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Arch

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EW GURU
Latest post on 10 February 2012 - 09:40
I feel sure the article this links to was written by an Expat Woman ;) http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/94/art_20_Reasons_Not_Move_to_Dubai.html The article was first published in 2007, I believe. Well I really hope she went back to where she came from! Some people really don't appreciate what they have. Anyhow I'm not going to get started cos then this tread will be history in No-Time :p Not everyone "have" the same. Someone who got stung by a developer may not like Dubai inspite of the other material benefits. Personally i prefer a place where contracts cannot be ignored be with impunity by one party.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 10 February 2012 - 09:33
Just out of curiosity: What about those guys who always put post-its on my car if I am willing to sell? Same procedure here? Can I give their number straight to the police? Or is their business not obvious enough? :-) When you advertise your car for sale on your window, you are conducting business without a trade licence hence why it is illegal. . So are all the people on Dubizzle selling their furniture doing an illegal act? Surely its not meant to get trade licenses every time a thing is sold?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 10 February 2012 - 09:31
All caps is bad netiquette ,,,....however... It is generally considered more rude if the poster posts a question in all caps or responds to someone. In this case the OP was offering an advice to us and i think in this case, all caps should not be jumped upon .... I HOPE I MADE MY POINT CLEAR (Pun intended!)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 07 February 2012 - 12:28
Dubai to Alain is a very tricky route to calculate distances on. Officially it is only 120 km (just like Abu Dhabi is "150") However if you are driving from the newer parts of Dubai like JLT to the southern parts of AlAin like Zoo, Jabal Hafeet it is easlily 160 km+ and will take you 1.5+ hrs. And if you go to south of Al Ain you will be entering the city from the north and then pass through seemingly endless roundabouts and with low speed limits it may even take bit more than 2 hours
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EW GURU
Latest post on 07 February 2012 - 11:08
As messed up as some of the laws are here, surely they don't extend to ripping a child from his mother's hands and giving him to the grandparents? No they wouldn't. This is some sort of urban myth. Granted, sometimes you wonder whether or not something like this could happen, but no when it comes to family situations the courts seem to be rational. Shari'a is nothing if not on the right side of family. I dont think so. Sharia is one thing and what is practised in the "name of Sharia" is sometimes another thing.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 06 February 2012 - 11:53
you will not understand the drivers mentality. In all probability he is thinking that the fact he didnt crash shows that driving fast is not always dangerous. He may even be thinking how skilled he is to drive recklessly and not topple over. Reminds me of some taxi drivers tailgating at 120 and when the passengers point it out, they smile and say "i have control of car, no worry" Earlier today, the whole road becomes dusty, is it a sandstorm? No, its a fuel truck doing 100+ and overtaking slower trucks on the right hard shoulder which is a sandy area.......
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EW GURU
Latest post on 01 February 2012 - 21:40
Should you be publicizing the new road, or maybe just keep hush as people will eventually find it and then we will have jams through that route as well ! :) Best situation was when the roundabout in from of Reef was open, now with each change, it gets worse and worse.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 31 January 2012 - 14:45
The Turkish President was in the UAE but i am not sure if they were there for him.....
