lil Ibts, what this guy is up to is no different to what other non-Muslims who become interested in Islam are. At some point he will get that his actions and Islam are not compatible and he will have to choose. In the meantime, give him an introduction to Islam, answer his questions. Don't be stingy with your knowledge. I met a woman who was a convert herself. She had once become friends with a woman who became interested in Islam. This woman happened to be living with a boyfriend at the time. When she embraced Islam, she packed up and left. She shooed him away every time he turned up at her new door. Mr other half could not believe what could take her away from him so he looked into Islam. He fell for it too. Let it unfold. Pass on the knowledge. The rest is up to him.

^wearing it loose..I am a control freak, not sure I can hack that. I was out with shopping bags today and my hijab started to come loose. Although it didn't slip off I hyperventilated. Any more hair disasters, ladies? Tips?

LooL II you and I posted that at the same time. Freak.

Spring does come earlier every year.

No one's posted since 07!? Horror. Debenhmas has a clearnace section all year round now: Clearance Lingerie is worth a look, ladies. No link. Find it yourself, boys .

Originally posted by Che -Guevara: @hhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..I have theory, but I keep to my self. LoooL. Et Tu?

^LoL. Some men like it hot. Now run along before I scorch you.

^does your train of thought ever get derailed off its track?

^expected to find you here. It seems you have comrades for once.

Val 43 days is bl00dy insane! I spent a min of 3 weeks in each country and even then felt rushed. It is tiring.. Sleeping bags- lol @ which market. Sorry dear been to dozens. Keep a look-out. They won't look like normal sleeping bags. They come in a small silk bag themselves- the sleeping bag itself is in the inside, folded neatly. Don't know what I did with mine. I gave most things away before I returned. Or get one made. Hoi An is full and I mean full of tailors- get some summery clothes made as soon as you get there- they will have it ready in a day if you're really rushed. I made too many lol but they were a God-send. Get some office clothes for the Australia work to come. Take pictures/catalogues of what you want before you leave here. Don't go with the cheapest tailor. Some focused mostly on tailoring- go for those for the office clothes. I think I have my tailor's(lol) address somewhere. Not the best work but she will give you a hug and some gossip. You can also get some shoes made in Hoi An. I had a few made; one pair didn't fit after I got home as my feet had shrunk back to normal in the cold English weather. I picked a design from a Next catalogue. LoL. Really. Make sure you eat the shrimp dish in Hoi An. Can't remember its name but its delicious and will be on every menu in Hoi An. Saigon/Ho Chi Minh- the main touristy area- had some good Italian restaurants. I had a meal in two and was blown away- the best pizza I have ever had. Lots of Africans in the area- say hello when they greet you. Lots of footballers from Um where was it, Cameroon, there. The traffic is insane in Ho Chi Minh. I wanted to go to a market once and when I saw the several lane madeness I had to cross, I turned back. Forget pedestrtian crossings et al. You have to be at one with the traffic. It's worst in Saigon/Ho Chi Min but all of Vietnam is pretty bad, be prepared to see bodies by roadsides covered up(hopefully covered up). Make sure you see the Co Chi tunnels just outside of Ho Chi Minh. I am claustrophobic so I made myself go down them. There's a half way point where they let you out if you're finding it hard. By then there was a lot of cursing and hyperventilating and a few people bailed out. I perseverd and it was worth it. Crawling through a tunnel- it was small even for my size- and it opening up into a big space with a desk and wall charts etc is amazing. You will come out dirty, sweaty and slightly Viet Congish. . Vaccinations- get an appointment with the nurse at the surgery now. Or if you're like me and can't be arsed, go to the travel clinics at Nomad Travel. The clinic will advise you and if you decide to get the vaccinations from them there will be a cost. The one in Victoria might be your closest. There's also one in Russel Sq. http://www.nomadtravel.co.uk/pages/stores Airport transfers are not a biggie. Get a taxi from the airport- go to an office within the airport- or a bus/train into the centre of town. Allamagan, there's a Vietnam thread here. Don't know who started it Nam Val, the pics in the first post of this thread show Hoi An. When are you going? Humidity highest August, September. When are you in Nam? I really want to go again this year.

