Mi vida

The last time I wrote here about what's happening in my life was not so many posts ago, but it has been more than 3 months.

Since then, I had a not so exciting december holidays and started working at the beginning of January. I'm currently working in a software development company, on a project for a travel agency (which is a beautiful premonition). My master plan is still to work this year and save some money to go to my next unknown destination.

I've been really busy just with my job, but I like what I'm doing, so it's no real sacrifice. Outside of my job I've been relatively busy also.

I worked in another short-movie 3 weeks ago. This time it was a special-effects-filled sci-fi comedy with more than 40 people working on set. A little different from my other film experience.

I played a futuristic sentinel for an evil telecomunications megacorporation (with a futuristic uniform and all). It might sound as a great role, but I was actually an extra. I found out the hard way that extras are not very appreciated in the professional film industry, so it was not as fun as my other experience, but interesting nonetheless.

I was waiting for the pictures to write about that, but the pictures are late as usual. As soon as I get them I will post some of them here.

For carnival I went to a small town named El Callao, famous for their carnivals and for their gold mining. It is very far from most of the venezuelan big cities, so you don't see many city people around there, even if their carnival is one of the most well-known in Venezuela. The celebration is basically drinking a lot of rum and dancing a lot of live-played calypso, with a lot of people, for 4 consecutive days. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot more to it, like some local traditions with afro-caribbean influences, the colourful parades, the giant moving soundsystems... but the drinking, the dancing, the music and the collective energy are what stands out. Pure and simple celebration

I took some pictures. None of them capture the magnitude of the celebration and chaotic spirit but you can get an idea of the place, the color and the people.

A morning parade

One of the sound-systems

Singing with the air-mic behind the giant sound system pushed by man-power

As Cristiano so truly said, I also have Istanbul on my veins, in my blood. It amazes me to still find out the impact that the experience had on me.

I can honestly say that I'm on a point of my life in which I feel happy and confident with who I am, where I come from and where I'm going, even if I haven't completely figured out that part yet. There is nothing extraordinary in my life right now for me to say that, but I've learned to appreciate what I have, and Istanbul and all of you are a big part of that.

So, that's my life now.

Love you all,

Basilio

ILLEGAL

Me and my friends going back home...

..::My second hand Life::..

My second hand life

Finally, after long month with no activity, suddenly with no apparent explanation 603 is back in action! This nostalgic place is quite comfortable for me?
Last 10th of February was the ephemerid of my arrival in Istanbul, I?m still amazed already passed one year ?
Is strange but a feel that Istanbul on veins? I?m all the time speaking about Istanbul, last week I bought a book with Turkish food receipts ? but I still not face that sacred place called kitchen.. But I will!
Anyway my life is more less the same that was before I left Porto but now knowing that there is a crazy world out there ?
I have classes everyday, almost every morning, after lunch normally I do some ?siesta? and I have more classes in the night until 23h00 (yeah Maarten until 23h00) ? weekend is for party? drinks some beers and be with Freddy, by the way I was with white Freddy, crazy guy he is?
I just came back from the carnival vacations I went to Granada, Andaluzia Spain, I was there for five days. Mad city very cosmopolitan people from everywhere, and that Spanish way life, u know ?tapas? sangria. Was 5 days of excesses crazy Freddy was there again. The hotel was really bad (and really cheap) and in a night somehow I made a blackout in the hotel ? but in the next day when I woke up everything was all right. There is not so much to tell about it ?drunk nights hang over days only in the last morning we did tourism, we went to Alhambra (A Muslim / Christian Palace and a mini city) it is enormous but was there only 2 hours, for a proper visit you need one day .. however we were too tired to walk? and it was waiting for us 1000 km by car?

Peace! I miss u all my brothers?

Cris!

what is your life?

My god, this time last year what were we doing? Complaining about the snow and slush of the fucking hill. Feeling freakin depressed about the Kasimpasha dorm situation...or were we moved in by then? Partying it up till 6 in the morning at Sawady, downing vodka and Efes while chain smoking into oblivion........good times my friends.

