Monday, June 27, 2005
Monday Morning at the Communications Center
I made it through Bahrain to Abu Dhabi and now I am in Amsterdam airport. Tulip bulbs are on the way to TRH! We'll see if the little sniffing Beagle dog in the airport luggage area finds them!
Last time we were in this airport the comms center had just opened it - now there's hundreds of people here. I also remember that time we didn't realize we still had to go through another passport control, and we had to jump the line to make our plane. I'll try not to do that again.
Last time we were in this airport the comms center had just opened it - now there's hundreds of people here. I also remember that time we didn't realize we still had to go through another passport control, and we had to jump the line to make our plane. I'll try not to do that again.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Sunday Morning at Starbucks
Finally found a Starbucks with internet access in Dammam. Before this everything was via 19 bps (slow) dial-up.
It's 2am TRH Time - that's 9 am here. I'll stay here a while then go to Bahrain around 5pm, then start home around 11 pm. Today will be along day!
And, by the way, I think there are lurkers out there reading this Blog. Glenn, you there??
It's 2am TRH Time - that's 9 am here. I'll stay here a while then go to Bahrain around 5pm, then start home around 11 pm. Today will be along day!
And, by the way, I think there are lurkers out there reading this Blog. Glenn, you there??
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Saturday Afternoon - Still at the Meridien
Well, I'm not going to make it out of the country tonight. Too much after-school vacation travel happening for me to catch a plane. Tomorrow I will fly out from Bahrain around midnight, laying over in Amsterdam for about 4 hours, then arriving IAD Monday afternnon on KLM #651 at 2:05 pm. I'll take a taxi to TRH and surprize the puppies by around 4pm if all goes OK.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Friday Night at the Meridien
Last day of the weekend here. I rented a driver and went on a 4 hour tour of the area today. I saw a hugh university, lots of empty beaches and closed stores since it is the weekend. There is a new building being built on almost every block here. A new exhibition center looks like it will be one mile square.
After the tour I spend the rest of the afternoon by the pool - 110 degrees actually doesn’t seem so hot when the wind is blowing 30 mph!
After the tour I spend the rest of the afternoon by the pool - 110 degrees actually doesn’t seem so hot when the wind is blowing 30 mph!
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Thursday Night at the Meridien
Midway through another weekend - last one here for a while. I am wait-listed for a KLM flight that gets to IAD at 2pm Sunday afternoon - last day of the weekend in the US. This off-set weekend thing is confusing!
I've hired a driver for 6 hours tomorrow to see some of the area, and bought a map to figure out where to go. I'm doing that instead of diving - I talked with a dive instructor today, and he said the wind from last couple of days was making all diving off east coast "muck diving".
Saturday night at 7pm I make a final presentation about the project I've done, then go to dinner with the group, and get on a flight at midnight (if I clear the waitlist).
I've hired a driver for 6 hours tomorrow to see some of the area, and bought a map to figure out where to go. I'm doing that instead of diving - I talked with a dive instructor today, and he said the wind from last couple of days was making all diving off east coast "muck diving".
Saturday night at 7pm I make a final presentation about the project I've done, then go to dinner with the group, and get on a flight at midnight (if I clear the waitlist).
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Wednesday Night at the Meriden
I made it to Dammam today - 7am flight - and went to construction company to interview the managers about setting up an internal audit department.
Before I left Riyadh I recived the Saudi Diamonds from the Jewellery Shop. Look nice!
I'll work here Thursday, and make my return travel plans. As yet I have not found a way to get from Dammam to Abu Dhabi very efficiently so will visit a travel agent tomorrow. I'm hoping to dive here Friday and leave for the US on Saturday.
Before I left Riyadh I recived the Saudi Diamonds from the Jewellery Shop. Look nice!
I'll work here Thursday, and make my return travel plans. As yet I have not found a way to get from Dammam to Abu Dhabi very efficiently so will visit a travel agent tomorrow. I'm hoping to dive here Friday and leave for the US on Saturday.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Tuesday at the Sheraton
This looks like my last day in Riyadh for a while. Tomorrow I will go to Eastern Province, the city of Damman (near Saudi Aramco HQ), for some interviews on an internal auditing project. Then it's back to TRH over the weekend - the real weekend, Saturday and Sunday!
