Christmas Decorations (needs a little work)

Across the street from Diane, Santa has fallen on hard times...

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Christmas Decorations (maybe a little over the top)

Down the street from Teresa, this is the winner of the "Best Santa" award in Kingwood...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Merry Christmas! Here is something fun. The picture at left is of a mechanical panda toy that Stuart gave David for Christmas. Click on the picture and you will see a little movie. Have a Happy New Year!

Safety at Work

I had decided some time ago not to write about work, but to concentrate on interesting things outside of it. But this week, I haven't done much except work. So here is a picture of me at the site about to give a safety speech to the workers. I am the guy in the orange Nomex pumpkin outfit. The guys in yellow are the contractor management and the guys in blue are workers or charge hands who supervise workers. Workers wear yellow hats and supervisors wear white hats. Safety officers wear green hats. Everything is color coded.

Anyway, this safety talk was about the need to stop work if you see something unsafe. A lot of workers are fearful to do this - it is not in their culture to question the boss. And it is not in the nature of some bosses to be questioned. Anyway, I gave this talk about 10 times to around 5,000 people. Each time it was translated into at least one and sometimes two other languages. It is quite a challenge to communicate here sometimes. There are 6 or so major languages spoken. We made up 21,000 cards to hand out and had 100 full size banners posted around the site.

Oh yes - I finally made it to the Asian Games last night. I went to see the squash tournament championship. Both the mens and the womens champion were Malaysians. My friend Victor showed me a good Indian restaurant too. So that was a successful evening. BE SAFE AND STOP WORK IF YOU SEE AN UNSAFE CONDITION...

Milburn Wagon Company

Yesterday they opened the Asian Games here in Doha. Amazingly, it rained (more accurately poured) on the first day. Fortunately it cleared in the evening and the opening celebration seemed to go well. I watched it on TV for a while but got tired and fell asleep before it finished.

The theme seemed to be technology oriented and while I wasn’t paying close attention appeared to be about a Qatari pearl diver who got blown off course and discovered Asia. He had a magic astrolabe and completed part of his journey with the help of a golden falcon who carried him when the seas got too rough. Don’t ask me what this has to do with sports. Then he came back, got married, had a son, and glimpsed the future including the oil and gas wealth that is in Qatar today.

It was all done in a theatric style that kind of reminded me of a circus because there were acrobats and dancers representing various countries. It was very high tech with lasers and multi-sensory projections and sounds and such. One thing that I found interesting about it was the quick history they gave of technology development. They hit it kind of high level (gross understatement) but it got me to thinking, especially about energy.

If you look at energy use today, it is very difficult to understand how solar, wind, etc. are going to make much of a difference. It takes too many wind mills. Nobody really likes nuclear although I think it will be back some day. Conservation could make a big difference. Anyway, I got to thinking about cars – especially hybrid cars. I did an internet search and that is when I made an interesting discovery. Hybrid cars have been around a long time.

And this was a surprise - at one time, the largest wagon making company in the world was the Milburn Wagon Company of Toldedo, Ohio. With the demise of the horse drawn wagon, they made an attempt to go into automobiles. And their platform of choice was electric, including at least some vehicles that had a small gasoline engine to charge the batteries. Electric cars were essentially no longer being manufactured by the early ‘20s and the plant was sold to GM to make Buicks. You can read more at http://www.milburn.us/history.htm. Maybe my next car will be a hybrid, although to be honest I had been thinking more like getting a Corvette.

Doha at Night

This is Doha from the Intercontinental Hotel at night. I like this picture. You can see how unfinished the buildings are. The cranes are visible and the modernity is very apparent. Doha bay is like a mirror and the beach looks very strange with this lighting.

Happy Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving my group had our "holiday" party at the Hotel Intercontinental beach here in Doha. I remember my first Thanksgiving away from home - I was 19, in the Navy, and stationed on the USS Fearless in Charleston, South Carolina. I rode my bicycle into town and ordered a turkey sandwich in a diner.

This time we had Lebanese food, but someone thought to ask them to put some turkey slices on a platter. I passed on the turkey. There was a jazz band and afterwards we sat on carpets and cushions while folks relaxed with a shisha pipe. I passed on the shisha too. According to my friend Nasser, seated to my right, shisha is a Turkish word meaning glass. That is because the water bowl is made from glass. The yankees here call it the "hubbly bubbly" and I think that some places it may be known as the "hookah" although that is normally associated with drugs I think. In the Middle East, shisha tobacco has dried fruit in it and has a nice aroma. I have been told variously that it is milder than regular tobacco and also that it is stronger. Anyway, if interested, I'll take you to a "shisha bar" if you come visit me.

Today it rained! In fact, we have had a couple of "rains" lately. Not a whole lot really, but it cools things off and is nice. The weather is in the 70s right now - very pleasant. Enjoy the holiday bustle. I'll have a cup of tea and watch the shisha smokers until I can get home.

