Australia – a life in a month

So much has been going on that I skipped updating the blog in over a month !

After leaving the Philippines, I landed in the big land down under on December 21st. I think I had never really realized how really DOWN UNDER this continent is. I thought to come here to visit my long date friend and sister Isabella, who lived with my family in Italy 8 years ago and whom I still hadn`t visit in her homeland. And I thought that being in the Philippines I was just a step away from Australia. Well, hell of a step since it still takes a 9 hours flight from Manila to get here !!!

All the way on the plane I still was not realizing I was about to reach this brand new continent. And this first month here has been such a full immersion one that I find it hard now to recap what has been going on.

So I will try to mention some epic / representative / meaningful events that happened.

When I landed in Sydney, Bella came to pick me up, and we drove through the City and up along the peninsula of the Northern Beaches to get to Avalon, where I am living with Bella`s mum Jeanette and brother James (or better, I was living also with JJ because he just moved out 2 days ago). Now, it took me a very short time to understand how peculiar of environment the Northern Beaches are. They are a series of fantastic surfers` paradise beaches alternated with stunning landscapes made of headlands, Pittwater, land points and rocks jumping into the ocean. When you reach the lighthouse at the top of the peninsula in Palm Beach (where they still are filming a surfers TV series  “Home Away“ – just to give an idea of how beautiful it is!), there is no way to get back to the mainland, so you just have to drive all the way back through the peninsula and reach the rest of the continent from there. When I asked why they don`t build a bridge or something to connect Palm Beach to mainland they just got perplexed. Why would you want to make their paradise so easy to access?? These are Northern Beaches: a very privileged place to live in, where every corner hides a pearl of a viewpoint.

My first morning in Australia, Isabella woke me up at 6 am to go with some of her friends for a morning walk. Here everyone wakes up SO EARLY (so hard for me who loves long sleeps or just lazy mornings) to go walking, jogging or just grab coffee with friends before starting the work day. That made me think that everybody has such a healthy lifestyle.  Inner thought : I shall try to do that too !

Soon after my arrival, Christmas *CHRISSIE* came ! How lucky to have to chance to spend it with an Aussie family, with their traditional food and drinks, songs and presents. We played Bad Santa, which is a sort of game that allows big families to just buy one present that can suit anyone. Then one at a turn you can whether pick an unwrapped unknown present, or just decide to steal one present that has already been opened by someone else. Bad, bad Santa!! (I got a 50 dollars coupon to use in a very nice bar on the Pittwater! 😉 ).  If in Europe Christmas is more about presents and eating, I had the feeling that here in Australia it is more about the drinking. Like, literally.  People here drink quite a lot i`d say, I guess especially in that Chrissie – New Year`s period. So a correction of my first thought about healthy lifestyle : they balance it quite well with unhealthy habits. 😛  I still thought I shall adopt it anyway.

In less than 2 weeks here, so many things happened : Rihannon (Bella`s sister) had her baby Remy Belle.

I had my own bedroom with a big bed, and a home with a garden! And also a bike!!

I went from being a traveller to working 3 jobs  — now I just kept 2 ! So I spent NY eve working, but then I still had time to watch the fireworks on the Pittwater with some colleagues.

Basically, I settled a little after so long.

 

Just in the last weeks I started travelling and exploring again. 

I finally went to explore Sydney and really, the City is beautiful, full of green spots and parks and surrounded by beaches. 

I met up with Anna and Marco, whom I knew in elementary and middle school and I had pretty much never seen ever since, when they were passing through Sydney on their way up to Brisbane by car, about to start their life here. We went to Bondi Beach together, and then they changed their itinerary and spent one night in the Northern beaches, and of course they got caught by their charm. And the Bengalley Headland walk also stunned me – especially because it is so close to where I live and I still hadn`t been !

On January 26th we celebrated Australia Day (big debate at the moment, because basically it stands on the day when white people arrived in OZ and basically terminated the Aboriginals  – so soon the day may be changed or moved). To me, it really was a nice day spent with friends of Bella living in an amazing house in the woods having a BBQ ( or *BARBIE*) and drinking games (OF COURSE), where people just gather and have a great time in the middle of summer.

