Pops Fernandez And Martin Nievera

far north


I'm not talking about our own movements pseudoindipendentisti. I arrived in the far north but the southern hemisphere. The rainforest that covers most of the territory. In particular, north of what is' the capital of the region: Cairns.
Like all city 'of the east coast, Cairns is full of backpackers looking for a temporary job, to collect money and energy to continue the journey.
Oh, the energies do not know how can I recover as well as elsewhere flowing rivers of beer and sound waves until late at night. Incredibly, there are many deals to save here and there ': hostel from $ 15 per night including breakfast and dinner. No comment on the quality 'of meals, but the place and' clean and nice people. Of course, the mandolin was a huge success, despite the limited repertoire of common Italian (2), Catalan (1), British (many), German (very), French (too many) and Dutch (ditto). It feels more
the Aboriginal presence. But only 'cause you see them around.

it is not clear, give me an atrocious idea of \u200b\u200bmaladjustment, often bent by alcohol, in groups isolated from the rest. And the feeling 'that are outside their home. Separated by a company 'imported from abroad and who can not or do not want to join.

the region and 'the triumph of might of nature. In every place and 'exuberant and majestic.
Whether
flora or fauna
.

These obviously are not real, but are a little symbol of what 'that you can' meet in the forest or diving in the waters of the reef.
I converted to underwater machines, but I have yet to develop the roll with the hope that it was just a hundredth of what he has impressed my memory. Days of fasting and silence (citation Music) allow me to dive properly.
the Great Barrier Reef, the Great Barrier Reef.
Again Neptune and 'park not shown displaying jewelry as turtles, sharks and manta rays. But the generosity 'in the form of coral mountains with real valleys, pinnacles and caves! The variety 'of forms and colors' scary, I'm really happy to have opened the doors of this new world, that in the future I will be able to' bring new wonders.

A Cape Tribulation is the miracle: the reef meets the rainforest, primordial, primitive.

said sincerely one of the most 'beautiful scenery I've ever seen. The pristine beach on which the waves of the sea blue blue blue ends against a wall of deep green vegetation. All framed by a blue sky streaked with clouds that are gathering fast threatening rain.

I believe that Captain Cook giving the name to the place he most wanted to show 'that the hardships faced in navigating the turmoil it causes in the depths of the soul.
Today is reached by a ferry boat reminiscent of Charon. In the sense that the only road that leads you forward in this sea green.

The immediate comparison 'with the Taman Negara, the Malaysian forest. Similarities and differences.
First of all in the preparation of tourist facilities. There are no hostels for backpackers resort, equipped with pubs, kitchens, laundries. In Malaysia it was all much more 'spartan. Too much 'people are always friendly and sincere.
Here goes well hey mate, but when I complained about the change in the price of beer and chips any day, the venue manager insulted me and away from the bar. Too bad my room was directly opposite, and then I could not help but pass. I have always maintained that he was leaving the calm to pissed off.

Ammirato an Australian gave me a night walk up to a creek inhabited by crocodiles, however, that 'if they were well hidden, or perhaps just waiting for a good time ...
Beyond 'the appearance of certain folkloric events here and the forest' as the other impressive. There are three elements that struck me in particular.

Verticality: an incredible number of stems that climb trying to pierce the canopy above them, or rather vines and aerial roots that try to cling desperately to the soil in search of food from the earth and mud. Talking about a kind of mystical connection between earth and sky.

The tangle of life. Majestic trees cling to the worms, on which sprout new shoots that can accommodate molds or provide nests of leaves for snakes and snakes (oh my God, we speak of pythons and boa constrictors ...), ants, beetles.

Each point can 'be read to be born in' a new creature.
Third, the almost complete absence of birds. Malaysia was a party of chirps, Scricco, pops, hisses, trills. Here almost absolute silence and impressive. I have not yet fully understood why, but there must be.
Of course if all the birds were like this ... Ladies and gentlemen, a rare appearance: the cassowary.

