Deck the malls with boughs of holly
Given what a violation of the very fabric of UAE society it apparently is for men to dress up as women, can anyone explain why the all-male mechanical Santa quartet in Ibn Battuta's Egypt court is singing Christmas carols in a woman's voice?
And fifty dirhams says the horrific solo mechanical Santa wailing (male vocal) carols in China court is last month's creepy animatronic Ramadan "storyteller" sporting a fake white beard.
And fifty dirhams says the horrific solo mechanical Santa wailing (male vocal) carols in China court is last month's creepy animatronic Ramadan "storyteller" sporting a fake white beard.
Labels: ibn battuta
19 Comments:
you sure one of them is not michael. he is running out of acts you know.
i am sorry to hear this, but ive noticed that most of your writings are critcizing everything in the U.A.E, the U.A.E is knows as being libreal in living not in politics.. but if you didnt like this place why did you choose to come here?,.. you should also keep in mind the cultural difference, and keep also in mind... you should be more open to new cultures...
Lloyd
i am sorry to hear this
Sorry to hear what? The above wasn't a complaint, just satire. I couldn't really care less whether they have a mechanical santa in the mall, nor whether it sings as a woman, a man or an alien.
I'd also love to know how taking the piss out of a tacky Christmas puppet is failing to be "open to new cultures".
And I came here for the experience and the money. Both of which were infinitesimally better four years ago, without the nightmare of construction and pathetically weak dollar that blight our lives now.
and I wonder why Lloyd continued to read your blog when he found the 'writings' to so critical.....ahhhhhhhhhhh maybe he did not realise it until it was too late..like a lot of people living here.
CG
Anon1
SD said: And I came here for the experience and the money.
LMAO, you forgot to add that the UAE is/was/is a UK protectorate. In other words you ruled the place and considers mixing with the locals a favour so to speak.
We are so grateful of being taught your Western values and teachings of and in Democracy.
Sorry, gotago as I just puked at the screen...
LMAO, you forgot to add that the UAE is/was/is a UK protectorate. In other words you ruled the place and considers mixing with the locals a favour so to speak.
You might, I don't. I certainly don't spend any of my time in an enclave of British expats having high tea at the embassy and snickering at the "natives" if that's what you imagine.
I came here to an Arab-ruled, Arab-run country. That it was once a British proctectorate is immaterial - it might have helped with certain things like road signs and roundabouts, but they still drive on the wrong side here ;)
When you've wiped the puke from your screen, you can always try clicking here.
i thougt i saw the white socks
i hate when people take life so seriously and find no humour in it. secret panties, please do continue your satire and take it out of petty cash.
I think Lloyd may be talking about your link to the GN gay wedding story. If so: Lloyd, did you know that Emirates Tours UK advertise in the gay press? Can't have your cake and eat it too.
anonymous 01/12/2005
Yes we criticize, the likes of you who can't write and want to influence the world because you consider yourself better than everyone else.
You are not
never was and
never will be
And for once expats can speak and express their true opinion of this country that you like to protray as modern but that carries laws that defy common sense and would make proud any medieval king.
Had to delete that last, too dangerously insulting to local people here.
After reading this blog for some time, something just occurred to me.
Satire is a cultural thing.
Western culture has a long tradition of satire going back at least 2500 years. Mockery and self-mockery are such an intrinsic part of our culture that we hardly even notice it.
But satire isn't nearly as prevalent in other cultures. As a result satire can often be misinterpreted. Not having a convenient "satire" box in their heads, non-Western readers can easily file satire under "Hateful," "Complaining," or "Condescension."
To those of you who think SecretDubai is complaining about Dubai or is looking down on Dubai, please take my word for it -- she's not. Satire is a unique thing and, stepping outside my own cultural context, I can readily see how hard it can be to understand the nuances of what and how it is intended.
Westerners often satirize themselves, and pretty ruthlessly, too. Most of our best (well, funniest, at least) movies satirize some of the most important symbols in Western culture. Comic strips, advertisments and all kinds of popular culture use satire. Even politics -- perhaps especially politics.
The point is that what SecretDubai does really is a kind of art form and it has to be appreciated as such.
Why do you get blatant Christmas in Duabi when Lambeth Council say we can't have it in London?
Great point about satire being a cultural thing. But even so, the next time somebody starts up about being negative/condescending/critical can somebody sceam TROLL!!! and then everybody just ignore it till it goes away?
SD, don't think you've deleted what you said you wanted to delete. Just FYI.
It was perma-deleted, so vanishes entirely. You don't even get a "comment deleted" thing left in.
Amazing! Sorry, I stand corrected. Everyday's a school day, eh? :)
is dubai an islamic country? no,i would really like 2 know.thank u
"is dubai an islamic country? no,i would really like 2 know.thank u
th3n u shood g00gl
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