Killing time, that's OK

And with a view to back to the hotel in Cusco, this time with balcony to the street. According to the only interesting while on my own. Set with no idea what for two full days on my own I do off first to see a supermarket. After two days in the hospital, a drip connected, no way I was when "safe" food risk my poor digestive system with something else. I was soon with Pringles, Brazil nuts, bread, jam, biscuits and similar stock and planted me to do, a point of the people in the square to watch.

The Sun was really hot but there were only about 3 benches in the shade and the grass police were in force their whistles blow up if you had the affrontory to try and sit on the grass in the shade! So I was sitting in the seat next to the seat in the shade to wait, move the shadows Hoggers. On my own, I moved a few seat of sharers wanted to chat. And as I seemed to me, as always, to the old or the young - guys of course win! The first said

NO English, but we worked out between us each others name and that he was 79. He had two eyes, I know the cos he it to ensure that I was this fact deliberately or maybe was he told me about his cataracts or perhaps he was to say threatening - I just show held, You nasty whore! Then he moved to ensure I realized he had a stomach to say. I put two and two together and offered him some of my food. He was a role and stuffed in a bulb started!

At this point a shading Bank was free so I said: good-bye, the 79 years old, 2 eyes, stomach owner and claimed my spot! No whistle, so was it obvious one are either not type of a thing! My next customer was a young man in a short hair orange T shirt, the three sets of English-my three Spanish had. I have not to try me as I was not the tea with milk, water without gas or the toilet! After line 3 times over, I liked you its a chat with Cusco, he fell silent

for a bit. I was now busy trying with my camera, arty shots with the camera held except low with tiny Cathedral in the background and are waiting to fill in the forefront of interesting people. I had to go a large school boys with past and his friends in the background, so I decided I as well make can young of this love lorn orange and got him past in shot. I was able to it can be executed, not for the school to cool. At one point his friends went from one were obviously tease him. I reckon he one thing for foreign girls and probably in the United Kingdom by some rich has wiped off elderly woman get to. Oh dear, took the wrong one today haha.

Fraternize feeling and not well, I decided to head back to the hotel for an early evening, but instead just a few crappy instead ended up films on television of the thousand.

Part of the journey: remain calmer!

Tuscany 2

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Wednesday Nov. 17

With a busy day ahead of us, we got an early start to visit the weekly Certaldo outdoor market. We thought this would be a farmer’s market, but it was really more like a flea market with a variety of wares from clothing to knick-knacks to local crafts and produce. We planned to stock up on picnic foods, and buying them was certainly the highlight of the market trip. I brushed up on my Italian phrases before arriving and did a sufficient job of communicating with the merchants in very poor Italian, supplemented by slightly-better Spanish (which is similar to Italian in that they are both Romance languages, but the similarities end there). The merchants were surprisingly empathetic and helpful during my poor attempt to speak their language. We managed to purchase tomatoes, celery, chicory, apples, sharp provolone cheese, pecorino cheese, bread, and a delightful assortment of four different olives. We also got a sort of stuffed pizza for breakfast that was filled with sautéed chicory, cheese, and olive oil.

Next we headed to Castello di Brolio for a wine tasting. Unfortunately we underestimated the amount of time required to navigate the small country roads to

get there, so we missed our scheduled tour. We had lunch in a tratoria while waiting for the next one, where we tried roasted pigeon and a butternut squash ravioli, both local specialties. The winery tour focused on the history and development of the centuries-old wine-making techniques. Brolio is where Baron Bettino Ricasoli invented the Chianti formula in 1872. It is supposedly the oldest winery in Italy, the second oldest in the world. Today it is the largest winery in the Chianti Classico area. We were surprised at the unpretentious, industrial feel of this winery given its location on the grounds of a medieval castle and it’s reputation for producing some of the best wine in the Chianti region. The tour emphasized a quality wine-making process, not the bells and whistles. We were able to see every aspect of wine production, even the bottling and distribution warehouse, which is usually excluded from American winery tours because it is not as “sexy”. After the tour we tasted Brolio’s reserve wines in the private tasting room. A friendly and knowledgeable Florentine university student joined us for the reserve tasting; he was working on a senior thesis concerning the co-evolution of viticulture and social culture in the Chianti region of Tuscany, and was more than willing to share his knowledge. What luck!

Next we took a tour of the castle. Castello di Brolio dates back to the middle ages, but castle passed into the hands of the Ricasoli family due to an exchange of lands in 1141. On the border between the territories of Siena and Florence, Brolio soon became the stage for all the disputes of the period, protecting Florence from the fearsome Siena. Through the centuries the castle has suffered attack and destruction in numerous historical battles, mostly recently during bombings and artillery attacks in WWII. We observed the difference in the color and texture of stone between the original stone of the castle, built around 1000 AD, and the “new” stone used to rebuild the castle after Sienese battles around 1300 AD (if I recall correctly). The newest addition to Brolio is a manor house built in the 19th century, which is closed to the public because the current Baron still resides here!

We were escorted up a long flight of stone stairs to tour the portion of the castle that Baron Ricasoli used as his home. The

chirp-like vocalizations of bats set and erie mood during our ascension, which made our quirky guide quite nervous since she recently had an encounter with a bat stuck in the castle during a tour! Baron Ricasoli’s private quarters were very much intact. We were able to see the original furniture, layout, and artifacts of his bedroom, parlor, guest rooms, armory, and laboratory (used for researching wine and cataloguing local flora and fauna). Nate was quite enamored with the castle architecture, and of course, the ancient weapons! After our tour, we explored the castle grounds on our own and watched the beautiful Tuscan sunset from Brolio’s ancient walls.

We left Brolio to try, once again, to dine at Osteria del Carcere in the medieval town of San Gimignano which supposedly sold the infamous local goat cheese – and, once again, we failed. This restaurant is apparently closed on Wednesdays, which is not unusual, as Tuscan restaurants may be closed on any night(s) of the week or even just whenever they feel like it, as opposed to American restaurants which are typically closed Sunday or Monday, if ever. We ended up at Ristobar Antica Macelleri on a local’s recommendation. This casual,

down-to-earth restaurant was (to our delight) devoid of tourists and served wonderfully authentic food. Everything we ate was delicious and had a comfort-food feel. The waiter barely spoke enough English to take our order. The service was slow but this somehow added an extra element of relaxation. We shared:

Primi:
1) Zuppa de Cereali (cereal soup), lentils, white beans, barley (I think), and potatos in thick chicken broth topped with a generous drizzle of yellow-green olive oil
2) Tagliatelle al Capriolo, homemade tagliatelle pasta (shaped like fettucine) with venison sauce (a brown sauce with finely ground venison)

Secondi:
Coniglio alla Vernacia, baked rabbit in a Vernacia (white wine) sauce with minced onion and carrot; rabbit tasted a lot like dark-meat chicken

Contorni:
Grigliate, grilled vegetables, drenched in olive oil and lightly seasoned

Vino:
Vernachio de San Gimignano, the local white wine that San Gimignano is known for

After this fabulous meal we headed back to the Villa where we had a romantic fire-side desert. A wonderful end to another wonderful day!

