I keep Painting the Planet: January 2006

Reminiscing the Past

Last time I was in Malta, I was going through a couple of old photos and memorabilia. I came across certain photos and papers that brought smiles on my face and helped me recapture some scenes of the past. I had put some of these papers in one of my books which i brought over to Libya, and this weekend while i was clearing up, the following papers fell out of my book.....

.......and funnily enough Jen, our paths did cross many times, we are still in touch - 4 1/2yrs later..... we still had nights of laughs, drunkenness and memories..... after Switzerland - in Malta, in Sri Lanka, in Egypt, in Estonia, in Serbia, in Canada..... and I can't remember where else we met!!!! ..... Jen thanks for being always there for me though, be it physically or electroncially.....

I then found this note at the back of a business card.....

And that is when I realised that this threatening note could have been one of the subconscious reasons why I've made the effort of staying in touch Jen even after having finished with AIESEC..... ! ;P

Its amazing how many people I've met in Conferences throughout my time in AIESEC and its even more amazing how I keep on meeting these people wherever I go, be it for a chill out weekend in London or while on an adventure in Ethiopia.......

Where would you be happier?

I always thought that I was always happy when I went to Malta cause I was at home..... but no..... statistics prove that everyone is always happy in Malta.....

Maria has an interesting posting on the research conducted...

Cool.... the rock in the middle of the Mediterranean is the place to be when the blue moods strike!!

45hrs

Its pretty amazing how many things you could actually do in 45hrs. I unexpectedly had to drop off to Malta to finally collect my multiple entry visa for Libya (I'm glad its only a 40min flight!!!!).....

- Land on Wednesday Night..... go and eat pastizzi and pizza with my father...
- Thursday morning - collect my car from the mechanic
- Submit application at libyan embassy chat a bit with the libyans there
- Head off to the Irish Consulate to submit a visa application... long meeting with Irish Consul to try and arrange an agreement for our employees....
- Lunch at home -- mmmm pork and wine!!
- Hang out with my sister, shopping in Sliema!
- Play with my dearest dog!!
- Snake Bites and Beers with Cynthia at Ryans
- Coffee with Andrew at Gigi's
- Beautician
- Hairdresser
- Dinner and chill out with Mummy and Daddy
- Friday morning - collect my visa
- Attend a Funeral
- Lunch at my Granny's
- Another lunch at my other Granny's
- Yet again another lunch with my father
- Airport - back to Libya

phew!!! all in 45 hrs!!!! Friday night, as soon as I landed I headed off to tripoli for fish with Andre and Mark and later sheesha and tea.... perfect end to a hectic 45hrs!

What a blow!!!!

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) -- Britain cut all of its aid to Ethiopia's government on Wednesday and plans to redirect the 73 million euro ($88 million U.S.) to humanitarian agencies working in the Horn of Africa nation.

Malta and Naguib Mahfouz

You don't find Malta mentioned too often in books especially novels.... unless they are about Malta or are somehow related to something Malta did.......

I was relaxing at home, after a nice coffee with Andre at the Corinthia, immersed into Naguib Mahfouz's Palace Walk - an account of life and society in Egypt at his time.... one of his masterpieces and thus part of the Nobel Prize winning Cairo Trilogy ..... when I suddenly came across this paragragh.....

"Go ahead, play the coquette, you bitch. Didn’t we agree on a date? But you’re right to hold back…. One of your breasts could destroy Malta. The second could drive Hindenburg out of his mind. You’ve got a treasure. May our Lord be gracious to me. May our Lord be gracious to me and to every poor rogue who can’t sleep for thinking about swelling breasts, plump buttocks, and eyes enhanced by kohl."

I'm puzzled!!!!

I don't know if to be proud that the destruction of Malta is synonymous to the driving mad of one of the important figures of World War 1 and President of one of the biggest powers at that time...... or to be offended that Mr Mahfouz actually said that my country could be destroyed by a woman's breast!!!!!

