motion stop

As you might have noticed, my life is never boring. There is always something going on.

As such it's time to announce that another adventure has popped up and that the Thailand one will be done for the time being. I do hope to return soon.

I shall miss most of all the kids, the food, the weather and the calm. My favorite: rice soup with vegetables, Oishi green tea with honey and lemon (and banana pancakes, though not in the picture).

Back from the dead

Apologies, readers. Life is crazy. Yes, that's my only justification. The blog will return to normal, I am beyond hope for that one.

I am now back in Brussels (arrived this morning) and I leave for Thailand on the 3rd of September.

A lot has happened but I will recover from the jetlag first before I lay it out for you.

Gonna be off the planet a bit

More posts and news when I return...

Ko Lanta slideshow to refresh your memory

As the other teachers show us more photos I'll look for some worth publishing.

UPDATE: If you can't see it as my sister complained, try using the latest Mozilla OR LATEST INTERNET EXPLORER and letting it load...

I made new friends!

Lots of photos today. I wanted to really try and show you how much fun I had and I thought the best way was to show you my smile.

The landscapes are just there to make you jealous.

A close friend, a punching bag.

On the truck with some of the boys.

This is Pee-Wah, my favorite Burmese. Despite the fact that she doesn't speak English it was with her that I had the most laughs with.

She also has the biggest braid I've ever seen.

Twice it went down to her feet and twice she cut it, this is the third try. Blimey!

This is Lek. Don't let his serious face fool you, he was my date on most nights out.

He also took this picture.


This is Booboo, he respected me a lot more after I beat his ass in Thai Boxing.

This is the biggest smile Joidapur has for the cameras. He's 19, you see, he's too cool to smile.

Asian kids are too cool to be true...

This is Saranee, she made the necklace I'm wearing.


I got to sit down a bit but my camera never stopped working.

All the teachers liked me

Well, some more than others.

But really what's there not to love?

Just wanted to share a proud moment

I just managed to cycle during rush hour in Vietnam. I didn't hit any motorbikes nor did they hit me (I came close once) nor did I run over someone - one fat ass came close to knocking me to the ground but that was it.

For those out of context I learned to ride a bicycle last summer.

Also a few days ago G. taught me how to ride a motorbike. I didn't go past 2nd gear but it was great. Let's hope he remembers to send me the pictures once he's back in Malaysia. Yes, I think he will read this. :P

On my way...

I leave in a few hours for Abu dhabi. Then in the evening I take a flight to Bangkok. I cant promise any news before Tuesday so please behave in my absence.

Those of you that read Portuguese are welcome to follow my chronicles at the site "tempo de viajar"(time to travel).

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.

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?

How to use this blog

If you're feeling a bit lost please check out the links section to your right. There is a small explanation of the travelling blog, and a short introduction to its creator. See what the plan is.

To better enjoy this blog read the summaries of my previous trips such as living in Latvia, sticking it out in Belgium and sort of enjoying India.

See the photo galleries below the clocks.

As from now the blog will be updated on occasion, noting my preparation for my year in Thailand and then when I leave weekly or daily (depending on the internet connection). I do not expect this to be a true ongoing blog until my new adventure starts so be pacient. Go check out some pictures or go see in a map where my area in Thailand is (it's called Sangklaburi).

If you want I can add you to the mailing list. Just let me know.

Contact me

If you want to sell something or you want me to be your drug muke dont bother. If you just want to give a shout-out, talk, meet, ask a question etc just send me an email: babsynofimdomundo at gmail.com.

Help out!

