travel – Page 2 – St Joseph & The Penguin

Antarctica Journey – Falklands/Malvinas

After completing a tree week journey in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, I am at a loss of where to start.

We departed Ushuaia, Argentina and sailed for two days to get to the Falklands/Malvinas (note, I am not claiming political sides here), where we spent two days.

Our first day was at an island with a four, count’em FOUR different kinds of Penguins, and a colony of Albatross. An amazing introduction to bird live in the Southern Ocean.

First we saw Gentoos and Kings. Kings are like smaller versions of the Emperor. Gentoos are sneaky little trouble makers who like collecting and stealing rocks for their mate. They also pretty much look and act like all the cartoon penguins you have seen over the year. Yes, it was love at first site.

Kings always lootk so elegant – regal even. Probably how they got their name.

King Chicks are really fuzzy. Early explorers thought they were a different type of penguin and named them Wooly Penguins.

Where the King is distinguished, the Gentoo is just a goof. He always makes you smile.

The Gentoo always looks so happy and proud when it finds a rock.

Magellenic Penguins can be seen all over South America, but in the Falklands they are everywhere.

And, Gentoos will hang out with them and lead them along…

Rockhoppers are fun and much different looking. And, they really do hop along the rocks.

In addition to penguins, the Falklands/Malvinas are home to many (thousands???) Albatross. I loved how majestic these birds look and how wise they seem.

The Falklands/Malvinas also have a nice little town, Stanley, which is not a bad place to enjoy a cup of coffee and a walk around in something other than muck boots.

Penguin enjoyed his time here and managed to make a few friends. Joe even got in on some of the action, when he wasn’t complaining about the cold.

After a couple of days in the Falklands/Malvinas we set off to South Georgia. It was a couple of days sailing and we were so fortunate to have such wonderful weather.

I am making my way through the literally thousands of photos I took and will post more soon. In the meantime, thing of Penguin and his complete bliss being close to his homeland.

Jordan!

Okay, I am now even FURTHER behind. So far behind that I am writing this in a hotel room in Buenos Aires the day before heading to Ushuaia and my Antarctica trip.

Jordan was incredible. To save time, I am just going to post pictures. Sorry I don’t have time to be creative with verbage.

Outside of the capitol, Amman (which I Now know is pronounced Ah-MAN and not Ahh – mon) are the ruins of Jerash. These are some of the most impressive Roman ruins I have ever seen.

Petra was the next big site and what most people come to this beautiful country to see. It did not disappoint.

Pictures just cannot do justice to Petra, or Wadi Rum, our next stop.

One evening we took a cooking class. It was a lot of fun, but I will say they need to get their knives sharpened.

On one of our last days, we visited the River Jordan…more like the Jordan Muddy Creek. On the other side of the water is Israel. It is so good that these two countries get along now.

THE END

P.S. As I mentioned above, I will be getting on a plane to Ushuaia and from there on to a boat to Antarctica. I will be gone for 3 weeks and internet connectivity will be pretty sparse if it exists at all. If I do manage a signal somewere, I will try to post a picture of a penguin or whale. Otherwise, stay tuned for a long post in January.

I wish all of you a very happy holiday season and all the best for the New Year. Stay safe and warm. Can’t wait to see everyone in 2019.

Israel – the other bits

I am so far behind in my posts. Israel was so amazing I had no time or energy to deal with pictures and posting. So, pictures won’t have that much description.

After Jeruselem, we traveled to the West Bank. If you didn’t know, Bethlehem is in the West Bank. We also visited a Palestinian refugee camp and heard about the politics from the Palestinian perspective (the previous evening we had a lecture with a rabbi).

The key symbolizes the homes the regugees left behind.

Joe was happy to be back in his homeland.

After the West Bank, we continued on to Masada. Truly an amazing Roman Fortress. The picutres didn’t look like much when I tranfered them, but this barraks shot can give you an idea of the site. Definately worth a visit.

After an AMAZING 8 days in Israel, we crossed the border in to Jordan.

Oh Jeruselem!

Jeruselem is a feast of senses and emotions. All the things you learned about in school (and any religious study) now stand in front of you. This city of faith and geopolitics is alive, beautiful, and if I may add, a bit filthy.

I spent the first day walking around before my tour started. I didn’t have much time as I promised the hotel I would be back by 2pm to change rooms (complicated story here). I found myself at the Jaffa Gate and then at the Tower of David (aka The Citadel). What an amazing introduction to Jeruselem.

The view from the top of the tower was even more stunning.

The Dome of the Rock built upon the Temple Mount. One of the most photographed, and beautiful buildings in the world.

Day two the tour began. It all seems like somewhat of a blur now…all the things you see, hear and feel. Three major faiths consider this city holy and you see them all living and praying here. Walking through the old city is a bit overwhelming…a mix of shopkeepers, religious pilgrims and secular tourists like us.

Path of Sorros – the path that Chirst took on his way to the crucifixion. Pilgrims walk this street while chanting and singing.

Western Wall or Wailing Wall. Such an incredible expression of faith.

