tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60859458895109371252024-02-20T08:05:57.956-07:00Sans ContinentUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-51269165075547589592011-11-15T08:50:00.001-07:002011-11-15T09:49:50.302-07:00Mecca<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bali is the mecca of waves and we are the pilgrims. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8_VR3UkMTlI6z1XuCE6SThSsuST4VYDa8QoKjvQpFQn65VQPLhRq3H0mFxq0i0PYGZXYzW0rsM5szGwUzlUnp1zp63_8dez-hFRq4Cus7wzDkzzUZlEFhcIfTKAJP5CPZBzuEFm6tJd9/s1600/map_ga-bali-surf-spots-.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8_VR3UkMTlI6z1XuCE6SThSsuST4VYDa8QoKjvQpFQn65VQPLhRq3H0mFxq0i0PYGZXYzW0rsM5szGwUzlUnp1zp63_8dez-hFRq4Cus7wzDkzzUZlEFhcIfTKAJP5CPZBzuEFm6tJd9/s320/map_ga-bali-surf-spots-.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map of Bali Surf Spots</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Bali contains 3% of the world’s top 100 waves according to a
recent edition of Surfer magazine. That
is an amazing statistic considering the amount of coastline the world has to
offer and the small size of Bali’s coastline in comparison. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you wonder why we have such a fascination with waves,
consider our backgrounds. We all have
taken various dynamic courses that rigorously detail the formulas of waves
including their amplitude, type, and dispersion relationships. Oceanic waves are the only waves that are of
comparable size to humans and of a substance that allows such intimate
interactions like surfing (as opposed to sound waves, gravity waves, seismic
waves, etc.). Surfing is the ultimate hands on science experiment for those
interested in fluid dynamics, and Bali is one of the best surfing
destinations. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Echo Beach / Canggu</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After arriving at Denpasar airport, we took a taxi ride to
the hotel that was more thrilling than most amusement park rides. The roads are beyond congested, and it is not
frowned upon to have several generations of family from infants to elderly
riding the same moped through town.
Under the cover of night we were dropped at Echoland Bed and Breakfast
on the western coast of Bali. The next
morning we had breakfast on the rooftop patio with a view of the ocean. It doesn’t cost much to live like a
highroller in Bali.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The waves at Echo Beach were mildly disappointing given the
reputation. As faithful pilgrims though,
we remained strong and relished every wave the ocean offered. Most nights we lounged at restaurants
overlooking the beach and enjoyed the local dishes of Nasi Goreng (fried rice)
and Satay (grilled pork, steak, and chicken).
If you want a more detailed review of the food, James would be happy to inform
you. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://youtu.be/1ERNxY2euRc?hd=1" target="_blank">Echo Beach Time Lapse</a></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aside from the lacking waves, we met Harris at the hotel. Harris has lived in Perth, Australia for 8
years but is from Florida. Owen also
joined us on the second night at the bed and breakfast and enlightened us with
his Australian accented “Owenisms”. They both happily joined our search for the
3%.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Uluwatu</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Echo Beach was hard to leave but the pilgrimage for waves
took precedent over the lap of luxury.
We journeyed to Uluwatu, Bali (southern tip). We stayed at a hotel called The Gong that is
equidistant from the surf breaks of Uluwatu and Nyang Nyang. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://youtu.be/DW30HjbJytA?hd=1" target="_blank"><b>The Gong</b></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our wave pilgrimage
would not be without trials. Like Echo
Beach, Uluwatu was also starved for waves and Harris cracked his head in the
pool. He opted out of stitches in favor of
more natural healing means, the glorious water of Bali well-known for it’s
ability to produce staff infections. Dirt
roads, mud pits, and live coral were traversed to no avail. No waves. No fluid dynamic interactions. Nothing.
But as pilgrimages go, persistence is key. The walk to Uluwatu to check the break was
encouraging even though the waves were lackluster. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://youtu.be/R3GqNI8jaTM?hd=1" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Uluwatu Stairs </b></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Legian</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After being skunked for waves, we drowned our sorrows in the
tourist culture around Kuta. Legian
beach, near Kuta, is not particularly known for its waves. So
instead of surfing, James, Gavin, Harris, and Owen all bungee jumped while I
occupied the videographer position. In fact, one bungee jump was not enough. They each did it twice. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://youtu.be/eWLZt81rVXQ?hd=1" target="_blank"><b>Gavin Bungee</b></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://youtu.be/fAA1duEoZy0?hd=1" target="_blank"><b>James Bungee </b></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We managed our depression regarding mediocre waves by
haggling with the locals for bags, t-shirts, jewelry, etc. Because it was currently the off/rainy season
in Bali, we got a resort style hotel room for less than half the normal
rate. Yes, you can even haggle with
resorts. EVERYTHING is negotiable in Bali.
The last morning we got up at six in desperate hopes that our pilgrimage
would not end in despair. Surely, our
patience would be rewarded. We
begrudgingly walked to the nearest beach break in desperate hopes of waves
before our flight at noon. This is what
we found……</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://youtu.be/XurMC9gcr3w?hd=1" target="_blank"><b>Legian Beach Barrel</b></a></div>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17033153151718276694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-53729712271018021652011-11-10T06:35:00.001-07:002011-11-10T06:52:29.919-07:00Final LegAdam is working on an epic post from our time spent in Bali. We are back at the Crowne Plaza hotel in the Singapore airport, awaiting departure back to the states tomorrow morning. About to head to bed. Our itinerary for the final leg today (was) and tomorrow (is):<br />
<br />
<i><b>Thursday, November 10, 2011, 12:55pm Bali time</b></i>: Flight Denpasar -> Singapore, arriving 3:30pm same time zone<br />
<i><b>Friday, November 11, 2011, 7:20am Singapore time</b></i>: United Airlines Singapore -> Tokyo, arriving 2:50pm Tokyo time, one hour ahead of current (6 hour 30 minute flight time)<br />
<i><b>Friday, November 11, 2011, 5:00pm Tokyo time</b></i>: United Airlines Tokyo -> San Francisco, arriving 8:55am PST (same day... weird!), 9 hour flight time<br />
<i><b>Friday, November 11, 2011, 10:41am PST</b></i>: United Airlines San Fran -> Denver, arriving 2:15pm MST, 2 hour 30 minute flight time<br />
<br />
11/11/11 will last 39 hours for us in our own relative time. Fun date for that to happen! I suppose we'll technically get to make three mega-wishes, two 11:11am ones and one nightcap. Better start brainstorming.<br />
<br />
We are exhausted but happy. Morale high, but the onset of the "travel blur" as Adam put it is looming. Pray for expediency (thanks Kads)!<br />
<br />
-Gavin<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSv8LblxGwGivMc9m0-F_riPXelO-iwNBLuoiaZvXYbpkHJtE3YX1JtkQRUZonBXJZyj8Vzfb0mJXQkIHfGC1yTeR81Ezv8ozyYfhsJdugEvhQypYLW1-10gZeOIzmu_nJpSC_IAyCMCaK/s1600/IMG_6484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSv8LblxGwGivMc9m0-F_riPXelO-iwNBLuoiaZvXYbpkHJtE3YX1JtkQRUZonBXJZyj8Vzfb0mJXQkIHfGC1yTeR81Ezv8ozyYfhsJdugEvhQypYLW1-10gZeOIzmu_nJpSC_IAyCMCaK/s400/IMG_6484.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Band is finally heading home</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-24096069546855394012011-11-04T09:38:00.009-06:002011-11-04T18:48:56.610-06:00Hostel Living in Kuala Lumpur<div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNOeeBokdahg63P5j2SB-4NkY4oj1ogRIOj7EyaGOgZQkN2HdJHH3pebiPobqGohlHOiW___5yzY-VPzLsM4_IedpKASkadhocKU1VifyrNWYXdcp2r1t7F-BI5GyoYRyjn_RwUfF_9uz/s1600/4.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671168759681843234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNOeeBokdahg63P5j2SB-4NkY4oj1ogRIOj7EyaGOgZQkN2HdJHH3pebiPobqGohlHOiW___5yzY-VPzLsM4_IedpKASkadhocKU1VifyrNWYXdcp2r1t7F-BI5GyoYRyjn_RwUfF_9uz/s320/4.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --></style><span style="font-style: italic;">View from KL Tower</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">US Dollars to Malaysian Ringgits, barracks to hostels, one road to thousands, and English to…well, a bunch of languages that we don’t understand.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwz8BBerfq0VpwLJfdpumfT3FaYLRcVgAE2opkiQNOR8fQoLDy8UT1lZm2ruPO_LfzbSrMPPnyOh8yNlsvZzBcHn8LNlj2oqaBP_8DyekTeip0fJ1V4C6HDwtnLCQewlhRbPP3DA9K8KwF/s1600/2.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671168731416690786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwz8BBerfq0VpwLJfdpumfT3FaYLRcVgAE2opkiQNOR8fQoLDy8UT1lZm2ruPO_LfzbSrMPPnyOh8yNlsvZzBcHn8LNlj2oqaBP_8DyekTeip0fJ1V4C6HDwtnLCQewlhRbPP3DA9K8KwF/s320/2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZavXemxWkj0vK2jeNbNviMHPtOpAe9PlIhQXTOSwfxsKAkd6HVexXduhb8q2zIbzUX1l3jxqwToOySIYklTleLV0sBc78fwdpTne5-C120Sgo7pCGGb9gCaQtBvkiry2s43MEr6BIwoC/s1600/3.jpg"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671168750761381698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZavXemxWkj0vK2jeNbNviMHPtOpAe9PlIhQXTOSwfxsKAkd6HVexXduhb8q2zIbzUX1l3jxqwToOySIYklTleLV0sBc78fwdpTne5-C120Sgo7pCGGb9gCaQtBvkiry2s43MEr6BIwoC/s320/3.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Quite a photogenic pair of towers</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">We were thrown from militaristic structure and 25-mph-or-less onto streets where traffic lights are suggestions and crossing the road as a pedestrian is strikingly similar to the game of Frogger (it turns out we’re all natural champions of the game). It was quite a jolt of a transition, but it was an exciting arrival in Kuala Lumpur, and even more so once we got to the long-awaited Reggae Mansion, our hostel located just outside of Chinatown, which Gavin fortunately stumbled upon online. Everything there was brand spanking new, as it had only opened a month or so prior, and the amenities were luxurious as far as hostels go.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjm6qJq6qQR2E9CHFR-lptNmgfwQJSTIxJx57mziYVdBkKgcLDh6SBHMevrNc9nPE1iA9yft36UvP1srI7883naV07cNQHwRT4xpjPt-x_WW6YLzk7drlM5O3m-Fg3zBZOZU6OlWSZVEb/s1600/7.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671169923359650706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjm6qJq6qQR2E9CHFR-lptNmgfwQJSTIxJx57mziYVdBkKgcLDh6SBHMevrNc9nPE1iA9yft36UvP1srI7883naV07cNQHwRT4xpjPt-x_WW6YLzk7drlM5O3m-Fg3zBZOZU6OlWSZVEb/s320/7.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Our office at the Reggae Mansion</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGw-89WxaoO_5WNbCD5YErgkz1YVCg9sw7LdzGrx_mzb2dkijBjVivuohsdU8DGofJvPwqzz7eNWhglthk_HrEwtP2nPFFEcbUSsw0xrcQLVBfR5OcPEllz9bF6dcg9G3FndEC25NdCYtJ/s1600/1.5.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671168717369703058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGw-89WxaoO_5WNbCD5YErgkz1YVCg9sw7LdzGrx_mzb2dkijBjVivuohsdU8DGofJvPwqzz7eNWhglthk_HrEwtP2nPFFEcbUSsw0xrcQLVBfR5OcPEllz9bF6dcg9G3FndEC25NdCYtJ/s320/1.5.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Getting some din</span><span style="font-style: italic;">ner with Josh of </span><span style="font-style: italic;">New Zealand</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">We quickly made some acquaintances in the 16-person dorm room we stayed in, and the friendly folks running the hostel were throwing a couple parties over the weekend to celebrate Halloween where we had some good fun and made a couple more bi/tri/quadrilingual friends. They threw the Halloween parties in an upstairs lounge that was complete with apple bobbing and shots and ladders – the usual American party games.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-YsxjgCC2n7thKLVWetfT1p6ia_791jgQfPwv7bBWqHhZGyfcuCJ11602MLslX7JNdMnpMB3sLrD6m3Fs2lWfcy4KIYf6UJ6dLOvpeqWpAFjSrlWEKv7nvSuFBIfOe6olgGuDg79_x67/s1600/1.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671168705794490114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-YsxjgCC2n7thKLVWetfT1p6ia_791jgQfPwv7bBWqHhZGyfcuCJ11602MLslX7JNdMnpMB3sLrD6m3Fs2lWfcy4KIYf6UJ6dLOvpeqWpAFjSrlWEKv7nvSuFBIfOe6olgGuDg79_x67/s320/1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScRNpWGUata3sr8fg4Xrs7-lXd3HCA91EggBfJ6HM7ZD8cG5Utu-jgAFgKneHK6SaTWAMBLcjp-t0RSyXxuqHCTWoJ2WLh1qMuxQbs9ipl6OHzXfCA_Uc5HrgCNyaHK2KphuL52nah4Qc/s1600/5.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671169893892452050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScRNpWGUata3sr8fg4Xrs7-lXd3HCA91EggBfJ6HM7ZD8cG5Utu-jgAFgKneHK6SaTWAMBLcjp-t0RSyXxuqHCTWoJ2WLh1qMuxQbs9ipl6OHzXfCA_Uc5HrgCNyaHK2KphuL52nah4Qc/s320/5.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Orchid Garden</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">People we met included Aussies, Danish, Kiwis, and a fellow American from Cali. Most of them were wandering the world for months, often coming from or heading off to places like Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, or some island in Indonesia. Most had amazing stories of the wild sights they had seen across Southeast Asia, but we tried to compete by telling our stories of launching weather balloons on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean where they probably filmed Lost.