Fears are inseparable part of our psyche. If our emotions were to be manifested as a cake, I think that the fear slice would fall between 'Anger' and 'Worry', or between 'Agitation' and 'Anxiety'.
I am not a psychologist, so I am sure there are deeper definitions and categorizations than this rather shallow illustration.
There are always things that make us afraid. Things that stir up the fear inside of us. Certain situations, characters or smells that go back to times as far as our childhood.
Any sane person would have the capability and the discretion to distinguish what I call a Justifiable Fear from the Phobia or the irrational fear. In other word; a normal person fears he would be run over by a car if he crosses a broad and busy highway. No other sane person can blame him for that.
Here, I am going to share with you some of my inner fears that I find inexplicable:
- Heights: I always keep a 2 meters minimal distance between myself and any window or a balcony when I am in a high floor of a building. (No matter what assurances I am getting on the safety and the robustness of the structure)
- Black ash flakes : If you are familiar with Diesel heaters, then you know what I am talking about.
- Lottery tickets dealers.
- Concave Mattresses.
- Old wooden doors with crackling sound when it swings. (a yellow incandescent light in the hallway would add a significant drama to the scene)
- The clicking sound of a typewriter. (specially in the dark)
Although I have fears, but I am at least not afraid of talking about them.
I would be grateful if you can share with me some of your own inner fears, and if you think you don't have any, then I sincerely appreciate the trouper person you are.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
"Tonight, We Dine In Hell!"
I am using this quote from the great movie '300' which I've enjoyed watching today.
I was setting there in the movie theatre, oddly surrounded by 20 something American soldiers, there weren't wearing uniforms of course, they were wearing their civilian clothes, just like me; acting in the most civilized manner. They were probably on vacation, God knows they need to unwind so badly...
After the movie has rapped up I looked around me, I watched these young men bustling with life and thought to myself "These are not enemies, these CAN NOT be enemies".
Those were brothers in humanity. I saw in there eyes the infinite desire for life; finding a girl, settling down, fostering a peaceful family...
It's just that they happen to be a tool for implementing the agenda of an idiot Texan.
So my message to the world today is that of a Peace, instead of a war.
Instead of learning the hard way, let's understand the morals of the history lesson this movie was vaguely trying to convey.
Instead of contriving methods and inventing weapons to inflect the maximum damage on each other, let's think of how to empower the bad and stifle the evil in each other.
And instead of dining in hell, let's all dine together!
I was setting there in the movie theatre, oddly surrounded by 20 something American soldiers, there weren't wearing uniforms of course, they were wearing their civilian clothes, just like me; acting in the most civilized manner. They were probably on vacation, God knows they need to unwind so badly...
After the movie has rapped up I looked around me, I watched these young men bustling with life and thought to myself "These are not enemies, these CAN NOT be enemies".
Those were brothers in humanity. I saw in there eyes the infinite desire for life; finding a girl, settling down, fostering a peaceful family...
It's just that they happen to be a tool for implementing the agenda of an idiot Texan.
So my message to the world today is that of a Peace, instead of a war.
Instead of learning the hard way, let's understand the morals of the history lesson this movie was vaguely trying to convey.
Instead of contriving methods and inventing weapons to inflect the maximum damage on each other, let's think of how to empower the bad and stifle the evil in each other.
And instead of dining in hell, let's all dine together!
.
P.S. The title of the post if a quote of king Leonidas from the movie 300.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
4 Days in Dubai. (Courtesy of Faisal)
My friend Faisal, who's a Pakistani born American, has just sent me his travel log of the 4 days he spent in Dubai last month. A part of a longer trip he made, which also encompassed India and Pakistan .
A bit long yet very interesting and informative for those of you who would want to learn about Dubai from an American/Western perspective.
Greetings everyone,
I wanted to take a few minutes to capture the details of my trip to Dubai in February 2007.
What made this trip possible was a business trip to India, and I was fortunate enough to route my travel via Dubai on the way back to the US.
Even though this trip didn't cost me an airline ticket (thanks to my employer), I did do some serious shopping and pretty much came out even at the end.
*Trip Objectives*
I had the following goals in mind for my visit to Dubai:
1. Understand the changes that occurred since 2003 (my last trip to the region)
2. Validate cost of living in and around Dubai
3. A Job interview with a company in Dubai Internet City
4. Meet with my family after such a long time
5. Help myself with "All-I-Could-Eat" Halal meat at the local Burger King and Mc Donalds etc.
6. Look at Dubai from an investment standpoint rather than living there.
7. Contingency planning if we had to leave the US in dire circumstances,how we would cope with moving to Dubai.
Yes, I may be a geek, but I'm also very thorough in my work.
So I went to Dubai with a plan, only 4 days to get everything done, while my employer expected me to work through my vacation.
*Chronology*
Trip to India, Friday, Feb 9, 2007 – Left the US for India via Delta Airlines, arrived in Mumbai, stayed at the infamous Leila Kempinski for a night, then off to Pune, India for a week.
Spent a week there, did some shopping, Kashmiri shawls, kids toys, etc.
Also got my shoes fixed by a local cobbler, who by the way, did an excellent job of polishing my shoes. They still shine to date.
Comment about Delta flight to India – It was a smooth flight with very friendly staff. They did everything they could possibly do to make the trip comfortable. Otherwise, a 14 hour direct flight to Mumbai is no child's play.
Pit stop in Dubai, Thursday, Feb 15, 2007 – Made a 5 hour stop over in Dubai,on my way to Karachi for 3 days. That's when I really discovered what a smoking area in the airport really looks like, 6 foot tall glass partition right in the middle of the terminal, with more smokers in it than it could handle, resulting in smokers spilling out in the open.
I steered away from that area as I can't breathe if someone's smoking. Spent the time checking my email and browsing the Internet, not to mention, noticing that there was more civility in the way women now dress in Dubai. Last time, I was quite embarrassed to see the types of clothes some of the foreign women had on (or off, depends on your gaze). I guess the locals have hardened their stance on this issue.
Since my next flight was on a separate ticket, I had to experience the unpleasantries of Dubai airport's inefficient passenger movement system.Walked down what seemed like a quarter mile to passport control, stood in line for 45 minutes, no problems with a US passport, I was granted a 60 day visa. I proceeded to baggage claim, picked up my luggage, then had to exit out to re-enter and go to Emirates check-in counters. Since I had an e-ticket, it didn't take that long, and I was on the way back into the terminal. Spent another 60 minutes at passport control, and then walked into the main terminal building. Had to go through security 3 times before boarding the plane.
From what I noticed, some of the foreign women did not bother to get in line for security screening and just bypassed it altogether. The rest of us were just standing there in amazement, wishing if we were that gender and skin color, so we could save some time as well (no offense intended here).
Trip to Karachi, Friday, Feb 16, 2007 – Also happens to be my wife's birthday, and ironically, I spent the day with her mother in law, aka my mom. I guess I don't have my priorities straight.
