Favelas, slums in Portuguese, dominates the image of Rio in many people's heads. Favela favours the growth of drugs, is regarded as a very dangerous region for tourists. Though there are many favela tours, which can cater the needs of people who are curious about the famous favela in Rio.
There are about 750 favelas in Rio which accomodate about 20% of its poor population. The first favela I visited was Vila Canoas, a very small and relatively safe favela where we could take pictures.
The light can hardly penetrate he narrow alley.
Please note the electricity wire, they are very important characteristics of favela. Because the people "borrow" electricity from the main power pole by this method.
Graffiti is everywhere.
Winding along the alleys.
Half of the fee I paid for the tour had gone to this social centre in the favela.
Some projects relating to children were carrying out in the centre.
The second favela I visited was Rocinha, the largest in Rio.
As we could not take picutre (in order not to annoy the drug dealers who are everywhere in the favela) in this favela. So the guide took us up to the roof of a building to show us the overview of this favela.
All the houses are densely-packed.
Another important characteristic of favela is they only have one principle road, the remainings are all small streets and alleys.
As the favelas are all located in hillside, in the perspective of Hong Kong developers, they are all prime locations for luxury housing. So there are also a few-storey buildings and an international school at the bottom of the hill.
Big contrast between the rubbish and the greenery luxury area.
Kids in the favela.
The outer neighbourhood of the favela.
This neighbourhood is nicer and less shanty.
After visiting the favelas, I think people over exaggere about the danger, poverty and dirtyness of the favelas. Maybe it is because I have been to China, South East Asia and other countries where poverty is a greater problem than Brazil, so the favelas are not too shanty in my opinion.
All in all, Brazil is the most developed country in South America and its living standard is just like United States (at least in the touristic cities). With the help of the government, the situation of the favelas have been greatly improved.
Santa Teresa, the residential area situated in the suburb. With all the colourful colonial building and antique cars, this artistic region is my favourite in Rio.
I went to the 19th-century of Rio through this little tram. 
This traditional open door tram allowed people to hang out of it and they didnt need to pay.
An overview from Santa Teresa of Rio.
When I walked around the region, I could hardly imagine that I was in Rio.
From the spanish world changed to Portuguese world.
Imagine there was a pink lady living here.
The whole region was full of incredibly beautiful antique cars.
At the end of the walk, we found the famous Escadaria Selaron, where the artist used tiles from all over the world to decorate the staircase.
Another postal box, the colour contrasts with the bright red tiles.
People from all over the world posted their unique tiles to this staircase. I searched around, there was no tile from Hong Kong. And the artist questioned me why I didn't bring him a tile!
Tiles from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
From Africa.
A 3D tile from Easter Island.
The artist's favourite painting subject, the pregnant woman in the favela.
If you see somebody dresses in red and keeps a Moustache who hangs around the colourful staircase, it will be a pity to not to take a picture with him.
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Rio, with its 10million population, is the third largest city in South America.
Famous for its yearly-held Carnival, Rio is morn than its bad image in movie, The City of God. Modern though relaxing, huge though easy getting around by bus and metro. On the contrary, its beautiful beaches hide danger of mugging and its favela(Slum) is still a problem.
Copacabana beach. As it is famous for robbery and mugging, so I just took my small camera with me.
Old building in the city centre.
Beautiful street in the city centre.
The most famous sightseeings in Rio are definitely the Pao de Acucar(Sugar loaf mountain) and Corcovado where the biggest statue of Christ stands.
The expensive cable car, with the backdrop of the cloudy Sugar Loaf.
Though the weather was nice before I reached the mountain, the Sugar Loaf and the Christ on the opposite direction were both veiled in clouds.
After sunset, if offered spectualar view over the famous Copacabana Bay.
After visiting the Sugar Loaf, a few days later, I went to Corcovado. As the weather over the hill (it is only 710m) was unpredictable, even though the weather of the beach and the city was nice, the hill was heavily surrounded by clouds.
The equally expensive tram to the top of the hill. I find that the government of Brazil is really a money sucker.
With great expectation, even though I waited for 3 hours, hoping the clouds would be cleared. The best glimpse of the Christ was like this.
The top of the hill should offer a 360 degree fantastic view of Rio, but the weather was so bad that even the flower in my hands lost its bright colour.
