Fun Friday

WICOE
(Women In Charge Of Everything)
is proud to announce the opening of its

EVENING CLASSES FOR MEN!
ALL ARE WELCOME
OPEN TO MEN ONLY

Note: due to the complexity and level of difficulty, each course will accept a maximum of eight participants
The course covers two days, and topics covered in this course include:

DAY ONE

HOW TO FILL ICE CUBE TRAYS
Step by step guide with slide presentation

TOILET ROLLS- DO THEY GROW ON THE HOLDERS?
Roundtable discussion

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LAUNDRY BASKET & FLOOR
Practicing with hamper (Pictures and graphics)

DISHES ; DO THEY LEVITATE/FLY TO KITCHEN SINK OR DISHWASHER BY THEMSELVES?
Debate among a panel of experts.

REMOTE CONTROL
Losing the remote control - Help line and support groups

LEARNING HOW TO FIND THINGS
Starting with looking in the right place instead of turning the house upside down while screaming - Open forum

DAY TWO

EMPTY MILK CARTONS; DO THEY BELONG IN THE FRIDGE OR THE BIN?
Group discussion and role play

HEALTH WATCH; BRINGING HER FLOWERS IS NOT HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH
PowerPoint presentation

REAL MEN ASK FOR DIRECTIONS WHEN LOST
Real life testimonial from the one man who did

IS IT GENETICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SIT QUIETLY AS SHE PARALLEL PARKS?
Driving simulation

LIVING WITH ADULTS; BASIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR PARTNER
Online class and role playing

HOW TO BE THE IDEAL SHOPPING COMPANION
Relaxation exercises, meditation and breathing techniques

REMEMBERING IMPORTANT DATES & CALLING WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE
Bring your calendar or PDA to class

GETTING OVER IT; LEARNING HOW TO LIVE WITH BEING WRONG ALL THE TIME
Individual counselors available

1 year old and still going....

With all the introspection over the last few weeks I ended up completely missing my 1 year blog-o-versary as well as my 100th post. So here is wishing myself a belated birthday.

What a year it has been.

I have had up's and down's to make any roller-coaster jealous. I have shared about my dating prospects and about the ex-from-hell (mostly responsible for the down's mentioned earlier). I have lost weight and gained weight.

I have shared about my children and how much they have grown over the last year. From ballet concerts to temper tantrums; morning cuddles to sleep deprivation; fevers to trend setting.

I have been to some FANTASTIC concerts here at home and on 2 PHENOMENAL holidays abroad.

I have met some incredible people in the blogosphere and even had the pleasure of meeting 2 of them in person.

WOW - it is not until you look back that you realise just how much has happened, most of it just fades into the background of your life... but when you write it down and share it with the world you have something everlasting to remind you.

Here's hoping I can fill the next year with as many memorable moments (but a few less dips in the roller coaster of life would be nice).

What do you want to be when you grow up???

I still don't have an answer for that... What I do know is that I never planned to be, and don't really want to be, where I have ended up. The other problem is that I have never truly KNOWN what it is that I want to do.

I've tried thinking back to what I wanted to grow up to be when I was little and I honestly couldn't remember. I resorted to asking my mother... and the answer... a ballerina. Growing up to be 5'11" tall by the age of 13 didn't help that endeavour. The only other thing that I can remember is my brother and I planning how we would have a farm together one day where our parents would have a house as well. I was about 8 years old when this idea was hatched.

Oddly enough this farming thing is an idea that has taken hold of me again in the last year. I have realised just how much I detest living in the city. I do not like high rise buildings, I do not like traffic, I do not like smog, I HATE crowds of people, and I am sick to death of sitting in an office all day doing NOTHING meaningful. I love open spaces, I love being in the country and in the mountains, I love fresh air and peace and quiet.

Currently I sit behind a PC for 8 hours a day at the office designing and building systems so that some idiot in Copenhagen or London can track a box on a ship somewhere, and knowing the nature of the industry in 5 years time the entire system will be replaced anyway and no-one will remember that I have lost my sanity building the first one. I need a sense of purpose... I don't expect to change the world in one foul swoop... but I need to do something that makes a difference somehow, or at least something that gives me that sense of accomplishment that comes from seeing the fruits of your labour after a hard days work.

