Sunday, August 21, 2011

How Hot Is It! and Flash Driving

Hello all! News flash- Dubai is in the desert and the desert gets hot in summer. Actually this has been a relatively mild summer by Dubai standards. The temps average 37 celsius/100 fahr. to 44 celsuis/110 fahr. However when you consider the humidity the heat index goes up by 10 degrees. Pretty dang warm by Bama standards but not so bad for the desert. Today the temp was 40 celsius/ 104 fahr. and I decided to try car cooking. Car cooking is exactly what it sounds like. You put something in direct sunlight, like on the front dashboard of your car, and see if you can cook it. I bought a pepperoni pizza at the supermarket in the refridgerator section- not frozen. I placed  the pizza on a piece of foil and set it on my front dashboard. Check out the results-

Refridgerated pizza at 9:30 in the morning. Outside temp 40 celsius/104 fahr.

Two hours later the pepperoni is curled and dried up and the cheese is a melted gloppy mass. Not exactly bubbling hot out of the oven- more like a warmed over unappetizing frat party reject. I wouldn't even consider eating this because it has meat and ecoli is no ones friend! 

Next week I am going to try car cooking a batch of cookies. That is a much safer bet and has better results. And hopefully it will be hotter and I will be able to enjoy warm cookies. Stay tuned!

I must admit I was a bit apprehensive about driving in Dubai but I needn't have worried. Driving here is alot like driving at home. The biggest difference is that in Dubai drivers actually use their blinkers and not just for turning but for changing lanes!  At home using your blinker is a sign of weakness! If you let other drivers know you intend to merge ahead of them in traffic they speed up so no one gets "their spot". And in Dubai if you are in the far left (fast lane) you are passing a vehicle and then you move over so other faster traffic can keep moving. Not like that at home. Drivers stay in the fast lane whether they are passing or not and may not even be driving the posted speed limit. Very frustrating! The highway I drive to work everyday is a 5 lanes  and trucks, buses and other such larger vehicles must only use the two far right lanes. Cars mostly use the 3 left lanes but they can use any lane they want. That keeps traffic moving smoothly.  The posted speed limit is 120 km/hr (74 mph) but get this- there are numerous large signs stating that traffic cameras are used to enforce the speed limit and will take your picure ("flash") if you are driving faster than 140 km/hr. What?! The speed limit is 120 km/hr but you don't get "flashed" unless you are driving 140 km/hr! That leads me to explain "flash driving". Speed cameras are easy to identify from far enough away to slow down if you are driving faster than 140 km/hr. So many drivers pass a speed camera going below 140 km/hr and step on it speeding like crazy until they see the next camera and slow down to 140 again in time not to get flashed then start the cycle again. It can get a little freaky sometimes but I seldom am in the fast passing lane and I stay out of the way!

One more interesting tidbit. Back home some people get vanity tags with cutesy sayings or names like 2LTL2L8 or JOYZRID. They don't have vanity tags in Dubai like that. Here most every car has a random five digit tag number- no big deal; you're not special. Some cars have a four digit tag number and sometimes you see one with 3 digits. The deal is the closer you get to number 1 the more you have paid for that tag. So if you see tag number 982 that person is special and has deep pockets. I've never seen a two digit tag but I know they are out there! Same number combinations are also coveted - like 777. The most expensive license plate in the world was purchased in 2008 for $14.3M- tag number 1. Next up is tag number 5 purchased for $6.8M in 2007. Both in Abu Dhabi.

So that ends another post. I hope all is well with my friends and loved ones. I miss you bunches and think of you every moment. Congrats to Ashley on her band performance and extra special positive energy to Dara. I love my babies so very much. Oh- best wishes to Jacob & Jeremy starting a new school year. I know you guys will rock! Much love- peace, love & happiness- M&J


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