Entering the Holy Seplecur Church is an excercise in patience. So many people queuing up to touch things they believe Christ touched. Since the church was so croweded, one of the guys on my tour, Vladimir, and I got up at 3 am the next day to see the church at dawn. We left the hotel at 3:30 am and armed with nothing but Google Maps, we somehow found the chukrch. Actually, if it weren’t for two muslim ladies who pointed us in the right direction, we might still be wandering. It was worth it.

Entrance to the Holy Seplecur Church at about 4:05am

Sitting on the steps in the Church of the Holy Seplecur

After spending an hour or so in the Church, Vlad and I got a taxi up to the Mount of Olives to view Jeruselem illuminated at night before the sun rose. Again, totally worth it.

After a couple of days in the Holy City, we had our introduction in to the politics. That’s another post. I will let you enjoy these photos first.

Before I sign off, I would like to tell you that WordPress changed the software for blogs. The new one is terrible, AND, they have removed the spell check. UGH!

Oman, Oh Man!

Oman was an interesting and wonderful stop along the Journey. So different than any place else I have been so far.

First, let me dispel any misconceptions you may or may not have about this Gulf country. It is absolutely, positively, 100% safe. Safer than most cities in the USA. The people are warm and friendly and genuinely want you to love their country. Like other Gulf countries, Oman imports a good portion of its labor force. There are many people working in the country who are from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, etc. If you encounter someone who is a bit surly, they are probably not Omani.

Tourism in Oman is in its infancy. There is not the same level of infrastructure or service you see in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This has a good side and not so good side. The good is that it is not very crowded and you get to see what the country is really like. The not so good is that the hotels and restaurants are not up to the standards you find in other countries.

I began my visit in Muscat, the capitol. This is a lovely sea-side city which is rich in history while also looking to the future.

The first stop on my tour was to the Grand Mosque which is mind-blowingly beautiful.

The inside of this mosque is as impressive as the outside.

The chandelier inside the mosque is the worlds largest and one of the worlds prettiest.

The Penguin and Joe enjoyed the visit as well. Joe is glad to be back in the desert.

The royal palace is an equally impressive structure. The colored columns make the palace unique.

It’s even more impressive at night.

The Muscat Fort is an historical structure that offers great views back down to the city.

The day ended with a sunset cruise along the coast. Oman is famous for its frankincense incense, so there is a large, very cool replica of a burner along the coast. The sun setting behind it makes it look like a spaceship.

After Muscat, I headed to Nizwa. This mountain city is known for its fort, castle and GOAT SOUK!!

The Goat Souk starts in the early morning and people from all over come to buy and sell goats; men, women and children. The goats are walked along a “runway” and if you are interested, you wave. The only thing that has changed in the past hundred years or so is that now people have smartphones!

After the goats, we visited the fort and castle.

And inside both fort and castle we were treated to a show by the some of the local tribesmen.

A visit to Oman would not be complete without a stay in the desert. The camp was nice, but the scenery was better.

And what trip to the dessert would be complete without a camel experience.

I made friends with one in the camp and then got to ride one later the same day.

There was a lot more I saw in Oman, but these were the best bits. A big thank you to my wonderful guide, Omar. He was knowledgeable and so very kind. He even made friends with Penguin. He was the best representative his country could have had.

Stay tuned for the UAE!

And, for my followers and readers in the USA, a very Happy Thanksgiving. Stay warm and have a piece of pumpkin pie for me.

Much love to all.

Things on Bikes

When I was flying in to Vietnam from Hong Kong several weeks ago, I met a lovely woman on the plane. She spends a lot of time in Vietnam and told me I should do a post just on things on motorbikes. So here it is. You can laugh, be amazed, but most of all, be thankful you don’t have to haul your stuff on a two wheeler.

The Little Giant ladder company could use this in their ads. “You can even put it on a moped!”

At least this guy has a trailer for his bike.

I am not sure what they are carrying, but it’s a good thing there are two of them.

Do you think he blew up the ballons AFTER he parked?

What do you think she does when her young passenger is not there to hold the parasol? And how is the girl in the back holding on?

Whatever is in the crates and bags between his legs, he apparently needs cooking oil too.

That’s one serious “Amazon Fresh” delivery. How many people are in that family?

It’s nice that the PARENTS are wearing helmets.

I can’t even think of a caption for this one.

The person holding the yellow box sure has faith in the driver.

If you can’t fit it all on the back of the bike, there’s always the space between your legs. Just hope you don’t need to shift that often.

Now aren’t you glad you have a car or at least Uber?

GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!!!!!

Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. It’s actually evening here, but it’s morning where most people are reading this.

I knew immediately that I was going to love Vietnam. It’s chaotic, friendly, crazy and laid back all at the same time. It might have an identity crisis if it cared.

I just walked around Ho Chi Minh City today to get a feel for things. I have a tour starting day after tomorrow, so I think I will see the sights then. It was great. The air here has the scent of overripe tropical fruit with a hint of motorbike exhaust. The streets are organized chaos. There are motorbikes, vespas and mopeds everywhere…they are like bees in a wildflower field.

