Conversations with my grandmother over mocha and latte.
Reminiscences about times long before I was born. Stories that enlarge my knowledge of our family history; the things that help to shape who we are. Snippets that I have never heard before, never having spent that much time with my Gran in Belfast. In losing her sister she has a need to remember, to grieve and celebrate in story and memory. For me it is a chance to learn more about my family and support my Gran in her limbo after losing her sister and best friend.
I also get a chance to share a story I never thought I would tell my Gran; how when we used to arrive at the airport in Belfast I would have to check with my mum "which one is Gran?". Her and her two sisters are quite alike and would smother us in a flurry of kisses, perfumes and powders and I just thought it best to be sure which Gran was! The joys and losses of living overseas. Mostly joys!
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Briefly Back in Belfast
The gray skies have turned to blue and the sun is warming the chill in the air. A very pleasant day, supposed to be heating up to one of the hottest days this year. Still a modest day by jet-lagged, confused body standards, but very nice.
A relaxed coffeeshop brunch to start Father's Day with the McEwens.
It is nice to be back in Belfast. I feel a mixture of settledness and disjointedness. A homecoming and visiting. A chance to be - old and new. Just time to take a moment to be and enjoy and find a rythmn of peace about the unknown. A rest into the present; pause in the uncharted journey.
The gray skies have turned to blue and the sun is warming the chill in the air. A very pleasant day, supposed to be heating up to one of the hottest days this year. Still a modest day by jet-lagged, confused body standards, but very nice.
A relaxed coffeeshop brunch to start Father's Day with the McEwens.
It is nice to be back in Belfast. I feel a mixture of settledness and disjointedness. A homecoming and visiting. A chance to be - old and new. Just time to take a moment to be and enjoy and find a rythmn of peace about the unknown. A rest into the present; pause in the uncharted journey.
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Tuesday 14th - Dubai Airport
Another set of goodbyes. Some very good ones this time. After a relaxed week on the beach with mum and dad it was back to Chiang Mai for four days. Just enough time to pack, buy a few things, have a party, do a couple yoga classes and spend some quality time with my good friends.
It was a little strange to be flying out of Chiang Mai and not thinking – well I’ll be back in 2 weeks, 2 months….. This time just thinking; it was great and I’m sure I’ll see you again sometime! That cocktail of emotions that are part and parcel of travel; the sadness of goodbyes, the anticipation of hellos, new places and experiences, and the many hours of travel ahead. This time leaving Chiang Mai pretty exhausted. It was good that the flight from Bangkok to Dubai was quite empty as I got three seats to myself and was able to get a good amount of sleep.
I’ve been sleeping on the floor in Dubai airport at my departure gate and am now finally feeling somewhat alive. Airports are such great places to people watch. There is a flight boarding for Jeddah just in front of me and there are a lot of Muslims in a variety of dress getting on the flight. Quite a few in all white; some young girls and their mum in white kurtas with a dad also all in white; many little white hats on the men, some long white dresses and one large man literally just wrapped in a white sheet like at a fancy dress party. A man has just walked past in his long white dress with the all Saudi red and white head scarf held in place with a black circular band; in front of him a tall distinguished looking man with glasses and a white beard wearing a white turban, trousers and long top, stands with his three women behind him all in black, only their faces showing. Some women don’t even show their faces but only their eyes. Different cultures but still somewhat oppressive and restrictive all the same. Having met some women who dress like this in Tunisia, you should see how modern and beautifully dressed some of them are under those black chadors.
Then there is the London flight where a greater variety of people are starting to queue. The ladies covered up in black, a rotund lady in a North African style bright yellow and black sari; white men in short sleeved shirts and formal trousers for travel; high heels, trainers, jeans, t-shirts; style, comfort; an occasional jacket in preparation for London where I’m sure the temperature is not 32 degrees at 4am; and then the families returning from their package holiday in Thailand in shiny tracksuits, small shorts and pink tank tops covering not that much of the still white and substantial amounts of flesh.
Each individual, each a life being lived, each with a story to tell. So easy to look and make judgements but it is more fun when you are playing that game with a friend and making up stories to go with the people you are watching. In general however actual stories often turn out to be even more fascinating.
Time to check in to the boarding lounge.
Another set of goodbyes. Some very good ones this time. After a relaxed week on the beach with mum and dad it was back to Chiang Mai for four days. Just enough time to pack, buy a few things, have a party, do a couple yoga classes and spend some quality time with my good friends.
It was a little strange to be flying out of Chiang Mai and not thinking – well I’ll be back in 2 weeks, 2 months….. This time just thinking; it was great and I’m sure I’ll see you again sometime! That cocktail of emotions that are part and parcel of travel; the sadness of goodbyes, the anticipation of hellos, new places and experiences, and the many hours of travel ahead. This time leaving Chiang Mai pretty exhausted. It was good that the flight from Bangkok to Dubai was quite empty as I got three seats to myself and was able to get a good amount of sleep.
