tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12185662024-03-12T17:06:05.759-07:00Caren and Jordan's TravelsFollow our travels near and far as we visit new, old, and exotic places.
We aren't the types that rough it though - we do comfortable adventure travel.
If you're looking for a trekker's guide or the cheapest clean hostel, look elsewhere.
We try to experience many countries and cultures, meeting interesting people, sampling great local food, and visiting exciting attractions.Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.comBlogger210125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-58386983832182519662010-09-11T21:41:00.001-07:002010-10-04T20:06:09.409-07:00<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Antiquities Overload</span></span></strong><br />
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</span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I take back some of what I said about the Greeks not doing a good job of preserving and displaying their antiquities. Today we went to the Greek Archeaological Museum and the Benaki Museum. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">They turned out to be two of the most spectacular museums we have visited anywhere. They weren’t very crowded, because most shore excursions from the massive cruise ships do not include these sites.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s hard to determine which characters are from mythology and which were real people. The Greek history goes back several thousand years and most of the “good stuff” is from hundreds or thousands of years B.C.. After several hours in the two museums, it was mind dulling. One could spend weeks in these two places studying the exhibits and appreciating the historical significance of all of it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are allowed to take pictures in some of the museums, but you are not allowed to use flash or to take pictures posing next to the statues. I couldn’t figure out the rationale for the latter rule until I started to study the Greek statues. Unlike the Egyptian statues, the Greek statues are naked. I guess they don’t want people taking photos in sexually suggestive poses with the naked statues (use your imagination).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f79646; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Athens was a small city until sometime in the 1800s. Now it is a city of 5M+ people in a country of only 11M people. The 2004 Olympic Games were both a curse and a blessing for the city. They undertook a number of massive construction projects and infrastructure improvements that have greatly enhanced the city. But it put the country into deep debt and a lot</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> of the construction projects have little use in today’s Athens.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnCrX1xnGgGDCeYaas1zFstu_nnrbqWTY48c2QCNitGVWCOJrPtjs5L9xzLJ2kfn9C_yYBpmyBOqhC5xOOY7mbjS7AzUeNDzY_WulWE6wzl8wfix16u9GpbyqwWbmVC798vrn/s1600/IMG_5958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnCrX1xnGgGDCeYaas1zFstu_nnrbqWTY48c2QCNitGVWCOJrPtjs5L9xzLJ2kfn9C_yYBpmyBOqhC5xOOY7mbjS7AzUeNDzY_WulWE6wzl8wfix16u9GpbyqwWbmVC798vrn/s320/IMG_5958.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkESR-gM5mr-JvXF-Qne6SBxCcLGjmko9gT7pCJT53B1R_mB_DbgPWVPn4eyM3PC2V1C-l0-GT5yo6bJL6Oa76esRdkcSQXeUnl9PswP2_KQuGvY6fjCjAa32lFmDO3Rm0K29/s1600/IMG_6092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkESR-gM5mr-JvXF-Qne6SBxCcLGjmko9gT7pCJT53B1R_mB_DbgPWVPn4eyM3PC2V1C-l0-GT5yo6bJL6Oa76esRdkcSQXeUnl9PswP2_KQuGvY6fjCjAa32lFmDO3Rm0K29/s320/IMG_6092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLdtR395txpD6sAoV-_umiKBXhc8LRpfIUkZkOSxlhSW9kQ08koUfLYg9Mah2LctCwg7kpePltaAh3rODnTN51kfBS_5BnYMf3KdxYmkrZa0ymTey9XqLsvPCJ7arcl6t1psq/s1600/P1000142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLdtR395txpD6sAoV-_umiKBXhc8LRpfIUkZkOSxlhSW9kQ08koUfLYg9Mah2LctCwg7kpePltaAh3rODnTN51kfBS_5BnYMf3KdxYmkrZa0ymTey9XqLsvPCJ7arcl6t1psq/s320/P1000142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f79646; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="color: #f79646; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div></span></div></div>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-91649301974068784592010-09-10T21:28:00.000-07:002010-10-04T19:54:40.017-07:00<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Publishwithline"><w:sdt docpart="FAE514B56BC9471EB5C0017513656957" id="89512082" storeitemid="X_6C149143-B60B-43B3-BEC2-322F8AF24A08" text="t" title="Post Title" xpath="/ns0:BlogPostInfo/ns0:PostTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Our Collection of Greek “Crapola” Photos</span></b></span></w:sdt><o:p></o:p><br />
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</span></b></span></w:sdt></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Every city has its horde of tourist shops and Athens is no exception. The Plaka area is the oldest part of the city, with many narrow streets, pedestrian lanes, and loads of shops geared to the tourist traffic. Most tourists stay in hotels in or near the Plaka. Even the passengers from the numerous large cruise ships spend at least an afternoon or evening in the Plaka.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Every storefront is either a café, bar, restaurant, clothing store, jeweler, or tourist-oriented gift (crapola) shop. We’ve made it a habit of taking photos of the crapola highlights from each city we visit. Athens got its share of photos.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What’s remarkable about all these tourist items is that 1) people actually buy them in quantity – the inventory seems to turn over rapidly, and 2) most of the stuff is actually made in China.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My favorite crapola item in Athens was the ridiculous looking shoes/slippers.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Check out the latest additions to our collection of crapola photos:</span></span><br />
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</span></span></div><embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fjordan.libit%2Falbumid%2F5515880358579237089%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCJyjjPf59uKfCA%26hl%3Den_US" height="192" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="288"></embed>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-32613614204548312602010-09-09T05:15:00.000-07:002010-09-09T05:46:50.368-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Climbing the Acropolis</span></b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I know it is Rosh Hashonah, but the tour schedule is the tour schedule. This morning we climbed to the top of the Acropolis to see the Parthenon. The climb wasn't a problem.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGBQZQlj9TO-e6obouQMUBrzN6klCbZpiqCV9esTWm0Z5jzFGUoyiMuXdxvxCdZ_oyx_VVeATjYtEEK0kHROUg_44wR-E_53gqdvBvHr3kkOor2gUM6llFjPHOTY6e_-f4Za0/s320/P1000126.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514890494054054274" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The thousands of tourists from the cruise ships docked in the harbor, piling out of the dozens of buses, and descending on the Acropolis the same time as we did - that was the problem. