Monkeyrockworld

10 Things to Do in Penang, Malaysia Part 2

Monkey — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:12:40 +0000

Here you have my other 5 more reasons why to come to Penang, and enjoy. It is a special place, and like every special place, it takes some time to understand its uniqueness. You can indulge in the food trail, lose yourself in the forest, take some hikes along the Northern shores or shop till you drop in the modern Georgetown city center. What you cannot do, on the contrary, is lamenting because beer is expensive and there is no fun to be found nowhere, when you didn’t go further up than the 15 meters connecting Banana guest house’s front beer patio to the internet cafe’ on the corner. In this case, you deserve to be sent back to Thailand with a fresh 2 months visa and please, tell all the people like you that Penang is boring and expensive, because we don’t really need losers like you on these shores.

5 Little India’s delicious food traps

I’ve been to South India where these people from Penang are from, and I tasted the original dishes. The conclusion is that Penang’s Indian food is not any worse than any Tamil Nadu’s dish, and most times it is even more delicious. I’m not the only one to say it. In a food paradise like Penang Island, Indian food has a special place: Little India is the area where it obviously most abounds, and where you can spend some interesting moments sampling different kinds of mouthwatering delicacies. One of my favorites are the vegetable samosas you can find at the corner of Jalan Market.0.50 rm gets you a piece of paradise, try and tell me. Hands down, the best and cheapest (plus cleanest) restaurant is definitely Woodlands: eat good and healthy vegetarian Indian food, sample the thick gravys, and be hooked for life. Indian food in Penang is able to let you stay and extra week, sometimes, so be careful!

4 Hungry Ghost Festival

Held for a month between August and September, the Hungry Ghost Festival is the Chinese version of Halloween: during this time the dead are supposed to come back from the Gates of Hell to demand something to the living. This is why for the whole month the incautious traveler keeps asking himself why all of those people are burning things on the streets, and the fire brigade is always around, ready to intervene if the flames get too high?? The best part of it comes during the last week, when the ceremonies reach their most dramatic moments: temple possessions with monks whipping each other, people walking on broken glass, spirits talking in high pitched voices from the ridiculously corrugated faces of old, fat Chinese men, and the final big burning, when every clan has to burn a 3 to 5 meters high paper statue of the God of Hell…. Believe me, the Wicker Man is still kicking his ball in the playground.

3 Upper Penang Road Clubs

Malaysian Night Life is posh, curvaceous and expensive. It really is. Kuala Lumpur boosts some of the poshest clubs and discos in the nation, and Penang comes second with its Upper Penang Road which seems to get relatively overlooked by the people coming by. If you have some cash to shell out and don’t mind waitresses who’ll do anything to pour another drop of beer in your glass so you’ll have to buy more, this is the place to go. Rarely human eyes have seen Asian beauties so awesomely geared up with stilettos, miniskirts and make up to kill the night away like in this place… Wednesday it is Ladies’ Night, and the atmosphere becomes even hotter.

2 Silambam Nilaikalakki

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxaaF9v8rXw

Penang gets interesting when you get to know its underbelly: the good things don’t hang out in Chulia Street. If you are interested in martial arts, Penang is one of the few places in the world where, if you have dedication and time to spend, you can learn the ancient Indian art of stick fighting, Silambam. Originally from the hills of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Silambam is taught in Penang by Master Anbananthan: you need to carefully follow his teachings to get to master the syllabus, before venturing into your own path of self development. Silambam is foremost a healthy practice, like Yoga, with intricate flowing techniques, and then becomes an efficient combat system. You cannot learn it in one day, for it takes roughly seven years to become a master; but if you have time on the island, you can definitely give it a go and learn some of the basics to enhance your health, since Silambam mostly improves the blood circulation. If you want to know more or participate, feel free to contact me and I’ll give you more detailed information.

