July 24, 2009
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It’s Official: I’m A Twit!Yes, I have joined Twitter. If you wish to
stalkfollow me my username is the same as my blog.
Black Widow
Eagerly awaiting Iron Man 2!
Following a previous post that a picture of Scarlett Johannson as the Black Widow should be released to build buzz and excitement for the sequel, my prayers were answered!
Scarlett can look hot in anything.
Brazilian Trip May-June 2009
Day 12 – Rio de Janeiro
The previous night Marcel and I paid a visit to Club Nuth Lounge in the upper class district of Barra. We were informed that the club host a more local flavour as not many tourists venture to the area. Here we were introduced to the payment system prevalent in Rio bars and clubs. Standing at the back of the queue I’d noticed that the group lining immediately in front of us were American. Marcel purchasing a pack of gum from a local suddenly propelled us to the front of the queue as the local knew the staff at the door. We had to show I.D. – a colour photocopy of your passport will suffice – and then we were each issued a credit card-sized plastic with a magnetic strip.
The admission cost of R$50 was charged to the card along with each round of drinks from the bar. When it’s time to leave, the card is handed to a payment booth where cash and all major credit cards are happily accepted. A receipt is given which you have to pass on to the bouncer at the door before you are allowed out of the establishment. I didn’t like this system because if you lose your card and it’s found by someone else, that person can charged a pile of drinks to it. Or you can amass a huge bill whilst under heavy inebriation. I’d noticed that most of the clientele that night were American college grads. So much for the local flavour.
The following day, I’d embarked on an exploration of downtown Rio otherwise known as Centro (Centre).
Praca Floriano
Performance art
The Petrobras building
Covento de Santo Antonio
The atomspheric and elegant reading room Real Gabinete Portugues de Leitura
Old Rio
The former Parliament
Pic taken with mobile phoneVibrant Lapa where Marcel and I headed to at night.
Pic taken with mobile phoneRio Scenarium – three floors set in an abandoned antiques warehouse.
Pic taken with mobile phone
Pic taken with mobile phone
Pic taken with mobile phone
Pic taken with mobile phone
Pic courtesy of MaartenMarcel’s friend from the Netherlands, Maarten, joined us at Rio Scenarium. Maarten had been travelling with a friend in Brazil a few days earlier. I’d met Maarten a couple of times before when I’d lived in Amsterdam.
Pic courtesy of Maarten
Pic courtesy of Maarten
Pic taken with mobile phone
Pic taken with mobile phone
Pic taken with mobile phone
Pic taken with mobile phone
Pic taken with mobile phone
Pic taken with mobile phone
Pic taken with mobile phone
Pic taken with mobile phone
Pic taken with mobile phone
Pic taken with mobile phone
Day 13After yet another late night, I’d decided to relax around Ipanema Beach where I was staying.
Coconuts
This isn’t a dog, it’s a horse!
Guys playing footvolley
Weather turning for the worse
A guy practising his martial arts skills with his sensei.
To surf or not to surf…?
These guys are still surfing as dusk looms.
To surf or to cycle…?
Dusk on Ipanema
Pic taken with mobile phoneMarcel, Maarten and I headed to the affluent district of Leblon for some fine dining.
Pic taken with mobile phone
Pic taken with mobile phoneMarcel and I had fish served with wild rice.
Pic taken with mobile phone
And dessert
Pic taken with mobile phoneAnd more dessert
Pic taken with mobile phoneWhen the two guys headed back to the hotel, I’d decided to explore Leblon a little and stumbled upon this shopping plaza still open at 9.30pm. Female tourists will love this place as all the stores are catered to women. There were plenty of cafes and restaurants peppered within the plaza.
Pic taken with mobile phoneA good name for a women fashion store.
Health Tips
Q: Doctor, I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it. Don’t waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that’s like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat
chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine; that means they take the water out of the fruity bits so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can’t think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain…Good!
Q: Aren’t fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU’RE NOT LISTENING!!! Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they’re permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It’s the best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.
Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! ‘Round’ is a shape!
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
And remember: “Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways – Chardonnay in one hand – chocolate in the other – body
thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming ‘WOO HOO, What a Ride’.”
AND…..
For those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the final word on nutrition and health. It’s a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.
1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than North Americans.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than North Americans.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than North Americans.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than North Americans.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats andsuffer fewer heart attacks than North Americans.
CONCLUSION:
Eat and drink what you like.
Being North American is apparently what kills you.
Thanks For The Warning
Comments (11)
Your pictures are fantastic as always, especially those of the reading room. “Elegant” barely suffices.
Why do you start using watermark?
Is someone stealing your pictures?
Rio in the winter can be sketchy. Great pics though.
Welcome to the Twittersphere!
those desserts look sooo tasty. and welcome to twitter xP.
You’ve got some pretty good post card type pictures – especially at the beach.
The surfers at dusk is my favorite of the bunch. That and Robert Downy Jr. as Iron Man. Yum.
Yeeeah, I can’t wait for Ironman 2! And of chicks, Scarlett is on the top with Charlize Theron following close behind.
I have had my twitter account for three or four years, but I have never used it. Now that everyone else I know is starting to jump on, I’m wondering if I should use it too. Hmmmm?
The pictures from the trip look beautiful
Can I make friend with you ?
You probably spelled my last name wrong. Even the Asians misspell it. Found you! By the way, I can’t believe you tweet! Even I haven’t broken down and done that.
@sIUtING_v3v - Yes, you can!