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~ Stories of MacDonald Family Adventures

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Author Archives: lcmacdonald

Been a while…

09 Sunday Jun 2019

Posted by lcmacdonald in family, People, Traveling, USA

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James recently started writing again and has been pushing me to get back to it. After all, I have a lot of “spare time” on my hands. My last post was in September 2015 apparently. It is titled, “Rebirth of a Clipper“, you should check it out. We were only back in Canada a year and that was a HUGE project. I started back up with Nursing school again shortly after that post and well…I was pretty busy. So the blogging went on the back burner. I did finish Nursing school in May of 2017 and was able to work for about a year afterward before James started looking for another opportunity to move.

IMG_0677.jpegSo here we are, we’re in Utah now. I can never guess where we’ll end up next. I might as well be throwing darts at a map of the world because that would be about as accurate as any guess I might make. I recall vividly thinking I wouldn’t want to end up in Utah. “Mormon” hub and all. It seemed intimidating. After having the opportunity to visit 2 consecutive summers, the thought of moving here seemed much more exciting. Its been almost a year now in the State, though only 7 months in our first American home. I love the area we are in. It’s still developing but everything seems to be designed to encourage interaction between neighbours. Most houses have some sort of paseo that connects the front yards as well as communal firepits and parks in every corner. Then there are the people. They are friendly and talkative. This combination is the perfect recipe for fast friendships.

James has felt all these moves have been in most part a benefit for the kids and I can’t disagree. The move to the Middle East from Canada got our family back on track and helped us to focus on what is important to each of us. Moving back to Canada was an opportunity for the kids to see the family they hadn’t seen in 2 years and for Kirsten to really blossom in her art, something she just wasn’t getting overseas. Utah has been about Lilli. She has met “her people” here in the school theatre department. It has been awesome to see the success she has accomplished in this move. Jaron is trying to figure out his niche in Junior Highschool. He has some time yet before his dad gets the “itch” to find something new and then we’ll be off somewhere…wherever Jaron needs to be.

Rebirth of a Clipper

29 Tuesday Sep 2015

Posted by lcmacdonald in boat repair, Canada, Do it Yourself

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

boat, canoe, enamel, fibreglass, marine, paddles, paint, patch, repair, summer, wood

IMG_0568

First look in the daylight.

At the end of May of this year I was online looking for jobs and wondering what I was going to do with my summer now that I was all caught up in my nursing courses.  Just before preparing to head to bed I decided to log into Facebook.  Here in our little city we have a Buy and Sell Facebook page for folks in the area wishing to hawk their wares.  While scrolling through the list of items for sale I came across a lady looking to sell an old, battered, blue canoe for $20.

The Librarian was already in bed reading a book, though when I mentioned to him that there was a canoe for sale for such a low price he exclaimed, and I quote, “I’d go get it right now!”.  I was a little shocked, “right now?” “Yes, right now” he replied.  So back to the computer to reply that we would be out to pick it up as soon as possible.  The Librarian, who moments before was eager to pick up this steal of deal, sang a entirely different tune when he learned we would need to drive to Mud River (at 9:30pm), a meagre 30 min drive from our door.

IMG_0576

Needs fixing…

It took longer than necessary to get out the door as the Librarian kicked and screamed about the late hour, and length of the needed drive.  It was dark when we arrived and we were only able to locate the canoe on the property by the porch light from the front of the house.  As we attempted to load the canoe onto the van it was difficult to see the true condition of the boat.

The next day a proper inspection proved that this $20 canoe was worth the money paid.  Large cracks, holes, and a completely broken thwart and yoke were tokens of the work I had ahead of me.  That’s right, ME.  From the moment I convinced the Librarian to drive to the “middle of nowhere” in the “middle of the night” he was not going to be involved anymore.

So I borrowed some sawhorses, thanks bro-in-law, and set to work sanding.  After 3 hours of sanding I had gone through 3-1/3 sheets of sandpaper, and killed my rotary sander.  The canoe was still very, very blue.  A little discouraged I put a call out for a sander and in no time had a replacement loaner, THANK YOU!  Long story short, I stopped counting sanding hours after 24, the canoe was significantly yellower, and I was ready to fix some holes.

IMG_0680

Only a few hours in and that paint is not budging! Oh, and my sander is dead 😦

This didn’t happen right away.  I had never worked with fibreglass before and was nervous about the process.  Many forums suggested the ease of the process, and to “just follow the instructions on the container”…my container didn’t come with instructions did it?  YouTube and some trial and error and I got things figured out.  You can learn how to do anything on YouTube!

By the beginning of August I was ready for some paint…I think.  I wasn’t sure how much preparation needed to be done and if I had done enough.  So again I held off until I had read, reread and reread many forums, as well as watching several different YouTube videos over and over until I felt comfortable.  Once I felt mentally prepared to paint I went searching.  I talked to several people at Home Hardware and Home Depot about what paint to use (since neither places carry any Marine Enamel), they weren’t very helpful and even contradicted what I had read in all my research.  I was told purchasing Marine Enamel was going to be VERY expensive, and I could easily end up paying close to $100 for a quart.  This left me with the impression that I did not want to buy paint from anyone up here in the woods, does anyone around here even own a boat they have to maintain themselves… apparently not 😉

IMG_1029

Clipper Explorer 17′ river tripper discontinued in early 1980s

We had a trip planned to Vancouver and so I made sure at some point we would detour to Western Canoe and Kayak, BC’s local Clipper retailer.  A few weeks earlier when I was finishing up the sanding, I had pulled an identifier plate off that canoe.  We wrote WC&K asking them for any info they could give us.  We received this response:

 

 

The Explorer was certainly a classic. Very stable and a nice river tripping canoe. Yes this model was discontinued in the mid 80’s. The canoe was originally produced by Goddu Manufacturing in Mission. We purchased the company, Clipper Canoes and all the molds in the late 70’s.

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Clipper decals from Western Canoe & Kayak.

When we went into the store I had some pointed questions that the sales clerk couldn’t answer.  So she introduced me to the shop Wiz (a grumpy, older fellow-probably irritated about being torn away from his work).  He explained that I should be able to get the paint I needed from Canadian Tire, and sold me a set of Clipper decals for $12 (but only after I showed him the identifier plate and made an oath that the decals would only go on a Clipper).

So off to Canadian Tire I pranced. Prince George Canadian Tire had 1 quart of white Marine Enamel for $35.  Not the colour I wanted but I thought I had better grab it while it was there.  The moment I left the store, I felt like I hadn’t really shopped around enough (a run-in with my sis-in-law also confirmed that feeling), so I returned the quart and drove around to some speciality paint shops.  General Paints was my first stop but they only had “Safety Yellow” available.  This was closer to the colour I wanted but maybe too bright?  Cloverdale paints ended up being the place to go.  Not only did they have the colour I wanted, they had a whole booklet of colours for a special Nursing Student price of $22/quart.  PERFECT!

IMG_0823

Way to go Cloverdale!

Some refreshers from YouTube and I was off painting.  Sanding, then painting, sanding, then painting, sanding, then painting, sanding, then painting, and finally wet sanding.  One would think my arms would be a whole lot bigger from all the sanding I have done in the last 4 months….

4 coats in total, and it looks WAY better than before.  Not perfect, but pretty darn great for my first time ever doing something like this.  I’m not sure how to really finish it, some more YouTube research is in my future.  The gunwales will be painted white, and the yoke still needs some attention at this point.  So I’ll post an update when that is complete.

I realize this isn’t a very technical post, for those who were looking for that sort of thing.  If you would like more detailed information I’ll do my best to respond.

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Paddles hanging on the wall.

In between sanding coats of marine enamel on the canoe I decided I clearly didn’t have enough sanding to do and ended up sanding my paddles down to the wood.  They were well used while we were out of the country and required some serious TLC.  Two out of three of the paddles were worn to the wood (likely from dragging along the gunwale of the canoe) and were heavily water damaged, discolouring the wood.  Once sanded down I decided I wanted to put a little extra flair and effort into their repair.  I had thought about pyrographing a design onto the paddles, but not feeling confident in my wood burning skills decided to paint a design onto the paddles with Acrylic paint instead.  The results turned out far better than I imagined.  I finished off the paddles with several coats of an oil-based polyurethane (sanding in between coats of course) and voila, brand new paddles.