I have been longing for doing voluntary work in S.A. since I started my travel. But I haven't done it since 3weeks ago. Because I really wanted to learn spanish and travel in all the countries where I haven't set my foot on. On top of that, I could not find an organization to which I did not need to pay administrative fee.
Until recently, I arrived this little city, San Gil, Colombia. I asked around for voluntary work and the opportunity is exactly what I like to do. So I decided to stay in this pleasant city for one month and work for a children's home.
This children's home is running by Colombians in which one Swiss-American woman is working voluntary for almost a year. They are mainly doing the administrative works. Besides, there is a psychologist,a social worker,a chef, child-takers and sometimes volunteers like me.
My job is very flexible as there is no itinerary for me, so it is my responsibility to organize activities during the free time (normally the time before they go to school in the afternoon) of the children, so they won't running around crazily and hitting each others.
Technically, it is not an orphange as some of the children who still have families, the problem is they have a single parent families and their fathers/mothers are not able to take care of them. So they are expected to reunite with their family when they grow older.
But some do have horrible family backgrounds and they are open for adoption.
Florentina, a 12 years old sweet heart whom I really want to bring home. She loves to receive gifts. She was really pissed off and very embarrassed once her sister told other kids in the school that she liked one boy. They reminded me my teenage.
She surprised me when she cried after she had received a birthday present from me. But after knowing her family background, I am regreted that why I didnt bring her a much better present.
Dioselina, a 14 years old teenage girl, sister of Florentina. She is always not interested to do the things or play the game that I organized for all the younger children. Sometimes, she looks sad, angry or indifferent. But when she has a good mood, we can still play happily and she is just like other normal kid.
Deysi, a 10 years old beauty. She is the best one in learning of making bracelets and origami. She talks like a little adult, sensible, reasonable and like to maintance balance. Though sometimes, she is just like other younger kid, naughty, not listening to me and crazy for being taking pictures.
Patricia, 9 years old, sister of Deysi. I can imagine she will become a high-maintenance girlfriend of someone in the future. She has a big temper. During the process of making bracelets, whenever she finds they are not well-made, she just destroys them, throw them into the brushes and cries. But if she makes a very beautiful one, she just becomes very proud of herself and shows everyone her bracelets.
Marisol, though she is already 11 years old, she just look like a 8 years old girl. She is always grabbing for attention, for example she likes to kiss on my cheek non-stoply when we are greeting for the day. And if I don't pay attention on her when she is crying out for my name, she will get pissed off and ran away.
Saray, a shy 8 years old sweet girl. At first, she didn't talk with me and would just play with other kids of similar age. After 2 weeks, she has got used to my presence and started to smile at me. Now, she likes me to pick her up and make turns. She just laugh on me if I feel really dizzle and she will keep requesting for more turns.
Liseth, 4 years old, the youngest one in the children's house. She has a pair of big eyes and beautiful blonde hair. Just like other 4 years old kids, she likes to cry when she needs to go back to the classroom nearby while I am playing with the other children. But unlike other 4 years old kids, her way of talking is very mature and she likes asking a lot of questions.
She is the best friend of Saray.
Natalia, a pretty 11 years old girl. Sometimes she is playing crazily with Patricia like a 5 years old girl. Though she is not a fast learner in making bracelets, she is the only one who is willing to learn the most difficult one from me.
Camilo, 8 years old. The only boy who is willing to sit down and learn how to make handicraft. At first, I think he is a tricky boy as he told me he had a birthday a day before after he saw Florentina got a present. Then I found out he really had a birthday, but it was 2 weeks ago.
Oscar. 5 years old. As we cannot communicate well, I know little about him. Just like other kids, he always request me to make bracelets, fold a plane or a boat for him. Sometimes he fights with Sergio.
Sergio. The 6 years old little devil. He is always messing up all the things, destroying toys or fighting with other kids. Maybe he just needs more love and attention.
I like all of them, so maybe I spoil them sometimes. I feel really sad as I am leaving when I get to know the kids more.
I enjoy voluntary work like this, but saying goodbye to the kids and my friends here is always a sad subject. They remind me my time in the workcamp of Mongolia...I still wish I will go back to Mongolia and now, San Gil, Colombia.
