Abu Dhabi Day 6 of 7: The Grand Mosque

Another one I like, "alf", means thousand. Weather 32°C, sunny and hotter. Music: Karl Jenkins Sanctus, BBC7 recordings, a play and Round The Horne. Photos here on FB. Today I plan to visit the Grand Mosque. Tip: no.

To conclude from last night. I left the Corniche and walked back past the Sheraton Hotel, an easy landmark to find as the many hotels here are all very tall. Crossed the road at green, I love the way there is a count down from 30 - 1, and then wait at the next red, which also has a count down. Jay walking here is frowned upon but I follow two ladies across on red. In fact, I haven't seen a single policeman since I arrived. Try to hail a taxi, as it's a 3.5km walk, but of course I still think I'm at home so I'm on the wrong side of the dual carraigeway. I amused the driver when I arrived at the airport by insisting on sitting in the front seat and trying to get in on the driver's side! He asked "you want to drive?". 

Pick one up outside the hotel, he's from Pakistan, for the ride back. The traffic outside the Al Wada mall next to the hotel is a nightmare. I've only visited the mall during the afternoon when it is very quiet but now that work is over it is very, very busy. Impressed that they have valet parking, just like in the States. Arrive at the hotel, skype home and bed.

I wonder if it takes every one else as long as it does me to write a blog or is it just that I'm a little OCD and have to have proper speling and punctuation! Makes a change, fishing for comments not compliments..

Sleep until 3.30am, better than usual. After yesterday's visit to the beach I debate whether I could live here. Plus points include lovely food, friendly people, warm weather, no income tax or VAT (save £4000 on a £24,000 car) and petrol at 1.7 dirham per litre, that's about 29 pence! No wonder they all drive giant SUVs; the cost is half that at home and anyway, you (well, boys not yet grown up) need one for the sand dunes apparently.

However, there is a down side. Yesterday at the beach, a resident explained that there are no real seasons here and it's "not nice" in the summer (Apr - Sep) when temperatures can reach 52°C!! In that heat you drip sweat, can't hold the steering wheel of a car and a CD on the dash would melt! They cope here by utilising air conditioning and moving quickly from one AC environment to another. The best way is to have a remote which starts the car, and it's AC, from the comfort of home, more AC. You then hurry out to the car, when it has cooled, and then from the car to your AC cooled destination. Clever.

The guy I talked to teaches school leavers maths and computing at one of the many universities here. His other jolly story was about when it rains. One of my delegates, Nawat, said it never rains although they can make their own. The guy tells me that last year it did rain on 7 non-consecutive days and that when it does it's such a novelty that his students insist on standing outside in the rain with arms outstretched. They then come inside and shake like a shaggy dog.

I find a job I might do out here but the salary is only 18,000 - 20,000 dirhams a month plus flights. Now, that might sound like a lot but 20,000 dirhams at 16p is only £3,200 which gives only £38,400 per year. This is about the going rate for a permanent post in the UK so you only save on the tax. I'm beginning to think that visits like my current one are the best way to see Abu Dhabi and the UAE. I can arrange to come out when it's cool and as a freelance would earn a rate far higher than that.

It's 4.44am here so back to bed for sleep (I'm hopeful) or some TV, Come dine With Me? More blog later.

No, can't sleep and no Come Dine With Me, so I update this blog, shower and breakfast.