Cupboard

We are starting to get some where in our house. To-day they delivered a cupboard that we ordered yesterday. I am so happy with it.

So to-night I started to fill it with all sorts. They also put scurting boards in the lounge and dining room area so thing are on the move....

back Home

I arrived back thursday morning at about 11.15. Went straight to BED and slept till 14.00

Then off to pick up the boys from school. PLEASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSE mom can we have friends over to play? Of course my angels if that makes you happy..... So fulled up the car with as many kids as possible and the rest came in a second car and off we went. They had a BALL outside building a house etc. very cute.

And then after everyone was gone, Riley tried on his Arabian outfit....... (so cute)

DUST

Well I never thought I would say this but they have WAY more dust here then I have in my house!!! And that is saying something. Everywhere you look they are building something.

After the training I took a short walk around the block and it's just building everywhere.

The hotel is about 5 min from the Harbour.

Of the 3 places I have just been I think I like Oman the most.

Business Friendly Bahrain

Well I was up around 3.15 this morning and considering the fact the I was "finished"cos I only managed to fall asleep round 00.30...........

Imagine my surprise and delight to find out that they had made a mistake so I was not in economy but in first class!

Well okay that makes up for the early morning.... so off I go to Doha, a flight of and hour and 20 min. Get there and am taken in a special "first class' bus huge posh chairs and carpets....

PLUS a terminal only for first class and business class passengers.

I went to the loo there and could not beleive my eyes!!! A jacuzzi, a sauna, "bed"rooms and a shower! WOW. could seriously get used to this life style ;-)

The plane was delayed so I sat in the lounge for ever waiting...... Finally we could go, we took off and were in the air, I unbuckeld went to the loo and the go back to your seat sign came up. I figured turbulance. Then the captains voice cabin crew please prepare for landing. WHAT already????? the was the shortest international flight I have ever been on, and they even tried to serve food!!!!

Landed looked for the dude that was supposed to pick me up. COuldn't find him so went to a counter where they looked for him and found him, but he also had to pick up others so I had to wait again....... finally at 12 I was at my hotel. yes I travelled for 8 hours and the a direct flight would have been 3 and a half hours of traveling

I am in a 5 star hotel but I think the people that work here don't know that;-)

Bahrain is FULL compare to Muscat, and it all big buildings I just don't have the energy to go out ....... maybe after my training tomorrow

soooooooooooooooooooooooo here is the view from my hotel window

Oman

Well to-day was my last day in Oman, tomorrow morning early (4am I need to go to the airpoort) so after the training, I dropped off my stuff at the hotel and went to the bazaar.

It was cool just walking around they have some stunning roof top's. I was taking some photo's of it and got talking to one of the local's. Nice guy. He told me that there were 85 glass windows in the roof and that it took them the longest to make. He was saying there are mountains about 3 hours from here and while it is now 45 degree here now it would be about 17 in the mountains.

hmmmmmmm He had a spice stall (actually his dad's) had been in the family for generations. He had a chilli spice mix (really good) and a thyme mix. He showed me how to prepare the thyme mix for meat or fish, warm it in your hand and then add to food, or oil really cool. I could also use it to make tea. Supposed to relax you.... I will test it when I get home ;-)

Now I will pack and get ready for the next training.......

Laters

some shots from Muscat

I arrived here on saturday morning. After a sleep I went to see the Saltan's palace. I never knew but Oman is the harbour where Sinbad, came from.

The palace is surrounded by 4 gates. Really pretty....After that I went to the bazar, where I bought some beautiful little bottle of parfume. The make / have all sorts here.

Then to bed. To-day I went to the office to make sure that the connection and beamer was working. Loaded the sim player on to the laptops.

Here they close everything between 12 and 16.30 and then open from 16.30 to about 22.30.

So when I finished at 16 everything was just opening ;- )

So I took a walk along the beach, then had a coffee at Starbucks

A taxi to the Grand Moskee (where I couldn't go in but I have the photo's from outside)

Then the drive talked me into going to muscat center. I figured yeah you know what why not, I have time and it would be nice to take some nice photo's of the city centrum........