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If you are into people watching, it was a hilarious scene to see the German, Italian, Spanish, and of course, American tourists. It was easy to pick out the nationalities without even listening to them speak. The Italians were all dressed in designer fashions (including the women in high heels) and seemingly oblivious to the 90 degree heat. Most of the Americans were overweight and dressed like slobs, but comfortable slobs. The Spanish talked nonstop, and the Germans dressed with no eye for color coordination or style.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS47tkipRhAVtI8sO08l8hRLG59EdFge3ssmaipWvFooEz4HKAjuu_tA0HNqjaon-tYeaylw993Oh-gBrYgG_LeJF8qrsWrZpDAT46Gsequr1RJD4w00_gLV4XkMNh2t51MNm4/s320/P1000104.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514890514179240018" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Greeks need to do a much better job restoring all their ancient sites. The only way they are going to expand their economy is with tourism, yet the historical sites aren't that impressive.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrsoCit1EaspVR5JKy-J9bxQsDAbL1cZOVGW45HZMoS3iENv4XptMEpJ9eLWx96GGvxqGtk71o73XbqYnUm-Nvj-4jswmtRVbgY_te68mUtlWLsCzlnmQP7_d3f60khP8zewn/s320/P1000082.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514890506595658354" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The new Acropolis museum was the most interesting thing we saw. Just completed a couple of years ago, it does a nice job of displaying the history of the Greek civilization. Too bad the British "stole" some of the best pieces back in the early 1800s (including chunks of the Parthenon) and now display them in the British Museum in London. Good luck trying to get the British to give them back to Greece.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-11311937640497035912010-09-08T10:04:00.000-07:002010-09-09T05:42:19.558-07:00<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ff0000;"><strong>24 Hours in Athens</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPC1yr9HT4u-3liGfWFkVj_e17sy9NL-E-w65iX91LIst1Tnx3vCbVKBekvSl304MJdSjCamiak8RI38X8BDFa5DnlD7vcgV0choVr2pCpT3WcHhyphenhyphenGHhozmfOom7I6i44PtMW/s1600/P1000074.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514591345757332514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPC1yr9HT4u-3liGfWFkVj_e17sy9NL-E-w65iX91LIst1Tnx3vCbVKBekvSl304MJdSjCamiak8RI38X8BDFa5DnlD7vcgV0choVr2pCpT3WcHhyphenhyphenGHhozmfOom7I6i44PtMW/s320/P1000074.JPG" /></a>It's now been a bit over 24 hours since we arrived in Athens. We had a great view of the Acropolis from our hotel room. Tomorrow, we climb up there.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiyrr6R7swVSl6pfno6nJG6YRgeNvwosszpFTLCBZDfqadpNwiapQ7xtfRZJDoRUpeozMxD9SEfMLlwSjiL5lSCVUm7dt9lJZx_kAQKe81BpyTY-LSxqxVtt2smxT5tT0gHxPS/s1600/P1000089.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514591625187748434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiyrr6R7swVSl6pfno6nJG6YRgeNvwosszpFTLCBZDfqadpNwiapQ7xtfRZJDoRUpeozMxD9SEfMLlwSjiL5lSCVUm7dt9lJZx_kAQKe81BpyTY-LSxqxVtt2smxT5tT0gHxPS/s320/P1000089.JPG" /></a>We met the people on the pre-trip tour of Athens before our cruise. Eleven of us on the pre-trip. As we expected, there are some unusual characters. Caren especially liked this couple from Sacramento that looked equipped to venture into the bush on safari.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Caren and I are in our typical California casual wear - shorts, golf shirts, and flip-flops.</span>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-86494383371497825012010-09-07T22:33:00.000-07:002010-09-08T02:19:38.979-07:00<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ff0000;"><strong>John, the New Jersey Taxi Driver</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">First of all, the international terminal at LAX wasn't as bad as I remembered from a few months ago. There is a lot of construction going on to improve the concourses and add new gates. But, just when I was about to change my mind, we found that the elevator to the Star Alliance lounge was broken. Two flights of stairs later, we made it up there. And then two flights of stairs back down - good exercise.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">As expected, our Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt was right on schedule. Our connection to Athens was in an older section of Frankfurt airport - no access to the business class lounge. Aargh!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">When we arrived in Athens, our car driver John was waiting for us. He sounded like he was straight out of New Jersey - he was. His family moved back to Greece more than 15 years ago. He asked how the Yankees and (football) Giants were doing. Caren wanted to ask him if his parents owned a diner in Jersey, but I told her that was a stereotype she should drop.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">A shower and short nap later, we walked down the street from our hotel to a small, family run restaurant. Mom and Dad were in the kitchen and the two sons handled the tables out front. Tzasiki, zucchini croquettes, moussaka, fresh fried anchovies, and two carafes of wine. The bill came to </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">30 Euros (US$39). Try matching that in LA.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Now to catch up on our sleep and start touring tomorrow.</span>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-886549976424344702010-09-06T09:10:00.002-07:002010-09-08T02:25:56.234-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#ff0000;"><b>On Our Way to Greece and the Dalmatian Coast<br /></b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Today, we're off on another journey - this time to Greece and the Dalmatian Coast (i.e. the Balkans). The families of many of our friends originally came from Croatia so we have received lots of advice about what to see, what to eat, and especially, what to drink.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">This is a Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic trip like our trip to Egypt and Jordan last year. Not a luxury cruise; more an expedition with lecturers and visits to lots of historical sites. (I hope we visit some "historic" wineries, pastry shops, and restaurants.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">After a few days in Athens, we board our boat (not big enough to be called a ship). 175' long, three masted sailing vessel that holds 44 passengers. Yes, it also has an engine. We're not planning to climb the mast, operate the winches for the sails, and clean the bilge. It looks modern, luxurious, and comfy.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Been reading some travel and history books about Greece, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia, and Croatia. Looks like we're going to see a LOT of old ruins in Greece. Maybe not as old as some of the stuff we saw in Egypt, but still old. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The Balkan countries seem to have been invaded and ruled by nearly everyone over the years. I think we'll be seeing quite a few old forts, castles, and churches, as well as a lot of beautiful scenery.