I've Been on Hiatus for So LONG!!!!!

I was having a lot of trouble signing into my account/ I have been incredibly busy and time just flies by! I want to reinitiate my blog....We are planning another trip and this is a handy-dandy way to document our adventures. Expect more posts and details ASAP!

Slash, follow my new Tumblr......

http://jackanddelilah.tumblr.com/

EEEEEEEEE, lets catch-up!

and then "IMPACT!"

Here in Canada land we have a graduated licencing system, you can get a beginners (G1)when you are sixteen by writing a multiple choice test. If this is successfully completed you can drive with a (G2) driver who has completed a road test and who has five years experience. I have had my G1 for about five years and I recently booked my road test. I have been slowly gaining confidence driving. My Mom and I were cruising along in our car the other day, approaching our drive way, which is on a fairly busy road. I slowed down, put on my blinker and went to turn into my driveway when...IMPACT. Before I knew what had happened we were barrelling through a forest of spruce. I deftly maneuvered the car, narrowly missing the trunks of the old trees, instinctively slamming the brakes. I screamed, first profanities then a "mommmmmyyyy!" and a "I didn't do it!!!!!" We were showered with a spray of glass as the passenger window shattered. I quickly shut off the car at my mothers prompting and emerged. When I got out of the car and climbed the embankment to the side of the driveway I could here a steady stream of profanities coming from the forest. My mother emerged, snapping branches and shaking off glass as she yelled, as I have described it since the incident, like a banshee, a bat out of hell and a Sasquatch.

It happened so fast I could not believe what had happened. Unsure of whether to cry or swear I approached a group of my neighbours who had convened on the lawn. My mothers introduction to the new neighbours was her gone hulk, but when she caught up to us she explained "I am not always like this." A young guy approached us and explained what happened. He had been following us and a women followed him. It was said woman who was following him much too closely, and did not anticipate anyone slowing down. To avoid hitting the young guys car she swerved left clipping our Pontiac at 60 miles an hours and causing our descent into the grove of trees at the end of our lane. After two hours in minus ten weather, filling out a police report, talking to firefighters and paramedics the ordeal was not yet over but we got to go inside. The car has sadly passed into the great parking lot in the sky, so affectionately called 'Sexy Car' by my mom who acquired it after losing her Aerostar van to a similar hit from behind seven years ago.

Needless to say I am now terrified to drive, although I did yesterday at Jack's prompting to 'Get back on the horse'. As I tell him, the roads are fraught with danger and as a precautionary neither of us should ever enter a vehicle again! You cannot account for other drivers being careless on the road!

Maybe my bad luck streak will be ending soon???? I am just happy we were both o.k. and things could have been worse!

-Delilah

p.s I have pictures of the car! I will post them!

p.p.s The picture from above is by Robert Bateman a famous Canadian artist, see here for more of his work!

p.p.p.s My brothers friend Jay showed up and felt sorry for me so he gave me a deep-friend Mars bar; it was delicious, I would highly recommend it in all of its gooey fattening deliciousness.....

Roar!

My computer crashed;

I want it smashed.

I turned it on, a file popped up with a question mark,

now ain't that a lark?

I tried to find a photo of someone destroying an Apple,

to no avail...

But this picture of snowwhite is pretty cool, don't you agree?

-DDDDDDelilah!

P.S Planning a trip to Quebec city!!! Better brush up on my French! Parle Vu Francais?

LIVIN' THE LIFE AT THE U OF EARTH

       I just wanted to post some beautiful pictures my friend Brit took on a trip to Guatemala- one day I would love to visit Central and South America....too many places to see too little time!!! For now I will have to satiate that urge with looking at this pictures, closing my eyes and playing a little good ole' make believe. Brit's blog has a bunch about her trip and also some political meanderings I quite enjoyed. Check it out at Livin' Life at the U of Earth- I am also digging the name!

