Flying not so high

Heaven forbid I ever fly this airline again. After all the hype and rigmarole, it is the worst airline experience I've ever had.

Expect world-class service from a company fuelled with cash, and you get 3rd world rubbish at classy rates, topped with intern attendants whose moral preferences deem inappropriate at local levels: the stewards could never have come more well-groomed.

Why a so-called modern airline employs old and ugly hags who don't know the meaning of duty-free wrinkle cream is beyond laughable. As we took off, some disenchanted kid behind me ran a live commentary to her dad about how the empty skies reminded her of "Harry". Since the earplugs were not available at that time, I dug my nails into my ears, blanking out the sound. All around, people were coughing, as if it were the plague. I soon realised the noise was coming from the lager louts to my left.

Trying to picture myself snoozing peacefully with a change of seats, I figured it would be best to reseat towards the laughing louts as the Harry enthusiast would have put my brain into a premature comical arrest. In doing so, I figured the free % would put the louts to sleep, letting me doze off in peace and tranquility. The % flowed, and the Harry girl's dad walked around with his flies undone, reading the complimentary papers, tapping his right leg as if the sun wouldn't shine again. This disturbance hypnotised me into a deep sleep.

Not soon after, I awoke, realising the intoxicating laughter that stemmed from the seats in front would not stop.

There was nothing that could salvage the situation. All I could accept was that if there's no such thing as hell, I was probably flying in Purgatory.

Now, I'm back in Dubai.

Greener Pastures

Walking off into the cool breeze with the occasional burst of sunshine through the grey clouds - a refreshing sight - I step onto a solid pavement that leads me to the park, past pubs laden with backpacking tourists from down under. I hear an Ozzie announce into her mobile, "Well, all I see now is blue skies."

So I whip my sunglasses back on, and wander into the park, where I expect to see the usual clan that meanders through the MOE. In getting there, I observe the driving, and notice the playful gestures of a van full of builders. I cross the road, not jaywalking. Am I the only one waiting for the green man to show up? Further in my footsteps, it doesn't seem like MOE and its upper deck has branched out this far yet.

Rejoicing in this discovery, I walk towards the magnificent lake. A bunch of guys playing footie at sunset hit the ball too far, conveniently to where I was walking. I kicked it right back..."Hey mates, I think this is a great way to pick up chicks!" I just walked on past the next group of footie-lads...

Until some guy who was on the same path as me, yapping on his phone, suddenly ended his conversation and said "Hello, my name is Ali, can I talk to you?" Thank goodness for the footie lads: red-shirt-wearing Ali was outnumbered. I stood still and asked him to move.

As I approached the lake, he followed me and asked me again. Unfortunately there's no security patrolling the area, as you can easily find in Dubai. I told him to go away.

I planted myself at a nice spot by an oak tree, overlooking the lake. As I fiddled with my phone, a young-thing by a nearby deckchair approached me, asking if I had a lighter for their sheesha.
Sheesha!, I thought to myself.

As I made my way out of the park I witnessed scenes reminiscent of ME malls , only that there was no air conditioning and no visible security. Onto the high street: Al fresco joints are packed with people-watchers; sheesha shops litter the streets aplenty, and coke costs Dhs. 7.

Right now I' d rather be stuck in a Salik jam and have a portable sheesha in my car that can be ignited by matches gifted to me by lads at the petrol pump who expect me to DIY.

I bit a shark!

Shopping in the hypermarkets of Dubai, I discovered "shark" amongst the fresh fish section. I do love trying out new fish - mind you, I did select other fish I've never heard of.

Back to shark - my worst enemy, and the reason I don't venture out to fresh waters in body. This evening, I had the chance to eat it: role reversal.

It tastes really good. If you're used to white fish, and you like seafood overall and have never tasted shark, get it: it doesn't bite if baked.

Navigating in "New Dubai"

It's quite hard to observe your surroundings whilst driving safely but even moreso in "New Dubai", as popularly labelled.

I recall the days when you could time your arrival to the Trade Centre Roundabout coming from Abu Dhabi by noticing the names of the shops on the right-hand side. Since the Metro construction has started, it's almost impossible to spot the shopnames.

I wonder is this is good for advertising, or bad? On the one hand, we'll have a full Metro, but on the other hand, there's always going to be car-owners that will not opt for the Metro, and the shopnames will be forgotten by them.

Personally, I now use the Burj Dubai to navigate my distance to the Trade Centre Roundabout, although it can be difficult on foggy days.

Things

Just been in traffic. Been trying to swerve in and out, trying to make these *unfortunate souls* understand there is a lane for a certain time. Left-most lane means *overtake*.

Why do people stop and look when an accident happens? It slows down traffic flow. The very thing that is complained about is what slows it down: stop staring, and wonders might be seen.

It's very hot.

Geographical cures

Whoever said there is no such thing as a geographical cure is not entirely correct.

What were holidays made for, then? I took off after a long time, returning to find my mind cleansed and clean, empty of all negativity, ready to live days complete with healthy food and long workouts.

