In writing this blog for the last almost-3 years I have tried to convey a little of what it’s like to live in the UAE, share with you some of the more interesting or offbeat stories and generally give you an unbiased viewpoint on my life in the desert. Where-ever possible I have stayed away from political or religious judgments, comments or opinions, as it has never been my intention to offend or upset anyone. However there is a small and interesting rebellion going on in Saudi Arabia at the moment that I feel I must share with you – in case it’s not made the news anywhere else – and furthermore give my support to. And this is not because it’s a religious or political thing, but rather a way of showing my solidarity with these women who are making a point about what isn’t working for them.
(more…)
Category: reality
-
well done Maha!
[traditionally passengers only] -
“green” the new gold?
There are some encouraging signs that things are changing in the Middle East. And no I’m not referring to the Arab Spring movement or anything political. No the thing that is encouraging for me is that environmental issues are slowly becoming mainstream and being talked about in the newspapers; all kinds of people here are taking steps themselves to have less impact on the planet.
Stu and I do our small part; we recycle as much as we can, sadly there is no collection at the house and we have to take the recycling to a depot but that’s ok. The food scraps we turn into compost with our Bokashi, a great way to improve the poor desert sand in the garden. Other than that we turn off air-cons in rooms we aren’t using, turn off the water heaters, use LED globes in the lamps and turn lights and appliances off when not needed. We are also about to switch over to a chemical free cleaning product called Enjo, which cleans with water and fibres only. Apart from having a positive effect on our carbon footprint (which is the biggest in the world here in the UAE apparently) these changes have also had a positive effect on our utility bill each month. As the cost of water and electricity climbs all over the world this may be the thing that gets people motivated – the dollars and cents. Of course it’s great that we all do our bit at home, but in my opinion it’s not enough. The bigger consumers – the shopping malls, office blocks and other industries – must also start being mindful of their consumption. Small signs of this are starting to be seen and it’s very encouraging to me.
[Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre*]
(more…) -
it’s the small things
When you move to a new country there are a lot of things you have to adjust to. In some cases it’s a completely different climate (check), or being far away from friends or family. Sometimes you have to learn a new language or moderate your lifestyle. But what-ever the change required you one day wake up and realise that you have done it, you’ve made the adjustment and you are more-or-less settled in your new “home” away from home.
I truly believe that tools like Facebook and Skype help to keep me connected to the people I left behind. Watching my friends marry, go on vacation or seeing their kids grow up all via their photo album feeds may not be ideal but at least I stay in touch. And that helps a lot.
[three years of cat tags]
(more…) -
a rugby dream – come true
I read this story in the paper earlier this month, and for some reason or other have forgotten to share it with you. So without further ado….
As you would imagine, being a South African, I am an avid rugby fan, and still love to follow the Currie Cup and Super 15 on TV. Rugby as a game is certainly getting more visibility in Dubai year-on-year. The sports results pages in the news-papers were pretty much all football and golf every week but lately there are more and more rugby results listed, albeit mostly about the UK teams and competitions.
[Ali Mohammed / source: The National]
(more…) -
when is a speed limit not a speed limit?
In most places where I have lived or driven the speed limit sign on the side of the highway is the speed that, if exceeded, will ensure you get a speeding fine. In some places there is a small allowance for error, say 10%, but not always. The net result of this is that most folks drive at the “advertised” limit, or below.
In the UAE its an unwritten rule, or at least it was until today, that whilst the sign may say 120 the cameras are actually set at 140 or even 160 in some places. A pretty big buffer I think.
[source: kudufm]
Going one step further now, according to The National today, the police will now install two sets of signs on major roads AND additional markings on the road itself indicating clearly when this limit or buffer has changed – on the border between Dubai and Abu Dhabi on SZR for example.
“The new information for drivers, along with smart technology, increased patrols and speed limits adjusted for road contexts and conditions, are all intended to combat speeding”
traffic police sayUh, if I know the actual speed limit is 140 why would I drive 120? Go figure.