Naked Soul Kitchen

Sitting on the tube in London, listening to the so familiar sounds of the underground travel world. I search for my headphones and then put on a shield between me and the monotonic rhythm of the train. The sound of rhythmic African music fills my ears as my mind wanders back to my week in Morocco... Essaouira proved to be like a beautiful glass of wine, changing its notes as you taste it more, becoming more indulgent and making you feel dizzy with a delicious, yet lively oblivion. The city's streets wind and bend into a maze of beautiful white stone buildings, dotted with brightly colored doors which have all been there for years. Silently watching the people bustling around and collecting stories which will never be told.  The Windy City holds so much history in its old city walls that if you breathe in the air hard enough, I swear it feels like you can taste the moments that have happened there long time before you and me. The Atlantic Ocean surrounding the city gives i...

The sounds and the visual pleasures combine with the rhythmic pulse of Essaouira leaving your soul in a happy trance of . Waking up in the medina or the old town is a treat for the ears. As your senses slowly start waking up and coordinating with each other, you start to pick out the separate sounds, which at a first glance seem to be random. But if you listen closely, you start to notice a perfect rhythm that's hiding in there. The most obvious sound is the animals, of course. The dogs, the cats and the birds beautifully participating in the harmony. Then there are the sounds of bicycles with people trying to get trough the narrow and maze like streets of the windy city. The men and women selling fruit and vegetables yelling enticements for people to choose their oranges over the oranges someone else is selling just across the street. The children are running around playing silly games and just being kids. All these sounds compose the beautiful symphony of life here in Essaouira. ...

This morning I am venturing out to my first destination outside of Marrakech, which I am extremely excited about since this city did not leave me with the best impression.  I didn't have my journey planned in terms I how and when but I knew that I wanted to go to Essaouira a early as possible. After a good night's sleep, I woke up at 6:30 and decided to quickly gather my things, eat breakfast and head out. Once again, I was do pleased with how lightly I packed and since the weather is pretty chilly here, most of the clothes I brought were on me anyway :) excellent! After a quick breakfast and the customary delicious mint tea, I went to try to get a taxi to the bus station. I heard that if they agree to turn the meter on, it would be only about 10 dhyram but of course the five out of five mini taxis I asked were too gready. So then me being the stubborn person I am when it comes to being ripped off, I walked to the local bus stop and got on the local bus heading in the direction...

Day two in Marrakech and I'm just not excited about it at all. Out of all the places I've traveled to alone, being a woman here seems to be the most annoying place. Even India seems like a piece if cake somehow. I roamed around the old city all day but never really felt welcomed and comfortable, which I never really find hard to do in new places. I guess Marrakech just isn't for me. I will head west towards the coast to Essaouira where I am hoping to find a more relaxed atmosphere and to actually relax.  I learned some interesting ideas that the locals believe in today. One of them is that storks which nest on the walls of the Palace Badii as well as the city walls are actually the dead people watching over them. A bit different from the stories of storks bringing babies, much more grim. Although the baby story is a bit more out there in my eyes :) I saw the tanneries where the animal skin is washed and prepared to be made into the leather bags that adorn the numerous stall...

Morning finally came... What a sleepless night I had! I was staying in a mixed six person dorm, but the only mix that was in there was me! Five other smelly guys (and I'm not generalizing!!) and me. The noise at the main area was so loud until the early hours and when I finally did fall asleep, I kept being woken up by insecant snoring and one of the Brazilian guys speaking Portuguese in his sleep. Oh what a night!  Luckily, the morning came and I started it with some yoga on the rooftop. The air is still chilly, about 7 degrees Celsius but the snowy Atlas Mountains in the distance make the air seem colder just from the sight of them. A crisp beautiful morning though and a lovely sit down for my first Morrocan breakfast! :) looking forward to today's adventures!  Good day everyone! :D

As much as I wasn't in the mood to be in Marrakech and on my own, this is a good reminder of what really makes me happy... Nature! I know, Marrakech city isn't exactly the best in terms of peace ad quiet but the natural beauty of this world seems to be at an arm's reach or at a tilt of your head.  I am sitting on the roof top of the riad or hotel where I am staying my first couple nights and the open sky seems limitless, even with the many orange and red shaded rooftops covering some of the view. The bustle of this city seems so far away or almost nonexistent. Close to the sky, close to nature, close to the roots.  I need to get a move on with securing my finances because I know what makes me happy. With everything and everyone taken away, nature is what makes my soul dance. The stars, the sun rising and setting, that's what gets my heart eating faster and at the same time putting me in a beautiful, satisfying trance; no drugs needed.  My first day here in Marrakech fle...

I had an early rise before my alarm clock even had a chance to wake me. A great start in my eyes! Packing took longer than expected yesterday, when after fussing about what and how much to take with me, in the end I decided to be minimal and only took my small backpack. As always, I was packing and preparing at the last minute... Silly me, I know! The decision took pack light was making me smile and making each step easy as I walked to Kensal Rise to take the overground to where I would be taking a National Express bus to Stanstead airport.  No phone, no laptop and no interferences! Just me, my camera and my trusted iPod to give me some music therapy and to keep me writing! :)