Going to live in the Philippines: Pros and Cons

The network is full of articles that encourage Italians to go abroad.
If you are a frequent social networking user, you will definitely be stuck at least once in articles titled "Here are the countries where you can live with 300 euros a month."

Being also one of the many who dreams of fleeing from Italy, for some time I have started to study some of the most popular places for those looking for dream beaches and a good climate.
In this article I will speak to you about the Philippines.

Why go to live in the Philippines?

The Philippines is a Southeast Asian state located in the Pacific Ocean.
The Philippine Archipelago consists of 7,107 islands distributed in three main regions: Luzon to the North, Visayas in the center and Mindanao to the South.

What attracts thousands of tourists each year in the Philippines is the beauty of their beaches.
The Philippines, in fact, offers those who take the trouble of having more than 10 hours of air travel to visit them, beaches that have nothing to envy to those of the Caribbean, with the difference that the Philippines are a low-cost location.
For the lovers of the sea, unspoiled nature, snorkeling and diving, the Philippines are a must-see destination.
If you want to get an idea of their beauty, read this post on my trip to the Philippines.

Given the beauty of the Philippines, it's easy to understand why a person, enthusiastic about their vacation, can think of giving up everything and moving there.

If I have to be honest, even at first I had a thought, even before I went to visit them as a tourist.
I had discovered the Philippines looking for google places where it costs less to live, ending up on those infamous articles where only the beautiful things of a place tell you.
Enchanted by beautiful photos and promises of savings, I started to document me, I planned the trip, I went, I came back, I searched for land sales ads on the internet, and when I found out that with the money selling my current Home I could buy a whole resort in the Philippines, I started fantasizing ...

But then I've documented it better, I've done a lot of online searches, I've been enrolled in groups from Italians living in the Philippines ... and I understand that it's not all gold that glitters!

Do you really live with 300 euros a month in the Philippines?

The answer is no!
Anyone who claims the opposite is forgetting to specify some details not just recently.
Yes, if you want, you could live in a remote, non-touristy little village, in a hut, cultivating a land and buying only local products, and so you could really live with little ... but honestly, who would do it?
Filipinos live with little because they have little! Not everyone obviously.
The average monthly salary of a Filipino is only a few hundred euros, if it's fine.
It is no coincidence that Filipinos who come to work in Italy, with the money they send home, have a whole family.
I'm talking about people living in villages with few services. Do you really want to live that way? Yes? Even wanting you can not! Or rather, you can but it is complicated to implement (later I explain better why).
Great cities like Manila, where there is every kind of comfort and there are skyscrapers that we in Italy dream about, are perhaps even more concerned with Milan.

Pulling the sums, no one gives you anything, if you want to live with little, you have little.
If you want the services, pay them and cost almost like in Italy (if not more in certain areas), if you do not want them, it is a great risk considering the area you are in (read the pros and cons that I have Written below to better understand).
If one has to live almost in misery, then perhaps it is better to stay in Italy, going to live in some villages where life costs a little less.

 

How to move to the Philippines

To move to the Philippines is not enough to take the plane and leave.
I will briefly explain the chances you have to go to live in the Philippines.

Attention, all the information below is indicative and subject to change (if not inaccurate at startup: p), before making any decision on the internet for official sources.

First, if you do not have a fixed job / activity / rent and want to stay a little longer to study a little better the country, you will need a longer visa than the tourist one, which can be kind of 6 months if I do not remember (And of course you pay).
This visa can be renewed from time to time, with the obligation to leave the country every 3 years.

If you are retired instead, you can stay in the Philippines with a resident's visa, leaving a certain amount in a Filipino bank as a deposit, and making them pay your pension every month.
If you do not have a pension, the amount to be paid will be a bit higher.
After 10 years of permanent residence, you may also be able to apply for Filipino citizenship.

So on a level seen, if you have some money aside, being able to stay on the Filipino ground is a feasible thing and not too complicated.

