Going 'LIVE'

I've been in full-procrastination mode with regards to getting this blog 'live' - out there for whomever wishes to follow me through the next very interesting nine months or so - because, and as I mentioned in my first posting, tis a daunting task of note putting thoughts onto this bit of electric paper for all and anyone to read and judge. But once the trip is underway, and the posts start rolling in (or out), I won't be giving the slightest of hoots when it comes to thinking about what is being written and what people may think - so there's plenty of 'goodness' still to come, plenty!
 There will be days where the toughness of it all, and the want to just throw it all in will spill through my thoughts and onto this page, but please bare with me then ~ also ~ there will be those days where the joy of being so alive and free will ooze out of every word just trying to explain somewhat how and what I'm feeling: it could be an indescribable sunrise popping out of the Sahara that could either trigger off the "so far away from home" emotional downfall/breakdown - OR - "this is too good to be true" super-high feeling that gets the heart pounding, the smile etched and the want to WHOOP like a crazy-man!

I've got a super long list of things to do, things to get, stuff to sell (anyone want to buy my car: green golf 1 Life 216 000kms, good nik, best car in the world, starts first time everytime - includes handbrake and CD player) and then a host of other bits of random admin, and basically, really, keeping an eye on the clock and date for ETD time!

Getting the pannier bags today. Two 21litre bags that will sit on either side of the rear wheel. Once those are on then I'll be able to judge how much stuff I'll be able to take. The essentials: sleeping bag, tent, gas cooker and pot, passport/s, a hat and pen-and-moleskin-paper.. some citronella oil too. Emirates allows 30kgs - bike is already close to 15 - plus I need space for all the curios people are already asking for... I've told them they're dreaming.. I will have sand from the Sahara though - many a windswept day and sand in the eyes to come.. beautiful!

Great, I am glad I've managed to throw something onto this page. It's something, it's a start and the 'ball' has inched another tad further ~

Now all I have to do is somehow work out how to get this blog out there and known - fortunately I have a number of people really close to me going out there way to assist me in the making this dream come true.

Thank you.

And thank YOU for visiting.

!!
V

Anyone out there...

(Below is the proposal letter which I'm busy sending out to potential sponsors. It will give you a better understanding of my desire/dream/wish to spend 9 months, on an uncomfortable bicycle seat, riding through  "deepest darkest".)

Good day,

I am Paolo Magni (1980), a son of Africa. On November 23 I will be standing outside Morocco’s Casablanca airport, bicycle propped up against my trembling legs, gazing southwards to the horizon, heart pounding, and I imagine I’ll experience the lowest feelings of fear and loneliness to date. But once a few deep breaths have stilled the thumping in my heart and mind somewhat, the purpose of this trip, and why I’m standing 15000km’s away from family and friends, will finally kick into gear. My goal: to hug the Atlantic coast as I make my way back down to South Africa – searching for, living, experiencing and sharing the spirit of Ubuntu.

Traveling the length of my continent has been a dream since my early teens. It took a cold, February morning in London, four years ago to realize that I can make my dream come true. Von Goethe’s words ring true to my mission: “Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”

This trip is unique in the sense that I want to live through the very real philosophy of the Ubuntu spirit, and to share the incredible stories of generosity and kindness of the people of Africa – most of whom have very little. Essentially, Ubuntu speaks to the idea that “it takes a village to raise a child” and expands it to the truth that it takes all of us helping each other to make the world a better place. We, as human beings, must sustain each other even in the hours of our direst perils. What fascinates me is not so much the diversity of lifestyles and cultures, but to what beyond the customs unites us deeply? In the mad rush of our world in crisis, I want to take the time to listen to the beat of this great continent and question what we are: Africa, and its people, offers the opportunity to experience where our human-nature, without the material influences of the First and Western World, truly lies and where it originates from? Have village elders been able to instill their traditions and customs, and pass on the meaning of Ubuntu onto the generation of today, or has the power and influence of the West become too strong and now, even in the remotest parts of the of a Third World continent, I wonder, and will soon find out, to what extent the young generation’s ideas of the future, and their personal success changed?

Sithandi Zingane is a project/drop-in centre for HIV infected children. Its vision: to provide support for poverty stricken families, needy children, orphans and those who are affected/infected with HIV/AIDS. The centre, situated near Brakpan, also has an orphan aftercare programme where around 70 children are picked up by bus daily. They are driven to the centre, receive a hot meal and then spend the rest of their day doing homework, playing and assisting in the vegetable garden. They also have a skills programme where HIV infected/affected mothers are trained in gardening and sewing. The centre also distributes food parcels every month to child-headed families and to people who are infected with AIDS, or in many other emergency cases. The feeding scheme provides 300 children daily with fresh cooked meals.

