Me and my meat

Continuing my pork product a day for a week project, here I am with a pork and beef pepperoni.

Look ladies, he cooks!

Yes, that is right. I cook...

Pork Ribs

My sister cooking pork ribs for my return dinner.

C&O Canal

Canal boat on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Washington, DC.

On Going Home

Greeting my nephew upon my return to DC. Look at those cheeks!

Well, I have returned to DC from living in Doha, Qatar (the dullest place in the world).

Remember, no matter where you are in the world, you still have family.

Almost 4,000 visitors since I started counting visitors to my blog a year ago today

I started using Site Meter to count the visitors to my blog on July 19, 2006. Since that time a year ago, I have had almost 4,000 visitors.

You know what they say..."Almost only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and nuclear warheads."

Where there is water there is grass, where there is no water there is desert

Watering the playing fields in Education City at 8AM. The Education City Convention Center is being built in the background.

Current temperature 95 °F / 35 °C

Expected high temperature today 105° F / 41° C

Couch Potato

I spent most of the entire weekend sitting on my couch watching movies, PBS videos, and BBC Prime (overseas BBC).

I went to a party but left before people started doing tequila shots.

I don't do tequila shots ever since "the incident."

Chicken Clock

Back in 1996, I found and bought this same chicken clock in Vietnam. The cool thing about this chicken clock is that the hen pecks to the time of the second hand. However, my chicken clock from Vietnam broke. The hen no longer pecks.

Now it appears that Lulu Hypermarket in Qatar is selling the same chicken clock. I am going this weekend to buy a new chicken clock.

Hot Rod in my Mouth

I don't know about you, but I don't want any product know as a "Hot Rod" in my mouth.

Also, notice the pointed wooden skewers. You wouldn't have KFC in the States using pointed sticks to serve the food on. First, someone in the States would impail themselves on the stick and then sue KFC and second, someone in the States would eat the stick and then sue KFC for having wood in the food.

Prayer mats on sale this week

Prayer mats on sale this week at Lulu Hypermarket.

You know you live in the Middle East when you see prayer mats advertised in the local newspaper.

CHACHACHANGES

I changed the look and feel of my blog a little bit by upgrading to the new template.

You will notice an email link next to the comments on each post.

I did that so if anyone wants to email a post to a friend they can.

High Noon in Qatar...now it's hot

Doha, Qatar

12PM NOON

111 °F / 44 °C

See: http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/41170.html

It's not even noon yet...

Doha, Qatar

11AM
109 °F / 43 °C

See: http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/41170.html

You want hot...I'll give you hot!

Doha, Qatar

9:00 AM

102 °F / 39 °C

See: http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/41170.html

Ed's 15...uhh...13 Helpful Hints for traveling based on his recent adventures.

1. When exchanging money, get some small bills for tips, taxis, and drinks (Belize).
   
   
2. Put your money in wallets in front pockets. Carry two wallets. In one wallet carry the local currency. In the other wallet carry US dollars and debit/credit cards. If you have a credit card with a small balance put it in the wallet with the local currency for larger purchases (Mexico).
   
   
3. Carry a compass, even in the city. If you don't know which direction to go, pick one...N, S, E, W. If you go North, then to return to your starting point, go South. Also, when looking at a map with a North Arrow or Compass Rose, if you have a compass, then you will be able to orient the map in the proper direction (Nepal).
   
   
4. Photocopy maps ahead of time to refer to, so that you don't constantly look at the maps in the guidebooks and this will allow you to have maps to carry around when you want to carry light (India).
   
   
5. In regards to jewelry, only wear a watch...or if you are me, a medal around your neck under your shirt. However, no crosses or Stars of David. Leave your favorite jewelry at home. You will probably pick up a NEW favorite piece of jewelry on the trip (Burkina Faso).
   
   
6. Drink plenty of liquids, preferably water, especially before you go to bed. Drinking liquids (especially water) before going to bed helps hydrate you while you sleep, lessens a hangover, and it helps you get out of bed in the morning because you will have to pee like a racehorse (California, USA).
   
   
7. Carry individual packs of handy wipes in your back pocket and/or backpack. They are good for cleaning your hands before a meal and for emergency bathroom breaks, especially where there is no toilet paper in public bathrooms (Japan).
   
   
8. Bring sunglasses. If you wear prescription glasses, then bring an extra pair and the sunglasses. When needed the sunglasses serve as a backup pair of prescription glasses (Kuwait).
   
   
9. Get an international driver's license. You never know when you may need to drive. I have a motorcycle and car endorsement on mine just in case (Morocco).
   
   
10. Tell the indigenous population (locals) that you are traveling with a group, even when traveling alone. It could get you out of scams and hassles (Jordan).
    
    
11. Never pay for sex. When a woman in a bar says "200 Riyals", she doesn't mean the name of the band (Qatar).
    
    
12. Learn to snow ski. You may never know when you may need that skill (Dubai, United Arab Emirates).
    
    
13. It's not your fault, it's just your turn (Washington, DC USA).

These are just my helpful hints that I have picked up along the way. But remember the most helpful hints of all from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure...

Bill: Be excellent to each other.
Ted: Party on, dudes.

And as Mel Brooks said in History of the World: Part I

Moses: The Lord, the Lord Jehovah has given unto you these fifteen...
[drops one of the tablets]
Moses: Oy! Ten! Ten commandments for all to obey!

Sundried Cow Pies

"So are these cow pies fresh?"

"So these are cow pies...they are pies...they come from a cow...but there is no cow in them...

How do these pies taste?"

Just kidding.

Cow dung is used for fuel to cook, electricity, and heat in parts of India.

Royal tombs in Jaipur

Hawa Mahal under renovation

When I was in Jaipur the Hawal Mahal or Palace of the Winds was under renovation.

For an unobstructed view of the Hawa Mahal go to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawa_Mahal

Boarding the train in India

Monsoon rains flood the train tracks in Agra

Hauz Party

Tank that "could be transported and used in the camp, as well as the harem-palace, for bathing." A 17th century hot tub.

Red Sandstone of Agra Fort

And then the winds picked up at the Taj Mahal...