Confessions of a Lady Sindbad

It Turned Out to Be a Lifetime Relationship – Part 1

Our relationship with the places we visit doesn’t end with the sojourn…we stay there for a while but they stay with us forever, in our mind, in our heart …

However, before landing their ranking on the mere memories versus cherished memories chart, there is something common to all those visited places: the first timer’s feeling… I look forward to it,always..I absolutely relish the suspense surrounding the discovery process before the expectations-versus-reality factor splits them on the cherished memories’ chart.

Yet, 2 places are in a category apart…

1️⃣ New Zealand – the longest “hubbyless” touristic venture up to then.

*Hole in the Rock, Bay Of Islands – 6 April*

I still remember that day in 2004, when I read in the WIAD (Women in Abu Dhabi) newsletter that one of the members – Diane – was organizing a ladies trip to her homeland New Zealand. I was super excited but unfortunately my excitement didn’t last long…The trip got canceled due to the lack of participants: too expensive. Four years later Diane tested the water with a revised proposal hoping the ladies might have changed their minds..Some did, however this time she was met with a quite unlikely response : two ladies along with their husbands – one French couple and one Tunisian. I wasn’t keen on going solo but my husband pragmatically persuaded me and I overcame my hesitation with his sound logic : “It’s a busy period for me, I can’t take two weeks off to accompany you; NZ is on the other side of the world, I don’t see myself going there in the future. It’s either now or never, believe me, don’t miss this opportunity”. That was enough…I was convinced…and Diane would be my roommate..

Situated on a hill with a breathtaking view, the modern B&B we stayed in on our second night was above everyone’s expectations, out of a Hollywood movie!

I’ve never stayed in a B&B before and was pleased with the charm of this concept which allows for some warm interactions with your hosts. I just loved it and wished my husband was with me. This place ticked all his boxes: sea view and boats, boats and boats everywhere…I knew he would’ve loved it too, and well… After the meet and greet, we sat for tea. However, when my friend Beya, teapot in hand, asked me whether I’d like some tea, I couldn’t reply…she looked at me and noticed the battle going in my head, on my face : this emotion-fueled moment I was shyly trying to suppress was revealed by two shiny dots down my cheeks…

So although I was convinced to go alone, deep down I still wished my husband was with me. It was just a normal feeling considering he selflessly encouraged me to take part in this beautiful adventure; he truly gave me the wings to fly so far from home and at that moment I wished I could share this spectacular view with him, I wished I could share my room in this beautiful place with him, and I promised myself that I will come one day with him…

PS : Eleven years on and we still haven’t made this trip together …

Moral of the story : you snooze, you loose ..never hesitate …if you really want it, you go for it

PPS : I recently read a study which found that the Bay of Islands has the second bluest sky in the world after Rio de Janeiro. This is definitely a destination I’m going to do with my husband during the Carnaval…it’s been on my bucket list for years, and I’m not settling on going solo…

*Wellington 15 April & Bay of Island 6 April*

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*A palette of colours – North Island & South Island*

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*Ancient Kauri Forest 7 April – Bay of Islands 6 April – Pukekura Park in New Plymouth 13 April*

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*Queenstown, South Island – 17 April 2008*

Technically It’s The First Time

Throwback to July 2017

Technically it is the first time..yes, my eldest grandson is 3 years and 8 months now but during the two ” Mr. & Mrs.’s only ” post-parenthood trip his mommy and daddy have planned, my dear hubby has taken care of the offspring solo as I was away on both occasions…When 17 months Aboudi’s parents went to California, I was on a prescheduled trip to Japan playing geisha dress up with a few girls friends.

A year and a half later, same scenario: when 3 years old Aboudi and 9 months Sama’s Mommy and Daddy took off to NYC, the teta was in Bhutan doing the Druk Path Trek…

The least I can say is that the abuelo was up to the responsibilities with a relish and a rare merit…During the first trip, he used to come home early in order to accompany Aboudi to the nearby park and petting zoo..

During the second one, he took baby Sama to the pediatrician because her mom was worried after one of the daily WhatsApps with the nanny….the redness around her mouth ? Hand, foot and mouth disease!!

So yes, technically it’s the first time I’m going to practice the loving role of the teta -babysitting -the -grandkids but how can I compete with “a man with experience “?! Yes, while I was busy typing this in my room, Aboudi was sleeping soundly in my husband’s….

A Heaven Minus Adam

Sri Lanka – 24 /31 March 2017

No coffee

No AC

No WIFI in the rooms!

No, it’s not hell, just a detox retreat

The bright side?

Daily sunrise walk on a turtle nesting beach followed by Pilates, post breakfast massage treatments, post lunch “relax time “, and predinner yoga.

After surviving three days of splitting headaches and a state of constant lethargy I discovered I can live without my morning dose of caffeine and WhatsApp!

All in all I got a taste of hell and heaven, a heaven minus Adam.

