A short video and pictures of our visit to Essaouire and Bouznika.
We stayed 3 days at Abdel's house in Bouznika, enjoying the Morocca hospitality extended to us by Abdel and his parents.
(See video in Youtube.)
这是一段我们我们在Essaouire 及 Bouznika 的视频。
我们到了Abdel 在Bouznika 家,并在那住了三个晚上.
他与父母给我们热情的招待,有宾至如归的感觉.
(观看一段视频Youtube)
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Monday, September 29, 2014
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Home sweet home 回家了
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| 23/9 After a haircut, relaxing with our dogs. Back to normal 理了发，和狗儿相聚，一切恢复正常 |
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| 22/9 Home with bagful of laundry 带了好多的待洗衣服回来 |
On Sunday, 21/9/2014 10:00 am (local time), we bid farewell to Mei and Amanda at the Aberdeen Airport for our flight home. It was a sad moment although we were laughing and poking jokes at one another.
We boarded a KLM flight for Amsterdam with 5 hours transit, and another 12 hours flight to Kuala Lumpur.
At about 4:00 pm, Monday 22/9/2014, the plane landed safely at KLIA Internationa Airport, ending our 9 weeks of holidays in Europe and Africa.
It is good to be home!
21/9/2014 星期天，当地时间早上十点，我和太太在阿伯丁机场与女儿告别，开始了回家的旅程。这是个充满伤感的时刻。
我们飞往阿姆斯特丹，停留五个小时，然后继续12个小时的航程，飞往吉隆坡。
飞机在星期一，22/9/2014大约下午四点整，准时的降落在吉隆坡国际机场，也结束了我们9个星期的欧洲、非洲旅程。
回家的感觉真好！
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Bye Bye Africa 再见非洲
Morocco journey was a physical and mental challenging one.
All of us, despite eating well, lost weight. I lost almost 7 kilograms in 2 weeks.
However, the experience was life-long and memorable.
If there is a single reason for us to go back to Morocco, it is the loving and caring Papa and Mama (Adel's parents). It was Moroccan hospitality and love at it best.
Great appreciation and gratefulness to Abdel in making our African journey came true. Regrettfully, due to his work obligation as an oil rig engineer/project Manager, he was not able to join us in the Sahara leg.
After Sahara, we visited Tangier, the northern most city of Morocco. It was a modern city with eight-lane boulevards and modern buildings.
It takes 45 minutes of ferry from Gibraltar to Tangier.
We returned to Bouznika for a night stay after Tangier.
Indeed it was a sad goodbye for us when we bid farewell to Abdel's parent for Marrakesh, from where we flew back to Aberdeen on 13/9. Amen.
( More pictures in Facebook)
摩洛哥行程在精神及体力上，是个非常具有挑战性的旅程。
我们虽然三餐都吃得很好，但每个人都消瘦了。我本身就在折 14天里，体重减轻了7公斤！
假如给一个原因我们会再到回摩洛哥，那应该是Abdel 的父母。
他们对我们非常的热情，招待无微不至，就如自己的孩子般，三餐更是充裕。这是摩洛哥人的热情及友爱。
谢谢Abdel, 让我们梦想成真，能够踏足非洲。可惜的是，身为钻油台的工程师/工程经理，他不能与我们共游沙哈拉。
完成了沙哈拉行程后，我们来到了摩洛哥最北的城市坦几亚。这是一个非常摩登的城市，有着八车道的大路，摩登建筑等。
从坦几亚，我们回到波斯妮卡，住了一晚，然后向Abdel 的父母告别，大家都依依不舍的说再见！
我们从马拉卡斯乘搭飞机，经过阿姆斯特丹转机，在13/9，回到了阿伯丁，结束了非洲的旅程。阿门。
(更多照片Facebook)
Desert experience 沙漠的体验
The main motivation for us to visit Morocco was the Sahara Desert.
On 8/9, we drove from Fez to Merzouga, a journey of about 530 kms, taking us more than 7 hours for the Sahara adventure.
Upon arrival at about5:30 pm, we got ready to ride camels into our desert camp for the night.
It was a great experience- riding on camel, hearing the desert wind howling, and sand dust flying, sleeping under the bright round moon ...
