tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188960452012-01-24T11:55:25.487+04:00This blog is all about stories...stories about me, about my life, about Dubai, about my life in Dubai (and Abu Dhabi), and about anything that I find interesting enough to share with you...Enjoy!Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.comBlogger3921100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-30503461860325266782010-04-21T21:16:00.004+04:002010-04-21T22:06:51.109+04:00

My friend D, a very wise and perceptive young lady, BBMd me the other day (have you noticed how people no longer call each other...they BBM?), saying that she was reading my blog, and that she was surprised that the last few posts have had a rather negative tone to them, and she asked me to write something more positive next time.My friend D is right...I do use this blog as a venting platform

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-21098157619382749652010-04-06T21:33:00.005+04:002010-04-07T08:29:49.907+04:00

Customer service in the UAE can either be hit or miss...I'd say 90% of the time, it's a miss...but, looking at the bright side, this means that the 10% of the time when it's a hit, one can only be blown away, because the bar is set so low to begin with. I've been to a few restaurants lately where the service was simply abysmal. Orders were messed up, the food took ages to get there, dishes got

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-52097742794848433562010-03-07T20:07:00.006+04:002010-03-12T11:06:52.874+04:00

So we decided to go to the Sting concert the other day...despite me vowing never to go to another concert ever again after the Shakira fiasco. But I figured, what the hell...Shakira was 3 years ago, Mirage promotions is nowhere close to being involved in this concert, so why not...Plus, I mean, this was Sting!The venue was Meydan, the new racecourse in Dubai which replaced Nad al Sheba. It was my

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-535309416954857942010-01-30T19:54:00.004+04:002010-01-30T20:08:53.883+04:00

Still here. My blog's been on my mind a lot lately, and I cringe every time I think about how I've neglected it! Poor little blog that I've invested so much time in!But the reason I haven't shut it down is because I always knew that I'd have a need for a space where I can vent my frustrations, share my thoughts, and get people's opinions. So, this blog's staying, no matter how infrequently I'm

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-4575034742117679122009-09-12T11:15:00.005+04:002009-09-12T12:04:52.495+04:00

Don't know about you but it seems like this kind of crap only ever happens to me! (although, deep down, I know that that's not really the case, but still...)In today's lesson, we will discuss renewing your driver's license, and how to drive a person to ultimate frustration.First, the facts:1) I've had a license for 10 years here. 2) It was time for it to be renewed. 3) It was originally issued in

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-612186940976077692009-08-27T21:10:00.002+04:002009-08-27T21:22:49.408+04:00

I flew on Etihad for the first time last year, on a trip to Paris. The experience was impressive to say the least. I had heard a lot of negative comments about Etihad and their planes from many people, but I was pleasantly surprised by my experience. Planes were new, service was good and so was the food.I flew Etihad again recently on a trip to Beirut, and it felt like it was a different airline!

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-75293543789990915202009-07-28T20:49:00.002+04:002009-07-28T21:06:26.288+04:00

A few months ago, I registered online for an Emirates ID appointment...which is supposedly sometime in August..And I was bracing myself for a disastrous, chaotic experience. Given the experience some people went through to get it, and given the government's complete incompetency in communicating the right information to the population, I was ready to spend a few days running around, trying to get

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-12550480615880991572009-07-27T12:28:00.003+04:002009-07-27T12:41:30.743+04:00

The news over the past 10 days has been about Etisalat's Blackberry patch fiasco that has drained the batteries of many BB users. And to add insult to injury, it turns out that the patch is not really a "sofware update patch", as originally claimed by Etisalat...it was, in fact, a spyware patch that gave Etisalat access to BB users' email and messenger information (which should have technically

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-65153880903722536622009-07-08T21:25:00.005+04:002009-07-09T10:21:35.013+04:00

Fake Plastic Souk's Alex McNabb prepared a list of "Best Dubai Blogs" that he shared with Dubai 92's Catboy. And I did not make the list!Well...I hadn't made the list until I tweeted my disappointed, and Catboy gracefully obliged by adding me...so now I'm on the elite list of Best Dubai Blogs :) Thank you Catboy!Oh, and here's the list in its entirety should you wish to consult a few worthy

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-83588416015372481872009-06-23T16:34:00.003+04:002009-06-23T16:58:34.398+04:00

I've said this time and time again, but there is a serious problem with customer service in this country...and this is applicable to almost anything, from moving companies, to banks, to restaurants...and of course, telecom companies. Given that Etisalat is practically a monopoly, it doesn't really make the effort to invest in its customer service. Case in point, my sister wanted to get her phone

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-14437368103451685492009-06-08T21:51:00.003+04:002009-06-08T21:59:25.367+04:00

I recently heard the story, from a friend of mine, that his friend was found outside an Abu Dhabi bar by policemen, drunk, and was taken into custody. Granted, the drunk guy had fallen (or passed out), so he was found laying on the street. He was first taken to hospital to get his alcohol level checked, and was then taken to jail where he's still being kept to this day.He's been there for 5 days

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-61926628470374208232009-05-26T10:40:00.001+04:002009-05-26T10:40:57.854+04:00

