Back from Abu Dhabi

It felt like forever, but I'm finally back from Abu Dhabi after finishing in 3rd place out of 3 in my final project bid. (oops) It definitely will be nice to NEVER have to return to such a soul-less place.

I had been keeping my resignation quiet from banks, our Japanese partners, etc. so that my motives wouldn't be questioned, but one of my colleagues "Googled me" (yeah, we've all done it, but I hadn't googled myself lately) Turns out this little blog is already in the top 10 of websites attached to my name. (I'm apparently a DJ, as well as a track athlete) I thought the rankings were based on links or web hits or something, so maybe somebody other than just my sister-in-law is reading this blog!!! (and so much for "top secret"!!)

Anyhow, one of the other things that really drives me crazy about Abu Dhabi is the "Great Muslim Firewall". Any time you try to access a website that somebody has deemed unacceptable, you get the following message "this website has been blocked, as it is contrary to the moral standards of the United Arab Emirates", or something like that. Fair enough to block pornography and the like... but this trip I discovered among other things that they now block Skype, selected British newspapers, and any website even remotely connected to meeting somebody of the opposite sex.

So that brings me to my next tour (which I had intended to book in some spare time in Abu Dhabi, but had to do upon my return due to the "Great Firewall" blocking access to the website). I found this tour company that does singles holidays, which, considering I'm single and travelling alone, sounds half decent. (no couples or families doing their own thing, or older retired people) And they do a tour to the Amalfi Coast in Italy at the end of August - apparently one of the more beautiful places on the planet. So, let's see how it goes...

http://www.speedbreaks.co.uk/destinations/AboutEvent.cfm?eventID=8968

I've tried to go to the Amalfi Coast about 3 or 4 times now, but each time I've had to cancel for a variety of reasons. (work, mostly) So, hopefully I'm not jinxed with the place and I'll finally make it. And having a few attractive 30-something single females in the group wouldn't hurt either. ;-)