Thursday Nov. 18

Today we went to Castello di Verrazzano, another ancient castle-winery. It was quite an adventure getting there (as

usual) as our GPS routed us down miles and miles of windy, flooded dirt roads lined with olive trees and vineyards. I have a feeling there was a more direct route, but the scenery was worth it, and we stopped several times to take it all in. I was determined to taste an olive straight from the tree, so on one of our stops I plucked off the blackest, juiciest, most beautiful fruit I could find – which was extremely spicy, bitter, and terrible! No wonder they cure these things!

We finally arrived at the winery and began our tour where we learned about the history of the Castle. The vineyards and olive groves at at Castello di Verrazzano date back to the 14th century. Giovanni da Verrazzano, a celebrated navigator who discovered the bay of New York and the majority of the east coast of America, was born here in 1485. The famous bridge in New York was named after him in 1964. The important Florentine family of Ridolfi succeeded the Verrazzano after the death of the last descendant and initiated great work in agriculture and culture. In 1958 the Cappellini family took over the Castle and restored

it to its former glory by renovating the Villa and rebuilding the agriculture according to an ancient model. Now Castello di Verrazzano is undoubtedly one of the most reputable wineries in the area. The name Verrazzano is derived from “verres”, the alpha male wild boar. Therefore Verrazzano means "land of wild boars", which are raised on the grounds and have become a kind of mascot.

After the tour we opted for a “light” wine-pairing lunch over the heavy lunch option, which was still more than we could possibly eat! It is considered tacky to ask for a doggie-bag in Italy unless it is actually for your dog, but we had enough wine by the end of the lunch that we really didn’t care, and we took home quite a bit! We had a vast selection of antipasti, cured meats, cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables, olives, bread, house-made olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and honey from the vineyard hives…and, of course, wine! We even tasted “Coppa di Testa”, a type of Italian head cheese made from the wild boar with a surprisingly pleasant flavor. We dined for a couple hours at a community table, making fast friends with Allison and Cisco,

a young pair of honeymooners from Texas. Still on my determined quest to find that damn goat cheese, I asked our host if they had any. She said they didn’t carry it now because it is out of season, but that the goat farm where it is made was just down the road. Although the farm is not open to the public, she knew the owner and phoned the farm to tell them we would like to visit and taste the cheese. We were soon on our way to another adventure, accompanied by Allison and Cisco.

More bumpy, dusty, muddy dirt roads... I wouldn’t say the goat farm was “just down the road” as it seemed to take about 45 min to get there. The sun was low in the sky when we finally arrived and it was time to herd the goats in for the night. We even got to help! (see videos) After the herding and feeding the goats, we were able to sample the last of the seasons goat cheese. It was unlike any goat cheese I’ve ever tasted. Instead of the soft chèvre we’re used to, this cheese was firm and had a very sharp

and surprisingly spicy-hot bite. We had no idea what adventures awaited us Italy, but we certainly never imagined that herding goats on a rural Tuscan farm would be one of them. What an experience!

We left the goat farm and headed towards Panzano where we had reservations at the restaurant Solociccia, locally known as the Butcher’s. This landmark restaurant, owned by the local meat merchant Dario Cecchini, is known for serving a set menu of no-less-than 6 meat courses. We were seated at a round communal table with an Italian family of 8 who were celebrating their grandfather’s birthday. They were very open and social, including us in the birthday festivities, with the more fluent English-speakers translating for the rest. To our embarrassment, their 16 year old grandson seemed to know more about both American politics and sports than we did, and nonchalantly said that when he thinks of Americans he thinks of Playboy, as if that is the most natural association in the world. The waiters brought the menu, which began with the message “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here, for you are in the hands of the Butcher” and continued to describe our six meat courses

(see the photo of the menu) served with House-made red wine, the sides of Tuscan white beans, raw vegetables served with olive oil, and local bread, and a desert of olive oil cake with coffee, grappa, and a variety of digestif liquors. Dishes were served family-style on big platters that the whole table shared. We ate it all and left with very full bellies. This was unlike any meal we had experienced in Italy thus far. All dishes were delicious, although the braised beef and vegetable salad and the roasted pork really stood out. The entire experience lasted over 3 hours. What an amazing day! 57 Photo(s): 21 Displayed : Extra Photos: « Back 1 2 3 Next » 57 Photo(s): 21 Displayed : Extra Photos: « Back 1 2 3 Next »

Quick note on night train to Udaipur

Morning time:

The train will leave expected to Jaipur at 10:25 pm, so in the morning, that which we decide to go to the train station and check it out, we need some more tickets for Agra and Sawi Madhoper. Are we at the station and it is usual chaos, queues of people everywhere, and no clear signage, you you have something to say about which queues in should be! Such as 'Tourists', we are a private ticket counter in the location of our tickets from the tourist quota and we, that is it to get out we share with OAP, war hero and MP of, is another thing but in the chaos to find it!

We receive some assistance from a police officer, who points us in the right direction, and we finally find and join the back of the queue. Things move fast and are also by the fact that the OAP only-in in advance anyway not go with it helped push, but we. An hour later we are on the ticket counter, only to say that in the compulsory paperwork, no tickets available are filled for our travel, also not in the class that we want! We

Chalk it up to experience and head way into the city.

Evening time:
We are with Kapil at his Office and getting ready for our upcoming train (spiritual). Kapil is that we his friends "blessing ceremony hotel" across the city (the opposite end of town to the railway station) so we attend, go along, despite is worried about get to the station in time, to see what all about it. It turned out his friend is just, run create a new 18-room hotel and that is a type of Hindu ceremony at the people topping-out ceremony in place and have thali (food) and the owner and the hotel wish good luck. We are meeted and welcomed, fed and then we return our luggage to the hotel before you pick up the station.

Even more we in time to the station and it is confusing as in the day in the night. We get finally told what platform we are at and head over.

On each platform there are computer print outs of all passengers information, the train, they are of berth or of Office, on busy,

Their name, gender and age. Sure enough is the train we published on posted on the platform, but neither our details are shown on the print outs! Kapil one quick call on his cell phone and cares for us, the we in, no problem will be posted. We then we our way to the area of the platform we supposedly are to wait.

The station itself is big, hot and very busy, and smells like a urinal, men in India just go to the toilet everywhere! There are people packed on our platform, people move on the tracks and shunting engines go on and shine their horns, there is no nice atmosphere but people mainly are friendly or very curious. We get talk a lady and her daughter, who are from Udaipur and Kapil heads off home.

The train is one hour late in about 11.25 and we find that our berth go cabins trampling on the passenger's as we through navigation in some lower class (whoops). We were told our berth was a two bed sleeper but it four turns as one berth, much to our disappointment, but it is nothing, the

We can moreover so we in get and can get as settled as we.

