tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288652792024-03-24T03:06:57.010+09:00FEELING BLOGGYJust something I do when I'm ...Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.comBlogger307125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-14373092231244104392011-04-23T19:42:00.000+09:002011-04-23T19:42:56.270+09:00I Found Nemo! (And Much, Much More!)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecIj2jJd3iBuZiCPiUt2vVocCXZpqEnJIqkvOSKR77ytYylzOBm7qls3i4f8eAC6O2HXPfh00HcmzLpnv8TYg6bHbTwjN51K-vFZlvNQdnkTCiTI2HOx3Oyb4i2AlpwGtboyX/s1600/IMG_2998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecIj2jJd3iBuZiCPiUt2vVocCXZpqEnJIqkvOSKR77ytYylzOBm7qls3i4f8eAC6O2HXPfh00HcmzLpnv8TYg6bHbTwjN51K-vFZlvNQdnkTCiTI2HOx3Oyb4i2AlpwGtboyX/s200/IMG_2998.jpg" width="200" /></a>Em was kind enough to let me go out alone on my SCUBA trip. We had talked of going to one of the pontoons and taking turns, me SCUBA, her snorkle, me SCUBA, her...<br />
But the day before she decided she'd lounge and browse around Cairns. (Speaking of browsers...did you know the Internet browser "Firefox" is named after a real animal--the firefox or Red Panda?!? It is now my favorite animal!!!!) <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNEPhYdoMJ1rAqLw3frppZWbvEkpz5hQaFPGao_Kncc-qcpmu5_EJQYvTSNd9ZbKD_maexDMjaa-qL8gIo7ycFGfD7BkD_1nCGOr-ml9fwdjEkcVjV68JeF553dU-76Lr07Hre/s1600/IMG_0141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNEPhYdoMJ1rAqLw3frppZWbvEkpz5hQaFPGao_Kncc-qcpmu5_EJQYvTSNd9ZbKD_maexDMjaa-qL8gIo7ycFGfD7BkD_1nCGOr-ml9fwdjEkcVjV68JeF553dU-76Lr07Hre/s200/IMG_0141.JPG" width="172" /></a></div>Anyway, after much research and going back and forth between dive tours/company's I took the advice from the life guard on Green Island and went with Silverswift. They do 3 dives. I was only planning to do 2 but it was only $12 more to add the third and I was feeling good after the 2nd dive. All the companies have different reefs and many different sites at each reef to choose from, depending on conditions. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY5jTUd_HhD7oD8sceE_mjLyr6jjJ4m39u2KqHb5gxnvzIroDNplypIyh_WgRbPhRMbxMot7Cz_ZKGcQHc0nXKBqO_CyYWtRcXZZBov-sA2ThiugRUDv7xU-oSuEq8vXh5Zjk/s1600/Silverswift+dive+map.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY5jTUd_HhD7oD8sceE_mjLyr6jjJ4m39u2KqHb5gxnvzIroDNplypIyh_WgRbPhRMbxMot7Cz_ZKGcQHc0nXKBqO_CyYWtRcXZZBov-sA2ThiugRUDv7xU-oSuEq8vXh5Zjk/s400/Silverswift+dive+map.gif" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LBAnoan7PAnI7QFX9o-XGF9Yt2H8SOY0hfeBM3_9aMQXfEn5mHhRiySRCXyj8Fp9HLd_1wpjSDflX5diM0iffdwGmO2FnYwUpp1fgx9h6hGMd3zXemqVfICE3umCxtue5n-0/s1600/map-flynn.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LBAnoan7PAnI7QFX9o-XGF9Yt2H8SOY0hfeBM3_9aMQXfEn5mHhRiySRCXyj8Fp9HLd_1wpjSDflX5diM0iffdwGmO2FnYwUpp1fgx9h6hGMd3zXemqVfICE3umCxtue5n-0/s320/map-flynn.gif" width="320" /></a>We did one dive at Milln Reef, Fish Town site and then went to Flynn Reef and dove at Gordon’s Mooring and Tracy's. The first dive was a little tough as I had a large underwater camera with me. I hadn't been diving since 2004 but everything came back to me right away, including the difficulty keeping a neutral buoyancy. To do this you have to put in the right amount of air into your buoyancy control device or BC. I kept putting too much in and then taking too much out, plus the deeper you go the more the air compresses giving you less buoyancy. This wasted too much air and cut my first dive a little short. This combined with one hand trying to not let go of the expensive camera I hired (rented) gave me some added awkwardness.<br />
<br />
*Insert: It is not easy taking underwater photos. The fish don't tend to hold still, even the lumbering sea turtles drift away at a pace making it hard to photograph. Then when you do have a subject that doesn't leave, like Nemo, he darts around and as I try to take the picture I begin to either sink or rise (remember the buoyancy problem). As if that isn't hard enough, I was constantly trying not to land on, bump into, or disturb the fragile coral.<br />
<br />
On to the dives:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglTDStYGlkB55Y4WJBgzWioSBOF-lEBt7uQsim1nQnhuPi5dugDY2bMy9cxVA0ge0jwhXm-vMkm6Iu8RMRtGG_eaeXjGEQ6VMP4fAe3cNLAozGpZ4G3YgEk2Ipn8ZXjU9dVmM/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglTDStYGlkB55Y4WJBgzWioSBOF-lEBt7uQsim1nQnhuPi5dugDY2bMy9cxVA0ge0jwhXm-vMkm6Iu8RMRtGG_eaeXjGEQ6VMP4fAe3cNLAozGpZ4G3YgEk2Ipn8ZXjU9dVmM/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The first one was cool just to be under the water again. I don't remember this one as well as I was focused on remembering how to dive and what not. There had been a recent HUGE cyclone that had come through the area and destroyed a lot of the hard coral. I remember seeing tons of staghorn coral broken off and littering the sea floor. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquQQ1xYNC9inui9VCe2KqhzOapyIUci7LePyCTiSqIPecvLTaQnzX2-hWERuKIcQBhWBOvY72S0S2Z6Q18BXs_paAKyJsKieZFXdtaB31ET3R2KOlyCs39EJrN3R6Nf7ZkAfa/s1600/IMG_0147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquQQ1xYNC9inui9VCe2KqhzOapyIUci7LePyCTiSqIPecvLTaQnzX2-hWERuKIcQBhWBOvY72S0S2Z6Q18BXs_paAKyJsKieZFXdtaB31ET3R2KOlyCs39EJrN3R6Nf7ZkAfa/s320/IMG_0147.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Kinda sad. It was still amazing though. The first dive's highlight was the blue spotted sting ray. I saw a white and black stick and wondered what it was.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeeg8gZErSQT951AwEHeqUhEJmes60teSN_fhn70ww3T6e6whopRJUTJEn46SdrV2AYhJzqJBB9AcApoOS95jdQ4cUta5zHQ3wgJEIA14KkLLI8QorYnrcIfUMF6yzSeAzmZD/s1600/IMG_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hkFZlHIDv_tF6fg5d3YcfousAZiGWXxPHI9dRlrLKpOB5brC0yrk17q7ODkT8rv5a74-uU3mTstTaumMUWKQWsAKlHFiyTvZxt5RBd9T84_tDcmdu5Twd_faLfvEN2PwF-Vu/s1600/IMG_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hkFZlHIDv_tF6fg5d3YcfousAZiGWXxPHI9dRlrLKpOB5brC0yrk17q7ODkT8rv5a74-uU3mTstTaumMUWKQWsAKlHFiyTvZxt5RBd9T84_tDcmdu5Twd_faLfvEN2PwF-Vu/s320/IMG_0029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeeg8gZErSQT951AwEHeqUhEJmes60teSN_fhn70ww3T6e6whopRJUTJEn46SdrV2AYhJzqJBB9AcApoOS95jdQ4cUta5zHQ3wgJEIA14KkLLI8QorYnrcIfUMF6yzSeAzmZD/s1600/IMG_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeeg8gZErSQT951AwEHeqUhEJmes60teSN_fhn70ww3T6e6whopRJUTJEn46SdrV2AYhJzqJBB9AcApoOS95jdQ4cUta5zHQ3wgJEIA14KkLLI8QorYnrcIfUMF6yzSeAzmZD/s400/IMG_0032.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I then followed its to 2 bumps and then saw the outline of ray just under the sand. Totally awesome, one of the things I really wanted to see (the others being Nemo (clown fish) and a shark, never found a shark =(.) The first dive was quickly over (fastest 33 minutes ever!) Who knew 200 bar could go so quickly?<br />
<br />
The second dive started off great with an immediate sighting of a green sea turtle. Then we found Nemo, or at least his one stripped cousin. (I did see the real Nemo variety while snorkeling on Tuesday).<br />
<br />
This dive went much better for me, I was much more graceful with my camera and buoyancy and extended my dive by 4 minutes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsAu2y8bVyIBU6dD1Q10sf33S2-IOEZ2VCOlfFKDxrtDmk0tYqFzeBGRe3KBBbgbtxqh4Gfzpp2N585oKBNs5KnKfREqC1rgeP_CJBaVqfWSD9L_ryTwbfo1ESlC3p6R0dfKD/s1600/IMG_0124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsAu2y8bVyIBU6dD1Q10sf33S2-IOEZ2VCOlfFKDxrtDmk0tYqFzeBGRe3KBBbgbtxqh4Gfzpp2N585oKBNs5KnKfREqC1rgeP_CJBaVqfWSD9L_ryTwbfo1ESlC3p6R0dfKD/s400/IMG_0124.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>I loved seeing the pink anemone fish (Nemo). The photography guy said it is a cliche' for a professional to photograph them, but they all do and just don't talk about it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-opxQ2-BZs87lhe2a4kWTtJWJlrOFGH9oZdSE8eZIK6CM5K8h_bZtIXtRqkYdWiAsKIFSD1wH8uG9SiabqCLtZAooMDH-5fcJC-pj_j74gr4Qr2A-xgWeooi_aZVczyBZyoc/s1600/IMG_0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-opxQ2-BZs87lhe2a4kWTtJWJlrOFGH9oZdSE8eZIK6CM5K8h_bZtIXtRqkYdWiAsKIFSD1wH8uG9SiabqCLtZAooMDH-5fcJC-pj_j74gr4Qr2A-xgWeooi_aZVczyBZyoc/s400/IMG_0071.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>They are so pretty and are set against a beautiful back ground. I found a "field" of this anemone and thought it was beautiful. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx_2ypwnpB2636R0ZbIy8uz4_yLH6Jw0QwzWl81BwPs60UbUIJBBVgMVrsO5yj7X4ZhIGXlm170BaKjz7M8BrHqzIqKW8YQBhEILU0LvU9NjxyvL2j7UKZ4l3OFNJiC5jgX5V/s1600/IMG_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx_2ypwnpB2636R0ZbIy8uz4_yLH6Jw0QwzWl81BwPs60UbUIJBBVgMVrsO5yj7X4ZhIGXlm170BaKjz7M8BrHqzIqKW8YQBhEILU0LvU9NjxyvL2j7UKZ4l3OFNJiC5jgX5V/s400/IMG_0099.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>As the dive master was about to take us one way I spotted another turtle hiding down in some rocks and swam over to visit.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfEngP1-tfk8UFDdnNQ8tlrUY4MCi-nIp26QDRcFAJTI3jOZr50uMvYiRQUYTZPMv8nqrF05TCnUcv3HtlIyPzV7-_XPlXswHNkVqC1D2bwhbIYur7UCmmezusviybgg7ZJnO/s1600/IMG_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfEngP1-tfk8UFDdnNQ8tlrUY4MCi-nIp26QDRcFAJTI3jOZr50uMvYiRQUYTZPMv8nqrF05TCnUcv3HtlIyPzV7-_XPlXswHNkVqC1D2bwhbIYur7UCmmezusviybgg7ZJnO/s400/IMG_0092.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjtOLxkqND1z_1WPlTb-uWec0-CiGwEpWHPKf-vy-lRbXl218mBieM4PvJAx4vBOS1MSSs5c9ejje-lHkRNDMSIfykWdPKqDBbJUl08SFhRJyvIqTdS9TDANu1bMLEn_PH5l8/s1600/IMG_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjtOLxkqND1z_1WPlTb-uWec0-CiGwEpWHPKf-vy-lRbXl218mBieM4PvJAx4vBOS1MSSs5c9ejje-lHkRNDMSIfykWdPKqDBbJUl08SFhRJyvIqTdS9TDANu1bMLEn_PH5l8/s400/IMG_0097.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>He soon noticed me and began his slow and effortless withdrawal. All the other divers then came over to see him too. This one is a hawksbill sea turtle. Very pretty and very large. About 3x the size of the green sea turtle.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZsJA4-Jop4N8O8HhBQiAvn4uprpSe-Ci-ljJ8UaybbjkXZjQ_Qp3puIFpi_efexzQalQfETSjKfFiYXvZ4aJ990JO51TdLm8lQP58UZuE4gPhqTVWQ_KXJm2c2woZr21rr2t/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZsJA4-Jop4N8O8HhBQiAvn4uprpSe-Ci-ljJ8UaybbjkXZjQ_Qp3puIFpi_efexzQalQfETSjKfFiYXvZ4aJ990JO51TdLm8lQP58UZuE4gPhqTVWQ_KXJm2c2woZr21rr2t/s400/IMG_0106.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Another cool thing about this dive was the coral "swim-throughs". One was a tube we swam through and another a pretty canyon. This maori wrasse swam through with me, he's about half my size. It was so cool to look up and see the surface through these coral walls. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-K-CdHbIgM37oLNxuQbLJE8dqisCsopoKPPd-xatHjlCQ3ovrG2qepfQ-Gd0yjB7WDJEUiaYbJCdxM6CbpfiSpat4B69L2ouDxJwZbi-gnizu7G_K-5V0VvlbCSAaNRRk1-1/s1600/IMG_0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-K-CdHbIgM37oLNxuQbLJE8dqisCsopoKPPd-xatHjlCQ3ovrG2qepfQ-Gd0yjB7WDJEUiaYbJCdxM6CbpfiSpat4B69L2ouDxJwZbi-gnizu7G_K-5V0VvlbCSAaNRRk1-1/s400/IMG_0109.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The third dive got even better. There seemed to be a lot more fish and the coral was even prettier here. One of the best parts was the unbelievable landscape. This area had a lot of pretty corals and colorful fish. We saw some more turtles and another Nemo cousin residence. Our goal on this dive was to find a reef shark but we never did. Bummer but still probably my favorite dive. This site also had a lot of these giant boulder corals. These stand alone from the rest of the coral shelves and are massive--20 feet with corals domes. They take about a hundred years to form. Other coral varieties were growing on them too.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaI_g2eCS1vAgnhud4fIVn3XZSLLCp9-Hdx_1XlhuhDn7muGekdDJU-_wNNYP6J_8GakvmIKf4BuaVk2m_03Baejb18jxegKAJCq-ZnX79515sklo2KgAk_iXCccTQejN6sZc/s1600/IMG_0197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaI_g2eCS1vAgnhud4fIVn3XZSLLCp9-Hdx_1XlhuhDn7muGekdDJU-_wNNYP6J_8GakvmIKf4BuaVk2m_03Baejb18jxegKAJCq-ZnX79515sklo2KgAk_iXCccTQejN6sZc/s400/IMG_0197.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> After my last dive I went back out with my snorkel and explored some more. I'm glad I did because I realized how much better SCUBA was, it was easier to swim under the water instead of on top, I got more salt water in my mouth with the snorkel and it is awesome to be able to just stay below the water. <br />
<br />
