Raoul's China Saloon (V5.0) Beta

The Bar Room => The Saloon Photo Album => Pictures of Home => Topic started by: Raoul F. Duke on July 03, 2008, 10:42:55 PM

Title: Photeaus From Home
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on July 03, 2008, 10:42:55 PM
...my Mom and her husband Ken's newly-completed home, anyway.

I could go on and on about how totally amazing this place is, and the terrible, terrible conditions I must endure here, but I think I'll eschew the house pics for the places where I'm spending the most time when I'm not sleeping or eating.

And I'm doing plenty of each of those things. agagagagag

Here's their upper deck, overall and a detail...

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/RaoulSaloon/Saloonies/upperdeck.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/RaoulSaloon/Saloonies/upperdeck2.jpg)

And part of the view from the decks...the water here is maybe 8 meters away...
Ooops, no, less...but only because this was taken while the lake was way, way up...

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/RaoulSaloon/Saloonies/upperdeckview.jpg)

The neighborhood...

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/RaoulSaloon/Saloonies/neighborhood.jpg)

The view out toward the main lake (we're on a small cove)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/RaoulSaloon/Saloonies/outtolake.jpg)

Mom and Ken's boats and dock...

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/RaoulSaloon/Saloonies/boatsanddock.jpg)

Suddenly, the calm of the wind and waves was shattered, as the quiet waters exploded into life and the mighty call went up: MAAAARRRRR-LLIIINNNNNNN!
Well, more like a channel catfish, actually, and too small to mess with keeping. But still...

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/RaoulSaloon/Saloonies/fish.jpg)

The wildlife out here is amazing. I've seen several species of deer, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, ospreys, herons (white and blue), hummingbirds, orioles, bluebirds, purple finches, enormous lake turtles, and much more.

Oh, and since many of you have never seen one, or haven't seen one in a while, THIS is a hamburger. bfbfbfbfbf
(Those aren't potato chips (or "potato crisps", for those who cling to various archaic regional dialects pppppppppp ). Those are thinly-sliced potatoes fried with onions and jalapeno peppers.)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/RaoulSaloon/Saloonies/okieburger.jpg)

Off to eat and sleep now. More if there are any...
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: George on July 03, 2008, 10:55:31 PM
Not a real  hamburger! There's no egg, bacon, tomato, onion, lettuce or beetroot on it! ..and it hasn't got a lid! bibibibibi
Nice spot for a holiday, Laoban, even if the fish are miniscule!!
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: AMonk on July 03, 2008, 11:06:33 PM
Veerry Nice, Jefe!  agagagagag










And it looks like you're losing a leetle more weight, too. bfbfbfbfbf
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: dragonsaver on July 03, 2008, 11:09:43 PM
Looks like your momma do be rich folk!  agagagagag agagagagag 

Lucky you having to force yourself to visit there  bfbfbfbfbf agagagagag agagagagag
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: Schnerby on July 04, 2008, 02:39:44 AM
It's a tough life aint it?
 agagagagag



Sorry, that hamburger has no beetroot. How can you enjoy it without beetroot?
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: Lotus Eater on July 04, 2008, 02:43:57 AM
And you're coming back to China??
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: Ruth on July 04, 2008, 02:48:15 AM
What the heck is beetroot and why on earth would you want to put egg on a hamburger?  You Aussies just have it wrong.

Lovely home your mother has, Raoul.  Glad you are enjoying your vacation.

Is that a grill in the center of the table in the second photeau? 
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: non-dave on July 04, 2008, 03:43:20 AM
Dumbstruck by burger ignorance. No words. Will try to reply tomorrow...

but,

Raoul, sad as it may be by Aussie standards, that's a damn fine lookin' burger after being 3 years in China.

Nice digs too!
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on July 04, 2008, 12:13:53 PM
Beetroot? BEETROOT?!? And...eggs? What the hell is WRONG with you people? ararararar
But there is a lid. It's under the bottom bun at the moment, pending the application of cheese and sauce...

I'm not losing weight. Not at the moment. I'm eating everything in sight. And my sister and her husband are Hostess (ie Twinkies, Ding Dongs, etc.) freaks.
I'll lose weight again when I'm back in China.

Oh, Mom just handed me ice cream. Thanks, Mom. akakakakak

That thing isn't a grill. It's a fireplace for chilly evenings.

They aren't rich, but Ken was pretty successful. They pretty much plowed everything into this home.

Beetroots. Bejeezus... kkkkkkkkkk
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: Lotus Eater on July 04, 2008, 04:28:14 PM
You CANNOT have a decent hamburger without beetroot.  It drips down your arm, soaks into the bun, adds a tantalising tang to the taste. 

