"San Diego Mud Run"

Well, I did it! I completed my first mud run today. It was a lot of fun other than a big honkin' ass hill, and I just HATE big, honkin' ass hills!

Going thru the mud pits, over the bales of hay, through the sewer pipe and up and over the wall was a cinch, but the mud goes everywhere...and, I mean, EVERYwhere! Tried to look at it as one, big, visit to the spa!

Did the run with my friend, Deanna, from Nifty after Fifty. She and I also did the LA Marathon together a year ago. Also from Nifty, were Tiffany, Courtney and Sandi.

After the run, Deanna and I headed back to Long Beach from San Diego but not before stopping at "Tip Top" in Carlsbad www.tiptopmeats.com. TT is a German grocery store, meat market and restaurant and let me tell you, they got some good grub! In the past, have only been there for the "Big John" breakfast consisting of eggs, hash browns, toast and all the meat you can eat, meaning, bacon, ham or sausage, and they make their own sausage and don't be thinkin' little pork links cuz we're talkin' bratwurst and Kielbasa size all for $6.98!

Too late for breakfast, so we had lunch. Deanna had a bratwurst sandwich with fries, and I had the Rouladen. This is a German dish my mother used to make consisting of bacon, onions, mustard and a pickle rolled up inside thinly sliced beef then cooked. This meal also came with mashed potatoes, red cabbage, sauerkraut, and a roll and salad for $8.69..YES..$8.69! I only ate half...brought the rest home for another meal some time this week.

We, of course, then had to shop the market. I picked up two loaves of rye bread, some wieners, bratwurst and kielbasa along with some liverwurst, and a Lindt's white chocolate with coconut candy bar.

All in all, another beautiful day in Southern California!

Enjoy the photos!

The Nifty gang lookin' good!
Left to right...Courtney, Sandi, Deanna, Tiffany and your's truly

Deanna and I looking our best pre-mud run!

Deanna and I looking lovely post-mud run!

Quite the nasty shoes and socks!

More nasty shoes and socks along with a scraped-up shin for Tiffany.

The Nifty gang all muddied-up!

"B-A-C-K in the USA"

Arrived home last night around 10 after, something like, 24 hours of travel, 20 of it in the air. Guess I'm of the odd kind in that I love to fly...doesn't bother me in the least, especially when there's plenty to do. I watched 4 movies "Doubt", "Body of Lies", "Slumdog Millionaire" and "My Best Friend's Girl". Also caught an episode of "Mad Men" in addition to entertaining myself with wordsearch puzzles and video solitaire and blackjack.

At times, while in Dubai, I found myself saying, what the hell are you thinking? OMG you're halfway across the globe...ON YOUR OWN! I would start to get all freaked-out and then I'd need to talk myself back down from all the catastrophic thought. What helped me then and still now is when people tell me how inspiring I am and how impressed they are with my ability to travel alone. Believe me; I don't set out to impress anyone. This is just something I do. Can't totally explain it either especially when there's still fear. Nothing at all cavalier about it.

All photos have been posted here. Will periodically update this blog on stuff...just stuff as it hits me so check back now and again when you feel like it.

Enjoy!

"Dubai Day 5"

Here it is my last day in Dubai. Can hardly believe I traveled halfway across the globe in the first place and now, tomorrow morning, I'm heading home.

My choosing to stay in last night really paid off because today, I was up and out around 10:30 just after updating my blog. I hopped a cab to the Sheraton where Jamile suggested I check in with "her boyz", meaning, the bellmen and concierge. She also suggested I stop in to see Hussain in the carpet shop, who kindly invited me to join him for tea. I've later learned from Jamile this is quite an honor. So here we were a gay man raised Christian, and a Muslim man discussing humanity and mans injustice to man agreeing George W. Bush's approach to the world and how far his belief system and behavior was/is from creating a peaceful, loving and kind existence; in turn, we shared in honoring our new president, Barack Obama.

After tea with Hussain, I had lunch at Automatic a Lebanese restaurant Jamile recommended. It was delicious. I had the mixed grill plate including lamb and chicken along with onions, pita bread and all the fixin's!

Here are some architectural sights along my way!

Hungry anyone!

Pizza Hut

Dunkin' Donuts or Baskin Robbin's per chance!

Or how about some of the Colonel or Carl's Jr.?

After lunch, I took a cab to the Gold Sug (Gold Market) where I was blown away by all the jewelry. Usually, I like to pick up a simple "little something" for myself, but there was nothing "simple" to be had; it was all very ornate. My friend, Diana, asked me to bring her some hoop earrings, but it was beyond my shopping ability to find them....sorry, Diana!

Feeling a bit adventurous, I wandered around eventually making my way to the creek where I hopped a water taxi to cross back over to "my side of the tracks".