OHMYGOD how did I NOT see this? Congratulations, you're in for a treat. I've been to all those and some lol. Not Australia yet- though it's on my hit list in a big way. Gosh, don't know where to start. Take a medium-sized backpack and fill it only a quarter of the way- seriously. It'll be hot and you'll find loads to buy along the way. I used to post stuff back so I could enjoy them on my return. Or sell them. You will also need a small day pack. Average weight of my backback was about 13 kg which is a lot for a wimp like me. Take all the jabs necessary. I took a mosquito net but never used it- I gave it to an orphanage in Cambodia. I used mosquito repellant- chemical- and natural repellant(citurs is good). Citronella oil smells baaaaad but I bought an empty bottle with a pump from Boots and filled it with a few drops of Citronella and Peppermint and sprayed my ankles and hands- worked a treat. As you'll start in Nam, buy a silk sleeping bag from the market- I used to slip into it at night to avoid mosquito bites not to mention it feels divine and keeps you off the covers. Take something to cover not-so-pretty bed covers and pillows. U'll thank me for this. LoL. Cambodia & Vietnam are the cheapest followed by Thailand, Malaysia. Food is delicious everywhere, particularly in Vietnam. I made friends who will take care of you and show you how the locals live - if you want the local touch, let me know. Don't expect to see many sights in Cambodia however it is haunting and memorable- Angkor Wat is awesome- buy a 3 day ticket- though 2 should be enough if you're relentless. Vietnam is one big hoot, I couldn't get enough of it. Hanoi is to die for. I walked for hours till my clothes fell off my body. The men will love you. But are rarely leery. You have to see Hoi An! I will tell you where I stayed, they took such good care of me. Hoi An is a UNESCO world heritage site. Sooooo charming. Buy guidebooks when u get there- they will be copies and cheaper. Or get one of those all of SE Asia guidebooks and along the way get country specific ones for a few dollars. You'll need dollars in Cambodia. Change all your money there. Take a combination of cash and cards. I gave up on travellers cheques years ago- some places don't take Visa Traveller's cheques. Take a good pair of walking sandals:http://www.nomadtravel.co.uk/catalog/view/ the-north-face-el-porto-sandal-womens If you're going to trek, try North Thailand- Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai and Northern Veitnam. Don't miss the Chiang Mai night market. Southern Thailand is gorgeous too- see one or two islands. Make sure you let the Muslims know you are one- you'll be elevated to Queen status in the South. LoL. Bangkok is one of my fave cities- it's just nuts. All the backpackers tend to hang out in Kho San Rd. It's not what it used to be but it'll do you fine. Turn right at the Police station on the end of Kho San road. Keep walking and some of the stalls down this road are halaal. Watch out for women in small caps and signs on the stalls with Quran. I had some delicious chicken and rice here. Get some orange juice from the two girls who compete with each other to sell you juice- if they're still there. I have never drunk so much orange juice. On the other side of this street, on a small alley on the left, you will come to a most delightful Mosque. You'd never know it was there. I nearly cried. Hehe. There's a woman selling halaal food on a stall at the mouth of the alley; walk down it, don't be afraid. There'll be a Muslim restaurant on the left- eat here- the Mosque is not far down. Pray at every mosque you see. They will welcome you. Try the mosque in Hanoi; it was always closed when I was there. Take the boats and the Sky train(goes above the city & airconditioned) to move about in Bangkok. See the malls and tourist attractions; get massages, manicures, pedicures, facials for a fraction of the prices here. You will need them cause u will feel rough. Never had border trouble. I lied once lol but hey. It says Burco on my passport and a nosey git wanted to know where that was so I said Wales. Not that he knew where that was either. LoL. I can write forever as you can see, ask specific questions and I'll tell you more. No 1 advice- lose the fear and embrace the adventure. I just relived it all!

oh u make me sound popular. I just deleted messages that are older than you, Ibts.

^ah, sorry, will do now, dear. Woohoo for the 6:30, I did myself some damage yesterday(dhaako-dhaako) again, more fool me, so it'll be perfect. LoL @ your poisoning.

heh as per Ngonge. I know someone who SWORE against a certain type oe man. Now married to one of the type with two kids in tow. Be careful what you diss. Reminds me of the ayaah.

^LooL. I was not being serious. You are asking for double trouble. I would just leave. He can work it out in his own time.

LoooL. Send them Nephiso and CL's way. They're asking for talking man boobs to come to them in their dreams. Off to get some exercise.

but what if you meet a woman that's higher up the scale than you are, will you pass her by?

^too messy. Hold him hostage with an arsenal of weaponery and make him bobbit himself. It wasn't me hadhow dheh.

^LOL you're saying the man and woman should show similar on the attractiveness scale miyaa? What about the non-looks part of the attraction- or am I barking up the wrong gender here?

^oh my gosh, interpretor required. I understand 'good news' though. Are you going to spill or what? I'll say yippee instead.

there can also be medical reasons, sorry to burst the bubble. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7855763.stm LoL @ DD. Follow the link.

^he should have said so! LoL. Thanks. A man can grow boobs and hips at any time. The present form is not going stay as is. What will happen then?

^oh yum, yum, yum. LooL. Composure.

^me? ma aniga? Big cheater? LoL. I don't have the coordination to juggle.

Originally posted by Faarax-Brawn: Shaharasad,Warkada wuu igu socdaa abayo macaan eh? English, please.