 

 

First look in the daylight.
First look in the daylight.
Needs fixing...
Needs fixing…
Only a few hours in and that paint is not budging! Oh, and my sander is dead :(
Only a few hours in and that paint is not budging! Oh, and my sander is dead 😦
Clipper Explorer 17' river tripper discontinued in early 1980s
Clipper Explorer 17′ river tripper discontinued in early 1980s
Way to go Cloverdale!
Way to go Cloverdale!
Paddles hanging on the wall.
Paddles hanging on the wall.
Clipper decals from Western Canoe & Kayak.
Clipper decals from Western Canoe & Kayak.
Found the old Clipper sticker.
Found the old Clipper sticker.
Needs fixing...
Needs fixing…
Needs fixing...
Needs fixing…
Needs fixing...
Needs fixing…
Needs fixing...I can see my lawn.
Needs fixing…I can see my lawn.
Needs fixing...
Needs fixing…
Needs fixing...
Needs fixing…
Needs fixing...
Needs fixing…
Needs fixing...
Needs fixing…
Needs fixing...
Needs fixing…
Got all my goodies. Lets fix some holes!
Got all my goodies. Lets fix some holes!
The holes got a bit bigger.
The holes got a bit bigger.
All sanded, no more blue.
All sanded, no more blue.
Ready to try this out!
Ready to try this out!
Looking yellow.
Looking yellow.
The holes got a little bigger.
The holes got a little bigger.
Final layers of fibreglass.
Final layers of fibreglass.
Damage to the Bow deck.
Damage to the Bow deck.
Yellower than its been in a while.
Yellower than its been in a while.
Final layers of fibreglass.
Final layers of fibreglass.
Feeling the burn...the fibreglass in my skin kind of burn.
Feeling the burn…the fibreglass in my skin kind of burn.
One paddle sanded, one to go.
One paddle sanded, one to go.
Wasn't efficient with my time...the resin is all set up and not where it's supposed to be.
Wasn’t efficient with my time…the resin is all set up and not where it’s supposed to be.
Starboard side repairs.
Starboard side repairs.
Thwart rejoined.
Thwart rejoined.
Damage done :(
Damage done 😦
Filling the thwart with spray foam for form, and filling the gap.
Filling the thwart with spray foam for form, and filling the gap.
Starboard side.
Starboard side.
Grey Owl bentshaft sanded to wood.
Grey Owl bentshaft sanded to wood.
Thwart rejoined.
Thwart rejoined.
Port side repairs.
Port side repairs.
Bow deck hole filled.
Bow deck hole filled.
Urethane applied without the wood conditioner.
Urethane applied without the wood conditioner.
The yoke was kinda fixed...may need a few more layers of Fiberglass.
The yoke was kinda fixed…may need a few more layers of Fiberglass.
Could use a few more coats.
Could use a few more coats.
Ready for painting :)
Ready for painting 🙂
Urethane applied without the wood conditioner.
Urethane applied without the wood conditioner.
Leather paddle hangers.
Leather paddle hangers.
All painted.
All painted.
Ready to hang.
Ready to hang.
Here is my custom color.
Here is my custom color.
1st coat of Canoe Yellow.
1st coat of Canoe Yellow.
Thwart fiberglassed and fixed.
Thwart fiberglassed and fixed.
After applying wood conditioner.
After applying wood conditioner.
Drawing in my guidelines for taping.
Drawing in my guidelines for taping.
More sanding.
More sanding.
Spar Urethane to finish the paddles.
Spar Urethane to finish the paddles.
4th coat of Canoe Yellow.
4th coat of Canoe Yellow.
Taped and ready to paint.
Taped and ready to paint.
After applying wood conditioner.
After applying wood conditioner.

 

Exporting Dogs from the UAE

25 Thursday Sep 2014

Posted by lcmacdonald in Dubai, Traveling, UAE

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We started out talking to several local boarding kennels in Dubai and Sharjah who also deal with importing and exporting pets. They were very helpful and offered up lots of information and a HEFTY price tag. We paid about $1500 CAD to get them into the country (excluding the cost of vaccinations to avoid quarantine), there’s no way I’m paying more than that to get them out. What we were quoted was closer to $4000 CAD. How hard could it be though, right? It was a hellish experience bringing them in I don’t know why we thought it would be easier heading the other direction.

Okay, really it hasn’t been that bad so far. There aren’t a crazy amount of vaccinations and money rolling out, so far so good. It’s just been stressful and frustrating. The most frustrating part of exporting our dogs out on our own is that everyone expects you to know what to do. For example, when I first started asking questions about how to export our dogs no one really knew who I should talk to. So my communications have bounced around to nearly the entire cargo department of our airline. After several months of emails and phone calls, I think I’m finally talking to the right guy (whew, only 2 weeks before we ship out). So I’m going to share with you what I’ve learned incase you’re crazy enough to try this on you own as well.

For the sake of ease, I’m just going to list in order what you need to do.

1. Look up the Government Agriculture website of your local country. Search for something that says, “pet import” or something similar. Print of the list of requirements right from the webpage, including the government header and everything (just in case).

2. Contact the cargo department of your airline and request “AVI requirements” or the process for pet export.

3. Have your pet vaccinated according to the specifications you found steps 1&2.  We were also asked to send photos of our pets (to confirm they weren’t blunt nosed), dimensions and weight of the carriers we were using, and the weight of our dogs.

4. Apply for the required Ministry Health Certificate.  This is good for 30 days.  Some countries require this certificate for import no more than 10 days before arrival, so check that with your country of import.  You can put all your animals on one certificate, so don’t apply for this more than once (even though they’ll tell you on the phone that you need one for each pet).  On the website it says you only need to wait 15 minutes to be processed.  What this really means is that 15 minutes after you drive the application number down to your shipping company, whether you’re going through Emirates or Dnata, with your pet (but don’t bring them into the office!), they will scan your pets, print off your certificate, and stamp it (can’t forget the stamp).  Done.  Also, there isn’t a single, specific location for the Ministry OF Environment and Water (MOEW) in Cargo village.  We took our dogs to the Dnata warehouse in the Dubai Airport Freezone.

5. We also required a Transit Certificate to go through Hong Kong.  This really messed us up because the airline wanted everything taken care of well in advance.  They pushed us to get the Ministry Health Certificate as soon as possible even though Canada wouldn’t allow it to be older than 10 days.  Hong Kong needed the Health Certificate before they would allow a Transit Certificate to be issued, so make sure you look into that if you aren’t making a direct flight.

6. With your ducks all in a row (certificates certified), you’re ready to go – EASY PEASY.  Unless…you’re us.  I don’t know if the guys in the cargo office don’t get along with the guys in the warehouse or what the problem is.  We were told to arrive with the dogs several hours before our flight to check them in, “no problem, no problem”.  When we arrived the warehouse guys were not happy to see us.  We were told we should have been down at the warehouse at least the day before.  Now there is a mad rush to process the dogs, get our paperwork all stamped up, and put the dogs on the plane.  It took at least 90 minutes to get two dogs through customs, and then the other shoe dropped.  “That’ll be 12,000AED (~$4000CAD).”  Um no way.  We were quoted half of that based on dimensions I sent them back in step #3!!  Here’s why this was a HUGE problem, we were leaving the country.  We were getting on a plane in 2.5 hours, with no plans of returning any time soon.  We no longer had a bank account for crying out loud.  Their solution was for us to ask someone to loan us the money or they weren’t going to ship the dogs.  They weren’t even willing to except half a payment.  James was a wonderful, forceful (there may have been some yelling) advocate for these dogs and our family as a whole.  He put his foot down, and convinced these guys to put our dogs through to Vancouver on his word (there was actually a lot of yelling, maybe a threat of a lawsuit if the dogs didn’t make it).

All in all, we made it.  Every last one of us.  There was yelling, and tears, and if we ever do this again…the dogs will stay with an Aunty.

 

 

Top 10 things…I will miss about the UAE.

24 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by lcmacdonald in American University of Sharjah, Dubai, I miss..., Sharjah, UAE

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I will miss so much more of the UAE than these 10 things.

#10 – Round-A-Bouts

At first round-a-bouts were a little intimidating to understand.  I have a feeling there are quite a few people here trying to figure them out still.  Once you get it, they are actually pretty awesome, but not in consistently high traffic areas.  Traffic continues to flow, and if you’re not sure which way to go, just go around again.  Rules to remember with round-a-bouts or ‘squares’ as I’ve heard them referred to, is that “whoever is in front, wins”.  If you’re in front of the guy beside you, and you need to turn but he isn’t, you have right of way (don’t forget to use your blinker).  Also, squares aren’t much different than intersections.  If you want to take the 3rd exit, you get in the right lane to merge into the centre ring, and basically turn right.  If there are 3 lanes going into a square, left lane turns left (and straight if there are 3 lanes coming out of the square), centre lane goes straight, right lane goes straight or right.  When their are only 2 lanes going into a square, left lane goes left and straight, right lane goes straight and right.  See.  Simple.

#9 – Having a ‘Guy’

So this did make it on my list after all.  You want a shelf hung, you call a ‘guy’ to hang the shelf.  You need a light change, call a ‘guy’ to do it.  Water my grass, the ‘guy’ comes by everything other day to turn the water on for 15 min, then turn it off again.  Need your car washed in your parking spot, you can have a ‘guy’ do it at home, or while you’re at the mall shopping.  Back broke off your chair, no problem, call the ‘guy’ to come and fix it.  We’ve even had half a dozen mice, ant infestation, and a bed bug scare.  We just called a ‘guy’ and the problem was solved.  Think my ‘guy’ will move to Canada with me?

#8 – Full service…everything

Who wants to get out of their car…for anything.  Gas, all full service, at every station except after 12:00am at some stations.  Remember drive-in’s?  You drove into the parking lot and honked, and someone would come out and take your order?  I have never done this but I’ve seen it done and not only at fast food restaurants.  I’ve seen people do this at grocery stores, hardware stores and other smaller places of business.

#7 – Spontaneous Holidays

The holidays on the calendar are tentative at best.  Every once in a while an announcement is made that certain sectors will not be working on certain days.  I’m sure it’s a rare thing.  But we saw this happen twice within a week.  This could also fall on my things I won’t miss about the UAE, as it makes planning difficult.  But hey, a bonus day off is nothing to complain about.

#6 – Inexpensive Services

Our favourite service has been dry-cleaning.  I get everything dry-cleaned.  Quilts, pillows, James work shirts and pants, the girls dresses, carpets, sleeping bags.  First of all my washing machine barely handles daily laundry for 5 let alone one quilt.  Second, I don’t have to iron shirts when someone else does a better job for $1/shirt.

#5 – Security

We live in a large, gated community.  There is a fence that runs around the entire University City.  Inside that each separate University or College is surround by it’s own fence.  Emirate police are posted at each gate entrance, randomly screening people who enter into the ‘city’.  Faculty/Staff are separated from students by a fence as well.  Guards are setup at A/C booths, or on patrol all day and night all over campus.  It sounds like we’re really locked down, but for the most part you don’t ever see these guys though you know they’re there.