...I am still here (unlike what Mory and Coloman insinuated in their comments to my previous post). I've just been busy over the past month due to:1) A weeklong work trip2) Coming back to a pile of work at the office3) A moveEver since my sister moved in with me, we've been in dire need of a bigger place. Poor girl was sleeping on a not-so comfortable sofa bed, and had not place to hang her

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-68770978457634818332009-05-03T22:17:00.004+04:002009-05-03T22:28:24.253+04:00

...for neglecting this blog! I have not completely given up on blogging though...I've just been testing out a new form of blogging that's all...My first foray into micro-blogging started a few weeks ago. Yes, DubaiSunshine is now on Twitter! And in the span of a few Tweets, I managed to get myself 40 followers...Not bad! Thanks to those who have chosen to follow me.Twitter has gained immense

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-55355704112067187922009-04-07T23:12:00.003+04:002009-04-07T23:20:58.009+04:00

Two damning articles about Dubai have appeared in foreign publications over the past 2 days.First on BBC, then another one in the Independent.What's going on? Why the sudden Dubai-bashing? Again, nothing that's written in these articles is new, but they're shocking nonetheless. Oh, and as a side note, when I tried posting the link to the first article on this blog's Twitter account, my post got

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-31853443311076877282009-03-31T21:57:00.006+04:002009-03-31T22:34:01.173+04:00

I was at the Coldplay concert last Saturday, and all I can say is WOW! What a show!We got there early so we could secure good spots...and what amazing spots they ended up being! Chris Martin was so close, we could almost touch him! The rain, lightning and thunder show that accompanied the band only made the whole experience even better in my opinion. The band was incredible...they looked like

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-43666335372068113112009-03-23T23:44:00.003+04:002009-03-23T23:46:17.260+04:00

Dubai Sunshine is now on Twitter! So if you're a twitterer (or whatever you want to call yourself), follow me on Twitter...Just click on the Follow me link on the right...Tweet ya later!

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-8047332918922180362009-03-22T22:48:00.003+04:002009-03-27T02:48:37.421+04:00

I'm averaging out a post a month. Not good at all. I really should pay more attention to my blog...Not that there's been much happening lately. Totally busy: which everyone tells me is a good thing. They did lay off a few people though, but not too many. I know it may be sad to say, but at least this financial crisis has helped weed out non-performers, and provided a kick in the butt to those who

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-4832882328538401152009-02-21T13:49:00.006+04:002009-02-25T08:18:44.694+04:00

I guess everyone in the world has heard about Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer being denied entry into the UAE...and the UAE's cowardly decision to grand another Israeli player, Andy Ram, a visa to participate in the Barclay's tennis tournament next week. Because let's face it, as soon as an Israeli's "rights" are being violated, the world's media goes into a frenzy to make sure everyone hears

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-33943928302672531922009-01-29T20:51:00.002+04:002009-01-29T21:06:14.903+04:00

I haven't been a very prolific blogger this year have I? Apologies for being away for so long...It's almost February and I have no clue where the first month of the year has gone.Oh ya, I know. Work. Been really busy, which I guess is a good thing these days. But no one's safe, really. I keep hearing of people being laid off, from different industries. And it's not just dozens of people...no...

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-55846293911365098802009-01-16T19:17:00.002+04:002009-01-16T19:32:21.001+04:00

Just got back from the Dubai Cares volunteering campaign for Gaza. A great way to spend the afternoon. It's taking place at the Emperor hall at DIFC, and there were literally hundreds of people already waiting in line by the time we got there a little after 2PM today. But the line moved pretty quickly and that was largely due to the efficient organization of the team running the campaign, who

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-79430130529645929142009-01-09T17:28:00.003+04:002009-01-09T17:49:48.302+04:00

It's been a while....Haven't posted here since....well...last year!Not much to report on except for a hectic month of December (out of town family visiting, lots and lots of time spent in malls, lots of work too...whoever said December is a slow month was lying!, plus a trip to Beirut over the New Year holiday).Been back for a week now, battling a nasty cold that just won't seem to go away. But I

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-85610522519709968722008-11-19T14:14:00.002+04:002008-11-19T15:27:29.774+04:00

Does ID stand for "Idiocy...Definitely" or "Incredibly Daft"? Because the whole process is a mess apparently.If you have 5 minutes and would like to laugh your pants off, check out Fake Plastic Souk's hilarious post on the Emirates ID saga... Stand-up comedy material I tell ya!I have yet to experience what many others have been experiencing around me, because my company is trying to get our IDs

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-11068443151841597642008-11-14T10:52:00.004+04:002008-11-14T11:04:17.266+04:00

....well, Christmas in the Gulf at least!I've only ever spent the holiday season in the UAE. I've never had a white Christmas. The idea of going to the beach on Christmas day is definitely not a foreign one to me. I love it when the weather starts cooling down, and there's a nice, almost chilly breeze in the evenings, almost requiring a little jacket or a pashmina...I love it when you wake up in

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-14701862473073745662008-10-29T20:25:00.003+04:002008-10-29T20:31:47.346+04:00

No, I'm not referring to how frequently I update this blog....I'm referring to the way some (most) taxi drivers drive their cars in this city. I'm guessing they all went to the same driving school, because they all tend to press on the gas pedal for a couple of seconds, then take their foot off it for a couple of seconds, then press on it again for a couple of seconds...and so on and so forth....

