I first met Raf Kiss a couple years ago at a social event in Leme in Rio de Janeiro. I remember being very impressed with his personal story and his dedication to living a good life. Working in the finance industry in Belgium for many years and raising a family there, he eventually decided to make a major life change about six or seven years ago. So he sold all his possessions, moved to Brazil, and married a local girl. In short, he did the type of thing that most guys can only dream about.
But it was more than that. He’s a fearless traveller to some very remote and difficult regions in Brazil, a country that is not exactly known for the convenience and comfort of its internal road system. Some of the stories he told me about his motorcycle trips around Brazil fired my imagination, and I spent some time later reading the articles on his websites Brazil Road Trips and AngloInfo Rio de Janeiro. I haven’t met anyone—Brazilian or other nationality—who has travelled as extensively or as arduously in Brazil as he has, often at significant personal risk, and I would urge anyone with an interest in adventure travel to take a look at some of the articles on his blog. He’s given me some valuable travel tips that have paid off immensely in my own explorations in the country.
A few days ago, I noticed that Raf had mentioned on his Twitter feed that he had been robbed while biking around Rio. Anticipating this would make for an interesting story to our curious ROK readership, I suggested to him the idea of an interview. What follows below are my questions to him and his responses.
Quintus. You said you were assaulted at gunpoint, right? What happened?
Raf: Well, on Tuesday, December the 17th, I was on my way from Volta Redonda to Rio de Janeiro, a routine trip since I’ve done it hundreds of times over the past 5 years. I had a problem with my car and my mechanic hadn’t been able to fix it by the time I had to leave for Rio, so I had to go by motorcycle.
By the time I reached Nova Iguaçu, in Rio’s infamous Zona Norte, it had started raining and I needed to stop to put on my raingear. I’m aware of the risks in that area, so I was looking out for a gas station. But as it was raining and there was very poor lighting, I missed the exit for the first gas station. So I decided to pull over at the first bus stop, which was the next place with a little more light.
While I was struggling to get the pants on, I hadn’t noticed that a small motorbike with two guys had stopped next to me. The first thing I noticed was someone talking to me. When I looked up I was still not aware of the assault… until I saw the gun.
He was saying something in the line of: “Don’t even think of trying something…Perdeu (you lost)… don’t look at me… Where is the money…”
I slowly took my wallet out of my side pocket and he told me to give it to him. I managed to take the money out and only give him that, holding onto my bank cards and documents, which would be a serious pain to lose. They got about 150 USD worth, which I think is a small price.
Quintus: What was going through your mind at the time?
Raf: Worst case scenario: this guy is going to take my bike with everything on it–my luggage with my computer, tablet, and everything else I use to work in Rio–and maybe even shoot me. It was pretty scary.
Quintus: Did you report it to the police? Would it have done any good?
Raf: After finishing putting on the raingear, I continued on my way and stopped at a small PM (Polícia Militar) post, where I told them that I had been assaulted and robbed, but I didn’t file a formal complaint. As you suggest, it would not have made a lot of difference.
Quintus: The police later impounded your bike, right? How did that happen?
Raf: This happened a few days after the assault. I found myself going the wrong way on a one way street (it was dark and not clearly marked). The PM stopped me, and since I had an expired document, the bike got impounded.
The driver of the tow truck gave me a form and told me that I had to make sure I didn’t have outstanding tickets and should go to DETRAN (transit department) with this form to get the bike back. He didn’t say anything about the list of about 6 other documents that I needed to make copies of (one of them authenticated). I discovered that on my own the next day. I was able to get the copies, even if it was the weekend before Christmas and it was very hard to find a copy (or Xerox) place open.
I also checked the DETRAN website for outstanding tickets, so I would be able to pay them before going there, but nothing came up, so the next day I went there to recover the bike.
Of course, the first thing the DETRAN guy tells me is that I have an outstanding ticket. He gives me a paper with the details AND a little piece of paper with the list of copies I needed. Of course, those I already had. But…the little piece of paper says I need TWO copies of everything.
