tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175015845338179312024-02-18T20:10:31.937-06:00Traveling ChemistTRAVELING CHEMIST -
I work as a chemist who provides technical support to my company's numerous world-wide operations. I've had the opportunity to travel to many interesing places and what you will read here are the accounts of some of the more memorable moments, places, people, and events that I've encountered along the way!chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-55641285758016159162012-12-25T21:27:00.000-06:002012-12-25T21:28:47.343-06:00Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>I wish all my loyal followers a very </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Merry Christmas and a </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Happy and Prosperous New Year in 2013!!!</strong></span></div>
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chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-38564817218438848062012-12-10T10:35:00.001-06:002012-12-17T19:13:57.552-06:00Trip to Dubai and Kuwait - November 2012<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In November I finally got moving again, so to speak! The month started off with a short (3-day) trip to Bakersfield, California. I flew out on Monday, Nov. 5 and returned home from Bakersfield on Wednesday, Nov. 7th. Not much to report - - - I was very busy and had no time to snap pictures around the city. Then came my trip overseas - finally! In past years, I've was getting quite tired of having to take so many international trips. This year, it has been the exact opposite: I've not been anywhere outside the USA since last November 2011.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Emirates 212: Houston to Dubai</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I finally managed to fetch an upgrade from Business Class to a <strong>First Class</strong> "Suite" on Emirates!! Very nice indeed! A mini-bar, wide-screen TV, and doors! The upgrade cost me 52,500 miles but what the heck. I always wanted to try one of these plush seats and NOW was my chance.</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Breakfast aboard EK 212</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrb1_tenESk2A9El4twmZCny-1jZngqtCIwZS6Po3Wxem7VGNZ0WgcsW-Q5QLAPsgatiN_La1pNIPGP1jmBf0o_VmmeF0Z7Yy_M1_OK9YiREgObA2yCAgTL6dCZRAG_08C0FJXrMo62k/s1600/Rotana+Sign+LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrb1_tenESk2A9El4twmZCny-1jZngqtCIwZS6Po3Wxem7VGNZ0WgcsW-Q5QLAPsgatiN_La1pNIPGP1jmBf0o_VmmeF0Z7Yy_M1_OK9YiREgObA2yCAgTL6dCZRAG_08C0FJXrMo62k/s320/Rotana+Sign+LR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Rotana Jumeirah Beach - Dubai</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I arrived in Dubai on Sunday evening, Nov. 18th. I was so very tired but I had a nice room at the Rotana Jumeirah hotel. All was well with the room <strong>but</strong> once again I was saddened to learn that the Rotana chain charges 95 Dirhams per 24-hours for Internet usage! Too much!! And definitely not business-user friendly.</span></div>
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A view of the <strong>Atlantis- The Palm</strong> hotel from my hotel. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was in Dubai for four days (Sunday evening, Nov. 18 to Thursday morning, Nov. 22) to participate in a SPE ATW conference. All went well and my presentation was well received.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNApb7HcbmkJUFXZmxux9YripbwdFt2Z2pKzfFJA5w97Jr-NbYJJOt_SHqFYyBsOWgofvKDCGKlXYo1-mRYtTSmlCigHdMGXYxsCW5LuAUlqbsssRM0Dvee_7v4ms8LeW5S_YBF2NW-w/s1600/Lost+Chambers+Sign+LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNApb7HcbmkJUFXZmxux9YripbwdFt2Z2pKzfFJA5w97Jr-NbYJJOt_SHqFYyBsOWgofvKDCGKlXYo1-mRYtTSmlCigHdMGXYxsCW5LuAUlqbsssRM0Dvee_7v4ms8LeW5S_YBF2NW-w/s320/Lost+Chambers+Sign+LR.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of the activities planned for our conference was a visit to the Atlantis Palm hotel and a tour of the aquarium (Lost Chambers) at the hotel. This was followed by dinner at the buffet restaurant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My hotel is next to a street level mall/shopping area. All apparently constructed in the last five years! Amazing what a little oil money can do!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCEhKKCP9-VYYgAu4OPdWWyWC5RiT0iHjCQrIsz5NVT9PpOlvLD4rTO2RP0szNYFVTHlRMiegNJHddUZ8VtP22fn2WhGjF0RLmHdLPi0X4cHOEw1Pmc1ywe_FDkGsI1246o7kSbFUOCo/s1600/Jumeirah+Bldg+LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCEhKKCP9-VYYgAu4OPdWWyWC5RiT0iHjCQrIsz5NVT9PpOlvLD4rTO2RP0szNYFVTHlRMiegNJHddUZ8VtP22fn2WhGjF0RLmHdLPi0X4cHOEw1Pmc1ywe_FDkGsI1246o7kSbFUOCo/s320/Jumeirah+Bldg+LR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A nice apartment building along the Jumeirah Beach street. Wonder what the rents are like???</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dubai's airport has become very busy. The problem is this translates into many flight delays - including my flight to <strong>Kuwait </strong>on Thursday morning (EK 855). We arrived into Kuwait International Airport about 30 minutes late.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Arival at <strong>Kuwait International Airport</strong>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinl7KtBCZMeulHsYCxC5EHmCUL0lQC8R_Mz2Xud88X0M2ZrYH4ERvoCzyGuoY445Wyj7AzWZBGHw8ZXWwRC9S2CSSjNOVQ2FmZoMaDy6ZTjidQkq2z1mya3_uYK06pegBnicNfnZFzHW8/s1600/Fancy+Starbucks+LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinl7KtBCZMeulHsYCxC5EHmCUL0lQC8R_Mz2Xud88X0M2ZrYH4ERvoCzyGuoY445Wyj7AzWZBGHw8ZXWwRC9S2CSSjNOVQ2FmZoMaDy6ZTjidQkq2z1mya3_uYK06pegBnicNfnZFzHW8/s320/Fancy+Starbucks+LR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On my first weekend in Kuwait, I visited the new "<strong>Grand Avenue</strong>" extension to the Avenues mall (now the largest mall in Kuwait). This Grand Avenue is by itself so very huge and has so many fancy shops including the above Starbucks - perhaps the fanciest Starbucks I have ever seen anywhere in the whole wide world!! Honest!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A view of <strong>Grand Avenue: </strong>the newest part of the <strong>Avenues</strong> mall south of Kuwait City.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Look closely a THIS store. I never expected to see something like this in a Middle East mall!! I am certain there is nothing like this in any Saudi Arabian mall! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">During my stay in our camp in southern Kuwait, I had occasion to visit our medical clinic and made a stop at the pharmacy to pick up a few medications. Could not resist taking a picture of this sign!! Ladies - here is where you need to go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On Saturday, Nov. 24 our company invited about three (3) busloads of US Army personnel to our company's camp located near the Saudi border. The troops were assigned to various villas where they were treated to homemade <strong>Thangsgiving Day</strong> dinners. I was invited to one villa where I had a most enjoyable meal and pleasant conversation with some of our country's finest troops.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My visit to Kwait went very fast and ended too soon. I returned to Dubai on Friday, Nov. 30 (arriving one hour LATE!) and spent the night at the <strong>Intercontinental Festival City hotel</strong>. </span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The new Emirates departure lounge at the Kuwait Airport. This is much nicer (and a whole lot less crowded) than the "Pearl Lounge" - another Business Class lounge used by all the other airlines.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XuGs4-S0L7nT_WR4XXtHoCELD3pHoGnrlLW2YV_kHiK2-ElHzDNibpsBJXkJTRB7NBiVW_eh6SCDNL9YjXytvmUOy7M4BkTajhMYxkOIR0NfUiPhnt1x-bhV2PYIpxVn7Yr0E6NyS_Y/s1600/Lobby+Flowers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XuGs4-S0L7nT_WR4XXtHoCELD3pHoGnrlLW2YV_kHiK2-ElHzDNibpsBJXkJTRB7NBiVW_eh6SCDNL9YjXytvmUOy7M4BkTajhMYxkOIR0NfUiPhnt1x-bhV2PYIpxVn7Yr0E6NyS_Y/s320/Lobby+Flowers.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The flowers in the lobby of the <strong>Intercontinental Festival City Hotel</strong> in Dubai.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After checking into my room, I walked thru the Festival City mall which was suffering from a number of leaks caused by a sudden rainfall earlier that morning. Apparently the buildings in Dubai and NOT waterproof! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next stop: dinner!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSZ3OF6ImWqXDaU7LPP_507Rkc16a9lkJ4iCqiVCI2Kx8hIa0JHfm7MtEdDQYyxotqyI_f7BTzUsBo9URjs25ESwVEYp37AuWyogv4kLbs2jHkTU3sdJiWSa77M6HCvJYl8JyyJKebIs/s1600/Remains+from+DinnerLR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSZ3OF6ImWqXDaU7LPP_507Rkc16a9lkJ4iCqiVCI2Kx8hIa0JHfm7MtEdDQYyxotqyI_f7BTzUsBo9URjs25ESwVEYp37AuWyogv4kLbs2jHkTU3sdJiWSa77M6HCvJYl8JyyJKebIs/s320/Remains+from+DinnerLR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The remains following my dinner at Romano's Macaroni Grill in the Festival City Mall. I recommend the <strong>hammour</strong> - an excellent white fish found in the Arabian Gulf.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On Saturday, December 1, I flew home to Houston aboard <strong>EK 211</strong> (one hour LATE!!). My flight home lasted <strong>15 hours and 50 minutes</strong>.</span></div>
chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-31315159126925072522012-10-23T12:33:00.002-05:002012-10-23T12:33:18.511-05:00Changing of the Seasons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcQ_mj9uZQh2p0QqTvPf6E92qnv99_AiRC3hjUJs0goytCKO6Emc9a6MiS2eep88FS0PakCfi8po0Npq4jBDo8c67tkm0mSQ9MlLo94XFaxiSyj90hTQURFFjZFhVevPddOOmk6DQPAU/s1600/Fall+Guys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcQ_mj9uZQh2p0QqTvPf6E92qnv99_AiRC3hjUJs0goytCKO6Emc9a6MiS2eep88FS0PakCfi8po0Npq4jBDo8c67tkm0mSQ9MlLo94XFaxiSyj90hTQURFFjZFhVevPddOOmk6DQPAU/s320/Fall+Guys.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Once again, I am forced to offer yet more apologies for my slowness in posting to this 'travel' blog of mine. What can I say: I have not traveled lately (a short vacation to New York in June) and I have been so busy at the office. On the plus side of things, Houston now has noticeably cooler weather and there is visible evidence of a change in the seasons. Sadly, we don't enjoy the colors of the changing tree leaves so familiar to those up in New England or in those cooler climates throughout the world. Still, once Fall arrives, the Holidays can't be far behind! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To all my loyal followers who still check in occasionally, I do appreciate your visits to my blog and any comments which you may care to leave. Hopefully, I will resume my travels soon and can then share some more posts of interesting places with all my followers!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy travels .......... </span><br />
chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-79874636006331338912012-06-19T15:00:00.001-05:002012-07-02T11:55:45.308-05:00<strong><span style="font-size: large;">It's Been a Loooong While Since I've Last Posted ....</span></strong><br />
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To all my loyal followers: <em><strong>my apologies for the long absence</strong></em>. I've been too busy at work and, frankly, I've not been traveling that much during the last six months! My prior posting was from Bali and that trip was in October of 2011. I had what turned out to be a way too short visit to Kuwait in late November (lasting only about 2 weeks) and a one-week visit to Edinburgh and Aberdeen, Scotland at the end of May (a mere three weeks ago!). <br />
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I shall try to be more diligent in posting ...<br />
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At any rate, here are a few 'leftover' photos from the trip to Indonesia (October of last year) and a few photos taken in Houston during the Spring, 2012. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbrf7uHT4TPvo77Bklf_OfwTqGR-g6cHxxnaTA2Nu1XvP2enzNNVU9bZ_5VpW_Qw9QJr3dC6kHpTOCqCcDfORfO3cq76SNdoAWVWBSETR-ob7XQMeEmN42s5UwRINaejC7MZOJmJOPd4/s1600/LR+Bali+Street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbrf7uHT4TPvo77Bklf_OfwTqGR-g6cHxxnaTA2Nu1XvP2enzNNVU9bZ_5VpW_Qw9QJr3dC6kHpTOCqCcDfORfO3cq76SNdoAWVWBSETR-ob7XQMeEmN42s5UwRINaejC7MZOJmJOPd4/s320/LR+Bali+Street.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A typical street scene in central Bali.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uFjH836vnbY99zh6Qxht4PDK4T7ZiOaZuGpwjs8Xu1xB7w8usvxtWx2Nsfy-zta67btcXitP2kNpYks3BhmqBbeFo1AUZ8h_pAOSKekRD4kszGZZoqA9QG_MuspB-Cr6THRU_C0fJXA/s1600/LR+Dancer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uFjH836vnbY99zh6Qxht4PDK4T7ZiOaZuGpwjs8Xu1xB7w8usvxtWx2Nsfy-zta67btcXitP2kNpYks3BhmqBbeFo1AUZ8h_pAOSKekRD4kszGZZoqA9QG_MuspB-Cr6THRU_C0fJXA/s320/LR+Dancer.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
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A Balinese dancer performing at my hotel near Ubud, Bali.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9eSCE0VjzYYGvAVkxQiTQnTOBkhO_0e_3Vh7ngYzHY-rYLt6mgVRxQGHw69z0sUBccbd7xceZYnRxJ08IdfI2n1lT4sk1rjRaCBnT9ee6CZ4J_f27_GLIsX-4mHOqwtkXTX7hOR2bkA/s1600/LR+FS+Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9eSCE0VjzYYGvAVkxQiTQnTOBkhO_0e_3Vh7ngYzHY-rYLt6mgVRxQGHw69z0sUBccbd7xceZYnRxJ08IdfI2n1lT4sk1rjRaCBnT9ee6CZ4J_f27_GLIsX-4mHOqwtkXTX7hOR2bkA/s320/LR+FS+Sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The sign out in the front of my hotel in Ubud, Bali. Actually, this resort is listed as being situated in the village of Sayan. The Four Seasons Resort hotel in Sayan is truly a remarkable hotel. </div>
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CAUTION: it is expensive!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowOpXcE9arXbER64PL0u1tg8EH4VMzJVMT3mRzLaBcC6Bs-Cs_N0oFrOLWmvvJoYuiy-yBNuaARDsdTnH3JU_J7Xqe4FAs2O8rqMl9o__W103kFMfARac0RJkxha7p6QnZ5tOICIlRmY/s1600/LR+FS+Villa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowOpXcE9arXbER64PL0u1tg8EH4VMzJVMT3mRzLaBcC6Bs-Cs_N0oFrOLWmvvJoYuiy-yBNuaARDsdTnH3JU_J7Xqe4FAs2O8rqMl9o__W103kFMfARac0RJkxha7p6QnZ5tOICIlRmY/s320/LR+FS+Villa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My humble little villa - complete with its own "plunge pool"!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdAR_YCGzC04kJq60nXGDRMkTrOcgGLZXKzsb8R85KO1Fryxpg73nZnw4aiRffJNQ7gVP1uJP-Xh3ib6laFApVKob1Mwiim7-m0VYGoQT8WJ5KIyF5Yk2oa879mbfcYj_CkOERZUkul0/s1600/LR+Lobby+Stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdAR_YCGzC04kJq60nXGDRMkTrOcgGLZXKzsb8R85KO1Fryxpg73nZnw4aiRffJNQ7gVP1uJP-Xh3ib6laFApVKob1Mwiim7-m0VYGoQT8WJ5KIyF5Yk2oa879mbfcYj_CkOERZUkul0/s320/LR+Lobby+Stairs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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CAUTION: The one important item missing in this fantastic resort is a lift (elevator) in the main lobby building. I had to climb up and down <strong>100 steps</strong>/stairs to go from my villa to the main restaurant. Ugh!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKVVN5h_iJFVuiLQEZmCy-nKpVXyF00MmDN9-utEsVQFWyjkVC7m4p4P5XWVh7n5qCl6pyKXS96wNRBcjkSdVBkQmaa250R2JEmedQjeCIUsvPUCEAtEoMGyhhGev6BCEHJTTY9ATzE8/s1600/LR+Oberoi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKVVN5h_iJFVuiLQEZmCy-nKpVXyF00MmDN9-utEsVQFWyjkVC7m4p4P5XWVh7n5qCl6pyKXS96wNRBcjkSdVBkQmaa250R2JEmedQjeCIUsvPUCEAtEoMGyhhGev6BCEHJTTY9ATzE8/s320/LR+Oberoi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I spent the second half of my 5-day visit to Bali at the Oberoi Hotel on the West coast of that island. Here is my villa. Very nice (just not quite as nice as my villa at the Four Seasons in Sayan).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFK6MYi9Vjo7g7ReUtnVkIP6_Qn6e3yYAqiWN4TPjg-Zw0Qx6T_R2Dr2o4DDye90GZfbBLj6W7qllwnJ9NkV_HLnLbv2B386jcWQCmFR6J4ZIkjFZFeGI_yE1CBGCSXzER-r22NykuyhE/s1600/LR+Ku+de+Ta+Bali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFK6MYi9Vjo7g7ReUtnVkIP6_Qn6e3yYAqiWN4TPjg-Zw0Qx6T_R2Dr2o4DDye90GZfbBLj6W7qllwnJ9NkV_HLnLbv2B386jcWQCmFR6J4ZIkjFZFeGI_yE1CBGCSXzER-r22NykuyhE/s320/LR+Ku+de+Ta+Bali.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Next door to the Oberoi Hotel is the <strong>Ku de Ta</strong> bar. This place is THE place to be and to be seen!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQkNjqEbmGxlNZ2uXWS2MEgK097mch6T4qzTexHlwN3VJm9hHUAFkUkPC5o_PBQOEvMY3aeQ5FMciu4LVlil4AzcCLksIseC7agn8DPm4Pn5hcOyZ8ipdtydk6g7xDN3xXoe35S_3OEI/s1600/Lebanese+Restaurant+in+Dubai+Mall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQkNjqEbmGxlNZ2uXWS2MEgK097mch6T4qzTexHlwN3VJm9hHUAFkUkPC5o_PBQOEvMY3aeQ5FMciu4LVlil4AzcCLksIseC7agn8DPm4Pn5hcOyZ8ipdtydk6g7xDN3xXoe35S_3OEI/s320/Lebanese+Restaurant+in+Dubai+Mall.jpg" vca="true" width="320" /></a></div>
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One final picture. This was taken at the Dubai Mall which I visited while on a one-night layover in Dubai following my visit to Kuwait in November of 2011. A colleague treated me to lunch at this Lebanese restaurant. <strong>Al Hallab</strong> serves very good food. One problem, however, was the rather slooooow service.<br />
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The trip home to Hoston the following morning (December 2) aboard Emirates 211 was on time. <br />
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<strong>Miscellaneous photos from Houston this Spring, 2012:</strong></div>
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My 27-year old console TV (circa 1985) finally died and I had it hauled away. I have since replaced this 'golden oldie' with a new 42-inch LCD flat screen TV.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneIHSrpgX2R5rSSWsPWuJWyGAfXXKEq0Ua5V4qsZFtJGptndWJby5iKZXLRNm-xpHpAdij1Ih6VweA90Dna1iOZ6m2gLs4IfHPz-mhP9yZwMZudITYUh4ACD-cFxuM5HKH1tooG4QccQ/s1600/LR+Mayor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneIHSrpgX2R5rSSWsPWuJWyGAfXXKEq0Ua5V4qsZFtJGptndWJby5iKZXLRNm-xpHpAdij1Ih6VweA90Dna1iOZ6m2gLs4IfHPz-mhP9yZwMZudITYUh4ACD-cFxuM5HKH1tooG4QccQ/s320/LR+Mayor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A picture of our beloved Mayor, Anise Parker, officiating at this year's <strong>Art Car Parade</strong>. It's an annual favorite event here in Houston, Texas!!</div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-33262145565296365822011-11-29T07:06:00.012-06:002011-12-06T12:24:01.743-06:00Singapore, Java, Kalimantan (Borneo) and Bali! October 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMC8nBiqODpw_1SF3I2MpjK2rO2Bx3v1tjja12Y5ovr6deOOv93cZiNA_c6lSg0LSH131yE3iDT-hgrZOAeBbEloBm_XkkroGrJpzZXAAGYKiJlInzm-_ScFvvfqFYh6TsiyqKNDyRPw/s1600/Bali+Art.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683070535413259362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMC8nBiqODpw_1SF3I2MpjK2rO2Bx3v1tjja12Y5ovr6deOOv93cZiNA_c6lSg0LSH131yE3iDT-hgrZOAeBbEloBm_XkkroGrJpzZXAAGYKiJlInzm-_ScFvvfqFYh6TsiyqKNDyRPw/s400/Bali+Art.jpg" /></a> As I prepare this post about my trip to Indonesia in the Fall of this year, I have just completed another trip to Kuwait (November 14 - December 2). One of the troubles with all these trips is that I find myself so BUSY, that I cannot devote all the time I used to expend in preparing almost daily posts as a trip unfolds. Instead, I now seem to be able to only issue a summary post after-the-fact .... sometimes long after the trip is concluded. This particular trip started on October 4. I flew Continental 7 from Houston <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">IAH</span> to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Narita</span>, Tokyo and connected to a United flight (upgraded to First Class!) bound for Singapore. On this stopover in Singapore, I elected to stay at the new St. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Regis</span> Hotel. Wonderful hotel - highly recommended!<br /><br />The following Monday (October 10) I flew to Jakarta (on the island of Java) for an overnight stay. Then it was on to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Balikpapan</span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lawe</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lawe</span> on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kalimantan</span> Island - or Borneo as we in the West often refer to this Indonesian island.