[Sam Kapasi]

And here is a video on the island of Rab, upto lunch. You're certainly not getting any naked videos of me, but later I will post some underwater footage with marine life.

Cheers,
Sam

YouTube - rab

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

However, there is no RTO or any kind of border control between states in India. Usually there is simply a sign that says "welcome to Rajasthan" or something similar. So I beg to differ. .

I am afraid you are wrong here.

At least at Walayar on Kerala - TN border; again at Amaravila (Kerala - TN border towards Kanyakumari), and Chittoor (Vellore . Chittoor - TN- AP border), there are RTO checkposts. They may not cumpolsorily stop white board (private registration) vehicles, but they can, and do, often.

If you travel Inter state on a yellow board, you ARE expected to stop at all RTO check posts. Ask any tour / taxi operator.

I have travelled the above borders on both taxis and my own vehicle and hence I know.

Also, the police too has powers to enforce the Motor Vehicles Act. (Two authorities enforcing same law).

However when it comes to toll: there are toll booths present everywhere in many european countries. Germany however is toll-free, perhaps they recover the toll from the cost of fuel, which is substantially lower in neighbouring Austria (where they use the vignette system plus toll too)
And BSD, toll in europe is expensive.

The checkposts, unlike toll booths, are ..... money mints for the black economy.

Plus another hefty sum which will follow as part of my story.

Now, that is something I would like know.

(however - in the most decent and polite way possible)

The european law system works, without being totally in your face. And people follow the system, without thinking about "ME, first!" Or "who cares!" - it isn't our legal system that is faulty. It's us who either "don't care" or think that we're above it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with India.

It is us Indians that need to take a good look at the mirror.

Needless to say - all of the above is strictly my personal opinion.

Yes, that is the difference.

Agree with you 100%. Especially as a govt. employee, have had the misfortune of having to deal with the "me first" and "above the law" syndrome very often.

[SafeDrive]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Allow me to show you.

And I thought that the board was on the other side of the water! Time for glasses I guess. For my defense, I did not look at the enlarged picture .

Sam - the places that you have shown in this travelouge are all fantastic. Have already added two new places to my list of places to see before I die list.

[navin]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

You're certainly not getting any naked videos of me,

Why would we want to see this?

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

What was real funny was to see people wear these at the naturist beaches. But that is material for another story.

So that's where "they" got the idea!

[Sam Kapasi]

Those who know me well, know that I am a huge fan of clothes-free culture.

A strange situation for an India where our morals require us to cover up as much as possible in all situations. But this is not a debate for Team-BHP and I will not discuss it further on this thread.

In Rab there are naturist beaches that are devoted to this culture (known in German as FKK - almost every German city has an FKK zone or park or similar, in order to free yourself for a while. Children of all ages and families are welcome. Out of respect to those present, it is not allowed to be dressed in these areas/ zones.)

It is a truly liberating experience to swim in the untouched beautiful waters with no hindrances or artificially created fabrics and materials.

Yes, the water is cold and can make you squeal a bit, but in the end, it is a great experience. FKK beaches are usually less crowded and cleaner (since it advocates naturalism and not just nudity)

The one near Suha Punta blessed us with even clearer water (is it possible?) and some really beautiful fish that I was so excited to see. The fish swam with us for that little while I could bear the cold water.

A beautiful and liberating experience. I offer you a video of the water, and ask you to imagine yourself as one with the fish and you will have a slight idea what it is to feel truly free.
A very short video, not even a minute. I was not allowed to use a camera but I managed to smuggle it into the water. I didn't want any people there thinking I was making a video of them, lol

Now consider for a moment that I had no clothes on. Then don't ask me how I smuggled it in, lol. I will not answer.

Enjoy the video.

YouTube - suha punta

[NetfreakBombay]

Awesome video...

Which track have you used for music in this video?

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by NetfreakBombay

Awesome video...

Which track have you used for music in this video?

Thank you. Funnily out of all the long videos I cut and posted, this little 1 minute video is my favourite and really brings out the free essence of our holiday. No plan, no work, no reservations, no laptop, no blackberry and no contraints.

The artist is Télépopmusik and the song is called Breathe. French Electronica.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Evenings in Rab were fun and relaxing.

This evening we are looking for a local seafood restaurant.

This town is so beautiful, even by evening that I think I want to just die and melt into the stone walls.



But first, food.

As is apparent from the picture below, Jenny like clams and mussels, lol.





Oh she really likes them. I didn't even try one.


The rest of the evening is spent wandering around. We have both begun to walk 15 to 20 kilometres almost every day.
The best way to explore a town is usually on foot, in the case of Rab, there is no other choice.





We have a nice evening, partying till late before we call it a night.

[Sam Kapasi]

Ever since we have been at Rab, I've been looking at all the boat rental agencies rather wistfully.

I've never been on a boat by myself.

Strange words indeed, for a person who has lived in Bombay almost his whole life.

Don't get me wrong, I've been on many boats. Medium, small, I've been in rowboats, canoes, kayaks, cruise ships, ferry boats, fishing boats, passenger ships and more.

But I've never taken my own motorboat out to sea. No sir I have not.

And can you think of a better sea to go out to?

