Room With A View

Today I was invited to a luncheon on top of the Royal Meridian Hotel in downtown Abu Dhabi.  It was a fabulous way of socializing with some new friends and to celebrate another's birthday.  The restaurant sits atop the 25th floor of the Royal Meridian Hotel and rotates ever so slowly.  The meal, company and views were outstanding!

There was live entertainment.  Somewhere Over the Rainbow and the theme from Chariots of Fire were two requests they played while we feasted on lobster, oysters, shrimp, pasta, chicken and beef.

The afternoon flew by as we shared our stories and goals for this upcoming year.  It was a great way to spend the afternoon and connect before we head off to our various assigned neighborhoods and schools throughout the emirates.

 

The Grand Mosque

Yesterday we had the pleasure of visiting one of the most magnificent buildings in the UAE. We toured the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque.  We arrived for the 10AM tour and as we got out of the car the heat and humidity hit us hard.  My camera lens fogged up and I couldn't get a decent shot of the exterior of the mosque.

 This is one of two mosques that is open to the public, however you must follow the protocol out of respect for this massive house of worship.  Women must cover themselves from head to toe, shoes must be removed before you enter and pictures of the Koran (holy book) are not permitted.

The mosque is home to the world's largest one piece carpet.  The carpet weighs 47 tons and took 1,200 weavers to create it.  There are 7 chandeliers and the largest one in the main prayer room is created with 1 million Swarovski crystals.  The white marble can be found throughout the mosque and is said to help keep the interior cool.  There are handcrafted flowers that adorn the walls and columns.  The flowers are all created by laying separate pieces of colored marble together.  The flowers are representative of the varieties of flowers found in each of the hemispheres.

Muslims are called to prayer five times a day and a clock on the wall in the main prayer room displays the pray times for that given day as it changes daily.  On Friday mornings the mosque is closed to tours and tourists as it is the holy day for Muslims and they attend prayer service.

The mosque is named after the founder of the UAE nation, Sheikh Zayed and is his resting place since his death in 2004.  The mosque took 10 years to design and another 10 to build.  It opened in 2007. It is truly an impressive site. 

Shopping, shopping and more shopping...

Today we borrowed a car and took a drive over to the IKEA store to shop for furniture and everything else you need to start a household.  We spent about 4 hours looking, measuring and pricing.  Our furniture allowance hasn't been credited yet, so it is still browsing only. Did spot a couch that I really love!

We left IKEA with a few essentials and drove over to the mall.  We had heard that Henna is something the women wear during Eid, which began yesterday.  We watched and learning about this art, and then we had a chance to participate.

When first applied the vegetable dye looks like melted chocolate.  We had the Henna applied to our hands.  Applying it to your feet is done when a woman is preparing to marry.  When the Henna dries you gently rub it off with a tissue, apply some oil and the result is an orange colored tattoo like design.  It should last a week or two.

Henna when first applied

Henna when dried 

Bus Tour Part II

We boarded the bus for the second part of our tourist adventure.  The sun was setting and we thought the temps would allow us sit up top and really view the magnificent structures that create this beautiful oasis.  WRONG! There was a breeze of warm air and a dusting of sand! But, we were determined to get some photo ops so we stayed outside for more than half the tour. We passed the Grand Mosque again just as the call to pray could be heard.  It was very moving considering it was the last day of Ramadan and the eve of Eid.  We saw the location for the Louvre Museum, which opens in 2015. We got off the bus at the Corniche, a beautiful waterfront spot that allows for running, walking or just hanging out.  With the temps lower (slightly) people seem to gather to get in their exercise or just spend some time outside.  Several public beaches can be found here along with small cafes, ice cream shops, coffee shops etc.  We had ice cream first, and then a bite to eat.  The sunshine was spectacular and it was a great way to end the day.  We walked for awhile and peered into the windows of the high rise apartment buildings that line the street.  Reminded me of Manhattan or Chicago.  Then we hailed a cab (Abu Dhabi style)and returned to our hotel.

