Back in the Saddle Again

GENE AUTRY

I'm back in the saddle again

Out where a friend is a friend

Where the longhorn cattle feed

On the lowly gypsum weed

Back in the saddle again

Ridin' the range once more

Totin' my old .44

Where you sleep out every night

And the only law is right

Back in the saddle again

Whoopi-ty-aye-oh

Rockin' to and fro

Back in the saddle again

Whoopi-ty-aye-yay

I go my way

Back in the saddle again

I'm back in the saddle again

Out where a friend is a friend

Where the longhorn cattle feed

On the lowly gypsum weed

Back in the saddle again

Ridin' the range once more

Totin' my old .44

Where you sleep out every night

And the only law is right

Back in the saddle again

Whoopi-ty-aye-oh

Rockin' to and fro

Back in the saddle again

Whoopi-ty-aye-yay

I go my way

Back in the saddle again

With apologies to late, great Gene Autry, I am back in the great American Southwest, St. George Utah to be specific. This is home to me as I own a house, have a car, and most of my best friends are here. It has been over a year since I had red dust on my boots and it feels great. The weather is still mild and the skies are a crystal clear blue. At night, you can look up and see the Milky Way from the backyard.

Back Yard View Pine Valley Mountain

I am staying with Cheryl, Wayne and their son Kyle. For many years, they have been my surrogate family and I appreciate their tolerance of my temporary intrusion of their normal lives by letting me stay at their house.. I also reconnected with their two dogs, Bailey and Rayo, who surprisingly remembered and welcomed me after over a year. To me that is amazing! They could have just as easily chewed my kneecaps off, but they apparently have a good memory.

Bailey and Rayo Clowning Around

Rayo, the Boxer

I have been here but 4 days but have seen a lot of my favorite people. The Jet Lag Gods were kind to me this time and I was fine after a day. The trip from Abu Dhabi was comfortable as I got a seat in a premium cabin, but the 6 hour domestic flight from JFK to Salt Lake City found me in steerage with this as the in-flight meal! There are about eight goobers in there!

Yesterday I went to a party and drank too much. I wasn't the only one though!
There were some alcohol fueled death-defying stunts!

Dez Prior to the Face Plant

Rachel was a bit more Stylish Despite the Ack-Ack

Our Intrepid Stuntwomen Before the Plunge!

Party Time...The Shirt refers to OJ Simpson

Could put an Eye Out With Those Things!

It has been fun so far and I have unwound alot. A Las Vegas trip is planned in the next few days and my luck will determine whether I will return to the UAE or not. Hell, I still gotta eat!


One interesting thought...last time I visited the USA, I dreaded going back to the UAE....this time not so much! Its not that I like the US less, but maybe I like the Emirates more than I did back then.

Annual Leave

I have a date tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM with a very sexy gal. A gaudy, sleek, pearl-colored Airbus A340-500 four-holer that is going to take me back to my homeland. We are going to be together on a trip to New York City for more than 14 hours and I sincerely hope we don't get tired with each other.  I hope she can entertain me all that time as I tend to get cranky and restless. Hell, I don't even like to do anything that feels good for that amount of time!

Airbus A340-500

Cabin Crew, God love 'em!

Google Earth View of KJFK

Once we get to the Big Apple though, we will have to part ways. She will have to go back to Abu Dhabi and I will have to press on with her dowdy domestic sisters to Utah, U.S.A.. What was good across Europe and the volcano dust ridden atmosphere of the Northern Atlantic turns into a steerage experience across America in a usually grungy 30 year old aircraft with cranky Flight Attendants double that age.

Except for This One...a Vintage Photo...Coffee, Tea or Me????

Dayum!!!!

Sexiest Airliner Ever Award goes to the Boeing 727

Geez, why can't the U.S. airlines even come close to matching the service and atmosphere that international airlines offer? I think it is the lowering of expectations of the American public. They want $199 fares coast to coast service while all the time demanding to be treated like Donald Trump. Kind of like paying for a Mickey D's Happy Meal and expecting Dom Perignon to wash the crap down your gullet. Get over yourselves! You want to get from Baltimore to Seattle? Pay up or shut up! Jet-A fuel is expensive!

Well hell yeah, then you can expect to pay $8 for a glass of water and $50 bucks to check your bags at those fares and don't bitch about it. I don't roll that way! Slip a buck in the lav too when nature calls! That is what you cheapos deserve. I believe Easy Jet has adopted this policy. You asked for it, you got it! Cheap Charlie fares ain't all that! Greyhound buses cost more now.

I think airlines should double their fares. The planes may be less full but the passengers that can afford it would be of a better behavior, the airline company will make the same money and air travel would be that much more pleasant. Like back in the old days Win-win!!!

I do blame the domestic airlines for catering to that attitude, though. They are somewhat responsible. It's all about market share and keeping the shareholders, not the passengers, happy. Massive fail!

Anyway, I am going to be in the land of The Great Satan for three weeks and  I will report on how it feels for an expat to be back in the U.S. after over a year of being away. Hint, I don't miss it yet! I do miss my family and friends, though.. More to come when boots are on the ground!