With the kids to think of I must also make sure that any risks I take right now are calculated ones.

1) Continue living in the suburbs where the kids can go the best schools and we can all continue living the life we have become accustomed to BUT that also means being able to support that life financially which in turn means staying in the industry that I am in. Basically everything stays as it is.

2) Leave the suburbs... sell the house and find a nice house in a countryside suburb. The kids can still go to good schools (very good schools depending on where in the countryside you are). I will still have to stay in the industry that I am in as changing careers would reduce my income substantially.

3) Leave the suburbs... and find a something that can support itself and the family... a piece of land that can produce enough income to pay for itself with enough to spare to put the kids in good schools and put food on the table. Easier said than done... but not impossible.

4) Any and all other suggestions are welcome :)

This will be the year of finding my purpose. I know it won't happen overnight, I know that I am going to have to stick things out for a bit longer BUT this will be the year of change

Out with the old... In with the new...

For months now I have had this feeling that it is time to throw out the old and open my life up to new things.

I decided that the best place to start this is by rummaging through all the 'stuff' that I have collected through my life and that has always just moved along with me. Everything from letters I received from my closest friend when I was in Std 1 (grade 3 for all you young'ens) after she moved to Johannesburg to invoices and receipts from shopping trips last week.

I look at it all and think WHY?? why keep all this crap, then I pack it back in it's box and put in back in the cupboard (or under the bed). Don't get me wrong... you can see all the floors and table tops in my house, I don't have piles of things lying about that make it difficult to maneuver around my humble abode... but just having these things in my life is starting to feel like it is weighing me down.

Over the last few months I have had very good intentions of being brutal and getting rid of these old things but every time I open the boxes I stare at it all in disbelief then put it back and go do something else. Well, I am making it my mission this weekend to tackle at least 1 room (trying to do the whole house in one weekend is a task too daunting), and the first room to fall victim to the "De-Clutter M's life" campaign shall be the bedroom (loud applause and cheers of congratulations erupt as the other rooms know they are safe - for now).

I am even quite excited to know what treasures lay hidden, safely tucked away in boxes that haven't been opened in 8 years or more... I just need to learn to be brutal and get rid of the crap that is gathering dust and has no use in my life anymore.

So, raise your glasses and be upstanding for the toast..... "To making space for new and better things"
CHEERS

Fun Friday

Some advice from DR Phil

I am passing this on to you because it definitely worked for me, and we could all use a little more calmness in our lives? By following the simple advice I heard on the radio yesterday , I have finally found inner peace.

The phone in show was talking about the potential damage to our health of the stress we have in our lives. Dr. Phil proclaimed, "The way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you've started and never finished."

So, this morning, I looked around my house to see all the things I had started and hadn't finished, and before leaving the house , I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of Chardonnay, a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream, a bottle of Vodka, a packet of Jaffa Cakes, the remainder of an old Prozac prescription, the rest of the chocolate cake, some Doritos and a Box of chocolates.

You have no idea how bloody good I feel!!!! The man is a Genius!

Sleep overs and BIG school

Both my angels are growing up so quickly. On one had it is great to see the lovely young people they are turning in to (I seem to have done something right) but at the same time I want to freeze time and keep them they way they are now.

The big girl is going for her first sleep over at a friends house on Friday. I thought long and hard before deciding that she could go... the age old question of is she old enough? She is only 8 and I have to realise that I cannot hold on to her forever. Believe me I wouldn't let her go to just any old sleepover but this is with one of her best friends and I know the parents and it is just her going (i.e. not a house full of raucous girls). She has spent nights away from home before but that has always been with grandparents or her father, this is the first time away from family. I know she will be fine but can't help feeling like the 'good' years are gone... the years where mommy is everything... the centre of her life. She is also getting to the point where giving mommy a kiss goodbye in the morning at the school drop off is no longer acceptable - you never know who may be watching.

As for the angel boy... we are now going through the big school applications. Next year it is grade R for him and preparations for the next 12 school years of his life. Here the dilemma is... do I send him to the same co-ed school as his big sister or do I send him to the VERY good local boys only school (where his father is an "old-boy")??? Personally I prefer the co-ed junior school option when they are still young and developing their social skills. High school is a different matter though and I have no strong opinions either way. I know he would do well in either environment... decisions, decisions.

