tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51136329687858731012024-03-14T04:46:20.313-07:00Joe's BlogThis is my personal travel blog, associated with www.JoeBrotherton.com. I use it to tell 20 minutes worth of stories in several hours. Enjoy and let me know your thoughts.The Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696612405455618240noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113632968785873101.post-33422469463319505452015-09-26T15:45:00.002-07:002015-09-26T15:45:47.272-07:00Doe Bay Fest 8<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Joe's View of Doe Bay Fest 8</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cykor_OcJjZpNbw7D__9dGSc9BoDcmKvL7d7AJZp2MCUx0l2eMHSzsLdn1KnO9_wcr1coEzyB2mDPaeg7lzkf7NhBdMX8gDnUp8aiVOCMbuXNQH6k_fs7YvdCg_xQ5bxAF1gctVsJOE/s1600/dbf8+color+infinity+hi+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cykor_OcJjZpNbw7D__9dGSc9BoDcmKvL7d7AJZp2MCUx0l2eMHSzsLdn1KnO9_wcr1coEzyB2mDPaeg7lzkf7NhBdMX8gDnUp8aiVOCMbuXNQH6k_fs7YvdCg_xQ5bxAF1gctVsJOE/s200/dbf8+color+infinity+hi+res.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPn1mxjGkqaTJviv3O-iFaeteAObE-bE-GRAYkNJvVATDf3zfgTG4baNFw-RUlPA4GTxgInjDhxHq9CYwSWbWcSBQXlAqDWH4G4GDmKQF7YcdbxL1F37gIph0janVc7QeunOsXaVSbiU/s1600/dbf8+b%252Bw+infinity+hi+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPn1mxjGkqaTJviv3O-iFaeteAObE-bE-GRAYkNJvVATDf3zfgTG4baNFw-RUlPA4GTxgInjDhxHq9CYwSWbWcSBQXlAqDWH4G4GDmKQF7YcdbxL1F37gIph0janVc7QeunOsXaVSbiU/s200/dbf8+b%252Bw+infinity+hi+res.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsu6iszqJm5PjrsScyrfpgYgffV-1VlBnnYVICSRIA34f60eWDmTdSFEskeqE8SeOlfvrvSiuE2jUXtkQWm3T8Mz9jyQhtfU6NHVOLrIfSE4fN6JSJUNKGFQUt0oPFt6htwZ8XDZePTA/s1600/WP_20150802_012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsu6iszqJm5PjrsScyrfpgYgffV-1VlBnnYVICSRIA34f60eWDmTdSFEskeqE8SeOlfvrvSiuE2jUXtkQWm3T8Mz9jyQhtfU6NHVOLrIfSE4fN6JSJUNKGFQUt0oPFt6htwZ8XDZePTA/s640/WP_20150802_012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain?? Really?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Fear of Failure... Rain ...</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the Wednesday before Doe Bay Fest, the weather forecast was 100% chance of rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looked like this was the year we would have to implement plan B.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That meant that we were also going to have to develop a plan B.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the past, every time I started to develop a rain option, a 10 day forecast would take away the pressure and we would simply stick with plan A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weather, of course, is one of the items we cannot control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it looked like this year might be the end of our winning streak. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtiNzGWIr4f7pqrj8L8IrhjL1y-NvwTreSjSx9DHlljBtSa-vV-kS5Vq2G8Np4dIPzP_whqM202aiu33Au8O0Z91P33wUnnmdAsPCHrq6lYplKilsotO8Ob21TY2J6uKBL11Yr1fnbC0/s1600/WP_20150804_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtiNzGWIr4f7pqrj8L8IrhjL1y-NvwTreSjSx9DHlljBtSa-vV-kS5Vq2G8Np4dIPzP_whqM202aiu33Au8O0Z91P33wUnnmdAsPCHrq6lYplKilsotO8Ob21TY2J6uKBL11Yr1fnbC0/s640/WP_20150804_003.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What we cannot have here is a failure to communicate!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Managing Expectations</strong></span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"> In the early years, we had to figure out all of the logistics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In particular in the first year of Doe Bay Fest, we had no idea what <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we were doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had no permits and only a very loose plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> In subsequent years, w</span>e had some close calls (Like a headliner canceling 3 days before the fest) but never really fell flat; but that was always a possibility. That kept it exciting.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3rw1HwUgi4xfXFpqUFwu2lrF3qA7-gaoWPPzxGq_OMNAUEZlUCru9DvWkC3jD4zlSRzIEX0Wvbr-GMD_Wq2FAHdcrN0OK65kAYhtYe8gsoYimzaQzAMuy-y7j53C0y4gqOnQ05hYUYk/s1600/DB+Deer+Logo+on+Black+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3rw1HwUgi4xfXFpqUFwu2lrF3qA7-gaoWPPzxGq_OMNAUEZlUCru9DvWkC3jD4zlSRzIEX0Wvbr-GMD_Wq2FAHdcrN0OK65kAYhtYe8gsoYimzaQzAMuy-y7j53C0y4gqOnQ05hYUYk/s320/DB+Deer+Logo+on+Black+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got better as time went on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fear of failure started to dissipate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, it was replaced by the fear of disappointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had such good fortune ,that expectations were steadily on the rise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now our fear wasn’t that we would fall flat on our face, but rather that we would fail to create the magic and people would say it was fun but not as cool as last year or the year before. This year, I was secretly hoping that Friday would be killer but Saturday would be rainy and people would say "Meh". Then I would be able to say confidently that Doe Bay Fest 9 will be better.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhVeIZF1nL-jfXd_svyP9ODUnxljL7xpmux9qdBf-hv-h7LlkfYcD66G48yBh19u73qearhT0QDbC5jLo_i66GXav6mWLRksNTTlxKjdJDBCgQJ6rthcX-BsfCqxg3LBKUMl0AG8Ktns/s1600/163B3677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhVeIZF1nL-jfXd_svyP9ODUnxljL7xpmux9qdBf-hv-h7LlkfYcD66G48yBh19u73qearhT0QDbC5jLo_i66GXav6mWLRksNTTlxKjdJDBCgQJ6rthcX-BsfCqxg3LBKUMl0AG8Ktns/s400/163B3677.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But then again, what could be better than this?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I think it was after year one that I contacted my friend Norm Langill who started One Reel Vaudeville Show when we were young and went on to do Bumbershoot, Teatro Zinzanni and others. He had no time to help me, but said it is simple, "under-promise and over-deliver." We have tried to keep that in our DNA all of these years.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXDRjvaJdOtEp222IZ5RzlN4xQfzMNKK8H6uwDyvRvnVZOgOTRlCudSsFXj5sm5ylk2dIyC1MnyngaVZOqx8R81-Ntag-ejLo6Iy_igqeQX8OSaYRKI3c7BDPxMGHm9me7CHjhbhMEo8/s1600/WP_20141217_006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXDRjvaJdOtEp222IZ5RzlN4xQfzMNKK8H6uwDyvRvnVZOgOTRlCudSsFXj5sm5ylk2dIyC1MnyngaVZOqx8R81-Ntag-ejLo6Iy_igqeQX8OSaYRKI3c7BDPxMGHm9me7CHjhbhMEo8/s640/WP_20141217_006.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jami & Jen - Doe Bay Fest Superstars!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Tough act to follow</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Doe Bay Fest 7 was off the charts great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am pleased to say that most people report that Doe Bay Fest 8 was the best ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The property has fully recovered and, while we are savoring that success, we are already nervous about how to carry on such a tradition. I am freaked but excited about Doe Bay Fest 9.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Doe Bay Fest 9 - Announcement</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri;">(I will send this out in an e-mail to all so everyone doesn't have to shlog through my blog)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDFy-kIEsgzUiUs-cV34TaSPl0yMMKH9tvqFF6y507o3TdcAmUfbt5cod3zPXuXZsBYY8ADhcBE3nBXYNOisRS2aJPoqOtd0zkD2GWo88wVaBjAP-ImEuDf73UILYYF69Uy4zDfGCs3E/s1600/WP_20150806_17_42_40_Panorama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDFy-kIEsgzUiUs-cV34TaSPl0yMMKH9tvqFF6y507o3TdcAmUfbt5cod3zPXuXZsBYY8ADhcBE3nBXYNOisRS2aJPoqOtd0zkD2GWo88wVaBjAP-ImEuDf73UILYYF69Uy4zDfGCs3E/s640/WP_20150806_17_42_40_Panorama.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There will be a Doe Bay Fest in 2016!</span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It will occur from Wednesday <strong>August 3rd</strong> through Monday, <strong>August 8th.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tickets will be available at the Doe Bay front desk for overnight guests beginning on Halloween weekend (actually the weekend before (The 24th) , since we will have a music event (Day Laborers) that weekend).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> [Oh yeah, and everyone who comes to <a href="http://www.writedoebay.com/" target="_blank">Write Doe Bay</a> on October 9 can buy discounted tickets too!]</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Below is another now famous photo of Kris Orlowski serenading a bunch of us on the beach including singing farewells to departing guests. I include it here because <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1497747327207500/" target="_blank">Kris will be back at Doe Bay for Write Doe Bay and will perform at the Yoga studio</a> on October 10th. Open to Write and non-Write guests!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRUplbMVKmoutYMCNJaYxoagvQznVElaB2yX8xmJrCMX5RIaL0yHfrEm1l3Bk6P0ajarMbXyZBfgemtU75NQG-WrjOanOKUQF28or0zqeli6FE29xhhpKQB_MSYMd-G6oWLPGtmvxYDI/s1600/WP_20150809_049+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRUplbMVKmoutYMCNJaYxoagvQznVElaB2yX8xmJrCMX5RIaL0yHfrEm1l3Bk6P0ajarMbXyZBfgemtU75NQG-WrjOanOKUQF28or0zqeli6FE29xhhpKQB_MSYMd-G6oWLPGtmvxYDI/s400/WP_20150809_049+%25283%2529.jpg" width="225" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some <strong>Christmas ticket and merchandise</strong> packages will be available online in early December.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><strong>AND</strong></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some <strong>ONLINE TICKET </strong>packages MAY be available online from time to time through the <a href="https://doebay.com/store/" target="_blank">Doe Bay Online Store.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Other than that, tickets will be solely available for overnight guests purchasing in person until the April Fool’s Day. (In the spirit of April Fool’s they won’t actually be available until after that weekend because again, we have a music event and want to make sure anyone attending gets to buy before tickets are released.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there are any tickets remaining they will be offered to online purchasers as well as overnight guests.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ticket prices will be $150.00. We will offer a discount per person to overnight guests through April 3rd or as long as supplies last.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><strong>DATE DISCOUNT AMOUNT</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Oct 21, 2015 to New Year's Eve $50.00</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><strong>January 2016 $45.00</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">February 2016 $40.00</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><strong>March 2016 $35.00</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">April 2016 $30.00</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Off-season visits</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">We’d love to have guests who have experienced Doe Bay Fest, return in a quieter time to see another side of doe bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are open year round except for a couple of weeks just prior to Christmas for major construction projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are thinking of coming to doe bay fest nine you can save as much as $50.00 per person by making a winter visit, as described above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are two possibilities:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilohR6XUg50wfvxr1ALKLCbq2L_3WuD8sksk2YAz4BF0hMmq9u_0XjDHuySv3LY07U1OxXB6lKa30YbZZ11zNDe3FesiVCAzbdRMXFzaxSzAHC2PYMju35bPdmJcC42ssgSfACiFyUXFs/s1600/163B4131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilohR6XUg50wfvxr1ALKLCbq2L_3WuD8sksk2YAz4BF0hMmq9u_0XjDHuySv3LY07U1OxXB6lKa30YbZZ11zNDe3FesiVCAzbdRMXFzaxSzAHC2PYMju35bPdmJcC42ssgSfACiFyUXFs/s640/163B4131.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></span></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Come up for a quiet weekend.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have music almost every Friday night in the cafe and various events throughout the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However it is still very quiet compared to doe bay fest.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0FGwPfWBjjnIfDY2U_NgzQeGN6i0pg80uXQL0Dgr-eKtZGB16Y3ohfQ8UbhNmov-0ZNF6VNjOghc9vT9qQAz6CCgNnqrcMuKvkVFW8CTRd0uLB-5fqBkckztMrlMCfBmpPeIVrtHVSw/s1600/163B4133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0FGwPfWBjjnIfDY2U_NgzQeGN6i0pg80uXQL0Dgr-eKtZGB16Y3ohfQ8UbhNmov-0ZNF6VNjOghc9vT9qQAz6CCgNnqrcMuKvkVFW8CTRd0uLB-5fqBkckztMrlMCfBmpPeIVrtHVSw/s640/163B4133.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Come up for a yoga studio party weekend.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We try to allocate one weekend a month and have one or two bands come up and play a Saturday night party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These have proven to be fun and a taste of Doe Bay Fest without quite as many people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However 50 people in the yoga studio in winter feels almost the same as 50 people in yoga studio at Doe Bay Fest except for the lack of 1500 people standing outside trying to get in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have a group of people (perhaps your doe bay fest posse) and you have a favorite band or two, please consider being the instigator of a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">quiet season yoga studio party.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have at least 12 people and some favorite bands please look over the dates below and email </span></span><a href="mailto:music@doebay.com"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">music@doebay.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is best if you know the band well enough to determine their availability and interest.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">For Planning Purposes, h</span></strong></span><strong><span style="font-size: large;">ere are some<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>dates:<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">October 24 – Day laborers - Always a fun show.</span></span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">b.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">October 31 - Halloween - There are other local events so we don't do a show, but Halloween is on a Saturday night so, if you got inspired to get a band for a Halloween party weekend, we would help and support you. A friend of Doe Bay, Aubrey, will be having her Birthday that weekend, so you know there will be singing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4q_UwvPY3a5FQJKc9kMVwoeX203Cd41Dw8gqbzaKTyH1Htsy6cB1nI1qWi-ufE50mNc6FZjHpqn7Y7fZRxwcOqVdqSeAq5QYrhqlAWlS1DoT-dkCNQzfcZnUdYjEufzU7idZAPHERjto/s1600/WP_20150808_013+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4q_UwvPY3a5FQJKc9kMVwoeX203Cd41Dw8gqbzaKTyH1Htsy6cB1nI1qWi-ufE50mNc6FZjHpqn7Y7fZRxwcOqVdqSeAq5QYrhqlAWlS1DoT-dkCNQzfcZnUdYjEufzU7idZAPHERjto/s320/WP_20150808_013+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">c.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">November 20 – Ethan J. Perry</span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">d.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">December 5 – Valley Maker and maybe the Solvents. I am talking to Bobby Bare, Jr. about spending that weekend with us. Not firm yet but you may want to make a reservation now.</span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">e.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">December 30 – You pick a band<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> or just be here for the grand re-opening. </span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">f.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">New Year’s Eve – Big music party - GEMS. Maybe the best place in the world to be on New Years eve and day<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">g.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">January 23 – Available<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">h.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Feb 12 to 15 - Valentine’s Day weekend – We always do a romantic music scene.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">i.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Feb 27 – Available<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">j.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">March 12 – Available<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">k.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">April Fool’s Day weekend – Available (last weekend before online releases)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> The easiest way to pick a date is to go to our new events calendar on the website...</span></o:p><br />
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<o:p><a href="https://doebay.com/music-activities/events-calendar/"><span style="font-size: large;">https://doebay.com/music-activities/events-calendar/</span></a> </o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some people were intimidated by the early contest submissions but we had nine submissions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please look at the following links.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I need your help selecting the best so I need an advisory vote. Please participate in the Survey. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p><span style="font-size: large;">We want to announce winners soon!!</span></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_MailEndCompose"></a><a href="https://vimeo.com/135927643"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Video #1 - Bike Islands - Will Clarke</span></span></a><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/136042836"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Video #2 - Doe Bay Fest 2015 - Emily Abdon and Erin Bennett</span></span></a><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-nO-8Sf22g"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Video #3 - Rylee Young - Doebay Fest 8</span></span></a><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/137449336"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Video #4 - Elli Papayanopoulos - Hi Ho Silver Oh</span></span></a><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/136452522"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Video #5 - A Classic by Suzi Barrett - Real Housewives</span></span></a><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/138595767"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Video #6 – Josh Lawrence Doe Bay Fest 8</span></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/137920308"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Video #7 – Hank Wisrodt – My First Doe Bay Fest</span></span></a><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyCvFd20Uh2lOM4_pHS4i4L8i4EMzZN4wzwHe6o1X1IBABzzStkZJtoMAd8PBBYofPCk-BYp5ppk08aUUxxJmAhkjXfpU5eB1Yll2hXkDrP6_ZG_KtVtTrQIdD3GWtFEhcR8PDFlCdWg/s1600/WP_20150802_006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyCvFd20Uh2lOM4_pHS4i4L8i4EMzZN4wzwHe6o1X1IBABzzStkZJtoMAd8PBBYofPCk-BYp5ppk08aUUxxJmAhkjXfpU5eB1Yll2hXkDrP6_ZG_KtVtTrQIdD3GWtFEhcR8PDFlCdWg/s320/WP_20150802_006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Joe’s Play by Play of the Festival Week</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sunday –</span></strong> <span style="font-size: large;">Arrived on the Island for a party to support the Funhouse which is a nonprofit on Orcas Island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mention it because it was in a bucolic a setting and included good friends, good music and killer food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, it was the perfect prelude to doe bay fest. Flamenco dancing too!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Monday –</span></strong> <span style="font-size: large;">our team was so well organized that I spent half of Monday working on the sculpture at Guest house. My friend Tomas created it and we assembled it the previous week.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkF9wnyk5Pf2NfPizHOXmVIuaQRZgEAhMI3Sk7406HYSY7LAxR_t4vf00LINBEOHTLUdE2J4oayhx-AemPwmvN3eM492hohGQV_TfrdQ6KqAmxMj-YYBWly79F9tkE0jGfsEioUd_Z73E/s1600/WP_20150804_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkF9wnyk5Pf2NfPizHOXmVIuaQRZgEAhMI3Sk7406HYSY7LAxR_t4vf00LINBEOHTLUdE2J4oayhx-AemPwmvN3eM492hohGQV_TfrdQ6KqAmxMj-YYBWly79F9tkE0jGfsEioUd_Z73E/s320/WP_20150804_005.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That is a tomato to die for!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tuesday –</span></strong> <span style="font-size: large;">now the countdown had begun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People equipment and inventories started to arrive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had my last calm meal at the doe bay café.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><o:p>I have an owner's prejudice, but I love the food at the Doe Bay Cafe. It is the only place I ever eat where I KNOW that there are no corners cut. Sysco trucks are not allowed on the property. I was slow to be convinced that local and organic and unprocessed and made from scratch were important characteristics. I am now a believer. You can taste the difference.