Trip to Rockhampton, Australia
Date: June 30, 2007
Time: 17:10
Location: PDX
I’m about to embark on a 10 day paid vacation to Rockhampton, Australia – actually it’s a business trip with World Airways, but it might as well be a paid vacation considering I’ll only be working 10 hours total this trip in ten days. It will be a long 15 to 20 hour day for me headed over to Rockhampton, but the resort-like hotel on the other side will be a welcome change from the office where I’ve spent the past month focused on business and wedding photography. My partner Hunter allowed me to borrow his HD portable camcorder to record my journey, so I’m excited to try to conduct an insider’s perspective to the lifestyle of a flight attendant, which I commonly refer to these days as the Breakfast Club, a term used to describe the fact that breakfast seems to be a top priority and deciding factor of life for the flight attendants I commonly work with.
Life’s been pretty sweet but also hectic in these final days of preparation for my trip as well as last minute details for some projects at the office in addition to the mission trip to Uganda next month, which still has some viable kinks to be worked out with.
It’s also been a tight month for me with no work coming in from my day job and a new tenant who’s consistently late on paying me rent and keeping a consistent job. From the outside it seems that he’s more concerned with watching tv and downloading music, but on the bright side, he has completed paying all his dues so far even though it’s a constant chore to keep him in line and try to steer him into consistency – its like babysitting a 34 year old who’s still a kid trying to grow up. In some ways, it kind of reminds me of myself nearly 7 years ago to date. That gives me hope for him, that some day it all could change into a brilliant transformation for him, although when I am not certain.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Island of Bahrain
4/9/2005 5:53 PM
April is a great time to visit Bahrain. Odd to think an island comprised of 90% desert would be a comfortable oasis to visit, but there are a few things to like about it. In particular, the Hotel Novotel is a beautiful beach-side hotel with all the watersports you would want to accompany the 70-75F weather this time of year. That would include kayaking, windsurfing, jetskiing or beach volleyball. It’s Curves exercize center is sufficient for all your needs, with modern equipment and the pool is fantastic compared to the two other hotels I visited: The Sheraton Bahrain and the Diplomat Raddisson.
The location is the only possible issue, if you like to walk to everything in the area, but taxis are plentiful and inexpensive.
The Diplomat Raddisson is also close to the water and with 3 restaurants and live music in the evenings, it’s also a great place to park your evenings. The Crown Plaza next door has great nightlife with a singing band, but the F-1 Bar is a great place to taxi it to with its pool tables and live Canadian band 7 nights a week between 10 pm and 1am. Afterwards BJ’s is a great place for dancing from 1130 pm to 230 am.
Driving around the island was straightforward through the Raddison Diplomat’s World rental cars, where a jeep ran about $65/day with unlimited mileage. Gas here is about $1US per gallon, but you wouldn’t take more than 4 hours to drive around the entire island, although finding the famous tree of life in the middle of the desert is kind of a challenge, especially when all the sand and pipelines look the same, but it is an enjoyable finding once you figure the misleading street signs.
The Wildlife park for $3US includes an hour tour of middle eastern wildlife and the park is pleasant to visit and not far from the Formula 1 race track where every year around April 2-4th, a giant race with over 40,000 people occurs. The hotels in the area become quickly booked up at this point and should definitely be booked well in advance.
There are many malls with modern movie theaters, Starbucks and every other main department store you would want to shop at.
You can also venture to one of the many “Souk’s” in the area, local markets where discount merchandise of every variety abounds, especially tailor-to-fit jeans and dress shirts, cologne and a variety of local dried fruits and nuts.
Bahrain is one of the more lenient muslim countries, so don’t worry as much about covering up, except if you should decide to visit one of the many mosques in the area, where prayer is served 5 times a day and visiting hours are recommended between local prayer times.
There is a great Bahrain museum that has interesting artifacts and historical facts and figures that are well worth the inexpensive entrance fees.
Finally, diving in the gulf is definitely worth doing, if you have enough time and hire a private boat. The visibility along the shore is not the greatest but further out at sea, the diving is supposed to be fantastic and the visibility amazing.
Seattle’s Best Coffee with internet for $1/hour and leather lounges makes for a pleasant place to start your day and the cinnabon counter is right next to the coffee counter, so a good donut can be bought to go with your coffee if you like.
There are several great Indian restaurants in the area, most of them provide lunch and dinner buffets for about $5USD.
4/9/2005 5:53 PM
April is a great time to visit Bahrain. Odd to think an island comprised of 90% desert would be a comfortable oasis to visit, but there are a few things to like about it. In particular, the Hotel Novotel is a beautiful beach-side hotel with all the watersports you would want to accompany the 70-75F weather this time of year. That would include kayaking, windsurfing, jetskiing or beach volleyball. It’s Curves exercize center is sufficient for all your needs, with modern equipment and the pool is fantastic compared to the two other hotels I visited: The Sheraton Bahrain and the Diplomat Raddisson.
