tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77566422012-01-16T06:35:54.288-07:00bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.comBlogger5321100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-77887942516935382582011-06-01T16:34:00.010-06:002011-06-01T19:59:34.539-06:00

Logo of the Winnipeg Jets version 1.0.First, congrats to the Peg!Welcome back to the NHL!(To readers not familiar with the situation, Winnipeg lost their NHL franchise, the Jets, fifteen years ago. Just yesterday, it was announced that the Atlanta Thrashers will be relocated to Winnipeg starting next season.)Thought it was going to be a semi-warm day on the Canadian Tundra before the second

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-2767436714728747542011-05-24T14:23:00.011-06:002011-05-27T23:14:58.276-06:00

My bro was in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Just happened he was at the Aquarium and snapped this pic of Rhincodon typus for BTOG. Thanks goig!Whale Shark HaikuGentle giant sharkMuch too large for a fish bowlRun Whale Shark runWhale Shark Fun FactsIt is a shark, but is not a whale.Largest shark/fish in the world.Largest confirmed whale shark is 12.65 m or 41.5 feet.Heaviest confirmed whale shark ever:

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-78252121077388951552011-05-14T17:05:00.004-06:002011-05-14T18:44:25.460-06:00

Nothing like watching a hockey game and being body-checked by an arctic zephyr rolling off the Canadian Tundra at the same time.I have a problem.I was talking to my sister the other night. She noted that it was an off night for the NHL on TV and inquired what was I going to do in its absence...I panicked a bit until I realized that the NBA Playoffs were being televised on another channel.Oh, how

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-37009857196550574652011-04-28T19:41:00.011-06:002011-05-24T21:37:25.958-06:00

Couldn't find a hockey pic but I've got this swell pic of some home grown spuds from last summer...Reader warning: Every year I indulge in NHL (National Hockey League) playoff prognostications. Suffice to say, ice hockey is not the most popular sport on the planet but in Canada it's the only game in town (CFL football follows closely). So, please bear with me while I stick out my neck out on

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-52442261857727057602011-03-05T22:38:00.011-07:002011-03-07T21:32:22.657-07:00

These are my friends, Sally and Richard.They are indeed gods of travel.They've found in the world of traveling what amounts to the Holy Grail, the El Dorado, a state of Nirvana...They are perpetual travelers.We first met in the Dahab Hostel (that name keeps popping up) in Cairo back in the day. My first impression was that these folks really had it together. They were really serious travelers

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-19571526083179781842011-02-07T22:44:00.001-07:002011-02-16T21:58:51.004-07:00

(L. to R.) Bob, Jason on Montreal in the Baha Peninsula. (photo courtesy of Jason)This is my good friend, Jason.I first met him in Cairo at the venerable Dahab Hostel on Talaat Harb (a stone's throw from Midan Tahrir). I'd been hanging there for a least a couple of weeks beforehand, chillaxing from a long haul overland journey from South Africa. The Dahab was just what the doctor ordered: a

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-3685352539561432442010-11-27T22:19:00.010-07:002010-11-28T22:12:22.229-07:00

Hey everyone,If you haven't gotten your freebie 2011 calendar from your corner gas station yet or just need some Christmas stocking stuffers, please buy my new hot-off-the-presses Africa 2011 Calendar! A new year means 12 more of my favourite mindblowing African portraits gracing your wall at home or at the office!If you missed out on my Africa 2010 calendar, fear not, for I have converted it

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-74681583713566710872010-11-12T14:42:00.001-07:002010-11-12T14:44:52.225-07:00

A Haiku.Slender tall grass, drenched in tepid sunlight, sway in cold autumn wind.

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-8256310682003081662010-11-01T18:21:00.001-06:002010-11-01T18:24:44.913-06:00

More Aspens in Fish Creek Park.

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-27078357464335197662010-10-26T20:09:00.006-06:002010-10-27T12:03:56.396-06:00

The Aspen Poplar (Populus tremuloides) in Fish Creek Park in late October...Movie Review: Sicko.I've had Sicko recorded on the PVR since January of this year and finally watched it yesterday.In Sicko, documentary filmmaker Michael Moore (Fahrenheit 9/11, Bowling for Columbine) looks at the state of health care in the USA.Moore makes a convincing, driving case for reform of the US health care

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-71501372605224874662010-10-18T17:24:00.000-06:002010-10-18T17:25:13.870-06:00

Nice to see some non-yellow leaves once in a while...It's the big Calgary Civic Election today.How many times have I used the word "big" to describe a mayoral election in Calgary?From what I've seen on the news, it looks like a close race amongst three candidates for mayor and a huge turn out of voters.There's a few more hours until the poll stations close.If you haven't already done so, please

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-67691464468129438882010-10-13T22:08:00.004-06:002010-10-13T22:20:12.403-06:00

Looks like we're well into a lazy, hazy, and surprisingly warm autumn out on the tundra.It's a small miracle actually, considering the abysmal summer we had in cowtown.Everyone should get outside and bask in the warmth of the sunshine before the first blast of winter blows our way.

