Fernando Bingre - Travel agent and personal tourguide for GLBT community

Low Season (The best season...)

2011-03-25T08:57:00.005-03:00

Well, here we come...it´s May by now and almost half of the year is gone (It just makes us to stop and reflecting how time goes flying sooooooo fast..) anyway I am not here to talk about time actually I am here to talk a little bit how people can enjoy their time.

It´s the beggining of the "Low-Season" in Bahia by now and I always ask to myself: "Isn´t it the 'Best Season' ?"

Well, I think so. I mean, maybe it´s not the bestest for all of them who just love to spend time on the beach (swimming, drinking some nice cold drinks, checking the "eye candies" and so) but for all of them who love to explore different things and also checking how it´s the real day by day of the local people plus how the city flows that´s just a PERFECT TIME to be around, and I tell you why:

*The weather is not as that HOT as during the "High-season" ;

*The city is emptier (less tourists around) ;

*There are the best deals for accommodations, food, enterteinment and so;

*The possibilities of making new friends and interacting with locals are bigger;

*There are still popular festivities, concerts and parties going on.

So, travelling to a place like Salvador it´s a good thing it doesn´t matter if it´s during the "Hot summer days" or "the cooler winter days". Something very interesting about Salvador that´s never really cold, we can have rainy days but never cold days and sometimes it´s even "frustating" for us because we see those "winter clothes" on the magazines and on TV and we´d like to dress them and being as nice and charming as we see those people on the magazines or tv but it doesn´t work around here that way. If we dress it, 5 minutes later, we just can´t take it and take it off as it´s not cold (Lucky us? Well, It´s not fair to complain about it, right?!...lol).

Ok, I just would like to welcome all of you on the way to Brazil (It´s cold down there in the South and some parts of the Southwest of Brazil so if you´re on the way to that regions don´t forget to bring a winter´s coat) specifically to Bahia to enjoy it as much as possible and if you´d need some information about what to do during the time that you´ll be here in Salvador just don´t hesitate to contact me because it´ll be a pleasure for me to inform you what´s going on in the city into the LGBT community and also generally saying...

All the best...

Sincerely, Fernando Bingre
WWW.SALVADORTOURGUIDE.COM

Prepare yourself for our GAY PRIDE 2010 (Sept.12th)

2010-04-26T13:08:00.002-03:00

In this Sept.12th Gay Pride in Salvador da Bahia/Brazil 2010:Half million people on the street dancing, having fun, making new friends, celebrating life. It´s like a Carnival´s day as we have a huge tradition about Carnival (Our carnival it´s about 2 millions 24 hours during 7 days), it´s supposed to be the biggest Carnival of the world but we also hold the biggest gay´s pride of the world in the Country(in São Paulo´s City with 2 millions and half people). So, if I were you I wouldn´t miss it the gay pride in the very first capital of Brazil where gay and straight people live in harmony and have a good time together.

Sunny and warm Xmas Wishes from Salvador da Bahia...

2009-12-23T08:25:00.002-03:00

So...it´s Xmas time again...

It´s time to be around family, friends, partners (and their friends and family) being together and filling up our hearts with hope, peace, serenity and specially lot of love...

It´s time to look back and reflecting the things that happened to us in this year (good and bad things, remembering that even "bad" things which might happened to us they´re a part of our learning and growing process in this world...).

Most of all, it´s time to remember about the greatest man of all: Jesus Christ, and his unconditional love not matter what, not matter who we are "gays, black, white, rich, poor and so..." .

Following Jesus example of love, I would like to wish to everyone out there a great Xmas filled with good feelings, love and harmony and a fantastic 2010 with all the best for you and your families and friends.

Merry Xmas and a happy New Year...

Sincerely, Fernando Bingre

Brazilian Gay Prides´ Calendar 2009

2009-07-19T14:21:00.004-03:00

Today is the Gay Pride in the capital of the country "Brasilia" for this special occasion I take a chance to publish some dates of Gay Prides which will be taking places. Actually the parties have begun from the smallest town to the biggest city of the country "São Paulo" which actually has the BIGGEST GAY PRIDE OF THE WORLD with approximately 3 million people. So, write down the dates in your agenda and join to this celebration of pride, love and life in your city or anywhere else you can join it so check it out the list of places and dates then have a lot fun and don´t forget to play safe in all the way, here we go:

