Got a tattoo and went West

KOI TATTOO - Probably surprising to many westerners is the large of amount of ancient myth that surrounds these beautiful fish in the Orient and their elevated status there.
Generally known here as the brightly colored fish that are common in public ponds and fountains, carp (koi is Japanese for carp) can be found in colors that include white, yellow, gold, a deep orange, and some are even calico-colored.

Particularly beautiful specimens have been known to fetch prices in excess of half-a-million dollars from private collectors who specialize in their breeding and showing. However, the koi is more than just a colorful and collectible fish. It is also one of the most popular and beautiful of Japanese tattoo symbols – a beauty which belies its symbolic meaning.

Although Chinese in origin, the carp is now widely celebrated in Japan, particularly for its manly qualities. It is said to climb waterfalls bravely, and, if caught, it lies upon the cutting board awaiting the knife without a quiver, not unlike a samurai (warrior) facing a sword. This theme dates back to ancient China, where a legend tells of how any koi that succeeded in climbing the falls at a point called Dragon Gate (on the Yellow River) would be transformed into a dragon.

Based on that legend, it became a symbol of worldly aspiration and advancement. Eventually, the stoic fish came to be associated with so many masculine and positive qualities that it was appropriated for the annual Boys' Day Festival in Japan where even today colorful, streaming koi flags are traditionally displayed for each son in the family.
In tattoo imagery, especially in combination with flowing water, it symbolizes much the same: courage, the ability to attain high goals, and overcoming life's difficulties.

Start playing this
The Higland Sessions (2): Suil A Ruin


Well, boys and guirls, since I last left you, hang on, I need to check this one…
Right, Cork got beaten by Waterford and the following week Waterford got beaten impressively by Limerick, well done Limerick.



Then I went West, turns out it works out cheaper than going to Amsterdam and places like Spain, way cheaper and lived like I was 70 years old and retired, but not quite dead, manys a good tune was played on an old fiddle, never really quite imagined meself playing the fiddle or violin, the only difference I think is the type of music played on them, but anyway for 6 days I was retired out west and the difference between having a good time and a wet time is a golfing umbrella, all you need is to get one and you’d never know what a rainy day is about i.e. not getting wet.




My daze consisted waking up, having a pot of tea, putting on the shoes and strolling over for the paper, coming back reading the paper and consuming more tea, having a bit to ate as the man said, going for a walk around lunchtime, maybe 10 kms to the next village listening to music no 70 year old would listen to having a Guiness or 2 (or maybe 3) and strolling back, lighting the fire, reading one of many books, then watching a movie, then see you tomorrow world, which I always would, I’m not that old you know !



Walked to Inchegela 3 times, walked back twice and over the O’Leary way, very nice.
The barman and proprietor, Joe Creedon put me on to a book I’ve always wanted to read about Celtic Spirituality ‘Anam Chara’, translates as ‘Soul friend’, I’ve always understood ‘Anam’ to be name, but it means ‘Soul’ and I suppose when you dive in, it makes a lot of sense, don’t go changing into your swimming attire just yet though.

Called to Art, the old Dutch guy up the road who as he describes it, his own piece or paradise, yep I’d have to agree, just yourself and a few goats, no cars and the like.
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Got the first part of my tattoo done, getting it finished tomorrow, got some stuff together for that, so if it comes out good, it won’t be a complete fluke.
Started reading Zola’s ‘General’, very good, need to set a bit of time for that task.



Saw John B Kanes ‘The Matchmaker’, it’s about courting for boggers before they had nightclubs and you could pay a guy and he would tell you which person would be good for you, without even talking to them, and it was staring ‘Miley’ from Glenroe (Old irish soap opera series)

Across the road they had ‘Music on the hill’ (Good title) but for me it was ‘Music across the road, which it was, well anyway they had the ‘Black sea don cossocks’, some really amazing voices, has to be the best part of ‘Multiculturalism’, you get to see different things, not just the guy down the road singing after a few pints, because they were from Russia, so they wouldn’t know anything about the Irish goingons, because they’re not from here, the’re Russian, didn’t I just say that ?

Went to see ‘The Importance of being Ernest’, great show, which it was, I knew that, if memory serves me, Susan was being a bit under the weather because she is a bit of a ‘Daddys little rich girl’ and wasn’t going to be entitled to a grant, awwwwww. Flash backs of Annie ‘…the sun comes out tomorrow’, get on with it !!

Went the Bantry masters festival and saw Steve Cooney among other’s, quialty, quality, quality is all I can say, ok so, quality, do you need to hear it again ?

Put some ‘Magic beans’ on my Facebook profile and I did get an offer from some guy
Goodday to you Seller, I want to know if this particular Item is still avaliable for sell, If yes then i will like to buy it from you and you should he me send it to me sister In california. She is handicap, so i will like the item to be ship to her door step. Please calculate the shipping cost and add it to your Item fee. I will pay for it as well.

This is how i would look on the Simpsons


Didn’t think that would come to much, how much are Magic beans worth these days, especially with the world markets being in the state they’re in ?


Now watch this, it doesn’t have any sound, the boys order a shot in barcelona



Vivian from the Galapagos on the beach

The Spanish connection

Little miss Queensland and meself


Well after transiting through Holland and Paris I arrived in Spain, Gerona to be exact and since I didn’t call ahead, made things a bit complicated, only a bit mind you.

I learned quickly that there is no prefix of [0] in mobile numbers for Spain and hence couldn’t get through to Carlota, the girl I met in Columbia.
I found the hostel recommended by her, it was full, I went next door, it had rooms.
I went for a walk and found an Irish Coffee bar, haven’t seen one before, so it was special, I went in and didn’t order coffee.

Graffiti in Barcelona


Went kite surfing, or should I say I tagged on and that I did. After the dinner date number 2 and getting an earful all day about how I snore it was time to part ways, and off I went, I was free from other peoples problems and it felt so good, I was free.

