Too hot!!!!

Today, no photo... I didn't have energy to take photo even.
Here in Juba, now it is the hottest season and just hot hot hot...
My nose started to bleed automatically... sigh...

So energyless in this weather...

A different side of the world - Koh Samui

At the last part of my 2 weeks vacation, I spent a week at Koh Samui, a small island in Thailand with my husband.

Stayed at a super clean & beautiful villa, had wonderful foods and shared precious moment with my partner.

We reviewed the result of the risk we took last year and discussed for our future. It was great time to spend.

Gala Chinese New Year @ Beijing!

Many fireworks and firecrackers EVERYWHERE!

On the day I arrive in Beijing for a brief stop, I didn't know that it was Chinese New year's Eve!
While I was cooking, suddenly, we heard many firecrackers and saw fireworks and realized it was the day!

Of course, it was fun to be part of festive town, however, on the following day, we almost missed our flight in the very very early morning - of course, no taxi on the empty road!!

Dynamic Mt. Sinai!

Do you know Mt. Sinai? 

It is the mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments in the Bible.

As I learned Bible for 8 years when I was a kid, as soon as I heard the name of Mt. Sinai, I already started to plan this mountain climbing.

The scene from the top? Too dynamic to cut into pictures.

And I was more attracted by the scenery on the way to top on the route where our guide called "holy and quiet" route(different route from the normal route which people usually take).

In the end, I enjoyed "indome(indonesian cup noodle!)" on the top ;-)

The one like trapezoidal shape is Mt. Sinai.

World of Indiana Jones's movie!

Start to climb!

Already high enough but still mid-way!

Still...

Another 20 min, another 20 min.... 20min never passed...

Wow! But not yet on the top!

Finally! On the top, there is a church and a mosque.

I wish I had a panoramic view camera!! Too dynamic to cut into frame...

Amazing Dahab!

When I land to Dahab, I couldn't believe the scenery in front of me!
It was really really amazing beautiful contrast of sea blue gradation and red & brown rocky mountains.

After I spent 3 nights in Cairo, I moved to Sinai Peninsular.
I picked a small town called Dahab along the Red Sea.

From the airport to Dahab

endless beautiful hills & mountains

Suddenly. blue blue blue appears between hills!

Stayed at small boutique hotel

Fantastic Cairo!

I took 2 weeks off and chose Egypt as my destination for the first week.

For me, Cairo is fantastic town with historical elements and modern infrastructure!

In Cairo, I could catch up with my friend since my time in Indonesia and could meet her lovely daughter as well! She is soooooooo cute and adorable...

In Cairo general, the tourism places were almost empty(compared to what I heard from the other people, much less people) and the town was quite packed due to heavy traffic(I heard before the Police was controlling the traffic somehow).

Suddenly, from the window! 3 Pyramids in Giza!

It was much bigger than I imagined from the picture in the textbook in my school days!

Another ancient town in Sakkara - the museum was nice!

Tahrir Square - many people were around but no demonstration or political ativities

The Museum! (I don't want to call "British" Museum) I especially enjoyed the first floor - the curving on the wall!

How to make sun-dried mud block in Aweil

A short video from my last trip to Aweil.
Local community group is making sun-dried mud block for their construction!

Hulk of war...

In Wau town, I saw a hulk just besides the road.

Year End Party in Kwajok

A little bit more pics from my last mission!

We joined a Year End Party of one of our implementing partner in Kwajok.
I was glad to see entire team on the ground (loader for materials, construction team, admin, security guards and etc...)! I reconfirmed that many staff are supporting our project on the ground and was grateful for it!

CPA was signed today in 2005

Photo from Norway Embassy website

9th January became one of the national holidays in South Sudan.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement(CPA) was signed between north and south today in 2005.
After 7 years, today we are working hard to stabilize and ensure the peace in this country.

When can we see such historical moment for North & South Korea?

I wish we can end the chain of hatefulness in 21st century...

???

I heard this is a kind of sweet potato or so... not sure though...

On the way from Kwajok to Wau, we bought this since one of the staff said it taste good!
In the end, I didn't have a chance to taste it unfortunately...

One day, lunch in Aweil town

The food was more Arabic than African style.

They had various kind of home-made fruits juice as well!

Some small restaurants have such fantastic wash places ;-)

Do you wanna guess what it is?
It's incense!

Another food blog ;-)
I had a very tasty lunch in Aweil one day. It was omelet, fried something(this was delicious!!), creamy sauce with locally made cheese and bread.

Small happiness after the sunset

They open the bakery after it gets dark.

You can buy hot hot bread.

In Aweil, we bought fresh breads from the oven! and made sandwiches with locally available vege and canned fish. It was also tasty...

Simple but tasty

One day, we had a lunch under a tree...

In Wau, we found a very tasty chicken & bread ;-)

The best hot milk ever!!

Some more photos from my previous mission in 3 northern states last year.

On the way from Malial Bai to Aweil, I had the best hot milk ever!!
It was small tea shop on the street. I couldn't believe that the lady made this using powder milk!!
Her spice collection seemed very simple but it was really really really tasty.

And the glass mug was very lovely with flower design ;-)

My first adventure in 2012

Lake Victoria (Jinja)

I heard that the water level was lifted about 15m after dam construction.

I've never liked animals, especially birds in my life.
My 2012 started with new adventure to me. I went for bird watching cruise at Lake Victoria on the very first day of this year!

Thanks to African dynamic nature and various species, it was much more fun than I expected!
But still I don't think I'll be able to touch them in my life... ;-)

A Happy New Year!

After I found that I had Malaria on 30. Dec, I flew to Uganda to take better rest during this special weekend.
We counted down the new year in Jinja, where the Lake Victoria(source of the White Nile) is.
We spent new year's day in Kampara, the capital of Uganda.

The movie "New Year's Eve" we saw in Kampara made me feel really new year's atmosphere ;-)
My new year's resolution? Umm... I have to think about it.

As the symptom of my 3rd Malaria is much less than previous 2 cases, I could relax and enjoy my weekend! Still body aches though...


A Happy New Year!
May 2012 bring you lots of smiles!!