Short Polish trips, Mon, 24 Dec 18
Simon
with Irena, Iwona, Jacek, Józef
at a Sauna/Baths
in Europe, Poland
Conference Trips, Fri, 20 Jul 18
Simon
at a City, Lake, Temple, UNESCO site
in Europe, Germany
Visited as part of the Diversity in Europe conference
Diamond Carnival, Thu, 22 Feb 18
Simon
at a City, Museum, Temple, UNESCO site
in Brazil, South America
I arrived to Salvador as planned, 6:30am, after a night of reasonably decent sleep – as good as one can expect from sleeping on a bus. After checking in to my AirBnB, I set off to spend a day walking …
Diamond Carnival, Thu, 22 Feb 18
Simon
at a Mountain
in Brazil, South America
Today is my last day in Chapada Diamantina, and Juliana invited me for another trek, so I despite the low mood, I decided to go for it. We left early with her parents giving us a lift to the start …
Diamond Carnival, Tue, 20 Feb 18
Simon
in Brazil, South America
I thought I would, but I can’t avoid it any further. I need to write this to be fair to myself and to the people I love. If this diary is how I will remember this time, I should be …
Diamond Carnival, Mon, 19 Feb 18
Simon
at a Mountain, Waterfall
in Brazil, South America
It worked out! I met Juliana at 8:15 today and had a wonderful day with her. First we went to the Monday fruit market where I saw a number of things I never heard of – we ended up getting …
Diamond Carnival, Sun, 18 Feb 18
Simon
at a Mountain, Waterfall
in Brazil, South America
Last night the grandma next door really went for it. She talks to herself loudly every evening, but finishes around 10. Tonight she started again around midnight and seemed really angry, arguing with some imaginary adversary really loudly. Woke me …
Diamond Carnival, Sun, 18 Feb 18
Simon
at a Mountain, Waterfall
in Brazil, South America
Yesterday and today I did hardly anything at all, and it’s wonderful. I didn’t get out of bed until late, I caught up with some friends over the Internet, I read my book, hanged out in the hammock, made plans, …
Diamond Carnival, Fri, 16 Feb 18
Simon
at a Cave, Lake, Mountain, River, Waterfall
in Brazil, South America
Last night Binho and Railuz offered taking me on a fairly long trip today. After they left, I evaluated how tired I am and messaged Railuz that there is no way I can wake up early for that. But I …
Diamond Carnival, Thu, 15 Feb 18
Simon
at a Transit
in Brazil, South America
The Salvador airport has no comfy seats. Nothing to sleep on. I arrived after midnight and really tried, but got virtually no sleep. My plan was to stay there as long as possible before I need to go to the …
Diamond Carnival, Tue, 13 Feb 18
Simon
at a City, Mountain, UNESCO site
in Brazil, South America
Today I got up late, horribly underslept after last night. But so happy! Humming the tunes from the parades I started packing up – tonight I’m leaving Rio. Eros agreed for me to leave my things until evening, since my …
Diamond Carnival, Tue, 13 Feb 18
Simon
at a City, Temple
in Brazil, South America
Tonight is the main parade night. Well, the one I got a ticket for, the parades have been going since Friday. But everywhere I read said this one is best, so high expectations! I got up late, which is wonderful. …
Diamond Carnival, Mon, 12 Feb 18
Simon
at a City, Sea
in Brazil, South America
To be quite honest, as much as I love traveling alone, I really wish I wasn’t this time. It seems like I’m the only person who’s alone at this carnival, everyone is partying with friends, at least in couples! Everyone …
Diamond Carnival, Sat, 10 Feb 18
Simon
at a City, Sea
in Brazil, South America
Wow. Just wow. Remember how I said Brazilians are beautiful? Beach, shorts, thong bikinis, water, chests, butts, muscles, sun, sweat, boobs, skin! Oh my gods! I think I had a sexy overload today. I can’t even. It’s. Yes. So much …
Conference Trips, Diamond Carnival, Fri, 09 Feb 18
Simon
at a City
in Brazil, South America
4:30am it is. I seem incapable of sleeping beyond that time. Wake up and just lie there… Hope Rio will bring a change. My host from Rio, by the awesome name Eros, still didn’t get in touch with me. I …
Diamond Carnival, Thu, 08 Feb 18
Simon
at a City, Museum
