Saturday, December 21, 2013

Mick Fanning, the 2013 World Champion of Surfing

   This week, the 32 years-old and Australian Mick Fanning, won his 3rd World Tour Championship of Surf in an outstanding performance held at Pipeline, Hawaii. Despite having won the Pipeline Masters, Kelly Slater could not ensure his 12th World Title. John John Florence also had an awesome performance, winning the 2013 Vans Triple Crown and beating the current World Champion Mick Fanning on the semi-final.
   
  With this World Title, Mick Fanning puts himself side by side with the legends Tom Curren and Andy Irons, with 3 World Championships each.

The 2013 World Champion Mick Fanning. Photo taken after Mick won his 3rd World Title.
   The Portuguese Frederico Morais is also doing great, having achieved the 2013 Vans Triple Crown, Rookie of the Year. He is the second european to achieve such title, after the Portuguese Tiago Pires, which is currently a member of the WCT.

   I leave you with this awesome Rip Curl video, about Mick Fanning's third title. Stay Locus!!



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Friday, October 18, 2013

Congratulations Kai Otton! Winner of the 2013 Rip Curl Pro Peniche / Cascais

   Yesterday Kai Otton won the 2013 edition of the Rip Curl Pro Peniche / Cascais! With an incredible surf throughout the event, Kai Otton, in is first final and victory in the ASP World Championship Tour, pushed back in his road to the title the amazing aerial guy John John Florence, the current World Champion Joel Parkinson, the 2-times World Champion and main contender for the 2013 World Champion Mick Fanning and the 2013 Rookie of the Year Nat Young in the final.

   The 11-times World Champion Kelly Slater lost in Round 2 against the Portuguese Wildcard Frederico Morais. Although I was very happy for Frederico, I coundn't help but feel that the heat was unfair. Personally, I believe that Surf as a randomness attached when it comes to get good waves.

Frederico Morais, the 21 years-old Portuguese surfer who won against Kelly Slater in Round 2 in an awesome performance, pushing Kelly further way from clinching the 12th World Champion Title. Photo taken from surfeurope.mpora.com
   If the waves are pumping (perfect waves and very frequent) I believe that the surfer which surfs better in that moment will win the heat, but when the waves are not so good, you can be lucky and get very good waves, followed by 20 minutes with no waves. In that case, either surfer can be very lucky! 

   Personally, I believe that in that heat the conditions were not so good, being Slater with a greater disadvantage. Nevertheless Frederico Morais had an awesome performance!!

   So, the world title race comes down to two surfers, Kelly Slater and Mick Fanning. Although Mick has a great advantage at this point, Kelly can still win is 12th World Champion Title if he wins the legendary event of Pipeline and Mick does not reach the semi-finals. If we were talking about some other surfer, I would say that this were a very unlikely scenario, but we're talking about Kelly Slater!!! Anything can happen!!

   In my opinion, the event had some great waves, although not so good as the previous editions. Nevertheless, surfers usually agree that Peniche is one of the best events in the World Championship Tour!!

   I really have to highlight Julian Wilson's MASSIVE alley oop! In the next video I show you this crazy aerial in comparison with John John's alley oop in Bali, Indonesia. What is your favorite?!


   In the next YouTube video you can watch the last day's highlights! 


   So, stay tuned for the next legendary event at Pipeline!! If you enjoyed this post, please like Surf Locus Facebook Page at: www.facebook.com/surflocus. Have Fun!!

Kai Otton, the 2013 Rip Curl Pro Peniche / Cascais winner!

Congratulations Kai Otton!


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Sunday, October 6, 2013

Rip Curl Pro Peniche, Portugal 2013

   Hi once again! As you may probably know, the Rip Curl Pro Peniche 2013 is about to start at Supertubos beach in Portugal, near my hometown, Praia da Areia Branca.

   Currently, Mick Fanning, after a big win in France, is the principal contender for the ASP World Championship Title. Being the 9th out of 10 events in the ASP World Championship Tour, the perfect waves of the Sand Break Supertubos are extremely important to decide who will take the crown as the next World Champion.

Patrick Gudauskas awesome tube riding at Supertubos, Peniche, Portugal. Photo taken by myself (2012).