Well, now that you understand how to stay in the Philippines, you just have to buy a home ... Alt! The real difficulties are coming now!

Buy a home in the Philippines

To buy home and land in the Philippines is not enough to have the money!
The Filipinos, probably to protect their country, have created special laws to prevent rich foreigners from acquiring all their lands (my personal hypothesis about the existence of these hateful laws).

First of all, the ground: if you want to buy land in the Philippines ... you can not!
Or rather, you can not if you are not Filipino.
But if you have a Filipino wife who you trust, you can put everything to her and you're affiliated ... but if you're litigating? Beware ... following the online groups I've read all about stories about scams and strangers scared by women or their families (although this actually seems to me much more in Thailand).

Another opportunity to buy land or open a business in the Philippines is to create a Filipino majority corporation with a minimum of 3 Philippine partners and a share capital of at least 4000 Euros (add approximately 1,000 Euro for its opening).
In this society you will be the president, with full decision-making powers, and you can then name the ground and everything else on behalf of the corporation, and thus actually circumvent the limit of not having land in the Philippines.
Okay ... but willing to find Filipino partners to trust ... it goes without saying that if you do not trust trusted risk of ending a victim of some scam.

There is then the possibility of renting the land for about 25 years (paying a decent nest).
In my opinion however, this solution is fine as long as you are young and shiny.
However, when you begin to lose strikes and maybe you are alone, at the end of the contract it may not be so easy to deal with the bureaucratic part ... maybe in the meantime the laws have also changed, or perhaps for some reason they no longer want to give that Land ... always remember that you are in a foreign land and your rights may not be guaranteed as it would happen in your country of origin.
Not to mention that if a child may want to leave everything inherited to them, so if they are Filipino one day they may be able to buy the land you have now rented, if they are Italian they will have to do them all the trafila ...
I will be old, or maybe I will only be possessive, but for my future I would like to live in a place all my own, not renting :)

Another solution is to go to rent or buy a house in a condo where there is a majority of Philippine condos / owners.
This is very simple in the cities, a little less if you want to live in a chalet.
You should look for some residential complex and then say goodbye to the idea of ​​the lost and cheap cottage in the middle of nothing :)
However, by pulling out the sums, the more residential condo solution with deposit, would be the easiest option to implement, and perhaps even the one at less risk of scam.

There is another problem in the Philippines, of which the famous articles "all about it" do not talk to you ... corruption!
As I read, Italy in comparison with the Philippines is a country full of honest people :)
I've read about scams, scams, blackmails, where for example they get you started, but then you block them and they do not give you permission if you do not give up so many good soldiers.

But the scams that can be made through corruption are of another kind and can hit you in the daily life.
For example, a scam I've been told is that of some girls who are before us, and then they denounce you by finding some bruises on them (maybe made by their true boyfriends).
And there are serious problems, especially if I do not really care who gives you a loophole underneath ... so I can even tow in some countries!

With this obviously I do not want to discourage you, there are several Italians who have managed to live in the Philippines and are now more or less happy.
Even if it is true I understand that most of them have already started with a Filipino wife from Italy ... if you are alone and you do not know anyone is much harder and you have to be careful not to bother!

Working in the Philippines

I also add this paragraph to make you notice another thing:
In the Philippines, foreigners can not do all kinds of work.
There are in fact some foreigners' jobs, such as, if I remember (google for security), sell things.
I guess, however, if one looks for a job as an entrepreneur, a way to open his shop can also find it, but it always falls into the issues mentioned above.
If you are looking for an employee job and you can find what you can do even if you are a foreigner ... well, the Filipino paychecks are really miserable!
Different is the story if you live in the Philippines working for a foreign multinational that pays you well ... then you start thinking;)

Pros and cons of going to live in the Philippines

While some pros and cons are subjective, below I will list a list of reasons that may encourage or discourage anyone who thinks about leaving everything to live in the Philippines.

