Asia 2nd day. Kota Kinabalu arrival

Yes, after the good Asian dinner, we tried to sleep on the floor of the airport and we also failed to do so.Maybe because it was afternoon for our bodies.After some messages to the family and friends through free WIFI connection in the airport, we decided to eat something regarding at our senseless non sleeping on the pure floor of the airport.It was 4am and the airport seemed so alive at that time.
Not so much more time we had to do in KLIA LCCT until our flight at 6:50 was taking off.Walk around, buying some water and sweets and chat abit are some examples of what we've doneto get some benefit of this useless period of time...
Before departing to KK, there was a big storm and it was raining like hell!The storm was much better from the inside with our new tasty juices we bought.
I was really lucky with my bamboo one, but Alex wasn't with a different one which was really awful...
Since we were really tired and the plane to KK was our last step to reach our CS friend Kuni, the idea of sleeping was more than accepted!What a surprise when all the Asian people fell asleep before us, even before the taking off, and even without jet lag!

Once arrived to Kota Kinabalu, in Borneo island,we were thinking that after more than 2 days of travelling we were done.But buses weren't so often, taxis were kind of expensive and our language skills on the island were not enough to act like local people...Luckily, to women saw us a bit lost asking for a lift to a bus driver who was with an organised trip.They offered us a lift to the centre and we accepted without hesitation.

They were working for an agency (tropicalholidaysparadise.com) and they seemed reliable enough to accept the invitation. (Mum, don't worry, I don't accept every proposition I have ;))They drove us to our friend's job, giving us some advices and also a good chat.Thanks for that!
Once with Kuni, our Japanese CouchSurfing.org host in Kota Kinabalu Grand Ville, he took us home, prepared our bed and introduced 2 other couchsurfers from Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) and our beloved Poland, more concretely Warsaw.

Afterwards we'd seen ourselves with power enough to go to the centre and sightsee a bit, without expecting that our bodieswould not fight against jet lag for much longer...
We ate closeby Kuni's house for RM5 (1eur=4.6RM aprox.) and started to sightseeing the Mosque where we had to cover our knees abnd wash hands and feet,the Sikh temple, where we had to cover our head as the guy told us.They were 2 of the most important places to visit in KK along with the Sabah museum where our bodies said stop after walk inside...

We would have loved to reach the centre, but with such a sun an tireness, we stopped in the first market we found.We bought some shower utilities, some food for the "tortilla de patata" and breakfasts, two hats and a Malaysian SIM card to use it with my mobile phone.
No more time to waste since we wanted to rest before our meeting in Kuni's place with Gon,another CS friend and also scuba divering instructor.

Coming back home, a heavy rain cought us and we had to make some stops to preserve ourselves dry...After all this tiring day (starting at 3am in Kuala Lumpur International Airport)we had a great Japanese-Malaysian-Polish-Canadian-Spanish dinner.Another CSfer from Canada, was living also in Kuni's place and he cooked some Indian food.We did our speciality "Tortilla de patata" and there was some rice made by Kuni (Rice couldn left inand Asian house!)
After some chat ans some shots of a special local drink, the bed was calling us really loudly.And here I am, laying in bed writing these lines. In the meantime Alex tries to sleep after writing his summary of the day.
My eyes are really heavy and my body prays for some sleep.
Good night to everyone!

P.S. We had no shower during the whole day. A problem with the water pipes allowed us to have a very sticky skin.

