Child endangerment.......

On Thursday last week at about 10:00am. I went to meet with the landlord to look at my new apartment that I am transfering too. The previous tenant had already moved out. I walked up to the third floor knocked.....no answer....tried turning the door handle.... locked. Went out to the patio to look in the window but someone had put newspaper to cover the lower part of the window. It has a clerestory above so I hopped on to the window sill to look in. To my surprise I see a pile of blankets some pillows a bunch of clothes on the floor and a 4 year old little girl staring up at me when I saw her I was as starltled and scared as I am sure she was. The landlord got there a few minutes later to show me the space but he did not have a key. He said that the previous tenant was going to let some friends borrow the apartment for a few days. I told him about the little girl....he knocked on the door and talked to her through the door in Arabic. She explained as good as a 4 year old can that her mother and father locked her inside and she did not have a key. They would be home later.

If this happened in the states we would call 911 immediately and the parents would be arrested. I asked the Emirate landlord a local if he was concerned he was not....no problem she will be fine she is locked in. I thought about calling the police or child protective services (do they have CPS do not know). However after thinking for a few minutes. Remembering some of the horror stories about getting involved. I would probably be arrested for meddling in a Muslim's business. So I decided not to do anything. Except I did check on the little girl that evening the clothes, blankets, pillows, and the 4 year old girl was gone. I guess she survived another day in the good old UAE.

Bike riding Abu Dhabi

I had a fun filled day in Abu Dhabi. Slept late 12:00 ish .......... grilled some chicken drank some beer then off to ride my bike for close to 3 hours. Went straight up Old Airport Road in the center of Abu Dhabi. Stopped to take a few pictures the building beyond with the golfball on top is Etisalat (means Communication in Arabic) it is nearly the sole provider for cable an internet in the UAE it is close to a monolpy. If you see a building with a Golfball on top it is Etisalat. Kind of Iconic...........do not know the story behind the golfball should do some research.

Etisalat


Fountain on Old Airport Road

Monuments on Old Airport Road

New Central Market Souk

Old airport road has some pretty cool stuff water fountains mounuments, Mosque or two deadends into the Corniche the road that runs along the beach.

The Corniche

Dumpster Fire Video

When I got to the Corniche took a few pictures then looked up saw a fire in a dumpster the workers around the food court area ..... jumped on it and took care of it quickly good job for non- fighter people.

That night walked to the neighboorhood grocerie store saw this Ford Mustang COBRA sweet..........they do appreciate good automobiles in the UAE.

Struggle to post something interesting hopefully this was not to bad.

Do not want bore everybody!

Did I tell everyone that during the whole month of Ramadan all the offices, business's only work 9 til 3...nice! But hey another day another dirham. Just enjoying the Eid's 3 day holiday.

Went to see Captain America good movie.

However I cannot understand the people that go to the movies here very frustrating. In America we get that little reminder no talking, no cell phone, etc. Most of the people that go are the Emirates wearing the traditional Kandoora (white robe, head scarf). I think I was the only white boy American in the whole theater. Then after the movie starts 20% arrive, they talk with each other, use their cell phone, get snacks, go to the bathroom. Jeez ......... Arabic subtitles ....... then 10% leave before the movie is over so weird. One thing that is pretty cool when you buy your ticket you can actually pick your seat.....a screen is in front of you.....you see the open spots and you get a reserved seat.

Have worked out each day 1 hour minimum eating fresh veggies, chicken. Wish i could cut out the beer or booze. But I have to have a least one vice. RIGHT?

WOW........the end of Ramadan If you are an American you probably have no clue to what this means I had no clue. But It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and the month in which the Qur'an was revealed. Ramadan is the holiest of months in the Islamic calendar, and fasting in this month is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The month is spent by Muslims fasting during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset. Fasting during this month is often thought figuratively to burn away all sins. Today the first day of the next month, Shawwal, is spent in celebrations and is observed as the "Festival of Breaking Fast" or `Eid ul-Fitr.

Now that you have that explanation let me say a few words. This religious holiday for the entire month is a mandatory deal for everyone Muslim or non-Muslim. I have never lived in a country that can make everyone do this it is so foreign to me. The atheist and non believers would never accept such a thing in America......What happens during the day from about 4:30am until 7:00pm Muslims fast ..... no water (drinking), no food, no smoking (and everybody smokes here)......no nothing. I was incredibly impressed by their discipline during the whole month. Now that means if you are not a Muslim and are still eating drinking etc. you must do this behind closed doors. No public eating, drinking, smoking, etc. they will give you a warning but if you do not stop they will arrest you. Most if not all the restaurants are closed evening the food courts in the malls. If they are open it is take out only. I went to Subway they were the only place open but they had this huge screen wall in front of the line .... go behind get your food then back to the office are bathroom stall locked to eat. The bars, clubs, hotels did not open until 7:00.....NO MUSIC it was so weird for the whole month. It is a religious cultural thing.........it took a while to get use too it but when in Rome do as the roman's do.

Anyway now it is `Eid ul-Fitr and everything is back to normal..........

Ohhh yea first day of working out did 1 hour of light weights, walking in place, kicking moving and a grooving on the patio in 103 degree weather....it was hard but I plan on doing this for 3 months be a LEAN MEAN MACHINE by December when i return for Christmas.