Bagel Madness!!!

This week I used my Entertainment Book voucher for a baker's dozen of bagels free when you buy a baker's dozen of bagels. Then the guy at the bagel shop chucked in two free ones, so I ended up with a bag of 28 bagels! That's a lot of bagels.

Taking Caroline's sage advice, I cut the bagels in half first and then froze them. I now have a freezer full of bagels - but I'm not too sure what my flatmate's going to say when she comes back though.....

First-borns Have Higher IQ Scores

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6229952.stm

So true!! (Hehehehe!)


First-borns have higher IQ scores

The child raised as the eldest in a family is likely to have a higher IQ than his or her siblings, work reveals.

A Norwegian team found first born children and those who had lost elder siblings and had hence become the eldest, scored higher on intelligence.

The link, reported in Science, was found by looking at more than 250,000 male Norwegian conscripts.

Experts have disagreed for decades about how birth order might influence intellect and achievement.

Brainier

Supporters of the theory argue the eldest child gets more undivided attention from their parents from an early age.

Others claim differences occur in the womb before birth because with each subsequent pregnancy the mother produces higher levels of antibodies that may attack the foetal brain.

While others claim the relationship between birth order and intelligence is false, being biased by family size - historically, couples with lower IQs have tended to have more children than couples with higher IQs.


We found that it is the son's social position and not his biological position that counts
Researcher Professor Petter Kristensen

Professor Petter Kristensen, at the National Institute of Occupational Health in Oslo, and colleague Tor Bjerkedal, at the Norwegian Armed Forces Medical Service, said although the IQ difference they found in their study groups was small, it was significant.

The findings also suggested that the trend was down to social rather than biological differences, they said.

For example, men who were third born but who then lost an elder sibling in early childhood and so were raised as the second born had IQ scores close to those of "genuine" second-borns.

Professor Kristensen said: "We found that it is the son's social position and not his biological position that counts."

Frank Sulloway, of the Institute of Personality and Social Research at the University of California, has been studying how upbringing influences personality and intelligence.

He told the Daily Telegraph the higher IQ in the first-born could, in part, be gained by their tutoring of younger siblings.

"In addition, the tendency for first-borns to occupy the niche of a surrogate parent, and to take on the role of the conscientious, self-disciplined and mature sibling may also explain why first-borns have higher IQs," he said.

Missing Lake!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4103359a4560.html

Missing: Large lake in southern Chile
Reuters | Thursday, 21 June 2007

A lake in southern Chile has mysteriously disappeared, prompting speculation the ground has simply opened up and swallowed it whole.

The lake was situated in the Magallanes region in Patagonia and was fed by water, mostly from melting glaciers.

It had a surface area of between 4 and 5 hectares (10-12 acres) – about the size of 10 soccer pitches.

"In March we patrolled the area and everything was normal. . . we went again in May and to our surprise we found the lake had completely disappeared," said Juan Jose Romero, regional director of Chile's National Forestry Corporation CONAF.

"The only things left were chunks of ice on the dry lake-bed and an enormous fissure," he said.

CONAF is investigating the disappearance.

One theory is that the area was hit by an earth tremor that opened a crack in the ground which acted like a drain.

Southern Chile has been shaken by thousands of minor earth tremors this year.

Love this Cartoon

My Flat

I'm flatting with a lovely physio from the gym underneath my work. Her name is Rebecca and we get along really well - which is great! She's from Dunedin, so a good South Island girl.

Our flat is in the Robert Hannah Apartments on Eva Street off Dixon St, near Cuba St. It's very, very central and so convenient to everything. We're on the top floor, so it is a penthouse appartment! We have a great view from our balcony. I'll put a picture in my web albums.

Our flat is really good, although it is located behind a strip club called Santa Fe. I didn't realise it was a lap dancing club when I moved in, but it's fine. At least everyone knows where it is! And, before you ask, NO we can't see in!

Also, we each have our own ensuite bathroom. So good!!! It's great not sharing :)

The flat is fully furnished, and we're getting the rent cheap as it's going to be sold - once some legal issues are resolved. Only got a 6 month lease, so going to have to look for a new place in not that long. Looking for somewhere to live SUCKS.

Work is going well

Work is going really well. I'm really enjoying the job and the people are all really nice. Unfortunately though, in my area they're all much older than me. My boss is the next youngest and he's about 45!! Man!!!

The other parts of NZTE do have younger people, but there's not really any hot young guys :( Tragic!!

I have also made some friends there, which is really good :) We've been having lunch together on our pay week (we get paid fortnightly), and hanging out here and there. Now I know 3 extra people in Wellington - and they're not from Chch, which is weird!! Hehehehe!!!

Facebook - every man and his dog are on there!!

http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=739365214&k=af181031b8&r&v=2

Have you joined Facebook yet? If not you're like the only person! Use the link above to join the fun :)

Flight of the Conchords have a show in the US!!!

I am still alive!

I've just been slack - and amazingly I've not even taken many photos lately!!!

But I will totally update my blog sometime this week. Promise.

Emi :)

Wellington from the Plane

Chch from the Plane

The End of My Second Week at Work

I made it through two weeks of work!!

Working is hard!! And the days are sooooo looooong!!! 8.30am - 5.30pm EVERY DAY!!!! That's a whole 40 hours a week - so not the British way. What's wrong with 37.5 hours a week? I haven't worked 40 mandatory hours per week for YEARS.

Yes, working has been quite a nasty shock to the system. After my first day, I was so tired i went to bed straight after dinner. Asleep by 9.30! For those of you who know me as my usual go to bed at 2am, live on 6 hours sleep a night, well, things have changed! I'm going to sleep at like, 10.30, and then getting up at 7.30am and still being tired!!! It's horrible!!! I feel like I'm spending all my time at work or sleeping. Sucks. And I'm too tired to watch David Letterman at 11pm. Hopefully I will get used to it in time, and be able to stop having to sleep so much. Unless it's old age....... (yes, I am once again hating having my birthday. It's Tuesday, and I'm 29 on the 29th of May.)

