The 17th of May, or Syttende Mai, is the day that Norwegians and everyone else living here celebrate the Norwegian National Day. They raise red, white, and blue Norwegian flags at home before heading out to crowded parade routes where they wave miniature flags at passing marching bands, buy overpriced balloons for children who sit perched atop their fathers' shoulders, and eat hot dogs and ice cream before heading home to watch the parade again on television. All of this appeals to me as an American, since I've come to expect a yearly dose of hot dogs, marching bands, and miniature flags. It's all charmingly familiar-right up to the part when we wave to the king.

The waving comes at the end of the children's parade, or barnetoget, that winds its way through downtown Oslo. It's all marching bands, too-no floats, no trike-riding Shriners, no fire trucks, no veterans buttoned into old uniforms-just grade school after grade school, sometimes more than a hundred of them. And if a school lacks a marching band, a professional band will often march with them. Years ago, I wasn't prepared for this more secular aspect of the parade and found myself shouting to my husband, “Was that Glen Miller?” as one of the adult bands went by. He nodded and laughed, and laughed harder later in the same parade when I yelled, “Hey, they're playing Elvis!”

The people watching the parade are as much of an attraction as the parade itself because, unlike their American cousins, Norwegians dress up on Independence Day. Granted, Oslo in May is cooler than Peoria in July, but they go all out here in their avoidance of T-shirts and shorts: they wear wool. It's called a bunad, whether you're man, woman, or child, and it's a festive national costume based on 18th century folk dress. Both men and women wear long-sleeved white shirts topped by jackets or vests, with knickers for the men, embroidered, ankle-length skirts for the women, and Pilgrim-style black buckled shoes for both. Women's bunads are the most expensive, lavishly embroidered by hand and then ornamented by as many sterling silver buttons and brooches the wearer can afford (I bet even some of those shoe buckles are sterling).

There is no designated bunad for foreigners. I was feeling a little oafish, looking around one May 17th at all the lovelies swinging by in their lavish, if bulky, bunads, and casually asked my husband which sort resident foreigners like me generally wore. All I got for my trouble was a sidelong glance. He was right, of course: my ancestral district is Chicago and, more broadly, the Midwest-what would I embroider my bunad with, cornstalks and skyscrapers?

The answer is, everyone wears the nicest they've got. If you're Japanese, you break out your kimono. If you're from India, your sari. If you're from Scotland, you wear your kilt and bring your bagpipe. And if you're American, you leave your T-shirt and shorts at home and wear something your mother would call presentable.

After all the schools have passed, The Royal Guard's marching corps and a row of mounted police go by, signaling the end of the parade and official permission to jump into the street and walk the rest of the route behind them up to the palace. After craning on tiptoe for so long it feels a little funny to step out into the street with only a kid or a flag to hang onto, but then you walk along with everyone else under all the pennants and flags, past Parliament and the Grand Hotel, past the National Theater, and you find yourself standing in front of the palace, waving to the king.

The royal family watches the entire parade from the palace balcony, waving to each school and band as they pass with flags lowered. People here sometimes say that the royals earn their salaries on May 17th-they stand on the balcony for four hours during the parade, and they make multiple appearances that day at celebrations outside of Oslo while the rest of us are already back at home with our feet up. But first they have to wave to the rest of us.

It's quiet after the parade, and we all stand there, packed in tightly, in front of the palace. As for the waving, you take turns. First the king and his family wave, and then the crowd waves. Then we wait for a while, squinting up at the row of them looking back at us from beneath the brims of their hats. Then the royals wave again and the people wave back. This goes on-quietly, no cheering-for several rounds, until the royals wave one last time and then go off for their afternoon engagements. It's all I can do not to cry while we're waving to King Harald and his family. It's as silly and sober and touching a thing as ever I've seen.

