In about 15 minutes we will be off for our liveaboard. I think we have everything...I am bit nervous about sleeping on a boat, but I am sure I can take seasickness pills if it's a problem. I also hope that they have internet available on-board. Everything here seems to be connected...so I hope to give updates on board. If not, you will hear from me in 7 days.
I found out on board our snorkeling trip that there is a shark feeding one night on the trip. My husband had been keeping that to himself so that I didn't freak out...I don't think I will be doing that, but I am sure he will take the camera along with him.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Daintree rainforest
We are in the Daintree Rainforest outside of Cairns today. We head back in the early evening to Cairns to spend the night and leave tomorrow for our 7 day liveaboard for diving.
Yesterday we went out on a boat called the rum runner to do some snorkelling on the inner reef of the Great Barrier Reef. We were the only boat out snorkelling so the group of 45 of us had the whole area to ourselves. We didn't take the underwater case for the camera, but we wish we had. We saw some of the largest clams I've ever seen...about the size of a two year old.
Last night, we went for an early dinner so my husband could go out on a night walk through the rainforest. I just took it easy at our hotel. I am not that hot on having wild animals approach me when I cannot see them.
This morning, we went tree surfing. I have included the link to the website, but I haven't figured out yet how to upload a video. I will give it a try tonight when we are back in Cairns.
One of the crew for the tree surfing mentioned a great look-out point to try along Cape Tribulation. When the water is still, he had seen turtles, dolphins, and even the rare whale. We didn't have that kind of luck, but it was still amazing and beautiful. I managed to work up a sweat during the walk though, and will sign off now so I can go for a swim in our hotel pool before we take the 1.5 hour shuttle back to Cairns.
Yesterday we went out on a boat called the rum runner to do some snorkelling on the inner reef of the Great Barrier Reef. We were the only boat out snorkelling so the group of 45 of us had the whole area to ourselves. We didn't take the underwater case for the camera, but we wish we had. We saw some of the largest clams I've ever seen...about the size of a two year old.
Last night, we went for an early dinner so my husband could go out on a night walk through the rainforest. I just took it easy at our hotel. I am not that hot on having wild animals approach me when I cannot see them.
This morning, we went tree surfing. I have included the link to the website, but I haven't figured out yet how to upload a video. I will give it a try tonight when we are back in Cairns.
One of the crew for the tree surfing mentioned a great look-out point to try along Cape Tribulation. When the water is still, he had seen turtles, dolphins, and even the rare whale. We didn't have that kind of luck, but it was still amazing and beautiful. I managed to work up a sweat during the walk though, and will sign off now so I can go for a swim in our hotel pool before we take the 1.5 hour shuttle back to Cairns.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
G'day
Hi All,
My apologies for not getting up a blog sooner and my apologies in advance for this being on the short side. I have been writing almost everyday, though, in a little notebook I take everywhere with me and will get to posting those soon. So far we have been camping for two nights in Kakadu and Litchfield National parks and seen our share of wallabees and swam in three waterfall pools. We have also seen Aboriginal art and crocodiles in their natural environs. So stay tuned.
We are in Cairns today. The strangest thing happened today. Some guy walked off with my bag at the luggage carousel. When his suitcase was the only one left, it was obvious by how similar the bags looked, that he had made a mistake. Thank God for Quantas' policy of getting passenger's contact details. Unfortunately, the guy did not realise his mistake until getting to someone's house 2-3 hours away from the airport. I ended up getting my bad at 5 pm after an 10.30 am arrival. I was really worried that my diving gear would walk off, but all was intact. I am now going to put some obnoxious ribbon or tag on it.
Tomorrow we are off for two nights to the Daintree Rainforest to stay in a hotel at the Cape Tribulation beach. We plan to walk in the water and do some snorkelling on Day 2 after taking a tour through the rainforest on Day 1. We may also do a tree line adventure with a zip line from as much as 60 meters above the ground or we may just relax on the beach.
We've picked up a bit of a stomach bug that is working it's way out today so we are headed to get Chinese take away and eat it in our apartment style room while we wait do laundry.
Cairns is smaller than we expected, but very tropical looking...think Hawaii. It's a dramatic difference from Darwin...think a tropical Milwaukee, WI a bit like Crocodile Dundee. Well, more later...my time is running out at the internet cafe.
My apologies for not getting up a blog sooner and my apologies in advance for this being on the short side. I have been writing almost everyday, though, in a little notebook I take everywhere with me and will get to posting those soon. So far we have been camping for two nights in Kakadu and Litchfield National parks and seen our share of wallabees and swam in three waterfall pools. We have also seen Aboriginal art and crocodiles in their natural environs. So stay tuned.
We are in Cairns today. The strangest thing happened today. Some guy walked off with my bag at the luggage carousel. When his suitcase was the only one left, it was obvious by how similar the bags looked, that he had made a mistake. Thank God for Quantas' policy of getting passenger's contact details. Unfortunately, the guy did not realise his mistake until getting to someone's house 2-3 hours away from the airport. I ended up getting my bad at 5 pm after an 10.30 am arrival. I was really worried that my diving gear would walk off, but all was intact. I am now going to put some obnoxious ribbon or tag on it.
Tomorrow we are off for two nights to the Daintree Rainforest to stay in a hotel at the Cape Tribulation beach. We plan to walk in the water and do some snorkelling on Day 2 after taking a tour through the rainforest on Day 1. We may also do a tree line adventure with a zip line from as much as 60 meters above the ground or we may just relax on the beach.
We've picked up a bit of a stomach bug that is working it's way out today so we are headed to get Chinese take away and eat it in our apartment style room while we wait do laundry.
Cairns is smaller than we expected, but very tropical looking...think Hawaii. It's a dramatic difference from Darwin...think a tropical Milwaukee, WI a bit like Crocodile Dundee. Well, more later...my time is running out at the internet cafe.
Friday, August 21, 2009
So many things
I am nearly packed. I am in the late night organizing phase right now where I try to sort my odds and ends into Ziploc bags. Am I the only one that does this? One bag for toiletries. Another for medicine. And a sandwich size bag for band-aids. Oh and there is the other small one with liquids for my carry on. We have a limit of 23 kilos for checked luggage and 7 kilos for a carry-on. I am not really worried about the carry-on except for the 20+ hours worth of reading material. I am already debating getting out my mother-of-all-luggage suitcase. I haven't used it since I moved all of my worldly possessions over here...just to give you an idea of how big it is.
We are taking most of our own diving equipment. A vest (bcd) and fins take up a lot of space. And there needs to be room free for souvenirs, of course. We'll see. I'd better get back to it.
UPDATE......
Yep, I had to go with the huge suitcase after all.
We are taking most of our own diving equipment. A vest (bcd) and fins take up a lot of space. And there needs to be room free for souvenirs, of course. We'll see. I'd better get back to it.
UPDATE......
Yep, I had to go with the huge suitcase after all.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Trying new things
This past weekend was a filled with new favorite things.
We went to visit friends on Saturday night to celebrate the wife's birthday. Our present to her was a chocolate liquer, Mozart Gold. It tasted like chocolate milk with rum...it was fantastic! It was probably also one of the things that triggered the biggest gallbladder attack I've experienced in a year, but...I recommend it highly.
I also received the Earth sandals I ordered on-line with the promise of working just as well for my back as my grandma styled MBT's, but with much more up-to-date styling. I ordered the Exer fit and the Cabo styles. I was able to wear both all day without back pain of any kind. The only issue I had is with needing to break them in. They gave me the worst blisters on the tops of my feet! I am still taking them with me. I'd rather wear band-aids on my feet than have a sore back.
Sunday night we went to see friends for dinner. They made us one of their favorite meals from home, Chinese fondue. That's not what they call it, of course, but that is the easiest way for me to describe it. We had a pan of boiling water with a divider in the middle. It was kept on a hot plate to keep the water boiling. One side had water and spring onions in it. The other had a spicier combination. We could choose from two dipping sauces - either a garlic and oil or a peanut butter based sauce. Then we took turns boiling pieces of fresh lamb or beef or fish balls (shredded fish shaped into a ball...dirty minds) or shrimp or tofu or bok choy or noodles. It was SO good! They really went all out for us. We ended the night by trying out Guitar Hero and the Wii dancing game. We're hooked - me on Guitar Hero and my husband on the dancing game. I know, we are nerds. That might just be our next big purchase.
