This is beyond my expectations...

I arrive at LAX and have 5 hours to kill....well I really killed it....because I spent 3 hours trying to upload pictures into my blog.  No success....what....are you kidding me....no...(BTW...this is the monkey taking back to me...see the previous blog and note the monkey attached to my backpack.....that is him....my travel buddy).   I was oh so frustrated and decided the first thing I do when I hit Sydney is the Apple store!!

Needless to say before I go any further...the issue was resolved.  The previous blog and this one are being done at the Apple store in Sydney.....I have been in town for 3 hours!!!

Back to LAX....I go to gate 123A....and here she is....the A380...

It is 7 stories high ---well 70 feet off the ground from wheel to top of the aircraft....can hold 500 passengers....and has a first class suite configuration....and here I am prior to take off...

The Qantas people are tops in the business of passenger service....the food, wine, and ambiance....superior.  One of the amazing things to me was the take off....at LAX the runway is not that long for such a huge aircraft....so they need maximum thrust.  The maximum thrust issue kept the LAX to SYD flights on hold till they were assured by Rolls Royce and the safety board in Australia that it could be accomplished without loss of power or disruption to the engine.

The take off....WOW....double WOW...because not only could you feel the power of this huge plane racing down the runway...it gave another boast when the wheels left the ground and it accelerated to a level that you were pulled back in your seat....AWESOME.

Here are some photos taken of the SKYCAM as we prepare to land in Sydney....

Oh BTW....Qantas has reduced the number of crew members by one....so I decided to try out....for pilot of course.....well needless to say I did not make it...maybe it was the hat...ummm

On the Road

Finally.....the day has arrived.  And what could be more appropriate than a Champagne toast...

Yep...there we are sipping the bubbly just before Nan and Jeanette drive me to the airport.  What a great send off from two of the greatest!!!

So out the door I go....bye bye 514 1/2 till I see you in May.....

We arrived at the airport...and I check in for the first class journey to Aussie Land.....

But wait....you need to get those shoes shined boy.....(my monkey told me that....you can see he is right on top of things)....

Okay....see you all in LAX and the transfer to the A380...YEAH....

Time is flying.....and I will be in just a few more days!

I have my watch set for Australia....the time in Aussie land is 16 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight time.  As I progress on my journey the top portion of my watch will always reflect my home, and the bottom portion that country/city I am visiting

Speaking of time....I can hardly believe that it has been a month since I retired!!  What in the World have I been doing with all my free time.  Well 6 days in Chicago, 1 day on the roundtrip road trip to nowhere, packing, unpacking, arranging for Comcast to do a Seasonal Vacation....whoa...wait a minute...lets talk about this.  I call Comcast on a Monday and arrange for the vacation to begin February 10th.  In less than 5 minutes I have no internet service.  I spent 3 hours that Monday afternoon getting my service back to "normal".  Tuesday morning and I have no internet service....vacation has begun anew.  Two hours....wow shaved and hour off of Monday's time...and I am back in business.  Wednesday morning...you guessed it...no internet service....okay, let's get serious...I need to cancel this Seasonal Vacation!  No, I am convinced by a Comcast representative that everything is now working properly....yeah!  Thursday morning...okay I give up...cancel the Seasonal Vacation...back to the basics....and yes...I have now gone 3 consecutive days with full service!!!!!

I notice at times I do take one step forward and two backward...like chipping a dental crown....YIKES...thank goodness it was in Washington DC and not in a remote village in Thailand.  And then the one giant step towards securing a visa for India...very smooth operation for dropping off your documents and extremely efficient.  But wait...you do have to return to pick up the visa...when..between 4:30 and 6:30 PM the next day....I arrive at 4:30 thinking this will be a walk in the park.  Wrong....the line is out the door...which is not opened until 4:30 on the nose.   Then it took me until after 6:00 to wait in line and watch total chaos before my very eyes with the clerks sorting thru hundreds of passports (literally)...to find each and every customer's passport.

I have also adopted the Apple store.  Tutorial classes....one on one sessions...photo workshops...all in the interest of using my Apple "toys" to there fullest...with IPad, IPhone and MacAir all talking the same talk and walking the sane walk.  Believe me it is a little different than calling IT services and telling them to fix it.  In my new job...Retirement....I am on my own with this technology bit.  However, so far so good and if only all this electronic gear were about 10 pounds lighter....sounds like my Cardiologist talking!!

This will be the final blog edition before I head out on February 9th.  I am planning on 'blogging' from my Qantas Airbus 380....with photos...but until then I will leave you with a photo of each country I will be visiting on my Round The World trip.  See you in the friendly skies.....

Where will Bob be in April? What about November?

