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0 Subject: Moving to the Other Side of the Planet 2.0

Posted by: nerveclinic
- [3558247] Sun, Jun 24, 2007, 08:08


The original thread, which was getting a bit long, can be found here...

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107Boldwin
      ID: 26451820
      Tue, Jan 05, 2010, 17:14
Just one more ziggurat.
108nerveclinic
      ID: 390561510
      Fri, Jan 15, 2010, 12:00
I was able to watch the fireworks from my balcony, I live about 20 blocks from the tower and I have an unobstructed view from my baloney.

It was awesome.

Unfortunately I am now one of the people that Dubai World owes money and has "indefinitely suspended payment on.

109Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Fri, Jan 15, 2010, 12:01
Ugh--that sucks!

I see that The Onion is in on the news as well.
110Doug
      ID: 351027518
      Fri, Jan 15, 2010, 12:51
Does your balcony have a first name?
111PuNk42AE
      Donor
      ID: 036635522
      Fri, Jan 15, 2010, 13:04
#109
"Across the city there are signs of how deeply the overall economic climate of Dubai has been affected. Thousands of VIP tables sit empty, Lamborghinis clog dealership lots, and, with many unable to afford the usual imported pet foods, the streets are filled with starving stray snow leopards and feral peacocks."
112Biliruben movin
      ID: 358252515
      Fri, Jan 15, 2010, 13:13
Stray snowleopards? In the desert!?!

That won't end well.
113Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Fri, Jan 15, 2010, 13:19
#110: It's O-S-C-A-R

Hard to tell for 111 & 112, but you know that The Onion is a parody, right?
114Biliruben movin
      ID: 358252515
      Fri, Jan 15, 2010, 14:29
If it's good enough for ann coulter...
115DWetzel
      ID: 278201415
      Fri, Jan 15, 2010, 15:34
A feral peacock once bit my sister...
116PuNk42AE
      Donor
      ID: 036635522
      Fri, Jan 15, 2010, 16:08
I know what the Onion is, I just thought that was the best part of the story. I do crack up about the Peacocks thing asI grew up in a town where alot of the farms on the outskirts had them running around.
117nerveclinic
      ID: 390561510
      Sat, Jan 16, 2010, 05:31
"Does your balcony have a first name?" Nice Doug, I saw that after I hit send.

I knew it was a parody because there are no snow leopards, there are however peacocks running around, but they are not feral, they are owned by Sheik Mo. He let's them roam free down at the entrance to the palace. I have many photos I will post when I have time.

118Seattle Zen
      Leader
      ID: 055343019
      Sat, Dec 04, 2010, 13:04
This thread needs an update, Nerve, and where are our photos from the observation floor of the Burj Dubai?

You've been there four years now, right? Are you ever coming back?
119nerveclinic
      ID: 01154411
      Sat, Dec 04, 2010, 14:13

Hi Zen. Thanks for that but no comments about Cano? 8^)

I'll update the next day or two.

I have been to the observation deck and I did take photos but I shut down the website as I just put pics on Facebook now.

Every year I think I am only staying one more year but there are no jobs in the USA, and my business here's pretty good so I end up feeling stuck. Not a "bad"stuck as I still think its a decent place to live.

Hey it was 85 degrees here today and I looked through the telescope at the sunbathers at the hotel pool 28 floors below. What's wrong with that in early December?

120Boldwin
      ID: 261126418
      Sat, Dec 04, 2010, 19:26
And in the 'now I've heard it all' dept...girl-watching in a muslim country.
121Tree
      ID: 2010312116
      Sat, Dec 04, 2010, 20:10
shockingly, there are women all over the world. practically in every country.
122astade
      ID: 78462922
      Sat, Dec 04, 2010, 20:39
silly, they were probably wearing Burqinis
123nerveclinic
      Leader
      ID: 05047110
      Sat, Dec 04, 2010, 21:16


Baldwin, if you could only see what goes on here, it would really fill up your "I've seen it all" quota.

124Boldwin
      ID: 261126418
      Sun, Dec 05, 2010, 03:32
Really nice find, astade. However did you find that?
125nerveclinic
      ID: 01154411
      Sun, Dec 05, 2010, 13:33

And yes I've seen the burqa swimwear but in another Emirate, (State) more conservative, at a water park.