We are on the road in the ac1 first class threshold, this is the highest class you get on Indian trains, tickets to Udaipur are around 2200 rupees a way (£ 30 for both of us). The cabin is not first class UK standards but then again we do not think, it would. In addition to the other two paying passengers, we have made some cockroaches who travel their way from general class (think Schindler's list) we believe in style (the audacity!).

It is one long hours and we are very glad, when we met Udaipur at 7 am.

The continuation

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After a long absence here, an update of the adventure is so far. It is hard to believe, that I here 5 weeks already have been. I'm really starting to be of my own company, I might add.

It is getting much work since I really momentum of. The main thing was the Oslo boat show. Ran this for 10 days, plus Setup and breakdown, so it was a good 2 week distraction has. I preferred to stay in a serviced apartment in water a bit like the viaduct / Princess wharf, I have Aker Brygge in an earlier blog written about. It is a small one room apartment overlooking an office block. For that it is connected to the PIC. It is comfortable, and it is very central and many good restaurants, a convenience store and above all a coffee shop very nearby.

The boat show. (Something for the young)

It was very similar to a fairly typical boat show boat show standards, what we in New Zealand or AU. But the boats or the main style of boating is very different to

Use what we are. Most boats are open sports of cruisers, plenty of padding, nicely done. People tend to go cruise / picnic around the fjord, in comparison with our main fishing focus or at least in this part of Norway. If you over on the West coast of the country go, changes, which focus more fishing.

The other main difference is that they really their boats followers not as we. (A stream (summer house as they are called here) have the most people and most are anti-born and living in the water boats during the summer season) after the season, will remove them from the water, winterised, plastic wrapped and stored in two large shipyards with racks or in large storage shed, dry as Orams stack.

Anyway, on the boat show back. The show would be a similar size, the Auckland show, but it does run for 10 days. I thought 5 was bad, but 10 is hard work. All and all the show was good. Interestingly have Yamaha not at the show.

This market has some very high end boat builders, building performance boats. The 2 most important actors

are hydraulic lift and goldfish. Both of these guys build some fantastic looking and highly powered boats. Hydraulic lift a scarab / fountain build style sport boat with large horsepower and beautifully finished.

Where as goldfish build open both pleasure boats and high performance ribs. These boats are very different search and are what I think incredible design is very noticeable and stop.

They both have one thing in common, they both love it's PS and they are both very expensive. But say the boats for both domestic and international markets are that she both employed.

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Humpday is about

Righty, normal routine, up/clean/dressed/out for Brekkers work. I have come these candidates - abandoned so I today, went over shirt for a more relaxed look with jeans. We have important people come in the morning, so that better the casual today haha I had opportunity! When I got to work, I had 6, they include pancakes/Blintz/waffle mix 6 boxes on my desk. What? BB had it, because I was the only one who can figure out what they were... and can read Dutch. I think, which can pretty much find out someone what to a box with pancakes, that "Breakdowns Koeken" for is called. (I took a home and threatened the right devices provided with BB by offering to Pancakes for the Office, of course;) I think it would be fun, and a pancake has never been about half of the Office, we need an IHOP ZOMG!

Since the weekend, I have grown from my mustache, because I look "too young" to do business in China. I'm all customers and relevant business contacts to say that I am 28. ?? I suppose age discrimination is the same world round... * sigh *. So I have been there for 3 days now having, and there is considerable. I have received MASSIVE attention about it, because as my hair will be soon, it's really red. For now, but I have brown hair and bright red moustache, which my colleagues further convinced that I am a human Chameleon. These and a view that I think colored moustache. ???

Fun packs for people: ????(????)yinwei Suoyi ?? daoli district-da means therefore science reasoning. Some people say only the first part, but I'm always going. It is used to "This is how it is" or "There is no reason, why" when asked "Why?" about something.
Also, ???? Qu Yi Bianr-this literally means "Go on the one hand" but "None of your business" means it is a bit Liiiiiittle rude, but I found it interesting. So, if anyone, is that you know, know very well how, in your Chili, you can use them.

After work, went home, changed in the suit for class, it got about a half hour early and met a few of the teachers more. Dodd is an English lit BA from London, Cathy Joel a telecommunications BA from Tennessee (I think?) (She speaks so softly) from New York and a few others I had no time to welcome is. Meets with my student and after about half an hour our 2 hr session, she asked to leave campus and to go to Beijing and chat at the core of Shanghai. This is apparently SUPER irregularly and was Chief (no principal, no principal lol) school a little iffy, but I it on smoothed. We went to the place ????, a huge luxury shopping mall, my student actually working, as it operates a real estate agent. You remember the huge canvas Olympic 2008? Apparently in this mall, there are a huge Arcade (such as in promenade, not video games) with him on the ceiling of the roof. Holy SMOKES, it is huge. Many tourists. I turned down dinner with coffee and we talked about many things. I like to do VIP classes, it is super flexible. She ended up me way at home, the fall I was cool, but not their knowledge can be specifically where I haha, paranoid me live. Sarah was home, we chatted a bit and I was. This Saturday I'm to do, the Easter fun run in Chaoyang Park - 1, 3 or 6 miles? Indecisively but, I am leaning towards 6. What about you, my people? Help me!!

See you tomorrow!
MGXM

Part of the journey: ????????????

Opium dens and the golden triangle

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Okay, so the only reference to opium was the opium Museum.  But our journey in the golden triangle actually starts with our trip to Burma or Myanmar as its now called.  Without knowing if we could get across the border, a day visa, we went through the Thai customs and half was built on a bridge include the Thai Government and include Myanmar.  To distinguish the two, is painted in two colours, and you need to pages at this point change, since during the Thai drive/on the left side walk, the Burmese people drive / walk on the right.  Myanmar is a way that they take and keep your Passport, while in their country are unique customs.  You granted us temporary Myanmar passports (made of paper) and with all our U.S. passport information.  At the crossroads of custom we were bombed immediately want us with tuk tuk drivers to the popular destinations in the City shuttle.  In their hands were images of destinations along with a photo of their taxi (had some pick up truck where you sit in the back).  In our tuk tuk (pronounced Touk Touk) we made us their most popular temples to three.  A large hill with some decent views of the city sat at the top of the second temple, behemoth and gold in appearance.  Sarah played a lucky new year's Eve prayer with guidance of a little boy, the pouring water over the Buddha and beat a Gong (nine is the Buddhist lucky number) contain nine times.

After the visit of the temple, we headed to the local market.  Similar to the products for sale find you could be in China (because that is where the product comes from).  You had everything from RIP Louie V purse Breitling watches, however, not even decent quality (what do you expect for 100 baht or $3).  After the tasting to eat (not as good as Thai), Burmese we went something back to Thailand and by a similar market on our way back to the car.

