You'll never guess what im in the middle of doing right now....
Typing up my resignation letter...
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Typing up my resignation letter...
30 June 2007
24 June 2007
The Pyramids of Giza
Hearing: Ba3ish - Tamer Hosny (Saw his recent movie "Omar wa Salma" while in Cairo. It was really funny.)
I'm back. Having breakfast at the mo (cheese and coffee - feeling pretty lazy today). 5 days in Cairo was intense. Its probably cruel to say but most of the time i felt like a walking dollar sign. Other than that it was truly a unique experience. The trip didn't really go as i wished but i was expecting that. When you travel with people who haven't travelled before it can be difficult and tiresome. I shan't say more than that since it would probably take over this post, all i will say is that next time, as much as i love my family, I'm booking a tour and going on my own!
Since I've got so much to do, I cant really type that much and i also i don't really feel like it so I'll let my photos do the talking for me today.
View from the hotel
Giza Pyramids
The Sphinx
Step Pyramid
The highest Pyramid near Saqqara - (you can see the Step Pyramid from the top of the stairs)
Outside the Egyptian Museum (no photos were allowed inside)
Inside the Al Azhar Mosque
We also went to Khan Al Khalili. We got harassed endlessly by sellers and beggars. Didn't take any photos there, sorry.
One day we spent cooling off in the hotel pool before going on a Nile cruise which was lovely. Sorry bout the reflections.
Anyway i better get started on my to-do list and have it done before going to the airport. I pick mum up later today since she stayed on in Cairo an extra day with the others. Take care all.
VP
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I'm back. Having breakfast at the mo (cheese and coffee - feeling pretty lazy today). 5 days in Cairo was intense. Its probably cruel to say but most of the time i felt like a walking dollar sign. Other than that it was truly a unique experience. The trip didn't really go as i wished but i was expecting that. When you travel with people who haven't travelled before it can be difficult and tiresome. I shan't say more than that since it would probably take over this post, all i will say is that next time, as much as i love my family, I'm booking a tour and going on my own!
Since I've got so much to do, I cant really type that much and i also i don't really feel like it so I'll let my photos do the talking for me today.
View from the hotel
Giza Pyramids
The Sphinx
Step Pyramid
The highest Pyramid near Saqqara - (you can see the Step Pyramid from the top of the stairs)
Outside the Egyptian Museum (no photos were allowed inside)
Inside the Al Azhar Mosque
We also went to Khan Al Khalili. We got harassed endlessly by sellers and beggars. Didn't take any photos there, sorry.
One day we spent cooling off in the hotel pool before going on a Nile cruise which was lovely. Sorry bout the reflections.
Anyway i better get started on my to-do list and have it done before going to the airport. I pick mum up later today since she stayed on in Cairo an extra day with the others. Take care all.
VP
18 June 2007
Not quite there yet.
Hearing:
The hotel is booked. The tickets are ready. The flight is full. Will i or wont i finally see the Pyramids after so many attempts? Will i become the victim of the infamous Cairo ripoffs or schemes? Will my family drive me crazy? Who knows...
VP
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The hotel is booked. The tickets are ready. The flight is full. Will i or wont i finally see the Pyramids after so many attempts? Will i become the victim of the infamous Cairo ripoffs or schemes? Will my family drive me crazy? Who knows...
VP
16 June 2007
This is Family.
Hearing: Killing me softly - Fugees
1.5GB of photos/clips in 2 days what does that tell you? I had a blast! There was the good, the bad and the downright ugly, it was totally chaotic but i still had a blast. Seeing all my relos, seeing how everyone has grown was a shock but a pleasant one. I didn't have much time to get to know everyone properly but i did my best and I'm happy with the time i did get.
Being part of such a large family is both a blessing and a curse. Everyone has an opinion and everyone wants to be heard and insist that they know whats best. On the other hand, when you get annoyed with someone there's always someone else there to talk to and when everyone gets together....wow, what a gathering and what fun. I managed to get everyone together the last night i was there and i couldn't stop laughing, i cant begin to express what it was like to be a part of such an atmosphere but i guess you can tell by the smile on my face.