   The 2013 ASP World Title is down to five surfers: Mick Fanning, Kelly Slater, Jordy Smith, Joel Parkinson and Taj Burrow, but only the 2-times World Champion Mick Fanning can be crown at Supertubos. The winning possibilities (taken from the ASP website) are as follows:

If Fanning wins the event:
- Slater will need a 3rd or better to take the title decision to Hawaii.
- Smith, Burrow and Parkinson will be out of the race.
If Fanning finishes Runner-Up in Portugal:
- Slater will need a 9th or better to take the title decision to Hawaii.
- Smith will need to win the event to take the title decision to Hawaii.
- Burrow and Parkinson will be out of the race.
If Fanning finishes 3rd in Portugal:
- Slater will need a 9th or better to take the title decision to Hawaii
- Smith, Burrow and Parkinson will need to win the event to take the title decision to Hawaii.
If Fanning finishes 5th or worse in Portugal:
- The ASP World Title decision will go to Hawaii as, even with a 25th in Portugal, Slater can still win in Hawaii.
  Julian Wilson won the 2012 edition of the Rip Curl Pro Peniche, in a somehow polemic final heat against the Brazilian Gabriel Medina. Check out the 2012 Final Day Highlights at Supertubos:

  So, don't miss any moment of this great event in one of the best Sand Breaks of the world!!

   Sorry for not posting for the last 3 weeks but I was in a trainee program for my first job at Novabase, Portugal. An awesome program with the main goal to train recent graduates in Team Building, check out THIS crazy Lip Dub (Ylvis - The Fox) we did during our two weeks in Vimeiro, Portugal.

  I hope you liked this post, stay tuned!! Please follow Surf Locus at Facebook: www.facebook.com/surflocus



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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Arctic Monkeys 5.5th Album (Fan-made)

   Hi, sorry for not having post in the last two weeks but I have to write my master thesis until the end of October and currently I'm working at my first job as a engineer!! The experience is being awesome but I didn't had time for posting at Surf Locus Blog and Facebook.

   To redeem myself (ahah), I created a playlist in YouTube which I called "Arctic Monkeys 5.5th Album (Fan Made)". In this playlist I gather 20 musics of Arctic Monkeys that although are not in any Studio Album, could well be an album by itself. There are songs from the very beginning of the album, like the famous "Who The Fuck is Arctic Monkeys" and songs released some weeks ago, just like "2013".

   Below is the playlist, you can jump to a song by choosing which song you want to ear in the top of the player, or you can skip on song by clicking in the bottom of the player.


   If you prefer you can see the whole playlist HERE. I hope you like it, and please subscribe the channel!!!

  Give me some feedback about the playlist ;)

  Please "like" Surf Locus Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/surflocus for more news, photos and videos about Surf, Music and Travelling. Have Fun!!!



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Friday, September 6, 2013

The unrevealed world in Nassim Taleb's "Black Swan" Book

  Ever wondered why people are so bad at predicting events? Did you ever realized that the world change according to some big, unpredictable events like the 9/11 and Internet, instead of the gradual building of change that we are led to believe?

  I start to read Nassim Taleb's Book "Black Swan" just one week ago and has been the most insightful book I have ever read. The Black Swan theory tries to explain how these big and unpredictable events came to occur and how human nature and behavior blocks the way to perceive such possibilities.

Image taken from www.oxonianreview.org
  Taken directly from Wikipedia, the Black Swan theory tries to explain:

  1. The disproportionate role of high-profile, hard-to-predict, and rare events that are beyond the realm of normal expectations in history, science, finance, and technology
  2. The non-computability of the probability of the consequential rare events using scientific methods (owing to the very nature of small probabilities)
  3. The psychological biases that make people individually and collectively blind to uncertainty and unaware of the massive role of the rare event in historical affairs

  Nassim Taleb, born in 1960 in Lebanon, is an essayist, scholar and statistician. The "Black Swan" is a extraordinary book, written somehow in a funny way, full of daily life examples and reveling amazing aspects of the human nature and how we perceive the complex world around us. Sunday Times described this book as one of the twelve most influential books since World War II.

  I strongly recommend you to read and re-read this book, its a lot of fun. I already learn so much by reading it and i'm not even half of the book!!

Nassim Taleb, photo taken from dailybail.com
  If you enjoyed this post, please "like" Surf Locus' Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/surflocus or follow us on Twitter. Have Fun!!


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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Arctic Monkeys new album "AM" now on iTunes Streaming

  Surf Locus has the honor to present Arctic Monkeys' 5th album "AM" finally out for streaming! Please follow this link to ear it at iTunes: http://po.st/iTunesAM. Unfortunately, the album is streaming as a 40 minute long track, so you cannot jump right away to another track, but at least you can listen further in the streaming if you want.
  
  "AM" comes after the 2011 Album "Suck it and See" and counts with 9 new songs and other 3 that you probably have eared it before; "R U Mine?" released in 2011; "Do I Wanna Know?" and "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" released this year. "AM" will be released at September 9.

