Question: WHY DID THIS TURKISH “TRAVEL DIARY” POSTCARD TAKE SO LONG TO ARRIVE?
This is from a postcard posted 3rd. July 2010 which has only just arrived in London!

Salam Alleycum,
We are currently staying in a camp in the middle of the Wadi Rum desert.
Last night we slept on mattresses under the stars which was a magical experience.
The sky dazzled and there were even some shooting stars thrown in for good measure!!
Today we took an 8 hour camel trek into the appropriately named “Wilderness Area” of the desert. The slow-moving pace of the camels was an atmospheric way to soak up the vastness and the emptyness of this unwordly place. That said I don’t think I’ll be rushing back on a camel any day soon – they’re moody and they STINK!!!

Prior to the desert we visited the ancient city of Petra (of Indiana Jones fame).
The city was amazing with stunning sandstone monuments, including the one overleaf
(the “Treasury”) which you view by walking through a narrow 2KM gorge.
Breathtaking stuff.

http://dakkak.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/petra3.jpg

Our time in the middle-east is coming to an end (flight to India booked for 14th. July)
While we are looking forward to a new adventure we shall be sad to leave this place behind.
We have been humbled on numerous occassions by people’s kindness, have learnt a
great deal and seen some wonderful sights. Happy Days.
I hope you are all well and look forward to your next email.
Habibe, A & M
————————————–…
7th. August 2010…..Travel Diary e-mail

Thanks for the e-mail and for picking up the post.

Things this end are pretty rough at the minute. Leh (northern city in the Indian Kashmir region) where we are staying was hit by a mudslide on Thursday night and they reckon over 130 people have been killed. Both M*** and I are safe (we are staying at a place on high ground) but the city is in a state. We helped yesterday with trying to dig for survivors but found nothing. It’s a tragedy in every sense of the word.

Sorry not to be writing with happier news but thought i’d let you know we are safe in case the floods make the news back home. We are looking to book the next available flight out of Leh and will write again when we have secured something.

Lots of love,
edit:-
Hey guys…thanks for your continued subscription!…lol

@ Lite,
Sounds like you have a book (or two) in the making…get on with it woman!
.
@ ♥ Barış Awareness♥
Thank you for wishing them safe…you cannot believe how very precious they are.
.
@ QUEEN P
Thank you for your interesting insight…x
.
EDIT:-
Sorry guys, I shall be closing (and re-posting) this question early
as it’s still not showing up in the regular listing.
I would be grateful if you copy/paste your answer and re-post it again.
Thank you…x
EDIT AGAIN:-
24hrs. after posting this question, it’s now appearing in the list.
I will therefore let it run it’s course!

Answer:

Answer by Lite xox
oh how tragic…this will ground them ( if they need any grounding that is)

I have been in floods in Laos
hostage in Tibet-long story
avalanche in Nepal

and these things made me hit reality so fast that I feel in love with myself and my life

While we are so blessed to have jobs and be able to travel the world turns around us- we are not infallible ,we are just a little leaf in a big storm.

My eyes have seen tragedy
my legs have been frozen in pain
my heart has jumped because of fear
the smell of death has been too real

but Im still here planning new adventures as the world turns around me I go on with innocent excitement waiting for the next big wave……….sink or swim- do it with an open heart and even sinking is an adventure