You don't see that very often.

From Alex's visit New Years day-Check out the contrast in clothing styles- watching the sand dune climbers.

We helped this guy get his tire back on the rim and off the dune top, then he took Alex for a ride as a thank you.

See how he drove his truck up and on top of the dune to be able to get to his tire. You deflate the tires for running in the sand and they have a tendency to come off the rims.

From Christine's visit - her Henna feet.

A closer look at the Henna - isn't it pretty?

Hi All,

Wednesday 13 January 2010

Well it has been awfully quite since Alex returned to the States. We have never been able to Skype with each other as the Academy's server just didn't support it. BUT another service just like Skype works - it's called ooVoo. Just go to Google and you will find it - it's also free. So you can Skype or ooVoo me now as well as Christine and Alex. I

I saw something today that you don't see too often, if ever, in the States.

As I was driving to work (in Abu Dhabi) on the freeway, (have I mentioned I hate driving in Dubai) and I got a quick flash of movement on the opposite side of the freeway.

Here in the UAE, they have built into the shoulder, what is labeled a "Lay By" These lay by's are for people to safely pull over and out of the way of the traffic as they are separated from the road with about a 10' wide curb/island. These lay bys can hold about 4 cars.

Well I noticed a bus parked there - which isn't uncommon as well.

Another back story is that there are no rules against waiting on the freeway for a ride so it is VERY common to see people running across the freeway or sitting beside the road waiting for their ride to come be it either a bus, a taxi or a private company van.

Ok back to the movement I saw. So it's about 6:15a, it's dark but the road is illuminated by street lights. I see this bus but the sudden movement made me really look. There standing on the island is about 20 or so men shoulder to shoulder in 4 rows who have suddenly gone to their knees then bent down to place their heads on the ground. - It's Prayer Time. and naturally , they are all facing Mecca as well. Prayers are offered 5 times daily and for the devout, the prayers should be offered as close to the time they are advertised. - Times change during the year dependant upon the month/phase of the moon etc.

Another side note - when driving be careful just before the Prayer Times - why - you would not believe the panic some Muslims get into if they are running late for the Mosque. I've been tailgated so closely that the imprint of their licence plate is on my rear bumper or passed on the shoulder by guys going easily 90 - 100 mph just to be in time for the prayers.

But it's just something you get used to.

Love to all,

Scott

There you have it - a sight that is not common in the States but very common here.

Drinks and Nibbles

Tom,6 ( Graham and Liz's son) Richard,9 and Roxanne,10 (Ross and Lisa's kids) They bring me a lot of joy.

Graham(Scottish) and Chris ( Londoner)

Ross and Lisa (Australian's Gold Coasters)

Liz and Paula (Scot and English) with Martin, Paula's husband, and Alex

Opps got Ross and Lisa twice.

Bassam, Martin and Alex

Hi All,

9 Jan. 2010

If you haven't read the previous 3 posts ( Alex's visit, Alex and Al Ain and Alex in Dubai) click on older posts ( at bottom) and read them first then return to here.

We returned from Dubai and I had to work. Alex hung around the house on Monday as he wasn't feeling too well to be away from a bathroom for long. I made Chicken Picatta that evening - and although I had to use red wine instead of white - it turned out well as evidenced by the lack of left overs and clean plates. The next day Tuesday, I took Alex to work with me where I introduced him around and he was able to practice some of his Arabic - English is so universally spoken that even the locals slip into English at times. Alex was surprising them with his speaking skills and they were very appreciative of his efforts.

We came home and prepared for a party I hand planned with some of my friends - Liz had done the same a few weeks ago and called it Drinks and Nibbles (implying no dinner will be served) and I copied her.

There are new people in the pictures. Graham, Chris and Liz have been in my pictures before but Ross and Lisa - maybe not - Ross works at SEHA which is the governing body of the government hospitals of which Mafraq is one. Ross is an IT systems analyst/ project management guy. His wife and kids arrived a few weeks before Christmas. Relative new comers , they still have their heads on a swivel. The kids have just started school 2 days before and are happy to be back into a regular schedule. Lisa is happy to to have them out of the house as well and involved in activities.

Basam is my friend from the hospital who I mentioned in the Alex's visit blog. He's single and missing his dog he had to leave behind with friends.