Photo taken from mesademistura.clix.pt

  Arctic Monkeys' new Album comes with an unique style, different from their last albums, but surely a great master-piece. Personally  I've been enjoying every single song that Arctic Monkeys released as I feel my personal music taste is growing up with the band.

  Stay with one of the best songs of "AM", "R U Mine?":
  

   If you enjoyed this post please "like" Surf Locus Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/surflocus. Have Fun!!



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Monday, September 2, 2013

Boogie WACT (PART 2/2) by Francisca Veloso da Veiga

   If you dindn't read Part 1/2, please follow THIS link.

   Se não leste a Parte 1/2, segue ESTE link por favor.
   
   So, going back, in the day of the presentation in Ribeira Afonso, with my team of monitors, there was 150 kids in front of me, screaming “choose me please, I want bodyboard”.
- What do I do with my life?
You cannot imagine the desperate I felt to choose only 50 kids. I wanted to choose every one of them, but I couldn’t put their security at risk. And that was how I won 50 children, eager to learn what I had to teach and at the same time extremely happy to teach me something they know. 

   Rebobinando… no dia de apresentação do projecto a Ribeira Afonso, já com a minha equipa de monitores formada, apareceram-me cerca de 150 crianças à minha frente a gritaram “eu quero correr prrancha, me escolhe”.
- O que é que eu faço à minha vida?
Não imaginam o desespero que é ter de escolher apenas 50 destes miúdos. Queria que todos ficassem, mas não podia comprometer a segurança de nenhum. E assim foi, 50 filhos que tinha ganho naquele momento, à minha frente, ansiosos por aprender o que eu tinha para lhes dar, mas ao mesmo tempo felizes por saberem que eu também queria aprender algo com eles.


   The first day in the beach was passed teaching those kids about the project, rules and responsibilities. Before going to São Tomé and Príncipe someone told me that the people there are always out of schedule and that they do not follow you everyday. Well, that was not a problem for me, I felt great as I had never fight that problems during my project because the kids were so excited with Bodyboard that they were always waiting me for the classes and rarely miss one. After that was the kids turn to teach me something, like climbing a coconut-tree. I can tell you right away that was only failed attempts, but surely a lot to laugh of.

   O primeiro dia passado na praia com as crianças foi dedicado a explicações do projecto, regras, responsabilidades. Aquilo que eu achava que seria um desafio, por ir já de sobre-aviso de Portugal: “Olha que eles não cumprem horários”, “Olha que eles não aparecem todos os dias”… Pois é, neste momento eu assemelho-me a um pavão, porque nunca tive de combater esses problemas, uma vez que os miúdos estavam tão excitados com o Bodyboard que chegavam às aulas antes de mim, e raramente falhavam. Depois foi a vez dos miúdos me ensinarem alguma coisa, como por exemplo, trepar a um coqueiro. Diga-se de passagem, tentativas falhadas, mas risota na certa. Bolas, sou um falhanço!


   I have this great moment saved in my memory, not the failed attempts of climbing the coconot-tree, that is to forget, but we sitting there eating coconuts and sugar cane. Every kid was trying to show me their skills “Frrancisca, Frrancisca, look at me”. We all laugh so much, from the deepest of our soul, and in that moment I couldn’t see no more dirtiness and disease, I only saw loving kids and I was eager to share this project with them. This was my family for the next few weeks. The first class was very entrancing, putting all those kids in top of the board, following objectives, responsibilities and reflecting about their new skills. When they achieved, I was the happier person in the world. I started thinking:
-This is real, I’m here and I’m succeeding.
And seeing their smile when they catch some wave made me smile even more.

   Parece que tenho este momento gravado na memória, não a tentativa de subir a um coqueiro, que é para esquecer, mas o de estarmos todos sentados a comer cocos, caroço e cana-de-açucar, e de todos me chamarem para ver as suas habilidades “Frrancisca, Frrancisca, vê”, de todos rirmos muito, rirmos da parte mais intima do nosso ser, rirmos com a alma, e de eu pensar: já não vejo sujidade, já não vejo doenças, vejo apenas crianças perdidas de amor, e eu faminta por partilhar isto com elas. Era esta a minha família nas próximas semanas. A primeira aula que dei foi extasiante, colocar aqueles miúdos em cima de uma prancha, a cumprir objectivos e responsabilidades, a reflectirem sobre as suas aprendizagens, e a conseguirem fazê-lo, fez de mim a pessoa mais feliz do mundo. E comecei a pensar:
- Isto é real, eu estou aqui e estou a conseguir.
E ver o sorriso deles quando deslizavam uma onda, fazia-me sorrir ainda mais.


