My 30-day visitor's visa was to expire on the 28th, today. So, I needed to cross the border and come back in to get another 30-days. Alan and I planned the day to hop on a bus and shimmy over to Oman, cross, stamp, and spend the day in Al Ain, an oasis city next to the border of the UAE and Oman. We left the Abu Dhabi bus station at 11:30am and enjoyed the 2 hour ride, munching on some extremely random sandwiches I made before hand (banana with sour cheese, fish & chips, and omelet with sour cheese). The landscape changed beautifully from Abu Dhabi city construction to vast iron-red sand dunes and occasional shrubs or palm trees. We passed by some date farms too.
Upon arriving in Al Ain, we hopped into a taxi and made our way to the border. The taxis are not allowed to cross, so we hopped out and walked through, getting my necessary stamps. There are illegal taxis that offer to take you over...we hopped in one at first and we asked how much, you can haggle with these guys since they do not have a meter, and he says "a cheap price of 200 AED." 3.6 AED to $1 by the way. I laughed in his face and Alan and I said no way and got out. The taxi driver immediately took it down 50%. We decided to try our luck without him. Once over the border I was instructed to go to the Oman legal building and get the entry exit stamps from Oman. This required a taxi as it was about 50 km into Oman. We found one and haggled him from 200 AED to 70. Ok. It cost me 200AED to get the stamps and we booked it back to the UAE with my new 30-day visa to visit. Score. It was something like 4:00. We scouted out for a restaurant and found ourselves in a very typical Lebanese place. The food was delicious of course with lots of fresh veggies and mint tea. After that we took a detour to the pharmacist to tackle Alan's hay fever. Then we took another taxi, legitimate this time, up the tallest mountain. It is a very beautiful place, and we stayed at the top for about an hour watching the stray cats and the view.
Today Mariam left for Egypt. Anwar and I drove her to the airport and she asked a million times if we would be able to find food and water without her. It was very cute. Everything went smoothly getting her 3 HEAVY bags full of gifts for her family through check in and she departed, to return in 2 weeks. I will be staying with Anwar to cook and prepare food for him and keep him company. After the airport, we went to my cousin's place to visit my aunt Ilham who is visiting from Jordan. We picked her and my cousin Ismael and his adorable daughter Aya and went to an old family friend's house, Mosa. Apparently I knew her when I was very young, though I do not remember. Her and her house keeper, a lively Indonesian woman, thought it was wonderful to see me all grown up. :D Awwww. They prepared a feast for us followed by more typical Egyptian goodies and mint tea.
I have to rush off as I am using an internet cafe that is about to time out on me. I have pictures, but they do not upload fast enough here nor there, so they will have to wait unfortunately.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Adventures
I realized that I had left out some of the fun we've been having here.
October 1st was our 1 year anniversary. Alan and I went for tea at the Emirates Palace, which was quite extravagant. The tea was delicious, I got the smoked tea, and it went really well with my strawberry tart with gold flakes! Alan had a tea I cannot recall with a berry fruit mousse layered creation with some gold flakes thrown on top too! The tea came with some nibbles and a peice of dark chocolate with some gold flakes on top...do you see a theme? They also serve a cappuchino with gold flakes on top...you know, instead of chocolate powder? We enjoyed ourselves immensly and watched some people use the Gold Vending Machine. The hotel itself was quite the sight! Then we meandered our way to Le Royal Maridien for dinner at a rotating restaurant providing us with a changing view of the growing Abu Dhabi skyline. That was a fun experience for sure. The restaurant itself was pretty neat, with a live singer that was on the stationary bit of the restaurant, so we would slowly approach her and pass her as our meal progressed. The food itself was not the most memorable, to put it nicely, but it was a fun place to go. 1 year together and now in Abu Dhabi...who would have thought that 1 year and 3 months ago?
The other day we went to Heritage Village. It is an interactive museum that has tents and "residents" that show how life was like before the city came to be. Desert people and craftsmen/women. A camel that Alan took a particular liking to, as well as a very beautiful donkey. The rug maker made us some cute bracelets that we wear now. They were simply made by twirling different colored wool strings together and tying them off. There was a really cool museum with a Syrian tour guide who explained everything, which I found to be very useful and enlightening. The city really didn't exist until after the 60s. It was all tents and a few buildings. I came to understand the general chaos that is Abu Dhabi more. The tour guide also let us know about a prospect of doing a fun desert excursion. He has a friend who does them and he gave us his number, so hopefully that will be going on soon! We also enjoyed some fresh juices, me with watermelon, and Alan had mint lemonade.
