Hotter Than Hades

It's 7:00am and my weather app says it's currently 30ºC/86ºF with a side order of relative humidity at 64% making it feel like 39ºC/102ºF!  

Really? 
At 7:00am it already feels hotter than midday in the middle of a freshly laid asphalt parking lot in Houston?

Yes, and I'm chastised as a heat weenie because I think that this is uncomfortable and   apparently, this is nothing compared to the weather I missed during Ramadan.

You see, when I realized that Ramadan, the 9th month on the Islamic Lunar Calendar, fell mid July through mid August, I decided that there were "pressing issues" that needed my attention in the cooler climates of, well - anywhere! 

During the month long observance of Ramadan there is no smoking, no eating and no drinking (even water) during daylight hours for the followers of Islam; In the summertime, the sun rises at 5:30am and sets at 7:30pm.  
Fourteen hours of pure fasting everyday for 30 days. 
Understandably, it is considered bad form for non-Muslims to eat or drink in public during this time so cafes typically close for the month and restaurants only open for the evening Iftar banquets after sundown. 
Some might judge me and cluck about how terrible I am to make tracks and leave my husband to fend for himself. Others, might see the wisdom of the decision. And my husband has informed me that he will be following my lead next year. So there.

But now I'm back and every so often, I get brave and pack up my camera and wander off exploring. And in my wanderings, I have yet to see one slushy-like machine. 
Why not? 
Is this pot-o-gold-opportunity only obvious to me? 
Surely not. 
There are Baskin Robbin shops every 15 yards but who wants that heavy stuff when your insides feel like molten lava? I guess frappachino's and iced latte-da's are the much more grown up way of beating the heat but it seems like a mint limeade slushy machine might just make me a millionaire.

But what do I know, apparently the demand is for furs and not slushies in Dubai.....

"Familiarity Destroys and Trumps Fear"

I have been in Dubai for just over 2 months now and while I've been buried somewhat in the oddities of setting up a new house in a new country, my brain is wildly bookmarking thoughts, epiphanies, and experiences and my fingers have pounded out no less than 15 very unfinished posts.

However, I think I need to settle down and settle in before I unleash my brilliant observations on everyone :-)

In the meantime, I thought sharing this 2010 Ted Talk by Sheikha Al Mayassa of Qatar might give you a tiny insight into numerous interesting topics from this part of the world: The Abbaya, Arab Art and Culture, Women in progressive roles in the Middle East.
I've read much about Sheikha Al Mayassa but have never heard her speak. There is quite alot packed into her 10 minutes and I had to intently listen to it twice because my mind would start percolating on something she said and then she would be off into something else before I could catch up!

But she ended on a very poignant note - "familiarity destroys and trumps fear".

I agree.


 

Rain Prayer Mandate in the UAE

There are about a million things here that I need to educate myself on regarding life in the Middle East. I am hoarding information wherever I can and trying to digest bits and pieces of it between figuring out where the food markets are and looking at potential future homes. But yesterdays headlines in an online magazine caught my attention:

President calls for rain prayers in UAE

Appoints 7 judges to Federal Court of Appeal

As I have lived in Beijing where they make it rain on command, I didn't immediately question appointing judges to deal with an appeal process of rain prayers but in reading on I realized this was just another editing snafu. Still, it's pretty impressive that a mandate goes out to include rain in the 8am Friday prayer...perhaps I should do my part here too and add this to my 8am Friday Java Rumination, after all water consumption here is off the charts....well, consumption in general is off the charts.

So here is a list of a few things that bubbled to top of mind during my Tuesday Java Rumination. Perhaps some of these might ease the numbers back down a tad? I'm certain that the President will thank me for my brilliance later with a lovely luxury automobile...oooh the new Range Rover is very nice!
-1. Remove the auto flush on toilets, is it really all that difficult to push a button when you've done your business? The good motion sensors tend to flush at least twice before you manage your escape from the stall.
- 2. Those fountains at Burj Khalifa....gorgeous but tsk, tsk, tsk.
- 3. Hey, Ski Dubai!  How much water does it take to manage 3000 cubic of meters of snow in the dessert?
- 4. Golf courses. Does anyone really play golf from May to October? So why water the "greens"? And heck, since we're brain storming, let's change up the game of golf to make it more interesting....just switch the greens and sand hazards! You play on the sand and try to avoid the greens! Introduce Saguaro cactus as your hazards. Oh, stop yer whining. If Thailand can make Elephant Polo work, Sand Golfing should be a breeze!

And to be fair, I realize that not allowing On the Border to put alcohol in their frozen margaritas was a good jump start in the attempt at water conservation.....certainly the demand for crushed ice has been drastically reduced.