Dubai, Headlines Update

So this is just a quick and dirty update, no pictures (sorry, I didn't bring the cord for my camera here), that I fully plan to redo later.

travel time = fairly amazing. first flight (Chicago to London) was bumped up to first class free of charge, second flight (London to Dubai) was so empty we all had a row of 4 seats to ourselves

first day = sleeping and readjusting after getting in at 5am Dubai time. slept til 2pm, then went to a souk (market), the beach for sunset (and a dip in the Arabian Sea), a showarma, a trip to a bazaar, and a dinner with family friends. excellent dinner/food all around (very flavorful)

second day = lots of walking/shopping. window shopping at Wafi (upscale) in the morning, Indian food (dosa, kind of like a crazy crepe, and mango lassi, smoothie-type thing), afternoon break to avoid 104 degree sun, shopping at Karama (real local market with hard core haggling), dinner out with the family to see the new fountain show (world's tallest fountain, 15 stories high)

UPDATE 2:

third day = zatar and cheese for breakfast, morning at the fish market (extreme haggling), afternoon nap, drive to palm island (crazy man made island), saw sheik's palace and his peacocks, saw burg al arab, drank aloe vera, seafood and Arabic food for dinner

fourth day = sleep in, late breakfast of parahta and crazy fruits (mango, fig, chickoo, lychee, yummy), visit Dubai Land showroom and Jameira islands, crab dinner at home, watched a movie at Illika's

fifth day = parahta for breakfast, shopping at the dihrum store (aka dollar store), lunch out at Gazeebo (Indian food) with Link and his family, walked around Dubai museum, crossed the creek in an abra (boat), shopped at textile souk and gold souk, pani-porri (exploding crazy street food)

UPDATE 3:

sixth day = visiting Olsen in Abu Dhabi (another Emirate), got up very early and ate an interesting brunch-meal cooked by Olsen, visited the third largest mosque in the world, went to the Palace Hotel (used to be a Sheik's palace, now converted to a very swanky hotel), back in Dubai we had very spicy and delicious Pakistani food.

seventh day = went for a swim in the morning at Illika's, then Olsen and Link joined us for a desert safari which included dune bashing (think desert version of a rollercoaster, carried out in an off-road vehicle), camel rides, sand boarding, belly dancing, an a falcon. got back late, then went for deserts near Illika's house.

eigth day = Dubai mall (largest mall in the world-- are you getting the feeling that Dubai really likes it's superlatives?), which included a skating rink in the middle of the mall and an aquarium complete with sharks and scuba divers. Buboti for dinner (south African dish at Illika's)

ninth day = Tahra and Hillary's last day before they hit London. henna in the morning, Mina Bazar after lunch, burf-ka-golla (snow cone on a stick type Indian dessert) and masala chai (the real version of what Starbucks tries and fails to make with their chai tea), porri (crazy bread stuff), aloo (potato), shrikhand (hung yogurt), dal-petti (lentils with dumplings)

more/better description later, +pictures

Let's Go Fly a Kite

Saturday, May 9, 2009
Libe Slope, Ithaca, NY

Hillary, Tahra, and I finally got the chance (perfect weather + free time) to fly the $2 kites we bought at Target a few weeks ago.  We took them out to Libe Slope, where you get the wind off Lake Cayuga.  Luckily, the slope was relatively free of people since the cloudy weather deterred the usual sun bathers.  The kites took to the air immediately, and we all had great fun with the childhood throwback as we made the kites swoop and dive (we only accidentally dive-bombed one innocent bystander).  When the wind that was carrying our kites so well finally delivered the storm it was bringing, we reeled in the kites and reluctantly returned to our studying.

Our three kites, battling it out.

Me with my 2.50 Sesame Street kite.  Well worth it.

Illika also got a dandelion crown for the day.  It seemed fitting.

Slope Day

Friday, May 1, 2009

Libe Slope, Ithaca, NY

Slope Day is the giant, Cornell-wide celebration of the last day of classes.  The university books us big name musical groups for an outdoor concert on Libe Slope (my favorite hill ever), and they provide all kinds of food and fun free stuff.  This year's musical groups were Apples in the Stereo (a smaller name, warm-up group), Asher Roth (a fairly well-known rapper, for those who know rap), and The Pussycat Dolls (not so much a musical group as a group of scantily-clad women).

