How long on Halong Bay?

Oh boy! Yes, yes, and yes. The last of my workmen, or the last of the Mohicans, as I call my fantastic team of guys who helped achieve the end result of my garden flat, have all gone now! Yoopy. It's time to party!

It is so strange not having the fortune to drive around London. However, having my brother Soltan and his lovely lady Tuba here has been bliss on many terms, as in whirling us around town, from B&Q getting a lawn mower (goodness knows how many times I will be using that!) to the BBQ, which again I will be counting on my good buddies to come and bring that alive. Spring is in the air, and the outbursts of warm sunshine at the end of March have been a wonderful surprise to the wet weather we have been experiencing most of the year.

Now, back in Vietnam... Upon arrival on board the Indochina Sails via the private tender, Alistair had already made acquaintance, and we sat at the table of two for a seafood lunch. At the same time, the junk cruised the magical bay, watching the sculpted limestone islands rising from the misty waters. We boarded the tender in drizzle and went to visit the fishing village nearby. It amazes me what conditions the rest of the world live in while we are blessed with so much comfort in the West.

A relatively uneventful evening apart from the fun company of Alistair at dinner; the following day, I awoke later than expected, with the gentle floating on the water, and the day began after breakfast with my new friend, Dale. Almost everyone had left as most stayed aboard only one night, so with Dale and a couple, we were handed plastic to wear to keep the rain away, in various colours to choose from and off we went on another boat to visit a cave on an island.

We then went kayaking through another cave, which led to a lagoon with water as smooth as a pool. Apart from the three kayaks we were in, no one was in sight, and the air's coolness was magically peaceful. Next came a visit to the Pearl Farm, where they showed us how the oysters were caught at sea and how to get the pearl out of the shells. It made me think, is there any cause of pain to the shells? Who's there to tell?

Pearl Farm

 The pearl necklaces that took my fancy were in glass boxes, and black pearls in pieces were definitely more significant than any hazelnut I have ever encountered. Once the price tag was revealed, I decided my tour at the Pearl House had ended and simply rushed back to the tender. Time for the self-service lunch approached sooner than expected. A new crowd settled onto the junk, not the friendliest of people, as they seemed totally uninterested in mingling.  




After the meal, we were yet again handed another wet-proof gear in another colour to board the tender and visit the most gigantic cave I had ever known. In my entire life, I have seen a few: Hang Sung Sut or the Surprise Cave. I'm not sure why Alistair thought otherwise, but I was certainly stunned by the grandeur of the space, which was apparently covered with the 3,000 visitors at the time, we were told. 

As we walked through the vast area, the cave was lit in different colours.

It made one wonder how many hidden treasures are still to be sighted, or with all the tourists flooding every historical site, are there still any left? After all, it has not been long since, for example, Machu Picchu in Peru was discovered.

At that moment, I realised that my trip alone to destinations so far away was pretty tame!

But I love every moment of it.

We were back on the Indochina Sails early evening to get ready for another dinner set with rose petals on white table clothes at set tables.  

Bar and restaurant aboard Indochina Sail

The only shame was that the Department of Transport had ordered these amazing vessels, once in their original wood colour, to be painted in white now, which somewhat diminished their character. Nevertheless, it was quite an enchanting experience.

We bid each other farewell with Dale, who had begun his work trip to Vietnam by taking a break from the junk and now had to return to Hanoi for work. At the same time, yours was about to be picked up by Tuan, the driver, to commute on a one-and-a-half-hour car ride to Haiphong, catching a plane to Hoi An and ready for a beach holiday with a warmer climate.

The flower market in the centre of Haiphong

The Town Hall in Haiphong

To be continued...
Back here in London, the Persian New Year marked the beginning of spring with sunshine, and I got myself in the full swing of exercising. A Saturday afternoon gathering chez moi last week was to bid my dear friend and concert/rave companion Shane farewell as his lovely lady was in town that weekend, and he was moving back home to start a new chapter. It is not exactly sad to see friends move when you know they are changing cities to welcome a new destiny that will benefit their future, but although he will be missed, there is one more destination added to my places to visit... Again.
A whole week with family has been fabulous! I have barely gone out as the days have been active and the nights happily spent in each other's great company. However, the first housewarming party took place last Friday, and in all the excitement of gathering very close friends around, I spent most of the evening in the garden in a flimsy dress and caught a cold. I will get over it, no doubt.

Sending a RIP to one of the greatest DJs of all time, Frankie Knuckles, who passed away at the young age of 59, amongst the ones missing on the plane from Malaysia and the stunning 49-year-old L'Wren Scott. Who wouldn't want to be her? This talented artist took her life away, which makes one think, do not judge a book by the cover. None of us can genuinely realise what happens in anyone's mind and life. So, be kind to yourself and others, let go of nonsense, yet do not let anyone make decisions for you. Be in charge of your destiny.