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJyRyWiTMoWUlug1UCxp8t-GDHGe0NIVOGogLODjsBOebXrbj4G3CTW-YLabvoRpNOtnHoYJdcVtV1HfW4NpgnW1zAfbm3Hlw-ZCkIt_i2tLY430eECHSH2KnrBtJ_lx7B7MF5cs7Cvqp/s1600/6.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671169899997346034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJyRyWiTMoWUlug1UCxp8t-GDHGe0NIVOGogLODjsBOebXrbj4G3CTW-YLabvoRpNOtnHoYJdcVtV1HfW4NpgnW1zAfbm3Hlw-ZCkIt_i2tLY430eECHSH2KnrBtJ_lx7B7MF5cs7Cvqp/s320/6.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">One discovery just across the street from our hostel was a great little antique bookstore (think old, creaky attics) in which each of us ended up grabbing at least one item. It was as clustered as anything, with seemingly random stacks of books everywhere. But the lady working there could lead you right to what you wanted. The store was called Junk Bookstore (probably a translation error), which was a bit of irony considering that it had rare and probably high-demand items if brought back to the US.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxhzp6xMP_1lsqHVmNkCZE7OjTs7ezb7U2YFCuj6jshHYUk3cR6L4o7-ARHBDeW7jLxAgeFGxOiJMWd7TIJdr-WaX9Mj2c36eSGqVRgAg259B2C0Px5GrR92r0gRRYtRZmKI9JFINAPhA/s1600/IMG_6557.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671173156638837426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxhzp6xMP_1lsqHVmNkCZE7OjTs7ezb7U2YFCuj6jshHYUk3cR6L4o7-ARHBDeW7jLxAgeFGxOiJMWd7TIJdr-WaX9Mj2c36eSGqVRgAg259B2C0Px5GrR92r0gRRYtRZmKI9JFINAPhA/s320/IMG_6557.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejGypRlAhX1kwuj7vPlMYbUCatQHXbzWT9Yi3SuT4oUyDAIyPQnXw57cBQglelZWJVNz0A2Ext6K2CnofPgej_r3veDgHXjJCXHxZqFD1gVstgjRvD7t2USaqJcbXvymQx1FQHisZdPCu/s1600/8.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671169933072771074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejGypRlAhX1kwuj7vPlMYbUCatQHXbzWT9Yi3SuT4oUyDAIyPQnXw57cBQglelZWJVNz0A2Ext6K2CnofPgej_r3veDgHXjJCXHxZqFD1gVstgjRvD7t2USaqJcbXvymQx1FQHisZdPCu/s320/8.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">During the days we explored the streets of KL, attempting to catch as many of the big sights as possible. Though trips up to the sky bridge of the Petronas Towers were closed for renovations, we were able get a panoramic sky view from the KL Tower, wander the national park, peruse an Orchid garden, and check out the national Mosque. Particularly interesting was hearing the daily Islamic prayers come out on loud speakers over the otherwise white noise of the city, which we heard very clearly while walking through the orchid garden. That was definitely a new experience for us.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHbcEBf2dMDaMF59ry8p1-0U2otiAU-r1XWi2nJ1yxZaw833FSvtf23UiUZwdllOj1Nz9AE_avgEV80uSx2LvIlLipRRNhHgpklBM_1Xtfz5LyPbtDFwMNqLAo2zFbmdKwi_ODbHCAHQm/s1600/8.5.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671169952337658962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHbcEBf2dMDaMF59ry8p1-0U2otiAU-r1XWi2nJ1yxZaw833FSvtf23UiUZwdllOj1Nz9AE_avgEV80uSx2LvIlLipRRNhHgpklBM_1Xtfz5LyPbtDFwMNqLAo2zFbmdKwi_ODbHCAHQm/s320/8.5.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Getting ready for our first sleeper train ride</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Our KL trip ended with our very first sleeper train ride, which was a pretty novel experience. Following another day in Singapore, we began our next leg of the journey with a flight out to Bali, Indonesia, where we’ve heard only great things from the travelers we’ve run into. Julia Roberts also tells us it’s a great time (we watched Eat, Pray, Love to prep ourselves for Bali). Standby for updates on the final leg of the trip.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuScxMFzlsQ0VpuVhFUC4wFJWeZ1TxIHVvhXhxKNBDSKLnRmo-2w9heZkkIJ0d2PaxU2t0wh_l7-BbkaUqpUvGgIYRLnK1KWfExXYRqiLZHB6BogvM1CQHB7GJcnKRXwDx8wEUSY108dW2/s1600/9.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671170205762373218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuScxMFzlsQ0VpuVhFUC4wFJWeZ1TxIHVvhXhxKNBDSKLnRmo-2w9heZkkIJ0d2PaxU2t0wh_l7-BbkaUqpUvGgIYRLnK1KWfExXYRqiLZHB6BogvM1CQHB7GJcnKRXwDx8wEUSY108dW2/s320/9.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Onward to Indo</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">-james</div>James Rupperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06238175715859438912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-84128207247941846102011-10-29T04:04:00.001-06:002011-10-29T04:27:04.309-06:00Leg TwoI write from Reggae Mansion in Kuala Lumpur (capital of Malaysia), our swag downtown hostel for the next three nights. We are taking a brief Internet break so this will be a short post, but I thought I'd quickly post our travel schedule for the second leg of our journey: DG -> Singapore -> Kuala Lumpur -> Bali<br /><br /><i><b>Friday, October 28, 3:15am (DG time)</b></i>: Fly military C17 Diego Garcia - Paya Lebar Air Force Base, Singapore, arriving 10:15am Singapore time<br /><i><b>Saturday, October 29, 8:45am (Sing. time)</b></i>: Board train Singapore - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, arriving 3:00pm KL time (same as Sing.)<br /><i><b>Tuesday, November 1, 11:00pm</b></i>: Board overnight sleeper train KL - Singapore, arriving Sing. next day at 6:45am<br /><i><b>Wednesday, November 2, 4:20pm</b></i>: AirAsia flight Singapore - Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, arriving around 7pm I think<br /><br />We are about to head out into KL to check out a few quick sites and grab some local chow. Then our hostel is having a Halloween fajesta tonight, so we'll check that out. New currency is Malaysian Ringgits. We will see what the next three days here bring us... nothing planned for now save a list of some interesting places to check out (e.g. Petronas Towers, Batu Caves, orchid gardens) and a courtyard full of people to meet. Let the games begin.<br /><br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBoVT9H_BtKLJzycfpQmOjef9TpqmhoL4FJt9eB19RY91KqF2iwuujOqrMm3K8bAVXC5qAvZhZ5yVgIlUs3NQUo3cIu8OLW3jkizzN4s9qVmjmTGEWiu6WzoCKYRbKgm07sZICNltQCxF/s1600/IMG_6454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBoVT9H_BtKLJzycfpQmOjef9TpqmhoL4FJt9eB19RY91KqF2iwuujOqrMm3K8bAVXC5qAvZhZ5yVgIlUs3NQUo3cIu8OLW3jkizzN4s9qVmjmTGEWiu6WzoCKYRbKgm07sZICNltQCxF/s320/IMG_6454.JPG" border="0" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hostel beds in 16-bed dorm.. Adam bottom right, me bottom left, James in the penthouse</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiLFnLZ0A4OG6w8o8J-vw8YDND6jMPIw4cmsb20gLgVWbCjpIUsKUANeHGm-tRPp2o-XPXGxgNIOojFj4TqFZaM3ThdNEthIkVrdI7QqJ-r1mrYSrfb6HW8aP4xqa-KOBeBNZHTvphpsX/s1600/IMG_6457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiLFnLZ0A4OG6w8o8J-vw8YDND6jMPIw4cmsb20gLgVWbCjpIUsKUANeHGm-tRPp2o-XPXGxgNIOojFj4TqFZaM3ThdNEthIkVrdI7QqJ-r1mrYSrfb6HW8aP4xqa-KOBeBNZHTvphpsX/s320/IMG_6457.JPG" border="0" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from rooftop bar</td></tr></tbody></table>-GavinUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-25284367846174813872011-10-28T00:42:00.010-06:002011-10-28T01:40:07.310-06:00So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >Yes, I did steal that quote. And no, we did not eat any fish. Yes, there is seafood on Diego Garcia, but no, it is not locally caught (so we’re told).<br /><br />Where to begin...<br /><br /></span><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwrSGNdlAfxe1KeZ0jPtAN5hclS_gLBMlUS7IMWjlqfD1cNCZXrO-0eqU_gPmI5N6mSFbWrZl0tEWOtFmq7BoOy_PkvRifCI10DXpdGMmt15aJSGqDPzjFWtLSPNOk8Q-ktpqfZUU_JNX/s1600/PA020008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwrSGNdlAfxe1KeZ0jPtAN5hclS_gLBMlUS7IMWjlqfD1cNCZXrO-0eqU_gPmI5N6mSFbWrZl0tEWOtFmq7BoOy_PkvRifCI10DXpdGMmt15aJSGqDPzjFWtLSPNOk8Q-ktpqfZUU_JNX/s320/PA020008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668435223122784770" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >fun in the sun after being bumped a day (10/3)</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">I think that we’ve bragged enough about our enchanted coconut forests, the magical lagoons, daily doses of windsurfing, haunted plantations, the boss crabs with their swag, and the chatty Kathy birds, who apparently don’t go to sleep. So I’ll curb mention of ray chasing by paddleboard, shark scouting from the island depths of Turtle Cove, and feral sterile donkey riding (if you have to ask, you can’t afford it).</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiA8z7OOf2klRGmZDgMiK7p5ddNQfa4Jfc_H-Eh3_kAA9sg4rs64UHn-iEwnly1uOzjdURobSvG0e60K1d5FNjn9-2kN_3VGiJzhvJUj8TXKUZt8Kh0XavfMe_7ggTTRh8krK0RrR4RLaM/s1600/PA020006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiA8z7OOf2klRGmZDgMiK7p5ddNQfa4Jfc_H-Eh3_kAA9sg4rs64UHn-iEwnly1uOzjdURobSvG0e60K1d5FNjn9-2kN_3VGiJzhvJUj8TXKUZt8Kh0XavfMe_7ggTTRh8krK0RrR4RLaM/s320/PA020006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668436443536639906" border="0" /></a></span></p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span></span><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Well, it went very, very fast, and in the best ways possible. We’ve basked in the joys of being disconnected from society (mostly – at least no cell phones ringing). Knowing what we were getting ourselves into, we embraced rolling out of bed, fixing a quick cup, and getting out and comfortable with nothing but the milky way lighting the road (and a Jupiter here and there to help out). The shift work was great, and we all took on the duty of DYNAMO balloon launcher like it was our own little experiment. We experienced a good deluge, Seattle-style spray with nothing but grey, and the ever-sought-after blue with as much blue coming from above as from below our feet. And though we usually had the water beneath us, we were ALWAYS thinking about our thesis work, we promise.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ72u3VCzALNOAwPdakmMmBTABPMtpfeBtaNoUMKEwfQAa1F1SMBaPsSfkpmBfon_CZN27AN-nMFeUjU_ZvsVhgQsBbmIs1Oi7OUwHpNOklxyUUpVyjaFyqm6HHvAPSxMK0YU4f8j9zs7r/s1600/IMG_0730.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ72u3VCzALNOAwPdakmMmBTABPMtpfeBtaNoUMKEwfQAa1F1SMBaPsSfkpmBfon_CZN27AN-nMFeUjU_ZvsVhgQsBbmIs1Oi7OUwHpNOklxyUUpVyjaFyqm6HHvAPSxMK0YU4f8j9zs7r/s320/IMG_0730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668436939033251618" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >hanging out with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Fody">Fodies</a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Many a balloon was launched and many a Pam was sprayed. I think a little explanation is called for here. So, if you go high enough, even down here at hot and humid 7°S, you get to the freezing point – usually around 4 or 5 km up. What happens there (pretend you’re a weather balloon): provided there are rain droplets (AKA cloud), you get iced up, iced up some more, until you become heavy enough that the buoyancy of the helium can’t keep you afloat and you begin to sink back down. But wait, it’s warm down here, so yes, the ice melts off, and finally you can begin to ascend again. We’ve watched at the computer as balloons bobbed around this “freezing level” (clever, isn’t it?) some 5 times before it either harvests the courage to break on through and continue on up or succumbs to the stresses of the cold world above and bursts.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center; font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxQvv3G-hYVSjshYWfuQrqAXQYnuV3myVxZewj69hxeQXNYBaWlqkeSskERLqChwmfSl4_1GODHBpaUeDIBCg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center; font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">I told you this place was enchanted!</span><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Now, back to the Pam. It was rumored before we departed the department that Pam spray – yep, the cooking oil – could be used for its hate-of-water-ness (hydrophybia) to prevent icing on balloons. Diego Garcia clerk: “No Pam here, Bill of New Zealand.” Bill of New Zealand: “No Pam?! Ouy, let’s try some olive oil. Cheers!” So extra virgin olive oil it was. Starting from early failed attempts of boringly applying with a paper towel (me), all the way to getting down and dirty with the bare hands to “assure that it was completely lathered up like a greased pig” (Gavin), to “I’m just going to try letting the balloon go without the inst</span><span style="font-size:100%;">rument pack this time.” (Won’t name names here, I don’t want to get Gavin in trouble.) We tried it all. We called it Field Olive Oil Deployment (FOOD), and boy</span><span style="font-size:100%;">, what a delicious campaign it was. Let’s get some professors out here next time for these fun activities!</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MZF0UJFizIGaVE_CsJwrutHsjYVLt2_1voK-hli24D8AK9QIDILBi2NFEvjBFLVTg36DKQ3OI-gUQQupWAAdkTsbv-HBMpGxmfSiAKNePu8Ps9l25ElHogvHtkx_ms6GRtrXLUTDquHy/s1600/DSC02887.