Hillary and I trying to take our hats really seriously

Tahra and Illika with their hats (looking only slightly less silly than me and Hillary).  Melissa decided she was too dignified for such behavior

After some tasty food, free smoothies, and free (ridiculously trashy) airbrushed hats, Tahra, Hillary, Illika, Melissa and I staked out "seats" on the grass in front of the stage.  We were pretty early, so we ended up right up front.  I really enjoyed the first group, which was much 

Apples in the Stereo

more my style of music (if I have a style).  But I was actually surprised at how much I enjoyed Asher Roth, seeing as I'm really not a rap fan.  We were really close, and I think seeing the 

We were really close-- this is Asher Roth, taken without zoom

actual performance (plus being surrounded by a crowd that was really into it) made it really fun.

I didn't have so much interest in The Pussycat Dolls, so Hillary and I made our way out of the crowd (easier said than done), and found some fresh air farther up the hill.  You really got a feel 

The crowd went on like this in both directions-- literally almost everyone who goes to Cornell was on the slope

for the size of the crowd from that perspective; the hill was covered in people.  We met up with Tahra and Link, who also escaped the crowd, and after some more delicious snacks, we set out on the other mission for the day: use the secret library tunnel.

Link with the not-so-secret sign proclaiming directions to the secret tunnel

Once a year, for 6 hours during the Slope Day festivities, the tunnel connecting Olin and Uris libraries is opened up.  This is so that they can close all the regular entrances to prevent Slope Day party-ers from coming in to the library and disrupting those who actually need to study.  It was strange standing underneath Ho Plaza, instead of on it.

Just as we left the library, there was a mass-exodus from the slope as a storm opened up over our heads.  We headed back to the dorm and enjoyed a 90's flashback diner of dino nuggets, tater tots, fish sticks, and gushers.  All in all, a nice way to unwind after classes.  Unfortunately, it also means the start of finals.

Dubai Orientation Packlet

Illika finally presented Hillary, Tahra and I with the "orientation packlet" she's been working on for our Dubai venture. I found it both helpful and entertaining. I reproduced it below so that everyone could share in Illika's amazing layout skills, but you can't see read the content, so for those of you interested, I copied the text (without fun pictures) below that. Keep in mind that it's a little tongue-in-cheek.

BRIEFING

LOCATION of Your Crib: (In case you get lost!)

Flat 209, 2^nd Floor,

Esa Saleh Gurg Building,

Bank Street, (Opposite Mussalah Towers,

Near Ramada Hotel and the Old Spinnies,)

Bur Dubai,

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

HISTORY:

Originally a small fishing and trading settlement, Dubai was taken over in about 1830 by a branch of the Bani Yas tribe from the Liwa oasis led by the Maktoum family who still rule the emirate today.

Traditional activities included herding sheep and goats, cultivating dates, fishing and pearling, but the inhabitants built up trade too. By the turn of the century, Dubai was reputed to have the largest souks (markets) on the Gulf coast, with 350 shops in the Deira district alone.

Commercial success allied to the liberal attitudes of Dubai's rulers, made the emirate attractive to traders from India and Iran, who began to settle in the growing town. On the British withdrawal in 1971, Dubai came together with Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and (in 1972) Ras Al Khaimah to create the federation of the United Arab Emirates.

This was shortly after the discovery of oil in 1966, which was soon to transform the emirate and its way of life. Dubai's first oil exports in 1969 were followed by a period of rapid development that laid the foundations for today's modern society. Much of the credit for this development can be traced to the vision of the late Ruler, HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who ensured that Dubai's oil revenues, despite being relatively modest by the standards of the region, were deployed to maximum effect.

His work has been continued by the present Ruler, HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and his brother, Their Highnesses Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry. The result is that Dubai is constantly building up its infrastructure of transport facilities, schools, hospitals, tourism developments and other amenities of an advanced society.

Making it the AWESOME that it is today.

CLIMATE:

Dubai’s spectacular positioning guarantees year-round sunshine (and happiness) and a sub-tropical climate where rain is rare. The summer months from June to September are the hottest and temperatures can reach upto 50°C (that’s 122°F for you foreigners). Don’t let that worry you though as visitors can take advantage of the state-of-the-art Air Conditioning Systems that have been introduced in shopping malls, vehicles, hotels, and EVEN bus stops!

CURRENCY:

The currency in Dubai is the United Arab Emirate Dirham (referred to as just Dirham, and written as ‘AED’ or ‘Dhs’), which is divided into 100 fils.

1$ = approximately 3.67dhs.

OTHER RANDOM INFORMATION:

-Dubai’s weekend runs from Thursday night to Saturday night.

-The electricity supply is 220-240 volts at 50 cycles.