Pros

• Beaches, sea and uncontaminated nature
  If you are looking for unspoiled nature and postcard beaches, in the Philippines your expectations will not be disappointed.
  Several areas of the Philippines are also famous for snorkeling and scuba diving
• Cost of living
  Overall certainly lower than in Italy, as long as you do not decide to live in metropolis or in very touristy places
• Language
  A good news, most Filipinos speak English!
• Religion
  About 90% of Filipinos are Catholics.
  This obviously does not guarantee a behavior to give the other cheek, but we say it is a cultural meeting point with our officially secular country
• Health care
  I put it as a pro if you live in town and if you have insurance, because it seems to be very high
• Climate
  Tropical climate where you do not really have the cold and you can bathe in the ocean at any time of the year.

Cons

• Difficulties in buying house and land
  Read the paragraph above
• Delinquency and Weapons
  In large urban centers there is a bit of delinquency and you have to be careful where you go.
  However, I have read that some small villages have been afflicted with this problem, where police might be a problem because of corruption ...
  Let us also point out that in the Philippines anyone can buy a weapon, and the situation may start to look a bit worrisome
• Different culture
  There are some profound differences with our culture, as well as their way of doing and behaving.
  According to those who live there, with the Filipinos it takes a lot of patience!
• Culture absent
  This may seem an offense for Filipinos, but if we compare Filipino to Italian culture ...
  However, if you do not mind visiting museums, exhibitions and ancient architectural jewels (though in their small there are also them) ... in short this is a counter degustibus
• Health care
  I also put it in between for two reasons: the first is that you have to do health insurance if you do not care (if you do not have the money to pay), the second is that if you imagine living in the Philippines to stay Away from the city, in a quiet seaside ... maybe in those cases will have at least one outpatient clinic nearby, but in case of serious problems, now that the helicopter arrives and takes you to the hospital City ... bye bye
• Poverty
  Never underestimate the fact that it could be a problem to move to a relatively poor place.
  First of all, unlike going to live in places like the Canaries, where you can easily camouflage among the many non-natives and no one will ever say anything, in a place like the Philippines you could always be seen as the rich alien (and maybe To be pushed).
  In my opinion, the more a place is poor and the less life can be ... of the kind that can kill you for nothing ... but even without thinking of it as a pessimist, if you are considered rich, it will nevertheless be higher the possibility that someone may Knock on your door in search of something (money), who are the relatives of your Filipino wife or neighbors in your remote village
• Corruption
  As explained above, corruption in the Philippines is a big problem!
• Climate
  The climate is a strong point but also a weak point in the Philippines.
  Being subject to the rainy season, there may be times of the year with uninterrupted rain, and yes one suffers ... but the really serious thing is that every year the typhoons arrive in the Philippines.
  Mostly typhoons affect only certain areas, so if one studies well before moving, it slightly reduces the risk, but this is not always the case, and there have been cases like for Haiyan, where most of the Philippines have suffered serious damage There have been many victims.
  It is true that most of the victims are poor people who can not afford robust homes, but considering the fact that with the rise of global temperature the climate is getting worse and there are also those who say that in future events such as typhoon Haiyan Can happen more often ... in short, the climate factor is not to be overlooked!
• Religious and rebellious minorities
  Like other countries in Southeast Asia, the Philippines have some problems with some armed rebels in some parts of the country.
  In addition, there is an Islamic minority in the south, which attacks from time to time.
  If you are careful where you go, there is no risk in theory, but let's say that having two issues in my country is not reassuring to me.
  Let us also add that in some areas, even tourist-like Palawan, in the past have raped foreigners to ask for a ransom, and that this thing has happened recently in another area to an Italian restaurateur ...
• Diseases
  Even though it is part of the health system talk, it should be noted that in some areas of the Philippines there are still malaria and dengue diseases ... so be careful where you go.
• Unspoilt nature
  Nice to see, but not for everyone.
  If you are afraid of spiders and snakes, maybe the Philippines will not do it for you
• Distance from your country
  If you are tired of your country, so much distance will seem just a good thing to you.
  But if for some reason you have to return often, or even just occasionally, to your homeland (to go to your relatives or for other reasons), it's a great journey ... both as time and as cost!
  Maybe when you decide to take the big step do not think about it or you do not have a chance to come back often ... but if you are forced to change the plans, it may be a great problem for your pockets.

