Last Few Happenings

"April is the cruelest month". But 2009-2010 has also been tough for us. A good streak must come to an end I suppose. You can't cheat the house and expect to come out ahead of suffering.

That said, it makes one appreciate simpler things in life: family, friends, breathing, eating and the now. Even Death (as all tragedies can) has a beautiful face when it reveals itself and we look for it. I learned this when my father passed away April 7th. After years sentenced to a bed in a nursing home, he finally was freed of all the pain and frustration his Parkinson's gave him. The event brought my family together closer; it taught me again how frail and absurd everything is; and how important it is to live life to the fullest with love behind each action.

So, let a few pictures do the work where words fail.

(A little background: I recently returned from Sri Lanka after a meditation/surf journey; then I took emergency leave to bury my father, which led me to getting stuck in D.C. because of the Icelandic volcano. Luckily, they rerouted me through Asia which led me around the world. Reina and Dia stayed in Saudi, but here are a few pics in the mix to round things out.)

Strolling the D.C. mall.

The National Cemetery service for my father

Welcome signs for Poya (full moon celebration) at the meditation center.

Colombo train station.

Sri Lanka has several idyllic beaches.

Offerings for Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.

Easter Bugs.

Etc...

A collage I made from an old sketch.

What she dreams.

Qatif Market Trip

Our Saudi friend, Ali, took us to a local market so we could visit his neighborhood. It was exciting to get out of the walled compound and check things out; however, we had no intention of coming home with a farm animal. Ali bought a chick for Dia even though we repeatedly said, "No, please!!!" (The thing chirped incessantly in its perforated paper bag the whole way home, and for days afterward, until it expired a week later. Not a surprise and definitely a bummer to have to go in the back yard and dig a grave.)

Ali then took us to his home, fed us and was a gracious host. Reina went in another part of the house and had lunch with the two wives. Dia ran around the house and played with his son's toys. Refreshingly, Ali and I had some in-depth conversations. He explained to me some of the social problems and wonderful aspects of Saudi culture. Best of all, he drove me around to some of the historical sites and gave me a guided tour.

What we thought would be a morning affair, turned into a full day expedition -But well worth it.

Not sure what this is used for? Slaughtering sheep or foreign workers?

Reina, Dia, Mary and "Hello Kitty".

This gramophone cranked out some bizarre Indian music.

An old Turkish fort used to fight the Brits back in the day.

At least they don't put the family inside.

Retired Saudi fishing boat next to newer model.

Fishy Experiences

A funny thing about Dia...

She loves fish. We go to the beach regularly and the lifeguards always catch fish. Typically, they will hand Dia a small fish if it was caught by net. She then takes the little perch in her hand and has a few conversations, and throws it back into the pile of fish.

The larger ones are treated differently. Those get eaten. Yesterday, she went up to a 10 pound fish and licked it; she then proceeded to bite into its neck. Somewhat shocked yet proud, I pulled her away and she giggled at me with a fish scale on her cheek.

I think she picked up this habit because one time I speared a fish, cut it up in front of her and handed her a piece to eat. She ate it up with a smile. A true sushi monster. Hello Kitty would be proud, too.

shawarma = burrito

The shawarma is the Middle Eastern burrito. Some are tasteless, while others smack your taste buds silly. Add some avocado and cilantro and you are transported to a SoCal taqueria for a second. Recipe...

2 pounds chicken –on the rack-very thinly sliced

Marinade: 1 cup yogurt

2 tablespoons lemon juice

4 cloves garlic -- minced

1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 tablespoon onion, parsley -- finely minced

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon red pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground mace

1/2 teaspoon salt

a few french fries

I suggest you go here for more in-depth info.

Princess Dia

...finally got a taste for Halloween this year. She went trick or treating with her friend, raked in some candy and then handed out candy to kids. Fairy princess spotted below wondering which route to take.

Our Live-In: Merry

You really start to understand feudalism in many ways when you live in Saudi. Without getting into the depths of it, life here for many of the foreign workers can be taxing. Instead of having a true agricultural type of feudalism, they have a system rooted in the construction and service areas, etc. Take any of the contracted workers, turn over their lives to get a better look and you usually become shocked at what they've been through back home and what they go through living here. That said, for many it is a significant improvement on one side of the equation.

Fortunately for our live-in babysitter/nanny/maid/house manager, our family is pretty easy to work for. Life with Merry has made living much more comfortable and seamless. Best of all, Claudia and Merry get along very well. Everyone in our household wins.

Merry, from Eritrea

HaLLOwEEn >>>>

Steampunk was our theme this year. And the party turned out to be a PROPer good time!

Waking Up on the Weekends

We have access to boats, jet skis, warm water and an empty beaches. What else would we do on the weekends? Waking, skurfing and swimming refresh us so we can hop back into the weekday grind. A far stretch from the traditional weekend activities here by the rest of the expat community: golf, church, triathlons, and shopping.

Post-Disco Disaster

Dia frequently changes outfits within the day. From sweet fairy princess to disco punk rocker, she will run out of the room and shock us. Exhibit A:

Pizza Bug

The bug enjoys cooking and making messes. She especially loves to play with dough when we make pizzas -And just like her mom, she has to be watched so she doesn't eat all the raw goods.

Indo Quake

As some of you know, I went to Sumatra this summer to surf. The waves were mind blowing, the people salt of the earth. Reading the recent headlines regarding the quake made me want to take a plane and help with the rescue efforts. It also made me think about how volatile Indonesia can be. Every time I've been there, it has been in between disasters (i.e. terrorism, plane crash, earthquake, tsunami, ferry capsizing, volcano...).

I wish the best to all, and especially to my friend Adri and his family I stayed with.

Anyone interested in surfing the Mentawaii go here. Or email me for more info. Video below from the trip.

News of Interest in the Medevial East

If you receive Google alerts for news on the Middle East like us, it does not take long for stories to appear that make you wonder if you are reading the Onion.

• Something you'd get from a bizzaro Middle Eastern magic shop
• Riot in the big city
• The devil’s excrement
• One eye is queen in the land of the blind
  
  

Viva France!

The French are arrogant and rude. The French are arrogant and rude. The French are arrogant and rude. The French are arrogant and rude. The French are arrogant and rude. The French are arrogant and rude. The French are...

Think how ingrained this statement is in an American tourist's mindset before their first visit to France. I usually go to a country semi-free of bias, hoping to shape up some fair generalization or feel for a place. But it was hard to shake the media's brainwashing until we landed.

Ironically, the French are some of the nicest people I've met. The only stereotype that lived up to expectations was the food: The food in France is incredible. Go to a Shell station and you might just find a better tasting baguette than the one you get at those specialty, gourmet stores in the U.S.

Our 7 day tour of Paris, Bordeaux and Lacanau exceeded expectations. We met up with Sku, Natalie, and Mia for camping on the beach. Okay, we never did camp because of the 3 days of rain; we opted for the sweet IKEA looking beach cabins near the camp sites for 39 euro a night. As for the surf, France has potential, but it can be fickle because of short period swell and predominant beach breaks. Nevertheless, we will return. France is a special place that makes you say, "How can I live here someday?" The price tag is what keeps most people from pulling the trigger.

Rainy day movie time, Mia and Dia

Swans visiting our picnic

Firing squad
Bourdeaux gold on the Garonne river
A Parisian stroll.
Our friends enjoying the lake
Fishing the Seine.