Don't drink the mud at the bottom of your Turkish coffee

Finally I got myself away for the City Centre mall for a sit down meal. But before I tell you that story I want to talk about my sushi experience at the mall. I went into a place called Japaleno and they serve all types of food: sushi, Italian, burgers, salads, etc.
So I sat down at the “sushi bar.” It was all chrome metal, very shinny. They had a short selection and when I started to order they were out of 2 or 3 things. So I said just give me the sashimi plate, it is all chiefs choice. I orders from the waiter, and brought me my ice tea and a small picture of sugar syrup. Next he brought salt and pepper and Tabasco sauce. Only once in Arizona did I hear someone ask for salt and pepper at the bar, and they were eating off the main menu. The chief had his back to me, the bar was 360 and could seat maybe 20, at the time it was just me. The presentation was nice. The fish was not bad actually, I could really break it down with a ton of scrutiny but it was not that bad. The pieces were kind of small and some were cut in a strange way. It was expensive for what I was served. I won’t be going back. If I can find an all Japanese restaurant I will go in but I am trying to start a new trend of eating more local stuff.

So today, Friday a finally got to sleep in and I went out to find a cab, and the hotel was like we have a driver, he can take you where you want to go. Well I wanted to go to the Gold Souq, but they close from 2 to 4 and it was 2. So Nasil, the drive, driving a very new Toyota 4 door SUV with all the bells and whistles takes me to a place to eat. We are driving and he keeps pointing at Pizza Hut and crap like that and I for the 3rd time said I want a Kabob, so he takes a u-turn and takes me to this place. He says, walk in there and get a Kabob. I will wait for you. I walk in wearing shorts and a T shirt and the staff is in suits, all the patrons are Arab men in the white robes and head gear and it is totally up scale. He asked if wanted a la cart or buffet, I said I just want a Kabob, so he seats me. I immediately am served a salad, soup and bread and water with ordering a thing. Staff is everywhere. I am the only Westerner in the place. I got some lamb and it was good. They did not have espresso, only Nescafe and Turkish coffee, so I had the latter. Hand wipes and tooth picks and all the other crazy stuff. There seems to be a box of tissue paper ever where, and that was on the table too. Anyway I ask for the bill and it was 57 dirham, which is one dirham more than a double vodka at Churchill's Pub. I had no idea I was going to eat at such an up scale place, but once I walked in I did not want to leave, but the price was a surprise for the experience. I just wanted to get a sandwich for take away but the drive thinks I am made of money.

Nasil ended up driving me around for 4 hours. We saw Sharjiah and Ajman, which are two other cities to the north of Dubai. I drove out onto the Palm Jumeirah. Well just the trunk. But wow, I did not understand how big it was. On both sides are 15 story hotels and apartments, etc, and it is all in man made land. There are metro stations under construction. It really hit me how totally huge the project was and still is. The idea that you have to build the land before you can build the building and all the utilities finally sunk in.

I saw a bunch of stuff and got back to find out the price that Nasil is per hour. I thought I was just going to leave him a tip. Its good that he tops off after 3 hours. He is free for the first half hour; of course I learn all this upon my return. But I have his mobile and I can call him and he will get me places for the next month now that I handed him a wad of money.

I set up two appoints to look at apartments tomorrow. I saw the Marina today and it looks awesome, but it far from work and is a resort type area. Close to the beach with Westerners everywhere spending money. If I moved in there I am afraid I will spend so much money on the simple things in life. I don’t need to live like I am on vacation while I am here; I just need to live well so I can survive with the issues of missing home and all the crazy things missing, like a bottle of wine, ESPN, the drama of hot LA women, Tapatio, voice mail, and Z sushi for example.

Oh yea, my last post I was kind of an ass and told people to post comments. This time I want to say thank you to everyone for what you have all done to get me here. All the work Ryan and Kelly did with his party and how both of them have my stuff and Kelly had to get the big stuff out of my apartment without my help. Mom will get some phone bills that I need to pay, and I will work on that. The money I was given before I left turned out to be a God send, I really over looked not having local currency. I will have a local bank account next week, the gift of the money was awesome in itself, but also it being in Dirhams was a really huge bonus. I know there are a few other things I did not tie up and thank you in advance.

When I get my life set up in a place, I will get a camera and I will be better able to get pictures up on the web, right now I am not quit at that point yet. Internet access is either at work or in this business center in the hotel. In my room I pay like a dollar a minute or something.
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What you read above I emailed to myself to post but I need to add stuff.

I just came back from dinner, I found a restaurant. Tonight is a Weekend night so everyone is sitting around smoking Shisha. I don't know how to spell it, I will look it up. They are like 3 foot bongs. The smoke smells great, it is very different, people ex hail and it kind of goes away like steam. They have flavors like apple. The guy behind me smelled like those Mexican pastries that look like snow flakes.

Anyway, everybody was doing it. This guy walks around with a bowl full of coals. (what you smoke is not tobacco, it is like glowing rocks) He reloads people and discards the dead coals. Totally crazy. You smoke out of a thing that looks like a clarinet. I saw to western women doing it, one was hot an in her 30's and the other is easily over 50. I think you smoke it like a cigar, you don't in hail into you lungs.

G, to answer you question, I have to get a liquor license to buy booze in the bottle. So I fill out an application. I get it, and I have a limit per month on what I can spend and it is directly related to my salary. Anyone can buy booze (in Dubai) at the bar over 21. But ALL bars seem to be in the lobby of hotels. Or I drive to the "free zone", where ever that is and come home with a bunch of booze. There are tricks around it, but I will get a license. Some place called Baracuda has great deals on booze. When I know I will tell you.

I have not seen the beach, I am more interested in finding the right neighborhood to live in. I am here to work, not just play. I really saw a good amount today and the day feels complete. I am going to watch soccer in my room.

BrotherBill