Some things Change A lot. . . and Some Only a Little:

This past weekend, I reunited with classmates to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of our high school graduation from Putnam City North. 

At the dinner on Saturday night,  Honorable Mentions were made for the following:  

1. Farthest distance traveled to attend the reunion.
2. Most recently married.
3. Longest married.
4. Youngest child.
5. Most children.
6. Most grandchildren.
7. Least changed since high school.
8. Most changed since high school.

I was nominated along with five classmates for the least changed.  (I’m not sure if this is a good thing or not, but I’m pretending it is.  What I’m really thinking is. . .  there are a lot of eyes that need exams because of vision changes.) 

I was second runner up to Jana Busch Thompson, who looks remarkable!  

After the reunion I thought about being one of the least changed.  I thought of the dreams I held for my life upon graduation compared to the vision I hold now, and whether or not they were different.  

One image came to mind . . . 

I took this picture in June of 1981 from the steps of the Diocletian Palace in former Split Yugoslavia, now Split Croatia.  It’s a simple image, but for me it was a defining moment.  

While my tour group continued into the palace, I stayed behind to capture the view with my camera.  The composition of this man reading a newspaper, framed by the window of his apartment building, caught my eye.  As I focused my lens and released the shutter, a feeling stirred in me. . . I want to spend my life looking in the windows of the world. 

In 2003, I sponsored a military officer from Bosnia at Ft. Sill Army Base in Lawton, OK.  I mentioned to him that I had taken a photograph standing on the steps of a palace, but couldn’t remember what city in Yugoslavia it was.  He immediately replied, “I think it must have been the Diocletian Palace in Split.”

So in the summer of 2003 I joined Samir and his family during their vacation, and retraced my steps to the fortress.   As I entered the square, a feeling of warmth and familiarity came back to me.  The same energy I had felt on my first visit.  

I took this picture. . . 

As you can see. . . some things change a lot. . . and some only a little. 

Thirty years and thirty countries later, the feeling remains strong.  I still carry a camera and a heart of wanderlust.  

I wonder how many of my classmates are living experiences they dreamt of in high school, or are doing things they never imagined at all.   I hope everyone!

It was a tremendous reunion!  I can't wait to see what the next ten years holds!

Jennifer

The Lucky Nomad

Ssshhh! It's the Weary/Wary Nomad's Birthday!

This year if your special day falls during my Around the World travels you can bet you'll have a foreign theme, the food and gift included.

Today is Lynn's (The Weary/Wary Nomad) birthday!  In case you haven't figured it out, he's my significant other.   And as you can guess, birthdays are not his thing.  In fact he dreads them.  His biggest fear in life is that I'll throw him a surprise party and invite his closest friends.
I've been known to do that but never to him.

One of our favorite shops is owned by a Chinese man.  It's very typical of the long stalls in Shanghai in the market district.  Goods stacked to the ceiling and lots of them.  When we have the urge to visit China and the flights are booked, we stop in here and take a little tour with our guide Mr. Chang.

Unfortunately, I'm not at liberty to discuss the name of the shop because it's a wholesale place for artists and decorators.  So I can't post names or locations until otherwise notified.  But I had to share my excursion with you because I promised I would.

Every holiday I struggle with what to get my man who has everything.  Clothes are not an option.  He's too picky and too difficult for clothing.  He has all the latest gadgets.  He's one of those guys that buys the first release or downloads the latest upgrade.  Remember, I'm the gal who just bought an iPhone4G leaving my flip phone behind.  I miss her.

So I thought I'd shop in China for his gift.  However, many of the pieces are very expensive so I would have to find something in my budget.

The door was locked when I arrived but Mr. Chang opened it welcoming me inside.  He's a very, kind and gentle man whom we've gotten to know over the few years.  Visiting his shop is like visiting a museum.  Each time I go, I learn more about Chinese history and art.  We've taken friends and family on several occasions just to meet him and experience his store.  Our last visit was on my birthday.  A group of us stopped in for a look and before we knew it, we were drinking sodas and listening to Mr. Chang play the organ.  I haven't had this experience in any department store recently.  Have you?

I wound through aisles of furniture, brass horses, jade buddhas and giant clay pots.  I opened boxes with cloisonne eggs and frogs while asking questions about age, history and price. I had a couple of things in mind but wanted to look around carefully incase I'd missed that something special.

