Life in Dubai is different from what most residents are used to, that's for sure. Here are just a few of the things you probably only will say while living in Dubai:
"Where is the ladies only queue?"
"Does the hospital have valet parking?"
"Is that a for profit or nonprofit school?"
"Sorry kids, it's too hot to go swimming - for the next few weeks."
"Put your shoes on, otherwise you'll burn your feet."
"The door does not need to be locked."
"Where did the maid leave the iron anyway?"
"Where does the chauffeur sleep?"
"Can I pre-order a blanket for the cinema?"
"Where can I buy ice for the pool?"
"Which maintenance company can I call to change a light bulb?"
"Children, look: clouds!!"
"What is your best price, not the price for tourists. Do I look like a tourist to you?"
"This hotel is so old. It has been open for at least five years."
Monday, 28 September 2015
Tuesday, 22 September 2015
Sleep well (but not on a train!)
Dozing off on a subway train after a long working day or just closing your eyes after an afternoon of shopping? Sounds tempting, right? Well, you'd better avoid napping on a train in Dubai.
An American student found out the hard way: she fell asleep on the subway... and got fined. She had to pay 300 dirhams (around 60 euros) for the offense. For in Dubai it is indeed forbidden to sleep in public transport waiting rooms or vehicles. Just like eating, running, chewing gum and taking pets; getting caught doing one of these things, will cost you at least 100 dirhams.
Monday, 21 September 2015
Off to the mosque
About an hour's drive from Dubai, in the city of Abu Dhabi, one can find the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It's not only the largest mosque in the Middle East, but also perhaps the most beautiful. The mosque is especially stunning when light shows are on. The Grand Mosque is one of the few mosques in the UAE which are open to non-Muslims.
All women visiting the mosque should wear loose fitting clothes and cover their hair, but black overcoats (abaya's) and headscarves (sheyla's) are available upon request.
Please check the mosque's website for more info on opening timings, (free) guided tours and more.
No problem, no problem
How hard can it be to get something delivered in Dubai? Pretty hard (and sometimes very easy).
I had ordered something which would be delivered in about seven days. After two days a guy phoned me at 8:15 in the morning: Mr. Courier, asking if he could come around to deliver a parcel. As I was standing in the supermarket doing some much needed grocery shopping...no, not really.
So I answered: "I'll be home in an hour or so."
Lots of discussion in the background. Then: "Can I bring it now?"
"No, I'm in the supermarket, I'll be home in about an hour," I said slowly and loudly in my mobile phone.
"Ah, the supermarket? Then we'll go there."
What? I imagined myself standing in front of the supermarket with a shopping trolley filled to the brim with refrigerated and frozen stuff, impatiently waiting for a courier who's not showing up because he:
a. is at the wrong store
b. stopped to pray
c. stopped to eat
d. is around the corner chatting to a taxi driver.
Not a good idea, not a good idea at all. "No, don't. Just come to my villa in about an hour."
"No problem, ma'am, I'll come between 1 and 3 pm."
"Oh, sorry, not between 2 and 3 pm, then I will not be home. Schoolrun..."
"I can give the parcel to the maid, ma'am."
"I don't have a domestic helper," I answer almost apologizing.
At that moment the telephone conversation gets too complicated for person A, so person B takes over. After some back-and-forth talking, we agree the courier will bring the parcel before 1 pm.
Two hours later, my phone rings: the same person, asking if he can come between 1 and 3 pm. No!!
"Okay, I'll come in an one hour, ma'am."
Ten minutes later the doorbell goes. Mr. Courier has arrived, smiling and handing over The Parcel.
I had ordered something which would be delivered in about seven days. After two days a guy phoned me at 8:15 in the morning: Mr. Courier, asking if he could come around to deliver a parcel. As I was standing in the supermarket doing some much needed grocery shopping...no, not really.
So I answered: "I'll be home in an hour or so."
Lots of discussion in the background. Then: "Can I bring it now?"
"No, I'm in the supermarket, I'll be home in about an hour," I said slowly and loudly in my mobile phone.
"Ah, the supermarket? Then we'll go there."
