Tallybalt

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EW GURU

Latest post on 18 April 2014 - 11:26

Carrefour had them this morning, imported from Turkey. I'm sure they're not as good as the ones in season but they're there.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 17 April 2014 - 08:04

Carrefour had them a month ago when I bought quite a few. I still saw them a few weeks ago. So give them a try (Mall of Emirates).

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EW GURU

Latest post on 16 April 2014 - 18:40

The mother could still be in school when her baby starts school. It boggles the mind. <em>edited by Tallybalt on 16/04/2014</em>

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EW GURU

Latest post on 14 April 2014 - 22:14

It does help to know what cars these are. Two downsides to exporting your cars are: 1. Any warranty you have in the US won't apply here (this will be the case for your new car). 2. If you're still making payments on your new car you may not be allowed to take it out of the country without paying off the loan first. You'd have to read the fine print in your agreement. What I might consider is shipping only the older car and keeping the new car back in the US in storage (if that's feasible at all). At the end of your two year stay in the UAE it'd be easy enough to sell your older car and you would probably get a better resale price for it here than in the US. I don't think cars are any cheaper in the UAE than in the US, including the second hand market.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 13 April 2014 - 08:26

I don't think it will be any cheaper here than in the UK. Real saffron is always going to be expensive and Spanish saffron is reckoned to be the best. Cheap saffron is generally only useful for the color. I've bought saffron in Deira and saffron at Carrefour and there were no noticeable difference. Whatever you do, don't buy that fake safflower "saffron" you see for sale in the touristy part of the spice souk.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 13 April 2014 - 08:22

Hello ladies, I have a friend who's been looking for work for the last few months. So far she's had two interviews. In both cases there were the preliminary phone calls/emails before the interview in person and everyone was very polite and friendly. She followed up with a thank you email. But then heard nothing. She sent a polite inquiry email two weeks after each interview, but still didn't get a response, even only to say thank you very much but we've found someone else. Is that lack of communication from HR/hiring managers common out here? I would think that if you bring in someone for an interview then at least you'd have the courtesy to notify them afterwards if they didn't make the cut, instead of leaving them hanging.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 13 April 2014 - 08:17

If you're working in Al Nahda, then you're actually working in Dubai? I would not want to commute from UAQ or RAK to Al Nahda, that'd be a nightmare drive due to the congestion. It'd be a much easier commute coming from the reverse direction (Dubai). There's nothing up in UAQ. Really, nothing. You'd be miles and miles away from proper shops and restaurants and schools. Facilities are very limited. RAK is a bit busier but as mentioned above the commute from RAK to Al Nahda will be time consuming and dreary. Some people would be happy spending a hour commuting to live in a little gated community in the middle of nowhere, but others will want more facilities nearby, and the truth is nowhere in Dubai is far from the beach. That's why you really need to see these places for yourself because quite often the dream doesn't gel with reality. If you want a cheap place to live you can try living in Al Nahda itself. It's all apartments and by Dubai standards, inexpensive. It's primarily Asian/Arab. There's a large beach park right next to Al Nahda in Al Mamzar.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 12 April 2014 - 21:55

What hasn't been mentioned so far (both on this thread and your original one) is that Sharjah isn't everyone's cup of tea. If you've never been to Sharjah you must keep in mind it's not Dubai. It's a very different place with a different "vibe" than Dubai. In a way it's much more traditional Middle East than any other place in the UAE. Most of Sharjah is fine, it's safe, there's lots of families, but it's still "traditional." I know nothing about your background. But if you're coming from the UK and you are looking for an area with a large British / Western expat community, you're really not going to find that in Sharjah. Mirdiff would be your closest bet and you should easily be able to afford a villa in Mirdiff if you're making 50K a month. Mirdiff also has a number of schools. The commute to Sharjah from Dubai is the reverse commute and the drive into Sharjah is almost always smooth and easy, as is the reverse in the evenings. I know people who do it from Umm Suqeim and it takes them 30 minutes max. Sharjah is infamous for congested traffic and you can easily spend as long or even longer to commute from your neighborhood in Sharjah to your office in Sharjah, as commuting from Dubai into Sharjah. To be frank, only you know whether you'd be happy living in Sharjah or whether it's definitely a no-go for you. Are you able to come to the UAE for a weekend before you start working, to check out the neighborhoods and the two different cities?

