「海巿蜃楼」与「沙漠綠州」 / Mirages and Oases

When I was in North Africa, I really wanted to visit the desert. I was told the vast sea of sand can be very inhospitable and would destroy those who dare to venture in unprepared. And yet, despite the harsh conditions, nomad peoples have roamed the desert, survive and thrive there for thousands of years.

I was also told that in the desert, on could see mirages, the meaning of which is 「海巿蜃楼」in Chinese - an illusion, something unattainable. But I am not so sure if mirages are that unreal and people chasing them are fools. While 「海巿蜃楼」seem far away and often disappear as one gets closer, they reflect none-the-less what people desire, a beautiful home, a grand hotel, or perhaps an oasis.

The desert is beautiful but she needs people to appreciate her beauty, for beauty is in the eyes of the beholders. To people chasing mirages: Oases might take time to build in a desert, but they are real, can be done, and don't you let anyone tell you otherwise.

Photo: I took this pic from the roof-top of the riad I was staying in during my trip to Morocco.

Related links:
* 「兩週一聚: 色彩」之【摩洛哥】 / 「Bi-weekly Series: Colour」【Morocco】 http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2009/01/bi-weekly-series-colourmorocco.html
* 旅遊摩洛哥: 一些心得丶意見丶資料 / Travel to Morocco: Some experience, suggestions, and information http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2009/01/travel-to-morocco-some-experience.html

摩洛哥烹飪 / Moroccan Cookery / La Cuisine Marocaine (translated from French to English)

(La version française disponible au: http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2009/04/moroccan-cookery-la-cuisine-marocaine.html )

When I was in Morocco, I ate all the time. The Moroccan meals were so fantastic, delicious and irresistible: Traditional harira soup with lentils or chick-peas, couscous with seven vegetables, chicken tagine with pears, meat tagine with onions and tomatoes, seafood pastilla, and many other familiar dishes.

For desserts and pastries, my favourite was bastella. One can serve it in two ways: either with milk (traditional way of preparation), or with a very light pastry cream.

Regarding the menu price at a restaurant, a complete meal (table d'hôte) usually costs less than dishes ordered separately (à la carte). But, think twice if you are on a diet!!

People who would like to learn how to cook Moroccan food may take cooking classes offered locally. For me, I was member of a program organized by Ms. Diane Seed who is a chef living in Rome, Italy. During the one week program, I was able to learn many techniques and methods of Moroccan cooking.

Well, enjoy your meal!!!

For more information, please visit Diane Seed's“Adventures Gourmet” websites at:
* Outside Italy: Marrakech, North India, South India, Greek Island Idyll Sifnos;
* Within Italy: Rome, Puglia, Amalfi Coast, Sicily.

References:
* Diane Seed Cooking School and Gourmet Tours http://www.italiangourmet.com/cookingschool.php
* "Morocco" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morocco
* "Moroccan Cuisine" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuisine_of_Morocco

摩洛哥烹飪 / Moroccan Cookery / La Cuisine Marocaine

(English version: http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2009/04/moroccan-cookery-la-cuisine-marocaine.html)

*** (Updated 2009-04-13) Acknowledgement: Michelle, thank you for your input !! ***

Quand j'étais au Maroc, j'ai mangé pendant des heures. Les repas marocains étaient fantastiques, délicieux et irrésistibles: La harira classique aux lentilles, la harira aux pois-chiches, le couscous aux sept légumes, le tajine de poulet aux poires, le tajine de viande aux oignons tomates, la pastilla aux fruits de mer, et les autres plats familiaux.

Pour les desserts et pâtisseries, ma préféré est la bastela au lait. On peut garnir cette bastela de deux façons: soit au lait (préparation classique), soit avec une crème pâtissière très légère.

En ce qui concerne le prix du restaurant, un repas complet coûte, comme d'habitude, moins cher que les plats séparés à la carte. Mais, soyez prudent(e) si vous êtes au régime !!

Pour les gens qui aiment faire la cuisine Marocaine, vous pouvez suivre des cours locaux. Moi, j'étais un membre d'un programme organisé par Mme. Diane Seed, une cuisinière qui demeure à Rome en Italie. Pendant une semaine, j'ai appris beaucoup de techniques et méthodes de la cuisine Marocaine.