To pay the ticket, you have to go to another place in the same building to print out the “boleto” (document with a bank code) which you then have to take to a Bradesco bank and pay. Of course, they have no information about where the nearest Bradesco agency is. Also, once you have done the payment at Bradesco, it takes about 2 – 3 hours for the payment to hit the account of DETRAN, so I already knew that it would ruin my chances of getting everything done AND get to the depo lot in Campo Grande about 50 Km away.
So, I went to pay the ticket, and then it was off to look for another copy place to make the second copy of the documents I already made copies of the day before. Funny about this is that at the place to print the boleto ( the bank agency and the copy place) you will find the same people going through the same process as you. So in a way it feels as if you’re in an episode of “The Amazing Race.”
Having paid the ticket, and armed with the necessary copies, I went back to DETRAN a few hours later and the guy said the payment didn’t come in yet. The only thing you can do at that point is to get back at the end of the line and do this over and over until the guy finally says that your payment came in. That’s when you get to go and wait in another line to be attended. After being attended (basically giving the bunch of documents to a servant) they tell you to go to another place and wait until your name is called.
After another 30 minute wait I finally got the document that said I had no outstanding debt at DETRAN. Then they tell you to go to DETRO (Department of Rodoviárias) at ANOTHER ADDRESS with this document and there you will get the document that will liberate your vehicle.
At DETRO, it was again the same group of people waiting outside the building. You have to get a number at the reception and the receptionist gives you ANOTHER LIST OF COPIES… one of them authenticated.
She also told me I couldn’t get into the building wearing a Bermuda [shorts], so on top of finding a copy place and a cartório, I also needed to go and buy myself a pair of long pants.
At that point you start to realize that your chance of making it to the depo place the same day is becoming very small, but you go on against all odds.
Long story short, I arrived at the place in Campo Grande at 17:05… 5 minutes too late. The worst thing was that a friend of mine and my father in law had travelled about 120 km to get there and take my bike to drive it back to my home (since I didn’t have a driver’s license), so I didn’t only ruin my own day, but also that of two other people.
The next day I went back to the depo with my father in law and was able to get the bike out and drove it back home myself – without a license, again after a similar process of copies and a payment that had to be done.
Quintus: What did this incident teach you about the Brazilian bureaucracy?
Raf: Brazilian bureaucracy is legendary, but in this case it feels like everything is set up to harass people as much as possible and to slow down the process so that many people will not be able to complete the whole process in one day and have to leave their vehicle in the depo for one or more extra days, which means more money for the government.
Quintus: What originally prompted you to move to Brazil?
Raf: After a pretty normal “rat race” type of life (20 years of marriage, raising two kids, venture capital job), I got divorced and from then on I started feeling a growing urge to do something completely different. After contemplating a move to Ghana in Africa, I finally decided to try my luck in Brazil, where I became a licensed tour guide and started a motorcycle travel company. This didn’t turn out the way it should have, so now I’m focusing more on hiking, trekking and climbing in and around Rio de Janeiro.
Quintus: What would you say is your basic philosophy of life?
Raf: My general impression is that most people are too busy gathering financial wealth, thinking that this what is going to make them happy. The Dalai Lama couldn’t have said it better: “man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. He is so anxious about the future that he doesn’t enjoy the present, the result being that he doesn’t live in the present or the future. He lives as if he is never going to die and then he dies having never really lived.”
My philosophy in life is to try and do the things I like to do without hurting others in the process and staying as far away as I can from politics and religion.
Quintus: What advice would you give younger guys just starting out?
Raf: These are my five basic points:
1. Make your health your first priority. Eat healthy and exercise. You’ll look good for a lot longer and you’ll be able to enjoy a lot more offbeat experiences.
2. Learn to play an instrument. Music is the only universal language. It’s a great way to meet people and your instrument will always be there to cheer you up after a bad experience.
3. Keep learning. You will never be too smart, and never know enough.
4. Respect other people, even if they don’t share you ideas.
5. Stay away from any kind of drugs.
Quintus: Thanks for talking to our ROK readers, Raf.
Raf: No problem, man.
My interview with Raf gave me much in the way of food for thought. It reminded me of one of the best benefits of travel: the chance encounters with people who can become sources of sustained friendship and worldly wisdom.