</o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>Wednesday </strong>– </span><span style="font-size: large;">the pace began to quicken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A number of clever guests figured out that Wednesday is the new Thursday.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small; mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38bAnpKSeB44zWHJB1vpBSLknMKG9PsnmAuQUbYm7aj21B2vzbjQtBzoL4vwMF8M3q2QIVKPdDlV_C9cIE1BbNVyCzp_pT-XJY94FScTF59sBTr4L6lGQg17A8wLHjR8YIydkLxShf4g/s1600/WP_20150805_013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38bAnpKSeB44zWHJB1vpBSLknMKG9PsnmAuQUbYm7aj21B2vzbjQtBzoL4vwMF8M3q2QIVKPdDlV_C9cIE1BbNVyCzp_pT-XJY94FScTF59sBTr4L6lGQg17A8wLHjR8YIydkLxShf4g/s400/WP_20150805_013.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are always some deer (Does) who come as soon as we start to fence in the field. I believe that it is now part of lore passed on from Deer Parents to their Deer Children. "Yes it is some sort of human ritual. They take over our land and fence us out. But don't worry child, they get tired and go home."</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOmBRAnJQbTUP3f7BdXvHrXX2vkPCh110iZo9ktxsAJwPJkbTE1YbOze98mwLfmTmOAfEyOWb7VTa0uUsymG60BQFrTOBjUiV0Up9I8rDLqYecd8QQEobQROVWc6g-EAVFPp_WmHeU9k/s1600/WP_20150805_014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOmBRAnJQbTUP3f7BdXvHrXX2vkPCh110iZo9ktxsAJwPJkbTE1YbOze98mwLfmTmOAfEyOWb7VTa0uUsymG60BQFrTOBjUiV0Up9I8rDLqYecd8QQEobQROVWc6g-EAVFPp_WmHeU9k/s400/WP_20150805_014.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><<<<<<<Dave Botha (another hugely important person at Doe Bay Fest) convinced his child that we built this huge pen for her and her Dad to play in. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I decided to stop looking at the weather report, as it was scaring me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that point the forecast was 100 percent chance of rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It occurred to me that if they are going to say 100% they could just say it’s going to rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pull the trigger and had our friend Veronica install a tent over the doe bay garden stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span> <br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScPiJpVaqtpVi4O6_gElm7kxbwEshmazKKVk8oGl-Yjh2WX13BDUUR7_JoOPk93sqW9oFYWx7n4mDy1Aq4YOVVHveHYKR5Wh3DNpo1jFbIW7X_ySbkWD0IBpCpPj65fI2Qk0Tipas7PA/s1600/163B3668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScPiJpVaqtpVi4O6_gElm7kxbwEshmazKKVk8oGl-Yjh2WX13BDUUR7_JoOPk93sqW9oFYWx7n4mDy1Aq4YOVVHveHYKR5Wh3DNpo1jFbIW7X_ySbkWD0IBpCpPj65fI2Qk0Tipas7PA/s320/163B3668.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKcDUiWgAuvvjSckCQ68grfsOzx86TaCKW_6ovSW9bcSyx1Mnyenv_tLaww1tM2v3ilLWPQlAEPRFQUNxouojkDM7b27jPuylRSGyFelGkzFF1XsbPQ6k93qaKm3IlgxInQTG_0lEexU/s1600/WP_20150807_027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKcDUiWgAuvvjSckCQ68grfsOzx86TaCKW_6ovSW9bcSyx1Mnyenv_tLaww1tM2v3ilLWPQlAEPRFQUNxouojkDM7b27jPuylRSGyFelGkzFF1XsbPQ6k93qaKm3IlgxInQTG_0lEexU/s320/WP_20150807_027.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">We had always avoided tenting because we thought it would change the mood of the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure there are differing opinions, but virtually everyone liked the cover, especially the white mullioned windows in the back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know the performers scheduled for the afternoon hot sun shows really appreciated the tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the way it will now become part of our standard operating procedure to install the tent. If you missed the Ballroom Thieves (shown above), never make that mistake again.</span></span><br /> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2yZ3Zgcp77YBouUXZn5sdxwlGy6vu37JKgJQQvY-62aTs1CXNjtVEeSlZu_lGrAN7NN7IyLCacgpK5JGuS1LbSbt9EtwI2Qi8a9CSDgFbvXmftr_w6lIuI3Wf-FQj8trOQrilFkCmoM/s1600/WP_20150805_017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2yZ3Zgcp77YBouUXZn5sdxwlGy6vu37JKgJQQvY-62aTs1CXNjtVEeSlZu_lGrAN7NN7IyLCacgpK5JGuS1LbSbt9EtwI2Qi8a9CSDgFbvXmftr_w6lIuI3Wf-FQj8trOQrilFkCmoM/s320/WP_20150805_017.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCB3TRZc1xAr_CMuZUAtvnhSfXAHHNkol8uz4_ff7ueHJ900X6tvU1sg-U4sZA1y0E2IF_u_bj2TM71nTTlUW2mL1Pbak3R7Dzf1ciHoWQVx37hVgBPOo9IZ3kyLSbQrdQpSiITqxJyn4/s1600/WP_20150805_019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCB3TRZc1xAr_CMuZUAtvnhSfXAHHNkol8uz4_ff7ueHJ900X6tvU1sg-U4sZA1y0E2IF_u_bj2TM71nTTlUW2mL1Pbak3R7Dzf1ciHoWQVx37hVgBPOo9IZ3kyLSbQrdQpSiITqxJyn4/s320/WP_20150805_019.jpg" width="179" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXhw0FKAKLENbgm6Ouf2h9sgype_SUiqP_sF7J-faPCHkMWLN0DDjf3FP3mCyWMF6R4pKMEa7io5tnhxBq8-XhwAo95oE4oz2R1evaQEW9WilYdcoVyWZT2ljl5gNJ12AvchaoRscdi8/s1600/WP_20150805_020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXhw0FKAKLENbgm6Ouf2h9sgype_SUiqP_sF7J-faPCHkMWLN0DDjf3FP3mCyWMF6R4pKMEa7io5tnhxBq8-XhwAo95oE4oz2R1evaQEW9WilYdcoVyWZT2ljl5gNJ12AvchaoRscdi8/s400/WP_20150805_020.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>Two Bar</strong></span> needed to practice making margaritas, so a few good people stepped up to drink them<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> . If you don't know the story of Scott & Jenny, I will just have to tell you in person; Suffice to say they are a huge part of Doe Bay Fest and our music community... and they are our friends.</span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>Thursday</strong> </span><span style="font-size: large;">we recruited some guests to perform on the beach to welcome, the first of many water taxis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wave of excitement built with each new round of arrivals.</span><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">We also had Doe Bay Security bless each arrival with incense.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: large;">Asha and Juniper showed up unannounced at Doe Bay Fest looking to volunteer, but were determined to be too flakey to use as volunteers because our volunteers need to be so together and they each had one foot planted firmly in the clouds. I was responsible for telling them, but couldn't. So instead I thought... "Play to people's strengths." I renamed them the "Fairy Dust Twins" and asked them to greet boats. They did so in true Doe Bay style. </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=10716937" href="https://www.facebook.com/JoeBrotherton"><span style="font-size: large;">Joe</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: large;">Post-script - Our staff has stripped me of authority to make similar decisions in the future... just sayin'.</span><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gY3q6qAZNxoTUl9jF4X2eZNpZa7BGMIojHQ3BTaAxjbDbJmmxZ-AzwUPMtXkLrwMofziTS8XZd73DE4GYBjKlZ5uJOia3c20dIrVryZziB-Tr2PGqwAL7t3OZ0FNP2UgRY3_eNMA7YI/s1600/11899790_10100674570672965_4114923602783760326_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gY3q6qAZNxoTUl9jF4X2eZNpZa7BGMIojHQ3BTaAxjbDbJmmxZ-AzwUPMtXkLrwMofziTS8XZd73DE4GYBjKlZ5uJOia3c20dIrVryZziB-Tr2PGqwAL7t3OZ0FNP2UgRY3_eNMA7YI/s320/11899790_10100674570672965_4114923602783760326_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Adra Boo and Michele Myers killed it as open microphone hosts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adra handle the outside duties while Michelle ran the show in the café.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adra singing with Pearl was definitely a highlight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 10, the café was packed, but not uncomfortably so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(side note I had been listening to ballroom thieves for months but no one had actually seen them in person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there was any anxiety about that, it went away as soon as they played at open MIC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the best performance I have seen in there since Pickwick, Naomi and Isaac Pierce a few years ago.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you missed that show hopefully you did not miss them on the doe bay garden stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was clearly a highlight performance. Hi Ho Silver Oh closed things out, but then a 14 year old saxophonist and vocalist ended the evening.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Friday -</span></strong> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not going to go through the whole lineup, but it was filled with pleasant surprises. The lineup on both stages looked to be the best Friday we had ever cobbled together and I think it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, Ballroom Thieves performing at about 150% set the bar pretty high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daniel Blue is a creative force to be reckoned with and it worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUq50d4puJuM9gyhi_E6SrjpQLrt1BhgDaeqEasGnwvM-hexjU_ci749DoNrpyEAbW1F2vX9khzCzVq5U0Uj5WU-0twAPoSAhgs3aI-t-KPF3olY0PSTa4eOTuVSJpIP8wz0vqzJhf_7E/s1600/WP_20150807_039+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUq50d4puJuM9gyhi_E6SrjpQLrt1BhgDaeqEasGnwvM-hexjU_ci749DoNrpyEAbW1F2vX9khzCzVq5U0Uj5WU-0twAPoSAhgs3aI-t-KPF3olY0PSTa4eOTuVSJpIP8wz0vqzJhf_7E/s200/WP_20150807_039+%25282%2529.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQCNTDZ1OJKR0ligZtz9bNNkaglkqjgtB1IEZY6Ndj0bAXmAeoTolZOFBnUO9K5B5XeS61CtmsfDZkM5ohsOoe6oXZI7_eQUwAjkk1f9YENvOtu0u1p8RGbRp7rWnA6_gK-610thABks/s1600/163B3717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQCNTDZ1OJKR0ligZtz9bNNkaglkqjgtB1IEZY6Ndj0bAXmAeoTolZOFBnUO9K5B5XeS61CtmsfDZkM5ohsOoe6oXZI7_eQUwAjkk1f9YENvOtu0u1p8RGbRp7rWnA6_gK-610thABks/s320/163B3717.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> Lee Fields soul/R&B review was fun and included some of the best musicianship we have ever had at Doe Bay. His drummer was an old friend from Quinn DeVeaux's band.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><o:p>Friday was also Doe Bay Fest stalwart Kevin's Birthday.</o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><o:p><strong>Saturday -</strong> Filled with pleasant surprises including an old friend returning with a new band. It was great to see Tyler and AVERS killed it!</o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_6gzxsqkR_PlhDxqsJJ7PbRZ1fZGS3CsmQzJK7rHbhzyrbNtvvwccINUZa3V6gxTUdUcMWMZ59YfUwL4eDFPAwxaUGHvHTLTrb1XS8dh13pGugX9Ud3EB21o2PfqEve-rXKDCAYPfU4/s1600/WP_20150808_020+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_6gzxsqkR_PlhDxqsJJ7PbRZ1fZGS3CsmQzJK7rHbhzyrbNtvvwccINUZa3V6gxTUdUcMWMZ59YfUwL4eDFPAwxaUGHvHTLTrb1XS8dh13pGugX9Ud3EB21o2PfqEve-rXKDCAYPfU4/s400/WP_20150808_020+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EkBWWHRG3AsNdL9P7wSuyFR_Q2BmON1mhkxgUpAfjOmQdH35O-XzBVzIh_zWvWVDZleMTGJuxXEcuLMS5UiO4rvHd6ceEefe6oPPWM2r4330UHbMUVxPiC9xzZu58vKWMuQUjChukdQ/s1600/WP_20150808_051+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EkBWWHRG3AsNdL9P7wSuyFR_Q2BmON1mhkxgUpAfjOmQdH35O-XzBVzIh_zWvWVDZleMTGJuxXEcuLMS5UiO4rvHd6ceEefe6oPPWM2r4330UHbMUVxPiC9xzZu58vKWMuQUjChukdQ/s400/WP_20150808_051+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></strong></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">The late night Treehouse shows – Part of our Worst kept secrets series. My favorite part of Doe Bay Fest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><strong><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong> Bhi Bhiman was magnificent in the Treehouse on Saturday night</strong>!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1s697k6X4yF8pkJIer8Z4BDrmocamb-qp_0L4RB-RkjkBOZUHvFCyoSs62r9gaOqs-SBq9C0HPf4N3pbqJv3b-PLziQNVg84ZqGXErgEbINyuZe3Wk-31x4HjgXeaiWPlU-BZ8GSjpSQ/s1600/163B3733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1s697k6X4yF8pkJIer8Z4BDrmocamb-qp_0L4RB-RkjkBOZUHvFCyoSs62r9gaOqs-SBq9C0HPf4N3pbqJv3b-PLziQNVg84ZqGXErgEbINyuZe3Wk-31x4HjgXeaiWPlU-BZ8GSjpSQ/s320/163B3733.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">We added the treehouse as a small crowd venue and Nick Jaina owned the place… In fact, he was going to be sleeping in his vehicle and after his presentation I said, “Please be the first artist to stay in the treehouse” which he did. Nick looped guitar sang and read from his book, </span><a href="http://nickjaina.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Get it While You Can</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. I wasn't the only person seriously moved by the performance.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Special thanks to Stelth Ulvang for bringing Nick.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Daniel Blue also made the treehouse come alive. Hanging over the railing. The mystery of who was exchanging vocal riffs with Daniel was partly solved, but I can't remember the answer. Someone from a TV show contest??</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTaObaXGMh74yvB69tmZh9OUFdaUBaJnqCBqdQJpcU01Hiw67RwqXbRBxVjffQiWPr3cMpQgxsPBRWfED8ERudnpDYRrt2iuBCiddm-4CA8kS9bPb0Rt4GUaGyBPRF_JnijVhAUQZgtQ/s1600/163B4101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTaObaXGMh74yvB69tmZh9OUFdaUBaJnqCBqdQJpcU01Hiw67RwqXbRBxVjffQiWPr3cMpQgxsPBRWfED8ERudnpDYRrt2iuBCiddm-4CA8kS9bPb0Rt4GUaGyBPRF_JnijVhAUQZgtQ/s640/163B4101.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of Stelth Ulvang, what a treat. I was conversing with Stelth in January, 8 months before DBF8. He said, </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">If it worked out, though I'm colorado based now, I'd love to bring a small orchestral ensemble up as well.<br /><br /> I think I'd be a great fit, <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for looking up my music and links below. Stelth<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> I</span> said, <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_MailEndCompose"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I almost never say yes to someone who asks, but hold the dates… This just might work. One thing about Doe Bay Fest, is that the musicians get so psyched about it that they often perform beyond their own dreams. Start thinking about what you might do unique and cool.</span></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"> JOE</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Then his recording schedule made it die on the vine... until....</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then, a week before the fest... he wrote : </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I know it's coming in hot, but curious if there is still a slot for me at Doe Bay this year-<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">My other band, The Lumineers, has pushed back their recording schedule, and I am now available to attend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know before I had mentioned doing something with a small orchestra, and if there were any cancellations, I could still get a chamber ensemble and get up there for a pretty spectacular performance-<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let me know if there is an opening, and otherwise let's plan for next year-<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stelth<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_MailEndCompose"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">S,</span></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is crazy late but … hmmm yes. Everything will be tricky about this but it creates a story and I love stories.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Please keep it a secret as best you can.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">JOE<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That exchange led to some of the greatest moments of the week at Doe Bay Fest 8. The Saturday Midnight show was incredible as were many collaborations that occurred all weekend. Thank you Stelth and you are always welcome here.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKW_PhPAVqV_rRxpecXFWtSsH-kH0fgiYgEGSOvludyCG_IxykDG6d90IempE4_L9fyW5nVdpC9CCuNUnVTK4WmrYTwbKmGhEWIZDQrbUNxNiL-I2tEfEiQPfRavFNqLsDPUde0OLxBU/s1600/163B3922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKW_PhPAVqV_rRxpecXFWtSsH-kH0fgiYgEGSOvludyCG_IxykDG6d90IempE4_L9fyW5nVdpC9CCuNUnVTK4WmrYTwbKmGhEWIZDQrbUNxNiL-I2tEfEiQPfRavFNqLsDPUde0OLxBU/s320/163B3922.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Hi Ho Silver Oh</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRAeXGmIxKE6aypWMwj-1tWoF2rmrh7qrNryRkt8JGZXG1Ap46ghREdLIOLSYXEMbBpjMdFxY7K954IvTgUhhdLRM3wgHWLhyX1SHvt_EhjpsJKM2Rmi1WwzbBxdATc2lFz2JbPup-6E/s1600/WP_20150809_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRAeXGmIxKE6aypWMwj-1tWoF2rmrh7qrNryRkt8JGZXG1Ap46ghREdLIOLSYXEMbBpjMdFxY7K954IvTgUhhdLRM3wgHWLhyX1SHvt_EhjpsJKM2Rmi1WwzbBxdATc2lFz2JbPup-6E/s200/WP_20150809_002.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only shot I got from Midnight show</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJI43kfGVOF7ny0KjxHrzG1M-H7Cz5uO7sLBE3X36omK0s_dlX-2_WszIoeV-wn522Ca3An-gD6QoPQJQI-I4tzS0tQRHNAi2Yxk5Fw-szy6F5wn-PGgc8Okh4M0nD1RA-DsI5bZ-NGY/s1600/163B4117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJI43kfGVOF7ny0KjxHrzG1M-H7Cz5uO7sLBE3X36omK0s_dlX-2_WszIoeV-wn522Ca3An-gD6QoPQJQI-I4tzS0tQRHNAi2Yxk5Fw-szy6F5wn-PGgc8Okh4M0nD1RA-DsI5bZ-NGY/s640/163B4117.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the Yoga studio</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1m_jBkx3rTfGpB7TVcUPGdESANlxy8kiaclJuDJMl3l6iro5SSoy_WjcXgAvhhSIXATdTlmPeY7ClGQV27W4iyXkPSz96zRP4b5en47NT9f8T9kF2DvaNY41bcAPR29T95-QezJ2LiHs/s1600/WP_20150809_035+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1m_jBkx3rTfGpB7TVcUPGdESANlxy8kiaclJuDJMl3l6iro5SSoy_WjcXgAvhhSIXATdTlmPeY7ClGQV27W4iyXkPSz96zRP4b5en47NT9f8T9kF2DvaNY41bcAPR29T95-QezJ2LiHs/s320/WP_20150809_035+%25282%2529.jpg" width="316" /></a><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong> Sunday -</strong> Incredible music and Slippin and Slidin... an annual unofficial tradition.</span></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUjMfPnVC6CmAgptUmhkeO2P9nbgQJJZMhP5w8sizcQD5YlhByDGTiPRp1g3juXqFTCwr7AQHb30LWUzB_hK2tT-4tkeXepAc931O3Orhyphenhyphenn0p9K1Y-Rki08KnK-HL5PpNqeedh0wqFSQ/s1600/SB6A7343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUjMfPnVC6CmAgptUmhkeO2P9nbgQJJZMhP5w8sizcQD5YlhByDGTiPRp1g3juXqFTCwr7AQHb30LWUzB_hK2tT-4tkeXepAc931O3Orhyphenhyphenn0p9K1Y-Rki08KnK-HL5PpNqeedh0wqFSQ/s640/SB6A7343.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;">Other Miscellaneous</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> ---</span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Photography - The average pictures on this blog are mine and the great ones are from </span><a href="http://www.talithaphotography.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Talitha Bullock; official Doe Bay Fest 8 Photographer</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">FEEDBACK PLEASE - We try for perfection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is relatively easy to please 95% but that last 5 is hard; sometimes because a couple are grumpy (weaned on a pickle as my father used to say) but way more because we blow it and nobody tells us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Examples – some camp spots were tough (near stickers or whatever).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will always move you to someplace better if possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will do better at making it easy to ask and you can do better by asking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqcIu3zFZsA-mjP3HxpMHv-EKFHrC8ShGqz7AeAgU633U8c9dRds6JiXNowg_gR8p75uBUlTC91-JsFmtg5WfQ8ZvSS2WJ4Iq3wPe-zzjyC_nbHth4XgzlGJaIO4Jela988iDwSqo1pM/s1600/WP_20150808_036+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqcIu3zFZsA-mjP3HxpMHv-EKFHrC8ShGqz7AeAgU633U8c9dRds6JiXNowg_gR8p75uBUlTC91-JsFmtg5WfQ8ZvSS2WJ4Iq3wPe-zzjyC_nbHth4XgzlGJaIO4Jela988iDwSqo1pM/s640/WP_20150808_036+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Swearing from the stage – Probably the toughest issue I faced came a few days after the fest. I received two emails and one letter which noted the problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will share part of my response as it gives my perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My conclusion, which will not satisfy some, is that we will always lead with our values and balance competing interests. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My values are different than some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not offended by curse words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am offended by censorship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am careful not to judge art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can like or dislike but I will not ask an artist to change their art to acquiesce to my preferences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not afraid to have my children or young grandchildren exposed to swearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not believe that they will be corrupted by hearing words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frankly I am more concerned that subtle words which perpetuate racism or intolerance may, by their very subtlety, sway them more than swear words. So we will try not to offend guests or to limit artists.