Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Sandy

I've been whinging at various stages about the sandstorms that swept over the Emirates recently. I have had a think about it and realised, hey it's not that bad. Give me a bit of sand over TfL grinding to a halt at the sight of a few flakes of snow any day of the week. It is, however, quite unpleasant sitting outside in it. I found grains of sand between my teeth when I had to cover a polo match recently (oh, my life is so hard, poor little me) and people with respiratory conditions are told to stay indoors when it's really bad.  Anyway, it's all gone now, but here are a few sandy pics to show you how the desert tries to reclaim Dubai when the mood takes it:



 Sand tries to take over the road on the way to Ras Al Khaimah.


Camels on the way to Ras Al Khaimah. Not particularly sandy, I just like them.


A somewhat bemused poinsettia plant.

Pretty sand patterns near Fossil Rock on the Dubai/Sharjah border:


More sandy roadness:


Another thing I have randomly photographed for your enjoyment is this camel. Yes, I am obsessed with camels but I thought this particularly bling camel sums up Dubai beautifully; Arabian but blingy. She is suspended forever in time near the Emirates Towers which are, surprise surprise, home to a luxury hotel, a luxury shopping mall and some offices and stuff.


There are various decorated and bling camels situated at opportune points around Dubai because we're very interested in preserving our Emirati heritage and reminding ourselves how far we've come. I personally think this camel says a lot about just that.