From Rome to Constantinople (that's Istanbul to you)

I wish I had been able to spend more than 4 beautiful days in Turkey. Since that was the time I had, I opted to spend them all in Istanbul. It's gorgeous and bustling and touristy and fabulous. Nicky met me there and we spent our time eating tasty dinners made up of dipping things and tangy cheeses and fruits and breads and wine after glass of Divine wine. The old town is home to two beautiful, and rather famous mosques, the new town is urban and modern and crowded, and the shopping is brilliant all over the place. I acquired a love for Turkish delight (Nicky might have as well....the stuff was good) and gooey pastry of all sorts. We took a river cruise that highlighted the neat geography of Istanbul and the views were gorgeous. Like many places in Europe, Turkey is home to a large population of homeless cats. Unlike many other places, these cats appeared well. Well fed, well groomed and they were everywhere in abundance. Nic and I decided to do our part and fed a crew of kitties a hot dog we bought from a kiosk in a park right across from the Blue Mosque in the old town. They were a little scary in their pursuit of our meat morsels, but it was an experience none the less. I can't imagine feeding stray cats in a park in London or even Minneapolis. Probably because there are few if any stray cat crews in London or Minneapolis, but even so, it felt neat and unique and just not the sort of thing two practical girls would be compelled to do except during a long weekend holiday in the mysterious, beautiful, bustling city of Istanbul.

Here we have the old town, a window display that made me salivate, and Nic with her brood of feline wonders.

The cats are everywhere. Indoors as frequently as outside.

I had to take this photo, as it would appear that police officers double up while patrolling around town on their trusty motorbike.
Talk about making the most of your resources!

The new town looks like this from the river. It's really beautiful and interesting to soak up.

The spice market where I purchased my tasty treat of Turkish delight.

And then came my goodbye for now trip to Italy

Just look at the feet on this very regular (for Italy) street lamp in this very regular park just down the street from my Hostel in Florence.

A bridge built for kings and the most fashionable police in the world. They have got to be. And the walk! You should have seen these two glide down the street.

While I have no Italian heritage that I am aware of, the country is a place that feels like somewhere I could live someday if time and circumstances were right. I love the look of the place, the culture, the incredible incorporation of art in life and art in cities and just art everywhere, the people and heaven help me, the food. During my life in London, I weekended in Italy on 3 different occasions. On my 4th visit, pointedly to say goodbye for now, I started in Florence and then trained down to Rome. Rome. Rome. A city like no other. A mind blowing, sensory overload, food indulgent, cat populated city with so much history it hardly feels historic at all. Rome. Dang. What is America's equivalent to Rome? We need one. I need one. What is it?

It was pouring down rain, freezing cold, and I had a cold but did that stop me from making my way to the Trevi Fountain to ensure my return to Rome? No! I will go back.

Since October 29th

I cannot believe that I left my job with Bromley on October 29th 2008 and since then (I write this on January 27th 2009) I have been traveling and saying goodbyes and saying hellos and reconnecting with fair Minneapolis. The last 3 months have been a seriously beautiful dream come true for me filled with the joy of freedom and new experience as well as the feelings of loss and longing that comes with the territory of leaving a place one has lived from 3+ years. The whole thing has been momentus and I urge everyone who can to save and scrimp and take some time away from the rat race (1 month, 2 months, 6 months - next time I'm shooting for a year!) to experience, enjoy, consider and plan for the next thing. I feel amazing. Of course, I could not be doing this without the support of my sister, who is letting me act as her domestic in return for rent. That allows something that would otherwise be 2 months of travel to extend to 4 months, two of travel and two of trying to make something of myself in a new and exciting way.

To recap: On October 29th I left for Scotland, sweet Scotland. Already I long for Scotland. It was important for me to revisit the land of my ancestors and say my goodbyes. Edinburgh gave me men in kilts, beautiful views, walking paths slick just after a rain and mysterious buildings that inspire billion dollar fairy tales. My last night in Edinburgh, I happened upon a busy pub on the high street that I hadn't gone into the first time I visited the city. I had the best hot toddie of my life in that joint. It was the whiskey no doubt, but they also made it with clove stuck orange. Beautiful. I had two.

Next stop, Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. I loved this little town. It was quaint but bustling. I ate Cullen Skink, I bought some tartan, although not the pattern of my family clan, I wandered the river walk at dusk and little streets that lead me to a breathtaking view in the early morning light. I visited Loch Ness while I was in the area and hoped against hope that Nessie would show up for me (she didn't!?), I really just had the best time. Inverness is a definite recommend to those who are Scotland bound.

I went back through Edinburgh on my way home to London, and then on to York, where I spent the day shopping, drinking tea and eating scones, admiring the architecture and outside art, and just loving up the UK and feeling thankful that I got to live three years of my life there.

Malaysia was not what I expected from South East Asia

I don't know what I expected from Malaysia exactly - but I clearly expected something as I was surprised every place we went someplace new.

This is my very good friend Steve. He lives in Malaysia and was generous in his willingness to play host to Caroline and I during our visit to him.
We started in the former capital of Malaysia and Steve's hometown, Johor Bahru. The pic of Steve and Caroline eating regular looking noodles is deceiving. Steve and his whole family visit this eating establishment more than weekly. Steve calls the proprietor Uncle and he takes good care of Steve by ensuring that he eats, on a regular basis, the best noodles in the world. I really think so. They look like noodles but they taste like special, impossible to recreate, secret recipe noodles.



