When I hit 40 in my next life

My big 40 is now 4 days away (eek) and this what I’m thinking.

In my next life I want to live my life backwards. You start out dead and get that out of the way. Then you wake up in an old people’s home feeling better every day. You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect your pension, and then when you start work, you get a gold watch and a party on your first day. You work for 40 years (have your 40th along the way) until you’re young enough to enjoy your retirement. You party, drink alcohol, and are generally promiscuous, then you are ready for school with all your mates. You then go to primary school, you become a kid, you play. You have no responsibilities, you become a baby until you are born. And then you spend your last 9 months floating in luxurious spa-like conditions with central heating and room service on tap, larger quarters every day and then Voila! You finish off as an orgasm. Nice. I rest my case. Goodnight.

Hey kid..when you gonna grow up?

I was thinking to myself the other morning, as I took delivery of my new Zebra Skinned shoes  (ebay- £35..no other biddders), only four weeks til lthe big 40, at what point in my life do I reach the stage of fully fledged mature adult?

If I was to make a valued judgement based on my past ancestoral jean pool then the likelihood of me reaching ‘adult nirvana’ doesn’t look good.  For much of history the Reilly clan smmed to have following a path of taking nothing seriously for as long as humanly possible (sorry Dad) and this batton seems to have past down to me.

So why am I contemplating this now? Well its that realisation that as I approach that landmark 40, I have become a fully fledged member of that ever growing cultural socio-economic group; prolonged  immaturity or the Kid-ult.

From time to time I feel a twitch of regret when I think of where I could be; married, 2 kids, 2 up 2 down in some low budget semi in the suberbs..but then I think if I’m not going to get married right now I might as well join the rollercoast of instant gratification, do what you want when you want..with a smile of your face.  Have the GREATEST TIME EVER HAMMING IT UP AND HAVING FUN… YEH. The Sunday Time magazine recently profiled this new group as a ‘Kid-ult’ old enough to be an adult but most definately possessing the mature outlook of a 5 year old. They are characterised by ’a need for escapism and an acute obsession with pursueing youthful frolics’. It like’s reading a profile of..er..me.

So anyway, to much contemplating adult hood can be way to tiring so I’m off to the Borough Market Market Tavern for a cold ale to show off my new Zebra skins.

 

 

 

Onguma Plains Camp

We have met numerous people along the way who have simply raved about Onguma Safari Camps. The spectacular entrance on arrival does not disappoint, as we drove up the entrance to the fort we were met by the view of these massive raw walls, stunning stoned clad features and a huge tower with the best views over Etosha and its sourrounding pans. It is simply like no other place I have ever seen. As Rod put it ‘if you bought your lady here and didn’t get any action you’d be worried !”

As you walk around in the inside of the main fort, the space and design simply defy belief. The fort is also positioned to give guests unrivalled views of a watering hole, today there are a few jackals and springboks hovering around. Jaco, the fort manager, explained that the site opened in August 07 at a a cost 14 million rand (about 1.4 million £) by some local hi roller, and its largely grown through word of mouth although on the night we stayed it was barely half full, strange. We each had our own fort, literally, the luxury inside was undescribeable. We had a fantastic evening meal overlooking the panoramic views of Orguma laughing to ourselves at the amazing good fortune of staying in a place like this. If you are visiting Namibia this is an absolute must see.  

Xmas Day in Windoek

We’ve enjoyed a fantastic relaxed time in The Ocean apartments in Camps Bay.  Camps Bay is made for anyone who loves sunshine, amazing food, spectacular beaches and relaxation. This is certainly the best food I have ever tasted; the Codfather in Camps Bay for the freshest suschi and seafood and Nelson’s Grill was the best steak I have ever tasted. I also did a fantastic half day tour of the Stellinbosh wine regions yesterday with a great gang of fellow tourists and some nutty Virgin Trolley Dolleys. I will certainly be back and completely recommend Cape town for anyone, as a destination it has something for everyone (except maybe OAPS or skint people)

Took the early 8.15 flight this morning to Windhoek arriving at the Oliver Grove guest house. It is luxury, very relaxed and chilled. Happy Xmas

  

Camps Bay, Capetown

 Camps Bay, Capetown

Arrived in Capetown via Johberg mid afternoon on the Nationwide Airlines flight. Rod left his hand luggage at the counter in the most thief ridden airport in the world realising just as we walked through customers to getonto the connecting flight to Capetown, he turned and ran like Forrest Gump somehow finding the bag where he’d left it, first major disaster narrowly averted.

Capetown and Camps bay Ocean Apartments, where we are staying is absolutely stunning. It is located about 10 mins walk from the beautiful white sandy beach under the shadow of table mountain. Everyone seems friendly, easy going and very affable but looking at the security of the magnificent beach properties, you get a sense of paranoi about crime. There are loads of poseurs walking up and down the beach which is very amusing to watch as they strut their stuff , reminds me alot of Cocabana in RIO. Looks like we’re going to have a really amazing time here. Totally exhausted. Good night.

Capetown and Nambia

I am dieing for some adventure and this trip really excites me - a week in Capetown catching some hi voltage rays, quality tucker and relaxation followed by 2 weeks adventure in Namibia. Where’s Namibia? Namibia’s next door to Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa.  It is apparently one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world with amazing beauty, landscapes and..er..lots of German heritage. I’m totally excited to be going. Rod, my great travelling companion for this trip, has clocked up considerably more random survival stories than me (Plane crash, Kidnapping and Motorcyle crash to name but a few) which should make it interesting and colourful. I will keep you posted on progress.

