if you don't know where you're going any road will take you there
All pictures were taken in Varanasi, India.
6am boat trip:
during a breakfast in a roof top restaurant we watched (and were watched by) monkeys on the surrounding buildings
Ganges blessing evening celebration:
Varanasi Panorama:
[update: 26-08-2007]
Rikshaw ride.
[Varanasi 2007-08-14]
What an amazing day. Wake up at 4:30 with a strong will to take a boat trip on Ganges river right after the sunrise. Of course since the very begining one guy approached me offering a boat and wouldn’t let it go saying that he is the only option and there is no other way to make this trip for a single person if not with him for a tremendous price. I have just ignored him and tried to join some other big, big group but the people who were aranging tours wouldn’t let me in (perhaps the whole groups were ripped off). So I was wandering around in the morning rain losing my hope and the guy was still not backing off.
I take a rikshah to the train station to buy a ticket for the day after. (More about rikshaws later on). After waiting in a line of tourist for 30 minutes and after 2 powercuts, 2 office floor cleaning breaks I manage to get a ticket. Not for the train I wanted, cause that one was sold out, but on the earlier one. On the other hand train never seem to be on time here anyway. I have tried the lower class sleeper last time and it was ok, but this time I am going for some luxury – 3-AC (3 levels of beds in a cabin, air conditioning).
Then I met another guy (funny American) and his buddy (blue raincoat Brit) and then a couple of Spanish people. So we were 5 looking for a cheap option. It is a raining season, so the Ganges is up, so currents are strong, so rowing is more difficult, so prices are higher, but we were all experienced India tourists ( ;-) ), so it was the matter of honour not to get ripped off. So finally we went down with the price to the acceptable level, came to the agreement with the guy that was bothering me for the last hour and at 6 we have finally set off. Watching how hard it was to row I felt sorry for the guys, but on the other hand they were trying to rip us off terribly at the begining, so no tips. A light monsoon rain was puring all the time, but this is something you get used to (even though I was wearing just a t-shirt and it was early morning I was fine). I made some nice pictures of people washing themselves up in the gaths by Ganges river. We see a real monkey group attack on some food store. The annoying guys seem to be ok, just too pushy and “clever”. So everything works out. Then together with the American and the Brit we have a breakfast at the rooftop restaurant next to a busy street and monkeys playing on the other buildings.
Then I drop off everything in the hotel and go to the Golden temple of… shiva penis. Right. Got a blessing. You cannot bring anything in the whole neighbourhood cause there were some bomb attacks so now they are paranoid about security (and doing a good job).
Then I get lost in the narrow streets and wonder around for some time till I find some main road, and some more time before I know where I am.
Willing to try something different to my hotel’s restaurant (good and cheap btw), I go to a place called German Bakery where they have all kind of good and fancy food India, Thai, European… whatever you can imagine. All kept in a laid back atmosphere. I meet Beatriz – a cute female Columbian freelance journalist. We talk much about traveling in India, sharing observations, experiences, about traveling in general, about plans, ambitions, about Poland, Columbia. We exchange email addresses (being watched with waiter-boys all the time – no privacy in this country), hug goodbyes and go our ways.
Then I go to the night ceremony of fire, music, smells, flowers, water by the river. I made many amazing pictures there. People are really great. I am doing my best not to disturb anybody, but they are so nice even moving away and giving a place so I can get a nice shot. And the ceremony is amazing. And I even stepped into Ganges to get some good shots. I hope I will not get sick of that cause water in the holly river is super polluted . I am so impressed.
