14 days in Rio. 71 pictures. A tons of good memories.

Las chicas en Ipanema?

More pictures from Rio De Janeiro. Enjoy :)

Good morning my new home!

I have been living like a nomade for too long time now. I haven't had my own bed, my own place, a real home for 1.5 year! Traveling, chocolate, coffee and my beloved people are the things that I appreciate most in my life. I love every single day of my journey, but I really need to take a break from moving from place to place with my suitcase now. I need to let my mind and feet settle down and breath. And I guess Buenos Aires is the place that I will call home from today on.

Here is the list of I want to do here. And things that will be part of my daily life in B.A!

* Get my own apartment!!! Right now, I´m staying at my friend´s place where I share the apartment with 3 argentinians guys. I actually have my own bedroom and toilet. Can´t complain! Thanks for having me here Juan!

* Learn spanish, not spanglish! Second day in B.A - spanish class in 3 hours. Good girl!

* Improve my english. Writing this blog in english is my way to improve and practice my third language. It´s not perfect, but i know how to get by with my broken english.

* I wanna dance salsa! Mucho, mucho salsa! I know that tango is what people like here. But to be honest, I´m not so into it. I can't do all the things that locals do everywhere I go to? I´m sure you didn´t wear a speedo when you were in Brazil, or eat dog meat when you were in China?

* Buy my own bike with a basket in front of it. I´m going to pimp my ride with flowers!

* Go to the gym! I refuse to return to Norway looking like a meatball, AGAIN!

* And last but not least. I want to sell cookies and cupcakes in the markets! This is one of my priority goal  during my stay here. I´m going to make every single cookie and cupcake with love and passion. And I´m going to share it  to the people in B.A. I know, I know. It´s probably not the most ambitious and biggest goal to reach. It´s simple. But it makes me happy. Hopefully, it will make other people happy too.

So, this is my friend Juan when he was in Norway! Yay! 

My cupcakes are going to be mucho better than these!

Today is my first date with Buenos Aires, wish me good luck!

Buenos Aires, we finally meet!

After a couple of roundtrips and unexpected stops, I finally arrived my final destination, Buenos Aires!
Im very exited! Never been here before, but I felt in love with this city before I got here! My love for Buenos Aires has grown and grown for each day of my journey. I´m sure I haven't heard one single traveler talked shit about my future lover. That´s a good start!

You get many lovers when you travel the world. Some interesting, some special and some you will never forget. Cuba was an unique one. New York knows how to spoil me. Nicaragua have a special place in my heart. Colombia, I will keep on coming back to you. And Brazil... Brazil, Brazil... So much love, so much passion. You tasted like my favorite chocolate. Dark and sweet. I miss you already.

Ooo Buenos Aires... Please don´t disappoint me... Please treat me with love... I have faith on this relationship!

Last night in Rio de Janeiro

Last night. Last sunset. But not the last kiss and this is not a goodbye...

You been treating me with love. I'll see you again, Rio!

A Moment in Rio: Sunset on Sugarloaf Mountain

Pure magic...

Cool city. Awesome people. Good times!

I'm talking about Rio De Janeiro!!!

Fun fun night, with fun fun people!

Rio Scenarium, a must place to go in Lapa;

The trio in Rio: JAckie Chan, Slobber and Pokemon

This guy knows how to shake. Indeed.

My first and only asian amiga in Rio! No we are not sister and NO we dont speak japanese. We switched ID so I was Andrea from Australia for one night. Asian... Same, same, but different!

And now... The beach!!! Lets get cancer!

