finally we are one (Oxford, England)

A lovely good morning

What a busy, crazy and wonderful month of April it has been.

Pookie came to visit me again in Joburg, and we all - sister and crew (husband and 2 daughters) went for dinner. I had a fantastic time with Param:-)

Meanwhile, I have finally found new accommodation with a 'soulmate' for a flatmate. She's vegetarian, a health freak, does yoga, has these energy bursts when she starts a story. Doesn't this just sound like a twin sister? She's great. South African Portuguese. I love her wit and sense of humour. She loves to cook, and I love to eat. My apartment is beautiful. I'm on the 10th floor of a 30 storey building, on the biggest street (Sheikh Zayed Road - the size of the N1), overlooking the city and on clear days, the ocean. I love my new area. So, the patience paid off.

Just came back from England yesterday, where I met up with Gill in Oxford (hour and half away from Heathrow). What a great time I had with her. She took us on a tour of Oxford (her mom and I) and I was absolutely astonished by all the history and beauty of the place and universities. She showed us scenes from the movies Golden Compass, the door and lamp post from Narnia, etc. Saw the historical library and churches. After a great lunch, we went to the botanical gardens. Ag, it was really awesome and catching up with her again.

Now I am off for 5 days, giving me time to really rest, get some sleep and recover from this past month:)


Have a marvelous day!

Toedeldoe
A

island styling (Singapore)

Hey everyone

Today I appreciate a couple of days in my apartment in Dubai more than ever, after 2 weeks of being on the road and in the air:) All the adventures help me to explore my curiosities, explore Godness, my own spirituality, my emotions and expand my mind tremendously. I feel I am living a full life and living in total acceptance, closer to nature, to God and to it all - the known and unknown.

I was in Melbourne again (the 5 day Singapore/Melbourne trip), where I met up with Rochelle for lunch at a Korean restaurant that served awesome 'bento'. Thanks Chell. And in Singapore I felt it too strange to be in a great place and choosing not to go out and travel. So off I went on another adventure - to the Northeastern tip of Singapore, a little island called Pulau Ubin (after a train ride, busride and then a ferry called a bumboat). Once there, we hired mountain bikes and cycled for about 20 minutes through a jungle. Man, this was FANTASTIC! We (me and Rebecca, from the UK) were aiming for the wetlands called Chek Jawa. Once there, no bicycles allowed, only walking. It was such a journey, of discoveries. Around every corner we would see live creatures including a little crocodile, big lizard (whatever it's called), interesting flora and fauna. It was just amazing. Real jungle life, with the sounds of birds high up in trees that cover the sight of sky when you look up, things moving in the bushes, insects crawling, things jumping in and out of water and trees growing above the surface. It was weird and wonderful;-) It's a very rural part of Singapore, and very untouched. Even around the area (Changi Jetty), the housing looks different, the people are older and you meet locals interested in where you are from. We had some fresh cocunuts to quench our thirst and went back to the city. And everytime I go to Bugis (remember, the markets), I discover something new. A stall that sells fresh juices for one Singaporean dollar - dragonfruit, honey dew, white guava, jackfruit (hey, I saw these on the island for the first time - never knew they come from big trees) and a whole bunch of different fruits and mixtures. At night, we went to Insomnia again for an hour boogying on the dancefloor like no one knows us:)

The crew was REALLY super. We had so much fun, it didn't even feel like work. A lot of action onboard also, including a drunk passenger that sang for us in the galley (how embarrassing, haha), the lights not working (old aircraft), aircon only blew hot or cold air, etc, etc. Everyone was looney on this trip, including the purser. Right up my alley, hehe.

I'm off to Joburg again soon, and Pookie will be visiting me again ;-P

Tell me more what's going on your side
Missing you all

*Peace and joy
A

birthday in paradise (Thailand)

Sawat dii kaaa

Finally back in my cozy apartment after living 2 days (actually 52 hours) on Bangkok's airport because of flights being full (being an employee is not always beneficial), quite an experience - so let me rather tell you the good stuff:)

The beach part of Thailand is everything AND MORE that I've always imagined island style living to be. My aviation college mate, Marcela (remember, the Brazilian?) and I avoided the crowded and commercial areas and headed straight to an island called Railay (Rye-Lay). Very small island off the city Krabi (Cubby) - Thai people don't pronounce the "r" (4months experience in a Thai restaurant helped me in understanding the way they talk and made ordering food easier). East beach is where all the backpackers and funky Thai rastas stay with cool pubs, and West beach has the resorts, swimming pools and rich people and also one of the most beautiful beaches - Hat Nam Phra Nang. This was my first taste of paradise. I floated on these waters and just thanked God repeatedly for blessing me this way. We stayed in Rapalla (Param recommended) where we had our own, gorgeous little hut. I thought I was in heaven. We met 2 French guys on our way from Bangkok (which was a 13 hour busride) and they joined us and even became our neighbours. And here I celebrated my birthday, got drunk on local Thai beer (Chang) and swam in the resort's pools being chased by security. Man, it was fun! People here are so friendly and just out to have a good time.