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Here's a map of our itinerary:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 308px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513838768230134162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6NedVJSQl404_kMbiF_Q_srqZE_LFSuRmbQUPIGTatlmMTOW7NZxWzojsky-H8YuWPTgGawyhvRkApaq6G_6IkmjxeWKtZNn0yCc5j1r6QMUTbI-eijsEsXBv1mx9F-oJe80/s400/expedition_659_368.jpg" /> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div><br /></div></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Of course, this means another opportunity to traverse the "third world" international terminal at LAX. What a terrible </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:small;"><span style="font-size:85%;">facility!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Seriously, we've traveled to over 50 countries around the world and this rates as the third worst airport terminal I can remember (Delhi's international terminal is the worst, followed closely by Yangon (Rangoon), Burma).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">We're flying Lufthansa to Frankfurt, then connecting to Athens. I hope they take good care of our luggage. I'm bringing along a "six pack" of wine to drink at dinner on the boat.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckzdbpuJZnPBJzgc87DZeokaMGHnJtZpnpqVYbZiAopo0GMaTIxNuoDkBAZna-6n9OR5YvR1xA-XsQnNrU2C7qC9aZKQ6IlqALO-kpvo_Nyp6GYO8FzeielAYtNnBVfIBzsDM/s320/LFB747-400D-ABVNLAX.jpg" /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;">More to follow when we get to Athens.</span></span>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-49270598471114397372010-09-05T10:09:00.001-07:002010-09-07T12:33:06.534-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Recent Readings</span></b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Here are some books that we recently finished:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51loCRIbCOL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Between-Assassinations-Aravind-Adiga/dp/1439153167/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283793050&sr=1-1#reader_1439153167"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Between the Assassinations</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> by Aravind Adiga. A series of stories about various people living in a fictional city in south India. If you read this book (or his book The White Tiger) and still want to go to India, you are as crazy as we are.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41yufTix9QL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Agent-Zigzag-Story-Espionage-Betrayal/dp/0307353419/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283793448&sr=1-1">Agent Zigzag</a> by Ben Macintyre. Another book about Nazis and double agents. Caren loves to read this genre of books.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rembrandt-Affair-Gabriel-Allon/dp/0399156585/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283793770&sr=1-1">The Rembrandt Affair</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:small;"> by Daniel Silva. Another is the series of spy thrillers he's written with a fictional Israeli agent, Gabriel Allon. First book I read on Caren's new Kindle 3.</span></div>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-67259730264381899622010-04-15T16:55:00.000-07:002010-10-04T19:04:17.474-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l3dFb9TIT1LYO5YE7UFhxEegfy48Ryjl7Wmm5_dBwGnFALZ7Eyt8eSzifAf6N7mCvr-5p5NoeC4gypgv3Wdqg0sHLJrZGA3AW5b4POyUjwSpN4wcH6XdLETWjygR4YZT2CR8/s1600/P1060274-1.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l3dFb9TIT1LYO5YE7UFhxEegfy48Ryjl7Wmm5_dBwGnFALZ7Eyt8eSzifAf6N7mCvr-5p5NoeC4gypgv3Wdqg0sHLJrZGA3AW5b4POyUjwSpN4wcH6XdLETWjygR4YZT2CR8/s320/P1060274-1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460531972421081058" /></a><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Caren's Photo Wins</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Caren entered this photo in the weekly travel picture contest on </span></span><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36277293/ns/travel-destinations"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">MSNBC.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. And she won!! Congratulations.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">She took this picture one morning on the streets of Narlai in the state of Rajasthan during our bicycle trip in India in October 2008. She used her Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 ultrazoom digital camera. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The woman's son is disabled and she walks him around town every day in a large bowl balanced on her head. She stopped to speak with Caren and explained that the boy enjoys the daily walks. He also has a wheelchair that she uses some of the time.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This was one of the many memorable "up close and personal" experiences we had on our trip to India. Check out the other </span></span><a href="http://winston.blogspot.com/search/label/india"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">blog postings</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and links to the </span></span><a href="http://indiatrip-october2008.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">photo albums</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> from the trip.</span></span></span></div></div>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-81856680092420503332009-03-09T15:42:00.000-07:002009-10-16T12:23:08.023-07:00<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ff0000;"><strong>Exploring Egypt and Jordan (the country)</strong></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfaWvrhBfM7Zxbv2WcLLbrTLISe8Fy5TOsgj50aRyPu-3LBwg7vKHrSo5ELj5ATd4aYXCH1oOI0rO4IQrHMsWnQVzA8BRurwYojbEjCIOoqZesLCMQqIXCNBOgptalP0ibAqI/s1600-h/template_2and3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 173px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310966628657387282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfaWvrhBfM7Zxbv2WcLLbrTLISe8Fy5TOsgj50aRyPu-3LBwg7vKHrSo5ELj5ATd4aYXCH1oOI0rO4IQrHMsWnQVzA8BRurwYojbEjCIOoqZesLCMQqIXCNBOgptalP0ibAqI/s320/template_2and3.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;">Tomorrow, we are headed off on another adventurous journey - this time to Egypt and Jordan. We are going on a tour organized by Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic.</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;">Our first stop is Cairo and we are arriving two days ahead of the start of the tour. So, I've arranged a couple of days of interesting activities before the formal program begins. No......we are not going to sit down with the Palestinians and the Israelis to try hammering out a peace agreement. And no....we are NOT going carpet shopping. (We've done far too much of that in Morocco and India.)</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;">One day, we are going to take a cooking class in a woman's home and learn to make several Egyptian/Middle Eastern recipes. (Get ready for an invitation to dinner at our house and a showing of a DVD of our photos and video - just like watching boring home movies when we were kids.) The next day, I hired a guide to show us around sites in Cairo that our tour isn't going to visit - lots of mosques, churches, and even a synagogue.