Three new other things I tripped over on-line - two music artists: David Berkeley and Anjulie - and an author: Paul Theroux. Maybe you've already heard of them, but, if not, give them a try. Enjoy!
We went to visit friends on Saturday night to celebrate the wife's birthday. Our present to her was a chocolate liquer, Mozart Gold. It tasted like chocolate milk with rum...it was fantastic! It was probably also one of the things that triggered the biggest gallbladder attack I've experienced in a year, but...I recommend it highly.
I also received the Earth sandals I ordered on-line with the promise of working just as well for my back as my grandma styled MBT's, but with much more up-to-date styling. I ordered the Exer fit and the Cabo styles. I was able to wear both all day without back pain of any kind. The only issue I had is with needing to break them in. They gave me the worst blisters on the tops of my feet! I am still taking them with me. I'd rather wear band-aids on my feet than have a sore back.
Sunday night we went to see friends for dinner. They made us one of their favorite meals from home, Chinese fondue. That's not what they call it, of course, but that is the easiest way for me to describe it. We had a pan of boiling water with a divider in the middle. It was kept on a hot plate to keep the water boiling. One side had water and spring onions in it. The other had a spicier combination. We could choose from two dipping sauces - either a garlic and oil or a peanut butter based sauce. Then we took turns boiling pieces of fresh lamb or beef or fish balls (shredded fish shaped into a ball...dirty minds) or shrimp or tofu or bok choy or noodles. It was SO good! They really went all out for us. We ended the night by trying out Guitar Hero and the Wii dancing game. We're hooked - me on Guitar Hero and my husband on the dancing game. I know, we are nerds. That might just be our next big purchase.
Three new other things I tripped over on-line - two music artists: David Berkeley and Anjulie - and an author: Paul Theroux. Maybe you've already heard of them, but, if not, give them a try. Enjoy!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Happy Weekend
Happy weekend, everybody! I haven't been very active on my blog so I thought I'd post an update. Nothing earth shattering has happened, but, like most people I imagine, I have felt busy.
Last Tuesday, I finally earned my deep diving SCUBA certification in a pond just outside Amsterdam. It has been in the making since March. It's great to get that under my belt before Australia because I will need it for diving on the Great Barrier Reef. The most complicated bit is learning how to release a balloon while you are diving that will buoy on the surface as a sign to other boats that you are below and a sign to your diving boat where to come get you. The first try wasn't great since I seem to be mechanically inept, but the second try was near perfect. It was nice to also hang out with our dive club who tried their hardest to explain inflating the balloon in the least sexual way possible, but still managed to laugh like school girls and make dirty comments in Dutch. They are all really great guys from literally all walks of life and it is little wonder why my husbands loves diving with them as much as twice a week.
We bought a new entertainment center for the living room. It was on sale for 50% off and we found out when putting in the dvd player that it was just shallow enough to not allow us to close the cupboard doors so we now need to buy a new, smaller dvd player. The drawers are also about half a centimeter too shallow so that we cannot put our dvds in the drawers so the binding (and title) side is up so they all have to be stacked, taking up much more room in the drawers. So much for 50% off. I've posted a picture. We are going to add floating shelves at the end farthest from the tv so we have a place for framed photos that keeps our already dark and narrow house from looking even darker and narrower.
We also bought a deck umbrella with an adjustable neck. The umbrella part cranks open and the neck part is adjustable to adjust the shade given depending on where the sun is at in the sky. This was one of my husband's entries on our buying wish list. We bought it and then realized that we forget the second box with the base so he is back at the DIY store as I write this trying to find one. Apparently, the store also didn't know it was a two box set and no other customer has come back to complain. I doubt that, but am not surprised by the inventive customer service tactic. It's a national phenomenon.
We are pretty much ready for our trip to Australia starting next Friday. My husband just needs to get an international driver's license today so he can drive the car we've rented for our Perth/Margaret River part of the trip. We've also started taking vitamin B because a colleague of his said it wards of insects and mosquitoes. Since hearing Bill Bryson's account of the shear number of insects, particularly in the Outback, I'll try anything to help keep them away from me. The insects are known to crawl into people's ears, nose and mouth. I've also bought insect nets for my bed as well as for my head to use on the excursions to the national parks. Our travel agent assures us they aren't needed, but the travel accounts I've heard and seen on tv say differently. My husband opted out for the nets. I bet he will be sorry.
I also have not been that impressed with our travel agent in the end. If someone can explain to me the way they make money, I would really appreciate it because what seemed like a great deal for us has ended up feeling like we are getting totally shafted and over charged. It's difficult for me to prove because they will not show us how much they have actually paid hotels and tour operators. I can only see what we are being charged and what information I can find on-line. We've also continually had to chase them up to get different details adjusted to our itinerary like a change in hotel or telling a dive operator that we will bring our own dive equipment for the most part so we don't need to pay for the dive operator to provide it. I am a self-proclaimed control freak and travel planning lover, but it has been nice for someone else to plan our Australia trip especially since I am juggling getting back to work full-time after being off for a sick leave. I can look past the mistakes. I just wish the agent was more up front and, thus, more ethical, about the price structure. My husband gets mad when I even mention it now and insists is a learning point. I am sure Australia will be great despite the seed of doubt this has planted in back of my mind.
Last Tuesday, I finally earned my deep diving SCUBA certification in a pond just outside Amsterdam. It has been in the making since March. It's great to get that under my belt before Australia because I will need it for diving on the Great Barrier Reef. The most complicated bit is learning how to release a balloon while you are diving that will buoy on the surface as a sign to other boats that you are below and a sign to your diving boat where to come get you. The first try wasn't great since I seem to be mechanically inept, but the second try was near perfect. It was nice to also hang out with our dive club who tried their hardest to explain inflating the balloon in the least sexual way possible, but still managed to laugh like school girls and make dirty comments in Dutch. They are all really great guys from literally all walks of life and it is little wonder why my husbands loves diving with them as much as twice a week.
We bought a new entertainment center for the living room. It was on sale for 50% off and we found out when putting in the dvd player that it was just shallow enough to not allow us to close the cupboard doors so we now need to buy a new, smaller dvd player. The drawers are also about half a centimeter too shallow so that we cannot put our dvds in the drawers so the binding (and title) side is up so they all have to be stacked, taking up much more room in the drawers. So much for 50% off. I've posted a picture. We are going to add floating shelves at the end farthest from the tv so we have a place for framed photos that keeps our already dark and narrow house from looking even darker and narrower.
We also bought a deck umbrella with an adjustable neck. The umbrella part cranks open and the neck part is adjustable to adjust the shade given depending on where the sun is at in the sky. This was one of my husband's entries on our buying wish list. We bought it and then realized that we forget the second box with the base so he is back at the DIY store as I write this trying to find one. Apparently, the store also didn't know it was a two box set and no other customer has come back to complain. I doubt that, but am not surprised by the inventive customer service tactic. It's a national phenomenon.
We are pretty much ready for our trip to Australia starting next Friday. My husband just needs to get an international driver's license today so he can drive the car we've rented for our Perth/Margaret River part of the trip. We've also started taking vitamin B because a colleague of his said it wards of insects and mosquitoes. Since hearing Bill Bryson's account of the shear number of insects, particularly in the Outback, I'll try anything to help keep them away from me. The insects are known to crawl into people's ears, nose and mouth. I've also bought insect nets for my bed as well as for my head to use on the excursions to the national parks. Our travel agent assures us they aren't needed, but the travel accounts I've heard and seen on tv say differently. My husband opted out for the nets. I bet he will be sorry.
I also have not been that impressed with our travel agent in the end. If someone can explain to me the way they make money, I would really appreciate it because what seemed like a great deal for us has ended up feeling like we are getting totally shafted and over charged. It's difficult for me to prove because they will not show us how much they have actually paid hotels and tour operators. I can only see what we are being charged and what information I can find on-line. We've also continually had to chase them up to get different details adjusted to our itinerary like a change in hotel or telling a dive operator that we will bring our own dive equipment for the most part so we don't need to pay for the dive operator to provide it. I am a self-proclaimed control freak and travel planning lover, but it has been nice for someone else to plan our Australia trip especially since I am juggling getting back to work full-time after being off for a sick leave. I can look past the mistakes. I just wish the agent was more up front and, thus, more ethical, about the price structure. My husband gets mad when I even mention it now and insists is a learning point. I am sure Australia will be great despite the seed of doubt this has planted in back of my mind.