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-29639357730278159012008-10-11T11:29:00.007+04:002008-10-20T23:02:10.869+04:00

And do they really think they're doing a good job by letting all this negative publicity surround them, without really responding to it? I know we usually say "all publicity is good publicity" but still...this has got to hurt them at some point, no?Ever since the opening of the water-themed resort, there has been a slew of reports and articles highlighting how unprepared they were for what was

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-65914155641053280862008-10-01T09:52:00.005+04:002008-10-01T10:36:29.031+04:00

There's been a recent wave of illegal dumping of raw sewage in storm water drains over the past few months, and this has now led to the closing of the Dubai Sailing Club due to water contamination. Basically, sewage tank drivers have found a way to cut corners by dumping sewage in drains and other deserted areas, rather than going to the Al Aweer sewage treatment plant. Why? Because apparently

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-30169134323992904782008-09-21T23:00:00.003+04:002008-09-22T08:16:43.513+04:00

Seriously!I don't know if it's because it's Ramadan, or because schools started again, or because of construction, or because of Salik, or a combination of all of the above, but traffic in the mornings has been horrendous.Every single morning, I hear the following traffic report on the radio: Getting out of the Greens, the Springs, the Meadows and Arabian Ranches is a nightmare. And it is! (well,

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-29146519515225641122008-09-17T21:54:00.004+04:002008-09-18T19:02:31.886+04:00

I've been car-less since Sunday. Not because my car is being serviced. No. It's much more interesting than that.I went to renew my registration last week, only to find out that they were confiscating my car for a week. Why? Because I apparently parked in a handicapped zone. When? In April. Where? No clue. No one could give me an answer to that question.So they gave me a piece of paper that

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-52702412236372151102008-09-08T19:27:00.005+04:002008-09-08T19:38:42.864+04:00

It seems that every time I come back to Dubai after a vacation, something's changed. A new road, a new building, or a blocked road...or a building that's been demolished...This time is no different. Maybe I just hadn't noticed before but apparently all the road signs that used to indicate "Abu Dhabi" or "Dubai" have now been switched to "South" or "North"...And so we now have "Sheikh Zayed Road

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-62400358580638495972008-09-07T21:39:00.003+04:002008-09-07T21:50:25.384+04:00

This article in the Telegraph is one of the only articles I've read that touches upon the unspoken rivalry between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It comes after the recent announcement that the Abu Dhabi government has bought the Manchester City football club AND invested 500 million pounds into Warner Brothers.But all of Abu Dhabi's recent investments into art, culture, sports and movies are not an

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-50922864775093121502008-08-21T21:02:00.001+04:002008-08-21T21:03:42.571+04:00

...for a 10-day vacation (and to attend a good friend's wedding). Blogging during this period will be minimal to non-existant....See you in a couple of weeks!

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-84588242836666186882008-08-14T12:11:00.006+04:002008-08-14T12:39:28.794+04:00

I've mentioned reading The Namesake before, and it was a great book. When I was on holiday, I saw a book by the same author called Unaccustomed Earth, and decided to buy it. Just like her first book, Interpreter of Maladies, Jhumpa Lahiri's Unaccustomed Earth is a collection of short stories. I loved it. And I absolutely recommend it to anyone out there. Within the span of a few pages, the author

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-4932383309518183922008-08-13T14:33:00.005+04:002008-08-13T14:48:57.519+04:00

First we find out about some of the fireworks being fake at the end of the Olympics ceremony, to ensure better visibility according to the Beijing Times:...members of the Beijing Olympic Committee said it was necessary to replace live video with computer-generated imagery because the city’s hazy, smoggy skies made it too difficult to see, according to The Beijing Times, which first reported the

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-59188607290603904382008-08-12T20:36:00.004+04:002008-10-20T23:07:16.372+04:00

Apparently some ENOC gas stations have become self-service stations starting today. When I first read about this about a week ago, my initial thought was "oh...the UAE has finally discovered the notion of self-service"....Having lived in Montreal, I'm used to serving myself at gas stations...No biggie...right? OK so I'll have to get out of my car, fill up my gas, then walk up to the store to pay

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-30583180853609702292008-08-10T22:55:00.003+04:002008-08-10T23:08:04.259+04:00

As I was driving from Abu Dhabi to Dubai this morning, I noticed a bridge that crossed Sheikh Zayed road... It surprised me a bit because I didn't recall seeing it last week...but then again, I could have been distracted or not really paying attention to my surroundings. But then I read this article and it explained it all!It seems that I wasn't so distracted after all, and that the bridge was

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-91334322861370737792008-08-01T11:15:00.003+04:002008-08-01T11:42:41.088+04:00

Been back from my vacation for around 3 weeks now, and it feels like I've never left! Good thing I have anoter small vacation coming up in 3 weeks...Yay!A few random things that I just want to get off my chest:- Damn it's hot! Is it just me, or has it gotten hotter and more humid MUCH earlier this year compared to previous years? I mean, I remember that in previous years, it was the months of

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-11883354177872597342008-07-15T16:22:00.003+04:002008-07-15T16:37:17.927+04:00

This one!The Michelle & Vince after-shocks have begun!Not sure if this is newsworthy enough to have it be on CNN, but I guess that:a) It's a slow newsday for the CNN teamb) Any mention of Dubai these days will generate interest...