Knowing it was something I wouldn't be able to get away with from June thru September, I decided to walk back to my hotel. I wandered in and out of many a shop snapping photos along the way. Enjoy!

Look, no fiberglass!

"Dubai Night 4"

As I mentioned in my previous post, I woke up around 4 in the afternoon on Saturday making the decision to stay in for the night other than making a trip to Spinney's to grab some dinner.

Updating this blog including photos isn't exactly a 2-minute job; it takes time and taking that time gives me the opportunity to rest up a bit as well as bust some more of my writing chops.

Dinner and then some still wrapped

Dinner and then some unwrapped

What you see in these photos is dinner, breakfast and dinner again this evening moving clockwise from the bananas, to seasoned rice, fresh fruit, vegetable pizza, cheese bread and a meat pie. The veggie pizza and meat pie were very good. The dough on the meat pies was flaky and crumbly like a croissant or pastry. Still have fruit and a banana for breakfast tomorrow morning.

"Dubai Night 3 working it's way to Day 4"

Let's see, after a few hours sleep...2 maybe...I woke up in time to hear the call to prayer at around 4:30. Stayed up and worked on emails and my blog while waiting for Burleise to arrive from Abu Dhabi. Think it was around 6 or 6:30 when she did, so after chatting for awhile, we napped prior to meeting Faustine for brunch.

FYI the work week here is Sunday to Thursday so Friday is like Saturday in the U.S. - more or less, slow moving. Made arrangements to meet Faustine at 11 then he texted back and changed it 'til 12 because brunch at the hotel he selected didn't begin until then.

Burleise and Faustine - brunch at the Millenium Hotel

Burleise and I at brunch

As you can sorta see by the first photo (the barrier of white in the background), there's definitely construction going on here there and everywhere, mostly, although not in this case; like I mentioned earlier, due to the rapid transit system that's underway.

Burleise and I got back to the hotel around 3 or so played around on the computer and then napped in preparation for a night on the town!

Guess it was around 7 or so when we popped-open, okay, screwed open a bottle of wine and set to drinking the entire thing. HELLO, cheaper to drink at home than out and about doin' our best to catch a buzz before soakin' up some nightlife!

And speaking of steppin' out for some nightlife....check-out the shoe(s)!

Wanting to be "Smart Casual", I picked these babies up at Nordstrom's Rack for thirty bucks prior to leaving town. Here's a quiz: What came first the bottle of wine, or the shoe photo?

Post wine, our goal was to attend a local cochsurfing event at the "One and Only Royal Mirage" (Really, "Google" it, and you'll see, like the on-site signage says, it's the "One and Only...) hosted by Dubai local, Egyptian Sharif.

Burleise and "The girls" readying-up for our night out on the Dubai town!

Bicoastal, international duo that we are, the couchsurfing event at the Royal Mirage started at 8. We, therefore, hailed a taxi around 9!

Given this photo taken in the backseat of the taxi, methinks the bottle of wine's workin' for us!

And, by the way, Burleise is wearing black flip-flops. Another quiz: Why?

A. Because they're comfortable.

B. Because no one's gonna be looking at her feet anyway?

C. All of the above.

After a twenty or so minute cab ride, we arrived at the "OaO Royal Mirage" making our way to the "Rooftop Terrace Bar". At first, it took awhile to connect witht the couchsurfing folk but once that occurred, we had a great time!

That's Sharif, our host, in the middle.

Another shot of Sharif, any wonder he's in marketing and event planning!

We met couchsurfers from Egypt, Austria, Poland, Nigeria, Lebanon and, of course, Dubai!

Burleise and "The girls" chatting it up with a young man from Nigeria.

The next thing we knew it was 2 a.m. and Burleises' flight home was at 8...or so she thought...so we grabbed a cab back to the hotel and partook in viddles from the 24 hour coffee shop. I, a cheeseburger and fries and for Burleise, a chicken burger and fries.

I crashed; she packed! I awoke two hours later at 5, she at 6. By 6:30 she grabbed a taxi to the airport. A little after 7, she called letting me know her flight was actually at 7:30, but she'd made it!

By that time, I was in the coffee shop having breakfast. I came back to my room, watched a little TV. Around 10 a.m., I felt the need for a little nap. Thought I'd get up around noon and do some sightseeing. Next thing I knew it was 4 p.m.!

"Dubai Day 3"

Day 3, oh my god, where did it go and what did I do? Oh, yeah, right Friday was day 3 and that was yesterday but first, there was Dubai day two at night.

Faustine, Jamile's friend, picked me up at my hotel around 8. Faustine is from Nairobi now living in Dubai 4 years. Let me first tell you Faustine is a gentle soul contributing to his being a very, nice man. A gem actually!

