My Highs & Lows of 2008

What’s good about a new year? To be honest, nothing is good about it given the extra effort needed at the time of speech delivery to make sure you don’t say next year to things which are suddenly going to happen in this year and the added mental effort of making sure you jot the correct digit when writing down the date. However, the new year, or end of an year can serve as a benchmark to have a look at the things and events that happened in the past year. Looking back myself, I can say with certainty that this year had events that will remain ingrained in my memories forever.

The beginning of year 2008 was a good time for me. I was done with my final semester exams looking at various options to shape my career. As soon as the year started I knew the next two-and-a-half months would be extremely busy. Being the sole driver in my family (with my dad in UAE), only son, and only brother of my dear sister it was me who had to make sure all her wedding arrangements were meticulously handled. I didn’t apply for jobs at that time, hoping to secure an admission in some MSc course. I also knew the next few days would be spent shopping with my mom. This wasn’t all that bad: shopping at Tariq Road with ladies around (more…)

Are You Willing To Help?

This happened on my Etihad Airways flight to Abu Dhabi and the airhostess mentioned below was Australian (arghh!! that accent takes a while to understand!).

Airhostess: Sir, are you willing to help your fellow passengers in case of an emergency?

Me: I hope there is no emergency

Air hostess: Not at all sir, but in case…

Me: Ofcourse, but why am I the only person being asked this?

Air hostess: Sir, you’re seated next to the emergency exit and your co-operation may be needed in case of an emergency.

Me: *looks to his right and realized why the seat felt extra spacious*

Me: Well, okay

Air hostess: *smiles at poor me* Sir, please read through the door-opening instructions carefully

..after reading

Me: I’ll be more confident if I’m allowed to try it once

Air hostess: NO! Please don’t unless a member of the cabin crew asks you to. In any case, this won’t be required hopefully.

Me: Ok, I was just making sure.

Air hostess: Enjoy your flight

And then I slept…

Because of the emergency door on my right, there was no armrest. Suddenly something appeared from the right side of my seat which matched the seat color. Partially conscious (and I don’t know why) I pressed and hit that thing pretty hard (the reasons of that action are not yet known). Immediately, I heard a low sound from my back and realized it was the foot of the passenger sitting behind me!

I quickly slept again.

Heat Upsized!

As I walked out of the air-conditioned building, I was relieved at the low relative humidity level at this time of the day in Abu Dhabi, almost 11.00 pm. I always wear a humidity meter (is there a name for this gauge?!), my spectacles. Walking out of a cold building and suddenly going blind due to condensation on glasses signify a high relative humidity. (Ok, that’s how I measure it)

At this same time of the day, as I walked out, I felt freshly oven-baked air cutting through me. It was hot, it had to be, afterall it’s summer and it always get hot here. Walking to the car which was parked atleast a kilometer away (or so it felt like) due to the parking congestion in this city, I knew something was wrong with the weather. There was something extra in it today. So what? Finally, I found my car, which roared immediately on the turn of key.

And then I saw it. My fear of something extra proved to be right. The highly precise digital thermometer showed it immediately. This is what it showed:

At 11:17 pm, the thermometer showed 44 degrees Centigrade. It was a hot golden moment, the newspapers covered this the next day. Few people fainted due to dehydration, it said.

This is the true desert heat, and it seems to be getting higher each year. I can’t take it anymore. I’m going to KARACHI!

VIDEO: Booked for Road Crossing Violation!!!!

Ok here is the video of several people getting booked as they cross the road (as we were fined yesterday). The video shows it all! People crossing it happily and hurriedly and just as they reach the other end they are welcomed by the policemen who are ever-ready to book the violators.

Note: For some reason the video is not running on my page, instead the youtube page pops up. I don’t know the reason, so if any web developer comes across this and knows the solution, kindly let me know.

Booked For Road Crossing Violation

Yes folks! We’ve been slapped with a 150 Dirham fine for a road-crossing violation, in Abu Dhabi!!

We (four of us) crossed this road as usual from a mid-road zebra crossing, along with many others, who were waiting for the traffic to thin down. When we reached the other end of the road, I noticed a crowd gathered around one man (a rare spectacle here!). Before I could think about the crowd, a young man dressed in low jeans, loose t-shirt and a cap shouted “Come here!”

He moved closer to us and forced everyone to listen to him by showing his official card hanging around his neck. This guy was SOME government official, and so no one inquired further about his credentials. He then focused his attention on me and my brother-in-law incessantly asking for our bitaqa (ID card). He then asked my dad for his ID card and revealed our crime. Thousands of such violators were booked yesterday at this very crossing!

All such mid-road crossings are officially disallowed. Apparently, this was also published in newspapers few weeks ago.

Ironically, I’ve been a strong advocate of such bookings for pedestrians who don’t follow the rules for crossing the road. So, in the end, it’s like a dream come true, not exactly the right way though