Heat and His Highness

It has been cool here weather wise over the past 3 weeks, but try as you might you cannot hide from the Middle East Sun for too long. It is on the look out and I think it has already found us. If you ask the Emiratis, the Indians, or the Philippinos here, they will tell you it's still in hiding (20% of population here are nationals, 50% are Indian or Philippino). But for a white Canadian boy and an even whiter Dutchman, it's hot town summer in the city.

The sun is bright and it's strong. This can't be the same sun that we see up in Canada - this one has a more sinister smile on it. But still the rest of the population is assuring me that this is nothing.

It was 28C today and I say 'that is hot'.

'Try 50C for 3 months, that's hot!', and they are right. They know what hot is.

I am curious but aleady know I want nothing to do with 50C temperatures. It's just not cricket, if you know what I mean. I've been in 45C temperates in the Outback of Oz, and it was too hot to even watch TV. I know that doesn't make much sense, but sense evaporates and dissapears along with everything else at these heats. Nothing is left of you except the dripping of sweat from every pore of your body. Occasionaly you will have enough energy to mutter out something relating to the heat, but that helps no spirits. It just makes the feeling worse.

And now for something completely different.

Today His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum said 'Salam' to me today. Cool.

Tomorrow we have a meeting with the Chairman of Dubai World Central - some next Mega project that I'm sure he'll say is great but I may think it's stupid. It's getting like this eh.

But with the work week being from Sunday - Thursday here in the Middle East, our weekend begins tomorrow night, and I've got a date. Let the weekend begin!