Umm Bab Beach

Sometimes it is better to quote from those who have come before you. In this case, quoting from the Marhaba Guide, "on cresting a small hill, you will see the coast stretched out below and the distinctive group of trees. Most people turn left at the trees and stop a little further on. The sand is very deep so 2wd vehicles should proceed with caution." So we turned left at the trees - my 4wd didn't have problems. This beach is also known as "Palm Tree Beach". In some ways though, it reminded me of the infamous "Chicken Bone Beach" that stu monkey sometimes talks about. You pass a lot of oil field production on the way and unfortunately there is some litter. There were probably a dozen other people there. Despite lots of coastline and beaches, there are very few developed resort areas in Qatar.

Gecko!

When I first got back to Doha I was swamped with work. Then this last 4-5 days I have been sick. Those are my excuses for not writing. And good excuses they are.

But tonight I spotted this gecko in my car park - finally I feel better and something really worthy to write about as well! It is only the second wild native creature other than an insect, bird, or fish that I have seen. The other was a larger lizard about a foot long or so.

He is a tiny little fellow only about an inch long and was almost transparent on the wall until I turned the glare of the flash of my camera upon him. Poor little guy. I hope the cats don't catch him. There are cats all over the place here.

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Feast at Eid

Yesterday was Eid and there was celebration of the breaking of the fast at the camp. Actually the chefs, and I purposely call them chefs rather than cooks, can prepare some pretty good meals. There were some nice touches like the decorated fruit in the next photo.

They decorated the tennis court, put up a little tent and lights, and set up tables and chairs. It was a feast.

Peace...

Back at the Camp

While I was home I had several comments, mostly from females, about my animal skin bedspread at the camp (see How is the Camp). NONE of them were complimentary. While I don't really agree, I am sensitive to the plight of synthetic animals being treated in an unethical manner by acrylic fur traders. Accordingly, I spoke to the interior decorator at the camp and he replaced it with this understated floral print. As you can imagine, I am quite pleased.

By the way, there are some pictures posted behind Yebisu of my birthday if you are interested.

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High School Revisited

I have been in Houston the last two weeks and was fortunate to be in the area when my 35th High School Reunion was held. The picture in the lower right was taken in 1973, after we had been out of High School a year or two, and the 4 young men are Chopper, Brent Terrill, myself, and Garland Ermis.

It is hard to believe I have been out of High School for 35 years and it was fun to go back and see old friends. We reproduced the pose pretty well I think. Of course it was 2:00 in the morning so the fact that we were awake and sentient was in itself an accomplishment. The picture was taken at the famous "after party" party. I got the came from the furthest away award. At least I would have received it if there had been one. Next week I'm back to Qatar...

A Trip to the North of Qatar

Teresa and I took a trip to the Northern tip of Qatar and there are some interesting sites. This is the fort at Al Zubara - a lonely spot with an old man watching after it that will give you the keys to it when you drive up. Down the coast is the old town of Algamel that is now in various stages of ruin. I posted a few pictures behind Yebisu for those that are interested...

Succession Crisis Averted

I guess I was out of touch. I didn't even know the Princess was pregnant. A boy was born September 5th at 8:27 a.m. and weighed 5.64 pounds according to the Imperial Household Agency. Mother and child are said to be in good condition. Princess Kiko had been under considerable stress last year, said to be at least partially attributable to not having produced a male heir. A 1947 law allows only males to ascend the throne.

This is the 3rd child for the royal couple - a rare situation in Japan today. The average children per couple is 1.25 and the population is dropping. This has led to concerns about labor shortages in future and who will take care of the aging population. Thank goodness that Prince Akishino and Princess Miko are doing their part to avert this new crisis...

Musée du Petit Palais

This last Thursday I had to take a quick unplanned trip to Paris at the last minute for a meeting. I ended up staying Friday night and had a pleasant dinner at a Lebanese restaurant with a Lebanese friend. He is an artist, as well as being a cost engineer, and particularly likes impressionist and late 19th century romantic paintings. He is fluent in Arabic, French, and English. Anyway, it was an enjoyable evening and he suggested that if I had time to go see the exhibits at the Musée du Petit Palais which was within walking distance of my hotel.

The museum was built for the 1900 Paris Exhibition and had a very nice collection. They allowed photography and here is a painting I particularly liked. The subject is the famous French actress Sarah Bernhardt and I believe it was painted in 1875. I posted some touristy pictures behind Yebisu but going to the museum instead of work on a Saturday morning was nice. I am going to have to do things like that more often.

I walked around Paris quite a bit that morning. The center is compact and fairly easy to get about. They say that first impressions are important and my first impression of Paris about 25 years ago was not good. When I was younger I felt I could rely on my first impressions but I am a bit less certain now. Anyway, I now find Paris a very interesting place.

