Dress in Oman

Just wanted to post some quick links about local dress in Oman. It's the most different of any other Arab country. Absolutely fabulous.

http://www.gowealthy.com/gowealthy/wcms/en/home/articles/travel/culture/National-Dress-of-Oman-1226221481453.html This one has the best pictures. I can't wait to shop in Muscat!

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/gallery/oman_bedouin-women-omani-burqa.html One style of Omani veil or burqa.

http://www.omanet.om/english/culture/women_dress.asp?cat=cult This one is also good.

Take the time; click the links. Truly worth it!

Storm with Thunder!

What a day this has been! We decided we needed a bit of a family treat so we went into town to the Royal Meridian for a BIG buffet breakfast out by the pool. What an awesome morning. We sat ate and talked for about 2 hours. After breakfast, we decided to have a stroll around the resort (and, Rats! I forgot my camera!). We walked down to the beach where there was a local gentleman walking a camel! The 'camel walking' was probably for tourist reasons, but still it was awesome to see.

As we walked back to our car, we noticed that a serious looking storm was brewing out over the ocean. So, we decided the best place to watch a storm blow in would be the crescent of the Palm since that's as far out into the ocean as one can get easily from land with a car! The snap above is of the storm clouds rolling in off the open water over the Atlantis hotel. We stood out on the crescent around the Palm watching lightening strike out in the ocean. Awesome stuff. (I used to make a living gathering certain kinds of 'storm data' out in coastal waters - I was not worried about the lightening.) Storms here with rain and thunder are very rare. We only see one a couple of days a year.

And...it keeps getting better.

The husband has to make a business trip to Muscat, Oman. The munchkins and I get to go with him!!!!! I'm so excited I can barely stand it! While in Oman, I'm going to try to post each day to this blog, so be watching for updates. The husband will do his business stuff, and the munchkins and I will explore as much as we can.

Enjoy the weather wherever you are! Peace.

The Season is Upon Us

Well, the temperature here is really dropping. It's currently 82F out. And, it's partly cloudy. The dark patch out over the Arabian Gulf this morning was breathtaking. We see so little change in the weather here, that we really appreciate the small changes.

Stores here are starting to sell holiday decorations. This week is UAE National Day. The colors of the UAE are red, green, white and black. The roads are hung with colored lights - UAE colors. There are also Christmas decorations up in the stores - lots of teddy bears and Father Christmases. The schools have huge boxes collecting toys for children in hospital during Eid.

I've been reading news stories coming out of the States talking about 'Black Friday' (referring to the holiday shopping day after American Thanksgiving?). This makes me so sad. I know retailers need the money. I know things are tight. Here, there are many families having to head back to their home countries because they've been 'let go' by their companies here. I heard a report this morning of over 250 'laborers' from one company being sent home.

As a child, one of my favorite Christmas programs was 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'. The Grinch realizes, "That maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store, maybe, perhaps, it means a little bit more." So, whether it's Christmas, Eid, or another joyful holiday for you, maybe this is a good time to remember what our holidays are really about.

For me this year, yes, I'm looking forward to seeing my children with new toys. But, I'm really looking forward to drinking a cup of my father's homemade wassel (or wassail) in front of a fire in the fireplace with my family. And the smells of my favorite foods wafting out of the kitchen. And just all being together warm and safe.

So, like so many, I wait in anticipation.

Peace.

The Real Middle East

As I sat here at my desk contemplating a possible trip to Muscat, Oman, I was thinking about what I'd need to pack for the trip. Should I pack my fave treking shirt? Should I pack my plain abaya for roaming the souq? Then, that got me to thinking about the stereotypes that many people have about this region.

I read in the newspaper that Queen Rania of Jordan has been doing a video project on YouTube addressing stereotypes about this part of the world. Here's a sample:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dDNf4Qybqo&feature=channel
The other videos are well worth the time to watch.

When we first moved here, many people asked me, "Aren't you scared?" Well, yeah, I was nervous about moving to a new country. "No, I mean, aren't you scared about being bombed or something?" No, if I was would I move here with my children?