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EW GURU
Latest post on 31 January 2012 - 10:24
I feel we are going off the subject again... ho hum.... Point taken and accepted :)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 31 January 2012 - 10:21
While renault cars may not be great, A Safrane is a midsize car and 55000 is a very good price for a midsize car. A honda jazz and Yaris and Tiida may all come at 55k, but the size of the Safrane makes it quite a good deal. And in highways, its often less stressful driving in a midsize than a hatchback. On 2nd thoughts the AC "may" not be that strong. So if AC is more important than size, maybe get a Japanese car Oh and check the new Hyundai Elantra, looks nice, its larger than a Yaris/Tiida and shouldnt be too expensive
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EW GURU
Latest post on 31 January 2012 - 10:17
I hope those who were involved with the accident will be alright...... Thank you very much, girls xx my heart goes out to all the people in the accident , hope no one innocent suffer because of mistakes made by one guy <em>edited by Arch on 31/01/2012</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 30 January 2012 - 08:44
Citizens of countries with many expats in Dubai, incuding many in high positions, have been going throught is process for a long time, such as South Africa, India, most Arab countries, and so on. From the UAE's side , apart from the landing rights stuff, I understand the fact that they feel their nationals shouldnt have to apply for Canadian visas when Canadians could enter visa-free
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EW GURU
Latest post on 27 January 2012 - 10:03
So is there a paved road there :)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 25 January 2012 - 11:07
i dont know about credit card linked stuff, but on their own SKywards is better for lounge access, booking with miles, while Etihad Guest is much much better for using miles for shopping. From what i saw there is a wider variety of stuff you can buy at Etihad online
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 January 2012 - 14:19
It was 16 degrees at noon , and i cant remember the the last time it was 16 degrees at noon though i have been here a long time. !
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EW GURU
Latest post on 14 January 2012 - 15:46
Sorry to hijack but i had a similar question! We will be in the Chicago area for 2-3 days in April, is it worth going over to Milwaukee for a day trip while we are there ? Does Milwaukee have any sights or attractions much different than Chicago's ? edited by Arch on 14/01/2012 <em>edited by Arch on 14/01/2012</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 January 2012 - 17:57
As for Asians, maids, drivers and so on have a very different background and aspirations than an upper middle class person. While no one has done so here, some people i know think Asians should be paid very less because "our driver bought acres of land on his tiny salary". However from what i know, land and RE prices in a city like Mumbai is definitely higher than most 1st world cities, let alone some rural area . Similarly while a mad may be able to send 3 of her children to govt supported schools on a small salary, an urban professional wont be to able to afford sending even 1 child to a select private school in the city. Living costs back home vary from country to country and vary even greater sometimes within the same country.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 January 2012 - 17:52
i think a clear trend is seen: Aussies and Brits are more likely to find the UAE cheap than Americans. Cars, houses and many food items are definitely cheaper in the USA .
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EW GURU
Latest post on 10 January 2012 - 14:46
A) I'd had a couple of wines and wasn't sure where I'd stand had police been involved B) I had my DDs with me and DD1 was exhausted by that point due to her medical condition C) regardless of what they were up to I didn't really want them to potentially end up with a night(s) in clink although it may have put them off each other as they sobered up lol. You are smart, last thing you would need was getting charged for drinking without license and so on, While part of me wants to report such stuff, the other part says people are so quickly offended that i might as well not fall under that category. Some people are offended at the most trivial of things, so while this certainly wasnt trivial, maybe we can just let go ?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 10 January 2012 - 08:27
The USA is probably the easiest country in the world to plan vacations by yourself. Get a ticket For hotel+car, you can try Expedia, they generally offer good combos, otherwise you can book a hotel separately after checking from Tripadvisor, and book a car separately. What is generally most efficient is renting a car from an airport and returning it when you leave
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EW GURU
Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 22:38
