about apsie & marieke

Van 0907-Bucharest-July2009

hoi hoi here I am again for the second time today :-)

I'm not going to post a full list of my reliable friends here :-) that would be troublesome hehe! 

But I want you to know that Apsie & Marieke are, without doubt, also in the list of reliable friends. Just in case they might read the blog and wonder what my thoughts about them are :-)

counting hugs,

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About Quinten

Van 0907-Bucharest-July2009

Today, Quinten showed that he's a real true friend, he answered my request to come and advise me (about the roof of the renovated house) and was there when I needed him.

Thank you, Quinten :-) you're a gem :-) 

Shouldn't we all, from time to time, review our list of friends, and keep it updated? If only in our mind? I'm still counting :-) 

I have 2 hands, and both of them contain 5 fingers. Will I reach the number of 10 confirmed reliable friends?

Stay tuned :-)

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DIOR !!!! friendship vs. networking, and my retreat from FB

Van 0907-Bucharest-July2009

Dior! A powerful brand in fashion industry. Tonight, we watched a documentary about the guy, and about how much he valued friendship, and what friendship ment to him and his friends.

It was touching. Obviously, Christian Dior wouldn't have been alive without his friends: he was seriously ill when young, and his friends raised money to get him healed, even though they were in need of money themselves. Heartwarming.

I'm afraid this kind of friendship is dead. It no longer exists but in my heart. For me, I prefer to die if I can make my friend live. Friendship is for me of the highest importance. Which also means I have little real friends, of course, only the really connected ones are in the circle of my heart. 

But nowadays (I know I might sound like an old fool) friendship is replaced by networking. Sharing the ups and downs of chainpersons in your network. Giving and taking and hoping to benefit. 

With all due respect, this is not the kind of friendship that is in my heart. Facebook is the best example of this social networking. As a test, I was connected to it for a month or so, to see how it goes. It was really disappointing, a total waste of time, with only few exceptions. I left it, of course ... and no doubt my subscription will live forever?

Meanwhile, I count my blessings ... my partner HL, my (few) real friends, and I gently but firmly decided to stop adding new internetfriends, as a general rule, with only few exceptions. I eagerly joined internet in its first years, nowadays I try to shelter myself from it, to a certain extend.

How are you feeling about this topic? What is your idea about friendship and networking and socialising in the facebook-manner? Let me know :-)

huggies,

PAULBAVO

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being and feeling and acting free is sometimes ... a heap of trouble!

http://www.stevesullivan.co.uk/clips/heaptrouble.mov

Watch it! you'll love this short clip :-)

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overall impressions of Bucharest

Van 0907-Bucharest-July2009

So, the Bucharest Experience is behind us, we are safe & sound back in Belgium. What are our overall experiences?

First of all, it still is a very poor country. We have read in the newspapers that people don't get paid anymore due to the global crisis, and the population starts throwing eggs and other projectiles to their politicians. They mean business. They are a proud folk, and they still dress up as nice as they can, but if you look closer, the dresses are inappropriate, too old, or too big, or too black for the heat of the summer. The people keeps its head up high, but social unrest is clearly boiling under the surface.

Second, the actual generation still lives in the past, where the state was supposed to do everything for them. Slowly slowly it is improving, and you see individuals pop up, who take initiative, but there's still a long way - and many more generations - to go, I'm afraid.

Third, it's a lovely country, if you can live with the inconveniences. The hotel we stayed in was absolutely acceptable: reasonable prices because not in the centre of the city (in the citycentre, prices reach Western European levels without the adequate service), good food, acceptable service (if you can live with the initial coldness of the staff, fortunately that warms up if they get to know you a little bit better). The pool was absolutely lovely. Our complaints were quickly dealt with. Public transport is abundant, although you won't always find a seat. Lots and lots of things to see. And very remarquable, almost no gypsies during this trip, they must hide them somewhere hehehe!