   After a week, everyone of them was riding very well. After two weeks, some kids were doing “girro” 360. After some time, I notice a way better reflectiveness in their speech, in the feedback that they gave to their friends, and the cooperation that arise between them…and that was when I realize:
-This is really working, the kids are growing up through Bodyboard.
And I felt that deepest feeling:
-I was growing up with them.

   Passado uma semana, já todos cortavam a onda. Passado duas semanas alguns já queriam começar a fazer “girro”, melhor dizendo, 360. Com o passar do tempo, notei uma melhoria acentuada no discurso reflexivo deles, no feedback que davam aos colegas, na cooperação inter-grupo… e é aqui que me cai a ficha:
- Isto realmente está a resultar, os miúdos estão a crescer graças ao Bodyboard.
Mas também sentia profundamente:
- Eu estava a crescer graças a eles.

   After each day class, I was not able to go home right away. Everyone wanted to show me something, teach me something. And that was how I passed by after-class afternoons; playing the “can game”, trying to catch some octopus, playing soccer with a cloth ball (barefoot like them), trying to climb coconut-trees, playing in the beach, helping them fetch water for their families and washing their clothes, walking through the nearby “roças”.

   Após a aula de cada dia, normalmente não conseguia ir logo para casa. Todos me queriam mostrar algo, todos me queriam ensinar algo. E foram assim passadas as minhas tardes depois das aulas. A jogar ao jogo da lata, a (tentar) pescar polvo, a jogar à bola com uma bola de pano e sim, tão descalça quanto eles, a treinar a subidas aos coqueiros, a fazer acrobacias na praia, a ir ajudá-los a buscar água para as suas famílias e a lavar as suas roupas, a ir passear para as roças mais próximas de Ribeira Afonso.


   The last 2 days were dedicated to Boogie WACT championship. Another experience and I couldn’t find any more new words to describe them. What I felt when I saw them competing? First I felt very proud seeing them catching waves, a lot of them trying and some of them even doing 360’s. When some of them achieve to do that, I screamed like I had win the lottery. I felt that their feelings were the same as mine when I was competing. Every one of them went to his corner, warming up and very nervous. When they left the sea and they knew that they had lost, their eyes were wet and they sat at the corner reflecting about what went wrong. I think it the objective was accomplished, It was hard for me to view the positive side of this, but they surely were learning how to deal with defeat.

   Os últimos dois dias foram dedicados a um campeonato Boogie WACT. Mais uma experiência, e não encontro mais sinónimos para descrever tais experiências. O que senti quando os vi competir? Primeiro um orgulho imenso por os ver a cortar ondas, muitos deles a tentar e alguns até a conseguir fazer 360 (versão santola). Mas quando alguém o fazia, inevitavelmente eu fazia uma festa como se tivesse ganho a lotaria. Senti também que eles sentiam exactamente o mesmo que eu sentia quando era eu a competir. Cada um ía para o seu canto aquecer, concentrar-se, nervos à flor da pele… E quando saíam e sabiam que tinham perdido o heat, os olhos deles brilhavam de lágrimas, e encostavam-se a um canto a reflectir para eles mesmos o que tinha corrido mal. Ok, até aqui, objectivo cumprido. Mais uma aprendizagem para eles, lidar com a derrota, mas ainda era difícil para eles verem o lado positivo disto.

   There is something I will never forget, they way to the beach. 25 kids, 4 monitors, me and some other curious people. Every kid with the board on his head, singing and dancing, with that contrasting smile of them, so eager to get to the beach and start surfing.

   Algo de que eu nunca me vou esquecer, para além de tudo isto, é do caminho para a praia. 25 crianças, 4 monitores e eu, mais uns curiosos que vinham sempre ver as aulas. Cada aluno com a sua prancha na cabeça, cantávamos e dançávamos o caminho todo, com aquele sorriso contrastante deles e de forma a combater a ânsia de chegar à praia e atirarem-se à água para surfar.
“1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 nós somos Biguie Uequi, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Biguie Uequi há só um. A Frrancisca apareceu, Ribeirr’Afonso agrradeceu. Eu só quero aprrender, o Biguie Uequi faz crrescer, o Biguie Uequi faz crrescer”.




   I left São Tomé and Príncipe with the certain that I gave my heart to a place I was never been at. Every word feel very small to describe this experience. Oh…what I learn from that radiant hearts… Today, I breath deeply to remind myself that feeling I can only describe as “São Tomé”.