I flew Emirates from Dubai to Karachi. I regard this airline as one of the best in the world. At any given time, there are an average of 6 languages spoken by the flight crew, quite impressive. They actually name the languages they can speak on the plane on any given flight. Then there are the external cameras that you have access to via the video console. Can view your own take off, landing and everything in between.
Back In Dubai, Monday, Feb 19, 2007 – Arrived back into Dubai with a lot of energy to get everything done that I had intended. Gladly, I flew Emirates again, so it was a pleasant flight. Arrived into Dubai, no issues. Went through the same exercise to claim luggage, and exited the building, to find a taxi line that seemed to be extended out to Sharjah. I patiently got inline, actually had to take a taxi to the end of the line (joke). After1.5hours, I got into a taxi, very nice, clean, brand new, civilized driver, pleasant experience overall, but one minor problem, he didn't know where I was going. Luckily I did, so I directed him to my Uncle's residence in BurJuman area. Arrived at my Uncle's place, it's an apartment building that he tells me that now rents for about AED120,000 per year. Not his problem since his employer pays for it directly. (Made a note for package negotiation, ALWAYS make the employer pay for the rent rather than taking it upon myself to find reasonable housing, it doesn't exist).
Set out to explore BurJuman as it was at a walking distance. I could try to jump from the balcony and land in the parking lot, but I thought I wasn't up for it. So close.
Started browsing the shops. Then I noticed that every shop that I went into,they would start talking to me in Urdu. So I decided to play a little game.I pretended that I only knew English, and that did wonders for their behavior, not to mention higher prices too. I ended up only buying a crystal of Burj AlArab for AED 40. A deal, I thought. But I was so wrong. After exiting BurJuman and not finding good deals, I decided to walk all the way to Khaleej Center. Considering it was February, I didn't think it would be too warm, and it was a pleasant walk (say THAT again in June and be labeled crazy).
Khaleej Mall had better prices and more variety minus the glamour. I saw the same Burj Al Arab crystal, this time for AED25. I immediately had unpleasant thoughts about the previous merchant in BurJuman, but what the heck; I'm here to have fun. Plus the exchange return policy is not clearly defined, so I bought this one too.
Lo and behold, as I walk down Khaleej Center, I get to the end of it, and there's a souvenir stall, with SAME freakin crystal, this time for AED15. I was not upset, just amused at this point, so I bought this one too. Now I had three crystals with an average price of AED26.66, not bad eh?
Rest of the day was spent with family, working, etc.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007 – Had an interview scheduled with a prestigious firm in Dubai Internet City. My uncle had warned me to call a cab rather than flagging one down, but I guess I like to be adventurous, and set out to look for a cab with a suit and tie, and my computer bag. An hour later, with no other choice, I finally got a 1984 Honda Accord taxi with no airconditioning or meter, and made a deal with him to step on it and get me there. The guy was very nice and I gave him a good tip just so he could use it towards buying a better taxi soon.
My interview with the recruiting agency went well at first. At one point, the recruiters got so comfortable with me, that they forgot that sometimes,British and South African accents are best understood at half speed, so I had to take a pause after each of their sentence, replay it in my head, and then respond.
Then I proceeded to the client facility. Interview went well. I met with a very nice Indian lady, who, expectedly, thoroughly chewed all the sentences she delivered, so I understood it just fine. Though I was tempted to coach her on the difference between a V and a W, but I thought, being in an interview, that may be crossing the line …
After the interview, I pretty much fired them, and told the recruiter that they are graciously offering AED1000 per month per child tuition, when reality is that tuition is around AED3000-4000 for half decent schools in Dubai. Another negative factor was the residence allowance. Based on my research, which unknowingly was discounted at 35% of reality, I didn't think I'd be able to survive with that salary. So that's the end of that.
Then Dubai Jazz called me and we talked for a bit. Decided to explore the city,as he promised to pick me up. I spent the rest of the day working on some client deliverables, and researching local properties and their costs.Tuesday evening, Dubai Jazz promptly showed up and we departed for Emirates Mall.Upon arrival, I realized what a magnificent architectural marvel this place is. I took many pictures and made videos of locals shivering in the cold, a sight I thought I'd never see. Then we sat down and had some Mediterranean food, talked about how unjust this world is, and how they didn't give us enough tahini sauce with our sandwiches. Blah blah. But I had a blast.Thanks to Dubai Jazz for acting as my friend and a guide to the city, certainly appreciated. Dubai Jazz's actually taller in real life than I thought he'd be. But just as nice and courteous as ever.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007 – This day, I took one of my cousins with me.For some reason, he didn't have school, and he wanted to spend some time with me. Original goal was to take a boat ride into the ocean, but when we were told that the only option to do that would be to go to Oman and back in a few hours, we switched our plans to visit Sharjah. Got in the taxi line around 1PM outside BurJuman. After 30 minutes of wait, got into a taxi, and as soon as I mentioned Sharjah, it seemed that the taxi driver had some sort of an allergic reaction and started frothing and spitting out words I couldn't understand. I figured he wasn't happy or willing to go to Sharjah, but us commuters have needs too, you know. I stayed put, put my head out the window and complained to the mall concierge staff. They promptly signaled to the undercover police car, who instructed the driver to walk to their car. After receiving a hefty fine from the police, he continued to bitch and moan about the trip and took off in a way that reminded us immediately to put on our seat belts. Frankly, I had no idea a human mouth was able to generate so much saliva in such short time.
We arrived in Sharjah about 30 minutes later. On the way, I was monitoring traffic and realized why the taxi driver was upset. I felt sorry for him. Attempted to give him a tip, but he angrily refused and handed me back my change. I thought, no I had extra change for a soda, which the driver deserved more than I did, having lost all that fluid, but he blew it.
Then I realized that this guy had dropped us off at an incorrect location.So we took another cab, and arrived my "other" cousin's house. My first impression of Sharjah was that it was not as clean and tidy as Dubai, and there were many low income neighborhoods where I the worker bees of Dubai return for the night to spend a few hours, and then return to the hustle-bustle of Dubai. As a professional, I can't imagine living in Sharjah, not because of its locality, but because the drive to Dubai is not practical every day. Unless you take part in local FM station contests every morning and don't mind spending over an hour in traffic.
My cousin accompanied us to a local Sharjah market (forget the name right now) where I bought some abaya's and hijaab's for my wife. Prices were drastically reduced so I bought plenty. Then we had lunch in a not-so-clean-place-so-I-was-forced-to-stay-hungry restaurant. It was time to head back after 3 hours in Sharjah. We decided to take a bus ride to Dubai for AED10. Arrived inDubai, somewhere close to Diera, and took a taxi back to BurJuman. Stayed home for the rest of the day.
Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 – Visited Carrefour at City Center. This store has great prices. However, it seemed that everyone that lived in Dubai was there to shop as well. Made a few purchases. Exited Carrefour and back into the Mall. What's this? People are smoking INSIDE the mall building! I couldn't breath right the entire time I was inside a mall in Dubai, whether it be Emirates, BurJuman or City Center. As a non-smoker, I thought, my wife would hate this place as she was looking forward to the vast shopping options available in Dubai. After all, this is the capital of expat mums, looking to mall hop like a family with 7 kids, park hopping in Florida in less then three days.
