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Archive for the ‘Shopping’ Category

No Lingerie For You

October 25, 2012

Posted by Kanga.

I am puzzled. There are many, many lingerie shops, especially in Dubai (not so much in Fujairah) and, yet, the only thing sold at Victoria’s Secret is perfume.

One of the things that we found surprising in our first week in the country was the contrast in the malls where there will be abaya and gown stores right next to lingerie stores (displaying some pretty naughty stuff in the windows). These stores display things that I have never seen at a Victoria’s Secret (U.S.) store. More along the lines of Frederick’s of Hollywood.

Posted in clothing, malls, Shopping | Tagged shopping, United Arab Emirates, Victoria's Secret | 1 Comment »

Everyone Needs a Zebra Pan

October 17, 2012

Posted by Kanga.

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, you are seeing zebra striped frying pans. Totally hip.

We may have thought Fanta Orange was orange flavored before, but the NEW flavor is deliciously orange. Completely different.

I’m not a Coke drinker, but I do find the bottles nostalgic.

I think some settling has occurred in transit.

Posted in food, Shopping | Tagged Coca Cola, Fanta, food, shopping, zebra stripes | 2 Comments »

Ride the Emu Train

September 28, 2012

Posted by Kanga.

Get aboard the Emu Train. It goes lickety split.

These knock-off Barbies seem to be having costume malfunctions.

For some unknown reason, the store had oodles of smurfs (and angry birds).

Including MacSmurf.

And if ceramic smurfs aren’t enough, there are pictures to hang on your wall.

Plenty to choose from. There were also two poor employees in smurf suits out in the parking lot. In this heat, the thing you don’t want to be wearing is a blue furry suit and a big head.

These are the best doll chairs ever!

I dream of Jeanie…

Posted in oddities, Shopping, toys | Tagged angry birds, costume malfunction, smurfs, toys | 3 Comments »

The Elusive Blanket

September 23, 2012

Posted by Kanga.

When you move to another country, especially one half-way around the world from your home, you expect that there will be some things you are used to that will now be difficult or impossible to obtain. I was concerned about salmon sushi. What is really difficult to obtain? A common bed blanket.

We started out with a comforter, then moved up to a feather duvet. But, despite the constant airconditioning, these were too much. Too warm. There are cheap fleece blankets, but these are not enough and get all wonky once they are laundered. So, we began a search for a run-of-the-mill blanket.

The problem is that run-of-the-mill blankets don’t seem to exist here. When you walk into a store and ask the sales person if they have blankets, they say “yes, sir” then show you the duvets. We said that wasn’t what we were looking for and he asked what a blanket was. Seriously.

Throw blankets exist and I actually considered buying several and sewing them together. We have finally found a quilted bedspread. We’ll see how that works, or not.

Sheets can also be somewhat challenging. When we first arrived I bought packages expecting a full sheet set only to find a single flat sheet and two pillow cases, no fitted sheet. If you go to Ikea, it’s the other way around – one fitted sheet with no flat sheet. So, I ended up combining the flat from one store and the fitted from the other. I get excited when I find a complete set. It’s the small pleasures in life, they say.

Posted in Shopping | Tagged living abroad, shopping, the unexpected, United Arab Emirates | 2 Comments »

More Shopping Adventures

September 22, 2012

Posted by Kanga.

In a desert where the temperature ranges from 75F to 120F, it’s important to have gloves, ear muffs, and furry caps.

There’s a great new Khaleeji family doll house. Why they live in a wood frame house is a mystery. Apparently, their neighbors, the King and Queen have their own Jester.

Down the street is the Cavemen family.

I am greatly amused by the bone in the hair.

“The seven innate emotions are joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hate, and desire.” I think this speaks for itself.

Streaky bacon.

Here are some “culturally sensitive” party glasses.

Posted in oddities, Shopping | Tagged bacon, doll house, shopping, toys, United Arab Emirates | 2 Comments »

Shopping for the Easily Amused

September 17, 2012

Posted by Kanga.

Here in the cheeps aisle, they are not talking about marshmallow cheeps. Surprisingly, they didn’t call them “crisps.” It’s a French store chain, so it would probably be treason to use the British “crisps.”

We are surprised and pleased to see Thums Up soda on the Carrefour shelves. (Apologies for the blurry picture, but I am trying to take pictures on the sly.)

It is always interesting to see what two products are taped together to form a special deal. Here two bottles of water are taped to a six pack of soda pop. In the freezer section, there was a small tub of mango ice cream taped to a huge tub of vanilla ice cream.

The variety of pet treats is interesting. Hamsters, exotic birds, canaries, parrots, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rabbits, and cockatiels. No cheetah chews or tiger bites though. I was tempted to get rabbit treats to see if Oliver, our vegetable eating cat, would like them. Bert is the one we have trouble finding treats for.