I’ve Found Somewhere to Live!

Well, it took a hardcore week of searching (I saw at least 10 different places), but I have found a flat. It’s really cool and totally central! Of course the best bit is that it takes less than 10 minutes to walk to work. Such a nice change from London!

I’m flatting with another girl. She works in the gym at the bottom of the building my work is in. She’s a physio there, and her name is Becs.

Oh yeah, I must mention that we each have our own bathrooms!!!! So good not to have to share! Sharing sucks!!

I've Got A Job!!! Yay!!!

The job is as an Advisor in the Energy Sector for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE). http://www.nzte.govt.nz/

I'll be in the ICN - Industry Capability Network
http://www.nzte.govt.nz/section/11737.aspx
"The principal objective of Industry Capability Network (ICN) is to maximise competitive import substitution in the New Zealand and Australian market. This involves working with major purchasers to identify local companies which can meet purchase requirements in the face of competition from imported products." I'd be doing this in the Energy Sector, I guess!

I'll be starting two weeks Monday. It's based in Wellington, so I can finally escape Christchurch! ;) I'll be on level 12 of Majestic Centre on Willis St.

Reason 167 Why I Need A Job

Who's a pretty doggy!!!

Some People Are So Cruel!

Isn't this pic just super cute!!!

I have more Hello Kitty Eva Air pics in my Web Albums (includes 2007 calendars!).

Did I tell you I bought a Hello Kitty toaster? It puts a Hello Kitty face on every slice :) So awesome!

The Most Wonderful Idea EVER!!!

Hello Kitty Airlines!!! Eva Air has 2 Hello Kitty themed aeroplanes!!! :) I HAVE to go on one - then I can die of happiness!! :)

http://evakitty.evaair.com/jp/ (unfortunately the cute sites are in Chinese or Japanese)

and some pics here

http://rojaks.blogspot.com/2006/09/hello-kitty-craze-hello-kitty-airline.html

Countries I've Visited

Well, only been to 28 countries - 12% of the countries available for my perusal. Gonna have to do something about it!!! (In the future - after I get a job, and pay back all the money I owe...)

Granny's 80th Birthday!

Last night we celebrated my grandmother's upcoming 80th birthday with a dinner at the New Brighton Working Men's Club - upstairs at the Pierview Restaurant.

All the family were there and lots of Granny's friends. It was a really nice night!! :)

Happy St Patrick's Day!!! :)

A bit of nostalgia

CAFFIENDS!!! I found this last remnant of the former coffee establishment - an old ad painted on the wall beside where it used to be.

We used to go there all the time when we were teenagers. Good times, good times...

And I caught up with Ras and Fi

which was AWESOME! So good to see those girls again :)

The weather has improved lately though

Which has meant that I've been able to go to the beach, and even swim! It's been great :)

This is a pic of my sister and the dog at the beach one evening. More pics are on my web album.

It's fun to catch up after years and years!

First I saw Daniel Harding (who I hadn't seen for years) at a fundraising thing at the Grumpy Mole (shame). Melissa Foster invited me, and choice of venue had NOTHING to do with me!

Then I saw an old friend from high school, Billy Smart!! I'd just said to my cousin Demelza how I would love to catch up with him again, then we went to the Arts Centre, and there he was!!! Just as lovely as ever too :)

I haven't seen him years! Maybe 7 years, even!!

(This photo of me is HORRIBLE)

I didn't get the job in Wellington

Sadly, I didn't get the job I had the interview for in Wellington. Though I got feedback from one of the guys who interviewed me and he was very positive (and talking off record).

I almost got the job, and was a very close second. He even argued for me, but the HR person wasn't having it. Maybe next time :(

My Cousin Brendan + family

My cousin Brendan came back from Australia this month for a visit. He moved there about 4 years ago and plays Rugby League there for a team. He's in the reserve grade at the moment.

Anyway, that's his little girl, Prezlee, and his partner Talila. It was Prezlee's 1st birthday. She's a real daddy's girl.

While Brendan was in NZ, he went to Auckland and got a tattoo. It's a lot like our uncle Sam's tattoo and the guy who did it is our dads' cousin.

By the way, my cousin Demelza (and Brendan's sister) is on the left of Brendan with her little 6-and-three-quarters year old boy, Nehemiah (Miah for short).

This is his tattoo:

Giles has gone to China!

Yup, Giles has gone and left Christchurch for 6 months of perpetual Asian Thursday* in China. He's teaching English at a University there.

Giles has always been such a stalwart of Christchurch that it's definitely weird here without him!

* Every Thursday a group of us have Asian food for dinner at a different Asian restaurant, thus Asian Thursday. Lloyd has been organising it for over 2 years now! With no double ups! Amazing!!

Wow! It's been a month already!

Man, I'm terrible. I haven't updated my blog for a month!!!

So, guess I will now. What's been happening...... (not much really)

Happy Valentines Day!!! :)

(It's the 14th of Feb here, and Wednesday!)

Birthday Alarm - When's Your Birthday Please?

Hi
I am building a birthday book for myself and would appreciate some quick help from you. Just click on the link below and enter your birthday details. It's easy and you can keep your age secret!...

http://www.birthdayalarm.com/dob/62807115a215108587b363

Thanks Emi

The Bad Things About Big Day Out

I reckon they put lots of things on the wrong stage at Big Day Out. Firstly, My Chemical Romance were on really early in the day before Evermore, Jet or Muse, and yet they are much more popular.