After JB, Steve took us to a beautiful resort on the South China Sea for a few days, and the he sadly returned home to work and Caroline and I went to visit a little, beautiful, warm water island called Pulau Besar. There were no shops, no roads, no nuthin on the island except monkeys we never saw, pythons that kept to themselves, lots of insects, maybe 7 or so resorts, and beautiful beaches, the warmest ocean ever and impressive snorkeling right there, just out from our villa. We were meant to be there for 2 nights and 3 days, but we kept extending and extending and were there 5 days in total. It was relaxing, we were pampered by the proprietor of the place - a lovely man called Jasbeer, the food was good and the experience was just what we wanted, except for not seeing the monkeys. That was a drag. That said, I did see several during the various drives we took from here to there around Malaysia, so that made me happy. I love the monkeys.
















Caroline and I then went to Malacca, a cute town full of architecture that reflects it's interesting and varied history of colonization. The pic on the far left is the hotel we stayed in while there. It was so beautiful, and cost about as much as one would except to pay for a Super 8 in the middle of nowhere USA. It was amazing value for money. The fountains were beautiful, the shops were interesting and plentiful and we found some decent eats here too.

After Malacca, C and I took a bus to Malaysia's capital city, Kuala Lumpur. A town that wrapped it's energy right around me pulling me toward a long term commitment. I have added KL to my list of must-live places. It's a buzzing place full of the most amazing markets, restaurants, people, buildings, temples, just everything. It's a town with the most amazing everything. :) Even the rain storm we got caught in was amazing. Big fat drops of warm warm rain - a lovely opportunity for walking in the rain. Caroline in her innovative glory got creative with head cover. I was barely able to walk I was laughing so hard.




Steve was such a thoughtful host. He spends a lot of time in KL, but he doesn't really like all that "regular living" so suited to Caroline and myself. Steve is a fan of air conditioning, fine dining, avoiding public transport by favoring cabs, that sort of thing. But knowing me like he does, he asked his friend Clara to show C and I around KL. Good heavens was she a dream come true. She took us to her food haunts where I had cold coffee served on ice in a bag that was so good I wanted more and more and more. She brought us to food markets, stuff markets, the biggest knock off label market I have ever been to in my entire life. Oh yeah, I bought stuff. It was one of those life experiences where one walks away knowing they are changed and for the better, but it's hard to say exactly how. I feel different. Better in someway.

We ended our trip with a pretty drive back to JB, and a little time in Singapore. I did like Singapore, but it wasn't Kuala Lumpur. No.

The last picture you see is of Steve, Caroline Steve's niece and myself, along with the rest of Steve's family who are not in the photo but were sharing an amazing 7 (at least) course meal

at a posh Chinese restaurant in Singapore. It was a gift from Steve's sister and it falls into my top 10 life food experiences thus far. Easily. Maybe top 5. Actually yes, it's in my top 5. I ate so many things I had never tried before. Yep, I tried to be brave and it served me well during this dinner. It was all beautiful. The country, the opportunity to spend time with Steve and meet his family, the opportunity to holiday with Caroline, the people we met along the way. I more often than not fall in love with wherever I am in one way or another and for one reason or another, but rarely has it been as comprehensive as my fall for Malaysia and KL. It happened to me in Scotland, in Italy and now in Malaysia. What a life. I am so lucky.

The low down on Lisbon

Let me start from the end on this one. I spent two nights and two full days in lovely Lisbon and her surroundings. This picture captures my last hours before flying back to London. The photo was taken at a beach about 45 minutes by train from Lisbon. It's in a total beachy town called Cascais. The weather was hot. I was unprepared. I brought nothing for the beach, but that didn't stop me from sunbathing (as if I don't look old enough) and, as it turns out, sunburning.




This shot is a view common to anyone who lives in or loves my favorite Lisbon neighborhood - Barrio Alta (or something close to that) It's really where I should be living. The only issue is the language barrier. Well, that and everything practical. Actually, the only reason I should live there is because I loved it so much, and it felt really easy and comfortable and like I should be living there. That's probably more about my ethnocentric presumptions and sense of entitlement than anything substantial. Still, love is rarely practical and I'm not convinced that it can ever be substantiated. Actually, if I'm honest, I am rarely practical and I think substantiating is highly over rated. Feelings. Now that's where it's at.


Yeah, that's right. The buildings are tiled and amazing.
mmm hmmm, views of a variety of stunning sorts are everywhere.











Buildings are beautifully old and artfully stacked.
Bands play live for free in the middle of the square - or maybe they just did that because they knew I was coming to Lisbon to celebrate my birthday.


Bull fighting happens every Thursday night. I got there a day too late to subject myself to the experience. A blessing mostly, but I do wonder about it. It's a hugely significant cultural thing in some places. I wonder if crying is frowned upon during the bull fights. Are they called bull fights?

I like the ceramic bulls. Everyone is nice and safe and happy and such.








Fishing seemed popular. When I see such celebration around the fishing I think of my dad. He lives for it. If he lived in Lisbon he would fish off the pier with multiple lines. Heaven for some, confusing for others.








And the monastery. During my travels I have had the privilege of visiting a few. I'm not sure if this is the most beautiful of all that I've seen, but it was close. I am sure I could do monastery living for a while. The serenity, even with loads of tourists milling about, is palpable. And I don't even buy the doctrine. :)



I do wish I had more time, more money, and perhaps a bit more motivation/organization. If I did have all of those things, Lisbon would be on the top of my must travel to more than once list. I really did love it. I really would live there. It's a me city and proved to be the perfect springboard to jump into my very last year as a 30 something. My 30s. Wow. What a decade, and it isn't near over yet.