We stayed a night at the camp with simple facilities and got up early in the morning to see the sunrise.
Later in the morning, we boarded on a four-wheel vehicle for a drive into the deep of the the desert.
(more pictures in Facebook)
我们来摩洛哥的主要目的就是观看沙哈拉沙漠。
8/9早上，我们从菲斯，经过530公里、七个多小时的旅程，来到了沙漠小镇漠朱卡，开始了我们的沙漠探险。
我们在傍晚五点半左右抵达，很快的就准备骑着骆驼进入沙漠的营地。
这是一个非常难得、难忘的体验 - 骑着骆驼、风在耳边嚎叫、沙尘飞扬，当晚也刚好是中秋节，月亮圆又亮（遗憾看不到满天的星星），躺在沙漠上，欣赏着月亮。。
我们在这简单的营帐里过了一晚，很早就起来看日出。
过后，我们也乘坐四轮驱动车，到广阔、一望无际的沙漠游车河。
（更多照片Facebook）
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Meknes & Fez 麦纳斯及菲斯
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| At Fez |
En route, we stop at Meknes for a short visit of its medina (old walled city).
Fez is an ancient city famous for its leather products. The oldest tannery can be found in the medina dating back almost thousand years ago.
We stayed a night at a hotel in the old walled city and left for Merzouga, 530 kms away south for our Sahara Desert adventure.
(pictures in Facebook)
我们在波斯妮卡住了三天，好好的休息及享受美味的摩洛哥住家美食。
7/9星期天，我们启程前往250公里外的斐斯。途中我们在一个名为麦纳斯的城市作短暂的逗留，参观了当地的旧城区。
菲斯是一个古老的城市，以皮革产品著名。这里有着世界上最古老的皮革厂，将近千年的历史。
我们在菲斯住了一晚，继续前往530公里外的沙哈拉沙漠市镇莫朱卡，开始我们的沙漠之旅。
(照片 Facebook )
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Casablanca & Rabat 卡萨布兰卡与拉巴茨
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| At Rabat 在拉巴 |
Morocco gained Independence from Spain and France in 1956. It is larger than Malaysia in terms of area with population of 35 millions, in which majority are Arab-descent Berber.
The language spoken are Moroccan Arabic and Berber. Most of the population also speaks French and Spanish.
We have a comfortable stay in Abdel's house and treated warmly by his parents. His mother ensured we have enough of food throughout the day.
She prepared breakfast for us in the morning, tea in the late afternoon and a scrumptious Moroccan dinner in the evening.
Mint tea (tea with fresh mint and sugar) is the most common and regularly drink at home or cafe. Moroccans have a sweet tooth, all beverages and drinks are sugar added.
On 5/9, Abdel's aunty (mom's younger sister) who was staying about 20 kms away, invited us over for lunch.
Her specialty is FISH !
We were feted to a delicious all-fish meal ... a Moroccan fish banquet of our life time, delightful to eyes, delicious beyond words to taste !(see pictures)
After lunch, we invited her to join us for an short outing to Casablanca.
Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco. It is a seaport and commercial center of the country.
We visited the famous Hassan II mosque and its nearby beach front.
It was just a "touch and go" visit to the city ...
On our way home, we stopped by a community culture event of Fantasia, an event of horse-riding and riffles firing.
We also visited Rabat, capital and second largest city of Morocco.
