Dubai

The Dubai International Film Festival started yesterday, and George Clooney was in town, as his movie, Michael Clayton, was shown on the opening evening.

Unfortunately I couldn't get any tickets for that movie, but I went to see "Aux frontières de la nuit" (Night Shadows), an Algerian and Swiss production, tonight.

Today the UAE celebrates its 36th National Day.


HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

What a pleasure to meet up with the girls & co., who I have met in the Antenatal Class at the Dubai London Clinic.

Hope to see you soon again!

The only mosque in the UAE, which is open to non-Muslim, is located on Jumeirah Beach Road.

The Jumeirah Mosque offers tours every Thursday and Sunday at 10:15 am. The price is Dhs 10 per person, which includes a water and a scarf for women (only rent!)

Children under 10 years of age are not permitted, but they do make exceptions.

As impressive the mosque looks from the outside, the inside is not that spectacular. The tour is interesting, and the guides offer a good view inside Islam and the ritual of the prayers.

Today it was "raining". The first "rain" we had in months.

What a pleasure!

OH HAPPY DAY!

Our first visit to the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. Apparently the most expensive Hotel in the world....

The building from the outside is impressing and very beautiful. Just all the gold in the inside is a little bit too much for my taste!

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, has big plans for the future.

Not only will they host a Formula One Race but they also want to built some art centers, f.e. Louvre, Guggenheim Museum, Opera etc., within the next 10 years.

The buildings have already been "designed" by architects (the best of the best) and they can be admired at an exhibition in the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

Here a few previews....

This is the end of Ramadan and Eid started officially today.

Eid Mubarak to all of you.

We are used, that holidays are always on the same dates (f.e. 25.12.) or on certain weekends of the month (f.e. 3 Sunday of the month)

As the Muslims holidays are based on the moon (lunar calendar), they are never predictable in advance and even just a few days before, it is not sure when they will happen.

This is when you get e-mails (as the one following) from companies, to inform you that they will be closed for the holidays, just not sure yet, when exactly.

Continue reading "Holidays"

The Salik Road Toll on Sheikh Zayed Road was introduced beginning of July this year. The "official" purpose of the Toll Gate: To ease the traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road.

One of the two Toll Gates is located next to the Mall of the Emirates at Al Barsha, and the other one just before the Al Garhoud Bridge (going in to Dubai). Every time you pass under the toll gate you are charged 4 dhs.

(you have to buy a sticker and place it on your windshield, which has a chip inside. It works on a prepaid basis, and you have to make sure, that you always have enough credit on your account.)

If you get on/out Sheikh Zayed Road before or after the Toll Gate, you don't have to pay anything.

Did the Toll Gate achieve it's goal to ease traffic?

Rafaël André, 54cm, 3505g, joined our team at 05:20 today.

Official start of Ramadan in the UAE today.

RAMADAN KAREEM!

We wish you guys all the best, a wonderful wedding and a great party.
In thoughts we are with you!

Love Vesna & Seb