Um ... if they do not really understand the proportions, but it 's a kind of ostrich about six feet tall ...
Another difference: in Malaysia the trails were fairly beaten, even the most 'difficult. Here is reflected the presence of two types of tourist: the pseudo-celebrity or at least the little family, which then uses a boardwalk, a series of walkways clean and beautiful for not pints dirty feet and then enjoy a simple and quiet of the forest.

Here in the company of Pierre and Pauline, the French which I joined yesterday for some walks.
other hand, the masters of adventure (one asked me for two days next week to crawl in the mud, wilderness exploration, sleeping in caves inhabited by bats) or simply those who want to make a serious path. Small ribbons indicate the way (which is never a tree with smears of paint!), Even if sometimes we lose. The path and 'tiny, sometimes invisible. Not so much mud as in Malaysia, less leeches (the only one I found was trying to infiltrate in places where the sun beats ...). But anyway, in short, can not be so mica! Answer: Look, I'm Brazilian! (Brasilitaliana to tell the truth ')

I assure you that Marina is not' never slipped once and within 4 hours (including a stop for lunch sandwiches) we took a path of 6!
Pauline said that the forest was quite oppressive. With good reason, the feeling and 'just to be small before this wonder of life. The real mystery, we are located within a living organism that breathes, sweats (ah, no, and that ''...) humidity changes constantly, as Pierre said, infinite life.

But it 's time to move on to new shores, a few more days of rest in the southern land and then ... I leave you to imagine the next destination.
k

Bushnell Elite 3200 5x15

Malaysia - Brunei - Singapore

Photo: http://picasaweb.com/lostconversation/Malaysia
http://picasaweb.com / lostconversation / Brunei
http://picasaweb.com/lostconversation/Singapore

last, but with all the necessary calm, I reached the end point of the Eurasian continent, Malllayyysia!

This world ranging from jungle to the wild and untouched CyberCity hyper centuries ago was the focus of maritime trade between East and West: a crossroads of merchants and navigators, sailing the seas of the Strait of Malacca, have joined with China, India importing (as well as Indian and Chinese) and the Islamic culture from the Middle East's proven logistics and British colonial strategy (in addition to a lot of Chinese, repetition intentional), creating a society 'historically among the most' multicultural world: perhaps globalization and 'began here 500 years ago!

It took me a few days to get over the shock of transition from hot pants and t-shirts wet to Thai Muslim veils covering their faces local Islam as state religion, but after a while 'this diverse but cohesive mix of Malay Muslims, Chinese Buddhists and Christians + + + spicy Indian headhunters from Borneo hit me and I felt at home speaking in Chinese, Malay eating and laughing in India!

Here everyone speaks English at large, and hitchhiking have evolved from conversations between deaf to genuine cultural symposia: on an average day I received the first steps to be educated Malay Muslims with which to deepen my knowledge on 'Islam, then by Hindu wondering which of Shiva, Vishnu, Kali and Ganesh, and finally by some Chinese who was giving pearls of mandarin NiHaoMa? Haaaaaao!

the end I always have to say I'm Christian, but even if the practical intellectual atheism are constantly fascinated by different religions and beliefs that fill the lives of a lot of people, basically the concept and 'always the same, but repeated in different slang, and while I lose myself to observe the various religious rituals in churches and funny interactions pagan Asian markets messed up my mind flies away, and I feel at home. In one month

emmezzo I have ranged from the rich to the wild Borneo Malay Peninsular Malaysia, with stops in Singapore and Brunei, two states now independent but culturally and historically linked to the Malay life.
Because of the oddity of the borders state in six weeks I have collected less than 16 stamps in the passport, drastically reducing the living space for future visas: I'll 'make false papers in Kathmandu?

Anyway, wandering around the west peninsula under the equatorial sun I went to Penang and Malacca, the two historical periods of the colonial port city-hour crammed with people, cars and shopping malls.
Beautiful and interesting 'to study the history of trade in past centuries, but trade today boring, so be quick like a saber-toothed tiger I am embarking on my airline AirAsia to Borneo.
Oh yes, let's get wild, again!


