And Snow by any other name...

They actually had snow in the UAE this week...for only the second time that anyone can remember. Snow fell on the mountains in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), about an hour drive north of Dubai. They say the local dialect in that region doesn't even have a word for snow.

Ricky and I played golf in RAK last week. Tower Links was a pretty nice track which sits in a dry river bed...not sure what happens if and when they get a big rain. RAK is a small city squeezed against the shore by some pretty tall mountains. We didn't see too much of RAK. Looks like a couple developments on the shoreline. And there were several Palaces over looking the golf course.

To get to RAK, you have to drive thru Sharjah, which is a large city butting up against the north side of Dubai. Sharjah is dirty, with poor infrastructure and massive traffic problems--and the source of many of Dubai's traffic problems. Sharjah is also alot cheaper place to live--so every evening the Northbound highways in Dubai get jammed with folks trying to get home to Sharjah. We drove about 30km out of our way to avoid the miles-long traffic jam on the way home. (to be fair, Sharjah is supposed to have some great art museums--so someday I will probably venture a daytrip).

We also drove thru Ajmin, just north of Sharjah; and also Umm al-Quwain, which is the home of the Barracuda Resort, which has a liquor store. You will hear quite a few folks referring to making a 'Barracuda Run.' Liquor is apparently cheaper than in Dubai and not limited in quantities you can purchase (when I get my liquor permit in a few weeks, I will be limited to buying about $300 of alcohol per month--based on my salary). The only catch about the Barracuda is you have to bring the alcohol back thru Sharjah, which is zero tolerance on the possession of alcohol. Your chances of getting stopped are slim, but if you do (due to accident, traffic stop, mechanical breakdown) you can plan on losing your purchase and spending some time in jail if you do get caught.

For now, I will let others make the Barracuda Runs.

If anyone is keeping count, In the Dubai Mall/Old Town complex there are now 4 Caribou Coffees and 4 (soon to be 5) Starbucks. Also there is a Costa Coffee, Seattles Best, 2nd Cup, and about a dozen other Coffee shops. Also 3 Gelatto shops and 3 Cold Stone Creameries. And one Krispy Kreme.