Dear Friends,
Last Wednesday was Saint George's day. He is the patron saint of Catalonia and his day is celebrated in a unique way: for Sant Jordi men give a rose to women and women give a book to men, meaning that they care for each other. Although it is not a bank holiday, thousands of people go out and crowd the streets of Catalonia's cities. It is a big popular event. Everywhere you find stands selling books or roses. Ten per cent of all books sales in Catalonia happen this day. Writers flock to places like Barcelona to promote and autograph their books. Friends get together, there is a party mood all around. That is probably the nicest day to be in Catalonia, although a Catalan may say any day is a nice day to be there and he wouldn't be completely wrong.
* * * * *
Being in Sant Jordi's mood, last week I finished to read two books that I bought during the trip to Oceania and Asia. The first one was Peter Carey's "30 Days in Sydney". It is a nostalgic account of the city's history and the way of life of the Sydneysiders. It is a good book to read both before going there for the first time or after being there. If you have never been to Sydney it will make you dream of it. If you have just been there, it is great to follow the author's descriptions of places and the explanations how things are and why they are that way. You finish the book with the taste that Sydney is a world class city and one of the most beautifully located metropolis of the planet. Definitely worth more than one visit, even though it is so far away from almost anyplace you can think of.
* * * * *
The second book I bought in Hong Kong: Michael Backman's "Asia Future Shock". The author is a very well known business writer with a long experience about business in Asia. He writes about the main changes that are under way in various Asian countries and the risks and opportunities that come along with these changes. Some of the figures and facts that he describes are amazing and give us a taste of the role the region is going to play during this century. Among the most important changes that we are witnessing in the different Asian countries, maybe the population development is the least known. One the one hand there are countries whose population is already shrinking, like Japan. Today it has 127 million inhabitants and in the next decades it may well go down to less than 110 million. South Korea also has a population that is getting old very fast and that may see a drop in a near future. On the other hand there are countries like India or Pakistan that have a young population and that continue to grow at a fast pace. By 2030 India may have 1,5 billion people and will probably be the biggest country on earth.
* * * * *
China is a special case. Although Backman writes it will also have 1,5 billion people, other authors quote different projections for the future. To a large extent, the development of the Chinese population will depend on the one child policy. During the past thirty years it has had a huge impact reducing the total fertility rate in China and the population growth rate. However, this kind of policy is unsustainable in the long run. In case it is kept for more than one generation, it results in dramatic reductions of population, due to the "four-two-one" effect: each new generation replaces only half the existing number of people in the previous generation. Right now the first children of the one child policy are adults, in the age of marrying and having a family. In case they only have one child, one day in fifty to eighty years the total Chinese population may drop by hundreds of millions.
* * * * *
Another amazing development in Asia is the imbalance between the number of males and females in China and India. In the year 2030 it is expected that the male population will exceed the female one in about 250 million. The social causes for this imbalance are in itself a reason for concern. On top of it, one can imagine the social impact it may have in these countries. As a secondary effect, it may result in a change in both the immigration rate (either young men leaving their countries to marry abroad or marrying abroad and bringing their wives to their home country) or the population growth itself Some men will remain single because they can't find a woman to marry.
* * * * *
Right now I am reading Jeffrey Sachs' "Common Wealth - Economics for a Crowded Planet". I started by the chapters about the world population. I am fascinated by this subject and in the past 25 years I read a lot about it. Jeffrey Sachs makes a very balanced account of the main trends. Many times people that write about the planet's population forecast that it will continue to grow at a fast pace for decades to come. Jeffrey Sachs describes the different possible scenarios and their implications. I also fully agree with his view that more incentives for family planning would be to the world's interest. One thing that I had not realized so far is that the key places for the future development of the world population are India (not a surprise) and sub-Saharan Africa. It is very difficult to forecast what may happen there, because the African countries suffer from all plagues that widely impact on the population growth: war, famine and diseases. But the recent interest of China and India for the African countries may help to change it in a near future.
