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G-Man's Boring Lawyer Blog
May 24th 2007, 05:31 CEST by Gabe I'm kind of curious. |
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Topic: G-Man's Boring Lawyer Blog
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Part IX, where we begin the long trek home We were woken up at 6:30 and finished our packing. Our plan was to pack as much as possible into our suitcases to lighten our carryon luggage, only planning to lug the electronic, souvenirs, toiletries and a change of clothes. We saw monkeys outside near the pool so we took some pictures of them. We left the room and a couple of porters were waiting to take our bags to the lobby. I didn’t have enough singles to tip them, so unfortunately I had to give one of the porters a tip in local currency. We got to breakfast and enjoyed the buffet. Onesmo is too busy to say goodbye, but we wave to him as we exited. We got to the checkout to settle the bill and it was a lot higher than I had expected. Unlike the other lodges, drinks were not included here. I had thought that I saw a note in our itinerary that meant mixed drinks, but bill was for all drinks, including bottled water. I made a small stink about it, but should not have bothered as the whole bill was a little under $100. I did get them to take off a few bottles of water that we had at dinner, though when we left they stopped the jeep on the way out to collect the cost of them since they must have called the home office to verify. We left the park and while our top was opened, we didn’t see anything that warranted stopping. We pass the same ramshackle souvenir huts that we saw on the way in and turn on to the highway. The road is tarmac but uneven. There are a lot of kids walking home from school, but when we see them we don’t see the school or their homes. At one point Firoz saw a small lizard crossing the road. We stopped to look at it, there wasn’t any traffic, and take a picture of it. It was a chameleon. It would be the last wildlife that we would stop to look at. Along the way we pass the largest army base in Tanzania. Photographing it was prohibited so we didn’t take any pictures, but there wasn’t anything to see. All you could see from the road was the barbed wire fence, a couple of white buildings and a soccer pitch. We stop at a large souvenir shop on the road to Arusha. The store was overflowing with wood carving and various knick knacks. We had a shopping list of things to get for people and went about filling it. We had a sales person shadow us, but there was no hard sell or pressure to buy anything. For myself I got a rock that came from the area to keep near my desk. We were able to negotiate with them even though they the sticker on the items said "fixed price" for everything. We weren’t able to get everything on our list and so we asked Firoz to take us to the cultural center in Arusha. The cultural center felt like a rip-off joint when we first went there, but it had the best selection and quality of souvenirs of all the places we visited. Going back to the cultural center we took pictures of the tribal dancer and musicians out front. That felt cheesy. Inside we found some items that we wanted, most importantly the painting that my wife fell in love with, but the staff said they couldn’t negotiate the price down. The staff wasn’t budging, but the owner came by and gave the OK to cut some 15% off the price of the items we had, so we took that and ran. Outside we got our picture taken with Firoz and went back to the coffee lodge. We were excited to be going there for lunch because we knew that it meant that we wouldn’t have five star dining. Imagine our horror when they gave us a menu for a four course meal. We had already know what we wanted, so we asked the server if they could bring us a pizza and a hamburger since it was what we were so looking forward too. They said OK and it wouldn’t be a problem, but they still brought out the soup and salad courses. The only problem with the lunch was a house cat that was pestering us. We had to ask the staff to shoo it. The pizza and hamburger were awesome. With lunch I had my last two 0.5L of Kilimanjaro lager (like I may have said before, good there but not worth the trouble to lug home). The Ranger Safari rep that met with us on our first day, Mr. Evans, met with us again to find out how everything went. We said how great it was and everything exceeded our expectations, but did follow it up with the problems we had at the Ngorongoro Sopa. After lunch we left and met Firoz back at the jeep to go to the airport. We had to go to the Ranger Safari compound to get gas and from there we had a little time for a driving tour of Arusha to get pictures and video, but no time to stop. One the way to the Ranger Safari compound we drove through the poorest of the poor sections of Arusha. We turned down a side street to by pass traffic, only it was a dirt patch that not even the worst of the Serengeti could hold a candle too. I would never have thought that it was a road. We get the gas and left, driving though to the center of Arusha. We pass the sights we saw before but now with our video and camera equipment. I get some video of the clock tower and the surrounding city, but the landcruiser was too bouncy to get any good pictures since we couldn’t stop. We were not allowed the shoot video of the police stations or the UN Court building, but I probably could have gotten away with it. We passed the hospital that the Chinese are helping to build only to see how rudimentary