http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/LT-Anthony/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from LT Anthony en-us Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:34:57 +0000 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:34:57 +0000 Today I was invited to a barbeque at the rug shop. Persian and Turkish rugs are one of the hot items that the Iraqis peddle. I have learned that most of the so called ldquoIraqisrdquo are Turks that pretend to be Iraqi to sell their wares at Iraqi gift shops. There are various grades of rug but the best are handmade. The Iraqi Doctor that I have talked about previously is friends with the http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-318630.html Finally made it back to Al Asad after waiting in the PAX Terminal for 5 days. I am glad to be back to my CHU. It is the same dusty landscape but friends and fresh linens make it tolerable. http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-318628.html Well here I am again stuck in a Military PAX PAX is the abbreviation for passenger person or people terminal. Why you may ask A Sandstorm of course. The sand moved in late yesterday and has really messed up my travel plans. I hope to get on a plane chopper or fast camel back to Al Asad. One benefit that I have come to realize from being stuck so much in the PAX Terminal is that I hav http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-318627.html The second day of the conference was well attended and quite informative. I was able to learn a great deal of the way in which we operate in Iraq. As I cannot discuss it further I thought I might share a little more about the sites in Baghdad. Inside the Aw Faw palace there is a chairthrone that belonged to Saddam Hussein. The chair was given to Saddam by Yasser Arafat. If you look closely a http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-318626.html Today was the first day of the conference. We got up early to get breakfast before the conference started. Breakfast was the usual fare eggs and bacon. The conference was held in the Aw Faw palace on Camp Victory. I cannot talk about the conference but I can tell you about the palace.The city of Faw lies on the Aw Faw peninsula in the far southeast of the Basra Provence. Water canals from t http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/East/Baghdad/blog-313972.html We arrived at our layover destination about 0200 and had to catch a bus to the helicopter terminal to get our connecting flight. Our helo did not leave until sunrise so we slept in the terminal on the benches for a few hours. As the sun rose we took a bus to the flight line. There were helos everywhere as far as the eyes could see. Our bird was named the ldquoHillbilly Deluxerdquo which http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/East/Baghdad/blog-313971.html Today I left for a conference in Baghdad. I was there about a month ago but another opportunity came up for me to attend a Commanderrsquos conference. I sure do hate to travel but I enjoy seeing new things. We left for the military passenger terminal at 2300 on the 29th and departed very early the next morning. I flew on a Sherpa. A Sherpa is an Army aircraft that is used primarily to trans http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-313969.html Happy 30th Birthday. Just another day in Iraq. I did not even sleep in. I did want to plan a good birthday party so on my day off we will celebrate. I have received lots of great gifts for my birthday. My coworkers sent me two birthdayrsquos in a box. It had all of the items that I would need for a party candles streamers balloons plates hats blowers etc. They also sent some funn http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-313066.html Today we finally received the Yeti. If I havenrsquot told you the story of the Yeti yet let me elaborate. In the 24hour plane ride to Kuwait Mark and I did every activity that one can do on an Airplane. We watched movies listened to music read magazines talked with other soldiers went to the bathroom walked around etc. We kept looking at Sky Mall magazine and laughing at all of the r http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-313061.html Independence Day in Kuwait. Not my first choice. I have a flight scheduled for tomorrow so I checked into the temporary billeting in Kuwait to get some much needed rest. I slept almost 8 hours catching up for the last 4 days. The base in Kuwait is much safer so it is a more relaxed environment. I put on my PT uniform and got out to explore what Independence Day activities that were being offe http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-310447.html Tried to get out all last night. I am still sitting at the airport. My back hurts from sitting on the concrete all night. July 3 Still stuck. I made friends at the Airport. In the movie Fight Club Brad Pitt talks about single serving friends these are becoming several serving friends. We are all stuck together in a perpetual sleep and eat cycle. The only flight I can get is to Kuwait la http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-310445.html Today I was supposed to fly back to Al Asad. When I emerged from my tent I was greeted with a sandstorm. I went to the military passenger terminal and learned that my confirmed flight had been cancelled and now I would need to try to get a standby flight when I weather cleared. I chose to hope on the bus system and explore Baghdad sandy or not. I rode over to Camp Slayer to see Saddamrsquos http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-310440.html The reason I traveled to Baghdad was for the Medical Service Corp inservice. It was designed to be for all Medical Service Corp to network and share ideas. The conference was a good experience. I met lots of my counterparts who operate at various bases in theater. I even ran into a LT who I attended officer basic course with three years ago. She taps me on the back and says do you remember m http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-310435.html Today I left for my trip to Baghdad. The way you travel in theater is quite different than you will travel in the way you would travel in the US. It is a long everchanging process. You cannot make travel reservations more than 4 days before your intended trip but not less than 3 days before you plan to leave. Then in order to catch your flight you have to arrive at the airport three hours be http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-310431.html Mark and I decided to take another bike ride around the perimeter of the base. We took off about 1800 just as the sun fell below the ridge. We rode all the way to the end of the base before ascending to the top of the ridge. We made good time past the old bunkers and were enjoying the cooler temperature 110. As soon as we got to the halfway point of our ride Mark got a page to return to the http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-310430.html My Dadrsquos care package arrived today. Because of the sandstorm all of our mail was delayed so today there was a huge pile in the mailroom. I goy some really cool stuff. Lots of food and snacks to include my favorites pistashios wasabi almondssplenda and MMs. I couldnrsquot eat it all before returnng from deployment. I shared with Mark and my staff. The folks I work with were qui http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-290208.html Holy sand batman. Today we encountered the worst sandstorm yet. There has been light sand for the last few days. This morning I got up and gathered my things to go shower and as I opened the door I was greeted with a wall of sand. The sand was so thick that you could not see to the end of the row of CHUs that I live on. I dawned my baclava and wrap around glasses and headed to work only to ge http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-290202.html Today my first care package arrived. I was so excited like a kid at Christmas. Kristen sent me a package with my Army Times weekly newspaper for the Army some things I left at home and Lizzie sent me a Mickey Mouse fan and Cinderella Postcard. I am sure that my friends think I am a little weird newspapers and a Cinderella postcard. It made me happy.Everyone who has read my blog knows t http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-290201.html Fatherrsquos Day and my first day off this deployment. I planned to get up after sleeping in a bit and go for a bike ride on the ridge of the base. I woke up to the radio walkie talkie and thought I was getting a call. It was not for me but since it was the evening at home I decided to get dressed and walk to the hardstand. I called home and talked with my girls. That made my day even t http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-290199.html Happy Birthday to the Army. She is 233 today. Since today is Groundhog Day we didnrsquot know that it was the Army birthday today until we saw the email from the Sergeant Major of the Army. Oh Happy Birthday we muttered. The excitement came at chow time. When we got to the DFAC dining facility there were lots of patriotic decorations. The tables were covered in red white and blue tabl http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iraq/West/Al-Asad-Airbase/blog-289582.html