OK, so I don't want to bore you all with a day in the life of. Those who also recieve my emails get that already. This time I thought I would give you something a little different about what I have seen and what has struck me as different or interesting so far. The following is a list of 10 aspects of life in Abu Dhabi which may amuse, interest, annoy, disturb or whatever, my readers. (If I have any!!!)
They are in no real order:
1. Male Vanity! There is a male 'beauty' salon, spelled saloon, on every block, (I live above one!) in some cases more than one, and there always seems to be people in them. The guys seem to get the same sort of treatment you would expect at a beauty parlour.
2. Driving: if you can call it that! Take the worst on offer in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, throw in the worst 'country driver in a big city', multiply by 100% and you come close. Oh, not to forget the constant use of the horn to tell others what bad drivers they are!
3. Parking? Anywhere. Side of the road, middle of the road, across streets, round corners. Turn a two-way street into aone0way street and still try to drive both ways. Double parked? Not a problem as long as you have left a sign with your mobile number on it!
4. Sisha Cafés. (That's teh bubble pipes) Again, one or more in every block. Men only, of course. They smell, it can be strong, but not entirely revolting. They are often full, especially after they have broken their fast. Soccer on one or more televisions and on the play stations. Many also have outside gardens.
5. Mosques - in the 2km radius around where I live I've counted four! Of varying sizes and designs and all have the call to prayer and a lot of shoes outside.
6. Flower Shops three on the block where my flat is. Strangely though, they never seem to be open, probably Ramadan, nor do they appear to have flowers in them or customers or indeed, shopkeepers.
7. Opening Hours This is Ramadan, so I think it is different when it's not, (I'll keep you informed) The big shops such as the K-Mart type and supermarkets, 8am to 1am. Others and government offices, 8am to 1pm then 8 or 9 pm to 1am.
8. Mobile Phone Shops: EVERYWHERE!!!!
9. Post Offices: NOWHERE! So far I've managed to find only two. The main Abu Dhabi Post Office, which looks like a concert hall and a pokey little shop in an obscure back street which took me three weeks to find.
10. Women and Cothing: The traditional dress for women is the black flowy overdress called an abiya. They cover everything from neck to knee, shoulder to wrist. They can be plain black or highly decorated. I have seen absolutely stunning ones and I will buy one before I leave. There are thousands of shops which sell them, (most appear to be run by men) but, contradiction, at least for me, next door or very close will be a shop selling the most revealing or suggestive, sexy lingerie. As I say what a contradiction.
Anyway there they are. It is all ver fascinating for me and I hope to learn more about the culture and the life style. Perhaps after the two years I will cease to be the obvious newby in town and start to get my way around and feel part o the place, just a little.
assalaam alaykom (peace be on you)
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