
abu dhabi is the capital of the UAE.. all government centers, palaces and riches are found here. this is where all the money is in the UAE, not dubai, it seems that the money is just used there. i’ve found abu dhabi to be much more naturally beautiful than dubai, way less industrial.
my dad showed me the ports where iranians come and sell their goods (plants, carpets, ceramics, etc) in order to feed their families back home. these people live very simple lives, they work for their families, enough to put food on the table and provide shelter..yet they seem the happiest out of the people i’ve met here so far. it’s funny, with all the glitz and glam in dubai, the people seem to be in distress, striving to find a way to get more, to add more to their glittery collections. meeting these iranians was a slap in the face, i’ve never seen people so satisfied and so friendly..i couldn’t get over it. their faith in god and family were enough to keep them going and i hold so much respect for that. we usually feel guilt for people living in what we americans would call poverty, but in reality, they are the ones thriving the most..i don’t feel guilt..i feel jealousy. i wish i could lead a life like that..
xoxox

July 7, 2008 — 8:35 pm
i love this blog
July 7, 2008 — 9:24 pm
these photos are beautiful!! so glad that you a touched by the people… that’s what life’s all about! i want to go to UAE someday!
July 7, 2008 — 10:13 pm
i got home from work, checked my email, and came right here! those pictures are amazing, i especially love the boats. i love the fact that you can understand how happy the iranians are. it seems like the people in dubai strive for material things, much like the people in america. the iranians have it right, they have love, life and family and are completely happy. i miss you and ill talk to you tonight/tomorrow/in the future
<33
July 8, 2008 — 8:45 am
All those years of Garfield threatening to mail Nermal to Abu Dhabi, I had no idea it was such a pretty place. Nermal should have taken him up on the offer.
July 8, 2008 — 12:20 pm
i totally agree.
I believe they saying goes(maybe from the bible)
“Blessed are the meek, because they will inherit the earth”
July 8, 2008 — 4:12 pm
i loved this entry, yumna. so thoughtful!
July 9, 2008 — 10:03 am
Yeah, Iranians are chill like that.
July 9, 2008 — 4:24 pm
they’ve gone through a hell of a lot to have this modicum of happiness. the fall of the shah, the mass exodus of persians, all of our u.s. bullshit, and yet we are encouraged to take pity on these “dejected” people.
interesting how we all find our happiness in so many divergent paths