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Launching the Boys! -</span></strong></span></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsi6ULNRK5it4nkiLJkKDPGNizmfHxdP0h3WI3rbzOtVSXmfF5UaCJ5LncBRbN2lY6OCpbml_yASbq-OrVp1tHxErbyl2zifqA5o28LYXtfhHjaoa7prTauL20u6ZMSyLSVJdXAyctMI/s1600/buddha+%2528271%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsi6ULNRK5it4nkiLJkKDPGNizmfHxdP0h3WI3rbzOtVSXmfF5UaCJ5LncBRbN2lY6OCpbml_yASbq-OrVp1tHxErbyl2zifqA5o28LYXtfhHjaoa7prTauL20u6ZMSyLSVJdXAyctMI/s320/buddha+%2528271%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6coK5THhAI5bKCI3W455g6hVVUQwXtPBS37MEQb120wIu0kvfVJUZjiwhIi8MDVXCmhokfBQ7WzIFq51mvuSOnLTqnq0ZtFdzMiDA_RM8ghvE7W5zspAadI7z7ziE383Ro19g0HPY3Y/s1600/WP_20150807_033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6coK5THhAI5bKCI3W455g6hVVUQwXtPBS37MEQb120wIu0kvfVJUZjiwhIi8MDVXCmhokfBQ7WzIFq51mvuSOnLTqnq0ZtFdzMiDA_RM8ghvE7W5zspAadI7z7ziE383Ro19g0HPY3Y/s320/WP_20150807_033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">One of the best things about Doe Bay Fest has been working with Chad and Kevin. These are two wonderful individuals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a tough collaborator at times (they might say at most times.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have learned a lot together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is a creative hobby for me has morphed into a career for both of them and our local community (both the music community and the general community) is better off for their involvement. PLEASE SUPPORT THEM IN TIMBER AND EVERYTHING THEY DO WITH ARTISTHOME!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcMzNWzHvmzbNrZVqxyOEu4RLAPWvIDmf4bxcDAZM9CKkSBcoKozkoxlinaXU7QR1ZPqAQuGXdzef0lBcbe7gStHRBGJ2nO3G1Y5SoyIlUzNJdRvdiszn8GEDmZiT2lBwX_7XeYX_Bes/s1600/IMG_8312.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/AVvXsEgQcMzNWzHvmzbNrZVqxyOEu4RLAPWvIDmf4bxcDAZM9CKkSBcoKozkoxlinaXU7QR1ZPqAQuGXdzef0lBcbe7gStHRBGJ2nO3G1Y5SoyIlUzNJdRvdiszn8GEDmZiT2lBwX_7XeYX_Bes/s320/IMG_8312.JPG" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92YUmVg276zOcZpS5_LMlknBnMVjBeGuZelRuJz63ro6nHFuk_-nRPav2tz1QzW5Rq41CCGPDTqaOqX7TGlmp-sgAogRqvjur-KxYWpWdeGYG1JxM92y3vRuvTljdS-GqGNCPlXdTuy8/s1600/IMG_8313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92YUmVg276zOcZpS5_LMlknBnMVjBeGuZelRuJz63ro6nHFuk_-nRPav2tz1QzW5Rq41CCGPDTqaOqX7TGlmp-sgAogRqvjur-KxYWpWdeGYG1JxM92y3vRuvTljdS-GqGNCPlXdTuy8/s320/IMG_8313.JPG" width="213" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jami Mitchell is Doe Bay Fest! I can't thank her enough!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tears – I am not a crier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as the fest winds down I am sometimes brought to tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually it is dancing with Maureen while Kevin plays, “that song”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year it was random.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no idea what to expect at the inaugural treehouse show but Nick Jaina had me in tears… and that was only Friday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During Motopony I saw Rebecca Blue sitting under the apple tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not confident enough to approach tall beautiful women married to one of my dear friends, but I took the chance and held my hand up and she joined me while Daniel launched into “She is Spirit”…. The lyrics, Daniel’s presentation and Rebecca’s warmth didn’t make me cry but made tears flow down my cheeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weird and wonderful like so much of Doe Bay Fest.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYGRM_TCKx5W2l-skEXB69f5XRaLKUhOpRLPY4gDxNUk0W-CI60shSdLM1e0e2i9bPmdz5sBWDqGJuU_PdPyj2b13yX2mjNc-02ERGhQ6o7E-f6BTckQptrXaudXmloR4ImoGx7V6xzs/s1600/WP_20150811_004+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYGRM_TCKx5W2l-skEXB69f5XRaLKUhOpRLPY4gDxNUk0W-CI60shSdLM1e0e2i9bPmdz5sBWDqGJuU_PdPyj2b13yX2mjNc-02ERGhQ6o7E-f6BTckQptrXaudXmloR4ImoGx7V6xzs/s400/WP_20150811_004+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two of my favorite people in one photo!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;"><strong>The Doe Bay Staff - Please give them a big round of applause!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><strong>The Brotherton Family</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Doe Bay Fest has always been a family affair for the Brotherton Family. I mentioned from the stage casually that Maureen and I were about to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. I was very moved that it was applauded loudly. Maureen is a wonderful partner in life and makes so many things possible. All of our kids have been involved and in attendance with many of their friends since the beginning. Maureen and I have 5 children and now six grandchildren. I am hopeful that they will someday realize that Papa is kind of cool for putting on Doe Bay Fest. Not sure why that is important to me but it is!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jane Elizabeth Brotherton</td></tr>
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</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My best to any and all who were patient enough to read this. I hope to see you all at Doe Bay or elsewhere.</span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;">JOE BROTHERTON</span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;"><a href="mailto:Joe@DoeBay.com">Joe@DoeBay.com</a> </span></o:p></div>
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The Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696612405455618240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113632968785873101.post-76414712404997093642011-12-03T09:09:00.001-08:002011-12-03T09:33:40.973-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Back to UGANDA (October 2011)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZaL4ZhOFWRnEleBb79d8NhJc8CQx__S0oIx8ukqe_its3vxmI-tNKqywvcmVkH5Js8QEkquYoXjJEgyJ22GHY0_9Bsz14kLlw4GvexB62kxeZpV7ppvwXuqOIb_XwtJ8hPyZcaJxtGL_/s1600/daisy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZaL4ZhOFWRnEleBb79d8NhJc8CQx__S0oIx8ukqe_its3vxmI-tNKqywvcmVkH5Js8QEkquYoXjJEgyJ22GHY0_9Bsz14kLlw4GvexB62kxeZpV7ppvwXuqOIb_XwtJ8hPyZcaJxtGL_/s400/daisy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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One of the best things about returning to Uganda is to see our little girl and Maureen's namesake, </div>
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Daisy Maureen Okodia. She lives in a village known as Aminocera which is near the small city of Lira which is North of Kampala and on the way to Gulu. Daisy is the 2 year old daughter of our friends Robert and Eunice. Their village of Aminocera has become the centerpiece of most of Maureen's work in Uganda. Daisy has turned into a strong willed little girl in the last two years. One of my favorite moments from this trip was when Daisy said to a couple other little girls that she was going to play with her Mzungu friends. She was referring to us using the Swahili term for white people.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSZ5qBfyhu7ZO_ZCwTG0zs4h-2w-km3LgDmWj7gUj3EBpRyu-LKpaAaMzgRbckZ6ebhidPEU0Vy1mU0w4j-SIpM6pK8aaynkhIBrASXs81re1QxxIk8XyrschrN-LgoHXAu2X5dSr5ImE/s1600/DSC02870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSZ5qBfyhu7ZO_ZCwTG0zs4h-2w-km3LgDmWj7gUj3EBpRyu-LKpaAaMzgRbckZ6ebhidPEU0Vy1mU0w4j-SIpM6pK8aaynkhIBrASXs81re1QxxIk8XyrschrN-LgoHXAu2X5dSr5ImE/s320/DSC02870.JPG" width="320" /></a>Robert showed up to greet us wearing a shirt I had given him several years ago from a company I sold about 8 years ago. Sweetlix schwag has risen to collector's item status in America and is apparently a pretty hot item in Uganda as well. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6y3RZJgQNeVz-KDuJ9GBeYvdbO9tw_JwOgaRPv6NSbe8a634HMPTxONeTye8n5oz1LULYufqfG7lyWrRr1tnN6oo7da5p6jz8i2C0yPr4GUYQZgltNNb9-d05QlA0PAfPg93W0WJKwR7/s1600/doe+bay+captured.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6y3RZJgQNeVz-KDuJ9GBeYvdbO9tw_JwOgaRPv6NSbe8a634HMPTxONeTye8n5oz1LULYufqfG7lyWrRr1tnN6oo7da5p6jz8i2C0yPr4GUYQZgltNNb9-d05QlA0PAfPg93W0WJKwR7/s200/doe+bay+captured.jpg" width="200" /></a>We originally met Robert at the White House Hotel in Lira. We had a hilarious stay there in 2007. It was a little rustic. I recall some pretty serious water problems and more mosquitos inside our net than outside. Every mosquito you killed on the inside was full of bright red blood and the net was dotted with signs of past mosquito deaths. We have now found much nicer accommodations in Lira, but returned to the White House for lunch one day. As always I was greeted warmly by the armed guard.<br />
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</div>The Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696612405455618240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113632968785873101.post-63612060837699135522011-11-06T14:11:00.000-08:002011-12-02T23:52:59.348-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Faux Africa – Just to get in the Mood</span></span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe & Erin on California Screamin'</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Every good trip to the third world has to begin with a stop in Disneyland. Globalism has it’s ironies. </span><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_7" o:spid="_x0000_s1040" style="height: 195.6pt; margin-left: 197.65pt; margin-top: 172.55pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: right; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 248.85pt; z-index: -251652096;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\BROTHE~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1039" style="height: 134.7pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 51.8pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: left; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 287.25pt; z-index: -251657216;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\BROTHE~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple days in the Magic Kingdom, right before a couple weeks in Africa, will drive the point home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We visit this monument to "a little too much" before heading to the continent of “not quite enough.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That said, seeing a place like Disneyland through a child’s eyes is always a treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watching Ashley (5) and Kiera (7) address and conquer their fears and delight in their fantasies was worth the price of admisssion (which is substantially more than it used to be, by the way).</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Real or Disney?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Nile River in Uganda</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I first rode on the Disney Jungle Cruise I was kind of offended, in the way that tragically hip, politically correct people are offended by the chauvinism and racism implicit in the caricatures of Africans and great white hunter types. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even </span></span><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_6" o:spid="_x0000_s1037" style="height: 165.75pt; margin-left: 169.85pt; margin-top: 103.55pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: right; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 221.05pt; z-index: -251655168;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\BROTHE~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image004.jpg"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">the elephants might be offended by the way they are portrayed I thought… until I saw some real things and realized how well Disney got the animals. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one in the grass is real by the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was on the banks of the Nile River in Uganda and caught us by surprise. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAmANxK7lbXlPVcNl2SSmTui9kgSfhrYTJrCuD3rcV84-lcl71ubeR96U0Ba1lcYdHygtpMjhlSCYCKJZzYW_b353UGemsmijN6Q2e0iwj6YQTzrVe4e6_U0LzHiIqcldb7-gqokjz4LT/s1600/WP_001030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAmANxK7lbXlPVcNl2SSmTui9kgSfhrYTJrCuD3rcV84-lcl71ubeR96U0Ba1lcYdHygtpMjhlSCYCKJZzYW_b353UGemsmijN6Q2e0iwj6YQTzrVe4e6_U0LzHiIqcldb7-gqokjz4LT/s200/WP_001030.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_retcY5nJUUgZIUufSONYXFUgzzH8kvloITyvbNeH9syfdZPxCyXGm7bxGWyXQANQPtlgEEXb1f0IeUZt5IiR0IRo_pC3gXXm3jGbpORyvbL9LPjYKh7UdD5rZWnDEmYfM2FGjvnSwh82/s1600/WP_001031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_retcY5nJUUgZIUufSONYXFUgzzH8kvloITyvbNeH9syfdZPxCyXGm7bxGWyXQANQPtlgEEXb1f0IeUZt5IiR0IRo_pC3gXXm3jGbpORyvbL9LPjYKh7UdD5rZWnDEmYfM2FGjvnSwh82/s200/WP_001031.jpg" width="150" /></a><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1036" style="height: 220.75pt; margin-left: 105.55pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: right; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 156.75pt; z-index: -251654144;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\BROTHE~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_s1035" style="height: 203.55pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.05pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: left; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 266.25pt; z-index: 251663360;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\BROTHE~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image006.jpg"> <w:wrap type="square"> </w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In any event, there is some justice in the world, in that in Africa, the whole concept of copyright has not quite taken hold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is in spite of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sonny Bono, Copyright Extension Act</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(paid for by Disney to protect Mickey from the public domain and not having anything to do with the real purpose of copyrights). So the Ethiopians have their own Disneyland right there in Addis Ababa and I am pretty sure Michael Eisner does not have a piece of this one.</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let’s Get out of Town, even though I love LA – Off to Ethiopia<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Departing LAX for the overnight to Amsterdam, we needed a ride to the airport from Anaheim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maureen asked for a town car, but due to a scheduling snafu, we left in a car so long that the driver was at the airport minutes before we were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Off to Schipol. [ Whenever I fly to Holland, I am reminded of my first trip to Schipol in 1973 with my friend David.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to a "70’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>induced" mix up, our other friend (Kirk) who we were supposed to meet was there at the airport, but we were a bit spaced and left with someone we met on the plane and didn’t reconnect with him (or our car) for three months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Pre-cell phone / Pre-E-mail, etc…)]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back to the current trip. Unsurprisingly, Air Kenya delayed us, so we missed our connection out of Nairobi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>KLM was great and rerouted us to Addis Ababa through that tourist mecca and capital city of Sudan, Khartoum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then on to Ethiopia, where we arrived after about 48 hours in transit. We cruised through Customs and Immigration and I couldn't think of anything for their suggestion box except maybe Spellcheck or doing the signs in pencil.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWt9kititnwdxEQ_HNKjtDRzHp-2Ww7U6VsalRmn9vg6sL3a9q2C1KB4SWZdPdjJ6cGMaSU0GYKqq10cH7HKjoh7dGzwPEto6XRypXQZqFXqfe04lKl2hr0yWvwzOHuzFiQYrEbK3J48c/s1600/WP_000930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWt9kititnwdxEQ_HNKjtDRzHp-2Ww7U6VsalRmn9vg6sL3a9q2C1KB4SWZdPdjJ6cGMaSU0GYKqq10cH7HKjoh7dGzwPEto6XRypXQZqFXqfe04lKl2hr0yWvwzOHuzFiQYrEbK3J48c/s320/WP_000930.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Streets of Addis Ababa<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Running into Doctor Rick the proctologist – <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-c14cm5_JczNtMRKkAjmU0M-tlClXnVFFjaEHSaYwcqSzlSRrWc6100QIlGCN87k1R9VuAl6WYggnAok9XlEWqj3SKHf5WNFsn9iR-4ph4MYGz1wYV8l7dhQSUPq6jLY-ZPYtHI0Z8AT/s1600/WP_000934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-c14cm5_JczNtMRKkAjmU0M-tlClXnVFFjaEHSaYwcqSzlSRrWc6100QIlGCN87k1R9VuAl6WYggnAok9XlEWqj3SKHf5WNFsn9iR-4ph4MYGz1wYV8l7dhQSUPq6jLY-ZPYtHI0Z8AT/s320/WP_000934.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<v:shape id="Picture_x0020_10" o:spid="_x0000_s1034" style="height: 151.05pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.05pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: left; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 161.25pt; z-index: 251666432;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\BROTHE~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image008.jpg"> <w:wrap type="square"> </w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First thing in the morning, Maureen and I were walking along the streets of Addis Ababa. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was great to be back in such a vibrant and bizarre city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is activity everywhere, much of it heartbreaking, but all of it interesting and even though we had been here a number of times, each day is a new experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next to me was a tall non-African who was about to introduce himself when we both recognized one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rick Billingham was, among other things, a former neighbor in Seattle, father of many children including Logan who I coached in grade school some 25 years ago and, most importantly, my proctologist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am pleased to say I have not needed his services much, but he has in fact done to me what proctologists do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I will admit that the unusual circumstance of running into him on the streets of Addis after the experiences we shared in his office in Seattle really struck me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to share with someone, but never found the right moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(“You see this guy? You won’t believe what he did to me.”)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Billingham told me the story of losing his camera earlier in the week to a team of young pickpockets right near where we were walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hearing it reminded me to be on the guard for cute little kids getting too aggressive and close on a busy street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the villages we are always surrounded by kids, but they are not trained as to </span></span><v:shape alt="Description: C:\Users\Brotherton\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Word\addis hosp copies 009.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_13" o:spid="_x0000_s1033" style="height: 169.5pt; margin-left: 174.8pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: right; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 226pt; z-index: 251669504;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:imagedata o:title="addis hosp copies 009" src="file:///C:\Users\BROTHE~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image009.jpg"> <w:wrap type="square"> </w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><v:shape alt="Description: C:\Users\Brotherton\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Word\addis hosp copies 005.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_12" o:spid="_x0000_s1032" style="height: 198.45pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.05pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: left; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 113.25pt; z-index: -251648000;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:imagedata o:title="addis hosp copies 005" src="file:///C:\Users\BROTHE~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image010.jpg"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">the opportunity to make what is yours, theirs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Addis, the dynamic is different. I reminded myself to be wary.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>BLACK LION HOSPITAL - ADDIS ABABA<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5B0KkhxcC1eUjmARrW_Haq7oC8HrIYIFnsP4fH8-xy9VR9GB8WTiI1Jy_BE9rmUMwjKvYhCJYzGv8Auj0jD7SyyS7-iHl1qCkKkjdMNzidz8qPOaOzFd9dFNPL0uBwTvhegfdl7Lci6Pp/s1600/addis+hosp+copies+005d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5B0KkhxcC1eUjmARrW_Haq7oC8HrIYIFnsP4fH8-xy9VR9GB8WTiI1Jy_BE9rmUMwjKvYhCJYzGv8Auj0jD7SyyS7-iHl1qCkKkjdMNzidz8qPOaOzFd9dFNPL0uBwTvhegfdl7Lci6Pp/s320/addis+hosp+copies+005d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We were on our way to the Black Lion hospital where several doctors from Swedish Hospital in Seattle are doing what they can, which is a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are making a difference, although touring the facility reminds one of how big the problems are in Africa. They immediately asked us to put on clean scrubs, presumably to keep our street clothes from contaminating the sterile conditions, although I couldn’t help but notice that the staff laundry was a little dirty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpki9Ea3iD55JILbMh5mj7FZIPFk9nnYUa9GuXMBQCj6JYe3uMXdw5wWyHqLyrpsDPG_3Hfwo01CrbrIsaJ9sv1jpPyymZiypOWVHllVpTPufgsL_ehc2RAzBaf9uNpCpRLVlAKGC9XEz/s1600/addis+hosp+copies+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpki9Ea3iD55JILbMh5mj7FZIPFk9nnYUa9GuXMBQCj6JYe3uMXdw5wWyHqLyrpsDPG_3Hfwo01CrbrIsaJ9sv1jpPyymZiypOWVHllVpTPufgsL_ehc2RAzBaf9uNpCpRLVlAKGC9XEz/s320/addis+hosp+copies+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm83IGb5joD_q5ZWdk4_IZ4dBnVDinSgTjMSkYfCuZ5c4J6KuCMktXVzNKiZiNUHw9qZt3M6NFZKSpnW8Q36R71ShmhyXJWdfVjYeBYw8wSZfo0H0RPfzPIcZchJY4-Xm_Gbdal3jzCXql/s1600/WP_000935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm83IGb5joD_q5ZWdk4_IZ4dBnVDinSgTjMSkYfCuZ5c4J6KuCMktXVzNKiZiNUHw9qZt3M6NFZKSpnW8Q36R71ShmhyXJWdfVjYeBYw8wSZfo0H0RPfzPIcZchJY4-Xm_Gbdal3jzCXql/s320/WP_000935.