Hobbies and Others

Music

I like music. Who deoesn't?. There is a wide spectrum of music that I enjoy listening to. It ranges from classical music to drum music. Operas are in my list as well. If I would make a short list here it is: (without following any particular order)

Drum Music - Kodo a japanese group that plays traditional drum and recent compositions and Brazilian Samba schools - great beat!
Classical Music - Who doesn't like Beethoven? Have you listened to Villa Lobos lately? If no, what are you waiting for?
Tango and all that - Well, you know..., Tango.
Popular Music - Probably a long list, which includes American Country Music. However I must admit that I like the Macarena too.

Comics

In the early days I used to leaf through Manga the japanese comic books. Lot's of fun, specially the Ninja, Samurai and Godzilla stories. Then came the more serious phase - collecting Asterix and Obelix books. They are fun, specially because you can get in many different languages including Latin. Together with the Gaules came Tintin, reporter. I amost have all of them.

Movies

Movies. Over the years one come across many movies. I have a short list of favorites, but by far Dersu Uzala directed by Akira Kurosawa is my favorite. He also directed the Seven Samurais, Dreams, Ran, Kagemusha, etc... I enjoy very much the recent crop of oriental movies such as The scent of Green Papaya, Farewell my Concubine, and Raise the Red Lantern . My list also includes Casablanca, The Russia House, and Moon over Parador. Of course sometimes you want to go to the movies to blank your mind and have fun. Then you must see all the big productions: Star Wars, Star Trek, James Bond, Clint Eastwood, etc...

Paintings

There are many painters I admire. Probably Van Gogh comes to the top of the list. His late paintings are the expression of what he felt - something like a direct access to his feelings. Monet is also very Impressive. In a way I have been very fortunate (over the years) to be able to see a fair ammount of paintings in different museums around the world. Unfortunately, art, like many other things is very much Northern Hemisphere oriented. So if go to South America see what they have to offer - You won't be disapointed. A few names to mention - Volpi, Portinari, Di Cavalcanti, and Mabe - Brazilians, of course!

Food

Now, let's talk about food! For starters, the picture shows one of my favorite fruits, Jack Fruit (Jaca in portuguese). It grows in the tropics, weighs around 5 to 10 kg. It tastes like a well riped banana and the seed (after boiled) tastes like rosted chesnut! If you go to Brazil, you have to try it.

I like the Brazilian style berbecue, Churrasco . The best description goes like this. It is a big chunk of meat on a giant skewer seasoned with sea salt only and roasted slowly on a charcoal fire. As the outside gets ready to be eaten, you cut a slice and YUMMY! Then, you repeat the procedure until you can't eat anymore. Of course this may take 4-5 hours.

OK, what else is on the menu. Sushi, Sashimi, Sukiyaki, Chirashi, Soba, Shabu-Shabu, Yose-nabe, etc... The japanese food. I like them all. If you want to go to a nice japanese restaurant, near BNL I can suggest one.

Oh, yes! let's not forget one more. The Wienner Schnitzel. I quickly learned why the name. The answer is clear. It only tastes good in Vienna or if prepared by a Viennese.

Helio Takai

Last updated March 7, 1997