Close Your Eyes and Take A Deep Breath.

I have a love/hate relationship with Abu Dhabi. I do. I think the 'hate' comes from the driving point of view. If only everyone drove like me... =)

I believe that if you can drive here, you could probably drive anywhere. You have to remember that people all over the world come to live here, so there is a mish-mash of cultures, rules, driving abilities.

It is not at all unusual to see these (in reference to driving) in this city/country;

• Phone number scribbled on a piece of paper and popped onto the dash. Cars park anywhere and they don't care if they are blocking you in. Give them a call and they'll move their car. Hopefully.
• Parking on a roundabout. Pull over and have a conversation with your friend.
• Driving 120km in a 60 zone.
• No use what-so-ever, of your indicators. I know Exactly where you are going.
• Over pass (probably on the inside lane) on a supposedly one lane on/off ramp.
• Flash your head-lights if you are in the 'fast lane', at the car ahead of you so they move out of the way.
• Tail-gate at 140km/per hour.
• Over pass cars on the shoulder of the road. Doesn't matter.
• Let your children jump around the car, unaided, front, back, middle, whatever. Hell, even drive your car with your child on your lap!
• Have your newborn/baby sit on your lap. In the front seat.
• Booster seat? What's that?
• Barge in at the petrol station. No such thing as patience in this country.
• If you want something from a shop, just keep on beeping your car horn until an assistant comes out to serve you. You don't have to move your bum from the seat then, why should you when someone else can?
• Don't swear or give certain finger jesters if someone does something wrong in the car around you. You could find the police knocking on your door, or worse still, getting put in jail! (Happened to someone we know!)
• Go really, really, really fast, but then go at snail's pace over a speed bump.
• Put a trailer on a trailer on your car. Not one of your two trailers have stop or indicator lights. Doesn't matter!
• Cutting right in front of you at stop lights/roundabouts/turning lanes. If you are lucky they might just give you one centimeter to spare.
• Park where/when/how you want. Take up three car parks if need be. Park as close as you want to the front door of your destination. Park over a pedestrian crossing. It. Doesn't. Matter.

It. Doesn't. Matter. (in the grand scheme of things...)

Now, these are just a handful of issues I have...issues with! Understand why part of me Hates this place?

But if you can handle all of the above, take a deep breath, you can love this place. Well, I can anyway.