* * * * *
By the mid of this century the world will be a completely different place compared to what it was when I was born. I realize that I know very little about the two continents where the most important changes will take place. I have never been to Africa and I was in just few Asian countries. There is a lot to be seen and experienced. Hope I can continue to travel around, meet people and report it. I can't think of a more fascinating thing to do!
Take care,
Maurício
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
TAWOMG - The party is (almost) over
Dear Friends,
Long time no news. I apologise! Some friends are writing and asking my whereabouts. Maybe they didn't pay attention when I wrote on the second last posting that I was at home in Barcelona. So, here I am, back to Spain, looking forward to celebrating Sant Jordi tomorrow - in my opinion the nicest day in Catalonia.
* * * * *
After Hong Kong I flew to London, where I spent two days. As I was coming back home and didn't have to care about the luggage weight anymore, I went to my favourite bookshop and bought more books than I can possibly read in the next few months. Never mind, it was a pleasure to go back to Dillon's, on Gower Street, Bloomsbury. They don't know it, and certainly haven't noticed, but I have been a good customer for the past twenty years. I was very sad when it was sold to a bookshop chain, but the truth is that in this case it didn't really make a difference. You still find almost everything that you are looking for (when it is available) and the staff is very knowledgeable. Hope they keep it just as it is for very long!
* * * * *
This time I could also go to "Les Misérables", a show that has been running for as long as I have been Dillon's customer. I was very curious how a 1.500 page book could be adapted into a two hour musical. Somehow it could. For those that have read the book it was very easy to follow Jean Valjean's misfortunes, Javert's obsession in sending him back to prison and the love of Marius and Cosette. The music is beautiful, the escenography is creative and it was good fun. Nevertheless, I still think that the book is a lot better.
* * * * *
When I read "Les Misérables" I was surprised how much one of the characters, Monseigneur Myriel, the Bishop of Digne, remembered Don Pere Casaldáliga, once the Bishop of São Félix do Araguaia in Brazil. I can't think of anybody else in the Catholic Church that I respect more and that I admire more than Pere Casaldáliga. It would be very easy to say that if all priests were like him, the Catholic Church would be a much better institution. As a matter of fact, I think that if more human beings shared his values and his approach to life, the world would be a much better place. Sometimes I ask myself whether Pere Casaldáliga read "Les Misérables" and what he thought of Monseigneur Myriel. Whatever his opinion may be, one thing is certain: in this case, art anticipated reality in almost one century.
* * * * *
In London I also visited the Freud Museum, on Maresfield Garden. It is located in the house where Freud spent the last year of his life. This house was his youngest daughter's home until her death in 1982. Anna Freud bequeathed the house and the museum opened its doors in 1986 (again, twenty something years ago). I had been to Freud's Vienna apartment before, on the Berggasse 19, but the London museum is a lot more interesting. Freud could manage to have most of his books and antiquities, as well as some furniture moved to London before the War. His famous coach, where psychoanalysis was first practised, is in the museum. I was there in a quiet afternoon, a day very different from those in 1939, before Europe went on war. I couldn't help thinking about the ups and downs of this continent. Almost seventy years later, it is actually surprising that the EU now is formed by 27 countries and we live in peace. Long may it last!
* * * * *
During the trip there was another Felix, a very distant place from the one mentioned above, not only geographically, but also in nature. It was the Felix Bar, on the top floor of the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong. There I had the last Dry Martinis of my trip. It was one of the bars that I had to visit, according to the bet with Jan. The other one was at the Bayswater Brasserie in Sydney. The Bayswater is a very fancy restaurant and the bar has a big reputation. One of the barmen won different prizes in Australia. Bueno, it may be the right place to be, but this does not guarantee you will get one of the best DM in the world. When I went there, my first DM was prepared by a young bartender. When I drank it, it was just average. My disappointment must have been evident, because the kid's boss asked me how it was. I told him about the bet and said: "I travelled a long way down here expecting a great Martini, and honestly, this one was just OK. I expected a lot more." He was not happy with my answer. He asked the prize winner to mix another Martini. After I tasted it, he asked how it was. It was a lot better. He then said, referring to the young barman: "The kid has yet a lot to learn."