The community is also small enough that we look out for each other.  My neighbours are familiar with my kids, as I am with theirs.  When my kids go to the store, they know and talk to the people that work there.  We’ve been surrounded by many friendly, caring people who watch out for each other.

#4 – Rain days

Rain days are another rarity, but a welcome one.  It is quite the novelty when it rains here as the drainage system is poor to non-existent.  Rain waters quickly pool in cul-de-sacs and round-a-bouts making instant swimming pools for puddle jumping.  What’s more fun than swimming in dirty street water fully clothed?

#3 – 98% chance of good weather, every day

Planning a camping trip?  Want to go to the beach or waterpark? No need to check the weather network to plan in advance.  Even if it rains it’s going to be a good day for anything.  Pick a day, and pack your stuff.

#2 – Camping when and wherever you like

No need to book ahead with the local government (unless you plan on camping in Dubai).  If there isn’t enough space in your desired location just drive a little further and drop your tent.  Don’t want to go too far off the road, no problem.  I’ve seen tents set up just off the highway many times (not that I would want to camp there).

#1 – All-Inclusive Campus life

We’ve certainly been spoiled here at the American University of Sharjah.  From the on-call carpenters and fix-it guys, to the full free access to community events and amenities (gyms, indoor and outdoor pools, grocery store, pharmacy, hair saloons, soccer fields, baseball diamond, cricket pitch,  tennis courts, basketball courts) all with in walking distance.  You really can’t beat the package we got here.  Friends were easily made as we’re all in the same boat of being expats away from our families.  All this made our initial landing here easier to bear, and hard to leave.  I hope we are able to come back some day.

 

Top 10 things…I haven’t missed about Canada.

24 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by lcmacdonald in Canada, I miss..., UAE

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Things got a little crazy at the end of packing, and the computer was wrapped in a box before I knew it.  Here are some posts that I wrote before the move.

6 months ago this post would have been way easier to write.  Now that we’re weeks away, I honestly can’t withhold my excitement.  The more I try to think about what I haven’t missed, the more excited I get to go back blocking out all those negative thoughts.

#10 – Temperatures below 15C

The area we are from, this is the temperature the majority of the time.  It’s cold.  Sure after a winter of -30C anything above +10C is t-shirt weather, but come on.

#9 – Gas Prices

When I started driving in 1996 gas cost $.49/L.  I would complain about dishing out $25 to fill up BOTH of the gas tanks in my pickup.  Gas in the UAE currently costs $.50/L.  It’s been like going back in time 20 years!  Except instead of gradual, painful inflation over time, we get to have our organs torn from our body in rapid succession just so we can afford paying $1.72/L (or whatever ridiculous amount they are charging).

#8 – Taxes

It’s been a simple pleasure to go into a store, grab a few items, and know EXACTLY how much you would be forking over at the till.  No guesses on what qualifies to be taxed and what doesn’t, and how much tax you will actually have to pay.  I’m pretty sure Canada taxes you to breath their air.

#7 – Allergies

Over the first 10 years of my marriage my allergies were gradually getting worse.  Before we left Canada in Sept. 2012 I was at the point where I had to take Benadryl daily from May to September just to function.  My sinuses would clog, causing me to have headaches, and puffy eyes and itchy everything inside my face (nose, mouth, throat).  While in the UAE, I still have mild allergy symptoms in the summer, but I don’t have to take Benadryl to get through the day.

#6 – Frizzy, Staticky Hair

My hair is almost as long as it was for my wedding day (mid-lower back), and I wear it down.  Almost always (except lately with the humidity) I wear it down.  In Canada, my hair would be so staticky, flying all over the place in my mouth and eyes that I would have it up in a braid, ponytail or hat constantly.

#5 – Wet Snow

I like snow.  It’s pretty when everything looks white and clean.  I also look forward to when the snow first starts to melt and you know summer is on it’s way.  It’s the 6 inches of heavy, melting snow rivers I don’t miss.  Especially on our street where they don’t clear the snow during the winter.  They just let it build up, than drop some salt on it to get things melting.  Thanks city of PG.  I guess you know how much I hate dry socks.

#4 – Kids in Separate Schools

Here in the UAE, my 3 kids were all in the same school.  Easy peasy!  Heading back to Canada, we’re heading back to 3 different schools.  One in a French track school, one in English track school, and one in high school.  Let’s see how long we last without a car this winter shall we.

#3 – Paying for Amenities, and stuff

Like I mention in another post, we have access to everything we need here on AUS campus with in walking distance and free.  Back home we’ll be able to walk to the grocery store, and walk to church…and really I guess it will only take me 30 minutes to walk to one gym, and an hour to walk to the other.  Why am I talking about walking everywhere?  Haven’t I mentioned we don’t insure our car 6 months out of the year to avoid the craziness of everything entailed with driving in the snow?  On top of walking across town (or hoping I make the bus stop in time) we have to pay crazy amounts of money to have access to these facilities – yay.  Let’s not forget all the bills we will have to start keeping track of again.  It truly has been like a paid vacation here.

#2 – Prices

For the most part, big ticket items cost about the same here (even after currency conversation of $1 CA = 3.50 AED).  There are items though, that are a quarter of the price than they are at home.  For example, gas here is 1.72 AED/L in Canada it is currently $1.72/L.

#1 – Nursing School

When we left Canada I couldn’t talk about nursing school without breaking down into tears.  I was that stressed out about it.  My last semester of school (before we moved) I spontaneously broke into full body hives twice, and ended up in the hospital with a Morphine allergy after being treated for Kidney Stones.  It’s only been in the last few months that I have been able to regain control of my emotions when talking about nursing school.  I hope I can keep it together a few more years and complete the program.  BTW congrats to the UNBC BCN grad class of 2014!  Wish I could have been there with you guys!

Top 10 things…I won’t miss about the UAE.

24 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by lcmacdonald in UAE

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Though the UAE has been a wonderful experience there are some things I’m am looking forward to being without.  After I made this list I realized that the majority of my dislikes are traffic related.  I’m sure there are a few other things I could add to this list, but these ones definitely popped into my head first.

#10 – Fast lane Honkers/blinkers

These are the people who come up on your bumper out of nowhere.  I’m pretty sure the reason they blink their high beams is because you can’t see them otherwise.  They are so close to your bumper that you don’t even realize there is a car behind you unless they honk or blink or pull onto the shoulder to pass you at 140km/hr.

#9 – ‘Magic Parking Spaces’ a.k.a. 4-way Flashers

Just when you were worried about finding a parking spot one magically appears with a press of the magical red triangle button on your dashboard.  Otherwise known as your hazard lights, or 4-way flashers.  Everyone here knows this trick and uses it, constantly, in the most inconvenient (for everyone else) place.  Trapped in the morning school rush and can’t find a parking spot, no problem, you don’t need to pull your vehicle off to the side of the road (or even out of the way) by pressing that little magic button – POOF- magic parking spot.  Heading out on the town and all the parking stalls are full, no problem, pull up behind any vehicle and press the button – BAM- magic parking spot.

#8 – ‘Gold Lane’ drivers

We’re all familiar with that yellow line on the far left and right side of the road.  I always thought of it as a barrier, and sign to tell me I needed to drive my vehicle between those lines.  Apparently it has an entirely different meaning over here.  These yellow lines indicate the ‘Gold’ lane.  These lanes are for the impatient, ‘important’, entitled drivers that can’t understand why you’re following the laws of the road, driving the posted maximum speed limit and clogging up the road.  Kind of like the carpool lane for people who aren’t concerned with the safety of the other drivers on the road.

#7 – Bumper Babies

This is closely related to the #10 point on this list.  Except these guys don’t give you any indication that they are back there.  One minute there is no one behind you, and the next you can count the nose hairs of the driver directly behind you.  These guys sway back and forth, looking for an opportunity to squeeze by you, sometimes taking advantage of the ‘Gold’ lane.  These are also the guys that won’t let you in front of them when you’re trying to merge lanes as they ride the bumper of the guy you’re trying to get behind.  You could have your blinker on forever, and just when it looks like they’re going to let you in they speed up (swerving around you) to get back to the bumper they were previously suckling.  If you do manage to get in front of one of these guys they are unforgiving.  The next chance you get expect the daggers of guilt they fire your way from stealing their precious bumper.

#6 – Morning School Run

In Sharjah someone came up with the brilliant idea to zone the private school district.  Sounds like a great idea right!  Put all the private schools in one area.  That way you don’t have the buses clogging up other areas of the emirate, parents that drive their kids can easily find their school…um, yeah, wait … how is that a good thing.  Let me count the schools in our area for you.  1, 2, 3…13.  Those are only the ones that show up on Google Maps.  There are at least 3 others I know of that aren’t on the map.  All within a 1km radius.  I leave our house an hour before school starts so that it only takes me 10-15 min to get to the kids school.  If we’re even 5 minutes late in leaving the house, it could take us 30-45 min to cover the same distance.

#5 – U-turns

Left hand turns are rare here.  So getting around involves at least a U-turn or 4.  Sometimes if you miss your exit it could mean adding more u-turns.  The not so great thing about u-turns is that they are also rare, though not as rare as being able to make a left handed turn.  This means that km’s and time can be added in frustration to a seemingly straight forward line of direction if any mistakes are made.  As a result, it is not abnormal to see people driving in reverse down the road to missed exits, even the ‘Gold’ lane of major roadways.

#4 – Non-blinkers

We get these types in Canada too, but they’re some how … nicer about it.  I think this stems from the amount of ‘Bumper Babies’ there are on the road.  They rationalize not blinking as being ‘ninja like’, a sneaky way to lane change.  Sometimes Bumper Babies get distracted, and slow down leaving enough space to jump in front of them.  There isn’t always time to blink.  Still.  Annoying.  Similar to Bumper Babies is their ability to come out of nowhere.  One minute everyone is in their own lane, moving along peacefully, and the next they’re practically side swiping you in a slow motion (or not so slow) left hook, pushing you out of the way.

