Back again!
So on the 5th Day, we travelled to Casablanca through train. Though the train ride didn't take as long, it took a good hour at least I think. Walking into Casablanca was totally different from the other cities. It was more the city for mainly tourism and is evident in the overwhelming numbers of people everywhere!
The first place we went to is the Hassan II Mosque which is the work of the previous King. It was, I think, one of the few if not the only one which allows tourists to enter inside the Mosque. And oh my goodness, it was simply amazing! I went to the English tour while the rest went to the German tour. The photos didn't say enough but the beauty of the Mosque and how much work was built into it was just simply spectacular. I don't think I would've learnt so much about the culture, or be even motivated to look, but being there taught me so much! The roof of the Mosque was also opened that day which only opens 40 days during a whole year! So we were so lucky! Normally it's only opened for festivals or really really nice days. The door in which only the King and special officials come through was also opened to see if it worked! So we were extremely lucky! The work and architecture was simply thrilling! I could type some of the things that were in the tour but then again, you could have always find it in Wikipeadia, like always. But it just doesn't catch the essence of the Mosque. All I can really say to that is that, if you are ever in Morocco, go to the tour. The experience was just something that no one could buy!
Anyways, after that we ate this small cafe which was quite delicious and completely filled with tourists! Haha! But eating outside amidst blue and yellow walls was a nice feeling!
We met up later with the rest of our group and our tour guide for around Casablanca! She showed us the streets and history that made Casablanca the city it is today! It was interesting to find out that many of the buildings which were built there, were either inspired by Europe and yet in return inspired some of the most famous buildings in Europe today! It has a both a mix of influence from Western Europe and Latin America!
That day, we went home and just had a simple dinner in places near the hotel. Most of the guys went to the nearest place to eat in which had a live tv of the football match! I think it was FC Barcelona vs. Madrid. Haha it was quite funny! Yet not so funny, when I was woken in the middle of the night due to the cheers of fans of Madrid. (Was it Madrid that won?) Haha!
Anyways, two posts in one day!
However, I must go to sleep now!
Ciao!
With love, from Austria
Vivian
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Morocco Day 4: Relaxing, Massages and Sailing
Here I am again! Overdue yet again!
Day 4 was totally a relaxing day, which included me waking up at 10am. It was a quiet breakfast. Unfortunately, Sabine got quite sick that day! :(
But in the afternoon, while I was writing in my diary and Maurice was playing with his diablo on the balcony, Sabine went to get a massage. After her, I got one too! It was great feeling, since I haven't had a massage in just about ages! It was quite funny since the woman who was doing the massage for me, didn't speak English or German so I couldn't communicate with her! ( I had the suspicions that she didn't speak Cantonese either! Haha!)
Afterwards, Wolfgang, Dietmar, Maurice and I walked to the beach to go sailing! Actually Maurice initially wanted to swimming with me in the beach, however, it was quite dirty and I didn't really want to. In addition, there's basically no girls swimming because of the religion and I didn't want to be the only one. Being an Asian already attracted too many unwanted stares! Haha! So we decided to just stick with sailing. Since in sailing you normally get wet, I was determined to go at least in jean shorts. For about 10 minutes debate, how to get me across the city without making so much a commotion with the natives, we had to make a specific route to the beach. Luckily Rabat is more modern and open to new views because of tourism. However, that doesn't deny the fact that the whole way there, everyone kept staring at my legs... I felt so embarrassed and silly because I knew they were looking because they weren't use to seeing any exposed skin to that extent!
So once we finally arrived there (mind you we had to walk through the graveyard next to the beach which was quite scary despite the fact we were in broad daylight!) , we arranged for one of the sailing boats to be set and ready to go! It wasn't the best or the newest but it made it a great experience simply because it's in Morocco! It was sure a rocky ride! We weren't allowed to go too far because it was rather windy! So we just went back and forth in the cove. Going with the wind was nice, but going against, at the end Maurice made me change positions with him because he was getting totally soaked! Haha! It was so fun and I cannot wait to sail once again in Austria!
That night, we ate dinner at the hotel in which a jazz band was playing. The music was fantastic and the hotel was completely full! I was exhausted that day and went to bed quite early!
