An Exotic Trip to Morocco: 10 Things to Do

"The more you learn, the less you fear."

We set off to Morocco with trepidation. After all, it had a terrorist bomb in 2011, friends gave advice like "trust no one", "bring diarrhea pills", and "don't go out at night".

We booked transport from our raid and lucky we did or we wouldn't have found the hotel. There isn't any signboard and Raid Lapis was hidden in one of those holes in the wall! As our black van squeezed into the alleyway, dark characters hung around the streets aimlessly, leaning against the wall, their eyes peering into the van. I gripped my bag, despite being safe inside the van. Our adventure begins....

When we pushed open the doors of Raid Lapis Lazuli in Marrakech, we gasped. It was silent, with the sound of water trickling, the interior bathed in a blue glow. Decorated with Arabian lamps and richly coloured and patterned rugs likely from local cooperatives, i felt like i am Jasmine in Aladdin.

Raid Lapis has only 9 rooms, so it was a very intimate stay. It looked so luxurious, with its royal interior design, but only costs less than SGD 70 a night.

Without a sharp eye, you would totally miss the entrance to this hideout!

To sum up this exotic trip, here're my takeaways:

1) Enjoy the Sun
You need to enjoy the sun, otherwise it would be miserable complaining about the heat all the time. I thought for a conservative, arabian country, i should cover up. It isn't necessary in Marrakech as it is mostly tourists. The locals are used to seeing skin on the tourists so you wouldn't feel uncomfortable. However, it is good to be culturally sensitive and not wear clothes that reveals deep cleavages, butt cheeks or cracks. A hat and constant application of sunblock will be needed.

Drained from the heat

2) Get Lost in Medina
Don't expect to find your way back the first time round, especially if your hotel is embedded in the Medina. Thus, make your way back a good 2 hours before sun sets so you can be confident and not afraid. It was a little nerve wrecking for us when dark fell and we were still walking in circles. Everyone wanted to "help" us but we were warned by our raid on arrival "not to trust anyone".

Otherwise, the Medina is an exciting place to spend afternoons just winding in and out of the alleys, checking out nooks and crannies. It is chaotic and can get unpleasant if you let the incessant touts get to your nerves. Keep calm and avoid eye contact. 
With an open mind, you'll discover many odd items for sale!

Loose teeth and dentures for sale!

Keep spare change in your pockets as every thing you photograph, if attached to a human, the human'll hound you for payment. Best is to press 1 EUR into their outstretched hand and quickly scurry away if you snapped a picture. This guy with the monkey was quickly approaching me like a debt collector.

The touts will try to wrangle up to 20 Euros from you for a picture, so indeed it is wise to only keep small change in your pocket. So you could pull out your pockets and shrug "that's all i have, man". We got away with plenty of pictures in our camera with the SAME expression (because we froze in fear) for 10 Euros, which in our opinion was abit too much but ooookay (shrugs).

Snake Photobomb.

Once you get accustomed to everyone in the Medina extorting money from you, you will actually enjoy the Medina. The ugliest characters are at the Snake Charmers Square where they can incessantly bug you. However, when sun sets on the square, elaborate food stalls set up shop and evening games and performances happen.

Stand around for tea and date cake

Move away from the square, you find souks selling to locals and tourists all sorts of local produce as well as Arabic fashion items and souvenirs.

 

Move even further away, you'll find the koran school for some culture immerse. Get lost and you'll see the local life.

Koran school.

 

The barber

Roadside "glue"

A word of caution: Just as we stepped out of the Koran school, a local greeted us and told us there is a 1 day festival that is going on right now at a short distance away. He asked us to check out the Berbers selling their ware at this festival. It is only once a year that they make their way down to the city. We showed interest and this man suddenly called out to another man who was passing by pushing his bicycle and said, "You're in luck! He's on his way to his work and he'll pass by the festival, he can lead you there!" Then he spoke in some other language to the bicycle man and we began to follow. We kept our distance from the bicycle man, all the time discussing behind his back if this feels right. The bicycle man who was supposedly on his way to work was very cautious that he doesn't lose us. That's when we felt it didn't look right and we made an attempt to ditch him. He actually came chasing after us, persuading us it is worthwhile to go check this "festival" out.

