Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh, and Sri Lankan Lunch

Day 55 of Our Winter: It rather felt like a perfect Christmas day. 

As we are in the lands to the east, just as the Three Wise Men. We started by the short walk from our hotel to the Gold Souk. It is less than a kilometer from our hotel and always an interesting venue to visit. 

I was thinking of buying a gold ring to replace a 'puzzle ring' I lost decades ago. Gold in the vast market here is sold by weight at the world price of the metal on the day of purchase. Puzzle rings are no longer offered without a special order nowadays. I didn't spend $1000 on one that looked the same but couldn't be accidently 'opened' but decided against doing so, even though gold always makes financial sense. It isn't very practical as if I store it, it cannot be admired and if I wear it, I'll lose it.

 

Eventually, we moved from the perfume, gold souk areas and got on the Metro to head to Karama, Jay's and my old area of residence in the early 90s. The sisters found another shop in which to pick up some of the last goods that'll go back to Sri Lanka in bags with us on Saturday. It was nearly two by the time I asked Google Maps to direct us to the Celyonian Restaurant. We had a good rice and curry lunch for a reasonable price.

   

We took an Uber back across the creek to our hotel rather than carrying shopping bags on public transit.

Our Tuesday in Dubai

 

Day 053 of Our Winter:  It's easy walking around in light clothes even if a "cold front from Siberia" is present. The temperatures were between 18 and 25C today. We were out in the morning just walking around enjoying the bustling environment. First, we crossed the creek by taking the Metro's Green Line to Sharaf  DG. There's a supermarket that Jay's sister's especially like for things such as packed cashews and hair products.

   

Out typical schedule here contains a bit of an afternoon nap. We have done that for much of our retirement though and so it is not unusual. It works well in warmer places even if it's not called a siesta around these parts. The evenings are a great time to be out!

We took an abra across the creek to the Bur Dubai.  These are historical staples in the transportation system here and still cost us one dirham each to jump aboard.  Dozens ply the waterway although there are numerous bridges, a tunnel, and several subway lines that cross over or under the water.  It is a quintessential and still common method that works well.

 

We walked around along the water front near the old Bank of Baroda.  The old souk area was refurbished nicely and remains an important link to Dubai's past.  We decided to get on the Metro system again and return to the Sharaf DG stop.  Rather than visit the Medina Supermarket as we did in the morning, we walked though the Mina Bazaar area.  It is an area of east Indian shops and restaurants.

   

As it was getting late, we stopped for dinner at an outdoor, covered restaurant we usually visit when in Dubai.  Eating out, just as most supermarket food, is cheaper here than at home in Canada.  Four people cannot eat at home for $20 CAD but last night that included the 10% tip.

I put this image on Facebook today.  I wrote there's nothing that say's Merry Christmas like a bowl of chicken biryani.  If you don't know what it is, look it up because you are in a minority of the world's population.

Merry Christmas from the Island of Mauritius!

Apparently, Santa Claus was unable to locate us this year as we had no gifts waiting for us when we got up this morning. There's no fireplace to come down but that can't be the reason he skipped us, can it?  I bet he just didn't get the forwarding address for our Airbnb in Flic en Flac, Mauritius.

We weren't disappointed because there's very little in way of presents that could make us happier.  For Jay and I still have each other! Oh, and we pretty much already have every material desire fulfilled too. 

Jay and I have spent a number of Christmases in beach locations in the past.  Yet. I'm not so sure we have always gone in the water on December 25th.  

Today, we did go to the beach and got a little wet.   It wasn't the type of Christmas one hears about in songs, but the beach sand was a little white today.

Less Hair and Fewer Boxes

I could have posted a selfie after today's haircut. My hair is long now, long enough to tie in a pony tail. However, for quite some time, I've had the sides shaved. I'm finally starting to notice my receding hairline but, hey, I turn 65 this summer, so it's a little expected. One change is that I now ask the barber to use the clipper attachment labeled as 1/2.  That causes just a little stubble to remain.  By the time I get around to having another hair cut it's always quite grown out.

Instead, I included a picture of boxes.

 

These boxes contain Christmas decorations.  When getting ready for the installation of a new hot water heater, we had to clean off some shelving in the utility closet.  These were not put back.  It is time that we get rid of the things inside the boxes.

Since we retired in 2014, we have not been in British Columbia at the end of the year.  Neither the lights nor the objects have seen a Christmas for at least ten years.  I feel as though it's time to free them so that some many participate in someone's joyous season.    

Red & Green

Day 54 - It was a warm Christmas this year. Although the temperature reached 33°C the humidity added to the feels-like temperature.

