Chicken Pudding

2 days ago while meandering through the streets of Istanbul eating a juicy pear, a bird shit on my head, 2 hours away from my home on the asia side of Istanbul and I was once again transformed into a dirty backpacker :)

Istanbul is the most beautiful city that I have been to in the world (Seoul, Korea is my favorite), but Istanbul is the most breathtaking! I have spent my last 5 weeks living in summer houses on the sea and on an amazing, blissful private yacht...swimming with phosphorescense under the stars and eating amazing Turkish food! It has been a food extravaganza, some of my favorites include: soft white cheese with Honey on top, any cheese with homemade cherry jam....I am having writers food block, anyways, I have also tried some new and unique foods to add to my list of spiders, snakes, scorpions etc... just yesturday I had a dessert that when translated into english means 'chicken breast,' which consists of shredded chicken breast in a thick creamy milky pudding and can be purchased at the finest sweet shops and last night we went to an amazing restaurant called Garden, the biggest restaurant I have ever seen, seating perhaps 1000 or more people! When we arrived it was completely empty, as it is Ramazan and people begin eating after the sun sets! Well by 7:46 the entire restaurant was full, it was quite an experience seeing the entire place fill up and everyone start eating at the exact same time! As a part of this meal I tried a new (for me) type of Kofte (turkish meatball) which was a spicy raw ball of meat, so glad it was spicy otherwise it would have been terrible!

I must sleep now xx

Beautiful Istanbul...

Hello all, I am just finishing up an amazing 5 weeks spent chilling and speaking English! Enjoyed so so much! Last week I spent 5 days with Sibel and the kids in a 5 star resort on the med sea! Lounging in the sea and pool all day long and at night sleeping....a favourite past time of mine ;) I have watched so many movies here..Hancock (2X), Kung Fu Panda (2x), Mamma Mia, Dave(?), Narnia, Journey to the center of the earth...and more I just cant remember all of them, so basically ın the last 5 weeks I have watched more movies at the cinema than in the last 3 years! I must go to sleep now, will try write something more exciting soon..

xx megs

The lıfe of a working girl.......

Hello from beautiful, amazing, breathtaking İstanbul!!! I will begin by telling you just how much my life has changed ın the past week!! I have went from washing my haır, body, and clothes wıth the same palmolıve body wash, brushıng my haır wıth the brıstles of a brush that once had a handle, shavıng my legs wıth a handleless razor (thıs ıs really dıffıcult), eatıng my free hostel breakfast for breakfast and lunch, and eıther eatıng falafel whıch cost 40 cents for dınner or the braıns of a sheep.....prıceless!!! Now I am lıvıng ın an amazıng flat wıth floor to ceılıng wındows overlookıng the sea (only a few mınutes walk away)ın amazıng amazıng amazıng Itanbul...I have a room wıth my lıttle pony sheets, my own laptop, a house attendant who cleans and makes my bed every day, makes all meals, except for those that are purchased at fancy restaurants lıke the golf and country club where I spent my day today!! I go bowlıng, swımmıng, play board games and dance around the house wıth Sıbel (mom), Güchon (13)and Sınem (8)!!!! I am anxıously awaıtıng gettıng myself naked ın one of the turkısh hammams!!!!!!!! Will wrıte more from paradıse soon!

Jordanian night club tour.....

I am writing from the Farah hotel, Amman, Jordan!! A couple nights ago I was sitting at this same computer trying to make a decision whether I will come home for the summer or not, when Jarrett, the guy beside me said "Megan, I can jump over people!" And of course I offered myself to be jumped over! Outside onto the street a group of us went to see what Jarrett could do. First he jumped over this guy from England, while standing up...then added a guy from Iceland, then the jordanian man who owns the gambling 'cafe' across the street, and then me all standing in a row for Jarrett to jump over!!! And he did!! Afterwards we were all invited to the cafe for Sheeshas and tea and told that we were all welcome there anytime and could have anything we wanted for free. Jordanian hospitality.

The next night as we were walking back to the hostel the men in the 'cafe' invited us up for tea, we began speaking about Jordanian culture and got on the topic of night clubs....."come with me, you wont believe it, I will show you," one of the men said. So we went with him for a night club tour all around Amman, and although we didnt enter any of the well hidden, russian and phillipine women frequented clubs, I know now where they all are and learnt so much about the culture here in Jordan!!! On the way back we stopped for a fruit cocktail (juice), we pulled up to a street stall, honked the horn and the owner, a friend of our 'night club tour guide' came, took our orders and brought us the most amazing fruit cocktails in glass cups to drink in the car. When we were finished with a honk of the horn the man came, took our glasses, and we were on our way!!

Before Amman, I went to Wadi Mousa to visit Petra, I met some amazing people and wandered around where parts of 'Indiana jones and the last crusade' was filmed!!! I also went petra by night, the entire siq and treasury (1.5 km walk) was lit up with candles and bedouin music under the amazing stars!!!

On my journey back from wadi mousa to amman I sat in the front seat of a local bus, infront of me a sign that said (spelling errors and funniness included)


Passengers bill of rights and responsibilities

1) Loading and unlaoding are not allowed except in des ignited places.