We later asked other tourists along the way if there was a festival in that direction they came from, they said no, but a tannery is in the vicinity. We later counter-checked with our hotel, there is no such "festival" and usually the tactic of these tanneries is that they lure tourists there and they coerce you into buying some expensive fabric before allowing you to leave.

3) Eat Couscous
Because we were advised not to take salads (because of the unclean water that might give diarrhea), the only way to get some vegetables is couscous. It is the staple of Moroccan cuisine, you'll find it everywhere.

4) Try Tanjia
Only in Marrakech, Tanjia is meat stewed in a clay jar like the picture below.  Don't mix it up with the other popular favourite Tanjine.

Balancing a cow's head

The meat is super tender and all that gravy from the meat (and nothing else) is so flavorful! The Tanjine can be easily found in all restaurants, perhaps catering to the tourists. Leaving the Tanjia to be found at the local food stalls. We did the cautious tourist thing, which is to stay off street food but we gave in one evening. After analyzing the surroundings, the people at this make-shift stall and got convinced by the friendly tout.

We picked Stall 20 at the Snake Charmers Square and it was a delightful meal! At a 1/3 of what we usually pay at restaurants. We waited jittery for a stomach upset but nothing happened! Relieved and wishing we had ate more at street stalls to save money.

5) Eat Tanjine and Drink Tea

This, is the Tanjine. A typical Moroccan dish. It tastes quite like the Tanjia. Both are equally good. Having tried Tanjine all over Marrakech, i must say our Riad Lapis Lazuli serves the BEST tanjine! You don't have to be a hotel guest to dine there, but reservations are necessary as they are made to order.

Chicken tanjine with prunes for a sweet tender flavour

For an authentic experience, you have to drink tea. All.The.Time.

Moroccan tea, with mint and 3 sugar cubes (they don't understand "make it less sweet please") is the recipe to the infamous after-meal drink. Tradition has it that, the man of the house serves the guests tea as a code to non-verbally signify how important this guest is. The higher he pours from the kettle, the more foam it creates in the cup. The more foam there is, the more important this guest is.

6) Visit a Hammam
Want to know what it feels like being sandpapered? Not to be missed for an authentic experience. Read my very descriptive review and get a hammam address here.

7) Travel with a Berber
We took a 3 day 2 night package from Marrakech to Fes through the Sahara with Morocco Excursions and that truly completed the experience. Initially, we found 350 euros each for the excursion (accommodation, transport and selected meals are included) was pretty hefty. Furthermore, i was a little miffed that the meals (all but one in the desert camp) were medicore, with extra small charges here and there (attraction entrance not included), and sneaky visits to spots we feel obliged to tip (the aegan oil cooperative, well dwellers). However, reasoning the distance traveled while we slept in peace while Omar drove for hours straight, the amazing insights he could give us as a local guide and the convenience and flexibility of having our private vehicle and tour, every cent was worth it. Besides, after seeing the area, i was happy to be able to contribute to their livelihood with the minimal tips we gave. The extra charges were unavoidable and it wasn't like the agency and Omar were trying to rip us off.

He endearingly calls us Mohammad and Fatimah, enthralled us with many local culture stories like arranged marriages, proposals and the likes.

With Omar our guide and the epic winding roads.

Camel crossing.

Camels are used in marriage proposals and can be the deal breaker. Thus Omar needs to save up for camels before he can propose to his girlfriend of 3 years. Each camel is worth 1500 euros, compared to a goat at 100 euros. When Omar's sister got married, the family received 5 camels. 1 camel can feed a family for slightly more than a month. Camels are akin to the Chinese's abalone, bird's nest and all that expensive stuff.

