Blogs from United Arab Emirates, Middle East - page 179

As I disembark from the aircraft, I feel like an ice cream cone quickly melting in the intense heat - and this is at twelve o'clock midnight without the sun shining! Arriving from Amsterdam, where the temperature was minus 3 degrees celcius, and finally landing in Dubai where the sweltering heat is 30 degrees celcius on the midnight hour really shocked my body. Apparently it's not as hot right now as it can get from June through August. Nevertheless, I hop onto a taxi, which only cost 35Dhms ($10 Cdn) to my hotel. The first thoughts that came to my mind: Where are the Arab Emiraties? The population consists of an overwhelming majority of Indians, Pakistanis, Philipinos, Lebanese and of course, Europeans (not as many as the aforementioned nationalities though). I hired a private driver, who ... read more

The two days ın Dubai really was a bit of a blur. It had been an epic day of flying and after hiking through the mammoth terminal on arrival I made my way to Al Sabkah road (little India) and my cheapish accomodation. My initial expectations of Dubai were a little dashed by the relative lack of towelheads. I had been looking forward to some Arabic interactions my friends and instead had to make do with folk from the subcontinent. Pesky little buggers some of them too. I think I just crossed India off my list of countries to visit. After very little sleep on a larg brick wrapped in a bedsheet I called Kate at her plush 5-star hotel (one of hundreds it would seem ın Dubai) as she had just arrived the following morning, ... read more

Sand on the dunes slithers like smooth silk...until it gets in your eyeballs! Earlier, we studiously applied suncreen (SPF 30) from head to toe, only to discover later on that we would become human sheets of sandpaper. The previous days desert safaris had been cancelled due to sandstorms. The sand blows so strongly that trucks have difficulty navigating the roads...and nevermind the dunes. The sand shifts in the dunes so you cannot stop and admire the view. If you do...which we did... you must be extremely careful to pay attention to the dunes shifting. I was taking video and all of a sudden I felt the truck creeping closer to me. But...we hadn't been briefed about the shifting...so I thought I was imagining it...then full force, the truck was headed right for me...think Toyota Land Cruiser ... read more

well hello from the middle east! Here's a report in from my experiences here in Dubai. I know many of you are curious about what it is like here so I thought I would give you an update as well as reassurance that I am safe and sound. I arrived on Monday morning after a 15 hour flight via Singapore. I got here at 6am and it was bright and hot (although its still "winter"). My first experience, to show just what this town is about, was the customs queue. I have been in many customs queues and never before have I seen such an incredible cross sections of ethnicities and religions. Everyone was represented. From flamboyant african women dressed from head to toe in traditional (pink!) clothes to arabic men with the ubiqitous "dish dash" ... read more

Hi again after a short time.....there was a hitch getting photos on the blog but that is fixed now. I'm back at Cate's, after my trip to Doha, with the use of her computer so I'll throw a few more photos on. Then I can clear my camera before heading off to Egypt tomorrow for the start of the next chapter. You might not hear from me for three weeks or so while "I'm on the road again....." (my theme song)! To all the people who have sent messages...it is so cool to get them. Please don't think I'm ignoring you if I don't send a reply and keep them coming. Lots of love Dee ... read more