#3 – Awkward long stares

As a woman this is weird and unsettling.  When I stare someone down it’s usually because there is something familiar about them and I’m trying to figure out if I know them.  So when someone is staring me down I look back, let them get a good look at my face and wait for the realization to wash over them that we don’t know each other and should then take the next step in our awkward acquaintance.  Which is to look away, or smile and wave.  More often than not, neither of these things happens.  Resulting in an unnerving feeling of violation.  I don’t know if it’s just because I’m Canadian, but I feel like I wasn’t polite enough and that drives me batty.

#2 – +50C

I didn’t think it was possible to survive in heat like this.  Now that I am on my second cycle of +50C temps I’m wondering how I’m going to survive anything below +20C.  If you want to know what I’m talking about there are a number of ways to accurately feel what it’s like to live in the desert.  First, turn on your hairdryer to it’s hottest setting, low blow, then point it directly in your face – ahh, can you feel the sand?  The second scenario that I think gives the best example of the heat with humidity factor we’re actually getting now is akin to what you feel in the adult sauna at your local pool.  Try walking around, fully covered (shoulders to knees) – yah, so relaxing 🙂

#1 – Speed ‘Humps’

Humps.  That’s what they call them here.  Something to do with camels maybe?  Anyhow, they are plentiful.  Cruising at 120km/h down the highway, what’s that in the road?  Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da…buh-bump.  Gold lane drivers aren’t exempt from them either.  On certain stretches of highway you’ll see mini speed humps on the shoulder alone.  I assume to deter people from driving on the shoulder.  That’s when you get people using the Platinum lane, otherwise known as the ‘desert bypass’.

Bonus – Litter

Nothing peeves me more then to be in such a beautiful country with such breath taking landscapes then to discover on closer inspection it is a dump, literally.  The UAE is full of proud, patriotic, educated people who are also a bit self absorbed and perhaps have a slight entitlement complex.  It blows my mind every time I see the passengers of the cars around me on the road, roll down their window and toss out their trash.  I’m not talking apple cores, cigarette butts, or gum (though I’ve seen those go out the window as well).  I’m talking full bags of McDonald’s garbage tossed out the window.  Or plastic bags full of whatever trash, just dropped onto the road next to their car as they drive away.  I’ve seen people open all their doors at a red light, and sweep the tissues, wrappers, bits of food onto the street before jumping back in as the light changed to green.  Wow.  Stay classy UAE.  Stay classy.  I wish I could get away from that when we head to the sand dunes for camping, or a nearby wadi for a hike and a swim.  It’s almost worse in these places.  The last few months, while the weather was tolerable, we kept garbage bags and gloves in our car to pick up what we could.  It just doesn’t end, and it won’t until they change.

Top 10 things…I miss about Canada.

13 Sunday Jul 2014

Posted by lcmacdonald in American University of Sharjah, Canada, I miss..., Sharjah, Traveling, UAE

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Consignment stores, Driving, Grocery Shopping, Left-hand turns, Road signs, seasons, Ski Dubai, Slurpees, Snow, UAE

I’ve been wanting to write this post for awhile about things I am beginning to miss about Canada.  Now that we’re heading back, I’ve also been thinking about what I’ll also miss about the UAE.  So there will be a theme to my next few posts.

My ultimate items are friends and family so I’m not going to include them on any of these lists.  I just can’t rank how much I love those people!  So here we go.

#10 – Slurpees

Who doesn’t want a huge glass of flavoured slushy ice on a hot day?  Why hasn’t this become popular here??  I’ve definitely been craving slurpees since the day we left.  Watch out Mr. G’s and 7-11, we’re coming for you.

#9 – Grocery shopping

Ever wondered what it would be like to go into a grocery store and find them out of stock of milk.  Or cheese.  Or ranch dressing.  Or even that one kind of popular cereal you usually get.  That’s what it’s like to shop here.  It’s not even obscure speciality items, it’s hit and miss with the regular items you would expect to be in stock… always.  I am looking forward to going to the grocery store and knowing I can get what I went in looking for.  How easy was that to take for granted.

#8 – Polite drivers

Maybe I’ve been out of touch too long.  I know there are still lots of crazy impatient people on the road, even in Canada.  Generally though it has been my experience that when you put your blinker on in Canada to merge into a lane, folks either move over or slow to give you space.  They DON’T typically speed up and swerve around you.  Isn’t that a novel idea.

#7 – Falling snow

Not even at Ski Dubai can you experience falling snow.  As a sci-fy geek and long time trekkie, driving through falling snow at night is the best experience (as long as I’m not the one doing the driving).

#6 – Left-hand turns

I completely understand why this isn’t possible in most areas here in the UAE.  It’s the way people behave on the roads here.  I’m certain car accident deaths due to left handed turns must have been substantial to make them nearly non-existent here now.  Especially with all the issues we face with distracted drivers, I guarantee I feel more confident making a left turn in Canada than I do here.

#5 – Properly labeled and positioned road signs

Driving still feels like a fairly new thing for a lot of people here, including the local transit authority.  They seem to be getting better though, or we’ve just gotten used to the way they post signage here.  When we first moved here, I could not figure out where we were on a map to save my life.  Lack of street names in English or altogether is part of the problem.  The other issue with signage here is that sometimes there are just so many converging roadways in one spot that it’s difficult to get the signage placed in such a way that gives drivers enough time to determine which route will take them to their destination.  This is frustrating in a country that forces you to drive 10 km’s out of your way to turn around if you make a mistake like that.  So, good on you BC.  At least you got that one figured out.

#4 – Screwing in my own lightbulb

It’s been handy having someone on call, at any time, to take care of whatever needed taking care of in our villa.  I don’t mean like in Canada when you call the mechanic in a rental and they give you some lame time between 8am and 6pm 3 days from now.  I send an email, or give a call and they are there in an hour, fixing my table, hanging my pictures, changing my lightbulbs.  It’s amazing, I don’t know why I think I’m not going to miss this.  At the same time, I like to exercise my independence while I’m still capable of doing that.  I also think this mentality really feeds into the entitlement issues here.  There are a lot of people here who could not function without service like this.  They demand and expect this type of service.  These people would not survive for very long outside of this bubble of the UAE.

#3 – Paddling a canoe

I’m sure I could have got myself over to the boat club and gone for a paddle up the beach on whatever I wanted to pay for, but it’s not the same.  There’s a great atmosphere when you’re sitting on a lake, surrounded by woods, paddling a canoe.  It’s peaceful, serene.  Don’t think there are many places like that I could have found here.

#2 – Consignment Stores

Clothes are relatively cheap here, depending on what stores you’re shopping in.  I couldn’t ever get into the groove of shopping in many of the stores here.  The one consignment store I did manage to find was a factory filled with dumped goods. You really have to have  vision to see the potential of items in this place.  The clothing section, on an upper floor, was literally a pile of clothes that you climbed through.  Value Village I missed your multitude of selection in brands, styles, genders.  You are my one stop shop, where I don’t have to worry about how fast the kids will outgrow or ruin the clothes.  Where I don’t get those feelings of buyer’s remorse.  I can’t wait to replenshish my wardrobe.

#1 – Changing Seasons

Who knew living in a perpetual summer could be a bit of a downer.  I found myself getting a bit teary eyed and homesick several months ago when I came across some beautiful scenic fall landscape photographs.  Leaves fall all year round here, but the trees don’t change colours like they do back home.  The trees here stay green, and the old leaves just turn brown and fall off.  Raking leaves all year round really isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.

Bonus – Light switches

The light switch in our bedroom drives me nuts.  Maybe it’s just one of the many quirks of the poor layout of our villa, because it just doesn’t make sense.  We have to open our door completely and walk into the room before turning on the light.  Light switches for washrooms are typically located outside of the washroom here. So our toilet light switch is located on the wall, next to the door to our bedroom, right where I have instinctively, for 2 years, reached to turn on the light to our room.  For the most part.  Light switches at our house in BC are right where they should be.  Yay for good planning!

Lanka “Respected Island”

04 Sunday May 2014

Posted by lcmacdonald in People, Traveling

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50LKR Sim car from Customs

50LKR Sim car from Customs

I dreamed of traveling to many places while living in the Middle East.  Though WE didn’t get to very many places, we did get to a few.  Most recently we returned from Sri Lanka.

We had a very quick, 7 day trip.  A place like Sri Lanka really deserves more time to see all the heritage and cultural sites, most places do I think.  We flew overnight and landed in Columbo from Sharjah at 4:30 am.  We traveled on the cheapest flight available at the time…not even a ridge on the head of the seat to offer some kind of support while trying to sleep sitting up.  Though the couple next to me had no trouble finding a comfortable position while taking up half of my seat as well #skinnygirlproblems.

Our first stop was the Sigiriya Rock Palace in Central Sri Lanka, a 3 hour drive.

Sigiriya Rock Palace

Sigiriya Rock Palace

Thankfully we didn’t have to drive.  Hubby likes to fly by the seat of his pants, but this was my trip and I wanted to be able to see the sites and relax in between.  By using a tour company we not only had someone to drive us around, we had someone to hire licensed tour guides and explain to us the unspoken expectations of tipping as well as other tricks and advice.  As it turns out our early flight was a blessing putting us in Sigiriya at the base of the Lion Palace for opening time at 7:30am.  A perfectly coolish time to walk through a garden and climb 1200 steps into the blazing sun.