19/07 - Alvorada - RS

19/07 - Bebedouro - SP

19/07 - Belo Horizonte - MG

19/07 - Brasília - DF

19/07 - Codó - MA

25/07 - Cuiabá - MT

26/07 - Altamira - PA

26/07 - Betim - MG

26/07 - Olímpia - SP

26/07 - Pacatuba - CE

26/07 - Sobradinho - DF

02/08 - Contagem - MG

02/08 - Macaé - RJ

02/08 - São Sebastião do Passé - BA

02/08 - Viamão - RS

03/08 - Marechal Deodoro - AL

09/08 - Alagoinhas - BA

09/08 - Ribeirão Preto - SP

09/08 - Sepetiba - RJ

14/08 - Dourados - MS

16/08 - Frutal - MG

16/08 - Juiz de Fora - MG

16/08 - Taguatinga - DF

22/08 - Uberaba - MG

23/08 - Anápolis - GO

23/08 - Ceilândia - DF

23/08 - Delmiro Gouveia - AL

23/08 - Dias Dávila - BA

23/08 - Itaúna - MG

23/08 - Nossa Senhora do Socorro - SE

23/08 - São João da Boa Vista - SP

23/08 - São João del Rei - MG

23/08 - São José de Ribamar - MA

28/08 - Teresina - PI

29/08 - João Pessoa - PB

30/08 - Aracaju - SE

30/08 - Barra de Santo Antônio - AL

30/08 - Feira de Santana - BA

30/08 - Itajaí - SC

30/08 - Nova Iguaçu - RJ

04/09 - Ouro Preto - MG

06/09 - Bauru - SP

06/09 - Cabo de Santo Agostinho - PE

06/09 - Cabo Frio - RJ

06/09 - Camaçari - BA

06/09 - Divinópolis - MG

06/09 - Florianópolis - SC

06/09 - Goiânia - GO

06/09 - Varginha - MG

06/09 - Marabá - PA

07/09 - São Vicente - SP

13/09 - Belém - PA

13/09 - Boa Vista - RR

13/09 - Campos dos Goytacazes -

RJ13/09 - Cataguases - MG

13/09 - Duque de Caxias - MG

13/09 - Gama - DF

13/09 - Oeiras - PI

13/09 - Paço do Lumiar - MA

13/09 - São José do Rio Preto - SP

13/09 - Uberlândia - MG

20/09 - Itaperuna - RJ

20/09 - Jataí - GO

20/09 - Lauro de Freitas - BA

20/09 - Nova Iguaçu - RJ

20/09 - São João de Meriti - RJ

20/09 - Simões Filho - BA

27/09 - Curitiba - PA

27/09 - Ilhéus - BA

27/09 - Mata de São João - BA

27/09 - Recanto das Emas - DF

27/09 - Rio das Ostras - RJ

04/10 - Lagarto - SE

04/10 - Natal - RN

04/10 - Niterói - RJ

04/10 - Pojuca - BA

11/10 - Criciúma - SC

11/10 - Cruz das Almas - BA

11/10 - Maceió - AL

11/10 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ

12/10 - São Carlos - SP

18/10 - Belford Roxo - RJ

25/10 - Salvador - BA

25/10 - Arapiraca - AL

25/10 - Ipatinga - MG

25/10 - Porto Alegre - RS

29/10 - Itabaiana - SE

01/11 - Santo André - SP

08/11 - Bacabal - MA

08/11 - Canoas - RS

15/11 - Catanduva - SP

15/11 - Piracicaba - SP

Any information about gay prides in Brazil like gay destinations or so just drop me down some lines as I might be helpful about it...

Sincerely, Fernando Bingre
www.salvadortourguide.com

Salvador Gay Pride 2009

2009-06-22T13:44:00.003-03:00

*Oct.25th Gay Pride in Salvador da Bahia/Brazil:

Half million people on the street dancing, having fun, making new friends, celebrating life. It´s like a Carnival´s day as we have a huge tradition about Carnival (Our carnival it´s about 2 millions 24 hours during 7 days), it´s supposed to be the biggest Carnival of the world but we also hold the biggest gay´s pride of the world in the Country(in São Paulo´s City with 2 millions and half people).

So, if I were you I wouldn´t miss it the gay pride in the very first capital of Brazil where gay and straight people live in harmony and have a good time together. For more information about it, contact me...please!!Or check the "Grupo Gay da Bahia" website: http://www.ggb.org.br/

Come, join us in this pride´s Celebration of life...

Sincerely, Fernando Bingre

http://www.lgbtbahianguide.com/

My Space: http://groups.myspace.com/salvadorgaypride

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=107894373942

*SALVADOR´S GAY PRIDE HAS CHANGED THE DATE FROM SEPT.13TH TO OCTOBER 25TH. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT IT, PLEASE GO TO: www.ggb.org.br

Carnival 2009 in Salvador da Bahia...

2009-02-06T22:58:00.002-03:00

Just like any Summertime Salvador is the place which all the parties, celebrations and people having a good time are about and as soon as the new year has started people were already countingdown the days for the biggest celebration of the year: Carnival !!!

