skip to main | skip to sidebar

Mike and Danica's Excellent Adventure

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. Lennon

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Danica and Michael in Arabic



Posted by M&D at 11:33 PM 1 comment:
Newer Posts Older Posts Home
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

... to be continued ...?

This will probably be the last entry to the digital journal of our Middle East adventure. Danica is already home and I will follow in six days. Home by the 4th of July ... how appropriate! We are not sure what we will be doing "next" but we will be visiting friends and family while we figure it out.
Hayak'allah!
Allah yisalmak!
Ma salama!

Al Rams Ceremony

Al Rams Ceremony
Yousef, Mohammed, Zone Director, and Abdullah Mosabech, Former Director General of the Ministry

al nakheel

al nakheel
Over dressed as usual.

the palm grove

the palm grove
If you click on Aisha you can see more pictures of our visit to the palm grove.

al nakheel

al nakheel
Yousef at one of the wells used to irrigate the palm grove.

Last minute tee time

Last minute tee time
This turned out to be an excellent golf course just a few blocks from last year's villa! I know, I look like my dad in the hat.

Tower Links Ras Al Khaimah

Tower Links Ras Al Khaimah
Tom, Pat and Grant

spooky sprites at the atlantis hotel with Chris and Kira

spooky sprites at the atlantis hotel with Chris and Kira
Click on the Sprite to see a video in the lobby of the Atlantis Hotel ... This is the place that blew $20mil just for the opening fireworks display.

dubai creek golf

dubai creek golf
Hey Donnie!! Here's proof that Chris made it to 18 in Dubai!

Rare White Tiger Sighted at Dubai Creek

Rare White Tiger Sighted at Dubai Creek
A relatively unknown ... comes out of nowhere ... to lead the pack in Dubai! He got into trouble early on but recovered well and regained the lead following this incredible shot from the sand with a crushing 300 yard drive to put the cap on a perfect day at Dubai Creek.

South Carolina

South Carolina
Danica attended the annual conference of the U.S. Comparative and International Education Society in Charleston, South Carolina as a guest and representative of the Sheikh to launch his scholarship foundation for graduate study in the UAE.

s.c. trip

s.c. trip
The Charleston Pink House

Canery Row meets the UAE

Canery Row meets the UAE
This stretch of old road runs right along the beach area used by local fishermen. No better place to dry out your morning catch. We were coming back from visiting schools; that's why my buddy is dressed up.

Fresh Catch of the Day

Fresh Catch of the Day
These guys were very friendly and I'm sure they wondered why two suits stopped to take their picture. These fish are still alive as they come off the truck!

Hatta Road Dunes

Hatta Road Dunes
If you want to see Phil and Sandy's slide show again ... just click on the sunset!

Atlantis Hotel ... again

Atlantis Hotel ... again

Hyatt Deira

Hyatt Deira
Phil and Sandy at our house in Dubai

Burj Dubai

Burj Dubai

Coffee at Starbucks in the Al Bashar Souq near the tower.

Burj Dubai

Burj Dubai
The Burj Dubai is located in "old town" but everything is new. It doesn't look real in person either.

Chit-chat with the natives

Chit-chat with the natives
Mike strikes up a conversation with a local emirati by asking him to check the time.

masafi

masafi
Danica and Etie shopping for stuff at the Friday Market near Masafi, an oasis town in the mountains. The name "Masafi" is Arabic for "pure water".

Bab Al Shams

Bab Al Shams
Bab Al Shams is a resort way out in the desert south of Dubai.

The Atlantis ... no I did not take this picture!

At the Atlantis Hotel with Etie

Mosque built in 1442

Mosque built in 1442

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays
There is actually quite a lot of Christmas over here. This is a wall of poinsettias in the lobby of our hotel.

See the helicopter landing on the Burj?!

Dubai skyline... a day at the beach.

"Feeze da baby!!"