* * * * *
So, that was it so far. The trip around the world was not quite around the world and I fell short of the 80 Martinis I planned to have. And the bad news is that the sabbatical year may also turn out to be just less than half a year. The party may soon be over. I'd better enjoy the trip to Italy next week, to meet the Cologne friends, because it may be the last one in many months to come. Or not. Qui vivra, verra!
Wish you a nice rest of the week.
Maurício
Long time no news. I apologise! Some friends are writing and asking my whereabouts. Maybe they didn't pay attention when I wrote on the second last posting that I was at home in Barcelona. So, here I am, back to Spain, looking forward to celebrating Sant Jordi tomorrow - in my opinion the nicest day in Catalonia.
* * * * *
After Hong Kong I flew to London, where I spent two days. As I was coming back home and didn't have to care about the luggage weight anymore, I went to my favourite bookshop and bought more books than I can possibly read in the next few months. Never mind, it was a pleasure to go back to Dillon's, on Gower Street, Bloomsbury. They don't know it, and certainly haven't noticed, but I have been a good customer for the past twenty years. I was very sad when it was sold to a bookshop chain, but the truth is that in this case it didn't really make a difference. You still find almost everything that you are looking for (when it is available) and the staff is very knowledgeable. Hope they keep it just as it is for very long!
* * * * *
This time I could also go to "Les Misérables", a show that has been running for as long as I have been Dillon's customer. I was very curious how a 1.500 page book could be adapted into a two hour musical. Somehow it could. For those that have read the book it was very easy to follow Jean Valjean's misfortunes, Javert's obsession in sending him back to prison and the love of Marius and Cosette. The music is beautiful, the escenography is creative and it was good fun. Nevertheless, I still think that the book is a lot better.
* * * * *
When I read "Les Misérables" I was surprised how much one of the characters, Monseigneur Myriel, the Bishop of Digne, remembered Don Pere Casaldáliga, once the Bishop of São Félix do Araguaia in Brazil. I can't think of anybody else in the Catholic Church that I respect more and that I admire more than Pere Casaldáliga. It would be very easy to say that if all priests were like him, the Catholic Church would be a much better institution. As a matter of fact, I think that if more human beings shared his values and his approach to life, the world would be a much better place. Sometimes I ask myself whether Pere Casaldáliga read "Les Misérables" and what he thought of Monseigneur Myriel. Whatever his opinion may be, one thing is certain: in this case, art anticipated reality in almost one century.
* * * * *
In London I also visited the Freud Museum, on Maresfield Garden. It is located in the house where Freud spent the last year of his life. This house was his youngest daughter's home until her death in 1982. Anna Freud bequeathed the house and the museum opened its doors in 1986 (again, twenty something years ago). I had been to Freud's Vienna apartment before, on the Berggasse 19, but the London museum is a lot more interesting. Freud could manage to have most of his books and antiquities, as well as some furniture moved to London before the War. His famous coach, where psychoanalysis was first practised, is in the museum. I was there in a quiet afternoon, a day very different from those in 1939, before Europe went on war. I couldn't help thinking about the ups and downs of this continent. Almost seventy years later, it is actually surprising that the EU now is formed by 27 countries and we live in peace. Long may it last!
* * * * *
During the trip there was another Felix, a very distant place from the one mentioned above, not only geographically, but also in nature. It was the Felix Bar, on the top floor of the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong. There I had the last Dry Martinis of my trip. It was one of the bars that I had to visit, according to the bet with Jan. The other one was at the Bayswater Brasserie in Sydney. The Bayswater is a very fancy restaurant and the bar has a big reputation. One of the barmen won different prizes in Australia. Bueno, it may be the right place to be, but this does not guarantee you will get one of the best DM in the world. When I went there, my first DM was prepared by a young bartender. When I drank it, it was just average. My disappointment must have been evident, because the kid's boss asked me how it was. I told him about the bet and said: "I travelled a long way down here expecting a great Martini, and honestly, this one was just OK. I expected a lot more." He was not happy with my answer. He asked the prize winner to mix another Martini. After I tasted it, he asked how it was. It was a lot better. He then said, referring to the young barman: "The kid has yet a lot to learn."