Before heading to our hotel in Polonnuraw, we went on a village tour.  It was an

Sigiriya Village tour

Sigiriya Village tour

interesting, bumpy ride behind a Bullox cart to an oversized pond (or small lake).  We crossed the lake sitting on a box balanced on two canoes (it was much studier than it sounds) to a small village.  In the village we were welcomed by a lady who preceded to make us a traditional breakfast.  She showed us how to thresh and winnow the rice to remove the outer husk, a job that surely keeps her young (it was much harder than it looked).  The rice we milled into flour, and then into flat bread.  She also showed us how to make a coconut samol that I will try to replicate one day because it was so delicious!  Local fruit is typically served as ‘desert’ at every meal, or at least every place where we ate.  From there we took our first and only ride in a Tuk Tuk back to the starting point.

IMG_7646Our first night in a hotel was at The Lake in Polonnuraw.  We had a wonderful nap, followed by a swim in the pool over looking Bendiwewa Lake and a firework like display of lightening.  Another great thing about purchasing a tour is having the meals taken care of. Breakfast and dinners were all included, and at the same time every day (breakfast at 7:30-10:30am and dinner at 7:30-10:30pm).  Drinks and lunches we had to purchase, but most of the hotels had complimentary bottled water in each of the rooms (Slightly Chilled at Sri Pada being the exception).  Wifi was available at most places, even Slightly Chilled, and so we were able to Skype the kids at home almost every night.

IMG_7683

Sacred site. Remove hat and shoes.

The next morning we toured the Ancient City of Polonnuraw.  The ancient city is quite spread out with much to see.  Our travel assistant, Farzan, drove us with our licensed guide by the highlights of the city, hopping out at each point to get a closer look and then quickly back to the comforts of air conditioning.  Many of the ruins are in repair, but still considered sacred and so you are expected to remove your shoes and hats.  Even though I wished everyday to be wearing my flip flops, I was grateful for sock covered feet when it came to walking barefoot on hot sand and brick to get a closer look at the sacred relics.

IMG_7712Our next stop was the Cave Temple in Dambulla.  Another 364 stairs to the top of this shrine.  There were many monkeys here and so once you reach the top and are asked to remove your shoes it is better to pay the man a small fee to guard you shoes (lest the monkeys take them in jest).  This service is offered at many shrines, and sounds like good advice for the price.  Especially if you hope to find your shoes when you return.

We had a very quick stop at the Spice Garden in Matale, which was more like an hour long sales pitch.  Though it was interesting to see so many familiar spices in their naturally occurring form.  The tour ends with a rather vigorous chair massage and a trip to the on site pharmacy to load up on “All-natural” goods.  The massage can be a bit awkward…just warning you.

I forgot to mention the peddlers.  The majority don’t immediately hock their goods.  It starts with “hello, hi there”, “look at this historic piece I have here with me today”.  Our guides, trying to help them out I suppose, use their goods as examples to explain the heritage of the place we are there to see.  The thing is, once you touch it, make eye contact, speak to them… you’re hooked.  They are relentless, persistent, desperate.  “Special price for early morning costumer, first costumer, just for you” or so the pitch goes.  One man we met in the Ancient City of Polonnuraw followed us around 3 different relics until we finally gave in.

Our second night was spent at Hotel Suise in Kandy.  A beautiful heritage hotel

Hotel Suisse Patio

Hotel Suisse Patio

situated on the largest man made lake in Sri Lanka.  There is a sidewalk around the entire lake that looked like it would make for a wonderful evening stroll.  Running short on cash we thought we would explore to find a bank and walk around the lake.  I don’t think we made it 50m before something came down on us the sounded like a sudden rain storm, but was actually a different sort of literal storm.  I was only struck once by oozing bird dung (if you can call it that), but the cackling and the sound of IT falling above my head was enough to turn us back to the hotel until morning.  I’d rather take that on in the day, than to blindly wander under the trees.

Back at the hotel we treated ourselves to a 2-hour, Ayurveda oil massage.  I had been warned by a friend that they aren’t shy about nudity there, but I might have forgotten to warn James.  Before the massage began I was asked to strip to my panties…while she waited…in the ‘room’ (curtained off area – there were 4 beds and a steam bed in one approx. 15×15′ room).  She started with pouring, what I can only guess, about a cup of oil on the top of my head and scrubbing into my scalp and hair.  Then I was asked to lay on the massage table.

Proof of our narrow escape.

Proof of our narrow escape.

Face up.  No sheet.  Naturally I tried to cover myself, but she needed to massage my arms.  So I closed my eyes and tried to relax.  I managed to do alright, until I turned over onto my belly and the flying ants came in through the open window.  I was so oiled up, slippery and sticky that when the ants landed on me they started biting immediately as they surely were beginning to drown.  Not so relaxing after that.  For the rest of the massage the ants were all I could feel or think about – yuck.  My skin itches just thinking about it now.

Since we didn’t make it to the bank the night before we made another attempt to find one in the light of day.  The sidewalk, and lower leaves of a number of trees along the path we pelted in white.  Not their usually colour I assure you.  We did however make it to the bank and back without any incidents.

Chanting at the Sacred Temple of the Tooth

Chanting at the Sacred Temple of the Tooth

Before leaving Kandy we had the opportunity to see the Sacred Temple of the Tooth.  We had a guide here as well who helped us push through the crowds of people and explained different rituals that we were witnessing.  I came to a profound realization here that kind of saddened me.  First let me explain that I find the legends of Buddha interesting as he plays a big part in the culture and history of the country we were getting to know.  I would like to think that I am respectful of that and what that means to people who believe he is more.  What saddened me was as a tourist, and having no religious purpose in the temples we were walking through, I was taking away from the hundreds of people that were there to worship and pray.  We pressed through thick crowds of people waiting (patiently or impatiently I’m not sure) to give offerings behind rows upon rows of people with their cameras held over their heads, snapping away.  If our places had been reversed I think I may have been frustrated and offended at the spectacle I saw before me.  And that’s my two cents.

Monk in the Botanical Garden

Monk in the Botanical Garden

We also spent several hours walking around the Botanical Garden in Peradeniya.  It was a nice change of pace.  No guides.  No peddlers.  Just us exploring and walking around on our own.  We ended up walking on a side path under these huge trees that were clearly home to hundreds of giant fruit bats.  Though it was mid-day while we were there, we were able to see quite a few flying through the trees, and hear them chattering back and forth to one another (or in their sleep).

From the Botanical Garden we began our long 5 hour trek (by car) up the mountain side, through multiple tea plantations, to Dalhousie, our base at Slightly Chilled Hotel before our long climb (by foot) to Adam’s Peak.  The way is not marked clearly, and we had to stop for directions multiple times.  Another perk to having a travel assistant…he speaks the language 🙂  When we finally reached the hotel we had just enough time to find the starting point, eat dinner and head to bed.

Adam's Peak from Slightly Chilled

Adam’s Peak from Slightly Chilled

Farzan wanted to see us off, and drive us to the starting point (he’s such a nice guy).  2:00am was hard enough for us, and we hadn’t been driving all over the country side the day before.  Despite me texting him to stay in bed, he got up anyway to look for us but we were already gone.  A group started walking from the hotel at 2:15, and it just felt right to leave with them.  For the first hour it was like walking up a market road.  Stores lined both sides of the path, and the incline was gradual with a few steps here and there.  Then things start to get a bit more serious and you begin think you’re in it now.  Steep, ladder like stairs give way to another short stint of gradual incline…for a short time anyhow.  The stores continue to follow the path all the way to the last couple hundred stairs.  5200 we climbed in all, with a time of 2 hours and 25 minutes from our hotel.  We took brief stops to keep

The crowd enjoying the rising sun at the top of Adam's Peak.

The crowd enjoying the rising sun at the top of Adam’s Peak.

momentum, and grab a drink or a snack before carrying on.  I tried not to sit, or the temptation to lay down would surely have over come me.  When we got to the top it was crowded already with people who had clearly woke up hours before us.  We got our bearings, tried to get a look at the footprint (another sacred shrine inundated with tourists), and then settled down to watch the sunrise.  We managed to find a spot on the edge of the building, with nothing to obscure the view.  Once there, the space around us filled in quickly and the last few hikers that tapered in to find a spot to watch were forced to get comfortable on the steps below.  I had read that the sunrise, though breath taking was only half of the view.  We got our fill, and moved away to let others get a better look.  Climbing against the crowd who were beginning to make their descent, we moved to the side opposite of where we had been sitting.  There, cast a top the clouds, was the shadow of Adam’s Peak.

The shadow of Adam's Peak

The shadow of Adam’s Peak

The descent only took a little over an hour and a half at a run, hop kind of pace.  We probably could have come down a lot faster if we weren’t having to jump the railings back and forth to get around some of the older, slower pilgrims.  The nice thing about coming down from the summit in the daylight was seeing the view and the beautiful landscape we had struggled up in the darkness.  The bad thing was not being able to walk properly for the 3 days afterwards.

Breakfast was ready and waiting when we returned to the hotel.  A quick, cold

Ready for a swim

Ready for a swim

shower and we were on our way to the southern province of Sri Lanka.  Our 4th hotel was the Hotel Chandrika in Tissamaharama.  This place was quite beautiful.  I probably even like this hotel better than The Lake in Polonnuraw.  Not much to do here but relax, swim and recoup for the upcoming activities.

The next morning was another early one.  We were to meet the safari guide at 5:30am to take us to Yala National Park.  Being as we were leaving before breakfast the hotel packed us a nifty little ‘breakfast’ box to take with us to the park.  We saw Water Buffalo, Peacocks and Peahens, Crocodiles, Storks, Ravens, and a small herd of

Sunrise through the trees.

