Strange thoughts at Work

I was at work and was having a rather slow day so my thoughts were dwelling on the "Kiss of Death" photo. It's the photo where I caught 2 fish in Mazuri lakes and forced them to peck each other before disembowling them (one of my favourite photos I must say). Anyway, I thought it was rather morbid and sadistic of me. I didn't enjoy gutting them or anything. Killing them was the worst part, as I was stabbing them through the eyes thinking it would be quicker all the while the process was making me squirmish.

This was strange to me, reminiscing. I wonder if it is just me or are we so detached from reality that we accept most the violence on the big screen and TV without a second thought but abhore the killing of animals for food? Maybe the Greens/Veges are finally getting to me.

Everyone is Married!!

A girl in our company just announced that she is getting married, except I didn't know this until there was lots of commontion and everyone was lining up to congratulate her. Anyway during the short obligatory "cake eating" a question was asked. "Who is the only person not married here" in Polish of course, and suddenly I hear my name called. Huh? Translate oh, rozumiem (understand). Well, I think every job I have ever been in I am the only person who is not married or getting married. Probably more importantly, only person no wan0ingt to marry. Recently I realised that I have caught commitment phobia. Why didn't I have this in my early 20s but only now during my mid 20s? Weird.

Where I live in Poland



I recently discovered the power of Google Earth. The image above is a picture of where I live in Poland (the city of Wroclaw). It's a little hard to see, but if you enlarge it you should see quite clearly 3 yellow pins. The one on the far left is the building I live in, the top most is the Train Staion and the bottom most is the central bus station. Takes me about 10 mins to walk to each one, which mean that if my train (which I take every morning) leaves at 8:30am I can wake at 8:10am. Just enough time to brush while showering then out the door. Breakfast requires another five. I have this down to a fine art.

Mazuri Lakes 3

This is just random photos and stories to go with it.


Took this photo on the first night where we go separated with the rest of the group. For some reason sun sets look so much better on lakes than anywhere else.

This was taken during our bonfire on one of the islands we docked at. The other one you see is the sparks from burning the pine needles. Since it was at night it was a long exposure picture. All were taken on the second night.

The tree that I cut down is that thin long stick you see on the ground.
It took me half an hour to cut down with my blunt axe. Rather enjoyed the workout.

Perfect positioning.
Rude not to ask first but it really was a kodak moment.

Did I mention that the water isn't exactly clean? Visibility under water is approx half a metre. Everyone baths with soap in the lakes, brush their teeth, wash their dishes etc. Fortunately, the Poles have the decency not to release bodily wastes into the waters, but I am not Polish so umm......nevermind. For the first few mornings I take a bath before we cast of but usually this gives me itches for the rest of the day as most of the dirty water is close to shore (people brushing their teeth in the morning and stuff). Well, what did you guys expect? Its not Taupo with the pristine clear lake that you can drink from, appreciate it. That is why Poles think NZ is paradise.

The Mazuri Lakes (2)

(Life Jacket Raft)
On the third day i am pretty much sick of the sun. Temperatures are in the high 20s most of the time and there is no relief from the sun apart from the stuffy cabins. Worse, there was no wind. Of the 3 days we only have a decent 2 hours worth of wind to which I would term 'exciting' the rest was spent drifting in the gentle breeze. The water look so still that you would think the boat not moving. This provided us with a good opportunity to have a swim. So for six days its a bath twice a day with the perk of being able to dive in and belly flop. I discovered that not washing my hair with soap was extremely good. First, it cured my dandruff problem where Head & Shoulders failed (Proctor & Gamble Lies). Second, my hair is naturally conditioned and it feels so nice that I find myself forced to stop stroking my head.
(Unshaven, unshowered)

(This is one of the smaller lakes in Mazuri)

(Stunning sunset)

The fourth day is much the same. Baking in the sun, belly flopping in the water and was almost left behind as the yatch as decievingly fast. I was breast stroking in behind the yatch with a life rope swimming next to me. I didn't have contacts on so in between dipping my head in the water and misjudging the distance of the boat, I broke surface just in time to see the rope quietly slipping away. In a slight moment of panic I put all my energy into my free style to catch it. But due to my weak swimming abilities, the yatch glided further away. Fortunately, someone on the yatch loosened the line and with heartfelt relief I grabbed the rope and hauled myself in. It was kind of scary imagining yourself floating in the middle of the lake, wouldn't want to be at sea... (this photo speaks for itself)

The fifth day was mostly uneventful apart from gusts of wind that made everyone whoop with delight if not only for the relief from the sun. At times the yatch as leaning so much that it felt like we were vertical, which sent anything unbolted flying from one side to the other. I felt like a sailor with the wind rustling my hair and it was especially exciting when we needed to turn as I got 2 seconds worth of thrills by pulling the 'short' (name of the rope) which changed the position of the 'focker' (one the sails).