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MZF0UJFizIGaVE_CsJwrutHsjYVLt2_1voK-hli24D8AK9QIDILBi2NFEvjBFLVTg36DKQ3OI-gUQQupWAAdkTsbv-HBMpGxmfSiAKNePu8Ps9l25ElHogvHtkx_ms6GRtrXLUTDquHy/s320/DSC02887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668437578821014194" border="0" /></a></span></p><p face="lucida grande" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center; font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">Carlos earning his Balloon Launch Merit Badge</span><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Well, the newbies are in, and the torch has been passed. All of yesterday was spent watching the </span><span style="font-size:100%;">new folks rig up the balloons themselves, from start to finish, with us being there only to provide tips. They’re already rolling on their own, and taking care of business. Today was our day of relaxation, which included some racquet ball, ping pong, a special celebratory din-din at the local fine dining spot, and a final goodbye to our good frien</span><span style="font-size:100%;">d Carlos, or Charlos, or Charlie, who many of you will fortunately get to meet in the near</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> future.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnSmiWuOpmrYEzJqS0JcLt7G0VncH8zMk2VlAsk9NZsAnoVUBK3Q0kSeIGM6xep_PM8nilgRNSjujtQDIqOmsMMnFlZgx1FOl60pCyF8S3uXDh8zqBmdAvHPMp46ARxPdsS88eE39L43x/s1600/IMG_1016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnSmiWuOpmrYEzJqS0JcLt7G0VncH8zMk2VlAsk9NZsAnoVUBK3Q0kSeIGM6xep_PM8nilgRNSjujtQDIqOmsMMnFlZgx1FOl60pCyF8S3uXDh8zqBmdAvHPMp46ARxPdsS88eE39L43x/s320/IMG_1016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668438142011887410" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">a couple of sunrise shots on our way out</span><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Happy to say that I’m writing you from my comfy seat in the skeletal, infamous, surreal USAF C-17, as Gavin and Adam sleep the soundest of soundly to the hum of the engines (find vi</span><span style="font-size:100%;">deographic evidence below). It’s 4:45 a.m., our time, so I guess that means I have to start calling tomorrow today.</span></p><p face="lucida grande" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDpYNlt20KTAR2RlUPGXOdG6khDT778FOO93hupJlm4ol3EQzqNNPQ3BX-6J-7XFirbvk_zIrfLSwo3XNNKw2kLZvI0xm31ZXp5SsVGrfefVOH4RQ3ja1UvLmGSPcKcouwolJoQ5ibG1O/s1600/IMG_1021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDpYNlt20KTAR2RlUPGXOdG6khDT778FOO93hupJlm4ol3EQzqNNPQ3BX-6J-7XFirbvk_zIrfLSwo3XNNKw2kLZvI0xm31ZXp5SsVGrfefVOH4RQ3ja1UvLmGSPcKcouwolJoQ5ibG1O/s320/IMG_1021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668438232480206610" border="0" /></a></span></p><p face="lucida grande" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Now for our highly anticipated backpacking leg of the journey. We’re off to find this restaurant w</span><span style="font-size:100%;">e hear of at the end of the universe. With that I leave you to the soothing sounds of th</span><span style="font-size:100%;">e C-17 and some sleeping beauties.</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwWUS-EiFc12axTi23jDcGer23xJ8kdOfg_zZR8Cj9wsUuNan5_lwzi6tz5CjYmjT_cjs4LznUFMp2xKOoL1A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><p face="lucida grande" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:100%;" >- Jame’s R, </span><span style=";font-size:100%;" >the band (coming to an island near you)</span></p><p face="lucida grande" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal">P.S. The bit about the sterile feral donkey riding was just a tease, but we hear it's a riot.<span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p>James Rupperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06238175715859438912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-15389105855392574962011-10-25T09:30:00.000-06:002011-10-25T10:57:27.373-06:00PlantationAs we discussed in a <a href="http://sanscontinent.blogspot.com/2011/09/i-promised-update-on-rather-dark.html">previous post</a>, Diego Garcia's original inhabitants were here until the late 1960's. From the mid-1800's up until then, they (with a French initiative) ran a peaceful and successful coconut industry on the island, exporting as many as four million coconuts per year. Yesterday, with the permission of the British Representative on the island, we were lent the key to the gates of the dirt road that leads to the abandoned remains of what used to be a thriving plantation community of 1,100 Chagosians.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3GNmsqz8vj7lLlasXbJTLWg1UyRfroBM6tegg2tR66Kel4snKKMaZEwslVmgiRYlih8vAVrOAza8ZW_uPSldHJcIfmWIO95BpGWjAv6os2f_G2DfWYCAv-5bybjKgdGacF3i-h6hU8W4/s1600/IMG_5633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3GNmsqz8vj7lLlasXbJTLWg1UyRfroBM6tegg2tR66Kel4snKKMaZEwslVmgiRYlih8vAVrOAza8ZW_uPSldHJcIfmWIO95BpGWjAv6os2f_G2DfWYCAv-5bybjKgdGacF3i-h6hU8W4/s320/IMG_5633.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The paved road ends about 19 miles outside of town, and from there it's another three gates and 11 miles of bumpy trails. We went in one of our field project's pickup trucks, and were also accompanied by our friend Carlos, the one who works as a linguist here, who was able to show us what he knew about the plantation. If the atoll were a clock, the plantation would be at
about three. We traveled counter-clockwise from the eleven o'clock position to get there. We were hoping to make it all 37 miles to the other tip of the island too, but the trail became impassable about 4 miles from the end.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU36jTzqq_SuzCMTeGqMtmWiJrcs-sYjKKhMqF2qGmGAW3D8O-W9XE1Vexbg8EiL0D5dws4I5FKEQuWT6QYnRECDrdIgC5Uomp4_EK5G0qhe8gYTUle_ZbAvg41Zgg6Jaor1ZGS8INiNmk/s1600/IMG_5650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU36jTzqq_SuzCMTeGqMtmWiJrcs-sYjKKhMqF2qGmGAW3D8O-W9XE1Vexbg8EiL0D5dws4I5FKEQuWT6QYnRECDrdIgC5Uomp4_EK5G0qhe8gYTUle_ZbAvg41Zgg6Jaor1ZGS8INiNmk/s320/IMG_5650.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the way there we passed the feral donkeys and massive coconut crabs, and at times the atoll was so narrow that you could easily see both the lagoon on your left and the ocean on your right.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHdGbYwHhOJ0LuLWdt6D1k3mxYE46eIYMfJeIBYlAj4mYLOuRxHVtWfvdoj2sL9wv7P3J6wasRaP37kU-rzANp6A_3obiUihtduNAzlL-5WmJhIX_tdMZXjjVtIuo0-4kCvoXeL4MlnWN/s1600/IMG_5734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHdGbYwHhOJ0LuLWdt6D1k3mxYE46eIYMfJeIBYlAj4mYLOuRxHVtWfvdoj2sL9wv7P3J6wasRaP37kU-rzANp6A_3obiUihtduNAzlL-5WmJhIX_tdMZXjjVtIuo0-4kCvoXeL4MlnWN/s320/IMG_5734.JPG" width="320" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering the plantation</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The plantation was utterly mystifying. Almost all that remains is concrete,
and all is silent and overgrown. It was made especially haunting by the
fact that we were the only ones there; I've toured other ruins before,
but they were overrun with tourists just as eager as me to try to understand a
forgotten culture. The jungle and whispering breeze breathed in on us as we
walked through building after mossy building, many now entirely canopied.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlHuas6_5BJUXGs1IPgHo70kWcyxJ4Mzzng-zoDaAorR9g3YomN8S2fJ34EIjjrIUNSQ0QsAjn4ud9KzoaFeC9hZb_NKmkoGqCy5_T5Tkwu4iOsTiHk085JDWgrNigZ_Ad-8qeK0TSxMJ/s320/IMG_5727.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capra drying house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxPC6zoxCnDQ0c-iMM-hZNjhn3_s8vSW-YIIyjfyEP38M_Bk_Ka47C9V82jPyDGVbHuxyogt8Rg2p-riv-3d2_oLYedFGuEg_mVl3whYzUaiLt9l0oPKuGPEn2i-kwm90072DTagVmsrb/s1600/IMG_5659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxPC6zoxCnDQ0c-iMM-hZNjhn3_s8vSW-YIIyjfyEP38M_Bk_Ka47C9V82jPyDGVbHuxyogt8Rg2p-riv-3d2_oLYedFGuEg_mVl3whYzUaiLt9l0oPKuGPEn2i-kwm90072DTagVmsrb/s320/IMG_5659.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anonymous jungle residence</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTPmxvZIlFPky5U4KcdtjABqgzAjwCtShLksV-jC9PIXXLfrfQueb7LjAcrKnm99zFMQcAzcH3uvSAbdLrmqMjoXZliW3Ddj8XlFZaSjWE6VLyGz562lYNtFzOt2whY1OaMOdn1XK31E8/s1600/IMG_5683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTPmxvZIlFPky5U4KcdtjABqgzAjwCtShLksV-jC9PIXXLfrfQueb7LjAcrKnm99zFMQcAzcH3uvSAbdLrmqMjoXZliW3Ddj8XlFZaSjWE6VLyGz562lYNtFzOt2whY1OaMOdn1XK31E8/s320/IMG_5683.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eyQMcot_wY5bma6ji_8NbdTeP4_cMkBJ4mfLFdv5BE3mlN-l1HSU2xRkxIT84G9i0jBzggvJINh2W1ptNno9mJJRNB2kEphNr_R4TRHW_DIu0RQEaGvQwu7JaydiWos-l-VlvqOshlwm/s1600/IMG_5717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eyQMcot_wY5bma6ji_8NbdTeP4_cMkBJ4mfLFdv5BE3mlN-l1HSU2xRkxIT84G9i0jBzggvJINh2W1ptNno9mJJRNB2kEphNr_R4TRHW_DIu0RQEaGvQwu7JaydiWos-l-VlvqOshlwm/s320/IMG_5717.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plantation manager's house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK45slgJvWPsyFtG8Gzb-Nas1xGRDCL3IOtXT6xtasl6uRPDNy1x87WT5isygr8saIgWoBvuPPD5X5eWGjXrzuO3MbrgEx2CNYTUtFSuu0ZGO5afZEQbttNjo2OLPbiXA1V6arb1Pkslw/s1600/IMG_5686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LYfszjhadUZFTa3rCHOBaajTC3Px9TojGSfxy-1lTw6qLeNPHtVpMUDFSl2IKFbrTd2JnQVxGdOw5mhubcf8Tk0fTPMtAOuy6sp4vSQ8A_e-N-W0MTj4n3pBIH8WtivLtEVRMBgVcePH/s1600/IMG_5714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LYfszjhadUZFTa3rCHOBaajTC3Px9TojGSfxy-1lTw6qLeNPHtVpMUDFSl2IKFbrTd2JnQVxGdOw5mhubcf8Tk0fTPMtAOuy6sp4vSQ8A_e-N-W0MTj4n3pBIH8WtivLtEVRMBgVcePH/s320/IMG_5714.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5fkG820mDKyHxAMpcC39XC1C-mk_twWZET-mr4jfK1XK8FuNg5K9fwazcVNubvLsP8cM7N3o1sNdY-GzyPlB7OQeYVlD3P2CHGlMHobuN6mIVIDgmYsfs8hQZ6mr5RTBNgJDmwqbOsB2/s1600/IMG_5723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5fkG820mDKyHxAMpcC39XC1C-mk_twWZET-mr4jfK1XK8FuNg5K9fwazcVNubvLsP8cM7N3o1sNdY-GzyPlB7OQeYVlD3P2CHGlMHobuN6mIVIDgmYsfs8hQZ6mr5RTBNgJDmwqbOsB2/s320/IMG_5723.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coconut/palm processing facility of some kind</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIdre110TYhMDduicW1A6Uh_AzfKadE3kaJMZI-UFqTh1CKqPBmGWtlZ0kn7x1m6UL5g8dFCCT2vgt9CiQ1ElZ_ZJA20Nwl7bt2Lmf1fhoLg56mXr4kJd9xgP_EUW1BzrttOjPReqBk3F/s1600/IMG_5729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIdre110TYhMDduicW1A6Uh_AzfKadE3kaJMZI-UFqTh1CKqPBmGWtlZ0kn7x1m6UL5g8dFCCT2vgt9CiQ1ElZ_ZJA20Nwl7bt2Lmf1fhoLg56mXr4kJd9xgP_EUW1BzrttOjPReqBk3F/s320/IMG_5729.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Gaol"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK45slgJvWPsyFtG8Gzb-Nas1xGRDCL3IOtXT6xtasl6uRPDNy1x87WT5isygr8saIgWoBvuPPD5X5eWGjXrzuO3MbrgEx2CNYTUtFSuu0ZGO5afZEQbttNjo2OLPbiXA1V6arb1Pkslw/s1600/IMG_5686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK45slgJvWPsyFtG8Gzb-Nas1xGRDCL3IOtXT6xtasl6uRPDNy1x87WT5isygr8saIgWoBvuPPD5X5eWGjXrzuO3MbrgEx2CNYTUtFSuu0ZGO5afZEQbttNjo2OLPbiXA1V6arb1Pkslw/s320/IMG_5686.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plane crash from WWII</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDG5SW9lHnAB1JWf8TfO11k69m9Ymtf9DTpXw9bQGGF8QrD7qHaRsMOvsA63miT112lqD1Lyq2_g6QuMVfQJVUMRgcQL5wBeOiwIjcP06tdxK3o-ZQC176n_hPVqoBfodANjs7eKBxabL/s1600/IMG_5737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDG5SW9lHnAB1JWf8TfO11k69m9Ymtf9DTpXw9bQGGF8QrD7qHaRsMOvsA63miT112lqD1Lyq2_g6QuMVfQJVUMRgcQL5wBeOiwIjcP06tdxK3o-ZQC176n_hPVqoBfodANjs7eKBxabL/s320/IMG_5737.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old pier and loading dock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It would be hard to describe the sort of sobering fascination
this experience gave us. I could've spent hours strolling through the
lost columns and walls, imagining an era. It's possible to camp out
there as well, although we were regrettably short on time left on the
island. It would be a truly incredible experience I think, to lay
among the palms and pillars and look up at a piercing deck of stars and the soupy stripe of
the Milky Way, completely unadulterated by light pollution.<br />
<br />
Also during our time on this side of the island we checked out the
military's R&R site, which utilized another old plantation
cabana-type building farther north as shelter and had a pavilion,
barbecue pit, and (submerged) volleyball court for groups to take time off
from the other side of the island to enjoy. We also stopped at Turtle
Cove before reaching all the gates, which is an area at the southern
terminus of the island where the ebb and flow of tides in the lagoon
leads to veritable rivers of seawater moving inland and back, much like
the Bay of Fundy. From the little wooden platform there we saw sea turtles, crabs, and
all kinds of fish. Adam had put his sandals behind the truck when we parked,
and then when we returned thirty minutes later the incoming high tide had washed them "upriver".<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7Y8x_zjp3dCzlJSGzvb2T8gJc69ZTx_xb0tPsU61zE0LzhpcXjWw4eL8Mi9mFN5_f20FzOrCECBnNSb8wg4Udskx8smAECYBJNi-sTjd6awGiMlO0A5IiKtJak-AKbLy9l0QHF4wufl7/s1600/IMG_5620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7Y8x_zjp3dCzlJSGzvb2T8gJc69ZTx_xb0tPsU61zE0LzhpcXjWw4eL8Mi9mFN5_f20FzOrCECBnNSb8wg4Udskx8smAECYBJNi-sTjd6awGiMlO0A5IiKtJak-AKbLy9l0QHF4wufl7/s320/IMG_5620.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Platform at Turtle Cove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjrFkI05m7UupK6YhbXZVWdsDiE6cAneE3g14O0zGVujJzkGW5kgwzmPOi7BdyQSZtIeMLEqf30k1E-VxE5DkZGONRYI1URpCXFFSThYYNV41eJYwC85DkoiYLLaSUVScbn75MPnGdnjy/s1600/IMG_5629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjrFkI05m7UupK6YhbXZVWdsDiE6cAneE3g14O0zGVujJzkGW5kgwzmPOi7BdyQSZtIeMLEqf30k1E-VxE5DkZGONRYI1URpCXFFSThYYNV41eJYwC85DkoiYLLaSUVScbn75MPnGdnjy/s320/IMG_5629.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our faithful steed newly encompassed by water when we returned, Carlos laughing, and Adam somewhere behind the cameraman searching for his flip-flops</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Carlos told us
that all over the island the effects of the rising sea-level are being
noticed. There are no more deep expanses of beach to use, just thin strips
along each side. The volleyball court at the R&R site was partially underwater.