Back to Black

I tried the pink... it simply didn't work for me... so back to the tested and LOVED black

------ UPDATE ------

I have some time on my hands here at the office and as you can see 'Ramblings' is CHANGING yet again. Comments / Suggestions welcome.

What a lovely modern age we live in

that a person can get harassed by SMS...

Yup, this is the latest in the saga of my life. Someone has taken it upon themselves to sling accusations and slander, all of them baseless, in my general direction. And to top it off they are refusing to reveal who they are. It is obviously someone who knows me but they have gone to the trouble of acquiring a prepaid sim card for their phone (which ANYONE can get without having any trace of who purchased it) and using it for their 'fun-and-games'.

Luckily I have many contacts and they themselves have many... so I have managed to find out a fair deal of information... HOWEVER not WHO it is, and here is my problem. I do not know anyone who would have the motivation to do something like this and definitely no-one who WOULD actually do this. There is one possible culprit but I don't know enough yet to actually confront them about it (although I am still waiting for some information to come in).

This has all managed to get me more pissed off than I have been in a long time... whoever this is I will find them - I don't think they realise just who they are messing with.

I WILL FIND THEM

SAWASDEE KAA

Another long absence I know... but it was spent in the beautiful, friendly, fantastic... THAILAND. 2 weeks away in this gorgeous country is enough to cure just about anything that ails you.

Except for the bloody long flights to get there and back (17 hour flying time each way) the holiday was magical.

To start the holiday off we spent 3 days in Bangkok... a sprawling city with over 12 mil inhabitants. We went Wat (temple) trawling till we were Wat'ted out... then spent a day at the zoo :) It is a magnificent zoo even though we felt like we were one of the attractions being the only foreigners there. The kids were the best, staring at us with coy little smiles and then the little hands come up and wave so enthusiastically... it was LOVELY.

'View from atop the Golden Mount Wat towards central Bangkok'

The Wat's were spectacular with their incredibly ornate decorations in blue's and green's and red's and GOLD LEAF EVERYWHERE. It is impossible to describe to you just how magical they were and most are under CONSTANT restoration of the murals etc.



The one thing you have to get used to over there is the HUMIDITY... and the fact that you WILL sweat all the time.... even at night.... and just resign yourself to that fact. Luckily water (ice cold water) is readily available around every corner.

From the hustle and bustle of Bangkok we headed down to the island of Koh Pha-Ngang and spent 5 days doing very little of anything. LOVELY.

'Me at the zoo with Henna tattoo aquired in Bangkok'

We stayed at the beautiful OceanView resort on the beach of Hat Khom on the quiet northern end of the island. With sunshine every day and cocktails apleanty I could not have asked for anything more. The snorkeling was phenomenal and spending a few hours in the water every day I ended up getting the back of my legs horribly sunburnt (you just don't realise how hot it gets when you are floating on the surface of the ocean). We also hired scooters for 2 days (my first time at the helm of one of these) and spent our time slowly driving from town to town taking in the beauty of the island and all it's inhabitants

"OUR" Beach

After 5 days we were very sad to be leaving this little peice of paradise... but leave we did to head over to the neighbouring country of Cambodia and to Angkhor. This is also a beautiful country with equaly friendly inhabitants although there is a level of poverty and sadness that reflects everywhere, even in the eyes of the smiling locals.

What a magnificent place Angkhor is... the grandure and the history is astounding. 2 days isn't nearly enough to do this place justice... and if you come make sure to pack in a good pair of walking shoes and are prepared to share the spleandour with the THRONGS of tourist that pass through every day.

'The GRAND Angkhor Wat'

From Cambodia we headed back to Bangkok and one more day, and one last visit to KhoSan Road (the backpackers haven). We had the good fortune of arriving back on the last day of their 3 day new years celbration and the end of the Songkrang (water) Festival. For 3 days straight the streets and lined with people throwing water at each other... with water pistols of all shapes and sizes and buckets and hosepipes and anything else that can hold the liquid. EVERYONE gets involved, including the local law enforcement and no passing person or vehicle is safe. IT WAS FANTASTIC.