Louvre opening 2015

Corniche at sunset

The Big Bus Tour

Today we decided to be tourists for a day.  We purchased tickets for the 2 1/2 hour bus tour of Abu Dhabi.  We left the Marina Mall aboard the open top-double decker bus.  At first we thought we would be brave enough to sit up top, but within 10 minutes the heat was to much for even the most seasoned sun goddess. We decided to rride the entire route this morning and then head back to some points of interest tonight when it is cooler and sun has gone down.  Ramadan is coming to an end,  and Eid begins on Sunday. Abu Dhabi has a very colorful history.  Once known for pearl diving and then a trading area the capital city is now a bustling city for both business and recreational businesses and events.  Sounds like a brochure, doesn't it?

Road Trip to Dubai

Our intentions were to take a trip to Al Ain to get a second look at our apartments and the area.  We took a cab to the airport to rent a car for this excursion.  It is difficult to rent a car when your residence visa is not yet available and you are not on a tourist visa.  Finally, it took a village, but we got a car! Off we went in what we thought was the right direction. The rental company only had maps for Abu Dhabi and Dubai.  Well, somehow we ended up in Dubai.  We spent several hours at the Dubai Mall.  We walked around and gasped at the variety of stores, the indoor ice rink, the two waterfalls and the aquarium.  Because Ramadan doesn't end until Saturday the food court and restaurants were closed.  We left after snapping several pictures of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.

Week One...

Well, it has been seven days since I arrived in Abu Dhabi.  After two very long flights I was greeted at the gate by a representative from the Abu Dhabi Education Council.  He gave me a lanyard to wear and took my carry on bag.  The two of us basically sprinted through the airport to the immigration office.  As you can imagine there was a line, but I was taken to a small office to the side where my visa and passport were stamped while I stood in silence watching.  The next stop was security were once again we cut the line and continued onto baggage claim.  A porter appeared at my side and reminded me that I had three bags. I nodded and it wasn't until a few minutes later I wondered "how did he know how many bags I had?" While waiting I did get a few glances from other travelers, I guess that white lanyard and my express status had peaked their curiousity. I loved the attention!

Our hotel is breathtaking.  Each of us has the accomodations fit for a king or queen.  There are several restaurants within the building as well as health club, spa, pool and beach.  We have arrived during Ramadan, the holiday which requires fasting during dawn to dusk.  We are asked to be respectful of this by not eating and drinking in public.  It takes some getting used to as the temps are in the 100s and going outside you naturally want to grab a bottle of water.

Our orientation was held in the ballroom of the hotel last Sunday, which is a workday over here.  We were welcomed and told of our housing assignments, banking options, payroll schedule, medical checks and the reps answered questions as best as they could.  The following day we had the day to relax as the first group took drive out to Al Ain to view their housing.  The stories we heard weren't pretty.  The A/C on the shuttle bus went out and that meant waiting in the heat to be transferred to another bus.  Several people were not pleased with their accomodations.  My group went the follwoing day and once the driver was able to locate my complex we all scattered like ants or an episode of Amazing Race.  My building (pictured above) is on the corner of 33rd and 34th Street.  I am on the second level. The day before this visit we went to the IKEA store here in Abu Dhabi to take a look at furnishings.  I will admit I was like a kid in a candy store. I was quickly spending our furniture allowance and frantically writing down style numbers etc. Well...good thing we didn't place any orders. My living room is very small and I don't think the couch I had my heart set on will fit the space.  It is a brand new building so I can't complain. There is a neighborhood coffee shop, dry cleaner and small cafe.  Lots of construction so who knows what the future holds for the area.
We get our school assignments on the 27th, school orientation is on the 3rd and school opens  on the 9th.  We have been encouraged to bring our administrator a gift of appreciation.  Chocolates or figs were the suggested gift.  Have to add that to the shopping list.
Yesterday we completed the medical portion of this process.  How can I put this expereince into words?  Imagine you've taken a ticket for the deli counter, directed to a waiting room with lines like the DMV and once you answer their questions you walk through a door where the lines resemble the return counter at Macy's after Christmas. Are you getting a clear picture? Enough said.

Today I am going to pick up my debit card for the bank account I opened during orientation. ADEC, the education council is supposed to deposit our furniture allowance into our accounts so we can start spending, but the rumors that have been circulating they say without a residency visa (being processed) you can't access the allowance. Visas can take up to 60 days to process.  They have suggested that we invest ina good air mattress!