AROUND THE WORLD

Episode 10: Best & Worst

2009-10-23T11:19:00.005+02:00

What was the best and worst hotel/place you stayed in?

Worst place was probably when I arrived to New Delhi late at night and ended up at a place near the slum with mouldy floor, not so clean sheets and of course no internet or anything like that nearby.

Best place was Chedi Spa in Chiang Mai, the Hanalei Surfboardhouse in Kauai and The Imperial Hotel in New Delhi.

Episode 9: Best & Worst

2009-10-22T16:52:00.016+02:00

- What was your best and worst food experience?

Best

I had so much good food on the trip that it's hard to say only one place. I was sort of eating myself around the world. Anyway, here's my Top 5:

- The world's best lobster soup at 'Saegreifinn' Reykjavik, Iceland Go!
- Sushi at the casual 'Stand up Sushi Bar' in Tokyo next to the big crossing Go!
- The tuna burger (and the sushi!) at 'Hanalei Dolphin' in Hanalai Bay, Kauai Go!
- Breakfast at 'Chedi Hotel and Spa' in Chiang Mai Go!
- The afternoon tea at the 1911 at 'Imperial Hotel' New Delhi, India Go!

Worst

Not always, but sometimes air plane food sucks. Luft Hansa is the worst - whatever you do, bring your own food on the plane or eat before. You get a piece of dry bread with some old ham at the most. When I went from Frankfurt to Stockholm on Lufthansa my neighbour ordered a gin and tonic. He got the gin in two mini plastic bags (!) and a room tempered tonic with no ice. When he asked for ice the stewardess said 'No, it melts on the plane' (duh!). When he mentioned that other airlines keep their ice in a fridge and asked for an extra tonic water to compensate the lukewarm drink, she charged 3 extra € for the tonic. He was about to explode...

BONUS: Starbucks - New Scientific Research

Episode 8: 'Best and Worst'

2009-10-21T17:22:00.005+02:00

- What's your best packing tips and tricks for a trip around the world?

My top 5 would be:

- Leave extra space in your bag for two reasons: you will buy stuff, it's easier to pack a bag again and again with extra space.

- Buy small containers at for instance Muji (Åhlens) or Granit for shampoo, hair products, alco-gel etc.

- Spread everything evenly and pack flat. You fit much more in a bag if you only fold your clothes once and spread socks and underwear all over to fill little gaps. It looks horrible, but it works.

- I've got two Samsonite hardcase suitcases from MrJet - it was PERFECT! I used the cabin size for camera gear and electronic equipment and the large one for clothes and shoes. Since I didn't do a normal back backer trip it was the ultimate packing on wheels.

- Have a warm sweater, soft knee-high socks and a large scarf handy for the flights. It's air-con and cold and easy to forget when it's 35 degrees outside.

Episode 7: 'The Return of a Newly Born Travel Fanatic'

2009-10-20T09:40:00.005+02:00

- What country/city would you not travel to again? Why not?

It might take a while until I return to India. I'll probably forget about it after a while and go back eventually, but right now I feel sick just thinking of the word 'Dharamsala'...even if it was worth it. McLeod Ganj & Dharamsala: Click here

Episode 6: 'The Return of a Newly Born Travel Fanatic'

2009-10-19T10:38:00.012+02:00

- What country/city would you travel to again? Why?

Definately Kauai. I went there for the third time in my life, and I still love it more than any other place in the world. Kauai is often called 'The Garden Island' since it's raining so much there, which makes it very lush and green. It's less touristy than the other Hawaiian islands (at least on the north shore), and the vibe in the nature is mindblowing! Of course it's different now compared to 10 or 15 years ago. It's more celebryties and wealthy people having properties there, but it's still an allover easygoing feeling on the island; you can even camp outdoor safely, there are no poisonous animals in the djungle, and of course in wintertime: some of the best surf in the world...

Another little flashback from Kauai/Hawaii;

Episode 5: 'The Return of a Newly Born Travel Fanatic'

2009-10-18T09:25:00.000+02:00

- Was it lonely to travel alone? Why/why not?

Not at all! The world is full of people, and traveling alone means you have to talk to them. It's a really positive experience. It's a few things to think about (especially if you're a girl) traveling alone though:

- Think about dressing according to the culture. In Hawaii I could walk around in bikinis, but in India I was covering my bum, shoulders and legs for instance.

- I never got drunk during this trip. Sure, when I was out with my Icelandic friends I could have been plastered if I wanted to, but apart from that it's not a good idea being a girl traveling alone and getting drunk. Doesn't look good in most countries I went to, and most of all - you need to be able to watch your back.

- When I'm out at night I don't make eye contact with men. I simply avoid to look them in the eye. This makes you almost invisible in a strange way. It's just unneccesary to get into interactions with weird people when you're alone.

- Of course avoid areas with little or no people at night. Take a cab instead or try to don't put yourself in such situations.

- Make a backup at a remote harddrive at home now an then. So if you loose your computer or external HD, you always have a copy of your pics at home (more packing/luggage tips coming up later).

- Just use common sense.

Episode 4: 'The Return of a Newly Born Travel Fanatic'

2009-10-18T09:23:00.001+02:00

- Do you regret anything you did during the trip?

I don't regret anything I did, I only regret what I didn't do. The only reason why I didn't do these things was because of to little time/jetlag/exhaustion etc:

- Kareoke in Tokyo (the only night I had a chance to go with someone who was up for it I was so exhausted by the travel and jetlag that I couldn't move...have to go back!).

- The blue lagoon in Iceland (my Icelandic friends said it was a total tourist trap, but afterwards I regret it. Have to go back!).

- Hiking the Napali Coast in Kauai (because of the storm it was muddy and flooded and I didn't get around to do it this time. Have to go back! ).

Episode 3: 'The Return of a Newly Born Travel Fanatic'

2009-10-16T08:48:00.009+02:00

- What surprised you most?

I was positively surprised of how friendly people were. I was warmly welcomed everywhere, people helped me out, let me stay at their place and so on. Without ever bothering me in any negative sense.

A good tip to remember though, if you sometimes "couchsurf" at peoples houses is:

- Always leave the place nicer than when you arrived
- Pay the bill of your host if you eat out
- Bring a small present, flowers, fruits or something sweet before you leave

Episode 2: 'The Return of a Newly Born Travel Fanatic'

2009-10-16T07:00:00.001+02:00

Rule no 1: Never look into the kitchen where they make your food. This is were I had my last dinner before getting food poisoning. It was all tasty and lovely until the next morning.

- What was your lowest point during this trip?

It was for sure getting food poisoning in India. Since if I knew it beforehand - I've been pretty ill in Kerala before - I planned the trip putting India as one of my last destinations since I didn't want to risk getting sick in the beginning of the trip. Anyway, when I woke up in the tent on top of that mountain in Himalaya, not feeling too well, I knew I had to get down as soon as possible. My body wanted to turn itself inside out while hiking down with very few places to get off the track to...go to the toilet...then it was no fun. And being alone when I was having 40 degrees fever the following couple of days was the only time I wished that I wasn't alone. But hey, one week later I was fit for fight again, so it was totally worth it!