Alors, bon appétit !!!

Pour plus des renseignements, veuillez visiter le site web de Diane Seed "Gourmet Adventures":
* Outside Italy: Marrakech, North India, South India, Greek Island Idyll Sifnos;
* Within Italy: Rome, Puglia, Amalfi Coast, Sicily.

Références:
* Diane Seed Cooking School and Gourmet Tours http://www.italiangourmet.com/cookingschool.php
* Le Maroc http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maroc
* La Cuisine Marocaine http://www.cuisine-marocaine.net/

旅遊摩洛哥: 一些心得丶意見丶資料 / Travel to Morocco: Some experience, suggestions, and information

Is Morocco a safe place to visit?

There are always risks involved with travelling abroad. Some of the more dangerous places I've been to are actually in north America e.g. east end of Vancouver, 49th Street of old Manhattan, and the 'combat zone' of Boston.

Morocco is relatively safe if you exercise the normal precautions as you should when travelling overseas. These include, among other things:

* Don't put yourself into a high risk situation such as taking an unlicensed taxi;
* Stay in the main tourist areas;
* Deal with legitimate local tour guides/companies (so your names are recorded somewhere);
* Put your passport and other valuables in a hidden pouch close to your body/chest;
* Never flesh money, expensive cameras, and jewelry around;
* Keep abreast of any security, health/medical, and other important issues of the region;
* Pay attention to personal hygiene (e.g. Don't use tap water to wash your contact lens or eyes; use only bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth, etc);
* Before leaving home, read several good guidebooks abt the country and region;
* Don't forget to purchase your trip cancellation, health/medical, travel and other insurance BEFORE your trip. Read the fine prints of your contract as to what are covered and what are exempted. Be prepared for emergency situations, esp if you plan to go off the beaten tracks.

In Morocco, female travelers should dress modestly in public places e.g. avoid tank tops, low-cut dresses, body-tight clothing, short shorts, and stilettos. Try to blend in with the locals (no expensive Gucci please). Strangers may try to talk to you. It is not impolite to just shake your head, ignore them and keep on walking, unless you really want to buy their goods or services, or strike up a conversation.

Morocco is an exciting place to visit. I think if one takes the normal precautions and is aware of the local culture and traditions, as well as security, health/medical, and other important issues, then there should be no problems. The best for single female travelers is to join a tour group organized by a licensed and legitimate company.

For more info, please consult the following websites:

(1) "Peregrine Adventures": This is an Australia-based company that has local tour guides in different parts of the world. I was quite happy with the Classic Tour group that I had joint in Casablanca. This tour company appears to be quite popular with many single female travelers from Australia. You may wish to ask you own travel agent to make the booking with Peregrine.

Classic Tour (8 days, 5 cities & 1 village, not a loop trip): http://www.peregrineadventures.com/Middle-East/Trip/Overview.html?trip=Classic-Morocco&tripid=1957

Other tours in Morocco: http://www.peregrineadventures.com/Middle-East/Country/View-All-Trips.html?country=Morocco&countryid=164&SEARCH_TYPE=trip_search

(2) Frommer's Morocco (Feb 2008 edition): This is an online book with 448 pages of updated information.
http://books.google.ca/books?id=yf7f9ZrumucC&dq=Frommer

(3) "Imagine le Voyage": This is a Marrakech-based local tour company that is recommended in Frommer's Morocco. Don't expect five stars service, but by local standard, it's reasonable. I made the travel arrangements by visiting their Marrakech office and talking to them in person. The operators speak English, French and Arabic.
http://www.saharaexpe.ma/

Disclaimer: The above must not be considered as professional travel advice. Please consult your travel agent or someone knowledgeable before making any decisions.

「兩週一聚: 色彩」之【摩洛哥】 / 「Bi-weekly Series: Colour」【Morocco】

Further to my previous blog article " 「兩週一聚: 色彩」之【從灰色走出來】 / 「Bi-weekly Series: Colour」【Coming Out of the Grey】, here are some colourful photos I took during my vacation to Morocco back in October/November 2008. I think they fit well with the main theme "colour" which can mean 地方色彩 local colour; 感情色彩 emotional colour; and 文學色彩 literary flavour. I hope you will enjoy all the different vivid local colours 鮮豔本地色彩 of Morocco.