If I can only keep up this momentum, and avoid anything that distracts me from my goals. That means keeping my head up high and living my dream, each day, as it comes.

Mirdif at a glance

Visiting Mirdif has been on the agenda for a long time now, especially after hearing much about Mirdif "Uptown". I have friends in the Mirdif area but avoid that part of town as it can be quite crowded at times.

The area has been done-up quite well, if I may say so: a nice place to live. A community spirit, indeed. I can't speak much for the roads; but, in time, problems have their solutions. It's quite countryside, if you ask me.

Lovely, innovative architectural design; wide roads, shops-a-plenty: perfect living area. The commute to "Uptown" Mirdif is easy, relatively speaking.

An attractive shopping complex with a nice promenade awaits every shopper. The view across this promenade is the fortune of any resident that avails of the scenery surrounding this beautiful area.

Mirdif looks perfect at every glance.

Just is.

My trip back to Dubai was met with the guys in green (as witnessed by the eavesdropper on the umpteenth floor, seemingly admiring the desert view) while the action prevailed on street level. As words were uttered in Arabic, Mr. Eavesdropper lost his battle and retreated into his enclave whilst the war of words ensued.

Princess has a reserved spot - and it was parked in, without permission. One call, and help arrived.

Somebody will be waking up to a parking ticket, and the other will be waking up to justice.

experienci*ng AD

My experience of Abu Dhabi indicates an underlying wealth of difference between the capital and Dubai, and my examples are solely in terms of customer service.

Telephone conversation with major airline:

The employee (although friendly) was simply unable to provide facts like an e-library, which is what any competent sales rep should be able to do.

What's the flight schedule? Obviously reading off a table with checkmarks, mistakes had to be corrected whilst confirming days: not impressive. And a few other hiccups...not unexpected, but good job all-around, especially from an airline with more than 4 classes on board! (the call was answered pronto - must accredit them with that)

@ a private hospital:

The ladies' waiting area was near the gent's room (!). AC was bad: add that to my qualms. Does one really need to a) walk through an ICU to get to a GP; b)listen to nurses' exchanges about patients' complaints in the waiting room?

@ a favourite restaurant:

It was near closing time but our order was taken. As the starters arrived, we were informed grilled food was no longer available so we re-ordered accordingly. The waiter later arrived to confirm no main courses were available, whatsoever. I return tomorrow.

My Abu Dhabi experience ends on a high note. A car hit mine whilst parked, and I discovered the offender had left his insurance details.

Can I say "only in Abu Dhabi"? Yes: "Abu Dhabi Rising".

Life as a Desperate Princess

I have come to a stance where my view on a few matters has changed. This is not particularly ascribed to the unnecessarily judgmental comments that ensued as a consequence of the subject matter in the below post, but a culmination of events in my life that have made me drastically change my general outlook in the battle for survival, and how to progress in the challenges that lie ahead.

First of all, life, as I have understood it, is not what I imagined it to be. There are so many complications: mostly related to humans; human behaviour; psychology. Communication is the key. But can we determine the appropriate method of communicating with anyone when everything else is so complicated? Every action has a reaction. How can one foresee the ramifications of ones' actions when the world is run by billions of humans interacting with each other, when anything can happen in an imminent tomorrow where the future is definitely unpredictable?

Life is apparently not as simple as I thought. If you are good, people take advantage. If you're female and act tough, you get branded by men with an inferiority complex. If you talk, you can't actually say what you really mean. When you agree, it's just not OK to say OK. As Sartre said,

'Hell is other people'.

Even if I change, I will continue to seek out the 'good' in humans because there are plenty of heroes out there who bless this world with their presence, which serves as a reminder that life is not all that bad.

My change of strategy is not due to depression; but perhaps some kind of mid-life crisis without even having reached mid-life yet, whatever mid-life is.

Problems and solutions

This is what I feel like posting about: rising costs. I still don't think it directly affects me, as I conclude after having numerous discussions with friends about the significance of inflation.

Some points: I went to my favourite supermarket, which is not a hypermarket, if I may add...I love this brand ,'Dewlands', for juice - and the cost has gone up. This is highly significant, I thought - comparatively speaking - in the light of my recent discussions (with friends on the topic of inflation), which were mainly centred on oil.

I bought another brand - only after thinking "is there a way of not being affected by inflation"?

Obviously I am affected by something - the reason for this post.

The real reason must be that I passed by a construction site and saw some labourers sitting on a pavement - I noticed two sitting together chatting. The other was alone, looking on the floor, sad. They were waiting for their transportation, and I realised this must be late often, which is the explanation for labourers standing by roads en masse - a regular sight in Dubai. Going back to the sad face: I know exactly why he is sad.

Inflation: these men are going to be in an even worse predicament. Is there a charity to contribute to these gentlemen in need?

Jewel in the box

I love this company!!

No, I don't work for them - had to deal with them on be 1/2 of a friend.

Talk about friendly. Talk about customer service. Talk about trust. Talk about a company that delivers what they promise, without fail. Talk about a company that goes the extra mile. Hard to believe? Look here.

