California Redux

Dear Readers:

Many of you (Dchem, "Weecheeky", "World Wide", Kristen, Daisy, Mandy and several others) have commented how you liked the photos I posted for my recent vacation in Sonoma California. Well ... here are some more!

In addition to being a swell place to visit, California is definitely home to many, well, let's say, different types of people!! In Sebastopol (where I stayed for 8 days), there is an artist who makes metal objects d'art. The one above, depicting a dog, is made entirely out of metal and is alondside Highway 12 leading into Sebastopol. Many more such objects can be found along Florence Avenue in Sebastopol.

Jack London's grave in Glen Ellen. Honest!! That's all there is!! Just a moss-coverd stone.

Too many wineries are springing up in Northern California! One problem: a lot of the apple orchards are being torn out and replaced with vineyards. Bye bye apples, hello grapes. Mind you, I like wine but I shall surely miss the delicious Gravenstein apples.

The seacoast at Bodega Bay. Nice sea air, lots of seagulls and if the season is just right, you can spot a whale way off the coast.

The vineyard at the Benziger Winery at Glen Ellen, California.

By the way, since time was so short, I had to forgo visiting San Francisco itself (except for driving thru it going to/from the SFO Airport). Besides, I've been to SF many times in the past and decided to focus on enjoying Northern California without the city life.

Again, thanks for all your many comments!! Keep 'em coming!! I'll try to reply but since I have a day job it may take a while to find the time to type out a response.

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PS: My next trip overseas will probably begin in about a month so stay tuned.

Blogs of Note!!!

To all my readers:

WOW ... what a difference a day makes. I've been posting to my blog - Traveling Chemist - since January 2008 and have had only a few comments posted. Then, suddenly, a whole collection of postings!! Many thanks!! I suppose this relates to my blog having been named as one of the "Blogs of Note" on September 30th! (Thanks to the Blogspot editors!) I do appreciate your comments and will read each and EVERY one, eventually. I may not have time to respond to every comment, however. But I'll try to answer a few ... just be patient.

I'd like to repeat a comment of my own pertaining to the theme of this blog (i.e., traveling!!): One major bonus of traveling is that it makes one appreciate what is often taken for granted back home!! And one more bonus: the diverse cultures and people that I encounter along the way all add to my understanding of other ways of life. And if I have a great time along the way, so much the better!

My Vacation in California

Finally .... some time for vacation!! Starting in 2007, I now have six (6) weeks of vacation time from my employer! However, this past trip to Northern California (Sonoma County) marks the first time I managed to use any of my 2008 allotment of vacation time!! Still it was a fun time marred only by Hurricane Ike. I toyed with the thought of returning home to 'protect' my apartment but decided against that and just stayed in California throughout Houston's ordeal. Thankfully, I returned home yesterday (Sept. 17) to an apartment where not a single window had been broken and the power and water had already been restored (as of last Monday, Sept. 15).

Thanks to the generosity of a relative, I had the high privilege to spend the eight days in a nice private home in Sebastopol (Sonoma County) - a small town located about a one hour's drive (50 miles) north of San Francisco.

I had an opportunity to visit: a winery (Benziger's winery in Glen Ellen), Jack London's museum and burial site, Sonoma Lake, Bodega Bay, and Armstrong Redwood State park. I also had a great time searching for one of nature's finest apples - the Gravenstein apple!! The weather was fantastic (daily temps in the 70's) and the food was superb. The only problem was all the worrying I did during the Hurricane. Otherwise I had a thoroughly splendid time.

I Want My A/C!!!

OK ... so this isn't a travel-related posting! But I am moved to say something since my air conditioner compressor went out last Thursday (Aug. 14). Let's face it, being in Houston, Texas without air conditioning in the middle of August is terrible!! My apartment complex wasn't able to replace my defective compressor until Monday (Aug. 18) so that meant I had to do without proper cooling for four (4) whole days. Thankfully the apartment loaned me a portable A/C unit that cooled my place somewhat. It's times like this that make me appreciate what I often take for granted the rest of the year. Anyway, the new compressor is now installed and I am cool again!! My old A/C unit sat outside for a few days (see photo, above) before being hauled away to the graveyard, no doubt for a proper burial.

