I HOPE ..

MAKE NO MISTAKE .. I FULLY REALIZE HOW BLESSED AND HOW LUCKY AND HOW FORTUNATE I AM TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL AS I DO. THE ENTIRE POINT OF MY WEBSITE HERE IS TO REALIZE MY DESIRE THAT .. IN SOME SMALL WAY .. ONE OF MY POSTS OR ONE OF MY PHOTOGRAPHS WILL MAKE ONE PERSON'S DAY JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

TO FEEL GOOD .. DO GOOD !

I HOPE THAT SOMEONE VISITING MY WEBSITE WILL SEE SOMETHING ON IT THAT THEY WILL NOT EVER BE ABLE TO SEE OR TO DO OTHERWISE .. AND THAT THIS EXPERIENCE WILL MAKE THEIR DAY OR THEIR LIFE JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER !


IF YOU HAVE YOUR HEALTH AND ADEQUATE MONEY TO FOLLOW-YOUR-DREAM .. WITH DISCERNMENT .. FIND THE COURAGE AND HAVE THE GUTS TO DO WHAT GOD IS CALLING YOU TO DO!


TRULY THIS IS MY DOXOLOGY .. MY PRAISE TO GOD!

YOU CAN ALSO VISIT .. http://babakaps.net .. TO SEE MY OTHER WEBSITE.

Tuesday, 31 December 2019

DEC 31, 19 .. THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES YEAR 2019.. RUSSIAN SIBERIA.. PART 1 OF 4 PARTS..

Epilogue : I got into this post thinking I could just put up a few 'memory joggers' about my nine months in Russian Siberia and call it a done-deal for Year 2019. 

Alas Alak. It took on a life of its own and off we ran together. So it suddenly became Part 1 of 4 Parts. When I finally ran-out-of-steam, after one hundred and ninety two photos, and I wanted to publish this Post to get it dated in year 2019, I just ended it.

Thanks Year 2019 for oh so many memories. The photos below were taken during my nine months traveling in Russian Siberia. I opted not to include Mongolia, Hong Kong and Korea in this year-end summary.

Patti and I hope you all brought your popcorn, this will be some show.

There are just far too many very special people to show them all. Without all of them, and they numbered in the hundreds (thousands??), I would not have been able to do what I was asked to do. However, some are so special, that I am including them below.

















Here we go loop-di-loop.

In and out of airports. I flew on all manner of aircraft.







Arriving in Kyzyl, the Republic of Tuva.


Picking up our baggage.


I was greeted by my very own, special Shaman.



Notice, if you will, my 'Modern Shaman' came equipped with his ever present cell phone.



Kyzyl, the Republic of Tuva, Russian Siberia.



I gave talks in all manner of locations. Some pretty basic.




I slept in some very basic rooms.




Prior to my talk in a municipal building in Kyzyl, there was a 45-minute celebration.








Below is a photo in a museum.


Below you see the above live and alive.





Another Kyzyl famous attraction.


The Center of Asia.



The Russian Jails I spoke in were on the grim-side.


What an honor it was to address the senior class of medical students at the University in Kyzyl.



Addressing The Community Elders in Shagonar, a village several hours outside of Kyzyl.




Notice if you will, how the early attendees are dressed. Inside of the room it was quite cold.


I did a lot of traveling by automobile.



In Russia, in the United States, we have the generation gap.


Multi-tasking with her ever-present smart phone!

We arrived safely and it was a wonderful meeting.









Often I spoke at locations involving 1, 2 or more hours of travel each way.






x







Are you hungry?







Oh So Many Very Special Moments.


















Yes it was cold. The inside of the windows on the bus were iced-up and I had to keep scraping the ice off them to see out. I could write a book.




"Captain! You are in Russian Siberia in the heart of winter! What did you expect?"







Two over-the-road long-haul truckers I met in a truck stop.




















Ice Sculptures.














The Trans-Siberian Express Train travel.










The below sign states : Moscow to Vladivostok

This IS the Trans-Siberian Express Train!




Irkutsk.



I was amazed, and pleased, to find Subway Sandwich Shops all over Russian Siberia.



