An expat for 10 years – part 2

In 2007, I had summer at home, attending to family priorities, which involved a lot of hospital visits and dealing with home care professionals. Amidst all of this, I was “found” by a head-hunter who asked if I was interested in assignment in Abu Dhabi. A telephone interview followed and in early September, I packed three bags and my dive kit and left for the UAE. This post covers five and a half years, so it is another lengthy one…

UAE

A close up external short of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi. A stunning mosque, and amazingly, built from marble imported from Macedonia!

Due to more pressing matters at home, I didn’t conduct the normal levels of research I usually do prior to arriving in a new country. Despite the searing temperatures, it took me a while to warm to Abu Dhabi, its idiosyncrasies and its hidden charms. The following selection of images and narrative best sum up my four years of memories living in Abu Dhabi.

A rather pukka cuppa in Dubai

The blog has been a bit quiet again as I have just spent a couple of weeks back in the Middle East on domestic business.  As it had been around two years since I had visited Dubai, I decided to visit for a couple of days to relax a bit and to catch up with friends.

Desert border crossings – passports optional

For once, a real desert ditty…. and epic adventure! Marina Bruce, my old school friend sent me a message a couple of weeks ago. Those that read my first ever blog post will remember that Marina introduced me to blogging.  She blogs mostly about off-roading and her life in Al Ain. Her husband Neil and fellow off-roader Vince were going on a rather ambitious overnight off-road trip to the UAE, Oman and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia confluence point.  Was I interested in going as a passenger?  To earn my passage, I was to be the expedition “winch wench”, trip snapper and camp bar tender.  It took me about a nano second to say “yes”.