From 30C to 8C

Going away is always so exciting. Zurich was great and I actually had a taste of summer, with walk along the lake, ice cream, swans trying to eat my feet, shopping in Konstanz, and even naked sauna! It's a time to breathe deeply and slowly, and to let time slip through my fingers. Maybe I shouldn't do that so often because when I get back to my real life, in 8C and torrential rain, I feel like something is very wrong and I am not getting anywhere.

-the person behind me in the plane kept banging the seat into my head and had very very stinky feet. I wished her painful death.
-two stupid fully made up girls/trashy women sat across each other in the tube and screamed to each other as ways of conversation. I wished them very painful death choking on their makeup.
-my flatmates keep making noise, such as closing doors and dishes. I wish them, yes, again, very painful death.
-and so on and so on...
I am very afraid of one day completely snapping it and be very violent and actually make it to the other side. Is it just me or everything seems so annoying and disturbing? In the meantime,I am perfectly happy and sad.

'Why do I keep hitting myself with a hammer?

'Because it feels so good when I stop' (Grey's anatomy)
I got hooked on another medical series.

Speaking of pain, I think I might have solved my own riddle. Why do I tend to fall for guys who are unreliable, unresponsible, penniless, stupid and worthless? And why do I keep longing for such badass players?

Apart from the fact that maybe I am stupid too, the hidden reason could be that I long for the apparent freedom, carefree and spontaneity of them. No career angst, no responsibility, just pure fun and laughs, frozen in time, in that instant. It may only last a few minutes, but it is so sheer blisss and lightness. And isn't that all we look for all our lives? Yes of course, but we also enjoy the search and the suprises that come with it.

I remember something I read once, about living like there is no tomorrow and planning like we are going to live forever (or something with the same flavour). So even when I am sad and hurt like a broken glass, I try hard to plan to be happier, just in case I don't die right there.

I wonder if panda's actually ever think about these, lacking in bamboos and all that.

TV or Internet?

As an internet addict, I wake up each morning to boot up my laptop and browse. Sometimes though, I wish I had japanese TV, because they have such an entertaining programs.



And those guys really know how to shake it! Some moves remind me of the moves we used to do at Waterstreet gallery or the Nerv!

A crappy rainy day in good company

This is one of those sundays when time stretches to its limitand gives you a taste of eternity, then suddenly shrinks like an elastic band and reminds you of reality.

A relatively soggy morning, lifted up by the musical percussions from the Bengali tiger parade, followed by an afternoon of lazy strolling in the Spitalfield covered market. We managed to only buy an item, after eating indonesian food (nasi goreng and nasi rendang), and a bit of italian tart with orange blossom flavoured cheese...I am still trying to digest. We finally dragged our wet feet (I had my Wellington rainboots) to the up sunday market, where we had fresh fruit juice (rasberry, apple and pear for some, and pineaple, apple, ginger for me). We also had shrimp tempura, and walked some more to finally end up on Brick Lane for the Bengali food sampling. Except obviously we were not hungry anymore. We shared one fresh coconut though and feasted with our eyes, admiring the booths, the window shops, and even getting into the saree shops. I now have an appointment to learn how to wear a saree, after buying a very bright orange shawalkamize. It so orange it glows in the dark...But it is nice and bright and lifts my spirits:)


The stage set up in the park nearby had a live band playing modern bengali songs, which the stand owners seemed to know by heart. There was a booth for henna, ice cream, more food, loads of Spongebobs and Spiderman and Dora the explorer balloons, and a fun fair as well. The rain and the crowd transformed the once green grassy park into Woodstock grounds.


That star fish friend of Spongebob was definetely spying on us!

I was happy to go home and sit down and have some tea. And while chatting away on comfy sofa, time gently nugdged us into a common time-space universe, and the sun emerged from behind the rainclouds.

Who needs eternity when we can still have both on loan for a short time?

Shut up

Stumbled on some old tunes...and this is one of them, reminding me of the dances and friends.
By Blacke Eyed peas, of course ! (It was this and Hey ya, by Outkast).




We try to take it slow
But we're still losin control
And we try to make it work
But it still isn't the worst
And I'm craaazzzy
For tryin to be your laaadddy
I think I'm goin crazy

Girl, me and you were just fine (you know)
We wine and dine
Did them things that couples do when in love (you know)
Walks on the beach and stuff (you know)
Things that lovers say and do
I love you boo, I love you too
I miss you a lot, I miss you even more
That's why I flew you out
When we was on tour
But then something got out of hand
You start yellin when I'm with my friends
Even though I had legitimate reasons (bull shit)
You know I have to make them evidence (bull shit)
How could you trust our private lives girl
That's why you don't believe my lies
And quit this lecture

[Chorus]

Why does he know she gotta move so fast
Love is progress if you could make it last
Why is it that you just lose control
Every time you agree on takin it slow
So why does it got to be so damn tough
Cuz fools in lust could never get enough of love
Showin him the love that you be givin
Changing up your livin
For a lovin transistion
Girl lip so much she tryin to get you to listen
Few mad at each other has become our tradition
You yell, I yell, everybody yells
Got neighbors across the street sayin
“Who the hell?!?”
Who the hell?
What the hell's going down?
Too much of the bickering
Kill it with the sound and

[Chorus]

Girl our love is dyin
Why can't you stop tryin
I never been a quitah
But I do deserve betta
Believe me I will do bad
Let's forget the past
And let's start this new plan
Why? Cuz it's the same old routine
And then next week I hear them scream
Girl I know you're tired of the things they say
You're damn right
Cuz I heard them lame dame excuses just yesterday
That was a different thing
No it ain't
That was a different thing
No it ain't
That was a different thing
It was the same damn thing
Same ass excuses
Boy you're usless
Whhoooaaaa

[Chorus]

Stop the talking baby
Or I start walking baby
Is that all there is

Congrats to the class of 2007!