<br /><br />On Saturday (October 15) it was back to Jakarta for a week's worth of work. Part of the time on Java was devoted to a short visit to our company's geothermal facility in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Salak</span> (west Java). Very interesting: this <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">property</span> is located within a national park and thanks to its high elevation, there <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">was</span> no need to use air conditioning in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">accommodations</span>.<br /><br />Finally, with all my work completed, I managed to tack on five days of pleasure and vacation in Bali (October 21 - 25). The flight home began on October 26 with an overnight stay in Singapore and then the long flight home the following day. <br /><br />I shall keep this post short and will try to issue a longer, more detailed follow-up posting of this visit to Indonesia later on - probably in the latter half of this month when I plan to take off three weeks and remain at home for the Christmas Holiday (and stay away from airports!!!).<br /><br />Enjoy the photos!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Z8tvJ9jNAKuw2sV_0NF_5Cwi2rwfdRm7dy7wGDvIzQw0Ty_5UKr8tWup7hAwYwaPoLWCFAXY-Xe9-46Gu_Lq-K3z0onqtZlZJwzbLPz64VhbMa_YSFzKggVJtDDmPn6wg50NCvVGPtg/s1600/Rice+Terrace+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683066245824254290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Z8tvJ9jNAKuw2sV_0NF_5Cwi2rwfdRm7dy7wGDvIzQw0Ty_5UKr8tWup7hAwYwaPoLWCFAXY-Xe9-46Gu_Lq-K3z0onqtZlZJwzbLPz64VhbMa_YSFzKggVJtDDmPn6wg50NCvVGPtg/s400/Rice+Terrace+3.jpg" /></a> A rice terrace in Bali (near <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ubud</span>).<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewkH-i7ODuCHVbp0SxZcDMMv6QvVRIoVd3QWRrZ0vyDwgMamNHHSSo0z-D9XG-yOy2o1Zca_7WaLCNLcmLt2W4bE7uC89_5NnzFyOqZR725WVVDuF_9Mw52sj40tJfrD5pwcQrPUq0hw/s1600/Blue+Mosque.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680407840439786354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewkH-i7ODuCHVbp0SxZcDMMv6QvVRIoVd3QWRrZ0vyDwgMamNHHSSo0z-D9XG-yOy2o1Zca_7WaLCNLcmLt2W4bE7uC89_5NnzFyOqZR725WVVDuF_9Mw52sj40tJfrD5pwcQrPUq0hw/s400/Blue+Mosque.jpg" /></a> A colorful mosque near <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lawe</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lawe</span> on the island of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kalimantan</span> (Borneo).<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9accpAfrH-MYzWF5QxIry3fiL7RfwDPwL3XG-gm0UNeTv7hJt5UINun0JkEwfK5UP6FvOFCUYfTOZUwAIQ77BcyUXh8qe3LMBGkoH5AB53EOfAFOSBiJV_qm7aFcpEbbgvY03Ci08JA/s1600/Tea+Garden+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680406279246424210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9accpAfrH-MYzWF5QxIry3fiL7RfwDPwL3XG-gm0UNeTv7hJt5UINun0JkEwfK5UP6FvOFCUYfTOZUwAIQ77BcyUXh8qe3LMBGkoH5AB53EOfAFOSBiJV_qm7aFcpEbbgvY03Ci08JA/s400/Tea+Garden+2.jpg" /></a> This tea garden is located near <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Salak</span> on the western side of Java. My first ever visit to an actual functioning tea garden!!!</div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyloc_WB5_HPRXPFF9YwRvbZeO8bpIhO90yu4uRF-D3AxAKxWvn4BgzqenHL6ccNOZCmTp0gi4ypCodKfW2hpo2dCflugmaOA6vxG2aYexZjf9rKPwm_DA-RppcQKrsE5TUEBulTCrvqU/s1600/Jumping+Dolphins.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 175px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680404991246954274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyloc_WB5_HPRXPFF9YwRvbZeO8bpIhO90yu4uRF-D3AxAKxWvn4BgzqenHL6ccNOZCmTp0gi4ypCodKfW2hpo2dCflugmaOA6vxG2aYexZjf9rKPwm_DA-RppcQKrsE5TUEBulTCrvqU/s400/Jumping+Dolphins.jpg" /></a><br />On my 5-day layover in Singapore, I managed to visit <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sentosa</span> Island and took in the dolphin show.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>More photos of this October trip should follow in a few weeks - - - - I hope!!</div></div></div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-37052221122461404142011-09-26T15:42:00.027-05:002011-12-06T12:33:40.599-06:00Singapore / Indonesia / Middle East - The Highlights of My Spring Trip (March - April)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ydjDZY1tSw0kjaaOkzms1-08EAmtx-7EAzYgSkzkmJr2jt6OVWdPrqUc3ulvthoul_ExjHkdIT4Ofju1uMatk3T4ALhGa4ecRP0FRwccWzv8u6g5CraLMJV7fYVPDBSrIqAAg1voJsQ/s1600/LR+Planes.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 220px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656774196475314482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ydjDZY1tSw0kjaaOkzms1-08EAmtx-7EAzYgSkzkmJr2jt6OVWdPrqUc3ulvthoul_ExjHkdIT4Ofju1uMatk3T4ALhGa4ecRP0FRwccWzv8u6g5CraLMJV7fYVPDBSrIqAAg1voJsQ/s400/LR+Planes.jpg" /></a> It's been a long while since I completed this trip to Asia and the Middle East. This particular trip started on March 28 (2011) with a flight from Houston to Los Angeles LAX airport (see above photo) where I boarded a Singapore Airlines flight to Singapore (my longest flight ever at over 16 hours ++ in duration; even the flight attendant complained of the length!!).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd32SsVNmuBN-gsk9vcnHyN157WD8zn6Uq6VOiAb3JXiC8iOYSkUVsp2aBi9cyTImVQwuJZOWoMVYbPWQxxcDssmyro4LXBybYJ78-XaZmGcx4AkaNN-SEHywWboyxohgDVIiTBLfFc_o/s1600/LR+Singapore.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656774097371082018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd32SsVNmuBN-gsk9vcnHyN157WD8zn6Uq6VOiAb3JXiC8iOYSkUVsp2aBi9cyTImVQwuJZOWoMVYbPWQxxcDssmyro4LXBybYJ78-XaZmGcx4AkaNN-SEHywWboyxohgDVIiTBLfFc_o/s400/LR+Singapore.jpg" /></a> The Singapore skyline as seen from my room at the <strong><span style="color:#003300;">Four Seasons Hotel</span></strong>. Over the years, Singapore has become my favorite foreign city - it's clean, orderly, you can drink the water, eat the food and never worry about any crime. A perfect place to recover from the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">loooooong</span> flight from the USA. The Four Seasons Hotel is located on Orchard Blvd., just a few short blocks from the Orchard Rd MRT station ( a 5 - 8 minute walk).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9HLFeu5GOO-f-DH0EhbxhOoHCrx7pjP6idCb-AY6Ap9-mqrEWCd43YFKfst_C7-yaKz701nuoBdE1JptG-YtDBfRXDxT2N6a2yucBHZyH04SYH6Ub1hqaesShE7LvSok1qfXgR4pKPc/s1600/LRFlyer+Overview.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656774005361847554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9HLFeu5GOO-f-DH0EhbxhOoHCrx7pjP6idCb-AY6Ap9-mqrEWCd43YFKfst_C7-yaKz701nuoBdE1JptG-YtDBfRXDxT2N6a2yucBHZyH04SYH6Ub1hqaesShE7LvSok1qfXgR4pKPc/s400/LRFlyer+Overview.jpg" /></a> My first sightseeing objective: the <strong>Singapore <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Flyer</span></strong>! A terrific way to see the downtown skyline.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpBEx6Az1_kO0VFBXqMTV6DJCNGTF06NeX_I-7iHUFvnVUmaG-wQkXNRYPyXKXtKNCpmbOUYtz73DDaIycoIEWRPH4W4NKp6qEcO9uDJVvT6f9bC82eshzQ2cc9rYSahXstxNbSf3hrU/s1600/LRTop+View.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656773873416618594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpBEx6Az1_kO0VFBXqMTV6DJCNGTF06NeX_I-7iHUFvnVUmaG-wQkXNRYPyXKXtKNCpmbOUYtz73DDaIycoIEWRPH4W4NKp6qEcO9uDJVvT6f9bC82eshzQ2cc9rYSahXstxNbSf3hrU/s400/LRTop+View.jpg" /></a> A view from the top of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Flyer</span>. Downtown Singapore is in the background. Off to the left side is the Sands Hotel and Casino - see the following photo.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwQMKxcAXaqIZJ0jSb0YKT-lWc8ZZKL_5sQHG3pOFu3fPQbxTTL1-A0gAhdUaQTCcMlvpQt6AN3LlSWDX_dshutZUSJOyRR0WkKoIHSZU_Jm3cOoMQRRea9s0FnyaXIIBBsurZbUei7A/s1600/LRSands+Casino.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656773745269187954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwQMKxcAXaqIZJ0jSb0YKT-lWc8ZZKL_5sQHG3pOFu3fPQbxTTL1-A0gAhdUaQTCcMlvpQt6AN3LlSWDX_dshutZUSJOyRR0WkKoIHSZU_Jm3cOoMQRRea9s0FnyaXIIBBsurZbUei7A/s400/LRSands+Casino.jpg" /></a> The new <strong>Sands Casino and Hotel</strong>. The hotel comprises the three columns supporting the boat like structure at the top. The casino is out of view of this picture. (PS: you need to show a passport to gain entry to the casino floor.) At the top floor is an observation deck which affords an excellent view of the city and surrounding areas.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLd9eQaTv5N-itaprE5ZjTQAiv11qa6wL33-28R6x9qtPW2GVYN0ERXa5I71RIK3ge6HnaMZcbVtUbcXQzDrqDnHHiaWxO4FZBdXUUdVb9m9kmI04gqVWLoa78-4GHaNmh_EZifxXYew/s1600/LR+Orchid+Garden+Sign.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656773600755309954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLd9eQaTv5N-itaprE5ZjTQAiv11qa6wL33-28R6x9qtPW2GVYN0ERXa5I71RIK3ge6HnaMZcbVtUbcXQzDrqDnHHiaWxO4FZBdXUUdVb9m9kmI04gqVWLoa78-4GHaNmh_EZifxXYew/s400/LR+Orchid+Garden+Sign.jpg" /></a> Another favorite tourist sight: <strong><span style="color:#006600;">The Orchid Garden</span></strong>. Bring your cameras!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItKHRZGHKpjeW246lnEXVcf_MGw_bjdrVaDKI1LPXHvMxsLF7GCM3Yp8QUxzxeWzExKOjodsoHpNwsM-Ily0w2UNFTVpLW81CMKAYgdZuCITis5Y3s6bXNYE3k5Ye4CjmfZ6yCkaBJJw/s1600/LROrchid+Purple.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656773491737459122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItKHRZGHKpjeW246lnEXVcf_MGw_bjdrVaDKI1LPXHvMxsLF7GCM3Yp8QUxzxeWzExKOjodsoHpNwsM-Ily0w2UNFTVpLW81CMKAYgdZuCITis5Y3s6bXNYE3k5Ye4CjmfZ6yCkaBJJw/s400/LROrchid+Purple.jpg" /></a> Orchids galore!! I only had a compact camera with me on this trip. On my next venture, I will try to drag along my SLR camera for much better pictures.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugiruwPFwRgajt9Vqe_DrBn3I7RYSWWIEXhlBSNeKBSZsg_vLMVVpVkxPW76MPaDBUuQzvgCaqqJ3n5MFh_H3xcQk6242yhZevQkHxUZaPFFb8vnzkkvzTQNnkzww7l2XmKwuy50tZEg/s1600/LRPekanbaru+Airport+sign.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 254px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656773343781095234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugiruwPFwRgajt9Vqe_DrBn3I7RYSWWIEXhlBSNeKBSZsg_vLMVVpVkxPW76MPaDBUuQzvgCaqqJ3n5MFh_H3xcQk6242yhZevQkHxUZaPFFb8vnzkkvzTQNnkzww7l2XmKwuy50tZEg/s400/LRPekanbaru+Airport+sign.jpg" /></a> On Sunday, April 3rd, I flew from Singapore to Jakarta then changed planes and flew to <strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pekanbaru</span>, Sumatra</strong> for a week's worth of work in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">north</span> central Sumatra.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIBYY7q87-uPutrdcMLqPkK-_BPNOYS16BfYSeAQ9oo6z31vVV-bCccHbY8CpbAFVBZZRvjXVcc6Xpt3hTLYMOkVELGJ7QW299shExncdNkAa_L8PDycKJlt0tPukGH6tWls3WmIi2yc/s1600/LRRiau+Governors+House.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656773250045404466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIBYY7q87-uPutrdcMLqPkK-_BPNOYS16BfYSeAQ9oo6z31vVV-bCccHbY8CpbAFVBZZRvjXVcc6Xpt3hTLYMOkVELGJ7QW299shExncdNkAa_L8PDycKJlt0tPukGH6tWls3WmIi2yc/s400/LRRiau+Governors+House.jpg" /></a> The governor's palace in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error"><strong>Pekanbaru</strong></span> - the capital of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Riau</span> province. (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Riau</span> province is where a lot of Indonesia's on-shore oil production is located.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQQrtmxTm-fcKnKxS_4rP_iqom3zAIC_eWfCmkG8wb_pISYjNWEEB-pr5wo4yW7QgSBOq9KTHPDCJJm8T1KiBBKbv1kgLXTVojb0j3ycymDKPZOBeRUk1UduBm61-H_3hmX6I3tlQ9Hs/s1600/LRChopper.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656773140408983250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQQrtmxTm-fcKnKxS_4rP_iqom3zAIC_eWfCmkG8wb_pISYjNWEEB-pr5wo4yW7QgSBOq9KTHPDCJJm8T1KiBBKbv1kgLXTVojb0j3ycymDKPZOBeRUk1UduBm61-H_3hmX6I3tlQ9Hs/s400/LRChopper.jpg" /></a> On Monday, April 4, I flew by chopper from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rumbai</span> to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Duri</span> (also in Sumatra) where our company's office is located.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBLNRqT0s_12KneRsxwfG8VC54ZvOAclFU5UONqk6XbZMr1mFS0ajQcE7AhMhZqxcNee4KQ5WXk4wcg7nnVRWHN0UxW9pOND6LPw4-4Xs17UYoN9wsWpIIlbzXyXwQNkXDMx0poNprbE/s1600/LRPalm+Trees.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656773055226280834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBLNRqT0s_12KneRsxwfG8VC54ZvOAclFU5UONqk6XbZMr1mFS0ajQcE7AhMhZqxcNee4KQ5WXk4wcg7nnVRWHN0UxW9pOND6LPw4-4Xs17UYoN9wsWpIIlbzXyXwQNkXDMx0poNprbE/s400/LRPalm+Trees.jpg" /></a> On the 30-minute helicopter flight to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Duri</span>, we flew over a LOT of palm groves. Sadly, much of the Sumatran rain forest is being cut down, burned and replaced with palm trees to manufacture palm oil. A tragic waste of good land if you ask me.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMq61ER8tZgHs9TRK00kRpGXHmSBWfQxbrszV-JTK2Lwk0yaV6uUveScEDVCiiDNWftROOvuWXuOWkdvTX5MyWu1p0zgyj_dJK_CAipiu006mfbpPr5hb4oX6VrLxZYWwBDOxxcGgT9iM/s1600/LRLogging+Truck.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 372px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656772937478978226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMq61ER8tZgHs9TRK00kRpGXHmSBWfQxbrszV-JTK2Lwk0yaV6uUveScEDVCiiDNWftROOvuWXuOWkdvTX5MyWu1p0zgyj_dJK_CAipiu006mfbpPr5hb4oX6VrLxZYWwBDOxxcGgT9iM/s400/LRLogging+Truck.jpg" /></a> On the way home (Friday, April 8), the local weather was poor (too smokey from all the burning of the forest) so my chopper flight was canceled and I rode a bus from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Duri</span> to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rumbai</span> (3 hours). Along the way, we passed MANY logging trucks carrying all the trees being cut down to make way for the palm groves. Again, a tragic loss of the rain forest.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarXlYYtasBzFxV17Uxlb-LyvbpzVBVrRvvOUo9xYBH6PkVmlxkVoJWOxERhBkrVMtGyC7VfdAREPLtiz1iFzPxxlXWRnMfJenqvWKJ_7r6fRGo2DHOzdKazZ3R58WVD0K77fHqfM1gbk/s1600/Mosque.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 257px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656772827558570802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarXlYYtasBzFxV17Uxlb-LyvbpzVBVrRvvOUo9xYBH6PkVmlxkVoJWOxERhBkrVMtGyC7VfdAREPLtiz1iFzPxxlXWRnMfJenqvWKJ_7r6fRGo2DHOzdKazZ3R58WVD0K77fHqfM1gbk/s400/Mosque.jpg" /></a> Along the road to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rumbai</span>, the bus stopped at a rest stop next to a mosque which is under construction.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFa9YIkdxBVNg9bgfafc244DaHHL4eSv3wR_ej8eKxdTVzO2FhcvZ618w3nuDzyFMS9r7KChvGBRvOSKJaNQCAqisjT6xxK4SV0d-wmFlJ2bFoEy1ljqwEEafkF_bpcWJaKydkFkcZY4k/s1600/LR+Mulia+Lobby+Flowers.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656772622760011682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFa9YIkdxBVNg9bgfafc244DaHHL4eSv3wR_ej8eKxdTVzO2FhcvZ618w3nuDzyFMS9r7KChvGBRvOSKJaNQCAqisjT6xxK4SV0d-wmFlJ2bFoEy1ljqwEEafkF_bpcWJaKydkFkcZY4k/s400/LR+Mulia+Lobby+Flowers.jpg" /></a> Once in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rumbai</span>, I took a taxi to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pekanbaru</span> Airport and flew to <strong>Jakarta</strong> that afternoon and then headed to the <strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mulia</span> Hotel</strong>. This is an <strong>Excellent</strong> hotel. Highly recommended!!! Sadly, I only stayed one night. I checked out of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mulia</span> Hotel the following day (a Saturday) and caught an evening flight on Emirates to Dubai.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZw1aVAvzOt-YfNpc6GRRilLjCk0exJ2rkbTkagiEAgH9zVqTssKVpb6j3eX12A2OI4p02KrVRBWPhSRC-xFXIm-JOyK7a-UklzPnRXBEr24jMNCz54qXMZcxUcw9bcOL0JyMKts24-94/s1600/LRFlight+Board.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656772518896610418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZw1aVAvzOt-YfNpc6GRRilLjCk0exJ2rkbTkagiEAgH9zVqTssKVpb6j3eX12A2OI4p02KrVRBWPhSRC-xFXIm-JOyK7a-UklzPnRXBEr24jMNCz54qXMZcxUcw9bcOL0JyMKts24-94/s400/LRFlight+Board.jpg" /></a> Emirates <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">EK</span> 357 bound for Dubai from Jakarta.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKU0PbirEc8HltTb9Y_M1331CJ7hrfImr0uhgebEAKdg77zgyD8uA_W2NJGK-dkbo9xFQ7CCx0twybA4s_KDMsfGX2lu4gVPI6DCSMzIiksUsx8VWV7_rghEKcq3wowiDWuggAEXlWgfM/s1600/LRDammam+Flight.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 192px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656772409544413410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKU0PbirEc8HltTb9Y_M1331CJ7hrfImr0uhgebEAKdg77zgyD8uA_W2NJGK-dkbo9xFQ7CCx0twybA4s_KDMsfGX2lu4gVPI6DCSMzIiksUsx8VWV7_rghEKcq3wowiDWuggAEXlWgfM/s400/LRDammam+Flight.jpg" /></a> After a two night layover in Dubai, my next stop was <strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dammam</span>, Saudi Arabia. </strong>The flight to Saudi Arabia was one hour and 15 minutes BUT the wait on line at immigration in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dammam</span> Airport was one hour and 20 minutes!!! This was followed by a mercifully short taxi ride to Saudi Aramco in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dhahran</span>.<strong> </strong>I did not get a chance to take many interesting pictures while I was in Dhahran. Hence, nothing to share from Saudi Arabia on this short visit.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsn2OsGnE38Eh5v9EACkvEhbTR3LBLvQ8ixbdm6NSHE2oA-sntCExrNRZ3ovWQZ2msBZLMNIgyrT2oQrpIj6lkd0tMutGF144votrKa68JNHU4j_CtqevUr8U-4U_b6qLpRChDhuTSYg/s1600/LRLuLu.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656772297751424850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsn2OsGnE38Eh5v9EACkvEhbTR3LBLvQ8ixbdm6NSHE2oA-sntCExrNRZ3ovWQZ2msBZLMNIgyrT2oQrpIj6lkd0tMutGF144votrKa68JNHU4j_CtqevUr8U-4U_b6qLpRChDhuTSYg/s400/LRLuLu.jpg" /></a>After a few days in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dhahran</span>, I flew to Kuwait (<em>via</em> Doha, Qatar) for what turned out to be a three-week stay in country (working in the usual place - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wafra</span>!). As was the case in Saudi Arabia, I was too busy to take many interesting photos on this visit. The above photo shows a new grocery store that opened up in Kuwait - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error">LuLu's</span>. A nice place to shop for us expats.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Finally, I departed Kuwait on May 4 and headed to Dubai.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMtPaZGTqHI8uJDWAU02urFIHfZ8q0V-lKuX19_ZWdZMJ5kef3RlvuZ3VQYIGmWIsSv3k21YTzy_HRViw_YDngkBqPLGYakvV-eTcrKGE9lblIaARLS6dmHPpf7E8yQMdrYXg56RaToc/s1600/LRDubai+Skyline.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656772156669939570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMtPaZGTqHI8uJDWAU02urFIHfZ8q0V-lKuX19_ZWdZMJ5kef3RlvuZ3VQYIGmWIsSv3k21YTzy_HRViw_YDngkBqPLGYakvV-eTcrKGE9lblIaARLS6dmHPpf7E8yQMdrYXg56RaToc/s400/LRDubai+Skyline.jpg" /></a>The Dubai skyline from my room at the <strong>Emirates Hotel</strong>. The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error">Burj</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error">Khalifa</span> (the world's tallest building) is in the background, off to the left side of the photo, gleaming in the afternoon sun.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>The next day (May 5), I flew home to <strong>Houston, TEXAS</strong> on Emirates 211. Finally I was returned to my home-sweet-home!</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><strong><em>PS</em></strong>: Following this venture overseas, I had a short vacation in New York City and Upstate NY (see the prior post) in late May and then a very quick trip to Kuwait in late June (June 22 to July 1). Sadly, there were no pictures to share from that June trip to Kuwait but frankly there was so little time (too much work to accomplish) and we had a few bad sandstorms that month so I never had the inclination to get out and snap photos anyway.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-50862110949383131722011-06-14T07:15:00.007-05:002011-06-15T14:01:52.656-05:00Apologies for the Long Absence!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICExKownX6IXRohibZ_EuQqTckLvylxC3VoDWkBIWJkefkMaO4Y9vYam5tDIXReLlQjsOGVQoEqsQi32FOLNyipZjEhhvZsefnFnxfFuauggacH7CjQoHJdCFGGkx9Wu2oWzLDFW1tYk/s1600/sorry.