Parties

Karina's birthday party theme was 'what you always wanted to be'. Can you guess who/what we went as?

Saying farewell to Ains and Rohan....we will miss them!!
Rich, Ezra and Paulie.
Ains, Karine, Beth and I at Ains's farewell party.

Crazy Crazy Cairo.

The following pics are of our 5 days in the incredible city of Cairo.

We had no idea how claustrophobic and steep the climb to the centre of the pyramids was.

So amazing to think humans built these 4000 years ago!
Incredibly, there weren't many tourists around.

The awesome Pyramids of Giza. They are on the edge of Cairo, but from this angle they look like they are in the middle of the Sahara.

We took a 40 minute camel ride from the Pyramids to the Sphinx. So touristy, but so worth it.

On a cruise down the Nile which included dinner and entertainment.
A Whirling Dervish!
In the middle of one of the tombs at the site of Saqqara Pyramids.
In front of Saqqara Pyramid - it predates the pyramids of Giza by a century (built from 2650BC)
A sparrow sitting on a door to the afterlife. The ancient Egyptians believed that after a couple of thousand years spent in their tomb, they then ventured through this 'door' to spend the rest of their time in the afterlife. Wonder what life the sparrow is in.

It's hard to capture the sheer vastness of this city.
The Mohammed Ali Mosque from the outside.


A window.

Taxi air-conditioning
The amazing Sultan Hassan Mosque.
Such beautiful shapes and architecture within the Citadel of Saladin.
Us with the sprawling, dusty city below us.
Inside the Mohammed Ali Mosque, within the Citadel of Saladin which is in the heart of medieval Cairo.

Our lovely little table in Khan El-Khalili Bazaar - note the fresh mint for the tea. Seconds after this photo was taken, the table was filled with falafel, flat bread, hommous and lamb kofta. Delish!
Ouch.
The amazing Bazaar...we haggled for water-pipes - much fun! The markets are absolutely enormous - easy to get lost and VERY easy to spend money.
Rich sucking on a water-pipe. Apple flavour I think.
Insane traffic. There are no such things as lanes. The black and white bombs you see are taxis.

Such diverse scenery - waterfalls in County Kerry

I found a friend - he was old and alone.
On the flight home, I saw the most amazing sunset I have ever seen.
Look at the colour!

Ireland

We spent a wonderful weekend in Ireland - specifically County Kerry and County Limerick - with our friends Ewan and Karen. Beautiful countryside, beautiful pubs ;)
Outside a beautiful old manor
A lovely old Protestant church
The amazing lakes of Kilarney - like a painting.
The landscape is breathtaking.

Family dinner for Robyn and David's last night in London.
Same night
And again. A great night.

Amy, Lockie, Rich and I on new years eve, having pre-club drinks at Beth's (she's so hospitable).
Ains looking stunning with a new hair cut, and I.
Meeting my dear 'host parents' Sal and Mike from Durban, Sth Africa, for lunch in Bricklane. It was so good to see you both!!
Rich at Lords Cricket Ground, where we went on a tour with his folks.