D-Day Invasion- "Strange"-ly Imminent!! TRIP REPORT IS UP!!

[All7OfUs]

Liesa!!! I am finally all caught up...tears shed, a few giggles and many worries over your hand - which I hope is looking and feeling better today. BUT this last did me in tear wise - indeed, God is good.


I must agree that you have at least one book in you...me suspects more than one. It would be a gift and blessing to all who would have the opportunity to read such a book.

P.s. How's the doglet mama and her pups doing? She couldn't help it..her mama instincts jumped is - something we can appreciate - although I am very sorry she made flesh contact .

Maybe someday, I'll get it all on paper. Writing IS something I like to do (I'm not nearly as good as a lot of others around here), but takes a lot of time.

Daisy is fine, although everytime she has a litter, she gets this nasty skin problem. She has torn and licked off all the fur on her right hind quarter, so much that it's raw, and oozing. I'm really afraid it's going to become infected. I don't know if it's like an allergic reaction or a hormonal thing...

Yes.. it was yours truly!!!!!!

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35500666&postcount=286

Great view huh? WHO CARES.... I was in my happy place!!!!

I thought I remember it being you. Glad my long-term memory stands in tact.

I agree whole heartedly Liessa !! Reminds me of the Starfish Story!!! You made a difference to that one

I remember that post! Bless your heart! We would have requested a room change - that is our dreaded POP view!!!

I'm never sure if requesting a room change is worth the hassle. I'm so antsy to be IN the parks that I'm not sure I'd take the time to do a switcheroo.

 

[All7OfUs]

Christine pointed out to me that I had trees in front of my room , I hadn't noticed !!! My favorite spot at Pop is to sit on the benches in the morning by the Lake !! It is soo peaceful and pretty!!

Might be something I'll have to do; although, I'm never very good at just sitting. I like to be on the move!

I guess I shouldn't be too surprised that you can't get vaccines or snip jobs. It seems to be on the bottom of the to-do list outside of North America and parts of Europe. Too bad those male dogs can't keep things under control!!

I love the fact that you referenced Sound of Music. I that movie. I grew up watching it. My favourite scene is the puppet show with the yodellers. Can't get enough of that song. And Julie Andrews is fantastic...in that and in Mary Poppins

Well, it's not like they have any pants to keep zipped up...


I wish I could yodel!!! Seriously, I'm going to ask if I can do that in heaven. That, and ice skating.

Why is it always the males?

Testoterone?

 

[winkers]

I love the wild flowers.....the accomodations and breakfast..not so much.

I think I need to send my kids there for a few days....after that oatmeal they would never again complain about my breakfast offerings..

 

[winkers]

I just wanted to share something totally amazing, and wonderful and downright cool from Sunday. Most of you know that we've been working here for years- many years. We've had medical emergencies, lonliness, disagreements with neighbors, visits by the secret police, you name it...




But I'd take that, and 100 days in a row of 115 degree weather, 200 dog bites, sketchy internet, AND only carrots, potatoes and onion all winter long to see one man come to the Lord, as we got to see yesterday.



I wept as he said he been searching so long for peace with God; it was beautiful beyond words.



I think it was the Lord's sweet way of confirming to us that we can leave in peace from here, knowing we've made even just one small difference.


Just had to share that.

I'm sure you have done more for the people you have served than you could ever possibly realize!

 

[All7OfUs]

I love the wild flowers.....the accomodations and breakfast..not so much.

I think I need to send my kids there for a few days....after that oatmeal they would never again complain about my breakfast offerings..

Very good point! Mine make their own, and it's usually corn flakes (the only cereal we can get), fried eggs or melted cheese sandwiches.

I'm sure you have done more for the people you have served than you could ever possibly realize!

I (hopefully) will have to wait a long time to find out how. I can say that a fair amount of villagers have access to water now. Can you imagine schools and hospitals without ANY running water??!!!

 

[All7OfUs]

Glad to hit the road again, we piled in the van and left. Just in time for rush hour in the Big City- which is pretty much all day there. I think we left around 10:00, and only by 12:00 we were on the outskirts of town, where the “highway” turned back into a 2 lane road. Maybe it’s just me, but when trucks going 60 MPH pass coming head-on leaving literally inches to spare, I nearly mess my pants. It happened, ohhhh…. I don’t know, about 50 times over the next 4 hours.