Malaysian Borneo of the last century was impenetrable jungle life and tribal headhunters tattooed up to his neck and drugs animist rites, but alas, 'even this island between the most' large and exotic world of the influence of modernity 'global, so the jungle remains, but the massive deforestation takes wood and leaves room for plantations of palm oil and rubber, killing, slowly but surely, the wild Borneo.
Indonesian Borneo, Kalimantan, remains a bit 'less developed and more' native (and not easy to explore), while the Malay and 'the most' civilized: tribal headhunters here are long since dead, and their descendants enjoy the fruits of modern life working, just like us.
Legend has it, however, 'that during the construction of bridges, roads and houses, at the end of the workers (mainly Filipinos and Indonesians) is lacking a few head for real! The spirits of the forest as the heads accept offers and protect the human magnet ', the age-old tradition continues and life goes on peaceful, down here!

Borneo I need, I need to test my thirst for adventure: I've had enough or I want more?
Well, fast but intense experience: 12 hours in a speedboat upriver Rajang, where roads do not exist, then a dip in the Niah Caves bloated, huge caves and dark plague, home to billions of bats waiting night nobly hung upside down '.

After these appetizers and ''s time to experience the real jungle (luckily it is still a lot) crazy hired a Malay with a machete so we took the road for a few hours in the thick ancient forest, jumping like Tarzan between a trunk and another, fording rivers up to the neck and meeting different types of genetically modified insects. After climbing Batu
Punggul bare hands as Manolo and enjoyed the beautiful sunset over the rainforest and I dropped my henchman and we realize that it 's late, and dark ... tantinello

The darkness comes and I'm in the middle of jungle, the verses of animals and insects become a concert sounding frenzied game, the atmosphere and 'full of tribal'. It 'nice to be part of this orchestra and screaming all my early enthusiasm but there is no' time to waste, every minute that passes the darkness takes over and the risk of spending a night together in a pack of howler monkeys eating larvae beetle is becoming more 'realistic!
A quiet day out turns into a night run to escape from the tentacles of the jungle ...
Eventually we will succeed, and will end 'the' Jungle Parade Night "mud, sweat dripping (I forgot to say that the rainforest and 'a little wet!), with a few scratches, a bump in front (Sturla against a baobab tree), insects around the body, torn right shoe (remember those bought in China?) and a leech hanging from the sock!


Apparently the good karma continues to follow me, but I hope you have not left my soul entangled in the branches of a tree!

After this experience any trekking tour gives me a spoiler, but I take part in an expedition in search of wildlife on the Kinabatangan River, near Sandakan (hence the famous Sandokan, the real tiger in Malaysia, written by Italian pen) .
Unfortunately, or fortunately, I've seen tigers, but in return I saw orangutans tango (in Malay language = Oran man Tang = forest), macaques, Nasice, various monkeys, crocodiles, big lizards, spiders, mega, mega bites, hornbills, owls and birds sit comfortably on a panoramic boat with tourists on Sunday with the r dull, disgusted that I ate insects in Thailand! To refresh

dampness 'unmanageable and a sun that burns more here on the equator' of the jungle fire hitchhikers to the coast, up to Semporna and Sipadan Island, giving me yet another diving, the last, but the final: risk of being monotonous in the description but I hope sooner or later in life, to have the opportunity to 'little ones to swim with sharks and giant turtles, with fleets of thousands of barracuda around you like a tornado twisted and ten feet from your fins forming a pack now a cloud, now a submarine, now a whale, like in the cartoons.
Entertainment. The diving and
'as a drug and' amazing, addictive, and it 'expensive, so for now I decide to hang on a nail fins, and as to technical constraints have not taken pictures, I let the pictures of those moments divers float through my temples, waiting for the echo of sirens call me back again under water. Yo!