Buenos Aires, you have to be patient

I did it again. I'm probably the slowest traveler in the world. I was supposed to catch a flight to Buenos Aires today. But instead, I was at the Ipanema beach and worked on my tan! I want more sunny days! So I rebooked my ticket yesterday. Now I got 4 more days to fried my body! Yeah! I also moved out of Che Lagorto Hostel (finally!!) it took me 1 week to do it! My excuse is: I'm slow! I really liked this hostel. Friendly and helpful staff, cool people and it's 2 blocks from the beach! But the only common room they have is the bar, and it's always loud music and crowded there. The kitchen is only available between 3 and 6 pm! Who cooks between 3 and 6 pm!?This hostel is good for those who want to party hard. I'm not one of them.
I need a peaceful and tranquilo place where I can feel like home. So I'm staying at Leblon spot Hostel right now. Much better! Exactly what I need. Aaand! There is a Vietnamese restaurant just in front of the hostel! Goi cuon, goi cuon! Yippi!

How to be a potential wife material

You see, my mum is a little bit worry about me. I´m turning 24 next month, single, still following Gossip Girl, and my breast is starting to move in the wrong direction. According to mummy, I´m getting out of date. She keeps trying to hook me up with these vietnamese guys from my hometown. I don´t know what is worst. That my mum is trying to find me a husband or that her selections is getting worst and worst. That woman is losing faith on me! Sometimes, I just wanna tell her that I´m already married to a dude from Melbourne, named Chase. And he got a twin brother, named Hays. Ehh… Yupp! It was not a traditional and romantic wedding, it was more a la Vegas style… So I guess it doesn´t count. But a good vietnamese daughter never let her mother down. I´m gonna make myself to a potential wife material and make my mum proud! So, I have been taking research and talked to a few guys from the hostel about what makes a woman wife material?

Here is some common conclusions:

* She can cook. Failed. All asian girls knows how to cook. Not this one.

* She´s independent. I pay my own shoes, even I have to eat nuddle for dinner in a week (One step closer to be a wife material. Yeah!).

* She has ambition and goals. My is going to Buenos Aires and sell COOKIES and CUPCAKES! And getting back to Norway alive. Is it good enought?

* Loyalty. I was loyal to my beloved Chase in a couple weeks. What more can he ask for?

* She wants a big happy family. "A big family" includes at least 3 kids. Who want to look like a hippo in 9 months x 3 times? Failed. Big time! Forget it! NO!

* Humor. Now we´re talking. Check out my previous post and judge self.

* SHE CAN COOK! Again, FAILED! I guess this point is the most important one. If I nailed this one, I probably don´t need to worry about the other points.

So mission number one in "How to be a potential wife material" operation is:

Learn how to cook!

The first thing I did after I wrote this, was booked a cooking class in Copacabana, Rio De Janeiro. No time to lose!

Have I become a potential wife material after the cooking class? I know what you are thinking, but please stay tuned!

I sold my soul, betrayed myself. Yes, I have been to a football game in Brazil.

I hate football. Hate it, hate it, hate it! Always have, and will always do! Now I hate it even more after I dated a football player i 3 years. But being the adventure and open minded traveller that I am (noot). I actually went to a football game here in Rio De Janeiro. It´s kind of a must thing to do when you are in Brazil. Aaaand I actually bought the Brazilian football uniform!!! No, I´m not proud. But nobody is perfect. It was a match between Botafogo - Atlético PR. I´m not gonna try to impress you with my football knowledge. Cause it´s NADA there. So I´ll just let Wikipedia do the job. Read more about the teams her if you are a football idiot: Botagoa Futebol Clube and Clube Atlético Mineiro. Being the football fan that I am, I don´t even know the name of the stadium were the match found place. I have been to another big game before. Carling Cup Final 2009: Manchester United -Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium. Impress? Don´t be. I did it for love. Was there with my x-boyfriend. Funny what love can make you do! Im not gonna comment how the experience was, cause I know my x is stalking my blog. But the conclusion of the football experience in Rio De Janeiro is: OK! I can´t stand football, but the football game I went to yesterday was actually just fine. The vibe and the atmosphere at the stadium was worth going for! 

Judas Yvonne and her friends: Sally and Robin. 

So... This is football... A bunch of hot guys chasing a ball... A ball... 