their construction techniques are. To weld pipes together they had to hold them over an open flame. It was all manual work and there was no evidence of power tools. We leave the city center and go on our way to the airport. This was the beginning of the long slog home. For whatever reason the travel agent couldn’t book the reverse of how we got to TZ and so we had to take a different route. We had a 3:30 plane to catch at Kilimanjaro that would take us to Nairobi. That was an hour flight on an ATR-42. Once there we had a 6 hour layover for the flight back to Amsterdam. Then we had a 9 hour flight that landed at Schiphol at 5:30 in the morning. At Amsterdam we had an 8 hour layover before continuing on the 7 hour flight back home. From the time we left the coffee lodge to the time we were due to get back to my folks house in NY our transit time would be almost 33 hours. Needless to say I wasn’t looking forward to this part of the trip. We had planned to spend a couple of nights in Amsterdam on the way home but canceled that since my wife went back to school and wanted to use the weekend to catch up on missed work. Regardless, I would have been to tired/crabby to really enjoy Amsterdam so I think that it worked out for the best. In addition the flight going there was so easy that I felt like we could go there, cost not withstanding, anytime. We arrived at the airport an hour or so after leaving the coffee lodge. We said our goodbyes to Firoz and gave him his tip. He got a cart for us and was gone. We made our way through the first layer of security and went to the Precision Air check in counter. They asked if we wanted to check in our bags through to JFK, and despite our issues with lost luggage on the way in, we threw caution to the wind and did it because we didn’t want to lug extra crap around. We had a little over an hour to wait for the flight and spent part of that time in the small duty free shop getting a couple of last minute souvenir books for the kids. We lined up early for boarding so we were among the first through which allowed us to pick our seats on the plane. You board the airplane at the rear so we got seats in the back to be the first ones off. The flight was uneventful, which is always good, but the cloud cover meant that we didn’t see anything in either Tanzania or Kenya. It was our final chance to see Mt. Kilimanjaro which was now over. We were able to glimpse a little bit of Nairobi through the clouds but only enough to see that it was a real city and not a shanty town like Arusha. Disembarking in Nairobi we made our way to the layover lounge for KLM passengers. It reminded me of a bus terminal. The chairs were basic and there were a few tables for people to sit at. There was a coffee counter where you could purchase snacks and drinks. It was a mind numbing wait as I hadn’t packed anything to read. The hours dragged on until it was two hours until departure time. They had posted the gate so we decided to take a walk there. After browsing the duty free shops and not getting anything we go through security for our gate. The line was short and we were able to get through quickly. We sat at a couple of seats that allowed us to watch security as people came in. The line grew and security moved slower than molasses. We passed through fine, but for some reason they started to frisk everyone that went through. It was so slow that we though it would delay the flight. It became an annoyance watching at how slow it moved. It was even more frustrating to watch people that exited the waiting area to use the bathroom and have to pass through security again. The annoyance was tempered by some of the characters that passed thorough. One mother wasn’t giving her child any supervision and this boy, he had to be about three, was racing his toy motorcycle on the x-ray machines belt getting in the way of people. At one point he tried to climb up and ride his motorcycle through the tunnel. Thankfully someone, not his mother, stopped him before he got a few rads of exposure. It wasn’t long before the schedule departure time when we saw the flight crew pass through security. Ugh. During the flight they said a traffic jam outside the airport delayed their arrival. Anyway, about a half hour or so after we were supposed to leave they started loading us on board a 747 to take us Amsterdam. This was our fifth flight on this trip and the fifth different airplane that we would fly. Our seats were next to the staircase for the first class/business class passengers which meant that we were close to the door. However, the row was tight. This airplane most felt like a cattle car and it did not help when some bitchy Dutch woman sat between us (remember the ticketing agent put us in seats A and C with a seat between us). We refused to separate and let her choose to sit in near the window or the aisle, so she chose the aisle. Regardless she got the flight attendant to come over anyway. We only had to deal with her for a short while, thankfully, as after we took off she moved somewhere else. The extra space would make the long flight a little more palatable. The 747 didn’t have personal monitors in it and so we were stuck watching whatever was being shown in the cabin. It was a night flight so some shut eye (only a little) helped pass the time but it was torture until we landed. We flew over Cairo according to the in-flight map (that was lucky enough to be on at the time between shows) but due to the early morning all we saw were lights. The flight landed on time at 5:30, either due to a strong tail wind