Now, some things you can read and trust. Others you cannot. The sign that told us there was a border crossing “THAT WAY” ended up being one you could not. We drove “that way” for about a half an hour, and pulled up to said post. We should have known that a country at war would close all of its minor posts, but we, apparently, were in idiot-mode. Backtracking, we found the main crossing and got in line. Let me just say, that the line was rather short. I guess there aren’t many folks as stupid as us, who actually WANTED to get INTO Kyrgyzstan. Whatever, we had the resort mostly all to ourselves, and it worked out fine.

WDW vs. Driving in Central Asia: A GPS does absolutely NOTHING in either place.

Passengers have to cross separately from their cars, so the kids and I got out and started to navigate the series of checks and windows- all 4. As usual everyone was amazed and bewildered that we could speak Blankistani, and as usual it gave us big bonus points and lots of smiles. We basically breezed through in about 20 minutes, which is actually a lot faster than a few times we've crossed into Germany or especially the US- where we’ve had to wait up to an hour! Then, pulling up a filthy piece of sidewalk, we waited. Just about the time, we heard the “I need a bathroom” chorus, the van pulled up and we were set to go.

In our whole trip up to now, we’d not been pulled over even once by the road police. But, wouldn’t ya know it? Not more than 30 seconds into Kyrg. We get pulled over. Then again 5 minutes later. It was starting to get irritating- we still had a LONG way to go that night!

WDW vs. Driving in Central Asia: Security is everywhere, but at WDW it’s a little more victim friendly.

At 8:00, we HAD to stop to eat, and found a great place to both change our money AND get some authentic Lagman- home-thrown noodles, with a spicy meat and vegetable stew. It was one of the best meals we’d had on our trip. It was also the last cabbage –free meal we’d have for a week. We watched part of a World Cup game on the wall mounted TV alongside a VERY drunk bunch of young adults, and made a hasty exit so as to not get stuck in trouble.

With only a couple hours left in our trip, we hit the road once again. This time at the entrance to the “Ecological Park of Lake Issyk-Kul” we hit a military road block. It was there that we first really let it sink in that these boys meant business. There were dozens of armed soldiers and police pulling everyone over. They were searching some cars quite carefully, but only gave us a cursory glance. I think the passel of kids tipped them off that we weren’t too terribly threatening.

WDW vs. Driving in Central Asia: Passels of kids aren’t too terribly threatening- except when they try to hork your parade spot.

By now, we were very sleepy and eager to get to our destination. But we got one last kinda cool “treat” along the way. The cottonwood trees were in full bloom, and the wind had picked up from the thunderstorms on the mountains all around us. At one point, as we were driving through a “tunnel” of cottonwoods, the wind was blowing so much fluff off the trees that we thought it had started snowing!! It really looked JUST LIKE driving through a snowstorm, and was so fun. Pulling up to the guarded gate, we rang the bell, and were greeted by the guard and his two mangy dogs. They told us to wait while he woke up the administrator…. Were they ready for us?? How would this place compare to the last dump?

WDW vs. Driving in Central Asia: The make fake snow in WDW too, but I won’t get to see it, at least this year. And they are only sometimes ready for you at WDW.

 

[Flossbolna]

I (hopefully) will have to wait a long time to find out how. I can say that a fair amount of villagers have access to water now. Can you imagine schools and hospitals without ANY running water??!!!

I arrived at work this morning to find out that the bathrooms have no running water at the moment... And already I am annoyed (I have to walk to another part of the building). But not having any running water at all must be so difficult and I am sure that it makes such a huge difference in overall standard of living to have access to a safe water supply!

 

[All7OfUs]

I arrived at work this morning to find out that the bathrooms have no running water at the moment... And already I am annoyed (I have to walk to another part of the building). But not having any running water at all must be so difficult and I am sure that it makes such a huge difference in overall standard of living to have access to a safe water supply!

Did a pipe burst? ARe they doing some remodelling?? Hmm....

It is VERY annoying to not have water. Like if you are cooking and need to quickly rinse your hands, the obvious restroom needs, or even a drink!

The poor staff at the kindergarten and schools and hospital were hand carrying it in by buckets. Yikes!

 

[burly]

50 times!! those must have been really really messy pants...
The story, about the man, finding his way, probably down a path you paved......priceless. God Bless You. Thanks for sharing.

