People and places

There are things about the travel life which are alluring. Some which are not. I like to concentrate on those that are. It all lies in the people you meet and the place that you are. Clichéd, and more true than you know.

Quite often the people are the ones you meet along the way, having a similar experience by dint of being in a foreign country with you, or otherwise sharing with you something of there own culture that you never experienced before. The places are yours alone, or yours to share, whichever way you choose.

I'll go with the places first. And just describe one. On Friday, Virginia and I headed for the dunes of Moreeb once more (for all you constant readers, you'll know we've had some adventures up there before... from the cars of the desert rally to the racing of falcons, but most of all, to witness one of the most desolate places on earth).

We pulled off the road at a break in the barrier, and because we do not (yet) have a 4x4, stopped short on the dirt 'road' where a dune was slowly making its crossing. We had decided we’d camp out there for a night. It was easier enough to haul our things down to a dip in the dunes which would hide the nearby road from sight (not that it leads anywhere much, and who would have thought that there would have been ATVs revving up and down all night... but that gets off the lovely of the occasion).

Soon enough we had the tent up (Virginia being surprisingly spry in tent-building) and a fire going. Now you cannot imagine the quiet of the desert at night; the ringing that constantly sounds in your ears, but can't usually hear for other daily sounds, is pronounced. I kept moving my hand in front of the fire too, for when I did, the stars would blossom furiously. The Milkyway, the stillness, and the soft murmur, hiss and crackle of the fire, while at the same time there were dunes silhouetted on all sides. It's dreams that look like this, or at the least very nice storybooks, the words you used to let yourself sleep on, while your parents read away.

Of course the morning was oh so groggy. I feel that way about most mornings, but especially camp mornings, but soon we were up, poking around at the tracks that desert gerbils had left all over the site and packing up the dew-sodden floor-mats and tent. And we needed to hurry because the desert being a desert, even heading to winter, was unforgiving; piercing the morning with sudden heat as the sun rose, though we'd both shared our shivers that night.

The point. This place of beauty took an hour drive and a brief stop for firewood. Funny thing is that in a foreign place, you do take the time out to see these things, random things, just an hour away... give it a try wherever you are. The place I chose was the desert, and the person to share that with my love.

And now the people we share our space with, and the new things we can learn to love.

Halloween, is not so great an occasion in South Africa. I went trick-or-treating with friends a few times... but, well, it was us pushing the envelope because it’s not often a done thing – at least in the area I lived. Now the people you meet... and the things you can learn to love...

Halloween! Having not quite understood, but having been part of a couple for the last few years it's all easy to work out. It's not about the kids, the candy (well candy counts)... but adults, who for one day in a year forget about it all, and dress up in their best, worst or silliest, and get to be the kid they once were. Sure the kids love it and the adults doing it now were once those kids, but when you're overseas you get to see it without the fluff... It goes on without the kids, and, I’m convinced, it's kept going for that reason too – adults just love it.

Halloween is just one of the fun things added to my life by the different people I've met.

Look around wherever you are. These places and people are in every town, everywhere. Just a 'hello' away.

As an aside... now might be the (belated) time for our Halloween pics to be put up, so here they are.

I was disappointed by the final outcome of my costume, having won last years' contest as a lovely transvestite in Korea (this time I looked rather more like my varsity self than Ozzy Ozbourne), but uber-impressed with my first Jack-o-lantern,  while Virginia dazzled with her She Devil outfit, and we all got into the spirit of things, with hideous dishes, great decorations, and some wicked outfits, that were impressive considering the tiny number of us out here who were celebrating.

 Table decorations

My “Rats in Blood Sauce”… actually came out looking a bit too awful to try.. but were good once you took the leap

 Virginia’s “Corpse Fingers”, fresh as the day they were plucked

 
The Prince of Darkness, and his Dark Queen (looking suitable devilish)