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618049047367710786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 382px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICExKownX6IXRohibZ_EuQqTckLvylxC3VoDWkBIWJkefkMaO4Y9vYam5tDIXReLlQjsOGVQoEqsQi32FOLNyipZjEhhvZsefnFnxfFuauggacH7CjQoHJdCFGGkx9Wu2oWzLDFW1tYk/s400/sorry.jpg" border="0" /></a> Apologies to all my Loyal Followers! I have been most negligent (lazy, perhaps) in posting to my blog over the last several months. Part of the reason for this lapse in posting was caused by the fact that I did NOT haul my laptop with me during this circumnavigation of the globe. (Just too much baggage to carry along for so far a distance.) For the record, I departed Houston on Monday, March 28, flew to Los Angeles <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">and</span> then boarded Singapore Airlines bound for <strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">Singapore</span></strong> where I arrived - exhausted - after a 16 hour-50 minute flight early in the morning (5:20 am) of March 30. I checked in to the <strong>Four Seasons Hotel</strong> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">and</span> proceeded to spend a blessed 5 days in Singapore, allowing myself three extra days over and above what the company normally permits as a reasonable layover. I find that the older I get, the more time I need to readjust my internal body clock to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">accommodate</span> the 13 hour time shift (midnight Houston = 1 pm Singapore).<br /><br />I had a wonderful time in Singapore - I took in the Singapore Flyer (see picture below) and stopped by the new Marina Bay casino. Also visited (again) the National Orchid Garden (excellent) and several local museums.<br /><br />After Singapore, I flew (Sunday, April 3) to Jakarta, INDONESIA and then immediately connected to a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Garuda</span> flight to <strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Pekanbaru</span>, Sumatra</strong> for what turned out <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">to</span> be a one-week visit to our company's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">steamflood</span> facility in <strong><span style="color:#663300;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Duri</span> (Central Sumatra).</span></strong> On Friday (April 8) the smoke levels in the Sumatran rain forest proved so intense that my early morning chopper flight to turned into a three-hour bus ride to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Rumbai</span>. No problem - the ride was pleasant enough and afforded me a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">few</span> picture taking opportunities. I boarded a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Garuda</span> flight that afternoon <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">and</span> returned to Jakarta and checked in to the <strong><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Mulia</span> Hotel</span></strong> in central Jakarta. This is an excellent 5-star hotel with great security. I thoroughly recommend the <strong><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Mulia</span> Hotel</span></strong>.<br /><br />Next: On Saturday evening (April 9) I boarded my Emirates flight to Dubai and we departed on time and arrived into <strong>Dubai</strong> at about 10:45 pm Dubai time. I checked in to the Intercontinental Hotel (Festival City) and rested for two days.<br /><br />Next: On Monday (April 11) I flew on Saudi Arabian Airlines to <strong><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Dammam</span>, Saudi Arabia</span></strong>. The flight lasted 1 hour and 10 minutes; then came the wait at Saudi Immigration!! That took one hour and 15 minutes!! Ten desks but only two Saudi immigration officers on duty! <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">C'est</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">le</span> vie</em>. I spent the next four days in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Steineke</span> Hall in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Dhahran</span>, courtesy of <strong>Saudi Aramco</strong>.<br /><br />My <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">brief</span> stay in Saudi Arabia <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">ended</span> on Thursday, April 14 when I flew (via Doha, Qatar) on Qatar Airways to <strong>Kuwait</strong> for three weeks of work in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Wafra</span> Field (inside the Kuwaiti portion of the Partitioned Zone). I departed Kuwait on Thursday, May 5. After an overnight rest stop in Dubai, I flew home to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Houston</span> aboard Emirates 211 on Friday, May 6th.<br /><br /><strong>PS</strong>: I managed a short (9-day) vacation in the <strong><span style="color:#000099;">New York City</span></strong> area from May 19 to May 27. I visited a long-time friend in Long Island; met up with another long-time friend that Saturday and the three of us took in <strong>Billy Elliot</strong> ($135 per person!!) at a theater on 45<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">th</span> St. This was an excellent play by the way! Then a few days in upstate New York followed by a return home from LaGuardia Airport that following Friday (May 27).<br /><br />And there you have it!<br /><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">will</span> endeavor to post some memorable pictures of my journeys as soon as possible. Frankly, my life has become quite hectic recently and I find precious little time to manage this blog. I hope my followers will please be patient during these seemingly long absences of mine!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikm-hjpJNwQeZI6HFw61ck7f4RJHd9MU3ro5HzaVu4N3nGyOw1omLvBwiG227LISoq_CLEGk2TQd3cPGrvE2JaqmJxwinZTW38RF3B8oQM325Qx55nQySpy0fCUGSvaA3xzN6zQGFo7tU/s1600/DSCN1111.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618048882060444898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikm-hjpJNwQeZI6HFw61ck7f4RJHd9MU3ro5HzaVu4N3nGyOw1omLvBwiG227LISoq_CLEGk2TQd3cPGrvE2JaqmJxwinZTW38RF3B8oQM325Qx55nQySpy0fCUGSvaA3xzN6zQGFo7tU/s400/DSCN1111.JPG" border="0" /></a>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-67925789650396548682011-01-17T12:39:00.030-06:002011-01-27T14:56:36.577-06:00More Kuwait, Then to Abu Dhabi - Finally, Home for the Holidays!!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXbMUfIajSfYzq26RwYefQ79jNYK7LICWz3Xti1TXtBqETfHRzaO-3hKwLslrQ6NzvWTxKY9jp7P4NYbeGBWfL-DZ2jNbcGMHXdgHnBVohMc00N5dU64fVcmYmqlqGbCqwzzCdYMVn2g/s1600/Emirates+Towers+Hotel+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565860522494209826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXbMUfIajSfYzq26RwYefQ79jNYK7LICWz3Xti1TXtBqETfHRzaO-3hKwLslrQ6NzvWTxKY9jp7P4NYbeGBWfL-DZ2jNbcGMHXdgHnBVohMc00N5dU64fVcmYmqlqGbCqwzzCdYMVn2g/s400/Emirates+Towers+Hotel+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"><strong>Photo: Jumeirah Emirates Tower Hotel</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"><strong>Dubai, UAE</strong> </span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>Finishing Up in Kuwait</strong> -<br /></div><div align="justify">First: My sincere apologies to all my Loyal Followers for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">loooooong</span> absence!! There were several reasons for my not blogging regularly over the past two months: (a) too much work (!!); (b) an injury (I encountered some barbed wire in the desert outside <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Abu</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Dhabi</span>); and (c) 32 days of blessed vacation at home in Houston for the Christmas and New Year Holidays.<br /><br />Herewith I present some highlights of the last half of my stay in Kuwait (I flew in from Dubai on October 28 and departed Kuwait on November 27). Then some pictures from my first ever visit to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Abu</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Dhabi</span> (one of the seven Emirates in the UAE - a short 1-1/2 drive overland from Dubai).<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykIL2p-4AxPqMhdmaM6f4ppYIUVssBUBcK7xy4RvRwHneUWjGU_HrbnAKYDGO6xyIIdQj7luSrwsA7bweVVJP5Kgan6RGyFGlRk3wdcLFHmUQXi-svgURRBFel6Mv_6lxY1IstM7BSyI/s1600/LR+306+Mall+Entrance.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563266501717168258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykIL2p-4AxPqMhdmaM6f4ppYIUVssBUBcK7xy4RvRwHneUWjGU_HrbnAKYDGO6xyIIdQj7luSrwsA7bweVVJP5Kgan6RGyFGlRk3wdcLFHmUQXi-svgURRBFel6Mv_6lxY1IstM7BSyI/s400/LR+306+Mall+Entrance.jpg" border="0" /></a> About mid-way into my stay in Kuwait, I visited the new "<strong>360 Mall</strong>". The mall is located at the intersection of Highway 60 and the 6<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span> Ring Road. There are plenty of 'high-end' or luxury stores!!!</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCQlG945HXSYa8oTsecgjAYVcP0iv5nTlG9-53YZsZyOYa99ueQYLaHFh9mFqfgzS0nqRLNaGNvfVqvNWWowp4e-nSW4M3pd-BVcciNitm7krMekNbePJXEEmfnAQq6AbuPcWbUQZtHA/s1600/LR+Chocolate.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563266365559016610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCQlG945HXSYa8oTsecgjAYVcP0iv5nTlG9-53YZsZyOYa99ueQYLaHFh9mFqfgzS0nqRLNaGNvfVqvNWWowp4e-nSW4M3pd-BVcciNitm7krMekNbePJXEEmfnAQq6AbuPcWbUQZtHA/s400/LR+Chocolate.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="color:#663333;"><em>Life With Cacao</em></span></strong>: Located inside the 360 Mall, this cafe was a real find!! I spent 2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">KD</span> for a heavenly hot chocolate (ca. $7.00 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">USD</span>!).<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDySl5U0ef0-YK3eYmGereLCf852IAHWMNPXnwqC5INAvnuzFivVZDriGdWDwwb1rb6D_L4fOOBMejZSUwPEHPI1wh61bWGt5D2G0-zaRvjEHEwp63YVkyi2aUmHxYNf7U-xkB6FZiSUw/s1600/LR+Skyline+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563266252700687698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 186px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDySl5U0ef0-YK3eYmGereLCf852IAHWMNPXnwqC5INAvnuzFivVZDriGdWDwwb1rb6D_L4fOOBMejZSUwPEHPI1wh61bWGt5D2G0-zaRvjEHEwp63YVkyi2aUmHxYNf7U-xkB6FZiSUw/s400/LR+Skyline+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> The skyline of downtown Kuwait City .... note the distinctive telecommunications tower near the left side of the photo.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjhq3nTuz4SmFyhSxR3tMhXtxF6Gn5C7Kcj7QCjPkiunaMCG3S29VvULV-ivKBusTt3tzWYE5ifbhTBKJcGUBmEGmbhjxOKj2DXGuUVcx2W1UzNJ710B0VkgJVNEWlKhnT6KEwlY66sI/s1600/LR+Starbucks.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563266087184423618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjhq3nTuz4SmFyhSxR3tMhXtxF6Gn5C7Kcj7QCjPkiunaMCG3S29VvULV-ivKBusTt3tzWYE5ifbhTBKJcGUBmEGmbhjxOKj2DXGuUVcx2W1UzNJ710B0VkgJVNEWlKhnT6KEwlY66sI/s400/LR+Starbucks.jpg" border="0" /></a>GREAT NEWS: The Starbucks in Al <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Zour</span> is reopening!!! Followers of my blog may recall when this place opened - then <a href="http://travelingchemist.blogspot.com/2009/08/update-on-al-zour-starbucks-closing.html">shut</a> after a short two-month run. Something about a licensing issue?? Anyway, they were cleaning the store and restocking the place. It should be open by now!!! .<br /><br /><br /><strong>MY TRIP TO ABU DHABI</strong> (from November 27 to December 2):<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aPI25m2tzYBYX5V6Up6vFAV8CNhWZVfE5bKkJsjSrRgwdM4G6xaie3ZTrDYdWurpEdpJqNdvrES9676rXlqBgpAApCQkOudTQZf62_cZv1VulpSjgqdiw6h4fd0oFFVkACAAYqwgORs/s1600/LR+Mosque+Courtyard+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563265636668924146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aPI25m2tzYBYX5V6Up6vFAV8CNhWZVfE5bKkJsjSrRgwdM4G6xaie3ZTrDYdWurpEdpJqNdvrES9676rXlqBgpAApCQkOudTQZf62_cZv1VulpSjgqdiw6h4fd0oFFVkACAAYqwgORs/s400/LR+Mosque+Courtyard+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>I flew to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Abu</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Dhabi</span> from Kuwait International Airport on November 27 (only a 1-1/2 hour flight). My first 'tourist attraction' was <strong><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Sheikh</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Zayed</span> Grand Mosque</span></strong>. A 'must-see' for any tourist!!! And it's free - no <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">admission</span> fee!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMiDmnX0AOtVFV7KFatjRRI9FTV9j6yfZ_TI_OSXABLfvxCbVBt644BLqKS796rlAOvv9x_WChnSRTlTb9ImEsORH9mnX05DQd0VXc6aUmZK4ouYz09lEISO1rvEHRoRZkRFVlAWBvyk/s1600/LR+Desert+at+Sunset.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563265503900014002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMiDmnX0AOtVFV7KFatjRRI9FTV9j6yfZ_TI_OSXABLfvxCbVBt644BLqKS796rlAOvv9x_WChnSRTlTb9ImEsORH9mnX05DQd0VXc6aUmZK4ouYz09lEISO1rvEHRoRZkRFVlAWBvyk/s400/LR+Desert+at+Sunset.jpg" border="0" /></a>I took a desert 'safari' on November 29. One problem: I stumbled on a strand of barbed wire while viewing some camels, tore up my pants and received two cuts to my legs. (I visited a local clinic later that night for cleaning the wounds and a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">tetanus</span> shot!!)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk82q8jStE26Ch-sR15M86Ay-D_9jyibV7Wau8u6nQi-1HXkdxZ4rLWVpVkQzApA1vhTAe5xfL9azTsAHXXcG2jXS1WZESKwO0jP7PbxZi6fNiRjP_8BetAeNp1K4llDFWbs7Tctbjvrc/s1600/LR+Emirates+Palace+Logo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563265386322565778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk82q8jStE26Ch-sR15M86Ay-D_9jyibV7Wau8u6nQi-1HXkdxZ4rLWVpVkQzApA1vhTAe5xfL9azTsAHXXcG2jXS1WZESKwO0jP7PbxZi6fNiRjP_8BetAeNp1K4llDFWbs7Tctbjvrc/s400/LR+Emirates+Palace+Logo.jpg" border="0" /></a>Once my work in Abu Dhabi was concluded and the 3-day conference ended (at which yours truly was a speaker), I managed to play 'tourist' and visited the <strong>Emirates Palace Hotel</strong>. Clearly this hotel is THE place to be in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Abu</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Dhabi</span>! Friends told me this hotel was where they filmed <strong><em>Sex and the City 2</em></strong>. However, that fact turns out NOT to be true - the film was in fact shot in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Morocco</span>. Nevertheless, this place is definitely worth a visit. In fact so many folks were wondering <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">through</span> the hotel and shooting pictures that I felt at ease. Too bad I could not stay at this place (the rate is a tad too rich for my company's expense account limit!). Just take a look at these photos:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgo_oPt-xfRtey-zktNVkvYS-XVUsa2PyTUmUBpslUwHG5POaB3-TAnHkBdxXWv1SxghFsMIk0iY0r3lc75Bh6_MxFNpPfe1qxZWsFcXTPG_QRholZxtsfOKGH-jsSljQ38waxd4spms/s1600/LR+Emirates+Palace+Hotel+Front.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563265259152040994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgo_oPt-xfRtey-zktNVkvYS-XVUsa2PyTUmUBpslUwHG5POaB3-TAnHkBdxXWv1SxghFsMIk0iY0r3lc75Bh6_MxFNpPfe1qxZWsFcXTPG_QRholZxtsfOKGH-jsSljQ38waxd4spms/s400/LR+Emirates+Palace+Hotel+Front.jpg" border="0" /></a> The front entrance to the Emirates Palace Hotel ...........<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtEZrwoIIWuhLxQB8O4zb-Ym_TPPcpp6vwV0u1_WLmeDRYukG-0L7W7KyzkHj09aFoaz4bX8hpCR3AuLDQle-rQbo-JtnH1BrDkm2348L0iC9FBBSOq2R1jiEupV7zDDiWyQ9CgYAl4g/s1600/LR+Palace+Lobby+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563265136378859250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtEZrwoIIWuhLxQB8O4zb-Ym_TPPcpp6vwV0u1_WLmeDRYukG-0L7W7KyzkHj09aFoaz4bX8hpCR3AuLDQle-rQbo-JtnH1BrDkm2348L0iC9FBBSOq2R1jiEupV7zDDiWyQ9CgYAl4g/s400/LR+Palace+Lobby+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>The lobby of the Emirates Palace Hotel ....<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcY_71FmgNqmelQdqTOcRMlco_xQLBLgn7fZTjj1RMPVA6QmyHGVyXYusmnD9_m5qAciXZfvoC7OyaHuUKbMYIXiFr-JPTedUQsw2xlIn4XQAM2HuqLikTCuSt_XloSMSwQZGaYgVabE/s1600/LR+Grand+Staircase.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563264999965274466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 372px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcY_71FmgNqmelQdqTOcRMlco_xQLBLgn7fZTjj1RMPVA6QmyHGVyXYusmnD9_m5qAciXZfvoC7OyaHuUKbMYIXiFr-JPTedUQsw2xlIn4XQAM2HuqLikTCuSt_XloSMSwQZGaYgVabE/s400/LR+Grand+Staircase.jpg" border="0" /></a> The grand staircase ...................<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8E1WGpgyDxMLmeH0zGGmVwttkkR2aZA8QjvnpmPJj2ku0TWt6-aGIr4Y4vdCbPZQJlGFBZXjr0WSf933jnfI-k9g9RBDsKpW_ER_v4_QWJw67tZoSFrIqxnT_DdoPgjbGnXwBdrmEus/s1600/LR+Hot+Chocolate.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563264864412707506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8E1WGpgyDxMLmeH0zGGmVwttkkR2aZA8QjvnpmPJj2ku0TWt6-aGIr4Y4vdCbPZQJlGFBZXjr0WSf933jnfI-k9g9RBDsKpW_ER_v4_QWJw67tZoSFrIqxnT_DdoPgjbGnXwBdrmEus/s400/LR+Hot+Chocolate.jpg" border="0" /></a>I decided to indulge in a hot chocolate at the lobby cafe and watch the passers-by imagining myself as being one of the local <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">sheikhs</span>!!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetK8hnhNZ511g07XLSU3Pot_wiMsJKoxCsT8ze9NyB2RlYU3IZVaVYMKIYr5faKySlYb3ebd1u4pOQX9cGnq9cI8vw3U6YqhRoJHbI65YWfkWLqGSaIFy8bQgAiO6vULKxiJIaO786-0/s1600/LR+Gold+to+Go.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563264746165091042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetK8hnhNZ511g07XLSU3Pot_wiMsJKoxCsT8ze9NyB2RlYU3IZVaVYMKIYr5faKySlYb3ebd1u4pOQX9cGnq9cI8vw3U6YqhRoJHbI65YWfkWLqGSaIFy8bQgAiO6vULKxiJIaO786-0/s400/LR+Gold+to+Go.jpg" border="0" /></a> I kid you not! This photo is no fake - there is actually a vending machine for gold bars of varying size and value to suit one's budget!! I suppose this convenience is aimed at all those <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">sheikhs</span> with 'disposable income'!! You would never know there is a world-wide recession going on .....<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JyAHP3lyfmO6nwGBRGttWbk5BmJDHe8GCz9OnHmaJ8kGaBmvzhE6WLZet7FKMwuC4umJWs4bC8pe2__uPwlWr_gmtjsfIS9En2o3VWbQWKaXt317OR8d9ZNUZD1Ja_ezJVuL65Mo6ww/s1600/LR+Rotana.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563264625546542066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JyAHP3lyfmO6nwGBRGttWbk5BmJDHe8GCz9OnHmaJ8kGaBmvzhE6WLZet7FKMwuC4umJWs4bC8pe2__uPwlWr_gmtjsfIS9En2o3VWbQWKaXt317OR8d9ZNUZD1Ja_ezJVuL65Mo6ww/s400/LR+Rotana.jpg" border="0" /></a>And this was my humble abode during my 5-day stay in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Abu</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Dhabi</span>. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Rotana</span> Beach Hotel, located in the middle of waht I'd call the city center. Nice enough - although a tad lower on the economic food chain that the Emirates Palace Hotel!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fDEGpUoEgOb4W9KK3VK6GpTQWTtmAWgmyia30Kz1aVQKTDzffhUOxZVlchOMyhssNkSzTNHNFZ8b9_7hIlubGPhJhW-teGQeuRlRuXpnmsMdwH0xftBTmmWy6ustKsPOIkn1vZkycBw/s1600/LR+Wiggly+Bldg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563264429120881794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 329px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fDEGpUoEgOb4W9KK3VK6GpTQWTtmAWgmyia30Kz1aVQKTDzffhUOxZVlchOMyhssNkSzTNHNFZ8b9_7hIlubGPhJhW-teGQeuRlRuXpnmsMdwH0xftBTmmWy6ustKsPOIkn1vZkycBw/s400/LR+Wiggly+Bldg.jpg" border="0" /></a>An interesting building under construction - whatever it is for I know not!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofEA0WhlnuOlnuShp0te02Xc-nNKY6hLG7ykGHTW_qdz_qpMNtNJAO1_CMVwVyQhjxLlWcxsy6vAqoEaIEWFjCGaU4cJ4ngSa7P0hIctOdzsT266wKoS-B9f-2aY1yZBAszq0uTEuuME/s1600/LR+5+KG+of+Tea.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563264268006309186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofEA0WhlnuOlnuShp0te02Xc-nNKY6hLG7ykGHTW_qdz_qpMNtNJAO1_CMVwVyQhjxLlWcxsy6vAqoEaIEWFjCGaU4cJ4ngSa7P0hIctOdzsT266wKoS-B9f-2aY1yZBAszq0uTEuuME/s400/LR+5+KG+of+Tea.jpg" border="0" /></a>I spotted this at a supermarket in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Abu</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Dhabi</span> Mall adjacent to my hotel. Can you imagine anyone needing to purchase a 5 kg (11 pound) sack of tea???!!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMu1Z0E4L5cc9bnLncpKfSoYleVIT9M6Inn6g1vTGXHUtttw5oiVbiDvQ419w28vXw0U7l3kXiIP98KdodJvcsOwhCjGtShA6A-QXuHmaapsAgNj0ykegBJkY8CYoQq6NBEoJlvYsqw0/s1600/LR+Iwannagohome.