It's all, I hope I did not have you too discouraged :)
As I said before, this is just my subjective assessment, matured after collecting some information on the internet and having seen some things in person.

For me the Philippines are still a beautiful country, which one day I would definitely visit again ... but as a tourist :)

Maybe whoever made the big step and did it was more motivated than me ... or simply more courageous :)

The origins of the New Year's party

The New Year is the first day of the year, that is 1 January of the Gregorian calendar.
But why do you celebrate the New Year?
Because you are ready to revel until dawn as soon snaps midnight?
Because it is said that if you do not do something on New Year not do more for the whole year?
Because they shoot the fireworks New Year? In this article I will reveal some interesting facts about New Year's.

The origins of the New Year's party

The decision to consider on January 1 as the date of beginning of the year dates back to Roman times and Julius Caesar, namely the year 46 BC.
The New Year festival originated from the festivities in honor of the god of beginnings, the God Janus, from which it takes its name the month of January.
On January 1 of each year was the custom of the Romans to invite friends to dinner and gift exchange as a white vase with honey, dates and figs, accompanied by laurel twigs (strenne), to wish luck and happiness.

Even in the seventh century the pagans of Flanders (now Belgium) followers of the Druids (priests), had the custom to celebrate the turn of the year.

Centuries go by and here we are finally at the New Year's Eve 2016, where for us Italians apply the usual rituals of celebration: it is the New Year's Eve, you make resolutions for the new year, they shoot the fireworks of New Year, we toast with sparkling wine and you eat the cake or pandoro.

There are also a number of superstitious rituals for the most superstitious: dress underwear in red, throwing objects from the old window, eat lentils, kissing under the mistletoe ...
And these are just some of our rituals, every culture has its own customs and the New Year and it would be impossible to list them all.

But let's analyze in detail some typical custom of New Year:

• Why you eat lentils on New Year?They eat lentils on New Year because it is thought to bring in money, because the legumes are considered food capable of feeding and object to the end of time in view of a number of good prospects for the future.
• Because they shoot the fireworks at New Year?The year-end fires are used to ward off evil spirits and the forces of evil that appear between the end of one year and the beginning of a new one, as well as representing joy for the arrival of the new year.
• Why do we kiss under the mistletoe at New Year?The custom of lovers kissing under the mistletoe at midnight is a good omen for the love of a couple, this is because the mistletoe is a plant of good omen that gives prolificacy both material and spiritual (belief that dates back to the times of druids).
• Why is red lingerie at New Year?Chettelodicoaffare (cit.), Again for good luck.
  Ancient Romans wore red as the symbol of blood and war to drive away the fear.
• Because they throw old things in new year?Throw old things at midnight is a sign of change in the new year, and it is a good omen.
• Those who do not have sex on New Year do not have sex all year
  The explanation of this saying, which is usually written with the word "broom": p sincerely I could not find her, but I think it comes from a different interpretation of the custom of eating grapes and pomegranate at New Year.
  It is thought that eating grapes at New Year bring luck and prosperity ( "those who eat grapes for New Year counts his money all year"), while the pomegranate symbolizes marital fidelity and a legend has it that Proserpina, after eating the pomegranate , he was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in Hades with his Pluto groom.

I hope I have satisfied your curiosity on the New Year's party.
If you want to find out something more about Christmas, read my post about the origins of Christmas.

Happy New Year!!! 

Tandem Skydive Gran Canaria (Canary Islands)

During my holiday in Gran Canaria (read my post on Gran Canaria) I got to do a fantastic tandem skydive experience.

As you can see from the photo, the tandem skydive is to jump with a parachute from an airplane in flight.
The difference from the classic skydiving is that he jumps tied to instructor who does everything he :)
This means that we must not do any preparatory course in order to do tandem skydive and do not need any prior experience ... you just have the courage to throw himself!

