Michael Clapp:
They're working late tonight on Pennsylvania Ave. putting up bunting for the Inaugural Parade. The viewing stands are already in place in Lafayette Square. They keep you farther away from the fence that keeps you far away from the White House.
Michael Clapp:
Another trip. Another cup of coffee.
Michael Clapp:
So this guy at the State Department looks just like who at OPB? Most asked question for me so far on this trip--"How accurate is Portlandia?"
Michael Clapp:
Yes even here at the Brookings Institute, home of some of the best minds in the country, they have to put up a sign reminding the men to flush and somebody scribbles the oldest of bathroom graffiti on it.
Michael Clapp:
On our way at last as the sun sets at Dulles.
Michael Clapp:
So I'm just walking through the airport and suddenly people start pointing and staring at me.
Michael Clapp:
Allie and Farrah make the most of 45 mins of free wifi time at Hethrow. Next the long flight to Abu Dhabi. Oh and the woman who gave me my boarding pass warned me I was sitting next an infant. I think said infant is in a stroller here beside me sleeping n
Michael Clapp:
I got to hold a baby! Dorian and his mom were on the way to Australia to visit Grandma. We had a great flight together to Abu Dhabi. Hope the rest of his trip goes well. Grandma's gonna be excited!
Michael Clapp:
Checked in to the Marriott Karachi. Fresh fruit on the table. Room has been a non-smoking room for about 5 months now. But I'll have to get used to that in this country. So far Pakistan is everything Albania was but with more menace.
Michael Clapp:
You know you're not in Kansas anymore when... You spot this on the ceiling of your hotel room. What is it? A hint : I just heard the morning call to prayer. Better get to bed.
Michael Clapp:
You know you're not in Kansas anymore when you find on top of the room safe at your hotel a small rug and a book, wrapped in a green bag, filled with beautiful Arabic script that you can stare but make no sense of.
Michael Clapp:
Today I made the breakfast buffet. Oatmeal porridge, topped with pistachios and coconut. Fruit with home made yogurt and mango juice.
Michael Clapp:
Finally a morning with enough time for breakfast. And I feel like eating. They even have green olives and fresh feta on the breakfast bar. The fresh fruit options were disappointing after Karachi's great mangos and grapefruit, but we are too far north for
Michael Clapp:
Alicia is happy now.
Michael Clapp:
Another meeting, another cup of tea.
Michael Clapp:
A clock for Dad. No I'm not bringing it home for you.
Michael Clapp:
Finally a double espresso and a bit of time to edit photos before dinner.
Michael Clapp:
I've found my new ride in Islamabad.
Michael Clapp:
In major recovery mode today. Slept through breakfast buffet. Slept through lunch buffet. Made it for Hi Tea buffet. A coffee will help.
Michael Clapp:
You know you're in a nice hotel when your directional marker for Mecca is part of the decor not a sticker on the ceiling.
Michael Clapp:
Jan: "I'm not doing this right am I?" Sahalie: "No"
Michael Clapp:
History Lesson Time: Sir John Abbot, for whom Abbotabad was named. He was happy to hear his little town was being featured in American movies until he found out he wasn't even going to be mentioned.
Michael Clapp:
The Lahore Old Fort has a souvenir shop like none I've ever seen.
Michael Clapp:
The best cup of tea ever. Green tea, with mint leaves, cardamom, a clove and a couple unidentified objects floating in it. Slight essence of lemon too. Only strange thing was the location.
Michael Clapp:
Another meeting, another cup of tea. Babar tries again to explain what we are doing. This time to the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design. Long day, short break and then dinner with the Punjab IT Board.
Michael Clapp:
Tomorrow I fly home to Portland. My friend Zia flys home to Peshawar. Your prayers should be with him, not with me.
Michael Clapp:
Karen, #ICFJ Minister for Trade and Pakistani Economic Stimulus, poses with her final purchase in Pakistan, a decorative rickshaw bought at the Islamabad Airport just before boarding our 3:05 am flight. She will be missed.
Michael Clapp:
Home again, home again; Jiggity jig... Left the Sorento Hotel in Islamabad at 12:30am Sunday. Writing this from my couch @ 12:30am Monday. With time changes that's 35 hours traveling. A close call in London but everything else was flawless (well except