Main Attractions

Whilst living in Dubai, I unfortunately did not have too many opportunities to actually leave the city, or do anything super-touristy for that matter. Once I went to Sharjah, a nearby Emirate, but I slept during the scenic drive. I am sure there were palm trees and a lot of white buildings.

When Trish was in town I finally was able to visit Abu Dhabi. Interestingly enough, when I originally moved to Dubai the plan was for me eventually open a branch in Abu Dhabi. But that never materialized. Well, we opened a shop there but everything was baked in Dubai, and thus I stayed there.

Anyhoo, Easter Sunday (which is a typical work day in the Middle East) Trish and I hopped into my little rental car and with a few instructions we were off to visit Abu Dhabi. I was a bit nervous about the drive and figured I would know I made a wrong turn once I hit the Saudi border. Miraculously the drive was quite easy. The only problem I had was the lack of cruise control on my car--and that beeping noise the car made every time I went over the speed limit. Which was, incidentally, 120 km per hour. The cars around us were going 120 miles per hour.

Abu Dhabi isn't at all like Dubai. Dubai has all of that crazy architecture, and Abu Dhabi is more suburban. They do have their wild construction plans, but the Emirate is very conservative in their spending habits--if they don't have the dirhams, they don't build. This is why they can bail out Dubai who is a bit more like the prodigal son when it comes to spending that oil inheritance.

The main attraction in Abu Dhabi is the Sheik Rashid Mosque--which, unlike most mosques, is actually open to the public a few hours of the day. It is gorgeous.

In order to go in, all women had to put on the abaya and shayla--the black robes and head scarves. I was kind of excited to see what I looked like in that traditional dress that I had seen for over a year. Of course the ones they hand out at the mosque are rather generic and lack all the fancy trimming, but it was very cool nonetheless. Well, not necessarily temperature cool...

In a way, the mosque reminded me of our Mormon temples: special clothes, white, chandeliers, and breathtaking details. However, there is a lack of furniture in mosques, but that is replaced with fabulous rugs.

It was hard deciding which pictures to post. I can't wait to see my friend's pictures--since she's a professional photographer...

After the mosque we parked at the beach and decided to walk to our next destination. Five minutes later we were back in our car because it was just too friggin' hot. In no time at all we arrived at the Emirates Palace: a grand hotel, concert venue, and current residence of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan: Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates. We saw his car. In fact, I may or may not have parked in the guest parking lot. It looked like some guard was trying to flag me down, but since no one came running after me with machine guns, I figured we were fine. What tipped me off to my probable error was the lack of other guest cars, and the presence of more official looking vehicles with the special military license plates. But like I said, no one came chasing after me with any sort of artillery.

I really wanted to run through the fountain at the Emirates Palace, but I was already on thin ice with my parking choices, so I wisely opted against it. Trish and I did have our bathing suits, so we decided to cool off at Aquaventure--the a-mazing water park at the Atlantis Hotel. I was a trifle nervous at first. Water parks have two items that I am a bit scared of: water and heights. So before I entered each ride I repeated the following mantra: "No One Has Died at this Waterpark."

Since I didn't drown, I had a pretty good time. I refused to go on the one that went straight down, instead I re-enjoyed the ride that ends up in a shark tank. Note the above picture so that you will know that there is a plexiglass wall separating the sharks from park patrons. It was pretty cool. And the water did it's job in cooling us off on such a hot day.

Blowing the Dust Off

Hi! Remember me? I used to blog here, and post pictures about some of the places I've been. I know what you are thinking. I came home from those places over a month ago, and I have no blog post to show for it. To ease your worry--because I know you are more worried than annoyed-- I did not die in a plane crash; I am not still stuck in Dubai; I didn't run away; and I didn't get kidnapped by terrorists.

I did get kidnapped by two strong forces however: laziness and ambivalence. And I am just trying little by little to break free from their grasps and finish writing about the Middle East and posting the pictures (you are going to love the pictures). With a little more strength I may break free enough to look for a job. (It's a horrible task that makes a Stockholm Syndrome victim.)

Well, I have started the job search process, but let's just say the "old college try" is feeling very "backwater technical school half-hearted attempt." It would help if I knew what I wanted.

