The Near Stoning Incident

My four-hour stop over was in Abu Dhabi and it was not without incident. It seemed as though the airport was under construction as we travelled from the plane to our terminal in a shuttle bus, guided by four flashing cars front, back and sides. The part of the airport we went into was largeish, but the amazing part was the rounded palatial ceiling and floors - all blue and yellow mosaic tiles. I wouldn't describe it as particularly attractive... but it was impressive in that it would have taken an awful lot of man-power and vision to create it. Sadly, the end result is kind of... well, tacky - ha. Too bad, Abu Dhabi!



Everywhere I looked, I found the eyes of young Arab men staring, nay leering, back at me. And catching my eye and being caught in the act did nothing to discourage them. They just kept right on staring. So, of course, I whipped my cardi off and gave them something to look at! No, not really... it was 11:45pm and it was 31 degrees outside. Inside it wasn't much better, so I did take off my cardi to reveal my forbidden bare arms - yikes. Rest assured, I wasn't the only one, though. I didn't get a reputation for being that one Western slut with the bare arms or anything.



So, the incident. Well, I left a book on the plane, so I had to line up at the Etihad transit counter to enquire. Serving one customer each seemed to take forever and a day for the girls on the counter, and while there were only a few of us in line, the wait wasn't short. When it was almost my turn, an Arab man came out of nowhere and waltzed straight through and butted in line in front of all of us. For those of you who know me well, I don't need to tell you this infuriated me. Several curse words were exchanged between me and my airplane buddy, Josh, but... although it went completely against my principles, I let the mangy varmint get away with it. When it was finally my turn, the girls at the counter told me to come back in fifteen mins when the cabin crew had come through - maybe my book would be here by then.



When I returned the line was even bigger. I was waiting at the head of the line when the mangy varmint turned up again. This time, he stood at the side of the counter, trying to attract the attention of the counter girls to no avail. He spotted one lady was just about finished up, so he tried his old trick again... and I'm afraid my earlier saint-like behaviour disappeared quick smart...



"Excuse me! As you can see, there is quite a line-up and we've all been waiting here for quite some time..."

*Incredulous look with slight sneer* - was all he could say

"You butted in front of me before, you're not doing it again. I'd prefer it if you would join the end of the line like the rest of us had to"

*sneer continued*
I eyeballed him right back.

Meanwhile, behind me were four or five young men... don't really know where they were from... I think they were Arab, but they were a lot taller than all the others, they wore university jumpers and spoke english. They exchanged a conversation that I could not understand, but pretty much sounded like they were shocked and appalled at my outburst, and then one of them said, "He won't understand english". The varmint got my drift though, because he skulked off and went back to where he had come from and continued to try and wave the counter girls down.

I willed everyone to hurry up, as by now my heart was beating a little fast as I realised I had no idea who this man was... for all I knew, he could be an airport official, or a prince....?? I kept my eye on him, and just then he caught the attention of an official-looking man dressed all in white. I kept on with my enquiry, as it was my turn again by now, as he was then joined by another three men dressed the same...

"Oh my gosh, I was about to be hauled off and stoned... What have I done?!?!" - was what was running through my head, along with some more curse words...

As it turns out, the officials seemed to have the same opinion as I did of the man and appeared to be telling him to beat it and quit making a nuisance of himself. PHEW!!!!

So, I wasn't stoned after all. I did learn a lesson, though. To shut my freaking mouth when Arab men piss me off in Arab countries - just incase!!

Now, please please please, whatever you all do - DON'T TELL MY MUM THIS STORY!!! I will never hear the end of it...

As we flew out of Abu Dhabi, it was 2:45am local time and the lights of the city were like nothing I have ever seen before. Ridiculously and beautifully over the top - just amazing. I would love to see more than just the airport there one day... but then again, that could be dangerous if I can't learn to shut the hell up!
xox