August 5, 2009

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  Personal Preference Or Racism?

  If someone only finds certain races attractive, for example, a Caucasian woman doesn’t mind dating a guy of any ethnic background except Asians because their physical characteristics just doesn’t appeal to her, would that class her as a racist? Or just her personal preference?

  And before you start asking, the above example is only an example and I am not pining after an unresponsive Caucasian woman!

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  Day 14 – Rio de Janeiro

  On my penultimate day in Rio, I’d took a tour of the favelas with the renowned Marcelo Armstrong company. The tour started early with the mini-bus picking everyone up at their hotel. During the journey to Rocinha, the largest favela in Brazil, we were informed that contrary to popular belief, you are actually safer within a favela than out in the city of Rio. That is because all illegal activities such as gambling and prostitution are outlawed by the three gangs that control the favelas with the obvious exception of drug dealing.  

  
  

  Our tour guide explaining about the favelas.
  
  
  

  No photography permitted beyond this point as drug dealing are conducted a few metres away.
  
  
  

  Right next door to this favela is an expensive private school.
  
  
  

  The local authorities and property developers are attempting to wrest control of the land where the favelas sit. It is not difficult to fathom as the land is prime real estate with magnificent views of Rio such as this one. Up on the top far right hill is the famous Christ the Redeemer.
  
  

  
  

  We were also advised not to photograph the moto-taxis as they sometimes run drugs for the dealers or ferry people from the city to buy narcotics so understandably do not want their picture taken. This particular moto-taxi sailed into my shot and fired me a baleful glare as he passed.
  
  

  
  

  One particular local resident has an open invitation to a couple of tour operators to view the favelas from her roof terrace. So open is the invitation the front door is left unlocked.
  
  
  

  

  

  

  Heading for the exit
  
  
  

  
  We were then taken to a bustling market within the favela but unfortunately photography was not permitted. I’m not one to conform to rules but I’m not stupid either so on this occasion my mobile phone stayed firmly in my shorts.  
  
  

  
  

  Next up was a visit to the favela of Vila Canoas where the proceeds of the tour were donated to the construction and running of this school including salaries for the teachers. All lessons provided to the kids are free.
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  The view from the roof terrace of the school.
  
  
  

  Products crafted by the students on sale with all proceeds reinvested back into the school.
  
  
  
  
  

  I let the girls play with my camera and the one in the pink wouldn’t give it back!
  
  
  
  
  

  A church within the favela
  
  
  

  The favelas are littered with webs of cables siphoning electricity from the local grid.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Favelas have become such tourist attractions that Sheraton built a hotel right next to one to serve that very purpose. The locals do not trust the police in the belief that they collude with the drug gangs. No police ever patrol the favelas and would only venture to the border of one.
  
  

  
  

  The Hippy Market in Ipanema – only on Sundays
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  The main roads stretching along the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana are closed to traffic on Sundays. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Night market on Avenue Atlantica, Copacabana Beach
  
  
  

  

  
  
  Day 15

  My last day in Rio and it rained. And rained. And rained. So I’d decided to spend it hanging out in a Brazilian shopping mall.  

  
  

  The Rio Sul shopping mall was the first large shopping centre in Rio, sandwiched between Copacabana and Botafogo.

  
  

  
  Once the rain stopped I’d meandered along Copacabana Beach for the last time before boarding a bus to the upper class area of Leblon.
  
  

  
  Leblon

  A long stretch of road runs from Leblon straight to Ipanema and continue through Copacabana. I would view the road in Leblon with its upmarket stores, cafes and restaurants as the equivalent to Kings Road in Chelsea, London.
  
  

  
  

  This landmark separates Leblon and Ipanema.
  
  
  
  Ipanema

  During the progression along the road the percolating change in quality of shops and buildings are noticeable.
  
  
  
  Copacabana
  
  
  
  The street party that never was.

  I had hoped to attend a street party in Gavea but the light drizzle earlier apparently put paid to that. So I met up with Marcel for some drinks in Copacabana to toast in my last night in Brazil. Today was also the day I’d learned about the Air France plane that had disappeared after departing from Rio for Paris. Tomorrow I will be boarding the same flight.
  
  
  Day 16
  
  

  
  

  The magnificent view from my hotel restaurant as I ate breakfast.
  
  
  

  The scrum of television news crews parked at the Air France check-in desk during the search for the missing Air France plane.
  
  
  Day 17
  
  

  
  

  Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris as I await my connecting flight to London.
  

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  Department Store For Men & Women

  For Women:

  A department store opened in New York City that sold men and a woman decides to visit it in search of a husband.
  At the store’s entrance, there’s a sign outlining the department store policy.
  The first rule states that you can only enter the store once.
  There are six floors and on each floor you can choose a husband or elect to move on to the next floor.
  You cannot visit a floor more than once other than to leave the building.
  The woman visits the first floor.
  The sign reads:
  · Men with jobs.
  She moves on to the second floor:
  · Men with jobs that adore children.
  She moves on the the third floor where the sign reads:
  · Wealthy men that adore children and are very handsome.
  She thinks to herself, “that’s a very good deal” yet moves on to the fourth floor:
  · Wealthy men that adore children, are very handsome and help with the household chores.
  She decides to move on as things are constantly improving:
  · Wealthy men that adore children, are very handsome, help with the household chores and are very romantic.
  The woman is about to make her purchase but can’t resist moving on to the sixth floor.
  There the sign reads:
  · You are visitor number 31,456,012 on this floor.
  · There are no men here.
  · This floor exists as proof that it is impossible to please women.

  
  For Men:
  
  Opposite this department store, another department store opened that sold women. The sign on the first floor reads:
  · Women that love sex.
  On the second floor the sign reads:
  · Women that love sex and are wealthy.
  On the third floor the sign reads:
  · Women that love sex, are wealthy and have large breasts.
  
  Not a single man has visited the fourth floor.

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  Great Name For Toilet Paper 

  

   

  • 1:18 pm
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