This blog is on holiday until Nov. 1

In case you didn't know...
We're currently in Amsterdam. Elysia until Oct. 25 and Wes until Nov. 1 (lucky him).

We're basically roaming the streets and gorging on frites (as seen above with tasty sauces). We'll let you know all about our travels upon our return.

how to get lost on Dubai streets

Going to Dubai should be easy enough. It is straight along the really large road from one gleaming city to the other. It is called the Sheikh Zayed Road E-11. It is a wide, well constructed, and still being constructed along the way. Bridges are being built over many parts of it as you see either new villas, new neighborhoods, or large plantations sprouting along the way. There is enough desert in between these areas of building activity. Greenery is planted along the whole way, the margins of the road are entirely covered with date palms and other large trees hanging over it to keep the dust from blowing across and blocking the drivers vision.
All of the roads are named after important people, like roads in most countries. Only Dubai, however, has so many of those roads torn up as they build monorail and train stations in each area across the city. the cranes, torn up roads, and massive building works, and random detours and diversions seem to be at least every couple of blocks, so driving isnt the best way to get anywhere. After driving and getting there without taking too many detours we finally made it to hotel where we gave up the car for the weekend into the capable hands of the valet. After that we found ourselves a taxi and took off to have a fun time in Dubai!

the Buddha bar doesnt allow photography tho... sorry no photos of this amazing place.


So, instead the next day we went on a bus tour of the city so we could walk to the places nearby and see around the tourist sites that we have not checked out yet without having to drive and without needing a GPS (which would be worthless anyway with all the road changes)

This place that was all ancient Egyptian themes. A big mall to buy all the stuff you could ever want, and lots of stuff you could care less about.



with Ancient Rome next door.


Across from the Glass Pyramid hotel


The top of the bus is open to outside and it is a very sunny day. it was hot and Elysia always thinks it is a good idea to take photos of how sweaty I am from the heat and humidity.


I am this sweaty, exactly.



elysia is NEVER sweaty, or smelly or dirty or stinky... all those things that I am


buildings, yep you see a lot of those here. A lot fewer cranes than is usual.


This is a fake guy diving for fake pearls at the museum. Apparently people used to do this here. Now the only ones who do it are plastic mannequins.


This used to be a strong fort to keep people from taking over the fresh water supply, now it is an underground air conditioned museum.


Look at me, this is how you get water out of the well!


you can see buildings and stuff!


The banks of the Dhow Wharfage are covered with old fashioned Dhows and lots of water taxis carrying people back and forth from one side of the Dubai Creek to the other


There's more but we dont want to bore you, take a look at some of the other very similar photos via this link to the Dubai Album

in dubai for a day and the bus tour

Race cars, anyone?

Next November — just one year away — Abu Dhabi's first Grand Prix race will happen. It's a really big deal and I'm already registered to get tickets (looking into both the VIP type and the regular grandstand variety).



Oh-so-futuristic: A super track

Those **thinking** about coming to visit should think about next November. It's total history in the making here!

First there was Elton John...

... now George Michael comes out of retirement to play Abu Dhabi!?!

Oh, it's so true.
Perez broke the news HERE.

I'm a bit surprsied they will let him into the country since he JUST got arrested for drugs. But Scott Weiland came and played... so really, musicians must not count re: drug laws here.

Reason 5,792 why Abu Dhabi is Vegas-like

The glowing neon guitar strikes again!

Hard Rock Hotels has planned to launch its second hotel in the UAE, Hard Rock Hotel Abu Dhabi. Click HERE to read all about it.

I say, "Hooray for another place to drink at!"

Abu Dhabi: The capital of randomness?

Last night I had planned to catch two films. I've been watching two movies per day at MEIFF and had everything planned out for my big evening out. While Wes was schedule to work (he saw a documentary during the day) I grabbed Lee, the business designer, to tag along to The Wackness (which I did see and can testify how hilarious it was).

Anyway, just after making plans I'm handed an invite to a media launch party (apparently we'll be (eventually) moving to a Media City located on an island within Abu Dhabi. While I'm not one to pass on fancy parties with free food and booze I do what Elysia usually does in a situation with two sets of plans: Go to both.


Seriously what it looked like

The event has what I mostly expect: large bubbled dome tents, spinning DJs, waiters with white gloves pouring glass after glass of champagne, sparkling trays of appetizers and beautiful people. And one thing I didn't expect: Duran Duran.

Did I mention that money really seems to grow on trees here?