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-59191148050548149402008-06-15T21:07:00.002+04:002008-06-15T21:24:10.901+04:00

Been out of touch for a while. The past couple of weeks have been hectic...trainings, meetings, big projects, not much sleep!But the good news is, I've got a vacation coming up! Unlike previous years where, by the time I'd take my vacation in August, I'd usually be drained physically, mentally, emotionally...This year, I'm actually shocked at how soon my vacation's coming up! It's almost as if I

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-30451768854017761222008-06-01T20:14:00.003+04:002008-06-01T20:24:50.958+04:00

A friend posted a link on Facebook about this PBS/Frontline documentary on prostitution in Dubai. Nothing new, nothing we didn't really know of or see before, but still, it shocks me that this sort of thing is happening in my backyard (well...almost!)Dubai's so good at showcasing its glittery, shiny, modern side, we often forget (or choose to forget) about the seedy nightlife. And although I am

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-49439910896720553942008-05-25T21:38:00.001+04:002008-05-25T21:38:02.504+04:00

The Dubai Metro is almost here. There was apparently a test run in Jebel Ali a couple of weeks ago. Still...we'll have to wait another year and a half almost before people like you and me get to experience the metro system.

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-77396940650060825052008-05-21T10:17:00.004+04:002008-12-10T02:14:55.821+04:00

I was at the Bon Jovi concert last night at the Emirates Palace, and yet again, the organization was flawless. This was also the case at the Justin Timerblake concert last December (and apparently at the Elton John concert in January, which I did not attend).It took all of 15 minutes to get to the Emirates Palace, parking was widely available, we walked to the wristband exchange area, got our

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-72317862196310301732008-05-06T21:16:00.005+04:002008-05-06T21:34:46.049+04:00

I do not know the Dasmals, and I do not know Negin, but a friend of mine forwarded this blog to me, with a warning: "it's sad...don't read if you don't want to cry". But I read it, and yes it's sad, but it's also an inspiration. Negin, a young businesswoman who is the driving force behind successful ventures such as N-Bar and 1847 Men's Spa in Emirates Towers was recently diagnosed with cancer,

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-83518096200253418782008-05-01T21:13:00.002+04:002008-05-01T21:18:09.522+04:00

...because I called again to explain my situation after not hearing from them for about 10 days. That was towards the end of last week, and the customer service representative listened to my story and said that he will make sure someone calls me back regarding the outstanding amount of Dhs 1200 that magically appeared on my bill.I'm not going to even think of paying that bill until I get an

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-50112235882975931262008-04-25T12:40:00.002+04:002008-04-25T13:04:59.912+04:00

In the past few weeks, I have met up with a few friends (or friends of friends) who are new to the region. One is a friend who just moved here with her husband and daughter, and the other is a family who is here for a few days, visiting their relative (who also happens to my relative) for the first time. Both groups are North American and have never been to the UAE before.Talking to these people

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-65202552863341126802008-04-16T21:56:00.004+04:002008-04-16T22:17:09.307+04:00

I've been a Du subscriber for 3 years now...Actually, I was a SAHM subscriber and then became a Du subscriber when Du came to life.They've been crediting my account directly, from my credit card, every month. Last month, I get a bill from them (I guess they changed their bill format because the bill looked different), and I notice a Dhs 1200 overdue amount. I was slightly stunned because I had

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-89299820924176740692008-04-08T00:01:00.004+04:002008-04-08T21:41:01.197+04:00

Today marks the 3-year anniversary of my return to the UAE.3 years!Time flies!Things have changed for me since I first moved here. I feel more at home here, and I'm having fun. A good group of friends has a lot to do with this change in perception. A couple of months ago, I was away on business for about 10 days, and I surprised myself a couple of times in thinking: "I can't wait till I get back

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-41795152966428949962008-04-01T23:05:00.003+04:002008-04-01T23:26:25.917+04:00

I've been in Dubai for almost 3 years now and I had yet to attend a World Cup...but this year, a few of us decided to check it out...I had only heard good things about the event so I was really looking forward to it. So we headed there at around 5PM, and got stuck in traffic before the roundabout leading to Nad el Sheba. The reason? Cops directing cars to head into one direction or another. 45

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-82470779798431015372008-03-23T16:05:00.007+04:002008-12-10T02:14:56.177+04:00

Earth Hour is happening all over the world on Saturday the 29th of March at 8PM. Cities across the world will turn off their lights for just one hour – Earth Hour – to show that it’s possible to take action on global warming. Switching off is a simple action that can make a difference and it sends a powerful message that the people of the world care about the future of the planet. Dubai is the

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-44115759135651676882008-03-20T20:52:00.003+04:002008-03-20T20:56:56.669+04:00

I haven't been able to access Blogger or any blogspot websites for the past few days. I live in the Greens and I heard that Blogger's been blocked in all free zone areas. I am now in Abu Dhabi which is why I've been able to access it from here. Does anyone know why that is?