That evening we went over to my cousin Ismael's house for a Barbeque! It was really delicious. Seafood and vegetable themed grilled goodness!! Alan whipped up a generous portion of his famously delicious Margharitas, which Ismael may have fallen in love with.
More recently, I finally went over for Ladie's Night to Relax @ 12, the lounge/bar/club at the Aloft, and I really liked it. It is quite New York styled and very fun. The drinks too are delicious and creative. My favorite name is the Abi Dhabi drink! Yesterday, though, we went to Le Meridian for Oktoberfest! To see Indians and Asians in Laderhosen was extremely amusing. I thought my dear Les Roches German roomy, Steffi, would have laughed and laughed. I have to say though, they did a good job. They had a team of yodelers who were really talented, and real Bavarian food! Alan was so excited about the whole party. We got some yummy German beers and handmade pretzels. We were lucky enough to have joined some of the Aloft team and we ended up getting a free ticket to the buffet. Alan enjoyed the handmade Bratwursts and delicious mashed potatoes, with other goodness on the side. I stuck with the different forms of boiled and cooked cabbages and the mashed potatoes with onions. All in all a success!
October 1st was our 1 year anniversary. Alan and I went for tea at the Emirates Palace, which was quite extravagant. The tea was delicious, I got the smoked tea, and it went really well with my strawberry tart with gold flakes! Alan had a tea I cannot recall with a berry fruit mousse layered creation with some gold flakes thrown on top too! The tea came with some nibbles and a peice of dark chocolate with some gold flakes on top...do you see a theme? They also serve a cappuchino with gold flakes on top...you know, instead of chocolate powder? We enjoyed ourselves immensly and watched some people use the Gold Vending Machine. The hotel itself was quite the sight! Then we meandered our way to Le Royal Maridien for dinner at a rotating restaurant providing us with a changing view of the growing Abu Dhabi skyline. That was a fun experience for sure. The restaurant itself was pretty neat, with a live singer that was on the stationary bit of the restaurant, so we would slowly approach her and pass her as our meal progressed. The food itself was not the most memorable, to put it nicely, but it was a fun place to go. 1 year together and now in Abu Dhabi...who would have thought that 1 year and 3 months ago?
The other day we went to Heritage Village. It is an interactive museum that has tents and "residents" that show how life was like before the city came to be. Desert people and craftsmen/women. A camel that Alan took a particular liking to, as well as a very beautiful donkey. The rug maker made us some cute bracelets that we wear now. They were simply made by twirling different colored wool strings together and tying them off. There was a really cool museum with a Syrian tour guide who explained everything, which I found to be very useful and enlightening. The city really didn't exist until after the 60s. It was all tents and a few buildings. I came to understand the general chaos that is Abu Dhabi more. The tour guide also let us know about a prospect of doing a fun desert excursion. He has a friend who does them and he gave us his number, so hopefully that will be going on soon! We also enjoyed some fresh juices, me with watermelon, and Alan had mint lemonade.
That evening we went over to my cousin Ismael's house for a Barbeque! It was really delicious. Seafood and vegetable themed grilled goodness!! Alan whipped up a generous portion of his famously delicious Margharitas, which Ismael may have fallen in love with.
More recently, I finally went over for Ladie's Night to Relax @ 12, the lounge/bar/club at the Aloft, and I really liked it. It is quite New York styled and very fun. The drinks too are delicious and creative. My favorite name is the Abi Dhabi drink! Yesterday, though, we went to Le Meridian for Oktoberfest! To see Indians and Asians in Laderhosen was extremely amusing. I thought my dear Les Roches German roomy, Steffi, would have laughed and laughed. I have to say though, they did a good job. They had a team of yodelers who were really talented, and real Bavarian food! Alan was so excited about the whole party. We got some yummy German beers and handmade pretzels. We were lucky enough to have joined some of the Aloft team and we ended up getting a free ticket to the buffet. Alan enjoyed the handmade Bratwursts and delicious mashed potatoes, with other goodness on the side. I stuck with the different forms of boiled and cooked cabbages and the mashed potatoes with onions. All in all a success!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Living Downtown
I must be a spoiled technology girl because the dial-up connection at my Uncle Anwar's apartment is something I do not recall ever encountering in my life before....the speed of it that is. It also tends to check out of its own accord. And so, I have finally got back to my blog. Facebook does not seem to agree with the connection though.