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-77117633494199731062010-10-05T12:27:00.002-06:002010-10-05T12:36:17.129-06:00

It was good to be a root in the garden this year. Most of the "above-the-ground" vegetation was blown to smithereens by a devastating hail storm in August.I think I managed to dig 15 to 20 kg of the orange (and a couple of yellow) taproots out of the dirt this year.Now for your...Little Known Facts About Carrots:Mel Blanc, beloved voice of Bugs Bunny, didn't like carrots.The world record for

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-2777290958513447762010-09-26T17:00:00.003-06:002010-10-05T12:16:41.000-06:00

We had a pretty good haul of garlic out of the garden this year.Like the size of those bulbs.Harvested so much, I'm sure there's enough garlic to last till next spring...Little Known Garlic Facts...China, by far, produces the most garlic in the world (77 percent of world output or 12 million tonnes per year).Garlic juice can be used as an adhesive for repairing china or glass.Garlic is mentioned

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-12215353513224273022010-09-19T17:11:00.004-06:002010-09-19T18:17:13.404-06:00

Ok, we lucked out on the weather the first two days but we woke up to heavy cloud cover in the morning of Day 3. It looked like the sky was going to open up and pour on us as we started up the steep hill behind Lone Lake.The final day of the trek just rocked. Two major undulations faced us: first climb over the eastern shoulder of Festebert Mountain and then gain the lofty heights of Lineham

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-4588009673686470902010-09-15T14:27:00.003-06:002010-09-19T17:42:04.459-06:00

The water supply behind the Snowshoe campground. Someone should really bottle this water and sell it for big bucks... Strike that last thought. Lets just leave it alone and not wreck the ambiance.Snowshoe Wardens' Cabin. Apparently there are only 2 such backcountry cabins in Waterton. What a shame... As an aside, didn't get much sleep the night before. I think it was just too quiet out here

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-86763632766317595182010-09-13T11:14:00.001-06:002010-09-13T11:54:37.112-06:00

Red Rock Canyon, Waterton National Park...on the way to the Tamarack Trail.Hope everyone is having a great summer.Just came back from Waterton Lakes National Park where I hiked the breathtaking Tamarack Trail with my friend Khalid.The Snowshoe Trail Head. By the way, the entire trail was asphalt surfaced. Just kidding. The objective on the first day was to hike 8.5 km along Bauerman Creek to

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-56988220100455011412010-08-14T14:52:00.001-06:002010-08-14T14:53:21.931-06:00

ClematisHad this conversation with my local pharmacist the other day.[I, BTOG, just handed over my prescription]Mr. Pharmacist: So, do you find yourself going through a lot of this stuff?BTOG: Well, I have good days and I have bad days [regarding usage]... Why? Is there a problem that I should know about?Mr. Pharmacist: Skin cancer.BTOG: I beg your pardon...did you say cancer?Mr. Pharmacist:

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-16901375408266744462010-07-31T22:14:00.001-06:002010-08-01T23:45:12.678-06:00

Oh, how I miss the alpine meadows of Kootenay National Park...I've been thinking of the next trip for a long, long, long time. Maybe too long.With any trip, you can only prepare so much beforehand. There's just too much to know. In the end of the day, the most important facts to know are visa requirements and where to get them. With that knowledge, anything is possible.Having said that, in my

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-54117197855676800202010-07-25T16:09:00.013-06:002010-07-26T16:57:05.467-06:00

Regular viewers of BTOG are familiar with my obsession for astrophysics (observational and/or theoretical).No doubt concepts describing black holes, dark matter, superstring theory, cosmology, etc. are indeed fascinating yet mindbogglingly abstract and necessarily overtaxing on the ol' gray matter.Today's video of the day, a rare jam session between my two of my boyhood heroes (former American

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-30416028604709028642010-07-02T01:55:00.006-06:002010-07-02T02:15:16.532-06:00

Been watching a lot of World Cup soccer lately and thought I'd post this video as a tribute to the "beautiful" game. Be sure to watch in full screen and HD mode...Hope everyone's having a great summer!!

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-26191830481622613282010-05-29T16:25:00.008-06:002010-05-29T18:26:51.285-06:00

"March Towards Eternity" or "More Reasons to Hate the Western World"... Pic would make a good Far Side cartoon...Wouldn't it be nice if they fit the entire NHL regular season into the time it takes to play its playoffs (in a couple of months?) and then have the top two teams play for the Stanley Cup in a best of seven series?Wishful thinking on my part...but it would improve the on-ice product

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-75935421750038887542010-05-16T13:52:00.007-06:002010-05-16T14:59:33.943-06:00

To humour BTOG's non-hockey fans, I give you this week's photo of note of a young Hamer girl at the Turme market in the Omo valley (Ethiopia) posing for two, two, two Birr. Where did she get those seashells for her necklaces???I'm not the one who toots his own horn too often but I'll take a moment to point out that I've accumulated an outstanding prediction accuracy rate of .750 through the

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-67447285827399902402010-05-05T13:29:00.006-06:002010-05-05T17:42:28.667-06:00

Most BTOG readers are familiar with my escapades in wedding videography.I try my damnedest to be the best videographer in the business. Really I do.It's a very difficult and challenging profession fraught with thrills of victory and agonies of defeat...Pertaining to the latter, I cringe whenever I receive an email from my editor (who makes me look really good 99 percent of the time) with a

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-78790393718567174992010-04-28T23:14:00.011-06:002010-04-29T18:24:01.660-06:00

Here at BTOG we are a full service blog. For those who could care less about the hockey playoffs (and some who do), I've dug out this photo from the vast BTOG archives as the first mystery photo in ages. What are those curious, squiggly streaks of light? Clue? The photo was taken in Etosha National Park, Nambia at night. Ok, I may have given it away. Good luck!!The Long Awaited

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-88344295717423300442010-04-28T00:49:00.009-06:002010-04-28T01:29:28.700-06:00

Congrats on the gold medal, Kaillie!!I had a photography gig at a Subway business conference the other day and guess who I bumped into?My good friend, Kaillie Humphries, 2010 Winter Olympic Gold Medal Champion in the Women's 2 Man Bobsleigh!!Ok, I wish she was my friend.She was the guest speaker at the conference.I was charged with taking pix of her with conference attendees.It was a lot of

