http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/leilaroundaworld/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from leilaroundaworld en-us Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:36:03 BST Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:36:03 BST Full Moon in Thailand on such a special day I just couldn't miss that.Though the weather didn't sound promising heavy rain and cloudy sky loads of people started to gather in the very famous full moon beach which is Ko Pha ngan.The few couples of days I spent before the party there I tried to enjoy and pamper myself with some top uality sea food on the grill meal with Touraille my new frien http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South/Ko-Pha-Ngan/blog-216258.html And I can equalise at 18m belowWhat a great sensation it is to breathe under water watch all the amazing life there is down there so much more peaceful than above...BCD regulator weights tank all is familiar to me now.So to celebrate my little PADI certification we all went drinking at Choppers where the place was packed with rugby supporters.England lost against South Africa and I was http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South/Ko-Tao/blog-213070.html Being in Hong Kong is just like being in Europe again like London or Paris maybe more busy than Paris sometimes want to say a little bit more stylish. Actually not really but people do dare here and I like that.I'm staying at my friend David's place for a couple of days before flying to Bangkok on sunday. It's a short visit but enough for me to say a little hello to Lionel and his team in GL http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Hong-Kong-Island/blog-208327.html So here I am in Anjuna after spending a day already in Panaji little town Goa will be for me only relaxing days doing...well... nothing at all. I just finished the kite runner book and wants to get on Ghandi's autobiography keep it cool by the beach with a banana shake on one hand and a cigarette on the other. That's my plan and I intend to stick to that...lazy me that is not going to be http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Goa/Panaji/blog-203317.html Bollywood O bollywood Am i the prettiest of them allHahaaa I did it and not just once but twice Yes I kind of love that film industry did it mostly for my mom too as she is a huge fan of Shah Ruck Khan and his peers but didn't get a chance to meet him. Sorry mama. I did though meet others that were quite full of themselves and pretentious but all big stars are supposed to behave like th http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Maharashtra/Mumbai/blog-203001.html Yes I am in INDIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOk have nothing to say yet since I got here last night and pretty much spent some time to update everyone I was alive.I'll come back later after some good indian food and maybe some part in a movieLater http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Maharashtra/Mumbai/blog-194955.html Hey everyoneWell it's been a while since I've posted anything. Was just too busy I guess in my 3 weeks tour of Iran loving it hating it too cause of all the restrictions you're faced to especially as a woman picking up some farsi words very little getting to know and love the Persian culture a little bit more each and everyday.Iranian people don't like to be reminded that Arab language and http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-194937.html I have been the Fulla the local Barbie doll of my yemeni friends lately that liked to see me getting dressed in yemeni or arabic clothes just for the fun of it. I wish I could put pictures of some of the wonderful women I met here in Sana'a but it's been impossible to have their permission or their husbands for that matter. IMPOSSIBLE Even for the henna session I tried to take a picture of http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Yemen/Sanaa/blog-183808.html Yes it happened yesterday. A full celebration the girls putting on some make up on me fixing my hair bringing me some tea during the whole preparation dressing me up in pink even got the youyou part. I did marry in pink don't ask me why. It was intense the little girls wanting to be close to the bride aaroussa because she is special and the queen of the day I was lucky to have some g http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Yemen/blog-182057.html The Kids in YemennbspMiddle East raquonbspYemen raquonbspSanaa By leilaroundaworldJuly 16th 2007LeilaAll of them so wonderful all of them so curious of foreigner all of them saying how are you and welcome to you and they meet you and all of them wanting their pictures to be taken as soon as they see you holding one.Take a look at some of the cutest one I've encountered...they were all http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Yemen/Sanaa/blog-182005.html Go to www.lajee.org and visit the website of this wonderful organisation that helps the kids in the refugee camp of Bethlehem express themselves in a peaceful way by trying to make them forget about their situation i.e.being a child in a Palestinian refugee camp under Israelis occupation. See there the project they try to put up whether it is the Debka troup performances or the International s http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Israel/West-Bank/Bethlehem/blog-173314.html Something old Well the usual questions by the bordercheck point getting in the country Why are you visiting the country What is your father first name Why did you go to Syria and Lebanon before coming in Israel What is your job What does it consist of How long have you worked there Why are you travelling again in Israel You have lots of money to travel like that if only they knew Wh http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Israel/Tel-Aviv-District/Tel-Aviv/blog-173310.html Visiting Jordan with Philip american and fellow backpacker after surprisingly stunning Lebanon is another treatPlaying backgammon and mastering my ability to failure bets cannot get better and I rage when I loose driving along the King Hussein Highway and its picturesque landscape while listening to Pussycat dolls tape all day long dringking loads of chai tea and puffing the magic nar http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Jordan/South/Aqaba/blog-173301.html I was reading the French news today while listening to the lebanese news on tv and the way things are portrayed is a little different not to say completely different.I have been around since it all started 3 days ago and it doesn't look like it is going to stop we all agree on that. Every lebanese and visitors for that matters are holding their breath while waiting to see what the government http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Lebanon/Beirut/blog-160954.html I have been in Beyrouth for a couple of days now and I think I fell in love with it.It has a little something that Syria or Turkey didn't have the immense opening to the outside world to Europe to becoming after all the tragedies war terror and destroys once again and for all the party capital of the Middle East. and it is quite succeeding into becoming one.The first impression I had was t http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Lebanon/Beirut/blog-159632.html High plateau between the mount Lebanon and AntiLebanon ranges linking the Syrian interior with the coastal cities of ancient Phoenicia. Used to be very much agricultural it isn't that much flousishing anymore apart from the cannabis cropping. Fortunately it is now better known as the centre of Lebanon's burgeoning wine industry. From Beyrouth which is my starting point for every trip I m http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Lebanon/Baalbek/blog-159107.html Krak des Chevaliers Part InbspMiddle East raquonbspSyria raquonbspHama By leilaroundaworldMay 5th 2007Leila Heyyyyy This is only to say I'm down good it is the 12th of May today Happy 30th BDay Paul and I'm heading to Beyrouth finally after changing my plans every day for the past 3 days I'm going...ok no tomorrow ok today heu ok I'll stay and visit that monastery... Be http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Syria/West/Hama/blog-155824.html So here I am down in a very nice little hostel compared to the previous I did down at Aleppo. Hama famous for its water wheels. Hama suppposed to be the most religious one in the region or even the country but where I have seen the most smiles returned back at me from both men and women. Some kids have the most sparkling green eyes I have ever seen. For those interested I have been draggin http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Syria/West/Hama/blog-155153.html Partying in Istanbul for Anzac daynbspMiddle East raquonbspTurkey raquonbspIstanbul By leilaroundaworldApril 30th 2007Leila Anzac day is a special day for all australian and NewZealander as it commemorates the battle that went on in annakale Gall305pol305 back during WWI They came to bring some help to the british army against the turkish one. I didn't go and celebrate there http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-154096.html I'm back in Istanbul and have enjoyed seeing Julien again after what 3 years He managed to come for business from GL Geneva to visit Turkish clients at the same period I was around. Day was about visiting Istanbul together. I showed him Sultanahmet area with the gorgeous Blue Mosq and Enormous Ayia Sophia getting in the blue mosq while prayer time was about. This all was followed by an E http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-152552.html