It’s been a while since the last blog and I guess you could say I’m getting a bit lazy, but to be honest I think it’s more likely because I’m only now settling back into the house at last. The last month has been pretty hectic, what with China, then India, 2 weeks’ worth of catch up at work and then last weekend out sailing. I can’t say I’m complaining though and must that I enjoyed every minute of it, but it is always good to stay in one place for at least a few weeks on the trot.
If you’ve caught up with facebook lately you might have seen some photo’s from the recent trip to India. Three things stuck with me after that trip, lots of rubbish, lots of people and great food. Mumbai was just like you see in Slumdog Millionaire (funny that…) with lots of people everywhere and mass poverty around every corner. It was almost like every second footpath was someone’s accommodation for the night. We were actually out for beers down the road from the office and as we sat there drinking and enjoying the fried cheese that tastes like chicken a couple of families popped up outside and parked up for the night under the overpass right outside. This was quite normal it would seem and it wasn’t the first time we saw it.
I did manage to get around the city quite a bit though as I had a tooth ache right before flying out of CPH so had to finally head to a dentist at long last. Thankfully I was heading to India as I managed to get two big fillings done for just over 100 NZD, next to nothing what it would have cost to do in Denmark or back home for that matter. The hospital was certainly not third world either, it had all the gadgets and looked just like a dentist in central Auckland but without the extra zero at the end of the bill.
It was only a week in India and I think I wouldn’t mind heading back some time, the country side was really beautiful but I’d stay clear of the cities if I was to head back. Being amongst so many people is kinda cool for a first time, but the city all looked the same and much of it was run down or dirty. Best bet is to stick with the outskirts or the country where all the things to see and do are. Only Nepal to go now then it’s all of South Asia crossed off the list! Fancy Katmandu before the Vietnam tour Ian?
Last week was round one of the Champions League and it was actually a bit of a novelty to be able to sit down of an evening and watch it for once! Back home all the games are always on at crazy hours of the morning and usually only one or two games are on, but over here every game was shown, it was like a buffet of great footy matches. Unfortunately my team isn’t in it this year but none the less it was great to be able to sit in a bar and have Real Madrid on one screen, then across the hall have Man Utd or Barca playing on the other screens, great stuff.
While we’re on the subject though, Copenhagen’s local team FCK played on Sunday against one of their rivals Brondby If. The match was nothing eventful, a straightforward 2 zip win to FCK, but the crowd was nuts before, during and after the match. On the other side of the lake from where I live the Brondby supporters decided to all parade down the road towards the game, they took a few hours to get the whole way but on the way they were letting of flares, small flash bangs, you name it they had it. 9 police paddy wagons tracked them the whole way with around 100 police ready to move should something happen. When they got to the game it only go worse, the flares kept coming, some flares making it to the field as their team started to lose. Seats got burned and the riot squad had to keep the rival supporters away from each other throughout! All just another typical football match between two rival teams; not what you see back home when Canterbury heads north of the Bombays.
Last week I was asked if I wanted to join a crew for a weekends sailing north of the city to a small island called Anhol. It was a good 14-18hr trip one way and then likely the same back with a westerly wind and the waters aren’t to rough here so as is my way lately I said yes. Turned out the plan was good in theory, but the weather gods had a change in heart and we ended up setting out to a good 25-30 knot breeze by ourselves as all other boats had more sense it would seem. We managed to get 5 hours north through the rain and gusty wind before we decided to head to nearby Helsingor harbor (last bastion before open ocean) for the night instead of pushing it north the whole way. A good decision as we were all wet and not ready for 12 hours on the North Sea.
After listening to the radio the next morning it turned out the wind had upped the anty, now a good 30-35 knots with gale warnings – lovely! It was pretty obvious that we were going to head back and back we came with only 1/3rd of the genoa out the whole way. We did manage to beat the boats previous top speed on the way back though, successfully clocking 9.5 knots without anything but 1/3rd of the genoa the whole way, the mainsail never even got untied. Needless to say it was great to be back home to a hot shower after only 24 hours out on the water.
This weekend will actually be my first in Copenhagen for a good 6 weeks I think and the plan is to have a few beers, maybe go buy a new bike and just relax for a bit. It’s Oktoberfest and sky diving next weekend so probably time to save some cash. Of all things I’m actually going along to Gaelic Football training next week, not sure what to expect but it looks like fun so why not!
