Archive for June, 2009
Cinque Terre
One of the best things about busabout is the freedom it provides in finding neat little places for yourself. Each major day of travelling has an optional halfway stop. At first I was a bit reluctant to try these stops, but with every pickup along the route of people who took time out of their trip to try one all I heard was glowing praises for the small towns and tales of adventure.
So, as I was heading up to Nice, I decided to take a few days out of my travels to see Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre, Italian for “Five Lands” is on the Italian Riviera. It is a group of five small towns cut into some pretty rough coastline. Originally home to a heap of fisherman the towns now thrive on a rich tourism driven economy.
Cinque Terre single handedly changed my opinion of Italy. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my life, and its people are friendly, helpful and interesting. As I decided on Cinque Terre at the last moment I had no accomodation booked, and spent much of the first day catching the train between the towns, walking with my backpack guitar and gear up and down millions of stairs looking for somewhere to stay. When I eventually did find somewhere it was in the southern most town of Riomaggiore, sharing a double bed in an apartment with one of the Busabouters I met: Chris which was a little awkward as Chris was a dude, but a little just friends spooning never hurt anyone.
My days were spent wandering the gorgeous towns, taking in the amazing architecture and walking the hike that winds along the coast between towns. When I wasn’t walking I was at the beach in Vernazza, which had crystal clear water and was great for swimming.
I can’t recommend enough a stop at Cinque Terre. I wish I could have stayed there forever.
For Kym
One thing I really enjoy when in another country is getting a taste for the local television. Some countries TV is fairly boring: I’m looking at you Germany, while others such as Japan have an awesome absolutely crazy television experience. I love Japanese TV.
Italy however provides probably the most enjoyable viewing. For the guys at least. Every TV show is filled with gorgeous girls. Announcers, stage props, question holders, football interviewers, they are everywhere. There is some form of genius at work in the studios of Television Italia. Whom ever came up with the concept of gorgeous blondes reading out a list of words on a game show is a champion among men.
Oh, and to my buddy Kym: Happy Birthday, and enjoy the photos.
Pisa
I hate to say it, but Pisa was the first time I felt a little disappointed on my trip. Hey, seeing the leaning tower was cool. One of those “I’m in Italy, I’ve gotta see it” sorta things, but over all a trip out to Pisa is pretty much a non-event. Pisa is a fairly small town, with not much going for it really apart from the tower, something I think it leans on so heavily that the burden it carries of keeping the town alive may be the cause of its imbalance in the first place. Probably the most exciting thing I spotted in Pisa are the Italian answer to Twisties: Fonzies! I tried hitting a packet against a nearby jukebox, but it didn’t seem to fix it.
I ended up seeing the tower twice actually; once on a day trip with Allen and Jen, just before they left, and again as a sight seeing stop as part of our busabout leg from Florence to Cinque Terre. If you’re wandering where my “Holding Up The Tower” shot is well sorry to disappoint you: that’s not how the s-dawg rolls. It is jumping photos or nothing; and in this case you get nothing.
Get out ya seat and…
I have this developed this strange compulsion while on this trip to get jumping photos at major highlights of my adventure. I hate normal, posed, stare down the camera photos; mainly due to the fact I am pretty rough looking, and the less I appear in photos the better. Jumping photos however provide a great substitute. First of all they put me in the photo, something which helps to show “I was there” and second of all; they are relatively interesting. They also give bystanders something to laugh at, particularly when the photographer is no good at capturing the jump. A good jumping photo can take up to 5 shots to get, but you’ve got someone handy with a camera and it can be done in one. Most failed jump shots end up with the jumper just off the ground, stretched out like a board, toes pointed south and arms all akimbo. The requirement of having a decent photographer on your side is a bit of a restriction of the jump photo. It is almost impossible to get a jumping shot on your own.
For the busabouters, my jumping shots have provided a great amount of entertainment, and those skeptical at first of the brilliance of the jump shot are soon turned. Most of my mates on the bus have at least one jumping photo of their own in their collection.
