Actually, Christmas day I rode the train from the platform 16 to Turramurra. We had a wonderful christmas lunch. Prawns, masquerading as shrimp. Then we had turkey, white potatoes, carrots, maybe sweet potatoes but really didn't taste like sweet potatoes, cauliflower and broccoli with cheese on top, and brussell sprouts. For dessert we had classic English pudding, which looked liked fruit cake with brandy poured on top and set fire to it. Then with the plum pudding we also had ivanilla ice cream and fresh fruit. Then we also had pimms. After lunch the young people went out to play tennis on the tennis court. Then they opened presents and there were lots of them.
Now in New Zealand. Spent all day boxing day traveling. Got to the train station and bought the ticket, found platform 23 and then they startted announcinthat the train was delayed for seven minutes and delayed another 9 minutes and delayed another 7 minutes. As it was getting close to 7 a.m. I was getting tempted to abandon going on the train. Finally, the train arrived and it just took 15 minutes to get to the international terminal. If you have a chance to fly on air Emirates take it. It is a very nice ride. The seats are comfortable, and they serve you a meal and water, and tea, and everyone has a tv to watch whatever movies they want to. I watched an Australian classic called Red Dog. There is one other Australian movie I've heard about called the Castle.When I got to auckland, had to race to the domestic terminanal to catch the plane to Christchurch.
Didn't see much of Christchurch. Went the next day to Arakoa a small seaside town in New Zealand. I swam with the hecter dophins, spent the night in a great little bed and breakfast and then helped deliver the mail this morning. Today I took off my splint and went all day without it until it was time to do some suit case wrangling. Now I have been trying to avoid big cushy coaches since I started these tours. I have finally arrived to the big cushy coach. We"ll see how the tour turns out. At least I wont be sleeping on the street which is what I was afraid of since the traveling is during the christmas new years holiday time and there are a lot of people out and about. But I have to say that the place is not a lonely planet. My wrist is really sore and stiff. I can't imagine being able to hold my weight with my left wrist. Its going to be a challenge. I love being in a hotel room, you get to watch tv, have your own soap and shampoo.Ahhhh civilization!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Sydney, Australia
Arrived in Sydney. It's good to be back to the Sydney Central YHA. It's almost like going home. It's a place I am familiar with and sort of know the neighborhood. At least I can walk out the door and get back to where I came from. I get a lot of blast emails from various sources telling me how much gratitude does for you and how easy it is to be nice. Since I still have a splint on my left wrist it is still a bit of a challenge to get up into the top bunk of bunk beds. Since I was the 4th person in this room, I thought I would ask the girls if they would be willing to swap. No one was! Oh well, the good news is that I can get in the top bunk.
I had a little bit of dinner, pumpkin soup and a vegetarian tart with salad. I am not getting enough vegetables in my food plan at the moment.
Sydney was really celebrating Christmas eve last night. I went to Darling Harbour where they were singing Christmas carols around the tree. Even though I said at the beginning I feel familiar to Sydney, it was the first time for me to go to Darling Harbour. I missed the carols but arrived for the fireworks. What a great fireworks show. Then there were some street performers doing juggling acts. They also have this huge playground there and I was totally amazed at the number of children who were there playing at 10 p.m. Why weren't they at home all snug in their beds waiting for santa to come? I didn't ask.
St. Andrews Anglican Cathedral was having an 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service and so I went to church. Quite impressive choir and orchestra. They had trombones and those circular metal horns as well as trumpets and quite a large turnout. We heard a message about the birth of Jesus as a baby and the birth of God and sang Christmas carols. As we were leaving the church they gave everyone there a couple of gingerbread cookies. I was impressed! On my way back to the hostel I stopped in at the gelato store and got a cone. When I get back to Dallas and am complaining about the weight gain I will have no one to blame but the gelato stores. It is tasty though and much easier to avoid in Dallas as I am not walking by.
There were still lots of people out on the street singing and greeting everyone with "Happy Christmas."
On my way to my room I passed the tv lounge and they were showing the Ray Charles movie so I stopped in to watch from the middle to the end. Thank goodness their midnight commercials aren't as many as the ones in the usa.
I know I am not in the usa because the department stores haven't been open late at night or early in the morning with christmas sales. I am going to my cousins for Christmas dinner. He has just called to tell me which train to take. I go across the road to the central station and buy a ticket on the north line and call when I get to Gordon and then his stop is Turramura. Should be interesting. I have no memory of meeting his 2nd wife. She was his first wife's caretaker when she was dying of cancer more than twelve years ago. Both of his children are in the USA for Christmas and I don't know where hers are. I am pretty sure he told me when I was here before that she also had children from a previous marriage. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
I had a little bit of dinner, pumpkin soup and a vegetarian tart with salad. I am not getting enough vegetables in my food plan at the moment.
Sydney was really celebrating Christmas eve last night. I went to Darling Harbour where they were singing Christmas carols around the tree. Even though I said at the beginning I feel familiar to Sydney, it was the first time for me to go to Darling Harbour. I missed the carols but arrived for the fireworks. What a great fireworks show. Then there were some street performers doing juggling acts. They also have this huge playground there and I was totally amazed at the number of children who were there playing at 10 p.m. Why weren't they at home all snug in their beds waiting for santa to come? I didn't ask.
St. Andrews Anglican Cathedral was having an 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service and so I went to church. Quite impressive choir and orchestra. They had trombones and those circular metal horns as well as trumpets and quite a large turnout. We heard a message about the birth of Jesus as a baby and the birth of God and sang Christmas carols. As we were leaving the church they gave everyone there a couple of gingerbread cookies. I was impressed! On my way back to the hostel I stopped in at the gelato store and got a cone. When I get back to Dallas and am complaining about the weight gain I will have no one to blame but the gelato stores. It is tasty though and much easier to avoid in Dallas as I am not walking by.
There were still lots of people out on the street singing and greeting everyone with "Happy Christmas."
On my way to my room I passed the tv lounge and they were showing the Ray Charles movie so I stopped in to watch from the middle to the end. Thank goodness their midnight commercials aren't as many as the ones in the usa.
I know I am not in the usa because the department stores haven't been open late at night or early in the morning with christmas sales. I am going to my cousins for Christmas dinner. He has just called to tell me which train to take. I go across the road to the central station and buy a ticket on the north line and call when I get to Gordon and then his stop is Turramura. Should be interesting. I have no memory of meeting his 2nd wife. She was his first wife's caretaker when she was dying of cancer more than twelve years ago. Both of his children are in the USA for Christmas and I don't know where hers are. I am pretty sure he told me when I was here before that she also had children from a previous marriage. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Hamilton Island, Great Barrier Reef Airport
I'm leaving Queensland for New South Wales. I am beginning to sound like an Ozzie, I know the names of the states. So I left the hostel in Airlie Beach this morning around 9:45. A bus picked me up to take me to the dock to catch a boat called the Whitsunday Cruises to take the boat to Hamilton Island airport. So instead of planes, trains and automobiles its coaches, boats, planes and trains. I will take the train in from the airport back to the central YHA for a two night stay. Christmas day I am going to lunch at my cousin's house in Turramura. It is a suburb of Sydney.
It was a great sailing experience out of Airlie Beach. We met at the Able Point Marina at 8:30 on Thursday morning. We walked to the boat and had to surrender our shoes. There were 12 passengers on board, a captain, a cook who doubled as sail helper and his girl friend who also doubled as cook. It was a 52 foot sail boat called the Iceberg. The sleeping accommodations were cosy. Which means there was just enough room to lay down. Thank goodness there was a small fan over my head other wise it would have been very hot. I was the only American on board. There were 3 couples from England, two austrians, two french, and one swiss woman. One of the austrians spoke no english and neither of the french or swiss spoke english. The younger of the french women spoke a little english and the swiss woman spoke and understood enough english to know what the people on the boat were saying.
We cast off and went sailing. The first place we stopped Brandon put us in the dingy and took us to an island and dropped us off. We walked across the water, in the sand. The sand was very coarse as it was made up of crushed coral. After an hour and a half He came back and got us and then we put on our stinger suits. Stinger suits are to protect you from jelly fish and other creatures that are present in the sea now that can cause harm and then we went snorkeling. It was a better experience than I had at the great barrier reef out of Cairns. Of course I was worried at first. I even wore a life jacket. Worried on two counts that I wouldn't be able to do it and worried that the Cyclone that was reported on the weather was coming to get us. And the Australian saying "No Worries" was actually accurate in this case. Brandon stayed out on the dingy around us as we snorkeled, the water was relatively calm and no cyclone showed up to ruin our day. Then we got back on the boat and went to another spot to snorkel. This time I took the life jacket off and again had no problem, seeing the giant angel fish, the parrot fish, the beautiful brain coral, the yellow fish with bright pink spots all over it. There was hot pink coral, red coral, blue tipped coral and all sorts of other fish darting around. The coral and the fish are in very shallow water. The snorkelers are not allowed to wear fins in this area because they damage the coral. Its time to board the aircraft.
It was a great sailing experience out of Airlie Beach. We met at the Able Point Marina at 8:30 on Thursday morning. We walked to the boat and had to surrender our shoes. There were 12 passengers on board, a captain, a cook who doubled as sail helper and his girl friend who also doubled as cook. It was a 52 foot sail boat called the Iceberg. The sleeping accommodations were cosy. Which means there was just enough room to lay down. Thank goodness there was a small fan over my head other wise it would have been very hot. I was the only American on board. There were 3 couples from England, two austrians, two french, and one swiss woman. One of the austrians spoke no english and neither of the french or swiss spoke english. The younger of the french women spoke a little english and the swiss woman spoke and understood enough english to know what the people on the boat were saying.
We cast off and went sailing. The first place we stopped Brandon put us in the dingy and took us to an island and dropped us off. We walked across the water, in the sand. The sand was very coarse as it was made up of crushed coral. After an hour and a half He came back and got us and then we put on our stinger suits. Stinger suits are to protect you from jelly fish and other creatures that are present in the sea now that can cause harm and then we went snorkeling. It was a better experience than I had at the great barrier reef out of Cairns. Of course I was worried at first. I even wore a life jacket. Worried on two counts that I wouldn't be able to do it and worried that the Cyclone that was reported on the weather was coming to get us. And the Australian saying "No Worries" was actually accurate in this case. Brandon stayed out on the dingy around us as we snorkeled, the water was relatively calm and no cyclone showed up to ruin our day. Then we got back on the boat and went to another spot to snorkel. This time I took the life jacket off and again had no problem, seeing the giant angel fish, the parrot fish, the beautiful brain coral, the yellow fish with bright pink spots all over it. There was hot pink coral, red coral, blue tipped coral and all sorts of other fish darting around. The coral and the fish are in very shallow water. The snorkelers are not allowed to wear fins in this area because they damage the coral. Its time to board the aircraft.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Ai
Hi I am in Airlie Beach. While you might think it is pronounced air when the natives say it it sounds like early beach.
I took the midnight bus up here. We left at 12:25 and arrived around 11:30 this morning. That gave me time to figure out where I am supposed to go tomorrow and to time how long it will take me to get there. So it's approximately 20 minutes down hill so it will take me more than 30 minutes to walk up hill to catch this boat for a two day one night cruise. I was just watching the weather tonight and their is a cyclone in the area. I hope it moves away because I want to snorkle tomorrow. Oh well, I hope it works out. I had swordfish tonight for dinner and it was quite good and boysenberry ice cream.
I had a massage this afternoon. Talk about sticker shock. The last massage I had was in Lovinia, Bali, Indonesia and it costs 120,000 rupiah which is about $10 usa, today's massage $80.
Tomorrows trip will only have 12 people on board. It should be interesting. I am looking forward to seeing the white sugar sand beaches and the crystal blue water.
I took the midnight bus up here. We left at 12:25 and arrived around 11:30 this morning. That gave me time to figure out where I am supposed to go tomorrow and to time how long it will take me to get there. So it's approximately 20 minutes down hill so it will take me more than 30 minutes to walk up hill to catch this boat for a two day one night cruise. I was just watching the weather tonight and their is a cyclone in the area. I hope it moves away because I want to snorkle tomorrow. Oh well, I hope it works out. I had swordfish tonight for dinner and it was quite good and boysenberry ice cream.
I had a massage this afternoon. Talk about sticker shock. The last massage I had was in Lovinia, Bali, Indonesia and it costs 120,000 rupiah which is about $10 usa, today's massage $80.
Tomorrows trip will only have 12 people on board. It should be interesting. I am looking forward to seeing the white sugar sand beaches and the crystal blue water.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Daintree Rain Forest/ Cape Tribulation
I am back from the Daintree Rain forest and Cape Tribulation. I stayed at the Beach House YHA. Youth Hostel Association is what YHA stands for. It was right on the beach. Could not go swimming in the pacific ocean because it is stinger season and you have to wear a stinger suit or there has to be a stinger net around the beach. A stinger suit is black nylon or polyester and it covers you from head to toe and your hands and your neck. Stingers are the highly poisonous box jelly fish, and all sorts of other creatures that live in the sea at this time of the year in australia.
