TedTravel's Guestbook

23rd February 2009

Aussie Expressions
Anthea is very social and has a great sense of humor (or humour, as the case may be). It feels a bit like down-under here. There is Anthea, Glyn who was born in and lives in Australia, and Wolf who is German, but has lived in Australia for the past 25 years. I know these expressions aren't used every day, in every situation, but it seems as if Australians really enjoy their unique sayings. It's a source of cultural pride on the one hand, and a way of not taking themselves too seriously on the other hand. At least that's the way it seems to me.

From Blog: Does anyone have a Swedish dictionary?

23rd February 2009

Heather
non-member comment

Heather weighing in...
to validate, per your request Sarah and Ted, that ...ahem... each of these Aussie sayings is, in fact, in active use downunder. However, I also hasten to add that most are VERY slang expressions that you're most likely to come across at a pub among "Ockers" (an Aussie redneck) using very broad Aussie accents (aka "Strine")! They're otherwise used by the rest of us in a kind of tongue-in-cheek manner, when deliberately making fun of ourselves. I can't believe Anthea's actually carrying these around on signs!!!

From Blog: Does anyone have a Swedish dictionary?

23rd February 2009

Heather
non-member comment

Aussie Hospitality
How kind of Anthea to have you all over for a barbie - very typical Aussie behavior that's apparently transportable (unlike our vernacular)! Although I'm having a hard time believing it was "just like being in Australia"...good grief ;-)

From Blog: TGIF

23rd February 2009

Heather
non-member comment

I can't believe...
...you almost didn't take a camera! I'm glad common sense got the better of you, because we'd otherwise be missing a lot in these blogs! (Even WITH photos, I think it's hard to convey the vast unendingness of the desert.) I'm so impressed at how intrepid you are - jumping onto buses and heading into town to go shopping. You haven't shared any of your bargaining strategies - how are you communicating, and what are the reactions of the vendors?

From Blog: Khobar and Abqaiq

23rd February 2009

Heather
non-member comment

"Ultra" Aussie?!
OK, I feel the need to step in and defend my countrywoman, here ;-) (Hugh Jackman just hosted the Academy Awards, so maybe I'm in a patriotic mood...) So.... what exactly characterizes an Ultra-Aussie??! On a separate note - time sure is flying by, and you'll be home in no time. I hope the last couple of days continue to be interesting, notwithstanding the work. I'm heading off to San Fran this morning to do a client presentation - keep your fingers crossed!

From Blog: After the Weekend...

23rd February 2009

TedTravel
Ted

80 Degrees in Phoenix
It may be 80 degrees in Phoenix, but I bet you don't have camels!

From Blog: Khobar and Abqaiq

23rd February 2009

TedTravel
Ted

Abby?
You say your name is Abby? Hmmm, I don't recall an Abby. Are you sure this is the correct blog? JK. I'm starting to remember now. Do you have your three wishes picked out?

From Blog: Khobar and Abqaiq

23rd February 2009

Your favorite- 19 year old daughter.
non-member comment

NEAT!
Dad, your day sounds really great! I think it's the coolest thing to see animals in their natural habitat! (Which is why I think our next vacation needs to be to Africa!! An African safari, how amazing would that be?? -but i digress.) If you get a chance to pick me up one of those Geni lamps I would not complain one little bit!! I would love that! Have a great last few days in S.A! -Abby and as the name I typed in says, your favorite NINETEEN your old daughter. I am 19. Oh, and my name is ABBY. I'm hoping that you remember these things all the way over in S.A since you seem to have difficulty remember whilst still around the US. haha. :)

From Blog: Khobar and Abqaiq

23rd February 2009

Abs
non-member comment

Weather
I'd like to take this opportunity to brag and say that it has been 80 degrees here since friday. :):) haha.

From Blog: After the Weekend...

22nd February 2009

TedTravel
Ted

Abqaiq
I changed my typos, so it now reads "Abqaiq." There really are no u's in Abqaiq. It's just that it's hard to type a q without a u. See photo for proof!

From Blog: Khobar and Abqaiq

22nd February 2009

TedTravel
Ted

Dessert, Desert
Thanks for the positive comments, Ellen. The photos are a nice touch, but I almost didn't even bring my camera! What a mistake that would have been. You say desert, I say dessert. Potayto, potahto, bla, bla, bla. I'm frankly surprised that I'm not more incoherent when I type these blogs. Usually they are written around midnight.