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Le rat qui n'traverse pas la rue.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The welcome mat was laid out for us…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(In fairness to the hospital, the rat was gone two hours later when I walked by the same spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>there are many possible explanations for that.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We had arranged to see the place with several doctors and the head of facilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took us on a behind the scenes walk through that was frightening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I especially liked the hallway which was rough one direction and flooded the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The systems in that flooded hallway were serving the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The systems were largely operating on a “tape it and play” approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City power is unreliable so the hospital uses a generator much of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, the black diesel smoke belches out near patient rooms whenever the generator is on.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4GzLjY-kJRBs37SpUGDKmtTjx3-_WO28564uUVhEnmrS3i8GtkYV4jJkzbKj6wBhKsZQMnoV0IsFzwus0d2EsiJ-oRT98bfnDN-ERGdZISLsEF_FuvLTIEvG3UKVn56nEK9Qt_uE4u-B/s1600/addis+hosp+copies+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4GzLjY-kJRBs37SpUGDKmtTjx3-_WO28564uUVhEnmrS3i8GtkYV4jJkzbKj6wBhKsZQMnoV0IsFzwus0d2EsiJ-oRT98bfnDN-ERGdZISLsEF_FuvLTIEvG3UKVn56nEK9Qt_uE4u-B/s200/addis+hosp+copies+025.jpg" width="200" /></a>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There were certainly things to admire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The laundry in the courtyard was clean and fresh and created a great photo and the work of the physicians, both the team from Swedish and their Ethiopian counterparts, is inspiring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, while most of us would rather tough it out than get help in a facility like this one, for thousands of Ethiopians, this is the best (and only) option.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZzCOlzdoxmxkHha5mUf7y1psw6ucOTUkhoTufWEkHJRCkfVL1-2X_ZlysjLqy_ko-t2vqS5M2PyDR8yzCNObDqjzqiPkc9VxyfgOSD5by8rozYxAiC0K_hddS4jJ3zb-5dlxseS2kwvS/s1600/addis+hosp+copies+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZzCOlzdoxmxkHha5mUf7y1psw6ucOTUkhoTufWEkHJRCkfVL1-2X_ZlysjLqy_ko-t2vqS5M2PyDR8yzCNObDqjzqiPkc9VxyfgOSD5by8rozYxAiC0K_hddS4jJ3zb-5dlxseS2kwvS/s320/addis+hosp+copies+029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://ethiopiaforums.com/seattle-volunteers-to-bring-lifesaving-equipment-to-ethiopian-hospital" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">More about Swedish Hospital Doctors in Ethiopia</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvUj76q2At1s-F5OYqCet9CeWWLaiEHK-cuLccHjdxJHrddoNBgRIGdVCr0VwDbyyHb2w7brHdDP2aQX6fJEeSU7AFMz5bYtPw4tMM1MAp9-xOifbT3_3Bb5FunL8Zy8I3_IN8Pdd2vpm/s1600/addis+hosp+copies+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvUj76q2At1s-F5OYqCet9CeWWLaiEHK-cuLccHjdxJHrddoNBgRIGdVCr0VwDbyyHb2w7brHdDP2aQX6fJEeSU7AFMz5bYtPw4tMM1MAp9-xOifbT3_3Bb5FunL8Zy8I3_IN8Pdd2vpm/s320/addis+hosp+copies+020.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tough word - Just throw i's and a's at it</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We should both admire and support the work of Doctors Richard Solazzi, Mark Cullen and others. Solazzi assured me that they had nothing to do with the spelling on this sign (above).</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_yWt-mHevFFQCf-hyGzNWx4wNb8c5zjWr1s4djsGjhyphenhyphenUH71m8YvGeXGim0vGU7qwoN0sEBTKt59qA6o4OkyAQWzPzhv2GnW6Ms9P-Tn9wk9XHr5UeE_NrMQCuTXDMRTpy6XZkeJ95FwR/s1600/addis+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_yWt-mHevFFQCf-hyGzNWx4wNb8c5zjWr1s4djsGjhyphenhyphenUH71m8YvGeXGim0vGU7qwoN0sEBTKt59qA6o4OkyAQWzPzhv2GnW6Ms9P-Tn9wk9XHr5UeE_NrMQCuTXDMRTpy6XZkeJ95FwR/s320/addis+poster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This painting on the wall caught my eye. There were literally dozens of people waiting in this stairwell area on the 4th floor of the hospital. Clearly, there were many families in crisis. If you got to the point where you had to bring a loved one to Black Lion Hospital, you were definitely in crisis.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwnPtQiA7HBnBD_KR9u2U0AYOOFFcBdMubBpg4JoWjz7kpQs_OQ25GvRY_ahoQZz57qR86dNZsrp9tAPUj6ofq19VwS5Vp7s_8vYWiI0QvHBsQc9OBIcl5-Tu_Oj-Mg6b1GOXsIu1kxjk/s1600/addis+hosp+copies+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwnPtQiA7HBnBD_KR9u2U0AYOOFFcBdMubBpg4JoWjz7kpQs_OQ25GvRY_ahoQZz57qR86dNZsrp9tAPUj6ofq19VwS5Vp7s_8vYWiI0QvHBsQc9OBIcl5-Tu_Oj-Mg6b1GOXsIu1kxjk/s320/addis+hosp+copies+043.jpg" width="283" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My Day is about to get even more interesting… But first, "Is Mr. Quaddafi available? I'm a friend of Condi's"</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34rwrh8iHlMFzW7xUIkgNIU1cwUWdWEl4822YTwYhdRR4H2xtrpnS-jM_Xknp3TSxNovZJPph_10SaM22BqfcUWo4R-5Rmz1nswP9O1EUG76TgkwISsEskAin2o3C92ItBDbYJIE0Rd6N/s1600/addis+hosp+copies+044.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/AVvXsEi34rwrh8iHlMFzW7xUIkgNIU1cwUWdWEl4822YTwYhdRR4H2xtrpnS-jM_Xknp3TSxNovZJPph_10SaM22BqfcUWo4R-5Rmz1nswP9O1EUG76TgkwISsEskAin2o3C92ItBDbYJIE0Rd6N/s320/addis+hosp+copies+044.jpg" width="212" /></a><v:shape alt="Description: C:\Users\Brotherton\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Word\addis hosp copies 043.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_20" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 204.75pt; margin-left: 116.6pt; margin-top: 17.25pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: right; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 167.8pt; z-index: -251642880;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:imagedata o:title="addis hosp copies 043" src="file:///C:\Users\BROTHE~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image018.jpg"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An interesting day was about to become infused with more drama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maureen and I walked back from Black Lion Hospital toward the Ghion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before we got to the notorious pickpocket area, we stopped in to see the boss at the Libyan embassy. Note that these photos were taken on October 19<sup>th</sup>, 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Muammar was not in, by the way, but his life was about to get more interesting later that day in a more permanent way than ours was.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong> <span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok, back to the streets of Addis.</span></span></strong></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now about the pickpocketing that I managed to escalate into a mugging…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, first I need to share a story to provide perspective about the streets of Addis Ababa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The following is a letter and photo which I sent to my kids in October, 2009 telling about our morning walk in Addis that day. It is always interesting to walk in an African city.</span></span><br />
Date: October 18, 2009 16:04:41 GMT+03:00<br />
Subject: Back in Africa Some quick observations:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wJVKfE4xUvYKs486QgR8V1MsLeTG2zXJnd7Jd1cYAzaSi6zI0v2x14nD-LJCUd8iex96kPrQpM67WDqaH1DkjyPfFfkuC8pKfej6LIngRfot06bRSEcQYkGS4aQbcUqZFSE5GwcA49UD/s1600/12548_827179748098_10716937_46729043_3848557_n%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wJVKfE4xUvYKs486QgR8V1MsLeTG2zXJnd7Jd1cYAzaSi6zI0v2x14nD-LJCUd8iex96kPrQpM67WDqaH1DkjyPfFfkuC8pKfej6LIngRfot06bRSEcQYkGS4aQbcUqZFSE5GwcA49UD/s400/12548_827179748098_10716937_46729043_3848557_n%255B1%255D.jpg" width="298" /></a><span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show"> Third world cities are filled with paradoxes. The streets are dangerous... But mostly due to the deep holes every 20 feet from people cutting down the trees from the last beautification project for firewood and taking the sewer grates for scrap.<br />
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People sell stuff that no one could want, on blankets on every street, but someone must be buying this stuff. The Ethiopian dream... To own your own blanket.<br />
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Even in Addis where the air is good, urine is a scent that pervades.<br />
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Kids love soccer. It is more important to have a soccer ball than shoes, even though the streets are dirty and tough on bare feet.<br />
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We went for an early Sunday morning walk. The back neighborhoods should be a little scary but the people are always surprised to see us and are quite friendly. No I don't want to buy gum... Or that goat.<br />
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On main drag we tried to walk by a nearly lifeless kid about 13, face down on the ground, dirty, shoeless and barely conscious. We were with a friend Denny who was a polio victim as a kid. We eventually got the kid sitting up drinking water and eating some bread Denny bought. He ate listlessly but didn't leave a crumb, clearly very hungry. We got him up and walking before leaving him, but his handsome young face will haunt me. In the USA, his life would be so much different.<br />
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Tomorrow we will visit the polio kids at Cheshire house, a hospital outside of addis ababa. Then up the country to do vaccinations.<br />
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Walking home now saw another wedding. The rituals seem so exotic.<br />
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I wouldn't trade the experience.<br />
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Love to all!</span><br />
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DAD</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A ROUGH ENCOUNTER ON THE STREET Circa 2011<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maureen and I continued our walk and were in a crowded area at mid day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some little kids approached us and, taking heed of Rick Billingham’s warning about the little ones who got his camera, I scared them away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another block or so, we were in a crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unbeknownst to me, a nice looking young man about 18 stopped Maureen to ask the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As things unfolded, she realized that asking someone who is not wearing a watch for the time was a first indication of something being amiss. </span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was distracted because another teen grabbed my left arm and seemed to be falling as he tugged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My instinct was to assist until I saw his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His eyes betrayed him and he then yelled and did a poor imitation of a karate kick at my leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My leg was not moved by his effort and he looked worried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile another teen came up behind me and pushed me and I felt a hand reach into my right front pocket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I threw off the first kid who ended up on the ground by my feet and went aggressively after the kid who had had his hand in my pants (not something I can accept easily.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got his arm and was flailing at him as we went down hard on the dirty street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a nice looking kid, about 18 to 20 years of age, in a yellow shirt and a well worn black leather dress jacket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was bleeding from my hand and elbow but managed to get my passport back, which was all that he had gotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He got up faster than me (big surprise) and tried to run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Maureen now saw me on the ground getting up to go after him and understood the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She apparently yelled, “He stole” which was brilliant in that it got the crowd after the kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(She also threw her bottle of water which resembled the bone flying slow motion through the air in 2001 A space odyssey, but unfortunately missed its mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I teased her that it hit an old lady who was later hospitalized at Black Lion, but I made that up, of course.) </span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We went across four lanes of traffic chasing him but the crowd across the street grabbed him dragged him over a fence and we brought him back to the scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bystanders had called for the police and asked me to stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I now had my possessions (the only thing he got was the passport, which I had already retrieved) and we saw the kid being held and starting to get knocked around pretty hard by the crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was probably wrong to leave but, as pissed as I was, when I saw his eyes as he was being held and smacked, it occurred to me that he was more scared than I was angry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reflections –<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">The jive Ghion hotel had no safety deposit boxes left which is why I had my passport at all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">I was pleased that my instinct, even as an out of shape old man, was to fight not accept someone stealing from me (Thanks West Seattle.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never really know how you will react until you face a situation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">I had over $1000. In cash in the small backpack (again because there was no safety deposit boxes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">I think my work at the prison made me more forgiving and or understanding of the paths that our respective lives took before he and I met up that day on the streets of Addis Ababa.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">It was a fascinating and learning experience and a great piece of theater.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGAlHifGb9tFaQmSgeIIs-CofZKYvERpOvWL5FP8C25Ekw0DTRWLcgGIGhmJgXwUkhiWsYUAsu6NQP7t_u_TJKtU49DM489Cf3jeLcrivD-nLYmObluhADFbKNmpiT-0xcjtUwfqT2ctg/s1600/IMG_0245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGAlHifGb9tFaQmSgeIIs-CofZKYvERpOvWL5FP8C25Ekw0DTRWLcgGIGhmJgXwUkhiWsYUAsu6NQP7t_u_TJKtU49DM489Cf3jeLcrivD-nLYmObluhADFbKNmpiT-0xcjtUwfqT2ctg/s200/IMG_0245.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-VfLo_ZHjXbCePu8cPxbFWZR-iZK68XaoH0dJhIAsX65dCJ1t2tVXPsoKdQRElkY2GjAUVv4iNMBl82H3Y2TWbER7pvqxVRF4OXjQlu0dtfXXyqTfGBxZROQ9JNwfp-80qoOhF0SvbLj/s1600/IMG_0246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-VfLo_ZHjXbCePu8cPxbFWZR-iZK68XaoH0dJhIAsX65dCJ1t2tVXPsoKdQRElkY2GjAUVv4iNMBl82H3Y2TWbER7pvqxVRF4OXjQlu0dtfXXyqTfGBxZROQ9JNwfp-80qoOhF0SvbLj/s200/IMG_0246.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">It is hard to keep open wounds clean in Africa and the worst part was having to be a little more cautious to avoid infection, especially in the rural areas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">7. I apparently swear when I am angry and quite loudly, but fortunately, do so in English and not in Amharic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">8. My love for the City of Addis Ababa was not diminished by this experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">We left the next morning for Gondar in the North toward Eritrea and Sudan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GI69ErrPPBHBLkM54IkUqKl7b6KvRn2-sfCeeLA5Y7Cp3ob6Pvm2X-kyzi1vUyfgVky3Z2X4xuDhjFZ1UnZ516RdYjOtkZj-op3ciqNdlzhUUXNI9CDI6OxFFzhFnyOg9FeR2uj10rQ2/s1600/WP_001024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GI69ErrPPBHBLkM54IkUqKl7b6KvRn2-sfCeeLA5Y7Cp3ob6Pvm2X-kyzi1vUyfgVky3Z2X4xuDhjFZ1UnZ516RdYjOtkZj-op3ciqNdlzhUUXNI9CDI6OxFFzhFnyOg9FeR2uj10rQ2/s320/WP_001024.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">One last photo from Addis. I have mentioned in previous writings that 35 years ago when I first traveled in the third world, I would learn to say no to people begging because there was an endless stream. That said, there was at least one time each day where someone would get to me. This poor man on the street was that person for that day. I hope he benefited from the small bills I put in his hand, even if just for a few minutes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: large;">Gondar - Former capital of Ethiopia -</span> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDgrSSxuKhmAU9J07umGBAbRpezRgIEkJ0vqyT9FqbefAofaWIdr9fnCU5YVxZfWxfFBi9op1mPukJ-ZHHM9SoqnkiPufUtv-vMD1_LmxDwtwbdQo_Y5WYvUhUjXdWBqG8OBOv65194TP/s1600/Castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDgrSSxuKhmAU9J07umGBAbRpezRgIEkJ0vqyT9FqbefAofaWIdr9fnCU5YVxZfWxfFBi9op1mPukJ-ZHHM9SoqnkiPufUtv-vMD1_LmxDwtwbdQo_Y5WYvUhUjXdWBqG8OBOv65194TP/s320/Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Comic Sans MS;">We departed for Gondar which would be our launching point for trips to villages to immunize kids (5 and under) for polio. We have made this trip several times to rural Ethiopia but this is the first time to Gondar. It is the first place in Ethiopia where we observed the history on display.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Gondar was an ancient capital of Ethiopia and is over a mile high (See for example, Denver)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbC0ykAHVGZRAj8zBTNFurZqaKDrx2lO3nhbKYpEO_wzU2yUEHkcay42okoexd1OGalUloqiVmiFJsCuNIZ0rjP05Rq9s5qJ4eVXN6s2CSRl9C4LKWOlFH_naPGyUNpJwjpB2-3d7YHCjc/s1600/ceiling+faces+gandar+church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbC0ykAHVGZRAj8zBTNFurZqaKDrx2lO3nhbKYpEO_wzU2yUEHkcay42okoexd1OGalUloqiVmiFJsCuNIZ0rjP05Rq9s5qJ4eVXN6s2CSRl9C4LKWOlFH_naPGyUNpJwjpB2-3d7YHCjc/s320/ceiling+faces+gandar+church.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2w2nFciTnc_035ReeHPWb7qXaJxk0JgoCklQXP2XlNA6IW5rPNTCQ5NbO5RxHztbPt8M2q9f0yMdp4x69LVPLyAH9mJzR20B9LT0rxmHLUGT4qT8lgCGol78L-SSE2GYbnC5ZKN4z83FO/s1600/buggy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2w2nFciTnc_035ReeHPWb7qXaJxk0JgoCklQXP2XlNA6IW5rPNTCQ5NbO5RxHztbPt8M2q9f0yMdp4x69LVPLyAH9mJzR20B9LT0rxmHLUGT4qT8lgCGol78L-SSE2GYbnC5ZKN4z83FO/s1600/buggy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2w2nFciTnc_035ReeHPWb7qXaJxk0JgoCklQXP2XlNA6IW5rPNTCQ5NbO5RxHztbPt8M2q9f0yMdp4x69LVPLyAH9mJzR20B9LT0rxmHLUGT4qT8lgCGol78L-SSE2GYbnC5ZKN4z83FO/s200/buggy.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"> <span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">The art in the old churches was impressive, although I couldn't necessarily follow the religious theme</span>.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTE67w8UzruOSXJqAauudgzqmYkpNAkdottqYN5Y4T7zYPhOWDGt3MquY2y0PFi6LzrXjBke-QycV3axlV1cLABhkPEAspeLRjK6dIrReTA6lDfuTXZV7-DfJiAFJViFGo6kb-_1HTHzQ/s1600/2of4sisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTE67w8UzruOSXJqAauudgzqmYkpNAkdottqYN5Y4T7zYPhOWDGt3MquY2y0PFi6LzrXjBke-QycV3axlV1cLABhkPEAspeLRjK6dIrReTA6lDfuTXZV7-DfJiAFJViFGo6kb-_1HTHzQ/s200/2of4sisters.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ajneuQTz5QAPhh_uZz2mG-DX9hfEoRRp27Jp2rn3mK7h1-wAQO25Uj7qzuYQLyjyF2r6bvekOnz-9o7mLWNu55JU6fk-F-TOJ299mpjMIwswC5hOynTJcOrFjoSpA-pXHXcc3NRCCeIT/s1600/lastsupper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ajneuQTz5QAPhh_uZz2mG-DX9hfEoRRp27Jp2rn3mK7h1-wAQO25Uj7qzuYQLyjyF2r6bvekOnz-9o7mLWNu55JU6fk-F-TOJ299mpjMIwswC5hOynTJcOrFjoSpA-pXHXcc3NRCCeIT/s1600/lastsupper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ajneuQTz5QAPhh_uZz2mG-DX9hfEoRRp27Jp2rn3mK7h1-wAQO25Uj7qzuYQLyjyF2r6bvekOnz-9o7mLWNu55JU6fk-F-TOJ299mpjMIwswC5hOynTJcOrFjoSpA-pXHXcc3NRCCeIT/s1600/lastsupper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ajneuQTz5QAPhh_uZz2mG-DX9hfEoRRp27Jp2rn3mK7h1-wAQO25Uj7qzuYQLyjyF2r6bvekOnz-9o7mLWNu55JU6fk-F-TOJ299mpjMIwswC5hOynTJcOrFjoSpA-pXHXcc3NRCCeIT/s200/lastsupper.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The art on the ceiling of the dining room where Four Sisters (two of which are pictured here) fed us was.... religious; or pop religious.