So off we go. Here we are madam.........

(I thinking...... so where are the buildings, the bazaar????) So I ask. Center ? Yes big shopping mall is the center...... OKAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Not what i was expecting or wanted but ok maybe it won't be too bad.

Picture Amstelveen mall but then bigger and Arabs walking around.....

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm no not to-day!

Walk back to the taxi ( he would wait for me) I had left a Starbuck mug in the car, cos Caroline saves them. I didn't feel like taking it in. Deal we waits and I will come back. He give his cell number so that I can call him. An hour later I have really had enough of Zara, Sunglasses hut etc. So I head back to the taxi. He was not there...... I phone get the message that his phone is switched off! hmmmm okay walk around and look to see if i could find him. Nope, 15 min later I phone again Still switched off! Hmmmmmmmmm wait another 5 min. okay the is not cooooooooooooool. I am hungry and tired and I want to go back to my hotel. 1 more call. NO LUCK. so i wrote him a note and took another cab. Caroline i hope I get your mug back, but if I don't I'm sorry!!!!!!

Tomorrow I teach again. but for now here are some images of Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

and Then there was Oman!

Well what a difference, I didn't see beggers on the street. in the bazaar, they were asking you to come in a buy but not at ALL like in Mumbai.

here are two view's from my hotel room. One is Muscat and one is Mumbai

photo's and more

Oh my goodness, what a nightmare to get out of India. Internet check in Never heard of it!!!!!!

1 hours drive to the airport, and then in the que to get you luggage that is going in cargo scanned. I know why....... The other day they found a person in a suitcase! Seriously..... he has been smuggled to some where it was in Hindi so i couldn't follow but you saw them taking him out of the suitcase and he was weak etc. So after that again in the que to check in. Then in the que to go through immigration (I understand why you need to be there at least 2 hours in advance.) I did not have to take my laptop out of the bag, and men go one side women otherside (less women so that went reasonably quickly.) Then a new row for the passpoort check. On the tags of my bag I got a stamp, 2twice one at each place and in my passpoort..... Then FINALLY through and wait for the plane. Advantage was I didn't have to wait too long. We were half an hour late.

The plane was PACKED and te smell welllllllllllll Luckily it was only 2 and 1/2 hour flight.

Arrived in Oman, okay lets get the visa. Madam that will be 6 rial, okay can I pay with credit card I don't have any cash. Sure no problem. Visa .... in the machine hmmmmm NOPE dosn't work, and now???? Can I pin somewhere? Yes after passport control. hahahahahaha......

Well Jos always laughs at me cos I keep secret stashes of cash (hiden in pocket etc) I had already used the stash I had for India cos there they didn't have a ATM at the airpoort either;-( So I start to go through all my pockets etc and YES I have 15 euro's still. That is enough! YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH. So visa in hand I can go through. THe taxi is waiting and luckily already paid for by APM so that helps.

Walked outside and the HEAT hit me! WOW now this is HOT. I was still in Indian mode so imagen my surprise at the fact the all the roads are paved and there are BEAUTIFUL lamp posts, and buildings, no shacks along the road. Totally opposite!

Got to the hotel (expecting less extravagance then in India, cos the Hotel in India was REALLY upperclass) I was wrong. Huge rooms stunning view and QUIET! I didn't think I would have missed the quiet as much as I had. When they drive here the don't hoot! there is no need there is enough space and they all have stunning cars. After talking to Jos and the boys, I went for a walk along the beach. Had lunch next to the pool (under the umbrella) then went to ask the reception where the "good" spots were. They said that everything would be closed till 16.30. Hmmmmmm

Okay that was my excuse. I went back to my room and slept till 16.15. Guess i really needed it.

Once I woke up I took a cab to the palace and the surrounding fort, took some picture and then went to the BAzaar. WOW now I kinda wish I had come here before going to India! They have loads of shawls (cheaper) and lots of other fun stuff. I got the boys Oman football shirts.

Then took the cab back to the hotel. Just had a lovely dinner. They do not worship cows here so I could have a STEAK, with veggies.YUM. I love curry but after a week of only curry I enjoyed the "normal"food again.