My captivity has been mildly productive. I decorated my room; started to re-readed the Anne of Green Gables series; cleaned out all of my boxes; got caught up on Criminal Minds; and blew my mom and sister's high scores on Mah Jong completely out of the water. Sadly none of these things actually brings one closer to employment.

But it does make for a happy kidnap-ee. Now it is time to start Anne of the Island.

The Beginning of the End

Since I have been so, umm, fortunate to stay in Dubai for an extra week, I thought I should tell you all about the nice time that I've had during my last days in Dubai. The best part of these last days has been that I haven't had to work. Amazing what a difference that makes! During these weeks of funemployment I've beginning to think that Dubai wouldn't be such a horrible place to live, if I had a better job. Or better yet a husband with a good paying job...

Just a few short days after I set myself free from that one bakery job that I used to have, I welcomed a guest that helped me finally enjoy this part of the world. My very cool friend Trish arrived in the morning on April 3rd, and we set immediately set off for a week of fun. Since we had so much fun, I will have to make separate posts for each day. This post is Trish's first day in town, obviously.

I decided to rent a car, so I was solely responsible for driving us around the town, and I do not need to lie about being incredibly nervous about it. When I drive around an unfamiliar city, I like to have a navigator--preferably a navigator who knows which streets are which. Last August I got to drive around pretty successfully, but this place had a good 8 months to move large buildings and roads to make it feel like driving in a whole new city.

So when I made it to the Bur Dubai/Deira neighborhoods without having to backtrack, make a U-turn, or curse the transit authority, I was completely and utterly pleasantly surprised.

The above photos can give you an idea of what one can find in Deira. I've blogged about it a bit before. It was actually the first "touristy" thing I did when I finally got my first day off. Deira is one of the original parts of Dubai so it is not as polished and clean as the main places. Even though it isn't as pretty, it brings in tourists with the dhow rides across the creek; spice, gold, and textile markets; and historical museums with some original houses.

We first walked around the Bastikaya area looking at the home of one of the old sheiks, and it described the architecture and design of typical arabic homes. One feature that used nowadays, except just as decoration, are the wind towers. These boxy towers directed breezes throughout the homes as early air-conditioning.

Then we got on a dhow and headed across the creek for the souks. It was a hot day, and part of me wanted to swim across. Except that I don't swim.

We wandered the souks, bought some spices (frankincense, vanilla, and saffron), looked at the gold jewelry, and avoided the guys selling knock-off handbags. We ate our first Arabic meal of the week: hummous, kebbeh, and shish taouk.

After getting enough sun to get quite sunburnt, we went to the Souk Madinat--a newer souk designed to look old, and with shops meant for tourists with fat wallets.

But it is the place to buy camel chocolate. So we bought some.

We needed to have some beach time, and although the sun was setting we still decided to get some sand between the toes. I showed Trish the beach with the cool rubberized running track. Sadly the tide was too high for cool tide pools are starfish.

I am sure Trish was exhausted having just arrived from NYC that morning, but she was still game for a trip to the Dubai Mall, which frankly is my most favorite shopping center. We met up with some families from church and had dinner at the food court. Not necessarily the most fancy place to eat dinner. But trust me when I say that Dubai food court options have a tendency to be a bit better than your average mall. We ate at Fatburger. It's pretty tasty.

Then I dragged the sleepy Trish through the mall to look at fancy stuff.

And after wandering around the largest mall with the largest fountain, it was certainly time to call it a day.

In the Event of an Unexpected Volcanic Eruption

At the end of March, employees of British Airways airlines decided to go on strike. I watched strike updates rather nervously because in all of my air travel issues I have yet to experience flight troubles due to a strike. I was due.

However, the strike was short and everything resumed as normal. I packed, set myself free from that bakery job, took a trip to Jordan (that I will be blogging about soon), and waited with anticipation to finally leave Dubai for good.

In two hours from right now I should be at the airport with flight documents in hand, packed suitcase in tow, and a charming new bag on my shoulder. I should be popping the Dramamine and making those final good-byes. Instead I am sitting at my friend's house with clothes strewn about the room I am using, typing this blog, trying to avoid a meltdown, trying not to think about how I am supposed to get home, and wondering if a good bowl of ice cream will solve this dilemma.

All because a couple of volcanoes in Iceland had to blow off some steam.