Read More: Into The Wild
Learning an instrument will also teach you discipline, since it takes constant effort to master it.
Totally… Like one friend of mine said: “There are only three ways to learn to play the guitar: Play, play, and play some more…” He was right. 🙂
It’s always people with money who tell you it’s not important.
I have a high paying job in the oil field, I work ridiculous hours and am trading my youth for dollars, but my paychecks are fat while so many other young people are barely surviving. I dont think you could enjoy life and pursue your passions while working at fucking McDonalds.
When the economy was better in the 50s-80s, you could be a young hippie for a long time, decide to get serious and end up with a well paying career. Nowadays any young person who does that will be unemployable with nothing relavent on their resume.
I like this guy’s attitude, but Im wary of anyone who starts saying ‘dont worry about money’ shit.
> I dont think you could enjoy life and pursue your passions while working at fucking McDonalds.
You may not be able to pursue all your passions (especially if your passions are extremely expensive), but you can definitely enjoy life. So what if you can’t get everything you want? That’s another childish fallacy that we have been raised into.
Er, just to clarify, I’m not talking about working at McDonald’s, I’m talking about an average low-stress job with medium-level pay.
Exactly…
I wouldn’t enjoy my life if I had to work a McJob for minimum wage. I have friends back home in their early thirties working that shit and spending all their cash on rent food and beer. I don’t see them much because I think they are fucking losers, and I life in Thailand.
Hi Steven… I don’t say to not worry about money… I’m just saying that you don’t need as much of it as many people think to be able to enjoy life. Just be happy with the simple things in life. I will never buy a Rolex, a Ferrari or a yacht (even if I would be able to) and I’m more than ok with that. I prefer a simple hostel over a 4 or 5 star hotel because… again… I like simple things. Cheers.
Steven you nailed it. He quotes the Dalai Lama, a silly platitude from one who preaches holier than thou morality to others while his countrymen, culture and religion are eaten alive by the Chinese. Churchill said something like this regarding the bittersweet of earning, investing, and spending: ” money is a burden, but lack it and you will be in danger”. On the whole I enjoyed the article, short of part mentioned. One wonders why he didn’t get his license and save the trouble.
My general impression is that most people are too busy gathering financial wealth, thinking that this what is going to make them happy. The Dalai Lama couldn’t have said it better: “man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.
I would say marriage (and having kids) is the main driver of this. This is certainly the case with me (married but no kids). My wife does not like this kind of budget adventure life.
Its easy to live a low-cost, low-stress life traveling around the cheap tropical world if one remains single.
The reason older women (in their 30’s and up) don’t like the budget adventure life is because it’s high risk, low reward for them. After spending her youthful years deciding what cock they want to finally settle on, why would she want to travel to find even more cock?
Let’s face it, the real reason all of us guys fantasize foreign travel, because we can meet more people, get more experiences,and gain confidence, which leads more sexual experiences.
Men are made to travel. Women can’t and won’t endure as much as we can (especially filthy hostels), so it makes no sense for her to do it. Then you also have all the risks, like getting robbed, or injured with poor access to medical attention.
You on the other hand you will get to spread your seed more. She can’t, unless she wants her egg to grow up in Rio instead of Akron.
The only way any older women likes to travel is with lots of money, plush accommodations and enough protection (whether it’s real or perceived).
I have to disagree with your last statement. You would be surprised of the number of older women with huge backpacks I see passing through the hostel in Rio where I’m a regular guest (Lagoa Guesthouse – great place and certainly not filthy). Some of them also have stories of getting robbed and stuff. True, they are usually not the most attractive ones, but I have a lot more respect for these women than for the ones trying to stay “young” having another plastic surgery every few months.
This gentleman at least knows where to stay…at Lagoa.
Marcos… thank you, but I’m also the one who made the “naive mistake” of stopping at a bus stop in the north zone… 🙂
The Tijuca forest is my number one favorite spot in Rio, but as a tourist guide I also venture into the favelas and have already met tons of wonderful people there. I am also involved as a volunteer in a community center in Rocinha and I must say I feel more at ease there than in Lapa. BTW, you can also get assaulted in Lagoa or Humaitá. It can happen anywhere. Unfortunately.