Some tips for taking jumping photos:
- Fast Shutter Speed: Set your camera to a fast shutter speed, or if you have a “sports” mode set it to that.
- Bright Days: Jumping photos look best of bright days. A good shadow can make a jump look ten times higher than it actually is.
- Focus: Get your photographer to focus lock on you before the jump. Most cameras will take a photo almost instantly after focus is achieved. On most cameras this involves positioning the subject in the center of the frame, pressing the shutter down half way, listening for a beep and a visual indicator in the display and then, while holding the shutter button down half way, recomposing the shot.
- Countdowns: Confirm on a count down before starting. 3,2,1,JUMP or 1,2,JUMP etc. The is nothing worse than confirming a countdown from a few hundred meters away.
- Choose your backdrop: Sometimes you want people to see the background, rather than the jump. Most “sightseeing” stops are great jumping locales.
- Get Creative: Don’t just jump straight up and down, I’ve found my preferred jumping position to be arms out running man style and knees up. An overly dramatic contorsion will give the jump energy and usually looks pretty rocking.
- The More People The Better: Get a group involved. Jumping photos are about sharing the fun.
I’ve had a few people say they enjoy the jumping photos that are appearing on the site, so I have created a gallery which I will keep updated with the latest jumping shots. Keep checking back on it, I’ll have it linked in the footer, to see the latest jump shots. Enjoy!
Florence
Florence is very cool. A lot of cool kids study there. It seems to be the thing to do. Most of them are studying “Mass Communication” or “Fashion”. I don’t mean to offend anyone, but it seems that pretty much all the chicks in Florence are studying “Mass Communication” or “Fashion” but none of them really seem that good at “Mass Communication” or “Communication” in general and most dress exactly the same as everyone else, so I don’t know how well that “Fashion” university degree is working out for them. That being said though, they are pretty hot.
My first day in Florence was pretty good. We scored some awesome weather, went to dinner and drinks at the Red Garter where our tour guide hooked up and left Chris, Scott and myself to wander the streets pissed, looking for a club I forget the name of that was mentioned in passing by a bouncer. We got lost on the way home from this club and when we finally made it home we awoke to find the weather had turned nasty and the rest of our time in Florence was spent trudging through the rain and slipping down stairs.
A little sadly Florence was also my last time travelling with Allen and Jen: two very cool people who I made friends with on the bus. Party on my friends. May you find some boats to ride on over that big blue watery road. Oh and I drunk a bottle of vodka on my last night at the hostel. I haven’t done that since I was 18. Good times, good times.
Roma
According to legend Rome was founded by Romulus when a bunch of birds almost shat on him and decided he should be the king of the new city. He had a bit of a blue with his brother Remus and ended up killing him, which was unfortunate as they were apparently nursed by a wolf after being sent down a river Willow style. They were shunted down the river by their mum, Rhea Silvia who got slipped a Roofie Collada by Mars in a forrest. That’s right: Mars, the god of War. In fact there was quite a bit of hardcore partying going on around Ancient Rome times. After a massive do the romans even managed to acquire a bucket load of women from the Sabine in what is unfortunately called the “The Rape of the Sabine Women” which is strange as no surprise sex went on at all. That’s the thing about Roman history: you don’t know where the truth ends and the legends begin. I like that. A lot. Sometimes it’s nice to have a bit of romance surrounding your history.
After all the interesting “legend” stuff of Rome is over though you kinda just end up with a big old city with a whole lot of history and no ice. I mean seriously: this place has no ice. They don’t understand the concept at all. Frozen water. It’s not that difficult. They sell fucking ESKIES but no ICE. How do people keep their fucking drinks cold if they don’t have ice? Not even the fish monger would sell me a bucket of ice. He claimed that if he sold me ice he’d have to sell everyone ice. To me that sounds like good business. Garr.