Kasabian were not on the main stage, which is ridiculous for what have been called ‘the best band in britain’. The crowd when they were playing were HUGE!!! You could barely walk around and there was no chance of seeing the stage. We got really near the front and couldn’t see a thing. (Dan wanted to see them, not me.) And Evermore were on the main stage at the time Kasabian were on the small stage. Stupid. Who are Evermore?

Another thing, is that there’s only one big screen and it’s not very high up, so it can be hard to see. Like for me at the Killers. There should be two or three screens – definitely one on each side of the stage. And high up, so you can see it from a distance – especially as, unlike V or Glastonbury, BDO is not on a hill. Shame they don’t have a fake incline or something they could use next year.

Finally there just seemed to be too many people! It was so hard to get anywhere!! There were massive queues for food, and for the free water. And BIG queues for the women’s toilets, as usual. I did a lot of holding on.

Actually, not finally, as I haven’t mentioned The Drinking Cage yet.

If you wanted to drink alcohol, you had to go to the drinking cage. It was so bad!! You had to get a wrist band to prove you were over 18 – after showing ID – and then you entered a special area where you could buy a drink. But you couldn’t take it out of the area, so had to sit in a caged off area! Like at a zoo!! And they didn’t have any vodka drinks. Just beer, wine and JD & coke cans. I had to drink bourbon :( Then they searched my bag when you went out to check you weren’t smuggling drinks. There was a rather over-zealous bag checker woman, so it took me ages to get out of the area, and you know how impatient Kent is! And later in the day, the queues to get into the area, then to actually buy a drink were so big, that me and Dan didn’t even bother!!!

Big Day Out - mostly the good things

It was a good day!

But the sound was awful for the Killers. I think it was a problem with the sound for the left-hand side stage (when looking at the stages). Apparently the sound wasn’t very good for My Chemical Romance – though it sounded fine from where me and Dan were - right in front!!! I was like, a metre away or something. So cool. (I am SO SAD!!!)

Anyways, me and Dan moved over to in front of the other stage for the Killers, cos I couldn’t see the stage OR the big screen. That side had MUCH better sound, and I could see the screen and even sometimes the stage!!!

Then we stayed there for Muse and they were awesome. But they’re always good live.

Earlier in the day I’d seen the NZ band ‘Die! Die! Die!’ They were great!! I’m gonna have to get the album now. I also saw The Tutts (another NZ band), but wasn’t that impressed. Nor with Elemeno P (NZ too). I really wanted to see The Veils, but they clashed with The Killers and it was IMPOSSIBLE to get around easily as there were so many people there!! They’re from Devenport in Auckland originally, and I’ve heard some of their stuff. Sounds good.

Throughout the day we saw some good acts, like Peaches. She was very entertaining! And we also saw/heard Kasabian. They played the one song I like first (Shoot The Runner), but Dan wanted to see them. So I stayed. We sat on the grass, in front of the drinking cage (more of that later).

The last act of the night was The Violent Femmes. It was awesome!!! They played all the old stuff and it was just cool :) A great way to end the evening, and we’d got to the early, so were pretty much up front. There were loads of people stretching far back, trying to watch. We did have to listen through ‘Dimmer’ though, and they sucked. So boring!! I played Tetris on my mobile phone!! Got a new record ;)

It was a mega long day, as we’d gotten there about 11am and left at 11.45pm ish. So tired at the end of it!! And mildly sunburnt, which sucked. I haven’t been burnt in years and I’d forgotten how unpleasant it is. Fortunately for me, it had gone down after a day or so. I feel so sorry for Russ, and also Selena – who seems to burn as soon as she steps outside – sometimes it’s good to be brown. Of course it is bad to be brown when people are having a rant about immigrants, or just being plain, old racist.

Queue for last Big Day Out Tickets

As you may know, Big Day Out Tickets sold out on approx 28th Dec. Then another 2000 were released to be sold on the 15th Jan.

In the words of my brother, ‘If you knew you wanted to go to the Big Day Out, who would wait that long to buy their ticket?’ The answer to that question is: DANIEL STEVENSON.

So, as an unemployed loafer, I was pressed into standing in line to buy a ticket for him at 9am, Monday morning. Me and loads of other people. For an hour and a half. It sucked SO BAD!!! (I did get the ticket though)

I sorted out my ticket while I was in the danged Middle East, but Dan can’t sort his out from AUCKLAND, where he lives, where the festival is!!! Tsk tsk tsk. Some people. He so owes me!

Masters of Metal!!!!

The first weekend in Auckland, I spent it with Daniel Stevenson and his girlfriend, Adrienne.

On the Saturday night (13/01/07), me and Dan went to Karangahapi Road (aka K Rd) and to what is apparently Auckland’s only Rock and Metal Club – Hysteria. It was so cool!

They had a metal tribute band, called ‘Masters of Metal’ playing all the hits from the 80s and 90s. When we arrived they were playing Living on a Prayer and then did the Havoc song (NZ) that goes ‘I Was Tripping Out On You’. Haven’t heard that in AGES!!! They also played Ace of Spaces, Welcome to the Jungle etc. It was really good. We had a great time. And the drinks were pretty cheap. I’d also been drinking, so I was enjoying the whole thing a lot more than I would’ve been if I hadn’t!

The best think about the Masters of Metal though, were that they were all dressed up in lycra jumpsuits, big hair wigs, with makeup and padded crotches. Some of them also had those codpiece things. So funny! The leadsinger also had a heart shape cut out in front of his jumpsuit, and it showed his hairy chest. LOL!!!

But they were also really good musicians. So they took the piss and could really play. Which considering the crowd, was a good thing ;)

I've got some photos of the band on my phone, but can't find my software disc to put it on the computer. I'll put some photos on my web albums as soon as I can!!!

I'm in Auckland!

Flying in NZ is so easy! - unless, of course, you make jokes about security.

You only have to get to the airport half an hour before your flight and check-in closes a quarter of an hour before. So sweet!!! Especially if you're packing and getting ready last minute, as I tend to do...

