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

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..

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!

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

a

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.

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

Epictetuts

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.

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.

“el corazón tiene razones que la razón no entiende”

Blaise Pascal

Vida ciudadana: millones de seres viviendo juntos en soledad.

Henry David Thoreau

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

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

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

Random lamp

Room 3

Room 2

Room

In portugal!!

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!!!

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

I Miss you.

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.