Bathing suits are what we americans call the suits we swim in. New Zealanders call them togs. My son in law from south africa calls them swimming costumes, Australians call them bathers. Sometimes its confusing. Americans call rubber sandals flip flops, australians call them thongs.
The Daintree rain forest is a world heritage sight as well as the Great Barrier Reef. They are the only two world heritage sights that are right next to each other. The forest is older than the amazon. It is several million years old. I went on a night hike through the rain forest looking for critters that are asleep during the day. We saw fire flies, phosphorous stuff on a log that attracts fire flies when they are mating, giant crickets with white knees and very long antennae, giant spiders, a tree with heart shaped leaves with tiny silica spikes on the leaves (not something you want to run into ever). Apparently it takes about 6 months for that silica to get out of your skin once its lodged in there and its very painful according to the guide. We saw red shiny fungus, looked kind of like red raspberry sauce.A komodo dragon.
Then today I went on a jungle surfing safari. That was good scary and turned out to be a lot of fun. we were on platforms sliding between trees over the tops. I was scared at first and then finally got used to it. Actually might have been better than trying to figure out where to step over tree roots and on slippery rocks the night before in the rain.
Had ffor lunch chicken braes salad. Actually the first chicken breast salad I've had in months. This was somewhat different. It had pump in, feta cheese and anise seed as well as fresh spinach and a lemon dressing.
The bus picked me up at 12:50 to come back to Cairns. Our first stop was the Daintree Ice cream factory. Four flavors for $6. Blue berry, coconut and then two flavors have never heard of before. The fruit was from the farm that the daintier ice cream factory resides on. I have made blueberry ice cream and it just is not a strong enough flavored fruit. It doesn't have much flavor.
Another highlight of the return trip was a stop at the wildlife park where we saw a cassowary, wallabies, kangaroos and both salt and freshwater crocodiles. Back in the bus and on to Mossman creek where we had an hour to take a dip in fresh running mountain stream, very chilly.
It was a great 24 hours.
Have charged my battery on my iphone. Discovered am going to have to delete some pictures off my ipad in order to add the latest ones. Never in my life did I think I was going to take more pictures and videos than the ipad could handle. I still have a month of travel left before I get home. I am going to have to buy another digital container for pictures. My mind is drawing a blank of what they are called. Have charged the battery for the camera, am charging the ipad now. Will probably have to leave with it only charged to 79% as its time to get a cab to take me to the bus station to catch the midnight bus to Airlie Beach. It's an 11 hour trip and it seemed smarter to go during the night so can legitimately sleep for at least 6 of those hours. I have washed and dried my clothes and repacked. I have found some cheese that was left in the kitchen along with some bread and butter so had grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. So am ready to go.
Bathing suits are what we americans call the suits we swim in. New Zealanders call them togs. My son in law from south africa calls them swimming costumes, Australians call them bathers. Sometimes its confusing. Americans call rubber sandals flip flops, australians call them thongs.
The Daintree rain forest is a world heritage sight as well as the Great Barrier Reef. They are the only two world heritage sights that are right next to each other. The forest is older than the amazon. It is several million years old. I went on a night hike through the rain forest looking for critters that are asleep during the day. We saw fire flies, phosphorous stuff on a log that attracts fire flies when they are mating, giant crickets with white knees and very long antennae, giant spiders, a tree with heart shaped leaves with tiny silica spikes on the leaves (not something you want to run into ever). Apparently it takes about 6 months for that silica to get out of your skin once its lodged in there and its very painful according to the guide. We saw red shiny fungus, looked kind of like red raspberry sauce.A komodo dragon.
Then today I went on a jungle surfing safari. That was good scary and turned out to be a lot of fun. we were on platforms sliding between trees over the tops. I was scared at first and then finally got used to it. Actually might have been better than trying to figure out where to step over tree roots and on slippery rocks the night before in the rain.
Had ffor lunch chicken braes salad. Actually the first chicken breast salad I've had in months. This was somewhat different. It had pump in, feta cheese and anise seed as well as fresh spinach and a lemon dressing.
The bus picked me up at 12:50 to come back to Cairns. Our first stop was the Daintree Ice cream factory. Four flavors for $6. Blue berry, coconut and then two flavors have never heard of before. The fruit was from the farm that the daintier ice cream factory resides on. I have made blueberry ice cream and it just is not a strong enough flavored fruit. It doesn't have much flavor.
Another highlight of the return trip was a stop at the wildlife park where we saw a cassowary, wallabies, kangaroos and both salt and freshwater crocodiles. Back in the bus and on to Mossman creek where we had an hour to take a dip in fresh running mountain stream, very chilly.
It was a great 24 hours.
Have charged my battery on my iphone. Discovered am going to have to delete some pictures off my ipad in order to add the latest ones. Never in my life did I think I was going to take more pictures and videos than the ipad could handle. I still have a month of travel left before I get home. I am going to have to buy another digital container for pictures. My mind is drawing a blank of what they are called. Have charged the battery for the camera, am charging the ipad now. Will probably have to leave with it only charged to 79% as its time to get a cab to take me to the bus station to catch the midnight bus to Airlie Beach. It's an 11 hour trip and it seemed smarter to go during the night so can legitimately sleep for at least 6 of those hours. I have washed and dried my clothes and repacked. I have found some cheese that was left in the kitchen along with some bread and butter so had grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. So am ready to go.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Cairns, Australia
Hi- back from dive,snorkeling, sitting around on a boat trip. Can I just say that I am sick of packing. Not unpacking but repacking. I completely emptied my suitcase and backpack looking for these bandages the hospital cut for me the other day. I must have left them at the hospital because they are in neither container. And it's pretty annoying because my splint rubs the v between my thumb & pointer finger and also the knuckle of the pointer finger. It is worse since they cut it down or opened it up so I can get in and out of it without assistance now.
I went to the movies today. I saw "Ides of March" with George Clooney. It cost me $16.50. That seems like a lot of money for a movie.
It's very weird here. The Cairns YHA I am staying atnis right across the street from the mall. A week before Christmas and the mall is closed at 5 p.m. On Sunday. Actually, I don't know if it's been open at all today.
Cairns is pronounced cans. In the morning I am going on an overnight excursion to Cape Tribulation and to the Daintree rain Forrest. I wonder why predictive text wants Forrest capitalized? Anyway, it's supposed to be spectacular. And will be going on a night hike to see the creatures that are awake at night. There are two night activities to choose from, the one I am going on or tp go look for crocodiles. I saw crocodiles at Katherine gorge, Kakadu canyon and Litchfield. They are very large reptiles. I also some in a pen in india.
I discovered the night markets tonight. They are right next door to the best gelato I think I have ever had. It took a lot of will power to not have another dip tonight. It's very smooth and creamy.
This afternoon I also went to the "lagoon". It's a public swimming pool and free to the public. Unfortunately, it was grey, cloudy and overcast and the water was pretty cold. I waded around in it for awhile. It's only 1.5 meters deep at the deepest part. I don't know how deep that is in feet. However, it's a very cool setting. It looks out over the harbor where the boats come in from the reef. So when you are looking across it, you get the optical illusion that it is as big as the harbor. Although there is a changenin color from turquoise pool to dark blue ocean.
I was thinking about going to the botanical gardens today but ut wasbgrey, cloudy and misting so went to the movies instead.
After cape tribulation, I am coming back to cairns for about 6 hrs., gathering up my stuff and getting on the night bus to Airlie beach. The bus leaves at 12:25 am. I am hoping the seats will recline a little so I can sleep! It's an 11 hour trip no matter how you go. And what is in Airlie beach. It's the starting point for a cruise in the Whitsunday's. Apparently the whitsundays are famous for white sugar sand beaches and crystal blue clear water. So I am going to see for myself. The pictures I have seen on the brochures tell you that. And a woman from the Vietnam trip said the whitsundays are fabulous. So I will be there two days and then on or back to Sydney. I think I am having Christmas dinner with my cousin although I haven't heard from him lately.
Souvenir shopping is an interesting experience. There is lots of clothes and jewelry. Lots of T-shirts, towels, bottle openers, bracelets and stuffed animals. Being in Australia there are boomerangs and small didgeridoo's but I don't see many things for boys. I guess the boomerangs could be for boys.
I am still carrying a roll of toilet paper I bought in india. It's half used. When I have needed it I didn't have it with me, when I have had it I didn't need it!
I went to the movies today. I saw "Ides of March" with George Clooney. It cost me $16.50. That seems like a lot of money for a movie.
It's very weird here. The Cairns YHA I am staying atnis right across the street from the mall. A week before Christmas and the mall is closed at 5 p.m. On Sunday. Actually, I don't know if it's been open at all today.
Cairns is pronounced cans. In the morning I am going on an overnight excursion to Cape Tribulation and to the Daintree rain Forrest. I wonder why predictive text wants Forrest capitalized? Anyway, it's supposed to be spectacular. And will be going on a night hike to see the creatures that are awake at night. There are two night activities to choose from, the one I am going on or tp go look for crocodiles. I saw crocodiles at Katherine gorge, Kakadu canyon and Litchfield. They are very large reptiles. I also some in a pen in india.
I discovered the night markets tonight. They are right next door to the best gelato I think I have ever had. It took a lot of will power to not have another dip tonight. It's very smooth and creamy.
This afternoon I also went to the "lagoon". It's a public swimming pool and free to the public. Unfortunately, it was grey, cloudy and overcast and the water was pretty cold. I waded around in it for awhile. It's only 1.5 meters deep at the deepest part. I don't know how deep that is in feet. However, it's a very cool setting. It looks out over the harbor where the boats come in from the reef. So when you are looking across it, you get the optical illusion that it is as big as the harbor. Although there is a changenin color from turquoise pool to dark blue ocean.
I was thinking about going to the botanical gardens today but ut wasbgrey, cloudy and misting so went to the movies instead.
After cape tribulation, I am coming back to cairns for about 6 hrs., gathering up my stuff and getting on the night bus to Airlie beach. The bus leaves at 12:25 am. I am hoping the seats will recline a little so I can sleep! It's an 11 hour trip no matter how you go. And what is in Airlie beach. It's the starting point for a cruise in the Whitsunday's. Apparently the whitsundays are famous for white sugar sand beaches and crystal blue clear water. So I am going to see for myself. The pictures I have seen on the brochures tell you that. And a woman from the Vietnam trip said the whitsundays are fabulous. So I will be there two days and then on or back to Sydney. I think I am having Christmas dinner with my cousin although I haven't heard from him lately.
Souvenir shopping is an interesting experience. There is lots of clothes and jewelry. Lots of T-shirts, towels, bottle openers, bracelets and stuffed animals. Being in Australia there are boomerangs and small didgeridoo's but I don't see many things for boys. I guess the boomerangs could be for boys.
I am still carrying a roll of toilet paper I bought in india. It's half used. When I have needed it I didn't have it with me, when I have had it I didn't need it!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Pacific ocean-Australia
Here I am again in the Pacific ocean off the coast of Australia. We are way out cause you cant see the coast anywhere. Just blue choppy water everywhere. And i do mean choppy. I tried again to snorkle this morning and was taking water in my snorkel and again got a tow in from the rescue boat. I have a friend in Dallas who says "nothing stops you"! Choppy water stops me. It scares me to death. I guesss this gives me a reason to come back to australia. They say the weather was beautiful last week, the waer was smooth the sun was shining.
The captain of the boat says this is what the weather forecast is for the next 10 days. So it wouldn't make any difference if I came back later other than my ears might be in better shape. The Polish guy Eric who has been checking the people in and out of the water was somewhat irritated with me. He told me yesterday that if I wanted to go in today he would get someone to go in with me as the open water instructors are free now that there class is done. He said it was rougher today than the first day and you know he was right. Thank goodness they were watching and could come and get me.
Another lesson in living in the moment. Enjoy the boat ride, someone is fixing me 3 meals a day and i don't have to do anything but eat, sleep, enjoy the view, finish reading the Lee Child book about Jack Reacher. It's disappointing that I am not getting to dive. But as the guy in Indonesia said, "It's your holiday." and I do want to come back on my feet and not in a box. That would ruin my day and everyone else's....
I can live vicariously through the other divers. The strong snorkeler said it was too choppy for her as well.
Tomorrow I am going on an excursion to the rain forest and to Cape Tribulation. Then I am going to airlie beach to a 2 day one night sailing excursion in the whitsunday's. Hopefully, the water will be calm there and there will be beautiful fish there.
The captain of the boat says this is what the weather forecast is for the next 10 days. So it wouldn't make any difference if I came back later other than my ears might be in better shape. The Polish guy Eric who has been checking the people in and out of the water was somewhat irritated with me. He told me yesterday that if I wanted to go in today he would get someone to go in with me as the open water instructors are free now that there class is done. He said it was rougher today than the first day and you know he was right. Thank goodness they were watching and could come and get me.
