Ever Seen a Sunbow?

Posted by Kanga.

The late afternoon drive into Dubai rarely disappoints. There is usually something amazing happening in the sky.

Yesterday, it was a sunbow. If you want to see all the pictures, click here.

Life Springing Up in the Desert

Posted by Kanga.

It has been a wet winter. The proof is in the grass sprouting up from the sands.

It’s a regular camel banquet.

There are even flowers.

Desert Fog

Posted by Kanga.

There were at least two foggy days in Dubai last week. Generally, this does not affect us in Fujairah, but we both had to go to Dubai on Thursday, I for work reasons and DaddyBird for the dentist.

So, we got to experience the fog.

Driving was a challenge. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of drivers who pulled over to the side of the road. Those who continued to drive slowed down. This may seem like common sense to you, Reader, but the UAE is known for it’s 35+ car pile ups.

If you want to see a video of the fog from the topside – click here. Nature is amazing.

Lighting Up the Sky

Posted by Kanga.

Two nights ago we were on our way home from the grocery store and saw something flashing, very bright, lighting up the sky. It was happening so frequently and at such regular intervals, we thought it might be man made. We actually turned around and drove back to investigate.

It turned out to be lightning. There didn’t seem to be thunder, until I realized that there were no individual claps, just a contant rumble. It was quite a light show and then the rain started. Lovely, huge, cold drops.

Blustery Days

Posted by Kanga.

This photo was taken in February.

This is approximately the same view in March.

The wind has been blowing quite viciously this winter. “Sand storm” doesn’t really describe it, because the airborne particulates are a very fine dust not sand granules.

Living on the 16th floor of a new building with very leaky windows during these wind storms has been interesting. Aside from the high pitched whistle of the air coming through the windows, there is the vibrating of the building at large. It feels like living in a rocket ship about to take off. Even the cats didn’t want to be in the living room alone due to the wind howling around the sliding glass door.

Clouds + Sun = Beautiful

Posted by Kanga.

The clouds and Sun cooperated to create some spectacular views yesterday on our drive into Dubai.

Now This is Humidity

Posted by Kanga.

This post is for the folks back home in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. of A. who are used to seeing condensation on their windows when the weather outside is frightfully cold and they have their furnace or heating stove going full blast. The warm, moist air inside their home hits the window that borders on the cold outdoor temperature and ta-da you have condensation.

Here it is just the reverse. The condensation pictured above is on the outside of the windows of the building’s second story. We live in a desert surrounded by sand, but we are also on a coastline surrounded by water, very warm water. So, once that hot, wet air hits the window bordering the cold internal airconditioning, ta-da you have condensation.

Sunset

Posted by Kanga

The best sunsets always happen while I am driving home. If I wait until I get home and go up the the roof to get a clear picture, it will be too late. So I catch what I can when I can.

How humid is it?

Posted by Kanga.

It is well into the nineties Fahrenheit here these days. The crushing humidity hasn’t set in, yet. That will come in June and stay through September. I suspect that I am getting acclimated, however, because it doesn’t seem that hot to me. I used to melt in ninety degree weather.

As I was leaving work one day, I noticed that the water from the sprinklers was turning directly into vapor and rising up rather than falling down.