Primeira Aula

The last leg of the trip…. When we flew into Lima, I think it was about midday. I recall leaving the Jammin Club around 1:30am to go finish packing and catch the 3:45am cab to the airport in Santiago. There was the most amazing sea of clouds below us as we descended upon the airport in Lima. I wish I had a picture.

We pretty much landed, went to our friend’s apartment to drop our stuff, and then partied for the weekend. I can’t remember now what happened which night, but there was an awesome live salsa band, a house party that sort of reminded me of the frat parties in IV only less pretentious, a VIP night at a hot night club on the cliff over the ocean, and a couple capoeira engagements. We book-ended the Peru experience with all of that over two consecutive weekends. During the week in between those two, we had a whole other adventure.

The flight to Cusco was short and the altitude (3395m/11203ft) was noticeable as soon as the door to the plane opened. Our mission was simple: see as much of the city, local ruins and Machu Picchu as possible. Room and board were cheap and came with all the coca tea you could drink. They say it helps with altitude acclimation, but I say it gives me crazy dreams… not a fan… or am I… hmm…

As per usual, it’s good to know people. Our friends in Lima had a friend in Cusco. That got us a trusty (sort of) cab driver for the ride through the Urubamba valley to Ollantaytambo, where we would catch the train to Aguas Calientes. From there, we’d have a bus ride up the mountain to the entrance of Machu Picchu. I might have preferred to walk in before the buses arrived via the Inka trail, but that pleasure has to be booked well in advance. We were wingin’ it.

Wouldn’t you know it, the Cusco friend had a friend in Aguas Calientes. But, that didn’t get us much to speak of, except piles of faulty information. We figured it out for ourselves and managed to arrive at the entrance to Machu Picchu some time between 6 and 7am. It was pretty foggy all morning. As we strolled in, a feeling hit me… a very peaceful feeling… very tranquil.

The first thing we did was walk across the whole thing to get to the entrance leading up the mountain called Wayna Picchu. You can see it as the bigger mountain in the very middle of the picture here, which was taken from the Inka Trail entrance to the ruins (by somebody other than us, obviously). The climb up the thing was pretty brutal, but totally worth it. The last picture I have below is from up there.

When we got back down, we started exploring the ruins themselves. I must say, the place has an eerily good vibe to it, except for the people who blow their whistles at you when you walk somewhere you’re not supposed to be. I was determined to spend a moment out in the center of the big grass field in the middle, but apparently that’s a no-no. They were blowing whistles at me from all the way up at the sacrificial temple. Maybe there was a reason I’m not allowed down there, though, because it wasn’t long after that I started to feel ill. It seems one thing they failed to mention was that just about everybody gets sick on their way through Cusco and the surrounding towns.

Fortunately, I had already explored the majority of the ruins before it really got me. I had to leave Thang in there and get back out to the main entrance where there was a bathroom and a lawn I was allowed to lay in. The bus ride back down was a real test. I was shaking, sweating, going numb, hyperventilating, all while trying not to puke. The next two days were spent in bed and in the bathroom. I never did throw up and I’m very proud of that. Unfortunately though, Thang did, as he wound up with virtually the same thing the following day. All I have to say is I’m glad we got to make it through the Machu Picchu ruins first.

Check out the last of the footage…

Parrilla Peruana (Peruvian BBQ)


One of the main cathedrals in Cusco


Night time in Cusco, just after a mild drizzle


View of Cusco from above (sort of)


The kids ran back into class when it started to hail


A typical street (read as “stairway”) in Cusco


Somewhere, somebody has this on a T-shirt


Eagle (I think) soaring over the Urubamba valley


Inka crop experimentation center… smart people… good corn!


Local delicacy (guinea pig) tended to by the cutest little girl with tires for shoes


Entering Machu Picchu roughly 6:30am


Back up the other direction


And the spectacular view from across the way at the top of Wayna Picchu (this doesn’t do it justice)

We got to see most parts of Santiago, including a really nice view from up in the mountains one clear night with a full moon. There were some interesting dance performances we went to and some pretty good music shows too. It seems the people in Santiago are very deep rooted in emotion and artistic expression of such. Everybody we met studied one form of art or another, be it dance, music, painting, etc. As a result, I came back with a good sized pile of Chilean hip hop and reggae music… good stuff.