This is truely one country (other than my home) that I could see myself living in quite happily, and a holiday I will never forget. Now to get back to planning and budgeting for my visit there next year :)

I have uploaded a sample (well 166) of photos here... this constitutes about 1/4 of the pics taken.

The BIG girl

My first born is now 8 years old... man how time flies. I got to spend the day on Sat trying to keep an eye on 13 of the little blighters while at ten pin bowling. Then got them all hyped up on sugar and cake just in time for their parents to come and collect them...


Happy Birthday my Angel

Dinner

In an attempt to ensure that I don't let yet another week go buy with out posting something... this is just a quick note to let you know that I am going to experience the Madame Zingara Theater of Dreams tonight. CAN'T WAIT. I will update you all tomorrow.

Otherwise here is a something to entertain you...


The "Middle Wife" by an Anonymous 2nd grade teacher

I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second-grade classroom a few years back.

When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that.

And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater.
She holds up a snapshot of an infant. "This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday."

"First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord."

She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement.

"Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. "She walked around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!' Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.

"My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this." Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.

"And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!" This kid has her legs spread with her little hands miming water flowing away. It was too much!

"Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, breathe. They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-center, so there must be a lot of toys inside there."

Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat. I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another "Middle Wife" comes along.

Office Romances....

"Have you ever been approached by a colleague..." he asked. He didn't even have to finish the sentence and I realised what he was asking. This got me to thinking about office romances/flings, the pro's the con's the hook-up's and break-up's

I have always been of the opinion that they are generally a bad idea, you know the old adage "don't dip your pen in the company ink pot" OR the lovely images invoked by "don't shit where you eat" (or something like that). Maybe it is because in my previous jobs I have never worked with anyone that has made me want to change that idea, but also the thought of what the hell happens when things go horribly wrong and you still have to work closely with this person, that I have never really given this much thought. However at my current job I have found myself rethinking my position.

I have known many people over the years who have met their future partners at work and all has gone very well for them, in fact I know of at least 2 couples where I am now, so obviously it can work but then I think you must know from the onset that there is more than just a physical attraction and you must both be looking for more than just a casual fling, or you both have to be the type of people that can separate work and pleasure and be able to not let the one effect the other... easier said than done.

ANYWAY, back to why I started this post...

I have two colleagues here who have made me rethink this idea... call them Mr X and Mr Y.

Mr X is oh soo cool and confident and self assured and would be great for a fling or casual booty-call (for lack of a better way to describe it) but I know that I am as far from his 'type' as it comes. He has the type of personality that draws people to him. A great guy, a good conversationalist, fun and sexy. The more I think about it the more I know that it wouldn't work and we would simply not be right for each other on all levels. So with him I am easily able to put those thoughts to the back of my mind and get on with life/work... now if only he would get out of my dreams (yup, twice in one week.... hmmmmmm)

Mr Y couldn't be more different from Mr X in appearance. He is as down-to-earth as it comes, a huge amount of fun, caring, gentle, funny, all around NICE GUY and bloody good looking to boot. He is everything I have ever wanted or looked for in a man but he is also UNAVAILABLE (and that is a boundary I am NOT prepared to cross). And believe me, if it wasn't for that last little detail, this notion of not mixing work with pleasure would have gone straight out of the window without even so much as a seconds hesitation. Now to perfect that human cloning thing :)

Anyway, just wanted to share my thought and ramblings... now it is your turn... have you ever? would you? how did it work out? don't be shy... TELL ALL

---------UPDATE ---------

Another thought/question connected to above and at the same time not...

At what point do you tell someone how you feel about them, even if you know that nothing more will come of it other than getting it out in the open, even if you have no idea how they will react all the time hoping that it won't f-up the friendship that you DO have????

Pic of the Week

Pics from the paragliding experience...

Look carefully, I'm in the yellow canopy half way up the picture

Moments after my ever so graceful landing

The little one going on a low level flight of his own

If absence makes the heart grow fonder….

Then you must all LOVE me by now :)

Dearest blog

I have been neglecting you over the last 2 months. Thinking back on the time that has passed it has been filled with adventure, excitement and celebrations… what a 2 month’s it has been.

