One of my biggest bug bears about living here so far is the fact that you can't recycle. Everytime I throw paper, glass or plastic in the bin I feel incredibly guilty but there's really nothing I can do. There are no recycling facilities here. End of story. You would think that in a place where car is king that carbon neutral would be the way to go, but no. Green is not Dubai's favourite colour (unless it's on a nice plush lawn that gets watered everyday). Everytime you go to the supermarket the assistant wants to bag everything seperately. It drives me nuts! They bag everything before I've even had a chance to pull out my nice canvas bags.
So when we return home I will be making sure that the Patel family recycles everything!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Our first week
If someone asked me how I was feeling right now, I'd say pretty awful to be honest. I'm really homesick, Amelie is very unsettled and our serviced apartment isn't in the greatest of areas. I know that in a months time I'll look back at this blog and think "what was the problem? Its great here" but right now all I want to do is put on a scarf and coat, watch some decent TV and go for a walk round a park!
The only walking I've done so far is around the Mall of Emirates, a gargantuan shopping mall close to where we are staying. Dubai is Mall city and people visit them to shop, eat and play. Personally I hate shopping malls. Always have done. There's something about the lighting, piped music and strange climate that I can't stand. But alas, there's no getting away from there. Because its so hot for most of the year, shopping malls become the place to be.
I have to say I do wonder why people come here on holiday. I guess if you like the heat, beaches and shopping then its perfect. Myself? I prefer culture and a colder climate! Anyway, our first week has almost ended and we move into our new apartment (close to the beach) tomorrow. All our white goods were meant to arrive yesterday but our cooker and microwave are missing. Apparently its normal for deliveries not to turn up on the specified day. Just another thing to get used to I guess...
It seems that everyone in Dubai has some 'help' whether it be a maid (we have a maids room in our new apartment, its tiny, has its back entrance, no air conditioning and a shower over the loo....), cleaner, nanny, gardener etc. Now don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with hiring help where needed - we may even get a cleaner ourselves once or twice a month) but I do have a big problem with people treating help like something they've trodden in. Today I went for a walk round, yes you've guessed it, a shopping mall and I was shocked by the way people (mostly women of all nationalities) were talking to their nannies. They swan about holding a few designer shopping bags while their nanny pushes the pram. Barking orders and making them call lifts, open doors for them etc seems to be the norm here. I think one of the reasons why is that help is very cheap here and people who wouldn't be able to afford it at home suddenly have a plethora of helpers ready to jump at their every command. It really is appalling and its something I will never get used to. I might even start handing them all socks (if you've read the Harry Potter books and remember Dobby you will understand!).
The only walking I've done so far is around the Mall of Emirates, a gargantuan shopping mall close to where we are staying. Dubai is Mall city and people visit them to shop, eat and play. Personally I hate shopping malls. Always have done. There's something about the lighting, piped music and strange climate that I can't stand. But alas, there's no getting away from there. Because its so hot for most of the year, shopping malls become the place to be.
I have to say I do wonder why people come here on holiday. I guess if you like the heat, beaches and shopping then its perfect. Myself? I prefer culture and a colder climate! Anyway, our first week has almost ended and we move into our new apartment (close to the beach) tomorrow. All our white goods were meant to arrive yesterday but our cooker and microwave are missing. Apparently its normal for deliveries not to turn up on the specified day. Just another thing to get used to I guess...
It seems that everyone in Dubai has some 'help' whether it be a maid (we have a maids room in our new apartment, its tiny, has its back entrance, no air conditioning and a shower over the loo....), cleaner, nanny, gardener etc. Now don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with hiring help where needed - we may even get a cleaner ourselves once or twice a month) but I do have a big problem with people treating help like something they've trodden in. Today I went for a walk round, yes you've guessed it, a shopping mall and I was shocked by the way people (mostly women of all nationalities) were talking to their nannies. They swan about holding a few designer shopping bags while their nanny pushes the pram. Barking orders and making them call lifts, open doors for them etc seems to be the norm here. I think one of the reasons why is that help is very cheap here and people who wouldn't be able to afford it at home suddenly have a plethora of helpers ready to jump at their every command. It really is appalling and its something I will never get used to. I might even start handing them all socks (if you've read the Harry Potter books and remember Dobby you will understand!).
One good thing about the malls is there's great people watching. Today I sat in Paul (yes, just about every UK brand is here) nursing a cappuccino and just watched the WAGS go by. I'm not sure how many of them were actually WAGS but if they weren't fully fledged then they were WAGS in waiting! Designer bags, perma tans and gel nails galore! I'm hoping to bump into a real WAG soon so I can vouch for the fact that money will never buy you style!
Every time I write a blog I aim to think of a word that really sums this place up. I have two for this blog: hot and ostentatious!
Toodle pip x
Ostentatious
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Its hot!
We arrived on Thursday and as soon as you step out of the airport, it hits you. Its hot. Really, really hot. I'm talking high 20s at night and 30s during the day. Anyone who is envious of the fact that we are getting winter sun would not be quite so green-eyed if they were here. Its even worse with a baby as you are so conscious of dehydration, particuarly when your 10 month old doesn't really like water. At the moment we're staying inland near one of the big malls (more on those later) and after 11am its really too hot to be outside. The mall is a 5 min walk away but there is no shade so by the time you reach the mall you're thirsty and, well, hot. I'm told that after April you can't really go out (unless in the shade) at all as temperatures reach 45 degrees plus. I guess this place was once desert so its not surprising really! Car really is king here and people drive with their air conditioning on, step out and enter an air conditioned building. You know that saying? Only mad dogs and english men go out in the midday sun? Its certainly true here! We will be moving close to the beach at the end of the week and I'm told there's a lot more shade there too. Hurrah.
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