Alexander The Great, pitch, and owe me a %. I would happily parade their clothes on the runway if they operated in the fashion business, but they don't.

- oh, I should post more, like rosh and jayne. Perhaps I need to be a UAEan from SA. Or a localsexpat from secretdubai.

In the country

Be truthful: how many countries can you name off the top of your head? I read this heading of a Gulf News article, saying 3.11m expats from 202 countries make up the workforce! 202 countries? A huge number!



My own results are posted @ the very bottom of this post, for your information




This is kind of a test. Don't read my 'results' unless you want to see your own first. Here's what you do: jot down as many countries of the world you can name, then compare your results with mine, if you must - letting me know how clever I am in the meanwhile. Come on - it's fun. Don't cheat. List in the order that appears first in your mind. No need to number. Just count your total at the end, and see if it matches the 202 countries Gulf News says makes up our expat workforce, and compare!

Do the test now. Add your results to the comments section.














My results follow, so shut your eyes until the deed is done!













































































MY RESULTS ARE HERE:














Bulgaria
Algeria
Hungary
U.S.
U.K.
U.A.E.
Cambodia
Vietnam
China
Japan
Korea
Australia
Zimbabwe
Zambia
Zanzibar
The Congo
Kenya
Luxembourg
Germany
France
Switzerland
Ukraine
Lithouania
Russia
Georgia
Portugal
Spain
Montenegro
Croatia
Bosnia
Serbia
Greece
Turkey
Spain
India
Pakistan
Thailand
Philippines
New Zealand
Australia
Papa New Guinea
Maldives
Mauritius
Seychelles
Madagascar
Barbados
Sri Lanka
South Africa
Senegal
Kenya
Somalia
Sudan
Egypt
Morocco
Tunisia
Nigeria
Niger
Chile
Brazil
Argentina
Puerto Rico
Bahamas
Jamaica
Belgium
Sweden
Norway
Finland
Greenland
Canada
Peru
Saudi Arabia
Qatar
Bahrain
Kuwait
Oman
Yemen
Iraq
Iran
Namibia
Mexico
Antigua
Nepal
Tanzania
Austria
Hungary
Poland
Luthiania
Latvia
Cyprus
Somalia
Lebanon
Jordan
Syria
Palestine
Israel
Mongolia
Malaysia
Bolivia
Canary Islands
Denmark
Estonia
Afghanistan
Falkland Islands
British Virgin Islands
Bolivia
Iceland
Honduras
Uruguay
Ireland
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Mauritania
Malawi
Myanmar
Mozambique
Mali
Romania
Kazakhistan
Uzbekistan



















Compare your results with the answers on wikipedia here














I put my head to the test and came up with 120 countries - *note to psychology enthusiasts, the order of the list is how my head worked at first impulse, and the end of the list is done by a 'reminder A-Z checklist', explaining why some country names, even though today significant in the political framework, appear at the end of my personal brainscope.




There are some I missed - embarrassingly - this teaches me some lessons. I love my world map - I'd better go find it again.

Your results - show 'em, please!

Friday knights

Although it wasn't much of a 'happening' evening, I was out and about tonight, and there were a couple of funny things going on.

Well - the usual AD plates cruising around Jumeira (and trying to avoid eye contact with any of 'em, though some of the cars are pretty damn amazing), I noticed a LOT of police patrols stopping cars, for whatever reason. A few metres on, I noticed a blond guy doing some kind of jiggle on the pavement, attempting to catch a taxi - only that his 'thumbs up' was directed to each passenger's car passing by. He did look like he was in a state, and I was concerned about the potential state he might be in not only if he unknowingly mistook the cops for a taxi, but also because he was literally on the edge - of the road. The guy's mates shoulda been there for him.

I nipped into a petrol station to get some stuff - and, as usual, greeted with a loud "Good evening, ma'am!" to which you do have to respond to, out of courtesy. I couldn't be bothered to flex my jaws this time, so I just gave the Philipino gentleman a pleasant glance (are petrol station staff trained to belt out a greeting to everyone who walks in? It's very annoying at times). The funniest thing was when two truck drivers walked in, and the same gent greeted them with a "Hello, boss" to which the response was "chai"...The Philipino gent confirmed, in what sounded to me, a perfect accent, "Dow chai?" (2 teas?)

It's so refreshing to see a live and real example of tolerance amongst different nationalities in Dubai. We all have different ways of communicating, but to learn a few basic expressions and mannerisms in another person's language/culture does wonders to break the barriers - and, perhaps, create a few laughs.

We've all read about the recent UAE identity conference, and I've read letters to the local press on the subject - mostly from expats - saying residents of the UAE should learn Arabic to integrate into local society. Comments on the same subject can be found here, on the UAE Community blog. Gulf News' "Xpress" paper makes a concerted effort to provide translations of everyday phrases of languages widely used in the UAE.

On the way home, the shawarma shops were busy as usual (for that time of night) with a string of AD supercars waiting in line.

That's my Friday knights story!

Some sites travel poorly

I usually don't book things online because I don't trust the security of sites when dealing with bank details, but my non-love affair with the Internet as a consumer has hit a new high.