Just going through a period of reflection and wanted to shout out and say what the hell is going on you guys' lives right now?

I'm out on the West Coast, livin the Vancouver laid back life and I'm lovin it, it's just so perfectly me. I mean, it's Feb, there's no snow, you can go jogging along the beach, while taking in the beautiful mountains and downtown skyline......this is it....the life.

And so what is your life?

keepin it real
Mon

In the meantime...

I have a couple of posts on my mind to put here soon, but in the meantime, here is my second piece of the Trigger Happy series. More magical realism stills from moving cars.

I tooked this one last december in Maracaibo, the most representative city and people for the magical-realism side of Venezuela.

It's called: 'Stairways to Heaven'

More 603 in Bollywood

Hey, I just found another sample of that great Bollywood movie

Take a look

603 becoming famous

Hey everybody!

First of all I would like to wish you a Happy New Year! Everything great for 2006!

Yes! It is true! 603 is becoming fanous in Portugal! Yesterday I was interviwed for a TV programm that is made by my school tv team! I was asked about my ERASMUS experience in Turkey and of course I had to speak about 603! Unfortunatly that part was excluded from what actually passed on TV BUT... the chose some photos of you and I think that almost everybody appeared! And yes...Basilio...in one of the photos you appeared on the first plan! From those we could see in the interview my favorite is one of those we are innocently drinking all together something in white Bilgi tea glasses...Unfortunatly the only one who for sure didn't appear is Freddy but I guess he will understand!
I am sorry that I didn't tell anybody before but... I didn't really want everybody to know! :) But I promess I will get the DVD of the programm and somehow I will share it with you! Sorry Cris but I think that you won't see it again on TV!

I don´t know about you guys but when a New Year is about to begin I usually take some time to think about the past year and the one that is coming...you know thinking about what I did wrong, the great things that happened, the things I should avoid for the coming year...
Well this year while I was getting ready to go out and celebrate the New Year with some friends I realized that I hadn't done it yet... I stoped for a second and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked behind me. There was that bottle of coca cola light that I had been carrying with me for the past 2 hours waiting for the next room to which I would take it. Next to it...that hair straightener that I offered myself for Chrismas was ready to use! And the only thing that came up to my mind was this: "I LOVE IT"!!!!!!!!! Right now you might be thinking: "What the fuck is she smoking?"... Nothing, don't worry!!! Freddy is sleeping!
It made me remenber how I used to make fun of Nikki, that american girl who couldn't survive without her hair straightener and who always loves everything. And how many times did I think "what is going on with those girls?" everytime I would see Iva and Sara hanging around with their bottles of coca cola light! OH GOD!!!! I couldn't believe it!
Well that made me remember the first and unique post of my blog (!!!):

<>

Now some decisions/resolutions for 2006:

_ After all I decided that I am going to do my internship in Spain (probably Sevilla) instead of Belguim

_ I am going to keep my blog updated!

_ And It is enought for now!!!!!

Big Big hugs! Natercia

Tech tip that will make your blogging life 603 oz. better

I was recently chatting with Cris! and I realized about a problem that some of you may have. With so many blogs to check nowadays (like 1/3 of the members of this blog have blogs of their own) it's too much time consuming to check every one of them, every now and then, to see if there is an update. I solve that problem some time ago and the purpose of this post is try to share some of that wisdom.

There are several ways to get notified about new posts. I added a few buttons at the left menu under "603 subscriptions". With this buttons you can subscribe to this blog via google, yahoo, or a few other "subscribers" (at the "readers" button).

Taking the google subscriber as an example, since it is the one I use, this is the howto step by step:
(Note that you need a gmail or google account to do this. You can do the same with yahoo if you have a yahoomail account)
1. Click on the "Add to google button"
2. You then have two options. You can choose any of them to subscribe, but for the purpose of this explanation choose "Add to Google Homepage".
3. After login you can customize your google homepage and add more blogs, news, your gmail inbox, and many other things

The beauty of this is that you can subscribe to any blog that provides a feed (basically every blog available in the web right now). All the "603 blogs" have feeds, since Blogger provides this.