Do I worry about terrorism? No. Do I worry about traffic? Yes. But is bad rush hour traffic a middle eastern stereotype? Probably not. Crazy traffic is just a fact of life when you have so many people and so many construction zones. "Don't men bother you when you go out alone?" No. People are very respectful. But, I do my best to be respectful of them. Do I run around in shorts and a tank top? No, of course not. Do I wear long skirts or comfy pants and a loose comfy but pretty blouse? Sure. Cool and comfy in the hot sun. And comfortable in a conservative culture.

So, as I sit here trying to figure out what to pack besides some money for shopping in the souqs in Muscat (if I get to make the trip), please sit and have a think about the stereotypes regarding this area. Is this region perfect? Of course not - no place is perfect. Well, maybe my parents' house, ha, ha. But, we ALL need to work at bridging the gap of understanding.

And frankly, when I think about the middle east I think about excellent hospitality, great food, amazing 4X4 driving, excellent snorkeling, and yeah, cute camels.

Peace.

A quick fireworks video of Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie5ear3bHUQ

Thanks to CNN and YouTube!

Enjoy!

Almost Back to Normal

Well, Munchkin #2's chicken pox are about done scabbing over. I think they've scabbed as much as they are going to, but she should be scabbed over for 24 hours before going back to school. So, she'll go back to school tomorrow (Enshallah).

I love this snap of traffic here. You can see how cars tend not to 'change lanes,' but rather they drift around. Traffic here tends to keep you on your toes.

The elevated bit on the right hand side of the snap is the new train transit system going in here. We're all hoping it helps. If it's convenient to use, I know that I'll use it to reach certain areas rather than drive.

I've been listening to a radio report on lady taxi drivers across the pond. Here in the area, we have lady cab drivers for transporting ladies. The cabs have a pink top. And the women cab drivers have very nice uniforms. The service seems to be in high demand. And, in my opinion, they drive more conservatively than other cab drivers. And frankly, that's not a bad thing.

And one last thing, the silver car in front of the drifting white van was sporting a blue Obama '08 bumper sticker.

Peace.

Palm Video

Hi folks! I can't post the video. Blogger is not allowing my to finish the upload. My friend found it very hard to record because the fireworks went off faster than the camera could 'capture' them. I know the camera won't do this justice, but it's worth a try. (Sorry you can't see it!!!)

The fireworks show went on for about 45 minutes (Gulf News said 15, but I've heard closer to 45 over all). At the very beginning, I am told, that the fireworks totally covered the crescent of the Palm and were going off all along the new monorail line done the center of the spine/trunk. There were a few points where they were going off primarily at the Atlantis hotel. But, the rest of the time, the crescent was 'ablaze.' Cool.

Here's the Gulf News' take on the whole thing. These snaps focus on the Hotel and not the Crescent. http://www.gulfnews.com/gngalleries/galleries/10261456.html

I've posted a very blurry picture instead.

Next News update

Hi ya folks,

Current reports:

Almost no traffic on the Palm. Sighting of some people in a car driving in circles on the Palm listening to music. Guess they are bored stuck out there! Many people hanging out on balconies, patios etc...

At about 7pm, a motorcade with police escort and an ambulance drove out onto the Palm. The question: who was it?

My buddy says she has been playing games with the family on the patio watching the world go by.

Palm News Update

http://thenational.ae/article/20081117/PAGETHREE/509502826/0/NATIONAL

Here's an article I found in the National about the Palm party. I just hope my buddy can see the fireworks from her place! If she does, I get snaps and video. Hope, hope.

http://thenational.ae/article/20081120/BUSINESS/826486005/0/NATIONAL
In this other article, I noticed a bit about Palm property values. I'm catching 'buzz' that values could drop even more. But, we'll see......

I've been reading that this party is costing anywhere from $20million U.S. to $35million U.S. Some are calling the it the biggest private party ever; some are calling it the most expensive private party ever.

Update to earlier post: http://www.gulfnews.com/tabloid/Society/10261205.html The guest list expands.

Pointless Fun News!