Na night, amigos. 

Bedroom with a sea view

Oh Hoi from Hanoi

Life is an adventure, and I am in charge of taking the steps to make it exciting, fun, and full of love. I am surrounded by those who truly love me back and appreciate my self-worth as much as I do theirs.

I returned to a sunny, glorious day in London, landing Saturday at 6am on the first weekend in March.
Could a girl ask for more? After spending the last few nights away, I was itching to return to my new home and be surrounded by all the love this city nourishes me: my kids and dear friends. Spending two and a half weeks alone bored me of my own company.  

To favour a single city would be unfair, as in 'my favourite place is...' Each town has its charm, which appeals to and may not to the other. But there are places where I feel more enriched in body and soul and simply breathe in a different air.  
Hanoi was my first destination; Vietnam's capital city had changed from Saigon (or the present-day Ho Chi Minh City) to its current name. Busy with motorcyclists flying out of traffic lights turning green in masses of hundreds, like the birdcage open to hundreds of birds flying out. Only here, crossing the road, has a very peculiar system of turning your head ahead as soon as a window of opportunity opens and a slot appears among the cyclists. Gently rushing across the street, not looking toward the freed birds. I'm exhausted thinking about it.

Ho Chi Minh Mosauleum

Cock fights in the square.

Less busy street in Hanoi

Original residence meant for Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh's residence of choice

The grounds of his humble home, as well as the palace

For a communist country, Vietnam has its moments of capitalism coming through.
Vietnam was under Chinese rule for approximately 1000 years in the early days. In the nineteenth century, French colonisation began, and in the early twentieth century, communism was introduced by Ho Chi Minh or Uncle Ho as he was labelled by his countrymen.
The French were defeated by May 1954, with a division of the country into North and South.
 
From what I learned from my guide, Hanh, Ho Chi Minh was born in the poor province of Nghe An. At age 21, he found a job on a big ship and went to France, starting from Marseilles, working in the kitchen as a helper; he also worked in London in a hotel from 1917 to 1919 and in Boston. He continued working and travelling by ship, train, and truck for thirty years. He joined the French Labour Party cabinet and found many volunteers to help against the colonisation of Vietnam. He adopted many children, joined many associations, and made friends to help him change his country. He realised people were the same everywhere, so he approached families in the US to call back their sons from the war. Ho Chi Minh returned to Vietnam in 1941 when he was 51, during the  French colonisation of 1858 to 1954. Then the French left, and the American war went on from 1955 to 1975 when they used Vietnam for testing new chemicals, causing many cancerous cases, which places the country third in the world, sadly for cancer.
Ho Chi Minh became a Jade Buddha in Vietnamese hearts and religion (The God of Mercy Buddha with one thousand eyes and hands).

Ho Chi Minh lives forever in our hearts.

In 1986, the government's new policy caused many to travel to Vietnam and invest in the country, and a change was on the cards. From what I recall of the movies, as in Apocalypse Now, for one, I was so disturbed after watching it that the only way to get it out of my system was to try and not engage what went on in this country and not that long ago. Since then, many Americans have travelled to Vietnam on holiday, and the Vietnamese I met seemed forgiving towards the past. This is the only way forward; resentment towards a government is different from how the general people of a country feel. It is unhealthy to let politics be a cause of judgment towards the individuals occupying a land.

Hanh and I walked to find the driver, Tuan, who would then take us to the Temple of Literature, a tranquil setting of Vietnam's first university where doctors were taught over the years. The pictures will do the talking next! What can I tell you about the university where they study? haha

 


 

Next came the ride on the cyclo, ridden by a man on a bicycle. We each took a separate ride and went around, visiting more sites of the city and the fascinating old quarter. In one area, brides and grooms crossed roads with a photographer intact.  
"Is this for real? All these brides and grooms crossing the street in daytime?" Was my query to Hanh.
"Yes," she explained, "They come to this area to take photos, " whether on the bridge, by a monument, or next to the Gucci store.

By now, it was definitely lunchtime. Hanh took me to Cha Ca La Vong restaurant, which has been around for five generations. The fish here was freshly caught from a river running on a mountain and had no bones. It was cooked wonderfully before us, with lots of fresh greens. Delicious!

The only option at Cha Ca Va Long

As our tour had ended, Hanh sweetly offered to spend the rest of the afternoon riding her motorbike and showing me more of her city. She even took me to a gallery to buy a painting. Then we found an antique shop, where I entered and did not stop pointing to... This and then... Oh! That and then there were the five musician figurines... Ayayaya. This was only the first day of my trip, and it seemed I had already overloaded my luggage!
After a meal, I returned to the hotel and could not sleep for a while because the speciality coffee kept my eyes and mind open. 

