I spoke about fasting and Iftar earlier this week. Ritual fasting during Ramadan is one of three types of fasting (Sawm) practised by Muslims. Sawm is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith. The other four pillars are:
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This weekend we had dinner at one of my favourite restaurants in Dubai – Le Classique at the Emirates Golf Club. Okay so this is only my second meal at the restaurant, which may make the declaration that it’s one of my favourites a little hard to believe, but it’s true. When some good friends of ours visited last year I really wanted to take them there, but the club was closed for renovations sadly. Anyway we decided on the spur of the moment we felt like going, and rounded up a few mates to make it a fun evening. No reason, we just felt like it.
The inside of the restaurant hasn’t really changed much as far as I remember. The chairs are new (and very comfortable) and the bar has been modernised, but I was happy to see they have left the rows of Moet bottles lining the entranceway. The decor seems cleaner and a little sleeker, but the views of the golf course remain as spectacular as ever. I was ecstatic to see the menu (and prices), as well as the chef, are unchanged.
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This year Stu and I decided, well actually to be fair it was Stu who suggested, that we should try a proper traditional Iftar. We had been to Iftar last year at the end of our Fundamentals of Arabic course, but we wanted to do something a bit more interesting than the normal buffet-style meal that is on offer at most of the hotels during the holy month. Coincidentally Stu then read, and I also heard on the radio, about an Iftar meal being hosted at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) in the Bastakiya section of Dubai. This is the area in Dubai that has retained some traditional-style homes (complete with wind-towers) and is wonderful for walking tours. Iftar is the meal taken on breaking of the fast, just after sunset (Maghrib), during Ramadan. The timing of the prayer depends on the setting of the sun and is published in the newspaper each day. So we were required to be at the centre for 6.30pm, as Iftar was scheduled for 6.59pm that evening.
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I had a rather frustrating, and completely fruitless, conversation with a customer service person today on the phone. Unfortunately, as entertaining as this conversation may have been for you to read, I cannot share it with you. According to the law here it is illegal to “name and shame” companies that give bad customer service, in fact not only is it illegal but you can be prosecuted for libel and go to jail (I would guess HelloPeter is probably not eyeing the Middle East as his next target – more’s the pity).
Perhaps even discussing this law would be a bad idea, so all I can say on this matter is that had a very pointless conversation with a customer “service” representative and then I gave up in disgust, hanging up on the person I was trying to speak to. I am not proud of this behaviour, but it was either that, or swear at the individual. I chose, I think, the lesser of the two evils.
My mounting irritation, and my mood in general, was not helped in any way by the horrible weather today, extremely hot and sticky with 85% humidity.
I hope your National Women’s Day (in South Africa in any case) was good.
See you soon.
image source: CanStock Photo
The holy month of Ramadan begins tomorrow, the 1st of August. I wish you all a happy and blessed month.