1 Balik Pulau

Before turning into one of the biggest industrial centers of Malaysia and Southeast Asia, Penang was a beautiful island, a place densely covered by nature, with coconut trees lining up its shores and sleepy villagers pushing their ox carts trough the rice paddies. While Penang is certainly not like that anymore, some of its areas still retain some of the old charm: Balik Pulau is the best example. A sleepy and rural suburb in the lower West corner of the island, this is the place to go if you want to escape from the increasingly crazy traffic jams, the crowds and the steamy afternoons in Georgetown. Ride a pushbike, sat under the coconut trees and immerse yourself in the natural scenery, and if you dare, try to taste some of the Durian fruit readily available, but if you do, consider staying away from your girlfriend that same night… it can produce some uncontrollable foul smells from every hole in your body, mouth included…don’t tell me later I didn’t warn you!

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10 Things to Do in Penang, Malaysia Part 1

Monkey — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:43:10 +0000

Penang Island is one of the most interesting places in Malaysia, and definitely one of the most famous stops along the South East Asian tourist trail. Nicknamed as “the Pearl of the Orient” and recently boosting a superior facility development, it truly amazes me that, out of 10 people I talk to, at least half come up with the following statement, enforced with anxious lip movements and eyeball rolling:

“I don’t like Georgetown”

This is it, the sentence which all sorts of travelers seem to prefer when addressing to Penang Island. They hate Georgetown. After more than a year calling this place home, I felt compelled to try to write down a top 10 list of the best to do in Penang… which is an island, after all, and cannot be reduced to the snobbish statement of those backpackers who, on the sole purpose of obtaining a Thai tourist visa, don’t even dare to leave the backpacker ghetto concoction of Lebuh Chulia, Love Lane and Muntri Street in Georgetown. It is for a reason that these people get bored and call an Island with the name of a suburb!! Let me help you out to find the beauty of Penang Island and discover some of its hidden places.

10 Drink Cheap at Antarabangsa

The main reason why Western tourists hate Malaysia is the higher price of alcohol because of the taxes enforced by the predominant Muslim government. Sadly, it is true. But just behind the corner from the God of Mercy temple, at the northernmost end of Muntri Street, there is a little bar which might alone change your Penang experience in matter of seconds. I am talking about Antarabangsa. This word means “International” in Malay, although the only internationality you might find seems to be of Indian descent. A Chinese run enterprise, this place has the cheapest booze on the island, with the cheapest beers to be sold at 3.5 rm (around 1 US$). You can even get bottles of Burmese Orang Utan whiskey for 4rm a piece (around 1.25$)!! Isn’t this what every backpacker coming in from the booze luxury of Southern Thailand wants? The picturesque backdrop of the Chinese tiles of the God of Mercy temple, the rugged tables, the total lack of comfort and style and the back-alley trash atmosphere make Antarabangsa the best dive I ever encountered during my trips across the East Asian landmass… proud to be a customer ever since I got introduced to it.

9 Kek Lok Si Temple

Dominating the view of the island while standing on top of the multi storey pagoda perched on the western side of Kek Lok Si temple is one of the highlights of every visit to Penang. Being the biggest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia, is definitely a place not to miss. It is so colorful and abundant in carvings and statues that you might easily spend a whole afternoon exploring its halls and quiet gardens. In 2002, a 30 meters tall statue of goddess Kuan Yin was completed and now rules over the Eastern side of the temple, from where it is lovely to relax observing the cityscape melting slowly into the sea. The best time to visit is definitely during Chinese New Year celebrations, when the temple literally lights up adorned by thousands of votive lanterns… a photographer dream coming true.

