desertdreamz

dubai!

2006-07-01T09:59:00.000+04:00

its been some time since i hav left these busy shores
but i feel it calling me...beckoning me to be with her.
somehow, my mind too tells me to be with her.
but duty calls!

2006-04-05T10:10:00.000+04:00

A forwarded mail... but i feel its true for every indian expat!

Most people I know here came to Gulf countries, the Promised Land, for maximumtwo-five years, or "to make enough money'" and go back home.

Countless Felafel and Shawerma sandwich years later, they are all still here, grayed quite a bit, but very much here. Gulf countries is like that. Onestarts off earnestly in a job, wants to work hard (and hopefully continuesto do so).

You share an apartment with some kind folks (who pass on Sambhar and Chutney to you on bad days, on the good they pass on some fried Zubaidi).You begin to get comfortable with the non-iron bedsheets and Jamaiyas ladenwith easy to serve yogurt and long life milk.

By then your status has risen back home because you work in this oil-rich, highest per capita income Wonderland. Ma beckons from home that they havefound a "nice, homely" girl for you. So you rent your own one bedroomapartment, put out few cheap "Banta" chairs, and blend in some Ikea "As Is" furniture just for it to not look so cheap.Few Friday market visits later,your house and heart are ready to receive the new bride.

If winter is here can spring be far behind? Stacks of Pampers (whateverwould young mothers do without them?) appear in the by now crowded home. Thepatter of tiny feet, Cartoon Network, pushchairs and colic occupy yourwaking and sleeping hours. The MBA you well intended is long forgotten with the stress of how to ask the boss for a raise, now that your child willstart playschool, and you can't cope with the instalments for your new placeback home. The raise never comes, or if it does it is too meager to write home about.

The luckier ones find fresh opportunities and move up the economic ladder,but never out of Gulf countries. You upgrade your car and home, and generally growto be a part of Gulf countries, or rather Gulf countries like a sandy desert spirit becomes ingrained into you, and fourth and fifth ring roads become your best weekendhangouts.

Just because it seems the in thing to do, you apply for migration to a western country, knowing full well in your heart that you may never be able to start a new life in another strange land. The taxation everywhere elsehurts. So do the residence fees here, but can you leave Gulf countries? The general view was that once the health insurance was levied, there would be an influx of expats fleeing Gulf countries. No one I know has left for those reasons.

Leave Gulf countries, and miss the Houmos and Mutabel and all the Vaasta you builtup, are you kidding? Life goes on, with bodies and souls flirting in and out of The Sultan Center, Souk Sharq, Caesar's Restaurants, Mugal Mahal all thenew new malls that have sprung up like mushrooms, and hey don't forget EdeeStores and Sanbouk!!

Soon one Thursday blends into another (another weekend, so quickly?) and next thing you know you are boarding a flight to the U.S. to drop your sonor daughter to University. Time has flown, and you and your friends ofyesteryears still meet occasionally, and discuss who has grayed more, and who's cholesterol is threatening.

The whole point of who "made more money" but never returned home is neverbrought up. Endless weekend dinners, get togethers, beach picnics, potlucksand problems, growing up pains, career ups and downs, friends who are like family, birthdays and anniversaries, visit visas and residences later.............Gulf countries are home.

2006-03-30T12:33:00.000+04:00

Rent a womb anyone?

Khaleej Times broke it first! And today the other two newspapers Emirates Today and The Gulf News have taken it up. So what makes me put it up on my blog?

The simple reason that the news is about India. Or rather it is about something which is happening in India. Believe me, when I saw the movie Dasharatham, with mohanlal as the lead, I could never think it was possible!

It is about the latest trend in outsourcing. Some women, in Gujarat, are lending their wombs. Producing children. And handing them over to couples from abroad who get made to order kids. And some newspapers call it the “reproductive tourism”.

Reports say that several NRI’s and foreigners have come shopping for surrogate mothers to India over the last couple of months. The UK-based publication Guardian says “the treatment is becoming big business in India and is worth about 20bn rupees (£250m) a year. The increase in requests from abroad is partly fuelled by the relatively cheap costs. At about £3,000 in Britain, an IVF cycle costs five times what you might pay in India. In addition, in Britain, the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has outlawed payments, but a surrogate can be reimbursed for a maximum of £10,000 to cover expenses; the payments often fall between £4,000 and £10,000,” added the report.