But the most exciting Australian experience I had it in the past weekend: I went out camping with my friend Wilkie (snake lover, adventure seeker, great friend!!!!) down South, 4 hours drive from Avalon, in Kioloa camping. All along the way my best entertainment was to read the signs with these hyper funny names with a drunken voice (that`s because I really think that to call a city ULLADULLA or WALLANGONG old times Australians must have been drunk and just gave random names to places!). For the first time I saw KANGAROOS (so, so cute, and we were basically living with them at the camping spot, right on the ocean), DOLPHINS freely swimming in the ocean (when I went to see Bella and her boyfriend in Bawley Point), an OPOSSUM (another lovely animal who wants to eat everything!), a sort of IGUANA, and a special kind of DRAGON !!!! I was and still am excited like a kid. I think it is not so common in an adult life to see for the first time so many new creatures, and all in a weekend !!!!  And to make it perfect, we had amazing weather so we could watch a perfect clear sunrise and billions of stars in the night sky…

 

Well, now I just have to deal with a little foot infection (I know, I know, no troubles no fun for me!!!!), but I am sure it will be okay soon, and then more enjoying this endless summer. *Cheers MATES* !!!! xxxxx

Philippines part II

In the past weeks I went back to see my friends in the Philippines. So much happened that I don’t really know how to write it down and sum it up. And maybe I don’t really want to.

I just would like to share some realizations I came to. Among dragon attacks of vomit and diarrhoea combo, waking up in the middle of the night because an insect entered in my ear, going through someone else’s pain and holding on together, fighting for believing in intentions and in change, watching flesh and bones and stitches, being discriminated, being misunderstood, losing my Lola….among all this, life still finds a way to be amazing. 

These days were hard, but they still hide in their wrinkles one of the happiest days of my life. A lot of care and attentions. The subtle irony of destiny.

I have a very clear picture of a moment in my mind. I was going somewhere on a motorcycle, in the middle of the countryside, with my very special friend. We stopped on a little bridge and looked down at the kids playing in the water, jumping from a little cliff, while the mother was cleaning up the clothes in the stream. And I wondered, how on Earth have I got the luck of being here, in this very same moment, on this very big planet, to lay my eyes on these children’s happiness? 

I am so lucky. And the universe knows. And I thank for all, good and bad.

Working in Thailand

Another chapter of my travel closes (at least for the moment). 

I spent the last 10 days working in paradise. When 2 months ago I first went to Koh Lanta, I was so lucky to come across Bee Bee Bungalows, a series of bungalows on the beach, built with bamboo and – as An, the boss of the place told me – following the principle of being as aesthetic, natural and cheap as possible. Everyone will agree that the result is stunning.

Everything is kept very basic and well intertwined with nature and living a simple life : there is no hot water, nor flush in the toilets (you have to throw water from a pot in order to flush), and electricity is wisely combined with candle lights hidden a bit everywhere – which gives every evening spent there a magical atmosphere. Ah, well. You can see I am in love with this place. 

But not only I got the chance to live here for some time. I also could see the people I had met 2 months ago again, be their colleague and become their friend. Share the meals with them (making everybody laugh when I was crying and sweating like nuts with the tons of spicies they always put in the food  – I seriously could not get used to it!!!). Have conversations English – Thai, with none of the two sides understanding the other, but still laughing and getting it. Help, be helped and share. Meet travellers, understanding that we are all “same same, but different”, as Thai people say.

Ning, Tong and Tongka

Nong,  his smile with inclined head and laid back attitude

Ning and his endless energy

Neung ,  always smiling 

The incredible chefs team

Mel and Eike 

This wonderful quartet and their secret identities. Freddy, Jolanda,  Mosa and Dave. 

Laura y Edmon desde Cataluña 

Jasper en Meike,  missing in the pic: Oscar, the abandoned dog they adopted and will bring with  them to the Netherlands 

Luca, my connational and dispenser of traditional deep southern Italian music.

