Oysters, Cold Rain, and Terrific Family
Trip Start
Nov 17, 2009
1
39
Trip End
Sep 05, 2010
Where I stayed
Rob and Jen's Beach Cabin, Hood Canal
Seabeck, Washington
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Niece Jenifer and nephew-in-law Rob have a terrific beach cabin that they were gracious enough to offer us on the Hood Canal where we walked out at low tide and made pigs of ourselves on the oysters, more oysters than I have ever seen. They were also kind enough to give us a closet in their home for storage of the memorabilia we are unwilling to part with (that which could fit in a Ford Focus and a Ford Taurus. Lord, we looked like the Clampetts driving out west.) This is the final stateside visit before we leave for Indonesia.
We also spent time with Sisters Terry and Cathy, and nephew and niece in law John and Christy (trick-or-treating with Jen, Chad. and John's kids), and Wandering-man appreciates the sisters in particular for their help and hospitality. Terry put us up the first and last nights at her beautiful new home in Snohomish, while Cathy pretty much put her life on hold the whole time we were here to help us with the drudgery of the practical errands one must attend to before chucking it all.
Sold the Taurus, have a dealer selling the Focus on consignment, set up banking for the 10 month SEA adventure. The mundane tasks have been many, and Wandering-man declares them DONE. Fly out this afternoon SEA-LAX-BKK-Bali.
I may upload pics later, although the real Wandering has yet to begin.
Next post- Bali- much more interesting. Stay tuned.
Comments
Wooo! I'm excited for your big trip. Wish I could've seen pictures of the beach at low tide though.
Louise
Buddy, congratulations on doing what you and Deb have wanted to do so much. I think things will work out wonderfully for both of you in taking on a real adventure.
An unusually good omen occurred yesterday near the time when you were flying out - a little before 7:00 PM Eastern time. I was leaving work and noticed a buffet like food thing going on at one end of the very large atrium of the building I work in. I decided to walk over to see what it was (food attracts me) and found that it was the international students (colonels and brigadiar generals) at the National War College who had some kind of event going on. They and their families had brought in home cooked meals for the group (150 or so) for dinner after the event. You would just walk around and sample food from each country. Everyone was packing up when I walked out, and only a few still had food actually on their table, including an Indonesian Colonel and his wife. I told them that, amazingly, my cousin was either about to board, or was on board, a flight to their country and that I had never even had any Indonesian food in my life. They loaded up my plate and it was really great. A variety of items, so I got a nice sampling. They also gave me a travel brochure for the country. Really nice people.
Who would have dreamed of the chance circumstance of that happening.
Keep Mickey and I posted as you travel and, as I said, we hope to see you after you settle in. By the way, how rustic will it be where you end up? Talking about challenges, that may be a major one for us.
Good luck and the very best of wishes to you and Debby. Gary and Mickey
Hey Gary--
Thanks for the feedback. Writing a travel blog is like flying blind--you never know who is reading, if sending them automated email after email letting them know you did a new entry is welcome or annoying... and to hear from folks who read and enjoy the blog and pics is really encouraging.
We will end up in Mae Sot, Thailand. There are tourist quality lodgings there and we will have our own residence, where you and Mickey are welcome and invited to stay. (I know we seem bohemian in our travel practices, but I promise we will not live in a treehouse or photosynthesize for sustenance). The most physically difficult thing you will find is transport to the town. There is no airport. You can charter a taxi in Bangkok (frightfully expensive) or take the executive class overnight bus from the Mo Chit Northern Bangkok bus station (it's an 8 hour trip, leaves at 9:30 PM, arrives at dawn, very comfortable and you sleep the whole way-recommended.)
Food in Mae Sot is excellent and cheap. There is almost no refrigeration, so the chicken and spinach you eat today was slaughtered/picked this morning. Restaurants will not buy slaughtered chickens--for freshness they buy only live and slaughter themselves. If you tell them at home you eat chicken from a package that was slaughtered 4 days ago they will tell you that you are going to die. Soon.
Somwhat unrelated story-- I met a German guy- the first I have ever met who was funny--and he told me about chartering a boat from Bali to Sumbwa. Said the captain had no navigation instruments and sailed by the stars at night. They would call in port during the day.
It was a five day trip. Food was brought by the captain--five live chickens tied to his ankle. One of the chickens "went crazy" (according to the German) and died. The captain untied this chicken and threw him overboard. The German inquired, and the captain said "Cannot eat crazy chicken."
Happy holildays
Mickey will love the market--the biggest I have ever seen for a town this size. SIlk, cotton, hilltribes goods (mostly Akha) like clothing, colorful caps, shade grown coffee.. it is an adult portion.