You: So what did you do with your new found freedom you ask?
Me: I went and had a beer ‘The solution and cause of all your problems’ as Homer might quote

Then I went off and slept in an Orchard, there was a tractor roaring around, so I went for a walk, when I came back I saw this tractor with full beams come tearing up the orchard spraying and was off another way, it only took me about 10 seconds to locate my bag (which should now be insect free for the next 6 months)

Next day I went strolling expecting to find a bus, no bus, walked a long way, it was nice, easy to see I had left Holland, if you don’t have a car in Spain you’re a big nothing.

Ended up at a costal town called L’Escal, dived into a field along the way and had a sleep in a Hay field, it reminded me of a book I once read called ‘As I walked out one midsummer morning’, the book is about an English guy who walks around Spain, eating bread and cheese and drinking red wine and sleeping rough.

English girls on the party bus


The weather won’t kill you, its 28 degrees at night. Sort of European Beat generation with lots of very descriptive explanations of the Spanish countryside, Fuck off, it’s all Brown, there’s only so much you can say, it’s brown, all of it!

The next night I thought, ‘Erra I’ll rent a tent’ and so finally found a place, the charge was going to be £56, bit steep, but show me the tent, finally someone pointed at a bit of brown dirt on the ground and said ‘You can put it there’, yeah but where is the tens, no we don’t have tents, Ahhhhh, I was out of there.

That night I had a £1.80 bottle of table wine, went and had a beer in an English pub where everyone was watching and commentating on 2 dogs playing in the bar and left, they did forget to charge me too.

Slept under the stars again, I was free as a bird.

Next morning I went to Barcelona to meet Jon from Sydney, he was in Madrid. I got a basic room in a place called ‘French Hostel’ and hit the streets.

‘What a city’, ‘Fuckin’ hell’ were but some of the thoughts flashing through my brain.
I love the back streets and squares and old city, couldn’t help but think, how can 1 city have so much and we’re starving for this in Ireland, and probably just about everywhere else in the world too, truth be told.

Highlights would include
I booked a cycling tour and all times I could go, they couldn’t go, and the last time I was supposed to go, I got lost and missed them and as it turns out, I could have went a shorter way, if I could follow a map, which I really cant, so I didn’t, and I missed the tour ok ?

French guys on the party bus


Went on the party bus, good craic, met lots of people and ended up at a club (For everybody) where even the DJ was bored out of his tits, he really was, I laughed, but we all have to make money somehow, hmmmm somehow.

Went into a bar where all the drinks were displayed like the stock exchange and drinks not selling well came down in price, great idea, I’d be hanging out for a bargain, ‘Corrs light has hit rock bottom, errrrr Coors Light is hitting rock bottom, you’d have to pay me there to drink that love’

Had Coffee (Cheap too .90 cents, not like rip off Ireland), Tapas, Watched he rad skaters and boarders and practiced a bit of Spanish

Tommy Tiernan

Went on a pub crawl and met a couple from Cork who thought I looked like Tommy Tiernan, ahh, no lads, i couldnt, but he is popoular, so i suppose it's not too bad.

What else, met some Irish boys that thought they were going to be mugged by the hookers on the Ramblas, yeah nice by day, dangerous by night.
Went to the Picasso museum, lots of naughty pictures, naughty, naughty!!

Finished reading the City of gods novel, epic read

Missed the Cork V Waterford game, I was transiting through London Stanstead, got to the hostel in Dublin and tried to watch it in the hostel.

Upstairs they were watching Ferris Bewlers day off, downstairs this chick was watching CSI Miami and then informed she wanted to watch ‘Criminal minds’, I did well to say nothing, it was only the best game of the year that everyone was talking about and the game itself is our national game and is 2500 years old and oh yeah is the fastest field game in the world ( nearly forgot that bit)

I was scratchin me nuts walking through the Kilnenny Castle grounds and i looked up


I wonder will they be watching CSI Miami in 2500 years, will Miami even on the map?
Flash back to ‘Catch 22’ conversation between and old French man and a young American guy "The frog is almost five hundred million years old. Could you really say that America, with all its strength and prosperity . . . will last as long as . . . the frog?", further reading ?


Back in Dublin, went to Kilmainem Jail, Saw Bully’s Acre

and then I went to Kilkenny and stayed for 2 nights, great night life and managed to see the Cork V Waterford game.

Longest running session in Kilkenny, every Monday night for over 20 years



I was very happy, the score of that game was 3-16 each, the replay is on today, today will be a good day.

Peace out

Something in between that i've wanted to do for a while part 2

Photos i found on Found Magazine

Seems like a nice fellow, sometimes it doesnt hurt to try new things


Now i starting to hate Tim too


Good one, i like


Tell it how it is



I would say 'Obey and conform'


I love this one about the Stud, only because it's true


Sometimes you have to advertise for business

Something in between that i've wanted to do for a while

I call this piece 'Photos i've found that i need to stick somewhere and i'm sticking them here, Ok?'



This one is called Vivian on the beach, and as you can see that description is pretty accurate, eh ?









Shots, dont forget to wash your mouth out !!!





I like stories too, Very true indeed




We're all friends, you can tell by some or all of the smiles


I feel like this sometimes

Amsterdam was cool

Well well, it's been about 2 weeks since i've strung some words together into sentences that might make any sentences or sense.

I’ll start off by saying I woke up this morning thinking, ‘Where the fuck did I leave the mackrle’ and truth be told, now that I’ve had a cup of tea and watched a bit of a program about how the fall of Greece was communicated and how Napoleon liked to communicate, I’m thinking ‘Where did I put the mackerel’, Where oh where.
I got it for free in a pub yesterday afternoon

Well there either in Cummins kitchen across the road, about a 10% chance of that, or down in Roy’s beer garden about a 110% of that one, ‘Doesn’t make sense’ you say, I know, I know !