My personal opinion is clear that its a ....., particularly given the dog's response. One thing that struck my mind, you said it started after your brother came, are you close to him, and did you speak to him on this, maybe he had similar experiences elsewhere ?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 03 January 2012 - 11:24
There is a Thrifty kiosk at Tunisia Court, near Geant
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EW GURU
Latest post on 27 December 2011 - 19:38
Any spot on Khail road or the road from SZR that leads to Khail road, theres an Emarat station there and a bowling centre also IIRC or maybe the Emirates towers, you have grassy areas there
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EW GURU
Latest post on 16 December 2011 - 16:05
In your eyes.....however some people prefer an honest day's work as opposed to putting their hand out to the Government every week or are thankful not being one of the other 2.5 million unemployed. Not everyone can be a big shot in life. Yes there are 'soul-destroying' jobs around (in your words) but they actually make life for many keep ticking! this may sound controversial, but supporters of child labor say the same thing, what harm is there in children doing an honest 1days work when they would instead remain at home or be on the streets? There is nothing wrong in working at a station, its just that they get paid too little, while having to inhale fumes which could cause cancer in many of them. All over the 3rd world its the same problem, when its paying workers and laborers, the owners/top management say they are in a 3rd world economy and cant pay more, but when it comes to their own bonuses and salaries, they want nothing less than what people in the 1st world get.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 December 2011 - 08:11
How much is electricity in Australia? If Dubai is cheaper then I can't imagine how much it is in Aus! When we were in Dubai we never paid more than 1300dhs per month for electricity AND water. Our houses were all bigger than the one we're in now and, obviously, fully air-conditioned. . But things have changed now, it is entirely possible you would pay 6000 dhs instead of 1300 dhs if you were in Dubai now
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 December 2011 - 08:09
Standards had improved after the black points system started, however over the last 3-4 months i have noticed most people have become very daring. People do stuff they werent doing a year back (but did so few years ago) like: Lamborghini weaving in and out of lanes when driving at 160 kph at SZR where the radar flashes at 120 People from trucks to Patrols to Camrys doing 80 kmh in a 1 lane inner road in Rashidia People swerving to my lane when on their cellphones and when i beep at them, they get angry at me !
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EW GURU
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 08:00
Once I had claimed my stuff, the police actually beat him with a stick....right in front of me! Not what I wanted to see, but it's good to see they take it seriously! edited by Sabrina H on 04/12/2011 If only all thieves were treated the same way, and we didnt have (not jut here) white collar thieves sitting nicely while blue collar ones are beaten.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 01 December 2011 - 08:26
The Mazda 6 is a very capable midsize car, its interior is IMO better than its competitors like Camry, Accord. I think they offer a full black interior, which none of its competitors offer. It is supposed to be "sporty" as with many Mazda cars, however that gives it a bit of a harsh ride over bumps compared to your accords/camrys. Fuel efficiency is OK, almost same as Accords and Altimas. i think it has a 2.5l version and a 2.0 version, 2.5l model wil be faster but with more fuel consumption What lets it down is that the dealer here doesnt have the best reputation which is why you see very few Mazda6 on roads compared to other of its peers.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 24 November 2011 - 08:47
and to think that they call me every 2 weeks trying to persuade me to take elife. They claim it is a very fast service and customers are very happy. Other times they say "Al Shamil will be cancelled soon". When we tried to shift the location for Al Shamil, we saw some customers denied their requests, they were told they would have to take elife .
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EW GURU
Latest post on 23 November 2011 - 08:49
or maybe they're just not confident in their English..i don't know where you all shop but i have never not had polite staff here and everyone smiles and says good morning ma'm etc... on the other hand, the way i see some customers behave makes me just want to slap them !! lol Depends on the stores. Places like New Look, Forever , Banana Republic and similar outlets have very nice staff in general. I think its more often in the hypermarkets and stores like Lulu where staff dont greet. Good thing is i have noticed staff greeting has become much more common over the last 5 years.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 November 2011 - 18:30
Surprise surprise, they werent happy with people going to the front end getting stuck for 30 minutes in the "loop", now even those who live in the other side, i.e. Concorde, Icon, Bonningtion have to face it. For some inexplicable reason even in this side, 2 lanes suddenly become 1, and there is a long jam there after 530pm.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 November 2011 - 11:52
