We went to the Buraimi Market in Oman today.  This was one of our favorite things last time we were here as this market has truly great gifts that are authentic to the region.  It’s not a real “tourist trap,” but it is a great place to shop.  We weren’t disappointed this time either and left with quite a haul!

Then, after shopping, we got to go meet Ryan and Colleen’s friend Salaama who lives in Buraimi.  She was so nice!  We had the traditional dates, coffee, and tea sat before us, as well as some delicious chicken and rice!  We also got to meet her father, who was an incredibly nice man.  We really loved him!  Afterwards we put on perfumes and waved scented smoke into our faces and clothing then said goodbye for now.  It was the most traditional, cultural, fun thing we had done yet!

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One of the great things about our trip to Dubai was that I finally got to really use some Arabic. So far, most everywhere we’ve gone has had some non-native person working there who is more excited about getting to use their English with me than I am to use Arabic with them. And, even if I did use it, often they understand it as little as they do English.

Today, however, was different. Starting with the riverfront souq I got a chance to speak to quite a few people… asking how much things cost, what things were, etc.

Then we went to the Dubai Outlet mall where I bought a pair of shoes from the Aldo outlet. I told the guy the shoes were a little snug in Arabic. He asked where I was from and I answered, in Arabic, “We live in America.” He said, “But you speak Arabic.” I told him a “little” and said I was learning (all in Arabic). He asked me where I was studying and I told him on my own… that impressed him somewhat. I was happy.

The best was on the way home afterwards. We stopped a rest area for Colleen to feed Ole a bit and I ran into the little shop to get some waters and Nescafe´. I spoke in Arabic the entire time, which was fun… but the great thing was the guy replied to me in Arabic the entire time. He didn’t act any differently than if I knew the language fluently… which obviously I don’t yet.

I got my waters, then asked him if he had any Nescafe´. He said yes, but I had to get it next door. Then yelled the order for a Nescafe´ through the little window. I told him “two”… he yelled “two”. He told me how much it all was, and I paid him. I then walked next door, got our Nescafe´, thanked that man, and walked out. It was a short conversation, but for someone like me, who’s learning their first new language, it was a very exciting moment.

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On the way back to Al Ain we stopped at the Dubai Outlet mall.  We were like one of 20 people in the whole place… which was odd… but it was a great place!  Lots of really good deals.  We ate at Hatam, an Iranian food place that we love.  It was a perfect ending to a great day.

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Colleen took us to the Jumeirah Mall in Dubai. She had never been either. It was really cool… very, very “touristy” but, of course, that’s what most of Dubai is, and what is almost “expected” of it.

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A “Souq” (pronounced sook) is a shop, or shopping district. We didn’t get to go to this last time we were here because it was actually raining on the day we had planned to. I love these old souqs… the people try to force feed you their “fine silks sir” and everything else. And, if you show any interest in one item, they absolutely have to sell you something or they look as if you just told them their entire family died in a horrible zeppelin accident. But they are very friendly, and are genuinely like that. I especially like the native people from Egypt, Jordan, the Sudan, etc.

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After our picnic we went to the Al Ain mall again to shop, meet Molly for coffee at Dunkin Donuts, and just relax.

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There are 2 big malls in Abu Dhabi, we chose to go to the one with better coffee.

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So Celeste and Jason bought me an iPhone for Christmas and gave it to me early… i.e. yesterday. I could not (and can not) believe it!

It really is more amazing than I had thought it would be. I mean, I had seen Jason’s, and even messed around on it a little, as well as some in the Apple store on display… but nothing compares to actually owning and using one!

Apple did such an amazing job of thinking, “What would be awesome to do on a cell phone?” and then doing it! They have changed the face of how I can (and will) do business as well as how I can (and will) keep in contact with friends and family.

The features are all amazing… being able to check email, receive calls, merge calls, go online (and really see websites) get the weather, take notes, listen to music and watch movies… that is all amazing, seriously amazing. But it’s the little things that are simply flooring me! The interface. The way I think, “I wish I could do this or that…” and then I CAN! Plus, it is so easy to use, and learn how to use!

So… with all these amazing features, and just being in such a euphoric state from having just been “handed” an iPhone (ask for the story sometime), I was a little surprised when I logged onto my new AT&T account and saw this image…

Notice just left of the little iPhone image… the option to “Upgrade Phone.” What? You mean there’s a BETTER phone than the iPhone?!

Of course there isn’t. I just thought it was funny… and seriously, how hard would it be for AT&T to change that little text out so that if their customer has an iPhone instead of saying “Upgrade Phone” it would say something like “Congratulations, you have the best phone on the planet!” Wouldn’t that be a great thing to see? Wouldn’t it be one more small bonus (much like all those I’m finding in the user interface) that would make someone so proud to own an iPhone?

Either way, it doesn’t matter really… I mean I, and all the rest of the people in the world that own an iPhone, know, without a doubt, that this is by far the best phone in the world… no upgrade needed.

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