Just signed up with Bebo

Was before, but now using my gmail account, so:

"Please connect with me on Bebo, just click below:
http://www.bebo.com/invite/3072158077a971393643b229

Cheers
Emi"

I've brought prohibited items into NZ!

Sheesha pipes are not allowed to be brought into NZ! Who knew!! Apparently it's because they can be used for smoking cannabis.

http://www.customs.govt.nz/importers/Prohibited+Imports/default.htm

I've had it in my handluggage all the way since Istanbul! Istanbul to London, to LA, to Auckland, to Christchurch!!

New Web Albums

Hey

Not using the msn group photo site anymore, as it sucks, but using a google/picasa one. The link is here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/miss.emi.pa

OR

you can click on the link on the right-hand side of the blog, which says 'link to NEW web albums'

OR

you can click on the pic of me in front of the pyramids on the right-hand side of the blog and then go see all my pubic galleries that way!

Got the pics uploaded!

Used the basic uploader instead of the flash one, so may I present:

-Caroline's birthday
- Wallace Eason competition

Okay, tried to upload the pics

But these aren't there:

- Caroline's Birthday
- Wallace Eason

Couldn't connect to server or something!

Pics!

Hey Y'all

I've put the pics from
- Christmas Eve at the Dux
- Boxing Day BBQ at Sparks'
- Caroline's Birthday
- The Wallace Eason Competition

here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/miss.emi.pa

Have a Great New Years :)

Emi

New Web Photo Album Site!

It seems a lot better than my crappy msn group!!

The new site is:
http://picasaweb.google.com/miss.emi.pa/FaveMiddleEastPics

or you can click on the link on the right-hand side of the page to it.

So far all it has is my fave pics fromthe Middle East (excluding Istanbul - not got to that yet!!).

Leaving drink photos etc are still on the MSN group site.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

from

Emi

and

Jake

(aka The

Christmas Dog)

It's Weird to Be Home

I've almost been home for a week now, but I'm not really settled in yet. Opa reckons it took him 5 years when he immigrated from Holland, but I'm seriously hoping it won't take me that long!! Besides, I have lived in Chch before. However, I have heard from other friends that when they come back it from the UK, the following year was the worst year of their lives! Eeek!!

Here is a pic of the beach across the road from my Grandparent's house:

I am back in Chch!!

Just to let you know that I got back home to Christchurch safe and sound :)

With loads of luggage ;)

I'm a Good Girl! I did 17 Interviews!!

Well, my earlier procrastinating came back and bit me in the arse. Thanks to leaving my work to the last minute (as usual), I had to do loads of work in my last week in London! It was horrible!!! BUT I did manage to do 17 interviews (was hoping to do 30 though) and have a meeting with my Mentor for the Post Grad Cert in Knowledge Transfer (KT) that I'm doing. So I'm pretty happy with that. If I want to do any more interviews, I'll have to email people the questions instead. Done a good range of people though - including the MD!, so I might not have to... maybe. We'll see.

Me (left) and Ras (on the right)

I love this pic of me and Ras! It's from Sat 2nd Dec, just before my leaving drinks.

Back in London, Back at NPL

Yup, you read right. I'm back at work - good ole NPL! Well, it's all my own fault for procrastinating about my Work Based Project, thus meaning that I have to do 30 interviews this week!!!! The alternative is calling people from NZ. Not ideal.

Anyways, I had my leaving drinks on Sat night at Jewel. It was a great night - thanks to everyone who bought me a drink, by the way!! Unfortunately three people didn't get in - Stringer (although he was borderline), Dan because of his old, substandard sneaker footwear and Grog later on as he was deemed too drunk (he did sound pretty drunk on the phone, actually). Such a shame! At least I saw Dan and Stringer outside the club. I tried to get them in, but the bouncers were having none of it!

Actually, before I forget, a congratulations to Neil for puking on the stairs to the toilets at Jewel and also nearly falling asleep numerous times, but managing to avoid being chucked out! Good work!

Well, I should go and do some real work which I've been avoiding for so long :(

Laters!
Emi

Istanbul and the tour ıs over :(

Well, now Im ın Istanbul. Beautıful cıty and awesome mosques.

The other nıght some of us went out, and a few of us ended up at a really cool alternatıve rock bar. Had so much fun dancıng away...well, dancıng rock style. It was sunday nıght, and we dıdnt leave tıll the bar closed at 2.30am!

Also have met up wıth Tammy and her boyfrıend! How crazy ıs ıt that theyre here too rıght now!! Very cool to see her agaın! We're meetın up agaın tomorrow and goıng to Topakı palace. Should be good!

By the way, my typıng ıs crap due to the Turkısh keyboard! Took me ages to fınd an apostrophe!

Back to London on Frıday and leavıng drınks on the Sat. Then one week later I leave for NZ!! Yay!! I cant waıt to get home for good!! :)

Gallıpolı

Went to Gallıpolı the other day. Was great to see where my Great Grandfather had been and fought. That poor man though! It sounds so horrıble!!! We saw ANZAC cove and the memorıals. So glad I got to see them. I thınk Gallıpolı/they are really ımportant to NZ hıstory.

Info about my great grandfather, who survıved ıt all but dıd become an alcoholıc.

Alexander Mitchell was in the NZ Expeditionary Force, 6th Howitzer Battery, part of NZ Field Artillery

In Gallıpolı 1915
then
Somme, France 1/07/1916, Messines 7/06/1917, andPasschendaele 31/7/1917

Reached Sgt Major.

(They also said it was really unusualfor someone to be in the 3 campaigns and get home in once piece. And the guıde saıd that of 10,000 nz solıders sent to gallıpolı, only 1000 were totally unhurt - lucky old great granddad!)