After that, if you're hungry, you head off to have your ice cream and hot dogs quayside. Sitting by the glittering Oslo fjord, smiling at my daughter's ice cream-smeared face, it's easy to feel proud of my small, adopted country each May 17th, even as I miss the surge that comes of seeing the Stars and Stripes at the head of an American Independence Day parade. Privately, I wish it were hotter out; that my hot dog was tucked into a bun rather than wrapped, Cleopatra-in-the-carpet style, in a potato lompe; that Norwegians didn't reserve fireworks for New Year's Eve, even though the nights aren't dark enough here in May to see fireworks; and that I was headed home to a barbecue. Still, the similarities satisfy, and in a country in which any girl can grow up to be queen (Crown Princess Mette-Marit used to be a waitress), I can't be surprised when my daughter and I are greeted at her kindergarten the next day by a row of smiling children saluting us with a perfect royal wave.

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Whether I travel for work or vacation, I like to feel what it feels like to live there. If I'm staying in a hotel, I long to sneak a peek at what kind of home the average poor and middle class people live in. What do they eat for dinner? How early do they get up for work? How long is their workday? What do they do for fun? What kind of bed do they sleep in?

Anywhere in the UK, the lifestyle doesn't seem too different from here in the US or Canada. The main language is English, and it's not a third world country. And as much as they embrace American music and movies, they have their own culture to be proud of and to love and consume (unlike some other parts of the world eat up American products).

The people are so genuinely NICE! It's not a naivety, although it almost feels like it. They have a good, honest outlook on life with respect for others. Without certain jadedness I've come to expect.

What a refreshing way to communicate on a regular basis.

They have very good tea.

And eggs fresh out of the chicken into the corner grocery.

Cheeeese....

Single malt scotch.

Ale.

Haggis? Yes, I tried it. Twice. I liked it better the first time. Probably because it was a smaller dose with the sides oftatties and neeps.

Their 10 pence coins are easily mistaken for quarters (and these days are worth close to the same). That’s an issue right now for Americans and Canadians. A lunch that costs £7 is what we might pay here, if it were $7. But with the dollar what it is these days on the world market, it turns into a $15 lunch.

That puts hotel rooms at $300-$400 a night. So, if you live and work in the UK, it's not really a different cost of living. But visiting is another story.

I took some tours. The bus tour out to the boat tour of the "Firth of Forth" was £15. Comparable to a three-hour similar excursion here, $15 was appropriate. In fact, for me, it cost over $30. Now, was I going to let that hold me back? NO! Because, who knows if and when I would ever be back to see and learn something about this place again? I also took all four-city bus tours, a couple of them twice. Between different tour guides and my concentration, I learned different things.

The Dogs of Edinburgh

There doesn't seem to be a leash law (at least enforced) in the city. Along with all the people walking on the sidewalks, there were dogs moving along, unattended by a human, hugging the buildings, knowing enough about survival to stay away from the cars that were obviously driving on the wrong side of the road… These dogs had places to go, dogs to see. It wasn't a stretch to see them with a briefcase trotting along Wall St. (OK, it wasn't a stretch for ME).

I never saw one dogfight or a dog/human altercation. Of the 200 or so dogs I saw, four were on leashes. The whole month I was there I saw one pile of dog poop where it should have been cleaned up. The dog must have forgotten his pooper-scooper that day.

The Cats of Edinburgh

Cats are cats. They seem to have it together wherever they live. I didn't see them behind restaurant dumpers scavenging. Mostly they lurked and lounged in neighborhood yards full of flowers. And birds. I assume they were well fed. The birds were happy (while always on the lookout for those cats) flying in and out of those flowers. With the frequent light rain in August they are thriving and oh, so colorful. Colourful, spelled the UK way.

The Flowers of Edinburgh

You traditional folk musicians may know of the popular fiddle tune “The Flowers of Edinburgh”. It was one of the first I learned to play. One night a bunch of us went down to a classic Scottish pub where there’s a big jam session with fiddles, accordions, guitars, harmonicas, and more. Most of the people there were locals. Over the years of playing music and traveling I’ve learned about the great similarities - and differences – of regional folk music. “The Flowers of Edinburgh” has transcended many borders. We stumbled on to this tune to play as one we all knew. I had the sudden realization of why that song was written and passed down. It was more than just a folk tune. It had a beautiful meaning!

