data-csrf="1714386924,32f8f95fa16c02acd71c905ca3903a6a" Sands of time... | As Real As It Gets

Sands of time...

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Uncle Dave

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Nov 17, 2007
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Just got back from a week in the desert doing field surveys for a new pipeline. Environmental impact assessments no longer fit the bill on their own, and there must be a social impact element as well. Object of this study was to identify sensitive environmental, cultural, and historical aspects of the area. The area itself is a small town located on an old camel-caravan trade route. It was a fairly interesting week.

To start, a guy needs a little walking-around money.



 
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Uncle Dave

Administrator
Nov 17, 2007
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Artifacts dating back as far as 5000 years, and some even longer, have been found. It was fairly easy to find worked flint anytime the vehicles stopped.



Also an old grave site:

 
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cwh

Administrator
Nov 18, 2007
4,574
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Anchorage
Couldn't ask for a better backdrop for long range work....

Nothing but sand for miles, though I know that ain't what it's about.
 
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Uncle Dave

Administrator
Nov 17, 2007
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With police, military, and gendarme escort, we were between 10 and 12 vehicles each day.

 
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Uncle Dave

Administrator
Nov 17, 2007
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This was taken in a sort of museum, the former castle of the family of the turbaned guy above.

 
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Uncle Dave

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Nov 17, 2007
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My favorite character of the trip, Mr. Li is the rep for the Chinese seismic company working for us. He has an extraordinary sense of humor, and is side-splitting funny, even when not trying.

 
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MontanaMan

Well-known member
Nov 28, 2007
716
7
Neat pix..........What country?

Been to Egypt; looks much the same. Never want to go back given current world state.

What does the snake & eye sign over the doors mean........never saw that before.

MM
 
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Westman

Well-known member
Nov 30, 2007
616
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No. Illinois
Geezuss, no shortage of sand there. I'd go freaking bonkers in that environment.

Cool pics. It's nice to see how people in other nations are living.

Are you in a politically tense area constantly?
 
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Uncle Dave

Administrator
Nov 17, 2007
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Technically not supposed to take pics of the police, military, or gendarme. They loosen up a bit after a few days, and allow a pic or two on occasion (gendarme, anyway).

It's the heart of Algeria, Sahara Desert.

The sign over the door is a ward against evil. The Hand is stopping the evil eye and bad tidings are associated with the serpent and the scorpion.
 
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Uncle Dave

Administrator
Nov 17, 2007
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It's not really all that tense most of the time. I'm in a protected compound when at the office. When I go in the field, on a trip such as this, I have to have the whole escort. Al Qaeda is being a pain in the ass here these days, but mostly to the North of where I'm at. Interestingly, the terrorists are filtering back in from Iraq, bringing lessons learned from the fighting there. They're now training/recruiting here, and have apparently learned much from the fighting elsewhere, as they're reportedly much better at what they do now...

None of that is likely to affect me though...
 
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Uncle Dave

Administrator
Nov 17, 2007
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No prob....back to Paradise by Saturday morning if all goes well.

Funny thing about Mr. Li...when I was introduced to him the first time, in the hotel restaurant, he asked if I'd like a beer. I shrugged and nodded as I sat down next to him, thinking it sounded like a good idea.

He gestured to the waiter and said Eight beers please...

I knew right away we'd be good friends...
 
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Uncle Dave

Administrator
Nov 17, 2007
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I'll see you sometime Saturday then...say Hey to The Great One for me. I'll try to bring him a good jug...
 
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Uncle Dave

Administrator
Nov 17, 2007
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toltecgriz said:
Those are real interesting pictures, but all things considered, I'd rather be in.........well, almost anywhere. :)
Click to expand...
I'm enjoying the change from working on The Slope. It was a great place, and I'll be back...but this is new & different enough to keep me interested for a while. Was a little uncertain about making the change, but so far I'm glad I did...
 
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toltecgriz

Well-known member
Nov 17, 2007
2,271
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On the Santa Fe Trail
I'm with Stick on this one, but I'm glad you're enjoying it and it doesn't seem to be too bad a schedule. I've spent a very short time in North Africa and much prefer sub-Saharan. Still, it's interesting....
 
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MontanaMarine

Well-known member
Nov 17, 2007
677
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Canyon Ferry, MT
Cool pics Dave, thanks for sharing.

Spent a couple months in NW Egypt back in '99, looks quite similar. Amazing the very old and undisturbed things you find out in that country. I recall a petrified forest with a whole bunch of petrified tree trunks still standing. Hell of a climatic change.

Be careful over there.
 
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Uncle Dave

Administrator
Nov 17, 2007
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I visited a petrified forest this week, but it was mainly just stumps and chunks...no real standing stuff at all. Hard to believe I was standing in the middle of the Sahara, looking at evidence of a great forest, near a great river, thousands of years ago..
 
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muledeer

Moderator
Nov 17, 2007
732
0
Slightly north of where it starts to get wet...
Uncle Dave said:
I visited a petrified forest this week, but it was mainly just stumps and chunks...no real standing stuff at all. Hard to believe I was standing in the middle of the Sahara, looking at evidence of a great forest, near a great river, thousands of years ago..
Click to expand...
The Sahara was the breadbasket of the known world, three thousand years ago. Still was growing millions of tons of wheat, barley and so forth in Roman times. Them the damned Arabs showed up with their double-damned goats, and ate the place to the ground.

What you see is the result...

Great pics, Dave. Glad you're getting to see the country and enjoying your billet.
 
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375matt

Well-known member
Nov 29, 2007
130
0
AK
Give them an American history lesson:
Get 'em drunk, give them the monopoly money and have the dozers there in the morning.
 
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Jamie

Well-known member
Nov 17, 2007
620
1
Oly. WA
Cool pics.
In the picture of the town it looks like the buildings dont have roofs. It looks like it doesnt rain much there but, never?
 
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Matt

Well-known member
Jan 9, 2008
799
0
Alaska
Those are some cool pics. Different, for sure.

Steelie,

How much snow do you guys have down that way? Looks like a shitload.
 
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