* * * * *
So, that was it so far. The trip around the world was not quite around the world and I fell short of the 80 Martinis I planned to have. And the bad news is that the sabbatical year may also turn out to be just less than half a year. The party may soon be over. I'd better enjoy the trip to Italy next week, to meet the Cologne friends, because it may be the last one in many months to come. Or not. Qui vivra, verra!
Wish you a nice rest of the week.
Maurício
Monday, 7 April 2008
TAWOMG - Making your dreams come true
Dear Friends,
When I went to London in February, at the beginning of my Australasia trip, I was leaving the continent and going to an island: Britain. Next stop was in Tokyo, also in an island. Then I flew to Auckland: again another island! After New Zealand we went to Australia, which is a huge island that many call continent. And then the last port of call before coming back to Europe was Hong Kong, a city partly in an island, partly in a peninsula. I had not realized it before, but during six weeks I had been jumping from one island to the next one!
* * * * *
Due to History and its colonial past, Hong Kong is a special place in China and Asia. The island of Hong Kong itself is modern, rich, clean and vibrant. The Kowloon peninsula and the new territories are a mixture of modern and rich venues and more popular ones. Although I liked the Hong Kong Island a lot and spent most of my time there, I am glad that my hotel was in Kowloon, on Nathan Road, near Jade street and Temple street (where the night market takes place). The place was alive around the clock and after five weeks travelling in developed, rich, clean, super-organised places it was good to go somewhere that was less so. For me it was like coming back home, with the goods and bads of a developing place.
* * * * *
By the way, when I arrived to the airport and asked at the information center how to get to my hotel, I was told that there was no Novotel at that address. I was very surprised and insisted with the guy, because I had a confirmed reservation for it. He checked all his files and couldn't find anything. At last I asked him to call the hotel. We found out that it had opened that same day! So, I was one of the few first guests in Novotel Kowloon, on Nathan Road, day (or night) one. I'm making free advertising for them only because I thought it was really a very good four star hotel, very nicely decorated, with a very friendly and well trained staff. If one day you have to go to Hong Kong, consider this as a good accommodation possibility.
* * * * *
Hong Kong, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro and San Francisco are often considered the four most beautiful places on the planet, at least what goes for their bays and harbours. Victoria Harbour seems to be an extremely beautiful place, at least on the photos and post cards that you can buy all around. What a shame that we can't see it! I am not sure 
whether it was the early spring haze or simply pollution, but the sad fact was that during the four days that I was in town we never could see very far away. Most of the time it was like on the photos beside. The problem must be very bad, because in some places there are photographers that offer to make your photo and then insert it against a clean shot of the same location, as if the day you were there was a clearer one. Business does not develop if there is not enough demand for it, ergo…
* * * * *
One afternoon as I jumped out of the boat in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, I decided to go to the Avenue of the Stars, in front of Victoria Harbour. I wanted to enjoy the view of the skyline of Hong Kong Island while waiting that night came down and the buildings had the lights on. Of course I was
not alone in that idea and dozens of other tourists also did the same. Despite of the crowds around me, eventually I could disconnect. Lost in my thoughts I remembered another afternoon, in July 1979, when Rubens and I did something similar. I was in Rio staying with Rubens' family. He was my best friend at that time. One afternoon we took a bus and went to Urca and waited until the skyline in Rio downtown was also lit. At that time we were teenagers and we both dreamed about seeing the world. In Hong Kong I realized that almost thirty years later I had already been to all places that one day I dreamed of visiting. It is not that there are no other places to go. On the opposite, one really good thing about this trip is that I fully recovered the pleasure of travelling. At some point in time I had to travel so often for business that it almost became a nightmare. But these bad days are over and again I feel like the teenager of the past that was curious about other people and places and wanted to make it all!
* * * * *
I also remembered that around that time Marta was a little child. I used to say that one day I would take her with me to Rio. Now, after so many years, we have been to Rio and many other places, in different countries and continents. She is a great travel companion! Looking backwards, I can only be glad that life was the way it was, and that I could see so many places and meet all the nice people that I have met.
