Dubai Flipside

The Fast and the Furious

One thing that struck me most when I first arrived in Dubai is how fast vehicles move around Dubai roads. Well, friends and relatives back home have warned me about how dangerous Middle East roads could be.

But nothing more than prepared me when I saw cars and SUVs driving in a race-like manner around Dubai, zigzagging even in crowded and minor roads. And it amazes me more to be riding inside a car speeding through past 160 km/hr along Sheikh Zayed road, despite speeding radars. I must admit, back home I have been tempted to drive past 130kph, in a decrepit Mitsubishi lancer, along SkyWay, but that's because no one is using that road at that time (lol). And the several road accidents I have witnessed myself have somehow sinked in my thoughts about careful driving.

Later on, I will be applying for my own Dubai driver's license and I shudder to think that I could become one of these road daredevils, the top quality conditions of UAE roads can be too hard to resist. I think it's second nature for most humans to love speed in their lives, in whatever form they may be.

But it seems just senseless when dreams and aspirations are suddenly wasted because of the unnecessary mortality brought about by careless driving.

posted by YelJay @ 6:56 PM 4 comments

The Truth About Cats and Dogs

One thing I like about blogging is that there's always funny snippets about different people and their idiosyncracies. Here's one that I think should be put in Blogspot's portal of classics (if there's one) courtesy of Secret Dubai:

"....On 9th june (issue of 7Days - tabloid in UAE- DN), some bizarre moron signing "Razi, Dubai" writes in to express his displeasure at the sight of furry friends:

"I am a regular reader of your paper every morning to get to know what is happening around. I felt uncomfortable looking at pictures of dogs in the early morning (K9, June 8). Please avoid this. It is no matter that dogs are close to human, they are still animals."

On 10th June, "Janice Jones, Umm Seqeim", replies to the animal-bigot:

" I am a regular reader of your paper early morning to get to know what is happening around. I felt uncomfortable looking at the letter from Razi in the early morning (Letters, June 9) complaining about the pictures of K9 pups.
Please avoid this. It is no matter that Razi is close to human, he still comes across as an offensive idiot."..

I almost fell from my seat laughing at this post admiring the great use of irony to highlight a point. From then on, I thought I ought to begin creating my own blog.

posted by YelJay @ 1:10 PM 13 comments

Be Cool

In contrast to the unpredictable wet, wet weather in Manila, Dubai is simmering unpredictably from hot to very hot to very hot while windy. Yesterday was a special mention because apparently, it was the Hottest day in Dubai since 1999:

Yesterday was one of the hottest days on record in Dubai as burning winds blew in from the Empty Quarter and set the mercury soaring. The strong winds whipped up sand and dust in several parts of the country but they brought little moisture so conditions outside were bearable.
....At Dubai International Airport, a temperature of 47.3C was recorded by meteorologists - the same peak temperature as was seen on Aug.1.
This is Dubai's hottest temperature since August 1999 when the mercury crept up a touch higher to 47.5C."

- Gulf News, August 18, 2005

Fortunately, the good leaders in Dubai have come up a proposal to alleviate the masses' tough commuting by providing air-conditioned bus stops all over the city (Gulf News, Aug. 6). It may not be a perfect solution but I'll gladly take it.

Unfortunately, same cannot be said in the other parts of Middle East (Israel, Baghdad) where the summer heat was not brought about by the furious sun but by the man-made jolting, blasts and shots of the bombs and bullets of the war and conflict (Gulf News, Aug 18).

posted by YelJay @ 7:56 AM 2 comments

Breaking the waves

Is this on? (tap tap)....yes, it's on...


ahem, wow... this is really exciting, albeit virtual.

My first blog..here on the other side of the planet..

I remember the feeling the time i created my first email account on the internet exactly ten years ago. Full of possibilities... hopeful.....reserved yet optimistic..... and eager to embrace the wonders of this technology.

A bit of introduction....here is a fellow that is one of those millions of expats trying their luck in the black gold fortune in the middle of a hot desert in Arabia. This blog will tell stories of unforgetabble experiences, from a perspective of a Christian professional living in the muslim world, my thoughts of the feeling of being a minority in Dubai (....not very long).

Posts that will summon common thoughts and diverse interests, nothing spectacular and gradiose but a simple celebration of life in all its humor, idiosyncracies, thoughtful opinions...

Hey, don't get me wrong, nothing serious here. I'll try to delve on pop culture, news clips, generate unique cultural insights to observe, enlighten and muse... rather than pass judgment on..

Actually, I was inspired by Secret Dubai.

Kudos to you, SD, that because of the unfortunate incident of your blog having blocked by Etisalat, the popularity of Blogging in the UAE soared to a new height, just like the rising Burj Dubai. And to a lot more Bloggers who, in their twisted sense of humor have tried to impart the lessons of humanity lost in the everyday huddles of our working life.

As Humprey Bogart says in one of my most favorite movies of all time (Casablanca):

"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship...."


Cheers

posted by YelJay @ 4:26 AM 0 comments