Found a pıc!!
http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/WaiNewZ-fig-WaiNewZ270a.html

Sea Kayakıng ın Olympos

Hey

Well. I went Sea Kayakıng ın Olympos. It was fun. Got a tan lıne on my legs from my wetsuıt though. Unexpected.

In Olympos we stayed at Kadır's Treehouse hostel place. It was awesome! And the shower ın our room was so lovely and warm!! :) It was really nıce there

Then yesterday we came to Kas (pronounced cash) and set up camp agaın. I hate campıng, but I am gettıng quıte good at puttıng up my tent now. It's a very pretty coastal town. Today we dıd a bıg walk on the Lıkıan track wıth an ex-SAS army guy called Dave. It was pretty good, and we had thıs super cute dog walk wıth us. We named ıt Scruffy. It was lovely :)

In the bad news, there are two typhons out over the sea and they could come through Kas tonıght!!! Awesome when campıng!!! Eeek!!

Catch yous laters ıf I don't get swept away fırst!
E :)

Hot Aır Balloonıng ın Cappadocıa

Hey - today I got up super early and went Hot Aır Balloonıng over Cappadocıa. It was a really clear and smooth..er...flıght? and pretty cool :) Horrendously early mornıng though!!! I had to wake up at 5.15am!!! P´fheuy! :P

Then thıs afternoon I went to the Goreme Open Aır Museum. It used to be a relıgıous learnıng centre for chrıstıans ın approx the 11 - 13th centurys. Some of the many churches there stıll had paıntıngs and even frescoes. One church, called the Dark Church, was partıcularly good as ıt only has a small wındow (thus Dark Church) and as a consequence the frescoes are stıll lıke new hundreds of years later.

Tomorrow we´re off to Olympos (or somethıng lıke that) and then Kas. Only 9 days of tour left :(

ps Turkısh keyboards are crazy and suck!

What have I been up to?

Well, after Petra (where I got asked out on a date by a cute young man, but declined), we went to Damascus.

Damascus was cool:
* The big souq/market is great and everything is pretty cheap too, especially afterJordan which is mostly England prices (damn their strong currency!!!)
* The old mosque in Damascus is awesome. However us girls had to wear these horrible hooded gowns to cover our western clothes - a headscarf wasn't enough. We looked like dorks. I'll have to post a pic when I can of us. Locals were laughing at us!!! Then to get into the shrine in the mosque is fight and a half. Everyone's pushing - especially the little old ladies! We barely got out alive! I would recommend having another door put in. Maybe having one as an entrance and one as an exit door? I'll write a letter to the mosque's Imam about it when I get back to London.
* We also went to an old palace which is the best old building besides the mosque, to go to apparently. Lots of wood carving, inlaid stuff and fancy pieces. Was cool. However my favourite bit were the tranny manniquins. They were obviously male manniquins dressed and made-up as women. Badly. Hahahaha!!! At first I thought, 'well, maybe they're supposed to be trannies', but it became clear that they weren't. They totally made my trip to the palace :)

Then, after saying goodbye to some people who werent' doing the whole 35 days, we went to Palmyra (there are 11 people on the tour, including me, now)

The ruins at Palmyra were great. Me, Julia and Jenny got a guide and that really added to the experience. Would've been an amazing city in its hayday! That night we camped out there too, pretty much surrounded by tombs. I went looking in some of them before dinner and found some human (probably) bones in one. You had slide on your back to get in and crawl on your belly to get out. Then I took some of the others to have a look and they couldn't believeI went by myself down the tomb, in the dark. Well, like I said to them, I didn't have anything else to do before dinner ;)

And today we saw some crap waterwheels at some city beginning with H - maybe Hamma? - and drove to Aleppo

Tomorrow we're doing a city tour and then we've got a free day. Should be fun - lots of markets and somethings to see :)

Then on to Turkey!!!...

We're in Syria!

Right now I am in Aleppo, Syria.

Today I went to Petra

It was awesome. I would write more, but my internet time is over!!

Quad biking and more snorks

Well today some of us went Quad Biking, which was cool. Especially when we went fast :)

Then I tried to go diving, but couldn't cos of my asthma. I had a puff of inhaler after Quad Biking as it's so dusty, but the doctor said that you have to wait 24 hours after to dive :(

So I had to content myself with snorkelling again. I didn't actually see any snorks though, but saw even more crazy fish. Including a HUGE fish. Maybe 50cm long? It was really cool.

Tomorrow we're off to Jordan. Early. So I won't be able to dive tomorrow either. Oh well, maybe some other country.

Digital Camera UNBROKEN

A miracle occurred today - my digital camera unbroke itself!

I had to move rooms (the toilet was flushing back up into the bathroom through the drain - yuck!) and so put my camera in my pocket. When I got it out the lens was retracted (which it hasn't been since it broke) and now it's working again!!!

I was wearing the trousers I had on up Mt Sinai, so maybe some of the holiness rubbed off onto my trousers? Good thing we slept by the ten commandments place or my camera would still be broken ;)

Mt Sinai - so not worth it!

Last night we went up Mt Sinai and then stayed up top for dawn. However, it really isn't worth the effort! A 2 and a 1/2 hour hike up with evil steps finishing it off, biting cold and not that impressive a dawn. Well, at least I can say I went now. They have a bit up there which is where Moses is supposed to have gotten the 10 commandments. We were all inadvertently sleeping round it and didn't find out what it was till later!

Also, we went to St Katherine's Monastery this morning, and saw what is supposed to have been the burning bush. That was quite good, though that and a church are all there is to see at St Katherines.

Slept this afternoon - so tired! The whole group slept!!

Tomorrow, though, I'm planning on doing an intro diving course. Hopefully it will be good *fingers crossed* and in the afternoon some of us might do Quad Biking - which should be cool :)

Laters and feel free to email me your exciting news!
Emi :)

Quad Bikes

Are the plan for tomorrow. Please pray for me!! (They nearly got Ozzy afterall!)

