OK, very, very long time since I have visited. So much has happened, been quite a few places. The ones I can mention without getting thrown in jail: Jordan, Haiti, Dominican Republic (DR was all fun, no work!!! 
).
I am back in Iraq as of August 2006 (I hate this place but I needed an improvement over Haiti).
Haiti's only redeeming factor is that it's only a 45 minute flight to the DR. DR was the greatest place I have ever been! 3 star hotel, 100m from the water, wireless internet, beach patio, $45 per night! I was sitting in a beach lounger, having a Presidente (very nice local beer), when a young kid comes up and asks if I would like lobster for my lunch. I said OK, he runs off into the water and comes up 10 minutes later with a squirming lobster! Walks it up to his folks with the steel drum grill 50ft behind me, who split, clean and grill it to perfection. It was served with a fresh Presidente, rice, pikliz, and fresh plantains for about $9USD. I decided right then I would be staying a few extra days. Dominicans are by far the friendliest people I have encountered anywhere in the world. It's obvious by just their customary conversartion. i.e. If you ask someone how they are, they don't respond with, "Good", "Fine", "OK" or some similar non-committal response; their response is, "Tranquilo" or, "Tranquil". Their lifestyle is all about it. Beautiful beaches, warm water (this was in December by the way), no crowds. I made it back home just in time to catch the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Coors Amphitheater. OUTSTANDING SHOW BY THE WAY!
If you want a shocking ear-full, ask me about Haitians!
Haiti was interesting to say the least. We were down there for some more super squirrel stuff (more idiocy than terror). Was there for six months. They (the bean counters), figured out they were shelling out massive dollars to put us up in the Montana Hotel when anyone who had money in Haiti 'di-di-mao'd' when Aristide got the boot. So in turn there were lots of mansions for rent, CHEAP! For about half the money it cost us to stay at the Montana Hotel, we got a 5800 square foot house on 4 acres in Port-au-Prince, near Petion-Ville (the nice part of town). It had a gigantic pool, jaccuzi, weight room, x2 waterfalls outside and one in the front room. It had an armed guard force, a housekeeper, a groundskeeper, and a cook. Haiti was a big ol' PARTY at times! The UN folks liked to party and I introduced many of the UN Euro-trash folks to my good friend Porfidio Aejo Tequila. I'm betting no UN mission in history involved so much nakedness! Unfortunately Haiti had it's limitations. Work & drink were the options. I had to spread my wings a little.
So here I am in the sandbox again. Whatever!
I keep telling myself this is my last tour. This is a job for the young a stupid.
Myself and a couple other operators have been getting together to maul out some music, much to the neighbors distress. The Army has provided a set of musical gear and we use (actully, "abuse"), it about three times a week. It's working out well.
More later...
).
I am back in Iraq as of August 2006 (I hate this place but I needed an improvement over Haiti).
Haiti's only redeeming factor is that it's only a 45 minute flight to the DR. DR was the greatest place I have ever been! 3 star hotel, 100m from the water, wireless internet, beach patio, $45 per night! I was sitting in a beach lounger, having a Presidente (very nice local beer), when a young kid comes up and asks if I would like lobster for my lunch. I said OK, he runs off into the water and comes up 10 minutes later with a squirming lobster! Walks it up to his folks with the steel drum grill 50ft behind me, who split, clean and grill it to perfection. It was served with a fresh Presidente, rice, pikliz, and fresh plantains for about $9USD. I decided right then I would be staying a few extra days. Dominicans are by far the friendliest people I have encountered anywhere in the world. It's obvious by just their customary conversartion. i.e. If you ask someone how they are, they don't respond with, "Good", "Fine", "OK" or some similar non-committal response; their response is, "Tranquilo" or, "Tranquil". Their lifestyle is all about it. Beautiful beaches, warm water (this was in December by the way), no crowds. I made it back home just in time to catch the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Coors Amphitheater. OUTSTANDING SHOW BY THE WAY!
If you want a shocking ear-full, ask me about Haitians!
Haiti was interesting to say the least. We were down there for some more super squirrel stuff (more idiocy than terror). Was there for six months. They (the bean counters), figured out they were shelling out massive dollars to put us up in the Montana Hotel when anyone who had money in Haiti 'di-di-mao'd' when Aristide got the boot. So in turn there were lots of mansions for rent, CHEAP! For about half the money it cost us to stay at the Montana Hotel, we got a 5800 square foot house on 4 acres in Port-au-Prince, near Petion-Ville (the nice part of town). It had a gigantic pool, jaccuzi, weight room, x2 waterfalls outside and one in the front room. It had an armed guard force, a housekeeper, a groundskeeper, and a cook. Haiti was a big ol' PARTY at times! The UN folks liked to party and I introduced many of the UN Euro-trash folks to my good friend Porfidio Aejo Tequila. I'm betting no UN mission in history involved so much nakedness! Unfortunately Haiti had it's limitations. Work & drink were the options. I had to spread my wings a little.
So here I am in the sandbox again. Whatever!
I keep telling myself this is my last tour. This is a job for the young a stupid.
Myself and a couple other operators have been getting together to maul out some music, much to the neighbors distress. The Army has provided a set of musical gear and we use (actully, "abuse"), it about three times a week. It's working out well.
More later...