Trying to enquire about a holiday booking with a locally reputed travel agency, I went to their website and entered the destination I'm interested in. I got a 'page cannot be displayed' message so I called the number of the company and was asked if I worked there. 'No' was my answer. 'In that case, Madam, you will have to come down to our offices because we don't handle personal enquiries on the phone'.

How, then, did this agency come to win an award for "best travel site in the Middle East"? Click on the ticker advertising this on the website, and it says "Internal Server Error"!

In the eye of the observer

Here is a round-up of my week's observations:

1. Rents are showing no signs of stabilising
2. Apparently food prices are now going up?
3. Dining al fresco is still possible (yipee!), though not long to go before we're confined indoors
4. I no longer recognise Abu Dhabi Corniche. It's heavily under construction.
5. Traffic into and out of the Emirates Hills area is now at all hours - hardly a luxury
6. Dubai Police are conducting more random checks on drivers, making our roads a little safer
7. Antibiotics are bad, bad, bad - we need more alternative health practitioners in Dubai
8. Carrefour has introduced pay-as-you-go trolleys - keep a dirham handy!
9. Both Etisalat & Du still occasionally show 'network error' messages on Internet connections
10. I need to Fly Emirates - soon!

Post-races post 2008

Back to non-nice mode, as per popular request, I would like to point out how much fun the Dubai World Cup was this year...not! Didn't have as much fun this year as the last couple. Got there late because of traffic. When we asked some people on duty at the blocked road entrances to the racecourse vicinity why we were not allowed to go right in, we were met with shoulder shrugs and a couple of incomprehensible mumbles. Great. We had friends accompanying us from abroad, and do-gooder that I am, trying to promote Dubai, when presented with the question "So...(would you leave your $$$ job overseas) when are you moving to Dubai?" I wished I had some bodyguards to protect my little ears from the verbal backlash I had to endure, and through no fault of my own!

Being forced to walk 20 mins to the main entrance when you've spent thousands to come to Dubai especially for the races and don't happen to have a Burj Al Arab chauffeur driven Rolls to take you there is out of order. My designer-label clad friends from overseas were not too happy. Thousands of people at the only 2 gates to the racecourse even at 7pm.

And, this year, taxis were not officially available upon exit. We had 'luxury coaches' to take us out of the desert and into the city, and those standing in the aisles had nothing to lean on, unlike what the upcoming Dubai Metro will offer...those swinging things on the ceiling that you can hold onto while involuntarily being swayed around.

I think the highlight of the night is not that America's top-rated horse won, but the fact that the football results were announced towards the end of the night. I heard "Scunthorpe". Quite a different review to my last Post-Races post

It was a really fun night and I would recommend it for next year. Camping outside the night before might be a good idea: after all, it's the desert.

*NICE*

My English teacher always taught us never to use the word 'nice' - EVER - but over the years, I've come to realise the English language should not discount words that are spoken in everyday life.

And so, I had a nice day. Have a nice day. That was nice. They are such nice people. This is a nice place.

In keeping with *nice*, I had a nice day. I tried to be nice. In fact, I've been trying to be nice over the last couple of days and literally keeping an eye on the time as to how long it takes me to be nice: I found it's better to try being nice than forget to be nice.

Some very small things I did was to give way to anyone wanting to cut accross lanes, even if they were driving badly. I also saw some ladies trying to cross the road at a pedestrian crossing - I indicated with my hands about 5 times that they can cross before they stepped onto the road, smiling with thanks, while other cars stopped in turn. I was nice to my friend, who decided to be late for our rendezvous, though I don't like lateness.

Well, some time I have lost, but gained in the form of being nice. I hope my English teacher wouldn't mind me using the word 'nice' because there's no other word to substitute being 'nice'!

Talking of nice, go to Go Smell The Flowers! for a nice read.

3 days to go!

It's that time of year again - the world's richest horse race kicks off on 29th March, here in Dubai.

It's an event not to missed - and in my opinion, one of the 'most fun' on the city's social calendar.

Here is a post I wrote pre-races last year, and this one post-event...

My overall sentiments were echoed in letters to 7Days, the local paper, reflecting racegoers' experiences of the event. Here are extracts of responses to these letters:

Louis Cypher..."I would not be able to stand seeing this place turning into the kebab strewn streets of some down market area in the UK, this is Dubai and it needs to be protected from lo life chavs who give myself and every other law abiding Britsish expat a bad name, even if this means getting tough and kicking out offenders and making sure people know about it & closing down bars and clubs that repeat offenses such as under age drinking, discriminatation etc. You see there are people here who are just waiting for this kind of letter so they can launch an all out attack and turn it into something political instead of just focusing on the facts here,which is, drunken unsightly chavs causing trouble as they have no respect for themselves or others. Bad behaviour at home is one thing, being disrespectful in public ref points made in this letter is undefendable, such as the couple by the entrance fondling each other, this is a Muslim country for gods sake,look around you, understand the culture, take an interest, talk to people, talk to local people and get an idea of how your antics affect them and conversly us!. I am not sure how many people at the races came over especially and therefore had been tourists as I cannot imagine for one minute that they could have all been residents like myself and others on here as they surely would have known that this behaviour is greatly forbidden, if they did then this is again very disrespectful. Ladies dressing up and making the effort however should not be attacked just because they are not all size zeros and catwalk models. Respect the people & they will respect you - respect their culture and they will respect yours - Respect their country and they will in turn respect yours."