Monday, August 10, 2009
DIY
This weekend we did a little D.I.Y. and put up wallpaper in the stairway up to our top floor. And, when I say 'we', I mean the 'royal we', meaning that I had the idea, but before I could even get the first piece hung, I gave up. Not agreeing with my idea to take down the piece of wallpaper, sand the walls and then just paint it, my husband pregrudgingly took over wallpapering.
For the record, I would just like to state that whomever invented wallpaper is a masochist. And, secondly, wallpaper should be rated for the levels of experience required by the hanger. I dumbly bought a large patterned paper that required not only matching up each piece precisely, but straight walls and ceilings which 100+ year old Dutch houses do not have. I have included a picture so you can have a look.
After two rolls of wallpaper, it turned out really well, I must say. Needless to say, it will be the last wallpapering we do in this house.
For the record, I would just like to state that whomever invented wallpaper is a masochist. And, secondly, wallpaper should be rated for the levels of experience required by the hanger. I dumbly bought a large patterned paper that required not only matching up each piece precisely, but straight walls and ceilings which 100+ year old Dutch houses do not have. I have included a picture so you can have a look.
After two rolls of wallpaper, it turned out really well, I must say. Needless to say, it will be the last wallpapering we do in this house.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Swearing to Learn
So...I am learning to swear...in Dutch.
I got picked on by a group of twelve year olds today on the tram. No, this was not a dream and I am not joking. I was jeered, poked, and not so casually pushed by a group of five twelve year olds today on my way home from work...at six o'clock surrounded by a tram full of other adults.
I boarded the tram at the central train station and sat a row behind an Indian woman about my age. She noticed a male friend on the platform and, as the doors to the tram were shutting, she yelled to him something like, "I will send you an e-mail" or "Check your e-mail".
Once the doors shut and the tram was moving, a high pitched playback of the woman's words began repeating over and over accompanied by laughter from behind me. The sound persisted and I don't know what got in to me, but I turned around and stared down each of the five sets of eyes I found behind me, the source of the screeching and laughing. I managed to hide my surprise at their age. I had expected them to be teenagers and rough looking. They were quite the opposite - short, probably twelve, and rather well dressed.
The screeching didn't stop. I felt someone start to tap, rather jab me with a finger, on the back of my shoulder. After two or three times, I turned around and stared down the cute, terrified boy and said in my angriest voice, "Stop it. Stop it now." I couldn't remember the basic phrase in Dutch or any other words for that matter at the moment. I was so enraged to be touched and to be so disrespected. Before I could get the words out, he was pleading that it wasn't him. So I flashed a narrowed looked at all of them before turning around again.
The next stop was approaching so they began to get up and were now pushing my shoulder with an entire hand. One boy, now standing next to me, pointed at my shoes and gave a thumbs up with a face completely devoid of a smile. I was, of course, wearing my grandma MBT shoes. I had never seen such skillful sarcasm in an adolescent nor in most adults. I had my ipod headphones on so I am guessing they thought I was trying not to hear them, but I heard every word. With a blatantly obvious rub by one of the boy's bags and arm across my shoulder and arm, they exited the tram.
I got off at the next stop and tried to brush the whole thing off on my short walk home. My first thought was, "I need to find out how to say 'I know your parents are worthless, but the least you could do is shut up and sit down while in public.'"
I went home and explained what happened to my husband and he basically concluded that, while I don't need to be afraid in these situations, I shouldn't say anything until I can stand my ground in Dutch. So...I am learning to swear...in Dutch. Instead of exchanging pleasantries in Dutch, now my husband and I exchange swear words so I can practice.
I got picked on by a group of twelve year olds today on the tram. No, this was not a dream and I am not joking. I was jeered, poked, and not so casually pushed by a group of five twelve year olds today on my way home from work...at six o'clock surrounded by a tram full of other adults.
I boarded the tram at the central train station and sat a row behind an Indian woman about my age. She noticed a male friend on the platform and, as the doors to the tram were shutting, she yelled to him something like, "I will send you an e-mail" or "Check your e-mail".
Once the doors shut and the tram was moving, a high pitched playback of the woman's words began repeating over and over accompanied by laughter from behind me. The sound persisted and I don't know what got in to me, but I turned around and stared down each of the five sets of eyes I found behind me, the source of the screeching and laughing. I managed to hide my surprise at their age. I had expected them to be teenagers and rough looking. They were quite the opposite - short, probably twelve, and rather well dressed.
The screeching didn't stop. I felt someone start to tap, rather jab me with a finger, on the back of my shoulder. After two or three times, I turned around and stared down the cute, terrified boy and said in my angriest voice, "Stop it. Stop it now." I couldn't remember the basic phrase in Dutch or any other words for that matter at the moment. I was so enraged to be touched and to be so disrespected. Before I could get the words out, he was pleading that it wasn't him. So I flashed a narrowed looked at all of them before turning around again.
The next stop was approaching so they began to get up and were now pushing my shoulder with an entire hand. One boy, now standing next to me, pointed at my shoes and gave a thumbs up with a face completely devoid of a smile. I was, of course, wearing my grandma MBT shoes. I had never seen such skillful sarcasm in an adolescent nor in most adults. I had my ipod headphones on so I am guessing they thought I was trying not to hear them, but I heard every word. With a blatantly obvious rub by one of the boy's bags and arm across my shoulder and arm, they exited the tram.
I got off at the next stop and tried to brush the whole thing off on my short walk home. My first thought was, "I need to find out how to say 'I know your parents are worthless, but the least you could do is shut up and sit down while in public.'"
I went home and explained what happened to my husband and he basically concluded that, while I don't need to be afraid in these situations, I shouldn't say anything until I can stand my ground in Dutch. So...I am learning to swear...in Dutch. Instead of exchanging pleasantries in Dutch, now my husband and I exchange swear words so I can practice.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Etsy
I just wanted to share a website I tripped over on-line: Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/). The website is for the buying and selling of homemade and vintage products. One great thing is that it hosts artists from literally across the globe. Another feature is that you can search for artists local to you. Have a look...
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Microeconomics
Once in awhile people will ask me my views on the differences in the U.S. and Dutch economies. When they ask, I will tell them about today.
I have two credit cards - one American card tied to my U.S. bank account for U.S. purchases like presents for my family and big purchases. I also like it's reward points program. Due to the Patriot Act, it has to be tied to both an American bank account and address so I use my parents' home address. The other card is my Dutch credit card.
As coincidence would have it, my American card expires this month and I have yet to receive a new one so I called them today to follow-up. While on-hold, they inform you of the latest statistics on your card - outstanding current balance, due date, credit limit, etc. I had heard of how U.S. credit card companies were upping their technology, for better or worse, to improve both customer service and target their marketing so I was not surprised, but impressed. I was prompted to provide my security code which I, of course, had no memory of so I was forwarded to an agent that proceeded to ask me the zip codes of my previous addresses along with the addresses. I couldn't tell you my mobile phone number off the top of my head so there is no way I am able to remember my address from three or six years ago. The agent, not satisfied, goes into the second phase of questioning - the intricate details of the cars registered to my address. I explained that I don't have a car so I was asked to give not only the make of both of my parents' cars, but also the model and the year. When I got the year of my Dad's truck incorrect, she moved into information she called 'public record' meaning, "Lady, any idiot should know this about themselves and, by the way, you are so dumb you would lose your head if it wasn't screwed on tight." I finally got enough questions about my birthday and immediate kin right to get my password reset and, thus, enable a new card to get sent my way. All of this interrogation for them to send out a card they either forgot to send to me or was somehow lost so I can potentially spend enough money to pay them interest on. Oh, and additionally, my limit was sky high - in the tens of thousands range. What happened to the credit crisis? Needless to say, I was sufficiently creeped out and impressed by the amount of information at the fingertips of a customer service agent across the ocean.
Next, I called my Dutch credit card company - also the company I work for and the bank in which I keep my savings - to get a temporary limit increase on my credit card for our upcoming Australia vacation. Their security code is my mother's birthday, including year, and I always mess that up so I get sent to the second line questioning again and, this time, they are much more reasonable questions like my bank account number and address. My credit limit is 1,000 euros and is on an automatic monthly direct debit, a limit reserved for miscreants and toddlers in the U.S. I ask to get my credit limit raised for two months to 4,000 euros and not only do I have to provide my monthly net income (although they could see my savings balance in my bank account), but a reason as to why I want the increase. I refrained from the impulses to gush that I had just seen a Louis Vuitton bag that I just had to have or to tell her "none of your damn business" and explained that we were going on a one month vacation to Australia. She asked me a few more somewhat intrusive questions to fill in a credit increase form on my behalf and informed that the request would have to go to another department for approval and I would be informed my mail if my increase was granted. If not, an alternative limit would be suggested for which I will probably have to call again and repeat the entire process. Lovely.
