More from Chicago

I say!

Here are some more snaps from Chicago.

The first one shows my residence during my brief stay there. A reasonable hotel, but quite expensive, as they all seem to be in the 'Windy city'. It was not named 'windy' after the wind, however. Does anyone know the real story?



The next one was taken during a 'booze cruize' on the lake. Can anyone from outside the USA name the great lakes, without recourse to a reference source?



The Sears Tower from ground level.



From atop the tower.



And from the same location, looking in the other direction.



MM III

Chicago

I say!

Well done those of you who guessed Chicago as my previous location, and I sincerely apologise for spelling Potawatomi incorrectly. The clues were jotted down in haste from the excellent display about Chicago at the top of the Sears Building, which was once the tallest building in the world.

The cow in question belonged to Mrs O'Leary, who some say was responsible for the great fire in Chicago which resulted in the destruction of many buildings, some years back.

Cows feature in numerous places in Chicago, and I am not sure why. For example, in a road just down from my hotel I noticed this cow statue:



...and, my goodness, there was a model of a cow upside down in a nearby shop:



If its a ploy by the tourist authority to attract the Masaii market, I fear it may not be effective, though my Samburu friends will be most interested in the snaps.

Here's a snap taken from underneath "the El".



And another one of the wonderful Chicago skyline, taken from the Shedd Aquarium.


I have moved off now, and will post from my new location shortly.

MM III

Secret location 3

I say!

Here are some more clues, as no-one has made the correct guess yet.

A cow was very important in the history of this city.

The airport is named after someone who's first name was 'Butch'.

The city is named after the Potowani name for "wild onion".

That should now be very obvious.

Well, I say! Here I am at Cap'n Jambo's house in the bayou, and it is just as warm as Kalimbuka, and its making me feel very much at home.

Here is a snap that Cap'n Jambo took last night, after quite a number of sundowners. Notice the Buddha to the right.



MM III

Secret Location 2

I say!

No takers so far. Here are some more clues, with more to follow.

This city is set out in a grid system, there are lots of skyscrapers, and there is a marina.

That should narrrow it down a bit :-)

MM III

Secret Location

I say!

I am currently at the secret location, somewhere in America - all will be revealed eventually, via a little quizz. In the meantime, I have found - to my delight - that the hospitality is not only sponsored, but virtually limitless.

Fortunately, the locals are particularly pleasant and friendly, and are very forgiving of my foibles.

The secret location is a large city, and there is a river running through it.

Can you guess where it is?

MM III

Hotboy reveals all about 'RaBliss'

I say!

My brief interview with Hotboy is now available.

I'm afraid I have no idea how to turn the movie the correct way up, so I hope no-one gets a crick of the neck.

I shall shortly depart Edinburgh, but will post some more snaps whenever I can.

MM III

Hotboy's Hut

Well I say!

How wonderful it was to meet up with Hotboy.

In order to attract his attention, and ignoring strange looks from passers-by, one must shout "Madyamika" at the top of one's voice from outside the allotment compound. Hotboy will eventually let you in to the compound, as he did with me, this very afternoon.

He has hardly changed! He is still as vivacious as ever. Our time was unfortunately short, due to my 'hush hush' world tour itinerary, but I was able to take the following snaps, and once Google has verified the video clip I hope to post a short interview.

His hut will surely feature on many pilgrimages of the future, as disciples visit the scene of 'RaBliss'.

Here he is, standing on his head.


Sometimes he meditates in the prone position.

A bird nests in the guest quarters.


In situ, meditating and raising 'RaBliss'.


MM III

Leith Festival

I say!

Here is the short video clip of Danny Cockroach live.

Must dash. Must go to Hotboy's hut.

MM III

Danny Cockroach

Well I say!

In my last post I mentioned my recent visit to the Leith Festival, and my favourable impression of Danny Cockroach as an up-and-coming talented young band.

The next thing I know, these friendly chaps invited me back to their 'pad' to watch them rehearse. And, here is a video clip of the band.

Please excuse their 'French'.

MM III

Edinburgh!

Well I say!

Here I am in Edinburgh, and I must say, its wonderful to be back! I'm trying to get used to paying £5 for a packet of twenty cigarettes, and then not being able to smoke them in bars, but one cannot ask for everything. My goodness, Abdul's weekly wage envelope would only buy him 40 smokoes here.

Edinburgh is SO refreshing. One minute a bracing wind, the next glorious sunshine. It gets light here at 5am (and I arise at that time just to make sure), and does not darken until 'cowboy time' (ten to ten - or rather t'arentoten t'arentoten).

Now, before I show my latest snaps of wonderful Edinburgh, and in the realisation that one cannot avoid football at the present time, an item from the Daily Torygraph on Thursday reported that "Scots who want England to fail in the World Cup suffer from low self-esteem and a deep-rooted inferiority complex" acording to Glasgow medic Dr Alex Yellowlees. I wonder what dear old Hotboy would make of that. Is he supporting England?

I must ask him soon, when we meet up, once again. He has promised me an interview at his hut, and to be:

• sober
• stand on his head ('heid')
• be in the lotus position
• enlighten me about 'Rabliss'

I shall hopefully reveal all, later this week, in a video account.

Here is a snap taken looking towards Edinburgh Castle, from the Royal Mile. Unfortunately, it was raining at the time, but one can still see how attractive the setting is.



Edinburgh is changing, with a whole host of construction programmes. I wonder if ex-residents such as Mr RobMcJ would recognise where this snap was taken from. The Castle features in the background.



I shall have fun with the next two snaps. Everywhere one perambulates in central Edinburgh, one finds statues of cows. I've no idea why. I shall tell my Samburu friends the next time I'm in Kenya that the following show the real Edinburgh cattle culture.





I rather like the one above, which features Africa. They shall ask me if the cow blood tastes good.

Whilst in Edinburgh, I have been taking advantage of the wonderful array of cultural events, such as the Leith festival. The next snap was taken the other night at a musical event. It features a very talented local band called Danny Cockroach. I shall post a short video clip of this band in action, as soon as Google Video has 'verified' it. As you can se, their drummer is obviously a Martian.



I shall have more fun with the next one. Doviko will ask me what it is. I shall tell him that the ground is so fertile in Edinburgh that they can grow buildings. I can be SO cruel.



MM III

A noble game

Well I say!

Last week was most enjoyable. I spent some time in Birmingham, and attended the third day of the second Test Match between England and Sri Lanka.

Unfortunately, it was quite a rainy day, and play didn't start until 4.45 pm, by which time, of course, I was rather pie-eyed.

Here are some snaps taken on the day, plus a video of some of the action.

First of all, a snap of my fairly modest accommodation


A log queue of people waiting in the rain to enter the ground.


My reception committee, including Mike Gatting, former England captain.


The covers - which protect the pitch from rain.


The crowd makes its own entertainment, whilst waiting for the game to begin. Four 'Freddie Flintoffs' watch an impromptu game outside the ground.


Excitement builds up as the covers come off.

And finally, at 4.45 pm, the game resumes.


You should be able to watch a short video here.

MM III