2) Smoking and throwing litter from the vehicle are prphbited.

3) Radio and cassette player prohibited with annoying form.

4) Driver is fully familiar with the rote and SHOULD reach the final destination in each trip.


Along with the blonde hair hanging from the rearview mirror and this sign, I had a good laugh!!

Okay Im off, hope everyone is well!!!

My escape from Egypt

Hello from amazing modern Israel!!!

I arrived in israel much sooner than expected as being a girl alone in Egypt is not something I recommend doing!

After my last post I headed to Dahab, a beach resort on the red sea in Egypt, a beautiful, beautiful place that reminded me of middle east meets disneyland and the Land before time 1 thru 16??.....cheap, beautiful water, amazing accomodation, desert in the background, and a many many many egyptian men! Needless to say I didnt last long in this place before I decided to head further up north, hoping to escape all the hissing and marriage proposals!! Hopped on a bus to another beach and ended up paying extra and going straignt into Israel the same day, very unexpectedly and happily. I will go back and explore Egypt again someday, just not alone or blonde!!!

What a culture schock crossing the border from Egypt to Israel, where people stop for you when you cross the road, no hissing men, shopping malls..all very western!

I have been meeting my friends that I have made along the way and am now staying with my friend Nurit who lives in an amazing apartment right on the mediteranean sea!! paradise!!

Israel is nothing, absolutely nothing like I had expected....very much like canada, in some ways.....I am trying to upload pics to show....okay, im off...later, megs

Egypt

Hello from beautiful Cairo, Egypt!!! A few days ago I hopped on a flight from delhi to Bahrain, a really cool Island country in the middle east, and then on to Cairo! Cairo is a beautiful city, and if I wasnt blonde and the men went for siestas when I went out it would be even more amazing!!!! I went to the pyramids today and they were so amazing! Got hustled quite a bit, ended up leaving my camel and guide, already paid for, because contrary to what I was told, you do NOT need a guide!!!

Tomorrow I am heading to the Red sea and then making my way to Israel!!!!

I spent my last few weeks in India in the Parvati valley and then in Dharamasala, where I studied silver, chased away giant spiders and went to teaching with the amazing Dalai Lama!

The last time I was in India I only travelled overnight by train, but this time most of my long journeys were by the incredible india sleeper bus!! A bed with a view of the stars from the window!!

Well I'm off to brave to wonderful world of Cairo men!!

more glorious india...

Well I have a few minutes while I am waiting for my photos to upload onto the computer so I will write a wee little blog!! I have been in india for 7 weeks now and it has been so amazing, my love affair with India continues!!! I am now in pushkar studying jewellery making or perhaps I am mastering the art of money spending ;) I took a 37 hour train from Kolkata all the way to Ajmer, just outside of Pushkar, the journey was 10 hours longer than expected and because of the delay Sivan and I were foodless, aside from Parle g cookies, for one full day!!!! When you combine Megan, no sleep and no food...what do you get?? I tell you 'the bitch was back' Cambodia style (perhaps muffy is the only one who has ever experienced this) Actually it wasnt that bad, it was my most interesting train ride in india...lady boys demanding money for luck, countless crazy people...dressed as monkeys barking like dogs, beggars hitting us with sticks (I hit back), tabla and sitar players joining us in our seats/beds (for money of course)and of course the infamous chai sellers!!! What an adventure it was!!! I spent last night driving around on the back of a motorcycle in the desert under the amazing stars, it was bliss!!!! another one of my love affairs since I have been travelling....riding on a bike...along with bollywood movies!!! I have a new collection coming home with me!!! There are so many more stories, but in india it this amazing country full of heart, a country that everyone should visit one day....I am going to challo now, xxmegs

PAradise

Hello all, this is going to be a very short brief update of the blissful month I spent on the Andaman islands.....most of my time was spent at Sunrise resort on Havelock island....turquoise water, white sand beaches, palm trees, colourful fish, phosphorescenc and amazing people! I no longer have blonde hair, as it is now a nice shade of pink, which is less colourful than the blue, green and purple that was in it before from the Indian colour festival, Holy!!! I will be flying to mainland india tomorrow and making my way to pushkar and then on the dharamasala up north!!! There is so much more to write, but my my brain is choosing to boycot the use of computers after a 1 month break!! xxxxx megs

India in all its glory

Hello from chaotic India, am sitting in a cafe in Kolkata writing a 5 minute blog....It was such a breath of fresh (dirty) air to arrive in India, able to see everything again, with new eyes. I met a few people in the Bangkok airport, while waiting in the line for our boarding passes, amongst a group of 26 convicts handcuffed together, also waiting in the same line...random. I am sharing a room at a guest house filled with korean people, brilliant!!! Our taxi ride to our hotel ,also brilliant as our taxi driver kept falling asleep...I have pics to prove it, at one point he said "so sleepy, need rest." as he stopped the car, hopped out and poured water all over himself!! Treated my self to a roadside chai and a spinach curry for dinner!! mmmmm....now it is 9pm, and after 14 sleepless hours in the bangkok airport am so ready for a sleep. cant wait to see what adventures i can get myself into tomorrow!! xxxxx

On the road again....