Yes, in a bit more than 1 week the biggest world Celebration will be taking place at the narrow and historical streets of the City of Salvador(This is year starts in Feb.19th thru 25th), bringing together about 2 millions people every day dancing, drinking, dating and having a good time. This is a catholic celebration and it starts 40 days before Easter which means that´s the period of time that everything is "allowed" so people take a chance to enjoy it as much as the can setting free their lusties desires and so because their act of contrition will be coming soon later and they´ll be forgiven by their "sins".

It has 2 main itineraries where the parade take place: "Centro" (Downtown) that we call as well "Avenida" and the second ones is "Barra" (which is an itinerary by the sea) and newer compared to the first one. Actually, it would still have a third one which is into the "Old Historical City" this one is lighter and perfect for elderly people and children but as well for all of them who doesn´t like crowed places and a frenetic rhythmn just like it´s on the 2 other itineraries. To tell you the truth, I´d advise people who never been to the Bahian Carnival before starting it slowly around the "Pelourinho" (Old Historical City) and gradually checking the other 2 main Carnival´s itineraries then if it´s too much for you the 2 of them don´t be embarrased to join older people and children to have a good time...

But it´s not everything just joy and happiness in this big celebration, just like everywhere where many people are put together always there are something going on: Some fights, people are stolen, pushed and injured. So, I´d like to share with you who´d be the first time in Carnival some tips to be away from troubles:

*Bring only money enough for the Party´s expenses (drinks, some snack, taxi or so).

*Don´t put all your money in a pocket (spread around including some in your shoes).

*Don´t carry your original documents (a passport´s photocopy or even the drive license is enough)

*Don´t be directly into the crowed, stay where you can have free acess in case you need to leave the place where you´re for some eventual fight close to you or so.

*Stay closer to Police Stands where it´s safer.

*Don´t accept drinks or food given by stranges to you(we never know what it´s on them).

*Dress yourself simply, avoid jewerly, using your mobile, carrying cameras and everything what would be getting people attention.

*If you notice that you´ve been watched or followed stop by a police stand, bar or restaurant and let the "threat" to go.

THAT´S IT !!

And if you´d like to talk to me directly about Carnival and its do´s and dont´s please feel free to contact me at: info@lgbtbahianguide.com

Or call me up to: +5571 8861-6381

Talk to me by calling from USA or Canada to: 646 719 9121

HAVE A GREAT TIME...

All the best, Fernando Bingre

http://www.lgbtbahianguide.com/

2009 new year, new life, new horizons...

2009-01-25T18:28:00.002-03:00

Wow...a whole year has gone since I wrote something down in this webblog. It´s incredible it was just like yesterday and when I´ve just seen it it was gone and I haven´t kept you people out there updated about things what were going on here in Salvador, Bahia and Brazil, by the way, I´d like to apologize you guys for that. Anyway, here I am and I promise you that this year it will be different.

Let me firstly wish everybody out there a great 2009 full of "Axé" (bahian good energies..), prosperity, peace and good things.

I hope that this year we´ll be starting to solve some problems in this world like war, violence and more recent things like this "World finantial crise" and so many other bad things which go on even though I know that we should be focused on that but good things.

Me and all my afro-brazilian community( and also all race brazilians) was happy for the fact that Obama was elected the new president of USA which has given a lot of positivity and some perspective to a new start all over the world and has showed as well that dreams are made to come alive and it will if we want them badly...

Ok, this year I´ll be updating you about what´s going on in our local LGBT community and also into the brazilian scenery actually not only what´s going on into the LGBT´s scenery but in other fields like the economy, culture, parties and so on. By the way, I´ll be giving you some new tips about 2009 Carnival here in Salvador and some advices for you who are on the way to enjoy it as most as possible but safe and sound...deal?

I´ll be back soon again but untill take good care of yourselves and also who´d like to talk to me directly from USA or Canada can do it using this number(through a new system even being here in Salvador I can get callings from those places for as it would be locally), here we go: 646 719 9121.

Talk to you soon again...

All the best, Fernando Bingre

http://www.lgbtbahianguide.com/

A Merry Christmas and a Great 2008 !!!!

2007-12-21T08:36:00.000-03:00

Another year has gone and I couldn´t take a chance to wish to everybody out there specially my clients, friends or simply readers of this blog a Merry Xmas and an excellent 2008 full of peace, love, harmony, prosperity, positivity and good energies!!!

A special thanks for my new friend "Gordon" from Australia who has made a special Xmas for the HIV children from CAASA by giving them some toys but specially love with that: God Bless you, my friend!!

All the best for everyone...sincerely, Fernando Bingre.

Bahia Gay Prides Calendar 2007

2007-08-13T20:37:00.000-03:00

Another year is gone and once more is time to celebrate the "diversity" again and showing how proud most of us are for being gay...

