Jet skiing

So, we're camping on the beach in Oman with no idea that my dream of riding a jet ski is about to come true......

Brrrrrrrrrrrr, we hear the noise at first and two men on jet skis zoom around the rocky outcrop. Already immersed in the Omani culture and the politeness and helpfulness of the locals that we had met so far, I had no hesitation in waving and shouting 'hello' to them.

They circled in the bay and returned, I waved again and jokingly asked for a go! To my amazement they said yes! So 5 minutes later I was sat in control on a jet ski with an Omani man sat behind me. Any other country and I might have had alarm bells ringing, or indeed not asked for a ride at all, however I felt perfectly safe and this was an amazing opportunity.

On a jet ski things seem faster than in a car. At 20mph it feels like 40 and at 40mph the water blurs and the wind rushing past your face stops you hearing much at all. Turning the craft was strange. The faster you were going the easier it was and it was helped with you leaning to the side, even if it felt like you were going to fall off.

10mins and Ali and I swapped. With a little more guts, or maybe because she went second, Ali seemed to go much faster, making me want another go but we really couldn't impose!  We said our goodbyes and waved our jet ski heroes off.  Another amazing experience in Oman!

Awwww! Baby Turtles

When you open a travel magazine, watch a wildlife documentary or even read about baby turtles making their way into the sea in print in a book, you cannot fail but think or even say 'Awwww'!

Several months ago I planned a trip to Oman with a good friend, Ali. We soon came to realise that visiting a turtle reserve was one activity possible and, indeed, one that many people included in their itinerary whilst in the country. The main area for watching turtles next and baby ones hatch was Ras al Jinz, close to Ras al Hadd, south east along the coast from Muscat. So, with our minds set on turtle watching we book a nights accommodation at the Turtle Beach resort and the early morning turtle watching at the Ras al Jinz Turtle Reserve. With our own 4WD we enjoyed an afternoon and night at the resort, then awoke at 4am for the 20min drive to the turtle reserve.

Cameras at the ready, we arrived at the reserve and were shipped by minibus to the beach. Standing in two groups, each with a guide, we awaited any movement on the beach. Other guides were searching for turtles that may still be on the beach. At last we found one - an adult, still making her way down to the sea. It was a rush back onto the bus, a short drive and we had about 2 minutes of her making her way into the sea. Amazing but not the babies we had hoped for.

All was not lost as a few minutes later we were taken by the guide to a turtle nesting hole where two tiny baby turtles were digging their way to the surface. They still had sandy eyes and were not completely sure of the right direction to the sea however with some help from the guide they were soon set on their way. With their little flippers flipping and flapping they made their way down the beach. Occasionally falling into footsteps left on the beach they made quite slow progress, despite their flippers working at a rate of knots. One at a time they entered the water for the very first time. How they knew what to do, where to go and even how to swim is incredible as they were the size of my palm. But as quickly as they had emerged from the sand a few minutes earlier they disappeared into the water.

A brilliant and once in a lifetime experience. Amazing does not describe it.

Huskys and the Northern Lights

Well, talk about killing two birds with one stone! I booked a trip with a close friend to Norway, Tromso to be exact, to see the Northern Lights and go Husky Sledding.

The Northern Lights are never guaranteed to be seen. It depends on the weather, the magnetic something or other, or God, whichever theory of how they are formed you believe. So, when booking with a company we chose to book a bus tour, safe in the knowledge that we would have a warm bus, cookies and hot chocolate to help us see through the night is the lights chose not to appear!

After a 3am wake up and the day travelling, we struggled to keep our eyes open for the 6pm-1.30am tour!  But glad that we did, as after a stop and an hour wait they finally appeared, dancing through the sky - green, red and purple - disappearing over the hills and trees as they went. Pleased that I had brought my DSLR camera and new tripod as this meant I could capture them in their full glory!

Then the following day we were lucky enough to see the lights again, this time with the husky sledding excursion combined!

Taking it in turns to steer and sit on the sled, we covered 12km with the team of 5 dogs pulling us along.

 And then we finished the night with soup, fresh bread and hot chocolate in a traditional Norwegian hut.

Quite possibly two of the best experiences of my life!

