Why I Love Ramadan: Re-Connecting with Old Friends

How good friends make you feel...

I had the pleasure of dinner with a much loved friend last night.  We used to work together and I don't see her nearly as much as I would like to or should.  She's one of these people that you're lucky to meet: you share an instant connection that sparks up as soon as you get back together, however long you leave between catch ups.  Despite different backgrounds, upbringings and life paths so far, we just click.  This girl is basically my twin sister, if my twin sister was a gorgeous Iraqi-American, with long dark tumbling hair.  Just like me she's funny (obv), smart (obv), successful (obv) and utterly charming (double obv).

And, just like me, she's very hard on herself, in terms of personal and professional life.  She pushes herself harder and longer, is plagued by a work ethic that sees her losing sleep, losing patience, losing her marbles....

What is it with women these days? Why can't we relax and appreciate that no, we're not perfect, but we are pretty wonderful most of the time?  Is this a female thing?  I don't have the answers, I'm just throwing it out there.

Anyway once we'd got past the initial frenzy of downloading about the pressures and stresses of work, we got down to the really important stuff: boys, fashion and make-up.  As we emerged from the restaurant into the thronging mall (malls are packed in the evenings during Ramadan) we vowed to see more of one another.  Ramadan allowed us the space to catch up (we both finished work early) but in future, we'll make the time...

Tinkling the Ivories....

I walked past a man tuning a piano this morning. I should just qualify this by saying that I’ve started walking to work again – the temperature is cooler and I’m embracing any opportunity to whittle my waistline. My journey takes me through Dubai Mall. There’s a variety of routes I can take, and when I feel the need to look at beautiful things, I stroll through ‘Fashion Avenue’. As it sounds, it’s populated by big name fashion brands, hence gorgeous window displays.

This morning I had a neb at Chloe, Alexander McQueen, Tom Ford, Temperley and Missoni. And for some reason, which I’m sure will become clear next time I walk past, they’ve installed a grand piano outside Ralph Lauren, hence the aforementioned piano tuner.

I was instantly transported back to being 11 years old and piano lessons. The thing with the piano is that it requires a lot of practice. I could blame my poor skills on the fact that we didn’t have a piano, but if I’m honest, the lack of practice is what did for me. I did remember that the one tune which I can belt out is: Noel. And it’s Christmas! Any venue with a piano – watch out – I may not be able to control myself!

Just like Vegas....well almost....

The fountains have started working properly! You may remember me mentioning that Dubai has paid to have the world's biggest fountain (of course, why bother with a piddly effort) and even enlisted the help of the designers of the Bellagio fountains in Vegas to make sure that we don't have anything shoddy.

They've been testing them on and off recently on my walk home from work, but this weekend, I saw them in full effect. And they're pretty impressive! Lots of water (natch), lights and music. I couldn't hear this properly from my vantage point, but I caught a whiff of soft rock wafting over the water. No need! Still, the fountains are pretty, if you like that sort of thing. You can see my efforts at taking photos here. That huge beast inthe background that the light is reflecting off is the Burj.

The World’s Biggest Mall

It’s not every day a mall the size of Greater Manchester opens on your doorstep, and yesterday the day finally came for the doors to open at Dubai Mall. It has been dogged by delays, with the opening date put back by a couple of months, then a few more days.

I hadn’t actually intended to go in – I can take or leave the malls here – in my opinion they’re overpriced, vacuous places. But in I went – twice! In my defence, the fist time was necessity – the traffic situation was so bad at our offices that I had to abandon my car and walk home. Now I LOVE walking, but this is starting to get a bit arduous in the evening heat and humidity.

I set off home from work with a couple of colleagues – and it dawned on us that rather than running the gamut of crazy drivers on the highway, we could cut through the Mall. This was easier than it sounds, as, despite being open, it is far from finished.

We meandered down into the bowels of its parking, which is like another world. It reminded me a bit of Mad Max – lots of dust, noise, cars horns, traffic going the wrong way – general pandemonium. Eventually we found our way into the actual mall itself, and by this stage the air con was a major relief.

My verdict on the mall? Well it’s much like any other mall in Dubai – with only 30% of the shops actually being open. There’s the usual Kurt Geiger, Reiss, Zara, Mango (all at about 30% more expensive than the UK), there’s a Nivea spa (because Dubai just doesn’t have enough of these).

