Everything counts in large amounts.

[reddragdiva]

• Don't go to Dubai. Online petition here. Further reading: 1, 2, 3, 4. Please spread this around.

• Darwinian daily diary.

Last night I had a marvellous date with the breathtakingly beautiful and wonderful spikeylady, where we went down the Waterfront in Streatham with a pile of other poly bi perverts. The pub specialises in girly cocktails, which everyone else got smashed on, and has no real beer (though I can cope with Staropramen) but does great pizzas. Then back to her place to sit up talking rubbish for ages. I thoroughly approve of Jessamy in every way.

Today Freda greeted me with much clinging. Apparently she'd been looking at the door all evening waiting for me to say goodnight to her. BAD DADDY. Guilt. Guilt. I bounced her in the air lots this afternoon, which she liked. And is actually giving me rippling biceps.

Tonight is pubbing for jezebel_z's birthday, but Freda is way too fractious and teething to leave to arkady alone. So I'm writing here and not tidying the pit, ahem.

Comments

[seahorsemystic.livejournal.com]

I am watching golf there right now. I guess they are profiling somehow, but there are a few oriental people playing in this tournament right now, in Dubai.

[greylock.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of oriental/asians in Dubai, using working as domestic labour. Usually from Thailand and the Philippines.

I've never heard anyone describe it in any way that was not positive, although if you get caught in the legal system it is extremely draconian.

So you don't do that. And if you do, have expensive lawyers.

[seahorsemystic.livejournal.com]

that is a great point, actually, Greylock. I really think you hit it on the head.

I know in my trip to Thailand, I am learning about laws there, so that I won't mess up in any way. First off, they are known for their drug punishments there. I know this, therefore, I will be careful in anyone asking me to carry something. It's just a matter of common sense in some cases.

[greylock.livejournal.com]

I have no idea about the people who started this off, nor the circumstances, but decrying an entire country for this strikes me as a bit myopic.

It's like blaming the yanks for Bush (well, in a way worse than we do now).

The UAE has a lot of sins to answer for if you look for them, but is far more moderate than some Islamic countries. I mean, hell, if you're a western woman you can pretty get around with your ankles showing as long as your skirt is cut below the knee and your shoulders are covered.

[reddragdiva]

A cheap holiday in other people's misery!

[greylock.livejournal.com]

It's Dubai.
Nothing is cheap.

It is the site of the world's only (?) six star hotel, the enclosed snowfields, and The Palm. And quite possibly the $30 cup of coffee.

[thekumquat.livejournal.com]

My take that I posted in someone else's journal in reply to a commenter who figured the girlfriend wasn't telling the full story (my family have lived/worked in UAE for most of the last 10 years):

The friend resident in Dubai http://pixthulu.livejournal.com/23108.html
sounds a lot more reasonable and sane, and the story makes sense.

I wouldn't be surprised if German passport-holders were treated with more suspicion than Brits/Americans, and certainly if he doesn't look like the usual wealthy tourist profile, they've probably assumed he's involved in drugs, prostitution, or other crime - my dad used to get the 'prostitute plane' from Baku to Dubai for the weekend and saw the Russian/Eastern European women getting *very* different treatment at immigration.

Going to Dubai knowing that drugs might show up in your urine sample is just stupid, though.

This could be any country, though. Immigration officers are often racist but importantly are not to be messed with (remember UK Customs officers have way more powers than the police!) At least the UAE ones tend to be polite and don't point guns at you, unlike the ones at various US airports. I've had way more trouble getting into the US, despite an American passport - the UAE resident's visa all in Arabic was the main problem.

[redcountess]

IIRC, The Phillipines has recently banned its people going to work there anymore as they've been so badly treated.

[greylock.livejournal.com]

I thought that was Saudi Arabia, not the UAE.
I know the story that was highest profile, about the maid who was beaten and burnt.

Only 15% of the Emirates' population is Arab. The bulk are comprised of ex-pat workers and tourists.

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

> I can cope with Staropramen

I cant pronounce it

[ewx.livejournal.com]

As far as I can see the alternative to writing down a couple of hundred passwords in one (safe) place is, for those few mortals not lucky enough to have superhuman memory skills, either forgetting them or using the same one everywhere.

[secretlondon.livejournal.com]

Yes agreed. I reckon using the same password everywhere is probably more of a risk..

[owdbetts.livejournal.com]

Not defending this in any way, but you also need to get this stuff in proportion. Traveling outside the EU is dangerous, you have essentially no rights. Not even the right not to be executed. But, that said, if you're aware of the cultural and legal requirements of the territory you're visiting, the risks you face are probably small (although never zero).

I could point you to horror stories about US immigration, but I'm sure you've seen them already. Not going to stop me visiting the US, though.

-roy

[reddragdiva]

I somehow don't find "The US sucks too" a convincing refutation or a reason to give Dubai a free pass on this one.

[owdbetts.livejournal.com]

Though the UK sucks, too. We could get placed under house arrest, arbitrarily, without even being told what we're being accused of. They just have to invoke the T-word.

Not saying it isn't bad - I just have a feeling that if we respond to bad things happening by saying "never go there" we'll all have to turn into hermits and never leave our caves.

-roy