Check these pics for a glance…

Shot of the mountains from Mercado Central


View of the city from Pablo Neruda’s balcony


Thang, Mapi y Yo (Casa de Pablo Neruda)


Fountain at Cerro Santa Lucia

After getting ripped off by the cab driver, we made our way to the place we were to stay. This was an apartment of a friend of a friend on the 11th floor at Corrientes and Bulnes in the heart of Buenos Aires… well, I think it was the heart anyway. It seemed like every corner was the heart of the place. The city is quite a metropolis… yet another dramatic difference from where we were in Brasil.

I’ve got to give a whole lot of thanks to Javier, the friend of a friend mentioned earlier. He hooked us up with a map, keys to his place, and instructions for getting around by bus, cab and metro. We set out on a tourist adventure for the next few days and got to see a good amount in the city. We saw all around the nation’s capitol buildings, most of the shopping districts, the biggest mall I’ve ever seen with no parking lot, Evita’s grave, Puerto Madero and much more.

The first few nights were so incredibly cold. It was definitely below freezing. I had all my warm clothes on and I was borrowing a jacket… and I was STILL cold. We saw mostly gray and rain until the last couple of days, when it miraculously turned to very nice weather.

The food in Buenos Aires is just ridiculous. It’s meat… and it’s all you can eat… and it’s cheap. I couldn’t get enough at first, but by the end, I was ready for a change. The ice cream is damn good, and so are the milanesas.

But… the single most important thing for me to mention about Buenos Aires is this: La Bomba de Tiempo. Check them out on YouTube or at their website here: http://www.labombadetiempo.com. I’ve never seen a better drum circle. I’m not sure if I would even call it that. It was more of a half-circle. And in the middle… a conductor. That’s right… a conductor… just like the symphony. But this was a symphony of percussion. It was mostly drums, but there were other percussive instruments too, like symbols, cowbells, shakers, etc. There was also a special guest who played a variety of other instruments: guitar, keys, small brass. And the show? Absolutely amazing. I’m running out of words. You have to see for yourself. They play every Monday night down there for really cheap (currently 7 Argentinian Pesos). Apparently, they’ve been doing this for years and have managed to not ’sell out’. I don’t think I’ll be posting my videos of the show, because they don’t do it justice. Look it up, though, and if you can, check out a show. It will be well worth it.

I can’t forget to mention the tango show we saw.  It was at this back-alley Italian social club, of all places.  The crowd was mostly older than me and many were a whole lot older.  We showed up after midnight and the place was pretty well packed.  People were dancing everywhere.  This was my first exposure to tango and I must say… it’s interesting.  It’s a slower dance and is noticeably intimate.  The show itself simply consisted of a single couple dancing around the room.  It was somewhat entertaining.  I think what entertained me the most was this one 80 or 90 year old man who danced non-stop… even during the breaks where everyone else would stop… that and the fact that when we left around 3am, all the old folks were still going strong.  And did I mention this was a Wednesday night not a weekend?  Very impressive, gramps.

Now for some pictures…

Views from our 11th floor balcony




The Pink House


Metro Art


My hoopty… rollin… tailpipe draggin…

Caraiva was not unlike Trancoso, a small town on the beach with lots of little shops and eateries. Getting there was a few hours on the bus, followed by a few minutes across the river in a canoe. The canoe ride was pleasant, what with the lack of a rumbling motor and the soft sound of water all around. We were a small group this time, so it made for much easier getting around and decision making. We stayed one night in a pousada, where the seven of us cooked a meal and enjoyed some serious stargazing. The night sky was so incredibly clear that I would say it easily rivaled the skies I’ve seen from 10000 feet above sea level in the mountains of California… and we were AT sea level.

