Last weekend I was in Lavra with Catherina and Pieternel. The confusing museum sign is still there. There was no rain but museum was closed. In a small cafe were last time I left my debit card last weekend I left the camera. But I got it back.
Lavra photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/Lavra_06_06?feat=directlink
On Lavra grounds there is a museum of Ukrainian theatre. It's small cosy museum. The ticket to Lavra does not include the entrance to the museum. The ticket price is UAH 15. We went there and the museum ladies started to tell us everything about famous Ukrainian directors and actresses. We were impressed with ladies knowledge and passion. The ladies were impressed we paid a ticket and entered the museum.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Missing Suitcase
Intended to put a note about the missing and found suitcase earlier. Somehow never got around that since May 18th when I found it in Kiev.
The short of the story is: suitcase never left Kiev. Why KAL could not figure that out is beyond me.
Here is the long story how I found it:
KAL in Nadi could not locate my suitcase. While I was still in Matava I had two conversations with a Nadi KAL guy. He was cagy and vague. The first conversation started with "we look for your lost bag". I told him I had not lost my bag. The airline did. In the second phone call he told me: Ms, we probably located your suitcase and it might be in Paris. My response was that probably and might in one sentence do not sound reassuring. After a second conversation KAL office sent an email with a form which started "compliment" or "complaint". The message sent by KAL was not addressed to me, had no explanations or clarifications.
In Matava lack of cloths was not a problem. Maggie provided T-shirts, shorts, sun block and insect repellent. In Nadi I bought flip flops and cheap chinese swimming suit.(I packed three swimming suits). When purchasing things in Nadi I went for basics only as I hoped my suitcase will be delivered.
Once my Matava stay (regretfully) was over and I had no news about the suitcase I started to be concerned.
The plan was that while I am in Seoul I go to the ANZA ball. The theme this year was "All that glitters". And I had a perfect dress for this theme. Long shiny metal dress I bought last year in Itaewon. The dress needed some adjustments and Ylona kindly picked it up and brought it to me in A'dam. To match the dress I put in the suitcase glittering strappy sandals.
Now without suitcase and nothing appropriately to wear I went to shop for a suitable dress in Nadi. I was lucky enough to find two long dresses - each USD 10.
I have not left Nadi before popping up to KAL office. I got a polite but not reassuring talk how KAL does everything to find my suitcase. Yeah and after all these efforts no sign of the suitcase for two and half weeks.
In Seoul before flying to A'dam I went to KAL office at Incheon. To my amazement I was informed my case has been closed. I wished I could fly to Nadi and got the guy who is doing everything to find my suitcase. I convinced the guy at the Incheon the case should not be closed. He reopened. I also made a point concerning flight security: how is it possible when passangers cannot get into a plane with a small bottlke of water the airline loses a track of a 24 kg suitcase? At that point KAL started to explain this is AF fault. Have they contacted AF? They will.
KAL's office in Schiphol works only on Thursdays. I arrived to A'dam on Sunday and left for Kiev on Monday. KAL office in Paris had an answering machine which did not take messages. Perhaps they should put a new tape in recorder. And the instructions how to leave a message were only in Korean and French.
I arrived in Kiev on Monday 11th. After passing immigration I went straight to look for a suitcase. The person from the AF lost found directed me to the luggage storage. No suitcase there. Than I found out there is a phone for lost and found on the Kiev airport. There is only one number and you talk to the person who is at the airport over the phone. The person hung up on me three times. After almost two hours of going around the airport I decided to go home.
On Tuesday I sent a message to KAL summarizing my all events and expressing frustrations. Message themes were customer service and security. On Wednesday May 13KAL Paris office answered email and told me KAL continues to look for a missing bag. He told me there is a unclaimed suitcase at the Kiev airport matching description of mine. He gave me the number. On Friday I went to the airport to AF office. Before I found it I got lost few times in a labyrinth of airport corridors. In the office I asked for the manager and a pleasant looking guy introduced himself as Mikhail. I showed him my thick file and all the paperwork. He understood the problem and called some storage. He told me there is indeed a suitcase at the storage with a tag I got from KAL. We went to check it. I ended up in the airport basement within customs area. There is a huge storage with piles of suitcases and bags wrapped in plastic. A huge guy who is in charge of the basement took me and Mikhail to the bag. And there it was - my suitcase! I was so happy. Unbelivable! All my cloths are back with me! All Matava presents. Everything is back! Thanks God! And it never left Kiev!