</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;">This all assumes we arrive in Cairo - I think the chances are pretty good. We've flown the Air France flight from LAX to Paris a couple of times before and it's reliable. The Paris to Cairo leg I'm not too sure about.</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">If you want a good laugh and see a bit of Cairo ahead of our dinner, check out Anthony Bourdain's show on The Travel Channel. If they broadcast his episode visiting Cairo, it's hilarious. He went the entire trip and refused to visit the pyramids. It's also on The Travel Channel's website and YouTube for viewing.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Check out the map below and the links to the itineraries for our tour to each country.</span><br /><p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxPgefaSUFALSrc4hQsQdshj5pwTG0MNIny8wHa943VA44fwqbq_L0ReNIusbnemWH6ADUnITgESOX8sf6SfxQNee22c-By8I7LeVX_dnvPMsvALXKi18ZumSrUL7MUCjX_d7/s1600-h/expedition_188_179.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 231px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310967252975286498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxPgefaSUFALSrc4hQsQdshj5pwTG0MNIny8wHa943VA44fwqbq_L0ReNIusbnemWH6ADUnITgESOX8sf6SfxQNee22c-By8I7LeVX_dnvPMsvALXKi18ZumSrUL7MUCjX_d7/s400/expedition_188_179.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.expeditions.com/Day_By_Day65.asp?Expedition=188&Destination=291"><span target="_blank" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85;">Trip Itinerary (Egypt)</span></a></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.expeditions.com/Trip_Extensions76.asp?Expedition=188&Destination=291&Extension=144"><span target="_blank" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85;">Trip Itinerary (Jordan)</span></a></p>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-33983321359117295682009-02-01T14:46:00.000-08:002010-04-16T08:57:08.660-07:00<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ff0000;"><strong>Our First Wine Has Arrived</strong></span><br /><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqM9urWvIe82w7YtS2ibDgEpKjBynPON2RzZtrlobVSoMWDBfIcNxEQQw79waP58QyGOt2-1nQDQeNT8dJ9t1II3zMcVNS9XCiabatrDR_sKzjnC2bcT6H9oHxP3EfOY1F6IPf/s1600-h/P1300148.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297967621452404386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqM9urWvIe82w7YtS2ibDgEpKjBynPON2RzZtrlobVSoMWDBfIcNxEQQw79waP58QyGOt2-1nQDQeNT8dJ9t1II3zMcVNS9XCiabatrDR_sKzjnC2bcT6H9oHxP3EfOY1F6IPf/s200/P1300148.JPG" border="0" /></a>Yesterday, our UPS driver delivered a case of the first wine that we produced at Crushpad in San Francisco under the name of Brandywine Wine Cellars. Brandywine is Barry, Laurie, Caren, and me.</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;">2007 Satire Pinot Noir from the Sleepy Hollow Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County.</span></span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297967620721253666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzSYnC1DdxQJC-0_7PuB2kvBPmpYeXQymDLr27H6H_kn7Hp7e765MWXFhJyAQlOYmmTigvWHzOFWDtMGpMKtatZxqRRSbVtrU1-udnYZj6Biw0Ue6h0Z8UTUWcCS2En-No3xF/s200/P1300153.JPG" border="0" /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"> </span></div><p></p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXe-nAUp74sC_2MdYXzisJ513IJnbZO-92Z4Imkjt7kgz5L-iBYiewEEoNWBxGEVq0KCZyRytFf716qp1Ep7S1_NvhV1QuQ8fvYzW2YiP9lUH-vwGyFlDcPErnJBfJrUTpEVio/s1600-h/P1300152.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297969206267913506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXe-nAUp74sC_2MdYXzisJ513IJnbZO-92Z4Imkjt7kgz5L-iBYiewEEoNWBxGEVq0KCZyRytFf716qp1Ep7S1_NvhV1QuQ8fvYzW2YiP9lUH-vwGyFlDcPErnJBfJrUTpEVio/s200/P1300152.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFv9vix_wbkkJCBLxbbxdbq8LI58v_50gtrVfCQDImG9LUO5vub6QQK6qIzWB-T0sBe5O9T6uLz35i3apfKNgKrdI4QwvRMFIprLlxrxYehCxLwVUjpM32o7_djSxZv9E-hsJu/s1600-h/P1300156.JPG"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297965994246686754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFv9vix_wbkkJCBLxbbxdbq8LI58v_50gtrVfCQDImG9LUO5vub6QQK6qIzWB-T0sBe5O9T6uLz35i3apfKNgKrdI4QwvRMFIprLlxrxYehCxLwVUjpM32o7_djSxZv9E-hsJu/s200/P1300156.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Throwing fears of bottle shock to the winds, we opened a bottle and tasted it. This is a dark, complex, age-worthy Pinot. Purple/red in color. Nose of earth, tar, black cherry, and oak. Not a hugely fruit-forward wine. Lush palate with an array of berry fruits. Long finish for a Pinot this young. This will definitely improve with age.</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;">Now we need to price it and start to sell it. We have a commercial license and need to build a website so people can place orders. Caren and I have 12 cases of the stuff. </span></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Or we can drink it and give some away to friends.</span></p></div>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-78794273889125149982009-01-28T14:36:00.000-08:002009-02-01T14:46:07.740-08:00<strong><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ff0000;">Challenges with the Granddog</span></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">The last two months, our daughter Erin has had a few problems with her dog Colbie. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">First, Colbie got hit by a car when she was being walked (and on her leash). Hit and run driver. The dog got bruised and was shook up, but all is well (after Dad picked up the vet bill).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">While at the vet hospital, they took an X-ray and found not one, but two items in the dog's stomach. She had swallowed two balls. Time to schedule surgery.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">While we were in D.C., Colbie went in for surgery to have the items in her stomach removed. Colbie's surgery was one of FOUR such surgeries the vet performed that day. The vet said that she does an average of six such procedures every week.</span><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7yO_XPtrWTHUzNdrv7pOOreQoQXMWODmGlY4pmbqYTCUEqKxTFKtj873Jqm4tiC1aAGDXqw4dEjGYFDyRLqd7DhJ8L5BnrJtRW3hEGWjT1mQ0kqZMUzBEkOdXq0DFm7nqbLI/s1600-h/Colbie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297963253175458162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7yO_XPtrWTHUzNdrv7pOOreQoQXMWODmGlY4pmbqYTCUEqKxTFKtj873Jqm4tiC1aAGDXqw4dEjGYFDyRLqd7DhJ8L5BnrJtRW3hEGWjT1mQ0kqZMUzBEkOdXq0DFm7nqbLI/s320/Colbie.jpg" border="0" /></a>Here is a photo of what they pulled from the dog's stomach - a small tennis ball and a deflated, inflatable football dog toy.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Dad picked up the vet bill for this one too.</span></p>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-66631946559488097382009-01-27T19:51:00.000-08:002009-01-27T19:59:48.835-08:00<p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ff0000;"><strong>Obama's Inauguration</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Last week, we traveled to Washington, DC to visit Erin and to attend parts of the Presidential Inauguration for Barack Obama. Here is a photo and video show of some of the events. Click on the caption icon in the bottom left to view the captions. On a few slides, you will see a movie icon in the lower left. Click on the icon to see the video run.