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvChNN1j_ZgQOHW1euTcma8i7hydZFDwZk71rP_Wu8rLPmbcitGCRmCXB0zfZ3AljlzrTCe0YEqWfWScQu1wsLMFm1Q_7RDAmpDroBGyw7eq0d2qyk4C70hQoQMamdlNRl01j09-t5CGH/s1600/gondar+boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvChNN1j_ZgQOHW1euTcma8i7hydZFDwZk71rP_Wu8rLPmbcitGCRmCXB0zfZ3AljlzrTCe0YEqWfWScQu1wsLMFm1Q_7RDAmpDroBGyw7eq0d2qyk4C70hQoQMamdlNRl01j09-t5CGH/s320/gondar+boy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">This beautiful child was immunized in our sendoff celebration in Gondar. The kids in the villages were not so polished! However, as the photo below demonstrates, Gondar was not lacking in people in need requesting baksheesh (although that is actually a Persian word; I have used it to describe street begging since I first heard it in Persia in the 70's)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIdUZ8vFZc9N1azYmjA37NnxObknR94pPnfIxd18gnAjSoFQR5RpO2ECXuWvaXJ5DGao2bEW7QSujopzAtOapx0V0m16fQQZdzGHLEbxHu7SbQX1dHRAxwnTnd9V9wG0jgUuL2FhMbqX6/s1600/gondar+baksheesh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIdUZ8vFZc9N1azYmjA37NnxObknR94pPnfIxd18gnAjSoFQR5RpO2ECXuWvaXJ5DGao2bEW7QSujopzAtOapx0V0m16fQQZdzGHLEbxHu7SbQX1dHRAxwnTnd9V9wG0jgUuL2FhMbqX6/s320/gondar+baksheesh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">A lone beggar on the streets of the ancient capital</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTQzzEelwURkJ1gdA6NTk0kA2LFtIeik9Q5CykinCGrViQ286uU5RalBwUa5L-1UXlRIhE3E4Jz0Nxmh1pqYx0MDaFL4f5YTQetxhmLEwMKo9SxiQ6Lp44EbZR8iQWznXWGaYSWtcc2Ey/s1600/two+men+gondar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTQzzEelwURkJ1gdA6NTk0kA2LFtIeik9Q5CykinCGrViQ286uU5RalBwUa5L-1UXlRIhE3E4Jz0Nxmh1pqYx0MDaFL4f5YTQetxhmLEwMKo9SxiQ6Lp44EbZR8iQWznXWGaYSWtcc2Ey/s400/two+men+gondar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Many of the Ethiopian men are striking in their intense demeanor and appearance. The women, no less so, as the beautiful woman below demonstrates. I am certain that she has earned every ounce of character which is etched in her face.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMCLkfPAwxRFoBk-nSRcrmkeXDo7gCkntwobROs08ZKv6wEHumfsdqNiitsK-k1fYsokP7q1tr43gESTsEXchXWgF_OoOCvU0CHgkwTx_HJEDcLYk9Kw4VUwnlfoZ-08pKmCiVSmTq_DB/s1600/old+woman+Gandar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMCLkfPAwxRFoBk-nSRcrmkeXDo7gCkntwobROs08ZKv6wEHumfsdqNiitsK-k1fYsokP7q1tr43gESTsEXchXWgF_OoOCvU0CHgkwTx_HJEDcLYk9Kw4VUwnlfoZ-08pKmCiVSmTq_DB/s400/old+woman+Gandar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-R8irB91ZVYzQoKViZ2UMLrPvA8ZdqmVHgXhFc5VdqeLYftnCqniOayDFxye6llenUStdzt_xFsTvWL-DjjK9C8eTvMB_y_0dj9wcEo-D16kH0pWUa11JSjVsAgzjPi-IucdWY2brk9L/s1600/restaurant+Guard.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/AVvXsEi9-R8irB91ZVYzQoKViZ2UMLrPvA8ZdqmVHgXhFc5VdqeLYftnCqniOayDFxye6llenUStdzt_xFsTvWL-DjjK9C8eTvMB_y_0dj9wcEo-D16kH0pWUa11JSjVsAgzjPi-IucdWY2brk9L/s320/restaurant+Guard.jpg" width="240" /></a>This is a guard at a nice restaurant in Gondar. It is comforting, although the combined facts that he didn't open his eyes and that he did not have a gun, suggest that one should not rely to heavily on his ability or inclination to protect. In fact, nothing occurred which made us need protection and I will say that a small tip after the meal brought a large smile to his face.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Doe Bay Goes to Africa</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">There is a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gondar_Fasiladas_Bath_Timket.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">famous bath in Gondar, known as Fasiledas</span></a><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">, which is filled and used by hundreds (thousands) of bathers to celebrate Timkar, the Ethiopian Epiphany. As you can see, a representative of one of America's own iconic baths, </span></span><a href="http://doebay.com/spa.html" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><strong>Doe Bay</strong> <strong>(click here)</strong> on Orcas Island in Washington</span></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">, was quite interested!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: large;">Off to the Villages!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Finally we get to vaccinate the kids in the Villages. It is a wonderful experience. Polio vaccines are now administered by three drops orally of a live vaccine. After our immunizations, I am pleased to say that we were able to return to Addis Ababa and celebrate that <u><strong>polio has oficially been eradicated in the entire country</strong></u>. That means that there have been no new cases for three years which his evidently the official standard for eradication.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsU5AKV-PMRMqnQlGQ72zhxknarY68pVRwEi7E7InakFFc14oFKAbDagHp2F2fe-9s6d0X9NnG91cXYvzZH5bkUpGGNpYECLS_Exq-e3lfzamSMB6T6iKzg2fjkFkVzzkkXA_WEYdKc8O/s1600/IMG_0830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsU5AKV-PMRMqnQlGQ72zhxknarY68pVRwEi7E7InakFFc14oFKAbDagHp2F2fe-9s6d0X9NnG91cXYvzZH5bkUpGGNpYECLS_Exq-e3lfzamSMB6T6iKzg2fjkFkVzzkkXA_WEYdKc8O/s200/IMG_0830.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5s14aIKOOjmOE3zEeniItJRpKcQcmsuXr309yd6eaLROFW8sGv-uDwPKFFMoJis_njMdos4Og6SUrN1o6lIUMT4s97gq09iBYNvct7Wp3E6DOi-rcu-sZD0-m8ntgtNsJJ1PupN6OhId/s1600/after+the+drops+NID.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5s14aIKOOjmOE3zEeniItJRpKcQcmsuXr309yd6eaLROFW8sGv-uDwPKFFMoJis_njMdos4Og6SUrN1o6lIUMT4s97gq09iBYNvct7Wp3E6DOi-rcu-sZD0-m8ntgtNsJJ1PupN6OhId/s200/after+the+drops+NID.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, as soon as the baby tastes the vaccine, she desires a more familiar and pleasant food.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jf2TUzHUFp1MK1aR2vcGA0dzO2wNb4RklDIpVn6zOrDCmLJ20pcbuMtF5tVslouF5bzvYvUPqukdZwH9o9psc13eF5-DmIIiRYV2cYy1_iV4denjFsGp1VJxxg1RfMdB7lEfHPw-DtYw/s1600/WP_000991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jf2TUzHUFp1MK1aR2vcGA0dzO2wNb4RklDIpVn6zOrDCmLJ20pcbuMtF5tVslouF5bzvYvUPqukdZwH9o9psc13eF5-DmIIiRYV2cYy1_iV4denjFsGp1VJxxg1RfMdB7lEfHPw-DtYw/s320/WP_000991.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Maureen makes friends everywhere but this little girl was special to her. Maureen doesn't usually ask for a photo but they both wanted to get their pictures taken together.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoS0sLQiVp97vQF9ZJESidSAuvmohULw_vb6DGmcwneKvZQjH40CIo6VVQ9knZRYrx0BDtKSsPEyVsCBz6DRYgTFU7RMhe2jV8WFhZKyJXfgxXgdON8LZn4dE6qTuis8td_qy2yYbX79w/s1600/vaccinate.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/AVvXsEivoS0sLQiVp97vQF9ZJESidSAuvmohULw_vb6DGmcwneKvZQjH40CIo6VVQ9knZRYrx0BDtKSsPEyVsCBz6DRYgTFU7RMhe2jV8WFhZKyJXfgxXgdON8LZn4dE6qTuis8td_qy2yYbX79w/s200/vaccinate.jpg" width="167" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2P56iEWbCJl4VnTxnLt_xNI5ne7pXXrhKftoq9eHp9vBfSUoSnX4SVJICFi-fphDY-q6f_dGEGkWIVQsAf8Mj3HU0THA8lWeQA5ZQ1d5byl98ITZoJMnazBjp4O3iuzCmctiLRMNIb6rl/s1600/WP_000963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2P56iEWbCJl4VnTxnLt_xNI5ne7pXXrhKftoq9eHp9vBfSUoSnX4SVJICFi-fphDY-q6f_dGEGkWIVQsAf8Mj3HU0THA8lWeQA5ZQ1d5byl98ITZoJMnazBjp4O3iuzCmctiLRMNIb6rl/s200/WP_000963.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqjxF_FgXWxNnxBsikgXlohzo1P9TGJwDum0zQRp5zFbhaVGBfphGkTiPzQ7dDqtTo8kxI9HokmBt18z_B-1VjsRMpDcZ-v3B5MhfNc-Gksmq7MwHb2YqRuoUuK-vV1LeZP0tSFXbY4DX/s1600/IMG_0255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqjxF_FgXWxNnxBsikgXlohzo1P9TGJwDum0zQRp5zFbhaVGBfphGkTiPzQ7dDqtTo8kxI9HokmBt18z_B-1VjsRMpDcZ-v3B5MhfNc-Gksmq7MwHb2YqRuoUuK-vV1LeZP0tSFXbY4DX/s1600/IMG_0255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqjxF_FgXWxNnxBsikgXlohzo1P9TGJwDum0zQRp5zFbhaVGBfphGkTiPzQ7dDqtTo8kxI9HokmBt18z_B-1VjsRMpDcZ-v3B5MhfNc-Gksmq7MwHb2YqRuoUuK-vV1LeZP0tSFXbY4DX/s200/IMG_0255.jpg" width="200" /></a>Administering the vaccine is now easy because it is all an oral vaccine requiring three drops in the child's mouth. The woman at the right was in a fairly dark hut with her child who needed to be vaccinated. Sadly she told the story of the abscess on her head (It is almost visible in these photos below her scarf.) She said she was having severe headaches so she couldn't go out in the sun, so she stayed in all day with her child. I suspect that she will not get to see this child attend school. I vaccinated the child and then spent a little time with them before going to the next home to vaccinate the next kid..</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Administering Polio Vaccines </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Northern Ethiopia</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulRo5H_czDKtvXRB80ZoviUnoXovB81-mkUGmtl2nhG9P-mx_OtY913-y8yTcTyhfhnhVyvEHOWvno7YToJ3QZeYjVbapjCYXl6KKMByAV_-mzCvwPfw-qfxVG_NqU3NZm4j29hS2AAdA/s1600/IMG_0806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulRo5H_czDKtvXRB80ZoviUnoXovB81-mkUGmtl2nhG9P-mx_OtY913-y8yTcTyhfhnhVyvEHOWvno7YToJ3QZeYjVbapjCYXl6KKMByAV_-mzCvwPfw-qfxVG_NqU3NZm4j29hS2AAdA/s200/IMG_0806.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maureen applies the mark!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6NYTFADOKL3wxqWdVggkulWRSRvREAepjwYND9UcnGaUOmwaGTdTFQEJXWGBvnoyMGTmTn2I_dLTLowoIC3deBCOSHiwq8pXoYCbZGD4QK0W6re6NbghPVOwNoMVbkay22XfAVcfg-M_/s1600/DSC02665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6NYTFADOKL3wxqWdVggkulWRSRvREAepjwYND9UcnGaUOmwaGTdTFQEJXWGBvnoyMGTmTn2I_dLTLowoIC3deBCOSHiwq8pXoYCbZGD4QK0W6re6NbghPVOwNoMVbkay22XfAVcfg-M_/s200/DSC02665.JPG" width="200" /></a>After we administer a vaccine, we use a purple permanent marker to mark the child's little finger so we can tell who has been vaccinated. Duplicate vaccinations evidently don't cause harm. I recall one community leader several years ago who stood in front of a group and had her child vaccinated to show that she believed it was safe. She confided quietly that her child had been vaccinated several times already that same day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCv_Sk5vXgPAW6b5ZQxFwg5OmkI0JvwioH_gQE-Y8uM-TDu6n3gEvVCfqH-T16wMGMd5lU3BUeJDtdrOQDSqdtmUeRJAxhB3ij_9kWlOITth7KqLSXzc0WSdmuyqkBkd2ggSIjkDvWVWJC/s1600/DSC02670e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCv_Sk5vXgPAW6b5ZQxFwg5OmkI0JvwioH_gQE-Y8uM-TDu6n3gEvVCfqH-T16wMGMd5lU3BUeJDtdrOQDSqdtmUeRJAxhB3ij_9kWlOITth7KqLSXzc0WSdmuyqkBkd2ggSIjkDvWVWJC/s400/DSC02670e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yobi, Joe, Maureen & Sarah in the hills north of Gondar</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWoC2P6F9vNsI_ZNsSGd8SedPvAAXUMof5SNXEBHiXuaIdqK0RSubZM2SHNzANXDgsRuRV0TaZqTMb10-f5wbsD2uaVbqsDsMapvOVGVhCCLDkrxzjkEiUOiGhP6xtwKDb3JPIBFR3aBs/s1600/womangoiter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWoC2P6F9vNsI_ZNsSGd8SedPvAAXUMof5SNXEBHiXuaIdqK0RSubZM2SHNzANXDgsRuRV0TaZqTMb10-f5wbsD2uaVbqsDsMapvOVGVhCCLDkrxzjkEiUOiGhP6xtwKDb3JPIBFR3aBs/s1600/womangoiter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWoC2P6F9vNsI_ZNsSGd8SedPvAAXUMof5SNXEBHiXuaIdqK0RSubZM2SHNzANXDgsRuRV0TaZqTMb10-f5wbsD2uaVbqsDsMapvOVGVhCCLDkrxzjkEiUOiGhP6xtwKDb3JPIBFR3aBs/s320/womangoiter.jpg" width="320" /></a>This woman had such a pleasant attitude and such a beautiful smile. her tattoos were intriguing and it was hard not to notice the large goiter (at least I think that is what they are called) on her neck The tattoos seemed to draw your attention to it. I don't know if that represents a serious condition and I certainly hope not. She has a young baby who depends on her.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltvNuuKEsK0" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Click <strong>here </strong>to watch a video</span> that was made two years ago by some friends from Canada who are doing great work providing wheelchairs to people for whom the next best option is a life of crawling. Believe me that Africa is no place to be disabled. Maureen and I have been drawn to the vaccination project because it, hopefully, prevents so many personal tragedies. However, for those for whom vaccination is too late, a wheelchair can be a lifeline</span></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">.</span></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"> Early in the video, you will see me playing with some kids in a school for kids with problems. That is a euphemism for mentally not quite right. I found that I related better to these kids than to many of the people I meet on any given day in Seattle. Weird how that works.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNc7NaXeMKLzCpFgLVDi4vHAxQ8w3-4nKS8Ep1a0I7FsL8z7uTKCWWUXEkGU22GotZ9UOTQRvRYCVm1j6GdY8hOtGNWYqaP0fx66e6JAAUjwFbyMSBYnNLKG60DAH9PV8aO8_0hB8AUv9X/s1600/IMG_0825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNc7NaXeMKLzCpFgLVDi4vHAxQ8w3-4nKS8Ep1a0I7FsL8z7uTKCWWUXEkGU22GotZ9UOTQRvRYCVm1j6GdY8hOtGNWYqaP0fx66e6JAAUjwFbyMSBYnNLKG60DAH9PV8aO8_0hB8AUv9X/s320/IMG_0825.jpg" width="320" /></a>Ethiopian kids in the villages are pretty adorable and evidently don't get to hang out with white guys much because they always look at me like I am a little strange.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4LM-BfEaM4SphyphenhyphenhRIXha1QwDSXPUfvRzAWbnkPsQW1hsVwBxzbVCIzFlGAaL5U2WiwRNQXMOVF9m-1TV90Qdj9uTyP1tkwzm_VBcmJB8Xwy8qI7pIRlBmzjzz1y5e1gmzPu79yK5OAmt/s1600/IMG_0827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4LM-BfEaM4SphyphenhyphenhRIXha1QwDSXPUfvRzAWbnkPsQW1hsVwBxzbVCIzFlGAaL5U2WiwRNQXMOVF9m-1TV90Qdj9uTyP1tkwzm_VBcmJB8Xwy8qI7pIRlBmzjzz1y5e1gmzPu79yK5OAmt/s200/IMG_0827.jpg" width="145" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUBRbcphSEDttmH3obnzT5myHU1Cl6cg58erRLB77jTLMYnXZem3YJKPVn_yuFvatXCED0CQGaT0o-rruK4phtBCwkS-v6Xdck9y5MqEv3CR_YkNzfj4V-RADAiEIZYjN6lw9LIh8fO9Z/s1600/WP_000992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUBRbcphSEDttmH3obnzT5myHU1Cl6cg58erRLB77jTLMYnXZem3YJKPVn_yuFvatXCED0CQGaT0o-rruK4phtBCwkS-v6Xdck9y5MqEv3CR_YkNzfj4V-RADAiEIZYjN6lw9LIh8fO9Z/s320/WP_000992.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PAoHQ0sShPbwneVDvKL-km6gOiv6HTWXXP2qpgqTjAiSftZBnSYCLHzcc86YRagB9R6IKlh4VEeZn-d5A9vH5GpzQXmxuC7toSBSLzLYngFE3gGQcdPDrbbajpClaZPdr3h9V43CHlnw/s1600/IMG_0259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PAoHQ0sShPbwneVDvKL-km6gOiv6HTWXXP2qpgqTjAiSftZBnSYCLHzcc86YRagB9R6IKlh4VEeZn-d5A9vH5GpzQXmxuC7toSBSLzLYngFE3gGQcdPDrbbajpClaZPdr3h9V43CHlnw/s400/IMG_0259.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">The people of the village gave me the same warm welcome (and in this case a warm goodbye) as they seem to do wherever I am in the world. They even brought out the military to make sure I was safe!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I think it is time to go to Uganda. I will write more from there!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: large;"> If you are really bored, </span><a href="http://joebrotherton.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=11" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: large;">you can jump to my Afghani blog by clicking here.... I think.</span></a></div>
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</div>The Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696612405455618240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113632968785873101.post-92089713916315432112011-01-08T20:31:00.000-08:002011-01-10T09:39:08.482-08:00Homeward Bound via Dubai - ONE BUY, TWO BI, GOODBYE DUBAI<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5elVHhpmk6KvX4a7HmXL1EVp1i-h_-uAmu1l__w0fMSwI_4RUn6CYFThuH_kBmgY5J6XXCmnSGS0ZTP4dGtuqgpdkrmVwP3Q0t0pHouaocswv1jXFW8Lc2aU5DKNd7Z7JeoZp5jOeEIb/s320/IMG_0647.jpg" width="320" /></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://animoto.com/play/viDFngeoDZEC0Aa30l3PZQ"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Some Dubai video</span></a> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Click here</div><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Leaving Afghanistan is an emotional experience. It is such a unique place. And, by definition, the visitor is worn out , a little dirty and especially a few days before Christmas, homesick. Westerners were leaving in droves so all the systems were pressed to the hilt. Safi Airways did a surprisingly great job. You have to decide to go through Frankfurt or Dubai. I chose Dubai and it was a great decision. Flights were canceled all over Europe due to snow and Dubai is one of the most interesting places I have been.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I paid for airport transfers as part of my deal at Le Royal Meridien. It is about a 25 minute drive so I figured the extra dollars were a break even. I had no idea that my airport shuttle would be in a showroom quality brand new BMW with driver and hostess who immediately handed me clean cold wet white hand towels. I wouldn't have been surprised if a plate of sushi had followed. Coming in at night I got a sense of the skyline(s) of Dubai. The hotel was great; on the beach, a bunch of pools and the best service I have encountered.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyx_Y3_X5X6dSiuWUYWHSMcSiuQmyDEbtLqJ7Hq2WN_x5RKhQD7RIR7j9rRk4-iOwNZyaBhaqgPtQl4XxH1T7_OC2F28Wr7EZwkRgwWtaki5hSWkUxSflryhFPNrbBwjDuLM2z4VastDL/s1600/DSC07254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyx_Y3_X5X6dSiuWUYWHSMcSiuQmyDEbtLqJ7Hq2WN_x5RKhQD7RIR7j9rRk4-iOwNZyaBhaqgPtQl4XxH1T7_OC2F28Wr7EZwkRgwWtaki5hSWkUxSflryhFPNrbBwjDuLM2z4VastDL/s400/DSC07254.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The View from My Room of the Most Luxurious Hotel <br />
My Friend's Yacht Happened to Be in the Harbor</td></tr>
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</div><em><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Side note on fancy places.</strong> Dubai is home to the hotel reputed to be the most luxurious in the world. Since I am not getting any younger and don't anticipate being a regular visitor, I figured, "Perche no"? The answer to that question was cheapest room = $6,000. per night. I demurred. Saving over $5700 a night and receiving more luxury than I could imagine worked for me. Coming directly from Kabul, Lower Satva (at Doe Bay Resort and Retreat) would have seemed like a Four Seasons.</span></em><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8KoE020N41he8AQQBxVDrFCUFIxoh7nVZEOkSaLb-qfid9lnNd1ANK2t8Fs33oLGkVaQugiIIp2NAAiUJ4-H9aoMLbqnpBNnmkh_7rM3wnTjodj8Si-dDY8QttQtYgnkfbPFINBn-wW6/s1600/DSC07253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8KoE020N41he8AQQBxVDrFCUFIxoh7nVZEOkSaLb-qfid9lnNd1ANK2t8Fs33oLGkVaQugiIIp2NAAiUJ4-H9aoMLbqnpBNnmkh_7rM3wnTjodj8Si-dDY8QttQtYgnkfbPFINBn-wW6/s320/DSC07253.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like a Mirage</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The Dubai story is all about the architecture. The entire city appears to have been built within the last decade and a half and money doesn't seem to have been a limiting factor. And, notwithstanding the financial problems facing the Sheikdom, there were more tower cranes (by my estimate, nearly one hundred) than I have ever seen. </span><span style="font-size: large;">We thought we (in Seattle) got carried away with development during the boom, but this eclipses our excesses by a longshot</span>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I was lucky to have lived in New York in the late 70's and to have eaten a few meals at Windows on the World in the World Trade Center, then the tallest building(s) in the world. Since that is now a lifetime experience, I have always felt lucky to have experienced it. </span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">So, Dubai is now home to Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. It opened in January. Did I mention that I am a little afraid of heights? I am. But I know it is an irrational fear so I decided that I had to go to the top of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burj_Khalifa"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Burj Khalifa</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">. I went to the Dubai mall which was the nicest mall I had ever seen; even nicer than Southcenter. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> I had a few hours so I stalled. Finally I went outside and saw the building..... My jaw dropped. I looked away and looked back and my jaw dropped again. It is bigger than life. Oz came to mind. I laughed and said no bloody way am I going up to the top. It is so high, I couldn't really see the top and it was impossible to photograph in a single frame.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNzhzi4LxcvOWXgUu-vTvJde2dee_E_pD7Xy4mLYUgcMQ5HXNT5WO5B7BJen-EPlHPC7YCr3GU_XnyeEVC7sl2tdNBcKxfXPjRWTJMULX_qIvyyzPkUdFtJp2Pp1maAy9j7j0lL_NSllU/s1600/TigersNestMonastery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNzhzi4LxcvOWXgUu-vTvJde2dee_E_pD7Xy4mLYUgcMQ5HXNT5WO5B7BJen-EPlHPC7YCr3GU_XnyeEVC7sl2tdNBcKxfXPjRWTJMULX_qIvyyzPkUdFtJp2Pp1maAy9j7j0lL_NSllU/s320/TigersNestMonastery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>Side story about Bhutan</strong>, the Tiger's Nest and heights. I remembered climbing up to Tiger's Nest in Bhutan with my daughter Megan just a few years ago. I had been sick and was a little lightheaded and said, "Megan I don't really want to continue doing this." She said, "Dad you will be so mad at yourself if you stop." I was almost coinvinced. The trail has huge dropoffs, is carved into the rock and needless to say, no guardrails. Then a somewhat roundish Buddhist nun came along in her robe and fliplops more or less skipping back from the top so I persevered and have never regretted it. </em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Was I about to get this close to the tallest building in the world and not go for it? No way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The Mall is a big distraction by the way, so it was easy to keep stalling. Check out this fountain.</span><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=AD6v5dyfQPV5F-v-21GuXqWD1313eBmrP-M_4qypitYEuMArRDmFtZGwVf-eUtcZyyK5zUvtuS8HoiKTMTxcASqC-Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I headed for the ticket buying area in the mall. The electronic signs told the sad story: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">1:30 - Sold Out 2:00 Sold Out 2:30 Sold Out... etc...there was limited space at 7pm. Was I off the hook? Even so I would be grumpy about getting this close and not experiencing it (Over 3 times higher than the Space Needle.