8 Thaipusam Festival

Please, try to come to Penang during the weekend when the Indian Festival Thaipusam is held, usually around the end of January. Literally hundreds of Indians pay homage to their Gods in the most particular way: piercing their tongues and faces with metal skewers, hanging hundreds of small votive spheres to their flesh using little hooks, and carrying the giant Kavadis on their shoulders… you’ll be also lucky enough to witness people pulling trucks loaded with statues of Shiva, Anuman and the likes using their bare backs… how? With big hooks pierced in their flesh, of course!! This is the most savage, amazing and entertaining festival I’ve seen in Malaysia…and probably in the rest of Asia, too. The streets are literally closed down to allow the procession to flow into the main Waterfall Temple, and you will be forced to dance and party till the wee hours, helped to keep standing by the copious amount of free refreshment handed gently to the participants… literally, a must!

7 Hiking at Teluk Bahang National Park

Many people are in such a rush to get to Taman Negara and have most likely a disappointing experience there, that they just overlook this stretch of pristine rainforest perched on the Northwestern corner of Penang Island. Two moderately hard trekking routes lead you to the two best beaches in Penang, Pantai Keracut, where it is possible to see Marine Turtles’ nests, and Monkey Beach, where you better secure your backpack to something solid to avoid the Grey Bearded macaques’ snatch attacks. A beautiful corner of the island which seldom sees many travelers venturing by… it is also possible to take showers in the National Park Offices before getting back on the frequent bus 101 to Georgetown.

6 Chowrasta Book Market

What would you expect from a wet market? The same smorgasbord of colors, smells, meats and pyramids of vegetables found in any Asian market? Yes, but Chowrasta, a market building situated along the main artery Penang Road in front of the Police Station, has even more. If you venture at the back and climb a tiny metal ladder, you will be taken back in the world of 80’s and 90’s paperbacks… books are expensive in Malaysia, and this is the place where to scout for bargains. Literally thousands of books are piled up in tiny shops scattered all along the corridors of the market area… whatever your pick is, you’ll find something able to raise your interest: It is even possible, for the hardcore travel collectors, to find very old and rare editions of Lonely Planet titles… I just saw the first edition of “China” the other day… be prepared to spare a few long, busy and dusty hours to unearth some hidden gem from this rarity museum!

TO BE CONTINUED

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300 giorni di viaggio: Matteo Tricarico da Kathmandu, Nepal

Monkey — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:53:43 +0000

La Travel for Aid ha presentato la relazione dei 300 giorni di viaggio del progetto sportivo-umanitario “Dal Vietnam all’Italia in bicicletta per i diversabili”, che sta portando Matteo Tricarico a percorrere in bicicletta in solitaria la distanza di 30.000 chilometri dal Vietnam all’Italia. La finalità umanitaria dell’iniziativa consta nel sensibilizzare ed informare l’opinione pubblica sulle condizioni dell’infanzia disabile, andando ad incontrare i bambini in istituti per diversabili nei paesi attraversati.

In questi primi dieci mesi di viaggio sono stati percorsi oltre 10.000 chilometri, da Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, proseguendo per la capitale cambogiana, Phnom Penh (ottobre 2009) e poi per quella thailandese, Bangkok (ottobre 2009). Di seguito, l’itinerario si è snodato nuovamente attraverso la Cambogia (novembre 2009) e a nord sino alla capitale del Laos, Vientiane (dicembre 2009) ed è continuato per il nord della Thailandia (gennaio 2010). Sono seguiti il Myanmar (febbraio 2010) e tre mesi in India (febbraio-aprile 2010) per raggiungere l’estremo sud del Subcontinente e ritornare a Calcutta, prima di entrare in Bangladesh dalla frontiera est. Due mesi (maggio-giugno 2010) in Bangladesh e indi il viaggio è proseguito verso nord al confine sud-est del Nepal e successivamente per la sua capitale Kathmandu, per un soggiorno di altri due mesi (luglio-agosto 2010).

La finalità umanitaria del progetto, portare all’attenzione del pubblico la condizione dei disabili, è stata raggiunta in partenariato con otto organizzazioni non governative che hanno aderito al progetto aprendo le loro scuole ed istituti per diversabili alle visite di Matteo. Un migliaio di messaggi e commenti di sostegno hanno seguito la pubblicazione dei video, fotografie e descrizioni scritte delle scuole diffuse attraverso i canali mediatici della Travel for Aid, segno che il messaggio ha raggiunto una parte sensibile del pubblico che segue questa iniziativa.

