2012
january
Central Park 2012
In January I visited New York and visited my twin sister that was separated from me at birth – Our Bosnian parents had sold her to some Albanian gypsies.
february
St. John, USVI
In February my big sister took me & my niece (her daughter) to St. John Virgin Island – By the end of the trip if we had run into any Albanian gypsies on St. Johns, I’m fairly certain, my sister would have sold me and her daughter to them.
(And if I posted my sisters picture on this blog that would be cause for certain disownment)
Trunk Bay, St. John USVI
march
In March I was fretting about how the hell I was going to tell my mother I had accepted a job in Saudi Arabia and was going to relocate there.
I have no pictures of me fretting about.
april
Dhirah Shopping, Riyadh
In April I relocated to Saudi Arabia and was going through some crazy-ass culture shock…
Dhirah Shopping, Riyadh
may
Street shopping in Riyadh
In May I was getting use to my new home and was finding my way around Riyadh…
Grenada Mall, Riyadh
june
In June I found my hiking partner who not only embraced my “abnormalness” but encouraged it and at the same time indulged it…
Hash Run
And in June I visited Jeddah – Saudi Arabia’s coast
Jeddah 2012
july
In July I went to Thailand
Thailand 2012
And spent my first month of Ramadan in The Kingdom
Iftar during Ramadan
august
In August, the hottest month of the year, we were still hiking through the Arabian Desert
Red Sands Hash with my dear friend Sarah
september
September was all about Italy…
Rome 2012
Positano
Amalfi Coast, Italy
october
October was a quick visit to Bahrain
Bahrain 2012
november
November was Paris… and some non-guilty self indulgence…
december
December saw me in London with a visit out to the magical Stonehenge and the English countryside…
London Bridge
Stonehenge
English Countryside
And, of course, my dreamy trip to Edinburgh and to the Scottish Highlands was also part of December…
Edinburgh Pub
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle
Scottish Highlands
Loch Lomond. Scottish Highlands
Christmas had me in Saudi Arabia. Working night-shift with my fellow partner in crime elf named Naeko
Christmas Elves need coffee too…
I’m not yet sure where I will be ringing in the New Year.
But as I look back and reflect on 2012, I’m thinking…
2012 was a pretty damn good year,
2013 will be even better.
What a fantastic year!!!
Thanks, Kathy. It sure has been fun & interesting to say the least!
Wow, wow, wow. Pictures are breath taking, your journey inspirational, you, so lovely! Love you.
Love you too, My Nunu! Thanks for ALWAYS accompanying me on my little shenanigans!
Primaaaa! You traveled the globe more in one year than most do in a lifetime. What wonderful, lifelong memories. Thanks for sharing your journey as you go. Hopefully 2013 brings you back here, at least briefly
))). Miss you!
“At least briefly” I can definitely arrange, mee lovely wee lass! And thanks for coming along with me on all my little adventures! Miss & love you too.
This year was full of events, evidently. Best of luck for the next!
You too! Have a fabulous 2013! I wish you all the best.
What a wonderful, fun, and memorable year, Tahira! Thank you for sharing!
The pleasure was all mine, Amy. Thanks for coming along, it’s much appreciated. All the best in 2013 to you and yours.
Wonderful set of pictures !! I’ve always wondered what it was like to work/travel in Saudi-Arabia. Nice to have a little peek through your blog!
Thank you and thanks for taking a little peek into my world. One thing I never envisioned doing was living/working in Saudi Arabia, but here I am. Life is funny that way, hah. Happy New Year to you. All the best in 2013!
What an amazing year ! Great photos..
Thank you. I have to admit, I’m pretty proud of this year. And I’m looking forward to 2013 – So CHEERS to 2013 and Happy New Year to you and I wish you all the best in the coming year!
Thank you
What an interesting and great year you’ve had, Tahira. I’m so happy you found your twin sister again.
Thank you, Sylvia! It definitely has been an awesome year. I look forward to what 2013 has in store. Happy New Year to you and all the best in 2013!