Ignorant me didn't know Atlas actually exist. I always thought it was the fancy name of my Geography textbook. The picture above is me and yours truly. 

                            

Fossils for sale

We make many pit stops throughout the High Atlas mountains for photo taking and visiting UNESCO site Ait Benhaddou Kasbah. 

8) Encounter a Desert Trader

The Berber Kasbah, used by many international film makers, was also one of the more important fortress strongholds on the old Salt Road where caravans brought slaves, gold, ivory, salt and silk from Saharan countries to Marrakech and beyond.

We had the luck to meet one of the traders! 

                           

He graciously invited us into his musty shop, filled with all sorts of trinklets. We knelt down on a rug as he enthralled us with stories of his travels. 

The Southern Cross

Want to know how to find your way in the desert? This is a typical Berber jewelry that doubles up as a compass in the desert!

An ancient compass

Ancient jewelry

Not looking very expensive to me, not shiny nor glittery but it is supposedly valuable. Used as dowry for brides. 

His shop has hundreds of trinkets, that he was expecting us to fancy at least one. Unfortunately, while they were all super interesting with stories that surely will be dinner time conversation, they were either too big, not my style or contains designs that look suspiciously religious. Not to say, they aren't exactly cheap either. We didn't have much cash with us (waiting to get an ATM), so it was very difficult to make an offer. He was desperate to make a sale, to the extent of asking us to search our bags for anything to trade! Medicine or chilli even!

It was like history come alive, with an encounter with one of the desert traders. 

9) Live in the Game of Thrones

Because our tour with Morocco Excursions is private, we could customize the itinerary and made a request to stop by the Atlas Studio where films like Hills Have Eyes, Cleopetra, Asterix and more have been made.

It's the Hollywood of Africa as it is a cheaper destination for film making. Its like a ghost town, but all the better for photography! I love film sets because they look SO real despite all of it is styrofoam and empty shells. 

A film set for a BBC documentary set in ancient times

10) Ride a Camel, Eat a Camel & Sleep in the Desert
You can't go to the Sahara without getting a desert  experience. Initially, i was a little disappointed that we weren't trekking half of the journey towards Fes on a camel. I was glad the tour agency knew better and got us a 1 hour camel trek to the desert camp where we stayed a night before returning the same way.

Riding a camel in the Sahara for an hour was just right. We were fortunate the sun wasn't scorching but the sky was overcast that day. It wasn't too comfortable for males, but it was ok for me. I wasn't quite used initially to see sand dunes as "scenery",  i wished there were colours to make a postcard picture. However i soon got used to this atypical beauty and became humbled by Creation, how incredible it is to live.

Dinner at the desert camp was surprisingly DELISH! For a camp that is in the middle of the Sahara, with no proper supply of water or fire, the Berbers certainly cooked up a feast that was SO SATISFYING.

Fellow tourists as companions for the night

It was a pretty rough and tough experience, with no showers but with passable toilets (stinking, no less) and sink. Most of us woke up in the same clothes we went to sleep in. The "room" we slept in were heavily cladded with rugs that makes it wind and sound proof. It was pretty difficult to fall asleep because it was musty and stuffy. When i eventually did, it was time to wake up to catch the sunrise. Hardly an accommodation to get sexy, but a memorable experience to do at least once.

The Berbers made up for the tough sleeping conditions with lively music with local instruments and cajoling us to sing-along after dinner.

Finally, before leaving Morocco, i had to try camel meat. It wasn't too expensive, i was expecting it to be after hearing it as a prized asset. It tastes like beef, but humptier. Ordered it as tanjine so it was super tender.

Morocco, for anyone with a sense of adventure.

Best of Me

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If i'm like Lego, there have been various builders in my life who created who i am. Other than the obvious, like family, there have been various people i met at different life stages who moulded me unknowingly. Unfortunately, i'm not in touch with any of them now. Some remain just Facebook friends.