I speak no French, but at least I know the alphabet there. I can hardly read Japanese at all, but I can speak it a little. It is embarrassing that my friend speaks 3 languages fluently and I can only speak English. I am resolved to try and improve my Spanish. I think that is my best chance for visiting a non-English speaking country and holding some kind of a real conversation in the local language...

Copy Cats

Today I did a search for "Lost in Japan" and found several other blogs with the same name. One was in Spanish. But there were some disturbing similarities to mine. For example, one had multiple pictures pasted together. There was a picture of a T-shirt with non-sensical English and another story about a cartoon character. So either we are all observing the same interesting things or somebody is ripping off my brilliant observations! I wonder if they think I am ripping them off?

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Hobbies

I don't know why children are "bored" and why some people can find nothing to do. When I first got here, I wondered what I could do after visiting the souqs, the mall, the Corniche, and maybe the Inland Sea. You can do all those things in a week. What then?

Actually, there is a lot to do. Among the things I am doing are 1) working too much, 2) trying to stay fit with a little bit of running and swimming, and 3) still taking pictures / doing the blog.

Among the things I am thinking about doing more of are golf, sailing, or learning spanish.

There are two golf course in Qatar. There is the club in Doha where they hold a European Tour event and there is the Ras Laffan Golf Club over by the camp where a bunch of guys organized a club. The dues are about $250 per year at Ras Laffan and you can play all you want plus free range balls. As you can see from the photo there is a fine club house and the course has grass (!) greens and tees. After you hit the ball, you carry a piece of astro turf to where it lays, place your ball on it, and hit again until you land on the greens. It has nine holes.

I was out there yesterday and there were only about 10 people on the course even though it was a weekend and early in the morning. This is not because it is so exclusive, but because it was already about 105 degrees. When I want to play, I can rent clubs for about $1 so it is not necessary to buy them. This course was built before the one in Doha.

The course in Doha costs $5000 per year and really is very nice. For sailing, there is a club down on the Corniche with nice boats to rent. Maybe I'll try that. I miss learning a new language and it has become difficult to study Japanese. I considered Arabic but could not get in the proper frame of mind. So, I am going back to Spanish. That way I don't have to learn a new alphabet and I have at least some vocabulary already. Hasta la vista...

Arabic Numerals

I needed a second alarm clock since I spend a lot of nights out at the camp so I bought this one at the souq. Remember the "Arabic" numbers we learned in school? Note the numerals on the clock - these are the primary ones on license plates and such here. But everyone knows the Western numbers also.

Based on what I have been able to find out off the internet (a completely reliable source of information) the base 10 number system being commonly used today came from India although base 10 system developed elsewhere of course. An Arabic scholar, Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi (c.778 - c.850), developed the numbers from the Indian math that eventually evolved into the ones we use. The first four numbers were based on angles and 5 through 9 and 10 (using zero) were based on notation used for the abacus. This evolution followed different paths in the West and the East. The ones used in Arabia are actually based on evolution that occured in India.

The ones in use in the West are better in my estimation for several reasons - the most important is that it is too easy to modify the Eastern. Imagine a check for $100. Look at the numbers on the clock and imagine how easy it would be to change that into $355 or some other number. It is interesting that Arabic text is written right to left and that could make it very interesting going between the two number systems if care wasn't taken!

This clock cost an extra 10 riyals more than most of the others they had. Why? Because it was made in Japan! In the '50s Japanese goods were synonomous with low quality. Today you pay extra for it. The cheap stuff comes from China. Even the souvenirs for different places (including Qatar) are made in China. It is a good alarm clock that is nice and loud with numbers big enough to read if only they were "Arabic" numbers instead of "Indian" ones...

Qahwah (Arabic Coffee)

Today for entertainment I went to the Souq and was looking around. I had seen the shops selling Arabic coffee before but couldn't quite figure it out. I knew it was boiled and to me it tastes more like an herbal tea than coffee. It is not like Turkish coffee.

They sell various beans and also spices in the same shop. The main spice is cardamon but they may also put saffron and even ginger or other spices in it. The shop will grind the beans (very fine) or you can grind yourself - you can even buy unroasted beans and roast them yourself. You can make your own blend in the shop or do what I did and buy vacuum packed pre-roasted, blended, and ground.

Now I am no expert at this by any means but I have made it twice now. The gentleman at the store did not speak real good English but he was patient and did his best to explain it. Basically it goes like this:

1. Select your coffee: I bought a pre-blended style that seems typical of the Gulf area. They make different blends in different parts of the Arab world.
2. Measure water into long handled coffee pot: I bought a modern Egyptian pot. They also had Indian ones and some are shaped more like a tea pot. A serving is about the size of an espresso cup and that is what I used here. I'll have to get some cups.
3. Add coffee: According to the gentleman at the shop, about one teaspoon per cup or more if you want. I think one teaspoon is enough.
4. Put the pot on the burner on high heat and brew: Stir it once before it boils. The man said to boil it - the longer the better - except if you like it better not boiled so long. I liked it best when I just boiled it and took it right off.
5. Serve immediately: You can put sugar in it - or not. Traditionally it doesn't have sugar but I think I like it better that way. Note the green color of mine. Drinking a few grounds is expected and it is not filtered. It tastes OK but I think it is one of those things you have to develop a taste for. The aroma is very nice but not like coffee - more spicy. Mine was pretty close to what he served in the shop.