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563264050739395874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 137px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMu1Z0E4L5cc9bnLncpKfSoYleVIT9M6Inn6g1vTGXHUtttw5oiVbiDvQ419w28vXw0U7l3kXiIP98KdodJvcsOwhCjGtShA6A-QXuHmaapsAgNj0ykegBJkY8CYoQq6NBEoJlvYsqw0/s400/LR+Iwannagohome.jpg" border="0" /></a>This aptly summarizes how I was feeling on December 2! I contracted with a driver who drove me from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. Turns out December 2 was a national holiday - it was the 39th anniversary of statehood for the UAE!</div><div>.<br /></div><div>After the 1-1/2 hour drive, I checked into the <strong>Emirates Tower Hotel</strong> (see the picture at the top of this posting) and enjoyed my final night in the UAE. The following morning, December 3, I flew Emirates 211 from Dubai to Houston! Only 14 hours of flight time! </div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FlsXL7xlT8uASCOfX3UjbDGmOigDx8sDl4_1DVuJZejEcf0UW7yO3AXQQO0ugMwuU-uMrzAVITTXs7TZbeCHjYqK5qU2MJFqnRQjeJ3KJaetQZ5bq4d_TdA4wqkdRxYN1eIe9orkfEY/s1600/LR+Christmas+Tree+at+Galleria.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563263814436502162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FlsXL7xlT8uASCOfX3UjbDGmOigDx8sDl4_1DVuJZejEcf0UW7yO3AXQQO0ugMwuU-uMrzAVITTXs7TZbeCHjYqK5qU2MJFqnRQjeJ3KJaetQZ5bq4d_TdA4wqkdRxYN1eIe9orkfEY/s400/LR+Christmas+Tree+at+Galleria.jpg" border="0" /></a> I arrived home in Houston on December 3 and after three days of work the following week, I took off 32 days of vacation for Christmas and New Years Day! And I am pleased to report there was absolutely no travel at all during my time off!! </div><div><br /><div>To all my followers/readers: <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Happy New Year!!!</span></strong><br /></div><div></div><br /><div>Your comments are most welcome:</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-91537098157572453732010-11-19T08:00:00.014-06:002010-11-21T03:01:02.779-06:00Return to Kuwait<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghw1TfKoxjKg8GGka4XnzHj4Pkl4r7RPWDxhj_MdMX4V-zcmERsAz5qqQmXV0l_EwVzSa9uGFcb7ZZKRq60diM_b2aSlmXIQp4vLEyioxx-PyiGebSiejvarL1H1XiFTO3XgzwyOfvojo/s1600/LR+Corkscrew+Bldg+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541262718882822882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 212px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghw1TfKoxjKg8GGka4XnzHj4Pkl4r7RPWDxhj_MdMX4V-zcmERsAz5qqQmXV0l_EwVzSa9uGFcb7ZZKRq60diM_b2aSlmXIQp4vLEyioxx-PyiGebSiejvarL1H1XiFTO3XgzwyOfvojo/s400/LR+Corkscrew+Bldg+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Photo:</span> Whatever this iis, it's in downtown Kuwait City. I call this the "corkscrew" building! Not sure who owns it but it sure looks strange!!</span></div><br />Apologies for not posting sooner but I have been so swamped with work, that I could not take time out to tend to my blog. I arrived into Kuwait three weeks ago on October 29 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">and</span> have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">been</span> blessed with such amazing weather - no sand storms and no excessive heat. Just sunny and cool/warm weather all the time ... so far!<br /><br />The first two work weeks (October 31 to November 4 and November 7 to 11) were devoted to meetings and to an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">SPE</span> (Society of Petroleum Engineers)Oil Conference where yours truly presented a technical paper in front of about 140 people. Thankfully the audience was most receptive and asked many questions. The venue was the Hilton resort in Mangaf, Kuwait. A nice, seaside resort complex.<br /><br />This past week was devoted to the Islamic <strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Eid</span> Holiday</strong>!! The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Eid</span> Holiday is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">actually</span> only about three days in length but the company decided to give everyone off the entire week! I, however, was in the office most of the week. However, I did mange to take off early each day and head into town a few times to enjoy lunch at some local <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">restaurants</span> and take in the scenery.<br /><br />Just a personal note: like on all my prior visits to Kuwait, I find the local people most friendly and the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">overall</span> atmosphere quite accepting of Westerners such as myself. Despite the fact that America has a bad reputation amongst Muslims <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">worldwide</span>, the Kuwaitis can differentiate between America and Americans - such as myself. Although they may not like my country's political policies, Kuwaitis have generally been welcoming and hospitable to me during all my travels here in this country.<br /><br />And now some pictures taken during the past three weeks:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRhDhEMsfMWorAajK0F4NTaN6LFJxYJkfJvGNFmIwLddEZL7oNjcSwSAZQj2vFX3c2GtUSETWK6LecsMkZ58laEwZIGXWKoJSW6ax99umGZFr2bDIW_s2O161mcBflToce4SfMdf4cVc/s1600/LRWeird+Bldg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541262533934025810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 203px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRhDhEMsfMWorAajK0F4NTaN6LFJxYJkfJvGNFmIwLddEZL7oNjcSwSAZQj2vFX3c2GtUSETWK6LecsMkZ58laEwZIGXWKoJSW6ax99umGZFr2bDIW_s2O161mcBflToce4SfMdf4cVc/s400/LRWeird+Bldg.jpg" border="0" /></a> A new unusual building in downtown Kuwait City - about an hour's drive north from where I am housed in Mina Al <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Zour</span>.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEish-1JNYpbUUOwqzuGj8kiDW43lttQJu3wTr1Clsovu6aY3qJ8ofIAJxTkiIvHgKVzIwRnFp1GuMWidiSLoQ7dhPTzRHIA1oLtwTpRGl7UIU8MQ9KbjFEP3wf3lGr2WFD9u8Lic6s5wLw/s1600/LR+New+Buildings.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541262357698545554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEish-1JNYpbUUOwqzuGj8kiDW43lttQJu3wTr1Clsovu6aY3qJ8ofIAJxTkiIvHgKVzIwRnFp1GuMWidiSLoQ7dhPTzRHIA1oLtwTpRGl7UIU8MQ9KbjFEP3wf3lGr2WFD9u8Lic6s5wLw/s400/LR+New+Buildings.jpg" border="0" /></a> Lots of new buildings springing up on the way into town. These are on Highway 40 ....<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVz93IA_yk3dUYvCWugMwCmYKXGNWfdglCUOi7Ao9BqrW0kVdkgIF0Gz4eePus28g47-UAZJtnjPpc0rt2ey1r2miTok2YdT0fxtoWAVv4alTpD5PXyDVibPOmmhXsLY_flqmAvXS6GWY/s1600/Building.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541262207159668082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVz93IA_yk3dUYvCWugMwCmYKXGNWfdglCUOi7Ao9BqrW0kVdkgIF0Gz4eePus28g47-UAZJtnjPpc0rt2ey1r2miTok2YdT0fxtoWAVv4alTpD5PXyDVibPOmmhXsLY_flqmAvXS6GWY/s400/Building.jpg" border="0" /></a>Another interesting building ....<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1XiOYL6d7M-obvstcK5qJqL5WGabpOFnYXYjpb30DFTbo92qOvgzlU3nzhRS1v2Hyab7S_wBxYCD3j3tELUz5HrMW2_Ki_ewnTbfkBX2diM_QTYZ5XFK6uy39V24_aukwuFqaXGi1Fk/s1600/LR+Skyline.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541261922779619186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 362px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1XiOYL6d7M-obvstcK5qJqL5WGabpOFnYXYjpb30DFTbo92qOvgzlU3nzhRS1v2Hyab7S_wBxYCD3j3tELUz5HrMW2_Ki_ewnTbfkBX2diM_QTYZ5XFK6uy39V24_aukwuFqaXGi1Fk/s400/LR+Skyline.jpg" border="0" /></a>Part of the skyline in downtown Kuwait City.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLX00zEOKG3EofTOrj53Kt_ggiDhJk7HBBcwhDRT9JpSouCmBbhCAaszvyWi6MoUeQpQvipAvvKhr3CKphg4WxMQon_slbv2KdXCxgUyXV1jlGfGMigATtTbFHM6o9qomh1ph-VFkIwSg/s1600/Camel+Nice.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541261746481861074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 311px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLX00zEOKG3EofTOrj53Kt_ggiDhJk7HBBcwhDRT9JpSouCmBbhCAaszvyWi6MoUeQpQvipAvvKhr3CKphg4WxMQon_slbv2KdXCxgUyXV1jlGfGMigATtTbFHM6o9qomh1ph-VFkIwSg/s400/Camel+Nice.jpg" border="0" /></a> Always need to slow down when passing camels along the road to work in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Wafra</span>!!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6TJObruR99rMWy8lq_4J2BDQGUdhZJY85K5DikMaEeDNTPSA86o6qmHJ6J2tFfoEgia5oN5ujyJMNDA_S8Nfn-HLQBdTqc17ybYD0EJ4TF1rj25cVoSVjwnA3Ic6bg2qmyBwyS2KY3M/s1600/Fatburger.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541261260696934306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 274px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6TJObruR99rMWy8lq_4J2BDQGUdhZJY85K5DikMaEeDNTPSA86o6qmHJ6J2tFfoEgia5oN5ujyJMNDA_S8Nfn-HLQBdTqc17ybYD0EJ4TF1rj25cVoSVjwnA3Ic6bg2qmyBwyS2KY3M/s400/Fatburger.jpg" border="0" /></a> I could not resist taking this picture. I had lunch at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">TGI</span> Friday's restaurant in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Fintas</span> and this place was next door. Nowadays, with everyone being so health conscious, you'd think a name such as this would be avoided!! I Binged the name "Fat Burger" and sure enough there is actually a chain of burger joints in the USA under this name!! Yuk! THE last thing I need in my body is more fat! Couldn't they have thought of another name??!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6u0wVBHmCeGjlXIVKITJArqistsD5Le70C_ZKiiny_EAIZn_vkBiSVf3CzX9pBXmxMjywDtRWJOTD0NG2PFjaZ9MBUGrNgL-kEoZ7ROwTT0QhxjduEeCR4zv2kj4pi4rIsdpH8M6lpa8/s1600/LR+Eid+Mubarak.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541260908319990946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 170px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6u0wVBHmCeGjlXIVKITJArqistsD5Le70C_ZKiiny_EAIZn_vkBiSVf3CzX9pBXmxMjywDtRWJOTD0NG2PFjaZ9MBUGrNgL-kEoZ7ROwTT0QhxjduEeCR4zv2kj4pi4rIsdpH8M6lpa8/s400/LR+Eid+Mubarak.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Eid</span> Mubarak - Arabic for Happy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Eid</span> Holiday!!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-46555400207724516682010-11-07T05:37:00.015-06:002010-11-07T06:05:12.685-06:00Dubai and The Burj Khalifa: The World's Tallest Building<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSO62fu1UwUMGzcdmD2UzMVzxrjNG8AkhyF6TBFc8aVzYIaOCul8d4-T4VO3METPli2kkdUTLSMh5Ft5FGW-G1tb1-Vg5oxFclRd4wmkEMeFCluzHOj_lJ_Sp-Z5TNOf6-caTbwRHqgA/s1600/LR+Burj+Khalifa+Complete+View.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536775109713795650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSO62fu1UwUMGzcdmD2UzMVzxrjNG8AkhyF6TBFc8aVzYIaOCul8d4-T4VO3METPli2kkdUTLSMh5Ft5FGW-G1tb1-Vg5oxFclRd4wmkEMeFCluzHOj_lJ_Sp-Z5TNOf6-caTbwRHqgA/s400/LR+Burj+Khalifa+Complete+View.jpg" border="0" /></a>Photo: The <strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Burj</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Khalifa</span></strong> - the world's tallest building.<br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBlmQE7_oSzopL-1uRk1wWJS7ve3TxFAkO8yLxaanER9IdxsQ293JBb2TKF2inNFUGyDkx5M5TtYy7n8U-A3FE6VcOf2Ffn8vgOnyjniF3KSNYnWQn8Fp3HZpHagRXDekiZEV8bdXe_E/s1600/LR+Burj+Khalifa+Nice.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536774969483555154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 244px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBlmQE7_oSzopL-1uRk1wWJS7ve3TxFAkO8yLxaanER9IdxsQ293JBb2TKF2inNFUGyDkx5M5TtYy7n8U-A3FE6VcOf2Ffn8vgOnyjniF3KSNYnWQn8Fp3HZpHagRXDekiZEV8bdXe_E/s400/LR+Burj+Khalifa+Nice.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I am pleased to report that I had a smooth flight from Houston last week. I departed Houston's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">IAH</span> Airport on Tuesday, Oct. 26 aboard Emirates 212 (Business Class, thankfully!!). We landed in Dubai after exactly 14 hours of flight time. In precisely one hour I was in my room at <strong>The Address Hotel</strong> - one of the newest hotels in Dubai. Despite what you hear about the financial crisis, hotel rooms in Dubai still are extremely high-priced! Including the 10% tax and 10% service charge, my room cost me about $425 PER NIGHT! I chose this hotel because it was right next to the world's tallest building - the <strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Burj</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Khalifa</span></strong>. There are reported to be 160 floors total in this building. Visitors can only ascend as high as the 124<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span> floor where there is an open air and an enclosed / air conditioned observation deck. Amazing views abound. The ride up takes only 60 seconds and costs 100 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Dirhams</span> (about $27 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">USD</span>). Unless you are afraid of heights, I recommend this attraction. Book early in the day as time slots fill up fast. I purchased my ticket at 10 am and waited until 12 noon for my assigned time to ride the elevator up. I used the 2 hours strolling through the <strong>Dubai Mall</strong> to which my hotel is literally attached.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">photos</span> of my short (two-day) visit to Dubai are presented below. Enjoy - and PLEASE take some time to comment and share your thoughts!!</div><div align="justify"> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdJYwwkchAeHITS0leceAapjqutbtzdzggFIUYFKqiPBsfbPlnQ5H1zXGqjCh6JzcIZ1RQVXmw3US-0s9AMVEwpk_ev8V9feQRL3OuqnIDnwRLR3sdDGIPZYos-wffSjeWIoXAPvQPig/s1600/LR+The+Address+Hotel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536774833991694482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdJYwwkchAeHITS0leceAapjqutbtzdzggFIUYFKqiPBsfbPlnQ5H1zXGqjCh6JzcIZ1RQVXmw3US-0s9AMVEwpk_ev8V9feQRL3OuqnIDnwRLR3sdDGIPZYos-wffSjeWIoXAPvQPig/s400/LR+The+Address+Hotel.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>The Address Hotel <br /></strong>(my room was on the 28<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">th</span> floor)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDQpyXBmyN0-UmBoFGbA3BW-rRSyMzc7YuM7RW7GENIAZ8UIKcxx6DA75OYktf2zTvU3z-1zeU8-2U4RZK5zl5Bw2vHYC9JoEn1nHCEzGhyphenhyphenNnGsxyeLYq3a7_2FAdCY0L42DCO3lMjnE/s1600/LR+Address+Sign.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536774683505870402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 343px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDQpyXBmyN0-UmBoFGbA3BW-rRSyMzc7YuM7RW7GENIAZ8UIKcxx6DA75OYktf2zTvU3z-1zeU8-2U4RZK5zl5Bw2vHYC9JoEn1nHCEzGhyphenhyphenNnGsxyeLYq3a7_2FAdCY0L42DCO3lMjnE/s400/LR+Address+Sign.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iFbNl4eEmbbmonJIr3Q4BHRTk3xYZdU1cYQH4CnOEjAnEIvpxFXPKsNG10FzXBkoa6G6MJHhSuThBRkDbEN856XKeGHUesC2GA4ave-mX2JJJdZODmT05Z2MDf-_fBhkCCYZCpjYoh4/s1600/LR+Gold+Souk+Atrium.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536774557301137378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iFbNl4eEmbbmonJIr3Q4BHRTk3xYZdU1cYQH4CnOEjAnEIvpxFXPKsNG10FzXBkoa6G6MJHhSuThBRkDbEN856XKeGHUesC2GA4ave-mX2JJJdZODmT05Z2MDf-_fBhkCCYZCpjYoh4/s400/LR+Gold+Souk+Atrium.jpg" border="0" /></a> The <strong>Gold Souk</strong> (market) at the <strong>Dubai Mall</strong>, adjacent to my hotel.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TqF4dmuj6yF6ml_RtE34n3XJDZ9ZoO2mVjbO3nDy_ut_SFPoJZdYmfUaDdcGqAGush_LwIauTvE99Vsdk2tIrliCmdMLq-_tlpi5Yp3fuLYnVVgPjEWnZRbObzt_54kBhIjhyphenhyphennGQlKo/s1600/LR+Bloomingdales.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536774407726995314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 297px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TqF4dmuj6yF6ml_RtE34n3XJDZ9ZoO2mVjbO3nDy_ut_SFPoJZdYmfUaDdcGqAGush_LwIauTvE99Vsdk2tIrliCmdMLq-_tlpi5Yp3fuLYnVVgPjEWnZRbObzt_54kBhIjhyphenhyphennGQlKo/s400/LR+Bloomingdales.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Bloomingdales</span></strong>!! </div><div> </div><div align="justify">My mother's favorite store. When I was growing up in the BRONX (New York City), I shopped at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Bloomingdales</span> in New Rochelle so many times.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyx1v567dDIfnL4hyphenhyphenUo-4EUaNpfc8d38eFjpO4Jt0L8dSrrxD3QQPazWQndATR6BQa_VvlceO_pUqrC7IioplzLIhfKt3nb-D2q5liTpNF9G40wIecbPvki_dW2jW7N9EbNLAdkx1nQrE/s1600/LR+EK212+Sign.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536774276145425906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 326px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyx1v567dDIfnL4hyphenhyphenUo-4EUaNpfc8d38eFjpO4Jt0L8dSrrxD3QQPazWQndATR6BQa_VvlceO_pUqrC7IioplzLIhfKt3nb-D2q5liTpNF9G40wIecbPvki_dW2jW7N9EbNLAdkx1nQrE/s400/LR+EK212+Sign.jpg" border="0" /></a>Emirates 212: Houston to Dubai in 14 hours.<br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxCDET84JoN6HSCZfZHINBT3PNT5qrbq7jXjyiRBETeplP5LpVuW9a65vWaSv8oU2_IllqlfiGTZ54eqU-LiiEN8OPkEP9RFlxTdw44Bf6EiXeGfYNBUxoSiG-VRMTjfwQEUGa9DNJns/s1600/LR+Baggage+Claim.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536774140305958914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxCDET84JoN6HSCZfZHINBT3PNT5qrbq7jXjyiRBETeplP5LpVuW9a65vWaSv8oU2_IllqlfiGTZ54eqU-LiiEN8OPkEP9RFlxTdw44Bf6EiXeGfYNBUxoSiG-VRMTjfwQEUGa9DNJns/s400/LR+Baggage+Claim.jpg" border="0" /></a>Believe it or not, this is Baggage Claim at Dubai Airport's Terminal 3. Probably the fanciest baggage claim one will ever encounter anywhere!<br /></div></div></div></div><br /></div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-33431160721498449092010-10-23T08:26:00.006-05:002010-10-23T08:50:02.145-05:00Autumn at Home - But Getting Ready to Travel!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IeNrvi7PW4_JelCnI23Q-kBO74AXX1oTKDjRgApvd3aYFSyedzUibQk4DTW3JevqHihsabnH5BGrkQQor2LSTGBKqHXiHWacGDNY8VuZf5YA4oc8O2wJkKmkaFtvy3c_W_9_gZ-Ll0k/s1600/LR+Houston.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531233656340387154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IeNrvi7PW4_JelCnI23Q-kBO74AXX1oTKDjRgApvd3aYFSyedzUibQk4DTW3JevqHihsabnH5BGrkQQor2LSTGBKqHXiHWacGDNY8VuZf5YA4oc8O2wJkKmkaFtvy3c_W_9_gZ-Ll0k/s400/LR+Houston.jpg" border="0" /></a>Autumn in Houston! The high <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">temperatures</span> of the summer have vanished - mostly. The humidity is lower and the Holidays are approaching. And, after spending a month at home-sweet-home, I must soon pack up my suitcase and get ready to travel overseas yet again.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Earlier</span> this week I attended a meeting on the 40<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> floor of one of our company's two downtown buildings. This building has a history behind it: about a decade ago, Ken Lay and Jeff <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Skilling</span> ran Enron from this same building and these two crooks had their executive offices on the same floor as where I took this picture of the Houston skyline. Naturally their offices are long gone (as is the company Enron which went bankrupt many years ago forcing the layoffs of hundreds of good employees). After my company bought up the former Enron headquarters building (reportedly for a fraction of its original cost and with some tax <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">abatements</span> thrown in by the city of Houston), we redesigned the entire building. Now the 40<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span> floor is used only for meeting rooms. Still, this floor offers a vantage point which gives visitors one of the BEST views of downtown Houston anywhere! And to think that Enron conducted all its <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">financial</span> scams from this same floor just a few short years ago, well, its an amazing turn of events.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzshfOSXuPgPsBbmN8RioJ2PVzi4V_7OhN8pWJevseni8KntJ8OD7K1H7II56l9IETbnGd3FlXEOdqUtAl_jbI5D3eWRuS4JXZCATbVKP-iAmYiOBjIcqliLyNzQRHkg2NL_MQNYOP-g/s1600/LR+Fall+Display.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531232734519643810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 272px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzshfOSXuPgPsBbmN8RioJ2PVzi4V_7OhN8pWJevseni8KntJ8OD7K1H7II56l9IETbnGd3FlXEOdqUtAl_jbI5D3eWRuS4JXZCATbVKP-iAmYiOBjIcqliLyNzQRHkg2NL_MQNYOP-g/s400/LR+Fall+Display.jpg" border="0" /></a>Fall in Houston! Yes, the above photo may appear to be a little silly but the it is the best I can come up with on short notice. I mean it to represent the changing of the seasons and the approaching end to yet another year that has simply FLOWN by so fast!