Another lesson in living in the moment. Enjoy the boat ride, someone is fixing me 3 meals a day and i don't have to do anything but eat, sleep, enjoy the view, finish reading the Lee Child book about Jack Reacher. It's disappointing that I am not getting to dive. But as the guy in Indonesia said, "It's your holiday." and I do want to come back on my feet and not in a box. That would ruin my day and everyone else's....
I can live vicariously through the other divers. The strong snorkeler said it was too choppy for her as well.
Tomorrow I am going on an excursion to the rain forest and to Cape Tribulation. Then I am going to airlie beach to a 2 day one night sailing excursion in the whitsunday's. Hopefully, the water will be calm there and there will be beautiful fish there.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Pacific ocean, Australia
Hi- I am sitting on a boat in the pacific ocean occasionally getting to snorkel on the great barrier reef. I am on live aboard boat with a dive group called pro scuba. This was one of the prime reasons I wanted to come to Australia. I even remembered to bring my dive card. S you might be asking yourself why isn't Jean diving. The answer to that is that I couldn't get my ears to clear when I went diving in The Gilli Islands in Indonesia and when I got to Australia and had paid for the trip and was talking to their staff they suggested that I go see the dive Dr. At the 24+ medical clinic. I did and he checked my ears when I was holding my nose and blowing out and the ear drum was not moving so I have a temporarily unfit to dive problem. Fortunately, their are 5 other people on the boat who are also snorkelers.
Yesterday,the first time in the water I didn't use my common sense. It was apparently on the blink. The water was very rough and I got in anyway. I was very scared. I ended up waving my arm with the distress signal and they came and towed me back to the boat. It was challenging to swim in the rough water, challenging to see anything in the rough water. It was grey, cloudy and raining.
The second time in the water ni stayed close to the boat and was in the water about 10 minutes. The third time, I went out with one of the dive instructors and we went out to the coral and saw some beautiful fish. Some of the same fish we saw in Indonesia. I guess they followed me here.
Now this morning it is raining again and the water looks rough. So I am writing instead of struggling in the water. Pro-Scuba is a pretty professionally run group. They take no more tha 32 people out at a time. If you are a diver or are getting your dive certification you can do it on board. You have the opportunity to dive 11 times, snorkel 9 times. Snorkelers do not snorkel at night in the dark. They check us in as we get in the water and check us out as we get out of the water. There is a lookout on the top of the boat looking out for all the people in the water. This is apparently stinger season and so we are all wearing a full body suit that covers your hands, head, neck, and legs with a strap under your foot. This is really when I miss Jim. He was a great dive buddy. You never dive alone. I would really like to have a snorkel buddy. There is a woman from Germany who is here with her brother who has befriended me. There is another German girl that I might team up with who also got scared yesterday in the rough sea. She doesn't speak as much English as the first one. I don't know anyone's name.
It's a bit like going to dance camp. You have certain times to dive, someone else is doing the cooking and cleaning up and you are there to have a good time. Every body else on this trip is from Europe. Most of them are German, some Swiss, and a couple from Holland and me. Traveling by myself hasn't been too bad. There are some disadvantages and advantages. You canto on the tours you want to but you do t really have anyone to discuss your decisions with.
Yesterday,the first time in the water I didn't use my common sense. It was apparently on the blink. The water was very rough and I got in anyway. I was very scared. I ended up waving my arm with the distress signal and they came and towed me back to the boat. It was challenging to swim in the rough water, challenging to see anything in the rough water. It was grey, cloudy and raining.
The second time in the water ni stayed close to the boat and was in the water about 10 minutes. The third time, I went out with one of the dive instructors and we went out to the coral and saw some beautiful fish. Some of the same fish we saw in Indonesia. I guess they followed me here.
Now this morning it is raining again and the water looks rough. So I am writing instead of struggling in the water. Pro-Scuba is a pretty professionally run group. They take no more tha 32 people out at a time. If you are a diver or are getting your dive certification you can do it on board. You have the opportunity to dive 11 times, snorkel 9 times. Snorkelers do not snorkel at night in the dark. They check us in as we get in the water and check us out as we get out of the water. There is a lookout on the top of the boat looking out for all the people in the water. This is apparently stinger season and so we are all wearing a full body suit that covers your hands, head, neck, and legs with a strap under your foot. This is really when I miss Jim. He was a great dive buddy. You never dive alone. I would really like to have a snorkel buddy. There is a woman from Germany who is here with her brother who has befriended me. There is another German girl that I might team up with who also got scared yesterday in the rough sea. She doesn't speak as much English as the first one. I don't know anyone's name.
It's a bit like going to dance camp. You have certain times to dive, someone else is doing the cooking and cleaning up and you are there to have a good time. Every body else on this trip is from Europe. Most of them are German, some Swiss, and a couple from Holland and me. Traveling by myself hasn't been too bad. There are some disadvantages and advantages. You canto on the tours you want to but you do t really have anyone to discuss your decisions with.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Indonesia
HI
I am in Indonesia now. Today we left Lovina and have arrived at this fabulous hotel called Strawberry Hill. The reason this is a fbulous hotel is because it has tv that works, internet i the room as well as the restaurant, a seperate shower as well as a bath tub, a balcony, soft shhets.
This is actually the first hotel we have stayed in here that has tv that works.
So i arrived in Ubud, Indonesia. The monkey forrest is there. Let me back up, I went to the emergency room in darwin, australia the day i left and they xrayed my wrist. it sounds like it's not healing exactly right but it is healing and the good thing is they took off the plaster cas and put on a removable hard plaastic splint. That means I have been able to go swimming, and snorkeli \ng and get in the waterfall. It has made this trip so much moe enjoyable. For the past 3 nights we have been in Lovina. Yesterday, we went snorkeling. The fish were so colorful, the water was so beautiful. Crystal clear turquoise, and when you look past the coral the dark blue was beautiful as well. There was one fish that reminded me of some wild colored tennis shoes. we saw purple tipped coral, electric bluefish, lightturquoise colored fish, needle nose long skinny fish, nemo-clown fish in tow colorations. I had forgotten how beautiful the fish are since it has been so long since I have been diving, snorkeling or to the ocean like this. The snorkeling guide on my boat was so thoughtful. Our first snorkel was from the beach and the second one was from the boat. I was not sure I was going to be able to get back in the boat from the ocean with only one useful hand. He had the boat driver pull the boat up very near the dead coral. So in effect iwas able to get back in the boat with a minimum of help.
We were snorkeling at Pulau Menjangan in Bali Barat National Park. We bought a picnic lunch of rice, chicken, green beans, and some peanut thing. It was delicious.
We have seen weavers makiing sarongs, and dyeing the yarns in a pattern, trekked through the rice field, sweated buckets. It's an unusual time for this region. It's been hotter here the last couple of days than usual. On the trek through the rice field, i finally had had it. I caught up with that guide, his name was Numan. Everyone is named the same thing here. First born boy or girl is Wayan, second is Made, third is Numan!Anyway my ace was red, I was not having a good time, I was sweating buckets and it looked like we were going to be walking another 45 minutes. I asked him to call someone to come and get me. So the best 10,000 rupiahs I have spent. I paid a young man to take me to the bridge where we were having lunch on the back of his scooter. Although when we were going down the hills and his breaks were screeching I was praying they were going to hold and work. It's time for dinner. I will finish up later.
I am in Indonesia now. Today we left Lovina and have arrived at this fabulous hotel called Strawberry Hill. The reason this is a fbulous hotel is because it has tv that works, internet i the room as well as the restaurant, a seperate shower as well as a bath tub, a balcony, soft shhets.
This is actually the first hotel we have stayed in here that has tv that works.
So i arrived in Ubud, Indonesia. The monkey forrest is there. Let me back up, I went to the emergency room in darwin, australia the day i left and they xrayed my wrist. it sounds like it's not healing exactly right but it is healing and the good thing is they took off the plaster cas and put on a removable hard plaastic splint. That means I have been able to go swimming, and snorkeli \ng and get in the waterfall. It has made this trip so much moe enjoyable. For the past 3 nights we have been in Lovina. Yesterday, we went snorkeling. The fish were so colorful, the water was so beautiful. Crystal clear turquoise, and when you look past the coral the dark blue was beautiful as well. There was one fish that reminded me of some wild colored tennis shoes. we saw purple tipped coral, electric bluefish, lightturquoise colored fish, needle nose long skinny fish, nemo-clown fish in tow colorations. I had forgotten how beautiful the fish are since it has been so long since I have been diving, snorkeling or to the ocean like this. The snorkeling guide on my boat was so thoughtful. Our first snorkel was from the beach and the second one was from the boat. I was not sure I was going to be able to get back in the boat from the ocean with only one useful hand. He had the boat driver pull the boat up very near the dead coral. So in effect iwas able to get back in the boat with a minimum of help.
We were snorkeling at Pulau Menjangan in Bali Barat National Park. We bought a picnic lunch of rice, chicken, green beans, and some peanut thing. It was delicious.
We have seen weavers makiing sarongs, and dyeing the yarns in a pattern, trekked through the rice field, sweated buckets. It's an unusual time for this region. It's been hotter here the last couple of days than usual. On the trek through the rice field, i finally had had it. I caught up with that guide, his name was Numan. Everyone is named the same thing here. First born boy or girl is Wayan, second is Made, third is Numan!Anyway my ace was red, I was not having a good time, I was sweating buckets and it looked like we were going to be walking another 45 minutes. I asked him to call someone to come and get me. So the best 10,000 rupiahs I have spent. I paid a young man to take me to the bridge where we were having lunch on the back of his scooter. Although when we were going down the hills and his breaks were screeching I was praying they were going to hold and work. It's time for dinner. I will finish up later.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
australia
Traveling with a cast on your left hand continues to be a challenge. Spent all day tuesday in the emergency room of St. Vincents hospital trying to get a waterproof cast. It is not possible with my break. according to the Dr. can't take this cast off because the break would move and definitely don't want that to happen. It's a struggle to get dressed. Open bottles! Bathe! Cut your food! Open any sort of packet! etc. Put one of your hands in a bag and see what I mean!
I am a trifle annoyed at Intrepid travel. When they notified me that Thailand was cancelled due to flooding, I sent them an email requesting to cancel Indonesia, because it is a lot of swimming, bike riding etc. My part, I should have called and didn't. While, I was sitting in the hospital I saw an email from them saying if I cancelled now I would loose all that money. Red flags for a girl who has money issues. So now am flying back to Indonesia to do that trip. I am trying to go with the flow.
Today i am going to do my laundry. Since i am staying in a youth hostel in Sydney they have washers & dryers. In Vietnam & Cambodia it was easier and cheaper to send it out!
Arrived in Sydney on Sunday/. Monday, I went to the blue mountains, saw olympic park and took a mini harbor cruise. The find of the day though was this restaurant that had steak, salad & chips for $10. And as the Australians say, the steak was "beautiful!" It arrived pink in the middle, tender and tasty. Before I could eat it though, I had to send it back to the kitchen to get it cut up.
Tuesday, in the ER. there are some hospital workers who like to scare the patient. The physiotherapist that first looked at the vietnam x-rays kept going on and on about surgery. Fortunately, hers wasn't the final word. When the orthopedic Dr. got out of surgery, he said cant disturb the cast! It would cause more problems.
Wednesday, talked to citibank because haven't been able to use the card. It was being denied.I talked to them for more than an hour on several occasions before i left the USA about my trip, where I was going, how long I was going to be and changed the billing address. My daughter in Florida is paying my bills. The reason I haven't been able to charge is because I haven't paid because you guessed it, they didn't change the address. My daughter hasn't gotten a bill since I left. Yes, I was annoyed about that. Yes, I realize I could be getting the bills on line and paying them on line but I don't want to.
Wednesday's tours. Bought a ticket for the hop on hop off bus. The ticket seller gave me the senior rate which was a saving of $10. So I saw all the general sights of Sydney from the top of the bus. While on the bus, I bought a discounted ticket for the aquarium saved another $8. So I saw in depth the fishes of australia without having to get wet. Walked around the Sydney Opera house and went inside. I passed on the tour. I didn't really want to know how much it cost to build it or any of the other details. Then i decided to go to Bondi Beach. So hopped on another bus and went out there. Walked in the sand, walked in the surf and picked up a few shells. The water is a pretty aquamarine color. It was cold. I think it's the pacific ocean. Got back on the bus at 5:15, arrived back at the Sydney central YHA where I am staying at 6:15, just in time for $5 pizza night. So had a pizza for dinner. It's expensive here in comparison to Vietnam & Cambodia. Double what we were paying for food. And you know I don't do well on nothing! They show a movie every night and last night it was Gulliver's travels with Jack Black.
Thursday-so far update the blog, take a shower, get dressed! Now am off to breakfast, do my laundry and talk to the travel experts down stairs!
I am a trifle annoyed at Intrepid travel. When they notified me that Thailand was cancelled due to flooding, I sent them an email requesting to cancel Indonesia, because it is a lot of swimming, bike riding etc. My part, I should have called and didn't. While, I was sitting in the hospital I saw an email from them saying if I cancelled now I would loose all that money. Red flags for a girl who has money issues. So now am flying back to Indonesia to do that trip. I am trying to go with the flow.