   Saio de São Tomé com a certeza de que entreguei o meu coração a um lugar onde nunca tinha estado. Todas as palavras se tornam pequenas para transmitir uma fracção que seja desta experiência. Oh, o que eu aprendi com estes corações radiantes. Hoje, inspiro fundo para que o ar me relembre aquilo que só consigo descrever como “São Tomé”.

   When I went to São Tomé and Príncipe in July, I thought that I was going to change those kids and I think I did! I return certain that they changed me too. I bring with myself the certainty that people is the more important and also that is not me who is going to change the world. However, I content myself with this small change. And every little change are combining…I’m here, but my hearth is there. We are together!

   Em Julho, quando fui para São Tomé, achava que ía mudar aquelas crianças. E acho que mudei! Mas regresso com a certeza de que elas me mudaram a mim. Trago comigo também a convicção inabalável de que as pessoas são o que mais importa. E determinada de que não sou eu que vou mudar o mundo. Mas contento-me com esta pequena mudança. E pequenas mudanças vão-se acumulando…Eu estou aqui, mas o meu coração está lá. Estamos Juntos!

Francisca Veloso da Veiga



  Surf Locus could have made an interview to Francisca, but that surely would express so vividly the way she felt during Boogie WACT project in São Tomé and Príncipe. Thank you Francisca for this awesome and inspirational testemony!

 A Surf Locus poderia ter feito uma entrevista à Francisca, mas certamente dessa maneira não sentiríamos tão vivamente aquilo que ela sentiu durante o projecto Boogie WACT em São Tomé e Príncipe. Obrigado Francisca pelo fantástico e inspirador testemunho! 

  If you enjoyed this post, please "like" Surf Locus Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/surflocus. Have Fun!!

 Se gostaste deste post, por favor "Gosta" da página de Facebook da Surf Locus em www.facebook.com/surflocus. Abraço!



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Sunday, September 1, 2013

Boogie WACT (PART 1/2) by Francisca Veloso da Veiga

   In this moment I could reduce all this experience down to one word, a word that only is available in Portuguese and it means to miss someone: “saudade”. However, I’m hopeful that I will be able to tell you a little more than that. This is a great challenge, expressing in such a small post what I felt in the “smallest” and “richest” time of my life. The beginning was in Portugal when I signed for an NGO named WACT (We Are Changing Together). This is a great NGO because, unlike others, you can create your own projects. After some research of São Tomé and Príncipe problems coping with my passion, Bodyboard, Booogie WACT project was born.

   Neste momento poderia reduzir toda esta experiência a uma palavra só, palavra tão portuguesa, mas do jeito santomense: sodade. No entanto, espero conseguir transmitir-vos um pouco mais do que isso. Isto que se torna um grande desafio, expressar por palavras o que senti no curto espaço de tempo mais rico de toda a minha vida. Tudo começou em Portugal, inscrevi-me numa ONG, a WACT (We Are Changing Together) que se diferencia pelo facto de dar oportunidade aos seus formandos de criar o seu próprio projecto. Foi assim que surgiu o projecto Boogie WACT, após um levantamento de problemas santomenses, aliado àquilo que mais gosto de fazer, Bodyboard.


   Boogie WACT came as a way of teaching education values with children in a funny way through sport, in this case Bodyboard, a great way to teach them about responsibility, respect, resilience, challenge, cooperation, etc. Before going to São Tomé and Príncipe I gather all the material I was in need to complete this project with success. I want to thank all the people and brands that contributed to this project by offering board, duck feets, shop’s, etc. Also I want to thank for all the good words that made me believe in this project. But everything truly began in São Tomé and Príncipe. In the very first day, I was faced to what the fox in “Le Petit Prince” says “The essential is invisible to the eye”. 

   Assim, o Boogie WACT surge de forma a trabalhar valores educativos com crianças de forma divertida através do desporto, neste caso, do Bodyboard, um óptimo meio para desenvolver valores/competências como a responsabilidade, respeito, resiliência, desafio, cooperação, etc. Ainda em Portugal foi feita uma campanha de recolha de material, conseguindo angariar todo o material da modalidade necessário à prática do projecto. Desde já, aproveito para agradecer a todas as pessoas e marcas que contribuíram com pranchas, pés de pato, shop’s, etc., e palavras que me fizeram ter confiança e acreditar realmente nisto. Mas tudo começou verdadeiramente em São Tomé. E logo no primeiro dia fui confrontada com aquilo que a raposa do principezinho diz “O essencial é invisível aos olhos”. É em São Tomé que para mim, esta frase ganha um verdadeiro sentido.