or they threw more oil through the engines, so we moved on to our biggest layover on the trip back. The handy guide to Schiphol airport the travel agent gave us let us know that there was a hotel in the airport for people that would have a lengthy layover. We made our way hoping to be able to get a day room where we could shower, change and rest up for a bit. Arriving at the counter for the hotel we met a frosty bitch that told us day rooms would be available at 10AM. I asked for clarification because there was a sign out front that said for an extra fee a day room could be available sooner, at 6AM; however this ice queen repeated her earlier statement that they would be available at 10AM instead of saying that none were available. We moved on to plan B which involved us renting a pair of shower stalls so we could refresh ourselves and change our clothes. After only killing a half hour or so we decided to find one of those communication centers that had scattered through the airport to log in and see what happened in the world the past 14 days. At this point our interactions with the Dutch turned around. I met a chap that was much more amicable than the two queens I had to deal with and got two 1 hour internet cards. We surfed for a half our or so before decided to get something to eat. The food on KLM is OK at first, but grew long in the tooth. We found a pub/café called Café Amsterdam upstairs near a McDonald's and went in there to hang out. It was around 8AM, but I was drinking a 0.5L mug of Heineken. You have to love international airports. The people here were a lot nicer than the others we had to deal with which was good. I wanted to try something Dutch for the short time while we were there. I didn’t want herring (I don’t even know if it was available) so I tried the croquettes. They were good, and I would get them again, but I wonder how they compare to ones you could get in the city. I had no idea what they were when I ordered them, and I still don’t, but I would describe it as chicken/turkey stuffing in a crusted ball that was deep fried. I had another 0.5L of beer (woohoo! 1L before 9AM!) before we left at around 9:30 or so. We wandered around and went to the duty free shops to get some things. I got some Bombay Sapphire and some nice chocolates. We went back to the internet center and finish up our time when my wife wanted to get a massage. We went to the massage center near the museum and she got a massage. I had passed on getting one and waited. The gate we were departing from was posted so we went there and waited. The plane wasn’t there and it was getting crowded. Eventually the plane was brought to the gate and they start passing people through security, but it was a mess. Security at Schiphol in general is a mess. They need to get there act together there. Crowded security can only mean a full flight. I was happy to see that the airplane was a 777 because that meant we would have our own on demand TV’s which would help pass the time. As luck would have it, again, when we boarded there was someone in the middle seat for our row. Never again will we allow a TA to do that. 3 of the 4 flights had someone between us that we had to negotiate with to move around. He moved to the aisle seat and I took the window. As my luck would have it the video screen for my seat didn’t work. I would have to spend 7 hours looking out the window. Ugh. Halfway through the flight my wife and I switched seats, but her screen barely worked and I had a tough time seeing that. It didn’t help the situation that we were behind a couple that put their seats all the way back as soon as they could. I don’t understand people like that. It’s not like that’s going to make the flight any more pleasant. I hate people like that. The flight back was longer than going because of the headwind. The pilot said we were lucky because it was going to be a bit shorter than normal, but I didn’t think so. We finally land and have to deal with customs and immigration. I read an article in the paper before leaving that said people had to wait up to 90 minutes. The immigration line moved quickly and we were through there in a few minutes. We then went to pick up our luggage. We were through immigration so fast that the carousel wasn’t moving yet and had to wait. When it finally stated two of our three pieces of luggage came off the ramp quickly but the third was MAI. Thoughts of lost luggage flashed in my head again, but I took the two bags and our carryon to wait on the customs line while my wife waited for the third. I got to the front to the line and had to wave a few people by me when my wife arrived with the third piece. After a cursory talk we were waved through. My folks were out picking up their new car and weren’t at home when I called. They had expected us to take longer through customs so we had to wait 20 minutes for them to arrive. They picked us up and we got to their house at around 5:00 and were finally glad to be ‘home’ after that long trip. We ate dinner and passed out by 8PM. Despite the long haul home the trip was worth everything. It was the best vacation I had ever been on and can only hope that futures ones will be half as fun and exciting. The trip was a lot better than our honeymoon to Tahiti. The only thing that I would change about the trip would be to stay at lodges other than the Sopa chain. It’s sad to think that it’s been two months since we left and it’s only a memory now. I would love to go back. <Hugin_len> Basically, cheesy doesn't have awful taste in music, he's simply very white.