I actually was lucky to get there to begin with. The flight was full so i spoke to the Captain and he gave me the single jumpseat left in the aft galley. Not that i minded though, the crew was nice and missing a galley so i helped out loading the carts, preparing the tea and coffee and whatever else i could do without going into the cabin. And before i knew it we reached top of descent and the whirlwind visit began. I swear i slept at 2 or 3am each night waking up at around 8am and the last night slept at 5am and woke up at 8 too! SO worth it.
VP
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1.5GB of photos/clips in 2 days what does that tell you? I had a blast! There was the good, the bad and the downright ugly, it was totally chaotic but i still had a blast. Seeing all my relos, seeing how everyone has grown was a shock but a pleasant one. I didn't have much time to get to know everyone properly but i did my best and I'm happy with the time i did get.
Being part of such a large family is both a blessing and a curse. Everyone has an opinion and everyone wants to be heard and insist that they know whats best. On the other hand, when you get annoyed with someone there's always someone else there to talk to and when everyone gets together....wow, what a gathering and what fun. I managed to get everyone together the last night i was there and i couldn't stop laughing, i cant begin to express what it was like to be a part of such an atmosphere but i guess you can tell by the smile on my face.
I actually was lucky to get there to begin with. The flight was full so i spoke to the Captain and he gave me the single jumpseat left in the aft galley. Not that i minded though, the crew was nice and missing a galley so i helped out loading the carts, preparing the tea and coffee and whatever else i could do without going into the cabin. And before i knew it we reached top of descent and the whirlwind visit began. I swear i slept at 2 or 3am each night waking up at around 8am and the last night slept at 5am and woke up at 8 too! SO worth it.
VP
12 June 2007
I should be packing.
Hearing: One day I'll fly away - Moulin Rouge Soundtrack.I'm going to Damascus this arvo. I should be packing and getting ready but as you can see I'm procrastinating.
Mums birthday yesterday was really nice. She was so surprised with all the flowers i bought for her. 5
bouquets in total, 10 flowers in each since she is turning 50. I asked the florist to deliver them and then took one single blue rose (dyed of course but beautiful) home when i returned with the cake. She loved the rose but there was more in store.When the flowers arrived i got them and then came in with the 1st bouquet, she was so surprised! Then i went and got the other and she was like "2! What on earth made you get me 2?" and i laughed and said "well this is for your birthday and this is for your birthday, clear? No? Okay, I'll say it again, this is for your birthday and this is for you birthday..." And she cried, like all mothers do and i got hugged and kissed and had to drag myself away to get the other 3 bouquets.
I think, ladies and gents, if you want to shut your mum up, 5 bouquets do the trick, she was speechless and kept staring at them around her at a total loss to express herself in any way. Not that i wanted to shut her up of course, shes not the nagging, constantly talking kind. But i think its safe to say i made her day. Of course now the whole house smells like flowers which is quite nice too.
As for going to Damascus, it'll be my first trip in 7years. I'm only going for a few days and no doubt it'll be hectic. I'm a little nervous about how it will be and at the same time excited over seeing everyone and seeing how all my cousins have grown. Of course it all depends on if i get a seat - don't you just love travelling standby? Ok better go hop in the shower and get ready.VP
10 June 2007
3 days in Paris
Hearing: Sister Act 2 on TV.I figure its about time i gave a rundown of our trip to Paris along with the promised photos.
After our problem with the hotel was settled our first day was spent seeing the sights of Paris. We started with the Arc De Triomphe and then walked from there along the Champs Elysees all the way to the Louvre. And trust me when i say it isn't a short walk. But the weather was good, Paris busy and we enjoyed ourselves stopping now and then to take photos. I had to take one of my mum in front of the fountains featured in the movie "Devil wears Prada". Up next was the Eiffel Tower and the view from the top was worth the wait in line. An unobstructed 360 degree view of the city and very, very high (i kinda underestimated it).