</span><br /></span><br /><embed pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fjordan.libit%2Falbumid%2F5296183218389827697%3Fkind%3Dphoto%26alt%3Drss%26authkey%3DcPnTqi9pDN0"></embed></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">It was VERY COLD back East. It reminded me why we live in California.</span></p>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-62156090031064569092009-01-07T02:25:00.000-08:002009-01-07T16:30:41.635-08:00<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ff0000;"><strong>Out with the Old, In with the New</strong></span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMhGyV9UC4oxOHIJJx1L6ALRXPxPQd3Grv_TRf48QhZ-iCz6QFoC7RcIGxe_r7EuNULeFQqS7pgQunVp2UF4avrH4tKPLWpYzCS5AweGRVU3JNaKMC7DFny6f6OWPAa66_Eum/s1600-h/PB100076-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288713377362772050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 144px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMhGyV9UC4oxOHIJJx1L6ALRXPxPQd3Grv_TRf48QhZ-iCz6QFoC7RcIGxe_r7EuNULeFQqS7pgQunVp2UF4avrH4tKPLWpYzCS5AweGRVU3JNaKMC7DFny6f6OWPAa66_Eum/s200/PB100076-1.JPG" border="0" /></a>Today was the day we sold the old wheels and officially went back to being a two car family. Our friend "The Sheriff" bought our old Lexus after we bought a new Beemer a few weeks ago. He has to give up his "company car" in a few months when he retires from LASD. He fell in love with the Lexus so we made him a deal.</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Kumquat is sorry to see his "perch" in the garage go.</span></p>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-28805077966656753702008-12-16T03:46:00.001-08:002009-01-07T15:56:22.454-08:00<p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ff0000;"><strong>Chanra's Bicycle Racing Team</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Our friend Chanra in Siem Reap, Cambodia, participated in a mountain biking race this past weekend. He finished 16 out of 150 riders. Chanra is the one in the orange jersey holding up the bicycle. That's his wife in some of the photos.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><embed pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fjordan.libit%2Falbumid%2F5280979122038817601%3Fkind%3Dphoto%26alt%3Drss%26authkey%3DgbS8KesaWO4"></embed><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Our friends John and Pauline recently returned from a trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. They met Chanra when they arrived in Siem Reap. Coincidentally, their tour guide rented bicycles for them from Chanra. Little did they know that they helped Chanra (and me) make some money.</span></p>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-17150636010388473962008-12-09T16:07:00.003-08:002009-01-07T16:20:54.381-08:00<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ff0000;"><strong>Barrel Tasting the Good Stuff</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#ff0000;"></span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoNB4GCIe4dtWLKpY0hpRUQICkXHsxIz69EoywlF9bIDeLaYoEkC4sYgM4nceGShpj67cm_ffbqQmSmBFXfqyDz7fhZwT8fVxm8svsHYRtwpE7gI0ImZ2tyYWjfKuPsDGi_R4/s1600-h/PC080087-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288709671120129170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoNB4GCIe4dtWLKpY0hpRUQICkXHsxIz69EoywlF9bIDeLaYoEkC4sYgM4nceGShpj67cm_ffbqQmSmBFXfqyDz7fhZwT8fVxm8svsHYRtwpE7gI0ImZ2tyYWjfKuPsDGi_R4/s200/PC080087-1.JPG" border="0" /></a>Our friends Margot and JP are over from Australia. They spent the Thanksgiving holiday on the East Coast and then headed to LA before their long flight back to Sydney.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxfj5I9s2-HMkuG7CKSqFg8a1MlLo4uZsx851dmORWk0erVByiLGSPsSrr6d-mQb1Dm9clSaueuUiM3GjrwPNNq_Dm2XCkhJCtJbiAb4QgexpBi_DST0GmzGi7ngzLJOJKGAa/s1600-h/PC080090-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288709669094734146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxfj5I9s2-HMkuG7CKSqFg8a1MlLo4uZsx851dmORWk0erVByiLGSPsSrr6d-mQb1Dm9clSaueuUiM3GjrwPNNq_Dm2XCkhJCtJbiAb4QgexpBi_DST0GmzGi7ngzLJOJKGAa/s200/PC080090-1.JPG" border="0" /></a>We took them up to Santa Barbara County for a night to do some wine tasting, enjoy the scenery, and sample some good food.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">We spent a couple of hours at Tantara Winery outside of Santa Maria. We last visited Tantara about three years ago. This is the winery where we know one of the owners.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfYp1MN9JoiauVOPHvRbukh6XQ3LE282Bxv2TedxDJ3sZiiaGqND0l70c5EFWP14GSriOXBu3nLhYHvE03H8etgzZMfWbwbaOAI3KYWfLgKkMiG-yAUWUzWnftittqQs8kGQg/s1600-h/PC080091-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288709672653289522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfYp1MN9JoiauVOPHvRbukh6XQ3LE282Bxv2TedxDJ3sZiiaGqND0l70c5EFWP14GSriOXBu3nLhYHvE03H8etgzZMfWbwbaOAI3KYWfLgKkMiG-yAUWUzWnftittqQs8kGQg/s200/PC080091-1.JPG" border="0" /></a>We sampled various Pinot Noirs, Syrahs and Chardonnays from the barrels for about two hours. Fortunately, we didn't have to drive back to LA that night.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">After the barrel tasting experience, we headed to Solvang to spend the night and had dinner at The Hitching Post in Buellton. This restaurant was made famous in the movie "Sideways" and is famous for their wood grilled dishes. We did NOT order Merlot (the big joke in the movie).</span><br /></p>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-62160027603791588912008-11-12T16:51:00.004-08:002008-11-12T16:58:52.900-08:00<p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ff0000;"><strong>Photos from Our Trip to India</strong></span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">We took a LOT of photos on our recent trip to India. It was very difficult to edit them down to a reasonable number. We finally gave up and created a separate blog with all of the photos. </span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Click <a href="http://indiatrip-october2008.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a> to go to the new blog or go to the URL</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><a href="http://indiatrip-october2008.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://indiatrip-october2008.blogspot.com/</a></span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">You can either click on a link to view the set of photos from each stop on our trip OR click the arrows to view the slideshows.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">We are going to pick a TOP 50 set of photos and post them separately.</span></p>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-73349702878766080982008-11-05T08:48:00.002-08:002008-11-05T08:53:04.857-08:00<p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ff0000;"><strong>Urban Cowboys Struggle With India's Sacred Strays</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">In this morning's NY Times there was an article about the stray cows roaming the streets of New Delhi and the actions being taken to round them up. Indian wranglers? The milk mafia? Only in India.....