...A funny thing happened on the way to your station, which, 
of course, I will share with you now.   The gang of us en 
route to this adventure (Me, my Mom, Sister, and her two 
kids) had 9 hours to kill waiting for the plane to New 
Delhi.  Sister hired a car and driver who met us at the 
airport.  This driver was a very nice - but quite proper - 
local girl, who asked each of us what we wanted to see...        

"Buckingham Palace, right... Picidally Circus, OK...  
Trafalgar Square, no problem....  Hard Rock Cafe....WHAT 
DO YOU MEAN, A FIRE STATION?  WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO GO 
THERE, IT'S JUST NOT DONE!"        

Well, she protested mighitly, and told me that there were 
no such things as Fire Brigade T shirts, and besides, I 
would never be allowed inside, all because - in all her 20 
years of driving - NOBODY had ever asked for such a thing.        

When we arrived, and I asked her to stop in front of the 
empty bay, she was sweating bullets, certain that the 
Police were coming for me and the car crusher truck was 
coming for her.        

When I returned from our visit, she actually said "See, I 
told you..." and I showed her what you had given me!  I 
chuckled all the way to New Delhi.......        

What a great way to start a trip!        

Oh yes, we did see all those things in the tourist books, 
although quickly.  We only had nine hours!        

Yes, it was a fun world trip, one I hope to repeat again 
some day.  I was out for 6 weeks.  I used my fire interest 
and affiliations to find other things to pursue off the 
beaten path.  I had a bunch of shirts in my size to trade.  
I came back with most of them, for most of the countries I 
visited barely had equipment, let alone luxuries like 
shirts.  In many countries, the firefighters wear their 
"Fire Brigade" strip held on by safety pins so one set can 
be used for years.        

In New Delhi, I did get some stickers, and for those I had 
to have an audience with the Chief of the Brigade himself!        

In Agra (Home of Taj Mahal) I was told that the fire 
station was outside the city limits, but that they were 
"Very Efficient.  If I were to call them now and say a 
building was on fire they would be here right away, very 
fast.  Twenty, thirty minutes at the most."        

In The Maldives, I had a rifle pointed at me when I asked 
a soldier where the fire apparatus was. I took the hint  
and beat a hasty retreat.      

In the Seychelles, they have a lot of apparatus in their 
one station, most of it old equipment retired from Japan's 
fire service.  I have a photo of me in front of an engine 
proudly displaying the markings of the Yokahama Fire 
Brigade.  Their only phone there is a pay phone.  If they 
need to call for any kind of assistance, the dispatcher 
must donate a 5 rupee coin.  They were very nice, and 
invited me to their volleyball game.  Unfortunately, it 
was scheduled for after I sailed.  But I was tempted!  
Seychelles is a nice place.        

No sign of firefighting facilities in Zanzibar or 
Madagasgar, so I had to play regular tourist...  Sort of.        

In Mombasa, Kenya the only thing I could take away was 
photos, the prize of which you have.  There, the Chief of 
the Brigade answered an incoming call because he was 
"closest to the phone".  There were several direct connect 
alarms - the president's palace and 4 banks where he keeps 
his money.  That's it.  I got the distinct impression that 
they were there to protect the president, his palace, his 
money, the port and the airport.  The city can burn, but 
if the ports, the president's money, or the president's 
britches get burned there will be hell to pay.   600,000 
people in this city, with one fire station, and 
substations at the airport and the sea port.        

I did an overnight safari in Kenya.  In the reserve, the 
hotel has a moat and a drawbridge, and the rooms are built 
on stilts - to keep out wild animals, cobras and mamba 
snakes.  During the safari, we are told to keep in the bus 
or in the hotel.       

If you are seen wandering about, the rangers shoot first 
and ask questions later. (The fortnight before I arrived, 
rangers and poachers got into a gun battle out there.  A 
ranger or two were killed, as were two of the three 
poachers.  The third was arrested.  Any guesses that the 
third poacher thought the first two were the lucky ones?)        

The lions would like to make you a meal.  Ostriches 
consider you a threat and will kick you with enough force 
to do you in.  Cobras spit blinding venom - then bite.  
Bye!  Green mambas aren't so bad.  If you get antivenin 
within 30 minutes, you MIGHT make it - but might wish you 
haden't.  Black mambas aren't so nice.  You get bit, you 
have 3 minutes to make your reservation in the sky.  I 
stayed in the vehicle.        

