Well guys, I've written a long long list like five minute ago and it got deleted accidently when I accidently click on something else. This is something that I hate about this site. When I try to go back to my original page, I lose everything. Grrr....

Okay, I'll just give the basic things that you should know about Morocco.

1$ US = 7.691$

Here are the things you can expect to pay on your trip there.

- A 1.5 liter of water (Sidi Ali brand): 6 diirhams
- A 1 liter of coke: 9 diirhams
- Snack (made in Morocco): 1-4 diirhams
- French bread: 2 diirhams
- A big box of cheese (le vache qui rit): 30-40 diirhams

At the souk:

The rule of shopping there is to bargain. Sellers there tend to double and triple the original price to Moroccans and tourists. Yes you hear me! They even put the price higher to their own people sometimes. Be sure to remember not to go too low or too aggressive on them. Try to get a price you would like to pay. Try to think of a price you would like to pay and not mention to the sellers. Here's a trick: Say you want a decorative tanjine for 15 diirhams, tell them you want it for 10 diirhams. With 10 diirhams, you might get it between 10 diirhams or 15 diirhams. But if the seller ask you to pay 17 diirhams, tend you suggest them 15 diirhams. It usually work but make sure that it's an item you are willing to pay if you are in your country. You don't want to ruin them. Some tourists do that which is very bad for the seller.

I got a little decorative tanjine for 15 diirhams, a camel made of camel skin for 5 diirhams, a small camel made of pencil case for 5 diirhams, a inspired hijab t-shirt for 50 diirhams,etc.

Danger:

Be careful of going out in poor area of the cities and at night especially if you are a girl. Morocco is dominated by men although if you are a man, it does not mean you are safe. You can get robbed or killed at night.

When riding the train at night, make sure to go to a cabin with a family there or in a public place where there's light on. If a family tell you that this cabin is reserved, they are NOT allow to do that. As long as the window door does not have a message saying it's reserve, they do not have the right to reserve it. If you go in, they mostly will let you sit because they know that they can't reserve it.

Typical Moroccan stuff to buy there:

- Eau de rose (a natural parfum made of rose): 35 diirhams (You can get it cheaper at the souk but they are the actual flowers while in the store, they are transform into a perfum)
- Argan soaps: 5 diirhams
- A small decorative tanjine at the souk
- A Moroccan carpet at the souk (At Rabat preferable, they are the main makers of the carpet)
- Moroccan tea sets for mint tea (Super typical =P), you can buy them at the souk.
- A decorative plate (Orange/Blue/Red) at the souk
- Baboush shoes (comes in many colour) at the souk
- Black soap made of essential oil : 35-40 diirhams (It's a soap to help scrub the dead skin off, I advice you to try the hammam there to know what I'm talking about =P)
- A scrubbing glove to scrub the dead skin off: 5 to 15 diirhams

Of course you don't need to buy all of this, I sure didn't buy all that. It is just some things that is a good idea to buy there.

Must try food!

Orange juice: This is something you can not miss! Moroccan juice is one of the best in the world. Totally natural and of so good! Mmmm... I couldn't stop drinking them when I was there. It's cheap too. Around 3 to 6 diirhams a glass. If you are thinking of buying your orange juice in a stand, make sure the seller press the orange in front of you and the glasses are clean. If the stand does not look clean, don't buy it.

Bread: Most of the bread are French style and it's cheaper than France.

Plain Yogourt: It has this natural taste in it and it's good. =P

Moroccan snacks: It's good! Cost around 1 diirham to 4 diirhams. You can buy them at people who sell them. You help them out by buying from them and you can try all kind of candies for less than 7 diirhams. Except the international brand chocolates, they can cost 7 diirhams to 10 diirhams. Make sure they are wrap up.

Moroccan snacks: I showed you a picture of it at Rabat. This is a must try. It can be a hit or miss with you. It was surely a miss with me. I am not a big fan of sugary snack. Again make sure it's from a clean place!

I think that's about it. Feel free to ask me anything. =D

Hey everybody! Here is my last and final batch from Morocco. The food that my friend's mom cook =D

Homemade bread anyone?




Sardine balls mix with sauces and vegetables:



My friend's dad went hunting and bought birds (Dunno how it called in English):




Another of my friend's dad catch:


Tortilla:


Fish!


Yogourt with fruits bought at a shop:


Le rouy cheese bought from a grocery store (It smells really bad but it's so friken good):

Hey everybody! Glad to know that many of you enjoyed the pictures I took ^.^.