And guess who I found, snapped by a Reuters photographer???


None other than George L...! WHo got his masters it seems by the beloved orange hood...hehehehe.

It is not what it seems

I look fat but really, I am very slim inside :)

When I first started my current job, I thought I was joining a pretty forward group of people. Well, there are some very hidden agenda in all around. I think I am not too familiar with it because I never really was involved in high school politics. I was always in a small clique that isolated itself fromt he whole 'I am prettier, I want your boyfriend, I have a better grade' kind of drama or whatever it was. So my social skills in term of internal politics are close to nil. I can only step back and watch, and only acting when it is ridiculous or when something needs to be done. It's a abit lame sometimes but as hopefully the 'universe will have its way of rectifying itself' (something like that, from Harold and Kumar goes to Whitecastle).

When I moved to London, it felt strange because I didn't know anyone. I seemingly left everyone away in the US. Now, after much begging and yelling from my college friends, I am on facebook and soon discovered many people I knew are living in London as well...yiipee:)

A very exhilarating and out of this world crying moment was when I found out that out there, someone finds football artistic and elegant, and ballet extremely boring. I feel the exact opposite and it is very funny that the same words be thought of instantly to describe both.

And to finish, an exciting festival this weekend, the Bengali new Year festival, Baishakhi Mela.The weather seems crap but they built a tent in the park next door so I will be hearing some music from my room hopefully.

Not in Black and White

There seem to be elections everywhere. The thing is, I now realize people never really have a good choice. Or maybe there are good candidate with genuinely good programmes, but people do not vote for them for the good reasons.
For example, Elektra did vote a socialist candidate not because she thinks it will improve society in general, but because she wants to be able to get money without working too hard, just some tax free income here and there in addition to the governmental subsidies. And that is coming from a woman with a degree in English, loads of time to spare, and no dependent.
I am not naive enough to think people vote for the sake of others. But I dislike the idea that they try to justify their motives with the needs of the society in general! It really disturbs me that so many people worked so hard, sacrificed so much to achieve these concessions, and basically they are being abused of by very lazy people like Elektra. It also takes away the government aid from the actual people in need, without resource and stuck in a situation.
And I am afraid that level of hypocrisy eventually will bring down all the social aid fought for till this day.

Selected 'listens'

Forget magazines and books these days (apart for the selected pageturners). I am all into podcasts. There are all sorts of them, and I am quite addicted to these ones.
-For the anime freak in me, there is Track Shun, who gives a preview and review of the upcoming anime that are or will flood the US market.
-Although I am not a big fan of history, The History Network podcast is really concise, and the narrator's voice doesn't make me as drowsy as you'd expect. If you don't want to go see the movie 300 but wants to know a good narrative account in 10min, this is the place to do so. Just scroll down at the bottom of the page for the Battle of Thermopylae.
-There are also the classical music ones such as WGBH Classical from Boston public radio, and the COGE from Paris.
-For a more festive or bouncy music there is the Ritmo Latino broadcasting from Micronesia.
-And how about a lazy day in watching cartoons? Yup, there are public domain cartoons out there, with awesome vintage cartoons. I was suprised to see how many of them were propaganda used to brainwash the viewers...

Many magazines and radio stations also have podcasts...the era of 'on demand' indeed!

My tasting of Kathmandu

It's been a while since I last was so full I cannot finish a sentence without burping. Now is one of those moments when I cannot go into a supermarket to shop for food because I cannot bear the sight of a single food item. I am so full the sight of food makes me nauseous. ..a rare moment to be fully appreciated:)
The cause of this strange illness? I pigged out on some Nepalese cuisine at the Great Nepalese Restaurant next to Euston station. With Chihiro-san, we had the Nepalese set meal at £13.95 each, and sampled 5 specialties (yes, five!). Nepalese cuisine has a touch of Indian and Chinese food. The Aloo Bodi Tama (Potato, Bamboo Shoot & Bean Curry) was very particular as it is a sour dish as the bamboo shoots are fermented and gives a kick to the curry. It is not very spicy in general , except the saag dish, so all the spices could be tasted beautifully. I like that, because I can enjoy the individual tastes of the cardamom, cloves etc...the dessert and tea at the end just killed us with happiness and sheer near explosion fullness!

It was quite impressive. And I got to hear Chihiro-san speak Nepalese witht he waiters, and learn a bit more on Nepal. Apaarently it is quite a narrow place, North to South, about 250km, but there is a 8000m difference in altitude within that thin strip so you get very different climate from south to north. She mentioned taking a week to go up 2000m from the south, but taking only 2 days walking down! Must be quite a fascinating place with breathtaking sights (and air). Just thinking of all that altitude makes me crash...

I am going to hibernate...