Martin and Paula are people I met this summer briefly at the pool then again at Liz and Grahams party. Martin is a "retired" Royal Navy Captain. He now is training the UAE Navy. He can't be too specific about what he does but we have had many a conversation about the pirates off the Somali coast and how they have gone about trying to police the area when he was on active duty. Since Chris and Graham are both in the shipping business and how their operations are being affected by the pirates, it leads to some lively discussions on how to identify and deal with the pirates. Graham is the fleet captain responsible for all the ships in the companies line and Chris is a finance guy who leverages world markets to the advantage of the line.

Another interesting thing about Martin is that he also taught navigation at USNA, Annapolis for 2 years. Alex and he hit it off right away. I asked Paula what she did in the US to keep herself occupied and Martin interrupted with "Longerberger Baskets" She laughed and said she owns at least 50 baskets and has traveled to Dresden, Ohio for the factory tour etc.. They lived on the Yard on Hospital Point. They have two kids Emily 13 (going on 25) who is with them here and a son who is 17 who lives in England and lives with Martin's brother as he is in his last semester of high school.

I had made 3 different types of dip and cooked some kielbasi up on the grill when everyone was here. Along with the rum, 2 types of beer red wine and whiskey, there was plenty to eat and drink.

Next day was Alex's last full day. Chris and Graham took him downtown where he caught a cab over to the Abu Dhabi Mall and bought a ticket for the Big Red Bus - a tour line that you can get on/off of at various stops along the way of interest. He then caught a cab for home after this. I had given him my cell phone so we were able to keep in communication with each other from my office. I also gave him a map to show the cabbie how to get to our villa- and he needed it - but Alex had to navigate for him as he was out of his element - must be only a downtown driver as Alex said he was unfamiliar with the area completely.

That night I made seafood pasta with the huge shrimps Alex and I bought the first evening he was here at the fish market. I'll be eating the leftovers tonight.

Thursday 7 January finally rolled around and Alex spent the day working out, laid by the pool and packed. I was home at 3:30 and we enjoyed out last hours watching a move and having cocktails. At 6:30 the driver arrived and we loaded him up for the trip to the Dubai airport. My Head of Purchasing, Noora Al Mansouri, had arranged a driver for Alex (have I mentioned I hate driving in Dubai). I logged on and was assured his plane had taken off and followed it until it's arrival in Atlanta. I spoke with Alex this morning and his journey did not end until 3:30p that afternoon as his flight to Baltimore was delayed 2 1/2 hours for de-icing in Atlanta, then when he arrived his baggage was 2 flights behind him and was being delivered Friday evening shortly after we were to be done talking as the driver was enroute with his bags. All he had to do was collect them from the gate when he called. He was exhausted - and has duty both Sat and Sunday.

It was wonderful having him all to myself for those 9 days and I miss him terribly already. The good news is that Christine arrives in 61 days. And yes, I am counting.

Love to all

Scott

Alex and Dubai

The Burj Khalifa

The day before the opening - army of ants planting trees.

Alex and the Burj

The water wall at the mall

Sushi conveyor belt.

The water taxi's from one side of Dubai's "Creek" to the other.

Alex at the water taxi landing.

We found the textile market and it was very interesting.

Guess what we bought here?

Shesha pipes. One thing we didn't get the opportunity to do.

If you haven't read "Alex's Visit and Alex and Al Ain" posts before this go there now ( older posts) and read and come back to this one.

Hi All

9 Jan 2009

( yes I'm writing all these posts in one day)

Alex and I traveled to Dubai on Jan 2 and withing a few miles of our destination , missed the right exit and had to take a 20 mile detour to get back to the exit.- I hate driving in Dubai and this was the first salvo. We finally got to the hotel, got the bags out at the curb- no valet service and I parked the car. Got to the desk and presented my information and - I'm not in their computer- ACK - upon further investigation, I'm in their other hotel about 2 miles away.

We load up the car and with map in hand go in search of the other hotel. Well about 1/2 hour later, we finally find it. It's so new, the driveway is still dirt and with the rain they had the previous day, now mud. We get checked in and go up to the room. I knew this was a 'budget" hotel when I booked it, it was clean- but it was small. I could almost reach out my arms and touch both walls. The beds were cot size and if you wanted to change your mind, you had to go out in the hall. Never the less, it was our home for the night.

