Travel Buzz

My first camel ride (Morocco)

This month marks another milestone for the blog. We are celebrating its first year anniversary (yey). Yes readers, it’s been a year already since that fateful morning when I woke up and got up inspired to write again. After getting my own domain and writing a few articles, I launched it in June by messaging friends about it. Never have I imagined that it will now have a global reach, my articles being read in 37 countries and territories (as of this writing) in 5 continents. The latest continent to join us is Africa, so I thought why not feature this beautiful continent as an anniversary special.

Global footprint of columbusbee.blog almost a year since the first article was published (Hey, it’s me)

Africa has a special place in my heart. I have lived in this continent for a short while in two of its most spectacular destinations: Morocco and South Africa. The former I lived as an expat while the latter was a short-term assignment. For this 2-part special, I’ll let you in my past life as an expat in Morocco, where I worked and lived in Casablanca (Morocco’s business, commercial, and cultural capital). I’ll feature South Africa in future articles.

Hassan II Mosque, the 2nd largest mosque in Africa (Casablanca)

I was young in my 20’s, restless, and ambitious when I decided to take the first job opportunity abroad. I always wondered then how it is living in another country so when that opportunity came along, I decided to take it. Little did I know that it will open my eyes to a bigger and much different world than where I live in. That experience heightened my travel senses, even though I have already been travelling but mostly in nearby destinations (such as Hongkong and Singapore).

Casablanca Park

So I packed my bags, bade my folks goodbye, and started a new life outside of my dear Philippines, leaving family and friends behind. It was tough, believe me, but the adventurous and explorer in me made me forget about the possibility of getting homesick. I was looking forward to see what’s out there, what’s in store for me when I tackle that new managerial role, the new life that awaits me and the kind of life that I’ll be living, and new friendships and acquaintances that will develop. My feelings then were more of excitement than fear of the unknown. It was my first, so I was both nervous and excited at the same time (don’t we all feel that way during our “firsts”).

Weekend winter stroll with the pigeons (Casablanca)

I settled in Casablanca towards the tail-end of winter so it was still very cold (7-9 degrees celsius) by my own tropical standard. I have not lived in a place that cold before, so it took a few days to adjust, particularly in the mornings, when it can get even colder and more difficult to get up and hit the shower. But it was perfect. That kind of cold didn’t really bother me much, coz it’s more conducive for my asthma. I could sleep all day during weekends with that weather, like a bear hibernating (lol). I’d rather be under a moderately cold climate than in a hot and humid place.

Celebrating Christmas with Filipino and Moroccan friends (Casablanca)

I have only heard of Casablanca, the movie, but since I also haven’t seen it, I really have no idea what’s in this city. Casablanca, turns out, is a nice and livable city. My apartment is walking distance to her newest skyscraper then that houses a mall, supermarket, and offices. Some of the streets and avenues are lined up with palm trees and there’s a park close by teeming with families during weekends. Mode of transportation is thru cabs, where you share a cab with total strangers (think of it like Grab share). Tea houses or kiosks abound, where you get fresh and hot Moroccan mint tea, which is perfect during cold season. Souks and bazaars are also nearby, where you will be overwhelmed with all kinds of stuff like gold, jewelry, leather, spices, dried fruits and nuts, and whatnot. Then my favorite spot, the Corniche. It’s the esplanade that exudes that Miami vibe, a place to stroll and enjoy the cool sea breeze, with rows of restos to choose from offering local and international cuisines, not to mention some of my favorite fastfood. This is where most of the hotels are in and a mall with cinemas.

With my new puppy Bruno (Tibetan Spaniel)

So yeah, I was pleased. Casablanca is different but somehow close to home. I wasn’t really missing out on anything. It also helped that the locals are very welcoming and friendly and solicitous to foreigners which reminds me of home. Moroccans are predominantly Arabs and they are very gentle people. I haven’t witnessed any form of violence. The worst you can see is a traffic altercation where you’ll hear raised voices and hand gestures but no one throws the first punch. I also sense that they appreciate Asians more than any other foreigners. Every time I’m out to either go to the weekend market or do my grocery, I would always hear total strangers saying hi or hello or “my friend, how are you?” I sometimes get that star or celebrity complex when every time I enter an empty tea or ice cream house, locals start to trickle in and soon gets crowded, like I’m a magnet for customers (no kidding). Well it doesn’t really bother me, on the contrary, I’m flattered with the attention. It feels nice sometimes to be appreciated, particularly in a place where you are starting a new life and loneliness is your (and any other expat’s) worst enemy.

Moroccan kids playing with Bruno

Aside from loneliness, another struggle is the language barrier. Arabic is the mother tongue, while French is the language of business. Moroccans speak and write both, but only a few speak English. So I learned some basic Arabic and French words just to get by, like asking how much for an item or giving the cab driver directions. Or for greetings and just to say thank you. At work, it’s not really a problem coz I have a Moroccan secretary who writes and speaks English and acts as my translator especially during meetings with the local regulators. On hindsight, it was actually fun learning new words, which proved useful for my future travel life.

