Kaisu on the go

London - pub.party.pub.party.

2009-12-21T06:35:00.001-08:00

OMG. This the day 5 in London. And it has been NON STOP GO GO GO.
But absolutely great and so much fun!!!!

We have had SO much fun catching up with friends and family, and that's why we are here now.
Why else would we swap lovely hot summer in Sydney to the windy , -1C freezing temperatures in dirty old London ;-)? And yes, if you were doubting the news, I can confirm that it was snowing on TWO days...and as usual, London's traffic went ballisticly chaotic during these days. IT was quicker for me to walk from Tooting to Putney than take the bus....The running shorts I took from Sydney didn't quite cut it so instead of running we've been training our beer muscles in pubs to stay warm. hih.

We spent one night at the Chandos pub near Trafalgar square and were very gracious for all the friends who managed in between their hectic Christmas schedules to pop in to have a chat and to see us. Specially Vx, who on the following morning before sparrows, was flying to the US. Hopefully you didn't have a bad headache on the plane, dear?? And Lydia, yes, next time there WILL be time for your delicious coctails at Barbican!!

And then it was time for the main event in London, Scott's brother Brendan and lovely Orla's wedding on Friday. The morning was crips and clear blue skies were greeting us as we went to the St. James's Church in Clarkenwell. Family & friends from near and afar were gathered there to witness these two young love birds to get married - and they looked so happy! Even if we did wonder if they really did get married - as the priest said Brendan's name wrong twice during the ceremony.... but the story had a happy ending and they did! The reception was a hoot of a fun and my dear hubby who previously was known as one of the 'Knights of the Three Left Legs Christies' prooved that a bit of secret salsa classes can do wonders for ones dancing skills! Thanks my love - and my other lovely dancing partners - my feet were thinking of you all on Saturday :-). And one of the best things during the day was to be able to catch up with family & Friends, some of which we hadn't seen for over 5 years!

Saturday morning I wondered how many Paracetamols were consumed by the Christie/ McCarlie clan? I just about managed to drag Scott out of the bed after mid day and make it, one & half hour late, to the pub lunch with a bunch of friends at Shepperd's Bush. Sorry lads, I tried my best!! But at least we made it. On the walk towards the tube station we passed our last home in London and felt a bit nostalgic. It's always a pleasure visiting London and seeing all our loved ones, but interestingly enough, there isn't anything really here at the moment, that would pull us back to London to live.

Sunday was another hectic day as our lovely niece, Ngaire, Scott's sister Nikki's & Neil's lovely daughter got christened. We stayed at Nikki & Neil's place the previous night and hence were priviledged to be part of the preparations squadron. The house got cleaned, dog walked,shopping done and food prepared on the morning before heading of to the church for the ceremony. Just in time. Ngaire wasn't too worried about all the fuss and the spilling of the oil to her chest but when it came to the baptising and the water bit, the young lady showed that she has the lungs made of steel. Back at the house the lovely crowd of friends and family again fulled the space with laughter, talk and joyous merriement, which went on until the early evening. When the house was emptying out, we took the hyperactive dog Choco for a lovely evening walk to the crisp night at Epping forest and returned back to the quiet house to see the tired little Ngaire doze and crawled straight to bed to have a good night sleep.

Today, on Monday, it's time yet again to see a few more friends, and do the last minute shopping and visit one more pub and have an English bitter before flying out. Tomorrow it'll be new country and even colder temperatures. Hrrr. A bit worried about that, the cold weather that is.

Maltese experience

2009-12-21T05:45:00.000-08:00

Malta ! A lovely island of 400.000 inhabitants and a million tourists.

That's about probably sums the total up for the island on the summer time. Luckily now on winter months the tourist portion is smaller and there was plenty of time and space to see the amazing historical sites of the island.

Whilst Scott and the boys were chasing the stag around the not so historical sites of the place, I tramped all around the Valletta and surroundings. Friday went quickly visiting the Co-Cathedral of St. Johns, the Siege Bell and the Barrack Gardens from where the Knights of St. John defended the liberty of the people against the Ottomans during the great Siege. Following the knightly morning, I continued the journey to check out the Palace Armoury, which even for a woman was quite interesting place to visit - not probably least because of the fact that the fashion played a big role in formatting the shape and decorations of the breast plates, helmets and the like over the decades. Who says men are not vain? Bah-humbagh. After the somewhat war-focused blood thirsty afternoon I retreated to a small cafe next to the modern marina enjoying the sight of luxury yachts and afternoon sun. Even the pestering horse-cart taxi drivers didn't bother me too much after a glass of local wine and olives. Ah, simple things in life.

Saturday I hopped along to a small tour to see the Three Cities and it's hidden treasures. The historical feeling in this side of the Grand Marina was even stronger with it's narrow streets, old houses and two strong fortressess and various churches. Surely these people have more churches per square mile than a traditional English village pubs? Visiting the Inquisition Palace put the creeps going up & down my back, specially when stepping into the grim little prison cells where the self confessed or 'assisted to confess' ( with torture) locals were thrown for their crimes against Christianity.....10 lashes anyone? Quickly afterwards, I retreated to seek refuge at the Maritime museum and it's safe selection of gun barrells and miniature ships. Sailors ahoy!