Divided and conquered

I haven't read many military books but I did have a quick glimpse of Sun Tzu's Art of War where it deals with leadership. I am now certain I am under very bad leadership. Worse even, we do not trust each other professionally...

whaaat..? When I am dozing off, my foggy brain blinks

Feliz cinco de mayo!-->insert maracas sounds here<--
It's a bit early for my poor brain who starts goin all over the place
-They have discovered a new planet with earth-like temperature. The popular question is what are the chances to find life there? My brain wants to know how the hell are we humans sure that life outside our solar system will be recognizeable by us???Because we are pretty slow sometimes, you know...maybe we've come across it but we just never realized it because it is not the carbon form of life..ah well...And also, I wonder what is their vision of the universe, their gods and religion...and also do you think we would get along? given that we can't even get along on the same planet???
-Some canadian man is campaigning to save BigFoot from extinction..must be a brain freeze:) I wonder if there is any species that tries to save the human species..maybe bacterias and viruses, though they have other hosts as well. Because you know, given that there will be much technology to select the sex of a baby, and that baby boys are more popular, chances are we're going to be extinct soon too..thanks to our..intelligence? Because let's face it, dumb people reproduce wildly at 15-16...so ironic.
-Which email did I register my NFL tickets to? ARghhhh
-Is Iraq the new Germany? So many countries are involved in keeping the peace there (and noone seems to be at peace though), and to my simplistic brain it looks like another iron curtain waiting to raise again...sigh, no more newswatching for me for a while.
-What are they wearing right now?(Orlando Bloom, Wentworth Miller, Topher Grace, Hayden Christensen);)
-I need to sleep, or my eyeballs are going to drop dry on the desk!

Hairspray

Oh yes, given that fluorescent jelly shoes and 80s style is back on, the soon to be on big screen Hairspray marks the return of big hair...retro is baaaack!


A good summer show that reminds everyone there is more futile and more entertaining things to do such as shake your booty and sing...
hmmm, also John Travolta will be Mom in that movie..hehehe

There is nothing I cannot do

Examples:
-For breakfast at 04:00 today i had a bucket of mandarine and pineaple and a banana and a camomille tea instead of the cholesterol packed english breakfast....I feel good. Go Me! Also I did the American ballet Theatre workout, CD2 for 2 days in a row. I can feel pain in places i didn't know existed. Watch out Shaolin monks workout, here I come!
-I grew some fingernails...not just as an accessible snack, but also as an accessory and to splash out more colours this summer.
-I downloaded Microsoft server 2003 (either am a geek or I miss my college years when I used to install stuff that keep crahsing)

There are still things I need to do though, like
- losing at least a whole leg and a full stomach (top priority) as I found out the 10km run will be in October sometime,
- eat less (hmmm maybe not this week, am having a heavy thursday)
- learn how to drive with a stick shift in my left hand (yikes, I got my permit to take the permit though)
- save money for my expensive vacations (I need a raise, and a rich generous boyfriend)

Swans and other birds

So summer is coming soon, even in London and I just had a look at what the city has to offer in term of performances. A priority this year is the Open Air Theatre in Regent's park, even if I know the weather is a factor. Shakespeare is on the program, as well as some light hearted musicals. So I am planning to watch at Lady be Good and Midsummer night's dream.

Sometime before June, I also want to visit Sadler's wells and check the Havana Rakatan out because they have lessons and dancing after the show. A perfect way to spend a friday night out.

First I am going to Swan Lake Premiere, which I still haven't seen live in tis entirety. Then hopefully I will get in the mood for the School of Ballet's end of year recital sometime in July. And of course I am not forgetting the theatre season at the Globe, for another round of Shakespeare...
I definetely need a raise!!!

Way back into love

So cheesy but it sticks in my head, and come on, Hugh Grant is singing!


I've been living with a shadow overhead
I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I've been lonely for so long
Trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on

I've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
Just in case I ever need em again someday
I've been setting aside time
To clear a little space in the corners of my mind

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
Oh oh oh

I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I've been searching but I just don't see the signs
I know that it's out there
There's got to be something for my soul somewhere

I've been looking for someone to shed some light
Not just somebody just to get me through the night
I could use some direction
And I'm open to your suggestions

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love

And if I open my heart again
I guess I'm hoping you'll be there for me in the end

There are moments when I don't know if it's real
Or if anybody feels the way I feel
I need inspiration 
Not just another negotiation

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart to you
I'm hoping you'll show me what to do
And if you help me to start again
You know that I'll be there for you in the end

On the daffodils

Spent the day in a nice park today, and had a really peaceful afternoon. It wasn't as worry free as when we were 3 or 4 years old, but we had some laughs and hopefully forgot about the fresh wounds we had.

I always found very soothing to be in a beautiful place when in mourning or after a loss. It feels so much devoid of all the darkness and meaness of the world around. It also gives time to rest a bit. Though I realize guys don't really get that moment and would end up playing ballgames or get bored, or sleep. I enjoy those moments where nothing is said and my mind blankly stares out to the awesome scenery.It is a selfish moment that can stretch until the sun finishes its journey across the horizon.
Treat of the day: KFC and vanilla rhum and coke (finished my bottle, sniff)
Best moments: when everyone wa slaughing out loud
Worst moment: going our separate ways
I hope one day I will be able to sit idly and do like them:

Help! I've gone mad

This morning I woke up at 04:30 to get in line for a bag. It is a designer bag sold in Sainsbury's (a food store like Food Lion or Kroger), and there are only 20 000 of them, or so I was told by my fashionista flatmate, Miss Lyon. She has seen it in the living secction of an airport magazine months ago, and could not buy one fo the 1000 sold in the designer shop, so she convinced me to get in line with her outside a supermarket to get one of the 30 bags given away this morning at selected stores.
We got there at 05:30 and the shop opened at 08:00 (I feel very vain). But the experience was fun as we met other crazy people and their husbands there, knowing that the bag was selling on ebay for more than £400 and sold that morning for £5. There is nothing like greed. I have never heard of the designer before, but she might succeed in becoming a household name: Anya Hindmarch.





