"As-salaamu alaykom" (greeting, peace be upon you). You reply "wa-alaykom, is salaam".
Weather today 24°C, cloudy and warm; music whilst blogging, David Gray, Ray LaMontagne, Dido and Cat Stevens.
I can't load pictures to this blog, it takes ages, but I can load into Facebook, which is bizzare. So associated photos can be found on FB by clicking here.
Tip: the secret to this blogging lark is to remember what you did during the day, so make notes.
I’ve now unpacked at the 5 star Grand Millennium Hotel. You can tell the number of stars as it has free slippers and dressing gown but the 'look like free' biscuits you pay for. I laughed when the girl in reception gave me two card keys so that I could go out AND leave the air conditioning on. The whole point of such card keys that turn everything electrical on, is that they're not there when you are out so everything is off. Oh, the poor planet!
Left several things at home as usual. The travel plug was no problem as they had the sense to fit western type plugs here. No swimming goggles, but these are available in the Mall next to the hotel. Also no battery charger for the camera but I do have a spare so will probably survive. I explore the rooftop pool and after a brief nap, am woken by phone (oops) and collected for the short ride to the venue for tomorrow's training. The intention was for me to install the software needed on the 7 laptops we are to use. This proves difficult when we enter the room to discover 7 chairs but no laptops and in fact no tables! Am assured that they will there and available by 7.00am tomorrow so postpone the install. I have learned to "always expect the unexpected".
I return to the hotel via the shopping mall where I buy new swimming goggles. It's just like home, it has a Boots, Claire's and Next, and I have coffee and carot cake at Costa. The only noticeable differences, and what differences, are the smoking and the dress code.
I'm fascinated by the men in their white, full length dress shirts (the dishdash, isn't that lovely, or khandura, I want one) and white or red checked headdress (the gutra) and the women in long, loose black (they obviously don't feel the heat) robes (the abaya). Some women cover their heads while others cover all but their eyes. The most striking appearance of all is a tall, slim, elegant woman who glides past me in an abaya plus a black veil which complete covers her face. I find this strangely alluring, which I'm sure defeats the object entirely.
Back to the hotel for dinner, delivered and served on a trolley (see the picture) by a very polite waiter, despite it only being two starters, and another quick nap. Wake and skype home (which is brilliant) and shower and dress to go out for the evening to tango, a milonga. Whilst in the shower, the doorbell (yes doorbell) rings again and I'm asked if I want my bed turned down. Am tempted but the asking is being done by a middle aged man with a bushy black moustache. Call a taxi at 9.45pm as while Jennie and friends are in Morley at a ball, I decide to visit a milonga at the other Millenium hotel in town.
Weather today 24°C, cloudy and warm; music whilst blogging, David Gray, Ray LaMontagne, Dido and Cat Stevens.
I can't load pictures to this blog, it takes ages, but I can load into Facebook, which is bizzare. So associated photos can be found on FB by clicking here.
Tip: the secret to this blogging lark is to remember what you did during the day, so make notes.
I’ve now unpacked at the 5 star Grand Millennium Hotel. You can tell the number of stars as it has free slippers and dressing gown but the 'look like free' biscuits you pay for. I laughed when the girl in reception gave me two card keys so that I could go out AND leave the air conditioning on. The whole point of such card keys that turn everything electrical on, is that they're not there when you are out so everything is off. Oh, the poor planet!
Left several things at home as usual. The travel plug was no problem as they had the sense to fit western type plugs here. No swimming goggles, but these are available in the Mall next to the hotel. Also no battery charger for the camera but I do have a spare so will probably survive. I explore the rooftop pool and after a brief nap, am woken by phone (oops) and collected for the short ride to the venue for tomorrow's training. The intention was for me to install the software needed on the 7 laptops we are to use. This proves difficult when we enter the room to discover 7 chairs but no laptops and in fact no tables! Am assured that they will there and available by 7.00am tomorrow so postpone the install. I have learned to "always expect the unexpected".
I return to the hotel via the shopping mall where I buy new swimming goggles. It's just like home, it has a Boots, Claire's and Next, and I have coffee and carot cake at Costa. The only noticeable differences, and what differences, are the smoking and the dress code.
I'm fascinated by the men in their white, full length dress shirts (the dishdash, isn't that lovely, or khandura, I want one) and white or red checked headdress (the gutra) and the women in long, loose black (they obviously don't feel the heat) robes (the abaya). Some women cover their heads while others cover all but their eyes. The most striking appearance of all is a tall, slim, elegant woman who glides past me in an abaya plus a black veil which complete covers her face. I find this strangely alluring, which I'm sure defeats the object entirely.
Back to the hotel for dinner, delivered and served on a trolley (see the picture) by a very polite waiter, despite it only being two starters, and another quick nap. Wake and skype home (which is brilliant) and shower and dress to go out for the evening to tango, a milonga. Whilst in the shower, the doorbell (yes doorbell) rings again and I'm asked if I want my bed turned down. Am tempted but the asking is being done by a middle aged man with a bushy black moustache. Call a taxi at 9.45pm as while Jennie and friends are in Morley at a ball, I decide to visit a milonga at the other Millenium hotel in town.
Oh, did I mention that due to an "administrative problem" the hotel cannot sell alcohol at the moment.
Back to my 4 Bs (we're 4 hours ahead of the UK), blog, BBC7 (via ipod recordings as no connection here), book and bed, as up at 6 to start the week which here runs Sun - Thu.
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