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-13766283032409744762008-03-12T00:15:00.003+04:002008-03-12T00:21:58.766+04:00

This scares the shit out of me because it could have been me...or one of my friends or family members.I drive that road practically every Sunday morning as I head back from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, and this Sunday the fog was bad. As bad as I've ever seen it. The road was OK until I halfway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which is where what can only be described as a wall of fog appeared in front of me.

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-14828186137762362972008-03-09T19:47:00.004+04:002008-03-09T19:56:21.147+04:00

We've been going to the Abu Dhabi islands for as long as I can remember. Every since we were very young, we've been going to Bahrani island (or to Peanut Island, or some other small island around Abu Dhabi) to spend a day or fun in the sun, or for an overnight camping trip.This weekend we spent an afternoon on Bahrani, but on the way there, I noticed that many islands had a "no trespassing

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-90472041812143028152008-03-02T20:37:00.005+04:002008-12-10T02:14:57.001+04:00

7Days seems to have run out of material to write about in their horoscope section. The below pictures were forwarded by a friend of mine. December 9th and March 2nd are apparently the same when it comes to your Zodiac outlook...Well spotted! Well, at least we now know for a fact that horoscopes are just a bunch of bull!

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-27115931055578136192008-02-25T18:34:00.003+04:002008-03-02T20:51:14.336+04:00

On March 1st, the UAE is implementing tougher laws when it comes to reckless driving.According to this article:On March 1, the new Unified Federal Traffic Law comes into effect putting in place hefty penalties for serious traffic offences as well as black points against the licence of the driver. Basically, drivers will start earning "black points" whenever they break the law, with a maximum of

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-85280482727210125062008-02-24T22:45:00.002+04:002008-02-24T23:06:52.400+04:00

I know that back in September I had declared this blog defunct, but every once in a while, I experience something or do something that makes me think "hmm...this would have been a great story to blog about"...And so, being the indecisive Sagittarian that I am, I've decided to get back to blogging. For several reasons:1) I actually miss it2) Writing about certain things is actually cathartic3)

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-32408210455094804632007-09-20T23:28:00.000+04:002007-09-20T23:33:59.800+04:00

I have thought long and hard about this. It was not a spur of the moment decision. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am the most indecisive person on earth, and that I tend to over-analyze things. Which is why I am very confident about the decision I've taken to officially declare this as my last post on this blog. I don't know when or how it happened, but I've simply lost all interest in

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-72260219380178069792007-08-17T09:56:00.000+04:002007-08-17T10:12:03.049+04:00

This documentary is a must-see. It discusses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, starting with the rise of zionism, all the way up to the current situation in the Gaza strip and the West Bank. And it's definitely an eye-opener when it comes to the amount of money the US dedicates to the support of Israel.Special thanks to my sis for sending me the link to this.

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-13767126859039528292007-08-10T11:15:00.000+04:002007-08-10T11:22:56.052+04:00

I know I've probably discussed this subject to death, but I still don't understand this whole public holidays system here. Israa wal Mi3raj is today. Some of our clients had the day off yesterday. Some will have the day off on Sunday. The government sector will not have any days off apparently, so it's weird in this case that the private sector has been given some days off. My company has not

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-32253197476539148222007-07-28T23:10:00.000+04:002007-07-28T23:13:55.478+04:00

I finally figured out how to add links to my posts again....It was simply a question of changing browsers...I was using Safari, and I've now switched to Firefox, and that seems to have solved the problem. Woohoo!

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-62465975342467780912007-07-25T15:01:00.000+04:002007-07-28T23:14:21.437+04:00

I'm at home...Took the day off today. I've been battling a stupid cold for the past couple of days now. It started over the weekend and just kept getting worse. And although I am not dying and could technically have gone to work today, I decided to take the day off and rest a bit. I could so get used to this! I'm still checking my work e-mail once in a while to make sure there are no major

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-26474327445783748812007-07-24T21:03:00.001+04:002008-12-10T02:14:57.859+04:00

Yeah it's been a while. It seems like every single one of my posts lately starts with "I know I've been gone for a while", or "I've neglected this blog" or "It's been too long since my last post". But I'm here....And no, I don't have an excuse for not posting. I've just been...distracted lately. Work is busy as ever, but I just don't have the energy anymore...I feel like I'm kinda neglecting work

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-59123801727531298522007-07-14T02:56:00.001+04:002007-07-14T02:56:33.254+04:00

How does one add links to posts using a Mac? I've recently become the proud owner of a Mac after the sad demise of my old laptop. So far so good, but I can't figure out the link thing (CTRL+SHIFT+A doesn't work with Mac). So I'm asking for the help of other Mac users out there....Any tips?

