3 reasons to love Abu Dhabi this week

1) My friend has dedicated herself to a strict regime of morning meditation in an effort to calm her mind and help her days run more smoothly. On the first day she rose and began the process, only to be distracted by the sound of a neighbour's bleating goat outside her window.

"I tried to meditate and all I heard was maaa-aaa-aaa," she said.

2) Another friend was waiting for me to arrive at Oceans for ladies night when two stout women from India bellied up to the bar. They ordered: "Sex on the Beach. Warm." As they drank their ice-cubeless cocktails, they made a wall with their purses. Safely out of sight of the bar staff, they pulled out a tin foil package and proceeded to snack on some homemade onion bhajis. After one drink, they left.

3) A friend in the hospital was given some delicious, fanciful cakes by concerned co-workers, but he felt ill and just didn't have the stomach for them. Another co-worker took them and gave them to her taxi driver, who was incredibly grateful.


The driver thanked her profusely, saying he and his friends would enjoy them while they watched cricket later that night back at their accommodation. 

Reporter tries to find Libyan embassy in Abu Dhabi (not as easy as it may seem)

Reporter: "Where are you located?"

Embassy: "Why? Who are you? What do you want?"

Reporter: "I'd like your location please."

Embassy: "Call back in an hour. We are busy."

(Conversation carries on like this for a few minutes)

Reporter: "Please tell me where you are located."

Embassy: "I don't want to."

Overheard in the Middle Easter newsroom: super special Thursday edition

"I think Lady Gaga should dress as Gaddafi at her next concert."

"I can't take Oman seriously as a country."

"I like your spelling of hypocrisy. I've never seen it spelled like that before."

More Libyan protests, at the embassy in Abu Dhabi this time

In Abu Dhabi, the Libyan ambassador to the UAE this morning told a crowd that although he was with the people, he wouldn't remove the Libyan flag in solidarity. Unlike others of his ilk around the world, he has not resigned nor does he seem prepared to.

Omar al Ghanai gave the short speech, in Arabic, hence none of it is here yet, to dozens of protestors outside the embassy.

Bad (or good, depending on how you look at it) timing for Younis Beshari, 23. He came to the UAE from from Benghazi 10 days ago, and wants to return to join the protests against Gaddafi.

"I feel ashamed sitting in front of the TV, watching this," he said. "I want to be with my friends."


Yesterday's protest in Dubai was a good deal more boistrous, larger and much longer than we are used to seeing here. Up to 100 people gathered to condemn violence in the North African country, in the process destroying a photo of Gaddafi and replacing the flag with the country's former standard. 


My favourite part of the story, only because I simply can't believe I read it (and can you imagine something like this happening in the West?) was this:

The crowd said they would stay outside the consulate until the Libyan regime fell, but agreed to disband peacefully at 3pm after police told them they could submit an application for a time and venue at which to continue their demonstration. 


Here are some great pictures of yesterday's protest, courtesy of Essam al Ghalib.

Protests at the Libyan consulate in Dubai: “Tell Muammar and his sons: Libya has men”

The National's Wafa Issa is down at the Libyan embassy in Dubai covering a protest that unfolded earlier this morning.

At one point, protesters entered the Libyan consulate and removed a portrait of Muammar Gaddafi from the walls, took it outside and smashed it on the ground.

The crowd grew to 80 people, some who called for the UAE Foreign Ministry to condemn violence against protestors in Libya, but quelled as the group offered prayers for their country at midday. At last report Dubai Police were allowing the protest to continue, quite a rarity in this country.

Libyan Yousef Omar, 23, a businessman from Benghazi, also took part in the protest. “The world cannot remain silent,” he said. “These human rights violations must be stopped.”


UPDATE: From Twitter, Danya B Mohammed: We TOOK OFF THE FLAG IN UAE!!! CONSULTE!! But they have locked us in!! @SultanAlQassemi @ShababLibya

Tiny chili shaped like a heart

I love this picture for a lot more reasons than that it is a cute little chili. I love it because a family was shopping in Al Ain last week and noticed it, and they thought it was cute, and they took a picture of it and emailed it in to the newsroom under the headline "chili with a little heart".

In these turbulent times, I have been trying to appreciate the small things in life. And the fact that this family who I do not know, but already like very much, took the time to notice this heart-shaped vegetable, photograph it and then email it to a newspaper so other people could enjoy it too - well, it's just really sweet, is all. And we need a little more of that.

Nick Kristof: I am glued to his every word

There are loads of people to follow as they report what is going on in the Middle East right now, but you have to pick a few or you won't get any work done. One of those Western journalists who seems to have a nuanced view of the situation is the New York Times' Nick Kristof. I enjoy his blog, which ended with this:


Finally, I just have to say: These Bahraini democracy activists are unbelievably courageous. I’ve been taken aback by their determination and bravery. They faced down tanks and soldiers, withstood beatings and bullets, and if they achieve democracy – boy, they deserve it.