It was a 14.5 hour flight to NY, but we had one thing on our mind as a must-do: pork (well that and friends and family). Besides our loved ones, the only thing we can’t find in the UAE is American BBQ (they consider BBQ there just grilling – definitely NOT the same). So, first…
Category: Picture
Homeward Bound
As Ozzy Osbourne has sung, “mama, mama, I’m coming home”. The time has come to return to the good ol’ US of A for a much-needed visit with much-missed friends and family. It’s an exciting time in American history with Obama’s announcement on Sunday, so it makes the return that much sweeter. We’ll do our…
Relaxing Weekend
Between work and scuba, we have been really busy and apologize for not updating the blog more frequently. Although to be honest, we haven’t done anything recently that really merits a blog post – at least from the perspective of doing something new or something we haven’t blogged about previously. But just to keep our…
Taking America for granted
Those who know me know that I’m a fan of video games. And as Megan can attest, some of the games I play tend to be not for the young or faint of heart – games with over-the-top violence, language and, quite frankly, no redeeming moral or social value whatsoever. But let’s be honest –…
Easter, Easter Everywhere!
As much as we were a bit suprised to see Christmas pop up around this Muslim country, the same infusion of Christian (or is it commercial?) culture around Easter has swept the stores, restaurants and hotels of the UAE. There are Easter brunches, special Easter getaway packages, little kid clothes adorned with bunnies…the works! Our…
Bowling for Dirhams!
As part of a diver social, we headed to the Abu Dhabi Country Club to do a little bowling. It was pretty much exactly like bowling in America, with one minor exception – the shoes. The alley allowed you to wear any shoes you wanted….sneakers, dress shoes and even heels (which at least two fellow…
Musandam Good Time
Our diving trip to Musandam, Oman didn’t start well. As we pulled up to the Oman-UAE border, I realized I forgot my passport…during the 4 hour boat ride from the port of Diba, Oman to the diving site in Musandam, the rough water wreaked havoc on Megan’s stomach contents…the lens on the camera we brought…
A Friendly Face
Lured by stories of a playground in the desert and the need for some R & R, friend and former Washington Post colleague, Tayo, found himself in the city of Dubai. During a tour of Abu Dhabi, we were able to catch up over coffee. While our time together was brief, it is always great…
License to Kill….a pint, that is!
While you are free to drink at a hotel bar in the U.A.E. (provided you aren’t a Muslim), purchasing liquor at a package store is illegal without a liquor license. In theory, if you were caught with alcohol in your car or home without a license, you could be heavily fined or even arrested. However,…