We got up late and headed to Ao Nang beach where we took a bus to Trang then to Hat Yao (5hours). I was in charge of this entire trip and Marcela just went wherever I decided (the coolest and most laidback travel partner possible). At Hat Yao we stayed at a Nature resort where we experienced the life of real sea gypsies for the first time. These are people (those dark Thai) that live in shacks and make a living on catching fish etc. Little to no English, but as friendly as can be. At night, there was no sound and it was dark, natural and stunning.
Then off we went to the place that this whole trip was aimed for - Ko Lipe (Kaw Lee-Pae) (another 3hours by speedboat). We were going to cancel it because it felt too hard to get to, but Marcela pushed me and we persevered. My breathing stopped for a few seconds by the sight of this island. It is the most beautiful, unbelievable place I've ever seen . If visualization can create reality, then I don't know how I came up with this. It was beyond my imagination. The boat would drop you anywhere on the island, and as we went around, I said - this is it - so we got off at a beach called Sunrise. I left Marcela to go hunt for a place to stay. I met a group of sea gypsies and negotiated their tent. This was the ultimate!!!! We stayed outside on a dropdead gorgeous beach, survived a thunder rainstorm (monsoon season coming), we used their "shower" - big containers of collected rainwater and became friends. I went snorkeling for the first time (another dream true!) Borrowed their gear. Wow!!! I was swimming with fish and couldn't believe all of this. 06h30 that next morning I was doing yoga and thai chi with a 60yr old Malaysian master (another dream true!) and had breakfast with our new family. It was time to leave again. When we said goodbye (kisses and hugs), I was crying my eyes out. These people took us in warmheartedly, barely talking English - they were so hospitable in their cute ways and little that they had. I wanted to stay on that island FOREVER!! I just cried and cried as they waved at us from the island - then the guy from the tailboat (that took us to the main boat) didn't want to accept money. (I paid them generously for the tent though). An emotional and spiritual experience that I will always remember! :)

On our way to Pak Bara, we stopped at an island - Ko Tarutao - an untouched beauty (Ko means island). Not many people go there (as with Lipe) cos it is so far out. And then all the way back to Bangkok. We went to the Chatuchak weekend market. It's freakin HUGE!! There are about 15000 markets where you can just buy about anything - even animals. Went to a buddhist temple that is only open 2 days a year - Wat Itravian. Wat Sampian was also gorgeous.Then explored KhoSan Road. Infested by backpackers, markets and awesomeness. Ofcourse we had Thai and oil massages, drank lots of fresh cocunut juice (out of cocunuts), fell asleep in hammocks while listening to the waves of the ocean, explored caves, ate pad thai and green curries , etc etc and felt blessed by it all. It was our first time backpacking (we even had a crazy budget of R200 per day, incl transport, food and accommodation - yes, Thailand IS cheap) and it was great not knowing what is next, where we will stay - and everywhere we went we heard the song: "Don't worry, about a thing, coz every little thing's gonna be alright" ;-)

Don't think I'll have much news for the rest of the month - saving money to make up for having to buy an unexpected fullfare ticket:) I'm off to Singapore and Melbourne tonight again. But I'll email anyways:)

Hope you enjoyed this. Words can never really describe the experience as the map is not the destination.....

Kawphunka,
Bye bye

*A

the most beautiful city (Cape Town, South Africa)

Howzit!

The most beautiful city, in my opinion, is undoubtedly
Cape Town!