The next day, after breakfast, the suitcases were down, and the same driver with the four-wheel drive was there to pick me up for a four-hour journey to hop on the junk in Halong Bay. We passed through dramatic scenes of paddy fields and small towns with boulevards running in the middle of the roads, which weirdly reminded me of driving through parts of Venezuela and getting to Choroni!  

The driver spoke no English and had put up with all my singing, leaving me at the port in the hands of someone to show me into the waiting area with other passengers. Firstly, I got to speak to a couple from England, both divorcees seemingly content together, so I left them to it as we were instructed to board the Indochina Sails.

Indochina Sails (without the sails!)

Halong Bay combines thousands of islets formed over millions of years. South East Asia's iconic landscape was also considered a World Heritage site in 1994. 

I will continue on with the rest of my travels in the next blog.
London has been bliss and hard work; getting the finishing touches of the flat done takes more effort than the actual work did. Chasing men over to come back and finish their jobs takes work, in any case! Haha. I feel super blessed and excited about the immediate future. It is the Persian New Year on the 20th of March, and the new year begins on the 21st, which happens to be the first day of spring. The weather has been kind to us here in London. A table is set with seven items beginning with the letter 'S', in Persian, of course, with special meaning for the year to start in health, wealth, patience and joy. As in red apples, gold coins for prosperity mirrors for light, spices and goldfish. Hence, Fish, Fish and Fish, as I call my new pets, are back. Since my arrival, I entirely a few friends have been popping in, especially over the weekend, to sit in the garden and enjoy the rare appearance of the sun.

I am so excited, and I just can't hide it... The song I sing at happy times. My brother Soltan is over with his lovely lady Tuba for a visit soon. The Jehovah's neighbours are not acting any kinder, but then, they probably think the same of me. However, Christofer was over since I got back to help me let off some steam; a true 'no strings attached' kind of 'relationship' over the years. Goodness, if that makes sense.

May your days be happy and every day a New Year celebration. 

Random meetings in Vietnam

Within each story lies a thousand words of love, hatred, wisdom, joy, sadness, and all the feelings we choose to create in our minds at each moment.

Sitting here on the balcony of my bedroom, with a bed large enough to comfortably accommodate not two but three, looking out onto a pool with coconut-bearing palm trees at each corner. I wish I had kept my skin away from the burning sun on the previous day. I'm glad there are the pages of my blog to turn.

Travelling so far east is not merely to discover the wonders of a country that occupied hours of news in the sixties and seventies during the American invasion but also to spend time on my own in finding self and others. So far, all I have gathered is that I am very comfortable in my own skin, even though somewhat burned at present.

Upon landing in Vietnam's capital, Hanoi, my first introduction to the people here was with the lovely Hanh, who would be my guide and companion for the next day. The driver of the four-wheel drive, Tuan, spoke no English. The twelve-hour forty-minute plane ride to Singapore, followed by another three hours to Hanoi, meant I kept dosing off in the back seat of the jeep while Hanh tried to go through our next day's itinerary. She then suggested I get some sleep and contacted her in a more alert mode.

As she left me at Anise Hotel in what seemed a central square position in the city and checked into the room, I knew sleeping in the afternoon would be of no help to my unsettling jetlag, so I decided to get a map from the concierge, camera in hand and do a long walk around Hanoi. The hustle and bustle of the merchants occupying the streets was fascinating; I wandered until I unexpectedly found myself at Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum. It occupied a vast open space in what I assumed was the town centre. With no idea of time, I decided to catch a taxi to the recommended Seasons of Hanoi restaurant at an early 17:35 hour, only to be turned down by the amused waiter and told to return at six. Walking only a little further, I saw a large lake with relatively peaceful surroundings compared to what I had just experienced. It was hard keeping my eyes open, but I managed it until I was only five to six and was allowed into the empty restaurant, trying to keep my eyes open and not fall headfirst into my noodle soup.

After an eleven-hour sleep in a hotel room I would have customarily refused to stay in, Hanh was waiting in the lobby to take me on the privately guided tour.
I will leave details of the information gathered on learning about Ho Chi Minh's great leadership for when I go back home. As I have not yet had access to my photos, what is to be revealed for now are the people who have crossed my path so far.

Hanh was the first person representing Vietnam to me. Is it not true what an important role we each play in being ambassadors to the countries we call home? My guide was well-informed, kind, and caring, which was an excellent introduction for a start. When we met on that day for a tour of the capital, Hanoi, we walked around Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, which was closed on Fridays to enter, followed onto the relatively humble home he chose to live in the grounds of the palace originally built for his residence. The simplicity of his lifestyle was admirable. From there, another car ride to the Temple of Literature and a stroll in the vast area which occupied an excellent meterage of the town; it was fascinating to know what great minds had set foot in the grounds we now walked in.

