2008

"Monday declared holiday for private and public sectors in Dubai" ,WAM
Last updated: January 13, 2008, 18:16Dubai: Monday, January 14, has been declared a holiday for ministries, government establishments,
schools and private sector companies in Dubai due to the closure of some main roads, bridges and tunnels.
Official sources urged all residents to avoid using main roads on Monday.
Major roads are closed ahead of US President George W. Bush's arrival in Dubai

   
This is what traffic looked like on hte morning of 13th january when I was heading home from the airport (pics from Gulf News) - due to unexpected and unannounced roadclosures (and rain to add insult to injury). We now know that many roads are closed on 14th January due to President Bush visiting.
Yesterday at 4pm the local newsagency -WAM - reported that today has been declared Public and Private holiday due to all main roads being closed.
I guess Ann, is lucky not to have panned her trip to finish today - how we would have found open roads to the airport, I do not know. All the bridges  and Shindaga Tunnel are closed too.

 

US President George W. Bush arrives at the Abu Dhabi International Airport on Sunday.

 

President Bush handles a falcon owned by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed


President Bush is greeted by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed upon his arrival at the Crown Prince's desert encampment.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was also present

 The area around Burj Dubai has opened with both hotels and shopping. The Palace Hotel and Souk al Bahar are ready to receive guests and shoppers.
These pictures from Gulf News:
       
       
        
 Bush's convoy of vehicles drives through Shaikh Zayed Road.
 Bush flew into Dubai from Abu Dhabi on the latest leg of his Middle East tour
 Children dance for Bush during his visit to the Shaikh Saeed Al Maktoum House
No sooner had President Bush left the country than the rains started pouring down leaving the hard tried citizens of the UAE no choice but to get creative.
These pictures from Gulf News 15&16 Jan
    
   
      
                                                                                           
 The rains bring with them the danger of flash flooding in Wadis Tuesday              Wadi Galeelah in Ras Al Khaimah was flowing with water on                                                                                          
 
Pouls sister, Ann, was here for a week from 6th January - and arrived 14hrs late due to electrical malfunctioning of the SAS aircraft.    
      		    Here you see Ann by the Ski slopes of Mall of the Emirates
Going to the Creek via Satwa (called Bollywood in the guidebook)    
     
 This is the Creek and we are near the Abra station  it was a cold and blustery day - but we braved it

 

 Ann on the abra (watertaxi) with our freezing driver in the background  a sari shop by the creek  The abras are used primarily as taxis but also serve the tourists
     
 In the Gold Souq we found other traders than goldshops  
Ann in front of a typical window in the gold Souq		  After all this sightseeing we need a good lunch at the restaurant by the Creek, Bayt al Wakeel

 Possibly the Worlds tallest flagpole by Union House

  And for coffee we went to Shakespeare's in Village Mall       Yet another day of seeing sights: Souq Madinat Jumeirah - a fairly new and upmarket souq  
 Lunch with a view to Burj al Arab and the Christmas tree    The fountain next to our table

The Jumeirah Mosque 		 
Our guides demonstrated the washing ceremony before performing the prayers		  
Ann following the socalled modest dresscode for women
     
 Lunch time - at Emirates Golf Club    
     
 a different kind of birdie  Pizza chez Woodall Ginger from next door says welcome home (or sleeps through it all)
 One of our favourite places for sight seeing is hatta Hools - only this time we took a different route and now we understand why everyone said they could swim in the pools. This is our first time in this location    
The falaj watering system is an ancient way of transporting water from the spring to where it is needed through these manmade canals.      
     
We were fascinated both by all the young guys going swimming in the freezing cold water and....  ...by the two jeeps trying to get down the slope - not easy at all.  
The sarong-type undergarment worn by local men under the white dish-dash can also be used as swimming trunks    The flowing water has cut deep into the cliffs
 
and we finished the day with a birthdaydinner at Le Classique Restaurant at Emirates Golf Club		    

 
Friday 18th January - today it is the Dubai marathon.

It is 7.30 in the morning and a bit chilly at 12degrC.

 

I went along with my two friends, Ann and Fiona, to cheer the runners and to hand out the fruit and sweets Ann and Fiona had brought along.

 This is another disastrous day for Dubai traffic. Several roads closed for the Marathon - this is Jumeirah Beach Road  
     
 
We had balloons, music and fellow "cheerers" along the line		  This is at the 38km mark - the runners are feeling the pain and we hand out more fruit and chocolate.  
   all done - the fruit and sweets are gone and we can head home through nightmare traffic - yet again!