Bruuuucccccccccccceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.......

Well hi there.
It is the day after the Bruce Springsteen concert, which was just FANTASTIC!!!!



(Acushla wasn't quite this close.... but it gives you an idea of the size of the concert.... Paul)

Scottish Highlands and Islands...... oh and England too....

So very sorry that I have been neglecting you all. I will now try to recap what has been going on for the last two weeks.....

I arrived in Scotland on Sunday. Edinburgh is a beautiful city especially the parts I was in.....
now this just shows how much I have been neglecting you.... I wrote that over a month ago and never finished it. Some time I will have to write a really long account of what I have been up to but for now I have only half a hour so I will tell you what I have been up to in the recent past.

I have spent the last week in London in a wonderful flat with some wonderful people (Frank and Jess) in a wonderful location (Pimlico right by the River Thames just down from the Britain Tate, an art gallery which houses some lovely statues and some fantastic paintings by William Turner). It's in the City of Westminster so Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey are right down the road and Buckingham Palace is around the corner....not that I have been there! NOTE I love the Tube - it is so great it will get you anywhere if you just have a little patience and a Tube map.

For the last week I have been packing my bag each day and heading out to explore the "Big Smoke". There are so SO many museums and art galleries that I really haven't go to go to all of them. Like today I went back to Trafalgar Square (I was there a couple of days ago but you really can't take in that much in just one visit so I have been returning to places like Kensington Gardens and the British Museum) and wandered around the National Gallery. My favourite part was seeing the works of Turner and Constable also the Impressionists and Van Gogh (it isn't "Va Go" even though that's how it sounds). It is really amazing to see these paintings in real life. Paintings that I have studied with Julia and Gubs (my art teachers). They always said when we were studying a painting, 'When you go and see such and such' and here I am really seeing these paintings up close!! It is so great!!!
Now I know, not just believe, that it is real that so many years ago Turner put paint to canvas and created 'Rain, Smoke and Speed'. It makes history so real. You can see proof of history all around you when you are in London. I love it. I then went to the National Portrait Gallery where I saw lots of famous people most of whom are dead now. It was great to see portraits of past kings and queens, once againg it makes the past real not just a story in a book or dates on a page but a physical thing that has lasted through the generations. It was nice to place the different people to an era especially all the scientists who made such amazing discoveries in the Victorian era. I get to use all sorts of things that I have learnt in school or through books or what people have told me when I remember what so and so did. For example Leonardo da Vinci or Michael Faraday.

Just to let you know that I am very happy at the moment and having a great time. I was in a blue patch last week but that is just the way travelling goes - you take all of it on, the good and the not so great. I love and miss every single one of you and hope that some day you will be able to have an adventure like mine.

All my love Acushla.

P.S. If you don't send me your addresses I can't send you a post card. So please email your address AND POST CODE (somebody gave me their adress with no post code which isn't particularly useful).
P.P.S. You might like to know that I get reminded of you when I listen to certain songs - Sasha when ever Jack Johnson comes on. (sorry I have to go!)
Bye! xoxoxo

Scotland

Just a note to say.... I am well and safe, having a great time in Scotland.  I'll write more when I have time (maybe tomorrow or Friday), as for now, I'm off to the pub.
'loves youse alls loads' (she slurs),

Cush.

England

What to say?
I arrived at Heathrow and had no problems going through. I had to go up and ask if I was allowed to bring in dates and other organic material that you could never get into Australia, but unless you've got too many kilogrammes of cigarettes or too much alcohol they don't care and waved me through. I met Polly who is really nice. We then took the Tube into London. As soon as we got out of the station you knew you were in London - everything about the place screams ENGLAND! The funny houses, the people running around in big coats, the 'Tube' and even the stop signs are English. The weather where everyone said it was lovely, sunny and mild, but I still had on 3 jumpers. (I am actually getting used to the climate and am only wearing one jumper). Polly's family are so lovely. The next day Polly helped me open up bank accounts and do all the paperwork that needed doing. We also just 'walk(ed) the streets of London'. We went to Hamleys toy shop which was so cool. People were paid to play with toys all day and there was like six floors each one for a different kind of toy - "Boys", "Girls", "Soft Toys", "Games" etc...
We also went to Libertys (Maddy you may have to come to London for the fashion).
We went to Piccadilly Circus and saw Eros. Then to Kings Cross railway station and St Pancras which Polly is very proud of. It is a lovely station and a real effort was put into restoring it - it does look really lovely. We had quite a busy day and got lots done.
That night we had some more family over for dinner - more lovely people. And, as it is the show to watch here, Polly, Jamie and I watched "The Apprentice" the first bit of TV I have watched since leaving Australia.

On Thursday I caught a train up to Skegness to see Grandma and Grandpa Burden. That is where I am now just looking around the local towns. Today we are going off to Lincoln if the weather will let us.