Below is a state-of-the-art Irkutsk Shopping Mall.




Patti and I walked along the Angara River at every opportunity (which was almost daily).


Historic homes in Irkutsk.





Every hamlet, every tiny village, every large city, all had memorials honoring their World War II Military.


In Russian Siberia? Whodda Thunk!









Below are photos of a very typical Russian Siberian Supermarket. 

This is NOT your average, local grocery store, of which there are many. I never would have believed what I found in Russian Siberia until I saw it for myself.

















Right here I ran-out-of-steam.

To be continued.

Cap and Patti

Wednesday, 25 December 2019

DEC 25, 19 .. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND TO ALL

We are having a very VERY white Christmas here in Anchorage, Alaska, this Christmas 2019.
















We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Patti and Cap

Tuesday, 24 December 2019

DEC 24, 19 .. TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Twas the Night Before Christmas
by Clement Clarke Moore

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.
And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

When out on the roof there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
gave the lustre of midday to objects below,
when, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came,
and he whistled and shouted and called them by name:

"Now Dasher! Now Dancer!
Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid!
On, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch!
To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away!

Dash away all!

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
so up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes--how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,

that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

With Much Love ..


Patti and Cap

Wednesday, 4 December 2019

DEC 4, 19 .. ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA .. THE BLUE SKY HOTEL AND TOWER

 Yesterday I published a post showing Breakfast at Millie's Espresso.

What does yesterday's post have to do with The Blue Sky Hotel and Tower? Simple, to get to Millie's, I walk through the Blue Sky and as I'm walking to Millie's it remains ever present.

I seemingly am not able to resist photographing the Blue Sky whenever I am near it.

Below, in the background of each photo, are some of my favorite views of the Blue Sky.



In the foreground of these photos, you see the traditional Buddhist Temple that is located within the Choijin Lama Museum.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ulaanbaatar/@47.9157529,106.9160778,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x5d96925be2b18aab:0xe606927864a1847f!8m2!3d47.8863988!4d106.9057439







The three below photos show the temple from other viewpoints.




At this point you are probably wondering why this post is not titled : The Choijin Lama Museum.

To see my post of the Choijin Lama Museum, please check out the below link..

http://bobbacaps.blogspot.com/2017/09/sep-4-17-ulaanbaatar-mongolia-temple.html

Here are a few other views of the Blue Sky Hotel and Tower.





The below photo looks up at the above building on the right.


IF you want to see another series of photos of the Blue Sky please click onto the below link..

http://bobbacaps.blogspot.com/2015/09/sep-24-15-downtown-ulaanbaatar-blue-sky.html

More??

http://bobbacaps.blogspot.com/2015/09/sep-24-15-downtown-ulaanbaatar-blue-sky_24.html

OK here is Part 3 of 3..

http://bobbacaps.blogspot.com/2015/09/sep-24-15-ulaanbaatar-blue-sky-hotel.html

There you have it. The Blue Sky Hotel and Tower is a beautiful sight and landmark in downtown Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Cap


Tuesday, 3 December 2019

DEC 3, 19 .. BREAKFAST AT MILLIE'S ESPRESSO

Because I am leaving Ulaanbaatar this upcoming Friday the 6th of December, I am in the process of checking out with close friends.

One is Daniel who is 'The Man' at Millie's Espresso. 



A nice business for a mid-week Tuesday morning.


Talk about 'perfect timing', Daniel and I were visiting, my cell phone rang and it was Patti. I snapped the below photos of Daniel as they were visiting.


A wonderful human being. He is all these photos show and more!

 


Millie's Special Breakfast


The double order of toast was my idea.


A small breakfast steak, scrambled eggs, crispy hash-browns, fresh tomatoes and bacon. US $7.72.


Just what my Doctor ordered.

Smiles .. Cap


Sunday, 1 December 2019

DEC 1, 19 .. HAPPINESS MAY BE FOUND ..

IF you'll just open-your-eyes, HAPPINESS MAY BE FOUND while walking to catch a bus home from downtown Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.








Much Joy to all of you as we begin the December journey to Christmas.

Cap and Patti