Meanwhile Elsewhere...

Skills I need to aquire to be an urban ninja

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 13:30:00 +0000

- running stamina and parkeur.
- judo and kramaga (ideally tai chi and french boxing as well + military-approved combatstyles)
- swordfighting
- some urban climbing-skills, but that's really more of a parkeur-thing.
- chemistry for poisons, traps and all sorts of devious contraptions.
- enough familiarity with handguns to wield them ambidextrously and with deadly precision while moving.

Now all I need is an old and wise master who has unending patience with me because he has decided I am the chosen one and an old and sinister villian with strange ties to the old and wise master.

Battles and James Bond on drugs lifestyle ensues. Win.

3 months after Santiago

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 15:24:00 +0000

I feel strong. But I'm getting fat; and that lean walker that would walk 12 hours, have a dinner and a bottle of wine and decide it's a beautiful evening for nightwalking and proceed to walk 12 hours more: is a distant memory. As distant to my mind as the athlete I once was in my teens.

I ponder that. Which of my memories of me resonate strongly within my current self? I seem to feel more connected to similar physical body-type than to age, circumstances or state of mental being. The memories of myself as athletic are as distant as the ones of me where I'm skinny, pumped or fat.

The memories of selves within me that resonate are all of the same bodytype I have now. But they seem weak to me. Both physically and mentally. They are still me, still strong. But compared to the one who walked the Camino they seem weak. Young. Untested.

Somewhere in the future; I hope; there is another one: thinking of this one: finding him weak: untested.

There was a lot of drinking and smoking of the holy ganja in my pilgrim days. For those concerned about my health I can report that I haven't done drugs since my return home - and while I must confess I had a one or a few beers every day in the beginning it was a pain-free and almost unnoticeable process to return a normal and almost healthy pattern of drinking circa once a week.

Mid august.

I have failed to work as hard on the Camino-story as I had hoped to do. But it was expected that there would be lapses in my already faltered work ethic. I have reached Pamplona; but I have yet to write my way down to Finisterre and back home. After that I'll look over what I've done, make it coherent, add the articles I wrote underways.

For those who simply want to read the Camino story without checking by here on every random posting I suggest becoming a follower as all followers will be notified when the piece is ready for a read. As for others: don't hesitate to comment on anything even if posts are going to have different forms in the future. BTW: I got a mail from "Upstream Thomas" the other day. He'd reached Paris and I quote "It is the one thing I've done in my life that I am proud of." Fuck yeah, brother!!!!

To the people I am supposed to keep a correspondence up with I can only apologize - I hope to answer mails and write promised letters before it simply becomes an embarrassment. Like Michael Jackson I love you all.

It is my hope to make the Santiago de Compostella-thread an easy read; funny and thoughtprovoking - a first hand account both for those who never did it and are thinking about doing it (perhaps this even is the first you hear of it): an account for those who always wanted to go but never could - made in such a way you'll almost feel you walked it yourself by the time you're finished reading. And also a first hand account for those who are walking the way; for true pilgrims; for seekers, clergy and historians. All will find different things of interest; but for you too do I write.

From the presentation. Author unknown.

I was entertaining at a wine-tasting the other day. Someone nice would call it stand-up - but while certainly funny - my powerpoint-presentation is a strange form of stand-up not really worth the name. It's been years since I've done any public speaking, and I've never tried being funny in front of such a large (but easy) crowd. I was rather nervous; but it was a success. (Or so everybody tells me - my mind sort of blanked out during the performance).

After the presentation one of the 25-year-olds across the table thought me hot and tried to get to know me. She started, ofcourse, with the evercharming 'So, what do you do for a living?' (Better known on the Camino as the 'So, what do you do in "Real Life"?')... Normally I would have come with one of my generic bullshits like 'I'm a consultant', 'I'm an author', 'I work for the government. I can't talk about it. It's very boring I promise.' 'I'm a blogger.' 'I'm the owner of one of the biggest internet porncompanies. I'm rich. I'm bored. Entertain me.' - Instead of bullshit or a simple 'I don't like to talk about it.' I asked her why she possibly would want to know such a thing?

She said something about liking getting to know people. But that was hard for me to understand. Knowing that she was a student of sociology on the bachelor-level, looking at her wellgroomed self and attire already told me way more about her than I wanted to know. I told her how I like the surprises of getting to know someone without dissecting them and putting them in neat little boxes early in the process.

Not knowing what people do or where they come from makes me treat people in a different way. I like myself when I treat people like that; like they could be the secret king of the world or some fool whose passions made him loose everything.

She laughed at me and said 'Shit buddy, life must be boring when you are as old as you.'

Timothy's Monster

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:08:00 +0000

Motorpsychos 1994 double album Timothy's Monster is recognized by many as - depending on the level of nationalism of the recognizer - respectively the best Norwegian album ever and as the best album ever.

Now I would never say such a thing. But honestly, while I won't say it's the best album ever, that would go against most of my principles, I truly can't think of a better album.

Tomorrow they will play the album in it's entirety at the Øya-festival in Oslo. It is the first time, and likely the last, that will happen. Sadly I cannot be there; and until I can find some link to that - in the time of writing - coveted and yet to come performance you'll just have to do with this little glimpse of a 1995 backyard-concert. (And if you're wondering: yes, they were already big shining stars at this point - thats just how cool they are.)

