More Photos from the Kingdom

Here are just a couple more photos. Feel free to add your own captions.

Some more Pictures from the Kingdom

Here are some more pictures that I've taken that I thought were kinda cool. I met some South Africans diving one weekend and they had this Hookah Pipe out anytime they weren't in the water. This is a natural bridge that I thought was pretty cool looking. Me and a couple buddies decided to pose for a couple pictures at the range. And this is a Conch Shell and it's owner.

New SCUBA diver in the Kingdom

Hello once again from the Kingdom. Yes it's true... the waters are no longer safe as I am now a certified Open Water Diver. This weekend I did four dives in the Rea Sea. I did my first Night Dive and went Lobster hunting. We only caught four last night but the night prior my buddy caught seven. Needless to say, we eat Lobster for dinner tonight. Here are some pictures of the weekend.

Apologies from the Kingdom

Sorry that I haven't been on in a while. I have sorta been busy. In the past month I have shaken hands with a princess (and I'm not talking about "the artist formally known as..."). I have been earning my SCUBA certification. I've made two dives in the Rea Sea (will be making 4 more this weekend). I've been teaching my students how to shoot (that has been an experience). We've spent a LOT of time on the range. I have a lot of good pictures that I need to get posted, but currently they are still on my camera. I'll try to get them posted after this weekend. And I've also been setting up a Myspace account.

Twist, I'm sorry. I know how you must have felt without me hovering over you every waking moment, but I think it's time. Spread your wings and fly.

I'll try to post again after this weekend.

Snorkeling in the Kingdom

Hey all. I just got back from a weekend snorkeling in the Red Sea. This was the first time that I've ever snorkeled and all I have to say is, "WOW!!" The reefs were amazing and I could easily about 50 feet to the sea floor. I can't even begin to describe all the different fish and sea life that I saw. Simply amazing. I'm planning to start scuba diving soon.

Just to prove to Twist that I am really not in Nevada I am include these pictures. As you can see there are camels and goats here - the goats seem to own the roads in places. The other two pictures are of the sun setting over the Red Sea and the sun rising over the mountains east of the dive site we were at.

Kell, I wish I had seen you warning about the sand in my under carriage before this weekend. Thanks anyway.

Touring the Kingdom

We have been venturing out a little more in the past week. We've been checking out some of the different training areas and you'll never guess what i fought.... Sand!! Lots and lots of Sand!! I know what you're thinking, "Sand?! Not in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", but yes it's true.

It's the end of the week here in the Kingdom and I'm ready for a break. These hours (0900-1300) have been brutal. We have to sit and talk and drink tea. In all seriousness, we have just about gotten everything we need to start teaching - and, as usual, just in the knick of time.

We've been getting to know our Interpretors a little better. They bought us some local food for breakfast this morning. I can't remember the name of it, but it basically consisted of a pita type bread that we dipped in a sort of bean dip. It was pretty good.

As promised I'm also posting a couple of pictures. See if you can find the Truck in the picture of the desert. That's about all that's going on around the Kingdom right now.

Not much going on in the Kingdom

It's the weekend here in the Kingdom. The weekends here in Saudi Arabia are Thursdays and Fridays (Fridays being their equivalent of our Sunday). There hasn't been much to do around here in the last couple of weeks - I've done more PT here in the last 2 weeks than I did in the last 3 years at RTB.

We just found out that the classes we were supposed to have about 2 1/2 months to prep are now starting in less than 2 weeks. In the states that wouldn't be too much of a problem, but here things move a lot slower. You can't get anything acomplished until you sit down with your counterpart and talk, dring some tea or coffee, and get to know them. On top of that, we just found out that we don't even have classrooms or even offices to give these classes. The up side is that, even though we're WAY BEHIND the power curve, I know we'll get it done - I'm working with some pretty good guys and we seem to work well together.

Sorry that there are no pictures yet, but I have been off the camp that much yet. I'll try to get some up soon.

Reporting Live from the Kingdom

I'm in northwest Saudi Arabi. The high here has been averaging about 110 degrees in the shade. Although it has been hot (temperate-wise), it feels quite comfortable.

There's really not much to report yet, things are a lot slower paced here. This whole "war" between Israel and Lebanon has sort of screwed up the recreation time (Twist, call your contacts in Israel and tell them to call a cease fire for about a year), but we should still get some time to travel. I'll try to get some pictures up soon.

I'm Finally Here!!

Hey all. I'm Finally in country... I've actually been here for about two weeks, but who's counting. Anyway, as you can see, I have internet so I will be on now and again. Bad thing is it's slower than dial-up and I don't have my own line yet.

Later.

I'm still alive

... Yes, it's true. I'm still alive and kicking. Sorry I haven't posted in a while, but this vacation stuff is hard work. I haven't been around a computer much and playing golf in the sun all day really tires me out. My face hurts pretty bad too because I haven't smiled this much in years. I'm not sure when (or if) I'll be able to post more regularly, but I'll try to at least check-in on occassion.