“Ninja" is alive again or ... plans for the near future

We bought a motorbike, a Royal Enfield 350 from 1998, a model from the times of the II World War. Her name… Ninja. In memory of my belated best friend.

The plan is to go around India with no itinerary and no schedule other than that we need to exit the country in May, or until our money reserves extinguish.
Some ideas seem to indicate some paragliding in the horizon, climbing, yoga practice, maybe meditation retreats, snake handling training and also along the way some teaching of first aid and environment education to communities.

Surely it reminds me of Che motorbike’s trip around South America, but I just hope it will not involve any cow crashes, since we are in the country of this free and sacred ruminant.

The options are opened and the road is ours :).

beep beep !!!

Back to India

Here I am, back in this huge, incredible and diverse country. There is no plan, but the general idea is to stay some time in Kolkata, doing some volunteering, helping those in need, using my medical care and first aid knowledge.

Then after, maybe go somewhere around the west to learn paragliding and enjoy the skies, as this has been my dream for a long time. Another possibility will be to get hands on an old motorbike and go on a tour for as long as money and visa lasts :)

Namaste

Pit stop in Kuala Lumpur

Cities bahhhh … I hate cities.
But actually, KL this year was a nice experience… crashing at our new friends Yan and Lili House, a nice apartment with a beautiful view over the city, with a lot of skyscrapers.

It was time for a pit stop and to enjoy the commodities of the urban jungle. From IT centres to Chinese restaurants, cinema to capoeira with my friend Juls …. it was ok to have a break, do some internet work and arrange a visa for India.

In the meanwhile, our friends took us to the new biggest indoor climbing wall in Asia. After so long without climbing, it was good to energize my body again with some monkey work… but I miss the natural rock!!!

Let's see if India can help me with that :)

Anyway, after a long time wait and a sort of a bribe … I got a visa … India here I go again.

Bali … again in the Island of the Gods

An anticipated return to magic Bali and here I am back to a place where spirituality and seekers radiate in every corner of the town of Ubud.
It’s time to relax, enjoy life, the luxury and the excesses of a rich island, invaded by privileged spiritual seekers, surfers, party tourists and everyone else.

During this short stay I had time to do some yoga, different kinds, with many good teachers. I also managed to get a class in the studio and teach self defense for women, which went really well.

Ubud was the stage for many transcendental and philosophical conversations, many dinner debates and friend chats.

Diving was extremely good, independently taking some yogi friends and new traveler friends to explore the wonders of the underwater world.
Soon it will be time to leave back to India.

Mermaids and Mermen

After meeting with dugongs in previous dives ...

A dream

A group of bottlenose dolphins appeared from the blue

Maybe a dozen, including a mother and a calf ...

She looked at me, but the curiosity didn't make her stop and check me out... only a look saying "who are you and what are you doing here?" ... she had a treasure to protect.

So good to feel the energy of this incredible creatures in the wild, in their domain, the Ocean ... :)

The new generation of divers in Timor (read spearfisherkids)

Awesome goggles made from pieces of glass, wax and wood, nice shorts and a spear with elastics. All it's needed :)

Here they go ... hunting clown fishes ... lol.

Ate' logo.

Timor Leste ... in the end of the world as we know it

SCUBA Diving in Bali

Hello my friends !!!

I'm still looking for a job around, so in the meanwhile if you fancy joining me for some diving in Bali, you're welcome.

The dives are amazing, many are acessible from shore, with lots of marine life (Bali is located in the south of the so called Coral Triangle, one of the most biodiverse marine areas in the world), a beautiful wreck dive from the second World War the USAT Liberty , and much much more.

Anything can be done around here, from the normal fun diving (this is not to be only for business, if you just want to come along and dive with me, perfect !!! If you need a guide then we can sort it out) or to the more professional Open Water courses, Advanced, Rescue, Specialities (Nitrox, Wreck, etc). Whatever you want :)

If interested, just drop me a line ... the prices can be in a budget and I can help you out with logistics, accomodation, food, transportation, even air flights. Believe me, with the appropriate gymnastics it can be quite cheap.

Some pictures to motivate you guys :)




PS: This Global economic crisis even makes me advertise in the blog and try to make money with friends and family :) ... hopefully it's not affecting you guys so badly :)))) Come on move you asss and see you soon.

Indonesia... Bali

New temporary home ... Bali !!!

First impression:

Amazing country, amazing people, amazing nature, amazing culture :)

Sampai Jumpa Nanti :)

Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur

the biggest indoor climbing wall in Asia :)

Liveaboards, Manta Rays and Chilling Out

A brief passage at Khao Lak (2 months) ... again diving the Similans, Surin, Koh Tachai, Koh Bon, Richeliou Rock, etc

Thailand again - Lao Liang

After a deserved retreat around India and Nepal with a lot of personal “enlightenments” while visiting isolated mountain communities in the Nepalese Himalaya, spiritual or religious places such as Varanasi and Lumbini, or the agitated streets of Kolkata, it was time to head back to work in Thailand. It is a country that I am familiar with, but this time I had a new totally challenge… work in a remote island away from the tourist crowds, living in a tent and managing a small dive operation.

The island is called Lao Liang and it’s a very small island with no cars, no roads, no resorts, no anything, just a 250 m beach surrounded by huge limestone cliffs and sea. There are nylon tents with a high level of comfort, a restaurant area, a toilet area, a small bar, a small “dive centre”, a rock climbing “centre” and that’s pretty much it.

It was 3 months of new experiences, trying to rise and develop a non-existent dive operation from a falling bamboo hut, while guiding some climbing customers and helping in the general operations of the island. At the same time

There was time to rock climb a bit (in some of the best rock ever seen), deep water soloing, kayaking, yoga, diving and meet some very interesting people.

It was definitely a new, interesting and challenging experience which unfortunately didn’t finish the best way, since I had to evacuate the island with a huge infection on my left knee, due to a recurrent staph infection from Nepal. Also, my pro-active, rebellious and environmentalist attitude wasn’t giving the best results with the established, conventional, unorganized and cultural attitudes on the island.

Good experience, but I was glad to leave … when things are not willing to improve, sometimes the only resort possible is to let them go.