126Frick
      ID: 5310541617
      Sun, Dec 05, 2010, 13:44
Any thoughts on Qatar being awarded the 2022 World Cup?
127bibA
      ID: 48627713
      Tue, Feb 01, 2011, 15:18
Nerve - what's the talk in your neck of the woods? Any demonstrations?
128nerveclinic
      ID: 280482817
      Wed, Feb 02, 2011, 09:05


Biba there's nothing to demonstrate about. Everyone is happy with the great leader. He is well liked. People are relatively well off here compared to Egypt. They aren't tortured like in Egypt. There is no extreme poverty here.

I would bet everything I own there will not be any Emiraties protesting anytime soon.
129Boldwin
      ID: 33122116
      Wed, Feb 02, 2011, 10:20
Don't actually make that bet because there are islamists everywhere, even there. Granted having enuff to eat and being treated well help.
130nerveclinic
      ID: 280482817
      Thu, Feb 03, 2011, 01:40

Baldwin that is not what these protests are about, but maybe you haven't been following it very closely.
131nerveclinic
      ID: 280482817
      Thu, Feb 03, 2011, 01:45

And I will comfortably make that bet. I've been here four years. I have a good handle on what's up.

There could be "construction worker protests, and there a have been, but they are Indians, No locals protesting their leader because he is pretty universally liked and poverty and oppressive treatment is the key ingredient igniting these protests, not Islam.

Everyone I talk to here is confident that nothing is going to happen here like Egypt anytime soon, in fact the notion is absurd.


132nerveclinic
      ID: 280482817
      Thu, Feb 03, 2011, 01:47


Frick my thoughts on Qatar being awarded the World Cup is that if you are adventurous, and conservative, because it's a conservative country, there is a lot of money to be made there the next 10 years.
133boikin
      ID: 532592112
      Tue, Feb 15, 2011, 11:39
It looks like nerve would have lost everything he owned as Bahrain faces second day of protest, the absurd become reality
134Nerveclinic
      ID: 29123923
      Tue, Feb 15, 2011, 15:52

Boikin what do you mean "Nerve would have lost everything he owned?" What does Bahrain have to do with me?

135boikin
      ID: 532592112
      Tue, Feb 15, 2011, 16:33
I just referring to what you had said earlier I would bet everything I own there will not be any Emiraties protesting anytime soon. honestly i have to say i was pretty surprised to see they where protesting in Bahrain, I realize it is not dubai but it is still an emirate.
136nerveclinic
      ID: 280482817
      Wed, Feb 16, 2011, 01:52

Boikin maybe I am confused.

Emirates refers to the States in the United Arab Emirates.
Bahrain is a completely separate country.

I don't doubt this could happen in other Gulf countries, even Saudi, I was specifically referring to the UAE.

70% of the population in Bahrain are ruled by a 30% minority.

In the UAE it's a relatively homogenous population, fairly wealthy, and everyone is in reasonably decent shape, even the chronically unemployed.

Again I will also say if something happens here, it will be expat laborers. What I was betting on is that it won't be the locals, like in all the other protesting states and I stick by that bet. At least not anytime soon.

The one thing the locals could be unhappy about is if the economy completely collapsed and their benefits were taken away, but with Abu Dhabi's massive oil wealth that shouldn't happen anytime soon.

That's my analysis, so far holding up.

In Bahrain the locals drive taxis etc. and do menial labor, that is completely unheard of in Dubai.




137nerveclinic
      ID: 105222
      Thu, Feb 17, 2011, 15:57

Th lowliest jobs I have ever seen a local do is:

Receptionist in an office.

A cop.

A cashier at Ace hardware and at a supermarket.

Wait I am thinking...

That's all can come up with.

I have never seen a local work, fast food, coffee shop, security guard etc.
138nerveclinic
      ID: 105222
      Thu, Feb 17, 2011, 16:00

I've never seen anyone pulled over by the police in 4 years.

Traffics laws are enforced strictly with cameras.

On the main roads there is a speed camera every mile and a half.

Police drive around with large cameras on the top of their car and video tape violations.

Police park on the side of the road with radars and video cameras.

139Frick
      ID: 5310541617
      Thu, Feb 17, 2011, 16:52
So I'm guessing the videos of guys drifting their cars down the highway aren't filmed in Dubai.

140nerveclinic
      ID: 105222
      Fri, Feb 18, 2011, 07:30

Frick maybe by the cops.

I never said police filming things stopped people from acting like fools.

141nerveclinic
      ID: 105222
      Sat, Mar 05, 2011, 10:08


Let's see if this works.

If It does will post more.

Photos from this weekend. Donkeys out in the desert.

Donkeys

142nerveclinic
      ID: 105222
      Sat, Mar 05, 2011, 10:09


Camels out in the desert...