So, you might see us back there :-) We can live with the inconveniences, and we appreciate the bonuses :-) HL didn't exchange our remaining money, he clearly plans to go back there :-)

Just a short memo ... one of the guys told us that the dead still get a coin on their tongue, to pay for the ferry to the here-after ... woohoo!!!! The Myth of the Styx lives forever :-)

And while it was so hot & dry during our stay in Bucharest, when we returned to Belgium and Gent, we were welcomed by a cooling drizzle :-) Welcome back to Belgium, rain land by excellence, naturally airconned country  :-)

wet hugs,

PB

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The Nutcracker (no porn)

Van 0907-Bucharest-July2009

whoops, it was so funny when I received that email about The Nutcracker (a ballet with music by Tsjaikovski) and the sender was so afraid of hatemail that he had to mention explicitely that it was not pornographic :) we live in weird times :-)

And weird times we had today too! We wanted to visit Palatul Parlamentului (Parliament Palace, also commonly known as Casa Poporului). Up we went, first a bus then the underground, then a nice stroll, and we were standing in front of this huge monumental building. Huge is an understatement, really, it's incredibly big.

It was built during the darkest days of the Ceausescu regime. Standing 84 m. above ground level on 12 floors, the building housed all the dark and torturous organs of the communist state. 

My tourist guide (http://bucharest.inyourpocket.com) told me that the entrance for the public tour was at the left hand of the building, if you're looking at it front-on. Left we went. Entrance after entrance was not open for the public, the guards told us that we needed the right hand side. So we walked all around the compound (an hour stroll, I guess) to reach the correct entrance. In we went.

- Hi, we would like to visit the palace, can we buy tickets here?

- The ticket bureau is over there.

- Yes we noticed, but it's closed, there's no-one inside (friendly smile) :-)

- Wait, my colleague will arrive in a minute.

We waited patiently. Half an hour later a lady announced that the English tour was going to commence.

- Hello, we would like to buy tickets and join the English tour but the ticket bureau is still closed.

- Wait, my colleague will arrive in a minute.

- Yes you told us that half an hour ago.

- Do you have reservations?

- No, would we be waiting here otherwise?

- You'll have to wait.

- OK, I guess we'll miss this tour, when will be the next tour?

- You'll have to ask my colleague in the ticket bureau.

- The one that will arrive in a minute?

- Yes.

Convinced by the discouraging effect of such a customer-unfriendly burocracy, though feeling a bit nut-cracked, we quickly decided to cancel the tour, and spend our money on shopping :-) We had a wonderful time in the free commercial world where customers are treated like valued guests :-) 

Nutcracking hugs,

PB

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Saint Nicholas Student's Church

Van 0907-Bucharest-July2009

or, in the local language, Sfantul Nicolae Biserica Studentilor is the most gorgeous church in Bucharest. It's built in 1905-1909 with a 600.000,00 gold rouble donation from Tsar Alexander II, and it's topped with 7 typical onion domes and crowned with an orthodox cross. The wooden, gold-gilded iconostasis is allegedly a copy of the altar in Arhangelsk Cathedral, in Moscow's Kremlin !

And for the rest we strolled in the old city centre ... lovely. Many beautiful things and persons ... see the pix :-)

huggies,

PB

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Bucharest .... jumping to a new millenium?

Van 0907-Bucharest-July2009

hello! you find us in Bucharest, Romania now. A strange mixture of Middle Ages and Modern Times. Young boys still slep wood inside the house to survive the cold of winter. Meanwhile, the most posh cars terrorise the streets, and we have internet in the room :-)

We like Bucharest very much, because it shows us both our roots and the present, at the same time, in the same glimpse. 

It's incredibly hot here, the real blast of Continental Summer, 37°C in the shadow, and we walk for miles and miles. No need to say that we drink liters and liters of the famous Romanian bottled water, very yummy, excellent stuff and quite affordable.

We stroll street in, street out, following a flexible plan. We don't hunt for the touristic destinations, described in the books, we want to explore the city as it is. 

And after a day of enless walking, we return to our safe heaven, the hotel, where the pool waits for us and offers our aching muscles a lovely relaxation, and the complimentary snacks & drinks (only complimentary after making some comments about the amount of luxury a club level should offer) refreshen our palet and stomach.

The pictures speak for itself ... follow the link above !!

huggies,

PB

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constructive day!

Van Bangkok-April2009

today was extremely constructive!