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-80721839193199127412007-07-03T23:29:00.000+04:002007-07-03T23:49:11.859+04:00

I woke up this morning dreading the traffic on my way to work. I debated whether I should take an alternate route through the Lakes. It's a longer road but would probably take less time and cause less stress.But as I got out of my underground parking, I quickly scanned the roads and noticed that there did not seem to be any unusual traffic activity. So I opted to take my usual route, and got to

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-60482168211827313532007-07-02T20:58:00.000+04:002007-07-02T21:55:48.907+04:00

I've been out of the country for a few days and came back today to news of Salik disasters from many friends and colleagues.Having driven straight from Abu Dhabi to work this morning, I did not really experience the wrath of Salik. But apparently, the past couple of days have been disastrous for people leaving the Greens to get to anywhere! Just as I had predicted, the Greens exit being the last

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-39833329046990882142007-06-25T22:56:00.000+04:002007-06-25T23:07:44.825+04:00

I was going through my posts from last year, and came across this one, which I wrote almost a year ago. It's amazing because I feel almost the same way now as I did a year ago.The common denominator? Work! Too much work...And not enough energy to do it. I feel drained. And again, I'm in dire need of a holiday...Yes, I am leaving in a couple of days, but it's mostly work, and just a couple of real

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-39463967128001822482007-06-22T08:29:00.000+04:002007-06-22T15:11:40.433+04:00

I was reading today's Gulf News, and came across the section where they ask people to give their opinion about a specific topic. Today's topic: Things to do this summer, and the statement was "Parents should allow their children 18 years or older to travel on budget holidays".Two our of the four people interviewed said that "18 is too young for children to travel alone" and that "25 or above is a

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-21714214476977561522007-06-21T21:34:00.000+04:002007-06-21T21:49:30.043+04:00

I haven't been posting much lately....I know...Blogging is like exercising... (except much less tiring!). Once you stop for a few days, it's hard to get back into it. Plus, nothing interesting is happening in my life. Here are some random thoughts cause I'm too tired to organize them into a post that makes sense:I am overworked again. It's become a yearly thing: summers are busy...As a result,

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-24353810936491196682007-06-15T17:05:00.000+04:002007-06-15T17:22:40.820+04:00

Everyone's been talking about this Salik thing. And although I know it's coming, I haven't been too concerned by it...until now.As I was driving from Jebel Ali to Dubai yesterday, I noticed the new signs that warn you where the next toll payment zone is, and where the last free exit is. Incidentally, I noticed that the last free exit before Salik charges you is the exit to my apartment. GREAT! So

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-15235486147699699562007-06-08T15:07:00.000+04:002007-06-08T15:20:26.167+04:00

One law I never understood in this country is the one that bans bachelors (and bachelorettes) from sharing an apartment. So basically, if 3 friends want to be roomates, they can't, because of some stupid law.I understand the government imposing measures to make sure that apartments are not overcrowded with 15 guys living in a 1-bedroom flat, but what's wrong with 3 people sharing a 3-bedroom

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-1971269779015983462007-06-02T20:54:00.000+04:002007-06-02T21:55:55.272+04:00

I know I've been kind of MIA lately...but I'm still here. I realise that lately, the only updates I've had on my blog are about my hole in the wall...NOT the most exciting thing on the face of this earth, I admit...I've just been preoccupied lately... Nothing serious... Just the usual stuff. Preoccupied with work (why is summer always such a busy period for us? In every other job I've had, summer

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-12506947080023593162007-05-30T18:52:00.001+04:002007-05-30T18:58:48.545+04:00

Update on the hole in the wall: it's gone!No, it's not because someone from Emaar read my blog and decided to do something about it (I wish!)I decided to call Emaar yesterday and file a complaint (again...I had already filed a couple of complaints 3 months ago when the whole hole in the wall saga had begun).So I asked them how long it would take for them to actually do something about this, they

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-45797074635475534882007-05-23T19:10:00.000+04:002008-12-10T02:14:58.569+04:00

I wrote about it back in March. At the time there was a constant leak. Well, the leak's gone, but guess what? The hole is still there! I've decided to take some pictures...Shame on you Emaar! What will it take for you to finally get someone to fix that hole? Another cockroach? A mouse? Or a rat maybe? I am sick and tired of that hole in the wall!

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-38423563537742639342007-05-11T21:52:00.000+04:002007-05-11T22:20:51.507+04:00

I sometimes wish I could blog about my work...I'd rather not for confidentiality purposes...and also because I'd rather this blog remains anonymous (except for the few people who know me and who know that I write this blog).But I really, really wish I was at liberty to discuss some conversations or meetings I have with my clients, and some of the things that come out of their mouthes sometimes.

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-15349659723690924082007-05-08T23:50:00.000+04:002007-05-08T23:56:50.020+04:00

I heard the ad again this morning. And I just wrote the following e-mail on the Al Futtaim Motors customer service website:I am writing to comment about your current radio campaign which has been running for the past couple of months. I am referring specifically to the 2.22% promotion, where a drill sargeant screams through the whole ad to get his message across.While the ad may have been

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-57327882598913618412007-05-07T20:30:00.000+04:002007-05-07T20:41:03.763+04:00

I usually listen to Radio 1 in the morning while I'm getting ready. And then I usually tune in on my way to work. And lately, they've been playing this ad, and it's come to the point where the ad makes me feel aggravated...and I just feel like pulling my hair out!The ad is for some Toyota/Al Futtaim motors car, and not only is the ad annoying as hell, it plays a million times in that one hour it

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-14778210958486492382007-05-06T21:55:00.000+04:002007-05-06T22:04:08.674+04:00

It seems Dubai is taking this whole radar thing very seriously. It used to be that once you hit Saih al Shaib on the way from Abu Dhabi (which is actually the beginning of Dubai), you only had 2 radars until your hit Jebel Ali.A few months ago, they started placing a mobile radar somewhere along the way. It caught me once, even though I knew it was somewhere there...stupid me...A few weeks ago, a

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-74938158374099869212007-05-05T15:14:00.000+04:002007-05-05T15:21:38.442+04:00

...on a Saturday afternoon...Blah...:(This is the last place I want to be right now, really...but it's amazing how much work one can get done when there are no distractions, no phone calls, no fires to put out, and no idiots to deal with...Why can't it be like that during the week?

