Artefacts

There is the small thing of the UAE celebrating it's 42 birthday on Sunday (2nd December) and the whole town is red, white, green and black. This little cultural display was at the Hyatt near the training room we were using. I had to go there this morning to "close" the event and discovered that the speaker had been in this region in the 70s so knows quite a bit of the history - in fact - he was with the RAF based in Sharjah!

But anyone following it will know that the REALLY BIG NEWS today is Dubai winning their bid to host the World Expo in 2020. Yup. Little 'ol Dubai! So if you flew Emirates in the last few months and noticed the Expo 2020 logo - the words "Candidate City" can now come off! We happened to be in Baskin Robbins at the right place to see the fireworks display on the Burj Khalifa to mark the occasion. Unfortunately there wasn't a camera in sight. Too tired to carry even my X10!

Going back to the picture - the items made using dyed palm leaves are the most noticeable. These are all very traditional items and not used much anymore. Certainly not the well, as all our water is desalinated - a by-product from the aluminium smelter. Ok, we have gas turbines to make up the shortfall! We need a lot of water!!

Feeling much better today thank you though a hacking cough still needs to be dealt with. :)