</div><div>.</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>As always, thanks for following my blog and please take time to leave comments!</div><div></div><div></div><div>.</div><div>In a few days I expect to leave home again and hope to resume posting from that location as time permits. Until then, happy travels! </div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-30860485333204213282010-10-11T11:43:00.011-05:002010-10-12T11:19:23.840-05:00My Trip Home From Africa - Epilog<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguU7nKYl26wsLNi8leG_m9JD3IqnuQPgSxcukLXxzvx6A1xBLSdnev76BTax1hB2VKkuSYsQXPklLiWzxl46MqSwuu2iHvgs9vzopFcAN_N_XznO6LONUyhH71K6cfRhrsLlM6aRPlHmU/s1600/IMG_3626.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526838996032839890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguU7nKYl26wsLNi8leG_m9JD3IqnuQPgSxcukLXxzvx6A1xBLSdnev76BTax1hB2VKkuSYsQXPklLiWzxl46MqSwuu2iHvgs9vzopFcAN_N_XznO6LONUyhH71K6cfRhrsLlM6aRPlHmU/s400/IMG_3626.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>It's been almost three weeks since I returned home from Angola. Jet lag is but a distant memory and I simply wanted to share with you the details of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">looooong</span> road home. If you compare this blow-by-blow account of my trip home with <a href="http://travelingchemist.blogspot.com/2009/05/long-trip-out-of-angola-and-i-thought.html">last year's account</a> of my trip home you will see it was a virtual carbon copy (apology to my younger readers who may not know what the term 'carbon copy' means!!). The main <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">reason</span> I do this (and risk boring some of my loyal followers) is to allow visitors a view of what it often takes to travel to and move around inside countries such as Angola. Please don't mistake my tone. I like the country of Angola - but the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">infrastructure</span> is still rather rudimentary such that getting from Point A to Point B can be a challenge to the novice traveler. A reader of this blog and fellow world traveler - <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/12751032134106967564">RON</a> - mentioned he would like to visit Angola. Fine idea, Ron, and anyone else thinking of traveling to Angola. <strong><em>But</em> </strong>.... BE PREPARED!! Every traveler needs help getting around inside Angola. Simply showing up and taking a taxi can be a risk. Security remains a concern. Still, if one can have a certain degree of patience and can arrange to have a trusted person on the ground in Angola to assist them with their travels, then Angola truly can offer opportunities for the first time visitor. Just remember, most visitors are business people and expats working in Angola. There are very FEW tourists. That may change as the country stabilizes and recovers from the civil war that began in 1975 after independence from Portugal and ended in 2001.<br /></div><div>At any rate, for the record, here is the hour-by-hour account of this year's trip from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Malongo</span> to home-sweet-home:<br /></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Tuesday, September 21, 2010</span></strong>:</div><br /><div>12:25 pm - Depart my dormitory; a friend drives me to "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hotel</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Malongo</span>" where we go <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">thru</span> bag checks and immigration control.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>1:05 pm - get on line for the bus to take us to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Cabinda</span> Airport.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>1:45 pm - depart <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Malongo</span> and head to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Cabinda</span> Airport.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>2:45 pm - arrive at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Cabinda</span> Airport. Smooth check in and security clearance.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>3:08 pm - AMAZING! Practically no <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">waiting</span> - we board our brand new DASH 8 plane.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>3:20 pm - wheels up, up and away!!!<br /></div><br /><br /><div>4:15 pm - land in lovely Luanda, the capitol of Angola. Standing besides our plane on the tarmac, we collect our luggage (suitcase and carry on) and lug it all onto a bus that takes us to the domestic terminal. We disembark from the bus and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">hurriedly</span> scramble with our stuff <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">thru</span> the terminal then wind our way through a parking lot, across a street where we then divide ourselves up and pack ourselves into several small vans.<br /><br /></div><div>4:50 pm - Arrive at the International Terminal. Get on line at Atlas Air. Check in starts at 5:30 pm so we sit around and wait and wait until the line starts moving.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>6:15 pm - I am at the head of the line waiting to check in. Guess what. Computer is down (naturally!). After 20 minutes, the check in process resumes and I FINALLY receive my boarding pass! Clear immigration, security and the financial police! Head upstairs to the business class lounge.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>6:50 pm - in the Business Class lounge. Hey, this is a nice place - really! Well air conditioned and plenty of snacks and drinks and the rest room is clean!<br /></div><br /><br /><div>8:05 pm - we head downstairs to our Gate 1. Get on another line; go <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">thru</span> security (AGAIN) and then .... more waiting.<br /><br />8:30 pm - still at Gate 1 waiting .... and waiting ....<br /><br />8:50 pm - <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">YIPPEE</span>!! We board the bus that takes us to the flight. </div><p>9:00 pm - I am in my seat.</p><p>9:30 pm - the door to the plane (a new 747) closes.<br /><br />9:42 pm - wheels up! We're off!!</p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Wednesday, September 22, 2010</span></strong>:<br /><br />5:45 am (Houston time = 11:45 am Luanda time) - we land at Bush <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">IAH</span> Airport in Houston, Texas.<br /><br />6:45 am - we depart the Houston airport and head home.<br /><br />7:42 am - HOME SWEET HOME!!! I unpack and after over 24 hours of continuous travel I crawl into my own bed for some badly needed sleep!! End of trip!!!</p>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-6668635855898422772010-09-25T17:14:00.009-05:002010-09-25T19:50:06.136-05:00Malongo Base; Cabinda, Angola .......Work, Work and More Work!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4abdEu1lMvD4bUXCTRhICq3jp2d2ZpW99yeekr9JWwzsIxF9V_h6bMNh6FkfbhUvvy0X4xm6okzhwKVp1xRF9g8j-uLgIsy7DT7lLxtH68IvC33MZDOL8YOnoHlFeOGnMErDC-IaDq2g/s1600/LR+Bats.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520982734795947714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 303px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4abdEu1lMvD4bUXCTRhICq3jp2d2ZpW99yeekr9JWwzsIxF9V_h6bMNh6FkfbhUvvy0X4xm6okzhwKVp1xRF9g8j-uLgIsy7DT7lLxtH68IvC33MZDOL8YOnoHlFeOGnMErDC-IaDq2g/s400/LR+Bats.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">Photo: The ubiquitous fruit bats. Hundreds everywhere!!</span><br /><br />Don't <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">misunderstand</span> me. I like my job. However, when I work 12 hours a day each and every day (half day for Sunday), life gets a tad tiring! I am amazed at the people here. They have a tremendous work ethic. No slackers here! Some get to work at 4:30 am and knock off for the day at 8 pm!! And then do it all over <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">again</span> the following day .... for a total of 28 days per 'hitch'. Such is the life of a "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">rotator</span>" - someone who works a rotational <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">assignment</span> wherein they toil for 28 days and then have off for 28 days (at their home, wherever in the world their home may be!). I, however, am just a visitor who is here for 'only' 15 days. I used to work in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kwanda</span> Base way back in 1998. (FYI: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Kwanda</span> Base is in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Soyo, in Northeastern Angola, </span>just across the River Zaire - about 50 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">miles south</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Malongo</span> Base.) Now I seemed to have lost my physical stamina and the ability <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">to</span> stick it out for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">full</span> 28 days. Two weeks is enough for this aging person!! On my trip last year (<a href="http://travelingchemist.blogspot.com/2009/04/return-to-africa-after-eight-years.html">see the post I placed in this blog from April - May, 2009</a>), I was not as stressed out because I and my colleague then did not have to work such a robust schedule.<br /><br />Ah well, enough complaining .... herewith some pictures from my trip to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Malongo</span> Base.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0fJyhD9WtCAodG4vw-3pWRPn0pkTbiitEK2IufK6AefmJbBk6xbfK1L_ESSvn7aDb_P2E4Y-dqwS9RXn4d51YO3MnLMRPKbjtthA6IkN4mkJuTtlC_aetuMTHsS7C5nkrfeRIgO149A/s1600/LR+Malongo+Residences.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520982582679301154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0fJyhD9WtCAodG4vw-3pWRPn0pkTbiitEK2IufK6AefmJbBk6xbfK1L_ESSvn7aDb_P2E4Y-dqwS9RXn4d51YO3MnLMRPKbjtthA6IkN4mkJuTtlC_aetuMTHsS7C5nkrfeRIgO149A/s400/LR+Malongo+Residences.jpg" border="0" /></a> The residences here in Malongo are basic - nothing plush. Small beds, TVs, some rooms have refrigerators (not my room, however) and all rooms are usually well air conditioned.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitihXoM1Xe1zKeR0IEWkmn0ZNS30d9mvX4G55f_f5gZ7GtrDT0aBx-byV_ssQvhL9J4SoDe0zEvxMGxR2kye1NAOoT6QC5-0X3dVOMHZcrytAETPQwORd6wi-GjbIhmXsD8fgtJxiVcL4/s1600/LR+Monkey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520982285768274962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 327px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitihXoM1Xe1zKeR0IEWkmn0ZNS30d9mvX4G55f_f5gZ7GtrDT0aBx-byV_ssQvhL9J4SoDe0zEvxMGxR2kye1NAOoT6QC5-0X3dVOMHZcrytAETPQwORd6wi-GjbIhmXsD8fgtJxiVcL4/s400/LR+Monkey.jpg" border="0" /></a> Monkeys abound. Along with other critters.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgypmayhtTNXsI-h5kMXSzoHzT8O8ZG4sDdYxvQvvWCF35Y8J6Ctzopzb_gEB52FjfA9j1l9SZDPI-8rTputBy3LE6hdiEtV4tlOLfmw0RYU-PDLXUOgsQu_RKF0-MrQ42nbOcbf-sUQQ/s1600/LR+Nationalities.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520982127596831938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 316px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgypmayhtTNXsI-h5kMXSzoHzT8O8ZG4sDdYxvQvvWCF35Y8J6Ctzopzb_gEB52FjfA9j1l9SZDPI-8rTputBy3LE6hdiEtV4tlOLfmw0RYU-PDLXUOgsQu_RKF0-MrQ42nbOcbf-sUQQ/s400/LR+Nationalities.jpg" border="0" /></a> Lest you think Malongo is inhabited only by American expats, guess again! Most who work here are Angolan, of course. However, there is a healthy representation of people from many other countries.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCbHgOiRXro4_OZCdjnsrFQSHGy620ittbkh6EKxOX_GALU5voWKO-kIzzpGGuWnhKHxtKrOXRZI84pmrRjneqP7yEpZpAEg0DZnSVtekbpsa-PAr4UKjHBzFBsO4GklfToBKKFxA0F0/s1600/LR+Chopper.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520981905299639538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCbHgOiRXro4_OZCdjnsrFQSHGy620ittbkh6EKxOX_GALU5voWKO-kIzzpGGuWnhKHxtKrOXRZI84pmrRjneqP7yEpZpAEg0DZnSVtekbpsa-PAr4UKjHBzFBsO4GklfToBKKFxA0F0/s400/LR+Chopper.jpg" border="0" /></a> On September 15th, my colleague and I had a trip offshore to one of our company's oil platforms. Our commute was in one of these small helicopters (The "HM" logo stands for 'Helio Malongo').<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFIzZEvUPBK1eykxLSVAyl7OTBv_DxD3-SS-1-t9mWR3ftMvhN8RI_NWHFTv2miIMEeygKVJwy8SUe9XKckP369w3IK1YZcH7RX_u0ovRBOtbbCFqZLY0H-Wre5BR1hn7BCN6ZMC8Ceg/s1600/LR+Approaching+Platform.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520981090345923202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 294px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFIzZEvUPBK1eykxLSVAyl7OTBv_DxD3-SS-1-t9mWR3ftMvhN8RI_NWHFTv2miIMEeygKVJwy8SUe9XKckP369w3IK1YZcH7RX_u0ovRBOtbbCFqZLY0H-Wre5BR1hn7BCN6ZMC8Ceg/s400/LR+Approaching+Platform.jpg" border="0" /></a>Aboard the chopper, aproaching the oil production platform for a day's worth of work.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEAHu5XM1KKWzAUJ6A1vmhYGi_taLClmbEzXiBgd1UqipEc3gCjT-ApEKCiBKXnx7vWEAmahAOJhW_CnB7nANKVfeQCNKy3NqQbJoL5jMfDpSDrY7gxoXd2gvyMKCDCu9xyd9CKs18U4/s1600/LRCabinda+Airport.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520980772822484338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEAHu5XM1KKWzAUJ6A1vmhYGi_taLClmbEzXiBgd1UqipEc3gCjT-ApEKCiBKXnx7vWEAmahAOJhW_CnB7nANKVfeQCNKy3NqQbJoL5jMfDpSDrY7gxoXd2gvyMKCDCu9xyd9CKs18U4/s400/LRCabinda+Airport.jpg" border="0" /></a> The new Cabinda Airport. We departed here on September 21 after the long, tiresome and quite convoluted trip home that began at 12:30 pm local time and ended at 7:40 am Houston time the following day (Sept. 22) - about 24 hours of travel!!! PS: You will note the striking similarity between the Angolan flag and the flag of the former USSR (with the hammer and sickle). This was a result of the time when Angola was a nominally socialist country. Nowadays, however, Angola is pro-West with a largely pro-market oriented economy. The country is blessed with natural resources: diamonds in the NE part of the country and oil production from offshore oil fields. <div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirltisR9WrmDva5cl0op88wMN03l7mcmjHz-n3S85s_DvV6bkDTj_omDKMn2hccvrPImRz78JE1ane5qT4lycgXnrN92EWwLibmOQvotq4bGwVCMzLaBiHOzfFy_x39QrdxBiMKkNxJk/s1600/LRAirline+Map.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520980621575970946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirltisR9WrmDva5cl0op88wMN03l7mcmjHz-n3S85s_DvV6bkDTj_omDKMn2hccvrPImRz78JE1ane5qT4lycgXnrN92EWwLibmOQvotq4bGwVCMzLaBiHOzfFy_x39QrdxBiMKkNxJk/s400/LRAirline+Map.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The start of our looooong trip home.</div></div></div></div></div></div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-23066051252429471022010-09-12T10:47:00.009-05:002010-09-12T11:09:18.865-05:00Cabinda, ANGOLA (West Africa)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgF3ANfg4eVU_SF8AY9DilVO29gNAHRmbmryi8eWJD-vKjUP1r0SjjGXJZo_3r_IemKMHaw8hzaAQo-qKGTgZ4shKcmamaJDfiiUn1v4MqwbhWoqRQHzSAR1PkurXR8J4J9pYQ0WhyphenhyphenJY/s1600/Tree.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516056497355811666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgF3ANfg4eVU_SF8AY9DilVO29gNAHRmbmryi8eWJD-vKjUP1r0SjjGXJZo_3r_IemKMHaw8hzaAQo-qKGTgZ4shKcmamaJDfiiUn1v4MqwbhWoqRQHzSAR1PkurXR8J4J9pYQ0WhyphenhyphenJY/s400/Tree.JPG" border="0" /></a>Greetings from West Africa! I departed Houston on Labor Day (some Holiday for me!!) aboard Atlas Air (flight 5Y100). It was wheels up at 11:08 am CDT and we landed in Luanda, Angola at about 6:55 am Angola time (12:55 am Houston time) - a mere 14 hours of flying time! Groan!! Then a one hour flight to Cabinda at 10:45 am followed by a one-hour bus ride into Malongo camp and then at 1:30 pm local time I staggered into my room and collapsed into bed for a short rest and then a shower.<br /><br />It's been an extremely busy work week for <strong><span style="color:#006600;">The Traveling Chemist</span></strong>. We work 12 hour days here - every day - with only a half day off on Sundays (like today, Sept. 12th). I shall post more later on during my visit to Malongo camp but wanted to share a few pictures of this particular trip with my loyal followers right now. Enjoy!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsS4bls6KewsWEB7LB4mWdHeh_Q_plEeaz67eCixvTmxwyGJx1I02cYrtiH8dJ8TGlmTffqe4-2FU8gFFE1aw7uILOZ0RtxXCyIbGHnenvwgbRXgwUfY_e4PMlU2DT2bktjL9yFt9JnE/s1600/IMG_3637.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516056392185743266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsS4bls6KewsWEB7LB4mWdHeh_Q_plEeaz67eCixvTmxwyGJx1I02cYrtiH8dJ8TGlmTffqe4-2FU8gFFE1aw7uILOZ0RtxXCyIbGHnenvwgbRXgwUfY_e4PMlU2DT2bktjL9yFt9JnE/s400/IMG_3637.JPG" border="0" /></a> A brand new soccer stadium here in Cabinda built in time for the recent soccer games in Africa.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOF0gPDKUS5vmIepds96kDl7jCBVa6mqgMgFvN0R39WfOq4W29fHZOSRbMHHBDFvnRUYNn7JwUrxiINDVtWkhHXJmO8YRFvchNrjrGNsYDmimY0Zd3LjQ_ahEeE-HgluqNoInanfrJOss/s1600/IMG_3634.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516056285702635842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOF0gPDKUS5vmIepds96kDl7jCBVa6mqgMgFvN0R39WfOq4W29fHZOSRbMHHBDFvnRUYNn7JwUrxiINDVtWkhHXJmO8YRFvchNrjrGNsYDmimY0Zd3LjQ_ahEeE-HgluqNoInanfrJOss/s400/IMG_3634.JPG" border="0" /></a> A local swimming hole we passed by on the way from Cabinda airport to Malongo.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEH6jl-fcZagzlinaCpdtHssMwDRFDSORHMfAYCMSkYccts2rBgXoJ32H4mEkd_UDXzoHoO_xEnx3LaisO8K6r9vC0qrTK0btE6pdu5_0HABxa8dyWQGh-h_1s9btx4pb5c8JQc6QOlXg/s1600/IMG_3620.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516056121156766402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEH6jl-fcZagzlinaCpdtHssMwDRFDSORHMfAYCMSkYccts2rBgXoJ32H4mEkd_UDXzoHoO_xEnx3LaisO8K6r9vC0qrTK0btE6pdu5_0HABxa8dyWQGh-h_1s9btx4pb5c8JQc6QOlXg/s400/IMG_3620.JPG" border="0" /></a>My flight to Luanda. Atlas Air is a cargo / freight airline company and this is their first venture into carrying passengers. I'm happy to report that the flight departed on time and the food served aboard was perfectly fine.</div><div><br /></div><div>My flight route from Houston, Texas to<br />Luanda, ANGOLA >>>>>>>>>></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKpRsIgzqD01IJvFW69TprrNSwxAnHJOuv-14bM4LD6sqH-pe5w4BhrGORk48olzbHoTE08lP3g3KymMsvn9TJAQQd7wvOXIrkvAnvqiF-oLn_SqbYdZi38r-Ue8alWyW0N4-wuZ6Iek/s1600/IMG_3628.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516055974252717842" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKpRsIgzqD01IJvFW69TprrNSwxAnHJOuv-14bM4LD6sqH-pe5w4BhrGORk48olzbHoTE08lP3g3KymMsvn9TJAQQd7wvOXIrkvAnvqiF-oLn_SqbYdZi38r-Ue8alWyW0N4-wuZ6Iek/s400/IMG_3628.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div></div></div></div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-47232028646741199142010-08-21T16:40:00.011-05:002010-08-31T16:10:49.908-05:00Have New Passport, Will Travel<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSYZNRN74U7ZObBI-UjDnWoUxtO3C0C0HbZNpy4nURNRKIceB-bTXVBh6Di9LmqQrOoUB682jzDYXwCNy68tmtnHYlDYPaFih8bqLUCsJ6cPd4pX_5gwiHt23mprGuz4CfMUy_G536UI/s1600/LRPassport.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511683188181389970" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 293px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSYZNRN74U7ZObBI-UjDnWoUxtO3C0C0HbZNpy4nURNRKIceB-bTXVBh6Di9LmqQrOoUB682jzDYXwCNy68tmtnHYlDYPaFih8bqLUCsJ6cPd4pX_5gwiHt23mprGuz4CfMUy_G536UI/s400/LRPassport.