Sithandi Zingane is Ubuntu defined. A volunteer told me that to help orphaned children one has been touched by God. Half of all funds raised for this trip will go towards the Centre. People wishing to do more will be able to sponsor the trip (Centre) through a Rand-per-kilometre fund-raiser. Whether it’s R5 or R1000, all donations will go to the Centre, but specifically towards a facility of the Centres choice.

Upon visiting the centre I was touched by how the staff care and give of themselves tirelessly – these are people who have very little compared to the material-rat-race we so often get caught up in. One can forget that life and love is truly about giving, not receiving. I have chosen to contribute what I can towards this Centre because what’s being done there is beyond incredible. It is a miracle-project I am happy to now be a part of – even though ‘our’ contribution may be small in comparison, it is such a wonderful place, filled with good people and young innocent smiles who tomorrow, is our future.

I’ve decided to let go of everything that makes life secure and comfortable. I choose something else. I am tremendously excited by life, but I don’t think I’ll find it where I am. It is an ungrateful risk to give up everything that makes you happy in the hope that you can find something better. You risk not finding it. You risk finding it and then never being satisfied again, always yearning for more. But I am looking for experiences and memories that nothing, not the dimming light of old-age nor a world in crisis could take away from me. Uncertain travel holds an appeal for me, an alluring magic, an intoxicating release from conventional bonds, a chance for self-testing and self-discovery, and the rushing joy of being alive that I rarely find at home. Clarion calls to be alive and to treasure life.

On a bike you are living, breathing, hearing and smelling every mile of countryside. Yes, I will be moving slowly, but that becomes a joy in itself: the journey is the reward. The trip becomes more than just ticking off a list of must-see-sights. It is the people and places in between that forge the strongest memories and the greatest stories to share.

Would this trip interest your company? Would you be willing to offer whatever sponsorship you can and/or a chance of sharing my stories with your readers through your publication? Please contact me on: paolomsa@yahoo.com // 072 711 8444 // 011 883-2989.

Life is short. Go! Be!

Kind regards,

Paolo Magni

Counting down

In four weeks, and a few hours, I will be on a flight bound for Morocco, Casablanca.

After 10 hours the flight will end - with every ending something must surely begin - and at Casablanca's airport, come 13h50 local time, four Tuesdays from now, the next chapter in my life will start to tell.

Chapter 30's (my age) title will read, The Journey: Morocco to Cape Town, by bicycle.

An adventure which will see me spending the better part of a year making my way down the Atlantic coast, through 21 countries, experiencing, living and sharing with you interesting stories, and some awesome photos, about a philosophy that dates back generations and generations, and is essentially African, The spirit/philosophy of Ubuntu.

"A travller through a country would stop at a village and he didn't have to ask for food or for water. Once he stops, the people give him food, entertain him - that is one aspect of Ubuntu."                       
                                                                                                                                             ~ Madiba

So this blog, which will probably only be a worthwhile read once Chapter 30 is well underway - anytime after 23 November at 13h50 - is to keep those interested up to date with encounters and experiences that West Africa will show and teach me.

Like anything, the more you practice the better you get. I haven't written anything (excuse) for sometime now - a friend from afar, who I so enjoyed keeping in touch with through long emails, now lives just a short drive away, and so the practice went out the window ~ I feel things are best said in person, if not then a phonecall is next best, followed by a long-hand letter or email, finally texting, twittering or BBM'ing someone..

I'm not sure how many postings there will be on this blog before ETD. Perhaps you'll find a 'post' on here that has nothing to do about riding through Africa - this could very well be the case, but practice makes perfection - and I just had to get the proverbial ball rolling with this blog ~ which by the way is quite intimidating to say the least - opening your thoughts and feelings to joe public is a daunting experience, to some extent more so than the idea of crossing a continent.

I think it's taken me 2 hours to write a few short paragraphs -> as I said, tougher than you think, but I'm going to somehow bring this to a close, push the PUBLISH POST button and VWOALA blog is underway... and can only get better. Be paitent. Be open-minded.

Thanks, and have a rocking day..

Chat soon,
PAOLO