Here are some of my other favorite pictures: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGe1yS5dIUt9oXt5ycPNj1ACWXDT1F89iHN8x5HOqGyILqrHNrcyyFs3cRJanVNBrOR6rCc58uTmFwaOLYYGudScfsc6dHteeL3M93sc_nemKjy4QCoNvnFwRhCZbTkfQSjcdk/s1600/IMG_0177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGe1yS5dIUt9oXt5ycPNj1ACWXDT1F89iHN8x5HOqGyILqrHNrcyyFs3cRJanVNBrOR6rCc58uTmFwaOLYYGudScfsc6dHteeL3M93sc_nemKjy4QCoNvnFwRhCZbTkfQSjcdk/s400/IMG_0177.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>(Another of my favorites sights were these pretty which hard coral bushes. They had about a hundred tiny blue fish and sometimes some larger black and white stripped ones which would swim out like a cloud and then dart back in, over and over. They proved very difficult to photograph though.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDyr5jLdeQ5-CcFTz34eYJK_I7bcEJcJ3Ixpo_18SeOrd3n1e2-K-m2v83Rm_IUNzLwC9f2fHJ4kFzGfDKfqDRtC8NUgQoir5oUVmiXF1ISFhdl4lL0Om9dXijVJzKS_sYbmM/s1600/IMG_0183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDyr5jLdeQ5-CcFTz34eYJK_I7bcEJcJ3Ixpo_18SeOrd3n1e2-K-m2v83Rm_IUNzLwC9f2fHJ4kFzGfDKfqDRtC8NUgQoir5oUVmiXF1ISFhdl4lL0Om9dXijVJzKS_sYbmM/s400/IMG_0183.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNA6CIvt6b7jqchMi4i1YSh_pBVDdtPKttm34Wuzfq0icqn_gxBv1Tp_Ymu9qcgzudf51El7upybcydYllvpbevXtxuV8Rl5EJPKiVhCO-WxJ7L6VSox9vOdUve1DmhKnAjl0Z/s1600/IMG_0186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNA6CIvt6b7jqchMi4i1YSh_pBVDdtPKttm34Wuzfq0icqn_gxBv1Tp_Ymu9qcgzudf51El7upybcydYllvpbevXtxuV8Rl5EJPKiVhCO-WxJ7L6VSox9vOdUve1DmhKnAjl0Z/s400/IMG_0186.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNy7tJ_gkQSzcAYKdwsZWA3ySAKl3A4g20gmRSzlYqIY2Hio3KjdUwWLhDMkBTuQzZbxUDnHUN9XT7JHx5A79gzFZEWrLFxIlDBOnT4j-pwobifeAHHE0rk51sbi77A-Tg1GC/s1600/IMG_0211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNy7tJ_gkQSzcAYKdwsZWA3ySAKl3A4g20gmRSzlYqIY2Hio3KjdUwWLhDMkBTuQzZbxUDnHUN9XT7JHx5A79gzFZEWrLFxIlDBOnT4j-pwobifeAHHE0rk51sbi77A-Tg1GC/s400/IMG_0211.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgny5dN7rYhzRP4Zu_asNIRZYUGvo9QAUtetlbIrquv_RpGlJNUpsFTu67fOv-DrRloH7NEM6S6uR2b9upN5Kht-gQHoo1nfPJOKOgkF3Rxd1BUyjyiAw3RfsGHd2oGAWk5GGPQ/s1600/IMG_0215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgny5dN7rYhzRP4Zu_asNIRZYUGvo9QAUtetlbIrquv_RpGlJNUpsFTu67fOv-DrRloH7NEM6S6uR2b9upN5Kht-gQHoo1nfPJOKOgkF3Rxd1BUyjyiAw3RfsGHd2oGAWk5GGPQ/s400/IMG_0215.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBc8-nR_ZWJSIfvW5k_WsQVtcw8ggibijAP2Qy-5SxZpS9JlfbPByg5J10RU_xs9dUs-TyLBviKZXUpbinmVHnHpnhgHw6-if8xPIpyMMGKoCfJHtU_24w-jka2iddkNG4kIV/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBc8-nR_ZWJSIfvW5k_WsQVtcw8ggibijAP2Qy-5SxZpS9JlfbPByg5J10RU_xs9dUs-TyLBviKZXUpbinmVHnHpnhgHw6-if8xPIpyMMGKoCfJHtU_24w-jka2iddkNG4kIV/s400/IMG_0219.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>One that I was very excited to see (this one is small but I saw some huge ones too) was the brain coral, such a cool pattern! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYkuZJ1AY1tpeXh0pDQq3StpodOzLGj7XLGaOQiW3HQfCfOZ7TRleLGlAeT74NviRQ-VJRCdQe5SfN8eGyRafQZ8B77r57ChXbyQ_dRcdFZPKTh5TY6_ImBBqKH_AZuY1wfRX/s1600/IMG_0220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYkuZJ1AY1tpeXh0pDQq3StpodOzLGj7XLGaOQiW3HQfCfOZ7TRleLGlAeT74NviRQ-VJRCdQe5SfN8eGyRafQZ8B77r57ChXbyQ_dRcdFZPKTh5TY6_ImBBqKH_AZuY1wfRX/s400/IMG_0220.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It was a great day of diving! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-66545089069048555272011-01-23T17:58:00.000+09:002011-01-23T17:58:19.166+09:00Sumo-A battle of Wedgies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsWu3D8xXudug2xukvgnzLOtXtWJ4OGT24DBk9og-BnskD_qsGWGW5N59G5PVKuIPp87VV43zy2C8E35fiBHd8akq37HqRz8Lc1rlPP42v_Wt_HPV7Jb0FbITXoz2r5jwEvzB/s1600/IMG_0800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsWu3D8xXudug2xukvgnzLOtXtWJ4OGT24DBk9og-BnskD_qsGWGW5N59G5PVKuIPp87VV43zy2C8E35fiBHd8akq37HqRz8Lc1rlPP42v_Wt_HPV7Jb0FbITXoz2r5jwEvzB/s320/IMG_0800.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Max and I went on a trip to Tokyo to see the Sumo Tournament. We rode down on a tour bus on Sunday. He started out throwing up on the bus twice before we left the city limits, but did fine on the rest of the 8 hour ride. Though he was real angry that I wouldn't let him get ice cream at each of the rest stops! He did get some the next day at the tournament. We got to Tokyo and went on a walk to see The Temple. Being Sunday it was closed but he enjoyed seeing it and I again felt a great sense of peace just standing on the corner in front of the temple gates. We then went and found some dinner, Max- McDonalds and me Subway, yes I am getting tired of trying to find food for Max and sometimes myself to eat in Japan, kinda wanted to have some american food around but didn't want to take the Subway to Outback (Tokyo actually has a few american options). <br />
We spent the rest of the evening in the hotel reading and we watched a conference talk of President Monson for our spiritual dinner.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4TUe-U95TEnBvfE7IWUlcax2wsszs9G8SAec5TPHYWlx5TfLzYT3ArJCZZstZ0kcMUr2oV4vHOyfqXuzax5ByfrQZBoJ9Ln85hw-apDTwRI9zTaONIJKUDs1SetT8keYT6po/s1600/IMG_1034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4TUe-U95TEnBvfE7IWUlcax2wsszs9G8SAec5TPHYWlx5TfLzYT3ArJCZZstZ0kcMUr2oV4vHOyfqXuzax5ByfrQZBoJ9Ln85hw-apDTwRI9zTaONIJKUDs1SetT8keYT6po/s320/IMG_1034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Monday was the tournament. Our tour, through the Misawa Travel Agency, took us to the Edo-Tokyo Museum and the Sumo venue which are neighboring buildings. The good Sumo wrestlers don't fight til later in the afternoon so we spent the a few hours at the museum first. They had free museum guides and she was great. If you can make the history of Tokyo, (how it started out as a little town in the 1600s called Edo and then grew through the powerful influenced of the Tokugawa Shoguns into a thriving city which became know as Tokyo as the Emporer Meji allowed the Western influence to enter the Japanese culture), interesting to a 9 year old and a 33 year old, then you are a fabulous tour guide. It was fun. It took you through scale models of what Edo looked like and had some life size building replicas and so on and then took you into the transition from Edo to Tokyo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0KPex-jC_8fnqNxt2PPo_utd9VV68PXhwXjdXyOXMdRASQ3d3Z0u2YLNTsidcuoAku7eh4QPRH60b62QpcmjL3B_-Yl4SPykZaXwBvXUVpTnuu_l6IKLTHdHUNbvcGqhOB0u/s1600/Sumo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0KPex-jC_8fnqNxt2PPo_utd9VV68PXhwXjdXyOXMdRASQ3d3Z0u2YLNTsidcuoAku7eh4QPRH60b62QpcmjL3B_-Yl4SPykZaXwBvXUVpTnuu_l6IKLTHdHUNbvcGqhOB0u/s320/Sumo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
After the Museum we headed to the Kokugikan, the Tokyo Sumo Arena. We ate lunch and watched the lesser Sumo guys while we ate lunch. We enjoyed it a lot. It was fascinating stuff with a lot of ceremony. Each match takes about 5 minutes and the wrestling part is about 5 seconds. It rivals baseball for excitement. I definitely got into it and cheered. There were a lot of good matches and a few that lasted less then a second as one wrestler would move out of the way as they lept for each other causing the other to fall on the ground. (One wins by forcing the opponent out of the ring or to touch the ground with any body part.) There are numerous moves one can do by grabbing their loin cloth, thus making a "Battle of Wedgies." Sam thinks they are all immodest. After an exciting final match, where the guy who was undefeated almost lost but pulled off a great victory, we headed back to the hotel for dinner, where Max forwent his hot dog and had two salads!, then went swimming.<br />
<br />
I turned my reading light out around 10:30 and later heard Max exclaim, "Wow. It's 12:30!" as he turned his off. He had tried to finish Harry Potter Book 5 but just couldn't pull it off. The next morning was comical. I could barely get him out of the room to go the breakfast buffet, his favorite thing in the world. After one bite of french toast and two bits of pineapple he took the room key and left me eating my yummy scrambled eggs and potatoes. I returned to find him back in bed, which is where he was when I left at 9:30 for the Temple, leaving him with some Filipino hotel babysitter, and where he was when I came back at 12:30.<br />
<br />
I eventually forced him back out into Tokyo and we visited the Sensoji Temple, dated back to 1600's.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HVycHvcaEKHyJfyPeecb_y8SnkkpWIhqs4UB7Wvk1Xqf6KgVyvnXhW0WgZjtWm5Wh6rLZh56I09vUyfho1qXSKCWo_y27fna4R74t6-zhSjZG-_OMhJtOVwIcTk0e4djh4pz/s1600/IMG_1108.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HVycHvcaEKHyJfyPeecb_y8SnkkpWIhqs4UB7Wvk1Xqf6KgVyvnXhW0WgZjtWm5Wh6rLZh56I09vUyfho1qXSKCWo_y27fna4R74t6-zhSjZG-_OMhJtOVwIcTk0e4djh4pz/s320/IMG_1108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Max finally got his souvenir samurai swords, he's been wanting for 2.5 years. After this we took a variety of subways and monorail to get to Odaiba island, a man made island where one can find Joypolis (the spelling still bugs me I want it to be Joyopolis), an indoor Sega themepark.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJi0m-ahP7WX4cnEtMYlFrBYkjZnJqLSILvMioVI2FdZ24Yb874CGvAEcv18NSl7yAP46ffAiWtdxcyqwb2p2YFPUtlmVtauAGrkDVLAjyeWVdUxtPGRa6HnDImwDDEesffNy/s1600/IMG_1127.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJi0m-ahP7WX4cnEtMYlFrBYkjZnJqLSILvMioVI2FdZ24Yb874CGvAEcv18NSl7yAP46ffAiWtdxcyqwb2p2YFPUtlmVtauAGrkDVLAjyeWVdUxtPGRa6HnDImwDDEesffNy/s320/IMG_1127.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Max loved it. There was a giant half pipe where you were strapped to a giant skate board and could try 360's. Max screamed the whole time, awesome. At the end of the evening I started feeling sick and Max had to go on the last ride by himself. Outside, despite a growing sense of queasiness, I stopped to take some pictures of the beautiful night scene of the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo skyline.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BDugA35bDosZbvbstIWkoNyjhXgWoTii9i8hM4N6xb9XcctUVYFSrDKxh8-i11WUAQv-6nAf_ixxb0mZWNxV26Z8t3PSGESVbj6dxb54Yt2ex2LwwJAGmEusOgpEoKy2UWCd/s1600/IMG_1164.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BDugA35bDosZbvbstIWkoNyjhXgWoTii9i8hM4N6xb9XcctUVYFSrDKxh8-i11WUAQv-6nAf_ixxb0mZWNxV26Z8t3PSGESVbj6dxb54Yt2ex2LwwJAGmEusOgpEoKy2UWCd/s320/IMG_1164.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Then I looked around for a garbage can and barely made it to one before I throw up. Let me tell you, I did not like having the Tokyo subway system between me and the hotel with my queasy feelings. I made it eventually, only having to hover above a squatty potty in the subway station for a minute before my body thought it was ridiculous to attempt that one!<br />
<br />
We eventually made it back to Misawa the next day and we glad to see Em and the other 3 boys again. It was a fabulous trip with Max. He is such a good kid. It was nice to share this trip with him.Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-75118926712783738462010-10-09T22:57:00.000+09:002010-10-09T22:57:58.625+09:00Oirase Gorge and Lake Towada Cycling Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcd4dQHu9CwUHU5RQj490xTxi47Gihoon7mJmcHqqy-5M5H9AXC5x_1aZr5uhSW-bcKlbjPAwrSl3qYVrxLBACiZQh2n7TyLVhNfFrH4cp-0rpRcGl5V0jMT6nPZYp0Fl5Otjl/s1600/DSC06841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcd4dQHu9CwUHU5RQj490xTxi47Gihoon7mJmcHqqy-5M5H9AXC5x_1aZr5uhSW-bcKlbjPAwrSl3qYVrxLBACiZQh2n7TyLVhNfFrH4cp-0rpRcGl5V0jMT6nPZYp0Fl5Otjl/s320/DSC06841.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>My friend Merrill and I have been wanting to bike around Lake Towada all summer and finally did yesterday.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzOROZWM4SHe9YVGjN0XxulhC_WRvEYCwzxmKl4AjA21X19EUyBFH9Yfk-FSIE6E8cieH2D_xqkas4' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Our ride was about 34.4 miles. 3 miles of the Gorge and then the rest around the lake. Around the lake started out with 6 miles of accent of a never ending hill. It kept teasing us with brief down slopes followed by endless switch backs. That was even fun. After the 2 hours of accent we descended in about 20 minutes! That was really fun. There was only on turn I almost didn't make. The views were amazing, the air clean and crisp on a perfect autumn morning. After the quick 8 miles descent the rest was ups and downs around the shoreline.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHuWJhwf6kfbQBRHaxbI-S3uNpcT1XIjVWqlUTLneV4SxWMzjKMDV8oe-gDkDRvYSzpF9B56t-IUs1Kv347Iytn-SqUpMRJiPo_LTEIrQx0P7mvb437FBr8NTTfLHK3hNVBp2/s1600/DSC06862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHuWJhwf6kfbQBRHaxbI-S3uNpcT1XIjVWqlUTLneV4SxWMzjKMDV8oe-gDkDRvYSzpF9B56t-IUs1Kv347Iytn-SqUpMRJiPo_LTEIrQx0P7mvb437FBr8NTTfLHK3hNVBp2/s320/DSC06862.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This little stretch was one of the nicest: a long straight decent with a slight breeze causing a few leaves to fall as we road through this beautiful forest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKXUGxt6nXUHrVOd0jz-Hysfkd3QdUjBy9sQQm_ooMUUsPlo9EN1j1DaPGtESgoaWG-kjixkzS1FsHHz5bsIaMsWjfSYobvDnlOKKX1sPzNU6F5TGB0np8exGx66N_16F9RKd/s1600/DSC06833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKXUGxt6nXUHrVOd0jz-Hysfkd3QdUjBy9sQQm_ooMUUsPlo9EN1j1DaPGtESgoaWG-kjixkzS1FsHHz5bsIaMsWjfSYobvDnlOKKX1sPzNU6F5TGB0np8exGx66N_16F9RKd/s320/DSC06833.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This is one of the most beautiful peaceful places on earth. The lake itself is serene and perfect, but combined with the gorgeous gorge with it many stunning waterfalls...the combination is heavenly!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4obZOCfPJEYGGTY-KLxgBtFTRrnHnWTBDms6R4wdr5rnHVHip6d5jAfmQx7gsDhq0Tb0nCBcsRQMJEl-Tnl2-70NqIXplsT5acCkaAQgN2EF7B2g2EP47JocqAarfj-X7m4eR/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4obZOCfPJEYGGTY-KLxgBtFTRrnHnWTBDms6R4wdr5rnHVHip6d5jAfmQx7gsDhq0Tb0nCBcsRQMJEl-Tnl2-70NqIXplsT5acCkaAQgN2EF7B2g2EP47JocqAarfj-X7m4eR/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>Lake Towada</b> <span style="font-weight: normal;">(<span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">十和田湖</span><span class="t_nihongo_comma" style="display: none;">,</span> <i>Towada-ko</i><span class="t_nihongo_help noprint"><sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Installing_Japanese_character_sets" title="Help:Installing Japanese character sets"><span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #0000ee; font: bold 80% sans-serif; padding: 0pt 0.1em; text-decoration: none;">?</span></a></sup></span>)</span> is the largest <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crater_lake" title="Crater lake">crater lake</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honsh%C5%AB" title="Honshū">Honshū</a> island, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japan</a>. Located on the border between <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aomori_Prefecture" title="Aomori Prefecture">Aomori</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akita_Prefecture" title="Akita Prefecture">Akita</a> prefectures, it lies 400 meters (1,800 ft) above <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_level" title="Sea level">sea level</a> and is 327.0m (1,073 ft) depth, and is drained by the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oirase_river" title="Oirase river">Oirase river</a>. With a surface area of 61.1 km², Towada is Japan's 12th largest lake, its bright blue color is due to its great depth. The lake is roughly circular, with two peninsulas extending from its southern shore approximately one-third into the center of the lake.Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-7025140278878223602010-09-15T17:13:00.002+09:002010-09-15T23:40:06.588+09:00Fit to Fight...almost...well now I am<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAewNQDuofV3_c3Pgj1ESjosgQwd95ennNbeqyzJJ9JTugg9KoSx02GrNd06ZgasO1RWgXa-PBS77ZBePujkmAXvBg5pM0QzO80gQofz6gD60tuFjm1uDnM0wmh8GcQ4Lw3OC/s1600/fit+to+fight" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAewNQDuofV3_c3Pgj1ESjosgQwd95ennNbeqyzJJ9JTugg9KoSx02GrNd06ZgasO1RWgXa-PBS77ZBePujkmAXvBg5pM0QzO80gQofz6gD60tuFjm1uDnM0wmh8GcQ4Lw3OC/s320/fit+to+fight" /></a></div><br />