We did want to see the tower light up at night especially with the blinking lights but it doesn't get dark in Paris till late in the evening - around 10pm! So we made a quick trip to Notre Dame Cathedral which actually was perfect timing. The light of the sun setting on the cathedral transformed the colours and it was beautiful. Back at the Eiffel Tower we perched on the steps of the Trocadero Gardens along with lots of other tourists to watch when the lights would transform the tower into a Paris moment. And when it lit up, a gasp of awe and surprise rose from everyone there and no, I'm not exaggerating.
Day 2 found us at Versailles.We spent the whole day there. The place is massive! Apparently the Palace and grounds used to occupy the size roughly the same as that of Paris - now its not so but still its huge. The Palace itself is a marvel with paintings covering the walls and
ceilings, delicate and ornate designs around mirrors and doors, statues and all sorts of antiquities. The recent movie "Marie-Antoinette" starring Kirsten Dunst is shot entirely on location there and i did see a lot of the places that featured in the movie like Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette's room, the chapel they were married in (check out the ceiling in the photo) and of course the Petit Trianon. My favourite place of all has to be Marie-Antoinette's Estate, more specifically, the little Hamlet built for her. Its as though you've stepped back in time.
Day 3 post our Louvre excursion.Mum and i climbed the steps to Sacre Coeur in Montmartre and took a peek inside the church and at the area around it. The cafes, painters and sketch artists were all at the ready anticipating the next tourists. And though i realise its quite put on, i still like seeing it. Before quitting the Montmartre quartier i just had to stop by the Moulin Rouge and see the red windmill for myself. Its not as impressive in the day as it would be at night but still it is an infamous icon of Paris. Our day ended with coffee (naturally) in a market street called Rue Montorgueil. Its filled with cafes, grocers, bakeries and the sort and i actually think the whole trip would have ended on a good note was it not for an altercation i had with some idiot.
Mum and i were walking to a metro stop, arms linked talking away when some french idiot steps in my way and on my foot! I was about to apologise when i realised it wasn't my fault and i stood there a few seconds expecting an apology from him but he didn't say a thing! No "Pardon" no nothing AND he didn't even move! As i waited i realised he wasn't going to move, HE was expecting an apology from ME! I lost my cool and did something that i normally wouldn't have done - i pushed him out of my way and continued walking. He did not like that and started yelling in french which i can only imagine to be profanity and insults and yet again most unlike me i stopped walking and turned around and yelled back that he could "Bite Me!" and that he was an "A$$hole". I was so mad! Honestly, the nerve! After that (I'm sorry to say) i was very happy to be heading for the airport and out of Paris. I guess i cant let little things like that spoil an otherwise pleasant trip but they do get to me. I guess as time wears on I'll only remember the good and hopefully forget the bad.Anyways, that's enough from me, there is more in this post to try even the most attentive reader. I'm off to plan a little surprise for mums birthday tomorrow, she doesn't want anything just a cup of coffee with me (aren't mums sweet? they all say that) but I'm sure i can do more than that.
VP
07 June 2007
Lunch at the Louvre
Hearing: Chatter from cafe behind me, kids and people in front of the Louvre.
In front of me i can see the other side of the Louvre and the glass pyramids that serves as one of the entrances to the museum. The grounds are full of people, kids, tour groups, families and tourists of all shapes and sizes. To my right the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and a faded Eiffel Tower. You see, its not the best of weather, its overcast and looks foggy but at least its not raining.
Mum and i have just come out of the Louvre to have a bite to eat and relax before heading for Sacre Coeur in Montmartre. Ginormous might begin to describe the vastness that is the Louvre Museum, we cut our visit short and we're in there for over 3 hours! HA! It is a maze of paintings, sculpture, artifacts, frescoes and people. As to be expected, the main spots were crowded and the more out of the way - special interest places less so. All in all, worth the trip - yes i did see the Mona Lisa - yes it is small considering all the fuss and yes there is something about the eyes and smile. I have to say though, this visit has made me realise how much i like sculptures. I think its amazing to get a piece of stone so smooth and to show such human and life like expression and movement.