I’ve come to find out that Edinburgh, Scotland is many people’s favorite city in the world. It has everything that a big city needs and still keeps a small town atmosphere. There’s no comparing it toNew York, or Singapore, or Prague. Not because it doesn’t stand up, far from it. All of these cities have their own, distinct personality. It’s that Edinburgh’s personality has a oneness to it like no other.

Dean Creek Resort is a hotel and campground located in Redway, California, just north of Garberville and a little south of the Avenue Of The Giants. They offer AAA discounts if you are a member and if you are camping they don't charge for pets. They just ask that you keep them on a leash and clean up after them. This, to me, is very unusual because most campgrounds charge anywhere from one dollar to five dollars a day for pets. Having three dogs, Dean Creek won my approval right there. The campground has access to the Eel River, mini-golf, a pool, a sauna for adults, an arcade, a playground, and horseshoes. They host a horseshoe tournament every year as well. The weather there was beautiful in July. I come from a place that is usually over 100 degrees in July, so I enjoyed the temps in the 80s. Most people go there from Eureka to get out of the cold. In Redway, there is a wonder little restaurant that serves delicious fresh baked pizza, Mateels Cafe. The campground also has a little store with reasonably priced merchandise, and a small laundromat.

Now, the best thing about this place is the people. I have always said that going camping is a great way to make friends. Nowhere is this more true than at dean Creek Resort. By the time we left we had made friends with everyone from the managers to fellow campers. They are an entertaining sort, believe me. Now, don't get me wrong, everyone still has to follow the strictly enforced rules regarding quiet times and behavior, but we all had a great time. This is probably the first time I have ever exchanged e-mail adresses and info with a new friend from camping and we have been e-mailing each other since we got home! So, here is a quick rundown on our new friends, first you have Kathy and Lloyd, they are very friendly people who will be moving back to Crescent City soon to be closer to their grandkids. Then you have Less, aka Uncle Cookie, Uncle Cookie is known as such because he always carries dog cookies in his pockets and gives them to every dog in the campground. Yes, the dogs know him very well and love him! Then there is Dennis and Linda, they are the managers of the park and make a point of checking on everyone through out their stay to make sure there are no problems, and are always willing to help when needed. Then you have Joe and his whole family, they were camping there for a few days and have been camping off and on each year for five years at Dean Creek. I'm sure we will see them again sometime! The craziest one there is Pete. Pete is a proud father of grown boys and is your typical hillbilly. Pete brags about his son who until recently held the record for the most horsepower, 1400, in a street deisel truck. Pete is very entertaining to the kids because he sometimes acts like one himself. We have great video of Pete doing a handstand on a skateboard riding down a hill in the campground. This is the only way he can ride a skateboard and it is hysterical to watch because of his excitement. We had a great time at this campground and on the Avenue of The Giants. If you are heading up that way and want a great place to stay, try Dean Creek Resort, you might make a few new friends yourslef!

Adobong pusa or cat adobo

Do you know that even cats are eaten by people in the Philippines? They cook it in adobo style, sautéed with garlic, onion and laurel leaf seasoned with soy sauce and vinegar. This is a favorite appetizer during their drinking spree.

Adobo/ prito o litsong daga or adobo/ fried or roasted rat

Rats from the rice paddies are also eaten. They would skin them, cut the head, the tail, and the legs then all internal organs are removed. Actually these rodents are clean because they only feed on rice. Cooking is done the adobo way deep fried. It can also be roasted like chicken.

Kilawing bunog (raw young of a mudfish)

These are eaten raw spiced up with vinegar or citrus juice, pepper, and salt.