I agree with you Raf, there is a ton of nice people in the favela. Probably, in a different circumstance, the family of the same guy who robbed you could invite you for coffee and be super nice to you. Hard to explain this to a foreigner, it is how Brazil is.
Totally agree… I hope the guy who robbed me bought a nice Xmas present for his mom with the money…
Here in Paraguay the time around christmas is extremly dangerous because the people who need money for christmas 😛
As a foreigner you are not allowed to carry a gun in brasil, right?
I thought he got shot by the plainclothes cop?
Nice idea for an entry and solid advice that mimics some of your own.
Heh, the Brazilian government seems to be another fine example of the state being there when you don’t want it and not being there when you do.
Keep voting for Obama and you will get there.
Thats a common misconception that the USA actually has two main political parties. We do not really. We have a military-industrial-complex (MIC). And a Central Bank trying to keep everything held together with bubblegum and baling wire by printing trillions of debasing Fiat dollars. Things could come apart tomorrow, or they could keep the party going another 50 years – who knows.
One party spends money on defense, one spends money on buying votes.
It doesnt really matter who the puppet is that lives in the big white house.
Brazil is the most overpriced country on Earth relative it’s still rather low standards of accommodation, infrastructure, social conditions, and sense of professionalism towards one’s job.
Also, unfortunately the most consistently beautiful women in Brazil don’t actually live in any of the major beach cities other than Florianopolis. Belo Horizonte has the best women but it’s just a bland interior city (and as mentioned before, costly)
Yeah, it is overpiced.
Not sure where you’re getting the rest of your comment from. “Most consistently beautiful women don’t live in any of the major beach cities other than Florianopolis.” Some would take issue with this statement.
Florianopolis is a backward beach city. Basically shit with a couple of beautiful overcrowded beaches. São Paulo must have 20 times more beautiful women that there.
Well that because it also has more than 20x more people than there.
Now you guys have a small idea of what it is to live in a Marxist country, where the government works 24/7 in order to harass and exploit the citizens. Why do you think guys go out and rob people at gun point in plain daylight? Because leftist human rights groups will crucify any policeman who shoots a criminal.
I don’t understand why anyone would move to or visit Brazil. Yes, it has natural beauty and feminine girls, but the country is super expensive, the cities are huge and crazy and there is a lot of poverty without any charm. It is not Nepal or Mongolia. Poor people here listen to rap, buy stolen Nike shoes, do drugs such as crack and organize flash mobs to steal in malls with Facebook. Where is the romanticism in that? Just drive to LA’s South Central.
The guy was lucky not to have his head blown out by a bullet. Stopping to change at a bus stop in Rio’s north zone…what a naive mistake.
But if you are stubborn enough to come, then stay away from dirt holes such as favelas, Rio’s north zone, the neighborhood of Lapa, samba schools and such trash. Roosh made all the mistakes a man could make when he lived here. And for goodness sake, never date a slut who dances samba in a bar. Or who dances samba, period. It is the same than dating a hip hop slut in the Bronx. Easy, but not worth it. A Brazilian of minimum taste would not touch that with a ten feet pole. They are not representatives of the average middle class Brazilian girl, a girl who takes time to win.
This is a good comment.
Hi Marcos.
My stopping at the bus stop was unfortunate. I knew it could be risky, but I have had worse situations (was shot at in a bad neighborhood in Bangu) and sometimes you need to do what’s necessary and take a chance. I lost this time. You are right, I could have been shot, but it is not only in Brazil that these things happen.
I do have to agree with your last statements. I’m glad I don’t need to go out and chase after women. My wife is Brazilian (yes, mulata and very beautiful) but doesn’t dance samba. 🙂
Raf, my best wishes to you and your wife. Sorry for the bitterness. As you know, depending on your circumstances (place where you live, job, family), one can have a good life in Brazil.
It just amazes me that some foreigners (not you) fall into the same traps in search for women, especially after reading the bad advice from others. Brazil is really complex, has a lot of good and a lot of bad, it is not a place easy to understand in 3 or 4 months.