Another report says “After giving birth to healthy twins, Mrs A (who want to remain anonymous), a young Indian woman, handed them to a U.S.-based couple knowing she was unlikely to see them again. “Her parents never knew what she was doing," her mother-in-law confides. "She told them she had a baby boy but he passed away." Mrs A, 27, is part of India's most prolific family of surrogate mothers, something that although not unlawful has to be kept a secret in this conservative country.
In return for this "noble cause" they earn more than $2,250 for each pregnancy, a comparatively huge sum since their working husbands earns less than 5 dollars a day. It will pay for their children's education and home renovations. But it comes at a cost. For the sake of financial security, the life of India's new breed of professional surrogate mothers means lies, secrecy and often nine months hiding from disapproving eyes.

My question is why? Do u think it is a correct thing to do? Is it emotionally healthy? Does India need this sort of publicity?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1434138.cms

o façade ...thy name is...

2006-03-20T17:35:00.000+04:00

over the last couple of weeks, i had stopped reading the newspapers altogether. but today, some one pointed out a news item which was featured on page 3 of Emirates Today.

and i couldnt just stop thinking... how crazy putting up a façade can be!

the article filed in by Mr V. M Satish, says...

Sharjah bans city cyclists

"Sharjah Municipality has slapped a ban on bicycle riders on the city streets with effect from April 16 as part of its continued campaign to control road accidents involving cyclists. "

ok, the traffic here is of course crazy, i think. a point they have here! It makes me read on…

“The ban is to maintain the civilised look of the city and to control the hazardous effect cyclists have on motorists on main roads and inner corridors,” a municipality notice said

well well… excuse me! Do cyclists spoil the “civilised” look of a country? Then what bout the Japs, the Brits, The Dutch, The Americans who whizz past in sporty snazzy bicyles??? am amused, but i read on

After a couple of paragraphs, the report says....

Wolfgang Wolfi, the co-ordinator of Dubai Roadsters, a cycle enthusiast group, said a blanket ban on cycles is counterproductive. “Many poor people depend on the environment-friendly and economical means of transportation. It is a wrong way to impose a blanket ban on cycles. “All over the world, the bicycle is encouraged because it reduces energy consumption and air pollution. Encouraging people to use the bicycle is the best way to reduce the number of cars on the roads that cause traffic congestion,” Wolfi added.

Mr Wolfi has a point here. I agree! But then do we not have to pay for living in a “civilised” world? Shouldnt we atleast try to stick to being artificial????

taxi tales

2006-03-18T17:42:00.000+04:00

a hitchhiker in dubai? is it possible?
i dont think so... there are strings attached....

1) u cant just wave down any car/bus and hitch hike...as in india
why?

a) its the land where everything and anything happens if u have "fuloos". fuloos is arabic, and means money!

b) being a female bi ped, u may get a ride for free, but if u r good looking, u may also get an offer for marriage!

c) buses can stop only at bus stops. u cant wave it down between scheduled bus "stops"

more on this soon...

Lost Innocence

2006-03-07T10:52:00.000+04:00

Wonder if u guys have heard bout the blank noise project?
well....they are organising a blogathon.... on eve teasing...and.... yes... i wonder... if there is anyone...who hasnt experianced it in his/her life...

In dubai, the police is just a phone call away... but still there are people who whistle at u...
undress u with their looks...and dream up of how u would be in the bed...

a slight dark skin, and they think u are a possible "pick up"

then there are those silent types, who just silently fall in stride with u, and try to make an advance if u r walking uncrowded by lanes at night....

i guess its time, we spoke up...and if the posts at blank noise project...makes any difference in at least one persons life... i would consider myself lucky....

the discussion on this topic has come to the point of discussing sexual exploitation on my daily hang out at indiatimes blogs... with my friends Sapphire, Savy, Neel and Jitu speaking up about their experiances...and how we can help make a difference...

return of dreamz

2006-03-05T11:18:00.000+04:00

a couple of weeks back, it drizzled in the desert...my first splash of rain after coming to UAE...
the first was a slight drizzle, then came the rain...
and for me, it brought back memories.... thousands of them....
i filled up scrolls writing bout the rain on my o3 blog...
it drizzled, and rained down memories...some sweet, some bitter, some bittersweet...
tears came tumbling down like memories...
and i decided to write bout Cochin- Kochi, where i spend the last 4 years of my life... the land kissed by the seas, the queen of arabian seas...
i give u, my friends, my perceptions of her beauty... her innocent charm...for, she has seen me bloooooom into a writer...to her, i owe...