What? I imagined myself standing in front of the supermarket with a shopping trolley filled to the brim with refrigerated and frozen stuff, impatiently waiting for a courier who's not showing up because he:
a. is at the wrong store
b. stopped to pray
c. stopped to eat
d. is around the corner chatting to a taxi driver.
"No problem, ma'am, I'll come between 1 and 3 pm."
"Oh, sorry, not between 2 and 3 pm, then I will not be home. Schoolrun..."
"I can give the parcel to the maid, ma'am."
"I don't have a domestic helper," I answer almost apologizing.
At that moment the telephone conversation gets too complicated for person A, so person B takes over. After some back-and-forth talking, we agree the courier will bring the parcel before 1 pm.
Two hours later, my phone rings: the same person, asking if he can come between 1 and 3 pm. No!!
"Okay, I'll come in an one hour, ma'am."
Ten minutes later the doorbell goes. Mr. Courier has arrived, smiling and handing over The Parcel.
Thursday, 17 September 2015
Creepy crawlers
Spiders, mosquitoes, flies, mice, grasshoppers and beetles can be found everywhere in the world, including in Dubai. But what else is crawling, sneaking and flying around...
Let's start with beetles. Once we had an invasion of orange and black beetles in our garden. There were loads and loads of them, probably thousands, crawling around. But one day, they just had disappeared overnight. Huge black beetles can also be seen around Dubai - fortunately they normally stay in the gardens...it's only the little ones that come inside. What else? Well, giant wasps and moths are flying around. Also, Dubai's dragonflies are enormous, but fortunately they do not sting (or do they??).
Still hanging on, no fear of nightmares? Let's discuss the little salamanders then, both the brown and sand-colored variant. In summer they slip underneath the front door in search of some coolness.
Luckily, I have never seen mice inside our villa, but I have regularly heard suspicious noises inside the AC ducts...
Lastly, we have arrived at the real creeps: cockroaches, rats and snakes. Well, there's always pest control! Although... Some (private) companies are unlicensed, with often poorly trained staff who can’t read the instructions on the pesticide. "Oh well, just throw in a good splash. And another one for good measure.” And then things become dangerous, as unfortunately can be read in the newspapers now and then.
Either way, the beautiful birds and butterflies in Dubai's gardens make up for all the unwanted creatures!
Let's start with beetles. Once we had an invasion of orange and black beetles in our garden. There were loads and loads of them, probably thousands, crawling around. But one day, they just had disappeared overnight. Huge black beetles can also be seen around Dubai - fortunately they normally stay in the gardens...it's only the little ones that come inside. What else? Well, giant wasps and moths are flying around. Also, Dubai's dragonflies are enormous, but fortunately they do not sting (or do they??).
Still hanging on, no fear of nightmares? Let's discuss the little salamanders then, both the brown and sand-colored variant. In summer they slip underneath the front door in search of some coolness.
Luckily, I have never seen mice inside our villa, but I have regularly heard suspicious noises inside the AC ducts...
Lastly, we have arrived at the real creeps: cockroaches, rats and snakes. Well, there's always pest control! Although... Some (private) companies are unlicensed, with often poorly trained staff who can’t read the instructions on the pesticide. "Oh well, just throw in a good splash. And another one for good measure.” And then things become dangerous, as unfortunately can be read in the newspapers now and then.
Either way, the beautiful birds and butterflies in Dubai's gardens make up for all the unwanted creatures!
Fake City
When you say ‘Dubai’ the words 'authentic city' do not spring to mind immediately. Some call the city modern and new, full of opportunities, others call it fake. Opinions are divided but one thing is certain: the average Dubaian loves brands and gadgets. Clothing, shoes, bags: if there’s Gucci, Prada or D & G to name but a few, it’s just perfect. But there is one problem: the average resident cannot afford these brands nor or example the newest iPad.
No worries, Dubai has 'Fake City’. No, that's not a pet name for Dubai, but a neighbourhood where you can buy ‘real’ fake stuff. If you're wandering around in the Karama district, you'll soon be approached by salesmen. One will ask you if you want to buy a Rolex watch, the other whether you are looking for a beautiful Burberry bag. Just follow the vendor: trough an alley, into a building, trough a door, another door... And then suddenly you may find yourself standing in a room full of bags. Or a room full of watches and suitcases. Whatever brand you are looking for, it's there. For a fraction of the price of the original. And, according to experienced Karama shopaholics, the quality is quite good.
