This is what electrical outlets look like here. Each one has a toggle on/off switch. Below are two typical plug styles and an universal adapter that lets you plug in just about anything. The voltage is 22o, twice the 110 in the States. There are also switches for each of the major appliances – the kitchen stove, the clothes washer, and the clothes dryer. We’ve had to learn to check and make sure things are switched on, otherwise you’re waiting a long time for the frying pan to heat up.
Below is the light switch for the bathroom and the water heater switch. Each room that has plumbing has its own water heater switch. If you don’t switch it on, all you can expect is lukewarm water. If I want a hot shower in the morning, the water heater has to be switched on before I go to bed. Then the water will be HOT, the kind of melt plastic bottles hot that Paul was complaining about.
Below is the back of the packaging for the night light that Paul got for the bathroom. In case you can’t read it, I will transcribe.
“Nushi Night Lamp
This nigh lamp series is elegant in appearance. It adopts advanced electric circuit and material
It is safe and energy-saving.
There are several colors of light for choice.
The white color is high brightness, suitable for using at the corridor, staircase and bathroom.
The yellow, pink amd light blue coldrs are suitable for bedroom, their gentle light will not dazzle while sleeping.
The green color is suitable for karaoke room and decoration cabinet.
It brings comfort and romantic feeling to your home.”
The front of the package was labeled “Dim Night Lighting.”
I have been careful to preserve the spelling errors and grammar for your enjoyment. We are often entertained by the descriptions on packages here, like OMO laundry soap that declares “Dirt is good.” Makes no sense to me.
We discovered and purchased the world’s ugliest kitchen clock. As you can see it is a big ear of corn with eyes that swing back and forth with the pendulum, which has two onion headed beings in love on it. And, for some unknown reason, he has a picture of melon/cantelope on his stomach/clockface and a saying “Love – Thinking of you. All the best wishes. Benediction your friend.” It isn’t actually keeping time. We either need a better battery or a new clockwork.
Below is the advertisement in the window of a travel agency in our neighborhood and if you have seen anything South Park, you will recognize why I took this picture. There is a fair amount of trademark and copyright infringement here. At the very least, they walk close to the line — like SFC Southern Fried Chicken (knock off of KFC) and Frozen Slab Ice Cream (knock off of Cold Stone Creamery).
Archive for October 11th, 2008
Electrical devices and other trivia
October 11, 2008Wafi City Mall
October 11, 2008
This is inside the Khan Murjan. It is a recently constructed souk (marketplace) in which they pulled out all the stops to include traditional architecture and artistry. It is two floors and both are underground. There is beautiful carved wood everywhere and this picture shows the stained glass window ceiling. The souk was divided into different areas by regional areas – Egypt, Africa, Lebanon, etc. All the shops are supposed to sell traditional goods — carpets, Arabic garments, Middle Eastern style tea pots, jewellery, etc. There was a spice store, but it was closed 😦 The items were kinda spendy, so not exactly a real souk. I don’t know if they would have bartered and sold for a lower price. This is sort of a rich tourists souk.
The traditional souk is connected to a much larger modern mall — Wafi City — which is done in Egyptian style architecture (including a pyramid). These pictures are of the Eye of Ra, a stained glass dome in the mall. It was impossible to get the whole thing in one shot. The Eye is in the dome and then a tornado shaped spiral of glass extends to the floor.
Before we went to this mall, someone had mentioned that it is never crowded. Once we got there we discovered why. The shops are all high end (maybe with the exception of Marks and Spencer who are my friends where I can buy clothes and shoes in my size). We discovered Japengo, a multicultural restaurant that has SUSHI. Yeah! I’ve been missing my sushi! I also had the most decadent hot cocoa at one of the shops here. Yummy.
Luckily, Paul is a spatial genius. Otherwise I would get completely lost in these malls. We found the chocolate shop just after having eaten all that sushi, so we decided to come back later. Luckily, Paul knew how to get back to it. I would have had to locate a mall map and spend 10 minutes trying to figure out where to go.
Shopping here is like an extreme sport. Imagine the Clackamas Town Center mall (or any big mall in your area) the week before Christmas. That is what every Saturday is like. Madhouse. Very few of the stores have anything I would even consider buying, so I have a hard time understanding what everyone is shopping for every week.
Last night we walked down to the Lulu Hypermarket in our neighborhood. It was crowded with people. I was at the counter trying to pay for our items and a little guy (less than 5 ft tall) pushes up shoving his money and the item he wanted to buy toward the clerk, pushing me out of the way as I am trying to sign the debit card slip to finish my transaction. I am so amazed by the complete inability of people to wait their turn. They don’t know how to line up or wait. If there isn’t a physical lane leading to the counter that forces people to line up, there is a jostling crowd. And, unfortunately, the rude person is the one that gets served. I spent all my life learning to be polite, now I have to relearn to be rude.
Road Trip #2 – Abu Dhabi
October 11, 2008
So, here we are in downtown Abu Dhabi.
This shot shows part of a mosque in the foreground and a beautiful highrise in the background.
They do love glass and shiny things here.
I didn’t take this photo for the reflection in the glass, but it turned out kinda artsy fartsy. If I had been trying, I’m sure it wouldn’t have come out this good.
It is not uncommon, in fact it is very common, to see large billboards and murals depicting one sheikh or another. This is probably Sheikh Mohammed, ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the UAE.
Here we are sitting on the steps of the Presidential Palace, which is not the Presidential residence, but an amazingly posh hotel.
Here’s what it looks like as you drive up.
They do love their fountains here. Water, water everywhere!
This is looking down from the steps. Notice the construciton in the background. It’s hard to find a view that doesn’t include construction and cranes.
More construction to the left.
There was a large greenscape all around the hotel. Very beautiful.
This is the view down the steps including the fountain flowing all the way down the steps. Water, water everywhere.
We came to the hotel to have high tea. It was very expensive, but yummy and fun. We each got a tray like this with three layers of plates filled with little sandwiches, pastries and desserts. I’ve decided that I really like clotted cream. Mmmm.
This is Daddybird enjoying a sandwich. I told him to look pretty and took a picture. Looked at it, then told him to look pretty with his eyes open. The golden glow to these pictures is probably due to the golden hue of everything there — the walls, the furniture, the lighting. It was very beautiful.
This is a shot upward at the top of the rotunda. Unfortunately, it is blurry. I failed to check the setting on the camera. But, hopefully, you can get a feel for the grandure.
Despite the grandness of it all, we both felt comfortable here. We didn’t feel like poor relations who had wandered in off the street. The acoustics were amazing, too. There was live music being played a short distance from where we were sitting and we could hear it just fine, but were unable to hear the people at the next table talking. We could also easily hear each other as we talked at our table.
Abu Dhabi is a beautiful city, but I don’t think I would take it over Dubai.
Living the Travel Channel 