A few weeks ago I read about their initial rumblings, but nothing came to mind that maybe I should re-book my flights. I, who has a knack for travel scrapes, should have seen it coming. I've had delays due to engine problems, storms, 9/11, undisclosed annoyances, missing pilots, and now finally I can add volcanic eruptions to that list. It's like a dream come true.

But it's actually more like those frantic dreams that you have when feverish. You sleep without sleeping--frustrated because you can't seem to get some elusive thing done. That was today.

On Friday I heard murmurings of flight cancellations due to some volcanoes, and was a little worried--but not too worried--that I might also experience a delay. Twenty-four hours before my flight was to take off, I checked the British Airways Web site, and they stated that my flight was still taking off at the planned time. By the time I woke up six hours later, the plans had been changed, and my flight was indeed cancelled. My options were: re-book or get a refund.

Maybe I should stop and preface a little by letting you know about my proposed flight plans:

Sunday April 18th, 1:45 am: leave for London--visit with friends, get lost in city

Thursday April 22nd: take a train to Coventry to visit a friend and then check out Manchester

Sunday April 25: take train back to London

Monday April 26: fly to NYC--hang out with Angie who is traveling from Utah, visit old friends, buy new bras at the magic store

Friday April 30: fly to Spokane, Washington

My flights to London and NYC were part of a British Airways multi-city package. The trip to Spokane on Alaska Airlines is not. Re-booking with BA would be free, but that's not the case with the Alaska Airlines flight. And I don't want to spend too much extra money getting home.

When speaking with the friendly BA staff on the phone this morning, I was told I could get a flight out of Dubai on the 26th. Do you see a problem? I do. Of course the NYC flight could get re-booked as well, but it leaves me with a dilemma: which part of my trip do I cut out? The part in the UK London or the NYC part? Plus, if I am going to cut out London entirely, I would rather take a non-stop flight to NYC from Dubai, which would save me a couple of hours travel-time. So I decided to look around before making any decisions.

My friend Toria looked at a few sites and we found a flight leaving for London on TunisAir on the 20th. We also found cheap flight from London to NYC on the 26th on American Airlines (not my favorite airline, but the price was good). So I decided to get a refund from BA. After one near meltdown, a couple of dropped calls, and an accumulative time of one hour on hold with the aforementioned BA telephone staff, I got a full refund on my tickets (and an option to leave for London on the 27th. Which I declined.)

I then purchased my TunisAir tickets in cash to leave Dubai on the 20th. I felt good, even though during the whole transaction I lost about $200.

Fifteen minutes after buying my tickets, I got a call from TunisAir stating that they have cancelled all flights to Europe until further notice, and that I need to go back and get my refund. They did tell me that they would let me buy the ticket back if flights are resumed by that time.

So, yeah. This is where I am at right now: sitting on my bed, typing, with a splitting headache, and trying to get some idea how to fix this problem. A friend's husband is stuck in London, and he said it isn't worth trying to get another flight for a full week. (!!!!)

I seriously don't know what to do, and don't really want to think about it.

All I do know is that I need to work on my foresight skills.

Across the Airwaves

A few weeks ago in one of my "What I'll Miss" installments (that I am behind on, I know...) I talked about the radio station I have enjoyed listening to over here: Dubai 92. Remember how I wrote that for a while I was pretty sure they were my only friends? Well now I have actually met a couple of the morning DJs. Here's how it went down:

The station is having a contest called "The Hook-Up." Listeners can call in and ask for help getting whatever it is they need. Really, anything. Even though I am pretty much pessimistic about winning radio contests, I even called in with a request--non-bakery type clothing. The second part of the contest is for people who can provide the chosen listener with a hook-up. The daily giver gets dinner for two at a nice restaurant and a chance to win a prize of 15,000 dirhams of free advertising. So as we listen to the radio each morning, I have been listening to see if the bakery would have an opportunity to assist.

Lo and behold after a few days, the DJs announce a request a British lady made for a space-themed birthday cake for her soon-to-be six year-old son. I immediately called the station and stated that we would be more than happy to help. Since we've had a few promotions with them lately, they were really glad that we volunteered. They also stated that they needed a bakery representative to present the cake plan to the little boy at the radio station. My boss said I could go, since it was my idea to help out.