I might post another one real soon since I'm leaving for Euro tour in around a week's time. I'm not sure if you guys want me to talk about Euro tour once it's over because as you know, it's going to take me forever to blog it! So if you want... tell me one way or another and I'll think about it! :D
With love, from Austria
Vivian
Day 4 was totally a relaxing day, which included me waking up at 10am. It was a quiet breakfast. Unfortunately, Sabine got quite sick that day! :(
But in the afternoon, while I was writing in my diary and Maurice was playing with his diablo on the balcony, Sabine went to get a massage. After her, I got one too! It was great feeling, since I haven't had a massage in just about ages! It was quite funny since the woman who was doing the massage for me, didn't speak English or German so I couldn't communicate with her! ( I had the suspicions that she didn't speak Cantonese either! Haha!)
Afterwards, Wolfgang, Dietmar, Maurice and I walked to the beach to go sailing! Actually Maurice initially wanted to swimming with me in the beach, however, it was quite dirty and I didn't really want to. In addition, there's basically no girls swimming because of the religion and I didn't want to be the only one. Being an Asian already attracted too many unwanted stares! Haha! So we decided to just stick with sailing. Since in sailing you normally get wet, I was determined to go at least in jean shorts. For about 10 minutes debate, how to get me across the city without making so much a commotion with the natives, we had to make a specific route to the beach. Luckily Rabat is more modern and open to new views because of tourism. However, that doesn't deny the fact that the whole way there, everyone kept staring at my legs... I felt so embarrassed and silly because I knew they were looking because they weren't use to seeing any exposed skin to that extent!
So once we finally arrived there (mind you we had to walk through the graveyard next to the beach which was quite scary despite the fact we were in broad daylight!) , we arranged for one of the sailing boats to be set and ready to go! It wasn't the best or the newest but it made it a great experience simply because it's in Morocco! It was sure a rocky ride! We weren't allowed to go too far because it was rather windy! So we just went back and forth in the cove. Going with the wind was nice, but going against, at the end Maurice made me change positions with him because he was getting totally soaked! Haha! It was so fun and I cannot wait to sail once again in Austria!
That night, we ate dinner at the hotel in which a jazz band was playing. The music was fantastic and the hotel was completely full! I was exhausted that day and went to bed quite early!
I might post another one real soon since I'm leaving for Euro tour in around a week's time. I'm not sure if you guys want me to talk about Euro tour once it's over because as you know, it's going to take me forever to blog it! So if you want... tell me one way or another and I'll think about it! :D
With love, from Austria
Vivian
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Morocco Day 3: Fes, Fabrics and Leather
Okay, sorry guys about the late updates and everything, just wasn't sure who was still reading them! Haha! And in addition, sorry but none of my photos are in order... I'm not sure why... since I uploaded them all at the same time but hopefully you can find out which ones I'm referring to... though the photos on the same page are usually from the same day.
So on Day 3 we left quite early to catch a train to Fes. So Fes is the oldest kingdom city in Morocco with the main colour of yellow! It took around 4 hours to get there so there I caught up with my sleep! When we finally got there, we walked to the markets, yet again, only to stop in a nice cafe/restaurant. There was a small lake nearby and it cooled us down a lot. We finally tried the traditional Moroccan food of Tajins! And i loved the dessert! I know it sounds strange, but the oranges with sugar and cinnamon on it tastes absolutely DELICIOUS!
We walked by the King's garden which showed another side to Morocco which was obviously closed off. But the difference between the gate, from one side to another, was huge!
Once we entered into the markets, it was just chaotic! You think Rabat is busy, but because Fes is the most traditional city, the streets are literally tiny. And every now and then there would be a line of donkeys which carried heaps of products walking up and down. You would be amazed at the strengths of donkeys here!
Fes is also the city which produces all the leather so that day, both Sabine and I's sense of smell and sight just went NUTS! The strong smell of leather and spices, plus the dust that rose and appeared out of nowhere just attacked us! My eyes kept watering and my nose kept running the whole day! So the both of us had to keep taking allergy pills.. so technically we were on drugs. Haha!
We split into two groups, so it was Wolf, the Lenz Familie and I, and we searched for place to see the leather works. And omg, when we found it... it was just simply amazing, you have no idea. All the pictures of the leather places was right there in front of me! First there's the waterway in which they wash skins. So you can guess that it's not exactly clean! Then they soak the skins in the white bath things for a couple of days which contains a substance which allows the fur to fall of easily. Then another 5 days in the muddy/brown tubs to wash and clean! And then FINALLY the last tubs to dye into the individual colours for about a week. To dry the skins/leather they must dry them out and it depends on the weather. After that, they ship them to individual artisans to decorate the leather. Apparently, all the workers in the leather industry worked individual however a couple of hundred years ago, they decided to work together and so the leather industry formed. :D I warn you though, it really stank...