Ps: Haha, she’s not REALLY my twin sister, it’s our little joke… but since the moment we met 12 yrs ago on a hilltop in Kosovo we’ve had an unbreakable connection.
Ah, the adventures of 2013 are waiting for us all, if we have the courage to embrace them. It seems that you have lots of courage and a great deal of joyous expectation. Looking forward to tagging along….
And it’s good to have you along, Clanmother! And thank you for the kind words, ‘joyous expectation’ definitely. Happy 2013 to you! I wish you all the best in the coming year! May it be full of courage & joyous expectation for all of us.
Fantastic year with photos to prove it!
For sure! The proof is in the pictures, aye! Thanks for following along and a Joyous New Year to you!
What a whirlwind of a year for you. Great photo journey and Paris seems to suit you just fine. Look at those smiles. Am glad you and your sister are reunited. That would be a story right there. Happy travels and adventures to you in 2013.
Thank you, Lynne! And Paris does indeed suit me just perfect
Happy New Year to you & Ron as well. All the best for 2013!
Ps: My bad, It’s an on-going little joke, we’re not REALLY twin sisters, or biological sisters for that matter… but since the moment we met 12 yrs ago on a hilltop in Kosovo we’ve had an unbreakable connection.
Superb post.amazing pictures.have a wonderful new year.jalal
Thank you, Jalal. Happy New Year to you!
Wow, Tahira, you did a lot in 2012! It looks like it was a year of great changes. I can’t believe you were hiking in the desert in August. You must get a lot of time off in your work! Italy looks fabulous…. Happy New Year in 2013.
Happy New Year to you too, Cathy! And yes, quite a bit of time off… compared to what we Americans back home normally get.But to all the other nationalities here, it’s standard & expected. Haha, yes hiking in August – there were moments where I definitely thought we were crazy with heat stroke. And Italy was amazing!
All the best in 2013 to you, Cathy!
Thank you, Tahira. Can’t wait to follow your journeys in 2013!
Simply wow. Happy New year!!!!
Thanks for coming along with me! And Happy New year to you too. Cheers to 2013!
Wow, what a year! You must be tired….
Thank you, Georgia! And, haha, I AM tired. I’m taking a break over the New Year and just chillin’ in the Arabian desert. Happy New Year to you and thanks for stopping by and taking a peek! Cheers to 2013!
What a busy year you’ve had – how to top it in 2013?
I’m not sure yet – but I have a feeling I’m going to have fun figuring it out!
Happy New Year, Pam!
great pics and I hope that 2013 is all that you wish and then some!
Thanks, Dallas. And I wish the same for you. Cheers to 2013! Happy New Year, my friend!
What an incredible year! You’ll be hard-pressed to beat that in 2013, but best of luck!
Thanks, Sue. I definitely will be hard pressed – but I look for to the challenge! Thanks for joining me on my adventures. Happy New Year to you!
Beautiful photos!! They are stirring up the wanderlust in me!
Thanks, Moni. And it’s so easy to catch that wanderlust, isn’t it? I’m glad you enjoyed my review of 2012 and for taking a peek around. I look forward to 2013. So Happy New Year to you and all the best in 2013!
Your year’s review makes me think of that phrase about only regretting the things that one failed to do…. or something like that. Looks to me like you’re grabbing the world by the ass and swinging with it. Utterly beautiful. I wish you more!
Gunta, my friend, I am INDEED ‘grabbing the world by the ass!’ I think I’ll make that my motto! Thank you for coming along with me on the journey. You’ve become invaluable to me. And I do know the quote you are talking about “I regret not the things I’ve done, but those I did not do” (I’m just not sure who the quote belongs to… but it doesn’t matter, does it.)
Thank you. And A Happy New Year 2013 To You.
I love all your photos and it’s great to see you… stylish lady!
¸.•*¨*•.♪♫♫♪Happy New Year to You & Yours!.♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸ ♥
˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.★★.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜” Have a restful weekend!
