Wednesday back at TRH

Well, that was quite a return trip! Finally got home about 10am, after two hours in Dulles trying to get luggage. I was the last one out of customs!

And forget about that "four empty seats to stretch out" thing - there was not an empty seat on the plane, so I got to spend all 13+hours of flight time squished into a seat between two people - guys no less!

Tuesday Night at the Dasman Lounge - Kuwait City

Well, it's prooving a bit difficult to get out of Kuwait this time. Last night, the 12:40am flight was cancelled, at 3am. Then we got to the airport transit hotel (very bad!) at 4:30am - the confusion was at a high level!!

Now, about 24 hours later, I'm trying again to get out on the same 12:40am flight. We'll see if it goes any better this time.

Meanwhile, I missed January 29th at TRH. Sorry!

Monday night in Dasman Lounge - Kuwait

It seems like I've been here too much lately. Another 2 hours and I'm off to the US.

Monday Evening in the Dubai Airport

I'm finished in Dubai and on my way to Kuwait City then on to IAD. If all goes well I should get there sometime early Tuesday morning. Since I've already taught all day Monday, and have 15+ hours of flying still to go, I guess that makes Monday a pretty long day! I sure hope United Economy Plus out of Kuwait is not crowded so I can stretch out across four seats!!

Saturday Night - back in Dubai

I made it back to Dubai today, and it was amazing at passport control - no people in line there!!! I walked right up to the booth!!! That's better than the 30-40 minutes before!!! But, I still got to wait though, because it was 30 more minutes before my bag came up. They made me check the bag because it was too heavy to carry-on - thanks to the Wii, I guess.

Then I went to the Emirates Mall - and I know why there was no one at passport control -- they were ALL at the Mall. What a zoo!!!! I think it's related to what they call dsf - Dubai Shopping Festival http://www.mydsf.com/. I escaped back to the Metropolitan Hotel after buying a hamburger and watching the kids ski down the slopes. I dont think I need to go back!

Friday Night - Last Night in Qatar

I'm leaving for Dubai tomorrow, then teaching there two days Sunday and Monday, then leaving for the US early, early Tuesday morning, thru Kuwait and to be back at TRH my mid-morning Tuesday January 29.

January 29 - there's something familiar about that date ...

Friday Night after Qatar Tour

I went on a tour today, to see a bit of Qatar. They really are doing lots of building here. I went north to the natural gas fields, where all the money comes from!!!

And I saw the fish market. Guess what my shoes smell like now?

And, there is a mall here that is copied after the Venetian in Las Vegas - canal, sky, buildings and everything. But, I guess they could not call it the same name -- so they named it the Vellegio. Not the Beliago, or the Venetian - but a combination of those names!

Thursday Night, after the Camel Races

Well, I know what happens at camel races now. The camels are secondary -- the real objective is for everyone to drive their SUV's in the desert!! The camels are on an oval track, maybe 6 miles around. They race on the trace while 40+ owners, spectators, etc in their SUV's race around the inside and outside of the track to keep up.

I don't really know which camels won - because they all looked the same to me. And, real people don't ride the camels -- they used to tie kids on top, but somebody thought that was a bad idea, so now they use robots. The driver/owners in the SUV's have remote controllers that can cause the robot to swat the camel to get them to run faster!!!

And yes, it is in the desert, and it's just as dusty as it sounds like it would be. I think one trip to the camel track will be enough for me.

I didn't think I'd know anybody there --- but then Flat Stanley showed up!!! It reminded me of our Flat Stanley.

Thursday Morning in Doha

I think this really is a "little Dubai" - building cranes everywhere! I went to the old souq's yesterday, then to the City Centre Mall - lots of contrast in those two places. Today, I'm off to the camel races!!!

Oh, and I have not seen a blue sky yet -- there's always this brown, sandy colored sky instead.

Tuesday Night at the Millennium - Doha

I made it to Doha. We were late leaving Abu Dhabi because a "delegation" had to board. The plane pulled away from the terminal then stopped, and a ramp-truck came to the door. Then 5 or 6 black and white limos pulled up, and a dozen or so men in suits, and local dignitaries got out. They said farewells, then the dozen suits came on the plane -- and went to back of economy class, even though business class was almost empty!! When we go to Doha, everyone but the "delegation" had to wait while they got off. There were about 100 people lined up to greet them. Later, I found out the delegation was the President of Iceland, and his support staff. Guess he decided to leave Iceland for warmer weather!!

In Doha I'm next to the Centre Shopping mall, and surrounded by KFC, McDonald, Chili's, Subway, etc -- just like any city in the US!

Monday Night - Last night in Abu Dhabi

I'm finished with work here, and off tomorrow to Doha, Qatar -- everyone says it's a "Little Dubai" with all the construction going on. We'll see.

Oh - and I bought a traveling companion in Abu Dhabi - a Wii!!!!!!! Now I can play tennis, baseball, etc. in the hotel room!!!

Saturday Night at Al Maha Rotana Hotel - Abu Dhabi

I made it out of Kuwait City for the 2 hour flight down to Abu Dhabi. When I got the airport I remembered one of the reasons why I like this city better than Dubai - no line at Passport Control. I walked up, showed my Passport, and walked thru - that easy. I didnt check any luggage, so I was out of the airport within 5 minutes of getting off the plane - much better than the hour or so in Passport and Baggage Claim in Dubai!

This is my sixth trip to Abu Dhabi I think, starting in November, 2004. I'll be here three nights, then to Doha, Qatar on Tuesday.

Friday Morning Tour in Kuwait

Well, I saw all of Kuwait City, and almost all of Kuwait country in a 4 hour tour this morning! It's not a really big place. But, all those building cranes that are not in UAE and Qatar are here in Kuwait, I think!!

Those are the Kuwait Towers in the background, and me in the foreground (in case you didn't recognize me with the beard!)

Friday Morning in Kuwait City

I made it back to Kuwait, and this time instead of just transferring through the airport, I actually am going to stay a couple of nights. After that, it's on to Abu Dhabi, then Doha, then Dubai, and maybe even back here to Kuwait before leaving for TRH around February 1.

Monday Morning, back at TRH

We're all back a The Rock House for a week or so!

Friday Night at Dasman Lounge - Kuwait City

We made it thru Dubai and Jordan and now are on the long trip back to TRH. Six hours here, then a 12+ hour flight to arrive Dulles about 7am Saturday. We left our coats out so we'll be ready for cold weather again.