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-76359136088870920072007-05-04T11:21:00.000+04:002007-05-04T11:53:22.571+04:00

It seems that everyone wants a piece of Dubai these days. NBC's Today Show has chosen Dubai as one if its destinations for "Where in the World is Matt Lauer". Matt was in Dubai yesterday reporting from the helipad of Burj al Arab, making Dubai sound like it's paradise on Earth.In one of the segments, Matt interviews Sheikha Lubna al Qassimi, the UAE's minister of Economy and Planning. He asks her

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-18857337022708825642007-04-24T23:30:00.000+04:002007-04-25T00:03:42.864+04:00

Thankfully, I don't have to deal with ministries and governmental offices very much. But a couple of weeks ago, I had to contact the ministry of health for some information, and it wasn't exactly the most helpful experience I've ever had.Here's how the story unravels:1) I find the phone number of the PR department of the ministry of health in Abu Dhabi. I give them a call. Someone picks up. I ask

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-46038877396952452972007-04-17T19:48:00.000+04:002007-04-18T11:28:40.511+04:00

It's been 2 years (and 10 days) since I moved back to the Emirates. I can't believe it's been 2 years already! One thing I've learned about living in the UAE since I moved here is that time flies. I don't know why, but it seems that time goes by much faster here...Is it because I'm getting older? Is it because I work harder here? Is it because there are no real seasons, which makes it seem like

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-5634741305642386352007-04-16T06:50:00.001+04:002007-04-16T06:52:31.728+04:00

I killed a bird yesterday. The stupid bird just flew into my windshield, as I was driving along the Abu Dhabi/Dubai highway. I saw it coming from the left, and it just hit my windshield with such force, I really thought my windshield would crack!I was shocked for about 3 minutes, not really realising what had happened. Poor birdie. R.I.P...That was yesterday morning, the start of what looks like

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-52635825972956786222007-04-11T22:33:00.000+04:002007-04-11T22:56:01.348+04:00

It's been a while since the last You can make a difference tip. My friend S. has been busy....but also a little lazy I suspect.This edition of you can make a difference tackles a hot topic (pun intended). We've been hearing about global warming for as long as I can remember, but Al Gore's recent documentary "An inconvenient truth" has brought the issue under the spotlight.Here's what my friend S.

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-70296140233835287322007-04-08T10:17:00.000+04:002008-12-10T02:14:59.006+04:00

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-5887811153810433552007-04-01T21:59:00.000+04:002007-04-01T22:40:56.498+04:00

A very interesting and amusing documentary about 4 of the richest men in the Middle East and how they live. Click here to view it.I still can't, for the life of me, figure out how to embed videos on my blog. I've tried with YouTube, I've tried with Google Video...to no avail! Can someone attempt to explain to me what I'm doing wrong? I'm not that technologically inept!Anyway, back to the

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-93007620273756452007-03-30T22:15:00.000+04:002007-03-30T22:49:56.557+04:00

I attended the Aida Monumental Opera on Fire last night. The event took place at the gardens of the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.When we reached Emirates Palace, there was a huge lineup of cars, and in my head, I thought "here we go...this is Shakira all over again!". But with some creative maneuvering from my dad, we managed to find a parking spot rather quickly. But it seems that the parking

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-72479565519976470462007-03-27T20:53:00.001+04:002008-12-10T02:14:59.275+04:00

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch 300. Those who know me will tell you that I'm not really into the gory, bloody, shooting, killing kind of movies. But this is a movie that's worth seeing, if only for the brilliant cinematography and special effects...and of course for all the hot, amazing, half-naked bodies.300 is the film adaptation of a graphic novel (which is something that's entirely

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-3609675808203048092007-03-26T23:01:00.000+04:002007-03-26T23:20:20.330+04:00

There's been a hole in the wall on my floor (in my building) for about 3 weeks now. It started off as a leak in the corridor. It leaked for about 2 weeks, until finally someone decided to look into it.Some contractors came, looked into the leak, tried to fix it for about 2 weeks, and then closed the hole.And then it leaked again. Even more than before. I've slipped once already, and almost

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-85056450280967289992007-03-24T10:32:00.000+04:002008-12-10T02:14:59.581+04:00

Never again will I attend a huge concert in Dubai. Never again will I attend a concert organised by Mirage Promotions. Last night can be described with just one word: DISASTER.Dubai wants to organise concerts that attract international artists? Dubai wants an event where there are 25,000 people attending? Well Dubai better start setting up a decent infrastructure that will be able handle such a

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-316498229964485092007-03-23T16:17:00.000+04:002007-03-23T16:34:49.175+04:00

Woohoo! I feel like I'm back to my old self today, finally...These past couple of weeks have been rather hectic, between the longest workweek I've had in a while, getting sick, and trying to spend time with my best friend who's visiting Dubai (and who I haven't seen in over 2 years!).Tonight, I am going to the Shakira concert. I don't particularly love Shakira (and her voice can becoming annoying