Now I found the suitcase but silly me I did not take the passport and keys with me. Customs was reluctant to give me a suitcase back without a passport. I had with me a detailed packing list and after some persuading customs was able to confirm through security check that a phone, shoes, underwater camera case etc are in it. I signed papers and took my suitcase home.
I asked Mikhail how it is possible the luggage tag with the bar was lost. He told me that most likely it got off at Kiev luggage belt. And that's it. Amazing but who cares now when I got it back.
That evening I hang up all my favourite clothes from a suitcase for a full display. It was such a joy to look at them. And I was pleased with myself I was persistent with my search.
Never got any feedback from KAL.
The short of the story is: suitcase never left Kiev. Why KAL could not figure that out is beyond me.
Here is the long story how I found it:
KAL in Nadi could not locate my suitcase. While I was still in Matava I had two conversations with a Nadi KAL guy. He was cagy and vague. The first conversation started with "we look for your lost bag". I told him I had not lost my bag. The airline did. In the second phone call he told me: Ms, we probably located your suitcase and it might be in Paris. My response was that probably and might in one sentence do not sound reassuring. After a second conversation KAL office sent an email with a form which started "compliment" or "complaint". The message sent by KAL was not addressed to me, had no explanations or clarifications.
In Matava lack of cloths was not a problem. Maggie provided T-shirts, shorts, sun block and insect repellent. In Nadi I bought flip flops and cheap chinese swimming suit.(I packed three swimming suits). When purchasing things in Nadi I went for basics only as I hoped my suitcase will be delivered.
Once my Matava stay (regretfully) was over and I had no news about the suitcase I started to be concerned.
The plan was that while I am in Seoul I go to the ANZA ball. The theme this year was "All that glitters". And I had a perfect dress for this theme. Long shiny metal dress I bought last year in Itaewon. The dress needed some adjustments and Ylona kindly picked it up and brought it to me in A'dam. To match the dress I put in the suitcase glittering strappy sandals.
Now without suitcase and nothing appropriately to wear I went to shop for a suitable dress in Nadi. I was lucky enough to find two long dresses - each USD 10.
I have not left Nadi before popping up to KAL office. I got a polite but not reassuring talk how KAL does everything to find my suitcase. Yeah and after all these efforts no sign of the suitcase for two and half weeks.
In Seoul before flying to A'dam I went to KAL office at Incheon. To my amazement I was informed my case has been closed. I wished I could fly to Nadi and got the guy who is doing everything to find my suitcase. I convinced the guy at the Incheon the case should not be closed. He reopened. I also made a point concerning flight security: how is it possible when passangers cannot get into a plane with a small bottlke of water the airline loses a track of a 24 kg suitcase? At that point KAL started to explain this is AF fault. Have they contacted AF? They will.
KAL's office in Schiphol works only on Thursdays. I arrived to A'dam on Sunday and left for Kiev on Monday. KAL office in Paris had an answering machine which did not take messages. Perhaps they should put a new tape in recorder. And the instructions how to leave a message were only in Korean and French.
I arrived in Kiev on Monday 11th. After passing immigration I went straight to look for a suitcase. The person from the AF lost found directed me to the luggage storage. No suitcase there. Than I found out there is a phone for lost and found on the Kiev airport. There is only one number and you talk to the person who is at the airport over the phone. The person hung up on me three times. After almost two hours of going around the airport I decided to go home.