The apartment I am viewing is around 1500 sq ft and is on a very high floor - so is pretty massive. Will stop in and view lake point while I am there as well and see if that's got anything going on. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome You wont find such large 1 beds in most of Dubai, good luck About the other part, i dont think the landlord will know if he doesnt stay there. So best would be to ask some of the tenants in lifts, etc. The agents had spoken to me more than a year back so maybe things have changed since then. and before taking the flat, try visiting it again after 9pm because thats when most of your potential neighbours will be home, and if any of them are loud/disruptive you can figure it out then ! edited by Arch on 22/11/2011 <em>edited by Arch on 22/11/2011</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 November 2011 - 11:31
This sounds like a Seinfeld episode lol So will it end up with one of us going to a counter and standing there saying "are you going to say you are welcome or not" , and then creating a mini scene ? :)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 November 2011 - 11:29
This year it is parking fee's, it seems like from Dec or Jan we need to pay 2000 for 1 car or 5000 for 2 cars if we want an access card to our own clusters parking... That will be stupid because in some clusters there are 300 spots for 100 cars,m why would they change for a flat whose owner already has bought a space ?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 November 2011 - 11:27
As recommended by one of my work colleagues, I have now found an estate agent who seems to be pretty switched on and actually listens to what I would like. He is suggesting Concorde Tower. Are there any pros and cons regarding this tower? Eventually, hopefully, I will find an apartment... Concorde tower is very varied, there are something like 14 different 1 bedroom layouts ranging from 600 sqf to 1600, sqf; 1 apt i saw there was huuge, with large living, separate dining and large bedroom Now there is one thing about this tower, it felt good but more than 1 agent said there are "some things going on in that tower with one nationality" without being specific. So i would ask the tenants what they think of it.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 November 2011 - 10:36
If a person saying 'thank you' is then miffed that they don't get a response back, then whats the point of saying thank you in the first place? Surely you just say 'thank you' to someone because you're appreciative of what they've done and its the way you are, to acknowledge this. You've done your bit, who cares if the person it was directed at doesn't respond! Do you really have to hear 'your're welcome maaaaaaaam' to be satisfied that your 'thank you' was acknowledged?! Its like people who do good deeds and then brag about it, again, whats the point? :) edited by Pomegranate on 22/11/2011 i dont know in what setting a person who looks the other way when a person says thank you is considered "normal". Certainly not in any situation i have been. A person doesnt have to say "you're welcooome", even a slight nod or faint smile is considered acknolwedgment. But just being plain expressionless and refusing to make eye contact is rude.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 November 2011 - 09:01
Er... Maybe the staff aren't in the mood to talk? I usually go through my carrefour/lulu transactions without convos, either! doesnt matter; its particularly rude when i say "thank you" to the vegetable counter guy/lady and he sometimes doesnt reply even a word.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 November 2011 - 13:05
Perhaps you missed this part of the answer: [i'>As for how the head dress is worn, there is no specific guide to who may or may not wear it with an agal or as a wrapped turban. The rule of thumb though is that wearing with an Agal is formal, and so you will see it worn mostly at work, weddings, and when older (past 20) men are out.[/i'> [b'>For the sake of this discussion, a child who is wearing national dress as part of national day celebrations, it is perfectly acceptable[/b'>. edited by Simone N on 21/11/2011 The part in bold is correct, children should be able to wear it as they are doing it as part of a celebration in their school But you are wrong if you feel the content you quoted means there cannot be any de-facto restrictions on who can wear it. Ask any Emirati friend in the know. There is definitely an unofficial restriction on the Eqal in the UAE, non-GCC people cannot wear it. They can wear the thobe, the Hamdaniyya, the Ghatra but not the Eqal along with it. <em>edited by Arch on 21/11/2011</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 November 2011 - 09:02
I'm not an expert but I'd be surprised by that since it is used to hold the ghurtrah, which many non-GCC men wear, in place. If you notice , you will those non-GCC men who wear the Ghatrah dont wear the Eqal. Some South Asian and Iranian men wear the headress and thobe, but never the actual Eqal. I think its an "unofficial" law. but for children i think it will be ok !
