Ilha Grande, Days 5 - 7

If Rio is a beach lover's paradise, then Ilha Grande is a paradise lover's paradise.  With beaches.  Ilha Grande (Big Island) is about two hours south of Rio down the Atlantic coast, and is reachable via a 40 minute ferry or boat ride from either Mangaratiba or Angra dos Reis.  We left from Angra.  The journey down from Rio along the coast was stunning.  Cerulean waters meet golden beaches on one side, whilst the verdent jade of the Atlantic forest cover the rolling foothills to the north.  I could have stayed on our bus all day, but of course the purpose of the journey was to find Ilha Grande!

There are no vehicles or banks on the island, and even electricity is sporadic heightening the welcome sense of separation from modernity.  Ilha Grande has an interesting history, hosting a prison as recently as the early 1990's before being closed down and the island turning to eco-tourism.  During the age of discovery and colonisation, immigrants from the old world to Brazil were quarantined on the island to protect against the raging cholera endemic at the time.

We stayed at the Green Studio Beach Hostel, just off the main beach and full of interesting characters - both tourists and locals.  One chap that  would pop in from time to time was probably about 70 years old, looked the height of health, spoke no English but constantly urged us to drink caipirhinas.  That's what I understood from his gap-toothed mutterings anyway.  Breakfast consisted of what I now consider the typical Brasilien morning fare of cake, super-strength coffee and fruit.

We managed to trek up into the jungle on our penultimate day to discover the fabled Cachoceira da Feiticeira waterfall and ruined aquaduct.  The intense humidity whilst under the trees is exactly how I imagine the Amazon.

Here is a shot of my attempts to refresh myself under the waterfall:

Estoy Hecha Mierda
A couple of days after 'catching a few too many rays', my shoulders were toast.  It was at this nadir of my physical condition that we ambled past a room of Chileans.  I am not sure of the Collective Noun for a group of Chileans, so I shall use poetic license and call them a 'mine'.  We ambled past a mine of Chileans in the midst of energetic partying.  A friendlier bunch I have rarely met.  Of course they called us in and dosed us up with Caipirinha and Pisco, whilst making music with no more than a saucepan and table (there was aso a guitar).  Although they could speak perfect English, they were too drunk to recall my pained protestations each time they slapped me on the shoulders and back.  Hilarious at the time but agony for the next few days...

Rio de Janeiro, Days 1 - 4

At the Copa, Copacabana

They really do know how to live down in Rio.  A quick stroll to the beach (of which they have ten stunners to choose from) followed by a day of frollicking and lounging in the sun.  Combined with a choice of coco, caiparinha or beer and watching the sunset over the ocean, it is a good life.

Of course, we Brits also know how to live life.  I spent my days at the beach covering myself with factor 50, griping about the blisters my flip-flops were giving me and stopping my hat from blowing away!

Rio is nown as the `Cidade Marvellhosa`, a title it certainly deserves.  I have mentioned the beaches, but there is so much more.  Pau do AcucarSugarloaf mountain is a main tourist draw but is impressive.  Almost Alpine style cable car ascent sent my mind back to various snow-capped mountains and valleys.  Santa Teresa gives the  town a quaint colonial feel with French influences, now inhabited by the local artistic community.  Lapa is the party quarter - a Friday night here entails sipping caiparinhas and dancing samba on the streets.  Then there is Ipanema, the bohemian area.  Requires more than a bohemian budget.

Pictures shall follow if I ever get time!

Ash.

So it comes to this - an actual blog post

Well, after spending the last half an hour attempting to resurrect my old travel blog, it has become apparent that I have only managed to change the template (about five times) with the result being that it looks even worse than before!  Hmmm...I'll get back to sorting out the formatting I am sure.

For the time being, all that needs to be said is that me and Jenny are flying out from Heathrow on Tuesday heading for Rio.  I say flying out, we may be lucky to even get to Heathrow with the current Arctic weather conditions.  This isn't a Snowboarding blog any more thank you very much Mr. Weather!

Let's see what the weather is like at the moment:

Nice and chilly!  At least we have been practising our Patagonia-wear...

Rio is looking like a touch more tropical.  I wonder how ever will we cope :)

So for now please accept my apologies on the poor state of my blog, but be reassured I have six months to nurse it back to health.

Ash.

Powder Monkeys on Tour 2008

Its that time of year again - time for another blog post and of course two weeks of delirious board on snow action in the wintery climbs of North America's finest slopes!

The official blog can be found at:

http://utahpowdermonkeys.blogspot.com/

so make sure you checks it out...