For you guys not missing a single "Gay Parade" which´ll be taking places at the main cities and towns of Bahia...here are some the dates and places of them(have fun):

Date: Aug.26th/2007 City: Simões Filho
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Date: Aug.26th/2007 City: Saubara
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Date: Aug.26th/2007 City: Ilha de Itaparica

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Date: Sept.02nd/2007 City: Camaçari

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Date: Sept.02nd/2007 City: Itabuna

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Date: Sept.09th/2007 City: SALVADOR

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Date: Sept.16th/2007 City: Lauro de Freitas

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Date: Sept.23rd/2007 City: Luis Eduardo Magalhães

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Date: Sept.23rd/2007 City: Ilhéus

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Date: Sept.30th/2007 City: Nazaré das Farinhas

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Date: Oct.07th/2007 City: Alagoinhas

Early Christmas for HIV Children in Bahia...

2007-06-19T11:41:00.000-03:00

Early this month(June) a very dearly friend of mine has decided to visit Salvador again and this friend is simply "Kenneth Still" who i call simply "Kenny" for all of you who don´t know Kenneth Still...he´s a bussiness partner of another dearly friend of mine called Lawrence Pickney(a licensed real estate broker in NYC) who put together with Kenneth the "Bahian Heat Festival" ( http://www.bahianheat.com/ ) during our Bahian Gay Pride last year. In additional, Kenneth is a director and choreographer. Mr. Still has worked with Michael Jackson, Toni Braxton, Joe, Sting, The Rolling Stones, Will Smith, Vanessa Williams, C & C Music Factory, Martha Wash, & more. The former dancer has appeared on top rated television shows such as: Oprah, The Billboard Awards, American Music Awards, BET, Saturday Night Live Disney and the Soul Train Awards. As a teacher, Mr. Still has taught dance all over the United States and abroad including Africa, London, Japan & Italy, bringing what he calls the New York Style to the international scene. But all these things that he has done and all the celebrities that he has met and has worked with...haven´t changed the inner and beautiful person inside of him: last year after the "Bahian Heat Festival", Kenny..Lawrence...me and another friend of us went out to buy some food with money collected from the "Bahian Heat Group". So, we went to the "African Marketing" and we´ve bought food enough to keep the "CAASA" refrigerator full for awhile. This year Kenny has visited Salvador again, just like I´ve mentioned before, and few days before he leaves he´s called me up surprisingly and he´s told me that there were some gifts for the "HIV Children of CAASA foundation" and I was so happy to see that he hasn´t forgotten about those children and when Kenny has left, he has left with me all the gifts to be deliveried to the children which I´ve done enourmesly pleased. When I´ve got at "CAASA" with all the toys I´ve felt being "Santa Claus" myself and the children were so happy about that and they were inviting me over to play with them for awhile which I´ve done happily. They were calling "Uncle" and it has made me very happy as i could see all of them as my "nephews", it was a very special moment for me and I couldn´t anything else but taking a chance to thank my friend Kenny for this lovely and beautiful experience in my life and in the names of those lovely little angels of "CAASA" to say thank you very much. I´m sure you know how rewarding is seeing those smile upon those children face. Thank you my friend...Sincerely, Fernando Bingre.

PS: Whoever is visiting Salvador and would like to make a food donation, clothes donation, toys donation or simply visiting the place and bringing some good energy with warm hugs to "CAASA Children" please feel free to get in touch with me and I´ll be happy to bring there !!!!

Carnival in Brazil's African capital

2007-01-26T11:39:00.000-03:00

SALVADOR, Brazil - Rhythm is king in this seaside city long known as the capital of Afro-Brazilian culture, or more simply as the Black Rome — and not only at carnival.

