Monday, July 21, 2008

FYI ...


It NEVER Goes above 50 degrees in Abu Dhabi

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Dates!

Mmmmm...they taste as good as they look!

Testing out my Mobile phone photo blogging utility here :)

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Ila Aliqa Abu Dhabi!

I had Thursday off to supposedly relax and organize myself but I spent doing much of the latter. I couldn't sleep much last night and I woke up early this morning. Our Internet connection has been terrible today. I've had trouble emailing and many webpages won't load properly. Typical of Etisalat. We pay 189 Dirhams a month ($47 USD) for 512 connection speed and it's crap most of the time. I went on my bike for 30 minutes today and treated myself to an hour long Chinese massage and accupuncture treatment. Only costs about $35 - heck of a deal! So we leave in about 3 hours - seems surreal though. So it will be about a 9 hour flight to London Heathrow and then about 12 hours to Vancouver. We will share an aisle seat to stretch our long legs.


Below is the weekly round-up of stories from our region. See you later!


Index to video news stories from the UAE's Gulf News newspaper

Mind Your Language, Behaviour and Dress in the UAE

Skilled Expats Hit by Inflation

Oil threatens Fujairah fishing industry

Under the Abbaya: Female Producers in Saudi Arabia

Liwa Festival is more than just about dates

Government to clean up toxic landfills near capital

Rubbish piles near Abu Dhabi

Million dollar holiday at Emirates Palace

Sunday, July 13, 2008

One week to Go!

We'll be Canada in one week from today.  The temperature and humidity have started to climb so we're lucky that it was temperate for this long.  We moved into our apartment two years ago today - sure doesn't seem like it.  I just realized that this is my last full weekend of being in my thirties - yikes! Poor Darcy is struggling at work with doing original cataloging of Arabic material.  I'm trying to finish some projects before my last work day on the 23rd.

Below is the weekend wrap up of stories from our part of the world:

GCC Cruises into New Naval Age


Swirling Standstorms Blind Pride of Fleet

Small Emirate Shares Giant Plans

Abu Dhabi Grows

Pricey Oil Helps Abu Dhabi This is interesting but one sided video news story of our fair city.   A majority of the unskilled laborers are from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and heir living and working conditions are atrocious.

Temperature Shoots Up to 52 Degrees Celcius


Registering for New National UAE ID Cards

Etihad Boosts Emirate's Future with 41 billion dollar deal
that's a big gamble to take!

I am fed up with this congestion!

Dubai vows to eradicate lewd beach behavior

Face scan system launched at Abu Dhabi airport 
Another historic first for the UAE...


Ninety years ago the Arabs gave their opinion and were ignored

The Last Supper
We've not visited this restaurant yet despite it being not too far from us.

40 Arrested in Malls for Cross Dressing


Fast Rate of Construction and Increasing Vehicles Add to Heat in UAE

Date are More Important than Oil

Using Ancient Skills to Craft Modern Designs

North Braces for Labour Surge

Sunday, July 06, 2008

Library 2.0 and PDA in the UAE

I've spent much of this weekend with making my library more Web/Library 2.0 friendly.  I've been tweaking our public online catalog and creating my library's profile in Facebook.  It's kind of fun work but I really wanted to finish these projects before I go on vacation.  Speaking of which the countdown is now two weeks and counting!  The weather is getting more humid but it's still not as bad as two summers ago when we arrived.  We've been cat sitting for a friend for one month now and the short ten minute walk to their apartment is still doable.

Below is the weekly news wrap up of interesting stories from our neck of the woods.

Mild Weather Lengthens Gulf's Tourist Season

Abu Dhabi Plans a new TV Channel

Buses Bulge with Passengers

Keeping Abu Dhabi on the Move

Tradition and History


Capital Plans Network of Exercise Paths 
there are some interesting comments by women near the end of the article.

Inside Abu Dhabi's Shisha Cafes (video)

Public Kissing Can Lead to Deportation
the government needs to make their obscenity laws publicly available.

Public Decency in the UAE

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Less than 3 weeks until our vacation starts!

Nothing really exciting happened here this past week.  My hometown football team (Edmonton Eskimos) lost its season opener but won its first home game.  My hockey team (Edmonton Oilers) made some big trades and the team has a new owner.  It's great to be able to listen to (in some cases) live press conferences and local radio sports talk shows over the web! 

Last week I had my *consultation* with a doctor that a friend recommended.  He's lived in Abu Dhabi for 34 years so he must be one of the longest serving doctors here.  Unfortunately health care here is similar to the U.S.  It's more like sick care than preventative care.  There are no routine medical check-ups but only consultations.  Health insurance doesn't recognize the term check up so you basically see a doctor when you're really sick.  So I paid 200 dirhams for routine blood work and a urine sample.  They forgot to check my weight and blood pressure.  I'll have to mention that when I call to get my results.  Darcy and I realized that we haven't had a proper physical done by a doctor since we left Canada in 2000.  The doctor asks you about your physical and mental health and then proceeds to do a thorough exam.

On Friday we visited the city's newest mall called Khalidiya Mall.  But as one newspaper article suggest (see below)  we didn't buy anything.  It's very close to us but it's the smallest of the four major malls in Abu Dhabi.  It has the same types of stores but there is no book store.  Shame!  But the mall had a decent Mexican restaurant.  so we had a late lunch there and Darcy ordered a marguarita but it was non alcoholic.  So we think that there are now three Mexican places in the city including Chilis.  Not a great variety.

Below is the regular news round up for the week:

Earth rise on the moon. This is incredible!

Sheikh Khalifa selects design for Adnoc’s new 75-storey head office.  It's about time too!  Ironic that the wealthiest company in the UAE has probably had the oldest office building for years.

Hot spell to continue in UAE until northwest winds arrive.  But remember that it never officially gets above 49 celcius.  Otherwise the laborers would not be able to work.  So the temp NEVER reaches 50 - riiight!

Dusty winds bring temperature down a few degrees in the UAE.  Whew - the temperature is down to around 40 celcius!

Shopping to beat boredom and the blues.  We can think of other things to do besides shop.

Abu Dhabi in 24 hours.  This is nice...

Taxis suffer as bus business booms

Atlantis rises from the palm

Workers find relief in midday break

Capital seeks to tighten the taps

Navy commanders meet in Abu Dhabi.  Let's hope sensible people in the U.S. and Iran will prevent an altercation in the Gulf. 

FNC debates anthem lyrics

The unofficial lyrics

Sheikh Khalifa selects design for Adnoc’s new 75-storey head office

Canadian urges tax on fossil fuels

Judges debate deportation order for indecent gesture in public

Abu Dhabi public beach opens.  We've not yet seen how much of the park is really open for business.

New town to keep heat at bay

Operation stereotype