Itacare was a different story. This was a much bigger town… very touristy. The place seems to revolve around surfing, in a way. Unfortunately for us, it rained the entire time we were there, which was two nights. Supposedly, there is a stretch of five incredible beaches that we didn’t get to see. We did make it out for a minute to the other main beach around the corner from those five, but the skies were gray and the mood was too. We were disappointed because it was some 6 or 7 hours in a car to get there and was to be even longer in a bus to get home to Arraial d’Ajuda. There were some good moments, but all in all, the rain killed it.

Our last couple of weeks in Arraial were tranquil. Capoeira classes were mellow and nowhere near as crowded as before the encontro. I like that… room to breathe. Partying died down as well, and nights were ending at 2 and 3 instead of 5 and 6 in the morning. I had a chance to meet a lot of people, a few of which became good friends really fast. I left feeling like I’d been there a really long time and had known some of these people for years. One example is my man Florencio. I ate, drank, spat rhymes, boxed beats, witnesses the most unbelievable battle of breakdancing one could imagine and got invited to a wedding all in one night with the guy like I’d known him since way back in the day. The wedding was AWESOME, by the way. I’ll have to refer you to another site to check those pictures, but perhaps I’ll post some video.

Anyway, Brasil was amazing. Thang and I have since travelled our way through Buenos Aires, Argentina to Santiago, Chile, where we are now. Those updates are on their way with pictures of their own. Until then, enjoy these last few pictures from Brasil!

The beach at Caraiva


Where the river (left) meets the ocean (right) in Caraiva


Long breaking waves at a beach on the way to Itacare


Waves crashing in Itacare




One last friendly reminder from Arraial d’Ajuda


What are you… a person who gives something… and then is dissatisfied and they wish they had never… given it to the person they originally gave it to?


Florencio with one of his paintings (check him at his site)


Forro band at Madam Frufru’s, Arraial d’Ajuda (same place where Florencio’s painting hangs)

The town itself is a small set of shops, restaurants and dwellings all lined up in the main square around a large grass field that houses a big kids’ and little kids’ soccer field. The people are pleasant, just like in Arraial. There is still a fair amount of people in town from abroad. Capoeira classes are more low key than they were in the weeks before the encontro. The good thing with that is I get to play more. This is too much fun.

This week (finally), I’m breaking out the spanish skills and chatting with the Chileans. I’ve made a number of friends and am helping Thang set up our arrival there in a few weeks. We’re probably gonna stick around here in Arraial for another 8 or 10 days, then most likely head to Buenos Aires. We haven’t booked any flights yet, so I guess that means it’s still up in the air. Undoubtedly, we’ll solidify plans next week. Chile and Peru are a must. Argentina… eh… well… we’ll see. But first… more honing the Portuguese.

Check the pics below…

Look for me when the moon is full.

and It don’t stop

Set List:

01. Erlend Øye - Every Party
02. J Dilla - Waves
03. Kid Loco - Alone Again So
04. NOBODY - You Can Know Her
05. Mari Boine - Gula Gula (Chilluminati Mix)
06. Kings of Convenience - Failure
07. J-Boogie’s Dubtronic Science - Le Sengre
08. Ming + FS - Back To One
09. Nightmares on Wax - Damn
10. Outkast - Chonkyfire
11. Boards of Canada - Seeya Later
12. Boards of Canada - Turquoise Hexagon Sun
13. Saul Williams - Twice the First Time
14. Ghostface Killah - Clipse of Doom
15. Platinum Pied Pipers - Your Day is Done
16. BMF - Steel Contraption (Beef Wellington Remix)
17. Fila Brazillia - It’s a Knockout
18. Karminsky Experience Inc - Departures
19. Tribe Called Quest - The Love
20. J-Boogie’s Dubtronic Science - Get It Started
21. Prefuse 73 - Perverted Undertone
22. Little Brother - Hiding Place
23. Animals On Wheels - Build a Church With Your Fear
24. Dntel - Anywhere Anyone
25. Naked Music NYC - Live Today

Full Circle

Set List:

