will all know about it!!

Great.So testing is done. How about if i email a picture? I should try that has well!okay,picture attached! We will check!

Testing the Phone Blogging

2011-01-10T14:07:00.002-10:00

So i think i made it.lets see if this gets published, if it does it means i can blog from my phone. Which is just great!! It will save me time and also allow mw to blog from my mail during my travels!

phone test im trying to blog from my phone which clearly isnt working out! :(

2011-01-10T13:39:00.000-10:00

13 days till Departure

2011-01-06T08:52:00.003-10:00

Time is here. Holidays Again. After 21 months heading back to Australia. This time the flight is BCN-SYDNEY via London and Bangkok. Ill take this opportunity to visit two places that I have long wanted to see, Kangaroo Island (via Adelaide) and Fraser Island (via Sunshine Coast and Brisbane). Hope to keep you updated through the blog.

2011-01-06T07:55:00.000-10:00

“¿Por qué la gente se empeña en buscar otras salidas cuando la puerta está abierta?”
Confucio

Les droits démocratiques bafoués en Espagne

2010-07-10T03:16:00.002-10:00

Ce samedi 10 juillet, plus de 500.000 catalans se mobilisent à Barcelone pour
défendre la « mini-Constitution » de la Catalogne. Approuvée il y a plus de 4 ans aux
parlements catalan et espagnol, ainsi que par référendum, cette loi a été sévèrement
mutilée cette semaine par le verdict de la Cour constitutionnelle espagnole.

En tête de cette manifestation, on comptera sur la présence de l'actuel président de
la Catalogne ainsi que de tous ses prédécesseurs depuis la restauration des
institutions démocratiques. La manifestation est organisée par Òmnium Cultural,
avec le soutien de plus de 1000 associations représentant la société civile catalane.

Le verdict de la Cour constitutionnelle suppose un inacceptable mépris de la volonté
populaire, exprimée démocratiquement par référendum, ainsi qu’un notable recul de
cette loi, limitant les compétences du Gouvernement de la Catalogne en matière
sociale, économique, juridique ou linguistique. Ce mécontentement est d'autant plus
justifié que la composition de ce tribunal est formée par des juges élus par les partis
politiques avec des critères purement partisans, et que, d'après la loi nationale, deux
tiers de ses membres auraient dû être remplacés il y a plusieurs années.

Nous, les catalans faisant partie de l’Association (loi 1901) « Casal de Catalunya de
Paris », manifestons notre préoccupation pour ces faits. La volonté démocratique
des citoyens de toute nation doit être respectée. C’est pourquoi nous tenons à
exprimer notre soutien à cette grande manifestation et invitons tous les individus et
organisations qui respectent la liberté des peuples à exprimer leur soutien via
l'adresse : http://www.somunanacio.cat/

Casal de Catalunya de Paris
http://www.casalparis.cat/

2010-06-29T09:31:00.004-10:00

Welcome to Iran!

So at the end my travels have taken me through the cities that most of the tourist visit. I attach a map so that you see where I went geographically. Unfortunately as I previously said, I had to go up and down the country to be at different points at specific times. However each bus ride was an adventure, meeting someone new. In all I was in Masoule, Tehran,Kashan (between Esfahan and Tehran) Abyaneh (next to Kashan), Esfahan,Yazd and Shiraz (and Persepolis). In addittion other travelers tend to visit Kerman and Mashad, and if they have extra time the caspian cost. On arrival visas are for two weeks, but if you get it in th embassy it generally is for 30 days with one entry, but it can relatively easily be extended in the country. When traveling through the countries there are different kind of buses which are very cheap. However you can also take VIP buses, as I did from Shiraz to Tehran (13 hours) and you have a fully reclined seat.
These bus costed me 22 dollars for 1,000km and the non VIP one was 13 dollars. At the end of the day if you have a lonely planet you are keen to meet the few tourists that there are in the country in the same hostels. Amir Kabir in Esfahan and Silkroad in Yazd.

The meaning of Randomness

2010-06-23T01:03:00.005-10:00

Once back home I will post the itineary that I have done. Due to the multiple times that I had to be at a place on a specific day I have been doing a lot of up and down of certain routes, but so far I have enjoyed myself and have bearly been alone. In fact I think the most time you can spend in Iran without talking to anyone is 8 hours (sleeping time).

As previously said the magic about this place is that you wake up without knowing who you will meet and what will happend. My last day in Esfahan before heading to Shiraz I was meant to meet Reihaneh, but unfortunately she was quite bussy. In the hope of not being followed I chose peak hour to go to the main square and buy my ticket to Shiraz. On the way there I met my roommate Albin in the internetcafe said hi and left. Took a walk around the square and while i was having my delicious icecream I saw Albin pass by again and we took a walk in the square. Then as I thought the day would be boring Zainab called as she had a friend of a friend who was going to reherse his typical iranian music with a group in his house and invited me to join the practice. A random girl called me to tell me the time and place his friend would pick me up. So Albin and I just headed over there. The music was spectacular, the appartment was very big full of carpets and it was simply great time. The hours of most heat we spend them in that house listening to some fantastic music. Albin made some MP3s which I hope to get one day and put them here. Later we headed for the tea shop with marvelous views of Immam Square and sat there for 2 hours drinking tea as he waited for someone to pick him up and I watied for Reihaneh. Since she didnt appear I headed back to the hotel to get my luggage and together with Julen Camila traveled to Shiraz in a quite unconfortable bus.

Already the 19th of June!!

2010-06-19T20:46:00.005-10:00

mosque,mosque and more mosque

Esfahan, bridge at night

Time for a haircut

The magic about this trip is that you wake up in the morning and have no idea how the day will go and what you will do, for the best and for the worst. Yesterday was a chaotic day, celebrations, hairdresser, eyebrows done in iranian style, buying a new cell phone and heading to the hospital in the middle of the night (im fine!).

So in 24h I woke up and realized we were not 3 but 4 in the room. I quickly realized the fourth person was someone who had been with me in Yazd, I told her I was heading to the hairdresser, and she joined me too. Got a proper haircut, im finally over my two colour hair, my hair is short and back to one colour. Or at least I think so. I spend the day with a headscarf on so I have not been able to admire my new hair cut too much.

In fact the hairdresser was downstairs in a hidden place so people coming through the street could not see the hair of the women. We arrived and there was one person working....we arrived at 11 and by the time my eyebrows and hair were done and her hair and facial done it was around 3.30 !! It was intresting some other girls that were there were getting their entire face waxed, including cheaks. I had never seen that before! I had seen arms, moustache, bear but cheaks?? interesting! To go to the toilet we had to go to the street so 2 minutes after having blown dry my hair I was putting again a headscarf to go to the street and go to the toilet. Quite an interesting scene. The hairdresser had a tantop and you could see a lot of her breasts. When we told her to show us the toilet she had to cover herself completely up... it seemed all so illogical, for simply 2 seconds of crossing the street.

Later we headed for some lunch in a big empty hotel/restaurant. They said they were closed but I still managed to get a salad (FINALLY!) and some Kubide Kebab...it was good. Later I asked the guy where I could buy a new phone and with iranian hospitality he even drove me to the street where there are all the phone shops. I got the basic of the basic Nokia phone, with arabic writing (and romanic too) in the keypad! So at least I got something that will look original back home. And despite the guy kindness to drive us there and talk to us, there it came...are you single? I was not very assertive by saying hmmm not really. So how old are you? And then it came again later and in a more secretive tone, so are you single? No Im not single. Whatever thing to keep someone away... buff!!! Im not going to tell them im married, but at least that I have a boyfriend because I am fed up of being followed during long time in the streets. Im fine with comments of 1 second and stares, but being followed is another thing. This is the only thing that leaves a bitter taste of my trip and it is mens attitude towards women. You start having doubts and second thoughts about what are their real intentions, and what they want from you.I have heard quite a few bad stories already from girls traveling around, and I am hoping not to spend too much time alone in the coming days because I do not want to leave with this impression of this country. This is really the only thing that has made my stay a bit bitter, for the rest I have had so far amazing food, amazing welcomings in people homes and great experiences, I just wish at some points I could walk alone without having a men following me or 3 motorcycles driving at 5km/h besides me. Nevertheless Iran is a must vist country for any person in this planet!

So it turns out that there is some kind of insects running around our hotel in Esfahan. So my roomate asked for a change of rooms. Still at 3am she woke me up because she couldnt sleep her entire face was blown up, specially the eye so we headed in search for a hospital. The taxi driver even came with us, and to see the doctor and later took us to the pharmacy and then back. The situtaiton on her face has not improved that much, hopefully will during the day. So hospital in Laos and in Iran are done. Seems like I will add this as a visit in all my countries! The doctor spoke good english and the service was good. They told us they didn't have the medication there, but after a bit of asking we were able to get the injection in the same hospital from the emergency room!! I have seen that you have to ask and plee and look desperate to get things sometimes... lesson learned!!

A quick update

2010-06-18T07:03:00.004-10:00

Drinking tea the iranian way, Zainab

Hello,

I want to let you all know im doing great. I have met some amazing travelers in the past days, following the silkroad from europe to Asia, doing year long trips.Please check out one of the blogs of one of the personsI have met www.julica.com amazing! In the meanwhile, I have been left in the middle of a highway by a bus,checked out to check in 8 hours later on the same hotel,eaten some supposately sheep head which turned out to be fatty sheeps toes. Met a guy that knows the lonley planet writer and who travels during years and simply does some scubbadiving lessons 3 months in a year to earn money. And last but not least I have written my first Farsi sentences! Im proud! To add to it, I had some more Kebab and I went into the roof of a bazaar and many houses, to feel like in the movies. I promise descriptions and pictures soon. Some wonderful that are coming to an end soon. One of the best trips in my life.

