Varanassi - One of Indias holies citys built around the holy Ganges. Taking a boatride on the ganges in early sunrise, you will witness the whole lifecykle of Indian life. By the "ghats" (stairs down to the river) you see people swiming, doing yoga as well as laundry, kids playing and dead bodies burning. Varanassi is the most holy town place to die in, and many people come here to burn their relatives on the Ganges. Varanassi is also a very beautiful town with many tourists, and the contrast between Indian commercialism and holiness can sometimes be very stunning. Walking pass one of the "Burning ghats" i met a salesman who tried to catch my attention with the following phrase:"There are the burning bodies - here's my shop"...My stay in Varanassi was also skillfully planned to include a 3 day lecture of his holiness Dalai Lhama. The lecture was a very high level Tibetan buddist lecture, and over 10 000 people were gathered for the speach, which was given in Tibetan, but translated realtime into english.
Well, enough said about this paradise for photographers. Here are the pictures from I N D I A:
2006/12/20 Varanassi - India at it's best
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/104696.29c7689c6b0
and a few pics from my place in Goa:
2006/12/25 GOA, India
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/104700.ea2fcefd623
That's it for now... Happy new year to you all, once again!
/Marcus
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Friday, December 29, 2006
Happy New Year from Goa, India!
Beaches, Tshirt and beautiful sunset from the balcony. Feels great to be catching some sun now after all the adventure of the Himalayas. After my last letter i went on a mountain-trekk in Nepal for 2 weeks, and got a small glimpse of mountaineering! We were trekking the Annapurna circuit which is a 14 day trekk around the mountain of Annapurna. The trekk follows a donkey-track through small rural remote villages which are totally inaccessible for any vehicle. It starts off at 700 meters above sea level, and passes the worlds highes pass on 5400 meters. Some of the views along the route are just to die for, so check the pictures from this adventure into the WILDerness. ;-)
2006/11/15-30 Trekking in Nepal - Mountain Annapurna
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/104061.78351b09974
Straight down from the baron and cold mountains of Nepal, i decided to do a 10 day meditationcourse in the Vipassana tradition. To be able to learn the technique, a hard diciplin had to be followed. During the 10 days none of us were allowed to speak, make gestures, read, communicate, consume any intoxicants or have physical contact. The day starts at 4 o clock in the morning, and then follows 12 hours of sceduled meditation untill the day ends at 9 and the lights are turned off. The course tought me a great deal about myself, and I learned an invaluable technique to cope with difficult situations, which would turn out very useful in the land of the hindus...
2006/12/01-10 Vipassana MeditationCenter Nepal
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/104063.2122dc9ec89
Before i left Nepal to go to India, i visited the tailor in Kathmandu, to and got myself a nice black suite for around 70Euros, and then took off to try out my new meditaton-skills on the birthplace of Lord Buddah - Lumbini. Lumbini is a small village, which archeologs have proven to be the exact birthplace of prince Guattama, which later became known as Lord Buddah.
2006/12/11-15 Tailor and Lumbini - birthplace of Lord Buddah
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/104068.b43b87ea0d1
2006/12/11 Rituel slakt i Hindutempel - Daksinh Khali
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/104073.f970e231a67
Arriving in India was a crazy experience. It started off with me oversleeping on the train, and waking up in a totally different town. Catching another train in the other direction, i met 2 very nice Indian men who were out on a Hindu pilgrimage, and invited me to join their quest for the trueth. I surfed the cosmic flow, passed my destination one more time, and ended up at "Hatiswalli baba" ( translates to "wise man with elefants") right out in rural India. Baba had two horses, two elefants, and two mobilephones. Upon arrival we greated Baba by touching his foot, (where the spirit emminates from), and sacrificing hindu-style to the gods. Baba then showed off by writing down the three questions that my friends were seeking answers too. Quite amazing! As for me, he calculated with his pocket-calculator, and told me who i was, and some details about my past. Impressivly acurate! It was a special feeling to sit in the light of the candles, and look at the old man when he told the fortune of my friends by 'feeling the energies' of the rice that they had brought with them from home. I couldn't help myself from smiling everytime Baba was interrupted in his rituals by one of his two ringing mobile phones... So, if you want a hotline to the hindu-gods, i've got Hatiswalli Baba's card!