Episode 1: 'The Return of a Newly Born Travel Fanatic'

2009-10-14T23:09:00.016+02:00

Q - What was the best experience during your trip?

A - I think the trip litterally 'peaked' when I reached the top of the Mt Dhauladhar behind McLeod Ganj in northern India. I don't know if it was because I had to make such an effort to reach the top of the mountain, or if it's just the last positive experience of the trip before I returned to Sweden - no matter what, it was truly magic!

My top 5 highlights would be:

1) Hiking Mt Dhauladhar (Dharamsala, India)
2) Catching a wave in Kauai (Hawaii, USA)
3) Beach weekend in Malibou with the Beastie Boys crew and hanging out in LA
4) The best-ever massage at the Esalen Institute (Big Sur, California, USA)
5) The Chedi Spa experience (Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Catching my first wave!

THE CONCLUSION

2009-10-14T13:09:00.003+02:00

Dear friends,

I know you probably believe that I would never be back here by now. That I just ran off to the Swedish forest and would never touch a computer or anything starting with www again. But, don't despair - I will keep my promise and end this properly with the crème de la crème of the trip! I just had to catch my breath after the big return...

During the following days I will answer some questions that I've got during the trip (+ some questions I didn't get). Please let me know if you want to know anything else than this:

Questions

- What was the best experience during the trip?
- What was your lowest point?
- What surprised you most?
- Do you regret anything you did during the trip?
- Was it lonely to travel alone? Why/why not?
- What country/city would you travel to again? Why?
- What country/city would you not travel to again? Why not?

Best & Worst

- The 5 best packing tips and tricks for a trip around the world
- Best hotel/place to stay
- Worst hotel/place to stay
- Best airline/airport
- Worst airline/airport experience (Frankfurt airport!!! Sorry...couldn't wait to tell you...;)
- Best food
- Worst food

Tomorrow we'll start the incredibly exciting 'The Conclusion' Episode 1, which might even involve pictures and film clips...

;) Å

Airport mayhem

2009-10-08T12:49:00.008+02:00

Yesterday I went to the airport to say goodbye to my dad who's going to the Galapagos Islands and Peru with National Geographic . What we didn't count on was that the taxi drivers made a protest and stopped all the traffic from getting to the airport. So my dad and his friend Cenneth Sparby had to get out of the car in order to make it to the flight. People got totally crazy since they had to catch their flights.

Streetsmart

2009-10-02T17:34:00.002+02:00

Stylecheck: Those glasses and her top. She was also the sweetest!
Profession: Running a recordstore on the street of McLeod Ganj, India
Age: What did I tell you about asking ladies about their age..?

Foxy Lady

2009-10-01T14:25:00.008+02:00

Style check: Notice the cigarette she keeps behind her ear.
Profession: Cashier at Wal-Mart (Hawaii, US)
Age: Don't ever ask a woman above 20 about her age.

Old news...

2009-09-30T11:17:00.005+02:00

People wanted to see the winning film several times during this trip. So here it is again - my application film to MrJet that made me win the competition going around the world!

The story goes like this: my dear stepmother phoned me and said "There's a job I think suits you perfectly. An online travelagency is looking for someone going around the world to wherever they like and blog about it". I didn't think she got it right. When I realized it was true, I quickly put a filmclip together and didn't tell anyone about it. Then I went to France for a scriptwriting workshop that I'm doing this year. Less than a week later I've got a phonecall from MrJet; "Where are you, we already interviewed the other two people that went to the final and you're not even answering your mail." Since I was in France I couldn't make it to the interview, I wouldn't be back in Stockholm until the week after and then it was too late. Then MrJet decided to postpone the deadline for chosing the finalist, and I went for a nervous interview the following week. Afterwards I thought I didn't get it, and went for a sad lunch with my mother. When we were having our coffe I've got the phonecall; "Do you want to make your dreamtrip around the world?"

So, as a classic oneliner I'd like to say; I wouldn't been able to do this without the incredible support of my mothers! Thankyou.

Paris

2009-09-29T18:29:00.003+02:00

I went to Paris in the weekend with Marietta von Hausswolff von Baumgarten (the scriptwriter who met up with me in Chiang Mai two weeks earlier). Met some wonderful people and most of all; had REAL French croissants for breakfast! Oh lala...

What's your dream, Gasper?

2009-09-29T18:10:00.002+02:00

Gasper 18 years old working in a café in Paris dreaming about being happy. It seemed like he was already living his dream. He makes pretty good omelettes with goatscheese and mint (!) too.

Dear folks!

2009-09-23T15:21:00.002+02:00

I won't stop blogging yet, just because I'm back. I've still got plenty of fun stuff that I haven't had time to upload while traveling, so I will put it up little by little. Be assured!

What's your dream, Vinod?

2009-09-23T15:18:00.001+02:00

This is Vinod, 35 years old working as a massage theraphist at The Imperial Hotel, New Delhi. He's aim in life is to be a good human being and he dreams about becoming world famous in his work.

Homecoming

2009-09-23T14:53:00.005+02:00

I'm in Stockholm now. And I will have a coming home party. In the meantime I'm in a vacuum. When I was in northern India I've got a feeling of purpose in life more than ever. I needed so little to be able to help people with food and money, I was able to teach English, I was learning something, I gave a smile and got one back. The small community is something we've forgotten about in Western society. In Dharamsala they're closely connected to each other in a natural way that we have forgotten about long ago. Despite the poverty, there's a richness in the culture, religion and family life that I really, truly admire. Coming home was a chock. I feel alienated, useless and lonely. Really, I know it's not the truth. But it's an overwhelming feeling. So I have to change it! I will turn Reimersholme into Little Tibet! You all are welcome!

Holywood Magic!

2009-09-23T13:05:00.004+02:00

I love Indian portraitstudios...

What's your dream, Mike?

2009-09-19T20:14:00.004+02:00

Mike, 26 years old from Louisianna, US. He's hiking in the Himalayas dreaming about getting enlightened. He speaks Hindi, Tibetan and Nepalese and volenteers as an English teacher. And he was laughing after I filmed him saying 'I must sound like the most pretentious idiot! Hahaha'

New Delhi

2009-09-19T18:22:00.003+02:00

When I woke up this morning I was sicker than I ever remember I've been. It's something about those Indian stomach disorders that really shuts down your system. Last time I was in India I was ill for more than two months after I left the country.

Anyway, yesterday I managed to buy a last-minute ticket on a flight to New Delhi, since I realized the option of taking a bus for 14 hours with a 'bad stomach' wasn't really an option. I was really nervous that they would cancel the flight, because they do that quite often because of bad visibility. When I was in the taxi going down the serpentine road leaving Dharamsala, I felt I was panicking by the idea of not being able to leave for some reason. My fever took the last courage away. All of a sudden I just wanted to get away from the dirt, the mold, the smell, the food that made me so ill...you can imagine my relief when the plane took off! When I arrived to New Delhi a driver from The Imperial Hotel picked me up at the airport, with a cold aroma oil towel, spring water and AC. I was in heaven!

Now I'm in a bed with clean sheets, had a dinner that I was able to keep in my body, had some antibiotics and my fever has gone down, and I'm going to have the best sleep in a very long time...

