Post 'Equinox Blue' (a cocktail at the top of Swissotel the Stamford), i had disconcerting images of what used to be. I still remember every single holiday i had in the past 3 years. Here's a list of what's past - just to put them down.

1. December 2002

My first winter vacation, at a time when most people would have went home for the first x'mas, i chose to stay. I flew over to New York City and stayed over at a's apartment. yr also was there.

Times Square, originally uploaded by Monty Elm.

Saw snow for the 1st time in my life - bucket loads of it during a christmas winter storm. So christmas 2002 in NYC was magical. Then we went up to Boston on the chinatown bus, also down to D.C. (also chinatown bus).

Boston, originally uploaded by Monty Elm.

Washington D.C., originally uploaded by Monty Elm.

2. March 2003

Easter vacation - part 1, i went on a field trip to Devon, England. It was great - the English seaside. Really allowed me to appreciate biological diversity in the tidal communities. Loads of invertebrates, naturally.

Devon Coast, originally uploaded by Monty Elm.

Part 2, flew to central europe with wj. We visited Prague (Czech Republic),

Prague, originally uploaded by Monty Elm.

Krakow (Poland) - including Auschwitz, that was really something that i wanted to do,

Auschwitz, originally uploaded by Monty Elm.

Vienna and Salzburg (Austria). My first time inter-railing on trains, including sleeping on overnight trains. Was cool. Esp. seeing the incredulous faces of border control guards, when they see our red passports. "Do you need a visa to enter?" Hmm... naturally not.

Sunset over the Danube, originally uploaded by Monty Elm.

3. June 2003

Summer vacation. First, on a trip again with wj to belfast (northern ireland), dublin (ireland) and edinburgh (scotland). It was pre-harry potter book 5 season. Giant's Causeway was neat. Had some haggis (sheep's innards). Had a minor bomb scare on the train up from dublin to belfast. Came to naught.

Giant's Causeway, originally uploaded by Monty Elm.

Dublin, originally uploaded by Monty Elm.

Edinburgh, originally uploaded by Monty Elm.

Then, i went to Berlin alone. Huge city, with everything so spaced apart. Not exactly very friendly there, the entire atmosphere, but i love Berlin.

Checkpoint Charlie, originally uploaded by Monty Elm.

4. December 2003

Winter vacation in my 2nd year. First was a trip to Belgium, where i stayed over at t's house - my belgian friend from cam. He has a HUGE house. Anyway, brussels was lovely with the christmas lights.

Brussels, originally uploaded by Monty Elm.

We also went up to Bruges, plenty of canals - Venice of the North. Took some of my best photos in Bruges.

Bruges, originally uploaded by Monty Elm.

Part 2 was perhaps a massive adventure. Unforgettable. Together with wj, yj and j, we travelled to spain and morocco over the x'mas and new year period. First stop was Barcelona, where we got robbed. Missed our overnight train, squatted outside the train station overnight in cold weather. Haha... bad. And yes, i ate cow's stomach (that's what i believe, i hope). It was a screw-up, expected it to be chicken. Then we were in Madrid. Didn't really like madrid. Then southwards into Andalucia, which involved lots of hours on spanish trains. First stop was Cordoba. Then we journeyed to Algeciras, where we took the ferry across the Mediterranean to Tangier, Morocco. The ferry was really odd. Took a long time to dock. Then we went through a fast channel, because of missing passport. Cool. Welcome to Africa. It is so different from Europe. Transported into a different world. Took the overnight train to Fes. This was quite the experience. We had to change trains halfway, and our 2nd train was packed full of people. Bag after bag, person after person. The train was full. And it was late in the night. Arrived in Fes really early in the morning, walked up the hills to catch the sunrise, again got some of the best shots i've ever taken. Harrassed by a local there.

Sunrise in Fes, originally uploaded by Monty Elm.

Next stop was Marrakech. World famous Jemaa el-Fna. Breathtaking.

Jemaa el Fna, originally uploaded by Monty Elm.

Followed by Rabat, the capital. Christmas in Marrakech was interesting, because there was no christmas being in a islamic nation. But the atmosphere in Jemaa el-Fna more than made up for it. Then we took the ferry back to Spain, where we arrived in Granada. Alhambra was there. Followed by a trip up to Seville. This marked the end of our 18 day extravaganza. Very lifeforce-sapping - the hours spent on trains.

Will follow up with Part 2. Stay tuned.