I just spent 12 magical days there and am totally reconvinced. So many negative stories (especially political and criminal) have been associated with South Africa which wanted to make me nervous about my visit - but instead I went in with a positive mind because this way the attraction for positive things are usually much more probable. It paid off well:)

There is SOOOOO much to do in Cape Town. Variety!
I spent most of my time on those stunning beaches (and they are FREE), sunsets I wish I could stare at, having conversations with open-minded, intelligent and creative people whom I wish I could stare at, having cheesecake in Mr PickWicks, going right back into the salsa scene from private- and group lessons to social dancing, to langarm in the Northern Suburbs (and now my eyes are really open enough that "ballrooming on techno music on a babypowdered floor" is actually an accurate way to describe this style of dancing, a Balkonology party (goodness), dinners with loving friends, seeing funny and crazy things happen at times where I think, "only in Cape Town" e.g. seeing a fake fire extinguisher on a tree on the way down the Kloofnek Pass, guys (barechested and sexy) do little magnificent fire shows on the beach after sunset (and they are FREE) and if you didn't bring your candles and bottle of wine to the beach after sunset, you're not well-prepared, me walking with my funky Nepalese pants barefoot and with only a bikini top into Nando's and no one staring (that's AWESOME), spending time with my multi-cultural group of friends, and spending great times with my Indian-turned-South African boyfriend (clothed in shorts and sandals and "bru"-attitude), I realize that this is the place to be. Cape Town is the COOLEST destination (and for those who live there, enjoy it). And the list goes on..... Just look around you!;-)

Now I'm back into the hooting traffic of Dubai, where my building smells of a mixture of stasoft and curries, and I can't think of anything worthwhile to do. Oh well, I'll continue to make the best of my time here.

It was great to see those I saw, apologies to the ones I didn't get to.
Keep rocking,
and remember that the best things in life really are free.

Ok bye dudes and dudettes;-)
*Peace and Joy
Alta

Singapore/Brisbane

Good d'ayy possums,
how ar ya

You have no idea what you have become to me, not only to share my news and my life, not only friends - also a reason to do all these things. Not only for myself...but do it for everyone that has always wanted. Making the best of every moment so that I can come home and have good news:) Making a movie then writing the script. Thank you so very much for all your wonderful feedback and replies. And for those who don't, don't worry - I know you smile.

I have just returned back to Dubai after 9 days - it feels weird. In 9 days we had 6 flights, 4 days in Brisbane and 2 in Singapore. Passengers asked me a question, and I had to think where I am before I could answer, haha. Mind and body freak, all these timezones.

Brisbane is beautiful - I call Australia: European South Africa. Everything happens smoothly, traffic goes orderly, no hooting, pedestrians cross where and when they have to and the whole city, just runs like the Truman Show. I fully understand why so many Saffi's (South Africans) immigrate to Aussie. It is the perfect place to settle down and have a family. In Brisbane I went shopping, from the city to the botanical gardens meets river, all in 5 mins. And it's clean and just stunning. Unfortunately I connected with not one single person on this trip, nevertheless went traveling to the Gold Coast with a colleague (Thai). We also went to the zoo (not a sad one - fantastic though and HUGE, peaceful and sirene) and yes, saw wallabies and emus, cuddled kangaroos and KOALA BEARS!!! My colleague has all the photos tho, my camera died on me.

In Singapore I went to Little India, a nice walk around the city and the Boat Quay (lots of restaurants here) very nice. Went clubbing for the first time traveling. It was GREAT!! After arriving in Singapore, got dressed and ended up in Insomnia (and with a Romanian colleague) - haha, can you believe. Danced till I dropped sober as a woodpecker (not much sleep mentioned here). I have a soft spot for this place. I can find my way around it by now (Singapore's not very big) and ask for certain foods even if it's not on the menu:) The people are so pure. I walked around in my Nepalese fisherman's pants (those waaaaaide ones) Walked into a vegetarian restaurant to find there are lots of pork, chicken, fish and steak on the menu and almost got upset for false advertising. But had to be convinced that the menu is 100% vegetarian - I was blown away (heaven). And the food was so great, I walked around as if on drugs. Just wanting to hug and love everyone. I don't know what they put in their food, but I'm in love with it. Number one on my list. A woman from Bugis market recognized me from last time. Wow!!! Haha. And then I shopped till I dropped....

Now I'm back, it's 11 o 'clock in the morning, and I haven't slept. And don't remember when I did last and for how long. It's the strangest feeling.
So, if you see me - I might look thinner than I used to:) But no worries, I still eat healthy, drink the strongest vitamins and minerals, do yoga and feel salubrious. So please don't stop me when I feel like running around naked on the beaches of Sandy Bay, heehee.

I can truly say now: Life's a journey, enjoy the ride!!