I love following along on your journey.....

Thanks for having me(us)

are you sleeping? oh it's okay, everyone is.....

 

[All7OfUs]

50 times!! those must have been really really messy pants...
The story, about the man, finding his way, probably down a path you paved......priceless. God Bless You. Thanks for sharing.

I love following along on your journey.....

Thanks for having me(us)

are you sleeping? oh it's okay, everyone is.....

Thankfully, the only messes were from cookie crumbs and spilled coke.

I love to tell a story- especially ones that encourage!!

Nope, not sleeping. Just finished lunch with some local friends- mmmm... mini-meatloaves and mashed taters.

 

[burly]

oh yeah that's right your time is kinda upside down from mine, and i am up in the middle of the night here


Can't sleep tonight, so catching up on TR's.

You are the only green light i have seen.....

HI!

 

[Flossbolna]

This time you ninja posted on me on your own thread... How did I miss this update??

WDW vs. Driving in Central Asia: Passels of kids aren’t too terribly threatening- except when they try to hork your parade spot.

I like that one!

The fake snow sounds really intriguing, we had some of it flying around here as well in the last weeks.

I can absolutely understand how you did not enjoy the traffic! My father and I once picked up Katharina after she had spent a few weeks teching German at a school in Poland. On our drive back from Poland we were on a normal country road leading towards the mountains between Poland and the Czech Republic. We were driving at the speed limit and constantly we were passed by passenger cars. Then suddenly my father said: "now we are going to get passed by a Turkish passenger coach." Katharina and I thought that this was a very funny joke - but then we realized that indeed there was a coach beside our car. And then came the next one. I think it was four or five in total and the "turkish coach" is in our family still the fixed term for dangerously passing other cars.

 

[All7OfUs]

oh yeah that's right your time is kinda upside down from mine, and i am up in the middle of the night here


Can't sleep tonight, so catching up on TR's.

You are the only green light i have seen.....

HI!

I like to be on in the middle of the night when I can; there is enough time to actually READ them (the threads) without too much of a threat of them growing too fast on you- ie. Jordan's...

This time you ninja posted on me on your own thread... How did I miss this update??



I like that one!

The fake snow sounds really intriguing, we had some of it flying around here as well in the last weeks.

I can absolutely understand how you did not enjoy the traffic! My father and I once picked up Katharina after she had spent a few weeks teching German at a school in Poland. On our drive back from Poland we were on a normal country road leading towards the mountains between Poland and the Czech Republic. We were driving at the speed limit and constantly we were passed by passenger cars. Then suddenly my father said: "now we are going to get passed by a Turkish passenger coach." Katharina and I thought that this was a very funny joke - but then we realized that indeed there was a coach beside our car. And then came the next one. I think it was four or five in total and the "turkish coach" is in our family still the fixed term for dangerously passing other cars.

I thought that might have been the case, when I saw the post before this one. I knew you'd eventually catch it, when you saw the title change.

Now I feel compelled to have a name for dangerous passing. Hmmm.... "A Kazakh Move" or "He pulled a Central Asian". Glenn is so much better at this stuff than me.

So, cottonwoods grow in Berlin too? I thought they mostly only grew in dry, warm climates?

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Might be something I'll have to do; although, I'm never very good at just sitting. I like to be on the move!

Liesa, I understand! I've walked around POP enjoying the lake that way, but never sit other than to eat!
Part of the joy of staying at the Polynesian is enjoying the resort - it slows guests down a bit, I think. It is so pretty and relaxing - I don't like to sit and do nothing, but that balcony is inviting. We like to sit out there for a bit in the morning - my dear friend and (former) WDW traveller always has her tea out there bright and early.

Yep, we've requested a room change a couple of times. We're those guests who enjoy a nice view; it is part of our vacation.

 

[glennbo123]

With only a couple hours left in our trip, we hit the road once again. This time at the entrance to the “Ecological Park of Lake Issyk-Kul” we hit a military road block. It was there that we first really let it sink in that these boys meant business. There were dozens of armed soldiers and police pulling everyone over. They were searching some cars quite carefully, but only gave us a cursory glance. I think the passel of kids tipped them off that we weren’t too terribly threatening.

I suppose it wouldn't have been a good idea to take a picture of the soldiers. Probably a good way to lose your camera and spend a few hours in the pokey?