We then proceeded to drive to the golden triangle.  During the city we came from, Mae Sai was called the Golden City, is the golden triangle where the borders of the Thailand meet those of Myanmar and Laos in the middle of the Mekong River (also looks like a triangle).  In the past, the most important agriculture of the area was opium,

made the drug lords rich (so the "Golden").  When we got there it started unfortunately thunder storms, make my images not wonderful, but it was really cool.  You can take even ferries from Thailand on the border with Laos.  The wind was strong, so that the market had closed, but the architecture was amazing.  A giant Buddha stand in the middle of market square with statues of elephants and boats in the entire region.

We continued our journey back to Chiang Rai by Chiang Säm the ancient capital of Thailand (it was later moved due to its proximity to Laos and Myanmar).  The old town was surround by three city walls (in ruins, they no longer offer much protection) and sat inside the ruins of a large temple.  Very cool to see and a great day all around.

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HARPS in heaven

Music business is big business! Many thousand over the years have longed make a name for themselves. The karaoke craze is testament to the human inclination to run. Denominations on this request have capitalized in the religious arena. Choirs and soloists offer the perfect valve for church goers, "for the Lord to use their talents".

Some may not to perform"a tune in a bucket" but are confident that God has equipped them with an ability, that should not be buried. Namely, a gift to play a musical instrument. However, the New Testament is void in the worship of the authority for soloists, choirs or instrumental music. I would remind me of teaching - a man years ago in South San Francisco, which initially have the Gospel, but continue to battle gehorchten. He was an accomplished saxophonist. So dispiritedly, he wanted his talent show.

Recently, we have had studies with Merriam. It is an active member of the local Pentecostal group. It is hard to visit frequent choir employs instrumental accompaniment in which their practices. Clearly, we defined the distinction between the mosaic Covenant with blood of our Lord (Matthew is). We read about how animal sacrifices and instruments music previous used during that time, but both are absent in the testament of our Lord. The next class, which she said that she thought it somewhere were instruments in the new testament; Perhaps in the revelation. Most likely, she had spoken with their "Pastor", but not the exact location of "proof" provided, had he or she could remember. I directed our attention to revelation Chapter 5. I explained that this book contains many pictures or symbols. In verse, we started eight of the "lamb." I asked whether this is a literal animal. I wrote on paper: Kondoo = Kristo (Christian = lamb). Image then reality. Next (in the same verse), we note the "Golden bowls." full of incense The "image" was incense, and I let it find the reality in the verse. Then I wrote: incense = prayers. They had found the literal element. Then, it became apparent that the "harp" by the same verse were not literal! I think part seems to indicate the harps = vocals (in verse 9). Oh how collect some for everything in an attempt to justify actions already in progress!

God has provided a degree of interest in music with the human family. All cultures seem to view musical expression. Singing "in the way of the Church" is a pure form of the expression. Our Creator has requested to sing (Ephesians 5: 19) in praise to him. The missionary is faced with endless challenges, and in all, I will highlight here. We are supposed to "sing with the spirit and..." "Sing with the understanding also" (1 Corinthians 14: 15). But if the singing in another language is the part of "Understanding" proves tricky. To alleviate this problem, I use a limited edition interlinear song brochure. Rather than translation, where word order is changed decide for a line by line, I prepare an interlinear format so that I can more easily learn the meaning of each word. Political correctness should proponents, a large number of these Swahili songs due to their sincere lyrics to clubs. I would like to share with you some interesting examples. Many of the songs are telling biblical events. Certainly strange to you the word order - see if you can decipher the meaning!

Song # 25 MAISHA YA SIKU HIZI (Tito 1: 16)
Life of days these (Titus 1: 16)

1. stanza
Maisha ya SIKU Hizi Dunia Giza,
Dark life of days of the world,

Waume na Wanawake Iepukeni,.
Men and women avoid

Vijana na Wanawali Angalieni,.
young and girls watch

Mungu Anayachukia Yote ya Giza
God hates all the darkness

Angalia Matendo ni ya Machukizo
Watch are the abomination

Epuka WANA wa Mungu Maovu Hayo,
avoid evil children of God,.

Wanakiri ya Kwamba Wanamjua Mungu
They profess that they know God

Bali Kwa Matendo Yao wanamkana
But by deeds it you not to him

"Angalia" Madhehebu Yote "Hayo Yatoka Wapi?"
Denominations to "see" all "that they where come?"

Duniani "Yesu Kristo" Alijenga Kanisa Moja
He built a church in the world "Jesus Christ"

Song # 26 RAPSOD HYBRIDOMA
Sodom

Excerpts:
(Sodoma, IL Sodoma) Sodoma na Gomora (Kweli)
(Sodom, Sodom) Sodom and Gommorah (really)

Mungu Alichukia AAH!
God was angry AAH!

Dhambi Walizofanya AAH!
Sins which they aah!

Wakachomwa Moto.
You have been burned.

Watu Wote Wanyama Wakateketea moto
People of all animals have been used to fire

Kaskazini na Kusini wakateketea
North and South have been used

Moto! Moto! Moto!
Fire! Fire! Fire!

Maafa ya Katisha Yakaja Walilia Wakafa
Terrible disaster was that they shouted that they died

Song # 28 SAUTI YA MUNGU BABA
Voice of God of the father
Excerpts:
Sauti ya Mungu Baba, Inaniambia Mimi,
Voice of God of the father, it tells me, me

Nikifanyo Dhambi Moto literature mbele
When I sin is fire ahead

Ukilewa Baba Kwenye moto
If you are drunk father in the fire

Ukiiba Mama Kwenye moto
If you steal mother into the fire

Ukiua Kaka Kwenye moto
If you kill brother into the fire

Uasherati Dada Kwenye moto
Fornication sister into the fire

Milele WA
Everlasting

Walioamini Watakuwa "Kweli NA"
Those who believe they are "really"

Wakiimba Wimbo mtakatifu
Singing song Holy

(Wamwimbia Bwana)
(Sings the Lord)

(Kwa Furaha Kubwa)
(with pleasure)

2. Stanza:
NI Wakati Wako Ndugu wa Kutubu Dhambi zako
It is time, your brother to sins repent of your

Ujué Unangojewa na Hukumu I caribou
Do know that you are waited by judgment, it is close to

Utalia na Kusaga Meno.
You crunch wines and teeth.

