Personal Diplomacy
Submitted by Barry_NJ on July 5, 2008 - 10:41pm.
International
For the next few weeks I’ll be doing some globe hopping so I’ll be depending on everyone here to take care of the country while I’m away. I expect to return to find the country no worse than I left it – considering the current sad state of affairs that shouldn’t be a difficult task.
I do have a round-trip ticket so treat any rumors to the contrary as you would any of those media reports.
If I run across anything interesting and relevant while wandering around the Middle East I’ll post it here. I will be checking in (it is the World Wide Web after all) so I expect everyone to be on their best behavior.
I suspect that people in the region are pretty good at separating people from the policies of their government. Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
You'd better be on your best behavior too....
We'll be watching you!
It is Global Satellite Tracking after all. :)
Have a fun globe trot Barry!
An odd thing has happened here. Back home in New Jersey when I first read you message the image didn't display. But in Dubai is shows up just fine. Something ain't right here! :)
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
everyone seems to have seen your images from Dubai but I can't access them!
We have image reversals going on!
It must be me.
They are on to me. I know it... :)
I'll keep trying your link but all I get is a rude message that it's not working in three languages, only two of which I speak.
BTW, my image here has vanished for me as well. No idea why.
You're the computer expert Barry. Do something!
and don't forget to wear easy off/on shoes!
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
That's the only kind of shoes I'm taking, but I won't need them as much as in Japan!
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
I applaud your grit, Barry. I have no desire to visit that area of the world. Actually, the most inconvenience I want to experience these days is a laptop with a touchpad instead of a mouse. Oh...I might be able to tolerate a regular 4:3 TV as long as it's in color.
Travel safely, keep a journal, and share your perspectives for the recliner-bound.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
I do have a mouse with me Stan, I'm not putting up with that touchpad!
The hard part of the trip is behind me now; getting to JFK! I fly out tomorrow morning but I wasn't going to fight the traffic in the early AM. JFK isn't convenient but I'm flying non-stop which is a lot better than changing planes at Heathrow or Frankfort. Its also cheaper.
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
We await your commentaries. And a post card :)
I only hope you WILL have access to the internet from overthere.......lol.
When is your anticipated homecoming? So we know if we need to go over and find you?
I'll be back on the 28th. I'm sure that Emirates will get me back on time so you won't need to send a posse looking for me.
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
I wish you the best and a safe return.
"Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants."
Gen. Omar Bradley
We learn. We change. That's progress. If we don't do that, well, we're GWB.
Can't wait to hear about your trip.
What all spots will you be visiting?
I read an article in National Geographic once that talked about how graciously visitors were treated in the Middle East. It said that all you had to say is that you are a friend of Abraham and you are treated like a family member. :)
There should be Internet access everywhere, except maybe in the "empty quarter." But I'll take notes there. :)
I'm flying to Dubai tomorrow and plan on about 10 days to explore Dubai, the other Emirates and probably Oman. Then its off to Amman Jordan for a week before heading back to Dubai for a few days before I head home.
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
My daughter's company does business in Dubai, among other places, and traveling there is probably in her future.
Am I understanding correctly? Are you at
JFK now, due to take off in the morning?
That's right. I drove up here this afternoon to avoid trying to beat monday morning traffic to make my plane. If you stay at the hotel you can leave your car here as part of the package. Its not much more than just parking at JFK!
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
I'm glad I cleared that up! You would have been referring me to a homeless shelter! lol
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
If you visit the Burj Al Arab hotel (Sposedly the finest hotel in all the world) in Dubai, tell Ann Marie that her poet friend from America says hi and say "Where's the scarf?!" ;)
The flight here and the first few hours in Dubai have been great. My first impression is that this place is nothing like the media portrays it. I can't imagine how that could happen!
The hotel at JFK was good but their cable only had CNN and MSNBC. Watching the BBC most of the time I hadn't realized how bad they really are! I wanted my BBC! Boarding the plane this morning (or yesterday Dubai time) my seatback monitor had the BBC which I watched as other passengers boarded. I felt like I was at home. The hotel here also has the BBC.
One early impression of Dubai is that there's a lot fewer SUVs here than back in the US. They complain about the traffic but they don't know how good they have it. My taxi driver from the airport didn't speak much English but being familiar with New York City that wasn't a problem. :)
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
I have a feeling those folks are in a whole different part of town, a whole different world for that matter. But its possible that the couple of SUVs that I did see belong to that crowd. I promise to pay more attention next time. :)
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
It sounds like quite an experience. I hope you enjoy your trip.
Tho' you're probably gone by now
;p
“No self respecting woman should wish or work for the success of a party that ignores her self.” - Susan B. Anthony, 1872
I've only been here a little under 48 hours but Dubai is turning out to be the friendliest city I've ever visited. The Emirate, the Europeans, South Asians, East Asians and Africans all seem determined to make a visitor fell welcome. I've yet to run into an American but I'm sure they're nice people too. :) Its also the most international city I've ever been too. Walk down the street or through a mall and you can't count the languages you'll over hear. People don't hesitate to ask about the US, politely. They ask about politics, in general, but also about the economy and life there. They really seem to want to hear about the US first hand.
I've posted pictures from my wanderings yesterday at Dubai July 9.Most are of the older section of the city where I'm staying including the Dubai Museum, the Bastakia area and the Mall of the Emirates. When its over 100 degrees an afternoon at the mall makes a lot of sense. After seeing this one mall here I may never go to a US mall again!
One example of the interesting encounters that are possible here happened at the mall yesterday. I stopped in a small store that sells remote control airplanes and helicopters (my son is an aerospace engineer after all). I was looking at a large flying model of a helicopter when two young Saudi ladies, in abayas, joined me. We had a nice conversation about how well the model might fly. You could almost hear the stereotypes shattering on the floor!
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
Did you buy a remote control/radio controlled helicopter? Hemmecher-Schlemmer (?) has a couple of small ones that look kind of intriguing. I wonder if it could bring me a drink.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
This one was big enough to bring you the whole bottle and the mixer! But I didn't buy it. Homeland Security probably hauled me in for importing a UAV!
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
The link I posted for pictures has been taken down by Apple for a promised upgrade due tomorrow. Hopefully going to Plan B will solve the problem.
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
I think I might get tired of the color of sand after a while. Thanks for the pics and for the running diary.
You might want to start a new blog entry. This one is starting to get lost in the shuffle.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
"... lost in the shuffle?" I thought it was this little dust storm over here obscuring things. :) When I have something substantial to say I'll go with a part 2.
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
I suspect you'll experience first hand how people in the M.E. feel about us Americans. Seriously, I hope you have a great time and travel safely.