A moment of fear.
- B K
- Aug 30, 2017
- 4 min read
One day I woke up, in scorching hot weather in Villa Madalena, São Paulo. Away from the harsh Canadian winter, away from my permanent residency issues with Canada, away from my ex-girlfriend troubles. In my 31 years of my life before the idea of Latin America clouded around my thoughts, I never considered to travel to South America due to the language, no interest to live and work in the 5th largest country in the world. To also add, security for anyones safety and well being as it is widely agreed that Brazil has a large number of poverty which indicates the crime rate is very high. My 1st week in São Paulo, I was absolute scared and being very very aware of my surroundings. I ended up staying in Brazil for 8 weeks and had one of the greatest travels expericance in my life and confidence within myself grew stronger everyday, living in a reality that I can die if I take the wrong path.
City of São Paulo is filled with lots to do, Free walk tours which I highly recommend for everyone and it will help you map out where and where not to go. Many attractions such as Museu de Arte, known as MASP. Parque do Ibirapeuera is filled with out doors activities great for a walk around nature and away from the crowds on the busy broken pavements. Shopping and restaurants are very delightful on Paulista Avenue with surrounding skyscrapers. One of my favourite spot esp if you enjoy taking photos, City Italian building, its has a jaw - dropping view over the sprawling city on the free observation deck at 3 - 4 pm Monday to Friday.
One day I was out, to catch up with a mate, Joao, (whom I meet in France in 2011) at a bar called O de Casa Bar, in Pinheiros. I found that Brazilians are fucking cool people, I felt very welcomed to their society among with the crew I knew, night life was amazing, lucky enough the locals to put in right spot. Brazilians know their country is not the best shape with messy politicians, people in general get robbed a lot, many have lost their family & friends due to crime but some how, they still go out and enjoy what they can and just live with their reality. Life goes on.
As I headed back home from O de Casa Bar, I double check that I've got my cash, my travel wallet and my camera. In Brazil, you never carry everything in your pockets. stash some cash else where. Normally I walk through Praça Maria Noeli Carly Lacerda park to get to my crib. Imagine some white guy walking around a park in São Paulo, its clear I'm not from around here, its a clear indication to be targeted and a jackpot for favela locals. Then Boom! Before you know it, two young boys came from two different angles, one come from the left and other come from the right, I swear to god, they were like 13 years old, shoes without lacers, dirty shirts and shorts, the little prick on my right had a knife, and he had no fear to slide the blade towards my side as the tip of the blade already piercing my skin as his homie says to me aggressively repeating the words "sua carteira"(meaning money/wallet) My mind was numb at same time, trying to survive this one out, I was shitty myself. Quickly after they had cleared out my pockets and the last thing they took out was my camera, for some reason, I snapped, pushed the kid on my right back, blood slowly spreads through my white shirt, then quickly grab my camera off the other little shit and start jogging backwards holding my camera. These kids didn't give a fuck, they started building speed towards me. Out of nowhere, two men, up on the hill, start yelling out,suddendly, the two rug-rats turned around and started to run away from me, I fall down as Im shocked & bleeding but not heavy, thank goodness. Two men and a few others came down from the hill to calm me down. I thank them like I never thank anyone in my life, I was just saved and offered those men for some Cerveja or something in return for saving my life. They were kind enough to take me to Bar/Café around the park to take a look at the cut. They said, I had a "baby cut" I was lucky, the cut was not deep but however those kids were 70% going to take my shoes and fuck me up regardless.
For some reason I snapped when they took the camera, I guess, I really, really wanted to up load those photos onto my Facebook page, funny what a little, less important thing can have an effect on any situation.
I did get robbed again on a bus few weeks later in Brazil that's a story for another time. I've been robbed and beatin up before my trip to Brazil. However, the trip to Brazil taught me that shit is gonna happen in your travels and it can happen while your in your own city. It just happens that I was in the wrong place in the wrong time, or one of the unlucky ones to have been in a tough situtation. I learned that, no matter where I go, anything can go wrong, you could be in a safe area and yet still something can happen, at the wrong place in the wrong time, but it shouldn't stop you to keep moving forward..
I would like to re-visit Brazil again and I think I will one day in the future, I have a lot of friends in Brazil, my fears or doubts won't stop me.