Thursday 27-9-07
Opening doors a
cool morning awaited us. We only now saw
where we had camped the night. A wide dry
field. Nature has shown its
profusion
during spring and summer, now in autumn, the
grass is dry. Over summer, flowers became
seeds, now life retreats back
into the
roots, to wait out the cold windswept
winter. But one day in coming spring
the sun will spread the warmth again,
awakens
all who could not migrate south to warmer regions, but had to
endure the
cold. Then the land will be filled with
flowers, insects and
chirping birds again.
Last day in Turkey
the last top up 73 liters diesel, US$ 130.- that
is B$ 200.-
The border control was fast and efficient.
The Green card is valid one month, cost B$
250.- And the good news, JAMBO got resident
permit for Europe of a half year. By 26/3/08
the vehicle has to be out of the EU. That
fit our time plan to travel back home to Brunei.
Leaving the border we drove the
Highways westbound until late
afternoon when reaching the
Thessaly plains and METEORA, famous
for his monasteries, build high up on the sandstone
formations.
Thessaly
in Greece
see the Tourists busloads arriving?
"Here
on those barren rocks, thousands of orthodox
ascetic monks,
have learned to be wise in thought and
humble in will"
These monks have forsaken the world and
retired into the peace and quietness of such
a monastery. Many travelers found here
spiritual refreshment. and inner
peace. Sin (negative thoughts and emotions
like greed, lust, aggression) is driven out and
personalities are formed. Hermitages existed
already in the 11th century in Meteora,
monks were living in caves or small cells.
The
monasteries were build later. It strikes
me that whether Islam our religion, Buddhism
or Christianity, the way to the Almighty is
never
the turbulent life, but rather prayer
and meditation. "Coming here" I read "The
visitor or pilgrim is usually completely preoccupied
with
external affairs and the life of
nature, without taking a single step in the
direction of learning the secrets of the
soul."
Why does the world then run after money and material gain 8 hours a day,
7 days a week with little time for reflection?
As we
have seen before, lots of tourists come and
visit the place. Busload by
Busload, dressed decently this time as
otherwise they
are not permitted to enter.
Women have to wear a scarf. Some 800
years these monasteries exist and look today
as if newly build.
Carved wood, gilded
screens, and the marvelous icons, all
products of skillful hand. Wondering, the
tourist walk the permitted stairs
and alleys, flickering lights come from candles and lamps and somehow involuntarily
they whisper words of prayer. And after a such
a hasty group
visit, they go on with their holiday. Next
town, next site to be visited, they paid
for the rush.
In old days whoever wanted to enter a
monastery, was
pulled up by a rope. No other access was
possible. Food came the same way.
That made
people think twice before visiting. How many
prayers went up into the sky while the
visitor was hanging a 100 m aloft in a
net. Shaky holding himself onto and
thinking: "My life hangs on a tread". How
true it was.
Today bridges and comfortable stairs make a
visit easy.
We settled for the night in a camping ground
under the cliffs which had warm shower. Yes
that is something to report to you. After
almost 4 1/2 month on tour, one gets
humble; hot shower is special! Walking later along the road there
was a grill fire next by, the
smell of
sausages in the air, that made us to sit
down and order one. When it came, the
sausage skin was hard and bone-dry.
Harun: "Waiter!
"Voriste parakalo? "(What is it
please?)" Your sausage must have
been on the grill since 1964!" "What?"
" The skin
is hard like tortoise shell." "What
sell? I no buy nothing".
Harun
took the sausage and knocked on the edge of
the table. "You see it no breaks it is
hard!" Now understanding he became stiff
like a soldier on rapport or the sausage
itself:
"This is how we Greek eat the sausage!" "Mr.
Chef" said Harun, "the skin is so strong,
we can patch up our Africa tires, if you
only have a glue." Paying half price,
we packed out and went to bed.
Friday 28-9-07
It was a sunny
morning. We made a few more photo and
were on our way westwards to Igomenitsa the
departure port. It was a
beautiful autumn
day. The air was cool and the view
spectacular. Thessaly must be nice to hike.
Only part of the
East- West Highway through Macedonia is
ready. Therefore we went for hours mountain
passes up and down into
valleys with
trickling streams Honey sellers, fruit stalls,
Sheep and Sheppard (with mobile
phone).
Farmers roadside stalls will
soon have no business anymore once the
highway is completed. We reached Igumenitsa
town and port
by afternoon. The ship was to
sail by 7:00 pm and will be in Bari/Italy,
in the morning. Rather slowly. But never
mind, we have the
time of a whole night.
Dear reader you might miss Greece in the
story. but we rushed trough. On our way home
to Brunei we touch the history of this
great
nation.
port of Igumenitsa
sailing into the night and Italy
Loading JAMBO
into the ferry, we went to our cabin. Sitting
here writing this words I keep reflecting.
Actually I do not know if we were
"brave" what many people commented. Never I had any doubt, that we will not make it trough this
tormented continent, called Africa.
Troubles and worries we had yes, but all
were solved. Good times were too, especially
when alone in the desert.
Often we had been asked, the last
time today, with surprise "You did this trip
alone? With one car? Promoting your country?
You are
very brave!" I do not think that is
he answer, rather good planning and the
smell for brewing trouble, this sixth sense
helps much. And
then off course treat the
people as your brothers with friendliness.
Be it a Policeman or custom officer. And if
possible be as clever as
the crook. Do not
give him chances. The Namibia credit card incident was a
costly lesson. But as you know SCB helped
tremendously.
Closing my eyes in a bunk bed, Harun was
still working, I remembered the day when we
left Brunei. My family and friends were at
the
Brunei airport as well as our Tourism boss and staff. All kind to
come for the farewell. Great people they are
and soon we see them
again.
Monotone the ship engine rumbled and slowly I drifted into
the sleep.
And
you, dear reader if you like to come along, then
you got to click Italy.
Sponsors
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BRUFA |
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R.A.C
Technologies Sdn Bhd * Mr Chua
Min Chu * Decorbuilt Sdn Bhd |
Energy
Heavy Equipment Sdn Bhd *
Pro-Builder Sdn Bhd * AEBY Sdn Bhd |
Low San Hardware * Resmi Jaya
* Sin
Hup Huat Tyre |
Supported by Tourism Board, Ministry
of Industry & Primary Resources
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