I am staying in Anwar and Mariam's apartment in Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi. A perfectly sized place, old enough to feel homey and with enough quirks to have a cute personality. One toilet has no flusher, but seems to be contemplating flushing most of the time. I figured out where the toilet paper was after a few days of using kleenex, and now I even know how to work the stove here and make some shai (tea). I love it here :) The apartment is right in downtown Abu Dhabi allowing me access to malls easily and walking distance to any necessity, including a large book and art store, a Starbucks, other arabic cafes, and other stores and shopping centers.
My day goes something like this:
Wake up around 11:15, make my bed, and meander my way to the bathroom and the fridge for some water. Along the way waving a grogy "Good Morning" to Mariam who is relaxing on the couch, TV on, and reading either the newspaper or the Koran. She imediately asks if I want any Juafa (Guava juice) or Shai. I say Shai, Shookran (thank you). Stumble my way back to my room and grab my journal to write while waking up to tea with Maramia (some kind of herb) and a little bit of sugar.
Mariam and I communicate as much as we can with our broken languages about what has progressed in the morning or any plans for the day. I get offered breakfast, but I usually just have a banana or something small, which seems to frustrate her a great deal. Lunch is the main meal, and I would be hanged if I was not hungry for it. I'll read and see if I can help Mariam in the kitchen or learn something, until about 2/2.30 when Anwar gets home from work.
We all sit down and talk about nothing in particular until Anwar sees I'm hungry and we have a big delicious lunch! I always look forward to this part of the day hehehe!! 2 kinds of bread, some kind of soup to start, and a few choices for main course. There is always at least one vegetarian/vegan option, which the middle eastern cuisine so easily caters to.
After saying "no thank you" 15-22 times to Mariam trying to convince me that I actually am still hungry and want to eat more, we clear up and move to the couches for more tea and more conversation. Sometimes it moves to politics, which is mostly me listening and Anwar expressing himself. Sometimes we talk about the philosophy of love, which is of greater interest to me. Eventually they go for thier afternoon naps and I pop onto the computer and read while things load.
By 5/5.30 Anwar is back at work and I either go out and do something more active than sitting and drinking tea, or I don't. Tough life. There is a park nearby, and a "scenic road" which are nice, and the weather is quite pleasant now in the evenings. More reading happens when I am home, which has resulted in my recent book binge. I am currently reading Stieg Larsson's books. I finished The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo, and now I'm finishing The Girl Who Played with Fire. Both captivating and they both keep you up at night, not so good for aid in sleeping.
Anwar gets home around 9/9.30 and we have dinner. Usually some little things we pick at and dessert and tea. Lots of tea! Then more chatting about life, the country, the world, ideas, and people, and then off to bed where I end up reading until about 3 am every night, sleeping with my light on until around 5 or 5.30 when the call to mosque wakes me and I turn off the light.
I live well. I'm happy.
I am staying in Anwar and Mariam's apartment in Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi. A perfectly sized place, old enough to feel homey and with enough quirks to have a cute personality. One toilet has no flusher, but seems to be contemplating flushing most of the time. I figured out where the toilet paper was after a few days of using kleenex, and now I even know how to work the stove here and make some shai (tea). I love it here :) The apartment is right in downtown Abu Dhabi allowing me access to malls easily and walking distance to any necessity, including a large book and art store, a Starbucks, other arabic cafes, and other stores and shopping centers.
My day goes something like this:
Wake up around 11:15, make my bed, and meander my way to the bathroom and the fridge for some water. Along the way waving a grogy "Good Morning" to Mariam who is relaxing on the couch, TV on, and reading either the newspaper or the Koran. She imediately asks if I want any Juafa (Guava juice) or Shai. I say Shai, Shookran (thank you). Stumble my way back to my room and grab my journal to write while waking up to tea with Maramia (some kind of herb) and a little bit of sugar.
Mariam and I communicate as much as we can with our broken languages about what has progressed in the morning or any plans for the day. I get offered breakfast, but I usually just have a banana or something small, which seems to frustrate her a great deal. Lunch is the main meal, and I would be hanged if I was not hungry for it. I'll read and see if I can help Mariam in the kitchen or learn something, until about 2/2.30 when Anwar gets home from work.
We all sit down and talk about nothing in particular until Anwar sees I'm hungry and we have a big delicious lunch! I always look forward to this part of the day hehehe!! 2 kinds of bread, some kind of soup to start, and a few choices for main course. There is always at least one vegetarian/vegan option, which the middle eastern cuisine so easily caters to.
After saying "no thank you" 15-22 times to Mariam trying to convince me that I actually am still hungry and want to eat more, we clear up and move to the couches for more tea and more conversation. Sometimes it moves to politics, which is mostly me listening and Anwar expressing himself. Sometimes we talk about the philosophy of love, which is of greater interest to me. Eventually they go for thier afternoon naps and I pop onto the computer and read while things load.