I really like it here - everything is just so different. And it is great to just hang out with Grandma and Grandpa.
Love you all lots,
Acushla

Egyptian Deserts

I have so much to catch up with..... where to start? I left you on the shores of the Mediterranean in Alexandria. From there I travelled all day by public bus (it was fine - clean and not too crowded) heading out to Siwa Oasis in the Sahara Desert. I haven't told you about Kasia, a wonderful girl who is in the group that joined us in Cairo, she is sooo nice we get on so well. In fact all the people in my group are just lovely, absolutely marvellous people. We went out for dinner to a restaurant that was on the second floor of the building so we were eating amongst the tops of palm trees -I had the most beautiful vegetable stew. Esam was telling us about the Siwan people and their traditions and their way of living.

The next day Katherine, Kasia and I took a donkey cart out to Cleopatra's Bath. When the main form of transport is donkey there is a whole new concept of time - everything happens at a slower pace and to the clip clop of donkeys' hooves. Cleopatra's Bath is not as romantic as it sounds - it is a hot pool in the middle of the road and it is as if you are swimming in the middle of a roundabout. As it was early morning we were the only ones which was great fun as I just love water and swimming. At midday we headed back into town to go on a jeep safari into the desert.

The desert is absolutely amazing so vast and beautiful. A very deep beauty, nothing to do with typical beauty or what we are told is beautiful, just sheer brilliance. It is all created by Nature alone - Man had nothing to do with it.... only the force of Nature itself. The part of the desert we were in was once, a very long time ago, a sea so you can find seashells in the middle of the desert.

We went sand boarding which was good fun and then watched the sunset which was just a beautiful experience. So many emotions wash over you as you watch the sunset in such an amazing place; sadness, joy, happiness, contentment, loneliness, love.
We went back to Siwa where we had dinner and then some of us went shopping. When we went back to the hotel we all ended up in Meg and Belles' room showing off our goods and chatting until midnight. Once again I have to repeat how wonderful my group is!

The next morning I woke up early enough to hear the call to morning prayers (around 4 :30 am) then watched the sunrise from the roof. It was beautiful watching the world slowly wake and the sun push itself over the tops of the palm trees. All the roosters were out trying to out crow one another. Solitary people walk the streets, women fully covered, men with their donkeys and there I was at the top of the hotel wrapped up in my blanket gazing over the village.
That day was a huge travel day - we went from Siwa to Bawity stopping along the way to see some amazing things . We saw what must have been a reef when the desert was covered with water and a helicopter that had crashed during the war (just like the plane in the"English Patient" - I have just started reading that book on the aeroplane... it is interesting to read about the people and the places you have just been visiting).

The next day we travelled further into the desert visiting the Black Desert, the Crystal Mountain, and then on to an amazing spot that looked out over all these hills. It was so amazing it looked like the landscape from some sci-fi movie. The colours were fantastic, pale yellows and peach and a wash of different blues. When we got back in the car it wouldn't start.....
we had got bogged in the sand before but after getting out and giving it a push the car would be on it's way again, but not this time! The battery was flat and no one had brought the jumper leads. You feel so alone in the middle of the desert with a car that won't start! Don't worry.... we swapped the battery from the other car started our car and then swapped them back. It really did feel like we were in an episode of "Bush Mechanics" (if you remember that show) where they make brakes out of wood and use whatever they can find to fix their car. We stopped at a oasis to watch the sunset then drove into the White Desert to camp the night.


The White Desert is amazing!!!!! Tall pillars of white rock reflect the light and as it was a full moon that night they were all lit up and you could wander through the desert by moonlight. It was fantastic to stroll by yourself in such a vast place. The desert stretched as far as you could see on every side.
I woke the next morning and me and my sleeping bag went and watched the sunrise. I will never get sick of watching sunrises - they are so amazing every single one. It is such a great time to have by yourself or to share with loved ones. We explored the White Desert and then headed back to Bawity.

When we got to Bawity we were meant to travel on to Cairo that day but Esam told us that there had been a massive protest see this news paper and no one was allowed in or out of the town. All the tourists in the town who had tried to leave the day before couldn't get out. So what we did was we hired three jeeps, one was a scout and the rest of us were in the other two, and then we passed around the blockade by crossing the desert! In fact we were smuggled out of Bawity! It was quite exciting. We finally made it to Cairo in the afternoon.

It was our last night together so Esam took most of us out into Islamic Cairo where they do the Sufi dancing. It was fantastic - the music was great. I was sitting there with a massive grin on my face. I can't believe that they can spin for that long - it is amazing. And the other dancers were so light on their feet they really did seem to glide across the stage.

That night we said our goodbyes which was really sad. But luckily most of us saw each other over the next two days. A small group of us went to the citadel and also back to Islamic Cairo to try out our haggling skills at the market. That was great fun. It is such a game and quite fun to play once you know that it's ok to do so. (I felt so embarrassed at first). I had to change hotels that night.