OK, I hope that explains it. I did a search on the internet and you can find out lots more about it including other twists on making it.

They served oden in the camp cafeteria today. Oden is a Japanese stew / soup like concoction that is typically served when it is cold outside. It isn't exactly cold right now outside but it is near freezing indoors. People really like air conditioning here. Enjoy your coffee...

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Roman Soldier

I don't think I would have made a good Roman soldier although I definitely have the body for it :-). Teresa and I had a good trip and it looked like David was having fun too. I got a lot of good pictures, but I find I don't blog very well if I don't make the entries right away. Otherwise, you forget the little personal detail that made it interesting. At least that is the way it is for me.

So why didn't I blog right away? Because there weren't many internet connections along the way thank goodness. Of course that meant I was overwhelmed with work email when I returned.

One of the nice things about a trip like this is I came back thoroughly rested. But it didn't last long. Oh well, I'm caught up again. And how lucky to visit such beautiful places and hear David in concert. Rather than write a lot more I am just going to post some pictures of the trip. Be sure and look behind Yebisu if you are interested...

Al Thakhira

The water at Al Thakhira, North of Al Khor, is relatively shallow but pretty. The village is small, but like like much of Qatar, is gradually growing grander. This view is from the small harbor and boat launch back towards the town.

Malayalee Samajam

CCC Malayalee Samajam

10th Anniversary Celebrations

CCC Employees Day

Inaguration by:

H.E. Dr. George Joseph

Hon. Ambassador of India

A Musical and dance programme lead by famous Indian play back

singer Miss. Reemy Tomy choreographed by Director

Sandhya Mohan

Esteemed Presence Graces Celebrations

We solicit your esteemed presence to grace the occasion of 10th Anniversary Celebration of CCC Malayalee Samajam named as "CCC Employees Day"

Could you turn down an invitation like that? I think not, and neither did I. Here I am seated in a large stuffed chair on the front row of the outdoor theater. These chairs have of course been reserved for dignitaries such as myself and our names are on the chair. In front is my private table with assorted drinks, a basket of fruit, and tissue to dry my brow. The traditional Middle Eastern sweets are still to come.

The way it starts is this... You arrive and get a VIP ribbon that makes you look like you won 2nd prize at the science fair. Then you get your picture taken with various dignitaries (it might even get put in the paper!). Of course little children give you flowers and then you are escorted up on the stage. More pictures. I was seated behind the Indian Ambassador and beside His Excellency from Pakistan. Then EVERYONE gave a speech. They were very formal, flowery, and as you would expect, very interesting :-). Finally, after 45 minutes, the speeches were done. We went back to our chairs. And sat...

Unfortunately, the portable generator was not big enough to run all the lights and amplifiers and such. Not to worry, this is a construction site. Someone went off with a large flatbed truck and a crane, got a much larger generator, and set it down. After only a 30 minute wait we were in action again! The band tuned up. Fifteen minutes later we had more speeches and introductions. The crowd had swelled to 20,000 and was getting restless. Finally there was music and I was almost blown out of my chair being seated right in front of the speakers and all.

I cannot believe the absurdity of my life sometimes. How did I get from a small town in Missouri where I was born to an Arab country half way around the world listening to Indian music along with 20,000 laborers? I have to smile. It doesn't get any better than this...

Behind Yebisu is a picture of the 4 main guys running this thing. A Frenchman, a Jordanian, a Japanese, and an American. Pretty bizzare, huh?

Getting a Haircut

I believe I have written about getting a haircut in Japan. My method of communication was to hold my hair up with one hand and use the fingers of my other hand in the shape of scissors to show the length. After they finish with you they vacuum your head to get the loose hair out.

Yesterday I got a haircut here in the camp. They have a barbershop with two seats and there are two Indians cutting hair. You can get a haircut, shave, hair dye, "side cut", head massage, and "steam treatment". I decided to get a haircut and a shave. The cost of a haircut is 10 riyals or $2.75 roughly. The cost of a shave is 5 riyals.

I thought the haircut was pretty good and he used scissors for the entire cut. For the shave he used a disposable straight razor. They lathered me up really good and shaved once, then repeated. It was a pretty close shave as they say. For sure I'll be getting my hair cut in the camp from now on but I'll probably skip the shave. I haven't seen shaves available like that in a lot of years though and not since I was an adult. So I had to try it.