We were assured that no poisonus snakes could get into the 
hotel, but were told that some non poisonous ones liked 
the warmth of beds, so if we were to wake up and find a 
snake in our bed, not to worry, just go back to sleep and 
don't disturb him.        

As far as fire safety there, we were on our own. Probably 
the nearest engine company was in Voi, about 40 miles 
away.  Lots of occupant hose cabinets were provided, but 
no smoke detectors.  There were a couple of fire exits, 
but they were heavy screen doors, with a 'smash the glass 
to get the key' near each.  The stairs led right down to 
the Savannah below - and all those hungry nocturnal 
animals.        

It was really beautiful there.  Sunset at the salt lick 
was fascinating with some animals going to sleep, and 
others just waking up.  A Gazelle was found by a lion that 
night, and those that were awake saw raw nature at work.  
I was sleeping under the mosquito netting at the time.        

We set sail from Mombasa.  When I return I'm bringing 
picture postcards and pens - personalized ones.  They go 
nuts for them there.  The firefighters went crazy for 
postcards of the ship.  I bought a carved wood elephant 
for 2 ball point pens.        

Heading North, we skirt the coast of Somalia 16 miles 
offshore.  Their longest range missles only go 15 miles.  
I'm still here, so I guess the navagator did his job well.
Nobody wants to stop there.        

In Djibouti, (Look that one up - I had to!) There is one 
fire station with two engines - both foam throwers, and a 
trailer - another foam gun.  Mission:  Protect the oil in 
the port, the port itself, and the president's palace.  
That was a really interesting port of call.  The most 
primitive country I visited.  It was great.  I even 
negotiated down the price of my souveniers - in French!
Interestingly, this weekend a letter was returned to a 
friend of mine as undeliverable - one year later - from 
Djibouti. 

In southern Egypt, no sign of fire equipment - but plenty 
of people with guns!  Jeeps with 50 cal machine guns were 
not uncommon, and soldiers were everywhere.  OK, so I got 
to visit King Tut.  He's still there, I saw him with my 
own eyes.        

In Jordan, Petra city was an astounding sight, with some 
amazing experiences.  Some imposible things happened 
there.  Outside the dead city, they are building like 
crazy - hotels for tourists who want to visit the ruins.
     

In Cairo, I did fleetingly see some stations, but we were 
never allowed to venture on our own.  Yes, I saw the 
pyramids - and even went into one!  The Sphinx is smaller 
than I thought, but the pyramids were bigger.  Took a 
camel ride.  The rides to and from Cairo were under 
military escort.  Apparently some malcontents take 
potshots at tourists - which they did a week or two later, 
killing a bunch of visitors.        

Compared to Cairo, Port Said is a party town - well, as 
wild a city as you can get in a Moslem country.  Free 
wandering day and night.        

The next stop was Israel, but the Palestenians were 
blowing up busses, and the Israelis were beating the crap 
out of the Palestenians, and neither wanted a bunch of 
tourists with cameras running around.  The Captain thought 
his big white ship might be too tempting a target for some 
nut, so we went to a much more peaceful place... Cyprus!        

In Cyprus, they make civilized war.  During the winter,I guess 
they fight.  During the tourist season away go the guns, 
and out come the visa card machines.  It's the first place 
that took credit cards since Kenya.  Nice place.  Bring 
money - it's expensive.        

Then it was time to catch a 4:30 AM flight out, a lay over 
in London for a few hours, then back home to catch up on 6 
weeks of undone work, develop a bunch of photos, and give 
a presenttion to the local Ham radio club as to where the 
hell have I been!        

Here's a fun story:  I had the boys during the winter 
break week in February.  On Tuesday, I was conducting the 
presentation during the monthly OES meeting.  I turned it 
into a surprise drill and replayed the 1906 earthquake for 
modern times.  I had everybody running everywhere!  
Opening sealed envelopes and putting the pieces togeather.  
At the end, following the debriefing, I announced to all 
(the boys were there) that in the morning, "WE'RE GOING TO 
DISNEYLAND!"  The boys were thrilled!  We had 4 days 
there, and a lot of fun.  It was great!  I'm broke now, 
but who cares?  It was a great surprise, and an adventure 
trip.  You get to do that soon.  Enjoy!