Ramadan

We arrived in Abu Dhabi just a few days before Ramadan, the holy month of the Muslim Calendar. Since the calendar is based on the phases of the moon and not the phases of the sun, Ramadan is a few weeks ealier every year. During Ramadan, Muslims in the gulf region are not supposed to eat, drink, play loud music, spit (including brushing teeth), or chew gum during daylight hours. They deny the physical in order to become closer to the spiritual. Ramadan is also a time to give to charity and fasting helps Muslims appreciate what others less fortunate might experience year round. Non-Muslims are asked to follow Ramadan restrictions in public so as not to offend those that are fasting. Restaurants are completely closed during the day. In fact, most everything, including offices, is closed from about 2 to 7 in the afternoon. This is when the Muslims go home to rest, but then they stay up very late at night. Ramadan hasn't been too hard on us, though sometimes it would be nice to take a big swig of water when we find ourselves a long ways from home. Once the sun sets, everyone breaks their fast with Iftar which is a big evening meal served every night during Ramadan. Restaurants all over advertise big Ramadan buffets. The Corniche has blue and white led light strings and ornaments of the moon, stars, and lanterns. Our neighbors have a similar set up in green and red. Hmm. At mid-point during Ramadan, children come to your door looking for candy. At the end of Ramadan, children get gifts for behaving well during Ramadan.
We went out for Iftar on John's birthday at a place near our apartment called "THE One" which is a little like Crate and Barrel with a nice restaurant attached to it. The food was excellent. We started with the traditional dates and yogurt and then grazed our way through delicous middle-eastern chicken with rice, meatballs (no pork of course), fish with potatoes, couscous, grilled vegetables, soups, salads, and lots of little cheesecakes for dessert. No alcohol, of course. But John has a license to buy that as an ex-pat, so we can have that whenever we want at home.
Must go. More later.