Phuket

I spent last weekend in Phuket with my dear friend/brother Alberto. I had already heard the beaches were not that nice there, but well it is true they are not like in Krabi or around Phi Phi (where I had found the beaches just amazing), but they are not bad either. Besides the island (Phuket) is much more fun than I thought, there are many bars and clubs, it is a little like Bali. We also rented a scooter for the days we were there and it was an adventure, I must say. Alberto had forgotten his license, so I had to ride all the time and he thought we were going to die going around those curves of the island and having trucks overpassing in those narrow lanes. I decided to put some videos on YouTube. Take a look at this one I made of a TV show with videos at the hotel, we laughed like crazy.


You can also take a look at all pictures of Phuket, besides I added pictures of other trips I made recently: Malacca in Malaysia, Bintan in Indonesia and the Sultanate of Brunei:

www.flickr.com/photos/gibin/sets

Sydney

After so long, I'm back. But I haven't had time to update the blog very frequently, so I'll only post in a summarized Spanish after the English post.

I spent 10 amazing days in Sydney with my friend Steven, who was a wonderful host. I also met Joao, the Portuguese from Macau, who was there by coincidence and it was great to go out with him. I also met finally Emerson in person, another Brazilian living in Sydney, who is friend of Daniel. And also Ralph, the Filipino whom I met in HK through Michael was there. And yet by coincidence I met Vinicius and Juliano, that I knew from Sao Paulo! Funny, just realized I was soooo far and yet meeting so many people, hehehe, the world became too small for me. I love Sydney! It was my second time there but this time, I fell in love with the city and their lifestyle.

See the pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gibin/sets/72157604112955966/

Estuve en Sydney por 10 dias y estuvo increible. Estuve con mi amigo Steve que fue un anfitrion de los mejores, y tambien encontre a Joao, mi amigo portugues que vive en Macau (en la foto), y tambien encontre a varios otros amigos que estaban por alla por casualidad. De repente me doy cuenta de como el mundo se volvio pequeno para mi. Sydney esta tan lejos de mi pais, pero igual encontre a un monton de gente. Es la segunda vez que voy a Sydney, pero esta vez me gusto todavia mas, es una ciudad halucinante.

Miren las fotos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gibin/sets/72157604112955966/

The Flock of Sheep

2 Weeks in Hong Kong

A few weeks ago I went to Hong Hong. I had some friends coming from other places (US, Bangladesh) and then asked my company to work from the office there for 2 weeks. I had been to Hong Kong last January, when I first came to Asia on vacation, it was actually my first place I ever visited in true Asia (well, except Turkey and Middle East)! I had only stayed for a couple of days but the impression I had it was that of a vibrant and crazy city already, where all this modernity we do not even see in the States was astonishing, combined with some little streets with local traditional Chinese markets. But I did not know anybody the fist time. So this time I decided to ask a few friends for contacts before I went, and that’s a wise thing to do! I met so many nice people and had a wonderful time! I’ll post pics of some of these people later and will tell you how I met them. It was one of my trips ever, I definitely intend to go back to Hong Kong many times to see these guys.

Click here to see the pics of my trip to Hong Kong:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gibin/sets/72157603378794406/

Hace algunas semanas fui a Hong Kong. Algunos amigos venían de otras partes (EEUU, Bangladesh) y entonces pedí a mi jefe que pudiera trabajar desde Hong Kong por 2 semanas. Estuve en HK por primera vez en enero, cuando vine a Asia por primera vez, de hecho fue el primer lugar que pise en Asia de verdad (con excepción de Turquía y Medio Oriente). Me había quedado solamente 2 noches pero la impresión que ya había tenido era de una ciudad vibrante y loca, donde lo mas moderno posible (mas moderno que EEUU o cualquier otro lugar que yo había visto antes) se mezclaba con pequeños callejones de mercado tradicional chino. Pero la diferencia es que la primera vez yo no conocía a nadie, y esta vez antes de ir pedí contactos a amigos que viajan mucho y fue muy buena idea. En final conocí a mucha gente increíble allá y la pase de lo mejor. Voy a postar después fotos con estos amigos que hice allá y que hicieron que fuera una de mis mejores viajes.

Para ver las fotos, hagan click aquí:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gibin/sets/72157603378794406/

One of the most fascinating (and claustrophobic) experiences in life is walking/crossing some of the streets in Asia. This one in Hong Kong is an example of that, when you see so many people coming your way, you think you’ll be smashed. Somehow everyone finds a way to inter-cross among each other, just like ants.