The dirt trail we were on near the plantation was practically below sea
level at some points, kept from complete flooding only by narrow banks
of dense growth. And Turtle Cove continues to ebb farther and farther
inland, around palm trees, old signs, the road.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlk2kaFYyjHlKSba0-0DzxaqqmxJg7tGpRvrcOvWj5E3u0qZoxPTVkdtLvWxzKVdojotKbOX5j-lh8Krce8glCARVo70z8Md1S_6hVAY7pnP4n8CTJe-_q2xwcE5yB1LsumMhrrT9pMK0/s1600/IMG_5670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlk2kaFYyjHlKSba0-0DzxaqqmxJg7tGpRvrcOvWj5E3u0qZoxPTVkdtLvWxzKVdojotKbOX5j-lh8Krce8glCARVo70z8Md1S_6hVAY7pnP4n8CTJe-_q2xwcE5yB1LsumMhrrT9pMK0/s320/IMG_5670.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volleyball posts at the R&R site</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The island will suffer one of two fates. Either the sea level
will continue to rise at such a pace that eventually it will be too much
to combat, and the island will succumb to the new climate man has created...
or, the sea level will remain manageable, the American military will
choose not to renew its contract on the island, and it will likely
become commercialized. After having really gotten to know the island and
its history, especially after yesterday's experience at the plantation,
I think that either would be a truly sad fate.<br />
<br />
For now, we will sit, watch, and absorb the island's beauty in
the here and now. Departure in two days. We may never return,
but if and when we do, Diego Garcia will not be the same.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJJD-ZcHzQZBGuoTxLePrHfXXfMvGu0elEYLahENHLXYjDk4Jj7Yhyphenhyphen_3OVcU-_LCC0QANKUFsm3SCu9lcjA4pqG18GeeDfWmFDlwO8mAy1DoacwrptnTpsCrDI7CW7FMiyZMc9KECsivB/s1600/IMG_5664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJJD-ZcHzQZBGuoTxLePrHfXXfMvGu0elEYLahENHLXYjDk4Jj7Yhyphenhyphen_3OVcU-_LCC0QANKUFsm3SCu9lcjA4pqG18GeeDfWmFDlwO8mAy1DoacwrptnTpsCrDI7CW7FMiyZMc9KECsivB/s320/IMG_5664.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
- GavinUnknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-5582222315187657392011-10-24T22:45:00.002-06:002011-10-24T22:46:23.636-06:00Launch LapseTime lapse of one of our balloon launches: <a href="http://youtu.be/RBUc0V7v8f4">http://youtu.be/RBUc0V7v8f4</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-89106914590010965032011-10-19T12:17:00.002-06:002011-10-19T15:13:35.454-06:00PatronsI watched tonight's sunset from the "Short Pier" just west of our barracks on the Indian Ocean. It was particularly stunning due to its inclusion of nearly every type of cloud. Even gravity waves. And Jupiter right before the cut. YouTube link: <a href="http://youtu.be/Pb6s-vKwFKw">http://youtu.be/Pb6s-vKwFKw</a> (pardon the switch to the low-light setting at the very end)<br />
<br />
We continue to check out new places on the island, including Mene Gene's
Burgers, the cannons, the 300-seat pavilion where they show a different movie every
night at 2000 (and 2200 on weekends), and the Officer's Club for brunch. There are usually exactly zero people at each of these places (we have yet
to see a single other person at MGB, only ever seen one other guy
watching the movie, etc.). It's even rare to see someone else at the pool, or
at the marina wanting
to sail, snorkel, or windsurf. This leads to a strange aura of
maintained abandonment about the village part of the island. Perhaps
sort of like an overzealous and under-frequented Great Plains roadside
attraction. We posit that the Navy (specifically the MWR Office as Adam
discussed in the previous post) keeps these places open and staffed regardless of
patronage. Intriguing... <br />
<br />
And now for your biweekly installment of semi-relevant photos:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOb5CzVnZGfR2im6mKcx3BRSIUcjfgZwaIc49UEbp0rO_X6k9uPSuu43GmY_sn-WXARqx49UmSb12mgFQWd3eg4s_fVws0OI_wTsmeWFrXwaLtkOPyo7LEzbxwTL1a9hC5aaHHc9-DSD8/s1600/IMG_4200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOb5CzVnZGfR2im6mKcx3BRSIUcjfgZwaIc49UEbp0rO_X6k9uPSuu43GmY_sn-WXARqx49UmSb12mgFQWd3eg4s_fVws0OI_wTsmeWFrXwaLtkOPyo7LEzbxwTL1a9hC5aaHHc9-DSD8/s320/IMG_4200.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pool (and oddly enough, one of the highest points on the island - they built up the land instead of digging it out to diving board regulation depth)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILhi6cBDmOfPcFmIG2F9yyxk_LP9rEysn2FfnYEnehk-DSLyZZKxf6_nkFs_GdICSNh_ndwbe5L1nTHpYaBfwOhKd3mHeW_X3nk3Qn8Z5-KC4q5jz6dolsa-Uy_8aVyPth1_ESxkqxzL9/s1600/IMG_4201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILhi6cBDmOfPcFmIG2F9yyxk_LP9rEysn2FfnYEnehk-DSLyZZKxf6_nkFs_GdICSNh_ndwbe5L1nTHpYaBfwOhKd3mHeW_X3nk3Qn8Z5-KC4q5jz6dolsa-Uy_8aVyPth1_ESxkqxzL9/s320/IMG_4201.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Public transportation for the contractors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWyo630Fnudf8D9HEnBaUyyVoicf0BR5N_I1soZ8YqT0Up16FAjNzVknn8mitDGJ8ycnvdeFHr4WufxXVlwzP4E8Tem8OJ-LdVaBBkRRE6bDuhX3lPFJk80GWWxku-szhSJW8p9Lk9R9V/s1600/IMG_4204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWyo630Fnudf8D9HEnBaUyyVoicf0BR5N_I1soZ8YqT0Up16FAjNzVknn8mitDGJ8ycnvdeFHr4WufxXVlwzP4E8Tem8OJ-LdVaBBkRRE6bDuhX3lPFJk80GWWxku-szhSJW8p9Lk9R9V/s320/IMG_4204.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Navy's "Ship Store", the large general store with better business ethics than Walmart</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7zWCGCdPKjiomxcR8aktpUuvdXKaWbAB9ODaZIWQTutgU7gNxnkC3IMnogtSlWiMuYw5zbXVwwQNJJGGYE2LoAC0tBDQjFLDGSrm1wdOXNA5pB6ob7X1jYflHpCD87CFCmjRXHkr35cR/s1600/IMG_4205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7zWCGCdPKjiomxcR8aktpUuvdXKaWbAB9ODaZIWQTutgU7gNxnkC3IMnogtSlWiMuYw5zbXVwwQNJJGGYE2LoAC0tBDQjFLDGSrm1wdOXNA5pB6ob7X1jYflHpCD87CFCmjRXHkr35cR/s320/IMG_4205.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">British Police HQ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAB3Mx5WTxfyBUaAbQ6oBi11u5K7WottLTiMba6C0M0_lkocQtzV0Ekm7AmNwHY0cpfl0TS11LgaXmkRrau5sfAeA70e30GQPnkHqgpWj7-uzEC_GXf9KdA9O-DDLvc8vtgk_9pxyPp4N9/s1600/IMG_4206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAB3Mx5WTxfyBUaAbQ6oBi11u5K7WottLTiMba6C0M0_lkocQtzV0Ekm7AmNwHY0cpfl0TS11LgaXmkRrau5sfAeA70e30GQPnkHqgpWj7-uzEC_GXf9KdA9O-DDLvc8vtgk_9pxyPp4N9/s320/IMG_4206.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical Golden-Corral-style meal at the Mess Hall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
-GavinUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-86111724427118559232011-10-17T14:26:00.000-06:002011-10-18T03:14:00.700-06:00Shred the GnarDuring our residence on the island, the favored downtime pastime has been windsurfing. According to the locals, we are presently exiting the "windy" season. Given the past couple days, this does not appear to be the case. The trade winds have steadily gained strength in proportion to our windsurfing skills. <br />
<br />
Let's start at the beginning. Upon entering Diego Garcia, we were informed that on the Indian Ocean sides of the island (the entire outside border of the island), the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) police strongly restricts getting anything above your knees submerged. If caught you are fined in the <i>unavailable</i> currency of pounds. Our hopes of board enabled water sports were initially crushed considering the only waves of decent period and swell height (the two most important factors when considering surf-able waves) are in the Indian Ocean. We are restricted to the lagoon for all water activities.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDzv5VLCFKhYF3KCCCt6FhiRoj1TEDIhNEtwnWDfpRM4RXWNQyp_kICjIMGiFFnl8sgJL7SW65le_SEUie27_NAcsMrveKr87ss0wnWdrVffTAK5UIvc_1CSY01nqJpPcixyyD0hHfEr-/s1600/PA150045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDzv5VLCFKhYF3KCCCt6FhiRoj1TEDIhNEtwnWDfpRM4RXWNQyp_kICjIMGiFFnl8sgJL7SW65le_SEUie27_NAcsMrveKr87ss0wnWdrVffTAK5UIvc_1CSY01nqJpPcixyyD0hHfEr-/s320/PA150045.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Athlete and a Scholar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We then discovered that the Navy Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Division (MWR) operates a Marina containing windsurf equipment, ocean kayaks, and stand up paddle boards to use in the lagoon. Even better, the windsurf equipment costs $2 per day to rent.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAebSEBVY6Rxn237vKt60KnoOYKS_N0PRz2DrjPw8PM92F0-Ow656MVrz6io4SJKeEZjpuqWrG_QZib1BbINxCyzVmaQ66rX14qBIY0uRqdPY9lhAfM3JXur5Ao4ny93q-j9OICgg9XZU2/s1600/PA150014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAebSEBVY6Rxn237vKt60KnoOYKS_N0PRz2DrjPw8PM92F0-Ow656MVrz6io4SJKeEZjpuqWrG_QZib1BbINxCyzVmaQ66rX14qBIY0uRqdPY9lhAfM3JXur5Ao4ny93q-j9OICgg9XZU2/s320/PA150014.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Using the smallest sails of the windsurfing fleet, we started carefully with the 3.5 sail (3.5 refers to the surface area of the sail in units of meters squared). Windsurfing is different from regular surfing. You must counter balance much more because you are essentially holding an aluminum baseball bat that is 10 feet tall and referred to as the mast. Aside from the added weight of the sail, the extra pressure created by the wind against the sail is potent. A falling mast placed correctly on the cranium could easily concuss a grown man. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_o2J1awgyunkzwqkaupFOqVTfFwd6wu4ipr2G60VvM8wMv4IWPK6GqMBlK3e876MIZsIZ4WuqVHPw8rMOzZMhL0dmy2Zp51skjJK1ac64PESZcTFxpI7u4voHp-kp6183AVK9_-rS604/s1600/PA150041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_o2J1awgyunkzwqkaupFOqVTfFwd6wu4ipr2G60VvM8wMv4IWPK6GqMBlK3e876MIZsIZ4WuqVHPw8rMOzZMhL0dmy2Zp51skjJK1ac64PESZcTFxpI7u4voHp-kp6183AVK9_-rS604/s320/PA150041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We progressed quickly to the surprise of the instructors and fellow windsurfer-ers and have since upgraded our sails to those of much large surface areas. We have even begun the process of using a harness to attach ourselves to the sails. This creates a new and veritable cornucopia of hazards that serves to heighten our "stoke" for the sport.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmVaHyCsqr22DUTdDJccYRWa1XxllydGB8EJ2lyRa-GbmGC_-7gP5DxjBNcdZl7X263GSABb9JUH_zAmwRo45v9POD9srP_x2PUx9dgT_MwSbxsUJyJcCYV-lss7nVsrRfolnyAzf0-hD/s1600/PA150069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmVaHyCsqr22DUTdDJccYRWa1XxllydGB8EJ2lyRa-GbmGC_-7gP5DxjBNcdZl7X263GSABb9JUH_zAmwRo45v9POD9srP_x2PUx9dgT_MwSbxsUJyJcCYV-lss7nVsrRfolnyAzf0-hD/s320/PA150069.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebratory Swim</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We've even become proficient at the art of tacking. For those unfamiliar, tacking is the process by which you turn the front of the board so that the wind pushes from one side of the sail and then quickly to the other. Since windsurf boards don't have a reverse, you must change the board's trajectory by changing the direction in which the wind is pushing the sail. Furthermore, since you can't change the direction of the wind, you must change the orientation of the sail. Anyway, it's hard.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RDmrkw3Y8C5A9XNc__fIBlvogw_BK41oySEjm9DB0B933NJ4e_HQVKM2wY9YOjfGZSeLFDUK383NjIz1Y7OP5jdrTmhBsH2EQDG9rjodiAcHKbwDEBx1v0S4Yr8ucTJT3-4cQA1j456N/s1600/PA150051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RDmrkw3Y8C5A9XNc__fIBlvogw_BK41oySEjm9DB0B933NJ4e_HQVKM2wY9YOjfGZSeLFDUK383NjIz1Y7OP5jdrTmhBsH2EQDG9rjodiAcHKbwDEBx1v0S4Yr8ucTJT3-4cQA1j456N/s320/PA150051.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinning It</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Our intuition and skill for the sport is growing daily and soon enough we will be "<b>Shredding the Gnar</b>". If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand.<br />
<br />
Videos:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h31Ll9Vn3xI">Gavin</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L73h_PaczOM&feature=channel_video_title">James</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05ggWAhwqts&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL">Adam</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span id="goog_1615606181"></span><span id="goog_1615606182"></span><br />
-AdamAdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17033153151718276694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-54161746773550195322011-10-15T13:33:00.000-06:002011-10-15T15:49:12.993-06:00Brewskis and Olive OilYesterday the shifts worked out just right so that I finished up the 12Z launch, headed back to the hotel, and then we donned our mandatory bike lights and helmets (after a brief flat tire issue with James' Diamondback) to go check out a few of the bars on a Diego Garcia Friday night.<br />
<br />
Before that, though, I met a few of the local Filipino weather service guys who came out to Tent City (official name Thunder Cove) to see the 09Z launch. The non-Aretha-Franklin-backup-singer-looking guy in the photo below had never launched a weather balloon before, so he got a kick out of doing that. Their weather office, as mentioned already by Adam, is rather procedurally- and instrumentally-paltry, e.g. their surface obs station doesn't work, so they do temperature and humidity measurements with a handheld Kestrel and air pressure measurements with (get this) an antique barometer in the office (just give it a little tappy), and of course their Doppler is fully functioning but "is not broadcast, accessible, or archived." Tremendous.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65q7jFRnIhdQG8FoSWSjhHCDmzcjskv8Y2Drq8GbHog_ld3Ifkq2ez0fvjTJAlheAx0tFVsEJ8LUbFtLxA_C_LPmiJZOoSdSmIwYZrYVAjqEuPfeQs9Iv87JQElLjNITWslF_m3L4pBkb/s1600/IMG_3537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65q7jFRnIhdQG8FoSWSjhHCDmzcjskv8Y2Drq8GbHog_ld3Ifkq2ez0fvjTJAlheAx0tFVsEJ8LUbFtLxA_C_LPmiJZOoSdSmIwYZrYVAjqEuPfeQs9Iv87JQElLjNITWslF_m3L4pBkb/s400/IMG_3537.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Anyway, back to the bars - we first went to Jake's Place, an open-air, pavilionesque place with ample deck seating, a blindingly-illuminated lagoonfront, and even a Filipino cover band (covering Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna... you get the picture). It was definitely the weekend place to go for all the local contractors. Beers were only $2, and you could choose from MGD, Coors Light, San Miguel (a slightly jarring Filipino brew), Budweiser, Heineken, and of course your requisite Corona for only a dollar more. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofsjGRO_uXmeMI4H6bgYVgeTimjT-WUKT9gMisbyqSYmI-wJkwIb0BBN12gh7FYxDNgxu09OUiaUj1JYWffms61xO2k6RFwsTTLImZA8ZvU2P1D0vW-4xYtHI35rkmoCOouSEbLLT6SlR/s1600/IMG_3548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofsjGRO_uXmeMI4H6bgYVgeTimjT-WUKT9gMisbyqSYmI-wJkwIb0BBN12gh7FYxDNgxu09OUiaUj1JYWffms61xO2k6RFwsTTLImZA8ZvU2P1D0vW-4xYtHI35rkmoCOouSEbLLT6SlR/s320/IMG_3548.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpTuITM6pUpb8LNvArF4J3-sB6lkuUT4oUVs_cYIu_Gn1I8yoDSE9-d1aZZAhChL6ZoFBVAHtkARmvMzUDUaXr2vWm4QYjnTMOW8z3ddi8bORiyGxTIldW2eFCbfB2qHNM8vrB8vSKwKZ/s1600/IMG_3557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpTuITM6pUpb8LNvArF4J3-sB6lkuUT4oUVs_cYIu_Gn1I8yoDSE9-d1aZZAhChL6ZoFBVAHtkARmvMzUDUaXr2vWm4QYjnTMOW8z3ddi8bORiyGxTIldW2eFCbfB2qHNM8vrB8vSKwKZ/s320/IMG_3557.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After shouting/miming over the amps for about an hour at Jake's we decided to make our way to the Brit Club, a stone's southward-directed throw from the Marina. This place was also open-air but resembled more of an unfinished church basement than a pavilion. Plenty o' concrete. We encountered many more people of our age (five or ten years older instead of thirty) and hemisphere though, which was cool. We even met one of the Control Tower guys from whom we telephonically request air clearance before each balloon launch. We also met this dude Carlos who's working intelligence/translating here on the island - grew up in Spain, lives in Norway, has lived in South Africa, Italy, Houston, etc. and has all the languages to show for it, plus Portuguese. We now have a place to stay in Norway and another friend to join us for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil!<br />
