Sláinte...

I'm here now, typing this from the Travelodge hotel in Ballymun, Dublin. It's kind of weird here to live without AC but only a heater - while the window doesn't permit much cold air in, and permits lot of noise from the main street. Anyway, it is just one night and I'm off.
I think I will be heading to the airport early. My flight is around 11 a.m. but I will check out from here around 8 a.m. and who knows what kind of traffic jams waiting on the road anyway.
As soon as I arrived here I had to get some deodorants from a pharmacy adjacent to the hotel (lucky me!), as my socks and shoes and about everything in me just sucks big time after yesterday's adventure! I'm going to use those deodorants with them and hopefully it will work, temporarily at least.
Tomorrow is the goodbye day to Ireland...

Slán Éirinn, beidh tú a mheabhrú i gcónaí

Dublin, again... Goodbye Ireland.

Here I am, in Dublin again, getting ready to get back home by the morrow. I'm in the usual hotel, the Travelodge in Ballymun. Today the connection has been awful, or should I say my laptop had been awful. So I better wrap this as quick as possible.

I couldn't post yesterday because I was in Cahir House Hotel, and the connection is only available in the lobby and not in the rooms. However, I had sort of a busy day yesterday in Cahir. Once arrived I didn't spare a minute and went on directly to take out my stuff from the luggage again and the backpack. The camera, tripod and the VR-head. I was planning mainly for 2 panoramas only but then I found myself taking 3 panoramas and more single images. Some little panoramas were added later on even, when I got out of the castle.

The stairs inside the castle were about to suffocate me. Despite the fact that I went there in this chilly weather, I decided not to wear my jacket just to make my movements a bit easier inside the tunnels there and on the narrow stairs. Well, this did work a little, but never the less, walking around with a backpack and a tripod and VR-head was not easy either, adding my camera bag of course. On the top of the castle I took a 360 panorama (not spherical, only horizontal line) for a general view of the town from there. Although I raised the pole of the tripod to the max, the edge of the wall was still obvious in the view. I think I will have to accept it that way and then cut it out when I stitch the panorama together, hopefully.

I'm so concerned about the extra weight of my luggage and I'm thinking of reducing the weight significantly, but unfortunately, seems this is not possible. I'm afraid also to remove the gifts (that weigh maybe 1 kg in total) to my backpack and make some problems for myself before boarding. I was thinking of getting a new case to divide my stuff in between the two, but anyway, no shops for such things near by so I have to get a cab or a bus and I'm totally exhausted now. All I want to do is close my eyes and wake up at morning and be ready to take off. Seems no escape from paying extra for the extra weight.

Coat of arms, on the walls of Cahir Castle.

Goodbye Ireland. Hope this won't be my last time here. I will take off tomorrow, by 11:20 Irish time, that is 1:20 noon in Kuwait. And will arrive technically, after 12 hours! Tiresome day is awaiting... . Bye!

Dublin, 2010.

Here we are, in Dublin again after one year, and after a tiresome trip to Istanbul then to here. I reside now in Travelodge hotel in Ballymun, Dublin, the same place I stayed in for one day before my leave last year.
I'm so tired, and discovered there is no shampoo in the room here, but since I stink, I had to take a shower just as it is and put some mousse to pull my fussy hair back. I think I've taken a lot of clothes this year; unnecessary. The weather in Dublin is nice though, not so cold and not HOT or HUMID! The problem though with this hotel so far is the noise outside. The window is not much of a muffler.

I'm not so much interested in the city life and I can hardly find something (providing that I do have the mood to go outside!) to take a picture of, thus I don't think I will be working on my camera. Or maybe I shall try the bulb mode this time. It is noteworthy to mention that the Bulb mode in Canon EOS 7D is fixed in a separate mode on the dial and not like my old 350D, when it was merged originally within the Manual mode.

By tomorrow, hopefully, I'll be leaving to Cahir; a town in Co. Tipperary, not far away from Cashel, my final destination. In Cahir, hopefully there are more things to capture with the camera. There is a long way waiting for me on the railway heading to Cahir. Maybe I should leave by the early morning to have enough time for the rest of the day (and also to look for an hotel to stay for one night there).

I didn't change the time on my laptop, but only on my mobile (which doesn't have an Irish sim card yet) and my watch. I hate to change all the clocks. So far so good, and tomorrow will be a new day...

Alexander 6, V69.

The heaviest part now is gone. I've booked my place in the B&B in Ireland, and now just waiting for the receipt. Next step now is to work on the tickets and the visa. I think I will pick the Turkish airlines this time as well, like last year. I wouldn't bear sitting for like 12 hours in the airplane in one line from Abu Dhabi to Dublin!

I was supposed to this phone call to book the place since last Thursday but my laziness did not allow it to happen! Anyway, after calling several times today, it went through later on. They told me they will call me at 10 O'clock, which is like 12 O'clock for me. I was hesitated to get busy with anything fearing that they might call (in like 20 minutes from my first call), but then I couldn't help it and I fell asleep on the couch to recharge my batteries to get back home later! They called however after almost one hour or so and thank God I didn't yawn while doing this!