Then on a back shelf behind a brass gong I found several dusty, red clay teapots.  Mr. Chang told me they were 100+ years old.  He'd bought a case of them back in the 70's.  The Chinese government purchased them from the people in the country for the purpose of reselling them. And if I understood him correctly, he bought them at a government auction in China.  I decided on this one for it's shape and handles.

I'm leaving the tape and dust on it for a more authentic feel.  Besides Lynn likes cleaning and polishing his old treasures and so I don't want to rob him of this pleasure.

Notice the small stamp on top of the lid.  This is the artist's signature.

I know what you maybe thinking.  What man wants a teapot for his birthday?

Well, I'll just tell you that the men in my life are unusual and love unique things.  My grandfather being one of them.  I loved him to bits!  That's him over there to the right with my grandmother.  He had a collection of antique teapots that he'd brought home from around the world.  Most of them came from Asia.  I guess you could say I have a thing for men who like teapots.  I also have a thing for men who collect foo dogs. But that's another story for another trip.  I'll write more on China later.

I also chose this snuff bottle as a gift from Buddy (our dog).  Lynn picked this up during our last visit so I know he'll like it.  It's small and black and white like Buddy.  I think it's perfect for him to give.

After making my selections, I sat and totaled my invoice. He has you do this, which I think is nice.  Mr. Chang offered me a root beer and gathered up a few more items and boxes.  He handed me four small figurines to give to The WN for his birthday along with his best wishes.

We sat a little longer discussing the American and Chinese economies.  As I left I thought of all the people I was meeting from the different countries I visited.  Each person shared something with me that they loved.  Whether food, art, religion or culture, they all had one thing in common.  Passion.  And they have traveled their own long and arduous journeys to get here.  This is the part of travel I love.

Oh, and this present.  Technically, it was made in China.  However, it has nothing to do with travel but everything to do with me being a little bit nerdy.  Okay, A LOT nerdy!

Tonight we'll meet "me mum" in Italy for the birthday celebration!   It's The WN's favorite food and country.

Happy Birthday Lynn!!
I love ya, Jenn

The International?? Arts Festival

We went . . .

We saw . . .

We ate . . .

We bought . . .

The International Arts Festival didn't seem to be as "International" as I had anticipated.  Fortunately, for me I could count this excursion because I captured this image of a man sporting a kilt. If you look closely enough, you'll see that he as a "wee Scotty dog" on his
shirt so I'll give this post to Scotland.

If you look even closer at the picture of the corn, just to the left, you'll see a bottle of seasoning labeled "Italian".  Hey, when I started this journey, I made no promises as to how or what I would consider a foreign country.  You take what you can get!

Please note that I have refrained from raving about the corn as I have done this in several previous posts.  It was delicious, not loco, but very tasty!

Guid Eenin,
The Lucky?? Nomad

The artist who made the pottery bottles is Debbie Little from McKinney, Texas.  You can check out her site here http://www.dlittlepottery.com/.  She has some wonderful pieces and is from the International City of Enid, OK.

From Saigon to the Kalahari

The other night my mom and I stopped in Saigon to pick-up a few vegetables.  We came across many items that looked similar or related to produce we buy on a regular basis.  And many things we simply couldn't name.

Here are just a few:

This is a Jackfruit.  It can get up to 80lbs.  It grows on a tree that's in the Mulberry family.
Would you have guessed this to be a Mulberry?

A very nice man from India saw us admiring this fruit and photographing it.  He gave us a little history and told us how to eat it.  Unfortunately, these were not ripe and there were none cut ready to try.  We couldn't taste it unless we bought the canned version.  He didn't recommend trying that at all.

King Mushrooms

Enoki Mushrooms

Many varieties of mushrooms, none of which were Portobello.

Roots and Yams.  The larger one to the right in the middle is Taro.  I have tried
the Taro flavored yogurt at Pink Swirl.  I did not care for it:(.

Whte Eggplant

Green Eggplant

But no Purple Eggplant.

And looooooonnnnnnnnggggg beans!  The longest I've seen.  I'm thinking one per serving.

Quail eggs.

Twenty-five egg omelette anyone?