dune bashing

2006-01-21T12:07:00.000+04:00

last week i went dune bashing.
for those who do no know wat dune bashing is all about
u can check the dune bashers blog.... dunebasher.blogspirit.com
dune bashing is driving out on those sand dunes in the desert...
and the dunes come in all sizes and colours...yeah the desert sands come in different colours..or was it a trick played by the eye. (again i do not know why coz al i could think of was dune bashing)
there are many places where u can off road in this desert... and naveen - (my brother by friendship) has loads of experiance in dune bashing... he practically goes out to the desert daily.... - chose the dunes off the dubai - hatta road.
there are some technicalities one has to follow....u can read it all up on dune bashers blog of course...
the things i remember. deflating the tires and naveen telling us to buckle up...:-)
and a bashing we did goooooo.....
zooommmmmmmmmm up the dunes............and then rock and roll on them..........down the inclines...........kicking up sand.......
we - me and sangita held our breath.......joining hands as we went up and down the dunes...it felt like a roller coaster ride up n down the dunes
and then we got stuck... and as naveen got the vehicle outa the mess we got down and saw miles and miles of sand dunes... the desert.. the first real feel that u r really in dubai !
we flopped around like toddlers in the sand... walking up and down the slope.... watched a red jeep cheroke do the dunes soooo easily
and we went on... at another turn we got a flat... we helped naveen change it - that is we did the talking and he did the repairs:-)
and then by sun down ...we sat there....watching the stars come out...
it was peacful....
and i am in love with the desert.....:-)

DJ woes!

2005-12-18T18:32:00.000+04:00

Dubai i feel is highly deceptive. what triggerd it off was an incident which happend to my friend. i qoute,
Gone are the days when you have a person with a smile on his face, and one reflecting likewise in his heart. I was shocked by an incident and thoroughly shaken at the way a smiling youngster would behave under stress. Regret to bring this piece to the public as it was a public's freedom of expressing opinion, which was questioned and insulted by a section of the Radio, which does not seem to be open to criticism. Where only the destructive side of the criticism is looked at and not the constructive part. Or is it that, retort is the only way they are capable of looking at it?
Almost all of us involuntarily turn up the radio the moment we get into cars/mode of transport. Most of us Malayalis have only two FM Radio options in this place away from home. The experience that I faced while communicating with two of the Radio Jockeys of 94.7 FM Radio Asia leaves me feeling disgusted for even having bothered to express my opinion about their show. For I found out that it was not only the show that was poor in quality but the Jockeys have no sense of responsibility that their profile demands to be in an industry that requires them to communicate to the mass in a decent manner.
Hit Express with Priyan, a show being aired on Thursday evening on Radio Asia and finding it grating on the nerves I happened to send in my opinion which went as "Get a life. Get better concepts. Don't make a fool of yourself. Lousy show." In response to which the presenter called up on my mobile and used all his might to shout and let know that opinions unless sugar coated is not welcome at all. He went on to add that sms was not a forum to express the views and there are many other ways to do so.
Not expecting a feedback at all, this kind of reaction and that too from an RJ who had just minutes back talked sweet nothings on air and was having a sweet personal chit chat on air to a female caller, was shocking, which showed the respect they have for themselves not to mention the kind of respect they showed while talking to a woman who is a complete stranger and that too in a land where women's rights are so well protected.
I did not waste time in informing them accordingly (again by sms) which was followed by another call from another RJ from the same station. When asked to reveal his identity he boldly said that he need not do that. This was followed by another jock who took the phone to handle the situation. He revealed his identity as Shaan, who added that sending a fax or an e-mail to the authorities has no effect, which leaves a listener with no avenues to express their views about something related to the radio. This also shows irresponsibility. The heated discussion went on for 15 minutes went on using most degrading manner of communication considering he too was talking to a stranger. Getting to know the listener helps the station to accept a feedback, but when a responsible media person, Shaan himself, which I doubt now, added that all malayalees are arrogant in their basic nature. That gave me a shock, as it was from the mouth of a responsible Jock of a reputable station, under the able leadership of Vettoorji. During all this I failed to understand how having the biography of a listener helps the RJ's in accepting the truth. Aren't entertainment people supposed to be mature enough to accept the public as they are and find out from them what they want and present it? Can a station that airs shows that are exact replica’s of topics discussed on another radio and that too which is very obvious as the copying is done the very next day, expect the public not to criticize?
Each one of us here are under pressure to perform in our respective professions. But it gives us no right to insult a stranger for him or her giving an opinion. Was always under the belief that professionals dealing with the mass train themselves to interact with dignity. I found to my utter disappointment that it was not so with this 2 so called Radio Jockeys, who failed to recognize the basic requirement of decency.
I found that a person who can say sweet nothings on air to one listener can call up another listener and insult and shout in the same breath within minutes, for expressing views, even demand that he or she talk the way he likes or the language he prefers. Can any media demand that their audience or listener's talk only the way they deem fit or use the language that they want?
there is some more in her mail...but here lemme recount how i faced a similar situation....another radio chanel, anothr jockey...:-) n te story ws different!it began with me sending out a rather bad sms... a real stinker... on afterthots, but, i just cudnt put up with all the hep talk she gave us all on her channel... and me was sure sort of fed up with her show...she rang me back and went to the extent of comparing herself with charles chaplin!!! i had a good laugh even tho she said bad things to me. and then after ten minutes my fone rings, and its another dj... now wat? i wonder and this bloke really apologises for his collegue...that sure made me feel good.
but my friend, is not lucky! but then my dear, its dubai after all!