Back on the mainland, unfortunately I have not seen it 'tigers will' Dayak tribe of natives with blowguns and spears for hunting, but I got the call at a ceremony Muslim Bugis Malay / Indonesian in honor of a newborn. The atmosphere here
Islamic and 'very different from the Khmer Buddhist wedding in Cambodia: no music and no alcohol.
The men chatter and spend their time smoking and eating the delicious cakes cooked by devoted wives, who wear colorful robes and lay down their veils to match colored pins. I
and revered by guests are served food, cake, fruit and water, sitting on carpets Arabic. In order not to create me enmities always try to turn my attention towards Mecca, but the subtle metaphor is not taken up by the friendly, but shy and sober, friendly.


finally comes the climax the ceremony, after careful prayer Imam is preparing to sacrifice a calf in honor, in fact, of the newborn. All
curious to observe the slaughtering and rendering of the beast, and some children still have some 'shocked to see the bloody head into the house while the body and' still 'in the meadow.
The ritual lasts about an hour, and when everything seems to be over the Imam grabs a cock and sacrifices in honor of the calf.
But how? What the fuck got to do the rooster? And who is sacrificed in place of the rooster? I? That's' cause you gave me something to eat eehh! I bet fattening!

L 'Ismail friend assures me that will not end' slain, indeed I will receive 'a royal treatment and will leave at the end of the initial shyness' space and wide smiles and souvenir photos Hello, I am also asked one of the best applications of the trip, in hesitant English, "In your country ... Do you have jungle?" !
After laughing my answer 'was diplomatic: "No, sorry, no jungle, but we have a lot of monkeys in parliament!"

In the midst of these wild adventures and social I spent a couple of days in Brunei: the goal was to say a "Beautiful Li!" to the sultan, but the guards prevented ... I have a strange country
the sultanate of Brunei, where I thought to see sheikhs and Rolls-Royce style arab-millionaire, and instead of 'one bundle!
Brunei once occupied the whole island of Borneo, then the British and Dutch settlers who bought land on land, leaving the poor but rich sultan with a strip of land petite small, but rich in oil. Ergo
thanks to the lavish gifts of gold and black settlers in the subsoil and the royal family 'among the most' rich of the planet, besides preserving the most '... uh-lived dictatorship monarchy in history.

The normal turn and 'victim of blackmail by the beloved (on paper) Dictator (puppet army in turn): peace, adequate wealth, almost zero tax, free school, health', etc., a system Social and infallible 'insured, provided the populace to accept the non-freedom' of expression, non-democracy, strong Islam, and especially the ban on drinking alcohol! Oh yes
in Brunei can not find even a good old beer, but gasoline costs 20 cents a liter!


's capital Bandar Seri Begawan contains two great mosques, a couple of good museums (though a bit of propaganda), a village on stilts and little else, and two days are enough for this funny Brunei Darussalam, which however 'has provided considerable food for thought about the dichotomy of dictatorship / freedom', in his smallness, and this was' a great case study certain social and political mechanisms. There
'who compares the sultanate to the military government in Burma but in a "good" and no one complains' cause everybody has a medium-high standard of living, but I'm sure that after all these people dying of boredom ...

Another story than Singapore, where I landed after the wild Borneo: a city 'was rich, crisp, clean, cheap world market for advanced technology and business, where the blasts of air conditioning than the doors of a thousand shopping malls and reach the urban roads, giving a few seconds of breath on the Inaccessible Equatorial sauna. Theoretically

Singapore (Lion City from Sanskrit) would be the prototype of the modern city 'perfect, where the slogan "Produce consumed crack" is applied to the letter, everything works perfectly, sometimes not even seem to be in Asia ...

Well if what we want from the future' "produce consumed crack "I would say that we have, but frankly I think we can concentrate more 'on top, targets a bit' more 'noble, but often (even more' frankly) I wonder," Where are we going? "There is no 'response , everyone here seems to be going his way, but I feel the same warm plate of rice!


Anyway, good social life, especially in the concert of electronic DjKentaro (Japan continues to call this ...) and other various meetings Chinese, Filipino and Indian, as well as a bit 'of street action photography.

The Chinese in Singapore (large majority) are very different from Chinese in China, no pressures and no spitting, but hypochondriacs to the extreme and almost more 'Western on me!
A lot of people from all over the world is moving here for business / shopping / city life, but thousands of prohibitions in the name of your security, psychological terrorism law, fines and a salty attitude "slightly" consumerist make for me a bit dull, gray and android that future.
But I can not hide from the human shopping mania (or Singapore Syndrome) hit me and I have invested in stock, living near this world of sharks killers sellers Saving Silverman, help!