(Left) My best friend as a pup; (right) as a young adult

Getting homesick after a few months is probably normal (unless you’re really having so much fun all the time that you are already feeling at home in your new environment). So it was no surprise that a couple of months after settling in, I decided to get a puppy. His name was Bruno, a Tibetan spaniel. A few months after I got him, I would walk him at night during weekdays when I get home from work and on weekends would take him to the park. He would get excited every time I would put his harness on, so excited that he would pee before we even get to the door. The attention I’m getting outside has doubled, with Bruno now as the bigger star.

Playing billiards with friends

There were also new stuff that I tried in this past life. I went to the wet market which I haven’t done in the Philippines. I learned how to determine if raw fish is fresh or where to get pork in a country that shies away from it. I learned how to haggle, an art which I have mastered years later. I also learned how to cook where my first few attempts were epic fails. I’m a foodie at heart, so I love eating out more than cooking. I’m more of a connoisseur than a sommelier. One thing I like to do is to go to the fish market and order fish and chips. This is not your typical fish and chips like those in London. This is more like in the Nordics where fresh catch is cooked and served. I was also introduced to Moroccan food and spices, where my favorite is tagine (or tajine). It’s a savory and aromatic dish (similar to a curry) that brings out the best in Moroccan spices. Chicken, fish, or lamb, I love tagine regardless of protein. I started to appreciate wine (I’m not really much of a drinker back home) just because of the cold season. I learned how to play billiards and discovered how much I enjoyed it and I was actually good at it. So I didn’t just learn new words. I actually was living a different life.

(Left): Enjoying the Moroccan coastline; (right) who wanna go fishing with me?

The wanderlust in me also took me to different parts of the country. During long weekends and holidays, I would hie off to places with friends to explore and discover the different faces of Morocco. This country is blessed with a diverse topography, so extreme that the south would have the dry desert sands while the north is covered with snow. No wonder this is a favorite location shoot of some of the memorable Hollywood movies, among which are Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Jewel of the Nile (1985), The Mummy (1999), Alexander (2004), The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), Sex and the City 2 (2010), Inception (2010), American Sniper (2014), and Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015). Hollywood movie studios even have satellite sets in the country. The first city I’ve visited is Tangier where at least a couple of the movies I’ve mentioned were shot. It is a coastal city and the jumping off point for those who would take a ferry to cross the Strait of Gibraltar to get to Malaga, the southern province of Spain. From Casablanca, we took the midnight train to Tangier where you’ll reach the northern city in the morning. You can spend the day roaming the cobbled streets or alleys or go to the souks and bazaars where a lot of western goods (mostly European) are available. Or just simply enjoy the coastline.

(Left) Entrance to a cave that looks like Morocco map; (right) walking the streets of Tangier

Other parts of the country worth seeing are Agadir, where the snow capped Atlas mountains provide a postcard perfect backdrop or if you really want to experience snow, you can go to Ifrane, This is where I first experienced snow, and I felt like a kid again in winter wonderland. But my fave is Essaouira. For me it’s an exotic place, a port and resort city that used to be a Portuguese fort. I was surprised to see so many tourists, given that it’s not really a familiar or known tourist destination. But I understand why it can become a major tourist spot. Imagine this, a port full of seagulls feeding on any scraps left by fishermen. A formidable and imposing fortress lined up with canons. A medina filled with shops that sell everything that you can buy from souks and bazaars around the country. I can sit all day just people watching while sipping my Moroccan mint tea. Or gaze into the sea while having the fresh catch of the day. For me it’s a hidden gem that’s just waiting to be discovered.

My first snow. Feeling like a kid again at winter wonderland (Ifrane)

My adventure was not only limited within the country. Because of its close proximity to Europe, it was while living in Morocco that I had my first Europe tour. I applied and got my first Schengen visa (valid for a year) which only took a few days even if it was processed in Rabat (capital of Morocco) where most of the embassies and consulates are (unlike in the Philippines where it would take weeks just to set an appointment with the embassy). Flights are short haul rather than long haul, so it’s less tiring and a lot of time saved. Upon returning to Casablanca from the tour, I thought I could already die. I haven’t only fulfilled my dream of living and working abroad, but also seeing Europe. But then again, my first taste of Europe has only expanded my horizon, It made me a lot more curious and thirst for more. Then the rest is history. I could say that it was my life in Morocco that awakened the wanderlust in me.

From top, left (clockwise): Agadir city view from the top of an ancient ruin; Moroccan family in the same ruin; medina of Essaouira; Essaouira coastline and Portuguese fortress

So there you have it my dear readers. A trip down memory lane. An expat life worth reliving as a way to celebrate a milestone. A past life that set the tone on how I lived (and continue to live) my travel life from there on. A first taste of Africa, a continent that continues to amaze me up to this day. A country like Morocco, so diverse and exotic, with stunning landscapes, yet humbled by its gentle people. A second home. A destination like no other. A fitting tribute to travel and to life itself.

Happy 1st anniversary. Cheers.

Up next: Homecoming