I have discovered the existence of the tandem skydive by accident, reading a flyer in my hotel in Playa de Ingles, Gran Canaria (Canary Islands).
Having always been tempted to try at least once the jump with a parachute, I immediately made us a little thought, but it took several days before deciding to book :)

The price was quite expensive but affordable, so my reasoning was:
"Do skydiving would cost too much, I should take a course and do not even know if I'd like. Here I have the opportunity to try the experience similar to a launch alone and I can do it in a place with a wonderful view."
So ready, come and go: I called Paraclub de Gran Canaria and I booked my first experience in a tandem skydive.

Luckily for me, this school of parachuting also had a person who spoke Italian, which was very helpful to me to define the details and take away any doubts.

The Paraclub de Gran Canaria is aerodrome El Berriel, an area a little 'further north than where I was, but no problem, they came to get me close to the Dunes of Maspalomas, just a few minutes walk from my hotel .

After a short course where I the basics have been explained, and after being harnessed for good, I was taken to the aircraft.
It was a small plane of maximum capacity of 5 persons, including the pilot.

The flight lasted about 15 minutes ... I do not know exactly, the time in these situations is very relative :)
We arrived at a height of about 10,000 feet (about 3000 meters) and we launched into space!

I must say that until you have not opened the plane's door was quiet, it was like taking a classic flight, maybe just a little 'more uncomfortable.
But when they opened the door and suddenly came a strong wind, I realized I was going to throw me into the void and I had a few second thoughts: p

The first to launch was the other guy who was with me, for him it was the second time, so it was less concerned about myself.
I watched its launch as a review of what they had told me shortly before in English (the Italian guy did not come with us all'aerodomo), since with my little Inglese did not understand every detail to tell the truth: p

Anyway, got to my turn, I have to put my foot on the step outside the aircraft.
An immense effort because of the wind and fear, but in the end we flagged as expected and everything went well.

The free fall was about 40 seconds, in which we achieved a speed of 220 km per hour.
That is, a nice adrenaline rush, even if I did more afraid when the instructor opened the parachute and there was that feeling of coming up.
Then I do not know, maybe the glasses that protect from the wind have a little 'made less real than this experience, almost like being behind a screen ... I said almost, eh: p

Below is the video of my launch, brutally censored for reasons of privacy, so maybe it's not the best ... but it's better than nothing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4LOqbLaaj4

This however is the video of my landing, filmed by a very nice Swiss tourist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAgUJ6CWk7Q

As you can see from the video, we landed on the Maspalomas dunes, so it was a hard landing but soft :)

Overall it was really a nice experience and if it were not for the price I would have rebuilt right away :)
The boys of the launch clubs were very polite and professional, as well as sympathetic.

Who knows, maybe in the future I will again tandem skydive.

The origins of Christmas

A day of Christmas today is a religious festival that coincides with the birth of Jesus Christ.
Christmas Day is on December 25, but the entire holiday period runs from 24 December until Epiphany, or until January 6.

The origins of Christmas

On the day of the Christmas, ie December 25, was celebrated since the time of the Celts.
The Celts fact that day they celebrated the winter solstice (which actually takes place on 21 and not 25 December).
Then there are the Romans, who celebrated the god of agriculture, Saturn, exchanging gifts as a wish for prosperity and peace.
These sayings celebration Saturnalia, were later replaced by the Emperor Aurelian with the Feast of the Sun, in honor of the shortest day of the year (the winter solstice for the note).
Always on Dec. 25 instead, in northern Europe there was the harvest festival.

So the origin of Christmas is actually pagan, as the Eastern church was celebrating the birth of Christ on January 6 and not 25 December.
Only later, when in the fourth century A.D. Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, Pope Julius I decided to unify the popular home parties with those cristinane, thus giving birth to officially Christmas we all know.
No coincidence that Jesus is also referred to as the "Light of the World" and the "Sun of Justice."