An Interview
[Transcript of audio recorded on 25/06/2009 in St Peters Square]
A Gamer’s Odyssey: “With us today is Simon VanderHeyden. He’s been traveling the world for nigh on Six months and has been blogging about his experience. Thanks for chatting with us today Simon”
Simon VanderHeyden: “My Pleasure! Great to be here in the Vatican today”
AGO: “Yes it is a fantastic day for a little tour. First before I fire a few questions at you, how have you been enjoying your trip? Not too tired yet?”
SV: “Oh not at all. Don’t get me wrong, I have days where I wake up knackered but I power through. I mean how often do you get to be travelling the world you know?”
AGO: “Good to hear. So yeah, as you said before we’re standing here in St Peter’s Square at Vatican City, the worlds smallest country. How are you liking it?”.
SV: “To be honest mate, it’s pretty messed up…”
AGO: “Woah, not what I was expecting. What makes you say that?”
SV: “I mean look around us. No matter where you look you see MONEY. Silly money. Ten thousand dollar-an-hour hooker money. See these columns? Some big bloke in the sky didn’t just magically make them appear here for the benefit of a bunch dudes in robes did he? Someone had to pay for them. And these paintings, these statues.”
AGO: “I suppose so…”
SV: “No supposing about it. What you’re standing on, this ‘hollowed ground’ is at once an amazing piece of human artistic expression and imagination, and a symbol of how broken religion is.”
AGO: “But you’re talking about the Vatican. The home, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. The worlds largest Christian religion. You don’t get much more religious and holy than that do you?”
SV: “How can this place be at all holy? It flies in the face of what I believe to be the most important attributes those who follow the religion tries to teach in the bible. Humilty. Does this massive…” *at this point Simon waves his hand towards St Paul’s Cathedral* “and I mean massive basilica say humble to you?”
AGO: “I guess not…”
SV: “In fact the bible is pretty clear on how important Meekness and Humility is to the Christians. Matthew 5:5 has the quote I am sure even those who have not read the bible would know: ‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth’. I’m not a religious person, I’ve said this before but come on; This is just ridiculous.”
AGO: “If you’re not religious how can you pass such harsh judgement the Vatican?”
SV: “Who better to see the absurdity of what is going on in this small corner of the world than someone who’s eyes are not clouded by the blind love of an imaginary being. Or worse, blind devotion to A MAN who stands in a window proclaiming that he is our direct connection to this magical cloud person.”
AGO: “One could argue that someone who steps foot into the Vatican, and takes in these impressive structures would become humbled in the face of their magnificance. They represent the glory of God who, in some peoples eyes, we should bow to in humility as we are but humans. No human would have something so amazing, so detailed, so ornate built for them.”
SV: “Come with me…”
[Audio stopped. Recording resumes in the Sistine Chapel]
SV: “See all this before you.” *Simon waves hand towards the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel* “It was created by a man: Michelangelo. Someone of immense talent. Someone of immense insight and imagination. A man who possessed amazing skills and used them to create some of mankind’s greatest pieces of art. Do you agree?”
AGO: “Yes, but one might argue that ‘God’ gave him these skills to carry out this work for him on earth”
SV: “Why does something amazing need to be attributed to a higher power? Religious people talk to me about bull like an amazing sunrise being ‘a miracle’. No, this is nature in all it’s beautiful, explainable glory. Why can we not accept that humans are amazing in their own right, they create wonderful things, and yet we also are the cause of potentially our own end. We are destructive. Would an all knowing God have created such a flawed and terrible yet ingenious creature?”
AGO: “Some would argue that if there was a He, then He works in mysterious ways. Who are we to question his divine plan?”
SV: “You know someone else who worked ‘in mysterious ways’ and had a ‘divine plan’? Hitler. He did things without reason, giving few motives for actions. Hiding his reasoning from the people he was supposedly caring for.”
AGO: “You’re comparing the Christian god to Hitler?”
SV: “No, I am mearly highlighting just how ridiculous the old ‘mysterious ways’ argument is. The worst thing for a manager to do is take action with no reason or rhyme and expect his team to accept it. Back to my original point however…”
AGO: “Which was?”