Yazd

2010-06-15T07:20:00.004-10:00

All the time trying to edit a couple pictures simply to rezise them and no luck so ... this is it! Today has been a day around Yazd and the sorrounding towns of Chak Chak Meybod Haranaq. Beautiful views around, the desserted never ending plateaus with some mountains. Ill ty to post picture, but a picture that doesnt explain anything. The problem is that we couldnt enter into Chak Chak as there was a Zorotrostian festival and we werent allowed in. However, we spend the day from 8.30 until 6 pm outside with a driver that took us everywhere and also with the iranian hospitality skills booked us tickets for tommorrow to move on to other cities. So so far it was great!! This is one of those trips compared to others that are really without plans. I mainly knew the words Tehran,Shiraz,Yazd and Esfahan and I am planning things as it goes. In a way this is great way of travel, all I wish is that I had free time for a never ending trip. Also,since I have to go back to Esfahan im doing a few detours, but if not the trip is going great. This is a passageway from Turkey/Europe to Asia and Im meeting people crossing towards turkmenistan,uzbekistan etc witht he goal of arriving to South East Asia, so that sounds so great!!! Wish I could be doing some of those trips. I was with two guys these days and today conversation was around which countries have the best foods in the world,which has the worst. Its great to be having lunch and discussing what can be done in Mongolia, what is the best about Turkey and where to go next. And yes, I admit I am already thinking of my next destination. for the next holidays... which many of you probably can guess where it will be.

The bible of Travelers

2010-06-15T06:54:00.003-10:00

(this post got deleted and i had to rewrite it..grr!)

Imagine a library a few days before an exam. Everybody with the same postits, same books, same highlighters and everyone nervous. I have traveled around, and one thing nobody ever leaves home is a guidebook. However, every place I have gone each person brings the guidebook in their own language, edition and publishing house. However in Iran its like in the library, in the dorms I am staying at 20 minutes before going to bed everyone takes out a book Lonley Planet Iran, and starts reading. You can know where people are heading too depending on the page they are at, it is in the middle of the guidebook with a map on the top left page and with a small square in the bottom right describing the culture of the country. You start to discuss about a place, and you just describe it as you forgot the name, but someone shouts, oh yeah that is... page 261 first paragraph. Its worse than in the library, you all read the same, hightlight the same, and dont leave the hostel without that in your pocket but while reading it you are happy and study it more in depth than those finance books back home! All of the few tourists around here stay at the our pick hotels of the lonley planet or the ones next to them in case the our pick arent the greatest. So you know where to find the tourists. When you call to arrange for a guide the guy replies " Im bussy, but call the guy below me on the lonley planet he should be free and has better rates" later the guide takes you to a place and as he sees you looking through the book comments " this place is not in the lonley planet but..." In otherwords, if you own or are running anything related with tourism in Iran and you are not in the lonley planet you are nobody! So far I have found tons of copies of lonley planet Iran in Esfahan and Yazd, pictures above! And even better the guy sitting next to me has the copies of lonley planet digital in his computer. Unfortunately they are too large, wish I had them with me!! Lonely Planet the bible of all travelers in Iran. Im waiting to go home and check what was that second guide I thought about buying. Im happy I went for Lonley Planet or id be talking a different language than everybody else in this country!

Yazd

2010-06-14T00:15:00.004-10:00

Im in Yazd!!! And its quite quite hot!! We are 39, and they were at 42 yesturday. I visited the old town this morning with another dutch and australian guy and now just chilling under the fan!!! This afternoon when the sun chills out Ill go out again. Yazd is very nice, houses are build on mud , and there are small alleys in which you can get lost. As we were walking by the Amir Chamique Mosque a guy opened us the lock and let us in, let us up to the roof where you had views of the entire city.... above is a pic of me on the roof by the dome of the mosque with the view of the city. Many pics are of the same day thus the same clothing, but do keep in mind that my shower at night involves also washing my cloths :) Tonight walking through the bazaar and then tommorrow near Yazd!

Pictures!!!!

2010-06-13T18:23:00.005-10:00

I got my hands on a computer with an SD reader!! Now I must only reduce a couple of them

Woman in Yazd that I met in a Mosque

Pots, pots and more pots in Yazd..

Jolfa, armenian quater in Esfahan.

Things dont change!!!

2010-06-13T08:13:00.002-10:00

Be it South East Asia or be it the Middle East:

"Where are you from?"
"Spain"
"Ahhh gooodd foootballl Real Madrid or Barcelona?"
"Barcelona!!!"
Before the reply was RONALDINHOOOOOO now its LIONEL MESSI and GUARDIOLA...!!!

I like it!!! Except in Esfahan I still saw a picture of Ronaldinho with a Barcelona TShirt! :)

When things go wrong

2010-06-13T07:51:00.005-10:00

Things go wrong sometimes....but then its a matter of making them go right!!!
Out of all the days today could of have been the worst one, and it hasnt even been that bad. That to say that Iran overall continues to seem to me as quite a safe country. I walked out of the Hotel in Esfahan today and went for a walk towards Immam Square, chequed out the shops, mosques and went back to Fereni Hafez to eat some fereni...delicious rice flour, milk, sugar and rose water with date syrup. Simply delicious. Later in the Mosque I met a guy, he seemed odd. I took 1000 pictues while he asked me questions, I was quite cold. Changed my zoom, rechanged my zoom and he wanted to take a pic of me with my SLR, but he just seemed everything but trusty. So I said no. Later he wanted to take a pic of me with his phone so I said NO and walked out of the mosque. I chequed out all the shops around the area and there was still 1 hour till I meet Reihaneh when suddenly, there he was following me!!! I dont know if he had been following me for 1h without me knowing or if we simply had rebumped into eachother. I dont get it, here guys follow you infront, which is simply dumb. They walk, they stop they walk they stop. This has happened to me multiple times, but it hadnt happened yet in such an obvious and long way as today. I tried hidding but he kept finding me, screw it. I called my friend to know when we were meeting. I looked at him and he knew I knew he was following me. I started going through the spices bazaar which I was quite intresting but I was getting nervous cuz he kept following me and in that area it was only woman, so I didnt want to go there. I went backwards when up to him and I looked at his face and said ENOUGH, this is ENOUGH stop FOLLOWING ME. At that point he pretended not to understand english, while in the mosque he spoke english. I think my tone made it quite clear that it was enough... I walked to a shop and then a guy there who had said hi to me before said hi again and asked if I was waiting for someone (i passed around 10 times around the shop, so he thought it was strange). I told him I was waiting for Reihaneh and in addittion someone was following me. So he said, no problem just stay in my shop until the guy goes away. After 45 minutes Reihaneh came and I left... I missed the Spice Bazaar but luckily im going back to Esfahan soon.

The day continued with my arrival in Yazd. I couldnt see a taxi terminal and there were a bunch of people saying taxi taxi. Not following my own and my friends adivce I got into one of them.... the taxi had no official logo nothing. He simply said the name of the hotel I wanted to go to, so I thought yeah Ill just get in it. I got in it, and as we were driving I had the feeling he was doing wierd things. I thought the hotel was near the station and we were driving for a while. I called Reihaneh and told her I was in the taxi and to call me back in 10 minutes to make sure I made it. But the driver kept driving and he spoke no english. I asked how far Se Kilometers?? (3 kilometers??) he said, no 10. I felt unease, according to the guide the hotel wasnt that far. So I suddenly saw a junction and police and I made the taxi stop. I took all my luggages out of the taxi and went to talk to the police. In no time I had 10 guys who spoke no englihs surrounding me and one arrived who spoke english and told me the driver was very known. How sure was that??? The police man seemed to say it was OK to go with that driver so yeah... I just went onwards. The taxi driver called the hotel so I would relax and made me talk to t owner to tell him I was on my way...At the end I ended paying more than I told him I would, but fine. I guess better be secure than get a taxi that takes you god knows where!! At the end I made it sound and safe and I have my bed in my dorm in Yazd.

Masuleh - Qa'l eh Rudkhan Traveling with Students

2010-06-12T02:09:00.006-10:00

Qa'l eh Rudkhan

Traveling with the students

These entries are not in chronological order.

After two days in Tehran I decided it was time to get out of the bussy city, and I was assuming I would go back there at the end of the trip. So I decided to go to Masuleh. I had heard it was one of the most beautiful cities of Iran. I took a bus to Rash and there I had a cab waiting to take me to Masuleh 1 hour ride, 15 dollars. Id definatively be saving money would I be traveling with someone else, but hey who cares! its now or never! So Masuleh is a small village in the middle of the mountains. We left Tehran and it was all very dry with some mountains with no trees, suddenly we started to go through greener areas which were more hilly and suddenly I look and its full of rice pads. Who would have said there would be rice around that area! I thought Iran was all dessert and dry! It was great! We also crossed a huge lake and a city which sold olives, olives and more olives. With the cab we started going up the mountain through a road, he started changing gears and suddenly he stoped in a placed where you saw nothing. I walked a bit and I saw the town. Masuleh was beautiful, the roof of one house was the street of the next. Its in the steep mountains and it has everything a town needs, the bazaar, supermarket, tourist shops, people rent out rooms. So I rented one out for one evening. I also took tons of pictures and found a small waterfall near the town. Afterwards I just sat, had a tea and started writting. . .

