Brazil Trip May-June 2009

Initially I wasn't going to embark on this trip but factors at work contributed to a change of mind which I am grateful for because the experience of this holiday was amazing and exhilarating. Having visited nearly all the countries on my to-see list in Asia - with the exception of Laos and Nepal - my attention turned to Latin America. Costa Rica whetted my appetite last year and this opportunity to launch my first foray into South America was eagerly seized.

There were much personal apprehension about visiting Brazil due to reports of high crime coupled with my not speaking Portuguese. Latin America is nothing like Asia. Where my physical chameleonic appearance afforded me the luxury to blend in with the locals in Asia, it would be worthless here. The fact that I would be travelling with a friend from Holland and that he is also an experienced traveller, having gained mileage in several Latin American countries negated my unfounded fears somewhat.    

Day 1 - São Paulo

Arrived late afternoon. My Dutch friend, Marcel, had arrived two days previously and was waiting for me at our hotel. After collecting my receipt from the pre-paid taxi booth, I'd jumped into the cab only to discover that the driver was illiterate so cannot read the address of the hotel. Eventually, he understood the name of the hotel and got me there.

It had been two years and nine months since Marcel and I last saw each other. The last time was during my leaving do in Amsterdam. He definitely has changed during that period but playfully lamented my physical features have remained the same. It was late evening so we headed out to dinner where I tucked into steak, beans and rice.

  
Pic taken with mobile phone

The Brazilian national fizzy drink

Day 2 - São Paulo

Art exhibition within a shopping mall dedicated to the great Formula 1 driver, Aryton Senna, who hailed from São Paulo and who was killed in the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.

São Paulo Museum of Modern Art.

Liberdade - essentially Japantown in São Paulo. The city has the highest Japanese population outside of Japan.

A Japanese restaurant in Liberdade.

Graffiti art in Liberdade

Stopping for a coffee inside this quaint cafe in Liberdade.

One of the many pictures adorning the wall.

Museum of Japanese Immigration in São Paulo

Public phone booths

A paulistano (São Paulo local) posing for the camera

São Paulo Cathedral in downtown

Day 4 - Foz do Iguaçu

We took a flight with the national budget airline, Gol, to Foz do Iguaçu which is the nearest city to the Iguaçu Falls on the Brazilian side. It is a small city with a population of around half a million so there isn't that much to see.

Day 5 - Foz do Iguaçu

Bus heading to the Iguaçu Falls. Upon arrival at the National Park and after paying for admission you are ferried on another bus to the Falls.

First sighting of the Iguaçu Falls

The National Park is also home to the giant ant eaters. This one made a grab for my bag. And then attempted to snatch a woman's handbag.

The Devil's Throat - mouth of the Falls - straight ahead.

You can get very wet on the walkway. My camera got completely drenched.

The ant eaters like to congregate in the food court area for obvious reasons. There was a hilarious moment when a screaming girl was being chased by a pack of ant eaters after sniffing food in her bag. Cornered, she threw something out of her bag and ran off while the ant eaters tore apart a packet of...popcorn!

The Devil's Throat. The Iguaçu Falls are truly a Natural Wonder of the World...easily eclipse the Niagara Falls for sheer majesty.

Day 6 - Puerto Iguazú

We took the bus to the border with Argentina, cleared Immigration and waited for another bus to transport us to Puerto Iguazú, a much smaller town with a population of around 30,000. Puerto Iguazú is the closest town to the Falls on the Argentinean side and is a lot more charming.
 

Waiting for a bus to the Iguazú Falls in Puerto Iguazú (nearest town on the Argentinean side). Works of art right beside the bus stop.

Upon arrival and admission, one is transported to the Falls by train.

Walking trail to the Devil's Throat of the Iguazú Falls.

First sighting of the Falls

The Devil's Throat, mouth of the Iguazú Falls

One gets even more drenched on the Argentinean side as the view is closer but it is well worth it!

I could stay at the Iguazú Falls the entire day just immersing into the serene and tranquil sounds of the flowing water. 

National Park officers keeping watch

On the Argentinean side, inside of ant eaters there are hordes of butterflies.

Marcel being attacked by one!

Birds are the other wildlife to inhabit the National Park

Relaxing in a cafe

Day 7 - Puerto Iguazú

We decided to stay another night in the town as Marcel was suffering a massive hangover from drinking too many caipirinhas at the town's only nightclub, Club Libre. A stage was being erected in the centre for live music on a Saturday night.

Night time in Puerto Iguazú

Pic taken with mobile phone

Just like in Brazil, Argentineans love their meat. Ribs, steaks, sausages and chicken being flame-grilled.

 
Pic taken with mobile phone

We ordered ribs! On a sizzling hot plate!

Pic taken with mobile phone

Washed down with Argentinean beer!

What I discovered was that all the savoury foods in both Brazil and Argentina contain a higher level of salt than I am used to. My blood pressure was sure to be doubled! No, make that triple due to the huge amount of gorgeous women since my arrival in South America!

Heading back to our hotel.

The Blonde Guy

An Irishman, a Mexican and a Blonde Guy were doing construction work on scaffolding on the 20th floor of a building.

They were eating lunch and the Irishman said, "Corned beef and cabbage! If I get corned beef and cabbage one more time for lunch, I'm going to jump off this building."

