Les in Thailand

For a number of years now, I've been wintering in Thailand.  Having travelled throughout the country, I've settled for my house in Ban Phe, southeast of Bangkok on the Gulf of Thailand.  It's the small port town that's the ferry terminus for anyone visiting the renowned beach island, Koh Samet.  I've got a usually good internet connection, so love listening to a double serving of Baba's Grooves and Cam Hayden's Saturday Morning Blues Party on CKUA.com  Yes, that's right - we're fourteen time zones ahead of Alberta.


Les with his Zippy Transportation

View of Koh Samet

Ban Phe

Lorelei

Meet Lorelei Loveridge - she says, "I'm a long-time fan of CKUA - have a listen: http://www.sonicbids.com/loreleiloveridge

My album Bakhoor (Arabic for "Incense") was featured at CKUA when it was released in Edmonton in May 2009. I'm moving back to the UK after a brilliant 2 years in Qatar, and am on to my next adventures in Europe. But I love the Middle East & shall miss it a lot.

Climbing the 'singing dune' - a dune that actually hums when you go down it!

At Fuwairit Beach on the NE Qatari coastline on Persian Sea - where the turtles are currently nesting!

Performing at a local festival

Coatepec

My name is Christian Pickup, and I live in Coatepec, Veracruz, Mexico, with my wife and our two daughters.  We re-located here from Edmonton in 2011. I have listened to CKUA since the mid 90s, and out of easy radio range was a tough adjustment.  We do tune in online, since  the radio here does not compare. 

Me in Teocelo (about 25 minutes away from Coatepec), where the independent radio station is located.

There is an independent not-for-profit AM radio station here (Radio Teocelo, www.radioteocelo.org), and I have been given the opportunity to host a weekly program (called Ruleta Musical, www.facebook.com/RuletaMusicalRadio), in which I play music from all over the world, with a good dose of Can-Con. 

Ripe coffee cherries

Coatepec is often called the coffee capital of Mexico, and any given day the smell of roasting coffee wafts through the streets.  The climate is much like Vancouver (humid and cool in the winter, warm and sunny in the summer). The mild climate also makes the area an ideal location for expatriot Canadians, Americans, and Europeans.

Evening mist settling in the hills above Coatepec, as seen from the roof of our house

We are only 15 minutes away from the capital of the state of Veracruz.  This city is called Xalapa (Ha-la-pa); Xalapa has been called "the City of Flowers" (a title it has held since Baron von Humbolt's called it that during his tour of Latin America in the early 19th C.), and "the Athens of Mexico" (a title earned for the many universities, museums, and other cultural institutions, as well as the many great artists, musicians, and thinkers who have called Xalapa home over the centuries.)

And of course, there is the coast.  We are about 1.5 hours from the port of Veracruz, on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.   But as nice as all the local wonders are, sometimes we get homesick.  CKUA helps keep the homesick blues away, and we have shared it with several of our new friends.

A view of Coatepec from the Cero de las Culebras
 

Regards,

your loyal fans in Mexico,

Christian Pickup and family

3 Weeks in Iceland

We just got back from three great weeks in Iceland.  It was funny riding in buses and hearing 70s North American pop or sometimes even 40s and 50s crooning because everything we had heard was that Iceland had a vibrant music culture.  There even was the running joke about none of the drivers or guides particularly liking Bjork!!
 
Finally, on a small 4 by 4 bus tour, I spotted some CDs and asked if we could hear some local music.  "Well" said our driver, "there is Sigur Ros".  To which I replied that I had heard them on our local radio and liked them.  The entire bus was curious so of course I had to shamelessly advertise CKUA and their hand-picked music.  It seems that most tourists aren't interested in Icelandic music (or maybe don't hear anything but top 40 North American pop at home) but we had a rollicking good couple of days exploring our driver's music collection of Sigur Ros, Hjalmar and Vikivaki.  Thanks CKUA.
 
Thanks as well to Sarah Hoyles for playing Sigur Ros early in the morning on my first day back at work!!
 
Here's a couple of pictures from our time in Iceland.

 
Standing on the Fimmvörðuháls ridge with Eyjafjallajokull in the background.

 
The trolls aren't us - they were down the street from a great bookstore/music store where I picked up a number of CDs to bring home. 

