Yesterday I went to Sharjah- one of the 7 Emirate states. There's no border line crossing nor is there any pomp and ceremony or a sign saying 'Welcome - home of the Big Banana' that you might find on our Australian roads. It's not what you'd expect at all of a city that just pops up out of nowhere or for a city with a population of 800,000- and a completely dry state- in fact it has quite an impressive skyline. I decided to take a trip with my newly made lady of leisure friend who has just quit her job. She's been here for a while now so knows all the ins and outs. She took me to a trinket and furniture shop where you can buy things 'dirt cheap' (to be said in British accent) and it was full of beautiful Arabic heavy wood furniture... I went to get some inspiration for my place for when I grow up. We left at about 9am, and were met by heavy traffic which brought on my need to use the ladies facilities and hunger pains- I was told I was 'rubbish' (say in same British accent) on a road trip and was keenly on the look-out for the golden arches as of 9:15 am, but alas, no luck. If I had my GPS lady, 'the bi-atch', with me, I would have had a full belly, ready to take on the rest of the days adventures and all in all would have been in a better disposition. Although it doesn't have quite the same ring to it, apparently the Beef-Bacon and Egg McMuffin is something to look forward to, though I'm told the sausage and egg is superior.
One of yesterday's highlights though was an impromptu visit to The Daiso- a Japanese $2-like shop which was full of amazing Japanese tid bits, unnecessary items in unnecessary packaging, and many things with Engrish written on them like "Love find joy in pocket of careful enterprise" and the like. When my friend was selling the idea of the visit she said "it has every single type of little container you can possibly imagine and it also has wind up sushi roll toys with feet that you can race"- I was in. I love novelty toy food, better still the little Asian bowls and steamed yum cha container key rings and erasers. It took me back to the Willy Wonka days of Victoria Road, Gladesville- I put their children through uni I'm sure. My high (of IKEA adventure proportions) was met by a serious low at the end of a solid hour or so, and I needed chocolate and a nap. Didn't get either but soldiered on- well maybe just one or two chocolates.
I made it to Satwa in the end, though it's always touch and go with the skilled drivers and aimless pedestrians round town. I don't know, is it just me or does it always seems to be about 5 degrees hotter there- or is it just that they drive me crazy because they change their prices every 2 seconds? I must be known as the mental expat that bargains for 30c...sometimes I have to stop and remember that. I was wearing a top that had a slightly slightly see through panel (I know, sounds ever so 80's doesn't it, but its nice and tasteful), and I was getting looks left, right and centre- until I stopped, turned around, stared the man dead in the eyes and said 'do you want a piece of me?' how so very Brittney of me. Straight after I got honked and hooted at- you'd think a boob was hanging out.
One of the things I have learnt here is that there are no laws that prevent copyright. I delved into this when I saw young Mickey Mouse endorsing a few products that were surely not on brand and put two and two together when a little lady knocked on my door and whispered "you wand dvd?". I'm not quite sure how it all works, but I don't know if Nick Carter from Backstreet Boys himself gave sign-off on this one...
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
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