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ajdover
Advanced Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 307
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2006 - 5:52 am:   Edit Post

Here's my new acquisition, my 91 Essence. I call it the Burkha King. The pictures were taken in front of the Presidential Palace in Baghdad. In one of the photos there is writing on the wall. It means:

Top line, right to left: "We'll never find a hero like you [referring to Saddam]."
Middle line, right to left: "You build and advance Iraq from the beginning to the end."
Bottom line, right to left: "Saddam, you are Iraq and you light every house in Iraq."

The other pictures were taken in front of one of the two wings Saddam had added to the palace to celebrate his "victory" in the first Gulf War. They are extremely ornate on the inside, but I am prohibited from taking pictures for security reasons.

Anyway, I believe I have the first Alembic in Iraq.

Alembic ... conquering the world one bass and one country at a time!

Enjoy,

Alan
Burkha King 1
Burkha King 2
Burkha King 3

(Message edited by davehouck on February 04, 2006)

(Message edited by ajdover on February 04, 2006)
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3136
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2006 - 6:54 am:   Edit Post

Hi Alan! Nice pics! The green trucks look ideal for hauling a bass rig through rough terrain!
dela217
Senior Member
Username: dela217

Post Number: 593
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2006 - 7:00 am:   Edit Post

Alan - Awesome pictures. Thanks for everything.

Michael
byoung
Intermediate Member
Username: byoung

Post Number: 198
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2006 - 7:07 am:   Edit Post

Alan,

Pretty cool to see you with the Burkha King out in front of the palace of an ousted dictator. Sic semper tyrannis.

Here's wishing you and your bass a safe and speedy return. Godspeed.

Brad

PS- Any good barbecue joints in Baghdad?
ajdover
Advanced Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 308
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2006 - 7:25 am:   Edit Post

Brad,

There's all manner of kebab, shwarma, and tikka places here, as well as falafel. I've had some wonderful flatbreads, as well as some tomatoes and onion roasted directly on coals. BBQ? Well, not quite like what we're used to anyway. They eat a lot of lamb, chicken, and fish here, not exactly BBQ fodder as we would understand it.

Hmmmm ....

Al's Al Burkha BBQ ... might have to do that ....

Alan
lowlife
Advanced Member
Username: lowlife

Post Number: 203
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2006 - 7:47 am:   Edit Post

Very, very cool. Congradulations!

Ellery (Lowlife)
daveo
Junior
Username: daveo

Post Number: 24
Registered: 12-2005
Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2006 - 11:56 am:   Edit Post

Hey Alan,

Do you have a band you're jamming with in Iraq? Bring the funk to the people and the people will come peacefully in mass to share the fun!

Good luck out there and stay safe...

Dave
byoung
Intermediate Member
Username: byoung

Post Number: 199
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2006 - 12:54 pm:   Edit Post

Alan,

I got hooked on halal food after spending a couple of months in Singapore across the way from Arab Street. Mmmm... lamb curry. Fried bananas.

I haven't found too many good places to eat that kind of stuff since returning stateside.

Brad
ajdover
Advanced Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 309
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2006 - 12:59 pm:   Edit Post

Daveo,

I sat in at a function a band here called the Baghdaddys (imagine that!) played at the other night. It was great to play a couple of tunes.

Brad,

Yes, I've had falafel, kebabs, and the like. It's good stuff. They had a bunch of places like that in DC when I lived there.

Everybody,

Thanks for the kind wishes. The support means a lot to all of us here.

Thanks,

Alan
bigredbass
Senior Member
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 620
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Sunday, February 05, 2006 - 5:58 pm:   Edit Post

AJD:

Isn't the best thing about being an officer is that you ALWAYS have roadies?!?!?

J o e y
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1706
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Monday, February 06, 2006 - 5:38 am:   Edit Post

Alan:

Great pix! Thanks.

Enjoy your new baby and stay safe!

Joey:

Not only does he, as an officer, have roadies, but (ck the pix) the amp rigs are already loaded on top of the Humvee's, LOL!
gare
Advanced Member
Username: gare

Post Number: 339
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Monday, February 06, 2006 - 5:54 am:   Edit Post

Great pix Alan
Better have your roadie keep the bass in some AC, don't want it to melt in that heat !

Be safe
Gary
george_wright
Member
Username: george_wright

Post Number: 66
Registered: 3-2005
Posted on Monday, February 06, 2006 - 7:03 am:   Edit Post

Alan, what's the voltage standard in Iraq (120, 220)? And how is the power availability/reliability? Are y'all on local power, or do you generate your own?
ajdover
Advanced Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 310
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Monday, February 06, 2006 - 8:02 am:   Edit Post

Joey,

Roadies? What are those?

Kevin,

Not only are they amp rigs, but they are Kevlar-protected rigs!

George,

Standard voltage here is 220. Our power where I am located comes from fairly large generators, provided, I think, by a contractor.

Alan
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 657
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, February 06, 2006 - 8:10 am:   Edit Post

Alan,

Thanks for all that you and your fellow soldiers do for us. Glad to see an Alembic in your hands!

John
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1715
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Monday, February 06, 2006 - 8:19 am:   Edit Post

Wow! Ballistic amps!
j_gary
Intermediate Member
Username: j_gary

Post Number: 181
Registered: 6-2005
Posted on Saturday, February 11, 2006 - 10:24 am:   Edit Post

Hi Alan, there is something surreal about the photo of an Alembic at the palace in Baghdad. It's a jolting contrast of two different worlds.

The Alembic as a tool for joy and pleasure, and arguably bringing people together, vs. a palace that belonged to a power base driven by hatred, mistrust and death.

Stay low Alan and come home soon. Thanks to the efforts of you and your brave comrades, we here in the U.S.A. have been relatively safe since 9/11.
zn_bassman
Member
Username: zn_bassman

Post Number: 79
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Sunday, February 12, 2006 - 3:32 am:   Edit Post

Alan,

Looks great! As always, I echo the sentiments posted above.

Zvi
lowave
New
Username: lowave

Post Number: 10
Registered: 12-2005
Posted on Sunday, February 12, 2006 - 8:13 am:   Edit Post

Hot Dam...that picture should be on the cover of Bass Player magazine !
p.s. thank god I only fought the 'cold war'.
ajdover
Advanced Member
Username: ajdover

Post Number: 312
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Sunday, February 12, 2006 - 9:32 am:   Edit Post

Somehow I don't think a pic of me would be "cover worthy" as I am not a celebrity. It would be different, though.

Alan

P.S. Thanks for all the kind words.

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