The Long (and delayed) Road Home

Sadly, I must complain about Emirates Airlines. My flight home started last Wednesday, August 6 aboard Emirates 856. As we were rolling down the runway at Kuwait International Airport, our plane - a Boeing 777-200 LR - came to a screeching halt. Two fire trucks rolled up and deployed their fire hoses. No word on what happened (Emirates only said it was a 'technical problem') but all of us passengers were eventually ushered off the plane and into the Pearl Lounge where we sat from about 11 am until about 4 pm. Finally, Emirates flew another jet to Kuwait to pick us up and fly us to Dubai where we arrived about 8 hours late!! Fortunately, my connection wasn't until the following morning so I only missed having a pleasant afternnon in Dubai to shop. Unfortunately, most of my fellow passengers missed their connections to Europe/Asia and had to make other arrangements.

I arrived at my hotel - The Intercontinental Hotel - Festival City. I only had time to unpack and go to bed. I got up the followng morning, Aug. 7, at 5:30 am, headed over to the Dubai Airport (the lower photo of the above two photos attempts to show just how crowded the Dubai airport is at such an early hour) and I boarded Emirates 211 at 8:30 am. Thankfully my flight home took off ON TIME at about 9:30 am Dubai time and landed in Houston a few minutes early at 4:00 pm Houston time. The next time I go over to Kuwait I am thinking of flyng KLM!

Tea Time

One of the more pleasant aspects to daily office life in my office in Wafra, Kuwait is the presence of a complete staff of workers who are constantly around to serve us office people tea or coffee at any time of the day. The wait staff are referred to as "tea boys" .... or waiters as I prefer to call them since the phrase "tea boys" seems a bit insulting as most of these 'boys' are in their 20's or 30's!!. In the USA, our company would never spend a penny on hiring waiters to serve tea/coffee - rather, we all depend upon ourseleves to make our own drinks. I presume it is the low cost of labor in the Arabian Gulf states that allows local companies there to hire workers for tasks that would never be seen in most Western countries (USA, Canada, Europe). I must compliment these fellows (no women are hired as waiters!) as most seem quite pleasant in attitude despite the low wages they receive by their contractor. The waiter who works in my area is named Zubair and says his salary is less than 100 KD/month ($350 USD/month). A few years ago they were paid only 30 KD/month but now their salaries have been 'upgraded' but are still relatively quite low by Western levels.

A Final Weekend in Kuwait Before Heading Home!

Well, time flies when one is having fun! It seems like almost yesterday that I came over here and now I must soon return to home-sweet-home. This weekend lasted three days with Thursday being a religious holiday (the Ascention of the Prophet). Thursday: I had an excellent buffet lunch with some friends at Teatro at the Hilton Hotel in Mangaf. Cost = 11.5 KD per person ($43 USD or 28 Euros). Friday: My colleague and I enjoyed the seafood buffet at the Crowne Plaza Hotel which is located in the Farwaniya section of Kuwait City. Total cost was approximately 13.5 KD (tip and water included). On Saturday I stayed at home (way too dusty outside) and cooked for myself. I can't eat out every day because if I did that I'd soon be as 'big as a house'.

The Sharq Mall - opened around 2001. This mall was once THE mall to see and be seen in. Although time has past it by (the Avenues Mall is now the 'IN' place to be), the Sharq Mall is still a nice place to shop.

Naturally, with all the petro dollars rolling into the country, Kuwait is in the midst of a building boom. Most new buildings utilize a typical construction crane. This particular building has an interesting network of wooden scaffolding.

When in Kuwait, ALWAYS DRIVE WITH CAUTION!!! Expats are normally obliged to obey the 120 km/hour speed limit - but Kuwaitis and Saudis frequently zip by at 150 - 180 "klicks" (km/hr).

A collection of sheep grazing reminds one of the fact that not too many years ago, most of this part of the Middle East was more dependent upon farming and raising animals (sheep, camels, etc.) than on oil production.