Sheeeeesh after all this time!

I thought I had deleted this a longggggggggggg time ago, it sure needs a lot of updating. Is it worth it I ask myself? Well I don't have a lot of spare time but certainly while I am here in Saudi Arabia (again) maybe I should.

Spring Sunset in Zoetermeer

Zoetermeer in The Netherlands, is a favourite destination for continental touists. One late spring evening I found myself on the beach road as the sun was setting. When i saw the condition of the sun, the sea etc I just grabbed for my camera and the shots here were some of the results.

It was like the world had a golden coppery glow for just a few minutes. There was no additional processing, these shots are as the camera saw the world.

For just a few minutes i was able to escape from the trials and tribulations of this world, the stresses and strains and lose myself in a fantasy world of pure happiness. A truly sureal moment or two.

Favourite Artist – Mr Seung Bae Kim

Favourite Artist – Mr Seung Bae Kim

We came across this quiet and unassuming Korean gentleman one evening in the Hyperpanda Complex, (Formerly GIANT), in Raka, Khobar, a number of years ago. Mr Kim has become a firm family friend during this time.

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=26.3283188&lon=50.2144235&z=16&l=0&m=b  

A fellow of the Korean Academy of Art, he has been resident now in Saudi Arabia for many years. As well as an artist of repute he is the Gallery Manager for two art galleries here in Khobar. 

In style, Mr Kim can emulate a vast number of different styles and carries out commissions for large numbers of both the local and expatriate communities (sbkim48@hanmail.net). Whether it is expressionist or almost photographic and true to life, Mr Kim is an expert in them all.

Lots of expatriates have taken pieces of his work back home to many parts of the world, as memento’s of their stay in Saudi Arabia.

His pictures take pride of place in our collection and adorn a number of the walls in our house back in Scotland.

Japanese Restaurant @ The Carlton Moaibed Hotel in Al-Khobar

Japanese Restaurant @ The Carlton Moaibed Hotel in Al-Khobar

The Carlton Moaibed Hotel can be found on the Khobar to Dammam highway. It has a number of restaurants but a not too well known gem of the restaurants is this small ethnic Asian eatery. There are two open plan cooking stations where you get up close and personal with the food. The chef’s put on a great display as they prepare and cook right in front of you.

Some Sushimi to begin with

There are a number of Teriyaki style set meals all prepared with fresh market produce and fresh sea fish or meat. 

"Don't tell me what it is until i've finished"

Down the hatch

Warming the dipping sauces

Starting to cook

Some light seasoning

Last few tosses

Veggies ready for eating

Tossing the eggs

Egg and Rice cooking nicely

Fried rice for serving

Last couple of flips

Almost ready

Beef and Chicken Teriyaki

From experience we have found best to book in advance as there are only about 20/22 covers in the place. Allow an hour or two to sit back and enjoy the full experience. If there is a Japanese restaurant near where you are give it a go (and you do not need to duck from the flying knives!)

High Jinks at Half Moon Bay (Half Moon Bay (Arabic: شاطئ نصف القمر‎), is located near Khobar city in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.)

High Jinks at Half Moon Bay (Half Moon Bay (Arabic: شاطئ نصف القمر‎), is located near Khobar city in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.)

Every weekend, that is Thursday and Friday to us expatriates here in KSA, the youth as well as families hit the beaches and sand dunes of Half Moon Bay. It’s sort of the Riviera of the KSA part of the Arabian Gulf but without the glitz and and definately the glamour.

Segregated beaches for families and male only interspersed with compounds and villa complexes owned by organisations and wealthy individuals.

 

 Even some camel and horse riding available too!

A regular night market can be found here which unfortunately is not well frequented by westerners, certainly not in my time here in the Eastern Province. A shame, as there are some superb bargains to be had for anyone even slightly proficient in negotiating! Afghani carpets amongst the bargains.

 Apparently KSA has plans to open up for tourism, i.e non-religious visiting, and Half Moon Bay and the Khobar area are prime candidates for future development.

In the meantime not a lot of development, but plenty of sandy beaches. The Holiday Inn has a resort complex here but there are no other international hotels as yet. A sad indictment however is all the electricity sub-stations for the whole length of the ‘Bay are covered in graffiti. Mostly with phone numbers saying “call me”, sprayed on by the youth in the hope of attracting young ladies attention!

 What there is however on the landward side are thousands of hectares of desert, some of which becomes a playground for the youth on their ATV/quad bikes, 4wd’s and to the ill advised ordinary pickup trucks and cars. 

 ATV/Quad bikes can be hired for all ages from 3 years of age up to great-grandfathers and for both sexes. There are numerous hire places often operated by the Bedouins. Rentals normally by the hour.

The dunes can be quite treacherous for the inexperienced or unwary drivers so best to join the many watchers. The police have been clamping down, not afore time, regarding the boy racers on the main dual carriageway that runs the whole length of the ‘Bay. So be warned there are speed traps now!

Babies and long distance flights

Moaning and Ranting mode engaged.

Why is it that for the last 6 long distance flights I have had the light of proud mummy and daddy’s eyes either in the seat beside me, or immediately behind me. Now I like kids (Couldn’t eat two of them though) but after a hard working trip and on a scheduled long distance flight WHY ME!!!!

