Gays, gringos and vampires (part two)

Leaving New Zealand was… hmmm. I don’t know. Let’s say funny.

After about 12 hours bus ride, from Wellington to Auckland, I bumped at some hostel with my luggage. It was 8.30 in the evening. Christina was sitting at the stairs in a front of hostel and drinking red wine.

Her: Haaah! World Traveling Artist!
(* people sometimes react this way when they see my url-stickered makeup suitcase *)
Me: Yep, one and the only sweetheart!
Her: What kind of artist?
Me: Make-up artist.
Her: Cool!
Me: Can I still check in here, do you think?
Her: Yep, it’s open.
Me: God, it was a long ride.. I badly need a shower! Are there any nice pubs around?
Her: Yeah.. My girlfriend and me were just discussing the possibility to go to some pub.
Me: Nice. Why don’t you girls then wait until I’ve had a shower, so we can go together?
Her: Sounds good.
Me: Alright. See you within half an hour.
Her: We’ll wait here for you, or otherwise in the reception room.
Me: I’d like that very much. ’till later!

Cristina, Daniela, some Canadian guy (whom we picked up underway and whose name I forgot) went then into the city and an hour later found our self in — what later appeared to be — a gay bar. Well, there is no board outside which says “this is a gay bar” …so we didn’t know.

Just for the record, I wouldn’t mind if we did know! Gay bars are OK with me, as long as everyone is treated with respect.

As soon as inside, a guy who called himself: Lara Croft, was crashing constantly on me. He would only talk to the girls, ignoring me and turning me his back at first (I think some Pickup Artists use similar technique - once they locate their target), but would touch MY shoulder all the time in stead. He gave us all alternative names: Cristina suddenly became Jennifer Aniston the Canadian guy he called: Brad Pitt, Daniela was called a “Circus girl” and I was doped into: Bon Jovi. :p

Lara was repeating to Christina constantly that “Bon Jovi was cute…” and he/she would even repeatedly try to touch my nipples. Lara later insisted we should all take a picture together…. or maybe it was Daniela’s idea. I don’t know anymore… too many beers that night.

The next morning Christina and Daniela would escort me to the (airport) bus stop. I was leaving New Zealand. We then had a coffee together and said each other good bye. …till we meet again; in Denmark (where Christina comes from), France (where Daniela comes from), the Netherlands — or elsewhere.

Santiago, Chile

Santiago, Chile. New city, new adventures… yet, some things remain the same.

Meanwhile mi profesora, Stella has helped me to find some cheaper place. The place is called “Residencia Familiar Hotel” and is located in Principe de Gales street, downtown, only one block from Chile’s government building, which is visibly secured with heavy military/police force and dogs. The room is cold and small, showers with warm water are limited until 11 AM and breakfast is included but simple… However, it ain’t that important to me as I only sleep there anyway. The clue is, that hotel Parlamento, where I stayed the first 3 days, suddenly lost their internet connection the other day, and the next day there was no internet either…. sooo, I figured out, I’m not gonna pay US $40 a night - for a place without internet.

To some folks the comfort might be the most important,.. To me it’s Internet.

Wound with blood.

Glass wound with blood, Nicole teaching me how to use prosthetics.

Taking prosthetic off the skin.

So I moved to this cheaper place, where the room cost like US $13 a night. Now I mostly use internet in Cafe De Las Artes, which is just at the corner of Bellas Artes metro station, downtown in Monjitas street. Cappuccino’s there cost about US $2, which is not cheep either, but I can at least use their internet for free.

Not the most ideal solution, but it’s a solution.

At evenings, I sometimes hang in cafe “Las Tejas” with a group of local alternative/underground photographers and models (some really cool people who can drink quite a lot Terremotos before they score caña! ;-) …had already two outdoor shoots with them and gonna write about it sometime soon) and often at some cafe’s in Pio Nono street. One of these cafe’s is called: Aliens. That’s where I met this amazing vampire girl. She was a true miracle.

Meeting a vampire

While standing leaned at Aliens bar and having a beer, I had no idea how long she was staring at me. I noticed her staring not earlier then when she suddenly started doing kinda belly dance. She also started playing with her leather belt, suggesting kinda striptease - but she kept her trousers on… and she kept staring at me. Her eyes looked frozen and hypnotized, no movements at all. It was kinda intruding and intimidating look..

I was scanning my surrounding continuously but slowly. Each time our looks would meet, I’d notice she was still staring.

She then came to me.

Her: Are you also a vampire?
Me: No, I'm not a vampire,
Her: So, you are not a vampire?!
Me: No, I said - I am not.
Her: Then what are you?
Me: Well...hmmmm... how about a make-up artist.
Her: You are a make-up artist?
Me: Yes.
Her: I thought you might be a vampire.
Me: And what made you think that?
Her: I don't know. Maybe I would like you to be one. Would you like to be a vampire?
Me: No thanks. I feel fine being a make-up artist.
Her: ... but I am.
Me: You are... what exactly?
Her: A vampire.
Me: Oh.. are you really?
Her: Yes. Would you like to see my vampire teeth?
Me: Hmmmm... If you insist.

* She then showed me her vampire teeth. She also started touching my arm… *

Me: No touching!
Her: Wouldn't you like to join me at my table?
Me: No. I feel just comfortable right here.

She looked me once more with her staring and intruding look and I asked her to cut it off. Then she became angry and left back to her table. Yet, she kept staring (it went on and on for about an hour) while talking to her friend. She also yealed at him. Maybe she was drunk. It was too dark to see her eyes clearly.

Prosthetics

A cyborg, my first prosthetic application.

Cyborg 2, prosthetics design by Charl.

Meanwhile I was hit buy someone else. He too approached me, just 5 minutes after the vampire girl:

Him: Hi, would you like to join us?
Me: Join you where?
Him: Over there, pointing to his table.
Me: Not sure if I want that.
Him: Please come!
Me: Why should I?
Him: Because we would like you to.
Me: But you don't even know me.
Him: Are you a gay?
Me: No, I am not.
Him: Oh, but my friend and I like the way you look.
Me: Does that make me a gay?
Him: Oh well...
Me: I repeat --- I'm not a gay! --- and not bisexual either. I'm not interested.. please return now to your table.

He too then went back. kinda disappointed.
Which makes me wonder: is my appearance in public that weird?