Alex and I went over to the Emirates Mall - about 3 miles away- where the indoor ski slope is - unfortunately we had forgotten the camera. so no pictures of this with him. The mall was PACKED. So we decided to find something else to see. We returned to the hotel and got the camera and drove into the old downtown. - which was not my original destination - but you can get so lost so easily here - I hate driving in Dubai.

Well we made it to the wrong side of the Dubai Creek - which actually turned out to be a good thing as we took the water taxi to the other side and found the Textile market. There we purchased some pashminas and walked around the area. I've never felt endangered in the UAE and this day was no exception. Walking narrow alleys with all the shops -and people trying to sell you fake Rolex's - they mention this under their breath - I didn't carry a watch that day and told them I didn't care about time - they looked at me like I was crazy. Alex and I found a street side schwarma vendor and got 2 each to eat while we walked. Took the edge off the hunger we were both feeling as we hadn't eaten since we left Al Ain when we stopped into a LuLu's Hypermarket - Just as modern as any supermarket in the States - and they all have freshly cooked food as well - so Alex and I got some spicy Chicken kabobs, and Arabia bread and ate it as we drove.

After the textile market we took the water taxi back, retrieved the car and drove to another new location for me - the Palm Jumeriah - yes the man made island made to look like a palm tree. Well - from ground level - you wouldn't know if it was a palm or a pineapple - but the hotels on the trunk were impressive - but nothing like the Atlantis Hotel which sits at the very top of the outer ring. There we walked thought the shops area and their HUGE aquarium - made to look like the lost city of Atlantis. I was contemplating eating at one of their high priced restaurants however Alex and I were not overly hungry thanks to the schwarma so we returned to the car after our look around and returned to the hotel where we ate cheese and crackers and had our cocktails (we had taken rum and Alex's Jack Daniels with us to enjoy)

We watched TVfor a while then off to sleep - well we tried to sleep - If you don't know it I have sleep apnea and I use a sleep machine - well I sent it home with Christine so as not to have to carry it back and forth each trip and I acquired a new one here in the UAE - unfortunately it came with the wrong mask - so I am waiting for it to arrive - so I didn't have my machine and when I don't have it, I snore terribly plus I wake up intermittently throughout the night as well with apnea. So here I am snoring, Alex with pillow on his head to try to drown out the sound and me close enough for him to reach out and punch me on beds so small an army cot would look spacious. It was a long night for both of us.

Next morning we pack up and got out and over to the Dubai Mall. This is right next to the Burj Dubai , now known as the Burj Khalifa - the tallest building in the world. The grand opening is the next day Jan 4. As we watched the preparations , there looked to be at least 2000 workers planting palm trees ,putting down sod and getting the area ready for the opening. literally looked like an army of ants. From there we went inside and had lunch - at a sushi bar which has a conveyor belt that transports the food around to all the tables. each bowl is color coded and all they do is add them up at the end of the meal. Alex and I greatly enjoyed this and ate our fill.

We then walked off some of the meal, returned to the car - found our way back to the main highway ( did I mention I hate driving in Dubai) and headed for home. We stopped by the grocery store and got lamb chops which I grilled that evening. It was a lovely end to a 4 day mini-vacation.

Next blog - Drinks and Nibbles

Love to all

Scott

Alex and Al Ain

Ali Majed, Alex and Eid Al Mansouri

Alex and the 2 seat dune buggy. At the end of the day Alex was whipping this buggy around the dunes like he had been doing it for years.

Alex getting ready to take his Dad out and to give him a heart attack.

The BIG sand dune - about 100 feet tall - you get the scale with the size of the SUV climbing the hill.

Ali and Alex going forward - sideways - in Ali's SUV.

If you haven't read the blog ' Alex's Visit" prior to this, do so then come to this one

Hi All

Sat 9 Jan 2009

Well as you could tell , the wedding was really interesting. Sure do wish I had taken a camera.