By 5/5.30 Anwar is back at work and I either go out and do something more active than sitting and drinking tea, or I don't. Tough life. There is a park nearby, and a "scenic road" which are nice, and the weather is quite pleasant now in the evenings. More reading happens when I am home, which has resulted in my recent book binge. I am currently reading Stieg Larsson's books. I finished The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo, and now I'm finishing The Girl Who Played with Fire. Both captivating and they both keep you up at night, not so good for aid in sleeping.
Anwar gets home around 9/9.30 and we have dinner. Usually some little things we pick at and dessert and tea. Lots of tea! Then more chatting about life, the country, the world, ideas, and people, and then off to bed where I end up reading until about 3 am every night, sleeping with my light on until around 5 or 5.30 when the call to mosque wakes me and I turn off the light.
I live well. I'm happy.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Appreciating Switzerland
It has now become apparent that Abu Dhabi can be a very frustrating place. We have noticed that often, when you hop into a taxi and ask him if he knows where "so and so destination" is, he will say yes and start driving. Once he has hopped on a main road, he will ask you which way to go and get frustrated when you do not know. And so the frustrations of taxi drivers begins and continues. If you want your day to be ruined, get into a taxi when you're somewhat stressed already. The majority of them speak VERY broken, or incomprehensible English, which is can add amusement to the journey when trying to explain and figure out if they know where the destination really is.
There is also a very distinct hierarchy of race here. The locals have precedence over all and everything. They can cut in line and get what they want. Then there are the Europeans and Americans, then other Arabs, and at the bottom are the Philippinos and then the Indians and Pakistanis. If you come here appalled by racism and discrimination you either leave a racist or fought during your entire stay to refrain.
Many things here don't seem to work right either. The systems. The hypocrisy. If you are from here and follow the religion, then you are not supposed to drink alcohol or be physically affectionate in public, and you wear the traditional clothes. The local men come to the nightclubs and bars and drink and drink and drink and fondle the whores who are everywhere, dressed in jeans and a polo shirt. And the rest of us? We have to mind our own business because if we get one of them pissed, we can be deported.
Switzerland made sense, and everything worked very well. I appreciate it so much more.
There is also a very distinct hierarchy of race here. The locals have precedence over all and everything. They can cut in line and get what they want. Then there are the Europeans and Americans, then other Arabs, and at the bottom are the Philippinos and then the Indians and Pakistanis. If you come here appalled by racism and discrimination you either leave a racist or fought during your entire stay to refrain.
Many things here don't seem to work right either. The systems. The hypocrisy. If you are from here and follow the religion, then you are not supposed to drink alcohol or be physically affectionate in public, and you wear the traditional clothes. The local men come to the nightclubs and bars and drink and drink and drink and fondle the whores who are everywhere, dressed in jeans and a polo shirt. And the rest of us? We have to mind our own business because if we get one of them pissed, we can be deported.
Switzerland made sense, and everything worked very well. I appreciate it so much more.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Job Update
Tomorrow, I will be going to the Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel to finalize things for starting my position there. It is a front desk job that would finally give me the Front Desk experience I need and be great for getting better aquainted with hotels generally. It is a 5 star hotel mainly for army officers, but also for members of the public. It is claimed to be second in luxury only to the Emirates Palace and has every desirable activity there including but not limited to golf, tennis, olympic sized swimming pool, a shooting range, squash, etc. I will be working with a friend and fellow flat mate, Nadine. It is very exciting. I will be looking for higher positions during my time there and working on getting moved into a supervisory position at the hotel. It would be ideal to stay at that hotel and simply move up. I went for my interview and checked out the lobby, which is something like a men's lounge with more light and plants. They serve you some coffee and dates while you wait. AMAZING DATES I might add! It is a fair bit smaller than the Waldorf, at just 600 rooms versus the whopping 1,413 rooms I was working at before. Let my life here begin!
I also got the chance to visit my uncle Anwar and aunt Mariam. They came to the Aloft and had lunch with Alan and me and we all talked and got to know each other. Anwar is the same as I remember him from when I was 7. A salt and pepper head of wirey curly hair and a very joking light-hearted personality complimented by a teasing sense of humour and warm smile. For some reason I remembered his hair most distincly.... I had forgotten what Mariam looked like, but the moment I saw her again I was flooded with some sort of past familiarity and imediatly remembered her mosr for her smile. After lunch they kindly drove us to an electrical store to pick up the transformer for my beloved blender and Alan's Nespresso machine. After that we went to thier apartment and had tea with an "Apple Upside Down Cake" and then Turkish cofee with my favorite cookies. Made from Semolina flour and filled with dates, they are quickly becoming Alan's favorites too! Anwar showed me the room I could stay in if I stayed with them, something I do plan on doing once I work out how to get to and from work.
