GZ Expat, Part II

links for 2008-08-30

• Credit-card companies killed Mythbusters segment on RFID vulnerabilities - Boing Boing
  (tags: news geek)

Back

Back in the friendly confines of home once again.  Polluted skies...36C temps...lovely.  I've got loads to blog over the course of the next few days...pictures to upload and videos to compile.  Needless to say, we had a great trip...some welcome surprises and some disappointments along the way...but overall very good.

Immediately upon leaving, I noticed that the laptop was not charging with the multi-purpose power supply I had purchased...so, after two weeks, the laptop completely went dead...unable to check emails or upload pictures.  Which, in a way, wasn't such a bad thing.  Although, it meant eating entirely too much food in Singapore...which is an easy thing to do. 

I've returned just in time for college football...and to find out that Sundin has not done a thing since I have been gone.  Wondering if he was in Bali with us without a working laptop as well. 

Stay tuned...   

Thailand Photos

I plunked some photos quickly into an album...here.  I didn't get a chance to edit them very well, so you will have to crook your neck 90 degrees to the right to see half of them. 

The gist of the photos are from the Jim Thompson house, a cruise and tour of Ayuttayah, and a quick elephant ride in Hua Hin. 

I'll get around to doing some sincere editing and re-post the photos soon.

Going Dark...

This blog is going dark for the rest of the month.  "Home Leave" is what they call it...but an extended holiday in some exotic location, which the company pays for, is what we do with it. 

So, we are off in search of paradise in SE Asia...visiting places old and new...seeking the eternal wet swimming pool and cold beer. 

See you next month.

The Five Rams

Guangzhou has a bunch of different nick-names...but one that seems to stick is the City of The Five Celestial Rams.  Well, here they are.

Frankly, this is commie 'art' at its finest.  Instead of this being a truly unique piece of work by carving with one piece of stone, it was made of several blocks...and the seams are clearly visible all around the statue. 

It doesn't stop it from being one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city, though.

links for 2008-08-03 [delicious.com]

• Rain, thunder, typhoons forecast for Beijing Games
  But top officials from the Beijing Meteorological Bureau confirmed that bad weather was certain for the August 8, although they held out hope that the skies may clear for the evening ceremony.
  (tags: china weather olympics)
• FOX Sports on MSN - Olympics - Olympic protesters required to apply first
  Overseas broadcasters, such as NBC which paid hundreds of millions of dollars to air the games, are still wrangling with organizers over restrictions on live coverage around the city.
  (tags: china olympics television)
• FT.com / Comment & analysis / Comment - China needs proof of democracy’s advantage
  (tags: china democracy politics)

Swimming With Eels

Always reassuring to swim in a public swimming hole with aggressive eels and fish.

Happy Anniversary

Twenty Three years ago today...

Here is a top ten list for 23 years with my Tai-Tai

10.  Stroganoff
9.  Boozing it up on the balcony of our room at Rosario
8.  Road trip to Reno with biblical weather all along the way
7.  'It's a girl!'
6.  'It's a boy!'
5.  Laksa
4.  All of my clothes in the front lawn
3.  Flying bananas
2.  Carrot Cake, Cheesecake & Mango Rice
1.  Tellin it like it is...and continuing to do it. 

We've spent nearly half of our married lives living in China, which seems odd in a way, but yet, also seems so right.  When confronted with the offer to move, I got cold feet...it was Tai-Tai that talked me into the move, saying it would be great for us and the career.  Without a doubt, the wisest advice ever. 

So...here is to another year!

Where Sleeping Cars Lie

Amongst the forests of central Oregon, my cars sleep through their 'expat' assignment.