I have lots of notes on the last 2 weeks, the first note is ‘Doms birthday’ and yes it certainly was. So we went to Amsterdam to celebrate Sue and Noel having sex 21 years and 9 months ago, was there a lot of alcohol consumed you might say, ‘I’d certainly hope so, it’s much more fun anyway’

Well before I go any further it’s probably worth noting that I went out with Hughie the night before, we had a few, lost him or he lot me, I’ll give him a ring later to clarify this one, actually I rang him yesterday, conversation went along the lines of

ME: Hello is Hughie there?
Someone in Hughie’s house: No, goodbye
Phone hangs up
Me: ????

It happened just like that, I’ll call again to see if their telephone skills have gotten better.

Back to Amsterdam, no before all that, the mother drove us to the airport and the highlights would include the mother telling be when I got home the night before ‘Do you have your passport’, after much searching a bag was retrieved from the car with passport, put it on the Kitchen table

Off we went to the Airport, got to the airport, mother got petrol (Cars drink that stuff) and I realized the passport was at home (remember before it was in the car) off home we go.
Coming back to the airport on the roundabout before the tunnel the car conks out, so we are out pushing the car on one of the busiest roundabouts in Cork, Dom is on the phone to his mat that has a car that can do 200km an hour and the car starts and we are off again.

Got to the Airport and the ATM took my card and wouldn’t give it back, I waited and waited then it gave it back, what a relief

Back to Amsterdam had some Philosopher Stone mushrooms, 2 days in fact
The first day we went into the Sex Museum, what a laugh !!!

On one level you had Snow white and the 7 dwarfs with a really nicely painted room, with (No joking) cartoon porn going on 2 TV’s. So anyway I was off having conversations with Snow White (Maybe I fancied my chances, looking at the competition, maybe I was right)

Me: What’s up with your friend there, he’s looking a bit grumpy, and so on and so forth, trippin’
In fairness, I did try and leave that room 3 times, but could not do it, had to come back every time, until there was nothing more for to go up, upwards and onwards, for Ahhhhh, No!! More of the same stuff again.

I remember thinking ‘Where the hell are we again?’, after a while ‘Oh, yeah, the sex museum, fuckin hell’, it’s true we were. From there on in, everyone was made of Bananas (This is true)
Walking around outside later, me ‘Sex show, I would have never thought of that’, where am I again, oh yeah the red light district, the mother did say we were some pity.

Not the redlight district


Went on a Pizza cruise (Dom had the photos of that) very nice, and the Heineken experience, the Guinness tour was far far better.


Joined Facebook, was chatting with a Heidi (Hello Heidi) from Amsterdam, didn’t meet up with her. Maybe it is all part of Gods play, might have to start talking with him again.
I did have some good conversations with my self in Amsterdam though, I was having a good time. I have since stopped, I think I’m getting boring or something ?

Amsterdam is very like Sweden in that they love technology and cycling around in very old bikes, and even talking on their mobile while cycling, yes they have mastered the art of multitasking.
It would be funny to see Italians do that, some of them need to wave their hands to talk, might be a few crashes there.

Didn’t book accommodation for the Saturday and Sunday, but I managed to hook up with a Scottish guy Will and stay at his place, the alternative was partying all weekend or getting the bus or train in the direction of Paris, but for £50 I stayed with Will and did some sleeping, which I really needed and did. It was nice.

View from Wills balcony



Will the chancer was making this bed up in the loft of his apartment.
Him: ‘I’m just changing the sheets’
Me: (Thinking, yeah right, he just told me he hasn’t done any washing in ages) and I was right, I needed sleep and didn’t give a shit either way.

I was in one of the nice coffee shops before I left and witnessed an Israeli guy faint (he was low on Sugar) his friends thought he was dying and were punching him and nearly smashed the place up.

The girl gives them 2 sugar drinks, doesn’t charge them, this happens 10 times a day for her, ok everything is coming back to normal, they are very happy he is still alive, then they want another one, ok, but this time they have to pay the £2, their response is, ‘I thought it was free, no thanks’ and walks off, hard to believe. Guess he wasn’t worth £2 after all.

Went to the Van Gough museum, Dom was feeling a little under the weather.

The first night we were hanging out with a guy from Boston, most of the time Dom and himself were rapping away, I think they were talking English, I think, everyone was made of bananas, whatever language that is.

Went to the live Sex show, Dom’s comment had me in stitches
Dom: (Looks at very seriously and says) ‘I don’t know how they do it boy’

Because it being his birthday, he felt the need to go to the highly recommended ‘Banana bar’ for 1 hours entertainment, entertainment consisting of
1, All you can drink for 1 hour
2, Eating a banana out of a chicks crotch (They do say that fruit is you, now I think that is very true
3, Large dildos shooting out of vaginas, any midfielders out there ?
4, Oh yeah a face massage with a pair of breasts, yeah 2 of them!!

Met a chick, who was a rep for Orange (Mobile phone company), and she brought her clients there.
I was telling her that the banana bar wasn’t tax deductible, how could you negative gear something that funny?

But the best of all was they wrote Dom a postcard, not using their hands, very talented girls. The funniest bit the writing they did (not using their hands) was better than my handwriting. I was asking them if they tried copying any Van Gough paintings, I was impressed.

Dom left (Bye bye Dom) I went on a cycling tour of Amsterdam, very cool city.
Took pictures of Ann Frank’s house and line to go in, I didn’t feel like waiting hours to see the inside of a cupboard and she wasn’t even at home. Didn’t think there would be a ‘Go on let yourself in and make yourself a cup of tea’ note stuck to the door.

Annes place


Left Amsterdam on the 3.30 am train, but first I went to ‘Cheeky Mondays’ drum an bass club until 2.30am and saw some people I knew, I was becoming a local

I had a good time, then it bye bye Amsterdam



This is the part I call crazy transfers to Genoa with my alarm clock going off 10 minutes before my train stop
Left Amsterdam at 3.35 am, change at Rotterdam to Brussels, change train station (I had to figure that one out myself) then on to Paris
Change to North Paris, taxi to Airport, phew 30 minutes to spare, flew to Genoa

Now I know if I asked in the pub about the Mackerel , the response would be ‘That was fuckin’ you!!!’