The irony though is that it was marketed as a reusable shopping bag because designed with the We are what we Do group, thus environmental friendly item, but it was sold for £5 and given inside a bright orange Sainsbury plastic bag.
I am going bag to bed...

Today's worth

Today was quite a good day. The weather forecast was for light showers but it turned out fairly sunny and no rain at all. Wondered around the Queen's walk with a M.A.C (or is it A.M.C.?) who visited from Dubai. Apparently I have the british accent and use fancy words. But I managed to give him a decent tour of the must sees: Tower of London, Tower bridge, Tate Modern, St Paul, Millenium Bridge, Shakespeare Globe, Festival halls, London eye, Parliament, Westminster Abbaye, Trafalgar square...all by foot!

Then we met his friend in Chancery Lane who remembers me as the'popular one' which was very very nice and made me so happy. I am so vain..but I was happy I touched so many lives without knowing it, and having fun. I never thought I would be the popular one.

Later on int he evening, we hurried back to Selfridges to get an ox tongue sandwich from the food court (Brass rail), and chat about old times: Preston, Waterstreet galleries, Walmart, Christianburg, Five guys, Kabuki, University mall, and Starbucks...and where we agreed the real challenge for Tech is to rise even more in the University academic rankings, to prove how strong we are. Go Hokies!

It was also very nice to argue about where things are in Blacksburg as we all have different memories of where some venues are. A good trip back in times then, which ended up with a hunt for an open Starbucks...habits die hard, and that familiar taste was very comforting. Now I am nursing a blister on my left foot palm...On the way back, the che fof the morrocan restaurant kidnapped me for a chat, where I learned he voted bayrou, and lives in Plaistow (dunno where that is) We will call him Aladdin as he will be my conversational arabic teacher, even if he doesn't know it yet.:)
It was all worth it....

Mechanical theatre

I was idly strolling in the market when some really cute wooden robots attracte dmy attention in the Kinetica Museum in Spitalfields market. They are having an expo on all things mechanical, powered by loads of wheels and rods and it's so beautiful and fun. The engineer in me just marvelled at the different transfers of movements and direction changes to operates those little puppets.This is a nice one, representing a boat sailing on water, with a backdrop of a big rainbow.

There were so much to see, and I only had my crappy phone with me to take pictures and videos so it's probably better to check their website

For most pieces, you push a red button and the installation moves...for small kids and wannabe grownups.

Fish or brain?

Hail the chef

Maybe not.
This evening I decided to get rid of some 2 packets of fish bought from the local market. Those are small entire fish that you usually like to eat deep fried, but I have no deep frying machine and was not about to spend a bottle of oil for some fish that will probably burn, knowing my culinary skills.
I do have some skils but i cannot follow a recipe, no matter how simple it is. I always change it somehow. So Elektra suggested earlier in the week that I do fishcakes. Those are good. But first I had to thaw the fishes...a very weird sight...so many fishes in the pot, staring at me with their dead eye..traumatizing.
So for revenge, I cut all their little heads...and only keep the body, that I mixed with potatoes, an egg, and some tempura mix (I am sure this is not the way to use tempura mix). After all that though, and some seasoning to try to get rid of the fishy taste, it wasn't dry enough to make fishballs or fishcakes, so I put them in a litle ramquin. But because I don't kow how to make the oven work (it's a gaz thing and I don't want to explode in my own kitchen), I decided to microwave them for 4min, then put them in a pot for a bain marie..now it has been boiling in there, steam cooking for about an hour,and it doesn't seem to be cooked yet..

I tasted it a bit and to be honest I won't be able to offer some to my flatmates. It is way too shameful..ahem. Next time i will buy fishfingers like everyone. Mind you, my other flatmate was not used to see real fish...kids these days!She's the one who never cooks as well.....

In Memoriam

Today is Memorial day, Hokie Hope day. For me it's a lonely day as I will be adorning the colors of the school by myself. But I will be proud to carry it, and very sad indeed.
May they rest in peace, and may the people they leave behind get the strentgh to carry on.


* Ross Abdallah Alameddine
* Christopher James Bishop
* Brian Roy Bluhm
* Ryan Christopher Clark
* Austin Michelle Cloyd
* Jocelyne Couture-Nowak
* Kevin P. Granata
* Matthew Gregory Gwaltney
* Caitlin Millar Hammaren
* Jeremy Michael Herbstritt
* Rachael Elizabeth Hill
* Emily Jane Hilscher
* Jarrett Lee Lane
* Matthew Joseph La Porte
* Henry J. Lee
* Liviu Librescu
* G.V. Loganathan
* Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan
* Lauren Ashley McCain
* Daniel Patrick O'Neil
* Juan Ramon Ortiz-Ortiz
* Minal Hiralal Panchal
* Daniel Alejandro Perez
* Erin Nicole Peterson
* Michael Steven Pohle, Jr.
* Julia Kathleen Pryde
* Mary Karen Read
* Reema Joseph Samaha
* Waleed Mohamed Shaalan
* Leslie Geraldine Sherman
* Maxine Shelly Turner
* Nicole White

Ut Prosim

The strength of my bonds to VT was painfully tested, and I admit I am very much attached to the place and people I came to know, even just meet there. I grieve for the loss of a pure space like I grieve for an innocent chil, friend and parent I know for so long. I grieve for not being among the Hokies. There will be time to move on. For the time being, I offer my condoleances and thoughts to the families of the deceased. Ignore the insensitive comments of some non Hokies.