When it was time to leave the mall, I realized that there was an hour+waiting line for Taxi. So I joined the herd. A positive spin to this queue; good for stall owners from where the line passed through. During my crawl, I learned the art of how Indian women do bargain hunting, and came across some interesting but useless products, like the zip bag, that unzips completely to become a long zipper. But then I asked myself, why on earth would anyone want a bag that unzips itself, unless they use it as a jump rope, or have to tie one end of it to a window ledge and climb out a burning building. Go figure.
Rest of the day was spent packing and doing some research on the Internet about Dubai. By this time, I had collected a few Khaleej Times and had all the intentions to take them back with me to the US, but my suitcases were over-weight, and with watery eyes, I said goodbye to them and threw them away. But what I learned is that there is more pertinent information in the print form than there is online. I wanted to write a couple of articles on Dubai upon my return and base them upon information in these newspapers, but wasn't able to.
Late Thursday evening, I departed for Dubai airport. Got stuck in Thursday evening rush hour. There was so much traffic going to the airport that I almost missed my flight, even though BurJuman is not too far from DXB, and we left 2.5 hours before flight. On the way, I discovered about the new tunnel they have built underneath the runways, and I thought to myself, what a great idea, but what a significant safety and security risk. Let your imagination run wild as to what I'm referring to here, can't elaborate.
Passed through check-in counter, took literally one hour just to check in. Then through the first security check. Then on to passport control, another 45 minutes spent there. Then security lines, then a long walk to the gate, where I met this very interesting British retired couple with whom I had such a remarkable conversation about Dubai and Middle East in general. Very informative discussion. Now I know exactly how Brits won the hearts and minds of people of Indian subcontinent, before they took over their resources and occupied them (again, no offense intended here). I almost gave them my PDA just because they were so nice to me. But seriously, I enjoyed our discussion.
On the way back, I had another Brit couple (this time a young one). The way they were arguing with each other, I figured they couldn't find the legal means to separate from each other in Dubai, and were anxiously waiting to get back to London to go their separate ways. I'm not kidding. The guy was very rude to me and specially the flight attendants. I really felt bad for them and the flight crew. For them since they were miserable, and for flight crew since they were the scape goats for their anger. Anyway, the flight passed and I arrived at London's Heathrow airport. Picked up my luggage,exited the airport, got on the Gatwick shuttle. On the way, I was so pleased with the greenery of London. I think London grass has the best shade in the world. It was very soothing, after 7 hours of arguments on the plane from my neighbors. I arrived at Gatwick airport after some time, checked in my luggage and proceeded to the gate. When I boarded the plane, I suddenly recalled why I hate Delta planes so much. Compared with Emirates flights (last one was from Dubai to London), this plane was a piece of crap, with uncomfortable seats, most of the flight crew battling menopause, and horrible food. It was a long flight back to the US, but when I arrived back, having been to some of the "interesting" countries and all (aka Pakistan,India, UAE, UK), I was promptly sent from customs to a "RED5" room for additional questioning. I sat there for 45 minutes, with a camera focused on me. I tried to tell myself, this is it, put on your best behavior, think of it as meeting the parents of your girlfriend for the first time. After the wait, they just brought me back to the counter and released my papers. Imagine my delight.
I'm finally glad to be back home and I'm glad that I live in a country like the USA. For better or worse, this is still my home for now. And I intend to keep it that way until something drastic happens that forces us to choose otherwise.
*Final Thoughts*
Now back to analysis of Dubai as a potential city of residence and the trip objectives.
- Understand the changes that occurred since 2003 (my last trip to the region) – A lot busier, more cars on the road, but same size roads. Imagine the impact. People are the same, though I did see locals now starting to bypass taxi queues to get preferential treatment.
- Validate cost of living in and around Dubai – Much higher than I expected, almost to the point where only a lavish contract or extremely wealthy, last resort, single people can afford to live in Dubai. Sharjah, tomy knowledge, is not an option to commute to.
- A Job interview with a company in Dubai Internet City – Interview went well. They are so far behind in process and strategic vision from the US and Europe, no wonder they value our skills so much, they desperately need them, but are no longer willing to pay for top quality workforce, andwill settle for someone from Goa or Philippines with paper credentials. Just watch for the long term impact of that on the economy, as well as the quality of life in Dubai.
- Meet with my family after such a long time – This was the best part of the trip.
- Help myself with "All-I-Could-Eat" Halal meat at the local Burger King and Mc Donalds etc.
- Look at Dubai from an investment standpoint rather than living there– Low carb, what low carb? Ain't no such thing…
- Contingency planning if we had to leave the US in dire circumstances, how we would cope with moving to Dubai – I'd rather move to Malaysia or India than think about living in Dubai. I simply can't afford it anymore.
One thing's for sure, I still love Dubai as is, regardless of all its hardships and issues. It reminds me that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Its amazing how they have turned a desert into such a hustling and bustling city. However, its due time the government pays attention to the very real human issues that its population faces today, and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future, unless they bring sincerity and equity in their efforts to make the lives of Dubai residents more manageable and enjoyable.
Thanks
A bit long yet very interesting and informative for those of you who would want to learn about Dubai from an American/Western perspective.
Greetings everyone,
I wanted to take a few minutes to capture the details of my trip to Dubai in February 2007.
What made this trip possible was a business trip to India, and I was fortunate enough to route my travel via Dubai on the way back to the US.
Even though this trip didn't cost me an airline ticket (thanks to my employer), I did do some serious shopping and pretty much came out even at the end.
*Trip Objectives*
I had the following goals in mind for my visit to Dubai:
1. Understand the changes that occurred since 2003 (my last trip to the region)
2. Validate cost of living in and around Dubai
3. A Job interview with a company in Dubai Internet City
4. Meet with my family after such a long time
5. Help myself with "All-I-Could-Eat" Halal meat at the local Burger King and Mc Donalds etc.
6. Look at Dubai from an investment standpoint rather than living there.
7. Contingency planning if we had to leave the US in dire circumstances,how we would cope with moving to Dubai.
Yes, I may be a geek, but I'm also very thorough in my work.
So I went to Dubai with a plan, only 4 days to get everything done, while my employer expected me to work through my vacation.
*Chronology*
Trip to India, Friday, Feb 9, 2007 – Left the US for India via Delta Airlines, arrived in Mumbai, stayed at the infamous Leila Kempinski for a night, then off to Pune, India for a week.
Spent a week there, did some shopping, Kashmiri shawls, kids toys, etc.
Also got my shoes fixed by a local cobbler, who by the way, did an excellent job of polishing my shoes. They still shine to date.
Comment about Delta flight to India – It was a smooth flight with very friendly staff. They did everything they could possibly do to make the trip comfortable. Otherwise, a 14 hour direct flight to Mumbai is no child's play.
Pit stop in Dubai, Thursday, Feb 15, 2007 – Made a 5 hour stop over in Dubai,on my way to Karachi for 3 days. That's when I really discovered what a smoking area in the airport really looks like, 6 foot tall glass partition right in the middle of the terminal, with more smokers in it than it could handle, resulting in smokers spilling out in the open.