On Tuesday I sent a message to KAL summarizing my all events and expressing frustrations. Message themes were customer service and security. On Wednesday May 13KAL Paris office answered email and told me KAL continues to look for a missing bag. He told me there is a unclaimed suitcase at the Kiev airport matching description of mine. He gave me the number. On Friday I went to the airport to AF office. Before I found it I got lost few times in a labyrinth of airport corridors. In the office I asked for the manager and a pleasant looking guy introduced himself as Mikhail. I showed him my thick file and all the paperwork. He understood the problem and called some storage. He told me there is indeed a suitcase at the storage with a tag I got from KAL. We went to check it. I ended up in the airport basement within customs area. There is a huge storage with piles of suitcases and bags wrapped in plastic. A huge guy who is in charge of the basement took me and Mikhail to the bag. And there it was - my suitcase! I was so happy. Unbelivable! All my cloths are back with me! All Matava presents. Everything is back! Thanks God! And it never left Kiev!
Now I found the suitcase but silly me I did not take the passport and keys with me. Customs was reluctant to give me a suitcase back without a passport. I had with me a detailed packing list and after some persuading customs was able to confirm through security check that a phone, shoes, underwater camera case etc are in it. I signed papers and took my suitcase home.
I asked Mikhail how it is possible the luggage tag with the bar was lost. He told me that most likely it got off at Kiev luggage belt. And that's it. Amazing but who cares now when I got it back.
That evening I hang up all my favourite clothes from a suitcase for a full display. It was such a joy to look at them. And I was pleased with myself I was persistent with my search.
Never got any feedback from KAL.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Doctors in Kiev
There is an epidemic of bronchitis in Kiev. I was not immune to it. I started coughing last week. First few days I tried home medicines. As the sound of my cough started to worry me I decided to see a doctor last Wednesday.
I went to a private international clinic my insurance has a contract with. The doctor I had a consultation is not Ukrainian or Russian. He listened to my lungs. Requested to make an x-ray. Within 40 min I brought x-rays of my lungs. The doc pensively looked at them (there were two photos). Than disappeared. Few minutes later he was back with diagnosis: pneumonia.
???...
He told me his diagnosis is confirmed by another doctor at the clinic.
???...
Next he suggested I stay two days in a hospital. After two days I will be released. Of course - he continued - I could go home but recuperating will take longer. Of course I opted to go home.
He started to write prescriptions including antibiotics. While he was busily writing I asked him if he is 100% sure I have pneumonia. He was 100% sure. I asked him if he does not need to do any tests to determine what strain of pneumonia I have. Well, yes we can do tests. I got impression if I did not ask for tests he would not suggest them.
While writing protocol for tests he asked me if I would like to have a diabetes test.
I was puzzled. Any connection between pneumonia and diabetes - I naivly questioned? He did not insist on diabetes test.
After I left my liquids for testing, the doctor told me to come next Monday for a check up. Once again I told him I do not have a fever and my cough is only 5 days old. He told me he has four pneumonia patiens alreday who do not have fever.
I went to the clinic reception to sign an invoice for couple of hundred dollars for the insurance claim. Two x-rays were USD 189. The doctor's consultation fee was USD 230.
The overall bill was sickly excessive for unimpressive medical performance.
In ex-Soviet Union tuberculosis is widespread. With the number of TBC patients Ukraine holds 8th place in Euroasia. The high number of TBC cases is due to a collapse of the health care system after 1990. Currently the state does what it can to address the issue and any pneumonia patient needs to be hospitalized to reduce spreading. The fact that the doctor in the international clinic did not insist on hospitalization made me suspicious.
I was determined to get a second opinion.
I went to British European Medical Centre. There a nice lady doctor checked carefully my lungs. Performed all standard GP check ups (not at all done at the first clinic). After detailed check up she diagnosed bronchitis. Her prescription included coughing syrup and Dr.Mom pastilles.
This restored my spirits. But with two oposite diagnosis a third does not hurt.