Oltre alle visite delle strutture per diversabili, Matteo per 20 giorni ha prestato servizio di volontariato come insegnante di lingua inglese e computer nel centro di accoglienza per bambine dell’etnia Munda sfuggite a matrimoni precoci e gestito dai padri missionari Saveriani a Bongshipur, nel sud del Bangladesh. E ancora, in Nepal si appresta a cominciare tre settimane di insegnamento nel villaggio di Charikot ai piedi del monte Everest.

Ecco alcune domande a Matteo, che ci dice qualcosa di piu’ sulle sue meravigliose esperienze:

Qual’è il tuo bilancio di questi primi dieci mesi di viaggio?

“Sono lieto che l’aspetto umanitario del progetto si sia fortemente accresciuto con la partecipazione di nuove organizzazioni umanitarie e di centri da visitare, ben altre quelle che erano le mie aspettative. Come sono commosso dall’entusiasmo dei messaggi di supporto inviatimi da tante persone che virtualmente mi seguono in quest’avventura, che si sta dimostrando una colta maestra di vita. Fortunatamente, non ho avuto nessun incidente di percorso ed oramai sono abbastanza allenato da poter scalare il tetto del mondo.”

Il viaggio si è notevolmente allungato rispetto al programma originario, come mai?

“Dopo dopo aver vissuto per 300 giorni così ramingo, trovo persino difficile continuare a chiamarlo “viaggio”! In realtà, si è trasformata in un’esperienza di esistenza nomade, quasi un vero e proprio modo di vivere e non più semplicemente andare da un punto A ad un punto B, come lo concepii un anno or sono. Di fatto, ho raddoppiato il tempo di permanenza in India ed in Bangladesh, oltre ad aggiungere due mesi di Nepal che non erano affatto previsti. Sino ad ora, ho percorso solo un terzo della distanza che mi separa dalla meta, ma in realtà sono al giro di boa, questa seconda parte del viaggio sarà molto più rapida anche perché le soste saranno più brevi.”

Quali sono stati i momenti più significativi.

“Credo che i due mesi trascorsi in Bangladesh siano stati i più ricchi umanamente perché ho vissuto per alcune settimane ospite in piccole comunità con i padri Saveriani, a contatto diretto con la gente del posto da cui ho appreso tanto e che mi hanno trasmesso la loro semplicità di vita. Ho un vivido ricordo degli occhi curiosi e vogliosi di apprendere delle ragazzine dell’etnia Munda, salvate da matrimoni precoci che al centro potevano studiare e sperare in un’esistenza migliore di quella dei loro genitori. Quest’aspetto umanitario del progetto ha assunto un’importanza personale molto superiore rispetto al viaggio di scoperta e visita delle attrazioni locali. Mi sta portando un arricchimento spirituale interiore ed un nuovo, più profondo senso della compassione.”

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Esce un film su Tiziano Terzani, La Fine e’ il mio Inizio. Forse adesso e’ anche il mio.

Monkey — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 10:29:03 +0000

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBoMVvvs5ss

Colgo l’occasione di una curiosa notizia riguardo l’uscita di un film sull’ultimo non-libro di Tiziano Terzani, “La Fine e’ il Mio Inizio”. Ironicamente, ma nemmeno tanto vista la biografia di questo personaggio al quale solo la Germania ha dato una possibilita’ di “formarsi” come giornalista di trincea e non solo a cavallo degli avvenimenti storici piu’ significativi degli oscuri anni ‘70, il film non e’ italiano, ma ovviamente una produzione tedesca. E che cosa potevamo aspettarci? Incollo il trailer da vedere e gustare nella versione nazi sprachen, aspettando con curiosita’, sperando come molti di voi che non sia l’ennesima cagata. Succede spesso quando si tratta di adattare un’opera letteraria, soprattutto una di tale valore e complessa realizzazione come “La Fine e’ il Mio Inizio”.