01. Lemon Jelly - The Curse Of Ka’Zar [IN]
02. Jazzanova - Keep Falling (Forse Remix) [IN]
03. Kid Loco - Calling Aventura King [IN]
04. Rue du Soleil - Wake Up Brother [IN]
05. Fauna Flash - Mother Nature [IN]
06. Tosca - Fuck Dub (Fila Brazillia Remix) [IN]
07. Quantic - Time Is The Enemy [IN]
08. Talvin Singh - You Can Find The Feeling [IN]
09. Boozoo Bajou - Take It Slow [IN]
10. Zero 7 - Today [IN]
11. Outkast - 13th Floor/Growing Old
12. Pep Lladó - Vai Vedere
13. Terri Walker - This Is My Time
14. Zero 7 - Today [OUT]
15. Boozoo Bajou - Take It Slow [OUT]
16. Talvin Singh - You Can Find The Feeling [OUT]
17. Quantic - Time Is The Enemy [OUT]
18. Tosca - Fuck Dub (Fila Brazillia Remix) [OUT]
19. Fauna Flash - Mother Nature [OUT]
20. Rue du Soleil - Wake Up Brother [OUT]
21. Kid Loco - Calling Aventura King [OUT]
22. Jazzanova - Keep Falling (Forse Remix) [OUT]
23. Lemon Jelly - The Curse Of Ka’Zar [OUT]

A few months into it, I picked up a second life-preserver… Capoeira. Wiki that shit, for those who aren’t in the know. I owe my life to this site and to Capoeira. I truly don’t believe I would be alive today if I hadn’t found these things. Rather, they found me… and have carried me through the hardest part of my life to date… from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs. And in this journey, I have healed my heart and soul. I have let go. In doing so, the need to pour myself into this site… or anything for that matter… the need to be distracted from ME has faded away. As such, I haven’t really done shit on paulfreak.com. However… I have been working on a set roughly since my last posting. The thing is, I bought a house 4 months ago and have been so busy doing this and that… there just hasn’t been time to get it done… until now. And so, my children… you are reading the intro to the outro… the page before the last of the chapter.

Very soon you will see one last set posted for the podcasters… and then it’s on to bigger and better things. I am eternally grateful for having been given the opportunity to live through the experiences of the past year, and to sort of ‘vent’ in a way here on these pages. To all who have listened… thank you. To all who have commented… thank you. To all who have harbored positive energy with my well-being in mind… thank you. With that, I’m off to tighten the nuts and bolts on this mix so I can get it up and get the hell on!

Here’s the front. I’m thinking the bushes by the front door may have to go… or at least get trimmed back. I really like the crazy tree on the left. Here, you can only see about a third of it. The base is huge! From this view, the house looks pretty standard. But, on the steps to the door, you can see hints of what’s to come inside.

This is what you see first when you walk in. The entry way is very open and leads right through to the back yard. The floors are made of bamboo, and they look even better in person.

When you turn to the left, you see the living room (off camera to the right), the dining room and the kitchen. I really like the combination of colors and woods in the kitchen. There’s a “vintage” gas oven in there that looks like it’s been there for the entire 60 years the house has been standing. It seems to be in good shape, though… guess they don’t make ‘em like that anymore.

Passing through the kitchen takes you into the downstairs bathroom. On the wall currently hangs a print of Diego Rivera’s Cargador de Flores. The guy who’s selling me the place says the bathroom was designed entirely around this painting, so I’ll have to get me a copy.

Through the bathroom is the first of three bedrooms. This one is the smallest and has the same bamboo floor as the front of the house. It will do well as an office and a studio. We’ll see what happens to my output in this room!

Down a short hallway, through the office and past the stairs is another bedroom. This one is a good size.

Up the stairs is the master bedroom. There’s a good view to the west through the window on the right.

The master bedroom has its own bathroom. There’s an even better view out the window in there.

Rewinding to the beginning and walking through the entry way to the back gives this view. This is really the first direction you’re drawn when you walk into the place. You can see most of the wood deck out back, along with the spa. In the background, you can see a bit of the garage.

Here’s a better view of the deck and spa. A lot of good afternoon sun hits the deck… BBQ City, here we come! Clothing optional.

Past the deck are the garage and a grass area comprising the back yard. I envision rodas and parties. Again, clothing optional.