Written after dinner laying in bed
30th July 2009
Kota Kinabalu 00:30

Asia, 1st day Asturias-London-Kuala Lumpur

After a great sleeping recovering from 3 days in the SU Oviedo I woka up at 9am before the filght at 15:00 to London Stansted.
I packed and ate before the long trip and my grandfather picked me up at home at 13:00and he brought me to the Asturias airport.
Alex arrived at the same time as me and we started queing.The flight London was nothing special and everything was expected.
The arrival was at 15:50 local time and our next flight to Kuala Lumpur was at 1:25, so, as you all know, we had to wait in the airportuntil that time.Patience, some food prepared by my mother, some ice cream and some reading were our weapons to kill the long period of timethat was among us and the next flight to the Southeast Asia.
The plane which was about to welcome us, was completely different talking about dimension.It was an Airbus 330-300 with 4 engines and 3 rows of people. (The rows in the sides were with 2 rows and the one in the middle was with 4)
This was actually a tough flight.11 since we took offand 6 of them were for sleeping
We had just 2 sandwiches left and no water.Being on a plane it seems normal that we could buy some water and food to the cabin crew, but they told us that we needed Ameriacan dollars, Sterlings or Ringgits from Malaysia if we'd like to put some food in our starving mouths...So, no water, food or anything similar during 11 hours of flight.It was great!
But finally we arrived to KL (like they say) at 20:45, always local time, completely at night and with 29 degrees C and a horrible humidity.We withdrawed some money and we looked for a place to drink and eat.While going through the airport we saw some people in couples getting off from a bus (seems normal), but they were with handcuffs.
We finally got a place where we ate chicken, fryied egg followed by ice creams (2 in my case), bedore going to find a place to sleep in the airport, waiting for our next flight at 6:50 to Kota Kinabalu,where our CS friend was was waiting for us.
Written after dinner and before to sleep in the dinner place.
23:00
28th July 2009
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Low Cost Carrier Terminal)

Malaysia, Singapore and Thaliand

Yes, now I'm in the Southeastern part of Asia.
I'll try to keep you updated at the same time I'm writting a diary that will remind me all the things that I'm living right now in this part of the world, where when for you is day for me is night, for you is cold (maybe) for me is hot and for you is normal summer for me is not.

I'll write every day in my notebook, not knowing if I'll be able to have a laptop and publish it in here, but I'll　try it as much as I can...

Well, no more introduction and let's start the story of my furthest trip until the moment...

Poland, what a beautiful experience...

Here I am,
sitting in front of the computer I started to use in the las week of October 2008.
In the lab of AGH University of Technology.
Writing probably the last words I would like to say to Poland, Polish people,
to all the people I met during this Erasmus year,
to all the people who was following me in this blog and all the ones who were supporting me during the year.

It is difficult to imagine in the beggining, how much your life will be involved in the Polish way of life,
how your habits change, how even your thoughts change after such a year.

Now, I'm coming back to Spain, to see my family, my friends, my places, my real util October-life.
But I carry a lot from Krakow, a lot of experiences, places, parties, friends, facts that will be in my mind for a long time,
and will influence me for future plans and actions...

Today when removing all the pictures from my bedroom and watching the white walls I realised that I'm really leaving this country.
A country which has treated me with respect in every moment and has given me so much life experience.
I would not like to say it, but I felt sad, really sad to leave this life, these people and culture.

I want to thank many people and I'd like to mention in this post some important names as:

All the Polish people I met:
Olga, Kamila, Kasia, Ewelina, Paulina, Piotr, Renia, Anita
Julita, Ula, Janusz, Prof. Kral, Marcin, Szymek, Michal, Lucja...

All the clubs I've been enjoying in:
Cien, Frantik, Kistch, Lubu dubu, Midgard, Kulturalny, Rdza, Prozak, Uluisa, Spolem, Alchemia, Singer, Afera, Awara, Lizard King,

All the key names I'll remember from Krakow:
Kazimierz, Kopiec Kosciuski, Nowy Kleparz, Julisza Slowaszkiego, Dluga, Emilii Plater, Wroclawska,
Szewska, Florianska, Grodzka, Tomasza, Basztowa LOT, Galeria Krakowska, EMPIK, Biedronka, Kefirek,
Barbakan, Brama florianska, Rynek Glowny, Poczta Glowna, AGH C3, Miasteczko Studenckie.

All the Erasmus students I met, especially:
Alberto, Andy, Arnaud, Aurelien, Artur, Jeelan, Emi, Mar, Nacho, Denis, Claire, Antonio, Elias.