View from Landmannagaugar

Jokulsarion Glacial Lagoon

Cal and Lorri White
(long-time subscribers and happy to spread the CKUA message)

Heath and Olivia

Here are a few of pictures of my wife and I in Ho Chi Minh City.  We relocated in August 2011 after spending 5 years living in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.  Just to finish things off for you, my wife’s name is Olivia (and yes…she’s from Bolivia).  This is the first time she’s lived outside of Santa Cruz so moving to Vietnam was a VERY big thing.  Spending time on Skype with her family certainly helps bridge the distance.

Olivia and Heath

On the Water

3 Friends

Timothy in Tennessee

Hello to all!
 
My name is Tim, I am an avid radio DX'er. From my location here in Kingsport, Tennessee,USA, I have logged nearly 1000 FM stations over the past 16 years. On June 11, 2012 your station on 93.7 Mhz became my farthest catch at 1849 miles! Please have a listen to the attatched mp3 file of the recording. I use a modified Carver TX-11 stereo tuner attached to a roof-top antenna. It is then run into my computer for ease of audio recording. Your station is most strong after the 20-second mark on the audio clip.

  
Laurel Falls, Tennessee                                                                Here I am in the great outdoors!
 
After hearing your station I found your website and live audio stream. I absolutely love CKUA! I now listen to you via the internet while doing work around the house! You play a great eclectic mix of music and the website is wonderful to look at and use. Since hearing your signal a few days ago, I now have a newfound interest in Alberta and have been looking at websites and pictures of Calgary and across the province. You guys are truly blessed to live in such a beautiful place. I hope to visit some day! 
 
Best Regards!

Tim

Scanning the radio dials.

Rooftop antenna that received the CKUA signal

The mountains of Tennessee

Distance between Calgary and Kingsport

Tree Frogs

Ken with his blind dog by the pond

Dear Bob,

From an apartment in a city near a sea called Yellow.

I just wanted to tell you that here in Gunsan, South Korea I can listen to your show twice.
It is on at 12:30 pm and 8:00 pm. It is good to listen to while I make English lesson plans.
I am fortunate in being able to work out of my own home.

This large apartment complex has an ornamental pond. Which was always dry because it leaked. Six months ago it was torn apart. It was only recently reconstructed. Two days ago it was filled with water. Last night the constant mumble of traffic couldn't be heard because of the optimistic chirpings of tree frogs. I couldn't believe it.

Twelve years ago I left tiny Redwater, Alberta where I had an organic garden and a very quiet life. Now I live in one of the most densely populated countries in the world. You can understand why I appreciate your show.

Cheers,
Ken Walton

Listener in London

David in front of his peach tree in Erith, a suburb of London

We met David when he asked us this:

I'm looking identify a song by, I believe, a Canadian folk artist. It's from the 1970s. I have a digital recording of it. Could I send it to you to pass on to someone who might know about these things, or should I send it directly to some else there who could help? Believe it or not, I recorded it from, I believe, CKUA, all those years ago, too! I have googled it all over the place, with no luck -- am none the wiser.

Our own Brian Dunsmore replied:

Pete Whites song sung by Paul Hann on Pauls (I think) first album
http://www.paulhann.com/bio.html
 
What do I win?

O and its called Workin’ Up the Line...

And David responded:

The prize is a round or two for you and Brian at yer favourite pub in 'the 'Chuck' if I get there for my annual ski holiday in April...failing this, a round at MY favourite pub here in London, should you get here for any reason whatsoever, should you actually need one.  

Montezuma

Calgary in Qatar

View of Doha

UCAQ?

My husband Dirk and I have just relocated from Calgary to Doha, Qatar, where I'll be working for the University of Calgary-Qatar. We've found a great way to identify our luggage! 
Chris J

Above Grounds in Belize

This is a little coffee house in the trees in Placencia, Belize call “Above Grounds”. It is actually in a tree house. We found this a couple of weeks ago February 2012, and while having coffee noticed the weather report was talking about Calgary, Edmonton and Fort McMurray!  What?! The owner used to live in Calgary. It was a nice slice of home…
Cecilia
Calgary

Olli Kilpeläinen

Hi to you all in CKUA !

I am putting up a temporary antenna for a weekend expedition.

My name is Olli Kilpeläinen and I live in Helsinki. In my family are my wife and daughter. I am working as the Mastermind of the Gulf of Finland oil spill prevention and response planning in the Helsinki City Rescue Department (http://www.hel.fi/hki/pela/en/Etusivu).