Dubai Bloggers meet

2005-12-18T08:00:00.000+04:00

i have this inane ability to turn up late at a venue even if i m in the neighbourhood early. and this time too it wasnt different.
i reached Bur juman, the venue for the meet an hour before. (the adventures at Bur Juman is coming up shortly) rang up godolphin who said he has to press his clothes (translates to making himself presentable... with neatly ironed clothes)! and would come along with Neha a fellow blogger as soon as her exams got over. which gave me one hour to waste... and in dubai, the best place to vile away time is a shopping mall. i had bur juman rite before me... and i went in search of the virgin mega store looking for something special...to give someone special.... but then managed to get lost track of time inside the virgin mega mall. It happens to me all the while...and another reason was the presence of a Dome cafe nearby. which the the bird brain me thot was the venue! despite clear instructions from pixel:-)
godo came looking for me and then i found backpacker, the adventure traveller who came with an 'attache' of two strong men. [so much for the spirit of adventure in her:-), i see the kick in the butt coming miss backpacker! ]
Dreamz was there, so was pixel, manu, amit... fill me up if i m missing some names...it takes some time to link up blogs to real people:-)
then came kkj with cute diya...and nah! she turned out to be naughtier than all the rest of us put together. can never forget the smile which lit her eyes wen she tried to lay her hands on Godo's or was it travellers digital camera!!! after all those are simple things in life which makes us smile...
then we talked, talked and talked...Godo has put up some, Amit too has written bout it... so i dont wanna get into the details!
oh yeah i forgot to write about Dusan...but, then... everyone has written about u Dusan!
Dusan, it was nice to have u there...giving the meet the international touch...:-) and maaaaaan i loved ur laptop:-) given a chance i would hav blogged from there itself:p...
And oh...then there was that friendly passer by who clicked us...:-) wonder who will hav those snaps tho!

pixel: cheers for organising it efficiently in such a short time.
Dusan : for speaking in english (he blogs in serbian! which looks like roman and greek to me!)
KKJ: for coming all the way from abu dhabi with ur family.
Godo: for introducing me to this group.

only blog?

2005-12-10T13:55:00.000+04:00

One wonders why only this community is treated as a forum for all the bloggers in UAE. there are others, which one feels is not taken into consideration:-)

i hav been here just for somethign like 2 weeks???? geez i keep forgetting! no one seems to care for a new comer out here.....so why should i stay back?

am off to my fav haunt...my o3.indiatimes.com...that is where i belong!

so long guys...we are more active out there!

bye

desert dreams

2005-12-05T13:09:00.000+04:00

What does it take for dreams to grow? Food, water and air as for any life form or do they grow with just hopes and fantasies? And wild wild thoughts?

Or does it take lots more of inspirations? Lot more nurturing?

if it needs water... where do i get it in this desert? buy a can of masafi from the street side dispenser? can dreams grow in deserts? or do they grow like cacti? with out water, waitin for the long long rain??????

No idea… was wondering how to make my first post out here something nice: -) and couldn’t think of anything else….