In Other News

I'm on Holiday for Eid Al Fitr (the celebration after Ramadan ends) for five days.  As I mentioned before, gov't and public works all get 9 days off!  There is another Eid in December in combo with National Day makes a nice week or so off as well.  We might travel for that one if we can find cheaper tickets to Lake Victoria in Tanzania, some people are going rafting and we want to go.  I'll need to go back because I want to climb Kilaminjaro before I leave.

There is also talk of a weekend ski trip to Lebanon.  Can there be anymore trips to plan?  I thought I was supposed to save money and pay off debt?  No one ever said I was fiscal...

Oh!  Totally stupid, but it should be fun, we got tickets to see Christina Aguilera at the Emirates Palace.  And Brad, you are coming since you will be here!  

The racing season - aquathlon, triathlon, duathlon and bike racing is starting!  I raced last weekend in an aquathlon - 800m swim with 5km run.  Painful run.  I placed 7th in division, 10th overall.  Not bad for only be really "back at it" for a little over a month.   I'll have some photos up soon.  

I'm making good progrss climbing up Jebel Hafeet.  I've cut my time from 55mins to 46mins.  Power is up and breathing is better.  I don't know what my HR is, but perceived effort is also down.  My PowerTap HR strap crapped out on me, so I opened it up.  It was also brown and crusty.  Battery is all coroeded and there appears to be a small crack in the casing.  Anyway, I ordered a Garmin 405 and then I can sync up that HR strap to the PT.  This will also make racing with the PT/Garmin easier, I hope.  Still holding out for an SRM at xmas...  

I'm trying to upload some photos from the construction of the Deira Palm and Mamzar beach where we run/swim by Jen's place in Dubai, but no deal.

  

Only here...

Things that can only happen in the UAE:

Only here would a 25% increase in housing allowance, companywide, be implemented without warning.  Not complaining just super surprised and stoked! 

Only here can you set your cruise control from 87-96mph for an hour without a worry in the world of getting caught for speeding and still have to look out for faster cars passing you!

Only here can you drive down the street with two bikes on your roof and have people stare as if Pamela Lee and Angelina Jolie were naked making out on the roof of my car

Only here can you buy a Land Cruiser Prado (with a staff discount) and sell it back to the dealership for the same price a year later.  Yes, I said the dealership will buy it back for what it was bought for! That’s a nice discount!

Only here can Holidays be moved around giving you 5 extra days off work.  This doesn’t apply to private companies like my bank though…Jen will enjoy her 9 days off for Eid.

Only here can you get approval for new software and training costing 6 months of your salary and people be happy about buying it and sending you back to the US to get trained! 

Only here (well, maybe other GCC countries) can you get thrown in jail for eating in public during Ramadan