Ma… sto scrivendo in Italiano? Si. Per una volta tanto, sento il bisogno di usare questa linguaccia poetica e decadente per esprimere quel che la notizia di un film sul Tiziano nazionale mi ha sconvolto dentro. Questo articolo vuole innazitutto ringraziare Tiziano perche’ e’ probabilmente anche per colpa sua se mi sono convinto a partire per la Cina nell’ormai lontano autunno 2007, pressato da un’estate di parole snocciolate nell’ora e mezza di treno tra Voghera e Torino, fatta quasi quindicinalmente, una spola tra un borgo merdoso e una citta’ non meno merdosa, ma piu’ colorata di extracomunitari, prostitute, mouth niggers (per chi non lo sa, le slot machines umane di via Nizza; gli metti una monetina in una mano, e ti sputano una pallina di cocaina infagottata nella plastica nell’altra) e personaggi di vari livelli di umano grandore o squallore.

Quelle parole che scorrevano veloci tra le mie pupille e il cervello, mentre l’aria pregna di umori di grano e erba appena tagliata sbuffava grossa dentro la pancia metallica del treno, lo scompartimento fumatori, quello piccolino, in cui non si poteva fumare piu’ ma che mi dava un senso di sicurezza, di esclusione, di non dover aver a che fare con la gente che saliva e scendeva. Quei discorsi di Asia messi sulla carta grigina e ruvida dei tascabili mi incuriosivano. Al punto che le giornate passate a macinare chicchi di espresso e lustrare il bancone del bar sbirciando di sottecchi le tette rifatte dell’alta borghesia Pino Torinense prendevano una strana connotazione atemporale. Una piscina gettata su un acro di terreno che avrebbe potuto essere ovunque. Mi incuriosiva particolarmente il discorso che Tiziano faceva sul Laos e la Birmania, paesi virtualmente ancora incontaminati e puri (gran balle, lo scoprii dopo, ma e’ colpa dei miei tempi, non dei suoi), mentre mi spaventava il discorso Cina dove sarei finito poco dopo… ma d’altronde cosa ci si aspetta da uno che e’ stato arrestato ed espulso da un paese che ha idealizzato ed amato cosi’ tanto, se non un libro pieno di rimorso e critica senza troppo bagliore?

In ogni modo, oggi, dopo quasi tre anni, mi sento di citare queste parole di Tiziano alle quali penso quasi quotidianamente, sbirciando a volte la quindicina di metri che separa il mio terrazzo dal suolo pieno di pantegane, la’ in fondo, computando le distanze e variabili del salto e traendone dati statistici terrificanti. No, non voglio suicidarmi, non preoccupatevi. Mi diverte solo immaginare tutte le varie possibilita’, e dato che la porta del mio attuale, bellissimo (il piu’ bello che abbia mai avuto) appartamento da’ sui fili dei panni per asciugare, un disastrato palazzo asiatico in lenta decomposizione dirimpetto, una pagoda cinese bianca al lato e la meravigliosa natura che se ne esce con una dorsale collinare verde verde, ma inquinata dal folle (ed esteticamente impersonale e orribile) sviluppo edilizio asiatico, il salto e’ la prima cosa che mi viene da pensare, prima di svoltare a destra, verso la tromba delle scale. Non abbiamo l’ascensore, qui… e’ un quartiere popolare malese. No fancy KL fake western lifestyle deconstruction for me, please.