Pics of my 2 weeks in Hong Kong + one day in Shenzhen (China):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gibin/sets/72157603378794406/

Una de las experiencias mas fascinantes (y claustrofobicas) en la vida es cruzar una calle en algunos lugares de Asia. Esta calle en Hong Kong es un ejemplo, ves tanta gente viniendo en tu dirección, pensaras que serás aplastado. De alguna manera todos encuentran su camino, como hormigas.

Fotos de mis 2 semanas en Hong Kong + un día en Shenzhen (China):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gibin/sets/72157603378794406/

When Smiths/Morrissey songs make sense again...

Funny I am having again the time of my life visiting all these places and getting to know so many different cultures, and meeting so many new people from all over the world. I am working now from Hong Kong for 2 weeks and I was coming to work in the morning and looking at these crazy city and I could not believe it I was here again, and also I met so many nice people these days from everywhere (Americans, Chileans, Puerto Ricans, Japanese, Taiwanese, Colombian, Australian, French, Brazilians, Portuguese etc), some of them I think I’ll keep friends for a long time, I have the impression. But still being so far away from my country and my world, and being single again…sometimes I cannot help feeling sad and alone. And that’s when all Smiths/Morrissey songs make sense again. I was listening to this one this morning and it made just so much sense:

"Wide to Receive

Download something Useful, or useless Because I'm lying here Wide to receive Almost anything You'd care to give And I don't Get along with myself And I'm not too keen On anyone else Turn on, plug in Then just walk away Unlock, process And then just go And I've never felt quite so alone As I do right now"

Gracioso que estoy realizando nuevamente mis suenos, conociendo el mundo y conociendo tantas culturas diferentes y encontrando gente de todo el mundo. Estoy trabajando ahora desde Hong Kong por 2 semanas y esta manana venia al trabajo y no podia creer que estaba aquí en esta ciudad loca. También conoci a tanta gente buena estos ultimos diez dias, gente de toda parte (latinos, americanos, orientales, europeos etc) y que algunos tengo la impresión que seran mis amigos por mucho tiempo. Pero aun asi, estando tan lejos de mi familia, amigos y de mi mundo, ademas estando soltero después de tanto tiempo, no puedo evitar de sentirme a veces muy solo y triste. Y entonces muchas de las canciones de Smiths/Morrissey tienen sentido nuevamente. Esta manana escuche esta que me identifique totalmente con el periodo que estoy viviendo.

Penang, the East India Company base

In the beginning of this month, I visited Penang in Malaysia. Penang, originally part of the Malay Sultanate of Kedah, was given to the British East India Company in 1786 by the Sultan of Kedah, in exchange for military protection from Siamese and Burmese armies who were threatening Kedah. Penang was the base for the famous East India Company and was a very prosperous city, it was like Singapore 30 years ago! You can still see a lot of interesting buildings, but they are mostly run down.

Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gibin/sets/72157603245201340/

Al comienzo del mes, fui a Penang en Malasia. Penang originalmente parte del sultanado malayo de Kedah, fue concedida a la Compañía de las Indias Orientales en 1786 por el sultán Kedah, por intercambio a protección contra los siameses (tailandeses) y los burmeses. Penang fue la base de la famosa Compañía de las Indias Orientales y fue una ciudad muy prospera durante mucho tiempo, era lo que es Singapur hace 30 anos. Todavía se ve edificios imponentes, pero están un poco descuidados.
Fotos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gibin/sets/72157603245201340/

Deepavali, Festival of Lights

After the Malay New Year we celebrated in Singapore the Indian biggest celebration: Deepavali (it is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across the globe as the "Festival of Light," where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being).

Después del ano nuevo malayo, fue la vez de celebrar en Singapur el Deepavali, la época del ano mas importante para los hindúes (es celebrado por los hindúes, jains y sikhs como el “festival de las luces”, donde estas representan la victoria del bien sobre el mal, dentro de cada ser humano).

For a great selection of places to stay with discount prices visit Singapore Hotels for more information

Booming Singapore

Singapore is booming for decades, growing at impressive rates. Now there is a new phase of growth, pushed by services and construction. Real state prices are going up to the sky. This is a construction site not far from where I live, where they are building an enormous casino at Sentosa island. Everywhere in Asia you see things growing, gigantic buildings being constructed.

Singapur esta creciendo a ritmos altísimos hace décadas, y ahora vive una nueva fase de crecimiento, principalmente debido al aumento de exportación de servicios y de construcción. Los precios de los inmuebles están yendo al cielo. Esta construcción que se ve en la foto no esta lejos de donde vivo, es donde van a poner un enorme casino en la isla de Sentosa. Por toda Asia se ve todo creciendo, por todas partes se construyen edificios enormes.