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-84217956414607777382010-04-14T17:15:00.004-06:002010-04-14T22:33:54.240-06:00

Cheezies are Canada's favourite snack food...Once again, I'm late with the my prognostications for the first round of the National Hockey League Playoffs.The Playoffs or as I call it, "The Road to the Stanley Cup", could not have come at a more opportune time. After an monumental, epic fail of a regular season in terms of exciting hockey (excluding the Winter Olympic tourney), the 2010 Road to

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-61708790405803763872010-01-10T21:48:00.003-07:002010-01-10T22:19:17.606-07:00

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." - John Quincy Adams.Here's to the Qtlibrarian: Good luck and have lots o fun on the Tour d'Afrique bike race.Follow her adventures here as she travels the length of Africa by bike.

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-24250921941354149902009-12-16T21:29:00.006-07:002009-12-16T22:20:22.455-07:00

Just put together a Lulu calendar with images from my last trip to Africa, featuring some of my favourite portraits of amazing people I met along the way.It's a little late to order for Xmas (sorry) but not for New Years!!!I make a little bit of money off each sale. Proceeds go toward the Buy Bubba A Beer Fund, a very worthy cause, for the next trip.So, if you need to instantly beautify your

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-85406156655185558072009-12-01T19:36:00.014-07:002009-12-01T22:39:23.980-07:00

Autumnal poplar trees in Fish Creek Park...Movie Review: Twilight.[Ed. note: In a feeble attempt to stay "hip" with the kids these days, I decided, clandestinely, to sign out a library copy of the mega-hit movie Twilight (I'm probably the first male patron of the Calgary Public to do so). Here entails my review of the movie Twilight...]Where was Vincent Price?If I was a vampire, would I be

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-85107676636897381442009-11-25T23:03:00.007-07:002009-11-25T23:55:00.043-07:00

Autumnal Haiku...A fleeting zephyr...Dead leaves flutter in free fallto detrital Hell.Peruse more poetry at Haikus From Hell...

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-87429955680056314752009-11-24T22:50:00.008-07:002009-11-25T12:45:20.479-07:00

Random leaves on the floor of Fish Creek Park. How many different tree species can you spot?I was researching potential destinations for the upcoming trip when I came across a place called Juizhaigou National Park, a jewel of a place located in northern Sichuan Province, China.I vaguely recalled this place was the subject of a recent National Geographic article.As I browsed through some of the

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-27943120776749561742009-11-10T23:05:00.007-07:002009-11-11T00:11:44.543-07:00

Stand of poplars in Fish Creek Park...Well, I think autumn this year in Calgary lasted about five days...One day in September we were basking in 30 Celsius temperatures. The next day we were huddled around the kitchen stove, drawing on its life-giving heat, as arctic winds blasted across the tundra.The autumnal photography took a hit as a result.The extreme cold killed off a lot of the foliage

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-11191421861403277592009-10-21T20:52:00.016-06:002009-10-22T23:12:27.547-06:00

On the fifth and final day of the trek we woke up to beholden this brilliant view of Helmet Falls.The final segment from Helmet Falls to the Paint Pots at Highway 93 was pretty much straightforward. Absent were the dramatic ascents and descents of the previous days. Instead, we trekked along a relatively flat trail, through an dense rainforest, along Helmet Creek.Bunchberry or Dwarf Dogwood (

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-3951844472695160662009-10-13T17:11:00.008-06:002009-10-14T00:19:43.485-06:00

The butt end of the massive limestone wall we followed from Wolverine Pass to Helmet Creek looms over the cabin on an early morning...One of Bambi's relatives (Mule Deer or Odocoileus hemionus) makes an appearance outside the kitchen window. This is better than Planet Animal TV!!Who needs a mirror to shave when you're after the Grizzly Adams look?I'm really not into card games but I did manage

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-71326752233444472272009-10-08T22:25:00.007-06:002009-10-09T00:39:32.955-06:00

Day 4 on the Rockwall Trail was a well deserved day off. Not much planned other than sleeping, eating, drinking, playing card games... and visiting the nearby fantastic Helmet Falls.Early morning at the Helmet Creek Patrol Cabin... Flora was extra lush because of torrential rains the night before. I felt bad for the backpackers hunkered down in their tents in the adjacent campground... BTW,

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-72502661660894819132009-09-28T15:56:00.017-06:002009-09-29T20:35:48.112-06:00

I saw the Milky Way the previous night. It was brilliant.It was lights out early on that 2nd night. I had no problem getting to sleep as I fell into a deep deep slumber (accompanied by purportedly loud breathing) exhausted by the rigors earlier that day.We awoke to this splendid scenery the next morning. Little did I know there was a glacier hanging around the neighbourhood. Did you catch

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-60442565248867337652009-09-19T23:10:00.008-06:002009-09-20T00:27:28.281-06:00

We got here so late last night, at first, we couldn't find the loo in the dark. I had to dig a hole... Ok, I'll spare you further details.The outhouse turned out to be a pre-formed seat made of green plastic over a hole in the ground. No walls, or roof. Rudimentary loo, but the view out the "front door" was of the spooky Devil's Thumb-like mountain in the background. Not bad a view, eh? Sit

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-17007972777126662622009-09-13T21:43:00.018-06:002009-09-15T00:42:24.454-06:00