Still no delivery of Saudi Diamonds from Jewellery Shop No. 79. They say this afternoon the stuff will be delivered. Hope so.
Still no delivery of Saudi Diamonds from Jewellery Shop No. 79. They say this afternoon the stuff will be delivered. Hope so.
Monday, June 20, 2005
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Saturday Afternoon at Starbucks
Went to a GM dealer this morning. They are starting a Quality Circle to implement internal controls and want my help. Then I toured their show room and shop and told them I have a Rover and a Toyota! We'll see if they still want my help!
I may go to Dammam on East Coast for some interviews. If so, I'll go to Bahrain for weekend I think.
Tell the Shelties I remember them!
I may go to Dammam on East Coast for some interviews. If so, I'll go to Bahrain for weekend I think.
Tell the Shelties I remember them!
Friday, June 17, 2005
Friday Night at the Sheraton
I've gone native. I wearing a gown in the hotel room now. I know they have a special name for it, but it looks like a gown to me. Benjamin - you have one too - it will just fit into a suitcase to Benin!
And there was a place called Ba'Ateyah Jewellery, or Shop No. 79, in the souk. They are making a pendant for a necklace - it's what they call a Saudi Diamond. It's a clear, rounded stone found in the desert, I'm told. Or, it may just be clear glass imported from Japan. I will make its way to TRH, if it gets delivered to the hotel Tuesday as planned. Also bought a really old stone grinder and a cowbell - very TRH-looking stuff. I bargained for them last April but didn't buy; this time I did.
And there was a place called Ba'Ateyah Jewellery, or Shop No. 79, in the souk. They are making a pendant for a necklace - it's what they call a Saudi Diamond. It's a clear, rounded stone found in the desert, I'm told. Or, it may just be clear glass imported from Japan. I will make its way to TRH, if it gets delivered to the hotel Tuesday as planned. Also bought a really old stone grinder and a cowbell - very TRH-looking stuff. I bargained for them last April but didn't buy; this time I did.
Friday Morning at The Sheraton
Walked down the street to a shopping mall and electronics store last night - at least this hotel is nearer to normal shopping stores than the Four Seasons. Found another Starbucks - they are everywhere.
Still hot here - 110 degrees from around noon to 3pm. Tonight I'm going to the old souk, or antique market, with someone from April's seminar. Maybe I'll buy some stuff to bring to TRH.
Still hot here - 110 degrees from around noon to 3pm. Tonight I'm going to the old souk, or antique market, with someone from April's seminar. Maybe I'll buy some stuff to bring to TRH.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Thursday - First Day of the Weekend
It's still hard to think of Thursday and Friday as the weekend over here. June 16 - 31 years ago today I got married - doesn't that make me feel old?
So in the world there's all the stuff going on - disasters, terrorists, UN scandal, elections -- and what's in the newspaper here? Michael Jackson's court verdict. Really depressing. One editorial, criticizing the reporters, says "Jackson does not represent what is typical of the Western world - indeed, he hardly represents humanity as we know it." See, they really are regular people over here!
I'm at the Sheraton now. Half the price - but not as nice as the Four Seasons either. No kids running around the attached mall because there is not attached mall!
So in the world there's all the stuff going on - disasters, terrorists, UN scandal, elections -- and what's in the newspaper here? Michael Jackson's court verdict. Really depressing. One editorial, criticizing the reporters, says "Jackson does not represent what is typical of the Western world - indeed, he hardly represents humanity as we know it." See, they really are regular people over here!
I'm at the Sheraton now. Half the price - but not as nice as the Four Seasons either. No kids running around the attached mall because there is not attached mall!
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Wednesday - Last Night at the Four Seasons
Public school just finished today, and the freed students are running all over the mall connected to the hotel - it's a madhouse! Also, my seminars are over so I'm moving to a Sheraton that is more convenient and about half the cost.