I steered away from that area as I can't breathe if someone's smoking. Spent the time checking my email and browsing the Internet, not to mention, noticing that there was more civility in the way women now dress in Dubai. Last time, I was quite embarrassed to see the types of clothes some of the foreign women had on (or off, depends on your gaze). I guess the locals have hardened their stance on this issue.
Since my next flight was on a separate ticket, I had to experience the unpleasantries of Dubai airport's inefficient passenger movement system.Walked down what seemed like a quarter mile to passport control, stood in line for 45 minutes, no problems with a US passport, I was granted a 60 day visa. I proceeded to baggage claim, picked up my luggage, then had to exit out to re-enter and go to Emirates check-in counters. Since I had an e-ticket, it didn't take that long, and I was on the way back into the terminal. Spent another 60 minutes at passport control, and then walked into the main terminal building. Had to go through security 3 times before boarding the plane.
From what I noticed, some of the foreign women did not bother to get in line for security screening and just bypassed it altogether. The rest of us were just standing there in amazement, wishing if we were that gender and skin color, so we could save some time as well (no offense intended here).
Trip to Karachi, Friday, Feb 16, 2007 – Also happens to be my wife's birthday, and ironically, I spent the day with her mother in law, aka my mom. I guess I don't have my priorities straight.
I flew Emirates from Dubai to Karachi. I regard this airline as one of the best in the world. At any given time, there are an average of 6 languages spoken by the flight crew, quite impressive. They actually name the languages they can speak on the plane on any given flight. Then there are the external cameras that you have access to via the video console. Can view your own take off, landing and everything in between.
Back In Dubai, Monday, Feb 19, 2007 – Arrived back into Dubai with a lot of energy to get everything done that I had intended. Gladly, I flew Emirates again, so it was a pleasant flight. Arrived into Dubai, no issues. Went through the same exercise to claim luggage, and exited the building, to find a taxi line that seemed to be extended out to Sharjah. I patiently got inline, actually had to take a taxi to the end of the line (joke). After1.5hours, I got into a taxi, very nice, clean, brand new, civilized driver, pleasant experience overall, but one minor problem, he didn't know where I was going. Luckily I did, so I directed him to my Uncle's residence in BurJuman area. Arrived at my Uncle's place, it's an apartment building that he tells me that now rents for about AED120,000 per year. Not his problem since his employer pays for it directly. (Made a note for package negotiation, ALWAYS make the employer pay for the rent rather than taking it upon myself to find reasonable housing, it doesn't exist).
Set out to explore BurJuman as it was at a walking distance. I could try to jump from the balcony and land in the parking lot, but I thought I wasn't up for it. So close.
Started browsing the shops. Then I noticed that every shop that I went into,they would start talking to me in Urdu. So I decided to play a little game.I pretended that I only knew English, and that did wonders for their behavior, not to mention higher prices too. I ended up only buying a crystal of Burj AlArab for AED 40. A deal, I thought. But I was so wrong. After exiting BurJuman and not finding good deals, I decided to walk all the way to Khaleej Center. Considering it was February, I didn't think it would be too warm, and it was a pleasant walk (say THAT again in June and be labeled crazy).
Khaleej Mall had better prices and more variety minus the glamour. I saw the same Burj Al Arab crystal, this time for AED25. I immediately had unpleasant thoughts about the previous merchant in BurJuman, but what the heck; I'm here to have fun. Plus the exchange return policy is not clearly defined, so I bought this one too.
Lo and behold, as I walk down Khaleej Center, I get to the end of it, and there's a souvenir stall, with SAME freakin crystal, this time for AED15. I was not upset, just amused at this point, so I bought this one too. Now I had three crystals with an average price of AED26.66, not bad eh?
Rest of the day was spent with family, working, etc.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007 – Had an interview scheduled with a prestigious firm in Dubai Internet City. My uncle had warned me to call a cab rather than flagging one down, but I guess I like to be adventurous, and set out to look for a cab with a suit and tie, and my computer bag. An hour later, with no other choice, I finally got a 1984 Honda Accord taxi with no airconditioning or meter, and made a deal with him to step on it and get me there. The guy was very nice and I gave him a good tip just so he could use it towards buying a better taxi soon.
My interview with the recruiting agency went well at first. At one point, the recruiters got so comfortable with me, that they forgot that sometimes,British and South African accents are best understood at half speed, so I had to take a pause after each of their sentence, replay it in my head, and then respond.
Then I proceeded to the client facility. Interview went well. I met with a very nice Indian lady, who, expectedly, thoroughly chewed all the sentences she delivered, so I understood it just fine. Though I was tempted to coach her on the difference between a V and a W, but I thought, being in an interview, that may be crossing the line …
After the interview, I pretty much fired them, and told the recruiter that they are graciously offering AED1000 per month per child tuition, when reality is that tuition is around AED3000-4000 for half decent schools in Dubai. Another negative factor was the residence allowance. Based on my research, which unknowingly was discounted at 35% of reality, I didn't think I'd be able to survive with that salary. So that's the end of that.
Then Dubai Jazz called me and we talked for a bit. Decided to explore the city,as he promised to pick me up. I spent the rest of the day working on some client deliverables, and researching local properties and their costs.Tuesday evening, Dubai Jazz promptly showed up and we departed for Emirates Mall.Upon arrival, I realized what a magnificent architectural marvel this place is. I took many pictures and made videos of locals shivering in the cold, a sight I thought I'd never see. Then we sat down and had some Mediterranean food, talked about how unjust this world is, and how they didn't give us enough tahini sauce with our sandwiches. Blah blah. But I had a blast.Thanks to Dubai Jazz for acting as my friend and a guide to the city, certainly appreciated. Dubai Jazz's actually taller in real life than I thought he'd be. But just as nice and courteous as ever.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007 – This day, I took one of my cousins with me.For some reason, he didn't have school, and he wanted to spend some time with me. Original goal was to take a boat ride into the ocean, but when we were told that the only option to do that would be to go to Oman and back in a few hours, we switched our plans to visit Sharjah. Got in the taxi line around 1PM outside BurJuman. After 30 minutes of wait, got into a taxi, and as soon as I mentioned Sharjah, it seemed that the taxi driver had some sort of an allergic reaction and started frothing and spitting out words I couldn't understand. I figured he wasn't happy or willing to go to Sharjah, but us commuters have needs too, you know. I stayed put, put my head out the window and complained to the mall concierge staff. They promptly signaled to the undercover police car, who instructed the driver to walk to their car. After receiving a hefty fine from the police, he continued to bitch and moan about the trip and took off in a way that reminded us immediately to put on our seat belts. Frankly, I had no idea a human mouth was able to generate so much saliva in such short time.
We arrived in Sharjah about 30 minutes later. On the way, I was monitoring traffic and realized why the taxi driver was upset. I felt sorry for him. Attempted to give him a tip, but he angrily refused and handed me back my change. I thought, no I had extra change for a soda, which the driver deserved more than I did, having lost all that fluid, but he blew it.