Different stages of life via passport photos

This blog post is to immortalise memory, a silent tribute to the ones who made the best of me. 

Teachers. It is a noble profession, even if he/she go into the profession for other reasons other than nurturing. Even the teachers who berrate me in all my education years, i'm grateful to them for sparking thoughts in what i want when i grow up. One looked like a rat and was so mean. The other walked like a duck and her breasts hung like papayas. She likes predicting our future careers. Road-sweepers for the students who aren't scoring well. 

Poly days

Then there are the teachers who patiently explain repeatedly when i just don't get the math. Or the teacher who took us out for Pizza Hut, KFC or Swensens when we weren't even performing in our exams. They taught me how i would want to teach my child. With love, grace and kind words. 

I grew up and landed my first job. I was earning $1600 & i had alot of external meetings that happens in cafes. I usually drink water that is free. My manager noticed and since then, a drink was always placed in front of me, paid by her. She taught me generosity, and i pay it forward to my executives now that i'm a manager.

Then i had that supervisor who replaces "fuck" or "shit" with "Mango" when he swears. He touched my heart by occasionally telling me true human stories. Stories with human triumph, that reminds me my purpose in life. 

The friend who advised me to buy my life insurance at 19, the same friend who told me to earn the Australian bank's interest, the colleagues who taught me the art of office politics, all these people made me who i am today and brought me to where i am today. 

People cross paths for a reason, and we ought to make the best of all relationships.

Julie's, the biscuit and snacks manufacturer is calling the public to submit their personal stories of people, things, or experiences that have brought out the best in time via the website www.the-best-of-you.com

All stories will culminate in an exhibition to be held end of Oct. This movement is to celebrate family ties and social acceptance. Submit your stories in any manner or form like poems, quotes, films or even music. Physical items can also be accepted. Who or what made #TheBestofYou? 

My sexy picks of Youtube

Sharing my wicked favourites, unfortunately or fortunately for some, they are all going with the same theme! Sex. 







I find them sooooo funny!

Ending off with a little self-promotion. Without sex.

Roadtrippin' with Peace

Four years ago, I had an accident. When it happened, my heart was gripped in fear. Then a wave of relief overcame me, there was no bodily harm to me nor my passenger. I then felt helpless, I didn't know what to do. Where do I go from here, what do I do with my totalled car? Where is my wallet - I didn't take it out…?!

Making it even worse, I wasn't wearing a bra because I thought it was only a quick ride out of the house and back.

I felt HELPLESS.

The memory of what came after is vague - the trauma may have forced that unpleasant accident out of memory. After that, I had a fear. Not of driving - although I’m extra cautious and patient now - but I have a fear of driving out of Singapore. Fearful that if the same had happened, what would I do! That makes me feel so handicapped - I have a car but am unable to cross the borders and enjoy food, massage and shopping at half price. I have a fear of driving without someone else around, preferably a male, who would know what to do in case an accident happens again. It irks me to be a weak female since I strive to be empowered. 

So i signed up for a drive tour to Lake Kenyir end of this month! Safety in numbers, right? We'll be driving in a convoy and making pit stops along the way for local delicacies before ending up in a beach resort. Just like how I got over my fear of water by taking a diving license, I’m doing a drive tour across the borders soon to overcome my driving trauma. 

The reward.

My dad is a believer of insurance, and his mindset has been passed on to me. Except that he doesn't buy any insurance for me - it is apparently something I have to plan for my own! Having bought life insurance, medical and travel insurance, I realize none of them are customizable - but all are something run of the mill.

My friend Estelle invited me to an event recently and I have just gotten to know about AXA Smart Drive, the first customized car insurance. Allowing flexibility in what works for you and not having to pay what you don't need.

Even Estelle Kiora and Irene Ang got excited at the launch of AXA customized motor insurance. 

This customizable brainchild came about after AXA surveyed 1208 customers. Thanks to them who spoke their minds, AXA listened and now offers consumers the freedom to pick and choose benefits on top of value bundled offers. Convenience and customization is like having your cake and eating it too!