Through the office colleague I got a contact number of Dr. Mikhail - a pneumonia specialist. He inclined to diagnose bronchitis but to be sure he asked for x-rays. I know it is not good to have several x-rays the same day. But I did not want to go to the first clinic to get x-rays made in the morning. So I went to a nice, modern, private Ukrainian diagnostic centre. There for UAH 170 ( USD 21) I got an x-ray. The X-ray came with diagnosis - bronchitis.
With three independent opinions stating I have bronchitis and not pneumonia I felt immidiately better.
Now I am a patient of dr. Mikhail. I do not take antibiotics prescribed by the first "doctor". Dr. Mikhail's prescription for curing bronchitis next to "serious" medicine - includes drinking cognac with honey. Three times a day. I am feeling so much better. My kind of a doctor.
I went to a private international clinic my insurance has a contract with. The doctor I had a consultation is not Ukrainian or Russian. He listened to my lungs. Requested to make an x-ray. Within 40 min I brought x-rays of my lungs. The doc pensively looked at them (there were two photos). Than disappeared. Few minutes later he was back with diagnosis: pneumonia.
???...
He told me his diagnosis is confirmed by another doctor at the clinic.
???...
Next he suggested I stay two days in a hospital. After two days I will be released. Of course - he continued - I could go home but recuperating will take longer. Of course I opted to go home.
He started to write prescriptions including antibiotics. While he was busily writing I asked him if he is 100% sure I have pneumonia. He was 100% sure. I asked him if he does not need to do any tests to determine what strain of pneumonia I have. Well, yes we can do tests. I got impression if I did not ask for tests he would not suggest them.
While writing protocol for tests he asked me if I would like to have a diabetes test.
I was puzzled. Any connection between pneumonia and diabetes - I naivly questioned? He did not insist on diabetes test.
After I left my liquids for testing, the doctor told me to come next Monday for a check up. Once again I told him I do not have a fever and my cough is only 5 days old. He told me he has four pneumonia patiens alreday who do not have fever.
I went to the clinic reception to sign an invoice for couple of hundred dollars for the insurance claim. Two x-rays were USD 189. The doctor's consultation fee was USD 230.
The overall bill was sickly excessive for unimpressive medical performance.
In ex-Soviet Union tuberculosis is widespread. With the number of TBC patients Ukraine holds 8th place in Euroasia. The high number of TBC cases is due to a collapse of the health care system after 1990. Currently the state does what it can to address the issue and any pneumonia patient needs to be hospitalized to reduce spreading. The fact that the doctor in the international clinic did not insist on hospitalization made me suspicious.
I was determined to get a second opinion.
I went to British European Medical Centre. There a nice lady doctor checked carefully my lungs. Performed all standard GP check ups (not at all done at the first clinic). After detailed check up she diagnosed bronchitis. Her prescription included coughing syrup and Dr.Mom pastilles.
This restored my spirits. But with two oposite diagnosis a third does not hurt.
Through the office colleague I got a contact number of Dr. Mikhail - a pneumonia specialist. He inclined to diagnose bronchitis but to be sure he asked for x-rays. I know it is not good to have several x-rays the same day. But I did not want to go to the first clinic to get x-rays made in the morning. So I went to a nice, modern, private Ukrainian diagnostic centre. There for UAH 170 ( USD 21) I got an x-ray. The X-ray came with diagnosis - bronchitis.
With three independent opinions stating I have bronchitis and not pneumonia I felt immidiately better.
Now I am a patient of dr. Mikhail. I do not take antibiotics prescribed by the first "doctor". Dr. Mikhail's prescription for curing bronchitis next to "serious" medicine - includes drinking cognac with honey. Three times a day. I am feeling so much better. My kind of a doctor.
Monday, May 24, 2010
The Village
Photos of the village next to Matava: http://picasaweb.google.nl/gordie26/TheVillage?feat=directlink
Village School Night
Fiji is poor. GDP per capita for 2009 is around USD 1800. Since the coup in 2006 Australia and New Zealand who were major financial aid donors significantly reduced financial aid.