Pirmin and his waiting for future life news

…and so many more of whom I did not take a picture. 

I believe more and more that we shape things through the way we look at them. So when you are full of affection, the world gives you back what you see in it : beautiful people, true nature and authentic souls. Therefore, these past 10 days have been filled with great energy. I am very grateful for having had this experience in my life. See you all around somewhere, some time…

On the road (or better, in the sky…) again

So here I go again. I did not update the blog in rhetoric past month, due to the daft that my travelling actually got suspended for a while. 

I had to go back home to check on someone and something. It was a quite tough (and very last minute!!) decision to leave the plans that I had already made and go back to a sort of parallel reality. With my father,  we still joke  (or not) that in a parallel world there is a me that did not leave Thailand (running like a crazy person to the airport after having said goodbye and almost catching a syd fervent flight) and that is now still wandering around Asia. Eh eh – parallel me watch out, I’m gonna get you one of these days!  😉

In any case, this whole thing led me to several realizations :

1. Sadly, I still did not fix one of the biggest problems of my self : the complete inability of taking decisions RAPIDLY, EFFECTIVELY, and WITHOUT QUESTIONING them endlessly. Well, at least I am aware of it. Possibly, I will someday recover from it. I wish, but I cannot promise.
2. Lessons learned and unlearned can easily be forgotten. Remind to self : please, often revise them. Stressing, rushing, freaking out is as useless and harmful as in Asia. Remember the zen.
3. My love/hate relationship with Paris is still immutable. But in my brief unexpected 24 hours there, it was so great to see my flatmates, friends and ex-colleagues again, that the whole day just felt like LOVE ! I was glad to be back. 

4. Home food is always a blast, but I miss rice, padthai and fruit shakes. Also, despite I liked the first 50 seconds of automn with its colourful falling leaves….sorry, but I am so glad I am going back to endless summer again ! But seeing family, friends and my dear Friuli made the coming back to winter weather a bit warmer. 🙂

5. This year Christmas will for sure be different. So not to miss my usual one,  we already have a family Xmas lunch, ate enough panettone and enjoyed Xmas lights in the street…knowing it was rapid and ephemere , I actually felt moved by it…

6. For once in my life I had no baby kids possessed by Satan close to me on the plane, but on the contrary…..the entire row of seats for me! YAY!

As all bye-byes, also this one was bittersweet. But everything feels alright when you have warm hugs that let you go, but make you feel strong even when alone (…mum, dad and Lo: <3).

I now just landed in my roots’ land, Kiev. It seems that also my great grandmother could enjoy such beautiful sunsets…

While future is still a mystery, a song popped out in my mp3 saying : “Even in the disastrous storms, future was always there smiling at us.” So let’s smile back at it. And enjoy the clouds as well.

Bangkok and Ayutthaya

After leaving the most northern part of Thailand, we decided to head back to Chiang Mai to try catching the night train going from there to Bangkok, which is said to be a very peculiar, not to be missed experience. Even if the train ticket is double the price of the night bus one, and if it basically takes the same amount of time (aka: 11 to 13 hours!…), we decided we wanted to try trains instead of buses for once! Also, this made us go back to Chiang Mai, which was totally a win since this city was my heart strike in the North! We were also happy to have several “nice to see you again” moments:

• our friend Bamboo, who came to pick us up and drop us off at the bus terminals, and filled our path with joy and Bob Dylan’s songs 🙂  ;

• the family running the guesthouse where we had stayed in the previous days;
• Lauro, an Italian man we had met in Pai who quit his job and more “conventional” life in Italy to reinvent himself and start a more free life, following his own ways;

• aaand in bangkok the mythical Diego (missing his angel protector Chiara)  who we had left in Hoi An, Vietnam.