Suddenly, this huge "blanket" just showed up and covered the whole view! People went bananas!





"WTF!? Have I paid 90 R$ so I can sit under a huge black blanket in 2 hours!? FUCK THIS!" - Judas Yvonne. Robin just rolled his eyes. 

12 minutes later- I was already bored of the game. I was more exited about the people and the vibe around me. Hmm.... What´s for dinner?

"My team" scored. But being the good fan that I am. I didn´t saw it. I was more concerned about this T-shirt in front of me. Kite Surf Tournament.... No way! You gotta be kidding. This guy is too fat to kite surf? 

To be honest, I don´t even know the name of the team we were cheered on! But I know that they won. See? I´m not that hopeless! 

Enjoy your day, It´s raining in Rio! CRAP! 

Don't dance like a white boy. Learn how to shake like a real Brazilian

Im sure you already know that samba is the "shit" here in Brazil. Honestly, I didn't. I thought it was rumba!? But thats another story. Anyways, I´ve been checked out some samba clubs. I think I did it just fine (Mmmm... Keep telling myself that). But the white boys from my hostel looked like they were step dancing. Which is not sexy at all! So my advise is take a quick samba class, just to get the basic moves and rhythms before you embarrass yourself in public. Or if you are short of time, do like me. Have your own samba class in your dorm. Thank God for youtube. Just make sure that your dorm is empty for people. You don't wanna freak your new roommates out huh?

If you are not like this kid born with the samba rhythm in your blood, then you definitely need to check out the video below.

Here is the basic. Even a white boy can nail it easily. Remember, practice makes perfect!

I found these losers on youtube. This is a no-no samba. Asians... I´m ashamed...

I fucking love Rio, Selarón´s Steps and his balls!

I tried: I really love Rio, I love Rio very much, I´m in love with Rio, but neeh...  I FUCKING LOVE RIO DE JANEIRO! This place is amazing! Probably the most beautiful city I have ever been to! The people, men in speedo, the vibe, the food - everything is awesome here! Beside the stupid bed bugs-  fuck that. I still love Rio! 
Oh boy... Bogotá, you got competition! Second thought - Rio, I think you just replaced my beloved Bogotá! Weh-weh-weh...


Robin (Jackie Chan´s  nephew), William and I went to Lapa today. In search for Escadaria Selarón. You know,  the colorful stair in Snoop dogg´s "Beautiful" video? Yeah, that one! We found the stair, but unfortunately no hot chicks or Snoop Doggs. But we found this old, funny looking guy! 

And The Great Master´s balls is about to fall out... Great...

It turned out that this crazy dude is the artist behind this world-famous steps!!! Jorge Selarón (print it in your head), a Chilean artist who has traveled, lived and worked as a painter and sculptor in over 50 countries. He came to Brazil in 1983 and fell completely in love with this country. Selarón began to decorate the steps in 1990 as a tribute to his adopted country. And nope, it´s still not finish! The tiles are from 60 countries included Norway! So, this guy with the hole in his pants, invited us in to his studio where we could check out more of his works. And I also bought a tile pictured his famous motive - the pregnant lady! Meeting Jorge Selarón was definitely an YAY experience for me! Hanging at Botero´s place in Bogotá is one thing. But this is even better! You should be jealous! I mean, have you come face to face with Jorge Selarón? Have you taken photos with him? Have you pictures of his balls!? Nooo... But I do! i got plenty of photos of Jorge Selarón´s balls! Beat that! 

Norway! No, I don´t miss you at all

Me and Jorge Selarón at his famous steps!

 I could´t help it. I just had to strike an asian pose. IT´S IN MY BLOOD, GOD DAMN IT! 

This emo kid (we call it Pokemon in Bogota) is  from my hostel. No, not so exited about anything here. But his guns protected my camera in this dodgy neighborhood. Useful one. 

I´m not good at controlling my feelings...

Love it, love it, love! Every single step of it! 