As I was writting a bunch of people sat by me and I saw that the girls were looking at me. It was late, and yeah I just focused on my writting. I wanted to go the next day to Qa'l eh Rudkhan a castle in the middle of the mountains near Masuleh. Suddenly I realized I couldnt go there as at night I wanted to go to Esfahan and I couldnt hike the 1 hour hike to the castle with my 12 kilos backpack :( damn it... oh well I realized id spend the entire day bored in Masuleh. And as I was thinking and writing one person from the group approached me "sorry can i ask u a question?"
We started talking and it turned out they were students of soil science in the university in Tehran who were on a 1 week trip. They told me the next day they were going to Qa'l eh Rudkhan and I could join them. I thought it was a great idea. They were waiting for the woman to open the door of the place they had rented...but the woman was taking for ages. One of the girls in the trip, there were 3 guys 6 girls and the professor (who spoke perfect english) was from a village nearby and her family had cooked dinner for them so they invited me to join them. The dinner was AMAZING!!!! I wasnt even that hungry, but I ate so much.... We all sat in the floor - as is the style im following since I arrived and we ate, next day woke up at 7.30 met at 7,45 and at 8 we were on the road to the castle to see the castle. Singing and dancing in the car, it was great!!! We hiked and hiked and I was sweating, I was the last one up there!heheheh but you know with a headscarf and a long sleeves hiking is just not the same haha. We saw the castle which was amazing. In the entire day I saw 0 tourists. Lets say I have only seen 10 since the beginning of my trip!! And on the way down we finished up the dinner form the previous night. I had so much fun, it felt like I had known them for ages. They were going to leave me in a near by village and I was going to take a taxi to another village and then the 1 bus that leaves to Esfahan. However the professor proposed I go with them to Tehran and I take the bus from there since there are many more. I did so.... he called his secretary to reserve me a ticket!!! As we arrived in Tehran he invited me to his house and I had dinner with his wife and two sons and later he took me to the bus stop and made sure the driver would let me know 20 min before arrival to Esfahan that we were there. The trip was simply amazing, the people so much fun and the views magnificent. Im running out of adjectives, but it was a great day . At 11pm I got on the bus and at 4am I arrived in Esfahan!!

Here are a couple pictures that Mostafa, one of the guys took of us.
Please dont mind my dressing style I bought this in the bazaar in Tehran as I realized something that I had bought in Spain didnt cover my ass and thus wasnt too appropriate!

Some of them, the fifth from the left is the professor and yeah im the witch on the right.

One more day in Esfahan

2010-06-12T01:49:00.002-10:00

In Esfahan I found Yuki and Miwa again from Tehran so we exchanged eachother the pics we had taken on m first day there when we had spend the day with Hossein. Here is one of me and Miwa in Hossein house taking notes on what he was telling us! :)

They are heading back to Tehran tommorrow and im going to go to Yazd. Esfahan is a beautiful city, with impressive bridges crossing the Zayandeh River. Even better is the Imam square by day and by night with the imam mosque and the Ali Qapu Palace which are beautiful!!! The pictures will come once I get home and can get them onto a computer. I dont know how many times I have been in that square in the few days that I have been here. I have established myself in the hostel where all lonley planet travelers go and from here I will be traveling up and down to multiple cities. I wanted to go to a dessert village described as having 160 people and 2 camels but I called and they said its too hot to go and its closed due to sickness...so forgeting about that option! Today I have been to the armenian quater Jolfa and seen a beautiful church of Bethlehem - no pictures allowed. All the walls where painted with detail and precision and it was beautiful. Many mosques are painted in turquoise and lighted by night, you just want to sit and look. Immam square yesturday was full of people having their picknick on the grass, guys and girls playing with balls, motorcycles going around, shops selling icecream and as in all cities carriages with horses going around. However these carriages seem to have their magic. The best is that everybody does their thing, playball,go with motorbike etc super fast and yet no one seems to be bumping into eachother.

My main worry at this point is what will I do when I go back home and I cant eat iranian food. Im ready to search for iranian restaurants the day I get home. The food is simply delicious, I have had such varied food, from eggplants,garlics,olives,meet,kebab HEILEHUP (delicious...however that is writen in Farsi!)

As you can imagine yesturday everything was closed because it was Friday, thus weekend. Like a sunday back home, all the shops closed. People insist I look from here and ask me questions in Farsi, I stare at them :) Afterall this culture is close to ours, eating times are late shops close in the middle of the day and driving isnt like Holland. I think in Spain we would drive like in iran if it wasnt for the fact that the point system is freaking people out!! Saeed was trying to drive Dutch Style in Esfahan. He started using the yellow light to change lanes, he didnt beep at the people crossing the street etc, it was funny but it didnt really work :)

Today is the 1 year aniversary of the elections and they had said maybe something might be going on. On TV they announced they did not want groups of more than 2 people walking in the streets as they were scared people would do protests, but I have seen very little police in the streets and no real problems. They had also said that if protests would go on then they would cut phone lines and internet, but luckily all is under control.

Iranian hospitality has no limits

2010-06-10T06:23:00.006-10:00

The hospitality of the people in this country doesnt have limits and its hard to describe it.
Basically you cant spend more than 24 hours alonewithouthaving an interesting conversation with one person or another.

For instance the receptionist in the hotel in Tehran, Mr. Mousavi, By mail he already offered to do a pick up in the airport for me , and then while having lunch eh would make sure that the BBC was on and that I would have access to the english written newspaper. He also sold me a sim card for my phone and took all the possible actions within the next 72 hours until my phone got unblocked and fully working. He organiszed all my trip bybus to Rash where he organized a taxi for me to Masuleh. He called me on the way to Rash to make sure I was arriving, then he called the taxi then he made sure I got on the right taxi, then he told the taxi where to go. I wanst sure if that was the right taxi. He told me it was taxi 115 but i couldnt see the number. Keep in mind they dont use our alphabet, so i didnt want to do a 1h ride with the wrong taxi. I didnt get into it until Mousavi talked to him and confirmed that was the right car.

He reserved me a place with his friend in Masuleh, all of this involved tons of phone calls for which he shouldnt even have helped. And im not talking about a 5 star hotel in Tehran, but a small hotel in the south of Tehran by the bussy Amir Kabir street. To add to it he wrote everything down in a paper for me in english and in Farsi so that I wouldnt get lost.

I had my breakfast with delicious rose jam ohhhhhhhhh that was so so so good!!! I then eat an egg and start caughing so so hard and i hear someone go AB AB AB .. and it took me a few seconds to realize that they were saying WATER WATER...the watier comes with a glass of water a minute later.

As I left the hotel to go take the bus in Ferdosi street I start walking and bump into quite a few people that say hello, i dare to cross some crazy streets with 10 motorbikes coming at 100km per hour against me... and after asking for Arjentin Arjentin a few times I find my bus!!! In the bus a girl stops me and asks me tons of questions. Who am I where am i from, how do i like iran. Do I need help? She can take me to the last stoop Arjentin, where i have to go and show me which bus goes to Rash. So nice!! Not needed but so nice. Everybody thinks Im iranian even this girl told me she thought I was from here and my backpack was cuz i was going ot go climb hehehehe!! Her friend even offers to pay for my ticket "iranian tradition" I tell her its not needed and i payed when i got off. Its 12 kilos i dont understand why its so heavy, but well... she shaked my hand suddenly and got off the bus.

The buses are segregated men go in the front and women in the back. When u get off the bus u have to go to the front door and give the money to the driver!!

Thanks to Mousavis writing in Farsi I quickly find my bus and pay for my ticket! After 15 minutes we leave Tehran which within the city has various expressways. In the bus they gave us te, cookies ,sunflower seeds and cake. And if that wasn't enough the woman next to me she gave me a cucumber, i told her no thanks, but i had to eat it. Afterwards she took out a bag of candy and gave me two, later an apricot, and then once i ate that another one!!And you cant say no cuz she will not take the bag of food from in front of u until u put ur hand in it and take something. She also gave me more dried fruits and took my tea glass and put hers in it so that I don't get burned. All of this without her speaking english and me farsi. So u know i take my 2 pages of farsi english dictionary and i make a few sentences such as Im going to Masuleh, tomorrow i go to esfahan. I am from spain. My name is... it works, we start talking. She calls her son and she starts writing in a paper"do you have a taxi for u waiting? i can help" sooooo nice!!! i take the opportunity to get the pronunciation of the numbers right. Suddenly she gives me the bags with fruits she has left and gives it to me... no words, i have no words. And i have nothing to give to her.

We stoped in the middle to go to the toilet where all the woman take out their headscarf , i have to say i feel quite confortable dressed like this.. u cant see my overweight!!! headscarf is okay and walking in the mountains as well is horrible, so hot!! (more on that to come on next entry..) In that stop over the woman bought a bunch of bread but i had to say no i really couldn't eat any more!!!

Once I got in the taxi from Rash to Masuleh the taxi driver called the guy in Masuleh and dint leave me until the guy from the hotel came. Wowwww!!!

much more and more astonishing comments on Iranian Hospitality coming up very very soon!!
I cant check facebook from here.

oh some guys were talking infornt of me and i thought "omg i sudenly understand farsi perfectly!!! then I realized they were speaking czech..."looser!