Today i am going to do my laundry. Since i am staying in a youth hostel in Sydney they have washers & dryers. In Vietnam & Cambodia it was easier and cheaper to send it out!
Arrived in Sydney on Sunday/. Monday, I went to the blue mountains, saw olympic park and took a mini harbor cruise. The find of the day though was this restaurant that had steak, salad & chips for $10. And as the Australians say, the steak was "beautiful!" It arrived pink in the middle, tender and tasty. Before I could eat it though, I had to send it back to the kitchen to get it cut up.
Tuesday, in the ER. there are some hospital workers who like to scare the patient. The physiotherapist that first looked at the vietnam x-rays kept going on and on about surgery. Fortunately, hers wasn't the final word. When the orthopedic Dr. got out of surgery, he said cant disturb the cast! It would cause more problems.
Wednesday, talked to citibank because haven't been able to use the card. It was being denied.I talked to them for more than an hour on several occasions before i left the USA about my trip, where I was going, how long I was going to be and changed the billing address. My daughter in Florida is paying my bills. The reason I haven't been able to charge is because I haven't paid because you guessed it, they didn't change the address. My daughter hasn't gotten a bill since I left. Yes, I was annoyed about that. Yes, I realize I could be getting the bills on line and paying them on line but I don't want to.
Wednesday's tours. Bought a ticket for the hop on hop off bus. The ticket seller gave me the senior rate which was a saving of $10. So I saw all the general sights of Sydney from the top of the bus. While on the bus, I bought a discounted ticket for the aquarium saved another $8. So I saw in depth the fishes of australia without having to get wet. Walked around the Sydney Opera house and went inside. I passed on the tour. I didn't really want to know how much it cost to build it or any of the other details. Then i decided to go to Bondi Beach. So hopped on another bus and went out there. Walked in the sand, walked in the surf and picked up a few shells. The water is a pretty aquamarine color. It was cold. I think it's the pacific ocean. Got back on the bus at 5:15, arrived back at the Sydney central YHA where I am staying at 6:15, just in time for $5 pizza night. So had a pizza for dinner. It's expensive here in comparison to Vietnam & Cambodia. Double what we were paying for food. And you know I don't do well on nothing! They show a movie every night and last night it was Gulliver's travels with Jack Black.
Thursday-so far update the blog, take a shower, get dressed! Now am off to breakfast, do my laundry and talk to the travel experts down stairs!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Cambodia
Have moved on to Cambodia. Yesterday, we arrived in Siem Reap. Yesterday we saw a several hundred year old bridge made out of stone and the floating villages. Took pictures of some pigs in a floating pen. Interesting. Last night we went to a wedding reception for one of Intreped tours guides. It was a lot of fun. We went in a tuk-tuk. That is a cart for 4 people pulled by a motorcycle.
Cambodian tradition for a wedding, the man's family pays for the wedding and reception. They had a seated dinner for more than 500 guests, including tourists. On every table were cans of beer, soft drinks and a fith of Johnny Walker Red. Servers were walking around refilling the drinks. They had a five piece orchestra, an mc and dancers on stage. You walked in through a reception line. All the ladies were wearing pretty pink long skirts and pink silk looking tops. The men had on pink as well.and the parentscwere formally dressed also. There were about 7 courses. Lots of fish. Fish soup, duck, fish salad, steamed rice, grapes. No wedding cake.
Beautiful flowers on the center table as well as piles of fresh fruit. No wedding cake. After everyone had dinner the bride and groom came out together in matching grey silk outfits. The wedfing party also had grey silk dresses and the men wore grey pants and a matching shirt. The bride and groom had a lot of sparkly jewels. I don't know if they were costume or diamonds. The grooms wedfing ring was big, bold and had more than 6 diamonds in it. I don't know about the brides.
We ate, we drank and we danced. No couple dancing. We walked around the fruit table waving our hands. It was tun.
Today, we went temple hopping starting at 5 am. We did indeed see the sun come up around Angkor Wat. It was gorgeous. It has been a long hot day. It must be at least 80 degrees and have humidity of 85%. We are going out tonight so am going to sign off and take a quick nap.
Cambodian tradition for a wedding, the man's family pays for the wedding and reception. They had a seated dinner for more than 500 guests, including tourists. On every table were cans of beer, soft drinks and a fith of Johnny Walker Red. Servers were walking around refilling the drinks. They had a five piece orchestra, an mc and dancers on stage. You walked in through a reception line. All the ladies were wearing pretty pink long skirts and pink silk looking tops. The men had on pink as well.and the parentscwere formally dressed also. There were about 7 courses. Lots of fish. Fish soup, duck, fish salad, steamed rice, grapes. No wedding cake.
Beautiful flowers on the center table as well as piles of fresh fruit. No wedding cake. After everyone had dinner the bride and groom came out together in matching grey silk outfits. The wedfing party also had grey silk dresses and the men wore grey pants and a matching shirt. The bride and groom had a lot of sparkly jewels. I don't know if they were costume or diamonds. The grooms wedfing ring was big, bold and had more than 6 diamonds in it. I don't know about the brides.
We ate, we drank and we danced. No couple dancing. We walked around the fruit table waving our hands. It was tun.
Today, we went temple hopping starting at 5 am. We did indeed see the sun come up around Angkor Wat. It was gorgeous. It has been a long hot day. It must be at least 80 degrees and have humidity of 85%. We are going out tonight so am going to sign off and take a quick nap.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Vietnam
Hi all-
Vietnam is beautiful, complicated and challenging. We went to see the war memorial yesterday. I had originally thought the French when they occupied Vietnam were the worst but the USA use of agent orange during the Vietnam war far exceeds any thing I have ever seen. There are children still being born with massive birth defects that can be linked to agent orange. The USA military sprayed it all over their country for ten years, 1961-1971.
We are going to the Mekong delta this morning. We are in Saigon now or Ho Chi Min City. We went on a cyclo ride last night. A cyclo is bicycle wheel in back and a seat in front-a bicycle rickshaw. Those men are amazing. To be able to ride around in that traffic without getting run over. They ride without lights. You have to really be paying attention in Vietnamese traffic as there are cyclos, scooters, and lots of them. In Ho chi min city there are cars and SUVs. In the other places we have been there hasn't been many cars.
While we were in Hoi Ann, I fell and tried to catch myself with my left hand. I broke my wrist at the base of my thumb. I have a cast from my elbow to my fingers. It is quite challenging being off balance in a foreign city. The Dr. said it's a typical fracture for a person my age.
Hoi Ann is the shopping capital of Vietnam. They have a jewelry store that copies any design you want. You can have clothes, purses, belts, and shoes made. I guess you could have any article of clothing copied or made there.They have lots of fabric. Several pattern books. They measure you and have it back within 24 hrs. I bought 3 silk scarves for Elisabeth and her girls, easy to pack and light weight, had my accident and am now trying to get my travel insurance to repatriate me back to the USA and repay me for my lost trips I am not able to take.
The trip company I bought these trips from have travel insurance. Today, I wish I had bought theirs. Because they are better at send g you home when you are hurt. I can't believe I am hurt. It is very frustrating. I wish there was an American clinic on the corner so I could get a waterproof cast. And a cast with a larger thumb hole. If anyone knows of a Dr. Or clinic in Ho Chi Min city I would appreciate the information.
Vietnam is beautiful, complicated and challenging. We went to see the war memorial yesterday. I had originally thought the French when they occupied Vietnam were the worst but the USA use of agent orange during the Vietnam war far exceeds any thing I have ever seen. There are children still being born with massive birth defects that can be linked to agent orange. The USA military sprayed it all over their country for ten years, 1961-1971.
We are going to the Mekong delta this morning. We are in Saigon now or Ho Chi Min City. We went on a cyclo ride last night. A cyclo is bicycle wheel in back and a seat in front-a bicycle rickshaw. Those men are amazing. To be able to ride around in that traffic without getting run over. They ride without lights. You have to really be paying attention in Vietnamese traffic as there are cyclos, scooters, and lots of them. In Ho chi min city there are cars and SUVs. In the other places we have been there hasn't been many cars.
While we were in Hoi Ann, I fell and tried to catch myself with my left hand. I broke my wrist at the base of my thumb. I have a cast from my elbow to my fingers. It is quite challenging being off balance in a foreign city. The Dr. said it's a typical fracture for a person my age.
Hoi Ann is the shopping capital of Vietnam. They have a jewelry store that copies any design you want. You can have clothes, purses, belts, and shoes made. I guess you could have any article of clothing copied or made there.They have lots of fabric. Several pattern books. They measure you and have it back within 24 hrs. I bought 3 silk scarves for Elisabeth and her girls, easy to pack and light weight, had my accident and am now trying to get my travel insurance to repatriate me back to the USA and repay me for my lost trips I am not able to take.
The trip company I bought these trips from have travel insurance. Today, I wish I had bought theirs. Because they are better at send g you home when you are hurt. I can't believe I am hurt. It is very frustrating. I wish there was an American clinic on the corner so I could get a waterproof cast. And a cast with a larger thumb hole. If anyone knows of a Dr. Or clinic in Ho Chi Min city I would appreciate the information.
Friday, October 21, 2011
India, Vietnam
Hi
I have been without an Internet connection since leaving Jennifer's. Kathryn & I spent 2 weeks at an ashram. Up at dawn for prayer, meditation,chanting, yoga for two hours, lunch, sitting on the floor, eating with our hands just like the natives. Lecture at 2, yoga for 2 hrs. Dinner, ending the day with prayer, chanting, singing, etc. And a little sweet. I was sure I was going to starve to death but in actual fact managed to gain 3 lbs eating vegetarian. We went on 4 field trips. Went to the elephant preserve, bathed, fed, and rode the elephant. Went down to the southern tip of India, and saw where the bay of Bengal, Indian ocean and Arabian ocean meet. Then the next week we went to see the lions and a jungle hike. The high light of the jungle hike was, leeches, boy are they disgusting and a fabulous waterfall and pool to swim in. After the ashram we flew to Delhi and got in a car and saw 4 cities in 3 nights. Agra, Jaipur and old Delhi. We saw the Agra fort, the amber fort and the Taj Mahal. Rode an elephant again and took a lot of pictures of the taj, and various forts. In Jaipur, there was every kind of vehicle youcna imagine, camel pulling carts, bicycles pulling carts, women carrying sticks on their heads, tractors, cars, scooters, motor bikes, donkeys. The only thing I didn't see was a motorized wheel chair.
Now I am in Hanoi, Vietnam. Lots of people. There is a book called the Lonely Planet. I think it might be a misnomer. There are so many people in india and Vietnam it is unreal. The traffic is horrendous. The Vietnamese ride scooters. The women wear gloves long sleeved shirts that have an extra piece to cover theirnhands, and lots of people wear face masks. The air is terrible here. They wear a mask so they are not breathing the air, ourguide says it's mists that is causing the haze but in think it might be pollution as well. We have seen factories for shoes, glass and cannon printers. Last night we spent on a junk in Ha Long bay. Pretty spectacular landscapes. This trip is basically an Australian experience. 9 Australians, 1 American, and 2 Germans. We went to see the prison today where they imprisoned American pilots during the Vietnam war. I think during the war they called it the Hanoi Hilton and today there is a 5 star hotel named the Hanoi Hilton. That is where our taxi driver took us in the beginning. One of these days i will figure out how to add pictures. Actually I know how to add pictures, but for some reason when I trynto, the add picture is Greyed out and son there is no way to add them.
We are off on the train tonight. We have all bought a sleeping bag sheet to sleep on on the train. I hear it is going to be quite an experience.I hear that the worst part is the bathroom. I bought some hand sanitizer, and have some toilet paper, and 3 bottles of water, a baguette and some cheese. I am sure I won't starve. In the 4 & 5 star hotels we stayed in india there Internet came at a fee, in this 3 star hotel in Vietnam, the I tenet is free.
I have been without an Internet connection since leaving Jennifer's. Kathryn & I spent 2 weeks at an ashram. Up at dawn for prayer, meditation,chanting, yoga for two hours, lunch, sitting on the floor, eating with our hands just like the natives. Lecture at 2, yoga for 2 hrs. Dinner, ending the day with prayer, chanting, singing, etc. And a little sweet. I was sure I was going to starve to death but in actual fact managed to gain 3 lbs eating vegetarian. We went on 4 field trips. Went to the elephant preserve, bathed, fed, and rode the elephant. Went down to the southern tip of India, and saw where the bay of Bengal, Indian ocean and Arabian ocean meet. Then the next week we went to see the lions and a jungle hike. The high light of the jungle hike was, leeches, boy are they disgusting and a fabulous waterfall and pool to swim in. After the ashram we flew to Delhi and got in a car and saw 4 cities in 3 nights. Agra, Jaipur and old Delhi. We saw the Agra fort, the amber fort and the Taj Mahal. Rode an elephant again and took a lot of pictures of the taj, and various forts. In Jaipur, there was every kind of vehicle youcna imagine, camel pulling carts, bicycles pulling carts, women carrying sticks on their heads, tractors, cars, scooters, motor bikes, donkeys. The only thing I didn't see was a motorized wheel chair.