Through walking in the markets, we could also visit the library but only from outside. Though it was quite large and the decorations were beautiful! We didn't have much time to get back and missing out on a long walk back (plus it was boiling) we took a 'taxi' back which cost 40 Dehrims (cannot spell their currency) which is equivalent to about 4 dollars. And this was for a 10 minute ride back!
We had a snack back at the place in the train station which had AIR CONDITIONING and felt great, before we went on our long trip back home.
We met back with Barbara, which she took us to a really nice restaurant. Everyone there tried different Tajins, both sweet and savoury. I have to admit though, the most interesting part of that evening was when Barbara ordered a Tajin which had sheep's brain in it. Everyone tried it at first until it was left that only Maurice and I hadn't tried it yet. Both of us were shocked but he bravely took a piece and started to call me a wuss. (Isn't he nice?) To be honest, it was more of a mental thing that made me hesitate to try it out! Since the last time I saw a sheep's brain was mashed up between the fingers of Quinlan and Jacky in a Biology experiment! However, eventually I had the guts to try it... which was interesting. It felt like the yoke of an egg but boiled. So it was soft and squishy. Lol, what you properly expect from a brain!
And then we all went to bed for a nice long sleep since the next day was a relaxing day! :D
Anyways, got to go,
with love, from Austria
Vivian
So on Day 3 we left quite early to catch a train to Fes. So Fes is the oldest kingdom city in Morocco with the main colour of yellow! It took around 4 hours to get there so there I caught up with my sleep! When we finally got there, we walked to the markets, yet again, only to stop in a nice cafe/restaurant. There was a small lake nearby and it cooled us down a lot. We finally tried the traditional Moroccan food of Tajins! And i loved the dessert! I know it sounds strange, but the oranges with sugar and cinnamon on it tastes absolutely DELICIOUS!
We walked by the King's garden which showed another side to Morocco which was obviously closed off. But the difference between the gate, from one side to another, was huge!
Once we entered into the markets, it was just chaotic! You think Rabat is busy, but because Fes is the most traditional city, the streets are literally tiny. And every now and then there would be a line of donkeys which carried heaps of products walking up and down. You would be amazed at the strengths of donkeys here!
Fes is also the city which produces all the leather so that day, both Sabine and I's sense of smell and sight just went NUTS! The strong smell of leather and spices, plus the dust that rose and appeared out of nowhere just attacked us! My eyes kept watering and my nose kept running the whole day! So the both of us had to keep taking allergy pills.. so technically we were on drugs. Haha!
We split into two groups, so it was Wolf, the Lenz Familie and I, and we searched for place to see the leather works. And omg, when we found it... it was just simply amazing, you have no idea. All the pictures of the leather places was right there in front of me! First there's the waterway in which they wash skins. So you can guess that it's not exactly clean! Then they soak the skins in the white bath things for a couple of days which contains a substance which allows the fur to fall of easily. Then another 5 days in the muddy/brown tubs to wash and clean! And then FINALLY the last tubs to dye into the individual colours for about a week. To dry the skins/leather they must dry them out and it depends on the weather. After that, they ship them to individual artisans to decorate the leather. Apparently, all the workers in the leather industry worked individual however a couple of hundred years ago, they decided to work together and so the leather industry formed. :D I warn you though, it really stank...
Through walking in the markets, we could also visit the library but only from outside. Though it was quite large and the decorations were beautiful! We didn't have much time to get back and missing out on a long walk back (plus it was boiling) we took a 'taxi' back which cost 40 Dehrims (cannot spell their currency) which is equivalent to about 4 dollars. And this was for a 10 minute ride back!
We had a snack back at the place in the train station which had AIR CONDITIONING and felt great, before we went on our long trip back home.
We met back with Barbara, which she took us to a really nice restaurant. Everyone there tried different Tajins, both sweet and savoury. I have to admit though, the most interesting part of that evening was when Barbara ordered a Tajin which had sheep's brain in it. Everyone tried it at first until it was left that only Maurice and I hadn't tried it yet. Both of us were shocked but he bravely took a piece and started to call me a wuss. (Isn't he nice?) To be honest, it was more of a mental thing that made me hesitate to try it out! Since the last time I saw a sheep's brain was mashed up between the fingers of Quinlan and Jacky in a Biology experiment! However, eventually I had the guts to try it... which was interesting. It felt like the yoke of an egg but boiled. So it was soft and squishy. Lol, what you properly expect from a brain!
And then we all went to bed for a nice long sleep since the next day was a relaxing day! :D
Anyways, got to go,
with love, from Austria
Vivian
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