Journey across the Hajar

The Al-Hajar Mountains with deep crevasses formed by the occasional rainfall, UAE

Rewinding the clock back three years, this was what we did on the Chinese New Year of the Ox, driving across the Hajar Mountains to the eastern coast of the UAE facing the Arabian Sea (instead of the Persian Gulf where most of the Emirates face). This was pre-Justin times, so we had a little bit of liberty heheh.

This is the complicated part of the UAE, ...when it comes to boundaries and territories. Somehow or rather, something must have attracted the past rulers of the various Emirates and Kingdoms to fight and compete over these areas to the extent that it is now a confusing mix of boundaries and enclaves, so much so that driving from Dubai to Dibba to Fujairah, and back will bring you across so many state borders that you lose count. There is even an enclave belonging to Oman (the neighbouring country) which is completely surrounded by the UAE. Have a look at the map and you’ll see how complicated it is.




Friday Market, in Fujairah territory, marks the entrance to the hills from the deserts of Dubai and Sharjah


Masafi, a town shared between two Emirates (Fujairah and Ras al-Khaimah). This is the typical scenario here. Dibba, on the east coast, is shared between Fujairah, Sharjah and Oman.


The typical landscape in the Hajar Mountains, grit, rocks & bushes


Date palms tucked in the wadi beds. These wadis (temporary streams) formed by flash floods when the rare rainfall occurs caused fatalities every year in the UAE and Oman due to their sudden nature




At the al-Hajar Mountains, between Masafi and Dibba


Khor Fakkan, a sliver of Sharjah beach territory on the east coast, completely surrounded by Fujairah and the sea

Some Festive Flavours for the Dragon New Year

Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore – Gary, Justin & Amrita

Happy Dragon New Year everyone! Hope you had a fanfare of a time! I’ve nothing much to say, but since a picture speaks a thousand words, here’re some err... let’s see 14,000 words to spice up New Year!


At Sentosa, Singapore during last year’s Chinese New Year

As you can see from the rabbit (in the picture above), the hippie-haired Justin and the still youthful appearance of yours truly in the pictures, these are not from this year’s New Year. This year we spent New Year in the cool (or should I say cold, it was bloody winter) and quiet environment of our house in Assam. No big fanfare, only big feasts and superbly fresh and varied vegetables (as compared with what we can get here in Daund) every other meal. And for the entire time (or more rightly since the beginning of Jan), yours truly was down with a cold. Contrary to what some people think and prescribe, whisky doesn’t cure colds, even if you down a whole bottle with your mates in the evening and wake up the next morning not knowing what hit you the day before.

Frankly speaking, the work here is killing. I am putting in at least 12 hours a day, six days a week, and half a day every alternative Sunday! Why do I do it? ...For the thrill? Hell no! ...For the fun? Not in a hundred years! ...To prove my detractors wrong? More like it. ...To prove to myself? Yes, definitely it! But it seems to be going nowhere, so I don’t really know now why the heck we work so hard for??

Anyway, here’re the rest of the 14000 words...


Family picture, Butterworth


Outside our Butterworth house


Anu & Amrita, atop the ferry to Penang


Chinese (Hainanese) Temple, Penang


Kim, Justin & Amrita at the Hainanese Temple


Burmese Temple, Penang


Thai Temple, Penang


Amrita with a Naga at the Thai Temple, ...the most appropriate photo for this New Year of the Dragon’s post. Come to think of it, I can keep it for next year’s New Year of the Snake too, hehehe


With Mom’s family in Butterworth


The Kuala Lumpur side of the family


Anu, within the twin towers, KLCC


Lion dance at Sungei Wang, Kuala Lumpur