in Brazil, South America
Still can’t sleep. Today I woke up at 4:30 and was pretty much awake until I got up at 9. Many thoughts, but can has sleep pls? At least it’s getting properly warm now, 30°C is neat! Today I’m going …
Conference Trips, Diamond Carnival, Wed, 07 Feb 18
Simon
at a City
in Brazil, South America
Before you begin reading, play this, and keep it playing as you read. This is the soundtrack of my life here now. Not much happened today. I had some online course catching up to do in the morning, then I …
Diamond Carnival, Tue, 06 Feb 18
Simon
at a City, Park, Temple
in Brazil, South America
Is really cold today, one of the people at the uni made a point of remarking about it when I came in at 10:30. It’s 22°C. My kind of people! Entrance to the Uni Today was another day of university …
Conference Trips, Diamond Carnival, Mon, 05 Feb 18
Simon
at a City
in Brazil, South America
My hosts at the University of Sao Paulo are quite chill. They agreed to host me three months ago and then never replied to my repeat emails asking for some details on what I’ll be doing there, whom I should …
Diamond Carnival, Mon, 05 Feb 18
Simon
at a City, Park
in Brazil, South America
So many animals! The night was full of barking, meowing, bird songs, and a number of unidentified sounds. I woke up around 4am and only dozed for the rest of the night. I wonder when I’ll be able to sleep …
Diamond Carnival, Sun, 04 Feb 18
Simon
at a Transit
in Brazil, South America
The taxi operator girl laughed at me when I was ordering a taxi for 3:50am, said she wouldn’t bother going to sleep. I did and slept surprisingly well for a decent 5 hours. Good, I had enough sleepless nights recently! …
Tropical Winter, Mon, 28 Aug 17
Simon
in Asia, Malaysia
People are generally wonderful, really helpful and lovely. And in a genuine kind of way, not the ‘customer service’ kind of way. It’s also amazing how well pretty much everybody knows English. This, plus what I heard from various backpackers, …
Tropical Winter, Thu, 24 Aug 17
Simon
at a Jungle, UNESCO site
in Asia, Malaysia
We got up early again and left Camp 5 by 6:40. On the way to the boat we found an otter on the riverbank – it was checking out something that died there recently but was mostly eaten by now, …
Tropical Winter, Wed, 23 Aug 17
Simon
at a Jungle, Mountain, River, UNESCO site
in Asia, Malaysia
5:30 – we wake up and get ready for the trek. 6:40 – we set off to the Pinnacles. 7:10 – we have made 500 metres, I’m swimming in sweat, wondering if I had enough for breakfast. Judith and Eugenia …
Tropical Winter, Tue, 22 Aug 17
Simon
at a Cave, Jungle, River, UNESCO site
in Asia, Malaysia
Good night again, despite the fact that many more people checked in to the dorm yesterday! Thank you, gecko night watch! I got up reasonably early to pack before leaving for the three day trek to the Pinnacles. I left …
Tropical Winter, Mon, 21 Aug 17
Simon
at a Cave, Jungle, UNESCO site
in Asia, Malaysia
Surprisingly good sleep for a dorm room! Nobody snored, the fans kept us cool, and the earplugs did their job. Maybe it’s the friendly geckos, at night they did get off the walls and were roaming everywhere, keeping peace and …
Tropical Winter, Sun, 20 Aug 17
Simon
at a Transit
in Asia, Malaysia
I managed to catch a couple of hours sleep at the Denpasar airport, lying at a vaguely comfortable cafe sofa. Around 5am I got up, all loopy, got through the check-in, managed to catch some internet to discuss some AirBnB …
Tropical Winter, Sat, 19 Aug 17
Simon
with Charlie, Dee, Eva
in Australia, Australia & Oceania
I keep learning more about Australian pests. The biggest pests – white people – brought with them a while host of other creatures that soon became a massive problem, for the land, but for humans as well. The story of …
Tropical Winter, Fri, 18 Aug 17
Simon
with Charlie, Dee, Eva
at a Jungle, Sea, Waterfall
in Australia, Australia & Oceania
Last night I slept well! Finally! The earplugs I bought yesterday really helped. Got up at a crazy 8:30am and had a wonderfully relaxing morning, not rushing anywhere, eating a glorious tropical fruit breakfast. Charlie and Dee got up after …