Thursday Dec. 31 , Alex and I got out of the house for the drive to Al Ain - which is about 2 hr's though the desert. Christine and I were there before so I tried to go to different places with Alex. We checked into the Intercontinental Hotel, and went out for a swim. Alex laid by the pool reading but finally got tired of fighting the flies. Here in the UAE, the winter time is like early summer - absolutely beautiful weather - but the downside is the flies. I guess you get used to them after a while - but not us and they do swarm - so we got in the pool and took advantage of the swim up bar and had a beer. well it was still early so we went out to Sheikh Zayed's palace and toured it. We drove around town trying to find another museum but got thoroughly lost and headed back to the hotel. We had reservations at 7 for dinner so we got cleaned up for that. Since it was New Years Eve, they had a set menu - basically steak /potatoes - nothing fancy in the English pub restaurant. Alex and I were not that impressed - they did have Guinness so that was a blessing. We both could really care less about staying up till midnight so we went back to the room, relaxed, watched some TV and fell asleep long before midnight.

The next day we both got up and worked out. I swam and Alex was in the health center. We got cleaned up and out the door to drive about 50 km to meet with one of my friends from the hospital, Eid Al Mansouri. Eid had arranged for a friend to bring his dune buggy to the desert so we could go riding. It just so happens that his friend also works for me - Ali Majed.

There Alex rode with Ali in the dune buggy and in Ali's SUV as Eid and I watched. I'm not keen on going forward while at the same time fearing that the vehicle is going to tumble down the side of a dune - I must have gotten old somewhere along the line. - but Alex loved it. Ali invited Alex to drive the dune buggy and after 15 min, Alex was ripping up and down the dunes like an old pro. Then it was my turn to ride with Alex - Oh Joy - now I'm at his mercy as he careens madly up down and sideways over these dunes. luckily the passenger has a handlebar to hold onto as I'm sure without it, I would have been even more terrified. - BUT it was a lot of fun when he was less daring.

Eid had built a fire and as Alex and I returned - it was almost dark - in fact we had turned on the buggy's lights- Eid and Ali were roasting chestnuts. We sat there in the dimming light watching the other dune bashers climb the huge 100' dune and the stars come out in the desert night. Quite memorable and as Alex put it , the highlight of his trip.

One side note, as we entered the desert, I had to park my car and we got into Eid's SUV as the car would have bogged down in the sand. We were about a mile into the desert - and although there are no "roads" there is is well worn path. Suddenly to our left is a camel - sitting on a small dune just hanging out. We then looked left and there is a dumpster - yes an odd sight to see in the desert , but odder still were the 6 -8 camels - dumpster diving. I've seen bears in dumpsters but never camels.

Eid told me that they usually run the dune buggy's till late, camp out in the desert over night and then run them in the early morning and come home after that. We did see many people setting up tents during our runs in the dune buggy.

It was dark and we loaded up and headed back to Al Ain.

Our plan was to get back to the hotel, get cleaned up and to eat in the hotel's Asian themed restaurant - both Alex and I like sushi and we were looking forward to availing ourselves to their fare. However, a week earlier, I was speaking to the materials manager at the Al Ain hospital and I asked him where any good local restaurants were as the hotel ones are always over priced and not "local". He told me about 'The Golden Sheep'. Well I spied it as we were on the way to the hotel and although dirty and dusty, we turned around and headed for it. It was a wise choice. Nothing fancy but the food was good and much less expensive that the hotels would have been. We ate lamb chops, and lamb kabobs - the kabobs were better. We also had an appetizer of humus along with the platter of fresh carrot sticks and the traditional olive plate with pickles and peppers. Alex had mango juice and I had water - all for $20 US - yes $20, We would have spent at least $120 US at the hotel.

One side note to this - as your sitting there eating, there is a regular honking of car horns. Although Alex didn't pick up on it, I told him that the car horns are by locals who come to the restaurant but don't want to come inside - it's a car hop service. The restaurant stations waiters outside who go and collects the orders and then delivers to the car. - I've read that in Abu Dhabi certain late night stores - even "7- Eleven's " have this service as well. - The neighbors hate them as the honking can be and is persistent and at 1 a.m. is awfully disruptive.

We returned to the hotel, went to the Pub where each of us had a beer and then up to the room and asleep by 10p - exhausted from a wonderful day.

The next morning up to work out again and then packed and out the door for our drive to Dubai.
Dubai is the next blog.