However, plans never go as we assemble them. So it turned out the train tickets were sold out for the next two days!!! Pretty popular idea, hein! Luckily, our friends the buses are always there to save us! SO night bus it was: but it turned out to be a great idea, as the travel was one of the most comfortable ones. We got blankets, snacks, even dinner (and being waken up to have dinner at 3 am is really priceless :P) and breakfast in the morning. So we arrived safe and sound in Bangkok. We spent 4 days there. To be honest, we did not fancy the city so much, as it is a huge metropolis, crowded and hard to be explored due to the constant heavy traffic. We were also quite disappointed by the backpackers’ district where most of the tourists stay (Khaosan Road), as it is the incarnation of a tourist trap and not offering anything special or different. One quite nice way of moving around BKK is to grab the little ferry boat that goes along the river that embraces the city. 

Of course, part of the trip is to be squished among the dozens of people in the boat, and to try to make it through the passengers who jump up and down from one stop to another, no matter if they are elderly people, babies in carriages, locals with suitcases, chickens, or just random tourists!

After a couple of days, we took a day of excursion to Ayutthaya (2 hours away from Bangkok), the old capital of Siam (old name of Thailand), where you can find what remains of ancient temples. Truly beautiful scenarios, with what is left of old bricks constructions, huge lying Buddha statues, and a charmed atmosphere of a long-time-gone era, which still places a sacred aura on the whole temples’ sites.

What was unique of our Bangkok experience is the fact that the whole capital was mobilized to mourn the death of the KING. The big garden in front of the Royal Palace was  all filled with stands giving free food, drinks and all kinds of services (hairdressers’, massages, doctors, nurses, artists,…). And this for – at least – one month from the King’s death (that happened on October 13th). 

We found ourselves in the garden, and we were amazed, almost shocked, by what we saw. People being together, sharing all these goods with one another, and even with the few tourists who found themselves there out of curiosity or out of chance. The generosity of Thai people stroke us again! They were offering us everything with such big smiles on their faces, that even if we were not that hungry or thirsty, or even if I didn’t really need a mask to color my hair in Brown Cocoa (…), we could not say no!

We were so shocked by how these people were “celebrating” or at least sharing with happiness and such abundance their King’s death. We still did not understand who was financing all these stands (run by volunteers and also professionals), since they literally were functioning and giving goods ALL DAY, every day. We concluded that this was a way to cheer themselves up and to embody their King’s greatness and generosity; they are providing everyone with everything they need, exactly like their King did with them.

This example of loyalty, generosity and sharing will be always kept in my memories of Thai people. People with a pure heart, who are committed to their beliefs, not only as an obligation or as a convention that has to be followed, but as a true way of living.

This is the picture I will keep of beautiful Thailand. The land of big heart people and of breathtaking sunsets.

 

North of Thailand : Chiang Mai, Pai, Chiang Rai, Golden Triangle

So one week ago we left sunny, bitter-sweet beaches to head North. I had been told that northern Thailand is more authentic, less invaded by tourists, and maybe matches more with the mental image you have of the country (temples everywhere, buddhism spirit, and so on). 

That is for sure the case of Chiang Mai. This city  – whose old quarter is built in a square shape, with the edges marked by a water stream  – is for sure the incarnation of my Thailand ideal (except for tourists, we are everywhere!). Every corner hides a temple, from the most colourful and kitsch ones (with flashing colors, snakes, golden decorations)..

(Wat Doi Suthep, old temple on a mountain outside Chiang Mai)

..to the most ancient, modest ones (my personal favorites), through which you can sens the passing of centuries of veneration and tradition.

We happily spent several days in Chiang Mai, alternating cultural exploration with market life  (night markets everywhere, for the joy of my father and his people & shopping tolerance!).

After exploring Chiang Mai and its surroundings, 

(Top view of Chiang Mai from distance)

..we decided to head to Pai, a little village 130 km away from CM. What a brilliant idea! The way to get there was quite tough  (4 hours ride through litterally 700 curves up on mountains roads!!!!), 

but once you reach there you are welcomed in a tiny village situated among hills and mountains,  with spectacular relaxing views of nature, fields, green…feeling so much in contact with LIFE! 

