This one goes out to “backpackers to be” - Pleasentville

Put pics later. Something wrong here...

I was watching “PLEASENTVILLE" the other day and, all of a sudden, something came to my mind again: IGNORANCE is so comforting. It is so not to do what will change your routine, what will make you think more, have ideas, realize you are not happy....

"WHAT?

I'm the happiest person in the world! I live in a great country, i have a great family, great friends, my computer, my car, my cable, my games, my Ipod, my pool, my dog, my clean laundry, my junk food, my club to party, my mountain, my money, my girl or boyfriend...."

Oh, boy! You own a lot, huh? So many things to worry about...
Yeah! We usually worry about things we own. So, let me just put it clean to you:

You own nothing! And “be something” is just a “state”, not a permanent thing.

Nothing is forever and answering to my beloved Freddie's song, I'd love to live forever, but I won't. We won't, dear.

I'd say that live longer and be happy depends on our “bamboo flexibility”. How much can you bend until you break? Are you an oak or a bamboo? The steadier you think you are, bigger the damage. I'm talking about psychological matters. The younger you try different things, sooner you'll realize the importance of flexibility, indifference towards some possessions, and that we really need less than we think we do.

Backpacking teaches a lot. It is a traveling style where you put in your bag the essential for the living, let's say, for a couple of months away from home.

Of course there are no rules to backpack, but, BUT, if you follow some steps you'll experience things other travellers will probably never go through. Good AND Bad. You'll agree with me when I say that all experiences improve the spirit, right? Well, let's read our “rules”:
1 – Try to travel alone for once – Then you'll see you are never alone
2 – Try to travel to a country other than the one you live in – This way you'll get along with other cultures and realize things you thought were weird or normal have another meaning elsewhere
3 – Try to get to know a lot about the place you'll visit before you get there – It's like a literature course where the teacher asks you about that book he gave you to read before his class and wants to discuss it with you. The thing is the teacher this time will be yourself, and the slides will be the world. Of course you'll also meet a bunch of teachers and students around to discuss that world with you.
4 – Try to camp or stay in hostels – Then you'll meet people from all over the world, learn some words in english, french, russian, german, portuguese, spanish, polish,indian, arabic, greec....you choose. You also, certainly, will be invited to join groups, go to wherever someone is going and invite people to go out with you. You'll learn that nothing is forever and that the sneakers that are smelling in the room today, will be far far away tomorrow. You'll be happy about the smell, but maybe, sorry about the owner who was that great guy, or sexy girl that left with it.
5 – Spend as much as you can in things that have a true meaning for your life like museums, good experiences, one or two parties, an exoctic food, a great ride, things like that. If you start shopping all the time you'll spend your time in futile things when you should have been learning about life; yours and other's. Remember that your backpack will get heavier as the time passes and you should empty it, not fill it with new clothes and stuff you could buy at home or on the net. Use money wisely. Bacpacking can teach you a lot about it. Mostly when you don't travel with loads of it.
6 – Talk to people on the streets. Try some words in other language – then you'll see people like to help and are proud of having people visiting the country they live in.
7 – Remember: this is a temporary liberty in the routine life we live. Enjoy it. If you have a problem on the way, don't suffer(a lot); solve it. Then you'll see how you can actually think straight.
8 – When you get back home you'll feel the improvement. Maybe move, change your habits, respect more the differences, be a better person, be a professional backpacker - hahaha
9 – Try to understand that meeting, learning, getting to know is what really matters – Life is too short to be waisted with your headphone, your PERSONAL Computer, your pool, your life.

Join life in the world cause you are part of the energy of the world.

10 - The problems you have at home are nothing compared to your life experience after backpacking. Everything you saw, you learned, you had been through, will make you stronger and wiser. Many things don't have the importance we give to them. Life can be softer.

11 - Travel light - no beauty products, 3 pair of high heel shoes, 5 dresses, 3 changes of jeans. Learn to wash the little you bring, huh!

And come to Brazil, of course. Say “hello” to me in Louvercity!

Cheers and watch the TRAVELBUG Video which express perfectly the spirit of

BACKPACKING around the world.

Take care, you guys!

"What is outside of Pleasentville?"

"There are some places where the road keeps going."

"Keeps going?"

"Yeah! All keeps going, like roads and rivers and...."

Keep on going, guys.

Keep on going.

V for Verônica

BACKPACKERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD: WELCOME TO BRASIL!

People from the Orkut Community "Eber, I wanna backpack"- Eber, quero fazer um mochilão

Hallo, good people from all over the world! I’m sorry I’m writing only in english, but as it is still an international language to communicate with other peoples(thanks to the Brits), and the one I domain quite well, let me greet you for, at least intending to visit Brasil AS A BACKPACKER. And let me talk a bit about this traveling style here.

Brazilians are not used to backpack.

Today some TV shows, tourism agencies and the few experienced backpackers we have here are trying to bring this style to the youngsters, at least.

Brazilians have a visiting family culture and agency tourism culture, which restricts a lot the adventurous spirit and the curiosity for the unknown. Brazilians are happy to be among people they know and places they is used to be. We have several resorts here, invading nature, so, you don’t have the need to invade it. Wonderful beds in hotels and bathrooms out of Hollywood movies. That’s what this people like! Believe it! They want something different from what they have in their homes. Luxury. And they want someone, like a teacher guiding them to knowledge. But not that much knowledge! Come on! They’re on vacation and want to toast under the sun and go to parties at night. That’s what the youngsters think too! They choose now, instead of a party for graduation, a trip to PORTO SEGURO, in Bahia, where they will have parties everyday and drink a lot and possibly return a "mother or father".