After such a day I feel truelly happy. And I really feel like I change my attitude. Finally I get the right attitude. I am starting to trust people, I start joking with guys who offer to give a massage to my neck, I play with kids, I talk to friendly rikshaw guys. Then I head up to the hotel… But the best is still to come. I meet Raja Baba… But this is a different story for another note. And this is still an open story. To be continued… ;-)
Before I came to India I talked to Nacho (my Spanish buddy from Brussels). He had just came back from India. And he told me “Amazing country. But so challanging. You will see.” I think after 3 days I understood what he meant. It was while taking a cycle-rikshaw. This guy took me for a 2 minutes ride, being all exposed to the rain, on bumpy streets, hardly being able to make it at some moments. I felt so bad seeing it. This guy was doing that because of me. And I will pay him really shitty nothing in return. Thing that should not be. (My second reflection though was that it would be interesting to do that job for some time as a white guy in India :-) ). On the other need if you use a motor-rikshaw instead this guy is let with nothing. Nacho, I know you have such a good heart (deep beneath your hairy chest :P) and I know you must have felt the same.
Photos will come later on. Memories fly away more quickly than images.
PS. [Delhi 2007-08-16] I am back to Delhi to catch a flight to Leh on 17th 5:30am.
Nie mam kontaktu z Koala (wylaczony telefon). Jak sie nie znajdziemy, to wyglada na to, ze sam lece w Himalaje.
Pełne wrażeń 2 dni w Indiach. Uczę się tego kraju. Na razie jestem nieśmiały i niepewny. Mnogość doznań, widoków, twarzy, zwierząt, zapachów. Dokładnie wszystko jest nowe, nieznane, inne. Daję sobie czas na aklimatyzację. Muszę się nauczyć jak się poruszać, zachowywać, dawać radę.
Przylatuję do Delhi 11 sierpnia rano. Z lotniska autobusem do centralnej stacji koleji, od razu przyzwyczajam się do widoku auto-rikszy, których wokół są tysiące, szybko przechodzę przez bazar (okolicę hosteli), cośtam jem, kupuję jakieś drobiazgi i już tego samego dnia po południu jadę pociągiem do Varanasi (na wschód). Pociąg oczywiście odjeżdża z ponad 3 godzinnym opóźnieniem, ale spędzam ten czas ze spotkanymi na peronie Brytyjkami, którym wszyscy zaglądają w dekolty. Przynajmniej nie jestem największą atrakcją. Oczywiście najłatwiej kontakt nawiązuje się z dzieciakami. Lesson learnt: nie puszczać oka do mamusiek.
Jadę sleepers’em (2nd class, no AC) razem z Japończykiem Takashi i całą masą lokalesów. Wrzucam plecak pod siedzenie i przypinam kupionymi wcześniej łańcuchami. Zamawiam posiłek wegetariański (ryż + leczo + przyprawy + więcej przypraw zapakowane w folową torebkę jak dragi, wszystko to na aluminiowych tackach zawinięte w folię aluminiową) – lepsze niż w Lufthansie. :-) I kolejna lekcja – po spożyciu opakowania wyrzucamy za okno (wbrew moim zasadom, ale ulegam lokalnym znawcom obyczajów). W nocy dosiada się jeszcze parka mieszana Hiszpanów. Zasypiam twardo i budzę się koło 10tej.
Stoimi na jakiejś stacji. Nagle Hiszpanie zaczynają robić zamieszanie. Biegają, pakują się, mówią, że przejechaliśmy Varanasi. Wyglądam za okno, patrzę na zegarek… hmmm… może i przejechaliśmy, ale na pewno nie wysiadam tutaj, toż to jakieś zadupie totalne jest. No ale Hiszpanie, wiadomo, w gorącej wodzie kąpani, i już za chwilę widzę ich na peronie przeskakujących przez tory i pędzących do stacji. Za moment przyjeżdża lokalny pociąg z przeciwnego kierunku, obładowany ludźmi, z boku podwieszone rowery, w środu masa pakunków. Okazuje się, że jest tylko jeden tor, a to była mijanka. No dobra, no to brniemy dalej w nieznane. Na spokojnie z Takamashi próbujemy ustalić fakty. Decydujemy się wysiąść w Mau, 2h od Varanasi, i tam złapać express z powrotem. Dojeżdżamy ekspres stoi 2 tory dalej, bieg, ale express od razu rusza i nam ucieka. No trudno.