Now I am in Hanoi, Vietnam. Lots of people. There is a book called the Lonely Planet. I think it might be a misnomer. There are so many people in india and Vietnam it is unreal. The traffic is horrendous. The Vietnamese ride scooters. The women wear gloves long sleeved shirts that have an extra piece to cover theirnhands, and lots of people wear face masks. The air is terrible here. They wear a mask so they are not breathing the air, ourguide says it's mists that is causing the haze but in think it might be pollution as well. We have seen factories for shoes, glass and cannon printers. Last night we spent on a junk in Ha Long bay. Pretty spectacular landscapes. This trip is basically an Australian experience. 9 Australians, 1 American, and 2 Germans. We went to see the prison today where they imprisoned American pilots during the Vietnam war. I think during the war they called it the Hanoi Hilton and today there is a 5 star hotel named the Hanoi Hilton. That is where our taxi driver took us in the beginning. One of these days i will figure out how to add pictures. Actually I know how to add pictures, but for some reason when I trynto, the add picture is Greyed out and son there is no way to add them.
We are off on the train tonight. We have all bought a sleeping bag sheet to sleep on on the train. I hear it is going to be quite an experience.I hear that the worst part is the bathroom. I bought some hand sanitizer, and have some toilet paper, and 3 bottles of water, a baguette and some cheese. I am sure I won't starve. In the 4 & 5 star hotels we stayed in india there Internet came at a fee, in this 3 star hotel in Vietnam, the I tenet is free.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Shopping
Today, Jennifer dropped me off at Marina Mall after we took Anders to school and went to the grocery store. Her friend Tyrena from The Club told us that that mall had eye glass shops. Yesterday, when we were at the club, I accidentally broke the nose piece on my glasses.
This mall is huge. I looked on the map and found some glasses stores, fortunately this mall is like many I've been in; by that I mean, they group like products together. Unlike the malls in the USA the floor you walk in on from the street is not the first floor. It is the ground floor. Maybe it's because the grocery stores are in the basement and if you park in the underground garage that would be the first floor. The map said the eye glass places were on the first floor. For me is really the second floor. I walked around the ground floor looking for them. This mall has an Apple store, however, it's called the store here and it's not nearly as packed with people shopping, buying, taking training classes as the one I go to in Dallas. I finally find the wing of the mall that has glasses, I am on the first floor and have to search for the escalator to take me back to the ground floor because I see a store on the ground floor. I ask them if they can fix them, no. Do they have a person who can examine my eyes so I can get a new pair made. Yes, madam, but he won't be in until 2. It's just now 10:20. So I ask the next group, no madam we can't fix those. When will your eye examiner be in? In the afternoon madam. The third place with the name Occhiali, they can't fix them, have never seen any like them. Their eye examiner is in the shop. The glasses that broke are called swiss flex and are 2.5. I think the 2.5 means ounces. One thing I've never weighed. So they look at my lenses and say they are special. I wonder what that means?
The eye exam here is pretty much the same as it is in Dallas. Except that it is in a closet at the back of the store and they change from the letters to numbers. The eye examiner is from india, the man selling me the glasses is from Egypt and I think the person ringing me up is from the Phillipines. By the time I get progressive lenses, transition sunglasses plus the new prescription I have spent just about the same amount I spend at Occhiali in Dallas. The new ones have purple frames and are also light weight. Thank heavens I brought my second pair with me. The new ones should be ready Friday afternoon.
On Thursday evening Jennifer and her husband had a business party to attend. So I took myself to khalidiyah mall to go to a movie. Thursday night at the mall is not necessarily a good place to be for a westerner. It's packed with emiratees'. They are milling around, going to the play places, hanging out at Starbucks, smoking, eating, etc. The men's white dresses are called dish dash and the women's are called abeyahs. I saw teenage boy's in their white dish dash with colorful boxers showing through. They also have a red and white scarf wrapped around their head with a black braided rope on top of the scarf. The men also wear white sandals.
The black abeyahs are not necessarily plain. They are decorated with swaroski crystals in black and colored crystals. Quite often the women are wearing stiletto heels and jeans with the black abeyahs covering them.
I am reading a book called The 100 Thing Challenge by Dave Bruno. When Jennifer picked me up this afternoon at the mall on her way to pick up Anders from school at three she was surprised that I had no sacks. After buying glasses and lunch, no real desire for me to buy anything else. Then I also spent about an hour looking for a digital converter box for her tv. Her tv is a samsung and it was bought in the USA and doesn't work here yet. Like the glasses it wasn't a one stop event. Actually, the Egyptian man from the eye glass place walked with me down to the area that the shop she asked me to go to, Plug In. I asked them for it, no madam we don't have it. You will need to go to the Samsung store. Where is the Samsung store. "Just go down that way and turn left." were the directions. Not exactly accurate. By this time I was on the ground floor and the Samsung store is actually on the first floor. So I find this store, no madam you must go to the cine and in front of the cine is a little kiosk selling OSN and they will have the box for you. Mohammed had left the kiosk and left a note saying he would be back later. As it so happens I went back, Mohammed was there but he said no madam, you have to buy the service and younger the box thAt way. In the meantime Jennifer has decided to give her husband OSN for his birthday so he can watch rugby. OSN is scheduled to come and install it tomorrow. Hopefully, it will work and not take more than one trip and everything will go smoothly. OSN is like time Warner cable or AT&T t.v.
Tomorrow, Jennifer is showing someone around, Stefan and I are going to the club for swimming, bouncy castle and lunch, Anders is going to school. It will be another busy day. My time here is almost to the end and am making the most of seeing these active, funny, creative, and smart boys.
This mall is huge. I looked on the map and found some glasses stores, fortunately this mall is like many I've been in; by that I mean, they group like products together. Unlike the malls in the USA the floor you walk in on from the street is not the first floor. It is the ground floor. Maybe it's because the grocery stores are in the basement and if you park in the underground garage that would be the first floor. The map said the eye glass places were on the first floor. For me is really the second floor. I walked around the ground floor looking for them. This mall has an Apple store, however, it's called the store here and it's not nearly as packed with people shopping, buying, taking training classes as the one I go to in Dallas. I finally find the wing of the mall that has glasses, I am on the first floor and have to search for the escalator to take me back to the ground floor because I see a store on the ground floor. I ask them if they can fix them, no. Do they have a person who can examine my eyes so I can get a new pair made. Yes, madam, but he won't be in until 2. It's just now 10:20. So I ask the next group, no madam we can't fix those. When will your eye examiner be in? In the afternoon madam. The third place with the name Occhiali, they can't fix them, have never seen any like them. Their eye examiner is in the shop. The glasses that broke are called swiss flex and are 2.5. I think the 2.5 means ounces. One thing I've never weighed. So they look at my lenses and say they are special. I wonder what that means?
The eye exam here is pretty much the same as it is in Dallas. Except that it is in a closet at the back of the store and they change from the letters to numbers. The eye examiner is from india, the man selling me the glasses is from Egypt and I think the person ringing me up is from the Phillipines. By the time I get progressive lenses, transition sunglasses plus the new prescription I have spent just about the same amount I spend at Occhiali in Dallas. The new ones have purple frames and are also light weight. Thank heavens I brought my second pair with me. The new ones should be ready Friday afternoon.
On Thursday evening Jennifer and her husband had a business party to attend. So I took myself to khalidiyah mall to go to a movie. Thursday night at the mall is not necessarily a good place to be for a westerner. It's packed with emiratees'. They are milling around, going to the play places, hanging out at Starbucks, smoking, eating, etc. The men's white dresses are called dish dash and the women's are called abeyahs. I saw teenage boy's in their white dish dash with colorful boxers showing through. They also have a red and white scarf wrapped around their head with a black braided rope on top of the scarf. The men also wear white sandals.
The black abeyahs are not necessarily plain. They are decorated with swaroski crystals in black and colored crystals. Quite often the women are wearing stiletto heels and jeans with the black abeyahs covering them.
I am reading a book called The 100 Thing Challenge by Dave Bruno. When Jennifer picked me up this afternoon at the mall on her way to pick up Anders from school at three she was surprised that I had no sacks. After buying glasses and lunch, no real desire for me to buy anything else. Then I also spent about an hour looking for a digital converter box for her tv. Her tv is a samsung and it was bought in the USA and doesn't work here yet. Like the glasses it wasn't a one stop event. Actually, the Egyptian man from the eye glass place walked with me down to the area that the shop she asked me to go to, Plug In. I asked them for it, no madam we don't have it. You will need to go to the Samsung store. Where is the Samsung store. "Just go down that way and turn left." were the directions. Not exactly accurate. By this time I was on the ground floor and the Samsung store is actually on the first floor. So I find this store, no madam you must go to the cine and in front of the cine is a little kiosk selling OSN and they will have the box for you. Mohammed had left the kiosk and left a note saying he would be back later. As it so happens I went back, Mohammed was there but he said no madam, you have to buy the service and younger the box thAt way. In the meantime Jennifer has decided to give her husband OSN for his birthday so he can watch rugby. OSN is scheduled to come and install it tomorrow. Hopefully, it will work and not take more than one trip and everything will go smoothly. OSN is like time Warner cable or AT&T t.v.
Tomorrow, Jennifer is showing someone around, Stefan and I are going to the club for swimming, bouncy castle and lunch, Anders is going to school. It will be another busy day. My time here is almost to the end and am making the most of seeing these active, funny, creative, and smart boys.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011
We took Anders to school, played on the playground with Stefan then Jennifer took me to the immigration office. When you come into the country you can stay 30 days. I arrived on August 15 and am leaving Sept. 29. The experience was similar to going to a government office in Dallas. Although, you probably wouldn't find people dressed in all white with a turban for the men or all black with just a slit for the eyes for the women. Of course, I took my passport with me. There was an Arabic man in white robes in front of me in line with a USA passport.
I went into the first room and there were a lot of people sitting in chairs waiting there turn. So, I went to the counter and asked a man in a white robe where I needed to go first. He wrote something out in Arabic and told me to go to the typing room. Thank heavens their signage is in English as well as Arabic. So I followed the signs and arrows for the typing room.
It was a large room with about 10 people at computers, plus a cashier and a copy person. I asked someone who was being helped where to start and they waved me down the row. One man said he could help me. He said to give him my passport and the note and have a seat. In a few minutes he had me come to his desk, he handed me a piece of paper and sent me ton the cashier. The cashier said it would be 610 durhams. The exchange rate is $3.60 to one durham. After paying the cashier, I went back to the man and he asked me if I had a photo, just the one in my passport. I said copy that one. So he scanned it and then sent me to the next man to have some copies made of the papers. The copy perso then took out the smallest pair of scissors I have ever seen, cut out my picture, stapled it to his papers and asked for another 5 durhams and then I took all the papers to the first guy and I was out of there in record time. And it turns out they sold me United Arab emirates health insurance policy for a month. Apparently, that is part of the fees and requirements if you are here longer than 30 days. But they didn't even ask me if I had travelers insurance which I do. Oh well, I am doubly insured for the next 15 days.
Then Stefan fell asleep in the car so Jennifer dropped me off at the mall, so I could go to the grocery. We were totally out of grapes. And when grapes is all Stefan wants it's a sad thing. The grapes from the USA are the only ones that are seedless. I texted jennifer to find outif she wanted camel for dinner? The answer to that was a resounding NO. When they lived in Doha, Qatar I had camel one night for dinner and it was quite tasty. So I bought ground beef. The meat and fresh fruit and vegetable sections are an international trip. Avocados from Kenya, beef from Ireland, Australia, USA, Brazil, melons from Israel, plums from Spain, Australia, apples from China, mangoes from everywhere and they come in other colors besides the green/red ones we get from Mexico, fruit from Thailand, pineapple from the Phillipines. There is a hairy fruit that you cut open and then it is white on the inside with a seed on the inside of that. It's one of those fruits that makes you wonder how the first person who ate was brave enough try it; it's called a rhombathan and it's from Indonesia.
Today they had kettle potatoe chips and I found flaxseed.
I took a taxi home and it was 5.50 durhams. Last week it was 6 durhams. It makes you wonder why the difference. This taxi driver even helped with the groceries. And then jennifer said to give the taxi driver a tip of one or two durhams. I wonder how long you have to be someplace when you quit dividing the durhams by the dollar to see how much it's costing you?
I am not there yet!
After lunch, Stefan and I and Charlotte watched "Fireman Sam" while Jennifer took a nap. We picked up Anders from school and went back to the play place in the mall. Stefan got his hair cut, we rode the rides. I am extremely grateful Anders is too small for the TILT-A-WHIRL
We rode this boat ride that swirled around and up and back forth for what felt like ten minutes!
