London: pictures

As promised here are some of the pictures from London. Also, don't forget to check back the previous posts as I loaded pictures there too.The Big Ben and the parliamentary house are worth a visit. You just have to dodge all the tourists.


St Paul's Cathedral.London Bridge. If it's windy, it's actually the worse place to be in London.

It was a nice sort of weekend, we had a great time, bought lots of books and ate like savages... Let's just say that I wont do it again in between moving apaprtments or continents.

London: good food day

I know that I'm 27 and that I should appreciate other things such as the historic importance of London, breathe in the places that inspired so many... however all I can say is that it was a lovely (albeit very cold as you can see from the picture above) sunny day and I ate wonderfully.

Details from Hyde Park and the Albert Hall Memorial.

I know London has a bad reputation for food, that you have to go to foreign restaurants but I think people have been going to the wrong places. In the UK you don't go to a restaurant to have a typical British meal, you go to a pub - a dark, with an ugly carpet, with dark wood furniture one - and you have, for example, a steak pie, shepperd's pie (my favorite), sausage and mash and any dessert with custard. I absolutely love custard. So today for lunch we had a jacket potato in a little stall in Convent Garden (the old market), that's basically a baked potato with topping of your choice and later in the afternoon I had a delicious shepperd's pie and an apple pie with custard. And that was it, I was happy.

Details from Trafalgar Square.

Oh, yes, I bought more books. I tried to resist but the 2666 is 32e in Brussels and here it was 18e...

Tomorrow evening I'll load up the pictures into the posts, so be sure to return to these posts to have a look.

I'll leave you with a bit from The savage detectives:
"I've been cordially invited to join the visceral realists. I accepted, of course. There was no initiation ceremony. It was better that way. (...) I'm not really sure what visceral realism is. I'm seventeen years old, my name is Juan Garcia Madero, and I'm in my first semester in law school. I wanted to study literature, not law, but my uncle insisted, and in the end I gave in. I'm an orphan, and someday I'll be a lawyer. That's what I told my aunt and uncle, and then I shut myself in my room and cried all night. Or anyway for a long time."P.3

Moving and reaching London

For those of you who don't know, I'm currently in London. The fact that I made it here after carrying furniture, books (too many), cds (way too many) and dvds (also too many) from 18h until midnight with - 4 is a true miracle.

It was a sort of Portuguese moving system. We didn't want to pay a moving company so we carried everything ourselves, we yelled a lot of instructions to each other, we ignored a lot of instructions until one bookshelf almost landed on my foot, we stopped to eat for about an hour and after moving some more stuff we were hungry again. What wasn't Portuguese was the weather. Imagine carrying stuff down 3 floors and then reaching the street where it was -4 and cross a busy intersection with your sofa. Or cd shelf. Or playstation. Then you go up 3 floors again and continue. We then proceeded to Leuven where most of my stuff will be kept. Yes, that's right, we had to unpack again and carry again. We went to bed exausted and took a train at 10 am to London.

So far London has not disappointed me but it has not amazed me yet either. I mean, expected facts list:

1. It's raining.
2. I bought books already.
3. Lots of badly dressed people.
4. Things are expensive.
5. The tube is fast, efficient and claustrophobic depending on the hour.

Things I didn't expect:

1. Eurostar's security system and border control.
2. That the cheese would be so heavy here.
3. That I would have a bad meal in Chinatown.
4. Vinagar, salt and melted cheese in top of French fries.
5. Even expecting high prices I was surprised.

Tomorrow I will go to a museum, a park and eat a pie and a dessert with custard in a pub, just not sure which ones yet. Now I will take a shower and read one of my new books in bed, it's called The savage detectives by Roberto Bolano and the first four pages were very promissing.

Leaving Belgium

In case you've never lived in Belgium or you do and are planning to leave, this is more or less what you have to do:

• Buy Newcomer, an introduction to life in Belgium, a very useful magazine.
  

1. Give your landlord notification at least 3 months before so that he can find all sort of maintenance things left to do and that you have to pay.
2. Cancel your internet/television provider two months before so you can hear them say it's all taken care of even though it's not. (actually, I know from experience that in Portugal after 6 months they still call you concerning delayed bills that were paid 7 months before).
3. Arrange for a moving company or for friends with car. Either way be prepared to tip.
4. Check your passport/ID expiration date and if it has empty sheets (I don't know why but some countries want at least 6 empty ones).
5. If you can buy some currency of your new country (India and Angola for example, do not allow buying bills outside the country).
6. Go to your bank, just for fun.
7. Go to the post office to redirect your mail. Expect to pay 50e or 60e.
8. Take a morning for the city hall's foreign service and return your nice Belgian ID. Be prepared to pay up to 50e for that privilege.
   