"Feeze da baby!!"
Danica finally gave up baby Malak long enough for me to hold her. An unusual honor to be invited into the home. They call us aunt and uncle. This is one of the highlights of our experience here. Can you beleive the head of hair on this baby and she was just three weeks old!
Eid al-Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims in commemoration of the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God.
Muslims who have the means will sacrifice an animal (usually a goat or a sheep), as a reminder of Ibrahim's obedience. (Remember last year, Danica and I went for a walk near our house and saw two guys getting a sheep from the back seat of a Mazda 606.) The meat is then shared out with family, friends (Muslims or non-Muslims), as well as the poor members of the community.
Eid al-Adha is the latter of two Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims, whose basis comes from the Quran.
Eid al-Adha annually falls on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja of the lunar Islamic calendar.
The festivities last for three days or more depending on the country. Eid al-Adha occurs the day after the pilgrims conducting Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat. It happens to be approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan.

37th Birthday of the UAE

37th Birthday of the UAE
...from outside my office at the ministry of education... This flag filled the six-story atrium. The dignitaries were preparing for the program way down on the ground floor... dancers, speeches, traditional sword play and food. You can see them at the bottom of the big picture (left). The country is only 37 years old. A lot has changed in a short time.

Poolside

Poolside
We DO get homesick but this is better than shoveling snow... sorry... on the other hand ... we DO have an extra bedroom!

fishmarket

fishmarket
This place is two blocks away and is busy day and night.

fishmarket

fishmarket
Not quite sure what this animal is ... they said it was a type of lobster ... but the vendor looks like Nicholas Cage!

fishmarket

fishmarket
I can still smell these things but it really is not bad for as big a place as it is.

vegetable and fruit market

vegetable and fruit market
Fruits-R-Us
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Ok... I know we're a bit early but what better way to celebrate than with a trip to Turkey!
In early November, Danica and I accompanied 23 UAE principals to Istanbul for the first ever ASCD-ME conference! Totally cool time.
So ... which came first the bird or the place?
Give up?
Actually the bird was misnamed (go figure) when Europeans first encountered it in North America so it was, in fact, named after the country.
Whatvever ... ! Anyway... Wishing you all a really happy time together!

The Bosphorus

The Bosphorus
I'll bet you're wondering how I got this great shot of Istanbul!! Would you believe that I convinced the pilot to bank a hard right as he approached the airport?. No... really!!

Earthquake Evidence

Earthquake Evidence
This pillar was straight when first placed 1500 years ago but at least it has survived that fact that it sits on an active faultline.

Ayasophia-Hagia Sophia

Ayasophia-Hagia Sophia
A gold -flaked mosaic inside this museum. Did you know that the word Turkey comes from a Chinese refernce to the central Asian people who settled in what is now modern Turkey? Did you care?

Danica and Osaz Obaid from Dibba

Danica and Osaz Obaid from Dibba
Approaching the Blue Mosque just before prayer time. Osaz means mister and is a sign of respect. This man completed his masters degree in Pittsburg and spent more than six years in the US. He has seen more of our country than many Americans and would like to return for another visit.

The Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque
So named due to the use of the deep blue color of the stained windows and tile on the inside. It has a formal name but I forgot so google it for more information.

Istanbul Conference

Istanbul Conference
Here is Mike hob-nobbing w/ the conference CEO and some of the principals from the UAE.

Wedding Shot w/ Mother Figure

Wedding Shot w/ Mother Figure

Wedding Shot

Wedding Shot

Earthquake

September 10

Experienced my first earthquake today! At first I thought I was getting dizzy or maybe the Lyme disease was coming back. Then I realized the buidling (the Hyatt) was rocking and trembling at the same time. It lasted about 30 seconds.

http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Environment/10244153.html

Later I found out the epicenter was 6.2 in Iran and 5.2 here.
This will probably be our final post for phase one of our totally excellent adventure. Tomorrow we fly our last leg home to finally see our family and friends.

We had no real idea what we were getting ourselves into last July when we signed on for our year in the UAE. This site shows only the fun stuff ... and it was not all fun stuff, wallah!


Yes, there is to be a phase two. We are scheduled to return on August 12. This time we will be living in the city of Dubai.

to be continued ... insha-allah!








Village of Doolin near the coast

Village of Doolin near the coast
Somehow Danica always finds a creature in need of attention besides me.