Needless to say, I was pretty excited. I got in a cab the next morning and headed straight to Studio City (a part of Dubai where all the broadcast studios are). My appearance was a surprise to the mother and son. (Well, we were all in the studio, they didn't know who I was.) On air, the DJ's described the request, and then presented me, and this is where I got to talk into the microphone and present the cake idea to the family. The staff and I drew up a three-tiered cake with the top tier decorated as the sun, and the bottom-two decorated as our solar system with planets, stars, and spaceships. We also decided to throw in some alien cupcakes.


here is a photo from that day that I got off the station's Web site. I just colored my hair that dark, and I think it looks rather smashing.

It was so much fun! When I got back the staff all told me that I was now famous. The radio station played the clip a few times a day and I actually got to hear my voice. Or rather, what is apparently my voice because it did not sound like me. (Really, I sound like a Valley Girl with a lisp? I have a lisp?) But it was very cool to actually talk on the radio--and not just a call-in thing either. So that was my 15 minutes of fame.

I do want to post a picture of the cake, but right now my internet is out at home. I haven't figured out how to download my pictures to the work computer. (I swear, everyday it's a new method.) It turned out great, and the family really liked it.

And if we all believe in good Karma, maybe this good deed means that my Hook-Up request will be granted!

Kinda Don't Get What All The Fuss Is About

Author's note: This post is heavy on Mormon culture and doctrine. Please let me know if you would like any sort of clarification.

Maybe I've spent too much time in New York/abroad/hanging out with foreigners/under-employed, but I don't really have a problem with the new Healthcare Bill/Law thingy. It's probably not a perfect plan, but it is a step in the right direction. For some reason, which I don't totally understand, it is a touchy subject. In my head I think what's so wrong about helping people get health insurance? Are people upset because the government is, heaven forbid, forcing people to have health insurance? (Aren't we mandated by law to carry auto insurance? No one seems to be bothered by this.)

I think the biggest issue that freedom-loving people have is that this health plan smacks of socialism. And with recent poor choices the government and large corporations have made during the financial crisis, I can see that maybe certain factions of the American public might be a bit concerned that this country is headed down the road that leads to sickles and hammers on our flag. I'm sorry, but I think that is a little extreme.

I've been trying to balance my opinions about socialism and the Mormon doctrine of a Zion community, i.e. the United Order. So I've been trying to do some research into what church leaders have taught about the Law of Consecration/United Order and the political/economic theory of socialism. Now, this isn't PhD level of research here, but these are my first thoughts.

On a very basic level, the two concepts have more or less the same goal (don't you love my vagueness) in providing a level financial equality for everyone. The difference is in the undertaking: socialism is equality by law, and Law of Consecration is by choice. Naturally, freedom-lovers everywhere would prefer to give by choice. And why not? Feelings of compassion and charity make us feel good and want to give more, as well as make us closer to God. However, feelings of selfishness tend to overcome desires to good to fellowmen, and thus socialistic ideals kick in to force people to give to others.

In my small research I came across talks from church leaders Marion G. Romney and Ezra Taft Benson that decry the dangers of socialism, and in the case of Romney's talk compared it with the United Order. Both talks were moving and informative, but it didn't make me want to write my congressman a scathing letter against healthcare reform. Both talks were written in the 1960's, and although I have little knowledge about the era, I do know that our country was reeling from the effects of the Red Scare and McCarthyism, and at the time socialism was indeed the Big Bad Wolf knocking at our door. Romney mentioned his fear for our country after watching many European nations adopt socialist ideals into their government. Scandinavian countries are indeed socialist, but not in the way of pre-WWII Germany, the USSR, or China. They certainly do pay a heaping amount in taxes (70%), but don't live under the rule of tyrannical dictators. Instead everyone gets to go to college and has free healthcare. True, Great Britain, France, Canada, and Japan have socialized programs like healthcare, but capitalism is still alive (although maybe not well) in all those, and other, industrialized nations. So while it looked that they were heading straight into Marxist ideals, it appears that a balance was struck.

That is the benefit of a two-party system, most likely: creating a balance of finding ways to take care of basic needs while watch-guarding the loss of certain freedoms. (And I am upset that both sides couldn't/wouldn't try harder to come up with a bipartisan plan.) So the question in my head that remains is: does the new healthcare law really limit our freedoms?