9. Donate clothes, furniture, stuff you do not need to Oxfam or Les petits riens. They usually come and pick it up at a ridiculous early hour.
   
10. Invite your friends and give them all your expired food and drink items.
    
    

London calling

Next week I'll be going two days to London. I've been to the UK before but never to London for some strange reason so I'm pretty happy about the prospect. Things seem to be very organized or a just a bit too much. While booking the train ticket we got a choice of 9 different meals: standard, vegan, vegetarian, kosher, non-gluten, halal, low fat, low salt and for people with sugar diseases. I was very impressed. Of course by the time you've selected all your options the price of the ticket has already changed.

If anyone's been to London and wants to share some info, by all means...

Thailand: the visa questions

It's hard to explain this bit, actually. Being from an EU country I can for sure say that Thailand is a bit complicated. It's almost impossible to get a "one year visa" which is exactly the one I needed, right? So my only option is to do several "normal visas" that are valid for 2 months, and I get do a 30 day extension in some office in Thailand. Then I have to leave the country and ask for a new visa. Not the cheapest way either...

So today I went to the embassy and did a 60 days tourist visa, that I will extend when I'm already in Thailand. After 3 months I'll go to Laos and do a new visa. Not that I mind traveling around, I don't. It's just papers and feeling ripped off that I don't like.Oh well, no country is perfect.

I can pick up my visa already today. Yay! I think it's low season because it usually takes 5 working days.

ah, if you're planning to visit :P a less than 30 day visit doesn't require a visa.

I only need a couple of blouses that can handle tropical weather, a water filter and lots of photos (2 per visa) and I'm all set!

Thailand: packing for year

As requested here is (clothes aside) what I'm taking to Thailand. This was prepared thinking that I will live at least a year in a tropical country, next to a lake and a jungle. Also I will be leaving the country at least every 3 months to renovate my visa.

It's hard to plan for a whole year but clothes wise you take less than for a holiday because you'll be washing it or buying local products that are even cheaper in Asia. It's the rest that takes up space.

In case the photo isn't very clear, here is a list:

• 1 Nikon D40 + waterproof Crumpler bag + 1 extra batery + 1 usb cable + 4 giga memory card + battery charger.
  

• 1 tripod - this tripod was bought thinking that I will walk around with a backpack so it's the most pratical and not absurdly expensive I could find.

• 1 DEET impregnated mosquito net (it is a malarial area).

• 1 Lafuma sleeping bag - in the school I'll have a bed however for the traveling around, staying with couchsurfers, or hostels a sleeping bag is very useful. In Russia I slept on a sleeping bag for the duration of my stay. Also I'm prepared for a guest. This is the lightest sleeping bag there is, ideal for the heat of Asia and for carrying around.

• 1 waterproof Thailand map - a nice xmas present.

• 1 basic first aid kit - Mostly for cuts, bruises and twisted wrist or ankle.

• 1 swimming suit - Eat your heart out.

• 2 pairs of flip-flops + 1 pair of trekking sandals - one for walking, one for the bathroom, one for walking around the house.

• 1 microfiber towel - it's super absorbent, ideal for backpackers. I've had this one for more than a year, even took it to India. Once in Thailand I'll get a local one and use this one exclusevely for traveling.

• 40$ - Forty Dollars - In case of emergency or in need of paying a bribe, dollars are always handy.

• 1 pencil case holder - I always need a pen plus I'll be a teacher now.

• 2 mosquito repelents - one with DEET, one natural.

• 1 padlock - I can strap my suitcase to the bus/train, I can lock it in the hotel etc

• 1 waterproof document/paper holder. Does rain season ring a bell?
  

• 1 passport case - after seeing my passport bend strangely in Russia I bought this little hardcase.

• 1 raincover for my backpack

• 1 pocket knife

• 3 compression sacks - I'll have a lot more space in my suitcase and bag, especially good for dirty laundry.

• 1 secret pocket for money and documents.

• 3 pacsafe locks, 1 with combination

• 10 envelopes

• 4 copies of my passport - to be spread around my stuff and myself.

• 1 toiletry eagle creek bag - with a mirror and that I can hang up anywhere.