No to jesteśmy w Mau (mieście którego nie ma w Lonely Planet, OMG! ;-) ). Szaro, same riksze rowerowe, kropi, a potem zaczyna się potworna ulewa. Ludzie się na nas gapią, a my siedzimy sobie i czekamy. Jakieś tam interakcje z ludźmi. Fajka z rikszabrzem, pokazywanie książki sprzedawcy orzeszków, zabawa z 2-letnim dzieckiem (mama nawet dała mi potrzymać księżniczkę, ale ta zaraz zaczęła płakać). Pociąg spóźnia się 5 godzin. Docieramy do Varanasi wieczorem po zmroku.
Przepychanki z rikszarzami w końcu bierzemy pre-paid’a. Jestem zmęczony, nieufny i arogancki. Jeszcze nie potrafię odróżniać złych twarzy od dobrych, przekrętu od chęci pomocy. Do tego deszcz, i ulice zalane na 15 cm. Rikszarz chce nas podwieźć pod hotel, chce wyminąć korek na głównej drodze i skręca w ciemne wąskie boczne uliczki. Jak zaczyna jechać w przeciwnym kierunku wietrzę postęp, wkurzam się i besztam go. “Excuse me sir, but I know the way.” Zupełnie niepotrzebnie wybucham. Każę mu zawieźć nas do głównego placu. W końcu docieramy. Rikszarz mówi jak dojść do hotelu, dziękuje i żegna się. A mi głupio, bo był miły, a ja nie.
No to zostało tylko zadanie znalezienia hotelu. Wokół masa pomocnych młodzieńców, którzy nie chcą się odczepić, ale chcą Cię zaprowadzić tylko do ichniego hotelu, bo w tym co wybrałeś nie ma miejsc. Jeden jest wybitnie natręny, nie chce się odczepić. Ignoruję go i pytam sklepikarzy o drogę. On twierdzi, że zna drogę i że zaprowadzi, ale ja znowu jestem bezczelny i próbuję go przegonić. Giniemy w gąszczu uliczek szerokich na półtora metra. wszędzie ludzie, pootwierane sklepiki, handel wszystkim, brud, krowy, kozy, kupy, ulewa. Natręt idzie cały czas z nami, a ja co jakiś czas pytam się sklepikarzy, czy na pewno idziemy w dobrym kierunku. “To the left sir, welcome to Varanasi.” Jak w dzielnicy wysiada elektryczność, to przestaję besztać natręta, który ma latarkę i tylko modlę się o jego ucziwe intencje. Docieramy do hotelu o 21. Nie ma pokoi, ale będzie jeden po 23. Jemy pierwszy tego dnia posiłek w hotelowej restauracji na tarasie z widokiem na spowity w ciemnościach Ganges. Schodzą emocje. O 23 dowiadujemy się, że nie ma pokoju, recepcjonista dzwoni do innych hoteli, w trzecim mają miejsca, przychodzi boy. Prowadzi nas ciemnymi ulicami przez 5 min i zachrypniętym głosem opowiada ciekawe rzeczy o Varanasi. Hotel słaby, obsługa ponura, pokój mały (jak na Okopowej), tylko podwójne łóżko i ściany. Kibel/prysznic w jednym wspólny. Bierzemy razy dwa. Żegnam się z Takamashi. Marzę tylko o prysznicu i przebraniu ciuchów, które założyłem jeszcze w Gdyni. Robię to i padam spać przy zamkniętych oknach i wirującym wentylatorze. Pierwsza noc w łóżku w Indiach. Uratowany. :-)
Dziś (13 sierpnia) pobódka o 10tej, powrót do ładnego hotelu, a potem szwędanie się po ulicach. Odwiedzam miejsca gdzie palone są zwłoki. Zaduma i przygnębienie. Chodzę brudnymi ulicami. Nieśmiało zaczynam robić zdjęcia. Bardzo uważam (bardziej niż inni turyści z równie wielkimi aparatami). Trochę żałuję, że nie wziąłem też małej cyfrówki. Wracam do hotelu koło 18stej. Na dziś wystarczy. Muszę uważać, żeby nie przeholować fizycznie. Piję dużo wody, 3 prysznice dziennie dla ochłody. Organizm stary i nie przyzwyczajony, a warunki niezwykłe.