We made our way to Trader Vic's located in the Crowne Plaza hotel where we each had a great meal, and I, not he, had a fun, fruity drink. A "Pogo Stick" to be exact - gin with fruit nectar, grapefruit, something, something ice blended.

In general, not a good thing to drink and drive in Dubai especially if you're not a citizen so even more reason for Faustine to avoid the fruity temptations. If I remember correctly, the fine is 20,000 Dirhams(roughly $5500 USD) plus 3 months in jail.

Faustine and I enjoying appetizers at Trader Vic's!

The Pogo Stick!

Trader Vic's interior

Tried to snap a few photos as we drove around town but that whole taking photos at night thing is a bitch so I only have one picture, and it's not that great. But talking about driving around at night! Dubai is a whole, and I mean a WHOLE different animal once the sun goes down. During the day, no one's walking around; the only people one sees out and about other than in vehicles, are construction workers working on many, many projects including the metro transit system due to be completed by the end of this year...think Chicago's El meets Las Vegas tram meets Disneyland's monorail.

Once the sun goes down, people everywhere, and the city is lit up like nobody's business! It's very, very, international in Dubai. Folks come from all over the world, however, I'm seeing a lot of Europeans. The UK appears to have a strong contingency on-hand. Could be the climate and beaches attract their need for sun and sand, and the flight from Heathrow is a not too bad 6 hours.

I know, I know lousy photo!

After dinner, Faustiine and I headed to one of his favorite clubs "Savage Garden". Relax, get your minds outta the gutter! It's not at all like how it sounds. Savage Garden is a latin, salsa, dance club with live music and a ton, A TON, of people on the dance floor.

It's two stories with a tropical feel including a huge, moss-covered tree branching out everywhere. Downstairs, the chairs are zebra print. Fun, fun fun!

Given I left my salsa dance skills back home in the States, I didn't partake in the dancing choosing instead, a nice coupla gin & tonics.

I didn't get any interior shots of Savage Garden, but I've been known to enjoy a "smart" martini or two!

"Dubai Day Two"

No big news today. Stayed up 'til the wee hours working on my previous post so that along with jet lag means I slept all day, and a nice sleep it was!

After traveling for two days wearing the same clothes, sleeping and a shower, in opposite order, let me tell you, are very much needed.

What I can offer, thus far, are a few photos of my apartment/hotel room; however, I'm on the move tonight so come tomorrow, there's not telling what I'll be offering up!

My pad!

Pita bread and gouda cheese quesidillas are made here!

Where would I be without a place to chill the Bombay!

My Nifty friend, Cindy, made some brownies for me to bring along so I guess we could say they're now internationally renowned!

"Blog Central"

Rooftop pool

A bit of a view from my room.

Du is to the Bai as Buh is to the day

"Dubai Day One"

Just a quick pop-in to my blog as I figure out how to stay connected to the Internet and access this site.

Today, was a very productive day. Upon arriving in Dubai, I was detained at immigration; however, in the back of my mind I remembered (and rather quickly I might add) I would be provided a "Visitor's Visa" so my being pulled aside and sent to an office and told to wait, wasn't as scary as it could have been!

Grabbed me some Bombay Blue Sapphire in duty-free shortly after my....detainment. Alcohol is technically illegal here in Dubai only residents and those posessing a license can purchase it from stores, however, drinks are sold in bars and then there's a still a catch, because they're all attached to hotels and are seen as "private clubs" so they're bending the rules just a wee bit. Hope to make it to Trader Vic's and the bar in the famous, fancy schmancy hotel I can't, at this moment, remember the name of...guess that visitor's visa quick memory was my one and only allotment for the day!

I also managed to pick up a SIM card for my old Nokia phone that's had U.S., German and Spanish numbers so I now have a UAE (United Arab Emirates) number!

Let's see, I found the Nordstrom's of groceries stores just a few blocks away from my apartment hotel purchasing some Guda cheese, and a roasting chicken (just like Ralph's back home in Long Beach!) to go with a few things I picked up at a 7-11 esque market across the street. From now on, you'll definitely find me shoppin' for grub at Spinney's!

Long story short, a member of Nifty after Fifty where I work connected me to her niece who is captain of a 747 cargo jet and who also lived in Dubai for 5 years with an overall 13-year connection. Jamile (pronounced Ja-Mee-la here in Dubai) went above and beyond the call of duty supplying me with incredible information WAY MORE than what can be found in the tour books or on the Internet. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jamile! Oh, and she's a fellow Scorpio, and we all know Scorpio's rock!!!

One of the best things Jamile did for me is to connect me with her friend, Faustine, whom I'll meet tomorrow for dinner, and a night out on the town. Friday starts their weekend so Thursday night it's parrrrr-tay!

I've also made contact with Burleise via email and texting. She's in Abu Dhabi with sucky cell coverage, but at least I know she made it here and is still alive! LOL

For now, that's it. Not that there isn't more to say, but I wanna make sure I can make these postings before I spend too much time composing them.