Homer Simpson..."I have a very low regard for chavness, as do most people, and it's sad to see them lowering the image of an entire country with their slobbish behaviour. Wasn't so long ago that Britishness was synonymous with impeccable manners and discretion after all. I just hope Dubai doesn't sell its dignity down the drain for the sake of high occupacy rates"

Reportedly, tickets for the public enclosure are sold out, as of yesterday.

Google searches that lead to this blog

i'm your desperate princess
unlucky prince

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ascot is not in dubai, never will be

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?! what's that about?!

houseboy + pedicures
a houseboy normally sells pedicure as part of package (why?!)

pantyhose motorshow
(??!!) lol

Ummm

Can't respond to comments but can receive yours.

Can't access blogs either, not even mine.

Tomorrow might bring a better day, but what a wonderful world it is today.

Tattoos & the power of the media

I've never been one to like or accept tattoos without blinking an eye when I see one. It conjurs up all sorts of thoughts...

Of late, I've discovered tattoos on people I've known (professionally) for some time. My reaction when their tattoos were open for viewing? Unexpected!

I even commented on them, and we had a laugh exchanging views on tattoos. All in all, I don't know what to think. Beckham's now got his whole arms done, and this has been well-publicised in the media. Does this make tattooing more fashionable; more acceptable? Obviously. Beckham earns millions through brand endorsement, and when he makes such a fashion statement, this automatically makes the tattoo trend more 'acceptable'.

And so, we are back to basics. Tattoos are in, and those who don't accept them are out! Cool, eh?!

Unexpected HAPPINESS

There are some things which have made me feel quite happy over the last few days and the best thing is, it was quite unexpected.

With experience, I've realised getting angry and frustrated over things which 'should' be right and things that 'should' be done in a normal way just does not help. I've lost so much time and energy fighting for things that 'should' be right, only to realise I'm dealing with 'people' and 'things' that know no better. They're not exactly to blame, are they...hmm!

For example, a sign on a shop promises rights to a customer, which aren't fulfilled. Rules on the road aren't followed: a small 80's something car overtakes from the right, slamming on its brakes with you behind. Yeehah. You call a big company for some information and even the receptionist cannot help as the staff are on their lunch break. Who-hoo!! You can always call back later, since you're apparently more in need than they are of you: that is a fact in Dubai!

Well, gone are the days where all this rubbish annoys me. Now, I expect it: experience dictates I'd be a fool not to. Hoping for better days is a waste of time. That's when the happiness comes: when I expect NOTHING, and truly believe service professionals are not capable of delivering ANYTHING.

Imagine some paperwork normally takes 3 days to complete. Some tall, German, middle-aged businessman huffs and puffs because the procedure is taking way too long, and takes off. Humbly waiting in the sidelines, a covered-up lady admires your physical attributes. You're rushed off into first place, and your work is done...very quickly. No standing: you get a nice black leather chair in a manager's office, with lurvely gahwa: "drink all you can" ;-)

I made one change in my life not to 'expect anything from anyone' - particularly those you need to pay - and a few days after, people around seem to be giving more than I expect. Funny that. Only in Dubai :-)

Tagathons - me love it!

I've been tagged by lurvely Abu Dhabi based Kaya, the latest babe on my blogroll.

This is an interesting tag, and here goes:

1. Post these rules before presenting your list.
2. List 6 actions or achievements you think every person should accomplish before turning 18.
3. There are no conditions on what can be included on the list.
4. At the end of your blog, choose 6, or less, people to get tagged and list their names.
5. The tagged peeps write their own blog entry with their 6 suggestions.
6. Leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged.

*note, re: #3, erm, one must consider one's lo-ca-tion when considering conditions :)))))

OK, here is my magic list, the first point of which, of course, I have no intention of passing on to any of my future offspring:

From a modern girl's perspective:

a)Do it

b)Determine your skin type and discover which make-up best suits you - look good, and that includes your wardrobe choices...

c)Travel as much as you can and 'see the world'

d)Complete your education to the highest level possible

e)Learn to be independent

f)The sixth is tough to define, given self-censorship! I would say have fun & do something good or memorable, that one can fondly remember from one's teen years

OK, here are my tag-dudes...

*Buj
*C'est la Vie
*D
*Dotssfun
*Stained

& as I said...no. 6 is hard to define, so any bloggers out there wanna do this tag - FOLLOW THE RULES (hahahah!!) and go do it! yeeehah!!

Covent Garden

I could walk through a thousand autumn leaves in the crisp, winter freshness, admiring the works of artists who showcase their wares for at least 50 years of London's coldness. This is Hyde Park.