Sheep anyone?

ahh its true!!! people ARE selling sheep in the street.... I drove out of the little alley where the camp is located and headed off to the main road heading up to Tripoli..... only to find the streets mega congested with sheep and people!!!!! There was so much excitement, rush, bargaining and sheep fighting to stuff it in the boot of your car!!!

Anyone interested in buying sheep, I now learnt they cost 270Libyan Dinars which would translate to 201$, however I would recommend a cow from Ethiopia as those turn out to be cheaper, market price being 800 Ethiopian Birr which equals 91$ !!!!

This is what I find as soon as I come out of the road leading to the Camp

The street was full of sheep on both sides all the way up to Tripoli!!!!

Mega traffic!!! following cars full of sheep!!!!

Awsome!!! Although I don't celebrate Eid I could really feel the athmosphere and excitement of it all...... Tripoli was even more congested everyone was shopping!

I met Mark and Aymen (Mark Maltese - Aymen Libyan) infront of the Maltese Embassy, left my car there and we all headed off in Aymen's big pick up to join in the excitement!!! The night ended in a long drive to Aymen's farm in Tajura (a couple of Km east of Tripoli).... which was the most amazing thing i had ever seen!!!

The farm is full of animals..... ostriches.... horses.... sheep.....goats.... chickens.... peacocks... and even a lama!!!!!!

And it was massive!!! just on the sea!!! great!!! We feasted on goat and Libyan salads which his mother made for us, and headed off to Tripoli to my car where I slowly took the long drive to Ghaser Ben Ghashir..... luckily no road blocks..... a girl on her own at 2am driving in Libya could have gotten in a little bit of trouble if caught in a road block.... who cares, it was anyway one of the greatest nights I've had in Libya till now......

Only in Africa

Last night while driving from the airport to my place in Ghaser Ben Ghashir I was casually telling my colleague that tomorrow I'll have to head off into town to stock up my fridge and cupboards before everything goes on shut down for Eid.....

My colleague looked at me and really seriously told me:

"It is better if you don't take this road if you are going to Tripoli"

I was very surprised as I always took that road to Triopli and I actually know no other... so pretty surprised I asked:

"Why are they trying to fix the road again?"

My colleague laughed and went:

"No the road side is full of sheep sellers selling the sheep for Eid, and the sheep always end up in the middle of the highway"

This is only something I've heard whilst I was in Africa and nowhere else - I love it!!!!

Ahh its good to be home... tonight off for sheesha with one of my Maltese buddies.......inshalla ;)

Happy New Year Part 2

After a night of fun and bliss..... one would like to spend the whole day sleeping and recovering... however this is not at all possible according to the Maltese traditions..... the festivities are not yet over..... my sister, brother and I were woken up by my parents are 11am to start getting ready for the big annual family meal usually held in the garage of my uncle where 3 generations of family from my mother's side meet, eat, drink and exchange presents....... a glimpse of what happens every year....

My cousin Shanrika.... Shanrika and I used to do almost everything together when we were younger

The banquet table in my uncle's garage.... everyone's getting ready to eat

My father and uncle hiding from the women to avoid washing the plates....

My counsin - Shanrika's daughter seeking attention!!!

The last part of a Maltese Xmas / New Year is hitting the shops during the sales season which is exactly what I'm going to be doing this afternoon with my sister.....

So yet again another Xmas / New Year in Malta is over.......With a lot of hustle and bustle and string pulling I've managed to sort out a last minute single entry one month visa to return to libya..... so saturday i'll be heading off with a big full of Xmas Logs and Maltese food....to my dear Tarabulis to catch up on all I've lost in the past 2 weeks!!!

Happy New Year to everyone..

Yet again another year has passed, and yet again I celebrated the end of a fabulous end of the year 2005 in style with my closest friends....

This New Year's Eve in Malta was spent like every other New Year Party I've been too since when I was 15..... although I keep on saying I'm too old for these things..... I still get tempted into going.....

It was great.... I've met people I hadn't been seeing for years.... some of which were also my 6th form best friends...... see for yourselves!!!!