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.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Abu Dhabi always seems to get it right
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 wristbands in 7 minutes, and walked into the venue. A far cry from the Shakira concert last year.
The police were there, directing traffic, making sure there was no congestion. Security was efficient and quick. Service at the VIP hospitality tent was impeccable. The Emirates Palace is really ideal for such an event, thanks to its immense lawn which easily accommodated over 19,000 fans last night.
The concert itself was also incredible. I went there with no expectations, but came out of the concert truly impressed (and with a slight crush on Jon...)
Bon Jovi are real performers, and although I'm not too fond of their newer stuff, they did belt out a lot of their classics such as Living on a prayer, I'll be there for you, Bed of roses, Keep the faith and In these arms (but no Blaze of Glory or Always unfortunately).
Yet again, Abu Dhabi has proven itself as a city that can attract big names and organize great events. So who's next?
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
An inspiration
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, while pregnant with her fourth child.
Her husband writes weekly updates, informing us about Negin's treatment and progress, and how the family has adjusted to the situation.
The way Negin has been dealing with her illness, and the way her husband has been supporting her throughout her ordeal is truly touching, moving, inspiring and it definitely makes you put things in perspective.
Suddenly, that annoying colleague, or the daily traffic, or that unresponsive telecom provider are no longer a priority... Rather, your focus shifts to the important things in life: family, friends, health...
Here's hoping that Negin stays strong in her fight against cancer, and that the members of this lovely, loving family always stay there for each other.
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, while pregnant with her fourth child.
Her husband writes weekly updates, informing us about Negin's treatment and progress, and how the family has adjusted to the situation.
The way Negin has been dealing with her illness, and the way her husband has been supporting her throughout her ordeal is truly touching, moving, inspiring and it definitely makes you put things in perspective.
Suddenly, that annoying colleague, or the daily traffic, or that unresponsive telecom provider are no longer a priority... Rather, your focus shifts to the important things in life: family, friends, health...
Here's hoping that Negin stays strong in her fight against cancer, and that the members of this lovely, loving family always stay there for each other.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Someone at Du obviously doesn't care...
...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 explanation from someone, somewhere....And I don't care if they cut my phone line...I'll still have my mobile...with good ol' Etisalat :)
I'm not going to even think of paying that bill until I get an explanation from someone, somewhere....And I don't care if they cut my phone line...I'll still have my mobile...with good ol' Etisalat :)
Friday, April 25, 2008
Through the eyes of strangers
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 makes you realize how much we take things for granted sometimes... Seeing the UAE through their eyes is a truly enlightening experience. They're amazed at the grandeur of things....at the choices that are available...at the shops and stores and restaurants we have...at the weather and the beaches and the hotels...at the fact that this is an Arab country...and that this country is probably unlike anything they've ever seen or imagined.
And it makes you realize...that beyond the daily traffic woes...and the ever increasing cost of living...and the overbearing heat and humidity in the summer, and the sometimes poor quality of customer service...and the often useless bureaucracy of governmental institutions...beyond all that, and despite all that...this is a great place to live in.
A friend asked me a few months ago whether I liked living here. I told him these words exactly: "I live comfortably, I have a good job, I do not pay taxes, my family's close, we have great weather (and great beaches) almost all year, I have a great group of friends that I've known since high school (if not longer), and rarely a weekend goes by without it being chock-full of activities...what more can one ask for?"
Really...what more can one ask for?
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 makes you realize how much we take things for granted sometimes... Seeing the UAE through their eyes is a truly enlightening experience. They're amazed at the grandeur of things....at the choices that are available...at the shops and stores and restaurants we have...at the weather and the beaches and the hotels...at the fact that this is an Arab country...and that this country is probably unlike anything they've ever seen or imagined.
And it makes you realize...that beyond the daily traffic woes...and the ever increasing cost of living...and the overbearing heat and humidity in the summer, and the sometimes poor quality of customer service...and the often useless bureaucracy of governmental institutions...beyond all that, and despite all that...this is a great place to live in.
