I Tuesday
Lots of chores and cooking today....with a quick run to the Carrefour. It's about 8:00 pm and I'm ready for bed. Right now it is 91 degrees with 71% humidity...which makes it feel like about 111. I was outside a bit today and I think that's what is making me feel so tired. Going to curl up with a book here in a minute.
I drove the Expedition to the mall today for the first time...it is a tank! But, I found a decent parking spot and made it back home and into the garage without knocking g a rearview mirror off, so I count that a success! Last time we were here there were lots and lots of roundabouts...due to the British influence on the area for many years. Now this time, they are making many of those into regular intersections ms with stoplights.. Interesting...I prefer the stoplights myself. There are still a lot of round abouts however, but at least they aren't scary to navigate.
Lots of new construction in our neighborhood...new homes and apartments/condos. Lots more construction along the major highways around Dubai. Cannot tell what much of it is yet...or how much is related to the huge Expo 2020 they are hosting in 5 years. Dubai is inviting the world and expecting 25 million to show up!
One of the things I bought at the store today was a small kitty pool...there will be several small children around in the next few days. We have an above ground pool but it's a bit hard to navigate for the little ones. We shall see how long it lasts. Funny how water makes you feel cool when it's so hot and humid!
Wednesday
Met with a friend today who gave us lots of info on the history of the Arabian Pennsula and how the countries have related In the past. She also reminded us of the of the ways to show respect for the local culture. For example... Showing the bottoms of your feet and using your left hand (which is what you use in the bathroom) is offensive. If you are in someone's home and given something to eat, return the plate with a little bit left on it - never empty. If you don't like something, just take a bite and leave it. Never refuse food or a gift! No wet hair in public. Be very careful if you want to give a compliment - people may feel they need to give you what you liked!
In the afternoon we went to the airport to pick up a friend new to the area. Andy stayed with the car because it was supposed to be a quick run in to the coffee shop where she would be waiting. After 90 minutes, emails and calls we had to go home without her...in the end she was in the coffee shop inside the baggage area where I could not go. She took a taxi to the house, By the time we got home it was time to think about supper.
And so it goes...
I have leaned a lot about date trees while being in Dubai. Last year you might remember seeing pictures of the men bagging up the dates in the trees to protect them from getting eaten by birds. Also contains the mess. That was early in the process. Now we are at the other end of the process, so...
It is my duty every other day to harvest, wash, and set the dates out to dry. Here is a pictorial and now you could do it, too.
In the late spring workers come in and cut back all the spikes that grow I the tree - so they do not get hurt in this process. Then they bag up each branch of developing dates into net bags. These are the only 2 bags left in the trees this season.
The dates need so many days (I have forgotten how many) of temperatures over 90 to ripen. It is usually August or September before they are ready to cut down. We leave them in the netting and position them over a bucket of water. We shake the branch and the ones that are fully ripened will fall to the bottom of the bag. We let them fall into a bucket of water. The 'bad' ones rise to the surface and are removed. The good ones are rinsed so they are clean.
They are placed on this rack to dry for a couple of days.
Containers are collected all year for storage. They are left in the refrigerator and eaten all year long!
I was out with some of the little ones by the pool the other day. They found this nut in the water...it had fallen from a neighbor's tree. I am told an almond is developing inside...
We have a 'day off' to go on an adventure today. Haven't had much opportunity to plan but we will take off after breakfast this morning...
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