A big Hokie hug to all the people that I ever came to know on campus and that are mainly dispersed all over the globe. My head shuts down and spell them out to form a blanket of Hokie hodies, a blur of orange and maroon, like a comforting littany that would calm me down :
John Pankaj Kezang Mohammed Sharon Felice Jen Tim Hussein Kayoko Robert Caroline Joanne Faria Ami Ati Ramy Alan Adanna Himu Sabrina Gunnar Seemant Shelly Fernando Cynthia Pedro Mohammed Ragy Katherine Kim Belinda Steve Tharapong Mookie Jonathan Jodie Jeff Aysen Kirthana Fred Enrique Shevon Svetlana Hanita Johan Stephan Guillaume Kurt Dave Paula Cornelia Kristina Zohal Wei Mischa Carolina Jens Belen Nancy June Jacob Anne-Lise Amanda Breo Jessica Mathilde Zoe .......

To the VT Memorial site.

My heart cries for the Hokies

I know I got used to the 'No news, Good news' motto. So today is a terrible day as death was spreading through my beloved campus in Virginia Tech, Blacksburg.

After the frantic panic in finding out what happened to friends, sadness and anger invade my soul. The place had a special meaning to me, a havoc of peace, happiness and invicibility. A place where everything good could be achieved. A secret garden hidden among stressful and ugly piece of this world. Now it is exposed tainted with blood, madness, grief and trauma.

I treasure the sights, the people, the smells, the light, the grass on the Drillfield, the Hokie stones. I treasure the 5 years of happy studious life. I cannot help but feel the anger and ask 'WHY?', knowing no explanation would be satisfying or acceptable. I cry...

London, 25C

Unbelievable, yet quite true! And this is a time when a forecast is useful to plan a trip outisde the city. So adios Spitalfields market and bongiorno Windsor! Mr K. and Miss M. invited me to the countryside, not far from London, where there is a royal residence, some greens and a river runs through it. And on the river, o so beautiful graceful swans.


I quite wonder how they keep their plumage so white whent he water is so muddy. And so tidy as well. I cannot even keep my hair on my head..it keeps filling up the vacuum cleaner.

Anyway, it's one of those days when you just wander about, dragging your feet to an unknown destination.

And then out of quite nowhere, unexpectedly, a lovely sight.

That is not the Windsor castle though..this is:

Well obviously it's not just big tower. It is actually very big but not very high, so all the other buildings in town seem to crowd it a bit. But from a bend in the river Thames, it appears magnificent.

Imagine looking for a room in that castle...ahem...
"Edward, please fetch the hairdresser. I am ready for my hairdo." As if
3hours later, Edward returns with the hairdresser and his uncles, and 3 maids and dogs...pfffiou.."do you even know who lives in this place?" asked the cook. "well, I am not sure how many princes and princesses there are" says the laundry woman...

Awesome gossips!
It must be the heat, my head is talking nonsense again today....

Lazy ssaaaturday in East London

The day started early, like 09:00 but I only managed to get out of the house at 13:00. Then it was a trip down memory lane to show all the pictures from Yemen, and a real discovery of the Chinese cities from the pictures from *Wu-shu's vacations. We didnt even have time to go to the pet farm because we were so starving at 16:00 we ran to the bagel shops to grab cheap chow.

Merely 2 hours later we finally made it to Greenwich. The Cutty Sark was under renovation and the tide was pretty low and showed up some really ugly dodgy beaches. But we found Greenwich park and had a late lie down. Managed to take som real bad quality pictures with the phone. Here is the Royal Observatory, on top of a nice mount.

*I haven't found an alias for her yet so I'm just improvising...maybe Mulan, Sayuri, Hello Kitty...not sure yet...

Tooth care

I know I will have nightmares today. I know I will hear that horrible grinding machine and grind my teeth so that it wont get into my mouth. I haven't been to the dentist since 2002...today the universe caught up with me and made me cry, with metal tools in my mouth. I did say I was allergic to ALL metals on the registration form!

I am more afraid of the dentist than hell.

Hampton court

-I heard this was the residence of Henri VII (correction, Henri VIII...typo)
-Well at least he could escape by boat
-And what's up with the trees?
-Hormone inbalance
-Do you see that hottie over there?
-Nah you have the zoom...

Happy Easter

Ah so it finally feels like spring. My nose is constantly tickly and the sun actually warms the skin. I haven't had a proper chocolate egg and I have to work. So for infinite hours I sit watching curling on eurosport in the hope of maybe understanding the objective of the game...the attraction was to see a bunch of mine sweeping the ice.

Speaking of ice I wish some people would stay outside my ice sphere...

Trapped

'If you desire privacy today, don't deny yourself. Solitude can be beneficial.
It's time to deal with an old habit that's on the verge of becoming an unhealthy pattern. Maybe it started during your youth, or maybe it's a recent development. Whatever the case, you need to deal with it now.'

Really, it sounds familiar. Anyway I am now physically trapped on the British islands because my passport needed to be sent to the Driver's registration office so that they can investigate my identity...don't ask me why I trust them with my passport. In return they'll have to trust me on the roads..MUAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

Mud-elling etc..