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EW GURU

Latest post on 10 April 2014 - 14:15

I make spinach and mushroom frittata all the time for lunches. It's quite simple. Saute the sliced mushrooms till browned. Remove. Saute an onion and one clove of garlic till slightly browned. Add a bag of thawed frozen spinach and cook for a few minutes till warm. Season. Return the mushrooms. Meanwhile beat six eggs in a bowl and add a bit of milk or yoghurt (a couple tablespoons to 1/4 cup is fine). Pour over the spinach and distribute the egg mixture and spinach evenly around the pan. Cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes till the frittata sets. Then put a lid on the pan for a few minutes as the steam will solidify the top of the frittata. Slice into four quarters and flip each quarter over (much easier than trying to flip the whole frittata) and let the top side brown for a few minutes. Serve. It's quite tasty even if it isn't that authentic. And it's definitely not oily as I only use a couple tablespoons of oil and a non-stick pan. DH loves it so we have it almost every weekend. I think the sweet potato sounds like a fabulous addition. I'd slice it in rounds and and lightly sauté it and add spinach to it, then the egg mixture.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 10 April 2014 - 13:40

I will add, if you're seriously committed to making this trip, that a number of the hotels offer nanny services for the guests. Check with your hotel if they have nanny services. If they don't it may be more effective to find another hotel that does rather than relying on off-site maid/nanny services, even if you have to pay more for the room. An alternative idea is to find a friend of yours, perhaps the teenage daughter of someone you know and trust, and bring her to Dubai with you to act as nanny for your son in exchange for a free holiday and some time off on her own when you don't need her.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 10 April 2014 - 13:25

I don't want to cause a damper on your holidays but are you aware what Dubai is like in July? It's incredibly hot, and no, a summer holiday in Spain isn't comparable. You really won't want to spend much time at the beaches and the sea will be very warm as well. Hardly cooling or relaxing. Hello, I will be traveling to dubai for a holiday in july with my severely disabled son (8yrs old) who is in a wheelchair and would appreciate if anyone can help me with the following: 1) where/what attraction can we go with him that is wheelchair friendly apart from the shopping malls and beach (staying at Palm Tree Court hotel at Jebel Ali) 2) does anyone know of a good nursing/homecare agency that would be able to look after my son while we (husband and other kids) do activities which he will not be able to do eg safari, cruise etc Any other advise to make things easier?

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EW GURU

Latest post on 10 April 2014 - 11:19

Here's a wonderful diagram that illustrates the difficulty of finding the plane. http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/page/world/the-depth-of-the-problem/931/?tid=sm_fb

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EW GURU

Latest post on 03 April 2014 - 08:00

There are older, smaller villas tucked away Umm Suqeim, quite modest ones really. I can see how it's possible to find a "cheap" villa well below the average market rents for the area. But I'd still be nervous paying for a villa, a full time maid, two cars, everyday living expenses and holidays on 25K. It's probably just doable but I'd be surprised to save more than 1-2k at the end of each month. I don't see how one could pay full school fees on top of it too.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 02 April 2014 - 11:47

Since you mentioned bedrooms are you sure it's not....bedbugs? Have you seen the actual mosquitos? The treatments for mosquitos and bedbugs are quite different.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 02 April 2014 - 10:48

The embassies here will know about the visas. They'll issue you a new passport and give back your old passport too. I think they cut off a corner of the old passport or punch holes through the cover so it'll automatically be recognized as not valid for travel, but that you're keeping it for the visa page. When you go through customs at the airport show both passports and it won't be a problem.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 31 March 2014 - 12:18

