Posted by Kanga.
Here are a few sights to give you a taste of Fayetteville, North Carolina.
You can never have enough choices when it comes to barbecue sauce.
For your excess flag collection needs.
Divided loyalties.
For all your shopping needs.
Seeing the Forest and the Trees
June 8, 2011Posted by Kanga.
I’ve been enjoying the plethora of trees. The city is spred out over a large area and heavily forested. We spent the afternoon in the botanical garden.
The mud dauber wasps made it challenging to find the women’s restroom.
Can you see the frog?
Here he is.
This was the most unusual flower – golden shrimp plant.
Despite the heat, it was a pleasant afternoon.
Served with a Side of Loud Mouth
June 5, 2011Posted by Kanga.
Craving an American breakfast, we went to the Waffle House nestled behind a used car lot.
Eggs, biscuit, hash browns, and two pork chops. The food was tasty, but the staff were loudly discussing their private lives. Also, they only refilled our coffee cups once, which is a travesty. Coffee should be cheap and bottomless. So, the experience turned out to be as classy as the used car lot setting.
Since sitting there a spell, drinking coffee and reading our books peaceably wasn’t an option, we went in search of a better place to do that. We ended up at Books A Million bookstore which is close to our hotel and has a little coffee shop.
So, this librarian is spending her vacation browsing for books that might be of interest to her future students. No surprise there.
Voyage, Not Particularly Bon
June 4, 2011Posted by Kanga.
Oliver made his opinion about us packing baggage very clear. He did his best to get in the way and delay the inevitable.
We began our journey at the un-ostentatiously decorated DXB airport. The only frustration was the process required for paying an extra baggage fee for the third suitcase (because the website had stated clearly that we were allowed 2 each – LIE!). Instead of just being able to pay the person who was checking in our bags (as is done in any other airport) our boarding passes were carried to a different counter by a second person who turned it over to the staff of that counter. We then stood in line (too long) waiting for the first of the two people at this counter to match up our paperwork and ask us pointless questions. She then passed the paperwork to her coworker who actually took the money and gave us back our boarding passes. FOUR PEOPLE. Really, does it take four people to handle this transaction? No. It takes four people to delay you so that you stand in line saying, “we should have flown Emirates Airline.”
We proceeded to Heathrow Airport where getting to your connecting flight is so complex it requires a map.
And they give good advice.
It was not the best of trips. It was not the worst of trips. We really must stop this flying halfway around the Earth in one shot business.
I’m Not a Tourist Here
June 4, 2011Posted by Kanga.
So, we have completed a marathon travel experience to reach North Carolina for our daughter’s one and only high school graduation.
It began like this…
[Dubai] At about 11 pm we dragged our suitcases out to the curb to begin the process of flagging down a taxi. DaddyBird remembers suddenly that he forgot the money that others have given him to buy a few things (iTunes cards and barbecue sauce), so he runs back to the apartment and I am left standing on the curb with three large suitcases and two smaller bags looking for a taxi.
A taxi pulls over almost immediately. The driver gets out and comes over to me. He begins telling me that it is a busy night. It is difficult to get into and out of the airport. I have a lot of bags. And then a sentence that I think was supposed to be along the lines of what was I willing to pay for this service, but ended with something along the lines of “how much give to you?” I needed to stall anyway, until DaddyBird had time to return. So, I made this guy repeat his request several times, saying that I didn’t understand what he was asking, which technically is the truth since his grammar was all backwards. He gave up just as DaddyBird appeared around the corner, got in his taxi and went away.
We got in another taxi soon thereafter. There was no discussion. The driver helped get the bags into the car quickly and away we went. He got us to the airport quickly. We paid the fare and tipped him well. That is how it should be.
The first driver must have seen a white woman standing near a hotel with a ridiculous amount of luggage and thought “here’s a tourist I can scam.” Sorry buddy, I’m not a tourist here anymore. I know I don’t have to haggle for a taxi ride.
As for the rest of the trip, our first flight via British Airways to Heathrow Airport was a little taste of hell. There were no vents above the seats to blow cool air and it was horribly hot the entire flight. We desperately needed to sleep, but could not. Second leg of the flight from London to Raleigh/Durham North Carolina was better temperature-wise, but sleeping was not easy or very satisfactory due to the discomfort of economy class seats. This flight was operated by American Airlines and I will say that the food was good.
We changed our currency and ended up with quite a wad of bills because about half of what she gave us was in $5 bills. Thankfully, she didn’t resort to giving it to us in ones.
Anyway, we landed safely, although exhausted and a bit smelly. We checked into the hotel and went immediately to sleep. It’s about 3 am local time now, so I should try to get a little more sleep and try to adjust to the new time zone. Jet lag is a cruel mistress.
Apartment Hunting We Will Go
May 25, 2011Posted by Kanga.
Apartment hunting resumed Saturday, beginning with an American style breakfast (or as near as it comes here).
There is no denying the value of providing quality napkins and not being stingy with them.
The drive to Fujairah on the Sharjah/Kalba road is always nice. Only takes 1.5 hours and the scenery is varied and interesting.
The advice to not build on shifting sands is clearly illustrated here.
We stopped at the ‘grosery’ to get some drinking water. It is that season when you must be drinking constantly. The humidity was high that day, so even more important.
We saw a truck full of hay bales on the corniche and a bull headed somewhere important. It wasn’t Friday, so he wasn’t on his way to the bull butting contest.
We did actually look at some apartments this time. The trick is to just find the security guard and ask him to show you any empty apartments.
We liked this one and it is in our price range. We will have to wait and see if there are still vacancies in mid-June.
We capped off the day with a nice dinner. Day well spent.
Urban Bees
May 20, 2011Posted by Kanga.
DaddyBird noticed these bees taking up residence in a potted plant just outside the entrance of our apartment.
There isn’t that much follage in our neighborhood – a few potted plants, but not a lot of gardens or parks, so it is a little surprising to see “wildlife” in the heart of the city. These little fellows are making the best of the situation.
Space Age Architecture
May 13, 2011Posted by Kanga.
I’m pretty sure that the Jetsons live here. I expect to see their hover craft at any moment.
24 Hour Mirage, Beby
May 13, 2011Posted by Kanga.
Yesterday morning the gas gauge was flashing, so this required a quick stop at an ATM near our apartment for cash followed by hope that we could make it to the first gas station on the route to work. We did make it and discovered the drive up, 24 hour ATM right there at the gas station. Good to know for the future.
Do you really want security that is a mirage? I think I might prefer Iron Fist Security or Safe and Sound Security or The Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers to Mirage.
And for that perfect juvenile coiffure go to Smart Beby Saloon.
Snappy Tom
May 12, 2011Posted by Kanga.
I don’t think I’ve posted this picture before. If it’s a repeat, pardon me.
Our brand of kitty litter has an interesting mascot, Snappy Tom.
If only our cats were such dapper dressers and so well trained.
Recently, there’s been a change in labeling and Snappy Tom has been exiled to the bottom left corner of the label. I suspect that he will disappear altogether one day.
Living the Travel Channel 