Assalaam Alaikum - Peace be upon you

My first introduction to the United Arab Emirates was through the Abu Dhabi Airport.  When I arrived I received a warm welcome by an Emirati dressed in the clothing used by the UAE nationals; a Gothra (white headscarf) and Kandura (long white cloak).   He asked me where I was from  and what brought me to Abu Dhabi.  As I was walking through the airport on my way to meet my family, the sounds of the Muslim Call to Prayer filled  the airport for about a minute or two.  The adgan, the Islamic call to prayer, is done five times a day and is heard throughout the United Arab Emirates.  

Every where I went I saw small mosques with a glowing green minaret ( from Arabic manārah (lighthouse).  It's through these minaret spires that the call to prayer is broadcast  to the community at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and night. 

Today, Friday, is the day that Muslims attend services at the mosques and most businesses are closed, except for the malls, and Isza and I went Christmas shopping.  Afterwards we wrapped our gifts and put them under the tree.

On the first evening of my arrival I had the opportunity to try the local food.  One of my son's neighbors were having a party in the back yard and invited us to eat with them.  We had a chicken and rice dish, stuffed cabbage and eggplant and a dish called harees which is a chicken porridge.  The Emiratis are very welcoming and friendly.      

Al Ain City is where Greg, Michelle and Isza live.  It's about an hour and half outside of Abu Dhabi .  The City of Al Ain deserves the title of "the garden city in the desert".  Al Ain Oasis is one of the largest in the area and is made up of thousands of date palm trees.  On our visit to the Oasis, we strolled through with hardly anyone else there.  Being it was a Friday, it was quieter than usual because Fridays are the day of worship for Muslims.  

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Part of a Traditional Irrigation System

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Afterwards we stopped at a Camel Souk and were invited to go inside and meet the newest addition to the camel family who was one week old.  We were a bit uncertain about whether mama camel wanted us there!  As we were leaving, I was talking with one of the Afghanis, thanking him for taking the pictures and letting us meet the baby camel.  He quickly told me that he didn't understand English.  At that moment, one of the other men came over and reached out his hand and said "money?".  I guess that word is understood universally.  We gave him a tip and continued on our way.

Assalaam Alaikum -Peace be upon you