Fair enough. The British expat community hugely outnumbers the Americans in the UAE. But if you think there aren't many Americans who struggle with the work versus education issue back home, then I don't know where you're coming from. Oops. Just realized I violated my earlier promise. Never mind. This is the *last* post. I promise :) This will be my *last* post on this thread but I wasn't the one who 1) made the assumption the OP is British and 2) immediately made an unsubstantiated claim about the deficits of UK higher education, which has nothing to do with the OP's initial question (I'm American too, by the way). Otherwise I agree with you it's probably better for the long run to try to find some kind of education scheme rather than a job in the UAE, but there may be many factors that we don't know about. I'm sure the family has already extensively considered the education options, and for whatever reasons, are not considering it for now. I am *trying* to give her alternatives to a low-paying dead end job for her 19 year old son that will also give him a visa. Shoot me for being pro-education, why don't you? ten to one, she's British. The brits are the only ones who ever have these dilemmas!!! <em>edited by Tallybalt on 31/03/2014</em>

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EW GURU

Latest post on 31 March 2014 - 12:15

This will be my *last* post on this thread but I wasn't the one who 1) made the assumption the OP is British and 2) immediately made an unsubstantiated claim about the deficits of UK higher education, which has nothing to do with the OP's initial question (I'm American too, by the way). Otherwise I agree with you it's probably better for the long run to try to find some kind of education scheme rather than a job in the UAE, but there may be many factors that we don't know about. I'm sure the family has already extensively considered the education options, and for whatever reasons, are not considering it for now. I am *trying* to give her alternatives to a low-paying dead end job for her 19 year old son that will also give him a visa. Shoot me for being pro-education, why don't you?

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EW GURU

Latest post on 31 March 2014 - 12:07

The British do have local colleges and training programs for those not interested in a proper university, just as there are community colleges in the United States for those who can't go on to a proper higher education institution. But this is neither here nor there for our OP, I believe, who's looking for a *job* for her son, not a debate on the merits of US versus UK higher education. That's my point exactly. He'll make next to nothing at a low end job when he could be studying. At least in the US, it's a choice (and an economic issue, but anyways). Anyone can go on to university, not just those who've passed a test.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 31 March 2014 - 11:51

Bit of a generalization, no? So many American high school graduates don't go on to further education and less than 50% of Americans actually finish a BA. I imagine the British system is similar, so you can't make judgments either way. If the child in question is not going to university somewhere then he's probably not interested in an university in Dubai. As for jobs, see if you can find a training scheme in the hospitality sector somewhere. There are scores of hotels in Dubai. He'll make next to nothing but it's a start. This is why the US system is so much better. In the US, he would go and get four more years of school at university, giving him more time to decide what profession he wants to do. In the British system, he goes and gets a job. Can't you send him for more schooling somehow? The universities here offer visas.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 28 March 2014 - 12:25

It does sound unusual, but as you mentioned you're new to Dubai I'll say there's a chance it's probably a service worker or landscaper. Some of them, particularly if they're from Afghanistan or parts of Pakistan, can look very "caucasian" (unless your man has blond hair). And yes, some of them will have bank cards. He may have just gotten off a shift working somewhere and was getting some money before being picked up to go back to his labor camp. It would be so difficult for a homeless western expat to hang out in Dubai without attracting the attentions of the authorities or other westerners. If you're concerned you can ask people working in the shops at Motor City if they've seen him before, for if he was homeless and hanging around in the area people surely would have noticed the oddity of a homeless westerner. As for Timmy Maccoll, I think he was quite short. <em>edited by Tallybalt on 28/03/2014</em>

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EW GURU

Latest post on 24 March 2014 - 08:10

I'd also stop in Cordoba for a night. It's between Granada and Sevilla and is a lovely historic city with a fabulous old cathedral that used to be a mosque. It's fascinating to see. You could also probably just do Cordoba as a day trip en-route from Granada to Sevilla. Granada and Cordoba feel very "old" Andalucia with many Moorish remains and beautifully preserved city centers, whereas Sevilla is a bigger city and is actually more Victorian, but it's still a wonderful place. If you're coming from Barcelona, then what about Valencia? Beautiful city. As for hotels, probably the best resource is booking.com. Plug in your budget range and it'll show you all the options. It also has a map feature so you can see where the hotel is located relative to the historic parts of town. We found the hotels in Spain to be very reasonably priced, especially compared to northern Europe and Italy. Cordoba had the cheapest hotel, we stayed in a traditional Spanish courtyard house a few blocks from the cathedral for only 30 euros a night. Tripadvisor will have great recommendations for places to eat, especially tapas bars, which I *loved."