Autumn in the colourful Covent Garden is quite another picture: entertainers galore adorn the 19th century atmosphere, decorating the yesteryear pavement. It's cobblestones indeed. When you're 12 years old and being entertained by a street-performer, throw them a pound or two after you're called to be part of the performance - when you're a magician for a day. Before, or after, the local foodster prepares you a wonderful baked potato a la chilli-con-carle.

When you enter your teens in the same place, you might stop to re-read the red sign-board upon the entrance to Covent Garden, signifying the importance of this olden-day market-place. You notice you read the signboard as an individual with an interest in history as others snap by, recording your expression studying a past that is dear to you.

Years pass, and you stop by the same place as a 20-something, ordering the same baked potato with the same filling, from the same place. Another street-performer fills the piazza with his/her increasingly less exciting stunts. Foreign faces prevail, and less spashes of the pound coin are to be heard, when you toss them from the same spot you once relished your 2.99 Covent-Garden-baked-potato or .99-flake-ice-cream.

Apples & tomatoes - they can be purchased in less visible areas of the market, though the traditional fruit & veg trade in this area has rapidly died out, replaced by other modern-day commodities. Real Covent Garden children always know to find real market delicacies without compromising on culture, or do they.

A day in the life of a toilet cleaner

Sometimes I really feel sorry for myself, for the stuff I go through. I know life has its shares of ups and downs, but when you don't use logic to determine the reality of your circumstances and fail to realise that in relative terms, you don't have it that bad, it's then when you start to wonder what life is all about.

Being in Dubai, there's a great divide between the rich and poor: so much so, that a middle-class cannot easily be defined.

There are those who earn a measly Dhs. 1000 (per month) for waiting at a 5* Dubai hotel, and those who are barely surviving to make ends meet.

I walked up the escalators at a local mall after doing some grocery shopping, while a uniformed washroom attendant walked down the opposite way. We glanced at each other, and the look was both of understanding, and of aspiration: me, understanding her presumably dire situation, ending her late night shift, evidently exhausted; her, aspiring to be in a position where she can do her grocery shopping in her own time, with her own transportation, and as she wills. The look in her eyes was so saddening that it inspired me to write this post.

I don't think the lady I saw particularly enjoyed the job she does, but I could see the dedication in her eyes, walking down that escalator at the end of her evening shift at the mall, with no purse in hand, and no purchases, yet, with an aura of ambition. I only hope that one day, the drive and enthusiasm I witnessed in her stature might be rewarded with the compensation she deserves: one that could translate into a truly joyful, happy and worthwhile life for her, and those in her predicament.

You give & you shake

"Give & take" is not an expression that is expected to actually be muttered during a 'give & take' situation, at least among the savvy classes.

If it is indeed a situation of give & take, this should be 'non-verbally' understood between all parties, otherwise it cheapens the relationship - or at worst, makes one think twice about the whole situation.

You give & you take: understood. This is how life goes; how relationships work; and generally, the way of the world. An honourable person would give first, and take, if the situation warrants it, with their integrity intact.

What happens, though, when you give - your all - and what you get (as opposed to take) is far worse than what you bargained for, or that you could ever have imagined. What happens when you put your dreams and invest your future in a relationship you thought could never end. Is it time to move on; fight; or simply keep giving, knowing that the situation is by far unjust and wrong - something you could have never expected.

Is there a way out? Is there a defined avenue for seeking the truth and protecting one's integrity, or does one have to just sit back and thank one's lucky stars that at least, one is still alive & breathing? The latter is survival, whereas the former is life.

"What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger."

What if you were strong to begin with, and you ended up in a terrible situation which, to the logical mind, you are not to blame for, but the general consensus rules otherwise. What if one was, in fact, killed. Would general concensus then overrule international logic?

Many civilised, logical arguments could prevail in this scenario, but it would be best to keep giving and stay strong, even though the joy in the reciprocated 'taking' - in whichever form that comes - may be greatly and permanently diminished.

By the book - *tagged*

I've just been tagged by the wonderful seabee to do some kind of a book review without actually having to do any work, as I understand.

The nearest book to me was either at my bedside, or on the bookshelf, both of which are equidistant to my current location (thank goodness I don't, as yet, own a cookbook). So I decided to do the tag-thing for 2 books, not one...and here goes (am I the last to respond to seabee's tag? Was stuck in traffic, alas!)

Here goes, in no particular order:

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages):
'The Civlisation of Rome' - Donald R. Dudley

2. Open the book to page 123:
Yup

3. Find the fifth sentence.
Almost, but not quite; the native tradition of realistic portraiture survived, and the funeral monuments of the late Republic show us the Roman face in uncompromising, sometimes alarming, realism.

4. Post the next three sentences.
In this respect Greek artists working in Rome had to come to terms with Roman taste. Otherwise, the vogue was for all things Greek, as it has been at times in England for all things Italian. Greek sculpture, acquired by loot or purchase, adorned the public squares and temples and the great villas.