• 1 blues harp - I sooo need to practice.

• 5 notebooks

• 1 little bag/wallet

• 1 hat (with UV protection, I didn't even know it existed).

• 1 Astérix agenda

• 1 old laptop - the screen doesnt even stand up for itself. Good for pictures, teacher stuff as tests and activity sheets, for my music, for watching a film when I'm bored and to go to the Internet.

• 1 north face backpack - it will glued to me all times since it will have my documents, money, camera etc

• 1 cheap Nokia phone that will have a Thai SIM card + charger

• 1 dynamo flashlight - it doesn't need batteries nor electricity, you just wind it up.
  

• Others: lots of pens/pencils, some teacher stuff such as activities books/sheets, a deck of cards, trekking biscuits (with high energy level for when my stomach cramps up or when I'm trekking), some books, my little personal pharmacy (stomach, flu stuff), vitamins (I'll be living a vegetarian lifestyle)
  

• Clothes: I haven't prepared this part yet but I have a general idea:

• 2 pairs of light trousers, one becomes a pair of shorts
• 2 pairs of shorts
  
• 1 pair of sport shoes
  
• 12 t-shirts, some are super light and absorb sweat
  
• 16 pairs of underwear and socks
  
• 1 pair of sunglasses
  
• 1 jacket for the evenings
  
• 1 waterproof jacket
• 2 skirts
  

And before you ask, no, I am not rich (I wish! - I'd travel a lot more!), some of these things like the backpack, clothes etc I had already since I do move around quite a bit. Stuff like the mosquito net I bought for my trip to India (also the same vaccines) and the rest I bought thinking of Thailand. I worked for the last two years thinking I should save for travelling. It also helps that Asia is a cheaper continent than Europe (for the most part). The most expensive thing will be having to leave the country every 3 months, with new visas, airline tickets, a hostel if I can't find someone to host me, buying my own food as opposed to eating at the school etc

I'm not complaining, I chose to do volunteer work but have a look at the "help out section", I don't just ask for money but also goods, as well as a place to stay while traveling, a meal etc I'm also prepared to work for that money, if you're hosting me I can cook and clean, if you're in another country I can be useful via email. Just have a look. Even a shout-out if you're in the area (or not) is included in the help out section. You can also donate books or buy waffels to help the library I'm setting up for the Baan Unrak school.

Have you travelled in the area? Tips are welcome!
Have you travelled extensively in a certain area or country? Again, tips are welcome.
Any comments or questions: email or comment.

Madeira: boat trip

The goal was to go and see some dolphins or whales but they wanted nothing to do with us. Can you blame them? Even before setting off the group was already misbehaving.

Since we didn't see dolphins nor whales I'll leave you with some pictures of Madeira from the sea.As you can see people in Madeira built homes thinking of the view first, practicality second. This is Câmara de Lobos.

Someone once told me that I'd go around the world with my All Stars...

The sun was shinning, the sea was calm but the wind was annoying. During most we were either sick, with ear pain or cold. It could've been nicer, however, I think everyone was happy to do the trip and see the island from a different perspective.


Well, those of us who did see something...

Help a volunteer: give a book, buy some waffels

As you know I'm off to do volunteer work in the middle of nowhere in Thailand so I'm gathering up funds to support my year there. However I am genuinely trying to help those kids and the Baan Unrak school/orphanage. While checking out their new website I noticed their wish list. The wish list includes things like:

• "A Dump truck- 310,000 B (USD $890) To transport food supplies, construction materials and even take the children to school when bad weather makes the road to the house very difficult to travel on with normal vehicles."

• "Housing for the boys aged 12 years and older- 4,000,000 B (USD $114,000) ...Their current housing (constructed from bamboo) is in very poor condition; leaking badly and very unstable. We require funding to build a new living area for them."

• "Electricity Supply Line- 900,000 B (USD $25,700) ...Due to the location of the house (far from the main road) the electricity company will not provide a supply line; we have to pay for this ourselves. The current connection is very poor and results in frequent power cuts. With the funding above, we could install a safe, reliable electricity supply to Baan Unrak."

• "Library- 50,000 B (USD $1,400)
  We are short of reading resources for education and pleasure. We would love to have a library so that the children could broaden their horizons and foster a love of reading that will stay with them throughout their lives."