   The first days in São Tomé and Príncipe, visiting the little communities called “roças” near the place we were staying (Guadalupe), were a mixture of indescribable emotions. I never had seen such poverty: chickens and porks walking through the streets, curious children running totally free and bare-foot through the streets of dust, touching me like I was an alien but fighting in the next moment to touch my hand. A mixture of smells and rooted fish, typical smells of São Tomé and Príncipe. 

   Os primeiros dias passados em São Tomé, de visita às roças perto do local onde morámos, Guadalupe, são um misto de emoções e sentimentos meio inexplicável. Olhei à volta e via uma pobreza com a qual nunca me tinha deparado: porcos e galinhas a deambularem pelas ruas no meio das pessoas; crianças curiosas a correrem descalças e rotas, em total liberdade pelas ruas imundas e cheias de pó, a tocarem-me como se fosse uma extraterrestre, mas no minuto seguinte, a lutarem para me darem a mão; um misto de cheiro a peixe podre, com aquele cheiro típico santomense, com lixo;

   The way of life of that people…all this creates a great chock within myself, because in that place was no such things as we western society tell as important. But at the same time I saw big white smiles in that contrasting ebony faces, strength and deepness of character in the eyes of the people, ear happy voices, singing laughs…in that moment I realize what was really important, an unquestionable peace and happiness. I felt that too, I can not imagine such a happier part of my life than that in São Tomé and Príncipe. Recovered from the initial chock, it was a love I felt with that people and that place.

   O modo de vida daquelas pessoas… tudo isto me fez entrar em choque comigo mesma, porque ali não havia aquelas coisas que o mundo diz que são importantes. Mas ao mesmo tempo, ao redor via sorrisos brancos radiantes em rostos contrastantes de ébano, força e profundidade de carácter nos olhos das pessoas, ouvia vozes felizes, risos cantantes… e assim, percebi que ali havia tudo o que era realmente importante, paz e uma alegria inquestionáveis. E eu, eu também o senti! E neste momento, não me consigo imaginar mais feliz do que fui em São Tomé. Passado o choque, foi instantâneo o amor que senti por aquele lugar e por aquelas pessoas.


   After the cultural chock (and also internal), it was time to start thinking about the project. I planned this whole project to Santana and some problems made me travel some kms southern to Ribeira Afonso to meet a poorer community with the advantage of offering better security conditions to practice Bodyboard. The luck was at my side. Visiting Sete Ondas Beach in the first day, I faced an amazing environment: vegetation surrounding all the beach, good waves and people that ultimately accompanied me for the rest of the project ( 3 young scouts around my age and an older lady). All of them were valued people inside the community and acted like brothers and a mother for the children and for me. It was them who welcome me in such a comforting way that currently the Boogie WACT project is there running, even without me (and my hearth is there too).

   Após este choque cultural (e interior, para dizer a verdade), estava na hora de colocar mãos à obra e começar a pensar no projecto. Deparei-me com um problema, porque o que tinha desenhado para ser implementado em Santana, fez-me viajar uns Km’s mais a sul, para Ribeira Afonso, por me deparar com uma comunidade mais carenciada e que oferecia melhores condições de segurança para a prática do Bodyboard. Ainda assim, a sorte estava do meu lado. No primeiro dia de visita à praia das Sete Ondas, deparo-me com um ambiente fascinante: vegetação que abraçava toda a praia, boas ondas, e a sorte de encontrar as pessoas certas que acabaram por me acompanhar sempre. Três jovens escuteiros mais ou menos da minha idade, e uma senhora mais velha. Todos muito responsáveis, e figuras de valor perante as crianças da comunidade, e uma espécie de irmãos e mãe, não só para as crianças, mas também para mim. Foram eles que me receberam e acolheram, e fizeram-no de forma tão reconfortante, que neste momento o Boogie WACT está lá, mesmo eu estando cá. E o mesmo acontece com o meu coração.


