Slowing Down For Summer
It is that time of the year again when a lull falls over life in the UAE. The sweltering heat of summer urge many expats who can, to either return to their home countries for a visit, or to travel to cooler places. There are even some businesses that close their doors at the end of June, only to re-open them in September. July and August are the black sheep in the calendar.
This year the holy month of Ramadan will claim most of July and take a small bite out of August. As Muslims are fasting during the daylight hours, restaurants and food outlets close their doors, as eating and drinking in public are prohibited during these hours. It is only after sunset that life resumes again with an exuberant energy.
I seem to fall into a state of lethargy during the summer months and prefer to hide indoors as much as I can. I only venture outside if I have to or at sunrise when I water our postage stamp-sized garden, hoping that the remaining herbs and grass will survive the blistering months ahead. It is only our small jasmine bush that seems to revel in the heat, and is growing at an astounding rate.
To survive summer, I will visit friends and family in South Africa for three weeks, and for the rest of the time, try to find all the cool spots in the UAE, which would most probably involve water and air-conditioners.
I am also planning to spend many happy hours this summer reading, and in case you have the same idea, I have some great suggestions:
Safia (http://topofthetent.wordpress.com/) nominated me for the Shine On Award, and as she so eloquently put it when she debated accepting this award herself, and in the process managed to convince me to play along: “In my opinion, if I didn’t accept, it would be like not returning the smile of a stranger in the street, or turning my back when the hand of friendship is extended in my direction.”
I, a while back also got nominated for a Liebster Award, and although I said “thank you”, I decided not to accept and go through all the work of paying the compliment forward. I guess I did not smile back at http://everydayadventuresasia.wordpress.com/, which I will now do, albeit belated, by nominating her and all the below blogs for this award. Each of these blogs is lovely in their own right and certainly worth exploring.
- http://garrulousgwendoline.wordpress.com/
- http://livesadventure.wordpress.com/
- http://lahacienda.wordpress.com/
- http://melindatrips2012.wordpress.com/
- http://codyandsondra.wordpress.com/
- http://thecactusthedonkeyandthebrit.wordpress.com/
- http://thorupjim.wordpress.com/
- http://weirdandcoolstuff.wordpress.com/
- http://aboutaddisababa.wordpress.com/
- http://theroofsofkathmandu.wordpress.com/
- http://completelydisappear.wordpress.com/
- http://roselinde.wordpress.com/
- http://goanflavour.com/
- http://lemoncakebreak.com/
Oh yes, and then I am supposed to mention 7 things about myself:
- I love reading.
- I am a certified yoga instructor.
- I worked for most of my life as a drama teacher.
- I need a lot of sleep to function properly.
- I often wish I had the energy of a 4-year old.
- I love being outside during that hour that hugs sunsets and sunrises.
- I prefer solitude or one-on-one interactions to crowds.
** Note to the writers of all the lovely blogs mentioned: If you would like to accept this delightful award, copy the image in a post, list seven facts about yourself, and pay it forward by nominating 15 blogs you enjoy reading. If you don’t, know that there are people who enjoy reading what you have to say, and simply carry on living a life of adventure.
** An excellent site to discover interesting blogs is Expat Blogs, and while there you can check out an interview I did for them, and if you are inclined to do so, you may also leave a comment regarding my blog here.
Congrats on the awards.
Thanks Pieter.
Thanks for your blogs and congratulations. It is nice to learn more about your part of the world!
Good luck for the hot UAE summer! I think spending 3 weeks away in cooler South-Africa will be the perfect getaway!
Thank you Janaline.
Thanks Tom.
Thanks for the compliment, Jolandi! That is a beautiful beach shot.
Only a pleasure Ruth. And thank you.
Oh, I’m very slow at the moment – I’ll blame that summer lethargy you mention! Just found this post today and wanted to say thanks for the mention and well done for passing on the award. I must take a look at your nominees’ blogs. The window of opportunity for getting out has narrowed significantly in the last few days, I’ve found – too, too, hot! Take care and Ramadan Kareem!
Ramadan Kareem Safia! And enjoy the slower pace of summer.
I’m honored to have you visit our blog, and am in awe of your travels. Love the Theroux quote.
Have a safe trip home to your friends/family!
🙂
Thank you!
Thank you so much for nominating my blog! I hope you are enjoying it, as I am certainly enjoying yours!
Absolutely love your blog Melinda.
Hi Jolandi – I have only just stumbled across this comment. Many apologies for the delay in reply. I am incredibly thrilled that you like my blog so much that you have nominated me for a Liebster award. I have just read up on the meaning, and I will have to set it aside for the moment. I am sorry about that, because you have paid me such a compliment, and it is so enheartening to know my words hold meaning.. When I get back home I will be able to give it the proper attention. And on that subject, I regret to advise we have had to cancel our Abu Dhabi stopover. After all, we have to curtail our travels by about three weeks. Urgent news from home, Another time let’s hope. Garrulous Gwendoline, The Reluctant Retiree
Ps: Just read your post on your trip back the Sth Africa. Very poignant reflections ………
I am in awe of all the in-depth writing you do whilst traveling, and I follow your journey with great interest Gwendoline. Sorry to hear about your change in travel plans. Life, unfortunately, doesn’t always work out the way we plan it. Good luck with your journey home and what awaits you there.
Thank you for liking my post on Monemvasia. Your comments above re Ramadan got me thinking about friends who are fasting up here in East Coast US where the sun rises at 5 and sets after 8. It is a long day and the experience must be different than Ramadan at a different time of year, In UAE your days are roughly the same length being closer to the equator. I wonder what that does to everyone’s reflections on the experience. i will have to ask.
Here’s to the survival of your herb garden. At least you don’t have to worry about blight and fungus from too much humidity!
I guess there are always something to be grateful for Paul. My garden doesn’t look good, but it is hanging in there. Ramadan in summer must be a huge challenge for those fasting, and I do admire their focus and commitment. I am not sure that I would have been able to do it.
Thanks for the nomination!
Only a pleasure! You have a lovely blog.