Photo above / 以上图片: A fabric and carpet shop in Morocco

Photo above / 以上图片: Believe it or not, the fabric is made out of cactus silk !!!

Photo above / 以上图片: These are traditional lady slippers hand-made out of leather.

Photo above / 以上图片: Outfit of all colours for Moroccan women (and men too).

Photo above / 以上图片: More clothes made from cactus silk

Photo above / 以上图片: I really like the different shapes and shades of leather lamps, hand-made in Morocco of course.

Photo above / 以上图片: These are metal oil lamps hand-made and hand-painted by artisans in Morocco.

Photo above / 以上图片: You can tell I like the colourful fabric.

Photo above / 以上图片: Morocco is famous for the use of different spices for cooking. Anyone who has been to a souk (market) which is often inside a medina (walled part of an old city) will recognize the cone-shaped heaps in a spice shop.

Photo above / 以上图片: I took this picture inside a spice and herb shop in the souk next to Djemaa el Fna in Marrakesh, Morocco. I believe these are bottles of oil for traditional healing purpose.

Related link:

(1) More colourful photos can be found at:
* 旅遊摩洛哥 – 藝術品 / Road to Morocco – Les Objets d’Art
http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2008/12/road-to-morocco-les-objets-dart.html
* 旅遊摩洛哥 - 卡薩布蘭卡的沙灘 / Road to Morocco - Beach near La Corniche, Casablanca http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2008/11/road-to-morocco-beach-near-la-corniche.html

(2) Here is my first article for this round of Bi-weekly Series:
「兩週一聚: 色彩」之【從灰色走出來】 / 「Bi-weekly Series: Colour」【Coming Out of the Grey】 http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2009/01/bi-weekly-series-colourcoming-out-of.html

「兩週一聚: 色彩」之【從灰色走出來】 / 「Bi-weekly Series: Colour」【Coming Out of the Grey】

上次寫完「兩週一聚」之【我的蘇俄女兒】後,我答应小珠姐今篇不会是寫灰色的人生故事,所以這半個月中,我驅使腦子儘向好処想,找尋有色彩的主題。在積極態度的影響下,我心眼客覌鏡中自己的影像,不禁自嘲說: 『其實你不用出外探索,只需要看看自己,你的人生經驗不就是一個主題嗎?俺旅途是有高低起落,但積聚的欢樂時光倒也是不少,雖不是燦爛絕頂,但也不是平平無奇,可說是畧有色彩罷。』這話倒是說得沒錯,比較世界角落的貧苦大众和慘經戰亂的難民,我們是幸運得多了,起碼是有瓦頂遮頭,屋內有电和自來水,日有三歺,還有這上網用的玩意兒。在灰色的沈霧中,我們看不清楚過往丶現在丶將來,但决意從灰色走出來,人生的色彩就会從心眼中顯現出來了!!!

Related Links:

(1) 【心眼 / In My Mind's Eye】 http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2007/02/in-my-minds-eye.html

(2) “... 瞎了心眼 ...” 【花開堪折直須折,莫待無花空折枝 (四) / Reminiscing in Front of a Closed Door (Part 4)】 http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2007/03/reminiscing-in-front-of-closed-door_02.html

(3) NEW: My second submission with many colourful photos: "「兩週一聚: 色彩」之【摩洛哥】 / 「Bi-weekly Series: Colour」【Morocco】 http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2009/01/bi-weekly-series-colourmorocco.html "

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其他網友文章:

(Host for Jan 15th) Mad Dog http://dorablahblah.blogspot.com/2009/01/blog-post_15.html

cosmicrays

Haricot

Haricot (images) http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2009/01/bi-weekly-series-colourmorocco.html

The Man Who Loves Everton

Mr. Stone

Sherry

周游

木棉_簡單快樂 http://leaflai.blogspot.com/2009/01/blog-post_14.html

芸

uncle ray

醫書直說

揚眉女子

mugen c

GwenandIan

michelle

LCL

lomichee

athrunz

readandeat

hongkieatlarge

孜媽


下一期...