The Cliffs of Moher on Ireland's west coast

Emerald Isle

Emerald Isle
Wicklow and Sugarloaf Mountain

Danica Does Dublin

Goodbye Dubai

Goodbye Dubai
We left the UAE on the 27th for a few days in Paris where we walked until paralyzed. Then off to Dublin on our way back home. The Guiness is definitely different here. Should be home on the 7th.

excellent CRUZ adventure

We were fortunate to meet some wonderful people on our cruise in May (pictured below). Not pictured is Juan, a friendly police officer in Villefranche who likes to run marathons and offered to swap houses for a future marathon-vacation plan. He has a manor house in Nice. What do you think we should do? ... duh ...

Richard, Danica, Carol, Eileen and George in Vatican City

Richard, Danica, Carol, Eileen and George in Vatican City
Without Eileen and Carol we would still be standing and staring at the train route map in Civitavecchia. We hope George and Richard won their golf tournament!

Lunch in Florence (Firenze)

Lunch in Florence (Firenze)
Tom, May, David and Lauren w/ Danica

more cruise friends

more cruise friends
Kirk and Elissa at Pompei

Villefranche w/ Lauren and David

Villefranche w/ Lauren and David
not enough time to do this beautiful French seaside village... you need a lifetime

It's not all play all the time

It's not all play all the time
Here is a shot of our seniors "sweating" their way through the English exam. Definitely not happy campers. This was a three hour test and I would love to see how well a bunch from back home would have done on this exam.

Yaum Jameel Jiddan

Yaum Jameel Jiddan
Another perfect day in Oman

playtime

playtime
Life is a beach!

Typical Tourists

Typical Tourists
So you leave the winter in Chicago to find juice chilled to -6 in a desert country... go figure.

Sunset in the dunes

Sunset in the dunes
...totally cool....

Arabian Gulf Hotel

Arabian Gulf Hotel
The Jumeirah Beach Hotel with Chris, Kira, and Ben

Bouganvilla

Bouganvilla
We stopped at a little shopping area to get our laundry. This giant bouganvilla was on the other side of the road.

Dubai Creek

Dubai Creek

Mountain Field Trip

Here's a field trip for you! 15 students and 2 teachers at my school were invited to fly by police helicopter to see the new resort the sheikh is building in the Hajar Mountains. When I asked where they were going everyone in the office turned and pointed up at the mountain range in front of the school. Eventually there will be a road. I tried to hitch a ride but I had a meeting in Dubai that I couldn't escape. Here is a site I found about the resort.
http://www.rakeen.com/projects/Jabel_Al_Jais.html


Camel Wasta

Camel Wasta
"Hizzoner-da-mayor" and the camel jockies! It don't get no better!

The Camel Mission

Ok... so Danica's sister Lee came to visit with a mission to ride on a camel. So I mentioned this to my friend Mohammed, "'da Mayor of Ras Al Khaimah", who picks up his cell phone and batta-bing-batta-boom, next thing I know, we're at a freakin' camel farm next door to the camel race track in Ras Al Khaimah!
Now this ain't no smokin' joe lame camel that poses for circus pictures ... we're talkin' racin' camels here! The Saudis come here to plunk down $650 g's or better for a single camel! That's dollars, not dirhams!
Soooo ... did we ride on racing camels? Well... not exactly. But the camels you see in the pictures hang out with racing camels all the time, kind-a-like racing camel groupies.
Did you know that the word "camel" comes from the Arab word for camel?
Did you care?

Drivers Education Class

Drivers Education Class
The local police came to the school and awarded 2000 dirhams to the class that best participated in their drivers education program. What? No Stickers?! Nope, just hard cash! Now that's motivation!

The Al Rams Police

The Al Rams Police
I was careful to be very nice to our police officers and asked them to watch out for me on the road! I'm the one in the middle of the picture. I know it's hard to tell!