<br />
Today was the sunniest day yet we've experienced on the island. The pool was quite the paradise this afternoon, despite "No Flips" off the diving board. James was on day shift, but out at the site we have a reclining beach chair we found by our secret lagoon that we dragged over and utilize in between sunny daytime launches, so he wasn't suffering that much. I'm currently on the midnight shift listening to Another Saturday Night by Cat Stevens and watching the distant lightning out the portal window. I'm hoping that the rains hold off until after the 2:15am launch; otherwise I have to rub olive oil all over the inflated balloon so that it will continue to rise through the freezing layer of the troposphere without water clinging to it and freezing, thereby making the balloon heavier and causing it to sink (and then melt, rise, freeze, sink, etc.). I imagine this awkward, windy oil application being just slightly easier than a greased pig competition. But I wouldn't know.<br />
<br />
-Gavin <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsV4ku-6195mEjnvM4I3_GwtnxmCvo3QQ4yUtIoutfTuA5fIXyIesSMMYl6B79SxxP6dQxLWXGqhM5XalDkzsFmcx9rym1APZkmCVS65PCUiPRRpeQJ97aKaPv0JqdGf5gOnQt_2ey_HLQ/s1600/IMG_3544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsV4ku-6195mEjnvM4I3_GwtnxmCvo3QQ4yUtIoutfTuA5fIXyIesSMMYl6B79SxxP6dQxLWXGqhM5XalDkzsFmcx9rym1APZkmCVS65PCUiPRRpeQJ97aKaPv0JqdGf5gOnQt_2ey_HLQ/s400/IMG_3544.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midnight view from the launch site's beach; the lights are ships stationed in the lagoon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-58289833887902032002011-10-13T15:29:00.010-06:002011-10-15T13:46:32.306-06:00It's Always Sunny in Diego Garcia<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Well, not quite... But without the bitter, the sweet ain't so sweet. And without clouds, what would sunny really be like? Clearly not as sweet!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36YjBZgDT4gRnYl3X6VMTpHC8XNoU2ACyRBBJ8BrlfixdZGK2IeHtO_OGdfcJVeN6IeTY1_4b323i2EDTH7fSW4hPmq4ERCi99rw62JLMB_Li9PuBTObaklj6IATbSeE4IhRQ1q7yuN92/s1600/IMG_0664.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663358002080289522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36YjBZgDT4gRnYl3X6VMTpHC8XNoU2ACyRBBJ8BrlfixdZGK2IeHtO_OGdfcJVeN6IeTY1_4b323i2EDTH7fSW4hPmq4ERCi99rw62JLMB_Li9PuBTObaklj6IATbSeE4IhRQ1q7yuN92/s320/IMG_0664.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>When it IS sunny out here, we're quick to get on our bikes, to head for the water, to explore this majestic island, or perhaps to wander the countless streets of DG in search of an MJO - we hear they like to hang around these parts.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOUZy2D_kUh1geluu8kAgftl5ZTuc6lXVCxatcUxP97qVNeVvBWB0NU7YCZ55uU0fjOF9qikjan6rxc01Cw27HgL8mi988BPljSg2Aj3fF6AttnT0UUyfNXPRPCe5NfB6wLktm_2Ql0qZ/s1600/IMG_0711.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663358028187693378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOUZy2D_kUh1geluu8kAgftl5ZTuc6lXVCxatcUxP97qVNeVvBWB0NU7YCZ55uU0fjOF9qikjan6rxc01Cw27HgL8mi988BPljSg2Aj3fF6AttnT0UUyfNXPRPCe5NfB6wLktm_2Ql0qZ/s320/IMG_0711.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOUZy2D_kUh1geluu8kAgftl5ZTuc6lXVCxatcUxP97qVNeVvBWB0NU7YCZ55uU0fjOF9qikjan6rxc01Cw27HgL8mi988BPljSg2Aj3fF6AttnT0UUyfNXPRPCe5NfB6wLktm_2Ql0qZ/s1600/IMG_0711.JPG"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span></span></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaWfo4sonRbaR1NBGmjL5F1dl1kJn5n1a10DkWbsAkzJBNuBJwp5qhDozEBYyTxRo-wetpvO_lOWVrvyvm-4HGQ7P8aG5rdd0uRWp3Ee5J5v7qjKRoFLo1tDw6lWTCmXDwXvEGyAU2-Qq/s1600/IMG_0705.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663358011115431218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaWfo4sonRbaR1NBGmjL5F1dl1kJn5n1a10DkWbsAkzJBNuBJwp5qhDozEBYyTxRo-wetpvO_lOWVrvyvm-4HGQ7P8aG5rdd0uRWp3Ee5J5v7qjKRoFLo1tDw6lWTCmXDwXvEGyAU2-Qq/s320/IMG_0705.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span></span></span></span>Like they say in Seattle (probably), the grey weather always helps you appreciate the sun, and that has certainly been the case for us. The sunny weather as of late brought Gavin and I a bike ride around the island (see references to "Lost" in earlier post), and brought Adam and I a sunny nap out on a floating dock to the tranquilizing rock of the strong trade winds that blew in yesterday afternoon. From there we were able to watch Gavin shred up the waves windsurfing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13kpaXXEoLKyLayqv9XiGd8wtUsjSVKUdK8bB0F4LFz48IfcusacPtPbCK0pupBA00wQU6nryHamgZUsJWDRIeT7svA2fdRYEBKYcKmjt1JnCjQwfx_3X0kd7zVAg-fEPFLhcKZu8iBz6/s1600/IMG_0718.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663358045351192242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13kpaXXEoLKyLayqv9XiGd8wtUsjSVKUdK8bB0F4LFz48IfcusacPtPbCK0pupBA00wQU6nryHamgZUsJWDRIeT7svA2fdRYEBKYcKmjt1JnCjQwfx_3X0kd7zVAg-fEPFLhcKZu8iBz6/s320/IMG_0718.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 239px;" /></a><br />The pictures you're seeing have been gathered over the recent days of sun we've had. Standby for footage and photography from our windy day water play.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJZHmAZZfym1UKp2vjjUFot70Dd4WpsUQuMVIYYAMIInVhyWo4Z-Jk1WAqvNFnOBcI_pQDgAOlBqnoXnS1DPIR2tioNMi9uINjR47Or6PMteWYevqmcmAcFtTRumYMWuMtWNA0XuImERy/s1600/IMG_0717.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663358036989717730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJZHmAZZfym1UKp2vjjUFot70Dd4WpsUQuMVIYYAMIInVhyWo4Z-Jk1WAqvNFnOBcI_pQDgAOlBqnoXnS1DPIR2tioNMi9uINjR47Or6PMteWYevqmcmAcFtTRumYMWuMtWNA0XuImERy/s320/IMG_0717.JPG" style="display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A crab amid the ropes </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Side-note on Justin Beiber to follow up on recent blog comments:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br />When we are traveling around Malaysia and Indo, we're planning on using Gavin's stark resemblance to Justin Beiber to reap some unfair benefits. Perhaps he has earned a few special perks for putting up with all the remarks from everyone, but we'll still call them unfair since Adam and I will surely be riding his coattail all the way into VIP rooms, black-tie parties, and many other closed-door events that we'd otherwise be shooed away from. We'll probably rent a stretch limo to take us around everywhere to make this happen a little bit more effectively.<br /><br />-james<br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxTVbA_mLFVKhQpPv4WPZUtoTdJCYe_IBTEnrlHjkU5TT0CAvFd_A6L9s6DiKSQmzUH1ZTFwTma8Wm7BKnYfg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>James Rupperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06238175715859438912noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-62171581423116778682011-10-12T20:45:00.003-06:002011-10-12T20:46:58.726-06:00Sunrise<div style="text-align: center;">
Time lapse of sunrise at the balloon launch site this morning (10/13/11): </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://youtu.be/V5k55xN08eg">http://youtu.be/V5k55xN08eg</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-32621566504270319612011-10-12T08:30:00.003-06:002011-10-12T17:30:44.021-06:00ResemblancesTonight James and I ran a Moonlight 5K race southward out of town (it's the full moon tonight, and also this afternoon the sun passed 90 degrees directly overhead of us here at about 7 degrees south (time lapse of disappearing shadows coming soon!)). Toward the end of the race I passed two Filipino guys who looked about 20, and after I passed them I heard them say something resembling "Siya kahawig Justin Beiber!!" I paused to collect myself for about five seconds to make sure that's what I really heard, and then turned around and was just like "Haha yeah!" to which they just laughed back. So yeah, even foreign kids are calling me the J-word. I may or may not have mock sung "<i>Baby, baby, baby</i>" too... I'll leave that for you to decide, just as you have the true intentions of my coiffure. But I thought you Fort Colanders especially would enjoy that.<br />
<br />
We also got another mistaken band identity yesterday at the gym, when this Air Force guy came over to us while we were doing military press (ironically enough) and said "I don't mean to intrude, but what are you guys doing here on DG?" After we told him, he of course confirmed that he indeed "thought y'all were the band or something, with the shaggy hair."<br />
<br />
Balloon launch shifts have continued going well. In our off time we do at least two of the three of windsurfing, ping-pong, and gyming every day. Tomorrow is the Navy's 236th birthday, and there's going to be a huge lunch at the mess hall of steak, shrimp, wings, and corn-on-the-cob. <br />
<br />
Finally, I leave you with your picture of the day - baby palm trees (cue Steph Slade's awwww!):<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHIvXjFBBBkQ6yW-RjIXQEpld-pbrhzrDAKcOwDMZ9Ov8hJ0-8tKiSOn4P7EJMJMYIWrU-H6m9i8Hv9jHIcx2t2C8OhVrZ91vp_urrpFOJS5fXvZf0m1VZRXldHtbFBZz8TOtFCIyWvHW/s1600/IMG_1704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHIvXjFBBBkQ6yW-RjIXQEpld-pbrhzrDAKcOwDMZ9Ov8hJ0-8tKiSOn4P7EJMJMYIWrU-H6m9i8Hv9jHIcx2t2C8OhVrZ91vp_urrpFOJS5fXvZf0m1VZRXldHtbFBZz8TOtFCIyWvHW/s400/IMG_1704.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
- GavinUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-7562617727503744392011-10-10T07:31:00.000-06:002011-10-11T11:17:29.407-06:00LOST in TranslationFor those of you who didn't follow the hit show LOST, this post will still be relevant but not jibing at its full potential. Read on to hear about the sights along our attempted "tip-to-tip" trans-atoll bike ride, or instead catch up on all six seasons and <i>then</i> read on. The extra couple chuckles and epiphanies earned might very well be worth it.<br />
<br />
<b>Reasons why Diego Garcia is the closest real-life equivalent to the Island in LOST:</b><br />
<br />
Although before I start with the reasons actually, let me preface by telling you the backstory: that today was to be the day of our heavily-anticipated "Tip-to-Tip" bike ride. This meant biking to the marina at 0700 hours, taking a ferry across the lagoon channel to the pinkie toe of the mostly-digitless right-footprint-shaped island that is DG, and then biking the eastern side's dirt road for 18 miles followed by the western side's paved road for 19 miles all the way around the island until we ended up at the Officer's Club back on the tip of the big toe. It is a biannual event that, once completed, renders you a true "man of the island".<br />
<br />
Yesterday it rained and rained and rained... and the event was cancelled this morning due to excessive muddiness on the eastern side. However, that didn't stop us from biking the paved part (in the opposite direction) as far as we could go to check out what wonders the island had in store for us that we had yet to see. Our bags were packed with chocolate and water, we had our mandatory helmets - we were ready to go.<br />
<br />
We saw many a strange and non sequitur thing over the course of our three-hour, there-and-back, mountain-bike-on-flat-pavement adventure from <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=-7.261074,72.37739&daddr=-7.411474,72.4532&hl=en&ll=-7.325692,72.452774&spn=0.412029,0.727158&sll=-7.263564,72.381985&sspn=0.012878,0.022724&vpsrc=6&mra=mift&mrsp=0&sz=16&t=k&z=11">here to here (Google Maps link; zoom in for better detail)</a>, which leads me again to the <b>Reasons </b>(in my reference-savvy opinion) <b>why Diego Garcia is the closest real-life equivalent to the Island in LOST:</b><br />
<br />
1. Well, right from the get-go, we were brought to the island to launch weather balloons every 3 hours<i>, </i>day and night, as part of a higher purpose... sounds a lot like Desmond pushing the button every 108 minutes, eh brother?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTB_IcZAxXOwfCezWeO5_PIpSKSe5Ptx0VDJHHi81Dc4wNYJ3ovtietrpUirPGK6owcFAdY71J7EgESBlNZfHBcoMhN5b3uYJL7WSKIjIBcyALTABm7sxh9aqAJY2Ro8F25lPtnoTKhPKy/s1600/DSC00197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTB_IcZAxXOwfCezWeO5_PIpSKSe5Ptx0VDJHHi81Dc4wNYJ3ovtietrpUirPGK6owcFAdY71J7EgESBlNZfHBcoMhN5b3uYJL7WSKIjIBcyALTABm7sxh9aqAJY2Ro8F25lPtnoTKhPKy/s320/DSC00197.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwaK7a7E3_KlNGw_pDdKhFMkStJxzFa2XyB9ZwVnd0DtwHf-bn6OhuXIiq1qZc8se49xYcbBolRx2gA2NNcklbwwFaZWEFiY9zP6mJkR0spbqx4x13LY0I4W3cTiQU69d4cFIbcea4fFu/s1600/250px-Desmondlost.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwaK7a7E3_KlNGw_pDdKhFMkStJxzFa2XyB9ZwVnd0DtwHf-bn6OhuXIiq1qZc8se49xYcbBolRx2gA2NNcklbwwFaZWEFiY9zP6mJkR0spbqx4x13LY0I4W3cTiQU69d4cFIbcea4fFu/s320/250px-Desmondlost.PNG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
2. Thick jungle and untouched beach. A given, but still mention-worthy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWmlbdpqS-A1FoN907t9xqfCWOzyrXJa3Lgx3ZgoJrxENHh7u_NQxr_tqDDdDRSP6nfVCxROBYI4tz4GjZR10sDYQIeeNBdo8zyTAnV1R_JHIwJIbxRYWPbzVikU7oW3ZkY3FdiOMI7k3/s1600/IMG_1707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWmlbdpqS-A1FoN907t9xqfCWOzyrXJa3Lgx3ZgoJrxENHh7u_NQxr_tqDDdDRSP6nfVCxROBYI4tz4GjZR10sDYQIeeNBdo8zyTAnV1R_JHIwJIbxRYWPbzVikU7oW3ZkY3FdiOMI7k3/s320/IMG_1707.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
3. Mysterious and intrinsically sacred gravesites.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-95aMQf9yrWd7XMthRJuboe52-GPJBf2WM4Qn1PaWJOSrB_TRKk9Zs-C4-Tw1XgbRzBSGi7lsW0l6_0LyLHLqaheJG7PfuktYM0I1aTtvFdL9JvDvrDC_8TZU4e6ASdK8jiRsMrgOABBE/s1600/IMG_1693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-95aMQf9yrWd7XMthRJuboe52-GPJBf2WM4Qn1PaWJOSrB_TRKk9Zs-C4-Tw1XgbRzBSGi7lsW0l6_0LyLHLqaheJG7PfuktYM0I1aTtvFdL9JvDvrDC_8TZU4e6ASdK8jiRsMrgOABBE/s320/IMG_1693.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