After some back pains yesterday and putting many sprays and a sticker, which reduced the pain a bit, I had to take one Cataflam pill to put down the pain and sleep, and the effect lasted until this morning and I barely woke up. Well, I slept in the office which is normal by now with or without any medicine!
I've been surfing the net thinking seriously of getting a VR head now, and calculating what possibilities I have in here and there. There are many stuff, but mainly one brand that got my attention and that was Novoflex. They got plenty of types in various prices, but nevertheless, not cheap to an average user like me!

 

Something like this is what I need for decent panoramas.

Now, I'm hoping and wishing that I would be able to buy this and get it before going to Ireland. The main awkward point is, for such tripod heads, the weight is always a matter of concern. The above head for example may weight almost 1 kilogram. Not something sweet in your bag containing your camera tools. You would already have a similar weight from the lenses in your bag.

My lab panorama is still under attack with my approaches and yesterday's trial with SmartBlend plugin didn't work out. It is baffling for now and seems no escape from doing a heavy job in Photoshop for correcting the stitching errors. Meanwhile, I do want to work more on the previous images taken from Ireland, and also to play some games that I've downloaded and forgot!

 __________
1633. Alexander asked Biryári: and what shall be done there?
1634. Biryári replied: I could not understand the texts clearly,
1635. but the words say "and the red haired hero shall be there,
1636. where the three moons stand upon the mounts, he will be there,
1637. and to the help he shall come, as he always did and does"
1638. and the only place I know where the moons are like that,
1639. is the valley of peace where the moons remain on mounts
1640. Alexander asked then: and text did not mention who to help?
1641. but the old man nodded with his head for the opposite
1642. Alexander then requested some guidance from Biryári
1643. and Biryári wished to travel with the hero as a guide
1644. but the hero refused that and said: O good old man,
1645. if you come with me to there, who shall feed your wife?
1646. give me the way and I shall try it myself O good man
1647. and back to his reason and mind, Biryári agreed
1648. so Biryári guided Alexander to the Ring Mountains
1649. where they lie at the eastern boundaries of the forest
1650. and Alexander asked Biryári: are there lot of creatures?
1651. then Biryári said: none occurred to me while I work,
1652. but be careful of anything when night time comes,
1653. always settle down and keep a fire burning
1654. thus Alexander asked: and how to make a fire there?
1655. and Biryári smiled and said: you forgot that I am a woodsman?
1656. then Biryári helped the hero to get ready for the trip

Alexander 6, V66.

Feeling like chilling out today. No work on my Ayvarith, no nothing. Well, except of some sample preparation, so just to say I was not idle all the day actually.
Generally, the paperwork for the Ayvarith part of Alexander 6 is over now, i.e. I don't have to face the papers and type down words and other stuff into my documents. But, I have to refer back to them from time to time to correct some mistakes, and not only in papers, but even in the transliteration that I've made already. The document that I've just made right now, contains 12 pages of new words and additions or fixes notes for the present dictionary, but before adding that, as I said I have to correct the main thing in Alexander 6 transliteration, and also, I have to change the transliteration system in the already existing dictionary, where I'm starting to use the letter "ŧ" and "ħ" for the usual Ayvaric words, instead of borrowed words. That also means I have to flip back the words that already use such characters for other sounds, and make them use the underline instead.
Too much fuss going on and just thinking about it now makes me numb really. I want to relax now. But my relaxation is not so complete, because I have to plan for my vacation. I'm putting the pieces together and I don't want to push my luck further like last year when I was in a hurry to catch up with the trains and spent more than 20 hours without a decent nap! This time, I'm spending one day in every stop, and also hoping for more views to enjoy. Although Co. Tipperary is south a bit from Dublin and the distant is not (virtually) as far as Galway, but the trip to there seems tiresome. I've made my mind to settle in a B&B like the last year, a place called Thornbrook House. It is a place around the village of Cashel, and as the description says, it is few minutes walking away from the Cashel Rock, where one of my teachers told me and showed me some old castle there that went into ruins. My plan, if gone correctly, should be like this:

• 28/9 - To Dublin - rest.
• 29/9 - Railway to Cahir - rest. (a junction change is required as it seems and the way is not directly to Cahir).
• 30/9 - Going out by a cab or something from Cahir to Cashel where I shall stay.
• 14 days shall follow.
• 14/10 - Leave the place and head back to Cahir to stay.
• 15/10 - Get from Cahir to Dublin and stay for a night.
• 16/10 - Fly off.

Beside this plan, I must make out some essential papers for the visa and that thing is getting on my nerves a bit. Why it's not easy to get a visa in this area? Anyway, I'll manage.