「兩周一聚」第七期題目 (一月三十日)：「旅遊」 - 任何與旅遊有關的東西均可。(由石先生出題)

Road to Morocco - Belly Dancer / 摩洛哥的肚皮舞孃

YouTube video:

The video was taken in November 2008 during my trip to Morocco. The belly dancer was accompanied by a group of traditional musicians. The audience really enjoyed their performance. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3vXIVzWSZc)

風騷的肚皮舞孃:

有人会問,回敎國家這樣保守,婦女在公众場所都不能拋頭露面丶露腿丶露膊,為什么又会容許近半裸的肚皮舞孃在外籍遊客前大演風騷,甚至請我這滿臉通紅的男賓上臺共舞呢?

其實在一些較保守的伊斯蘭社会,女人只可以在自己丈夫或金蘭姊妺面前跳肚皮舞,但摩洛哥深受西班牙和法國政治文化影響,再加上旅遊業是主要外滙收入來源之一,故此國家未有立令取締這娛樂行業,而我也沒有被投入本地囚牢。

在回教國家中,摩洛哥对外地旅客是較為「開放」,但勿忘他們的家庭倫理,男女性別丶覌念丶和界限,基本上仍是依據可蘭經和傳統宗敎教義而定斷。所以入國問禁,入鄉隨俗,有意与本地人作「深一層」了解的炎皇子孫們,除非您也是回教徒,能夠明白丶融合丶和接受(与被接受)摩洛哥的宗教丶風俗丶文化丶政制,否則我提議您最好還是三思而行!!

My responses to your comments

Gwen and Ian + Michelle:

Thank you for your comments !!!

Haricot

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Here are the relevant articles:

"鹹水中文 / "Lightly-Salted" Chinese":

"訓練跑馬拉松 / Training for a Marathon"

"旅遊摩洛哥 - 卡薩布蘭卡的沙灘 / Road to Morocco - Beach near La..."

"The Art & Science of Blogging for Beginners"

"威尼斯式面具 5"

"Pictures of Venice / 水城「威尼斯」照片"

"東西文化思想衝突 / Cultural Differences"

旅遊摩洛哥 – 藝術品 / Road to Morocco – Les Objets d’Art

Morocco is a country permeating with exotic sight, sound and smell. During my stay, I visited the cities as well as the countryside and had many opportunities to take photographs and videos of places, people and objects. I am sharing with you here some of my favourite objets d’art pictures. I hope you enjoy them !!!

旅遊摩洛哥: 地图 / Road to Morocco: Google Map - Beach near Boulevard de la Corniche, Casablanca, Morocco

Here is the Google map that shows the location of the beach mentioned in my previous article.


View Larger Map

旅遊摩洛哥 - 卡薩布蘭卡的沙灘 / Road to Morocco - Beach near La Corniche, Casablanca

The weather was cool, the beach windy and the sea rough when these pictures were taken. But I thoroughly enjoyed the walk on the beach, listening to the waves rushing up and down the coast line and feeling the fine sand shifting under my feet. The sky resembled a giant oil canvas, with patches of deep blue being painted over by wisps of white clouds. Rain showers could be seen in the distance and there was a long arc of rainbow on the horizon, with perhaps a pot of gold hidden somewhere in the Medina, the walled quarter of Casablanca. Amidst the drizzle, amorous young couples were seen walking hand-in-hand, enjoying their privacy away from the prying eyes of elders in the city. Young soccer players kicked their ball and laughed, their youth energy merged with the blowing wind on this cool winter day, the joyful moment forever captured through the eyes of the photographer.

攝影图片: These photos were taken on Nov 2, 2008 near La Corniche, Casablanca, Morocco, under cloudy condition. Please double-click to enlarge pictures and see details in higher resolution.

My Responses to Your Comments Oct 31-Nov 24 inclusive (With Thanks !!)

"「兩周一聚: 我有一部時光機」之【紅髪女孩】/ 【The Red Hair Girl】: Bi-we...":

新鮮人 + Michelle: I was going to leave the story at just that, but perhaps a sequel is in order.

Xiao Zhu: Thanks !!

Mugen: As people say, the story writes itself (spooooky !!)

