United Arab Emirates

Just a concise overview of the place. The UAE is surrounded by Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf. The UAE is a federation of 7 states, all of which have one Sheikh (head of state). The principal emirate (or State) is Abu Dhabi, whose Sheikh is the head of the entire federation (UAE). Each State has it's own laws, imposed by each respective Sheikh (similar to the USA). For example, Dubai (referred to as a city, but is, as a matter of fact, an emirate) has different drinking laws to Sharjah (10 minutes North of Dubai). In Sharjah alcohol is prohibited (highly controlled), whereas in Dubai you can order a pint of beer at a pub table .

When you land in a new place there are always those 'different things' that stand out. The first thing that struck me was the sand. It is all over…being in a desert region you would say not surprising! Where there are no roads or buildings, there is just sand, sand, sand…apart for the odd patches of beautifully kept lawn.

Did I mention roads? Well apart from being four lanes practically everywhere, they are populated by erratic and dangerous drivers (no not drivers, I can't grant them that…more like automobile warriors). Well I have to say this is a very sensitive issue for me, as the road will be my office for many hours of the day. In Europe you can at least base your safety on the rules of the road: overtake on the left (well the opposite in the UK), indicate your movements (well not in the South of France) and a minimum courtesy…well forget all that! I have to go back to the survival books here…the biggest and strongest rule. So you can imagine what respect I get on my little steel frame?! That's my excuse for only doing 40km since I've been here (apart from being ill, of course).

Another 'thing' amazed me. Toilet showers! At first I thought, "My God (or should I say Allah), these guys are really practical: power showers in the public toilets to hose off the excess urine left on the toilet seat. How hygienic! " To my surprise, I was told that these power showers were actually used for hosing the butt(on)hole instead of using toilet paper. I wonder if they get other pleasures squirting that vigorous stream of water upthere!!


 Trust me, this is not the Power Shower !!!

Architecturally, Dubai is quite astonishing, but the Burj Al Arab hotel is out of this world. One of the prettiest buildings I've ever seen. Construction of this architectural and engineering marvel commenced in 1994. Piling goes 40 metres deep into the sea bed. At 321 metres high, Burj Al Arab is taller than the Eiffel Tower and only 60 metres shorter than the Empire State Building. Burj Al Arab is the world's tallest hotel building. With its helipad on the 28th floor and a restaurant seemingly suspended in mid air, this hotel has already become a landmark and icon on the Dubai skyline. The sail façade represented an astonishing technical challenge, featuring a double-skinned Teflon-coated woven glass fibre screen. Eh he!


                                                Not my photography

So apart from breathing in sand, getting knocked over by maniacs, checking out the 'power showers' and being anal about architecture, I was also ill...but I don't wanna go into that, just look at my video.

  Check out a little video 
Apologies to all those who can't open up  my video...all I can say is "tough cheese". Moreover, what sick person would want to view an ill guy talking nonsense?

After laying in bed for over a week, I finally managed to drag myself out of bed and into the dunes. Yes more sand! A 'Dune Safari' generously paid by my cousin (he must have felt sorry for me, and also wanted to get me out the house). As a matter of fact, it was a great experience. You're a group of people in a car with a driver, and he drives around the dunes (like a maniac...it goes without saying, we are in Dubai). It was 10 times better than a roller coaster ride, on top of that it lasted 45 minutes. Luckily for me I was infront with the driver, but the poor old German chap (who hadn't had any beer for three days, 'cos of the alcohol laws) was throwing up behind my neck (sorry no pics!). I'm not sure if it was the ride or the alcohol withdrawal symptoms!

Nevertheless, we arrived at the camp in the evening to enjoy a 'traditional (tourist)' meal. We experienced traditionally made bread and barbecue, a falcon tamer, a henna artist, (an alcohol bar!), and for the finale, a female tummy dancer (now I know how they dress under their black veils). During that evening I had the pleasure of meeting two Indian beauties Usha and Apara. Usha (see illustration below) had her own events company in Dubai and Apara was over from Bombay visiting her.
The next few days we met up and they showed me other parts of Dubai...this is my chance to say "Thanks girls"!

 I am leaving Dubai tomorrow, 29 January 2000, 22h35, for Delhi. I have been staying here at my cousin's Jean-Marie, his wife Pascale and their most adorable daughter, Mélanie. They have been exceptionally generous especially Pascale, who had to put up with my moans and groans throughout my illness. Merci buckets les amis!

Here's the proof that I was not lying about little Mélanie...


Sorry I was lying....by the pool!!!!

 


La famille Garanton.
http://garanton.itgo.com

BYE GUYS, SEE YOU IN INDIA !


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