Awesome Weekend Dream (Part 1)

Saluuut!

Comment ca va? Ca va bien! x)

Hope you all are fine and happy. Especially today is Saturday, Go-Happy-Weekend! x))

I will tell you the most unforgettable weekend i have ever had in my lifetime. It was happened in Tunisia, exactly on 18th-19th of June 2011. This weekend is more like a dream for me, it's just too good to be true. But, Alhamdulillah we passed it wonderfully. So, are you ready? Just take a seat back and relax x)

Day 1: June, 18th

This is the last weekend for Connie, my roommate. So i just wanna spend time with her before she leaves to USA. Actually i was so sleepy and late to join them cuz it's already 8 AM and i have to go back to home first. Connie and Julien left already to Le Kef by looage. Yes, we decided to visit Le Kef even though Connie told me it will be 38C degree today. Tunisia summer, no way! haha

When i arrived at Le Kef looage station, i didn't find them. So i was confuse and tried to call Connie. Finally we met together at the Hotel that we would like to stay for night. After go sight seeing inside hotel, we decided for looking the other hotel. Cuz we are starving, the first destination is to find restaurant. Julien wants to have marguez, Tunisia's lamb sausage. Oh ya, Julien is Connie's friend from Cannes, France. He came to Tunisia cuz wanna go travelling with Connie. After she went to Cannes two weeks before. He is nice and for me he talks too much. But it's okay cuz he tells me many things about France. hehe

Go Revolution!

 Me and Julien : chasing Connie

When we were looking restaurant for lunch, we met some Tunisian guys. As usual, they asked us where we want to go and they invite us to have drinks at night. We said that we want to go to Hamam Mellegue, a 1800  year old Roman hot bath but we don't know how to go there. Then they offer us to go with them but we think it will be more fun if we hitchhike so politely we refuse the offer with Julien as the speaker in French. The journey continues by finding  a car which bring us to Hamam Mellegue. Yes, we do hitchhike! Hitchhike is when you just stop any cars on street while you go travelling. The only way to save money and feel the experience! I'm so curious and excited to do this activity cuz i've never do it before in Indonesia. It's too dangerous. But here, we don't feel any danger cuz we're foreigners.

Finally after walking a bit long and waving our hands to some cars on street, we got our first car. The car is so small. I don't know what's the name but in spite of its old fashioned style, as long as he, Muhammad, wants to take us to Hamam Mellegue, i'll go. Before i thought just four of us, then Muhammad called his friend that makes Me, Connie and Julien sat at the back. Actually the space is very narrow but we don't have any choice than to go walk on hot sunny day. His name is Taher, he wears glasses and bring cigarettes. He speaks quite good English  but mostly Julien spoke to him in French so we just nodded our head and laughed sometimes. Julien told Connie has worked in MTV before. Connie also said that she likes to listen to Pink Floyd. Julien said that i don't like those songs and he told them that i'm Moslem. He doesn't know that i'm a radio announcer. haha

Taher and Julien inside car

Hamam Mellegue

Finally we arrived at destination: Hamam Mellegue. Connie really wants to go to this traditional hamam very much. It's located in remote area at Le Kef which is very far of tourist track. And it's 1800-year-old Roman Bath, which is interested to be visited. I've been to hamam at Sfax, the modern one. Really, hamam is delightful! That makes me wanna try this traditional hamam as well. What's Hamam? according to http://goafrica.about.com/od/morocco/a/hammam.htm: Hamam is a public steam bath, very popular in Tunisia and Morocco. Hamam is usually a place for people to bath and scrub since a private bathroom in house is expensive to be afforded. Taking a public bath or hamam is a culture in Tunisia and Morocco even in this modern era. Okay, let's go to hamam!