Dragon Fruit

Dragon Fruit or Pitaya is the fruit from a cactus of the genus Hylocereus.  I've never tasted this variety but I've eaten the fruit of a prickly pear cactus.  It's popular in South Africa among the children in the desert.

Once while traveling with a priest in the Kalahari, we were caught in a flash flood.  The water rushed like a river down the road and within minutes was up to the door handles of our small bakkie (Toyota pick-up truck).  Finally forced to stop, the water swept us into the ditch.  With no way to get ourselves out, we were stuck in the middle of no where.  

After 30 minutes or so, two African cowboys rode up on horses.  They spoke in Afrikaans so we couldn't understand a word.  They tried to help push us out, but no luck.  One of the men had hot-pink, swollen lips. Dry and cracked, they looked tender and painful. I kept staring at him and thinking, "Oh dear he must have some form of lip cancer from being out in the sun so much."

After several unsuccessful attempts to move the vehicle, the two men spoke a few words, gestured, mounted their horses and rode over the dunes.  The man of the cloth thought we'd seen the last of them.  Oh ye of little/no faith.

I on the other hand had been stranded many times on empty country roads in Oklahoma. Stuck in ditches.  Spinning my wheels until my axel was buried in the mud.  There's an etiquette in the country and it's universal.  If you come upon someone stuck in a "bar ditch" you get them out.  I never doubted they'd be back.

Within another 20 minutes or so, we heard the moaning of a loud diesel engine.  We saw no sign of houses for miles so it was quite a surprise to see the two cowboys top the hill followed by a man on a tractor.

The water receded as quickly as it had come.  We climbed back into the bakkie, thanked the men for rescuing us and headed on to the next village.

"Man, that cowboy's lip looked terrible." I said.  "I've never seen lips that color. Do you think he has a form of mouth cancer?"

Bewildered by my comment, the priest looked at me, thought for a moment and then broke into
an embarrassing laughter.  "His lips are red from eating cactus fruit!"

The entire time we were digging sand out from underneath the driveshaft of the bakkie, my mind worried over the man with cancerous lips and how we might get him proper medical care.  Never once was I worried about being lost in the desert and never found.

Not sure how I started out in Saigon and ended up in the Kalahari.  But that's what I know about cactus fruit!

All my best,
Jenn

The Second Reason for Parking My Camel

In my previous entry I mentioned my iPhone 4G as part of the reason I've been so haphazard in posting.  I became so carried away with html coding, or the lack of, that I forgot to mention the other reason I've been away.

I've had my new iPhone now  for a little over two weeks and have not been able to access my iTunes account.  Even though I double and triple checked all of my information it kept telling me that it didn't match my bank's records.  So I called my  bank to verify my data.  If you're wondering why I'm blogging about this, it's because I consider it a visit to a foreign country.  The lady on the other end of the line had an accent and I'm sure she was from Bangladesh.  So that counts.

She confirmed that everything was correct and stayed on the line while I continued my application on iTunes.  Each time I completed the iTunes account info I clicked the tab labeled done and got the same message . . .  The information you have entered does not match your bank's records.  That means I could not purchase anything from iTunes correct?  Correct.

However, while I am talking to the lady she is telling me that for every entry I make and click done, iTunes is charging me a dollar.  So now I'm at 20 clicks, which translates 20.00 and I'm still getting the same message.  Would someone please explain to me how my account is not valid and yet before my eyes the charges are being recorded on my billing information.

I closed iTunes and decided to wait until a later date and try again.  So while I'm giving it a few days, I have a debit card compromised.  Another day goes by and another credit card is compromised.  Now I've had to cut up two cards leaving me no access to an account that I can list on iTunes for payment, which won't accept them anyway.   However, two bozo's are traveling the world using my credit/debit card information to purchase whatever they want whenever they want without any hassle or id.

Today my cards were replaced.  I could now try again to access my account.  I called Apple support and talked to a young guy I'll call Paul.  Finally, after several failed attempts I was able to get one of the cards to work.  I was good to go.  I thanked Paul and asked him if he'd ever had this kind of problem when using his iPhone.  His reply. "I don't have an iPhone.  I don't even have a cell phone.  They're too addictive."  My reply.  "Where were you when I bought this thing?  I could have stayed with my raggedy ole flip phone which never gave me any trouble."

