Eid long weekend - Al Hoota Cave

We were navigating up the mountains, avoiding obstacles and concluded that if we were in Canada these roads would have guide rails for safety. At best these roads had a pile of dirt and rocks that had been pushed off the track. We were climbing fast and the numbers on our altimeter were increasing quickly. We had time before settling on a camping spot so we stopped to visit Al Hoota cave. The cave was full stalactites and stalagmites. The main cave is partially occupied by an underground lake with natural air ventilation. An interesting highlight to the tour was the blind transparent fish nourished on organic materials brought by floods inside the cave. We weren’t allowed to take photos so here is the link: http://www.alhootacave.com/index.shtml

Eid weekend - Little Snake Canyon

Shortly after the turnoff for Wadi As Sahtan, which we did not take, we came across “little snake canyon” where we stopped for a short hike. There were many different kinds of rock and the views were great views inside the canyon. Apparently the canyon gets its name from its twisting shape and not from the inhabitants – Barry was thankful for this. Back in the truck we passed the turnoff for Al Beer and headed towards the town of Az Zammah. In the second photo people are pictured and it gives an indication of how deep the canyon is.

Eid long weekend - Wadi Bani Awf

We headed along the coastal road (01) to Al Musanaah and then took 11 towards the Western Hajar Mountain area. We reached Ar Rustaq and kept driving to Wadi Bani Awf in the direction of the town of Hatt. We got closer to the mountains, we were gaining altitude and we were surprised with the real estate sitting very near the wadis.

Eid long weekend - The Border

We woke up very early to beat the barrage of people who head to Oman for long weekends of Oman culture and landscapes, which meant we got to see the sun rise over the desert. Turns out we didn’t wake up early enough! The queues at the border post were unbelievable; long and full of people who would do anything to get processed first. We were waiting patiently in line surrounded by people who didn’t have the Canadian manners that Barry and I acquired through many years of waiting in single file lines. We made it eventually and from the queues that we left behind us, we knew it could have been worse. Oman welcomed us with the usual Eid customs – cows being transported for Eid feasts. The Omani men at the gas station thought my interest in the cow standing in the back of their Toyota pick-up was odd. I thought it was odd transport for a humped cow.

Eid 2008

Eid is the most anticipated holiday in the Islamic calendar, following the most sacred season of the year for Muslims. It translates into 'Festival that breaks the fast'. Before the end of Ramadan, Muslims are expected to pay Zkat al fitr, which is a charitable donation for the holy month. This is usually a nonation of food or money to buy food so the needy can have a holiday feast. This donataion is different from the annual zakat that is required of Muslims, calculated based on personal wealth, to contribute to a worthy cause. Picture: World Trade Centre Dubai

The £8bn sheikh who married a £10-a-week waitress

He is a prince and one of the richest men in the world - a member of Middle Eastern royalty who enjoys a lavish international lifestyle and has met the Queen.
She was a 19-year-old trainee waitress earning just over £10 a week at a hotel in remote Belarus.
And when Natasha Aliyeva was told to take an orange juice to Sheik Saeed bin Maktoum al Maktoum in the £450-a-night presidential suite of the Hotel Minsk, just over a month ago, she could never have imagined how her life was about to change for ever. To see more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=480794&in_page_id=1879

Ramadan violations

A Public Prosecution source explained that eating or drinking in public before sunset during Ramadan is classified as a crime, which offends religious faith and rituals."The punishment against such a crime is a maximum one month imprisonment or a maximum Dh2,000 fine... it depends on the judge's discretion," said the source.

The Dubai Court of Misdemeanours found 30-year-old Lebanese salesman, S.O., and 28-year-old Russian woman, O.D., guilty of violating the Federal Penal Code, thus marking the first verdict of its kind since Ramadan started on September 1 this year. The couple were caught publicly drinking juice in the waiting room ofan Eppco station before iftar.

Commercialism

It's not only Christmas.

Earthquake!

I was sitting at my desk a few minutes before 1500 reviewing a CV for a telephone interview which was scheduled for 1500 and I had a weird dizzy feeling come over me. I walked over to the window and looked out and then down – not sure what I was looking for. The chain from the window coverings started to move back and forth hitting the window and I was not quite sure what was happening. Did a helicopter hit the building – they are always buzzing around. Did the metro construction somehow affect the foundation of our building? I walked out of my office into the secretarial bay where my coworkers were sitting, looking at each other and not saying a word. I asked “Did you feel that?”. We had just experienced an earthquake.

Needless to say I was late for the interview. I got an e-mail from the agent saying that the candidate called him wondering why I hadn’t rang. Apparently this was the first time he heard the earthquake excuse.

Later I found out that there were clients in the boardroom who thought the feeling was faintness as they were fasting for Ramadan.

Here is a link to a news report: http://dubaiheadlines.wordpress.com/2008/09/10/dubai-earthquake/

Secretary Urgently Required

Category: Jobs OfferedRegion: Dubai -- Female Secretary Urgent required New Tourism firm seeking Female secretary with previous experiance in Tourism company in dubai , plz e mail you CV along with photo and you will get a call for interview. Please take note that CV without photo will be ignored.
Thank you.

Ramadan

With Ramadan comes Iftar buffets! Here is a list of a few, the first one is my favourite :-)

Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Sezzam: Real Arabic feast for Dh49. Includes four-course dinner and unlimited soft drinks. Kids get one free dish and so does the nanny.

Arabian Courtyard, Bur Dubai Al khaima: Lavish iftar buffet for Dh59, with live cooking, serene music and a traditional ambience. Experience Shisha and Ramadan beverages.

Dusit, Dubai 24th Floor: From sunset to 11pm every evening, experience iftar with a mix of Arabic, Asian and international cuisine for Dh129. From 9pm, spend the evening in traditional Arabic tents by the poolside on the hotel rooftop, with Arabic snacks, shisha and Oud entertainment.

Hilton, Dubai Jumeirah Wavebreaker: The beachside restaurant will be transformed into an Arabic souk with Ramadan tents. Live Oud entertainment and shisha available every evening from 10pm. A la carte Arabic menu from 7:30pm until 2am. Oceana: Iftar buffet at Dh85.

Jumeirah Beach Club Resort, Dubai Clubhouse: Iftar buffet at Dh130 until 8pm. Sunset Arena: An evening of relaxation on the beach with Ramadan drinks, an Arabic menu, pizzas and shisha.

Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai Al Muna and Arboretum: Iftar buffets for Dh150. Two shisha terraces will be open at Al Qasr, serving an Arabic mezze menu. Souk: Live Arabic entertainment and Majlis serving shisha and tea.

Oasis Beach Hotel, Dubai Ramadan Village: An Arabic set up in the garden, featuring mezze, shisha and table games. Camel rides are also offered. Bazaar: Iftar buffet for Dh70. Kids under 12 dine for half price.

Sheraton, Jumeirah: Beachside Ramadan tent with an Arabic menu, Ramadan beverages, sweets and traditional music.