Do You Know the Way to Nearest Pyramid?

23 Jan 2012 2 Comments

by Eva the Dragon in Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Do you know what this is?

Flying during the day has its advantages.  Looking out the window I knew the Gulf Air pilot was going the right direction because there were several very visible landmarks.

North of Riyadh were the crop circles.

Crop Circles North of Riyadh

When I was growing up in Saudi Arabia I never really questioned where they grew the fresh alfalfa we fed to our Arabian horses.  It was so green, it had to be dried in the sun before the horses could eat it.  The Saudis grow wheat and alfalfa using water from ancient water reserves created during the Pleistocene era – after the dinosaurs but just as homo erectus started wandering around.  It was quite amazing to see this green in the desert.

Obviously the water will not last forever. My father used to be involved in figuring out ways to bring water to the desert.  During a family dinner he told us about an idea to tote an iceberg from Antarctica.  That was never done.

Sarawat Mountains

As we turned west we flew over the Sarawat Mountains.  These look like mini volcanoes with something hiding in the center.   I think it was sand but maybe inside are secret UFO landing sites.  Supposedly millions saw UFOs over Riyadh in 2009.

Saudi Arabia Meets the Red Sea

The Red Sea looked extremely blue next to the brown desert.

Over the Red Sea

I enjoyed how the land and the sea intertwined creating a beautiful view that can only be seen from above.

Importance of the Nile

Over Egypt the Nile’s water keeps the desert at bay.  The human settlements are only within the areas the water reaches.

Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara

Outside of Cairo we flew over the oldest pyramid in Egypt – the Djoser at Saqqara.    It is a step pyramid built around 2,700 BC about 300 years after the stone pyramid in Peru.  Imhotep the founder of medicine was the architect who designed the pyramid.  In artwork he was associated with the Goddess Hathor.

Click on the photo to enlarge it.  The pyramid is at the top of the photo.

All the photos were taken with my Ipad.  I will start using a better camera soon but I can only learn so much technology at a time.

Tomorrow Cairo!

Golden Anniversary

21 Jan 2012 3 Comments

by Eva the Dragon in Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel Tags: , , , , ,

My In-laws wedding photo from 1962

Fifty years ago today, my in-laws got married.  Technically they signed the “kettel khitab” or marriage contract.

Today we are in Cairo at the Pasha Restaurant on the Nile celebrating with family and friends.

This is the second Golden Anniversary I have celebrated.  The first was my grandparents.

I wonder whether Mojo and I will celebrate our 50th?  I wonder what the world will be like in 35 years.

Riding the Lions in Zamalek

18 Jan 2012 Leave a comment

by Eva the Dragon in Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel Tags: , , , ,

Susan’s First Visit to Cairo, Sitting in the Garden with her Nana

When we visit Mojo’s family in Cairo, we always stay at the Marriott on Zamalek island.

The Marriott was once the palace of Khedive Ismail.  It opened in 1869.

We like the hotel for its location and the garden.  During our stays, we usually eat every meal on the terrace.  It’s the place to meet and greet your friends.

At the entrance are two marble lions.  Susan and the boys always climb up on the lions when we enter the hotel.  And as it is in the Middle East, no one ever scolds them.

Susan riding the marble lion.

Last year as we walked in, Susan said, “I didn’t know the lions were so small.”

We are off to Cairo for a few days.  I will let you know -whoever you are – what she says this year.

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

16 Jan 2012 1 Comment

by Eva the Dragon in The Most Interesting Roosters - People Tags: , , , , ,

"Why are you here?" "I dunno. Why are YOU here?" "I wish I knew."

I am quite certain that each of us is born to learn something.  As we encounter challenges, it is imperative to ask ourselves, why am I seeing this challenge?  What am I supposed to learn from it?

Sometimes the challenge is very obvious as in the case of Carly, a sixteen-year old girl with autism.

When Carly and her twin sister were two years old, her parents noticed a significant difference in their development.  Carly was diagnosed with autism while her sister was not.  Carly was completely non-verbal and displayed the challenges other autistic children exhibit – flapping arms, tantrums, banging her head on the floor, and other uncontrolled movements.

Then the break-through.

One day she ran to the computer and typed HURT.  Next she typed HELP before throwing up.

Using the computer, the eleven year old Carly finally began to communicate.  The amazing thing was she saw herself as a normal girl trapped in “this body”.  Her body was highly sensitive to stimuli so normal sounds, smells, tastes and touch overwhelmed her.  To manage the stimulus overload, she countered the input with output.

Fast forward five years – after many hours of working, Carly has become a celebrity particularly within the autism community.  She has been interviewed by Ellen Degeneres, The Talk and CBS News.  Her blog has 15,000 followers and she is writing a novel.  I was overwhelmed with admiration for this young woman who typed out

“I am autistic but that’s not who I am.  Take time to know me before you judge me.”