What's your dream, Gus?

2009-09-18T16:09:00.005+02:00

Gus, 17 year old working at 'Moonlight Café' in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala. He's parents are sick so Gus is running the business alone, which doesn't go down very well. He's dreaming about becoming a bank manager. When I spoke to him for a while he said he had three problems:

1) The biggest problem was that he didn't have any clothes to wear at next weeks school party. He only had one set of clothes, what he was wearing. And he wasn't able to go if he didn't have a pair of jeans like the other kids otherwise they'd tease him (western problems creeping into mountain villages).

2) He didn't have any shoes to wear. He could borrow his dad's shoes, but they were too big.

3) The third biggest problem to Gus was that he couldn't pay the fee for the school, so he'd get thrown out next week.

We calculated that it would cost 1200 rupees (less than 20 €) to solve those three problems. So I left with 20 € less in my pocket and one boy's smile happier.

Dharamsala

2009-09-18T16:03:00.004+02:00

Dalai Lama in his temple in McLeod Ganj

2009-09-18T15:59:00.001+02:00

Click 'Play' and on the bottom right corner for fullscreen

Your Dharamsala Guide

2009-09-18T14:41:00.003+02:00

I met this Australian woman called Sharon Thrupp. She lives in upper Dharamsala and arranges spiritual tours up here. So if you ever need to know where to stay, what to do or where to go - this is a reliable person who's got plenty of experience of India:

Her blog: Nirvanatours
Sharon Thrupp e-mail: info(at)eknoexperience.com

Cat shower

2009-09-18T13:21:00.005+02:00

You remember the cat in my room at The Golden Gate Hotel in San Fransisco? Well, check this guy out he's taking it one step further:

See more funny videos and Cute Animals Videos at Today's Big Thing.

His Holyness Dalai Lama

2009-09-17T16:25:00.006+02:00

So...what happened was the following. After much hustle getting a presspass from the Foreign Ministry, I wasn't allowed to neither film or take pictures of Dalai Lama. The presspass alowed me to bring my equipment into the Temple though, since I was allowed to use the camera before and after his lectures. My questions I had to leave to his secretary. And like I mentioned before, my special invitation included me and a few thousand (!) Koreans...

But it was great! So many people and monks, and so still and quiet. As soon as he started to talk everyone were silent for hours. People barely went to the bathroom. A quote:

"...--- no matter what is going on, never give up. Develop the heart...-- too much energy in your country is spent developing the mind instead of the heart. Be compassionate, not just to your friends but to everyone. Be compassionate, work for peace. --- and I say it again: never give up! No matter what is happening, no matter what is going on around you, never give up."

Oh...I was so lucky to be there and see him! I wanted to see Dalai Lama for so many years, and I didn't know that he would be here when I re-squeduled the trip from Ladakh to Dharamsala. That's what I call syncronisity! And the most touching thing was to see the really old Tibetan men and women kneeling down, touching their heads on the floor in fron of him - the appreciation for what he does for the Tibetan people is immense, and what he said above sort of sums it up. I'm very very moved...

And you know what - once I was there the security let me film for about 30 seconds! So here's the precious clip:

What's your dream, Matt?

2009-09-16T20:35:00.003+02:00

Matt, 22 years old from Lousianna, US. Hiking Mt Dhauladhar dreaming about enlightenment. He's studying on the social worker program back in the US and his professor brings a group of students every year to India, pretty good move I'd say...

Every day heroes

2009-09-16T19:25:00.000+02:00

There's something about this horrible feeling, being a western person in a poor country never being able help as much as you want. I try to give as much as I can, but it's never going to be enough. Besides, I'm just giving here and now because it's all in my face and as soon as I get home I'll forget about it...or? It's a classic dilemma.

I feel like an idiot talking to people who've done volunteer work for years, when I just felt slightly better after paying the school fee for a boy. There are so many great people out there; teaching English in slum schools, helping out in hospitals, raising money for Tibet. My heart is growing day by day seeing all those amazing things happening. And the real heroes; the boy in the coffee shop running the café alone since both of his parents are sick, the monk living in a shed with no toilet or running water and still smiling in bliss every time you look at him - these people make their life worth living in ways hard to imagine.

Last time I was in India I promised myself to never go back (I was even sicker that time). This time I want to tell everyone to go here - it's for sure a life changing experience!

Teach a monk?

2009-09-16T13:40:00.003+02:00

"Hello! My name is Jamyang, I'm a TIBETAN refugee monk living in McLeod Gang. I'm learning ENGLISH and I've been having CONVERSATION classes with friends. Now they are leaving and I'm looking for somebody else to talk to. So if you are interested please contact me, I'll be very greatful!! Thanks :)"

The Tibetan monks are very keen to learn English since they're refugees and have to live outside their country. My new monk friend Thuptean, keep writing down things I say all the time in a little notebook. He can't afford to have any more English classes, since it cost him 200 rupees a month (less than 3€). Instead, he learns from the tourists.

What's your dream, Arrty?

2009-09-16T06:00:00.000+02:00

Arrty 23 years old grew up in the Dharamsala area and has been traveling in India quite a bit. Now he's back home working at 'Coffe Talk', a café owned by one of the high lamas in Dalai Lamas refugee village McLeod Ganj.

On tha mountain'

2009-09-15T18:23:00.006+02:00

The Camp - Click 'Play' and on the bottom right corner for full screen.

The Hike - Click 'Play' and on the bottom right corner for full screen.

Pics from Mt Dhauladhar, Dharamsala, India.

What's your dream, Neil?

2009-09-15T16:44:00.002+02:00

This is Neil (or his Tibetan name I can't spell) who I met on the mountain. He's very loved and respected in the Dalai Lama village McLeod Ganj, working on projects helping the Tibetan people. He lives in India half of the year and Louisianna the other half of the year. What a dream...

Well...to tell you the truth, this is the not so spiritually advanced answer I got at first.

Before & After

2009-09-15T10:47:00.002+02:00

It takes about half an hour to upload one picture...

2009-09-15T10:35:00.001+02:00

...if the connection isn't disrupted.

It was worth it!

2009-09-15T09:11:00.007+02:00

Sorry for disappearing, I got really sick and I'm in bed with a fever. This is what happened: The buddhist monk Thuptean, took me for a hike at the mountain two days ago. Quite soon we realized it took quite much longer for me to get up, being not half as fast as him (he's like a mountain goat!) + filming and taking pictures and all.

So when we met a group of Americans who invited us to stay over the night in their camp on top of the mountain, we accepted their invitation. When we got there the sun was about to set. We were about 12 people up there not believing our minds! Being above the clouds, watching birds with a wingspan broader than a tall man quietly gliding by, surrounded by goats, sheep and cows, watching the most beautiful sunset I ever saw in my life. I don't think I ever felt so happy.

Later on we were sitting around the campfire, getting a delicious (madly poisonous I found out later) Indian dinner with vegetables, dal, rice, chapatis and chai masala. I was quite suspicious, since the mountain people who lived up there cooked the food in a shed and it was no spring water on the top - they had to carry the water up with donkeys - which probably didn't improve the hygiene in the kitchen. But I didn't want to be rude, and it was wonderful after the hike.

