Our Virtual Christmas Card!

Merry Christmas from the Hot Desert Sands!

With the "overseas" issue we didn't mail our usual quantity of Christmas cards.  So here are Christmas wishes to all of you and yours from us, just think of it as our "virtual" Christmas card!  This is the exact picture we put on a brown and white card with the above greeting!  I will spare you all the yearly Christmas letter because if you're here on the blog than you pretty much know it all!  May this Christmas season be a blessing to each of you and your families and Happy New Year!!!!

Christmas Finally Arrived

We go almost the entire month of December and when do you think the malls broke out the Christmas decorations?  Dec. 20th!  Yep, that's when three of the big malls set up all sorts of elaborate decorations.  Above is Al Wahada Mall. In a month where I wasn't really seeing Christmas all about me, I got a nice taste of it the few days before!

Friday, the 19th we had our Christmas service at Evangelical Community Church (ECC) and it was really nice.  We had great music and Pastor Cam shared a great message to make us all really think about the heart of Christmas.  

Saturday and Sunday, the 20th & 21st I stopped at two different malls and saw the first really "public" Christmas decorations that weren't selling something!

Monday, the 22nd four other ladies and myself gathered at one of the ladies homes and watched Elf while we ate pizza, snacks, and brownies with ice cream!

Tuesday, the 23rd I got not one but two "Merry Christmas" greetings from store clerks!  The first (and second) time that has happened this season!

Wednesday, the 24th we attended two different Christmas Eve gatherings with friends that were so nice and homey!

Thursday, Christmas Day I spent an hour working with "my little angel" and was able to give him his first (with dad's permission to not offend) Christmas gift!  He kept debating with me over the issue of it being Christmas or not!  I stopped at two grocery stores on my way home and they were playing Christmas music!  And so was the expat radio station as I was driving about.  Barry came home early from work (like 3pm) and we chilled out as I wrapped a few gifts.  We stopped by friends with small children and gave the kids gifts, that was fun.  Then we went to another friends house for a Christmas cookout!  It was a "lowcountry" boil with shrimp, corn on the cob, and new potatoes, along with salad and garlic bread, dinner was awesome!!!!  We played the sneaky Santa gift exchange where you "steal" and overall had a nice evening!  Then it was home to make phone calls to family and friends!  We only got through to one and left messages for everyone else!  Oh well, that was the only bummer of the day!

Friday, the 26th we had another wonderful church service and gathered at the malls food court to eat with a ton of other families.  That we love doing most Fridays after church.  And then we went to a different mall to see a movie and do a bit of shopping.  No crazy day after Christmas sales and returns!!!  That was nice!

It was certainly a different Holiday season than one at home but I enjoyed it for reasons of it's own.  Christmas to me is celebrating Christ's birth and that's what Barry and I did!  Abu Dhabi style!

No Empty Manger

I saw mangers today, just like the ones you see in so many stores at home, all wood and covered in straw.  I asked the sales clerk where the figures that go inside where and he said; "We don't have those Madam."  No Nativity figures or even the full Nativity glued into the manger, just empty mangers.

It's ten days before Christmas and here in Abu Dhabi it doesn't always feel like that everywhere you go.  There are Christmas decorations in the major hotels, especially those catering to expats.  But other then the hotels, and some one's home, and stores selling Christmas items you don't see a lot of them.  The streets and buildings still have plenty of lights on them but they are still up celebrating the beginning of the 37th year of the U.A.E.  The big celebration began on December 2nd, National Day.  

Yes, Christmas items starting showing up in the larger stores like Ikea, Lulu's, and Carrafour the day after Halloween.  Other stores, although not many, began to follow suit quickly in early November with Holiday decor, much of it quite outlandish and very commercial.  From artificial trees of absolutely any color you can imagine to wrapping paper and Christmas cards, it's all here for purchase.  Santa's abound in every form of decoration available!  What I have not seen much of are decorations that point to the origin of Christmas.  It's not like I'm surprised to see no angels, wisemen, nativities, etc.  After all, we do live in a Muslim country.  I did see Christmas cards in Hallmark that have scripture on them and pictures of either the Nativity and the Christ child.   I am quite thankful that faiths others than Islam are permitted to observe their beliefs and that Churches of many denominations are not only allowed but are growing everyday here in the United Arab Emirates.  