Go up the Shard

31st January 2015  - I went up the Shard.

Taking a very dear friend of mine, Michael, we booked tickets for 6.30pm knowing that it would be dark and London would be lit up by street lights, traffic headlights and attraction lights.

At £24.95 per ticket the Shard is not a cheap London attraction, however for that price you get awesome views and the possibility of remaining up there to savour these for as long as you like.

First we had to go through airport-like security screening, removing jackets and belt and having our belongings scanned. Then it was time for a cheesy photo which would later be superimposed onto various Shard backgrounds!  Finally we made it to to the first lift of two. Approx 20 seconds and we were at floor 33, a short walk and another 20 seconds and we were at level 69 - a fact not lost on Micheal's dirty mind! The first viewing area had glass walls completely surrounding all 4 sides. It was quite unnerving and on several occasions I had to reach out and touch the glass 'just to check'! Up a few flights of stairs and level 72 was the highest viewing platform, open to the elements with the spikey shape of the shard visible above you if you tipped your head back. Yes it had glass walls, but level 72 had no ceiling, and with the wind howling and the bitter cold air we didn't remain here long!

In total we spent about an hour up the shard. Was it worth the money - yes. Would I go up again - probably not. In the dark we could see the London Eye, Tower Bridge, the river and St Paul's.  During the day you may be able to identify much more.

 Prior to our visit I took this view of the Shard from the other side of the river

 Bridges crossing the Thames

 Toilets looked out through glass windows floor to ceiling at various views of London!

 Tower Bridge

Open to the elements above - level 73

Holidays....

Well, there comes a time in every hard-working teacher's year when their thoughts turn to their next holiday. With an emphasis on my 40 things, my mind turned to 'what', 'when' and 'where' and also 'how'. How was I going to fit everything in and still be able to pay my mortgage?!?

So, currently booked are:

Norway for February 2015 - with the hope of viewing the Northern Lights, and possibly husky sledding too!

Oman for April 2015 - Wild camping on the beaches and a trip to a turtle reserve.

This will take my count up to 39 countries, so just one more to go until I reach the magical 40!  But then with Jerusalem on my list I might just challenge myself further and visit another 10 to make 50. you never know!

5 years smoke free...

Well, this post will be one that I update and maintain over the next few years.

So, where do I start? Since the age of 16 I have smoked. I have see-sawed from being an occasional social smoker to someone who, when things got me down, would drop everything to go to the corner shop for booze and fags! I have a huge tendency to disappoint myself through my smoking behaviours, my 'all or nothing' tendencies and my inability to stick to various quit plans I have set up over the years. Even being a PE teacher, a role model (hopefully) for my students, did not do much to curb my addiction to cigarettes.

So far I have tried quitting cold turkey. This usually goes tits up after a few drinks with some good friends. I have invested in gum and lozenges which worked to some extent, until I realised that the physical hand to mouth action was what I craved.

So, after a holiday in Cuba this year I invested in a vapouriser, some low-percentage nicotine liquid and some replacement clearonomisers. The water vapour flavoured with mint, with just that small amount of nicotine was enough. It would become my new crutch until I could wean myself off of it completely.

So, key dates....

Last cigarette: 8th August 2014 (just the one!)

Last use of Vapouriser: 1st November 2014

Get more tattoos

Tattoos are addictive. Fact. This is a fact confirmed by numerous friends and now me!

My first tattoo came about after about 8 years of planning. The smallish butterfly on my lower back (to the side, not a tramp stamp) did not hurt, took 15 minutes and healed in 10 days. Therefore getting another took very little thought or consideration.

As a Christian, I wanted a meaningful quote and to have it tattooed in Hebrew, the original Biblical language. I chose Joshua 1:9 - 'Be strong and courageous....' and got a Jewish friend to translate the first sentence from this.

The tattoo itself hurt. Tattooing over ribs is not a brilliant idea! But on a positive note, it only took 15 mins!

 

10 days later, it is almost healed! 

Now, my thought was to have another when I began this blog however I am concerned that one more will lead to 10 more!  After the impulsiveness of this one, I shall be thinking my next one through a little more and ensuring that it remains something that I definitely want, and also doesn't lead to another 10 instead of the one!