The group up there were social workers from Louisiana, their professor took his students to India every year for different charity work. One of his students called Mike, knew Tibetan to Thupteans delight, so they had a long conversation.

It's really cold in the mountains at night, I bought a hat and socks up there, sleeping in all my clothes + a thick sleeping bag which kept me warm. I fell asleep to an Indian couple arguing loudly in their shed (keeping everyone awake for about two hours wondering what they acctually argued about) and the rest of the locals playing drums singing around the campfire trying to not listen to the fight.

Next morning when I woke up I wanted to puke. And I did. Quickly I decided it was time to get down to the village better sooner than later. With a stomach that I don't want to get into the details about, the hike was a pain in the ass (literally). I couldn't keep any water in my body and got quickly dehydrated. When I got down I had a high fever shivering and sweating like mad.

Since the hotel I stayed in before was fully booked they wanted me out. I was lying on the sofa in the TV-room 'to get some energy', not being able to stand up. The receptionist still tried to get me out of there, and she spoke to the manager who also said I had to leave. I didn't have the energy to get into a discussion about why I couldn't get out in the pouring rain with all my stuff and a high fever and diarrhea. I think the manager changed his mind when understood what condition I was in; my face wet by sweat and exhaustion. I got to stay on the couch. When I woke up the fever was down and I got some medicine from a doctor who proclaimed food poisoning. Of course. It's always a matter of time before you get it in India, I've been there before - that's why I put this at the end of the trip...

Ps. One more thing: The rental of two tents + two sleeping bags + 2 dinners + 2 breakfasts + 1 wollen hat + 1 pair of wollen socks + plenty of drinks and snacks, came down at the bargain of 13 € (900 rupees) + food poisoning. And you know what - it was worth it!

Holy Bakery

2009-09-13T05:26:00.002+02:00

When I went to Dalai Lama's temple yesterday, I was shown downstairs in the basement by one of the smiling guys working there (you can't see how much everyone is smiling really, because of the masks! + as soon as I start filming they always try to look serious i.e stop smiling ;) and I found out that they're baking bread for a big puja celebration next week...in a couple of days you'll find out what it is...;)

Lama Karmapa

2009-09-12T19:10:00.004+02:00

Today: I was praying for a close family member of mine at Dalai Lama's temple last night, when a Tibetan monk asked me to come with him to the Holy Lama Karmapas Monastery. He was very sweet and his eyes were glowing by friendlyness and joy, so I went with him on a bus in the morning. One hour later I was at a monastery with 300 monks waiting in a big crowd of Tibetans and Western people to get a blessing by Karmapa. A few minutes later I was in his room. He was much younger than I expected, only 21. He looked at me and put a red string around my neck saying some mantras. A second later I was outside the monastary, wondering what just happened. It's something unsentimental and very down to earth about the whole Tibetan Buddhist approach that appeals to me very much. They don't make a big fuzz about things.

Tomorrow: Early tomorrow morning I'm going to hike to the top of a mountain behind McLeod Ganj with the monk - he asked me if I wanted to go with him, and of course I couldn't say no hiking a mountain in the Himalaya with a Tibetan monk...

Himalaya Morning

2009-09-12T18:14:00.001+02:00

From hell to heaven

2009-09-11T18:19:00.005+02:00

Taking the bus in India is nothing I would recommend to anyone afraid of death, dirt, poverty, speed, mad traffic, no rules, cockroaches, mosquitos, not being able to go to the bathroom for four hours, stinky holes in the ground where you finally get to do your necessities when it's poring rain and you don't know if the bus will leave you there, dropping your scarf on the floor realizing it's not a floor but a flood of mud, or getting everything you own completely covered in an odor I can't even explain here.

I'm afraid of all this, and you can imagine how relieved I was when we finally reached Dharamsala this morning.

Apart from all the stuff above, I met some wonderful people in all this mud.

The cabdriver who took me to the bus was a sik, named Mr Singh. He knew I didn't have any extra cash to tip him (because we couldn't find a working ATM machine). Despite this, he carried my bags through herds of buses and people and waited with me and all my luggage for half an hour at the bus station - muddy, stinky, cabs, homeless, hot, chaos. They had a rule saying they were not selling the bus tickets until 15 minutes before the bus was leaving - DESPITE that they had the three ticket guys there doing nothing, rolling their thumbs, while 20 people where waiting in front of them. Bureucracy in it's most stupid form! When we finally got the ticket Mr Singh hustled me onto the bus with the bags and all. I took his number for next time, and anyone going to New Delhi - Mr Singh is your driver.

When I settled down in the bus I met another saint-like-person. An Irish 20-something guy who just had been volunteering as an English teacher in the slum for three months. He told me the most heartbreaking story, starting off with three kids in in the class, ending the summer with more than 40 kids who'd learnt English and the possibility to start in a public school. He was really excited talking about the kids, and I started to wonder what I'm doing in the film business.

And now I'm here. In a guest house in the Himalaya above the monastery of Dalai Lama. I'm chocked, tired, weird in my belly and head, wondering what to do about this world. Just like all the other western tourists soul searching in India. It's not even the first time I'm in India, and surely not the first time I'm having this experience, I just sort of forgot what it felt like to really, really be alive...

No! No hanky panky. It's the busdriver doing his morning toilet + talking on the phone while serpentine driving.

What's your dream, Antoniette?

2009-09-11T11:29:00.004+02:00

I met Antoniette when I visited The Imperial Hotel yesterday. She was having afternoon tea with a couple of handsome French gentlemen. I found out that she lives above Dalai Lamas monestry close to Dharamsala - excacly where I was going - so I was lucky running into her in New Dehli. She's back here in a couple of days and then we will hook up again. What an inspiration meeting a lady like that!

Holywood

2009-09-11T09:33:00.005+02:00

I've just got this postcard from the talented artist Andreas Nilsson, who also seems to have a talent meeting gurus that it normally takes 3 years to get special audience with. Andreas was here last week and met Dalai Lama with his friends. If someone asked me what my dream was, this is it:

We've got no internet mum, because it's raining.

2009-09-10T14:16:00.001+02:00

Arrived last night to New Dehli, took a cab to the hotel in the usual deadly mad traffic with a 24 year old driver. He was really worried about that he didn't have any children with his 20 year old wife yet. When I explained that people in Sweden often get children after they're 30, he just laughed as if I was crazy.

I stayed in a really rough part of town in a place called 'Ashu Palace'...well "palace" was a bit misguiding...it was clean cheats anyway. They didn't have internet 'beacause it's heavy rain today mum'.

Now I'm at Imperial Hotel where I managed to get internet and book a night bus to Dharamsala since the train was full.

See you in the Himalaya tomorrow!

NEWS: Changed plan. I'm going to Dharamsala instead of Ladakh

2009-09-09T06:40:00.005+02:00

The reason why I wanted to go to Ladakh was because I wanted to meet 'the happiest people of the world'. I saw a documentary about these people by Helena Norberg - Hodge called 'Ancient Futures', and I wanted to meet Helena and the people from Ladakh. Then I found out that Helena just left Ladakh for Bangkok! Luckily I managed to meet her here. What I was told wasn't a happy story.