</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Click on the link to read the article.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/world/asia/05india.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink" target="_blank">New Delhi Journal Article</a></span></p>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-15422849388748290372008-11-01T02:18:00.003-07:002008-11-01T02:38:38.153-07:00<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" >A True India Experience</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" > <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7ZqzWiEOPJr0Wj_V-wDQ9vyXn1ErtGupbu6xfj0FqY6sLdAGc3EQn9Cx0pOGpwlhZlG9CqfohpvDB9ptwAZoIQ5_rpREdZWBLMyD3eJ-GYFuWf_YqkjVaxfQpG0WAAbvXBIG/s1600-h/IMG_3392.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7ZqzWiEOPJr0Wj_V-wDQ9vyXn1ErtGupbu6xfj0FqY6sLdAGc3EQn9Cx0pOGpwlhZlG9CqfohpvDB9ptwAZoIQ5_rpREdZWBLMyD3eJ-GYFuWf_YqkjVaxfQpG0WAAbvXBIG/s320/IMG_3392.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263618834751634162" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">We did our final shopping spree this morning. We got a taxi from our hotel - not just any taxi, but an Ambassador Classic with a Sikh driver from Punjab state. You can't get more Indian than this.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />The Ambassador is the definitive Indian car. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">It was the first car to be manufactured in India and has been plying the Indian roads since 1948. Its dependability, spaciousness and comfort factor have made it the most preferred car for generations of Indians (not Americans). In major cities all over India, Ambassador taxis are like yellow cabs in New York City. Our driver could fit right in to Manhattan in an instant, including his turban.</span></span><br /> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />It is</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> manufactured by Hindustan Motors in India</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">The </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">Amby</i><span style="font-family:verdana;">, as it is affectionately called, has been in continuous production since its inception, with very few changes to its bulbous round frame. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">The current models have been in production since 1957</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> and are based on the Morris Oxford first made in the U.K.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Because of its long production history, parts are readily available throughout India and every mechanic, driver, and housewife knows how to repair them.<br /><br />The Amby is truly an India classic.<br /><br />An extra added feature of our taxi ride was the driver's continual insistence on taking us to his "best" places to shop. You must be firm in saying "no" (if you can even understand his Hindish - accented English). He gets a commission from any purchases you make at these places. He even asked several times if we needed a driver later and if we would like to do more shopping. These guys are aggressive - like a tick under your skin.</span></span>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-31492364911551561832008-10-31T19:36:00.003-07:002010-08-27T20:05:16.121-07:00<span style=" font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;">The Indian Entrepreneur</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />CNN International is running this hilarious commercial for HSBC. It typifies the entrepreneurial spirit in India. A new way to make lassi - Indian whipped yoghurt shake. I plucked it from YouTube.</span></span><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LnKhlymHcu0?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LnKhlymHcu0?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-18195177284558916322008-10-31T08:32:00.005-07:002008-10-31T09:12:02.740-07:00<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >New Compared to Old in Delhi</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />When we stayed at the Imperial Hotel in New Delhi at the beginning of our trip, we experienced old, colonial Delhi. The staff was experienced, knowledgeable, and efficient. It should be - The Imperial is one of the finest hotels in the world.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Coming back to Delhi, I cashed in a bunch of Hyatt points and we are staying at the Hyatt Regency Delhi. It is a remarkable contrast. This hotel is the new, modern, hip Delhi. It is located in the newer, southern area of New Delhi. The staff overwhelms you in numbers, but their efficiency is sometimes suspect. The rooms are glass, hardwoods, and marble.<br /><br />We ate dinner in the signature Chinese restaurant. (I know what you are thinking - the Chinese and Indians fought in a war about 10 years ago, so why is there a Chinese restaurant in Delhi.) There were no fewer than 10 chefs in the glass walled kitchen. There must have been 20+ wait staff, including one fellow who did nothing but do circuits of the restaurant with a Swiffer-type mop to keep footprints off of the modern dark hardwood floors. They had a wine refrigerator that must have cost $50,000. The food was wonderful, but it was one of the more expensive Chinese meals we ever had.<br /><br />If this is what Delhi is becoming (like many other major cities of the world), then I vote to stay at the Imperial on our next visit.</span></span>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-8995970778240099432008-10-31T07:13:00.006-07:002008-11-01T21:10:27.804-07:00<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" >Anecdotes from the Agra-Delhi Highway</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" > <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />The drive from Agra to Delhi is about 200km. The road is actually pretty good most of the way - or else we are becoming accustomed to the vagaries of travel in India.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uat9V8nFIB6O99zH4dBoeVrX0wPQdSXNVyL0Kmc9aGA41LI8TIitK63QMDw-0DypRYpINgFwnb551UAoG6fQ8aDEw0EVghBsfK8tAOx8HSrjAhkSC6BOCsttX146NLjY1bxe/s1600-h/P1060916.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uat9V8nFIB6O99zH4dBoeVrX0wPQdSXNVyL0Kmc9aGA41LI8TIitK63QMDw-0DypRYpINgFwnb551UAoG6fQ8aDEw0EVghBsfK8tAOx8HSrjAhkSC6BOCsttX146NLjY1bxe/s200/P1060916.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263360064543165442" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Our driver Parveen is great. He manuveurs around other vehicles with ease. I would have dented every door and fender on the car as well as ripping off the side mirrors. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Highway driving in India is unique. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">The law says that trucks and buses are supposed to drive in the slow lane on a multilane highway. No one obeys the law. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Just the opposite occurs - trucks and buses hang out in the fast lane. To pass, you dodge to their inside and swerve around the autorickshaws, motorbikes, and camel drawn carts. Absolutely crazy!