VOLCANO- I Love the volcano!
There is something spontaneous about this picture that I enjoy- the colour composition is very nice; the red car, the yellow wall and the nun in stride...hmmmm

This is Brit's fav picture- that sky is nothing short of absolute technicolour madness!

I am in love with this cactus pot man- I need a man like this in my life and it would be complete :) I mean Jack is pretty good and all but does he have sprouting cacti eyes? I think not!

-Delilah

 

True? Not True?

For C. Flower in response to....

    This is a pic for my most ardent reader and favorite blogger Miss C. Flower....in response to her post concerning her le petit pug Cubbie; see here...

   This young pup is Jack's fathers dog, Doug the Pug who has a prime position is Papa's wallet...I recently had the pleasure of meeting Doug on a trip to his hometown of Winnipeg- and PUGS MAKE ME HAPPY and they do look like Susan Boyle!?!? What?!?!?! I agree, it was an interesting observation. 

ENJOY and HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 

I just cannot believe it is Christmas- time is just flying!!!

Sorry the resolution is not the greatest- it is a picture of a picture done by my Mac....

Good night, D.

Three Day Road

   Life is crazy and wild and wonderful and hectic and cold...cold? Yes it is cold outside and snowy and slushy, hence there is nothing better than to curl up in bed and read a good book. With exams finally over I can read without guilt!!!! Woohoo! 

   A few months ago I read 'Three Day Road' by Joseph Boyden, representing authors of the Canadian Metis variety. I would highly highly recommend the book which follows two native Cree snipers from Moosefactory (an isolated community in Northern Ontario) to the trenches in WWI France. Normally I am not attracted to violent stories, but this historical fiction was fantastically written and entrancing is only the way to describe it. Based loosely on WWI Ojibiwa hero, Francis Pegahmagabow, Boyden chronicles with scary accuracy the triumphs and defeats experienced by Canadians stationed overseas. The psychological impact of war is explored as well as reactions to that environment, which represents a particularly moving narrative as my own Grandfather and I am sure many readers relatives experienced during the world wars. Furthermore, Boyden relates a rich history derived from his own heritage, replete with myth. 

   Since exams have ended I have picked up the second book, which is to become a trilogy, called 'Through Black Spruce'. I am pining on a warm bed and that book at the moment!

   I had an opportunity to go to a reading and to meet Boyden which was a unique experience. 

For more about Boyden and a full synopsis of his books visit his website here.

Sometime I feel like this.....

Roaming around the university in a daze amid the throngs of other 19-25 year old kids all vying to get the top grade, to graduate, to compete to get into grad school/ med school/ law school, to get a decent wage and ... and.... I love university but I hate it sometimes too.... I guess I just need to stop and think about what makes everyone unique- including myself.

-D

Dear Santa:

      All I want for Christmas is this wicked awesome owl dress (from www.etsy.com), a new ankle for mommy (hers broke), and for school to be over.... Kinda overwhelmed with essays at the moment, having a bad day; owls make me happy. I have a friend who collects owl things so everywhere I go I always get her owl paraphernalia- salt and pepper shakers; macrame wall hanging; wooden carving.... ummm thinking of more things to write to procrastinate but I had better get back to reading "Institutional Design and Democratic Consolidation in the Third World" sounds exciting doesn't it? 

-Deeeeelillllaaahhhhh

Sorry for my absence....

Been busy completing the above list:

(1) Wrote a small article and submitted some photo's [from the trip] to a magazine on campus [woohoo]

(2) Working on finishing essays; so far so good

(3) Went on a fantastic hike with Jack and my dog Jak{eeeee} today; it was fantastic weather for November so finally we got to bask in the sunlight and trek through muddy cornfields and swampy coniferous forests

(4) Have not been reading so much other than textbooks, which I devour everywhere... my history of sexuality class as some pretty scandalous chapters!

(5) Keeping myself interested- in rug hooking (I want to start!), cooking (mmmmm West African Peanut stewwwwww), the beat generation, hunting (I will explain later)

(6) Constantly dreaming- of today, tomorrow, ten years from now annnnddddd purple unicorns flying through marshmallow clouds

(7) Trying to write- anything!!!!! 

