No News. . .

It's been quite awhile since I started this adventure and so far it seems to be a FAIL! Fortunately, it didn't cost much. As itwas only a last minute addendum to my RTW, the lack of planning most likely contributed to the lack of success. Those remaining dominoes have yet to be placed even though they were sent out about a year ago and none have been reported as found. I'm only making this quick note so this account doesn't get blipped off into cyberspace for lack of activity. I still have a bag full of dominoes, so maybe I can try again. . . won't be the same without some grand adventure to go along with it but perhaps some opportunity will present itself. Happy domino hunting for anyone stopping by this site.

Hiding by Proxy

I've sent the remaining dominos out to friends to ask them to hide them for me. One of the ones sent out was a 'FAIL' but that's OK. The person hiding it was on a vacation overseas and I couldn't really expect her to take time out from enjoying her time there to play my little game. I can recover that one and hope for another opportunity to hide it myself. The others-I believe that any potential hiding spots to still be under snow this time of year so those are still up in the air.

Missing Domino

I sent an email to the Moretonhampstead library in Devon, UK, the location of the first domino to see if there had been any movement. The librarian at the time of the placement has retired and the current librarian hasn't found it yet. Since this domino wasn't actually hidden, I'd say this one is a goner. :-(

Domino #10 has been place!

Update on this domino. I just realized that although I'm saying that this is Domino #10, the ID that I've enclosed with it says it's Domino #11. Doesn't change things, too much. If I ever place the others I'll worry about doing something with the numbering. Anyway, tally-ho. . .

OK, I guess I was wrong about not planting anymore of these. I'm not sure how many I'll get to. I had planned for 13. I've already thought I was done once then decided I would do the on my way across the US. I started on the East Coast and it's taken me until Colorado to plant just even one more so who knows how many there will be. Anyway. . .

Domino #10 is hidden in Bent's Old Fort between Lamar and Los Animos, CO. It costs a couple of bucks to enter the fort but it's worth it. The domino is up on the 2nd floor, in the middle room of the quarters section. Enter the room and proceed to the far left corner. Look up at the top of the 2nd log rafter from that corner. The Domino is tucked up between the ceiling and the top of the rafter.

If you have located this domino without these directions-Congratulations! It is yours to keep. Email me so I can remove the clue. Read the first few entries of this blog below to see what it's all about. (It's not that great but it's been fun for me)

Final domino (# 9) placed

My trip around the world is being cut short (lack of funds) so Domino # 9 will be the last one placed for this trip.

To find N0. 9 you must travel to the north in Vietnam. Visit Hanoi and then visit the tomb of the last Emperor of Vietnam, Tu Duc. It is a huge parklike place. Within the park area is the tomb of the Emperor (or is it?) You'll have to visit to find out the whole story but anyway, in the park you will find a diagram outside the actual tomb entrance. Check out the diagram to identify some reference points for finding the domino. Look for the short mandarinds and go past them. There are some pillars on the next level. Very near the right side pillar there is a tree. The tree is to the right of the pillar and very near a low stone wall. At the base of the tree facing the wall are three loosely stacked pieces of stone/brick. The domino is under them. This one is not hidden very well and I expect it to be found quickly. If/when you find this please email me so that I can inform folks so they don't go looking. You have to pay to enter the park.

So long and thanks for playing my game.

Domino #8 has been placed.

I didn't think I would get to place a domino in India because almost every place I have visited has been either a temple or a mosque and I don't want this silly little adventure to violate the sanctity of people's places of worship. I made the exception in the case of the Duomo in Florence but I don't want to continue to make exceptions. I've visited some forts but the construct of the tours didn't allow the opportunity to place a domino. Also, there is a lot of security (thankfully) throughout India and I don't want to look suspect just for the sake of a scavenger hunt. However, the opportunity to play the game here in New Delhi presented itself. Ironically, it happened today on Republic Day where security is heightened because of all the celebrations planned. So, to find Domino #8 you must locate the Hotel Perfect. I don't know what all this information means but here is the address as listed on the hotel card. . .

16A/2, W.E.A. Karol Bagh, Near New Bloom School

I know that Karol Bagh is the metro stop but then it's more than a few blocks walk or a 10 minute bicycle rickshaw ride (cost- less then 30 INR)

OK, so now you are at the Hotel Perfect. Proceed to the rooftop restaurant. As you step out of the stairway you will turn right to find the dining area. Directly ahead of you after you make that right turn you will see a sort of stump/planter thing with fake greenery in it. If you look at the top you will see that the thing is actually a lamp. Anyway, the domino is in a tupperware-ish plastic container in the planter under some of the fake leaves. As of right now, it actually isn't hidden all that well and I hope the opportunity presents itself to go back and make it a bit more discreet. There is a wee tiny monetary incentive to seek out this domino. I mean wee in a big way- 5 INR.

And there you have it. I hope every has a happy, healthy and safe Republic Day!

Domino No. 7 has been placed

I didn't want to put any of the dominoes in a church or cathedral because that has sort of sacreligious feel to it but I've gone and done it anyway. However, it doesn't cost anything to visit the cathedral in question but you do have to pay €6 to climb to the top of the dome which is near to where the domino is hidden, so I don't feel to blasphemous about it. And besides, if you go looking for it, that's another €6 for the catherdral coffers. Everybody wins.

Ok, the catherdral in question is the 4th largest in Europe after Saint Paul's in Rome, St. Peter's in London and the one in Milan. It is the Duomo in Florence. To get to the domino, you must pay the €6 and climb to the very top of the dome, the part where you can go outside at the top. As you head back down, first descend the almost ladder like steps that you ascended but the next part of the 'down' is different than the way you came up. Once you have descend that flight, you will turn left and in just a short bit you will be at the bottom of the flight that took you up for that portion of the trip. Continue straight as if exiting. You will go down two or three steps and be on a landing. To your right is the way to exit. Straight ahead are two or three steps up. Go up those steps. There is a door about 5 feet straight ahead of you. Before you get to that door you will pass a low wall on your right. On the side of that wall facing the door, you will find the domino on the floor where the floor, that little wall and the sloping wall meet. There is a small (very small) offering in the organza bag with the domino. It would be nice to place that offering in one of the collection boxes inside the cathedral but that's up to you.

If you have searched for and found this domino or if you have found it by accident and removed it, please email me to let me know so that I place a notice of the find here. Thanks for playing my game.