Em has been asking me to do a blog about how the Air Force PT (physical training) test is done. (Some of my Army friends would laugh and ask if the AF really has a PT test...but they wouldn't really be funny.) So, we have to test two times a year unless we pass with a 90% or higher. They have recently changed the rules of engagement (ROEs) making the test harder. There have subsequently been a lot of people getting kicked out of the AF. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtd-Iobjg9F56Qh7xCuIvhYNfJrDfgHgdSt6eHHSoiC1nxNIhZSQfWtuaxHdZrlt0B_3ms2uun4i-4gBsvzJ-yLgb9NTAUuXM2OnpT0jzaLoUZ-3EYGC0BFcWoD9balNINBN_/s1600/DSC06657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>The PT test is composed of measuring height, weight and waist. Only your body's waist measurement (20 pts) factors into the score.<br />
Next comes push-ups (10 pts) and sit-ups (10 pts). As many as possible in 1 minute.<br />
Then, the final and biggest part of test is the 1.5 mile run (60 pts). There are also, new July 1, minimums for each category as well as a max for the points:<br />
Run: 14:00 minutes (9:34 max)<br />
Waist: 39.0 inches (32.5 max)<br />
Push-ups: 27 (57 max)<br />
Sit-ups: 39 (54 max)<br />
<br />
There you have it in a nut shell, the AF PT test. The testing has become much more strict over the past two years. The testers are notorious for not counting your push ups unless your arms are precisely 90 degrees and your body straight. Some people do tons of push ups but have 20 or so not count. <br />
<br />
Flash back to 1 July: I take my annual PT test. I max out the run (9:28), the sit ups (60), the waist (31 inches), and then ... I get 25 push-ups with 3 not counted. I got stuck on the way up on 26 and then collapsed. Now if you add these up I get an amazing 94.5%!!!!!!! Well it would be awesome until you realize that 25 push ups doesn't meet the minimum and then I become the AF's first person to fail the new PT test standards (remember 1 July is when they started the minimum.)<br />
<br />
So I had to go to the "Be Fit" class to learn about eating healthy and how to run faster. Hmmm not really the problem. Even the Group Commander (very important person, head of all the hospital people) took a personal interest since I am such an odd ball failing with a 94.5%. Em said "I have failed a lot of tests in my life, but never with a 94%!" I have also become the butt of A LOT of jokes. I.E. After winning the Australia Trip Sgt Laffitte (the most constant of those making fun of me) said, "I guess push ups wasn't one of the events!" No, it wasn't!!!!<br />
<br />
So I started working harder on my push-ups. Started doing bench presses and triceps dips and butterflies but really for a month never felt any difference and felt even weaker on my push-ups. My friend Merrill and I started doing the <a href="http://www.hundredpushups.com/">100 Push Up program</a>. Still after weeks of doing this I didn't feel much improvement. Then after about 7 weeks, repeating weeks 4 and 5 of the program twice, I thought I could do over 30.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to today.<br />
I tested again: run-9:33,<br />
waist-31,<br />
sit-ups-61,<br />
and wait for it...<br />
42 push-ups!!!!!<br />
<br />
98.6%!!! and I passed. I feel a huge burden lifted. I guess working out does actually work!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtd-Iobjg9F56Qh7xCuIvhYNfJrDfgHgdSt6eHHSoiC1nxNIhZSQfWtuaxHdZrlt0B_3ms2uun4i-4gBsvzJ-yLgb9NTAUuXM2OnpT0jzaLoUZ-3EYGC0BFcWoD9balNINBN_/s1600/DSC06657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtd-Iobjg9F56Qh7xCuIvhYNfJrDfgHgdSt6eHHSoiC1nxNIhZSQfWtuaxHdZrlt0B_3ms2uun4i-4gBsvzJ-yLgb9NTAUuXM2OnpT0jzaLoUZ-3EYGC0BFcWoD9balNINBN_/s320/DSC06657.JPG" /></a></div><br />
These shorts are hot! not! (that "not" is in honor of Shawn Spencer's efforts on Psych to revive the term "not." said the Liar.) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBOtx9Pv6SNncK4wlH8hxjOt_SEIefZkT6xB4wNajTMWZluuy-7qzZN44KFAe44MkxKvjRlKRevtNCFyRV3CYkyDOGVDWIqlUlAEF8fWrFrkN1rfh-BFfwUrZVvS0r3pP15Rk/s1600/Spencer" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBOtx9Pv6SNncK4wlH8hxjOt_SEIefZkT6xB4wNajTMWZluuy-7qzZN44KFAe44MkxKvjRlKRevtNCFyRV3CYkyDOGVDWIqlUlAEF8fWrFrkN1rfh-BFfwUrZVvS0r3pP15Rk/s320/Spencer" /></a></div><br />
I'd like to thank all those who helped make this possible:<br />
<br />
Emily-for believing in me<br />
Col T-for for making me not want to let him down<br />
Ryan-my OB and work out partner for 2 weeks<br />
Merrill-my push up partner<br />
Janeen-my personal trainer and healthy eating coach and Duathlon nemesis<br />
Wes-my pilot<br />
Nice PT Testing lady-who counted all of my push-ups <br />
<br />
No Thanks to:<br />
<br />
Roxanna<br />
TSgt Laffitte<br />
and all the other people who think they are funny and kinda were!<br />
;)Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-79829670954329825722010-08-27T23:20:00.003+09:002010-08-28T14:04:10.841+09:00The Tribe Has Spoken!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQSINltIESG9XwommjgvHGrdSJ5gufCh77VKcHk920zj7n2L_YuFASeK3h6RyMXE6PDgm010fh2kWzimh0Wz9R8n3-GeDX2jaMuuPOB_fyBSrzO34vMeN-cPZBlSRCaaFkzZb/s1600/clc-big-survivor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQSINltIESG9XwommjgvHGrdSJ5gufCh77VKcHk920zj7n2L_YuFASeK3h6RyMXE6PDgm010fh2kWzimh0Wz9R8n3-GeDX2jaMuuPOB_fyBSrzO34vMeN-cPZBlSRCaaFkzZb/s320/clc-big-survivor.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>So get this...yesterday I saw an email advertising an event at The Club (each base has an enlisted and an officer's club, or a combined "collocated" club). It was a meet and great with some of the <b>Survivor All-Stars!</b><br />
<br />
Em and I are moderate to big Survivor fans; in fact I had just been looking into the application process to get on the show but gave up. The event was for tonight from 5-7 and they were going to choose random people to compete in a "Survivor Challenge". I wanted to attend and told Em to get a babysitter.<br />
<br />
Then at lunch Em ran into some of the "Stars" signing autographs at the BX (Base Exchange or the equivilant of Mervyns meets Walmart) and called me very excited saying she put her arm around James and got to chat with Russell and Sandra. (Winner of last season.)<br />
<br />
But then she couldn't find a babysitter. That combined with me being very tired, (all four boys woke up and came into our room at various times last night) led me to not feel up to going by myself (no kids allowed at event). BUT, my fabulous and selfless wife encouraged me to go without her saying it was a "once in a lifetime experience." This is true. <i>Thank you, Hon!</i><br />
<br />
So I popped over to have some light hors d'oeuvres hoping to meet some of them. I did just that and got to talk to Ami Cusack ( <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor:_Vanuatu" title="Survivor: Vanuatu">Survivor: Vanuatu</a></i> and <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor:_Micronesia" title="Survivor: Micronesia">Survivor: Micronesia</a>). </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQl6rZDwI06mhBqjKehxzk_Fl0rw1S0s-6rbOzFFfNh2uqgSZ54aim1xfIF60NxDZi1176eJGxKuV2VQ6G9JSx2Tf_e4vfVFe9Sj2SIuQA45ZcX4fjIEWgOibzOtiI-0vPHvt/s1600/survivor+ami.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQl6rZDwI06mhBqjKehxzk_Fl0rw1S0s-6rbOzFFfNh2uqgSZ54aim1xfIF60NxDZi1176eJGxKuV2VQ6G9JSx2Tf_e4vfVFe9Sj2SIuQA45ZcX4fjIEWgOibzOtiI-0vPHvt/s200/survivor+ami.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVhs17fFXtN6FfjrZz_7-BN6lVUXNYhtmio-nsvkDlbKT56lHVbtGq7lIgrc6dJRWcoFrp-nTcbL8vd8cYbCcoMbBovzlA8AJPPUVkoA0kG92EGr4pLT3HINeKVHSxE9KTeEy/s1600/DSC06550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVhs17fFXtN6FfjrZz_7-BN6lVUXNYhtmio-nsvkDlbKT56lHVbtGq7lIgrc6dJRWcoFrp-nTcbL8vd8cYbCcoMbBovzlA8AJPPUVkoA0kG92EGr4pLT3HINeKVHSxE9KTeEy/s200/DSC06550.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>She was quite nice, personable, fun to talk with, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">pretty</span> and I got to get some behind the scenes questions about Survivor answered.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>As I ate my snacks, they did the drawing for the competition <b>and I got chosen</b>.<br />
<br />
This is how it worked: They picked two teams: an enlisted team and an officer team. Each team competed in a challenge with the last person to finish being eliminated and not moving on to the next round until one person from each team is left to compete in the final challenge.<br />
<br />
First Challenge: Drinking giant pixie sticks the fastest.<br />
<br />
Second: Using the pixie stick as a straw to pick up ping pong balls and carry them across the ballroom floor and drop them into a bag. Repeat.<br />
<br />
Next challenge: Race around a bunch of tires with some weird plastic cups under your feet with strings connected that you hold to help move your feet.<br />
<br />
Next: While paired up with a <b>Survivor All-Star</b> race around the same tires while stepping into them with your foot at the same time as your partner. My partner was Russell Swan (a very nice guy, Em says!) (<i><b>Survivor: Samoa)</b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjj-mvZXOqt_6ZijW8z-A4CwPFVTHlcY842pObzUBS7TG7cABtiyWUJdqGYj1ZNbFBCDyY33GkQa8SHmp7OrCa5G6coBomvWW0gOnNSsvuYFigo4pQebBciA9dzI6SFUyf2vQ3/s1600/russell-swan-survivor-samoa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjj-mvZXOqt_6ZijW8z-A4CwPFVTHlcY842pObzUBS7TG7cABtiyWUJdqGYj1ZNbFBCDyY33GkQa8SHmp7OrCa5G6coBomvWW0gOnNSsvuYFigo4pQebBciA9dzI6SFUyf2vQ3/s200/russell-swan-survivor-samoa.jpg" width="163" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSEovZ9TCQOTm1GoMXXeoyoimWTl9aSy0t4lQIhFoKuNxCHT6FLYMIFi8HRhCr6onCWbkB9_7o4YeBY4uJ9GaeHwX3PhGuuV1yZmRvoSp2LKz1HqT1kf9_tiC2eCLCLg2jefK/s1600/DSC06559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSEovZ9TCQOTm1GoMXXeoyoimWTl9aSy0t4lQIhFoKuNxCHT6FLYMIFi8HRhCr6onCWbkB9_7o4YeBY4uJ9GaeHwX3PhGuuV1yZmRvoSp2LKz1HqT1kf9_tiC2eCLCLg2jefK/s200/DSC06559.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Next: A nasty one!!! A couple of scoops of<b> squid guts</b> had to be eaten. (My strategy quickly changed from trying to eat it all at once, (cue immediate gag reflex) to eating smaller bites on the count of three, (this worked once) to holding it in my mouth until the other guy gave up and threw up: <b>making me one of two finalists!!!</b><i> (I can still taste it and smell it.)</i><b><br />
</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJxJzBHHUhBobeq5124dq0l34wbVoLEwqu4PFUbWEvsNHlLUZW1qDJCLsCKzLk595e5qnCiaFegIuUgr2jQ-sjnyX2SiwK-7hZEb2KD-1lsM13SYWb4t7TapydIemdZbg5ggD/s1600/DSC06563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJxJzBHHUhBobeq5124dq0l34wbVoLEwqu4PFUbWEvsNHlLUZW1qDJCLsCKzLk595e5qnCiaFegIuUgr2jQ-sjnyX2SiwK-7hZEb2KD-1lsM13SYWb4t7TapydIemdZbg5ggD/s200/DSC06563.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoOu3oluk9S5IA-S9R2dda8XX01ZyyiRUyN4mhPHhY1_aVt3rULz0ybPDPMC34h9MEr3y9ZIQkDfOzGUGn4eAaPxu-JGWZqA2hULRv7wbhyoyWql5ySd-KoTcKT77H-ME_Emn/s1600/DSC06567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoOu3oluk9S5IA-S9R2dda8XX01ZyyiRUyN4mhPHhY1_aVt3rULz0ybPDPMC34h9MEr3y9ZIQkDfOzGUGn4eAaPxu-JGWZqA2hULRv7wbhyoyWql5ySd-KoTcKT77H-ME_Emn/s200/DSC06567.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
For the final challenge I had to peddle a large tricycle with Ami on the back. I was blind-folded and Ami was my guide. She led me around the tires where our handle bars got bent-losing precious time- but we corrected them and sped on.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqUO6Nt0pSjQ2N99iPgR-bq7IhXF3fwGgLXvdnOqHuGKKQljfY6JcSR4Eh0jQ-BLdJS61JDIlWQHpmhacRPLMA3wz2SKVGWiP53WCxeNEhe6WYveT6thI5cj_t29aNxc4OWbO/s1600/DSC06571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqUO6Nt0pSjQ2N99iPgR-bq7IhXF3fwGgLXvdnOqHuGKKQljfY6JcSR4Eh0jQ-BLdJS61JDIlWQHpmhacRPLMA3wz2SKVGWiP53WCxeNEhe6WYveT6thI5cj_t29aNxc4OWbO/s320/DSC06571.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Ami then directed me through a maze where I kept going left and then left until I spilled out of the maze passing the other guy.<br />
<br />
Back onto the trike, Ami expertly led me around the ballroom to the final obstacles. I tore through the combat crawl sustaining multiple rug burns and losing my flip flops but ultimately<b> emerged the winner!!!</b><br />
<br />
<b>And guess what? </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qNHyxqlHGt3qWpPkcfPy8irXH6H0wPVJdKpSBr1xZcqBalvKQGb7tBMewpbUQevwrafh69eo-iMD06qT1QSynG0WMQs_o4hQNdrcNccWKVk-EmXmY-M4omdksJWpj8fS4p-I/s1600/DSC06577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qNHyxqlHGt3qWpPkcfPy8irXH6H0wPVJdKpSBr1xZcqBalvKQGb7tBMewpbUQevwrafh69eo-iMD06qT1QSynG0WMQs_o4hQNdrcNccWKVk-EmXmY-M4omdksJWpj8fS4p-I/s320/DSC06577.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> I am going <span style="font-size: x-small;">(with Em)</span> to </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA!!!!!</b></span></div><br />
And to think that I almost laid down at home and went to sleep. Em had no idea that any of this was happening and when I walked in with giant check/coupon for the trip she was completely dumb founded and still doesn't believe I really did win. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGBO2pphnp6PECasa0D1u5Rx53iBpN200WgNoVMR8GSqO6fOr-WIU52006LKY0CeoJ3AULPQIdZH78gqpxh7poNgDuhRR-F0L1T_NLmB5XIhpoFZ9VQz-gbPNpoJUeKufbZDl/s1600/Survivor+Autographs001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGBO2pphnp6PECasa0D1u5Rx53iBpN200WgNoVMR8GSqO6fOr-WIU52006LKY0CeoJ3AULPQIdZH78gqpxh7poNgDuhRR-F0L1T_NLmB5XIhpoFZ9VQz-gbPNpoJUeKufbZDl/s320/Survivor+Autographs001.jpg" /></a></div><i><b><br />
</b></i><br />
<i><b>What an awesome night!</b></i><br />