Uczę się Indii. Są zupełnie inne niż wszystko co widziałem wcześniej. Fakt, że podróżuję sam wzmacnia doznania, sprawia, że odbieram wszystko bardziej, mocniej. Masa czasu na przemyślenia. Na pewno cenne doświadczenie.
Dalszy plan – 2 dni w Varanasi, potem powrót do Delhi, żeby 17stego polecieć do Leh – daleka północ, Himalaje.
Bazaar street in Delhi.
Mau.
Mau.
Gimme some power.
Ganges view from Alka Hotel.
Ganges view from Alka Hotel.
Streets of Varanasi.
Pilgrims in Varanasi.
English version will follow later (or not).
Lot z niespodziankami. Wylatuję z Gdańska do Warszawy planowo, by tam dowiedzieć się, że lot to Wiednia został s’cancel’owany. Nerwy, że podróż przeciągnie się w nieskończoność, wizyta w biurze Austrian, opcja Monachium, nie jednak Wiedeń. Okazuje się, że Wieden-Delhi jest opóźniony aż do wieczora i że zdążę na niego dolecieć następnym Warszawa-Wiedeń. No więc Executive Lounge (ubrany jak śmieć w Meksykańskim wdzianku wśród smutnych panów w garniturach). Jak w Fight Clubie – single-serving friends, kola, piwo, kawa, snack. Warszawa-Wiedeń, sprite, i znowu Executive Lounge, sok, gulasz, herbata, piwo. Planowany odlot 21:00 (miało być 13:25).
Na lotnisku w Wiedniu dwie znajome twarze – koleś ze studiów i gość z Accenture. Obaj służbowo – nie podchodzę. Wiadomość z pracy na sekretarce. Oddzwaniam. “Szymon, czy mogę w razie czego dzwonić do Ciebie w czasie urlopu?”. “Nie wydaje mi się, będę w innej strefie czasowej.” Niemiec w życiu by tak nie zapytał. Chyba, że waliłby się świat, to wtedy wysłałby smsa. A Polak potrafi.
Zaczynam wakacje. Czuję się dobrze. Problemy nie istnieją (znowu potwierdza się, że problemy, są lokalne – wystarczy się trochę oddalić i już nie istnieją). Czytam – wcześniej Kapuścińskiego, teraz Pałkiewicza. Zbieram w głowie “smaczki”. Np. w Afryce obcego gościa traktuje się jak boga. Tak na wszelki wypadek. Lepiej zachować ostrożność i ugościć przybysza niż potencjalnie narazić się bogom. Albo: co roku na świecie na malarię choruje 150 milionów ludzi, 1 na 100 umiera. Czuję, że włącza mi się kreatywność. Mózg gdy nic nie musi zaczyna robić to co lubi. Przemyślenia odnośnie sensu, celu, sposobu. I podekscytowanie podróżą w nieznane. I jeszcze ten cholerny przewodnik, do którego zmuszam się by zajrzeć. Brak planu – zdaję się zupełnie w ręce losu. Może zatrzymam się w Delhi, a może od razu pojadę dalej. Like fish in a sea.
My passport (and visa) arrived with a delay. One more day and there would be no trip. But fortunately everything worked out this time. You can achieve quite a lot with some patience and politeness. So tomorrow, with God’s help, I will be far, far away. Alone with my backpack in a strange land. Still had no time to read the guidebook. Will do that on a plane. On a very last moment. And then, shall the adventure begin. Just another dream coming true. So easily. I was looking for a nice self-portrait for facebook (narcism, hell yes) and found this one (crop from a bigger picture):
in Sandra’s glasses (Mexico’2007)
Wish me luck!