Our flight back home is tonight so we'll head out to the airport after Montmartre. I'll have to update the rest of the trip when i get home and upload all the photos too. Till then, take care,
VP
05 June 2007
Not the best start
Location: Rue Du Wagram, just off the Arc de Triomphe.
OMG! OMG, OMG!!! What a start to this Paris trip. It doesn't seem like i have much luck with hotels. I booked one online, got a confirmation and a nights deposit withdrawn from my credit card yet when i arrived at the hotel last night we were told no, no availability. I was pissed off to say the least and mum, even more so. She was ready to camp out in the lobby till the manager came and spoke to us as the receptionist was an idiot and he didn't know how to do a thing.
Eventually they put us in a sister hotel for the same price. I had to get the idiot to make sure it was for 2 people (duh), give us the name, address and call a taxi...Sheesh! When the taxi arrived i stormed out without a word of thanks since they didn't even have the courtesy to apologise. Even when i spoke to the manager on the phone he kept implying it was my fault which made me madder than ever and i yelled right back saying how can you take a deposit if you don't have a room?
BTW it turned out that the sister hotel was only available for the night so mum and i spent the whole of this morning searching for a place for another 2 nights and after walking for hours we found one. Its about 10mins walk from the Arc de Triomphe, nothing fancy but its clean, has a lift and they are a lot more friendly.
I should say the only genuinely helpful person was the day receptionist/manager at the hotel we spent last night in. He offered to ring around to some hotels to see if they have availability for us, asked us what happened at the first hotel and even said sorry even though he had nothing to do with it! That was really nice not to mention very professional of him.
Well at least the hotel drama is over and now i can show mum around though i don't think Paris has made much of a first impression on her. For the moment we've stopped at McDonald's (i know, i know) to have breakfast/lunch before starting what is hopefully to be a better experience of Paris.
VP
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OMG! OMG, OMG!!! What a start to this Paris trip. It doesn't seem like i have much luck with hotels. I booked one online, got a confirmation and a nights deposit withdrawn from my credit card yet when i arrived at the hotel last night we were told no, no availability. I was pissed off to say the least and mum, even more so. She was ready to camp out in the lobby till the manager came and spoke to us as the receptionist was an idiot and he didn't know how to do a thing.
Eventually they put us in a sister hotel for the same price. I had to get the idiot to make sure it was for 2 people (duh), give us the name, address and call a taxi...Sheesh! When the taxi arrived i stormed out without a word of thanks since they didn't even have the courtesy to apologise. Even when i spoke to the manager on the phone he kept implying it was my fault which made me madder than ever and i yelled right back saying how can you take a deposit if you don't have a room?
BTW it turned out that the sister hotel was only available for the night so mum and i spent the whole of this morning searching for a place for another 2 nights and after walking for hours we found one. Its about 10mins walk from the Arc de Triomphe, nothing fancy but its clean, has a lift and they are a lot more friendly.
I should say the only genuinely helpful person was the day receptionist/manager at the hotel we spent last night in. He offered to ring around to some hotels to see if they have availability for us, asked us what happened at the first hotel and even said sorry even though he had nothing to do with it! That was really nice not to mention very professional of him.
Well at least the hotel drama is over and now i can show mum around though i don't think Paris has made much of a first impression on her. For the moment we've stopped at McDonald's (i know, i know) to have breakfast/lunch before starting what is hopefully to be a better experience of Paris.
VP
03 June 2007
Bring a book and an ipod
Hearing:
Every trip into staff travel sends the most sturdy employee running. It usually involves a long wait where you cant tell which person is processing which type of ticket - ID, duty travel, annual leave, repatriation etc - nor who is in line next, not to mention that when you manage to get to someone they tell you oh no you have to see so and so or they tap away at their computer not really telling you much about what they are doing. If you had the sense to apply online a week, 2 weeks or even a month ago you can safely bet your tickets still wont be ready. So naturally it can be a frustrating and lengthy process which, no joke, can actually take hours out of your day. And that's where i was today. Now over 2 years i have avoided the place if at all possible usually getting my tickets at a company office in the city or directly from the office at the airport but when i need a ticket for someone other than myself it cant be avoided and so my strategy is to take a book and my ipod to help with the long wait. Thats how i managed to get the tickets today with minimal frustration and am now back home with a relaxing cup of coffee contemplating my holiday.