First Post Facebook Post

ahem

Unfortuntely, due to the recent increase in popularity of that which we in the know refer to as 'the 'book', or even simply as 'fb', there has been less occasion to keep up with excess bloggage. I am taking a firm stance, however, and attempting to restore this dieing art form. On that note I proceed.

So, I last wrote after the U.S.; excuse the cliche, but so much has happened since then. I have been strumming away to my little heart's content, perfecting my guitar concentration face and finally got 'da boyz' together for a bit a bread and jam - with endorsement from a certain Miss Zoe Ball at this year's Glastonbury where can we go wrong? Don't believe the rumours - I have been reliably informed that said Miss Ball gave up both sarcasm and alcohol for lent (are we past easter yet?? mmmmm.....).

So, Glasto was a ball (excuse the pun)and predicatably so rather muddy (zzzzz... I know). Pear Cider (sorry perry) featured heavily and I got drunk, and stoned....

Holidays planned for the Summer?? Well, I am hopefully going to whisk away my gorgeous, kind, funny, intelligent girlfriend to some place exotic - fancy getting involved in abit of naturism.

---------------------------

Clearly I have neither the literary nor mental capacity to write even a sentence of the above - but it is a close representation of recent events.

I sign off, Peace Ash.

This is my united states of whatever

Well I guess its time for another post, seeing as its been more than four months since my last one...lazy bugger. I can only remember stuff that happened over the last few weeks so anything important that happened before them I apologise to - I may remember you some day.

So the major thing that happened recently was my first trip to America - the land of plenty. I went there with not a few pre-conceptions and left quite dissapointed that they were mostly wrong. I really did enjoy myself over there, and could see myself emmigrating one day. So, obligatory list time:

Stuff that ruled:

Huge meals at restuarants
Everything is sooo cheap
Women love the English accent
Snow
You can buy anything you want - the choice is ridiculous
Everything is bigger over there. Example: Burger King here - Double Whopper with cheese. Burger King there - Triple Whopper with cheese.
Wendy Burger's square burgers


Stuff that sucked:

Very poor quality of 'micro-brewery' ales
Tipping everybody for everything
Claim culture - everything has a warning label like "This chocolate bar is only intended for oral consumption"
People are a bit too happy - maybe I'm too used to good old British cynicism and happiness is actually a good thing


OK thats it for now, pictures to follow...

Peace

Haloween

Damn, already three weeks - I've been working too hard lately and deserve a break.

Anyway, my History Matters contribution:


Okay, so attempt number two at writing my diary on:

Tuesday the 31st of October, the year of Our Lord 2006, ten past ten o'clock. ish.

My first attempt, it must be said, was so nearly complete. All that was required was for myself to sign off and there it was, the masterpiece that everyperson is capable of writing. Alas, IE just dissapeared after an inexplicable key press - denied!

So I shall attempt to recreate my thoughts of but ten minutes ago, in an effort that surely drove Gogol to the edge.

I started off with the vacuous statement that I shall write about my day from the current moment back to emerging from the pea-souper that was my shower this morning - in reverse. So here goes:


As I sit on my comfortable Ikea sofa dressed in shorts and an old ripped but resown t-shirt halfway through a bottle of French red. I've glanced at the half-phase moon from the corner of my eye. It illuminates the surrounding cloud cover in a brilliant cerulean/silver most enigmatic. It causes me to reflect on life - I struggle and limit it to merely the day, as is surely the healthy option.
Specifically my recent attempts at recycling - I like to think I'm getting pretty good, paper in that one, green glass there, plastics in the frying pan. All that stuff. I've even got a Recycling Wheel that tells me where to put everything. We should really take a look at our habits in this respect, there is so much we can do and theres no better place to start than with yourself! There's absolutely no reason to use the 'But the Yanks and Chinese aren't so why should I?' excuse, in fact its a disgrace. It may be true though, but as I always learnt as a child 'actions speak louder than words'.

For real.

So, I spent the working hours at Leicester Mercury office clearing up post WAN Audit loose ends. Our WAN Review Executive Summary received a good response from the I.T. Director, so it's looking good for a fat contract!

I missed my train this morning and was obliged to wait an hour until the next trundled in; for once it was no fault of my own! I left my flat bang on schedule to saunter down to the station this morning, but stopped in my tracks when I heard 'Oi! What time do you call this Georgeson!' (It was 9am) I turned to see my boss (and landlord) Steve, come to pick up his car from the flat. Parking lot. A lift was offered, duly accepted and we were sat in said warm Audi, engine running pulled upto the gates when it dawned on my boss that he had neglected to bring the gate keys with him! A short jog to the site office for assistance proved fruitful (due to it being closed on Tuesdays) so I opted to walk as originally planned, fatally 5 minutes behind schedule. (I always time my movements to maximise lazing around at home)

The early rise from slumber has been hindered of late by the onset of winter conditions. I shouldn't complain; I'm a healthy lad with some wit to my name and all that, but its so damn cold of a morning nowadays!