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Part X, the pudding. You ate the meat, and now you can have the pudding. Here are the pictures and videos. Apologies for any video qualities, I think the cameraman was drunk. Here are a few of my faves from the lot that I posted online. Cute stuff: Baby elephant, still Baby hippo, still Baby elephant, video: Baby elephant nursing, video Baby Baboon, video Cool Stuff: Cheetah hunt, video: Leopard walking by us, video: Elephant knocking down a tree, video One of my favorite pictures Would you like to buy a monkey? My wife took most of the pictures. We used a Panasonic FZ8. I shot the video using a Canon ZR200 camcorder. The 20x* zoom on the camcorder was really good to have in the bush. The camera had a 12x zoom, but more is better. I think a 20x zoom would be optimal for stills. Using a plain old point and shoot camera with an 8x optical zoom is pure folly. I think we got a lot of good pictures and video. We need more practice with the cameras though, as some of the shots/video could have been really awesome but we messed it up a little bit. I wish the video of the cheetah was better, but such is life. * I’ll let the photo nerds figure out what that is in MM. <Hugin_len> Basically, cheesy doesn't have awful taste in music, he's simply very white.
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Terrible. Needs more filter lenses and...um...depth of field? Something like that. Lady, people aren't chocolates. But you know what they are, mostly? Bastards. Bastard-coated bastards with bastard filling.
Blog. 203 lbs. 23 to go. |
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Cheesy, Well done! I really enjoyed reading your russian novel of a travel blog. |
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Okay. Now write it again, this time with you and your wife as Hunter S. Thompson and his lawyer. |
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Ha ha, I didn't read any of your blog posts but I still looked at the videos and pictures. All pudding, no meat. "Games are not novels, and the ways in which they harbor novelistic aspirations are invariably the least interesting thing about them." - Steven Johnson
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We had a little over an hour to wait for the flight and spent part of that time in the small duty free shop getting a couple of last minute souvenir books for the kids. Say what, motherfucker? |
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Well done! I really enjoyed reading your russian novel of a travel blog. Glad that you enjoyed it. I think only you, jj, and G-man read it. We had a little over an hour to wait for the flight and spent part of that time in the small duty free shop getting a couple of last minute souvenir books for the kids. Say what, motherfucker? Haha, that's the nephews, not us. <Hugin_len> Basically, cheesy doesn't have awful taste in music, he's simply very white.
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I tried to read it, but there's just so much chaff in there. Maybe if someone presents just the wheat for me, I'll read the whole thing. Lady, people aren't chocolates. But you know what they are, mostly? Bastards. Bastard-coated bastards with bastard filling.
Blog. 203 lbs. 23 to go. |
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Paging Dumdeedum. Dumdeedum to the Blog thread. |
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I think only you, jj, and G-man read it. And Ergo! <Hugin_len> Basically, cheesy doesn't have awful taste in music, he's simply very white.
