Bin Majed Beach Ras Al Khaimah

... up the radio and was on my way across the sandbox. When I say sandbox, I really mean it is wall to wall sand that blows in drifts. After about 45 mintues the sand gave way to rocky mountains and I was surprised that a small range maybe 2,000 feet tall runs near the Indian Ocean. On the other side lay the city and state of Fujairah and it is a skyscraper creation in progress.

I couldn't believe all the highrises being built and wondered who in the ...

... was short, but the road wound around the base of the mountains -- very scenic. We made mental notes of where we'd like to stop for a picnic lunch on the way back.

We hit the only two sightseeing spots mentioned in our guidebook (Dubai Off-Road Explorer) on the road to Khasab. The first was at Bukha, which has two old forts; one close to the water, which looked like it had been refurbished ...

... returned, with visas, that day. It was a risk, but we were anxious to get started and fortunately we heard good news by the time we had passed Ajman on the Emirates Road.

We drove into Abu Dhabi around noon, picked up our passports with visas, and headed back out for the UAE-Saudi border at Batha. Weather reports were warning about sandstorms, and indeed the wind was strong and you could see ...

Ajman to Sharjah by minibus, it leaves right in front of the Ajman museum and goes to the Sharjah bus station, very practical for my bus change to the emirate of Fujarah that lies on the east coast of the UAE, so the highway goes across the desert, and ...

Another 2 days weekend, the ONE in this month... you'd think it's a perfect occasion for a big weekend out, but I was absolutely shattered! I needed some sleep. And, I have to admit, not only because of work. The ex-project manager, who had resigned and left just as I arrived, had invited everyone to the Begian Beer Bar on wednesday night... I finished with my good colleague Ivo, belly and brain full of belgian beer, just a few hours before getting up for work with a ...

First Trip to UAE. First impression, hot & humid, modern & civilised, if I can say that. Got through immigration without problems thanks to the Marhaba Service, really not necessary, there was nothing going on at the Airport. Outside hundreds of drivers waiting to pick passengers up, couldn't find mine. Then finally I got a glimpse of his board with the hotel name. Nice ...

... around with a big stick keeping everybody in line. The word on the street is that the Iranians are a tad annoyed with little old Bahrain for jumping into bed with Satan a.k.a. the US, so it is unlikely that the Amir is going to do anything to make Uncle Sam take his bat and ball and go home any time soon. The sole purpose of our stop in Bahrain was for us to attend a series of briefings on what our role here is going to be. These briefings were taking place at the main US ...

... for rights to a table. I have not witnessed a sucessful challenge against nationals, everytime a scanner was first on site, he won the reward. However I personally have succombed to numerous challenges. I was clearly out of my league. There is another key position that does not recieve the credit it deserves - the Scavenger. The scavenger's job is to collect chairs from tables that are not using all the chairs. You see, very often ...

... all the world records it can at a madding pace...i think infact they want to set a record at the speed in which they set the records...for instance the worlds 1st 7 star hotel - the burj al arab is here. built out onto an island its really quite facinating, although the honor of entering is reserved for guest and those willing to pay 150 Dirhams (about 40$) for tea and a tour. more up and coming records include ...

... to watch that. The bar is an interesting place. Not much of a young crowd, just middle to old men either watching the football, or enjoying a quiet drink. The women in the crowd appear mostly to be prostitutes (or so I'm led to believe). I watch as some of them (girls) chat up some guys, some of whom are successful, and they leave shortly after - while others ... well, they'll just have to wait a little longer. It was just interesting to see what happens in places like ...