Female Boat Riders in Vietnam

This is one of pictures I took in Vietnam that I liked the most. They are female boat riders at the Mekong River Delta.

Esta es una de las fotos que tome en Vietnam que mas me gustaron. Estas son mujeres que manejan los botes en el delta del Rio Mekong.

Islamic Art Museum in Kuala Lumpur

One of the best spots visited in Malaysia was the Islamic Art Museum in Kuala Lumpur. It had some very beautiful objects and it also displayed architecture of mosques in different Muslim countries, it was very interesting. This pic was taken in front of the museum.

Uno de los mejores puntos de visita en Kuala Lumpur fue el Museo de Arte Islámica. Además de tener objetos muy bonitos, también mostraba la diferencia de arquitectura entre las mezquitas construidas en diferentes países islámicos. Esta foto me tome frente al museo.

Malay New Year in Kuala Lumpur

In celebration of the new Malay Year, there were many stages all over the city (Kuala Lumpur) with performances and dance.

Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gibin/sets/72157602812073056/

Para celebrar el ano nuevo malayo, habian muchos palcos por toda la ciudad (Kuala Lumpur) con performances y danza.
Fotos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gibin/sets/72157602812073056/

Kuala Lumpur

Ten days ago I went to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) with Jose and his friend Hector (another Mexican-American), who was working in China for a few months and came to join us in KL. I was impressed on how the city is developed and rich, I must confess I was expecting something poorer and less developed. Funny also that it is very Muslim, but modern, so I had been to Middle East countries before but it is the first one I see that is modern (I guess Dubai could be modern also). Anyway, I always feel very comfortable in Muslim countries, I don’t know why, people are always very friendly. Here is a pic of me in front of the Petronas Twin Towers, which is still the tallest twin towers in the world (now another building is taller in Taipei, but it is not a twin tower).

Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gibin/sets/72157602812073056/

Hace diez dias me fui a Kuala Lumpur (Malasia) con Jose y su amigo Hector (que también es mexicano-americano y estaba viviendo por unos meses en China y vino juntarse a nosotros en KL). Lo que me impresiono es que KL es bastante moderna y rica, debo de confesar que yo esperaba algo mas pobre y menos desarrollado. También es curioso que sea un pais bastante musulmán y al mismo tiempo moderno. Yo habia estado en el Medio Oriente el ano pasado, pero allá todo es mas viejo y menos moderno (tal vez Dubai sea diferente, pero no he estado). De todos modos, siempre me siento súper comodo en los paises musulmanes, no se por que, la gente es muy amable. Aquí va una foto de mi frente a las torres Petronas, que todavía son las torres gemelas mas altas del mundo (ahora hay otro edificio mas alto, en Taipei, pero no es torres gemelas como Petronas).

Fotos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gibin/sets/72157602812073056/

Crazy Traffic in Saigon (Vietnam)

If I had thought the traffic in Bali was chaotic with the motorbikes, I had no idea until I saw the traffic in Saigon (Vietnam)!!

Si pense que el transito era caotico en Bali con las motocicletas, no tenia idea de lo que era Saigon (Vietnam)!!

Vietnam

Well, if I thought Bali was chaotic with their motorbikes, I had no clue until I came to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam). There are 4 million motorbikes in the city, the traffic is totally crazy! I went there to attend an event and Jose came from NYC to join me on Friday, so we spent the weekend there and left on Monday. Besides buying Diesel jeans at $12, we also visited a little of city, got massaged by girls who wanted to sell more than massage, had nice food, and took a tour of the Mekong Delta, which was pretty interesting to see how they live there. People are very nice and smiley, always waving “hello” (in English) when they see a foreigner. Also there was this old lady who came to talk to me in almost perfect French, I was impressed. There you could see the old influence of the French in the region.

Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gibin/sets/72157602660673178/

Bueno si yo había pensado Bali era caótica con sus motos, es porque no había visto Saigon todavía! Hay 4 millones de motocicletas en la ciudad, el transito es una locura! Fui allá para un evento y José de NYC vino a encontrarme el viernes, pasamos el fin de semana allá hasta el lunes. Además de comprar jeans de Diesel por $12, también visitamos un poco de la ciudad, comimos bien, fuimos masajeados por chicas que querían vender mas que masajes, y también tomamos un tour del delta del Río Mekong, que estuvo súper interesante para ver como la gente de ahí vive. Son muy simpáticos, siempre sonriendo y diciendo “hello” cuando ven extranjeros. También una vieja me vino a hablar en perfecto francés, me impresiono, ahí se ve la influencia que los franceses ya tuvieron en esta región.

Fotos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gibin/sets/72157602660673178/