Of course this is illegal and the police come over to arrest vendors and seize counterfeit goods on a regular basis. But hey, there’s always tomorrow. When the vendors will be waiting for the next customer.
No worries, Dubai has 'Fake City’. No, that's not a pet name for Dubai, but a neighbourhood where you can buy ‘real’ fake stuff. If you're wandering around in the Karama district, you'll soon be approached by salesmen. One will ask you if you want to buy a Rolex watch, the other whether you are looking for a beautiful Burberry bag. Just follow the vendor: trough an alley, into a building, trough a door, another door... And then suddenly you may find yourself standing in a room full of bags. Or a room full of watches and suitcases. Whatever brand you are looking for, it's there. For a fraction of the price of the original. And, according to experienced Karama shopaholics, the quality is quite good.
Of course this is illegal and the police come over to arrest vendors and seize counterfeit goods on a regular basis. But hey, there’s always tomorrow. When the vendors will be waiting for the next customer.
A very chique Bäckerei
Occasionally (well, quite often...) life in Dubai seems a bit surreal. Once I went shopping at the Mall of the Emirates (you know, the one with the indoor ski & snow park) with a friend from Germany. She knew this a great German bakery -inside the mall-, which sells really good German bread, pretzels and more yummy food. But the location and the staff of the Bäckerei were slightly different than you'd expect.
The bakery was in fact in the corner of a five star hotel restaurant. After we had made our choice, we were asked by the staff, who were wearing suits and white gloves, to take a seat. Then they carefully wrapped the loaves of bread and buns we had ordered in plastic instead of tossing them in a paper bag.
But paying was even more odd. You know, how in some restaurants they put the bill in a leather folder which you replace with notes or a credit card? That's exactly what they did in this bakery. My friend and I could hardly contain our laughter as it seemed so out of place. The change came back neatly tucked in the folder. Quite an experience, but the bread and pretzels were very tasty indeed.
The bakery was in fact in the corner of a five star hotel restaurant. After we had made our choice, we were asked by the staff, who were wearing suits and white gloves, to take a seat. Then they carefully wrapped the loaves of bread and buns we had ordered in plastic instead of tossing them in a paper bag.
But paying was even more odd. You know, how in some restaurants they put the bill in a leather folder which you replace with notes or a credit card? That's exactly what they did in this bakery. My friend and I could hardly contain our laughter as it seemed so out of place. The change came back neatly tucked in the folder. Quite an experience, but the bread and pretzels were very tasty indeed.
The man with the Beard
"Are you all right, my dear?" Hmm. "You're doing great, my dear." Sure. "Oh, does that hurt? I'm sorry, my dear."
Does this sound like Hyacinth Bucket from Keeping Up Appearances or some other typical British lady to you? Or maybe even queen Elizabeth?
Well...the above statements were made by a man with a long, rather wild beard. During daytime he wears a white coat and safety goggles. He is our -very sympathetic- dentist. Originally born in Pakistan, but raised in England he sounds more British than most Britons. And every other sentence he says something like: "Are you all right, my dear?" Being in a dentist’s chair, there’s not much left to do then just nod. Apart from that, he talks a lot: about Dubai, about other dentists but also about his favorite football players and his children. But he also asks many questions, so for the next patients he will have enough new material to chat about... Welcome to Dubai, melting pot of cultures and nationalities!
Does this sound like Hyacinth Bucket from Keeping Up Appearances or some other typical British lady to you? Or maybe even queen Elizabeth?
Well...the above statements were made by a man with a long, rather wild beard. During daytime he wears a white coat and safety goggles. He is our -very sympathetic- dentist. Originally born in Pakistan, but raised in England he sounds more British than most Britons. And every other sentence he says something like: "Are you all right, my dear?" Being in a dentist’s chair, there’s not much left to do then just nod. Apart from that, he talks a lot: about Dubai, about other dentists but also about his favorite football players and his children. But he also asks many questions, so for the next patients he will have enough new material to chat about... Welcome to Dubai, melting pot of cultures and nationalities!
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