In the U.S., at least while I was living there, I could increase my credit limit on-line or by phone, I think. And, with this particular credit card, I think my credit limit was increased without my knowledge seemingly in an attempt to find a limit I could not possibly pay off in a month and, thus, have to pay interest. I think they had the "if you give, they will spend" motto in the past. The Dutch system is dramatically different. The credit card companies seem to live by the "we know better than you how much you can afford to spend and we'll just make it a little lower just in case you are really stupid" motto. While I applaud the Dutch's more socially moral approach, it also seems to be missing a revenue opportunity. I don't promote the hunt the weak mentality prevalent in the U.S. in the past decade, but I get that companies that take the risk and provide a line of credit to consumers do so to make a profit.
It is also just another example of how the Dutch can, in one institution, be both incredibly technologically advanced and also archaic. The bank, for instance, does not provide customers with checkbooks and charges stupidly high fees to deposit checks into customer accounts choosing, instead, to pretend all is possible domestically and internationally via bank transfer. But, for a credit limit increase, they choose to go the less environmentally friendly and more costly route of informing you of a credit increase approval or rejection via snail mail when seemingly everyone has at least one e-mail account. Not to mention all of the freakishly impressive data mining they are missing out on. Weird.
In terms of credit, amongst other things, the U.S. and The Netherlands seem to me to be on opposite ends of the spectrum. There must be some happy medium.
I have two credit cards - one American card tied to my U.S. bank account for U.S. purchases like presents for my family and big purchases. I also like it's reward points program. Due to the Patriot Act, it has to be tied to both an American bank account and address so I use my parents' home address. The other card is my Dutch credit card.
As coincidence would have it, my American card expires this month and I have yet to receive a new one so I called them today to follow-up. While on-hold, they inform you of the latest statistics on your card - outstanding current balance, due date, credit limit, etc. I had heard of how U.S. credit card companies were upping their technology, for better or worse, to improve both customer service and target their marketing so I was not surprised, but impressed. I was prompted to provide my security code which I, of course, had no memory of so I was forwarded to an agent that proceeded to ask me the zip codes of my previous addresses along with the addresses. I couldn't tell you my mobile phone number off the top of my head so there is no way I am able to remember my address from three or six years ago. The agent, not satisfied, goes into the second phase of questioning - the intricate details of the cars registered to my address. I explained that I don't have a car so I was asked to give not only the make of both of my parents' cars, but also the model and the year. When I got the year of my Dad's truck incorrect, she moved into information she called 'public record' meaning, "Lady, any idiot should know this about themselves and, by the way, you are so dumb you would lose your head if it wasn't screwed on tight." I finally got enough questions about my birthday and immediate kin right to get my password reset and, thus, enable a new card to get sent my way. All of this interrogation for them to send out a card they either forgot to send to me or was somehow lost so I can potentially spend enough money to pay them interest on. Oh, and additionally, my limit was sky high - in the tens of thousands range. What happened to the credit crisis? Needless to say, I was sufficiently creeped out and impressed by the amount of information at the fingertips of a customer service agent across the ocean.
Next, I called my Dutch credit card company - also the company I work for and the bank in which I keep my savings - to get a temporary limit increase on my credit card for our upcoming Australia vacation. Their security code is my mother's birthday, including year, and I always mess that up so I get sent to the second line questioning again and, this time, they are much more reasonable questions like my bank account number and address. My credit limit is 1,000 euros and is on an automatic monthly direct debit, a limit reserved for miscreants and toddlers in the U.S. I ask to get my credit limit raised for two months to 4,000 euros and not only do I have to provide my monthly net income (although they could see my savings balance in my bank account), but a reason as to why I want the increase. I refrained from the impulses to gush that I had just seen a Louis Vuitton bag that I just had to have or to tell her "none of your damn business" and explained that we were going on a one month vacation to Australia. She asked me a few more somewhat intrusive questions to fill in a credit increase form on my behalf and informed that the request would have to go to another department for approval and I would be informed my mail if my increase was granted. If not, an alternative limit would be suggested for which I will probably have to call again and repeat the entire process. Lovely.
In the U.S., at least while I was living there, I could increase my credit limit on-line or by phone, I think. And, with this particular credit card, I think my credit limit was increased without my knowledge seemingly in an attempt to find a limit I could not possibly pay off in a month and, thus, have to pay interest. I think they had the "if you give, they will spend" motto in the past. The Dutch system is dramatically different. The credit card companies seem to live by the "we know better than you how much you can afford to spend and we'll just make it a little lower just in case you are really stupid" motto. While I applaud the Dutch's more socially moral approach, it also seems to be missing a revenue opportunity. I don't promote the hunt the weak mentality prevalent in the U.S. in the past decade, but I get that companies that take the risk and provide a line of credit to consumers do so to make a profit.
It is also just another example of how the Dutch can, in one institution, be both incredibly technologically advanced and also archaic. The bank, for instance, does not provide customers with checkbooks and charges stupidly high fees to deposit checks into customer accounts choosing, instead, to pretend all is possible domestically and internationally via bank transfer. But, for a credit limit increase, they choose to go the less environmentally friendly and more costly route of informing you of a credit increase approval or rejection via snail mail when seemingly everyone has at least one e-mail account. Not to mention all of the freakishly impressive data mining they are missing out on. Weird.
In terms of credit, amongst other things, the U.S. and The Netherlands seem to me to be on opposite ends of the spectrum. There must be some happy medium.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Random Thought #1
I thought it might be fun to add a random thoughts sections...especially since I had a one today. Well, I tend to have a lot of random thoughts, but most aren't all that interesting to others. And I promise they will not all be what I call "get off my lawn" commentary.
As I was walking down my street today, I noticed a 20-something man walking a rather cute pit bull. What immediately got my hackles up (yes, hackles. You know, that almost physical bristling feeling as if you had big feathers on your shoulder blades that had just been ruffled...am I the only person like this?) was the guy letting the dog use the parked cars as some kind of virtual lawn. I must add that there is a lot of poop littering our local streets and sidewalks and, while the government has gone to the trouble of installing dog poop cans through out the city with an almost obscene cartoon of a dog squatting and defecating, the police do nothing to enforce the laws about picking up after dogs. Added to the fact that most homes are relatively small and very few have a yard, I find it maddeningly egregious that dog ownership here is so high.
To top it off, there was a public park (the queen's public gardens, no less) literally around the corner from where this man is walking his dog and it is conveniently supplied with both a dog poop trash can and free plastic bags.
Is this what the world is coming to? The neighborly spat about your dog shitting on my lawn has digressed into finding a load next to your car door in the morning and/or being the victim of a vaguely horrible smell that is either urine or the poop you have just run over or both. It may be a relief to the legions of passive aggressives out there - both dog owners and victims alike, but for the rest it feels like an unsolvable problem.
The solution, I think, is for the police to not only fine a dog owner caught in the act of not following up after their dog, but that dog ownership is revoked entirely. On top of it all, it is just not fair to the animal. Dude, get an iguana.
As I was walking down my street today, I noticed a 20-something man walking a rather cute pit bull. What immediately got my hackles up (yes, hackles. You know, that almost physical bristling feeling as if you had big feathers on your shoulder blades that had just been ruffled...am I the only person like this?) was the guy letting the dog use the parked cars as some kind of virtual lawn. I must add that there is a lot of poop littering our local streets and sidewalks and, while the government has gone to the trouble of installing dog poop cans through out the city with an almost obscene cartoon of a dog squatting and defecating, the police do nothing to enforce the laws about picking up after dogs. Added to the fact that most homes are relatively small and very few have a yard, I find it maddeningly egregious that dog ownership here is so high.
To top it off, there was a public park (the queen's public gardens, no less) literally around the corner from where this man is walking his dog and it is conveniently supplied with both a dog poop trash can and free plastic bags.
Is this what the world is coming to? The neighborly spat about your dog shitting on my lawn has digressed into finding a load next to your car door in the morning and/or being the victim of a vaguely horrible smell that is either urine or the poop you have just run over or both. It may be a relief to the legions of passive aggressives out there - both dog owners and victims alike, but for the rest it feels like an unsolvable problem.