The cottonwood trees were in full bloom, and the wind had picked up from the thunderstorms on the mountains all around us. At one point, as we were driving through a “tunnel” of cottonwoods, the wind was blowing so much fluff off the trees that we thought it had started snowing!!

James coined the term "tree tunnel" when he was just a tyke and we still use it.

Pulling up to the guarded gate, we rang the bell, and were greeted by the guard and his two mangy dogs. They told us to wait while he woke up the administrator….

Having a "Pink Panther" flashback....."Does your dog bite?" "No." <reaches down to pet dog, followed by sounds of growling, barking, and tearing of flesh, which you're all too familiar with> "I thought you said your dog doesn't bite!" "That's not my dog."

Also....

Loving the WDW vs. Central Asia comparisons.

Another great chapter title!

 

[All7OfUs]

Liesa, I understand! I've walked around POP enjoying the lake that way, but never sit other than to eat!
Part of the joy of staying at the Polynesian is enjoying the resort - it slows guests down a bit, I think. It is so pretty and relaxing - I don't like to sit and do nothing, but that balcony is inviting. We like to sit out there for a bit in the morning - my dear friend and (former) WDW traveller always has her tea out there bright and early.

Yep, we've requested a room change a couple of times. We're those guests who enjoy a nice view; it is part of our vacation.

I can slow down, and enjoy the view, but probably ONLY in WDW. And I can definitely see the Poly doing that. Esp. with a cool drink in hand and Tahitian drumming in the background...

I suppose it wouldn't have been a good idea to take a picture of the soldiers. Probably a good way to lose your camera and spend a few hours in the pokey?



James coined the term "tree tunnel" when he was just a tyke and we still use it.



Having a "Pink Panther" flashback....."Does your dog bite?" "No." <reaches down to pet dog, followed by sounds of growling, barking, and tearing of flesh, which you're all too familiar with> "I thought you said your dog doesn't bite!" "That's not my dog."

Also....

Loving the WDW vs. Central Asia comparisons.

Another great chapter title!

Actually, I have a surprise for you coming up... in a chapter (or 3 actually).

Pink Panther- one of our ALL TIME favorite flicks- EVER! I think before 7 weeks is over, I may have an eye twitch very similar to Cluseau's

Yeah, for once, it's my own. Glad you liked it.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Actually, I have a surprise for you coming up... in a chapter (or 3 actually).

Pink Panther- one of our ALL TIME favorite flicks- EVER! I think before 7 weeks is over, I may have an eye twitch very similar to Cluseau's

Yeah, for once, it's my own. Glad you liked it.

Your own twitch? Poor Liesa...a dog bite and a twitch? Doesn't sound good...oh my...what's the next chapter to bring?

How that's hand today?

 

[All7OfUs]

Your own twitch? Poor Liesa...a dog bite and a twitch? Doesn't sound good...oh my...what's the next chapter to bring?

How that's hand today?

Hand is doing a little better today. The swelling is somewhat reduced, only to show how extensive the bruising really is. She got me in places I wasn't aware of until today. I'd say another week, and it should be good.

A side note...


I'm heading out in an hour to try the

ENTIRE 5K.



Anyone care to make a guess on how long it will take me?? I have not a clue myself; I imagine I'll be walking a fair amount of it. I can make it already around the track 8 times in 30 minutes, and need to add 4 and 1/2 more laps. What are your guesses??

 

[eandesmom]

Go Liesa! An entire 5k! You can do it

I can't handle traffic like that, or passing so close. Jeff will whizz through it...and then rear end my aunts car in the driveway....sigh.

We saw a truck shear a mirror off another truck in front of us on Friday, exactly my fear in that kind of traffic.

The best though was when Jeff literally got the rental car stuck in an alley in Sorrento Italy. The alley itself was too narrow for the car.

ouch.

Cottonwood snow....that would be cool!

Glad to see you finally got one good meal.

 

[jenniferkeala808]

HEY LIESA! Trying to get all caught up here! I've managed to just browse some updates but I have to say...these are some great updates! It may not be great in your book but to me, I have never seen anything like this before. Everything in your pictures are sooo interesting! Seriously! The pictures of the landscape, plants, and food...so different! But I love it! And that spider...gave me the chills! LOL! Good luck on your 5K! I will be back to thoroughly read all the updates!!