I snapped a picture of this anthurium in the garden.  I looked it up and was surprised that they are 'new world' flowers.  They grow quite happily here in Sri Lanka.  The red and green colours in the photo make it a perfect image to represent the day.

 

Caught Without His Red Suit and Hat

Day 53 - This was the day before Christmas. I guess it was warm enough to merit an extra pre-lunch cool-down in the 32°C heat. The jolly, old man was spotted in the backyard by the shed. There's a shower and tap next to the old well. Jay snapped this photo

   

He found time to stand under the cool water around 12:15 local time. He will have his work cut out for him later in the evening. He must've stopped here on his way to the South Pacific Islands. In a few hours, he'll have to begin another arduous night of gift giving.

Wonder where he parked the reindeer?

First Snow of the Year!

Did a bit of snow arrive earlier than usual?

 

No, not really.  It is good to see the Writers' strike over. We generally see a lot of films and US TV shows shot in our little city of New Westminster, British Columbia.  There's a reason the area is known as Hollywood North.  

I was walking to the other end of downtown and found a guy putting snow on the curbside. He admitted that he was being paid for the opposite of what most folks do.  See the decorated tree on the corner?  I'm sure to many in the huge, local creative industry, it does feel a bit like Christmas!

 

Our Non-Traditional Christmas

Day 37 - We're in Buenos Aires.  It's a non-traditional Christmas for us as we just got here this week for the first time ever!  The following picture is an example which shows why we hardly ever attempt selfie pictures.  Jay was making an egg omelet to have with our rice and curry.

I have to say that of our 37 years together, life has been most happy since retiring.  When we began to wholly own our own time, we decided to travel during Vancouver's oft-dreary winters.  Most years, we find new sun destinations to visit until spring.  

We have only opened the box with Christmas decorations once since 2014.   In 2016 we cancelled plans at the last minute upon discovering Jay's heart trouble.  This blog allowed me to look at the entries for the last eight Christmas days:

• Sri Lanka 2021 
• Cancun, Mexico 2020 
• Sri Lanka 2019 
• Bali, Indonesia 2018 
• Penang, Malaysia 2017 
• Home in British Columbia 2016
• Hurgada, Egypt 2015
• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 2014.

Even we haven't a clue as to where we'll be or what we'll do for the next eight!

Sugar Coating Everything

Day 35 - At breakfast, I spread a bit of 'dulce de leche' on some bread.  Who doesn't like burnt sugar?   Oh my, this stuff is going to go on nearly anything!  

It sounds weird but one thing we like about travelling is visiting foreign supermarkets.  One can tell a lot of about a peoples by how they organize the selection and quantity of food for sale.  

So far, as we're right in the center of the main city, we've been visiting smaller supermarkets.  It seems there are only around three or four main brands but they have branch stores every few blocks.  Unlike small convenience stores at home, these are competing for customers by selling at cheap prices.  The selection of food seems a bit small to us.  But boy, do Argentinians like meat, specifically beef!  We haven't seen much in the way of fish or chicken in the places near us.

Today, we walked to a branch of a Carrefour.   That is a large French multinational retail and wholesaling corporation.  We have shopped in many of them in the past from Dubai, Europe, and even Bali.  This branch was on Avenida 9 de Julio. That's the widest avenue in the world named for Argentina's Independence Day.

I noted many Christmas cakes in the store.  This plus the fact I have hit the AI-generating websites, means it's time for a fake Christmas tree in this blog.  Oh, and although I'm not going to see any here, I added frosty windows.  Best wishes for the holidays.

Snowflake Decorations for the Tree

Several summers back, I got a 3D printer more for its educational value than its potential utility.  There's not a lot I need to make with my Flashforge Adventurer 3™.  However, I have found downloading 3D files and using the software interesting.  I have fooled around with different colours and made dozens and dozens of objects.

Last November, I printed a few Christmas tree ornaments for friends.  I started printing when a few were visiting so they could see how a hobby 3D printer works.  Even printing small objects can take quite a while.  One wasn't completed by the time they left for home.

So this year, I wanted to ensure that I could give out new ornaments early.  I started the process yesterday in order to have plenty of time.  We leave for the winter in less than four weeks.  Yet, we have plans to meet up next weekend.   

 

3D Printing for the Season

In the afternoon before the guys were over for dinner on Saturday, I decided to print a Christmas tree ornament as a gift. The problem is my 3D printer can take quite a while to print a large or complex project.   I didn't start in time for it to complete.  They did get to check on its progress during the entire evening.  When the guests left, there was going to be a few hours before it'd be completed.  When our bedtime came, it was still printing. That is not a problem as I knew I could just leave the Flashforge running and turn it off in the morning. 