Turkey 2004. Good old times… Now I would do it even better. :-)
The work stress is changing into a travel stress… and I kind of like it. Not ready for my travel at all. Haven’t looked into the guidebook yet. I hope I will have enough time for that on a plane. The idea of the travel is to visit the Northern part of India – the desert of Rajastan, Himalayas and the holy city of Varanasi. Let’s see how it works out.
I’ve had many shinny days recently. Full of laud and honest laughter. Hanging around having fun and getting to know each other. Putting aside this-will-not-work thoughts and just giving it a chance. Fair enough.
Crazy headhunters stroke me with double power. I have no idea why, but I am getting like 3-5 emails per day with “once-in-a-lifetime opportunities”. Crazy motherfuckers want even to arrange phone interviews when I am in India. Damn, I hate this pushy approach. But I am taking it easy and just checking the options. I kinda like my job so no quick moves – just looking around.
Roskilde (08.07.2007)
SAME KRZYWE :-)
Red Hot Chilli Peppers:
Festival exit:
Tuborg Zone (VIP tents :-) ):
The main scene:
Roskilde (7.07.2007)
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| Pavilon Scene – Strike Anywhere | Karaoke queen |
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Roskilde (6.07.2007)
Shall the destruction begin:
The main scene (Orange) – Queens of the Stone Age, Nephew:
Odeon scene – Peter Bjorn and John:
to be continued…
GOING TO INDIA on 10.08 – 04.09! Not planned at all. Decided today, urlaub taken, tickets bought! I love it!
Andrzej and Asia got married this weekend. Nice feeling to participate in that (and be the best man) after so many years of history together. Remembering the old times – long hair, hardcore parties at Orbital, going to concerts together, drinking one bottle of wine each straight from a backpack (to hide from the police), so many nights I slept over at their place watching movies, drinking beer, hundreds of games of pool played in Ygrek while having some hours off during the classes… And now – adult lives, working, having wives, driving cars, changing flats… Anyway, I really had so much fun on their wedding and the party afterwards. I am too modest to say that I was the king of the dance floor, but for sure Justyna (my dancing partner) was the queen! And she left me with an aching knee. Totally worth it! ;-)
Visited Tina in Fürth. And this feeling for having a person cut out of a photo and put together with a different background which doesn’t fit to an image kept in ones head.
Now – off the projects, taking a deep breath in Gdynia. Summertime. :-)
It’s been a year now I’ve been working for a German company. I’ve spent quite some time in the lovely country of beer, schnitzel and pommes frites. For the anniversary I wanted to write a serious note on Polish-German relationships, stereotypes and so on. But I won’t. I will tell you a bullshit story instead.
Last week I was out with 2 other Polish guys to a pub in Heildelberg. Sitting, drinking beer, speaking not too loud (not to scare anybody with our Slavic language). Then a group of drunk young German guys came. 15 of them. And of course they started talking to us. I was expecting troubles. So when the question “where are you from?” finally came up I thought “oho… it’s coming”. “Poland.” “Whaaaat?” “We are from Poland.” “Aaaaaa, Polen…. VODKA!” Yeah – so, finally. The best words we could hear from the young Germans. No “Polish people still cars” as we heard so many times before, but “vodka”. So we ended up drinking Polish vodka with them, buying each other a round and sharing these magnificent moments. Nice.
What does it mean to me? The new generation of Germans again starts to value and respect Polish people for the good stuff and our uncommon abilities (vodka!). Hopefully I soon will no longer have to deal with assholes calling Polish people thieves so I would not have to give them a quick history lesson about WW2, 50 years of communism and poverty. And our not-always-good relationships will become a song of the past. And the day will come when we would really forget the memories and just sit together and drink. And make a toast. Für Grünewald!
This week I am again working in the German HQ. Staying in a village close to Speyer and driving a tiny car that makes me smile. :D Sleeping a lot! Today driving to Nürnberg to meet up with Tina (German girl met in Mexico, too nice to be German ;-) ). Feels a little bit like vacation.