Now I will look for some photo's to post.

last photo's of India

Well this morning (actually in the middle of the night) I left India to fly to Oman.

Culture SHOCK I would say YES!!!!!!

Here are some photo's of India that I took last night, and guess who asked me for some rice and milk for her baby for the 3rd time....... And yes i have a photoof her and her "son" only I would say it's a daughter ;-) But son was beter for her at the time cos...... I have 2 boys......

This is taking longer then I though so sorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyy but the sun is shining and I am only here for a few days so i am going to see what Oman has ;-)

I will tell stories and post photo's to-night.

And it is so quite here!!!! I do not hear any hooting!!!! Which btw was really starting to drive me CRAZY. Even tho in the beginning I found it charming...... I gues you can only take so much noise in 1 week ;-)

last day India

I only had 3 people in my class to-day and we started at 8am, so we were finished on time.

After a tour around the terminal, which was totally cool cos I got to try the simulator. I had to pick up a container from the ship and move it to the lorry waiting for it. They gave me wind, they gave me fog, rain and a fire on board but that didn't stop me ;-) I put the container safely where it was meant to be....... Ahhhhh another one of my hiden talents I could be a crane operator........

After that I took the ferry back to shore instead of the speed boat cos other wise I would have to wait for about 2 hours, so together with the students we took the ferry. It was nice and relaxing.

Every morning the circumstances of getting on to the boat have been a bit of a challenge........ The first day was easy, step/jump from the steps to the boat. Second day first on to a ferry and from there on to the boat. Third day cross 2 ferry boats first then on to the boat...... who see where this is heading...... Fourth day..... YES 2 ferry boat. SO this morning I figured hey 4???? But no we were back to 2. So when the ferry arrived back this afternoon, who can image my smile when yes....... I had to cross 4 ferry boats to get to the other side ;-)

I had time to walk around a bit and take some photo's. On they way I was asked by a few of the ladies for noooo not money but food...... hmmmmm I done that one before ;-) Not to day sorry.

Then a guy who wanted to know if I wanted to play in a Bollywood movie cos they needed european actors HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA yeah right. He decided to walk with me (not a bad thing cos that meant the ladies tried to find another victum) Then we bumped into my friend Dilip (the tea and spices guy) he is going to organise a taxi for me tomorrow morning.

I carry on walking all the while with the Bollywood "producer"hot on my heals. So what are you going to do to-night he asks. I am going to pack and do some work ( I have noticed they respect that and let you then it on with it. I am not working to-night I have had enough of work for one week....... tomorrow is another day )

Almost at the Taj (my hotel) and he asks if I want a massage. YEAH RIGHT I DONT THINK SO. he could do more...... hmmmmmm SERIOUSLY NO!!!!! Finially he decides he is got going to get any where ( and I think he see the cops and decides to go find his next victum)

I am finally left alone to take photo's. I have load to upload so they will come soon..... I shot my photo's in raw. so i need to convert them first

More from India

Well 2 down 3 to go! Tomorrow I have my last training and India and then saturday morning at 6.45 I fly to Muscat. So that means I have to leave my hotel at around 3.30.... hmmmmmmmmmmmmm not so cool.

Today I walked around the area of the Hotel some more after I got back from the Training.

Bumped in to the giys who organised my sight seeing tour. Hello madame how are you? I have not seen you.. hahaha that he still remembers ;-)

I also bought the coolest gift for Jasmijn it is sooooooooo cute, a little sari!!! Now this is the only time I wish a had a girl ;-)

Isn't it Ironic

That you can trust people you think you can't and can't trust people that you think you can?

I have in my possession 2 kilo's of Indian Tea and 2 kilo's of masala spices;-) (okay ik cost me but I have it;-))

Second day of training is done. A really nice group of people. They are quite demanding, which is good and need a different approach then in Holland for etc. They want to know step by step what to do and do not have the need to understand why they are doing it. Just show me .......

I have had a tour of the terminals, seen the cranes up close (very impressive) and been in the crane simulator. They use this to train the crane operators so that they dont cause damage when first on the job a very cool set up. I will write more tomorrow.