4. Hatches in the middle of the jungle. I was ultra-tempted to lift up the one pictured below (left), and would not have been surprised at all if there were a girded ladder and complex system of mirrors in the gaping maw beneath.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVULAFpvjHumufYczIngYlUBjPsyIohEMJ09AIXSKItZJjtHX_wbrZdvcbslgP6cso_0w1Fx4c3TrOsr-UFVEuoJLL3oCEcanUg35U6eyWRQC5tMFNW0f2MQ695uZyPWrUKYyV00fNM3My/s1600/IMG_1733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVULAFpvjHumufYczIngYlUBjPsyIohEMJ09AIXSKItZJjtHX_wbrZdvcbslgP6cso_0w1Fx4c3TrOsr-UFVEuoJLL3oCEcanUg35U6eyWRQC5tMFNW0f2MQ695uZyPWrUKYyV00fNM3My/s320/IMG_1733.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2pU5rUtCkvhcacwIgtS0WJAZBhEC6R7sCDkAHv-hyfoUCzrfeBHa7rNRu3JnfzKjztOb9_zWDNA7fjlNpqpktmwycrp7GiHTpFfjBfNJzkbZJgfkfCbMgtIW7jh_B6WLS_wZkfCcGMna/s1600/The_Hatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2pU5rUtCkvhcacwIgtS0WJAZBhEC6R7sCDkAHv-hyfoUCzrfeBHa7rNRu3JnfzKjztOb9_zWDNA7fjlNpqpktmwycrp7GiHTpFfjBfNJzkbZJgfkfCbMgtIW7jh_B6WLS_wZkfCcGMna/s200/The_Hatch.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
5. The incongruous presence of certain mammals. While the ones we encountered were not polar bears, seeing the feral ancestors of the donkeys left behind by the island's natives after <a href="http://sanscontinent.blogspot.com/2011/09/i-promised-update-on-rather-dark.html">the purge back in the 1970's</a> (ANOTHER parallel) was still quite a weird thing indeed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgkB8uhDS2neSYVW8kcFfDpYDSGx6c_yLUqB6LiV0Iqtv3fPkb8GL5AhCIgdrE4iLkqs_wFIMo0as78T6LgPVet6IvTWkjJyGwbONGJoZNJqjp_2pvrS_vGCARs18ujsSB5BXogNpkAx3/s1600/IMG_1718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgkB8uhDS2neSYVW8kcFfDpYDSGx6c_yLUqB6LiV0Iqtv3fPkb8GL5AhCIgdrE4iLkqs_wFIMo0as78T6LgPVet6IvTWkjJyGwbONGJoZNJqjp_2pvrS_vGCARs18ujsSB5BXogNpkAx3/s320/IMG_1718.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgVfHjabh7FRxpyILLgm0wlzQ44v8FlTsAmuqefpMvjLKE5iWwECetKSaeJDauR2jCIpA3O4gdQDM-ypipLN_bO0cNezxRgDxwg7eH5Vd6Iy6CMU75ZtTcMPy57LdleXW_OcLlMswqySw/s1600/polarbear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgVfHjabh7FRxpyILLgm0wlzQ44v8FlTsAmuqefpMvjLKE5iWwECetKSaeJDauR2jCIpA3O4gdQDM-ypipLN_bO0cNezxRgDxwg7eH5Vd6Iy6CMU75ZtTcMPy57LdleXW_OcLlMswqySw/s320/polarbear.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
6. Evidence of enigmatic (and possibly heuristic?) endeavors in certain parts of the island. "Light sensitive areas", hidden bunkers and strange antennae (see donkey photo), a fiercely-cordoned observatory, potential "radiation danger" along some stretches of road... can you say DHARMA??<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtJBdSjOloctcinJROewV5WWh46lUJwa-lNTsL_q-TjxwAaepL5zkGu5b8qlCbIMg1sjL0Mic0GL1Po5HGmxp_jxuI8WwZangH_nnyHq9H_YOeh8sM7674HdmU2nXSaK2P2cLMVvs79Vi/s1600/IMG_1732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtJBdSjOloctcinJROewV5WWh46lUJwa-lNTsL_q-TjxwAaepL5zkGu5b8qlCbIMg1sjL0Mic0GL1Po5HGmxp_jxuI8WwZangH_nnyHq9H_YOeh8sM7674HdmU2nXSaK2P2cLMVvs79Vi/s320/IMG_1732.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubEBH5dDSqBJmuf9uEryChCO5BFFXez7EU73mIfsqeK-PbV5lT5XQ_TM-XCE9vFVcEf6mqe3lHpKcOn5bYxEmCzFLHP0RyRi0B2UweKi2Gq3iBXcbQg0mthoNTsAZ4hfwRxUelMsls2MC/s1600/the-swan2-dharma-initiative-station-lost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubEBH5dDSqBJmuf9uEryChCO5BFFXez7EU73mIfsqeK-PbV5lT5XQ_TM-XCE9vFVcEf6mqe3lHpKcOn5bYxEmCzFLHP0RyRi0B2UweKi2Gq3iBXcbQg0mthoNTsAZ4hfwRxUelMsls2MC/s200/the-swan2-dharma-initiative-station-lost.jpg" width="175" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
7. There are no kids on the island, at least none that we have seen. While this betrays Walt's role in LOST, I suspect that if a female Filipino contractor (or even military wife) is pregnant on Diego Garcia and expecting soon, they are flown off the island to ensure that the childbirth happens in a well-supplied hospital in Singapore or elsewhere... and then they don't return to DG. Consequently, this would mean that <i>women on the island can't have children </i>(whether for para-medical or administrative reasons)... call Juliet!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQC18httHZhbrSBn3ZxUYfMM5o_eosR2UZYwI3iL7Kg8F9QH1xmopDtIHJo5PRrNwRjJJLhFX0KmifI09LLKPetq6_XXCUNcmuR7JjzQEymqfw2le40vVdaIWTa1nS3FiPq6x1VqZmR8TK/s1600/Juliet-and-Amy-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQC18httHZhbrSBn3ZxUYfMM5o_eosR2UZYwI3iL7Kg8F9QH1xmopDtIHJo5PRrNwRjJJLhFX0KmifI09LLKPetq6_XXCUNcmuR7JjzQEymqfw2le40vVdaIWTa1nS3FiPq6x1VqZmR8TK/s320/Juliet-and-Amy-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
8. We even have our own smoke monster. Granted, it doesn't kill people nor does it sound like cranking chains, but the trash burn pile can sure make its presence known via aromatic aerosols every so often when the wind comes from the south.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4H2Neu7lE0YRTRAjqnyt9QYvMCxq4vAozs-g0_8Bdq060TOTER0ngmDpk7Kb1-CmK5h6fFwWg5SvF4e2I-sEBVLb7u-pXLKDXOXPZPuD6eTa0AyuSFZUTpv6bSw-9ebOXbBhc2Ew33OLQ/s1600/smoke-monster2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4H2Neu7lE0YRTRAjqnyt9QYvMCxq4vAozs-g0_8Bdq060TOTER0ngmDpk7Kb1-CmK5h6fFwWg5SvF4e2I-sEBVLb7u-pXLKDXOXPZPuD6eTa0AyuSFZUTpv6bSw-9ebOXbBhc2Ew33OLQ/s320/smoke-monster2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Really, the only things missing are a turquoise Volkswagen bus with skeletal cargo, a pair of disused bear cages, and a physically inept sub-in for Hurley. James can be Boone, I'll be Desmond, and Adam will be Sayid - but only because of the hair, not because of any former time spent as an Iraqi interrogator.<br />
<br />
Another wonderful, albeit uncanny, day. <br />
<br />
Namaste,<br />
Gavin<br />
<br />
P.S. <i>WE HAVE TO GO BACK! WE HAVE TO GO BACK!</i><br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-49497321025096327952011-10-08T00:05:00.032-06:002011-10-11T12:19:20.687-06:00A Day in the Life<span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%;">Wake up. It’s 10:30 pm. Make coffee. Eat cereal. What do I need? Water bottle: check. T-shirt: check. Coffee: check. Peanuts: check. Twix: check. Book: check. Coffee: double-check. Internal dial tone: no check.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%;"><br /><br />Driving south through desolate military bas</span><span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%;">e. All is quiet. Keep speed under 25 mph. Drive will take 15 minutes. 35-mph speed limit sign, crank it, but not too much – use cruise control – NCAR won’t cover speeding tickets. Turn off into Tent City. All is quiet. No one stirs but those crabs migrating across the road. Careful not to run them over. They’re just trying to make a living too. Plus, they own this island</span><span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%;">, with their side-swagger</span><span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%;">. Rapidly approaching our 30-minute launch window. Park and get rolling.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqSBRL5kkATm4ys9BXX6aWNWeJkMmYeEqbO0OkzUgeNUjxC__0s4LnkeXYW3laEgjwhusQsUiVmj7GdiykX0zeGY6mqJDvF-LpuI0P3-yT3lA89TtJc8ee13EJq66gf8K9V-QoqzEInpV/s1600/IMG_0634.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661006592561982194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqSBRL5kkATm4ys9BXX6aWNWeJkMmYeEqbO0OkzUgeNUjxC__0s4LnkeXYW3laEgjwhusQsUiVmj7GdiykX0zeGY6mqJDvF-LpuI0P3-yT3lA89TtJc8ee13EJq66gf8K9V-QoqzEInpV/s320/IMG_0634.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">enjoying some downtime in the G-Lounge</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%;"><br />Open a new sounding. Start up a new channel. Instruments reading green. Fill up a balloon. Call air traffic control. Clearance: check. Ground data good. Note winds. Don’t hang balloon on power lines. Green means go. Launch. Think about where the balloon might show up next. Maybe DGAR, maybe Singapore, maybe Fort Collins, maybe Patagonia. Maybe a UFO will get it caught in its engine and have to make an emergency landing, revealing the truth behind the existe</span><span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%;">nce of extraterrest</span><span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%;">rial life. We come in peace. Here, have a twix. Look, we call this Facebook. It rules our planet. Digress.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%;"><br /><br />Check data stream. Hot and humid with light winds. Mostly clear sky. Start up laptop. Plan to accomplish a lot. Internet: ccchhheeeeccckkk. New emails: …wait for it…wait for it…wait some more for it…check. Eat a twix: delicious. Drink coffee: mmm. And, awake. Internal dial tone: check.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_JaV_1GyvPLcXEjvgsgNBMpmaf2V3jO6R-h8Vn2m5fU-51xCh4vCEQ3uhh88kgZ2fA7tQsILuoWOAC09NXJXPzYk9jeDrNt_HCEq40zTJriVj5q4OaDTSlfmlNP44aJJU_WicYbtAK8f/s1600/IMG_1670.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661040347452468610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_JaV_1GyvPLcXEjvgsgNBMpmaf2V3jO6R-h8Vn2m5fU-51xCh4vCEQ3uhh88kgZ2fA7tQsILuoWOAC09NXJXPzYk9jeDrNt_HCEq40zTJriVj5q4OaDTSlfmlNP44aJJU_WicYbtAK8f/s320/IMG_1670.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;">awe-struck at our new playground and, in an<br />act of excitement, revealing our paleness</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;">What’s the current state of the MJO? Rea</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">d DYNAMO forums and discussion boards. Filtered anomaly charts, Indian Ocean dipole, El Niño. Knock knock. Who’s there? MJO. MJO who? No MJO here, try again later. MJO over Maritime Continent. How does the MJO form? No idea: check. Try again later.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;">Accidentally hit power switch with foot and crash vital computers. Screens turn off. Panic. Better call Bill. Bill picks up well after midnight. Systems back up. Status indicators green. Balloon bursts at 23 km, falling at 120 mph. Work fast. Shut down channel. Send off to global observation networks. Sounding uploaded ont</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">o NCAR database: check. Beautiful sounding. Surely one for the record books.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;">Accomplish a lot. Check noise outside. All is quiet. Only company is the sleepless shoreline and the colorful birds with their weird noises. Catch gecko in the cargo-carrier-turned-office. Free gecko from dixie cup outside.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9BypvsY316EZm_BJ0nT1wlLfuZwtYKZZL7UkP6Odzitx4Sae88TnFLGzq3gIgmXUtDCz8sSqp7ynsKby7chD8-5R98tN4e6z3r_2HWmw4SUtgd1fxVWby21_E5NUTUpnHtNXKCKLa8Op/s1600/IMG_1663.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661038409777387410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9BypvsY316EZm_BJ0nT1wlLfuZwtYKZZL7UkP6Odzitx4Sae88TnFLGzq3gIgmXUtDCz8sSqp7ynsKby7chD8-5R98tN4e6z3r_2HWmw4SUtgd1fxVWby21_E5NUTUpnHtNXKCKLa8Op/s320/IMG_1663.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;">It’s 2 am. Time for next launch. Clearance: check. Launch. Goodbye forever, balloon. Data stream good. Eat twix: twix already eaten, no check. Another pot of coffee. Internal dial tone: check, and fading. Balloon burst. Look out below. Incoming, at extremely high speeds. Type this blog post. Ponder next food choice. Running out of options. Better call it a night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;">It’s 5 am. All is quiet. Birds, crabs, and wind went to bed. Drive back north. No cruise control, too tired. Blast loud rap music to stay awake. Get into town. Drive in circles in search of the building containing my bed. Park. Sleep.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvRtLgIF05Pb0JjDD_mO4UGbbZaSSOm5-25EPoDv4GqWB1SbRL_0Vik5gWIydYvja8GUhhyphenhyphendnNi47i2xRKoheNN7BUXkZMRCSSRKZ4801e5JlDtm2Kx5xUuKGobqFUZbukYQzajKvgzDi/s1600/IMG_0615.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661006592669279218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvRtLgIF05Pb0JjDD_mO4UGbbZaSSOm5-25EPoDv4GqWB1SbRL_0Vik5gWIydYvja8GUhhyphenhyphendnNi47i2xRKoheNN7BUXkZMRCSSRKZ4801e5JlDtm2Kx5xUuKGobqFUZbukYQzajKvgzDi/s320/IMG_0615.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">windsurf territory</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;">Wake up. It’s 11 am. Make coffee. Eat cereal. What do I need? Board shorts: check. T-shirt: no check. Water bottle: check. $4.25 for lunch: check. Walk to lunch. Sergeant - son, you must wear a t-shirt here. Walk back to room for t-shirt. Walk to lunch. Eat lunch. Return to room. In room. What do I need? Nothing. Why did I come to room? No idea. Windsurfing? Gavin – yes. Adam – yes. Yesterday’s sunburn – no, better take care. Windsurf man – 2 dollars please.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;">Return to hotel. Eat more food. Shower: <span style="font-style: italic;">please circle yes or no here</span>. Anyone to impress? Nope. Back to Tent City. Say hello to Bill. Swim in lagoon. Swimming in magical cove: check. Squeaky clean: check.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;">
Enjoying life: roger.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERAG8zGYJ-qx8KbLSoXz8YNLrCA34MtqVmT4WuCDMWayICH4-y8_NbO1hFinJUeIYtvVxRQPhItq2Mfe0fGBRLdQJKpFMKhiuIgXmJEkK4e3qHSiFPnmqkdCl3I5GtSWy56lK4XjDKPqO/s1600/IMG_1664.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661041053735235266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERAG8zGYJ-qx8KbLSoXz8YNLrCA34MtqVmT4WuCDMWayICH4-y8_NbO1hFinJUeIYtvVxRQPhItq2Mfe0fGBRLdQJKpFMKhiuIgXmJEkK4e3qHSiFPnmqkdCl3I5GtSWy56lK4XjDKPqO/s320/IMG_1664.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 100%;">- james, gavin, and adam, from Planet Diego Garcia, located somewhere south of India, somewhere east of Africa, somewhere west of Indonesia, and somewhere north of Antarctica</span></div>
James Rupperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06238175715859438912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-8826205237493302812011-10-07T12:14:00.001-06:002011-10-08T02:50:40.281-06:00Crate ExpectationsI write tonight from the Crate. I am currently on the midnight balloon launch shift, meaning I'm handling the 11:15pm and 2:15am launches (18Z and 21Z for those of you playing along in ATS). We are on the brink of beginning what should be our shift schedule for the remainder of our stay here: 27 hours off, 9 hours on. There are 8 launches every day, so between the four of us we will cycle through the morning, afternoon, and midnight shifts, the last shift only covering two launches because of its awkward timing.<br /><br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVD3_q3qVBce-na20UhpxSUc-uC6Ee2JXOLvVngsl3OYkREYZ7WZ-gEDO9Dt75EMtMm6bL852UAX5co6vlv9vTvmt_Rrb_tycMSKIRWiNvpWRCXfN0SVsYPHmYYkU6kmiBEsLU9MmMMu_/s320/IMG_1681.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" border="0" height="240" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ze' workstation</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We are hoping to put together a somewhat time-lapsey video of the entire balloon launch process so I will spare you the specifics for now, but it involves roughly 10 minutes of instrumentation preparation, 5 minutes of balloon inflation, 60 minutes of computer data scrutinization, and 105 minutes of relaxation. However, the last five minutes of computer stuff comes about two hours after the launch time, when we need to terminate the sounding data receiver and log its final stats and info. Thus our shifts usually still require close to a full three hours for every balloon. I have been using this temporal gap to read Infinite Jest (Dave), study Scrabble alphagrams and hooks (Carrie, Shari, Phyllis, Dave, Carol, et al.), run/swim (Gus), drink coffee (Lance), and use Facebook (Eric Michael). And tonight I'm hoping to start streaming radio of the Diamondbacks/Brewers game at 3am before my shift ends -- sidebar: it's odd watching live American sports over breakfast in the mess hall.<br /><br />Today was another great day away from work too. We are <i>all</i> starting to shred it at windsurfing, not just James tearing up and down the beach while Adam and I spin in circles (mostly just me). Looking forward to honing even more tomorrow and/or Sunday. Horsetooth Reservoir next summer anybody? We also went to the actual Indian Ocean for the first time (instead of the lagoon) and checked out a nifty off-road bike trail through palm fronds and gravitationally-conquered coconuts. Chalk up another day for the old-age happy memory bank.<br /><br />-Gavin<br /><br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2_w36CTY668oAQmQF7FGeFldNN33xF5RRyKA3FSv1hQM3mNbKo_MXHynGIm6DKzOCkn9VdJ1P4Z1F6q1wg389VULhAr7fLeGwG-H9Zvwn9ymkyorarRcRXL4_WmQ_OxgvM5zAEylbVNp/s1600/IMG_1676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2_w36CTY668oAQmQF7FGeFldNN33xF5RRyKA3FSv1hQM3mNbKo_MXHynGIm6DKzOCkn9VdJ1P4Z1F6q1wg389VULhAr7fLeGwG-H9Zvwn9ymkyorarRcRXL4_WmQ_OxgvM5zAEylbVNp/s320/IMG_1676.JPG" border="0" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Indian Ocean in all its horizontal glory</td></tr></tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-32414810190203249352011-10-05T17:19:00.012-06:002011-10-05T18:19:18.251-06:00DoomedWe've left one exotic paradise only to arrive at another. After a full night's sleep, we met up with <a href="http://www.eol.ucar.edu/homes/wbrown/home.html">Bill Brown</a> at the mess hall for breakfast ($2.30 for all you can eat cereal, biscuits and gravy, bacon, fruit, and omelets to order). Afterwards, Bill took us to the southern end of the island for training at the weather balloon launching station.<br /><br />Our workstation/ship container is set in a vacant tent city. Tent city refers to an area of concrete slabs readily available to house large numbers of military tents. Fortunately, tent city has its own semi-private, white sanded, crystal blue water beach facing the lagoon. Gavin strongly discourages James and me from peeing in the lagoon water. It is that pure and unadulterated.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhmR2I6FSIDcbLV3tFU_qfyhzXW21_UYtxnyVek9JiQiHVtlHhF21RJHroUf6kAXCiz4MVg5Llm5nvkgBudl8HlbgqgLJ0BueMMwTfXqJsRmCxBcggGgLUk2mkmYPMkkAAsQyR3XTMzEC/s1600/IMG_1672.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhmR2I6FSIDcbLV3tFU_qfyhzXW21_UYtxnyVek9JiQiHVtlHhF21RJHroUf6kAXCiz4MVg5Llm5nvkgBudl8HlbgqgLJ0BueMMwTfXqJsRmCxBcggGgLUk2mkmYPMkkAAsQyR3XTMzEC/s320/IMG_1672.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660160916088906834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9bQAhN4Axwb1UqiZr3twQ6Pmw21lZrLnSRVUrNCOdBhy4NarXn4QA3f3rYgC9c6p6hKCIHA-RKB6bdO7YSkxR0lNwbuhCF5ANUnX42cuOoWxOUgKUsvM5I1g6COTgi-vvUbmWo6YQqcF/s1600/IMG_0629.JPG"><br /></a><br />Work attire now consists of boardshorts. Since we release weather balloons every 3 hours, the 45 - 60 minutes of down time between balloon launches has been spent enjoying our Garden of Eden (before the fall). After being spoiled this rotten, you should fully expect James to never wear a shirt again, and Gavin to persistently wear swimming goggles no matter the occasion or season. Habits developed under these tropically rich circumstances will be hard to break. James is already looking forward to the probable 4 or 5 day delayed flight off the island (over 50% of the scientists trying to leave the island have been delayed at least 24 hours, some up to 5 days). After all, we will need more time here given the plethora of activities including <span style="font-weight: bold;">sailing classes, 5k runs, golf tournaments, bowling tournaments, kickball tournaments, table tennis tournaments, windsurfing lessons, snorkeling, and a 37 mile tip to tip bike race across the island</span>. We are very pleased to be studying tropical weather instead of more polar varieties.<br /><br />If that sounded like bragging, it kind of was. However, you should take consolation in knowing that we will be forever ruined. Our paradigms for work environments have shifted and are not likely to recover. Every job after will be forced to live up to these expectations. We are doomed.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFEhGGe6ML2O4RW27dhBDDNbu6mjEM-tCKMErVbMgn2oLuOFJGyEUoF7CtndvPQnl6zKNQVuDYt93Gqy-bQ7FJIBrBjqCOyUJiCqX3hw7QUbKtOu3uOGwVdAi7MYgmSDi0xd8a7oDmdua/s1600/IMG_0622.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFEhGGe6ML2O4RW27dhBDDNbu6mjEM-tCKMErVbMgn2oLuOFJGyEUoF7CtndvPQnl6zKNQVuDYt93Gqy-bQ7FJIBrBjqCOyUJiCqX3hw7QUbKtOu3uOGwVdAi7MYgmSDi0xd8a7oDmdua/s320/IMG_0622.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660160926856070338" border="0" /></a><br />Almost forgot, we met the Commander (an Auburn fan and graduate!) and Lt. Commander of the island and helped them successfully launch a weather balloon.<br /><br />Also, for the weather weenies out there, here is your fun fact of the day. All one hour weather messages are performed by hand because the automated weather station is broken on Diego Garcia. They also have radar on the island that is not broadcast, accessible, or archived. Yup, I don't know either.<br /><br />-AdamAdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17033153151718276694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-26012176055378092722011-10-04T11:40:00.000-06:002011-10-05T13:36:27.766-06:00The Band<link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CGavin%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CGavin%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CGavin%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-520092929 1073786111 9 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;}
p
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:12.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;}
.MsoPapDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-bottom:12.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;
</style>The Band has arrived in Diego Garcia.<br />
<br />
After a swing-and-miss military flight yesterday and a subsequent downtown Singa
hotel stay, our flight left as scheduled today and I write from the footprint
island.<br />
<br />
One of our fellow passengers who was scheduled to embark on the
flight-that-wasn't wandered up to us yesterday and asked what we were going to
be doing on Diego Garcia. He is a desalinization engineer for the Department of
Defense. After telling him we were meteorology students about to launch a
couple hundred weather balloons over the next couple months, he was like “Oh.
Ya see we all thought y’all were the band.” Apparently they swap out the local
entertainment here every couple months. We were all pleased that we at least
appeared somewhat musical. We’re thinking it was the hair.<br />
<br />
Before leaving for the Air Base from the hotel in Singapore this afternoon,
we hit the gym and the pool. Before that we experienced a crazy urban
thunderstorm from 4:30-5am. James video-captured a strike hit the building
opposite his window no less than 50 yards away.<br />
<br />
The military flight itself was quite an unparalleled experience. Yesterday
we were scheduled to be on a DC8, a cushy version of a cargo plane with five
rows of forward-facing seats and an in-flight meal. Today’s flight was on a
C17, a less-cushy version of a DC8 with no meal, rudimentary benches along each
wall, and a central boulevard of pallets. The pallets were stacked high with
airplane parts, fresh produce, and human blood.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cgnlbpnhu9ktb_5W9r_IgQC3gCuJPPHo1c8-mMHPoFyDnA6Xor4aNMBYJap8jm3DumQBkYFoPjkyRoXdnqE7kR5gzej-EtJTyIyYfAH-jCi2oKZ-chUVhk3jTIMp5KS3RkQCf2Hb1ubY/s1600/IMG_1647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cgnlbpnhu9ktb_5W9r_IgQC3gCuJPPHo1c8-mMHPoFyDnA6Xor4aNMBYJap8jm3DumQBkYFoPjkyRoXdnqE7kR5gzej-EtJTyIyYfAH-jCi2oKZ-chUVhk3jTIMp5KS3RkQCf2Hb1ubY/s400/IMG_1647.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
This ended up being the most fortuitous flight plan change
that could have
happened to us.<br />
<br />
Not only were we able to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJu4oFgWoFE">sprawl out on the floor and roam around with lax rules</a> (click to see video), but the crew was also a fresh one out of Hawaii and thus freshly
friendly and willing to let us <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsXNDMPF_zg">check out the cockpit</a> once we were at cruising
altitude over the Indian Ocean. James was so enthralled with the pilots’
lifestyles and experiences that he’s thinking about joining the Air Force if
balloon launches on a remote atoll don’t end up cutting it for him. <br />
<br />
Upon arrival on the island we hopped on a van that took us to our military
hotel, went to the only open establishment (the grocery store) to grab some
grub in a desperate attempt to raise our collective blood sugar and energy, and
ended up running into one of the sounding (balloon launch) team members, Tim
Lim. We are all set to begin training tomorrow. But first, we will sit back,
relax, and enjoy a few celebratory and government-subsidized brewskis on this
fiercely starry night. We made it. We are finally here. Let the agonizingly-anticipated
adventures begin.<br />
<br />
-Gavin <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFTeOdyqP0XEQxBts6KIVSm4gB1O1_t3CN2LeWDAlbo4xSad8XE6s2tuDXpDLqykQpbapp4mYNTluG1dpxVyWcjMf10n78ML53a8D9b4EC_8KnZhrXD-mEGWUTLuhjNgz51oo1i3wcASX/s1600/IMG_0604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFTeOdyqP0XEQxBts6KIVSm4gB1O1_t3CN2LeWDAlbo4xSad8XE6s2tuDXpDLqykQpbapp4mYNTluG1dpxVyWcjMf10n78ML53a8D9b4EC_8KnZhrXD-mEGWUTLuhjNgz51oo1i3wcASX/s400/IMG_0604.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-62020665196824770512011-10-03T06:20:00.012-06:002011-10-03T07:07:42.762-06:00Sans Diego<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGozb-82a3ALHv5IRdfoDehUpuD56Ul9iZVXiuYbOhjWMg9lUyPhHEfsJWxmS4LEsWUESpYuET-sUJMDW1Lr5pmqbITpNYuLMeilYMv6fmTG8Sxr2lgBX7N3DbEsVqnIaGOXoSfIFlIBL/s1600/IMG_0498.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGozb-82a3ALHv5IRdfoDehUpuD56Ul9iZVXiuYbOhjWMg9lUyPhHEfsJWxmS4LEsWUESpYuET-sUJMDW1Lr5pmqbITpNYuLMeilYMv6fmTG8Sxr2lgBX7N3DbEsVqnIaGOXoSfIFlIBL/s320/IMG_0498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659248995786456898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >Though we have yet to lift off Singaporean soil despite being so close to leaving on schedule today (cheers to mechanical issues being discovered prior to takeoff), some extra time here shows great promise. Between</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" > amphibious vehicle tours, which drove-boated us all over the Singapore River and around the touristy hotspots like the Merlion, Formula 1 racetrack, and boat-topped skyscrapers, and hitting the flashy casino </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >by evening</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" > that </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >sits beneath </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >the boat-scraper, what more can one want?</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Singapore is an amazing place of modern development, that retains a lot of intriguing culture.</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7m5JHLbuoLqWtxlKKH7Ygs5nmfY24C2psmmbDNSvU_w33Cyc5qhLT0ICwtRldT_fY6TJjR0Hae-KdxjKsB6I6CUZz_j7DJJ4NeEnpHDjNJLB4RHL8OpcZj_eUIctrr07ofX29ZxqDxgM/s1600/IMG_1354.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7m5JHLbuoLqWtxlKKH7Ygs5nmfY24C2psmmbDNSvU_w33Cyc5qhLT0ICwtRldT_fY6TJjR0Hae-KdxjKsB6I6CUZz_j7DJJ4NeEnpHDjNJLB4RHL8OpcZj_eUIctrr07ofX29ZxqDxgM/s400/IMG_1354.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659250157045291410" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">View of the boat-scraper light show from our new spot<br />(look hard to see the tower-spanning boat at the top).</span><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br />We've experienced Chinatowns, Indiatowns, and Americatowns (the number of malls here would give Starbucks a run for their money in the US). The hustle and bustle is not so much visible in the number of people or densely crowded city streets, but learning that vast stretches of </span><span style="font-family:arial;">open space are to be covered in skyscrapers by 2016 - that about sums it up (some Singaporean trivia from one of the finest amphibious vehicle tour guides around). It is quite like a societal experiment, in which someone decided to build a country and said "let's try doing it this way." It's been unforgettable, and we're looking forward to another couple of nights here on the back end of our DGAR duties.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-james</span>James Rupperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06238175715859438912noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-81553920339795093262011-10-01T18:52:00.009-06:002011-10-03T06:53:24.831-06:00Fish BallsAfter crashing hard the first night, we woke early to explore Singapore. We grabbed breakfast at a nearby bakery and walked a few hundred yards from the Crowne Plaza Hotel to the public transit system, SMRT. Singapore is a very clean city. Grass is mowed, weeds are pulled, trash is trashed, advertisements on public property are nonexistent, and chewing gum is outlawed. We meandered downtown and discovered a four story mall that contained lunch stands. Our first Thai food trial of the trip included some well seasoned fish sponge balls over rice and pork.<br />
<br />
Afterwards, the first mission of the day was to meet Gavin's friend Owen. Gavin and Owen met on a trip to Peru years ago, and Owen currently resides in Hong Kong. Owen is Asian, 6'3" tall, and speaks English with an Australian accent. He is the basis for the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2Z5s8BKric&feature=related">Starburst contradiction</a> commercials. The plan was to meet Owen at City Hall. Unfortunately, Singapore has multiple areas labeled "City Hall". Even more unfortunate, the rendezvous City Hall was no longer the city hall. After some confusion, we met Owen and continued towards China Town.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKs48rLC2n8X3MZN1osuj6Oh60uR7TyIvIRJl9ngf-2Yi-sdgSLVmNctjBuuRqiBciYKhyphenhyphenikC4cx4Gg7GkB_kguXVi29oQ7cTv6ycqFiU5O2u24mksy5nBdY5Ok5yZBjbkZeO2gEZSTzy/s1600/IMG_0484.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658701300263967170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKs48rLC2n8X3MZN1osuj6Oh60uR7TyIvIRJl9ngf-2Yi-sdgSLVmNctjBuuRqiBciYKhyphenhyphenikC4cx4Gg7GkB_kguXVi29oQ7cTv6ycqFiU5O2u24mksy5nBdY5Ok5yZBjbkZeO2gEZSTzy/s320/IMG_0484.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Waiting for Owen at Singapore's City Hall which is currently being reconstructed as a Visual Arts Museum</span></div>
<br />
<br />