Crazy day in the region folks. Just saw this article:

http://www.gulfnews.com/tabloid/Society/10260970.html I know that Il Divo was just in NY for a American news show appearance and the flight from NY to the UAE is about 14 hours give or take. Hmmm.... And, I so enjoy the Gulf News.

Whoop! Ha, ha! The life of a lowly blogger! Good stuff....

Dubai is buzzing with folks trying to figure out how to see the fireworks display that is supposedly going to be WAY bigger than the one at this summer's Olympic Games. But, the Palm remains locked-down so to speak. I've got first hand reports that the normal flow of traffic on the Palm is non-existent. Almost nada for traffic. Workers normally working on construction sites on the Palm were no where to be seen earlier in the day.

Update to original post: An eyewitness on the Palm, "Cones are already going up to close lanes on the Palm itself [at 1:45pm local time]. The Al Sufouh entrance is crawling with security. As I was driving home from picking the children up a school, many eyes scanned my car at the Al Sufouh entrance looking for my parking tag."

Report from a Dubai private school mum: "Lots of mums with Palm stickers on their windshields picking children up early. Lots of Palm mums seem to be worried about being able to get home."

More later!

Ah...the saga of living in the Middle East

http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/General/10260296.html
"Atlantis party to put Palm Jumeirah residents under 'house arrest'"

I just loved the headline that went with this story about the opening of the Palm and Atlantis. I know a lady who is attempting to make arrangements to pick up kids early at school so the family can make it to their home before all of the festivities begin. Must be a real pain. But, I'm sure it's an interesting place to live. There is a lot of buzz in the area about all of this. If you internet search around, you can catch a whiff of it I'm sure.

Thinking of places to live, I was recently pricing a lease property in the Al Barsha area of Dubai for someone. It was a brand new place, never been lived in. It had no landscaping, and was what folks here call an attached villa. If you're reading this from the States, that's like a townhouse in a suburb. It had 4 bedrooms and was around 2,000 sq ft (sound like a familiar place?). Anyhow, I called the estate agent, and they are asking 350,000 AED per year for it. All the rent must be paid for up front - what they call here 'one check.' That's about $95K U.S. per year for rent. Which means that either you have to have a lot of cash in the bank or you have to take out a lone to pay the rent for the year. Well, with a credit crunch going on, it's no wonder that it feels/seems/appears that there are many empty villas and apartments in Dubai at the moment. Just an unprofessional opinion....... Out of curiosity, how does rent in the Emirate of Dubai compare with rent in other big cities: London, NY, D.C. etc....? Email me. I'm curious.

The husband and I have been invited to watch the Palm fireworks from the top of a hotel, but we had to turn it down due to the whole pox thing with poor little Munchkin #2. Plus, we're concerned about all the traffic issues that might ensue! If I manage to get my hands on any snaps or video of the event, I'll try to post them ASAP.

And the saga of life in the Middle East continues. http://www.business24-7.ae/articles/2008/11/pages/thebigdebatewillidcardsmakelifeeasier.aspx

It's the comments at the bottom of the above article that are particularly interesting. A news report just out states that professional expats have until 2010 to get theirs. http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20081119040912/Deadline%20For%20Emirates%20ID%20Card%20Extended But, the buzz going around is that these news stories are based on a misquote, and the deadline is still New Years. Sigh...the article above states that only 60,000 of the 600,000 expats who need to do this have done so. Somehow, I don't think the deadline is going to be met. Here's what Gulf News had to say about this: http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/11/19/10260911.html

Yeah, I'm feeling cynical today. Some days are just like that. Less than 5 weeks until the home country unless I can get a plane ticket sooner.

Traffic, fireworks ie... this and that

Greetings all,

Whew. Having a munchkin with chicken pox sure does make for time at home for mum! As she has slept/rested, I've been reading news and cleaning house.

First, here's a link to what I think is a press release:
http://www.atlantisthepalm.com/content/pdf/ATP_GO_Final.pdf

If I'm not mistaken, this is for the official grand opening of the Palm Jumeirah and the Atlantis Hotel. That's the press release; here's the word on the street. Only invited guests (duh) and residents are being allowed on the Palm during the event. Residents, word has it, will have to show a copy of their tenancy contract/lease/proof of ownership or some such paperwork to gain access to the Palm to get home after a certain time of day. I wonder what that's going to do to traffic out there? It'll be interesting. Regardless of traffic, the fireworks are supposed to be fabulous.

