G’day
I’m an italian musician, and as a result of my my sound “travels” I now live in Sydney.
Today something I have been waiting for finally happened.
I went surfing down at my local beach (only 64 steps from my house) and while waiting for the right break I saw something dark diving under my board … was it a Shark? no … thankfully not this time: I was surfing with a Penguin!! Yes that’s right, a penguin in Australia!
Crazy as it seems there’s a colony of little ones living in my suburb. They are the smallest species of penguin, one usually found only in the southern part of the continent and in New Zealand.
It was a real pleasure to see him diving next to me, reappearing and then disappearing on the other side of the break.
When I came out of the water I saw that he was coming out too. I started walking towards him hoping to sneak a closer look. I know how reserved they are, giving little confidence to human beings; but when I got to about a meter from him I caught his eye and said:
ƒilo: Good evening, my name is Filo – I’m an Italian journalist (a little lie at the service of truth) and was wondering if I could ask you few questions for an article I’m writing about life in Sydney.
Lilo: OK man, I’ve never been to Italy but I like Italians … apart from your Prime Minister!
ƒ: Oh Grazie, Sir … thanks for hating our Prime Minister too …
Lilo: Please call me Lilo like all my friends do.
ƒ: And you can call me ƒilo. Ok Lilo, how was the surf today?
Lilo: Pretty good thanks, another day in paradise … Went for my daily 20km swim, I’m training for next month’s TinPinguinCup. Today I beat my record, dived down 76 meters and stayed there for 1 minute and 30 seconds at a top speed of 2 meters per second … not bad hey?
ƒ: Wow, that’s very impressive for a ‘little fella’ like you … but aren’t you scared of sharks?
Lilo: Ah ah ah mate, even if I feel like a giant, I’m only 30 cm tall, and weight 1 kg, they don’t see us very well, not only because of the size but because our bodies are perfectly camouflaged in the water and … if I was a Shark, I’d go for a ‘Big Fella’ like you, wouldn’t you?
ƒ: I guess you’re right, what do you like about living in the urban area?
Lilo: I enjoy this fantastic location, it’s a god mix of buildings and nature, fantastic white beaches, absolute waterfront with spectacular city views. It’s a luxury living so close to the fish. The surf is fantastic and the sky is so deep and huge that as it melts with the ocean it creates a 360˚ blu view that changes tonality according to the power of the Sun, which blesses us for 340 days a year … isn’t it why you’re here too?
ƒ: Correct. What don’t you like about living in an urban area?
Lilo: If there is something that scared me to death it’s all those felines, what do to you call them, Catz? They are too smart, and if I look at them in the eye I freeze-up scared, you got to be real careful around here. But our biggest enemies are Dogs. They’ve killed many of my friends. Can you explain to me why they are always walking along attached to a human by a chord, and as soon that chord disappears, they start running with their tongues out, sniffing and licking everything in front of them, including their own piss and that of their friends? … especially the little ones … I live under Manly Wharf with my wife and kids and another 60 couples, we are the only small colony left in Sydney but it’s getting tough down there with the thousands of tourists arriving by ferry – most of them try to blind us with that box in their hand that shoots a flash of light directly in your eyes … what is that all about? At night it gets worse, all these new restaurant bars that have opened with loud suited man and over styled ladies with their little grumpy dogs … they should have more respect for us, we were here long before them.
ƒ: What about humans then?
Lilo: Oh you guys are so funny, complicated and different that there is always something interesting to discover in any one of you … in general I like travellers and dislike tourists. I like the Spiritual and dislike Religious. I like peace and hate wars. I like social and hate politics. I like creative and dislike routine. I like passion and dislike boring people.
ƒ: Now I’m going to ask you something that has been on my mind since I moved to the southern hemisphere.
Lilo: Of course, but it has to be the last question as they are all waiting for dinner …
ƒ: Do you like music?
Lilo: Of course man, music is life … music does not betray, music is the goal of the trip, music is the trip! The sound that I call Love, can only be heard when your world is silent, but I’ll make you a CD if you want …
ƒ: Wow, that would be awesome … and do you like to Dance?
Lilo: Oh yeah … I just love dancing … but I only to music made with passion, soul, groove … no just another commercial product that doesn’t even make a half flipper on me … in those groove-less nights … I go Hideout! You know what I mean, man?
ƒ: Sound and Clear, Bro!