Tonight, Tonight

We're off to Mt Sinai and St Katherine's Monastry. It should be good! Though not looking forward to the two and a half hour hike up the mountain in the dark!!! Seeing dawn from the top should make it all worth it though :)

By the way, be prepared to see a very brown Emi, next time you see me. I'm getting a monsterous tan :(

I found Nemo!!!

We're at Dahab. It's really hot!

Today we went snorkling at the Blue Hole. It was really nice, but so many people were standing on the coral - which kills it! Idiots!

Apart from that the water is really nice and clear and I saw lots of cool fish. I also saw Nemo and his dad hanging out at their Anemone house - just like in the cartoon :)

What Up Dog?

Well, Lots:

Fellucca Trip up the Nile - was awesome!! Totally recommend it. Had a great time, and swam in the Nile. So relaxing too :)

Temples, temples and more temples - seen lots of temples. Fortunately I have a high tolerance for temples. Loving Hierogryphics (mispelt, I'm guessing) and have rougthly 23, 567 photos of them so far.

Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Workers and Mortuary Temple of Ramses III - good. Really liked it. Going to dinner now with group, and can't expand right now!!

Kartha or something temple - Cool! Loved the massively huge columns. I want some for my backyard when I get back!!!

Hurghada - snorkling is fun! Though the coral there is pretty useless as loads is dead. Nice relaxing day on a boat though.

Broke my camera - my NEW DIGITAL camera!

Well, my luck strikes again! I was in Edfu temple, tripped up, put my hand out to save myself and whacked my camera :( Now the lens is crooked and pretty much screwed. Hopefully insurance will cover it - if I ever get through to them - but it would have to happen during the first week of a five week trip!! Just my luck!! Fortunately I still have my SLR film camera.

You know, this is now the third time I've been on holiday and had a camera break:
Japan
Germany
& now Egypt

I suck.

Abu Simbel

Today we went to Abu Simbel and it was cool! (I'm trying out putting on smaller pics as maybe that will be easier to do/upload? It's not easy uploading things here!!!)

My On a Camel at the Pyramids!

My camel was a rascal, and whenever the camel guy wasn't looking he tried to run off! It's weird and a bit scary being on a camel! But a cool experience :)

I'm in Aswan

And it is hot!

Today we went to Abu Simbel, which was cool. Ramses II really loved himself!!!

Then some of us went to Philae Island, which was lovely and tranquil in the middle of the Nile - until the full busloads of tourists came! Ruined everything! But it was great while it lasted.

Tomorrow we're off to the Fellucca and spending two nights on it. Not good. No toilet, no shower and I get seasick :( Last night we took a boat to the Nubian village and had dinner there, I also got my hand henna painted, and then we took the boat back - but that night when I tried to sleep, it was like I was still on the boat and it was all swaying! Not boding well for the fellucca trip.

I also keep getting ripped off. Constantly. Not much I can do, I guess.

Also, I;m wearing a headscarf now (to cut down the hassles) and everyone thinks I'm Egyptian. Hate the headscarf though. It gets hot!

Well, enough for today, I'm gonna try to post some pics on my MSN group.

The Road here are DANGEROUS!

I forgot to add, that people drive crazy here! There are no road rules! Except beep your horn all the time, if possible.

They have actual concrete dividers on all the roads and I realise now that it's because if they didn't people would just drive on the wrong side of the road! There are no lanes, everyone just seems to treat it like a dodge-the-other-cars game! Crossing the road is a nightmare. So hard and you just have to go and hope for the best. Follow the Egyptians!

I may have completely white hair by the time this trip is over...

Two more days of craziness

Yesterday:

Went to the Egyptian Museum and saw stuff. Can't be bothered adding the rest, as it's strange and difficult.

Except that I got a set of passport photos done, and they photo shopped it! I now have a photoshopped passport size pic!!! Hehehehehe. They made my skin look better and stuff. It was so cool! I think I look better in the pic than real life now! And it only cost one british pound. I want all my photos photoshopped from now on!

Today:
Got an ISIC card - very good. It has my photoshopped pic on it :) Then went back to the Egyptian Museum and saw the stuff I didn't catch yesterday. Tutancamen (can't spell that) stuff and mummies (which you have to pay extra to see).

Then went to a square and wandered around. It was really cool. Just crazy, of course, and loads of stalls etc. I bought a headscarf as people keep talking to me, even though I'm wearing long sleeved and legged clothes. The headscarf really works! It's great. Much less hassle. Still some, but much better.

Anyways, at this square and the streets leading off it, everyone was waiting to eat as it's Ramadan this month. People can't eat during daylight. Only before sunrise and after sunset. They have 'dinner' at 3am!

I took some photos, cos it was kinda odd to see all these people sitting on the street or at tables lining the street, waiting for it to be time to eat. However, then some people came up and I think they told me not to take photos. So I said I wouldn't & apologised, and then they invited me to eat with them.

So I ended up having 'breakfast' on the ground of a street with a bunch of people. They were really nice, although couldn't really speak english. And they even had a woman with them. She was someones wife and I think possible Mother to more than one of the kids there. Then i had some tea with them. It was all very nice, and very strange. I got a photo of them all, so will try to post it on the msn pictures group I've got (link on the right hands side green bar/border)

Now I'm just blogging/emailing and then I'm off to my hotel. Tomorrow is the first day of the tour!!!! Wish me luck! Really looking forward to travelling with people again! It's so hard here!

I made it to Cairo!

Well, I'm in Cairo :) It's a crazy, crazy city! It's so busy and everyone talks to you - mostly trying to make money out of you, I think.

Also, I've been spoken to in Arabic/asked if I'm Egyptian about a zillion times today. At least 50 anyway. I say I'm from New Zealand, which is a bit hit-and-miss regarding whether or not they know where/what that is, and then I say my dad is Samoan. Try explaining SAMOA to Egyptians!! It's been difficult.

