Back in Dubai and Ramadan

Ramadan Kareem!

So, I've actually been back to Dubai for about two weeks now, but I haven't been on the ball with updating my blog. It could be because I'm lazy, but I think more likely, it's because I've been so depressed that the holy month of Ramadan has begun again. When we moved to Dubai almost a year ago, we arrived mid-Ramadan, but I had forgotten how restrictive and annoying it is... Ramadan is the holy month of the year in Islam, where Muslims fast from food, water, and smoking during daylight hours (to show their solidarity to those less fortunate). And in support of the Muslims' hardship with fasting, the UAE has made it illegal to eat, drink, or smoke in public during daylight hours (because just seeing food or other people eating or drinking would make it impossible to fast and restrain themselves from eating or drinking water. This falls under the same mentality of women wearing abayas, that seeing anything more than a woman's ankle will turn men on to the point of being unable to restrain themselves from sexual assault, yet, somehow, all the other men in the world can... but I digress).

In addition to outlawing public eating, pretty much all food establishments are closed during daylight hours. Not very fun. So, the day before Ramadan began, I stocked up at the supermarket and so have been binging on food and drinks in the privacy of my own home. Economical, but reclusive. Incredibly annoying when it comes to going to the gym and working out in the desert summer (when you can't bring water to rehydrate yourself).

Fortunately though, a few restaurants are open during the day for delivery or take-away. Not without going to extraordinary measures though, to 'hide' the food. Heaven forbid a Muslim should see it.

The giant 30 foot curtain that covers the Dubai Mall Food Court during daylight hours.

Then, when you enter the Food Court, those minimal places that are open (mostly trashy trashy American fast food, including but not limited to McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut), have to go to extreme levels to cover their food. Such as, covering their counters with blankets.

Or covering their counters with place mats. Oh the madness.

Then, after fasting all day, the Muslims more than make up for it when the sun goes down by gorging on Iftar buffets, which all the hotels and big restaurants have every night. It's basically all-you-can-eat international buffets with Arabic, Indian, and other random food from around the world (sometimes pasta and/or pizza, mashed potatoes, fries, pretty much a random mishmash). Although I am usually not that interested in all-you-can-eat buffets (unless it's dirty Chinese food at Ling Ling in Geneva, NY), Iftars are delicious, and I have pretty much been eating my weight in them since Ramadan began. Delicious, but not so conducive to losing the 5 lbs of holiday weight. The first Thursday of Ramadan I was still embracing the holiday spirit, so had my first Iftar of the year at The Palace Hotel's Ewaan Restaurant to catch up with friends after my vacation. One Iftar a year is probably all that any one (non-fasting) person really needs, but I have subsequently been to the One & Only Royal Mirage's Moroccan Iftar at Tagine (for a bday celebration with friends), and participated in an Iftar Potluck at our friends Dom and Melissa's. Next weekend I think we're doing another with my work, with the potential for another one with Jared's work. So, by the end of this month, I will probably have put on 5 more pounds and never want to see another buffet in my life. Two weeks down, two weeks to go. I am definitely counting the days until the unpleasantness that is Ramadan is OVER!