WOW! The water is very hot but freshened my body at the moment. There are some women with girls at the corner. I love the ceilings and the walls, it came from another world many years ago. These women welcomed us and sang Tunisian Song together. They were very friendly. Even the woman asked whether she could brushed my hair. I'd love to! Connie and I wondered what Julien is doing with the guys there. Even is too hot outside but stayed at water which is also hot makes me feel comfortable. It's just different. After chit chat with some girls and took picture, we decided to leave. The hamam is divided into two parts for women and men. The cost is, if i'm not mistaken 4 dinar. Connie gave the money with her Chinese pocket money. When we went outside, it was amazing, mesmerizing! It's just like a painting from heaven. The valley, river, grass, Subhanallah x)

Hamam Mellegue 

The water is hot and clean

Muhammad, Taher, Me and Julien say HI!

Beautiful, right?

Feels like in fantasy

1800 year old hot bath

After the amazing views we have to get back with the reality of the old car which can't climb up the track. Muhammad had to push it from behind and it couldn't take all of us. So Connie and I went for a walk also took some pictures while waiting for the guys. Taking picture at the sign of Le Kef Town is a must! x))

The magic car has arrived x)

Crazy roommates at EL Kef 

Africa is not totally dry. It has some greens too!

In the car, we talked for next destination. Before, Julien promised to pay Taher and Mohammad with beers. So after this we will go to buy beers and drink during the night. Actually, i don't agree with them cuz as a girl, it would be dangerous spend night with two new boy friends which i just knew for three hours. Since we're thirsty then we stopped at the place where we met them. Muhammad said he must fix some parts of car. Okay, i think i need some ice creams too xD~ During ice-creaming, Connie and I set up plan, Connie will say she wants to buy some souvenirs for her mom so the guys can't follow us. Sometimes the problem while travelling with Tunisians are, they just want to follow you anywhere you go. Right, we have to pay their services for taking us to hamam but how about being democracy and say what we wanna do together? So, we have to sacrifice Julien, he will take guys to buy beers, meanwhile we're going to the Fort. Yeah, our next place to see sunset. Julien didn't bring his phone so all we can do is write Connie's number on his palm. Sorry Julien x) But, really he'struly a generous person. He's so patient, he can't be angry and he's wants to please everyone. I hope he can handle Taher, the big mouth. I can't stand with him, the way he talks, doesn't fit on me.

Taher and Julien are having drinks

Le Kasbah

On the way to fort, Connie said that my presence means a lot to her. Since Lii Na can't be with us so just she and I who spent her last weekend. The way to fort was exhausted. We had to climbed up many stairs cuz fort  is located on the top of the hill. You can see the view of all Le Kef even maybe Algeria. Once when i took a rest, i was too tired to continue the walk, Connie offered to bring my bag. I was surprised cuz it's not like the Connie i know. Connie is an independent woman, sometimes she doesn't really care of people. "You guys changed me," she said. I smiled to her. And we talked a little bit about Julien and her. Well, it's an interesting story that i'm curious about the ending. hehe I tried to recharge my energy and continued the journey. Finally, we arrived at the fort! It's almost closed but we talked to guardian that we just wanna see the sunset. He allowed us to come in. Yeay!

We forgot that we haven't bought food for dinner. So lazily we went back down stairs to buy sandwich and some cookies. I ask some man where the restaurant is and they always "Are you from China?" Huff Connie bought a yogurt for the guardian as thank you. When we entered the fort, my mind flew back to thousand years ago. This fort is popular with name Kasbah. According to: http://www.wildfocusimages.com, the fort was there since 500 BC. The current Kasbah was built in 16th centuryby Byzantines and upgraded by Turks in 16th.Tunisian army occupied the fort until 1992. The sunset was very beautiful. I enjoyed to sit there and staring at the red-yellow-orange color of sun. While we were enjoying the sunset, Taher and Julien came. Julien said Taher won't let us free. He will follow us until he get what he wants, which is us,the girls. Great, let's have a fight! haha #kidding

I was taking rest on the way to fort

Le Kasbah a.k.a The Fort

A sunset lover 

Where is Algeria?