Message for Ricky Hatton; I know how it feels pal, Wilf Davis knocked me out in one round, aged 12, my parents were 2 feet away ring side! It really sucked as well 

My top YouTube Music Videos

I love rock’nroll, its true. My brothers turned me onto The Clash, The Jam, ACDC, U2, Rolling Stones and loads more right from age 14 and I was hooked. Hence, I’m pretty handy on air guitar, it comes in handy at weddings when I unleash my Eddie Van Halen ..like last Summer down in South of France (sorry Pat and Lawrence..tell your parents I can act mature).  Music empowers me with incredible memories, alot of these coming when I recently played aoround on You Tube. So here we go- my  favourite Top YouTube Music Videos in no particular order;

Rollling Stones- 1976- Earls Court Star Star (Starfucker)
Ronnie Wood just joined, at their raw and rocking best

Led Zepplin- 1975- EarlCourt- That’s the Way
A stunning, beautiful song, wonderful guitar from John Paul Jones

U2- 1982 weckter
I had a recording of this concert for years until somone recoded over it, it was an old BBC recording. I remember my brother showing me this when I was 14 and I couldn’t believe it what a perfomer Bono was, the whole show was fantastic, completel raw and energy. Edges’ guitar playing is fantastic. I just thought he was extraordinary climbing the scafolding. Brilliant

ACDC- Glasgow 1978
Possibly the greatest opening the a show I have ever come across on YouTube, the rhythm section was incredible and you just thought the building might explode.
RIP Bon Scott

Queen- Live 1985
Thankfully I was there, the greatest 20 minutes of rock n roll ever?

The Clash- Whiteman in Hammersmith Palais, somewhere in the late 70’s
They oozed soul and attitude

Eurthymics Live 1986
Looks really 80’s now but I loved her voice, I thought they wrote brilliant, reminds me of being hols in Portugal

Coldplay 2003 playing Clocks
One of my favourit live tracks, they actucally played it better live

Radiohead- Nice Dream Spain 1997
Fantastic live band and I loved this song

The Cure-Inbetween Days
Reminds me of Glastonbury 1990 being at the front, it felt like a riot

Got a choice? Let me know 

New Year in Paraty, Brazil

I arrived in Paraty, a popular colonial resort town about 3 hours south of Rio on the coast after a 24 hour bus ride. The journey really sucked but it was the only way to get here in time to see in the New Year. Just as I was dropped off the skies opened to the most torrential rain I ever seen, it was like relentless tropical storms and the streets were waterlogged. But it didn´t stop the Brazilians going crazy for New Year, clearly indicative of their love to party hard on special ocasions and I was well up for joining in the revelries. Thankfully I´d met a superb Dutch guy in the Casa Rio Hostel, a bit of a cramped shithole but it was the only bed available in the town. He invited me to join him, his friend who was dating a Brazilian chap and the Brazilian´s family. This seemed peculiar but apparently normal for a Brazilian family that they should all come along for the couple´s weekend away, (and consequently not much nookie going on as she later told me!). We started the evening with a load of beers in the hostel garden, despite being a dump it has a great view of the river, and then trooped down to the beach at about 11 p.m along with crowds of happy, exuberant, Brazilians nearly everyone wearing completely white clothing which looked incredible despite the relentless rain and now mud under foot, the white is apparently Brazilians way of expressing peace for the year ahead.  On Paraty beach the scene was a frenzy of people dancing, hugging and party mayhem,  we pushed to the front of the main stage and danced along to a kind of Brazilian snoop doggy dog lookalike and the crowd went berserk. A frenzy of embracing kicked in at midnight when the firework display let rip over the main beach and marked the official New Year, an incredible and stunning sight. I was contemplating how lucky and bizarre it was that I was here dancing on Paraty beach with these Dutch and Brazilian people, it was a really joyful ocasion. But it didn´t end there, Martin and I said our goodbyes to the Brazilian family and we continued on the lagers and spirits high fiving all the passing folk and we staggered off to an Electronic rave on the next beach which was completely bananas but great fun; alot of lashed up people trying to rave badly.  A storming New year and fantastic memories, I wonder how 2007 will unfold…

Iguazu Falls

Having a great time at Iguazu falls, the falls are incredible

I have been on the pop tonight with a chap from Google.. lots of laughs 

Off to Parati tomorrow, Dad I am still alive 

Peninsula Valdes

This arid bleak Peninsula, shaped by two enormous bays is a complete wildlife frenzy, there are animals everywhere. Today I am on the one day Whale-watching tour having arrived in Puerto Madryn last night. Puerto Madryn is a cool Patagonian coastal town renouned for being founded by Welsh settlers in 1886, it has a really superb vibe and it´s hopping with Xmas activity and excitement.

Today I´ve seen Sea Lions, elephants seals, wild llamas, some local rabid rodent the size of a dog, grey foxes, hares, Penguins, armadillos (my favourites) and most unusual of all..Whales. Thats because the whale watching season is over, finished in early Dec, but there´s a couple of randy males still looking to get some late action on Xmas Eve, reminds me of The Plough Pub, Cobham at midnight and luckily I was there to see them. They were amazing to see close up, we took a speed boat right into the bay and the three Whales encircled the boat checking us out for over 30 minutes, the captain was ecstatic having warned us it was very unlikely we´d  see anything.  We continued onto Peuto Delgada to view a large elephant seal colony visibile from the high beach cliffs, the seals just lolled around on the beach unconcerned and seemingly hungover. It wasn´t until a major scrap broke out when a young upstart tried to cruise the Daddy Elephants Seal´s lady, pandemonium broke out and all his pals gave the young fella a bit of shooing..all right infront of the tourists..priceless.

Overall an unforgettable trip and one I would thoroughly recommend. Now I´m off to hit some ales tonight and celebrate Xmas, Best wishes from Patagonia.