Got a hot tip on a camel race in Dubai? Well, you might want to hold off placing a large bet because the camel you backed might just decide it didn’t feel like racing that day. Camels have a mind of their own that not even their riders can control.
This was one of the anecdotes recounted by Donna Westendorf when she spoke to the Pattaya City Expats Club meeting on Sunday, June 9. Donna, and fellow club member Roger Fox, spoke on the topic “Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Then and Now.” Dubai is one of seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
PCEC member Donna Westendorf shares with fellow members her experience of living in Dubai for almost 20 years with her husband Robert, who was setting up hydroponic gardens in nearby Saudi Arabia. Pictured is a photo of the old city of Dubai.
Donna and her late husband, Robert, spent almost 20 years there starting in 1980. Robert had a turn-key project, providing greenhouses and technology for hydroponics growing in Saudi Arabia. Donna said that the couple preferred not to live in Saudi Arabia, so Robert commuted back and forth. She provided some interesting information on Dubai’s trading history that underlies its economy, rather than oil.
Roger Fox, also a member, visited Dubai for 4 days following a recent cruise. Roger said the things that distinguish Dubai are; sand (lots of it), camels and mosques (lots of them too) and dress. In the malls, Roger said, there is a lot of marble and a lot of opulence – to the point of extravagance.
Both Donna and Roger talked about the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, at 829.8 meters (2,722 feet). It has 163 stories. If you book online in advance, a ticket to the observation galleries cost US$25. If you buy a ticket on site, it costs US$100. But it is almost impossible to get a ticket if you haven’t purchased one in advance. A ticket for the 2013 New Year’s Eve party held in the Burj Khalifa cost US$4,300.
David Garmaise, of the Board, advises the procedure for nomination and election of new members to the PCEC Board of Governors.
Donna also mentioned that her son Mark was working on an oil rig in the Persian Gulf when, one day in 1988, the U.S. attacked two Iranian oil rigs in what it said was retaliation for the Iranians having planted a mine that damaged an American frigate. In its own act of retaliation, Iranian naval forces attacked oil facilities, including the rig that Mark was on. Fortunately, Donna said, all of the oil rig workers were safely rescued.
Donna showed several photos as she described camel races, wedding ceremonies, and other interesting activities she encountered while living in Dubai. Arab hospitality being what it is, she related how she and a friend were invited to join a wedding celebration even though, to Donna’s dismay, they did not feel properly dressed. She also commented on observation of the 28 days of Ramadan each year when Muslims are not supposed to eat or drink anything from dawn to dusk. What is not so well known, Donna said, is that this rule also applied to non-Muslims in public. Hotels could provide food for foreigners, but only in closed-in areas. Today, Donna said, the rules for foreigners are a little less strict. Donna also talked about joining a Western women’s group and how they set out to learn more about the history, geography and culture of the UAE; among other things, they hiked in the Hajar Mountains and visited archeological sites.
Roger Fox then described his impression of Dubai when he recently spent four days at the end of a ship cruise he was on. In many respects, he said, Dubai is like a large and prosperous Western city. So, he looked for things that made Dubai different. Roger identified these things as: sand (lots of it), camels and mosques (lots of them too) and dress. In the malls, Roger said, there is a lot of marble and a lot of opulence. “Extravagance” is another word that describes Dubai, in Roger’s mind. For example, there is an air-conditioned enclosed walkway that stretches three-quarters of a mile from a metro stop to a major mall; another being air-conditioned bus stops.
Roger said he was struck by the innovative architecture; aside from some housing developments, he said, no two buildings resembled each other. Roger also said that the infrastructure is excellent. For visitors who don’t have a lot of time, Roger explained, the sightseeing buses are a good way to see the city.
Roger said that the “snow in the mountain” feature in one of the malls was a real bargain. For between $40 and $60, one can be fully outfitted and can snow ski for several hours. He said that when he goes back to Dubai one day, he will definitely go skiing. As to cost, Roger noted that a night at the Burj Al Arab hotel will set you back US$1,200, but he was more than happy with his 3.5 star accommodations, only a 10-minute walk from the Mall of the Emirates, which cost about US$60 a night.
After the presentation, Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg updated everyone on upcoming events and called on Roy Albiston to conduct the Open Forum, where questions are asked and answered about Expat living in Thailand. To learn more about the Pattaya City Expats Club and their many activities, visit www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