While some people were questioning the choice of the 80s super hit machine, it seemed oh-so-fitting for Abu Dhabi. Any time I turn on the radio it's like flipping the switch on a time machine. This is the city who plays the 69 Boyz' "Tootsie Roll" and TLC's "Waterfalls" like they just came out.

Google Newsing the event today will give you hits by The New York Times, The Guardian and Reuters. Pictures to come...

It's been awhile since a professional update

Check out what I've been up to re:work stuff.

Tada!
An updated online portfolio (a task I've been dreading).

Film & popcorn until we leave

A good distraction is coming to town starting. Perhaps it'll make me forget the countdown I've got going for Amsterdam.

The Middle East International Film Festival or MEIFF as it's called starts Friday and Wes and I are getting our passes tonight.

For 100aed or about $27 we have unlimited access to the films... meaning, we can see as many as our little hearts desire. Pretty darn cheap.

Not only will the festival have some interesting films (Man on a Wire: a documentary about a man who tightrope walks between the World Trade Centers in 1974, Miracle at St. Anna: the latest film from Spike Lee, Written: a film by director Kim ByungWoo about a man who awakes in a bathtub of blood) and also some celebrities appearances.

10 days till Amsterdam

Wes and I are jetting to the Netherlands soon and even though I practically just got back from a vacation I am starting to really believe I need this one! Wes is being sent to a conference there and well, I'm taking vacation (and some lieu days) to tag along.

It's probably fitting since we're NOT going to Thailand now (wedding=lots of money). Oh, and there's also an idea floating around of going to Ireland for St. Patty's Day... but well, it's probably a long shot this year.

Here's our Amsterdam wish list:
1. Cheese. Lots and lots of the amazingly creamy stuff. A visit to Henri Willig Farm is a MUST. While we are there we can also stop at the wooden shoe factory.

2. Go VIP at the Tuschinski. Perhaps the coolest art deco building ever designed, and even maybe the greatest movie theater in the world is the Pathé Tuschinski. The Tuschinski not only offers cinema in style — it offers it VIP. Champagne while you snack on some gourmet popcorn? Yes please.

3. Find food in walls. Glass walls. The surrealness (new word!) of FEBO at 4am can amuse anyone. Especially me.


4. Get free beer. The Henikin Brewery tour is what you'd come to expect from Amsterdam: trippy and psychedelic. A "roller coaster" of a ride ends with many free beers in the factory. Oh, and lends it self to lots of opportunities to make really weird videos. Here's one of many I found online:



5. Become a book.print.worm. Lucky us, the 29th Amsterdam Antiquarian Book, Map & Print Fair is on right before I leave. Vintage typography here I come.

6. Find other people's trash. The U.A.E has nothing in regards to vintage shopping or thrift stores. Needless to say, Wes and I are starving for some good ol' thrifting and Waterlooplein Flea Market should fill that void.

7. Visit the countryside on two wheels. Mike's Bike Tour of Amsterdam came highly recommended via Wes' sister and many reviews on the Web. Sweater weather and a bike ride sounds like pure bliss.

8. All things tasty. I'm starting to formulate a list of "must-taste" places. We're going from Barney's hole-in-the-wall styled Irish Breakfast, cutting-edge Envy and picnic items from Gewoon Eten en Meer (this place is enough to make me move to Amsterdam).

Gewoon Eten en Meer: Tasty picnic treats

9. Flashback as much as possible. Amsterdam has a love for the old and wacky just as much as Wes and I do. Kitch is king at 70s style Bar Bep, the obvious household store Kitsch Kitchen and Laura Dols for the rest of our vintage wedding wares.

Laura Dols: Will you have the matching slippers to my dress?

10. All that typical tourist mumbo jumbo. We will still get in the museums, Red Light District, coffee shops, flowers and windmills. Although I'll probably go without the windmills if time is tight.

Has-been to perform in Abu Dhabi

Blah.


In the style of Perez

Another pop "star" comes to town. Seriously, can't Abu Dhabi dirhams buy someone better? Plus I thought she was busy with some kid or something.

Voting from abroad

Cost to UPS two letters to Detroit, Mich. from Abu Dhabi, UAE to beat voter registration abroad deadline: $74
Cost to USPS two absentee ballots from Detroit, Mich. to Canton, Mich: $.80
Cost to USPS those two absentee ballots from Canton, Mich. to Abu Dhabi: $36.09
Cost to send ballots back to the US from Abu Dhabi: $74

Two votes AGAINST John McCain/Sarah Palin in this year's presidential election: PRICELESS

Dubai and religion

A good series from the NYT about Dubai, culture and religion titled "Young and Arab in Land of Mosques and Bars". Read it HERE.

