posted by Siren @ 10:33 AM
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The teeny tiny amaza-crazy mosaics in the Hagia Sofia. OMG.
Favorite international spots to date:
Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Bangkok
Hagia Sofia, Istanbul
Wowzie!
Youtube is blocked in Turkey. Weird.
Leaving this afternoon for Amsterdam. Will organize photos on plane.
posted by Siren @ 3:02 AM
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Thursday, July 2, 2009. 8:05. Istanbul
Oh, the changing color of the Bosporus! Last eve: sapphire!
posted by Siren @ 12:15 AM
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Wednesday, July 1, 2009. 8:41am. Istanbul
Got in last nite around 5pm. O’s driver picked us up at the airport to whisk us to a biz meeting, then the hotel, and then we all met for dinner on the Bosphorus. Beautiful views of the bridge in changing colored lights. Fab contemporary mezze. The octopus salad was outrageous. Whacky Euro “nite life”…
D is working today. I’m having a little resty (I know a jet lag headache now when I feel it!), workout, and maybe a shop later. Tomorrow: sights!
Turkish tea rocks my socks.
posted by Siren @ 12:45 AM
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Tuesday, June 30, 2009. 12:59. Dubai, UAE
Dubai Emirates airport lounge. Heard the Call to Prayer here in the airport. V. cool. Glorified layover: checked in to the hotel at 2am last nite and have a 230 flight today to Istanbul. Saw camel riders on the beach from the hotel. Desert haze clutches impressive skyscrapers in a 113 degree F, dry-death-hot grip. Note to Lawrence of Arabia (P. O’Toole and Mr. Lean): Larry would have died from heatstroke out there in a matter of hours...no long treks on foot across the dessert….
Must come back in winter….perhaps...
Hummus, dolmas, etc deelish….
posted by Siren @ 4:07 AM
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Monday, June 29, 2009. 8:30am. Bangkok
Above: Elephant topiary at the Summer Palace...
Yesterday’s trip to Ayutthaya was spectacular...the giant gold Buddha was amazing and completely overrun with the faithful... lighting candles, making lotus and garland offerings...I was delighted by the giant Ganesha also…and intoxicating incense everywhere...
The whole area was tourist-free and the ruins were completely deserted...
I think the highlight of our trip here has been meeting and spending tea time with Mr. Hong and his family at the antique shop. We stopped by yesterday on our way back and he gave us a large package of chinese tea to take home!
Today will be mostly resty day --- this eve we leave for an overnite stop in Dubai en route to Istanbul...
posted by Siren @ 8:51 PM
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Sunday, June 28, 2009. 7:07am Bangkok.
We spent some of yesterday afternoon with Hong, again, in his antique shop drinking tea. He’s my new adopted grandfather!
Surprisingly, the search for Thai silk has been less fruitful that I’d hoped.
Off to Ayutthaya today...
posted by Siren @ 7:19 PM
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Singer and theater artist, Artistic Director of Divergence Vocal Theater, Diva, Opera Trouble-Maker, gal about town...