Then I realized that this guy had dropped us off at an incorrect location.So we took another cab, and arrived my "other" cousin's house. My first impression of Sharjah was that it was not as clean and tidy as Dubai, and there were many low income neighborhoods where I the worker bees of Dubai return for the night to spend a few hours, and then return to the hustle-bustle of Dubai. As a professional, I can't imagine living in Sharjah, not because of its locality, but because the drive to Dubai is not practical every day. Unless you take part in local FM station contests every morning and don't mind spending over an hour in traffic.
My cousin accompanied us to a local Sharjah market (forget the name right now) where I bought some abaya's and hijaab's for my wife. Prices were drastically reduced so I bought plenty. Then we had lunch in a not-so-clean-place-so-I-was-forced-to-stay-hungry restaurant. It was time to head back after 3 hours in Sharjah. We decided to take a bus ride to Dubai for AED10. Arrived inDubai, somewhere close to Diera, and took a taxi back to BurJuman. Stayed home for the rest of the day.
Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 – Visited Carrefour at City Center. This store has great prices. However, it seemed that everyone that lived in Dubai was there to shop as well. Made a few purchases. Exited Carrefour and back into the Mall. What's this? People are smoking INSIDE the mall building! I couldn't breath right the entire time I was inside a mall in Dubai, whether it be Emirates, BurJuman or City Center. As a non-smoker, I thought, my wife would hate this place as she was looking forward to the vast shopping options available in Dubai. After all, this is the capital of expat mums, looking to mall hop like a family with 7 kids, park hopping in Florida in less then three days.
When it was time to leave the mall, I realized that there was an hour+waiting line for Taxi. So I joined the herd. A positive spin to this queue; good for stall owners from where the line passed through. During my crawl, I learned the art of how Indian women do bargain hunting, and came across some interesting but useless products, like the zip bag, that unzips completely to become a long zipper. But then I asked myself, why on earth would anyone want a bag that unzips itself, unless they use it as a jump rope, or have to tie one end of it to a window ledge and climb out a burning building. Go figure.
Rest of the day was spent packing and doing some research on the Internet about Dubai. By this time, I had collected a few Khaleej Times and had all the intentions to take them back with me to the US, but my suitcases were over-weight, and with watery eyes, I said goodbye to them and threw them away. But what I learned is that there is more pertinent information in the print form than there is online. I wanted to write a couple of articles on Dubai upon my return and base them upon information in these newspapers, but wasn't able to.
Late Thursday evening, I departed for Dubai airport. Got stuck in Thursday evening rush hour. There was so much traffic going to the airport that I almost missed my flight, even though BurJuman is not too far from DXB, and we left 2.5 hours before flight. On the way, I discovered about the new tunnel they have built underneath the runways, and I thought to myself, what a great idea, but what a significant safety and security risk. Let your imagination run wild as to what I'm referring to here, can't elaborate.
Passed through check-in counter, took literally one hour just to check in. Then through the first security check. Then on to passport control, another 45 minutes spent there. Then security lines, then a long walk to the gate, where I met this very interesting British retired couple with whom I had such a remarkable conversation about Dubai and Middle East in general. Very informative discussion. Now I know exactly how Brits won the hearts and minds of people of Indian subcontinent, before they took over their resources and occupied them (again, no offense intended here). I almost gave them my PDA just because they were so nice to me. But seriously, I enjoyed our discussion.
On the way back, I had another Brit couple (this time a young one). The way they were arguing with each other, I figured they couldn't find the legal means to separate from each other in Dubai, and were anxiously waiting to get back to London to go their separate ways. I'm not kidding. The guy was very rude to me and specially the flight attendants. I really felt bad for them and the flight crew. For them since they were miserable, and for flight crew since they were the scape goats for their anger. Anyway, the flight passed and I arrived at London's Heathrow airport. Picked up my luggage,exited the airport, got on the Gatwick shuttle. On the way, I was so pleased with the greenery of London. I think London grass has the best shade in the world. It was very soothing, after 7 hours of arguments on the plane from my neighbors. I arrived at Gatwick airport after some time, checked in my luggage and proceeded to the gate. When I boarded the plane, I suddenly recalled why I hate Delta planes so much. Compared with Emirates flights (last one was from Dubai to London), this plane was a piece of crap, with uncomfortable seats, most of the flight crew battling menopause, and horrible food. It was a long flight back to the US, but when I arrived back, having been to some of the "interesting" countries and all (aka Pakistan,India, UAE, UK), I was promptly sent from customs to a "RED5" room for additional questioning. I sat there for 45 minutes, with a camera focused on me. I tried to tell myself, this is it, put on your best behavior, think of it as meeting the parents of your girlfriend for the first time. After the wait, they just brought me back to the counter and released my papers. Imagine my delight.
I'm finally glad to be back home and I'm glad that I live in a country like the USA. For better or worse, this is still my home for now. And I intend to keep it that way until something drastic happens that forces us to choose otherwise.
*Final Thoughts*
Now back to analysis of Dubai as a potential city of residence and the trip objectives.
- Understand the changes that occurred since 2003 (my last trip to the region) – A lot busier, more cars on the road, but same size roads. Imagine the impact. People are the same, though I did see locals now starting to bypass taxi queues to get preferential treatment.
- Validate cost of living in and around Dubai – Much higher than I expected, almost to the point where only a lavish contract or extremely wealthy, last resort, single people can afford to live in Dubai. Sharjah, tomy knowledge, is not an option to commute to.
- A Job interview with a company in Dubai Internet City – Interview went well. They are so far behind in process and strategic vision from the US and Europe, no wonder they value our skills so much, they desperately need them, but are no longer willing to pay for top quality workforce, andwill settle for someone from Goa or Philippines with paper credentials. Just watch for the long term impact of that on the economy, as well as the quality of life in Dubai.
- Meet with my family after such a long time – This was the best part of the trip.
- Help myself with "All-I-Could-Eat" Halal meat at the local Burger King and Mc Donalds etc.
- Look at Dubai from an investment standpoint rather than living there– Low carb, what low carb? Ain't no such thing…
- Contingency planning if we had to leave the US in dire circumstances, how we would cope with moving to Dubai – I'd rather move to Malaysia or India than think about living in Dubai. I simply can't afford it anymore.
One thing's for sure, I still love Dubai as is, regardless of all its hardships and issues. It reminds me that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Its amazing how they have turned a desert into such a hustling and bustling city. However, its due time the government pays attention to the very real human issues that its population faces today, and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future, unless they bring sincerity and equity in their efforts to make the lives of Dubai residents more manageable and enjoyable.
Thanks
Monday, March 19, 2007
The 2007 Best Weblog Award (Middle East and Africa)
It was one clear January evening, 2006 when I first learnt about the word Blog or what does it mean to be a Blogger.
I was driving home and listening to a recorded airing of The Editor on 103.8 (FM radio channel), when the show host started talking about Bloggers in Dubai ...