Khasab, Oman and the Mountain of Women

The slideshow has pictures from our recent trip back to the Musandam Peninsula. This time we went by 4WD into the Hajar Mountains to find Jebel Harim, the Mountain of Women. Hani, a 23 year old Omani was our driver. We exchanged language lessons while we drove over the rough and narrow single lane road.
"Mountain Bedouins" still live up here. Ancient and crude stone huts have been replaced by newer structures. The Oman government helps with construction. We were not expecting to discover terraced farming at 3000+ feet. And the village in the valley with goats, chickens, flowering trees and bees was a big surprise.
Fossils were everywhere. Danica's hand is shown on an enormous wall of star fish and other sea creatures (@6000 feet). This is why Ras Al Khaimah is the home of the best cement/concrete in the gulf area.
The reference to the Mountain of Women was an attempt to explain "ancient" rock carvings of dubious authenticity. But we let Hani deliver his spiel without contradiction.
The Golden Tulip Hotel ended our day. It sits on a rock ledge sticking into the gulf surrounded by incredibly blue water. You can look at this link for even more pictures!http://www.goldentulipkhasab.com/gallery.aspx?Language=EN
Mughamara Kabeer! Excellent Adventure!

Where in the world are we?

Try this link if you would like to put our location in a global perspective. Try all 3 map buttons for different views. The pink pin brings you down to the camel race track in Digdaga. And if you click on the pin you get a fact sheet about local birds. (for Pam and Jerry) You can find Danica's Al Nakhil ("The Palm") School very near the coast. My school in Al Rams is not labeled though you can see it! If you find the RAK Hotel on Khuzam Road, we live just to the left where it says 21B Street. I'm standing in the street waving, see?! http://www.qpqsoftware.com/gmaps/viewsite.php?sid=8315&lat=25.6666666667&lon=55.9166666667&loc=Digdaga%20-%20Hamraniyah

What a difference a day makes!

What a difference a day makes!
Helicoptors were surveying the area after the rains. Next day - sunny and 68! (doesn't Danica look cute!?)

Winter is here!

Winter is here!
They closed school for two days due to the rain but the mountains and desert are already beginning to turn green!

Musandam Fishing Village, Oman

Musandam Fishing Village, Oman
Yes, people live here!

Abu Dhabi Palace Hotel

Abu Dhabi Palace Hotel
These fountains flank both sides of the hotel. Adam bought us lunch here. That's why he's back at work now!!

Happy New Year for One Last Time!

We just wrote 2008 for the first time and although we did not particu;larly like it (We were just getting use to 2007) we must admit that we have a hard time writing "Dhul-Hijja 27, 1428" on our checks. You see, the Islamic calendar celebrates new year this week. Being a lunar based calendar, we're not exactly sure when New Year's Day is! (Always about 11 days off the Gregorian calendar give or take a sandstorm.) So the word on the street is we may get a day off work but nobody knows when!! Gotta love this place!
Anyway, we hope everyone enjoyed the hoiliday season! Best wishes for 2008! And things are already looking up!!! We have a 66% shot of getting either a woman or a black man for pres. Cool or what!?

Adam in Oman at Jazirat al Maqlab

Adam in Oman at Jazirat al Maqlab
Cap'n Adam and Telegraph Island ... At the time of our civil war, the Brits had men stationed on an island about the size of a postage stamp where this picture was taken. They went buggy!! Try this link http://www.atlantic-cable.com/CableCos/TelegraphIsland/ ... You won't be disappointed!!

Desert Dunes

Desert Dunes
Sunset in the desert with the newlyweds.

Mi Casa Su Casa

Mi Casa Su Casa
Adam, Lindsay and Danica at our townhouse in Ras Al Khaimah

Flowers

Flowers
You can find flowers in the desert. This was near Khor Fakhan on the coast of the Arabian Sea.

Palace Hotel Abu Dhabi

Palace Hotel Abu Dhabi
First visit to Abu Dhabi - 3 hours from RAK. This is the Palace Hotel, adjacent to the actual palace. Adam and Lindsay visiting for a week.

Dhow Trip to Khasab

Dhow Trip to Khasab
We traveled north into Oman and the seaside city of Khasab to swim with dolphins and scary jellyfish. I stayed on the boat to document any potential disasters.