The location is the only possible issue, if you like to walk to everything in the area, but taxis are plentiful and inexpensive.
The Diplomat Raddisson is also close to the water and with 3 restaurants and live music in the evenings, it’s also a great place to park your evenings. The Crown Plaza next door has great nightlife with a singing band, but the F-1 Bar is a great place to taxi it to with its pool tables and live Canadian band 7 nights a week between 10 pm and 1am. Afterwards BJ’s is a great place for dancing from 1130 pm to 230 am.
Driving around the island was straightforward through the Raddison Diplomat’s World rental cars, where a jeep ran about $65/day with unlimited mileage. Gas here is about $1US per gallon, but you wouldn’t take more than 4 hours to drive around the entire island, although finding the famous tree of life in the middle of the desert is kind of a challenge, especially when all the sand and pipelines look the same, but it is an enjoyable finding once you figure the misleading street signs.
The Wildlife park for $3US includes an hour tour of middle eastern wildlife and the park is pleasant to visit and not far from the Formula 1 race track where every year around April 2-4th, a giant race with over 40,000 people occurs. The hotels in the area become quickly booked up at this point and should definitely be booked well in advance.
There are many malls with modern movie theaters, Starbucks and every other main department store you would want to shop at.
You can also venture to one of the many “Souk’s” in the area, local markets where discount merchandise of every variety abounds, especially tailor-to-fit jeans and dress shirts, cologne and a variety of local dried fruits and nuts.
Bahrain is one of the more lenient muslim countries, so don’t worry as much about covering up, except if you should decide to visit one of the many mosques in the area, where prayer is served 5 times a day and visiting hours are recommended between local prayer times.
There is a great Bahrain museum that has interesting artifacts and historical facts and figures that are well worth the inexpensive entrance fees.
Finally, diving in the gulf is definitely worth doing, if you have enough time and hire a private boat. The visibility along the shore is not the greatest but further out at sea, the diving is supposed to be fantastic and the visibility amazing.
Seattle’s Best Coffee with internet for $1/hour and leather lounges makes for a pleasant place to start your day and the cinnabon counter is right next to the coffee counter, so a good donut can be bought to go with your coffee if you like.
There are several great Indian restaurants in the area, most of them provide lunch and dinner buffets for about $5USD.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Eric David Productions
I have photographed a few concerts but my personal favorite is one of my best friends: Eric David. Here is a link to some of the photos I took from a concert in Newburg: Eric David in Newburg. In addition, word has it he's engaged to his fiance Jessica: photos of Eric and Jessica on September 22, 2007: Cannon Beach, Oregon. I'm his backup best man, so that's got to be worth something. (grin)
If you follow his link to his website up above: www.ericdavidmusic.com, you'll be able to purchase his songs online through myspace and follow his concerts. Please visit one of them, you'll be inspired. As he always told me when we were room-mates, he's not about success or money with his music, he follows a spiritual path that is Biblically based and if you listen to the lyrics and music, you'll be inspired to grow closer to God and catch on the hunger in his soul that we all share for completion in the spirit.
If you follow his link to his website up above: www.ericdavidmusic.com, you'll be able to purchase his songs online through myspace and follow his concerts. Please visit one of them, you'll be inspired. As he always told me when we were room-mates, he's not about success or money with his music, he follows a spiritual path that is Biblically based and if you listen to the lyrics and music, you'll be inspired to grow closer to God and catch on the hunger in his soul that we all share for completion in the spirit.
City Bible Church - Mill Plain Grand Opening
Mill Plain Grand Opening - and check out: www.citybiblechurch.org A vibrant growing community church located in Portland, Oregon with 3 locations, all connected by fiber optic network for the simulcasting of services between all locations on 40 foot screens. I have been a member of this church for four years and have been attending for six years. It is a truly dynamic church and I have grown to love the culture and the people there. When I am on the road and lonesome, I can always tune in to a message through podcasts online or through itunes and it always seems to be the message I needed to hear regardless of where I am at or what I am doing. This church is truly spirit-filled and there is also a powerful Bible College called Portland Bible College that is small but unique that is associated with CBC which trains young people in music and other ministries from all over the world. It's the reason we have sister churches all over the world as well.
Wedding of Dave and Jean
Wedding of Dave and Jean This was another small wedding which literally lasted 60 minutes from start to finish. There were a total of 9 people at this wedding which includes the videographer, the minister and myself as the photographer.
Wedding of Robert and Dalani
The Wedding of Robert and Dalani at the small historic Oaks Park Church in Portland, Oregon: This was a small but meaningful wedding on a beautiful sun-lit day that lasted 2 hours from start to finish.
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