I repaired the terrace floor in the garden, and in order to do that we had to drive first to Makro so that I could buy the tools. 

The work made a lot of noise and dust, but nobody complained, so I was able to finish it all, and even mowe the lawn! 

It made me realise that I really love to do construction work, it pleases me very much. If it were better paid, I'd close my law firm and start a construction business !!!

Are you good in working with your hands too?

huggies,

PB

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Chennai Rainbow Coalition welcomes Delhi High Court Verdict on Section 377 of IPC

Van Budapest[Hungary]-May2009

Chennai Rainbow Coalition welcomes Delhi High Court Verdict on Section 377 of IPC

Contacts: Aniruddhan, The Shakti Center (98840-17695), Sunil Menon, Sahodaran (93810-16129)


Chennai Rainbow Coalition welcomes the Delhi High Court ruling of July 2, 2009, that decriminalizes consensual same-sex behavior among adults. The judgement, long awaited, lends new hope to millions of homosexual, bisexual and transgender Indians who have had to bear the unjust burden of criminality imposed by an obsolete colonial law.

Though a High Court verdict, it is an important precedent that has nation-wide implications for equality, non-discrimination, dignity and inclusiveness for all in society, as envisioned by Jawaharlal Nehru.

The Coalition urges the progressive Tamil Nadu government to take the lead in initiating similar measures in the state.

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will you get all answers correct??????

Van Venice-June2009

A Madam Teacher was having trouble with one of her students in 1st Grade class. Madam asked,'Boy. what is your problem?'

Boy answered, 'I'm too smart for the first-grade. My sister is in the third-grade and I'm smarter than she is! I think I should be in the 4th Grade!'

Madam had enough. She took the Boy to the principal's office. While the Boy waited in the outer office, madam explained to the principal what the situation was. The principal told Madam he would give the boy a test and if he failed to answer any of his questions he was to go back to the first-grade and behave. She agreed.

The Boy was brought in and the conditions were explained to him and he agreed to take the test.

Principal: 'What is 3 x 3?'
Boy.: '9'.


Principal: 'What is 6 x 6?'
Boy.: '36'.


And so it went with every question the principal thought a 4th grade should know. The principal looks at Madam and tells her, 'I think Boy can go to the 4th grade.'

Madam says to the principal, 'I have some of my own questions. 
Can I ask him ?' The principal and Boy both agreed.


Madam asks, 'What does a cow have four of that I have only two of'?

Boy, after a moment 'Legs.'


Madam: 'What is in your pants that you have but I do not have?'

Boy.: 'Pockets.'



Madam: What starts with a C and ends with a T, is hairy, oval, delicious and contains thin whitish liquid?

Boy.: Coconut


Madam: What goes in hard and pink then comes out soft And sticky?

The principal's eyes open really wide and before he could stop the answer, Boy was taking charge.

Boy.: Bubblegum


Madam: What does a man do standing up, a woman does sitting down and a dog does on three legs?

The principal's eyes open really wide and before he could stop the answer..

Boy.: Shake hands



Madam: You stick your pole inside me. You tie me down to get me up. I get wet before you do.

Boy.: Tent



Madam: A finger goes in me. You fiddle with me when you're bored. The best man always has me first.

The Principal was looking restless, a bit tense and took one large Patiala Vodka peg.

Boy.: Wedding Ring

Madam: I come in many sizes. When I'm not well, I drip. When you blow me, you feel good.

Boy.: Nose



Madam: I have a stiff shaft. My tip penetrates. I come with a quiver.

Boy.: Arrow

Madam: What word starts with a 'F' and ends in 'K' that means lot of heat and excitement?

Boy.: Fire truck

Madam: What word starts with a 'F' and ends in 'K' & if u don't get it, u have to use ur hand.

Boy.: Fork

Madam: What is it that all men have one of it's longer on some men than on others, the pope doesn't use his and a man gives it to his wife after they're married?

Boy.: SURNAME.

Madam: What part of the man has no bone but has muscles, has lots of veins, like pumping, & is responsible for making love ?

Boy.: HEART.

The principal breathed a sigh of relief and said to the teacher,

'Send this Boy to the University !!!! 

I got the last ten questions wrong myself!'