Aside from the surprisingly little congestion, China Town was exactly as expected. Knockoff vendors, outside eateries, and cheesy Singapore T-shirts (e.g. "I got fined in Singapore", "Fine me on Facebook", ...). Glorious. Our first price negotiation included three pairs of fake Ray-bans. Meandering to India Town, we found a flea market that had the uncertified Guiness Book of World Records pile of used watches. India Town was decorated for a parade with streamers and lights arching over the roadways and sidewalks.<br />
<br />
Arriving back at the hotel, we took a dip in the pool and then headed for din din. Jet lag slapped us in the figurative face and we were done.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for the next blog post including amphibious vehicles, casino night, and mermaid lions.<br />
<br />
-AdamAdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17033153151718276694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-75695790053791566482011-09-30T11:50:00.002-06:002011-09-30T11:50:40.133-06:00Singapore ArrivalWe made it into Changi International Airport in Singapore without a hitch after 21 hours of flight time this evening. We swore we were going to stay awake throughout the duration of the journey since by the time we got in here it'd be 1am and it'd just feel like a whoppingly long day, but we all caved on the final flight from Tokyo for a couple hours. Luckily we're at the Crowne Plaza hotel right in the airport so we didn't have to spend another hour navigating a new city for our lodging.<br />
<br />
Up tomorrow around 10am (see local clocks on the left) to check out the downtown area; flying out to Diego Garcia on Monday!<br />
<br />
-Gavin<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPefgFVxsN-0fMW9wtdfgV1LHMAbWvMEpU-G1bY1H-LHlxoeo5ruS7NsXWOIHdT5Gq_oR9gO9kQuSEqgBjB8MnZixGDU-43E7uwYJrg5QVPHUoYoA1zhLITxgX5j46mnE4hU2wnBV9A1zQ/s1600/IMG_0925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPefgFVxsN-0fMW9wtdfgV1LHMAbWvMEpU-G1bY1H-LHlxoeo5ruS7NsXWOIHdT5Gq_oR9gO9kQuSEqgBjB8MnZixGDU-43E7uwYJrg5QVPHUoYoA1zhLITxgX5j46mnE4hU2wnBV9A1zQ/s320/IMG_0925.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prying our eyes open at the Singapore baggage claim</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-13953329822549542172011-09-25T20:10:00.001-06:002011-10-03T07:09:06.451-06:00The Emm Jay Oh<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckh_kT2Hjete7EwaJ3MW9_GcxoKy6x9kaEcz5cSvjz9vyiTDhHnlycvjGlvU8mr0xEVi2G2OOF8eaoJ4YCrQyiv5RisYoIuMSMsX8c9XtoAEV6FNosiwc8Y4P48dVVo1ka5lXIpDVhzsl/s1600/Untitled8.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656520001948610946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckh_kT2Hjete7EwaJ3MW9_GcxoKy6x9kaEcz5cSvjz9vyiTDhHnlycvjGlvU8mr0xEVi2G2OOF8eaoJ4YCrQyiv5RisYoIuMSMsX8c9XtoAEV6FNosiwc8Y4P48dVVo1ka5lXIpDVhzsl/s400/Untitled8.png" style="float: left; height: 267px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><br /></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><br /></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Main Features</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Gibberish:<span style="font-style: italic;"> "The Madden–Julian Oscillation is the largest element of the intraseasonal variability in the tropical atmosphere . . . is a large-scale coupling between atmospheric circulation and tropical deep convection"</span> - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MJO">Wikipedia</a><br /><br />Translation: The MJO</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">is a very large cluster of thunderstorm activity that can cover the entire tropical Indian Ocean basin at a single time. It moves eastward at (a whopping) 10 mph, which, together with the immense size of the MJO associated weather patterns, means that it takes roughly 50 days for the entire MJO to pass over a certain location.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Teleconnections</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qPGnQOhg4erdXy7RGL4Ijn8N6XRbECHq-Zg6X-aBOX9LWcwvCR1sfE7xuzbi5RICS4SzPivJxOrn3casVncCMKJjhkss8IO5lPeS1qlA09VlR0CGhCo76VwJ6h2rn_ympgp3ke3h8Plk/s1600/Mjo_north_america_rain.png"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656512473428623330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qPGnQOhg4erdXy7RGL4Ijn8N6XRbECHq-Zg6X-aBOX9LWcwvCR1sfE7xuzbi5RICS4SzPivJxOrn3casVncCMKJjhkss8IO5lPeS1qlA09VlR0CGhCo76VwJ6h2rn_ympgp3ke3h8Plk/s320/Mjo_north_america_rain.png" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 238px;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Gibberish: MJO tropospheric wind anomalies and </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">poleward-radiating Rossby wave trains emitted from the MJO deep convective heat source can modify mid-latitude storm track, the onset and intensity of El Ni</span><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --></style><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ñ</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">o–Southern Oscillation, and</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> the frequency of tropical cyclones</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">.<br /><br />Translation: Owing to a complex array of feedbacks between MJO thunderstorm activity and its surrounding environment (e.g., heating from condensation of rain), there is a large-scale wind pattern associated with the MJO that can be summarized as an overturning, with upward motion in the thunderstorm region. The components of this MJO flow pattern modify other atmospheric phenomena, including hurricanes, El Ni</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ñ</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">o–Southern Oscillation</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">, regional monsoons, and mid-latitude weather patterns. The figure to the right (taken from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mjo_north_america_rain.png">Wiki</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">) shows how the MJO can result in heavy rain and flooding for the west coast of the US.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Current Understanding</span><br /><br />Gibberish: Modeling and observational studies have demonstrated that an MJO-type convective anomaly is strongly dependent on the availability of moist static energy, and so processes associated with moisture transport, including sea-surface fluxes and horizontal advection, are vital to the maintenance of the MJO convective envelope.<br /><br />Translation: The MJO thunderstorm cluster needs moisture (seems simple, doesn't it?). Though this concept is trivial, the concept of a large-scale thunderstorm cluster such as the MJO, including the vital processes controlling it's propagation and initiation remain somewhat of a mystery </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">despite now several decades of intensive research by institutions across the globe. H</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ence the DYNAMO field campaign.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Bottom Line</span> . . .<br />The MJO modifies weather and climate locally (e.g., regions under direct impact of the MJO weather features) and remotely through a variety of complex teleconnections. These impacts, which are felt to one degree or another over most of the planet, deem it necessary to improve understanding of the MJO dynamic processes so that computer model forecasts of short-term weather as well as forecasts of future climate can be improved.<br /><br />What's the scene in the Indian Ocean? DYNAMO is on it.<br /><br />-Rupulin</span>James Rupperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06238175715859438912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-24320487479655213312011-09-23T13:45:00.000-06:002011-09-23T13:49:37.495-06:00Leg One<ul>
<li><b><i>Thursday, 9/29, 5:50am MDT</i></b>: House pickup in Fort Collins by Denver airport shuttle</li>
<li><i><b>Thursday, 9/29, 9:47am MDT</b></i>: Takeoff, Denver to Los Angeles (2.5 hours)</li>
<li><b><i>Thursday, 9/29, 12:55pm PDT</i></b>: Takeoff, Los Angeles to Tokyo (11.5 hours), arriving 4:35pm Japan time on following day</li>
<li><b><i>Friday, 9/30, 5:55pm JDT</i></b>: Takeoff, Tokyo to Singapore (7 hours), arriving 11:55pm Singapore time. Not having seen a sunset on 9/29 or the following sunrise, our September 30 will "last" only seven hours.</li>
<li><b><i>Monday, 10/3, 8:30am SDT</i></b>: Fantasy Hockey draft, which will concurrently be taking place at 6:30pm the previous Sunday night back in Colorado</li>
<li><b><i>Monday, 10/3, Late morning - Evening</i></b>: Takeoff, Singapore to Diego Garcia (6 hours), classified military flight via civilian clearance</li>
</ul>
<div>
When we arrive in Diego Garcia we will start balloon launches almost immediately, every three hours through the night and day. Curious to see how we'll end up scheduling our shift changes. We will also be exactly twelve hours ahead of Mountain Time (+06 UTC), which will be convenient for figuring out communication via Skype among other things.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-Gavin</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-84575676321371927812011-09-23T11:40:00.000-06:002011-09-23T11:40:43.076-06:00Ghosts of a Troubled PastI promised an update on the (rather dark) history of Diego Garcia before shipping out. I will preface this with a bit of subtext though. According to the principal investigators of DYNAMO, this is the very first time that a meteorology field campaign is being allowed to take place on the island. We are trying to make a good impression so that we can continue coming back in the future, since this area of the world is considerably bereft of important upper-air observations for the understanding of tropical climate dynamics.<br />
<br />
We were warned not to blog/tweet/post about military operations, take photos of aircraft, etc. And I'm somewhat reluctant to write something that might be viewed unfavorably by the British military... however, history is history, and I feel that it's important to understand what we'll be dipping our feet into. So rather than explicitly writing about what occurred on Diego Garcia in the 1960's and 70's, I'll point you instead to <a href="http://gu.com/p/x24ec">this article from the Guardian</a>.<br />
<br />
Certainly the ghosts of a troubled past will make for an unusual vibe as we are stationed on this beautiful, remote island.<br />
<br />
-GavinUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085945889510937125.post-50530283377022037822011-09-12T09:51:00.000-06:002011-09-21T10:56:46.289-06:00Purpose<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --> </style> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;">This blog post is a brief introduction to the objectives and details of our trip in the language of acronyms (the preferred language of atmospheric scientists and medical professionals). A useful but not complete list of acronyms includes:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">NCAR/EOL</span> – <span style="font-weight: bold;">N</span>ational <span style="font-weight: bold;">C</span>enter for <span style="font-weight: bold;">A</span>tmospheric <span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span>esearch / <span style="font-weight: bold;">E</span>arth <span style="font-weight: bold;">O</span>bserving <span style="font-weight: bold;">L</span>aboratory</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;">Federal agency funding our research experience to observe the MJO.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">MJO</span> – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">M</b>adden-<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">J</b>ulian <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">O</b>scillation </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;">A 30-90 day oscillation of winds and precipitation that originates in the tropical Indian Ocean, propagates eastward at approximately 5m/s, and will be studied by DYNAMO.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">DYNAMO</span> – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">DYNA</b>mics of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">M</b>J<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">O</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;">The name of the US field campaign purposed to collect data on the MJO that is a subset of CINDY2011.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">CINDY2011</span> – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">C</b>ooperative <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">IND</b>ian Ocean Experiment on Intraseasonal Variability in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Y</b>ear <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2011</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:11pt;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;">Broader international field campaign composed of Australia, India, Japan, and the US to collect observations in the Indian Ocean involving two islands, 3 research ships, 2 research airplanes, moored buoys, and a plethora of weather radars and ISSs .</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ISS</span> – <span style="font-weight: bold;">I</span>ntegrated <span style="font-weight: bold;">S</span>ounding <span style="font-weight: bold;">S</span>ystem</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;">A mobile observing unit (a trailer) that primarily houses a radiosonde balloon sounding system (weather balloons) among other atmosphere observing instruments. We will be releasing weather balloons and monitoring data quality (wind speed, temperature, humidity, etc.) during the SOP.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">SOP</span> – <span style="font-weight: bold;">S</span>pecial <span style="font-weight: bold;">O</span>bserving <span style="font-weight: bold;">P</span>eriod.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;">Name given to the time period during which we will be sampling the atmosphere using weather balloons released every three hours on DG.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">DG</span> – <span style="font-weight: bold;">D</span>iego <span style="font-weight: bold;">G</span>arcia</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;">Future and temporary island home to RRR.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">RRR</span> – Gavin <span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span>oy, James <span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span>uppert, and Adam <span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span>ydbeck</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;">My apologies for the long preface, but the purpose of our trip can now be presented succinctly. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;">Purpose:<br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;">During the SOP, NCAR/EOL will be sending RRR to observe the MJO through the DYNAMO portion of CINDY2011 using an ISS on DG.<br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;">-Adam</span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17033153151718276694noreply@blogger.com0