(Yunlai view point with lovely tea)

(Thai Chi and Sunset at the Canyon)

(Just beautiful nature)

(Sunset from Big White Buddha temple)

After Pai, we had planned to go to see the famous “White temple” in Chiang Rai. Even if looking at the map you would think going from Pai to CR is easy and straight, you actually have to go back to Chiang Mai (700 curves back, yay!) and then from there to CR. Equals : all day on the bus! Luckily during our stop over and CM we got the pleasant surprise to see Bamboo again, a tuk tuk driver we came across several times during our days in CM  – even if he never really took us anywhere. This Man had the biggest impact on me: 10 years ago he spent one year as a monk,  of which 9 months spent outside the temple, living in nature in the mountains and then in a cave,  accompanying and Learning from an old monk. No need to say how time we had to wait passed by so fast. Everyone on earth should have a talk with this man. He made me think of the importance of time. How we own just this in truth,  and time should not own us…

After a long, pensive ride, we finally arrived in Chiang Rai.  We were a bit disappointed by the City and its must sees. Especially the White temple !! Or : How to build something tremendously kitsch in a spot just for tourists to line up there.  So we boycotted it and did not enter (the only temple we have been to where you actually have to pay a ticket!).

As for the rest, CR has not much yo offer…so we headed to the Golden Triangle, to be in the spot where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar touch each other, just divided by the Mae Kong river. Very nice feeling 🙂

Guest starring in our North experience have been our Koh Lanta friends Jen and Cédric, amazing Martinique couple who quit everything to travel the world for one year  – who we met both in Chiang Mai and Pai 🙂

Now we feel we need to go back to Chiang Mai again. So another long bus ride ahead of us. But that leaves me time to update the blog here. 😉
Many new thoughts in my mind…please, take your time. To feel the time that you own and its precious value. 

And then, take the time to enjoy it.

No rush, no rush…

Just lots of love. 

South of Thailand: Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Phuket

Waaaaahhh, past 10 days have been a total immersion into southern Thailand paradise. I will go backwards in time to talk about it: we spent our last day in Phuket, which did not appear to us as the stunning beauty as it seems when you google it. We arrived in the old town Phuket with cloudy weather, so the portuguese-colonization-styled houses seemed a bit depressive to us, and we decided to head to the beach instead. We took a very nice bus ride (in a sort of thai version of filipino jeepneys) and arrived in Patong Beach.

Patong beach must be the most touristic destination in Phuket, so we just enjoyed the sunset (surrounded by people trying to sell : coffee, food, selfie sticks, parachute tours, everything) and then yummy food at a night market.

BEFORE Phuket, we spent two days in Koh Phi Phi,  a tiny island that became well-known thanks to Leo De Caprio and his movie ”The Beach”(which l have not even seen by the way). Phi Phi is beautiful, with its 2 twin islands (Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh  – which is the inhabited, savage one, where the movie was actually shot). All the area –  like also Phuket and Koh Lanta – was destroyed by the Tsunami in 2004. You can see that things have been rebuilt rapidly and not so much in harmony with the surrounding nature. However, we could enjoy the view of the Island from its viewpoint (was dying to get up there!!!! So steep steps!!!!) , featuring another beautiful sunset…

The second day in Phi Phi, we went on a tour to explore more hidden spots – well, except for the other people on other boat tours –  but far to be as bad as halong bay tours. We therefore went to monkey Island, Lagoon, Phi Phi Leh  – even though we boycotted Maya Bay  – where ”the beach” was shot and where you are asked to pay 400 baths to step on! Nope, thanks, Leo we still felt your spirit there!

No matter how beautiful Phi Phi may be, my heart got totally stolen by Koh Lanta, where in fact we decided to stay for a week! This island is less popular than the previous ones. This plus the fact that we are in the last week of low season made Koh Lanta a perfect relaxing paradise. Or maybe it was the fact that we found the most amazing place to stay, with the most amazing people (guests and locals!). Now, THIS is paradise :

I made many new friends : from Kim Poo who took me around Koh Lanta Noy  (twin island inhabited only by locals, without any track of tourism)

..to my new friend The Elephant

…to intraverted, pensive Nong

…to sweet talented guitar player Ning 

..And all the people staying in Bee Bee!!!