After they finish, they massage your scalp really well and slap some astringent on your face that stings like crazy. Then they massage your face. You can't get treatment like that in the States for $4.10. So I tipped him another 5 riyals.

Sailing

Yesterday I went sailing here in Doha with some guys from work. The boat belongs to one of them and is a 35 footer. It is a very nice boat, it was a nice day, and we went swimming out at "Banana Island". The picture shows the boat and I with the Sheraton hotel in background.

It got me to thinking about the last time I helped sail a larger boat. I think it was about 30 years ago. An old friend had moved to the beach and had a "Venture" with a small cabin - nothing like this one. He let me sail it by myself down the canal he lived on and out to Galveston Bay. Sailboating is something I think I could get into. About 7 or 8 years ago I also sailed on a commercial catamaran in Galveston Bay but I didn't really have to do anything.

While at Banana Island, I put on a mask and fins and goofed around a little. The last time I had seriously snorkeled was about 20 years in Hawaii. At that time I was marathon fit and also had been swimming twice a week to get ready for triathalons. I was so fit I was swimming as strong as the crew of the boat I was on and easily keeping up with them on dives to the coral.

Actually, I have started swimming again within the last two weeks. When I am at the camp I run about a mile, swim about 300 to 500 meters, and lift weights about twice a week. When I was in my 30s I dispaired that I could not run as fast as when I was 18. Now I wish I could do what I could when I was in my 30s. At least I have kept moving. Anyway, yesterday I was still the strongest swimmer on the boat. It is just that yesterday the boat didn't have a crew in its 20s.

Two of the guys on the boat were avid sailors so it was good to listen to them and learn a little about sailing. Keep moving :-)

Football

These men are at a Coffee Shop watching the World Cup on television screens set up under the porch. Something less than 300 Million people in America call this soccer. The other Billions of people in the world call it football and they are all glued to the tube right now.

This picture was taken in the Souq at dusk on Friday evening. Everybody goes out on Friday evening. Look behind Yebisu for another picture.

Dhow Harbor

One of my favorite things to do in Doha is to walk along the Corniche - a seawall, walk, and road that follows the bay. There is usually a breeze, and for Doha, lots of people out walking. It's the place to be...

Kitchens

Differences. There are a lot of differences in Qatar and Japan. Many are obvious, some more subtle. The way that people live is at least as different as the land itself. Here are two kitchens. The first is the kitchen of my apartment in Japan. It is sleek, ultra-modern, compact, and efficient. The second one is the kitchen in my villa in Qatar. It is very spacious, modern, and a kind of traditional style.

For me, they represent someting about the country they come from. The United States is somewhere in between the two in the way I think about it. I know you can find examples similar to both of the above in just about any country. But look at them and you will get a feeling for one aspect of these cultures.

Can you guess which is more "me" :-)

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Dining Rooms

And now for a test. Which one is in Qatar and which one is in Japan?

City Center

Doha has modern shopping, the largest being City Center. It is nice although parking is a bit limited. In fact, parking is kind of limited everywhere. City Center has three levels of shopping and a ice skating rink on the bottom. There are also a number of traditional souqs.

And aren't we lucky? There is fast food too.

Fast Food

Simaisma

The beauty of Qatar is much different than Japan of course. The desert has its own beauty and the sea here is a radiant blue. I like some of the new buildings quite a bit. Others not so much but that is the same everywhere. And if you look, you will find scenes like this one in Simaisma, a small town on the coast between Doha and Al Khor.

Sashimi in Ras Laffan

The other night we had sashimi in Ras Laffan at the camp canteen. This completes my round the world "sushi trip". In case you are not aware, sashimi is raw fish served without the rice as it is in nigiri (on top of rice) or maki (rolled in rice). This sashimi was from a local fish. Yatsuda-san and I could not figure out what kind it was, but it was pretty good. I have also eaten sushi in a Doha hotels but did not find it to be particularly good. Japanese friends tell me that the "Sakura" restaurant (the only real Japanese restaurant in Doha) is OK though.

Today (Friday) is a day off in Qatar. However, I am at work because I was away from the Construction Site for most of the week and got behind. I am not behind because I was away from the site, but rather because I was away from the computer. I don't have internet at the house in Doha yet so that makes it hard to keep up from there. So last night I drove out here and spent the night in the camp. Tomorrow I will take the day off and try to find something interesting to do...

Sushi in Paris

I am on a round the world sushi tour. Here Hatta-san and I enjoy a nice glass of ginjyo in Paris at a restaurant that was occupied only by nihonjin on the night I was there (with the exception of me of course, and I consider myself honorary nihonjin). The sushi and sashimi was excellent and we also enjoyed tempura. Kanpai!

I actually started this adventure in Yokohama where I was honored to eat in Ikeda-san's home with his wife and son. That was very nice and Ikeda-san also gave me a very nice sake cup. So far, the sushi has been pretty good at all the places I have tried it - but they haven't quite made it to the highest Japanese standards....