***

Next book:
'Everything Bad Is Good For You' - Steven Johnson

2. Open the book to page 123:
Done

3. Find the fifth sentence.
That probing is a powerful form of intellectual activity - you're learning the rules of a complex system without a guide, after all.

4. Post the next three sentences.
And it's all the more powerful for being fun. Then there is the matter of social connection. Net skeptics voiced a decade ago revolved around a withdrawal from public space: yes, the Internet might connect us to a new world of information, but it would come at a terrible social cost, by confining us in front of barren computer monitors, away from the vitality of genuine communities.

5. Tag five people.

Paraglider

Aaron

UAEian

ammaro.com

tobasco

When tomorrow came

Twisted between the sands

Weathering the seas, surviving

Gasping for breath

The sun will come out again

Customer Scare

"All of our customer care representatives are currently busy.

Your call is important to us.

You will be attended to shortly."

Let me translate this for you line by line (I hope y'all thank me for my time in doing this...it's a lengthy task, I'm sure you'll all appreciate!):

"All of our customer care representatives are currently busy." means we are sipping coffee and eating chicken fillets with curly fries and mayonnaise on the side. As soon as we finish painting our lipstick back on, we will be BACK!

"Your call is important to us." means sorry we are a little busy trying to find some pantyhose (ya3ni, tights/stockings) because we've got ladders up ours at the moment, and we can't go to the nightclub looking like this. What time does the local supermarket close? HOLD ON, I'm just finding out!

"You will be attended to shortly." means sorry, we've run out of hospital beds, and can't accommodate you. OOPS! Sorry, I can't speak English. I am Lebanese (from "the" Lebanon), and the zaatar (spice) got stuck in my teeth when I was trying to communicate. Ana, I try...wallah.

End of the story is can someone please eggsblain what is going on here.

Mushrif Park

One of my best kept secrets is Mushrif Park.


Drive towards Mirdif, and follow the signs towards this park: you will easily find your way.

Find yourself amongst the best kept desert wonderland of all: pay a measly sum of Dhs. 10 to get in, and you will get your fils worth.

Enter, and you transcend into a parkland of green grass and desert: take your trainers along, for you descend into a selection of international mini-houses: amongst my favourite were the Japanese and Indonesian. A mini-zoo awaits animal lovers too.

The aroma of your barbeque is memorable when the sun sets. Take some photos, and ascend to the exit of the park, appreciating the desert sunset beyond the Dubai landscape.

Five Star Etiquette

One of the oldest 5* hotels in the Emirate of Dubai has recently undergone a major renovation in its main restaurant. Upon revisiting this restaurant, whilst conversing with my companion upon being seated, we reminisced the former appearance of the establishment in question.

Waiter suddenly intervened: "Have you been here before?" (as in: is it my discovery that you are returning guests; may I add to your "memorable experience" of returning to our hotel, and do I cash in on contributing to your private conversation?)

My tastebuds decided to sleep at an instant: the thought of a tantalising cocunut shrimp soup was a turn-off when a 3rd unexpectedly joined the crowd.

In case a 5* waiter might be reading this, if I am talking to my dinner companion, please do not listen in to our conversation and interfere: your world-class manager should train you on 5* etiquette.

Thanks, and bon appetit.

Problems and the real world

Sharing concerns in blogworld sometimes reaps better benefits than in the public world.

Perhaps it is easier to express oneself anonymously than in real-life.

Global Village Dubai

I was lucky enough to be able to drag a few energetic friends along to the Global Village Dubai that takes place every winter.

From experience, I know to take warm clothing along, to prepare me for a few hours in this desert wonderland that can get quite chilly in the evening.

Prepare to go on an empty stomach, as long as you intend to go on the numerous rides that make up Global Village: otherwise, you can stroll around the area, taking in the amazing atmosphere which comprises national pavillions; family entertainment; and live cooking stations from all over the world.

One of the pavillions that displayed a dance routine at the time of my visit was that of Afghanistan: I was completely awestruck by the Afghan dance: the rhythm of the drums; the circle of Afghan dancers (who appeared to be members of the public), and the unique expression of dance of what is a large community in Dubai.

Global Village is a fantastic display of international culture, presenting a great insight into many countries' traditions - a fun wonderland right in the heart of Dubai.

What takes your fancy at Global Village Dubai?

Colourful fruit tale

Somewhat inspired by the recipes on halfmanhalfbeer's blog, I could not resist the temptation of putting on my own apron.

After much deliberation, here is what I came up with:


In case anyone is interested in the recipe, I am happy to disclose it:

1)Put on your best clothes and head down to the supermarket.
2)Strut down the aisles and make sure your tyre pressure is OK.
3)Head to the fruit section and try to spot the more exotic options (look out for orange, green, purple and pink).
4)Give way to old ladies with speeding trolleys.
5)To make your job easier, tear off 10 plastic bags at the same time.
6)Grab whichever exotic fruit takes your fancy - don't forget the bananas for decoration, though
7)Have your selection weighed, and be careful your figs aren't squashed
8)Carefully place exotic fruits back in the trolley and travel at slow speed towards the counter
9)While waiting in queue, conjur up images of potential presentations of exotic fruit on platter of choice
10)Drive home, avoiding trucks that cause vibrations affecting the texture of your fruit
11)Get home, extract carefully packed exotic fruit and lay onto platter of choice - presentation is paramount.
12)EAT.