Kilawing bunog

Adobo o pritong palaka (adobo or fried frogs)

Frogs can be cooked in adobo style or deep fried. It's tastier than chicken. There are also some people in the Philippines that eat legs of bullfrogs cooked in the same manner.

deep fried frogs adobo style

Adobong ahas (snake adobo)

This is cooked in adobo style. Snake is commonly eaten in Asia because of its medicinal value. It's also a good aphrodisiac.

Snakes/ snake adobo

Adobong bayawak/itlog (monitor lizard meat/eggs)

It is sautéed in garlic and onion, ginger and laurel leaf with pepper, soy sauce, and vinegar or more popularly called adobo. This is perfect for “pulutan” (food appetizer while drinking wine or liquor). The eggs are usually cook by simply boiling it, it taste salty and delicious. Their eggs are considered exotic because it's rare and hard to find.

Lizard adobo / a lizard/ lizard's egg

Prito o sinangag na salagubang (fried beetle)

This is common among provinces where mango trees abound where beetles usually thrive. It's crunchy like its grasshopper counterpart.

A beetle fried beetle

Adobong paniki (bat adobo)

Cooked in adobo style or cooked in coconut milk.

A bat

Kilawing aso o kambing (Raw meat of goat or dog)

Raw meat spiced up with chopped onions, pepper and salt. Others would grill it medium rare first. A kilawing kambing (raw goat meat) become more bizarre when added up with fresh liquid extracted and drained from the stomach or intestine of the goat.

kilawing kambing

Sinangag o adobong susuhong/camaro/ararawan (adobo or fried mole crickets)

This is a kind of edible insect usually found in the rice fields before planting season. It is sautéed in garlic, onion, and olive oil or cooked by simply frying it.

A mole cricket / fried camaro/ dried adobo/

Sinangag o adobong tipaklong o balang (fried or adobo grasshopper or locust)

They are cooked just like the way mole crickets are cooked.

A grasshopper / Fried grasshopper / Adobo

Ginataang kuhol (Snail cooked in coconut milk)

There are varieties of snails being cooked and eaten in the Philippines. Only two are being shown here. Ginataang kuhol or suso is sautéed with garlic, onion, ginger and pepper plus coconut milk. There are also other ways of cooking these snails.

A Golden snail (kuhol)/ Ginatang Kuhol

This kind of snail (suso) is sautéed w/ fresh tomato. I cooked and photographed this one myself.

Papaitan (came from the Filipino root word, “pait” which means “bitter”)

This is consists mostly of goat or cow innards. This is sautéed in garlic and onions (ginger is optional). The bitter taste is from the bile or stocked produced from the stomach of the goat or cow. This is also a delicacy for us but exotic for others.

A pinapaitan

Dinuguan (dog meat or pork blood stew)

It is a common delicacy here in the Philippines like the balut. Yes, vampires and mortals alike may find this viand so tempting. It is a combination of pork/dog meat and innards stewed to perfection with pork blood (“dinuguan” means “bloodied”). It is best eaten with a puto (steamed rice cake). When it is cooked dried it is called tinumis or pinaputok. A variant of dinuguan cooked by the Ibanags in the Northern part of the country is what I considered exotic, the cooked dinuguan is added up with fresh blood before serving it. Bizarre isn't it?

Tinumis / Dinuguan w/ puto

Balut

This is a 2 to 3 week-old hatched duck egg (with embryo), which is hard- boiled. It can be spiced up with salt, vinegar w/ diced garlic and onion, and chili.

A balut

Jumping salad (Shrimps jumping salad)

It is called jumping salad because the shrimps are prepared alive and eaten alive. Spiced up with citrus juice or grated unripe mango, salt and msg. as easy as that.

Prito o ginisang tateg (fried/sautéed huge worms)

This one is what I consider the most bizarre of them all. These worms can be found on rotten trees or rotten stack of rice hays. They are usually cooked by deep frying it. It can also be sautéed with garlic, onion, tomato and pepper. I haven't tasted this one yet.

Suzie was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and shortly after met her dream man. He wanted to marry her, but first he wanted to be sure she would be around awhile, so he enlisted the help of a doctor who treated her illness with good nutrition consisting of large doses of vitamins and herbs.