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When we the picture with the waves turned out to be a picture with the rising tide.

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It Felt Differently Today

For anyone living in the UAE, it is a familiar sight, especially in areas like Al Ain. However, it felt different today.

Having stepped out of the car to take a close up, I noticed his tied feet in the tight space and my mind started pondering : this is the bedouin’s best friend, his oldest way of transport, and he is now being carried away on a modern mode of transport…The symbolism in this situation was not old versus new only… The look in his eyes could be that of a post-retirement workaholic pragmatically trying to stay aloof after acquiring “senior citizenship status”…

Yes, somehow it felt differently today…

Men in Uniforms

Men in uniform – and women- have a certain appeal..whenever I notice one, well.. I have never managed to reign my desire to immortalize those encounters…always with a smile, a knowing smile, a smile acknowledging the ludicrousness of my impulse

Checkpoint Charlie, a vestige of an unhappy period for pre 89 Berliners Berlin, Germany –5 June 2016

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Who is he? No clue. A passerby in uniform…et voilà Moscow Russia – 9 May 2016

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With the guard at the Mausoleum of Mohammed V- and his two sons Rabat, Morocco – 6 April 2016

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This Mayan site has some of the best-preserved stelae and those vigilant men in uniforms are making sure it stays it that way Archeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua, Guatemala – 4 November 2015

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Alpha female in uniform Todos los Santos, Guatemala – 1 November 2015

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Windsor Castle, Windsor, UK – 1 June 2014

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Notting Hill, London, UK – 24 August 2014

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With the of our Paris➡️Havana flight aboard a Cubana Airlines’s Ilushin II-96 – 25 November 2013

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With the “eyes” watching over the weekly Sunday march Huancayo, Peru – 30 October 2011

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During a demonstration, probably a minor one as the Riot Police officers didn’t seem slightly worried, considering that one of them lent me his cap and the other one his shield Arequipa, Peru –18 October 2011

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Police officers in longui, Bali, Indonesia- 27 March 2010

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Historically responsible for safeguarding the Crown Jewels: a Beefeater, Tower of London UK –15 August 1989

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The closest I could get to him behind the chain, Tower of London, UK– 15 August 1989

This Cup of Coffee

This cup of coffee, the morning cup is the “jewel of all coffees “..it has absolutely no match. It simply tastes different…forget the brew, forget the blend, it’s the whole experience…an experience one fails to recreate later on throughout the day; I’ve endeavored to duplicate it though…for a certain period of time I’ve been wondering with each sip of the magic brew whether it tasted as good as the earliest one only to admit the evident: regardless of the place, whether outdoor or indoor, sipping my first coffee in silence seems the most enjoyable mission . This recurrent daily small pleasure is one of the simplest and cheapest life enjoyment, it’s the ritual I look forward to when at night I close my eyes in bed , and despite the build up I’m never disappointed. It’s a selfish pleasure…no company needed…

One home requirement though: the mug…I stick to on specific style and it shouldn’t be heavy, absolutely not…who wants to do weight lifting in the morning?!

However I have to admit, my morning coffee is not the crowned King of all beverages … I have another daily ritual: the afternoon tea …and that’s another love story.

Arabic coffee, at The Emirates Palace Hotel’s Beach tent, Abu Dhabi UAE– 7 December 2018

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Capuccino italiano, Hotel Villa d’Este Cernobbio, Lake Como, Italy – 15 July 2016

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Palace cappuccino sprinkled in real 24-carat gold flakes at Le Café, the Emirates Palace Hotel’s – Abu Dhabi UAE 24 April 2015

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Latte, historic Demel Konditorei (1786) Vienna Austria – 12 July 2016

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Mochachino Mzaar Intercontinental Kferzebian Lebanon – 26 December 2017

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Café liégeois Liège, Belgium –3 Septembre 2018

Café gourmand Champs-Élysées – 9 September 2018 & Butte aux Cailles – 8 September 2018 Paris, France 

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Kopi Luwak AKA civet coffee Bali, Indonesia –20 August 2012

It includes partially digested coffee cherries eaten and defecated by the Asian civet. Coffee producers claim that this process improves the coffee due to the following:

⁃ selection as the civet choose to eat certain cherries only

⁃ digestion affects the composition of the coffee cherry

Although kopi luwak is a form of processing rather than a variety of coffee, it has been called one of the most expensive coffees in the world, with retail prices reaching US$700 per kg.

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Coffee with a spectacular view Hotel Alila Jabal Akhdar, Oman – 13 October 2017

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Tent service “morning coffee” campsite between Paro and Thimphu, Bhutan – 11 October 2016

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“On cloud nine” coffee between London-Abu Dhabi, Airbus A380’s lounge Etihad Airways – 18 October 2018

The Thimphu Tsechu Festival, Bhutan – 12 October 2016

//Part 8 of 8 //

I’ve always longed to visit this remote kingdom, the Land of Happiness.The opportunity came to fulfill my dream : the Druk Path Trek. Before the inauguration of the asphalt road, this trail was the only route connecting the valley of Paro to the valley of Thimphu through high mountains passes including the Phume La (4210m).