I’m saying nothing !!!

To be continued …………

Amsterdam are you alive, it's only me, remember me ?

Spectators at the Chap & Hendricks Olympiad in Bedford Square, London. Organisers say the event is ‘A sporting day where unusually athleticism is not required as the competitors are judged on style, wit, intellect and cut of trouser’




Thought I’d do you a flavor (Yeah you, you with the head, yeah you with the 2 eye balls hanging out of your head!!)

Introducing Soupy Norman, it’s a Polish soap exceptionally well dunned with Cork accents, what a classic (And I’ve only seen 3 of them so far)

Here goes…………………



Stage 2, because when you write these things you should have a plan, I lost mine but I basically know what I want to say, in fact I think I’ll say it with pictures, not because I don’t know what to write, it’s that a picture says a thousand words and that might bring up the word count (This does not apply to word count in Word, must be a fault with Word, we’ll just blame Microsoft, everyone else does and that’s fine by me)

Queue Pictures Source http://www.foundmagazine.com/
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As Johnny Cash would say (And how he said it and everything else in between!!)
‘Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, I keep a close eye on this heart of mine’
Saw ‘Walk the line’ tonight, with Spanish subtitles, ‘Excellente’ as they would say in Spanish. I did buy it and many more to watch with my mother, and that I did and she enjoyed it too ‘Excellente’.

News flash
I am excited, ‘What now’ you say. Are you eating a Jumbo breakfast roll, no but yes, I am as excited, but not that excited, because you just can’t beat a Jumbo breakfast roll.
Going to see Wallis Bird play on Tuesday night, with Susan’s Collage buddy from UCC (I wasn’t good enough for UCC, but the fake ID i bought in Thailand worked a treat, i once interviewed a girl in Sydney for a job and she had the real ID)

Without further adue


Even now since I lost my wallet in Stockholm people still believe that I’m a student, I just show them my Superman wallet I bought for a $1 in the Galapagos when I really did think I lost my wallet, I found I later, I just outsmarted myself while pissed.
I’ve been saying to people ‘Look, I’m a student; I lost my wallet in Sweden (So far it’s 50 % true) then I say ‘If I didn’t why would I be using this’ (Pulling out the Superman wallet).

Superman to the rescue. People laugh and think ‘God, he must be telling the truth, no one could make that one up’ and I hold my status in society as being a student in the university of life (It’s an ongoing progressive course) I’m not really sure where it’s leading to, but I know I’m defiantly going there, and when I’m there I’ll know.

Right, down to business

The last time I was in Amsterdam, before the next experience creaps up on me I will try and recant what happened…. The last time.

Flew from Budapest (Happened to be Easter bank holiday weekend) so far so good.

Went to check into the Jolly Carlton hotel 4 star, one weekend, I said what the Fuck, I was living in 4 Star hotels in Budapest. After filling in the form, the kind girl in reception said

Girl: ‘How would you like to pay sir?' (They call you Sir and dont ask you leave with the same breath, cool huh ?)
Me: ‘With my credit card of course' (Flicks open wallet)
Me: Oh Fuck, can’t find credit card

Kieran is back on the street, to cut a long story shorter, I ended up staying on a yacht, met heaps of people, learned to roll (No rocking), but it rocked, barely got back to Budapest, what an eye opener.
I remember a guy selling Heroine and Coke getting offended because I tried to ignore him, how funny you wouldn’t think much would upset those guys, but yes, they have feelings too, I must remember this.

I will this time have a camera to document all the things words cant describe (But not in the red light district)and since I joined Facebook, I have received some useful Touristy hints, none have included jumping in canals or running up hills (I must be thinking of another country)

Now I’m afraid if I write anymore you’ll think ‘Oh Fuck, will it ever end’ or come to a point, er… no, you must be thinking about someone else, but I will end it all with a full stop

So stay tuned folks.

Went to the wedding of the Planet or just plain old Kerry

I didnt do any of below last Saturday, but i was at a wedding, but if i could, things might have been differnt, or maybe not, we will never know!!!



Well well well

I was going to write something (and don’t worry, I’m not going to try and extort money from you by not, although if you really needed to read these words and I could get a few quid from you at the same time, things would be different and your credit card would be down a 0 or 2, but that’s wishful thinking and that’s not going to happen, maybe not in my lifetime (Here’s a mathematical joke) there you go joke over and you keep your money) and if that was all a bit too much for you, don’t worry, I guarantee you, someone out there will still love you, maybe love you even more because you don’t.

Anyway, I want to show you people some photos first, then I will kill you, not with love or kindness or empathy, all I say is give me time, maybe I will send you to heaven…… before I send you to hell, or have a cup of tea, or maybe I’ll have a sleep and we can so it all again tomorrow, or maybe not.

Going to Canada


50 Cent played in Cork last week and without further adue



Slightly confused ? Dont know what to do ? No Problem...


Wedding of the year you say, were there any photos.
Oh since you ask, here you go, Password is 'cork'
Wedding

Fraying at the edges here, and i'm not doing so well, no stories only feckin' pictures.

So some stories, hung out with Hughie on the weekend, slept in the same room as him, seperate beds, all good (I think we were all glad of that, only joking)

Well anyway went there on Friday night, charged a lash of beers to the wrong room, could have been an innocent mistake, i'm not that innocent, lost that years ago)

Met up with Hughie ahd a great time, wedding went well (Please refer to photos)

Skip to story 21 (I cant remember the others)

I wake up, i'm in 1 bed, Hughie is in the other (Believe me this is a good thing)
I ring reception at 10.45 (I know breakfast ended at 10.30)

Me: Hello there, I'm in a room with 4 walls and i would like some breakfast
Receptionist: Sorry, Breakfast ended at 10.30
Me: But you can give me some food, go on
Receptionist: Sorry, Breakfast ended at 10.30
Me: Go on, Go on, Go on, Go on,
Receptionist: Sorry, Breakfast ended at 10.30
Me: Just bring it up, in a roll if you can, we're wearing clothes and everything, you sound like a nice girl and everything
Sorry, Breakfast ended at 10.30

Cant remember the rest

Then...................