(See Casablanca and Rabat pictures in Facebook)
(short video of Fantasia)
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| Casablanca 卡萨布兰卡 |
摩洛哥在1956年，从法国及西班牙手中取得独立。它的面积比马来西亚大，人口大约是三千五百万，大部分都是阿拉伯贝贝族。
他们说的是摩洛哥阿拉伯语及贝贝语。大部分人口也会说一些法语及西班牙语。
Abdel 的家非常的舒适，父母也很热情的接待我们。他的妈妈更是照顾我们的饮食无微不至，把我们喂的饱饱的。
她准备我们的早餐，下午茶，还有美味的摩洛哥晚餐。
这里最普遍的就是喝薄荷茶 -中国茶叶，放进新鲜的薄荷叶，加糖。摩洛哥人民的品味偏向甜，所以茶及其他饮料都加糖。
5/9, Abdel 的阿姨（母亲的妹妹）邀请我们共进午餐。她的家大约在20公里外的一个市镇。
阿姨的最拿手菜是鱼。她为我们准备了一顿丰富的鱼宴。好多种的鱼，加上特有的配料，让我们大快朵颐，美味到难以形容。
这是我们有生以来，最特出、绝无仅有、最美味及享受的一顿全鱼餐。
午餐后，我们一起到大约五十公里外的卡萨布兰卡一游。
卡萨布兰卡是摩洛哥最大的城市、商业中心，也是海滩游玩胜地，所以非常的热闹。
我们参观了摩洛哥及非洲最大的回教堂，建立在海边。它也是排名全世界第七大的回教堂。
傍晚，我们有机会观看到摩洛哥民间热闹的骑马射枪竞赛。
隔天我们也到摩洛哥首都拉巴一游。
拉巴茨（Rabat）是排在卡萨布兰卡之后，成为摩洛哥第二大城市。它是国家行政中心。
(照片Facebook)
(小段视频Fantasia）
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Bouznika 布斯妮卡
The Moroccan Hospitality
On 4/9, we arrived at Abdel's house in Bouznika. It would served as a base and home away from home for the next 8 days.
It is a 4-storey shop-cum-house with typical Moroccan decoration, and very comfortable.
Upon arrival, Abdel's mother, despite a six hours journey from Essaouira, cooked us a delicious meal of Moroccan Couscous.
It was the best authentic Moroccan Couscous ever tasted ...
Mama is a very good cook. For the next few days, we would enjoyed more Moroccan home-cook meals. (She treated us all like her children, so we fondly referred her as our Mama)
Our returned journey of 4 hours from Essaouira was delayed due to road diversion. A section of express way was closed for 2 weeks for the filming of Mission: Impossible 5.
Later in the evening, we visited Abdel's parents farm and vineyard.
The juicy grapes making all of us " uh..ah.."!
(Pictures in Facebook)
摩洛哥的温情
4/9, 我们来到了Abdel 在 Bouznika 的家。这里将是我们往后8天的基地，也是我们第二个家。
这是一间四层店屋兼住家，内部都是标准的摩洛哥装饰，非常的华丽，也非常的舒服。
Abedel 的妈妈，虽然经过6个小时的车程，但很快的为我们准备了一顿美味的摩洛哥Couscous (库斯饭）。
这是我们尝到最美味的道地原味摩洛哥库斯饭。我想在马来西亚难以找到了。
Abdel 的母亲对我们好像是她的孩子般，所以我们也亲切的叫她妈妈。妈妈是个厨艺高手，往后的日子，我们会尝到更多美味的摩洛哥食物。
傍晚，我们到Abdel父母的农场/果园 参观。
见到了丰实及多汁的葡萄，大家都在惊叹”呜、啊“！
(更多照片Facebook)
Essaouira 伊沙维拉
3/9, we left Marrakesh for seaport city Essaouira. It is about 180 kms from Marrakesh.
The Medina (old walled city) of Essaouira is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is smaller than Marrakesh Medina but very much more peaceful, cleaner and orderly.
We have a relax evening, enjoying the relax atmosphere of an seaside resort town. We visited the Portuguese ramparts, fish market.
We left Essaouira in the morning for Bouznika, our home away from home in Morocco.
(More pictures Facebook)
3/9. 我们离开马拉卡斯，来到了海边城市伊沙维拉，距离大约180公里。
这里的旧城区，也是联合国教科文组织列为世界遗产地点之一。它比马拉卡斯旧城区来的小，但更平静、清洁及有秩序。
我们在这里度过了一个轻松的傍晚。我们参观了 葡萄牙留下来的边防炮楼，海鲜市场。
隔天一早，我们就离开伊沙维拉，前往我们第二个家的沃斯尼加。
(更多照片Facebook)
Monday, September 15, 2014
Marrakesh (2) 马拉卡斯
We returned from Morocco via Amsterdam yesterday (13/9) and arrived at Aberdeen at about 10:00 pm (local time).
My backpack of clothing and shoes was short-landed (went missing). A report was made and hopefully, it would be found soon.