-Over and out, DDDDDDDD

Some More Pictures From Bethlehem I Have Been Meaning to Post...

      Two young boys who we met in Bethlehem in the Aida camp....their family took us into their home as guests and fed us (we tried real Palestinian olives!). The young girl in the orange was an aspiring salon stylist.... she insisted on doing my (and Margot the girl we were with) makeup and hair. I even had the veil done properly and boy...I can attest it was hot! They were absolutely amazing to us and I think of them often....especially the lovely baby whose name I cannot spell but is pronounced 'Nee-lah'....I have many interesting photo's from our day there as the boys ran off with the camera and took a million photo's, I especially like the one of their friend on the street looking up :)

-D

My New Career Path (s)....

Besides being a student that is! I have started off my own cleaning business which I call 'Green and Clean" an eco-friendly business that uses all natural products while leaving your home sparkling! It has really taken off and I have just increased my clientele to five which is sure to keep me busy. 
My happy little slogan :)

I also got a job at 'LUSH' woohoo! For the holiday season....As a teenager I made frequent trips to the city to visit what was then, the nearest Lush store. When a Lush opened up in my local mall I was surprised and delighted. Lush’s dedication to maintain ties to ideological values and business ethics are traits that I identify with and personally would like to support. These traits include; organic and vegan ingredients, no animal testing, responsible packaging, hand-made products, and other green initiatives. As a practicing vegetarian and past vegan, Lush became a natural option for me for bath and beauty products.  More recently, Lush Cosmetics innovative campaign to raise awareness about palm oil use and the effects this has on Malaysian and Indonesian rainforests is an admirable commitment. Lush’s move to eliminate the use of palm oil in their cosmetics is a responsible move when many other companies, such as Cadbury, continue to increase their use. As a political science student I am well aware of international social-political issues pertaining to this type of environmental degradation. Lush represents a viable, affordable and high quality product that acts as an alternative to companies such as Procter and Gamble and Unilever. The Charity Pot Program with proceeds going to various NGO’s, represents yet another example of an ethical company that I would like to become involved in. 

 

 

For more info. please look at:

Lush Canada

Ecosalon: The Green Gathering

-Delilah!!!!!

People always ask..."What were your favorite places on the trip?"

   Jack and I agree that it is A) Difficult to choose and B) Czech Republic! Turkey! Israel! I guess if we could choose....ummmm it would be these three.

    We did not post too much on our way back through the Czech Republic because our hosts were very magnificence and very thorough. We saw everything in their tiny town of Kopřivnice and learned so much of their Czech custom and food. We met Pavel and Lenka on a night train from Romania and on a whim (and after a bottle of white wine they shared with us) we decided to spend the last week of our trip in their home. It was one of our most memorable experiences by far!

     This is in Stramburg, after we hiked a trail to a cave where a child neanderthal skeleton was found, we headed up to this picturesque tower to watch the sunset. 
Our fire in the old quarry! Pavel and his brother Michael are in the background playing their song 'Ahojte!' and Elena roasts delicious cheese over the flames (which Jack and I later determined to be Halloumi which we have done on the BBQ at home!)

   This is the wild (WILD) hedgehog we ran into on our trek home through the dewy fields. I was in awe that he let us pick him up....Pavel's friend 'Peppa' says he knows him and sees him often in the area at night searching for bugs and slugs and whatever else hedgehogs eat. 

   Well I gotta return to school work, which is seemingly never-ending despite the fact I am part-time?!?!? Hmmmm....

Over and Out, Deeeeeeelilah

The Canoe Trip on the Magnetewan

       Yeah, I am kinda a procrastinator!!!!! But it is a new school year and I no longer have to rely on dial-up (the only internet available in the boonies where Jack and I currently reside). So I am back for good! People keep asking about updates...they say "WWHHEEENNNNNN?????" So here I am back in my old haunt, pining for the times spent on the open road and planning our next big trip!!! It won't be for a bit, but I am not going to settle for mediocrity! Period. 