The solution, I think, is for the police to not only fine a dog owner caught in the act of not following up after their dog, but that dog ownership is revoked entirely. On top of it all, it is just not fair to the animal. Dude, get an iguana.
Veggie Out
I started volunteering today at a non-profit. I will be helping out on a new microlending project. I am really excited about it because it gives me an opportunity to learn about the field that I am hoping, someday, to study in an MBA program.
The other volunteers I met today are in the 18-25 age range and it was a big eye opener to me to experience just how much things have changed since I was their age. I should clarify. I am not surprised that things have moved on since I graduated, but in the form those changes have taken. Other than the constant e-mailing and researching being done without the aide of a single bound book, it was comical to me the literal gasps conveyed when I admitted that I neither owned a laptop nor had a memory stick on my person at the moment. This was followed by an empathetic look towards someone (me) they now saw as out-of-touch and pathetic. They were nice people (I will amend my reflect to term them kids) and all. This is just yet another circle in which I am not within. But they sure are fun to talk to!
Moving on...I am making some big lifestyle changes these days. I am trying not to think of it as a diet, but it sure looks and feels like one at least these first few days. The main reason is to address some digestion issues that have plagued me now for three months, but it would also be nice to get rid of the pooch/pouch I've picked up since getting married. My friend Danielle will regognise the regime immediately because she has been following it on and off for as long as I've known her. I probably just should have listened all those years ago. What can I say? I can be a bit stubborn.
I start off the day with warm water with lemon and then follow it with a fruit smoothie an hour later. The rest of the day consists of eating alkaline foods which are, basically, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts. I can still have my daily cup of coffee or two and can eat seafood, chicken, and pork, but that's pretty much the complete list. As sad as this sounds, the biggest thing for me so far has been, besides bread, alcohol. I miss the glass of wine with dinner and, on top of that, we now have two cases of wine that my husband bought from our friend's parents last week while they were in Friesland. I may take one night off per week just for the wine ;)
I should also start taking a yoga or meditation class, but I am hesitant about starting at least for the time being. As one can imagine, with digestion already a problem and the introduction now of a lot of fruits and vegetables...let's just say I am afraid of embarrassing myself with unwanted noises.
The other volunteers I met today are in the 18-25 age range and it was a big eye opener to me to experience just how much things have changed since I was their age. I should clarify. I am not surprised that things have moved on since I graduated, but in the form those changes have taken. Other than the constant e-mailing and researching being done without the aide of a single bound book, it was comical to me the literal gasps conveyed when I admitted that I neither owned a laptop nor had a memory stick on my person at the moment. This was followed by an empathetic look towards someone (me) they now saw as out-of-touch and pathetic. They were nice people (I will amend my reflect to term them kids) and all. This is just yet another circle in which I am not within. But they sure are fun to talk to!
Moving on...I am making some big lifestyle changes these days. I am trying not to think of it as a diet, but it sure looks and feels like one at least these first few days. The main reason is to address some digestion issues that have plagued me now for three months, but it would also be nice to get rid of the pooch/pouch I've picked up since getting married. My friend Danielle will regognise the regime immediately because she has been following it on and off for as long as I've known her. I probably just should have listened all those years ago. What can I say? I can be a bit stubborn.
I start off the day with warm water with lemon and then follow it with a fruit smoothie an hour later. The rest of the day consists of eating alkaline foods which are, basically, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts. I can still have my daily cup of coffee or two and can eat seafood, chicken, and pork, but that's pretty much the complete list. As sad as this sounds, the biggest thing for me so far has been, besides bread, alcohol. I miss the glass of wine with dinner and, on top of that, we now have two cases of wine that my husband bought from our friend's parents last week while they were in Friesland. I may take one night off per week just for the wine ;)
I should also start taking a yoga or meditation class, but I am hesitant about starting at least for the time being. As one can imagine, with digestion already a problem and the introduction now of a lot of fruits and vegetables...let's just say I am afraid of embarrassing myself with unwanted noises.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
The boys are back in town
My husband and our friend are back from their sculpting holiday up north. (I just like referring to it as "up north" because, for me, it evokes images of northern Wisconsin and I get a laugh out of imagining some flannel clad men in the northern WI woods sculpting after, say, shooting a moose.)
I am really quite proud of what they've brought home. I call my husband's the Green Goblin because, at the right angle, it looks like the mask of the villian from the Spiderman movie. He didn't really appreciate that.
And here is the sculpture created by our friend as a wedding present for us. It is meant to symbolize us as individuals and as a couple. My husband is the pink stone and I am the black one. Fill in your own commentary as you will...
Now we just need to figure out the proper way to display them both. This means that, next weekend, we will be off to the Amsterdam furniture mall to find a new piece of furniture to both replace our horrible bookcase and also nicely display at least one of the sculptures. Stay tuned for that adventure...
And here is the sculpture created by our friend as a wedding present for us. It is meant to symbolize us as individuals and as a couple. My husband is the pink stone and I am the black one. Fill in your own commentary as you will...
Now we just need to figure out the proper way to display them both. This means that, next weekend, we will be off to the Amsterdam furniture mall to find a new piece of furniture to both replace our horrible bookcase and also nicely display at least one of the sculptures. Stay tuned for that adventure...
Side note: In the above picture you can see, if you look closely, my granny shoes (black) next to the couch.
And I am not lying
I am a big fan of the NPR radio program "This American Life" (http://www.thisamericanlife.org/). If you go to their website or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, you can download the latest episode for free each week. This past week's show featured a comedian that I found so funny that I went to his blog to read more. His blog is called "And I am not lying" (http://www.andiamnotlying.com/). I don't get all of the humor, but most of it is really funny.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
The List continues
It is interesting to watch how my 'list' unfolds because, day by day, I remember all of the purchases I have been putting off. I also have this constant rationalization in the back of my mind that I now have this significant amount of savings set aside that was to be used for an MBA that is just sitting there.
Today, I am reminded of all of the English language magazines I have put off subscribing to. It started because I have in my mind that I will try to get published again in a travel writing magazine. I am aiming, this time, for a more popular publication and am considering submitting a few article ideas to National Geographic Traveller and Conde Nast. Could you imagine? Seriously! Me, a National Geographic writer. It would be par with David Attenborough in my mind. You know, the voice of the "Planet Earth" dvd and all of those BBC nature documentaries you (okay, me and my husband) get sucked in to?
Back to the magazines...I am really having to narrow it down here. I have already ordered a SCUBA magazine and put it in my husband's name because I figure he will like it and because it won't count in my list of magazines ordered. I re-order "Oprah". Yes, I know it is a cliche and an especially Chicagoan one at that, but I really like the magazine and, on top of that, dream of being published in it some day as a columnist. Other than Dr. Phil and Susie Orman, they are really quite witty. I think I will substitute my "Fitness" subscription for "Food and Wine" because who am I kidding? I am going to aerobics now so that I can enjoy food and wine so my passion lays much more with the latter. I am also tinkering with getting Conde Nast or National Geographic Traveller because it feels like just research for my writing endevours, but it seems a bit gluttenous. Well, the winter is coming...gotta have something for those cold nights, right? It's not like we have Tivo or even cable. I can rationalize anything :)
Oh, I propose a...poll.
What parts of our upcoming Australia trip do you think I should submit as travel magazine ideas? What would you want to read about? I am thinking it would be nice to read about a wine tour through Margaret River near Perth and/or the area outside of Sydney. I was thinking a good idea would also be one of the excursions we are going on - either to the national parks near Darwin or in the Daintree rainforest. My last idea is to write about diving along the Ningaloo Reef and tenting on a island nearby. The 7 day liveaboard in the Great Barrier Reef will be fantastic, but I imagine that has already been written about a lot so I need to do something different. What do you think?
Someone Normal
Today has been a bit of a bummer to say the least. The weather is crap. There is just no other way to explain the intermitten sprays of rain and gusts of wind that leave me finely misted one minute and in a cold sweat the next.
I was looking quite forward to getting out today to get a few things done. The rain wasn't going to stop me and, on top of that, I wanted to get some exercise so I wore my MBT's. Sidebar: I have a chronic lower back problem that used to cause me to a significant amount of pain after a few hours of walking. Eight months ago, I found a solution to this in a rounded bottom shoe with the brand name MBT. Unfortunately, the design team seems to consist of a man over the age of 70 that has been living in a cave for the last ten to twenty years. In the best light, the shoes look geriatric and, if they didn't work SO well, I wouldn't have considered them. So I begrudgingly wear them while in a constant search for something just a effective for my back, but more stylish.