Hughie calls for milk for a cup of tea (And i answer the door)

Me: Hello (Very good way of introducing yourself........ sometimes)
Servent: Hands me a big plate of milk saches (For little cups of tea, at least 15 in fact)
Me: Erra, that wont do him at all (Pointing to Hughie)
Me: He's a Culchie from the country, he milks cows and sometimes he milks bulls
Servent: Says nothing and leaves

10 minutes later
Knock knock (No joke here folks)
Hughie opens the door
Servent hands him a full pint of milk (In a pint glass)
We're pissing ourselves

I drink the pint of milk, it was nice, nothing like it after a big wedding night !!!

Not much to add for here


Oh booked tickets to Amsterdam, will get a bus to Paris, fly to Barcelona (for the second time), but this time i have a friend there.
Then England, then home to Cork, then US, then South America, then Feck, how would i know ?????

Went to Cork V Tipperary Under 21 quater final this evening, Cork went ahead at the 32nd minute and won it in the last minute (Won it by the grace of god) Great evening to watch hurling and have warm lemonade, warm chocolate and chew on 'milky moos' hard sweets that get softer the more you chew. It was like i was 12 all over again in one of the beast evenings Cork will see this summer. Lovely hurling

Peace out

K

The times are a changing

One from http://postsecret.blogspot.com/




Well it was recommended to me that i don't drink blog anymore and to be quite honest (yes theres always a first time) and this isn't the first time. Not as dangerous as getting into a car after a few beers, but the pen is supposed to be mightier than the sword and i really didn't realize i was doing that, well not much anyway, times haver changed and i wonder if the keyboard is as mighty as the sword, any ideas ?

I know what your thinking
Maybe cos it is i is black, 'Racialisim' as Ali G might call it.. (queue awkward silence)

~Er....Glad thats over, now for some Ali G



Well i thought I'd, write a few lines, and since I'm never really short of words, I'd see what happens and maybe a picture or 2 as well (I cater for all groups, well except for all the bastards in the world, which I'm told theres quite a few, a few too many and sometimes I'm no better meself)

Recorded heaps of music for my new Creative 30Gig music player, excuse me ? Did you say 'New' and music player, well your paying attention, I'll say that much, I'll say that much and yes i did.
What does that mean, long walks in the country listening to music that i can walk to without getting tired, my mother thinks i'm the 8th wonder of the world since i don't ever get tired, i don't know, i just don't get tied, not me.

Currently listening to Guns N Roses (Axle is having a rant, as only as Axle could) and it's great. Pity that rock doesn't really do it for me anymore, pity, maybe not.

The brother's getting married in Kerry this weekend and it's going to be a lovely little weekend with the family lovely that is as long as Cork beat Offlay in the hurling. I'll be happy then, and that game is on Sunday and the wedding is on Saturday, do you think i might be able to find some kind of Clairvoyant match results 'We tell you tomorrows news today', that would be very good, then i could be happy on 2 days instead of 1, spreading my happiness over 2 days, 'Easy on the happiness, don't want to be overdoing it there Kieran'. That bit of happiness will have to do me until i get paid on Wednesday, oh don't you love those people.

I think I'll get a loan from the credit union, and pay it back £10 a week, the happiness that is. What you say ? Can i have happiness for £10 a week, yes you can

Then, check the fine pint 'Happiness not guaranteed' and 'Theres one born every minute' Which is quiet true really when you think about it, my suggestion is that you don't! Think that is, don't think, I'm not and i feel fine.

Oh no, Axle Rose is ranting again !!!!!!!

I'm going to be on my best behavior, no drink, can you see a bit of a trend developing, no drink blogging, no drink wedding, what will they think of next, lots of little plans are being hatched, not unfairly i might add, the pendulum is swinging in my direction, finally at last some people are saying (Kieran steps to the side and back again, have to remember to move out of the way again)


Bought heaps of stock for a HIV treatment pharmaceutical company (good thing), sold (Some of) the broadband internet company ( nasty business but good thing too), since we're in a new tax year, i'm not too worried, and oh 'Happy new year, er well new tax year anyway'.
2 good things in 1 tax year, i'm on a roll (And speaking of rolls, one of the best things about Ireland is you can buy 'Jumbo Breakfast rolls', Ireland i love you!!)
It's an Irish breakfast in a roll, pure genius!!!

Some thing's always better that nothing and at least I'm giving you something, and now you say 'Yeah what does that mean to me, feck all' and 'Thanks, i think I'll click on this link about Prostate cancer'. Err, sorry, didn't mean to hurt you feelings.

Don't click on that, click your mouse on this below




Bye bye

Hope the sober results are worth it, i spell checked it and everything :)

Oh i just found this too, it's good!!!

Kieran feels like he's in the Truman Show in Stockholm

Well well, it's been a week and we all know what that means.

'You buy a ticket, you take the ride' thats what Hunter S. Thompson once said and since your here, your on the ride, no refunds, keep you hands by your sides at all times.

I went to Sweden and all i brought with me was no expectations, and a bag full of books that i didn't bother reading some of them had pictures so i suppose there was no excuse for me except i was having too much fun, every single night too, not a bad effort considering that most backpackers stay away away from the place like the plague, but that's also the story for the Galapagos and they stayed away from there too, not very smart....the backpackers that is.

Me too, not very smart that is, but no man can be smart 24 hours of the day, a smart man once said that, and by repeating it I'm hoping some of that smartness will rub off on me, I'd doubt it, but it's worth a try.

Basically all i knew about Sweden was Ynwie Malmsteen (See below)



And the Chef from the Muppet show (See below)


What did you do ? What did you do you say, well the first night i arrived, seemed a bit strange the fact i couldn't book any accommodation in Dublin for Stockholm for my first night, but then the words of Dean Morrarity from Jack Kourack's 'On the road' came to mind.