   

     The camping trip went great and I finally got some photos uploaded. It was largely uneventful (many fish fry's, swimming, hikes etc...) with the exception of when our canoe tipped over when we tried to get over a beaver dam. Jack was in the back steering and I was hesitant to get my feet wet. Big Hmac (mom) was in the middle and had reassumed her roost in an orange lawn chair when it happened. Over went to boat. Luckily we had dropped off most of our supplies on shore but nonetheless I was waist high in beaver shit and not happy. Judging from the sound that came from my mouth , Jack was positive I had broken something. Thanks to my life jacket my head did not get wet, but Big Hmac went directly under and came up with a mouth full of beaver water.  

     My brother and his GF (Gypsy women as I will refer to her as due to her Hungarian gypsy heritage) could see us. We knew they were laughing. "Most likely to tip....TIPPED!" Gypsy women later sputtered as she laughed incredulously. She was merely jealous as we had dubbed our boat the 'party boat' and she was not privilaged to be part of it. 

    Anyways, I managed to navigate myself to the top of the dam and gain secure footing (after struggling to extract myself from the black sludge in which I was submerged). We got the water out of the canoe and Jack was so kind as to dive in to retrieve the orange lawn chair that had made itself comfortable at the base of the beaver home. 

    After we reunited with Daddy-O, Jake and my lil' Bro they expressed unrestrained mirth and mentioned how long it took us to get going again. Hmmmmm... I now have a personal vendetta against all beaver-kind. We then commenced the five hour canoe out to Big Bing Inle, soaking wet and quite cold. 

     I promise more stories will follow!!!!!

-Delilah

Our West Bank Excursion

   Ok. So here is the deal. After our travels I have been inspired to write. About anything. Things I know and things that are new to me. To expand my mind, to discover and rediscover. I have been thinking for awhile about writing something to submit to my favorite magazine The Walrus (a Canadian publication which is a general interest magazine dedicated to things such as politics, canadian fiction, poetry, art etc...) as well as to our student paper and on campus magazine. I think we has some unique and fantastic experiences on our trip and what better way to connect with the world than sharing through this type of media. I would love your feed back on something I am working on. This is the bare bones;  I know what I want to do with it but for starters I just sat down and wrote out what I felt and what I saw. The rest will come. 

 The day was hot. We boarded a bus outside the old city Damascus gate in Jerusalem and headed to Bethlehem. Waiting attentively, I watched as people boarded the small bus and get off once again. By the time we reached the West bank border, there was only myself, Shaun and another girl (blond, likely a tourist). The bus pulled up and we emerged into the glaring Israel sun, meters from the barricade. Looking around anxiously, I asked the blond girl if she knew where to go. Shrugging she introduced herself as Margot and we discovered we had a mutual acquaintance. Margot mentioned that she was from Switzerland and that she also aspired to journalism. 

    The three of us watched as buses rumbled past as a woman gestured us toward a door, opening to reveal a concrete passage that immediately took a sharp turn right. Shaun led the way and we walked for a few moments before reaching an open area caged by a chain link fence and sharp, twisted barbed wire. I distinctively recall a single yellow rose, in bloom, growing through the parched soil on the opposite side. Perhaps a desperate attempt to make the border crossing seem less like a cattle corral. I think that rose could be representative of the beauty and generosity that we would later experience within the confines of the wall in Bethlehem. 

   Army officials stood at attention with smug expressions as the sun formed beads of sweat on their furrowed brows. We entered another gate, again adorned with barbed wire, into the concrete slab structure that was before us. Inside the walls were glaringly white. It was a labrinth of closed doors, metal detectors and x-ray machines. Besides a few men lingering at the other side as they completed the rigorous process of exiting the compound, and the few soldiers about the place was empty. It was silent and possessed an asylum-like quality. We flashed our passports, which were not even open, to a bored looking man in the booth and continued on. Winding our way through more concrete hallways, under red flashing lights, through another chain link fence and metal enclosure we emerged into a barren parking lot. 