Back in Tehran

2010-06-09T06:02:00.005-10:00

The master students with who I have spend the day today!!

Hello!!! Sorry for my major disappearance, I have so much to tell but no real time to write. I have been in the mountains for 48 hours and some amazing things have happened.Im currently at a home of a university professor in Tehran. You are wondering, what how when whatt?? LONG AMAZING STORY. In a few hours I will be heading to Esfahan to meet Reihaneh. This country is a country of contrasts and beauty in the north it was so green and dense, the last thing I expected. And people kindess and friendships are amazing.Im thinking of quitting work and becoming a world traveler and guide book writer. I will do a proper entry on my trip to Masuleh when I have time, for now just wanted to let you know that I really love this country and that I am alive. The best, there are no tourists, a real pitty!

NEVER MIND MY CLOTHING STYLE!!!
Take Care you all.

What estrong Im in Iran!

2010-06-07T02:00:00.005-10:00

Hello!!
I wanted to put some pictures up of the day but. . . I just realized the cable I brought is for super mini usb and i have a medium USB so forget about that. . . Images will come one day or other.

This morning I woke up to the beautiful words (I talk to myself..."everyone is in the office and you are in Iran") So I went for breakfast and then decided to go explore the city. This time on my own. I dont know where all the dangers everybody mentions where as I faced none really. Yeah at the beggining and generally speaking it was mainly men in the streets. Woman were fully covered in black and others in tigher/shorter fashion. However I dont feel its as strict as in Saudi Arabia or any other countries, woman still show hair and the young ones are dressed quite liberaly. I had no problems at all. In the entire day I had maybe the intuition 3 times that a guy was following me, but I simply started walking slower, asking people directions, looked at him with a face of FUCK OFF and that was more than enough. For the rest a couple whistles and commetns here and there but nothing really compared to the amount of people I crossed.

At the first moment I was lost so I decided to ask people for the Bazaar. As simple as it is the word Bazaar it seemed like people where not really understanding. I tried many different pronounciations until finally I think I got it right. The problem is that the word Bazaar led them to ask me 10,000 questions which I could not understand. I made it to Goldestan palace where I saw 2 tourists (yeahhhhyyy tourists!) and an iranian couple that tried to talk to me with an impossible to overcome language barrier. In the back there was a girl looking at me and smiling who had an SLR and finally she came up to me and asked me questions. Serah walked me later to the bazaar and the Immam Khomeini mosk and she bought me a bottle of water. I have to say people here are quite nice, always asking where you are from and how you are.

The streets are hazzling, forget about the word traffic light. cars busses and motorcycles up and down. This is not like south east asia where motorcycles dominate but it is mainly cars going very quick and driving crazy. My tactic wait until someone appears at the crossroad and cross right by them. If that doesnt work, wait 2 seconds take a deep breath and cross making sure that the only thing approaching are cars and motorcycles. If a bus is approaching tactic is simply to wait.

In the bazaar I also bought a very long thing to cover myself. The guy was saying that the price in Spain would be more expensive. As I told him it was too expensive. And I said "yeah maybe it would, but trust me I wouldnt wear that there" he started laughing...

I also visited the Jewels Museum. Had to cross a super huge door where the jewels are hidded, the amount of silver,dimonds etc was incredible. A security gard approached me and I though I had to leave, but all he wanted was to knwo where I was from hehehe.

Also the official goverment builduings are quite grayish and huge. This city aint that nice at all, specially this center where Im staying as its full of small shops and very buzzing, but that is what I like about traveling. Outside the official builduings there are billboards with phrases from the Koran. i wanted to take some pictures but it was clearly forbidden by signs, i asked twice and they said No. So No is No!!

I ate this intresting icecream with coconut, pistacho, nuts ..it was like a Mcflurry but simply way better!!

Also, its a mess cuz they have Rials and Tomman. So 1 Tomman is equal to 10 rials. Its a mess cuz i never know what people are speaking in and I constantly get confused :S

The headscarf once its on u bearly notice it, so so far so good.
By the way yesturday I was in the gate of Ahmadinejad residence and working area.
I have been told I look iranian... oh really!?
And tonight dinner with Zainab.

Sorry about the pictures!!
Im leaving Theran tommorrow, and must just add what estrong Im in Iran!

im wearing a headscarf!

2010-06-06T07:20:00.003-10:00

I am not very used to the head scarf specially when u have to go to the common toilet of the hotel and u need to leave ur room and put on the head scarf!!! Or when u are in the car with the window open and the wind just makes your headscarf go off... But so far so good.

Woke up this morning and got a sim card which is still blocked but I can now recieve calls!! I then asked a question to a japanese couple that was sitting next to me having breakfast and they told me they had met an Iranian man yesturday at the airport that was going to show them the city. I decided to join in. Hosein came with his wife and two girls one 9 one 4... first he took us to the famous Azadi tower!!! Toook the must take pictures. The best is this guy speaks fluent japanese so the entire day we were speaking japanese. I cant speak it and yet I understood quite a few conversations. Such as before crossing the streets. kioskete!! abunai!!! kuruma!! made - kara! ginko!gohan!tanjobi! For the first time in my life japanese soudned more familiar than any other language.

So afterwards he invited us to his home where he had ice creem, corn,pistachos. I also go to dirnk non alcohoolic beer which had a peculiar yet delicious taste.It was great. He then took us to the north by the mountains sa d abad museum complex which was the summer residence. It was great. His family was sooo nice. We put music in the car and we were all singing and dancing to it!!! We had lunch at a faboulous place outdoors where you sit down in the carpets and had some amazing rice and kebab and salad. The day was wonderfull, he later invited us again to his home and he gave each of us a free shirt (or smth to wear..) amazing!!! And having picked us up at the hotel at 11 we got back at 9pm! A long amazing day!!!

Everyone asks me what am i doing here alone, traveling alone. I hadnt contacted my famliy so they contacted my hotel hehehe to ask if i was here and the receptionist let me know adding the sentence "everybody thinks this is a dangerous place". I was the ony forign girl I saw crossing the border. But I got two contacts here so I think it will be fine!!

Yes, this is Iran!!

2010-06-06T07:04:00.003-10:00

Connection aint very fast, but ill try to update as much as I can. The plane left 1hour late barcelona as they had closed the runway and we missed our departure slot. The guy sitting next to me, old american had an absolute need to mainatin conversation which suddenly ended when he said "where are you traveling too?" and i was eating so I simply pointed to the book in my lap - Lonely Planet Guide Iran. After a while he restarted and wished me a good trip. I walked from terminal A to B crossing the famous Frankfurt tunnel. Famous to me as I crossed it a bunch of times running when I used to do Barcelona Buenos Aires via Frankfurt...Then there was the waiting, it was clear that was the waiting area for the people on the flight to Tehran... the dress code said it all. This old woman started talking to me and the first thing she said was "come to my home" hehehe. So yeah, got on the plane and about 1h before landing my legs started to hurt. thanks god it was a "short flight".. the toilet on the A340 where downstairs! yes there was a downstairs! with an area for a 10 people waiting room and 6 toilets I had never seen this...

Before landing we were reminded that photography was not allowed in Tehran international airport. And later also reminded that by law all woman decending of the plane had to use a headscarf.

That being done I started queuing in a never ending line to pass passport control, it was sooo warm... and then i realized there were only two persons in the queue of FOREIGNERS. So i wente there and this woman told me she had her family waiting they were iranians but with american passports she was going to try and go...she passed with 4 passports. Then when it was my turn... the KLM pilot appeared and made the 12 people in his crew go infront of me :s A german guy started shouting YEAH YEAH the dutch alway before, always extra rights, just make us wait longer. THe dutch the dutch. He applauded them and made a never ending scene. After a long wait I went through. I grabbed my luggage, changed my money (got milions) and then had to pas my luggage through a scanner. Then I walked out and Zainab came to pick me up :)it was great!! it was so late at night there was NO ONE in the streets...took us a while to find the hotel but it went just fine!!!!! Knocked on the door they opened the hotel and I got my room!

Ill upload pictures when back home.

Departure Time

2010-06-04T21:37:00.003-10:00

30 minutes till departure from home. . . Im not even nervous, but I've taken my natural tranquilizing pills cuz I don't like flying. Believe it or not but although I feel at home in certain airports and love to stare at them and planes, I don't like to fly. I only take the pills though if things get "moving" and I start to get nervous. Everything is ready. I don't know to which extent the word Tehran has hit in my head. I have repeated it so many times that I think it has lost its magic. It will hit when im in Frankfurt and before boring the plane, as I assume ill be surrounded by Iranians. It will definatively kick in once I find myself in the buzzing Tehran.I have a long flight ahead to read my guidebook and see what I do. For now, time to take a shower and head to the airport!

Hope not to have too many problems with Keyboards/Internet to update this often.

Almost departure time!

2010-06-03T11:22:00.002-10:00

So, ready for departure.less than 48 hours. Ticket is printed, money is here, backpack is packed,pick up in Tehran is set, drop off in Barcelona is set. Pick up in Barcelona is set....everything is set. And now is when the nerves start to kick in...will it be safe? Will I get lonely, will I meet people, will it be intresting? This month will be the anniversary of last years elections, what will happend? Im getting a bit worried. I dont know why, all of this kicked in just now, tonight. Im pretty sure the trip will be amazing, but suddenly I have had my thoughts on the trip. How will I feel when being watched my men, by being the foreinger walking around, by taking pictures around.How will it be????? Ill let u know this in the coming up weeks!! Despite all these questions, Im happy and excited. Its holiday time and the moment to go see something new, really really new!!!!!