Then on to the play ground. Up the stairs and down the slides we went. Through the tunnels on hands and knees for me. I getting to be pretty good at crawling through the tu meld after Stefan. Across the wiggly bridges, around and around we went for about an hour and a half and the it was home again and time for dinner, bath, books and bed.
Another busy, active fun filled day
Jennifer, said I was lucky they were will g to scan my passport so I could use the passport photo. She said she spent the whole day there when she
I went into the first room and there were a lot of people sitting in chairs waiting there turn. So, I went to the counter and asked a man in a white robe where I needed to go first. He wrote something out in Arabic and told me to go to the typing room. Thank heavens their signage is in English as well as Arabic. So I followed the signs and arrows for the typing room.
It was a large room with about 10 people at computers, plus a cashier and a copy person. I asked someone who was being helped where to start and they waved me down the row. One man said he could help me. He said to give him my passport and the note and have a seat. In a few minutes he had me come to his desk, he handed me a piece of paper and sent me ton the cashier. The cashier said it would be 610 durhams. The exchange rate is $3.60 to one durham. After paying the cashier, I went back to the man and he asked me if I had a photo, just the one in my passport. I said copy that one. So he scanned it and then sent me to the next man to have some copies made of the papers. The copy perso then took out the smallest pair of scissors I have ever seen, cut out my picture, stapled it to his papers and asked for another 5 durhams and then I took all the papers to the first guy and I was out of there in record time. And it turns out they sold me United Arab emirates health insurance policy for a month. Apparently, that is part of the fees and requirements if you are here longer than 30 days. But they didn't even ask me if I had travelers insurance which I do. Oh well, I am doubly insured for the next 15 days.
Then Stefan fell asleep in the car so Jennifer dropped me off at the mall, so I could go to the grocery. We were totally out of grapes. And when grapes is all Stefan wants it's a sad thing. The grapes from the USA are the only ones that are seedless. I texted jennifer to find outif she wanted camel for dinner? The answer to that was a resounding NO. When they lived in Doha, Qatar I had camel one night for dinner and it was quite tasty. So I bought ground beef. The meat and fresh fruit and vegetable sections are an international trip. Avocados from Kenya, beef from Ireland, Australia, USA, Brazil, melons from Israel, plums from Spain, Australia, apples from China, mangoes from everywhere and they come in other colors besides the green/red ones we get from Mexico, fruit from Thailand, pineapple from the Phillipines. There is a hairy fruit that you cut open and then it is white on the inside with a seed on the inside of that. It's one of those fruits that makes you wonder how the first person who ate was brave enough try it; it's called a rhombathan and it's from Indonesia.
Today they had kettle potatoe chips and I found flaxseed.
I took a taxi home and it was 5.50 durhams. Last week it was 6 durhams. It makes you wonder why the difference. This taxi driver even helped with the groceries. And then jennifer said to give the taxi driver a tip of one or two durhams. I wonder how long you have to be someplace when you quit dividing the durhams by the dollar to see how much it's costing you?
I am not there yet!
After lunch, Stefan and I and Charlotte watched "Fireman Sam" while Jennifer took a nap. We picked up Anders from school and went back to the play place in the mall. Stefan got his hair cut, we rode the rides. I am extremely grateful Anders is too small for the TILT-A-WHIRL
We rode this boat ride that swirled around and up and back forth for what felt like ten minutes!
Then on to the play ground. Up the stairs and down the slides we went. Through the tunnels on hands and knees for me. I getting to be pretty good at crawling through the tu meld after Stefan. Across the wiggly bridges, around and around we went for about an hour and a half and the it was home again and time for dinner, bath, books and bed.
Another busy, active fun filled day
Jennifer, said I was lucky they were will g to scan my passport so I could use the passport photo. She said she spent the whole day there when she
Saturday, September 10, 2011
9/10/2011
Saturday,
We went to the club today, went swimming and new momma went to the gym so she could walk on the treadmill.
Last week I was having envy issues because the middle child preferred the nanny. Yesterday, the nanny left to go to Dubai
To borrow some money from her cousin to send to her mother in the philipinnes. So we have even two days without. The nanny and it's been both good and challenging. Because now we are all reading, playing, cooking, cleaning up and doing the laundry. Just when I was getting used to my clothes disappearing and returning to me washed and pressed. I don't think I have ever had pressed pj's before.
Jennifer had both Stefan and Charlotte in bed with her tonight reading books. Stefan is getting a
lot more mama attention since the nanny has been gone. Which is a good thing.
We were going to watch a movie tonight but the Internet didn't seem to be working. They have apple tv but it comes
over the Internet and when it's running raggedy there is no guarantee that you can see your show. And apparently there is no one to call.
I was thinking about taking the train to the ashram in India until Jens showed me some pictures of when he was in India in June and riding the train. So now will have to figure out how to hire a taxi. The ashram am going to is about 2 hrs away from the airport.
At the moment it's just life as usual here, laundry, dinner, baths books and bed.
We went to the club today, went swimming and new momma went to the gym so she could walk on the treadmill.
Last week I was having envy issues because the middle child preferred the nanny. Yesterday, the nanny left to go to Dubai
To borrow some money from her cousin to send to her mother in the philipinnes. So we have even two days without. The nanny and it's been both good and challenging. Because now we are all reading, playing, cooking, cleaning up and doing the laundry. Just when I was getting used to my clothes disappearing and returning to me washed and pressed. I don't think I have ever had pressed pj's before.
Jennifer had both Stefan and Charlotte in bed with her tonight reading books. Stefan is getting a
lot more mama attention since the nanny has been gone. Which is a good thing.
We were going to watch a movie tonight but the Internet didn't seem to be working. They have apple tv but it comes
over the Internet and when it's running raggedy there is no guarantee that you can see your show. And apparently there is no one to call.
I was thinking about taking the train to the ashram in India until Jens showed me some pictures of when he was in India in June and riding the train. So now will have to figure out how to hire a taxi. The ashram am going to is about 2 hrs away from the airport.
At the moment it's just life as usual here, laundry, dinner, baths books and bed.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Wednesday 9/7/2011
Hi all, I have now had two people respond to the posts and the responses are not showing up. If their is anyone out there in blogger and that can assist with this I would greatly appreciate it!
Today we spent the day in the car. We took Anders to school for his first day in kindergarten, stopped at Starbucks,
all the comforts of home, and headed to Dubai to get Charlotte's birth certificate. Sounds easy right. First off Dubai is an hour and a half away. And we had to stop and feed Charlotte twice. Then we arrived in Dubai and went to the mall. It was about 10:30 and the
gift card place wasn't open. They said they would be open in a half hour. So we looked around, found a thermos for lunch and then
got the gift card for the midwife. This is a peculiar thing about their malls. You have to take a ticket to park like they are going to charge
for parking. However, parking is free on weekends and holidays. It is free for the first four hours you are at the mall and if you buy something
you can have your ticket validated so you don't have to pay. So basically it's free to park, no one pays, yet they have a person manning exits and you are still required to get a ticket. It's a puzzle.
There is one exit out of the parking garage that will put you directly on Sheik Zayed highway. The first time around we missed
the exit and had to go back into the parking garage and around again to get to this highway to take us to the City Medical center.
We finally made it to the hospital, got the first step of paperwork for the birth certificate and stopped and fed Charlotte. Boy was
Se glad to get out of her car seat and stretch out a little. Then we needed tong buy jennifer's Dr.'s office for some cream and we got a little bit lost. And we also had to eat ourselves. Bottom line is we didn't really have time to do all of the errands that were planned.
New momma called daddy and asked him to pick up Anders from school. Didn't think it would be such a good idea to be late picking up
on the first day of school.
So if babies are anything like puppies Charlotte is going to be tall. Her feet are very long. I measured them today. They are
as long as my fingers; from her heel to the end of the big toe is the length of my finger from the knuckle to the end of my finger.
That might be 3 ".
I just got some good news. Last year I took in person and online classes to get a school teaching position. I just received an
Email from the company and they have added a way to get the certificate. Originally, you had to be hired to teach and teach for a year. Now they have a program that you can student teach for 12 weeks and get your certificate. Yeah. I have heard about some firms that place
art teachers in other countries. I think that might be interesting. My first choice would be to teach in a colllege setting, but
would definitely consider being in a foreign country. And apparently, there are openings for art teachers.
The baby loves being outside in the evening heat. It's cooled off a little yet still warm. The boys rode their bicycles and scooters again this evening.
I learned something new today about all the different calls to prayer. I had thought that the praying was done at the same time on a daily basis, like every 4 hours. Apparently the prayer times fluctuate according to the phase of the moon and that is why they are calling the people to prayer over the loud speaker.
They provide lots of places for prayer. There are prayer rooms in the malls, at filling stations, in the hospital, in the air port and probably lots of other places I haven't seen. I suppose even in the USA there are prayer rooms in hospitals and at the air port. But in don't think I have ever seen one at Northpark or at a gas station.
T
a lot of men were coming out of the on site mosque from their prayers.
Today we spent the day in the car. We took Anders to school for his first day in kindergarten, stopped at Starbucks,
all the comforts of home, and headed to Dubai to get Charlotte's birth certificate. Sounds easy right. First off Dubai is an hour and a half away. And we had to stop and feed Charlotte twice. Then we arrived in Dubai and went to the mall. It was about 10:30 and the
gift card place wasn't open. They said they would be open in a half hour. So we looked around, found a thermos for lunch and then
got the gift card for the midwife. This is a peculiar thing about their malls. You have to take a ticket to park like they are going to charge
for parking. However, parking is free on weekends and holidays. It is free for the first four hours you are at the mall and if you buy something
you can have your ticket validated so you don't have to pay. So basically it's free to park, no one pays, yet they have a person manning exits and you are still required to get a ticket. It's a puzzle.
There is one exit out of the parking garage that will put you directly on Sheik Zayed highway. The first time around we missed
the exit and had to go back into the parking garage and around again to get to this highway to take us to the City Medical center.
We finally made it to the hospital, got the first step of paperwork for the birth certificate and stopped and fed Charlotte. Boy was
Se glad to get out of her car seat and stretch out a little. Then we needed tong buy jennifer's Dr.'s office for some cream and we got a little bit lost. And we also had to eat ourselves. Bottom line is we didn't really have time to do all of the errands that were planned.
New momma called daddy and asked him to pick up Anders from school. Didn't think it would be such a good idea to be late picking up
on the first day of school.
So if babies are anything like puppies Charlotte is going to be tall. Her feet are very long. I measured them today. They are
as long as my fingers; from her heel to the end of the big toe is the length of my finger from the knuckle to the end of my finger.
That might be 3 ".
I just got some good news. Last year I took in person and online classes to get a school teaching position. I just received an
Email from the company and they have added a way to get the certificate. Originally, you had to be hired to teach and teach for a year. Now they have a program that you can student teach for 12 weeks and get your certificate. Yeah. I have heard about some firms that place
art teachers in other countries. I think that might be interesting. My first choice would be to teach in a colllege setting, but
would definitely consider being in a foreign country. And apparently, there are openings for art teachers.
The baby loves being outside in the evening heat. It's cooled off a little yet still warm. The boys rode their bicycles and scooters again this evening.
I learned something new today about all the different calls to prayer. I had thought that the praying was done at the same time on a daily basis, like every 4 hours. Apparently the prayer times fluctuate according to the phase of the moon and that is why they are calling the people to prayer over the loud speaker.
They provide lots of places for prayer. There are prayer rooms in the malls, at filling stations, in the hospital, in the air port and probably lots of other places I haven't seen. I suppose even in the USA there are prayer rooms in hospitals and at the air port. But in don't think I have ever seen one at Northpark or at a gas station.
T
a lot of men were coming out of the on site mosque from their prayers.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The mall
Tuesday 9/6/11
Another busy day in Abu dhabi. Yesterday I went to the E,N, T doctor. It was my second trip to a dr. For my ear.
This time he asked me about my teeth, my nose, my throat and my earsl And he looked in all those places. In the book I read about
"on turning sixty-five" he wrote about this age grup wanting to talk about our aches and pains. I apologize for it, however
I've never had an earache before. So this is the first time I've ever had anything sucked out. it was loud and interesting. And he
Said stay out of the pool for five days.
Which is why we went to the mall today to play instead of to the pool. This is interesting to me. They have signs in the mall
that say "wear appropriate clothing." actually this sign was at the water park in Dubai as well. My comment whe I first read that
was I wish they would since I had just seen a teenager in a t-shirt with the "f" word in giant letters. Jennifer said that isn't
what that means! It means have your shoulders and knees covered. And it is really only addressed to women.
So we went to the mall today to play in the playground all indoors. They have rides similar to several at the fair, for the bigger
children and adults. And they have these climbing mazes wiith slides in closed, twisty tubes, big slides with rolling bumps, wiggly
ramps, tubes to crawl or walk through if you are 4 feet tall, etc. I personally liked the open slides.