I visited a company headquarters today, Saudi Arabia Basic Inductry Corp, SABIC. They are a leader in petrochemicals, and have the most modern and nicest headquarters I have ever seen, anywhere. It was really impressive. They now want me to meet with their training manager Monday to discuss doing an in-house training course for them.
Even though these seminars are over and the following ones in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi were cancelled, I'm going to stay here at least another week to work on two consulting jobs. The pay is the same, so I might as well do real work instead of seminars.
I got a little red at the pool today, but maybe it will turn to brown. Hope the Shelties had fun at Al's and did not eat too much.
I visited a company headquarters today, Saudi Arabia Basic Inductry Corp, SABIC. They are a leader in petrochemicals, and have the most modern and nicest headquarters I have ever seen, anywhere. It was really impressive. They now want me to meet with their training manager Monday to discuss doing an in-house training course for them.
Even though these seminars are over and the following ones in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi were cancelled, I'm going to stay here at least another week to work on two consulting jobs. The pay is the same, so I might as well do real work instead of seminars.
I got a little red at the pool today, but maybe it will turn to brown. Hope the Shelties had fun at Al's and did not eat too much.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Monday Morning @ Starbucks
0ne class down, one to go. Have at least two consulting projects likely from this seminar and booked another seminar in Abu Dhabi. Looks like Oct - Nov in the Gulf States.
Maybe a trip to Dubai can happen during all this. I count at least 5 more trips as being likely before end of year.
Maybe a trip to Dubai can happen during all this. I count at least 5 more trips as being likely before end of year.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Saturday Night at Starbucks
OK - one more post. Had ostrich for dinner last night at the hotel. Today was 1st day of class -three more days to go. Then on Wednesday meet with four potential clients - lots of work over here!
Is anybody out there?
Is anybody out there?
Friday, June 10, 2005
Friday Morning at Starbucks
I can now access replies and comments to my Blogs, both at HNC and the Starbucks in the lobby of the Four Seasons. Maybe I didn't say that earlier and that's why there have been no comments for several days.
But, no comments = no Blogs! I dont need to Blog for me.
But, no comments = no Blogs! I dont need to Blog for me.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Thursday Morning at the HNC Offices
First day of the weekend here, and I'm at the HNC offices doing final preparations for the seminars that start Saturday.
Yesterday I ate my first Saudi Arabian Mexican Food - Fajitas. No chips come with Mexican food here - but was pretty much Tex-Mex other than that. No beer or margaritas either.
Saudi won a soccer game last night and qualified for the World Cub matches next year, so the streets were full of people celebrating until very late. It was all over the headlines today.
I went to a shopping mall across the street from the hotel - the whole mall is nothing but colorful, formal, fancy clothing for women - over 100 shops right next to each other. Lots of women shopping, all dressed in their traditional black robes. I still wonder who wears the stuff in the shops, and when? All the shop workers were men.
I'll stay here at the offices for a while, then will spend some more time today and tomorrow working on a proposal for Saudi Telecom Company. They want help with a voluntary Sarbanes-Oxley compliance effort. I think that could provide periodic Saudi trips for the next year. SOX are everywhere - a true accountants' full employment act.
I may also go to the gym and pool - and see if the 100+ degree weather makes the pool water warm enough for me to get into!
Yesterday I ate my first Saudi Arabian Mexican Food - Fajitas. No chips come with Mexican food here - but was pretty much Tex-Mex other than that. No beer or margaritas either.
Saudi won a soccer game last night and qualified for the World Cub matches next year, so the streets were full of people celebrating until very late. It was all over the headlines today.
I went to a shopping mall across the street from the hotel - the whole mall is nothing but colorful, formal, fancy clothing for women - over 100 shops right next to each other. Lots of women shopping, all dressed in their traditional black robes. I still wonder who wears the stuff in the shops, and when? All the shop workers were men.
I'll stay here at the offices for a while, then will spend some more time today and tomorrow working on a proposal for Saudi Telecom Company. They want help with a voluntary Sarbanes-Oxley compliance effort. I think that could provide periodic Saudi trips for the next year. SOX are everywhere - a true accountants' full employment act.