<i><b><br />
</b></i><br />
<i><b>THANK YOU FOR COMING SURVIVORS! </b></i><br />
<i><b>THANK YOU AMI! </b></i><br />
<i><b>THANK YOU AIR FORCE! </b></i><br />
<br />
<i><b>And most of all... </b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">THANKS FOR THE TRIP!!!!!!!!!!</span><br />
</b></i>Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-64752113801109111252010-08-23T22:19:00.000+09:002010-08-23T22:19:35.338+09:00Nebuta<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68F5G0QwU2s8cYKMAr8d9yPd9u1dk7VFyiyKtEU8dfWJHDkXBHveKPZYleWWPUmw19jHJ7zwNNF0y-ZENoE52F4hgehJqiX3jD0IKxYpieVekyIe60ZV6GLRkgpKicLfA1V21/s1600/IMG_8930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68F5G0QwU2s8cYKMAr8d9yPd9u1dk7VFyiyKtEU8dfWJHDkXBHveKPZYleWWPUmw19jHJ7zwNNF0y-ZENoE52F4hgehJqiX3jD0IKxYpieVekyIe60ZV6GLRkgpKicLfA1V21/s400/IMG_8930.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Last year we went to <a href="http://fromcoast2coast.blogspot.com/2009/08/rase-rase-rase-ra-or-nebuta-festival.html">the Nebuta parade</a>, in Aomori City, during the day. This year we wanted to see how amazing they would look in the dark, lit up. They were amazing. The people are so energetic and happy. Despite it being so crowded everyone seems to enjoy it. The boys were all dressed in their festival Jimbae. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1L56rLO3kLuGN-S1JxwzNQLkRy5V3Eb1zXR22rIifY4qE4Q0vBu_URv35bb6jHxTJfzJueqsspGUKRAowOhj7MgxZi3ksuHyVDLGJtnt3w-F1vo-vRtsI5qviqajhVKWKTCHS/s1600/IMG_8961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1L56rLO3kLuGN-S1JxwzNQLkRy5V3Eb1zXR22rIifY4qE4Q0vBu_URv35bb6jHxTJfzJueqsspGUKRAowOhj7MgxZi3ksuHyVDLGJtnt3w-F1vo-vRtsI5qviqajhVKWKTCHS/s320/IMG_8961.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyJZxGgWgF6G1YwWTU6tSkfMvjRhTeALn9N7JSGMRxQvy2p8bXDjUOJUl9qHQ5yVftPnkchx9Y27AnO5rYwR6t2PpbxXOmgoBowuFQThLGx1rkGGcz8zCGZ1xuo_Fj7kDqAKc/s1600/IMG_8958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyJZxGgWgF6G1YwWTU6tSkfMvjRhTeALn9N7JSGMRxQvy2p8bXDjUOJUl9qHQ5yVftPnkchx9Y27AnO5rYwR6t2PpbxXOmgoBowuFQThLGx1rkGGcz8zCGZ1xuo_Fj7kDqAKc/s320/IMG_8958.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Em took a little girl for her mom since she was struggling to see over us and 3 other rows. We were with the Balls at a street corner. At each corner they stop the floats and then quickly spin them around.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4szPSUMt164vU1lXrre4dd05LEXbfrwojvopFBWRJFHMJpZqJ4top_xCEV8BHZHMopwhl2XLGoWlE_q-tvcI04kA2Ky_9LlcIFjBa7kdyVC_SMIsUgMtXd0fmfCijZZd_POp/s1600/IMG_8970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4szPSUMt164vU1lXrre4dd05LEXbfrwojvopFBWRJFHMJpZqJ4top_xCEV8BHZHMopwhl2XLGoWlE_q-tvcI04kA2Ky_9LlcIFjBa7kdyVC_SMIsUgMtXd0fmfCijZZd_POp/s320/IMG_8970.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68F5G0QwU2s8cYKMAr8d9yPd9u1dk7VFyiyKtEU8dfWJHDkXBHveKPZYleWWPUmw19jHJ7zwNNF0y-ZENoE52F4hgehJqiX3jD0IKxYpieVekyIe60ZV6GLRkgpKicLfA1V21/s1600/IMG_8930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68F5G0QwU2s8cYKMAr8d9yPd9u1dk7VFyiyKtEU8dfWJHDkXBHveKPZYleWWPUmw19jHJ7zwNNF0y-ZENoE52F4hgehJqiX3jD0IKxYpieVekyIe60ZV6GLRkgpKicLfA1V21/s320/IMG_8930.JPG" /></a></div> Nebuta is our favorite festival! (Too bad it was blisteringly hot.)<br />
<br />
<i>There are many theories about the origin of the Nebuta Festival. One is that it originated with the subjugation of rebels in the Aomori district by "General TAMURAMARO" in the early 800's. He had his army create large creatures, called "Nebuta", to frighten the enemy. Another theory is that the Nebuta Festival was a development of the "TANABATA" festival in China. One of the customs during this festival was "TORO" floating. A "TORO" is a wooden frame box wrapped with Japanese paper. The Japanese light a candle inside the "TORO" and put it out to float on the river or the sea. The purpose for doing this is to purify themselves and send the evil spirits out to sea. "TORO" floating is still one of the most impressive and beautiful sights during the summer nights of the Japanese festivals. On the final night, "TORO" floating is accompanied by a large display of colorful fireworks. This is said to be the origin of the Nebuta Festival. Gradually these floats grew in size, as did the festivities, until they are the large size they are now. Today the Nebuta floats are made of a wood base, carefully covered with this same Japanese paper, beautifully colored, and lighted from the inside with hundreds of light bulbs. In early August the colorful floats are pulled through the streets accompanied by people dancing in native Nebuta costumes, playing tunes on flutes and drums. Many Aomori citizens are involved in the building of these beautiful floats. The Nebuta designers create their designs patterned after historical people or themes. They begin developing themes immediately after the previous year's festivities come to a close. Consequently, it takes the entire year, first in the development, then in the construction of the Nebuta float.</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_yF8L5QeKSR9MfiExNCPsBs154NWy8U_CYwbLcxkKDDuRaaI2x1Dv_hMuCmYcMSP3AT_KrIUqTvlLEoe9dNJvSUAJPWPJn9j8eBp_BEHiMma8sAsfOxSuAkYL9chE42rx0iY/s1600/IMG_8976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_yF8L5QeKSR9MfiExNCPsBs154NWy8U_CYwbLcxkKDDuRaaI2x1Dv_hMuCmYcMSP3AT_KrIUqTvlLEoe9dNJvSUAJPWPJn9j8eBp_BEHiMma8sAsfOxSuAkYL9chE42rx0iY/s640/IMG_8976.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-32351472831103052332010-08-03T22:52:00.001+09:002010-08-03T23:19:13.567+09:00Conquering Mt Fuji<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqAhVT0-GyYa5rockHOMO-ilHDLzIm0u485QYXKgt2HHbgtgebhB64828HCY5ft-5y8ZrBVtoF3KW5-4byKOXOlGPbc03QyM8zTb_7uS5Gv77jvj3WYtSTJhsFV9zi1fYLBdE/s1600/IMG_8596.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqAhVT0-GyYa5rockHOMO-ilHDLzIm0u485QYXKgt2HHbgtgebhB64828HCY5ft-5y8ZrBVtoF3KW5-4byKOXOlGPbc03QyM8zTb_7uS5Gv77jvj3WYtSTJhsFV9zi1fYLBdE/s1600/IMG_8596.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501174599878596482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqAhVT0-GyYa5rockHOMO-ilHDLzIm0u485QYXKgt2HHbgtgebhB64828HCY5ft-5y8ZrBVtoF3KW5-4byKOXOlGPbc03QyM8zTb_7uS5Gv77jvj3WYtSTJhsFV9zi1fYLBdE/s400/IMG_8596.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yesterday I climbed mount Fuji with Merrill and Janeen, Ryan B, and Robert W. It was great. We kept a steady pace, all staying together and all got the branding stamps on our walking sticks at most of the huts. The ascent was very challenging. There were some rugged up-hill parts, a bunch of switch backs, and some stairs. I think the variety on the ascent was good. The last 200 or so meters were very exhausting. Standing still I was fine but almost immediately after starting up again I became out of breath and a little wobbly at times from the combination of being tired with less oxygen in the atmosphere. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EeMPHnWFIxaH1e0rYeYi-WCz0Ih70E2ywMf4v9NRA3ALrv9ZdaXospNBXXCNBJOWdvy_usY-W-L5RohJRCVVqBdAUmKhGtyDzApPuRpQzfHX9s0IxqB0XxCWlxyBNdMAM6iv/s1600/IMG_8657.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501174604056064706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EeMPHnWFIxaH1e0rYeYi-WCz0Ih70E2ywMf4v9NRA3ALrv9ZdaXospNBXXCNBJOWdvy_usY-W-L5RohJRCVVqBdAUmKhGtyDzApPuRpQzfHX9s0IxqB0XxCWlxyBNdMAM6iv/s400/IMG_8657.JPG" style="display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>We ended up at the top a little after noon, 5 hrs and 15 minutes. It was a great feeling to have made it to the top. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfgOqi0RxZ-yxWWoM8Uw8wEurmjUz_e6e3AkSUNe25pTxBOD2Fi8RKgSgXlbUMCWi0X7lz3QvfM8vss8LGLfyOR6axS6lIN5dp-EBojgvBphiYgE6nj3hqoufea6e73jMaLG3/s1600/IMG_8661.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501174607555529714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfgOqi0RxZ-yxWWoM8Uw8wEurmjUz_e6e3AkSUNe25pTxBOD2Fi8RKgSgXlbUMCWi0X7lz3QvfM8vss8LGLfyOR6axS6lIN5dp-EBojgvBphiYgE6nj3hqoufea6e73jMaLG3/s400/IMG_8661.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>I continued and hiked around the crater, which offered some cool views of the crater and got me to the actual highest point. So it was mostly worth it to hike an extra 45 minutes. The weather on the way up was nice. Foggy, humid a bit of sunshine, a slight drizzle towards the summit and then a lot more sunshine at the top. Eating ramen at the top was yummy and just cool! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkoXCZRGlkMkwFvqHNaUqL6UHHkvNglCmZr8vWzM9deddMR34lSVGhhWhJOwfx-RtEg2Irwcg0fKiI3wHI2KbmsRmdTuLJE5z074VYw0_hRdnoHH67FVDlcgMaN9YzsLCwlT7/s1600/IMG_8676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkoXCZRGlkMkwFvqHNaUqL6UHHkvNglCmZr8vWzM9deddMR34lSVGhhWhJOwfx-RtEg2Irwcg0fKiI3wHI2KbmsRmdTuLJE5z074VYw0_hRdnoHH67FVDlcgMaN9YzsLCwlT7/s320/IMG_8676.JPG" /></a></div><br />
After my crater trek, I got back to the rest of the group just as the rain began and it continued the whole way down. We were pretty soggy and wet all the way but it wasn't too bad since it didn't get too cold or windy.<br />
<br />
Coming down was probably just about as hard as going up and my knee started hurting. It didn't hurt if I went backwards so I went down a lot of it backwards. The descent takes you down a different route with a bunch of switch backs and a lot of loose volcanic gravel/shale. It was pretty exhausting but it was a great hike and well worth the trip. It was an awesome group to go with.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OQTqOKhGn1heMXWKeKc3I4gPBfYbgKAi95HKJSkide6Z7OW02ZR-eV_2CqeIs-gHC2zsMvtPTrcnSb9RFoIC9Wgou64LB3MFN2TlZNbIvuR4SffXcGh-fWCNEoyRpI8H8T55/s1600/IMG_8701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OQTqOKhGn1heMXWKeKc3I4gPBfYbgKAi95HKJSkide6Z7OW02ZR-eV_2CqeIs-gHC2zsMvtPTrcnSb9RFoIC9Wgou64LB3MFN2TlZNbIvuR4SffXcGh-fWCNEoyRpI8H8T55/s320/IMG_8701.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This morning we, in insanity, woke up and caught a taxi to the fish market at 4 am. Why you might ask? Because we wanted to witness the Tsukiji Fish Market Auction. We got there just in time to get tickets. These days they only let 70 people into the each of the 2 auctions since tourists got it closed down to visitors a while back.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ97PeNzrXjl5Ge0BRbAjaiKFh49tSw_0IqsdJ7heV9zMp4aPlDC4qFVedVREGCZyyZhUi9lY17HoThhe6uYyJgCzabnqwIXcL00TWHSKikKmczUxzRjUhzoHAhDwRNGs9Dp8V/s1600/IMG_8708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ97PeNzrXjl5Ge0BRbAjaiKFh49tSw_0IqsdJ7heV9zMp4aPlDC4qFVedVREGCZyyZhUi9lY17HoThhe6uYyJgCzabnqwIXcL00TWHSKikKmczUxzRjUhzoHAhDwRNGs9Dp8V/s320/IMG_8708.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>We made it into the second auction. It was insane. Tons (literally) of tuna lined up in a large warehouse, with lots of people inspecting the quality with touch, taste, visual and even using flash lights to get a better sense for the true color of the meat.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFHKY9aNwNElUIBiC48agy5IhAJTIRL5UxfQVNIqjVvyJ39c1XL3TTi1V1Axcy-WTynSvPrTqqW0LI7xsiXy1orxfzTqwx0gF9tA216wn_82sAXh4i8yP5wGZ-Wf9G1DpNb-P/s1600/IMG_8722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFHKY9aNwNElUIBiC48agy5IhAJTIRL5UxfQVNIqjVvyJ39c1XL3TTi1V1Axcy-WTynSvPrTqqW0LI7xsiXy1orxfzTqwx0gF9tA216wn_82sAXh4i8yP5wGZ-Wf9G1DpNb-P/s320/IMG_8722.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdXfGc3Ij7PlACbEK3dIjWqpC-NbxpQTdiGRFBrauKdgo9IscW_QOX32eTr5cJ_JtsZU5e7H1EnxvBqbxQcchpwzcbgAOE2n8YmUXgHpaaQDzEBviG8uASOYoHB4dSeEjflVJ/s1600/IMG_8718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdXfGc3Ij7PlACbEK3dIjWqpC-NbxpQTdiGRFBrauKdgo9IscW_QOX32eTr5cJ_JtsZU5e7H1EnxvBqbxQcchpwzcbgAOE2n8YmUXgHpaaQDzEBviG8uASOYoHB4dSeEjflVJ/s320/IMG_8718.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLPssy0celUhnA_l-tKW658N0dTgG9vK6ZpqfojEiZIsgMHlSCJxHqvTORa3ArYKvW-EMCL9zk7iii9qEBd2OpVpQDV13s3VaSDs-5lx720XgLtmumdKxlyBdiNWHgU38vnBV/s1600/IMG_8727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLPssy0celUhnA_l-tKW658N0dTgG9vK6ZpqfojEiZIsgMHlSCJxHqvTORa3ArYKvW-EMCL9zk7iii9qEBd2OpVpQDV13s3VaSDs-5lx720XgLtmumdKxlyBdiNWHgU38vnBV/s320/IMG_8727.jpg" /></a></div>Then the auction starts with the different auctioneers ringing their bell and then they sell each fish one at a time. It goes really fast and each person moves about 100 fish in 10 minutes and there are probably 10 auctioneers going at the same time. The guys are really animated and excited and they seem to be having a great time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUd8TgAhclA5Uii4qmOoZ1SWKAQJpVIfiwSZh3rthC2p7JK_qE0uT4s_8RNqh3m4yMHO6wrWZV4qD8y0oPJ7rTqptIqli_CRfqZzDFFGvmw1vZCXGcRsIBE2w82M2KVpnxG6vy/s1600/IMG_8778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUd8TgAhclA5Uii4qmOoZ1SWKAQJpVIfiwSZh3rthC2p7JK_qE0uT4s_8RNqh3m4yMHO6wrWZV4qD8y0oPJ7rTqptIqli_CRfqZzDFFGvmw1vZCXGcRsIBE2w82M2KVpnxG6vy/s320/IMG_8778.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTsncR7SEsZ1GM6snoVlAzzEp_ly59z6MwH211IUXvDNciD3VwDZKWPTsE_96Ued_xraFwvqh8RbaksT1GTVc1I8r3cLfvFM-hFCUopLNHN7nAZgdBHjXHUy_d1yziV5Xrbvj/s1600/IMG_8788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTsncR7SEsZ1GM6snoVlAzzEp_ly59z6MwH211IUXvDNciD3VwDZKWPTsE_96Ued_xraFwvqh8RbaksT1GTVc1I8r3cLfvFM-hFCUopLNHN7nAZgdBHjXHUy_d1yziV5Xrbvj/s320/IMG_8788.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90ZzJyhBDVVyPGIZcR8F6cdnX86DMxxbUv9dk8SatvuPxmSD1GvvvLHlmbRAil3YP3Hef4mu6f2N6oGjMeAy938nZXSeaWztU4khrC7Vsz8TFswJb6b8iMSX95Pw2YXa3g-wo/s1600/IMG_8806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90ZzJyhBDVVyPGIZcR8F6cdnX86DMxxbUv9dk8SatvuPxmSD1GvvvLHlmbRAil3YP3Hef4mu6f2N6oGjMeAy938nZXSeaWztU4khrC7Vsz8TFswJb6b8iMSX95Pw2YXa3g-wo/s320/IMG_8806.JPG" /></a></div>It was a really fascinating thing to watch. Once we got shuffled back out, we walked around the busiest, largest, coolest and most dangerous (due to the small trucks speeding around without any consideration for the American tourists!) fish market ever.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNB8ZZOWv6X1s88NILj2v30PYV_jyyCL9Cssdy0kpNABAlsjOAdUeFTxuGITcVbdLYg1kJux_g9AaMeC-izPsMhW6L07ZLXKd9lINPLX0zJtMcJm0gZGFEGofmNw7zBJ8az5-_/s1600/IMG_8821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNB8ZZOWv6X1s88NILj2v30PYV_jyyCL9Cssdy0kpNABAlsjOAdUeFTxuGITcVbdLYg1kJux_g9AaMeC-izPsMhW6L07ZLXKd9lINPLX0zJtMcJm0gZGFEGofmNw7zBJ8az5-_/s320/IMG_8821.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIeCST2PIGRUKpFLmt1LEbNJg_UntcIDkCmQn4VYnZ_v-wrfd4rDo6OXQGG0tcrdSMZBrkXZ2xoHfcpkyAI31G5pYg6JnqDalm_g1-F6C5Ar-KMy42Du1OfvEPPWxWfLKU_ch/s1600/IMG_8819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIeCST2PIGRUKpFLmt1LEbNJg_UntcIDkCmQn4VYnZ_v-wrfd4rDo6OXQGG0tcrdSMZBrkXZ2xoHfcpkyAI31G5pYg6JnqDalm_g1-F6C5Ar-KMy42Du1OfvEPPWxWfLKU_ch/s320/IMG_8819.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Then we headed back to the New Sanno hotel and had a fabulous buffet breakfast, (Maxwell worthy) had naps, then headed out for lunch and a temple session. It was neat going to the Temple of the Lord after having summited a physical temple the previous day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhar8zke38Q6AJUE_9NailSdlpeyexnOTNBPSJ33bNW6pSLXgU_8B3sUBFAD8Tt6zf2FLTuJ-tU5E33jguL3aYG7S4XDnYVd3URxfNBBEAbT15IIrkqxMzmJJR-Gs43G13cyUQS/s1600/IMG_8835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhar8zke38Q6AJUE_9NailSdlpeyexnOTNBPSJ33bNW6pSLXgU_8B3sUBFAD8Tt6zf2FLTuJ-tU5E33jguL3aYG7S4XDnYVd3URxfNBBEAbT15IIrkqxMzmJJR-Gs43G13cyUQS/s320/IMG_8835.jpg" /></a></div>After the Temple we headed back to the hotel, swam and then went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner. It was nice to be able to have American food again. You just need to have it once in a while. I even had a hamburger in front of Janeen (our healthy eating friend) who ordered two half salads. I thought that was funny but definitely not unusual for her.<br />