Do you have a boat license?
A what?
A boat license.
Uhh. No. I have a driving license.
No, in this part of the city, boat rentals are for big boats and you cannot drive these without license.
Ah. Disappointment.

When Jenny and I decided not to leave Rab and stay back even longer, I didn't expect that we would come across a small stall near the sea with "boat rental" written on it.
Even if we had crossed a small stall with "boat rental" written on it, I wouldn't have stopped. Because I don't have a boat license.

And so when Jenny egged me on, ASK HIM, ordinarily I wouldn't have tried.

ASK HIM will ya? I know how much you want this.

I walk out shrugging, like a married man harassed and ready to tell his wife that he told her so.

Boats?
Yes, says the guy with a grin. He looks like a really nice and funny guy.
I want a boat.
Yes. says he, still smiling or grinning. I cannot make up my mind.
I don't have a license, will you give me a boat?
Yes says he. Is that a smile or a grin?
I'm halfway turned around expecting a negative. I whip around. No license, no problem?
No problem! Small boats no license.
Motorboat? I ask suspiciously. I don't want to row my wife across the waves like an idiot.
Yes motorboat. Sun roof, nice you see.


Nice boat. How much.
300 Kuna. (one Kuna is about Rs.7/-)
For how long?
All day, evening about 6, no sun.
OK. Gasoline?
Price include gasoline.
How much gasoline.
How much you like. Tank full. You can drive 7 hours, 8 hours non-stop. No problem. Price include.
Cool. I think quickly. Jenny is still in the car. All we have with us are towels and swimsuits. What about food and drink.
Not include. He laughs.
I know, say I laughing. Is there a supermarket here where I could get some drinks, some fruit, some bread?
Yes. He points me. I drive off. See you soon.

As we buy stuff at the supermarket, I can scarcely control my excitement.

How much was it.
300 Kuna for the whole day! That even includes fuel! I am almost shouting with happiness.
Whole day? It's already past 1pm. That means hardly 4 to 5 hours. Why didn't you ask him for a discount?

Thasssssshhh.

No I didn't really break anything. But that's what it felt like on the inside.

I'm not asking for anything anymore, say I looking for some cola, knowing fully well I've already said "I'll take it" to the grinning boatwalla. I don't want to look stupid.
Fine I will ask him. Determined Jenny has awoken andar-se, I decide to buy some apples quietly and let grinning man deal with my wife. Let's see if he's still grinning later.

How much is the boat? Asks the wife.
300 Kuna. Says he, his grin looks a little smaller. I think he knows what's coming.
But that is for the whole day. It's already afternoon. We won't pay that much.
He is still grinning. Nice guy.
So how much? she asks. His smile is infectious, even she can't help smile a little at his cheeky face.
250. he says, grinning.
200! says Jenny, grinning back at him.
OK! he says. Now I burst into a grin. He looks at my face. You got good price, smiling and nodding in a friendly manner towards Jenny. You got good price.

And so it comes to pass that I become the captain of a little boat out in the Adriatic Sea.

[vivekiny2k]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

A beautiful and liberating experience. I offer you a video of the water, and ask you to imagine yourself as one with the fish and you will have a slight idea what it is to feel truly free.

Damn Yeti! any human would be scared to be around these fishes in water and be naked at the same time.

Off topic, did you use underwater housing like this one?

gulf of mexico oil spill spoiled my plan or else i was going to shoot underwater in destin.

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by vivekiny2k

Off topic, did you use underwater housing like this one?

No, I use a Panasonic waterproof video camera. This very one.

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

It is INR 250 per half hour for being "chaffeured around" in an open speed boat @ Kochi backwaters.

INR 1400 for 4-5 hours is a steal!!!

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by BaCkSeAtDrIVeR

It is INR 250 per half hour for being "chaffeured around" in an open speed boat @ Kochi backwaters.

INR 1400 for 4-5 hours is a steal!!!

Agreed.

With the opportunity to explore bays and beaches unreachable by foot. Plus the opportunity to anchor and swim in the free sea.

It was the best deal EVER!

[normally_crazy]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Now consider for a moment that I had no clothes on. Then don't ask me how I smuggled it in, lol. I will not answer.

Ok don't answer that but if you were swimming and shooting at the same time......where was this camera stationed ?

[navin]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

No, I use a Panasonic waterproof video camera. This very one.

did you process the video (other than edit it)? it looks very nice coming out of such a small handy cam (I presume the camera is not HD).

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

Ok don't answer that but if you were swimming and shooting at the same time......where was this camera stationed ?

Body hair has it's uses.

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

Ok don't answer that but if you were swimming and shooting at the same time......where was this camera stationed ?

I am dying to make all the tripod jokes, but I will not.

Neither will I tell you the "Look ma, no hands" joke.

Originally Posted by navin

did you process the video (other than edit it)? it looks very nice coming out of such a small handy cam (I presume the camera is not HD).

Oh but it is! It's the same model of camera that Gautam and I used from Bombay to Delhi in the Nano.

That belonged to my colleague, I then bought another one from Thailand duty free. Direct to SD card. Love it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


And so here's a rather enjoyable short film made on the boat.

YouTube - boat-rab.m4v