Shangri La

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Just another day in Abu Dhabi

My eyes are burning. Probably from another day of dehydration. An incredible place but I cannot imagine living here. Fascinating cultures to learn about, amazing things to see....but no f-ing way. Construction is everywhere:

This is our work site:

This is the biggest Mosque in the UAE (my photo only captures about 1/2 of it):

This is the Shangri-La Abu Dhabi hotel pool (loveliest I've ever seen):

This the opulant, over the top Emirates Palace Hotel (ceiling painted in gold, yes, real gold):

These fellows, rather, these Sheiks, are pictured EVERYWHERE (I broke rules taking this photo):

Our current itinerary:

Tonight we are off to a Brazilian restaurant, tomorrow a tour of Abu Dhabi, Saturday morning we go to Al Ain for a cultural experience of some sort, and in the evening we go on a desert safari and ride a camel to dinner (OMG). Sunday we go to an Iftar, which is the Ramadan feast that follows the breaking of the fast. Whew. These are the plans so far.

And I thought I was on a business trip.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Under construction

Just so you know, I'm not permitted to share any photos of the hotel construction on the internet. Its all under wraps until the grand opening. The Yas Hotel on Yas Island, is just one small project of many others that spread across a 26 mile drive along the waterfront.

Today I saw a model of the 10 year plan. Its outrageous. Talk about money. And yet, not much is spent on the facilities we are working in, or the lunch we are being served or the transportation that we are taking to and from the work site (picture a small bus with little to no ventilation, no AC and 115 degree weather. Now fill the bus with a bunch of sweaty people. Add motion sickness and stir).

The hotel we are staying in is very comfortable.

The biggest snafu so far is that I don't have the right adapter for my hair flattener/straightener/de-frizzer. Do you have any idea how big my hair can get in this heat and humidity? Did I mention 115 degrees. Yup. Hot. Here's the view from my room into the street:

I hear the evening prayer but from where? Its a beautiful sound...and now, the Muslims can break their fast.

During Ramadan, which started two days ago, the Muslims fast, which means, that the display of food or beverage in public places or around Muslims is forbidden during daylight hours. So at our work site, if we are thirsty, we have to go into the kitchen, close the door and discretely drink water. And no smoking or music during this holy period. Not surprisingly, the first few days of Ramadan are the hardest as they have to get used to not eating all day. Even harder is when it falls in the summer and days are longer. Our students are nodding out, midday and can you blame them?

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Comfort in knowing

Here is where I will be staying in Abu Dhabi, since the hotel I will be working in is still under construction:

Its the Rotana Hotel. It seems kind of nice. It recently got renovated and its pretty high tech and swank looking. And, in some of the pictures there are women in sleeveless tops, tank tops...hmmmm. Perhaps it is OK on days off, or just within the hotel walls?

All very curious. I feel a bit relieved to know that I am staying at a nice place. I figured I would be, but...its nice just knowing.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Abu Dhabi

If you thought the Central Valley was a long commute...try Abu Dhabi. That picture above is where I am heading toward the end of the month, the soon to be opening Yas Hotel on Yas Island. I will report more as I learn more.

By the way, have you seen where the United Arab Emirates is on a map? Its literally on the other side of the planet. No kidding.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Vacation

We were gone for a week and it flew by. We drove down last weekend to Carlsbad. Spent two days at Legoland.

Everything is made of Legos which is hard to tell in the photos...but really, a gazillion legos...

Seriously, there is a miniature version of NY (in photo), Washington, DC at the Inauguration, Las Vegas, Fisherman's Wharf, etc.

Legos of all sizes for all sizes....

There was also a 3-D theater, I just love the glasses with the hat, couldn't resist.

This guy was not made of Legos, although, there was a Lego version of him nearby.

A bit of time at Sealife Aquarium,

Spent time on the beach. I got in three days worth, not bad. Too bad there are NO pictures of me. It stinks when I am the only one snapping the shots. I have to admit, it would be hard for me to look as excited as BZ with a sand castle.

I got to see some old friends from long ago Dinamation days, really fun.

Lots of fun adventures, even Benihana...

And then we drove the 8+ hours home. A final note, when we hit Livermore, less than an hour from Oakland, we pulled off the freeway to play miniature golf, extending the vacation by just a wee bit. That was fun too.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

The big show

Max goes to OFASS, Oakland Fine Arts Summer School. Its a low-to-no cost 19-day program in the summer for 250 local kids K-5th grade. On the second-to-last day (that would be today) the kids perform some of what they learned in their classes. The walls of the school are lined with their art work, they sing, dance, hip hop, clown, model (yes, like on a runway), perform martial arts...drum...the list goes on, in fact, so did the show. And on and on and on.

There were two shows, each supposed to be about 1+ hours, each ending up at around 3 hours. Egad. BUT then there are these kids performing their hearts out. What's better than a 8 year old waving and smiling with a goofy grin in the middle of a big number? Funny, fun, beautiful.

Max is not the most daring and outgoing kid but he gave it his all. Below on the runway:

He was very excited to be pictured in the paper (picture at the top), he was pretty proud of his new dress up clothes, and he even cracked a smile while singing in a mass of kindergarteners towards the end of a ridiculously long day. He told me later, "I really liked that song the best."