Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Where on earth are they?

Here's a hot air balloon's view of where we live. We're in the tower with the oval top. Drop in to visit!


We are flanked by hundreds of pleasure yachts at the Marina and hemmed in by dozens of under and over passes.


Can you still see me, lol?


There's that man made island shaped like a palm tree called the Palm Jumeira, the largest earth moving project in the world, which is so large that it can be seen from space...and we can see it from our windows!


A second palm is under construction on the left and the world, another earth moving project,which will eventually resemble the countries of the world is being made on the right. From a closer satellite image, you can actually make out the different provinces of Canada!

Our hotel is at the yellow marker. Wayne works 45 minutes inland at the red marker.


Here's the tip of the Arabian Peninsula. The United Arab Emirates are on the western side, and are made up of seven emirates; Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain. Each emirate is named after its main city.

The country of Oman claims two chunks of land: a large parcel on the eastern side and a smaller one on the very northern tip.

Saudi Arabia sits south with a loosely defined desert border touching the United Arab Emirates.

The Persian Gulf is the body of water to the northwest, although here in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, it's absolutely and emphatically known as the Arabian Gulf, with all of the historical maps changed to prove it!


Iran is the country across the water to the north. The body of water to the east is the Arabia Sea which becomes the Indian Ocean a little further out.


So here we are, on the boot curlicue of an Arabian slipper between Africa and India, not quite middle east, not quite far east, sort of middle-far east...westerners in the middle-far east.


I just knew you'd need a map to find us!