Hanh did not rush me once while I took the hundreds of photos I usually do. After a fabulous and healthy fish lunch, she offered to stay with me the rest of the afternoon, having the most delicious coffee Vietnam is known for; thick and chocolaty made with condensed milk, yummy. I rode on the back of her scooter as we toured the rest of the afternoon while I purchased a couple of paintings, two reading glasses, plus a visit to an antique shop. Ayayayaya.  Hanh then left me at a restaurant, where she recommended dinner, and it was a great start to my holiday.

Saturday, 22 February, the same driver, Tuan, picked me up at the hotel for a four-hour drive to Halong Bay, setting sail on the Indochine Sails junk for two nights of unforgettable scenery. As he spoke literally no English, I only had myself to entertain, so with his permission, I put the car music playing from A Love Story to sounds of the seventies and began singing. My mother would have been horrified, but Tuan's expression looked untouched. Great. He then dropped me off at the port, and we bid farewell. I joined a group of about thirty on board a small boat carrier, which took us to the junkyard. It was not difficult to notice the two single men amongst a group of couples stuck together as peas in a pod.

The older gentleman, closer to my age, began his approach as we got on board and, after settling in our relatively luxury cabins, asked whether I would care to join him at the table set for two. It weirdly felt like Valentine's night with red roses and an elegant surround. Eeek! As I had clearly stated on my Facebook page: 'Fuck Valentine's Day, I love you every day'. I'm not a fan, but in any case, Alistair had a wedding band on, so no hanky panky there, just good company. In fact, he was great fun, mentioning his wife quite a few times during the evening, and I genuinely appreciate his faithfulness. Taking time apart when you are in a solid relationship is only healthy. The bottle of Argentinian Malbec went down well with the Vietnamese meal, and we could not stop giggling at the poor man announcing the visit to the 'Surprise Cave' set for the following day, only ten times. I was among the five or six who stayed on for two nights, so that visit would be made later. We chatted and laughed some more after dinner, and I even joined Alistair on deck for three Marlboro light cigarettes after giving them years ago. He said:
"I'm often told to be a bad influence!"
I added: "That's usually my line!"
We each retired to our rooms, and I only got a glimpse of Alistair as he returned from the cave tour. He said aloud while his boat was leaving ashore:
"Bye! And by the way, the Surprise Cave was no surprise!"

The younger single man was already there when I got up to the breakfast area. We shared a table and began conversing immediately. Dale was his name, and he was brought to Vietnam through work. He decided to spend the weekend exploring Halong Bay waters before starting in Hanoi. He kept me great company for the next twenty-four hours as we visited the Surprise Cave, one of the most extraordinary caves I had ever been to! Gigantic, too, with three thousand visitors inside, as one tour guide noted at the time. We also did some kayaking with a newlywed Colombian couple, going around other caves nearby. No Sun, but great fun. Despite a deliberate dislike for Harry Potter by the husband and his wife's fascination with the character, she says, looking at her man: "Yes, but he likes Harry Potter now because this is love."
Fair do. We all shared a dislike of the message we had received. As we expressed, the masseuse jumped on the bed like a kung fu fighter, and goodness, did she mean business! I had to beg her to be gentle.
When we were taken to the pearl farm, Dale was buying his mum a pair of earrings when I heard a lot of hoohaa and laughter. Once back in the junk, our guide mentioned all the interest from the sales girls when they found out Dale was single, but he seemed wiser than to fall for that.

Another goodbye the next day as Tuan awaited to pick me up at the harbour, and this time, a one-and-a-half-hour drive to Haiphong airport was scheduled. I had already asked him to bring a new CD for the journey as I had tired myself of singing the same songs three times on the way from Hanoi, and he gladly listened. Only this time, I had yet to learn the songs! Perhaps that was deliberate. Haha. As we were early for the flight, the friendly driver took me for a short visit to the Opera house and flower market in Haiphong city and a spot for a mediocre lunch at one of the few restaurants we managed to locate; a silent lunch as of Tuan's limited language capability.

So far, I have found the Vietnamese people warm, kind, and friendly. They all seem surprised when I keep pointing out the table for one. Room for one. Breakfast for one, and it is clear from the warm embraces the ladies here give me that there is nothing sad about me, my smile, or my wonderful life. Also true, I have yet to come across one woman travelling alone here, nor any man apart from Halong Bay. Oh well, neither here nor there. I am absolutely cherishing the experience and realise self-searching does not have to occur anywhere in particular. Every day carries learning in many ways; just being open to the miracles surrounding us and the tiny details that make life awesome is all we need to observe. The rest is merely experience.

A change of hotel from Boutique to Chic tonight, where I had spent my first night in Hoi An, ordered three flamenco tailor-made dresses; one each day here, visited different restaurants on a nightly basis, and took a guided tour of the ruins of My Son today sums up my time so far here. Looking forward to more...

With Love from Vietnam.

La Ronda... Que bonita!

What a year so far, and it has only just begun...
I sold my flat and now have to sell my car, clothes, shoes, bags, and furniture—all gone. But my soul is intact, and my heart is ready to explode onto the new pages of a new chapter. 