I have yet to find such shoes so my wardrobe, in particular my pants, are tailored around trying to hide my shoes. Inevitably, I end up looking like a candidate for a makeover show. Up until now I have been just happy to have my back back, so to speak. Today, though, I was making my way towards an electronics store on a pedestrian street. I was getting close to the store's entrance so I had stopped my Ipod and noticed some men walking off to the left in front of me turnaround, look behind me and stop. A woman came running up with a filled garbage bag. I noticed it because it was full, but still light enough that she easily ran with it. She said, in English, to the two guys, "Go ahead. I will run to catch up with you." Since the conversation was in English, something somewhat rare in The Netherlands, I was immediately hooked into eavesdropping. The men, now behind me as I had kept walking when they stopped, kept walking beside the woman and one said, "Okay, just start looking for people to ask to pose with a balloon." The woman must have indicated towards me because the man immediately followed up with, "Normal people."
I still had my headphones on for my Ipod so I am sure he didn't think I heard him. I was gutted. Still am. I go into the electronics store for a few minutes and, leaving the store, see a 'normal' person posing with a balloon. It was some typical Dutch woman with short reddish blond hair that had the somewhat wrinkled face of a lifelong smoker and could have been 40 to 65. I do remember hearing the guy make a comment about wanting older people for the pictures, but the woman was by no measure attractive. Strangely, she wasn't ugly either. It has just left me wondering where I rate in the spectrum now. We now know I am not normal by Dutch standards and, unfortunately, I am afraid I must be sub-normal or below average because I am sure the photographer would have been willing to err on the side of finding someone somewhat better than normal. I would try to convince myself that I just don't look Dutch, but everyone speaks to me first in Dutch.
I don't know. This shouldn't bother me much, but it does. It makes me want to spread a nasty word of mouth campaign about whatever they were trying to promote, but I don't know what that is. I can only hope it was an ad campaign for some government pension program or a cosmetic surgery practice.
I think my biggest hurdle, other than my granny shoes, is the vastly different shopping culture of Americans and Dutch. Weekend shopping is for the Dutch what Sunday service is for Americans or at least what it was for me growing up. The phrase "wearing your Sunday best" comes to mind. While I agree that the American practice of wearing sweatsuits and jogging outfits could use an upgrade, I don't get while people go so all out here and to such impractical lengths. Something I just witnessed today was an incredibly stylish couple in front of me on the exterior escalator up into a multifloor shopping complex. He's wear tight dark jeans, probably black leather loafers, a strategically torn tight graphic t-shirt probably by Diesel with a fitted black leather jacket and chunky black aviator sunglasses. His girlfriend is in similiar dark skinny jeans and probably some kind of flowery Pucci looking top. I don't remember because I am staring at her grey suede high heels with decorative flowers like those you'd see on top of a cake made from frosting, but these are made of the same grey suede. I think they are getting off at the trendy clothing store, but, oh no, they are going to the movie theater one floor up.
Unlike in the U.S. where parking garages would connect patrons via an interior escalator or elevator to stores, these people had to walk possibly a short distance outside from the below ground car garage nearby, but most likely walked several blocks on cobbled or bricked sidewalks. It's overcast and raining and you are going to a movie, people! Why bother with the sunglasses for starters and why, for the love of shoes, risk wearing (or even buying for that matter) suede shoes that will be ruined with the slightest amount of moisture?
I bet, on average, people wear the equivalent of 10-20% of their monthly income out on a typical Saturday of shopping. I am not kidding. Men are easier for me to price so I will give an example of an upper middle class to wealthy guy I saw at Hema, the Dutch equivalent to Kmart. Merrell shoes (120 euros) and it would be closer to 200 euros for leather shoes; Pall Mall jeans (100 euros); Polo sweater (100 euros) over a Meddens long sleeved button up shirt (80 euros) with a leather coat (300 euros or more). That doesn't include the underwear, socks, wallet, belt, sunglasses, mobile, and cologne.
Today, I've just had it. I force myself to go to the nearby Asian supermarket to get some frozen dim sum for dinner tonight and then I retire to the house, take off my grandma shoes, write this blog, and curl up with my book.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The List
As most everyone knows that is reading this blog, I have been crossing my fingers (6 months, actually) in hopes of getting into one of two MBA programs of my dreams. It has been a dream something like seven years in the making so I was ecstatic and determidly hopeful when I was put on the waitlist at one of the schools, The University of Chicago. Little did I know back in October when I submitted my application, what the world was in for. I don't think the Univ of Chicago did either.
As the months ticked by and I remained on the waiting list, it became clearer and clearer that maybe now was not the time for my husband and I to pick up and move to Chicago. It felt a little like metaphorically running into a house on fire. Brave, but dangerous and even a little stupid. So, when I found out a week or so ago that there just wasn't going to be room for me in this year's class, we popped the cork on a bottle of champagne and both breathed a sigh of relief. In the next moment, my mind starting flooding with the "If We Stay" list.
At the top of the list was a long trip diving somewhere that I could swim with dolphins in the wild. See my Australia post. Then comes a wide variety of things ranging from a new sunroom table and chairs to a bookcase, a new (new to me) Oma bike (Google it...it's called a grandma bike), and even some books, shoes and clothes I'd put off purchasing. As my husband and I lay on the couch watching a movie several months back, for instance, I comment on how it would be nicer to have a longer and deeper couch to which he responds, "If we stay, we can get a new couch".
And so the list comes flooding back to me at a speed that stuns my husband. He was just starting to like the idea of things not changing. Come to find out he has a list, somewhat shorter, of his own.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Friesland
I'll admit, I had my doubts. Okay, I had several doubts. My husband offers to take me to a province in the north of The Netherlands that is so remote they have their own language (West Frisian) to pick out a stone and sleep in the motor home of someone I have never met. "Sure, honey. It sounds like fun!"
Okay, so nothing is really that remote in The Netherlands and it was the motor home of his best friend's parents, but I didn't get my hopes up.
In the end...it was great! The trip up took less than three hours and the weather was great. We arrived just in-time for happy hour and were greeted with chilled Riesling. Our friend's mother made us a nice dinner and we talked away the evening with several bottles of Italian red wine sitting in their cozy, eclectic garden . I meant to take pictures of their house because I liked both the traditional outside and artistic inside, but chickened out. I found someone else's pictures (http://travel.webshots.com/album/93257381zGsraq?start=0) taken of nearby Hindeloopen, a town we drove through on the way to the little town of Barns (Warns). It gives you an idea of the houses. They are like shorter versions of the typical Amsterdam canal house and have bigger front windows. The roofs are also steeper and bigger. It looks like a one story house with a big clay tiled dunce cap on, but it lets so much more light into the house.
At 6.05, I boarded the ferry from Stavoren to Enhuizen, bought a beer and had a snack in the boat's bar, a cabin at the front of the boat with windows giving a panoramic view of the Ijsselmeer. I have posted pictures of the harbors of both towns. Before I left, we talked about chartering a sail boat (and someone who knows how to sail) and taking a vacation going from town to town in Friesland. They tell me it is just like a caravan so, who knows, I may just like it.
Friesland (http://www.visitfryslan.nl/)
Okay, so nothing is really that remote in The Netherlands and it was the motor home of his best friend's parents, but I didn't get my hopes up.
In the end...it was great! The trip up took less than three hours and the weather was great. We arrived just in-time for happy hour and were greeted with chilled Riesling. Our friend's mother made us a nice dinner and we talked away the evening with several bottles of Italian red wine sitting in their cozy, eclectic garden . I meant to take pictures of their house because I liked both the traditional outside and artistic inside, but chickened out. I found someone else's pictures (http://travel.webshots.com/album/93257381zGsraq?start=0) taken of nearby Hindeloopen, a town we drove through on the way to the little town of Barns (Warns). It gives you an idea of the houses. They are like shorter versions of the typical Amsterdam canal house and have bigger front windows. The roofs are also steeper and bigger. It looks like a one story house with a big clay tiled dunce cap on, but it lets so much more light into the house.
The area is a tourist attraction for Dutch and Germans and we had apparently arrived during the beginning of high season, but I couldn't really tell. Like most towns of 2,000 people, though, the locals notice. I think the main things to do are sail, bike, camp, and drink in various combinations and it's a pretty (and relatively cheap) place to do so that is only an hour and a half or so north of Amsterdam.
