| Author | Message | ||
| ajdover
Advanced Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 307 Registered: 11-2003 |
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    (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 |
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 |
Alan - Awesome pictures. Thanks for everything. Michael | ||
| byoung
Intermediate Member Username: byoung Post Number: 198 Registered: 12-2004 |
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 |
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 |
Very, very cool. Congradulations! Ellery (Lowlife) | ||
| daveo
Junior Username: daveo Post Number: 24 Registered: 12-2005 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Wow! Ballistic amps! | ||
| j_gary
Intermediate Member Username: j_gary Post Number: 181 Registered: 6-2005 |
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 |
Alan, Looks great! As always, I echo the sentiments posted above. Zvi | ||
| lowave
New Username: lowave Post Number: 10 Registered: 12-2005 |
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 |
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. |