Small Details

2010-06-01T10:30:00.004-10:00

Small ideas, and details that should not be forgotten, I started a list and continued today on my train ticket...things not to forget, not to leave out. On the meanwhile hotel is booked for the arrival in Tehran! Yeah!Got some money out of the bank Yeah! The bank refused to give me the 3/4 more of money that I want to get so I must sort that out.... I went during lunch break to have lunch with a friend and say bye to my Party Friend, and headed to the supermarket to buy all that ill need those days, soap,shampoo,deodorant,toothpaste,pads.... step by step this is becoming a reality!!! I made photocopies of all my documents. Since I cant sort out the scanner at work, I made pictures of all my documents. Just in Case. I got the phone numbers of my friends. Well..... now I admit Im simply tiered. And I know next week I will miss this couch for sure, and being able to get a sun tan, and walk in tang tops and eat pa amb tomaquet. But for 3 weeks Ill give that up and go and enjoy. I admit im very tiered, I havent gotten much sleep in the past weeks. Friday night luckily my friend is organizing a party so Ill go there before going to the airport on Saturday. There is no way I will sleep anyways friday night so the party sounds like a good enough option!! So.. random thought .at what point does one put on the headscarf, while flying over Iran, before touching ground, right when ground has touched?
Hopefully it will be so so so hot that I will sweat and walk so much that I will loose tons of weight -I like day dreaming.
Im starting to think thatIll encounter keyboards that wount be able to type, so lets see how much I can get through with the blog while there. Thailand was already a pain...and France at the beginning. Hope to be able to tell you tons!

2010-05-31T13:35:00.001-10:00

www.google.com --> "women traveling alone in iran"
--> "dress code iran"
--> " traveling iran"

I think its time for some rest...tommorrow more preparation :)
Im excited, and trying not to think about all the worries that people keep transmiting to me and that I am so far avoiding. I hope to come back with an amazing experience.

5 days till Iran and nothing ready.

2010-05-31T12:33:00.007-10:00

Ohhhh lord!!! 5 days to Tehran and nothing is really ready!!! Well today I recieved my passport from Madrid!! Im saved by the bell!

Having had visits for the past 2 weeks of Italian and French friends I have used that as an excuse not to plan anything. Now that they are gone, its time to hurry and set things up...

I called my aunt yesturday to double check on certain medications and asked my cousin to bring his backpack so he could lend it to me. As he did when in Turkey.
I spend the past hour mailing friends to obtain their addresses and phones in Tehran and Isfahan.
I prebooked a hotel, now must wait to have confirmation that they have availability. Hoping so, cuz according to the guide the place is good!! Brought down to the living room a few cloths, medications, and things that I need to be sorted. For now im piling up in the livingroom all that I need and the day of packing I will take out some stuff.....dont want to carry too much weight. However, the idea of having to be all covered and sweating due to summer and having to attend a wedding makes me want to carry lots of stuff but ill try to keep it to a minimum and buy things there. Bazaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrr time!!!!

Tried shopping a bit yesturday at Maremagnum but all I could see was short tight stuff... at the end I caught a couple of things at H&M. It took me years to convince myself that I should wear skirts and shorts in summer, and now that that is mostly what I owe I have to go looking for long sleeves untight cloths. Fashion will not be my thing while in Iran, well it never is with me but this time it will be bad bad. Do not expect too many pictures with me in them :D

Made a list as well of all the things I need, and hope that by the end of the week Ill have everything ready. Still got to get some major things. But the most important is that I have my passport, my visa and my ticket. Also got payed 2 days ago so im saved to pay my holidays :)

So random thought, what happends when the alarm in the hotel goes off at night ill have to run looking for my head scarf before walking out?

Second random thought, why did they not want me to have a head scarf in my visa picture?

2010-05-19T07:41:00.000-10:00

Comment nourrir tout le monde ? from Denis van Waerebeke on Vimeo.

23 days to Iran!

2010-05-13T11:30:00.003-10:00

This picture is my first attempt in covering my hair... I was just looking around the house for what I got and what I dont have in terms of cloths. As I walked out of the office I started to go into shops to see what I could buy. Quite hard, all that I generally saw where short jeans, short skirts, tang tops etc. I need large, wide cloths, not too transparent, not too open. So I decided to first look at home what I had. Seems like the veil is covered. I can get another one in Iran once Im there! For the rest, got to do some shopping, and the rest will come in the bazaars in Iran!

On the meanwhile more remote/out of place comments to me going to Iran. This one came on facebook: "You're going to Iran!?! I don't think there's a country in the world which hates America more." and my Reply " I think you are wrong, and what you say is what one could expect to hear due to all the propaganda from the media. Iran is clearly not all nuclear weapons, anti amercian feelings and extreme muslims. So far I have not met a single Iranian like that. To be honest the more I read and reasearch the more interesting the country seems in terms of hospitality culture and history. I think the country has been wrongly misjuged by all the news on TV, and it’s a pitty people make up the wrong ideas of countries. To see how reality really is, nothing better than to go. Ill be heading over for 3 weeks on holidays, and as far as I can read, it should be a great experience."

Its Real, Next Destination Iran

2010-05-12T12:18:00.003-10:00

This book is in my hands and its real.Its not a dream but I have the ticket, the visa is almost processed and in 24 days I will be landing in Tehran. My heart was starting to speed up as I was walking towards Altair, one of my favorite shops in Barcelona. I spend around an hour deciding which one of the guides to buy. I reckon the assortment was small. Tons of literature on Iran, very little on traveling, even less on Iraq. And this is what excites me, to find not that many tourists and yet a country full of culture.

The more images I see of the country the more excited I get, the more my hearbeat starts speeding up, and I cant count the days to the landing. Iranians are known for to their hospitality, and this country seems tainted by the fact that everybody believes it belongs to the axis of evil. I recond ill be between countries I have never traveled to, Afganistan, Pakistan,Iraq,Turkmenistan, but this is what makes it more intresting. Countries that pop in the news and from which we only see extremists, but that is not all there is.

We are all in this planet, living in the same routines in our own area without opening boreders and allowing all that propaganda to come to us. Go to Ibiza for the parties, dont go to Iran they have nuclear weapons, go to Spain for "Cerveza and Sangria", go to Holland for rain, dont go to America they only eat burgers. How many are willing to break those barriers and go explore what really is there? I admit that traveling alone might stop me for doing certain things, I already took extra care on my RTW trip in 2007 which might not have taken had I been with someone. But this June ill take the chances and go see what there is in the Middle East. In January I got the taste by seeing Turkey, I came fascinated by its culture and people, and now its Iran's turn.

Time to open the book, have a read and go to sleep.

2009-12-28T11:54:00.004-10:00

The Asia without Borders magazine published the winning pictures of their 2009 competition, which intended to "capture the striking facets of Asia's land, people architecture and wildlife" The grand prize was awarded to the above picture taken in India.

I would like to know what lead the photographer to take such a picture and in which place the picture was taken as there is no description if this took place in a hospital where they were weighing this person with problems. Is this person shouting of anger due to pain in his body or due to the pain of being photographed? A prize which will give the winner a great camera to enjoy himself taking even more pictures with the flight ticket he will get to go to Delhi. Although this picture does declare a clear health problem, and might be "denouncing" it, it feels a fully unethical picture to me. What did the photographer do after the picture? Who is this person? Where is the picture taken. I would not have voted for this picture as the winner of the competition.

The other winners can be seen in the following link http://www.asiangeo.com/awb09_results/flipviewerxpress.html and I feel they much more adhere to capturing the facets of Asia.

2009-11-25T04:42:00.000-10:00

Foto by me
Raiatea December 2008

Persona + Respeto

2009-11-25T01:44:00.001-10:00

2009-11-24T13:19:00.001-10:00

Raiatea
Foto by me: December 2008

2009-10-29T03:38:00.003-10:00

Perquè avui em sento Optimiste

Mourir ou voyager ? Le choix des SDF en hiver

2009-10-21T12:29:00.009-10:00

L'hiver s 'approche et ça me fait penser aux SDF, surtout au nord ou il fait encore plus froid. J'ai trouve cette article qui a été publie en Septembre, moment pendant le quelle les gens commencent a penser a la entrée, mais ils s'inquiètent pas pour le froid et les personnes qui sont dehors. Un bon article, une petite réflection de rue89 que je partage avec vous.

Mourir ou voyager? Le choix des SDF en Hiver (Rue 89)
http://www.rue89.com/blog-de-lecrivain-mouloud-akkouche/2009/09/15/mourir-ou-voyager-le-choix-des-sdf-en-hiver

Aujourd'hui, personne ne parle de lui et tout le monde semble s'en foutre royalement. Pourtant on le croise tous les jours, parfois plusieurs fois. Un être sans doute comme, vous et moi, capable aussi du pire et du meilleur. De temps en temps, on échange avec lui un regard, un sourire. Bientôt, ce passant ou un autre lui ressemblant va mourir : une question de semaines. Sa mort pré-inscrite dans un calendrier.