Actually, we had asked the guardian if we want to sleep at the fort. I'm okay just to sleep there for one night. Since we don't have any place to stay also. But, Guardian didn't allow us cuz he said  it'll be dangerous. The guardian asked some question about me. The surprise thing about him is, he just get paid by 6 dinars and have to afford many children. Hope he'll get better job x') Connie and I started to extend time at fort in order to make Taher bored and go away. But he doesn't understand even with our anger face. He said that he has girlfriend at Sfax and he visits her once in a week. He never do anything wrong to her but to other girls, he can do everything. Wow, it's unfair!

And about Julien, he told me the truth about reason he came here. He's broke now. He doesn't have any money and he didn't tell his parents that he is on vacation. His parents knew he is in Paris for some business. That's why he doesn't bring his phone. He told me a lot about him. I talked about my self too and then we jumped to Istanbul, i told him i got offered to work there. I really wanna go there but he said it's suitable for travelling not working. Cuz it's far between one place to another, i'll have my self killed by transportation and time. Alhamdulillah i chose Tunisia, thank God!

It's bright between the dark

It's already 9PM and we should find place to sleep. Actually, Taher wants us to sleep at his house but we refuse. We talked to Julien to say not to follow us anymore. But he said, Taher has been angry to us as well. He can't say that to him. So, Taher will help us to find hotel nearby. Before looking hotels, there are some women, one girl and one old lady, asked to take picture with me. She wanted to have the picture and to meet me tomorrow here. I don't have any pen to write her phone number or address so we just separated. Connie told us one hotel that probably would be a good place. It's dark already so we should be fast. The name is La Source hotel, it is near Mosque. There are no receptionist at the entrance so we went upstairs. There's an old man came out and asked us what we want. He offered us a big room, it has three beds and beautiful ceiling. The price is 10 dinar per person. It's quite expensive and Connie started to bargain but this man can't decrease the price.

Sorry for low resolution : Me, the woman and the girl 

Suddenly, Taher came inside and talked to him. I don't know what they are talking about but the man shouted to him to go out. He looks so angry to Taher. We feel guilty to the old man and since we don't have any choice so we said okay to sleep here. Connie paid for me cuz i don't bring much money. I haven't got my salary yet. x( Julien asked Taher to have a tea with him. I decided to go to pray, i asked the old man where the mosque is, fortunately it's just next to hotel. I think this man is blind cuz his eyes are not all opened and the way he moves is different.

Praying is the only thing i wanna do that night. I wanna say thank you to Allah cuz had guided me through the day. To protect me and friends from anything bad. We all know hitchhiking is risky like the problem we have now. On the way to mosque, i saw Taher an Julien talked together. The mosque is full with man and i'm the only girl prays at upstairs. After praying to Allah, i feel so relieved. Alhamdulillah, i know Allah always be with me x)

I'm going to pray

Decoration inside my room. Love it!

Totally the coolest room ever! 

Before we sleep, it's time for Julien to tell us what was going on with Taher. So, when the old man gave us high price Taher told him that it's expensive and he said to make it cheaper. But this man doesn't understand, he thought we brought another friend. So it's confirmed that this man is blind cuz he can't see us. Another thing, Taher said to Julien that he wants to do something with Connie tonight.Therefore Julien lied to him, he said Connie's his girlfriend. He can't do anything to her. Good job Jul! Moreover, while they were having beers, Taher, Mohammad and friends showed Julien a sex picture in phone. Erw, they're like teenagers!  One thing locals should know about foreigners, we're not as easy as you think. Hey, we're women, we need to be respected!

Julien also told us that Taher doesn't have any job, he never go out of Tunisia so i think this is first time he met foreigners. Poor him, he should see the world. That's why, even though Taher's thirty but the way he thinks is like he's thirteen years old. Finally after a long day, it's time to sleep. Thank you Allah for saving and guiding us. Sweet dream everyone!


- To Be Continued -

Happy weekend (YES, WE CAN!),
Chandini