Right, that covered about most of my original epic; I'm now off to drain the last of the red and play guitar.


Good wishes to anybody who read this -


Peace

Ashley Georgeson

Age 24

Nottingham, UK.

Snip Snip

RE: PREVIOUS POST!!!

To be fair and honest, the tests below are NOT dumb and stupid; they may be a touch childish and reflect my penchant for procrastination but I had fun answering them!

The Business At Hand

Long awaited by thousands, and in a vain effort to further my career and present myself as more professional and hardworking (read as less hippy) I have decided to take the chop.

A suitable charity will be selected for the magnanimous donation of three and a half years of toil, the most productive period of my life.

For a more visual expression of my loss, admire the gratuitous before and after shots:

Before



After




Please forward any quips or jests to:


www.stophairlossnow.co.uk

or

www.nomoregray.com

Stupid Tests Wing Yee Made Me Do

Sorry Ash, its been a busy few months grinding out money for the surrogate parents.

Anyways, here is a brief overview of my religious beleifs depicted in basic test form:

You scored as Satanism. Your beliefs most closely resemble those of Satanism! Before you scream, do a bit of research on it. To be a Satanist, you don't actually have to believe in Satan. Satanism generally focuses upon the spiritual advancement of the self, rather than upon submission to a deity or a set of moral codes. Do some research if you immediately think of the satanic cult stereotype. Your beliefs may also resemble those of earth-based religions such as paganism. Satanism 67% agnosticism 67% Buddhism 67% Hinduism 58% Paganism 58% atheism 54% Islam 50% Christianity 42% Judaism 25% Which religion is the right one for you? (new version) created with QuizFarm.com

Which Batman Villain?

You scored as The Riddler. You're THE RIDDLER! Diabolical, witty, creative, and intelligent, you plan things out very well. You obsess over riddles and puzzles. Green and black are your colors...you have a very maniacal brainmeat pulsing in your head! The Riddler 80% Two Face 65% Catwoman 65% The Joker 65% Mr. Freeze 50% Scarecrow 50% Penguin 40% Poison Ivy 25% Which Batman Villain Are You Most Like? created with QuizFarm.com

Which Nintendo Character?

You scored as Link. You're pretty much the biggest badass to ever grace a Nintendo console. Always ready for adventure when the call from the goddesses comes and always ready to ride your horse through the countryside and fling arrows at some bitches. Link 80% Samus 73% Fox McCloud 60% Donkey Kong 47% Mario 40% Pokemon Trainer 33% Kirby 33% Which Nintendo Character Are You? created with QuizFarm.com

Streetfighter Character

You scored as Akuma. You are seen as a badguy but you are known to help people in need sometimes but you are consumed by power and fighting and you only fight people who are worth your time you may kill them but you see dying by a worthy opponent an honor. Akuma 75% Ken 63% Fei Long 56% Vega 38% Cammy 25% Ryu 19% Chun-li 19% Dhalsim 13% Honda 6% M Bison 6% Who Would you be if you were in Streetfighter created with QuizFarm.com

One way, or another

Syd Barrett has passed away this week. Sad news but he'll be remembered for the things he did.

The Guverment' have decided that nuclear energy is cool again. I agree with the argument that renewables cannot support the countries energy needs single-handedly - that is blindingly obvious (even though Sweden manages around 80% dependence on renewables and has significantly less coast and is not sitting on the edge of an entire oceans worth of wind, but it is a moot point). And welcome the emphasis on increasing investment in the sector, but feel it is way too little too late. WTLTL.

Nuclear is expensive.
Nuclear is dirty.
Nuclear is dangerous.

Personally, I think mocro-generation is the way forward. Proven much cheaper with more capacity than Nuclear in many studies, and clearly demonstrates a step forward in social mechanics. Let us be both more energy efficient, and less dependent on Multi-National Corporations!

It was always gonna happen though...

WHITEWASH

Peace,

One way, or another

Syd Barrett has passed away this week. Sad news but he'll be remembered for the things he did.

The Guverment' have decided that nuclear energy is cool again. I agree with the argument that renewables cannot support the countries energy needs single-handedly - that is blindingly obvious (even though Sweden manages around 80% dependence on renewables and has significantly less coast and is not sitting on the edge of an entire oceans worth of wind, but it is a moot point). And welcome the emphasis on increasing investment in the sector, but feel it is way too little too late. WTLTL.

