Riowakening

Riowakening

Brazil through an Australian's eyes

A gringo's guide to Rio’s Carnival, the world’s biggest party

A gringo's guide to Rio’s Carnival, the world’s biggest party

I had my insider's guide to Rio Carnival published on news.com.au. There is nothing better than writing about things you love, and this fell 100% into that category. The words just rolled off the tongue as I drew back my experiences from my first Carnival which will forever stay crystalised in my memory as one of the best times of my life. I hope it can convince anyone who reads it to put it on their bucket list! Unfortunately, the formatting of the story has since become c

Technobloco strikes back on the streets of Rio Carnival

Technobloco strikes back on the streets of Rio Carnival

Technobloco? More like Cryptobloco. The legend of Technobloco spread so far and wide over the past year that it grew with as much hyped up ferocity as Bitcoin. After the hundreds of us there had one of the best nights of our lives 12 months ago, word of the magic of this underground bloco had levels of FOMO so high that thousands of people filled the street for it in the early hours of the final morning of Carnival on Wednesday. All day private messages had been running hot

A love letter to Rio, a gangster’s paradise

A love letter to Rio, a gangster’s paradise

I’M living in a city where the gangs are so out of control the army has been called in to keep the peace. Like many predicted before last year’s Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro’s hopes for a new beginning were snuffed out along with the cauldron. The economy is in recession, automatic gun fire echoes through the skies, innocent lives are being lost and Brazilian soldiers are now helping police try and keep a lid on this explosion. Instead of just guarding the main highways and

20 Brazil and Rio tips for travellers visiting for a holiday

If you’re thinking of coming on a holiday to Brazil and Rio it's a great life choice to make, believe me. There can be a lot to get your head around as a tourist though so here are some travel tips and advice for anyone that wants to jump on a plane for a Brazilian holiday. Follow these and you'll thank me later. 1. COME! Brazil’s reputation is bipolar, it’s either known for out-of-control gang violence and petty crime or for its crazy culture, beautiful nature and even mor

Technobloco, Carnaval, Rio, Friends and Freedom

Technobloco, Carnaval, Rio, Friends and Freedom

Ambushing the Sambódromo with hundreds of other Brazilian Carnaval party animals was one of the best moments of my life. The epicentre of Brazil’s biggest celebration just days earlier now lay empty of the floats, colours, beats and beauties which had danced through it before thousands of the happiest people in the world. At Technobloco it was our turn to take it over and Rio’s streets to have so much life-affirming fun in a way I can’t imagine you can find in too many othe

Visiting Sao Paulo on a Brazilian holiday is a must

Visiting Sao Paulo on a Brazilian holiday is a must

Sao Paulo has to be one of the most underrated and unloved great cities of the world. While just about everyone knows the famous sun-drenched vistas of Rio, most foreigners know nothing about Sampa. Even some Brazilians who aren’t from there, and some who are, don’t like it - it doesn’t have the beaches and beauty that Brazil and especially Rio is known for. Sao Paolo is grey and ugly, if you have to be honest. It’s not a city to take beautiful postcard photos of. But that

Brazilian is the world's best accent no one knows

Brazilian is the world's best accent no one knows

You can practically feel the sun and samba beats bursting out of Brazilians mouths. Yet when the coolest and sexiest accents in the world are spoken about you hear of the Irish, French, Italians or us Aussies. Even one of the many Spanish-speaking countries will usually be tossed up. But Brazil, not so much. Let me tell you though it should be on those lists because it is without a doubt one of the best accents in the world. And it sounds nothing like Spanish. Brazil

Riowakening Ian Walker

About Me

I'm Ian Walker, an Australian freelance journalist and travel writer who ditched his job as a full-time newspaper reporter to move to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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