Life & Style | Gadgets & Tech
Blogosphere 23 Sept - 29 Sept
Gulf News web editor Adam Flinter plunges headlong into the blogosphere to find out what bloggers from the Middle East and beyond have on their minds.
- By Adam Flinter, Web Editor
- Published: 23:53 September 22, 2008
- "While at work today, 140 km away in Dubai, a friend calls and says, ‘Hey, your building's on fire!'", says a blogger.
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
Gulf News web editor Adam Flinter plunges headlong into the blogosphere to find out what bloggers from the Middle East and beyond have on their minds.
Pick of the Week
Fire in my building!
I haven't made a post in quite a while. Now I've got something to blog about. I reside in a crummy, 17-storey apartment block in Abu Dhabi. Crummy because it's an old run-down building. In today's rent control environment, one basically has to stay put even if living conditions are less than optimal.
While at work today, 140 km away in Dubai, a friend calls and says, ‘Hey, your building's on fire!'
My building? I ask with a ton of surprise. No one around me in the office picks up on the conversation until I mention calmly that my building's on fire.
My friend reports helicopters circling the building, fire trucks all around, smoke pouring from the top, and he could even see flames. To my good fortune, I could ascertain that the fire was not near my floor, more than half a building below the fire.
More than two hours later I arrive on the scene. Fire trucks are still everywhere, a bit of white smoke rising from the top floor, but little visible sign of damage to the facade of the building. It wasn't that bad, I conclude. I gather from a few spectators that no one was hurt and that only the top floor burned. The helicopters?
Apparently they were used to douse the fire, as water still seemed to be draining through the central elevator shaft out to the front and rear entrances of the building.
http://word-a-day-uae.blogspot.com
Art in the UAE
Before I came to the UAE I knew there were at least 10 Emirati artists. I had their names and images in a book published in 1982 by the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States. However, on arrival in Dubai I faced a major problem - there was no National Museum or art gallery so no obvious place to find them. It actually took me six months to find a local artist but it is amazing that just over a year later, I am now aware of more than 200 and have actually seen the work of well over 50, though not at the same time.
http://naturestrikesback.blogspot.com/
Memories of Trade Centre
The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) building is probably the most iconic building in the city, a blend of the charm of old Dubai and the vibrant and modern new Dubai.
Built in 1979, DWTC stands tall at the start of Shaikh Zayed Road and is part of an entire complex including the Dubai International Convention Centre, Novatel and Ibis hotels and the recently constructed Dubai International Hotel Apartments.
But the Trade Centre building itself is what makes this a landmark. Many people use the building as a reference point to describe their location. It is also one of the highest security buildings in Dubai. The building houses the Dubai Financial Markets besides seven other consulates/embassies. The more prominent of them being the consulate of the US.
I have fond memories of this building. Our office used to be located at this building until we moved to a more spacious building two years back. But DWTC will still be a special experience of my work life in Dubai. The building carries a certain amount of charm and pride.
http://dubaiphotostory.blogspot.com
Transit in Dubai
I am impressed. As I was disembarking my Emirates flight recently, the purser at the door said "Have a good day Miss L." I seriously did a double take. I mean it. I looked back at her and laughed and said, "How did you remember?" She said she always remembered, with a wicked smile.
Now when I was flying for commercial airlines this was something that was especially driven down into the depths of our souls during training for dealing with premium guests. However I was only in cattle class that day. OK, I admit, there was only probably about 30 per cent capacity, however there were still at least 80 passengers on board and that is a lot of names to remember.
http://girlontour.blogspot.com
Abu Dhabi, after one month
We have now been in Abu Dhabi for a whole month. We have decided that our bodies have acclimated to the 115 degree (46.11 celsius) temperature and doubt we can adjust to below 100 degrees (37.78 celsius). The weather is ridiculous but we are still loving it here. It is Ramadan here so there is no drinking or eating during the daylight hours. Since the days are so quiet, the nights are packed with action. Stores stay open into the early morning and the malls are packed with families at 11 pm. Iftar is the first meal that ends the fast once the sun has set. Lots of people go to restaurants and order food before the sun sets and everyone sits at their tables full of food just waiting for the prayer call to announce the start of Iftar.
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jessievogt/1/1221893220.html
From new York to dubai
Watch all the bankers in London and New York try for work in Dubai, but obviously at a lower rate.
Now, as more bankers seek work in Dubai, the premier staging post for the booming region, the laws of supply and demand are kicking in.
"Bankers who are under threat in London or New York may have less bargaining power if they are asked to relocate to the Middle East," says David Johnson, regional chief for headhunter Whitehead Mann. "You may therefore see a reduction in packages being offered."
http://grapeshisha.blogspot.com
Dubai Diary
Landed in Dubai at 4pm. Went to the hotel and spent the rest of day at the beach. It's so hot I don't feel like going any where else.
At night went to the Buddha Bar and as I walked towards the main door something told me it was not a good idea. Indeed, shorts and boots were not the best way to present myself in such a selective establishment as all people looked like they were going to Oscar night.
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