I don't have time to look at all news outlet's coverage of the Bill, and it is hard to find news providers that have unbiased views of the plan, and can explain in simple terms what it means to each individual. To me, it appears that government would still prefer us to get insurance through an employer. (And I don't know too many people who have declined that kind of coverage because it limited a personal freedom.) What is needed, and where the bill is (hopefully) headed, is providing a way for people to get affordable insurance if they can't get it through an employer. I've been in that situation. I understand that need. Would I have purchased a plan that was affordable? Hell, yes. $600/month (those COBRA rates given to me when I lost my job) is not affordable. The proposed exchange suggests I could pay no more than $220/ month. I could have paid for that.

Of course no one likes the thought of having to pay more taxes, and it looks like the wealthy are going to have to once-again pay the brunt of it. Luckily, I don't really fall into that category. However, after experiencing the life without health insurance and worrying about paying for my monthly prescription and/or catastrophic health problems, I feel okay about paying a bit more to avoid those concerns for myself and for people close to me. I feel that not worrying about potential bankruptcy due to staggering medical bills (for me or anyone) is a personal freedom. That is the attitude I hope to have when we have to fully live the Law of Consecration.

A friend pointed out this site:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/what-health-bill-means-for-you/
I think it is helpful in explaining the plan in the way that applies to your own financial situation.

I don't know/care if you agree with the above or not. This has been weighing on my mind, and I thought I would share how I came up with my choice to agree with the healthcare plan. I am sure it is not the perfect plan, but like I said above it is a step in the right direction.

After you got done reading this, you probably thinking the same thing as me: Pulitzer, right?

It's a Good Thing I Only Went to Global Village Twice

I have already mentioned Global Village, but in the interest of putting more pictures on my blog, I thought I'd talk about my second trip...which took place probably a month ago.

This particular trip I actually got to stay a bit longer since we went the night before a day off. We were in a much smaller group (5 total), and were able to easily split into smaller groups when necessary. We started out in India where I fell in like with another carpet, but I refrained from buying it. I got other stuff instead.

On our way to the Turkey pavilion, we ran into this guy who was sell cups of juice. He carries the juice on his back, and then pours it into cups with a long spout that you can kind of see off his left shoulder.

I need to get rid of that sweater.

The best part of Turkey were these fabulous bright dishes. I wanted to buy arm-fulls, but alas they are a little hard to pack...plus a little hard on the wallet.

The ladies in the photo that follows are real Emirati women. Look closely at the gold masks on their faces. This is an old tradition that mostly the older women still wear. I had to be very stealthy; they don't like getting their pictures taken.

Of course, we had to go to China and get some pearls. Again.

Jenn, Jennie, and the pearl guy who gave us better deals than the last time we were there. He remembered us.

Toria didn't get any pearls. She was a trooper to stick around while we were making up our minds.

In the West Africa pavilion I made some Senegalese friends with the the only Waloff phrase I know: Nagadeff! (It's a greeting.) They let me play with the drums. I think they assumed that then I would buy one. It wasn't nearly tempting enough...not like the real alligator skin Kelly bag look-alike. Which I also did not buy.

All of the nekkid lady statues had to be covered. heehee.

Sadly, even though we were there for hours, I still didn't see everything that I wanted. The good news is that I hear I can find a lot of the same wares in other parts of Dubai. And with much better prices.

What I'll Miss #11

One of the best parts of living in a Muslim country is listening to the call to prayer about five times a day. Well, the one that goes off while I am sleeping is probably my least favorite call to prayer...

The best way to hear the call to prayer (I am sure there is a prettier Arabic word to use here, but I don't know it) is walking around when it goes off. Since there are mosques on practically every street, the mass of minarets combine to make a beautiful yet slightly haunting sound. Because the five prayers are essential to the Muslim faith, many public places like malls and airports also broadcast the call to prayer at the appropriate times. These places are also equipped with a small mosque for people to perform those rites. The Dubai TV stations will even tell its viewers when it is time to pray.

The mall where the bakery is located does have prayer rooms, but we don't get the broadcast call to prayer. It is rather surprising as I would say the majority of the patrons are Muslim. I feel like sometimes I forget about it, and last night as I walked home from the gym, I was reminded how much I like it. Prayer is an important part of my faith too. It is nice to have a reminder to pray more often.

To get an idea of this music that plays all across the Middle East, I have posted a nice YouTube clip I found of the call to pray in the evening at the Dubai Creek. The camera work is shaky, but you are meant to listen more than look.