Basically he was saying people when wanting to travel from A to B worry too much about where they will eat, sleep, piss, whatever that they usually end up being deterred about going and don't. But you always eat somewhere, sleep somewhere so don't worry about it, just go, so i did, with his words in mind, and i didn't mind.

Arrived, and tried to find accommodation, i tried, then i said feck it and went for a beer, met some people, went to a club met some more people, ended up drinking beer on the street until 8am and then went to check into the hostel, citybackpackers.se i think.

The helpful and later on became a bit of an issue and I'll get to that too was looking at the sky and then looking at the clock set me into a bit of a confusing state, i call this confusion, if i was i was a physiologist I'd have a better word to describe it that i still wouldn't understand, but some guy sweeping the street in Sweden would, how can their English be that good ? The confusing thing was Do i sleep or wake up, eat, drink (Didn't need any reminding there) ?

The next part of the story is called 'The chicks run the game in Sweden' and this is true. Seemed a bit strange to me anyway that in Sweden, women walk home, cycle home, do everything by themselves.

As one girl said 'Boyfriends, what do we need them for' and the proof of this was the morning of 'Glad Midsummer' they were all walking to the train station, oh yeah, they all pretty much left town, bad weekend to leave town, well so i was told, me thinks not, and for the first time i thought, I've met women who are like me, well except they all look extremely hot, me? Not, well not yet anyway, but I'm trying anyway.

The point is, it's a very very safe city and men are more afraid of women that they are of them, basically it's the complete opposite of Cork which is more like a cross between Mel Gibsons Apocolipta and Brave heart, which had me wondering.
Why is Mel Gibson making movies set in Cork ?

Speaking of Cork, i came back one night and i had to watch this.

Best hurling goal ever




See what i mean, the place was driving me crazy, well my head anyway. It's too perfect and that would drive anyone crazy !
Compared to do whatever you like South America, and I'm going back. I need anarchy, i love it!!

Actually i created a Job profile on Monster.com stating I'd be interested in a job in Sweden, but not too much.
I felt like i was on a Hollywood set half the time and half expecting I'd walk around a building and it would be all cardboard from behind a bit like that Jim Carey big brother movie The Truman Show, very annoying indeed. There all laughing now i bet, I'll bet.

Went out with a hot Lesbian to a club with a German guy, yeah even the lesbians a hot, what the hell.

Here it is, the Vikings came to Ireland, took all our gold, raped pillaged and stole all our beautiful women and now they're in Sweden, i did try asking for them back, it got a few laughs, good trade, beautiful women for a few laughs.
Maybe i should have asked for Magic Beans, that would be handy, i could climb it and get a golden goose.

On a happier note
Got an email from Kieran from Cork, don't get me confused with the other kind (Galapagos) and i could be going to the US well east coast, the west coast is locked in, well at least in my mind anyway.

Peace out for now.

P.s.
Back to the peoples republic today, Cork are playing Kerry this weekend in Kerry, wouldn't mind going, but time will tell, and I'm not in Sweden so i can be guaranteed that if time says 11pm, it will be dark, oh what Joy. Joy to the world, which
reminds me, Handel's Messiah was first performed by Himself just around the corner (Christchurch Dublin)

nuf

It would be a lovley country, if it had a roof, with insulation !

Seagulls, yeah, I couldn't believe it either



Right, now it's down to business, with Mo Funk telling me things in my ear.

Made a few notes before writing, just so i wouldn't start writing utter rubbish, that maybe you like reading, or maybe not, maybe depending on your opinion, whatever that may be, and on with the show, and so we go on.

Was over in my neighbours house last night, and what now seems like i was robbing the place, then the son 'Dom' walks in, me I'm looking for a post it note, which i found. needed to write down, and here's what i wrote 'Get guide book for Sweden'. 'Why ?' your probably asking, you'll know next week if I'm in Sweden, Malmsteen, I'm coming to see you. If i don't make it to Sweden, I'm going to get the guide book to look a the pictures. Looking no touching....... yet.

This blog entry was supposed to follow a format, so far as yet, no it's not following it, but hopefully we can change this fact, as it is a fact, yet to be disproved.

Part 1, This part i call, Back to living like a baby, which is pretty true, life must have been good as a baby, because i'm really loving it now, did someone mention a wet nurse from China ? No, no one never does, sometimes i cry myself to sleep an night wishing there was,


Bogota demonstration, the students are still at it


Seen a bit of demonstrating last week, well it appears to me that the government of Columbia spends so much money on the army that they cant afford to pay for any education, oh dear! It appears that Pol Pot's dream could live on, only if people were stupid enough to believe in it that it, and they aren't and I'm not.......yet.

Part 2, The Vodafone demonstration, why you do you say ? I'm addicted to sending txt's, i'm not, you are!
What are you on about, well telcos (The ones offering wireless, and that's pretty much all of them are evil, with a 'v', careful use of Microsoft spell check made sure of this, and my brain made sure of that, and some higher creator being made sure of all of this, OK ?
Vodafone want to stick one of their mobile phone transmitters across the road in a church spire, for more reading go here to the story in Melbournes RMIT

Basically the only benefit to having them there is if you want to die young, you will, since i dont really live here it's not too much of a problem, except i
might have to come back more often that anticipated because of people ...errr.... dying.