This next bit has nothing to do with life in this part of the world.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/business/15spam.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&em&oref=slogin
When I was in Austin, Minnesota in the States, I passed by the Hormel plant. It smelled very interesting. Because we are such Monty Python junkies in our house, I feel it is necessary to pass that way again to visit the Spam Museum just because. Until recently, I have always kept a can or two of the stuff in my pantry for 'just in case' times (yes it contains pork but....). Actually, it's pretty good chunked up and put in scrambled eggs. But personally, I prefer maple flavored bacon! Ha, ha.

Well, Munchkin #2's pox continue to march across her little body. She's got new ones on arms and legs. Much to her distress, the ones in her little belly button have become 'blister like' causing terrible itching. I told her to wash her hands and just scratch the ones in her little belly button. Would anyone notice a scar in a belly button? Probably not. She looked at me like I was nuts. Especially since I told her not to scratch (initially). When I had them when I was 17, I picked some spots that well, no one is gonna care if they have a scar or two, and I scratched away. It was very mentally therapeutic to scratch! Just have to be careful of infection.

Well, may you be itch free and please send a good thought to those dealing with potential traffic on the man-made island this coming Thursday!

Peace.

5 weeks, 2 days, and a wake up

Yup. 5 Weeks, 2 days until we board the plane for the home country. But, who's counting?

I have a list on my computer desktop of stuff/supplies to pick up when we're 'home.' And a crazy list it is: guitar strings, my fave deodorant brand, used golf balls, channel lock pliers, kids' history books, organic macaroni and cheese, bits of clothing. A very strange list.

I found the recipe for these cookies on a fellow blogger's site:
http://maona.net/archives/2005/12/candy_cane_cook.php
They were fabulous! I used vanilla instead of almond or peppermint (I can only get vanilla here). Yummy, yummy, yummy! We're going to make more dough next time and make red dough and green dough to try to make wreaths.

I read a story in the New York Times this morning:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/us/politics/16blackberry.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Essentially, it's about how Obama will have to give up his blackberry when he becomes president. I'm amazed. I'm not sure what world leaders do, but I don't see how anyone functions in this day and age without email. Yes, I can communicate by phone, fax or snail mail, but without my email, I would no longer 'fit in.' I travel with my laptop so I don't feel disconnected from the world. I've even discussed getting a blackberry or similar device with the husband. I feel that these handheld devices are going to become more important in the world, and I had better know how to use one! With all the things that America is capable of, I don't understand how/why the president can't use email like everyone else on the planet. Government leaders should be able to have a plethora of useful resources at their fingertips - they have tough jobs!

My husband probably would not function nearly as effectively without his blackberry. Yes, it means his 'office' can go anywhere with him. But, it also means that his 'office' can go anywhere with him. Even if he's in the middle of dinner, he can respond to a call or email immediately. No waiting to get to the laptop to check the info. He can do it anywhere. And when he travels to more remote places, the telephone way of talking just doesn't work. But, he can still receive data (email, SMS) to the blackberry.

Ok. 'Nuff rambling for today.

Peace.

Disturbing News Story and Education

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/12/afghanistan.acid.attack/index.html

I was beyond disturbed when I read this story. As a university student, especially among those who were studying to be educators, the question 'Is education a right or a privilege' was one frequently discussed. I felt that people from the U.S. saw education as a 'right' because of the public education system whereas people from other countries saw education as a privilege. Even in the States with the massive public education system, access to a certain level of education is still a privilege. Don't people buy homes in certain expensive neighborhoods to have access to those neighborhoods' schools? I know that as a parent I do everything I can to help my kids have access to the best education attainable.

Frankly, I feel that access to education should be a right, but it is not. I don't know if some folks realize what it takes to get access to education in many countries. Let alone, do folks know what it takes to get access to an education that prepares students to enter university? All the schools I see in the region where I live are surrounded by walls. Are they surrounded by walls to keep students in or to keep certain folks out? At some schools, to gain access to the campus you have to have parking permit stickers. Yes, this helps keeps kids safe, but it also highlights the world in which we find ourselves.