Hmmm, I wonder what Steve Jobs would say?

Jenn

Parked Camels and the Pentagon

I have not abandoned my camel on some remote dune or wandered off toward a mirage and lost my way.  And though you haven't seen a trace of me on this blog, I've been traveling every chance I get.  Which lately has been limited to 30 minute trips and drive-by's.  I just haven't been able to post my experiences.  My apologies to the three of you that have been following diligently along with me.  However, I must tell you that I have plenty of valid reasons for being absent for so long.

Remember my post on the iPhone 4G?  Well, there in lies a big part of the problem.  The other being that I spent hours trying to design a personalized background for this blog, which I think turned out quite nice and I'll show you in a photo below . . . because that's the only way I can.

Bright and  cheery don't you think?

After getting it nearly completed, I decided to try and load it myself by changing the html coding .  After many late nights and hacking into the pentagon, I finally gave up and decided I would have to seek professional help.

A few days later my dad logged on to my blog and gave me a call.  "I really like your background with the pictures of your grandparents", he said.  "What?"  I went to my computer pulled up my blog and there it was, sand.  No photos, nothing.  But he had to be seeing my new design or he couldn't have described it to me.  I hadn't told anyone about the changes because there weren't any to see. Or so I thought.

I tried three different computers.  Then it occurred to me.  He must be using a different browser.  He was.  Somehow the changes I made showed up as a garbled mess on Firefox but not on the other browsers.

So if you are one of the three people following this blog and you happen to be using Firefox, OMG, I don't even know what to say to you.  I bet you'll agree that it looks like something from Wikileaks that the Pentagon would not want out.  I would fix it, but I don't know how.

I am happy to make a couple of suggestions to make your viewing easier. Choose another browser or help me find someone who can do html coding and help me get this thing fixed!

I think it should be more apparent as to why I have been so inconsistent with my posting.
I appreciate your patience and understanding.  And for goodness sakes, please come back!

Jenn
The Lucky?? Nomad

Elote Loco - Andale!

I've found a food that could become an addiction and/or a slow but delicious death.

My mom and I finally made it to the Taco Truck on 16th at the right time. It makes its debut at dusk.  Rolling into the parking lot, the owners slide open the the service window and set-up a few plastic chairs and tables. They're ready for business.

                                            

We were the first to arrive.  I had eaten in four other countries during the previous 24 hrs so I wasn't very hungry.  I thought I'd keep it simple and choose a beef taco and one serving of the Elote Loco.

I'll get straight to the point and not waste your time with flowery words or poetry. Be in line on Friday night at dusk!  Be the first to get there and order the "Elote Loco".  Tell them I sent you!  I have not stopped thinking about that corn since I took my first bite under the street light in the parking lot of El Mariachi!!  Yes, Yes, the tacos were great, but if I were you I'd just make the Elote the main course and have a taco later!

Here she is on the left...isn't she lovely?

One of the chefs from the truck came out to take a few photos for us, but I'm not posting those. This isn't about me, it's about the experience, not to mention . . . my mom would kill me!

I asked him what goes into this intoxicating corn and he gave me a list of these low-fat and healthy ingredients:

Corn,  butter, cotija (Mexican cheese), mayonnaise, chili powder, red pepper, parmesan cheese and a lime.  

All of these ingredients are layered on top of the corn then you stir it together before eating.

The combination is rich and savory with a bite!  Something about the chili and red pepper makes it "loco bueno"!  If you come to my house for Thanksgiving this year, it's going to have a Latino twist.

I thought you might enjoy the view from our table.  If you've been following
along, then you may recognize the restaurant across the street.

On Sunday I rummaged through the pantry for something  to eat.  I thought of the corn from Friday night's visit to Mexico (via Guatemala) and would've gotten in my car and driven across town to get some.  However, they are not parked at El Mariachi at that time of the day.  I'm assuming they only work at night.  If I'm wrong about this, please refrain from telling me. I don't want the luxury of knowing that I can eat this goodness whenever I get a craving.

And then it dawned on me.  I had frozen corn in the fridge and all the fixins except the cotija cheese.  I added extra Parmesan.

The End,

Jenn

The first person to name the restaurant across the street in the picture above will win a prize!
Sorry, Mom you can't guess.  You were there and you're family.

