We often joke about it being 18 degrees both here in the desert and at home in TN. Eighteen degrees Celsius in Abu Dhabi and 18 degrees Fahrenheit in TN! Sorry, it is probably not as funny to you.
Maybe this will make you feel better...it recently snowed in the UAE, for the second time in recorded history. It was in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah on top of Jebel Jais mountain. Snow is so unheard of that the local dialect does not have a word for it!
Now let's all keep this a secret from Al Gore. It might harm his view of the world.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Car Registration
You think that getting your car MARTA'd and paying your registration fees takes a long time, listen to this. We had to wait to have the transaction of our vehicle approved by two (2) separate Ministries before we could register the vehicle we already bought. So it sat in the parking lot until the approvals could be acquired.
The transaction was finally completed today. It took 5 people, 3 hours and 465 dirhams.
And as silly as this sounds to you back home, we were the proudest two in the city!!! It is small, but it runs, it has wheels, and bonus! a CD player!! My co-workers came out to jibe us about our "new" auto, but we are so very relieved to have this over and done with.
We turned in our rental today, which should cost about a thousand dollars, but there is always the issue of speeding tickets and traffic fines. I will write a whole other post or two about driving here, but for the tickets they "just put it on your tab."
You won't get pulled over or given a ticket for speeding. If a traffic camera clocks you speeding, the fine is recorded and you have to pay it when you renew your car registration next year. They have a website you can go to, to see if you have tickets, but we haven't figured that one out yet. I'll let you know.
The transaction was finally completed today. It took 5 people, 3 hours and 465 dirhams.
And as silly as this sounds to you back home, we were the proudest two in the city!!! It is small, but it runs, it has wheels, and bonus! a CD player!! My co-workers came out to jibe us about our "new" auto, but we are so very relieved to have this over and done with.
We turned in our rental today, which should cost about a thousand dollars, but there is always the issue of speeding tickets and traffic fines. I will write a whole other post or two about driving here, but for the tickets they "just put it on your tab."
You won't get pulled over or given a ticket for speeding. If a traffic camera clocks you speeding, the fine is recorded and you have to pay it when you renew your car registration next year. They have a website you can go to, to see if you have tickets, but we haven't figured that one out yet. I'll let you know.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Delivery of Household Goods
Our household goods were delivered today. About 10:30 in the morning a truck pulled up out front with about 5 huge wooden crates. Four guys opened the crates and offloaded the boxes one by one. I had my list handy and had already determined which boxes needed to go into which rooms. The guys were fantastic, putting everything where I asked.
Not only did they bring our stuff, but they also unpacked it. So when they left at 12:30, we were left in a sea of jumbled items that looked vaguely familiar. I went out to get lunch and when I came back in the first thing I saw was our little schnauzer statute that has been on the front porch for years. It was an "awwww" moment. Although it may take us weeks to find a place for everything, it feels a bit more like home now.
Not only did they bring our stuff, but they also unpacked it. So when they left at 12:30, we were left in a sea of jumbled items that looked vaguely familiar. I went out to get lunch and when I came back in the first thing I saw was our little schnauzer statute that has been on the front porch for years. It was an "awwww" moment. Although it may take us weeks to find a place for everything, it feels a bit more like home now.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Buying a Car
I cannot begin to express to you the total frustration with trying to purchase a car here in Abu Dhabi.
First, we want to pay cash which means we are NOT buying a $20,000 (73, 200 dirham) automobile. This means there are very limited outlets to purchase a vehicle. Normally we might be able to purchase one from someone leaving post, but we arrived in the winter and most people change posts in the summer.
Secondly, there is no such thing as a street address here. Everyone has PO Boxes and when you ask where they are, they tell you an area of town and a building. So if you don't know where the "Cosa (unintelligible)" building is, what do you do? Frustration is all I can say, serious frustration.
Yes, most everyone speaks English here, but everyone also has a thick accent. Throw in a lot of "rolled R's" and you spend a lot of time trying to clarify what you were just told.
After an exasperating evening of trying to navigate horrible traffic and find our car seller's location, we were just worn out.
