On the Run! Paul McCartney in Abu Dhabi!

What's on your "bucket list"?  One of mine got checked off tonight, to see Paul McCartney in concert.  The music concert Gods were with me when a teacher posted a ticket for sale and for only Dhm 100, or less than $30 USD and I was first to respond! Thanks to Becca and Mark Hoskins for selling their ticket and making a dream of mine to come true!

This is an amazing site, Yas Island offers the Yas Marina Circuit, where the Formula One Grad Prix just completed it's third year.  The island also has a Warner Brothers Theme Park, the fastest roller coaster in the world, Ferrari World and Ikea!

This picture shows the open forum of the Yas Arena.
Truly incredible to look at - it is a huge sculpture where people perform!

Leaving the Granstand area and heading to the concert arena!

Time to go in!

T-Shirts - Dhms120 -300,  or $30 -$75.

The stage is set!

I'm here!  Wishing D was with me!  

About eight rows back in the crowd!  Inching forward, bit by bit.  

On the sides were scrolling pictures prior to Paul coming on stage. 

He is coming out on stage!

How do you know you're at a concert in the UAE?  There's your sign!

So many cool pictures of Tucson!

Three Words:  Sold OUT SHOW!

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Eid al-Adha!

Eid al-Adha is one of two Eid festivals and the celebrations start after Haij, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca began at sunset on Sunday, November 6th and ended at sunset on Monday, November 7th.  Families met at the park, beaches, all over to spend time together. 

Yes, a camel in the park....

While the last five days off were time off for the expats, for the muslim community it was Eid al-Adha, or the "Festival of Sacrifice", a very important religious holiday.  The holiday is worldwide and remember the willingness of Abraham for sacrificing his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God, but just in time, God stepped in and provided Abraham with a sheep to sacrifice instead.

My student, Noof brought me this traditional dish, a desert.
Very sweet in flavor, almost maple  syrup with spices.  

At school we had a celebration and traditional foods were
served.  The girls brought me around to show me the treats
they had prepared with their moms. 

Could not have this....had seafood, but it did look good. 

Lots of desserts!

While these look like cupcakes from home, great detail to
the presentation of desserts is very common.  

A group of students gave me this rose, orange my favorite color. 

The teachers were given this pouch as part of the Haij and
anticipating the beginning of Eid al-Adha.

Inside MONEY! Dh 5, or about $1.25.

Inside was the Dh 5, nuts, candy and chocolates. 

Have you seen UAE money?

One side in english....Thank Allah!

Interesting factoid!  The UAE has the second highest diabetes
problem in the world, with #1 being Egypt. Candy is a REAL
problem here, increasing risks of diabetes, but also with
dental problems, quite evident in the next generation of kids. 

National Day is just around the corner and this Porshe Cayenne
is decorated to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the UAE on
December 2nd!

The Crowned Prince...Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nayhan!
The 40 to the left, for the UAE turns 40 on December 2nd.
The falcon behind him, a very important animal in the UAE.

The detail is amazing on this vehicle.

The UAE flag!


And today when I returned to school our school secretary greeted us with a big smile
and a beautiful box....with this inside....SO Sweet and thoughtful!

Three Words:  Mark YOUR calendar!

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Convenience at it's BEST!

Just when you think you have seen everything!  

This was new for me and is a fascinating story....read below!

A worker sprinkles an eco-friendly chemical on to the roof of a Mercedes,
 and the waterless car wash begins.

He wipes the solution off the roof with a microfibre towel. Then, he polishes the residue off the surface,using a different set of towels. (The towels are key to the unique process)
The car's finish starts to look clean and shiny.

He then works his way down to the hood, as they call it the bonnet, the windows, the sides, and the back of the car. He applies a special solution (top secret) that penetrates the tough stains on the tires, and gives the wheels a natural shine.  After 20 minutes, the car is sparkling under the desert sun.

So, why a water-less car wash?  Water reserves are expected to dwindle in the next 50 years, and desalination of water is an expensive process, so three Iraqi brothers from Abu Dhabi came up with an idea.  Their idea of a waterless car wash definitely fits in the 2030 environment plan for the UAE, especially Abu Dhabi.

The brothers have an average of 80 customers a day.  A sedan type car costs Dh 20, or a little over $5 USD, an SUV, four wheel drive vehicle, Dh25, or close to $8 USD.  Other than the amazing value, the best part is the convenience.  You can have this done at the mall or at your home and within  30 minutes  it's done being washed and is now sparkly clean. 


There is a serious water conservation effort  in the UAE and this method of washing the car saves  over 110 liters, almost 25 gallons of water per customer at a traditional car wash. 


In an article  I read it stated the average consumer of water uses 180 to 200 liters, or 40-44 gallons of water per day.  The average UAE personal consumption average is 700 liters, or 154 gallons a day. I really can't imagine how all that water is being used?  I promise my showers are not that long!




Three Words: What a DEAL!

Abu Dhabi Film Festival

The Abu Dhabi Film Festival (formerly the Middle East International Film Festival)
began in 2007 and has continued each October.  The Abu Dhabi Authority for
Culture and Heritage (ADACH) under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Sultan Bin
Tahnoon Al Nahyan, who is the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and
Heritage, these events provide exceptional programs to engage and educate the
local community.  

The movie we watched was The Source, a story about the women from a remote village
in Morocco's Atlas Mountains, fetching water means a dangerous daily trek high into the hills and back.  That is until Leila (an educated young wife, organizes a drastic "love strike" - no affection toward the men until they build a pipeline to channel water down the mountain.  It is a fable of female empowerment facing many issues in the Arab world.  A great message to women everywhere and especially to young women, that there is power in knowledge.  Also, that standing for what you believe in is not easy and takes courage.  Fascinating MOVIE!

The Abu Dhabi Movie Theatre

US Cost $6.25

You get to vote by tearing the box that best fits your
opinion of the movie.

Three Words:  Knowledge is POWER!