Test

This is a test blog to see if i can post it now

I can access it

Today, I was just trying to access my blog and to my surprise I could access it. I did not know how and why. All this while I could not access it and so even stopped writing in it. Not that I had any people reading this.

I used to write a few words just to amuse myself. Today I was watching NDTV arabia and saw about Amitabh's blog and then thoughts went out about my own blog and so have started looking it for it and here i am accessing it.

Hope this is not by fluke and I can acceess it more regularly.

An Evening In Damascus

I have been to the top of khasion mountain in Damascus just for a small sight seeing. To our surprise we were able to see some spectacular fireworks on that day. It was supposed to be some important day for syrians as their former president has announced some good social welfare schemes and they commemorate that.

I could also see some people passing in some truck like thing with shouting slogans like " Loving live the president" etc.

we enjoyed the evening there and then went to Dummar where we had nice meal at Algora Cafe.

Syrian Istyle : Protests in Damascus

Contrary to my earlier perception of " Axis of Evil" and other stories Damascus was quite peaceful and I manage to roam around quite freely. I have not encountered any problems whatsoever.

Yesterday I was on my way to a travel agency to collect my travel tickets. Yeah..I am going on a small 4 day trip. I saw many young girls and boys some even with school bags standing on either sides of a street in an area called " Bahsa" near victoria bridge. Normally, this is a very busy part of the so called ' Down Town" with shops, husttle busstle, numerous cars, horns, sound and people walking everywhere. To my surprise that busy street was empty and had no traffic except for people standing on both sides as if they were waiting for some thing. I could also see some TV crew with camera and other shooting equipment. I walked my way to the travel agency wondering what all this was about.

As I just crossed a street I could see a group of about 200 people or so (all young..probably.college students) marching down the roads with some syrian flags and shouting some slogans. I gathered from the travel agency guy that it is an protest against the clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians which is happening in Israel. Knwoiing the syrian connection I exclaimed " ohhhh this is an anti Israli rally" The trael guy said NO it is not against Israel. We are just showing our support to palestinians. He proudly claimied " you know we love Palestanians". I liked his idea of putting things positively.

I was watching the protestors pass by whle my agent was busy getting my ticket ready. I could see that the protest was very simple and peaceful. All the protestors were walking by the roads shouting slogans when all the crowds standing by are watching cheerfully. There was lot of security though. I could also see a group of all girls also coming from the opposite direction. I used my imagination and thought that these two groups will join together and move ahead to a different road.

To my surprise the protestors were very much organised and were peaceful. I could not stop noticing some young people enjoying the whole process walking, talking and smiling at the watchers.( Not to forget shouting slogans too). The shop keepers were doing their business as usual. Every every passer by is just spending a couple of minutes watching the crowd and then going out on their way. I liked this whole idea of a peaceful protest where people do their business at the same time they acknowledge the process of protest and they are proud about it.

I followed suit, collected my ticket and started back to my office. I got delayed by 30 minutes only the traffic is quite heavy as some roads are blocked.While on my back i could hear some Syrian Foreign ministers saying some thing in Arabic......thought it was his istyle of protesting or expressing support..

On way to Palmyra on Khadmous

Visiting Palmyra was on my Personal to do list for quite some time now. It gained prominence when I came across a couple of blogs with comments like “if you have only one day in Syria then this is the place you should see” . This is a small city which is about 200+ kms from Damascus. After much procrastination as usual I woke up on a saturday morning and hit the road. I gathered enough information about this place thanks to Google. I left home at 7 AM to the bus stand curiously called 'Garage Golman" (No clue why a bus stand is called Garage…..Syrian Istyle). Without much difficulty I reached the place and got a ticket in a KHADMOUS bus. (Most Popular local bus agency) The ticket was just 115 SP. I managed to get a ticket for an 8 AM bus. Original intention was to go by 7 AM bus but as usual my lazy bones did not get up on time hence the delay. Bus looked good and also was very neatly maintained. The bus took off at 8.05 AM with just 10 passengers, unlike some agencies back home who wait till the bus is completely packed not just the seats. The buses even had an attendee and were served water.

I managed to be awake for quite some time looking outside the window. Once we reached the highway there isn’t anything spectacular to watch and so slept off. I got up with the shout of the bus attendee. He looked at me and said this is Palmyra. I got down and found myself opposite one small shop and empty deserted street wondered if the bus guy played foul and dropped me in some god forbidden land. I frantically looked for some posters and was satisfied when I found one with Palmyra written in English. I was expecting too many visitors flocking the place but in contrast this place looked almost deserted.

I hailed a taxi and luckily managed to make him understand that I am a visitor and came to look at the Roman ruins in their city. The taxi guy could speak some broken words of English and he carried some postcards and explained that he would take me to all those places for 1000 SP after a little negotiation I managed to get him for 600 SP. The deal was that he would take me to all the important places and drop me back at the bus stand at 6.30 pm for my return bus.

…Watch out for the complete story in a little while.

Day Out in Damascus _ Final

I Paid the money to Osama for his ride to Malula and Sadnaya, thanked him and walked into the National Muesum. The building was quite impressive with a park outside where various figurines are placed. The park also had provision for benches for people to sit and relax. It all looked like a big picnic spot but was not adequately maintained. I was disappointed to know that no one is alloweed into it after 3 pm as it closes by 4 PM. I took a stroll in the park and was clicking some photographs. I was approached by a chinese guy for clicking his snap. I obliged and clicked a photograph for him. we exchanged some courteous greetings to each other and he told me that he is working in Huawei and is placed in cairo. He came to attend a meeting and was taking his time off the weekend to visit some places in Damascus. He was lucky to arrive early and finished visiting the mueseum. We decided to hang along as we both were alone.