Foreigners usually find nice Brazilian women through extended family, friends, at work, etc. I don’t any who found his wife in a bar.
Thanks Marcos. I wish you a great 2014 as well.
It is true that Brazil is definitely not for everyone and if you stay here long enough, the less shiny side of the country will show itself and I personally know 2 gringos who came here to stay and one left after less than 2 years. (thought it would be cheap but found out it wasn’t) and the other one left after only a few weeks (couldn’t handle the bureaucracy).
But as frustrating as it is sometimes (and believe me, I have had my share of frustrations), I just need to take a group of people up the Pico da Tijuca, Pedra Bonita or Pedra da Gávea, see their faces of utter amazement when they see the stunning views to remember why I’m here and not going to leave.
I never felt more alive than here in Brazil. 🙂
Writing from an even more backyardish country – Paraguay – I can comment on what I see here on a daily base.
It is not the young, successful and rich who come to S.A. from the US/Europe. Sure there are a FEW rich american and a few wealthy german expats who own big estancias but the majority of expats I meet on a regular basis are not rich.
They often are retired and on a fixed income – say U$ 2000/month or less and they come to SA to have a higher standard of living than what they could have in their home country. These men WILL go to samba clubs, bars and use the 5th season to pick up girls, as it is their only option.
Lower class, poor girls but with beauty and youth.
What you describe, that beaty and wealth are related is certainly true. Those who are poor often eat crap and will look fat and old by the time they are 25. Also they will not have nice dresses nor shoes nor education but for 60+ yo men these 18yo girl are a lot more than what they could hope for back in the US/EU.
You aim for middle class women with class and style. These you can find in abundance in europe and also in the big US cities. In S.A. these are relativly rare because there is so much poverty all around. In Paraguay more than in Brasil or Argentina but still the poor masses are all around brasil as well.
I wouldnt hold any savings in any marxist country, even less a S.A. one. Read what happened to the family of the poster from cuba. Never put ALL your eggs in one basket! The real is in for a rough awakening and the theftist goverment will follow christina Ks example I am afraid.
“You aim for middle class women with class and style. These you can find in abundance in europe and also in the big US cities”
Lolz
Beauty and money are related because rich men can afford to mate with genetically blessed women.
Brazil, a beautiful country but the crazies run the place. If robbed by minor teenagers and you attack them in self defense, you can be charged with a crime, the kids will go free. If a girl gets pregnant and decides you are the father, you are responsible for contributing to maternity expenses until the child is born and paternity is proven. And the bureaucracy, fergeddaboutit. Leftists continue to ensure that Brazil is the country of the future and so will always remain. What a shame.
Talking about women who dance samba, Eike Batista married one, they divorced, she took him for a mint, then he lost his billions. His father was Minister for Mines and it has been alleged that Eike got oil money (and massive loans) due to inside information. Nepotism cannot fix stupidity.
Good comment, good article. Will Brazil ever be ready for the Games?
Will they be ready for the Games?
The general consensus is that the Games will be held, but get ready for a real rip-off. Lots of scamming, lots of bigwigs collecting checks for doing substandard work.
As usual, the average person will get screwed.
I second that, man!
I´m also Brazilian and everything you say is spot on.
The marxist government created laws that treat criminals as if they were victims of the middle class “capitalist exploiters”.
The result is that the working citizen who obeys the law and pays taxes is treated like a criminal, while the real ones are given a free pass to kill and steal.
The current party in government, PT (Partido dos Trabalhadores), has made Brazil an ally of Cuba, Venezuela, Angola and just about every communist shithole in the world.
Their latest move was hiring Cuban doctors in order to finance Castro´s dictatorship.
The Cubans don´t have to take the obligatory exams for the practice of medicine that every doctor of every nationality is subject to, and they only get 7% of the salary paid by the government. The rest goes to Cuba.
Feminism, abortion, the promotion of homossexuality and the gay lifestyle, single motherhood, dependency on the state, all courtesy of PT.