Sunrise through the trees.

Elephants.  We had heard there was a leopard along one of the maze like roads, but after sitting for 30 min … quietly…in the heat, we gave up on waiting for it to come out of the shade.  Smart cat.  Yala National Park was one of the areas affected by the Tsunami in 2004.  We stopped to have breakfast at the site of a Tsunami memorial and past rest house.

The next hotel was Dickwella Spa and Resort, right on the beach.  Another beautiful place with ocean views over dinner and breakfast.  The only issue with this place was the amount of noseeums or ninja mosquitos that clearly made a smorgasbord of my legs.  That evening we had a late evening out to see the turtles at the nearby Turtle Conservation Beach.  The people here were so very nice, and all volunteers.  They employ local people (through donations) who

Skypeing with the kids

Skypeing with the kids

once poached turtle eggs to feed their family to now defend the turtles and protect the eggs against other poachers.  The sand was very dry and kept collapsing when the Green Turtles would dig their nest, but we did get to see two turtles struggle to get back to the ocean to rest before trying again.

Our last day in Sri Lanka was fairly relaxed.  The only thing scheduled for the day was to catch the train from Matara at 2:00pm.  We relaxed around the pool, and skyped with the kids until checkout.  We arrived in Matara much earlier than anticipated and so we stopped at a beach for lunch and to explore.  Down near the end of the beach we noticed an island with a bridge to it and decided to explore to see what it was.  To us it looked like a resort of some kind.  At the foot of the bridge there was a peddlar selling flowers (flowers I’ve only seen as offerings to Buddha).  This man shoved a small bundle into James’ hands and into mine, then demanded money.  When I tried to give it back he would not take it.  I tried to put it back on his cart and he dropped his price.  So we walked across the bridge with the flowers to discover that it was a shrine.  We walked around, took a look, gave the majority of the flowers to people there intending to worship and then headed back to shore.  I kept one flower for myself and immediately felt selfish and awkward walking across the bridge.  I felt like a thief, or like someone would think I was one.  I needed to get rid of the flower.  I tried to offer it to one little girl, but she wouldn’t take it from me. James had better luck handing it off to her than I did.

We got to the train station just before 2:00pm and had to sit on the walkway to wait. The train is used like a metro for most of the locals to get between the big centres and all the places in between.  Looking at the train car in front of us, loaded to over flowing with people standing, or sitting in the isles and the doorway, the windows open, children piled on laps, I felt a solid lump in my throat and wondered how much we were going to enjoy this ride to Colombo.  For 6 hours.  As the train rolled away our guide walked us to the other end of the platform, where the luxury, air conditioned, wifi car we would be riding in was waiting for us.  The ride was obviously more enjoyable than anticipated and we arrived in Colombo well rested.

We arrived at The Full Moon Hotel just in time for dinner, which was mediocre at best.  Of all the places (even Slightly Chilled, which has an excuse for being in the middle of nowhere) this was my least favourite stay.  The layout of the hotel is quite pretty, and everything is easily accessible.  The dining area is right on the pool deck (pools were usually closed by dinner time) with a cool view of the waterfall that flows into the pool.  We had a nice big room with a full kitchen and living room, even an extra cot.  The a/c however, only seemed to work in our bedroom in which we were not alone.  Upon preparing for bed I tripped down the small step into the bathroom. When I turned to look at the step there was a giant spider.  A penny sized spider would have been huge, this guy was the length of James’ ID card (which he kindly chucked at me to put next to it for a comparison in the photo).  Sitting on the toilet I did not take my eyes of it in case it were to make any sudden movements.  To my chagrin a poor little fly got to close and the spider leapt into action.  Good thing I was already on the toilet.  The spider wasn’t the only one in there with me, as I sat on the toilet I noticed a cockroach running along the bottom of the wall where it meets the floor.  I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.  Taking a towel with me, I pressed it into the crack below the door in the hopes that it would prevent them venturing to far while I tried to sleep.

Thankfully it was a short stay in this hotel, as our travel assistant must have been glad for as well.  Most of the hotels offer driver’s accommodations.  These accommodations are typically shared, with several men bunking in a room.  At this particular hotel, there was no a/c in the driver’s accommodations and our driver opted to sleep in his car until he was needed to take us to the airport.  [Insert disgusted look]  2:00am drop off at the airport for our short/long journey back to the UAE.  Glad to leave this hotel behind us, sad to leave so soon.

If we ever have the opportunity to go back, James thinks he would like to travel the entire island by train relying on TukTuks and buses to get to hotels and tourist destinations from the train stations.  I suggest if you’re going to go that route that you are a stronger negotiator than my husband or you’ll surely spend a lot more money then you intended.

Waiting for the gate to open.
Landing in Colombo
Sigiriya Rock Palace

“Refrain from bathing Crocodiles go about” – huh. Darn bathing Crocodiles was on my list.
From the top of Sigiriya facing East.
From the top of Sigiriya facing West.

Storm coming in
Room at The Lake hotel
Room at The Lake

Fishermen
The Lake dining room

Polonnuraw Ancient City
Elephants, Lions than Dwarves

Moonstone. Like a floor mat at the entrance of all sacred buildings in Sri Lanka.
Reconstruction of a temple

Vendors can only follow you so far…

Fertility alter. Numbers on the wall serve as markers to help archaeologists rebuild the structure from the bricks lying around the compound.

Remains of shops along the road.

Once protected the Sacred Tooth
Steep stairs. I wonder if the royalty tripped at all on these?

A roof is being erected to protect the buddah sculptures in the rock from the weather.

Pigeon hole shops. Everywhere.
We met a family at this sign on the way back. The mother and father each had a hand of their toddler daughter. She took one step and through a fit. “Good luck, only 363 more stairs to go!”



Hope you don’t have a whole lot of luggage…
Nice car.

Just had a bath in oil…or a massage in Sri Lanka. A 2-HOUR massage!

Room at Hotel Suisse
Door knobs and light switches were low.
Hotel Suisse Patio

‘SMAK’ in the middle of this wall there was a shop.
Proof of our narrow escape.

Poopy sidewalk
Fish!

Manmade lake in Kandy.

Sacred Tooth Relic Temple
The Makara



Bamboo

Jack fruit! So yummy!
Aguava Graffiti

dangerous bamboo
Ouch

Great Field
Held up by stilts

Monk in the Botanical Garden
Fruit bat

Cannonball flowers

27km to Adam’s peak
Scary one lane (not one way) road up the mountain

Reminds me of home
Tea fields

What’s around the corner, bus or delivery truck?
Only women pick the tea. Cheap labor.

Preparing for New Year’s!

Room for … more

Adam’s Peak
To dark for photos of the ascent. This is the route we took. 5200 stairs, 7km, 2hours 15 min (add 10 min from our hotel). It was fairly crowded but we ended up with the perfect spot.

The last 50 stairs
Sign at the top.
Just a little crowded.



The crowd enjoying the rising sun at the top of Adam’s Peak.We scored a spot at the edge of this building to the right, then got out of the way so others could enjoy.
The shadow of Adam’s Peak

Tokens or wishes to Buddha.
Heading back down…amazing we climbed this only an hour before




Dogs everywhere! James just melted for the little puppies.

ICE CREAM! We should have stopped for some. I’m amazed she had that freezer hauled up here. We still have about 45 min before we’re at the bottom.

Slightly Chilled! We were two levels below the restaurant at the top there. Stairs were not my friend at this point.

Hotel Chandrika in Tissamaharama
Personal Lily pond

Hotel Chandrika in Tissamaharama

Yala National Park – Bright and early.

Tree full of monkeys. Can you spot them?



Sunrise through the trees. My favourite photo!
Sleeping stork

Sleeping stork
Tsunami Memorial in Yala National Park. The foundation here was a guest house where 43 people were staying. All perished.

Breakfast time
Packed breakfast from the hotel

We stopped at this beach for breakfast. Off to the right is a memorial sculpture for the 43 people who died at the guest house that was once here before the tsunami in 2004.
What is going on? Safari road block.
Elephants!


Water Buffalo
Lunch stop

Dickwella Spa and Resort
Out our back door

To the pool
Cove by the hotel
Snack Shack at the hotel

The beach to the Indian Ocean
Weird knobs

Elephant decor – nose up for good luck, nose down for peace
Skyping with the kids
At a junction.

Matara (very bottom to the left) to Colombo on the train

Views from the train
Views from the train
Views from the train

Views from the train
Views from the train
Views from the train

Views from the train
Views from the train
Views from the train

Views from the train
Views from the train
Views from the train –

Views from the train
Views from the beach -football (soccer)
Views from the train

The Full Moon resort – blah! Do not stay here- or don’t go in the bathrooms (SCARY).
No a/c out here
Kirsten’s scarf from Sri Lanka. It has elephants all over it.

Leather hat with elephants for Jaron
Sculpted wooden frog that sounds alive when you pet it with the stick.

Brick and Mortar

30 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by lcmacdonald in Sharjah, UAE

≈ Leave a comment

Our first year in the UAE, Sept 2012-August 2013, the kids were homeschooled by me.  They LOVED it.  I actually got sick of hearing, “Mom, you’re the best teacher ever!”.  It was NON-stop…in my head.  Actually I think that was my mantra over the year.  It may have sounded a bit more like this though, “You’re a good teacher, you’re a good teacher.”

First day of Kindergarten.  Smallest & Youngest in his class.

First day of Kindergarten. Smallest & Youngest in his class.

IMG_7116

Jaron (far right) cuts the ribbon at the opening ceremony for the new single track French Immersion school.