</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Anything with at least two legs or two wheels can travel on the roads here. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Trucks, buses, cars, autorickshaws (tuk-tuks), motorbikes, bicycles, tractors, human-powered rickshaws, goat herds, and animal drawn carts. Since the four lane highway is divided, occasionally you need to cross the center median and drive on the wrong side of the highway to get to where you want to go. They don't know from interchanges or exit ramps. This makes traveling an exciting experience. Don't ever think of renting a car in India - you wouldn't survive 10 minutes. You must be born with Indian driving skills in your genes.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">As we drove along, we noticed an unusually large number of post high school education buildings. Dozens of them within a stretch of 20km-30km. Institute of Technology and Management Studies. College of Pharmacy. College of Medical Studies. Dental Studies School. All of them seem to be equivalent to trade schools in the U.S.. But many of them are unfinished, empty, or in obvious disrepair. All we can figure is that there must be some government tax incentives to build these schools, but no one ever checks if there are students, teachers, or classes.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h_lmZyCFsFZRyuqkTDprHO1pQ4bbZUKdbDdR8XouxVJ5C6aVyZnVJkwrKna1rcFxGiE9fMHoNm2l4EMq7zWygeT4RkqQjws7hxaPRUxi1_z7gI6xC7ntczzCMCPyB3biD6YZ/s1600-h/IMG_3385.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h_lmZyCFsFZRyuqkTDprHO1pQ4bbZUKdbDdR8XouxVJ5C6aVyZnVJkwrKna1rcFxGiE9fMHoNm2l4EMq7zWygeT4RkqQjws7hxaPRUxi1_z7gI6xC7ntczzCMCPyB3biD6YZ/s200/IMG_3385.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263360073694490562" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Tuk-tuks are a common, inexpensive form of transportation. It is amazing how many people can fit into one of these three-wheeled vehicles. Sometimes there are 2-3 people sitting up front with the driver, 4 people sitting on a small backwards facing bench behind the driver, 4-6 people on a forward facing bench behind that, 4-6 people on a backwards facing bench behind that, and perhaps 2-3 people standing on the running boards and hanging on. All these people riding on a vehicle with about a 35 HP engine. Seat belts - you got to be kidding. Air bags - who needs them. Crash resistant bumpers - never been seen here. Air conditioning - hope that no one has overwhelming body odor.<br /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtu0Sf0tix-qC6kivRYfYXV8gL6ESbeRRIDMzB07krJQPiVL7jAyM3MuivSjuo3XYly8yoixZblJTxBPgunQkII7Bw089p4Yjuo-vBJFTznm4pURhrBV3LSGJbqxds7Xk8sZHP/s1600-h/IMG_3386.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtu0Sf0tix-qC6kivRYfYXV8gL6ESbeRRIDMzB07krJQPiVL7jAyM3MuivSjuo3XYly8yoixZblJTxBPgunQkII7Bw089p4Yjuo-vBJFTznm4pURhrBV3LSGJbqxds7Xk8sZHP/s200/IMG_3386.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263360075573211058" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">We love the trucks. The various ways that drivers dress them up are dazzling. Truck art is a competition among long distance goods haulers.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkvTxsQV-xJ-PJrqdmPL4kJiwyFGuxtuSqGwBQ4rlE6oOECgZmeipx29fnOOiuAb2nWpG9Q29wcV74S03TGwQsLg5VoZM9A8n0xF_RWTcqhJLwmn8aj1VOsO8-MqxpEzxXWNo/s1600-h/IMG_3387.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 124px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkvTxsQV-xJ-PJrqdmPL4kJiwyFGuxtuSqGwBQ4rlE6oOECgZmeipx29fnOOiuAb2nWpG9Q29wcV74S03TGwQsLg5VoZM9A8n0xF_RWTcqhJLwmn8aj1VOsO8-MqxpEzxXWNo/s200/IMG_3387.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263360067704660754" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">And you quickly get used to the words on the back of every truck - "Horn Please" means honk to let the driver know you are passing. "Use Dipper at Night" means to dim your high beams when approaching at night. Very considerate.</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5Zj_sqWuihGnbFKn7Lc1K4oCC1ZkMVaXCmcRIbpcvuaWroNk9_RSesPvkX5lvsCyF5jmxxeT0wPZKN81LDR0q-BzGxNdMW_-_vlt1J2aV8BL1kXquo3rI1m-nk8nF1EVz5Ht/s1600-h/IMG_3388.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5Zj_sqWuihGnbFKn7Lc1K4oCC1ZkMVaXCmcRIbpcvuaWroNk9_RSesPvkX5lvsCyF5jmxxeT0wPZKN81LDR0q-BzGxNdMW_-_vlt1J2aV8BL1kXquo3rI1m-nk8nF1EVz5Ht/s200/IMG_3388.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263360058897616722" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">There are roadside stands near every town that sell motorbike helmets. Based upon how much money you want to spend, you can get better protection. The helmets look the same, but the more you pay, the heavier the plastic. Kind of like "you bet your life". There are no government regulations on helmet safety tests. The only government law is that it is compulsory to wear a helmet. Another law that no one obeys. Especially passengers on motorbikes. It is common to see a family of four all riding on the same motorbike.</span></span>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-72814587085817028252008-10-30T18:50:00.002-07:002008-10-30T18:53:33.795-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Photos of Taj Mahal</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Caren better not get any ideas - no tomb for her. We visited the Taj Mahal yesterday - the building built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal. Completed in 1653, it is one of the wonders of the world. And the crowds sure confirm that. Better be prepared. And bring along lots of film or memory cards for your camera.</span></span><br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fjordan.libit%2Falbumid%2F5263127033137151649%3Fkind%3Dphoto%26alt%3Drss%26authkey%3DlZvylQLW1pg" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-5926485126284122672008-10-30T06:14:00.003-07:002008-10-30T18:57:12.513-07:00<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" >More Amusing Musings About India</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />We are settled into the Oberoi Amarvilas here in Agra (with a view of the Taj Mahal from every room) and I started contemplating recent experiences. Time for some more thoughts and observations.<br /><br />India is investing huge sums into improving infrastructure, but there are some exceptions. The new airport terminal in Udiapur has capacity for 10x the number of flights they handle every day. Jaipur had a new terminal under construction. Someday they will finish the new domestic and international terminals in Delhi (perhaps before the Commonwealth Games in 2010). They are building beautiful (private) toll roads throughout the country. The problem is that India is trying to do it all at once. The probability is very high that some projects will fail or get seriously delayed. Like what we saw today - we drive along a four lane wide new toll road on our way from Jaipur to Agra. Suddenly the good road ends and you wind up on a two lane road with huge potholes.<br /><br />Governments exercising emminent domain has a side effect here in India. To acquire the land for the toll roads, the government granted local people the right not to have to pay tolls. Nor do they have to drive on the correct side of the road. Try driving at 60 miles an hour only to spy a camel drawn cart coming at you in your lane.