Nuclear is expensive.
Nuclear is dirty.
Nuclear is dangerous.

Personally, I think mocro-generation is the way forward. Proven much cheaper with more capacity than Nuclear in many studies, and clearly demonstrates a step forward in social mechanics. Let us be both more energy efficient, and less dependent on Multi-National Corporations!

It was always gonna happen though...

WHITEWASH

Peace,

I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello

You say goodbye and I say hello
hello hello
oh!

Just cant get those lyrics outta my head...so simple yet so powerful.

I shall dedicate the remainder of this year to learning a Beatles song. (I'll have to find an easy one!)

So today is Monday the 10th of July in this year of two thousand and six, and my mood is settled, calm. I have avoided stress all day - well since the morning when I neglected to pre-prepare my bus-fare - exact change requirements i find a little fascist. Then the bus driver decided to read his paper instead of leaving on time (why couldnt the bus I missed have done that).

Clearly the above frustration is rooted in my own anger at myself for being lazy hence late. Projected feelings are uncannily related to those on yourself I find...

Anyway, without waznting to start an unenviable debate on existence and the metaphysical properties of self I shall get to the nub of this post: the footer.

ZiZou

What a legend! Sure he 'disgraced' himself in front of the worlds media (big taboo, dont we just know) but I feel far more sympathy for him than all of the England blubbers put together.

Good work Z. You will be missed.

And a quick well done to the Italians. They dug in when all around were shelling them.



Peace!

Unlyrical Wax

Bugger.

Well, ultimately the World Cup (sorry FIFA World Cup) has ended for the frustrated English pretty much at our deserved level. I could have managed them to the Quarters, and I'm just waiting for the hugely amusing fallout in the press tomorrow (or Sven bashing as it should be known) but clearly I agree. He never really had a clue.

And to make it even worse, the Germans are already through to the Semis! And Portugal cheated! Rooney was unfairly sent off for a silly push (not the blatant nut stamping)! And the roof was on making too hot for our boyos!

Nevermind though, we finally played with a bit of bottle. I just hope Christiano Ronaldo stays in England for another season. Hehe.

Anyway, I'm of for more beers, PEACE!

and so to beeston

Oh my days! Has it truly been SIX MONTHS since my last post!!!

Ooops, and I've been getting my arse kicked about it too - sorry Wing Yee, I promise to read ur blog after this!

So, what am I up to at the moment? Watching the Germans play the Poles (djen dobry!) as it is the World Cup!

World Cup Baby! Watch in awe as our heroes in red and white tire after 45 minutes (it is summer after all), get some really dodgy refereeing decisions and suffer harsh injuries to our star gorilla.

I'm quietly confident of a top 16 finish.

Home movie blues

I have been evicted from the Frog House of Clifton.
That means I no longer have a mouthful of tiny flies to wake me up in the morning. I'll have to invest in an alarm clock...

So I have moved into a new place in Beeston, a mile or so east of Nottingham city center. I have a sainsburys almost next door and too many takeaways to shake a curry stick at.

Awesome.

Some interesting new neighbours aswell - so far I've seen an insanely thin blonde girl from flat 2 and a ginger haired aussie-lookalike from the other side of the building. My landlord (read boss) also reckons theres a freindly rotund lass on my floor aswell...

Just wait until I crank up my amp and do some riffage.

Which brings me nicely onto:

METALLI FUCKIN CA

Wow. A mere four nights ago I witnessed the greatest set of my life.

It topped Machine Head three years ago.

It even pipped Rage Against the Machine six years past. Just.

Metallica at Donnington last Saturday were truly something to behold.

A inspired two and a half hour set that included a full rendition of Master Of Puppets to celebrate its anniversary.

It's something I'll never forget, watching the God of widdly-ness that is Kirk Hammett.

It was my first Download festival, and I have to say I was impressed; by the lineup (some cracking bands I missed) and by the venues (the snickers bowl was cool, i think the second stage should be bigger, less a tent and more a stage).

Theres still a lot of sheepish genre labelling and bullying going on, but thats just part of the Human Affliction.

Anyway, my Micheal Ballack voodoo doll requires my attention...


PEACE!!!!

mmm... 2006

I'm feeling good all of a sudden!
Can it be that my Seasonal Antisocial Disorder is passing?
Or is it that bong calling my name?

Nope, all wrong - AR'VE GET ME FECKING AMP BACK YU NOSE IT!



Aaah, those crazy welsh guys. Who'd have thought of that ey?