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Well</span></span>, it has finally happened! The Traveling Chemist needs a NEW passport. No, my old passport hasn't expired. In fact, there are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">still</span></span> two (2) years left in its 'life'. The problem is that I am <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">running</span></span> out of passport pages needed for visa stamps (more on this later). As I have done <strong>twice</strong> before, I simply attempted to add new pages into my passport book. No problem - - - or so I thought! I head off to my local <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Post</span></span> Office, ask for the official form to add pages and then mail in my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">passport</span></span>. <strong>Problem</strong>: the form was OLD and gave an incorrect address PLUS the form incorrectly stated that there was no fee for adding new pages to a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">passport</span>. In fact, the fee is now $82.00. So - after ten days of waiting - my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">passport</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">returned</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span></span></span>e mail with no <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">pages</span> and a form for submitting it again but this time to a different mailing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">address</span>. So, after <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">paying t</span>he $82.00 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">USD</span></span></span> fee along <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">with</span> a $60.00 "Expedited Service" fee, I mail off the passport a second time - to the correct address! Sadly, however, my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">passport</span> was returned to me yet again with NO EXTRA PAGES ADDED! A form letter stated that my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">passport</span> was 'damaged' and hence no <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">further</span> pages could be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">added</span>. <em><strong>Now <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">what</span> to do??</strong></em> With time running out, I head to the local Department of State office in downtown <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Houston</span> (what I should have done the first time!) and plead (beg) for additional pages. The clerk politely <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">informed</span> me that since there was a small tear along <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">e spine</span> of the passport book, they indeed were no longer able to add any more pages and my ONLY option was to request a whole new <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">passport</span> book! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Sooooooooo</span></span>, after paying $170 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">USD</span></span> ($110.00 for the new passport and $60.00 for Expedite Service), I hand over my old passport and I am assured the new book will be mailed to me in no more than one week's time. I must admit, I went to the Department of State office with some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">trepidation</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">expecting</span> terribly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">looooong</span></span> lines of people along with a long wait. However, I was most pleased to report there <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">were</span> no lines at all and that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">e clerks</span> were pleasant and helpful. And - most importantly - I did indeed receive my new passport in the US mail in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">exactly</span> one week time!</div><br /><div>Why <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">suddenly</span> all this fuss, you may ask? Well, the country I hope to visit next month insists on having four (4) contiguous pages in a traveler's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">passport</span> book in order for the consulate to issue a visa. Since my old passport only had three blank pages <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">available</span>, well, what else could I do but try and add more pages. And THAT is what led to this mess! At any rate, I finally have my new passport (complete with electronic data chip embedded inside the front cover and in the larger edition format with <strong><em>48 pages</em></strong>!!). For one week, my new passport was in the consulate of the country to which I hope to travel next month awaiting issuance of my visa (along with two 2-inch sized color pictures of yours truly <em>with my shirt collar buttoned up to my neck, no logos on my shirt and no necklace around my neck</em> .... all as mandated by the consulate's curious rules!). I now have my visa and so the road is clear for my next trip abroad. Until then ....</div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-38326457675737785322010-07-29T09:58:00.016-05:002010-07-29T12:38:11.077-05:00Galveston - Life Returns Two Years After Hurricane IKE<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TgrTZHSA1UWoYK2LedD8O6onx64MQVWf64C3cR6NissmQGn6EuI6Kv35n2JkVgxVTaMnP1aJlYb5lZZsjEAzhPFeaQu4IN23dnmjN98fVp5MJmLEhKmJTFJQcpQa7obKTVAtqxV47oo/s1600/LRLost+Oaks+Memorial.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499343859575425490" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TgrTZHSA1UWoYK2LedD8O6onx64MQVWf64C3cR6NissmQGn6EuI6Kv35n2JkVgxVTaMnP1aJlYb5lZZsjEAzhPFeaQu4IN23dnmjN98fVp5MJmLEhKmJTFJQcpQa7obKTVAtqxV47oo/s400/LRLost+Oaks+Memorial.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">GALVESTON'S </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">LOST</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;"> </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">OAK TREES</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAUAyi1WZM9wNwjP8iGtCF37KrRKa41Oz4cP7gPsdWuctAaD4WAtk5cX9FrKXQ5SFNaCfzisDknYAU9ybuBnwldfUracqNa7vADtt4tT56GwO6AWszoakCUG2mO9wl7Kr15RMPj-Ijj0/s1600/LRDog+Tree.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499343712723096418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAUAyi1WZM9wNwjP8iGtCF37KrRKa41Oz4cP7gPsdWuctAaD4WAtk5cX9FrKXQ5SFNaCfzisDknYAU9ybuBnwldfUracqNa7vADtt4tT56GwO6AWszoakCUG2mO9wl7Kr15RMPj-Ijj0/s400/LRDog+Tree.jpg" border="0" /></a> It has been almost two (2) years since Hurricane Ike blew through <strong>Galveston, Texas</strong> (about a 65-mile drive from where I live in Houston). Much of Galveston was a mess. Naturally, the worst part were the many homes and businesses that were destroyed and the effect that destruction had on people's lives. What many of us never realized, however, was the devastating effect the accompanying winds (over 120 mph or about 200 kph) had on the many <strong>oak trees</strong> on this island community. I recently learned that there is an accomplished artist who has carved (and I presume still is at work) many wonderful wood sculptures using the remains of the many oak tress that were felled by Hurricane Ike. The trees may have been destroyed, but wherever there was enough of a tree trunk remaining, that is where this amazing wood carving artist went to work. On a recent Friday (July 16 to be exact), the weather in Houston was perfect - no rain in sight - and I was reluctant to work that day so I chose instead to declare <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>one day of vacation</em></span></strong> and drove down to Galveston Island and took in as many of these works of art as I could locate. Herewith I present some selected photos of some of the more unusual carvings. <strong><span style="color:#3333ff;"><em>ENJOY</em></span></strong> ....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Qk8GhSDFVqbXqnHqc3kXUm9PYkJljVd0khEvffK_fh50uQdWXDov3shy16L_tUtpcxaBITNAhCZ9tyVz6bJR9j3O7edIVK08TUjeKwbkFhwk99zKTAkjriWMY0f448sNgivi5hnbPYU/s1600/LRBird+Tree.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499343596758400146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 302px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Qk8GhSDFVqbXqnHqc3kXUm9PYkJljVd0khEvffK_fh50uQdWXDov3shy16L_tUtpcxaBITNAhCZ9tyVz6bJR9j3O7edIVK08TUjeKwbkFhwk99zKTAkjriWMY0f448sNgivi5hnbPYU/s400/LRBird+Tree.jpg" border="0" /></a> Each branch was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">painstakingly</span> carved into a bird!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphE8ezftP27bwjbuHFK4P2J2NEON4eytPKDCN69D5SmZBPJcfM7k8vCSHN-cv80yH0Gt7bVtOQjdKucV868oCflt_lWMPpD19gnzbyMkM_DA6EtJb2Gq-HbrwvfzJpDgU3YGzpsB8WAQ/s1600/LRMermaid+Tree.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499343490095959538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 290px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphE8ezftP27bwjbuHFK4P2J2NEON4eytPKDCN69D5SmZBPJcfM7k8vCSHN-cv80yH0Gt7bVtOQjdKucV868oCflt_lWMPpD19gnzbyMkM_DA6EtJb2Gq-HbrwvfzJpDgU3YGzpsB8WAQ/s400/LRMermaid+Tree.jpg" border="0" /></a> This remaining <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">tree</span> stump was transformed into a mermaid. And the house alongside this tree carving was quite beautiful!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRqvxQcGUKHs6ok2DlKUamg14cDQSxH_tuxxy6d8UvcXhEDAs1Az5Ts30IJzhfqjlYpq50pqRZ-mVrmy_Km2jE0PVX31wCJzXYBj_bw2c1-l8H7444Isyv7zpqG2jlsCIuSOwLAZ1yEE/s1600/LRAngel+Tree+Stump.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499343386728349266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 340px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRqvxQcGUKHs6ok2DlKUamg14cDQSxH_tuxxy6d8UvcXhEDAs1Az5Ts30IJzhfqjlYpq50pqRZ-mVrmy_Km2jE0PVX31wCJzXYBj_bw2c1-l8H7444Isyv7zpqG2jlsCIuSOwLAZ1yEE/s400/LRAngel+Tree+Stump.jpg" border="0" /></a> Even small tree stumps provided just enough wood with which to carve out an angel .....<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCva4lu8jjznqwD0rsQFip2tFXXF4Dh00DkRdwOv-cWutGu4a0uuf_L9FXfUBMK_nK_sOtQF3a4vT-8qQgsNG92tCcodye2sZAYgbpmMDlf8alLqmBc0VXfWhY6zRDUshI1zSMlydlLi8/s1600/LRTin+Man+tree+More+in+Focus.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499343287956975538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCva4lu8jjznqwD0rsQFip2tFXXF4Dh00DkRdwOv-cWutGu4a0uuf_L9FXfUBMK_nK_sOtQF3a4vT-8qQgsNG92tCcodye2sZAYgbpmMDlf8alLqmBc0VXfWhY6zRDUshI1zSMlydlLi8/s400/LRTin+Man+tree+More+in+Focus.jpg" border="0" /></a> The tin man (from the movie, <strong>The Wizard of Oz</strong>) ..............<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhWmqVdFn18ZIXGUL1XZTxAJEy1ShfufLNwB7-nhHCzxBoiOAGrhWSNUh3biVWacn38auwKk42b6-THDQ6pNxASSnm1RwrVRZ9P_H3Kv0j4iVrKmLJGplIJljfAN4loGfRKWv2lG76Fg/s1600/LRSurvivor+Oak+Tree.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499343193351020466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhWmqVdFn18ZIXGUL1XZTxAJEy1ShfufLNwB7-nhHCzxBoiOAGrhWSNUh3biVWacn38auwKk42b6-THDQ6pNxASSnm1RwrVRZ9P_H3Kv0j4iVrKmLJGplIJljfAN4loGfRKWv2lG76Fg/s400/LRSurvivor+Oak+Tree.jpg" border="0" /></a> One of the few surviving oak trees in all its glory. I am fairly certain that each of these trees must be over a hundred years in age.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_j1gDR5E-4DV64nZnoLKkSW_xyiKlKx2SO4i5yYSk3BLNKbTSnQqKhPtjvQacVlYB4sdsfWovORtiylxPL1rfaNuLJz9DJvO-9S64W0-b6RssgDqaxHza1QZczKactqVv5xdxkFVgIQ/s1600/LRGalveston+House.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499343092805142706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_j1gDR5E-4DV64nZnoLKkSW_xyiKlKx2SO4i5yYSk3BLNKbTSnQqKhPtjvQacVlYB4sdsfWovORtiylxPL1rfaNuLJz9DJvO-9S64W0-b6RssgDqaxHza1QZczKactqVv5xdxkFVgIQ/s400/LRGalveston+House.jpg" border="0" /></a>And after a morning of tree viewing, I walked through parts of Galveston's west-side "Historic District". I hadn't been to Galveston in several years and I was amazed at how many of the old homes (many no doubt destroyed by Hurricane Ike) have been lovingly restored to their former glory. If you are ever in the Houston metropolitan area, please take a few hours the visit Galveston!! And bring your camera!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAELZCZqVLrQcmp2eh8mD2ws5SUrJJZ_PfwOuSR1Z3Q-2cUYcvd3OoMgVUxzHEUi4_1dldBlqg312j6djGdjPQ6Sh2V5rfdsD3DvRxXyYttQSvYlhb8BvgeXq0ooEf_ZOcFwkoKpoPH40/s1600/LRRow+of+Nice+Houses.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499342952066283650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAELZCZqVLrQcmp2eh8mD2ws5SUrJJZ_PfwOuSR1Z3Q-2cUYcvd3OoMgVUxzHEUi4_1dldBlqg312j6djGdjPQ6Sh2V5rfdsD3DvRxXyYttQSvYlhb8BvgeXq0ooEf_ZOcFwkoKpoPH40/s400/LRRow+of+Nice+Houses.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>A picture perfect row of restored homes awaits you in Galveston's Historic District.</div></div></div></div></div></div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-89901948788414829722010-07-22T15:12:00.010-05:002010-07-28T10:14:12.341-05:00World's Largest Flower!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0VqjaBMxZgKYfcBthaF0BdPGKlJCF9B6K9fKeCK5eDnfkxzm6j29vbc3T4xphB7W5k4_kAjbo27uYXP6OnpU69CSXmvXj5XKbAysbGbanT2o7nkYf6zI9ly2NTnnHXUEbqxYf6hq0hM/s1600/LR+Flower+Nice.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496827601458537650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0VqjaBMxZgKYfcBthaF0BdPGKlJCF9B6K9fKeCK5eDnfkxzm6j29vbc3T4xphB7W5k4_kAjbo27uYXP6OnpU69CSXmvXj5XKbAysbGbanT2o7nkYf6zI9ly2NTnnHXUEbqxYf6hq0hM/s400/LR+Flower+Nice.jpg" border="0" /></a>Another in a series of posts that I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">occasionally</span> make when I am at home-sweet-home and <strong><em>NOT </em></strong>traveling!<br /><br />Almost two weeks ago, I visited the <strong>Houston Museum of Natural Science</strong> to witness the blooming of what is described as the world's largest flower. [This particular plant species, which scientists call <em>Amorphophallus Titanum</em>, is a native to the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia.] The problem for me, however, was that when I visited the museum (Friday, July 9) the flower had not yet fully bloomed. Well, it is now - finally - starting to open up.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRP8O8gQ5MBI-yZjFkwSCsA4bfh7b5XKFdQvAqGHl4yta-FEQAcGXkTm02sTQfmQurlQDzO2j6hDEGf6c3ZED9GojkW_PIbHK6qydoOE79Y0CLS5EPc2xZWSRiyWKQ9nxcrKo-RThGcjQ/s1600/LR+Houston+Museum+of+Natural+Science+Logo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496827506928341634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRP8O8gQ5MBI-yZjFkwSCsA4bfh7b5XKFdQvAqGHl4yta-FEQAcGXkTm02sTQfmQurlQDzO2j6hDEGf6c3ZED9GojkW_PIbHK6qydoOE79Y0CLS5EPc2xZWSRiyWKQ9nxcrKo-RThGcjQ/s400/LR+Houston+Museum+of+Natural+Science+Logo.jpg" border="0" /></a> This flower is on display in the Butterfly exhibit ($8.00 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">USD</span> admission price) which is located within the <strong>Houston Museum of Natural Science</strong>.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbvFS8HK5T8BMdAwPAF-30g_fr1snYb5Wi_2zb99VuKptU8XcxU0yC8t0vvkP2dUlRYBboqGrp_EqrdSNLkYjrsYaVST_mEFhXiRtQFLCxJ5dTt0B-76nGVL4ISqsyfC1zyiXzG4brEQ/s1600/LRWeb+Cams.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496827393405250850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbvFS8HK5T8BMdAwPAF-30g_fr1snYb5Wi_2zb99VuKptU8XcxU0yC8t0vvkP2dUlRYBboqGrp_EqrdSNLkYjrsYaVST_mEFhXiRtQFLCxJ5dTt0B-76nGVL4ISqsyfC1zyiXzG4brEQ/s400/LRWeb+Cams.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="color:#990000;">UPDATE (JULY 27th):</span></strong> Well, the flower has finally bloomed and is now, sadly, all gone. A <a href="http://www.click2houston.com/image/24399188/detail.html">final picture </a>of the flower was captured. There were plenty of webcams showing the progress of the flower's growth. Now that the flower has bloomed, it is entering a dormant state and may re-bloom in several years. Maybe! While it was blooming over this past weekend, it reportedly smelled like rotting flesh!</div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-92122071622532038352010-07-04T21:39:00.003-05:002010-07-04T21:52:46.261-05:00Happy Fourth of July<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGlSvT38bbcDDBugU8oagKfd5Pxjh31stFbT4oVpb6GV2_yrGmP8Pn_Pkspsg4fgQmZopThDGtD8R2R_xXcHATAElqARJShSRBp9vka2oALchxQHEB3dMNpGY99j8-O3fuamrYeVFMXY/s1600/IMG_US+Flag.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490248067781741890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGlSvT38bbcDDBugU8oagKfd5Pxjh31stFbT4oVpb6GV2_yrGmP8Pn_Pkspsg4fgQmZopThDGtD8R2R_xXcHATAElqARJShSRBp9vka2oALchxQHEB3dMNpGY99j8-O3fuamrYeVFMXY/s400/IMG_US+Flag.jpg" border="0" /></a> To all my fellow Americans - I wish you a <strong><span style="color:#000099;"><em>Happy Fourth of July</em></span></strong>!<br /><br />FYI: I flew to Frankfurt from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Dammam</span>, Saudi Arabia, on June 22<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">nd</span> and then home to Houston on June 23rd. After the usual one week to recuperate from jet-lag, I finally am caught up on chores .... although my expense report is still pending! We had a ton of rain last Friday, but I managed to drive home without getting caught in high water - a fear we <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Houstonians</span> always have to watch out for especially during thunderstorms. As always, it's great to be home - sweet - home.<br /><div></div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-12679282949460087072010-06-19T08:43:00.017-05:002010-07-01T06:56:13.050-05:00Next Stop - Saudi Arabia<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5t87Z6hLa6V2n88azjaDHOlQiJBrZw0qPn5uG9CeAsbFhaKgzkgu227MPcVdE5iVuMY_SqlkYrScWfMSb1pOIrVGv5rhdcOdjrV-pySIiN53XmGfkHpCUOcQNZ6IjBhjm_2bb160Ld0/s1600/LRSigns.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485659573138357042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 148px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5t87Z6hLa6V2n88azjaDHOlQiJBrZw0qPn5uG9CeAsbFhaKgzkgu227MPcVdE5iVuMY_SqlkYrScWfMSb1pOIrVGv5rhdcOdjrV-pySIiN53XmGfkHpCUOcQNZ6IjBhjm_2bb160Ld0/s400/LRSigns.jpg" border="0" /></a>On Thursday (June 17), I flew Gulf Air 214 from Kuwait to Bahrain. Thankfully my flight arrived in Manama right on time at 12:15 pm. I collected my luggage, cleared customs and then met my driver and we were off to the <strong>King <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Fahad</span> Causeway</strong> which connects Bahrain to <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Saudi Arabia</span></strong>. At the Saudi border, I was fingerprinted and photographed and then cleared Saudi customs after which time we continued on our way into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Dhahran</span>. It took exactly one hour and twelve minutes to get to my destination where I checked into<strong><span style="color:#000000;"> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Steineke</span> Hall</span></strong> - the main guest residence facility here in the Saudi Aramco camp.<br /><br />One of the highlights of my 5-day visit was a trip to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Udhailiyah</span> - a work/residence camp that Saudi Aramco maintains in the southern area of Saudi Arabia.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGUWO1iGHDd55LrOLs1nEeukUuskRnsMP0HXrEf1iaLQ4WYHS7leIKk8ZmXxV2Z0lusLUpVWXaSRczJtanrTGTq1SNb8if92lDS_qv_ruaqJo9gV2DCzjbb2jbxYhsbbFKfj2jWGHUzw/s1600/LRJebel+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485659193628993346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGUWO1iGHDd55LrOLs1nEeukUuskRnsMP0HXrEf1iaLQ4WYHS7leIKk8ZmXxV2Z0lusLUpVWXaSRczJtanrTGTq1SNb8if92lDS_qv_ruaqJo9gV2DCzjbb2jbxYhsbbFKfj2jWGHUzw/s400/LRJebel+3.jpg" border="0" /></a> Along the way to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Udhailiyah</span>, I spotted several <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">interesting</span> rock formations called <strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">jebels</span></strong>. Basically these are areas of soft rock worn away by continual sandblasting by the blowing sand.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxk_OGAWiiqRuxDuqGQIWjeE3_QXljmoWLJTjaYgGfhlaA_gnqBUhLBN6d-azsNLneHU37rqc1hqj_wLmZb1Fh7TYIFibuknGq0msaWCNEUk9iSPDxMm4lEOJoBt3NLfkRDE4Lj4jL2E/s1600/Jebel+4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485658998399223090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxk_OGAWiiqRuxDuqGQIWjeE3_QXljmoWLJTjaYgGfhlaA_gnqBUhLBN6d-azsNLneHU37rqc1hqj_wLmZb1Fh7TYIFibuknGq0msaWCNEUk9iSPDxMm4lEOJoBt3NLfkRDE4Lj4jL2E/s400/Jebel+4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC07_zNJZGt6u-ILgOXhbsH6TrYWN6OprX08rddM5AEnA2NmZqE91fXMmW0qu0IOu4OMuFLYKwB8ajP2POSIKil6-Lg3tkTZ40i4tD1PeBJIi2b8mRiQg_TeDUTq18RyufTTWviWIBnnk/s1600/LRJebel+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485658713774836722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC07_zNJZGt6u-ILgOXhbsH6TrYWN6OprX08rddM5AEnA2NmZqE91fXMmW0qu0IOu4OMuFLYKwB8ajP2POSIKil6-Lg3tkTZ40i4tD1PeBJIi2b8mRiQg_TeDUTq18RyufTTWviWIBnnk/s400/LRJebel+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Again, these are all made from soft rock and hence these shapes shift from time to time.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EByoX52GiaDp9gJw2xBA_Ldy6OCUJTbheK9eskbMmhIzTA9_UduQBin_MbNnLWtpYPCdluzVeuj3CpIJOZJ1XodbJwskDNeOijtV-TjI9VyfwiMnCRYs5MI2-blc1O7HJVtAIUwGSgw/s1600/LRHouse+922.