Reminiscing back to the good times in Espana, I met Sanchia, who worked in a field similar to Lori's, myself, and another of Lori's friends, Leya. We had another lunch on the beach at Chirringuitto's, which I would only partially write home about, but the company was great. All divorcees exchange life stories of love, disappointments, leanings and moving on. The company was so good that we decided to meet again at a local bar in Marbella's old town in the evening. Once Lori and I arrived, the banquet was filled with a few more! A ladies' night. It was enjoyable, as I was blessed with a beautiful entourage of fabulous Spanish ladies and a few men from many nations. By the time Aisha joined us, most had left, and I had done a Haldita number with a group of men claiming to be owners of a bra factory! Oh dear, a couple of caipirinhas, a night out in the town, free from my ordeal of dealing with renovations, had left me somewhat drained, and now, it was time to let loose. I have a photo of Lori holding her head in her hand and looking at me with rolled eyes as if to say, here she goes again. The tapas restaurant we ended up in before shutting was delicious.

On the last day, we picked up Aisha, accompanied by a school friend she had accidentally encountered at her residence after all those many years and invited her to join us. Another fab girlie day spent in the mountains where La Ronda was formed. The drive was picturesque as we went higher in altitude; we stopped to watch a row of vouchers sitting on the opposite mountain, flying away in turn, one after the other, as in a ritual.  

 

The road to... Not San José but La Ronda!

The last two vouchers before flying off

Once at the top, we parked the car in the car park next to a church and walked to town. The sun had faded in strength, and clouds were hovering above us. The old town was absolutely gorgeous, and the cameras were out in search of new subjects to focus on.

The church in the centre of the town

After a walk around, Lori had organised lunch at the Casa Ortega restaurant. The owner and his son greeted us with a smile and sat with us, ordering their unique dishes, which we happily indulged in. Three different red wines of the region were poured, one after the other.  
So much for Aisha's health clinic diet! Who cares? Don't we go around saying we only live once?
 

At the Casa Ortega

After the long hours at the eatery, the restaurant owner offered to take us four ladies on a tour of his city in his Mercedes Jeep. As they were about to close the church in the main square, he approached them, and the doors of this magnificent monument were opened for our private viewing.

Once again, architecture left behind by religions worldwide is the best creation of humankind in terms of beauty and richness. Shame the religion itself gets so meddled with by egos.
We returned on my last night in Marbella and went straight to bed after packing. In the morning, I made another quick visit to the Cappuccino café, bid Lori farewell and drove straight to the airport on the empty motorway at high speed under the Malaga sun. Last but indeed not least!

Upon returning to my new home with the carpenter and decorator, only to name a few of the workmen visiting daily and causing more dust, I lost it slightly on the second day back. Reminding Rick of all the details he still had to take care of. Then suddenly, just after 3:00pm, I was getting sick of my own sound; after a blood test in the morning and not having had anything to eat, I warmed up some soup and sat in my messy living room to eat when Rick called me to confirm a finishing, the tray pushed aside, the orange colour butternut squash soup with a touch of turmeric flew in the air and landed on my carpet, all over the newly painted walls, onto my new painting and thank goodness the latest order of sofas were covered in dust sheet, or ...  Ayayaya. As though that was the last straw, I got up, looked at the mess 'I' now had left behind, worse than any dust and withdrew myself from it all, approached Rick, who was watching with the decorator in disbelief and wondering whether I was going to explode like a volcano and gently asked:
"Yes, Rick, what would you like to show me?"
Then, I went back to collect a brush and sat on my knees, scrubbing the orange-coloured carpet. Now, that was a sight while the decorator began cleaning the walls. It was excellent paint, and there was no sign left whatsoever. While on all fours, I calmed down completely and started behaving as I used to, with kindness and understanding. It was like, honey, things can still get worse, so get off your high horses and remember the keyword... Gratitude at all times.
In the days that followed, the workmen continued filling the few rooms of my flat until the job was almost finished—except for one leak, which can wait for now as I am off again! 

Christofer visited London after my trip to Spain to add further spice to my improving days. Then came Frieda, my dear friend who did a fantastic job showing us around her country in Peru last February, to stay with me for a few days. We had so much catching up to do on the first day, which happened to be a Saturday with the moodiest of weather as we watched the sun, blue skies turn into grey and then came rain. Then again, the cycle of nature would repeat itself on several occasions that same day. We did not find a rainbow watching out of the now-finished living room looking onto the garden with two Buddhas. Why two? One came with broken toes, so they sent me another and told me to keep the first. When I placed the first Buddha with the toes fixed at the end of the garden, looking into the living room, I saw that it perfectly fit into its new home, so I had it painted a different colour. Now... They are both here to stay, and I am truly grateful.
By the way, Frieda and I did find the rainbow we searched for the next day while driving through Hyde Park!