SV: “All this was created by man, for man, not for God. Michelangelo was paid for his work on the Sistine Chapel. He didn’t do it out of the kindness of his heart. Oh, and a rumored homosexual heart at that I might add; something that would probably been frowned upon by the Church. He was commissioned by Pope Julius the Second. Pope Julius was named ‘The Terrible Pope’. Julius the Second would form “The League of Cambrai” and would fight the Venetians for control of Northern Italy and after taking it would go on to drive the French out of Italy.”
AGO: “So?”
SV: “Does that sound like something a god who supposedly sent his son to die for mankinds sins would want? Do they sound like something someone who wanted to promote humility and love and care for our fellow man would want?”
AGO: “Not really…”
SV: “No, not really at all. They sound like something a corrupt government may do, or a business. Which brings me to my point. The Church is a business. The Vatican is the board room of one of the most influential businesses of all time. It rakes in money by selling snake oil. It takes land, wages war, decides fates of entire races and nations. Why? Because ‘God’ says it’s ok. I would like to think that the God that many of my good friends believe in was a bit more tolerant, accepting and humble than that. He’s not out to make money. I would just imagine if there was a god, then it’s just some bored chick, playing the Sim’s and every now and then she gets the urge to lock people in a doorless room with an oven.”
AGO: “Alrighty then. Thanks for your time, Simon.”
SV: “No worries. Oh and by the way, what kinda fucked up religion has a statue of a guy holding up fruit with his erect penis in their chapel?”
Toga! Toga!
An evening at the Venice camping ground acts as the theatre to a battle between the shining light of busabout and the bitter, weeping dark of Topdeck. Bedsheets and ivy. Expensive beers and Poker Face on repeat. Toga was the call, and toga we resounded. TOGA! TOGA! TOGA!
I am still amazed that toga parties seem to have this magical quality to them where just wrapping a sheet around yourself seems to make even the most hardened teetotalers down shot after shot until all personal dignity and self control is lost. Maybe it has something to do with Animal House. I am starting to think that maybe the directors of the hit 1978 film embedded subliminal messaging into every 163rd frame of the film, driving those who watch it to throw all caution to the wind whenever the word “toga” is uttered by a drunk overweight dude with a beer in his hand. I am very intrigued by an idea put forward by a few canadians of a “Pants Off Party” though. After all from what I’ve been told everything is more fun with your pants off. I’ll see what I can organise when I get home.
Venice
There are times when I think “Damn, a girlfriend would be handy”. Not for the obvious benefits of getting her to check what that sound out the front was, or a someone to watch my beer while I go to the loo down the local pub but then duck out to check the score on the cricket. Those things go without saying. No this time it was someone to share a gondola ride with in Venice.
Gliding down the winding, beautiful canals of Venice with the wonderful yet completely plutonic friends I made on the bus lacked something. Romance I would say. Comments on the gondola included discussions on how much our very talented gondolier was going to try to rip us off, or what that strange smell was. I don’t recall a single nothing whispered in any ears, if nothings can be recalled in the first place. Maybe old mate Alan did whisper something, in which case I am not sure I really would want to recall the nothing that may or may not have been whispered. Oh: and they let my beer get drunk while I was checking the score on the cricket instead of going to the loo. Definitely NOT something a girlfriend would do, particularly during a gondola ride.
Dachau
It is difficult for me to write about Dachau Concentration Camp. Opened in 1933 it was the first of it’s kind, refined over the years to Theodor Eicke’s grand design and becoming a template the many camps that followed during the Third Reich’s rule.
While not a death camp as such, later during the war the camp did get a gas chamber and crematorium built in it. There are no confirmed numbers of how many people were killed in the chamber however due to the poor conditions of the camp around 30,000 people are thought to have died while incarcerated here. Most of the people placed in detention here were “political prisoners”.
I don’t really want to write about the things I learned that occurred here as I don’t feel they are appropriate for this blog, but I suggest you read on in wikipedia to understand more.