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485658218928715522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 205px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EByoX52GiaDp9gJw2xBA_Ldy6OCUJTbheK9eskbMmhIzTA9_UduQBin_MbNnLWtpYPCdluzVeuj3CpIJOZJ1XodbJwskDNeOijtV-TjI9VyfwiMnCRYs5MI2-blc1O7HJVtAIUwGSgw/s400/LRHouse+922.jpg" border="0" /></a>Meanwhile, back in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Dhahran</span>, headquarters to the <strong>Saudi Arabian Oil Company</strong>, or <span style="color:#009900;"><strong>Saudi Aramco </strong></span><span style="color:#000000;">as it is commonly called,</span> the above home shows how the family residences in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Dhahran</span> look. This particular home once housed one of the more famous engineers who worked with me during the many trips I took to the Kingdom between 1989 and 1995.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWI50HxsvAav2RwuLWUPfAQNUd4eYJhDK-rGjGBDlscgBlt2sAfkbgYZqUdDUrDhkn84flXBSqaKoWYE3stDMZzZ4s5VEnxYvSNRgjOC1f7mdj85ntKp41JSWSOr2AwwpWbmeNBwI64Q/s1600/Tree+Lined+Street+in+Dhahran.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484482630062131026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 347px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWI50HxsvAav2RwuLWUPfAQNUd4eYJhDK-rGjGBDlscgBlt2sAfkbgYZqUdDUrDhkn84flXBSqaKoWYE3stDMZzZ4s5VEnxYvSNRgjOC1f7mdj85ntKp41JSWSOr2AwwpWbmeNBwI64Q/s400/Tree+Lined+Street+in+Dhahran.jpg" border="0" /></a> The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Dhahran</span></strong></span> residential area is like a slice of middle-America transplanted to the desert here in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. I may have alreday said this in a prior posting but I'll say it again - Saudi Aramco can be a great place to work if you don't mind being in the Middle East and if you possess the technical skills needed.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZlyRDNwvI14IsdkVXUNdJTN46sbbDaw-NrIb3J0ry6nBMjeeUP4vykmvZKbtZ3eRhLv-sJFlFjR-yrZFCno7k39Okn0ZYoUT3eavwBQf8yRwaJKRWK0exFcSNfem8o0gQ-SrCaGIT-c/s1600/lrWorld+trade+Center+Manama.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484482412087285778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 241px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZlyRDNwvI14IsdkVXUNdJTN46sbbDaw-NrIb3J0ry6nBMjeeUP4vykmvZKbtZ3eRhLv-sJFlFjR-yrZFCno7k39Okn0ZYoUT3eavwBQf8yRwaJKRWK0exFcSNfem8o0gQ-SrCaGIT-c/s400/lrWorld+trade+Center+Manama.jpg" border="0" /></a> As we left the Bahrain Airport and headed into Saudi Arabia, we made our way <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">through</span></span> traffic in downtown Manama (the capital of Bahrain) and passed the new World Trade Center building complex (right next to the old Sheraton Hotel).<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmT8ItXIAHF3j4oeAMObrPnB12NIuzeaGWgAyJQrEGGt5fx5QFkbGCSUF5vcjqI5Z8GxrTzGbwzbhrT4iapql_ArHo35TDQydHCHmWSC18kd7ltamVfYPLN1eCsD3K9f1v5B2ahGXW1Y/s1600/LRSloped+Bldg+in+Manama.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484482292617108498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmT8ItXIAHF3j4oeAMObrPnB12NIuzeaGWgAyJQrEGGt5fx5QFkbGCSUF5vcjqI5Z8GxrTzGbwzbhrT4iapql_ArHo35TDQydHCHmWSC18kd7ltamVfYPLN1eCsD3K9f1v5B2ahGXW1Y/s400/LRSloped+Bldg+in+Manama.jpg" border="0" /></a> Another unusual looking building (next to the World Trade Center).<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiCib-nUGc2jOVZk3-5Ya-UtDfRwVm32s-F1bt_sVkuM2rzd0fnpaa61ZgZ-Egrj08ejL69r9mJdgm0A92K_mNj8u2J-ErQSIye6PPdyMyO9iZeYeU8njI_-4FtcJD1o7Ko3JwAq1JT0/s1600/LRKing+of+Bahrain.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484482157979826946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 249px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiCib-nUGc2jOVZk3-5Ya-UtDfRwVm32s-F1bt_sVkuM2rzd0fnpaa61ZgZ-Egrj08ejL69r9mJdgm0A92K_mNj8u2J-ErQSIye6PPdyMyO9iZeYeU8njI_-4FtcJD1o7Ko3JwAq1JT0/s400/LRKing+of+Bahrain.jpg" border="0" /></a> A poster along the highway shows the current monarch, the King of Bahrain.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbmkogdETAuqbCgAYnJkNZgp7cwzloQL4PBKKkdT7Ym1tMFGNzJ7XGKYNh4ZZnQEoD0a-Rf3Os0VqtWmX6fMmTf7HdUa9Cl2hutRjbnH0bMagpk7oj-sRyIFSFO7n1SljqAw-B-Y6aKk/s1600/LRWafra+Sign.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484482003510868738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 293px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbmkogdETAuqbCgAYnJkNZgp7cwzloQL4PBKKkdT7Ym1tMFGNzJ7XGKYNh4ZZnQEoD0a-Rf3Os0VqtWmX6fMmTf7HdUa9Cl2hutRjbnH0bMagpk7oj-sRyIFSFO7n1SljqAw-B-Y6aKk/s400/LRWafra+Sign.jpg" border="0" /></a> I bid a fond farewell to Kuwait last Thursday (June 17) as my driver took me along Highway 40 towards the Kuwait International Airport. I hope to return sometime later this year.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-6014693125202167702010-06-14T03:54:00.009-05:002010-06-14T04:16:59.162-05:00Second Weekend in Kuwait (June 11 & 12)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtK6kQCK81yQ1L2U74TKRjgc9rU9Vk_8FdUQs7pBK4z7y4kkGrM1yXIpyS8TlAHj3JfuUkK6LWcTeCRumvJcbeIFRau4h1edbrIZmnA892HBX0ButJJwYtlWfwXKPDpzTyF_y1q4vftw/s1600/LRNice+House+Along+Hwy+30.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482551014285175970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtK6kQCK81yQ1L2U74TKRjgc9rU9Vk_8FdUQs7pBK4z7y4kkGrM1yXIpyS8TlAHj3JfuUkK6LWcTeCRumvJcbeIFRau4h1edbrIZmnA892HBX0ButJJwYtlWfwXKPDpzTyF_y1q4vftw/s400/LRNice+House+Along+Hwy+30.jpg" border="0" /></a>My weekend started with a refreshing swim in the <strong>Arabian Gulf</strong> where the water temps are around 30 deg C this time of year. This water may seem warm at first but in comparison to the daytime air temperatures of 50 deg C (122 deg F!!!), a dip in the Gulf is GREAT! A far cry from the ultra-chilly beach water in Northern California! Then my driver picked me up at 9 am and we drove to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Salmiyah</span>. Along the way on Highway 30, we passed an unusual looking building (pictured above).<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBHbTFbCy1RzTqxflPQyRtmShIHnnaOu4hDqyX6dT09EIZp21CccHBW5oishOhHYj5OIVF2cFwMwDYwQ5Kmf4EbvQM7RZh8FsZGFCEO6EVY3qbY2oUY-LDAmrDF-eHUJLLSaFzFVkvLU/s1600/LRMarina+Mall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482550901323898834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBHbTFbCy1RzTqxflPQyRtmShIHnnaOu4hDqyX6dT09EIZp21CccHBW5oishOhHYj5OIVF2cFwMwDYwQ5Kmf4EbvQM7RZh8FsZGFCEO6EVY3qbY2oUY-LDAmrDF-eHUJLLSaFzFVkvLU/s400/LRMarina+Mall.jpg" border="0" /></a> The Marina Mall - opened in 2002. A great place to shop and hang out in. My favorite place is the Starbucks where I can sit and sip my decaf <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Americano</span> (1 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">KD</span> = $3.45 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">USD</span>) and watch the people go by.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxSsq0GLc5fMvTPHw3Wc76G00f-YyJHikvMcSpma_L_RWv2ExI6LdeSNjc-W9Qo59jA9GcD7OPdwv6rHg8vWyu5rC0jzmuUFqwQ-p2HsRvRzeABPgIULrU73f4nQWmMzdmumVKY4IpgM/s1600/LRThe+Sultan+Center+in+Salmiyah.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482550741826322338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 228px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxSsq0GLc5fMvTPHw3Wc76G00f-YyJHikvMcSpma_L_RWv2ExI6LdeSNjc-W9Qo59jA9GcD7OPdwv6rHg8vWyu5rC0jzmuUFqwQ-p2HsRvRzeABPgIULrU73f4nQWmMzdmumVKY4IpgM/s400/LRThe+Sultan+Center+in+Salmiyah.jpg" border="0" /></a>The <strong>Sultan Center</strong> (this store is located in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Salmiyah</span>) - the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">expat's</span> favorite grocery store in Kuwait. They have all the familiar items available in America, albeit at 2 - 3 times the price back home.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgBc3XZ-PKuJr6DGK9myH1HD_68aM_b1pHp8EGxjiWOr-NANYNOaRu90GhouIwq7ahATf2zx1slwFe0QgR0dUzs6z9Cf8vUIyY3QM2QKt4lB51b9ecwmyngY9gmyBDOtw1FI9gtgjWAU/s1600/LRSuck+Truck.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482550597062823090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 202px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgBc3XZ-PKuJr6DGK9myH1HD_68aM_b1pHp8EGxjiWOr-NANYNOaRu90GhouIwq7ahATf2zx1slwFe0QgR0dUzs6z9Cf8vUIyY3QM2QKt4lB51b9ecwmyngY9gmyBDOtw1FI9gtgjWAU/s400/LRSuck+Truck.jpg" border="0" /></a>If you ever get to thinking that your job "sucks", well, have I got a job for you! Every week, these guys show up in back of my apartment with their truck and literally suck out the contents of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">cess</span> pool (basically, a week's load of toilet <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">flushings</span>).<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJYYukor1AXbbsYfyoZ3v1aoT6UgJHHcRXPve-Csy-vnvY6apE885DcJdeUyJLgxUu5bmrXrVJKd8hyphenhyphenmgX5AtFFImq9qL_AFE5kfWpca6I4Qz5TOweHrzYcJvHtaIWwOYPeqlNVT6Txg/s1600/LRSucking+the+Cess+Pool.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482550487950826114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJYYukor1AXbbsYfyoZ3v1aoT6UgJHHcRXPve-Csy-vnvY6apE885DcJdeUyJLgxUu5bmrXrVJKd8hyphenhyphenmgX5AtFFImq9qL_AFE5kfWpca6I4Qz5TOweHrzYcJvHtaIWwOYPeqlNVT6Txg/s400/LRSucking+the+Cess+Pool.jpg" border="0" /></a> So what's in the '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">cess</span> pool' you ask? Just stand nearby and you'll recognize the odor!!! As we would say when we were kids, "Pee-U"!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrjNV44UTopi2ktUOYCgqh-KMNt-BopaKoWiZ_k_tFTb4g1t-9Fz46_tTJpfXz5J04cYMqeWoyZPR5IK_FdkRP70OIR3jkXa4dzmEEvbLkqwC5bEDvw57r4uSGLGjBvBHAjCaBLsVF1U/s1600/LRKitties.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482550373896982274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 243px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrjNV44UTopi2ktUOYCgqh-KMNt-BopaKoWiZ_k_tFTb4g1t-9Fz46_tTJpfXz5J04cYMqeWoyZPR5IK_FdkRP70OIR3jkXa4dzmEEvbLkqwC5bEDvw57r4uSGLGjBvBHAjCaBLsVF1U/s400/LRKitties.jpg" border="0" /></a> Last, but not least, when I stayed in the bachelor apartments last year, I regularly fed several kitties my food leftovers. It appears that these cats are still living in the area because they come to my apartment each and every morning and evening looking for more handouts!</div></div></div></div></div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-152845320213958002010-06-06T04:26:00.008-05:002010-06-06T04:44:51.910-05:00First Weekend in Kuwait: June 4 & 5<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarV-Y_qkyugWGG0G__inBTMYZzPfZDx6gERa2Cz2uFdnqdnH5tNIcJhvbx6ePUSeyKCLpGHcMIwHZN_Vs4FVx5k9n5v0U5nAn0KHo2MaDmLysqXdOg5T6F_VkcOeUuBPbLD-gwqmdTV0/s1600/LR+Riccardos.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479590615414674018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarV-Y_qkyugWGG0G__inBTMYZzPfZDx6gERa2Cz2uFdnqdnH5tNIcJhvbx6ePUSeyKCLpGHcMIwHZN_Vs4FVx5k9n5v0U5nAn0KHo2MaDmLysqXdOg5T6F_VkcOeUuBPbLD-gwqmdTV0/s400/LR+Riccardos.jpg" border="0" /></a> What can I say, my itinerary is often dictated by my stomach! The high point of this past Friday (June 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span>) was lunch at <strong>Riccardo's</strong>, the Italian restaurant located on the first floor of the <strong>Sheraton Hotel</strong> in downtown Kuwait City.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJN_SBZenLos7LfjF4xkLuVBGsflsFdscY82-nWHlPS3dq4iJ6cNqvQUIUZp1wuvZRHNkOafJDeCihfrM7N2EmMAhD1OcX8olA_pi_TLlsfKhXAt07TY8v4lqrhzCAZkqol6zwpMN-AiI/s1600/LR+Riccardos+Meal.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479590519604449186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJN_SBZenLos7LfjF4xkLuVBGsflsFdscY82-nWHlPS3dq4iJ6cNqvQUIUZp1wuvZRHNkOafJDeCihfrM7N2EmMAhD1OcX8olA_pi_TLlsfKhXAt07TY8v4lqrhzCAZkqol6zwpMN-AiI/s400/LR+Riccardos+Meal.jpg" border="0" /></a> And the meal I had was <strong><span style="color:#000099;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">hammour</span></span></strong> - an excellent white fish caught locally in the Arabian Gulf. (Cost: 16.8 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">KD</span> = $58 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">USD</span>)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrY-UZUc6j6YVl6aqFRUVZSMw_YrJWGsPZqfir_tcZJkhQQM5kwvT9dSv1mcZEtCDNJHOwNoRMc6jl2hdTC7j_1aY1nZsQXhEJxvcR5udK6PMqyNpOEmo20BrcO6wmJ7noEq0tCKC9sKs/s1600/LR+Sheraton+Hallway.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479590404062845314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrY-UZUc6j6YVl6aqFRUVZSMw_YrJWGsPZqfir_tcZJkhQQM5kwvT9dSv1mcZEtCDNJHOwNoRMc6jl2hdTC7j_1aY1nZsQXhEJxvcR5udK6PMqyNpOEmo20BrcO6wmJ7noEq0tCKC9sKs/s400/LR+Sheraton+Hallway.jpg" border="0" /></a> The hallway by the front desk at the Sheraton is quite ornate and beckons all guests, welcoming them in from the 110+ deg F (43 deg C) heat outside.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jY5RK6K_dQlcLsIVL_N7ZnPlwkrkChoqPpBpsIGiHqpWETnN50Pn3P2Ctp6zwUfpSdZ-sDOXSbL9i_3_E8A_7nm7wnOL55OPRemGBi6arxaCIFUynU_Pw12eCz9cFhf1X4Wz3K4PQ9w/s1600/LR+Unusual+Bldg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479590255072263298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 227px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jY5RK6K_dQlcLsIVL_N7ZnPlwkrkChoqPpBpsIGiHqpWETnN50Pn3P2Ctp6zwUfpSdZ-sDOXSbL9i_3_E8A_7nm7wnOL55OPRemGBi6arxaCIFUynU_Pw12eCz9cFhf1X4Wz3K4PQ9w/s400/LR+Unusual+Bldg.jpg" border="0" /></a> An unusual looking building in downtown Kuwait City. Not sure what this building is for.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDVneIybnVWgJDEmlSOB-nEHNUz4K1wTLdQdLYB8UeLqx7iWT5MyaMsJKeJpo_-z1cRKeVHP1MTl6d6nR2m-MuPYoXuLP7S0f_7cturHWkDiXld7KBm_M8RcBjbDGoTAgnu1xiYSshgI/s1600/LR+Weekly+Groceries.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479590112297653426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDVneIybnVWgJDEmlSOB-nEHNUz4K1wTLdQdLYB8UeLqx7iWT5MyaMsJKeJpo_-z1cRKeVHP1MTl6d6nR2m-MuPYoXuLP7S0f_7cturHWkDiXld7KBm_M8RcBjbDGoTAgnu1xiYSshgI/s400/LR+Weekly+Groceries.jpg" border="0" /></a>Sorry to bore you with this seemingly trivial detail but one of the chores I have to run along with any run into the city is my weekly stocking up of groceries. I bring along an ice chest (and ICE) to protect and preserve my food from the blistering heat inside the car's trunk (or 'boot' as the Brits might say). Today's haul cost me 21.38 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">KD</span> or about $74 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">USD</span> (60 Euros).<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpIbWZRCOjgDOk22CrpnZHMAFx5JrmJilW0t_CxqSQItsyNBoy9fJxaps1EjmqoCGBWIvz-T0-27X5Bhxuj9U5UepXpgD-LOtlOZuzh5dghdkChzmLk-QwxZVZjOT8xO3fCph3O1bQqQ/s1600/LR+Al+Zour+Starbucks.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479589977020019218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 177px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpIbWZRCOjgDOk22CrpnZHMAFx5JrmJilW0t_CxqSQItsyNBoy9fJxaps1EjmqoCGBWIvz-T0-27X5Bhxuj9U5UepXpgD-LOtlOZuzh5dghdkChzmLk-QwxZVZjOT8xO3fCph3O1bQqQ/s400/LR+Al+Zour+Starbucks.jpg" border="0" /></a> Some good news to report!! I have been informed that our local Al <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Zour</span> Starbucks may be opening up in a week or so. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Starbucks</span> located along Highway 40 near the Al <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Zour</span> turnoff was closed down by the Kuwaiti authorities over one year ago because the owner apparently had no official license. Or so the story goes. I just hope they open this Starbucks real soon!! Dozens of us expats will be pleased!!</div></div></div></div></div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-47074446356980541932010-06-03T07:26:00.008-05:002010-06-03T07:41:15.218-05:00Return to KUWAIT; Summer Sunshine<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-GM0_wkAogmz6TrB4dzgeebQwI9wr17tT7-uFTkWZT2dvuK2ZKLgBlkKLzet7_NBdHmAkaH0keJrYrFU6LkAA8_ESAiUfyb8uVIC-xkruNggaIL5ZUa2tjjvJdAkXBK37fOgEQT7NwM/s1600/LRReflection+of+My+Flight.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478523740478469922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 193px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-GM0_wkAogmz6TrB4dzgeebQwI9wr17tT7-uFTkWZT2dvuK2ZKLgBlkKLzet7_NBdHmAkaH0keJrYrFU6LkAA8_ESAiUfyb8uVIC-xkruNggaIL5ZUa2tjjvJdAkXBK37fOgEQT7NwM/s400/LRReflection+of+My+Flight.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo: A reflection of my plane taxiing towards the </span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">main runway at Frankfurt Airport</span></strong> </div><br />I boarded <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">LH</span> 636 at 3:40 pm local time on June 1 and it was wheels up at precisely 4:30 pm. We landed in Kuwait at 10:23 pm Kuwait time (one hour ahead of Frankfurt) - almost 5 hours flying time. Outside temperature = 39 deg C (102 deg F)!! After a one hour drive to my company's camp, I arrived at my local residence at 12:10 am - <strong><em>extremely tired</em></strong> (one of the down sides to international travel!!).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3hnXi0QigIWSXZ4W5XbScysJ7y5YQo2UDBvrQJ0Tjf9_oOUL7RiH_T_HPe3KQ03Q-CPWcqHaFRAVcf98KNpWwQca0j85If5qvxz4B6YG5hXUqEocpZ0G09WWrNKT_-4pXratHJ9iTd8/s1600/LRMap.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478523589772014770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 283px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3hnXi0QigIWSXZ4W5XbScysJ7y5YQo2UDBvrQJ0Tjf9_oOUL7RiH_T_HPe3KQ03Q-CPWcqHaFRAVcf98KNpWwQca0j85If5qvxz4B6YG5hXUqEocpZ0G09WWrNKT_-4pXratHJ9iTd8/s400/LRMap.jpg" border="0" /></a>A map on board my flight showing the route we took to Kuwait.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcR5ZD2mbOAsqu0AOQr4VK75p7JbKjWbG-gT6B0ueM48ETPDhmvZGPjgH5jfC9rozeyWPPR1ftMR_q1k-9fPRiQGXQ8mFuVfigSjedlGDLn_sm2F9BDMHIyvLy9iYVlgEIw7LLkmx2ntU/s1600/LRWine+Glass.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478523462150157298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcR5ZD2mbOAsqu0AOQr4VK75p7JbKjWbG-gT6B0ueM48ETPDhmvZGPjgH5jfC9rozeyWPPR1ftMR_q1k-9fPRiQGXQ8mFuVfigSjedlGDLn_sm2F9BDMHIyvLy9iYVlgEIw7LLkmx2ntU/s400/LRWine+Glass.jpg" border="0" /></a> My last legal drink prior to arriving in Kuwait (Kuwait is officially a "dry" country): a South African white wine. Very nice.</div><div></div><div>After a few days of work and getting caught up on my jet lag, I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">will</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">endeavor</span> to make more postings from over here. Stay tuned .... and please keep those comments coming!</div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-10749205357148235342010-05-31T09:24:00.006-05:002010-06-01T03:19:01.502-05:00On the Road Again!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8PgFhIBG3q3RyfrwiPLMnlS1yJJG2GxzItmgKFSm0TOnQ-C1ly3toVfNOepRramWWiCSe5JSb0ATTZzbzq6SScr8n6OtW3L-VO6DsAsO8ulqwUY1WnTngBTasw0z1znnkmFHjyaHIoc/s1600/Lufthansa+Flight.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477440796209716930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8PgFhIBG3q3RyfrwiPLMnlS1yJJG2GxzItmgKFSm0TOnQ-C1ly3toVfNOepRramWWiCSe5JSb0ATTZzbzq6SScr8n6OtW3L-VO6DsAsO8ulqwUY1WnTngBTasw0z1znnkmFHjyaHIoc/s400/Lufthansa+Flight.jpg" border="0" /></a> Well, here I go again!! Another international business trip. As has been the case many times before on prior trips, I'd much prefer taking an alternate airline (Emirates, Qatar, etc.) but our corporate discount with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lufthansa</span> wins out every time - it would appear - and their air fare is lower than the fares for any other airline. Hence, I am obliged to fly Lufthansa. It's OK, mind you, but the airline rates no higher than "satisfactory" in my humble opinion. Average service and remarkably poor food (I already suffered from what I will delicately call "the runs" as a result of last night's dinner delight! Yuk!). But, hey, at least they got me here. My flight - LH 441 - departed Houston almost on time (10 minutes late, actually) and arrived at 9:25 am local time (also ten minutes late). By 10:30 am I was on the way to my hotel room for some badly needed rest.