How it works:

1. Pick a basic plan.

It's like "do you want thin crust, thick crust or crust with filling as a pizza base"?

There are 7 to choose from, and I would choose the AXA SmartDrive For Her. After all, I won't deny that I can't repair any part of my car to save my life if there is a breakdown.

2. Add on Value-Added Packs.

Like economy rice at the food court, choosing meat will always make the final price more expensive. Not needing meat? Don't choose meat then and pay lesser for your meal. If my Lake Kenyir road trip is successful, I would love to take more road trips across the borders. With the Overseas Protector, it will be an extra boost of confidence!

The Claims Protector and Duo Protector seems like a must-have to have maximum protection too. Family protector even comes with monthly allowance in case of permanent disablement! I currently have a separate permanent disability insurance plan in which I pay about $500 annually. With the AXA SmartDrive, I will drive my money further if i chose the Family Protector value-add. A 2-in-1!

FLY ENTERTAINMENT artistes Henry Golding, Max Loong, Bobby Tonelli and Rebecca Tan test out their driving skills so they can determine what type of value-adds they would likely need!

3. More Add-ons

Still not satisfied? There are 11 more add-ons to pick and choose, ala carte style. I think it would be good to pick phone assistance and roadside support (as per earlier experience), and do without a courtesy car in Singapore. This would keep the final cost low if that is desired. At the same time, add-ons include personal accident sum insurance too! That means more assurance for my loved ones.

Are celebrities Bobby Tonelli and Henry Golding spotted at the AXA launch considered add-ons too? Hehehe.

Whatever your needs are as a driver, you can customize a plan with AXA SmartDrive that will provide adequate protection for you, your car and even family. A first customizable insurance in Singapore. Choose from AXA's range of core plans, value-added packs and add-ons at their website. Contact your AXA agent for tailored coverage while you drive.

I'll keep you updated on my first driving trip :)

Time-Freeze on Ageing

If you don't want to be looking like a bulldog, try the new cryotherapy facial treatment at award winner Porcelain Face Spa, also my sponsor for 3 years now.

The use of low temperatures have been prominently used in medical therapy to destroy abnormal or diseased tissue. Now, Porcelain Face Spa harnesses this technology to slow down the effects of facial aging by leveraging freeze therapy to create a painless but effective facial that restores firmness, tone and radiance.

First, treatment starts with double cleansing without exfoliation. I breathe in and relax, as her supple cool hands massage my face to stimulate circulation and remove surface impurities. Nothing beats getting your face massaged gently by someone else.

Then my favourite Balance serum (or another selection upon analysis of your skin) is applied using the cyrostamp. The cyrostamp is this tool with little tiny pricks, you feel it but it's not painful.

The cyrostamp + serum improves skin tone and texture, lightening acne scars. Porcelain Face Spa is a salon that focuses alot on acne, knowing in our humid environment, many of us suffer from acne.

Then, cyro-electrophoresis is used to increase absorption of the serum by 80-99%. I had to hold this rod while having the cyro-electrophoresis tool roll around my face.

Cryotherapy entails the use of extremely cold temperatures of up to -10 degrees to chill the skin surface. This sets off a process known as vaso constriction, which causes the skin regeneration. This in turn stimulates vasodilation and microcirculation in the skin, resulting in cell oxygenation and toxin elimination.

Treatment is then finished off with a custom blended mask and shoulder massage. No facial is complete without massssssage.  

This facial is suitable for people who have uncomplicated medical history and non-problemati skin. It can be done as a maintenance facial to stimulate collagen production, reduce puffiness, eye bags and fine lines.

I had the misconception that such treatments only start at 40, but i was educated that skincare starts young. Better safe than sorry!

--> The Cryotherapy Facial ($250, 75 minutes) is available exclusively at Porcelain, the Face Spa, located at 15 Cantonment Road. Please call 6227 9692 to make an appointment.