Archive for December, 2012

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Random California Sights

December 29, 2012

Posted by Kanga.

Boxing day started with a super burrito at a local taquería. This meal carried us through the day.

large burrito

Followed by a stop by an Indian video shop, where you can also get hand painted pictures on leaves of Jesus or Ganesh. We purchased a few movies to initiate the family. The shop keeper was happy to find out that DaddyBird was well versed in Bollywood movies.

shelf containing hand painted pictures on leaves

You know you’re in California when there is a wide selection of cooking oils, most organic, in a big box store.

coconut oil, safflower oil, canola oil, sesame oil on store shelf

Next day we were in the East Bay area.

round fountain, palm trees, blue sky

Here’s the view from one of the many hills.

view of the east side of the San Francisco bay from a hill top

And the night view from the same hill.

view from same hill at night

Posted in food, USA | 1 Comment »

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San Francisco Christmas Stroll

December 24, 2012

Posted by Kanga.

Saturday evening we took a stroll in downtown San Francisco to enjoy the sights.

4 men playing steel drums on a street corner

An excellent steel drum band was providing atmosphere.

animatronic display of figures skating around a Christmas tree

The figures skating around the tree in this window display included a skating dog.

large lighted tree with red star at the top

Union Square was all decked out.

five story building with wreaths in every window

Macy’s had a wreath in every window.

window display with a Christmas tree next to a staircase

Tiffany had tasteful decorations in the windows.

cable car

A San Francisco cable car. I found it interesting that there is the sound of horse hooves clopping. It is the sound of the cable under the surface of the street. It beats against the conduit and sounds like horses.

Maru Sushi restaurant

Then we looked for dinner and chose Maru Sushi. It was quite delicious.

window display of Victorian people with handbags

There’s a bag for everyone in this store.

travel case that contains two dog bowls

Even the dog.

snow man and Christmas tree window display

It was a pleasant, cool, rainy evening. Helped to improve my Christmas spirit.

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Happy Festive Celebratory Season

December 15, 2012

Posted by Kanga.

plastic grocery bag printed with Merry Christmas, Santa, and trees

This is the plastic grocery bag from an Indian store in an Arab country. Christmas isn’t overbearing, flashing everywhere, blaring from speakers, and assaulting us from every media source, but it is nice that no one objects to “Merry Christmas.” No war on Christmas here.

[And, yes, that is Oliver sitting on the bag because, just by spreading that bag out, clearly I was making an invitation for him to sit on it.]

Posted in Christmas, Shopping | Tagged , | 1 Comment »

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Christmas is in the Air

December 11, 2012

Posted by Kanga.

blue sky with fluffy clouds above rugged hills

December is here and the weather is beautiful. Here’s what the weather stats are like.

weather prediction statistics

It is Christmas at the malls. Every year the decorations are new. I wonder where the old ones go.

huge Christmas balls huge in the shopping mall atrium

Christmas trees in the mall covered in lights

Nice, subtle decorations.

more Christmas trees covered in lights

With the “cold” weather comes the winter wear. These are not just meant for wearing in Ski Dubai. People wear them outdoors.

store window with manikins dressed in winter clothes

I took the picture below just for the little, understated number in the middle.

store window manikins

Once again it seems that the manikins have been partying too hard.

store window with manikins that have lampshades on their heads

Posted in Christmas, Dubai, malls, Shopping | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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Shopping Wonders

December 8, 2012

Posted by Kanga.

t-shirt with a scantily clad woman and lettering stating Hawaii hula hula 1968 aloha girls presents wild waves and hazy days

Not culturally sensitive, to say the least.

department store poster showing a male model wearing a plaid shirt and a sleeveless down vest

Didn’t we get over this fashion statement back in the 1980’s? Plaid shirt and down vest? Really?

colorful, unlined rain coats on the store rack

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, these are unlined rain coats being sold in an arid desert country. When it rains here, and it does, you don’t go out for a stroll. It rains hard and there is thunder and lightening. People have been struck dead while walking in the rain.

dish scrub sponge on a handle shaped like Diana Ross with the sponge as her afro hairdo

This just amazes. It is a dish scrub sponge shaped like Diana Ross with the sponge serving as her afro hairdo.

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Prineville Sunrise

December 6, 2012

Posted by Kanga.

SANYO DIGITAL CAMERA

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One Representative Story

December 3, 2012

Posted by Kanga.

I am spending a few days back in my home town. While browsing a local craft fair at the Baptist Church, I was introduced to a friend of a family member. This person had recently seen a TV program on the wonders of Dubai and asked me to tell one story about Dubai. Just one story. My mind blanked. The pressure was on. Just one story. Since it was December 1st, the eve of National Day, I described how they celebrate the nation’s birth 41 years ago. Of course, later I thought of even better stories.

So, readers who are in the UAE, I invite you to comment here and tell us your ONE United Arab Emirates story. How would you represent your experience to the average American?

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