Friday, January 30, 2015

Brunei Jan. 2015

    Free medical, education, subsidized low wages, no income tax, pension, gas is .53 Brunei dollars a liter. Sounds good, eh.
   Also Sharia law. Jail for indecent clothes, not going to pray, homosexuity, alcohol. 
    I thought as the richest country it would be different. First tour from
Hotel, their car. First stop was the Empire Hotel. Must say it is over the top. I thought the whole place would be like that. From the photos, that is the impression I had. Only place I got to go in was the Regalia Museum. Others closed or not available. Lots of no, no's. Last stop was a Mall. Well, OK, I was thinking it would be a fancy one-not so. It was so not. Got my glasses tightened and got out.
    Did have a tour to Temburong park. Two river cruises plus 2000 steps up a hill and down. Mucky walk up a steam for a waterfall and a fish pedicure. I didn't fall nor loose my shoes. 
    In the Regalia Museum, I liked the State Gifts the best. The one from Syrias's Al Assad was a photo of him on a shield. The ONLY one like that. 
   Trip Advisor: pass

Friday, January 2, 2015

Ajmer, India. Dec. 2014

O   If we didn't laugh we would have lost our cool. Arrived at the hotel with reservation for 2 persons and 2 beds. They took us to a room with one double bed, explained that this was a 2 bed room. Short of drawing two beds, we tried to explain this was not what we wanted. Five young men were on the hotel team. Stumbling over each other. Barbara got on the phone to reception and was told there were no rooms with two beds. WHAT! This is a hotel! Up came the bigger authority. Appeared a room with two beds. Settling in, we ordered room service. A call came back asking did we want room service. That worked and we got the food. Shortly after, a knock on the door to retrieve the plates. Twice. 
   Barbara wanted a beer, the staff sent a boy who couldn't or wouldn't buy it. Another boy took Barbara to buy it, left her standing in the street while he disappeared down a dark alley, returning with said beer. Sleep.
   Morning and I have made our usual coffee to enjoy in bed. A knock on the door brought the housekeeper in charge and five young men to 'clean' the room. Really we think they just wanted to have a look, because they took photos of us in our beds. The housekeeper hugged us several times, such an admirer we had.  In the previous evening they had just walked in like a public space. We made sure the door was locked after that. 
   The man at reception asked many questions about US geographics but never listened to the answers. Actually he did not listen to much. 
    The rooms all faced onto the entrance to the underground carpark, restaurant, and reception and was frequently visited by cows and flocks of pigeons. The high decibels were increased by the staff rushing around waving their jackets and shouting at the pigeons in the vain attempt to get them to leave.
    For most of our stay, we were either laughing or flumexed. Never a dull moment. It really is - incredible India.