Charles and Fred: January 2012

This will soon be illegal in Holland

This will soon be illegal in Holland, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

As part of the deal done with the pathetic anti-Islamic right-wing party for racists and stupid people, on which he Dutch Government relies for its majority in Parliament, they are going to ban the burqa here in Klein-Klompenland. Apparently there are about 150 women in Holland who wear the face-covering veil on a regular bais. There is an economic crisis, the housing market, pensions, labour market all need reform, so the government wastes its time on this nonsense.
Obviously, this is not a burqa, but it is a cloth which is covering my face and you will soon only be allowed to do this by traditional Dutch activities such as carnival (for the Catholics in the south) and with skating (for the hardy guys up in the north, if this winter takes a grip)..

I will be covering my face in public more often as a result.

Before it got cold

Before it got cold, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

The winter of 2011/2012 was truning into the winter-that-never-was here n Holland, with justa couple of frosts back in November. As can be seen here, the summer plants are still flowering and above, we see that a heron has already been hatching its eggs.

Howver, the weather forecasters tell us that winter is finally on its way, with cold (and soon very cold) air arriving from the east later today, so a last chance to enjoy the feeling of spring beforev we have ot delve into our drawers and find out where we last left our woollen gloves!

January Still Life

January Still Life, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

A little display on the balcony earlier this afternoon, showing the tulips from last weekend, a pomegranate given to us in Bursa at Christmas, a tomato given to me in Jordan last Saturday and some miini pumpkins from the Christmas market in Frankendael in December.

The motor mechanic boys of Sodom

The motor mechanic boys of Sodom, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

Last Saturday, after a return to bed to recover from the night before (Moroccan dancing girls in Amman nightclub, Egyptian and Syrian music and to much beer), I took a driver out to the Dead Sea then along the King's Highway from Karak to Petra. Apparently, apart from the stops allong tehe Dead Sea and to visit the mighty crusader castle in Karak, the driver had never beeb asked to stop at any of the places I had asked him to stop at. An example, being this motor repair shop in Mazraah, near the ancient site of Sodom...

Tomato or chicken soup tonight?

Tomato or chicken soup tonight?, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

Up in Amman it was cold and wintry, yet a few kilometers to the down by the Dead Sea, it was warm and sunny, like a European summer, people were even swimming/floating on the sea. I really needed that, after the exploits of the night before...

Arab Spring - after Friday prayers in Amman

Arab Spring - after Friday prayers in Amman, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

People tend to get a bit excited after Cuma prayers and they did again this last Friday in Amman. All fairly good natured, a bit of shouting and waving of banners by a few people, who were surrounded by police, soldires and riot police. Thankfully, no riot ensued.

Out in the Petra mountains with the lovely Hashem (Limoene)

Out in the Petra mountains with the lovely Hashem (Limoene), a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

I had hoped to find one of the two Aimans but they were not around, so it was a pleasure to be taken out by the charming Hashem (known as Limoene to his friends). We caught the good weather of the early morning, before the cold wond got up, bringing rain, hail and snow later in the day...

Cute, innit?

Cute, innit?, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

We had come a long way down the King's Highway before we could stop and take some photos of the bedouins with their donkeys and sheep. These puppies (being carried in a plastic bag) were a big surprise. They will grow up to become sheepdogs, protecting the herds from unwanted tourists taking photos!

Welcome to 2012 - back in the Saudi desert

Welcome to 2012 - back in the Saudi desert, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

My sixth country this year and my first photos - back at the camel market outside Riyadh. The taxi broke down which was a bit annoying but meant I was able to capture this young chap with his young camel against a lovely setting sun.