We knew Day 2 was going to be a marathon. After a rather leisurely breakfast at Floe Lake, we set off at 0930.3 mountain pass summits, 1320 m total elevation climbed, 1150 m descended, 20 km of trail, and 12 hrs. later, we reached the warden cabin at Wolverine Pass.From Floe Lake, the trail turned to the north, taking us through an old growth forest. Once in a while we'd be rewarded with

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-38047228705357663882009-08-25T23:10:00.020-06:002010-05-12T14:28:53.839-06:00

I hope that you, the loyal readers of BTOG, are having a fine summer.Every summer, it seems, I embark on some kind of big adventurous trek in the Rocky Mountains.I just came back from Kootenay National Park, British Columbia where I completed, along with my pals Ahmed and Larry, the spectacular Rockwall Circuit.(Note: We hiked from July 28th to August 1st, 2009)Larry (left) and Ahmed at the Floe

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-26423130770492712422009-07-16T15:51:00.008-06:002009-07-16T20:39:41.674-06:00

The Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradisea), Etosha.Birds R cool. Yes, you heard it here. In terms of biodiversity, they wack the number of mammalian species in the Park.There are approximately 280 species of birds found in Etosha. Few are more majestic or graceful than the Blue Crane. Adults grow to a height of 100 to 120 cm and up to 6.2 kg in mass.I like that crane's bulbous head...

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-2814325128349482052009-07-09T21:09:00.012-06:002009-07-10T22:56:15.427-06:00

The plains of Etosha were vast and at times appeared to be void of animals (large mammals in particular).Our patience and persistence on the safari beat eventually paid off in finding the animals we wanted to see.After a long, hot, dusty day of pounding Etosha gravel roads, me and Ahmed were driving back to Halali Camp. The sun was setting below the endless horizon, bathing the landscape of the

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-90138838246054260002009-07-05T22:41:00.010-06:002009-07-10T00:47:49.827-06:00

Another example how close my friend Ahmed can get us to some of these animals. We spotted this mud covered elephant bull about 200 m off the road. We stopped to watch. The elephant was walking towards the road. Ahmed gauged the situation. He moved the car about 50 m ahead. The elephant crossed the road about 10 to 15 m behind us. Not bad tracking, eh? Made for a good set of photos...One

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-45008994107013824302009-06-29T20:34:00.010-06:002009-07-02T13:25:08.702-06:00

Recite "ker-bek-ker-bek-ker-bek-krrrrr..." repeatedly and you'll likely attract flocks of the Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris).The above is one of my all time favourite wildlife pix.Described as "very common" in sub-Saharan Africa by Newman's Birds of Southern Africa, I love these birds. Their plummage is so psychodelic. Just gaze at their bodies. It's mesmerizing. Their heads are crazy,

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-30298313029901793692009-06-26T00:41:00.013-06:002009-06-26T23:26:16.200-06:00

My, Mr. Lion, what big eyes you have...and that sweet, sweet breath... Look for the reflection of a little iddy biddy, trembling Chinese dude in his eyes.My safari mate and good friend Ahmed has this knack of getting us really close to wildlife. On this occasion, he drove right up close to a small group (3 or 4) of bachelor lions.How close? I, in the passenger front seat, was less than 2 metres

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-69195592173948172242009-06-22T00:03:00.004-06:002009-06-22T01:00:15.620-06:00

Connochaetes taurinus aka the Gnu (pronounced "G-new" or just "new"), aka the Blue Wildebeest (for the bluish/grey sheen of it's hide), aka the Brindled Gnu. Thank God for scientific names.Often described as an "ungainly" ungulate, wildebeests grow to 1.7m at the shoulder, and weigh up to 380kg.The front-heavy wildebeest reminds me of the Orcs in the Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. They look

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-76762331996720752772009-06-16T19:14:00.005-06:002009-06-16T21:34:57.939-06:00

There's one in every crowd... At least someone's paying attention to the nutty photogs...Daytime temperatures while we were in Etosha rose into the upper thirties. Crazy tourists sat in their hot furnace-like vehicles while the wiser Springboks (Antidorcas marsupialis) took refuge from the blazing sun under the shade of leafy green trees.Springbok (Afrikaans) = Spring (jump) + bok (antelope)

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-75091667423108661342009-06-15T00:24:00.006-06:002009-06-16T21:35:58.647-06:00

This no bambi. It's Aepyceros melampus petersi (common names: Black-Faced Impala (English) or Rooibok (Afrikaans))!This sub-species seems to be endemic to Namibia. The Black-faced Impala is listed as vulnerable to extinction. According to the ICUN listing, there are approximately 1000 animals left in Namibia.Gotta keep up fighting skills for rutting season... Described as the quintessential

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-89859590739450166142009-06-07T18:01:00.005-06:002009-06-07T21:22:07.115-06:00

Be prepared to share the road while driving in Etosha.Very wide load... (Loxodonta africana)Very narrow load...(Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa).Etosha Factoids of the day.Etosha National Park was established by German occupiers in 1907. Originally the size of the park was 100,000 sq. km. Due to "political pressure", the park was reduced to its current size of 22,270 sq. km."The Park is home to

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-45675787294778934312009-05-29T23:07:00.008-06:002009-06-03T23:06:00.935-06:00

It's an early morning start for safari-goers in Etosha. Once the rest camp gates swing open at 6 AM, you have 12 hours of light to track down as many critters as you can. Trust me. There won't be a shortage of animals to see and miles of dirt track to drive.Look what the cat dragged in... Early bird on the trail catches this pride of groggy lions (Panthera leo) chillaxin' on the grasslands of

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-9500395261514482652009-05-26T23:28:00.005-06:002009-05-27T00:48:47.467-06:00