That’s the end of the tour, kids! Hope you had fun. If/when this deal works out and I move in, you all are welcome to visit. I’ll be sure to throw a party to warm the place up, too, so stay tuned.

But honestly… it’s really for me… haha!

Now… normally I don’t do this, but… go ‘head and keep the party goin’… viva la fiesta!

Back To The Front

Set List:

01. Outkast - Gangsta Shit
02. Beef Wellington - Where’s The Beef?
03. Gorillaz - DARE
04. The Roots - Boom!
05. Goldfrapp - Ride a White Horse
06. Robin S - Show Me Love (StoneBridge Mix)
07. Basement Jaxx - Get Me Off
08. Goldfrapp - Slide In
09. Scape - Be My Friend
10. Mish Mash - Speechless
11. Supafly feat. Deni Hines - Erotic City
12. Jamie Lidell - When I Come Back Around (Freeform Reform Mix)
13. Beef Wellington - Slightly Elevated (Pimp Daddy Nash Mix)
14. Bongolovers Feat Ursula Cuesta - La Esperanza
15. Dr Kucho - Negritos Mogambos
16. Russ Gabriel - Jelba
17. Incognito - Port Louis (UFO Mix)
18. Groove Armada - Chicago
19. Avenue D - 2D2F
20. Attica Blues - The Quest (Dixon Mix)
21. Goldfrapp - Number 1
22. Pimp Daddy Nash - It’s a Wonderful Life

Get Busy

Set List:

01. Kid Loco - She Wolf DayDreaming (pt 1)
02. Henrik - Sueno De La Montana
03. Leggo Beast - Mudlark
04. Van Hunt - Your Love
05. Nightmares on Wax - Argha Noah
06. Cafe Del Mar - Always Mine
07. Kid Loco - She Wolf DayDreaming (pt 2)
08. Wax Poetic f. Norah Jones - Angels (Thievery Corp rmx)
09. DePhazz - Cafe Coca
10. Kid Loco - Horsetown In Vain
11. Billy Holiday - Don’t Explain (dZihan & Kamien rmx)
12. DJ Krush - Beyond Raging Waves
13. Boards of Canada - Dawn Chorus
14. Kid Loco - She Wolf DayDreaming (pt 3)
15. Seelenluft - Flotenhammond
16. Wax Tailor - Hypnosis Theme
17. Beef Wellington - Threes
18. Massive Attack - What Your Soul Sings
19. DJ Shadow - Best Foot Forward
20. Kid Loco - She Wolf DayDreaming (pt 4)
21. Nightmares on Wax - Me!
22. Lambchop - Up With People (Zero 7 rmx)
23. Levitation - More Than Ever People

Break Free

Set List
01. Amon Tobin - People Like Frank : Permutation
02. Groove Armada - Whatever, Whenever : Vertigo
03. Prince Paul - My Friend the Popmaster : Itstrumental
04. Gnarles Barkley - Who Cares : St. Elsewhere
05. Beef Wellington - Feel Fantabulous : Feel Fantabulous
06. Serge Gainsbourg - Je T’aime (dZihan & Kamien rmx) : Fakes
07. Nightmares on Wax - Soul Purpose : In A Space Outta Sound
08. Goldfrapp - Let it Take You : Supernature
09. Little Brother - Slow it Down : The Minstrel Show
10. Platinum Pied Pipers - I Got You : Triple P
11. Beef Wellington - Grain of Sand : Feel Fantabulous
12. L. Pierre - Total Horizontal : Touchpool
13. Thievery Corporation - A Gentle Dissolve : The Cosmic Game

For those of you who have been asking when I’m going to play next, I have an answer! Tuesday, May 30th I’ll be playing LIVE on the Beat Oracle at KCSB. The show airs from 10pm to midnight.

Tune in LIVE: KCSB WebCast

Check the Beat Oracle podcast a day or so later: The Beat Oracle

Check back here, as I’ll be posting renditions of the sets I play in the weeks to follow!