Wish you also make your dreams come true and a very good week!
Maurício
When I went to London in February, at the beginning of my Australasia trip, I was leaving the continent and going to an island: Britain. Next stop was in Tokyo, also in an island. Then I flew to Auckland: again another island! After New Zealand we went to Australia, which is a huge island that many call continent. And then the last port of call before coming back to Europe was Hong Kong, a city partly in an island, partly in a peninsula. I had not realized it before, but during six weeks I had been jumping from one island to the next one!
* * * * *
Due to History and its colonial past, Hong Kong is a special place in China and Asia. The island of Hong Kong itself is modern, rich, clean and vibrant. The Kowloon peninsula and the new territories are a mixture of modern and rich venues and more popular ones. Although I liked the Hong Kong Island a lot and spent most of my time there, I am glad that my hotel was in Kowloon, on Nathan Road, near Jade street and Temple street (where the night market takes place). The place was alive around the clock and after five weeks travelling in developed, rich, clean, super-organised places it was good to go somewhere that was less so. For me it was like coming back home, with the goods and bads of a developing place.
* * * * *
By the way, when I arrived to the airport and asked at the information center how to get to my hotel, I was told that there was no Novotel at that address. I was very surprised and insisted with the guy, because I had a confirmed reservation for it. He checked all his files and couldn't find anything. At last I asked him to call the hotel. We found out that it had opened that same day! So, I was one of the few first guests in Novotel Kowloon, on Nathan Road, day (or night) one. I'm making free advertising for them only because I thought it was really a very good four star hotel, very nicely decorated, with a very friendly and well trained staff. If one day you have to go to Hong Kong, consider this as a good accommodation possibility.
* * * * *
Hong Kong, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro and San Francisco are often considered the four most beautiful places on the planet, at least what goes for their bays and harbours. Victoria Harbour seems to be an extremely beautiful place, at least on the photos and post cards that you can buy all around. What a shame that we can't see it! I am not sure 
whether it was the early spring haze or simply pollution, but the sad fact was that during the four days that I was in town we never could see very far away. Most of the time it was like on the photos beside. The problem must be very bad, because in some places there are photographers that offer to make your photo and then insert it against a clean shot of the same location, as if the day you were there was a clearer one. Business does not develop if there is not enough demand for it, ergo…* * * * *
One afternoon as I jumped out of the boat in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, I decided to go to the Avenue of the Stars, in front of Victoria Harbour. I wanted to enjoy the view of the skyline of Hong Kong Island while waiting that night came down and the buildings had the lights on. Of course I was
not alone in that idea and dozens of other tourists also did the same. Despite of the crowds around me, eventually I could disconnect. Lost in my thoughts I remembered another afternoon, in July 1979, when Rubens and I did something similar. I was in Rio staying with Rubens' family. He was my best friend at that time. One afternoon we took a bus and went to Urca and waited until the skyline in Rio downtown was also lit. At that time we were teenagers and we both dreamed about seeing the world. In Hong Kong I realized that almost thirty years later I had already been to all places that one day I dreamed of visiting. It is not that there are no other places to go. On the opposite, one really good thing about this trip is that I fully recovered the pleasure of travelling. At some point in time I had to travel so often for business that it almost became a nightmare. But these bad days are over and again I feel like the teenager of the past that was curious about other people and places and wanted to make it all!* * * * *
I also remembered that around that time Marta was a little child. I used to say that one day I would take her with me to Rio. Now, after so many years, we have been to Rio and many other places, in different countries and continents. She is a great travel companion! Looking backwards, I can only be glad that life was the way it was, and that I could see so many places and meet all the nice people that I have met.
Wish you also make your dreams come true and a very good week!
Maurício
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
TAWOMG - Finding Nemo
Dear Friends,
Our trip to Australia did not finish in Adelaide (bueno, it almost was the case…). Two days after the car accident we flew to Brisbane and three days later to Cairns. It was wise to leave Queensland for the end. We were tired and needed some rest. The fantastic beaches of north-east Australia were the place where to go and rest.