<br />
It has been a great trip and I am ready to go to bed and go home tomorrow. Thank you Emily for being a lone woman in Misawa with the boys while I did this. (Though it sounds like you have been partying with your girl friends a lot!) See you soon!Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-13583958571072612702010-04-21T22:37:00.002+09:002010-04-21T22:47:57.366+09:00Gray's BirthHere's a slideshow of his first couple days.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzv6QMHMbFdKSzA4x8giiLkVET3Duw9FoAO9Ylw99SutUB259Z10ukeVZ4numxuPTszke2w_BANrxQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-48495914505158428242010-04-17T07:43:00.005+09:002010-04-17T08:08:54.523+09:00Two Favorites and Service- A New Family TraditionOne of the nights, when Emily was still in the hospital, I joined our great friends the Pats for dinner since they were the ones caring for the boys during the first two days of Gray's life. At the completion of dinner everyone stayed at the table and then they went around and each told of their two favorite things and one act of service they did or had done to them. (Kinda like President Monson mentioned in conference last year.) So last Sunday I started the same routine in our family.<br /><br />Here is one round from me for these past two weeks:<br />Two favorite things:<br /><br />1. Falling asleep on the recliner in the middle of the day with Gray bundled in my arms and then waking up and having Gabe cuddle with us for 20 more minutes!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiadk3e6NCaTnz5AZbTO_gaCzbOM-RoGtKnjkhaHfuY_Z8oB8f_n4rjA0y8FziJSAFMZSuLEh_Y5EJbk3KntF9Cs-7ExzJTP8R3rQ_WqT5UzwLmpLfI6x0O6jw0RXBuYLCH5D3/s1600/DSC05387.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiadk3e6NCaTnz5AZbTO_gaCzbOM-RoGtKnjkhaHfuY_Z8oB8f_n4rjA0y8FziJSAFMZSuLEh_Y5EJbk3KntF9Cs-7ExzJTP8R3rQ_WqT5UzwLmpLfI6x0O6jw0RXBuYLCH5D3/s400/DSC05387.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460875778765724050" border="0" /></a>2. Trying to eat Grayson's little soft cuddly fuzzy face. I love his head with its smooth skin and soft hair.<br /><br />Service (we have been focusing on service we provide, but I will make an exception in order to praise my wife):<br /><br />-Em has been serving me by sleeping downstairs so Grayson wont wake me up as much. (The idea is this will allow me to have more energy to handle the other boys, which has had some success if not as much as she would like.)<br /><br />(They also read the Book of Mormon while a the dinner table and we are adopting that technique as well.)Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-87975923836338973122010-04-13T14:58:00.002+09:002010-04-13T15:04:59.661+09:00Baby Hog!Em has confined herself to her room today. She sits in her bed as upon a throne, issuing demands for breakfast and lunch. She will only allow me access to Grayson in order to change his diaper and clothes. Give me my baby!!!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlgQkytQdgxhz6EJkFUG-rcaKR7z4rPfICLs3OmmNszpXUOz-T0xMgpnD4Ep9GXwaUbrsXskf42ARlF88sK1iTODyRI4ctuzuIJgw1LpcwzNTAecqqk9OzSqyBAg68spBcgP4/s1600/IMG_7198.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlgQkytQdgxhz6EJkFUG-rcaKR7z4rPfICLs3OmmNszpXUOz-T0xMgpnD4Ep9GXwaUbrsXskf42ARlF88sK1iTODyRI4ctuzuIJgw1LpcwzNTAecqqk9OzSqyBAg68spBcgP4/s400/IMG_7198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459498795405930242" border="0" /></a>Maybe I'll eat the last of the yummy cookies our awesome friends, the Kennelly's brought last night. That will show her!!!Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-51012231638564995562010-04-05T21:36:00.005+09:002010-04-05T21:51:19.062+09:00Visiting HoursThe thought of bringing 3 wild boys to Labor and Delivery and controlling them in Em's room around a new born wasn't too appealing, so with the assistance of our neighbor Roxy I took each of them to see their mom and baby by themselves. They were all very calm and cute and loving with him. What great boys ALL 4 of them!<br /><br />Sam doesn't seem to like the name Grayson, (Its OK Sam, I'm sure uncle Dave has made fun of it already!), but accepted it and reported back to his friend that his name is Grayson because he looks gray. I guess I'm to blame because I said "He looks like a Grayson doesn't he?" "Yeah, I guess so." He was probably thinking, "He looks more like a Purpleson to me."<br /><br />Thank you to all of the friends who are/have and are offering help. It has made is so much easier since we are so far from family. You all rock!!!!!<br /><br />Thank you for all the prayers. Thank you Ryan for the blessing. His lungs are now clear and his breathing is great! The doctor is very surprised since the chest X-ray showed some aspirated meconium. We are happy his is healthy and doing great. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPqw3dJ0JH-jZPrq6k5EE2xCRkGGaFZlfySo2mQlUdcmNNMPD3cnaouqLzW12WYW31vNWV22p8H5uzT4xmGMnI4g9FIDNWHVcuKv3CD4c55RV7RxOE7gz_c6wOJU2X3Ap_M9_/s1600/IMG_7060.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPqw3dJ0JH-jZPrq6k5EE2xCRkGGaFZlfySo2mQlUdcmNNMPD3cnaouqLzW12WYW31vNWV22p8H5uzT4xmGMnI4g9FIDNWHVcuKv3CD4c55RV7RxOE7gz_c6wOJU2X3Ap_M9_/s400/IMG_7060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456632686873098610" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7dfg2KwuBuwXxSxwDzkQIHF69Xo4JsgVw5nywkfdZLrNAxXAEvpvJ2DLY-shAltSfptMTjfXTiAW3vydn5n3XLC23oY2ouPrQSKraZh2pl_SKSsV_JbWnVkWHx0KVQJQP-lR/s1600/IMG_7069.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7dfg2KwuBuwXxSxwDzkQIHF69Xo4JsgVw5nywkfdZLrNAxXAEvpvJ2DLY-shAltSfptMTjfXTiAW3vydn5n3XLC23oY2ouPrQSKraZh2pl_SKSsV_JbWnVkWHx0KVQJQP-lR/s400/IMG_7069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456632695467358274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuOCEjx0KiPgG5FzGFtc4vmkguOz9NuTniCgCqFKJIHx41BCHj5zIzGthuy4S9TlkUXXAp2d8zLnpSlehMOTXnIiM-SZoxPKWIqvIrFUwWcNoVnlRo3W8f3CIB8Tdn5tD1iK9/s1600/IMG_7083.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuOCEjx0KiPgG5FzGFtc4vmkguOz9NuTniCgCqFKJIHx41BCHj5zIzGthuy4S9TlkUXXAp2d8zLnpSlehMOTXnIiM-SZoxPKWIqvIrFUwWcNoVnlRo3W8f3CIB8Tdn5tD1iK9/s400/IMG_7083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456632704644323986" border="0" /></a>Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-85710684949746991892010-04-01T22:14:00.002+09:002010-04-01T22:17:03.026+09:00What's wrong with this photo?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvQaUmlXMB2tBWqBho_ND8DxlNCJor0YC43tqn1ToRegMUxMWnuDf3IMhR0Ollia27wm8rgj_BMZFPqLVbIkZrpgKRhjDOg0rJWWrdwG3CFj0nbQLO5As55Xz-ix44k2je3Cq/s1600/Thang+Pha+Poom+029+%288%29.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvQaUmlXMB2tBWqBho_ND8DxlNCJor0YC43tqn1ToRegMUxMWnuDf3IMhR0Ollia27wm8rgj_BMZFPqLVbIkZrpgKRhjDOg0rJWWrdwG3CFj0nbQLO5As55Xz-ix44k2je3Cq/s400/Thang+Pha+Poom+029+%288%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455157107316576882" border="0" /></a><br />I've been going through my Thailand photos trying to make a photo book on Blurb and started noticing little oddities about this photo. I shot it from the hip and never noticed all that was going on. What can you find?Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-57771000916010359382010-02-28T07:48:00.004+09:002010-02-28T09:36:44.377+09:00Today's EngrishThis is a sign on the top of a self serve rice cooker at a Raman shop I went to yesterday. In other words, Obama or Americans eat too much rice!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacPJ7yj8qrc9T-IXUq_V7M7W5A_jcNRCqqVqXLsvofOa_-Ot2-oUqwyv5EYT7tmOeaHoCu9E5Gh5A_aTcGh83T97JM9rAHKNmEYBljjxORGxK9E1GtgAWTINfvnHhKJVitQLZ/s1600-h/DSC05080.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacPJ7yj8qrc9T-IXUq_V7M7W5A_jcNRCqqVqXLsvofOa_-Ot2-oUqwyv5EYT7tmOeaHoCu9E5Gh5A_aTcGh83T97JM9rAHKNmEYBljjxORGxK9E1GtgAWTINfvnHhKJVitQLZ/s400/DSC05080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443086349297299570" border="0" /></a>Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-83706264769648785372010-02-22T20:02:00.009+09:002010-02-22T20:40:59.917+09:00Some Cool Links<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://www.usarpac.army.mil/cg10/pictures/Cobra_Strike_Page_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.usarpac.army.mil/cg10/pictures/Cobra_Strike_Page_01t.jpg" alt="Click for high resolution image" height="140" /></a></span><br /></div>Click <a href="http://www.usarpac.army.mil/cg10/videos/MEDCAP%20FINAL_512K_Stream.wmv">HERE</a> to see a video report of the Cobra Gold <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">MEDCAP</span> in Thailand. I even get a speaking part. <a href="http://www.usarpac.army.mil/cg10/videos/MEDCAP%20FINAL_512K_Stream.wmv">No HERE! </a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(And if you haven't visited for a while, look at the rest of my Thailand Posts). </span><br /><br />Here is an excerpt from<a href="http://www.usarpac.army.mil/cg10/images.asp"> the Army Website</a>:<br /><a href="http://www.usarpac.army.mil/cg10/pictures/MEDCAP%2020100201-A-7233B-021.jpg" target="_blank"><center><img src="http://www.usarpac.army.mil/cg10/pictures/MEDCAP%2020100201-A-7233B-021t.jpg" alt="Click for high resolution image" height="140" /></center></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">KANCHANABURI</span> PROVINCE, Thailand (Feb. 1, 2010) – U.S. Air Force dentist, Capt. Douglas W, a pediatric dentist assigned to the 35<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> Dental Squadron, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Misawa</span>, Japan, pulls the tooth of a child at the first Medical Civic Assistance Program site at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Baan</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Kroeng</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Kra</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Reaon</span> School, in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Kanchanaburi</span> Province, Thailand, in support of Exercise Cobra Gold 2010, Feb. 1. This was the first of seven <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">MEDCAP</span> sites scheduled throughout the course of the exercise. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">MEDCAP</span> sites will bring together doctors, dentists and veterinarians from the armed forces of Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and the United States. Cobra Gold is a regularly scheduled joint and coalition multinational exercise hosted annually by the Kingdom of Thailand. This year marks the 29<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">th</span> anniversary for the exercise, which consists of a Global Peacekeeping Operations Initiative Exercise, Command Post Exercise, H/CA projects and field training exercises. (Photo by U.S. Army Master Sgt. Christina <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Bhatti</span>-Madden)<br /><br /><br />Also, Go here to vote for <a href="http://www.tomsofmaine.com/community-involvement/dental-clinic.aspx">St Joseph Hospital</a> to win a grant from Tom's of Maine for the pediatric dental <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">clinic</span>! That's where I was training to be the Pediatric Dentist Extraordinaire that I am today! (You can vote once a day if you'd like)<br /><img src="file:///Users/Doug/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" />Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-75354349314137295432010-02-20T13:17:00.003+09:002010-02-20T13:22:09.481+09:00Funny Sign<div style="text-align: center;">This was a sign at the <a href="http://fromcoast2coast.blogspot.com/2010/02/namtokphlio-national-park-and-chaolao.html">Priew Waterfall </a>we went to in Chantaburi.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW8ODB3XZHdHoVdfdBhQF1q63KMw3R-eUbMomNmFUfZZjaosT4Tvm3fV7zVNcVlvhbw04uN4Zuh2tLzXXwKOPm5eyR_OX_P2ov1HsqooizvXH6bNOg1iy8E76wqA2vW4jNn618/s400/IMG_6314.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440175541723778322" style="text-align: center;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;">Any ideas what this medicine is used for? We are still laughing about this!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">P.S. Stay tuned I have a few more Thailandish posts coming. Thanks for sharing the trip with me!</span></i></div></div>Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-27689712585066378492010-02-17T11:05:00.009+09:002010-02-17T21:28:37.479+09:00Thailand Last Day<div style="text-align: left;">We had a late check-out time for Anantara (which is Sanskrit for "without end") so Emily slept in while I went out to do some flower photography and scope out the breakfast choices. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijARbtoaIHcQeQI7x9oXowpTMNWRpF8UojOxLwfhGY6H3kUPrjBDEB5PS5QJgQpJUgG7piM_xKiOWA2eZczXYENbwd8gZs6LFGpIq785zvEFGE5p670QdmLAc3vJZZBEBRf4Xd/s320/IMG_6641.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439187046182878354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuTPZl9jy2rusr09aWrfL59v6fUqQeZt1VqyE38aOfw3GZjp7iV_04OcgCzQGaemEtDsmcybqb9eThU0NT2V81V5inWZcM2BwzYUS3VzDm39V1-LwI_ccU3axioO7PQ_eHfUc/s320/IMG_6637.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439187051702725922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The breakfast here was the best yet: awesome omelet station, Belgian Waffles, fresh fruit, fried egg station, fresh fruit, fruit smoothies (banana vanilla was the best), fresh pineapple and mango, bacon, breads and cheeses.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJUucOlhOde-25cVMw060M9TxRYwnFhbDxzt4x3XDzQmI51HcgGenvV4boty6nz5qx2PoLZuxndu8M3z5d5krKrkwMbREpYw85Fn_7WgglPz7VPbMRMXE9WU02lGM4bL0d_u8/s1600-h/IMG_6717.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJUucOlhOde-25cVMw060M9TxRYwnFhbDxzt4x3XDzQmI51HcgGenvV4boty6nz5qx2PoLZuxndu8M3z5d5krKrkwMbREpYw85Fn_7WgglPz7VPbMRMXE9WU02lGM4bL0d_u8/s320/IMG_6717.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439036185263216146" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" /></a></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJUucOlhOde-25cVMw060M9TxRYwnFhbDxzt4x3XDzQmI51HcgGenvV4boty6nz5qx2PoLZuxndu8M3z5d5krKrkwMbREpYw85Fn_7WgglPz7VPbMRMXE9WU02lGM4bL0d_u8/s1600-h/IMG_6717.JPG"></a></span></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34bSA64p-5efY5JlWp5Z71CZIhc5yRZ2-sa0Uf6BAxgvJ2HVBhrORVdSPBntZ6MGCBSPp2stfe0zTBJ3l2W6hb24E4gXjZckkSfYUY3SUZedW9VqTDxN6WMqdWkyZPJWZo0rQ/s320/IMG_6718.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439036190395972818" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> I ate A LOT! It was fabulous. Then we headed down to the beach and and relaxed in the sun for an hour and played in the ocean for a long time. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8u1h2Tw5U7vddP_KSaW-1U0tszwG9m5dfRfD9Q_1QP6Fu6w1IF4V4Espnl-KSjOpXXfE4CdhhRSnhQ-EHZ2DVUyLm1a4xzgIkM8DSP6bC8Ud_2ur7t_1E1ZX_CFsmkmd_r2-c/s320/IMG_6727.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439036203880748498" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We headed to the pool for some more sun and refreshing swimming. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEgxbi9watQgYQvaatj1Wil-Jv9C0IxZmryhqYwwomSfoH6IYpUx7fVAIYVqacupZoU1TqhasUkvcbvc6X_6b2BpQSaGH0ZjAueNu2hjPkUjtiegubKkbL7Z3Fj7sd4BSaWbv/s320/IMG_6731.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439039296950275490" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We then retired to the luxurious bath tub with the provided bath salts--which left a wonderful fragrance in our room. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjlSTV0h4dkDe4B7BN8CXfk-4itfhrngwsO_1JtWcTZELNOiUhmYeeRBIWcbIcSnuHz9kF0GE_rYqM9xFzPiS6_9vPnpyECjUwZuZNxzGCB09T24FIMKwhYKmGfgjQAZoYy7V/s320/IMG_6735.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439036226420307554" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Alas, we had to pack up and check out and then went to enjoy one last poolside meal, and one last chocolate and banana and whipped cream smoothie by the pool for Em. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We loved Anantara! And luckily we were charged in Bot so we have no idea how much it was!!! </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(I wish.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Our driver came and took us back to Bangkok were I stayed the night while Em took the red eye back to Tokyo, stopping for the a temple visit and then on to Misawa. Before she left we went across the street to the massage parlor. Em was in heaven and I had a Thai lady walking on my back! Which is actually heaven for me too! </span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The next morning I uneventfully flew back to Tokyo, I about cried when our plan was landing from happiness to be home! (Weird since it was Japan soil and not US, but I happen to live in Japan.) I stopped by the JAL counter in hopes of running into Em checking into her flight, but was too late. So I headed out to the Temple and and successfully navigated to the correct subway station. As I got off I saw a white man in a suit who looked like he had to be heading toward the temple. So I followed him and realized I had gone the complete wrong direction as he stopped at the New Sanno (military) hotel nearby. Oh well, I went in and got directions to the Temple from the hotel. Shortly I arrived at the temple, which was a block away from my original subway station. </span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As the Angel Moroni atop the temple came into view I was overwhelmed with joy. I stepped into the temple and my mind was filled with peace and I felt full of light. I had been to many different Thai temple (Wats) and shrines and even felt some holiness at some of them, but nothing compares to the presence of the Holy Ghost I felt as I entered just the lobby of the Tokyo Temple not to mention the rest of the Temple rooms.</span></span></i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6t4-liAzApvY4yDnlm0kHqotvvvD9b7Tc9mff9yk4Ya3s5loMZ_-hmllGCcVUFDR2ktPedxGs9JzFgJDTJaKM3g6xyN0MdjrzvHSNEsDPwbLzMy2lD6HijtSOC9MaaOEoPcXX/s320/IMG_6738.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439037166164144674" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" border="0" /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""></span></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZ1PBzt-_pIrx03KDoc99s5UTsaddWP1fZU2_8umH5326ojtdNxDsq6SZShOwtTlRvieFPaKStiXJyiXOSgtHqqj9KgcDVNDJ5Vel4ryAN2eEDGEQkNE272YPFqJM4Z5_SNyH/s320/IMG_6745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439037174494189778" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" border="0" /></span><div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I stopped for Raman and then came back to the hotel and now am awaiting my flight the next morning. Can't wait to be home again!!!! I miss my boys!!!</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I'm off to check into my flight now!</span></span></i></div></div></div></div></div></div>Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-40716946532387483742010-02-14T23:55:00.003+09:002010-02-15T00:06:39.051+09:00Anantara<div style="text-align: left;">We all know that Emily is the better blogger so I just say that Hua Hin is beautiful, or at least the Anantara Resort in Hua Hin is beautiful. We spent the whole day either in the pool or in the ocean! It was fabulous, except that now we are feeling sun drained.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnr8zckuGhuKTYgT1opFkvzJl8x77BRMlK9SYIAWbInDm78mzj5MFCpkRZNWQB8ZTSB6QYAKBXwpIeP44NhGsZvswv3WsYYYOJDtS6griQEFL0Rg9RKm30dbeCOezJH5ZgMvg/s320/IMG_6592.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438114940146275970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViQWkep0IHKA0nLBLM_ubAinfcbhhhRG3b04zDaDrrtXZWkTnmG4vMpZMbVdGi5cT1LmS0GyOuZWcyU7PC_gE0etbTto5R4u3fg2sw9SCmrjz3BQ5qTch3Nj821jtgmi7xI_5/s320/IMG_6597.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438114947806616290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span> This is the private pool for the lagoon room residents like ourselves. It is right next to a beautiful lagoon. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOwDrWvTPo8x45BUc007JihxCd30RntFkxgvSm0zEznxwXRWC6IzMVpkk81xIElqXiYsYXtR2dBiOuN0e2EZ7W0Q_9GJN5jZMh7b6xyFlimrUy7CEQrM16-RqecLkOJftNr6T/s320/IMG_6584.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438114930155100034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span><div>This place is very luxurious. They brought out cold hand towel to the poolside to refresh yourself. And they came in while we were at dinner and turned down our bed leaving little palm leaves with a happy valentine note on them. Plus there is a pillow menu! You call and tell them which of the eight types of pillows you want. I chose the orthopedic comfort pillow. Good Night<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Happy Valentines Day </span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Happy Chinese New Year</span></span></b></div></div>Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-46602435564609815172010-02-13T22:09:00.006+09:002010-02-14T23:55:48.361+09:00Bangkok Doll Museum<div style="text-align: left;">We love Creches, aka nativity scenes. We collect them. So we wanted a Thai Creche. Let me tell you, it is not as simple as you think. I have asked 3 or 4 interpreters. My private interpreter worked hard trying to find me one. We went on a made dash through Chantaburi trying to get one. I found a website, www.bangkokdolls.com , and they had one on there. But when you go to their directions and contact info there is none! So I kept trying and trying to find out how to get one. Then the other day I found a website for doing things with kids in Bangkok and one of the activities was to visit the Bangkok Doll Museum. I suspected it was the same place since some of the awards matched the awards won by the orginal doll maker on the first website. Still the hotel didn't recognize the address and told me to look in a completely different area. Then last night I found another website that had a map to the museum and then I confirmed that it had the same nativity. The map showed it to be in some out of the way neighborhood.</div><div><br /></div><div>So today we headed out in a hurry, leaving around 10 am. =) and set off to try and find this place on our way to the weekend market. We got off the skytrain, hired a taxi and wound our way through some very narrow streets deep inside a real Bangkok neighborhood, you know not where tourists go. We eventually found this cute little shop/museum tucked away in this Soi (Thai for side street). </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpv7iWKHt_HhfCXej7BBCAnhonIxm1GJPrsrdTi_Fn85HAqV-jXaCfp01PHy65GupxPWe-jOAS-zxTmiVofOF3LIhg2UND43rOVfHg1sZ-8ZR4BdiK1kPk8fbktHG-YlZ_3Y6T/s200/IMG_6553.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437717310689719554" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: left;">We found the nativity and after trying to understand one of the little doll makers the owner, the son of the famous doll maker came to help us. He has retired from teaching law to care for the company since his mother is old and in the hospital. He was a very kind man and very helpful and even gave us a discount since I was there doing humanitarian work for the Thai people. We were sooo happy. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5cHCiHXasX0RUm9vsXmHC3oe6U_LWDd1WPLtyCIDN3c2WO-4xu2U8530c7qS8aPU-8zFXF1D0jmrvDDP11-Yx1LzOGiRVH582yqBtDH8K2OobKrHHJrDztSNrRlmxI1ii9nE/s400/IMG_6556.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437720045883337250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div></div><div>This lady has been working here for over 50 years and is one of the original workers. It was cool to see this little group of about 6 working over all these dolls!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZePFhT-qdpqE5znADHZYQ-TdOox2cS12Td7zVPQek-MukbJ0hUw-l561ZmW-PQBfVB1vK_0RjXc3klalYgxEKzmJ6nL9bJ8WY6oKd3TPOwZQYnxCfvFXx9hwYYhXq_-7qUdcK/s200/IMG_6559.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437717304330595410" style="text-align: left; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UPLoFTHB5cfXrwNv0dF0woY8jiTxtGQjAy2Enog8TtUGmLGTanjzUfPs0G5rZkXhIP8OIyyQOejtykmZ0MhdaBMKtsrqZmFY9uba6cWvMGNOTUqR_b6wDaBgSDwK0VGIuaGM/s200/IMG_6554.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437719938370441778" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div>Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-81208824485578521072010-02-13T00:34:00.006+09:002010-02-13T01:04:13.802+09:00One Night (and a Day) in BangkokEm and I had a great day together. We (she) slept in and then we had a leisurely breakfast, followed by a taxi ride to the Royal Palace, also home to Wat Phra Kaew, you know the one with the Emerald (actually Jade) Buddha. (It was originally covered in plaster til a monk noticed some green where it had flaked off on his nose.) This place was massive and beautiful!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcI3aX78htHz0GvYwyaShWELJ0OSYh7Vx4iIguRmWrWajotpPlmS0pCXNohJ6w8aLyentbTcMrNOceS9uhqIJK4qpSeXcJ2oTSRH69rczr-9kzNJm4MJNLNgBMk9nyinFfCmG/s1600-h/IMG_6419.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcI3aX78htHz0GvYwyaShWELJ0OSYh7Vx4iIguRmWrWajotpPlmS0pCXNohJ6w8aLyentbTcMrNOceS9uhqIJK4qpSeXcJ2oTSRH69rczr-9kzNJm4MJNLNgBMk9nyinFfCmG/s200/IMG_6419.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437385099079208914" border="0" /></a>Em took advantage of the dripping flower water blessings. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQ-jJdhrayANdru9nv-qQj5KxMYIVAEXP9YQ2GFeGE4URZ5OgqF2QHsATmIZabQkZWQxTyF93oys2hEYl6szKYDLct28PaHxztKn78iGn0tgAXTt5sr0tJmqZISmKWnlTJhmO/s1600-h/IMG_6400.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQ-jJdhrayANdru9nv-qQj5KxMYIVAEXP9YQ2GFeGE4URZ5OgqF2QHsATmIZabQkZWQxTyF93oys2hEYl6szKYDLct28PaHxztKn78iGn0tgAXTt5sr0tJmqZISmKWnlTJhmO/s200/IMG_6400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437385078408295954" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWfHRI0e2lLIAHI0Gsa9M9oCx2K9q5uv-LM0ANcaeZri24TZyf-wjBRR67k5od1sry9eM2ER7tksmG-BsSQI335D6uOtodYhpLZoN1cTAetgipt4Cfu8XYo3NtLgJ6H1vXO25/s1600-h/IMG_6404.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWfHRI0e2lLIAHI0Gsa9M9oCx2K9q5uv-LM0ANcaeZri24TZyf-wjBRR67k5od1sry9eM2ER7tksmG-BsSQI335D6uOtodYhpLZoN1cTAetgipt4Cfu8XYo3NtLgJ6H1vXO25/s200/IMG_6404.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437385088161671922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQHDJlrHy01Ui_ecORgP2lpL0D-xJxTVn3lWpvbClJvEei3BZssE8lVFQKLe1Vo4I8mLgs8jr6eHx9XnY9_sQBWGF2ig4iaukpwdv2kbPJ10hc8kog_xrX7EzkqJdrn5Hbqf1/s1600-h/IMG_6380.