Surfing the Web

Depending on what you're looking for, surfing the web in the UAE can be quite the hassle.  If you are looking for boobs and butts than you are going to have a lot of problems.  With mass censorship comes unnecessary censorship.  Many times when you are innocently clicking a link you get the big rejection.  When this first happens you feel embarrassed, looking over your shoulder to make sure no one is watching. Is it really unlawful to share your photos on flickr.com?  The UAE has done a very thorough job on internet censorship. All proxy websites and websites explaining how to get past the UAE censorship have also been blocked.  Is a country without online gambling and offensive material a country that is heading in the right direction? Is there anyway that the governments control may be a good thing.  What do you think? Please Comment!

Start of Ramadan

Today marked the official beginning to Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar; the month of fasting.  This is the holiest period for the Islamic faith in which all Muslims fast and pray during daylight hours.  With over 90% of the country following the Islamic faith, Ramadan brings about large changes to everyday life.

1. During the Ramadan it is a punishable offense for anyone to eat, drink, or smoke in public.  Out of respect for the Islamic fast, all consumption of liquids and food must be done behind closed doors (this becomes very difficult when it is 45 degrees celsius outside!) Many of the popular expat hotels will draw curtains over their windows and serve non-Muslims during reduced business daytime hours.

People Caught Eatin During Ramadan Face Jail

2.  The UAE imposes restrictions on the hours of work during the day.  Federal government departments and institutions, which is almost everything in this country, will have a mandatory reduced work day of 9am-2pm.  For the whole month of the Ramadan our school day is over at 1:00pm so that the Muslim workers can be home for the 2:00 prayer.

At 7:00pm the bustling streets of downtown Abu Dhabi become like those found in a ghost town as everyone retreats inside and eats iftar, the evening meal when everyone breaks their fast.  After 7:00pm all the stores will open for those who need to shop and buy food for suhoor, the meal consumed early in the morning before fasting.

Driving

The UAE is a car lovers dream world.  Almost everyday we have seen exotic cars that are foreign to the crack filled roads of Alberta. 

 Here is a picture of a Lamborghini Murcielago that I took outside of Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi.  The UAE is a great place to drive a fast car.  On the highway from Dubai to Abu Dhabi you'll find everybody coasting or weaving in and out of traffic at 160km/h.  Speeds of up to 160km/h on this stretch of road are legal but anything above may result in a photo radar ticket arriving in the mail.

Accomodation?

Upon arrival in the UAE we were picked up by a driver who was suppose to take us to our new home in Abu Dhabi.  On our way to this new home we learned that it was still under constuction and we were going to be taken to a new hotel instead.  This was bad news to us until we saw the hotel.  The Cristal hotel is located in the heart of downtown Abu Dhabi.  The hotel is truly "brand new" as it has only been open for 3 months. This stylish hotel leads you to believe that you are living the high life.  Walking into a room with pastries, a bowl of fresh fruit, and two flat screen tv's made our jaws drop.  We will happily stay at the hotel as long as need be!

Our Arrival

12:30am.  Dubai international airport, arrivals terminal.  Everything is brand new.  The airport, only a few years old, is massive and beautiful.  There must not be a problem with theft here as unattended baggage is easily found sitting outside the washroom and duty free store.  The duty free store is a sight to see as well.  Jammed pack with expats loading up with liquor while it is cheap and readily available.

1:00am.  No hesitations what-so-ever in customs.  Passports scanned and we proceeded through.  Stepping outside was not like entering a sauna, it was like entering a steam room due to the extreme humidity.  38 degrees Celsius.  Skin visibly wet by the time we reached the car.  Who packed the Lubriderm anyway?!