A friend asked me a few months ago whether I liked living here. I told him these words exactly: "I live comfortably, I have a good job, I do not pay taxes, my family's close, we have great weather (and great beaches) almost all year, I have a great group of friends that I've known since high school (if not longer), and rarely a weekend goes by without it being chock-full of activities...what more can one ask for?"
Really...what more can one ask for?
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Maybe they'll block this? The Du saga...
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 not seen such amount before, so I go back to my 2 previous bills, and in fact, the amount was NOT there.
So I call them, asking for an explanation of the amount. "It seems like we have not credited your account since June 2007" says the woman at the other end of the line. "Why is that" I ask. "I'll file a complaint with the complaint department" says the woman, "they should call you back within 48 hours".
OK, fine.
50 hours later and no answer. I call back. Same thing "your account has not been credited since June" says the man. "Yes, I know that, but I was waiting for an explanation and no one called back". "OK I will file a complaint and we will get back to you" was the answer again. This time,he gives me a complaint number.
Later that same day, I get an e-mail, saying that my credit card details have not been updated, which explains the amount. And they send me a new credit card form to fill out.
I write back saying that I understand that my credit card details have not been updated, but I want to understand why it took 10 months for them to reflect that on my bill. I get another e-mail asking me to fill up the form again.
A little frustrated, as you can probably imagine, I send off another e-mail asking for further explanation.
I get another e-mail asking for my customer ID number "in order to assist you farther (sic) in your query". I do not respond, but I do get another e-mail a day later stating that "your query has been forwarded to our Collection Team who will be responding to you shortly."
That was a week ago....and I have not heard anything since.
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 not seen such amount before, so I go back to my 2 previous bills, and in fact, the amount was NOT there.
So I call them, asking for an explanation of the amount. "It seems like we have not credited your account since June 2007" says the woman at the other end of the line. "Why is that" I ask. "I'll file a complaint with the complaint department" says the woman, "they should call you back within 48 hours".
OK, fine.
50 hours later and no answer. I call back. Same thing "your account has not been credited since June" says the man. "Yes, I know that, but I was waiting for an explanation and no one called back". "OK I will file a complaint and we will get back to you" was the answer again. This time,he gives me a complaint number.
Later that same day, I get an e-mail, saying that my credit card details have not been updated, which explains the amount. And they send me a new credit card form to fill out.
I write back saying that I understand that my credit card details have not been updated, but I want to understand why it took 10 months for them to reflect that on my bill. I get another e-mail asking me to fill up the form again.
A little frustrated, as you can probably imagine, I send off another e-mail asking for further explanation.
I get another e-mail asking for my customer ID number "in order to assist you farther (sic) in your query". I do not respond, but I do get another e-mail a day later stating that "your query has been forwarded to our Collection Team who will be responding to you shortly."
That was a week ago....and I have not heard anything since.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
3 years and counting...
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 home". HOME! I think that was the first time I considered this place to be "home".
This is how I was feeling last year, and this is how I was feeling the year before....
We'll see what this year has in store for me :)
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 home". HOME! I think that was the first time I considered this place to be "home".
This is how I was feeling last year, and this is how I was feeling the year before....
We'll see what this year has in store for me :)
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Dubai World Cup
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 minutes later, we find parking in a sandpit, then we start walking. And we walked. And walked. And walked (in heels). We finally arrive at gate 7, only to find lineup that was so long and so deep, I was about to turn around and just walk away.
We sneaked in. Yes, I'm ashamed of it, especially as people had been waiting there for ages, but it really was ridiculous!
Anyway, so we're in, and by now it's past 6PM (so over an hour after we left my house).
We find our friend in the Bubble Lounge, hang around for a bit, get pushed around by people left, right and center...we mingle with a few friends then decided to grab a bite to eat. We wait in line for a pizza (but it moved pretty quickly thankfully), look around for a place to sit, can't find one, so we sit on the grass to eat (semi)-comfortably.
