Archive for September, 2011

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Johnny Rodgers Band on Cultural Exchange Tour

September 28, 2011

Posted by Kanga.

four member jazz band on stage

Last night we attended a free concert held at Fujairah Women’s College (Higher Colleges of Technology) and brought to us as a cultural exchange by the U.S. of A. Consulate General and His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamed Al Sharqi (ruler of Fujairah). Ambassadors for American jazz, the Johnny Rodgers band from New York kept the place rockin’ from beginning to end.

They performed selected examples of songs by great jazz legends – Louie Armstrong, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Jerry Lee Lewis. Even managed to squeeze Elvis in with Jail House Rock. However, Johnny was at his very best when singing his own composition, Mary Jean. Songs about old girlfriends are usually the most heartfelt.

four member jazz band on stage

I’m not sure how one is supposed to imitate Elvis with such a tiny guitar. He gave up and sang a song he wrote after visiting Graceland.

four member jazz band on stage

They sang to a full house and received a standing ovation. The band is very talented and it was an enjoyable evening, although it really is cruel to make music like that when people cannot get up and dance.

Posted in culture, Fujairah, Music | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment »

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Reptile Talk

September 24, 2011

Posted by Kanga.

Last July we were having lunch in the Thai Express and overheard the conversation of the men sitting at another table. It’s a small restaurant and it is rare to hear an American accent, so we couldn’t help but notice. The conversation topic seemed to be mostly “snakes of Arizona,” so we also found that an odd thing to hear in Fujairah. The September issue of Fujairah Observer explained it all. “World Renowned Reptile Specialists Visit the Wadi.”

magazine article explaining that two reptile specialists were in the area looking for the Gallagher's leaf-toed gecko

“In June 2011, Wadi Wurayah received the visit of two reptiles and amphibian specialists: Researcher Theodore J. Papenfuss form the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, and his assistant, Todd Pierson, University of Georgia, USA. … they spotted a tiny gecko on the gravel bed of the wadi: the Gallagher’s leaf-toed gecko (Asaccus gallagheri).”

Posted in animals, Fujairah | Tagged , | 4 Comments »

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A Scene I Didn’t Expect to See Outside of a Movie Theatre

September 21, 2011

Posted by Kanga.

On the way home last Saturday night we happened upon a car fire. It was on the east side of the tunnel on the Sharjah-Kalba road. Not sure what it takes to engulf a car in flames. Really bad driving or really bad manufacturing or the combination of both?

a car on fire

car on fire

Posted in cars | Tagged , | 2 Comments »

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More Ridin’ the Green Line

September 19, 2011

Posted by Kanga.

Dos and don’ts of riding the Dubai metro.

Do read the screen carefully on the ticket machine or you’ll end up getting a day pass when you really just wanted to add money to your Nol card.

Don’t bother minding the gap, because there isn’t one.

Do go to the front car (if it isn’t too crowded) to get a good view of the track ahead and the satellite covered roof tops.

Posted in Dubai, Dubai metro construction, video | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

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Ridin’ the Green Line

September 19, 2011

Posted by Kanga.

Saturday we headed into Dubai to ride the recently opened Green Line of the Metro train.

sign stating "the metro green line. connecting you through Dubai."

We got off briefly at the Salah Al Din station.

underground metro station

Not sure why the predominant color in a Green Line station would be red.

globe sculpture

This sculpture was interesting. It is a globe and coins of the countries are strategically placed.

entrance to the underground station

The Salah Al Din station is right below our old apartment. I used to dream of the day when I would be able to just walk down and catch a train to work, but that didn’t exactly work out.

alley way with large temporary pipes

Our old alley we walked through many a time still looks like crap. I had hoped that with the arrival of the metro station they would clean up and pave this alley. A lot of foot traffic happens here.

train platform

The platform where one boards the train. The glass doors provide safety against accidental or intentional collisions.

inside of the train

Here’s the inside, in case you were curious. Mostly standing room. If you get on at the end of the line, you can count on a seat, but they fill up quickly.

light fixtures that look like giant jelly fish

The Khalid Bin Al Waleed station has some striking light fixtures and some interesting historical photographs.

large black and white photograph wall panels

Those were the days…

black and white photo of men sitting a a beach and a ship at sea

Posted in Dubai, Dubai metro construction | Tagged , , | 1 Comment »

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A Gem Tucked into an Alley

September 16, 2011

Posted by Kanga.