This evening I will be meeting my cousin Ismael and his wife Suha. Suha will pick me up and we will go to their house for a drink and talking. I hope everyone is doing well wherever you may be!!
I also got the chance to visit my uncle Anwar and aunt Mariam. They came to the Aloft and had lunch with Alan and me and we all talked and got to know each other. Anwar is the same as I remember him from when I was 7. A salt and pepper head of wirey curly hair and a very joking light-hearted personality complimented by a teasing sense of humour and warm smile. For some reason I remembered his hair most distincly.... I had forgotten what Mariam looked like, but the moment I saw her again I was flooded with some sort of past familiarity and imediatly remembered her mosr for her smile. After lunch they kindly drove us to an electrical store to pick up the transformer for my beloved blender and Alan's Nespresso machine. After that we went to thier apartment and had tea with an "Apple Upside Down Cake" and then Turkish cofee with my favorite cookies. Made from Semolina flour and filled with dates, they are quickly becoming Alan's favorites too! Anwar showed me the room I could stay in if I stayed with them, something I do plan on doing once I work out how to get to and from work.
This evening I will be meeting my cousin Ismael and his wife Suha. Suha will pick me up and we will go to their house for a drink and talking. I hope everyone is doing well wherever you may be!!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Settling In
It has now been a few days since I arrived. I have since had 2 interviews and a total of 4 applications. The day after landing, it was an interview at Aloft with the F&B department, of which did not feel like it went perfectly, though I am not sure why. I think my jet lag and general "just landed" feeling was the cause. Today I interviewed with the Officers Club, which is a 5 star mostly for military officers, but also some for the public. It went very well, though a short interview. They offered me a position at the front desk, which is very good. It would certainly be a good experience. It will give me something to jump off from for sure. I also applied to Shangri-La and Hyatt. We shall see what happens.
On the 1st of October, it was my 1 year anniversary with Alan, so we went or tea at the Emirates Palace, which was so nice. It is quite the luxurious place! Everything had gold shavings on it, even my strawberry tart! They are also the only place with a gold bar vending machine! We watch some people use it. After that we went to Le Royal Meridian for dinner. It has a revolving restaurant at the top, which I had never experienced before. It was a really nice restaurant for sure. The main course was lacking in any flavor. Overall a great day though.
We also took a trip to Ikea at Marina Mall for some shelves and things for my clothes. I am not sure if it is my clothes not being conservative enough, or me just being this white American girl, but people stare a lot! I feel so awkward. I thought I packed my conservative clothes too! Goes to show I guess. I'm not liking the staring thing one bit. I just don't know how to deal with it. I'm looking, once I make some money, to buy some looser more conservative shirts. And sweaters. the AC is funny here. They cater to fall fashions indoors for sure! Which I'm happy with :) After Ikea, we went to the large fruit and vegetable market and talked to the vendors and picked out some produce. I would be eager to go back there and look around a bit more. We were pretty quick about the whole thing, so I feel like there is more to be learned and different items to be found. Next time, next time.
Once I get my computer connected tot he internet, I will begin uploading pictures. I promise!!!
On the 1st of October, it was my 1 year anniversary with Alan, so we went or tea at the Emirates Palace, which was so nice. It is quite the luxurious place! Everything had gold shavings on it, even my strawberry tart! They are also the only place with a gold bar vending machine! We watch some people use it. After that we went to Le Royal Meridian for dinner. It has a revolving restaurant at the top, which I had never experienced before. It was a really nice restaurant for sure. The main course was lacking in any flavor. Overall a great day though.
We also took a trip to Ikea at Marina Mall for some shelves and things for my clothes. I am not sure if it is my clothes not being conservative enough, or me just being this white American girl, but people stare a lot! I feel so awkward. I thought I packed my conservative clothes too! Goes to show I guess. I'm not liking the staring thing one bit. I just don't know how to deal with it. I'm looking, once I make some money, to buy some looser more conservative shirts. And sweaters. the AC is funny here. They cater to fall fashions indoors for sure! Which I'm happy with :) After Ikea, we went to the large fruit and vegetable market and talked to the vendors and picked out some produce. I would be eager to go back there and look around a bit more. We were pretty quick about the whole thing, so I feel like there is more to be learned and different items to be found. Next time, next time.
Once I get my computer connected tot he internet, I will begin uploading pictures. I promise!!!
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