I did some research about Ladakh, but Helena told me that what I might find on internet isn't really the true picture. These days Ladakh is corrupted by western influences, and the idea of the traditional mountain tribe is gone. Before it used to be the families running the villages together. Now the young people has moved to the suburbs, and usually it's one woman alone left in each former village to run the farming with a few emploees.

Instead, Helena told me firmly to go to Dharamsala. This is where Dalai Lama and a lot of Tibetan refugees are based, and it's a lively scene for spiritual seekers. So at the moment I'm trying to book a train ticket from New Dehli to Dharamsala. I've traveled by train in India before, so I know that it's not excacly like you book a ticket online and just go...everything is a long and complicated bureaucratic proces in India. Leaving Bangkok tonight (Thai time). Any advice would be appreciated.

The adventure continues!

What's your dream, Nun?

2009-09-09T06:05:00.002+02:00

I met Nun, who's got a clothes stand in a small Bangkok market. He's interested in fashion and want to travel the world. We were talking for quite a while before I filmed this and I think he got a bit shy. He worked in a hotel before but didn't like it, he said he's happier in the market.

What's your dream, Helena?

2009-09-08T14:40:00.009+02:00

I just met Helena Norberg Hodge - the well renowned global economy analyst, documentarist and author of Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh - here she answers the question 'What's your dream?'

My Heroine

2009-09-08T04:09:00.003+02:00

Now I'm going to a talk at the university by Helena Norberg Hodge, my heroine and inspiration why I want to go to Ladakh. She's been filming the people who live in Ladakh, or 'Little Tibet' for many many years. Helena about the changes in Ladakh:

"When I first arrived in Leh, the capital of (Ladakh) 5,000 inhabitants, cows were the most likely cause of congestion and the air was crystal clear. Within five minutes' walk in any direction from the town centre were barley fields, dotted with large farmhouses. For the next twenty years I watched Leh turn into an urban sprawl. The streets became choked with traffic, and the air tasted of diesel fumes. 'Housing colonies' of soulless, cement boxes spread into the dusty desert. The once pristine streams became polluted, the water undrinkable. For the first time, there were homeless people. The increased economic pressures led to unemployment and competition. Within a few years, friction between different communities appeared. All of these things had not existed for the previous 500 years."

(- Wikipedia / Helena Norberg Hodge)

What's your dream, Thoo?

2009-09-07T18:30:00.002+02:00

Thoo working on a market in Bangkok selling Herbalife Smoothies, dreaming about traveling, a new house for his family and more time to spend with them.

Update

2009-09-07T10:41:00.004+02:00

Dear friends,

Coming to Bangkok from the quiet Chiang Mai was once again quite a contrast. My film camera broke in the heat, humanity and rough handle. So I went out in the tech-jungle of Bangkok yesterday to sort out a temporary replacement. It's pretty crazy out there, you can tell that a lot of people are in the Buddhist state 'World of Hunger' - there's a craving for things, alcohol, sex and money in the air. I'm not saying that it's the only driving force here, but as in all big cities it's quite predominant. Finally I found a wonderfully small Sony Cyber shot with a 16 GB memory stick that I can film for more than 2 hrs with! With a happy smile on my face I felt like the buying experience soaked into my body like smooth balm for my craving soul...

Spetziale Guest

2009-09-07T10:15:00.004+02:00

The Thai Princess visited Hilton Millenium last night. I didn't get an audience with her in person, only the welcome commitée.

Structured Activity

2009-09-07T08:05:00.002+02:00

This is a phychologist living in New York, meeting the ancient culture of northern Thailand. I met her at a foot massage place in Chiang Mai when she just came back from a three day hike with the hill tribes. She told us the story about staying with three Israelians in a mosquito tent, sharing huts with the animals and having no running water. Sex in the City goes tribal, anyone..?

Chiang Mai - Chedi Hotel and Spa

2009-09-07T07:38:00.001+02:00

Aight, this is me newly awake trying to give you a guided tour at the Chedi...

The Land Part II

2009-09-05T17:05:00.016+02:00

May I introduce you to The Land. Outside Chiang Mai in northern Thailand there's a mini utophia. An area bought by two Thai artists, and developed into a non-profit foundation where artists from all over the world are invited to create different art/projects. There's organic farming, tree houses in weird shapes and different environmentally friendly inventions. Kamin, who's one of the founders, also showed us his sculpture studio in the forest. What a life!

Quote The Land: "Initiated in 1998, the land was the merging of ideas by different artists to cultivate a place of and for social engagement.

The land is located in proximity to the village of Sanpatong, a twenty minutes drive from the center of the provincial capital Chiang Mai. As some rice farmers are having difficult times in the area, due to the levels of floods and high water level, rice farming has not been very productive. Because of this, some rice fields in the area have been offered for development, as the rice farmers are looking to find better areas for the fields.

Though initially the action to aquire the rice fields were initiated by two artists from Thailand, the land was initiated with anonymity and with out the concept of ownership. The land was to be cultivated as an open space, though with certain intentions towards community, towards discussions and towards experimentation in other fields of thoughts."

Anyone can visit, check it out on: www.thelandfoundation.org

Tokyo Flashbacks

2009-09-05T14:53:00.001+02:00

Probably a reason why the kids don't do this at home...

Hoko showed me her summer favourite, ice ice baby!

The Artist's House

2009-09-04T14:55:00.004+02:00

Kamin, who's one of the founders of The Land showed us around in his house before going to The Land. He said that people often ask him when the house will be finished, and his answer is of course: it is finished! You either love or hate this style. I love it! What do you Scandinavians think?

Click 'Play' and then in the right bottom corner for full screen.

First pic Kamin. Woman in egg; Marietta von Hausswolff von Baumgarten, the guy in covered face is one of Kamins assistants. The Land and more coming up in the weekend, working on it. Working hard for you my friends. :)

The Land

2009-09-03T17:39:00.009+02:00

The reason why I wanted to go to Chiang Mai was because I heard about an art project called 'The Land' built on a piece of land outside of Chiang Mai, supporting sustainable organic agriculture. My friend Marietta von Hausswolff von Baumgarten told me about it since her husband Carl Michael von Hausswolff was a part of this project, building a perfectly unperfect house, as one of many artists participating in the project.

As a pleasant surprise Marietta managed to take some time off to come to Thailand, and hang out with me in Chiang Mai + introduce me to The Land. So today we went there! I was shown around by Kamin who's one of the founders. We also went to his house and artist studios (he's got one at home for painting, another one in the forest for sculpture, and a third for construction of larger art work...) It was an amazing experience - really inspiring! I just came back and it's really late, so I'll tell you more about it + putting up all the pics tomorrow.

Dentist and the spa also coming up! :)

Nite nite...

The Legendary Pancake Man

2009-09-02T18:32:00.010+02:00

This is our new friend: The Best Roto Branch Two Banana Pancake Man.

He makes 150 push-ups, swimming half an hour and running 5 km every morning. And look at him - it just makes you want to come back! He chopped the bananas like a samurai and made the pancake better than any Italian pizza master. We love pancakes! These pancakes.

