Nov 20, 2007 - Sleepless in Rio

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Were I not well conditioned by budget travel, for sleeping under
difficult circumstances, I'd probably curse Rio for it's weekend long
music blaring from the hillside favelas (ghettos). The sound echos
across the valley, and must amplify somehow. And this was a holiday
weekend... so you can imagine...

However, let's just say that as far as noise goes, we gave the favelas (Brazilian ghettos) a little sound back last night during a roof top BBQ. There were 3
Americans (all of us currently residing at the house), 2 South
Africans, and mostly Cariocas (Rio locals) raising a ruckas. The view
was gorgeous, the meat tasty, beer plentiful, people lovely and
friendly (and patient Portugues teachers) and the temperatures balmy.

It all made today's clean up worthwhile, though Vicente (the cute guy
flashing the peace signs in the slideshow) and I stuggled to strap down
the uncooperative rooftop tarps, to protect against the coming wind and rain.
Tis the season! Given his hang over (Vodka & Redbull), he wasn't in
the mood for such challenges.

Speaking of rain... the moody sometimes rainy weather has curbed my
enthusiasm for touring Southern Brazil, and unless there's a great turn
in the weather, Ill probably soon be heading north to sunny Salvador,
Bahia.

Penang - Kali Temple Ceremony

Every once in awhile, one stumbles on wonderful vignettes of peoples lives that are so very different from one's own, that one is awestruck and feels blessed to bare witness. This was one of those times.

Like a the Pied Piper, the oboe like horn and drumming called me to the temple. I abandoned my barely consumed ice dessert, and ran across the crazy traffic to see what all the exotic racket was about. I'm so glad I did.

This is a ceremony where (mostly women) call upon the power of Kali. Kali has a natural affinity for women, and many are devotees. I was told by one local that fear of the wrath of Kali keeps Indian men faithful to their wives.