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQHDJlrHy01Ui_ecORgP2lpL0D-xJxTVn3lWpvbClJvEei3BZssE8lVFQKLe1Vo4I8mLgs8jr6eHx9XnY9_sQBWGF2ig4iaukpwdv2kbPJ10hc8kog_xrX7EzkqJdrn5Hbqf1/s200/IMG_6380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437385059090050354" border="0" /></a>We walked around there for a while and then had our first Tuk Tuk ride. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0cOUaOxzXrLEP0cJoOw01gzbPInf3sW1iYofWBoayf5WfHTmI4RO1mz0UsFCT_31DGbZXQE_prfQWxIcqEiCkagACovHomFmE7MdQvjrYIVAH8KrOjOEUqOgTKusvP7YCIK7/s1600-h/IMG_6427.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0cOUaOxzXrLEP0cJoOw01gzbPInf3sW1iYofWBoayf5WfHTmI4RO1mz0UsFCT_31DGbZXQE_prfQWxIcqEiCkagACovHomFmE7MdQvjrYIVAH8KrOjOEUqOgTKusvP7YCIK7/s200/IMG_6427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437386398986475026" border="0" /></a>It was crazy, weaving in and out of traffic on this little thing with a loud buzzing motor. It dropped us off at Wat Po. Em was just going to sit and wait since she was tired and feet were hurting (swollen =( ). But when I saw how awesome and ginourmous this reclining Buddha was I went back and had her come in. She was glad.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9BU-T9VCNV5unkfTLBiNDH_VKRE1OItZ5I1gwQz9hihHwQNh-V8n6REWmt4Gra7uuFc4DhEF_6zROrFz1LdokP6RCXz83a_eIP5QhKf8Oox5AVjpEJwaIDSIfQ6qgd_DGB9N/s1600-h/IMG_6435.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9BU-T9VCNV5unkfTLBiNDH_VKRE1OItZ5I1gwQz9hihHwQNh-V8n6REWmt4Gra7uuFc4DhEF_6zROrFz1LdokP6RCXz83a_eIP5QhKf8Oox5AVjpEJwaIDSIfQ6qgd_DGB9N/s200/IMG_6435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437385783170641570" border="0" /></a> His feet are inlaid with various mother of pearl scenes and designs.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmvqc9-QxcPjUUltsIK8xY36XiZcqDbvHQjBvJMHsq-Vu5iJ8Mzdr9HrnmypRUs0Dvh6zUkjVAYNSux62FjB4GQhlbm8Wud1EHO3avANEScdINjHfy2mmcCZL0yFXlytgsgG9/s1600-h/IMG_6440.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmvqc9-QxcPjUUltsIK8xY36XiZcqDbvHQjBvJMHsq-Vu5iJ8Mzdr9HrnmypRUs0Dvh6zUkjVAYNSux62FjB4GQhlbm8Wud1EHO3avANEScdINjHfy2mmcCZL0yFXlytgsgG9/s200/IMG_6440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437385801581508994" border="0" /></a>Em found us a yummy restaurant on the next street and did her first bits of shopping with the street vendors.<br /><br />We then took a long traffic jammed taxi ride back to the hotel and relaxed until the Dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River. This was so much fun. It had a live band that was actually not too bad. The river was beautiful at night with the temples and palaces lit up. It was a very romantic and fun way to celebrate Em's birthday, valentines and especially Chinese New Year. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJrXYjt39Gt1bUS4gdOi5t3O_nqsIGVLY2mYpK689ug0aSptqL4VShe-RXki1sIt9pBGfD5ZydmKFyBRxq-GQX8KsQsCO8lncB3B5KMeLtg_Ahfl7oNyuHzdAqu3UxTOBh63r/s1600-h/IMG_6447.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJrXYjt39Gt1bUS4gdOi5t3O_nqsIGVLY2mYpK689ug0aSptqL4VShe-RXki1sIt9pBGfD5ZydmKFyBRxq-GQX8KsQsCO8lncB3B5KMeLtg_Ahfl7oNyuHzdAqu3UxTOBh63r/s200/IMG_6447.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437385810222746162" border="0" /></a>Royal Palace at night. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3u0Jvu02hRhk4ARQ8yLdR17Xffvp4CwnSmggSTrLwFePYUY7m4QE0bS9IR7o9n2ZSShg9t3VrWGHg0VvJuUg4crVvCXvNMoVz1fCHh2nHFDu9pnNYObYkrwvnxyfJ_MkW3HFc/s1600-h/IMG_6468.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3u0Jvu02hRhk4ARQ8yLdR17Xffvp4CwnSmggSTrLwFePYUY7m4QE0bS9IR7o9n2ZSShg9t3VrWGHg0VvJuUg4crVvCXvNMoVz1fCHh2nHFDu9pnNYObYkrwvnxyfJ_MkW3HFc/s200/IMG_6468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437387548395583698" border="0" /></a>Wat Arun or Temple of the Dawn. My favorite one on the river. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_9EpqkKGaakUUQD2XCUTi4r3Q1TcZtK2wNCX9QwdUX3KM1mfGo8hm8-uNUjKu8YHGbMJgIlQyeq7u3KhcOWKNcoeIFSkyAUH3qz2zrLAfF40T99Op0zgLDVBNdnHTJAhItlR/s1600-h/IMG_6484.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_9EpqkKGaakUUQD2XCUTi4r3Q1TcZtK2wNCX9QwdUX3KM1mfGo8hm8-uNUjKu8YHGbMJgIlQyeq7u3KhcOWKNcoeIFSkyAUH3qz2zrLAfF40T99Op0zgLDVBNdnHTJAhItlR/s200/IMG_6484.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437385823934198386" border="0" /></a>(Rama (or King) VIII Bridge, I guess he was assassinated and they build it in his name. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgE6SvkpZu8FKKsSFF1QQ9ybn3v43C-cupBFStJpHEPq733M01DNMTuSUDyck9qkc6qPM6QsQvvagNnochdkUxBE8_p2DsmAXxmaAAlyTHrEIic5NHJxaemKV6QTYS9Evu0UpO/s1600-h/IMG_6526.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgE6SvkpZu8FKKsSFF1QQ9ybn3v43C-cupBFStJpHEPq733M01DNMTuSUDyck9qkc6qPM6QsQvvagNnochdkUxBE8_p2DsmAXxmaAAlyTHrEIic5NHJxaemKV6QTYS9Evu0UpO/s200/IMG_6526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437386384210248898" border="0" /></a>I love having my new travel buddy!!! (My picture count for today was 172! Mostly used to get good night shots that weren't blurry. Grand total so far is 894.)Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-73537283443373381352010-02-12T02:19:00.005+09:002010-02-12T02:36:35.361+09:00Cobra Gold EndexI am writing this blog at the Starbucks at the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Bangkok</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Airport</st1:placetype></st1:place> waiting for Em. My heart keeps leaping every time I see someone that might be her, even though the last one was Asian and was holding a child. I’m a little jumpy after the crazy taxi rides I’ve had today. I assume the plane that arrived from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Tokyo</st1:place></st1:city> is hers despite the different arrival time and different flight number since the one on her itinerary doesn’t seem to exist. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Today we did half a days work at our last site since we had to high tail it to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city> today. Most people are leaving early tomorrow morning. It was the wrong day to cut short, especially for dental. I took out more teeth on my first patient (8) then I did all day yesterday!! My assistant May, Pim my interpreter and I have been doing tooth brushing instructions each morning for all the patients waiting to be triaged and seen. Today’s was a lot of fun. There were a lot of kids that came over to listen. They all laughed when during the brush your tongue demo. I guess I have a rather large tongue and my tech keeps making me show them and laughing! A lady yesterday visibly flinched when I showed them. Good things my self-confidence is made of steel!<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">While in doing one of these oral hygiene instructions this morning I saw a kid that didn’t look well and had a large swelling. I brought him over afterwards and his teeth were just horrible.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkY08lxL_vgJnJimRniynPtLLdccGNoK2iAA_Kqb5bnak9zzjR9Nf4kqVO7bZ6IgG_Gd9lOf5Vo9JSEtQOhlzPEmqcCMMJoro4HmJQ7hWYTyL8o_ipBazAvlifA_gf_r4SO0r/s1600-h/IMG_6361.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkY08lxL_vgJnJimRniynPtLLdccGNoK2iAA_Kqb5bnak9zzjR9Nf4kqVO7bZ6IgG_Gd9lOf5Vo9JSEtQOhlzPEmqcCMMJoro4HmJQ7hWYTyL8o_ipBazAvlifA_gf_r4SO0r/s320/IMG_6361.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437037327783417330" border="0" /></a> I thought the swelling/asymmetry was due to an abscess but it turned out not to be tooth related. The parents claimed it was since birth, along with a history of hydrocephaly. I’m still not sure what is the cause or what it is. I took out four rotted teeth, but didn’t see a dental cause for the englarged area, neither did the physicians. Any ideas?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">When we got back to the hotel, I had forgotten how nice it was!, we headed out to the night market. It was pretty cool with lots of cool stuff to buy. I thought I am in trouble if I bring Em here. So I’ll have to make sure she doesn’t know about it! =) </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">She’s here!!!! Buy!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Here are some of my Singaporean friends. They were two of the many great people I became friends with and worked with. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrqYkdQUjAWjMEnOau5sSR68vDCt4VRGXYyMwHMJ5SIx6mLN2XdSbudIawM_rKIdNpx4YUX96Vg2xdVnxX-1_PgOy3B8WtxIMMzVLyft8NBes2NXvrm-TKmx5yax4aoMZ6_r_/s1600-h/IMG_6364.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrqYkdQUjAWjMEnOau5sSR68vDCt4VRGXYyMwHMJ5SIx6mLN2XdSbudIawM_rKIdNpx4YUX96Vg2xdVnxX-1_PgOy3B8WtxIMMzVLyft8NBes2NXvrm-TKmx5yax4aoMZ6_r_/s320/IMG_6364.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437037349980318802" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMZPS4gMZZNqpTvs8VGd7jig8GvR1GIPxGBoLr2XicbfG1xGVYj3Wf9BkzdH8NudAJlc3Vkmd9D2kI30q6hyphenhyphenLllMPx-B_mLUaz9roBnbG6woHA-Nblt2Kbgt1L_ZLSdtzK0ST/s1600-h/IMG_6366.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMZPS4gMZZNqpTvs8VGd7jig8GvR1GIPxGBoLr2XicbfG1xGVYj3Wf9BkzdH8NudAJlc3Vkmd9D2kI30q6hyphenhyphenLllMPx-B_mLUaz9roBnbG6woHA-Nblt2Kbgt1L_ZLSdtzK0ST/s320/IMG_6366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437037335146133746" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">P.S. The pool party was lots of fun last night! I think we ended up throughing in about 15 people. How many people can say they threw a Thai Army Colonel into a pool and lived to tell about it! Thanks Colonel Pete!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAh1BfhgIStGbdgjae4TaeefKTrP7tze7uWLr6fyTOhMZtjgXiMIpUYbd2QbQ3tCY3rVrznb25IYDkyd1DSFAtpchWQLCHhp8mrpsA82PpVsUYByDk8X024gEGvqhg-rZ9zxN/s1600-h/IMG_1892.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAh1BfhgIStGbdgjae4TaeefKTrP7tze7uWLr6fyTOhMZtjgXiMIpUYbd2QbQ3tCY3rVrznb25IYDkyd1DSFAtpchWQLCHhp8mrpsA82PpVsUYByDk8X024gEGvqhg-rZ9zxN/s320/IMG_1892.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437038383034701794" border="0" /></a></p>Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-86226125858484182482010-02-10T19:12:00.005+09:002010-02-10T21:45:27.098+09:00Almost Done...!Not too eventful of a day. We visited our 6th site today, and have one more left tomorrow. Today was really slow with very few kids; whereas most of the others sites had tons of kids come. We're also in a less rural area.<br /><br />So, since we had some extra time, I taught one of the physicians how to anesthetize and extract teeth. He did a good job!<br /><br />I did see one kid who needed a tooth extracted and was very uncooperative. I got her through it, but she cried the whole time. I knew that if I didn't get it out, though, it was destined to become infected/abscessed.<br /><br />Here is a picture of her after. Looks very happy and grateful don't you think?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KL2nEmdrZUoeNZV8XIrS-wiqQWnDIri9RRl9Ho4e8wis74ceWSNE0uCPlE1hG0YhghlLd9mdodWkLR0yyQ1-w_4RmF029yiXlHw_RXlJEMM8uzbb03pMhIm1WWM08lWUEQJ-/s1600-h/IMG_6344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KL2nEmdrZUoeNZV8XIrS-wiqQWnDIri9RRl9Ho4e8wis74ceWSNE0uCPlE1hG0YhghlLd9mdodWkLR0yyQ1-w_4RmF029yiXlHw_RXlJEMM8uzbb03pMhIm1WWM08lWUEQJ-/s200/IMG_6344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436558204976975378" border="0" /></a><br />I'll throw this one in too...<br />The traffic is crazy here. They have so many scooters, and they pile the whole family on!<br />I saw a family of four with two little kids all on the same little scooter driving through the busy streets.<br /><br />These guys are pretty cute:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8lc2BBgGAeveDimdRPuCwnTMuTxm0u84gi3pg8RWLZqIqW4arWf4GTS2PWIksJKs4f1_xig1LVrGUEBvIZpmE7PQoKFsNfP2IZnibm4mfuc8WAv_Lm3khJIWCz1X9w_xWMsw/s1600-h/IMG_6358.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8lc2BBgGAeveDimdRPuCwnTMuTxm0u84gi3pg8RWLZqIqW4arWf4GTS2PWIksJKs4f1_xig1LVrGUEBvIZpmE7PQoKFsNfP2IZnibm4mfuc8WAv_Lm3khJIWCz1X9w_xWMsw/s200/IMG_6358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436558217910039554" border="0" /></a><br />Tonight we are having a farewell pool party to say thanks to all the interpreters. They really have been extremely good. My interpreter Pim was great at helping us set up, work with patients, break down our dental stuff, help load the trucks each day and interpret for us, as well as being our tour guide on our excursions! Thanks Pim!<br /><br />Now just one more day of work and then I get to see my BEAUTIFUL WIFE!Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-63203709203332115292010-02-09T20:15:00.006+09:002010-02-10T01:14:37.934+09:00Namtokphlio National Park and Chaolao BeachFirst off, this hotel's breakfast is absolutely amazing. A lady is on standby ready to make fresh juice with her juicer. I visited her three times for about seven glasses of juice. Awesome! Pineapple-guava turned out to be the best. There is another station of omelet and fried egg makers: my omelet was fabulous as well. Can't wait until morning!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyvw7BfgY2BBfrHDzLZVyZZEoNseOxkRJG_UqpB7PWKzSNEdwVKCZVWcawpm723iVYVLnlUH8w7uGDRkUofGjQbGGDEvm31kJjfD72Qw6XG3S07CBVusMLEp9xosTS_o3EnuP/s1600-h/IMG_6259.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyvw7BfgY2BBfrHDzLZVyZZEoNseOxkRJG_UqpB7PWKzSNEdwVKCZVWcawpm723iVYVLnlUH8w7uGDRkUofGjQbGGDEvm31kJjfD72Qw6XG3S07CBVusMLEp9xosTS_o3EnuP/s320/IMG_6259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436262713868664994" border="0" /></a><br />Following breakfast, a group of us headed out to find the Priew waterfall in a national park. As we approached we saw lots of really long green beans for sale. A few minutes later I found out they were to feed the fish. These fish were insane. You throw a piece of bean in and a hundred fish all dive after it.<br /><br />Later we dangled our feet in, after seeing people swimming with them, and they nibbled my toes rather innocently. After feeding the fish we went on a trek around the park above and around the water fall. At one point we followed the wrong trail for 20 minutes until we figured out the correct way to go.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDVNJNBQKs3e0VZPEAVxanSiOiMHp5enNG9I0uZ25cNNREiNRNn_xoYr1MbUXcAKI5fPBlUQCIX1i8-ncXkeCcgT-rN74npNhRsZ8Yrq88EH5e9IaZ_trT2KCwkdnvrQCtpUK/s1600-h/IMG_6261.