Love you

Scott

Alex's Visit

Alex and I in Al Ain at Sheikh Zayed's palace. A historical site now, Sheikh Zayed was the founder of the UAE and is held in great esteem - as we would with George Washington. As this picture was being taken, the call to prayer was being broadcast around the city,

At the palace, this urn caught my attention - beautiful workmanship and the lashed holder is very interesting as well.

Outside the palace.

Alex and his not so happy to be having his picture taken look.

This is the invitation to the wedding reception- sorry it's not more clear - I'll try in the next blog to get a better closeup of it.

Hi All,

Sat. 9 Jan. 2010

It's been a while since I've blogged as I was waiting for Alex to come over and to share those experiences with you.

Alex arrived on Dec.28 in Dubai which is about 1 1/2 hrs away travel time. The first few days Alex spent getting his head out of the jet lag and relaxing as I worked. On Dec. 30 we attended the wedding of an Emirati co-worker. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures as I was advised not to bring a camera.

We arrived at the reception hall at the designated time - 8p and waited around outside as it appeared that it was one of those come fashionably late Emirati style timings. Humaid ( who works for me) and is the brother of the goom came outside and ushered us in. As we entered, we see sofas lined up against the wall in a long line and here is Abdullah (the groom) with all the relatives which greet us down the line. As we near the end of the line, Humaid insists we sit on the sofa's -We've officially joined the wedding party. Porters with fruit juices - strawberry, mango, guava etc come up and offer us a glass as other porters appear with Arabian coffee - which is drunk from small handle-less cups and straight - it's bitter but it grows on you and the caffene buzz is strong - if you want more you hold it out and the porter fills it again - if done you hold it out and shake it where by the porter will take your cup. This is a very traditional welcome custom here.

Next about 20 men got up and performed Emirati songs and dances forming 2 lines at right angles to each other , they sang to prerecorded songs - An Emirati Karaoke. All the while men (in their "man-dresses") are "dancing" and spinning their small canes. This whole scene is being recorded by a video camera on a boom stand which flowed around the room. Alex and I are featured prominently in the videos. While all this is occurring , porters are bringing trays of sweets and chocolates, more juices coffee etc.

After about 45 min( or more) we decided to move over to where some of the other hospital crowd was gathering and we sat and talked with them until we moved into the banquet hall.

The banquet was overwhelming. each of the 8 person round tables was covered in food - so much so it was a challenge to find space to set your glass down. - I am not exaggerating - two large meat /rice platters - one roasted lamb the other roasted goat anchored the table. ( The goat was marvelous) There was humus, babaganush, stuffed grape leaves, a chicken dish that is like pureed chicken, a stew with lamb and okra, fresh fruit, olive platter, another chicken dish more like roasted chicken, lamb and chicken kabobs, then all the sweets, the traditional bread pudding that has pistachios in it plus doughnut hole type things, brownies, petie fors?(sp) , and other dishes I know I sampled but forgot to list. - A massive amount of food. After we finally admitted defeat, we returned to the main hall where there was a live band playing - couple of guys on keyboards and the rest with hand drums and one singer. As it was after 10p and the next day was a work day , we and most of the guests were filtering out. Got our photos taken with the groom and out we went. and home by 11p. Since I was off the next day - Alex and I were traveling to Al Ain - we weren't too concerned with the time however Bassam - a friend who was born in Lebanon - but is naturalized US citizen from San Diego who is the Medical Records Director went along with us ( he also lives here in the compound) had to work so we dropped him off and came home.

Now let me tell you about who wasn't there - the bride. The women hold a separate party in the next room. Our party was men only just as theirs is women only. The invitation to the wedding does not have the brides name on it - it refers to her as "The daughter of Zayed Eisa Murbarak Al Mansouri". Humaid was showing us how they decorated Abdullah's car ( flowers on hood, cloth streamers etc) and I asked him about the name of the bride and he visibly blushed. Woman's privacy is closely guarded here and to tell me her name would have violated this custom. In fact when meeting another Emirati man, you can ask about his family - but not his wife -it's just not done to inquire after her.

We had a great time and the experience was memorable.

Well this is all for this post next one Al Ain.

Love to all

Scott