Also, blue hair seems to be a bit of a novelty round here. Granted I haven't seen anyone else with it.... I have had a number of compliments though :)

I've also been proposed marriage about a dozen times.

Today I went to the Coptic Cairo area - the christian bit. It was great, and I was there for ages. I had a look in the cemeteries, which were really cool and had all these mini-house mausoleums (hope I spelt that right!) for the dead. But then I saw some washing hanging outside one, and I'm pretty sure that dead people don't need washing... So I checked later, and sure enough, some people (though not many) live in the cemetery!

Also, in the guide book it says for female travellers alone to be careful of flashers in the cemeteries. I stayed on guard, but didn't see any. Not too sure if I'm relieved or disappointed now! Aren't I good enough for them??!?? Besides, we did see one in Barcelona at the Gaudi park - Thanks to Ras repeatedly pointing him out to us until we all got an eyeful! Poor Christina and me! Christina just thought it was as a statue she was shouting about, and I thought it was just a cactus in the shape of a naked man!!! I'll know better next time she points one out.

Well, I'm gonna try to post this now, and if successful maybe a picture too! And something about the Pyramids & Sphynix (prob misspelt) Sound and Light show I went to the other night (quick summary - lame)

There are more pictures at this link:

http://groups.msn.com/EmisPics/shoebox.msnw

Click and see! :)

By the way, this link is also on the Right Hand Side of my blog, under 'Link to MORE PICS'

Gareth's 30th Birthday! 8th Oct 2006

This is Gareth. A rather drunk Gareth.

It was his 30th birthday and his girlfriend, Sue, put on a surprise birthday for him at the Fighting Cocks in Kingston. Neil's band with Ben and Rich played, as did Jay's metal band.

Sadly I had to go early, as I went there straight from the airport and was knackered after Berlin! I think I got there about 9.30pm, and left about 10.30pm. Also I had work the next day :(

Berlin! 04 - 08 Oct 2006

(Sorry about the crazy angle - blame Martin's crazy friend with the crazy name, Till)

This pic is me and Martin Boettcher. Martin is from Cologne (in Germany), but he's doing his PhD in Berlin. We know each other from uni, as he did a year in NZ - 1999. It was great to see him again!! :) AND Yes, he is also a physics geek.

This is us at a punk party in an old, somewhat derelict building in Berlin, about 3am. It was great, but those punks smell (probably all the unwashed dreads and leather) and there were dogs EVERYWHERE.

Actually, there are dogs all over Berlin. Martin and I went for a walk around the city on the Sunday before I left, and I counted 30 dogs before giving up on it. There are loads in Berlin!!!

Anyways, Berlin was awesome!! The best part though is the nights. So many wicked bars! I had a great time :)

EXCEPT for my wallet going missing, and my camera breaking. Fortunately I'm covered by travel insurance, but still. Going to the police station to make a report wastes so much time!

Closeup of the Womble!

Slightly out-of-focus, but still cute :)

You wouldn't believe how long it took before I could hear the name 'Wimbledon' without singing the Wombles song! I have finally conquered the urge now - just a mere 6 years after I arrived ;)

Moved Out of My House! 30th Sept, 2006

....and into Neil's bedroom at his parents' house.

So, I packed up my stuff up into lots of boxes, and sent it back to NZ. Then moved out of my house!

It's weird to be homeless, even if it is just for 2 and a half weeks before going to Cairo.

By the way, this is my (now dead) Grandpa's suitcase from when he emigrated to NZ from Samoa in the mid-70's. Sadly the handle broke off and eventually I had to throw it out. I've always loved this suitcase though - I was a big fan of the wombles as a kid :)

Out & About in Earl's Court

I was out and about in Earl's Court, and just had to get a final pic of this Dr Who tardis/Police Box.

I also snapped the 'Kenway Rd' sign (for Melissa Yee) and 'Benjy's Restaurant' as I call my brother Benj(y).

Car Boot Sale - 17 Sept 2006

This is my stuff. I had a car boot sale to try and get a little bit of money for all the crap I'd collected over the last 6 years! My friend Matt helped (kinda) - he's the guy in the photo (of course).

Anyways, after a full day of selling, I came away with around £80!!! Not bad!!

Lots has happened

But as usual, I am a bit behind - so I will do some more posts. I'll try to do them in order of how they happened. No promises though!

We Won Our League!

Last night was our last game for this season - and we won! It was a close, but great game! So much fun!! :)

So now we've won our league - and next season our team is moving up from Intermediate to ADVANCED!! Eek!

Unfortunately though, I can only play about 3 games what with going away and all, but I'm still looking forward to it! I HAVE to play Netball when I get back to NZ - I love it!! It's so much fun, and so far all the teams I've played for have been full of great girls too!

ps We get trophies cos we won! How cool is that! He he he ;)

I've resigned my job!

Yes, that's right. I've done it now. No turning back!!

I put in my notice on Wednesday, so my last day at work will be Friday, 13th October (a very auspicious, or maybe inauspicious, date!!).

Then off to Cairo on the 18th Oct...

Out with Cornwall Bunch

Me and Fleur met up with some friends we made on the trip we did to Cornwall over the bank holiday weekend.

It was great to see them again! 

BA has halted all flights from the UK!!

He he he he he!!! This is a bit old now - got it when the flights were halted - but still good :)

Link to see it better: http://mail.google.com/mail/?view=att&disp=inline&attid=0.1&th=10d3154b167b89b9

Wicked - The Untold Story of The Witches of Oz

Wicked was, in fact, wicked! Me and Fleur went to the opening night last Thursday, 07 Sept.