I have been listening to the broadcast of your radio station CKUA Edmonton AB on 580 AM in Finland, North Europe! In the northernmost part of Finland, in the Aihkiniemi village of Inari municipality, stands a little hut and 9 wire antennas (3000 feet long each) only for foreign radio station listening purposes. I had a radio listening expedition (DX-pedition) with my friend there on February 11-28 2011. The full story and some pictures can be found on our DX-pedition WEB site at http://www.tapiokalmi.net/dx/aih6.

Eileen Mardres

These pictures are taken in Dauegu, a city in central part of Korea and one with a population of about 3,000,000.

Cherry blossoms seen from my son's 3rd floor apartment on a sunny day in April 2011.

A foggy/rainy day with a beauty of its own...

Inside the apartment.


Loki and his grandma

CKUA first 'met' Eileen Mardres when she filled out a feedback form, asking us for help with a technical problem..."I plan to visit my son in Korea and spend a few months, so definitely need to be able to listen when there.  I used to listen at the intenet cafes when I taught there in the 90s and CKUA helped me to keep my sanity while away from home."

Of course, we immediately wanted to know more, and Eileen graciously replied.

"I have 2 addictions - mysteries and CKUA (well, and grandchildren) ...my purpose in spending extended time in Korea will be to get to know my newest grandson.  I can imagine sitting on the veranda with him alseep in my arms, a mystery in one hand and CKUA  in the background - especially since the spot on the veranda is only 1.5 m. from the computer!
Your replies make me really look forward to having the time to volunteer at the station.  I've been a Folk Fest volunteer since 1986, and making some contribution to the arts in Edmonton has been a priority for a very long time."

"My son and his wife both love music. He still listens to CKUA sometimes; she plays drums, and they timed one of their previous visits to Canada to attend the EFMF."

Jason, Amelie, Toby, Elsie

We are from Polebridge, Montana living in Hawaii on the big island.  Still enjoy CKUA through the internet.  It is a cool change listening to the music with palm trees swaying.  Thanks - Jason, Amelie, Toby (3), Elsie (1)

John and Ivy

Ages - yes ages - ago I sat in with several of the DJ's on CKUA - Bill Coull, Holger Petersen, Bob Chelmick, Marc Vasey, etc. - and had some enjoyable moments. This morning I decided to say hello again and I have to say as I listen to CKUA programing - it sounds as good as ever with the selection and choice of music.

Ivy and I are enjoying our retirement here in the woods of New Brunswick. I am sending this photo of Ivy and me taken on one of the beaches about eight miles from where we live.

The 'Fiddlefreak'

Christoph

From: Christoph
To: Bob Chelmick

Hello Mr. Chelmick,

It's a pleasure that I can listen to CKUA radio, especially to The Road Home.

Christoph

Maraya

CKUA Radio listener Maraya made a trip to "the end of the world", a place called Ushuaia, the Americas' southernmost city. Here she is shown on a boat cruising the Beagle Channel. She also visited Perito Moreno Glacier in Southern Patagonia. Maraya is originally from Calgary but now lives in Argentina, where she still listens to The Road Home online.

Dan in Monte Albán, Mexico

I now live about 6 months of the year in Mexico and I listen to CKUA, The Best Radio on the Internet. Sometimes, though, I do listen to the local public radio station, to help with my Spanish comprehension. It is a pleasant coincidence that the call numbers are 96.9, the same as those for CKUA, The Best Radio, in Peace River.

Tony and Jo from Utila

We just wanted you to know that we listen almost every day to CKUA on our bandwidth, limited though it is, here on the tiny Caribbean island of Utila, in The Bay Islands. Your programming keeps us in touch with the greater world at large, the music that we like and the artists that we appreciate.  Thank you for making independent radio listening possible for us!

Tony & Jo

Tapio Kalmi

Ladies and Gentlemen,

My name is Tapio Kalmi and I send this letter to you because I was able to listen to your station´s program in Northern Finland, Europe with my special equipment. I am 49 years old, married with my wife Päivi and have a 19-year old daughter Kiira and a 17-year-old son Leevi. In our household lives also three Somali cats: Luna, Sirius and Titan.

I work as an IT consultant in a US-based computer software company, SAS Institute.  ( www.sas.com ). SAS Institute headquarters are in Cary NC, near Raleigh.

Ian Coates

Emailed to CKUA July 2012

I have lots of friends in Canada. I first heard your radio station at John and Jerry's farm in Lougheed, Alberta, where they have it on all the time in their workshop.