Overview

Since schooldays Anya was intrigued by the mystery and wonder of Egypt. Newly independent she could now fulfil her dream to see the pyramids, the mask of Tutankhamun and ride camels through the desert. Three weeks of camping took her up the Nile from Cairo to Abu Simbel and into the Sinai to Sharm el Shek. Her fellow travellers were from all over the world. They were a cohesive group and she even had a holiday romance. A side trip to Cyprus proved to be very interesting, even though New Years Eve came with an unexpected proposition from a tall dark stranger. Never the less Cyprus was a time for relaxation and shopping before the unknown week of independent travel in Jerusalem followed by a short tour of Israel. Anya wanted to spend Orthodox Christmas in the Russian Monastery of Mary Magdalene located in the Garden of Gethsemane. Here she met fellow pilgrims and nuns on sabbatical. Trekking through the desolate mountains from Jerusalem to Jericho, visiting ancient monasteries and many sacred sites even receiving communion in the Holy Sepulchre at the very tomb of Jesus was a life changing moment. These profound experiences led to a realisation, to a fork in the road, to a point where Anya had to make a choice, which path she would take for the rest of her life's journey. The Israel tour was an opportunity for grounding, a chance to put so much emotion into perspective. The group travelled through the major tourist sites, Tel Aviv, Megiddo, Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem. From the Muslim Dome of the Rock, to viewing the Dead Sea Scrolls and staying overnight in a Jewish Kibuttz before seeing the Christian sites and doing the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorossa. It was January 1993 and while in transit at the airport in Dubai, America was dropping bombs in the Gulf. It had been an eventful and awe-inspiring trip.

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9780987511027

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Reviews

Anya has the ability to transport you to far off places, to walk along the ancient streets, smell and taste the exotic food. Not just a travel book, it is the forever embedded memories of someone who has really soaked up the atmosphere and history so you can almost touch the stones of Ancient Cairo, Cyprus and Israel as you journey through the pages with her. I highly recommend it.-Trevar Langlands, State President Fellowship of Australian Writers NSW. I laughed, and cried a little, reading it. Though I remembered some of the events and people, it felt as if I was reading about someone else. And, I guess, on some level I was someone else back in 1992. How delightful to be reminded of all those crazy adventures we had.-Antonio Ocampo-Guzman

Author Information

Born in China of Russian parents Anya came to Australia as a four year old infant in the 1950's. She had a varied career completing her studies as a mature age student at University of Technology Sydney where she attained a Bachelor of Adult Education. She became adept at report and business writing at the Australian Institute of Management where she was involved in managerial training and development. Her career path changed to management of retirement villages where for fifteen years she wrote and published a monthly newsletter for the residents. Poignant childhood memories of family holidays in a guest house at Palm Beach NSW, sitting around the breakfast table with other guests, well into midday listening to their stories of travel to far away, exotic destinations took root, inspiring her to travel. The connection made possible through conversation with other travellers, soon developed into a desire to share more widely, the personal impact of her experiences. Travel memoir was the perfect vehicle to achieve this aim. Her first book Russian Embers a Journey in Search of Home was published in 2014. Anya has a daughter and a son, a dog and cat. When not writing or travelling, she enjoys cooking and entertaining house guests.

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