Camels

143nerveclinic
      ID: 105222
      Sat, Mar 05, 2011, 10:12

General Desert shots from this weekend. I went out with a friend in his SUV 4 Wheel drive so we were able to go off road. I focused on shots of te effect the wind has had on the sand as it's been windy the last few months.

Desert Shots

144nerveclinic
      ID: 105222
      Sat, Mar 05, 2011, 10:36

For anyone curious about what exactly I do in Dubai...here's the latest Ralph lauren Windows at Dubai mall.I am the contractor that brings together the varous construction people and artists to do the work.

Ralph Lauren march 2011 Dubai Mall
146nerveclinic
      ID: 105222
      Sat, Mar 05, 2011, 11:18


And a little slice of Dubai from the balcony of my apartment.

balcony shots

147Nuclear Gophers
      ID: 1929513
      Sat, Mar 05, 2011, 14:09
I was told once that "there is no such thing has a stupid question if you dont know the answer" so here is my question: Do people eat camels? By the way nice pics.
148Boldwin
      ID: 50247518
      Sat, Mar 05, 2011, 19:58
How and where do those western fashion sensibilities fit in the wardrobes of natives and visitors from other moslem countries? Are they only worn in limited special situations? Some pictures of Dubai street fashions please?
149Nerveclinic
      ID: 29123923
      Sat, Mar 05, 2011, 23:48

Nuclear Gophers, indeed they do eat camels but it's not a common thing in mainstream restaurants.

Camel milk is in the grocery stores and it's higher in vitamins and lower in fat then cows milk.

I think the main reason not much camel meat is eaten is it's said to be rather tough and not the best flavor.

150Nerveclinic
      ID: 29123923
      Sun, Mar 06, 2011, 00:00

Baldwin: How and where do those western fashion sensibilities fit in the wardrobes of natives and visitors from other moslem countries? Are they only worn in limited special situations?

By far, it's not even close, the largest Ralph Lauren customer are the locals, even though they are only 15% of the population. This is true for many other luxury brands.

There are several ways the locals use this fashion.

They do go out to night clubs etc. and when they do they are not allowed to wear local dress into the clubs. They travel, and when going to other countries they wear these cloths. In groups of friends they wear them. They wear them in their own homes. I think in general that depending on what they are doing on a weekend night they might wear them.

Also be assured even the typical woman in Dubai wearing the burka, often has designer clothes underneath and leaves the bottom unfastened so when she walks you see the shoes and bottoms of the pants.

Full faced burkas are less then 5%. Most wear very fashionable open faced burkas, hair exposed and if they are beautiful can look very striking in them.

Truly when I walk through a mall for example, and pass by literally hundreds of locals in native dress, it just looks normal to me now not exotic.

But without the locals Ralph Lauren's business would not be good. Most popular item? The polo shirt with the large (4-5") Polo horse and rider on it.




151Nerveclinic
      ID: 29123923
      Sun, Mar 06, 2011, 04:45

Apologies I had several photo sets "friends only" I have now changed it to everyone so it should work fine.

152C.SuperFreak
      ID: 59224611
      Sun, Mar 06, 2011, 12:42
Awesome pics Nerve.
The balcony shots are great they are outta this world. If it wasn't for the roads i'd swear i'd be looking at a Star Wars movie set.
153Nerveclinic
      ID: 29123923
      Sun, Mar 06, 2011, 13:21


i'd swear i'd be looking at a Star Wars movie set.

Well they just filmed Mission Impossible 3 here with Tom Cruise hanging off the Burj Khalifa.

Cruise Khalifa

At around 2:30 he throws himself of the building with only a rope, and that deck is 120+ floors up. Takes some guts.

154Boldwin
      ID: 48259616
      Sun, Mar 06, 2011, 18:16
What percent of the mall traffic is wearing western fashion?
155nerveclinic
      ID: 105222
      Mon, Mar 07, 2011, 12:54

What percent of the mall traffic is wearing western fashion?

Well depends on day and time of day but I would say 80% wear western as locals are only 15% of the population, meaning the people wearing western are not locals.

When locals go to the mall they generally wear their native garments, but you can't compare your stereo type image with what they wear in Dubai. This ain't Pakistan.
156Boldwin
      ID: 1135295
      Sun, Apr 10, 2011, 18:32
In case you haven't seen this.
158nerveclinic
      ID: 4711362616
      Tue, May 01, 2012, 02:51

USA just stationed an undisclosed number of advanced fighter F-22 planes to the UAE...

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