Next place: Marrakesh

My friend's sister and I took the train at 4 am in the morning:

View from the inside of the train:




At the cafe:



Marrakesh style breakfast anyone?
Freshly press orange, hot chocolate and yogourt



Everyday life in Marrakesh (A lot of people ride motors or bicycle there because they can't afford a car):


Telephone:


I forgot the name but it looks like a mosque:



Villa:


Where poor people live:


People sitting on the floor at this particular place and wait for someone to hire them for little jobs to do:


Little stores:


Typical Moroccan door:


Fruits seller and little taxi(brownish one):


Police motocycle:


Mohammed VI's garden:


Garbage can:


My camel (You can ride them for around 50 diirhams-70diirhams for a nice ride) around 7 to 10 dollars:


The souk at Marrakesh:









Water givers (they used to be important because they are the one carrying the waters in the old time, to get a drink, we have to pay them a diirham or two if I remember correctly) By the way, don't forget to pay them after taking a picture with them. The minimum 5 diirhams, don't let them force you into giving more and... Never show them a bigger amount than the amount that you plan to give, they will nag you like hell!! =O:


Morocco is famous for their orange juice but becareful where you buy yours, some are unclean. Go to Marrakesh where the seller press the orange in front of you and see if their glasses are clean. A good glass of orange juice cost 3 diirham (~40 cents):


Marrakesh present gare (they built a new one but the new one, it's a surprise once you get there you will see it :


Next batch of pictures will be the Moroccan food at my friend's place =D.

By then, I think I will have enought time tomorrow to talk about the basic things that tousists and travellers should know.

Okay here is the rest of the pictures of places that I've been:

Rabat (The capital of Morocco):

Little taxi (BLUE):


The town:





Forgot the name of the place but it's where Mohammed V, Hassan II and his brother rest in peace:

They are real guards by the way:








Typical Rabat:


Typical Moroccan door:


Snacks anyone? :


Typical Moroccan entrance and I am in this picture:


Shopping!:







Restaurant around the corner:



Gosh... Too much pictures. I am going to post Marrakesh tomorrow if you guys don't mind. Too lazy tonight hehe ^.^' Marrakesh is quite beautiful too =P

By the way, the first part is a little city called Mohammedia. It's between Rabat and Casablanca.

Here are pictures of places that I've been:

The first is Casablanca :

In front of the train gate:


The city:



The little taxi:


Hassan II mosque:



Old style bus:


Pizza (best pizza I've ever taste!):


It is getting late now, my next post will be about Rabat, Marrakesh and the country place. I don't need to work tomorrow so I will have the chance to post everything and even the basic things that tourists and travellers should know. =P

Okay I'm back! Sorry couldn't post it yesterday because my internet was down.

Here a few pictures from my trip :

Where I live, it's an apartement of five floors.

Front of the apartement:


View from the kitchen:


View from the balcony:


Side fron the balcony near the beach:


This is the first part of my entry today. I will promise you guys that I will post more tonight once I finish working. The basic things that tourists and travellers need to know will be up tonight too.

Well it's been a few days since I didn't write anything. Too busy working working and working. I promise to write more for the days to come. Just that I have nothing new except reporting my earnings.

I earn 244.10$ from my last paycheck last Thursday from 30 hours of work. I pay my credit card bill 36.91$ from buying skin lotions. Now I have 207.19$ left with 155$ tips. I am planning 50$ for my phone bill and... possibly a bus card that is going to cost me 45$ this month. That left me with 267$.

When I was in Morocco, I spend approximatly 455.02$ more than I plan on spending which is 1455$. Unfortunatly, I will have to take that out from my Japan trip. Luckily, my tips and my paycheck last week helped me bring that number up and now I have 7693$ on my Japan trip. ^.^ The reason why I overspend by almost 500$ is because I want to enjoy as much as I can there and I want to buy many typical Moroccan stuffs.

My friend keeps telling me to enjoy as much as I can because most of these stuff are either expensive or non-existant in Canada. It's true by the way ^.^! Well the fashion there are much more advance so I bought many of their clothes for less than 20$ each. I got a cute Zara dress for less than 8$ Canadian which was a steal. They have many factories such as Zara,Mango and all many of the European brands even Levis.

In general, the country is very advance in fashion because they are near Europe and they are not as conservative as many thinks. There were women dress like here but to prevent harassement from men, we have to wear a t-shirt that cover our shoulder and a knee lenght skirt or pants.

The things there are not expensive either because of the revenues of the general population. For me, I consider it cheap but for them, it is expensive. My friend's family couldn't afford many typical Moroccan things because of the inflation and they are exporting their product to other part of the world like Europe, Asia and America.

I could talk forever about my trip but now I have to go to work. I will talk more about my trip later and I will post a few pictures up. =D

Hope you all have a good day!

Heey everybody!

I'm back from my trip since last Tuesday but I didn't have the time to write anything because I was busy working, working and working.

I am now at my fifth day of work today and tomorrow will be my last day of work before my break on Wednesday. Then I'm on the row again for five days of work. I don't mind at all since I'm making money right now before I start school. The reason why I got that many hours of work right now is because half of the full-time staff are in vacation... It's a great opportunity to make $$$!! With the money earn this summer, I will save a big chunk of it.

