Day 2 - Dubai

The men in our lives!

Dubai - Day 2

I commented today that this has been a holiday of encounters with males. And even though Rob happens to be so many miles away, he has contributed to the day, not simply by the use of his credit card.

But first - (read previous entry ) - the friend we encountered as we perused the brochures in the foyer did actually work for the hotel and so we felt safe to entrust ourselves to him for a city tour.

1And so some details: his name is Fayaz, he is from Pakistan, married, has two very young children who he only sees for a short time once a year as they remained in Pakistan, he has been working in Dubai for twelve months, his father died 29 years ago, his grandfather migrated to the states soon after leaving his family in a very precarious position. he is Muslim, believes in a creator and is intrigued about the suns composition . He can't believe it is gas! But rather the heater that God burns to warm all homes and earth. But he did have a very good lesson concerning children. He

asked whether our children contributed funds to assist us. We were amused to say the least. (listening Rob,Tim, Brett and Chris) in Pakistan and India, women over fifty do not work and their sons help to financially support them. Sounds good to me. We

assured him there are ways to receive support sons do well. But ... If

like to contribute to the wellbeing of your mothers traveling . . . Actually sorry Emma the burden has you . . No allowance until my return as I am on half the duration .... But you do have that piece of Am Ex father to call on.

many and our you would while fallen on pay for and your

And so our adventure began. He found us after breakfast ( a particular good buffet - which reads smoked salmon and fresh fruit included as well as am omelette chef)) ushered us into the hotel car and through the streets we went. Dubai is a strange mix.

Wonderful Network of ring roads combined with dust, construction, at times congestion and certainly smog. The day began at 35degrees and by the time we finished it was well into the mid forties and we were consuming vast quantities of water. I have decided my favourite fluid is water. I never want to live in a place where I need to buy it. Surprisingly, traffic was fairly orderly, nothing like the chaos of Rome or Athens,

although we did see a rear ender on our return.

Our first real stop was which now housed period reconstructios. The projected the age of this of Pompeii - human

the museum, an old fort historical exhibitions and archeological finds certainly civilization and reminded me skeletons from a much earlier

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era in an earthen / stone grave curled on their sides in some macabre representation of sleep. Bronze age implements and various pieces of pottery - I love the breaks and cracks, I suppose someone has meticulously pieced them together yet they contain

such many of valued even incomplete having Donne worlds have Forbidding body and writes), it would be lovely if it happened for all these pieces from antiquity - zeus's statue to rise again etc - yes I did watch Clash of the Titans on the flight. The reconstructions of life's activities / boat makers /aritisans/scribes/ etc had realism, especially within the mud brick walls. The dominance of males and the hidden nature of women permeated all. I was wondering why in such a climate as this it is the males who wear the cool cotton white while females are clothed in punishing black!

fragility, and cause are though -actually maybe we value them more highly for endured in this state. I was thinking of that John poem which I think it has a line or title At earths / round corner (I'll have to look it up if I manage to Internet access) or it could be Valediction Mourning, when all the pieces pertaining to ones soul will be summoned and reunited ( or so Donne

Anyway we moved on. Our driver never hurried us. He drove us to the consulates, the palaces, the marina ( which if I returned would be where I'd

seek accommodation - water and an abundance of restaurants /cafes, and parkland). We explored the Islamic art and Cultural Centre and while there were many exquisite pieces the prices were for Shieks rather than such as us. The tapestries, wall hangings and shawls were the most impressive

- again the hidden lives of women - many were hand woven/stitched with gold thread throughout and covered in semiprecious stones - one wrap which had the softest of touches had been woven from the fur of that catchcs from the goat's neck as they pass through the brittle grass /shrubs.

The architecture of the hotels and corporate buildings is striking. Most has risen from the desert floor in the last 40 years. What amazed was that it was not simply

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utilitarian value that they sought but also an aesthetic quality( too much conflicting 19th C ideologies in my thinking - ) the architects must have loved the artistic and structural freedom they were given. Of course it was the Sail hotel that stands on the water as the most impressive. This is where I should of course insert my photo.