Off we go....into the wild blue yonder...still waiting on word from Qantas on the fate of my first flight on the A380.  But, A380 or 747 I will be headed "down under" come Wednesday, February 9, 2011!

"Where are  you going?"  "When can we see your itinerary?".....I hear those questions a lot...and as promised in my December Blog I will give you the " Where in the World is Bob today...."

February/March 2011....

Beginning in Sydney Australia for a few days then headed to New Zealand to tour the North as well as South Islands.  I plan to spend about 9 days in each...Christchurch will be the embarkation point for a South tour of New Zealand's Alpine Grandeur.  I will be visiting Christchurch, Queenstown, Dunddin as well as Milford Sound.  The Interisland Rail and Ferry will take me from Christchurch to Wellington in the North Island.  I will begin a Northern Exposure tour of the Island  visiting Wellington, Taupo, Rotorua, Bay of Islands, Whangare and Auckland.

Flying from Auckland to Sydney I will spend a week in Sydney taking in Mardi Gras and the carnival atmosphere of this capital city of New South Wales.  Staggering out of Sydney .....I head south to Melbourne, Capital of the State of Victoria.

 Leaving Melbourne and on to Tasmania (my favorite place in all of Australia)..Spending 10 days there will be very easy touring from Hobart to Port Arthur, Tarreleah, Peppermint Bay, Bay of Fires and Cradle Mountain.  I will leave Tasmania from Hobart to head back to Melbourne to sadly leave Australia.

After a few precious days in Melbourne I leave for Bangkok, Thailand.  A few days in Bangkok and then an excursion to India to visit the Taj Mahal and then returning to Thailand for some much needed beach and sun time in Phuket Thailand.  Ten days should suffice wouldn't you say....well maybe an extra day.

April/May 2011

Fasten your seat belts...this is going to be a jam packed month plus...thankful to have the 10 days of beach life...now to Hong Kong and some dedicated shopping (yes...Virginia I do shop..a lot...well let's say Bob bargains...and no better place for me than Hong Kong.)  From Hong Kong a short hop over to Dubai to meet up with my good friend and former OCC colleague Bryan Stirewalt.  Leaving Dubai I head to the UK...taking in as much as I can in a month by BritRail...i.e., Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Dublin, Cardiff and London. 

May 2011

Time to head home for a few months to catch my breath...and get ready for round 2 beginning in September...

September/October 2011

Headed back to London to take on Europe for a month by Eurorail...how about Paris?.....then on to Madrid and Barcelona for 8 days...next up..Italy - Milano, Napoli, Roma and Firenze..13 days worth... now on to Germany for Munich and Berlin with 7 days in the former East/West German City.  Now heading back to London I stop off in Amsterdam and Paris for a couple days each....

November 2011

Let's head to South America....leave London for Buenos Aires for 10 days of enjoying this fantastic city and area of Argentina.  Plus a couple days to just rest up from Europe...and before heading over to Guayaquil Ecuador and a 7 day tour in the Galapagos Islands....ARE YOU KIDDING ME...Is that not the greatest....the Galapagos...WOW!!! Okay...sorry I got carried away there!! 

Leaving from the Galapagos I head to Peru...and a week taking in Lima, Lake Titicaca, Cuzco and Machu Picchu....but only for a week....time to move on to Santiago

December 2011
Santiago, Chile.....but only for a day ...for I have always wanted to go to Easter Island.  I am in Chile....so why not...so off to Easter Island out in the Pacific for 3 days and then back to Santiago for 3 more days. 

Next up....Sao Paulo!!  Wait...wait ...how could I go to Brazil without visiting Rio de Janeiro?  I could not...so why not...I head there for 4 days...to partake in my own Carnival to celebrate my birthday...Rio style!!! (Have you guessed that this boy is sometimes a party animal? )

Returning to Sao Paulo I spend a few days to absorb the last of my South American adventure...then it is back to the USA!!

And where could we begin....DALLAS of course!!  And I am hoping that Cowboys will be playing a home game in the 5 days I am there....please Jerry...please...just for me???

Finally I wrap up my tour in Chicago to spend Christmas with my Daughter,Son-In-Law and my two grandchildren....Back in Washington for New Years 2012!!

WHEW......now lstart thinking about your 2012 travel plans...ummmmm  Italy and Greece are on my list already!!

Happy New Year...

p.s.  Now, you need to re-read the Blog and decide where you would like to meet me on this World tour...some have already signed on to Sydney...Berlin...and Buenos Aires!!

Electronics galore......

Okay....Steve Jobs is not going on this RTW junket.  But, Apple is ....by providing via my purchase plenty of toys to accompany me.  Let's just take a look at this assortment of electronic gear that will go into my backpack....