Package Holiday flights yes totally understandable, families need their holidays. However with employers cutting back on travel costs the majority of flights these days in the Construction Industry are Economy Class and all that that entails, reduced size of seats, reduced legroom, noise filled cabins and a 7+ hour flight. Those ear defenders don’t work when mummy’s little 2 year old decides it’s time to wake up the whole cabin!

“Sorry sir the flight is full so we cannot move you” says the attendant, whilst all around are breathing a sigh of relief that they are not sat beside this miniature devil in human form. “Oh sorry did Junior wake you/ spill juice/ fill nappy, on you?” says the proud parent.

WHY ME!

Corfu May 2010 Part 2

Corfu May 2010 Part 2

Sunni settled into the Park Hotel and quickly made friends with the lady who runs the bars there for the owner Spiros Demazis. The Park Hotel staff took to her quickly and made sure as a lady travelling alone that she was well looked after.

Lots of rest and recuperation was on the cards. Spiros took her around various parts of the island and introduced her to island life. Upshot of this she has fallen in love with the place and could quite happily live on Corfu Island. Whisper it but she walked all over the Gouvia, Dacia and Corfu Town area’s. The sun and warmth helped her condition greatly. Just what the doctor ordered.

Plenty of sun and relaxation even some tours including the Grand Tour, courtesy of the British Thomson holiday rep. Have to say the Dutch TUI rep was a waste of space. Spiros even had to phone TUI to find out the collection time on the last day as Sunni had been shall we say forgotten about!

Although done in a bit of haste the Grand Tour covering the east through to west coasts of the island was probably the highlight of this brief respite from life. Oh and the late night drinking with a certain Korfiot lady who owns an olive grove and serves a mean cocktail!

Lots of phone calls and texts from an animated Sunni who was thoroughly enjoying herself. When I asked her what did she like best about Corfu, she said “Everything” So yes a definite hit.

A tanned and fit lady was a welcome sight when I met her on arriving back at Schiphol. Travelling does broaden the mind as the saying goes. Not sure about on the waistline though as mine never changes from being large :)

Corfu May 2010 Part 1

Corfu May 2010 Part 1

Well as primarily this blog is ostensibly for travel as well as my own wittering on about life in general, maybe time to switch on and develop some thoughts on places we have been to.

In 2010 the Sunni lady decided at last it was time to see some of Europe whilst I was working for a major Saudi Company. Over the last couple of years she has been to more places than in her whole previous life and is now becoming a reasonably confident traveller.... though not without the sleeping pills for flights over 3 hours!

She decided I think by putting a pin in a map blindfolded to go to Corfu. Easy I hear you say. Well in most circumstances yes, however as I was travelling fairly constantly she had based herself in The Netherlands. That way we could see more of each other. So off she toddled to the local branch of Thomson’s..... 1^st problem it was branded as Thomson’s but called TUI in The Netherlands. By the way don’t refer to The Netherlands as Holland to a Dutchman; they get quite tetchy about the fact that Holland is NOT The Netherlands! 2^nd problem was the holiday packages were in Dutch, 3^rd problem she would be the only Brit on the package holiday.

Never one to do things by halves, Sunni booked the holiday leaving within a couple of weeks. With help and advice she booked the Park Hotel in Gouvia on the Island of Corfu, on a half board basis. A few weeks later off to Schiphol Airport and off she flew.

Although they have modernised Corfu Airport there are not many scheduled flights to the place. Package Holiday Tour Companies do however fairly bombard the place between March and November. As an aside I am surprised it is not a whole year destination as it rarely gets very low temperatures and is actually still fairly cheap.

Corfu Airport is as you can see very close to the town centre. In the picture above you can see the sole runway!

Sunni eventually found the right coach to take her to the hotel, well the courier was Dutch, nuff said for now. Arrival at the hotel and Sunni found it was like the brochure pictures, in that it is a reasonably modern hotel with personable and friendly staff, good facilities and close to Gouvia town centre. Errrrmm on that point maybe better saying village not town!

Her only complaint was that the large swimming pool is not heated. One of the Dutch party ran helter skelter on the first morning shouting in Dutch something that could have been “last one in is a sissy!” and jumped in...... almost the last thing he did! It must have kick started his pacemaker because he swam the width in Olympic front crawl record speed, jumped out and took half an hour to recover!

Twists and Turns

Start of February 2011 and well into my 55^th year on this planet. Could well be a momentous year what with son’s and step-daughters (bar one) all engaged.

Youngest son finishes University this year with hopefully a good degree. He picked a hard course in Sports Science but he has stuck at it well and exceeded even his expectations.

Eldest son is now a home owner with his fiancé, definitely makes me feel old. Don’t think they know yet what they really want to do for a living but they are successfully putting down roots.

As to the step-daughters, well the elder of the two has her own flat (apartment to my colonial American cousins), soon to be two year old troublemaker, and a partner. Hopefully this year will see him get a job he likes.

Youngest step-daughter has moved out and is hopeful of getting her own flat. Sharing with one of her girl-friends and putting her first steps of independence out into the wild world. Even starting her first ever job this month.

As to us...... well Sunni and I continue to explore both the world and ourselves.

Over time I intend to fill in the blanks since the last postings on the blog over 18 months ago. The inane mutterings will continue this time though probably not in any strict chronological order, so dear reader (if there is one), please bear with me.