I loved Namibia. So far, we've traveled amongst the monstrous red dunes of the Namib Desert, been perplexed by the surreal trees of Dead vlei, watched the birds of Walvis Bay, and surveyed the seal covered coast of Cape Cross. Next on the itinerary, we drove to the crown jewel of Namibia, Etosha National Park, perhaps the best wildlife preserve in all of Africa.Here is an excerpt from my

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-11601908996222482752009-05-17T10:22:00.008-06:002009-05-17T21:39:51.994-06:00

Well, it's come down to the Final Four hockey teams in the NHL playoffs.Last round was not good for my reputation as an expert hackie analyst. I finished, haphazardly, with a .500 record of success. Suffice to say, the act of flipping a coin in the prognostication process may have yielded a similar or better result.Hence, for the following semifinal predictions, I will complement my words of

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-35807211982310207432009-04-30T17:45:00.000-06:002009-04-30T18:14:56.691-06:00

Old school wooden hockey stick...Apologies to my loyal BTOG overseas readers but please permit me to indulge once again in that great Canadian pastime of NHL Stanley Cup playoff prognostication. [Ed. note: remember, what ice hockey is to Canadians, ping pong is to Chinese.]Eastern ConferenceCarolina Hurricanes vs. Boston Bruins.Ok, what the hell happened in Game 7 of the Devils/Hurricanes

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-48681236787713197832009-04-21T22:42:00.014-06:002009-04-27T12:44:34.361-06:00

Murphy's Law of Biking?The great flood of 2005 (the sunshine's so bright it's hurtin' my eyes...)I managed to fit in a bike ride this weekend. I was so glad the weather was so nice. So warm, I could feel the rays of sun splashing my face.Spring was finally here, I thought [ed. note: an overnight storm brought 5 cm of snow.]I was feeling really well. The long winter break allowed my right

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-87316285505029038632009-04-16T21:42:00.006-06:002009-04-25T22:02:41.481-06:00

Susan Boyle Please Stand Aside...A lot has been said about new British singing sensation Susan Boyle, but the BTOG has discovered a diamond in the rough as well.C'mon Westjet. Hire this guy!He's frumpy dude, but give him a chance.Dude can really rap, eh...I luv that guy smoking a butt in the front row.

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-32371807935274780682009-04-15T16:28:00.008-06:002009-04-15T19:34:30.867-06:00

photo courtesy of goigIt's that time of year again. I don't mean it's spring time either (a whole separate posting in itself).After nearly a season of more than 2400 mostly mundane National Hockey League games, it's the playoffs: the road to the Stanley Cup.I used to follow the league much more closely in the past. But, for the record, I'll give it a shot.BTOG's prognostications for the first

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-86430348342277643072009-04-09T00:06:00.010-06:002009-04-09T01:45:26.259-06:00

Be careful! The first step's a doozy! Nice to see so many Chinese ladies traipsing around Africa these days.Hey, Would You Please Stop Shaking the Cabin!!! I'm Trying to Sleep in Here!!!When I was a university student back in the day, I worked for a summer as a research assistant in Glacier National Park. It was such a beautiful park. It was our task to construct what is called a stand

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-47280709349617905642009-03-27T23:06:00.007-06:002009-03-28T00:02:56.427-06:00

I'm always looking for good travel ideas.Awhile back, I received an email from my cousin. Attached to the email were some pretty wild pictures of a "hiking" trail.I remembered one picture where the "trail" was a narrow ledge of toothpick-like planks of wood clinging precariously to a sheer rock cliff.Another picture was of Chinese-like folks climbing up another sheer cliff using a rickety old

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-24765595113330232632009-03-24T22:57:00.015-06:002009-03-25T14:06:31.427-06:00

Did I mention that a peculiar pungent "seal" odour emanates from the beaches of Cape Cross?...and the Cape is noisy as all hell?Cape Cross Fur Seal Factoids of the Day: Adult male Cape Fur Seals are 2–2.3 m long and average 247 kg in weight. Adult females are 1.2–1.6 cm long and weigh an average of 57 kg. At birth they weigh around 6 kg.Movie Review: In the Shadow of the Moon"My father was born

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-49561548903162647412009-03-16T18:32:00.001-06:002009-03-16T18:33:49.368-06:00

Are you a procrastinator, like I? Or, are the current economic times getting you down? Or, do find yourself looking for motivation to get through another day?Have a look at this compendium of the greatest stump speeches in Hollywood history. You'll be glad you did...

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-77954437718429049742009-03-14T22:13:00.008-06:002009-03-14T22:40:45.560-06:00

Wow, I actually had a request, from a special reader from Oregon, for pictures of the bloody placentae of Cape Fur Seals. Who am I to deny such curiosity for the natural world?This placenta looks pretty fresh. Like I said, if you want to walk these parts, what your step!This placenta looks a couple of days old.Cape Fur Seal Factoid of the Day: The gestation period for Cape Fur Seals is 51

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-40655426501056755012009-03-08T01:19:00.016-07:002009-03-14T22:51:49.556-06:00

Another cute photo of Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus. It was birthing season when Ahmed and I made it to Cape Cross, Namibia. Those black furry lumps in the foreground are the pups. Difficult to miss and easy to step on (in fact, there were many squished pup carcasses lying about, victims of clumsy adults no less). Lots of blood soaked placentae littering the bleach, as well.Man, it's been

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-30433716803783201122009-02-26T01:29:00.010-07:002009-02-26T22:57:59.644-07:00