Drums thunder from behind the colorful walls of colonial houses that line the winding cobblestone streets of the historic Pelourinho district. Passengers on passing buses thump out intricate poly-rhythms on the seat backs, floors and windows.
Even the city's reputed 365 Catholic Churches — one for each day of the year — percolate with the popcorn of rhythm, with samba groups often standing in for the choir to celebrate the saints' days.
But when the throbbing rhythm gets under your skin and the rumbling won't leave you in peace, it can only mean one thing: Carnival is coming to Salvador da Bahia.
"Carnival is actually just the culmination of a series of festivals that make up our summer season, beginning in December," said Valter Oliveira Leite, president of the municipal carnival council.
The uninitiated could easily mistake the seemingly endless series of shows and festivals in the run-up to carnival for the actual event. But Carnival itself is unmistakable — with some 2.5 million people clogging the city's main avenues and dancing behind more than 200 bands that ply the city's streets on top of enormous sound trucks, night and day.
It's very different from Rio's more famous made-for-TV parade, with fans in grandstands evaluating the elaborate floats and costumes. But many Brazilians feel the real street Carnival is the full contact sport of Salvador, some 750 miles northeast of Rio.
Salvador's carnival officially begins this year on Feb. 15, a day earlier than Rio's bash, and runs a day later. Feb. 20 is the date known in New Orleans as Mardi Gras; here, many bands turn out for a last gasp the next day, Ash Wednesday, as well, despite protests from the Catholic Church.
In recent years, Salvador's carnival also has become a haven for black American tourists in search of their African roots in Brazil.
Salvador was Brazil's first capital and major stop for slave ships coming from Africa to the New World. Today the city is more than 70 percent black and is a center of the Afro-Brazilian religion Candomble — similar to Santeria and Voodoo. It also is a nucleus of the martial art-dance form known as capoeira — as well as the birthplace of samba.
"It's all just religiously, spiritually inspired. It reminds me of New Orleans and some parts of South Carolina where I grew up," said George H. Smith, a 63-year-old black American printmaker from Washington D.C., who was on his second visit to Brazil.
This year, U.S. producer Quincy Jones is expected to attend Carnival as a guest of Culture Minister and pop star Gilberto Gil, with an eye toward making a Buena Vista Social Club-style documentary about the proceedings. Plans to bring Janet Jackson and
Oprah Winfrey', however, have fallen through, according to Gil's spokeswomen Gilda Matoso.
Anthropologists say in many ways slavery-era African culture is better preserved in Salvador than it is in Africa.
"We worry more about our African roots than they do in Africa. In Africa, they don't want to remember the past. Here we want to hold on to what we were torn away from," said Vera Lacerda, a retired history professor who now runs one of Salvador's most popular carnival groups, Ara Ketu.
The biggest attraction of Salvador's carnival are the "trios eletricos," huge bands that play a calypso-inflected samba known as "Axe (ah-SHAY) Music" from the top of the sound trucks.
Axe stars Ivete Sangalo and Daniela Mercury are famous across the nation and their songs can be heard on the radio all year around. Other bands like "Chiclete Com Banana" are a hit in Bahia and at offseason carnivals around Brazil during the rest of the year.
But many foreigners, especially black Americans, are more interested in the elaborately costumed Afro "blocos," or carnival groups like Olodum, which appeared on Paul Simon's "Rhythm of the Saints," album. Or the "Afoxes' (ah-fo-SHAYS) like Filhos de Ghandi, who pound out Candomble rhythms on percussion instruments, roam the streets in white turbans and will happily pour perfume on you for the asking.
There even been efforts to include rock, hip-hop and reggae in the celebrations. Last year, the Irish rock band U2 attended the festivities, though plans to have the band to play on top of a sound truck reportedly were canceled because of security concerns.
"The first night we let our tourists watch from the stands, and then next night it's up to them whether they think they can handle it down below" .
To celebrate Salvador's street carnival, you can spend anywhere from $14 to $930 for an "abada," usually a T-shirt and head scarf which allows revelers to follow a band around for three days and nights separated from the general population by a thick cord, held in place by throngs of burly men.
Some 86,000 "cordeiros," or rope holders, are employed each year just to separate the crowds.
Or you can stay in the "pipoca," or popcorn, which costs nothing and means hanging out in the densely-packed streets. The advantage of the pipoca is you can glimpse various bands from outside the ropes. The disadvantage is that each passing band is capable of sweeping one down the avenue with the force of a tsunami.
Organizers are understandably proud of how little violence there is traditional is in Salvador Carnival. In general, there are no more than one or two homicides each year.
"Everybody who comes here says, 'if this kind of thing happened in my city you'd have some 200 people dead on the first day,'" said Merina Aragao, carnival manager for Emtursa, the Bahia state tour agency that organizes the event.
About 18,000 policemen and 3,000 firefighters are employed to provide security.
Still, Aragao admits that robberies and purse snatching are frequent. But she argues that it's all but inevitable in the crush of bodies where millions of hands can be found groping in search of intimate body contact or cash.
With romance in the air, the federal government hands out millions of free condoms each year during carnival, as well as tips on how to avoid the spread of
AIDS' .
In recent year, a big fad among revelers has been exchanging openmouthed kisses with strangers before moving on. And one resourceful businessman has begun marketing an antiseptic spray to protect serial kissers from the spread of disease, although the health ministry doesn't vouch for the product's efficiency.

By MICHAEL ASTOR, Associated Press Writer

So, It´s Christmas...!!!

2006-12-17T22:36:00.000-03:00

Ok...so, It´s Christmas once again: A whole year has gone and this year just like the other years many things have happened all across the world...good and bad things, but here we´re. We´re preparing ourselves for another year and I couldn´t help but taking a chance to send for all of You(friends, family, clients and so) out there our "Axé" from Bahia together with a lot of positivity and good energies to wish You a Merry & adorable Christmas and a GREAT 2007 full of peace, harmony, love and prosperity...
Sincerelly, Fernando Bingre

Pioneerism on the GLBT´s Services in Salvador...