Koh Lanta is just paradise, with its rocky beaches, rivers, nature, food!!! And Bee Bee, with its simply amazing bungalows, its singing and playing nights, its special inhabitants… I cant wait to be back!
Now, aside from the places we’ve been, these past 10 days have been pretty adventurous. We encountered on our way a little series of unfortunate events. Listing in random order :

– being dropped off 10 km away from our booked hostel, but realizing it only 1 hour later, after having settled  (including washing and putting to dry our dirty clothes). So we decided to stay, but…
– being kicked out of our bungalow!!!! For not pleasing the owner! Found ourselves homeless. Even if: we found Bee Bee in the end 😉

– having a scooter accident due to muddy roads. We really fell, both of us plus the scooter. Luckily on the grass and mud on the side of the road. Result: daddy’s fierce badass scar on his eye.   BUT : we are alive! 

– my phone dropping in a river due to extreme conditions trekking! Like, in a river, with broken trees that had fallen in the river?!?!

– my job perspectives fading into nothing! Yay, i am officially jobless.

– King of Thailand died after 70 years of reign. Now Thailand will be mourning for 30 days: nothing on tv but video of the king; no music in the streets; people were litterally crying! Now, i had just read that this King somehow was keeping the whole country united and in peace, since he was loved by the people and accepted by the military. The son does not look to have the support of none of the two. Interesting developments to come. Hopefully peacefully!

– last but not least: I got bitten by a savage monkey! Meaning l now have to get anti-rabbies injections 5 times in the next month… BUT : we are still alive !!!!
Looking at the bright side :

– we found paradise in Bee Bee and all the beautiful places we explored 

– after the accident, i became the pilot so now i know how to drive on the opposite side (in thailand you drive like in the UK)

– rice power cured my phone

– we have new friends and found many kind special people around us

– i re-arranged my future plans and it makes me happy. Gotta get some more love and sun power, it is not bad after all… 🙂

– WE ARE STILL ALIVE !
Please send us some good energy. We will make good use of it. 🙂

We send our love to you, friends!

Vietnam pt. III – the North: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay

After leaving Hue and our friend Tuan, we took our last night bus direction Hanoi. 

We arrived in the capital early in the morning, and were quite amazed to find ourselves in a pretty quite and green city. We did not expect this after the crazy hectic Saigon  – other Big City of Vietnam. 

Our hostel was in the Old Quarter, the old town which is still full of small, colonial buildings and tiny streets that host markets and little shops all day long!

After a couple hours we realized that the calm impression we first got had to be readapted a bit…scooters still cycle like crazy everywhere, and when the market starts also people crowd meat fish vegetables are EVERYWHERE!!

The overall feeling i got though was not of a very industrialized or commercialized capital, since it is still quite original, with not many skyscrapers around.. 

Also,  in the heart of the centre we can find a little lake, hosting a tiny island, the Red bridge and the turtle tower in it, and nice green surroundings where to have a walk. Side note : on Sunday the streets around are even closed to traffic!!!

After spending one day in Hanoi, we left for Ha Long Bay…. what a wonder. Such an increbly stunning creation of nature. 1969 little islands give life to this spectacular scenary that we got to witness from a boat during 2 days and staying overnight. 

We went on cruise tour that brought us to visit a cave on one of the islands..

Then kayaking in the bay (i even managed to swim there in the sunset time…priceless)

And then spent the night in the bay  – This has been the first time I slept on a boat!

I didnt really like the concept of these organized tours, but we had no choice due to time constraints. Being in a rush to do scheduled things and sorrounded by so many people and boats doing the same activities is not my biggest like… however the beauty of the setting was still worth it! 

And I have the feeling that some time I will be back there again. 

After Ha Long, we went back to Hanoi for the last day in Vietnam. The weather passed from being perfect to heavy rain… it seems like Vietnam is sad we’re leaving. Totally reciprocated !

Today also bad news from occidental world…but I am flying soon, so may the height give me new perspectives on things down on the ground. Let me just stay some time in the clouds…

Goodbye for now Vietnam and cám on !