啤酒花™_J: Here is another pic from the backyard !!

imak: The next installment will be the last :)

The Man Who Loves Everton: I will take your suggestions into consideration with some upcoming stories in the 兩周一聚 series. Thx !!!

Hyacinthus: There is no doubt in the story that Ken loves his wife.

"「兩周一聚: 我有一部時光機」之【紅髪女孩 (續集) 】 / 【The Red Hair Girl ...":

The Man Who Loves Everton: Yep !! That was a Halloween special for everyone. Glad you enjoy the story :)

Michelle: Thx !! Oui, le Canada est un pays bilingual :)

新鮮人: To tell you the truth, I don't really know the name of the wild berries in the picture.

Hyacinthus: "... 物競天擇 ..." Now that is an interesting perspective you have introduced into this story !!! It is my understanding that in the animal kingdom, nature usually favours the female whose role is to reproduce the species (that's why women generally live longer than men!!). The role of the male is just to "facilitate" the procreation process. If that's the case, maybe the red-head should have lived on. Perhaps that will be a sequel for next Halloween ;-)

啤酒花™_J: What you are inferring - a designed universe - is different from the evolutionary world 物競天擇 as seen by Darwin. However, I do find the classic line poetic: There is a time/season for everything.

啤酒花™_J: Hold your horses !! I am not sure if those wild berries are edible and I am not willing to bet my life on it (for fear of being eliminated in the Darwinian process).

"秋日隨筆: 民風 ∕ Fall 2008: Thoughts on Civil Society":

新鮮人: 為了要減消這"背道而馳"的逆勢,我相信教育是很重要,就像近十年的環保運動一樣。

啊澤: "... 紐約人還是比港人更有跌序和禮貌 ..." My concern is that when these people with poor manner go overseas and behave as if they are in HK, their behaviours really make EVERYONE of Chinese/Asian origin look bad.

Inner Space: I agree, for many people, HK is a place to seek wealth and fortune.

imak: You have a very good point: "... 文明是從生活中表現出來 ..." I wish people can become rich and more civilized at the same time.

"秋日隨筆: 黑与白 ∕ Fall 2008: Black and White":

樸老: 我同意這是和『修身、齊家、治國、平天下』的意思有很大關連。

Inner Space: 有些不幸事情的發生是人為,但也有些是環境迫成,在某種情形之下,或許禍魁和受害者在壓力之下的心智運用,正誤與否,在当事人眼中就未必是那么黑白分明。I can appreciate where you are coming from.

Michelle: Vous avez raison. C'était le Keyboard plutôt que le logiciel qui m'a posé problème au Maroc.

And ... I was told there are Internet cafés (altho not the one I was in) that provide clients with English-version keyboard and software.

"Low Speed Internet":

Inner Space: You are always up-to-date on info. Yes, it comes to abt a buck an hour.

imak: You are right. There are other parts of the world where Internet cafés do not exist.

Hyacinthus: Thanks !! I have been a bit tied up with other things upon my return from Morocco and am slowly getting back into blogging.

"Road to Morocco: Through my Own Eyes":

新鮮人: 我現正在整理相机memory cards的攝影图片 :)

"Back from Morocco":

啊澤: Thanks for your comments. It is one of the more exotic places I have visited. More articles and pics to come !!!

"旅遊摩洛哥 - 【北非諜影】 (1942) / Road to Morocco - “Casablanca":

新鮮人: The B&W version of the movie is a classic. I have watched it many times.

Space: Your article is better than the one in Wikipedia !!! ps: I also left a message there.

Space: I have to admit that it's hard to think of replacing the actors and actresses in a classic movie like Casablanca - 先入為主 ?!!

旅遊摩洛哥 - 卡薩布蘭卡 / Road to Morocco - Casablanca

Many people who arrive at the Casablanca airport are surprised by the unique architectural design of the building which is not anything like the one in the Bogart-Bergman movie. In fact, visitors will find geometric patterns and symmetry almost a constant theme in the layout and design of many homes and mosques throughout the country. And yet, this almost compulsive attention to organization and details is diametrically opposed to what one would find in the shops and narrow alleys that scatter and snake through the Medina (walled part of the city).

ps: I threw in a picture (bottom) of the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris as a comparison.

.... to be continued