Song # 32. TANGAZA HABARI
Announce news

1. Stanza:
Tangaza Habari za Yesu "Bwana Wako"
Announce news of Jesus "Lord your"

Tangaza Usijali Cho Chote "Yesu Yupo"
Announcing take everything "Jesus is there"

Mahali po pote Tangaza ukombozi
Instead of a release announce

Wala Usiogope Kitu Yesu Yupo
Still fear, what Jesus is

"A" Shida Vumilia Kaza mwendo
Bear in trouble press the walk

"Ndipo" Utakapoingia Kwake Bwana
Then you get to the Lord

2. Stanza:
Shida Tangaza Hata Ukiwa a
Announce that you in difficulties are

Tangaza Usiogope Kitu "Yesu Yupo"
Announce you are not afraid of the thing "Jesus is there"

3. Stanza:
Tangaza cozy Hata mabondeni
Announce on hills in valleys

Tangaza Usiogope Kitu "Yesu Yupo"
Announce not fear of the thing "Jesus is there"

You are the lamb who has purchased with his blood "Men of every tribe and tongue, and people and nation" (Revelation 5: 9)! "It then let's you to a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of the lips, that confess his name" (Hebrews 13: 15).
Georg Jensen 2011

9.4. The lively and autumn Queenstown

«««Oceania» New Zealand» South Iceland» Queenstown
April 13th, 2011 by Wuff75, New Zealand
When you get up the cows have gemuht still, but more so, because they are driven in a different enclosure. And the Ranger today moves to no longer on a horse, but on a quad. One has however not changed: still the Sheepdog, which drives the cows there, where they and sollen? doing the real work
We have taken our breakfast with view of Lake Wakatipu at its northern end is the goal of our today's stage: Queenstown. Alone the drive along lakeside was gorgeously beautiful as is because the mountain landscape combines with the bright blue of the Lake. Shortly before Queenstown, we have seen even the Golf Club - beautifully located here. And for the first time, the air was something autumn and the leaves of the trees were some golden-yellow and reddish.
In Queenstown, our first road in the city centre was, however, we have parked but 10 minutes because it here - they are not so great Yes - everywhere are short stay parking zones in the cities. And in the city centre, we went and how practically always first to the i-site - so to the visitor center. There, we get the information for the current location and for the following stations. And the next road led me to McDonalds, to look on the Internet, how it my account geht…
The good news of the day: when a. j. Hackett Bungy Centre they have accepted my Diners Club card. So, my first bungee jump for the next day was secured after a short deliberation. And the consideration referred to it, whether I should jump. Only that which jump I do. The choice was between the first bungy which has been made at all (43 m), the Canyon swing, where it is first down and then transition to a Bartók or the highest bungee in Asia and Oceania. I signed up for the male variant entschieden?
Then we have made on the way and the Queenstown Hill climbed. And I must say since went one and a half hours very nice steeply up. For this we were rewarded with great views of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu above. A very own mood is also up there: total quiet in contrast to the very lively Queenstown. The city is indeed the action area of the South Island, you can feel even now quite well that in off season.
And even we have rewarded us then even more: we have enjoyed our first dinner in a restaurant. And a very good pizza at Winnie's?
Then, we are walking towards the Lake, where despite the cold in a pub, even more people in the open air are told. Brrrr! In a business, I have then chatted with a Japanese employee was totally excited when I told her of the Bungy. It is already for a few months in Queenstown, has not dared to but still. I have it then promised that I vorbeischau tomorrow after the jump on her and her exactly tell how it war?
At the end of the evening we tried a second recommendation of Lonely Planet to Winnie's: the "Bardeaux". And also this was a complete success. A cocktail bar with a three-metre-wide fireplace facing the sofas. Rather low light, therefore totally comfortable. The cocktails quite expensive - around the $15 - for but extremely good. In particular Ingrid has to separate difficult by the cosy fireplace. Still to do this where we knew, that we will spend the night in the cold car. But for which there's sleeping bag, socks and Haube… for?
Part of the trip: New Zealand

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Enter Khajuraho Amritsar Delhi India in the Punjab hugging

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Bear hugged in the Punjab - Khajuraho, Varanasi, Amritsar, & Delhi India

Hey guys, have I I have seats and I in Aqaba, Jordan not yet not written realized of my last two weeks in India, so I decided that I better would throw something together before I forget everything that happened. To get back up to date, so I thought I would share just a few small highlights and then wrap with a few comments on India in General.

Kama Sutra Temple - Khajuraho

For those of you who like to search through my images, you will notice that the first set of photos is just a little bit outrageous. (Also known as the temples of Kama Sutra), the images are from the temples at Khajuraho. These temples are some of the best (and certainly the risque) sculpture work in very India. Now, I'm still not sure, why they have such sharp focus on passionate love and sex, but my best guess is, that it will go their way across to the Church young adolescents excited!

Varanasi

I have definitely for them - the travel guide Lonely Planet credit grant

Varanasi did a great job, as describes a "in your face" kind of the city. It is really just a special kind of shock, if you to down the river walk and (there are no images, so don't worry) suddenly come across a burning body! Now, for those who don't know about it, Varanasi and the Ganges River, which flows through you is one of the most sacred sites in India. Who dies there have their body is bathed in the River most at stake in some places along the river of Creamed Spinach - this is to ensure an escape from the cycle of rebirth. Also you can still see the living, bathing in the river and their sins for those.

Bear hugged in the Punjab - Amritsar

Okay, I have a new "Friendliest people / place" for the trip, and it is Sikhs from Amritsar and Punjab. I hang around the Golden Temple - the most sacred place for Sikhs - spent three days and community it is just incredible. Each visit to the temple (Sikhs and tourists alike) are provided with free meals, if they want to, and they are equipped with blankets

and a dry place to sleep (usually outside under an awning). The place was I actually had a dormitory where tourists could stay for free! This general mood of giving and quality visitors are just the Sikh amazingly outgoing and friendly. They all stopped to me regarding, where I am from and if it all they could do to help me. And more than often not, if I went that shake hand and say goodbye, I would get embrace moved in a surprise bear. Heck, there was even a few times where one older gentleman would only random walk and say welcome and embrace me. It was a surprisingly inviting room!

Transcend boundaries Bangra party Atari / Amritsar

While in Amritsar, I participated in an afternoon and went to town Atari on the India Pakistan border to participate in closing ceremony. And it was completely nuts! For starters, every country has installed permanent grandstand for observers. It is definitely not an exaggeration to say, that it 5000 + was in the stands on the Indian side, and they were nearly full one hour before the border procedure close started. Leading for the hour

up to the actual ceremony, there were children run up and down the street of waving large Indian flags, and the street with a heavy dance party populated. Both sides had annoyed even MC, the amount to get! A journey in any case it was different!

Indian wrap-up some thoughts General

Okay, while I was a great time in India, I now have to admit that it now will be nice in Jordan. I really needed a breather after six weeks on the subcontinent. There's something about India, which holds only you on your toes 24 / 7, and you never really get a chance where I was, relax (at least in parts). Every time, if you think that you have found things (buses, trains, hotels, etc.) something unforeseen happens, and you must try to re-calibrate your thinking. For example, as a tourist, you will get used by rickshaw driver harassed, and get very accustomed you to say no or ignored. So one day I was walking around Delhi, and I went from four rickshaws in a row (all right beside each other). She gave me the same game questions

If I needed a ride and there are pretty annoying, because she heard them all and others knew clearly that I do not need a trip to I with the first guy said, but then me asked anyway. And then, once I have all of them, a random guy on a motorcycle after rights, pulled up and asked if I wanted for free only a lift; He wanted to be just nice and help. So you get this amazing gestures goodness in the trouble, and it makes you almost a little bipolar. In General, I however say that Indians are at the top on the list, which mean "nice mete" for the trip.

