JessH's VirtualTourist Home Page

Pages that I am working on...

--> Latest Trip? This is blatant & shameless advertising for my potential future gigantic page about
SCOTLAND (Inverness, Highlands & Edinburgh) from August 2008!

--> Heidelberg, Germany.
--> I've also been busy updating my DUBAI page...
--> How about some pictures of EuroMeet 2008? My Karlsruhe Page.

--> I've added lots of Special Offers & Deals for Travel around the World!

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Psssst! Scaredy Pants... Click here...

It was acceptable in the Eighties... Click here...

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I've travelled quite a bit... I've been "roughing it" in a tent, but also in 1st class luxury in an 11th century hacienda (Seville), and in turbulence in a tiny Cessna; on trains, in cars, traffic jams, jet-lagged (personal record: 37 hours without sleep), survived Asia with my stomach intact, have chased the sun set in Key West (Florida), once slept in a bath tub (Vienna) and yet it's human nature to always want more...
My first plane-trip took me to Saudi Arabia at the tender age of 10 months old (I learnt to crawl there) and the next voyage took me to my new home, Australia, at the age of 18 months...

Tourists from every nation are assigned steriotypical traits and the Germans seem to reserve their space at the pool at 5am, and walk around in tennis socks & sandals (I'm proud to say that I've never done either!) Anyway, don't take yourself or life too seriously! One of my favourite German sayings goes like this: "Fuerchte Dich vor Sturm und Wind und Deutschen die im Ausland sind." -> "Beware of stormy weather & Germans that travel abroad." hahaha!

I was born in Heidelberg, grew up in Sydney, went back to Germany & now live in Dubai.
I'm a typical indecisive, fun-loving Libra, I'm a non-meat-eater but love seafood (which makes me a "pescetarian" avoiding factory-farming) and I drive a V8, blue 2004 Land Rover Discovery. I'm 6 foot/1,80m without shoes and yes: I *am* a natural blonde!

Another important thing to know about me is that I feel very strongly about animals rights, protection and the prevention of cruelty to animals. We can all make a difference by helping animals, big or small, domestic or exotic. See links, quotes, thoughts and articles on my life's passion here...

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Welcome to my pages, I hope you enjoy your stay!
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Inspired by so many other VTers with very interesting personality traits & life stories, here's my list of likes, dislikes & weird facts about yours truly:

I am German: I speak, read & write German, know the national anthem, am proud to be German, can cook German food, support the German football team, but I don't have the accent.

This may not be very lady-like or "girly", but I am one of the few females I know who really *LOVE* Horror Movies.

I used to play volleyball, but hated basket ball.
The last time I attempted a match of basket ball I fractured 2 fingers.

I love watching football (I actually know the offside-rule) but can't play it.
The last time I attempted a match, I stepped on the ball & cracked my ankle.

I used to be madly in love with Richard Dean Anderson (MacGyver).
This is also the reason my first car was a Jeep Wrangler.

I have no problem with needles or dentists. I actually enjoy watching when they tap my arm for blood. It's kinda cool.

I used to play the keyboard. I can also play the African Jembe Drum, and I can even get a few rude notes out of a Didgeridoo.

I have a phobia about being "trapped underwater".
You will NEVER convince me to A) go into a submarine B) go scuba diving. But I love snorkelling & swimming; the bigger the waves, the better!

I love dancing to music from the 70s & 80s - I'm a true 80s-child. The world was a wackier but simpler place... (see album at bottom of page)

The only vegetables I truly hate are brussel sprouts and rhubarb.

I've been to 5 Bryan Adams concerts, 1 Robbie Williams, 1 Sting, 1 Faithless, 1 Aerosmith, 1 Elton John and 1 Bon Jovi concert. I've been to shows by Cirque du Soleil & "Stomp!"
I still want to see Madonna and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

If I had a lesbian fantasy it would include Angelina Jolie, Sandra Bullock, Ashley Judd and (a young) Madonna.

I have something I call "Kosmimaphobia" – having to touch dangly jewellery such as necklaces & bracelets makes me feel sick.

I used to really dislike cats... now I have three as pets.

I have a tattoo on my left shoulder. It's a trail of paws (what else?).
In summer 2008 I had it extended down to my right hip.
And before you ask: no, it didn't really hurt that much.

I am not a huge "drinker" (even though my pages may give this impression) but the forced partial deprivation of living in a Muslim country really does cause an increased craving...

I like wearing funny T-shirts & silly costumes.
--> Check out my collection of opinionated torso-wear, in the Funny T-Shirt Files...
--> Also check out pics from our Coyote Ugly Party...
--> And find out what the PLAYBOY Mansion was all about...

I'm a spiritual person that believes in reincarnation, angels, karma, chakras and the kindred souls in all creatures in the universe. Call me loopy if you like - I'm happy; so shush!

I used to be a tom-boy. At the age of 10 my father bought me a Barbie doll & pink Barbie Ferrari: I tattooed Barbie with a fountain pen, cut & burnt her hair and used the Ferrari as a skateboard.

I love cocktails. I don't like wine, whisky or gin.
The only time I'll drink beer is when I'm watching football, and it better be German (both the beer & the football).

I have occasional attacks of "Monica Geller Syndrome":
I'm quite tidy but sometimes clutter will build up for about a month or so; then I'll go into a cleaning-frenzy, organize & stick labels onto everything, even the drawer with the cleaning cloths and the cats' individual biscuit boxes. I've been known to even clean the light bulbs & door frames.

