The last night in the Middle East

Well, this will be the last post from the Middle East, late tomorrow evening we arrive in Bangkok with no hotel booked and smelling really good. The past few days have been exceptionally good. We returned to Damascus from Amman and stayed overnight, went to our favourite Hammam only to find out that Mr. Soap, our preferred half naked fat drunkard who worked at distributing towels and soap, was in prison or 'finished' like his buddy Ahmed put it. Apparently he had had a Johnny Walker or three too many and slapped a man multiple times. Although this was tragic, Gummi and I couldn't help breaking into heavy laughter in the Hammam not because of the mans misfortune but because Ahmed his buddy didn't seem all that surprised at Mr Soaps fate.
Anyway, so much for him, we traveled north to Aleppo by bus and were quite impressed. We visited the citadel and there we met a couple from America but currently living and working in Prague. After the usual courteous and predictable exchanging of introductions we found out that the two were fun and interesting and we have actually been with them since. They hadn't anticipated extending their Mediterranean tour to Syria and had little idea of what it in fact was that they wanted to do here so we joined forces and I must say I've grown quite fond of them.
We four wanderers then took a train from Aleppo to Latakia, a vibrant coastal town, and there we stayed for two days. The first night we were in the mood for a little clubbing so we set off in search for some disco frisco but weren't satisfied. We then hailed a cab and after having waved our hands about like fools (as if we were dancing) he understood and off we went. After about half an hour he then pulled up many kilometres north of Latakia at the Cote D'Azur Cham Palace resort, the equivalent of an Intercontinental or Sheraton and let us out. We waltzed into the hotel, asked if there was a club & we were told there wasn't, but there was a bar. Our spirits having taken quite a beating, we gave up and sipped gin & tonics for extreme prices (approximately 3,2$ for a healthy glass) and talked the night away.
The following morning we woke up early and went back to the Cote D'Azur, back to the Cham Palace Hotel and into the beach resort they have. The sun was shining bright and on the beach we lazed, swam, did some jet ski, read... it was good. Our path then lead to the Krak des chevaliers, an amazingly intact castle on a hill in Syria, just north of the Lebanese border. The castle was amazing, can't describe it.
Finally we all head back south to Damascus, spent some good nights here, walking the old town like we live here, familiar with corners and faces. It is a bit sad to leave because we have both grown used to the climate, people, constant bombardment of 'welcome to syria' & all the other jive from this part of the world. But alas, seven hours in the UAE and a long flight is all that is between us and S. E. Asia.

Behave & I hope things are all running like they ought to be, pictures will be coming up on Facebook eventually just because it's easier than to upload them on Flickr, and Til Hamingju med afmaelid fina mamma min!

Love

Rutur