Sunday, the boys were done with their partying and I got the hubby fully back. Tired, reeking of booze, hungry and having a bad head cold he was like a puppy coming back after a sneeky hunting trip to the woods. Hum ha. We had a lovely day together walking around Valletta's old quarters and visiting the Archeologial museum there. Little did we know that the knowledge we learned here about the various historical phases of the island came to a real use on the following day.

For some reason the tired boy wanted to retreat early back to our lovely "home", Hotel Juliani at St. Julians for an early night in. And it suited me well as after 3 days of walking I felt a little rest was in order. I can highly recommend this little boutique hotel as it's truly a nice home feeling place with seriously friendly staff, lovely rooms and great location. Plus a fabulous restaurant Zest on the 1st floor which we tested on the first night. For the last night on the island though we chose to sample the local cuisine and ended up tasting rabbit stew, meat wrapped in more meat and tasty vegetables. Shame that the local oranges hardly make it out of the island - so sweet they are now that they are in season.

On the last full day in Malta, on Monday, we rented a tiny little car and the Rally Team Christie took off to explore the local roads and towns outside Valletta/St.Julians. Without many misreadings of the map we found the first town, Tarxien. And what a stroke of luck - we managed to get last minute tickets/places to visit the 6000 year old Hypogeum museum which is one of the UNESCO listed heritage sites. Just, AMAZING!!! On same town only a walking distance away from Hypogeum they had one of the many open air temple sites of Malta, the Tarxien temple which amazingly showed some simillarities in it's decorations and structure as the underground site of Hypogeum. Both these sites had references to the famous Venus of Malta, the sleeping goddess of fertility. Hopefully her influence will carry on ;-).

Quick snack and off we went again. This time the map reader K "decided" to take a detour and route us via the back streets of Malta and we ended up passing by a huge refugee camp next to the port area - and crawling through a country road hardly wide enough for a horse & cart - until we were securely back on the 'main roads' again. Well, without the detour we would not have learned that the Maltese have a bit of a problem with African originated refugee boats and in the cold afternoon mist I felt sorry for the souls who now instead of finding their worldly paradise are destined to live in tents and containers unitil the European Union officials decide what to do with the boat loads of people who find their way to here...

The last stop was the Medival fortress city of Mdina and it's magnificient architecture. Wow! Passing through the narrow alleyways you could almost hear the bells of the cathedral tolling, the war trumpets hooting and the clinking of the hoofs on the cobblestone streets. Having ever visited catacombs, Scott wanted to take me yet to another underground burial site ( Hypogeum was one after all). Hmmm...what's the hint am getting here? Anyway St. Agatha's crypt and catacomb was quite an eye opener for me....apparently the wakes that used to happen there ( at the burial site!!) before 3rd century were so, well sexually fuelled that the Church had to ban them and had the 'table' structures built for these next to the tombs distroyed. St. Agatha, after whom the place is named, who was praying at the Crypt on top of the catacombs, was a fully dedicated Christian and a maiden, and because wanting to keep her soul and body virtuous and refusing to marry a prefect , got tortured to death. Hence the sainthood. Next time you see an iconograph of a female saint carrying a breast in a bowl, you know it's her....her torturers cut off one of her breasts.

There were many other temples and catacombs, palaces and churches to visit but our time ran out. Malta is mostly seen but if we ever happen to pass by again, I would happily continue exploring the island and visiting it's friendly people.

Next stop....London.....

MALTA!

2009-12-11T11:54:00.000-08:00

Finally am allowed to tell where we are !!!

MALTA

Scott's bro Brendon and the stag party arrived today and the boys are off to do what a Stag party does... and I've been touring the amazing capital of Malta since this morning - Valletta !

This place oozes history - mostly from the crusaders time line when the Order of the Knights of St John more or less ruled the islands . They have left a permanent mark to the islands history with the bastillions, catacombs, fortresses and ah, the amazing Co-Cathedral they built here during their great time here. you can just imagine a bunch of rich aristocrat lads who came here from around Europe to support the pilgrims and defend the Christian faith, and really what they did a lot is of various war trips and fights against the Ottomans. I bet the local laddettes loved them, however these stories were not told in the official histories of their place of faith ;-).

The local lads and laddettes now on Friday evening are to be found at the Paceville entertainment district where the beer is cheap and entertainment well, according to your wallet. I look to the stag party to tell me more details on Sunday...

Am in an internet cafe writing this before heading off to find a nice cafe which serves local fare and a glass of wine to go with it. I was hoping to go to the Sliema area where there are heaps of yachts to watch but it's pouring rain so I think I'll stay here at St jJulians and watch the little harbour and it's life at night.

So Kaisu is on the go again, and the Malta Experience continues...

Secrecy

2009-12-08T02:32:00.000-08:00

Have been told NOT to tell where we are going next. Sorry guys and gals!!!!
You have to live in 'the waiting' until my writer's ban is lifted.

Gosh, this is like living in old Soviet Union. Da! Spasiba!отгадать загадку

But I can tell you, it's not Russia....yet....

About to head off

2009-12-07T02:25:00.000-08:00

Last day at the dear Hawkesbury River has been sweet n sour.

The view of the picture beside this text will remind me of home and where I belong to, while am away. There is not really a more amazing place like here...or maybe I just haven't found it yet.

I've had a lovely swim on the river, listened to the sound of chicadas and the birds, enjoyed the playing with Mojo the Dog from next door and now it's almost time to head off.. OMG!

This blog will follow our travels across the continents, so stay tuned my friends!