Switched the blog application from blogger.com (which was sucking) to wordpress.org (which looks better). Please update your bookmarks and RSS feeds. I will work on it more some time in the future to make it look nicer and have more pages. Just be patient.
Quick update: Spent last weekend in Denmark – went to Roskilde with Ania and Tomek (was officially introduced as her boyfriend’s boyfriend). Lots of mud, some beer, 110.000 people, 220.000 rubber boots. Some nice bands, some old and not-so-cool-anymore bands (RHCP). Photos from this event pending to be processed and uploaded.
Then took a Monday off and was visiting Copenhagen with Ania (Misiu went back to work and earn money for his high-life living). Easy day.
Then a week in Germany staying in Heidelberg, working in a factory, pretending to be an expert.
Then weekend in Gdynia – beer with Heldt and Lesiu.
And tomorrow back to Germany for a week.
Not much.
Have some stories – hope I will have some time to write them down.
Finished reading Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho. I was really impressed. Not another sweet pseudo-spiritual book. More to the real life than any of his books.
Last week spent 3 days in Stockholm again. First Ignacio came to pick up his keys to Brussels apartment which I took away by an accident when I was visiting 2 weeks before. His plane arrived late, then he ran out of fuel on the to Stockholm so he finally arrived at 1:30 am. Then we had to find a place to park his car and then I had to bring him to my hotel and sleep him over illegally. Like corporate hippies. And then he took off at 6 am. The other day I met with Joanna (MCP Sweden – for some people these magic letters mean a lot :-) ). We went to a place where beer costs 25 SEK (2,5 euros) = crazy cheap for Sweden and where they bring you another one without asking if you want it or not. So we talked a lot as always about life, sharing our different points of view, etc. As always interesting experience.Weekend was all about moving out and moving in. First on Friday moving Tomek from his old apartment in Warsaw to his own new one. And then on Saturday moving me from Warsaw to Gdynia. Since I have 2 months of vacation period at my studies there is no need for me to spend time in our lovely capital. So I just moved back to my parents’ place (sic!). No plans for how long.And on Saturday night went to Opener Festival in Gdynia. Heavy rain. Lines for everything except for beer. At least met some friends. Didn’t care about the concerts at all. Went home early. Woke up tired.Aurelie had birthday on Sunday. Missed that party. Happy birthday!
Mat got married in Santa Barbara (USA) – congrats!, God bless America!, Andrzej is getting married in 3 weeks in Bydgoszcz (Poland) (and I am gonna be his best man)… Real weddings season.
Stockholm – Central Station area
*) gierka (polish) – little game
What are your dreams? Did you ever have them? When did you give up? How old were you then? 4? 12? 15? 21? Was it hard to forget?Or maybe you are one of those people who went for that and just started doing what you loved? Maybe you were born in your suit or in your sandals and you are fine?
After 4 days of being fucking professional, all dressed up and stressed up today something just broke inside me. The emotionless bubble crashed. Going to work on a tram I read about nurses striking against the government. Not wanting much – just a decent life. And the prime minister saying they will not get anything. And police moving them away of a street to a sidewalk. And then a quote of a representative of miners saying something like ‘We will not let to hurt the girls. Police used force against them. We are coming to defend them. They can face us we are not afraid.’ Then I just broke. Emotionally.
It sucks that in this country people working for years don’t have a decent life. And it is said that after 20 years after gaining democracy people still have to strike to be heard. And just as then the government is sending police to turn them down.
Then I thought how lucky I am being able to afford so much. Not thinking how much is a candy when buying it, etc. Most of the people in Poland aren’t that lucky.