My
family escaped communist Cuba a long time ago. Those Marxist motherfuckers took everything my family had, including their lives, lands, businesses and generational wealth which took my ancestors hundreds of years to
accumulate.
One of my uncles had married into a wealthy family who had a thriving shipping business. One day Che’ Guevara himself with a small contingent of military officers knocked on the office doors and told everyone to get out the business and all its assets now belong to the state.
When my uncle complained and rejected the hostile takeover of his business which took generations of blood sweat and tears to build. The Marxist sons of bitches rounded him up along with many others put them in a truck and drove out to the countryside. They were told to get out and run for their lives as they were
machined gunned to death.
Now this socialist filth has infiltrated the United States of America! Make
no mistake about it Gentlemen freedom isn’t free and blood will have to run in the street before the Godless Communist are forever sent to the pit of Hell where they belong!!!
Keep ignoring reality Gentlemen and you will watch your way of life disappear before your very eyes.
Judges 21-14 And the children of
Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.
25 In those days there
was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
1 Samuel 8-4 Then all
the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto
Ramah, 5 and
said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now
make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
6 But the thing displeased
Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. 7 And the Lord said
unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto
thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should
not reign over them. 8 According
to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out
of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other
gods, so do they also unto thee. 9 Now
therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and
shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
10 And Samuel told all the
words of the Lord unto
the people that asked of him a king. 11 And he
said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will
take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. 12 And he
will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest,
and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 13 And he
will take your daughters to
be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14 And he
will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 15 And he
will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his
officers, and to his servants. 16 And he
will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young
men, and your asses, and put them to his work. 17 He will
take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. 18 And ye
shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you;
and the Lord will not hear you in that day.
19 Nevertheless the people
refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a
king over us; 20 that we
also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out
before us, and fight our battles. 21 And
Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of
the Lord. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice,
and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man
unto his city.
excellent comment, Joaqin. It is hard for people to believe this is truth unless they have experienced it. Americans have no idea how close they are to this.
Are you familiar with Silvio Canto, the author of Cubanos in Wisconsin? He has a nice podcast about the dangers of marxism in Latin America and the situation in Cuba.
People here are sheltered and spoiled. The don’t know anything about suffering. They have never gone one day without a meal. It’s very depressing.
When people try to tell them, they don’t want to listen. It’s outside their range of experience.
Yes, I agree with you that some sort of conflagration is on the horizon. When exactly it is coming, I don’t know.
But it’s probably sooner than people think, and will happen differently from what people think.
Totally agree with you Quintus, most people I know will sell their soul, their freedom, endure pointless dead-end jobs and loveless relationships to never, ever have to feel loss or the slightest heartache, discomfort or hardship.
I was making in the mid six figures before the crash (I’m in real estate) lost everything my investment properties here, my beautiful property in St Thomas, my own home, and have even gone many days with out eating; even here in the good old United State of America (commission sales, I’m a big risk taker! LOL! and I will never take a government handout). Believe me its already here I’m still in real estate working on my soon to be second fortune I do 30 foreclosures a month.
I work with investors and most of the guys I know were millionaires five years ago and now are penniless. I’m talking about men real men who worked their asses off and put their livelihood on the line only to lose it all when the R/E bubble burst.
But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and smarter! No one, No fucking State, No Godless Socialist motherfucker, will ever take my wealth, my culture and my freedom away from me ever again!
Love the Manosphere boys, lets make 2014 a pussy paradise and take back our way of life!
Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Prazer em conhecê-lo meu amigo. Eu fui para o Brasil muitas vezes. Eu era um guitarrista e trabalhou para Pricess cruzeiros. Eu trabalhei em um trio de jazz e tocou muitas noites a bordo do navio na Baía de Guanabara.
Perdoem-me português falo melhor espanhol. Eu amo os brasileiros e tenho muitos como amigos.
Uma amiga minha estava lendo o livro de Canto. Eu sei o que a minha família passou com o socialista comunista e seu terror. Eu odiaria ver o meu amado país Estados Unidos e mesmo o Brasil sofrer o mesmo destino.
Felicidades e um Feliz Ano Novo para você e sua família.