Next day, my last in Cairo, I spent wandering around. I strolled along the Nile then did some sketching in the museum hanging out there for a couple of hours. I then went back to the market for some very last minute buys and then went out to dinner one last time with Kasia. The last dinner I had in Cairo was almost the same as the first, a strange mixture of pasta noodles, beans, lentils, tomato sauce and fried onions. Very nice.

I flew out of Cairo on Tuesday - a great flight. It was great to know that the last Egyptian I met - a steward on the plane- thought that my smile was so sweet that that was why he came over and talked to me (he was actually very nice and gave me a handful of chocolates - mummy-shaped and specially made for Egypt Air). I arrived in London safely but will have to tell you all about that later because I have been typing for over 2 hours now.

I love you lots. Please keep sending me emails I want to know what you're all up to!!
Love Acushla.

PS: Has anybody heard from Erik? Is he ok? I haven't heard from him in ages. Please let me know if he is ok, thanks.
Peace...over and out, Cush.

Alexandria

Hi all long time no type.
So much to tell but only 15 minutes until my time runs out so here I go. Deep breath....
Right now I am back in Cairo - this is my last day and I intend to wander around the Egyptian Museum again in the afternoon. A massive thanks to all for the lovely emails I got, it makes me so happy to read about what you are all doing. When I last wrote I was on my way to Alexandria which was loads of fun. I wandered around the streets and hung out in the great library for the whole afternoon. The library just opened in 2006 - it is huge, so full of knowledge and potential. It was great to sit down and watch all the students studying and learning things I know nothing about chatting away to each other, just being normal people, doing everyday things. The hotel we stayed at was right next to the Mediterranean Sea. It gave me a thrill just being near a sea that has so many stories to tell. From the great voyages of the Greeks and Romans, to the civilisations that have lived by it. And just on the other side of that great expanse of water is Greece, Italy, Turkey, France and Spain.
It is interesting, Alexandria is more famous for its people and stories then the monuments that are still standing today. It is a new city with a great shadow.. everything seems to echo the past. The ancient light house and the great library are both gone, buried under the new city. Even the great writers, poets and artists that were all to drawn to Alexandria are gone, but yet their spirits linger. I can see even now, why they were pulled here. It is hard to explain but being in Alexandria makes me want to read great works and to write poetry, to "learn and keep on learning". To absorb the beauty of things to be creative. I don't know why.. if it is the sea that is still the center of life. Not only does it feed us fresh and beautiful sea food, but it has it's own life force. Everybody is drawn to it. To walk, sit, fish, chat by the sea. 'Lovers hand in hand' stroll down the lane of oblivion, their eyes reflecting the moon.'
TTFN (ta, ta, for now)
Cush

Luxor and the Valley of the Kings

I'm now in Luxor.

This morning I woke up at 3:30am to go hot air ballooning.. it was fantastic. Floating through the air as the sun rose, looking out over the Valley of the Kings. A couple of us got a guide for the day to show us around the Valley of the Kings and to tell us about the pictures on the walls of the tombs. I'm so glad that we did as she was fantastic and it was great to go into a temple and look at a picture and hear that the lotus represents love, life and happiness - so these two people must be getting married if they're giving each other a lotus flower. Things like that are so much fun to know, even a little bit, being able to understand and figure out the meaning of things increases your appreciation of what's around you.

The colours are amazing as well. To think that they have survived so many years - all the tombs date from BC so they are far over 2000 years old.
It's crazy here - money seems to slip through your fingers and everything sounds outrageously expensive until you convert it back to Australian currency. For instance I spent 100 le (local Egyptian pounds) on tomb entrance fees today which feels like a lot but is only $A 20and that was to go into 5 tombs.


We have spent the last couple of days sailing down the Nile on a felucca which was so much fun! Just sitting and lazing around. I SWUM IN THE NILE!! it was freezing but so nice. As always I was the first one in and the last one out - are you sure I'm not a Pisces? I just love rivers. Swimming in them, living by them, floating down them.
The best bit was that in our first night we made anchor near a Nubian village and all the little children came out to sell us things. I had so much energy left over (all I had done all day was sit on a boat) I asked if they had a foot ball. They did and so we played football (soccer) until there was no more light to see by. Then the girls taught me how to play hand games like clapping and I taught the little girls to play "Ring a Ring a Rosies" (which they loved) and the game where you put one hand over the other and make a big tower of hands. That is the best part of travelling meeting people and just talking and playing with them. I have met a lot of people and so many of then are lovely. It is great to find out things about their family and the education system - just anything.

Got to go.... ran out of time.... love you all loads and really, extremely love hearing from you all.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE send me some emails I never find them boring and even though I don't get to respond to them all I appreciate all the kind words and love to know that people are thinking of me. For i think of you all.
All my love as ever, Acushla