2006/12/15 Elefant Baba - My first day in India
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/104078.f802ef50c3e
Arriving in Varanassi - One of the three holies citys in india - is a story for the next mail... First few pictures are here:
2006/12/16 Varanassi 1
http://www.bubbleshare.com/myalbum/104087.e40ddf16d3a/editor
2006/11/15-30 Trekking in Nepal - Mountain Annapurna
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/104061.78351b09974
Straight down from the baron and cold mountains of Nepal, i decided to do a 10 day meditationcourse in the Vipassana tradition. To be able to learn the technique, a hard diciplin had to be followed. During the 10 days none of us were allowed to speak, make gestures, read, communicate, consume any intoxicants or have physical contact. The day starts at 4 o clock in the morning, and then follows 12 hours of sceduled meditation untill the day ends at 9 and the lights are turned off. The course tought me a great deal about myself, and I learned an invaluable technique to cope with difficult situations, which would turn out very useful in the land of the hindus...
2006/12/01-10 Vipassana MeditationCenter Nepal
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/104063.2122dc9ec89
Before i left Nepal to go to India, i visited the tailor in Kathmandu, to and got myself a nice black suite for around 70Euros, and then took off to try out my new meditaton-skills on the birthplace of Lord Buddah - Lumbini. Lumbini is a small village, which archeologs have proven to be the exact birthplace of prince Guattama, which later became known as Lord Buddah.
2006/12/11-15 Tailor and Lumbini - birthplace of Lord Buddah
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/104068.b43b87ea0d1
2006/12/11 Rituel slakt i Hindutempel - Daksinh Khali
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/104073.f970e231a67
Arriving in India was a crazy experience. It started off with me oversleeping on the train, and waking up in a totally different town. Catching another train in the other direction, i met 2 very nice Indian men who were out on a Hindu pilgrimage, and invited me to join their quest for the trueth. I surfed the cosmic flow, passed my destination one more time, and ended up at "Hatiswalli baba" ( translates to "wise man with elefants") right out in rural India. Baba had two horses, two elefants, and two mobilephones. Upon arrival we greated Baba by touching his foot, (where the spirit emminates from), and sacrificing hindu-style to the gods. Baba then showed off by writing down the three questions that my friends were seeking answers too. Quite amazing! As for me, he calculated with his pocket-calculator, and told me who i was, and some details about my past. Impressivly acurate! It was a special feeling to sit in the light of the candles, and look at the old man when he told the fortune of my friends by 'feeling the energies' of the rice that they had brought with them from home. I couldn't help myself from smiling everytime Baba was interrupted in his rituals by one of his two ringing mobile phones... So, if you want a hotline to the hindu-gods, i've got Hatiswalli Baba's card!
2006/12/15 Elefant Baba - My first day in India
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/104078.f802ef50c3e
Arriving in Varanassi - One of the three holies citys in india - is a story for the next mail... First few pictures are here:
2006/12/16 Varanassi 1
http://www.bubbleshare.com/myalbum/104087.e40ddf16d3a/editor
2006/11/13 - New photos from Mt Everest
Hi all!
We've got back to Kathmandu valley after 3 weeks of Tibetan experiences! On the way back we stayed one night at Mt Everest Base Camp on 5200 meters. I already miss the views from the Tibetan plateu! Tomorrow I'll be leaving for some trekking in Nepal. We're going to the Annapurna-area to enjoy one of the worlds finest trekkingroutes. I've put 3 new photoalbums online from eastern Tibet and Mt Everest:
2006/11/04 Eastern Tibet:http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/86592.74716db6874
2006/11/06 Lhasa by night:http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/86594.5175def50a0
2006/11/06-08 Lhasa till Mount Everest: http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/86600.26301505a0c
take care all!
/Marcus
"The mountains are the bones. We are the blood. " - Tibetan Lama
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Lhasa - city of contrasts
Sitting on our balcony outside our hostel-room in Lhasa... The sun is shining, birds are singing on the yard, and so are the Tibetan woman on the other side of the yard. I feel great! I just had a shower (in warm water, for once!), and finally my stomach works fine, and accepts the food that I want to eat. Lhasa is a city of contrasts. The light here are just perfect for taking photos. The sun creates sharp shadows in all the smiling faces around us. The colorful monk-clothes glows with an intense red light, just like the coral-necklaces on the traditionally dressed Tibetan woman doing her pilgrimage.... Contrasts. The second the sun sets below the great Himalayan range it gets cold. Very cold. Our room has no heater, and the thermometer on my watch reads 5 degrees when I wake up in the middle of the night and have to run for the toilet.... Contrasts On so many levels. The most peaceful and loving people on earth living under a cruel Chinese oppression. Praying monks and nuns in the middle of the holy city guarded by police and military. A Chinese red and white banner reading something like "china helping the Tibetan people" right in front of the "Potala Palace". Once home for the spiritual and political leader of Tibet - the Dalai Lama - now just another empty tourist attraction where you’re bags are x-rayed and checked for illegal pictures of the former resident.