2006-11-20T19:00:00.000-03:00

Later last month I was nicely invited by a local, well-known and respected news office( "Jornal A Tarde") to feature in a reporting about "Gay and Lesbian Services" here in Salvador. It was a good surprise to know that I would be the main feature to talk about my "Pioneerism" into this niche. So, I´ve told them about all the reasons to choose this marketing, specially for 2 things: Being gay, seeing the lack of professionals in this marketing to give the right services and necessary support to our gay visitors.

We´re sure that now and then our authorities and also investors will be paying more attention in this segment and starting to give us the real and necessary support that we need like this our tourists will be happy and satisfied about visiting and exploring all the things properly in this wonderful place that´s well-known as the "Happiness Land" and one of the most "gay friendly place" around the country.

Ok, You can check out my interview in this link(although it´s in portuguese), here we go: http://http://www3.atarde.com.br/cidades/interna.jsp?xsl=noticia.xsl&xml=NOTICIA/2006/10/29/1025968.xml

But if the link doesn´t work You can google it by searching "Fernando Bingre, A Tarde On Line"And I was just invited recentelly as well to feature an interview for a British programme called "Overseas property TV" and it will be aired on sky platform 287 Overseas Property TV, I´m excited about it as well and as soon as I have some more news, pictures or video of it--I´ll be sharing it with You here on my webblog.
All the best...
Sincerelly, Fernando Bingre.

The philanthropic side of "Bahian Heat" festival in Brazil

2006-09-18T12:24:00.000-03:00

Early September during our local "Gay Pride" has taken place an International event called "Bahian Heat 2006" right here in Salvador and for all of those who´ve thought that "Bahian Heat Festival" was merely a group of "wealthy" black american looking for fun and exploring other parts of the "black diaspora" around the world has simply made a huge mistake. On the last day, the group got together and collected some money and headed to a local "opened-market" where people from the "hood" shop for their food at budget prices. They shopped as we do (as at least some of us do.) It was fun to experience those Americans blend around the "bahian people" and they´ve did well. The nicest part of all of this was when we got to the CAASAH orphanage to donate the wheelbarrels of meat we just purchased. The orphanage helps children with HIV. We were received by the staff and children with opened arms. They were very happy to see us and we were very touched more than words can express. Check out some of the pictures that we took on that unforgattable day: www.bahianheat.blogspot.com
Sincerelly, Fernando Bingre

** Seeing those children smiling have made all the hard work worthwhile. I have been proud to be a part of the Bahian Heat event and hope they will return again.

Bahia: The Land of the Gay Prides...

2006-08-02T12:07:00.000-03:00

The Gay pride season has just started around here in Bahia(the very first one was in a place called "Feira de Santana" at July 23rd) and by now untill later this year(December) there will be many gay´s celebrations around the whole state of Bahia and specially in Salvador in our 5th edition of our Gay Pride. The happiness land becomes: "The land of the Gay prides" but We´re not just merelly celebratating and having just fun..We also take a chance to show to the whole society that We´re human beings, professionals and respectable people and We´re fighting for our rights of equality of status.

And Bahian people who are "friend of the family" and tolerant by nature understand us and just join us to this beautiful party and celebration of life. So, You shouldn´t miss it like this I´m giving You out some information of our Gay Pride dates in the whole state of Bahia, here we go:

August 06th- São Sebastião do Passé (Approximately 1 hour away from Salvador) ;
August 13th- Camaçari (Approximately 1 hour away from Salvador) ;
August 20th- Simões Filho (Approximately 1 hour away from Salvador) ;
August 26th- Barra do Gil (Approximately 1 hour and half away from Salvador) ;
August 26th- Itabuna (Approximately 8 hours away from Salvador) ;
September 03rd- SALVADOR
September 10th- Laura de Freitas (Approximately 45 minutes away from Salvador) ;
September 17th- Ilhéus (Approximately 8 hours away from Salvador) ;
September 24th- Valença (Approximately 2 hours away from Salvador) ;
December 17th- Nazaré das Farinhas (Approximately 2 hours away from Salvador) ;

*Picture by Marccelus.

For more information about the Bahian Prides, visit Marccelus Portal: www.portal.marccelus.com

Afterglow....

2006-03-28T17:13:00.000-03:00

"After all the excitement and ecstasy of our busy summertime and its endless parties and celebrations like 'Lavagem da Conçeição, lavagem do Bonfim, Iemanjá and the biggest one of all of them: Carnival'..the city returns to its normality and tranquil day by day. Bahian(Natives from the state of Bahia) use to say that the year just finally starts after Carnival and it makes a lot of sense if You look around the street, beaches, parks and squares around here in Salvador.. Afterglow people are finally settle down and that laidback atmosphere is everywhere even because people are resting and getting back that energy that they´ve lost all over the summertime for the next summer although around here in Bahia is ever summertime: It´s warm, sunny and we have celebrations all year around!!!