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 November 2011 - 08:56
I stayed at Arch Tower, its become one of the better towers in JLT. +ves 1) Only one tower in the cluster so no problem with parking which you get in clusters with 3 towers 2) Very nice lobby, security is helpful generally 3) some 1 beds are huge (1300 sqf) 4) No need to do the loop, very well located, its a 5 min walk to the Metro after the lake roads were completed -ves 1) Maintenance is no longer free for most people, unless the owner buys a maintenance plan. 2) Pool gets shut every now and then for "cleaning", but at one stage it was shut for 8 months 3) All apts have open kitchens 4) Windows are never cleaned and broken windows not fixed (may be a problem for other towers as well) V3 is good but the 1 beds are a bit on the smaller side, though the tower has a very positive feel to it Have heard good things about Goldcrest 1, heard its muchy better thjan Gcv 2 You can look at the Concorde and Lake View as towers outside the "loop" <em>edited by Arch on 21/11/2011</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 November 2011 - 08:51
Of course it's ok! Nothing disrespectful in dressing in cultural wear Well as far as i know its not allowed for a man who is not a GCC Citizen to wear the "Eqal", the black rope used on top of the headress (Ghatra). However it may not be applicable for children, maybe someone better versed may clarify ?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 November 2011 - 14:43
Plus, there'd be ppl who spend 20AED for a three hour train ride so they have a roof over their head and can sleep in air conditioned comfort. Plus plus, some sleepers are rude and will lie down, I've been on there with a multitude of rud and lazy ppl who wouldn't move for ppl who obviously needed to sit, I wouldn't want to have been one of those and haveto wake someone up to remind the it's public, not private, transport. 1st bit, I doubt someone who doesnt have a roof over their head will be able to afford 20 dhs.. secondly, most of the rude people are awake, how will you deal with them ?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 November 2011 - 13:21
maybe they could have a fine for snoring only as that would make more sense..? What will prevent people closing their eyes from being fined for sleeping ... <em>edited by Arch on 17/11/2011</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 16 November 2011 - 10:14
In the oprah show they interviewed a UAE national business woman who is westernized and very wealthy married into a prominent UAE family. . She showed off her large villa, perfect life, lovely kids, hubby who pays all bills as is the norm, housemaid that though the word of madam.....a dream life . I have UAE national friends who were offended this interview as it is not at all the way they live. Of course people if people back home watch this they think we are loaded. I remember when there was the outcry that she wasn't even from the UAE but Palestinian or Lebanese married to a UAE national..... I think she is Jordanian. Apart from the electricity quote, she started a debate when she said the Sheila (scarf) was a cultural requirement and not religious !
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EW GURU
Latest post on 16 November 2011 - 10:13
closest petrol pump is right next to Jafilia metro station. You go to the WTC Roundabout, and then take the exit that goes towards burjuman, the Emarat station is ~500m down that road after the metro station
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EW GURU
Latest post on 15 November 2011 - 22:27
I think it's because people at home see all of the shows on Dubai, and those shows all make it sound like everyone is beyond rich. I often have people from home telling me what they've seen on Dubai, and I am always telling them that it is not how they portray it, at least not for the majority of people living here. Those stupid shows totally give the wrong impression of what it's really like here. Reminds me of the Oprah show on Dubai and the uproar it caused !
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EW GURU
Latest post on 15 November 2011 - 19:20
Congratulations Korea i think are the strongest Asian team over the last 30 years, so beating them is a big achievement
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EW GURU
Latest post on 14 November 2011 - 15:43
etihad had some amazing offers recently, NYC was 2800 dhs vs 6500 dhs now ! KL was 1100 dhs and Amman/Beirut 600 dhs Hope emirates offers something similar ...
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 November 2011 - 14:51
Actually i have never been to Sri Lanka, just that i was hearing of quite a few people visiting there, and i know the weather should be good in December given its location a bit above the equator !
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 November 2011 - 13:07
Personally i wouldnt want to go to KL/Singapore as its hot and humid even in December and i wouldnt want to visit a place on vacation where the weather would be less pleasant than in Dubai ! In December a lot of places have near perfect weather, that includes Thailand, Sri Lanka, Southern India, Sharm Shaikh, Oman, and i would guess Hong Kong as well. It may be betetr to go one of them rather than a place like KL which would feel great going from a Dubai summer but would feel hot and sticky going from the wonderful Dubai days of 20-25C I have heard of a lot of ppl going to sri lanka recently and dont think it would be too expensive