‘What the heck is a ‘blogger’’? I asked myself… mind you; Yahoo Groups was then the furthest point I’ve reached in the realms of cyber communities …
I could feel the covert excitement in the presenter’s tone, as he was trying to tell the listeners ‘there is more into this thing than what I am saying, but I can’t elaborate more because of censorship issues’…
Next, there was an interview with Moryarti, a guy who was introduced as one of Dubai’s ‘pioneer bloggers’ … it was revealed afterwards that the station was trying in vain to get Secret Dubai on the Radio that night. They failed.
Quite understandably, she’s too controversial to disclose her identity, a quick look at her last post would tell you exactly why a person like that would only like to be known through his cyber existence.
I’ve read her posts quite frequently since then, there were ones that I didn’t like and thought they were either bogus or made up to tarnish the image of this country, but more importantly there were other things that I didn’t know before reading them on her Blog…she excels at brining together striking facts with a rather evasive style, which I believe was the exciting part that particular show host was reluctant to reveal.
I keep thinking of her as a prune in her 50s, things can’t be that perfect you know, if she can write that beautifully, then she can’t be young and sexy also, can she?
Secret Dubai has won the 2007 Best WebBlog Award for ME and Africa’s category.
Well done S.D.
And till another episode of our bickering, have a blast!
I was driving home and listening to a recorded airing of The Editor on 103.8 (FM radio channel), when the show host started talking about Bloggers in Dubai ...
‘What the heck is a ‘blogger’’? I asked myself… mind you; Yahoo Groups was then the furthest point I’ve reached in the realms of cyber communities …
I could feel the covert excitement in the presenter’s tone, as he was trying to tell the listeners ‘there is more into this thing than what I am saying, but I can’t elaborate more because of censorship issues’…
Next, there was an interview with Moryarti, a guy who was introduced as one of Dubai’s ‘pioneer bloggers’ … it was revealed afterwards that the station was trying in vain to get Secret Dubai on the Radio that night. They failed.
Quite understandably, she’s too controversial to disclose her identity, a quick look at her last post would tell you exactly why a person like that would only like to be known through his cyber existence.
I’ve read her posts quite frequently since then, there were ones that I didn’t like and thought they were either bogus or made up to tarnish the image of this country, but more importantly there were other things that I didn’t know before reading them on her Blog…she excels at brining together striking facts with a rather evasive style, which I believe was the exciting part that particular show host was reluctant to reveal.
I keep thinking of her as a prune in her 50s, things can’t be that perfect you know, if she can write that beautifully, then she can’t be young and sexy also, can she?
Secret Dubai has won the 2007 Best WebBlog Award for ME and Africa’s category.
Well done S.D.
And till another episode of our bickering, have a blast!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Las Vegas Glooms.
Now there are times in one’s life - and those are the overwhelming ones I am afraid, when you struggle to keep your mouth shut, knowing so well that talking will get your nose dirty.
And so we’ve been taught since we were little kids that “if talking is silver, then silence is gold” … today my friends, and to the dismay of the LME*, I decided that within the territory of my influence, gold shall be as cheap as the smears of mud on my safety boots.
I don’t know about you, but I believe in the universal presumption that when you drop a coin in the slot machine, it is supposed to be kept somewhere locked, for the person in charge of collecting the proceeds to come and pluck it at a certain time.
Apparently, this universal and intrinsic rule DOES NOT apply here.
Any idea why are we honored with the privilege to be an exception to this rule?
_________________________
*LME: London Metal Exchange.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
The 'Girder Mystery' unraveled.
I've been pursuing the issue of the giant steel girder mentioned in my earlier post with great interest, and as Lujayn has observed and pointed out, it is indeed used to lift and position the 'platform' on which the rails of the Metro are going to be installed, this platform is called: Viaduct.
"The Launching Girder will be used to lift and position viaduct segments to form the elevated section of the project. This method is commonly used in erecting segmental bridges and railways."
http://www.rta.gov.ae/news002.asp?newsid=473
Now the intriguing piece of information which I've got from a friend who knows a thing or two about railway engineering, is that these huge girders are also used to test the piers against a certain magnified loads, the shape and the span of the girder helps to simulate the dynamic loads these piers are going to be subjected to once the Metro is operational.
The other purpose of this girder is to balance the loads on the piers while the viaducts are being laid, in other word: if the viaducts are to be laid arbitrarily, the piers are going to be subjected to huge torsional forces, that will increase the likelihood of mis-alignment and structural defects.
The "Launching Girder" technique is widely used in building bridges all over the world. I got this photo during my research, it is showing the same girder being used to construct a bridge in Hong Kong.
"The Launching Girder will be used to lift and position viaduct segments to form the elevated section of the project. This method is commonly used in erecting segmental bridges and railways."
http://www.rta.gov.ae/news002.asp?newsid=473
Now the intriguing piece of information which I've got from a friend who knows a thing or two about railway engineering, is that these huge girders are also used to test the piers against a certain magnified loads, the shape and the span of the girder helps to simulate the dynamic loads these piers are going to be subjected to once the Metro is operational.
The other purpose of this girder is to balance the loads on the piers while the viaducts are being laid, in other word: if the viaducts are to be laid arbitrarily, the piers are going to be subjected to huge torsional forces, that will increase the likelihood of mis-alignment and structural defects.
The "Launching Girder" technique is widely used in building bridges all over the world. I got this photo during my research, it is showing the same girder being used to construct a bridge in Hong Kong.
I feel much better now, in fact, I came to a conclusion that resolving a Mental Challenge is great fun!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
The Metropolis needs a Metro.
Although architecture and construction at large are my bread and butter, but I hardly post anything about them at all…knowing quite well that the audience are not so keen to learn about the cutting edge technology in thermal insulation for instance, or the latest trends with regards to the mechanisms of the unplastisized PVC doors, or the most recent introductions in the world of RAL finish and powder coated aluminum sheets …
This post is going to be an exception though, I hope the addition of photos will help to spice it up a little bit.
The ‘Dubai Metro’ is now under construction, the city is in a bad need for such mass transportation system, Dubai is a coastal city that stretches 60 km in parallel line to its sea shore, which imparts it the strip-like shape.
In the light of the positioning of its major districts and activities (business quarters, residential neighborhoods, the seaport and the airport) it was pretty easy for the planners to outline the track of the Metro. In the preliminary stage, there were some disputes and confusions about particular areas in the congested downtown, but that was resolved quickly. Everything was good to go; top notch European company was hired as the lead consultant. Later, a consortium of some Japanese, Turk and French companies have won the construction package.
I took this photo today and it is the most perplexing one as far as I am concerned, I am still trying to figure out what the heck could be the purpose of that giant steel girder (in blue and yellow), I am presuming that it could be used to align the channels on which the viaducts of the rails are going to be installed?? But then do you need all those tons of steel to align, why can’t you just use a plump and a spirit level? :)…. as long as I have no better idea, this will still be the prevailing presumption…
I have to tip my hat again to the attention paid to construction safety: edge protection, a site-assembled stairs with HANDRAILS!, traffic cones with red and white striped ribbons for the movement of the booming cranes, chain-link fence all around…
The ultimate plan is to have driverless trains, which eliminates the human error factor but nevertheless brings up some concerns about the viability of the computerized control system. Therefore, it was decided recently that once it is complete, the whole Metro network will be fully operational for six months without passengers, to assess the overall safety aspect, and to sort out glitches without risking lives.
