The Signifier

All that *glitters* is not Gulf

Voices emerge and break the myth of the Middle Eastern Dream
Today, like every other, part of my morning routine is a catchup on the world and a glimpse into the lives of people I've met over the years to see what's happening in areas of my past.

Ordinarily, this activity is a quick affair, scanning through lots of injections of what people have thought, smelt, tasted....everyday stuff that in most parts is nothing new or surprising. Now to the untrained eye, something like this (a report from journalist Johann Hari) would be considered just a bitter review of a trip to this glimmering city. However, what you're in fact reading is a brave voice emerging from a mission to find the REAL Dubai.

Already, the wheels of PR and loyalty are turning (AmazingWomenRock article) with an interesting "two wrongs do make a right" approach, pointing the finger to the rest of the World who treat their citizens in a similar fashion! Interesting considering that for a long time, the Emirates smugly announced they've built the city of Dubai using the lessons/mistakes made by the Western World as a guid of how NOT to do it!

It's not waving the white flag, it's seeing the bigger picture and moving on.

For the last few weeks, you can probably tell there has been a bit of a radio silence on broadcast. Going into the details of the "whys" and "Who's" are probably best kept to oneself, merely because of the fragility of others involved.

However, what I can share is the realisation I had at the beginning of this week that moved me to decide to step back from the tornado of chaos I was experiencing and walk away from it.

Asking myself what it I was that I was ultimately looking for that made me take those decisions in the first place were based on the fundamental I've always held with high importance in my life;

The belief that one has the right to prove themselves in a situation where others are trying to bend the truth.

I've never liked being accused of something I've not actually done, especially when at the time, I did things to help others out in times of need. The natural response has always been to fight one's right for truth against those who wish to paint you with tar that is of their making NOT yours.

I had to make a choice this week. The choice of being comfortable with saying that I don't need otheres acceptance of the real story. Im happy to say "I know who was right", "I know what was said and what wasn't said" and those who claim otherwise are merely fooling themselves and running away from their own demons. As they scrabble from their own problem, they're pushing their demons onto others (they do catch up with their orignators very quickly though!).

The good news is that eventually this kind of thing sorts itself out. I'm a believer in Karma and I know it'll come bite sooner or later. I'd rather not be around when it does, because I know the same behaviour will just be repeated all over...that's for someone else to experience, not me.

I can quite happily hold my head up and smile, knowing the future will contain one less bad energy, one less reason to fear newness and one less reason to celebrate the many things I know I will now do because of this change in course and direction to my life.

If there is one thing I thank those fools I no longer suffer gladly, it's the newness their actions now put in front of me.....exciting, challenging, rewarding. Dad would call it Character Building!

When do you have *that* epiphany?

So when do you have your epiphany in Dubai?
Pain body tells says "get out!".
Logic tells me "early days, give it time!".
Friends say "anything up to 6 months".
Colleagues say "you'll be fine around 12 months...that's when your standards all drop."

In amid this flurry of voices inbound, the mind jumps around from place to place. If there is one thing I've found in the last few weeks, it's certainly not to make decisions during a weekday...that's when you're at your most susceptible and least logical.

I had hoped that a lot of upfront work would remove the jigger-y-pokery. I had hoped that after the air freight arrived, the TV would be fine and that would pull us both into a bit of sanity. I did feel better after the vast mountains of packers boxes had been emptied and dispatched to the recycling box in our corridor that all would bed down...

....Still the analysis goes on (some people say 'don't think about it too much') and still the cerebrum is put through a 10-round bif-baf-bosh.

My old rule of "Ask yourself 'are you happy? every day and respond to it" has to be blocked (just like the net) otherwise we'd be back in London at the drop of a hat. My new rule is more 'courage' related...asking if I'd regret giving in so soon....

Lets see.....

It's official! The Internet has been BANNED!

Much to my suprise yesterday morning, I wandered into the regular Second Cup coffee shop to pick up my perk up and spotted the headline in the 7Days newspaper (it's like the Dubai version of Metro).

Considering I'd come over here with an expertise in Interactive, I was somewhat flummoxed by the fact that the powers that be at Du (the country's second internet service provider) had decided to follow the suit of Etisalat and ban a whole series of social networking sites.

Of course, there are the obvious sexually related sites I'd expect to go (and if Im honest, not being able to see them online actually doesnt bother me) but successes such as Facebook and Flickr being banned made me stop in my tracks and question what on earth I was doing here...and what on earth I could be doing in my job without such prime examples of how social networking has removed the power from Brands into the hands of the content-greedy/generous consumer!

Not withstanding the idea to just "put up and shut up" I was contemplating how on earth I check in to see if my old Army client is pummeling me at Scrabulous or see how many new comments had gone into my flickr gallery...anyone want to tell me?