It may be a little challenging to find, but is well worth the effort. Oriental Restaurant in Fujairah is fantastic.

plates of beef noodles and fried rice

Beef noodles and fried rice.

chicken in special sauce

Chicken in special sauce.

plate of prawns

Prawns sambal.

The food is very delicious and reasonably priced. We’ve already been back a second time. This is definitely a “tweetup” worthy place.

Posted in food, Fujairah, restaurant | 1 Comment »

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Cat Antics

September 11, 2011

Posted by Kanga.

It’s about time for some cat antics, don’t you think? It has been a busy and exciting two months for Oliver & Bert. Constant rearranging and unpacking of boxes meant lots of curiosity inducing movement.

two cats on top of kitchen cabinets

A recurring theme is to be as high up as one can get. Even as I write this, Bert is on top of the bookshelves in the living room.

two cats examining the new laundry machine

The arrival of the laundry machine resulted in a thorough examination, inside and out.

cat peeking out from a stack of boxes

And the boxes, oh the boxes! To be up high AND in a box, that’s the best.

cat in a cardboard box

two five foot stacks of boxes with a cat on top of each

cat wallowing on a laptop bag

Apparently, my laptop bag is made of catnip, because it inspired a great deal of excitement.

white cat sitting corner behind the refrigerator

Oliver frequently takes a respite in the corner behind the refrigerator.

white cat on top of a door with dirt on his nose

Even the door tops had to be explored and the air conditioning vents as well.

cat on top of door stretching up to look in a vent

The addition of several bookcases was a boon for the desire to be UP.

cat on top of a bookcase

And, of course, there is the daily lounging in the sunny window.

white cat laying on the window sill

Posted in cats | Tagged , | 1 Comment »

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Small Proofs of Globalization

September 10, 2011

Posted by Kanga.

Today’s grocery discovery was Shasta brand sodas. Of all the American soda/cola products this is one I didn’t expect to see.

cans on top grocery shelf

We picked up a few other interesting sodas.

Barr cream soda, A & W root beer, Old Jamaica ginger beer, Idris fiery ginger beer

Barr American Cream Soda comes from Glasgow and claims to be “refreshing the nation.” The graphic reminds me more of a bar of soap than a refreshing drink, however. Old Jamaica Ginger Beer “with fiery Jamaican root ginger” comes from Kegworth, England. Idris Fiery Ginger Beer comes from Chelmsford, England with the challenge to “try it if you dare.” (It’s not fiery. Even I don’t think so and I’m pretty wimpy.) Our old friend A&W Root Beer comes from New Jersey (and as we discovered previously smells like surgical spirit.)

Posted in food, Fujairah, products/ads | Tagged , , | 2 Comments »

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Good Friends and Good Food

September 10, 2011

Posted by Kanga.

Look who came to visit us this morning! @DevinaDivecha & ... on Twitpic

Last week, our beautiful friends Devina and Shruti came to Fujairah. We met up at Delhi Darbar Restaurant for breakfast.

plates and bowls of Indian food

The challenge for me at any Indian restaurant is finding something that has no, and I mean NO, chili peppers. DaddyBird prefers food the spicier the better. The bowl at the lower right is vegetable korma and was supposed to be mild, but it was a no go for me. I managed with paratha (bread), green salad, and an omelette. I could see and avoid the peppers in the omelette. Despite my chili aversion, the food was lovely and ridiculously cheap. Four people ate their fill for 53 AED ($14.50).

Posted in food, Fujairah, restaurant, socialization | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

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Tiny Watch Repair

September 9, 2011

Posted by Kanga.

man sitting at a small booth under a large umbrella doing watch repair

The businesses here are often small by American standards, but this is the epitome, I think. This man has a small booth in a parking lot on a busy street where he does watch repair. I don’t have any broken watches, but I could use some new batteries, so I will have to go back some evening.

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