“Il mio nome, il mio lavoro, la mia nazionalita’, tutto quello a cui un tempo sarei ricorso per definirmi, non mi parevano piu’ i miei. Non mi riconoscevo piu’ in quei pezzi d’identita’. Mi ci sentivo intrappolato. Certo: erano parte della vita che avevo fatto, la vita di cui avevo goduto, ma erano anche i pezzi della vita che mi aveva portato prima alla depressione, poi al resto, e il lasciarmi tutto alle spalle per avviarmi verso qualcosa di completamente nuovo era un vero sollievo” (Tiziano Terzani, “Un Altro Giro di Giostra” 2004 Longanesi, p. 335)

E’ questo che mi viene da pensare oggi, dopo alcuni mesi in cui ogni decisione e ogni aspettativa si sono trasformate nell’esatto contrario di quel che avrei voluto. Come qualcuno potrebbe dire, “il Monkey soffre di depressione”. Gia’, esatto. Bisogna sempre avere un piano B, e quello per amor del cielo ce l’ho quasi sempre, ma alle volte, e’ dura. Mi ricordo una volta si parlava di un amico che era “emigrato” da Voghera a Roma per vivere con una ragazza. Si diceva che per lui non era molto facile, perche’ quando litigava con la sua bella, e questa lo sbatteva fuori di casa, Voghera e la famiglia non erano dietro l’angolo. Quando ci penso da qua, mentre la pioggia tropicale si abbatte sui tetti come le carezze sessuali di Hulk, mi si inclina il lato sinistro della bocca in un gran sorriso diabolico, e una mano nera mi stringe il cuore, facendomi sanguinare dentro quattro o cinque gocce amare, di colore trasparente. Ma le lacrime dagli occhi non escono piu’, mai, anche se ci provo sempre, a piangere. E’ una maledizione che dura da tre anni. Non riesco a piangere piu’, e non perche’ sono un vero uomo, ma perche’ forse non ho piu’ il potere di controllare quelle emozioni.

La depressione del viaggiatore, o la depressione di chi e’ fermo da troppo tempo in un posto lontano, sta scombussolando i pensieri e i piani della mia corrente esistenza. Mi curo con poco riposo, una continua polluzione mentale di idee e progetti, e una fame di ignoto che mi rode l’animo. Gia’, non potrei appunto chiamarla una cura. Allora alle volte mi metto a leggere e a cercare di imparare altre cose, altre cose nuove, e arimuginare su quelle vecchie, e mi ritrovo nelle parole di Tiziano che ho citato poco sopra. E le convenzioni con cui usavo definirmi, appunto, non mi paiono piu’ le mie. In un certo senso sono una trappola dalla quale sento il dovere di reinventarmi, ancora una volta, non trovando pero’ la nuova forma preferita.

Diciamocelo tra noi, Tiziano. O chiunque altro abbia pensato di pensare alla propria situazione, in viaggio o meno. La cosa migliore e’ sempre affrontare il domani cominciando con una grande risata. Mai come ora che dovrei essere e sentirmi libero, mi sento in gabbia. Mi sento quasi come quando ero a Voghera nella mia stanza e sparavo il volume cosi’ alto che il vicino batteva sul muro. Spero che questa sia una fine, e ci sia presto un nuovo inzio. Scrivo queste cose perche’ sono sereno e dopo una tempesta, ho bisogno di fissare sul foglio e condividere con chi mi ama e chi mi odia qualcosa che, per me, non puo’ essere concepita con nessun migliaio di kilometri di nessun viaggio. Si capisce solo se, capendo il proprio ruolo in questo teatro di caproni, si decide di scendere dal palco e prendere la via d’uscita del cinema, e iniziare a camminare lontano, in quella stradina che non ti verrebbe voglia di intraprendere nemmeno se ti ci accompagnasse tua madre tenendoti per mano, da bambino. Questo mi veniva in mente leggendo i libri di Tiziano, e spero che questo film possa, anche se lo dubito al momento, descrivere seppur lateralmente questo sentimento che pare solo pochi siano capaci, o anche solo inclini, di provare. Lo aspetto quindi con trepidazione, e che sia un buon esempio, per tutti…altrimenti leggete il libro, che fa pensare abbastanza.