As you can guess from this brief description, the Christian Christmas, in addition to not have an exact date historically recognized as the birth of Christ, he has also incorporated some pagan traditions such as the exchange of gifts, the crib and the tree.

This mix of pagan customs and Christian become ends with Epiphany, which was once the commemoration of Jesus' baptism, but which today is the arrival of the Magi, which bringing the gifts to the Christ symbolize the end of the festivities.

In the past, the Christmas party symbolized a wish for prosperity and serenity, represented the end of one year and the beginning of a new one.
But today, while remaining the principle of good omen for the coming year, Christmas is officially a Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, in anything you believe ... Merry Christmas!

Zipline Milan

Some time ago, in the center of Milan and precisely in the port New Campo, just behind Piazza Gae Aulenti, it was unfolding a particular event: zipline free for everyone!

The event, kindly offered by BMW to advertise his new car, allows anyone present at the place indicated above by 13 December 2015, to make a free zip-line test in the skies of Milan.

How is it the zipline?
The zip line is an extreme sport, so let's call it, become fashionable to be a bit 'of years.
Basically it is to bind to a rope using a special harness and glide in the sky passing over a rope-resistant ...
mmm I explained a little 'bad, look at the video:

For the occasion, those of BMW have built special platforms from which to launch.
The aircraft is 13 meters in height to make 150 meters of path in a vacuum.

I plucked up courage and tried the wonderful experience of launching into space hanging on a rope.
I must say that I thought was more exciting in the end you do not go so fast as it would seem, is just a little 'scared the first time you look below: p

Here the video of my trip to zipline:

I saw old people jump off bravely, so it's something that can really make anyone ... no, you must be 18 years old, so bisgonava carry a document if you show fewer years :)

The event was completed free of charge and so it was a test not to be missed.
Among other things it will go, rilasciavano (always free) also a photograph of you dangling in the void.

I wonder if this rifaranno urban zipline completely free between the buildings in Milan.

>> Zipline Photos <<

The crypt of San Giovanni in Conca (Milan)

Walking through the central streets of Milan can also happen to come across a crypt of the fifth century AD: the crypt of San Giovanni in Conca.

The crypt of San Giovanni in Conca is located in Piazza Missori in Milan.

In those passing by Piazza Missori they have noticed the particular ancient walls (not to mention the ruins) .In fact it is part of the apse (from the Latin arc or time) of a church.
The apse is an architectural structure with a semicircular or polygonal shape, covered by a vault, said concave or apse, which usually has the shape of a half dome.

So in the past in Piazza Missori there was a Christian church of which now remains only the apse and the crypt.
And it is the crypt that I wanted to tell you about in this article.

The crypt of San Giovanni in Conca hides showing.
The entrance to the crypt is in fact just around the apse, hidden not so if we want to, just that it is not known of the existence of the stairs we do not even realize.

I have discovered the existence of this crypt through google :)
I was looking for information on crypts, the catacombs and in general on what lies beneath the city, which I am sprout between the results just a crypt in downtown Milan: o

However, the crypt is tiny, tiny but very suggestive.

It is also guarded by a talented volunteer who tells you the whole story behind the crypt and of course the church that contained it, and wishing you well know also tell much more about the history of Milan.

If you are fond of ancient architecture, art history, crypts, or culture in general, do not miss a visit to this crypt, partly because it's free: p

>> Crypt of San Giovanni in Conca Photos <<

The Royal Palace of Caserta

The Royal Palace of Caserta is the house belonged to the royal house of Bourbon of Naples, now protected by UNESCO.

The Royal Palace of Caserta is the largest royal residence in the world with over 2 million cubic meters covering an area of ​​47,000 m².
Nice record is not it?
In terms of volume, however, otherwise the greater the palace of Versailles (which well covers 67,000 m²).

Given its beauty, it is hardly surprising that it is one of the most visited sites in Italy.