Even taxis operate on motorbikes (they do have 4 wheel taxis also). It’s called Go-Bike and they have an extra helmet for the passenger. Locals seem to carpool. These two ladies where getting ready to brave the streets when I saw them. They let me take their picture.

Deliveries also seem to be made with motorbikes. The Culligan man in the USA has it really easy.

And so does the FTD guy

Crossing the street in Ho Chi Minh City is a bit like being the mole in Whack-a-Mole. Every time you think you find a safe hole, something comes out of nowhere to try to take you down. I noticed some locals waited to cross “en-masse” with arms linked together. I decided that just makes you a bigger target. Take a close look at this picture. What is the one thing missing from this intersection?

There are a few signs left of the French colonial past. The country has the best coffee I have had in Asia so far and I saw one old cathedral.

When the heat became too much, I stopped in at a cafe. It was too hot to try the life-changing coffee, however.

Now, if anyone out there has been to Vietnam and can explain this next picture, I would be grateful. The questions are both why and how? Do people not want to litter or are they going to come back later and finish their beverage?

I have signed up to take a cooking class tomorrow. We are supposed to start at the market to shop for ingredients and then head to the kitchen to cook. Should be a blast!!!

Au Revoir!

PANDAS!!!…and other things in Chengdu

Yes, the Panda is real. And yes, that’s me with the panda.

Chengdu is Panda central. When we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted by a dancing panda.

Even the manhole covers have pandas on them.

So, here is some cuteness overload…

And just in case you don’t believe the first picture from this post, here are a few more of me and the panda.

To get your photo opp with the panda, you have to don a lovely blue jumpsuit, gloves and shoe covers. This is not for your protection, but for Panda’s. The panda really could not care less if you are there or not. He is busy eating bamboo. He is a juvenile, about 18 months old. You are given about 30 seconds with the panda.

Now, Chengdu is not ALL about pandas. There is a lovely people’s park and interesting tea houses. But after looking at all the cuteness above, nothing else can compare.

Next stop…the Yangtze (or Yangzi) river and the Three Gorge (apparently Yangzi is the preferred spelling).

Xian and the Warriors

Xian, China is famous for the Terracotta Warriors This is why people come here. However, there are a few other interesting sites including the Muslim quarter and the old city wall.

The Muslim quarter is a sight for the senses. There are people selling all sorts of food. Squid on a stick was quite popular. If they don’t sell it as food, they can repurpose it as a puppet!

The mosque in the quarter is a lovely mixture of gardens and structures. On the surface it looks decidedly Chinese but when you look closely there are clear Arab and Persian touches.

Below is where the muezzin makes the call for prayer.

While we were at the mosque, a bride and groom were having their photos taken.

After walking around the quarter, we headed to lunch. Penguin was horrified when he saw the dumplings.

The next day, we headed out to see what we all came to Xian for, the famed Terracotta Warriors. They were discovered in 1974 by a farmer digging a well. They date from the Qin dynasty which ended around 210 BCE and were buried with the emperor to protect him in the afterlife.

This first pit has the most number of restored warriors. When you walk in, you are confronted by them.

They all have different faces and expressions, and the detail is incredible.

It is believed that when they were buried, they had wooden weapons in their hands. These burned during a fire when a rebel general later entered the tomb and pretty much trashed and burned it. You can see how they are holding their hands.

What the general did is why the warriors were found in pieces. The archeologists are now working on one of the biggest, and perhaps most important, jigsaw puzzle in the world.

The Penguin was in awe!

After a morning of warriors, we headed to the old city wall. It’s only about 600 years old and is a nice way to see the city.

Our next stop, and the next post, is Chengdu. I promise, you won’t want to miss it!!!!

Beijing – Summer Palace, China

Hello From China!!!

I arrived from Japan at an ungodly hour and was transported to the Crowne Plaza Beijing Airport to sleep. I would not recommend this place. I think it is about to be dumped at a Crowne Plaza because it does’t meet international standards.

Anyway, after that I was taken by the tour company to the Aman at the Summer Palace. A vast improvement!!

The hotel, while not old, was built to resemble the palace. It is beautiful.

Who wouldn’t want to start the day with breakfast here?

A very vocal little bird woke me up at 6:05 am on my first morning at the Summer Palace. I quickly dressed and ran to the palace grounds to see what I could before the crowds arrived. I am glad I did.

Later that same morning, we had a tour of the palace. The crowds had arrived but it was still wonderful.

This is one of the windows that lines the corridors of the palace. They were built so the women of the court could view the outdoors without leaving the palace buildings.

The marble boat. One of the emporers wanted a boat that was so strong it could not sink. This is what he got. A boat made from marble. It cannot sink, but it also cannot go anywhere.

Elderly gentleman paingin on the slate. He paints the characters with water so the figures only last a few minutes.

After the summer palace, we went to central Beijing. I will try to get those photos uploaded soon.

Quick update

I have seen in the international news that the typhoon did cause some damage. In Kyoto all was fine this morning. I am am safe at the Nagoya airport waiting for my flight to Beijing.

Pretty cool that I can use my phone to post. Now if I could just figure out how to add a picture…