I should probably explain a few things i mentioned 3 posts ago. I am now officially on my annual leave and its to last till the 23rd of this month. Ive been planning on taking my mum to Paris (what mum wouldn't want to go) and to visit Cairo since its one place I've said i wanted to go to a thousand times but nothings worked out. So that at least explains why i was in staff travel today.
The other thing that ties in with my annual leave is that i will be getting another visitor. My uncles wife and her daughter. My uncles wife is very eager to come visit and see where I've been living and (i daresay) just as interested in shopping. As for me I'm more excited to see my cousin who my uncle named after me! I haven't seen her for over 7 years and she has really grown from all the photos I've seen, i cant wait to get to know her.
The other bit of news is that i had a performance check done on me on my JFK. The very same that i did while my brother was here. I had no idea it was being done, in fact, i didn't find out till i was seated in my jumpseat for landing and the CM turns to me and says, i should tell you I've been doing a check on you! Furthermore she said she had nothing negative to say, that i worked very hard and she was impressed and wondered if i was interested in her recommending me for a CM position! I was so surprised but very relieved that at least id gotten a good report.
Anyway mum and i are heading off to Paris tomorrow and we'll be there till the 7th. I cant wait to see the expression on her face when she sees the sites. Better go pack.
VP
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Every trip into staff travel sends the most sturdy employee running. It usually involves a long wait where you cant tell which person is processing which type of ticket - ID, duty travel, annual leave, repatriation etc - nor who is in line next, not to mention that when you manage to get to someone they tell you oh no you have to see so and so or they tap away at their computer not really telling you much about what they are doing. If you had the sense to apply online a week, 2 weeks or even a month ago you can safely bet your tickets still wont be ready. So naturally it can be a frustrating and lengthy process which, no joke, can actually take hours out of your day. And that's where i was today. Now over 2 years i have avoided the place if at all possible usually getting my tickets at a company office in the city or directly from the office at the airport but when i need a ticket for someone other than myself it cant be avoided and so my strategy is to take a book and my ipod to help with the long wait. Thats how i managed to get the tickets today with minimal frustration and am now back home with a relaxing cup of coffee contemplating my holiday.
I should probably explain a few things i mentioned 3 posts ago. I am now officially on my annual leave and its to last till the 23rd of this month. Ive been planning on taking my mum to Paris (what mum wouldn't want to go) and to visit Cairo since its one place I've said i wanted to go to a thousand times but nothings worked out. So that at least explains why i was in staff travel today.
The other thing that ties in with my annual leave is that i will be getting another visitor. My uncles wife and her daughter. My uncles wife is very eager to come visit and see where I've been living and (i daresay) just as interested in shopping. As for me I'm more excited to see my cousin who my uncle named after me! I haven't seen her for over 7 years and she has really grown from all the photos I've seen, i cant wait to get to know her.
The other bit of news is that i had a performance check done on me on my JFK. The very same that i did while my brother was here. I had no idea it was being done, in fact, i didn't find out till i was seated in my jumpseat for landing and the CM turns to me and says, i should tell you I've been doing a check on you! Furthermore she said she had nothing negative to say, that i worked very hard and she was impressed and wondered if i was interested in her recommending me for a CM position! I was so surprised but very relieved that at least id gotten a good report.
Anyway mum and i are heading off to Paris tomorrow and we'll be there till the 7th. I cant wait to see the expression on her face when she sees the sites. Better go pack.
VP
02 June 2007
My brothers visit
Hearing: Washing machine and mum pottering around.
Well I'm sitting in the kitchen watching my mum cook one of my fav arabic dishes and i figure why not update while i have the time? So where do i start...