Human bumper cars

Traffic in India is even crazier than you are likely led to believe, and because sidewalks in general too full motor cycles, cows and street vendors, pedestrians are usually on the road are forced to play the local version of cars. So I was hit in my 6 weeks it actually by two cars and a bicycle rickshaw! Fortunately, they were all just small love taps (around 5 km/h or less). One of the cars in secured

geflügelten me while another my funny bone with its side view mirror. The bicycle rickshaw one was the funniest because the guy somehow managed in the pedals come in the back of my leg, although I was a foot in a number of people. I know really not, as he managed to do it, but still he decided you give me a stare as it was my fault. 65 Photo (s): 21 displayed: additional photos: «back 1 2 3 4 next» 65 photo (s): 21 displayed: additional photos: «back 1 2 3 4 next»
Part of the journey: around the world in 299 days

El Calafate Argentina of the Perito Moreno glacier

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The five-hour bus ride from Puerto Natales El Calafate was getting surprisingly watchable despite none of us good sleep last night. After the dinner and beers last night 4 of us in the back of an affable local car bundled and were escorted to the local 80's disco, wonderful! We enjoyed it a fair amount of the local BREW in a fabulous bar but already had seemed just the right thing to do at the time. After payment of the registration fee of $5US, we made our in how looked a Church Hall. The Bourbon and cokes were poured into the plastic Coke cups with religious enthusiasm. At this stage we didn't {t even against Wade our way in the men's facility could our good mood.} At 5 pm, the lights came up and we were mixed again on the streets of Puerto Natales. It was time to pack and make ready for the next adventure, Argentina.

With completed Chilean exit formalities and the passport photo ignore induced laughter of the 2 of flirting Argentine immigration agents, we arrived at El Calafate, Argentina. We are here for one reason only. To see the famous blue hued

Perito Moreno glacier in Los Glaciares National Park. After a nights we rest a coach Glaciares National Park back on board this time for the short bus ride from El Calafate, Los. Shortly after 9 am, we were awarded our first view of the glacier Monster. We then on board a boat on Lake Argentina and nice touch were then equipped with crampons for a short tour ended on the glacier with a whiskey and ice on the glacier itself.

This glacier is a dynamic, it is 60 m and moaning with great intensity to crack high walls often and constantly fall Chuncks ice face cause huge splashes and large bouncing icebergs. Intercepting this camera is another thing, turn away for a moment and listen to the rifle inevitably crack an other great 'calving'. The great cause mini waves even convince approaching boats helping way from the coast as a precautionary measure. A further cross of the Lake, this time close to the glacier wall gave us fantastic photo opportunities. The last station on the balconies, where the breaks most occur together, gave us our final views and left the neck

Hair as the ice explosions tingling continued. This was sure that go to the Perito Moreno glacier an outstanding trip, if you ever make the world in this part of you! 29 Photo (s): 21 displayed: additional photos: «previous 1 2 next» 29 photo (s): 21 displayed: additional photos: «previous 1 2 next»
Part of the journey: a quick tour in South America

Day 4 Crims Clims cocktail and a Ruddy great game of chess

««Oceania and Australia» Australia» New South Wales
20 April 2011 by follow YellowBrickRoad, follow the yellow brick road!

Today I decided to continue with my dip in Aussie culture and planned to visit scattered about the place a few museums and art galleries. For the second day in a row I was 1st in a Q to get b4 in something, when it opened.(In the start, such as a German tourist attack the sun loungers b4 everyone else feel up's!)
One thing that I had researched was Hyde Park Barracks Museum. This was the place where the 1st convict came boats from England. Although it well I was slightly disappointed l when comparing IV had been Alcartaz (San Fran) or Ellis Iceland (NY) both b4. Although the tour guides have managed to dress me in convicts uniform - convince it was coz she heard, I was of Ireland? BTW convicts were typical of my size so you would apply 6 ft tall FREAKS!
Next step was the Sydney sky to tour at the tower. This is State essentially a tower in Auckland or Empire similar to. I was lucky it was so clear days a good view of Sydney got stretched out, although Unfort the Opera House has been hampered by a skyscraper.
After lunch I decided to visit the Gallery on the recommendation of we met some of which had on Monday evening. In the not in general one massive fan art galleries as I don't like the portraits of the last century and more are some of the other stuff Pretentcious. A paragraph that describes that as the artist shows raw emotions etc to something that looks like my nephew could do a scribble. However, I was all Aborginal interested in art. It had surprised the lack of Aborgianl to Sydney some influence apart from the tacky tourist shops.
Good girls all I can say is, if the subscription men as well as be suspended, as all their works of art would suggest, then we all should pack our bags and move continents.
The Gallery is in the domain / biological reasons, the beautiful green area is less than 1/2 mile from the CBD. On the way, I stopped back in Hyde Park, a game of giant chess played is to see. If u can the scene image there was a group of about 8 80 yr olds with white hair. It very much reminded me of scenes u would see in old war movies, play with groups of French men Putang (sic - shells).
I along with a group of about 20 other observed dude watching the match in silence for about 1 hour, curse each other a movement where they took too long. 3 Eruption almost as 1 ALT Duffer tried to help his team-mates!
After work I Christine met rotating bar 47 floors for cocktails in one up. Many people go through stay for drinks not homeward wud changed to get. Probably coz of the over long distances.
And btw it was the most beautiful cocktail to that which I have ever eaten!

Part of the journey: follow the yellow brick road!
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Day 4 Texel

Is it worrying that I previously tried lay in bed, from which day it was work? It took about 5 minutes to em come finally to the firm conclusion that it was Wednesday (this had been without an electrical device that immediately tell me in the position would be.)

Anyway I decided today that I would go to the real reason that I came in the first place on this island. A nature reserve and beach on the West Coast. Off the map, I thought that she saw about 3-4 km from the hostel. This proved a pretty wrong. I have the nature reserve pretty hot and tired. I saw a sign, when I got there, show how I came back and say the Castle 6 km. On the same sign it said de Koog (where the beach is) 2 km. So all in all, I cycled 16 km today, when I thought that I would be cycling tops by 8. Not that it bothered me

The nature reserve was not anyway, what I was expected, it was more of a sea life centre/bird and seal sanctuary/dune reserve. The sea life centre was relatively interesting in a kind of all previously seen way. The seals were nice, unfortunately they renovation work were subjected to what they don't have designed their full compliment of gaskets and, in the containers, which meant that visitors see Ould under water so filter still works was not, so that the water was really cloudy, means that you could not see inside. I went for a nice 4 km walk through the dunes while out there had seals in time for their feeding, then lunch. All very interesting.