Cheerio mates

Ps. I'll be in Cape Town from the 10th;-)

Mwah

alles is wunderbar and fantastisch (Frankfurt, Germany)

Guten tag almal

Today's news is about Frankfurt, Germany.
The flight was great and the people behaved. Frankfurt was frrreeezing. The hotel was absolutely gorgeous, the room so funky and cute - I felt like jumping on the bed (I didn't)

Sabrine (french girl) and I connected and off we went into the cold to explore Frankfurt. We experienced the Germans there as very unfriendly, impatient and rude people. It freaked me out when even the Japanese girl at the sushi counter blabbered off in German as she got frustrated when I couldn't understand what she was saying. They were all like this. We only found ONE person that made an effort to show us where to buy tickets for the underground and which number to take. The whole city was un-"userfriendly". Everything was in German and we never knew if we were going the right way/direction. We learned that 'ausgang' does not mean toilet (the pictures of a man and woman - as it does when it shows you the toilet, was right above this word and just lead us to a dead-end) but rather meant 'exit' (uitgang). Weizen means wheat (found ONE english speaking person in the whole supermarket - they sent him to me to translate) in my search for wheat-free cereal. Scheize, what a schlep. At least bought good, healthy food in Germany:). And so our German lessons continued. We went to Romer, to the Old Town. Oh, basically Frankfurt was destroyed/demolished in the war and the entire city was rebuilt. Then we took a walk to the river. Instead of hazzling our way back, we shared a cab. It was so awesome to see all the taxis to be Mercedes's. I then remembered that it is made in Germany.

Sabrine is a great gal, so we had a lot of fun. Made fun of the grumpy Germans, and started to moan back at them, haha.

Nein danke, this place is not for me:) Was so excited to see in the tv guide that FRIENDS is on, to find that it is dubbed in German. And so also watching Jennifer Lopez in Maid in Manhattan speak German, I thought it rather a good time to snooze before my flight back.

Saturday early morning I'm leaving on a 9day trip - staying 2 days in Singapore and 4 days in Brisbane. Hope to have lots of news. Am so very excited to have some lekker sunshine on my face. In need of a serious tan:) And next month I am "putting my tootsies on Cape Town soil" (as someone said:-) !!!! Am missing our beautiful mothercity!!! It's all over our magazines at the moment:)

Anyhooo, vielen dank for being in this lifetime with me

Till soon
Auf wiedersehen

Alts

Ps. No Germans were harmed during the making of this documentary, heehee
To my German friends, you are lovely!!!

antique still works (Casablanca, Morocco )

Bonjour/salaam

Just returned from Casablanca, Morocco and ja
mmmm...interesting place. I don't even know what to write today. There is definitely an uniqueness about Morocco. A place where you can speak french, buy buckets full of olives, smoke shisha, dance to Arabian music and drink Moroccan tea (mint). Where new meets old (as in total extremes) because this place is ANCIENT!!! (and had the best hotel I've ever stayed in - pure luxury). The Berbers live there! - Their culture is like 4000 years old. In Morocco they still ride those pedal-motorcycles (what do you call them?). Some of the buildings are REALLY old, the people are hard, yet friendly and approachable. After every sale, my male colleague (luckily he could understand Arabic, although he is from Bangladesh - brought up in Dubai, family lives in New York) shook the hands of every seller (at the markets where you find those Moroccan antiques). And luckily my female colleague (the 3 of us spent the entire day together) could speak French (although she's from Spain). Because it was difficult to find English speaking people there. Thank goodness I didn't travel alone this time:-)

We went to the second largest mosque in the world - Hassan II - and wow, it took my breath away!!
And as evening approached, we wanted to have shisha, tea and dinner (but this combination doesn't exist in Casablanca), so we had dinner first - ended up in a Cafe where the menu was in French only, and I don't think we've ever had better pizza before:), then went to a larny (how funny is that) place where we had shisha and pots of Moroccan tea

Overall it was a pleasant trip. Great shopping. Fabulous weather (about 25 degrees) and it didn't feel crowded. The place is big and spacious. A mixture of what I'm used to in Dubai and in South Africa - Arab world and greenery. The flight there was long, the captain called us to the flight deck to see the Pyramids as we flew over Egypt:-) That was awesome!

Money unit - Moroccan dirhams (equivalent to the Rand basically)
That's about it for now:)

*Salaam
Have a fantastic day
Alta
Au revoir