Vive La Revolution!

Dive! Dive! Dive!

Just because it's hot, doesn't mean the penguins don't play still!
Another day, another new space to visit in the Middle East...Al Ain. Set just to the southwest of Dubai, Al Ain holds one of two zoos known in this region. Funded almost 40 years ago and financed by the late Sheikh Zayed, the zoo attracts a mixture of both local families and visiting ex-patriates and tourists.

A two hour cab ride from the office finally got me to the gates of this amazing space. Very distant memories of Dudley Zoo and those flimsy flamingoes (the first display as you entered Dudley Zoo) sprang back and the child-like excitement of photo opportunities kicked in.

Although it's going through some rebuilding at the moment, the meandering paths, look-out posts and indoor bird displays had me reliving those childhood memories in an instant. The penguins had me captivated, playing and showing off to anyone who would spare them a moments pause at the pool-end (submerged) viewing window.

More photos to be seen at the flickr space....Enjoy and consider a trip, 10Dhs (just over a £1 to those not living here), is by far a bargain!

Art in the Land of the Sand

"Everything seems a little bit back-to-front"
This is something I keep on saying to myself on a frequent basis at the moment. Not surprising I suppose considering the jump and hard landing I've experienced thus far. I'm a good distance away from anything nearly resembling my 'comfort zone' so I'm trying not to be too hard on myself in the interim.

The last week or so have been very character building and learning new ways to do old things is the mantra of the moment. For example, "Art Dubai" arrived here this week and is considered to be the UAE's own celebration of global art (some of it quite controversial considering the venue). Considering we arrived here expecting to struggle finding creative niches to cling to, the Dubai Art week could be considered to be something on the lines of an exhibit at the Tate Modern with sunshine, heat and big luxurious spaces to view it in.

As I wandered around the vast array of white-spaces at Madinat Arena, I was wondering if what I was looking at was merely a significant venting for a lot of the creative constraints I've seen in daily work experience. Just as we see (well I used to see that is) lots of Japanese visitors wandering around London using dress and appearance to expel years of dress code and tradition, the use of 'art' here seems to act as a similar pressure-release for the daily reaction to "simplicity".

For myself, photography seems to be the escape-pod that goes in some way to work (even in a country where one has to be cautious about what one points the lens at). Anything that distracts from the newness thoughts could be considered a success in a small way and considering my passion and thirst to push myself further into the photography industry, it seems to make sense. I've started the whole 'self-briefing process' and some ideas I've seen around and about have ignited a spark or three...

So using photography as my path of delicious ambiguity, I'm venturing across new terrain and looking to get more involved in an organisation called Soura (Arabic for 'picture'). They're a group of (quite forward thinking) photographers who are looking to introduce a modernity and mood of optimism in taking photography forward in the UAE. Check out their website and their latest magazine (available amazingly at most well known UAE retailers) that is currently celebrating their 3rd birthday of being in existence!

Hopefully by June, when GulfPhotoPlus comes to town, things will have advanced (another organisation I'm looking into at the moment)!

Nothing is too big to get across

Sometimes that jump just seems too big to contemplate. Neuro-linguistics teaches us that in order to jump out of the rut-of-life we so often end up in, that we need to experience that jump and all the emotions it yields....

If I am honest with myself, the last couple of months have been manic. In amongst this madness though have been some critical steps and activities that have helped me widen my comfort zone and recognise that sometimes we have to look ahead at the 'bigger picture' to understand the massive chasm we stand before 'aint quite that big!

As a Planner, I should actually be able to rationalise 'the bigger picture' more easily. Not quite that easy when one's emotions and deep fears bubble up against all that procedure I preach in the office-space. I am slowly (and surely) being taught on a daily basis a heap of things that take the edge of the fear of jumping and make it into something more paletable..."a STRIDE".

Land, Sea & Air

Pack! Pack! Pack!
It only seems a year since I went through the last "life sift" moving from Reading to Brixton. Amazing how much junk one can collect over a period of 12 months isn't it? This weekend is one when my resolution of clearout really must be fulfilled. So many things I see on a daily basis, think that they're essential but then when push comes to shove (or when the cost of the Air shipment quotes land in my Inbox) I suddenly shiver and think "those can take a few extra weeks to arrive!"

Add to this, the more important dynamic of 'content'. Ordinarily I'd not think twice about just grabbing from a shelf and placing in a box. However, Dubai requires an additional level of consideration. Questions such as:

• Can I take the Buddha?
• Those nudes in my photography books, are they considered 'obscene'?
• Does "sex in the city" get classified as criminal?
• That T-Shirt motiff...is it allowed?

I've posed a few questions to the shipping agents and await their response on that....lets hope something gets through the filter...otherwise it'll be a long and lonely journey with just my clothes!