As an example of how it looks like, this is my Google Homepage (Note that I have all your blogs right there. Yes, I love you all)


To add more feeds to your homepage go to the "Add Content" link and then, in "Create section" insert the feed url. To make things easier for you, here are all the feed urls of the 603 blogs:

* Aakash: http://aakash.nomadlife.org/atom.xml
* Ash: http://finiteabyss.blogspot.com/atom.xml
* Iva: http://ivuskawalterova.blogspot.com/atom.xml
* Monica: http://monicastravels.com/atom.xml
* Natercia: http://naterciasantos.blogspot.com/atom.xml
* Nate: http://itsbacon.blogspot.com/atom.xml
* Nikki: http://sweetpickledelight.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Just copy/paste each one you want under the "Create Section" textbox and click the button

To return to your newly customized goggle homepage go to: http://www.google.com/ig

If you any problems or questions let me know

New Year's Resolution and Coming Atractions

* Bring this blog back to life

Everything seems too calm around here. I guess everybody was enjoying the holydays enough to not be around a computer. I wish it was my case but that's another matter.

I found out about something that I know all of you would love to hear, but I will let Natercia write about it. I just know that tonight I had a brief appereance with Natercia in a tv program in Portugal... and very likely some of you also did.

Cristiano also has an interesting proposal coming that involves all of you. But he has to write about it also.

I'm sure Aakash has something to write about his holydays in India

As for me, I just have a boring blog tutorial coming, but at least something.

That's the coming attractions for now

Going public...

I have been blogging for some time, not too actively but from time to time I would write sth new. However, since my computer sux with its Windows 98 and no memory what-so-ever I was waiting to get another computer to put up pix and other goodies before making my blog public. But while procrastinating I managed to make it a bit better lookin and figured I cld share now.. but since its quite difficult to share if noone knows about it, I figured I should also let some ppl know, so I am.. its on ivuskawalterova.blogspot.com

For the ppl, who sent me emails and to whom I havent managed to reply, I am sorry I have just been so busy with school but will try to be a better friend soon...

I don't know how to explain...

I just know, this guy is from south!!!

The Saga continues

Okay, I have been quiet for a while, but have been grappling with some decisions. Some of you might know that I was offered an extended contract with a proper salary in my company. The work has got interesting and I have grown in my role. A bit of travel thrown here and there always helps. All in all, I have enjoyed my stint and have decided to extend till June 2006. I am sorry El-Padrino, I will break your record. Planning to rent an apartment downtown and move in to live a more settled life. Now all of you know that you have a house in Istanbul anytime you want to visit!

Will look forward.

Egypt Calling...!

First time in Egypt, there from the 30th Nov-8th December. Alexandria for two days and then Cairo for 6, the pyramids, the mummies, the nile, the sheesha...and more, cant wait!

Going to speak at a conference on Youth Education and the role of business representing Microsoft at a major conference for the first time, excited & a few butterflies, hopefully all should be smooth!

Finished a year in Turkey yesterday which ofcourse requires a separate post, but as a side note, I was cooked a surprise dinner by a bunch of sweet portuguese girls - Orgasmus ! Natercia reminded me of you here!

Graduation Ceremony

Yesterday took place my graduation ceremony and today I'm officially a computer engineer.

I wanted to pay a little tribute in this day to all of you, istanbul trainees and orgasmus, recreating the famous Cristiano´s photo pose, with my brother, just after the ceremony and in full costume. So here it is.

You know you're an Istanbul trainee when...

I recently posted on my blog "You know you're in Costa Rica when..) and thought it would be cool to do the same for this blog so here it is my 5 cents to start the list....

You know you're an Istanbul trainee when....