My chinese friend has done his research well and fished out a couple of papers explaining about the important places to be seen in Damascus. He intended to find out a place called silver street but no one seemed to have a clue about the place. I have then suggested him that we shall walk to Hamadiya soq and the Omayyad Mosque as they are very near by. I just asked a couple of people just to make sure about our way and walked to hamadiya Soq. I have been to this place before but walked along with my new friend into the market. we were exchaning our middle east experiences to each other. We walked till the fag end of the street looking curiously at the small shops selling everything from spices, perfumes, clothes, jewellery etc. in the Hamadiya soq. This is a traditional market place with streets covered with semi circular roof probably to protect the shoppers from wind, rain and heat which is so abundant here. The walk led us to the Omayyad Mosque.

We just followed all people and a stood outside the mosque. We took our shoes out and carried them along with us and walked inside the mosque. Though it is a religious place there were no restrictions and encourged by some local guys who were taking photographs we took our cameras and took some photographs of the interiors. We saw a small covered structured and saw people praying there. Looking at it we thought it is supposed to be a tomb. Later on we sent in a quite place looking and enjoying the place. I adjusted my camera into auto mode and took a snap of us both.

While we were on our way out my friend got a call from his colleaque. he explained that he has to rush back to the botel for some urgent meeting. We parted ourways and I decided to go to Azem place which was next destination in my friends list. I went there and was sad to know that it also closes by 4 pm. I dont know why I was so unlucky that day. I was just standing there and a couple of people tried to enter the place and were denied access. The watchman and that guy exchanged some words in arabic. I thought it would not be possible for me to go inside. I asked the watchman permission to take a photograph of the enterance. He readily agreed. When I finished taking the photograph he asked me where I am from. When I said India he welcomed me.Taking advantage of his changed nature I asked the watchman to let me in. To my surprise he allowed me inside. He came along with me and explained a few things. The palce looked old and shattered much like the phalaknuma palace of Hyderabad. However the inside was impressive with big mirrors fitted in frames and furniture. I took some photographs and went back.I handed the watchman a 50 SP note as "bakshees". This is some sort of tip to him.

I walked back and was trying to find out directions for my way I stopped an elderly gentlemen and asked him about the way. He asked me where you are from and actually walked along with me for a couple of minutes. once he reached a junction. He asked me to go straight for the main road. He advised me if you are interested in looking for some christian place then you should go to Bab Sharki. I followed the elderman advise and walked a little. I visited a couple of church buildings there. I was invited by a person into a building where some young kids were practising playing drums and trumphet.

Tired and satisfied with my adventours for the day I hailed a cab and headed to my apartment in ' DUMMAR'.

DAY OUT IN DAMASCUS - PART II

The church looked quite simple with a very smal door of about 4 feet high. Being mindful of not getting my head knocked off carefully went inside the main door. The main door led me to a open courtyard like thing with small rooms on all sides. I followed a sign which said " church de le" I went inside and found a big group of tourists sitting there. I saw a lady explaining about the church to a English man. She did not seem to be a nun as she was dresseed normally Tshirt and Jeans. The lady finished chatting with the guy and walked towards me. She volunteered to tell me about the story of that church. To my surprise she was speaking English very fluently. The lady explained that the church was supposed to be built between 275 - 325 AD. In 325 AD in an international meeting of church authorities it was decreed that all the churches should have square shape alatar. However this church has a Semi Circular altar and so was believed to be built before 325 AD. The builiders of the church adapted the earlier tradition of Roman pagan temples. The lady added that even carbon dating of the wood samples in the church ceilings have revelated that the wood belongs to about 2000 years old.It is a old syrian technique of having wood embedded into the stone walls and ceilings. The lady explained about a few paintings which were kept there in the church. She said that all the paintings were made in 1800 by a famous painter. She showed one specific potrait which was supposed to be custom made for the church as in that Jesus and his disciples are shown sitting around a semi circular altar with the legs of Jesus placed on a pedestal. This painting was stolen many times before but have curiously returned back all the times.

The church has got 3 chambers....one dedicated to virgin Mary,,, dedicated to saints surge and barcass...Dedicated to two other saints. The lady then explained that in Malula they still speak aramic, the language supposed to be spoken by Jesus himself. She asked my permission and then prayed for me in Aramic. The only word which sounded familar in the whole thing was "AMEN' which came in the last. She also directed me to visit the local museum and taste the wine there.

I followed the directions of the lady and went into the museum. It was a small room with some curious artefacts and some maps. It also had some souveniers for sale. it was more a souvenier shop rather than a muesuem. I skimmed through the articles available and purchased a chart explaining about the orgins of script in syria and a book at Sadnaya. I was greeted by a fellow traveller there. we exchanged a few greetings and she wondered that I am from India. The lady was from Uk who is here in syria for learning Arabic.

By the time I came out I realised that it was 2 PM and my hungry stomach was already screaming for food. Luckily Osma was thoughtful enough and ordered for PIZZA's for both of us A veg Pizza for you of course exclaimed Osama. I found out that they were planning to put Mushroom in the Pizza. I went there at the right time and instructed them to make my favourite plain Cheese Pizza. The Pizza I had was "Ultra-thin" crust which was cut into small squares which made it very easy to eat. Knowing my fetish for spicy food the owner of the cafe got some special pepper which they considered very spicy. The flavour was good and I loaded lots of it with each small piece much to the astonishment of Osama and the Owner. The dinner was quite delicious and affordable.(200 SP for two Pizza's and Softdrinks) Osama paid the bill himself and said that it was a treat from his side.

Quite satisfied with the Visit, i walked back to the Cab and Osama drove me back to Damascus. Since there was enoguh time still I asked Osama to drop me at the National Mueseum of Damascus

Day Out still Continues....Part III final.