My initial destination is one of the most beautiful places on Earth:

The Reservoir

Cool Sunset

Rare Snow

My Favorite Pastime and Machine, I spent many hours out in the desert on this bike!

Always, thanks for reading and being my friends! Frequent updates are promised!












I

"There's No Country Like Abu Dhabi"

I was in the navy sometime ago and when we received what were called "Flash Traffic" status messages, it was important that these highest level missives were disseminated as quickly and as widely as possible.

Today reminded of those days when an  important naval message would reel off the teletype. After a long nightshift, I decided to relax and catch up with my other UAE bloggers here in "The Dhab" and go to bed at 11 AM after a couple of stout rum and cokes. I noticed fellow blogger, Grapeshisa had an update and since this blog  has been around for awhile and is known for quality updates on life in the Emirates, I decided to see the what"s the hap.

Once there, I saw a link to There's No Country Like Abu Dhabi I clicked on it and found the song so satiric in a good way that I almost passed an ice cube from my nostril with laughter. Maybe you have to live here to understand. The ditty mentioned all the stereotypes but they got them really wrong. There were sounds of cobra-charmer horns and Talibans yelling through bullhorns. Abu Dhabi was never its own country either even thought that was repeatedly mentioned.  Desert flowers (not) and eagles (neither) were mentioned, too. All lies!

The band "Tex Glitter" sounds good and captures the West Texas accent and style very well, even though they claim to be Swedish. I doubt ABBA could match that. One word of warning: the Abu Dhabi Anthem was funny but some of the other songs on Tex Glitter's playlist you will see on their MySpace have a veeery strong adult content. You have been warned. If you are squeamish, click the back button right after the Abu Dhabi song. I learned the hard way :)!

Usually I ponder for awhile before I post on my blog. I want every post to be important and relevant ( I know, too late!), but this was my Flash Message for the day. Had to get it out! Click the link and enjoy!

Shukran, Grapeshisha for the find! Grapeshisha

A Tale of Two Cities

Map of the United Arab Emirates

I have lived in Abu Dhabi for almost two years and I am quite acclimated to my new home, but recently I had the opportunity to visit the famed Dubai. 100 KM's to the north.

I will have to admit something very embarrassing. It was my first trip to Dubai. A mere two hours drive away and I had never visited one of the world's most famous cities. I guess it boils down to my not having a concrete reason to go there. I am kind of strange that way. And I tend to be lazy. I grew up in a Florida resort town on the beach and never visited some of the most popular tourist attractions. 

Anyway, a fellow local blogger offered to show me around her domicile city of Dubai. We drove out to the end of Palm Jumeirah, you know, the artificial islands built out in the Arabian Gulf.  The Atlantis resort is there is absolutely marvelous!

Palm Jumeirah

There is a monorail that runs the length of the islands and it afforded some good photographic opportunities.

Monorail, Palm Jumeirah

Atlantis, Dubai

Atlantis, Dubai

The Atlantis sported a very nice aquarium. Very high-end stuff. Rooms were over $400/night.

Atlantis Aquarium, Leopard Rays in formation

After the Atlantis, we drove down the JBR Walk. As it was Friday, it was as empty as the below photo depicts. Apparently on other days of the week, this cobblestone street is bumper-to-bumper with Ferraris, Maseratis, Lambourghinis and the odd Corvette. It is the equivalent of Main Street U.S.A. where the folks drive up and down the street stylin', profiling, and birddogging chicks.

JBR Walk

Chrysler Building Lookalikes near JBR..

The real one in NYC is owned by the UAE. This is my favorite building. Art Deco at its best!

This street is lined with high-end eateries and retail outlets.

Next was lunch at a hotel sports bar. I had the fried hammour. Similar to grouper.

Then coffees curbside in front of the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. 

The Burj Khalifa

I enjoyed my time in Dubai. It is very "Western Style" there and it is real easy to forget one is in the Middle East. There are a lot of things to do there and I was amazed at the overt consumerism. Not that this is bad in itself, but I felt somewhat inadequate as I was not piloting a bright red Ferrari while wearing a 24 karat gold Rolex. Los Angeles comes to mind.

After my trip to Dubai, I realized I am more comfortable in Abu Dhabi. Things are slower here and AD just seems more genuine, more exotic and well...Arabic. I am good with that!

Dubai has had its troubles lately and it has been said that Abu Dhabi has provided assistance, hence the last minute name change of the tallest building in the world.

Abu Dhabi has the wealth and many plans for the future. I am convinced that AD's conservative and measured growth will see the city being the prominent venue of the U.A.E. in a few years.

Dubai is cool, but her dowdy sister to the south is finally waking up.

Abu Dhabi Skyline

Abu Dhabi Environment

Abu Dhabi Waterfront, Al Raha Beach

Abu Dhabi Sunset

Abu Dhabi Sunrise

I think I will stay put for awhile! I "heart" Abu Dhabi! Life is a bit more relaxed here and that suits me just fine.