I can only speak for myself, and I do know for me, Christmas has a very special meaning.  It's about celebrating the birth of Christ, the Son of God.  In the Muslim faith they recognize Jesus as a great Prophet but do not recognize him as God's son.  So do Muslim's celebrate Christmas?  I can't answer that because I don't really know.  Where many probably don't, I wouldn't be surprised if some do.  Christmas is such an old tradition in so many parts of the world and celebrated so differently from one to the next and doesn't have the same meaning to everyone.

  

What is missing for me this Christmas is so many of the "American Traditions" that I am used to.  Like Christmas cards arriving in the mail everyday.  Seeing Christmas lights turn on at the 

blink of dusk.  Yards decorated from the simple to looking like Santa threw up on them!  Attending cookie swaps.  So many Christmas parties that they overfill the calendar and especially Children's Christmas programs.  Christmas Eve candlelight services.  Hearing Christmas music playing in every store you walk in.  Bells ringing at the Salvation Army stands, and Santa Claus at every mall.  I haven't seen a Santa yet but I have been told they are at some of the hotels and are skinny men from India with white pancake makeup on.  Honestly, I could easily live without ever seeing one.

What I'm not missing this Christmas is the reason, the meaning for me.  And where there might not be many visual reminders that we are celebrating the birth of Christ, there is the reminder in my heart.  Every time I look at my hot pink Christmas tree or walk in a store and see            an empty manger.  I know the manger that Christmas morning over two thousand years ago was not empty.  That Christ my King was born that morn, in a stable because there was no room in the inn.  And for me and my heart, there is plenty of room.  I hope this Christmas Season if you find yourself overwhelmed in "Christmas" activities that you find a moment to reflect on that baby that slept in that manger so many Christmas mornings ago in Bethlehem.

A Day at the Park

Abu Dhabi is full of parks, there are 20 large and maintained ones, along with countless small ones many of those bordering mosques.  The parks are part of a commitment from the ruling family to green the city.  They are beautiful and I love seeing them everyday.  At least once a week I take "my little angel" (the boy I tutor) to one.  Sometimes we meet ladies from my small group at church and their friends and children.  I love going alone and just taking in all the sights.

  What is really great about the parks is how much people use them.  Other than the three months each summer of unbearable heat they are used on a daily basis.  And on weekends, holidays, and evenings the crowds come out.  It reminds me of central Park in New York City, with the exception of the smoke from all the charcoal grills!  They don't pack the typical cold food in a picnic basket.  They come with bags and bags of food, folding chairs, folding tables, and make feasts in the park.  And they stay for hours and hours and sit in circles and chat while the children run about (often with their Filipino nanny) on all the wonderful play equipment.  

This is Khaladia Park, one of the family parks.  Barry and I went on Tuesday, Dec. 10th with our folding chairs, a big blanket, a couple of books, and our sketch books to enjoy a beautiful day.  We had mid 70's with sunshine and no clouds!  I think we ended up staying four or five hours.

Several families were cooking with their grills all at the same time.  It smelled yummy!

On weekends and Holidays many of the parks have huge inflatable slides, mazes, and etc. for entertainment.  All of the family parks have many play structures all through out, with lots of trees for shade.

It is so nice to see how many people really use the parks!  This was one Of the Eid days but it was no exception.  This is pretty much what the park looks like on any given evening or weekend.

This really made barry and I laugh.  They are huge mechanical animals that give children rides along with making noise!  They had a panda, elephant, tiger, along with a few others.

Here's a little one going for a tiger ride!!  

We could easily here the roaring from where we were sitting.

On weekends and Holidays there are horse and carriage rides during the cool season.  They had two horses that were taking turns with the carriage.  At one point when we were at the park the tethered horse got away and ran through the park.  It was very amusing to see all these little children freeze in their tracks and start pointing at laughing at the runaway mare.  After about ten minutes and arousing everyones attention the horse was finally tied back up again.   It was a really enjoyable way to spend the day!