Despite governmental supported mass-immigration of Chinese people (which are promised reduced taxes if they move to Tibet), and bad conditions for the native's the Tibetans seems to live their lives with hope, and happiness. A people with the most honest eyes, and curious smiles, seem to host no aggression to what so ever. And I believe that the Buddhist message of compassion lies deeply rooted in every Tibetans heart.
We arrived Lhasa after a crazy 5 days rollercoaster in a LandCruiser over the Himalayan range. The tour included incredible sights from 5200 meters, fantastic monasteries and forts, colorful prayer flags reaching towards the sun and clear starry nights. We were riding the "Friendship highway" in 130km/h, and the driver insisted to play the same mix tape over and over again. A mix tape made up by equal parts Tibetan schlager, Indian bollywood-hits and cheesy Chinese pop. 5 days, same tape, max volume! The ride also teaches us not visiting the dreadful Tibetan public toilettes，and gives us all a slight case of mountain sickness. Mountain sickness is natural on altitudes above 2500 meters, and creates symptoms like headache, difficulties to breathe and sleep.
The first day we climbed from 2000 meters up to a pass on 5200 meters. We all got out of the car, and felt like we just landed on the moon! The views, the sounds, the light, the air even time itself was as take from another planet! Everything very slow. Wee-wee for 15 minutes? Trying to walk! Moonman?... Deep breaths! 90 years old, or just "high"? ;-)
Upon arriving Lhasa the three of us just throws in our backpacks on the hotel, and head straight for the holy Tibetan part of the city, and the "Jokhang ". The Jokhang is the most holy place in Lhasa. This is where all the pilgrims from all over Lhasa come to do their "kora". A kora means walking clockwise around something holy, to attain better karma. A kind of pilgrimage. The Jokhang kora circulates the Jokhang. Walking the kora together with thousands of happy Tibetans all dressed up traditionally is an amazing experience! This takes place every day! Everybody is happy, and the streets are packed with salesmen selling everything from touristy crappy necklaces to monk-clothes and human skulls. It's a religious Mecca, and also a center of commerce for everything about Tibetan culture. We have been walking the kora everyday. It's always something different! Once I was walking and trying to make a few shots with my Nikon, I heard this massive trumpet sound! Turns out that it's 4 monks in around 25 years age, trying out the 4 meter Tibetan prayer-horn! You know, one of these horns they use in “7 years in Tibet”! I stand in awe, and give them applauders, and walk further just to stumble into 5 old monks singing nose-song-prayers! Sometimes Lhasa is just amazing!
Our friend Malle has left Lhasa, and me and Stefan are going on a 3 day tour to eastern Tibet tomorrow. Since there is no real arranged tourist-trips, we decided to just hire a LandCruiser, and put up notes all over Lhasa if there were any other interested to join us to share the costs. Turns out that we are 9 persons renting a huge LandCruiser! All happy backpackers from all over the world. A Canadian geologist, a girl from London, teaching Tibetan children English, a Dutch rastafari, two girls from Austria and Holland, a Scottish couple, me and Stefan. A great crew! Looking forward for tomorrow!
Despite governmental supported mass-immigration of Chinese people (which are promised reduced taxes if they move to Tibet), and bad conditions for the native's the Tibetans seems to live their lives with hope, and happiness. A people with the most honest eyes, and curious smiles, seem to host no aggression to what so ever. And I believe that the Buddhist message of compassion lies deeply rooted in every Tibetans heart.
We arrived Lhasa after a crazy 5 days rollercoaster in a LandCruiser over the Himalayan range. The tour included incredible sights from 5200 meters, fantastic monasteries and forts, colorful prayer flags reaching towards the sun and clear starry nights. We were riding the "Friendship highway" in 130km/h, and the driver insisted to play the same mix tape over and over again. A mix tape made up by equal parts Tibetan schlager, Indian bollywood-hits and cheesy Chinese pop. 5 days, same tape, max volume! The ride also teaches us not visiting the dreadful Tibetan public toilettes，and gives us all a slight case of mountain sickness. Mountain sickness is natural on altitudes above 2500 meters, and creates symptoms like headache, difficulties to breathe and sleep.