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EW GURU

Latest post on 18 March 2014 - 12:44

The air pollution in Beijing is supposed to be the equivalent of inhaling a pack of cigarettes a day!

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EW GURU

Latest post on 18 March 2014 - 12:43

I saw her twice in real life. Both while visiting friends in Edinburgh. The first time was in Valvona and Crolla on Leith Walk, and the other time in the little cookery bookstore that used to be down by the Grassmarket. She looked as if she was about ten years older than my parents but, no, she was younger! That is what the alcohol does, I suppose. Still, she had such a wonderful attitude towards life and country pursuits, so she did live life to the full.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 13 March 2014 - 13:48

Just do a border run. Seems a lot easier than flying out of the country. I've heard of the Go Tours mentioned below as I met someone who used them (the visiting mother of friends of ours). It was apparently a breeze. Four hours round trip from the Marina to Hatta and back.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 13 March 2014 - 11:39

When we first came to Dubai we met other Americans who worked for the big security companies providing security services in Iraq and Afghanistan. A bunch of these companies happened to be in the right place at the right time when the Afghan invasion started (back in 2001-2?) They mushroomed and the industry boomed. But things are definitely changing and some of these companies are struggling badly. The industry is not only much more competitive, but the withdrawal of forces from Iraq and Afghanistan has reduced the demand for security services. It's not that they've become more peaceful places but the handover of power back to the local governments has completely changed the dynamics. It's much harder to get employment and operating visas for both Iraq and Afghanistan and corruption is now rife. Understandably the Iraqis/Afghans are increasingly demanding that security be provided by their own citizens, not overseas expats. The big market is now providing security for O&G companies in Iraq, but it's still hyper competitive and the profit margins aren't there as they were when the US government was the big client. The other factor to consider is that the security companies based in Dubai operate on a pretty lean model with a sharp division between employees of the company and consultants. Employees are directors, managers, program managers, etc, based in the local HQ and who get visas and packages that allow them to have a family here. But just about everyone in the field are treated as security consultants, who are treated as based in their home country and are expected to keep families in their home country, not bring them to Dubai. If you're an on-site project manager or convoy team leader, you aren't getting a UAE visa. After all, you aren't working in the UAE other than business trips to the UAE office.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 11 March 2014 - 09:59

Make sure you leave her a tip. They will be happiest with a nice tip.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 09 March 2014 - 09:07

It's typical of a Dubai paper to claim the world's "best." I'm always immediately suspicious. The Miracle Garden is fine. It's a bit odd and artificial by my standards but it's a pleasant way to spend a few hours outside when the weather is nice. The world's most beautiful gardens are in Britain, in my view. The British gardening tradition + British weather gives that country the frameworks for creating genuinely breathtaking gardens. My favorite is probably the Powis Castle gardens. But I also love the gardens in Japan and some of the great formal gardens in France and Italy, which are quite different from the British "natural" gardens. And there are lovely gardens in the US too. There are many different kinds of gardens across the world and it's lovely to see the different approaches to gardening. I suppose Miracle Garden does fall into one category of gardens but I certainly wouldn't rank it as one of the world's best gardens.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 16:01

There's always Alison, who runs Dubai Doghouse, and she helps people ship their pets via accompanied baggage. It's much cheaper than shipping the pets separately but there are some restrictions as you can only fly certain airlines and must be on the same flight. The savings, however, can be enormous. As in thousands and thousands of Dhs. You can find Alison by googling her name and Dubai Doghouse. <em>edited by Tallybalt on 06/03/2014</em>