Anyway, some people say that now is the best time to visit the city because You can experience its real day by day as during the summertime is too hot, too crowd and too many things going on at the same time so people don´t even see its real culture, tradition and people although they have a lot of fun...It´s a fair price..isn´t it? In any or other way, if You´re coming to Bahia during the spring, summer, fall or even wintertime..You´ll have fun around here: exploring the city, its history, culture, cuisine, music & rhytmns and the hospitality of us..Bahia who are warm and friendly by nature.

So, what are You waiting for? Next Summertime? I don´t think so..it´s not necessary waiting all that time... ;-)"

Summertime in Bahia followed by our Summer Parties and Celebration…

2006-01-28T11:01:00.000-03:00

Hey.. it’s summertime in Brazil and just like every single year..we just go outside and enjoy it at most as we can…and during the Summertime that’s when there are most of our parties and celebrations and it just ends up with the biggest one..that’s Carnival.

Early January…all of us just got dressed into white to show our devotion to “Senhor do Bonfim” in a beautiful celebration that has taken all the main streets of the “Low-City”.

Early February..it’s the time for people get together to show our devotion to “Iemanjá”.. that’s the “Queen of the sea and oceans” and asking her a lot of peace and tranquillity just like the sea waters and the peace that the sea give us…

And finally, later February we have the apse of them..that’s the Carnival itself...the biggest one of the world with about 2 millions people on the street during 7 days: a lot of music, drinks, food, happiness, sensuality and fun..
By the way, Carnival this year will be Feb.22nd till Feb.28th …and I wouldn’t miss it if I were you…I won’t… ;-) !!

Caminha Axé ( “Inner Energy Walking Festival” )

2005-12-02T09:54:00.000-03:00

Last Saturday( Nov.26th) bahian people have met in the main shore street between Barra and Ondina neighbourhoods for “Caminhada Axé” that’s the first and it works as the official start of the all celebrations during our Summertime. “ Axé ” in an African dialect called “Yorubá” means “peace, energy, happiness” and “Caminhada” means “Walking” so it’s simply many people together walking in harmony, peace and love and it was what could be seen last Saturday: many people from different part of Bahia(specially from many countryside towns) celebrating the life wearing their local costumes, singing their local songs and dancing in their local style. Masquerades, clowns, angels & innocent devils, baianas(bahian traditional ladies), samba players and much more promoting a beautiful outdoor party. By the way, this is simply the very first one of an whole sequence of parties and celebrations that it only be finishing with our biggest one that’s Carnival later February this year(Feb.23rd to 28th ).

By the way, there are some celebrations(“Street Parties”) That would be interesting to be seen and experienced like: Festa da Nossa Senhora da Conceição(Dec.08th), New Eve’s Firework with its music Festival(Barra’s Beach, Dec.31st), Profissão do Senhor dos Navegantes(Boa Viagem’s Beach, Jan.01st ), Festa do Senhor do Bonfim (Low City, second thrusday of January) and Iemanjá’s Celebration (Rio de Vermelho’s beach, Feb.02nd ). Bahia is like this… parties and celebrations all year around and it wouldn’t be different specially during the summertime when the days and nights are hotter and people find many reasons to COME OUT to celebrate life… Axé !!!!!

Miss Gay Brazil 2005 in Salvador da Bahia

2005-11-02T11:53:00.000-03:00

It has taken place in Salvador last night(Nov.01st) another edition of the national Miss Gay Brazil. It has put together 14 misses from 14 states of the country: Tocantis, Maranhão, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Bahia, Distrito Federal(Brasília), Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. It was a night of beauty, glamour, entertainment and music that hasn't only brought together the misses but also local and national celebrities like models, singers, writers, intelectuals, model designers and socialites.

It's a competitive contest which the misses are evaluated in different modalities: beauty, originallity and congeniality(just like the movie's version of "Miss Congeniality...lol). It was a spectacular show where the national gay beauty has won in the end and like this all of them were already winners by being there making this happening... ;-)

First Gay Pride in Valença-Bahia(Costa do Dendê)

2005-10-15T11:30:00.000-03:00

Who thought that the Gay Prides were already gone after the splendous one that we've had around here in Salvador simply has made a mistaken. More the two months after the Gay Pride in Salvador that has brought more than 300 thousand people together, now it's time of another Gay Pride but at this time in a pitoresque small fishermen village called "Valença". Next November 20th, it'll be taking place in Valença its first Gay Pride and depending on its natural beauties and friendly people it'll be a beautiful and successful one. Valença is about 200kms away from Salvador and people that would like to be there at this celebration of the Gay life and happiness, can make it by boat, bus or by car. Once you've got there, you'll be finding a beautiful town by the beach(We call that shore: "Costa do Dendê" that would be something like "Palm Tree Oil Shore") with a good seafood cuisine and peculiar ways. Actually, It's an old colonial town and it is around 440years old beyond the Gay Pride you can take a chance to enjoy its calm atmosphere, old houses with their architeture Colonial architeture, beach and much more...so, don't miss it!! ;-)

First national GLBT meeting in Brasilia/ Brazil...