Then we had lunch at McDonald's. Yes, just about every american fast food place is here. Anders went home with his friend
and Stefan and I were taking a taxi home but first we rode up and down in the elevator a few times. The elevators have clear
sides so you can see the mall as you go up and down. He had a great time. Then we got a taxi and went home for his nap.
He loves riding in a taxi!
ToysRus is here also. In Dallas at the toysru I bought the toy story helicopter and the dinosaur. In the beginning both boys wanted total control over the helicopter. So we went to gouache to get another one. They don't carry them here. We also went to all the other toy stores
looking for it. No helicopter. And while we were looking for the helicopter we were also look g for a new battery for the drivable
Toy car. It's big enough for the boys to sit in and drive. That kind of toy car. Why don't they carry the right kind of batteries. This car Was made by Fisher Price. How hard can it be to standardize these batteries?
We have looked every where. He car is now powered by e adult pushing them around. I guess that means we are all burning more calories.
We are still being grateful the newmosque across the street hasn't become operational. Although, they might be getting close,
a truck has come by the last couple of days to water the palm trees. They haven't put the grass in yet nor have they taken the plastic off the doors. I have read about art galleries in Dubai and probably there are some in Abu Dhabi. The only art we have been doing is watercolors and the boys painted themselves.
Another busy day in Abu dhabi. Yesterday I went to the E,N, T doctor. It was my second trip to a dr. For my ear.
This time he asked me about my teeth, my nose, my throat and my earsl And he looked in all those places. In the book I read about
"on turning sixty-five" he wrote about this age grup wanting to talk about our aches and pains. I apologize for it, however
I've never had an earache before. So this is the first time I've ever had anything sucked out. it was loud and interesting. And he
Said stay out of the pool for five days.
Which is why we went to the mall today to play instead of to the pool. This is interesting to me. They have signs in the mall
that say "wear appropriate clothing." actually this sign was at the water park in Dubai as well. My comment whe I first read that
was I wish they would since I had just seen a teenager in a t-shirt with the "f" word in giant letters. Jennifer said that isn't
what that means! It means have your shoulders and knees covered. And it is really only addressed to women.
So we went to the mall today to play in the playground all indoors. They have rides similar to several at the fair, for the bigger
children and adults. And they have these climbing mazes wiith slides in closed, twisty tubes, big slides with rolling bumps, wiggly
ramps, tubes to crawl or walk through if you are 4 feet tall, etc. I personally liked the open slides.
Then we had lunch at McDonald's. Yes, just about every american fast food place is here. Anders went home with his friend
and Stefan and I were taking a taxi home but first we rode up and down in the elevator a few times. The elevators have clear
sides so you can see the mall as you go up and down. He had a great time. Then we got a taxi and went home for his nap.
He loves riding in a taxi!
ToysRus is here also. In Dallas at the toysru I bought the toy story helicopter and the dinosaur. In the beginning both boys wanted total control over the helicopter. So we went to gouache to get another one. They don't carry them here. We also went to all the other toy stores
looking for it. No helicopter. And while we were looking for the helicopter we were also look g for a new battery for the drivable
Toy car. It's big enough for the boys to sit in and drive. That kind of toy car. Why don't they carry the right kind of batteries. This car Was made by Fisher Price. How hard can it be to standardize these batteries?
We have looked every where. He car is now powered by e adult pushing them around. I guess that means we are all burning more calories.
We are still being grateful the newmosque across the street hasn't become operational. Although, they might be getting close,
a truck has come by the last couple of days to water the palm trees. They haven't put the grass in yet nor have they taken the plastic off the doors. I have read about art galleries in Dubai and probably there are some in Abu Dhabi. The only art we have been doing is watercolors and the boys painted themselves.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Sunday, 9/4/2011
Sunday is really Monday here. What that means is it's the start of the work week. Yesterday, I had first outing at a mall here all by myself. It was kind of fun walking around looking at everything and everyone. I was going to have a salad since I was hungry when I got there and Ramadan is over so one can eat and drink in public. They brought me a menu and then disappeared and then the other people started smoking so I decided to skip it.
I had several missions at that mall. The first one was to buy Charlotte Elizabeth some one piece suits, with long legs and long sleeves. She wears a size called early baby, the next size after that is called tiny baby and then you get ton the new born size.
So I looked at baby clothes. It seems odd to me to find men working as sales clerks in a shop called Mothercare. And then there cash register didn't work. Sometimes, it's a bit challenging to shop here. Then I looked in a store called Macgruders. It's a combination art supply store, book store, textbook store, and gift store. Jennifer wanted me to buy a canvas. She has a large canvas that the oldest child painted/printed when he was 2 and now she wants baby #2 to do a hand and foot print painting representing himself. We are going to have to go back and try again, because all I found was canvas in a pad.
Then the third item on the list was the grocery store. This place was huge. It reminded me of Walmart. Clothes, phones, tv's, shoes, sari's and food. Everything you could possibly imagine. They were making rotisserie chickens among other things. It was filled with all the arabic sweets they use to celebrate the ending of ramadan. As well as lots of other wonderful looking cakes and pies.
After grocery shopping went to find a taxi to take me back to the house.
Tonight we watched a movie"how to train your dragon." it was quite exciting. Today was a busy day also. We went to the club and went swimming. It is really one place where you can tell how hot it is on a daily basis because they don't chill the water that is in the pools. Thank heavens for the sprays though without the sprays the water would be unbearably hot.
When I was here in December of 2010 they were building a new mosque about 2 doors down from Jennifer's house. They have call to prayer 6x a day. They still haven't finished it. We are grateful because once it is finished not only do pray 6x a day the call to prayer is broadcast over the loud speaker. It is not just ringing the bell!
I had several missions at that mall. The first one was to buy Charlotte Elizabeth some one piece suits, with long legs and long sleeves. She wears a size called early baby, the next size after that is called tiny baby and then you get ton the new born size.
So I looked at baby clothes. It seems odd to me to find men working as sales clerks in a shop called Mothercare. And then there cash register didn't work. Sometimes, it's a bit challenging to shop here. Then I looked in a store called Macgruders. It's a combination art supply store, book store, textbook store, and gift store. Jennifer wanted me to buy a canvas. She has a large canvas that the oldest child painted/printed when he was 2 and now she wants baby #2 to do a hand and foot print painting representing himself. We are going to have to go back and try again, because all I found was canvas in a pad.
Then the third item on the list was the grocery store. This place was huge. It reminded me of Walmart. Clothes, phones, tv's, shoes, sari's and food. Everything you could possibly imagine. They were making rotisserie chickens among other things. It was filled with all the arabic sweets they use to celebrate the ending of ramadan. As well as lots of other wonderful looking cakes and pies.
After grocery shopping went to find a taxi to take me back to the house.
Tonight we watched a movie"how to train your dragon." it was quite exciting. Today was a busy day also. We went to the club and went swimming. It is really one place where you can tell how hot it is on a daily basis because they don't chill the water that is in the pools. Thank heavens for the sprays though without the sprays the water would be unbearably hot.
When I was here in December of 2010 they were building a new mosque about 2 doors down from Jennifer's house. They have call to prayer 6x a day. They still haven't finished it. We are grateful because once it is finished not only do pray 6x a day the call to prayer is broadcast over the loud speaker. It is not just ringing the bell!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Turning 65
I've just finished a book by John Jerome" on turning sixty-five" and it was very interesting. I learned about canoe trips. It was somewhat like
the book "younger next year" in that he included some medical research on aging, some steps to post phone severe aging, and humourus
Stories of his aging process. He also talks about getting osteoporosis in the ear which is one of the causes of not hearing properly .
One of the things he talks about is that itntakes 11 days for your body to become more adept at doing things. I believe that's true. Eleven days ago, we came to Abu dhabi from Dubai and I started swimming in their club pool. It's a 25 meter pool which means it's slightly longer than the 25 yard pool I usually swim in. Today, when I was swimming, it absolutely felt easy and faster than it had the previous
days. It was marvelous. On several laps I was able to take two to three strokes off. Interestingly enough, yesterday their was a clock on the wall, so you could time yourself, and today no clock. They had taken it down when they were painting and had not replaced it.
Nice paint job though.
When I originally wrote this I tried to add the image of the burg to it and for some reason when I pushed image, add image nothing happened and then it locked up. I hate it when the computer, iPad does that.
They finally made it home today. The mommy and the baby. One forgets how small 6 lbs really is. And now she's lost half a pound. They
named her Charlotte Elizabeth. Quite a mouthful. Her name is bigger than she is.
her brother wanted to call her Isabella.
the book "younger next year" in that he included some medical research on aging, some steps to post phone severe aging, and humourus
Stories of his aging process. He also talks about getting osteoporosis in the ear which is one of the causes of not hearing properly .
One of the things he talks about is that itntakes 11 days for your body to become more adept at doing things. I believe that's true. Eleven days ago, we came to Abu dhabi from Dubai and I started swimming in their club pool. It's a 25 meter pool which means it's slightly longer than the 25 yard pool I usually swim in. Today, when I was swimming, it absolutely felt easy and faster than it had the previous
days. It was marvelous. On several laps I was able to take two to three strokes off. Interestingly enough, yesterday their was a clock on the wall, so you could time yourself, and today no clock. They had taken it down when they were painting and had not replaced it.
Nice paint job though.
When I originally wrote this I tried to add the image of the burg to it and for some reason when I pushed image, add image nothing happened and then it locked up. I hate it when the computer, iPad does that.
They finally made it home today. The mommy and the baby. One forgets how small 6 lbs really is. And now she's lost half a pound. They
named her Charlotte Elizabeth. Quite a mouthful. Her name is bigger than she is.
her brother wanted to call her Isabella.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Ramadan ended
Ramadan ended last night at sundown. So today, at the club, they took down all the curtains they had around the pools. They set up a buffet for the feast. In yesterday's paper was a list of all the mosques I. Town where you could go and pray. Now the time period is called eid. The minister of something declared this week a holiday since Ramadan has ended for all public and private workers.in today's paper there were articles about buying new clothes, visiting your relatives etc. As a part of the celebration of the ending of the month long period of prayer and fasting. It must be similar to lent in the Christian religion. Ramadan though moves around the calendar. It is not always in august. I realize lent and easter are not always I. Te same month, but they are always in late winter and spring.
There was very little traffic on the streets today. We went to the club this morning and took a taxi home. Taxi's are plentiful and realitively easy to find. Although, I did call for one at the club, it cost me an extra 5 durhams because I was hot and unwilling to wait and see when one show up! Maybe tomorrow, I will be willing to try the wait and see method. It depends on how hot I am by the time i get to the gate house.
Stefan was very excited about taking a taxi home.
There is a lot of dust in the air. In fact, it looks like pollution and maybe it is a form of pollution.
I remember the dust storms that we used to have in Pecos, Texas, when I was a little girl. Those dust storms would blow through town and then the skies would be clear, these blow up every afternoon. I Think the dust in the air is causing me to cough a lot.
There was very little traffic on the streets today. We went to the club this morning and took a taxi home. Taxi's are plentiful and realitively easy to find. Although, I did call for one at the club, it cost me an extra 5 durhams because I was hot and unwilling to wait and see when one show up! Maybe tomorrow, I will be willing to try the wait and see method. It depends on how hot I am by the time i get to the gate house.
Stefan was very excited about taking a taxi home.
There is a lot of dust in the air. In fact, it looks like pollution and maybe it is a form of pollution.
I remember the dust storms that we used to have in Pecos, Texas, when I was a little girl. Those dust storms would blow through town and then the skies would be clear, these blow up every afternoon. I Think the dust in the air is causing me to cough a lot.
She's arrived
The baby came today! She weighs 6 lbs and is 20" long. Apparently, she arrived in a hurry.
Today, I took a taxi to the grocery store. An interesting experience. It cost 15 durams to go and 13 to come back. I went to Spinneys on the corniche. There are an amazing number of USA products in their stores. Kraft, Newman's own dressing, USA beef, nectarines, cherries, driscoll strawberries and blueberries, Oscar Meyer to name a few. In the produce department you put your nectarines, lettuce etc in plastic bags and the you take them to a produce counter where a person weighs them for you and puts the price on the sack. The pork is in a special section of the store with a big sign that says for no -Muslims only. The chickens packaging says Hal el. That is not right but the predictive text won't let me write it. It's something to do with the way the chickens are processed.
The fish are in their own little icy bed. However, they are not behind glass. We had salmon from Tasmania a couple of nights ago.
So while I was I. The grocery store, I called Jennifer to ask her about the tomato sauce that was on the list, this was about 2 p.m., to find out what brand she usually buys, prego, barilla, or what. We were having a nice calm grocery store conversation. At 4:30 she calls and says
"she's here!" she said it went from 0 to here in about 30 minutes.
We're glad she arrived and will be home soon. The boys are doing great. Thank heavens for their nanny. She gets dinner on the table,, the boys bathed. I read and then she gets them to sleep. Tomorrow we will go to the club, and to camp. It is very hot here as usual. In today's
paper it wax 111 f here today and tomorrow.
