the coincidentist blogg

In August 1999 I worked in the island of Brac in Croatia, I was setting a tuna farm and helping with the “updating” of a cannery in the town of Milna, some construction waste was disposed in the neighbours land, on the weekend the lady owner came to rightfully to complain and the debris was removed.

In March 2006, I’m in Banda Aceh (Indonesia) working for GTZ (German development agency) in post tsunami reactivation, and I go to the house of someone I meet there, she is working for IRC, she shares the house with a Croatian woman working there as well... we realized then.... she still the neighbour of the factory...

On the 16 September I was in Manila for my 40th b’day. After a shity and long day in traffic I decide to go and see Ben Mono from compost record playing in Fort Bonifacio as part of the German month, very nice gig, but too tired to go and talk to the DJ.
Back in NZ a month later my friend Cesar call me to come and visit me in Waiheke, he mention he is bringing a friend from Germany... of course he was Ben Mono!

I'm in a Manila's shoping center, in a small shop and the girl that was the ex girlfriend of Gilles brother walks in... (see Sangat Island post)

1983

I was in a party in the “Rote Fabrik” an lakeside ex tram depo in Zurich, Nina Hagen was playing. A good acid was omnipresent at the time, it was like a blue drop inside a very small candy like pill... never seen that again...

At some stage all was a bit too much so I get to the lake to chill... this guy come soon after... looking as spaced out like me... I ask him... blue drop? Yes was his answer... we talk shit... until we decided that a dip on the lake was a good idea... it was spring... the lake was very cold... after we jump in we realize that... he was not coping.... I manage to get him and me out of the water... we where freaking out... party is over... we shivering badly... walk to the tram we say good bay... 2 month later I leave Europe...

1989

I’m in the “subte” (Buenos Aires underground train) just before rush-houron my way to a friend house where I stayed while in the city, quite a lot of people inside... this guy is next to me... we check each other out... do I know you? Heavy accent answer says... I think so... Yes! The red factory!... but... hei... what you doing here? Yea.... actually I need to get out in the next station... guau... me too!

We get out... so what you doing in argentina... this is bizarre! Yeahhh now that I think you mention you where from here... this is an amazing coincidence 14 million people live in BsAs...
Well... I’m studying Musicotheraphy (argentina has very good university in that field)... and now I’m going to study at friend house...
Really? I said... I’m going to a friend’s house whose flatmate studies musictheraphy... guau... fuck... we both where going to the same flat to see the 2 people that lived there... a coincidence inside a coincidence....

2005

Weekend off... I’m gone diving... boat with 4 people... diving instructor couple (from Holland, she used to play Hockey in my wife mum’s town a field I crossed many times to go to the pool). 4th diver is a girl...
-so where you from?
Austria she said...
-ah... in theory me too... I travel under a Austrian passport... my family is from Salzburg...
really she said... I grow up in Salzburg!...
-So what you doing here?
Well I’m visiting my sister who is managing the resort we are staying on... what about you?
-I’m a Marine Biologist; I work in fisheries... not very common profession for an Austrian!
No worries she said... my ex brother in law did the same that you do... but he is from Luxemburg!
-What? I said... You know Gilles? He is the only Luxemburguese marine biologist I ever heard off...
Yes! She answered..
-Guau... I said... I worked with him in Samoa, then he came to NZ, we worked in Angola and Mozambique, he visited us in Holland, is the closest “work related friend” I have...
Gee... she said... I been with her brother for 4 years... I know all her family and her (now) wife...

There are over 60 million people in the Philippines...

2005

Lady in it 30s sits next to me, smiles, plane take off.... I’m reading... she starts writing in Armenian... very unique typography... guau...
-are you Armenian I ask...
yes... how you know?...
-well your writing... I lived there last year... never expected to find somebody on a flight to Manila from there... where from in Armenia are you?
Talin she said, do you know the city?...
-yes I went trough there a couple of times... and I know a girl named Talin as well...
What? Is her family name Gregorian?
-Yes, I said...
She worked with my husband she said, we are good friends...
-Guau... gee... this is a coincidence I meet her via a friend (Carlos from Mexico)... and got to knew her good because she lived in the next building with Amalia...
Yes... she said... I know Amalia as well... she sent me some pictures of her 35 b’day by mail, I have them on my laptpop...
-Really! I was at that party! I said...
let me see she said.... laptops open... picture folder.... Amalia... pictures... and yes... there I’m in one picture with other people... inside her computer...