-Over and out, Delilah

Graffiti of West Bank Part I

    During the duration of the trip we were constantly on the look-out for great graffiti. The best place by far for this endeavor was in Bethlehem, West Bank (the Palestinian territory in Israel). Jack was in his glee snapping photos so this is the first installment here. Enjoy!

-DDDDDEEEEEE

It has been so looonnnnnggggg!

    Helloooooo out there! I realize it has been quite awhile but Jack and I were in motion, flying from Israel to Romania, taking multiple trains to the Czech countryside- where we stayed with the most amazing people ever- then travelled to Germany and flew home to Canada!!!!!

   As many of my readers might know I am a university student studying politics and history. I aspire to perhaps one day do journalism so this is my creative outlet for the moment- although I try not to get too controversial on this blog (concerning politics). Since the trip is over, after I catch up on my posts I intend to continue writing and posting so...

PLEASE KEEP READING!!!!

    I have some amazing stories to share, including one about our experience in a West Bank refugee camp, about the amazing people we met in the Czech Republic and our experience there, the 600 euro we almost scored, and much more. For the month of August we also have a big canoe trip planned for Northern Ontario so I will include tips on:

• How to bear proof your campsite
• How to clean a fish
• Idea for a tasty camping friendly meal

Anyways, I will keep posting.... Over and out,

-Delilah

Dead Sea!!!!

Took an hour bus ride to the Dead Sea. When we arrived it was soooo hot! 42 degrees celsius... so we were carefult to consume plenty of water.

Jack and I made our way down to the water (mind you- no sandy beaches just big rocks covered in crusty salt) and dipped in a te. The water was hot as well and you could see it was murky with a film of salt on the surface. When you first walk in you feel a very weird sensation as the water makes your skin feel slick or slimy. You can see Jordan enveloped in a thick haze across the sea and Jack was convinced he could float there.

Before we arrived we got a few pieces of advice from other travellers:

1. "Do not get it in your eyes! It burns like hellfire!"
2. "Do not drink the water, you'll vomit"
3. "Do not try to swim, it might splash in your eyes"
4. "Most important thing I can tell you, do not for any reason pee in the Dead Sea or open any bodily orifice for that matter! Trust me."

Luckily, Jack and I, after our two dips managed to not succumb to any urges to gargle it or pee in it! All was well!
I just wanted to include few facts about the Dead Sea as well:

• It is the lowest elevation on Earth (above water that is); and has been known as the Earths navel
• It is 8.6 times as salty as the ocean
• No animals orish can live in its environment
• The Sea level is dropping as much as 1 meter a year
• Large sinkholes form and can be dangerous near the shore due many different ecological factors

Anyways, heads up, Jack and I depart Israel tonight from the Ben Gurion airport and head back to Bucharest. The next few days we will try to scramble back to Germany...hopefully there will be many adventures in store! I will try to keep you updated....I have more exciting stories about Israel and the West Bank to come!

-Deeelllliiilllllah and Jack (who is sleeping ont he couch beside me :))

Free Tour of the Holy City

A view of the Western wall after passing all the security... A couple of orthodox Jews cruising by after a morning of prayer. If you look closely the right hand side is reserved for women. Many people leave special letters in nooks and crannies of the wall. Our guide described this as a kind of 'direct post office to God.' Also modern technology allows you to email, text message or twitter your requats to God....what is this world coming to! Do not get me to rampage about cellphones- the ban of my existence!


Anyways, Monday was free tour day! There is a company which runs free tours in Jerusalem and across many major European cities as well. It runs on a tipping basis, leave what you can afford if you enjoyed the tour.

