Sex and the City 2 - Set in Abu Dhabi!!

Apparently set in Abu Dhabi but filmed in Morocco because it was easier to film there?? I bet it wont show in cinemas here, pirated DVD please if you're coming my way!

Unwed couples on Target in Sharjah

Sharjah is one of the 7 Emirates, reputed to be the strictest and most Islamic of the lot..

Sharjah, April 23: Police in the conservative Sharjah emirate are hunting for unmarried couples sharing the same address.

The door-to-door search is the latest effort by Sharjah authorities to enforce Islamic codes in their enclave, which borders far more freewheeling Dubai. The campaign, detailed Thursday in local media, follows a police report that a couple was arrested for living together out of wedlock.

Violators may face jail and deportation. But Shariah, or Islamic law, remains on the books and includes possible sentences of lashings.

The UAE outlaws unmarried couples from living together, but Sharjah enforces the strictest rules. The emirate -- one of seven that comprise the UAE -- also imposes a blanket ban on alcohol.

Sharjah's Police recently arrested a man for wearing a lungi as part of a crackdown on the attire in public.

The lungi is a piece of brightly colored silk or cotton cloth that is wrapped around the waist. It is worn in India, Pakistan, Myanmar and other South Asian countries.

Sharjah Police said that indecent and revealing clothes are not allowed in public.

Kabayan?? It's getting tiring..

I'm feeling really tired of being thought of as Philipino. I have nothing against Philipinos, they are lovely people. They also really like singing for some strange reason (that's not a judgement, just an observation). They sing everywhere, on the street, in the shops, while they're wiping the sofas in the furniture store..I've seen it countless times.

But I digress. I went to church today, and of course there are tons of Philipinos in church. But there are also tons of Pakistani drivers waiting outside in buses and vans waiting to pick up the Philipinos once mass is over. So when mass is over, there is a mass of people (no pun intended) leaving the church, and another ton of people trying to get in. Then the Pakistani bus drivers try to usher all the people leaving into their buses/vans. They scream at the tops of their voices their final destination and really try to herd the people into their bus (think malaysian pink minibuses). And of course because I am so Philipino looking, they try to herd me into the bus too. And I literally have to push back to get around them and not to be herded into a bus going back to some labour camp (labour camps are accommodation for workers, I know it sounds horrible, but it's effectively like a hostel). It's extremely frustrating and stressful. Sometimes I feel like waving my car keys in front of them and tell them to p**s off.

I know people look at me strangely when I get into my car. I know it's not normal for a Philipino looking person to drive, let even own a car. I know it's weird that a single Asian girl walks into a store and buys a home theatre system or furniture, but maybe people just shouldn't judge others based on how they look!

A taste of Malaysia 2

OK how good does this look...I went back to the Malaysian construction cafeteria for lunch with a friend today and yum!! My friend took the pics below..I should start taking pics of the other fabulous ethnic food there is here - Indian and Lebanese in particular is fab! What's sad is that most expats only eat in fancy restaurants in hotels where a meal costs AUD50pp without drinks, while there is this amazing array of delicious and cheap food from all over the world that costs less than AUD10pp with drinks!

New Pad

I have been super busy getting my flat sorted..it just seems like it never ends. I think I have been shopping every weekend for the last 2 months, and I'm so sick of it. I'm nearly there, I still have a few furnishings (rugs, lamps, cushions, pictures, mirror) and 2 side tables to buy, but other than that I think I'm there. So here are a few pictures...you can see that it still looks empty, it's such a big change from my 36sqm hole in Sydney. I also have a HUGE HUGE patio, too bad it's summer and there's no way me or anyone will want to sit outside in 45degree heat! Hopefully this entices you to come - there's also a sofa bed :)

Cityscape Abu Dhabi

That my friends, is how Abu Dhabi will look like in 20 years. A 23 X 17sqm full scale model of the city of Abu Dhabi, mapping out all the development projects based on the Urban Masterplan. Obviously my picture doesn't quite capture it, but it's mind-blowingly massive.

This was part of Cityscape Abu Dhabi, an event that showcases all the major development projects going on here. Since coming here, I've always felt that what we were developing as a firm is massive, and it's so huge, but going to Cityscape puts things in perspective. What we're doing is a small part of the whole masterpiece. Its amazing.

When I saw the models, my first question was who is going to live in all these fancy apartments and villas? Call me a cynic but I don't necessarily believe in the "Build and they will come" motto that everyone in this region subscribes to. But who's to say, I bet someone said the same thing when they were building Hong Kong or Singapore.

Insyallah, I live long enough to see the city built up fully like the model!

A taste of Malaysia

Check that picture out. Does it not look like it was taken in a typical restaurant in Malaysia?

And it felt like Malaysia. Smelt of home. Tasted like mum's cooking. So perfect! Just that it was not in Malaysia but in Abu Dhabi! Yay! A friend brought me to this place last night. It's hidden on a construction site on an island whose first building will be open only in July. Trust Malaysians to ensure they have great food!

So the story is the master developers of Reem Island is Malaysian. Sadly when they came, there was no Malaysian food to be found, so they decided to open a cafeteria for all their workers that will provide a taste of home. Getting there involved driving through security, through barely tarred roads to the middle of this island, where this is a temporary office block housing this cafeteria. All the staff are chinese, speak cantonese and when I was there last night, the other customers were Malaysian Chinese construction guys. Very cool indeed, plus it was cheap! They even sell hokkien mee, ying yong, tai chow, dim sum, egg tarts, the works.

Now I just need to talk to the guys to find out where they buy their produce as the supermarkets here do not stock Chinese stuff well. I can't even buy decent tofu or chinese greens, but they served me yummy home style tofu and kai lan with ham yee yesterday! Well at least it's super close to where I live now, only a 15 min drive, so I think I'll be paying it a few visits for sure!