Our new home

Our shipment from Malaysia arrived in Abu Dhabi after almost a month, but it was worth the wait. Here are some images of the apartment:

The entrance and our cozy little kitchen ...


The living room with a great view!






The master bedroom




Dev's study


The entrance to the living & dining room


Our guest bedroom is yet to be decorated. I will update with more images soon.

What it is like living in Abu Dhabi

When the idea of living in the Middle East presented itself, my first impression was it would be a great opportunity for both Dev and me in terms of career planning. I, or shall I say we, did not regret the decision to move to the Middle East, though I must say many friends and relatives were very skeptical about the environment and lifestyle in Abu Dhabi. Many don't even know that Abu Dhabi exists on the world map, but strangely everyone knows Dubai.

This blog isn't going to make you want to move to Abu Dhabi, nor will it show how much we appreciate living abroad-Dev and I still love Malaysia-there's no other place like Malaysia. This blog is merely to share information and experience living in Abu Dhabi.

Moving to the area did not sit well with worried loved ones in Malaysia, as they only had information from the area focused on terrorism and war, and certainly nothing positive. When I remarked how safe I would be with near-zero crime rates, there were surprised faces. Many still think that every woman, whether a Muslim or a non-Muslim, is required to cover herself from head to toe. Sometimes, I wonder whether it is just sheer ignorance or am I being teased with the question of our decision to move to the Middle East where women are required to cover up themselves. A real life experience in Abu Dhabi would change a whole lot of perception. To a certain extend, and in many ways, the quality of life and environment is what I cherish, not forgetting how far more modern the lifestyle in Abu Dhabi is, compared to many parts of the world.

Arabia is the area made up of the Arab in Peninsula, located in the southwestern region of the Asian continent. Politically, the Arabian Peninsula consists of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, and Yemen. Excluding Yemen, these countries constitute the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Founded in 1981, the aim of the GCC is to promote coordination between member states and for the most part, their economies are flourishing. They even have plans for a common monetary currency within five years. The UAE is geared towards building seven star hotels and man-made islands shaped like palm trees and the globe. Business is booming. By offering tax-free zones, they attract major international corporations. The UAE has no sales tax or income tax, which makes it an attractive working environment for citizens from countries not obliged to pay taxes on foreign income.

The UAE is one of the most tolerant countries in the Muslim world. Foreign workers make up 90% of the population and somewhere down the line, it was decided to take a moderated ‘live and let live’ attitude. For instance, Muslims don’t eat pork but some grocery stores have a separate section where every imaginable pork item is available. Muslims don’t drink alcohol either, but non-Muslims can get a license to purchase alcohol.

Coffee outlets are everywhere. We get Coffee Bean, Starbucks, and "Mugg & Bean", the favourite hangout of Malaysians! We have two main malls, Abu Dhabi Mall and Marina Mall. Marina Mall is where Dev and I hang out frequently. It is only 5 minutes' drive from our apartment, and the drive by the corniche's blue waters is pleasant. Marina Mall offers shoppers a wide variety of shopping experience, and many who are brand conscious are spoilt by choices of famous brands ranging from Timberland and Levi's to Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari and every available label there is.

Time just flew by for a month though I was home doing next to nothing while patiently awaiting the shipment of our furniture to arrive. From curry powder and all kinds of spices to branded items and the latest gadgets in stores, Abu Dhabi is not as bad as it seems. Now that I’m living there, I am taking the opportunity to learn Arabic, start either an exercise regime of belly dancing or yoga.

When people from outside the region first arrive, the first thing they notice, other than the heat and humidity, is the country appears to be sprouting cranes. Particularly in Dubai, building is underway around the clock. They already have two opulent, seven star hotels. Recently, they’ve reclaimed land from the Gulf, patterned it into huge islands shaped like palm trees and topped them with luxury homes, shopping malls, convention centers and hotels. Another island underway is fantastically shaped like the globe with land forming continents. Accommodations and facilities on these islands sell out faster than they can build them. The growth is simply phenomenal and returns on investment are staggering. And it’s all happening in a place many people don’t even know exists. But they will, soon. This is too big a secret to keep.