As you know, Richard officially works in Abu Dhabi, so hitching a ride is no problem for me. This trip we got a look at two very different events – on the same weekend.
We are not really Formula 1 racing fans, so we have never looked into getting tickets for the race. That being said, this is clearly a big event in the city of Abu Dhabi. The race takes place on Yaz Island (remember that the city of Abu Dhabi is a series of natural and man-made islands connected by bridges). The track runs around a large hotel where they sell special viewing packages – if you decide you don’t want to sit in the stands.
The Galleria, the mall right next to Richard’s office building on Al Maryah Island, took this opportunity set out a display of “super cars” – as Formula 1 cars can’t be driven on the highways. J It was impressive to see these cars as we’re not likely to frequent any showroom that sells them. Richard didn’t even know that they actually make Bugattis any more. The cars are cordoned off with most having a security guy next to them, just in case people decide they want a really close look. Another display was of carpets based on designs of a Middle Eastern designer, Norma Kamali. The queen of the UAE has taken an interest in a project of having the designs transferred to carpet designs that are made by a women’s cooperative in Afghanistan.
The other event was the premier concert of “Ibn Battuta, Traveler of Islam” composed and performed by Jordi Savall, a Catalan composer and musician (viola de gamba), best known for performing and arranging music written prior to the 12th Century.
Ibn Battuta was an Arab writer and explorer who travelled more than 120,000 km over a period of 29 years. The music is to represent the countries he visited on his travels. This piece is the first part of the composition – the second part is to debut next year. It consisted of seven sections played with “traditional” instruments with singers from Turkey, Syria, Greece, France and Morocco singing in Arabic with narration in both English and Arabic. Savall himself, while clearly the conductor, kept a low profile with the other instruments and voices playing a larger role in the composition. While most of the music sounded like music from the region, it also had sections that sounded like the “cante ondo” of the gypsies of the Iberian Peninsula and oddly, Andean music due to the long flute that sounded like a quena.
The concert took place in the theatre of the Emirates Palace Hotel. We had heard that this hotel was first constructed as a palace for the ruler of the UAE, whose palace is on the property next to the hotel, but apparently it was built as a luxury hotel, but designed by someone who has designed palaces in the region. It has 302 rooms and 92 one to three bedroom suites. We did spot a “first” for us – there was a vending machine that dispenses (providing you have your credit card) gold ingot-shaped pendants with different souvenir designs of the hotel and/or the UAE. The prices averaged around +/-1000Dh or around +/-$272.
Because of timing we decided to have dinner at the hotel and tried “Emirati” food at the Mezlai restaurant. The main course we chose was grilled seafood, but the appetizers were probably more “typical” as they were foods that were clearly designed to stick to one’s ribs – kind of different dip type things – the consistency of hummus – with bread.
In the “because you asked” category –
Grocery shopping is rather easy – I go to a “Spinneys” grocery store for most of my groceries. It’s a couple of buildings down the marina from our building. I walk – outside or inside – depending on how hot it is. I can always use the exercise and carrying groceries for two a couple of times a week is no real problem. I’ve been known to stop by the Starbuck’s on the way back. (I think I was asked about the prices at Starbuck’s here – my regular order of “iced grande Americano” goes for 14Dh, about $3.81)
Because the tap water comes to us via the desalination plant, we use bottled water for drinking. There is a convenience store that is closer to our apartment, so I generally go there to pick up the water. They deliver, but would end up tipping the guy a lot considering the price (6-pack of 1.5 litres is 8.5 dh – about $2.31), again, it’s not far and exercise is a good thing.
There is also a small grocery store across the street where we get a few items from time to time, usually because it’s faster to get back from the metro if we cut through this store – which is really important in the heat of the summer. It’s kind of the Dean and Delucca idea – really upscale and expensive- thus we don’t do regular shopping there.
Other larger grocery stores are here too, but not in my neighbourhood/close walking distance – Carrefour, Marks and Spencer, Waitrose, Geant, etc. When we are in Abu Dhabi, there is a co-op grocery store in the Abu Dhabi Mall where I shop. Most US and British brands are available. A lot of the food, including fresh food is imported, so it tends to be expensive. Eating out is of course costs more, but proportionally to the cost in either Belgium or the US, I think it’s not as expensive.
While most of the fruits and vegetables are familiar, there are things like rambutan, fresh almonds and the wide variety of dates (who knew there are more than 100?) that let you know you’re in another part of the world. That garlic is only sold in bags of 10 and the cooking oil selection is probably the biggest variety of any section with possibly the exception being the selection of juices, lets me know that there is something about the local cooking that I’ve missed. Due to the large population from the Philippines and the sub-continent, plus Emirati cooking, I’m sure the markets in other areas of town look very different. We haven’t visited the outdoor markets (near the Dubai Creek), that have a different clientele and so what is sold will no doubt reflect this.
We’re off to Jordan next week. I have a FAWCO Conference and Richard’s office manager informed him that no one gets to carry over more than a week of vacation days to the next year, so he’s being “forced” to take time off. We’ve been before several years ago, but it is a very interesting place, so we’re looking forward to the return visit.
Judy and Richard - 1001 Arabian Nights 