First we have the Apple(s) of my eyes.....starting with the IPhone...a gem that provides many functional uses for the journey.  It has my TripIt information with all reservations and booking numbers.  Currency converter...all my music on ITunes....language converter...contacts...etc....this is a MUST!  Then up from that is the IPad...a large "I" device without a phone.  But, it has capability for videos...my books (similar to the Kindle)..and most important WiFi capability to connect Worldwide with my service provider or by changing the SIM Card any one of many other Worldwide providers in the countries I visit.  Finally up top on the picture above is my newest electronic addition...The MacBook Air....11 inches and 2 pounds of mighty computer.  I got this to accommodate posting my Blog with pictures as I make my way around the World.  It also has all my Microsoft applications that I would have on my desktop at home.  It as well as the IPad provide ready storage for the multitude of photos that I anticipate taking.  So those are the Steve Job tools for travel.

Next up....the rest of the gear....cameras, binoculars, headset and other miscellaneous necessities for the journey...lets see what we have ....

 The Bose headset - Acoustic Noise Cancelling - awesome piece of gear.  The sound quality and the quiet of outside noise is well worth the price of this headset.  Great for movies, videos, music as well as to just block out the sound.

Next we have the Cameras - Nikon D5000....my primary camera with a Tamron 18 to 270 all purpose lens....okay let's face it I don't know anymore about all those numbers than most people....for me it is a point and shoot camera.  Use the Auto settings for this camera most of the time, but have experimented with night pics and hope to experiment more on this RTW journey.  One more addition to the camera gear is a pocket
camera, Fujifilm EXR modelk, with a 10x wide lens...powerful littlle thing and easy to carry in your pocket with capability of providing great pictures.  Then we have Nikon binocular....a must for all the grandeur of such locations as New Zealand....the Galapagos....and Machu Picchu. 

Also you will notice my extra supply of batteries as well as two pouches full of connections not only for in-flight charging, but also adapters for the various parts of the World.  I added a  mini surge protector which can provide connection for 3  devices at one time plus 2 USB ports.

So there you have it....the total weight is under 7 pounds.  All of this will fit into my carry-on backpack and be readily available to take pictures...listen to music...watch videos...or scan the horizon. 

Next month....the infamous itinerary...where is he going...when will he be there....for all those who have asked and then thought maybe...just maybe they would join me in some exotic place....look for it in December....

Pepe Le Pew Le Ward 11/20/1998 - 10/12/2010

I had the delight of knowing a lot of you in my short life, but there were also those who have or have not heard about me.....a Gold Shih Tzu whose sire was Marumscos Buzz Light Year and Dam was Marumscos Miss Gizmo.  I was delivered to my adopted home at the ripe age of just over 8 weeks.  Washington, DC was a scary place for a little guy...but fortunately my Dad and I lived just across from a park and I relished in only having to cross 1 street to get there.  Fire trucks, police cars and all the loud sounds of the city became second nature to me really fast and soon I upgraded to long walks....awesome...touring the neighborhood....seeing other dogs...other people...and a great area to strut my stuff!!  One memory of those early days was being rolled by a large black lab....maybe he wanted to play...but I learned the trick of "duck and roll" and was out from under him in no time.  And believe me the trick was used several other times during my life.

I was very fortunate to be able to travel with my Dad...and I know he will remember my first experience with the Ocean....as will his friend Johnny!! We were at Rehoboth Beach and walking along the beach and as we got a little closer to the water I looked up and saw a wave of water coming directly at me....I turned to head away from the wave of water....but it caught me on my butt.  From that day forth I did not have a love for water of any form....the ocean....swimming pools.....rain...or getting a "BATH"!!  The word bath was one I understood very well in my life....knowing that getting soaked was eminent...and being blow dried was not far behind.....all for the sake of being clean!!!

Travel also took my Dad and I to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.  Quite the little traveler....by car, truck and airplane.  I did have one bad experience when flying to Arizona....the airplane was very warm...no wait...make that HOT!  And I was in a carrier under the seat in front of my Dad.  I was taught at an early age by my Dad that I should not bark....difficult for a little guy like me but I understood that living in an apartment it helped if you did not have a 'yelping' dog!  However, being under that hot seat in the airplane was way too much....so I decided to take things in my own paws....I "BARKED"...and yeah it got attention...and the air conditioning came on...I always wanted to think that I was responsible for that....oh, and my Dad...yeah he was mortified!

My Uncle Skip would often keep me at his Condo in DuPont Circle....he was the best...we had such great walks....and you would be amazed at all the guys/dogs I met over the years.  One memory of being at Uncle Skip's was when he thought I had expired.  I had a habit of sleeping on my back with all 4 legs in the air...quite comfortable....but yes a bit unusual for a dog.  Well, Uncle Skip remembered seeing a movie where the dog had expired and was found laying on his back with all 4 legs in the air.  Sure enough he woke up one morning and there I was...on my back....he called my name....I did not respond....he called again - nothing...then he yelled my name and it scared the be-Jesus out of me....and I leaped up...Uncle Skip was relieved to say the least....I was wondering...what the hell just happened!!