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Global tribe: in Memory of Dan Eldon

Monkey — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 03:40:36 +0000

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fGQGOolg4Q

A collaboration between Sam Stavros and Antonio Graceffo. Twenty-two year-old Reuters photographer, Dan Eldon and was stoned to death in Mogadishu, Somalia. In addition to covering conflicts in Africa, he personally organized aid and relief missions to help the starving people. Dan’s mother. Kahy and sister, Amy published his diaries and art work in a book, “The Journey is the Destination.”

Dan believed in the concept of The Global Tribe. Antonio Graceffo was so moved by the life of Dan Eldon and by the music of Sam Stavros that he took Dan’s work from Africa to Asia. Together, Sam and Antonio created this video, using footage of Shan and other ethnicities of Burma.

“The purpose of the video is many fold.” Says Antonio, “I wanted to tell people about Dan and to remind them to lead a powerful life. I also wanted to promote Dan’s concept of the global tribe. Finally, I saw the suffering of the Burmese people, especially the Shan, as being a global, human tragedy which needed to be told.

When Antonio told Sam Stavros about the situation in Burma, Sam said, “This is exactly a situation Dan would have been concerned about.”

Both the book and story of Dan’s life inspired Antonio Graceffo and countless people around the globe. “Dan made more difference in his short life than many do in a long lifetime.” BBC

Sam Stavros, Dan’s cousin, wrote a moving song dedicated to Dan’s life, entitled, “Neverland.” The song is both powerful and moving and encourages people to follow their dreams, to fly, and never land.

Kathy and Amy formed a foundation called Creative Visions dedicated to the memory of Dan Eldon. “Creative Visions Foundation supports “Creative Activists”, individuals who use the power of media and the arts to create positive change in the world” from creativisions.org

This video is dedicated to the Shan and all of the people suffering at the hands of the Burmese junta.

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A tribute to Dan Eldon, Neverlander – Part 2

Monkey — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:10:23 +0000

Following to Dan Eldon’s introduction, I decided to have a little cross interview with Antonio Graceffo and Sam Stavros, relative of Dan and author of the song dedicated to him, “Neverland”. I think the following interview contains some very thoughtful and witty insights which made me reflect on my situation, and soon I will follow up with my own article and vision on this whole matter. But let them speak for the moment being….

M- Dan’s life was indeed incredible. How do you relate your life experiences to Dan’s? As an adventure writer and martial artists, and as a musician, which is the meaning of your particular stance to life, if you have any?

ANTONIO-Sadly, I am not a musician. I think Dan’s story touched me so much because I could draw some parallels. I have been in Asia nearly ten years adventuring. Dan spent nearly his entire life outside the US and most of it in Africa. I guess I am tied to Asia now. Dan was a writer, I am a writer. Dan did photography, I take pictures, dan made videos, I make videos, dan worked as a journalist, but he took an active role in helping people when he saw the need. And I have done the same. We are similar in many ways, but he was greater, because his reach was greater. What is important is the number of people who you can reach. The greater your reach, the greater your capacity to help. Dan’s reach, after the end of his life is much greater than mine, and I am alive. Perhaps that is why he died so young. He had already fulfilled his mission, risen to the heights he needed to, and the rest of us are still struggling to get there.

SAM-Dan’s life was much more imaginative and enduring than my own. Dan and I both attended the same College in Pasadena and we both traveled – but the difference was that Dan was immersed in a troubled continent and tried to do something about it.

M- “Safari as a way of life” is a pretty strong statement. Do you agree in any way, or do you think Dan would have changed his strong opinions, growing up?

ANTONIO- Sam stavros made the point that when you die young, one of the huge advantages is that you haven’t been forced yet to compromise your beliefs or curb your dreams. I cant predict what Dan would have done in later life. But I would imagine he wouldn’t have settled into a job at the post office or the local library. I think avoiding growing up and remaining young is the only way to keep your strong ideals. I know I have much more freedom than most people my age because I have sworn off the adult world of family, possessions, and career. Recently, I saw a movie called “Up in the Air” where George Clooney is a business consultant who tells people not to have attachments, because they are too heavy and they weigh us down when we fly. I feel that as an adult, these are the kinds of sacrifices we have to make to keep our ideals, to follow dreams and live adventures. In Dan, however, I didn’t see any hint of loneliness or regret. Perhaps that was because he was young and lack of attachment looked good on him. Or perhaps it was because he was a special kind of being.