Don't worry, a campaign is under way, everybody except the anarchists are getting stuck in

Part 3, Kieran rocks into Dom's house and has a rant, which it turns out is funny to me, only Turns out, i went over to the Cummins place to sleep, sleep is a good thing you say, what could go wrong you say, well i drank pretty much all their beer, excess of 5 big beers (Cos I'm a big guy, and big guys need a lot, and a lot of beer)

Now Domonic is 20 years old and among other things i:
a, informed him that i was his new daddy
b, Promoted Australia most vigorously promising it would improve his sex life and maybe his milky white completion
c, Compared his house to 'Upstairs downstairs', him being the servant, Masters lived upstairs
d, Saying his house was great because you didn't have to live with chickens and dogs, which is very true, very indeed
e, Said sleeping in his place wasn't like sleeping in a builders yard
And so on and so forth, you get the idea, i was raving

Now it's for my revenge, because in fairness, Dom said he couldn't take me any more ranting, he had enough. He thought his fancy cigarettes were the 'Bomb' and that's why i was laughing at him, not so in fact. Truth be told, if you tell a particularly long story and you repeat some of it up to 4 times, this is enough for any would be serious guy (I try ans assume him sometimes, only sometimes on serious occasions)

Have yet to go for any walks with the dogs, i suppose that's to do do with my new identity (Kieran Cummins) and staying up at night watching The Wonder years' and 'Gerry Gerry Gerry', then white trash bash each other and rightly so, not hard enough if you ask me, and no one is'

But where has the Spanish gone ? On no, after all my (At times hard work and more often than not, no work) hard learning, it's all going to be stored (Dumped with the other junk) at the back of my head. That wouldn't be such a problem, but i need it again. Hmmmm, might be a need to 'Learn by myself', hmmm big step there, might be 'Stage 2 of growing up'. Stage 1 of course being that 'Mammy doesn't pay for everything anymore'.

Going to some Australian Nirvana gig tonight, that's it, not as exciting as a night out in Oz, but it's an Australian band playing Nirvana.

Recording Dean Cherny's Superfreakin Mashup Mix, he is the bomb

K
Technorati Profile

It's hard to admit it, but i'm white

Have you met come teachers in your time? I'll bet you have, here's my favorite one.

Teaches of Peaches



Made it back, all is going to plan. Plan? There's a plan ?

Leaving las vegas, very nice song carefully penned by Cheryl Crowe, does a similar one need to be written about Bogotá or Quito, there's probably a million of them.

Well what have i learnt, hmmm. Well it would be easier to tell you about what i've forgotten, and whats that, Spanish. Oh yeah, thats what i came here for in the first place. Stay away from Gringos and learn Spanish, well on the upside, i did have a good time and thats important, isn't it?

Start at the start, well i wont but I'll take you back in time to a place i call, last week where many brain cells were fried, and since they fry everyting in Columbia, i think it's a fitting time and location to start the story or what i can remember if it.

I came back from Villa de Ayera, met up with Alli from Queens (Hi Alli, i met another girl from Queens, i could be very well heading your way in a month and then on to San Frnacisco, thank you very much)

Well i can truly say I've been to Colombia, partied on a bit in Bogota, didn't see too much of the city during the day, didn't have to wander too far at night either thanks to the local 'We like electronic music and then house parties if we can find a light bulb' and those ones are the best ones i can tell you, especially if you have a local that doesn't speak any English reciting Spanish to you, don't knock it till you try it.

A repeat effort was attempted, Alli bought a kids Spanish book and she was going to recite it to everyone around 2am, sadly she forgot it and i have nothing more to report on that particular experience, time to dry your eyes and move on.

Hung out with a local Columbian in Bogota Eder (Hi Eder, your government should make you an ambassador for Columbia, Cheers)
Managed to bring nearly everything from the 2 Sue hostels to one of the local House music parties in the bar run by the French girl. Good one, or as Borat would say 'Great success'

Went out with Jenny and Eder and crew later, good night, some club up 5 flights with a perfume shop at the bottom, you need a guide to find these places and i had the best.

Back in Quito now, where are the Cafe Tintos, experssos to you non Spanish speakers. One of the best experiences about Columbia is sitting around and drinking Tintos.
I only started drinking Tintos in Columbia, and now i miss it, a lot.
Did some shopping too, bought heaps of movies, tried to get rid of some books, ended up with more books that i really want and cant say no, 'No, i cant say no, there coming with me, and thats that'

The girls around the corner had a party on Saturday night, i was off to Blues for some Electronic music, the kind you don't really get in Cork, what a blast !!
Got up yesterday afternoon and there was some good electronic musing playing with the sun shining, so i didn't move all day, what bliss.
Funny thing is, if i did it, they would have been running out like their hair was on Fire, '.....a rose by other name' comes to mind, and i don't, not now anyway

Now here we go kids, one thing I've said I'd do for a long time and now we are here
I've been telling people about this movie clip for months, possibly years, possibly light years.

It's Dark side of the moon over Wizard of Oz, seeing is believing, take a break from the world and watch it

I'm off for 'Hornado', roast pork and potato cakes for a $1.50, it's nice, i like, and it's not Sunday either, you can have it any day you like, what a country.

K

Back in Bogota

Hello underachievers, professionals, housewives, skilled workers and un-skilled workers whoever you may be, Apes ?

It´s that time again to drop you a line and let you know how i´m getting on.

I´m fine, and you ? Good i hope ?

Educational movie:



Arrived back in Bogota from Villa de Ayera on a journey that took 5 and a half hours.
Maybe there´s someting wrong with me, and i´m not ruling that out, but everyone tells me that the journey is 3 hours, but it took 5 and a half on a direct bus, maybe i lost 2 and a half hours on the bus somewhere along the road there was a big flashing light and i was abducted.

By Alien´s i hear you mutter ? I hope so, well at least that would explain something, i could claim to be well travelled at least, it´s not everybody they select you know !

Arrived back in Bogotoa, awaiting Alison from New York´s arrival on Monday afternoon.

I was going to go by bus down to Quito and check out the Church in the south, but i just might fly it and feck the church off, i´ve seen plenty. But this church has a good story, and here´s what i know of it.

Story starts:
One fine day, a guy, yes a guy, was out walking, while taking some drugs that altered his precepeption of the world.
When all of a sudden he fell down a cliff, when he stopped falling, which was a good 70 meters he looked up then he had a vision of the Virgin Mary, so what did they do ?
Well they built a Cathedral on the cliff, literally and the altar is where he had the apperation, and that´s why i want to to see the church.
Story ends:

But on the other hand, i´m here to hang out and have fun, so, i´m managing that quiet well, so i think i´ll just continue.