I then cycled the 2 km on the road to the beach. Reading decided for an hour or so, in the Sun are then, that completely stupid, but idea for a refreshing swim in the sea would be a fun. From this experience, I have derived two important facts.
Number 1: The sea in April is cooooooold
Number 2: I'm an idiot, even if you a moment, there is a that would be a good idea.

Ah well, no permanent damage.

Tonight is my last night on Texel. Tomorrow I go before back to Amsterdam being Delft for the day and then coach catch the overnight to Berlin.

Civilization

«««Oceania» New Caledonia» province of Sud» Noumea
21 April 2011 by dji

Noumea life...
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Right in the Dusseldorf

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I know, I know, it's not south east Asia, but it's still foreign!

I went for a long weekend (4 days) with my friend and flatmate (we don't have a single word for this in English, unlike in German when they just tack words together. This would no doubt be friendflatmate. In English we have to make do with spoonerisms. In this case "friendmate" doesn't work because that's tortology, and Bex wouldn't appreciate "flatfriend") Becka, to visit Ed Perugia (aka EJP), friend and former housemate, in his new residence in the stadt of Dusseldorf.

Day 1

The last time I went on a plane with Becka, on the way there she had a big freaking out session and we had to spend the whole trip with her asking, with panic in voice "why have the engines stopped" and "I want to get off the plane" (which wasn't really possible at 30 000 feet). But this time, I have to say, she was exemplary, made no fuss and you really couldn't tell her apart from a normal human being, so well done Becka!

So then, textbook flight there. What wasn't so textbook was our ability to get off the plane and onto a train to make a simple trip to central Dusseldorf. Once we found the station, we then realised we couldn't use our cards on the ticket machine and had to go and find a cashpoint. There began a half hour epic Frank Spencer-style search through the airport and - like a bad dream - no matter how many signs you followed to the "geldautomat" you always ended up in a car-park, foyer or zoo, before having to turn around and begin the search again (or fall into a trolley going down a hill, Betty). When we finally made it onto the train and arrived in Dusseldorf, we calculated that it had taken longer to get off the plane and make the 10 minute train ride to the centre of Dusseldorf than the entire flight. Well done us.

When we finally made it to Dusseldorf station and track down left luggage, Becka managed to bosh her bonce on a locker door, but not as bad as some other kid whose head started to gush with blood from a well aimed stand-up-while-the-door-above-you-is-open. We then had a choice of two exits to leave the station, wanting to get to the river for some waterside beerage. I chose which direction we should go based on how groovy it looked. Needless to say, I chose the wrong direction.

Not long after we walked we noticed an extraordinary phenomenon. Now if you or I, in London or any other UK city, are stuck at a "red man" signal but there is not a ruddy car in sight for 30 miles, do we not cross the road anyway? The answer to this rhetorical riddle is yes. Yes we do. In fact, we even cross when cars are definitely crossing. Not so in der Deutschland. Literally everyone obeys the rules - you'd get these hardened anarchist punks who had come from rioting in Berlin who would stand like Pavlov's dogs at the side of the road until the man turned green. Then they would cross the road and set fire to a Mcdonalds. But not before the green man showed.

Having come recently from Cambodia and Laos (where no one obeys rules simply because there aren't any), to Britain (where there are too many rules and so people tend to flout them where possible) to Germany (where there are a sensible number of rules and everyone obeys them) my head was all a-flutter about which one I prefer. I don't know, but it's not the English way. (I don't mean it's the English way not to know, I mean I like the English system least.)

Take drinking in public places, on the street or steps by the river. Now, I have no idea whether it's allowed in German law or not, but I reckon it is ok, and the reason I think that is that everyone does it there. In Britain though, if everyone was doing it I wouldn't make the same assumption. So anyway, look, the long and short of it is that we met EJP down by the river and had some beers. In the sunny weather everyone was in good spirits and there was a carnival atmosphere, even though nothing specific was being celebrated - gotta love that!

Ed's crazy French housemate Françoise turned up with a game of Boules and we had a good old session long into the evening with a delicious range of beers from Germany, Czeck and.... other countries.

Dinner. Me and Becka up since 4am. Bed

Day 2

We lurched our way out of bed and Eddy P had prepared a breakfast of proper style brotchen and about 22000 kinds of jam. Strawberry jam, blackberry jam, raspberry jam, cranberry jam, apricot jam, blueberry jam, plum jam... jam, jam, jam... and Marmite (our own contribution to add an element of English to the proceedings!) Coffee, OJ, all the trimmings - you know how it is.

A plan was hatched that there was a beach by the Rhine - hidden away where no one goes. Ed had drawn me a map - I could hear him yelling "the Beach - the f*cking Beach" through the mosquito net. Anyway, the plan was this: Becka and I were on beer detail, Ed was on food and getting a haircut, and Françoise was on the actual barbeque (not literally on it - that would have been cannibalism and besides, we had plenty of food, so it would be days before we'd need to actually cook him -although he undeniably had the most meat on him out of all of us, so if it had come to cannibalism I think he would have been the first on the spit). Fortunately it didn't come to cannibalism, and after about two hours of walking a 20 minute walk (Becka was in charge of the map ["learning through mistakes is the only way I'll learn" she said]) we found the Beach, we found Ed, Françoise, a barbeque, volleyball net and some beers.

We spent an idyllic afternoon on the mostly deserted beach, and it seems that for some reasons all Germans are bloody brilliant at volleyball. Must be because of all the beaches Germany has. Hmm. Anyway, after the Germans played a professional-looking 4 a side match (or was it 5?) with Françoise and his friend Jérémie representing "us", Ed Perugia got up and made a distinctly English effort. My excuse was my bad back and Becka's was being a girl (even though the German girl players were brilliant) and as a result, we really let Blighty down. On the other hand I had a beer and some delicious BBQ'd fish, and load of sunshine so could not have given two hoots, my friend. In fact, make that one hoot which I could not give.

That night we went out on the town. The plan was this: 1. Dinner/drinks. 2. Party of friends of Ed's. 3. Go out in Dusseldorf and - in Becka's words - "f*ck sh*t up". In the venue for 1. there was a blond waitress whom EJP had his grubby little eyes on, so Becka suggested writing his number on a beer coaster. Then Becka augmented this with a little doodle of Ed and the waitress walking down the road hand-in-hand, before innevitaly drawing a protrousion from Ed's groin region (the doodle of Ed, not the actual person) leading to the outstretched hand of the girl. Ed thought this might send out the wrong message, so Becka scrubbed out the lower half of the doodle and compromised it into a bed, labelling Ed with "me" and the waitress with "you". When we left, for some reason, Ed didn't want to give the dirty coaster to the waitress so when we got down the road Becka nabbed it off him and I ran back down the road to give it to the waitress. I gave the girl a wink and pointing to the picture of the two of them in bed with an "OK" gesture using my free right hand. I don't know if her phone broke or something, but, do you know, she never rang! Must have been a lesbian.