Not long after my last communication with you I enjoyed the culmination of my 29th year on this planet in grand style with 3 separate celebrations. The first was a picnic at Kirstenbosch gardens with my nearest and dearest friends, catered for by the fantastic Ms C… much food and drink were had by all while enjoying the glorious summer Cape Town weather. On the evening of my birthday (which happened to be on a Wednesday this year) I was treated to a sunset cruise into Table Bay where we were graced by the presence of some Southern Right Whales which appeared almost within arms reach of the sailboat. The kids both thoroughly enjoyed the adventure even though we got DRENCHED by the waves splashing over the bow. The evening was then topped off by dinner at the Cape Town Fish Market at the V&A Waterfront… I would like to say that it was the perfect ending to a perfect day but unfortunately I cannot… I have always been an eager patron of this eating establishment often frequenting their stores at other locations in and around Cape Town but unfortunately this particular one cannot be complimented. The service was SHOCKING with us waiting a full 20 min before we were served (and by this time the kids were already tired as it was past their bedtime), the waitress was more interested in the store gossip that was circulating behind the counter then on our enjoyment of the evening, the food took a further 45 minutes to arrive and when it did they had managed to place the incorrect order for my daughter and as I wasn’t prepared to wait another 30 minutes to get it corrected I merely replaced her Cajun calamari with the regular calamari that arrived on my seafood platter. Seafood platter sounds yummy right, well aside from the overcooked mussels which could have been served as biltong, the rest was palatable. Needless to say, I shall not be visiting that particular store again. The third celebration was with my family, and a braai at my parents’ house, FANTASTIC. To top all that partying off I had a belated birthday lunch with an ever entertaining fellow blogger, friend and colleague Adumski today.

Besides the sunset cruise on my birthday, more excitement was had when I was treated to a tandem paragliding afternoon. WOW, how exhilarating. We gathered at La Med overlooking the ocean and sipping on cocktails while watching the previous group of gliders hovering over us before it was my turn to head up the hill. A short drive up Lions Head followed by a 20 min hike to the jump spot and we were there. While I stood taking in the splendor of the view over Camps Bay the glider was positioned, and after a short briefing by Barry on how to position myself and what to do to get in the air we waited for the perfect gust of wind and then… WE WERE OFF. OH MY GOD what an experience… I think we managed to stay airborne for about an hour… the conditions were absolutely perfect. At one point we were hovering over the top of the peak waving down at the people that had just completed the hike up the mountain. This was definitely an experience I will NEVER forget and will hopefully repeat one day soon. Unfortunately I didn’t take a camera up with me but I had someone waiting for me back at La Med who managed to get some fantastic shots of my experience which I shall be sending on to you soon.

I have recently also rekindled my love of camping, encouraged by a friend who goes camping regularly with her man, I was asked if the kids and I would like to join them over the weekend (past). My daughter had her school sports day on Sat morning and after that we drove up to Riverside campsite just outside of Roberston, and as the name suggests… right on the river. What a great weekend, the weather was perfect and we spent almost all our time either on or in the river. Canoeing, swimming, sunbathing, braai-ing, the gorgeous starry filled night sky that you never get to see when in town. The kids loved it and I was left wondering why on earth we don’t do that more often, definitely something to add to my list of resolutions, even if a bit late.

On another positive note, the BEFH and I went away for a weekend a while back… I KNOW I KNOW that sounds like a very odd thing to be doing but it was exactly what we needed. Some quiet time without the kids on neutral territory to talk and say everything that needed to be said and sort out this very odd relationship we have ended up with. We first drove up to a quaint little spot called Maitjiesfontain, what a lovely place, a little bastion of British colonialism. The ‘town’ is owned by one man and consists of a few houses (about 5), a post office, museum, train station, hotel, pub and one or two little gift shops. I don’t know if you could spend more than 24 hours there as there is literally NOTHING to do there besides the 10 minute red-bus tour up and down the main street, but I am very happy that I got to go there at least once in my lifetime. I would definitely recommend a visit and one night stop over there to everyone. We then headed off to Franschoek for the remainder of the weekend and stayed in a glorious B&B, ate toooo much, drank toooo much and talked till we had nothing more to talk about. It was really good. We have ended up with a good understanding of what we have (and what we don’t have) and can now hopefully get on with enjoying the friendship that we DO have. Knowing ‘our’ history, maybe I am being overly optimistic but for now all is good.