All the visits we received in Emilii Plater:
Veronika, Pelayo, Luis, Katri, Karoliina, Jael, Paula, Vallina, Mario, Nicanor, Camanio,
Lucia, Alvaro, Jose, Eszti, Kata.

All the Polish cities I've visited:
Krakow, Wroclaw, Rzeszow, Raniszow, Warszawa, Gdansk, Gdynia, Sopot, Krynica, Zakopane.

And thanks to Alex, my roomate during all this time, sharing a very important life experience becoming
twins in this far-from-home country. I wish you all the best in your future life.

A very special place is for my Polish flatmates, Bartek, Aga and Szymczak, always there, willing to chat, to help, to smile.
I really want to thank all of you all the moments we spent together, all the conversations we had, and all the advices and good words
coming out from your mouths. I know we also had not so good moments, but I think this is also making a relationship closera and stronger,
and to us more confident to each other.
With this I want to express that I'll never forget you guys. Have it sure.wherever I'll be, whenever you'll think of me, you'll now you have a friend to count on.

I also would like to thank my family, always there, willing to know what I was doing, if I was ok, following me on facebook,
sending me pictures through email, keeping me updated on everything.
They are great, and in a few days I'll be enjoying them again.
Love you!

Thanks for everything, this year wouldn't be the same without all of you guys.
Thank you for reading.
Fernando

Parachuting, great experience!

Have you ever thought of flying?
Well I hadn't done it until last week when I realised that I was jumping from an aeroplane...
Yes, jumping from an aeroplane.

Altitude:2500m
Place:Krakow
Day:7th June 2009
Organiser: ESN UE Krakow

Group of 20 participants and a lots of adrenaline during the free falling...
That's what summarising I can say.

This can't be better explained than doing it, really, it was impressive... :)

"Getting ready"

"Got ya!"

"From American movie..."

"Me just flying"

"Alex and me with our instructor"

"Group picture"

Thank you ESN for making this possible. And Special thanks to Renia and Pawel who were the ones who organised it. Keep going guys!

I really encorage you to do it as soon as possible.
Life there is only one.

Keep tuned!
Fer

Warszawa

Finally, and after several months living in Poland, I faced the capital, Warszawa. The city which suffered so much exactly 60 years ago, when after the uprising of the Warsaw's people in 1944 the nazi occupation decided to eliminate absolutely every building in there. So we are now talking about one brand-new city, but keeping the style and architectural line it had in the past thanks to Bottarello.

The first thing I realised is that Warsaw is big, pretty big. So forget about going on foot from one part to another if you don't have so much time to spend, because probably you'll spend it walking and getting tired. Since many important places to visit are really separated it gives to the city...

Thanks to the cousins of Olga, we could leave our backpacks in the dormitory and start sightseeing Warsaw having as first choice the Palace of science and culture, the old communist style building, giving as a present by the soviets. The interest part of the building is its height. 115m which allow you to have a very good view of the whole Warsaw, of course, after paying 15/20PLN for the reduced/normal ticket. We are in the capital, life is not for free...

Detail “The palace of Culture”

Detail “View of Warsaw from the Palace of Culture”

After a nice talk with Adam and Kamila eating in a vegetarian restaurant (which very nice enchilada!), we went to the Uprising museum of Warsaw, where you may see how the Polish population stood up and started to fight against the German occupation. A complete collection of media is placed there, which is really worth it to see if the topic interests you a bit.

Another place, or I maybe should say icon, in Warsaw is "the palm", placed in one central round about where you're always passing by when moving from east-west or north-south parts of the city is needed. I guess you are thinking the same I did, a palm doesn't really fit in an Eastern-Europe country, but it's there. Globalisation... :)

Detail “The palm”

Museum of Katyn (Muzeum Katynskie)
Unfortunately, after going pretty far from city centre, and from the place we were sleeping, the museum was closed and we could only took some pictures from the outside :(

Łazienki park
This was one of the parts that I liked the most. Maybe because in Krakow there is no such a park and I really missed it, but I felt so good walking in this park. Many people, trees, flowers, even animals.