Bombay

Greetings from a HOT HOT India

This morning I did some sight seeing. A personal taxi around bombay. The guide was very interesting, giving me all sorts of information. 75000 black and yellow taxi's in Bombay.

35000 buses. That are very good. The train station is an exact replica of Victoria Station in London. Went to the university. At some point he asked where I was from, so I said I live in Holland. AHhhhhhhhhhhhhhh the red light district. How funny is that this guy has proberly never been to holland but knows all about the red light district.

We went to the laundry spot where hundreds of people are working do the laundry, costs 20 rupee per dress to get cleaned. That is 0,31 euro cents. The hotels all send the stuff there, a shirt that you need cleaned at the hotel costs 295 rupee that is 4,69. Now that's what I call a profit.

Went in to Ghani's house. I quess it's like the Anne Frank House, you expect to relive the book or movie when you walk in but you don't, it is very different to what you expect it to be.

The guide also took me the the hanging garden, Stunning gardens with beautiful flowers and trees, they have bushes cut in the shape of a giraffe and elephant. Under it is a hude resivoir of water and the there is a tower where passhe (no idea how I have to spell that) hange their dead. They leave the dead for the vultures to eat, once all the meat has been pecked off the bones the bones are then ground and thrown into the sea. How gross is that? They also apprantely never never never marry and how childeren outside of their own families so brothers and sisters etc marry and have kids. hmmmmmmmmmmmmm I don't think so. No offence sando, I think your a hottie and all but euwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I don't think so!!!!!!

Well my door bell just rang and yes my laundry has just come back, in a basket with a rose on top of it. The shirts is presses and folded around cardboard like it has just come from a shop.

Seriously for 31 cents????? maybe that where the big mark up comes from ;-)

Then to a shop yesssssss they try to sell you everything. No thank you is a sentence they don't quite get. So what''s a girl going to do right? so okay then yes I will buy the Sari I don't need but have the most amazing colors and yes I will buy the scarfs that I don't need but that are pure cashmere whatever and look amazing, and yes i will buy the singing bowl for my sons, 1 no 2 okay then two. How much did you say that was? 35 000 rupee hmmmmmmm that's like 557 euro. i don't think so but thanks anyway. bye. wait yessssssss what you want to pay? Nothing I don't need these things. But madame we give you a good price. blah blah blah and so it goes on until I say. Give me a mintue and I call Jos. (yes I need premission from my husband to spend money, only ion India do they believe this ;-0) So hang up and say i am so sorry but my husband said no. Long story short, I left the store with goods I don't really need for the low low price of 75 euros. Who said i can't get the best deal.

Walking around I got a flower bangle from a woman carring her 1 year old son, who was sleeping in her arms. i thanked her a nicely as I could and said no thank you. But it was on my arm before the SHORT sentence was finished...... so i wanted to then give her some cash. Nooooooo she was not allowed to take that cos she was a begger. (hmmmmmm I not sure she understands the word begger.....) No instead she wanted milk and rice for her son. See now that is something I am sensitive 2. Food and milk for a kid seriously how can you say no. So off to the shop it is. ( I am sure the shop ripped me off but ok,.,,,,,,) She got her milk and rice correction, 2 rice, 2 milk and some oil. I don't mind doing that it's the giving of money and not knowing where it is going thta gets me. SO I am happy I fed a lady and her kid for the next week or 2 for the price of 25 euro's.

Okay enough blah blah blah for now. I will let you all in on my adventures tomorrow.

But before I leave you, what do you think the chances are that people in India can be trusted?

We will find out tomorrow, because I gave my tour guide money to go to the market and get me some good spices and some tea. He will deliver it to my hotel for me tomorrow. I only thought later hmmmmmm I am very trusting here I give a guy I don't know 20 euros to buy me spices and tea. He earns +/- 100 dollars a month I am guess 20 euros will go a long way for him. So he can do 2 things take the money and run. It's not like I know where I can find him or even that I will hunt him down for it, or he can buy the spices and bring them to the hotel. I will let you know ;-)