I have also recently started pursuing some big new dreams but those plans are all still in their infancy and I will elaborate in a future letter.

But for now I have given you the whirlwind highlights package of the goings on in my life lately and shall leave with the promise that I shall not neglect you for so long again.

Love and hugs and sloppy wet kisses
M

Horribly Overdue Holiday Update - WARNING picture intensive

Try as I might I have simply not been able to trim down my daily journal to a manageable size for here so I am instead simply going to give you a highlights package and keep my daily ramblings to myself.

So here we go.... WARNING: picture intensive

The 6 flights I had to take on my holiday were all less than perfect, due to various reasons and the complete inability to do the online check ins as planned, I ended up in horrible seats each time (and being 5'11" having no leg room on an 8 hour flight is HORRENDOUS). When I left Cape Town the weather was a lovely 29 deg Celsius and landed 21 hours later to a refreshing 8 deg... bbbrrrrrrrrr doesn't even cover it.

Amman is in a word monochromatic. The exteriors of all the houses and buildings are covered in the same stone... some of it is smooth, some polished and slight variations in the colours make the city blend in with the surroundings... special permission is needed to add any colour, however the insides are a completely different story. The first highlight was the appearance of SNOW on my first day there, not allot but enough to cover the ground with a light dusting and, of course, to make snowballs (which I did). This was the first time that I had ever experienced snow and I had to go to a desert country to do it.

The next day we headed off to Jerash (Gerasa), which is considered to one of the most well preserved sights of Roman architecture outside of Italy. It was SPECTACULAR... I simply could not fathom the age of the place with most of it being established around the time of Christ. Artifacts have been found here dating back to the Neolithic age indicating that the site has been occupied for around 6 500 years. The oldest buildings and architecture we have in South Africa is from the 17th century. We spent 4 hours wondering the site, breathing in the architecture and enjoying the sounds of a traditional Jordanian band complete with BAGPIPES. Even though the sun was out we were still layered in jerseys and jackets and scarves and hats and gloves.

Food is a big part of life here and boy do they know how to do it... most meals were mezze's with flat bread, you know the kinds... lots of dips and fillers (humus, mutabal, fallafel, haloum) in the middle of the table and everyone just digs in. The local white wine is not much to write about... but the red went down really really well on these cold nights.

We then headed off to Petra once the roads had been cleared enough to make it through the pass. There was about 50-60 cm's of snow in the southern mountain areas and in most parts only enough space on the road for one car... so if you ended face-to-face with another vehicle you prayed it was at a section wide enough to pass or one of you ended up reversing till you found a spot (at times up to 2km's)... in the end we survived the 3 hour journey in tact. Petra is mind blowing, spectacular, breath taking... anyone who ever finds themselves in this part of the world HAS to make a trip to Petra (but budget on at LEAST 2 days to see most of it - and be prepared for lots of walking and hiking).

Winding our way through The Siq (a 1 km path through the mountain) you know that around one of the bends you will see the first view of The Treasury (made famous to the western world by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom), and before you know it there it is in all it's massive glory. If you do come here make sure you enter the sight early (around 7AM) as it is quiet and you get to see the glorious pink and orange and red colours in the rocks that fade to grey in the noon day sun.

After taking in the awe of this site we headed off to climb the first of 2 mountains on that day. The 850 steps (taking about an hour to ascend) leads you up to The Monastery. The exhausting trek up ere is almost a required penance and preparation for this meditative place.

Click on the picture and see the person to get an idea of the scale of the place.

We spent about an hour up here feeling like we were on top of the world, before we headed back down and through the 'city' complex heading to our second mountain climb up to the High Place of Sacrifice. All along the main thoroughfare of Petra, now bustling with hundreds of tourist, are many many locals selling wares and each inviting you to join them for some Bedouin tea (which they make a point of telling us is for free). Along with these are the many donkey and camel 'operators' offering to take you to your destination.


After about another 45 min climb we reached the next destination which after all the ornateness below is rather unassuming... a large flat carved area with an alter and surrounded by raised stone seating. Apparently many years ago visitors to Petra would camp up here in summer sleeping under the starts. Following this tradition we lay on the rocks surrounding this one iconic place and had a short snooze soaking up the mid day sun warming the area.