Marcos_Brazil,
I´ve been reading your comments and must admit I agree with your point of view.
Are you a student of Olavo de Carvalho?
No, I am not, but I like his ideas.
i’ve always wanted to visit brazil, but have been deterred by many of the facts that you mention. perhaps i’m just too risk averse, but having fled an islamic revolution and experienced a few years of nasty war between iran and iraq, i’m learned to appreciate the beauties of the 1st world!
Marcos and Henrique,
Your comments match those I’ve heard from others about Brazil, which is resulted in me not wanting to visit the place. I would go to Brazil on business, but not for holiday.
I know a fund manager who recently visited Brazil. He said the recent bubble economy is just that, a bubble, and that it is fueled entirely by debt. This means the piper will have to be paid sooner or later and the Brazilian economy will suffer the same problems as Argentina (another place I would studiously avoid).
For my cheap tropical holidays, I prefer South East Asia.
Totally agree with the debt part… Most Brazilians are only now getting to know credit cards and just about ANYTHING can be bought in 10 or more installments. Some people have more than 10 cards, with a combined limit of many times their total monthly income, and use them as a supplement to that income. They even pay the weekly supermarket in several installments on the credit card… people here are not ready for handling money this way, and many will have a very rude awakening one day…
2013 was a bad year for Brazil, especially because of the leftist criminals who rule the country. We are all upset and bitter these days around here. Maybe I was too negative.
If you come and stay in the right places, Brazil is a nice place to visit. Rio is indeed the most beautiful city nature-wise in the world, and there are many nice places to go all around the country. The resorts in the Northeast are gorgeous, food is excellent, Sao Paulo has many attractions and a huge night life. A thousand times better than visiting, say, Romania or Ukraine.
Just be prepared to spend money and stay away from the bad, “exotic” places. Leave the favela tours for the Germans. And find a Brazilian friend first.
The key to enjoy Brazil is to find a nice group of friends, men and women, who go out together and have fun (Brazilians are really fun in groups). If you want to fly solo here, you will miss all the fun.
Thank God for the police officer. Just made my day seeing a monkey shot. Thanks Brazilian cop.
Marcos: I am curious — what is the stigma attached to samba-dancing? Are these girls basically Brazil’s version of strippers?
Some are, especially for gringos in Rio. Big red flag. Others are usually just poor. Of course, there are many exceptions to the rule.
Marcus: Thanks for the insight and clarification. What you have said makes much sense and I appreciate you sharing it with me.
The Brazilian girls he related to were mostly of a lower social class, therefore more impressionable and easier to score.
Well, unfortunately isnt that pretty much the situation in any country?
I spent many a nights in Manaus 900 miles up the Amazon Dumpster Diving with 16 and 19 year old silky skinned dark jungle beauties. Yeah they were fucked up and poor, but I was 22 years old a musician on Princess Cruises (ship was in port) and mayhem was in my loins. LOL!
The hard part was fucking two at a time in the rat invested motel near the strip club, great fun!!!
My best girl her name was Christina Silva (which I think meant Christian Jungle) she was funking drop-dead gorgeous, she fell in love with me, wanted me to bring her to the states. She waited eight hours one day out side the ship for me; Me and my buddies had rented a boat with a tour guide to take us up the Rio Negro.
This was many years ago boys, different world all together.
Love Brazil!!!!
If you read the Brazil book Roosh wrote, it was primarily middle or upper class chicks he hooked up with (least in Rio).
i couldn’t agree more… having tried latin america for a number of years i have to say it’s like living in a garbage dump with a bunch of devils hell bent on harassing you…. i think the phases ‘yes – great! ‘ and ‘sure i can do that’ doesn’t exist in spainish… everything is geared around fucking you over and partying to forget the squalid mess you live in….. doesn’t matter if you have millions you are still surrounded by mess and angry peasants and their miserable negative inner states… the security guards on my condo who i thought were there for the residents benefit would go out of their way to do almost anything to fuck with your day… one time they called the police and had me arrested for going to my friends door instead of my own…. he later had his front door bricked up by management and had to get into a huge lawsuit just to access his own apartment… and this was in one of the MOST premium buildings where rents were level with miami and nyc.
the place is a mess because the people are a mess….
