Merry Christmas !

We are staying in Granada, but have driven to Malaga, a coastal town further in the south. Its been a while since I have been on the internet. Normally, Im an internet junkie! We intially had this huge drama with the car. There was something wrong with the engine and smoke was coming out from under the hood! We had to drive back to the rental agency and request a change of cars. The drama didnt end there because for the first hour or so of driving we kept stalling and driving onto the wrong lane! my dad had not driven a manual car (rare to find an auto, because manual is cheaper and uses less fuel) in a decade. We left Seville for Cadiz, a seaside town and Cordoba, an apparently well preserved Spanish town before arriving in Granada. Right now, we are staying in some cave in Sacromonte. Its cute, but out of the way since cars are prohibited in the area.

Im gutted. Yesterday, I dropped my camera on the pavement and the protective lens smashed. Ahh. its still functioning...but barely. I doubt it will last long. I am clinging on the hope its going to last till the end of this trip. To make things worse, I fell ill two days ago. it started with a fever then moved onto stomach pains. Im feeling a lot better today, only feeling a bit heated. I hope I will bounce back to normal soon.

It hasnt been all rosy with my anticipated trip to Morocco. Today we were on a bus from Sacromonte to downtown. There were three backpackers (one Canadian, Australian and I forgot) on the bus as well. We started conversing about our itinearies. And, when my dad mentioned I was going to Morocco by myself, the Canadian girl started exclaiming how dangerous it was and how her guy friend had gone there and was held at gunshot by the taxi driver demanding all his bags. My heart completely sank as she was telling us this story. Boo. The thing is I have heard positive stories as well of Morocco. I think with any country, you always hear two extremes. My parents, seemingly liberal in light of the places I have been to, have always been reluctuant with some of my choices of destinations. My dad in particular is extremely update with current affairs; any civil strife or political unrest he will alert me to and will forbid me to go.....(27/12)....if they say no in resolution, I will heed to. But India and Morocco are not politically unstable, and so they have left it open for me to travel even though they remain concern about my general safety. I am so grateful to my parents for the life experiences I have till now. For the past 21 years, they have given me so much freedom - to travel or do community work - they have always given me so much support. So particularly this Christmas, I am thankful to them.