Education is one of the keys to peace. Please, do not take access to education for granted.

Lamborghinis and bad rashes

http://www.lamborghini.com/ I provided this link so you'll be able to see the cars to which I'm referring. If you have to ask the price on the website, you can not afford.

I couldn't remember if I had posted a snap of Munchkin #1's new pets. The one shown above is JP. JP and his brother Sammy have become much loved members of our little family.

Ok. Three points to illustrate more money than brains.
Point #1 Saw a lamborghini (they cost like what, a millions U.S. dollars?) that had just come around a curve stopped at the bottom of the curve/hill. It had a massive puddle of oil under it. They probably blew the engine.

Point #2 Saw a lamborghini parked in a parking garage (a brand new car by the way) with black rub marks all down the side from where the driver had rubbed the car against the black bumper bits on the columns in the parking garage. Obviously, the car driver was having trouble negotiating turns.

Point #3 Saw a guy pushing a lamborghini into a gas station coming off an expressway at night.

Yup. More money than brains. And these were all different cars. This is not a commentary on all lamborghini owners. Hmmm....

Munchkin #2 has a massive nasty red bump raised rash all over her torso. We went to the doc (couldn't get our usual doc) yesterday who said it is an unknown virus or allergies and prescribed an epi-pen. It's NOT allergies, duh. We have to go back today to try to get a different doc and an actual diagnosis for the school. Very frustrating. Thank goodness for good medical insurance. Each trip to the doc is 375 AED/$103 U.S.

We just need a definative diagnosis. If it's a bug that bites or a skin germ/disease, it always finds Munchkin #2. But, she's fairly peppy today. She's been making holiday crafts/cards all morning.

IL-Hamdu-lelah

IL-Hamdu-lelah/Thanks to God!

Barack Obama is the President Elect of the United States of America! And Joe Biden is the Vice President Elect of the United States of America.

I have a report of spontaneous car horn honking and cheering in the State of Washington. People are gathered to rejoice outside the gates of the White House in Washington, D.C. People are gathered to rejoice in Times Square in New York.

And, I think it's beyond cool that the little Obama girls get a puppy!

Here's a bit from the press in this region on the events of the last 6 hours:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/uselections/inside.asp?xfile=/data/uselection/2008/November/uselection_November156.xml#

http://www.gulfnews.com/world/U.S._Election/10257116.html

http://www.gulfnews.com/world/U.S._Election/10256952.html

http://www.gulfnews.com/world/U.S._Election/10257082.html

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4&section=0&article=116121&d=5&m=11&y=2008

This last article I thought was the most interesting.
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2008110521193

Yaani Ayh?/What does this mean? It means that the world sighs and waits with hopeful hearts.

Here is an article in the New York Times reflecting on 'the international community':
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05global.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss

Peace.

Shopping like a 'local'

The husband had a business meeting today in town, so I went along. I dropped him off at his meeting and then went to do a bit of early holiday shopping. One of my fave places to go is a wholesaler that sells to the public. It's in a series of warehouses in Al Quoz. This pic is one of the roads I take to get there.

All the trucks and men along the sides of the road are waiting to be hired to make deliveries/haul stuff. The 'iron' work on the backs/sides of the trucks can be very ornate. Sometimes, you come across a truck that is very colorful. Most of these were white, and you can see a green one there on the left.

The motorcycle in the pic is a delivery/messenger person. You see motorcycles all over with metal boxes strapped to the back over the rear tyre delivering anything and everything you can imagine.

I'll never forget the first time I saw one of these motorcycles delivering hamburgers from a fast food place. This was a restaurant that in the States would have a drive through. But here, you see these guys risking their lives on motorcycles delivering hamburgers and other foods. Crazy to see. We don't use pizza delivery. The husband usually goes to pick it up. One place is so used to us that as soon as the hear my voice on the phone or see the husband, they already know what we're ordering. I guess picking the food up yourself is different here, and we 'stick out' a bit.

Peace.