The big attractions are Hamleys, Bloomingdales (opening in 2010), and Galleries Layfayette.

The other huge attraction is the world’s biggest aquarium. In the mall. This area was packed. Being Dubai, nothing comes for free, and although you can walk around and get a general view, if you want to get up close and personal to the fish, you have to queue up and pay for the privilege to walk through an enclosed tunnel. The queue for this was huge. I smiled smugly as I walked past – regular readers will know that I visited the mall for a sneak preview and have already done the tunnel!

I was genuinely surprised by the amount of people in the mall – I ended up going back in a few hours later as I met a friend who wanted to have a look – at 9 pm it was packed. I left wondering what it said about Dubai – try and find an art gallery and you’ll probably have to drive for hours into the middle of nowhere. Open a mall – that isn’t finished – and within two hours it will be rammed to the rafters.

There is no getting away from the fact that it is ridiculously handy to have this beast so nearby – it’s about ten minutes on foot door to door- but I’m a bit concerned about the amount of traffic that we’re now going to have roaring past. A high price to pay for Zara on your doorstep? Only time will tell.

There’s no place like home

I don’t think I’ve explained that much about where I live, so here’s some info kids.

I live in an area which apparently is the most expensive in the world – it’s ah op, skip and a jump from Burj Dubai – the world’s tallest building. Thankfully the apartment is a 5 minute drive to the office. I remain convinced that during the summer months I’ll be able to walk to work – a concept that is greeted by howls of laughter from friends and colleagues. You see, there is no sewerage system here – so in addition to the crazy car drivers who may mow you down without so much as a backwards glance, on the odd occasion that it rains, apparently the roads flood with water as there is nowhere for it to drain through to.

Anyway, within walking distance of the apartment (not that you want to walk anywhere at the moment, the humidity is obscene) we have two gorgeous hotels. One, the Al Manzil, has a diving courtyard, which due to some amazing architectural trickery, remains really cool, ever at this time of year.

The Palace is set on an island and really does feel very majestic as you go into it. Both have souks within them – think an Arabian mini-shopping centre. These are really handy as they each have a Spinneys (Waitrose), chemists, hairdressers (!) various boutiques, and a huge range of gorgeous restaurants and bars.

There’s also a great little spa for waxes, mani pedis (for 10 quid) and massages. Starbucks, cafes, florists, camel souvenirs, it’s all going on.

Our apartment is in a development called South Ridge. Six enormous towers (39 floors) with two pools – which are divine, a fab gym, which is never busy, a golf simulator (!), squash and badminton courts, and soon to open guest suites where visitors can rest their weary heads. The lobby of our tower alone looks like a 7 star hotel, lush sofas, works of art, and 24 hour concierges. Who are possibly the sweetest people I have ever met. Nothing is too much trouble for them.

All of this comes at a price, of course. 20, 000 of your English pounds, if you please, for one year. And you have to pay up front, in two cheques. There was sasharp intake of breath when the first one was cashed, I can tell you.

The world's largest mall is set to open at the end of October - this too, is a 5 minute walk from the apartment. Whilst concerned about the effect that the inevitable traffic to the mall will create, I am keen for seeing the world's largest aquarium, and indoor ice-skating rink (are you listening, Haidari?!).

Have I made you want to visit yet?!

Mall of Exhaustion

As the boy only gets one day off a week (!) I took myself of to the Mall of the Emirates today. Hailed a cab right from the front door and set off. I think the trip was £3. Sorry if I am obsessed by how cheap the cabs are!

The Mall is as you would expect: flash, fast and fun. You could almost be anywhere in the world given the amount of international brands there. Harvey Nichols is divine, huge and has some gorgeous designers (Manchester branch, please take note).

Oh and it has a ski slope! Completely outrageous and I love it.

You're reminded that you're in Dubai by the traditional dress all around you, and at 4,45, a call to prayer rang out! I find it really relaxing and quite hypnotic. It didn't distract me from shopping though.

A minor issue in Carrefour: after muntering around for hours choosing bath towels (well, they have to be just right), and staggering up to the tills, I was told that they wouldn't accept my HSBC card. I had to run to a cashpoint with the nice Indian man who had packed my bags for me. This would have embarrassed me back in England but here I couldn't care less!

I decided to quit whilst I was ahead and caught another taxi home. Just in time to finish a book by the pool before dinner. How will I ever find time to work?!