Sandier Pastures

13 JOKES I GOT IN MY (OFFICE) MAIL

1. What is the difference between stress, tension and panic?

Stress is when your WIFE is pregnant, Tension is when your GIRLFRIEND is pregnant and Panic is when BOTH are pregnant.

2. Teacher: (In an English class) Do you know the importance of a period?

Kid: Yes, maam. My sister said she has missed one and my mom fainted, dad got a heart attack and our driver ran away!

3. Mother to her teenage daughter: I think this is the right time we should talk about sex.

Teenage daughter: (Excitingly) Sure mom, tell me what do you want to know?

4. What is the definition of Mistress?

Someone between the Mister and the Mattress.

5. Man comes home, finds his wife with his friend in bed. Man shoots his friend. Wife says, “If  you behave like this, you will lose ALL your friends.”

6. Son asks the difference between confidence and confidential. Dad says, you are my son, I am confident. Your friend is also my son, that’s confidential.

7. Husband asks, “Do you know the meaning of wife?” It means Without Information Fighting Everytime!

Wife replies, “No, it means, With Idiot For Eternity”

8. After a quarrel, a husband said to his wife, “You know, I was a fool when I married you.” She replied, “Yes, dear, but I was in love and didn’t notice.”

9. A little boy asked his father, “Daddy, how much does it cost to get married?” And the father replied, “I don’t know son, I’m still paying.”

10. Wife : Honey …… What are You Looking for ?

Husband : Nothing.

Wife : Nothing…?? U’ve been reading our marriage certificate 4 an hour …??

Husband : I was just looking 4 the expiry date.

11. Young Son: Is it true, Dad, that in some parts of Africa or India, a man doesn’t know his wife until he marries her?

Dad: That happens in every country, son.

12. My girlfriend told me I should be more affectionate. So I got myself two girlfriends

13. A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their position. As they passed a barnyard of mules, goats, and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically,

“Relatives of yours?”

“Yep,” the wife replied , “in-laws”.

Ever wondered what happened to the world’s tallest building being constructed in Dubai?

~The Burj Dubai on December 2007~

We last visited Burj Dubai last exactly one month ago in December and surprised to see that the glass panels are in place already. The full height is not disclosed and looking at this photo, it looks like the construction is not going to end just yet. 

Even when still under construction, Burj Dubai has surpassed Taipei 101 and became the tallest building in the world.

By the way, aren’t you amazed how the cranes end up at the top?

Lately traffic in Dubai had evolved from heavy to depressing gridlocks.

Going home from work tired and hungry and having to spend time on the road for more than an hour is not fun. Plus, it is interfering with my one and only New Year’s resolution that is to lose weight. No, I am not eating anything inside the car but what I do is stop by a park and jog/brisk-walk for 30 minutes or at least make it a goal to run 2kms at least 4 times a week.

Work finishes at 6pm and before I am already at the park by 6:30, run until 7pm and home before 7:30. But these past few days, I have postponed running because it is already beyond 7pm when I pass by the park and I am too hungry to run.

I never thought I’ll like it but I am starting to love running. I feel lighter and happy with myself with the accomplishment every after that exercise so I want to keep doing it but the traffic has prevented me from doing it more and it is not helping that the annual rent increases in apartments in Dubai is up and has forced so many people to move to the neighboring Emirate of Sharjah, creating gridlocks in the roads going to my place since I live in the Dubai/Sharjah border.

So, if I am not losing any weight as I write my December 31, 2008 post, blame the traffic and the Sharjah residents! 

I intend to climb up and down the stairs on days I can’t run. We live on the 7th floor so it would be a great alternate exercise. But sometimes, once I get home and play with the kiddo, I don’t want to go out anymore.

*sigh*

Any idea where to buy this thing called will power??

** This contest has ended. **

I felt left out during Fall Y’All bloggy giveaway carnival last year but guess what? I will not be feeling like a castaway this time! For some reason, I am able to access typepad blogs now and therefore, be a part of this year’s first Bloggy Giveaways carnival at Shannon’s Rocks in My Dryer.

So since I am caught by surprise with this sudden change of luck, I didn’t have time to think about or shop for a ‘creative’ giveaway so it will be:

PRIZE: $20 gift certificate to Amazon (I’ll give you the liberty to shop for your favorite book)

HOW TO WIN: Just comment mentioning your current/ultimate favorite book here.

DRAW: A winner will be chosen at random on February 3.

This giveaway is open to anyone, anywhere and you don’t even need a blog to join. Goodluck!

This should be fun! I’ll see if I can come up with another giveaway (something unique) on my way home today.

Today is the official one year anniversary since the birth of this little blog. Sandier Pastures, first inspired by my relocation to Dubai and my want to share our desert living  experience with the world, is one year and 475 posts old!

~ don’t clink your glasses too loud, alcohol is prohibited in public places! ~

It has been a great year. Writing about life in Dubai has brought me to discover more about this diverse (sometimes strange) place, it’s history and culture. At first, I thought I would tire of it and give up but I haven’t  and I’m surprised it actually made me think of my surroundings and made me strive to experience something new every week.

So what’s in store for the bloggiversary party? In case you forgot, there was a little contest I posted three weeks ago which got an overwhelming response! Thanks to all those who helped spread the word.

Now, without much further ado, I present you the winner of a blog makeover I wished was for me:

UPDATE: I was informed that Susan already won the SAME prize at a different blog so I get to chose another contestant. She is twice lucky!

 Congratulations to Susan of Dirt Makes Fat Nathalie of Kennedy & Friends Co.

Nathalie wins a Gold Package Blog Makeover (valued at $100) courtesy of RS Designs.

Thanks to everyone who participated, posted shout outs and greetings. All your comments and visits had become an inspiration for me to post every single day. Here’s to another year of blogging!