My car is still in the garage after one month and one week, and one day. No news about it at all, and every time I call the sickening garage, no one answers. You think I will get it after getting backfrom vacation? I hope so...
Did you notice that the title is composed of "666" ? Yep, that's how I feel today...
__________
1561. Alexander then asked the old man of the white beard
1562. "and how this Cadid became like this? and why he attacked me?"
1563. thus Biryári answered: Cadid lives within you wherever you go,
1564. it only leaves your body in two ways known to me,
1565. either you succeeded to conquer your cruelty,
1566. and that made him mad so he attacked you,
1567. or he can be out of you with rituals,
1568. but sooner or later he shall be back to the body
1569. Alexander then asked: and what shall I do with him now?
1570. the old man said: killing him is the solution as I see it
1571. but Alexander refused and said: no, something inside me says no
1572. and Biryári then smiled and said: it is but your kind heart that said no,
1573. and after defeating your own Cadid, thus you are free of darkness,
1574. I see you tightened him like a slave already,
1575. thus I suggest you take him as a slave for your ways
1576. and Alexander thought that it is indeed a good idea
1577. then he said to the old man: but is he safe to be with?
1578. and Biryári answered: with some time, he will be tamed,
1579. just like your own twin walking with you wherever you go,
1580. but his animal side shall remain as it is I presume,
1581. but at least he can be of no harm to you later
1582. and Alexander accepted the advice of the old man
1583. and decided to make his own Cadid a slave
1584. he might be of enormous help in this world

Here I Go...

In Few hours from now... I will be heading to Ireland, via Istanbul, Turkey. I pray it is an easy going trip and the airports that I have to land in won't be busy and crowded. I made the online check-in and from the first glance at the seats available... it seems like the airplane is empty and I'm traveling alone in the economy class! There was some registered seats before I come in, but they all seem to be for the plane security. I heard they hide themselves as citizens! Anyway, let's hope my stuff won't go on missing or anything.

After waiting in Istanbul for 4 hours, I will fly then to Dublin and there I have to take the railway to Galway and there I'm going to take some taxi or anything to the place where I intend to stay. My estimation is that I'm going to reach the place by the evening. The thing is, I have to call my place and check the availability of my room because I'm arriving 2 days before the assigned booking. They told me it should go OK anyway since not much are having a vacation at this time of the year! Let's see.

Fáilte Romhat go Éirinn!

Blackened Image

After being absent yesterday, I tried my best to come early today, as usual, although I've slept almost like none hours. Today, I decided not to bring the big envelope where I keep the papers for Alexander's story and its translation. By this, I'm trying to dedicate more time for my story. Things been slow... so damn slow. I decided to stop fasting for the time being, trying to get more of my energy re-collected hoping that it would help me in the process of writing.

Nightmares of car accidents had been chasing me all the week, and today was no exception. Even though with such dreams, I don't like driving "more safely" at all! Today even was an extra exception, when suddenly I felt the rage inside of me and kept on pushing the accelerator to the max, and if it wasn't for the speed cameras I wouldn't have used the brakes at all. Although it is usual for me to be mad like that in the early hours of the morning because of the stinky drivers I meet daily, but today it was something else that I couldn't understand... a rage like for no reason... or maybe it is a direct effect for my bad sleeping habit. I think I'm going insane soon if I didn't go on vacation soon. The diarrhea is another story as well. I think it is connected to my sleeping. I think my digestive system is not working well because it doesn't take the break it needs while I'm sleeping. I feel just so weak! Well... I'm weak already...

I think I had put the final touch for the first chapter of the story right now. The name I settled for right is "Blackened Image," but yet, this is subject to change later on. Then I think I shall name the first chapter as "The End Begins..." where the "end" here denotes death itself. I don't know yet if what I wrote is long or short, but I think I will write more to it later on when it comes to reviewing again and again. Writing is indeed not an easy task at all... this is a word from a beginner like me.

Meanwhile, I've been trying to work on a new poem... I got the title which was inspired out of nothing... yet, I can't tell what the topic of the poem would be! The title is settled for "Over The Dandelion."

I can foresee some hard days coming work-wise. My colleague is announced to be in a 60 days leave without any notification. In fact, there is a notification. The notification arrived by post from the admins office today, announcing that my colleague is indeed on a leave starting from 18th of July. If she is supposed to be on a leave (automatically) and not attending work, then how she's supposed to be reading the post? Would it be delivered to her house? Come on... this is Kuwait. Talk about Stupidity and it comes right away to your door! :)
The consequences of such matter is that, I have to handle the matters in the center alone. The most behated part in all of this is, answering phones and dealing with papers which she took the burden of. As for me, it was OK for me to go under this sun to any desired destination (almost), but I just hate answering the phone. I think I have some kind of a phobia against it, specially after the many trials that I passed regarding my hearing abilities. Ah well... life goes on... .

I got happy news today! The DHL service called me to re-collect my passport back from the Irish embassy. Can't wait to get back home and see it. I have to pay something like KD20.800 as fees for the Cash-On-Delivery service, but who cares now. I'm almost done with everything. All what I need to do for now I guess, is pack and get prepared for some tiny details. It's going to be a tiresome trip just to reach Dublin. I think I have to book some tickets as well from now, to take a plane from Dublin to Galway, or might as well do it whenever I arrive into Dublin by the Metro. The return of the passport now is not necessarily an indication that I was accepted a Visa, but I don't think I'm going to be refused one!