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I skimmed it them, reading paragraphs that stood out. The Mama thing was odd, the cheetah experience was cool and whole not wanting to eat good food thing is funny. My intelligence, then, is not absolute but is a function of the society I live in
"I'm not sure it's possible to make a "subtle" jab at Matt's writing ability." - Ergo |
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Yeah, I read every word. And actually, I plan on cutting and pasting the whole thing plus your original itinerary posts to show the girlfriend re: potential vacation plans. |
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Word tells me that my blog posts add up to 29,944 words, not including the picture and video post which I don't feel the need to save. <Hugin_len> Basically, cheesy doesn't have awful taste in music, he's simply very white.
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Man, that's a lot. GG Cheesy. |
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I read them all Cheesy, every word. Good stuff. Zep-- Save the cheerleader ... Save the world.
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Hell yeah I read it. Chances are slim I'll ever get to Africa, this firsthand account was amazing. And the videos with baby elephants are adorable. It's so cute how they follow along touching the mom with their trunk every few steps like they're making sure she's still there. Great posts, great photos and great video. So how did you remember all of this in such detail, where you keeping a journal along the way or something? |
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Paging Dumdeedum. Dumdeedum to the Blog thread. I only read the first two or three, then I missed one and never caught up. However, if someone links them all in order then I might go back and read it all... and assuming I finish reading before the sun dies then I might do a gisting for everyone. MP3 Of The Week: should I just put this thing out of its misery?
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It's always been easy for me to remember loads of details regarding vacations, particularly vacations abroad. The whole excitement of being in a foreign place, different languages, food and so forth kind of etches the experience into your brain. You never see animals going through the absurd and often horrible fooleries of magic and religions. Only man behaves with such gratuitous folly. It is the price he has to pay for being intelligent but not, as yet, intelligent enough. --Aldous Huxley
DVDs |
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The whole excitement of being in a foreign place, different languages, food and so forth kind of etches the experience into your brain. Hmm, must be why I can barely remember anything about Australia. |
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Someone link them all together in one post please. PLEASE. "Why would I wanna read the book? All I'm saying is, I see a game every day. I watch baseball every day. I have a better understanding about why things happen than the computer, because the computer only tells you what you put in it. I could make that computer say what I wanted it to say, if I put the right things in there. ... The computer is only as good as what you put in it. How do you think we got Enron?"
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Aw. I was gonna be a smartass and link the entire thread as one page, but it seems morn never fixed the issue with that. "Games are not novels, and the ways in which they harbor novelistic aspirations are invariably the least interesting thing about them." - Steven Johnson
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I'm not going to post the whole thing as a single mega-post as that would be insane and would probably irreversibly break PC. The whole thing is over 50 pages single-spaced in Word. So here are permalinks to each individual post. Itinerary Part I Part II Part III Part IV Part V Part VI Part VII Part VII Part IX Part X And here is the whole thing in Word. |
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You're so helpful. Where's the thanksgman.com domain? "Games are not novels, and the ways in which they harbor novelistic aspirations are invariably the least interesting thing about them." - Steven Johnson
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I think you'll have to settle for this. |
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Boobs in the fourth image. Well done. "Games are not novels, and the ways in which they harbor novelistic aspirations are invariably the least interesting thing about them." - Steven Johnson
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Truly, the phrase "TITS OR GTFO" was never more appropriate. |
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I read them all Cheesy, every word. Good stuff. Thanks. Great posts, great photos and great video. Thanks. So how did you remember all of this in such detail, where you keeping a journal along the way or something? I remembered a lot of it, but mostly forgot the time lines of the little stuff. Thankfully we had over 700 pictures and 3 hours of video to help me remember the order in which things happened. I had hoped to keep a journal, but I never did. Our safari company did send us a safari book with pages for a journal so the opportunity was there. The book did have a check list for animals, reptiles, trees and birds that was helpful. I didn't start checking the birds off until after a couple of days. <Hugin_len> Basically, cheesy doesn't have awful taste in music, he's simply very white.
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Also, take that McGrew! <Hugin_len> Basically, cheesy doesn't have awful taste in music, he's simply very white.
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