NEWS FROM THE UAE
Excerpts from UAE Dailies
Tourists could soon 'glide' to their favourite location
Dubai - Oct. 25:Tourists could soon be using Segways instead of taxis or hire cars to travel between the sights of Dubai if plans for a new service come to fruition.
The UAE distributor of the US-built devices aims to offer two-and-a-half-hour tours that will take in some of the city's top attractions.
Courtesy: GULF NEWS
Steven Brown-Cestero, chief executive of Segway UAE, said the accompanied tours could start near the UAE flag and go down Jumeirah Beach Road to the Jumeirah Mosque and some other sites.
"It's a good way to see Dubai without having to walk or to be cooped up in a car," he said.
It is most likely that the tours - which Brown-Cestero hopes to launch in December - would run from October to May.
He said prices had not yet been finalised, but he thought a two to two-and-a-half-hour "glide" would cost between Dh200 and Dh250.
"That's the same or below what they charge in other parts of the world," said Brown-Cestero, adding that each tour would consist of one guide on a Segway plus up to six tourists.
He said Segway tours are on offer in more than 140 places across the world, among them Washington DC, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Paris, Prague and Budapest. In the United States they are also used by police.
Families out enjoying the Eid Al Fitr holidays in Dubai have been getting a chance to try out Segways this week at Safa, Zabeel and Creek parks.
For Dh10, children and their parents have been enjoying three-minute rides on the two-wheelers. Scores of people will have used the devices by the end of the Eid holidays.
Brown-Cestero said he hoped that these park rides could become a permanent fixture.
GULF NEWS
Lemon shark spotted in tiny tank to be released back into ocean
Dubai - Oct. 25: A lemon shark spotted in an office aquarium too small for its size has been rescued by an employee who raised the alarm and contacted environmentalists.
The shark was successfully transferred to an aquarium at the fish market where it is being rehabilitated so it will be fit for release. Nyreé-Dawn Bouwer, who works in real estate, was shocked to find the shark swimming around a small tank when her company changed premises.
"It was already there when we arrived and it didn't have much space. I think it has stunted its growth. I contacted the Emirates Diving Association and through them the shark was transferred to a bigger aquarium. I'm glad that he's gone."
Now located at the Emirates Aqua Live aquarium at Deira Fish Market, the 60-centimetre shark is learning to hunt for food again in preparation for its release back into the sea. Hamad Al Rahoomi, general manager of Emirates Aqua Live, is housing the shark in one of his tanks.
"We will transfer it back to the ocean but now we are feeding it and making sure it is healthy so it will survive. It had become used to the small tank and was hand-fed so now he has more space, he's swimming more and we are trying to teach him to catch his own fish," said Al Rahoomi.
He said the shark has put on weight and is looking good. His new feeding ritual includes either chasing and catching live fish or making him chase a dead fish on a line, dragged through the water, said Al Rahoomi.
"He should be released in two weeks maybe. He should survive in the Gulf. He belongs in the sea. As a fisherman I prefer him to be in the sea because he circles fish and pushes them from the sea into the Gulf," he said.
Lemon sharks are so called because of their light yellow colouring and make bad pets because they can grow upwards of three metres and are dangerous.
"If you have a shark in a tank for educational purposes it is better than just having him in your office or your home where no one can see him," said Al Rahoomi.
GULF NEWS
Write, but don’t fight
Dubai - Oct. 25: Next time someone cuts you up on Sheikh Zayed Road or drives at 60kph in the fast lane of Emirates Road, help is at hand. Don’t shout, swear or do anything that might land you at Bur Dubai police station – rather, log on to roadragers.com and take out your frustration there. The web site has become increasingly popular with irate motorists across the globe wishing to report other irresponsible and reckless drivers - and Dubai is no exception.
A series of ‘reports’ on the site berate some of the emirate’s drivers for ‘weaving in/out of traffic’ or are simply entitled: ‘dangerous driving.’ The message is simple - don’t let road rage take over your life - email us and the anger subsides. The web site states: “People easily grow tired of the “idiots” they see on roads every day. Many develop road rage by giving in to their own frustration.
“The only problem with giving in to road rage is that it can often get you into a lot of trouble. Others can be just as enraged as you are, and their reaction to you may be down right dangerous.” It adds: “You should always avoid road rage. Back off and calm down. This is hard for some people. Still, it would be nice to let them know how you feel, without endangering yourself or the general public.
“Don’t give in to road rage. Run your fingers over your keyboard by submitting their vehicle make model and licence number - It will make you feel so much better.”
HOW TO KEEP COOL IN YOUR CAR
-Don’t retaliate. Never take the other driver personally, he/she is only reacting on a road rage instinct.
-Don’t make eye contact with an angry driver.
-Before you react to anything that is done to you please ask yourself, “Is getting back at that jerk worth my life?”
-Be polite and courteous, even when others are not.
-Always ask yourself: “Could the other driver have possibly made a mistake?”
-If you are harassed by another driver and being followed, do not go home. Go to the nearest police station.
-Slow down and relax
-Never underestimate other drivers’ capacity for mayhem.
-Reduce your driving stress by allowing enough time to get where you are going. Know the roads that are under construction and listen to weather reports that may cause traffic delays. Practice patience and keep your cool.
-Remember that you cannot control the drivers around you, but you can control the way they affect your well-being. Be calm and drive safely.
SEVEN DAYS
Tenants raise a stink over stuffed garbage chutes
Dubai/Sharjah - Oct.25: Overflowing garbage chutes in residential buildings in Al Nahda in Sharjah and Dubai's Karama and Bur Dubai have made it impossible for residents to stay indoors.
Unable to bear the stench many have moved in with their friends and relatives who live in other areas in Sharjah or in neighbouring emirates.
Some were seen exchanging heated words with their respective building watchmen who quickly shifted the blame on to municipality workers.
A couple of watchmen who spoke to Gulf News said the municipality men who pick up the garbage were on leave for Eid.
"The municipality garbage van has not been seen in this area since Sunday. Why blame us for the garbage and stench," said Mustafa, a watchman of a building in Al Nahda.
The watchmen were concerned the situation could worsen if the chutes were not emptied immediately. The garbage chute was filled up to the eighth floor of a 15-floor residential building located across Al Ta'awun mall in Sharjah.
Joseph Mathew, an Indian, said he called up Sharjah municipality but no one answered.
He said: "No one was available to pick up my call at Sharjah Municipality. Finally another man and I from a neighbouring flat drove up to the municipality. We came across a worker - he told us that that workers were off for Eid and no one who could help us."
Adil Mohammad, a Pakistani resident who got his house fumigated against pests a week prior to the Eid holidays said all his efforts seemed to have gone to waste.
"What is the use? The chute is open and overflowing on the seventh floor where my flat is located. The chute is located just next to the elevator. The place is a haven for pests right now. It won't be long until we find them in our house," he said.
Babu, a watchman of a 15-storey building in Karama, said: "By tomorrow if the garbage is not picked up the entire chute until the 15th floor will be overflowing. The whole building is covered in a foul smell. Emptying the chute is a tedious job and there is no one to help me."
"We were hardly able to sleep last night due to the bad smell. The moment you open the doors or windows the stench fills your entire apartment. It's disgusting," said Yousuf, a Jordanian who lives in Bur Dubai.
He along with his wife and two children are planning to spend the night in a relative's house. A large municipality garbage bin, which is located in front of his building, has not been cleared for the last couple of days.
GULF NEWS