Okay, so my brother came to visit me last month arriving the 16th on the same flight i was crewing back from Sydney. It was so cool having him on board and spoiling him with food and stuff from first and business class - unfortunately as we were full i couldn't upgrade him but i still managed to get him 2 seats next to each other in economy to he could stretch out a bit.
So for about 2 weeks we ran around going out, eating exploring and having fun. I was really happy he finally got to see where I've been living and what I've been doing for the past 2 years. Sharing that made it seem a little more real. We had loads of fun! So here are a few stories of what we got up to.
My flatmate E- was happy to find that my brother was more eager than i at wanting to go out so she was our honorary guide. In one night we went to 7 different palaces! No, I'm not kidding. 3 bars, one pub and 2 clubs including the airline hangout which i had never been to and never wish to got to again with good reason. But we had a really good time, my brother really enjoyed himself and got to meet some of the crew i knew.
We hired out a car at one stage and it came in handy when we had to drive out for bout an hour to this remote resort so my brother could go jet skiing. He left the keys with me and in my eagerness to take photos i lost them..... i was so annoyed with myself i can tell you. Luckily when i retraced my steps i found them half buried in the sand. Really, really lucky, they could have been completely buried and it was getting dark and we would have been stuck at the resort.
When my mum arrived about a week after my brother i sent both on a desert safari which they accused me of tricking them in as i didn't warn them about the dune bashing (really what did they expect?) but they loved it. The sheer emptiness of the desert, the sunset, the sand surfing. Then they both decided to go to Amman to visit some relatives there while i was off on a JFK. It was last minute but i managed to get them both cheap tickets and book a hotel and that was that. My brother hadn't seen our relo's in over 7 years so he came back grinning even more so than when he left.
Anyways we did so much and though i was really tired, had loads of fun. I think I'm one of the lucky sisters who has such an awesome brother and it was great just hanging out with him. So check out the few pics i can post without giving away where i am cuz I'm off to grab some yummy food before it gets cold.
VP
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Well I'm sitting in the kitchen watching my mum cook one of my fav arabic dishes and i figure why not update while i have the time? So where do i start...
Okay, so my brother came to visit me last month arriving the 16th on the same flight i was crewing back from Sydney. It was so cool having him on board and spoiling him with food and stuff from first and business class - unfortunately as we were full i couldn't upgrade him but i still managed to get him 2 seats next to each other in economy to he could stretch out a bit.So for about 2 weeks we ran around going out, eating exploring and having fun. I was really happy he finally got to see where I've been living and what I've been doing for the past 2 years. Sharing that made it seem a little more real. We had loads of fun! So here are a few stories of what we got up to.
My flatmate E- was happy to find that my brother was more eager than i at wanting to go out so she was our honorary guide. In one night we went to 7 different palaces! No, I'm not kidding. 3 bars, one pub and 2 clubs including the airline hangout which i had never been to and never wish to got to again with good reason. But we had a really good time, my brother really enjoyed himself and got to meet some of the crew i knew.
We hired out a car at one stage and it came in handy when we had to drive out for bout an hour to this remote resort so my brother could go jet skiing. He left the keys with me and in my eagerness to take photos i lost them..... i was so annoyed with myself i can tell you. Luckily when i retraced my steps i found them half buried in the sand. Really, really lucky, they could have been completely buried and it was getting dark and we would have been stuck at the resort.
When my mum arrived about a week after my brother i sent both on a desert safari which they accused me of tricking them in as i didn't warn them about the dune bashing (really what did they expect?) but they loved it. The sheer emptiness of the desert, the sunset, the sand surfing. Then they both decided to go to Amman to visit some relatives there while i was off on a JFK. It was last minute but i managed to get them both cheap tickets and book a hotel and that was that. My brother hadn't seen our relo's in over 7 years so he came back grinning even more so than when he left.
Anyways we did so much and though i was really tired, had loads of fun. I think I'm one of the lucky sisters who has such an awesome brother and it was great just hanging out with him. So check out the few pics i can post without giving away where i am cuz I'm off to grab some yummy food before it gets cold.
VP
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