Quand notre tatouage de saison aura entièrement disparu et les vacances plus qu'un souvenir, il commencera peu à peu à apparaître et occupera plus de territoire dans nos yeux, deviendra réellement visible. Notoriété éphémère de l'hiver. Plus la température baissera, plus il remontera à la surface des consciences et journaux. Mais il ne lira jamais sa nécro dans le futur numéro du quotidien coincé sous son corps raide.

Au premier SDF mort de froid, des ministres vont sillonner ventre à terre les plateaux télés ou radios pour, la main sur le cœur, expliquer avec des trémolos dans la voix que c'est un scandale de mourir d'hypothermie dans un pays comme la France. Qui pourra leur donner tort ?

Puis, la scène de la trois ou de la une achevée, ils annonceront que les services concernés, tous les services concernés, plancheront sur ce sujet d'une extrême importance pour le pays, et convoqueront officiellement une réunion d'urgence : la même que l'hiver dernier. Et les hivers précédents depuis le coup de gueule d'un fameux Abbé.« La vague de froid tue » : le retour. Une série hivernale avec dialogues inchangés d'une année sur l'autre. Seuls les personnages principaux changent à chaque épisode car ils ont le mauvais goût de mourir au début du film.

En septembre 2009, cet homme ou femme « estampillé » donc SDF est beaucoup moins côté que la grippe A, le bourrage des urnes du PS et des têtes, ou les « brèves de pouvoir » d'un digne représentant de l'Etat. Ce concitoyen assis au pied de notre immeuble ou endormi sous une tente ne représente rien pour l'instant sur le degré Richter des dépêches de presse. Un moins que rien ne prenant de l'importance qu'à partir de moins cinq degrés. En attendant les grands froids, il patiente au guichet des priorités en écoutant un employé très courtois lui expliquer :

« Désolé, nous avons des choses plus importantes que vous à traiter en ce moment. Mourez d'abord, on verra si on peut s'occuper de votre cas après. Juste un conseil : si vous voulez vraiment nous faciliter la tâche et bénéficier de notre meilleure communication, essayez dans la mesure du possible de mourir sur un carton à l'entrée d'un restaurant un soir de réveillon. Si vous laissiez des enfants derrière vous, ce serait encore mieux. Et là, on vous offre le grand jeu : télés, radios, ministres, et même peut-être votre Président. Sauf s'il participe à un gala pour des œuvres caritatives organisées par son épouse. »

Pendant que j'écris bien peinard à mon ordi, des anonymes ne se contentent pas que de mot et agissent sur le terrain. En ce moment précis, ils préparent des lits pour héberger ces morts -espérons le moins possible- en suspens qui feront bientôt la une des magazines et quotidiens. D'autres s'activent pour être opérationnels dans la distribution de vêtements et vivres, sans oublier les repas chauds de différentes associations. Une armée de bénévoles sur le pied de guerre chaque hiver.

Contrairement à ceux qui, à chaque victime du froid, ressortent les mêmes phrases mécaniques apprises dans des grandes écoles ou les coulisses de partis politiques. Pas un ne se remet en cause, toujours la faute du prédécesseur ou de la crise internationale. Bien sûr, les ministres ne peuvent pas porter toute la misère de la planète. Certains restent peut-être au fond sincères. Qui sait ?

Mais, contrairement à la plupart d'entre nous, ils se sont battus pour obtenir ses responsabilités publiques. A eux de les assumer, trouver des solutions ; bref : bien faire le boulot pour lequel ils sont payés. N'importe quel salarié échouant dans sa tâche (certains se suicident) en paye les conséquences. Sauf les traders dont tout le monde règle les dettes, on efface l'ardoise en attendant la prochaine.

Au risque de me faire traiter de bien pensant, je reste persuadé que la casse sociale, culturelle et économique -profitant à un petit nombre- est un des éléments qui pousse des gens à survivre dehors. Et y crever. Jetés à la rue pour satisfaire l'appétit insatiable des actionnaires. Fini l'époque du clodo philosophe avec son litron de rouge et éructant ses tirades poétiques, heureux de vivre à contre courant de la société. A part de rares individus, la marge n'est plus un choix. Et le clochard céleste remplacé par le fin de droits ou licencié.

Combien de repas des restos du cœur servis avec les frais d'un seul voyage avec avions à rallonges de notre couple présidentiel ? Et de centres d'hébergement ouverts avec tous les parachutes dorés de France, le fric reversé aux traders ou l'évasion fiscale en cours d'amnistie ? Quelques évadés fiscaux et pestant contre les impôts trop chers chantent d'ailleurs très sympathiquement pour la tournée des « enfoirés ». Bien rôdée, la tournée reprend chaque hiver. La ronde de la misère aussi.

« Si tu veux être apprécié, meurs ou voyage », dit un proverbe. Le SDF, sans possibilité d'un tour du monde écolo en hélico, se contente de mourir dans nos campagnes et villes sous une couche d'ozone polluée. A chacun ses possibilités d'attirer l'attention. Mais pas inquiétude : le thermomètre est encore au beau fixe. Surtout pour ceux qui tirent la couverture à eux.

P.S. : En écrivant ces lignes, je me suis remémoré un très beau roman sur entre autre la figure du SDF de Franck Magloire : « En Contrebas », aux éditions de l'Aube. Et aussi un collectif d'auteurs intitulé « Sans visages. L'impossible regard sur le pauvre », aux éditions Bayard.

2009-09-08T03:22:00.003-10:00

The president must always be the tallest.
Avec Monsieur Sarkozy tout est en controle.

Dutch Symbols

2009-07-24T09:42:00.007-10:00

STROOPWAFELS

Stroopwafels. As its name sais they are "wafels" full of a kind of "syrup". These can be bought in any supermarket, but the best ones are the ones you can get in the street recently made and warm. The wafels come from Gouda, and from there spread all around the Netherlands. How to eat a stroopwafel? Well you open the package and put it in your mouth. That would be the easiest. The best however, get a hot drink and place the stroopwaffel o

ntop of the cup as if it was a "lid". The heat of the drink will make the syrup melt and transform the stroopwafel into one of the most delicious things you have ever eat. Yes, its fat. Here are the ingreedients;flour, butter, brown sugar, yeast, milk, and eggs and for the syrup syrup, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon

CHEESE

Holland is known for its cheese, Gouda Cheese,Edam Cheese....are some of the commonly known cheeses. As a tourist you can head off to the Edam, Alkmaar cheese market which takes place from april to september every friday and shows how cheese was traded in the markets. You can find the "young" cheese (Jong) or the "old"(Oude) or the smoked or with herbs. Cheese is one of the most "typical" dutch food.

YELLOW TRAINS

How to know that you have crossed the border? Besides the fact that when looking through the window you will start to see more and more bicycles you can know you are in the Netherlands once you see that the trains are painted in yellow. Most of the trains of the Netherlands are operated by the NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen). I have to say that the trains in the Netherlands offer one of the best services of the countries where I have lived so far. Not only are they clean and people are relatively quiet in them, but except for certain days where there are vertragings (delays) or when the electricity station in Delft breaks down trains do run smoothly. In particular connections between the major dutch cities Amsterdam,Rotterdam,The Hague,Utrecht,Eindhoven are very often and one can choose between Intercitytreins. These trains will mainly stop in the big cities or Stoptreins which stops in all the small middle stations between the major cities.

Camins

2009-07-23T05:42:00.001-10:00

Camins, que ara s’esvaeixen,
Camins, que hem de fer sols,
Camins, vora les estrelles,
Camins, que ara no hi son.

Vam deixar-ho tot, el cor encés pel món,
per les parets de l’amor, sobre la pell,
erem dos ocells de foc, sembrant tempestes,
ara som dos fills del Sol, en aquest desert.

Mai no és massa tard per tornar a començar,
per sortir a buscar el teu tresor.
Camins, somnis i promeses.
Camins, que ja son nous.

No és senzill saber cap on has de marxar,
pren la direcció del teu cor.
Mai no és massa tard per tornar a començar,
per sortir a buscar el teu tresor.

Camins, que ara s’esvaeixen,
Camins, que has de fer sol,
Camins, vora les estrelles,
Camins, que ja son nous.

DayDreaming

2009-07-23T03:06:00.004-10:00

How amazing is it to sit here and daydream, and read blogs, and more websites and have the BRYN THOMAS trans-siberian handbook by me. Leave home,and embark on a train direction Russia, spend there a day and then off to the Siberia. Either in an icy-cold -20 winter or in a mild 5 degree autum. Visit the baikal lake... all direction MONGOLIA...

Dreams.

Pensant fort à Paris

2009-07-22T04:18:00.007-10:00

Et voilà un video cree aujourd'hui parce que oui, je pense fort à Paris. Voilà ce qui passe dans ma tete. . . PLAY.

-Images "stolen" from the internet- Music La Vase from the film Amelie Poulain
1001 reasons to dream and go back, this only shows the most typical, tourist images. . . I could have transformed the video into a never ending thing, just couldnt upload more pics and music or the size was to heavy.

. . . HEC. . .& J.N. KAPFERER + BASTIEN

2009-07-21T02:43:00.006-10:00

100% Mr. marketing Mr.Jean-Noel Kapferer...probably one of the best profesors I had at HEC and his own ad on the master program. *sight*

Only two questions remain:
First, since when does he speak with such a good english accent??
Second, (besides exchanges students) are there really that many foreign students at HEC?