Whatever obstacle I identify during the Brand New Me class tomorrow, I can hardly imagine Carly would call it a challenge.

I copied a quote of hers and taped it to my bathroom mirror.  Tomorrow when I brush my teeth, Carly’s words will be in front of me.

“I think the only thing I can say is don’t give up.  Your inner voice will find its way out.  Mine did.” – Carly

You can read Carly’s Blog and watch the CBS News segment on YouTube.

Moment of Twin Truths

15 Jan 2012 1 Comment

by Eva the Dragon in Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel, When Dragons and Rabbits Make Me Laugh - Humor Tags: , , , , ,

"Who pushed the green button?" Outside the Royal Automobile Museum, Amman, Jordan

Good luck seldom comes in pairs but bad things never walk alone.

– Chinese Proverb

Misery Loves Company.

– English Version

Next time don’t listen to your brother.  Ask yourself – is this a good idea?

– Mom’s Version

Arabian Motifs an Artist’s View

14 Jan 2012 4 Comments

by Eva the Dragon in Island Tales - Expatriate Living, Stories about Oman, Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel Tags: , , ,

Arabian Motifs Exhibit at World Beat Fitness Center Saar

Today photographer and designer Mairi Thomas opens her exhibit at the World Beat Fitness Center in Saar.

Mairi has lived in the Gulf and traveled around the Middle for many years.  She only moved to Bahrain a few months ago but she has already created a new portfolio of photographs.

View from Crowne Plaza Balcony Muscat Oman

I ran across Mairi’s work last year when my friend Goldi and I visited Oman.  We stayed at the Crowne Plaza as it was on the seashore and quite convenient to the sites.  The photos decorating the hotel lobby depicted Oman in a modern way that really appealed to me.

Mairi has an excellent eye for design.  Looking through her portfolio I can tell she traveled to Dubai, India and China.  But her perspective and ability to capture life in the buildings and landscapes is what makes her photos unique.

The opening is 4pm – 6pm on Saturday January 14th.  Arabian Motifs will run through February 16th at World Beat.

You can check out Mairi Thomas’ other professional projects at Mairi Designs.

A Brand New Me in 2012

13 Jan 2012 Leave a comment

by Eva the Dragon in Island Tales - Expatriate Living Tags: , , ,

Contemplating the Future - Who Am I Going to Be?

Over the Christmas holidays I met one of Bahrain’s treasures – Dr. Clare Beckett-McInroy.

Clare is the President of the BizLadies’ Bahrain branch.  BizLadies is an international networking organization.  I knew her predecessor Dr. Petra, a German who was passionate about the women’s professional development.  An educator by training, Dr. Clare’s ideas and visions for positive transformation impressed me.

As I believe 2012 is a year of transformation, I signed up to attend her Tuesday, January 17th course named a Brand (New) You.  It is designed to help kick-start anyone to where they want to be.

Right now that is my question – exactly what do I envision the future to look like?

Brand (New) You embraces the principals of coaching and NLP as well as tried and tested personal branding research. It will be facilitated in a down-to-earth way so that all participants can leave motivated and ready for change. Dr. Clare described the course.

This day will involve lots of self-discovery and learning – what’s your bucket list? Who do you want to be?

We will look at what inhibits your progress and fulfillment.  Understanding first impressions – what part of you do people see?  What’s stopping you?

Then we investigate what our BIG goals/dreams really are – what they look like/feel like and how they will embrace the new YOU.  Personal branding theory and Metaphors will be covered.

Finally, we figure out how to take action and be accountable.  And to ensure we get what we want, we define what we have to say NO to and what we need to say YES to.

The impact of the course will be sustained through a ‘buddy’ system and possibly monthly meetings so that people can share their successes and provide tips to other participants.

The course is 8:30-3:30 at the Riffa Views Golf Club, Tuesday, January 17, 2012.  BD 125.  If you are interested in joining us, please email office@beckett-mcinroy.com or call 1759 0135.

Maybe I will see you there.

About Dr. Clare

 Dr. Clare Beckett-McInroy is a Co-Active Organizational and Executive Coach, Managing Director/Senior Consultant with Beckett McInroy Consultants, President of Bizladies, Bahrain Chapter and Lecturer on the University of Strathclyde’s (U.K.) M.B.A. programme.  Clare has worked in a variety of positions including Dean of Student Affairs and Occupational Psychometrist in both the education and business sectors. 

Clare has a range of qualifications in psychometric instruments, coaching and careers education and guidance as well as a Doctorate in Education.  She has presented at numerous international universities and conferences, including Harvard University (U.S.) and The University of Manchester, (U.K.) and has published in international reference journals.  

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