An equally interesting slide show to match. Click HERE for the photos.

Extra time off? Thank the barnyard

I just found out I have some extra time off that is in lieu for Ramadan. Some days off here and there for general Ramadan. And another day off for the goat slaughtering I missed.

Serious.

Double :(

I'm in the "process" of flying back now. Just landed in Chicago (because flying backward makes sense). Next stop London. THEN the U.A.E.

No biggie or anything... only about 28 hours of travel. Doesn't even compare to the trip here where we spent around 35 hours traveling.

Man, do I have a bad attitude about returning to the U.A.E. or what?!

UAE v N Korea in World Cup 2010 Qualifying Match

September humidity of 84% means a heat index of 42C/108F. Our bottles of water were not allowed in by the legions of AD Police dressed in purple camouflage fatigues. This was the worst part of going to see the game. We found some seats in the still under construction Mohd. bin Zayed Arena, and sat down to enjoy some football.

The action was there, as the first half went well with the ball consistently by the NK goal. The first half went without a score on either side, and we went to enjoy some AC inside the hallways under the seating area. The juice and refreshment stands were all closing at this time, and so we wandered for a while enjoying the cool air, watching the fans wait for the second half to start.

Finding our way back to our seating area just in time for the kickoff, we settled in for the next half. The chanting of the announcer over the loudspeakers got the crowd into the excitement and ready for victory. The mood shifted suddenly as NK scored a goal. With over 30 minutes remaining many in the crowd started to leave in disappointment. Then, with a surprise kick, NK scored again! The angry fans, who are not the type to keep supporting their team when they are losing began throwing bottles of water and cups onto the pitch. Some members of the UAE team began throwing their hands up at the crowd, greatly displeased at the lack of support when the team needed it most. As the refs began cleaning the pitch of thrown garbage, even the NK team helped kick some refuse to the sidelines to get the game underway again. The announcer grew quiet, with no more chanting and cheering, giving up on the game. Then, the ball shifted to the NK goal and the UAE scored a quick goal, and the crowd again erupted into cheers, and suddenly the game was back on in earnest! The loudspeakers began to boom again getting the crowd back into the spirit. Time was starting to run out and the hopes of victory for the UAE started to fade. The time ran out and more of the crowd made their way to the exits as injury time began. the UAE fought to score again, making drive after drive into the NK goals. At the UAE goal, a NK player laid on the ground and began stretching his leg. It appeared he was suffering from a cramp, and the UAE goalie helped him stretch in a gesture of sportsmanship unseen from the fans. On the last drive, the UAE fought to the goal and made a kick towards the goal which went wide and the game was over.

As we sat waiting for the masses to leave, our clothes damp with sweat and our hopes of a victory celebration gone, we enjoyed watching the crowd pass us by. We saw a kid with UAE painted in bright red down the front of his dishdasha. It was the Emirati equivalent of the fat guy in nothing but shorts painted in team colours! Another painted dishdasha passed by with 'Don't Try or Play with the UAE' The phrasing and spelling was wrong, but the meaning still came thru clearly, in opposition to the now greatly sweat faded UAE colours painted on his face. In the NK section, which was separated by half a section of seating area blocked off by security men, the red was flashing all over the place and the cheering was constant. A N Korean woman's voice led the section in chanting and cheering their victory as we stood up to leave.

I arrived home in good time and went straight away to take a cold shower. I will post some photos of the action when I get copies from everyone who attended with us. I am sorry that we will not be seeing the UAE at the World Cup in 2010.

Officially very tall

There's been some debate around the world as to who has the "world's tallest building" and Dubai's project has been a bit mysterious since they wouldn't announce the final amount of stories/floors/etc.

But, THIS just in from YahooNews.

Looks like Dubai will be taking the record for tallest building as it's reached a height of 688 metres or 2,257 feet and is still growing developers announced Tuesday.

Ramadan Kareem!

Abu Dhabi- Worshippers enter the Musallah Eid mosque in Aug 31, 2008 in Abu Dhabi. The Ramadan is due to begin depending on the moon sighting. (The National/ Andre Forget)


It is Ramadan as of sunset today! Ramadan officially starts when the very first sliver of moon is sighted after the New Moon. Every year there is some debate about when it actually happens since it can vary in some regions, but most of the time a majority of countries agree on the same day. Officially the UAE has recognised sundown today as the first day! That means that the next month Muslims will be fasting from dawn to sunset every day.

