Cheetah brings panic to streets of Sharjah

Does this happen anywhere else in the world???

SHARJAH // A cheetah sparked panic in Sharjah yesterday afternoon when it was spotted wandering through the city’s streets at prayer time.

Worshippers saw the creature near the Radisson Blu hotel in the Al Mujjarrah area, pacing near a mosque.

A local shop owner Abu Baker Karim said onlookers were unable to identify it straight away but knew it was dangerous.

He said: “As soon as I saw it I knew it was dangerous and had to run away. People were saying it was a tiger, others said it was a leopard and others said it was a cheetah."

Sharjah Police cordoned off the area, but, according to resident Mohammed Khan, who watched from the window of his nearby apartment, officers ended up playing a game of “hide and seek” with the big cat while they tried to capture it.

“We could tell it was not an easy arrest,” he said. “For about 20 minutes they were taking positions surrounding it, and it twice jumped out the circle.”

According to Lt Col Ahmad bin Darwish, of Anjad Police, it was not clear where the cheetah came from or who owned it.

Ahmed, another local resident, said the cheetah, which was handed over to the Arabian Wildlife Centre, was first spotted swimming behind the mosque.

My new favourite place in Abu Dhabi

Was told of this new cafe, Cafe Arabia in Abu Dhabi - absolutely lovely, pretty and inexpensive yummy food! Now I have somewhere to go to chill and read magazines over a cuppa!

Moroccan Hammam

I went to my first Moroccan Hammam today. I was planning to go to one when I get back from Malaysia next year, but an impromptu suggestion from my friend was too tempting. This was a 'basic' place - where a hammam cost AED40 as opposed to my upcoming hammam session that I paid AED150 for, which was a 50% discount over the original AED300 price.

I was a little apprehensive at first, having heard lots of funny stories about big huge women who scrub you at parts you didn't know you had. My friend was very comforting, saying that all I needed was not to be shy given that we would all have to be naked in a steam and scrub room together!

We got there, undressed and we were whisked into the steam room. There we had to put moroccan soap all over ourselves, and wait for 1/2 hour while the steam opens the pores. Then we were put into 2 separate rooms, and my therapist put on a scrub mitten and scrubbed like there was no tomorrow. I was shocked at how much dead skin there was, especially as I do my own scrub at home once a week. It was quite gross actually, but after 1/2 hour of a real good scrub, I felt like a newborn! I have never felt this clean in my life, and while I wouldn't call the experience 'pleasant', it was interesting and I would definitely do it again, especially for AED40 (that's like RM35!)

Egyptians can't spell..

Taken in a "5-star" hotel in Egypt

Happy UAE Day!

The UAE is 39 years old this weekend and boy, people are right into the celebrations. Cars are decorated, people are out celebrating, and flags are flying everywhere (even at the top of this mountain in the middle of nowhere on the way to oman!)

We also had a 4 day weekend to commemorate it. I only wish they would tell us in advance, so that i can plan stuff! Everyone was expecting a holiday on Thursday till Saturday and then another day off the following Tuesday for the Islamic New Year. Instead, we were told on Tuesday that we would get Thurs till Sun off, because the Government decided to bring the Tuesday holiday forward to Sunday so that we all get 4 days off. If I knew of this earlier, I would have flown out of the country and done something!

However, it's turned out to be a nice holiday, went diving in Oman and spent the night and next day in Dubai catching up with friends and doing some Christmas shopping. Also got treated to one of the yummiest Indian places in Dubai - the world famous Ravi's! Absolutely mouth watering Indian food! Some pics here...