Finished building in 1845, the palace boasts 1200 rooms and 1742 windows, as well as being surrounded by a large garden with fountains and statues of all kinds.

If you have never gone to the palace of Caserta, a visit is obviously a must.
Here is the link to the photos, which also found a few more photos made in the Caserta area.

>> Royal Palace of Caserta Photos <<

Thailand 2015: Snorkeling

When I go to the sea, if possible, I like to snorkel.
For the uninitiated, with snorkelling it means swimming to the surface to see the fish through a mask and snorkel.

Snorkeling is therefore an easy alternative and affordable for everyone (just know how to swim, also not good if you have fins) to scuba diving.
Sure, you will not see the most remote seabed and the biggest fish they see divers, but we say that snorkeling can give her great satisfaction.

I have several years I do snorkeling, I started in the Maldives (read my post on the Maldives), then move on to the Red Sea (see my post on Egypt).
And I must say that of all the places seen (that are not cmq many), perhaps the best snorkeling I've tried in the Maldives, at least to the size of the fish :-)

Snorkeling is nice, but it's also nice to take pictures and video memory, so you need to gear up.
At the time of the Maldives I had bought a hermetically sealed envelope made for put inside the camera, for the modest sum of 100 Euros: o
A blunder, but I lasted for years, although it actually had become a little 'uncomfortable when I changed camera.

In the Philippines (read my post on the Philippines) Instead, I discovered the existence of cellular envelopes door tightly sigigllate, with whom I was able to immerse myself with my smartphone ... for the modest sum of 1 euro ... as changing time: D
Sure, a little 'I was scared to use such cheap envelopes, but they seemed shut really well.

This year though, because at work I was given a good beautiful Amazon, I bought an underwater camera.
The Fujifilm FinePix XP80, nothing exaggerated and professional, but does his duty.

Another change this year was the mask.
One of the shortcomings of traditional masks with snorkel mask is that after a while 'water boarding or tarnish (especially if it is a professional mask), while the mouthpiece, at least to me, after a while' makes me sick: -)
So this year I bought the decathlon a special mask, which envelops you the entire face and with the mouthpiece positioned high, so you do not wet your face and you do not put anything in your mouth.
Of course, this is not a professional mask but in my opinion embarks less water (which still puts a lot more to turn up in your eyes or mouth) and gives you more independence ... I also did 3 hours of snorkeling without problems.
The only thing is that if you hold too, after a while 'makes you a little' hurt the chin and forehead, also is heavier than a traditional mask ... but you can not have everything in life, no? :)
Here is a photo of my armory:

Returning to snorkeling made in Thailand, I practiced in the following locations:

• Railay
• Koh Phangan
• Koh Tao

At Railay actually I have not practiced on the spot, but made a few trips to nearby islands.
In Koh Phangan instead I practiced right from the beach (Haad Yao and others), as well as in Koh Tao (Tanote Bay and Shark Bay).
What about ... what I like the most was the fact snorkeling in Koh Tao: why do you want to Tanote Bay the reef you had just entered the water, either because the water was not murky, either because there was more sun :-)

Among other things, always in Koh Tao, more precisely in Shark Bay, I saw sharks and a turtle.

Sharks in question are obviously harmless and indeed, they are the ones to be afraid of you, so that is not easy to be able to photograph them because they run away ... in fact I was not able to make him even a photo: p But I filmed a glimpse , which I then added to this video playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwFi9zK4muw&list=PLCBrso9WwkFZS31-9lqeJzPOg3cQ5MdQq



Unfortunately taking photos while snorkeling is not easy, so in order to have decent photos I usually take a photo tide and if it is okay if it saves 1 out of 10 :)
On one side there is the difficulty to frame the target because of the small display to see under the water, the other is the difficulty to stand still and finally it is a matter of light.
In fact, if for example the water is not very limida pictures can be blurred, or not very bright if there is little sun.
The ideal would be to dive and photograph the subject from the bottom to the top or to the limit at the same level, in order to have more light.