<br /><br />The entire country is one giant, public urinal. In Jaipur, we actually saw a line of public urinals for men at a street corner. Just walk right up and pee (or if the urinal is not convenient, use the nearest building wall).<br /><br />I found a new favorite snack food - Masala Munchies. Think Cheetos with masala spice instead of cheddar cheese. These things are addictive. I have to find them somewhere in LA or bring back a case.<br /><br />Caren started reading "The White Tiger". We passed it around to everyone on our trip and there was unanimity that the book described India perfectly. There is a quote early on that describes the Indian psyche: "Our nation, though it has no drinking water, electricity, sewage system, public transportation, sense of hygiene, discipline, courtesy, or punctuality, does have entrepreneurs. Thousands and thousands of them". Buy the book - it's a good read.<br /><br />Our driver for Jaipur, Agra, and back to Delhi, Parveen, is very nice and a good talker. Most of the time when we have a conversation, we understand each other. Occasionally, it's a situation when we are having two different conversations and nodding at each other to be polite.<br /><br />GPS is needed here in India, but the government forbids it for security reasons. There are no street signs, and addresses seem to follow no rhyme or reason. You have to ask for directions from the autorickshaw drivers that are always napping in their parked vehicles. Do these guys ever work?<br /></span></span>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-87023335989709002902008-10-29T04:04:00.011-07:002008-11-03T12:10:49.122-08:00<span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Caren Talks Shop With Her Mahout</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-size:85%;" ></span><br /></span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7EjgRpuFXSvYSEyf25U1phGDigJYI6QJN-L0ySQdSpJx7dECdeNZjVDr1WhimE_-qUZCcDnNfiACHMy2NPmiJ68ynT35Kz8VxYdLQSSaumfqMtnlXjAECnq_bkbQ6uLmGUQq/s1600-h/Caren_elephant.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262535034980164898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 211px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7EjgRpuFXSvYSEyf25U1phGDigJYI6QJN-L0ySQdSpJx7dECdeNZjVDr1WhimE_-qUZCcDnNfiACHMy2NPmiJ68ynT35Kz8VxYdLQSSaumfqMtnlXjAECnq_bkbQ6uLmGUQq/s320/Caren_elephant.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">For those of you that follow our blog, you may recall that Caren had an experience as a mahout (elephant driver/trainer) when we were in Northern Thailand. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Today, we went out to the Amber Fort north of Jaipur. If you arrive early enough, you get a chance to ride elephants up the hillside to the fort.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Here is a photo of Caren talking shop with our elephant and her mahout. Caren called her the Jewish elephant - you'll see why. She sped past a bunch of other elephants. She should have been given a speeding ticket by the elephant traffic police.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVR4syntvwtZtBpRrCWabF9B0U83hs7q13X1Im9jt3hxG5pmqSx2K2ka_uFt8KaEKDs8fFpK3uWvmiAItRfA7TDhM8Ew9LOJtHGZ60SsKOLPOpcZeNq4RFNBm_H7cH5ptKoq6/s1600-h/amber_fort.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262535038666695250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 191px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVR4syntvwtZtBpRrCWabF9B0U83hs7q13X1Im9jt3hxG5pmqSx2K2ka_uFt8KaEKDs8fFpK3uWvmiAItRfA7TDhM8Ew9LOJtHGZ60SsKOLPOpcZeNq4RFNBm_H7cH5ptKoq6/s320/amber_fort.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Amber Fort (palace) was built in the late 1500s on top of an 11th century fort. It follows the contours of a ridge surrounded on three sides by hills for protection. It is an enormous structure with magnificent architecture. It is also one of the most famous (and visited) attractions in Rajasthan. Good thing we arrived early - the packed tour buses of Germans showed up about 30 minutes after us.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNLE6F45ZyTxpKdiECgE6tSRkzs1ISAkPpTUUJEb-RF_Rj_Mu_gyPiDS71lXwuQpdWqzTVreh0diQcnrrJjhvu2MJYcx4mWx2kkRhOdgXHUlCClcOYPVNhG2Fe7yJ8UqOzIUO/s1600-h/caren_shopping.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262535039729953458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNLE6F45ZyTxpKdiECgE6tSRkzs1ISAkPpTUUJEb-RF_Rj_Mu_gyPiDS71lXwuQpdWqzTVreh0diQcnrrJjhvu2MJYcx4mWx2kkRhOdgXHUlCClcOYPVNhG2Fe7yJ8UqOzIUO/s320/caren_shopping.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">On the way back to Jaipur, we stopped at a textile factory/showroom that was recommended. There must be 500 garment factory/showrooms in Jaipur, plus hundreds more shops that sell the production of these places. Caren had a great time with our salesman, D. S. Chauhan (one of the owner's sons), and of course bought a lot of gifts. </span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">(Jordan haggled the price and paid the bill.)</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwmhSWbqyiDx93-bufiHm1ioaK6wSw3J9XgEcLg_AvjIhiuxrIm4LE-ODP_tbpq0cI91LZR5ObvkRTIK42g5QSUMEwzyny_dF4LuMRhIdI7J6ljRgw2LV__4ud-JjmBBzCHm5/s1600-h/winds.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262535042685311154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwmhSWbqyiDx93-bufiHm1ioaK6wSw3J9XgEcLg_AvjIhiuxrIm4LE-ODP_tbpq0cI91LZR5ObvkRTIK42g5QSUMEwzyny_dF4LuMRhIdI7J6ljRgw2LV__4ud-JjmBBzCHm5/s320/winds.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Our final stop touring Jaipur was a photo op at Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds). This is one of the most photographed pictures in India (after the Taj Mahal). Built around 1800, its windows and balconies were designed to allow the builder's harem to view processions while staying unnoticed. It is merely a facade to a building one room deep.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">(I'll put up a slideshow of Jaipur in another posting.)</span></span>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1218566.post-19497987709399890922008-10-29T02:37:00.001-07:002008-10-29T04:46:14.313-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Fixing a Traffic Ticket in India</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;">In most Indian cities, there are police at the busy corners to direct traffic (when there is no "roundabout" - a contribution of British colonial rule). Drivers in India rarely pay attention to stop lights, so the traffic police stand in little booths in the center of intersections and try to control the flow of cars, buses, motorcycles, rickshaws (motorized and manual), bicycles, and cows. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is a joke here that if you are stopped by the traffic police, they tell you the ticket cost 200 rupees. But, if you pay the policeman 100 rupees, no ticket. You can guess pretty quickly how much revenue the government collects from traffic tickets.<br /><br />I wonder if the LA County Sheriff deputy who patrols PV Drive East near our house would sign up for this program.</span></span>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06552333592730982230noreply@blogger.com0