Thus concluded our 3260-Kilometres Moroccan adventure filled with excitement, surprises... and prayers. Praise the Lord!
Car rental in Morocco is not expensive, but the terms and conditions are ridiculous especially the Excess clauses.
We rented a Peugeot 301 Diesel (local model) which was quite new and comfortable. Great appreciation to Mei, my youngest daughter for her dexterous left-handed driving, and thanks and love to Mother Mary, who intercede for us a safe journey (I was praying constantly " O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who has recourse to thee" for safety on Moroccan roads).
Driving in Medina and town area can be a scary experience, more so with pedestrians and motor-bit criss crossing everywhere.
Now, I shall continue with my posting of our Moroccan adventure.
On the first day in Marrakesh, we visited the Medina (old walled city) with thousands of stalls and shops selling varieties of goods. However, all items are not labelled with price. The shop-keepers would open with an exorbitant price, and bargaining pursued.
According to visitors comments on social media and advice of local friends, it can be slashed by as much as 50-60 %, depending on your bargaining skill and length of time. It is a way of life in Morocco.
But it was not our cup of tea, so we bought nothing!
On the second day in Marrakesh, after the tour of the famous but notorious Medina, we went out for an excursion of the Atlas mountains area.
Abdel's parents graciously joined us for the journey.
Abdel's parents were first generation migrants to France but still maintaining a Moroccan home at Bouznika, about 300 kms north of Marrakesh. In recent years, they spend more time in Morocco attending to their farms and fruit orchards in Bouznika.
（More pictures Facebook)
我们在昨天（13/9）离开摩洛哥，在阿姆斯特丹转机，于晚上十点左右，回到了阿伯丁。
我的一件背包行李迷失了，里面装载着我的衣服及鞋子。在机场作了报告列案，希望能够尽快找到。
我们 3,260公里，充满刺激、惊喜及很多祈祷的摩洛哥行程，也宣告结束。感谢赞美天主！
现在我将继续分享行程的故事。
抵达摩洛哥后，第一天的行程是参观旧城区Medina。这里有着上千的摊档，售卖应有尽有的货品，但我们什么都没有买。
这里的货品没有标价，商家的漫天开价的。讨价还价似乎是这里的一种生活方式，但我们却不习惯，也没兴趣这样做。
根据过来人的介绍，价钱可以“杀”低百分之五十至六十之间 。。。但需要技巧及时间。
第二天，我们往市区之外的阿勒斯山脉郊区观光。
摩洛哥朋友Abdel的父母从300公里外的沃斯尼加来到马拉卡斯与我们共游。
他们是第一代摩洛哥到法国的移民，在法国定居。现在退休后，大部分时间都留在波斯妮卡，照顾农场及果园。
（更多照片Facebook)
My backpack of clothing and shoes was short-landed (went missing). A report was made and hopefully, it would be found soon.
Thus concluded our 3260-Kilometres Moroccan adventure filled with excitement, surprises... and prayers. Praise the Lord!
Car rental in Morocco is not expensive, but the terms and conditions are ridiculous especially the Excess clauses.
We rented a Peugeot 301 Diesel (local model) which was quite new and comfortable. Great appreciation to Mei, my youngest daughter for her dexterous left-handed driving, and thanks and love to Mother Mary, who intercede for us a safe journey (I was praying constantly " O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who has recourse to thee" for safety on Moroccan roads).
Driving in Medina and town area can be a scary experience, more so with pedestrians and motor-bit criss crossing everywhere.
Now, I shall continue with my posting of our Moroccan adventure.
On the first day in Marrakesh, we visited the Medina (old walled city) with thousands of stalls and shops selling varieties of goods. However, all items are not labelled with price. The shop-keepers would open with an exorbitant price, and bargaining pursued.
According to visitors comments on social media and advice of local friends, it can be slashed by as much as 50-60 %, depending on your bargaining skill and length of time. It is a way of life in Morocco.
But it was not our cup of tea, so we bought nothing!
On the second day in Marrakesh, after the tour of the famous but notorious Medina, we went out for an excursion of the Atlas mountains area.
Abdel's parents graciously joined us for the journey.