Et après ...Bastien et Kapferer dicutent leur nouveu livre.
And to think how hard it was for me to understand them when they spoke in class due to their "speed" ... (ei, gracies eh Miquel)

Veuillez installer Flash Player pour lire la vidéo

J N Kapferer & V Bastien (Luxe Oblige) dans Darketing sélectionné dans Actualité et Actu Medias

2009-07-19T10:26:00.004-10:00

Images and sayings about love, family and friendship.

It is our friends, family and sometimes an unknown person's smile who make our world and change the moments of the days by making us laugh and smile.

The M.I.L.K. collection is one of my favorites as with images and sayings they clearly transmit a messages that touch the heart from deep down.

M.I.L.K. also has several books with images and sayings. Next november, a new book will be published with images that have been selected from the M.I.L.K. contest at the beginning of this year.

Departure minus X Days

2009-07-18T05:45:00.006-10:00

Ready for Departure to Laos and Cambodia 2007

After my bachelor degree and a three year dream I headed off to India with my visa and backpack ....
Later, when I finished my first master I took my 3 month holiday to do an around the world trip, visit old friends and quickly discover those american cities that I had so much heard of and the mysterious and tranquil Laos that I had dreamt of since at age 16 I had backpacked around Vietnam with my parents.

Month after month I recieve the lonley planet magazine, and for the past two years I have been rushing up and down in the parisian metro going to work, classes and enjoying life in the Parisian capital. Daydreaming at Monceau and Luxembourg parcs, and looking forwards to the day that Id have time to leave for longer than 10 days. I knew that I only had two days a week to "relax" - saturdays and sundays.

Now that another chapter is about to come to an end. Ready to graduate from my double master degree and ready to close another "chapter" of life why not take care of those things that we wount be able to redo. In 2006 I already posted a link saying that I was looking forwards to take the transiberian train. Its been ages that I have pondered the idea. Mongolia in particular has been a choice since the day I saw the documentary on its poverty and children leaving in sweage to keep themselves warm. Why it was that documentary and not another that got stuck in my mind, I do not know.

In these last weeks of "thesis" and "obligations" the motivation and moving force to keep going is knowing that afterwards I will be F.R.E.E. no obligations, no tasks, no dependancy. I know I will soon need a job to continue to "survive", but why not go ahead and enjoy one of those amazing adventures that if I dont do now I might not be able to do later on? So, as I finish my last paragraphs and reedit the last phrases I start pondering if my next destination should be Mongolia and the transiberian train. . .

. . . more to come. SOON.

2009-07-10T02:35:00.001-10:00

High - Light House Family

When youre close to tears remember
Some day itll all be over
One day were gonna get so high
And though its darker than december
Whats ahead is a different colour
One day were gonna get so high

And at
The end of the day
Well remember the days
We were close to the edge
And well wonder how we made it through
And at
The end of the day
Well remember the way
We stayed so close to till the end
Well remember it was me and you

cause we are gonna be forever you and me
Youll always keep me flying high in the sky of love

Dont you think its time you started
Doing what we always wanted
One day were gonna get so high
cause even the impossible is easy
When we got each other
One day were gonna get so high

And at
The end of the day
Well remember the days
We were close to the edge
And well wonder how we made it through
And at
The end of the day
Well remember the way
We stayed so close to till the end
Well remember it was me and you

cause we are gonna be forever you and me
You will always keep me flying high in the sky of love

High, high, high, high...

2009-02-18T10:24:00.003-10:00

Garde ton sourire

Happiness

2009-02-10T13:27:00.002-10:00

photo by me, Raiatea

The purpose of our lives is to be happy.
- Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama

Choosing to live a happy life is not only our greatest gift to ourselves, it is also the greatest gift we can give to those around us. When we are happy, we radiate happiness, and that is infectious. Consider giving the gift of happiness to yourself as being your gift to all humanity.

The BBC Container Box

2009-02-10T12:52:00.003-10:00

In order to answer the following questions "What does globalisation mean? How does world trade really work? How much difference has the humble shipping container made to the massive growth of the global economy and how does it affect your life?" BBC has been following a container around the world for one year (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/business/2008/the_box/default.stm)

Together with it you can find videos on how the container got painted, what are containers used for after their "life" is over,the arrival of the container in multiple ports Singapore/Santos/Shangai or the passage through the suez canal. The effect of the crisis can be seen throught the videos were they state how much the cost of container transport has droped, sometimes reaching to a 50% decrease, ships not traveilng at their full capacity and some ships being "layed out". The importance of the supply chain gets into the light in these videos. If the goods do not arrive right on time to the port, they are not shipped, so they miss their train in the other side to arrive to the other side of the country and on time to the shop. For seasonal products a miss might be a loss. A delay and you may losse your client... but with so many players in a supply chain, how can one reach full efficiency?

The videos are short and superficial, but if you are intrested dont forget to go into the link!

Favorite Places on Earth 2

2009-02-07T16:19:00.005-10:00

photo by me, prague 2008

Prague Castle by Night

2009-02-03T15:09:00.004-10:00

Alexandra,Miquel,Florian,Marc,Carlos,Marlene,Giulia,Carlos,Elena,Elena M.,Daniela,Bea, Itzel,Fede,Francesca,Minda,Alfonso,Raquel,David,Mitzy,Julia,Elisa,Nadir,Ashik..... just a few names.

Incredible the amount of none french people that you can get to know in less than 1 year in a place.
Incredible that in Paris I met the largest amount of Catalan people in my life.
Incredible that only 1 person is still in Paris, and soon to leave: Ana. 1 Non French Person.
Incredible to think about the amount of people we will meet in the future.
Incredible how similar people that just arrive in the city are lost as you.
Incredible how many different languages people can speak.

Incredible how fast time passes by.

The future store

2009-02-02T12:42:00.003-10:00

A bit long.... but a nice video of the Metro New Future Store.
I visited in Germany 2 years ago, and its quite awesome when you have it infront of your eyes...
It will make you the itinerary in the shop, tell you the offers on the products you are searching, no need to take the things out of your cart to pay :)

Here is the video :)

2009-02-02T12:08:00.002-10:00

Caos a Londres i a París per la Neu

Doncs si, efectivament ho confirmo. He sortit de casa sense saber que hi havia neu. I quan he obert la porta he vist que tot estava nevat. He pensat que no passava res si no tenia ni els guants ni la bufanda amb mi. Havia nevat feia uns dies, i una mica de fred no em mataria. Nomes tenia que agafar el tren i el bus.... Clar, que no he pensat que per culpa de la neu, el bus no funcionaria.... Me pasat mes de 20min esperant el bus, finalment he marxat a peu...i xino xano assegurant me de no patinar, he arribat a la feina. Tard, com tothom.

2009-02-02T11:51:00.004-10:00

photo by me

Tranquility
Beauty

Maupiti, 30 December 2008

2009-02-01T13:16:00.001-10:00

De nada sirve al hombre lamentarse de los tiempos en que vive. Lo único bueno que puede hacer es intentar mejorarlos.

Thomas Carlyle

6 Billion Others

2009-02-01T11:57:00.005-10:00

Only for 1 month in Paris, and yet more than 4 years to build the project.

The exposition 6 millards d'autres can be seen at the Grand Palais in Paris until mid february. Its a project lead by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. He is the famous photographer that did the exposition on the world from above. He took photographs of the world seen from a helicopter.

Now he has done 5,000 interviews in a total of 75 different countries in order to show how different/similar all humans are in this planet. The questions raised in his interviews go from " what are your first memories" to " what does family represent for you", " what is happiness", "what message do you want to pass to the next generation" etc. It is intresting to see the different answers of people from diveresed cultures.

This exhibition is meant to be "moved" around the world, so I highly suggest you pay it a visit when it comes to your city.

Obama

2009-01-21T13:35:00.001-10:00

What will this man do for us?

Death at the Metro

2009-01-21T13:05:00.006-10:00

Last week the metro did not stop at Pereire, there was a dead body on the station. One more suicide, one more accident? Last week one of the people that I meet told me his friend had been killed by the metro. That makes 2 dead in one week that " Im aware" of... However, how often do we hear in the metro "accident grave passanger"? How many suicides/accidents happend in the parisian metros? Im trying to find the data, but I find not much quanitative numbers.... it seems that on average there are two deaths per week in the parisian metros/trains. How crazy is that! Just look around at certain news that are found on the internet.

F mort sur les voies du RER
RER A : Suicide à Nation
Accident voyageur 16/09/08Electrocuté à Juvisy-sur-Orge
Nuit Blanche: un mort dans le métro
Ligne 13 : Accident grave de voyageur à Pernéty
Mort du journaliste italien agressé dans le métro parisien ...
Nothing against people killing themselves, but do they need to do it in the metro. At the end that will only lead to more and more suicides, metro drivers who will be shocked, people who will miss their job interviews, people fired for arriving late at work.....a chain of suicides :) Just a Joke, but the numbers are estonishing. It appears that the RATP (the parisian metro company) has a group of psychologist to assist people that see these suicides take place. According to a Canadian study, the people that commit suicide in the metro are usually people that are living in marginal conditions and have been under the influence of drugs or alcohool before jumping on the rails. Nevertheless, the study notes that for people who live in the metro it is hard to distinguish if their deaths are due to accidents or suicides. Besides all the real dealth, there are also the "temptatives" of suicide.... which leads to us hearing often in the Parisian metro " accident grave voyageur.."

