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Syria

9/9/2015

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This has been on my mind quite a lot for the last few years - and although a bit darker than my usual postings I thought I'd try and articulate. I've been trying to keep things upbeat for the last few weeks - and mainly succeeding, but there are no words for how I feel with every news story that comes out of Syria.  In March 2011 I had just finished work on an archaeological project in Jordan - and my parents decided to come over and explore Syria and Jordan. I had been pestering them to come to the Middle East since I first started traveling there in 2004. I absolutely adore the Middle East and I have been very fortunate to visit quite a bit of it over the years. We traveled through Syria on our own, using public transport, taxis and occasionally taking people up on their offers to drive us. We met people, drank tea, ate amazing food, saw amazing sites, smoked shisha and had a brilliant time. Other than the odd public protest and rally on a Friday there was absolutely no indication of what was to come. Looking back on it now, I am struck by just how normal everything was.

The Middle East is one of those places that has a bit of a stigma. If you haven't been there, you've probably only ever heard not great things about it. I'm here to shout from the roof tops that it is an awesome place, filled with some of the nicest, most generous, gorgeous people you will ever meet in your life. Not everyone is good, not everyone is bad, some are cheeky, some try it on, some are hilarious and some are downright dodgy. Its people. Its life.  I haven't been back to the Middle East since 2011, work and life commitments haven't allowed it - but I miss it. When I am there I realise how little I need to live and be happy. I meet wonderful people who don't have much offer to give you the little they have. I always come home with an renewed appreciation of just "rich" I am and how little I need. It is my touch stone for reality.  So when I hear people say negative things about Syrian asylum seekers and refugees, I find it really upsetting. I have no doubt these people would rush to feed, clothe and shelter you if the roles were reversed.

Unfortunately, there is only so much I can do all the way over here in Australia. I can donate money to great causes (Salaam Cultural Museum provide first response on-ground support for Syrian refugees in Jordan) and I can tell as many people as I possibly can my stories of Syria. The lovely, but sadly very human side to this disaster; stories of cheeky boys and taxi drivers, the little girls and boys calling out "Marhaba" (hello) and then giggling behind their hands when you respond, the guys roasting nuts who calls out "ahlen wa sahlen" (Welcome). The eye doctor in Damascus who re-opened up his clinic at 9pm after having already gone home so Mum would  have new glasses ready for our departure the next day..... ah. so many stories!!

The other thing I can do, is show them my photos of how Syria was, the craziness of the big cities, the normality of the day to day.  So, so, so many photos! My plan was always to publish a book of photographs from Syria, its one of the reasons I took so many in 2011. So many people have said to me over the years "wow you take an awful lot of photos!"....but looking back on my catalogue of photos from 2011 - I am so happy I took as many as I did and I wish I could go back and take a heap more. Mainly of those amazing people.

I know this is a bit of a sombre post - and it is likely that no one is even reading this (please comment if you are - I'd love to know your thoughts ), but as someone who has spent some time over "there" (and I have so many friends who have spent even longer in Syria and surely have even more stories!!) I just wanted to share my thoughts and to share a little of the Syria that was before all we remember is the Syria of today.

Thanks for stopping by to read my thoughts!
MissFire.
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6 Comments

Turkey-licious!

27/6/2015

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Turkey - what a place! Only one month there and barely touched the surface - but enough to know, I'd go back in a heartbeat.  What can I say about Anatolia? JUST GO. If you have the opportunity, take it. The sites, the food, the people - I can't fault it. We hired a car and drove around, covering just under 4,000 kilometres in a month. Driving in Turkey is not for the faint-hearted, but a liberating way of seeing everything you want, plus all the things you can't see as a package tourist. As an avid photographer, it was perfect allowing stops along the way and seeing things and meeting people we would not have met otherwise.

I like to try and keep these posts brief so I can't include everything we did (a Lot!)... but in short; We flew over the honeycomb peaks of Cappadocia in a hot air balloon, saw the Sama ceremony of the Dervishes, swam in crystal clear waters rejuvenating waters of Cleopatra's pool and ate delicious kebaps all washed down with ice cold Efes beer. We gawped in wonder at the beauty of the Aya Sofia, Ephesus, Troy and Pammukale and tried to take focused shots without a tripod in the underground cisterns, we stood amazed looking at the cliffs of Gallipoli and tried to imagine what was. Turkey really does have something for everyone!

See for yourself below and I'll meet you in Istanbul!

xxMsFire
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So long & Farewell 2014!

18/12/2014

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Normally MsFire is NOT an organised Christmas person; well certainly not organised enough to make cards, buy, make and have presents wrapped BEFORE the big day....except for... THIS YEAR! I decided this was the year I was going to be organised and put into action some ideas I've had brewing in the back of my mind.....

So-part one of that process was to try and work out how to offer my little drawings to more people. Each drawing takes such a long time and is so detailed that sometimes it is very hard to part with them! This got me to thinking; maybe I could offer reproductions of these drawings? maybe people would like them as cards?? My plan was hatched and after a bit of research, I was fortunate to find a lovely local printer South Australia who printed them on recycled paper and right here near my home (support local people!).  When I first received back my proofs from the printers, out of sheer excitement and glee I posted about them on Facebook (I have a tendency to get a bit excited). The response I received was so overwhelmingly positive that I had to print MORE cards! Huzzah, you all ROCK!  The cards have also been a hit at a number of markets I've had on in the last few weeks here in Adelaide.

Moral of the story? I think hard work and organisation may have paid off! Now to be organised enough to draw new designs for next year.....


Here are the four designs (blank interior; and useful for any occasion!)

$4 per card
$20 for a pack of  6 (mixed)

Email me if you'd like to order some- I haven't got many remaining ! (perhaps I can add a virtual shop on my 2015 to do list!).

Also, I'd like to say a massive THANK YOU for following me here on what I can only describe as a really haphazard adventure!  I love hearing from so many of you and your support means a lot to me! Have a very Merry Christmas and a safe end of year. See you in 2015 for more printing/drawing/photography (mis)adventures!

xxMsFire


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    Guadalupe is based in Adelaide South Australia and an avid lover of all things printed (Photography, Art, Printmaking)

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