Despite all these difficulties, by dint of trying, some decent photo is still coming:

And with that with Thailand's it ... at least for this year :-)
To see the rest of the photos I leave the link to the full gallery, enjoy!

>> Thailandia Snorkeling Photos <<

Expo 2015 (Milan, Italy)

Despite having free tickets to go to the Expo 2015, I always put it, at least until now.
Perhaps because the main theme "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life", I was fascinated by that much, although I admit that it is a fairly important issue: p

Anyway, finally today (actually yesterday, Wednesday, 12 August) and I decided in the early morning I went to visit the expo.

To enter I found a lot of row.
It was 10 am and there was already a lot of people, but there were too many entries and so within minutes I passed the metal detector and I finally crossed the entrance of this huge exposure.

What strikes the expo is obviously its size.
The expo is located in Rho Milan (easily reached with the respective Red Line subway, by train, with several bus ... and obviously in the car) and occupies an area of ​​110 hectares.

In this vast area countries around the world they have their exhibition halls, each built with their own characteristic architecture and in food products, raw materials, but also much more.

There are small halls (such as those of the unknown African countries) and huge pavilions.

To visit the expo not just a day, mostly because the most beautiful halls and famous have queues even longer than two hours.

For this reason, during my first and perhaps only visit the expo, I have given up visiting the most beautiful pavilions.
Farsi 2 hours queue under the sun to see a pavilion that you do not even know if we will like to me is unacceptable!
I wonder if it's always like that or if I caught me a particular influx day ... ok that's August, but was also a midweek day.
It was almost worse than the terrible queues all'Eurodisney Paris :-)

Waiting aside, a visit to the Expo 2015 is a must if you are in Italy, a bit 'less if you come especially from abroad.
For the city of Milan, in addition, the expo was an occasion of great improvement, as it were realized many works and renovations, one example is the dock.

Plus many photos, I also made some short videos, which I collected in this playlist.


Among the various attractions available at the expo, perhaps the most famous is the tree of life, also became known for the controversy created by its extreme similarity to those found in Singapore (read my post on Singapore).

Although not very original, the result in my opinion is still great.

Well, but let's go ... I liked the expo? I go back?
Yes, I liked it, though perhaps seeing how much we have invested, I expected something better.
As mentioned before, the big problem of the expo are the long queues.
The wait ruined everything and in some cases (as in mine) actually does give up the visit of the pavilions.
So I guess I will not go back, partly because entry costs too much and I have no more free tickets, at most I would go in the evening ... but costing little I already imagine the crush ...

Whereas everything will then be dismantled (apart from the beautiful fountains that distributed free drinking water, including sparkling, which will be reinstalled in some countries dell'interland Milan) I wonder what sense do these shows where you work for years to focus all in a few months.
I would have left everything open for years, in order to distribute the flow of people and make it more livable.
Of course you do not have a spike in earnings as now, and it's hard to keep up such a large structure for so long, but maybe it was worth a try ...

Well, that's all, I hope not to have discouraged too :-)
If you have not already done so, you can visit the expo until 31 October 2015 (the exhibition opened its doors on May 1, 2015).
Enjoy the show with more than 200 pictures I took at the Expo.

>> Expo 2015 Photos <<

The Louvre Museum

The Louvre Museum is located in Paris, France and is one of the largest and most famous museums in the world.

Originally intended as a fortress, after undergoing a number of changes and unions of most buildings, the Louvre became a museum already in 1793, but it took many years to become the largest museum that we all know.

I went there during my trip to Paris in 2010 and I must say that I really enjoyed this museum, although I am not the type to museums :)
Its immensity, its variety and the atmosphere in the interior are unique in the world.

As unique in the world are the works contained within it, one for all: the Mona Lisa!
The Mona Lisa is surely the most photographed work of art in the museum, although for a long time it was forbidden to every shot ... or maybe remember correctly ... was prohibited only use the flash: p

To you a bit 'of photos of the Louvre, I bet you will have definitely visited.

>> Louvre Photos <<