I am back in Doha now enjoying the balmy weather. Take care and don't get a heat stroke...

Sushi Uptown

Well, the Astros won last night - beat the Braves. Here is a view of the fireworks show afterwards. Megan, Megan's friend Hy, Teresa and I went. There is another picture behind Yebisu.

The other day we went to a "fusion" sushi bar in Uptown Houston. The sushi was good although a bit Americanized and they had a nice ginjyo that they served at the right temperature.

Summer is the time for fireworks - get out and see some...

Sushi in Kingwood

Yesterday David and I went to the Thai Curry and Sushi Bar in Kingwood to eat lunch. It was pretty good. I would rank it just below the kaitenzushi in 鶴見　where I used to work in terms of quality. It was Americanized a bit and wasn't Tokyo style. Not that I am snooty or biased or anything. I asked the chef in Japanese if he was Japanese. He responded in Japanese that he was Chinese - neat huh? The rest of the wait staff was speaking in Chinese so I should have figured it out. Anyway, it is recommended. They give you a big bowl of edamame and the mizo soup was fair...

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New Electronics

My children were starting to catch up with me in terms of what their cell phones could do so I picked up this new i-mate Pocket PC with Windows so I can take a picture, post it to my blog, and view it. Of course I can also create an Excel spreadsheet or a Word file as needed.

This cell phone has more power than my first PC by a significant amount. That PC had 32 k of memory (16k RAM and 16k ROM) and when I first got it I used a tape recorder for storage until I could afford a floppy disk drive. And it didn't even have a built in camera or ability to access the internet. I shall not tell tales of punched paper tape or IBM paper cards. Or learning to use a slide rule...

How is the Camp?

The camp is OK. As you can tell from the photo, the interior decorator was not a woman. The sheets and towels get changed twice a week and the air conditioner works good. I have my own bathroom, living room with TV, microwave, refrigerator, and office.

The canteen has both Japanese and European food. The Japanese food isn't too bad but there are some not quite right things. Like, the miso soup has wakame and potatoes in it. OK though. We get hamour tempura (grouper) instead of anago. But I like it.

The vegetables are really good and the fruit isn't too bad. Deserts are not the specialty of the chef which is probably a good thing for me. The weather is over 40 deg. C now in Doha.

Road Hazards

There are a number of road hazards here. As in most places, but maybe more so here, the number one hazard is other drivers. There are also sandstorms (on the day after I took this picture I had to slow down considerably because of visibility and there is dust in the air in this picture as well).

And then there are the camels. Camels are a lot like moose in Alaska. A lot of weight up high on spindly legs - just right to come crashing into the passenger compartment if you hit one. So far I am avoiding them. You see them from time to time. Today I saw a big lizard. Other than that, not much moving...

I am getting settled in but having to work some long hours. My shipment came in from Japan today so soon I'll have the rest of my clothes, stereo, massage chair, tea pots, and television. I don't know why I got that television. There is already one here so I don't really need it. Oh well. Better having surplus corruption than not having what you need...

How did I get from Tokyo to Here?

This is my villa in Doha in the late evening. Parked in front is my Volkswagon 4wd SUV. Pretty cool (except that it is 40 deg C and about to climb to 50 every day). It is 4 bedrooms, 4 and a half baths, a living room, kitchen, dining room, and utility room. I don't need the space - it is way too much.

I will probably move out to the camp - I have reserved a one bedroom with office out there. They also have a swimming pool, gym, tennis courts, and Japanese food. I will probably keep this place or a place in Doha though. I have to be there one day a week and there are always the weekends. Maybe even visitors!

Last week I went and spent the day with the laborers. Their life is much different than mine. At lunch we were given a metal tray and food was dished upon it. No fork or spoon - you eat with your hands and using the bread in the traditional style. The food wasn't bad though and there were more than enough calories for me - I didn't eat it all. It seemed pretty healthy too. I ate on the Indian side and it seemed pretty spicy to me but the workers didn't think it had enough curry. Each worker had to carry his own cup or bottle in for water.

The accomodation for laborers is pretty sparse compared to what I've gotten used to. It can be a hard life for some. Be grateful for an education and the opportunity for more.

Last Day in Yokohama

Here is the group photo on my last day in Japan. My going away gift was a man's yukata and geta - traditional Japanese daily wear and wooden shoes. I haven't tried the yukatta on yet but it is very pretty. I was assured the shoes were large, but my feet are XL by Japanese standards.

I am in Doha now and all is fine. The weather is plenty warm and the sun is out. I'll start writing about that (I miss Japan but will try not and make that the topic of my postings).

Hashioki

I have a few strange quirks. Most are harmless like this one of collecting hashioki (chopstick rests) but only those that are in the shape of a fish and where there is both a "boy" and "girl" fish. I display them on a piece of cloth showing a scene from an Edo era screen with koi on it. Most are ceramic.

