I have so much to share, this will take along time and alot of emails. It is fascinating and fun.
Dubai is one of the seven emirates that are called the United Arab Emirates, the UAE. Even though the Emirates sit on the Arabian Peninsula, each have their own Sheik,some sort of parliament and laws. They are separate states, with their own laws, yet somethings are common, such as travel amongst the Emirates is open and free. In order to leave the Emirates and to go into Saudi Arabia, you must have a special passport or visa. It is added to the original passport. Jim has a special passport to leave the Emirates and enter Saudi Arabia. He has to have an escort and visit designated areas. If we started to drive across the desert and head towards Saudi Arabia, we would not be able to get there from here. If I were to go with Jim to Saudi Arabia, I would need a special visitor visa also. Life for me would be very different there, even for a visit.
Dubai is definably a Muslim place but they have found an amazing balance of laws and standards that make it very comfortable. I am not required to cover my head or my face. I can go out alone, drive, shop, make decisions, get a job, etc. In fact, some people from Europe have been here for years and have no intention of returning.
Pork is not on the menu in restaurants. Buffets may have a table with pork on it, but it will be labeled well and set in a back corner. Some grocery store will have a little room off of the meat department labeled,"Pork for the non-Muslim." I was looking at the rows of beans and baked beans, for pork and beans, then it dawned on me,"I will not find anything on the shelf with pork in it. Move on." Lamb seems to be everywhere, and we have found that we like lamb. I bought some to try. I just have to figure out how to make the Lebanese shish-ka-bobs. They are amazing.
Liquor is around also. But it is served in only a few places. They have a no tolerance law here towards drinking and driving. Do not mess with this law. No accident needed, just have a trace of it in the blood and there goes the license and you will be jailed and possibly deported. The Emirates have differing laws regarding alcohol. One is completely dry, in others, one must have a permit to purchase alcohol.
People are fascinated by Palm Jumeriah. The man-made island shaped like a palm tree. It sits on a land shelf in the gulf. There are two more palm islands planned. Some very famous and wealthy people own condos or apartments on the fronds of that island. There are lines of shops on the trunk. A type of mono rail train runs the length of the island and onto the top of the crescent. It is very interesting to see and travel on. In order to get onto the crescent one must take the monorail, a boat or drive through a tunnel under water. The Sheik (pronounced-Shake) owns a very large resort on the top of the crescent called, The Atlantis. It is very large, fancy and has an unbelievably large aquarium in it. I hope that I remembered the owner correctly.
The Sheik has a number of palaces along the coast. The palaces are behind walls and are very large.
Enough for now. Lisa
Jim is helping me with,"photo bucket" soon I will send a link to you and there will be pictures.
Dubai is definably a Muslim place but they have found an amazing balance of laws and standards that make it very comfortable. I am not required to cover my head or my face. I can go out alone, drive, shop, make decisions, get a job, etc. In fact, some people from Europe have been here for years and have no intention of returning.
Pork is not on the menu in restaurants. Buffets may have a table with pork on it, but it will be labeled well and set in a back corner. Some grocery store will have a little room off of the meat department labeled,"Pork for the non-Muslim." I was looking at the rows of beans and baked beans, for pork and beans, then it dawned on me,"I will not find anything on the shelf with pork in it. Move on." Lamb seems to be everywhere, and we have found that we like lamb. I bought some to try. I just have to figure out how to make the Lebanese shish-ka-bobs. They are amazing.
Liquor is around also. But it is served in only a few places. They have a no tolerance law here towards drinking and driving. Do not mess with this law. No accident needed, just have a trace of it in the blood and there goes the license and you will be jailed and possibly deported. The Emirates have differing laws regarding alcohol. One is completely dry, in others, one must have a permit to purchase alcohol.
People are fascinated by Palm Jumeriah. The man-made island shaped like a palm tree. It sits on a land shelf in the gulf. There are two more palm islands planned. Some very famous and wealthy people own condos or apartments on the fronds of that island. There are lines of shops on the trunk. A type of mono rail train runs the length of the island and onto the top of the crescent. It is very interesting to see and travel on. In order to get onto the crescent one must take the monorail, a boat or drive through a tunnel under water. The Sheik (pronounced-Shake) owns a very large resort on the top of the crescent called, The Atlantis. It is very large, fancy and has an unbelievably large aquarium in it. I hope that I remembered the owner correctly.
The Sheik has a number of palaces along the coast. The palaces are behind walls and are very large.
Enough for now. Lisa
Jim is helping me with,"photo bucket" soon I will send a link to you and there will be pictures.
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