The Serpentine - Hyde Park

The Rainbow!

The battle with the Jehovah's Witnesses, or my neighbours, whom I call Joshua's Businesses, is still ongoing. They want to be bullies, and enough! I ain't having none of that. I wrote to the wife saying: 
"Lady, you cannot take the law in your own hands," I said, and since they tried to threaten me one evening, I also added, "And I don't take threats too well!"  

So here I am, with a name change (back to my maiden name), a new address, and a whole new way of being. I am praying for kindness in all our hearts. There must be a good reason why my neighbours are being unruly, and there are lessons to be learned all around.

One last point, I had to go to court Monday morning. Another first for me. My criminal barrister was a lady who was great fun to chat with, I really enjoyed her company, but I suppose after travelling to all corners and representing... Well, let's just say practising law in such depth as for people considered criminals, having to represent me for three past speeding offences and, this time round, for jumping the lights must have seemed pretty trivial. There wasn't really much to argue. The lady judge was someone I would have loved to get to know, but no chance there; she was kindly spoken, and fair enough, I lost my driving license for the next six months! After 36 years of driving worldwide, it is time for a rest. All good. Had a cappuccino later with my lawyer, whom I met for the first time, and we had a good old chat before I departed into the underground world!  

As the wine merchant at the Casa Ortega restaurant proudly announced:
"Good girls go to heaven. Bad girls go wherever they want!"

On that note... Ta ta, dear readers. I'm finally off to bed for an early start at Heathrow Airport.  
Destination Vietnam and Cambodia! On my own.
I will write there, if not, see you. I will be back in three weeks.
With Love


  

Al Hambra... To the blue skies of Marbella

Some paths in life are accounted for, and others come totally by surprise! It's only when you get fear out of the way that you begin to appreciate and understand the reasons behind every situation and its cause. There really is no coincidence.

I may go with the flow, but some planning has gone into this. The older I get, the more I see and the more questioning my mind becomes, but it is not to judge. More than anyone, we judge ourselves and our ways. 
Basically, 'We do not see things as they are; we see them as we are, ' says Anais Nin. 

I want to go back on my trip to Spain...
After lunch in Sierra Nevada, we returned in the car and headed to sunny Granada. Lori parked the car on a tiny street by a grand hotel, and we walked under the rays of sunshine glowing on the green leaves and onto my Vitamin D-lacking body. The constant rain in London dampened my body more than my mind. It was a glorious day, and we walked along Al Hambra, taking in all its grandeur.

At the Entrance to Al Hambra

The Summer Palace

Al Hambra Palace

The Grounds and Fountain

At every corner was a discovery of beauty in architecture and nature.

After a great stroll around the palace grounds, we returned to the car, and this time, it was my turn to drive. Our next destination was booked at an apartment hotel in Marbella near the beach. Not that anyone dared enter the chilly waters, but the promenade stretching from Marbella old town to Puerto Banus was filled with people enjoying the sunshine along the sea, hearing the splash of the waves and people watching all at the same time. We even discovered a fab Wok self-service on our first night of arrival.

It brought extra joy to know Aisha was staying at The Buchinger, the clinic where the wealthy could spend their money on starvation, but with many other benefits, needless to say. The place we visited last night was in two parts; one was very modern, and the other was an old-style building with every medical need necessary. It is similar to the Viva Mayer Clinic I visited a few years ago in Klagenfurt, Austria, with Shiba (after my modelling session). At least they were served proper meals at the Buchinger; our daily food intake was a stale piece of bread and one or two boiled potatoes at meals! Oh! And plenty of herbal teas.

On our first sunny day in Marbella, we headed to the beach for a fab cup of cappuccino at a place other than the Cappuccino Bar. Feeling the heat on my bare arms was bliss! Aisha looked fab, and we sat chatting, drinking our delicious coffee with muesli and fresh juice for breakfast. The whole experience was yummy.

The promenade by the beach in Marbella.

When you live in a city like London, world-famous for its crapy weather (not counting last summer, of course), every bit of a blue sky is appreciated.

No wonder I worship the SUN. 

 

 


Breakfast at Cappuccino Bar was buzzing at 11 a.m., not only because it was Saturday but because many seemed to enjoy the 20-degree January heat during the long days.

After our catch-up with Aisha, we joined the promenaders and connected with Lori going back and forth, finally by Marbella Club hotel, where I bought two bikinis at their semi-closed boutique! There was a 50% sale, and the heat excited me. Not that one could swim!





Next came the walk around the market, where we joined Kathryn and her family at a restaurant. Our friend was going through some tough times, and seeing her away from the London scene was good. I have avoided mentioning most dilemmas, but with what has happened around me in the past months, let's say more ups than downs, I have realised what an important role those difficult times play in our daily lives. It has been a struggle at times to get myself together again and face daily chores, which is never easy with building works, and yet, every day, a miracle or two has shown its face and brought hope back into my being. 

