New Country, New Adventures - Part 2

Assalamu'alaikum everyone!

I stopped posting for awhile because of this final thesis I needed to do for my master's.  Alhamdulillah, it's over and now I'm just waiting for the results (make du'a for me!).  I'm falling behind with all the amazing things we're doing and my posting.  Here are pictures from a few weeks ago.  Enjoy!

Dubai Metro




Dubai Metro Station


I had to post on the Dubai Metro because the way they've built the stations reminds me of the Jetsons.  As a New Yorker, public transportation is something we tend to talk a lot of trash about, but definitely do not appreciate enough.  I first learned that when we traveled through the rest of America and realized there's nothing like NY's subway, railroads, etc.  Alhamdulillah, Dubai has a metro that runs along the one major highway, Shaikh Zayed Road.  Most of the major development is along this road and it pretty much is Dubai.  The metro is incredibly cheap, one ride to the furthest end is a dollar and change.  They have a max that the metro can charge you per day.  So if you reach this max (which is cheap), you can ride limitlessly all day without paying.  I love it.  Of course there are drawbacks such as speed, not always very convenient, etc., but Alhamdulillah you appreciate what you can get.  It's better than nothing!

Dubai Malls

Dubai has tons of malls and they are the place to go around here.  I'm not a big mall person and I really don't understand the point of walking around a mall for fun if you aren't going to shop.  I don't like window shopping because it makes me want things that either I can't afford or I don't need.  I will only go to the mall whhen I need something.  Here...it's very common to go to the mall on a weekly basis just to hang out and walk around.  The malls are beautiful and they have many high-end designer stores...but still not my cup of tea.  When I first got here, I was so impressed with the architecture and beautiful details that I was taking snapshots...until I realized I'm going to be living here and seeing this everyday.  So...here's a few of my quick shots.

Section of the Dubai Mall.



Aquarium in the Dubai Mall.

Mercato (an Italian-themed mall).

Ceiling of Khan Murjan Souk (traditional arts/crafts souk underground in the Wafi Mall)



Close up of the ceiling.



Light show at the Wafi Mall (an Egyptian themed mall).



China Section of Ibn Battuta Mall (sections of the mall represent different regions of the world).

Dubai Beaches

I have only been to two of the beaches in Dubai.  Unfortunately, the set up of the beaches is the same back in the states...absolutely inappropriate for Muslims.  It really sucks because back home we could only enjoy going to the beach either incredibly early in the morning (before anyone got there) or around maghrib time (when everyone is leaving).  We were hoping it would be a little different here (not really sure what we were expecting)...but def. not absolute nakedness.  In fact, we were just in a cab driving by one of the beaches and saw an absolutely naked guy standing on the side of the street next to the beach.  I'm pretty sure he could get locked up for that...but wth!  Anyways, one of the days we went was really for the restaurant located on the beach...and it was way too cold for anyone to be in the water.  The other time we went was at night and I don't have any pictures of that.  We live right across the street from a marina/beach...but it's for the hotels only.  The public beach is about a 30 minute beautiful walk along the marina from us. 

Beach by the restaurant.

Beautiful water of the gulf!

Bahrain

Assalamu'alaikum,

I'm in Bahrain now with my husband.  That picture is a photo I took from the balcony of our Ritz Carlton Hotel Apartment courtesy of his company.  It's a beautiful hotel and a country with picture-perfect aqua colored water.  We took a stroll along an unofficial beach and it was beautiful, but there were rocks as you got closer to the gulf and we weren't able to get our feet wet.  It's around 70 degrees here...so I'm sure the water is cold anyways.

I haven't really been able to see much.  What's kind of sad about these countries is that the main attractions are malls.  The malls have all the designer stores and American/European stores already know nothing new or special.  Yes...the malls are built to fit into the cosmopolitan lifestyle of these people...but really?  Where are the museums?  Where is the art?  It's really not much.

The only other cool thing that I really want to do is go dolphin/manatee watching.  It costs around $30/adult to go out on a boat.  I'm not sure if this is the season...but I'm hoping we'll be able to give the company a call this weekend.

I've been pretty much cooped up in the hotel room.  My husband had already warned me that during the week he wouldn't be able to take me out to see much.  He goes to work around 8 a.m. and doesn't come home until 9:30/10 p.m.  It's okay.  I try to keep myself busy during the day and I'm just happy I get to see him...even if it's just for a few hours, Alhamdulillah.  It's much better than being stuck at his aunt's house back in Dubai.

Aside from that, I didn't really do much today.  I went to meet him for lunch.  When I got there...he had already bought me a sandwich and told me he wouldn't be able to sit with me because he has a meeting.  So I went to the mall (of course!) located next door to his office building and ate by myself.  I was watching the Bahraini (at least that's what I think they were) women/girls.  I can't seem to understand their hijab style.  Today...I saw the weirdest one.  It looks like they have a beehive underneath their hijabs!  I'm not even joking.  I don't understand why they think it looks attractive.  I really found it quite amusing...though I wonder if they think I look funny.

The only other eventful thing to happen to me today was my husband's co-worker reaching the apartment early (my husband didn't warn me) and he almost walked in on me without my hijab.  Let me explain.  The hotel apartment we are staying in has three bedrooms.  Each bedroom is like a hotel room fully equipped with all the necessities and each with its own bathroom.  One of my husband's co-workers working on the same project as him here in Bahrain is a British guy named Ben.  He is staying in one of the other two bedrooms.  There is a common area in the hotel room.  The common area includes a full kitchen, a bar, a study area, living room, and dining area.  Today, I spent the entire day in front of my laptop and the TV. in the living room.  My husband is supposed to send me an e-mail warning me if Ben leaves work early and is going to beat him home so I can go into our room or make sure I have my hijab on.  Nonetheless, I decided whenever I would go into the common area even though no one is home...I'd just put my hijab around my neck to be on the safe side.  Alhamdulillah!  I heard the door unlocking and I quickly threw on my hijab.  Phewf!!  Alhamdulillah!  He made me so nervous.  Then he actually came over to me and was talking to me...telling me about the facilities.  It was very awkward.  I managed well, though, Alhamdulillah.

Now I'm back in our room with the door locked waiting for my hubby to come home and take me out.