Settling in and sickness

Another week has passed. I’m not sure if time is going quickly or slowly – though it certainly seems a lifetime ago that I was at home. I’m missing it a little actually. Now that the excitement of arriving and seeing Karim has passed, I am finding it difficult to adjust to a very different life. Without speaking the language, I am completely dependent on Karim for almost everything. But I’m sure with time I will regain some of my independence and start to feel at home in Morocco. 

Again the highlight of my week was my trip to the supermarket. Call it sad if you want, but it’s the only place where I don’t feel out of place! With familiar brands and set prices, it certainly makes shopping a lot easier for me than in the medina. And it has everything! I am now the proud owner of a toaster and a soft pillow, not to mention forks, bubble bath, bowls, mugs and a whole lot of food! It’s these creature comforts that will help me survive the next 6 months.

And let’s hope I survive intact and in good health! Every time i come to Morocco I get sick and this time is no exception – after only 10 days I was struck down by Moroccan Belly. Thankfully it was only for 24 hours, and it did give me a chance to catch up on Gossip Girl! But somehow I think it will not be the last time I get it. Hopefully I can build up some immunity so I won’t need to go to the doctor like last time where he gave me a a mystery injection in my side! 

This week I also had my first of many visitors when Will and Alex came to Fes. It was great to see them both and reminisce about Madagascar, and also to show them around my new hood! Not that I did much of the showing around, seeing as I still get hopelessly lost away from the main streets of the medina. Luckily I know a good guide, and Karim led us up and down and through the winding streets and alleyways, revealing the secrets of the old town. We all then came back to have the traditional Friday meal of couscous (prepared by Karim’s mum and sister) in my palace house. My first ever visitors and I think they were impressed! Next on the list – Mum and Dad. I will be meeting them this Saturday in Casablanca!

And finally, a few more pictures. In general, the house is really beautiful. I love the fountain and there are some really nice decorative plates and vases and teapots around. We even have this beautiful old wooden door mounted on a wall in the entrance. But then there are things that confuse me. Like the walls of our bedroom have been painted with this glitter paint and the main light in our bedroom is a flashing blue and red LED disco light. And then this strange framed 3D fake flower arrangement thing. I have uploaded a picture for you to see with your own eyes! And if you want to see it in person, I have more than enough room for you to stay!

The strange flower arrangement centrepiece on my wall

My very own mosaic fountain!

A decorative plate

The view from the roof terrace of my building

Just a few of the satellites on top of our building - necessary for my 300 channels!

Morocco at last!

Hello everyone from Morocco! I have been here for a week already, so i apologize for the delay in my blog. Lots to fill you in on I guess!

The flight here was uneventful and I had 2 seats to myself - although after waking up at 4:30am, I still didn’t manage to get much sleep. But I was more than happy to keep myself entertained watching Harry Potter 7.1 in anticipation for when the next one comes out in a few months and for which I have already planned a special trip to England to see!

Arrived into the airport where I got my 6^th stamp into Morocco and after the longest 30 minute train ride in the history of the world, I was finally in Casablanca station where Karim was waiting for me! Another 4 hours on the train and we were both in Fes – my new home. Karim had been very secretive about the apartment he had arranged for us, but even if he had told me I don’t think I could have imagined it how it is. Even now I don’t really know how to describe it – so I hope the photos do it justice! Firstly, its big. Especially compared to the dingy hotel rooms we usually stay in. There are 4 living rooms – each lined with traditional couches and cushions. One has a TV and we spend most of our time here. I have already found all the English language channels out of the 300 or so channels we get from the satellite – and Oprah is on at least once a day which is great news for me as a budding housewife. There are 2 other smaller salons, one with just leather furniture. And then a huge one where there are 30 cushions lining the couches (yes i counted.) We also have 2 bathrooms, a kitchen and then our bedroom, not to mention a fountain and a grandfather clock!

The house does have its setbacks though – and we have become well acquainted with the apartment concierge who looks after general maintenance in the building. We have no hot water in the kitchen or one of the bathrooms, half the lights don’t work and I am yet to find a toilet in Morocco that flushes perfectly – including our own. The beds and pillows are also incredibly hard, I’m not sure what they are made of but I am certainly missing my foam eggscarton overlay!

So the past few days have just been settling in and setting up home. It’s so nice to be able to unpack and put all my clothes away in cupboards, knowing that I won’t have to re-pack them for at least several months. I have also been busy getting stuck into housewifery. The house was in need of a good clean and I have been making my way from room to room. Yesterdays’s job was the guest bathroom where I had the pleasure of pulling all the hair and dirt out of the drain. I make the bed every morning and do the dishes. And the other night I did the first load of hand-washing (after which Karim’s offer of taking our dirty clothes to get washed in his mum’s washing machine was much more tempting!)

I haven’t spent much time around our neighbourhood but it seems safe and relatively quiet. Although in Morocco you can never get far away from the incessant honking, construction, and general everyday commotion, let alone the 5 time daily call to prayer.

Probably the highlight of my time here so far (apart from seeing Karim of course), was our trip to Marjane, the big hypermarche a bit outside of town. I LOVE supermarkets, especially these massive ones. Its like a Woolworths and a Target all rolled into one – not only can you buy your normal groceries and household products, you can also buy TVs, laptops, washing machines, treadmills, tents, chairs, kitchen appliances, you name it! This time we only stocked up on cleaning supplies, bottled water and basic house stuff, but everyday I think of something else in the apartment that we need and i’m already planning my next trip back. For example – full sized forks. In the apartment we have only 1 or 2 small cake forks, which i guess when you eat with your hands most of the time is sufficient. But maybe not for when i make spaghetti. Karim for some reason didn’t enjoy the supermarket as much as I did and has already said next time he will wait for me in the cafe with all the other men until I’ve finished!