Anyway, I am up to 12 pairs of hashioki now. Starting in the upper left hand top row they are: tai (sea bream), kingyo (goldfish), some little critters I forgot that look like gobies, koi no bori (carp streamer shape); left middle row: another pair of koi no bori made from glass, kingyo, some Vietnamese haishioki made from horn, tai, fugu (poisonous blow fish); bottom row: kingyo, tai, hirame (flounder).

In Japan, pink is for girls and blue is for boys. You might also see other pairs like the orange and black or gold and orange in the picture. Tai are popular because they are thought to bring good fortune. They are often eaten at ceremonious meals and Yebisu is usually seen holding one. Of course this is the time of year to fly koi no bori with May 5th coming up.

The fish shaped ones are a bit hard to find in pairs. I asked about them once and was told that they are a little old fashioned and really only used on special occasions at home. Some nice restaurants have them. They are kind of fun though. If you have special china and silver I suggest you get them out and use them. They aren't doing much good in the cupboard. Have a tea party :-).

The weather is great right now! This morning was very clear and Fuji was clearly visible.

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Guess What is for Dinner

Since I don't have much time left in Japan, I am trying new restaurants whenever I can again. I have made it into a game that goes like this: pick one at random that looks like it does not have an English menu (pictures and plastic food displays also make it too easy), then go in and try to get something to eat! I will eat about anything so that isn't a problem. The game is to try and read the menu at least a little, ask questions, and then see if you get what you thought you were ordering without letting the waiter or waitress know you are clueless. I do better than 70% at this game but there are enough errors to keep it interesting. So far, I have always been able to get enough food and not go hungry.

I am OK at asking questions. My trouble is understanding the answers. I can ask for recommendations and figure out generally whether the dish consists of rice, vegetables, fish, or meat based on what I am told most of the time. Tonight I was really doing good and then got caught right at the end when I couldn't tell her what kind of ochazuke with ume I wanted and ordered wrong. Last night I got through the whole meal without missing a beat.

Have a happy Easter!

Clown Shoes

There isn't much to write about this week. I have been working instead of engaging in people observation or learning about cultures. However, that didn't stop me from seeing this young man on the train. Look at those shoes. They were even more impressive in real life. At first I thought it was some afflicted person with feet the size of David's on a regular sized body. Then I began to think the guy was wearing clown shoes on purpose - probably for fashion.

It is hard to tell what is going on in this picture. So I have denoted the clown ratio on the photograph. For the purposes of this discussion, the clown ratio is the length of extra shoe over what is normally required to house the foot. (By the way, "kutsu" is the word for shoe in Japanese - just thought I'd throw that in to make this a little more educational). Expressed as a percentage, I estimate the clown ratio on this fellow to be around 50%. The shoe itself, up close, actually looked like the extra had been grafted onto it or somthing. Note the box toe on the left foot and also look at his feet relative to everyone elses. Almost bozoesque. OK, enough about big shoes.

All too soon I have to leave Japan and it is going to be a sad day. I have never taken so much enjoyment from observing people elsewhere although I know there is just as much opportunity. I just really like Japanese people and it is not going to be the same...

More Pachinko

A girl with a sign showing the way to a pachinko parlor. The kanji at the top of the sign with the yellow background says "nihon" which is the Japanese word for Japan. The katakana, which indicates foreign words, below it says "gurandoinpakuto" when romanized. Can you guess what it means? See the comments for a translation.

What is this Dude About?

BROOKLYN

CITY

MANHATTAN

I AN AFFORD

A MORE STYLISH

Bureikou

Here we are at the party after viewing the cherry blossoms. The title "Bureikou" means putting aside rank. This is important in Japan because during the work day there is a high level of formality and politeness that results in less than direct communication. So, in the evening, it is common to let your hair down and speak a little more directly about work related items.

The result is karaoke, drinking too much, and at a party there will be assorted silliness and games that everyone participates in.

In this picture Ikeda-san and I are recreating a famous Japanese skit. One person sits, covered in a costume where he can't see, behind the other and feeds him noodles. Ikeda-san and I won the prize for "Best Couple". There was much ooh-ing and aah-ing about my ability to use chopsticks without seeing. "It looked like one person was eating" I was told. We also gave stirring speeches, ate, and drank. The food was French (excellent) and the cocktails had a cherry blossom in them.

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Kaisha no hanami

This is the office hanami party. This year we walked part way around the palace moat and had the party at the Imperial Hotel. Being stylish, I wore a pink cherry blossom tie.