   What scared me the most was the time I had to spend travelling in the Hiace (what an adventure!). Hiace is a van that has 9 seats but accommodates 15 people (minimum). That trips made me start understanding that singing language of them. I lost count of how many weeding proposals I received (in that romantic? environment)…We were always very squeezed inside that van, a leg over a lady, two children dripping snot nose on my lap, a bucket full of fish and flies somewhere near me, “Kizomba” at maximum volume and off course, everyone shouting…A troubled driving, not for the driver itself but for the holes in the streets, travelling an impressive 70 km everyday like crazy, that looked that there was no end to that. After two days, all these was normal to me and everyone knew me for the “White” and, without notice it, I start acting like them and for some unknown reason I didn’t start talking like them

   O que me assustou mais nesta mudança para uma comunidade mais distante da cidade, era o tempo que iria passar em viagens de hiace. Hiace, que aventura. Uma carrinha de nove lugares, onde o habitual é andarem 15 pessoas (no mínimo), e o que me fez começar a perceber um bocadinho daquela língua melodiosa deles. Oh, quantos pedidos de casamento recebi eu naquele ambiente (romântico ?), com o sovaco de uma senhora a roçar-me bem perto do nariz, com uma perna minha entre as pernas de outra senhora, com duas crianças a pingarem ranho do nariz ao meu colo, com um alguidar de peixe minado de moscas algures perto de mim, em que eu só lhe sentia o cheiro, por ter a visibilidade reduzida pelo excesso de população que ali se encontrava naquele cubículo sobre rodas, Kizomba em volume máximo, e claro, todos aos berros. Uma condução exímia, não pela positiva, mas os buracos na estrada não ajudavam, fazendo com que 70 km diários fossem feitos aos zigue-zagues, e acabassem por parecer intermináveis. Mas ao fim de dois dias, tudo isto já me parecia normal, já todos me conheciam como a “brranca”, e sem me aperceber, quase que já agia como eles, e por pouco não comecei a falar crioulo também.




  This was Surf Locus first "experience testimony". Francisca Veloso da Veiga started Boogie WACT project of Bodyboard in June 2013 and currently this amazing project is running in São Tomé and Príncipe even without her. Surf Locus would like to thank Francisca for this great Post! Follow THIS link to Part 2/2.

   Este foi o primeiro testemunho postado na Surf Locus. A Francisca Veloso da Veiga começou o projecto de Bodyboard Boogie WACT em Junho de 2013 e na data presente o projecto continua a decorrer em São Tomé e Princípe. A Surf Locus agradeçe à Francisca por este grande post. Segue ESTE link para a Parte 2/2.

   If you enjoyed this post, please "like" Surf Locus Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/surflocus. Have Fun!!

 Se gostaste deste post, por favor "Gosta" da página de Facebook da Surf Locus em www.facebook.com/surflocus. Abraço!



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Saturday, August 31, 2013

Richie Campbell, That's How We Roll

   I hope you enjoyed the last 5 posts of Surf Locus about our Road Trip to Vicentina Coast and Algarve, Portugal 2013. There will surely be more posts at Surf Locus about travelling and experiencing the world.

   Recently I found this amazing blog about a couple that has been doing a Surf Trip around the World for 1 year and a half. Lately I have been thinking about doing the same and this comes as a great inspiration. Take some time to read Surfing Around the World blog!

  Today I want to show you a very good Portuguese Reggae Musician, Richie Campbell. With two albums released he is one of the most well-known Reggae musicians of Portugal.

Richie Campbell, photo taken from www.ctt.pt
  Playing with 911 band, considered by many to be the best Portuguese Reggae "Backing Band", Richie Campbell already collaborated with well-know international Reggae Musicians like Anthony B. and Kymani Marley.

  Check out this great music from Richie's second album "Focused", recorded in Jamaica:



  I specially enjoy some musics that Richie Campbell produced with Dengaz, a Portuguese rapper. Check out this great song:


  Lastly, let me share with you a song from Richie's first album "My Path":


  I hope you liked this great Portuguese, please follow this link to his Spotify profile. This is the great quality of Portuguese Music, That's How We Roll. 

  Please "like" Surf Locus Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/surflocus. Have Fun!!

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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

(PART 5) Surf / Road Trip, Vicentina Coast and Algarve - Algarve / Monchique

   If you didn't read the previous parts, please follow these links:

  Se não leste as quatro primeiras partes, por favor segue os links abaixo:



   Part 3 - Praia da Aberta Nova - Vila Nova de Milfontes

  Part 4 - Vila Nova de Milfontes - Odeceixe

  This post is bigger and has more photos than the last 4 part of this report. I made this decision because I am really short of time and unfortunately I cannot do a full description of this last few days of Surf Locus trip, instead I'm going to do an overview of this last days and post a lot of photos for you to see the beautiful beach of Arrifana and especially the great town of Monchique, in the heart of Algarve.