This Cape Cross Fur Seal will miss Conan O'Brien at Late Night more than you'll ever know...I don't watch a lot of television.But, I do watch The Amazing Race on CBS, late night television (in particular, David Letterman and Conan O'Brien), the news, and a smattering of PBS shows.Occasionally, I'll comment on how the boob tube is turning my brain into mush.The Amazing Race (TAR) 14th edition,

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-63236293294663255482009-02-19T22:38:00.007-07:002009-02-20T00:11:27.804-07:00

Cape Cross, located 142 km north of Swakopmund along the coast, harbors the largest breeding colony of Cape Fur Seals/Brown Fur Seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) along the Atlantic coast of Namibia and South Africa.It's been reported that during the breeding season (November/December - we were there in late November), the population of seals may exceed 340,000.Crazy fellow tourists

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-84811530960939365132009-02-17T23:05:00.005-07:002009-02-19T01:16:49.332-07:00

Swakopmund prides itself as the centre of extreme sports. Buzzing around the giant dunes between on an ATV seems to be one of the more popular activities. My friend Ahmed really enjoyed himself. If that doesn't turn your crank there's tobogganing and flights/hot air ballooning over the desert. All they need is bungee jumping off the dunes...This particular ATV park is between Swakopmund and

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-69479547152986369752009-02-12T20:47:00.010-07:002009-02-12T22:53:31.738-07:00

Swakopmund lighthouse... appropriately located for we are on the southern end of the infamous Skeleton Coast, home to numerous unfortunate shipwrecks over the centuries.The rough and tumble Atlantic coast off the Swakopmund jetty.The local architectural style gave me a hankering for a few of my favourite things like schnitzel and bratwurst.Instead of regular German fare, I did find a much more

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-49153404417220293322009-02-06T23:24:00.008-07:002009-02-08T22:44:49.928-07:00

After spending the first two weeks of our trip wallowing in the hell fires of the Kalahari and Namib Deserts, we were finally greeted by the fresh sea breezes lapping the Atlantic coastline of Namibia.Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) off a Walvis Bay beach...Walvis Bay, renown birdwatching hotspot because of nearby wetlands, was where we caught our first glimpse of flamingos. Flamingo

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-62786273376107653962009-02-03T00:52:00.004-07:002009-02-04T21:28:57.089-07:00

Heading north from Sesriem to Swakopmund on the coast, the land was pretty bleak. There weren't many places to stop for gas except for an aptly named place called Solitaire.The gas station here is famous for it's delish apple strudel. Mmmmm...fresh-out-of-the-oven 10 cm by 25 cm chunk of apple strudel. I looked for strudel in Frankfurt, Germany (waiting for the connecting flight to Jo'burg, SA

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-1084431569590821832009-01-29T23:09:00.007-07:002009-01-29T23:36:08.116-07:00

if you love negative space (big shadows), especially in your photographs, the Namib is paradise.high contrast in certain landscape images is the cat's ass. if you add the curvaceous sand dunes of the Namib, you're looking at some real stunning photographs.the photo above was taken as we were retreating from an attempted late day assault on sossusvlei.it's nearly impossible to get "magic hour"

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-81081926567328029702009-01-26T20:38:00.007-07:002009-01-26T21:32:09.537-07:00

Flip flops in the sand...First, I want to wish the loyal readers of BTOG a happy new year! Hey, it's been a stormy relationship but I love you all.2009 will either be really really really big year or a really big dud as per usual. Stay tuned, if everything works out I will undertake a journey of biblical proportions. A journey that could possibly overwhelm me physically, mentally, logistically

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-70380544543244580212009-01-26T00:12:00.005-07:002009-01-26T01:24:02.892-07:00

Just when you thought the Namib was devoid of carbon-based lifeforms...Coming home from Dead Vlei, we spotted this family of ostriches (Struthio camelus australis) surfing down a sand dune.Gemsbok (Oryx gazella) at sunset.Beetle bug in sand. Damn those bugs. They're going to outlast us all.Hey look what we found! Acanthosicyos horridus, commonly called the Nara plant! Protected by horrific

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-1319051846874984072009-01-24T17:19:00.004-07:002009-01-26T21:34:57.915-07:00

Namib Desert Factoid of the Day: The Namib is approximately 55 million years old, making it the oldest desert in the world.

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-10328780404022079762009-01-23T20:57:00.001-07:002009-01-23T21:01:49.075-07:00

Dead Vlei Factoid of the Day: Vlei is pronounced like flay...

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-26246003427979963362009-01-21T20:40:00.002-07:002009-01-21T20:46:51.271-07:00

Dead Vlei Factoid of the Day: you can't tell from the pix, but the Atlantic Ocean is a mere 50 km to the west.

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-16960372043249882192009-01-19T22:39:00.008-07:002009-01-21T20:36:28.337-07:00

The cool, comforting breezes of the morning twilight are short lived in the Namib. for not long after sun rises the ambient temperature soars. A heat that is searing, palpable, and daunting.It's hard to imagine water surviving in liquid form in this inferno. Yet, there is geomorphologicial evidence abound of intermittent bodies of life giving water in the Sesriem region.One obvious evidence of

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-79653771415755373222009-01-17T23:01:00.009-07:002009-01-18T00:38:22.629-07:00

view from the top of Dune 45...looking east.view looking west towards sossusvlei AND the nearby atlantic ocean.we sat on top of 45 for a long while, watching the colors of the dune (and its neighbours) change minute by minute as the sun rose. i loved moments like this. notice the humanoids on the spine of 45.View Larger MapMap points to Dune 45. A typical star-type dune in a sea of sand, it