But I have to confess: we didn't make it to the mountains today. We took the scooters to China town first, and didn't get further since we got wonderfully lost in the spice market, after that we went back to the tailor with garments we bought, ending the day with a brutally good Thai massage off the street. And of course...the pancakes...

Chiang Mai - Around town

2009-09-01T21:23:00.007+02:00

The main feature today was definitely that I went to the dentist! It was the most high tech dentist I've been to. The name of the sign didn't make it worse; "Elite Smile"... Getting a fabulously professional and kind treatment, paying less than 1/4 of what I would have paid in Sweden, it felt more like going for a treat than the dentist. And I've got this one sent in the e-mail afterwards:

I also met up with a wonderful guy called 'Jumbo' (after the jet plane), who's a passionate Buddhist and documentary filmmaker living in Chiang Mai. I was introduced to him from my cinematographer Sophie Winqvist, and it was a brilliant meeting. He connected me to a Swedish woman who used to live in Ladakh, whom I'll introduce to you later on. In the evening my friend Marietta took me to her favourite tailor, which was an experience in it self, deciding models, sizes and materials. The taior was incredibly professional; you could tell he knew what he was doing. In general I feel like people care about you in a real and honest way, not just to sell stuff, but also to actually take pride in their profession. No matter what it is - from a being a tuc tuc driver to a doctor.

Spa Double Spetziale

2009-08-31T20:23:00.001+02:00

Chiang Mai arrival

2009-08-31T07:45:00.004+02:00

I had a quite rough year last year, and quite often I was dreaming about going to a place far away with spa treatments and palmtrees. Now the dream has come true! Last night I arrived to The Chedi Hotel in Chiang Mai. This is one of the world's foremost luxory resorts and spa's.

I was picked up at the airport by the sweetest man. He's name is Don, a well educated biologist who's dream was to become a doctor. Since he couldn't afford the last four years of university he's now a cab driver. He took me to the night market later in the evening. Coming straight from Tokyo, it was a huge contrast feeling the humid heat, the smells of thai food and the tribe people coming down to Chiang Mai city to sell handicrafts. Afterwards I went back to the hotel and slept in the softest bed ever...

More Tokyo with Hoko & Wendy

2009-08-30T19:34:00.004+02:00

Well...of course I have another thousand pics I haven't been able to upload. I'll edit some more in the next few days, in the meantime we can all agree that Hoko-Wendy-day-is-a-good-day:

Tomorrow we're moving onto Chiang Mai. I just arrived to northern Thailand and went to the night market. Had some tasty ricerolls, sweet and sour chilli salad and sweet potatoe - thought it couldn't get better than Tokyo, but I was wrong...

Honotime is pancaketime!

2009-08-29T22:09:00.009+02:00

My new Japanese friends Hono and Wendy showed me around town today. They both used to live in London and went to St Martins and London College of Fashion, these days they're making mushroom costumes and other artistic outfits in Tokyo. It's such a difference when you're with someone speaking the language and knowing the Japanese culture. It's like seeing through a wall which all of a sudden becomes transparent. Hoko and Wendy took me to an artsy place called Sakuratei were they make art and pancakes. The pancakes was definately the highlight! For 1000 Yen, less than 8€, you get to make as many pancakes you can eat (besides that my hostess refused to let me pay for anything during the day, since I was their guest!). We had all different kinds with mini shrimps, ginger, onions, cabbage - basically a poor man's food in old Japan, today trendy munchies in cool Japan. You can do this at home:

Designer Pastry

2009-08-28T11:41:00.011+02:00

Since I couldn't afford any fancy designer clothes I settled for second best; a designer pastry (500 Yen = 4 €). Surely the Japanese people are obsessed with fashion and designer clothes, this just proves the point - you can get anything here.

Hotto-Peppa

2009-08-28T10:23:00.004+02:00

NEW HOTTO PEPPA - Click here!

The Weiwei experience

2009-08-28T07:19:00.011+02:00

I went to the Mori Art Museum pretty late yesterday since they're open until 10 in the evening, which is pretty cool for being a museum. Cato, the musician I met the other day, told me about it. His friend Ai Weiwei is exhibiting there now, and Cato thought I'd like his work. He was right indeed! This is totally down my alley. Ai Weiwei is one of contemporary China's most exciting creators, and his bicycle installation and video installations blew my mind.

Another interesting thing visiting a museum in Tokyo is the visitors. Most of them are dressed up to their teeth in super expensive designer clothes, most of them couples on a date, the girls weiring heels higher than the length of the shoes, all giggeling and kissing in the corners. A must see if you're in Tokyo - both the museum and the people.

More pics on Flickr: Ai Weiwei

Coming up: Mori Museum & Roppongi Tower

2009-08-27T17:59:00.007+02:00

I spent most of the day planning and booking India and Thailand. In the afternoon I went for a tasty lunch at a stand up sushi bar. Then I timed it right with the sunset at Mori Tower, went for a cocktail in the sky bar and saw a really interesting exhibition at the Mori Museum. It's really late now, so you'll get to see all of this tomorrow.

Cato Canari & the streets of Tokyo

2009-08-26T16:58:00.006+02:00

Click 'Play' and the right lower corner for fullscreen.

I spent the day with Cato Canari, a Norweidian musician that I exhibited with at Portable Gallery a few years ago. He lives in Tokyo and showed me around in Shibuya and Jingumae all day. It was great!

Despite my mixed feelings in the morning - I wanted to go to Japan since I was a child after all - so this is really a dream come true.

Lost in translation no kidding, if you don’t know Japanese you’re lost. I did get lost in a pretty good way, ended up looking at things in a (probably very dull and normal) general store for at least an hour. Everything was talking; little TV’s in the shelves and speakers in the roof trying to sell anything possible to anyone possible. Prada and all the other fancy stores are like a cyberfuture experience, and the teens on the streets are...different...

First day in Japan

2009-08-26T16:32:00.002+02:00

After living the wild nature life in Kauai lately, it was almost a shock to face Tokyo with more than 35 million people in the greater area. Everything seems to circulate around huge spending sprees and who’s having the most expensive bag and working the longest hours. Always been a city girl myself, the reaction against the whole idea of what a place like this is about, is kind of overwhelming. You know the feeling when you're in a large crowd and you feel lonelier than ever? I don't think I ever felt as lonely as I do now. It doesn't bother me travelling on my own, or being alone for that matter, it's just something about this many people in one place...it definitely puts things in perspective. What are they looking for? What are they spending their money on? More stuff? So they have to work even harder? It’s like a vicious circle you can’t get out of once inside. Well…I guess it’s the same in all big city’s around the globe. It's just...the contrast coming here from the Pacific is a bit extreme, and my jetlag probably makes me a bit sensitive…

Japanese Hotel

2009-08-26T01:19:00.002+02:00

I'm staying in Mets Hotel in Shibuya, which is a pretty standard hotel. It could be in any big city in the world really, apart from a few details. Check out the water kettle heating up on a mini stove on the desk, the special flashlight under the night table, and of course the toilet options.

Hawaii - Japan

2009-08-25T15:48:00.002+02:00

Tokyo arrival and Japanese toilets...

