Trike

I took Sydney out to let her ride her trike this evening and I am happy to say she doesn't need the handle for help anymore. The trike had a handle for you to use to help them along, but off it comes and just look at her go.

Robot

	A robot on Khalifa Highway at Sadiyat Island. - KT Photo by Iftikhar Shaheediajman

NASA

	UAE nationals Hamad Rajab, Shamma Al Qassim, and Hazza Bani Malek, are the first non-US citizens to be inducted into the NASA training programme. - WAM

Desert Chill

Abu Dhabi is getting its vary own ice cream van. I have to say I love the camel on the side. Desert Chill started 18 months ago in Dubai and now they are heading to Abu Dhabi. I can't wait to take Sydney and I wonder what she will think of the van and in my day it was a truck, but needless to say every child and adult should remember hearing the famous music come summer time in your neighborhood. I am hoping it is as good as I remember as a child growing up. We can't wait to try it out.

A WOW Moment

We talked with this lovely couple at the mall tonight and we were talking about our kids and then she said something about one on the way and I was taken for a moment and I said yes I am due in January. Wow, so I guess I am starting to show now. :)

I was thinking I was starting to show more and more, but was surprised when someone that didn't know me said something about the baby.

Baby Batey is coming really fast!!!!!!

Artificial Fruit

	The giant plastic date that has got the approval for entry into the Guinness Book of World Records on display at Liwa. - At 10.5 meters long, five meters wide and six meters high, the plastic date has already been approved entry into the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest artificial fruit. The final approval will be submitted soon. The yellow shiny date is hallow inside to accommodate a traditional majlis for 20 people. The idea came from poet Hamad bin Sarhan Al Darei. Making the plastic date took one year and Dh2 million.

Sharjah

Sharjah (Arabic: الشارقة‎) (ash-shāriqah; pronounced /ˈʃɑrdʒə/ in English) is the third largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates. It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula.

Sharjah is the seat of government of the emirate of Sharjah. Sharjah shares legal, political, military and economic functions with the other emirates within a federal framework, although each emirate has jurisdiction over some functions such as civic law enforcement and provision and upkeep of local facilities. Sharjah has been ruled by the Al Qasimi dynasty since 1972^[1].

The city is a centre for culture and industry, and alone contributes to 7.4% of the GDP of the United Arab Emirates.^[2] The city covers an approximate area of 235 km² and has a population of over 800,000 (2008).

Sharjah at night.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

I just found this out today that they are still doing tours of the Grand Mosque during Ramadan and we have not been yet, but I was thinking it might be the best time to go because it said that the tour will be given by UAE national guides and you will learn about the mosque, architecture and the significance and traditions of Ramadan and I think it might be really cool to go during this time of year. We hope to go when Sydney starts back to school in September.

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority’s (ADTA) complimentary guided tours of the UAE capital’s magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – one of the world’s largest – are to take on special significance during the coming Holy Month of Ramadan.

The tours, which normally run from 10am-11am Saturdays to Thursdays, will run from 11am during Ramadan with UAE national guides who will give visitors a detailed brief on the mosque and its architecture and the significance and traditions of Ramadan.

Visitors will also receive a commemorative complimentary pack of Ramadan focused postcards being produced by ADTA.

“Our guests – whether residents or visitors will be able to get a better understanding of the meaning of Ramadan through our tours and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a most appropriate setting for this cultural dialogue,” said Nasser Al Reyami, Director, Tourism Standards, ADTA.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which stands as a welcoming beacon to the UAE capital, has emerged as one of Abu Dhabi’s most popular attractions in ADTA’s first international visitor survey. The mosque, named after the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is an architectural statement which combines traditional and modern Islamic designs and construction techniques with craftsmen from around the world being involved in its creation.

“The mosque has been a culturally inclusive facility since its very inception – a fitting legacy to Sheikh Zayed and his work in promoting international co-operation and understanding,” added Al Reyami.

Highlight features of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque include: seven chandeliers that together encompass over a million Swarovski crystals and the world’s largest hand-woven carpet and was hand-knotted by 1,200 weavers in Mashhad, Iran.

During Ramadan visitors can see the mosque without a tour from 9am until 11.30am. On Fridays the mosque is open to worshipers only. Visitors are expected to dress appropriately for a place of worship.

Dog Day

DOG DAY Saturday October 30th 2010: SAD is delighted to announce we will be having a SAD dog day this October. Al Ghazal golf club kindly agreed to provide the venue for this event. Dog day is a fun social event for families and dog lovers. Dogs are most welcome to attend with their owners but must be sociable and kept on a lead at all times. The current SAD dogs for adoption will be attending the event and there will be a dog show with categories to suit all types of dogs and handlers. There will be entertainment for the children (bouncy castle, face painting etc) and pet trading vendors/arts and crafts stalls for the adults to browse. The golf club will be putting on a tasty BBQ and ice cold beverages. So mark the date in your diary now!

I have to say this sounds like fun and we are having a Dog Day here in Abu Dhabi and it will be colder then so our pugs should be able to go.