By this time I was wishing I knew Polish as Mark and I were pretty much left out of most the conversations. I had enough Polish only to detect when they decide to go shopping and make food which is rather sad as we missed out on all the jokes. I kind of resented this, but short of learning the language I couldn't really do anything, nor was it anyone's fault. So throughout the entire trip we had to be content to only talk to one of the girls named Ola, as she had excellent english and between ourselves. Man Polish is so hard to learn, or maybe its just me.

(Disembowling)

The fishing line I brought with me lies unused making me feel as though I failed to capture the essence of this trip. When I first told my boat that I was going to fish, they were unconvinced. Added to the difficulty of not having proper equipment, we had no bait. So pretty much over the last 5 days Sandy (who promised to find me worms) and I strangly failed to dig up worms. Fortunately our resident woodsman and captain found a nice patch of earth swarming with mossies and sand flies and with me was able to dig up five very hungry looking worms. Excitedly I raced to the docks where a couple others were fishing. They laughed when they saw my pityful 6zl ($3NZD) fishing line that barely strechted 10m and old school worm bait. Well that didn't stop me from trying after about 1 hour I was rewarded with 2 hand sized fish. Man, I was so excited that I got them to kiss before disembowling and grilled them on our BBQ. They were the sweetest fish I ever had despite tasting a little like mud :). (Kiss of Death)

(Having a can of lychees with Sandy and Mark. Why do I look so sleepy?)

Then on the sixth day we docked at where we started, cleaned the boat and I rushed to train station. I got home in time for the second half of the World Cup finals after having spent another grueling 10 hours on the train back. Reflecting on my experience, think it would be a whole lot more interesting if I did sailing in NZ. So when I get back, I might pick up sailing then organise a trip from Auckland to Tauranga when there isn't a storm. I can imagine it, fresh snapper filleted and ready for sashimi. Or alternatively grilled with lemon juice marinated with lemon grass, seasame oil and soy. yummmmm.

The Mazuri Lakes (1)

Just came back from a 6 day sailing trip on the Mazuri Lakes in the North Eastern part of Poland, and very excited about blogging it, hence you are now reading it. We set off on Friday night taking an offer by one of the organisers to drive us there for 55zl pp. As it turns out the trains are much more comfortable, cheaper and faster than the slightly rusty automobile that we were couped up in for 10 hours from dusk till dawn. We arrived in Gzitsko which is the main port of departure and had to hang out for a few hours waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive. In that time I took the opportunity to buy fishing gear, eat, drink and have a laugh with Sandy, Tomek (Sandy's BF) and Mark (who comes up with the most funny sho0t me through the brains lines).

At the appointed time, we (I and Mark) were pleasently surprised with very comely blond Polish girls who posses bright smiles and most importantly, they know how to sail and what to do in case I start drowning. As soon as we cast off, I quickly established my clumsiness by releasing a rope that droped the horizontal beam attached to the mast. Luckily, no one was under it or they would have had a very short trip. Lesson learnt, don't mess with the ropes.



We started off with 5 boats with approximately 5-6 ppl in each. Our boat had 4 burly barrel chested men, of whom 3 had hairless chests and 1 with a gut full of beer. The other two were slim blond girls with legs that strech half a mile, and walking endurance to fit. They did all our shopping, often having to walk several kms just to get to the nearest shop, while the boys cooked and cleaned the boat. Ahhh... life is good, sometimes I wonder why I have such luck to float aimlessly (so it seems to me) for 6 days with nothing but clear blue skys surronded by lakes that perfectly mirror the landscape.

Anyways, on the first night one of the boats had a problem with their motor so our group was split up and we ended up with one other boat, while the other 3 were stuck out in the open until midnight before they could get to a dock (as they were trying to help each other). There wasn't much sailing as most of the time the wind was still and the sun burns with intensity. Thinking that I quite invincible with my dark skin, I refused to put on the appropriate amount of sun block and was sorry to have my back burned. Where on another boat a girl was so completely lobstercated that she decided to go home early as she couldn't even sleep at night with her burns.

During the day we were taught knowledge on the basic knots essential to every sailors skill sets. By night fall of the second day, we meet up with the other boats and i was able to demostrate the sizable knowledge I had garnered during the day by helping the other boats dock. I looked like I knew exactly what I was doing... my specialty. Quite happy with myself, I went about hewing pine trees for our bonfire that night. Strangely, this somehow impressed the girls as I was hauling back my prize. A 12 foot long 50 kg pine still in its youth cut down by a chauvinistic showoff for the primary purpose of keeping the mossies away and grilling a sausage. Such as it is common in life.