Abdel's parents were first generation migrants to France but still maintaining a Moroccan home at Bouznika, about 300 kms north of Marrakesh. In recent years, they spend more time in Morocco attending to their farms and fruit orchards in Bouznika.
（More pictures Facebook)
我们在昨天（13/9）离开摩洛哥，在阿姆斯特丹转机，于晚上十点左右，回到了阿伯丁。
我的一件背包行李迷失了，里面装载着我的衣服及鞋子。在机场作了报告列案，希望能够尽快找到。
我们 3,260公里，充满刺激、惊喜及很多祈祷的摩洛哥行程，也宣告结束。感谢赞美天主！
现在我将继续分享行程的故事。
抵达摩洛哥后，第一天的行程是参观旧城区Medina。这里有着上千的摊档，售卖应有尽有的货品，但我们什么都没有买。
这里的货品没有标价，商家的漫天开价的。讨价还价似乎是这里的一种生活方式，但我们却不习惯，也没兴趣这样做。
根据过来人的介绍，价钱可以“杀”低百分之五十至六十之间 。。。但需要技巧及时间。
第二天，我们往市区之外的阿勒斯山脉郊区观光。
摩洛哥朋友Abdel的父母从300公里外的沃斯尼加来到马拉卡斯与我们共游。
他们是第一代摩洛哥到法国的移民，在法国定居。现在退休后，大部分时间都留在波斯妮卡，照顾农场及果园。
（更多照片Facebook)
Friday, September 12, 2014
Sahara desert adventure
On 7 and 8/9/2014, we went for a overnight camping at Sahara desert.
It was a dream came thorough and a un-forgetable experience.
Upload a few pictures on Facebook to share. Posting later.
在九月7及8日，我们到沙哈拉沙漠过一晚的露营。
这是梦想成真，难忘的体验。
上载几张照片分享，帖子容后上载。
It was a dream came thorough and a un-forgetable experience.
Upload a few pictures on Facebook to share. Posting later.
在九月7及8日，我们到沙哈拉沙漠过一晚的露营。
这是梦想成真，难忘的体验。
上载几张照片分享，帖子容后上载。
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Marrakesh （1） 马拉卡斯
It is our dream holiday of life!
On 31/8/2014 evening, we landed at Marrakesh airport at about 7:00pm.
Through the invitation of Abdel (Mei's friend), we have the opportunity to visit Morocco, a North-Western African country with mystical stories and beautiful landscapes.
Marrakesh is our first destination of the journey.
The main attraction of Marrakesh is its Medina - an vast 700-hectre old walled city, which was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site （1985）.
It is a maze of narrow streets and alleys full of shops, stalls, vendors, people, motorcycles and donkey-carts!
Our first day's itinerary was to visit the souks (markets) and historical places within the medina. It took us more than 8 hours (Inclusive 2 hours lunch time) of walking, covering a distance of about 10 kms just to see less than half of it.
(see pictures in Facebook)
 |
| Abdel and his parents * Abdel 与他的父母 |
这是我们的梦想假期。
31/8/2014星期日，也是马来西亚国庆日，我们在傍晚七时左右抵达马拉卡斯国际机场。
在我女儿的朋友Abdel 的邀请下，我们有机会到西北非洲的摩洛哥，一个充满神秘故事及美丽风景的国家。
马拉卡斯是我们摩洛哥行程的第一站。
马拉卡斯的首要游客的景点是它的围墙旧城区 (Medina)。这个700公顷的古老城区在1985年，被联合国教科文组织列为世界遗产地点。
它里面就好像迷宫一样，许多狭窄的道路、小巷。综合交错。它有好多个市场，售卖不同的货品。人多、电单车也多。行人还有与载货的驴车、马车相争。
我们第一天的行程就是观光旧城区。
我们除了参观多个市场，看到不同的商店，售卖不同的货物，如皮革物品-鞋、腰带、手袋等，铁与银手工艺商店，布匹及衣服，食品等，还参观了许多历史及文物建筑物。
我们花了大约8个小时（包括两个小时享用当地摩洛哥午餐），步行了大约10公里，看了也只不过覆盖了不到一半的范围。
(照片 Facebook)
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