* * * * *
Until we went to Queensland the stellar moment of the trip was when we swam with the dolphins, south of Melbourne. In Cairns there was a second great experience: snorkel at the outer barrier reef! On the flight from Brisbane to Cairns we could already have an idea what to expect: on the photo beside, made from the plane, you can see some coral reefs. They are spread alongside the north-east Australian coast, covering 2.000 Km from north to south. It is so impressive that it is difficult to explain how beautiful it is.
* * * * *
In Cairns we stayed at a resort in Palm Cove, about 20 Km north of the city. It was no longer the peak tourist season, the hotels, bars and restaurants in town were only half full. Great for us, that could calmly enjoy it. We were also very lucky: when we arrived to Palm Cove it was the first day of sunshine after weeks of rain! We wanted to rest, but above all we wanted to see the coral reef. We booked a tour to the outer reef. It was more expensive than other tours to locations near the coast, but we were told that in the outer reef there were the best locations to dive or snorkel.
* * * * *
In the past I had never been enthusiastic about the coral reefs; I don't like any activity under water; the only reason why I went to Cairns was because I was travelling with my cousins and they absolutely wanted to go there; I knew that I would have to do a big effort to snorkel for more than a few minutes. However, as I told to myself, "This is probably the only trip to Cairns in your lifetime. Go there and see the corals, God knows if you will have a second chance to do it. "
* * * * *
We took the boat to the outer reef in Port Douglas. It was a big catamaran, very well equipped. It took about one and a half hours to get to our destination. Due to bad weather on the previous days, we had rough sea. For those not used to sailing, sometimes it was very unpleasant. I was not worried about the boat, but about going to water on what looked like open ocean. Our instructor assured us that at the reef it would be a lot better, the reef would shelter us. I was not convinced that it would be all that simple. When we arrived to our first destination I wondered whether I really wanted to do it. On the photo you can see how it looks like from the boat.
You know that you are miles away from the coast and beyond the reef is the Pacific Ocean. The idea of what might happen can be frightening! On top of it, Marta and Patrícia were afraid of sharks and when they asked the instructor the answer was: "Well, there might be some baby sharks out there, but you are bigger than them…" Very encouraging, indeed!
* * * * *
Bueno, as we were there, to water we went. Shame that I don't have photos under water, because it was absolutely gorgeous! It is amazing what nature can be up to. The colours and variety of corals, added to the variety of fishes of all sizes make it something unique. As it was my first time snorkelling, I have no idea what you see in other places of the globe. What I can tell you is that it was far beyond all my expectations. As I could relax, forget "what could happen" and concentrate on what I was seeing, I enjoyed it a lot. For my surprise, put together the morning and afternoon locations, I was in the water for some hours, not only minutes. I think I will never forget the feeling of peace and harmony that I experienced there, in a place so far from anywhere I could call home!
* * * * *
After Cairns we flew to Sydney, where I was for Easter. Last week I told you that I was about to leave Sydney, heading to Hong Kong. Today I am writing from Barcelona, where I arrived on Sunday night. Private reasons brought me back here at least three to four weeks before planned (don't worry, nothing bad has happened). This means that I could make it to Hong Kong, where I stayed until last Friday, but for the moment I had to postpone the trip to Shanghai and Beijing, where I intended to visit friends. Other trips in Southeast Asia will also have to wait for another occasion.
* * * * *
In Sydney I bought "Finding Nemo". I had not watched it before. Yesterday night I did it. In the reef we saw some Nemos, some Doris, one turtle. Well, the group that was diving even saw a shark. It was just a baby one… I could also confirm what I once was told: at the end of the movie they play one of my favourite songs, "Somewhere". Watching "Finding Nemo" and remembering our trip I told myself: "What a great country Australia is, and what a lucky person I am, having the opportunity to visit it. Hope I can make it back there soon!"
Wish you have a nice week!