-You will probably need transformers. (Not in reference to the cool transforming vehicles in the movie ‘Transformers’)

-Water supply is desalinated and safe to drink, however most people choose to drink bottled water

-When nature calls and you visit the little girl’s room, you will notice that there is a miniature “handheld shower-device” hanging on the wall near the toilet seat. It is very common in many Arabic/Muslism countries and is known as a “Sharddaf” or in plain English; a bum-washer. As toilet paper is less used, enjoy getting acquainted :D

-The clothes the men wear is called a “dish-dasha” and the women wear a “burka” or just the headscarf called “hijab”

MISSION GOALS:

-Smoke a SHEESHA (also known as “Hookah” or “Hubbly-bubbly”) None of the rubbish you get here in the States, but high-quality stuff. The traditional oriental pipe with a long flexible tube is connected to a container where the smoke is cooled by passing through water. Sheesha is smoke mixed with molasses and various of fruit flavours. Some of the most popular flavours are Apple, Double-Apple, Strawberry, Banana, Grape, Mint etc.

-CONSUME A Mouthful of chunkified heaven ie. a SHOWARMA

-SEE and RIDE A CAMEL

-RIDE on an ABRA

-GO DUNE/WADI BASHING

-SEE BURJ AL ARAB, BURJ DUBAI, and other such extravagant buildings

-Shop in some of the crazy malls, especially DUBAI MALL, the largest mall in the world.

-Shop in the ridunkulously cheap, older ‘bazaars’ of Dubai.

-See SKI DUBAI. Take pictures. Tell Robbie about its amazing-ness.

-Go BEACHING. Don’t sun-burn.

-VISIT that boy in Abu Dhabi

-VISIT/ bully the other boy in Sharjah

-GO on a ROAD TRIP to one of the old heritage oases in UAE

-See belly dancing. Then outshine belly-dancer with own awesome dance skills.

-Go to a MOSQUE.

-REPAY Illika for her services!

-GO visit a spice/gold SOUQ.

RESTRICTIONS:

It is best to wear conservative clothes. Ie. Avoid wearing revealing clothes in public places or places (no ridunkulously low cut tops, micro minis, refrain from spaghetti shirts without a jacket, midriff bearing shirts- or else refer to last phrase in “Useful Phrases” section.). One piece bathing suits are recommended.

Drugs are illegal. There is an EXTREMELY strict zero tolerance policy. Like get jailed and deported for even a milligram of the substance on your shoe strict. (no pressure though, I’m pretty sure you’re all clean)

Prescription medicines should have the accompanying doctor’s note/prescription to authenticate its use. Advisable to carry medicines in original packaging.

You want to NOT take pictures of Arab women without permission. However you don’t need to go out of the way to make sure that they don’t “accidentally” fall into the frame while you’re taking a shot.

Obscenity is apparently a sin, punishable by law. That said, I didn’t know about that law until I researched it online for this packlet.

Some sites on the internet are deemed to have “inappropriate content” and are blocked, but really its not excessive.

Committing suicide and abortion are both prohibited. So please plan such activities around this holiday.

Cross dressing is also prohibited. But this is mostly to prevent men from using “burkas” to enter women-only areas.

TAXING AND TIPPING:

Service charge applied when dining in the ritzy-glitsy hotels and restaurants of Dubai, otherwise, it’s a TAX-FREE country (‘cept for water and electricity). A 10% tip is customary.

TO PACK (you can use your creative discretion and pack other things too if you want, I permit you) :

-Jeans

-Comfortable walking shoes

-Jumper/jacket/sweatshirt- because some times when walking into the AC blast from the outside, it gets chilly. Or I could gladly give you some of mine.

-Some fancier clothes and shoes

-Underwear (because for this one, I refuse to give you any of mine)

-Some cash please- for phone sim cards, rendezvous plans, shopping.

-Things to tackle the heat.

Expressly for your exotic skin:

“It can be quite windy at Dubai beaches, which dries-out the skin; dry skin is the main reason we get sunburn. For that reason, sun tanning OILS actually prevent sunburn better than high-factor white, sticky lotions. (I recommend Hawaiian Tropic tanning oils). Sun block and sun screen are also a MUST!”

---- As said by a western visitor to Dubai (as this is not an essay for a class, I’m adamantly NOT citing my sources).

USEFUL PHRASES:

Hello = As-salam Walaikum

(Reply) = Walaikum As-salam

Welcome = MarHuba

Goodbye = Ma’assalaama

Please = min fadlak (to a man), min fadliki (to a woman)

Thank you = shukran

Yes = na’am

No = la’

What = Ma-dha

Where = Aeen

No problem = Mafi Mushkil

Do you speak English? = tatakullum ingleezi?

I don’t speak Arabic = ana la atkallami arabi

Sorry = Asf

Slow down/wait/be patient = Shweya-shweya

I am not a prostitute = Ana La-st Aah-raH