19th Sept 2009

This is actually the best chocolate cake I have ever eaten! The main reason being it is not sickly in the slightest, nevermind the huge wedge it is! I’m sat in the communal area at Mangrove Village, enjoying the evening heat, calm atmosphere, sound of water and my chocolate cake! So it’s been a little while since I wrote my last blog and surely I must have something to show for this – well not particularly. I guess I should say I have been researching to some extent on ‘how the other half live!’

I arrived back in Abu Dhabi last Saturday evening to my friend’s house. They live on a large compound area just outside the city; included within is a small supermarket, fitness centre with spas, an indoor and an outdoor swimming pool, kids play area, small café restaurant, tennis/basketball/cricket courts and its very own beach! You can probably guess that the houses here are definitely not on the small side, the majority also having their own luscious pools – and that includes my one! Art and Mo were still in Spain when I arrived so I settled in and made myself the most amazing summer salad. For yours and my own reference:
 3 cooked chicken sausages
 3 spring onions, sliced
 ½ avocado, sliced
 3 cherry tomatoes, quartered
 4 baby sweetcorn, blanched
Just layer them all neatly on a plate and bon appétit!
I wanted Mo and Art to arrive home to that inviting smell of something baking and intended to have a carrot cake in the oven before they arrived home at 8 the following morning. I was up late enough preparing it all so I would have little to do when I awoke. Alas, I didn’t wake to half 8! They were already home but I carried on and created the best carrot cake ever!

In honesty I don’t have an excuse for not writing sooner, I haven’t really done a lot. It is a shame in some respects but it’s been a time for me to completely unwind and relax (those of you who know me well will understand that this is something I never accomplish!) The thing is , this truly is how the other half live, this is everyday reality to them, the sunshine never goes away to reveal a rainy day and the pressures of living a life don’t really exist. Hard days at work do occur, but to come home to a pool in your back garden where you can relax all night, with shisha delivered to your door if you desire and have lovely company, is a different world to me.

I shouldn’t be so stereotypical as amongst those are the underpaid, abused slaves who will live in a tiny room with half a dozen others, just to provide their families back home with enough income to survive. And the divide between them couldn’t be much more obvious. As an outsider, I observe these differences a lot and feel almost ashamed to be in a society that results in such behavior. Just today, an old Arab man shouted insults at two of these workers in a taxi queue for not moving down the line quick enough. I was in front of these men and even I had not moved yet! It’s interesting when you realize that those better off seem in a bad mood constantly whereas those under them are always cheery. These ‘servants’ will do anything to help you out and have a smile on their face as they do it. It is custom to tip them, purely because it will make their day – every penny counts to them and generally it is no more than 50p! Don’t get me wrong, those better off aren’t always grumpy they just have a different disposition; it’s a good life really.

I had a lush evening last night, drinking red wine and dining on paella – full of chorizo, chicken, mussels, cockles, lobster tail, the works! Art, like me, is a real foodie! We sit for a long time after each meal discussing the worlds produce, fine wines and particular places. Art and Mo are both a wealth of knowledge when it comes to travelling and have seen a lot of the world and shared many experiences. I look forward to these discussions each day because they speak with such passion – the same passion that drives me every day. I finished off my evening by floating along on a lilo, reading my book with a head torch strapped on! Pure bliss!

So this week I have mainly stayed on the compound, adjusting to my relaxing surroundings. Mo and I on Wednesday morning did attend Abu Dhabi Ladies coffee morning which is for expats who are new to the area and is a good way of meeting people and making friends. I have visited a couple of the malls here and have had a lovely meal at an Italian restaurant followed by a cocktail at the Shangri-La Hotel’s nightclub “pearls and caviar”.

A day trip to Al Ain with Mo and Art was thoroughly enjoyable and a nice change. The mountain range that reaches the Indian Ocean starts here with the highest point of Jabel Hafeet just up a very long, steep and winding road! The views from the top were astounding; being a clear day we could see for miles, across the desert, through the farmland and each city lay out in front of us. Falcons dipped and dived around us and there was plenty of celebration from the locals who had driven up – dancing, singing and loud music as they relished in Ramadan being over and Eid (they’re version of Christmas) upon them. I’m not too sure what British health and safety officials would have to say about particular aspects of being up a mountain in these cases – but nevermind, we survived!

After many efforts and high hopes, I have not been able to find work here. It all boils down to the detailed laws, paperwork and money involved in requiring a work permit. Casual work just doesn’t exist here, and the implications of not following the set guidelines is far too extreme. Because of this, my kitchen experiences have been limited to dining in the restaurant, which was not my original plan, but I cannot go against the law for my own benefits. I feel gutted to not be able to write about kitchens here but am starting to pursue jobs in Cape Town for a possible earlier date than first expected. It is difficult to decide what action should be taken as I definitely do not want to miss any opportunities here but have to weigh up other elements like finances, luggage and the big pain – visas!

I hope you don’t think I am giving up on the UAE? This is definitely not the case – this week I have day trips around Abu Dhabi planned as well as a 2 day sushi class! This part of the world has so much to offer, especially for us foodies! Ton’s of hotels and individual restaurants line each street with specialties from across the globe. It has character below the initial fakeness that screams out “look what we’ve done in 50 years!” Its history is incredible – those mere 50 years took the rest of the world 200 years to achieve. If you are ever in this area, visit Dubai museum because I honestly don’t think you will understand or believe this achievement till you have seen it. Even if you aren’t a museum fan, you should go! And don’t be fooled by first impressions when you arrive like I first was – when you get downstairs, it is fantastic!

Ramadan is now over and the locals now enjoy a three day holiday (like Christmas) before everything returns back to normal and us tourists and expats can eat and drink in public again without any worries.
Still feels like I’m on holiday!
Love, Ashleigh xx