About the elders
They are mostly living dead. They have to pay for their medicines and there’s no money for anything else. But, is it true or do the press don’t tell about possibilities? Do Brazilians at least search for a better life with more excitement, more knowledge, more discoveries?

As Fernandinha, my dear friend told me once, we are still fruit of the 70’s where we had remote control coming, more cars, telephone and traveling agencies allowing the ordinary citizen to travel abroad. The thing is hotels and restaurants are more lucrative than taking someone to a museum, or to trek in the jungle.


Now I'm gonna tell somethings about this people from Brasil.
What we usually don’t do here and what you better not do:

• Most people can’t speak English or any other language, BUT we’ll do everything to understand you;
• This is not a hitchhike friendly country. It’s not easy to get a ride and it’s not recommended unless you can speak the language and you know where you are.


• Some people don’t like when you ask if brazilians speak Spanish. Study about any country you travel avoiding embarrassment. By the way, we speak portuguese, but the accent and some words are totally different from the portuguese spoken in PORTUGAL.
  

"Why so serious?"

• Like any other big city there is danger of robbery, assault, etc, in capitals, mostly. Don’t walk like a tourist and don’t wear not even a watch. Be discreet with your guide book and don’t walk with lots of money.
• Don’t buy tourist stuff at the beginning of your trip. You’ll probably make friends in the middle of the journey and will get many gifts. We like to give. If not, buy your souvenirs at the end of the trip and ask people about the cheapest places.
• Don’t trust the traffic lights. Drivers are very wild and disrespect pedestrians. And they will curse you if you are on their way!!! Haha! Be careful.
• Don’t leave your things unattended anywhere. Not even in the hostel. Get locks to your things.
• Try not to speak your language out loud. Some crook can hear you are a foreigner and immediately think $MONEY$.
• The south and southeast are more developed than the northern part. It’s easier to meet people who can speak english and spanish.
• Don’t get crazy with our good food or you’ll be out of budget very soon. The food is really good!!!
• Don’t think every Brazilian woman is a potential prostitute. Even more if you are in big cities like São Paulo, Curitiba, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, and many more places. We are a smiling people and we touch a lot. That doesn’t mean we want to do “something more”. Of course you’ll probably find these “professionals” during your trip, but don’t think they’re everywhere. And don’t ask to someone if she/he is one! Just respect and enjoy the pleasure of kisses on the cheek and some pats on your shoulder, or leg. Maybe even a warm hug. This will probably mean friendship. I like you. You’re a good person. That’s it.
• If you are a typical european or united states citizen, people will immediately realize you are a tourist. Don’t let it happen. Try to change something you are wearing, because we have all kinds of people here and maybe a change of style can do the trick.
• Try not to be tempted to do some “tours” while you are here. You probably know what tour I’m talking about. Something like a tour to GAZA? I think you got it.
• Don’t let people charge you more because you are foreigner. It can happen. If you are in the northeast, there are much more probabilities. I have a friend (and she’s Brazilian) that was overcharged for fruits at one street market in João Pessoa, Paraíba. She is blond and tall. When she spoke in portuguese arguing about the price, the attendant was amazed and excused herself saying she “thought she was a tourist”!!!

What we usually do and you better do:

• We kiss on the cheek (two or three times)people we hardy know. You better kiss back!!! Hahahah
• We show affection everywhere. Not pornographic, but expressive. We are close talkers.
• We ask a lot about intimate life. Be kind if you don’t want to talk about it, or diverge. Brazilians can be very emotive because they’re just making conversation.
  
• Most young people you make friends with like to invite travelers to dine at their homes, and they will serve you Brazilian food. You’ll love it. Don’t have to bring anything, but it will be charming if you come with a beverage. We are not a “bring your food and drink with you” people.
  Renoir, a Leitora
• Be sure you learn some basic words in Portuguese. People will be very happy to know you’re trying your best to know more about this country.
• If you need information, better talk to the police, young people or try a store. And, of course the Tourist Information Centre(put some adresses in São Paulo).
• We have hostels here and they are pretty nice. And we also have the ACCOR’s hotel web that has interesting prices.
• Try to do most of the things by yourself. After all, you’re a backpacker!
  The nature here is amazing and you’ll be bewitched by many beaches and bucolic landscapes, but there are many cultural themes here as well. Remember to study our history and probably you’ll find out that your great great grandpa was in Paranapiacapa helping to build the railway as we were a colony for Europeans, like, dutchs, Portuguese, English, and later on we had a great number of Japanese, german, Spanish and Italians arriving here and staying.
• We respect the elders like giving seats and letting them pass first when standing in line, things like that.
• We greet people before asking for information.
  If you go to a restaurant see if they charge on the bill 10% for the waiter.
• We don’t give tips to taxi drivers nor to “throwers”. You’re a backpacker. Don’t use them. Only if you feel like they deserve some extra money.
*************Gay Parade in São Paulo

• Big cities in the south are relatively gay friendly and it's prejudice to discriminate them in public places, but we have some specif areas where you guys can feel more comfortable and you find them on line, in papers and magazines. There are lots of places!
  
• "It's on me!"
• If you go to a bar with new friends, share the bill. They will possibly not let you pay. Be quiet….hahhhaha! And thank them for the kindness.

Brazilians have a family spirit and that means you'll be treated like us while you're here. Our mother will be your mother and our friends will be your friends. Ask anyone who has already been here. It's true. There's still love and caring in some places. Hope we find many others like this.

Cheers and be always welcome in this country that belongs to all of us like the whole world!!!

Success!

V for Verônica