Next time, there will be more photos, and more focus on the underground stations and tunnels.
Stay tuned for more. (if you are not already bored to death!)
This post is going to be an exception though, I hope the addition of photos will help to spice it up a little bit.
The ‘Dubai Metro’ is now under construction, the city is in a bad need for such mass transportation system, Dubai is a coastal city that stretches 60 km in parallel line to its sea shore, which imparts it the strip-like shape.
In the light of the positioning of its major districts and activities (business quarters, residential neighborhoods, the seaport and the airport) it was pretty easy for the planners to outline the track of the Metro. In the preliminary stage, there were some disputes and confusions about particular areas in the congested downtown, but that was resolved quickly. Everything was good to go; top notch European company was hired as the lead consultant. Later, a consortium of some Japanese, Turk and French companies have won the construction package.
It’s more technically correct to call it ‘light rail’, the major part of the track is going to be above ground.
It won’t only be above ground, it will be elevated using concrete piers, I read in the newspaper the other day that 1600 of these have been cast already (which is the total number of piers needed).
Each one of these piers is resting on a robust Pile foundation, each one of those foundation was dug using a huge rig; imagine 1600 hole was dug using those giant excavation machinery. I tip my hate to the Turks, they are masters when it comes to mass concrete works.
I took this photo today and it is the most perplexing one as far as I am concerned, I am still trying to figure out what the heck could be the purpose of that giant steel girder (in blue and yellow), I am presuming that it could be used to align the channels on which the viaducts of the rails are going to be installed?? But then do you need all those tons of steel to align, why can’t you just use a plump and a spirit level? :)…. as long as I have no better idea, this will still be the prevailing presumption…
I have to tip my hat again to the attention paid to construction safety: edge protection, a site-assembled stairs with HANDRAILS!, traffic cones with red and white striped ribbons for the movement of the booming cranes, chain-link fence all around…
The ultimate plan is to have driverless trains, which eliminates the human error factor but nevertheless brings up some concerns about the viability of the computerized control system. Therefore, it was decided recently that once it is complete, the whole Metro network will be fully operational for six months without passengers, to assess the overall safety aspect, and to sort out glitches without risking lives.
Next time, there will be more photos, and more focus on the underground stations and tunnels.
Stay tuned for more. (if you are not already bored to death!)
Related Websites:
Sunday, March 11, 2007
آخ يا يوم
اليوم يا جماعة قررت اكتب بالعربي و بكل بساطة لأني مرضان و موجوع , و أنَات الألم بشكل تلقائي ما بتطلع إلا بالعربي....ـ
"آخ يا يوم"
يوم" بالحلبي التقيل لها معنيان :ـ
المعنى الشائع و الدارج هو "يَوم" و يعني فترة زمنية تشتمل على الليل و النهار و تجمع على : أيام
و المعنى التاني الأقل شيوعاً هو "يوم" و يلفظ "يووم" و هو أداة نداء للأم , شبيه بـ "يامو" عند اخواننا الشوام و هو المعنى المقصود في عبارة "آخ يا يوم"ـ
"آخ يا يوم"
رحت اليوم عالمول ... و ما كان هدفي لا أتسوق و لا أتمنظر و لا أبصبص على النسوان ... بكل بساطة كنت رايح آكل ببريك الغدا ... لكن الشي المختلف اليوم بالذات إني كنت مريض : ارتفاع حرارة و الم مفاصل و وجع حلق و التهاب لوز و إلى آخره .....ـ
بعد ما خلصت اكل بالـفوود كورت , قعدت أصفن (أتأمل) بهالناس اللي حوالي.....ـ
اللي ماشي يا أرض اشتدي ما حدا قدي ....ـ
و اللي ماسك بإيده مضارب تنس بالعرض و عبيدايق الناس و مو حاسس ....ـ
و اللي عبيتمختر و كأنو دون جوان زمانو...ـ
و اللي واقف عبيحاسب عند الكاشيير و بنفس الوقت عبيحكي بالموبايل و العالم عبتزاورو و مالو سائل.....ـ
و اللي لابسة ضب و قصير و ماشية على الهدا لحتى كل البشرية يشوفو سيقانها , ووراها الناني (الجليسة) عبتتصارع مع ولادها لحتى تحتويهن و تمشيهن وراها. ....ـ
و اللي قاعد عبيشرب فرابوتشينو و بدخن سيجار بقرف و بينظر بنظرة فوقية : يمكن لأنو "سي إي أو" لشي شركة كبيرة و موقعه ما بيسمحلو أنو يتصرف بطريقة فريندلي......ـ
يا لطيف شو صاير لـ هالعالم....ـ
و الأنكى من هيك انو هدول هن نفس الناس اللي كانو موجودين مبارح و اولت امبارح و اللي قبلو ....ـ
عجباً! ليش اليوم بالذات مالي قدران أتحمل الرياء و الانانية و السطحية بتصرفات هالناس؟
ما أنا نفسي من يومين كنت عبتصرف متلن ...ـ
يمكن لأني اليوم مريض؟
معقول انو الإحساس بالألم و الوهن بخليني أستحي على دمي و أفكر و أحس متل البني آدميين؟
هل من المفروض أنو الناس كلها تمرض و تتألم لحتى تحس ببعضها و تعامل بعضها بلطف و مودة؟
الشيء المخزي في الموضوع أني بعرف حالي بكرى بس أصح ... رح أرجع أتصرف بنفس الطريقة....ـ
على كل حال يمكن يكون العذر (العطب) مني مو من الناس...ـ
و على ضوء هالخاطرة الصغيرة بحب أختم بقصيدة شعبية مؤثرة و الها معاني عميقة, ممكن تكون مألوفة لدى البعض بما أنو غناها حسين الجسمي (المطرب الاماراتي المعروف) ...ـ
و بهديها إلى اصدقائي المدونين (البلوغرز) و اللي بعرف أنو كلهن لطيفين و أوادم و بتمنى أنو الله يديم عليهن الصحة :-) .... ـ
وبنفس الوقت أوجهها نصيحة إلى الوطاويط و الخفافيش و المعاليق و قليلين الذوق (عساهم يتعظو) :...ـ
لا تغرك الدنيا........تصبح عديم إحساس
لا تحس يوم انك......أصبحت فوق الناس
حاسب من أفعالك ......من دعوة المظلوم
واللي بنيته سنين......ممكن يضيع في يوم
الوقت ما يصفى ..........والدنيا دوم تدور
اليوم مع غيرك ...........بكره يجيك الدور
هذي عوايدها ............من طبعها ما تدوم
واللي بنيته سنين....... ممكن يضيع في يوم
اصحى من أحلامك... واسمع كلامي زين
لو دامت لغيرك .….....ما وصلتك الحين
ما احد ترى يأخذ........إلا اللي له مقسوم
واللي بنيته سنين ..... ممكن يضيع في يوم
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Check out This Interesting Blog!