You are so broke that you do the following to save a lira:

1. cook for 2 hours every night
2. walk considerable distances and fucking hills instead of hopping in a taxi or bus
3. consider playing guitar on Istiklal to collect donations
4. consume as much Efes and Freddy as possible before heading out on the town and only agreeing to go to clubs that don't charge cover
5. pretend to be an Istanbul trainee so that you can sleep in the dorms

End of the world

Quite hilarious, check it out

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/end.php

Cheers!

Girls nites comment

I cant make comments specifically to a certain blog, but I had to share my comment, so doing it this way:
Bobby if u r so annoyed with all the girl's nites talk,emails etc. why r u polluting the blog with it too?? Look what it turned into! (Although it was really nice to see a pic from one of the good ones, netercia!)

About Girls' Night...

I think those nights are very funny...

Girls decide to go out all together and don't accept that any male friend goes out with them...or at least that is what they say! Well, then you have several types of "girls' nights"...

1st type(and the most acceptable): it happens when there are many girls in a place or when they are not often together... they don't have time to really know each other so they decide to go out and have a nice conversation around a beer or some beers in order to know each others better.... They just want to have time together... Now the reader might be thinking: <> NO! Absolutly not! Cause when boys are around we can't really speak the same way we would speak with 20 guys around and there would be many groups...so it would be impossible to really meet each other...

2nd type: there are not that many nor as devided as in the first type... They actually know each others well... They don't NEED time for each other but they just want to do something "different" and if it can call the attention of male friends...well it is even better. Actually some girls even do this on purpose to call the attention of some guys... and deep in their heart they hope the guys will try to find in which bar they are... and so on and so on.... The funniest thing is that guys don't usually do that! They don't care at all... thay have a beer all together or just stay at home watching a nice movie!

In his type you can often find one or two "breakers"..those girls are usually a little bit less stupid and don't go to those parties cause they know they wouln't have fun and would have to speaking about nothing but GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

3rd type: this one is really...HOT, let's say! And it is really better for the guys not to go...they would dicover their female friends as they would never imagine! No! it doesn't include any homosexual things!!!! Girls go out together and they dress really sexy... they go to a nice bar first and then they go to a disco...full of people and with crazy music so that they can show their hability do dance! The objectives of those paries are not at all to know the other girls... NOT AT ALL...cause they already know each others pretty well...they just go out to meet new guys... and you might imagine the end of the night!

Obviously...there is ONE similarity in all those type: girls ALWAYS apeak about guys...in some types more in others less...but guys are always in the summary of the meeting!!!

That is not new: everybody knows it!!!! And those who don't admit it are just too young or little liers!!!!! hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!

Finally, as Aakash said we had one it was nice...Here is a photo...

Take care!

Natercia

Girls Nights!

There is this very 'gay' discussion going around about these girls nights, the same ones they used to have when you guys were around...I just replied to it...posted below find my reply to the email discussion about 'Girls nights'

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi all chicks!
Sorry but I couldnt resist commenting the following after reading your reactions and discussions

How can you have good cocktails...without the cocks around !!

Think about that for a moment...enjoy none the less, these moments are rare!

And I will have a good friday night dont worry...tell you why...cause I have fred with me, and when I have fred, I dont need anyone else !! (Ask your girls at the party what it means)

Cheers N Britney Spears...your cocky Indian Turk!
Aakash

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You can look at istanbul trainees for more details

Chagall

Chagall is the name of a 20th century russian painter and also the title of the short film that is keeping me very busy lately. Wednesday we will finish shooting and then start post-production.

The film is basically about Martin, a fashion photographer that is going blind and falls in love with Lucia, a girl who is also interested in photography and is a very good cook. There is an intense relationship between them with a lot of photography, food, sex, and some betrayal and reconciliation involved.

Yesterday we worked for more than 12 hours and I took some pictures at the beginning of the day in one of the sets. Here are some pictures of the opening scene where Martin, the protagonist, is working in a photo session.

The director of photography doing some tests with the actors.

It almost looks like I'm posing to show my turkish t-shirt but it's all a coincidence. I talked about my time in Turkey a lot that day too, but that's not a coincidence since I do that almost everyday.

The set in the middle of the shooting.