tracking two trains...

dhow jones index - the dobuy metro

and there you are:
- the world's 1st driverless metro
- the middle east's 1st metro network
- the world's newest rail network


however we will resist the urge to trainspot:
- our car is too new
- bombaywallahs have an inherent suspicion of new & roomy trains
- the camel-to-train transition is still in test mode
                                                      - the nearest station from our home / office is too far to walk to and too
                                                        close to drive to


                                                        but travel in it we will, for that familiar swaying feeling and for the view!

à table!

eid has happened today and our ehtiopia-like situation has been resolved. fasting for a month might seem like a good idea for a lot of people. good luck to them all. we need our 3 squares a day (as well as several other shapes in the course of a normal day). our rather circular silhouette bears testimony to this!


we are looking forward to the table groaning under the weight of viands, victuals and vin...

dobuy driving travails

we have been considering posting on the travails that gentlefolk go through in getting a driving license in dobuy. put it off till the piece o'plastic was safely in our wallet. now that it is, and we are wheeled (as it were), here goes:

1. driving schools in dobuy are a means to sponsor bollywood fraternal visits. fees for every little thing, which are thrown at one like pellets from an air rifle.

2. most instructors are from around the khyber pass and wouldnt recognise a metalled road if it hit them (or vice versa).

3. most training cars are nissan sunnys. which is like learning about sex from mills and boon.

4. no trainees are allowed on SZR. imagine the terror of a freshly blooded driver when he sets wheels onto this road and finds 6 lanes of sheer frenzy. statistically the maximum accidents in dobuy are on this road, caused by 1st timers crouched under the dashboard in utter panic.

5. 30 minute classes are of no use.

6. inspectors annotate the driving test sheet in arabic. getting someone to translate and then understand what "you drive loose" means is ulcer-inducing.

7. most driving schools are manned by folk from a certain island nation of south-east asia whose name is similar to that of the king-consort of england. these folks labour under an average iq of 2 and deserve to be flattened further.

more later. keep driving.

dobuy quirks

seen recently in dobuy. we werent aware that habits were advertised quite so openly. signs of badvertising? or is this a sign of big brother dictating, in a generally very tolerant oasis?

Bah! rain?!

well thats how the locals pronounce it!

we spent 2 days in the kingdom of bahrain. though we are no apologists for a monarchical system, 'kingdom of bahrain' does have a rather regal air to it. now if it would only rain there! a chilled beer would have gone down right nicely but alcobevs are off the market due to the current month. wonder how the us navy's fifth fleet is taking it... the indian influence seems stronger than in the uae - more indian brands visible for instance. no doubt due to a strong trading relationship with yonder shores since several hundred years. cant avoid the natives can we?! perhaps the next trip will be more useful and enriched with photography...

our first bought

this is herbie. our first bought. she has completed 1 month and has already stepped far and wide (2 trips to abu dhabi). this post also signals the start of an occasional series on driving in dobuy - from travails to travels. stay logged on.