And for your reptiles – mixed carnivore. Does this mean bits of carnivorous animals? Tiger bites? Chewy cheetahs?

I remember the good old days when the bagger used to put more than one item in each bag. I need to be more disciplined about taking canvas bags, but that always throws the bagger into confusion. What to do?!?!?! It doesn’t keep them from putting one item in each bag, however. (Yes, that is Oliver sniffing around the bags. He’s trying to find the curry leaves, one of the many things he loves to eat.)

Posted in food, Fujairah, Shopping | Tagged food, Fujairah, grocery store, shopping, signs | 1 Comment »

Back to School in Style

August 20, 2012

Posted by Kanga.

There are always plenty of blank books available in stationary and discount stores. With school starting soon, there are now large piles of them near the front of the store. I always peruse the covers, because they often provide amusement.

These three caught our eye last night.

“Thus I became a madman.
And I have found both freedom and safety in my madness;
the freedom of loneliness and the safety from being understood,
for those who understand us enslave something in us.
But let me not be too proud of my safety.
Even a Thief in a jail is safe from another thief.”

“I saw a bee today, 1st time in years.
She was very tall and outgoing.
Looked like a young queen.
Seemed confused by flower tattoos.
Then left without saying goodbye.”

Same ol’ same o, I guess.

Posted in books, Fujairah, Shopping | Tagged blank books, random poetry | 1 Comment »

Discount Store Expedition

August 4, 2012

Posted by Kanga.

We ventured out for an evening of discount store shopping. It is always an adventure.

Melmac, anyone?

The coffee mug aisle.

The glassware aisle.

Facial tissues, anyone?

How could you not want a ladybug or spotted cow broom?

Or a dolphin shaped toy sewing machine?

This one takes a little explanation (picture too fuzzy). It is a tiger with a lamb on it’s back. The lamb has a cat mask or hat on it’s head. In front of the tiger is a mouse who also has a cat mask or hat on it’s head. And, yet, we did not purchase this toy.

From the candy section, the appetizing “Milko Lacto.”

But, of course, the big attraction of the evening was DaddyBird, whose beard gets the attention of everyone working or shopping in the store.

Posted in Fujairah, oddities, Shopping | Tagged beard, Fujairah, shopping, United Arab Emirates, weird toys | 4 Comments »

UPDATED: How to be a Happy Boy

July 28, 2012

Posted by Kanga. (With input by DaddyBird below.)

One evening we were exploring the bookstores of Fujairah. Bookstores do have a few books, but they are mostly stationary supplies. Some of the stock looks as if it has been on the shelf for 30-40 years. It can be an amazing adventure.

In one of the stores we saw this poster. It was tacked up above the shelving where educational posters were stored. We searched through the shelves for a copy to purchase, but did not find one. We went away, disappointed. But, the next time we were in the store, DaddyBird asked the storekeeper for one. He looked and was unsuccessful, as we had been. DaddyBird then asked if we could buy this one. It took a little convincing because the storekeeper couldn’t fathom that we would want it. In the end he gave it to us for free, because it was old and dusty. Who knows how long it had been tacked up there. We would have gladly paid, but accepted his offer.

A happy boy:

Love his father and respect him
Love and help his mother
Help the poor people
Love his friends and help them
Love his brothers and sisters and respect them
Cut his nails
Visit the sick in hospital
Brush his teeth morning and evening
Help the old people

I’m glad that fingernail hygiene rates up there with respecting people and visiting the sick.

DADDYBIRD’S INPUT: In addition to the poster being old and dusty, the storekeeper didn’t want to sell it to us because it was damaged. He said it had been cut down so it was small enough that it could be displayed within one of the panes of the front window of the store- the “Happy Boy” title had originally been at the top of the poster, but was cut out during the process and glued in its current position- and it was naturally faded and sun-damaged from having been in the window for some time. I’m glad that he relented and gave it to us when we convinced him that we really did like it and want it, but I certainly wasn’t expecting to get it for free! (We did buy a number of other items while we were there, including another similar educational poster that had not been modified. We’ll post a photo of that one soon as well.)
It’s a delightful poster to me. It reminds me very much of the the sorts of posters I used at times in the past when I was teaching Christian Sunday School in America, even though this particular poster is aimed at an Islamic and Arab audience. Despite the differing contexts, the message is much the same. So I like the poster on its own merits of wise content and endearing presentation, but also for the bit of nostalgia it invokes for me.

Posted in culture, Fujairah, Shopping, signs | Tagged Arabic, good boy, instructional, poster | 1 Comment »