Tuesday

January 15, 2008 | Filed Under Main |

Another grey day in Dubai. And my visa (and passport) nowhere in sight. No one knows why - “it has never happened before”. My guess is that it has something to do with a finance job and a theater arts degree.

And it is raining again. But not just raining. Pouring. Buckets. Not only is the beautiful, upscale mall attached to the hotel leaking like a sieve, but so is my “living room” area on the 22nd floor. Luckily my bedroom is dry. (Who knew that two weeks in a hotel would be such a strain?) I spoke with my boss in Kuwait and he suggested I find a bar to get drunk in until they work this all out. Not a bad plan…

Since the roads in Dubai flood really quickly, I am also pretty land-locked. I decided to spend my hours playing pool at the bar in the hotel across the street. Wading through the soggy streets, I went over to the Rock Bottom. Most of the local rags - including Time Out Dubai - disparage this joint because it has no class. But since when did that matter? The food is… edible. The drinks are cheap and there are three well maintained pool tables. There are three adjoining rooms and a number a screeens showing soccer. This afternoon, the evening’s band was rehearsing - trying out versions of U2’s “Desire” and Marilyn Manson’s “Beautiful People”. This seems like the place to be since I can’t swim to Waxy’s.

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5 comments so far
  1. anita January 15, 2008 7:50 am

    Yesterday, as I was shoveling out from under 8 inches of snow, I paused and thought about your beautiful description of the beach you visited the other day, and intended to go inside, shake off, and write to you to apply for a job as your assistant. Instead, I read the next few days’ comments and decided maybe the sand and sea are always more beautiful on the other side of the world. Guess I’ll just keep stomping my boots, slipping down the driveway, and reading about your adventure!
    Love,
    Anita

  2. Tommy January 15, 2008 10:36 am

    I find it amazing that the cover bands in Dubai play the same songs the cover bands in America play. If you’re lucky maybe they wont play ‘Mustang Sally’ but I doubt it.

  3. Mom January 15, 2008 1:37 pm

    Are you sure you have a new job and just haven’t traveled into the”outer limits”?

  4. TSS January 15, 2008 2:29 pm

    just catching up with the adventures…were you allowed to bring blenheims to dubai? That would be sweet. Glad to know it goes well. Did you get a neoprene sleeve for your knee? Those help, if they are not too sweaty or clash with the madras shorts.

    Ride, Sally, ride!

    Peace

  5. mburma January 15, 2008 2:38 pm

    Thanks. This is probably just my ADD kicking in. I don’t do “nothing” very well. Never have. Also - I’m half packed and don’t know one day to the next what will happen.

    And, Mom? It’s called Purgatory… just with beer.

    The cover band was actually pretty good! Everybody sang but the drummer (so that’s 5 guys, one girl) and the guitarist was hot, so you can jump from “Don’t Speak” to “Feel Like Making Love” to “GoldDigger” and back again. Not too shabby.