The Hydra Open Air Cinema at the Emirates Palace

The Hydra Open Air Cinema is in the UAE for the first time this year.  Swiss Open Air has been doing outside cinema events all around the world for twenty years but this year they have partnered with Hydra Properties to host a huge 12 day event to correlate with all the National Day and Eid celebrations.  It was in Dubai at he end of November and then came to Abu Dhabi from Dec. 1st through the 12th.  On a 4,000 square foot screen with a 32 surround sound speaker system it turns any movie into quite the event!  It opened with James Bond and has all sorts of choices from family flicks, Bollywood, to the world premiere of 'The Day the Earth Stood Still".  We saw "Bolt" on Dec. 5th, quite cute although I thought the hamster stole the show!  And Barry went with a few guys on the 7th and saw "Gingus Khan", I passed on that one.

The tent to the right is the entrance area to the Open Air Cinema, held on the grounds of the Emirates Palace Hotel.

Walking around to the entrance.

We watched this Helicopter take off after several Sheikhs piled in while we were walking the grounds waiting for the cinema entrance to open.

A view back towards the Emirates Palace from inside the grounds of the Cinema.  You can see where the word 'Hydra" is how the screen was folded completely down.  When the sunset because it was family night we were surprised with a ten minute firework show.  Who would have thought there were any left in the country after National Day!  Then the laser show began as the screen folded upward, it took about 5 minutes.  Way cool!

The beginning of the laser show, smoke machines and all!

The screen almost completely open!  And that's when the rechargeable batteries in my new camera went kaput!  Oh well!  I think you've got the idea.  And no cameras once the film began, so we sat back at enjoyed the show!!!!

The Emirates Palace

The Emirates Palace is Abu Dhabi's 7 Star Hotel, there are not many in the world that are graced with that rating.  It was built partially by the Government in 3 years at a cost of 3 billion dollars.  They also partially own it.  One nights stay will cost you anywhere from $600 to $7,800 US dollars, at that's only if you book far enough in advance.  It stretches 1 km from wing to wing and has over 1000 chandeliers.  There are 128 Kitchens and pantries and has a private drive and entrance for special guests, ie; Presidents, Secretary of States, Prime Ministers, Royalty, etc.  The marble used within it's walls came from 13 different countries.  And the facts go on and on.  If you don't want to stay the night and dinner at no less than $100.00 per person is too pricey you can go for afternoon coffee.  It is served with tea cakes and has 22 karot flakes of edible gold in it!!  It's only 100 dirham ($27.00)!  In fact, 5 kg of that edible gold is consumed by guests each year!

The good news for us and other residents of Abu Dhabi is they use the facility for many cultural events and concerts which are often affordable and some even free.  Recent concerts have been; Elton John, Bon Jovi, Alicia Keys, and George Michaels.  In August we visited for the free Picassco Exhibit, which was wonderful.  We've been to an Itar there and most recently to the Hydra Open Air Cinema.

The Palace on a hot August day.

I had to take a picture in the ladies room!  Look at the marble and gold plated faucets!

Look at the Hillbillies hanging out in one of the smaller lobbies!

It was at least 125 that day, we were truly melting the few minutes we were outside.

The water looked beautiful, but was actual hot to the touch!

One of the wings, west I believe.

It was a wonderfully cool night when we walked the grounds the night of the Hydra Open Air show.  We walked up the private drive and all around the back balconies without seeing a soul only to find out much later we weren't supposed to go that way!  Oops!

The fountains as you pull onto the property.

Overlooking the back of the property toward the west.

Looking the same way from a different position.

Overlooking the center of the property , those are little dinner huts!

Toward the east.

And all the way east toward the private beach.  If you want to see more they have a website at www.emiratespalace.com   

National Day and Eid Mubarak Decoratons and Festivities

All the decorating for the 37th National Day was quite the sight to see.  If you haven't read the previous blog it will give you many of the details of National Day.  Here's a few more pictures I just had to share.

We saw several cars that used the "balloon technique" for decorating.

This was the next morning.  A few cars parked outside a hotel near our home.

This was the day before National Day, it was the first picture I took of a decorated car.  At that point I had no idea what I would see in the next forty-eight hours!

I'm sure all the malls were decorated, this is the Al Whahda Mall.

I can't tell you just how many buildings were completely decked out.  Probably more had decorations on them then those that didn't.  You just can't always pull a camera out when you would like, especially if you're driving!

Another one of the many.

Khaladia Mall had many festivities during the week.  I happened to be there when they had this dancer with Arabic music.  He twirled fabric while he spun about.  It was very fascinating!

