Dubai

Arrived in Dubai for my second visit absolutely wiped out. I had misjudged the flying time (only 6 hours), the time of leaving (10:15 p.m.), and the differences in time zones (+4 hours). What this means is that I ended up with 2 or 3 hours sleep and arrived at 7 a.m. Dubai time. By the time I got to the hotel, checked in etc, it was about 8:30 a.m. And I'm not getting any younger. Laid down on the bed, just for a couple of minutes. Of course, I fell asleep. Roused up at one stage to check the time and it was about noon. The next thing I knew it was about 2 p.m. So much for one of my 2 days in Dubai.

Got something to eat and figured I would go for a bit of a walk, just so I could say I didn't waste the whole day. The street my hotel is on is quite busy. It has a section in the middle, fenced, with benches, trees, and a walk way. Lots of men sitting on the benches, chatting. Men walking up and down the street. Cafes near the hotel, more benches on the side of the road. Men in the cafe, drinking whatever, chatting. Found a supermarket and thought I woulld see what it had. Same sort of things in Dubai as in London as in Australia – Cadburys chocolate, colgate toothpaste, Special K, vegetables and fruit, a delicatessen counter with cold meats. Men standing around chatting and shopping.

I think I saw about 4 women the whole time I was out. I wonder where they all are.

I didn't feel anyone was staring at me, or anything like that. Just felt very uncomfortable. I saw a young girl wearing very short shorts and a very short sleeved top (not recommended for Muslim countries), but no one was paying her any attention. Maybe that was the problem. The lack of attention for the very few women walking down the streets.

Right now I'm listening to the calls to worship. It happens at least 3 times every day that I've heard. One in the morning, one around noon and the other in the early evening. Apparently there is a Qibla sign in every corridor to indicate the direction of Mecca. I've been looking but still not found one. Just googled it so now I know what I'm looking for.

Just logged into my blog again. I noticed it the last time I was here. The writing at the top is in Arabic. When I do a “Preview”, that too is in Arabic. I've reset the time on my computer to Dubai and my computer is doing things in Arabic. Rather funny to see. My writing is still in English which is great. I would hate to have it all suddenly changed to Arabic !! Problem is, I can't work out which icon says “New Post” so I can post this!!

Madeleine

18 January 2013

Gentleman's Afternoon Tea

I spotted this sign the other day when we were shopping.

I've been to Lady's Afternoon Teas before. They are awesome.

 

The first one is at the Randolph Hotel in Oxford and the second at The Vines in Perth.

Slightly different set up in that the sandwiches were at the bottom and at the Vines, the sandwiches were on the top. Apparently the 7^th Duchess of Bedford invented the afternoon tea in the early 1840's.

“Traditionally dinner was not served until 8:30 or 9:00 in the evening and the Duchess often became hungry, especially in the summer when dinner was served even later. She ordered a small meal of bread, butter, and other niceties, such as cakes, tarts, and biscuits, to be brought secretly to her boudoir. When she was exposed she was not ridiculed, as she had feared, but her habit caught on and the concept of a small meal, of niceties and perhaps tea, became popular and eventually known as "afternoon tea" “ http://www.panix.com/~kendra/tea/afternoon_tea.html

Originally, according to one site, “In the 18th century it was custom for highborn ladies to receive callers with their morning tea while “abed and bare-breasted.” “ http://www.afternoontoremember.com/learn/etiquette

So this was for “ladies” and “gentlemen” apparently. Where did the gentleman's tea originate? From what I can read, this is a new invention.

According to the Telegraph:

“I'm not quite sure what to make of its latest incarnation, the "gentleman's afternoon tea". Up and down the country the traditional afternoon tea has somehow been deemed too ladylike for gentlemen. Instead, starched napkins are being smoothed down in preparation for mini fish and chips, black pudding, pork pies, scotch eggs and "rustic" chunky sandwiches with crusts defiantly on, presumably washed down with a vat of builders' tea. “

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/aug/22/are-gentlemen-too-butch-for-cake

There is a site (at least one I should imagine) that describes exactly how one should behave at an English High Tea from how your spoon should be placed on the saucer to how to split your scones and the order that one should eat your food. http://www.afternoontoremember.com/learn/etiquette

I found one “Gentleman's Afternoon Tea” menu which included:

• Poached oyster with bloody mary relish
• Seared steak with peppers and mushrooms on toasted sourdough

It looked like a 4 course menu, concluding with a cigar and a tankard of Jack Daniels “Gentleman Jack” - whatever that happens to be – to finish off the meal.

No alcohol or cigars for the ladies.

Madeleine

11 January 2013

Storytelling

It's funny how things just seem to happen sometimes. I'm currently in Norwich with friends. Colin, is a history buff and has worked around Norwich Cathedral for years. He is currently looking at Medieval graffiti in churches around the area. We wandered through Norwich cathedral yesterday and he was showing me examples of medieval graffiti. It never occurred to me that graffiti was not just a modern concept. People have been writing on public buildings for centuries.

Here's an example of modern graffiti:

This won't last. Once repainted, it's gone forever, except in my (and others) photos. Mediaeval people really knew how to make lasting graffiti. They didn't have spray paint and with limited resources this was how they did their graffiti.

This one apparently is backwards writing for some reason.

Not all graffiti was written. Many were symbolic as this one.

Anyway, how did I get from a title of storytelling to the topic of mediaeval graffiti?

That same evening, we went to a party – a house warming party – a bloke called Dave. I knew of Dave, had met him online, but not managed to meet him in person on my last visit to Norwich. I knew Dave was a professional storyteller and knew that there would probably be some storytelling that evening. I had no idea what to expect, but was looking forward to a new experience.

There were heaps of people in a small English cottage. Stairs!! Well these were the worst I've seen. Narrow, steep, no railing and not straight. Dave and his partner told me the story of trying to get their double mattress up these stairs – on inch at a time as the mattress wouldn't bend around the corners. Lovely little cottage.

At some stage during the evening, someone started talking about storytelling, so Madeleine left the comfort of the bonfire and headed inside.

Dave sat down on a chair by the Christmas tree and started talking. Started telling a story. There's no point in talking about the story. It was about a cutpurse (a pickpocket), his wife and his baby. The interest was in the setting, the style of telling, the actions, the inclusion of the crowd. A most amazing experience

Here's Dave telling his story. 

Doesn't he just look like a storyteller?

The story was quite predictable and I had a pretty good idea what the ending would be, but the way it was told, was fascinating. So involving, that during the telling, I kept wanting to shout “this is what's happening”, even while wanting to hear the story work it's way out.

Much to my surprise people started asking about who was going to tell next. Then a young woman gets up and tells a mythological story from native America about men and women discovering sex. Using hands and voice to get her point across.

Then I realised that there were probably about 8 – 10 people in the room who were storytellers. A group of them who meet regularly and practice their storytelling skills and learn from each other. Some did it professionally, some just at parties and amongs friends. But they were all interested in storytelling.

Apparently people all around the world storytell. There is a group even in Perth. Miles away from me, so not something I will likely get involved in. An interesting experience.

Madeleine

Monday, 7 January 2013