That sure was one world congress and with the closing remark that the next one is due in Singapore in 3 years, and the international fascial one in Washington in 2 years, I will mark that on my travel calender! The second to last day in the Congress worn on slowly, and if it was not for the intermittent internet as I multi-tasked my lecture note writing, I would be falling asleep. Stimulating to a point, being saturation point. Bowing out early, with one of the rare antipodeans I had met, an Australian physio, we made plans to skive off into town to see what all the fuss over the Burj al Arab was about. This sail shaped building sits next to the man made Jumeirah Palm island, that has extended Dubai's coastline by many more ... read more

Sat in the harem of Nabil in a rectangular room of cushions and a central dancing pole, everyone chanted in near harmony those words, all the while wondering if this serenade had actually worked on a local Jordanian as a pick up line. Nabil’s hotel in Dana, our next destination, offers not only match making services but is an adventure travelers agency for tours into the dry mountainous valleys south of the Dead Sea. Sadly after one night we departed the Dead Sea Spa Resort, the swanky rooms, muddy therapeutic shores and smoke filled foyer, cramming our refreshed bodies into the minibus with bottles of water and backpacks at our knees. Goodbye to the non Western women clad in burkas wearing full-body-lycra aquatic clothing, goodbye to the lifeguards that have never seen a competent swimmer from ... read more

8 months ago booked, the departure day finally arrived on October 17th. With broken sleep and nightmares of under-packing my underwear and over packing my overcoats, I woke early and headed to the airport with Inder the taxi driver from Blue Cabs. Unusually a driver of few words, we engaged in small talk about emigrating, ascertained he was from Punjab region, and most importantly that he could drive safely which is what I cannot say about Jordanian drivers...more later. He bid me a kind farewell and we shook hands, passing on the high 5s. These gestures I am informed are for the Hellensville golf course veterans only. Check in was smooth, the airport quiet and the Koru lounge access a bonus for flying premium economy. Plenty food and coffee to awaken later, and the flight left ... read more

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Leaving behind beautiful Perissa, the lovely hosts, and animals that kept sounding like they were in their death throes, being forced to mate, or birthing 24/7, wasn... read more

Leaving Pogradec, and moving away from the Macedonian border on Lake Ohrid, our bus headed southwards, bound for a sleepy village on verge of tourism called Voskapoja. It is clear this place is geared for tourists, as it has rubbish bins! On the way, we had a diversion to the local animal fair – donkeys, sheep, cattle - all being exchanged and tended to. The sound of ‘moos’ and ‘baas’ was universal, and it was enjoyable seeing the capped and side saddling shepherds so proud of their fleet. This well groomed area of agriculture and the people are known for a hard work ethic, in such trying and cold wintery conditions. They exist on their land and whatever they can make of it, without subsidies or government support. That’s Albania! Voskapoja is known for 2 famous ... read more