And this brings me to Rob, who though not traveling with me made his presence felt. Gadget guy who admitted hobbled through the house prior to my departure systematically gathering all electronic devices for this trip for me, he had emptied photo cards, installed everything I could possibly need (apps, music - unfortunately it did load the last of the music we had uploaded to Rob's computer which happened to be what I had compiled for Mum's funeral / remembrance - films) He and gadget guy junior had turned off everything possible on the Iphone - data roaming, wireless, Bluetooth, apps which might update etc - leaving it in idiot mode for me so as not to incur prohibitive phone bills. This guy had advised when asked that the camera battery was fine, fully charged - and of course I believed ( see my deference, just as well we leave Dubai soon) and of course I now stood in front of this building, and on a city tour without a charged SLR - and so turned to my Iphone for some shots. So the rest of the photos of the tour will be drawn from my sister's most up to date, light weight Sony SLR.

And now we return to Fayaz, extremely engaging and helpful.

An aside - further to the marvels of this city of the desert, is a ski slope housed within a designer shopping mall - imagine the energy which must go into sustaining this, given the outside temperature as we enter is 45degrees.

Fayaz has of course assured us throughout how he is saving money, the tour through him being cheaper etc. And when we speak of the canal night cruise and dinner we are thinking of, immediately reaches for his mobile, dials a number and who would have thought it is all organized, for again a great saving. and as he leaves us to the ski field and the shopping experience within one of the Shiek's mall (understatement) wonder about our friend Fayaz.

I of course search for free wifi to no avail, Mary Ann seeks presents for the multitude of children in her life and slowly as our body temperature lowers and our body rehydrate, we start to question the veracity of our friend who has jus t been paid in Australian dollars. Of course this doubt that is forming, is enhanced by the taxi driver who returns as after an unasked for city tour to our hotel where we find once more Fayez ready to assist as currency conveyer for us as soon as we mention the need to

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change money. When we speak of the night cruise and ask about using a card Fayez phones his friend. Unfortunately, only cash will suffice.

And now the tale turns. Call us inconstant but we have wearied a little of our new found friend and his growing intrusion into our lives and decide the Safari booking (contrary to Fayez's advice) will be through the Concierge.

Innocently, he asks - do we need any assistance, perhaps a city tour or canal cruise? No - we reply, - one has been done the other, organized.

Curious, he asks - with whom? We reply - oh one of the hotel drivers.

Fury mounts. We decide, it's best not to recall Fayez's name.

He gives us a small lecture on the security of operating through the hotel desk and promises us a better price on the cruise.

And we feeling contrite, allow him to cancel our arrangements for the evening and say we will now book through him.

30minutes later call to room, - could we please come to his desk, about the booking - actually thought there may have been a problem with my using Rob's visa card.

I return downstairs to find the Concierge with two men ( read errant school boys - one of whom is Fayez

Obviously they have had words, the air is charged and I feel reminded of school and being summoned to the Principal's office.

Which one was it, asks the concierge

And while I would like I stayed constant to my new found friend, I thought it wrong that the other carry any guilt by association. And so I caved, and quickly added how wonderfully kind he had been etc etc and how I hoped that nothing untoward would happen. But I suspect Fayez will survive most things.

And then we parted, the concierge having taken charge of us and our arrangements.

And forgiven me when I admitted - that this is what happens when women are left to travel unaccompanied by their husbands ( It''s a worry and I think time to leave a

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country when you start making such statement) they of course laughed but I though sagely nodded.

And so, you see Rob once again though so many miles away came to my rescue.

I am sure I will return a much more obedient, respectful wife ... Though it is only the beginning of the holiday and who knows what the future travels will bring.

...................................

Canal Cruise: ( photos not uploaded yet)

We felt as though we had joined a Hollywood party on board a rustic wooden ferry.

The buffet was a mix - Indian, Lebanese and Russian.

Throughout we cruised the canal watching the play of light from the modern skyscrape.

The evening ended with the most amateurish magician show by a lovely young Indian, who was so friendly the audience forgave him. A show of bollywood dancing from the young Indian girls and preschoolers in the audience closed the night and we travelled home with a family of boisterous Indians down narrow lanes.

We returned, exhausted to find a complimentary basket of fruit in our room. Obviously we have been forgiven.

Best wishes Tess

PS I would like to say we learn our lesson but it is now tomorrow and we have just returned from the gold souk where yet again we placed our fate in the hands of others but that is another entry.

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