The first day we climbed from 2000 meters up to a pass on 5200 meters. We all got out of the car, and felt like we just landed on the moon! The views, the sounds, the light, the air even time itself was as take from another planet! Everything very slow. Wee-wee for 15 minutes? Trying to walk! Moonman?... Deep breaths! 90 years old, or just "high"? ;-)
Upon arriving Lhasa the three of us just throws in our backpacks on the hotel, and head straight for the holy Tibetan part of the city, and the "Jokhang ". The Jokhang is the most holy place in Lhasa. This is where all the pilgrims from all over Lhasa come to do their "kora". A kora means walking clockwise around something holy, to attain better karma. A kind of pilgrimage. The Jokhang kora circulates the Jokhang. Walking the kora together with thousands of happy Tibetans all dressed up traditionally is an amazing experience! This takes place every day! Everybody is happy, and the streets are packed with salesmen selling everything from touristy crappy necklaces to monk-clothes and human skulls. It's a religious Mecca, and also a center of commerce for everything about Tibetan culture. We have been walking the kora everyday. It's always something different! Once I was walking and trying to make a few shots with my Nikon, I heard this massive trumpet sound! Turns out that it's 4 monks in around 25 years age, trying out the 4 meter Tibetan prayer-horn! You know, one of these horns they use in “7 years in Tibet”! I stand in awe, and give them applauders, and walk further just to stumble into 5 old monks singing nose-song-prayers! Sometimes Lhasa is just amazing!
Our friend Malle has left Lhasa, and me and Stefan are going on a 3 day tour to eastern Tibet tomorrow. Since there is no real arranged tourist-trips, we decided to just hire a LandCruiser, and put up notes all over Lhasa if there were any other interested to join us to share the costs. Turns out that we are 9 persons renting a huge LandCruiser! All happy backpackers from all over the world. A Canadian geologist, a girl from London, teaching Tibetan children English, a Dutch rastafari, two girls from Austria and Holland, a Scottish couple, me and Stefan. A great crew! Looking forward for tomorrow!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
photos
Hi everyone! I'm just posting the links to the photoalbums! It's getting late, and it's really cold here at the internetcafee in Lhasa
Album 1:
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/79923.fb8a48c6e05
Album 2:
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/79930.41c302b1f6c
Stefans pictures:
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/79935.9541d080dc5
Album 1:
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/79923.fb8a48c6e05
Album 2:
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/79930.41c302b1f6c
Stefans pictures:
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/79935.9541d080dc5
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Namaste - welcome to Kathmandu
With a time-difference of 4:45 minutes (!) Nepal is a different country! Nice and calm people with friendly smiles! But the town of Kathmandu is really crazy! Holy cows eating out of the garbage on the streets, small kids sleeping on the pavement, dogs barking in the night, and motor-cyklist with wild looking eyes horning at everything that moves. And of course: The trekk-salesmen... Everywhere: sorry, sir, what country? How long nepal? Want to go trekking? I've got to learn some Nepal, so i can say nothankyou like I really mean it. Apperantly, that works much better than no thank you in english ;-)
Btw, flight was good. Good food, and the Gulf air stewerdesses on was very nice, serving me beer after beer after beer... but omg, was i furious about getting up at 4 o clock, changing airplain in Baharain! I had to wear earplugs when they played the safetyinstructions on maximum volym... Upon arriving Kathmandu airport, and miraculous getting all of my luggage after the 4 flights, my two friends Malle and Stefan caught me, and put me in the deathride-taxi through the nepal capital straight to the worst (and cheapest!) room in town. We stay at "millenium in" on a dirty backroad to Thamel-district. Yea! Way to go! I didn't go to Nepal to bubble around in jaquzi, so i'd rather stick with the 100rupie-room (around 1 Euro), and have good beer on the balcony, watching the flags of the golden temples blow in the moisty air of Kathmandu valley....
On Saturday we take of for Tibet overland! That means 8 days of driving up to the Tibetan plateu... First day we stay at 2000 meters, and next day we climb up to 5500 meters, which i think will be very hard, but on the otherside, I beleive the reward will be great when aproaching the holy City of Lhasa all three of us in a LandCruicer...
Btw, flight was good. Good food, and the Gulf air stewerdesses on was very nice, serving me beer after beer after beer... but omg, was i furious about getting up at 4 o clock, changing airplain in Baharain! I had to wear earplugs when they played the safetyinstructions on maximum volym... Upon arriving Kathmandu airport, and miraculous getting all of my luggage after the 4 flights, my two friends Malle and Stefan caught me, and put me in the deathride-taxi through the nepal capital straight to the worst (and cheapest!) room in town. We stay at "millenium in" on a dirty backroad to Thamel-district. Yea! Way to go! I didn't go to Nepal to bubble around in jaquzi, so i'd rather stick with the 100rupie-room (around 1 Euro), and have good beer on the balcony, watching the flags of the golden temples blow in the moisty air of Kathmandu valley....
