Geography Lesson

This journey has been very educational for our family and we have not even left the country yet...well, most of us.

As the kids and I hear of their father's adventures we find ourselves drawn to a map to find out where he is.

Many names of countries have changed since we were in elementary school.

Here is a little geography lesson for those who were as uninformed as we were.

Our first view finds Brian on the other side of the world.

The red pin is in the center of Saudi Arabia.

Brian is in Al Khobar, just to the right of the pin along the Arabian Sea. It used to be called the Persian Gulf. We have also heard it called the Arabian Gulf.

As we zoom closer we find Saudi Arabia is the bulk of the peninsula. You can see the city of Manama which is actually in the island country of Bahrain. 

The country of Qatar is the small peninsula just to the left of the letter U in United Arab Emirates. Al Khobar is close to the sea near the dark area between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Iran is across the sea.

Close-up of the Arabian Sea.

You can barely see the island of Bahrain under it's title.

You can also see Dubai to the right in the United Arab Emirates.

Brian spent several days in Dubai.

We have a previous blog about his travels there as well as other blogs to come--with more pictures.

You can see the island of Bahrain a little better on this map.

You can also see Al Khobar.

The road between Bahrain and Al Khobar is called the Causeway, and Customs is on the Causeway somewhere out of Bahrain.

Many people fly into Bahrain and drive into Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

Here is a clearer map of Bahrain, the Causeway, and Al Khobar.

If I remember correctly the Causeway is about 20 miles long.

The compound we will live in, and where Brian lives now.

The compound walls touch either side of the photo and the compound is rectangular.

Satellite imagery never ceases to amaze me.

I could zoom in to our specific villa, but I am not positive which one it is.

I believe it is to the right of the center road that divides the compound in half.

Camels Out On The Saudi Desert

While 4-wheeling out in the desert, Brian came upon a herd of about 8 camels scattered about 50 yards from each other.

Turn up the volumn so you can hear them talking.

Make the video larger to get a better view.

Dubai has aluminum? Who knew?!!

Brian went to Dubai last week on a business / site seeing trip.

The purpose of the trip was to look at some other aluminum smelters.  

For those interested in the trivia--

Brian was able to visit Dubai Aluminum and Emirates Aluminum.

Dubai Aluminum produces the most aluminum of any single plant in the world,

putting out over 800,000 metric tons a year.

Riveting as that may be...it seems they had more fun site seeing with a former business associate of Steve's.

Art took them to Burj Khalifa; the tallest building in the world.

Brian, Steve, and Art on the Observation Deck of Burj Khalifa

I asked Brian why he looked so tense.

Was he nervous about being up so high?

He said, "as a matter of fact", that he was tense, but it was because there was a young couple on the deck with their small toddler. There are gaps in the glass so that tourists can take pictures.

There is a gap at the bottom close to the floor.

Apparently the parents did not see the gap and sat their little boy on the floor.

Brian said to the mother, "do you realize that there is an opening where the glass ends above the floor?"

She looked down, gasped, put her hand to her heart and called to her husband to grab the baby, thanked Brian, and they promptly left the deck.

View from the Observation Deck of the Burj Khalifa, tallest building in the world. Looking down on the financial district of Dubai, and Sheikh Zayed Road.

The Observation Deck was not at the top of the building, but it was on the 123rd floor; about 1,800 feet high.

The elevator took them from the ground to the 123rd floor all in one motion. Brian commented that he could feel the pressure on his ears as they went up.

The Burj Khalifa is the red building.

You can find this picture on Wikipedia, world's tallest buildings

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/BurjKhalifaHeight.svg

Dubai is a very clean city. You will not see any trash along the streets. In fact you could be fined for spitting your gum on the side of the road.

Another view from the Observation Deck of Burj Khalifa.

This is called Address Hotel and Gold Souk and a beautiful pool that is about 2 meters deep.

Brian and Bork on Jumeihra Beach on the Arabian Sea at sunset.

Brian on the Jumeihra Beach on the Arabian Sea.

Brian said that the water on the sea was extremely salty. It was also very warm. October 1 is the start of the tourist season for Dubai and ends in March.

People come from all over the world.

Many different languages rolling through the breeze.

Thank you to Art for the pictures, names, and spelling!

Communication

The best way for us to communicate is thru Skype, and that leaves much to be desired.

Al Khobar and Wenatchee are 10 hours apart.

Sunday we will be 11 hours apart with Brian 11 hours ahead.

We are at the mercy of the time difference, internet availability and quality, and personal schedules.

We also email a lot.

This is how we see each other:

The Big Move

Brian moved to Saudi Arabia on October 2nd, 2011.
He left Wenatchee Washington with three suitcases hopefully holding all the belongings he would need until the family joins him in January 2012.
He started out living in a motel for a week and then moved into Bachelor's Quarters at Al Rushaid Compound for a few weeks.
He is now living all alone in our four bedroom villa.

Bachelor's Quarters

Villa

Villa Master Bedroom