Beyond Oman, Lies Musandam

Oh, man! Two weeks ago, I had some weekend getaway to experience Omani traditional dhow cruising in Dibba, Musandam - the Norway of the Arabian Gulf because its inlets are similar to Norway Fjords. See and discover its stunning scenery through the pics from friend's cam (the ones I have taken are already posted on my Instagram)

Let the journey to the endless Hajr (stone) mountans begins...!!



Hajr is the highest mountain range in the eastern Arabian peninsula

a traditional Omani dhows

a banana boat in a speed boat :D

and co-cruiser has taken the plunge

;)

Spot the Nationality/Race by Clothes

Can a zebra change its stripes or the leopard its spots?

In my previous entry, I wrote about figuring out where someone is from (particularly our own kind like they stick out like a sore thumb LOL) at a distance by their facial features, skin hues, accent and the way they behave. 

But sometimes it is none of the above but rather the way they dress and carry themselves. They have their own special fashion style. Generally, it is so easy to tell if you live in a melting pot and all that for years...

If you're a regular Dubai Metro commuter, you will notice that this image from RTA is 80-90% true. LOL.

And the last two images from Brownbook illustrate the difference between the Middle Eastern women's clothing, and also the difference between the Gulf men's clothing.

  



Obviously, we've got a heap load of every race/nationality here and still it is easier to spot anyone even if they dress like the locals or whoever.

I also do know that sometimes it's difficult to single someone out especially if they're of a blend of this and that race.

But do you think the above clothings are accurate? Like do Emiratis' khandoura looks like that, same goes with Saudis' thobe and Omanis' dishdasha? I mean I'm an Asian (more Oriental at that) but I don't think I wear something like the one in the above. Or well... Maybe.. Yeah I'm having second thought. LOL.

Can you tell where a person is from?

If you're in the UAE for more than 5 years, you will acquire a skill of identifying nationalities. You can't be in Dubai for 5 years and won't be able to tell nationality, seriously.

The only confusion you will have is the difference between Indian and Pakistani but they can tell. I mean, Indian will be able to tell if someone is Pakistani, or Bengali or Sri Lankan. 

Europeans will be able to tell each country because it's their own region, they know their own and that they look different. 

Just like how I can tell if someone is Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai, etc and not my own.

So, if an Arab see an Arab somewhere else they can tell -- Egyptian, Lebanese, Syrian, Kuwaiti, Bahraini, Saudi, etc even if they are not in their sheilas and abayas or wearing anything Arabs on them. It's their makeup, the features, the accessories, the colors, etc. 

They said...

• Kuwaiti girls are more on their skin. If a Kuwaiti wears (or not) an abaya in Kuwait, she'll do the same outside her country because they have their freedom there so she'll be natural outside. They also love to accessorize and put colors, bright colors. Kuwaiti men love bling-bling.
• While Saudi girls are the opposite. Most likely they remove their abayas when they're outside their country. Also they put really nice and extra dark kohl over their eyes to bring it out because normally those are the only features visible to others in their country.
• Emirati girls have certain ways on putting their make up and more obsessed with blings. You'll find them blinging a lot.

What about you, can you spot the difference?

Something Arabic

I was BBM-ing my Thai friend few days/weeks back, when suddenly she sent me a pic asking me to guess where she was at that time. It was a pic of a cafe with some Arab magazine, the Maktoums on cover. So I was like, "you in Dubai?" She laughed. She said, "No I'm at my favorite Arabic coffee shop, drinking my favorite Arabic coffee." (!!!!) So I was like huh?! Arabic coffee - what was that? 

Honestly, it made me ponder big time and realized something... been in Dubai for 6 yrs or so but I've never been in Arabic coffee shop nor drink Arabic coffee while her in Thailand and never had set her foot in any Arab countries telling me she's drinking her favorite Arabic coffee is so embarrassing!!!

Oh and I've never been to any Arabic resto (unless Al Safeer is counted) neither in any Arab house.. How uncool is that?! 

Again I've realized that I have never had any Arab friends to hang out with in the Emirates.. the only people I'm hanging out with -all the time- are my fellow countrymen and other Orientals/Asians.

Is there anyone out there who shares the same feelings with me? Or have you been "Emiratified" or "Arabified" already? Tell me about it.. I wanna know.



P.S. Emiratified or Arabified is not about going to Burj Khalifa or belly dancing or sand-boarding in Dubai... because it is so touristy. It's about eating shawarma, drinking chai karak from hole-in-the-wall places and stuff like that.. something natives really do.

The Noise-makers of the Year goes to ...

There were sets of noise-makers in my neighborhood last NYE.

I love celebrations and parties even silly ones, LOL, but the noise-makers in my hood really ticked me off that night. Some people started doing those silly noises 11 pm flat!! Excited-much?! That gave me and the rest of the hood more than an hour ear-pain and headache.

I was home only, since I had to work next morning, watching the live coverage of NYE countdown, fireworks at Burj Khalifa but couldn't hear the TV so I was kinda hoping police will come and take them. LOL. That's the evil within me talking.

When I peeped out of the window to check what they were doing, I was surprised, the noisy people in the hood aren't Pinoys but Masris!

You can't blame me, being Filipino myself, I know how LOUD my countrymen can get. Ask the church people, the watchmen, the real estate agents, building owners, etc on how much noise complaints they are receiving against us, say every weekend, to have an idea what I meant by us being loud. LOL

Anyway, I never knew that Egyptians are way noisier have better sets of silly noisemakers and littering throwing confetti in the ground than us. LOL.

So how was your holidays and NYE everyone? Hope everyone had fun and is happier this year.

Spirit of the Union

Super belated Happy 40th National Day, UAE!!! (Uber-late post, sorry.)

The following photos were taken at the Meydan Racecourse where the UAE Ballooning Championship exhibited their, of course, Hot Air Balloons plus the first-ever Night Glow and mass of Skylamps released. I witnessed them all last 2nd of December, hundreds of lanterns were released that Friday night and some part of Dubai skies were illuminated...  It was fun!

Guys, you have to tilt your head to get the view, for some reason, I cannot rotate the pics. Sorry *red-faced and grinning*

Beach-ing

Eid al-Adha Mubarak to all the Muslims around the globe!!! (so sorry for the late greetings)

Last Sunday, I celebrated my Eid al-Adha Holiday at Mamzar Beach Park with my roomie and her group of friends (total of 11 people). We had a wonderful picnic, great walk and fun swimming though the beach park was crowded that day. Check out the photos (thanks to roomie's friends for taking awesome pics)..

Our group (7 out 11 people) goofing around.

The Pink Walkathon

Last Friday, I participated in the annual Pink Walkathon (BurJuman Safe & Sound Breast Cancer Awareness Programme). Was my first time to join so even if I was down with flu (I still am), I still went and walked. Was amazing and I really had fun. I was there with my friends since 7:30 am, had our face painted and watched Rob Idol (UK's biggest tribute to Robbie Williams) who sang few hit songs of RW. We, of course, joined the fun meaning we sang and danced with him, LOL. The Walkathon started past 8am and finished the 3.6km walk around 10:30 am. There were 12,500 participants, which I believe there were more. In front of the walkers, were guys in Harleys then some sheikhs (sorry I forgot your highness' name) and people with drums. I really enjoyed it. After the walk, there was a live band inside the Burjuman and few sales of random stuff . Had breakfast while enjoying the live music. People were singing and dancing with the band. I stayed for an hour at least then went home as my flu was getting worse (sore throat, hoarseness, watery eyes, sneezing, stuffy nose, cough, headache, name it, LOL). So anyway, here are the photos (taken by my roomie) for you