A little background.  Our last few years in Canada the kids were split up into different schools.  When we moved to Prince George, there was only 1 open English spot, and 1 open French spot in a English/French immersion dual track school.  Kirsten stayed on track with English for grade 4 and Lilli got the French spot for grade 1.  The following year the French Immersion track moved to it’s own school down the street, and Jaron started Kindergarten in French Immersion.  Jaron actually ended up doing two years of Kindergarten.  Not because he was behind academically or socially (Jaron’s birthday is right on the line for early admission to school so he was actually 2-6 months younger than most of his class mates) he just wasn’t ready for the serious classwork that comes with grade 1 i.e. he needed more time to just play.

Back to starting homeschool in the UAE.  I wrote a little blurb about our first week here so this next part is the Reader’s digest version if you don’t want to read a whole other post.

At first I thought I was pretty amazing and I could just Pinterest cool stuff for them to do.  Lilli had done really well within the French program and we didn’t want her to lose that.  I can’t speak French.  Well I can, but I’m sure it’s usually offensive or incomprehensible.  So strike one to my plan.  We’ll find a tutor I thought…that’s just what we’ll have to do.  Then I gave Kirsten a worksheet of math.

She looked at it blankly, “How am I supposed to do this?”

I replied, “I don’t know.  You don’t recognise any of it?”

Learning break.

Learning break.

Strike two.  I was going to have to learn how to teach grade 7 math.  I don’t remember what strike three was for me, but it certainly didn’t take long for me to get there.  The end of the first day and I was already completely overwhelmed.  I hadn’t even gotten to Jaron yet, who was happily playing on an iPad avoiding me.

My first thought was that we needed to get them into school.  Being expatriates though means shopping around at Private Schools for the best deal.  I went to two schools.  Sharjah English School and Australian International School.  I had also heard about K12 icademy (an online American curriculum school with an office in Dubai).  When the two private schools were not within my idea of affordable or available I turned to K12 as a trusty backup plan.  We signed up immediately and had the books and supplies on our doorstep in a matter of weeks.

Circle Monsters

Circle Monsters

Jaron then started grade 1 homeschool in an English only environment after having 2 years of French immersion.  He had a hard time with matching English sounds to the letters of the alphabet.  4 months we struggled with learning new sounds, him fighting me every step of the way.  It was such a struggle that we actually had to walk away from it all together and focus on his other subjects so not to get too far behind.  He excelled in counting blocks and completing equations.  In fact that was probably the only homework I didn’t have to twist his arm into completing.  There were lots of fun games, and apps on my iPad that I considered good practice so that is probably what made it easier.

Lilli and Kirsten remained fairly independent with pushing themselves through and I was really impressed.  Self motivation is something I continue to struggle with.

Then Christmas came, and cool camping weather.  We were off exploring and experiencing our surroundings what felt like every other weekend.  We had the freedom to go whenever we wanted because we weren’t bound within the walls of a “brick and mortar” school.  Or so we thought.

Kirsten dissecting a chicken breast.

Kirsten dissecting a chicken breast.

The kids started to get behind.  Our good routine of getting up early being done early, turned into sleeping in and being done early…I think you can see where this is going.  We couldn’t translate our cool adventures and exploration into credit for the curriculum.  They still had to go through the motions of completing their modules, and handing in their assignments.  They didn’t answer to me, I was merely the bullwhip pushing them to complete the work.

Early February we decided to try private school again, not for this year but early admission for the following school year.  My first two choices turned me away before I even made it to the desk to ask for an admission application.  So I tried a 3rd school recommended to me by dear friends of ours, Scholars International Academy.  Kirsten had decided that she liked making her own schedule and would stick with K12 the next year.  She came along anyway for Lilli and Jaron’s scheduled admissions testing.  Before the test we had a quick tour.  We even peaked into a few classrooms packed full of students.  When Kirsten poked her head into the gr. 7 class all the students instantly shouted for her to come to this school.  When we returned to the office, Kirsten pulled my sleeve and asked, “Can I take the test today too?”.

Angry about math day.

Angry about math day.

Lilli and Kirsten both tested really well.  Jaron did really well with the math, however, he could not read.  Facepalm.  Right, we had put that off.  He would have to be put in to grade 1 (again).  I completely understood, but I asked anyway…”Can Jaron be retested before school starts?”  I explained that he had only begun to learn to read and understand english sounds and perhaps with the rest of the school year something would click and he would be prepared to enter grade 2.  The admissions clerk agreed, but admitted to me that she didn’t think it would be likely that he would advance.

After that meeting WE (I say “we” now because I finally realised I was just as much responsible for their success) were at 35% complete where we needed to be at 50%.  Everyday we were playing catch up, we set new goals, did extra modules when we had time, and pushed through harder when we were struggling.  Kirsten got behind a bit when she tried to cut corners with her math.  Skipping over crucial learning modules that would have helped her understand her test questions better.  Frustration came on hard and there were many outbursts and walls put up that made learning nearly impossible.

We got through it.  Even though some of us had to stay up until midnight every night for 3 weeks writing essays.  We got through it. Kirsten completed all her courses at 90-100%, Lilli still understands French really well, and Jaron could read.  Success.

First day of grade 2.

First day of grade 2.

 

First day of grade 5

First day of grade 5

 

First day of grade 8

First day of grade 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jaron was retested the day before school started for Kirsten and Lilli and was advanced to grade 2.  The admissions clerk was blown away and asked what we had done to help him, surely I must have hired a tutor.  Proud parent moment (PPM), “Just me and him, and a lot of hard work.”

So how are they liking their “brick and mortar” school?  Let me tell you, the adjustment was a rough one.

Christmas decorations on Jaron's classroom door.

Christmas decorations on Jaron’s classroom door.

Jaron is in grade 2, and LOVES his teacher. She is pretty amazing, and adorable.  He has all his classwork in one class, but attends music in the music classroom, and PE on the pitch or in the gymnasium like he would anywhere else.

Lilli is in grade 5, and also has an excellent teacher.  However, Lilli doesn’t stay in one classroom for all her subjects.  She has a homeroom and must take her books along with her to her other subject classrooms.  Kirsten and her share a lot of the same teachers.

Kirsten is in grade 8, her teacher is nice though I hear far more about her drama teacher.  The top grade of this school at the moment is grade 9.  So Kirsten is a senior, and has a lot of freedom to move around the school.  She also changes classrooms for every subject.

The school is based on British curriculum.  Most of the teachers are British or british taught.  Muslim teachers instruct the kids in the language, culture, and history of the area.  This is on top of  their compulsory lessons of science, math, english, geography, P.E., world history and culture, and for some another language (so Lilli and Kirsten are learning two languages, French and Arabic).   Then of course there are their electives, Drama and music.  Jaron has all that as well but no French or Drama.

Some of the teachers are frustrated easily.  They demand respect, compliance, and attentiveness in children that don’t have those same demands on them outside of school.  The teachers sometimes yell or speak firmly to get their point across and my kids take it so personally.  They had a hard time understanding that they weren’t always in trouble.  We spoke about this to their teachers when we met for Parent/Teacher meetings mid-Fall.  Each one expressed their love and appreciation for our kids (PPM).    This term has gone much better, and I sense now that they are possibly even excited some days to go to school.

IMG_7101The one thing that most excites me for them to be in a “brick and mortar” school is the friends that they are making there.  The kids they are meeting and hanging out with are from all over the world.  I think they literally know one other Canadian at their school, and he’s a teacher.  Today I talked with some of Jaron’s friends about what games they like to play.  A boy from Africa, another from Pakistan and one from Jordan.  They get to learn things about different people and cultures that they wouldn’t otherwise be exposed.  They have learned not to judge without knowing.  They have learnt to accept differences.  Their minds are open.  For me that has been the biggest success in bringing my kids half way around the world.

 

Orient Express

29 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by lcmacdonald in Traveling

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

buddha, Central Hong Kong, hiking, Hong Kong, Library, Ngong Ping, running, temple, Victoria Park

James had a conference in Hong Kong at the end of September for a few days.

The Library

The Library

We had known for quite a while that he was going, and debated the same length of time as to whether I should go with him.  He just couldn’t see how it would work with the kids starting school and me getting a job…-crick, crick-.  Thank goodness for such totally awesome, wonderful, accommodating friends that stepped up and drove my kids to and from school for that whole week in September so I could go to Hong Kong – THANKS SO MUCH!  I also have to thank his colleague and ‘End-of-the-hallway’ buddy for convincing him to take me along.

James purchased a ticket so I could meet him in Hong Kong.  Meet him.  I’ve never in my life flown on my own before.  James flew direct on Emirates.  I flew a connector through Mumbai on a cheaper flight.  As if I wasn’t already nervous enough about making my connection on the way to Hong Kong through a foreign airport in India, but surprise, there was also a Tsunami headed towards Hong Kong.  I watched the news.  I diligently checked my flight status and everything was still on time.  I went to the airport, checked in and boarded my flight without any problems.  I had chosen my seat well, I ended up in my 3 seat row with one other person, and they were nice.  We chatted on and off until we reached Mumbai.  The Mumbai Airport…what can I say.  I’m surprised the structure hasn’t collapsed under negligence and disrepair.  The people are friendly and helpful, but as we rode the rusted, creaky bus from the plane to the airport I felt like my seat was about to come unhinged with every brake or swerve from the driver.  Once we reached the terminal I had no idea where to go, and knowing I had just over an hour to get there my face may have had a look of obvious panic.  A staff member quickly rushed to my side and asked if I was flying to Hong Kong and pointed me in the right direction, “just follow this hallway until you see another person dressed like me” and off I ran.  When I reached the next guy, all smiles and matter of factly he announces to me “There is a Tsunami headed for Hong Kong.  Your flight may not take off.  If it does not take off we are not responsible nor will you be reimbursed for your flight.  Enjoy your day.” ….Awesome.