Back to my trip, I had a great time and I learn many interesting things there. It actually put my view in a brand new perspective which I was looking forward to. My friend's mother always keep telling me that the Christina before and after my trip will not be the same again. It's true!! Well how? I don't really know. I feel like I achieved a goal made four years ago and I have mature from this trip. I feel like I know Morocco more than ever and I consider my friend's family as mine.

It's getting late now and I need to wake up early to see travel agencies which I will tell you guys a little later. ;-) On my next post, I will tell you about basic things tourist or traveler needs to know about Morocco. ^.^

Good night!

Here something you guys should look forward to! ;-)

Heey everybody! That day has finally come and I am happy to tell you guys that I take care of everything already for my trip today!

Here are the total of everything:

Flight ticket: 1380$
RBC Insurance: 65$ (all included)
Shot for hepetite A: 85$
Medicines for diarrhea: 27.07$
Money for Morocco: 1000$

Total: 2557.07$

I am going to buy two or three little things at the DollarStore! Can't wait! When I come back, I will tell you all about my trip =D !!

I took my rendez-vous for the shots today for my Morocco trip. I just need to do a shot for Hepetit A and the next one will be in six months. So I have to do two in total which will last for 20 years. It cost me 85$ for the first shot and 27.07$ for the diarrhea pills (in case I get diarrhea there).

I am thinking of taking it out on my conservative clothes. Seeing that I don't need any clothes now for there. I can buy something there to cover myself up if I have to wear something really conservative. For the time being, my friend reassures me that where she lives, they dress more liberally. I can always buy those big scarf too so I won't need to worry.

So far, I spend 45.14$ on shoes. I spend 85$ on hepetit A shot and I spend 27.07$ on pills for diarrhea. So far I spend 157.21$. O.O Man that is A LOT!! I have 42.79$ left. If I can get some money back on my dad's assurance then I will spend less on medication. =P I will keep you guys update on that.

I've been asking Moroccains who come from Morocco about how the people dress. Many and even many recent people who immigrates to Canada all said that the people dress like here. Although, my friend in Morocco said that I can wear clothes from here to there, I need to bring one or two shirts when they go to somewhere where they require conservative clothes.

People who never been to Morocco all tell me to dress super conservatively. For all of you who worries,yes I will bring 1-3 conservative shirts and one or two conservative pants. As I will be living near a beach, I can wear my summerwear. Keep in mind, I don't dress showy like what you think an 18 years old dress like. I dress conservative enought.

Last thursday, I went to Costco to buy a Ombrelle 30 sps extreme sun cream. It's my second bottle for the summer and I will bring them to Morocco too. I figure one bottle isn't enought so I bought two.

For my medical check up, I didn't have the time last Friday because I spend a great deal of time looking at my friend appartement and doing the cleaning in the house. I will probably go tomorrow.

This Friday, I will be going shopping for conservative clothes with my friend. A list will be put up soon probably tomorrow or Thursday.

I decided that I should plan for what I need in Morocco now.

The reason why I buy bikinis is that my friend lives in Mohammedia, a popular beach place in Morocco and she lives near a beach. I only have one bikini so that's why I wanted to buy some more. Three set of bikinis were 148.49$ and I do regret spending that much. The reason why it cost so much is because of my third set of bikini. The two others would make it around 60$ but I wanted the third one because it was cute. It was 70$ the third one... .__." I know I know... I could go look for a cheaper one and the bikini could be on sale two weeks later. Now I can't return the third one...

Anyways, I do need to buy 1-3 conservative tops and maybe... another conservative pant (I have a black loose pant at home) Hopefully, I will spend less than 200$. It will be hard to find conservative clothes since it's almost summer now. I hope to find those loose ones... I don't want to die of heat @.@". I will also use this money to buy a hat (My friend will give me her hat if I like it) and a pair of sunglasses.

As for my digital camera, I think I would be able to save 400$. Of course I won't buy an expensive one. I would try to look around the internet and newspaper for an inexpensive good camera in order to save as much as possible from now on.

I will visit a travel clinic center to see if I need any shots or some sort. I read information about Morocco and it said that I don't need any shots of any sort but I have to make sure I already have for Hepetite A.

I looked at what I can and can't bring in the plane. My friend in Morocco asked me if I can bring her 60 donuts from Tim Hortons... Can I bring food in the plane? I don't think I can fit five boxes of 12 donuts in my bag... Hell it would be too much. Not to mention a box of French Vanilla and English Caramel would be even more. I will try I guess.

As for suncream, I bought a 30 sps and I might buy a 45 sps. I will buy a small less than 100 ml bottle to put sun cream in so I can put some when I arrive to Morocco. Just a precaution, I might get a sunburn... Which I never ever got one in my life in Canada because there are times that it gets 25-33 degrees outside and I was fine. Anyways, I don't want to get cancer or any sort in the future.

Tomorrow Friday, I will visit the health clinic to check if I need anything.