Set list below…

Set List 1
01. Baby Mammoth - Graceland Dub
02. NOBODY - Fiend or the Fix
03. Beef Wellington - Slightly Elevated : Feel Fantabulous
04. J-Boogie’s Dubtronic Science feat. People Under The Stairs - Movin to my Beat
05. Ming + FS - 50ft Mole Man : Back To One
06. Aceyalone + RJD2 - High Lights
07. Edan - Fumbling Over Words That Rhyme
08. NOBODY - Shades of Orange
09. Kush and Wong - Cliche (www.dirtyratrecords.com)
10. Nickodemus - Peace Pipe
11. Massive Attack feat Mos Def - I Against I
12. Bossa Nostra - Chico Desperado (atjazz rmx)
13. Klute - Does The Darkness Make You Feel Sad? : No Ones Listening Anymore
14. Platinum Pied Pipers - Deep Inside : Triple P
15. dZihan & Kamien - Just You And I : Freaks & Icons
16. Thievery Corporation - Facing East
17. Beel Wellington - Tacet : Feel Fantabulous
18. Kush and Wong - Livin Fab (www.dirtyratrecords.com ) : Mic Eugenics
19. Nightmares on Wax - You Wish : In a space outta sound
20. Fila Brazillia - Throwin Down a Shape
21. Lovers Lane - Face of Beauty (Cafe Del Mar Vol 10)
22. Thievery Corporation - Shaolin Satellite
23. Little Brother - Still Lives Through : The Minstrel Show
24. Peven Everett - Testin’ Me
25. Platinum Pied Pipers - No Worries : Triple P
26. Gnarles Barkley - Just a Thought
27. Blue Six - Yeah

Set List 2
01. Amon Tobin - People Like Frank
02. Groove Armada - Whatever, Whenever
03. Prince Paul - My Friend the Popmaster
04. Gnarles Barkley - Who Cares
05. Beef Wellington - Feel Fantabulous : Feel Fantabulous
06. Serge Gainsbourg - Je T’aime (dZihan & Kamien rmx)
07. Nightmares on Wax - Soul Purpose
08. Goldfrapp - Let it Take You
09. Little Brother - Slow it Down
10. Platinum Pied Pipers - I Got You
11. Beef Wellington - Grain of Sand
12. L. Pierre - Total Horizontal

Body, Mind, Heart, Soul

:PF

2 Reaching a Higher Vibration

Set List

01. Riton - Put That On My Momma : Beats du Jour
02. Thievery Corporation - 2001 Spliff Odyssey : Sounds From The Thievery Hi-Fi
03. Ming + FS - Nadia : Back To One
04. J-Boogie - Try Me : J-Boogie’s Dubtronic Science
05. Amp Fiddler - Possibilities : Waltz Of A Ghetto Fly
06. Jo Manji - Lazy Loungin : Cafe Del Mar Volumen Doce
07. Kid Loco - A Grand Love Theme : A Grand Love Story
08. J-Boogie - Deep In The Cut : J-Boogie’s Dubtronic Science
09. The Roots - Sacrifice : Phrenology
10. Beef Wellington - From The One 2 : Feel Fantabulous
11. Ming + FS - Numb : Hell’s Kitchen
12. DJ Krush - Slit of Cloud : Jaku

1 The Journey of a Lone Soul

Set List

01. Forss - Journeyman : Soulhack
02. David Byrn - Dance On Vaseline (Thievery Corporation Mix) : Abuctions & Reconstructions
03. Tosca - The Key : Suzuki
04. Beef Wellington - Everlasting : Feel Fantabulous
05. Beef Wellington - Dedication : Feel Fantabulous
06. Marschmellows - Soulpower (Jazzanova Mix) : The Remixes 1997-2000
07. Aquanote - Waiting : The Pearl
08. London Funk Allstars - The Chase : Flesh Eating Disco Zombies Versus The Bionic Hookers From Mars
09. Naked Funk - Sumatra Road : Evolution Ending
10. Plaid - Assault On Precinct Zero : Double Figure
11. Groove Armada - In My Bones : Vertigo
12. J-Boogie - La Playa : J-Boogie’s Dubtronic Science
13. Beef Wellington - Boys And Girls : Feel Fantabulous