What is Ramadan?

2009 marks my second year of Ramadan in the UAE. Ramadan in a Muslim country is mandatory for Muslims and has many aspects that are mandatory for all people.

So what is Ramadan you ask?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Every day during this month, Muslims around the world spend the daylight hours in a complete fast!!! No food, no water, no gum, no smoking, no physical needs.

Ramadan is a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-sacrifice.
Muslims are called upon to use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance.
We are to make peace with those who have wronged us, strengthen ties with family and friends, do away with bad habits -- essentially to clean up our lives, our thoughts, and our feelings.

The Arabic word for "fasting" (sawm) literally means "to refrain" - and it means not only refraining from food and drink, but from evil actions, thoughts, and words.

During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things. The hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places. In such a way, every part of the body observes the fast.

Therefore, fasting is not merely physical, but is rather the total commitment of the person's body and soul to the spirit of the fast.

Did you know all that? I'll give you the 411 of Ramadan here in Dubai over the next few weeks.

Until then.

Double Knot

11 days until i am stateside, 22 days until kory's wedding, 55 until kyle's.

yep, k&k, frick and frack, tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum are getting hitched! although they have double-handedly ruined any chance of me seeing the Great Wall this year, who can be mad about two celebrations in which I MUST buy two new dresses and two new pairs of shoes?

So in order of their marriage debut:

Kory & Katie --July 10th

Visit their site! http://www.burtonyoderwedding.com/

Kyle & Jamie--August 15th

Visit their site! http://weddings.theknot.com/pwp/pwp2/view/MemberPage.aspx?coupleId=8517662665779168

Congrats boys!

Dubai Dining at Its Height

Dubai has a new toy: "Dubai in the Sky." While I thought it would only have 1 minute of fame(the turnover rate of cool things here is impossible). I may be wrong. Check out my friends Matt and Katie's blog to see if this new way of dining will stick.

http://mattandkatiedubai.blogspot.com/2009/05/dinner-in-sky.html

And Caitlin Too!!

Caitlin Scannell, high school friend and arch rival OSU fan, also made it to Dubai this spring. She came the week before the humidity set-in which gave us just enough time to be seen all over town.


It took Caitlin a whopping two days to completely put my tan to shame (I have worked on it all year, she hasn't seen the sun in months), but I think I trumped her in both F&B at brunch-- 10 glasses of champagne and 2 plates full of dessert! WHAT WAS I THINKING?

Always fun to share the city with a close friend, and I think she is a big Dubai fan (hence her 5 page spread on facebook).

Thanks for coming Cailtin!

Jenni Y. in Dubai!

Mama Yoder made an impromptu visit to Dubai last week! Much to the delight of me. She bought the ticket and left less than 48 hours later--make the whole family tip our hats to her spontaneity and proving that I really am only a plane ride away.



This is mom's 3rd time in Dubai. The first time was 2 years ago when I was studying abroad. The 2nd time was August 2008 when we (she) slaved away to decorate the new apartment and the 3rd time was finally some decent R&R with Lynnie time.



Here are the highlights:




Mom, John, and I at a 3 hour brunch at the Yacht Club




Mom and I posing in front of the water fountain at the bottom of the Burj Dubai (World's Tallest Tower)

At the beach in Fujairah (another emirate) that mom compared to the "Puerto Rican slums"

On Beauteux--the creek boat cruise.

Camels on the beach in front of the apartment. Mom loves camels.

Overall, it was a great trip and just what we both needed to get through the next few months until I come home.

Until next time Mama!

Off to the races

John, friends, and I all ventured to the World Cup Horse Race, the richest in the world with a 6M USD purse, a few weeks ago in Dubai. Hats or fascinators (like mine) are essential for ladies.

Here are a few of my favorites!

I started out from Memphis with two dollars and a dime

Everyone has one and there are a million ways to write one. The travel blog. However, I know from the past that unless the reader is TRULY interested in your destination—they blank our after the first few lines. It is difficult to relate to what you don’t know and where you haven’t been. For this reason, visuals are a must! But not too many—and nothing too “you had to be there.”

“Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversation” --Elizabeth Drew.

You probably don’t want to hear about my daily travel itinerary. And I’ll be honest, my significant findings on a place are probably just not THAT significant for you or anyone else—just for me. For this reason, I’ll try to keep my travel blogs light as long as you try not to take them too serious.

Read what you like, skip what you don’t, and stare aimlessly over the rest. After all, “it is the journey not the arrival that matters” – T.S. Eliot

"Onward Singapore"

John and I ventured to Singapore for a 5 day R&R holiday. I enjoyed the amazing orchid botanical garden; John enjoyed dodging the million of wobbly Singaporean rollerbladers while riding a tandem bicycle down the promenade. We both enjoyed the good eats—and Singapore brought 4 days of gorging goodness. One must quench her thirst on this small and humid island; thankfully, Singapore is the home of Tiger beer, and while we never quite made it to the factory, we definitely did our fair share of keeping Tiger in business during this recession. We also enjoyed the infamous Singapore Sling invented at the infamous Long’s Bar inside the infamous Raffles Hotel. Gin is not my comrade—but the drinks were amazing, and we loved the Asian CCR cover band!

Off to Chinatown for more noodles and Tigers. Singapore has an Indian, Chinese, and Arab quarters—alluding to its highly mixed culture and language. The concierge informed us that “if we got up really early, we could go hear the call to prayer in the Muslim quarter.” Needless to say—we felt that we had already experienced this (daily) in its truest (loudest) form and therefore skipped it (to go have more Tigers—kidding).

I’m all about eating like a local, and when I saw the word dessert and a packed Asian house I don't turn my back. Enter two huge mounds of yellow and brown…ICE CREAM?

Actually, shaved ice with milk is more correct. We begged the waitress for the secret to this magic creation of icy goodness—but alas it remains all in the family. However, she did tell us that we could find the magic machine in Taiwan—right before she posed for a smiley picture.

Finally, with bibs snug under our chins, and a “no napkins until the end” rule, John and I tackled the Chili Crab. Multiple of them. This Singapore staple consists of very large fresh crabs dowsed in a sweet chili sauce and served with corn bread. The mess they create is half the fun of eating them. You know a good chili crab when: your fingertips are burned from not waiting for the crab to cool and the staff brings you multiple water-bowls to clean yourself.

All in all, Singapore cracked the door to the fascinating destination that is Asia.

“Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.” - Paul Theroux

To Hold or Not to Hold

It must be said that I am breaking all the rules. No not rules, laws—those things punishable by jail time. Even the best goodie-two-shoes can find themselves in the slammer in Dubai. Ok maybe not “in the slammer” but definitely not in good graces with the local Emirates.

I was once again reminded of my heathen Western actions this morning as the local newspaper reminded me that handholding in Dubai is deemed “inappropriate behavior.” I confess; I am an avid hand holder, an action that is punishable by a fine or eek…prison time!

Now I have broken some rules before in the US (I’ll never tell!), but I also had the right to a lawyer and a speedy trial. I’m not too sure how the jail process is here, but getting your license is hassle enough for me to know I don’t want to be there.

Now let’s not go overboard—usually if you get caught being immoral in Dubai it is because you are WAY out of line (anyone remember the sex on the beach scandal?) I do these acts of indignity within reason and always on the down low. In addition, 95% of the time your punishment is a severe warning by the police or an extremely dirty look from a local.

Overall, I have great respect for the local culture and tradition of the UAE and feel that they have every right to protect what is important to them. I would if the situation were reversed! I have donned the veil on many occasions and will still only wear my “beach apparel” to the beach and not the mall. I know there are locals there—and I would just feel rude and out of line. But on the other hand, I value hand holding and will continue to do so within reason.

You just can’t have it all, but you can try.