BUILD ME A MUD PALACE
Like the one in Seyoun, entirely made of mud and rising to 5 stories overlooking the town. It was built in the 1800ish and used as a garrison. It is now a museum with some interesting facts about the wadi area, such as how the local money, the real, was coined during the austrian influence. Or to see the old alphabet used before the arabic alphabet...



And it also has a magnificent view of the whole town of Seyoun, with its minarets that are all different. Locals who emigrated to Saudi Arabia, Indonesia or other for oil or business return successfully and erect those minarets to thank God and give to the community. One could argue schools and hospitals could be useful too, but faith is a good thing here.

Another mud palace is in Tarim, where a prominent business family who worked in Indonesia came back and built a whole structure inspired by Indonesian craft and architecture. Unfortunately we could not visit inside as there was a funeral and the whole town went.




BUILD ME A MUD CITY

This is Shibam, a site which is on the World heritage list of UNESCO
The place was nicknamed Manhattan of the desert, as 9 stories high buildings were built entirely in mud. There is only one gate to this city overlooking the river bed. It is used to monitor any entrance and exit. Like in the traditional houses in the area, women and men each have their floor level. Cattle and storage rooms is on the ground floor. The top roof terrace is used for tea or coffee break. And it is always quite breezy inside due to the various internal open court and windows. The river bed itself serves as playground to the kids and goat and camel herds.

A CITY ON THE ROCK
Tired of mud constructions? Try the rock high rises of Al Hajarain, a city built on a bald rock overlooking the wadi.

This is unique in the region because the houses are actually made of rock as well, not mud. It's pretty scary to climb up the roads that swivel around the bald mountain. But it has a nice view up there and there are long staircase down the mountain for those who are not afraid of staring into the void while climbing down.

Speaking of rock, the driver was playing the backstreet boyz at some point and I missed Bambi dearly. Please, no stone throwing! Speaking of another rock, here is Haed Aljazail, another mud city perched on some unreasonable stone...the humans were unreasonable, the stone just happened to be there, half hanging out of the mountain...

This is a view from the desert plateau across from it, where some ricj guy, probably from the Al Kaaf family is building a huge resort. He even finished building the fence, using local materials: rocks. He also built a hospital and a place where he can have shows done on that plateau...seems that whole piece of flat big rock is entirely his...

Anyway, down the plateau we had lunch at this cute restaurant.

No need to add this was also made of mud....it was

The face of the desert

Forget the cliche of the sand dunes. I did not see those. After all, the trip was to be in a valley, where an intermittent river would form after rainfall. Instead, picture a long sinuous valley bordered by very high plateaux that are similar to Cape Town's Table Mountain. And you get the region of Hadramout.





It rained a couple of days ago and the river bed is blessed with some water, and some crops are an eerie green along the road.

Along the straight new roads, water station sparsely sprout out of the beige ground, celebrating and nurturing the idea of water to the thirsty and drained travelers. Truly a life saving station.

We also came across many goats herds, escorted by their lovely shepherdess, kinda dressed for Halloween.

Minarets towers in all shape and colors signal human civilization. Minaret also travels by truck on the long desert road.

On the plateaux, the immense flat dry surface stretches to the horizon, hiding the abrupt cliffs onto the valley.

The sunset can be viewed in higher grounds to get a view of the palms trees in the wadi and the sand storm raised by the breeze.

And finally hidden charming oasis of rest and peace cater to tired travelers.

The three musketeers

Hook (black eye), Gruyere, and Voatavo (ie swiss cheese and pumpkin)
Their mom is called...Orangina

On Weekend

I should have had a graduation ceremony, because I can now read...supposedly, in Arabic, when they bother to put the vowels on the words. Instead walked home through the souk one more time, taking some pictures like some vulgar tourist:

Observe the man walking up the hill, like any yemeni, he is wearing the traditional jambia, a mighty knife he keeps in a decorated belt near his ....belly, to protect his....belly:)

And here is one of the many shops selling the accessories for men: jambia belts.

And to finish, a nice picture of the old city, seen behind its big wall:

Since my classes finished (yes, short but intensive) I am not sure when I will be back in the old city. On the other hand I need a REAL vacation...days of doing nothing...and not waking up with an alarm clock.....

High...

Game: Not that i have tried qat or any popular local hallucinogens. Just that having a glimpse out of the window of the laundry room, here what I saw:


Spirits: And from the bedroom, I can see the muezzin that wakes us up at 03:00am for prayers...they are pretty hard core on prayers.

Voltage: Finally,I barely completed my homework when the electricity went off. So we had a candlelit dinner and a game of spiderweb, and sudoku.

Dryness

Every single hint of humidity out here is sucked dry out here. The ground is marked by small wrinkles and the trees are all very dry or burnt. However the recent urban planning included planting trees to separate boulevards, like the one next to the mall across from the house (below).

Also the skin, and other wooden crafts we have had since we moved, are completely dried up. For our skin, we have to butter ourselves with all sorts of yummy cream, from heal to face. The wooden chests and chairs have to be oiled apparently.

And worse, it is dry of cute guys. Have I mentioned that they hold hands?

Starting school

This morning was nerve wrecking as I was supposed to go to class by myself, like a big girl (not fat, just big). Took a cab which had plastic covered seats in case i vomit inside because of car sickness. Given how they drive over here, it is expected. Then I was dropped off at the entrance of the Old City (Baab el Yemen) and had to go through the souk by myself, following a map my Mommy drew. I managed to get to the school 15min in advance, so they put me in the kitchen to wait for 10:00.