And I love Brazil! The whole package! 

This one is Robin from England. My bodyguard II. And it´s a bonus that he is half asian, cause he takes a lot of pictures just like me. Jackie Chan I  and Jackie Chan II.

Another Pokemon.

Does anybody know how to make the fat lady disappear on Photoshop???


- Yvonne

Had a fun night in Rio and ended up with a company in my bed...

This guy invited him self back to the hostel. Dark, not so big(!), he bites, and is a little bit creepy. Please say hi to my new bed buddy, Mr. BED BUG!!!

Dark and the biting fetish. Ok. I can live with that. But size matters and I don't like creepy men. Sorry Mr. BED BUG, but we have to end this fling!

Beside this loser I found in my bed, my night in Rio was awesome! Good food, great people and saaambaa!

I've found Jesus... And we did a photo-shoot together!

Jesus is a huge guy! He is 39.6 m. tall and weights 635 tons. Yes, this guy eats a lot!

The first thing I did when I came to Rio De Janeiro was looking for Jesus. And I found The Man! No, I did not pray. I flew from Bogota, tok a bus, tok another bus, tok a red train, walked and after 3 cups of americano. Hello Jesus! We need to talk!

Hello Jesus! Is me, Yvonne!

So this is Rio... Not bad huh?

Tok a picture of some random guys, just to pretend that I got friends here in Rio. Not a loner at all!

Ok. I am a loner.

Yaaay... Lets play Jack and Rose in front of Jesus. Weird.

Rio, Rio, Rio... I really like you so far!

It´s good to be me! Yes, every ugly piece of it...

I´m back in Bogotá after an awesome week on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Once again, I had a blast on that side of the country. Ooo I love Colombia! I could easily stay here forever, but I really need to stick to my plan and it´s time to move on to my next destination --> Buenos Aires, Argentina. The departure date landed on 12th October. I did some flight research  on my laptop. 15 minutes later I ended up with an one way ticket to Rio de Jainero on my hands.... Well.. Hmm... You know, it just happened. Lovely! It feels so good to have the freedom to do whatever I want to do, go wherever I want to go.  I´m the captain of my own ship, and I love it! Just like that, I´m heading of to Brazil in 24 hours. Where to stay? What to do? How does my bank account feel about this? Hmm.. Honestly, I don't´t know a shit about Rio. Ok, that is not completely true. I know that Jesus is there, and that men wears speedo in Rio. Good enough. Rio, here I come!!! 

Ohh... Life is good when you know how to live it! 

I´m the boss of my own happiness and I live every day like it´s my last day! I´m so grateful for all the people in my life. For my beloved family and good friends. For all the amazing human beings I have bumped into on my great journeys. For all the little pleasures and moments, like dancing salsa on the street of Habana, enjoying a cop of coffee while I´m watching sunrice of a glorious summer morning in Nicaragua. 

Jealous? Ooo wait! I´m not done! Guess what! I spend my whole Saturday at Fernando Botero´s x-house. I repeat: I spend my whole Saturday at Fernando Botero´s x-house. UNO MAS! UNO MAS! I spend my whole Saturday at Fernando Botero´s x-house. Got it? The house is now owned by his first lady. In case you don´t know who this guy is (which you should). Fernando Botero is THE MAN! He is a colombian painter who is one of the most famous contemporary artists in the world today. He's  famous for his painters and sculptures of fat beast. I meant human. i was at his house because Magnus did a modeling job for a colombian designer. And the photo session found place in the garden of Fernando Botero´s x-house in Tabio. I will come back with more details and pictures. Anyways, it was a special experience for me. I love Botero! Even he don´t live there any longer, I don't give a damn! I have been to Botero´s x-house!!! I walked in his x-garden, patted his x-dog (even I´m allergic) and I peed in his x-toilet. Unforgettable moment... Yay! 

 I told you! It´s good to be me! Yes, every ugly piece of it...