What if I jump from one subject to the next? That's me! haha
Like today... My builder called this morning to say he is not happy with the leak I have been experiencing since my conservatory side of the living room went up, a mistake made by the company who provided them. He said:
"Haldita, I'll be over to sort this matter once and for all. It's been going on too long!"
God Bless. Yes, it sure has been months, and the issue is still not sorted out, and the flat is now finished. So, Rick appeared with his latest working partner and poor things. Again, as they went up the roof, the rain blasted away on their faces as I watched below, and they were so busy discussing the matter that the wind did not seem to bother them either. Then they came down, stood close to the curtain fitter putting up the blinds, and talked more in their native Russian language. I was busy checking out the email from my criminal solicitor. Why criminal, you may ask? Well, I have had twelve points on my driving license now, mainly for speeding and three lately for jumping the lights. These cameras have been installed everywhere! Honestly, soon we will have one up our arses. So, to add to my challenging days, I have a court case beginning next week to see if my license will be suspended after 36 years of driving around the world with hardly any offence. Grrrrreat!!!
Anyway, where was I even? Rick was standing in the living room talking to me, sitting at my laptop, when I heard a swish of water rushing into the kitchen. I stopped him and, looking towards the kitchen, asked:
"What's that noise?"
Rick rushed to the kitchen and shouted while his colleague and I ran in and saw the water gushing from under the sink unit. He then went downstairs to close off the mains and put the filtered water tube back where it was meant to go. My goodness, he was my angel today, and as a token of thanks, I gave him my stereo set, which was much better than going through the hassle of eBaying. What better gift than the sound of music.

Marbella flea market by the bullring

We were at the flea market... How did I end up in my kitchen today?! Typical.

Anyway, we walked around the market in Marbella, bid Kathryn farewell, accompanied by Aisha and Lori, and returned to the beach to lunch at the Trocadero restaurant with a trendy bunch of brunchers. In tank tops at the end of January, taking in every bit of heat the sun had to offer and enjoying a delicious mix of salads and fresh fish, rosé chilled wine, the view of the blue sea and sky, and the fab company.

Trocadero restaurant by the sea

 
With a full belly and slightly tipsy heads, Lori and I were lightweights when it came to drinking, so we ended an absolutely heavenly day by watching the red-hot sunset and heading to our rooms.

We needed our beauty sleep for the following day spent in the magic of La Ronda. To come...

For now, I wish you peace. Let go of all negative thoughts, breathe in the goodness around and let go of anything that could bring you down. Listen to uplifting music and dream of a beautiful life coming your way. Just remember to think BIG.




 

Sierra Nevada! How did I end up there for goodness sakes?!

Believing is seeing!

Oh! It feels wonderful to be writing again. It is like talking to a whole audience or even if just one person, somewhere, somehow connects with me through the power of words alone. What a miraculous world we live in. I clearly recall grown-ups talking about the future.  
'You know dear, they say in the future, we will be talking to each other worldwide and seeing one another through a screen! Can you believe that?!'
Does that mean I am ancient? Haha. Not really. The fact is we humans are emerging with technological advances beyond imagination in one era, only to be made possible at the touch of a finger in another. Online dating has become the new way for finding partners of all sorts; drugs are a form of escapism, and yet wars and hunger are going on in most corners of the world. 

Ouuuffff!  
Now that's off my chest.  
Since last week, a lot has changed regarding settling into my new pad and beginning to live my life, which is filled with anything and everything on a learning path. I went through some tough times recently, I don't want to call it even a mild depression, but this is a new word which I do not recall hearing when I was very young. It seemed that the word 'depression' rose into being believed as a reality as our lives became more hectic and families spread across the world, living separate lives without much moral support. Yet came the freedom to be, and how we use it or abuse it is our choice. I cherish my independence; it has given me wings to fly and be in charge of my decisions without letting anyone spoil (well, perhaps temporarily at times) this sense of liberation. While going through the challenges of starting a new chapter in a new place, I made every specification in decor to create an inviting space for my visitors to come and stay. The rush in craving to get my new life started got me down, giving my contractor a hard time in terms of hurrying him and his team, basically, being demanding. Even I couldn't bear myself and my (at times) obnoxious behaviour!  

So, being constantly in touch with Lori, with whom I spent New Year's Eve a year ago in Bali, insisted I visit her in Andalucia for a long weekend. On a last-minute decision, I booked a ticket to Malaga. I left behind the carpenter building the cabinets of my living room. It can be said now that it was precisely what the doctor would have ordered. On the Thursday before, I left home in the early hours and flew Easyjet to the designated destination, searching for some sun and anything warmer than London. Aisha texted me from Marbella, mentioning how she sits in the warm sun daily, so I wanted to top up those vitamin Ds. Lori was waiting in the car park with our rented car at Malaga airport, and after embracing, we headed towards Granada's central square in forty-five minutes, dumped the car in a car park, and walked around the city streets. Lori and I walked into the first restaurant in sight, which happened to be vegetarian, and after somewhat feeding our hunger, we walked around the town onto a road by the river.