The Mexican opened his lunch box and exclaimed, "Burritos again! If I get burritos one more time I'm going to jump off too."

The Blonde Guy opened his lunch and said, "Polony again! If I get a polony sandwich one more time, I'm jumping too."

The next day, the Irishman opened his lunch box, saw corned beef and cabbage, and jumped to his death.

The Mexican opened his lunch, saw burritos, and jumped too.

The blonde guy opened his lunch, saw the polony and jumped to his death as well.

At the funeral, the Irishman's wife was weeping. She said, "If I'd known how really tired he was of corned beef and cabbage, I never would have given it to him again!"

The Mexican's wife also wept and said, "I could have given him tacos or enchiladas! I didn't realise he hated burritos so much."

Everyone turned and stared at the Blonde Guy's wife. She said, "He made his own bloody sandwiches so fuck him."

Barbie Table Football

iPhone 3GS or Nokia N97?

So the contract for my current mobile, the Sony Ericsson K750i, expires at the end of the month and I'd been thinking whether it's time to upgrade to a smartphone? The two in question that have piqued my interest are the new iPhone 3GS and the Nokia N97. Both will be released later this month and both don't come cheap.

Apple have finally updated their latest iPhone with enhanced features that are standard on most mobiles: 3 megapixel camera (but still no flash), Bluetooth, MMS capability, cut, copy and paste. But it still cannot play the standard AVI format so it needs to be converted into MP4 which can be a hassle. There would be no allowance for spontaneity to dump a film or TV show onto the iPhone for viewing at the spur of the moment.  

The Nokia N97, however, can play the AVI format. And it is equipped with the excellent Carl Zeiss lens on their 5MP camera. It even has a keyboard that slides out though that might add unwanted thickness to the handset. And I doubt the Symbian OS is anywhere as sleek and reliable as the Apple OS.    

Or I can forget paying a premium and a higher monthly tariff for either handset, and opt for the new Sony Ericsson W995 Walkman phone which I can get for free on my current tariff plan. The W995 is equipped with a 8MP camera. Decisions, decisions...

Let's Hope It's A Prototype!

Marvel released a still from the upcoming Iron Man 2 film: Mickey Rourke as villian Whiplash in Iron Man 2. Let's hope the weaponry is a prototype (obviously based on the Iron Man technology) before progressing to a more polished armour. Let's face it, it looks complete shite.

The excitement barometer is bordering on minimal. What will ramp it up is a photo of Scarlett Johansson in her skin-tight Black Widow costume. Why don't the marketing department release that instead?!

Asia Trip January 2009

Finally, the last of the pics before I start working on the Brazilian ones. I know, I know. It took me long enough.

My birthday was spent at Disneyland Hong Kong which is rather small. Especially compared to the behemoth that is DisneyWorld in Orlando.

Lion King show

High School Musical...run!

Fireworks before closing time

En route to the Monastery of 10,000 Buddhas

Chinese New Year at the IFC shopping Mall

If you were a first time visitor to Hong Kong arriving on a Sunday and stumbled upon this, you would be forgiven for thinking that hordes of homeless people camp out on the walkways outside the IFC.

In reality, nearly the entire Flippina (correct spelling) population in Hong Kong have their day off on Sundays. They consist of mostly domestic workers (maid & babysitter), menial workers and prostitutes. Yes, some prostitutes attend church and no, I do not know any and if you must know, this information originated from reliable sources. After attending church in the morning, the pinays mostly converge into Central on Hong Kong Island to socialise and catch-up. 

Pic taken with camera phone

I'd always wondered why Central was the preferred destination and now I discovered the answer. I'd stumbled upon this plaza housing Flippino businesses specialising in postal service, money transfer, Flippino entertainment, fashion and just about everything else. And it was heaving. The experience felt like being trapped in a shopping mall full of women clothing stores during the sales. Luckily I'd managed to escape unscathed for the bright lights of Lan Kwai Fong.

Sexual Position

Laura and Bob decide to try a 69er. Bob didn't know what it is so Laura decided to show him. She tells Bob to lie on the floor and she sits on top. Laura is about to start when she farts.

"Oops, sorry", she says and tries again.

When Laura farts again, Bob jumps up and storms out. Laura yells, "Where are you going?"

Bob replies, "I'll be fucked if I'm hanging around for another 67 of those!"

Finally Graduated

Oi!

That´s Brazilian Portuguese for ´Hi`. I´m currently in Brazil, Rio to be exact. I´d already been to Sao Paulo, Foz do Iguaçu, Puerto Iguazu in Argentina, Curibita and now Rio. My first night in Rio was spent hitting a bar/club with his friend at 10pm; met a couple of guys from London & Chicago; went with two locals (friend had left) to a bar with live music where I was the only foreigner; partied at one of the locals´ apartment; staggered 45 mins (had spent my cash) along Copacabana Beach to Ipanema back to the hotel, watched the sun rise and encountered two flirtatious transvestites on the way; reached my hotel; ate breakfast; hit the sack at 8am. I love this place! 

I don´t know when I will be posting entries on the Brazilian trip as I still haven´t finished posting the Asian trip!

I will reply to your comments from my last post when I return.