Red Sea Ramble...
Water, water everywhere and not a place to land, so on to Suez.I probably owe a bit of an explanation regarding my snarly comments re the Omanian cab drivers. In India, you could drive all across Bombay for less than five US dollars. Shorter trips could be had for one, two or three dollars. [I can hear my friend Lee saying, "Oh, that is way too much, we had a cab for a day and it cost 60 rupees and we bought him lunch". Sorry, that isn't going to happen to us.]
In Salalah, the posted tariff from the ship to downtown [15 miles], was $26.30 U$. [I have converted the local currency.] Our driver originally stated $40, then he agreed to $30. Total, for four, OK? yes!, in we get. When it came time to pay him off, he wanted $120. Do you now understand my rage? Yes, we had lingered a bit and stopped twice, for less than 3/4 hour. The "waiting time" rate was posted at 6.30/hour U$.
We were not going to start World War III over this, but dammed if we were going to be taken for that big a ride. I am still ashamed to tell you what we paid, but it was a compromise shall we say. Comparisons with other countries are not a worthwhile exercise, but when these guys charge more than a New York taxi driver, that is going a bit too far.
Re the blog..... I have absolutely no idea who reads this thing. I do know there are few that look at it when there is nothing else better to do, and some may read it as a habit now, that is fine, that was the idea. I sometimes wonder if me putting all my thoughts and experiences down on 'paper' and them putting them out 'there' is a good idea or not. I do enjoy it and feel that I am at least trying to keep in touch with good friends and relatives around the world.
It is encouraging when we do get e-mails from people in the real world, and indicate that they enjoy it. This comment is precipitated by my good friend on Saltspring Island, BC, who says he likes it best when I am "pead off". Has that really happened? Yes, Gerald, I am still a devout attendee of the Tai Chi class, twice a day actually.
My tuxedo pants have shrunk, the humidity in India I suspect. Time for a closer attention to diet and exercise lest my roundness prompt comments from the grandchildren, whom we miss very much.
Suez tomorrow and then the Mediterranean.
posted by Doug and Fellette @ 8:45 PM
1 Comments:
isn't it strange that the humidity in India would shrink your pants --I have long suspected the humidity in B.C. of doing the same thing - was comforted to have my suspicions confirmed -- so it's back to the buffet -- you ARE a good friend - thank you !
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