After being off the radar for 5 days, after a lot of “ups and downs “ through breathtaking landscapes, lakes, mountains and valleys, we made it back to civilization as scheduled, in time for the last day of one of the biggest festivals in the country: the Thimphu Tsechu Festival.

This religious festival is held in the capital city for 3 days . Dressed in their best outfits, thousands of people gathered in the courtyard of the famous Tashichho Dzong; by attending it, they are believed to gain merits.

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We weren’t the only foreigners, we could distinguish a few other tourists equally enthralled by the colourful celebrations. It was a rainy day, however that didn’t affect the performers ( monks and commoners).

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Mask dances like the Guru Tshengye (8 manifestations of Guru Rinpoche), Shaw Shachi ( Dance of the Stags), and many more are usually performed.

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That festival was a great finale to an exciting journey in this mountainous kingdom…

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The Day of the Dead, Guatemala – 2 November 2015

// Part 7 of 8//

This celebration takes place the day after All Saints Day, and like the previous one, it’s celebrated throughout Guatemala 🇬🇹.

From far away, as we drove downhill toward Sunil, we could notice the bustling activities taking place in the village. Hands laden with candles and flowers, entire families headed to the local cemetery. A few kites, held tight, were aiming to the sky amidst the electricity wires. How to describe the atmosphere?

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The graveyard was metamorphosed into the Chelsea Flower Show, barely leaving a bare footpath. Wearing their traditional outfits, “guests of the deceased for the day”- men, women and children – came to be reunited with their cherished relatives. Wishing to spend quality time with them, they made themselves comfortable around their burial vaults and indulged in food and drinks.

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Some families have planned the outing with a punch and brought along musicians, living it up in certain areas of the garden of remembrance.

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Obviously, the strongest family ties I’ve ever seen..how many people miss opportunities to get together with their families while here we get to witness visceral bonds transcending death itself. These families, these people strive to have at least an annual meal among their departed ones while in the very same time, in a different place, some people are willingly skipping a celebration with their living family…

Different people, different mindsets…different values, different priorities….

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Todos Santos Cuchumatán-All Saints Day, Guatemala 1st November 2015

// Part 6 of 8 //

While all of Guatemala celebrates Dia de Todos los Santos, the small hilly town of Todos Santos Cuchumatán is known for having one of the best festivals during which local men hold wild, drunken horse races.

These races are the culmination of a week-long festivities and a mad night of dancing and libations that continue throughout the day of the race for all men, riders included…

Upon arriving to the village, we admired the costumes of the inhabitants and particularly the attires and the headdresses of the racers.

Trying to catch a good view of the races, we climbed up a grassy hill and managed to find ourselves a suitable spot on a rooftop. The track is approximately 100m long and the horses have to cross it 6 times, back and forth, a drunk rider saddled on their back.

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We left during the midday break before the races resumed. According to our guide, we shouldn’t stay until the races are over as the general excitement would have reached an unsettling level and the streets would be lined with men so drunk they can no longer stand.

The races sound like fun but each year there are many injuries, some fatal…and paradoxically that bring honor to the deceased’s family..

Peru, October 2011

//Part 5 of 8 //

In almost every single town we visited, the streets were abuzz with some kind of event.

A procession for Damas Descalzas, Arequipa – 18 October

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The 20th anniversary of the School of Civil Engineering at Universidad Andina Nestor Cáceres Velásquez, Puno – 20 October

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A night procession, Cuzco – 25 October

The School of Fine Arts at Universidad Nacional de Bellas Artes “Diego Quispe Tito” del Cusco has taken over the streets, Cusco – 28 October

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Sunday’s morning weekly parade at the Plaza di Armas, Huancayo – 30 October **

30 kms from Huancayo and about a 40 minutes drive, our afternoon visit to the Convent of Santa Rosa de Ocopa was delayed because we came across a procession we couldn’t bypass … and then the procession and our big bus were slowed down due to the closure of some roads in order not to damage the flower carpets that were laid for the occasion on the tarmac of some streets. The sand carpet in the photo was at the entrance of the Convent.

Lima – 31 October: national day of the “Canción Criolla” (Native Song) is celebrated with native waltzes, polkas, Creole music; for us it was another celebration, the last celebration but I didn’t take any photo…well, it was our last day, we arrived to the capital city towards the end of the day after a 10 hours train journey. I was tired, running out of space on my memory card, running out of time before dinner, and practically running to cross the piazza where our bus was waiting for us. All these reasons and another factor, I call it “BTFAW” – Been There For A While – having been accustomed now to all these streets happenings, we tend to get selective regarding the scenes worth shooting and so refrain from rushing with the camera at each single flash of colour or every sound of music…