Here they are. The dearest, happy, funny and colorful teenagers from Bogotá, Colombia, during La Fiesta por la Vida, at Plaza Simón Bolivar.
(Pics: Paula Abbas)
Sustainable neighborhood March 21, 2009
“Conjunto Palmeiras” is a neighborhood in the South of Fortaleza, Ceará (Brazil), more specifficaly said… a slum. But all the “slumdogs”, dreaming about being millionaires, and wondering how to get free from the smashing economic system, decided to create their own bank called Banco Palmas.
In a very intelligent attitude, they created their own economic system, with a new currency, the PALMA… their money, with its own value, used to buy goods made by the comunnity. 
The money can only be used by the residents of Conjunto Palmeiras and for buying products manufacturated by themselves, which means that industry is being highly incentivated. They have also a center of fashion education and, believe it or not, a PALMAS FASHION WEEK!!!
The bank slogan is: Integrated System for Credit, Production, Commerce, Consumption and Human Happiness. Loans are offered without interest but only under the approval of the community after a research about the moral and good intentions of the requester. The neighbors and traders are the ones who testify if the requester deserve or not the credits.
It smells like that in times of crises, it’s a good example to show that maybe we don’t have to succumb to the system. Feel desperate is for those lacking immagination and sense of cooperation.
Kinderland found March 18, 2009
A beauty centre for kids in Miraflores district, Lima’s coolest neighbourhood.
To Yvonne, with love! March 17, 2009
We promised that our 100th follower on Soma in Kinderland Facebook community (how come you’re not there yet?! ) would get a special and customised post, made especially for them with the topic he or she would pick. It could be anything -and we made it very clear. Hunting for information would be our very own duty. And so we did.
Yvonne, a cool chick from New Zealand, gets what she wants from SinK. After all, what’s this blog made for if not for our lovely kids out there? You’re in command, dudes! She wants to be up-to-date with the latest trends in shoes. Yv: your wish is an order.
Ladies, the next big thing for your feet is:
FUTURE IMPERFECT
An anti-fashion thing inspired in each one’s natural style. Discreet luxury, self-confidence – beauty lies in the unexpected, the imperfect and the unfinished. Leather and raw materials are in.
INVINCIBLE
Inspired by the invincible spirit of the warriors, we see contemporary, intimidating and protective sillhouettes with decorative bits here and there. Matte animal skin is the basis of this trend, as well as heels made of natural materials and industrial metalic details.
NICE!
Our fave trend! Nice, lovely, cute… Hummm… it even smells like tutti-frutti! A Carnival atmosphere, toyish and childish accessories designed with humour, mixing textures and a relaxed attitude. The result: desirable pieces with a touch of comic innocence. De-li-ci-ous! We play with materials, incorporate mix of textures and patterns. The shape’s also child-like: fun and with that kinderland touch we love. Handmade fabrics, plastic and rainbow-coloured feathers.
Log into our Facebook community and be the next to have Dana and Samantha in your hands.
Usem-nos e abusem-nos!
Festival (de Teatro) de Curitiba March 16, 2009
E começou o Festival de Curitiba. Ex Festival de Teatro, atual festival multimídia, a cidade fica inflada de tantas opções culturais. Mostra Oficial, Fringe e Mish Mash: tem para todos os gostos e todos os bolsos. Indicamos Play Chance para quem gosta da dobradinha teatro + música. Good luck, Fabio! 
Lightning in 20 minutes March 14, 2009
Ever thought why sometimes you feel you have a lack of creativity or, if you happily don’t, why sometimes you feel as if you’re crazy?
Part I
Part II
Cabo Polonio March 12, 2009
Our craziest coolhunter, Gaspar Reis, is always involved in cool and new adventures around the world. Last year, to be more specific, he spent time discovering some hidden beauties of our huge Brazil. What follows is a new report of his last trip to Cabo Polonio, 75 km south from Chuí, Brazilian extreme south.
As he describes in this report (written in Portuguese… sorry, but it’s impossible to translate without losing the beauty of the text): “the shelter of the pirates and French smugglers until the beginning of the XVII century is a place to be seen and lived.”
Possivelmente tenha sido o Capitão Pollonio, cujo barco proveniente de Cádiz naufragou em suas costas durante o verão de 1753, quem deu, involuntariamente, seu nome a Cabo Polonio. A 75 km ao sul do Chuí (lembram, do Oiapoque ao Chuí?) extremo sul do Brasil, este refúgio de piratas e contrabandistas franceses até os princípios do século XVIII, mantém-se alheio a voz estridente da modernidade. Não tem luz, nem água corrente, nem telefone e tampouco lojinhas de souvenir.
Cabo Polonio também é uma das maiores reservas de lobos marinhos do mundo, aproximadamente 300 mil indivíduos. Perdida entre o oceano atlântico e um mar de dunas, Cabo Polonio ainda se deixa descobrir guiando os mais aventureiros pela luz de seu farol, gigante solitário e fonte única de luz elétrica. Apesar deste jeitão de cidade no fim do mundo, Polonio (forma carinhosa com que os freqüentadores se referem ao lugar) possui algumas poucas pousadas e quatro restaurantes.
Sem dúvida, Cabo Polonio é um tesouro de piratas a ser buscado, pois ainda guarda muitas surpresas, pratos típicos, passeios a cavalo, dunas gigantes e personagens inusitados, além de um “conjunto arquitetônico” típico e com certa unidade estética. Para quem busca tranqüilidade o vilarejo, onde moram aproximadamente trinta e oito famílias, é o lugar perfeito.
Para chegar é necessário pagar seis U$ e viajar vinte minutos em caminhões adaptados para cruzar os sete quilômetros de dunas que separa a entrada do parque até o vilarejo. A 90 km de Punta Del Leste e a 300 km de Montevidéu, Cabo Polonio é uma excelente opção de passeio. Do Brasil, de carro, se pega a BR-116 até Pelotas, no Rio Grande do Sul, seguindo pela BR-471 até a fronteira, Chuí. A estrada ao cruzar a divisa é a Ruta 9, que vai até a cidade de Castillos, onde se deve entrar à esquerda na Ruta 16. No cruzamento para Águas Dulces, cidade 11 km a sudeste de Castillos, entra-se na Ruta 10 e chega-se ao Km 264, onde se encontra a entrada do Parque Nacional de Cabo Appolonia.
Photos and Text: Gaspar Reis
Street shoots – Los Andinos March 11, 2009
Our Inca-Quechua Sartorialist. Colourful!
(Pics: Andrea Greca)
Urban Stencil March 10, 2009
Urban Art is the point again… not only because we love this kind of expression but also because in Buenos Aires and São Paulo there is a new fever: Stencil Art. David Peixoto, one of our favourite photographers, has been there lately and contributed to Sink with the following two first pictures. The others are Stencils from São Paulo streets, made by the artists Alexandre Órion, Claudio Donato and Jorge Tavares. Can you imagine how nice it would be to have a collection of those in you garage walls?
You can also check for nice stencil art at Stencil Brasil.
Oil on ideas March 9, 2009
Having friends over for dinner? Why not serving olive oil bread dip like fancy Peruvian restaurants Chala and Rafael do?
Try reduced balsamic vinegar or soy sauce. And don’t forget some herbs and tiny bits of coarse salt and pepper.
Yummy and stylish!
And so we start off our journey into South America’s coolies. Straight from the source. Originals from what our sharp eyes have seen in Peru and Colombia. Expect the unexpected, this is South America.
Bienvenido… y que lo disfrutes!