A church in the back streets of Granada

A Yoga centre we discovered

The walk by the river

My friend had booked us an appointment to see a craniosacral therapist whose sign on the same street had caught her attention two weeks before. She called him as we were walking up the road to come and meet us, and all I could concentrate on was the beauty that surrounded us and the magnificent Al Hambra castle, set above us on the right, where the Arabs ruled the area from those years ago.  
There was something very special about this place, and the warmth of the sun and the clear blue skies above added to the flavour it all represented.

The craniosacral chiropractor was a young and gorgeous-looking Spaniard called Juan. He greeted us in the street with a warm smile. He walked us to his practice in an old-style house with a courtyard. He invited us to his rooftop with a view of Al Hambra across, offering us seats and conversing with me as Lori attended to her work on the mobile. Her business aside, she went to Juan's practice while I left for the road, continuing on to the church at the top of the hill, taking photos.

In the one-and-a-half hours I spent walking in the quiet back streets, I felt like time had stood still while the breath of fresh air cleansed my city's lungs. I returned sharply after one hour and got the full benefit of my therapy, as it felt like my body had loosened up from the pressure of the past months. We walked back to our car while taking in all the magic.

Granada

Al Hambra Palace at night

We got in the car, and Lori began driving. She had mentioned to me before she would be skiing while we visited Granada, and I, frankly, had no idea where she was taking me. She had also said we would be staying outside Granada in the mountains. But I was not expecting her to take me to a ski resort! Oh dear.






 In the dark, the village lights became apparent in the pitch-dark bendy roads with snowy mountains, which looked whiter as we got closer. Less than an hour later, we were in a ski village called Sierra Nevada, where Lori informed me it had snowed the day before; one meter! I was not ready for that, mentally, physically, or wardrobe-wise!
So, I asked my friend in total disbelief:
"Lori, did you bring me to a fucking ski resort?"
While our unprepared car (as I was), slid all over the place, close to cars parked on each side and our brake almost non existent even at the speed of 3 km per hour, I was fuming at myself again for not asking ahead, precisely what the exact plan was!

Anyway, she managed to park by a garage and called the caretaker to come down around 22:00 hour and hand us the keys to open the garage door, which did not seem to work, so Lori left to find someone awake in the building, rang their bell as to ask for help to be let into the parking. Chaos man! I tried to keep as calm and quiet as possible before exploding. You see, Aisha had told me it was sunny and warm in Marbella; I was under the impression we would be staying in Granada first; how did I end up on the skiing resort of Sierra Nevada, for goodness sake?! So, we finally got in, left our luggage in the apartment on the fourth floor and headed straight to the pizzeria nearby. At dinner, I could not hold back any longer, so I told Lori:
"You're welcome to stay here and ski, but I'm going to Marbella tomorrow first thing to get some sun."
Lori insisted:
"But I told you I'm staying at the top of a mountain."
I fumed: "Yes, but you didn't say on top of a skiing mountain with snow! I had no clue, or I'd stayed home in the rain."
The story concludes that Lori promised we would leave the next day after she skies.
I literally had tears running down my face helplessly while my friend watched in a sorry state.

After a very short and disturbed sleep, I saw the ski slopes ahead, with an intense sun shining through the surrounding windows! It was all gloriously delicious, with sparkles of diamond on the white sheets ahead. We lazed around the flat; Lori did not bother to ski, opened the windows entirely, and sunbathed indoors. This already brightened up my spirit. As I calmed down, we took the chair lift to go into town for lunch in the open-air cafe, with chilled music flowing through the speakers. We started chatting, and our mood was happy.

The room with a view

Sierra Nevada

Sunny Lunch

As I later mentioned to Lori and her lovely friend, how I let my... Anger or disbelief was out when I felt it, and then Lori accepted; days later, we were still having a wonderful time together. True friendship stands the age of time and perhaps somewhat like great sex; it just gets better and better. It would be hyprocritical to just let things go, not speak one's mind and mislead the other to continue behaving a way that would only create distance in time and misunderstandings? I am learning to practice being honest with myself and others daily. The ones who understand you will always be there, and I keep saying ta ta to the others. Self-psychology.

I could go on writing and never stop!
But there's another day of carpenters and decorators ahead; you better get some beauty sleep, and we will continue next week.

One last thought before I leave came from my dear friend and angel at times, Gloria, after a lengthy phone conversation and helping me resolve thoughts which had occupied my mind recently; before saying goodbye, she simply said:
"When someone shows you who they are... Believe them!"