On Saturday we take of for Tibet overland! That means 8 days of driving up to the Tibetan plateu... First day we stay at 2000 meters, and next day we climb up to 5500 meters, which i think will be very hard, but on the otherside, I beleive the reward will be great when aproaching the holy City of Lhasa all three of us in a LandCruicer...
Monday, October 16, 2006
Packing, cleaning, moving out...
Det är märkligt hur HÄR man är precis innan man ger sig ut och reser. Det är så mycket praktiskt att ordna med... Packning, räkningar, kläder, telefon... det gör ju sitt till att jag har sagt upp mig på mitt jobb, och att jag har 1000 saker att avsluta där, innan jag försvinner till andra sidan jorden: Shangri-la! Åh, om 24 timmar går jag på Gulf air flyg från London till Kathmandu. Där väntar 2 av mina bästa vänner, och sen har jag 3 månaders pure freedome on the top of the earth... Måste städa och flytta sista banankartongerna. Ska försöka käka upp dom sista äppelkakorna i frysen också innan jag lämnar lägenheten till min hyresgäst... EOF
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Akterdäckets hårda liv.
Att krama ut det sista av sommaren! Sensommaren är som extra bonus plusplus lyx! Allt utöver! Vi har samlat hela sommargänget och seglar till Hanö
Spinnaker
Idag övade vi Spinnaker-segling! Fantastisk känsla när den blåser upp och driver en framåt över haven!
Monday, August 21, 2006
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
Lyxfartyg som bakgrundsbild
Varför sitter man inte alltid och dinglar med benen över vattnet och tittar ut över havet som kryllar av amerikanska lyxkryssningsfartyg? Troligtvis är hamnen för liten för att de ska kunna gå in, så att de får ligga utanför. Jävligt bra utsikt med god w-lan täckning.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Pastasallad med spillolja
Vi loggar 6-7 knop, och det är helt vilt stora vågor. Vi kränger, och ur motorrummet väller det spillolja in på köksgolvet. Gotlands kustlinje ligger framför oss redan vid 4, vilket är 3timmar tidigare än förväntat!
Lämnar land
Vi kastar loss från bryggan klockan 7 i den tropiska gryningen. Sätter segel och äter frukost till havs. Vi lämnar nu ölands norra udde bakom oss för att göra en 12timmars havsseglats över till Visby. Önska oss lycka till. Vi lämnar gsm-nätet och förlitar oss på vinden och vhf
Glass på sjön - en ovanlighet
Hur hinner man kasta loss, sätta segel och ta sig utanför grunden INNAN glassen smälter? Ännu en tragisk mejeri-olycka?
Nya hav - nya sjökort
Oj. Sjökortet tog slut. Fram de gamla sjökorten över Gotland! Fine! Sailing with an L-Atitude!
Gallionsfigur
Längst fram i fören med en lopp morgonkaffe! Vilken utsikt! Tur man seglar en låg race-båt, så att man når mer med fötterna i det 22grader varma vattnet.
Wir sind landenkrabben
Gårdagens seglats till borgholm på öland tog knäcken på oss. Vi kom fram vid 23, och möttes av ett jävla ös på hotel strand, får vi bestämt träff med peter och mats respektive; elin och anna. Det blev en blöt kväll efter en blöt seglats. Måndagen spenderades på flins föräldrars gård på södra öland.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Det är mörkt
Och i hamnen ligger vattenytan blank som en spegel, döljer allt under och reflekterar, med perfekt återgivning, det vi redan ser.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Peter mönstar på
En ny sjöbjörn ansluter i karlskrona. Med i väskan har vår nya Matros japanska kryddor och rökt chili
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Blommor till 100 döda sjömän
För 160år sedan förliste ett skepp utanför cubas kust. På skeppet fanns 100 svenska sjömän. Sjömännen tog sig i land, men blev slaktade av kubanska infödingar. Detta gav namn till staden Matanzas, som betyder 'blodbad'. Detta är namnet på vår båt, och även namnet på en kubansk cigarr. Idag hedrar vi dessa tappra sjömän genom att kasta blommor i havet.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Mats vaxar däcket
Efter en stärkande falafel fick mats nya krafter och tog fram vax och trasa, föra att göra 'ship shape'
Matros saltskägg mediterar
När vi andra bunkrar mat och köper ett ljudsystem så vaktar martin båten med sin aura
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Till sjöss
Captains log: vi styr mot hällevik med hastighet 5knop. Besättningen är Captains curtain, navigatör mimo, matros saltskägg. Packa dina saker! Vi sätter kurs mot solen!
Monday, July 17, 2006
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Saturday, July 15, 2006
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