Went out to Cha Cha´s with a crew from Sue last night, but since the girl with directions had the wrong directions
(Authors note: When going somewhere anywhere in fact, it helps having the right directions)

Well it didnt matter anyway, we ended up going to the hard house party around the corner from the hostel and a trip around the city in a taxi, pretty cool huh? Depends how you look at it really, if your a taxi driver, yes. If your paying 8,000 pesos to go to where your already standing, probably not i´m thinking

Afterwards meself and the Aussie Jenny went with the bunch of usual suspects from the hard house club to a nightclub about 5 blocks where they played what i think was techno (Much too fast music with the same fast beat, me dont know)

Today, need to check out a flight to Quito and food, food is good, maybe a salad

I´ve become a bit of a slalad junky, and thats a good thing, now all i need is to get some more good habbits.

Why you might ask am i writing all this stuff, and the answer is simple, i´m listening to ´inthemix Digitalism: Remixes - ITM Exclusive!´ and i need to do someting, so this is it.
I could be doing worse things, it´s just that i cant think of them right now, check my horiscope, in fact i will too.

Here it is:
Pisces
In general this can be a rather productive day especially if you attend to practical and constructive things.
You should also fit in time for some pleasure, whether that's for you personally, the family or with the kids;
some special time will be perfect. Early morning friction should be ignored so that the day can be a happy one

Peace out, i´m off for a happy day, and if i cant do that, i´ll settle for a happy meal

Where have all the toilet seats gone ?

Probably the most photographed dog in Columbia, his permanent residence is top of the road from Sue Hostel


Didnt think i´d be writing so much in Columbia, but there you go, just goes to show that a lot of things are happening here, not that´s what the English or US government would like you to hear.

I was reading recently, US citizens were advised not to go to Columbia, but in fact Columbia is a lot safer than Washington, a lot. So what does this amazing fact mean you ask, not a lot really, unless your French.

The French have recently signed an agreement with the Guirelas here in Columbia in which no French people will be kidnapped, so in case you are kidnapped, act snooty, chain smoke, demand coffee and crossants and go on about how your cheeses are the best and everything is ´Fuckin shet´, case closed.

I´m in Villa de Ayera today and they are shooting a movie in the square, they shot the first season of Zorro here (No bullets were used, tempting to put some reference to 50 Cents here, but not today)

Tour start´s:
Founded in 1572, Villa de Leyva was declared a national monument in 1954.
A colonial town par excellence, it has been preserved in its entirety -
the impressive Plaza Mayor is lined with whitewashed colonial houses and churches.
Villa enjoys a dry, mild climate and is within easy reach of the capital,
making it a popular weekend getaway for Bogotános.

The Zorro filiming went on for 6 months, from what i know of the ledgened, the Zorro character
is based on an Irish guy in Mexico and if you dont believe me, click here

Tour over:
Other signifant events this week
Signed up with facebook, now i can be part of the ´Buzz´ along with all the Americans (an the people that should have been born in America..... and drafted to fight for democracy)

Saw American Splendor, good movie, one good quote from it was ´Life is about enjoying the ride´and truth be told, been having quite a ride this year and i think it will continue in this manner too for another year anyway, well maybe a year and a half, why stop there, go for 2 years more ok so, i think i will, and it was done.

Fred (Fuckin Fred from France) departed this morning, headed North, bye bye Fred, i´m going South. He was telling me we have been hanging out for 3 weeks, no wonder my Spanish has gone down the toilet, if Spanish was on my School report card the comment would be ´Needs more work, has a tendency to be lazy´

True enough, i´m not argueing with you there love, but as long as i´m having fun, thats the main thing.

Heading back to Bogota tomorrow, will only have 8 days to get back to Quito, should be able to do it comfortably, want to see the church on the steep hill on the border, flying is out of the question.

So what did i do in the Nations Capital the last time i passed through, drinking, partying, meeting crazy people witnessing crazy people, wrote about crazy people, forgot the Spanish i learned and drank coffee.

What will i do if i go back, the same as above, but this time i have a sneaky plan, if i stay 1 night theres no way i can do all of the above, Kieran saves the day yet again.

Been eating lots of healthy food too in the last few weeks, i´ve never been happier to eat salad and it´s all credit to my foot. What happened you ask ? Well i´ll tell you.

In San Cipriani i hurt my foot, i moved on to Salento and not being able to walk far i was able to hobble across the road and buy lots of fruit and vegetables and fried chicken around the corner
Now i´m like a junky for salad, i´ve also accuired lots of new Vegeterian recepies which is a welcome relief from discussing ´Whitch Burning´s´ at social occcasions if and when they do arise.

Switched hostel from `Death Hostel´, why ? They had electric showers, and thats a good thing, or so you would think. The water was pissing out the back of the shower head on to the ´LIVE´ electric cables.
I pointed this out to Fred, Fred pointed this out in his best Spanish to the receptionist well anyway, she thought we were crazy and the first to complain about the fear of electrocution ´I am a westerner´, indeed i am. In europe the owner wold be charged with attempted murder, in South America, they think your over reacting.

Bought new shoes for $11, not bad, they feel like i´ve been wearing them for years and this is day 2, maybe if i was living on Jupeter with them they would be years old (God knows, sometimes i think i am there)
The daze of doing without Cafe tinto are numbered so i´m off for some Tintos (Expressos to you)

The whole country feels like it´s ´Student month´ and this years competetion between Colleges is to steal all the feckin toilet seats, not a very smart thing to do. These people shouldnt be in colleges if you ask me, they should be digging holes in a field, 20kms from any toilet and where the only harm they can do is to themselves.

Packing your backpack for Columbia ?
Along with things you might consider packing in your backpack, would be a toilet seat. Business men looking for a good idea, a toilet seat you can strap on to a backpack, Or if your a cheapskate and like squatting on toilets do that. But i cant see the Queen doing that and i cant see many of her loyal subjects doing that either, can you ?

Kieran

P.s.
A big hello to all my friends on Jupiter