The United Arab Emirates as a country was founded today, 2 December, exactly 50 years ago, when Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman, and Umm-al-Quwain joined forces. Ras-al-Khaimah, the 7th emirate making up… Continue reading
Nothing stands as a stronger sign of change than when a building or group of buildings are razed to the ground to make space for redevelopment. I’ve driven past Mina Plaza Towers many… Continue reading
“Adventures will change you. They’ll saturate you with a fresh view of life. They’ll take every foundation you ever stood on and shake them until they crack. Adventures will tear away layer after… Continue reading
“A gentle word opens an iron gate.” – Bulgarian Proverb – Words can fill a reader with magic and wonder. They can conjure up landscapes, visions, and characters that are vivid and tangible. Stories… Continue reading
Layers of cloud cover the sky, swirling into a witches brew of grey. Big, fat raindrops burst and explode against window panes, leaving watery trails in their wake. With time the drizzle turns… Continue reading
The dull thud of the concrete truck, as it starts to regurgitate its contents, penetrates through the closed windows that keep the neighbourhood sounds at bay. The building sounds we daily hear in stereo punctuate our waking hours, and… Continue reading
The morning dawned with whimsical brushstrokes of clouds painting a bright blue sky. After ten days of grey, it is a welcome sight. Instead of watering the garden, I found myself sitting in… Continue reading
On the outskirts of Al Ain, next to the truck road to Abu Dhabi, lies a freshwater lake in the soft embrace of sand dunes. It is an unexpected sight to see so… Continue reading
Gene Fowler’s words “writing is easy; all you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until the drops of blood form on your forehead“, felt particularly true for me over… Continue reading
The usual early morning building noises that have become my alarm clock and are creating a familiar backdrop for me to slowly drag myself out of my dreams and warm bed were all… Continue reading
Something mysterious happens when one moves to a foreign country. One day you are still in the body you brought along with you, and the next you are in a body that poses… Continue reading
A Wednesday is the best day of the week to be a woman in the UAE. Hotels close their gym and swimming facilities to men, and women, for once, have a space where… Continue reading
Yes it is true: “I love winter!” Not that I ever thought I’ll utter those words. When I think of winter the first word that comes to mind is “cold”. To that list… Continue reading