  Este post é um pouco maior e tem mais fotografias do que a parte 4 desta reportagem. Devido ao facto de ter pouco tempo porque tenho uma tese para escrever (grande seca) não vou fazer a usual descrição da viagem. Neste post vou colocar uma série de fotos no qual podem ver aquilo que de melhor se pode fazer no sul de Portugal, o Algarve.

Some friends we found alongside the road to Aljezur // Umas amigas que encontrámos na ida para Aljezur
Aljezur Castle, one of the seven castles in the Portuguese flag, conquered in the 11th century // Castelo de Aljezur, um dos sete castelos da bandeira Portuguesa, conquistado no século 11.
André feeling like a Lord in Aljezur Castle // O André a sentir-se o maior da aldeia, Castelo de Aljezur
Arrifana Beach, near Aljezur, a very know place for surfing. Unfortunately there was no waves and we had to get back on the road // Praia da Arrifana, perto de Aljezur, uma praia muito conhecida pelas suas boas ondas. Infelizmente as ondas estavam muito fracas e continuámos viagem para Albufeira. 
Our camping site in Camping Albufeira, a very good camping with free swimming pool and a lot of trees for shadow.  We paid 11 euros for each night at this camping which was actually not a bad price considering the expensiveness of Albufeira. // O nosso acampamento no Camping Albufeira, um grande parque de campismo que tem piscina "à pala" e muita sombra. Pagámos cerca de 11 euros por noite neste camping, o que não é assim um preço tão alto quando comparado com os preços que se praticam em Albufeira.
We stopped in Silves on our way to Monchique // Parámos em Silves à ida para a vila de Monchique
André and Me enjoying a beer after knowing that you must paid to enter in Silves Castle // Eu e o André depois de sabermos que é necessário pagar para entrar dentro do castelo de Silves. Acho que foi melhor assim, ahah
André and João messing up with D. Sancho I // O André e o João a meterem-se com o D. Sancho I
João and Me with D. Sancho I // Eu, o João e o D. Sancho I
João "Superman" Faria, flying in our way to Monchique // João "Super-homem" Faria, voando até Monchique
Erasmus reunion with João, our host in Monchique // Reunião de Erasmus com o João, o nosso anfitrião na vila de Monchique

An alternative bar in Monchique // Um bar muito alternativo em Monchique

João and André in Monchique, look at those happy faces, ahah // O João e o André todos felizes em Monchique
Monchique is all about being in deep connection with nature, you must visit this beautiful place in the highest mountains in the South of Portugal. // Monchique é natureza no seu estado mais selvagem. Aconselho vivamente a visita a este local lindíssimo nas montanhas mais altas do Sul de Portugal.
Bom Português
Strange things we found at Foia, the highest point in Algarve. // Estranhas construções que encontrámos no ponto mais alto de Portugal
Trying to meditate // Tentando meditar
Foia, Monchique
The Portuguese team in the "top" of Algarve // Surf Locus no topo do Algarve
There was the most amazing party at Monchique that night. Us with DJoana // Havia uma festa espectacular na noite de sábado em Monchique, conhecemos a DJoana
João calling home saying he will stay in Monchique, because this is the most awesome place on earth // O João a telefonar para casa dizendo que vai ficar em Monchique
Caldas de Monchique
Caldas de Monchique
Erasmus Reunion at Monchique // Reunião de Erasmus em Monchique
    Unfortunately I was unable to make a full description about this last days on trip but this is surely not the last Surf Trip of Surf Locus, and I will catch dream waves next time. In the overall, we enjoyed this road trip very much and spend about 150 euros each, which was very good considering one week of travelling. Next time we will make a Surf Trip around Marrocos, France or maybe an one year road trip around the world. Stay tuned!!

   Infelizmente não pude fazer uma descrição detalhada destes últimos dias da trip. Esta não será certamente a última viagem da Surf Locus e da próxima vez esperam-se grandes ondas. No geral adorámos esta viagem e gastámos muito pouco dinheiro, menos de 150 euros, nada mau para quem viaja durante uma semana pela costa portuguesa, conhece muitas pessoas e divertese "à grande". A próxima viagem será uma Surf Trip por Marrocos, França ou até mesmo uma road trip de um ano à volta do Mundo. Fiquem atentos!!

  I hope you liked Surf Locus report to Vicentina Coast and Algarve. Have Fun! Please "like" Surf Locus Facebook page at www.facebook.com/surflocus 

  Espero que tenho gostado desta grande viagem da Surf Locus à Costa Vicentina e Algarve. Abraço! Se gostas da Surf Locus, faz gosto na página da Surf Locus no Facebook: www.facebook.com/surflocus


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