So it's day 92 of the adventure and so I have done my 80 days in India!! Back in the Uk now. Visa arrives tomorrow.
India was some experience but boy I am relieved to have left. And that is certainly not to say don't go because if the opportunity is there you should, it's just that out of ever where I have been I have never had such a sensory and I think emotional overload both in a good and a bad way!
Flew to Dubai from India on the 25th to see Amy and that was lovely. As my reintegration present Amy booked us in to have our nails done and I discovered a colour called wicked! Having felt like my feet had been dirty for the last three months it was a perfect treat-not sure how the beautician felt about it!!!
I had warned Amy that I ever such ticklish feet but until she saw it for herself I don't think she believed me. Honesty its a good job there were not many people in the nail place!
We spent the day too at an amazing water park where you just have no dignity having to readjust your swim suit after ever ride. It's rather difficult to adjust discreetly because there are always people around in every direction. You float around in these big rubber hoops all day and there are rapids and huge slides. It was such good fun-thanks Amy. It was such a refreshing change from India.
Dubai is very opulent, clean and sunny. I could not stop looking at the Emirates in the mall in their traditional clothing of white robes for the men with red and white checked scarves and all black for the women. I do not know the correct terms for the clothes so please feel free to comment at the bottom. Its nice to get it right! Oh and it did tickle me to see a few in NY Yankee caps!!!
For me, it just seemed so weird that the locals and by that I mean the Emirates, were just sat in a certain chain of coffee shop drinking coffee. I have probably just got some stereotype in my head that they should be outside riding around on camels! I mean they are no different from us in terms of wanting to go shopping or to eat or go for coffee I guess but I have never been to the Middle East so this was a whole new visual experience a bit like the women on their saris in India.
I would like to get to know more about their culture but I think it is very hard. I was catting to Maria about it all, she lives there too, and I am not sure that the local people want to integrate with the ex-pats. I think no matter how much you would want to embrace the culture and learn I am not sure how easy it would be. I am not sure though that people go there to learn about the culture, maybe they just go for a nice lifestyle and that's okay I think if that's what you want to do.
Maria said she had been to learn Arabic which seems like a wicked idea to me if you are living in Dubai. I think she was kind of hoping to get a bit more involved but she said that its hard. Women have to seek their husband's permission to even do things like open a bank account and withdraw money.
Drinking is also an issue. You are allowed a licence but when you purchase alcohol it is also registered with your employer! There are big buffets that people go to on a Thursday night or Friday where you pay to eat and drink as much as you want. I am not sure but it sounds like for some it may well just be one huge piss up at an amazing hotel! I did not got to one so I cannot judge really but I guess if its the only time that people are allowed to drink then its bound to get a bit messy at time, good fun I hope too!
Being in Dubai although brief and in India really makes me think that we are so lucky to live where we do because whilst there are issues we're not segregated and I think most people are open to learning about others or sharing their culture with others. We have laws about health and safety too! Now that's probably a whole blogging issue in itself!
To some extent Dubai reminded me of India in terms of building relationships because it seems unless you are introduced to some one you don't really talk to anyone. Dad said he had also found this to be the case. Maybe its a trust thing that if you are not from that country, religion or background but are introduced to the new acquaintance by some one from the same country, religion or background there is an acceptance of you.
It just seems a shame to me because its hard to cross the barriers and that's what is needed, we need to understand each other and how different people live. I think it makes the world a better place but its interesting that some cultures do not appear to want to allow others to understand them.
I did have one gem moment in a shop in Dubai when a local lady came over to me, I could not really see her as she was completely covered in black except for her eyes and hands. She said the sandals I was trying on looked nice. I was really surprised that she spoke to me but actually quite chuffed. I would say she was in her twenties with the most amazing eyes and make up and rather well off judging by the Gucci handbag!
Then she asked me about my nail polish and what it was called and where I had had it done. Just for a moment I was thinking oh my gosh, see you can cross the barriers and it kind of reminded me that there are all these women in the world who do have connections. Okay so the connection here was shoes and nails and not some in depth discussion about culture or politics but it was a common ground and a connection. It made me think of the book club scene in Sex and the City 2 in Abu Dabi!!!
I wished I could have asked her to go for a cup of coffee or her email address. I have no idea if that would have been acceptable or not but it would have been amazing to have had the opportunity to maybe get to know her.
Okay that's blogging done for the day. Off to catch a train to Bournemouth now!