Back to the bubble lounge where we find friends that have a table, so we can finally rest our tired feet. A couple more drinks, then we decide to head out because a) we wanted to beat the crowd, b) we were tired after a long weekend of celebrating a friend's birthday and c) some of my friends had to still drive back to Abu Dhabi.
The friend that drove us to Nad el Sheba was staying a while longer, so we decided to take a cab...which meant having us walk on a sandy and rocky path (in heels!), which lead to a 20-minute lineup which was growing by the second. At one point, the cabs became scarce and we were worried we were going to spend our night waiting in line, but mercifully, a cab showed up and we were finally on our way home, black shoes turned dusty white, 3 hours and 20 minutes after we had gotten there.
All in all, I'd rate this as a pretty average experience for me (if not disappointing). Some people have told me that the event has increased in size compared to previous years...Regardless, I was slightly appalled by the organization (or lack thereof!), but again, it seems that previous years were much better on that front.
Oh, and I did see the back of a horse!
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 minutes later, we find parking in a sandpit, then we start walking. And we walked. And walked. And walked (in heels). We finally arrive at gate 7, only to find lineup that was so long and so deep, I was about to turn around and just walk away.
We sneaked in. Yes, I'm ashamed of it, especially as people had been waiting there for ages, but it really was ridiculous!
Anyway, so we're in, and by now it's past 6PM (so over an hour after we left my house).
We find our friend in the Bubble Lounge, hang around for a bit, get pushed around by people left, right and center...we mingle with a few friends then decided to grab a bite to eat. We wait in line for a pizza (but it moved pretty quickly thankfully), look around for a place to sit, can't find one, so we sit on the grass to eat (semi)-comfortably.
Back to the bubble lounge where we find friends that have a table, so we can finally rest our tired feet. A couple more drinks, then we decide to head out because a) we wanted to beat the crowd, b) we were tired after a long weekend of celebrating a friend's birthday and c) some of my friends had to still drive back to Abu Dhabi.
The friend that drove us to Nad el Sheba was staying a while longer, so we decided to take a cab...which meant having us walk on a sandy and rocky path (in heels!), which lead to a 20-minute lineup which was growing by the second. At one point, the cabs became scarce and we were worried we were going to spend our night waiting in line, but mercifully, a cab showed up and we were finally on our way home, black shoes turned dusty white, 3 hours and 20 minutes after we had gotten there.
All in all, I'd rate this as a pretty average experience for me (if not disappointing). Some people have told me that the event has increased in size compared to previous years...Regardless, I was slightly appalled by the organization (or lack thereof!), but again, it seems that previous years were much better on that front.
Oh, and I did see the back of a horse!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Earth Hour
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 first Arab city to embrace Earth Hour, it joined 24 other major cities who are committing to this event.
It all started in Sydney last year, when the WWF, in partnership with the Sydney Herald, managed to get the whole city rallied around this symbolic event. Check out the video here, it's truly inspiring:
Next Saturday, anyone can make a difference by following a few simple steps:
1. Sign up to Earth Hour by visiting www.earthhour.org and commit to turning off your lights on March 29 from 8pm to 9pm. We will send you all the information you need to make Earth Hour happen at home and at work (and to cut your energy bills in the long term). It’s free to take part.
2. Take appliances off standby; unplug any appliances – mobile phone charger, TV, microwave, MP3 player, computer monitor, printer – that are not being used and are on standby. Appliances left on standby account for up to 10% of the average household’s electricity use.
3. Spread the word about Earth Hour and involve your friends, family and workmates. Get them to make the commitment at www.earthhour.org to turn off their lights at 8pm on Saturday March 29, 2008.
For more information, visit www.earthhour.org. Organizations who are willing to take part can also register their company and receive a free corporate communication pack with suggestions on how to get their employees involved.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Blogger blocked?
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?
I am now in Abu Dhabi which is why I've been able to access it from here.
Does anyone know why that is?
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