After a week are plenty escaped from Singapore to protect my wallet from unnecessary spending, throwing trash in the shopping craze, just like plastic. And nothing
recycling. From Singapore

look south through binoculars and see Indonesia, that fascinates me with its islands, culture, and dark complexion, I hear the drums and bells tropical
call me ... I meditate a bit ', then a beautiful monkey ( indeed a bell'Orango) decides to turn his back on his shoulders and back; Indonesia deserves the time and dedication, and since turning in my head at least 16 different projects refer to the future exploration of the archipelago, where the Buddha and Allah will take.
But do not worry, the dream is not 'done! Back in

Malllayyysia, in a brief stop on the east coast (much more than 'similar to that in the rich west coast of Borneo), I almost become a prince of the Sultanate (!), And after he escaped from scrapes gifts are landed, finally , a Kuala Lumpur, capital city.
Beautiful City ', were it not for the withering heat we'd think ...
giants Petronas Tower, glass buildings, skyscrapers arabeggiantele style, the classic Little India and Chinatown, a beautiful Islamic art museum, breakfast with Roti Canai, Nasi Lemak and Nasi Goreng, a nice re-meeting dated Mongolia and puff ... time's up!

And here I am sitting on a sofa, a fan pointed at him, to draw breath for a moment.
6 moons have passed through the skies of my South-East Asia, 6 months in thongs and shorts tasting tropical treats, I recall with a smile to Laos, Cambodia, Burma and Thai, and happy as one who has just got his license, I and say 'Now it's time for a change.

Tomorrow we set sail, it changes course, the wind in their sails Captain!
But where? H ... I ...


Ho Chi Min?
Hokinawa?
Honululu?
Hösli?
Haaa .. with a little 'predictability' She loosed the chain to Hong Kong, Yo!

Yong Kong!

accept advice and above all economic contributions for the next steps, as long as I stay not hung like King Kong a few skyscrapers in Kowloon)

Yo!

Photo: http://picasaweb.com/lostconversation/Malaysia
http://picasaweb.com/lostconversation/Brunei
http://picasaweb.com/lostconversation/Singapore

My Upper Dentures Are Too Loose

attraction


Queensland and 'nicknamed the Sunshine State, the state where the sun shines. And it 'absolutely amazing how the sky is clear, the deep blue sea, lush green vegetation. The fully saturated color and 'what' is striking, not that much different, more 'in addition to those already' mentioned there 'red earth.
But the real news' are the unusual species you may encounter.

In the kitchen of a hostel, a possum intent on enjoying a nice piece of bread.

A kookaburra, whose verse and 'half' of a chicken, a monkey and a fat laugh.

A colorful butterfly that rests on the fingers docile.

A dingo, Canis lupus dingo technical name from the reddish hair. Does not bark. Just howling.

A silent guest of the local lakes and rivers: not recommended for swimming.
Other animals are more 'difficult to find. We must sharpen the view.

Or adopt appropriate instruments divers.

I could not of course forget the experience of Malaysia and so 'I went in search of the perfect beach.
The Whitsunday Islands offer an infinite number of totally deserted coves where the diving is a must categorically. Scuba diving 'or even simply at belly. Finally the water and 'round at a temperature acceptable (and I would say as I crossed the Tropic!).

on Hook Island I spent three days simply divine, including multicolored coral and international company. But away 'from the atmosphere by backpackers ggiovani (with two g) rule on the coast. Let me explain: the backpackers and 'the backpacker. In this area her age 'media and' 21. In the sense that they are almost all college students in gap year, sabbatical , looking for a job in some farm or bar, to raise money to continue their journey. But the evening is devoted to the party. Each of these destinations (inevitable because 'devastatingly beautiful actually) full of pubs, bars, nightclubs, which in turn are full of these ggiovani ready to wreak havoc until dawn. A version if you want more 'relaxed our Adriatic Coast. But no less attentive to the form: it 's incredible how girls can cram in their backpack a quantity' unlikely to live more fully jocks, in addition to duty equipment makeup and hairstyling .

island we stayed for two days in four: thirty peacefully devoted to leisure. Not that this has kept us from enjoying some healthy bottle of wine and a bit 'of music.
From one island to another. The last that I went and 'Magnetic Island. The name definitely attracts. With good reason. A series of coves a more 'beautiful next, often accessible only on foot through peaceful walks in the forest of eucalyptus trees.
not missing even here the company, Italian and English.