Are you reading the blog and felt a strange urge to reach out? Here's how:

• Well, first please feel welcome in my blog and if you're enjoying it gimme a "shout-out".
• If you're in one of the Thailand's border countries consider lending me your couch (I am a member of the Couchsurfing community) for a night or two.
• If you're far away and have 5e or 5$ extra laying around please consider giving it to the children of the forest project, sponsoring a child or buying some traditional Burmese clothes (photos coming soon).
• Send those extra 5e/$ to me in return for (pick one or more):

Why should you? I mean, I bet you're thinking: "Thailand is cheap"... indeed it is but the visas are not and I will need one every 3 months if I want to stay a year. I'll need about 200e each 3 months - for each visa and subsequent extention, money for a ticket for a neighbouring country, food, money to pay off the mafia... oh and did I mention I am going to do a volunteer project hence not being paid? Oh yeah. Did you always want to help a volunteer but never knew how? In exchange for those 5e/$ I can provide you with ne or more of the following:

1. a super duper postcard
2. a post with a theme of your choice (if it's weird stuff I might just create a blog for it and not publish it here, my grandma sees this, ya know!)
   
3. always wanted to go to a part of Thailand or close by but cant afford it? Ask me to visit it and send you pictures and a personalized account.
4. buy a few of my pics, check out the blog and flickr, the resolution will be much better, trust me. I'm no professional photographer, that's for sure but maybe, just maybe that gives it a bit more charm?
5. I speak Portuguese, French, English, some Latvian and I understand Spanish even though I havent spoken it in ages. I am going to learn Thai soon, do you need some translating? If you want written Thai, considering the 96 letters and its insane caligraphy, please return in a few years.
6. You're in my little town and hate normal touristy things? I'm a very cheap guide.
7. I can prepare your track lists for your parties/gatherings - from classical music, 70's, 80's,90's, rock, punck, pop, hip-hop...
8. Are you visiting Portugal or one of the countries I've visited? How about an itinerary? Just tell me your budget, your interests etc
   

Just so you have an idea:

20E/$ can pay for a whole day in Asia: a hostel (only when I can't find a couchsurfer), tranportation and food together, maybe even one hour in a internet place... or pay off my gambling debts in Bangkok's casinos.
10E/$ 3 meals in one day.
3e/$ a rickshaw(2 way) or a full meal.

Wanna be startin' something?

(there's two possibilities: send to my old Portugueguese account, from my student days, or to my Belgian account, from my slavery days):

acc: 001504672787. IBAN: BE67 0015 0467 2787 BIC SWIFT: GEBABEBB

or

Nib:003503360009280110022 IBAN: PT50 0035 0336 00092801100 22 BIC SWIFT: CGDIPTPL.

Bear in mind that my online access doesnt allow me to see who tranfered the money nor any messages you might write in the transfer so email me (babsynofimdomundo at gmail dot com) so I can thank you and see what I can do for you.

What's the plan?

"Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential"
Winston Churchill

Mostly there isnt one, I hate plans and knowing what's going to happen. I am not, however, totally devoid of senses and I do know I need money to live and pay bills. I think there is more than one way to live this life so I'm going to try a few ways until I find the right one for me.

So far so good. I wanted to travel and have been doing so, though less this year as I was working hard in Brussels and saving up for my next project: living a year in Thailand. I bet you're thinking: "well, Thailand is cheap"... indeed it is but the visas are not and I will need one every 3 months if I want to stay a year. Also I want to see as much as the area as I possibly can. Meaning I'll need about 200e each 3 months, money for a ticket for a neighbouring country, food, money to pay off the mafia... oh and did I mention I am going to do a volunteer project hence not being paid? Oh yeah.

I'll be working in the Children of the forest project. It is located in Sangklaburi, in the Kanchanaburi province.

For future plans please check this section again in a few months or a year.

little ol'ME

Year of the insanity: 1981.
Origin: Madeira, Portugal.
Occupation: Currently a consultant in a bank soon an English teacher.
Location: Brussels, Belgium. Soon Sangkhlaburi, Thailand.
Plan: There is no plan. There is no spoon.
Addictions: Travel, comic books, food, music, reading...
Preferred pets: cats or invisible dogs.

See how to help out!

This picture was taken in Latvia, Jurmala. It was very cold and just minutes after I saw the frozen sea for the first time. It was awesome!