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I vaguely remembered a space available ticket. I went to the cashier and asked the charming Dubai salesgirl. "We only have VIP last minute tickets," she replied. A ticket is 100 UAE Dirhams. That is about $27.00. A last minute ticket is 400 Dirhams. You do the math. Dilemma #2. That is a rip. I will not take more space than I would for 100 Dirhams; BUT, Was I really willing to miss out to save $75. that my kids would probably inherit which would only screw them up? "I'll take a VIP ticket."</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOogmYT86ljr3e8HKtKkydq7zwLiA8irV1F77HSnw-xGg0J3FmqETEtds_FUfbEHwqneS-WornLaAHaTVmqRmAFN8c6i8NhQYOLLYxkG8496c0l-zJFY6hxAA3U_tULLxaoxF0KVQgDmB/s1600/IMG_0667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOogmYT86ljr3e8HKtKkydq7zwLiA8irV1F77HSnw-xGg0J3FmqETEtds_FUfbEHwqneS-WornLaAHaTVmqRmAFN8c6i8NhQYOLLYxkG8496c0l-zJFY6hxAA3U_tULLxaoxF0KVQgDmB/s320/IMG_0667.jpg" width="106" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZw_FrCzrgtixiFEaW0f1PZtBoq3MtigXI7OVlxq6jiiFZGYr8He9v-cN25rKZbL-GUnOuMqLSvnPHsEpAruGazbev6JFYNNNS2fX9IAbEDsy540AQ3F4RHazqzBTBl4drbAoTb3nbHW8Y/s1600/IMG_0668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZw_FrCzrgtixiFEaW0f1PZtBoq3MtigXI7OVlxq6jiiFZGYr8He9v-cN25rKZbL-GUnOuMqLSvnPHsEpAruGazbev6JFYNNNS2fX9IAbEDsy540AQ3F4RHazqzBTBl4drbAoTb3nbHW8Y/s320/IMG_0668.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZ23xSYVIhMWAA4qc-eSjmeNEkMU_BlnVB7FV2X2NLRLWnpw-QrOtwFh_8oACaP4Pja1LomI_k6r9_lr5MQqNIkB2Afnq1LBKGKGxqAd4q0Aqt-4DYRJJAqetSQf0uq7_Qyek9cq_QmVz/s1600/IMG_0665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZ23xSYVIhMWAA4qc-eSjmeNEkMU_BlnVB7FV2X2NLRLWnpw-QrOtwFh_8oACaP4Pja1LomI_k6r9_lr5MQqNIkB2Afnq1LBKGKGxqAd4q0Aqt-4DYRJJAqetSQf0uq7_Qyek9cq_QmVz/s320/IMG_0665.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">So now I was doing something I only half wanted to do and I was paying twice what everyone else paid. (I felt like I did at the Kabul Zoo when I paid $2. for a 20 cent ticket the previous week.) The rest of the experience was cool. The tube ride to the elevators had some really cool videos. The elevator went 120 plus stories non-stop. The views were incredible.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhOqi_1a6A5F6EBszSzW-jR9f0xyGseqASxoebh42xeYi9Gx3WJL7Ng52tRUF9q6X_y88NXCWfCNj-IY1fSB7x_Dyuvyka-lej1B2lvBRQMVj16K-zQq8rwTZnJWZ5JP-5ItYsG5T5oZL/s1600/DSC07206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhOqi_1a6A5F6EBszSzW-jR9f0xyGseqASxoebh42xeYi9Gx3WJL7Ng52tRUF9q6X_y88NXCWfCNj-IY1fSB7x_Dyuvyka-lej1B2lvBRQMVj16K-zQq8rwTZnJWZ5JP-5ItYsG5T5oZL/s320/DSC07206.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A couple last thoughts on Burj Khalifa: There was a pane of glass that was missing. They roped it off with those ribbon deals they use at the airport to keep people in a straight line. There was a piece of plywood where the glass used to be. This did not instill confidence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> There is an outside deck at this level so I had to go out there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">It was pretty cool but the scariest thing was going out there and then looking up. There is basically another 45 story building above you. I was dizzy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I met a couple guys from Greece (MD's early in their careers) at the club in le Meridien. They were eally nice guys, with whom I shared a few drinks, a few meals and some rather brilliant conversations. I also swam in the Persian gulf which was perfect. The weather was also perfect!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprVFfq4NQxPocVQE5N7THNiogxm-ZHj318b0ut3BR8j0RWvZlSLRXmJTmpWbG0zudGFF8Od-Gb0mNvvFRiG_Bx2a3iD0IjVNwgr_sxR-ES_XuaOi-CqPQf8McMsPAe1igaEdPcoeJVj1k/s1600/DSC07189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprVFfq4NQxPocVQE5N7THNiogxm-ZHj318b0ut3BR8j0RWvZlSLRXmJTmpWbG0zudGFF8Od-Gb0mNvvFRiG_Bx2a3iD0IjVNwgr_sxR-ES_XuaOi-CqPQf8McMsPAe1igaEdPcoeJVj1k/s320/DSC07189.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696612405455618240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113632968785873101.post-58500498184606494732010-12-26T16:00:00.000-08:002010-12-26T17:02:31.821-08:00A Picnic in a War Zone - Fresh Fish in Kabul<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72CcVGehQyUiAVUCPQsIhaNgN3Z1spmdIZAgTwfa9rXI0qeqUGUW4c_-TPj804DvNh1RufqnCOdYIfBOyY7vwAnsg_ceQIRI1gGO60i82Roaxa_lPW8Z5UEWVcrQG9UEaxcYYytER1rNW/s1600/IMG_0573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72CcVGehQyUiAVUCPQsIhaNgN3Z1spmdIZAgTwfa9rXI0qeqUGUW4c_-TPj804DvNh1RufqnCOdYIfBOyY7vwAnsg_ceQIRI1gGO60i82Roaxa_lPW8Z5UEWVcrQG9UEaxcYYytER1rNW/s320/IMG_0573.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In Afghanistan, most meals would include meat, usually lamb. Since I don't eat meat, I thought a fresh fish picnic sounded good. Of course, this is not a country known for its coastline. However, where there are mountains, there are rivers, streams and lakes. So the Kabul fish market is my first stop. The way the fishmonger had weaved these two fish together caught my eye. So I bought a couple "off the wall" (literally) fish and said let's clean em and cook em...</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzvcFbWOXdUzcOdSY6wPqDr6QA6RxvkVOemE4ZEMcY2UhYHyMz9EDzNJMY6aPnCAa1P4e75xOnYnFHQ00LR' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">After I saw how this guy cleaned em so efficiently right there on the sidewalk, I said, I want you to cook them as well. Now that grease looked like something that I wouldn't want to use in an automobile, much less in a wok, but at least they haven't outlawed trans fats here:</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyJdTVhiQC5Y1WST4QHVN8MDdadCqUsva6VQPGpkukXvgP6xv3E80va1XRlz0Svli5Un1Vn6R3xcUwF_LYbdA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We were now more or less ready to go. I had him put various salts and spices on it, wrap it in paper and sold! I bought some bread and some limes and it was off to the top of the nearby hill.. It was unlike anyplace I had ever been in Kabul. There was a big tomb which of course was inaccesible due to all the barbed wire, but otherwise it seemed like a dusty park on a mountaintop.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLbI1NXa_Uh-BeTFeOeDqKuwgxO2gTJpitRP-2U5DOA84jV7y2XfDBe4DCgROSVD51rMc-xZTpQjDvS3Xz-juEnTzNi5hDqczpDGZl7CST8gBtdH6f7Nj7NCQqCEADnqlmNXNgzAiC8pD/s1600/DSC07156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLbI1NXa_Uh-BeTFeOeDqKuwgxO2gTJpitRP-2U5DOA84jV7y2XfDBe4DCgROSVD51rMc-xZTpQjDvS3Xz-juEnTzNi5hDqczpDGZl7CST8gBtdH6f7Nj7NCQqCEADnqlmNXNgzAiC8pD/s320/DSC07156.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There were kids playing Cricket and some kids and adults riding horses. Of course there were ome kids begging but they were pretty mellow compared to kids in town.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPePXGsBp9kaMPaZY1W0SqwupKfsy0sopV9gKKRv_JO_xFO-gw2sOzYHTfsEUXUlQW1pYalhsl5pPS_TnTCWX0P_zAjG5rKigw8kYbxToeDsU7c0exHPrgX6u-IPyCHKXwDtupld27Zw3l/s1600/IMG_0612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPePXGsBp9kaMPaZY1W0SqwupKfsy0sopV9gKKRv_JO_xFO-gw2sOzYHTfsEUXUlQW1pYalhsl5pPS_TnTCWX0P_zAjG5rKigw8kYbxToeDsU7c0exHPrgX6u-IPyCHKXwDtupld27Zw3l/s320/IMG_0612.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGNe02IltUfvFvV59p16jSdjWTASlFvsaoVnkymmTVpN2YxlJSMZjsAo8ahGt_of-sUViQdyNBx4WNtJbOA3L80M1BrH9unJf_KCMH5px_KZrE6AS83c-yp3wMGAxbz8-vNF6yuxfAulA/s1600/IMG_0613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGNe02IltUfvFvV59p16jSdjWTASlFvsaoVnkymmTVpN2YxlJSMZjsAo8ahGt_of-sUViQdyNBx4WNtJbOA3L80M1BrH9unJf_KCMH5px_KZrE6AS83c-yp3wMGAxbz8-vNF6yuxfAulA/s320/IMG_0613.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvEm7y_3ZqapBNJ3Pip4Nu445NiYvg835349BwOk2TYMWLe8x_LzEncVI9Yq9pf0yrYs-9AIORbyvlPp0Sqm6mY10PSYeRgWzB-dOhMQznvRUrLrLVdsD-cYJZGP3K0MWSIuyAmi5qmzH/s1600/DSC07153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvEm7y_3ZqapBNJ3Pip4Nu445NiYvg835349BwOk2TYMWLe8x_LzEncVI9Yq9pf0yrYs-9AIORbyvlPp0Sqm6mY10PSYeRgWzB-dOhMQznvRUrLrLVdsD-cYJZGP3K0MWSIuyAmi5qmzH/s320/DSC07153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cBChqtg3iUIpxZl0v_kDBPGL3v5QXA7Ir-x9KARQFaThxawV_CRp4ca6kCTuV0HpPVm4xKWjvz-eSE133kAugZSSZU6AryhX0mGwaPah9Cw03NGK4Rik6m7zAuV_Z_K7oabTOk7JriPj/s1600/IMG_0607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cBChqtg3iUIpxZl0v_kDBPGL3v5QXA7Ir-x9KARQFaThxawV_CRp4ca6kCTuV0HpPVm4xKWjvz-eSE133kAugZSSZU6AryhX0mGwaPah9Cw03NGK4Rik6m7zAuV_Z_K7oabTOk7JriPj/s400/IMG_0607.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Side story about baksheesh - When I was traveling in the third world in the 70's, I had very little money and encountered hundreds of people who had much less and asked for a gift (baksheesh). At first, I would say yes to all. That wasn't sustainable as we now say. But even as I became more hardened, there was usually one person each day who would get to me. One of the greatest gifts I ever exchanged was with a woman in Kandahar. I was getting in the back of a truck to go up to Kabul and she was holding her baby with her hand out. I can't remember what people look like who I had dinner with last night, but I remember her as if she were standing in front of me right now. In all the years since then, whenever I have faced a tough challenge or was feeling sorry for myself, I would think of her and the fact that she would trade all of her assets just for my problems. I gave her 10 Afghanis and she gave me a lifetime of contentment.</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>The Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696612405455618240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113632968785873101.post-708806858106047002010-12-25T11:38:00.000-08:002010-12-26T15:48:44.846-08:00Kabul Zoo and Picnic<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5IABIO9PRCPcKm7w8Mcbz8UJM88MAkTAhsyYNE-wMQ1wC1Gf6yVXWWKoUVTXT9uGoa1fMxTjieZK9y9Ou347-DdS-82KRrHziWqY_RUxSYxprivwRpK7ZpLYgg_mwpnCU5VIi_Ll_kQs/s1600/DSC07118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5IABIO9PRCPcKm7w8Mcbz8UJM88MAkTAhsyYNE-wMQ1wC1Gf6yVXWWKoUVTXT9uGoa1fMxTjieZK9y9Ou347-DdS-82KRrHziWqY_RUxSYxprivwRpK7ZpLYgg_mwpnCU5VIi_Ll_kQs/s640/DSC07118.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Afghanistan's only pig - Safe from butchering but not exactly living High on the Hog.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjFw-59pUwhPLltEM-a4UrCn3HRB2P1P3sqU9jwV_JeJ3Un7k2aIvrxKikMnka-gWIBvPzsB3xgCq8-cSqlBMa-zG0D56zT5T2E9f4a2FSo0sKForLdthWWBgifispuqAN-RvZosOCnd4/s1600/IMG_0578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjFw-59pUwhPLltEM-a4UrCn3HRB2P1P3sqU9jwV_JeJ3Un7k2aIvrxKikMnka-gWIBvPzsB3xgCq8-cSqlBMa-zG0D56zT5T2E9f4a2FSo0sKForLdthWWBgifispuqAN-RvZosOCnd4/s320/IMG_0578.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I get to be a tourist today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s go to the zoo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In terms of bad luck, if you are an animal, ending up in the Kabul Zoo is right down there with ending up on the dinner plate or as road kill. There were many stories about the zoo during the civil war, but even in good times, it is tricky to feed animals when you can’t feed all the people. The zoo was quite infamous during the Taliban regime. This article describes the problem. <a href="http://www.rawa.org/zoo2.htm"><span style="color: #cc0000;">http://www.rawa.org/zoo2.htm</span></a> . </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The zoo was also a victim of the civil war, when people took the animals for food. So I guess the worst fate you could imagine would be both ending up as an animal at the Kabul zoo and then ending up on a dinner plate too!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwl5e8NIUqYsKYp3zW-4QjYTmdqswTrj09aOQ9QGXOQG8Qzw-z7GWQtagkhG98dJFmI-1Etg211C6fP1EgWTZPjQOgmbq8uoGaAQ-1Da1rsOR-xpj2arbDyk5Sioi5qm0ByiLY2nApBZSs/s1600/IMG_0558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwl5e8NIUqYsKYp3zW-4QjYTmdqswTrj09aOQ9QGXOQG8Qzw-z7GWQtagkhG98dJFmI-1Etg211C6fP1EgWTZPjQOgmbq8uoGaAQ-1Da1rsOR-xpj2arbDyk5Sioi5qm0ByiLY2nApBZSs/s320/IMG_0558.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">While driving that day in Kabul, I noticed the car next to me has a W sticker in the front window that looked like Husky W. As the car went by I noticed a University of Washington sticker in the back window. Weird. I seriously never saw any other stickers in any language. I never could see the people except enough to say that the driver looked Afghani. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I already talked about eating on the street but I couldn’t resist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I will be leaving soon, so Fariq, Hussein and I decide to have a picnic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We buy some fish on the street and get it cooked and go to the top of a hill looking over Kabul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some begging kids, some horseback riders, some kite flyers, a cricket game and a graveyard; great place for a picnic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love Kabul, I will post one more post to show the picnic preparation and implementation.</span></span></div>The Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696612405455618240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113632968785873101.post-64404280242491673362010-12-25T11:27:00.000-08:002010-12-26T16:51:05.592-08:00A Great Day in Kabul<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzc54Y2w1ggg3F4zKW_8lwXxTyufmXqX1zYusl8DgRs4Pv6dPyALXj6YKmSSmyNVvxPo9vT1ZaYWdhX-XMScabypDYco2jXqSt3FCvJ9FDSJsFrZhm9xTY6P-cETFif8Xn59NTWS_a-3WS/s1600/IMG_0554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzc54Y2w1ggg3F4zKW_8lwXxTyufmXqX1zYusl8DgRs4Pv6dPyALXj6YKmSSmyNVvxPo9vT1ZaYWdhX-XMScabypDYco2jXqSt3FCvJ9FDSJsFrZhm9xTY6P-cETFif8Xn59NTWS_a-3WS/s400/IMG_0554.jpg" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evidently Information and Culture are targets</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySr6trae9N-dVQSks3M-fHjwqAGCrmPcRhR6qUwhv8Cc1YkRScl-wFfh_L_aiXrUubAyaIb6dd5-La3CHx4UeDrPWcFr6QlxodM_ji0qrnDl6thoNiX8tXIrEC4aB12lyYC_c8UkKIGGA/s1600/IMG_0528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySr6trae9N-dVQSks3M-fHjwqAGCrmPcRhR6qUwhv8Cc1YkRScl-wFfh_L_aiXrUubAyaIb6dd5-La3CHx4UeDrPWcFr6QlxodM_ji0qrnDl6thoNiX8tXIrEC4aB12lyYC_c8UkKIGGA/s400/IMG_0528.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeWpuz4hFUQL5owcEFVe43xd_e-18tmAz1boKH10PqUZ_IklDXlZvXT9SG3zVagkjs0hABCc6D9iC2WXfOeW1-z7XItHcC-1UPQ76KajtVpF7eZ-TRlmvx40VhiBEHLJMjLa3VwRUfRQu/s1600/IMG_0455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeWpuz4hFUQL5owcEFVe43xd_e-18tmAz1boKH10PqUZ_IklDXlZvXT9SG3zVagkjs0hABCc6D9iC2WXfOeW1-z7XItHcC-1UPQ76KajtVpF7eZ-TRlmvx40VhiBEHLJMjLa3VwRUfRQu/s320/IMG_0455.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Atefi</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have been traveling in Kabul without the benefit of the security team that theoretically keeps you safer but basically keeps you in a cage. I have felt very comfortable in a Toyota Tercel with the windows down. I am lucky to have some Afghanis to hang out with, including my former student (at the UW Law school) Hussein Ali Atefi. </span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today, because I would be addressing the judges in the anti-corruption courts, I had to start out at the base of a USAID contractor. It was the full meal deal in terms of security. [I have a theory; Every third guy in Kabul seems to have a gun, but I am betting that most of them haven’s been fired in a long time and may not include ammunition.] These guys’ guns looked polished and freshly fired. We were transported to the court in a fully armored vehicle with bullet proof windows (although I got burned on a waterproof watch once… they may have been just bullet resistant.) I was disappointed that we didn’t seem to have a cellphone jamming antenna like most of the SUV’s with tinted windows seem to have (jamming prevents IED’s from being set off, theoretically). There was a serious coordinated suicide bombing this morning here in Kabul, a couple miles away so these wound tight security guys are wound even tighter.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSdXMCr7z8nsyqoV0ObNnXsrQsyLN0qWsvcCeYTsSNlo6wiL2F12HD3Vy83Zz9rR0jncvMEaSW9yyeoRGhAcE-twQnh9-nIqsn7Zm8y4BJyXJ0PpeWJgkaqzWIW8KBEzQ3qtVdvcPKvlM/s1600/DSC07052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSdXMCr7z8nsyqoV0ObNnXsrQsyLN0qWsvcCeYTsSNlo6wiL2F12HD3Vy83Zz9rR0jncvMEaSW9yyeoRGhAcE-twQnh9-nIqsn7Zm8y4BJyXJ0PpeWJgkaqzWIW8KBEzQ3qtVdvcPKvlM/s320/DSC07052.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe with Chief Judge of Anti-corruption Court for Afghanistan</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The judges were really nice and a great audience. I spoke about evidentiary tools for proving guilt in financial crimes, but also wanted to remind them how important their job is in the emerging Afghanistan. Corruption is endemic and the flood of money into this poor country faster than it can be put to good use is creating an entire corrupt sub-economy. Because we are filling a coffee cup with a fire hose, it is no surprise that we are teaching people to live off the amounts we spill.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2JQSQDmNPjF-p6Ch8md1Z9F3R0EL2PpJUKzsazqtA4niEzKQtKXZ16Zdu_DJw5n74qvswhG3piSmedPZxdzSBKqTQtOzY43zdtWQgxAeg9tOySGJSMwffDzxFdJdqY5-oByQD-Gsacri/s1600/DSC07050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2JQSQDmNPjF-p6Ch8md1Z9F3R0EL2PpJUKzsazqtA4niEzKQtKXZ16Zdu_DJw5n74qvswhG3piSmedPZxdzSBKqTQtOzY43zdtWQgxAeg9tOySGJSMwffDzxFdJdqY5-oByQD-Gsacri/s640/DSC07050.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The judges were wonderfully receptive and welcoming. We talked about power and corruption and temptation and rationalization. Their job is one of the toughest in the country. While I was there, one of the judges in the same court but in Mazar I Sharif was arrested and charged with corruption. He claims that he was set up by someone senior in the government. Who knows?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlPMx6X0sCyEzyH1MNQEjORtsvuNXgF7HgOKORzavPj_qdQpjloqFk77GtjiMNBWFNewGrQqTUuhp3F2AluVVKx-mBdJUxllBgji4mIPpt3AVw4LBALs83mAlYWIK_Ae94m3FZbPxFj-a/s1600/DSC07087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlPMx6X0sCyEzyH1MNQEjORtsvuNXgF7HgOKORzavPj_qdQpjloqFk77GtjiMNBWFNewGrQqTUuhp3F2AluVVKx-mBdJUxllBgji4mIPpt3AVw4LBALs83mAlYWIK_Ae94m3FZbPxFj-a/s320/DSC07087.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hammer and 3 Burkas</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">After my talk, I was anxious to get back in a regular car with Afghanis and windows which roll down. We called my guy and my hosts called their security contingent. My guy was there in a couple minutes and the fancy guys were stuck in traffic. </span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I went to Chicken street to do a little shopping and mostly to hang out in a place I hadn’t been for 36 years. It was the neighborhood where a lot of people on the hippie trail hung out in the 70’s. There was a bombing which killed a foreign girl there a few years back but it has been safe since and some things haven’t changed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhp8GWPNejf76E8NupLhZOFgMKaR_8P2uI3VZdzQG034wiiITF7PFf36Zk5MDy5uUTE2a5q5kyB2JXs7AfxhAEwo-IrtAlzPvIg-I3fe_WSjPSVZz9AGqknNjEeLXemUI65g9p68VVARKK/s1600/IMG_0453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhp8GWPNejf76E8NupLhZOFgMKaR_8P2uI3VZdzQG034wiiITF7PFf36Zk5MDy5uUTE2a5q5kyB2JXs7AfxhAEwo-IrtAlzPvIg-I3fe_WSjPSVZz9AGqknNjEeLXemUI65g9p68VVARKK/s320/IMG_0453.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Later in the evening, I had dinner with an old friend</span> <span style="font-size: large;">and client. He is over here doing deals and about to take the chance of his lifetime starting a new company in an industry that is vital for Afghanistan and one which he knows well. How cool to be in the same city with him at this unusual time after all these years.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_7QAZwjYgSQQ-RLpyUgP-wgDqnLKra44xalWjSW10GW3OpNQzCMALjcNWYqDfARNCWk2NITXYyBBkhO14lsGfcm3Ie4fl5vQ7HoDORqWsDa-HokPt77EktcVzzvR9P1el5YZHHeCWkTW/s1600/DSC07076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_7QAZwjYgSQQ-RLpyUgP-wgDqnLKra44xalWjSW10GW3OpNQzCMALjcNWYqDfARNCWk2NITXYyBBkhO14lsGfcm3Ie4fl5vQ7HoDORqWsDa-HokPt77EktcVzzvR9P1el5YZHHeCWkTW/s320/DSC07076.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">There are so many faces in Afghanistan that there isn't one look. That helped me be unobtrusive. With my beard and hat I didn't look quiote right and didn't look quite wrong, so unless someone talked to me, I did not attract much attention. One of my favorite things was that in north (Mazar) I never saw another Westerner.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kids are kids everywhere and I remember being amazed years ago seeing kids rolling a wheel (bike tire or equivalent) in the street. It reminded me of photos I had seen of America in the last century. It is common in Africa and as the following video shows, it is till the norm in Afghanistan. The kid in the video came so close to being one of the hundreds hit by cars each day that my heart almost stopped while watching it.... </span></div><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=AD6v5dzOSuSJlb7jw7d_2l8564jk7zEqAQfz7ui3qa7ARyZmIYsEXj4i_FA0azZwpqyKxVpJWX0r5TPMBAfW9tfO' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><a name='more'></a>The Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696612405455618240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113632968785873101.post-88754875015870910222010-12-19T10:21:00.000-08:002010-12-19T10:21:47.309-08:00Eating Wrong in Afghanistan - 3 stories from the old days<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDmZf3crDZniM_jrkQ38X74CPU6KvMPJf6pVEW07fbfSbHBnADXl5UIxXr-4kWe6p8ah-3_VEIAdRRWwnFqv2-jw8NTDfk_S6BFzbhKNULvZz2ENduNm5gLkqSwIYNYE-gRuQo6M9Syvv/s1600/Caravan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDmZf3crDZniM_jrkQ38X74CPU6KvMPJf6pVEW07fbfSbHBnADXl5UIxXr-4kWe6p8ah-3_VEIAdRRWwnFqv2-jw8NTDfk_S6BFzbhKNULvZz2ENduNm5gLkqSwIYNYE-gRuQo6M9Syvv/s320/Caravan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I am using my current trip to Afghanistan to tell some stories from my first time here in the 70's. One of the coolest things is that I traveled by myself and my parents and girlfriend (now my perfect wife) had only a vague idea of where I was going. I also didn't carry a camera because taking pictures was too... I don't know, but I am sure I had some 70's hippie theory. I wish I had photos, so for this entry I am using some taken by others. The stories are mine and the photos are accurate.