Even in this case to me that we had to stop a night in the end I stayed for three days, with the terrible temptation to hold me still. There 's who had planned a week and five years working in the hostel.

And how can you not doubt with similar visions?!
I have not (yet) succumbed to temptation and are already 'moving to Cairns.
Before closing the post a few images of the bush tropical vegetation forced to navigate between dry periods and incredible water discharges.


few days ago in Brisbane have fallen in a few hours 300 mm of water! The entire coast and 'was flooded with millions of dollars in damage.

I Instead I sit in the sun, looking away from caldazza shade of a big mango.
k

Club Nintendo Stars Free

the sea end of the year George

[ photos from the Internet ]

As every year, in May and ends in December, the year when it ends, of course, the school year. The teachers have a particular experience of time, with school timetables impressed ... in the body, almost without or almost. We started when we were in school, many years ago, and we have not stopped.

You arrive in May and try to take stock of successes and defeats, students who have worked or not, learned or not, at this point that they feel satisfied or disappointed, even angry with the teacher, not the facilitated learning.

Mah

The teachers we end up disappointed or angry, or moderately happy and serene, depending on the year, groups of pupils, not all can be explained by the planning, evaluation, units, skills, techniques and questionnaires.

We're all a bit 'tired and the desire to put a little 'distance between us, wanting to take care of' other for a while '... Then we come back.

Sasusaku Story Pregnant

new world

I'm back on the road. They are now in Bundaberg, a quiet town known for specializing in rum distillery. I have not visited but I'll do 'tomorrow, hoping for a revival of the emotions of the Cuban memory.

In the meantime I am relaxed. Prior to Brisbane and Gold Coast.

latter and 'a local version of our Romagna coast: beaches, vast, multi-leveled hotels that at the end of the school year are filled with neo-ripe for a party that lasts a month and avoid the time carefully ! Now it 's quiet but always looking fashion. Me and my mates 've been there for the Friday 'evening, "the Australian". In the sense that there are strict controls on the roads, so that they rented a hotel room in order to die after the revelry. But still, and 'forbidden to drink outside !!!!!! I think they are a bit 'paranoia these alcohol-free zones. The fact is that they went to buy a drink and then they got drunk in the room.

I tried to convert to red wine, but did not like. Ergo, I have made half a bottle drained me.
We also tried to do some 'of busking on the waterfront, but we were politely turned away by the operators stalls: "If people from 'the money to you then do not buy our products." I've said here that the world is upside down ...
Here you see the close-knit pair James + me on the powerful medium that has brought us around.

Other Places' sea are far more 'quiet and charming, less than an hour from the city'.

But even in the same Brisbane, on Sunday afternoon, the park and 'crowded with people listening to various little concerts, a picnic or swim in the pool overlooking the city center.

But the real relaxation and 'arrived in recent days. I said in my previous post that Australia should be a good place to live. And here's another good old knowledge that in recent years has opted for a transfer to one of the most 'attractive: Crystal Waters, a "common" near Maleny, behind the Sunshine Coast.

Here Laura lives with her partner Adrian and a beautiful Pupetto that short is two years old, Sasha, which I promptly called Sasa '.

has a predilection for musical instruments (the pope 'is a very good guitar player).

And we say that does not lack energy. Inexplicably sleeping very little, and yet never misses a beat always being ready to play, watch a cartoon, drink a Cuppy of wawa (a meta 'between water and water) or simply push his truck.
The poor mother (dark circles are permanent) took advantage of my presence to distract them a bit 'rise (pupomunita) to make a few walk in these beautiful hills.

The views of the Glass Mountains range to the ocean. And it 'a moment go to the beach at Caloundra.

or forward in the rain forest full of wallaby (small kangaroo), turkeys, snakes and spiders (not seen).

Truly a place to wonder, where recharge to face the new way.

north.
k