Wonder of wonders - the next day one of my co-workers put his car up for sale. 2001 Silver Toyota Corolla, $116,000 K miles, $4,000!!! SOLD!!
First, we want to pay cash which means we are NOT buying a $20,000 (73, 200 dirham) automobile. This means there are very limited outlets to purchase a vehicle. Normally we might be able to purchase one from someone leaving post, but we arrived in the winter and most people change posts in the summer.
Secondly, there is no such thing as a street address here. Everyone has PO Boxes and when you ask where they are, they tell you an area of town and a building. So if you don't know where the "Cosa (unintelligible)" building is, what do you do? Frustration is all I can say, serious frustration.
Yes, most everyone speaks English here, but everyone also has a thick accent. Throw in a lot of "rolled R's" and you spend a lot of time trying to clarify what you were just told.
After an exasperating evening of trying to navigate horrible traffic and find our car seller's location, we were just worn out.
Wonder of wonders - the next day one of my co-workers put his car up for sale. 2001 Silver Toyota Corolla, $116,000 K miles, $4,000!!! SOLD!!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Drive to Dubai
We have finally taken a drive to Dubai. We were excited to get out of the city and to see the countryside between the two cities.
It is certainly a city under construction. We visited the Mall of the Emirates (that actually has an indoor ski slope).
I must say that I prefer Abu Dhabi, as it is a bit more livable city with more green space.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
What an End!
It is the end of 2008. All I can say is "Wow."
I was invited by one of my Yemeni co-workers to go out for a Yemen lunch. We sat on the floor and lots of food was brought. There was soup, a fresh tomato base puree with a vinegar taste, salad with lemon and large flatbreads. Fish cooked whole (with the head, but sliced open), seasoned chicken and the very best was the lamb. It was cooked in a small pot creating a broth soup and the meat that simply fell off the bone. There was rice and a sweetened dish of thickened pudding of banana, ground nuts and ? It was all very good. The Yemen eating style is similar to the Ethiopian style of eating with your hands and fingers, but they were kind enough to give me silverware.
For New Year's Eve some friends asked us to go to the Souk at the Shangri-La Hotel, to a South African restaurant called The Meat Company. Of course they specialize in South African Steaks. We sat outside, water side with a great view of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque (pictures 1 2 ). It is one of the largest mosque in the world and, I think, still under construction. I have seen it much more beautiful than these photos and will take some.
One thing about dining out in Abu Dhabi is the waiter will never bring you the check unbidden. You can sit at your table in leisure until you are ready to leave. The 5 of us had a great meal with wine, champagne and loads of food. We left satiated and tired. As I dozed off to sleep, the Venezuelan family a few doors down rung in the new year with fireworks and noise makers!
Happy New Year to you.
I was invited by one of my Yemeni co-workers to go out for a Yemen lunch. We sat on the floor and lots of food was brought. There was soup, a fresh tomato base puree with a vinegar taste, salad with lemon and large flatbreads. Fish cooked whole (with the head, but sliced open), seasoned chicken and the very best was the lamb. It was cooked in a small pot creating a broth soup and the meat that simply fell off the bone. There was rice and a sweetened dish of thickened pudding of banana, ground nuts and ? It was all very good. The Yemen eating style is similar to the Ethiopian style of eating with your hands and fingers, but they were kind enough to give me silverware.
For New Year's Eve some friends asked us to go to the Souk at the Shangri-La Hotel, to a South African restaurant called The Meat Company. Of course they specialize in South African Steaks. We sat outside, water side with a great view of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque (pictures 1 2 ). It is one of the largest mosque in the world and, I think, still under construction. I have seen it much more beautiful than these photos and will take some.
One thing about dining out in Abu Dhabi is the waiter will never bring you the check unbidden. You can sit at your table in leisure until you are ready to leave. The 5 of us had a great meal with wine, champagne and loads of food. We left satiated and tired. As I dozed off to sleep, the Venezuelan family a few doors down rung in the new year with fireworks and noise makers!
Happy New Year to you.
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