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EW GURU

Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 14:21

You will have to pay income tax on your American income. There's no exceptions or ways around it. Don't forget that in addition to the Federal income tax there are also local and state taxes. Your company will automatically deduct the taxes from your paycheck but you will still need to file a Federal income tax return each year and depending on the calculations, either pay additional taxes, get a refund or nothing. Here's a quote from the Guardian. What tax will you pay? The moment you become a lawful permanent US resident with a green card you are liable to pay tax in the US on your total worldwide income. You will also be considered a US resident for tax purposes if you meet the "substantial presence test", which means you are in the US at least 31 days during the current year, and 183 days over the past three years. If you are a non-resident you will only pay US tax on the income you earn locally. There are currently six income tax brackets ranging from 10% to 35%. These are due to rise from the end of the year to between 15% and 39.6%, unless new legislation prevents it. Each state and local government has its own set of tax rules, which complicates matters.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 05 March 2014 - 22:25

Why am I feeling very disappointed? I could have done with a nice thread before going to bed :) Since I have no idea what was originally posted and caused 4500+ views I will just add that Tavola prices sure do seem quite high whereas Lakeland prices are reasonable. For Dubai, that is.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 01 March 2014 - 20:48

My grandmother, who grew up with help when it was still commonplace in the US, has been a fountain of wisdom regarding managing and getting along with help. One particularly good piece of advice she gave me was: never get involved with your help's money affairs. If you're worried about your maid's spending habits then the best thing to do is to lead by example. Just have casual conversations about how you and your DH are saving for retirement, a house or whatever, and how it's involving sacrifices so that's why you're not buying this or that. If she doesn't get the hint, it's not your problem. Just don't directly tell her how she should be spending her money.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 17 February 2014 - 09:13

Madam was the traditional way of being addressed by your help. It does sound very formal by modern day standards but I wouldn't worry about it. If "madam" bothers you then have your maid call you Mrs. Last Name or First Name. In that highly nuanced relationship that is a maid and employer I think it's important to maintain a degree of formality so everyone knows where they stand.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 17 February 2014 - 08:13

I think you can use the TVs to watch DVDs and download programs from the internet but I don't think you'll be able to receive US television programming from local TV stations because the electronic wavelengths will require different receiver settings. But it may depend on what kinds of settings your current TVs are programmed to. Sorry, I'm not an electrical engineer! I will say this: electronics are cheap in the US, cheaper than in Dubai. Personally I'd sell the TVs here and buy new ones in the US so I wouldn't have to worry about using converters, which tends to wear out the electronics more quickly, or whether I'd be able to hook up to local TV programming.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 16 February 2014 - 11:28

I wanted to add that I'm sorry if I came across as harsh and uncaring about a pregnant maid. It's not that I wouldn't care about a pregnant maid but a pregnancy adds a lot of drama and complications to a person's life and given the context of Dubai it's not practical or worthwhile to put up with the complications any longer than you need to. If this was a country where the maids came from the local population then I would definitely work with the maid to come up with a new employment arrangement, allowing her to work a few months longer and arranging for a temporary maid while she had the baby. After a maternity leave she could come back because there would be a locally based extended family to watch the baby while the mother worked during the day. But that's not the case for Dubai and maids in Dubai. I just noticed that you mentioned you work, so obviously sending a maid back home ASAP is difficult. But I'd still try to find a new maid soon and send the pregnant one home as quickly as possible, and I'd also give her a few month's salary as a farewell gift. The danger is that it's not only potential health problems and expenses that could arise during a pregnancy or the maid's capabilities for performing her contractual duties, but you mentioned that she's married and if her husband's in Dubai, going through a very emotional period for them could lead to complications for they'd presumably want to stay together and she could be adamant about staying here for the birth and being with him. I can only imagine then pains of the plausible scenario for them, which is splitting up, he stays here while she goes home for the birth, and agonizing over the questions of when will she be able to come back and how they'd handle their family relationships from a distance. The issue is that it's their family and their decision to have the baby regardless of the short or long term consequences and the sooner you're out of it the better off you are.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 15 February 2014 - 22:14

Cancel her visa and send her home. As soon as possible. If it were me she'd be at the airport first thing tomorrow. It's not only that she lied, but you do not want to be liable for any health related problems your maid may encounter during the pregnancy, which is why it's so important to get the visa cancelled right away and the maid is only fully released from your sponsorship when she's officially left the country. <em>edited by Tallybalt on 15/02/2014</em>