When the doctor told Sylvan that Suzie needed something more to help her fight, he recalled her excitement during a recent pet store visit. Suzie was very taken with an injured bird in the pet store, and fascinated by the healing process.

Sylvan asked for wounded and orphaned animals, and soon their home was alive with love and nurturing. As Suzie worked with the animals and poured her heart into healing them, she healed herself. They provided her with hope for the future and a will to fight, as did her soul mate, Sylvan. Together they have created a sanctuary for over 400 animals. After being declared cancer free, they had

cause to celebrate.

This is Scarlet. She used to be so lonely that she would peck at her feathers until she was bald. Her owners had to give up the beautiful macaw because of their neighbor's complaints of noise. Now she can talk all she wants, and loves to take almonds from Sylvan's hand, and as you can see her beautiful plumage has grown back.

Sylvan is holding an indigenous Wedge-tailed Shearwater. When it was just a few days old, the bird was found floating off the shores of Molokini by a tour boat operator. He kindly brought it to Sylvan. Sylvan and Suzie mixed up a healthy formula that has helped other birds, and exercised it's wings daily, in the hope that is would regain it's strength.

As this picture demonstrates, the Wedge-tailed Shearwater is ready to test its wings and reclaim its freedom, thanks to the assistance of Suzie and Sylvan.

Here is Doogie, a miniature horse who just happens to be 90% blind. Doogie was about to be put down, but fortunately for him someone brought him to the Boo Boo Zoo, and now he happily chases after the dogs and munches on carrots. Bo, lying on the ground near his constant companion, is a loving and gentle friend.

Sylvan says that when he hears squeals coming from the pig pen, he knows that Doogie is visiting a very fat pot-bellied pig. He likes to gently prod her to get her to play.

These beautiful Siamese kittens were only days old when found in a drainage pipe in Wailuku. Thanks to their rescuer and the EMAR there mother would be very relieved to know that they are now running and playing like normal kittens.

They took in Duchess who was left for dead after a car accident. Her legs and vertebrae were so shattered that the veterinarian said she would never walk again. A good hearted donor paid for her surgery and Suzie and Sylvan found her a doggie wheelchair. Duchess is a real inspiration and has never given up. She is very mobile and wheels every where she wants to go. Not only that, she has been adopted by a loving family.

“Yes Deer”, as she is called now was a victim of “capture myopathy”. Yes Deer suffered paralysis as result of extreme stress. Hunters captured her and her mother. They tied her to a tree and gutted her mother in front of her. At EMAR or the Boo Boo Zoo she had made friends with many of the kittens who provide her love and affection. Here she is pictured with Flojo.

Sylvan and Suzie treat an Axis deer that sustained a knee injury. With the healing touch of these two, this deer should be up and about in no time.

Look at the interesting faces of these Pueos owls. This is an owl species that is endangered in other areas of the country, but are continuing to do well In Maui thanks to the hard work of EMAR.

Although these two were struck by a car, and their wings were so badly shattered the owls required partial amputations that rendered them flightless, they are safe here in the aviary at the Boo Boo Zoo.

“The East Maui Animal Refuge (EMAR) is a no-kill, all volunteer-run, non profit, rehabilitation sanctuary for injured and orphaned animals who would otherwise die”

The love found here at the EMAR, or the Boo Boo Zoo, as Suzie has nicknamed it is limitless. It cures all and conquers all. I enjoyed my visit, and I hope you did too.

Take your dog on board the airplane.

This option may only be available for smaller dogs. Your airline should be able to tell you what the rules are for taking a pet on board. At the least, your dog will need immunization documentation as well as a sturdy pet carrier. You also need to be aware of size restrictions.

Visit your dog's veterinarian before air travel.

Make sure your veterinarian has examined your dog and has precluded any medical conditions that might be affected by pet air travel. Pekingese or Chow dogs should never be transported in the cargo hold. Their short nasal passages may make them more susceptible to overheating.