This is actually the skirt he had on in the picture above.  He took it off while he was spinning and then kept spinning it over his head!

He even moved into the crowds as he spun it!  It must have been popular music because many families wee singing and clapping along.  I really enjoyed getting to see it.

National Day - December, 2, 2008

We soon found out that National Day is quite the event here.  It is the day they celebrate the birth of their country, similar to the Fourth of July in the U.S. but way ramped up.  This year they celebrated Thirty Seven years of the United Arab Emirates.  They are not only a very young country but one of the wealthiest. with both contributing to quite the festivities.  It is officially a one day Holiday, with no one working, but the celebrations go on for an almost two week period.  The Muslim Calendar has two Eids a year on it.  But with the calendar based on the moon (avg. 360 days per year) all of their holidays and celebrations change dates each year.  

National Day is always December 2nd but this year Eid Mubarak is Dec. 8th, so with two holidays being so close everyone is celerating.  All the government agencies, and over here that is a large part of the white collar work force, are closed for almost two weeks.  That means the telephone company, the post office, etc.!  The schools close for two weeks in the first part of December, back in for a week , and then closed two more for Christmas.  Even though most Muslims don't officially celebrate Christmas half of the people who live here are from some place that does.  And definitely most of the teachers.  The main American school is closed the entire month of December!

There were Grand Prix motor boat races in the early part of the day but we didn't attend.  We waited for the later part of the day to join all the festivities.  We drove to a friends house around five and had a early dinner with them and then we all walked to the Corniche beach together.  There were stages with bands and entertainment set up at different points all along the Corniche (that's the walkway along the side of the island).  At the main Corniche beach they had a three hour air show, there were para gliders and para motors performing at different times, along with a laser show on Lulu Island (across the water) and at the Emirates Palace (where the Corniche ends by the breakwater).  The guys got in line for ice cream from Basking Robbins (it tastes the same here) while the girls and kids went out to the beach.  We happened upon a table right as a family was getting up!  It was great we had a beach front seat right on a little terrace.  The fireworks started at 8:30pm and made the Guinness Book of World Records for being the largest fireworks to this date.  I'm not sure what the criteria was to qualify but the show at two locations and lasted forty-five minutes.  It was quite spectacular.

With all the events taking place you would think that would be the main attraction.  Oh no!  That's what all the expats and Third Country Nationals were checking out, not the Emirates.  They spend the day quite creatively.  They decorate their cars and drive around honking their horns in an informal parade that goes up and down the Corniche road, all five lanes the entire length, probably a good three miles.  There were cars everywhere bummer to bummer revving their engines and honking.  People and children hanging out of cars, standing up through sunroofs, sitting on roofs and hoods, just driving, revving engines, and honking horns.  It was crazy!  Words can't really describe the event.  There were thousands and thousands of people just out, either participating or watching those that were.  We were so thankful we walked the six blocks or so, you couldn't get anywhere close to the Corniche without being in a traffic jam and I can't imagine the parking!

Our first peak at the Corniche road.

This picture is a bit dark, but the white SUV had been decorated by spray painting the flag colors (red, green, black, and white) all over it!

There were many cars with giant Teddy Bears strapped to the top, along with balloons, flags, streamers, etc.

Our first peak at the walkway along the Corniche with the laser show behind it.

A typical sight that night!

Thousands of cars, I wish you could hear the honking!

During the winter months or when it is windy the men often wrap their headscarf around their face.  It was a beautiful evening for us in the low 70's, but for those from this part of the globe that is cold.  I laugh at all the children in their puffy winter coats!

The laser show on the beach.  The para gliders and para motors didn't photograph well at night.  There was one set that had fireworks trail out from their engines!

The fireworks were quite the spectacular event.

The red glow to the bottom left of the picture is the Emirates Palace all lit up in the National colors.  After about thirty minutes the sky was filling with smoke!

The went on........

and on.......

It was quite the event and we were very happy we ventured out for it.  Words can quite describe..... the sounds of people, cars, fireworks, etc., the smells of smoke from the fireworks and hot engines even on a cool night, and the sights all about.  It really was a feast for the senses!   We walked back in the masses to our car and were happy we were away from the traffic!  The next day I talked to some people who live in apartments right on the Corniche and said that the honking went on all night long!!!