I rush to my gate.  Which by the way is not obvious.  I see a sign that has my gate number on it, but it points to a room with no windows, full of seated coughing, sleeping, sweaty people.  It looked more like a doctors office then an airline gate.  I found a seat and took another look around.  This isn’t right.  It was then that I noticed that there must be a gap between the row of seats across from me and the wall above them.  On closer inspection I noticed stairs leading down.  They lead down to my gate – whew.  I had arrived just when we should have begun boarding.  No one was moving.  No one was even standing.  So I parked myself within earshot of the call desk and waited.  So glad I ran here….  Waiting.  I do NOT want to spend the night in this filthy airport.  I start to wonder where the toilet is.  I look around and see I sign on the wall in front of me.  I hear a flush, and the wall slides away in front of me.  Directly behind the thin, sliding door, is a toilet.  Curiosity cured.  I no longer need to use the toilet.  Commotion at the call desk I stand just in case, I hear them whisper to another to announce boarding, I am first in line – YES.

Central Hong Kong from our room at the Rosedale

Central Hong Kong from our room at the Rosedale

We eventually land in Hong Kong without so much as a hiccup.  Well maybe a few bumps, but I’ve been in way worse.  Navigating the Hong Kong Airport is a bit easier.  I know exactly where I need to go to get a bus and there are many helpful signs reassuring me I am headed in the right direction.  The guy at the bus desk is helpful and funny.  He happily takes my money and carries my bag to the bus.  There are 5 other people on the greyhound size bus.  I get a sticker with the name of my hotel on it and put it on my sweater so the driver knows (and I know) where to get off.  Everything is so green, and it looking around gives me the impression that it has rained recently.  I wonder if I have missed all the excitement of the Tsunami.  We reach a light and the bus stops.  The driver indicates to me that this is my stop.  I grab my bag and look out the window, where am I?  He points to an alley way and indicates to me that my hotel is down there.  Okay, off I go.  Sketchy at first and walk slowly.  Once I see it, and my confidence returns I take off towards the Rosedale Hotel.

Our room in the Rosedale.

Our room in the Rosedale.

In the room, I get my bearings, take a few photos and decide to wait to hear from James before wondering off.  It’s not too long before James appears and recounts what he has learned from his first day of pre-conference meetings.  The Tsunami warning has caused several airlines to cancel all flights to the area until further notice (so glad my cheap airline had my safety in mind).  What this means for the conference is that many of the speakers are unable to make it and the schedule would need to be adjusted.  The result was James only having conference meetings and presentations from 8-12-ish leaving the afternoons completely open for us to explore together!  However, the Tsunami was expected to hit full force that first afternoon and so the majority of business were boarded up for the night and all of the next morning.  We joined several other couples from the conference in the restaurant at the top of the hotel for dinner.  It was eerily quite on the street as not a car could be seen on the road.  The only really indication that anything was happening outside was a few trees that were swaying violently in the wind far below us.

Putting our name on a card at The Peak.

Putting our name on a card at The Peak.

 

Top of Ngong Ping after James' run.

Top of Ngong Ping after James’ run.

 

Hong Kong Temple

Hong Kong Temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had a rough idea of places to go see in Hong Kong but wasn’t entirely organized.  So our days turned into a schedule of going to the Apple Store (iPhone 5s was just released in Hong Kong), walking away disappointed to the subway, picking a stop on the line, and getting off.  In the end, we saw the Walk of Stars, the Hong Kong temple (my first foreign temple experience requiring a translator), Ngong Ping (twice, cause James wanted to run to the top and I didn’t), The Peak and Central (cause that’s where our hotel was).  I was also able to have a special lunch with an old friend from high school and see her studio.  The weather was humid, and warm.  Not entirely different from Dubai except that it actually rained several times.

Pretty much sums up our visit.

Pretty much sums up our visit.

My return trip brought similar feelings of anxiety as when I had flown over.  My return would involve returning to Mumbai and actually leaving the airport to spend the night in hotel.  To do this required me to get a 6 month Visa into India.  When I look back at that transaction I think I got ripped off in more than one way in that transaction, but whatever.  A car came included with the hotel purchase so I thankfully did not need to wait in a long line, and then hike to a taxi waiting somewhere out on the road into the airport (we drove past people carrying their luggage nearly all the way to the main road.  Although my heart did have a little palpitation when I wasn’t on their list of pickups for the night.  Good thing I had printed out the confirmation…and it was so late at night.  Back to the main road.  Anyone who has driven in the UAE, or Europe will have some inkling into the fear I experienced for the 10 minutes I was on the ‘main road’.  I arrived into India after dark.  In fact by this time it was nearly 12:00 midnight.  It was dark.  There are no lights on the road except the multiple lanes of headlights coming in your direction.  I don’t give a specific number because I can’t be sure how many lanes there was actually meant to be.  There were no lines on the road.  The drivers didn’t seem to have any sense of order as to where they should be in relation to the other cars on the road.  We apparently needed to cross this road.  So my driver crept…starting…stopping…making progress, cars swerving around us, lights coming towards us, and then we stopped at a gate.  Then my driver explains, “they will search the car” – what?  Flashlights in my face, I hear the trunk pop open.  All of a sudden we are moving again, through the gate.  We drive up to the front doors.  My driver grabs my luggage out of the trunk and carries it to the security waiting on the front step.  They scan my bag.  They scan me.  I’m thinking this is crazy.  I just did this 3 times to get out of the airport.  I’m clear so they let me go.

The staff was so friendly, no really they were.  After all the searches, and the short, scary drive over, and just being really tired on top of it all, the lady behind the counter was really nice.  Really it doesn’t take much people just smile.

My hotel room in Mumbai

My hotel room in Mumbai

Okay back to this hotel, which was really awesome.  It was so fancy I can’t believe I was staying there all by myself.  Then of course compared to the Rosedale in Hong Kong (which is pretty dang swanky) this place was pretty fancy.  The room though…it was hands down the nicest room I have ever been in.  In Hong Kong, I could sit against the seat in the window and comfortably rest my feet on the bed.  Mumbai, I could have done a workout with 10 other people in that room and we would have been good (maybe not 10, but still lots of room).

My stellar bathroom

My stellar bathroom

Before my flight the next morning I had another opportunity to meet some old friends that we had met when we lived in Edmonton.  I was afraid the conversation would be quiet after spending so much time away from each other but it was truly wonderful to catch up with them.  I don’t recall much of the trip back to the Mumbai airport, though I did get lost  it was relatively uneventful and less traumatising than the night before.  The only thing left to endure was the long line up through customs in the Dubai airport.

Hong Kong through the Rosedale window 15 floors up.
Dinner out.
Select your order number.

Busy street
James photobomb
Double decker buses

The entrance to the mall…no doors 😉
Apple isn’t open yet.
Bamboo scaffolding

So you know where to look (they drive on the wrong side here).
Painted stairs on an overpass.
Restaurant menu

Hong Kong Dollars
Old apartment building across from the Apple Genius counter.
Avenue of Stars

Avenue of Stars

Bruce Lee
There was a huge line for Jackie Chan…
Chow Yun Fat

I couldn’t convince him to strike a pose.
Fake, picturesque Hong Kong skyline.
Real Hong Kong skyline

High five Pig!
Olympic torch
Famous clock tower

Waiting for the lightshow.

WOW! That’s it folks. So glad we stuck around… 😛
Riding back to Central Hong Kong on a passenger ferry

We were watching the light show from a platform in front of the ‘ski slope’ looking building (Hong Kong Performing Arts)
Welcome to Victoria Park

Hong Kong library

Map of Victoria Park

Foot massage pathway

Cool trails around Victoria Park

Remote control speed boat.

Running path
Hong Kong Library from Victoria Park
Statue of Queen Victoria

Riding the ‘DingDing’ with Lena
At Lena’s studio.

The Tram ‘DingDing’
Hong Kong Temple
Hong Kong Temple

‘Stop’ wait behind this line.
Riding the subway in Hong Kong. He makes the best faces.
Yummy lunch. I loved this place!

The floor in the Crystal Pod
The trail James ran.

Village of Ngong Ping

Altar at the bottom of the stairs.
Hello Buddha
More altars

Hoped to make it around to the fishing village…but didn’t.
Bodhi Wishing Shrine

Random back alley market

Tickets to The Peak
How do I get to The Peak?
Waiting for the Trolley

On the Trolley to The Peak
It’s a bit of a steep climb.

View of Hong Kong from the look out point

Our names at The Peak.

Bubba Gump restaurant at The Peak

Sorry Kirsten…pork ribs.

View of the ocean from The Peak
The Peak

Getting out of the rain

Hot date with my hubby. Tickets to Elysium
Pretty much sums up our visit.
Awesome swinging gate??

Path leading up to Ngong Ping
Ngong Ping map

Awesomely steep stairs.
Two trails with the same name your only choice, up or down?
…you pick.

To get to the hiking trail up Ngong Ping get off at this stop.
Head left towards this exit.
Stay to the left of the trees.

Enter the bike path.
This way to the walking trail up Ngong Ping.
Follow the arrows.

Follow the arrow.
Follow the signs to the Hau Wong Temple.
Stay left and go over the overpass.

Somebodies laundry hanging next to the road.
Stay right to the right of these stairs.
At this sign…

…head down the stairs.
At the ‘T’, go left.
Look for the Hau Wong Temple sign (go to the right).

Past the toilets and a playground (on the left)
Before the gate, turn left.
So you walk along this court.

Over the bridge.
Stay on the path.
Up these stairs…

…until you see this marker, then keep on going 🙂
Last look before getting on the plane.
My hotel room in Mumbai

My stellar bathroom
View out my window.

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