The big 5-year wedding anniversary was upon us, and we celebrated in style at Qasr al Sarab resort…just two hours by car, but a world away. Situated in the “Empty Quarter” (a vast desert area that encompasses much of the country), the resort was an oasis amongst red sand dunes. We rented a small villa,…
Month: June 2011
Musandam. Round 2. Dive!
We had such a fantastic diving experience in Musandam back in March, that we needed more (before the temperatures became 110% unbearable!). With seven of us celebrating birthdays from late April through late June, we set out on a birthday diving weekend on a live-aboard dhow. Two nights, six dives, and 7 hours in the…
Living in sin
Reason #73 that we know we’re in a Muslim country: living in sin can get you jailed and even deported. Check out this piece which covers the issue. As with most laws, if you don’t make a big fuss, you’re likely not to get in trouble. But, that’s why we like to play it safe!
Dreamy Dubai Birthday
No rest for the weary, when it came to birthday weekends. With our birthdays only 10 days apart, we tend to “celebrate” a lot this time of year. On Megan’s birthday, we enjoyed a nice meal at a great Italian restaurant. And this past weekend, we stayed closer to home – going to Dubai –…
This Flight was Smokin’!
Anyone who has been in an airplane undoubtedly has witnessed the airline “refreshing” the air during either the boarding or unboarding process. Most times, it isn’t that noticeable other than a slight hissing sound. However, coming back from Oman recently, the air was so hot that the air pumped in almost looked like the plane was being gassed….
Creative English
When in China, we were overwhelmed with “Chinglish” – a rare language based somewhat like English…if Google Translate was the supreme ruler. We’ve found a similar language here (Engabic perhaps?), whether from our landlord’s notices or a recent restaurant experience at Abu Dhabi Airport. The restaurant is Hippopotamus, originally French but found on every continent….
Watch that finger!!
For having a relatively small population, the UAE seems to have a disproportionately high number of bad drivers. And with all of those bad drivers, road rage is bound to affect even the most patient tempers. But you better think twice about flipping off someone when that road rage sets in. Apparently giving the finger…
The Price of Gas (or Should I Say “Petrol”)
Ever since landing in Abu Dhabi, family and friends back home have had a million questions. But perhaps the one most frequently asked is “how much is the gas?” Well, after converting litres to gallons and dirhams to dollars, I calculated the current price to be: $1.77 per gallon Normally, this is the part where…