SAM- I have and continue to live my life like that – Safari as a Way of Life. Always looking for new things to do, always curious, never approaching an experience timidly. I used to go on surf safaris when I was young – and that was just loading up some boards and then going with no planning whatsoever – the surfing was great – but it was the life experiences that really made those trips. Safari as a Way of life is just like that – always doing something then seeing what amazing twist the doing will bring!

M-What is the meaning of your “Neverland” related to the world of today?

ANTONIO- I think I live in Neverland now. I have complete freedom and lack of attachment. I adventure and explore constantly. But unlike with Peter Pan, I know there is a price. And I become more and more aware of it with each passing year. Perhaps the mythical Neverland would be an exact copy of my life, but with time standing still.

SAM-”Neverland” contains the hope of returned innocence, or should I say never losing innocence, to be forever young at heart. With the right idealism and energy we can always have part of our spirit in “Neverland.”

M- What are your suggestions for the youth of today, to try to teach them how to live more enrichening lives, if you have any?

ANTONIO- If you wish to live anything but a narcissistic self-centered existence, then you need to give to others. You can do this by performing volunteer or work or giving community service. But you can also do it by leaving behind a massive body of creative work. Actors, sculptors, painters, writers, teacher, and trainers leave a legacy of lives touched and bettered. Set goals in your life and achieve them. Don’t make them material goals. If your goal is to make money, that is ok, money can be liberating, but DEBT CANNOT. And ownership of things CAN be a PRISON. Your goal should NOT be to buy this or that. Material things are a complete waste. Your goals should be to learn this or that, to experience this or that, to see and to create and to pass on to someone else. I get email every day from Americans and Europeans who want to come to asia and learn martial arts. They say they want to follow their dream like I did, BUT they don’t have money. 90% of these people have jobs and earn more than I do. So how is it I can afford it and they can’t? The answer is, they are tied to THINGS, possessions, debts, which rob them of their freedom. The same people never sent an email to Apple Corp. saying how they dreamed of owning an I-Pod. Although they wanted an I-Pod and eventually went into debt to buy one, that dream was less powerful than their dream to follow their hearts and explore the world. An I-Pod or a new car, or a house they can’t afford is preventing them from following their dreams. And all the while, the clock in the sky is ticking. Their lives are ending one second at a time and they chose a new car over a year of studies in Asia. You could talk about a new car for about ten minutes. And a year later it wont be new anymore. But a year in Asia will last you a life time and it will gain in value with each passing year.

SAM- Yes absolutely the lesson of Dan Eldon and his message to the youth of today is get out and do some things and let your imagination and experience lead you to how you can best be a help to the world. As Henry David Thoreu said, “Don’t just be good, be good for Something.”

M-You can describe what thinking of Dan’s example brings up to your mind, and try to share with us people. Why do you think we should know about him, and what do you want to open up with the making of your media project?

ANTONIO- Dan lived a real life, a powerful life, I am trying to live a powerful life, let these two lives be an example. I hope dan can inspire people to live out their dreams. When I was crossing the taklamakan desert, alone, on a tricycle, I cut an $80 shirt to make a headband. I don’t miss that $80 shirt. But the memory of crossing the desert means a lot to me. And I wrote a book about it and I hope it will out live me. Dan’s body of work outlived him. I have no idea if he owned an $80 shirt. I suspect he didn’t care.

SAM- People should know about Dan Eldon because he actually lived the life that many – even most – people dream of; he was adventurous with all of his adventures designed to spread knowledge and at least some hope of bettering the places that he went.