Add a fried egg, some bacon and cheese, fried onions, your hamburger patty, lettuce and tomato and top with tomato sauce (if you have to), BBQ sauce (better option) or for real aficionados - mango sauce!  Nothing better!
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on July 04, 2008, 05:46:44 PM
No...beets on a burger is deranged. Offensive to the Higher Powers.
You realize that this is why the rains stopped, right? bibibibibi
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: Stil on July 04, 2008, 06:00:17 PM
To take something as pure and innocent as a hamburger and pervert it all to hell with beets and egg and such should considered terrorism. Bloody Australians! and if you bomb the crap out of them, that vegemite spore will eat up the nuclear power and destroy the world. At least they are as far away from civilisation as possible.
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: Schnerby on July 04, 2008, 06:21:00 PM
At least they are as far away from civilisation as possible.

To protect us from those who would try to take away the noble standing of our beetroot!  yyyyyyyyyy

The pics here look alot like parts of the Murray River before the drought.
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: Ruth on July 04, 2008, 09:25:09 PM
Stil, you got it right when you said at least they are as far away from civilization as possible. 

You Aussies can eat all the beetroot and eggs and mango sauce and whatever else you want to put in a bun.  Just don't call it a HAMBURGER.  Raoul has shown you what a hamburger looks like.  If you don't believe him, check out McD's, although the hamburger in Raoul's photeau is far superior to anything McD's can cook up.
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: ericthered on July 05, 2008, 01:06:28 AM
Mango sauce??? Beetroot??? Eggs??? I'm surprised you're not advocating replacing the meat with the Aussie equivalent, namely a huge spider beaten flat and grilled on both sides.
I'm sure there are international laws against doing nasty stuff to a poor, innocent burger.

Nice pics Jefe agagagagag agagagagag agagagagag
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: Pashley on July 05, 2008, 02:19:24 AM
Anyone wandering up to Nanjing, there are good burgers available there.

Burger King down in the South end of town, near the Fu Zi Miao Confucius temple and associated tourist disict, produce something vaguely acceptable, better than McD at any rate. The Blue Sky expat bar on Shanghai Lu are better, but more expensive. Owned by an Aussie, though, so they do weird things like putting eggs on some burgers.

But British-owned "Corner", 60 m North of Blue Sky between two pink shops, are better. Don't order the chillie burger; it turns out to be an ordinary burg with chili powder sprinkled on. Their other burgers, however, are excellent. They have a menu of half a dozen variations.
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: Con ate dog on July 05, 2008, 11:03:29 PM
Mango sauce??? Beetroot??? Eggs??? I'm surprised you're not advocating replacing the meat with the Aussie equivalent, namely a huge spider beaten flat and grilled on both sides.

Lost my dignity when I read that.

*Sigh*  I suppose burgers are going to go the way of pizza: broccoli, chutney, and Mao knows what else thrown in there.  Beetroot or some such.
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on July 05, 2008, 11:06:00 PM
Dignity? DIGNITY? mmmmmmmmmm uuuuuuuuuu

Of course Suzhou still has Good Eats, great burgers and a certified beet-free zone. bfbfbfbfbf

Meanwhile, more pics...

Not catchin' a damn thing.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/RaoulSaloon/Saloonies/DSCN2057.jpg)


Mom helping out

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/RaoulSaloon/Saloonies/DSCN2060.jpg)


Can't get enough sunsets. Can you make out the crescent moon?

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/RaoulSaloon/Saloonies/DSCN2062.jpg)


Aaand...one that means a lot.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/RaoulSaloon/Saloonies/DSCN2053.jpg)
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: AMonk on July 05, 2008, 11:14:41 PM
Mom and Daughters look terrific!! bfbfbfbfbf Makes the whole trip worthwhile agagagagag  You must be One Happy Camper, Jefe! ajajajajaj ababababab
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: joe.thinker on July 06, 2008, 02:28:10 AM
That last one makes me smile in ways I thought China had raped from me. awesome offspring, chief !

 agagagagag
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: cheekygal on July 06, 2008, 03:30:27 AM
Looking good, RD. So does the family  agagagagag
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: Schnerby on July 06, 2008, 01:19:55 PM
Who cares if ya aint catchin' a thing. With a view like that, waving a rod about is sufficient.
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: adamsmith on July 06, 2008, 04:06:18 PM
don't tell me you actually put bait on the hook. If one of those pesky fish bites you have to interupt your peace and tranquility - not to mention you have to put down your beer. afafafafaf
Title: Re: Photeaus From Home
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on July 06, 2008, 06:48:25 PM
Yeah, if I want fish, I go to Morry's Fish Market. agagagagag
It's nice just being out there.

And yeah...the daughters ARE awesome...in many ways...