For some odd reason, I don't think it will be feasible to present new recipes in the near future, but if my recipes are popular, please do let me know, and I will be happy to disclose alternative recipes of taste.

The New Year

2007 marks nearly a year of me keeping this blog, which has, to an extent, reflected my thoughts and moods over the last year.

I can't say this year has hasn't had more downs than ups (especially of late) but I hope that in the wake of the several eye-opening events I have had to endure, my spirits will remain alive and positive; and my soul unscathed.

I have many other hopes, and dreams which I would love to come true with a little faith and perseverence despite any seemingly imminent setbacks.

2008 for me will be a year of facing reality and dealing with it, while continuing to fulfil my goals, and having fun along the way! :)

My sincere thanks and best wishes to all readers and passers-by over 2007. I wish all of you a great start to 2008 and a very Happy New Year!

A post

My "silence" has been due to a couple of traumatic situations in the last month or so.

Dealing with these events has taken a toll in many ways: in the short-term, I believe I am recovering; in the long-term, I hope the recovery will be as speedy.

They say, "don't lay all your eggs in one basket".

As long as I am alive, I am happy.

A TV Special

Tune into your TV special: what do you watch?

Personally, I switch between sitcoms and films; occasionally documentaries. Sometimes, I even flick between films. Does it really make a difference if I miss a few minutes between Film A and Film B? I have the best of both worlds, catching two films in the space of one; gaining two storylines!

My play button rested for the entire duration of George Clooney's appearance on David Letterman's show. This man is a great actor, no doubt, but live interviews do him no good: the constant figeting worries us body-language experts. Channel switch?

I wonder which channels you UAE-TV addicts recommmend.

Desert Secret

I cast my eyes towards the golden desert
The landscape stretching beyond a thousand miles
A million days gone by, and a million to come
The sand hits my senses, and I am alive

My vision embraces the distance
The soft contours of today and tomorrow
How those gentle dunes breathe life into my presence
How I whisper desert secrets in my eternal dreams

You are the desert
And I am pleasantly lost in you

The philosophy of love

Several people you have met, you have connected with. When you look back over the years, you recall the dreams you secretly shared. One day, you find out those dreams, on the one part, have been fulfilled.

Dreams come true; friendship goes; another love comes.

Life continues.

Philosophy is about life not making sense, and love saying hello and goodbye.

A truly good day

What is a truly good day? It's when you truly see the good, and master this skill.

I went to the Dubai Motorshow; it was really good, as usual. Though I didn't see as many new cars as I would have liked to, the show was amazing, and one of the main stars was Nissan's newest supercar, the GT-R. link

Later on, I discovered one of my favourite UAE singers' albums was released. I waltzed on in to the music shop, proclaiming to the salesman that I was his number 1 fan, only to be told I was the first to buy his album. So there: I am statistically the number 1 fan.

At the end of my mall-spree post-the-amazing-Motorshow, one or two shops kept open even until a few minutes after closing-time just because some others and I were in a rush to buy a couple of items.

Hats off to the truly-good-dayers in the UAE...now that's truly a good day!

Doctor, doctor

The Doctor is not my biggest fan, unless in times of need.

Doctor prescribes a host of medicines, whether wanted or not.

Do you need them? Does Doctor mean you need them?

Do you believe your doctor?

Eatsalad wobbles to the rescue

So whadya know. I've been without a mobile for ages, and finally got round to replacing my SIM card which had to be done miles and miles away as per Eatsalad's newest customer-friendly procedures.

How did I cope without a mobile? Well, thanks: very well indeed. I felt free as a bird, and most importantly, loved not being on the receiving end of mundane and pointless phonecalls for the best part of 3 weeks. Now that's freedom.

My re-entry into the world of telecoms was celebrated with a call from no other than the customer service man from Eatsalad who sold me the sim. He called no later than 11.30pm just to ask if everything was ok. Now that's customer service; or is it?

Nice telephone number he had: 050 ABBBBBC. Only one thing, though: he didn't look like he usually eats-salad.

3rd Death Anniversary - Shaikh Zayed in our hearts

Millions of eyes cried

When on this day you went away

Your legend will last for eternity

O, Father of the UAE

Shaikh Zayed in our hearts

Forever and always

May your soul rest in heavenly peace.

Special coverage: Zayed Remembered (Gulf News)

Shaikh Zayed: A special tribute (uaeinteract.com)

HHIE Survey #2

Following on from the last season, I say to all second generation HHIE Survey participants: let the reworded text messages ring no alarm bells.

"Income and expenditure" levels are always of an evolutionary nature, as you can see with the longer-substituted words within your SMS.

Any concerns regarding the terminology of your text message should be directed to your nearest free-of-cost dictionary, preferably in full view of your accountant.

The idea is that your "income and expenditure" should satisfy the "annual analysis".