In these uncertain times, you can still be certain of one thing in Dubai. The temperature, unlike local property prices, will continue to rise and rise. The effect is gradual and, at first, you only notice it in small ways. The electricity bill goes up because the AC is on continually and the water out of the cold tap, since the tank is on the roof, comes out hot. Your back is sweaty after you drop the kids off at school at 7.30am, and it's too hot and sticky to sit out in the garden at night.
It's hard to tell when summer actually starts (although one local said to me 'yes, we have four seasons, three are summer'). Anyway, I reckon it was yesterday - 47 degrees in Jebel Ali and I felt my cheeks start to burn the moment I stepped out of the car. The kids are now on red break at school - not allowed out at playtime because it's too hot. Spare a thought for those poor souls stuck outside all day working in it earning a pittance for their toil.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Adrian Hayes
I know Adrian through Dubai Road Runners and have trotted round Safa Park with him and his daughter Charlotte (who is at school with Ben). He is quite something, in the Guiness Book of Records for the fastest time to walk to the North and South Poles and climb Everest and also, at almost 50, the 'fittest man in the UAE'.
He has just departed for the longest unsupported polar walk ever - 3500km across Greenland - to raise awareness of environmental issues and 'to have fun'.
I'd like to wish him the best of luck You can follow his progress here.
He has just departed for the longest unsupported polar walk ever - 3500km across Greenland - to raise awareness of environmental issues and 'to have fun'.
I'd like to wish him the best of luck You can follow his progress here.
Honesty
On my very first visit to the Middle East, over 10 years ago now, I left my wallet on the back seat of a hire car. Living in Liverpool at the time I had become conditioned to expect never to see it again, but it turned up next day with no fuss at all.
This weekend, after Ben's last rugby match of the season (soooo hot...), we went to Dubai Outlet Mall for a bit of shopping. I had to pop back to the car and walked off leaving the boot wide open. My camera, complete with expensive new lens, was sat in full view. When I got back to the car, two hours later, I was mortified to see the boot wide open and three man standing around. Thankfully, nothing had been stolen and the Security Guard had kept watch over it for over two hours in the scorching heat. He wouldn't even accept a small reward from me.
Just recently there was an article in the local paper where a cleaner in a shopping mall in Ajman found a wallet containing 55,000 Dhs (£10,000). In the same way as he had done with other finds in the past, he handed it in. This guy is on a wage of 750 Dhs (£130) per month. The tempation to pocket what is almost 7 years wages must have been enormous. The thing that struck me most about the story was that the rightful owner gave the man a mere 500Dhs as reward which he said he would send back to the family he hasn't seen in 2 years in India.
I'm not saying there is no crime or theft here, far from it, but there is certainly at a much lower level than back in the UK and there is a totally different attitude.
This weekend, after Ben's last rugby match of the season (soooo hot...), we went to Dubai Outlet Mall for a bit of shopping. I had to pop back to the car and walked off leaving the boot wide open. My camera, complete with expensive new lens, was sat in full view. When I got back to the car, two hours later, I was mortified to see the boot wide open and three man standing around. Thankfully, nothing had been stolen and the Security Guard had kept watch over it for over two hours in the scorching heat. He wouldn't even accept a small reward from me.
Just recently there was an article in the local paper where a cleaner in a shopping mall in Ajman found a wallet containing 55,000 Dhs (£10,000). In the same way as he had done with other finds in the past, he handed it in. This guy is on a wage of 750 Dhs (£130) per month. The tempation to pocket what is almost 7 years wages must have been enormous. The thing that struck me most about the story was that the rightful owner gave the man a mere 500Dhs as reward which he said he would send back to the family he hasn't seen in 2 years in India.
I'm not saying there is no crime or theft here, far from it, but there is certainly at a much lower level than back in the UK and there is a totally different attitude.
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