Well, only 2 more days until I fly back to masala-licious India!! Packing up my uber small backpack and will be on the road again!!! While traveling I have been living out of a 40 liter backpack (if you can't visualize how how big that is, its just a tad bigger than a day pack) and I have loved every minute of it, never did I get tired of living out of a pack, to my surprise and amazement and other peoples as well. Yesturday, as I was on my hands and knees cleaning Heathers' bathroom floor, I had an epiphany .... I HATE cleaning (okay so I already knew this) but I reckon it is one of my top 5 least favorite things to do, not too sure what the other 4 are, but cleaning is right up there!! And, when I am traveling I never have to clean, perhaps tidy, but not clean and that is why I love backpacking :) Okay, so there are a few more reasons why I love backpacking: freedom, colourful vibrant people, beautiful gongshows, chaotic noisy and sometimes unfathomably wonderful places, nature, studying, new cultures, crazy foods, amazing foods and on and on I could go!!!!!

I fly into Bangkok where I will spend 14 wonderful hours waiting in the airport before I fly to Kolkata, India and from there I have no idea where my adventure will lead me...tempting that it is so close to Nepal and oh how I love Nepal !!!!! Perhaps Darjeeling, or the southern beaches of India before I venture back to Rajasthan!

I have had an amazing last week in Korea, visiting friends, eating amazing Sushi, Korean food, visiting jimjilbangs and MY tea house as many times as possible.....taking amazing random photos with my new camera. For the first time in my 20 month trip I spent 3 weeks with a retired camera, RIP, until Dave, a teacher at Heathers Uni, sold me his camera!! yay!! So more random funniness to come!!

Hope every one is happy and healthy! xxxxxxxxMegs

Deiss

ooh....i bet you are excited you get your own post for everyone to see!!

JOIN THE BOOK OF FACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have no idea how to log on to your blog, this computer thingy always confuses me ;)

I will be waiting for you in Bollywood, we can become famous dancing to banghra music!!!!

Konglish Loving

Hello from beautiful cold Korea, okay so -10, isn't quite as cold as i am told it is in Canada....but it is pretty windy here!!!

I have been practicing the art of elegant idleness here in Korea, although, I have been living a double life!! I have been splitting my time between Seoul, where I am staying with Natalie and the Kids on the 39th floor of an amazing building 5 minutes away from my favorite jimjilbang, and Suwon, where I am surfing on Heather's couch in her wee cell (sorry H)....although it isn't a cell at all, there are 4 windows and I sleep better than I have ever slept in my life on the couch!!!

Evie has gotten so big since the last time was here, baby Jacob, is adorable and so so happy, and Pete and Grace are still as amazing as ever!!!

I would post pics of the kids, however, my camera R.I.P, decided last week to go into retirement!!!!! and I have yet to find a replacement worthy enough to be MY camera....a camera that is waterproof, dust proof, AND, most importantly Drop proof!! he he!! I had been spending lots of time finding HILARIOUS signs and randomness, my creative konglish findings are posted on my picasa photo site for all to see!!


Happy V day to all, and to all a good night!!! a wee side note about valentines day....On February 14, Valentines day in korea, only girls buy pressies for their boyfriends, and on March 14, White day, only boys buy pressies for their girlfriends and the best one of ALL...January 14, Black day...a special day when all single people were black and go out and eat noodles with black sauce and wallow in their misery!! he he!! So funny!!

hugs and love, Megs

Megan is....

practicing the art of elegant idleness!!! I am happily sitting in Heathers apartment chilling out watching the snow fall outside...thats right, I brought the snow all the way from Canada with me!! Im such a nice friend!!

I caught an awesome flight from Seattle to Korea which included sharing indian food with a man from Bombay, eating Korean food, yeahhh!! and watching amazing movies...Into the Wild, Darjeeling limited (plus 3 more and an episode of House) and having absolutely no sleep. The usual!! Why sleep when you can watch free movies!!

When I arrived in Suwon Heather and Coby picked me up sporting a welcome back sign, and 2 bags of the worlds greatest sushi!!! Awe Heaven!!

The next day while Heather worked, I decorated her room with random surprises and then headed on a walking adventure...I found THE soccer ball toilets and found an amazing jimjilbang that I hadnt been to before!!

I had Shabu Shabu last night, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm so good, oh how I missed korean food!!

Well Im off, either to find another jimjilbang with 'Dr fish' fish who nibble away at your feet and bodies or just to sit and work on the art of elegant idleness.

xxxMegs

On the road again.....

Just can't wait to get back on the road again.....for everyone who has been faithfully checking my blog I apologize for not keeping you up to date, and am happy to tell you that there will be some fascinating adventures and beautiful gongshows to come. Im catching a flight back to Korea (my stop over) for the jimjilbangs ;), friends, food, amazing toilets and simply for my love affair with 'sparkling' Korea!! More to come soon!!!

Happy Christmas and a merry new year!! ;)

Hugs to everyone, Megs