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDVNJNBQKs3e0VZPEAVxanSiOiMHp5enNG9I0uZ25cNNREiNRNn_xoYr1MbUXcAKI5fPBlUQCIX1i8-ncXkeCcgT-rN74npNhRsZ8Yrq88EH5e9IaZ_trT2KCwkdnvrQCtpUK/s320/IMG_6261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436261681479062178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8b-U-twW4F1WETbBywQ97_TAYtUx5QKwSoNhYGWOyD0Zai_fHhPHhXXjFHzk-rasH0aSDjOBwip_FOAe7XvJKBuQHyiHn1cQoNz_etYbyM77gf0Nw1J45QtsTc9rLqR54g8gh/s1600-h/IMG_6276.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8b-U-twW4F1WETbBywQ97_TAYtUx5QKwSoNhYGWOyD0Zai_fHhPHhXXjFHzk-rasH0aSDjOBwip_FOAe7XvJKBuQHyiHn1cQoNz_etYbyM77gf0Nw1J45QtsTc9rLqR54g8gh/s320/IMG_6276.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436261674291792146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5LkGQceq_9I5HOFqxoztAdn-IgSmzajxUpCMYXNG_aktLRlbFfhHk03DguXcuytkOXcIlL14-anLEeN-eJWmfF71AHX9GrO7zxRhJfMZ60zL-P6KUNxE6133EhwbwarMX7cv/s1600-h/IMG_6303.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5LkGQceq_9I5HOFqxoztAdn-IgSmzajxUpCMYXNG_aktLRlbFfhHk03DguXcuytkOXcIlL14-anLEeN-eJWmfF71AHX9GrO7zxRhJfMZ60zL-P6KUNxE6133EhwbwarMX7cv/s320/IMG_6303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436261071902044338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmf7jsGo7mS7ulif7BoqE9UNsH6DZxsD0r6puOOhgR0umZlIUIuXYqoIq3Q-GQbQLZkRPP-xu3vBfLLm__P4yrsSO9v9ZbkkPZZTenyuSkxPyY-65Y_kKGIfSYS69T0DrS-WZ/s1600-h/IMG_6319.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmf7jsGo7mS7ulif7BoqE9UNsH6DZxsD0r6puOOhgR0umZlIUIuXYqoIq3Q-GQbQLZkRPP-xu3vBfLLm__P4yrsSO9v9ZbkkPZZTenyuSkxPyY-65Y_kKGIfSYS69T0DrS-WZ/s320/IMG_6319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436261057182156306" border="0" /></a>Afterwords we went to a little beach town called Chaolao. We had lunch in a little open air hut: lots of yummy Thai seafood. Followed by a some fun in the water.<br /><br />We couldn't believe how warm the water was. It was as warm as a nice bath! Warmer than our swimming pool, which is really nice. I've never been in ocean water that warm. The beach was beautiful.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pnfUu5NANvyDhvqvI43tjFTIOhRDmT7AOwW5111wQdxNTjZHvZ1l60LlJDfu2X-Yl1IGV8QieTXRVzA8g4mg2Ih3X8uqc2YPeTDTP7-Cmq0R9qmufvnmdYEmB5GjKJbrALn5/s1600-h/IMG_6332.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pnfUu5NANvyDhvqvI43tjFTIOhRDmT7AOwW5111wQdxNTjZHvZ1l60LlJDfu2X-Yl1IGV8QieTXRVzA8g4mg2Ih3X8uqc2YPeTDTP7-Cmq0R9qmufvnmdYEmB5GjKJbrALn5/s320/IMG_6332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436261042427154306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8NbznoM7fxv0pN81B-PK2unf1DupA6NFFKRjL5uX2NPUxobV2gkcapSvgeYf_PXfpuqZzuZEZFkHHVklB8CSPHYZ6Skm78gr5y8akovRwguEcgDogrZfKNKOt03oRanhIFlw/s1600-h/IMG_6327.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8NbznoM7fxv0pN81B-PK2unf1DupA6NFFKRjL5uX2NPUxobV2gkcapSvgeYf_PXfpuqZzuZEZFkHHVklB8CSPHYZ6Skm78gr5y8akovRwguEcgDogrZfKNKOt03oRanhIFlw/s320/IMG_6327.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436261052533108786" border="0" /></a>The afternoon ended with a mad dash through Chantaburi to find the Catholic Church that said they had a Nativity for sale. We finally found it after running across a bridge, around the Church courtyard only to find a very disappointing Nativity you could buy at the Dollar Store. So the search for a nice Thai Nativity is still on!<br /><br />Now I'm going to go spend the rest of the evening and night at the pool! (After talking to Em via Skype! HAPPY BIRTHDAY EM!!!)Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-86902207296281666632010-02-09T08:00:00.000+09:002010-02-09T08:00:01.996+09:00Em is GreatA Few of the many things that make <span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Em the Greatest</span>:<br /></span><br />She makes the best chicken noodle soup for me when I am sick<br />She is the best at folding fitted sheets<br />She is very playful and "spirited"*<br />Christmas Tree Decorating skills are most superb<br />She makes the best whipped cream with ease<br />Her birthday cake skills are untouchable<br />She is the best ceramicist or potter I know<br />She likes to spend time with me<br />Excellent taste in everything<br />So very artistic<br />She is the best and most loyal friend to others and Me<br />Has a great decorating eye<br />Is a very tender mother, full of love<br />She is letting me miss her B-Day to go to Thailand for 3 weeks without her!<br />She is a hot chocolate connoisseur<br /><br />*this is what I call it when she tries to pick fights with me and pick on me and/or torment me especially when I am trying to fall alsleep.<br />**My sister doesn't like it when I talk in the superlative but I can't help it when referring to Em!Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-27134196562423356592010-02-09T01:04:00.004+09:002010-02-09T01:43:02.082+09:00The LONG Road to ChantaburiWe left Ratchaburi and headed across Thailand through Bangkok to Chantaburi this morning and about 10 hours later we arrived at the hotel. (This is part of the Bangkok Skyline.)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7M7m-SGy2Qk_ECSxkuPW1Q1waJ4rog9ExGL7GcgivxT8w-tZFi1DOuhyphenhyphenc2s_bH4_W-5nBefVs7ZOaImqdmCnCb4ZfyayLg2paIUH8QO-YUtyL8y5bldHD40StZ3cJostunk1/s1600-h/IMG_6128.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7M7m-SGy2Qk_ECSxkuPW1Q1waJ4rog9ExGL7GcgivxT8w-tZFi1DOuhyphenhyphenc2s_bH4_W-5nBefVs7ZOaImqdmCnCb4ZfyayLg2paIUH8QO-YUtyL8y5bldHD40StZ3cJostunk1/s320/IMG_6128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435910935296023026" border="0" /></a>Everytime we drive somewhere the estimated drive time is only half of what the real drive time has been. The first trip was 3 hours=actual time 7 hours. Today was supposed to be 3 or 4 and ended up beign 10. Now today we did take a 2 hour break in Pattaya. The drives during the day is brutal. The "air conditioning" is grossly inadequate for the heat along with the sun beating through the windows. (Except for a couple of the vans, one person even had a blanket on as they drove by us!!!) Even our Thai interpreter is struggling with the heat!<br /><br />I was quite glad to leave the Golden City Hotel in Ratchaburi. It housed all the smells of Thailand in one place. The rooms smelt bad (as we checked into the rooms a maid was running around spraying air freshener into all the rooms.), and then the hallways had their own aroma as did the lobby. Then all that was compounded by the agriculture smells from outside. The previous motel at the resort was less smelly but we shared rooms and the beds were the hardest substance known to man. This is all meant to lead up to the resort at which we are staying for the last 3 days of our trip. It is nice. There was a lady waiting with glasses of juice as we approached the reception desk and another with cool towels to refresh ourselves. Instead of the film and feathers in the pool at the last place, this pool is perfectly warm and refreshing. The rooms are nice and best of all there are no unpleasant smells so far.<br /><br />Those 2 hours mentioned above were great hours. We stopped at a Garden Park where you can see different Thai culture shows, elephant shows and rides and the grounds are covered in beautiful plants. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhko5wnomQ3DVj69r1WLctuoORawZbN-2_GgU0R-cqZ94W_omNFVc-UIzAo2cPipZsVBBawHr6mxKt_hTWORYzgfMX3GCVikfOdQACwEt4onUK7t-JjN7EULkMnJRcHO0mWKkdP/s1600-h/IMG_6159.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhko5wnomQ3DVj69r1WLctuoORawZbN-2_GgU0R-cqZ94W_omNFVc-UIzAo2cPipZsVBBawHr6mxKt_hTWORYzgfMX3GCVikfOdQACwEt4onUK7t-JjN7EULkMnJRcHO0mWKkdP/s320/IMG_6159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435910952159678114" border="0" /></a>My friends and I headed straight for the elephant rides. I'm not sure what our interpreter told the elephants drivers, but we got hooked up. Instead of the quick ride the other tourist had, the drivers took us farther away and then let us get down from the seat and onto the neck of the elephant where the driver had been sitting! It was great and actually a lot more comfortable then the padded bench seat. It was great riding ON the elephant as it lumbered back and forth with its large ears whipping my ears.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaaKqGZfbdm4JpqPvbm9Ky4QqsacHMvohJ3MYAAJdvJJvUp6ihVkSmI2Q2CbzH76kK8E8O4m2SGorX8dio-G8r4qmKJD74J38am2lorSH24yyJ3WgC86ibVndDH4fgnEyW6r9/s1600-h/IMG_6161.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaaKqGZfbdm4JpqPvbm9Ky4QqsacHMvohJ3MYAAJdvJJvUp6ihVkSmI2Q2CbzH76kK8E8O4m2SGorX8dio-G8r4qmKJD74J38am2lorSH24yyJ3WgC86ibVndDH4fgnEyW6r9/s320/IMG_6161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435910941752399186" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39g34t2zKLJitlsTjsKULuLJAXIrhzPJ7bXuAoUmG4sujMD6clz4Pumxbu1AAunKA876ELZ7n2uXftz-0aZU4FptR048aMGT8qdczc3_ADBIv-ohpWn3-v3eTyGhoDqXiFjiF/s1600-h/IMG_6167.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39g34t2zKLJitlsTjsKULuLJAXIrhzPJ7bXuAoUmG4sujMD6clz4Pumxbu1AAunKA876ELZ7n2uXftz-0aZU4FptR048aMGT8qdczc3_ADBIv-ohpWn3-v3eTyGhoDqXiFjiF/s320/IMG_6167.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435910960566287346" border="0" /></a>We followed this awesome experience with an equally awesome meal at one of the restaurants. Then we headed back to the elephants and feed them some bananas. As we gathered for a group photo we jumped at the chance to take one with one of the elephants that came walking by. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRproiGqxmsaVJwYXmbpLMX8ztxkV6aJyLvh49uwR7Vpyy8RyuVk7cWee7DRv1mXF-nrHO2WI6xcxQ4Vku9dwwu7XB48m056Oh53KnA06Mowh1_SAGdzK5hQNTD5ice2zm3E8/s1600-h/IMG_6217.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRproiGqxmsaVJwYXmbpLMX8ztxkV6aJyLvh49uwR7Vpyy8RyuVk7cWee7DRv1mXF-nrHO2WI6xcxQ4Vku9dwwu7XB48m056Oh53KnA06Mowh1_SAGdzK5hQNTD5ice2zm3E8/s320/IMG_6217.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435912705428733362" border="0" /></a>I asked the driver guy if he would let the elephant lift me up onto its back. Next thing I know he is having the elephant wrap me up in its trunck and hefting me up in the air. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihazUh1rPWnwNiWdNtdhwZ32UfkhXpYClaskDYC4RKmiFDBbte1EzPgyYV0IVppIPLFTaK5-Cy7P7wFOhew3ynq__byRYVwbTeT2GxcHXpqFedpFqobOTISK6AE35_T9YYlGBA/s1600-h/IMG_6222.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihazUh1rPWnwNiWdNtdhwZ32UfkhXpYClaskDYC4RKmiFDBbte1EzPgyYV0IVppIPLFTaK5-Cy7P7wFOhew3ynq__byRYVwbTeT2GxcHXpqFedpFqobOTISK6AE35_T9YYlGBA/s320/IMG_6222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435912709589310178" border="0" /></a>It was so fun!!! And look at how cute this little guy is!! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFWgkSCK9brsWGN89NPeP6zxdkOHFd8MMPUNbvQtrr5K3OWf8k6lZGcij4rcwGAyPJLAmHLomE0lv3nGhtX9htZxeL_ml8szo_Eb3KbycJFuZlepFjpgCSEnonI8l9MeByH22/s1600-h/IMG_6192.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFWgkSCK9brsWGN89NPeP6zxdkOHFd8MMPUNbvQtrr5K3OWf8k6lZGcij4rcwGAyPJLAmHLomE0lv3nGhtX9htZxeL_ml8szo_Eb3KbycJFuZlepFjpgCSEnonI8l9MeByH22/s320/IMG_6192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435910968995556434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRD7z7bvUijjmHAQ61OkR7wKEhGjZ1GczWtevvqsh3xmMV51qmzLhiis77QHq1_KuIGHAuLAn35skiB7g_uUYqf8X5BzPf1piYIgntvSiBoJ3qwAb_o3aYrF3Z1krlkyyOz4a/s1600-h/IMG_6200.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRD7z7bvUijjmHAQ61OkR7wKEhGjZ1GczWtevvqsh3xmMV51qmzLhiis77QHq1_KuIGHAuLAn35skiB7g_uUYqf8X5BzPf1piYIgntvSiBoJ3qwAb_o3aYrF3Z1krlkyyOz4a/s320/IMG_6200.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435912719054241122" border="0" /></a>This is my disgust after she blew elephant snot all over me. It was worth it though. We had a great great time. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXs4mE9d2ZlaQCiRU1A7NZuxmJnijbLm5tSNow1gF513fzCcKZD1COLoipUqej_vFBqdzh7mVo7_TtJfIRKvA-i20KN8OTczdK0g2oXFNRapTi7lCOm_ziE-ZbRGvcBwZQYri/s1600-h/IMG_6208.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXs4mE9d2ZlaQCiRU1A7NZuxmJnijbLm5tSNow1gF513fzCcKZD1COLoipUqej_vFBqdzh7mVo7_TtJfIRKvA-i20KN8OTczdK0g2oXFNRapTi7lCOm_ziE-ZbRGvcBwZQYri/s320/IMG_6208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435912698247782290" border="0" /></a>Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28865279.post-91464187206611029892010-02-08T12:00:00.004+09:002010-02-08T16:22:30.623+09:00Two Peas in A Pod<span style="font-weight: bold;">One thing I love about Em is how much we have in common.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Here are a few things that come to mind.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">We both:</span><br />love mystery books and shows<br />(including Agatha Christie, Mary Higgins Clark, Rumpole)<br />and books by PG Wodehouse<br />love NCIS, Lie To Me, White Collar, PSYCH, Monk, Burn Notice, 24, Alias, Lost, Survivor, The Office, and 30 Rock<br />enjoy collecting sand from beaches<br />love to read<br />love to eat out and try new ethnic foods<br />love chocolate<br />enjoy a competitive game of backgammon (she taught me how to play)<br />Have same taste in pictures, decorating<br />like to blog (though she forced me to start since she wouldn't ever let me post on hers)<br />like to pester each other<br />enjoy BBC videos/miniseries: Miss Marple, Poirot, Cadfael, Sherlock Holmes<br />love Audio Books (one of our favorites was "The Amulet of Samarkand" by Jonathan Stroud, part of the Bartimaues Trilogy)<br />love to frequent public libraries<br />love classical music and Symphonies<br />forget to take our books/movies back to the library on time<br />think we are funny (we differ in that I am the funniest)<br />sleep with at least 2 pillows<br />get cranky if we don't eat by 5 pm<br />love California<br />love to camp<br />love the same music (though there are some (huge) outlying differences there, the bulk is shared...)<br />Have an awesome sense of humor! =)<br />love to travel<br />love all things European<br />have the same taste in Art (though we differ on whether we think nude "Art" is p*orn or not)<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">in other words,<br />We are perfect together!</span></span>Bartimaeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405256375139134129noreply@blogger.com2