2009-08-25T15:11:00.002+02:00

Here's a link to a Japanese toilet You Tube clip:

TOKYO TOKYO TOKYO

2009-08-24T11:32:00.003+02:00

This is my last day on Kauai on the opposite side of the earth, tomorrow (Monday) we're going to Japan. We = you and me and everyone I know. It's my first time going there, so I'm really excited! Please tell me stuff to do, places to stay, people to meet, food to eat, clubs to go to, shops to shop in and all the rest! I'll sleep now and then be in transfer all day tomorrow, so will be back here in about 24 hrs...

Goodbye Kauai...

2009-08-24T11:31:00.002+02:00

Started this last day by snorkeling with 8 gigant turtles in the morning, which really blew my mind! They were so cool, not afraid of people at all. Then I went with a friend who made a photoshoot of a house built according to 'Staphatya Veda' - the traditional Indian science of architecture, that guides the design and construction of buildings in harmony with the laws of nature and the universe. After that we went to a pool party where everyone were crazy dancing, singing and playing really early in the evening with no alchohol or drugs. That's kind of unusual for being Scandinavian...brilliant! Now I'll sleep for a few hours before getting up at 4 am to take a flight to Tokyo. See you tomorrow!

Helicopter

2009-08-23T06:07:00.002+02:00

It finally cleared up a bit and I got on a tour with Jack Harter Helicopters in the afternoon. The part with all the greenery and the waterfalls is Mount Waiʻaleʻale - one of the wettest spots on earth, with an annual average rainfall of 460 inches (11,700 mm)! It rains a lot in general on Kauai, but it quickly clears up and is quite nice since it doesn't get too hot.It was pretty amazing to go by helicopter, since you're hovering over the waterfalls and places an airplane can't go.

Kauai - Helicopter Pics

2009-08-23T03:38:00.002+02:00

Click 'play' and then on the corner below on the right to get full screen.

Caves & Seals

2009-08-22T09:47:00.003+02:00

I met up with Matt today, a friend of the people I met in Miami. He took me to a cave which was like a part of Lord of the Rings. You'd expect Gollum to turn up any given moment. I hesitated a moment before getting into the water, thinking of what animals might live in there, but quickly killed the fear by thinking that I would regret it forever if I didn't get in. We jumped into the cold water and swam into the cave. The light was amazing - blue rays reflecting on the walls of the cave and weird echoes of our voices and breath. I was floating on my back thinking that this could have been thousands of years ago...it's such a timeless feeling being in a place like that.

Afterwards we took a walk on the beach and found a sleeping seal on the beach. The locals put a fence around it to keep the tourists (like me) away. It's a huge fine for anyone getting too close the the seals. Matt explained what it doesn't say on the sign; the reason you shouldn't get too close and scare them into the water, is because of the risk of shark attacs. The sharks likes seals, and when they're are hunting they might mistake a human with a seal or a turtle. Most of the times they let the person go as soon they taste human blood, so the idea of sharks hunting people isn't true, really.

Now I'm at Marcs house, sleeping in the tent outdoors again + saying hello to the jelly-eating-6-yearold-Kawai...

Surf = Stoked!

2009-08-21T09:08:00.004+02:00

Today I caught my first wave!

I woke up in the sunrise to go for a helicopter tour, and took a one hour bus ride to Lihue. Since I don't have a drivinglicence I have to get around in other ways, but taking a bus in the US is kind of a big deal - you're either too poor to have a car / an outlaw / baglady / kid / something-else-not-being-a-normal-grown-up. Anyway, that was a sweet experience. I didn't have the change I was supposed to, so this kind hippie woman gave me 2 $. She didn't want them back, so I promised to do a good deed myself soon. And I will! Doesn't that give us hope about humanity?

The next bad thing that turned into something great, was that the helicopter ride was canceled because of bad weather conditions until later in the afternoon - or even the next day. I was really dissapointed and decided to wait on the beach in Lihue until the afternoon.

When I saw the waves my eyes almost popped out! It was the perfect beginner swell, breaking in the middle of a bay with no reef only sof sand. I ran off and hired a board. I thought for myself it's now or it's never going to happen. I paddled out and was kind of scared since I was alone.

The waves were bigger than I thought they would be. After watching some guys for surely half an hour I tried to catch a wave. I paddled like crazy and just when I felt the swell and tried to get on my feet I knew it was to late. I tumbled over and was smashed by the wave. It's like going through a washing machine of the size of a waterfall. Water in my nose my ears my eyes my throat my head. Just when I got up the next wave flushed over me. Catching my breath again and again. After a few more I managed to get up on the board and paddle faaaast back to the surf spot.

An old Hawaiian man on a paddle surfboard had spotted me, totally exhausted, and told me to come with him. He took me to the perfect spot and told me to wait. And wait. And wait. All of a sudden he told me to paddle. I felt the power of the wave behind me and he shouted 'Stand up!' I did. And all of a sudden I was surfing. I couldn't believe it! It was so fast and so powerful and so scary and fun at the same time that I lost track of time and space. I was in the wave. It was pushing me on the board and I was flying on the water. When it finally drizzled down to white water, closing the beach, I jumped off and laughed out loud. I'm hooked! :D

And yes - I did catch the helicopter in the afternoon, but I have to go to bed now so more about that tomorrow. I've learned the phrase to use a moment like this; 'I'm totally surfed out.'

Underwaterworld

2009-08-21T08:44:00.002+02:00

My friend Julian has an underwater camera, so here's some more underwater pics from Tunnels Beach on the north shore of Kauai!

Kauai - Napali Coast

2009-08-21T08:30:00.000+02:00

This is some more of my friend Julian's pics from the nature reserve on the north shore of Kauai called the 'Napali Coast'. Julian lived here for many years, so thought it might be interesting for you to see some places I haven't been yet. Including a couple of extra special features: boats and rainbows! ;)

Sacred Hawaiian Apple Tree

2009-08-20T11:01:00.003+02:00

Today I visited Charol, a friend of Lory and Jonathan that I met in LA. She's a really cool and independant woman who built her own 'garden of eden' in Kauai. Her houses and land are definately the picture of paradise. I'm going to stay there on Sunday, the last day of my visit, so I'll take some pics then. A short clip to start with before then:

Thanks!

2009-08-19T23:15:00.001+02:00

Thanks for all your BRILLIANT shark stories! Scroll down here on the blog and check the 'comments' on 'Shark stories anyone?'. I want more!

Múm Interview

2009-08-19T22:34:00.001+02:00

People have asked for the interview I did with Mr Silla from the Icelandic band Múm a few times, so here it is - again! :)

Scoop!