The Wedding

Danica and I have been honored by being invited to attend these festive celebrations! We each go alone when invited because they are separated by gender. The video shows the groom and father in one of the dances which precedes the banquet inside the wedding hall. Food, conversation, and congratulations ... just like weddings everywhere! The ladies side is spectacular; or so Danica would have us beleive! No photos, so you'll just have to take her word for it. But plenty of food!

Bidya Mosque

The Bidya Mosque is located in Khor Fakkan near the emirate of Fujairah on the Arabian Sea. It was constructed about 50 years before Columbus stumbled upon the poor natives of the Carribean islands. It sits right on the coast and is still used today. We were able to tour the inside (very small) while people were using it for prayer. Danica was required to cover thus the abaya. More information on the area?? Go here....
http://www.fujairah-tourism.ae/history.htm

Camels

We have been looking for the camel race track in Ras Al Khaimah for some time and finally found it near the town of Digdaga. We came upon this little group while driving around the area. Danica was able to get up close and personal with one of these amazing creatures without getting her fingers snapped off (barely!). You know how she likes to 'feeze things! Want learn more about camels? Go here... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camel

National Day

National Day
This is Danica's classroom helper with students on National Day at School. That is real gold jewelry on their heads!

Dune Bashing

Dune Bashing
Ali, our driver, is Adam's age and has been driving dunes since he was 18!

Desert Safari ... Dune Bashing

As the name aptly implies, this is man against dune, and guess who wins! We were picked up in a brand newToyota Land Cruiser with all the bells and whistles and driven to the middle of the desert near Hatta (almost Oman). All we were told was that we were going on a desert safari but I knew someting was up when I saw that the suv also had roll bars!

The video does not quite capture the experience... I don't perspire much and when we stopped to take a break the back of my shirt was soaking wet! The sand was beautiful ... like from an hour glass!

Sa'alam and me with falcons

Sa'alam and me with falcons
Glad I had a glove on!

Omar and me on National Day!

Omar and me on National Day!
Mr. Omar is our school secretary!

Camel Crossing

Camel Crossing
70,000 dirhams if you hit a camel!!

Arabian Sea

Arabian Sea
They moved some of the mountain into the sea to build the school!

Al Rams School

Al Rams School
The Hijar Mountains in front of the school and the Arabian Sea in the back.

Al Rams School

Al Rams School
Break time in the courtyard.

Al Rams Secondary School for Boys

Al Rams Secondary School for Boys
My High School

Dhayah Fort

Dhayah Fort
See the Sea!

Dhayah Fort

Dhayah Fort
Early 1800's fight with the Brits

Goats have to eat too, ya' know!

Goats have to eat too, ya' know!
Just to maintain a sense of perspective ... from the goat to the Burj!!

Road to Khasab, Oman

Road to Khasab, Oman
Cliff overlooking the beach with campers for the Eid Holiday.

Khasab, Oman

Khasab, Oman
Death defying chase boat trip to find our dhow!

Al Ain

Al Ain
Sheik Zayed's meeting room

Danica's New Favorite Animal

Danica's New Favorite Animal
We stopped to see many of these guys on the way to Al Ain.

Danica's Iftar Outfit

Danica's Iftar Outfit
Dressed to eat!

Big Birds

Big Birds
Big Birds

Donkey

Donkey
...and Moses tied his ass to a tree and climed the mountain!

Camel

Camel
One of many!

Market

Market
A desert market

Iftar at School

Iftar at School
Mike's 1st Iftar

Blog Archive

  • ►  2009 (20)
    • ►  June (4)
    • ►  April (4)
    • ►  March (4)
    • ►  February (8)
  • ▼  2008 (46)
    • ►  December (5)
    • ►  November (9)
    • ►  October (4)
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  July (4)
    • ▼  June (1)
      • Danica and Michael in Arabic
    • ►  May (2)
    • ►  April (3)
    • ►  March (8)
    • ►  February (3)
    • ►  January (6)
  • ►  2007 (24)
    • ►  December (9)
    • ►  November (2)
    • ►  October (10)
    • ►  September (3)