Ray, some thoughts.
1. “i thought were there for the residents benefit”…
No offense, but that is the exact mindset that I think can cause problems… That security guard is a human being, and there to do a job – protecting the residents, mostly rich people that won’t give them the time of day, from getting robbed or worse, probably for a monthly salary that’s barely enough to survive and that most of the residents make in an hour… I’m sure that if you show this guy some appreciation and give him 5 or 10 Reais now and then, he would go out of his way to help you in any way he can. Try to put yourself
in their place…
2. “the place is a mess because the people are a mess…”
I think that all things considered, Brazilians aren’t doing so bad… The Brazilian people were deprived from any kind of cultural development until well in the 1800’s… books and other printed materials were prohibited in Brazil until the Portuguese Royal Family had to flee from Napoleon in 1807 and went to live in Brazil. So culturally, the rest of the world had a huge head-start when it comes to culture and civilization. That Brazil is a mess right now is probably also caused by the more civilized countries trying to force Brazil into developing too fast because it is a huge consumer market to tap into…
“He’s given me some valuable travel tips that have paid off immensely in my own explorations in the country.”
Post the tips.
Anybody backpacked extensively around South America (or the world for that matter?) The differential in price between Bolivia and Brazil is the most substantial in the entire world from my experience.
I took a bus between Santa Cruz, Bolivia to Campo Grande, Brazil and it was the difference between “cheap as fuck” to “expensive as fuck”.
Believe it or not, Santa Cruz actually had a fair amount of fairly attractive full-blooded Castilian Spanish women walking around town (Miss Universe Bolivia is ALWAYS a mostly or full-blooded Castilian woman from Santa Cruz) while Campo Grande was full of ugly-ass women.
Brazil is without doubt a great country for game if your ABSOLUTELY LOADED with cash, but beyond an obligatory 10-14 day stint in Rio de Janeiro, look elsewhere in Latin America for a long-term stop.
If your name was Ronnie Biggs and you acquired millions of dollars from a great train robbery, where would you go to live out a life of pleasure with fantastic weather and the worlds sexiest and most feminine women?
Brazil, along with most other countries in South America, are beautiful when visiting temporarily but change drastically once you become a citizen. Unless you are wealthy, living down there isn`t the most rational choice for someone from North America. My family lives in Argentina and I love going down to visit and the women are exquisite but I would never make it my main spot.
Brazillians are the French of South America, they enjoy being difficult.
raf sounds quite interesting. the quote by dalai lama is superb. sadly, it reminds me of almost all of my friends and family in the states.
Rez, sadly our civilized society works that way… when you want to climb up the ladder and earn social status and financial security, most people are required to leave a lot behind… health, integrity and self respect are just a few of those things… .
I wonder why so many gringos love to talk about how great Brazil is. In fact it isn’t. We might have some nice girls with big butts, but sometimes I would rather have more comfort and safety than being consistently harrassed by police officers, robbers and leftist fucktards who are way worse than any liberal-minded american. At least you guys got to taste some kind of freedom over your lives.
Unless you’ve experienced “the blitz” of the policia….you haven’t seen anything.
Insane bureaucracy? Coincidentally, reminds me of the movie Brazil. Great flick.
It is, but it really depends in which area. For example, banking, health insurance plans and income taxes filling are much, much easier than in the US. Most services now have migrated to the internet before the US.
The bureaucracy nightmare is totally focused on government (judiciary, police, DMV) and real estate, but even in these areas, there have been advances such as the Poupatempo, a place where one can find all the government agencies in the same place. Just don’t deal with the government and you will be fine. Raf was very unlucky, I have been stopped by a policeman once in 20 years driving.
I have lived in both places, and the bureaucracy here is not so much worse. The infrastructure is what makes Brazil bad, the narrow roads, the traffic, etc. In the US, it is easy to go most of the places, easy to park, easy to find a place to eat, to shop, to sleep. Maybe because it is so standardized, but it works.
I don’t find that bureaucracy is still our worst problem, the high prices of everything now are.