Then at work I went to HRs to pick up some documents. And this colleague (lady in her 40s) told me that soon she’ll not be working here anymore. After years of working in HR in this company she is quiting and moving to Canada. Not for money – for her passion which is clinical psychology. And she told me that she was doing that part time in a hospital in Poland, but she was paid so little that it almost was a charity job. So she’s moving there to study it more and live of it. I was so amazed. She shown some emotions in this emotionless environment. And then we talked about seeking for opportunities, emigration, life. Amazing.
Next time you call my country a low cost country think about people fighting for a decent life. And I am sorry for not driving an Audi or a BMW and not owning a race motorbike as you do.
But… still I think that you can go for your dreams and achieve what you want. This will be a bumpy road but don’t give up. Ironically you are even in a better position. Owning nothing you have nothing to loose. Starting from nothing you will appreciate more what you gain and achieve. That’s why we – Polish people – will conquer the world one day. And the Polish-Chinese border will come true. Unless you are lazy and you give up. :-) It’s always up to you.
It’s been a terribly tiring week. Haven’t got such a brain killing experience ever. So much time in our lives we lose for what we don’t want to do and things that are not important at all. But at least I had a nice view.
Nights are bright in Sweden. Tomorrow they have mid-summer celebrations. But I am back to Poland, so this year – no fun. :-)
On a plane today I was sitting in the back. There was a little Asian girl sitting in the row behind mine on the other side. She could be 10. With a small lufthansa plastic bag with documents she was sitting there by a window. She must had had a long way behind. She didn’t look ok. She was sitting straight, pale on her face and she was shaking. Next to her there was a guy in a suit 32, and a woman, same age, also on a business travel. So the little girl was obviously not ok. She looked as she was extremely cold or scared or excited or about to throw up… Don’t know. But obviously she was not fine. The guy noticed that but did not help. The same with a the lady (but she had an excuse that she was sitting too far). I just couldn’t look at this. Stopped the stewardess. Excuse me, but I think that this kid needs some attention… She went there asked in English if everything was ok (more the people next to her than the girl), asked to take a look at her during the landing, said thank you to me and went away. Very helpful – 15 seconds of an illusion of we-care. Bullshit. Just 20 more minutes of the little girl’s shaking and we landed. Nobody did anything. But we landed and everything was fine. No victims, she didn’t throw up.
I wish she was sitting next to me. We would listen to a music from iPod, look at some photos, or just go through a newspaper. And maybe she would grown up for a little more different person – more helpful, more caring, more open. But no – this is a tough world baby and you have make it on your own.I am sick of this emotionless world.
Chcę tylko wejść w sandałach do strumyka gdzieś w dalekim kraju i chodzić. Nie mieć problemów, myśleć, uśmiechać się. Mieć proste życie, tam gdzie życie jest proste. Być bliżej natury i codziennie się nią zachwycać. Moje będą palmy i zachody słońca. I nic nie będzie na opak.
update (English translation):
I just wanna walk into a stream wearing sandals in a country far, far away. Have no problems, think, smile. Have a simple life where life is simple. Be closer to nature and admire it every day. Palms will be mine and sunsets will be mine. And everything will be on its place.
Biurową ciszę zagłusza dźwięk telefonu. Niespodziewana moc melodii sprawia, że wszyscy Kollegen odrywają wzrok od monitorów i oczami szukają posiadacza telefonu z tak niespotykanym dzwonkiem. Uśmiechaja się, bo to miła odmienność od codziennej rutyny i wszechobecnych standardowych ustawień. A ja uśmiecham się do nich. Jeszcze chwila, gdy zerkam na wyświetlacz kto dzwoni i odbieram krótkim “Siema”. Kollegen wracają do pracy nieświadomi, że ta fajna melodia, która tak bardzo im się podobała, to pierwsze takty Stawki większej niż życie.
Spent a week working in Waldorf and staying in Oberflockenbach. At first it felt like vacation… Countryside, fresh air, nice weather, big bed, room with a balcony. Big Salsa Party in Heidelberg on Wednesday. But after a week of spending too much time with 2 Hungarians and 1 Polish I feel like I need more privacy. But finally – the weekend has landed. Since I am not coming back to Poland for a weekend I had to arrange my time here in Germany. Just in case took my palm with GPS maybe to visit around. So I started planning and checking how far it is to some cities around. Chose HOME, calculating…, 450 km, 4 hours.