                                      

A Brief Stop in Cambodia

My stop in Cambodia was brief.  I've not been able to find much in regard to the country here in Oklahoma.  So when I found the Lotus Restaurant in Lawton that offered Vietnamese, Thai and Cambodian cuisine, I opted on calling this stop Cambodia.  I have the luxury of choosing which country is represented while doing this type of travel. There are so many Vietnamese and Thai restaurants that I'll have trouble picking when I visit those countries.

A side note:

Just this month, the trial of  Kaing Guek Eav or Duch was in the news.  A former Khmer Rouge prison chief who oversaw crimes of savagery during the killing fields regime over thirty years ago.  He was given only a 19 year sentence for these heinous crimes reminding us of the continual injustice occurring in Cambodia.  Please remember  the people as they work to rebuild a more just and prosperous nation.

It was late in the afternoon when I stopped so the restaurant had only one other customer.  I asked the woman at the counter which of the many choices were Cambodian and she pointed out three dishes on the menu from which I could choose.  Pepper Steak, Lok Lak and Pickled Green Garden.  I chose the Pickled Green Garden because it sounded the most unique.

So with my new fangled iPhone4G, I took these photos for you.  

You may choose Chicken, Beef, Pork or Shrimp stir-fried with green pickled veggies, tomatoes, white onion, jalapeños in oyster sauce.

Not bad for a phone image and certainly a little more discreet than waving a Canon 5D MKII over your plate with a flash. 

Although the Pickled Greens had a nice fresh flavor, I was disappointed that there weren't more choices.  I found a picture online of a popular delicacy and was hoping I could report back to you with news of finding an authentic Cambodian Restaurant with all the fixins.

Photo Courtesy of Google

I thought a plate of fried tarantulas would be a nice change of pace.  Something light during this heatwave we've been experiencing.  I'm pretty sure these would be better with gravy.

I apologize for not having more to report from Cambodia except that the food and service was great at the Lotus Restaurant in Lawton.  If you have any other suggestions on expanding my experience of Cambodia in Oklahoma, by all means please get in touch with me.  And if you've eaten a tarantula lately, I want to hear about it!

Happy Travels,

Jenn

Baseball, Hot Dogs, Cheese Fries and Chevrolet

Over the weekend I returned for a visit to the ole "Red, White and Blue."
I had to get fresh clothes and decided while I was home I should take an American excursion.  What says America better than baseball?  And what says baseball better than the Red Sox?

So the Wary Nomad and I packed our BoSox shirts and caps and headed south to Arlington, TX.  Texas, you say?  I know.  This trip is supposed to be in Oklahoma.  Here's how I looked at it.  I felt it was fair to use this in my 80 days trip because the Red Hawks are a farm team for the Texas Rangers.  Technically, this is an extension of Oklahoma.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

However, I learned later that the Red Hawks are no longer the Triple A - Affiliate for the Rangers. So my weak attempt at claiming this as an extension of Oklahoma was just that.  Weak.  Thank you Nolan Ryan for clearing that up!

Saturday was the best day.  It was only 99˚F at 7:00 pm, the Red Sox won and we ate this:

Have I already mentioned that the Red Sox won?

Sunday was a different day all together.  Let me just start out by saying that the game began at 2:05.  The temperature was 102˚F with a heat index of at least 105+, our seats were the first row in the shade until after 3:00 and the Red Sox lost.  I'm not a sports writer so I will not recap either of the games.  Check your sports page for that.

Something happens to your brain when you sit in extreme heat and watch your team lose.  I found myself thinking of ideas for new t-shirt slogans.   Such as "Hit the Ball, Bill Hall" and on the back, "Bill Hall, Hit that Ball."  Or better yet, "I'll take an extra hot Saltalamacchia".  None of this means a thing if you don't know the Red Sox or Starbucks. Maybe it wasn't the heat affecting my mind, rather the cheese fries.  

                                       

All that being said, I love Mike Lowell, The Red Sox and Cheese Fries. 

photo courtesy of google

                                           

Did I say Mike Lowell?  It's the heat.

Go BoSox,

Jennifer

Becky-FYI- you'll be glad to know that the Red Hawks may become the Triple A - Affiliate for the White Sox.