As a former literature student the idea of kids without reading material is appalling, as such I am committed to help them out. I myself am donating a box full of books but I need your second-hands books, your "I didn't like it all that much" books, your "I bought for uni" manuals etc

Baan Unrak not only has orphans but also refugees from Burma, that means young adults as well as mothers who can't get jobs and are trying to get vocational training and English lessons. So all books are most welcomed, not just children's books.

If you have any books or reading material IN ENGLISH that you can donate, please contact me as I am working out a cheaper way to transport things to Thailand. So far the cheapest I could find thanks to a friend is around 500e for 7 boxes of books. So after clearing your library and telling me where to pick it up how about buying a box of waffels to help pay for the transport? It's 10e a box with 20 waffels per box. Surely you can eat that! Or you display it at a children's party...
Looks good, doesn't it? You know you want it... :) 20 waffels for 10e. If you're outside of the Benelux area I can ship it as well, don't use your country as an excuse. :)

IMPORTANT UPDATE: I am now working with Children of the forest, another ngo in the same village as Baan unrak. The books will go to Children of the forest.

Madeira: bookshop

I know the Fnac and Bertrand are very popular and well, convenient but I grew up with "Livraria Esperança", literally Bookshop Hope. Sure it's dusty. Yes, they're not very nice to books even making new books look like second hand ones, but it's quite the sight isn't:

The bookshop gave new meaning to its name when I was able to find two Portuguese authors that Fnac and Bertrand didn't have (they even told me I wouldn't find it anywhere).

Madeira: 30 degrees to start the new year

To celebrate the new year and our hangover we decided to have a quiet day. We went to Praia Formosa and walked the Promenade. Basically it's a sidewalk that connects Câmara de Lobos to Lido crossing around five beaches.We didn't want to walk the whole thing so we only did the road from Praia Formosa until Lido. Sun, sea, palm trees...Perfect, hun?

Two days after the storm, the sea was still rough. On the third day we went on a calm boat trip...

Portuguese life is hard...

Some expressed their happiness about the weather more than others.

This is a house built in a cave/rock. There are people still living here in Praia Formosa. When I was a kid I was told it was because they were poor, in the meantime they managed to have gardens, colors, vegetable gardens, banana trees etc but I'm guessing they don't have running water.

Madeira welcomes 2009

Let me tell you now: I'm not a big fan of Christmas. But one thing is for sure, I love New Year's eve and fireworks. So I guess you can say that I grew up in the right place.

Madeira usually manages to amaze you on the 31st of December. Even during this year of recession it had a show of fireworks that lasted almost 10 minutes.

To celebrate Funchal's city status (500 years in 2008) some fireworks spots were added to the city center.Did I mention that in Madeira you can buy your own fireworks and have some fun with it before midnight? Our group tried to so, all except me doing it for the first time. It wasn't bad, we didn't burn the house down but let's just say that once I saw a firecracker explode centimetres away from my neighbors window, I didn't want to play anymore. Next time I'll do it with my cousin like when we were kids.Hmm, wait... I'll do it in a safer way but mostly like when we were kids.

Madeira: SouthWest side

2008 was saying goodbye with one of its warmest days ever (in Madeira, not in the rest of Europe I was told). We went to Cabo Girão, a steep sea cliff (It's about 580 metres), in order to be awed by the view. Until recent years the vineyards and farms seen below were only accessible by boat. I think it gave it more character.
Cabo Girão belongs to the district of Câmara de Lobos, we visited the center as well as stopping to see it from above:

Câmara de Lobos is now far from its days as the poorest area in Portugal. But even it all the investment and increasing number of visitors it still maintains a certain atmosphere you can't see or feel in Funchal (Madeira's capital).

It was this small town that Churchill painted happily (back then it was a fishing village) but the duration of his stay has been greatly exagerated.


Câmara de Lobos also displayed an interesting collection of Nativity scenes.

On our way to Curral das Freiras (Nun's valley) we stopped in Pico de Barcelos for a few pictures, you can see Funchal, Câmara de Lobos, the Desertas islands and more on a clear day.

Curral das Freiras/ Nun's valley is a area that receives a lot of tourists, but most stay only to take a few pictures of the view and move on.

There are km to be discovered in this valley, I was sorry we didn't have time to invest in it.

The old road is closed and the state likes people to drive in the new and fast highways (two cars honked at us when we were doing ONLY 70km/h) but I really loved the old curvy way to go into town. I understand it costs money to clear the roads every winter (the rains makes landslide a current activity) but perhaps it could be open during summer. God knows we receive enough tourists that want this sort of adventure...