We have been rather busy so a bit out of touch but things are fine here. Getting really stressed with the studies, mainly because I have been a little bit too lax with time (it always looks like you have lots and then… ooops it’s up!) ending up a little bit too behind schedule. Now I am playing catch up till the exams and coursework deadlines. All this month!! This means I get up with S. every morning and spend the rest of the day stuck behind a computer and with my head in books... a bit lonely and mind boggling but I am sure it will go very fast!
The worry that I am not prepared enough keeps me going like a machine. I have slowed down the diving activities (basically they have come to a halt and have had to say no to people who ask me to teach them or to the centre who calls me when they need me).. I just can’t play around.
I am only honouring some of the weekend commitments that I have already taken. Like going caving this past weekend which involved slowly and carefully lowering ourselves down into a cave (a huge underground cavity called the 7th Hole and part of an extensive underground cave system) hanging down a rope high over an empty hole 120m from the ground (and of course then climb back up to get out from a different opening). It’s like my morning coffee. I always need my regular burst of adrenaline... It was awesome and I have to say, not as scary as it sounds. (I think the training back in Muscat was scarier). To my surprise I was as cool as an icicle.
The worry that I am not prepared enough keeps me going like a machine. I have slowed down the diving activities (basically they have come to a halt and have had to say no to people who ask me to teach them or to the centre who calls me when they need me).. I just can’t play around.
I am only honouring some of the weekend commitments that I have already taken. Like going caving this past weekend which involved slowly and carefully lowering ourselves down into a cave (a huge underground cavity called the 7th Hole and part of an extensive underground cave system) hanging down a rope high over an empty hole 120m from the ground (and of course then climb back up to get out from a different opening). It’s like my morning coffee. I always need my regular burst of adrenaline... It was awesome and I have to say, not as scary as it sounds. (I think the training back in Muscat was scarier). To my surprise I was as cool as an icicle.
Possibly because I was concentrating so much on using the equipment correctly and not making any mistakes that my mind had no time to compute exactly how far I was from the ground (that dot suspended in mid air in the photo is me and here I am well past the half-way mark!). Even when I looked down at the start of the descent the boulders just looked like pebbles, it was only when I reached the ground that I realised that each of those "pebbles" were as big as a car (or even bigger).I did not experience any jelly legs or racy heart and the sweat was only due to the effort and the heat.
We were high up the mountains so it wasn’t as bad as down here but it is starting to heat up considerably down at sea level! We have now touched the 40+ and humidity has crept up in the last couple of days. This is the start of the temperature hike, we have already resigned to washing salads, veggies and teeth in hot water (there is no cold water coming from the taps any longer) and A/C has come on for its 24/7 activity for the rest of the summer in some of the rooms.
After the exams hopefully we will go on holiday. We are thinking of Malaysia.
At some point we'll also pop to Europe although not sure when yet. I guess towards August when we will need to escape from the heat and Ramadan.
We’ll keep you posted, InshaAllah ;-)
Useful links:
BA Inflight magazine: where I got the inspiration from!
Some background info on the caves and the cave system up the Selma Plateau.