The conditions in a village nearby Matava are basic. To improve conditions Matava runs several projects to assist the village. One of the projects is fund raising for the village school. This is only occasionally arranged, so I was lucky to be in Matava on the fund raising night. Almost entire village came to the resort. We had cava. Ladies were dressed in local costumes with very elaborate headwear. They danced and sang local songs. George gave outstanding performance of imitating animals. Polish divers were singing their national song. We all had a lot of fun.
And most importantly a nice sum for the village school was raised.
http://picasaweb.google.nl/gordie26/VillageSchoolNight?feat=directlink
The conditions in a village nearby Matava are basic. To improve conditions Matava runs several projects to assist the village. One of the projects is fund raising for the village school. This is only occasionally arranged, so I was lucky to be in Matava on the fund raising night. Almost entire village came to the resort. We had cava. Ladies were dressed in local costumes with very elaborate headwear. They danced and sang local songs. George gave outstanding performance of imitating animals. Polish divers were singing their national song. We all had a lot of fun.
And most importantly a nice sum for the village school was raised.
http://picasaweb.google.nl/gordie26/VillageSchoolNight?feat=directlink
Fiji - Poland Volleyball Match
Fiji crew and Polish divers played valleyball. The match was serious. It was played over two days. Poland won. http://picasaweb.google.nl/lh/photo/0BqSNjo8UO5dhQzV0HZ5gQ?feat=directlink
Travel moment 7 - Kandavu Sunday Mass
On Sunday May 2nd there was a strong wind and large swell. Die-hards decided to go diving within the reef. Most of us opted to go for a Sunday mass in the nearby village. Fish tooks us there on a boat. The church was methodist denomination. Maggie showed us the way and advised us customs and proper behaviour (do not show knees-put sarong on; do not wear hat; do not wear anything on your shoulders). In the church Maggie placed us on the left side. Later I noticed that with exception from male guests from Matava left side of the nave was exclusively for women. Children had their "corner" - small pews right from the priest. On the right side - mostly men were sitting - with few ladies.
The most impressive was singing in Fijian. By third song we were singing with the villagers too. Apart from wonderful singing the next most impressive sight was a man walking around the church with a large cane. I never saw such a large cane. I also have not expected to see a cane in the church. So far I only read about canes frustrating teachers used long long time ago in schools. I also thought canes are part of literature - like Oliver Twist. So I was surprised when I saw such a big cane in a church. The man was poking kids with a cane. Sometime mid mass he also separated a small kid from his mum although - in my opinion the kid behaved well. Actually all kids behaved well. I do not like to take photos during the worship but above is the photo of a man with a cane.
The sermon was also memorable. It was in Fijian and I could not not understand anything but it after listening to it I was scared. The priest was shouting and gesticulating with a hand. He looked to me as a very angry man. I asked Maggie why was a priest shouting. Maggie's response was the priest was angry with village men having too much kava a night before. Thanks Maggie. Makes sense. Photos of village church and people after Sunday mass http://picasaweb.google.nl/gordie26/KadavuSundayMass?feat=directlink
The most impressive was singing in Fijian. By third song we were singing with the villagers too. Apart from wonderful singing the next most impressive sight was a man walking around the church with a large cane. I never saw such a large cane. I also have not expected to see a cane in the church. So far I only read about canes frustrating teachers used long long time ago in schools. I also thought canes are part of literature - like Oliver Twist. So I was surprised when I saw such a big cane in a church. The man was poking kids with a cane. Sometime mid mass he also separated a small kid from his mum although - in my opinion the kid behaved well. Actually all kids behaved well. I do not like to take photos during the worship but above is the photo of a man with a cane.
The sermon was also memorable. It was in Fijian and I could not not understand anything but it after listening to it I was scared. The priest was shouting and gesticulating with a hand. He looked to me as a very angry man. I asked Maggie why was a priest shouting. Maggie's response was the priest was angry with village men having too much kava a night before. Thanks Maggie. Makes sense. Photos of village church and people after Sunday mass http://picasaweb.google.nl/gordie26/KadavuSundayMass?feat=directlink
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
