Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Don’t Show Them Leg! - How to get a cab in Abu Dhabi!

I spent two years of my life in the United Arab Emirates, in particular in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, which is also the capital city of the UAE. During my time there I realized that getting a taxi to and from was probably one of the most difficult things to do, besides actually getting your driver’s license, which involves essentially getting written permission from your employer.

Here in rural Canada, taxis are usually called by phone, or picked up outside a busy location. In the capital Emirate I would not suggest calling a cab company. If by chance you get someone on the phone that actually speaks English and not Punjabi, the difficult task of arranging a pick up place then commences. In Abu Dhabi there are no civic addresses so you need to pick a well known destination or area to meet your taxi driver. For example “I will meet you at the New Fatima Supermarket on Airport Road”. You then pray that your driver does not go to Old Fatima because you’re then walking about two kilometers to meet a very ticked off driver!

Often waving down a cab outside of your apartment is the way to pick up a ride, as long as you’re not doing this during the prayer times of the day. I have actually been in a cab and been half way to my destination, when the cabbie turned to me and said, “Prayer time…Get out of cab!” And I am there stranded in the middle of the Desert somewhere between my flat and the end of the Earth! So I know what you’re thinking, as long as you’re out on the side of the major street, and it is not prayer time, your golden! And I would say you’re right, your golden alright, or maybe more a shard of red more than golden… from the beating sun on your shoulders. Because remember it is 550 outside and you’re right in the middle of it all!   Take an umbrella with you while waiting for a cab outside, you will be thank full, especially if it takes an hour or two.  

When within range of a luxury hotel, which to be fair is pretty much everywhere in the Middle East, take advantage of your acting skills and walk inside. Not only will you enjoy yourself with the cool breeze of the air conditioning, but pretending as though you are a guest in the hotel can get you a free phone call to a luxury taxi company. But beware, luxury taxi companies come with a hefty price tag attached. Instead of paying that ten Durham (approximately three dollars) to get to the IKEA, be expected to pay at least twenty to twenty five (seven to ten dollars).

The most important tip I can give someone looking to see the up and coming city of Abu Dhabi from the window of a cab; do not think you are being clever by hiking up your pant leg to show a little leg. It is a Muslim country after all, and this behavior does not get you the attention you are looking for!     

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

The adventures of Bahrain

With all the political uproar in the Middle East, (which to be honest i don't understand), I have been reflecting on what I remember the Middle East to be.
The latest new is in Bahrain, the small island in the Gulf that not many people have heard about. I practically lived there in the summer of 2009 with the then BF, who worked for the national airline.
The two of us had a lot of time on our hand and got to do a lot of things on this small island. I loved Bahrain, (he did not, probably because I got to leave it all the time and he was stuck there).
I wanted to share a few photos from the country of Bahrain that I know, and not the one that is there now.