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EW GURU

Latest post on 14 February 2014 - 19:50

Bit of a radical suggestion here. Have you thought about staying in Canada till the end of the school year? It's only an extra three and a half months and your children wouldn't miss out on any schooling time. It'll also give you time to apply to a bunch of schools for admissions in September rather than mid-year.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 13 February 2014 - 13:57

Carrefour, Waitrose and Spinneys all carry them. <em>edited by Tallybalt on 13/02/2014</em>

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EW GURU

Latest post on 12 February 2014 - 20:10

KLM has an excellent reputation for transporting animals. They're probably the best airline out there for this purpose. The difference will be DKC will charge you an arm and leg. If you don't mind spending the money then go ahead and use them. But having your dog as cargo on the same plane as you will be substantially cheaper. If money is an issue and you haven't booked your flights with Emirates can you arrange to fly KLM? If doing so you can arrange for the pet transport with KLM yourself on your KLM ticket and save a fortune. There's a lovely woman in Dubai named Alison who helps with the export paperwork for pets and you can find her online easily.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 08 February 2014 - 09:20

A lot of it will also come down to where you bought your carpet, how much you paid for it and what style it's in. If you bought one of the typically new, flowery Persian carpets, the western markets generally don't favor those types of Persians as the western market is dominated by the antique tribal persian rugs that are no longer woven, such as Heriz, Malayers, Shiraz, Isfahans and Balouchis, except possibly as copies from India. The copies can still be quite good quality but won't be officially traditional Persians. Dubai unfortunately is an overpriced market for Persians. Almost everything sold here is of the newer Persian variety as that seems to be what the Arabs prefer. If you pay full price for a rug here and take it to the West you simply won't get your money back. Even resale within the UAE you're unlikely to get more than a fraction of what you paid, partly because there's already a huge supply of rugs. As Mrsb. implied, you should never buy a rug as an investment. It should always be a personal decision reflecting your taste and appreciation of the rug.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 28 January 2014 - 12:18

Try contacting Arenco. They own many compounds in the Jumeira area. Good landlords from what I hear. A lot of their compounds are a bit older but they keep them in good shape.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 18 January 2014 - 22:19

If you do a google search for "Alison doghouse Dubai" you'll find a pet shipping service run by a lovely woman who's been transporting animals for years. She knows all the ins and outs of transporting pets from Dubai and can give you the full range of costs. We know people who have used her and for a very reasonable fee she organizes the export paperwork while you sort out the airline end yourself. On the whole it's definitely cheaper to do it yourself or use someone like Alison to help you. As for airlines KLM has an excellent reputation for shipping pets. Pet shipping is one of those industries where you can pay thousands and have someone else completely take care of every step of the process, or only pay few hundred and spend a few hours on the phone with the airline or in the right offices and still get your pet safely to the destination. <em>edited by Tallybalt on 18/01/2014</em>

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EW GURU

Latest post on 18 January 2014 - 15:24

We sold our 2008 Pajero about in 2012 for 55,000. The mileage was around 70K, I think. Your asking price is lower but since there's an extra 18 months on the car's age you may need to realistically look at as low as 40K as the final price if you need to sell the car soon. It took us five weeks to sell our car. Started at 62 and finally sold at 55. Most of the offers were between 45-50. We were a bit surprised at how long it took to sell the car and how much we had to reduce the price as we'd been assured over and over again "Japanese car, popular model, blah blah," but someone wiser than us pointed out that brand new Pajeros were still selling for 100K and trying to resell a 4 year old Pajero at 60+K was a challenge, unless it came fully loaded with extras, and ours wasn't. Your car is 6 years old this year so buyers will be even pickier. Certainly back in the US a 6 year old car would be considered very lucky to get 40% of the original purchase price.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 18 January 2014 - 13:25

I'm assuming your husband is working in DIFC or along Sheikh Zayed Road near Downtown? Victory Heights is quite a bit of a drive. If he's working long hours he may prefer some place closer to the office. Arabian Ranches is a little closer but you should be aware that living on the Ranches doesn't automatically give you membership in the golf club, nor are the pools at the Ranches suitable for swimming laps. If you want a good gym and lap pools you'll need to find a private venue somewhere. What about the Meadows? It's more conveniently located to many areas in Dubai (handy for the kids when they visit) and there's the Lakes Club which has a large pool as well as a nice gym. Meadows villas have open floor plans similar to the Ranches. Then you have the individual/compound villas in Jumeira and Umm Suqeim. They vary but some are quite nice with open plans, pools and even gyms, and they have the best locations of all, being so close to the beaches and central to everything in Dubai.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 10 December 2013 - 19:59

Or will someone be selling them at Arte Souk this weekend?