Anyways, the electric hum of my Marshall is quite reassurring, even though I know it should not really be making that sound at all. GRRRR....I'm not buying a display model ever again!
But its still loud enough even on <1. In fact, 1 is too loud. Who needs 11 anyway? I need to get my own place, noise restrictions stress me out :)

So , last weekend (over xmas 'twere) was spent in the homelands of shingle and slurry pits. I still cant handle my sister, but now she's just getting even bigger and stronger. And louder. Am beggining to remember why I wanted to leave home so badly now, all those years ago... The brother is still hanging in there, it looks like quite a comfortable existance, most of the time. And then the matriarch, more madcap schemes than you can shake Baldrick's muddy stick-for-a-leg at. But at least shes found some peace.

So back to this weekend. Up to shef i reckons. Party hearty most daftly. Bam.

In a bit.

One Lazy Dude

Well hey there!

How can I describe the last few months?

Obviously I've totally ignored some aspects of my previous year's existence. That happens when I'm thrown into a new scene.

The 'new scene' is the world of shirts. But nobody is wearing a tie now, much to my chagrin. What's it all coming to!?

I've been pretty much working solidly since October in the 9-5 corporate ziggurat, quite different to my September of stoner field engineer work. Now that was stimulating.

What I've accomplished:

1. Increased debt
2. Graduated from uni
3. Stopped smoking the sweet herb
4. Gained weight
5. Acquired replacement specs
6. Require replacement chronometer

That last one is still hurting, but as I've told myself many many times before:

"It's the only way you'll learn, dude"

Here's hoping...


Peace.

The good life

Hello to myself.

Its sunday night, and I've been in the south of France for a week now.
The good life indeed!
This place is stunning. I wish I listened in French class at school now, stupid Mrs Thompson always picking on me.

Dont really fewl like writing anything now, so I may update in the future.

Bye bye!

Welcome to Sarajevo

OK blog-afficianados, it is the first of August, I'm in Sarajevo, and so much has happened that I can barely remember...

I think my last post was from Budapest, a nice enough town, maybe a few too many wronguns for my linking, but that cant be helped.

From there me and the boy Luke trained down to Split, Croatia with a couple of Scottish girls and an Australian guy, friendly enough. A mission of 16 hours though as i recall, not too comfortable in our compartment, but at least we weren't gassed and robbed like so many others I've spoken to...

Croatia mainly entailed lazing on the coast and exploring the islands - so relaxing. On the second day on Hrav island, I dropped my glasses (barely six months old) in the sea, never to be recovered. Arse. I now resemble a pretentious cockend wearing my sunglasses with a five your old prescription, but at least I can see, kinda...

Well, we arrived in Sarajevo on Sunday 31st? after a farcical bus journey, the less said the better. We will be leaving for Dubrovnik on Wednesday before sailing to Bari and south through Italy.

Briefly we discussed Tunis, but thought better of it this time round. Maybe next year we will see North Africa, East to West...

Sarajevo is a beautiful town, I cant beleive the stuff that happened here4, its such a shame we like to hurt eachother.

Well, timeis up, Ash out.

Peace to one and all!

Where am I now?

OK, from Krakow we headed to Zakopane to check out the Tatras,
thi keboard sucks, insomme random hostel in budapet,

stopped over one ngh n the ukraine, a srious culture shock,

then was debrecen in hngary, the best three nighter party of all time. full details to follow forthose whoo care.

well im out Peace!

Good times in Krakow

Hello me myself and I.

Its Thursday right now, and I'm sitting in an Internet cafe just down from our hostel. This place we're staying in now (after slumming it in a hotel last night after nightmares across town) is perfect, way too good for the likes of us! I think its called the Garden hostel or sth, and it doesn't officially open til monday - so we are the first and worst!

It actually started to rain for the first time on our trip as we were heading south on the train, and by the time we had been turned away from several places it was throwing down buckets - but it was still humid and refreshing. I swear its been at least 27 degrees everyday.

We went to some bar/club called Prozac last night, and took over this pub-crawl organisers night something rotten. We did a similar thing to the other yank in Warsaw from Nathan's Hostel, who he was totally slagging off.

They both deserved it, the pretentious slimeballs.

Basically, he was pissed off the girls were chatting with us and we kept getting beers when he wanted to force his will on the group. And he insulted British humour - big mistake. That coming from a guy he told the three girls at a bar joke. Oh dear.

Seriously though, we've been having loads of fun doing pretty much the same thing as in England, but with much cheaper prices, far prettier and to some extent friendlier people; and of course amazing weather. But its summer, right?

This is how Team Fresh does it!

Peace.