It's cool and all; but trust me - it does absolutely no justice to the masterpiece that is Timothy's Monster.

Tommy Olssons mini-essay on Timothy's Monster in Dagbladet.

Making progress

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 09:59:00 +0000

I am "safely" home and working on updating my pilgrimage posts. Pictures up till the first night in Santiago are in place - but few texts; so it is still a work in progress. If you insist on reading/viewing this unfinished piece of work I suggest reading it backwards.

Do not hesitate to send your pictures to mats [at] apeskalikkedrepeape.org -- please try to indicate where they were taken and who to give credit.

Will I become a vagabond or priest? A decision has been made - His will be done. Revelations to be made in season finale!!!

Home tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 07:42:00 +0000

Originaly Wagonwheel was a song scetch Bob Dylan made during the Billy the Kid-sessions called Rock me Mama. Old Crow Medicine Show added their own lyrics but kept the chorus, chords and almost everything else.

Sadly the official version (which I'm currently posting) cuts the ending by 15 seconds or thereabouts - so if your ear is caugth by this song don't hesitate to check one of the unofficial versions like this one with added lyrics.

Berlin-Malmö

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:37:00 +0000

Malmö-Berlin

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 10:35:00 +0000

Hamburg-Copenhagen

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 10:34:00 +0000

Amsterdam-Hamburg

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:41:00 +0000

On the train to Hamburg. To drunk and stoned to remember the name of the guys, their band or their song. But they wrote it themselves; and they where going to Hamburg to play on the streets. They'd just released they'r first recording - when I reminded them of another band who started their career in Hamburg they said they had'nt thought of that - but seemed both self confident and shy.

The guys where not very used to recording so they just sort of started and then I just had to fumble until I could start recording. I do love their little stunted version of I'm so glad by Cream though.

The Concheros Tatto

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:45:00 +0000

My first tatto. Picture and words coming. This is just a teaser.

To make a peregrina cry

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 13:31:00 +0000

Mika is Japanese. A very cool, very experienced traveler. Not only did she check just about every place I ever visited; but she visited a few of those out of the road places like Uzbekistan and that place I can't even remember the name of.

It'd been a hard night; maybe it was Filip (who claims me to be hard to follow) - maybe it was just another firejam... but anyway I was drinking in the morning for some reason. And Mika joined me at the Lecher bar were I had a few drinks (she did'nt drink) and a few joints.

We talked about Nepal. Other stuff. She played her flute sitting in the window.

She'd walked the Camino from Burgos or Leon or St.Jean-Pied-de-Port or somesuch; and then again she'd walked the Portugese Camino. And she told me how she'd cheated; taken the bus, sent her luggage. And as such things go, quite justified. Not a bad story at all. Not a touregrino story, not a tourist story...

And I guess it was just the wrong day. Just one to many. And Mika really didn't deserve it.

But I told her my honest opinion: That she hadn't done the true camino. That all this we are all pilgrims-crap is just that. Crap. I told her that if she's to fucked up to walk another day then she, as a pilgrim, as someone trying to be an autenthic pilgrim, then she should just stay one or two days more. And that the second she gets on that bus, the second she sends that luggage on a taxi... she's just another tourist looking at the real pilgrims.

And she started crying. Like I'd broken her fucking world. I love that she atleast had the guts to show me how hard my words hit.

To the rest of you: I'm really really sorry that I hurt you. (But it's still true.)

Albergue of Love

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:48:00 +0000

Where are the hippies at hippe beach?

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:05:00 +0000

1:45

Meditating. Obviously I'm normaly capable of the full lotus position - but about a hundred days on the camino hath made my legs quite stiff; and my half lotus thus is not as pathetic as it seems.

Age takes it's toll. A few days in the tent and I really need a night in a proper bed. Albergue la Paz is just that - peacefull.

Memento Mori

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:07:00 +0000

If I must Die; the Lord of Song will Sing me Home.

***

To any readers: The whole Santiago section is still "under construction" - do ONLY read if it pleases you to read and re-read a piece as it evolves into maturity. If you plan to read this only once, I beg you to wait until this message is removed.

All posts up to april 8 2010 are up to date though.

Finisterre

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:18:00 +0000

Sunsneeze.

Attemting to keep my eyes open in the strong Fisterre sun.

Olveiroa-somewhere outside Finisterre

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:17:00 +0000

Negreira-Olveiroa

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:15:00 +0000

Santiago-Negreira

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:14:00 +0000

Jack's city

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 10:05:00 +0000

1:37

Maria did'nt want her picture taken and shielded her visage with her hands. I said "WOW your hands are really big for a lady!"

Fiesta in Santiago

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:18:00 +0000

4:30

5:21

Monte Gozo-Santiago de Compostella

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:13:00 +0000

Arzua-Monte Gozo

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:06:00 +0000

Tomorrow all your sins will be forgiven; what will you do tonight?

Palais de Rei-Arzua

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 18:10:00 +0000

Portomarin-Palais de Rei

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:09:00 +0000

Samos-Portomarin

noreply@blogger.com (MatsHanssen) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:09:00 +0000