People To Meet 1

2009-01-21T12:25:00.004-10:00

Be it a tuesday or a thrusday between 00:30 or 00:50 there he is with around 10 bags a hat and a thick heavy coat. Im too much in a hurry to even ask who he is or where he goes. The furthest I have gone is to give him a sandwich. Probably one more person that lives in the street and sleeps in the parisian metro to get himself warm. But the mystery of what he carries in his multiple old looking breaking bags captures me. Wouldnt it be easier to carry all his affairs in a bigger luggage or a shopping cart like most of the other homelss do?- Of course I always arrive wondering if I will actually see him moving. How does he do it to carry so many bags two hands clearly arent enough. However no matter when I arrive he is always in the same place at the bottom of the stairs surrounded by the sea of bags. Im rest in schock at the fact of always seeing him at the same place doeing the same exact thing at the same hour. He has becomed part of my routine.Ive passed at mutliple other times during the week and he wasnt there. Will he be there next week? I guess so. Will I know who he is one day?

The end of Polynesia

2009-01-19T12:14:00.006-10:00

Unfortunately, time flew by in Polynesia, and with it the internet connection disappeared.... after Raiatea and the short visit to Taha, we headed off to Bora Bora. Oh, Bora Bora, Bora as they call it there..... It might be the island with the most famous lagoon, and thus has becomed into the most turistical one. Its where people head for their honeymoods, and yes the water was beautiful. However... the amount of tourism has made it become into a "fake place". To be honest, the island was not turistic in the sense of bumping into tourists everymoment, but there was less coral and less beautiful fishes as in the other islands, it was full of resorts with bungalows of the water. Yes, the bungalows where nice, but one starts to wonder. Is it really worth the night to pay more than 600 euros for a bungalow over the water? We were staying at some "pension" by the sea, first row (everything is on the first row anyways...) and got to swim under the bungalows of the Interncontiental.... They had a glass on the floor, and there was a rock under the bungalow so that fishes would come. Is this why the price was so high? I found it ridicolous! The good part of Bora Bora was that we swam with Sharks!! Once again these came because we threw them food....it felt fake, but it was amazing to swim with sharks and huge rays!

Unbelivably the greek girls that so annoyed us at Raiatea showed up again at Bora Bora, in the same hotel!! But something good came out of our meeting, they recommend us to go to Maupiti, and so we did. Took a boat for 2 hours to do 50km to the island "infront" of us.... Maupiti! The boat - The Maupiti Express- only goes there twice a week, so when we arrived there was the entire population of the island waiting for us. With bike to rent, cars to do an island tour (tour took 15minutes!). It was like being in Paradise, we ate at the only restaurant of the island. Maupiti is definatively the island to visit, and relax while away from the world. While we were swiming but right by the beach we saw a moray eel and the parents of the kids "shouted" " faut pass toucher"" (do not touch!).

New Years was spend seeing the home fireworks that the house next to our hotel did... I though the resorts around our little hotel such as ClubMed,InterContiental or Sofitel would do big things... However no fireworks were seen but the never ending ones of the house next to us. It was nice, we watched as we had our 12 spanish grapes, and then headed to bed!

And the days passed by, rainy days, sunny days,snorkling,insulations, island tours, water, photography....and soon back to Paris through LA...

Everything being imported from either USA,Canada, NZ, Aussie or Chile the prices were expensive in the supermarket. Leading to the question ...how do people survive there? There are great subsidies from France, they have tourism, fish, and coconuts, vanilla and pearl plantations but not much more.... A question to be answered.

2009-01-18T02:46:00.002-10:00

Casi todo lo que realice será insignificante, pero es muy importante que lo haga.

Mahatma Gandhi

Xmas Dinner

2008-12-24T23:05:00.002-10:00

In the evening of the 24th came our christmas dinner organized by the little lodge we were staying at. With a cocktail to start, live music, lobster with typical polynesian vanilla sauce.... lekker lekker lekker! Miquel had an argument with the lobster but succeded to eat it by the end.

The night finished with some live music...by Alain.

Merry Xmas and Seasons Greetings to Everybody!

Day 4 and 5 Island Tour and Snorkling

2008-12-24T21:42:00.009-10:00

Day 4:

We headed off early in the morning in a small boat to the island right infront of Raiatea...Tahaa island. Our boat had the 5 of us, 5 greek rude girls and 1 french lady. First stop was a pearl farm. Pearls are harvested here, the entire process was taught to us, and afterwards we obviously got offered some for sale. They were really nice and some necklaces were beautifully expesnsive. My grandma kept jumping on and off the boat - a miracle of nature. We then headed of to a vanilla plantation where they also showed us how to plan the vanilla plants and offered everything made of vanilla for sale. Later came the lunch in an island and some snorkling. I swam with some rayfish and small sharks...yes SHARKS! and later on we headed off to the other side of the island for some snorkling.

We snorkled down some corals which were magically situated by a super expensive hotel. The Taha private resort, blabla costing 1200 euros a bungalow A NIGHT! We were able to get there just by boat and be the only ones snorkling...a pleasure! So many fishes. Its astonishing that the fishes come up to you and swim right besides you with no problems. Unfortunately most of the pictures that I took outside of the water did not come out.

Day 5:

We rented a car and went around the island, 100km trip... nice day, except ITS RAINY SEASON. So we had strong rain fall on us for a while, then sudden stop, then rain again and then sudden stop. Break for some cookies and juices and ran back into the car as the rain hit on us strongly. Pictures, no that nice, rainy day cloudy skies. The interior of this island is very green...and mountainous, not suprisingy with all this rain. We also stoped at Uturoa, the biggest city of the island....There we visited the 4 stands of the market and took refuge from the rain. The market mainly had fruit. The supermarket was extremly expensive, since most of the things where imported from France.

The buses in this island are very intresting, they are like trucks. You can see one in the above image. While going around the island we also found a small van that was opened like a van and served as a shop around the island going house by house.

DAY 2 and 3 RAIATEA

2008-12-22T21:55:00.009-10:00

On the second day we woke up early to have a nice swim in the swimming pool and get our luggages ready. We were heading off Papettee and to an island close to it...Raiatea! Only 198 km away from Tahiti; thus a 40 minute flight. We got on an ATR and flew quickly to the next island. As stated by Air Tahiti magazine, Air Tahiti has chooseen to have a fleet of ATR because they do not have strong engines. Later in the magazine it was argued that this led to less waste of fuel. At Raiatea we collected our multiple luggages and headed of to our little hotel. This is a small family hotel, very colonial and far away from a big city. Its extremly calm...once you jump into the water the fishes are right there. If you throw some bread into the water the fishes litteraly come up to you to eat out of your hand and pass infront of you..... quite amazing!! We even have free wifi to update blogs! Things start early, breakfast is from 7 to 8.30 and by 10 pm they close all the lights and leave me here alone with my computer updating my blog! Our first day at Raiatea was mainly spend hanging around the grass and the swimingpool of this small hostel, as my grandma had high fever and we didnt want to move too much around.

Day 2 lead us to an early morning start, early breakfast some reading and then off we went snorkling. We headed snorkling to what seemed to be a close by small motu- island- Have way my brother and mom surrender and only my dad and I made it there. Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me. The island seemed horrible from war away, but once there it was the typical islnad that you can only see in pictures of paradise. Palm trees, white sand, blue water, no persons and 3 abandoned cats. We walked around and after a few walkings we came back swiming. The swam back wasnt easy, we spend lots of time and had to swim against current. The water was calmed but still if u didnt swim it took you away from the area. After swiming for at least 30 minutes we finally got on shore, and it starting raining hard. It is rainy season. We didnt get off at the same place we had jumped into the water so we walked through the road till we got back. Lunch, Photography,Reading...and the afternoon passed by.

The destinations that one can reach from FAAA airport in Tahiti were all desnatinations I have never seen in departures screens ever... I took a picture, it felt exotic. Raniroa, ahe, raiatea, bora bora, rurutu... hahahah!!! This airport recieves flights from Tokyo, LA, Paris, Sydney..and yet is an airport which has no fingers, every passanger must get of the planes by stairs.

I put extrem sun cream on my self to make sure I didnt get burned, but now im all red like a shrimp already after the snorkleing and its hurting quite badly. And its only day 3....

Raiatea, the island we are staying at, and Tahaa, right infront and in the same lagoon.

The Pacific Islands

2008-12-22T14:10:00.006-10:00

The islands of the pacific region. From New Zeland to the USA.

The Flag of French Polinesia

The capital city of French Polynesia is Papetee, founded in 1843 and located in the most populated island, Tahiti. Tahiti contains 70% of the entire polynesian population. All international flights come in through the airport of FAAA in Tahiti and then you must take a plane or boat to reach any other island.

Map of the french polinesia. The circled part on the right is TAHITI island and on the left Raiatea and Bora Bora. Some of other very well known and famous islands are Huahine, Moorea,Tahaa. The islands are grouped in the following groups: The Austral Islands, the Bass Islands ,Gambier Islands Marquesas Islands ,Society Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago

The islands are made of old volcanos which have come out of the sea. Coral has made up the walls of the mountains. And they have becomed atolls leading to a very rich world of fauna and flora. Its full of fishes and coral making snorkling a fun and save activity. The water is transparent due to the low depth and white sand.

Please note that according to Wikipedia French Polynesia has the smallest crime rate of the entire France.

Raiatea

2008-12-21T22:20:00.003-10:00

Raiatea at Night

2008-12-21T15:19:00.002-10:00