My dearest Texan friend, who is currently residing in Oklahoma, has finally started her own blog.
She's pretty much acquainted with the middle-east and with Syria in particular.
I kindly invite you all to check out her blog:
http://raqsok.blogspot.com/
She's pretty much acquainted with the middle-east and with Syria in particular.
I kindly invite you all to check out her blog:
http://raqsok.blogspot.com/
Monday, March 05, 2007
The Disaster Master
Phone rang….handset picked…
P.E. (in his heavy cockney accent, mixed with some morning grouch) : 'morning D.J. '
D.J. has instantly got apprehensive over this phone call; since the moment the project of his client P.E. was complete, there has been a complaint after a complaint: water leaks, cracks, blistering, missing accessories, failures….
D.J. : 'morning Mr. E… '
P.E. : 'sorry to disturb you in this early hour of he day (he didn’t sound very sorry) but apparently we had another dissa'assteh (reads disaster) over night… '
DJ : 'oh no, what happened?'
P.E. : 'you know the ladies toilets in the first floor? '
D.J. : 'yes sure I know it, we’ve made a decision on the color-scheme together on-site, remember? but I ‘m afraid ever since the building was occupied, I haven’t been there much, you know… being male and all… '
P.E. wasn’t in a mood for humor, and even if he was, his intent to make his statement transcended his desire for casual talk:
P.E. : 'apparently one of the water pipes has burst over night, and caused the toilet to flood with water… '
D.J. : 'damn…but there is a drain point in there as far as I remember..? '
P.E. : 'well your (?) drain point didn’t work … it was clogged with mortar and debris… '
D.J. (deliberately sounding doubtful) : 'was it? '
P.E. : 'yes it was, and then the water started to overflow the threshold from underneath the door onto the corridor and then onto the wooden flooring in my room …. '
D.J. : 'this is too bad… '
P.E. : 'yes it is, you know I’ve ordered this particular pattern of parquet thru the internet and it’s very hard to find stocks in the local market now that parts of it are swollen and damaged… '
D.J. : 'well Mr. E …. how many times did I try to dissuade you from buying these stuff online? … you can easily find a local match, with permanent stocks…. '
P.E. (interrupting) : 'it’s too late for this now D.J…. besides, I haven’t even finished reporting the other damages to you… '
D.J. : 'are there more? '
P.E. : 'well.... the escaped water has then cascaded over the top of the stair case onto the ground floor…some of it was even trapped in the false ceiling…which was shown later in big yellowish stains.. '
D.J. (with multi-lingual cussing mumble): 'holy… f…. c ....!@#%^&*....and all that happened over night? '
P.E. : 'yes, it did. …my initial estimate is 50,000 $ worth of damages, and I am intending to back-charge it all on the ‘con’ contractor…that’s after your permission of course… but I need somebody from your end to come over and have a look…preferably today… '
D.J. (longin' for the day when his ass will be emancipated from this project) : 'sure I’ll send my site inspector right away… '
they both knew it won’t happen before a week…..
Welcome to the booming Dubai
P.E. (in his heavy cockney accent, mixed with some morning grouch) : 'morning D.J. '
D.J. has instantly got apprehensive over this phone call; since the moment the project of his client P.E. was complete, there has been a complaint after a complaint: water leaks, cracks, blistering, missing accessories, failures….
D.J. : 'morning Mr. E… '
P.E. : 'sorry to disturb you in this early hour of he day (he didn’t sound very sorry) but apparently we had another dissa'assteh (reads disaster) over night… '
DJ : 'oh no, what happened?'
P.E. : 'you know the ladies toilets in the first floor? '
D.J. : 'yes sure I know it, we’ve made a decision on the color-scheme together on-site, remember? but I ‘m afraid ever since the building was occupied, I haven’t been there much, you know… being male and all… '
P.E. wasn’t in a mood for humor, and even if he was, his intent to make his statement transcended his desire for casual talk:
P.E. : 'apparently one of the water pipes has burst over night, and caused the toilet to flood with water… '
D.J. : 'damn…but there is a drain point in there as far as I remember..? '
P.E. : 'well your (?) drain point didn’t work … it was clogged with mortar and debris… '
D.J. (deliberately sounding doubtful) : 'was it? '
P.E. : 'yes it was, and then the water started to overflow the threshold from underneath the door onto the corridor and then onto the wooden flooring in my room …. '
D.J. : 'this is too bad… '
P.E. : 'yes it is, you know I’ve ordered this particular pattern of parquet thru the internet and it’s very hard to find stocks in the local market now that parts of it are swollen and damaged… '
D.J. : 'well Mr. E …. how many times did I try to dissuade you from buying these stuff online? … you can easily find a local match, with permanent stocks…. '
P.E. (interrupting) : 'it’s too late for this now D.J…. besides, I haven’t even finished reporting the other damages to you… '
D.J. : 'are there more? '
P.E. : 'well.... the escaped water has then cascaded over the top of the stair case onto the ground floor…some of it was even trapped in the false ceiling…which was shown later in big yellowish stains.. '
D.J. (with multi-lingual cussing mumble): 'holy… f…. c ....!@#%^&*....and all that happened over night? '
P.E. : 'yes, it did. …my initial estimate is 50,000 $ worth of damages, and I am intending to back-charge it all on the ‘con’ contractor…that’s after your permission of course… but I need somebody from your end to come over and have a look…preferably today… '
D.J. (longin' for the day when his ass will be emancipated from this project) : 'sure I’ll send my site inspector right away… '
they both knew it won’t happen before a week…..
Welcome to the booming Dubai
Thursday, March 01, 2007
The Mysterious Tag
“ I first saw her at Palantine Campaign headquarter at 63rd and Broadway. She was wearing a white dress. She appeared like an angel. Out of this filthy mess, she is alone.
They .... cannot .... touch .... her”
They .... cannot .... touch .... her”
Robert De Nero - from the movie Taxi Driver.
With this line of the blockbuster movie, I would like to present you with my new Tag; one that will act as a prologue to a more elaborate and greater posts to come soon.
Throughout our daily life, we bump into a certain number of attractive people from the opposite sex, keeping in mind the previous experiences we had, and captivated by an intuitive power to choose safe partners/dates.
This Tag is designed to help yours truly and those who would volunteer to read it thoroughly and in-depth, to graduate oneself to a more grown-up yardstick of understanding the intricacies of the dating culture.
Here we go:
From the list of the loosely defined titles below, whom do you think is more fun to be with on a date and why?:
- An attractive lenient boss.
- A smart blogger.
- A sexy salsa instructor.
You may take the liberty in answering this Tag in any way, shape or form you like, you may take it dead serious, or let loose for your imagination, but above all please give it some thought...
I tag:
- An attractive lenient boss.
- A smart blogger.
- A sexy salsa instructor.
You may take the liberty in answering this Tag in any way, shape or form you like, you may take it dead serious, or let loose for your imagination, but above all please give it some thought...
I tag:
Abu Fares, Sham In Ashrafieh and Lujayn.
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