2009-08-19T11:12:00.003+02:00

Today I got confirmed that I'll get to interview a very famous person in Hollywood. I tried to time it with him when I was in LA, but we couldn't make it work. So within the next few weeks I'll do a Skype interview instead - in Tokyo or Chiang Mai...guess who it is...;)

Honeymoon with...myself

2009-08-19T07:48:00.009+02:00

Going on honeymoon? Well, if this isn't the place for watching the sunset with your beloved I'm wondering were else you should. Hanalei Bay Resort is like the Romantic Picture of paradise. Have a drink in the outdoor piano bar, take an evening dip in the pool and warm up in the jacuzzi afterwards. It's 5 minutes from the beach, surrounded by stunning nature, tennis courts and golf courts with probably the best view in Hawaii. The rooms differs quite a bit though. Last night I got a room which was quite dull, with no internet connection. So they gave me a new larger suite with internet which was really nice. The grilled salmon wraps at the pool side are delicious, although the fish nacos I had for dinner reminded me of a burger with too much mayo and the service was...slow. But overall it's a well worth hangout for anyone who would like to have a true Hawaiian experience. Hanalei Bay Resort reviews

Shark stories anyone?

2009-08-19T05:54:00.002+02:00

Please tell me about your shark stories here! I want to hear them all, and soon you'll get to hear Shark Biologist Terry Lilley's stories...

Cave Diving Underwaterpics

2009-08-19T05:35:00.004+02:00

Got some stills from Terry Lilley who filmed the dive in Tunnels Beach on the north shore of Kauai. We saw a Morray Eel sneaking out of it's cave which was kind of sweet! They're like cats - they bite you if they get scared, but likes to be cuddled when you get to know them. ;) As I said before, we'll get some film footage from the dive later on.

Cave Diving

2009-08-18T12:09:00.002+02:00

I went out with Terry Lilley for some cave diving at Tunnels Beach today - it was really beautiful. Diving through old volcanoes and dead lava streams (no sharks) - I'm totally stoked! I interviewed Terry about his work with sharks afterwards, but haven't edited that yet. Sweet dreams!

Couchsurfing

2009-08-17T21:07:00.002+02:00

I've been couchsurfing for a few days, which is fun since you get to meet new people. This is the couch at architecht Kimberley Larkin's house in Haena. Well...not really couchsurfing, I realized when I googled it - coachsurfing is a more organised form of staying with people you don't know. I've been staying with friends of friends. Check couchsurfing here: Coachsurfing Tonight I'm staying at Hanalei Bay Resort, a luxory resort where I used to work as a poolguard when I was 18...

Basic Surf Lesson

2009-08-17T11:26:00.002+02:00

Tunnels Beach, Kauai.

Well, ok you surfers don't need to bother watching this. The rest of us might think it's interesting knowing why you wouldn't paddle out on a 'reef break' when being a total beginner. I'm getting to know the board by paddle surfing every day which is great! You use a long heavy board covered by rubber (instead of waxing the board), and then you push it out in the water and stand up on the board using a paddle instead of your hands. This means that you get much more power to move the board, almost like a kayak, and it's easier to learn since it's more stable. We were out on these boards when we met the dolphins.

Staying in Hawaii

2009-08-17T05:44:00.003+02:00

Really bad thunderstorms are hitting the Samoan islands for the whole of next week, so I've canceled the trip there since it wouldn't be much to blog about. Not a good idea to be in the water when the lightening is hitting the highest point on the surface...anyway - since the weather has cleared up here now, I'll scuba dive, surf and go by helicopter in Kauai instead - so we've got loads of stuff to look forward to! :)

Dolphins Haena Beach

2009-08-16T20:34:00.002+02:00

The Dolphin Party

2009-08-16T13:04:00.004+02:00

So...today I went out paddlesurfing with my new friend Kimberly early in the morning. We went out quite far to see if we could find some sea turtles. All of a sudden I spot a large shadow quite close under the board. And then another, and all of a sudden three dolphins are jumping next to my board. Seconds later we're surrounded by a group of at least 50 spinner dolphins. I couldn't belive it. I laughed and looked at Kimberly who was paddeling next to me - she was giggeling totally engaged with our new friends. Little baby dolphins were making baby jumps, the larger ones were leaping into the air making advanced spins. After some time people started to gather at the beach to watch the phenomenon. It seemed like the dolphins thought it was fun to go with us when we were paddeling. After more than one and a half hour I needed water and more sun block and had to go back, when I reached the beach they were to far out to join again. Can't explain how happy I felt today - I wish everyone get to meet a dolphin one day.

How-To-Mango-Smoothie

2009-08-16T13:02:00.000+02:00

Rough cut of how to make the smoothest mango smoothie ever!

Why a Jar?

2009-08-16T01:22:00.001+02:00

Have you seen these people walking around with jars drinking their tea or what not? My friend Kimberly, that I met here on the island explains where it comes from. I'm going to start doing that - bringing your own jar to Starbucks and stuff instead of using papercups! What do you guys think? Let's start a new environmentally friendly trend in Sweden!

Surfboard is the new Wakeboard

2009-08-15T07:10:00.000+02:00

Someone asked about the wakeboard experience I had after we did the skydiving in California. So here it is, note that it's a surfboard - not a wakeboard funnily enough! So it means that the board isn't strapped to my feet, which makes it more similar to wavesurfing than snowboarding, if that makes any sense? It's more pics earlier on the blog too; Surf & Wakeboarding

Lesson I: "How to not carry a surfboard"

2009-08-15T07:05:00.004+02:00

Click 'Play' and then on the bottom-right-hand-corner to get full screen!

Ok. So I know it looks like peanuts getting this board on your head, right? Nooo! It's heavy as a rock. It's like lifting a boat or something. Totally different from a normal surfboard. The guys in the water are like "Is this for REAL?!?" Any of you that had this experience...?

Lesson II: How to stand up on a board without falling off

Well...since there are no waves to practice the famous pipeline tricks in, I gave it a try with the paddle surf again in Haena Beach on the north shore. It's quite hard to keep the balance when it's windy, but good fun! Definately getting up early tomorrow morning to do this again.

Music: AK von Malmborg 'Silverblonde' www.myspace.com/akvonmalmborg

Terry Lilley

2009-08-14T22:36:00.003+02:00

I just ran into the legendary shark filmmaker and marine biologist Terry Lilley at his mariene laboratory and bedroom on wheels (his car...), and he told me how he spends his time on the beach. He's a true hero. :)

Terry is a part of SOS - Save Our Seas - which is an international Hawaii based non-profit organization, utilizing education and research to preserve, protect and restore the world’s oceans for future generations. Check his website here: www.saveourseas.org

Kauai - Camping & Friends

2009-08-14T05:33:00.006+02:00

Click 'Play' and then on the bottom-right-hand-corner to get full screen!

It's been poring rain again, so I've just been planning ahead, sorting through e-mail, pictures and film material. Here's some pics from the last few days, when I camped at Marc's veranda and his kids Kawai and Sariah + some spiders. Their house is beautifully located at the riverside, just after Hanalei ends.

In general, the north shore is the place to visit if you're going to Kauai. It might be a bit rainy, but usually it's only short showers and the rest of the time it's sunny, lush and gorgeous. The surf is better on the south side summertime, but the best surf is on the north shore wintertime. Go hiking in the nature reserve at the Na Pali Coast, or canoe if you prefere, snorkle at Tunnels beach and hang out at the bars and restaurants in Hanalei. It's as close to paradise you can get - no poisonous snakes or dangerous animals (well, above the sea...), not much traffic and a very private and quiet over all feeling. This is my favourite place on the earth! :)