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-58302834609151352832009-01-15T20:49:00.004-07:002009-01-15T21:58:33.617-07:00

dead tree growing at the foot of Dune 45 in the Namib Desert. it's only a matter of time before it's swallowed up by the 300 ft. high dune.World's Greatest Job...Winter getting you down especially here in Canuckistan? Tired of the dog days of winter... or better yet, tired of working a lousy job day in day out?Or do you just need a job?Check this out: the Aussie answer to the World's Greatest

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-32540624816461647872009-01-11T21:22:00.005-07:002009-01-11T21:44:46.653-07:00

s23 30.019 e15 46.308. Here's a photo for all the geography nuts out there (What is geographically significant about the Tropic of Capricorn?). Not often do I get the opportunity to stop and take a photo like this. Usually I'm whizzing by in a bus or plane.This crossing of the T. of Capricorn was in the middle of nowhere in Namibia.View Larger MapAnother amazing BTOG factoid.On my trip through

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-74116789761177268962008-07-07T23:44:00.009-06:002008-09-26T00:19:54.095-06:00

Ornery beast of the desert on the Saqqara Necropolis...With every camel comes a tout... The deed is done. I'm going to Bangkok on the 9th. As always with these things, it happened pretty quickly with the tix.The tix is for 2315 arriving @ 1155.I suspect there's gonna be another big culture shock when I arrive.Africa's been a lot of fun. A lot has been written particularly about the bad times

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-7995361087680882172008-07-05T20:36:00.010-06:002008-09-25T00:19:09.374-06:00

Street scene #2 in Alexandria...Boy #5 in Alexandria...Inordinate amounts of time in front of the computer.I've come to the conclusion that whatever decision I make I will miss out on something.Don't get me wrong. They are all positive options. Probably the most important consideration is the ability to travel again once back home. Ideally I can go home to recharge my psychological batteries

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-43459976916132898332008-07-04T22:49:00.004-06:002008-09-24T00:11:53.473-06:00

Boy #4 in Alexandria.Fruit Dude #2 in Alexandria.More research today. More confusion. The number of permutations and combinations on air routes is mind boggling.Finally bought a new pair of eyeglasses. They are of the plastic moimy variety. It's a new look for me. Sally and Richard were nice enough to act as impartial opticians. Looks like you can teach an old dog new tricks.More internet

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-16963175416600837522008-07-02T21:13:00.007-06:002008-09-23T01:19:09.218-06:00

What's a visit to Cairo without seeing the Pyramids of Giza? Well, this time I didn't. But, I did dig up some ancient photos (c. 1994 AD). Thanx to Steve for scanning the slides... Yes, back in archaic times I took slide film pix. Yikes. Btw, that's the Pyramid of Khafre in the back and the Great Sphinx in the foreground.I can't believe the Great Pyramid just received "honourary" status in

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-65807446559755070352008-07-01T17:30:00.003-06:002008-09-21T22:54:18.900-06:00

Midan Talaat Harb at night...Back in the Big City. It's so different here compared to Dahab. So different. So vibrant. So many people. Nobody cares who you are.[Ed. note: in retrospect, Dahab was beautiful spot. Despite me ragging on a the touts, I had to put the whole situation in perspective. They were just doing their jobs annoyingly well. They were just trying to put food on the table

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-38966015271217046352008-06-30T17:08:00.008-06:002008-09-20T22:34:31.602-06:00

My last meal in Dahab. There's a really cheap Egyptian restaurant around the corner from 7Heaven. Here I'm chowing down on cow ankles. Mmmmm...despite the chunks of fat hanging off the protein... Fish here is cheap as well. Notice the lack of eyeglasses... (photo courtesy of Sally.)Diving here was a bit of a disaster. I could not achieve the depth of 30m that was required to go on to other

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-38048099906450504972008-06-29T14:50:00.007-06:002008-09-19T14:47:19.406-06:00

Photo courtesy of Thais.I'm so exhausted. I did my checkout dive today. Checkout dives are intended for landlubbers like me who have not dove for many, many, many years.I went with the cheap option, 7Heaven. Wise or not I was gonna find out first hand. I booked the dive and asked for a manual. That's how rusty I was. I spent the next 4 hours burying myself in the text.The divemaster, Gefer,

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-58416573810560219152008-06-27T23:22:00.005-06:002008-09-18T23:26:47.923-06:00

More Bedouin girls...That's Amira on the left. She burned me good on a bracelet. I hope she puts the money in her burgeoning college fund. By the way, Amira means "princess" in Arabic. (Photo courtesy of Thais.)Finally did something about the heat today. Went for a dip down at the lagoon by the Hilton. The Red Sea is pretty damn cold compared to the ambient air temperature. So, I had to

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-3036022145428003492008-06-24T22:38:00.009-06:002008-09-18T00:38:59.936-06:00

Fru fru drink on a hot day. (Photo courtesy of my good friend, Thais, the Brazillian.)48C today? Piece of cake, my friends.Met a real wanker today while passing time in Adam's Pub. [Ed. note: Although not the most aesthetic place in Dahab, Adam's certainly sells the cheapest beer. It's a favourite place of mine and all my traveling buds. Half a litre of barley sandwich will set you back a

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-39828781357647668442008-06-22T00:07:00.007-06:002008-09-17T10:48:48.098-06:00

This is the "Bowling Alley". It stretches along the Dahabian coast for a few kilometres. Seaside restaurants to the left and hotels and souvenir shops to the right...somewhat reminiscent of MacLeod Trail in my hometown Calgary. Touts everywhere (well, not this early in the morning). Only place in the world (so far) where I can negotiate the price of my breakfast.It's Xmas every night in Dahab

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-6650810922241365522008-06-21T23:36:00.007-06:002008-09-16T13:53:48.659-06:00