However, I forgot about my home automation nighttime routine. In bed, I say "OK Google, good night." The phrase begins a cascade of commands: several night lights turn on, the air purifier turns off its display and sets the fan to medium, our white noise machine starts, and all lights in the apartment are confirmed as off. Unfortunately, I hadn't made an exception for my 3D printer and it was also switched off.  Oops!  There's no recovery mode for an Adventurer 3.

   

So yesterday, I reprinted the object. Then, I had the idea to send it through the post to Dover Crescent. Jay made a small box by 'Frankensteining' a handy Amazon box. The postal outlet said the ball with a circumference of 23-mm would cost over $11 for normal delivery to an address only 15 km away. That seemed a bit much for an item with $0.35 cents of plastic printing filament!

   

I started another for the other guests today. It'll be done this evening for those on Harwood Street.  But now it looks as though the ornaments will have to be delivered in person for Christmas of 2022!

 

Four Signs of a Tropical Christmas

Tree Ornaments  Carolers  Decorations
A Red Sleigh

Coping With Christmas Away

Because we are in Playa del Carmen, we've had to make many adjustments. Such measures are especially true at this time of year. I'll add two pictures taken today to prove our situation. For example, these are our new: Christmas Candy and Christmas Trees. We will manage, I am sure!

 

Today and December Plans

 

 

It was another fine day here.  We took advantage of the warm sun to walk toward the beach this morning.  It may have been in the high teens centigrade last night, but it was pretty pleasant by 10 am.  There are many different ways to get to the water and we know all the close ones now.  Yet, just soaking in the sun and sights is relaxing and enjoyable.

We're starting to plan excursions.  The weather looks to remain nice tomorrow, and if it is, we might grab a ferry over to Cozumel for lunch.  It takes around an hour, I guess.  We can see the tall hotels on the north end of the island from the Playa del Carmen beach.

Also, we have decided to do something special for Christmas.   The only thing that'll be white for us is the sand in Cancun.  We came directly from the airport to this city, so we didn't get a look at the major, tourist focus of the Mayan Riviera.  We do deserve a few days of all-inclusiveness.

Our history of global travel has always been on a shoestring.  Over the years, we've often been more at home in a hostel than a resort.  But we may never get as good a chance as the present to spend three nights in the famous Cancun hotel zone.   We will take a bus north on Thursday, December 24th and check into the Occidental Costa Cancún.  We've not been inside a Barcelo property before.  That means we'll feast on a gala Christmas dinner buffet and I'll drink a lot of all-inclusive cheer.  We'll check out on Sunday and return to Playa del Carmen.

 

Tuesday's 'Photo of the Day'

It was a beautiful day in Playa del Carmen. It was also a fairly pretty day in the Walmart that's a few blocks from our apartment here.

 

Santa's Transportation Options

The big guy in the red suit has a lot of the globe to cover in a single night. Flying is only one of his options:

    

December 1996

Day 50 - This morning I got an email from Flickr begging members to try to get others to sign up for the service. The new owners said the recent change of ownership had saved the photosharing site and we should be willing to help turn it into a money-making venture.

It's true, I'd physically cry if it went belly-up. So much of my life has been added to my account there that it has become something very precious to me. For example, I was looking at various Decembers of my past. I thought that it was very interesting to see this image from Christmas Day of 1996. It was the first year we were in Canada. This was taken during a trip down to visit friends near Snoqualmie Pass in Washington State.

Seeing Jay standing in a snowmobile suit was a strange contrast to the 30°C temperatures we had in Nugegoda, Sri Lanka today. Twenty-three years feels like a long time too. Then, again, sometimes it seems just like yesterday.

Rushing It

I went to the Superstore in Coquitlam mainly to get a cheap haircut.

Of course, I walked around as soon as the deed was done. Expensive, fake Christmas trees were on display already. It was still a week to Halloween yesterday. People complain about having the stuff out too early, but secretly they seem to like it, I guess.

From the Island of Penang

Day 27 - Photo taken from our apartment balcony in Relau.

Nearing the End of 2016

This is an image I created for my eJournal and images thirteen years ago. If my calculations are correct, that turns out to be 4748 days ago. Consequently, that means it was 4748 blog entries ago. I've been at this for a long, long time.


We've been so blessed during these intervening years. We've seen so much, been to so many places, and visited with so many interesting people. Merry Christmas, one and all!