Posted by Kanga.
The grocery store usually provides a surprise. This time it is apples from back home. Halfway around the world, here they are.
Fujairah Morning Sights
February 23, 2013Posted by Kanga.
While I was out early on Friday morning taking pictures of the sunrise, I took a few more of random sights. Starting with the new mosque which is either completed or near completion. There hasn’t been an opening ceremony, yet.
It has been interesting watching this building being built over the last year and a half.
The building on the far right is our apartment building. I suspect that we will hear the call to prayer loud and clear from there.
The mosque is a beautiful addition to the skyline.
The tree in the picture below is interesting and hardy.
You never know what you will see, including feral donkeys wondering around. The city is expanding and encroaching on their usual territory.
Sunrise in Fujairah
February 22, 2013Posted by Kanga.
I finally got my lazy butt out of bed early and headed down to the beach to watch the Sun rise. Sunrise was supposed to be at 6:44 am. I got up at 6:15 and was in the car by 6:28. I was a little distressed to see that the sky was already light, but then remembered that the Sun is on a dimmer switch, so to speak, because the atmosphere bends light. So, I drove (probably a little too fast) across town. By the time I parked and got positioned for this photo session, the sky looked like this.
The horizon was so hazy that I thought this was going to be disappointing. Certainly, it wouldn’t be as spectacular as the photo taken by our friend a few weeks ago. Maybe I would have to do this again on a clearer day.
Then the magic began.
With an impressive finish.
It was well worth the trouble, even with the haze. I can fully understand why humans once worshipped the Sun.
If you want to see all the pictures, they are here.
Al Basha Restaurant
February 20, 2013Posted by Kanga.
Well, once again, we have a new favorite restaurant. Al Basha Restaurant in the Fujairah Trade Centre Building.
We met with friends who live here in Fujairah for a belated birthday dinner, since they were not able to attend the one in Dubai. The food was lovely. Lamb chops, mixed grill (chicken tikka, kabab, arayes, etc.) green salad, and arugula salad.
We ordered a LOT of food, but between the five of us, we managed to eat most of it. I did save a little of the mixed grill for lunch the next day.
Once it was cleared away, we broke out our Guillotine card game and played two games. It was a blast.
A pleasant evening eating good food outdoors with good friends.
The Boat that Rocks Afternoon
February 10, 2013Posted by Kanga.
At the invitation of Rock Radio 90.7, we headed off to Jebel Ali for an afternoon on a boat.
The weather was perfect – sunny, as always, and a pleasant breeze.
DaddyBird dressed appropriately.
There were a variety of vessels out on water.
The posts in the distance are the unfinished bridge to the Jebel Ali Palm Island.
There’s no surf in the Gulf, so they do paddle boarding instead.
We got a few rounds of Guillotine card game in.
By the time the sun was reaching the horizon, our relaxing boat ride was over.
Sunset, Good Food, Good Friends
February 8, 2013Posted by Kanga.
Thursday is the end of our week and the beginning of the weekend. We headed into Dubai to meet friends for dinner. It just happened to be sunset time. The high winds at this time of year kick up the dust and make for a pretty spectacular red glow along the horizon.
The wispy clouds were beautiful, like angel wings.
We met good friends for dinner at the China Sea restaurant. We ordered too much food and managed to eat most of it.
I am deeply impressed by our friends. They are good hearted, caring people, not just fun company.
Passive Aggressive Cat
February 8, 2013Posted by Kanga.
Bert is generally a normal cat, but he has a few quirks. One is that he comes into the bedroom anytime from 3:30 to 5:30 a.m. to insist on getting under the bedcovers. It would be okay, if he just got under the covers, curled up and went to sleep. Instead he insists on being between DaddyBird and I, which means I have to roll over to make room for him. He then dilly dallies about getting under the covers and fusses about being positioned just right. He often goes in, curls up, waits a beat, and then exits just to turn around and want back in. Even if he does curl up quickly and settle in, then he wants to bite any hand or elbow that might be within reach. If he can’t bite, he’ll settle for kneading and clawing human flesh.
I’m skilled at sleeping, but cannot sleep through all of this. He manages to fuss around long enough to make sure I am completely awake and will not get back to sleep before the alarm goes off.
Thursday evening I had a little chat with Bert. I told him he was free to come in at any time and fuss around all he wanted about getting under the covers, because I was going to be able to go back to sleep no matter how long it took as this is the weekend.
Magically, Bert did not come at all. I’m sure he’ll be back around 3:30 am Sunday morning to ensure that I am sleep deprived for the beginning of my work week.
Building on Sand
February 1, 2013Posted by Kanga.
A clear illustration of that adage against building on sand.
Groceries, Always So Fun
January 29, 2013Posted by Kanga.
Apparently, this is sauce you can put on everything.
We had more grocery bags than we could carry in one trip, so DaddyBird went back down to the parking lot to get the rest. The cats sat patiently and watched for his return.
When DaddyBird did return, Oliver smelled something delicious and began to freak out. It was the celery.
Even Bert had to get in on the celery snacking.
Living the Travel Channel 