Now what?

     This placid life in the OFH doesn't generate much adventuresome material for a daily blog. Perhaps some stories from past travels may have some interest. 

    Travel once took me from Bangkok, Thailand, to Singapore. The first leg of the trip was by train down the southern reaches of Thailand. At one point Thailand is only six miles wide. The train ended at the border of Malaysia. Penang is the first city after crossing the border. What year? I don't remember but it was just at the time hotel reservations could be made online. Previously during my travels I found a hotel or guesthouse upon arrival. Taking the service offered for pre-booking I booked a hotel in Penang. The hotel offered two choices. A room was $10, or, if you wanted single occupancy it was $20. Being. a big spender I opted to pay $20.

    Being the tropics torrential rain was frequent and happened while in Penang. One restaurant was busily service customers even though it was flooded. Wearing shorts and sandals ankle deep water wasn't a problem as I ate my dinner. Malaysian food has much to recommend it.

   After Penang I bused to the Cameron Highlands, Melaka and on to Singapore. 

Takk for alt,

Al

Malaysia has an interesting colonial history. It was first colonized by Portugal, then the Dutch took over, and they were supplanted by the English. Evidence of all three European countries is visible in Melaka. Malaysia achieved independence in 1957. Melaka is on the Straight of Melaka across which lies Indonesia. Navigation in the country is made a bit easier because the Roman alphabet is used, unlike Thai which is a derivative of Sanskrit. 

It's not fair!

     My day begins with reading the Minneapolis/Star Tribune online. Today the sports page was filled with print about the Vikings. Even the University of Minnesota men's basketball team got significant coverage, after getting blown out by Purdue.  The University Women's team, who won last night, not even the score was in the paper.

   Sunday, the women played Maryland who are ranked #7, nationally. Minnesota took this ranked team to two overtimes, eventually losing 99-100. Minnesota was up by 9 points in the second overtime before losing by a point. All the press dwells on is that Minnesota lost after leading by 9. Totally ignored is the outstanding performance of an unranked team taking #7, to overtimes. That's a major accomplishment and indication of a bright future for the Minnesota Women.

Takk for alt,

Al

Contrast this picture of Mt. Fuji with the one posted yesterday. Taken at dawn, the tents of our camp are barely visible in the foreground.

Pretty much my life...except 18+ years since I retired.

 

        Yesterday it was a real snow.  The southish part of the cities where I live got 5"? More fell to the north. Not fluffy and light this was wet and heavy making me even more grateful that I don't have to shovel. One of the earlier promos for this OFH proclaimed, "If you live in Lexington Landing you will never need a ladder."  Now they should do one that says, "If you live in Lexington Landing you will never need to shovel." 😀 Yes, I'm grateful. The 4th anniversary of coming to the OFH is three weeks away. 

Takk for alt,

Al

Yes, that's Mt. Fuji in the background from our tent camp at cold weather training. This was the first view of Fuji and it has a tiny snow cap. It helps to explain how I have 200 pictures of Fuji. During the six weeks we were there it's look kept changing, thus another picture and another, etc.

"...drift by the window..."

 "The falling leaves drift by the window

The autumn leaves of red and gold

I see your lips, the summer kisses

The sun-burned hands I used to hold"  Nat King Cole

   While living in the 15th floor condo downtown, I was fond of posting on Facebook  "snow is pretty from the 15th floor." That post would irritate Barb, who lived in one story, town house. Now she lives on the 9th floor of her iteration of an OFH. Sunday she was keen to tell me, " Snow is pretty from the 9th floor!" 😀 

    Snow is also pretty from the 4th floor, my current home. It's been drifting by my window all afternoon. That made me think of Nat King Cole's song about 'falling leaves'. No shoveling nor driving necessary. Only trips outside are with Kaia, who keeps me moving.

   Christmas mail is arriving. That makes me glad. No Christmas mailing from me. If any want to know about me I direct them to this blog. The result is two followers.

Takk for alt,

Al

This sunset picture across the Mekong from Laos toward Thailand was taken on the 2nd ill fated trip to Takhek, Laos,

Tis the season!

      It's a clue that it's an Old Folks Home! Residents of the 4th floor, of whom I am one, had their annual Christmas party tonight. The clue is that the event was scheduled from 5-7 😉If that isn't funny enough the party was pretty much over by 6:00 😊

    It was a nice event with a potluck providing good food. There was even lefse and rosettes!  Sitting  and visiting with neighbors, some of whom I see but with whom I seldom have the opportunity for conversation, was enjoyable. A good time was had by all and that included Al.

   Once again it's snowing. It's more than a skiff again but sans wind nothing like a storm. These frequent snow falls are contributions to a significant accumulation without drifts. A memory from childhood was awe at New England pictures of snow piling on fence posts. South Dakota snow always came sideways. The weather provides reinforcement for choosing to reside in the OFH.

Takk for alt,

Al

I do miss my bulldozer, which was sold to a man in McAllen, Texas. When a track came off and the struggle to replace convinced me it was time to sell. Most of the projects for which it was purchased were complete.

Remembering!

      This is another day minus original thoughts. With that in mind I'll recount a past adventure from my travels in SE Asia.

    On my first trip to Laos I flew to the capital, Vientienne. After a few days there I flew to Luang Prabang, the former Royal Capital. It is 200 miles between cities. Spending some time there I then took a bus back to Vientienne with the intention of continuing to the south tip of Laos. This being 2009 it was before smart phones and tablets. At an over night stop in Takhek, the internet cafe was out of order for two weeks. The men in the cafe told me to cross the Mekong to Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. Returning to Laos, after going to Thailand, I was refused re-admittance because they had stamped my visa "expired."  Thus ended my attempt to travel to southern Laos.

    Back in Thailand in 2012, planning to teach, with some days to use before teaching, I decided to finish the journey begun in 2009. Back in Takhek a local guide offered to take me to the local caves. Entering the second cave, out of which water was flowing, I slipped and fell, gashing my legs. The guide took me to the local hospital where I was stitched up, minus anesthetic, or at best, a light dose. The next day I was infected so went to Bangkok for medical treatment, see the hospital pictures a few blogs ago. Never did I see southern Laos.

Takk for alt,

Al

The view from the first cave.

Lacking!

       Another day lacking an original thought.  "Better to remain quiet and be thought a fool, than speaking up and proving you are one." With that thought it mind this posting will be brief. If I don't post anything you both get nervous about my well being. So then...

Takk for alt,

Al

That's a hundred and twenty pound python I'm holding. It was on my shoulders but it was constantly moving so it slipped down. They also had 200 pound Burmese python but I was too wimpy to carry that. This was on a stop on a boat trip I took in northern Thailand in 2012?. Boarding in Chiang Mai the trip ended in Chaing Rai.