Hanjosan on Flikr

I like this. I don't like women being used as pawns by the French government.

Cambridge Beer Festival - This is definitely the best beer there.

Cream tea

Summer things

Boating past ducks yesterday

Snuggling up

Today I went to give blood for the first time, but it turned out my veins were too thin for the needle. I also chose a house to move into.

I didn't do anything today except house-hunting, but here is something I like.

Himmlisch ist's, wenn ich bezwungen
Meine irdische Begier;
Aber doch wenn's nicht gelungen,
Hatt' ich auch recht hübsch Plaisir

Look at these great pizzas I made.

OH MY GOD SO YUMMY OM NOM NOM NOM NOM

Jordan day 6: The Dead Sea

This was one of the things I was most looking forward to on the trip; floating in the Dead Sea.

"Lot's wife" in the form of the pillar of salt.

There was a pot of the famous Dead Sea Mud by the shore, which people covered themselves top to toe in before washing it off in the water.

Floating in the Dead Sea was amazing and fun, although no-one mentions the fact that the salt water really stings on some sensitive areas. The mud rub does leave your skin feeling great.

Jordan day 6: Dana cave walk

Sunrise at Dana nature reserve.

Salih the guide demonstrating the way the bedouin cave dwellers would use this hand-hold to lean out a watch for enemies.

Yeah I wore sandals and socks, but it was spiky and my trainers were full of sand.

We edged round this ledge on the way to the hidden cave church.

The cave church, hidden away from persecutors of Christians.

A long view of the caves we visited.

All this used to be the bottom of the sea, which I think is quite visible.

A little chameleon that appeared as we ate lunch.

Jordan day 5: Arriving at Dana

We arrived at the eco-camp at dusk.

Jordan day 5: the Red Sea

That's Egypt over there.

Jordan day 4: Wadi Rum

Driving through the village on the edge of the desert.

A nicer way to travel - we were in a 1942 open-back Toyota. The camels would be less bumpy, and surely wouldn't have needed to be rammed by another camel to get started.

A rock with messages from passing merchants, asking other passing merchants the news.

That palm tree is at a spring where Lawrence of Arabia camped.

We climbed to the top of this sand dune, burning our feet.

The mountain appears to be covered in icing, an effect of snow melting down from the top and eroding the rock.

Messages carved into the rock in the gorge.

Feet symbolise a route for travelling merchants. The animal is an ibex.

A long view of the sand dune we climbed.

While having tea in a bedouin tent, one of them started dressing me up in this outfit. I think it's a good look.

The team.

The rock bridge.

My camel - the king of the camels.

Ciaran's camel. Cutie.