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMdsT7pIm1hVUiw49Aio7fa60idYS6MEeBFqQxLGOhKuKqjw47cp0lFAu86UySnACsGsEF-A1FhvY2Bs8_1JnXcdJtC_uPTuL0b0e-eaYK-fSgf8ZoySCOnDSWM5TQJlb52WXhkWJ5_OS/s1600/Herat+in+1970%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMdsT7pIm1hVUiw49Aio7fa60idYS6MEeBFqQxLGOhKuKqjw47cp0lFAu86UySnACsGsEF-A1FhvY2Bs8_1JnXcdJtC_uPTuL0b0e-eaYK-fSgf8ZoySCOnDSWM5TQJlb52WXhkWJ5_OS/s320/Herat+in+1970%2527s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recall getting sick here in Afghanistan years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is always a little more intimidating when you are traveling by yourself since you have to solve your own problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am traveling alone now too but lots of people know where I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On my first trip, I was truly on my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember feeling the need to use the toilet (a hole in the ground which sometimes had the luxury of an adjacent water bucket) and going in there to find no solid result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would go back to hang with my fellow travelers and immediately feel the same urge again. Very irritating. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got my Afghan friend Jahlil to get me some opium which, instead of smoking, I rolled up and ate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slept for two days and woke up completely stopped up. That was in Herat.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember in Kandahar eating food cooked by the street vendors who would put plates of hot food out on a blanket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I clearly remember having to wave off the flies to see what it was and then digging in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t do that now.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One friend did get quite sick. He was a Brit named Nigel who wore yellow tinted granny glasses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hadn’t been feeling very well and we were all sitting around talking and he took off his glasses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all looked at each other thinking, “who is going to tell Nigel that the whites of his eyes are the color of his glasses”; almost as if the sun had burned the color of the glasses right through to his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We g</span>ot him to the Kabul hospital and he had hepatitis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately there was some hassle with the UK who wouldn’t let him come back until he got healthy and the Afghans who wanted him gone since he was also dead broke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t really remember how that one turned out but I am sure he was ok.</span></span></div>The Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696612405455618240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113632968785873101.post-8443163155103301272010-12-18T10:20:00.000-08:002010-12-18T21:42:27.099-08:00From Mazar to Kabul<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRagyAXZUlZKV8XprrV3ySyjKHZCImfOUILmvbbRXhtl_zvX9-rw9pIE59xuMLIbLzEmiExPV9-A3e1ATzqbvhHgZR_zSI8OiG3GSAagCEZQIJY9IwmjaP9jM73vD-9hFDXMwS5nCFg_EV/s1600/IMG_0457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRagyAXZUlZKV8XprrV3ySyjKHZCImfOUILmvbbRXhtl_zvX9-rw9pIE59xuMLIbLzEmiExPV9-A3e1ATzqbvhHgZR_zSI8OiG3GSAagCEZQIJY9IwmjaP9jM73vD-9hFDXMwS5nCFg_EV/s320/IMG_0457.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Up early to depart and off to the Mazar airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plane delayed, no make that canceled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least we were in a comfortable waiting area. See photo.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also when Pamir Air cancels, they may be saving your life as their safety record is wanting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In May they crashed on a run from the North into Kabul killing all 44.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIX6MCUS_uwg4ew0iMbVlF2KEkIfqdSpaadC0CwQ_xjrglmLJB-4IzVdY7LYskZOd2lQt4vnTvkOo7qQTh_MNOk6RSm2-5cMLZhZcRCS3tvX5TrZ-mWPataH8F7ztw6Kl9c09quAVK3Vk/s1600/kamcrash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIX6MCUS_uwg4ew0iMbVlF2KEkIfqdSpaadC0CwQ_xjrglmLJB-4IzVdY7LYskZOd2lQt4vnTvkOo7qQTh_MNOk6RSm2-5cMLZhZcRCS3tvX5TrZ-mWPataH8F7ztw6Kl9c09quAVK3Vk/s320/kamcrash.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Flights are full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bus is an option, but Hussein says that even he will only go by bus in traditional Afghan clothes, so I need to go shopping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Driving is another option as very few problems have been reported recently but Taliban’s progress in the neighboring province makes me nervous.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJexQrYEdTi-v9xp_yc8mt8MLQvWVa4qFbSGJ1yIQE-loC6fwyRD2iH8YO5gpnEPMtHh92rVKl-KZrO9RuQeuhMeixr8u9Xs_h8CxhxQ4JMrYsU7TqZE3vfA0bSImN5bTAeR61heg7eiJ/s1600/DSC07000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJexQrYEdTi-v9xp_yc8mt8MLQvWVa4qFbSGJ1yIQE-loC6fwyRD2iH8YO5gpnEPMtHh92rVKl-KZrO9RuQeuhMeixr8u9Xs_h8CxhxQ4JMrYsU7TqZE3vfA0bSImN5bTAeR61heg7eiJ/s320/DSC07000.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fortunately Kam airways comes through and I am on the 1:30 flight. There last serious crash was 5 years ago which they say with pride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course it was the deadliest in Afghan aviation history, killing all 104 passengers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These guys are cutthroat competitors; when you Google “Pamir Airways Crash” there is a paid ad for Kam Air.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4y7NlQjyle4raFtmvaxeY0Ca5T4LZLKysbAaqWGkPcjGM4-_1eqOswso-aOwzaiXWCEiaS4119NHmfjxxUzDIH0xpZol72J-GpjRQPb8Scg6RLHtKqE_wM5f0yTrMebhhRQkJCo85LbfC/s1600/IMG_0458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4y7NlQjyle4raFtmvaxeY0Ca5T4LZLKysbAaqWGkPcjGM4-_1eqOswso-aOwzaiXWCEiaS4119NHmfjxxUzDIH0xpZol72J-GpjRQPb8Scg6RLHtKqE_wM5f0yTrMebhhRQkJCo85LbfC/s320/IMG_0458.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJexQrYEdTi-v9xp_yc8mt8MLQvWVa4qFbSGJ1yIQE-loC6fwyRD2iH8YO5gpnEPMtHh92rVKl-KZrO9RuQeuhMeixr8u9Xs_h8CxhxQ4JMrYsU7TqZE3vfA0bSImN5bTAeR61heg7eiJ/s1600/DSC07000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This time we leave the waiting area and get frisked 4 times and all bags searched two times thoroughly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave salmon pills to the first guy and a JOE bracelet (which I told him everyone in America is wearing) to the other guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We eventually finished the ¼ mile gauntlet and got to the terminal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ojLm-hz50X9KnXL97qOSE6xA_FYllNfhVkwVguZqNrxwXdkIpG2H4gqpkvhvjphbq6bzTUE2j75fa4ntZDDX9Zz_uEsIIVeEoe7_kVeEHHYJyB1zDTRqlJb16YHqpmB-AUgMkuQKkg-e/s1600/IMG_0464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ojLm-hz50X9KnXL97qOSE6xA_FYllNfhVkwVguZqNrxwXdkIpG2H4gqpkvhvjphbq6bzTUE2j75fa4ntZDDX9Zz_uEsIIVeEoe7_kVeEHHYJyB1zDTRqlJb16YHqpmB-AUgMkuQKkg-e/s320/IMG_0464.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>They directed us into an old hangar; pretty sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Explosion and helocpters. This guy didn't flinch!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of a sudden there was a bunch of helocopters buzzing the field and a teeth shaking explosion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got up and went out to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weird, because I was the only one to move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not sure if that meant I was the only guy curious about this everyday event or I was the only guy dumb enough to walk TOWARD an explosion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, nothing more came of it except lots of military guys on the runways.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got back to Kabul exhausted but upgraded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Gandamack was full so I am at the Serena which is very nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to be teased about being able to put a nice spin on anything (“Brotherton, you could shine shit” was a phrase I heard more than once.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But these guys are the pros.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Serena actually promotes the fact that it has not been bombed since the suicide bombers in 2008 killed only 4 people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Side story – Why travel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I encourage all my kids to travel as much as they can to as many interesting places as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the reasons is that when you are home or on a subway or on a beach reading, the book will come alive when it refers to a place you have been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book I am reading keeps referring to the Serena Hotel Bombing, which is not really the best illustration of the point, but reading that inside the Serena 24 months after the event is kind of cool. </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Why go to Afghanistan now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tia asked this question for which I had no good answer, except that the opportunity arose now and I am old enough to know that an opportunity deferred may be an opportunity missed. (Or as Rhoady used to say to Riley, “At our age, a penny saved is a penny wasted.”) </span></span></i><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Megan asked why go to someplace that most of the people who are there would give anything to get out of?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was tougher because it sounded just like the kind of thing I would say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The interesting thing is that life is pretty much going on as usual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Afghans are known for their resiliency and it shows.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One weird aspect of staying at the Serena (in addition to very tight security) is the characters you see here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A war zone where money is (over)flowing attracts some interesting characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are mercenaries and look the role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sense that the people of Kabul who used to love Americans (because they thought we were all people with long hair who smiled all the time) feel differently now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is partly because of the war machine that is here but I think the mercenaries do not represent us well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I noticed a friendlier attitude in Mazar than here.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I saw a lot of Kabul today including Babur’s Gardens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a great place of relative tranquility in this crazy city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guy wouldn’t let me pay the Afghan rate of 50 cents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My silly beard hat and scarf had him going until he got right in my face and asked something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I counted to ten in Farsi which didn’t impress him at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The honky rate is $5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ks1rA_ZQHwDmLwKJHERUOn4m1x8coSRVRhzTJsRgwAT7IHfapk_5FvQDmLDM92QaeoCQ_qOStEEQFm4Dqx_5sXmkFKRFfGelgOXGvItXbGLwlQLpNLK0CzfSi_kRQZVdxq1l1hEPcECu/s1600/DSC07032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ks1rA_ZQHwDmLwKJHERUOn4m1x8coSRVRhzTJsRgwAT7IHfapk_5FvQDmLDM92QaeoCQ_qOStEEQFm4Dqx_5sXmkFKRFfGelgOXGvItXbGLwlQLpNLK0CzfSi_kRQZVdxq1l1hEPcECu/s320/DSC07032.JPG" width="187" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The incense from this little <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>guy was an extra quarter. He would swing that incense burner at me, although as best I could tell it was only burning charcoal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still to smell like smoke is a bargain for 25 cents.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The gardens were great and I especially enjoyed hanging there and I enjoyed Babur's tomb and being with my friend Hussein and my new brother Quaderi. He even called his son to tell him he has a new Uncle Joe.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuPtBXkrtnGPzER8VcLjd9tvkYKlu-NM4X4YgqZXjT2eMZKRgWlLJeuZ0cp0i4zHMjXk4oTeTpq8by86TYU-LEN6LCY9TF2enaJRPoMGIkXFcsXsPZViqwMQnV17KQGD-G_Jr90MeFlvj/s1600/DSC07026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuPtBXkrtnGPzER8VcLjd9tvkYKlu-NM4X4YgqZXjT2eMZKRgWlLJeuZ0cp0i4zHMjXk4oTeTpq8by86TYU-LEN6LCY9TF2enaJRPoMGIkXFcsXsPZViqwMQnV17KQGD-G_Jr90MeFlvj/s320/DSC07026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Touring around the City, we saw cool things on all sides. I love meat scenes in the third world; reminds me to keep up the vegetarianism.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZNRtzYfHkIHtP1fygViyTRKnpaFoBgm5KHPWqyFkUZSMHeOs39TkOAGDibnwhi2XAqorEW3AEmQit8OezG-qJEY9fgm81nS-aGBKjQbCLLo6cDi1psJmqqyeokSevLKzgFEoOFcOpyy5/s1600/DSC07016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZNRtzYfHkIHtP1fygViyTRKnpaFoBgm5KHPWqyFkUZSMHeOs39TkOAGDibnwhi2XAqorEW3AEmQit8OezG-qJEY9fgm81nS-aGBKjQbCLLo6cDi1psJmqqyeokSevLKzgFEoOFcOpyy5/s320/DSC07016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiS5zEWySdrAvXJGxgKnPsViaGm6g4PCgwMd2t8DvjRPt8wxDETSv14eeZCMuXqbtj7dxkz3BobsgnZwRBUhp6d3caHPwHLDpgaP6YWaOtmMpt4NhVBLkLSnS8OKRBe-pCJvVa2eDz-7P/s1600/DSC07034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiS5zEWySdrAvXJGxgKnPsViaGm6g4PCgwMd2t8DvjRPt8wxDETSv14eeZCMuXqbtj7dxkz3BobsgnZwRBUhp6d3caHPwHLDpgaP6YWaOtmMpt4NhVBLkLSnS8OKRBe-pCJvVa2eDz-7P/s320/DSC07034.JPG" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="206" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also saw my second Great Wall. The first one is of course in China but this one has its own great story.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Legend has it that a 6th century Afghan king was so worried about the security of his city, Kabul, that he forced all his male subjects to build a wall on the hilltops surrounding the town. Those that were too lazy, tired or sick to work would be buried in the wall's foundations. The peasants eventually revolted, killing the king and burying his remains along with the commoners he persecuted. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">I saw a car wearing a Burka<span style="font-family: Verdana;">:</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana;">and alot of damage from the Civil War:</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #f3f3f3;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #f3f3f3;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">I had a great afghan meal tonight at place called Sufi with an old friend from Seattle who has been here most of the last ten years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tomorrow, Sunday, I know will be interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I will be addressing the judges of the anti-corruption courts. </span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="background-color: #444444;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnooJveMWGu0xutVKnLKlPt51ZEjULXyqm7M-eMNj2iB9dtokfqESHnm7uYvxBPQdnsd7WDDv-t51Zk7KYEy3rEI8_X_hH1dCW3kcHH6fbFd5FnuQufrypWnPiJwpWcbe44S-T68O-SWf/s1600/DSC07035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: black;"></span></a></div>The Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696612405455618240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113632968785873101.post-712496839108760402010-12-16T08:30:00.000-08:002010-12-26T16:59:11.335-08:00Mazar i Sharif<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmoQkjE_oi4BpQpj_I4HyNanUYtzK5WzOMlZGN44YHGAN4uiUyIdsmRkIARuw7AzrtrhvBhS44z64PerMAFhy3RMUQSbanow0jJHUEnFA1mMioOR8ShUqrzdAGm9Nn3vI2rURMzFMkRrq/s1600/DSC06905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmoQkjE_oi4BpQpj_I4HyNanUYtzK5WzOMlZGN44YHGAN4uiUyIdsmRkIARuw7AzrtrhvBhS44z64PerMAFhy3RMUQSbanow0jJHUEnFA1mMioOR8ShUqrzdAGm9Nn3vI2rURMzFMkRrq/s320/DSC06905.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkXAag4M2GNXnZYtEli6oBYcXiGXnq8kN0m2I9g20Ry5C79U9qnBCS0KPMN9lVmQgt5e3wom6HzHslY9Pe6w1Ppo1iFrS9xUJQLPFWQfDpS0YZ0S7nzZbxYBi30um9usV5CAgvkYk6O6s/s1600/DSC06907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkXAag4M2GNXnZYtEli6oBYcXiGXnq8kN0m2I9g20Ry5C79U9qnBCS0KPMN9lVmQgt5e3wom6HzHslY9Pe6w1Ppo1iFrS9xUJQLPFWQfDpS0YZ0S7nzZbxYBi30um9usV5CAgvkYk6O6s/s320/DSC06907.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had to pick up Mr. Atefi which proved a little more challenging in the dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He lives near the airport and we found him and headed for the security gauntlet that is part of flying in Afghanistan. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were now bound for <strong>Mazar I Sharif</strong>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flight was great on a Pamir Air Boeing 737 and the plane conveniently dropped us off right at baggage claim, which was basically outside next to the plane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a long walk through and past several security stations and checkpoints to where we found our car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to the unnamed Guesthouse which is trying hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has a doorman both outside and inside the door, both armed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There I met Patty who is teaching ESL to the Law Faculty who managed my schedule for Mazar.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmN-LQn6Fjg5p0GdL8db9ZSE57BAFujVvnoyJR8MEsxsAOc_CSRspwx3kwrfpPeIFz29h5Z1J7EG054cTBfswr8cBb0HT6ZFcflc_3jwre8dGb6NZuQWT4VtIJ68hw-WHOppufQlVxuXy6/s1600/DSC06918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmN-LQn6Fjg5p0GdL8db9ZSE57BAFujVvnoyJR8MEsxsAOc_CSRspwx3kwrfpPeIFz29h5Z1J7EG054cTBfswr8cBb0HT6ZFcflc_3jwre8dGb6NZuQWT4VtIJ68hw-WHOppufQlVxuXy6/s320/DSC06918.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EeH1_W3n-LS8btdEwswyd5h78hBB-HGullGS-uZeUH00Z79Cg10gvB0_J6p6qNPXiTVanc8jf7AhlfrCy4URlleGVvaII-lHQB43ZtDXrINcT9VXAooqlU_izdFhHyISYyiuSP6w5LMM/s1600/DSC06944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="189" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EeH1_W3n-LS8btdEwswyd5h78hBB-HGullGS-uZeUH00Z79Cg10gvB0_J6p6qNPXiTVanc8jf7AhlfrCy4URlleGVvaII-lHQB43ZtDXrINcT9VXAooqlU_izdFhHyISYyiuSP6w5LMM/s320/DSC06944.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe & the Dean of the Sharia Faculty</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I first addressed the Sharia law faculty which went well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After giving my prepared remarks about the importance of the law to facilitate orderly development and investment in Afghanistan, I presented three analogies between my prison teaching and what I thought Afghanistan needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally we extended the time and I spoke (and listened) about Law and Religion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very enlightening and led to some lively questions and, as is typical on discussions of religion, few answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later that day I addressed the Law and Political Science faculty, including a professor who had been among the top legal scholars in Afghanistan who Maureen and I were pleased to welcome for dinner at our home in Seattle two years ago (pictured below).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJGrgB61ZaEObrPsXxcOzw_NZk6e5DtfVJ8BPO3D6VNxOAR76JWwhHEQRGNDbbMb6ORPPGndXnRmv7fyr83l3RjVZYnGz-ALq1NFHlf9SLvLlDWl0KJFJ6p3e91NUYpvdWbm22HxWgxYS/s1600/DSC06945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJGrgB61ZaEObrPsXxcOzw_NZk6e5DtfVJ8BPO3D6VNxOAR76JWwhHEQRGNDbbMb6ORPPGndXnRmv7fyr83l3RjVZYnGz-ALq1NFHlf9SLvLlDWl0KJFJ6p3e91NUYpvdWbm22HxWgxYS/s320/DSC06945.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>They were so kind to host me for a dinner of some traditional Northern Afghani dishes at a restaurant near the University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thoroughly enjoyed the dinner, which I made it through, notwithstanding the fact that I had slept only about 8 of the preceding 48 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back home I slept like a baby, even on a thin mattress with a plywood boxsprings.