So, at about 1.00 am, my husband and I stumbled out the back door to the caravan hogging the driveway. It was great! The inside of the camper (it was one that hitched onto the back of a car, by the way) was like brand new, the bed was soft and there was a table in the front with cushioned benches that gave us plenty of room for our stuff. They were nice enough to plug in the camp, so to speak, so it had electricity too. We just had to go inside for anything requiring use of water. It could have been the wine, but I remember enthusiastically pleading with my husband to ask if we could borrow it to go camping.
The following morning, we went to nearby Koudum to the stone sculpting store (http://www.beeldhouwcentrumkoudum.nl/Home.html) to pick out the stones that my husband and his friend would be carving into masterpieces during the upcoming week. I had seen our friend's previous works and also some pieces at his parents' house that they had either made or bought at the store and was both thoroughly impressed and somewhat intimidated. I was glad to not be the one having to prove my artistic ability.
So, at about 1.00 am, my husband and I stumbled out the back door to the caravan hogging the driveway. It was great! The inside of the camper (it was one that hitched onto the back of a car, by the way) was like brand new, the bed was soft and there was a table in the front with cushioned benches that gave us plenty of room for our stuff. They were nice enough to plug in the camp, so to speak, so it had electricity too. We just had to go inside for anything requiring use of water. It could have been the wine, but I remember enthusiastically pleading with my husband to ask if we could borrow it to go camping.
The following morning, we went to nearby Koudum to the stone sculpting store (http://www.beeldhouwcentrumkoudum.nl/Home.html) to pick out the stones that my husband and his friend would be carving into masterpieces during the upcoming week. I had seen our friend's previous works and also some pieces at his parents' house that they had either made or bought at the store and was both thoroughly impressed and somewhat intimidated. I was glad to not be the one having to prove my artistic ability.
We walk upstairs to the kitchen and office area to be greeted by Herma and a group of 'the regulars', retired local women that either volunteer at the shop or spend a day a week working on a piece of art of their own. I think to myself, my husband and friend have this affinity for hobbies. First it was bridge. Now it's sculpting. Is knitting next? Our friend explains to Herma why I am there, reminding her of the project they have apparently been talking about for a year. She turns to me with a serious look on her face and asks if I want to try to sculpt something for the day. Shit. I shrug my shoulders and say okay and her face lights up. I immediately understand why people are attracted to her and why she is a great teacher. Check out her picture on her website listed in the previous paragraph and you'll see what I mean.
The women get to work and we pick out the stones for the guys' pieces. I end up with the softest stone I can find - a dark green, Brazilian soapstone. The original plan, Plan A, had been for me to help pick out the stones and go walking around the little town until noonish and then get on the ferry and head back home. Plan B was to try sculpting for a few hours and then get back on the 2.00 pm ferry. Well, I surprised myself and loved sculpting. So, Plan C was to continue sculpting after lunch and get the last ferry back at 6.00 pm, getting home just in-time to get a good night's sleep.
I really don't know what it was. It could have been the setting. The weather was nice, sunny with a little breeze so the three of us sculpted outside in the patio area.
The shop was in the center of town so people would just stop and watch us, point, maybe ask a question, tell us "Good job" or "Looks good", and continue onto the grocery store next door or the ice cream shop across the street. I also couldn't understand much of what was being said around me so I was impervious to criticism or praise. I could just go into my own little world. Herma would walk around periodically and show me how to use different tools and give suggestions by drawing on my stool with a piece of blue wax. In the end, I polished it with four pieces of ever finer sand paper and Herma applied an oil to it that brought out it's color. I have included a picture. It's no Michelangelo, but I am proud of it.
The women get to work and we pick out the stones for the guys' pieces. I end up with the softest stone I can find - a dark green, Brazilian soapstone. The original plan, Plan A, had been for me to help pick out the stones and go walking around the little town until noonish and then get on the ferry and head back home. Plan B was to try sculpting for a few hours and then get back on the 2.00 pm ferry. Well, I surprised myself and loved sculpting. So, Plan C was to continue sculpting after lunch and get the last ferry back at 6.00 pm, getting home just in-time to get a good night's sleep.
I really don't know what it was. It could have been the setting. The weather was nice, sunny with a little breeze so the three of us sculpted outside in the patio area.
The shop was in the center of town so people would just stop and watch us, point, maybe ask a question, tell us "Good job" or "Looks good", and continue onto the grocery store next door or the ice cream shop across the street. I also couldn't understand much of what was being said around me so I was impervious to criticism or praise. I could just go into my own little world. Herma would walk around periodically and show me how to use different tools and give suggestions by drawing on my stool with a piece of blue wax. In the end, I polished it with four pieces of ever finer sand paper and Herma applied an oil to it that brought out it's color. I have included a picture. It's no Michelangelo, but I am proud of it.
Friesland (http://www.visitfryslan.nl/)
Sunday, July 12, 2009
It hurts to laugh
Yesterday I was feeling pretty good after my fat burning aerobics class...famous last words. When the instructor pointed to a part of his body - indicating this was the area we'd be targeting next - and gave a funny intro in Dutch about why someone would want to tone her bottom ("for their boyfriend", Hector, the gay instructor quipped to a class of women) or her obliques, I was skeptical about the likelihood of targeting a muscle group. I can't seem to just lose weight in my stomach, so why does this man think he can do the same in exercising? Oh, how wrong can a person be? I am not new to exercising, but, wow, have I managed to get out of shape! On top of that, this was one of the easiest classes they offer. Nothing like a blow to the ego of a has-been college athlete.
With most of the logistical planning out of the way for our Australia trip, I spent a good part of the day focused on the really important details....shopping. I wanted to try to avoid special purchases just for the trip, but the national park and rain forest excursions expressly require everyone to wear ankle high hiking boots. My husband assures me that a pair of old New Balances won't cut it. In the U.S. or even if I was still working in the U.K., I would enjoy this kind of shopping, but as The Netherlands is really far behind on on-line shopping and quality shoes are freakishly expensive, it was a frustrating afternoon. I think I am just going to have to suck it up and pay the full local sticker price...a cardinal sin in my book. If anyone cares, I think I will be going with the Merrell waterproof Chameleon (they sound prettier than they are).
Next on my list was finding some books about Australia. Besides the standard travel guide, I was thinking historical fiction would be interesting what with all of the criminals that were just chucked there. Due to the Sydney Olympics, I think, there were SO many books to choose from. I went with Bill Bryson on audio book so I can listen to him while I walk. I am not a huge fan of his - I really don't get why people find him SUCH a comic genius - but he is good for a laugh which always helps on a walk through the center of town while doing errands. I also chose the "The Traveller's History of Australia" and "The Fatal Shore". It's more than I planned to buy, but it's a long flight over and we're there for awhile so, I figure, a few books can't hurt. And, yes, I found a coupon to use on bol.com so all was right with the world again.
After work tomorrow, I head up north to Friesland for the night. My husband and his friend are taking a week long sculpting class up there. They are going to each pick out a stone and carve them into works of art. I am a little skeptical, but this is our friend's third year doing this and his other two sculptures are really impressive. I am going because I have never been to Friesland and because our friend's sculpture this year will be our wedding present and he wants us to pick out a stone. And, the following day, I am going to head home via ferry and then train. I will post some pictures. This is also going to be my first caravan experience in The Netherlands or really anywhere as we are sleeping in our friend's parents' caravan. I can't remember if that is free standing motor home or a pull along on a hitch behind a car thing. I hope the first. I think this is may be another rite of passage into the Dutch culture. I hope it goes well. The parents are wine sellers so there is always that silver lining.
Tot zo!
With most of the logistical planning out of the way for our Australia trip, I spent a good part of the day focused on the really important details....shopping. I wanted to try to avoid special purchases just for the trip, but the national park and rain forest excursions expressly require everyone to wear ankle high hiking boots. My husband assures me that a pair of old New Balances won't cut it. In the U.S. or even if I was still working in the U.K., I would enjoy this kind of shopping, but as The Netherlands is really far behind on on-line shopping and quality shoes are freakishly expensive, it was a frustrating afternoon. I think I am just going to have to suck it up and pay the full local sticker price...a cardinal sin in my book. If anyone cares, I think I will be going with the Merrell waterproof Chameleon (they sound prettier than they are).