Eliz
Thank you, Eliz. Happy Happy New Year to you too. All the best for 2013! Cheers!
May the next one be even better! What a bunch of great locations Tahira!
I second that, Paula! May 2013 be even better! For you too as well. Happy New Year – Lets let 2013 be joyous!
Happy 2013 Tahira
Looks like a phenomenal year, Tahira! Would you say it’s your most adventurous one yet? I hope 2013 is even better
Dear Alex, it’s definitely my most interesting year! I don’t know if anything will top my first year being deployed with the army… but that is a whole other story, hah? Thank you for riding along with me on this adventure – I love having you with. Happy New Year to you and your wonderful little family. May 2013 be filled with love, happiness, & health for you & yours!
gorgeous photos. jealous of your travels. i’m coming with you on your next adventure if it’s half as fun as your photos portray!!
Yes!! Please come along. Would love he company! Happy New Year!
What a year! Fabulous travels, and I’m intrigued by the Albanian gypsies!
Don’t mind the “Albanian gypsies” – although it would indeed make a good story. My “sister” and I are not really twins… or sisters…. we met in Kosovo (where there are a lot of Albanians) 12 yrs ago and connected from the spot. Thanks for coming by. I look forward to 2013. Hope you’ll join me in the fun! Happy New Year!
Love your photos. What an action packed year you had. Looking forward to following your adventures in 2013
Thank you, Sueann. It’s definitely been quite a whirlwind. I look forward to it as well. Happy New Year to you. Hope it’s a fabulous 2013!
What an eventful year! I’m happy for you to have found your sister! Your photos are great, colourful, and I had fun too! Happy New year to you!
Happy New Year to you too! I’m glad you enjoyed – it’s 100% my pleasure. Thanks for joining me.
Oh my goodness, can we trade lives, for like a month or so? What an amazing (looking!) year you’ve had! I’m in awe of your travels and also the story about your twin. I hope this coming year is just as wonderful for you! I’m certainly looking forward to seeing the pictures.
Thanks, Dana. Haha, yes, for a month. Although I don’t know how your family would feel about that…and I don’t cook very well…
My twin is not really my twin… or my sister… she’s a sister of my spirit though. We met 12 years ago in on a hilltop in Kosovo with the US Army. Hmm, so I guess there still is quite an interesting story there, hah?
Thank you for coming along on this adventure of mine. Happy New Year to you & your family! Cheers to 2013!
Lovely, lovely post. Enjoyed looking at your 2012 in pics, absolutely amazing year you had.
Why thank you and welcome to my shenanigans! It’s good to have you a board! It definitely was quite the year for me – I’m hoping I can top it in 2013! At least it’ll be fun to try. Happy New Year to you. Cheers to 2013!
Thanks for sharing you amazing adventures with us!! Love the twin sister…Happy New Year!
Fantastic post Tahira! You certainly seem to have made the most out of 2012, and we hope 2013 brings everything you wish for! Happy New Year
Great collection of photos and thoughts. Well done!
Tamara (http://turtlestravel.wordpress.com)
Not a bad-looking year, huh? After I got over the initial shock statement. You are a tease, Tahira! Fortunately I read some of the comments on the way down. So how’s Saudi working out? Have they adjusted to you, yet, and how long do you plan to stay? Happy 2013- I’m sure it will be!
Beautiful photos of a wonderful year.
Thank you for visiting my blog today. I appreciate the time you took to stop by. May your day be filled with joy and peace.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
What an amazing summary of your year! And what a wonderful book this would make, month by month in detail!
Fascinating.
Wow! What a wonderful year of travel for you!!! Love the Paris pics!
You are so cute, Tahira. You look like Betty Boop!!
Great year in review post. I would love to go to Amalfi…
Thank you, Rufina! I LOVE Betty Boop – She’s my all time favorite! I would recommend a rip to Amalfi to everyone at least once in a lifetime. It truly is beyond any adjectives I could use to describe.