</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Side note - One of my favorite things about the "memory lane" aspect of being back in Afghanistan is that, it was apparently here that I learned to put my hand on your heart as a sign of friendship. I have done it for 35 years but I didn't remember where I had picked up the habit.</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBZo5t2vIF-GLFuskAXXForXridkpk9CjWxeyG9daxb_2T_MQ3NO8b-q4vBFLzzPCld3ZlDPuu7L74Zk_Nbcfx1zHs0V0nLmUUpRv7_2Ibrng47AQG3ZAn1lOWeZCwvTOwvjCdjzV__W5/s1600/DSC06962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBZo5t2vIF-GLFuskAXXForXridkpk9CjWxeyG9daxb_2T_MQ3NO8b-q4vBFLzzPCld3ZlDPuu7L74Zk_Nbcfx1zHs0V0nLmUUpRv7_2Ibrng47AQG3ZAn1lOWeZCwvTOwvjCdjzV__W5/s320/DSC06962.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtxg29-PLvYGZC2zW6gYIr4wfUU5z54ZDKi39EzW5wpw0TShSPzN1V2tia4Uc0pydcoeTVAdD3cq34oUL-gQqcdxLfjxXePgmEPRVhDEjgRtOHw9LgNPCQBk3LRmHWXPZH4zx1lfATZye/s1600/DSC06967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtxg29-PLvYGZC2zW6gYIr4wfUU5z54ZDKi39EzW5wpw0TShSPzN1V2tia4Uc0pydcoeTVAdD3cq34oUL-gQqcdxLfjxXePgmEPRVhDEjgRtOHw9LgNPCQBk3LRmHWXPZH4zx1lfATZye/s320/DSC06967.JPG" width="219" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thursday was the festival of Ashura which is a remembrance of the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala on 10<sup>th</sup> of Muharram in the year 61 AH.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It meant things were shut down but the shrine was very active.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked through crowds with Hussein who warned me about pickpockets who come out whenever there are more people than space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was more concerned about someone realizing that even Christians think I am an infidel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was interesting and not too nerve-wracking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t feed the birds but enjoyed everyone who did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxJJIlAAemSpSbpWkJ_nfV2073DZfXQfRkRYMqDZUt-Jb5CO6EvreUjsPICVx5O4J2MZBP5KMcQjZWz3jcgiA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">I love the irony of the hands shaking in peace with the guys with guns right below. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1pKX61mvyhVsVHouMKtrziYwN7HLA54jEAZ2iqDZXm2Psuoc1ZMf-CoCw5kC4wrLgd-Dw37PYJ5W-RmpfrS4d8FPKhEpKMsmfOkUbQ5keMUNP2gpfO9gTVC85IREAYCpx72aQ4bvQN0l/s1600/DSC06980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1pKX61mvyhVsVHouMKtrziYwN7HLA54jEAZ2iqDZXm2Psuoc1ZMf-CoCw5kC4wrLgd-Dw37PYJ5W-RmpfrS4d8FPKhEpKMsmfOkUbQ5keMUNP2gpfO9gTVC85IREAYCpx72aQ4bvQN0l/s320/DSC06980.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I get nervous about a leader who puts his super-sized photo everywhere. I recall seeing photos like the one of Karzai below, but they were of the Shah in Iran in 1975. He didn't last much longer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZSMeEtXZLcPgWMzQbbPrzIU9KKKnslXwU7o2tvs1DXZx_YNeF0DA0XbWOaP4SQDNslTC04nOGGFR5YWQjCGo79muTZgHwyEfy7Zs6342IEr-bOPQDIk7-f5bjJHoAK72xnJWqOsRb1uq/s1600/DSC06982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZSMeEtXZLcPgWMzQbbPrzIU9KKKnslXwU7o2tvs1DXZx_YNeF0DA0XbWOaP4SQDNslTC04nOGGFR5YWQjCGo79muTZgHwyEfy7Zs6342IEr-bOPQDIk7-f5bjJHoAK72xnJWqOsRb1uq/s320/DSC06982.JPG" width="232" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are daily reminders of how lucky we are on our worst day:</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><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=AD6v5dy4sYBHzQcMBNyas54UQKHzgwBhCaHFaakiAXinnRQK25UGeNzT4EsD-x_GFJmQz5qTWm1pYxH4EaFDgLrnPQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span>The Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696612405455618240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113632968785873101.post-45334104083699116802010-12-16T07:51:00.000-08:002010-12-16T07:51:07.352-08:00Back to Kabul<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDnkztpFnZCOlH_TiKEd4AzRDR4YRJ_TkvXUuZ0rjyvnd41Q9XYpJLbDACjQCTkWNDLi2VayoZk2qk1MfmjsUrSdLsU_PwKCIyoy3rq8TSAHi1iUwJmCsWbl0ix_ake4osfAxlOJDGzPM/s1600/IMG_0446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDnkztpFnZCOlH_TiKEd4AzRDR4YRJ_TkvXUuZ0rjyvnd41Q9XYpJLbDACjQCTkWNDLi2VayoZk2qk1MfmjsUrSdLsU_PwKCIyoy3rq8TSAHi1iUwJmCsWbl0ix_ake4osfAxlOJDGzPM/s320/IMG_0446.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgD9GEsvBFk2KZdfkYmx964TzHGa4W14vLNH5IYoIlt0edTfeApeXRowxno3i_uJzjcPRGwBH8jBqpiTaJYOW8zSa2HpbPXjeHwJGZlVwJY80eTmnQNdy_YA3s1CTgMlu_7Pq3tnhmCiGk/s1600/IMG_0429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgD9GEsvBFk2KZdfkYmx964TzHGa4W14vLNH5IYoIlt0edTfeApeXRowxno3i_uJzjcPRGwBH8jBqpiTaJYOW8zSa2HpbPXjeHwJGZlVwJY80eTmnQNdy_YA3s1CTgMlu_7Pq3tnhmCiGk/s320/IMG_0429.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01Lp6BHOPaQs6-5c9MX5Jp7mZPU7LgUjji58_TLFdFCMaFxjN1U7Ks51nrBBu-6I1RkyrAXbXQkqx4WpU6BahUCH-QldC0i7PFagBRD31XpOUw5oANXD34znsl_qfKBJWR3khhRanLBTv/s1600/IMG_0443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01Lp6BHOPaQs6-5c9MX5Jp7mZPU7LgUjji58_TLFdFCMaFxjN1U7Ks51nrBBu-6I1RkyrAXbXQkqx4WpU6BahUCH-QldC0i7PFagBRD31XpOUw5oANXD34znsl_qfKBJWR3khhRanLBTv/s1600/IMG_0443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01Lp6BHOPaQs6-5c9MX5Jp7mZPU7LgUjji58_TLFdFCMaFxjN1U7Ks51nrBBu-6I1RkyrAXbXQkqx4WpU6BahUCH-QldC0i7PFagBRD31XpOUw5oANXD34znsl_qfKBJWR3khhRanLBTv/s320/IMG_0443.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01Lp6BHOPaQs6-5c9MX5Jp7mZPU7LgUjji58_TLFdFCMaFxjN1U7Ks51nrBBu-6I1RkyrAXbXQkqx4WpU6BahUCH-QldC0i7PFagBRD31XpOUw5oANXD34znsl_qfKBJWR3khhRanLBTv/s1600/IMG_0443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">As we approach Kabul by air, it seems to be protected by the mountains around it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Customs was easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was pleased to have been advised to find the table (unmarked) in the baggage area and to have two identical passport photos with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was issued a foreigner’s registration card in addition to the visa already in my passport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is apparently a big hassle if you fail to complete this step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leaving customs was similar to many third world countries although less frenetic than some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was to meet someone who said he would put JOE on a sign although he would not be allowed to leave the parking area so I would need to walk there outside of the secured airport area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, Mr. Quaderi was there in the airport and found me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we walked to the parking area, he introduced me to a woman from Uganda who works in logistics at the UN office where Mr. Q has his day job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was great to tell her of our visits and our interest in her country, especially that my wife had just visited two weeks ago.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogR6IRJx8IzwnNf4QlTSHyZM-4eBxg3qiE4V23SbxiNe_Hi69YQlAua2nFBwkWwTtvFuftrKKfDABQhG3mJX5CuvoANwsPZMZkbBaimGStBPVxBk86AiLyicKycVy3qM7TQUCNgAvaYIi/s1600/IMG_0445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogR6IRJx8IzwnNf4QlTSHyZM-4eBxg3qiE4V23SbxiNe_Hi69YQlAua2nFBwkWwTtvFuftrKKfDABQhG3mJX5CuvoANwsPZMZkbBaimGStBPVxBk86AiLyicKycVy3qM7TQUCNgAvaYIi/s320/IMG_0445.jpg" width="266" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Driving into Kabul it became clear that things have changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Near the airport, many people had guns, some had uniforms and some were “undercover” (or as undercover as you can be with an ak-47).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The streets were clogged with traffic and the driving was comparable to other places in Asia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was to be deposited at the Gandamack, a classic guesthouse favored by ex-pats and journalists from around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They must not get much walk-in business because there was no signage, only a guard and a door in the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After some discussion, our car was allowed in to an area with another armed guard and people to inspect it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ultimately I took my bag and walked in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The place is rustic but nice enough and more interesting than many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a Flashman fan it was great to see that Harry is revered here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(If you haven’t read the Flashman books, I recommend them.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The owner has collected some interesting armaments that are on display throughout.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvBDskTosUVZVDtjU_iq6nPD44tXGwGzsZzuNLdp2FQjZSjFXFPKDvC9i-WvHkPF46TxY5FM4s86_k5HhYke-uPz7-L9xoWY8lD__avjAX5yH0nXXjhjER6aThslCdqJkl9RqHwRbHeyH/s1600/DSC06903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvBDskTosUVZVDtjU_iq6nPD44tXGwGzsZzuNLdp2FQjZSjFXFPKDvC9i-WvHkPF46TxY5FM4s86_k5HhYke-uPz7-L9xoWY8lD__avjAX5yH0nXXjhjER6aThslCdqJkl9RqHwRbHeyH/s320/DSC06903.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I settled into to room #9, there was a knock and my friend (and a student of mine last year at the UW law school), Hussein Ali Atefi was there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was great to see him on his home turf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He agreed to accompany me in the morning to Mazar i Sharif but went home to sleep as he was ill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before he left, Mark Hough with whom I served on the UW Law School Foundation, knocked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was also great to see him and he indicated that he would be in the Flashman Bar and I was invited to join him and his guest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark is working with US AID there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suzanne Griffin who was a fellow Villa parent 35 years ago also arrived and joined us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has been working here for a number of years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her husband Mike (who was also a friend from the old days and who is now sadly, deceased) was in Afghanistan with the Peace Corps when I was last here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suzanne is raising money to build a school in his honor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I headed for bed as I needed to depart for the airport at 5 for a 7am flight to Mazar I Sharif.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">4:30am came too soon but the water was hot for a shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was out the door on schedule, bags in hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was pitch black which is the only excuse I have for walking off two foot drop thinking it was flat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dirty and bruised I got up and determined that I was still good to go, albeit with a very tender knee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no one at the desk which is my excuse for the e-mail which came a day or two later saying you haven’t paid your bill. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDnkztpFnZCOlH_TiKEd4AzRDR4YRJ_TkvXUuZ0rjyvnd41Q9XYpJLbDACjQCTkWNDLi2VayoZk2qk1MfmjsUrSdLsU_PwKCIyoy3rq8TSAHi1iUwJmCsWbl0ix_ake4osfAxlOJDGzPM/s1600/IMG_0446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDnkztpFnZCOlH_TiKEd4AzRDR4YRJ_TkvXUuZ0rjyvnd41Q9XYpJLbDACjQCTkWNDLi2VayoZk2qk1MfmjsUrSdLsU_PwKCIyoy3rq8TSAHi1iUwJmCsWbl0ix_ake4osfAxlOJDGzPM/s1600/IMG_0446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01Lp6BHOPaQs6-5c9MX5Jp7mZPU7LgUjji58_TLFdFCMaFxjN1U7Ks51nrBBu-6I1RkyrAXbXQkqx4WpU6BahUCH-QldC0i7PFagBRD31XpOUw5oANXD34znsl_qfKBJWR3khhRanLBTv/s1600/IMG_0443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696612405455618240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113632968785873101.post-26144055148501263932010-12-14T09:14:00.000-08:002010-12-14T09:15:56.589-08:00Flying Safi Air<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mpUKofsWqkECOkTvGY3zhFYKCyz9Ix2pW7emmZSLEqmtgiH1RI9Bt_AQArDygzVxksLIUELBX0HqtGcA1t7MKCjctOO0XvJPh8tgmAaZ02ZI6Tvj8ILFEjQPkOdCT44ydWMcz_6vB4lj/s1600/IMG_0413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 249px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 208px;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mpUKofsWqkECOkTvGY3zhFYKCyz9Ix2pW7emmZSLEqmtgiH1RI9Bt_AQArDygzVxksLIUELBX0HqtGcA1t7MKCjctOO0XvJPh8tgmAaZ02ZI6Tvj8ILFEjQPkOdCT44ydWMcz_6vB4lj/s320/IMG_0413.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6dv7X3N5EB9RUcBEYm6rRkCdQY68eDsYJ_Ynhab3W4yFywgqbOJev9kHUBX0YjC4fQa4__1PJKGat_GIw8jZZ1B4EC6RkY_1B5gJnoXX1ocypH7NEnVDn9yNpJijXU_LLshQ5LeLfuaK/s1600/IMG_0414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6dv7X3N5EB9RUcBEYm6rRkCdQY68eDsYJ_Ynhab3W4yFywgqbOJev9kHUBX0YjC4fQa4__1PJKGat_GIw8jZZ1B4EC6RkY_1B5gJnoXX1ocypH7NEnVDn9yNpJijXU_LLshQ5LeLfuaK/s320/IMG_0414.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Only in Dubai... Maybachs at Duty Free!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">‘You’re in luck, Mr. Brotherton’, the Safi Airways (The International Airlines of Afghanistan) agent declared on check-in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Today we are using our really big aircraft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually the plane is much smaller.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why I didn’t feel as lucky as he encouraged me to, I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another on-time departure, leaving the gate 45 minutes late, to wait on the tarmac for 45 more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leaving Dubai during the day was a treat in that it afforded me the opportunity to see this amazing place from the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is literally a city crawling out into the sea, a la Amsterdam or Venice, without the old world charm but with better weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look forward to returning to swim in the gulf and marvel at the architecture.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04CFJ1w98Q6OSwxgLhuZyDvECoBAG9Iv6ab4fEyMUCvZT1iucy55zSG5kECIQJwASGiXOFDma9SilDeE6ZN-SxncKrceEf-0veyP41W4zWuZ-wSX2waFVmzUohJSE67mbnLTaOsqFIIdk/s1600/IMG_0423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04CFJ1w98Q6OSwxgLhuZyDvECoBAG9Iv6ab4fEyMUCvZT1iucy55zSG5kECIQJwASGiXOFDma9SilDeE6ZN-SxncKrceEf-0veyP41W4zWuZ-wSX2waFVmzUohJSE67mbnLTaOsqFIIdk/s320/IMG_0423.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqLu-1vOXr81gfSDqc55rvyUSLTABzcZGnonyOyNCu4WKgGmJ6DKnpjl0NylonW2vUTqBW6TCLpWkBtGuWKGbQcavXpJ9GIiziu77B_C_xgyIpoaqKrA_Ehhd67fGdMXVO98SIcSRfVrz/s1600/IMG_0430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqLu-1vOXr81gfSDqc55rvyUSLTABzcZGnonyOyNCu4WKgGmJ6DKnpjl0NylonW2vUTqBW6TCLpWkBtGuWKGbQcavXpJ9GIiziu77B_C_xgyIpoaqKrA_Ehhd67fGdMXVO98SIcSRfVrz/s320/IMG_0430.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDuIpkZpM7uHom4yNH6BI5d2LOzG5sPn6_m4aJ_XvCyiaA4X9YGXTLybvWVKqmlqjZ6KCYx1pxImtGmnAPIn0uO5YBlG0yZB4yoYkuzt2UkcVOTbept2strxn3sUhSbJyyAoy8gm0TFDc/s1600/IMG_0436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDuIpkZpM7uHom4yNH6BI5d2LOzG5sPn6_m4aJ_XvCyiaA4X9YGXTLybvWVKqmlqjZ6KCYx1pxImtGmnAPIn0uO5YBlG0yZB4yoYkuzt2UkcVOTbept2strxn3sUhSbJyyAoy8gm0TFDc/s320/IMG_0436.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I am really amazed at the terrain from Dubai heading north.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a part of the world I have never been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The massive unoccupied desert all the way to the sea puzzles me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why no resorts? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having flown over endless foreboding Alaskan mountains dozens of times, I can reluctantly admit that I always reflect on what it would be like to end up down there (i.e., “in case of a mountain landing,…”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I would prefer the getting dumped in the Brooks Range to the Hindu Kush. These mountains that seem to be sand dunes, devoid of any vegetation go on forever. I am pleased to have just gotten a ticket to fly to Mazar I Sharif tomorrow..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I last traveled that route by road but that is no longer practical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will learn my lesson and study the map before getting on the plane.</span></div>The Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696612405455618240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113632968785873101.post-12937183032149813432010-12-13T13:16:00.000-08:002010-12-13T13:18:48.592-08:00Dubai<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrIEHkoxkVQUFePhNAVpL6cG7lugB1qTZh3lIIcl3duL4mFYce5vVNtCz93WSkoqc9lUCbbow8LPZnRXCH-akZbTxIY1yoE5riWoWyYARWMcJiNwjntibIbFJuBIcg7ra98w2jRyEfsz-/s1600/DSC06898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrIEHkoxkVQUFePhNAVpL6cG7lugB1qTZh3lIIcl3duL4mFYce5vVNtCz93WSkoqc9lUCbbow8LPZnRXCH-akZbTxIY1yoE5riWoWyYARWMcJiNwjntibIbFJuBIcg7ra98w2jRyEfsz-/s320/DSC06898.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLwgUv90ud44YMRnej-ybYSkckH8RKIl3D8NZUbKTaXj06YLhnPtXz6vRb6Pa7u27uyWlCDD0l9nybZMqpqWGlTaWfGpHc8NEn_Mqsv2YEzvXxshFEe1l8866PTH70i27w2zMueJdHxhD/s1600/DSC06896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLwgUv90ud44YMRnej-ybYSkckH8RKIl3D8NZUbKTaXj06YLhnPtXz6vRb6Pa7u27uyWlCDD0l9nybZMqpqWGlTaWfGpHc8NEn_Mqsv2YEzvXxshFEe1l8866PTH70i27w2zMueJdHxhD/s320/DSC06896.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Seattle to DC ... DC to Dubai. I admit to flying in the front and sleeping well. Dubai hotel has exceeded my expectations including a Mecca directional finder right next to my bed. Swam and relaxed, spoiled - I suspect things will change a bit in a few hours when I fly to Kabul.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Old Afghan trip story # 1. I had been in Mashad in Eastern Iran - It is one of the holiest cities for Muslims in the world and the second largest and the holiest city in Iran. I had traveled across Iran, but Mashad on Muhammad's birthday was an experience. My Persian friends dressed me appropriately and took me to the grand Mosque with the instruction that if anyone talked to me, I was to walk away quickly. After the holiday, I left Mashad for the Afghani border. The border was in a remote area with a wide no man's land between them. The Iranian side was fairly modern with the best propaganda photo I had ever seen; it was the Shah, dressed in a business suit but looking regal with the earth superimposed below him. He seemed to be bigger than life, bigger than the world. </em></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6JYZLx6GsFauYYpxW5IVBWg5y1w533SAZC6WZ1DtWE7t-R1cTbIc93IjgEm-lKwxwbShy8Do1YLTFAsOvLLSrEMB9oRpQNDonR3vBb32NVgipQW6aEpwWy4jv6VhBbcXcT3cSoT7WKgP/s1600/shah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6JYZLx6GsFauYYpxW5IVBWg5y1w533SAZC6WZ1DtWE7t-R1cTbIc93IjgEm-lKwxwbShy8Do1YLTFAsOvLLSrEMB9oRpQNDonR3vBb32NVgipQW6aEpwWy4jv6VhBbcXcT3cSoT7WKgP/s1600/shah.jpg" /></a><em>After clearing Iranian customs, such as they were, we were told that there was a bus to take us the mile or so to the Afghan side. Great, but the price though less than a kebab in Seattle now, seemed arbitrary and I refused to pay saying I could walk. Several others joined me and began the bus started following us with an ongoing negotiation. We eventually boarded and I had found a friend; Brian, a Canadian, but not covered in maple leafs, also traveling by himself to the East.</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>On arrival at the mud hut on the Afghan side, we found disheveled but uniformed guards. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that the uniforms were WWII vintage US Air force uniforms with the insignias removed. Welcome to Afghanistan circa 1974. I was asked for my immunization papers which I am certain was only a request for baksheesh since the literacy of the guards was in synch with their uniforms. My new friend Brian unfortunately had no immunization documents so had to go to the clinic, to which I accompanied him. He was to get a shot and I had to force the question to get basic sterilization for the needle. I traveled with Brian to Herat (where he was a pied piper since he had a flute and hundreds of kids would follow us as we sang, danced and he flauted.) He was still healthy a week or two later so the inoculation was innocuous. I can't imagine that tomorrow's re-entry to Afghanistan will be any weirder than my first.</em></div>The Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696612405455618240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113632968785873101.post-16487144998235010032010-12-12T12:22:00.000-08:002010-12-13T12:31:47.900-08:00My Return to AfghanistanI have begun the journey and will post my thoughts here. I suspect it will be more cathartic for me and may or may not be of interest to you. I am certain that I am at the start of a dozen of the most interesting days of my life; and I have had a very interesting life already!The Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696612405455618240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5113632968785873101.post-84135912904623291612010-12-11T15:45:00.001-08:002010-12-11T15:45:58.477-08:00WelcomeWelcome to my Afghanistan travel blog. I will update as often as possible so check back soon!The Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696612405455618240noreply@blogger.com0