Oh the life of a dog....I once was with Johnny in the Pet's Mart....dogs are allowed in there....to cruise other dogs and check out all the toys...treats and dog type stuff.  Johnny thought is was oh so cool having me roam up and down the aisles....it was too...until I decided to leave my mark...I hiked my leg and peeped....oops - not a good thing.  Johnny hustled me out of there at record speed.

Over the years I was fortunate to have such wonderful caregivers when my Dad traveled for business and pleasure.  I loved all the attention I was given...and always tried to be on my best behavior.  Nan & Jeanette were a couple of my favorites....they always had some really cool dogs either at the house or in the neighborhood were we would walk.  That Lucy Lou comes to mind...she was a stunner!!  Nan, Jeanette and I would also play the food game....tossing out a dog food morsel one at a time in a pitch and catch fashion...I loved that....and even got my Dad to do it at my house.  But Nan & Jeanette also thought at one time that I might love to go in the pool....NOT....remember I do not like water!!  I was very fortunate to be a minute part of their life over the years and know they will receive an extra blessing for being so loving. 

Dennis was one of my caregivers.  He knew what a dog loved....'TREATS'....I tried my best to get as many of them from him as possible.  We had some great times...and that man knows everyone...we would be out with him walking and talking to everyone the whole way on my dog walk.  He also knew I loved the 'PARK' and I would always respond when he steerred me in that direction.  Of course in the last few months of my life I had a bit of difficulty navigating the streets with my bad eye sight and would often have to be guided to prevent my running into a tree or a fence.  Dennis was always there for me and showered me with his love of animals....how great was that for a little guy like me?

Finally...my Dad.  We were buddies...he was always there for me...and I for him.  He gave me a great life and an opportunity to give love to him and  others...like his Aunt Velma in the nursing home in Arizona.  They loved me at the nursing home and I tried to give them some love in return...Love to his daughter Michelle and her husband Todd...along with his grandchildren Schuyler & Keaton ....who had the greatest dog...Becket.  I know my Dad will remember when we were driving  to Todd & Michelle's for Christmas and came upon the toll booth on the tollway.  I always thought that when the car door opened I could get out...most of the time that was true....well not when you come to a toll booth and the door opened because Dad missed the chute and dropped the change on the pavement.  The door opened and I hopped out....YIKES...where am I now...concrete and cars whizzing by....quickly I was scooped up and put back in the car....learned a lesson too....wait for Dad when the door opens!!!

I really had a great life...and I know for some it may have seemed short...but hey...12 years of a dogs life makes me 84 in human years....I know I may not have remembered your favorite experience when you met or cared for me...Dad would love to hear those I know....and I hope that I was able to give a little love to each and everyone that I touched....if so....pass it on....pass it on....

Packing for RTW - in a Carry-on????

Well this month I decided to tackle the task of seeing - if at all possible - I could put all my clothing into a carry-on bag under 40 pounds for my RTW trip. WHAT.....you ask!! Impossible....well, maybe not! I realize that I would have to wear some of the same things twice...well maybe three times...four? Okay, so what is wrong with mix and match? I mean come on...black is a basic color...2 black t-shirts and 1 pair of jeans can go a week - well they can - but they won't!

It was suggested to me by a retired colleague that I should take t-shirts I did not really like or ones that after I had worn a number of times I could just discard and use the room for things I bought along the way. Hey, now that is my kind of idea. But, I am a pack rat (sort of) - while I detest left-overs in food - I can see myself wearing something a number of times and keeping it...well I can!

Okay, lets get to the experiment.....the articles of clothing in the picture above include among other things 7 shorts, 8 socks, 9 t-shirts, 3 slacks, 2 jackets, 1 sweater, 1 pair of jeans, 1 swim suit, 6 casual shirts,1 sandals,1 sneakers, 2 walking shorts, pair of gloves & hat (I get cold in temperatures below 50) + 90 day supply of all my medications and my toiletries kit including a first aid packet.

Let's see what that looks like rolled and put into cubes....

Wow...you say....all into a Carry-on....NOOOOOOOO!  It would not fit -  even Dolly Pardon could not get that into that smaller bag.  So, I opted for this duffle type bag, but the good news is that it did all fit, and has a total weight of 34 pounds.  Hip Hip Hooray....I have achieved that benchmark. 

Next up - the real carry-on.  My backpack with electronic media.  That will be my feature next month....I will leave you with a picture of my bags....and the thought that 19 weeks from this Wednesday, September 29th,  I will be leaving IAD for SYD.........