Detail “Hungry Squirrel”

The Lazienki park was a place where the king had his own summer palace, nowadays called palace on the water.

Detail ”Palace on the water”

And it has another building called white house really worth seeing.

During all these moments, we’ve been travelling by bus, tram or metro, seeing all the big streets that Warsaw has all over itself.

Detail “Long streets in Warsaw”

Actually the trip was a bit fast as lightning, going at 6:10 on Saturday in the morning and coming back on Sunday at 17:10…
But I think that I really enjoyed the trip. And one of the main reasons was that I had been reading about Warsaw in my lovely Lonely planet and we had the organized plan as well as very good guides who took care of us in the big city of Warsaw. Thank you guys!

I would also like to thank Olga, without you we hadn’t been in Warsaw and I could write these words as I’m doing.
I have to say that her improvements in Spanish are becoming bigger and bigger… ;)

And last but not least, I’d like to say welcome to the blog world to Alejandro, my roommate here in Krakow. Who is becoming a professional photographer since he bought a DSLR camera.
I have no doubt he will be a good one! Go Alex go! :)

Detail “The professional in Łazienki park”

You can read him here: http://aleromar.blogspot.com

I guess he’ll prepare some surprises for us as well. So, enjoy reading!

More pictures can be seen here:
http://picasaweb.google.es/f.martin.85/Warszawa25th26thApril09#

Thanks everybody who is following me. I really appreciate it!

Warm greetings from Krakow.

Weekend in Kyiv!

Old Soviet union, cruel WWII fights, not lucky 26 of April 1986 in Chernobyl, old Polish city L'viv, huge Dnipro river, currency called hryvnias, big and green city Kyiv and lovely people who greet saying privet! Can you guess in which country I've been recently? I guess it's easy with such an information written...
Ukraine host me during last days and I wanted to talk about it.

Starting from Katowice and this beautiful sunset, all was going on normally. Bus to Katowice airport, checking in, and waiting for my Wizzair plane.


Once in Kyiv, no problem occured since AEGEE exists!! :)
Olga picked me up and since that time, everything was prepared, lovely and in time!
Thank you Olguita!It was great!



When Kyiv people told me that the city I was sightseeing in that moment was one of the greenest of Europe I was very surprised, but you only need a few hours getting yourself lost in the city centre to feel the green in your own body. And if you have the opportunity of visiting it in Spring, don't hesitate!
Here I upload a very good proof of it.


Souvenirs have a place and a proper name. Andriyivs’ky, where you can buy typical Ukrainian clothes, Easter eggs, handmade plates, wooden boxes, and hanging decorations to bring good luck to your home :)

I hope mum and sister will like what I got there for them! :)

Orthodox churches are spread all around Kyiv, and you can recognize them since they have a peculiar shape from the outside. Here you can see one of the most famous ones just next to the street I’ve mentioned before. It’s really nice to see it, and even more if you have good weather like I had!



If the WWII is a topic you like, don't miss the museum located on the top of one of the seven hills of the city.
You'd see some of the battles in Ukraine well explained, and the power that the soviet union had in that time. Thank you Irina for the well explained tour!!

I also want to thank Choranova who had to get up early for me not to get lost in Kyiv!
thank you Ola!



воля is the word you can appreciate watching the national emblem,
which means liberty. Another thing that I know thanks to AEGEE Kyiv people!

http://www.aegee.kiev.ua/

http://aegeekyiv.blogspot.com/

http://aegee.kiev.ua/Press.aspx

I also have to say that they are working so hard in AGORA preparations and since Magusa one has finished, all of you should be thinking of coming to Fall Agora Kyiv 2009 ;)

In the picture, one of the brave guys in AEGEE Kyiv board. Keep going Petya! :)

Summarizing, I have to say that I really liked Kyiv.
And I only have one word to the fantastic people from AEGEE who took care of me:
Спасибо!

More interesting pictures: http://picasaweb.google.es/f.martin.85/Kyiv16thApr09#