I must stress that the city is in altitude so climbing regular stairs leaves me breathless. The school kitchen was on the second floor, after climbing old style stairs made for giants. I waited 30min, then at 10:10 I called the director of the school asking where my teacher was after seeing all the other students being picked up by their teacher. He told me to go upstairs, on the 3rd floor where my teacher was waiting for me. He basically forgot he sent me to the kitchen.

Anyway that was enough exercise for my poor legs, lungs and brain...tomorrow, class is at 08:00..........

Yeah Man !*

*coined by Hobbes

Finally landed safely on the second try! We almost landed the first time but at the last minute, ie after the tires were out, the pilot decided to turn on the engines again and take off...mainly because a violent wind was shaking the plane, and lifted all the dust around so ze could not see anything, the sky and everything we stared at was red yellowish fog.

But the trip was comfortable enough, except that in the new fleet of Emirates, the seats are higher than usual, meaning the height challenged like me could not touch the floor with my feet, and the footrest could not be used during take offs and landings. Quite painful then. I also cursed for 6 hours after a party of 3 guys in front of me who kept drinking and got really drunk and really loud. May they be sterile.

So far I am getting lost finding the rooms I want in the house. Imagine when I have to walk through the souk in the old city to go to my Arabic classes tomorrow...

Our life in Science

Convinced that my granny still lives in the 50's, I wondered how it would feel 50 years from now on. Hell, it's hard enough being born in the 70s and growing up on stuff that don't make sense anymore, such as:
- Pluto is not a planet
- It is now scientifically impossible to go back in time. This must be very hard on magazines and the cosmetics industry. How are they going to sell them products that are supposed to make you look and feel like 10 years back in time?



And then you start to imagine waking up one day 50 years from now and finding out:
- that all your kids (if you have them) look alike, except for their hair color, and they're not the same age either.
- you can go to the hospital and ask for a hip replacement, not because yours broke, but because you get a new hip, grown from the cells you gave earlier (or did they just take that sample when you were being treated for an appendicite?)
- When your child is sick, you can either replace the malfunctioning organ with another one that was grown in vitro (same as your hip) or...get one from a clone of your child...
- Your food doesnt taste like anything anymore. Instead you have pills that treat each vital organ..and your tastebuds are not vital apparently...weird because it can be useful to taste poisons...ah well
- You can't have babies by having sex anymore. For babies, you go to the bankand fill in a form and get your order like at McDonalds. In fact everyone (men and women) has to do it for the survival of the species.
- Everyone is using public transport that don't stop for no reason for engineering work. The only private vehicles are the ones to the other planets and moons.
- You can learn a new language in 3 nights' sleep

I stop imagining because it's been a while since I read a science magazine so I can't remeber what other stuff is shaking up our lives...but just imagine though...pretty scary sometimes.

Flashback

Sometime yesterday in Paris I was walking briskly along the corridor of the metro station Cluny La Sorbonne. And I felt like almost 10 years ago, when every morning I had to run in that same corridor to catch my connection train to Jussieu...very weird feeling.

Otherwise, I was quite happy to fly with a woman captain on my flight back to Heathrow. Her voice was very reassuring, even if her landing was a bit bumpy. However the stewart had a terrible French accent, so bad it hurts to listen to him. 'oui invaite u to reed zee and out in front ov u...' arghhhhh Maybe if he was cute i would have felt better.

Top 3 things I can't buy

3-Dietary food, such as slim fast and such . I feel miserable because if I buy it then I have to eat it, and they're not very good, except the ones I bought in France years ago but which is now discontinued... I don't like slim fast.

2-panties. Because no matter how I look at them they look huuuuge...:(

1-Condoms...I've never even tried. In a supermarket I walk down that aisle and glance around and discover to my horror that there are millions of boxes of different colors. Geez, as if it wasn't difficult enough. And then for some reason I can't read anymore so I just stare at the aile, continue walking and wonder what's the difference between those condoms: thickness of rubber? talc and powder? reservoir? size? breathable (huh?) flavour? texture? glow in the dark? with or without lubrification? So I leave it to the guy to get them.

I just imagine guys shopping...
'oh man, i only have 2 condoms left and it's the weekend. Gotta get some more. So let's see...what's the cheapest?...hmmm...3 for the price of 2. yeah but this is small. And I need lube. Don't they have family size boxes so that I don't have to do this so often? Hehehe, the ones with flavours...******(censured thought). Oh shit, another guy is coming over (this one is hetero right?). Ah well, whatever is under my hand then. Oh shit this is not what I wanted. Ah well, maybe she will....grrr...run run...ah damn, all the cashiers are girls, ah well, gotta hide this one with the lettuce, or shoo, how about some flowers? yeah..smooth!'

Arghhh that was painful, to try to think like a guy like that. Am glad I'm a girl.

Who are you?

It must be very strange to not remember things. I do it already but I usually forget events...Yesterday however, my grandmother asked me who I was. LOL. I don't blame her from bloking me from her consciousness though, I've been a bit of a troublesome lady to live with. But it was quite funny to find out she doesn't know who I am and that I finished school...Instead she said she remember my sister she hasn't seen in 5 years. Some shortcircuits going in there...

Airports or terminals?

It is a place where people pass by and don’t stay, except for the shops. So travellers usually move in hordes, in and out of the terminals. I do like airports mainly for that reason, but only when I am leaving. Picking up someone or waiting for someone at the airport or dropping someone is not very enjoyable, mainly because you wait (waste of my life), or because you feel left behind.