A few soldiers of a much larger army of entrepreneurial Bedouin girls. They combine cuteness with the sales acumen of the best used car salesmen to form the most formidable retail force in Dahab. (photo courtesy of Thais)Bad day. For starters, I forgot my soap box in the showers last night. It's gone... Seems like there's alot of busy fingers in in this hotel. I'm not sure whether it's

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-90119572994773525712008-06-20T21:33:00.009-06:002008-09-14T13:43:19.553-06:00

This is the strip of seaside restaurants lining the Red Sea in Dahab. The concept, from my worldly travel experiences, is quite unique. Each restaurant is completely open except for thatched roofs overhead. Lots of xmas lights, Bob Marley tunes, Bedouin kids selling bracelets make for an interesting ambiance. Only downsides were relatively expensive food served and a monopoly on seaside space

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-53890723970984268632008-06-19T23:08:00.006-06:002008-09-13T00:23:52.378-06:00

Dahab is like living in a soap opera.Today has been particularly frustrating. While taking a shower this morning someone stole my eyeglasses. I had left them, inadvertently, by the sink. Why would anyone take my glasses? They were unique. I needed them! They were vital to my daily life! This last stunt is like tripping granny while she's crossing the street...then giving her a kick to the

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-85437464737258300942008-06-17T17:28:00.005-06:002008-09-07T18:17:56.609-06:00

This marks one month in Egypt. I never thought I'd be here for such a long time. Usually I would have had the itch to move on by now. But, I'm in Dahab.My review of what I've done so far in my time here: nothin'. Absolutely nothin'.We did manage to play beach volleyball a couple of days ago. We chipped in to buy a cheap ball. A couple of locals joined in. Fun had by all.Last night was

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-79483051791351969562008-06-15T15:07:00.005-06:002008-09-02T23:12:37.460-06:00

The Sea of Aqaba - The Islands just south of Dahab...First complete day. Sunny and hot. Not much to do unless you dive. I'm trying to chill out. A tougher feat to achieve than you think. Here's are a few reasons why. 1) 7Heaven is not on the beach. So, guests have to hangout elsewhere. 2) Dahab lacks a beach close by. The closest spot is not exactly a sandy beach (but more gravel-like).

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-28306358321772896292008-06-12T21:09:00.004-06:002008-09-01T22:58:26.967-06:00

Mountains to the west of Dahab, Egypt...Finally here.Arrived after a grueling bus ride yesterday. Glad I took the 0715 bus though. I awoke from dozing off just in time to witness the bus going under the Suez Canal. It was surprisingly narrow. When we popped out of the other side of the tunnel, it appeared as if dozens of humongous container ships were floating in the heat waves pouring off

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-10430063167119020342008-06-12T20:30:00.005-06:002008-09-01T22:53:10.151-06:00

Alexandria, Egypt - Laaaddddieeeees!!!Fairly busy morning. Two important metro trips (I love the subway!). First trip was to the Syrian Embassy. Nice visa guy there but he couldn't produce a visa for me. Apparently, only Egyptians and resident foreigners qualify for such a privilege. I wish I had known that 10 months ago when I was still at home. So, the overland route to Asia was out of

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-11956221439858594702008-06-11T22:55:00.001-06:002008-08-26T23:40:46.046-06:00

The Fonz of AlexandriaI've got to get out of here. NOW! The temperature has dropped, thank god. But this inactivity is killing me. I swear my brain is leaking out my ears. Managed to add to the bookshelf (aka my backpack). Another trip to the book market netted another Ken Follett masterpiece, A Place Called Freedom. Should be a page-turner considering the last Follett tome, White Out, I

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-47542975102471169712008-06-10T16:56:00.001-06:002008-08-29T23:52:48.968-06:00

My man Hosni's selling plums and peaches on the mean streets of Alexandria.The recovery continues. I'm fine. Felt slight queasiness at about 1800 but I'm fine now.Damn it was hot today. The radio said it was 42C. No where to hide. Maybe a movie theatre? Too bad I missed the 1300 showing of Spiderman 3...damn. I could have got out of the sun for a while. Instead, I chose to hide in my room.

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-16852866280273171792008-06-09T23:21:00.004-06:002008-08-26T00:10:53.846-06:00

Boys #5 and #6 in Alexandria. Did I mention that I had a banana seat bicycle when I was a kid? It had a black seat and a wicked frame painted lime green. I loved that bike. My folks sold it for 2 dullah in the only garage sale they ever had. I'm gonna cry...sob.The Cipro kicked in. No more dashes to the loo. Although I feel much better, I'm was operating in a bit of a fog. I had a

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-14470898477486231052008-06-08T23:48:00.004-06:002008-08-25T09:08:43.150-06:00

Boy #5 in Alexandria - Hey kid, nice banana seat.The fever broke overnight. I'm staying in bed however. I'm getting a nasty case of diarrhea. I reluctantly decided to start my last course of the antibiotic ciprofloaxin. It's good. It's strong. I don't want to mess with a good thing though but I really don't want to be lying around for days running to the toilet. Plus, I enjoy self diagnosis

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756642.post-87163919329454103102008-06-07T22:54:00.001-06:002008-08-24T23:22:34.240-06:00

Boy #4 in Alexandria...Not a good day. The fever returned with a vengeance. I've been just burning up since 4 PM. Kind of scary. I think I have it under control with the ibuprofen. I have to be careful to let this run it's course. Fever is a natural response. I'm going to decrease the time between dosages just to get rid of this headache. I might be here a couple of more days...Out of

bubbahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349629059484450818noreply@blogger.com0