Monkeyrockworld

Although I am traveling in India and I should think of other things, I take a break chance to bring to your attention the Lynas problem in Malaysia.  Possibly, mr. Namewee in the video above has shown his concern too colorfully, but I like his style and I side with his middle-finger toting thinking.

Lynas is an Australian mining company which has convinced some of the “smart” Malaysians in power to allow the operations of a branch in Kuantan, Pahang state.  This will create some highly disrupting environmental problems related to the toxic waste’ s disposal.

You can have more information by following this blog

This is a very serious situation that tells much about Malaysian government, politics and their hunger for money. I am just disgusted, and try to push the message to my readers in order to raise a few more eyebrows on this total rape of a beautiful land which will survive much better without three legged children and a radioactive, dying rainforest in the upcoming future…

After a bit over one month on the road, finally my humanitarian-cum-music project has officially started in India’s capital Delhi thanks to the help of a few people and two organizations: CIAI World in Italy, and Butterflies in India.

First and foremost, my thanks go to Maria Alessandra Verrienti of CIAI  who put me through Butterflies organization  in Delhi, and also hosted me for a couple very relaxing days – thank you so much, it was so great to break the tiredness of my long journey with your amazing family. She liked my project and contacted the amazing Butterflies organization in Delhi: they are in charge of several projects, but I got to visit only the Night Shelter at Chandni Chowk during my visit on February 14^th. A great, diverse way to spend a St. Valentine’s day without my partner -who’s now here in India with me, in charge of the projects’ videography- (more…)

I sat down and tried to calculate how much money I spent since the beginning of my Journey to the West: the balance is ridiculously low. India is a cheap country, yes, but this would not have been possible without a few tricks.

Here is a lowdown on how I managed to spend 110$ for 6 weeks travelling from Kolkata to Delhi in North India, taking it slow, and doing one hell of a lot of side trips. (more…)

As a first stop during my “charity discovery tour” in India I visited the village of Sujata, just behind Buddhist pilgrimage center – and Tibetan refugee colony – Bodhgaya, in Bihar state. If Bodhgaya is a bit more developed, although desperately poor, Sujata represents real Bihar’s backwater: the kind of Indian village where houses are half built, their walls covered in thick cow dung’s cakes, and most people roam jobless looking for something to do under the scorching sun. (more…)

From the holiest city of India, Varanasi, I am very excited to announce that from today, I am part of the new team of writers for Rolf Pott’s Vagabonding. As you can see, for the occasion I partied with the sexiest holy cows at Dasasvamedha ghat

Yes. I have been keeping this hidden for a few weeks, but now it is time to disclose. For all those who still do not know, Rolf Potts is the author of Vagabonding: an uncommon guide to the art of long-term world travel and an accomplished American travel writer who has had a past not too dissimilar from my present. (more…)

Freedom in year 2012 has the taste of India: a sensation which resembles being sandwiched in between the oily D-cup sized bosoms of a fat Goddess, at 40 degrees Celsius. It definitely stinks and sucks, but after all, still feels like a woman.

Let me tell you, I love India as much as I hate it: chaotic, smelly, pretty dirty, but also divine, sublime, naturalistically beautiful, and so sacred it is impossible to put it into plain words. (more…)

I am happy to announce that I made the headlines at Tom Vater‘s website… check the piece here.

I recently met Tom in Bangkok; he is a travel/guidebook and adventure writer based in Thailand (check out his guides to Cambodia and Angkor Wat out on excellent MOON Publishing), and also former guitarist of Bangkok garage punkers Pussy and the Learjets. In brief, the kind of person I consider a hero. (more…)