Many of the major sites we saw included:

• The old city wall and a view of the 'new' city
• The Armenian quarter, the Christian quarter, the Arab quarter and the Jewish quarter
• The Western wall, or wailing wall which is a very important Jewish holy site
• The Dome of the Rock where Mouhammed (the Muslim prophet) ascended into heaven to barter with God
• Al-aqsa mosque
• The 13 posts, spots marked where Jebus carried the crucifix and places where he fell or his hand touched the wall
• The Church of the Holy Seplchur where Jebus is supposed to be buried and resurrected
• Mount of Olives and Mount Scopus
• Temple mount
• Tower of David
• and Much more!!!!!
  
  The Brazillian woman on the tour. When everyone in the group introduced where they were from, her son and her were quite obvious as you can see by the brazillian flag vest she is sporting. She was hilarious!She was always wandering arounf muching on falafal and blowing on that horn thing (as seen in the photo). At one point the tour guide, Kobbie, was talking and she had made friends with some young Israeli soldiers. Before we knew it she was blowing that freaking horn again! The whole time her son (in his matching Brazillian flag t-shirt) was either looking for her or snapping photos of her wailing on the horn with the city in the backdrop.
  This is a plack dedicated to George Double-yeh Bush for being such a great friend to the Israelis! It is dedicated to him for being such a 'loyal partner to the state of Israel.' One interesting thing to note in a book Jack and I are reading called, 'Power Faith and Fantasy: American Involvement in the Middle East from 1776-Present' George Bush had a great uncle, also named George Bush, who was a pro-zionist and supported the resettlement of Palestine....who woulda thought?
  

-D

Hitchiking to Jerusalem....

We set out for the holy city with our packs and two thumbs. We set out from the tip of the Sea of Galilee, or Lake Kinneret as it is known to the Israelis. After a restless night following the elderly party animals arrival, we went for a morning swim while I continued to stew. They even had the guts to invite us to coffee! Not impressed. If anyone is familiar with 'Bailey' my evil alter-ego please note Bailey was out in full force!

Anyways, made it into town after a trek up to the road and caught a ride with two young guys. Man it was hot! It was only about 8 am but we were pouring sweat. I think it was about 42 degrees celsius and humid. We walked to the edge of town to catchanother ride but we had some competition in town, as there were a few young Israelis also vying for a ride at the designated hitching spot.

"Pulled into Nazareth, I was feelin' about half past dead;I just need some place where I can lay my head."Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?"He just grinned and shook my hand, and "No!", was all he said." -The Band lyrics, The Weight [had to throw this in there, I love this song! If you have never heard it please youtube now!]

We managed to arrive in Beit Shean and waited at the junction with Nazareth. A few rides later, as the sun climbed higher and higher in the sky we found ourselves effectively stranded in the occupied territory of West Bank in front of an army base on highway 90 to Jerusalem. The one girl we were with caught a ride immediatly and we waited and munched on cookies. After a bit, a bus did arrive which was seemingly our only option as there were not very many vehicles on the road. A girl who arrived shortly after us lent us the three shekels needed to fund our ticket and we were off! Arrived in Jerusalem after a long and arduous day, completely exhausted.

Now about that Holy city...Jerusalem is one of the oldest, continuously occupied cities in the world. It is a crucial holy place for people from all three religious denominations: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In the course of it's history, Jerusalem has been destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times. So some people think it's worth killing and be killed for. Some people think it's beautiful, some say it's ugly, some say it's boring, some say it's fascinating. Some say it's holy. You can find here a mixture of people living in a harmony of love and hate to each other. Some of them say this city changed their life. Some went a little wacky.... [I will update you on mine and Jacks impressions!]

Jerusalem Syndrome is a mental illness thats onset is triggered by a visit to Jerusalem. It centres around religious delusions and psychosis, including a belief that they are the manifestation of the messiah, they represent the second coming of Christ or that God has communicated with them. If you do not believe me see Here!

Also, there is an interesting interview about the illness Here! from which the below quote has been borrowed from;

"The malady called Jerusalem Syndrome is no joke. Afflicted tourists have been found wandering in the Judean desert wrapped in hotel bed sheets or crouched at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, waiting to birth the infant Jesus."

Absolutely bizarre! Hahahahaha!

-Signing out, DDDDD