An Ode to the Cherry Blossom

I wrote the following haiku upon seeing cherry blossoms on the way to the airport this morning (this is common behavior for sensitive, artistic people):

momoiro de
sakura no hana wo
kakushimasu

Poetic translation:

The cherry blossoms
are hidden
by the color of pink

Seriously Nerdy

According to the Geek Test I took on the Newsweek website I sometimes look at for news, I am "Seriously Nerdy". Of the categories ranging from "Last Century" up, this is the highest form of geekdom in the test. According to the statistics, only 5% of the persons taking the test scored this high. This surprised me - wouldn't only nerds take a test that scores how nerdy you are? Here are some of the questions:

• Have you ever emailed a picture taken on your cell phone to a friend? (Everyone in Japan does this)
• Do you text message with your phone (everyday)
• How many computers do you currently have at home? (3 counting my work laptop - that isn't so many)
• Do you have a home network set up? (Who doesn't?)
• A joke about binary code (Of course I got it - I could have understood it in hexadecimal)

I didn't do very well on the one about having a TIVO on your television. Do geeks watch television?

Tokyo Tower at Night

When visitors come, they generally like to sit in the massage chair which has a view out this window. Looking out, you can see Tokyo Tower (that one is pretty obvious) and to the right of it is Mt. Fuji. If you look down, you can see the temple. If I am in the way you can't see anything.

In the winter this window is warm and sunny and there is a nice ledge to sit on. It would be good for a cat, or anyone else inclined to sit on a window sill.

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Hanami at Night

People like to go and view the cherry flowers at night too. I tried to get a good picture but this was the best I could do. The trees are getting near peak now. The best guess is that they will peak in the Tokyo area on Tuesday or so. With my standard good timing, I will be in Doha then.

Meanwhile, I suggest going outside with a flashlight or better yet set up a generator and floodlights under a flowering tree. Pop open a beverage of your choice and enjoy some snacks...

CATASTROPHE AVERTED

I bought a new one - Canon IXY 700. They call it the PowerShot SD600 Digital ELPH in the United States. There were some a little fancier but I decided to stick with a small size and the Canon brand that I was already familiar with. The camera is smaller, lighter, the pixels greater (6 Mega) and the LCD viewer bigger than my old one. It also opens up and gets ready to shoot faster. It won't use my old batteries or memory unfortunately. I think it will be OK...

CATASTROPHE

I dropped my camera and now the lens doesn't seem to be working properly. Maybe I can get it fixed but I would be out of action for a while. I am going to try and check on repair tomorrow. If it is going to take a while, I am buying a new one :-)

King Eagles Pachinko & Slot Parlor

I was out the other day without my camera and took this picture with my cell phone. It is a Pachinko Parlor and the young men lined up outside are waiting to get in early in the morning. When the door opens, they rush inside to get the "best" machine. According to reliable sources, there are professional pachinko players.

Now, I have never played pachinko. But I have seen it and for the life of me cannot figure how you can make a living playing pachinko. It doesn't even require skill - it is pure luck. But I am assured that somehow you can put the odds in your favor. I think it is something about if the machine sits there long enough without paying, it will eventuall pay off big.

When you win, you get little prizes (because it is illegal to get money). Then you take the prizes around back and trade them for money. Hmmm... The only people making money off pachinko are the owners of the parlor I think. I didn't see any of the young men dressed that nicely or driving expensive cars in the line outside. We can also throw our money at the lottery. Haven't I written about Pachinko before? I know I have written about cherry blossoms. I feel like Yogi Berra: "It's deja vu all over again".

Girls in Uniform

I saw this sign at the train station in Kawasaki. It is labeled to the side:

Kawori Manabe Working Costumes Collection

And the individual uniforms or "costumes" are: Policewoman, Bar Hostess, Car Mechanic, Carpenter, Kindergarten Teacher, Office Worker, Nurse, Gas Station Attendant, Flight Attendant, Maid, Sushi Chef, Hamburger Shop Girl, Elevator Attendant, White Collar Worker, Bartender, Sightseeing Bus Guide, Secretary, and Fishmonger.

And that is all I know about that.

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Sakura Starting to Bloom

The cherry trees are starting to bloom. This tree is just down the street from my apartment at the bridge that crosses the intersection to the school. It is the first cherry I remember seeing bloom when I first got to Japan. I can't miss it. When I cross the bridge it is just overhead.

Anyway, they look like they are going to bloom in the Tokyo area a little early. This one will probably be in full bloom by mid-week. We planned our office Hanami (Flower Viewing Party) for April 7th and chances are they will pretty much be gone by then. Accordingly, we have adjusted the plan to just having a walk in the park sans sakura no hana and then having a party.

Meanwhile, with my usual penchant for poor timing, I am going to Doha the week of the party and will fly back in on the 6th. So I will probably miss the main bloom this year but at least I'll be at the party.

In Japan, the cherry blossom represents the fragility and shortness of life as well as the beauty. Sometimes you miss out on a few things in life, so, missing the cherry blossom peak is just one of those things. You just have to capitalize on things when you get the chance...