It is a curious feature of humanity that we tend to obsess over what we are missing rather than rejoice at what we have in plenty. Norwegians are obsessed with heat, sunshine and warm water, concepts of which we have only fleeting knowledge. As a nation, we have convinced ourselves that there is such a […]
While it is always nature that fascinates me, it would be wrong to forego the cities when talking about the United Arab Emirates. The Emiratis are proud of their cities and with good reason. The impressive cityscape in this photo simply wasn’t there fifty years before. Abu Dhabi was nought but a sandbank with a […]
When I arrived in the Emirates, I saw the giant desert dunes as surrogates for my beloved Norwegian mountains and was happy. Here I could walk to my heart’s content and enjoy the silence and tranquillity unique to the desert. The Emiratis were also happy about their dunes, but for a different reason; one that […]
Winter, unless it comes with plenty of snow and cold, crisp, sunny days with blue skies, isn’t useful for much. The worst type of winter is the one that offers near-perpetual downpour, grey skies, short days and around-zero temperatures. That, incidentally, is the type of winter we have in Belgium – and indeed in most […]
I have always been amazed by the enormous selection of seemingly identical bread/proteine combos sold by literally every hole-in-the-wall shop in the United Arab Emirates. The food photos are all identical; most probably from a clip-art library. The names of the monstrosities do however show some minor variations – the “Club Random” being one of my favorites… After all, who wouldn’t […]
To all my Muslim friends and colleagues in Arabia and beyond: Ramadan Kareem! May the holy month of Ramadan bring you and your families many blessings and happy moments.
Fare for kamel: Øyvind Larsen langs ein landeveg i utkanten av Rub Al Khali på grensa mellom dei Sameinte Arabiske Emirata og Sultanatet Oman. No er det ikkje det at Hyarar ikkje har vore ute og reist før. Både Kristoffer Bonde (betre kjent som Columbus), Brødrene Aa og Øyvind Larsen har på utmerkt vis gjeve […]
På hotellet Le Meridien er dei travelt opptekne med å montere opp juledekorasjonen sin. Den består av eit isslott, ein Tysk-Austeriksk alpelandsby og ein skog av plasttre med falsk snø. Det kan vere verd å stanse og tenkje seg om i religionsdebatten heime i Noreg når ein ser dette. Midt i eit strengt muslimsk land […]
Ungkar i solnedgong: ung arbeidsinnvandrar tek seg heim frå arbeid ved soleglad nær Al Raha Gardens ein oktoberdag i 2008. Det er ikkje lett å vere ungkar i dei Sameinte Arabiske Emirata. Ungkarar er noko skikkeleg svineri. Skal ein tru avisene, og det SKAL ein vel – i eitt land med aktiv pressesensur – er […]
Ein liten amerikanar, ein stor nordmann og ein liten ukrainar… Eit lite stykke Norplan! Det har snart gått eitt år sidan eg la ut frå Sogndal for ein to-vekers tur til Abu Dhabi for å sjå om eg kunne bidra med noko på grunnkartleggingsprosjektet som Norplan arbeidde med der for Abu Dhabi Kommune. Eg har […]