Hey Nacho, what are you doing this weekend? Are you in Brussels, can you sleep me over? I will be coming with a friend. What kind of party? Garden party, barbecue… Awesome! I’ll be there.
Hey Aurelie! You bitch, you never pick up! I am coming to Brussels for a weekend. Just to let you know. I hope to see you! Ciao!
So the story continues… Brussels again.
bez firmowej smyczy, karty magnetycznej, stołka w fabryce, stałej pensji, telefonu, garnituru i krawata, butów zasłaniających palce, wygaszacza ekranu ze zdjęciami z delegacji, premii rocznej, służbowej bryki, współdzielonego kalendarza, kodów dostępu, służbowej karty kredytowej, złotych kart hotelowych i samolotowych programów lojalnościowych, przepustki do biura klienta w dalekiej krainie, slotu na wakacje za pół roku, stuzłotowego talonu “na kulturę” z okazji świąt (z terminem ważności na pół roku), niewykorzystanego urlopu, tygodniowego sprawozdania do przłożonego, comiesięcznego spotkania teamu, dostępu do drukarki, krzesła z regulowanym oparciem, maszynki do kawy, co sobą reprezentujesz?
Moje i tak na codzień niestabilne życie zatrzęsło się zmianami reorganizacyjnymi. Piękny plan jak wycyckać Niemców wziął w łeb. Niemcy jak zwykle uderzyli pierwsi. :-)
Zmiany są dobre, zmiany są dobre, zmiany są dobre, zmiany są dobre…..
Eeeeeeeeetam.
2 następne tygodnie w fabryce w Niemczech. A potem mam nadzieję, że Sztokholm.
Mój tentygodniowy stan umysłu najlepiej oddaje kawałek: Praca na Saxach – Maleńczuk & Waglewski.
(6 am)
(this is my cow)
on the road:
Misol Ha:
Palenque:
Some town:
San Juan Chamula – the only town in Mexico where the Maya’s beliefs are mixed with catholig religion:
(I had no idea into what I had stepped into by taking a picture of this girl. You can already see it in her grin. She followed me for the next 10 minutes asking for money for this picture. And when I wanted to buy something from her instead of giving money she just refused. Left her with nothing.)
(Shoes shopping/kid feeding.)
Zinacantan:
(ready to fight… for a customer)
(two altars)
Veracruz:
(by night)
My weekend in Kraków.
Met a friend I haven’t seen for almost a year. She told me I have changed much. In a better way. More confident, more relaxed, more satisfied. And looking more manly. :-) Nice to hear that. I think I am much better than a year before. And A LOT changed. I am half a way to making one of my biggest dreams come true. And yes – I got older.
Kraków is a truely magical city. My first reaction when I got off the train station was that it smells different to Warsaw. Trees and the amazing Old Town. There is the photo month taking place at the moment, so there are lots of photography exhibitions all around the city. Visited a few of them – really great. Damn I am getting more and more into the culture thanks to my lovely friends.
I am staying at Ewa’s and Monika’s place. It is really great to interact with people doing something so different for living than myself. Have to be more open for people. I wish I had more friends like them.
I did some reading (The Devil and Miss Prym, P.Coelho) and again got really relaxed. I have to get away from Warsaw more often. To the unknown.
I have set purpose to do something creative or usefull everyday. I waste so much time everyday… I should learn something, write or work on my pics, or read, or whatever. The only acceptable excuses are traveling and interacting with people from whom I can learn something. I should try to work on self-development. And learn. And travel.
Time to see the Old Town by night. And have a beer perhaps.
Short term plan – weekend with friends in Krakow.
Long term plan – project in Stockholm (80% sure).
Both things came out of the blue. And both made me very happy. I need to run away from Warsaw for a while.