I may also go to the gym and pool - and see if the 100+ degree weather makes the pool water warm enough for me to get into!
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Tuesday Evening at HNC Offices
Went to Saudi Electric Co today for three hours to talk about the seminars, and to follow-up with some people about the April sessions. They have 60+ auditors and want basic audit training - in Arabic!!
In HNC Office I can read Blog comments, get to Yahoo, but not download Outlook mail. At Four Seasons, I can do just the opposite. Go figure!
They work a split shift here - 8:30-12:30 then 4:30 until around 9pm. Take middle of the day off to be with family for lunch period.
Hot here - but Weatherbug tells me it's mid-90's at TRH, so that's pretty hot also!!!
In HNC Office I can read Blog comments, get to Yahoo, but not download Outlook mail. At Four Seasons, I can do just the opposite. Go figure!
They work a split shift here - 8:30-12:30 then 4:30 until around 9pm. Take middle of the day off to be with family for lunch period.
Hot here - but Weatherbug tells me it's mid-90's at TRH, so that's pretty hot also!!!
Internet Access in Saudi
Internet access here is pretty wierd. In the Four Seasons, I can download my email to Outlook, but I cannot view Yahoo.com, where I normally handle my mail when on the road.
I can get to blogsppt.com to post a new message, like this one, but I cannot view the blog itself - so unless I find another way to do it, I cannot see anything anyone else posts to the blog.
I think the websites must have blocked access from certain parts of the world, rather than it being censorship on this end. Last time I could download Quicken financial data to my PC, but not logon to banking or credit card or travel sites. We'll see if that is the same now, or if it changes when I get to the HNC offices and try to logon there.
For now though, posting comments to my blog will let others see the comments, and maybe someday I'll be able to see them too!
I can get to blogsppt.com to post a new message, like this one, but I cannot view the blog itself - so unless I find another way to do it, I cannot see anything anyone else posts to the blog.
I think the websites must have blocked access from certain parts of the world, rather than it being censorship on this end. Last time I could download Quicken financial data to my PC, but not logon to banking or credit card or travel sites. We'll see if that is the same now, or if it changes when I get to the HNC offices and try to logon there.
For now though, posting comments to my blog will let others see the comments, and maybe someday I'll be able to see them too!
Tuesday Morning at the Four Seasons
I arrived Riyadh around 6pm Monday, as scheduled. No problems at all with flights. A mere 108 degrees F, in the shade, here when I arrived. But, there really is no shade, just inside or in the sun, so it was just hot.
They stopped serving liquor on the plane about half way between Paris and Riyadh - to observe Saudi customs all liquor was sealed in locked containers!
I'm looking out a different side of the Four Seasons this trip - they have taken out a whole four block section of town next to the hotel. Building something big, I suppose.
I'm going over to the HNC offices today and visiting Saudi Telecom Corp on Wednesday. Then, it's the weekend - Thursday and Friday. Class begins Saturday and goes thru Tuesday. Hopefully we'll come up with some work at STC to fill the time after that, since the Bahrain and Abu Dhabi sessions BOTH cancelled at the last minute.
They stopped serving liquor on the plane about half way between Paris and Riyadh - to observe Saudi customs all liquor was sealed in locked containers!
I'm looking out a different side of the Four Seasons this trip - they have taken out a whole four block section of town next to the hotel. Building something big, I suppose.
I'm going over to the HNC offices today and visiting Saudi Telecom Corp on Wednesday. Then, it's the weekend - Thursday and Friday. Class begins Saturday and goes thru Tuesday. Hopefully we'll come up with some work at STC to fill the time after that, since the Bahrain and Abu Dhabi sessions BOTH cancelled at the last minute.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Sunday afternoon in the Air France lounge
If all goes well I should be in Paris by morning and Riyadh by Monday evening. That's 18 hours of flying and 7 or 8 hours of time change . Will see if I can blog my way thru this trip!
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