Greetings from Heathrow!

Just hanging out at Heathrow airport waiting for my flight to Dubai. My friend, Ruth, met me here, bought me lunch and left me with enough British coins to access the Internet and grab a Diet Coke!

I love her!

Watched The Reader on my overnight flight, popped a couple Tylenol PM and slept like a baby. Will do the same again tonight. Am definitely looking forward to a bed, though; methinks, there'll be a nap in store for me tomorrow when I arrive in Dubai!

Most stores are closed, anyway, between 1 and 4 so I'll be fit as a fiddle for evening drinks and dinner!

"Du-Buh-Bye!"

Where it began, I can't begin to know it...no, wait, that's the beginning of a Neil Diamond song! And I actually do know where my interest in travel began. It started in 1972, at age 13, when my parents put me on an airplane to Houston. My Aunt Jean and Uncle Marv left the Chicago area in fall, with travel trailer in tow, and headed south for the winter. I believe they did a Mexican Caravan with Good Sam's Club before settling in Galveston. I flew down on Spring break to tag along on the ride home but not before we stopped in New Orleans for a few days.

Awe, ain't I cute and check-out all that hair!
(That's my mom in the background)

Not sure if my parents put me on a plane alone, because they knew I could handle it or if they just did it hoping for the best, but here I am thirty some years later heading off to Dubai on my own and this would be, I don't know, the 5th or 6th time I've done such a thing. I know some people think it's kinda crazy, and it's not that I can say I never give it a second thought, because I do, but I just, somehow, believe all will be well, and I also tell myself I'm not the first person to do this. People travel all over the world all the time, and a lot of them do it alone. It's probably actually easier to do it alone, at least for me, because I can move a lot faster than when there's someone in tow.

My goal during this trip is to make blog entries and post photos as much as possible. I leave out of LAX on Monday night the 16th headed to London for a 9-hour layover where I'll meet-up with my friend, Ruth, who just moved there. Internet access in airports can be rather expensive so the first you'll hear from me will more than likely not take place until Wednesday when I arrive in Dubai. The apartment hotel where I'm staying has free Internet access in their business center. I'm back and forth on whether or not to take my laptop...currently, I'm leaving it home, because I just don't want the hassle of lugging it with me.

Eenie-meenie-minie-moe if it don't fit, it can't go!

"Du-To-The-Bai"

On two week's notice, I'm puttin' the cray in CRAY-ZEE and headin' to Dubai a week from this Monday. My friend, Burleise, is on scholarship in the MBA program at NYU making her way to Abu Dhabi and Dubai over spring break interviewing for potential, summer internships.

Just for fun, last Saturday morning, I played around on Kayak.com finding a roundtrip, Continental, codeshare flight on Virgin Atlantic by way of Orbitz.com for HELL-TO-THE-LO...$716! (By the way, as of this evening, Friday, the fare's dropped two bucks to $714).

I leave Monday evening the 16th nonstop to London arriving around noon. My friend, Ruth, just last month, moved from Denver to London so I selected an 8-hour layover at Heathrow where she'll be meeting me for lunch or a drink or drinks and lunch or what the hell...maybe just drinks!

Flying overnight on Tuesday, I arrive in Dubai Wednesday morning.

While obsessing over whether or not I should spend the money and make the trek, couchsurfing for a place to rest my head appeared to be a good idea; however, once I began maneuvering through the online, check-out process prior to throwing down my American Express card, I was offered several hotel packages (including the flights I'd selected) causing quite the quiver in my mouse-click finger.

It was at this point, staying home, surpassed optional!

Ultimately, I clicked on roundtrip airfare, a visit with Ruth, a visit with Burleise, 5 nights in an apartment hotel with all kitchen facilities and supplies including washer and dryer and, not to mention, near 18,000 Continental OnePass miles all for the price of $1266.00!

Can you say, "Stimulus Package"?

Mmhm...I knew you could!

In the interim, I've heard the downturn in the global economy along with debtor's prison laws have lead to 3000 automobiles left abandoned in the parking lot of Dubai International Airport. I have also learned one need be a resident of Dubai and in possession of a license to purchase alcohol over-the-counter.

On the upside, upon my arrival, I can purchase alcohol in the airport's duty-free shop and who knows maybe they'll come up with their own stimulus package between now and then sending me home with an abandoned Bentley!

I'll be keeping you in my thoughts...please keep me in yours.

My goal is to "backpack" to the Middle East so doubt I'll be bringing along my laptop relying on Internet access wherever and whenever available, but I'll plan on resuscitating www.thelarrychronicles.blogspot.com beginning with a copy of this email.

Viva la over 90% of Americans are still employed!

Larry