Earlier this month we had a one day holiday because it was the Islamic holiday of Hijra. We didn’t have work and no school for the babe as well. We had a rare  two-day weekend and out of the blue, M said we’ll go out see some camels. Huh?

Of course my mother was excited since she has not seen a camel her whole life and Pristine was thrilled as well. We went to Nad Al Sheba, a 30-minute short drive from where we live. This is the place where horse racing and equestrian events are held and we have read in the guide that there is a camel pen nearby.

We were not disappointed. We saw some camels along the road:

~ Dromedary or one humped camel along the road ~

~ I was scowled out, “respect my privacy!” ~

It was a delight to see camels less than a meter before us, if only they didn’t smell! I could only imagine the people who travelled using camels in the olden times.

~ some more camels, some dressed in fancy patterned cloths ~

Camel racing is a major sport in Dubai and the track is located in the outskirts of the city at Nad Al Sheba. It is quite a sight to see camels thundering along the track with small jockeys holding on for dear life. Since there was no racing event when we went there, we saw the camels in the pens being trained (shouted at and whipped!) by trainors/caretakers.

It was quite spectacular that from the empty desert in Nad Al Sheba, we can see the Burj Dubai on the background:

So it was true, the open desert can be cruel hot in the summer as it can get freezing cold during the winter. The sand was cold to the touch. The air blowing on us was very cold, I felt bad not bringing a thick jacket for the little girl.

~ amazed at the sand formations ~

~ very fine desert sand ~

~ enjoying the feel of cool desert sand on her feet ~

Next in line on our weekend plan: Get on a real camel and explore the desert (just a little).

This week’s theme: Old-fashioned

Old-fashioned lamps used sometime long ago in Arabia. Photo taken at the historic Bastakiya district, Dubai where you can see some tantalizing views of Old Dubai.

Kailani over at An Island Life is hosting a Valentine’s Day Goodie Swap and I signed up! I know, I know, I am on a diet and not supposed to be eating sweets but promise I’ll do it (eat) in moderation. The idea of swapping gifts with another blogger from another side of the world picked by Kailani in random is exciting I had to join.

You can join the fun, too. Swap partners will be announced on February 1st, so you have only some days left. Go check it out if you are curious.

There was a questionnaire about Valentine’s and here goes my answers for them:

• What is your idea of a romantic Valentines Day?

A romantic dinner at a restaurant I haven’t been to, with sparkling wine and maybe a romantic movie afterwards.

• In reality, what is your Valentines Day really like?

Be prepared to be shocked: we don’t celebrate Valentine’s. Pre or post-baby, we never did. You can kick my husband now. In Japan, Valentine’s Day is celebrated peculiarly. The females give chocolates to the males. I baked brownies.

• If you could have a lifetime supply of your favorite sweet indulgence, what would it be?

That would be Lindt milk chocolates or Ritter Sport Marzipan and VolMilch, Hazel Nuss, Dark, all of them!

• Is there any sweet treat you absolutely do not like?

I don’t like anything with rice crispies in it.

• If you fell into a pool of chocolate, how would you get out?

Who would want to get out? I would prove to the world that man (woman) CAN live by choc alone!

I will let you all know what I received after the day of hearts…or after my package arrives. I hope the Dubai postal system does not play its prank on me this time. The Christmas cards sent from friends last month has not yet arrived!

13 SEARCH KEYWORDS/PHRASES THAT BROUGHT VISITORS TO SANDIER PASTURES

1. is it safe living in dubai - Yes, it is!

2. is dubai safe to live if you’re an american - Yes! Most Americans here say they feel safer than when they were in the US. No guns here!

3. population breakdown by ethnicity - because I posted about this in one of my Thursday Thirteens.

4. bus route of x25 - Maybe a resident wants to know the route of the newest bus in town.

5. immigrating to dubai - I would say, relocating, not immigrating as there is no program for immigrants here.

6. after 8 in dubai - The searcher might mean, after 8 pm? Well, most people are stuck in traffic at Sheikh Zayed Road or Maktoum Bridge.

7. things to know about living in dubai - Oh, the things you need to know prior to relocation. I hope they checked on the spiralling cost of rents too before boarding the plane! You might also check out some truths about living in Dubai.

8. xmas trees in dubai 2007 - There are lots of gigantic trees in the malls.

9. springs dubai badly built - The well renowned expat community called The Springs floods when it rains for more than 15 minutes.

10. twitching of eyes from left to right - The searcher was led to my post about left brain vs. right brain dominance test.

11. Talal Ali Mohammad Khouri - Oh, the guy who won the bid for a unique car plate for a huge amount of money. The rich and famous takes the car plate thing seriously.

12. what are the penalties if caught sleeping together in the uae - I wonder what this bloke is planning to do…

13. sell roasted peanuts street dubai - I mean, seriously? Be careful! You could roast yourself, too.

There are lots of things to see along Dubai creek. By the creek is where you can catch a glimpse of old Dubai. We got on an abra with everyone else and headed over to the spice souq and gold souq.

This is what an abra looks like:

~for 1 dirham (less than US$1), you can get on an abra and cross the creek~

Most of the passengers in an abra are men so females might feel a little bit uneasy but I can guarantee, they never bite! Crossing the creek in the primitive way unless of course you want to swin across was a great experience for us - -  least there were no traffic compared to when crossing Maktoum Bridge! (We were in another abra when taking the above photo)

Another charmer along Dubai creek: 

The National Bank of Dubai building, situated near the creek is a unique structure. Its wall finishing reflects the water, making it look like a large LCD television.

~afternoon in the creek~

I’ll be posting more about the creek while we discover bits and bits of it in the coming weekends. Don’t get bored of the creek photos!

You can find other Dubai creek posts I wrote here and here.