Day 242 & 243: Fes
Day 242
Date: 1 May 2009
This is the guy whom I went out with for a drink last night.
Hop on a train and I was on my way to Fes. And then it was a long walk from the train station to the old city of Fes. I could have taken the public transport but in order to save money, I decided to walk instead.
The walk was long and the scorching heat made it more difficult. After A good 20-30mins, I saw some city wall. I must be here already and so I thought.
But I was wrong. So I kept walking until I found a huge map on the street. I was delighted. But........
damn... what kinda map is this? Nope, it was of no help. And so I kept walking....
and walking.... and finally I arrived.
Checked into a hostel. It was full but I still managed to check in. (Tell you why later) and I took a rest under the hot sun on the roof top while enjoying the city "skyline".
You must be thinking that I was the only crazy guy to take a rest under the hot African heat! But you are wrong. I wasnt alone. There were others.
Its time for lunch.
I was amazed by how fast time flies by. I wanted to explore the old town abit but I had met so many travellers that I spent 7-8 hours chatting to different traveller who came in and out from this stall where I was having my lunch!!
It is also a good place to people watch. Do drop by if you are in Fes. Besides, they served really good food. Thats the owner and me.
Of all I met, there was this aussie author who spent every alternate half yearly in Morocco and the other in Aust. He taught me alot of things about publishing a book. And guess what? I also met a fellow Singaporean! She was travelling alone and this Moroccan guy followed him for 3-4 hours! She then used me to get rid of him!
Warning! To all solo female travellers in Morocco. Beware! They can be really sticky and touchy! She told me her many encounter and my jaws drop......
Thats my new found friend.
I have read about these stories online but now that I personally met someone who encountered it, I truly believe it. After hearing all these stories, I walked her to a place where she could get a cab back to the other end of the old town where she is putting up.
I am so glad I am male.
Day 243
Date: 2 May 2009
Wanna know why I still managed to check in even though all the rooms are full? cause I slept on the terrace.
Which was very uncomfortable. All the noise from the street and the bright sunlight at 6am. Oh my... ofcourse I didnt sleep well.
Well, life still goes on. Breakfast!
First stop, ruins on a small hill near the old town. I love morning walks.
Oh my... They sure know how to find business.
Its time to explore the old town.
Fes or Fez is the third largest city in Morocco —after Casablanca and Rabat— with a population of just over one million. It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region. Fes el Bali is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its medina, the larger of the two medinas of Fes, is believed to be the world's largest contiguous car-free urban area. The University of Al-Karaouine, founded in AD 859, is the oldest continuously functioning university in the world.
With more than 9000 over alleys, it was really difficult not to get lost.
Once again, poor donkey!
Oh my... Will this peacock have the same fate as these rooster? If not why is it here? hmm.. beats me...
Took a rest back in my hostel.
Can you find Singapore?
Then it was lunch/dinner in a restaurant where I tired the camel burger!!
My Singaporean friend joined me and told me more of her today's encounter. She said that while she was marking her map against the wall this afternoon, someone ran his finger up her ass crack. She turned around in anger wanted to scream at the person but to her surprise, it was a small boy as young as 10 years old. She stood there stunted, not knowing to scold or not. The boy was so proud of what he has done that he walked away smiling.
Oh my... They start young here dont they?
(She still has more encounters in the following days.... shit!!!)
Back to this restaurant, I think the toilet is worth mentioning. They use Incense Paper as Wall Paper!! It was all over the wall!! OMG!!! I almost fainted!
To save money, I did not get a room but slept on the floor again. The only difference is, I chose to sleep along the corridor instead.
Before I say good night, here is one must see thing in Fes which I missed out. Got these photos from a fellow traveller. Its the dyeing scene. Very famous here.
*Click HERE to return to the Main Page of The Cold Journey.*
Date: 1 May 2009
This is the guy whom I went out with for a drink last night.
Hop on a train and I was on my way to Fes. And then it was a long walk from the train station to the old city of Fes. I could have taken the public transport but in order to save money, I decided to walk instead.
The walk was long and the scorching heat made it more difficult. After A good 20-30mins, I saw some city wall. I must be here already and so I thought.
But I was wrong. So I kept walking until I found a huge map on the street. I was delighted. But........
damn... what kinda map is this? Nope, it was of no help. And so I kept walking....
and walking.... and finally I arrived.
Checked into a hostel. It was full but I still managed to check in. (Tell you why later) and I took a rest under the hot sun on the roof top while enjoying the city "skyline".
You must be thinking that I was the only crazy guy to take a rest under the hot African heat! But you are wrong. I wasnt alone. There were others.
Its time for lunch.
I was amazed by how fast time flies by. I wanted to explore the old town abit but I had met so many travellers that I spent 7-8 hours chatting to different traveller who came in and out from this stall where I was having my lunch!!
It is also a good place to people watch. Do drop by if you are in Fes. Besides, they served really good food. Thats the owner and me.
Of all I met, there was this aussie author who spent every alternate half yearly in Morocco and the other in Aust. He taught me alot of things about publishing a book. And guess what? I also met a fellow Singaporean! She was travelling alone and this Moroccan guy followed him for 3-4 hours! She then used me to get rid of him!
Warning! To all solo female travellers in Morocco. Beware! They can be really sticky and touchy! She told me her many encounter and my jaws drop......
Thats my new found friend.
I have read about these stories online but now that I personally met someone who encountered it, I truly believe it. After hearing all these stories, I walked her to a place where she could get a cab back to the other end of the old town where she is putting up.
I am so glad I am male.
Day 243
Date: 2 May 2009
Wanna know why I still managed to check in even though all the rooms are full? cause I slept on the terrace.
Which was very uncomfortable. All the noise from the street and the bright sunlight at 6am. Oh my... ofcourse I didnt sleep well.
Well, life still goes on. Breakfast!
First stop, ruins on a small hill near the old town. I love morning walks.
Oh my... They sure know how to find business.
Its time to explore the old town.
Fes or Fez is the third largest city in Morocco —after Casablanca and Rabat— with a population of just over one million. It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region. Fes el Bali is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its medina, the larger of the two medinas of Fes, is believed to be the world's largest contiguous car-free urban area. The University of Al-Karaouine, founded in AD 859, is the oldest continuously functioning university in the world.
With more than 9000 over alleys, it was really difficult not to get lost.
Once again, poor donkey!
Oh my... Will this peacock have the same fate as these rooster? If not why is it here? hmm.. beats me...
Took a rest back in my hostel.
Can you find Singapore?
Then it was lunch/dinner in a restaurant where I tired the camel burger!!
My Singaporean friend joined me and told me more of her today's encounter. She said that while she was marking her map against the wall this afternoon, someone ran his finger up her ass crack. She turned around in anger wanted to scream at the person but to her surprise, it was a small boy as young as 10 years old. She stood there stunted, not knowing to scold or not. The boy was so proud of what he has done that he walked away smiling.
Oh my... They start young here dont they?
(She still has more encounters in the following days.... shit!!!)
Back to this restaurant, I think the toilet is worth mentioning. They use Incense Paper as Wall Paper!! It was all over the wall!! OMG!!! I almost fainted!
To save money, I did not get a room but slept on the floor again. The only difference is, I chose to sleep along the corridor instead.
Before I say good night, here is one must see thing in Fes which I missed out. Got these photos from a fellow traveller. Its the dyeing scene. Very famous here.
*Click HERE to return to the Main Page of The Cold Journey.*
posted by ZeeVinCeZ at 11:33 PM
2 comments
