Friday, November 28, 2008

Lingering in India

I bet my travel companion in India will be very surprised but I have noticed that I am far more interested in India now that I visited and had a mostly ierk experience and a part awe experience. I notice myself steering towards books about India, from India writers, with Indian life in it...


Now I'm reading The white tiger by Aravind Adiga. It follows the life of a low caste boy and his rise. It is not depressing as it might seem, it's full of life, hate, some love, fear and lots of greed and survival. Accoding to the main character not even most Indians understand fully the caste system, I'm starting to believe him. Why are caste fiction stories interesting? Because they deal with man's ultimate quest: fighting one's destiny, looking for a better life.


While in India I noticed some order of things (mind you, some insane version of order, some sort of wonderland but still an order), I noticed an airport clerk with a servant for example. It infuriated me. The clerk even refused to take something from the servant's hand and he had to set it down on the table so that the clerk could pick it up. I was appalled. Two months later and from the confort of my home I think that despite all that, it is a good thing that that man had at least a job in a country that is pouring out more babies than it can feed. A bad job is better than no job at all in those conditions.


Perhaps now that I witnessed India and got confused by it I have time - and silence - to think about it, to read about it, basically to learn about it. Also today, the day that I bought another book that in some way regards India, the Western world in awaking to a terrorist attack that killed almost 10 Europeans. The terrorist knew that by attacking a posh hotel they would get the media, the media is a great pressure on the India government. But despite thinking those actions are horrible, that most media these days are dreadfull vampires, I wonder why the world is shocked at 10 Westerners dead when thousands of Indians died. If I die in Thailand will that matter to Thai people who can afford a tv?


Perhaps I am more prepared for India than I was when I visited it. I'll know more when I ran out of books about it. I think.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

How prepared are you?

This is now a frequent question. I assume everyone is worried, but I am not. I think it's going to be ok, I'll have some adventures, some good and bad moments and it will be worth it. Yes, I'm being optimistic. Be worried, be very very worried.

Most of the stuff I had already bought for India. I have a mosquito net, light clothes (I'm taking the minimum as I expect to buy local stuff), a padlock for my luggage, a compass (hey, I'll be living next to a jungle), I learned how to bargain in India (but I hate it), Imodium, a pocket knife, a camera, a first-aid kit, a hat, a sewing-kit, my magic tea and mosquito repelent.

I have my ticket, I know about the visas that's why I havent gotten mine yet, it is only valid for 3 months.

I need to buy a dynamo flashlight (you dont need batteries nor electricity), a sleeping bag and a water filter.

And another thing that I learned with the India trip is to always have spare underwear, toothpaste and toothbrush in my backpack just in case I get separated from my suitcase for 12 or 24 hours.

"One is never prepared, one hopes." - I forgot who said it.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Portuguese television at its (80s) best

Hi everyone! I want to share this great little video, it's one of my favorite clips of the comedian quartet "Stinky Cat" and I've added the subtitles myself (this is how much I wanted to share it with you all...).




Enjoy!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Going home before going away

As some of you might know I'm from Madeira (Portugal). What you might not know is that it's been a couple of years since my last visit. Money is short so when faced between visiting a country I didnt know and going back home I chose adventure, novelty, excitement and the fact that it would take me 2h to get there or just a short train ride. But this December I am going home. I am going to Madeira AND I'm taking some foreigners as well, one Belgian, one Bulgarian, one Turk and two 'Lisboners', ok, so mainland Portugal is not foreign but they will all be tourists on an island that I will perhaps not recognize, perhaps I will be more of a tourist than them while looking for my childhools building and routes. I just hope the food and the mountains are still the same. The rest will be taken care of by my camera. I plan to eat like a savage, trek around the valeys and enjoy the fireworks. Should I get a travel guide or something?

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Back on the market


Yesterday I had a new tennant, today I dont. Damn...

Just I uttered my first complaint

My landlord has found a new tennant and he's interested in buying the bed, the closet and the table. That means I can stop running home to show the place and worrying if it looks tidy. It's all happening very fast, isn't it? I mean, the first of February is just around the corner...

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Not so easy

One thing I dont like about showing my appartment around is having to run home so there is still some light out when people arrive, having to always check in the morning if the place is not chaotic and people not calling back when they say they will.

One visitor was more interested in my stuff than in the appartment. I wont tell my landlord that. Some of you asked why I have to look for someone in the first place. Well, my contract is for 3 years and as I'm leaving before and I dont feel like losing my warranty money I have to find someone to replace me.

I've yet to put my furniture online, I'm still hoping a single person will get the appartment and the closet and bed so I dont have to carry those damn things out.

So far I've sold 5 rough guides. I still have the Spain and the Cambodja ones on the slot. The Spain was used but looks new, the Cambodja has never been used.

I have a also not used dvd recorder and comics. Most books will go to the oxfam bookstore. I think oxfam will love me for a very long time after I drop yet another suitcase full of books.

How is it that such a small appartment has so much? I have to remember how much everything cost to then make a fair price, it's not always easy. Two days ago I froze when a lady asked me how much I wanted for my bar, all I could manage to say was 'eeuuh... Can I call you tomorrow on that one?' Great impression.

I'm not worried though. It's going to be fine, what I cant sell I'll give away and I'll have a great year and laugh at my preparation franticness.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Selling most of my stuff

Not sure if it's a good thing how their price has gone down since I bought them...

My appartment is up for rent

I put this up and on the first day had two calls, one visit; second day 5 calls; two visits, third day, one call, one visit. I'm selling my furniture and just about everything really. It's a bit strange to be giving prices for things I've lived with or actually like and some people just aim way too low.


"Loyer mensuel demandé 530 €

Bascule(Vleurgat/Vanderkindere/Churchill). Chouette appartement 1 chambre de +/- 65 m² au 3e étage d'un petit immeuble sans ascenseur situé à proximité des commerces et des transports en communs. -Grand living (+/- 30 m²) - cuisine équipée - 1 chambre à coucher (mezzanine) - 1 salle de bains/WC. Charges 30,00 euros (Provision eau et frais communs). Très lumineux.

Libre le 1er Février."


If you know someone who needs a place in Brussels...

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Ticket to Thailand

Yes, yes, yes! I've bought a cheap ticket - one way. I leave on the 1st of February 2009. The cheapest I could find was with Etihad airways, 450e.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Resignation

i've handed in my resignation letter, my last day is January the 16th. I wanted it sooner, so I could relax a bit before but money is money and with Christmas coming up I'll need every penny!