--> "PARTY ON, SAY THAT YOU REMEMBER....."

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I first met John through a mutual friend in Dec.1998.
We became friends, and in March 1999 the sparks finally flew ;-) In October 2005 we got engaged. John is from Edinburgh/Scotland, but was actually born in Dubai.
Being from different countries, we've taught each other a lot:

John has taught me that:
> Billy Connelly is a hilarious Scottish comedian (my favourite!) & Sean Connery is a national hero
> Haggis is something you either love or hate (I hate it, even when I used to eat meat)
> Scotland isn't really good at any sport, but has an eternal passion for football & rugby
> Scots aren't quite as "tight & penny-pinching" as most people think
> Fish & Chips need brown sauce & a deep-friend Mars bar afterwards
> swearing comes naturally to Scots (and usually no f***ing harm is intended?!)
> German women are regarded as tough, tall, blonde & don't take sh*t from anyone... (oooooh... are you guys scared of me?)

I have taught John that:
> Germans are very punctual & organised (to the point of annoying!)
> we put alcohol in pretty much any food we eat
> a trip to the Black Forest is the stairway to heaven (Cake; here I come!)
> it's not our fault the Dutch & Austrians hate us... they're just jealous!
> our taste in music generally sucks, but at least we make fabulous cars & beer
> German women really are tough, tall, blonde and renown for "holding the whip" (Yeah! You better be scared!)

I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them. - Mark Twain

Whoever lives for the "what if", misses out on the "what IS"
- John McG. (yes: *my* John! He had a deep moment there! ;-)

Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey. - Babs Hoffman

The rewards of the journey far outweigh the risk of leaving the harbor. - Unknown

I've been everywhere, and still I'm standing tall. I've seen a million places, and I rocked them all!" - Bon Jovi, Dead or Alive

Don't tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have traveled. - Prophet Mohammed (PbuH)

I look at the map of the world and feel it is my home planet more then ever before. I can fly to any part of the world now and find a VT meeting... - VT-member benazer

Anyone who has lived in Dubai for longer than 1 year will know that this place has it's own unspoken rules, steriotypes, and quirky incidents. This one's for all the other "expats" who need a giggle ;-)

You know that you've been in Dubai for too long when:
- you are not surprised to see a truck overtaking you at 130 km/h
- you are still not surprised, when you see a goat on the passenger seat
- you are also not surprised to see a camel sitting on the back of a pick-up truck
- you believe that the definition of a nanosecond is the time between the traffic lights going green, and the person behind you beeping his horn
- you know your flight-confirmation from Emirates Airlines will be called Insh'allah.
- you don't worry about how a picture ID can count for a lady who covers her face
- you can receive any television channel in the entire world... but not Dubai TV
- you don't think it's strange that alcohol is far more expensive than petrol
- you agree that only men should be allowed to kiss and hold hands in public
- you can tell what time is it whenever you hear a prayer-call from the mosque
- you know to use the cold water tap to get hot water (& vice versa) during summer
- you don't even bat an eyelid when the fire alarm in a shopping mall or your office goes off for the 12th time today
- you aren't impressed by a ski-slope in the desert, massive islands in the shape of Palm trees or underwater hotels... but if it happens to rain a few drops you jump up & down like a hyperactive idiot.
- you wear a jacket indoors, and take it off when you leave the building
- your family in Europe wonders why you are always tanned in winter and pale in summer

For more details on "insider-life" in Dubai, click here...
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Dear VT-ers!

please don't be offended if you add my to your 'Friends List' and I do not do the same right away... but I'd like to chat to you and know who you are first!

So please check-out my pages first or send me an e-mail, and I will do the same and have a look at your pages. This may be the internet, but you also wouldn't call someone a 'friend' after hearing their name once, would ya? Otherwise I'll end up with a list of people I have no clue about!

On Monday, 5th September 2005 I was blissfully unaware of the happenings in the world of VT, whilst I lay in bed in a haze of flu medication, tissues & camomile tea...

Little did I know that whilst I was too weak to reach my beloved computer, certain members were busy voting, clicking, commenting and e-mailing...

I logged-in again on Tuesday and was surprised to see that I have been honoured with the title of "VT Homepage of the Week"
by the lovely, the all-seeing, the super-cool, the dodgy-80s-gentleman:
Graaaaaaaaaant-Boooooone! (>roaring applause<)

Thanks to all of you who brought my humble, sandy & alcohol-infused pages to his attention. I hope I shall be able to maintain the high standards set-upon my pages & that they shall continue to enlighten & amuse.

... as long as they don't have more than 4 legs!!! ;-)

- The Origin of Pets -
a lovely & funny story!

Adam & Eve said Lord, when we were in the garden of Eden you walked with us every day. Now we do not see you any more, and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us.

And God said, No problem! I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do.

And God created a new animal. And it was a good animal. And God was pleased.
And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged his tail. And God said because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG.

And dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them. And they were comforted. And God was pleased.
And dog was content and wagged his tail.

After a while, it came to pass that an angel came and said Lord, Adam & Eve have become filled with pride. They strut like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well.

And God said, No problem! I will create for them a companion who will be with them forever and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration.
And God created CAT.

And cat would not obey them. And when Adam and Eve gazed into cat's eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings.

And Adam and Eve learned humility.
And they were greatly improved.

And God was pleased.
And Dog was happy.

And Cat just didn't give a sh*t one way or the other.