I copied all the stuff below from some emails that went around our company that explain some things, since I didnt want to have to retype everything

Iftar - the meal at sunset when Muslims break their fast. It’s family oriented and full of traditions, which usually vary depending on national origin.

Suhour - the meal that Muslims have before sun break. Basically their last meal before they begin their fast. This also is built on traditions that vary from country to country, but in general you can think of Ramadan as a nocturnal month. People will be crawling out of the woodwork around 10 or 11 in the evening, after they’ve had their Iftar, done their prayers, socialised and watched their favourite TV series. Expect restaurants to be open until about 4 or 5 am, serving their “Ramadan specials” for this meal.

Imsak - this is the moment that Muslims refrain from eating and drinking to begin their fast. It happens exactly when the dawn call to prayer begins.

Niyyah - means intention. This is an important concept in Islam, particularly for fasting. In order to fast, you must have the intention to do so from the day before, and prepare yourself accordingly.

Khaimah or Khiyam - means tent(s). You’ll see them all over. Basically wealthy individuals along with businesses and charity organisations setup these tents to provide free Iftar and Suhour meals to anyone who shows up. They’ll be all over the UAE. Makes for a great multimedia / pictoral presentation.

Azan al Fajer - sunrise call to prayer, which marks the Imsak, the beginning of the fast.

Azan al Maghreb - sunset call to prayer, which means Muslims can break their fast. NOTE OF CAUTION: Stay off the roads during this time as the normally nutty UAE drivers get even more nutty. Drivers are hungry, thirsty, grumpy, hot and many have a nikfit. At this time of day, you’ll find they are rushing home to make it just in time to hear the call to prayer, so that they can break their fast with their family. I would not want to be a pedestrian during that hour.

Ramadan Kareem everyone! I know that we will be enjoying the huge buffets and smoking lots of shisha! (except for Elysia, who will be in Las Vegas, the opposite of Ramadan for a couple weeks)

The last two weeks of Monday Cake

I'm a bit behind with the big Monday Cake reveal (two weeks to be exact) so here's a feast for your eyes. Sadly, these will be the last Monday Cake pictures for some time as Ramadan begins Sept. 1 and signals a whole month of no food in the office.

Key lime pie (made with Indian limes)
My personal favorite thus far was this pie. Complete with homemade graham cracker crust and whipped cream. I was excited for the whipped cream because it gave me a chance to use my new piping bag.



Carmel cake
I actually didn't know such a cake recipe existed until I had a coworker request it. While the cake itself was a pretty easy one to make — unwrapping all the tiny caramels and melting them down was not. The icing for this cake also provided me a cooking lesson. I found myself making it twice! There is a fine line in cooking butter down to turn it a nut brown color and cooking butter down and burning it.

strange packaging

I love the hypermarts here. You can get all kinds of fruit, spices, candies, and every other type of food from all over the world. There are literally a hundred different types of just Mangoes. And plenty of fruit you will never see in the US. Of course, along with all the amazing things are the strange ones. After seeing some things that caused me to ask 'Why?' I started taking photos to show everyone how things are done here.


I know that oil and water don't mix, but HEY! I know!!! Let try Oil and Tang!



When you really need to quench your thirst... If a 6 pack of Coke doesn't do it, then maybe the free bottles of water that come with the Coke will!!!! Yes. Thats right, each 6 pack comes with 2 water bottles too.


Buy the mini juice packages, and get a bottle for them! A bottle that will hold 2 juice boxes worth of liquid, for those times when carrying 2 juice boxes is just too much trouble and you only want to carry one item!




Buy 2 Pringles, one for Mom, one for Dad, and get the free kid size packages for the little ones to fight over!



This makes a little more sense. buy the cheap powdered milk and get the cheap no brand choco-pops to color it brown.



In case you forgot to pick up the ketchup for your spaghetti last time you went to the store.

Some get ready for Ramadan, I get ready for Vegas

While other's will be fasting (the whole country in public during Sept 1-30), I'll be doing the EXACT opposite in Las Vegas. What amazing timing.

I'm still debating if I want to be a VERY nice wife and pre-make some dinners for Wes and store them in the freezer so he can eat them after sundown. We'll see how nice he is the next few days.

I do think it would be interesting to be here the whole month and try to fast with everyone. Perhaps I'll do so on my return from the States. I will probably need to after eating ridiculous meals at Craftsteak and Fleur de Lys.