Tourists and Sheikhs

I am having a rather strange week. First, my vehicle of choice is in the shop getting the all important A/C fixed. Second, it's crazy being without a vehicle.

And, now for the rest of the story......

I had to make a trip into Dubai the other day. It's a long story, but Munchkin #1 was with me. He had school work to do, so at one point we plopped down at a Starbucks's for a snack for him and a coffee for me. Well, a family visiting from across the Gulf (they would call it Persian) wanted to take a family picture with us in it. Hunh? I'm an ex-pat! My son is an ex-pat! We dress like ex-pats (that day was 'business casual'). Again, hunh? An obviously Emirati gentleman watched the whole thing. I think he was bothered that these people were wanting to take our picture (it's VERY rude to photograph Emiraties without their permission). He truly seemed ready to leap up to help, and he looked at that family with a rather angry expression. I think it was harmless and the whole thing was very strange. The whole thing was so fast I couldn't have done anything about it. I only hope and pray that no mischief was meant. I have never taken a picture of someone I didn't know unless it was from afar and there was no way of identifying who was actually in the photo. It just feels so invasive. So does this mean that we now look so 'at home' in this part of the world that we have become part of the 'local' color? Interesting thought....hmm....

Not a few hours later, we were driving through Dubai when we saw a white Mercedes SUV with antennas on top. You'll never guess what the license plate number was - yup - Dubai 1. As far as we know, the only person in Dubai to ever drive with that license plate number is HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai (my truly sincere apologies if I have typed that out incorrectly). It was a total hoot watching the cars on the road watch that white Mercedes. Everyone was slowing down trying to get a look at who was driving.

Hope your day is interesting.

Peace.