2005-10-15T10:01:00.000-03:00

Next month(November) the capital of the country will be also the Capital of the Gay comunity. November 08th to 11th will be taking place in Brasilia(Capital of Brazil) the very first official national GLBT meeting, it has been organized by the local gay association in Brasilia and it counts on support of other Gay associations from different regions of the countries(North, Northeast, Southeast, South and Central). Surely, the traditional "GGB" Grupo Gay da Bahia(Bahia Gay Group) one of the most well-known and respected Gay Association of the country with 25 years of tradition for fighting to the Gay rights will be present at this event and it'll be bringing our gay comunity(Bahian Gay Comunity) interests and demandings to be pleaded in this national gay meeting, by the way, this is the main reason of this meeting, making the politicians to creat and supporting homophobic laws and also other laws, just like, Civil Partnerships and others that our Brazilian Gay populations are claming for many years. Let's hope that everything work out fine and this be a good and bring new perspectives for the national gay comunity.

It's spring time in Bahia...

2005-09-23T16:57:00.000-03:00

The flowers are blooming and the boys as well.....

Hey... it's finally Springtime in Bahia and with this we've got the sunny and beautiful days back. Hot days that make the nice beaches of Salvador simply crowd with friendly, nice and good-looking people.. People who have worked out their bodies the whole wintertime to "show them off" as beautiful flowers in this Spring that looks already like the summertime.

We clearly can have an idea about what will be the next "high-season", it'll be hot as the weather, by the way, i've already ellected my Mr.Spring this year: that's this nice and friendly guy on the picture. His name's Ruan and if you're lucky, you'll be bumping into him in one of those beaches around here in Salvador.. i know exactly where to meet him up and i could even tell you but can you keep this secret? ;-)

Gay Pride in Salvador

2005-09-04T22:55:00.000-03:00

Gay Pride in Salvador da Bahia/Brazil

Last Sept.04th the city of Salvador has experienced an exemple of our local "Pink Power" strength with our 4th Gay Pride Celebration. It was simply a great "Carnival Day" with 300 thousands of people on the street celebrating the life and showing people how proud we're of being gay people. It was a day of parties, music and rhythmns everywhere, in all the places we could see happy people: at the bus stations, train station, bus stops and all the streets that give access to the main party concetration place at Campo Grande Square in dowtown.

There were few "TRIO ELÉTRICOS"( Huge trucks loaded with thousands of watts of sound equipments and topped with a band pounding out tunes with electric guitars, keyboard pianos, drums...and singers playing and singing all types of musics:Samba, Axé Music, Reggae, etc) on the streets specially on its gay pride itinerary that were Sete de Setembro Avenue and Carlos Gomes Street(well-known as a busy gay avenue in a recent past).

We could see drag queens, straight boys and girls, families with children and sure gay male & females enjoying the party all together in harmony and peace and putting all this people together has placed Salvador's pride as the 3rd biggest Gay Pride in Brazil right after Sao Paulo(The actual biggest of the world with 2 millions of people) and Rio de Janeiro(800 thousands of people). But the atmosphere was not only and simply a party atmosphere, many people has taken a chance to ask for the gay rights as Civil Partnership and anti-homophobic laws as well. Salvador has shown the respect all races, cultures and sexual orientations or at least we're trying to find our way on it... ;-)

Sisterhood of the Good death

2005-08-15T19:30:00.000-03:00

Sisterhood of the Good Death in Cachoeira- Bahia..
For such a long time i've been hearing about this Sisterhood of the Good Death Celebration that takes place in a small town called Cachoeira(1 hour and half away from Salvador). And the funny thing that's I've never had time enough to get there but so many people from abroad(Specially Afro-american as it's a Celebration from Slave descents) were asking things about this celebration or telling me things that they've learnt about it that i couldn't ignore it anymore and simply getting there so that's what i did. When i've got in Cachoeira i've simply regreted for haven't got there before because it was a great atmosphere in that simple but beautiful countryside style, and it's such a beautiful celebration of faith and devotion mixed with music & rhythmns, emotion, religion and memories of our black ancesters who have lived in that envyroment in the past, i was very proud of being a black guy by experience all of that. Someone has written me asking if it was worthwhile for him to get around here only for that celebration and i wasn't sure but after visiting and living that experience i can tell him or anyone that's definitely worthwhile to live it up!!!

*The Sisterhood of the Good Death Celebration is nearly at the same date every year(Aug.15th)and it's a 3 days celebration.