Avoid flying with your dog during the holiday seasons.

When the airlines are overburdened with passages and luggage, the chance of a mix up is higher. You also run a higher risk of your dog being handled improperly. Choose a week day during a non holiday time to travel with your dog.

Make sure your pet can be easily identified.

Your dog's carrier should have the name, address and phone number attached to it as well as your destination address and phone number. The same information should be attached to your dog's collar.

Ask to view the loading of your dog onto the plane.

This will ensure that your dog is being handled properly during the loading and unloading process.

Tell the captain and stewardess that your dog is on board.

May airline personnel have pets of their own and will be extra cautious if they know your dog is traveling with you. Have a photo of your dog available to show them. This makes it more personal.

Don't allow your dog to travel in the cargo hold when temperatures are extreme.

Most airlines now have stricter regulations about this and won't allow dogs to fly during temperature extremes. Temperatures are not well regulated in the cargo hold. If you must fly in the summer, choose an early morning flight when temperatures are cooler.

Don't feed your dog prior to air travel.

To avoid air sickness, don't give your pet any food within six hours of your flight. If he should become air sick, he could aspirate his vomit into his lungs in such close quarters. Make sure he has had plenty of water before boarding the flight.

When you arrive at your destination, do a quick assessment to make sure your dog has been handled properly and isn't suffering any signs of stress. Air travel with your dog can be safe if proper precautions are taken. Plus, you have the joy of being able to take your dog along on vacation.

1. Give your dog proper identification tags before travel

   Be sure your dog has up-to-date tags on his collar identifying your address and current phone number. You may want to have an additional collar with I.D. tags attached to your dog's neck in the event one should accidentally fall off. Even safer would be to have your dog microchipped. This way if he is lost and ends up in a shelter, the shelter will scan his microchip and contact you.

2. Before traveling with your dog, make sure he's up-to-date on vaccinations

   If you'll be traveling out of the country, your dog will require a rabies vaccine at least 30 days prior to crossing a border.Pay a visit to your dog's vet before traveling to make sure all of his vaccines are up-to-date. If you're traveling outside the country, make sure you understand the country's quarantine requirements and any documentation you'll need.

3. Choose a pet friendly hotel and book early

   If you'd like to find a hotel room that will allow your dog to stay with you, visit Pet Travel. Here, you'll find a database of hotels and lodges that are pet friendly. Be sure to check for any size restrictions, limitations on number of pets allowed, as well as any additional fees that may be charged if you bring along your dog.

4. Have a plan for hot weather

   If the weather is warm, you won't be able to leave your dog in the car. Dogs are sensitive to heat and can develop heat stroke very quickly. Plan on having someone in your car with your dog at all times when you travel. Keep the air conditioner running and give your dog lots of cool water.

5. Take your dog's medical records with you

   If your dog should experience a health problem while on vacation, you'll will want to present your dog's medical records to the vet clinic. This is particularly important for travel out of the country where you'll need to show your dog is free of disease.

6. Restrain your dog

   Humans wear seat belts. Dogs need to be protected in the event of an accident also. There are a variety of comfortable harnesses for dogs to wear during car travel that can protect them in the event of an accident. Don't take a chance with your dog's life by allowing him to travel unrestrained.

7. Stop frequently en route to your destination

   Frequent stops will be important during vacation travel with your dog. Like humans, dogs need to relieve their bowels and bladder and get a bit of exercise.

8. Carry a current photo of your dog during your vacation travel

   If the unfortunate happens and your dog should escape during your vacation travel, it will be important to have an up-to-date photo of your dog so you can show the authorities and shelters what he looks like.

9. Bring important dog supplies with you

   Some pet supplies you may want to include are a familiar toy for your dog, an extra leash, as well as additional water bottles. Of course, you'll want enough food and treats to keep your dog happy during your vacation travel.

With careful planning, you and your dog can have a memorable travel experience together. Travel with your dog can be very rewarding and lots of fun for both human and canine.