I’ve been sleeping on the floor in Dubai airport at my departure gate and am now finally feeling somewhat alive. Airports are such great places to people watch. There is a flight boarding for Jeddah just in front of me and there are a lot of Muslims in a variety of dress getting on the flight. Quite a few in all white; some young girls and their mum in white kurtas with a dad also all in white; many little white hats on the men, some long white dresses and one large man literally just wrapped in a white sheet like at a fancy dress party. A man has just walked past in his long white dress with the all Saudi red and white head scarf held in place with a black circular band; in front of him a tall distinguished looking man with glasses and a white beard wearing a white turban, trousers and long top, stands with his three women behind him all in black, only their faces showing. Some women don’t even show their faces but only their eyes. Different cultures but still somewhat oppressive and restrictive all the same. Having met some women who dress like this in Tunisia, you should see how modern and beautifully dressed some of them are under those black chadors.
Then there is the London flight where a greater variety of people are starting to queue. The ladies covered up in black, a rotund lady in a North African style bright yellow and black sari; white men in short sleeved shirts and formal trousers for travel; high heels, trainers, jeans, t-shirts; style, comfort; an occasional jacket in preparation for London where I’m sure the temperature is not 32 degrees at 4am; and then the families returning from their package holiday in Thailand in shiny tracksuits, small shorts and pink tank tops covering not that much of the still white and substantial amounts of flesh.
Each individual, each a life being lived, each with a story to tell. So easy to look and make judgements but it is more fun when you are playing that game with a friend and making up stories to go with the people you are watching. In general however actual stories often turn out to be even more fascinating.
Time to check in to the boarding lounge.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
The foamy fun of catching a wave to the shore on a body board with the sun setting a perfect golden backdrop behind the small island out from the bay. My dad and I ran through the waves while the raindrops from a passing shower glistened even as the sun shone. A beautiful end to a beautiful sunny day.
I woke up this morning ready to head out diving to the sound of rain outside my window. A good start! Most of the items in my pre-packed bag were unused; my sunscreen, sunglasses, sarong. I had fun anyway. It is hard to beat the experience of being in the amazing underwater realms of our world. No talking, more looking; just being. Though today the low visibility, strong currents and wild weather when we returned to the top which made getting back on the boat 'interesting', meant you had to keep your wits about you. I still got to make my three dives and saw some beautiful fish; seahorses, bamboo shark, frogfish, porcupine fish and another octopus! While some of the beautiful ones are nameless to me, just large schools of fish swirling around and above in the murky blue light of the ocean on a wet monsoon day.
I woke up this morning ready to head out diving to the sound of rain outside my window. A good start! Most of the items in my pre-packed bag were unused; my sunscreen, sunglasses, sarong. I had fun anyway. It is hard to beat the experience of being in the amazing underwater realms of our world. No talking, more looking; just being. Though today the low visibility, strong currents and wild weather when we returned to the top which made getting back on the boat 'interesting', meant you had to keep your wits about you. I still got to make my three dives and saw some beautiful fish; seahorses, bamboo shark, frogfish, porcupine fish and another octopus! While some of the beautiful ones are nameless to me, just large schools of fish swirling around and above in the murky blue light of the ocean on a wet monsoon day.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Grey skies, early morning rain and large swell on the open sea all reduce visibility but do not dampen the joy of being in an underwater world after a year above on solid ground. An island surrounded by hard coral and many beautiful tropical fish. New fish I had never seen before; bright yellow trumpetfish, boxfish, cornetfish, lionfish... as well as many old reliables; barracuda, angelfish, anemonefish, wrasse... I was very excited to see my first octopii (three of them, though only two varieites). I am looking forward to Shark Point tomorrow.
We moved location to a beautiful small hotel right by the beach in Karon/Kata. It is downseason and still post-tsunami so the guy gave us a very good deal. We have two lovely rooms, sea view from our balconies (and mum's bed) and a nice pool, all for a tenner a night for the three of us. Not bad. We are enjoying relaxing, reading, eating and having Thai massages. The three of us zooming out to dinner on the one motorbike..."when in Thailand"!!
We moved location to a beautiful small hotel right by the beach in Karon/Kata. It is downseason and still post-tsunami so the guy gave us a very good deal. We have two lovely rooms, sea view from our balconies (and mum's bed) and a nice pool, all for a tenner a night for the three of us. Not bad. We are enjoying relaxing, reading, eating and having Thai massages. The three of us zooming out to dinner on the one motorbike..."when in Thailand"!!
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Having extolled the virtues of land travel we flew today down to the beach at Phuket. The rain poured from a laden grey sky. So much for that sunny welcome to the beach. The clouds parted to reveal blue sky and after a relaxing afternoon mum and I had a very pleasant walk on the beach at sunset. The surfers out on the breakers; paddlers silhouetted in the water against a pink and yellow sunset sky, full of beautiful cloud formations. A week ahead to relax at the beach, and the good news is that there are some companies still taking out divers, even though it is monsoon season!
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