I don't like the word terminal because it sounds so definitive and very ill. Airport is a better word because it is much more descriptive of a bustling port where things are done: goodbyes, greetings, business, meetings, extraditions, body searches, etc...It's where I rush to, take my ticket, check my luggage get in line for the security check...and most of the time don't look back. Either I know I'll be back and will rejoice in seeing family and friends again, knowing that rare comfort of being loved no matter what, or there is just nothing to look back on because I am glad to leave it behind.

'Kuroi namida'

Here are the translated lyrics of the song from 'nana'. And I do feel like this....

can’t count the nights when I’ve hoped tomorrow won’t come
I’ve lost my dreams and my love; lashed by the rain, I’m crying, crying, crying…

What do I need to do
To be able to live as I am, without dressing myself up?
I can't even believe in myself, so what should I believe in?
The answer is so close that I can’t see it

I cry black tears
I have nothing, I’m so sad
Unable even to put it into words
My whole body begins to ache
I can’t take being alone

At night I grew tired of crying and drew my face, yet it wasn’t my face
I need to stop hiding my weakness and putting on a smile

Is it the hardest thing in the world
To live without dressing oneself up?
If I could have something from you, I want something intangible
I no longer need things that can break

Even if I cry black tears and scream
Tomorrow will come with an unfamiliar face
And I’ll come up against the same pain
If those days are going to continue
Then I want to go far away
Even though I know it's selfish of me...

I cry black tears
I have nothing, I’m so sad
Unable even to put it into words
My whole body begins to ache
I can’t take being alone

Even if I cry black tears and scream
Tomorrow will come with an unfamiliar face
And I’ll come up against the same pain
If those days are going to continue
Then I want to go far away
Even though I know it's selfish of me...

In a rush and a void

I've been quite busy creating, reviewing, editing a French CV lately. It is my only deadline in about 3 years now and it felt good to be compelled to do something for my own good. Even if the results are not guaranteed and the job itself doesn't seem too technically challenging.

It also left me quite empty. I realized when I feel something I do tend to almost immediately express it, either to a plastic composite and metal scrap (i.e. a computer), or to the relevant person. So if I am happy I say so, if I am sad and missing someone, I say so, and if I like someone, I say so as well, which has the relly annoying effect of making the guy run for shelter and for a boat off the island or continent. Very disturbing. I am not sure if it is the way I express it or just the fact that I have those feelings.

I have tried being subtke about hings, but then again I don't like the idea that I am not sure what the other person understood. So soon or later, usually sooner, I blurt out what excatly is my feeling or opinion. I have been shy before, and I am still considerate to others' feelings. But I put my own feelings first by expressing them.

Electra said we are not women who receive gifts. That is because we do not know how to act needy and demanding...and maybe also I am too independent and proud to ask for anything sometimes. If I need help I will eventualy ask for it. Maybe I get it, maybe I don't but at least I asked and tried.

Yeah, i feel empty...I need that rush to make me feel alive again.

The whereabouts of the Moon Rabbit

Can you see it? I thought I was loosing my wits when remebering the moon rabbit. Apprently it is only visible in the southern hemisphere where I grew up. In those days we spent a large amount of time staring at the moon before going to sleep, making up stories and conjectures about what the rabbit was doing up there. It is a shame it cannot be seen from up here north...
It is a very well know figure that can be traced up from the shades on the moon. For those unlucky one who grew up without the Moon Rabbit, here is what you are missing then:

Sun, Earth and Moon

A total lunar eclipse is visible tonight, straight out of my window. The sun, earth and the moon are on a straight line apparently, in that order.I wonder if that accounts for my mood. In a few hours, the moon disapears in front of my eyes and may reappear again while I am sleeping.



The moon slowly drifts out of my sight, like any other goal or dream I had in mind. Planes fly between my crapy camera lens and the moon, and I wonder if the passengers look at the moon and if they see it bigger. Also, if they reach up with their hands, they could touch the moon...sigh.


I didn't get to see the moon re-appear, but while dozing off to sleep, I unfortunately have to get real and realize bitterly that it is only I who decide how I feel. And so I am angry for a while, because I forgot to depend on myself. I will stop watching the parade, and walk away to go on my journey. That parade is only a collection of fake clowns, fake giants, cheap glitter, and loud ear tearing noise, disguising boredom, uselessness and aimlessness.

I missed the Haley comet a few (maybe decade) back. I'm glad I saw this one. And I even caught a blue moon. without using any filter or any sophisticated equipment...but the photos don't capture the rabbit on that side of the moon.

Porque te vas

The first song I learned in Spanish, even before 'Hijo de la luna' de Mecano.



Hoy en mi ventana brilla el sol
y el corazón
se pone triste contemplando la ciudad
por que te vas?

Como cada noche desperté
piensando en tí
y en mi reloj todas las horas ví pasar
por que te vas?

Todas las promesas de mi amor se irán contigo
me olvidarás
Junto a la estación lloraré igual que un niño
por que te vas


Bajo la penumbra de un farol
se dormirán
todas las cosas que quedaron por decir
se dormirán.

Junto a las manijas de un reloj
esperaran
todas las cosas que quedaron por vivir
por que te vas?

Todas las promesas de mi amor se irán contigo
me olvidarás
Junto a la estación lloraré igual que un niño
por que te vas


Todas las promesas de mi amor se irán contigo
me olvidarás
Junto a la estación lloraré igual que un niño
por que te vas

(Jeanette Dimech)