Maurício
Our trip to Australia did not finish in Adelaide (bueno, it almost was the case…). Two days after the car accident we flew to Brisbane and three days later to Cairns. It was wise to leave Queensland for the end. We were tired and needed some rest. The fantastic beaches of north-east Australia were the place where to go and rest.
* * * * *
Until we went to Queensland the stellar moment of the trip was when we swam with the dolphins, south of Melbourne. In Cairns there was a second great experience: snorkel at the outer barrier reef! On the flight from Brisbane to Cairns we could already have an idea what to expect: on the photo beside, made from the plane, you can see some coral reefs. They are spread alongside the north-east Australian coast, covering 2.000 Km from north to south. It is so impressive that it is difficult to explain how beautiful it is.* * * * *
In Cairns we stayed at a resort in Palm Cove, about 20 Km north of the city. It was no longer the peak tourist season, the hotels, bars and restaurants in town were only half full. Great for us, that could calmly enjoy it. We were also very lucky: when we arrived to Palm Cove it was the first day of sunshine after weeks of rain! We wanted to rest, but above all we wanted to see the coral reef. We booked a tour to the outer reef. It was more expensive than other tours to locations near the coast, but we were told that in the outer reef there were the best locations to dive or snorkel.
* * * * *
In the past I had never been enthusiastic about the coral reefs; I don't like any activity under water; the only reason why I went to Cairns was because I was travelling with my cousins and they absolutely wanted to go there; I knew that I would have to do a big effort to snorkel for more than a few minutes. However, as I told to myself, "This is probably the only trip to Cairns in your lifetime. Go there and see the corals, God knows if you will have a second chance to do it. "
* * * * *
We took the boat to the outer reef in Port Douglas. It was a big catamaran, very well equipped. It took about one and a half hours to get to our destination. Due to bad weather on the previous days, we had rough sea. For those not used to sailing, sometimes it was very unpleasant. I was not worried about the boat, but about going to water on what looked like open ocean. Our instructor assured us that at the reef it would be a lot better, the reef would shelter us. I was not convinced that it would be all that simple. When we arrived to our first destination I wondered whether I really wanted to do it. On the photo you can see how it looks like from the boat.
You know that you are miles away from the coast and beyond the reef is the Pacific Ocean. The idea of what might happen can be frightening! On top of it, Marta and Patrícia were afraid of sharks and when they asked the instructor the answer was: "Well, there might be some baby sharks out there, but you are bigger than them…" Very encouraging, indeed!* * * * *
Bueno, as we were there, to water we went. Shame that I don't have photos under water, because it was absolutely gorgeous! It is amazing what nature can be up to. The colours and variety of corals, added to the variety of fishes of all sizes make it something unique. As it was my first time snorkelling, I have no idea what you see in other places of the globe. What I can tell you is that it was far beyond all my expectations. As I could relax, forget "what could happen" and concentrate on what I was seeing, I enjoyed it a lot. For my surprise, put together the morning and afternoon locations, I was in the water for some hours, not only minutes. I think I will never forget the feeling of peace and harmony that I experienced there, in a place so far from anywhere I could call home!
* * * * *
After Cairns we flew to Sydney, where I was for Easter. Last week I told you that I was about to leave Sydney, heading to Hong Kong. Today I am writing from Barcelona, where I arrived on Sunday night. Private reasons brought me back here at least three to four weeks before planned (don't worry, nothing bad has happened). This means that I could make it to Hong Kong, where I stayed until last Friday, but for the moment I had to postpone the trip to Shanghai and Beijing, where I intended to visit friends. Other trips in Southeast Asia will also have to wait for another occasion.
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In Sydney I bought "Finding Nemo". I had not watched it before. Yesterday night I did it. In the reef we saw some Nemos, some Doris, one turtle. Well, the group that was diving even saw a shark. It was just a baby one… I could also confirm what I once was told: at the end of the movie they play one of my favourite songs, "Somewhere". Watching "Finding Nemo" and remembering our trip I told myself: "What a great country Australia is, and what a lucky person I am, having the opportunity to visit it. Hope I can make it back there soon!"
Wish you have a nice week!
Maurício
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