Next on my list was finding some books about Australia. Besides the standard travel guide, I was thinking historical fiction would be interesting what with all of the criminals that were just chucked there. Due to the Sydney Olympics, I think, there were SO many books to choose from. I went with Bill Bryson on audio book so I can listen to him while I walk. I am not a huge fan of his - I really don't get why people find him SUCH a comic genius - but he is good for a laugh which always helps on a walk through the center of town while doing errands. I also chose the "The Traveller's History of Australia" and "The Fatal Shore". It's more than I planned to buy, but it's a long flight over and we're there for awhile so, I figure, a few books can't hurt. And, yes, I found a coupon to use on bol.com so all was right with the world again.
After work tomorrow, I head up north to Friesland for the night. My husband and his friend are taking a week long sculpting class up there. They are going to each pick out a stone and carve them into works of art. I am a little skeptical, but this is our friend's third year doing this and his other two sculptures are really impressive. I am going because I have never been to Friesland and because our friend's sculpture this year will be our wedding present and he wants us to pick out a stone. And, the following day, I am going to head home via ferry and then train. I will post some pictures. This is also going to be my first caravan experience in The Netherlands or really anywhere as we are sleeping in our friend's parents' caravan. I can't remember if that is free standing motor home or a pull along on a hitch behind a car thing. I hope the first. I think this is may be another rite of passage into the Dutch culture. I hope it goes well. The parents are wine sellers so there is always that silver lining.
Tot zo!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Going Down Under
We've booked our trip to Australia!! I still can't keep from grinning incredulously when I think or say that. We are going to Australia at the end of August for 32 days...yep, 32 days!
For the first time ever, I went to a travel agency for help. That is a big deal for me b/c I normally love the minutiae of travel planning, but Australia and a month of travel was just getting overwhelming. That and I am getting back to working full time and starting to workout again and starting to volunteer at a non-profit. We used Walkabout Australia and I highly recommend it! We got basically the entire trip planned in 3 hours. My heart was racing when we left the office. We really did it!
So our plan is to go, in this order, to Darwin, Cairns, Sydney, and Perth. In Darwin, we are going on a 3 day safari to the Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. We are actually going to stay in permanent tents! I am already having flashbacks of Girl Scout Camp. The trip includes a wild crocodile cruise, learning about and seeing Aboriginal rock art, and a visit to Twin and Jim Jim Falls.
From there, we fly to Cairns. We are going to do a day trip to Kuranda Rainforest by taking the scenic train from Cairns and then taking what they call a skyrail back (http://www.skyrail.com.au/). It is basically an enclosed ski lift back. We are also going to do an two night trip to the Daintree National Park and actually stay near a beach in the rain forest at Cape Tribulation (http://www.daintreecoast.com/cape-tribulation.html).
And then...it is off on a 7 day live aboard SCUBA diving trip to the Great Barrier Reef. This is real reason for our trip. It is just THE place to go diving...well, we hear. Planned stops are the Code Hole, Coral Sea, and Ribbon Reefs. We will be doing 3-5 dives per day. We are just SO excited about it.
After the live aboard, we have a few nights to recover and get used to dry land again in Cairns before flying to Sydney for 3 nights. Now that I look at all there is to do in Sydney, I am kind of wishing we had more time there. A day trip to Hunter Valley for a wine tour sounds great and then, on the other day, sight see around town - maybe head to the Aquarium - and then go to an opera at the Sydney Opera House. Tripadvisor also highly recommends a bike tour through Bonza Bike Tours which sounds like a fun way to see all of the sights. I have been to Sydney and did the bridge walk - literally walking on top of the Harbour Bridge, but my husband hasn't so that might be an option. So many choices...
And then it is off to Perth. It more accurate to probably say that we are off to the western coast b/c we are immediately heading south to Margaret River wine country. I am really looking forward to the hotel that was booked for us: http://www.mirvachotels.com/quay-west-resort-bunker-bay and also looking forward to a tasting tour that includes: wine, beer, port, chocolate, and cheese. It sounds a bit rough on the stomach, but I figure the tour has that all sorted out. Then we are heading north to Ningaloo Reef in Exmouth (http://www.ningalooreef.net/ningaloo_reef/Ningaloo_Reef.shtml), one of the world's largest fringing coral reefs. We are going to do a 3 day dive safari that includes sleeping on tiny Muiron Island. Then we are heading south to Monkey Mia to probably the most touristy thing on the trip, but I don't care. We are staying there one night so that I can swim with wild dolphins. Apparently, they come right up to shore every day in Monkey Mia. I don't know why, but it is just something I really want to do. I don't want to touch them or pay to swim with them in some pool with them. I want to see them wild. We were supposed to be able to swim with dolphins in Egypt and it didn't happen and I was SO disappointed. Anyways...
Then we are back to Perth for a night before flying back to reality. Wow! It's a lot! I didn't put in websites for everything, but I figure people that are interested can just google.
I am starting to think about packing and I already know it is going to be a tight fit. Oh well, it is a fun thing to worry about :)
Anyone that has any tips or thoughts from their trips to Australia...please let me know.
For the first time ever, I went to a travel agency for help. That is a big deal for me b/c I normally love the minutiae of travel planning, but Australia and a month of travel was just getting overwhelming. That and I am getting back to working full time and starting to workout again and starting to volunteer at a non-profit. We used Walkabout Australia and I highly recommend it! We got basically the entire trip planned in 3 hours. My heart was racing when we left the office. We really did it!
So our plan is to go, in this order, to Darwin, Cairns, Sydney, and Perth. In Darwin, we are going on a 3 day safari to the Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. We are actually going to stay in permanent tents! I am already having flashbacks of Girl Scout Camp. The trip includes a wild crocodile cruise, learning about and seeing Aboriginal rock art, and a visit to Twin and Jim Jim Falls.
From there, we fly to Cairns. We are going to do a day trip to Kuranda Rainforest by taking the scenic train from Cairns and then taking what they call a skyrail back (http://www.skyrail.com.au/). It is basically an enclosed ski lift back. We are also going to do an two night trip to the Daintree National Park and actually stay near a beach in the rain forest at Cape Tribulation (http://www.daintreecoast.com/cape-tribulation.html).
And then...it is off on a 7 day live aboard SCUBA diving trip to the Great Barrier Reef. This is real reason for our trip. It is just THE place to go diving...well, we hear. Planned stops are the Code Hole, Coral Sea, and Ribbon Reefs. We will be doing 3-5 dives per day. We are just SO excited about it.
After the live aboard, we have a few nights to recover and get used to dry land again in Cairns before flying to Sydney for 3 nights. Now that I look at all there is to do in Sydney, I am kind of wishing we had more time there. A day trip to Hunter Valley for a wine tour sounds great and then, on the other day, sight see around town - maybe head to the Aquarium - and then go to an opera at the Sydney Opera House. Tripadvisor also highly recommends a bike tour through Bonza Bike Tours which sounds like a fun way to see all of the sights. I have been to Sydney and did the bridge walk - literally walking on top of the Harbour Bridge, but my husband hasn't so that might be an option. So many choices...
And then it is off to Perth. It more accurate to probably say that we are off to the western coast b/c we are immediately heading south to Margaret River wine country. I am really looking forward to the hotel that was booked for us: http://www.mirvachotels.com/quay-west-resort-bunker-bay and also looking forward to a tasting tour that includes: wine, beer, port, chocolate, and cheese. It sounds a bit rough on the stomach, but I figure the tour has that all sorted out. Then we are heading north to Ningaloo Reef in Exmouth (http://www.ningalooreef.net/ningaloo_reef/Ningaloo_Reef.shtml), one of the world's largest fringing coral reefs. We are going to do a 3 day dive safari that includes sleeping on tiny Muiron Island. Then we are heading south to Monkey Mia to probably the most touristy thing on the trip, but I don't care. We are staying there one night so that I can swim with wild dolphins. Apparently, they come right up to shore every day in Monkey Mia. I don't know why, but it is just something I really want to do. I don't want to touch them or pay to swim with them in some pool with them. I want to see them wild. We were supposed to be able to swim with dolphins in Egypt and it didn't happen and I was SO disappointed. Anyways...
Then we are back to Perth for a night before flying back to reality. Wow! It's a lot! I didn't put in websites for everything, but I figure people that are interested can just google.
I am starting to think about packing and I already know it is going to be a tight fit. Oh well, it is a fun thing to worry about :)
Anyone that has any tips or thoughts from their trips to Australia...please let me know.
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