The crowd were CRAZY - they just went nuts!! They cheered and clapped the whole way through, and basically just went crazy. There was even a big crowd waiting outside the stage door afterwards to see the actors when they came out.(But we didn't stay for that.) I think they must've seen it when it was on Broadway in New York, or maybe have read the book?

The actors were good too - I recognise some of them. There's the guy from Coyote Ugly, the teacher with the Mandrakes from Harry Potter, and Nigel Planer who was Neil in the Young Ones.

Oh yeah, it's won 3 Tony Awards and a Grammy Award.

Today is Retro Music Day

So far I've listened to the Smashing Pumpkins (live album and now Siamese Dream). And 'In It For The Money' album by Supergrass. And old Radiohead live CD 'Les Enfants Terrible' - with classics such as 'Thinking About You' from the Pablo Honey album.

I've decided that my favourite Siamese Dream songs are the first three:
'Cherub Rock', 'Quiet' and 'Today'. What are yours?

I think I'll listen to Mellon Collie next....

Maggie and Matthia's Wedding, 02 Sept 2006

Well, me and Neil went to Maggie and Matthia's wedding. Maggie is my German exchange student from highschool. I spent 2 months living with her in Germany, and she with me in NZ.

It was a lovely wedding in Dusseldorf. Maggie looked absolutely beautiful!!! More pics on my msn group. Link to the right, as usual.

Sadly I missed the bouquet toss, and so didn't manage to catch it. All that training gone to waste! :P

The Vines, 29 August

Went to see The Vines at The Forum in Kentish Town, London (of course). Went with Nick Russ and his friend.

The Vines were awesome!!! Craig Nicholls actually sang the whole concert IN KEY, and even smiled and stuff a bit. He was wearing a stupid undone shirt over his black t-shirt, and, bizarrely, a black scarf!?!

Anyways, it was like the best ever!!! I can die a happy woman :) I went up the front and moshed a bit too.

Cornwall for the weekend! 25 - 28 Aug

Me and Fleur went to Cornwall for a romantic weekend together - with 53 others! Cornwall is lovely, although the trip was a coach trip from Hell!!

Firstly it took 9 hours to get there, not the expected 6. The air con on the coach only had two settings - ON or OFF. So we were either super hot or frozen!

Then when we got to our hostel at 2am, the staff were having a party that went on all night. The bass! The bass!!! I just couldn't' sleep, so moved rooms. Thank God!!

The next day we had a free day in Newquay and then a BBQ. Unfortunately, when we went back to our rooms to change for the BBQ we found signs telling us that the boiler had broken and so our ensuite toilets and showers didn't work!! There were the toilets in the bar and one in the basement. Fantastic. Especially when your room is on the top floor, it's 5am and you're desperate!!!

On Sunday we went to St Ives, Lands End, St Michaels Mount and the Minac Outdoor Theatre. It was a good day and great sightseeing. The coast is lovely! However, when we got back to the hostel, the boiler was still broken.

On Monday, we were on our way back, with a short trip to Tintagel - which may have some kind of King Arthur connection. It's ruins up on the cliffs. Really nice up there.

Not so nice in the bus though!! 55 people who haven't showered in 2 days, but have done a lot of walking up hills and round towns!!! Fantastic!

The first thing I did when I got home was have a shower. A LONG, hot shower. So good!!!!

My Chemical Romance Concert 22nd August

Hey ya all! (As Britney Spears would say)

Me and Matt Maguire went to see MCR at Hammersmith Palais. It was great!!

Mmmm. Gerard Way - so cute!! Cuter when he's got black hair, but I'll take him either way! lol ;)

Did feel a bit old - like I should be 14 yrs old or something!! I enjoyed myself though - sang to all the songs and danced crazily!!

jm

I am so slack!!!

I haven't posted in ages - I've been too busy doing stuff!!!

I will post soon. Promise. With stuff I've done, for example:
- Meet up with Sarah Truesdale who is over to do her Masters at Edinburgh University
- Went to Cornwall for the weekend!
- Went to see My Chemical Romance concert with Matt Maguire
- Went to see The Vines concert with Nick Russ + friend ;)
- Mourned over the break up of Death From Above 1979
- Went to Maggie's wedding (my highschool German exchange partner) in Dusseldorf
- Other stuff!

Laters
Emi :)

Sarah and Matt's Leaving Do

Sarah and Matt's leaving do was on Friday. It was great!! Really good turn out too - but was sad to see them off :(

Pics at the right through the "Link to MORE PICS" link. When looking at the pics on the MSN group as thumbnails, it shows the uploading guy with the clock - BUT if you click on the picture and then go through them by pushing the next button above the picture, you can see all of them.

Camden with Sarah, Lisa and Stringer

Hey!

Last Saturday, Me, Sarah Chambers, Lisa Garnett and (Scott) Stringer went to Camden. I haven't been there for about 4 years and this was, like, only my 3rd visit. I prefer Portobello Rd for sure!

Anyway, this is me with a punk. His mate wanted a pound for a picture with him, but this punk settled for a cigarette!! He was really nice :)

We had a relatively good day at Camden. We each bought a skirt from a nice Aussie designer and we each bought other bits and bobs.

Unfortunately, the day was somewhat ruined early on when Lisa's mobile got nicked. Hopefully we managed to cancel it before anyone could make any calls - especially as she doesn't have insurance! Poor thing!!!

Super cute! Baby Hippo and Giant Tortoise are Bosom Buddies :)

Zoo keeper's blog http://www.lafargeecosystems.com/main/blog.php

"Baby Hippo Owen was swept away when the tsunami struck the Kenyan coast last Christmas, but was rescued by Haller Park Sanctuary in Mombassa.

Traumatised, the hippo latched on to a male giant century-old tortoise called Mzee, and pair bonded like mother (or Father?) and son.

Now, more than a year later zoo staff have given up trying to do anything to separate this odd couple so are introducing a new hippo member to this family, Cleo, to teach Owen hippo stuff."