From Blog: Khobar and Abqaiq

21st February 2009

anonymous
non-member comment

Jumped the gun...
I stand corrected. "Aramco - Abqaiq See, it's really spelled that way"

From Blog: Khobar and Abqaiq

21st February 2009

Jessica
non-member comment

U!
"AbqUiq. How can a town have two q’s and no u’s?" I see a flaw in your theory. Enjoy your last few days!

From Blog: Khobar and Abqaiq

21st February 2009

Ellen
non-member comment

You Got Dessert Again
Ted: You know I was watching Andrew Zimmern the other day (or was it Tony?)...anyway they were eating camel in the DESERT! It sounds like you are having a great time. So glad the trip is working out. I love the pictures. Ellen

From Blog: Khobar and Abqaiq

20th February 2009

TedTravel
Ted

Daikons
Apparently I didn't know that either, Manir! Of course I'm the one who wrote, "you're English is very good." But I'm blaming that on lack of sleep and too many hours working. Not knowing about diakons is just a lack of general knowledge on my part. Or lack of watching enough Iron Chef on the Food Network Channel.

From Blog: Thai Food in Khobar

20th February 2009

Manir
non-member comment

Daikon it is
It's called a daikon in Japan. I did not know the word has found a place in the English language.

From Blog: Thai Food in Khobar

20th February 2009

TedTravel
Ted

Bouganvillea
Of course, leave it to Sarah to know that they are Guam's territorial flower and called Puti Tai Nobio. If all of us played "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" we could certainly win collectively.

From Blog: It's the Weekend! You betcha.

20th February 2009

TedTravel
Ted

Aussie Sayings
Heather has not yet weighed in on the Aussie sayings. However, both Glyn (a nataive Aussie) and Wolf (who has lived in Australia for the last 27 years) have verfified that they have used all of these sayings. However, please don't use the "P" word in Saudi!

From Blog: Does anyone have a Swedish dictionary?

20th February 2009

TedTravel
Ted

Wild Shirts and Daikons
Hi Ryan. I'm glad that you are reading the blog. The Aramco compound looks very San Diego and I think you guys would fit right in. Of course, making that trip to Mpls and NoDak would be a lot harder around the holidays! When you mentioned Iron Chef, I can totally picture Alton Brown talking about how to use Diakons and the history of Diakons. Glyn verified that it was a Diakon. Another mystery solved by my friends and family! The T-shirts were second-hand, I believe. So perhaps some ex-Minnesotan decided to trade his shirt for a schwarma sandwich. Wise choice.

From Blog: Shopping in Khobar

20th February 2009

Sarah
non-member comment

Coffee pot
I forgot to add that the coffee pot looks like a Hoopoe!

From Blog: It's the Weekend! You betcha.

20th February 2009

Sarah
non-member comment

Yup, that flowering tree does look like a bougainvillea and they tend to like warmer weather. I love them as well; and they're all over SF. It's also Guam's territorial flower and in Chamorro is known as "Puti Tai Nobio" which means something like "hurts to be without a partner/lover". I have no idea why they named it that.

From Blog: It's the Weekend! You betcha.

20th February 2009

Sarah
non-member comment

Pork Chops
Has Heather J authenticated these sayings? Because I really want to start using "Carrying on like a pork chop." I thought Uff-dah was Norwegian?

From Blog: Does anyone have a Swedish dictionary?

19th February 2009

Ryan
non-member comment

Wild T-Shirt
Hi Ted! Shannon passed along your link, which has become a daily check, if not read for me - what a great experience you're having! I noticed someone mentioned Daikon to you already - I'm not ashamed to admit that I knew that one from watching Iron Chef... the Wild T-Shirt - and this would be a guess - could have actually come from Target... I read an article on ESPN.com after the Patriots lost to the Giants in the Superbowl that the losing teams 'winning' t-shirts, etc. are typically shipped out of the US and given to other countries in need of clothing... figure if you have some entrepreneurial people that get ahold of several shirts it'd be easy to have them end up in a store. Again, just a guess there. Enjoy your last week there!

From Blog: Shopping in Khobar

19th February 2009

eve
non-member comment

Ted--I love gardening! Especially plants that grow in the tropics! I actually tried growing bougainvillea here last year and it only limped along for a year...

From Blog: It's the Weekend! You betcha.

19th February 2009

Jessica
non-member comment

Thank you! :)
Finally an entry that didn't make me hungry!

From Blog: Shopping in Khobar

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