<br /><br />Now I sit comfortably housed in the <strong>Sheraton Hotel</strong> adjacent to Terminal 1-B. Unlike the airline Lufthansa, Sheraton is familiar with the term "customer service". When I checked in at the front desk (10:15 am local time), the receptionist gave me an upgrade to the hotel's "Towers" wing. Nicer rooms, free meals and free <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Internet</span>. Nothing like giving a tired traveler a break every now and then. Now if I can just get a GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP tonight!!!!<br /><br />For dinner, I enjoyed a meal of asparagus! That's right, asparagus is in season here in Germany. So I had asparagus soup, followed by an entree consisiting of 250 grams of white asparagus accompanied by roasted bass. After this fine meal, I sampled a little DISARONNO liqueur ... mmm-mmmm good!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_HUeRO18y10_uCuQSU9oW3PD6wAiLXdUBEHvMc9UAG_jUDeXmw_NiC8MG8idLaNVlsSFhDSG39WdAyWe_fddBlFrtKfffklGEPRHg0qWTHwe-1akISJ-wOfQVoPoiEni83xEpLWAkI8/s1600/Frankfurt+Airport.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477440509436815298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 158px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_HUeRO18y10_uCuQSU9oW3PD6wAiLXdUBEHvMc9UAG_jUDeXmw_NiC8MG8idLaNVlsSFhDSG39WdAyWe_fddBlFrtKfffklGEPRHg0qWTHwe-1akISJ-wOfQVoPoiEni83xEpLWAkI8/s400/Frankfurt+Airport.jpg" border="0" /></a>The view of one of the many runways from my room at the Sheraton Hotel.<br />Once I arrive at my destination and get a chance to rest and get caught up on my work, I will start posting again.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#000066;">UPDATE (June 1):</span></strong> <strong>I made it through the night OK, had breakfast and now I am resting and waiting for my onward flight later this afternoon. I shall allow about one hour to check in, go through security (whihc can be time consuming nowadays) and then head up to Lufthansa's Business Class lounge. Ta ta for now ....</strong><br /><br /><strong>PS</strong>: Please leave as many comments as you can make time for. I'd really like to receive your thoughts on the current state of my blog.chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-32178519060516390582010-05-24T08:32:00.015-05:002010-05-24T12:59:16.425-05:00Final Lecture Tour: Billings, Montana plus Cody and Gillette, Wyoming<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggp6b4Lfzqj5sLOAokxNf7KbaoVYXwue9oE0F0W2PgCp31Ljv3KgRmO56Qcc4ti44uEnNHoKs8YbbNurcDATVLnpymtI6urNzF4fwQeSkMiiuuVpkSPca_bJwZ7yYdMOgo_IfIprb6J9c/s1600/LRBillings+Sign.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474890137058469522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggp6b4Lfzqj5sLOAokxNf7KbaoVYXwue9oE0F0W2PgCp31Ljv3KgRmO56Qcc4ti44uEnNHoKs8YbbNurcDATVLnpymtI6urNzF4fwQeSkMiiuuVpkSPca_bJwZ7yYdMOgo_IfIprb6J9c/s400/LRBillings+Sign.jpg" border="0" /></a> I had the honor of making yet another series of lecture presentations. Sadly, however, this was my final lecture tour for the 2009 - 2010 season. The trip started on May 10 with an on-time flight (thru Salt Lake City Airport) to <strong>Billings, Montana</strong>. (My last visit to Montana had been to West Yellowstone in 1985.) I had a total of 27 attendees for my noon presentation on May 11. I wish I had more time to tour the area but I was on a tight schedule and had to move on ...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUaO1Fr4M1D0wxFhML-X8wcKIeD48XWyQznZwRZ_jUGJJUztfUaBFCNMEUw0iikRMWBDOgPPFMWUVUyksK01-yWPnXa4gkpeeZ3x869nSc0M0uw9jPqwVVCuVa7Ga4XGoe9nFX3ykZYU/s1600/LRBillings+Center.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474890042060736018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUaO1Fr4M1D0wxFhML-X8wcKIeD48XWyQznZwRZ_jUGJJUztfUaBFCNMEUw0iikRMWBDOgPPFMWUVUyksK01-yWPnXa4gkpeeZ3x869nSc0M0uw9jPqwVVCuVa7Ga4XGoe9nFX3ykZYU/s400/LRBillings+Center.jpg" border="0" /></a>The above photo shows the center of Billings.</div><div>. </div><div></div><div>The event was followed by an enjoyable 2-hour drive (in a rented Chevy Tahoe) from Billings to <strong>Cody, Wyoming</strong>.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MBgnLq3GviYtCcgVAmo59sEHi93DWuVErwGQNxE1a0lZfj0evgduuydsoUGjeiefEdDBfAeyjz-3D-7wXa2RHxtcV57gLIX5pGDmVq_U44MFpfa0SvyWPucNzUMuhE88iy44rctvrt0/s1600/LR+Irma+Hotel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474889932129112866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 206px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MBgnLq3GviYtCcgVAmo59sEHi93DWuVErwGQNxE1a0lZfj0evgduuydsoUGjeiefEdDBfAeyjz-3D-7wXa2RHxtcV57gLIX5pGDmVq_U44MFpfa0SvyWPucNzUMuhE88iy44rctvrt0/s400/LR+Irma+Hotel.jpg" border="0" /></a>Although I stayed in the Cody Holiday Inn (comfortable yet unremarkable), I was told to have breakfast at the Irma Hotel (pictured above). I had a thoroughly delicious meal featuring two HUGE pancakes!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnmhnsURwdQILvBhm_aDb-UWTlPFT_4so8CExI-Wj8RV3JogZ3IyZOyGERbJrtMDthkcNEVr1uKbtWw3g4QnETw58WcJe63jN4V-NXVgexqJjvaGp09nwSSAXYR2PHCZNDx86QbdRqSc/s1600/LR+Cody+Historical+Center+Entrance.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474889854103277154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 291px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnmhnsURwdQILvBhm_aDb-UWTlPFT_4so8CExI-Wj8RV3JogZ3IyZOyGERbJrtMDthkcNEVr1uKbtWw3g4QnETw58WcJe63jN4V-NXVgexqJjvaGp09nwSSAXYR2PHCZNDx86QbdRqSc/s400/LR+Cody+Historical+Center+Entrance.jpg" border="0" /></a>The highlight of my stay in Cody (that is, other than my May 12 evening lecture which attracted 22 attendees) was a three-hour visit to Cody's renowned <strong>Buffalo Bill Historical Center</strong> - shown above. For the admission price of only $13.00, I was able to take in five separate museums all rolled into one! I highly recommend this place!!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQrFh1l_bn76K2lwZ8EcUEOXkmxb2z0Ekt409Y588EiRIArpxd1absHFBynmungsgodi48HCLUJQmXVAAPYgMzdphrCxNrjzhVtzlrwK9bK4v-4a8ZWxnpmZBmSPHVpkc-OEuknhkmUw/s1600/LRCody+Portrail.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474889764229534498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 338px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQrFh1l_bn76K2lwZ8EcUEOXkmxb2z0Ekt409Y588EiRIArpxd1absHFBynmungsgodi48HCLUJQmXVAAPYgMzdphrCxNrjzhVtzlrwK9bK4v-4a8ZWxnpmZBmSPHVpkc-OEuknhkmUw/s400/LRCody+Portrail.jpg" border="0" /></a> William Cody - nicknamed "Buffalo Bill" Cody. The man for whom the city is named.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1k_xZHeuvdu6NUE-pTgmpwrYyemNsn6AaCXgr6xaaG2-LrEUzBSUUVJgi-LtXWcvtinD-Gn42c9moDzFZmBcqx0PWBaM8AZtKvohyIvVUJceZyQngOSW8a9ftckyDAVLJsf3pPABUBM/s1600/LRAnnie+Oakley+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474889623345321794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1k_xZHeuvdu6NUE-pTgmpwrYyemNsn6AaCXgr6xaaG2-LrEUzBSUUVJgi-LtXWcvtinD-Gn42c9moDzFZmBcqx0PWBaM8AZtKvohyIvVUJceZyQngOSW8a9ftckyDAVLJsf3pPABUBM/s400/LRAnnie+Oakley+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Annie Oakley, an expert markswoman! (Originally named Phoebe Ann Moses.) Annie appeared in Buffalo Bill's "Wild West" show which toured the USA and parts of Europe from about the mid-1880's up until about 1913 (when the soon-to-start World War I had people distracted).<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbR0uEr6DRMUDHqrbkbPL33VpLzF85Hms8_OC-WGj6RBSk1tOTTBF4lrzwICXPqho-ql8DEFuo_OyvqPwpup2F9ysqnClr71ILkv7O-Q5ndGbZ8NF-q6IkxyvJbEPUG901RIbr3OthvM/s1600/LRRockpile+Museum.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474889502505068770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 315px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbR0uEr6DRMUDHqrbkbPL33VpLzF85Hms8_OC-WGj6RBSk1tOTTBF4lrzwICXPqho-ql8DEFuo_OyvqPwpup2F9ysqnClr71ILkv7O-Q5ndGbZ8NF-q6IkxyvJbEPUG901RIbr3OthvM/s400/LRRockpile+Museum.jpg" border="0" /></a> Last stop - <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Gillette, Wyoming</span></strong>. Only a dozen folks showed up for my 45 minute lecture on the evening of May 13. The reason: the weather was so nice, it was said everyone was outside running errands, camping, etc. Still, the following morning (May 14) I was able to take in the <strong>Rockpile Museum</strong> - an interesting little museum set up by the county - and then visit one of America's best known National Monuments ......<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgug3thclP2c6pY2wS7p7izE0YCbVEIKGhihEAfFhzbTfuOKlQ_W1iuHuyRZYQlPMFuIzwqCVQlVXa0BFVAi6p6RKQzfQcRuN579cO0Sn65Jclpw5FjujPqVxW-ANgUdo0geTpQ_T4TGfw/s1600/LR+Devils+Tower+Nice+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474889387509780482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgug3thclP2c6pY2wS7p7izE0YCbVEIKGhihEAfFhzbTfuOKlQ_W1iuHuyRZYQlPMFuIzwqCVQlVXa0BFVAi6p6RKQzfQcRuN579cO0Sn65Jclpw5FjujPqVxW-ANgUdo0geTpQ_T4TGfw/s400/LR+Devils+Tower+Nice+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> The <strong>Devil's Tower National Monument!</strong> This gem is about a 1-1/4 hour drive east of Gillette. Well worth the trip. The rain, which had hung over central Wyoming most of the week, had cleared away and this happily made for some absolutely fabulous picture taking opportunities! By the way, this is where they filmed the movie <strong><span style="color:#330099;"><em>Close Encounters of the Third Kind</em></span></strong> about thirty years ago.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWUfEWakXw3VIP1q4smNSadYcYm81LUQqQAKz2tXEp3UPz6U7SGcqkgJpBBwfkRB7g64f1ePVNDQzA3a-9xzY_hJD1oogPQwI1YnDG95n5moApFyDJupK2xcNS98fg7oF4KczK_VUoCw/s1600/LRMy+Flight.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474889228219728306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 211px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWUfEWakXw3VIP1q4smNSadYcYm81LUQqQAKz2tXEp3UPz6U7SGcqkgJpBBwfkRB7g64f1ePVNDQzA3a-9xzY_hJD1oogPQwI1YnDG95n5moApFyDJupK2xcNS98fg7oF4KczK_VUoCw/s400/LRMy+Flight.jpg" border="0" /></a> And last but not least, I am happy to report that ALL my flights were on time!! A thoroughly enjoyable experience!!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LNRG1sKhr2Y41SzCCt-bTgEErMnpdgh0hEnuhKOmWbGpCG-BYvUiogGAqVeFvT9sxEcq8MIdS3Ryab2IYFFJ7j-umH5Qx4czCB3AnM1gwnFXA9ENX0H_z06kXdrBRJUhNtolhiJ3RYU/s1600/Three+Cups+of+Tea+Book+Cover2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474829371894566786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 303px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LNRG1sKhr2Y41SzCCt-bTgEErMnpdgh0hEnuhKOmWbGpCG-BYvUiogGAqVeFvT9sxEcq8MIdS3Ryab2IYFFJ7j-umH5Qx4czCB3AnM1gwnFXA9ENX0H_z06kXdrBRJUhNtolhiJ3RYU/s400/Three+Cups+of+Tea+Book+Cover2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">PS</span></strong>: By the way, I recommend the above book to anyone who loves to travel. Thankfully my trips abroad have never involved the sorts of hassles encountered by Greg Mortenson (the author) in his efforts to build schools in Central Asia. This book is a great read.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517501584533817931.post-10019840680433841352010-05-18T11:15:00.022-05:002010-05-20T08:37:40.212-05:00Art Car Parade - May 8, 2010<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8V65sXHE82zqI2jGfyQ3CKA1w8NVszJLZgamGr3Bv8RwUg5GDH_YnXG0Xs_FwVNcCync8Al4nzKE30_344yLrdet0L6zL-K0v-5JWY4jX3rSGpdcg4gPYllHW5hm8jo4ptleEuSMLa0/s1600/LRArt+Car.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472646756057547298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 223px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8V65sXHE82zqI2jGfyQ3CKA1w8NVszJLZgamGr3Bv8RwUg5GDH_YnXG0Xs_FwVNcCync8Al4nzKE30_344yLrdet0L6zL-K0v-5JWY4jX3rSGpdcg4gPYllHW5hm8jo4ptleEuSMLa0/s400/LRArt+Car.jpg" border="0" /></a> Houston held its annual <strong><span style="color:#000099;">Art Car Parade</span></strong> about two weeks ago. I had not attended last year's events but I managed to get to downtown and witness the usual crazy looking vehicles. There were some repeats but most were new entries. Almost three hundred cars in all!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTh_uF1CbnbLgjtfjBXBfMxgP5GSO21QfSqguxZz7woJv_xkcaTe1mkYCj_MKNDcN2iB3eA6HhugsvdcM8ffhkL1zLmmh0a8utTPjF2-9jHT0BIQx7YkOojUNzsEN5gUi17a4g4RFJ3w/s1600/LR+Pink+Hair+Lady.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472646629464875618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTh_uF1CbnbLgjtfjBXBfMxgP5GSO21QfSqguxZz7woJv_xkcaTe1mkYCj_MKNDcN2iB3eA6HhugsvdcM8ffhkL1zLmmh0a8utTPjF2-9jHT0BIQx7YkOojUNzsEN5gUi17a4g4RFJ3w/s400/LR+Pink+Hair+Lady.jpg" border="0" /></a> In addition to the unusual looking cars, I managed to capture some pictures of several fetching <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">young</span> ladies. There was a reason for this actually! I only carried a 100 - 40 mm lens along with my Canon 50D SLR camera this time. This turned out to be too close-up of a telephoto lens and as a result I could not capture a wider view of the many cars that passed by my spectator location (corner of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Bagby</span> and Allen Parkway). Hence, I was unable to properly photograph many of the cars. So my back up plan was to photograph close-up views of several of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">interestingly</span> dressed ladies that accompanied the vehicles. I hope you still can enjoy the photos of those few cars I managed to photograph as well as the women who participated in this year's Art Car Parade.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>By the way, the picture above was particularly striking - both becuase I managed to get a clear focus and I also managed to compose the shot properly and - obviously - the subject looked quite nice! Hopefully <strong><a href="http://danieldenardo.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#006600;">Dan Denardo</span></a></strong> can comment. He runs a fine <a href="http://danieldenardo.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#993399;">blog</span></a> displaying his excellent photography.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHhnle-ipGq7I3vsbBk1ESPMMm4NxSx455maZ_MQ2tbffceWJRxWjRFMM0NJiWNnUeP4nzhGOm1w2zaCQauvjlsnJVlexumEiqGpcQiEgKyykIno10_dkEEodYGZaSw1pqHTIwVnKV4g/s1600/LR+Dragon+Car.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472646389404522658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHhnle-ipGq7I3vsbBk1ESPMMm4NxSx455maZ_MQ2tbffceWJRxWjRFMM0NJiWNnUeP4nzhGOm1w2zaCQauvjlsnJVlexumEiqGpcQiEgKyykIno10_dkEEodYGZaSw1pqHTIwVnKV4g/s400/LR+Dragon+Car.jpg" border="0" /></a> The dragon car ....</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWQC2NQkWIKduBP-GeIvqfi0VdYNpxXZg-dZWzvMUXeDrMY82k6LpIPWV9CovgLRKRVSBR45AAtqP3ZnT3Smofypn2RwOsqtyBMWc2ISLY7ywlk1vqdYMTA4TQTu4ZSOWPTdZRdwQQgM/s1600/LR+Dog+Car.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472646279238567202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWQC2NQkWIKduBP-GeIvqfi0VdYNpxXZg-dZWzvMUXeDrMY82k6LpIPWV9CovgLRKRVSBR45AAtqP3ZnT3Smofypn2RwOsqtyBMWc2ISLY7ywlk1vqdYMTA4TQTu4ZSOWPTdZRdwQQgM/s400/LR+Dog+Car.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Dog Car .....<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJ9cdu_Hk7bRZ3GbeslcbvQGbOI8u2ojlY5e0bj8JBFDWEeHLQuJABORfZflGPMpoAN63vByJNH7Cp_nvcChblR_RJ1vpqaEOVFnaahdJYu3ORgYxrvTqyKtPNIvILJys_GBtFy9XIXA/s1600/LR+Zebra+Lady.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472646093843278690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJ9cdu_Hk7bRZ3GbeslcbvQGbOI8u2ojlY5e0bj8JBFDWEeHLQuJABORfZflGPMpoAN63vByJNH7Cp_nvcChblR_RJ1vpqaEOVFnaahdJYu3ORgYxrvTqyKtPNIvILJys_GBtFy9XIXA/s400/LR+Zebra+Lady.jpg" border="0" /></a>And the many women in this year's parade. Here is what I shall call the Zebra Lady! Followed by many, many more <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">fine</span> looking ladies ....</div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-8myRwSMiuDGtBFTsl3lt4ktK3CzchdMHc0cFrZBjaKte4YF1O8IBJeRhAVLIsUtm1w_L5R1l89CRpHf2R1co25q4vUHq5Dxd0FteSDG_5w6PwleHyNR3m3RmpeFvYOsT4Fjtd7uvkA/s1600/LR+Waving+Lady.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472645913875243458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-8myRwSMiuDGtBFTsl3lt4ktK3CzchdMHc0cFrZBjaKte4YF1O8IBJeRhAVLIsUtm1w_L5R1l89CRpHf2R1co25q4vUHq5Dxd0FteSDG_5w6PwleHyNR3m3RmpeFvYOsT4Fjtd7uvkA/s400/LR+Waving+Lady.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsucpXYBNK3cUb-ICiHO41tvvhz0Q49zsmyvY5BxKxTKS-gdOTgbhQMsEXjbpG-Zk58MtaZ29bB91-isc2WPjlU0JrG6SXWXlbSVdS6-ou9CkR43TqRWEXlz2evi9vCqnRncj0fO9WrA/s1600/LR+Pink+Lady.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472645795975440818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsucpXYBNK3cUb-ICiHO41tvvhz0Q49zsmyvY5BxKxTKS-gdOTgbhQMsEXjbpG-Zk58MtaZ29bB91-isc2WPjlU0JrG6SXWXlbSVdS6-ou9CkR43TqRWEXlz2evi9vCqnRncj0fO9WrA/s400/LR+Pink+Lady.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKrmrIKxK5O5f2pgxPz8T8RkWSn4ZQnSHVh7w_aCQHXLJocJj-uC57OeY_Zk8XOlbpcDkTLIc7FQUo4IK_8jH7Bu6qVyvdeLukVY_wudDrlYAhvo1lqOLne_uSx9OHRUtM7LerjGnJlc/s1600/LR+Lady+w+Glasses.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472645673308957442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKrmrIKxK5O5f2pgxPz8T8RkWSn4ZQnSHVh7w_aCQHXLJocJj-uC57OeY_Zk8XOlbpcDkTLIc7FQUo4IK_8jH7Bu6qVyvdeLukVY_wudDrlYAhvo1lqOLne_uSx9OHRUtM7LerjGnJlc/s400/LR+Lady+w+Glasses.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZU7UNsD0hVSgv0o4JRyLle_1645S8KZc4jmz-ZM-tNmpXaofhstGV4d6kZyRC8twtAWU7DQApuSU4e2NYcsNmjG8k4h4FPbg4Nvdn3hLkXr1w_j6RFyHTe72VqJAOm4yPbVZCynlQiQ/s1600/LR+Lady+in+Orange+Hat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472645580981533346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZU7UNsD0hVSgv0o4JRyLle_1645S8KZc4jmz-ZM-tNmpXaofhstGV4d6kZyRC8twtAWU7DQApuSU4e2NYcsNmjG8k4h4FPbg4Nvdn3hLkXr1w_j6RFyHTe72VqJAOm4yPbVZCynlQiQ/s400/LR+Lady+in+Orange+Hat.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBL8I-0wvYfKK99mS7hsz9i3JEoOZ9ujCTWrTaQb5x2LrTaHojwup0YTbJ6yneVd1uAeHzfotIwvctTqYGSIt5Oy9l-Tu92feQWUA_YMCDXaUkqZroKBvgWR5sFsENTRHfjz3P2T1JNA/s1600/LR+Blue+Haired+lady.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472645379118245874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBL8I-0wvYfKK99mS7hsz9i3JEoOZ9ujCTWrTaQb5x2LrTaHojwup0YTbJ6yneVd1uAeHzfotIwvctTqYGSIt5Oy9l-Tu92feQWUA_YMCDXaUkqZroKBvgWR5sFsENTRHfjz3P2T1JNA/s400/LR+Blue+Haired+lady.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEwxd3elwx89Ms8E04pklUVEqMyiGUeFFMi-ywpc6XLK6319ePL2sFLUO1MIrs2BAvYig0nhz_twQbQiOFe_fktf8kRt6BsPDDJ2du3XuTcE7rdERaZXwsRlO6TzsgM-rfduea2wPHV4/s1600/LR++Monkey+Lady.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472645256452775442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEwxd3elwx89Ms8E04pklUVEqMyiGUeFFMi-ywpc6XLK6319ePL2sFLUO1MIrs2BAvYig0nhz_twQbQiOFe_fktf8kRt6BsPDDJ2du3XuTcE7rdERaZXwsRlO6TzsgM-rfduea2wPHV4/s400/LR++Monkey+Lady.jpg" border="0" /></a>The 'stars' of the parade were Houston's Mayor, Annise Parker, and the parade's honoree, Dan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Aykroyd</span>.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCx__DOBr3-wkDQI8PrC5u5sWK3FhB5cvNRRuUFItj7nEY_3lq8MlrnNE-9l9yn4HYVD2AM9pS8cQJgz2-CV1Nf9aELq9gmMj90BBKt9Pl-T3GCYRvpYx-i2Mu9_fvNA4R3mykETLhcg/s1600/LR+Mayor.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472644950667303042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCx__DOBr3-wkDQI8PrC5u5sWK3FhB5cvNRRuUFItj7nEY_3lq8MlrnNE-9l9yn4HYVD2AM9pS8cQJgz2-CV1Nf9aELq9gmMj90BBKt9Pl-T3GCYRvpYx-i2Mu9_fvNA4R3mykETLhcg/s400/LR+Mayor.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PHbPnfzd-X7bJq_Gzlv-xaBH-E3eAJJr3JHRX-t8jU8pqy21S3smH-ppBl1d6xb9mWBIjytwTiqdG7Cgodi3vrt-EDg7DbS5ZAGUKVyFaJj_y83GeuU3ZAmb15tk-EcD_lE8eLBSyFU/s1600/LR+Mayor+and+Dan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472644834985454242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 342px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PHbPnfzd-X7bJq_Gzlv-xaBH-E3eAJJr3JHRX-t8jU8pqy21S3smH-ppBl1d6xb9mWBIjytwTiqdG7Cgodi3vrt-EDg7DbS5ZAGUKVyFaJj_y83GeuU3ZAmb15tk-EcD_lE8eLBSyFU/s400/LR+Mayor+and+Dan.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvY5dqa3IuVnDxcvECuoF9HDQjX7VlDdDNPqvSXEjL1qjcsohlrmip1KJQo1kZvcOQJPWmtMOHdCdr01AGu7W5tcmRqFenxC8VRhNZi1mYQMGIfE37wO4d54OzsynqoadgsFjN9Kvalc/s1600/LR+Lead+Car.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472644666717388178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 318px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvY5dqa3IuVnDxcvECuoF9HDQjX7VlDdDNPqvSXEjL1qjcsohlrmip1KJQo1kZvcOQJPWmtMOHdCdr01AGu7W5tcmRqFenxC8VRhNZi1mYQMGIfE37wO4d54OzsynqoadgsFjN9Kvalc/s400/LR+Lead+Car.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>The lead vehicle in this year's parade - the same car and the same woman as in 2008!!!</p><p><strong>PS</strong>: Don't forget, I'd much appreciate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">any</span> and all comments!!</p>chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165817423232005150noreply@blogger.com3