Ramadan

Ok Ramadan starts tomorrow and this will be a true experience. It is basically a month of fasting during daylight hours - happens annually. So no food or water is to pass the lips from sunrise to sunset. For non Muslims (like me) if we do it, we MUST do it in private. Sounds easy? Not at all - no water in the taxi and no eating in front of the Muslim staff we work with - last thing we want to do is offend anybody. So school will be reduced hours - 9-2 for this month, food shops and cafes are closed until dark and then everybody goes out! They all go shopping and to friends/family's houses to feast - night after night. There are 3,000 taxis in Al Ain and last night with people getting ready for Ramadan you could not get a taxi for love or money - luckily we had our wonderful driver on hand! So because of this and the crowds, we will be keeping quiet and not getting to the internet cafes and prob not the hotel as much - so I won't be blogging for a while or as reguarly.
However this weekend we shot up to Abu Dhabi and finished the apartment shopping - pictures attached.
Had a birthday dinner last night - Kate is from Ireland and is into her second year of the contract - so good to see everyone and catch up - if they're not in your apartment or school you don't see some people for a while.Nice food, good restaurant so after Ramadan, will head back there.
Still very warm here - am at the hotel and about to go swimming and do some poolside relaxing - school starts with the students tomorrow! Wish me luck! :0)