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EW GURU

Latest post on 08 December 2013 - 19:51

The Amed coast is a largely undeveloped part of Bali and at the moment most of the accommodation is basic guesthouses and small boutique resorts. It's quite quiet compared to south Bali so you can't expect the big resort type places you find at Nusa Dua. The snorkeling at Amed is hit or miss. It's quite decent in certain areas but other stretches of the coastline don't have interesting snorkeling, so if snorkeling is your game you need to research which hotel/guest house have good snorkeling directly off the beach. Another place to go to which may be more convenient is Nusa Lembongan, off the coast of South Bali. The water is gorgeous while the island itself may not be the prettiest, and there are several dive schools and good snorkeling spots. It's a more developed island with a good range of small resorts.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 08 December 2013 - 19:47

There is the British School of Washington but when I looked at their website it seems they only offer IBs for the last two years of high school (following the IGCSE). You may want to talk directly with the school about the IB versus A-levels and if they give students the option to sit A-level exams. It's interesting that the British School offers the IB following the IGCSE. No American high school will offer A-levels. I have read that many British universities now favor the IB exams over the A-levels as they're seen as more rigorous. You may also want to explore this option. There are American students who go on to study in the UK and they generally take the IB exams which are recognized by the British universities.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 07 December 2013 - 19:58

Just wanted to point out that corn flour (UK) is cornstarch (US). What you might be referring to as corn flour is cornmeal (US) or maize (Africa) All supermarkets have them. They usually carry the brands imported from South Africa.

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EW GURU

Latest post on 07 December 2013 - 19:26

Dubai is not going to be the right labor market for everyone. I don't know exactly what you did but when you referred to customer service and support it may be that your sector, insofar as it exists in Dubai, is flooded with low wage earners and most hiring managers won't bother looking at a western expat's CV. The employment market is also decidedly not equal in Dubai. Many hiring managers have an bias for their own nationalities and I've heard people joke about the "Lebanese mafia" or "Iranian mafia" or, in the architecture field, the "English mafia." Dubai is also a small city. It may have a big name worldwide but it's still only a city of two million people (if that). It's not the employment market of New York or London or Toronto or Sydney. If you have a great CV and genuine management experience you will find a job. At some point. But it may be a slow and long process. So patience is needed. The one good news I may be able to offer is that the busiest hiring time tends to be January - April as companies have finished the fiscal year and received approvals for new hires, and that's coming up shortly.

654

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 06 December 2013 - 10:03

The only serviced apartments I know of that allows pets is the World Trade Centre Apartments on Sheikh Zayed by the Trade Centre roundabout.

654

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 11:39

The original entry ramp to Fashion Parking (The round tower-like ramp that the boys loved going up because the car bounced around a bit) is being demolished at the moment. That's probably why the traffic is much worse. Do you know why it's being demolished? An extension to the mall? 1) It is not just about Hessa St, it is about the fact that you have 3 mega freeways (SZR, Khail, and old Emirates), and very few minor freeways to connect them , particularly south of Downtown Dubai. The Umm Suqeim freeway completion will make things better and it would help to have another small freeway to connect all 3 freeways 2) Laws are there, but until enforced won't make a change. Seatbelt laws are there as are laws against using cellphoness but the prevalent tinting makes it difficult to enforce them 3) Parking in Dubai mall was much better when the Fashiop parking building had the straight access to Level 6 and the free access from levels 6 and 10 to exit diectly, for some reason they closed all those accesses and things went worse. Cinema parking is good though if you know your way, with the awful speedbumps on some levels being the main problem

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