The second day in Petra was spent exploring the low lying temples.. the Urn Tomb... the Royal Tombs... the Amphitheater... and I got to ride a camel.



After all the hiking my feet and legs greatly appreciated the relaxation at the Dead Sea the following day, which also happened to be New Years Eve. We opted for the quieter of the two parties happening at the hotel and ended up spending 4 hours eating a 6 course meal before blasting the new year in with trumpets and rattles and song. 1 January was enjoyed in the most incredible Spa I have ever been to... and one of my resolutions is to spend the 1st of Jan every year in a Spa.




Back to Amman for a one night stopover and then cross the border to Damascus, Syria. Now this is a city of conundrums... one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, old and run down except for the odd new hotel, and then there is the old city with it's narrow streets lined with little shops and restaurants surrounding one of the oldest biggest Mosques. Inside the buildings is some of the most ornate tile work and mosaics and embellished ceilings in golds and blues and reds.

And at night thousand of people line the streets. The place only livens up around lunch time but then it says open till 3 or 4 AM This is the place where people come to see and be seen. It is also so the only place that I would have felt more comfortable if I had a man accompanying me (and it takes a lot for me to admit that). The woman here generally go out in large groups or with a male family member... and being a head taller than most of the locals didn't help me blend in all that much. 2 Days here shopping my little heart out meant that the taxi drivers gave me very odd looks with they saw me with suitcase, backpack and a wrapped painting, but laden with gifts we headed back to Amman for the last 2 days of my 2 week holiday.

This doesn't do the place near enough justice... it was all spectacular, breathtaking and have given me memories to last a lifetime.

I have loaded 188 of the over 600 photos taken, here.... so please enjoy.

Words that I learnt while there (and please excuse the spelling... I have spelt them phonetically as you would pronounce them... more or less).
Thank you = Shoukran
response to that is Afwan
Hello = Marhaba... or the more traditional Salam Molekom (to which you respond Malekom Salam)
Goodbye = Masalama
No problem = Mishmushkala (love this one)
Right (directional) = Yameen
Left = Shmal
I also learned to count from 1 to 10 and to recognise Arabic numerals... well strictly speaking Indian... the entire Western world has adopted the true Arabic numerals (1,2,3 etc) here instead they use the Indian version.... OF COURSE.

Man there is just soooooo much more I would love to tell but fear I will bore you all to tears... you'll just have to go and experience it all yourself.

Filler Meme

I am still busy putting together a post about my recent holiday but have to do ALOT of editing... while typing up notes from my journal I realised that it will be pages and pages and pages long so am putting together a highlights package to post here soon.

In the meantime I found this over at Aquila Online and enjoyed the results it gave.

Here are the rules:
1. Open your music library
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that’s playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool - I know you have Celine Dion in there somewhere…

And here are my results:

Opening Credits: Metallica – Killing Time
Waking Up: Foo Fighters – The Deepest Blues are Black
First Day at School: The Calling - Adrienne
Falling in Love: Switchfoot – On Fire
Fight Song: Metallica – The Call of Ktulu
Breaking Up: Live – Good Pain
Prom/Matric Farewell: Prime Circle – Can’t Stop the Rain
Life’s Okay: Azam Ali – From Heaven to Oust
Mental Breakdown: Nirvana – Jesus doesn’t want me for a sun
Driving: Watershed – Return to me
Flashback: Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Hump de Bump
Getting Back Together: System of a Down - ATWA
Wedding: Counting Crows – Perfect Blue Buildings
Birth of a Child: Bon Jovi – I’ll be there for you
Death Scene: Counting Crows – Round Here
Funeral Song: Scissor Sisters – Take Your Mama Out
End Credits: Soundtrack De-Lovely (Elvis Costello) – Let’s Misbehave

Okay, now except for the fact that I have a very odd collection of music, that wasn't half bad :)

If you've read this consider yourself tagged (let me know when you post the results)

Back in body but mind still on Holiday

I am back in warm sunny South Africa, but my mind is still on holiday in Jordan. What a fantastic time. I have sooo much to show and tell, but for right now am still getting my head around the fact that it is all over.

I took a note book with me and will be posting a LONG entry soon about all the happenings and some of the 400'odd pic's that I took.

I hope you all had a fantastic new year and that 2007 is treating you all well so far.