When we got to the party it took me right back to the international parties I used to go to with various foreign students who stayed with our family when I was younger. A load of people standing around copious amounts of booze, sipping delicately and waiting for some British yobs to come and - in the words of Becka again - f*ck sh*t up! Unfortunately 2 Japanese birds were leaving just as we came in, and we couldn't convince them to stay. Oh well, so a room of about 7 lads and Becka it was. Anyone who knows me knows that in this situation I try to get some drinking games on the go. Those people also know that I won't let it go until there are some drinking games. Was v good in the end - we played a game introduced by them (they were all called Marco, it seemed) and then the "what's the name of the fookin game" one, downing big dirty jugs of vodka and red bull, or dirty punch, along the way.

To the club! There was a novel but potentially dangerous system here where you get given a card on your way in, then you go and buy drinks and they mark it on your card. At the end of the night, you hand it in and pay your bill. There is severe room for bank-breakage with this system, I fear, especially if you're already inebriated from copious quantities of punch, vodka and fizzy Benylin. Increasingly drunk, I was increasingly amazed at how brilliant my German was on the locals, and the more I drank the better I got. I could tell that this was true objectively because more and more people were walking away after having spoken with me for a very short time. Therefore I must have communicated my message so accurately in German that no more needed to be said.

At some point in the night Becka's order of "f*ck sh*t up" penetrated the old noggin, so during a heavy song probably by Rage or someone, I gently started to introduce the idea of a mosh-pit to the crowd, which was picked up enthusiastically by others and reciprocated. Pretty soon bratwust-pumped German giants were pushing each other with vigour and gusto. Escaping the massacre to get a drink, I looked back over my shoulder and thought to myself: "oh my God. What have I done? If I live a hundred years I will never forget this moment." Meanwhile Ed and Becka had each found a pair of lips to tangle with, and I was so taken with the novelty of being able to smoke inside that what with the foreign students, vodka red bulls and inside smoking I thought I was 18 all over again. But I wasn't. In fact, in 2 days I would be 9 years older than that. But that's another story. Which I will tell.... now.

We finally left the club at something like 5 am, taking a cab back to Ed's on the calm back streets of the city that never sleeps. Except at bed time.

Day 3

Another classic breakfast. I challenged myself to try all available jams. No mean feat. Today we were up for going to Bonn, seeing Beethoven's house, then to Cologne for some odour cologne. Aka, dirty beer.

Excitingly enough, we got today the double-decker train (as a side note, trams are brilliant - between buses and trains they combine the best bits of both, and it's a shame we don't have 'em in London, although there's no chance of that happening these days, not that I care much, being a cyclist) which was lush on toast - we sat upstairs feeling like bloody kings (and queens in the case of Becka... and Ed, arf arf) until we rocked up to Bonn, where we were greated by lush weather. Lush on toast, it was. Lush on toast with 20000 types of jam.

We went to Beethoven's birthplace. I wonder when they turned it into a museum, who bought it and who converted it, but it was interesting anyway to walk around the old living place of the master and think- "wow! Where I'm standing, right here, in this very spot, is where Ludwig van Beethoven once took a dump." It was quite an experience, as was looking in the guest book and finding the entry of former visitor Nick Edmonds. If I remember correctly it read "NE and EJP were here RITC" [incidentally, RITC is an acronym for Right in the Cu*t, but it's not as rude as it sounds, and if you think cult is a rude word then that's your look-out, you purv]. If you ever go there to visit EJP or for another reason, look us up: 17/04/2011

There are places where beer comes in what seem to be test tubes from secondary school science. Consequently you can zip through a lot of it very quickly, as I kept finding out - like a kid who eats his ice-cream too quickly and then gets jealous of his siblings who all still have one, I looked with envy on EJP's half full tube, before remembering that I was now, in fact, an adult and could therefore simply order another, thus solving the quandary. Good to learn that.

To Cologne, and the mega-gothic cathedral towering above us. It was so gothic I thought Batman was going to jump out the top. But he didn't. Shame.

Becka had yet to have a Schnitzel, so we searched a while for a place that had the national dish and some Stealios-friendly grub. Not easy, it turns out! We eventually found a place that had the curtest waiter in the world. Imagine a German Basil Fawlty with much lower job satisfaction (although we managed to avoid mentioning the war, and goose stepping, unlike at school when I got into trouble for doing exactly that to some German exchange students - why was it al right for John Cleese to do it but not me?) and you get the picture. However, the grub was totalement top banana and after being very well fed we headed back to the 'dorf, it was 11:30pm or so by the time we got back, and so to tea and to bed - a second night of clubbing would have taken the "fu*k sh*t up" doctrine too far, methinks.

Day 4

"Bon Anniversaire to you, Bon Anniversaire to you, Bon Anniversaire to yooooooooou... Bon Anniversaire to you!" Such were the sounds that greeted me from my shower - Becka had prepared a birthday breakfast of a bread roll, flanked by Françoise, a birthday banner and a couple of tea tree lights. After this most ostentatious breakfast we headed out to get some cake, beer, fizzy vino and sit on the beach until it was time to meet young Teddy for lunch. Unfortunately Becka and I are renowned faffers and so by the time we got into town we had to make do with the steps by the Rhine. Bloody hell though - this cake was fookin' delicious! We had a sponge with raspberry stuff (jelly? coulis?) on top and a good old slice of applekucken - LECKER!!!!

With Teddy we went for a delicious (and massive) Japanese, Ted yet again picking up the bill, which he had a generous habit of insisting on! Thereafter he had to go back to teaching (it was a Monday after all - incidentally, before this trip neither Becka nor I had any idea of what Ed's job was, to our shame!) and so Becka and I went for drinks by the station, in preparation for our journey back to blighty! Half way through the beer Becka had bought me I noticed it tasted a bit.... thin... and only after a while did I realise that I was drinking non-alcoholic beer. At this point Noggers would call this the "vegetarian of beer".

My belief that German trains are always on time was shattered - the S11 to get to the airport was delayed by 30 minutes - that's UK standard, so we got a different one which took half the time and allowed us to go on a sky train - just like at the beginning of Alton Towers when you get it from the car park to the main bit - when you head for Nemesis immediately, if it's a school day and the queue is short. Don't get one of the 'Nemices' though - they're well sickly which is not good just before Britain's most famous rollarcoaster. Sorry, where are we? Oh yes, Dusseldorf.

It must be said, so I'll say it, that the bit when aeroplanes accelerate then take off must be one of the best feelings you can get. Maybe I'll buy a jet one day (yeah, one day).

Once again back to blighty, and I have a tip for you - if you arrive at Heathrow and want to go to Ealing, get the piccadilly line and get off at Northfields, then get the bus. Don't take the Heathrow connect. Don't ask me why, just trust me. I said don't ask. Shh.

All in all, a great birthday weekend.

Gutegeburtstagwochende

A grithend, if you will.