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-48199297586704794242007-03-15T20:23:00.000+04:002007-03-15T20:26:52.701+04:00

For those of you who may not have seen it yet, here's a video of the recent plane incident at Dubai airport that shut the airport down for around 8 hours.I'm just glad to know that there weren't any casualties...the accident could have been so much worse!Here's the link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STNrwgENVgcI still can't figure out how to embed my videos...You Tube keeps giving me a "failed

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-54619964874542001912007-03-01T22:36:00.000+04:002007-03-01T22:58:47.400+04:00

I've bought tickets on itptickets.com a couple of times already, and never ran into any problems with the website.A couple of days ago, I wanted to buy tickets to the Russell Peters show in Dubai. Now for those of you who don't know Russell Peters, he's a Canadian stand-up comedian of Indian origin, and he's really funny. You can watch part of his act here.Anyway, so Russell had a first show

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-90459966771704003152007-02-28T19:36:00.000+04:002007-02-28T19:46:10.559+04:00

Prince Charles, who is on a Middle-East tour (and is in Dubai today) may have ruffled a few feathers when he said yesterday: "Have you got anywhere with McDonald's? Have you tried getting it banned? That is the key." He was discussing children's eating habits with an Abu Dhabi nutritionist yesterday when he blurted this out.The news has already spread around the world, like in this article in the

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-87547134136685926102007-02-27T22:40:00.000+04:002008-12-10T02:14:59.725+04:00

The buzz these past couple of days has been about the Oscars...and just like everyone else, I have an opinion about everything from who deserved to win to what people were wearing...I didn't get to watch the whole thing unfortunately because the live broadcast was way too early for me to be awake, and the re-run started at 10PM last night, and there was no way I was going to stay up till 2:30 in

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-57248601230309471322007-02-19T22:05:00.000+04:002007-02-19T22:16:56.713+04:00

I've finally discovered a yoga place right next to my work...and I am soooooo happy! It's really convenient because it's a 5-minute drive away, and the classes are interesting. The timings are a bit off though, so either I'll have to start leaving work earlier than usual, or wait for the later classes to begin...we'll see... But all I can say is, boy am I out of shape. There was some serious

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-63816918125598909452007-02-13T00:14:00.000+04:002007-02-13T00:51:19.287+04:00

This was a performance on last night's Grammy awards, with Corinne Bailey Rae, John Legend, and John Mayer.I can't seem to figure out how to embed videos on my blog (although I've done it before!), but anyway, click on the link above and check it out. An amazing performance by 3 very very talented artists...I've always loved John Mayer, he is truly gifted...and did you know he has his own blog

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-33994921127470824242007-02-11T20:10:00.000+04:002007-02-10T20:11:53.442+04:00

I just watched Dubai One's Emirates News for the first time today. The half hour newscast is the first local English-language newscast in the UAE.Kudos to One TV for taking that first step in catering to the non-Arabic speakers of the UAE (or to the Arabic speakers, like me, who do not read or watch the news in Arabic).The newscast itself was OK, although could use some improvement. The studio is

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-14772493964548077072007-02-07T23:11:00.000+04:002007-02-07T23:29:45.729+04:00

This Superbowl ad has been pulled off the air in the US, due to its allegedly controversial nature.What do you think? Is it worth being pulled? Or has it all been blown out of proportion?All I know is, this ad has gotten more than 600,000 views on YouTube already, countless articles have been written about it, numerous reports have aired in the news, Snickers no longer has to pay gazillions of

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-36585176157183917092007-02-02T22:57:00.000+04:002007-02-02T23:00:05.219+04:00

...and refreshing...I love the way this guy thinks. Logical, open-minded and moderate.http://switch5.castup.net/frames/20041020_MemriTV_Popup/video_480x360.asp?ai=214&ar=1363wmv&ak=null

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-9281603216818601562007-02-02T10:00:00.000+04:002007-02-02T10:02:19.086+04:00

Why am I up by 9:30 on a Friday morning after being up until 5AM last night? (or this morning to be more accurate?). Why? WHYYYYY? Can someone please explain to me?ARGHHHHH!

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-40889830615500781412007-02-01T20:49:00.000+04:002007-02-01T20:54:57.900+04:00

I never expected I'd see an article on a reduction in price of anything in the UAE, but in Emirates Today, there's an article about the Ministry of Economy reducing ticket prices back from Dhs 35 to Dhs 30. Ticket prices had gone up at the beginning of the year.Apparently it has something to do with consumer protection laws, and the fact that the concessions inside the movie theater are already

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18896045.post-79447749766322721462007-01-28T23:31:00.000+04:002008-12-10T02:15:00.035+04:00

This weekend I watched The Pursuit of Happyness, a movie based on the real-life rags to riches story of Chris Gardner and his son Christopher. The movie stars Will Smith in the role of Chris, and Will Smith's own son, Jaden, in the role of Chris Gardner's son. Jaden is the most adorable thing on the face of this earth by the way, and he really does steal the show. And it's good to see Will Smith

Dubai Sunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819258621695024806noreply@blogger.com0