Today, I took a taxi to the grocery store. An interesting experience. It cost 15 durams to go and 13 to come back. I went to Spinneys on the corniche. There are an amazing number of USA products in their stores. Kraft, Newman's own dressing, USA beef, nectarines, cherries, driscoll strawberries and blueberries, Oscar Meyer to name a few. In the produce department you put your nectarines, lettuce etc in plastic bags and the you take them to a produce counter where a person weighs them for you and puts the price on the sack. The pork is in a special section of the store with a big sign that says for no -Muslims only. The chickens packaging says Hal el. That is not right but the predictive text won't let me write it. It's something to do with the way the chickens are processed.
The fish are in their own little icy bed. However, they are not behind glass. We had salmon from Tasmania a couple of nights ago.
So while I was I. The grocery store, I called Jennifer to ask her about the tomato sauce that was on the list, this was about 2 p.m., to find out what brand she usually buys, prego, barilla, or what. We were having a nice calm grocery store conversation. At 4:30 she calls and says
"she's here!" she said it went from 0 to here in about 30 minutes.
We're glad she arrived and will be home soon. The boys are doing great. Thank heavens for their nanny. She gets dinner on the table,, the boys bathed. I read and then she gets them to sleep. Tomorrow we will go to the club, and to camp. It is very hot here as usual. In today's
paper it wax 111 f here today and tomorrow.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Still waiting
No baby yet! She's definitely being a contrarian. The reason we were in Dubai is because Jennifer thought
she was having contractions. We had a nice time there going to the water park, to the pool etc. First off their hasn't been a girl born in this family ever. So first girl, jennifer's boys arrived 6 weeks early. Her actual due date is sept. 25 but the Dr. Said if she
doesn't come on her own he will induce her around the 13th of September.
We went to "the club" today. A great place. Two pools for the children and a big pool for adults with 2 lanes
For lap swimming. Pool is 25 meters. A bit longer than 25 yards. We had the car washed there. The dry cleaners
is there. There is a beach and swimming in the sea. It's blocked off so big boats can't come into the area and there
are two docks to swim too. There is also beach side seating. They have a children's club area where they show
movies, and serve food. Tennis courts and today they had a bouncy castle for the children. Of course they serve
food for the adults, buffet and order from the menu.
It's been another hot day here around 100 f. They measure their temperature in Celsius and they said
It was 40. So it was gear to go to the club, they chill the water.
They had friends over for dinner. We had burgers cooked on the grill, with vanilla ice cream and blueberries!
We are going to watch a movie on Netflix!
I feel like I am in the twilight zone, because no paper is delivered so am unsure of the day, and their weeks
start on Sunday. Sunday is their Monday. The weekend starts on Thursday night. It just seems off to me.
Until we came back to Abu Dhabi, I never knew what time it was, no clocks! Of course if the Internet was up
I could look at the time on the iPad. The children are definitely earlybirds. No matter what time they go
to bed they are usually up by 6:30 in the morning.
Tomorrow I will download the picture of the Burge hotel and include it in my post. Remember it was the hotel
That looked like sailboat and tea was $139 per person.
she was having contractions. We had a nice time there going to the water park, to the pool etc. First off their hasn't been a girl born in this family ever. So first girl, jennifer's boys arrived 6 weeks early. Her actual due date is sept. 25 but the Dr. Said if she
doesn't come on her own he will induce her around the 13th of September.
We went to "the club" today. A great place. Two pools for the children and a big pool for adults with 2 lanes
For lap swimming. Pool is 25 meters. A bit longer than 25 yards. We had the car washed there. The dry cleaners
is there. There is a beach and swimming in the sea. It's blocked off so big boats can't come into the area and there
are two docks to swim too. There is also beach side seating. They have a children's club area where they show
movies, and serve food. Tennis courts and today they had a bouncy castle for the children. Of course they serve
food for the adults, buffet and order from the menu.
It's been another hot day here around 100 f. They measure their temperature in Celsius and they said
It was 40. So it was gear to go to the club, they chill the water.
They had friends over for dinner. We had burgers cooked on the grill, with vanilla ice cream and blueberries!
We are going to watch a movie on Netflix!
I feel like I am in the twilight zone, because no paper is delivered so am unsure of the day, and their weeks
start on Sunday. Sunday is their Monday. The weekend starts on Thursday night. It just seems off to me.
Until we came back to Abu Dhabi, I never knew what time it was, no clocks! Of course if the Internet was up
I could look at the time on the iPad. The children are definitely earlybirds. No matter what time they go
to bed they are usually up by 6:30 in the morning.
Tomorrow I will download the picture of the Burge hotel and include it in my post. Remember it was the hotel
That looked like sailboat and tea was $139 per person.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Abu Dhabi
Hi-
We are in Abu Dhabi. Still Waiting for the baby!
The boys were really glad to see daddy. We went to the club last night, swam and had dinner.
The baby might be on the move! Jennifer has felt nauseated most of the day. She looked it up on the intent and apparently it might be a sign of impending labor. So in anticipation that she might be about to make an appearance, we went through the clothes, tossed some toys that no one has ever played with, and put the covers on the bassinet.
We got the baby clothes that are 0-3 months out and put the new pink dresser in the
play room along with the changing table.
We hooked the water toys up to the hose to try them out. I think the picture on the front was deceptive. They aren't
as much fun to play with as the box makes them out to be.
Anders and dad went to the club to play and swim. Stefan helped go through the toys and helped Cathy fix dinner.
When we got home from Dubai yesterday, Jennifer discovered the ac wasn't working upstairs.
The repairman came at 10 last night.
We went to the grocery store and maybe bought enough food for the week.
Jens got this fabulous box of dates as a present from his company for the ending of Ramadan. One is supposed to fast, pray and do good deeds during the month of Ramadan. When ramadan is over one is supposed to feast on dates.
We are in Abu Dhabi. Still Waiting for the baby!
The boys were really glad to see daddy. We went to the club last night, swam and had dinner.
The baby might be on the move! Jennifer has felt nauseated most of the day. She looked it up on the intent and apparently it might be a sign of impending labor. So in anticipation that she might be about to make an appearance, we went through the clothes, tossed some toys that no one has ever played with, and put the covers on the bassinet.
We got the baby clothes that are 0-3 months out and put the new pink dresser in the
play room along with the changing table.
We hooked the water toys up to the hose to try them out. I think the picture on the front was deceptive. They aren't
as much fun to play with as the box makes them out to be.
Anders and dad went to the club to play and swim. Stefan helped go through the toys and helped Cathy fix dinner.
When we got home from Dubai yesterday, Jennifer discovered the ac wasn't working upstairs.
The repairman came at 10 last night.
We went to the grocery store and maybe bought enough food for the week.
Jens got this fabulous box of dates as a present from his company for the ending of Ramadan. One is supposed to fast, pray and do good deeds during the month of Ramadan. When ramadan is over one is supposed to feast on dates.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
No baby yet
Here we are waiting for baby, thankfully not sitting around on bed rest or in the hospital but out and about doing as much as possible with two boys in tow. I don't know how jennifer did it but the key board reappeared. Yeah!
We went to Aquadventure at Atlantis which is on The Palm. Both boys slid down the slides, with great abandon. Stefan didn't much like the big bucket when it dumps out. It's a lot of water dumping. Fortunately they ring a bell so you know when it's coming. I have been here a week.
It's Ramadan and what that means for us is that you can't eat or drink in public, or in your car. There are some restaurants open that have film on their windows, so that people on the outside can't see you eating and if you are inside you can see out. At the malls, no music was playing.We went to get our toes done, and jennifer had to go into the massage room to drink some water.
After it gets dark, the natives come out in their black dresses for the women and white dresses for the men.
Starbucks fills up, the restaurants are hopping, and you can buy popcorn at the movies!
Anders and I went to see Mr. Poppers penguins, jennifer and I went to see bridesmaids. Mr. Poppers penguins was much more entertaining.
We walk on the path in the back nearly every day. We measured it last night and it is about 1/4 of a mile. We are usually walking around 7:30. No sleeping in for this group. Anders rides his bike, Stefan rides his scooter and Jennifer and I walk. Sometimes, Cathy comes, she's the nanny, cook and all around wonderful person to have on staff.
The malls are big and have many levels. They usually have a playground for the children. Not like the play areas at some of the malls in Dallas. You have to pay to get into these play areas.
Dubai is also famous for the tallest building in the world. There is also a hotel here called the Burg (sp)! It looks like a sailboat. We were going to have tea there but it costs $135 per person for tea and that's the only way you can come in and look around, is if you want to eat something there.
Dubai's population is 80% expats. Fortunately, their signs are written in English as well as Arabic.
All of the food is imported. We have had wonderful nectarines from California.
Jennifer continues to study the 100,000 name book. I am still calling her Matilda, it won't be her name but in like it better than baby girl.
So we go to the pool after walking and breakfast. Stefan takes a nap and then we make scooter movies with the iPad.
We went to see the world's larges piece of plexiglass in the aquarium at the Dubai mall. And then today at the aqua park they also had an aquarium. With rays, sharks, purple and yellow and blacks zebra striped fish.
We went to Aquadventure at Atlantis which is on The Palm. Both boys slid down the slides, with great abandon. Stefan didn't much like the big bucket when it dumps out. It's a lot of water dumping. Fortunately they ring a bell so you know when it's coming. I have been here a week.
It's Ramadan and what that means for us is that you can't eat or drink in public, or in your car. There are some restaurants open that have film on their windows, so that people on the outside can't see you eating and if you are inside you can see out. At the malls, no music was playing.We went to get our toes done, and jennifer had to go into the massage room to drink some water.
After it gets dark, the natives come out in their black dresses for the women and white dresses for the men.
Starbucks fills up, the restaurants are hopping, and you can buy popcorn at the movies!
Anders and I went to see Mr. Poppers penguins, jennifer and I went to see bridesmaids. Mr. Poppers penguins was much more entertaining.
We walk on the path in the back nearly every day. We measured it last night and it is about 1/4 of a mile. We are usually walking around 7:30. No sleeping in for this group. Anders rides his bike, Stefan rides his scooter and Jennifer and I walk. Sometimes, Cathy comes, she's the nanny, cook and all around wonderful person to have on staff.
The malls are big and have many levels. They usually have a playground for the children. Not like the play areas at some of the malls in Dallas. You have to pay to get into these play areas.
Dubai is also famous for the tallest building in the world. There is also a hotel here called the Burg (sp)! It looks like a sailboat. We were going to have tea there but it costs $135 per person for tea and that's the only way you can come in and look around, is if you want to eat something there.
Dubai's population is 80% expats. Fortunately, their signs are written in English as well as Arabic.
All of the food is imported. We have had wonderful nectarines from California.
Jennifer continues to study the 100,000 name book. I am still calling her Matilda, it won't be her name but in like it better than baby girl.
So we go to the pool after walking and breakfast. Stefan takes a nap and then we make scooter movies with the iPad.
We went to see the world's larges piece of plexiglass in the aquarium at the Dubai mall. And then today at the aqua park they also had an aquarium. With rays, sharks, purple and yellow and blacks zebra striped fish.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Hi-
I am at the apple store for last minute twitter, blogger, webpage adjustments before taking off for my around the world adventure. In case your interested, Vietnam doesn't let it's currency out of the country and you have to let banks, american express and other money changers know ahead of time that you want other countries money to get it. I did find India Rupees, so when I get to India in October I will have money.
I have bought 3 suitcases from Whole Earth Provision Company and taken two back. I started out with one that was 80 Liters. I think that is an odd way to measure how much stuff you can get in a suitcase. Last spring I went on an Alaskan cruise and took way too much stuff. So since I have a tendency to take too much stuff, I took the 80 Liter suitcase back and got a smaller one. The next version was 60 L with a zip off day. Now that sounds like a good idea right. It had a slot for the ipad2. That also sounds like a good idea. Even though I had already bought a blackberry sleeve for my ipad2 (we should tell apple they could make a case that has a zippered pocket)because it was the only one I could find that had a zippered pocket for all the various, plugs, camera connectors, ear buds. It got the pink personalization touch. The up side to this suitcase model was it had lots of zippered pockets, nooks and crannies to put your stuff in. The down side was all the zippered pockets went into the middle of the suitcase and there was no room for my tennies, etc. So back to Whole Earth Provision Company for version three. And it seems to be perfect. I am packed. I have everything in there. I am sure I have too much stuff. I took out the white crop pants and added a couple of extra tops. It is an Osprey. It is guaranteed, whatever that means. Supposedly, if you have the label and it breaks they will fly you a new suitcase to wherever you are.
Travel insurance for your luggage. A novel concept.
So I need to personalize it because there is no way I can travel luggage that doesn't have a flower or star painted on it.
Super Shuttle is picking me up at 2:30 a.m. to take me to the airport. I fly to Chicago. Change Planes in Chicago and on to London. Spend the night in London and then on Monday, fly to Abu Dhabi. I will be in Abu Dhabi for 6 weeks, awaiting the birth of "Matilda." That is not her proper official name, it is what I am calling her until she is born.
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