So I think this entry is long enough already, and I commend your dedication if you have reached this far! Of course there is a lot more to write but with 6 months of leisure – there will be plenty of time for that!

The large living salon

Karim on our rock-hard bed

2 of the smaller salons - because we need more places to sit!

Carrot Cake and Clothes!

These last few days have absolutely flown by - it's hard to believe that tomorrow I will be in Morocco! It will be sad to leave Dubai for the last time though, it's a crazy city but after visiting a fair few times it has become familiar. It's always interesting to see how much or how little the city has changed every visit. There always seem to be new buildings that have sprung up, yet the roads around my sister's apartment are still not complete. All part of the charm I guess!
So on Sunday I woke up early to go diving in Oman, which was just a 2hr bus ride away. It had been 7 months since I had been in the water and it was so good to get back in! The diving itself was good but nothing spectacular. We saw a huge ray but unfortunately no whale shark. A little disappointing seeing as it had been there just the day before. Spending a day in the sun really took its toll on me, and that night I slept for 12 hours! What can I say - I'm definitely enjoying being on holidays!
Yesterday, Soph and I had a busy day at the mall. Probably the thing I will miss most is the shopping - everything is so cheap! For less than $100, in one shop we bought 2 t-shirts, a singlet, a cardigan and a dress. You just can't get that in Australia! Back again to the mall today, this time for lunch with my friend Loz who has recently moved to Dubai with emirates. It was great to catch up with her! Then Soph and I went to Lime Tree cafe for my last piece of their famous carrot cake. Although maybe getting a piece each (they're massive slices - usually shared between 2) wasn't the best idea as I couldn't finish mine. Even now I'm feeling a bit sick! But well worth it - that icing is to die for!
Now only a few more hours left in Dubai. I have to finish re-packing (hope all my new clothes fit in!), watch the last few episodes of Kendra (she's hot, she's sexy...), eat my last fattoush salad for dinner, and skype Karim to make sure he remembers to meet me in Casablanca! As for the next part of my adventure - to be honest I haven't given it much thought. I'm excited to see Karim again but I don't think its really sunk in that I will be living there for 6 months. I guess I will just take it one day at a time!

No whale sharks - but a pod of dolphins did visit our boat on the way to the dive site

Leema Rock, Musandam, Oman

Lime Tree carrot cake!

So good...

Bad things come in 3's...

Greetings from Dubai!
So after 2 uneventful flights (I wasn't even kicked off the plane in Singapore!) I arrived in the wee hours of the morning to Dubai airport only to find that one of my bags had not arrived with me. Not the small suitcase with the unimportant things, but my main backpack with all of my clothes, shoes, toiletries, even my sacred jar of vegemite! The airport staff, while friendly, seemed to have no idea where it was, so I made my way to Soph's apartment sans bag. All I wanted to do was get in my pj's and crawl into bed, but as my pjs were in said bag, I couldn't even do that! Spent all yesterday in the apartment reading horror stories on the internet about bags that disappear forever, before receiving a call from the airport to say that my bag had been traced and would be delivered that evening. One bad thing, resolved!
Had a nice relaxing day again today - went to an all you can eat asian buffet with Soph and Rob where I think we all got our money's worth of dumplings, noodles, curries, tempura, sushi and more! My last taste of Asia before I am engulfed by endless tagines and couscous. Went to take a photo of our happy little threesome, only to discover that my brand new camera doesn't work! Hopefully can get it replaced under warranty. But that was the second bad thing in the space of 2 days. Just great.
So as bad things are meant to come in 3's, I am just waiting for the third thing. Hopefully it doesn't involve missing my flight to morocco!
But despite these setbacks, I am still having a good time! Its nice to be back in Dubai. Can't wait to go shopping in the mall! And tomorrow I am off on a day trip to Oman to go diving - they have recently seen whale sharks there, so fingers crossed! And then in 4 days time I will be in Morocco after 6 long months, it can't come soon enough!

D Day

So today is the day! My bags are (mostly) packed my room (mostly) cleaned out and I am ready to go! Off to the airport in about 3 hours and then the dreaded wait. Will there or won't there be seats on the plane for me. The joys of traveling standby! Not that I am complaining, having a sister working for emirates is probably the best thing in the world (thanks Soph!), and the 30kg luggage limit sure helps too!
So I have been busy the last few days trying to get everything organised and of course saying goodbye to everyone. There is a lot that I'm going to miss about Australia. My friends and family of course, my dog, my other dog Ralf who I'm sure will again wait patiently on my bed for my return. Food is a big one. I have been busy frantically eating all of the foods I'm going to miss - salt and vinegar chips, milo, vegemite on toast, vietnamese, tatie pie! Even simple things like sandwiches, cereal and milk, and of course bacon and ham! I love Moroccan food, but having it all day, every day...
I think I'm even going to miss the weather! I haven't had a winter in about 2 years. The temperature in Dubai today is 34, and in Fes 22, and set to get much hotter still. At least I'll get a good tan! (kidding - i have a big bottle of sunscreen already packed.)
Anyway, time is ticking away and I'm still not completely ready. I will write again from Dubai!