SpringDubai

In the early years before the oil boom, most of dubai landscape consisted of such builidings..mainly residential. The pic above shows a typical feature called the wind tower. It allows cold wind to circulate within the four walls and hot air to rise up from the house. Thus,  u will have an effective ventilation system.

Today, some of this buildings are preserved at the old area called the Bastikiya. Inside, u can see a beautiful courtyard with trees....

The weather is still very hot here...one more month before it returns to normal which means nothing until December..winter.

 

 

 

For a foreign company to set our business here..u are only allow one trade license..and it is mandatory to have a national sponsor..the more influential he is the better it is for u..generally, his role is to help you with all the legal requirements of visa application etc..he is not involved in your biz operations and management..and he is not exclusive to u i think..because I know of one sponsor who is with several companies..imagine he is getting about 50,000 dhm per client(S$25,000)per year..not bad.

Most foreign companies set up LLC..Limited Liabilities Company. Anyone who is keen..Im quite capable by now to help u set up...of course for a small fee..meow!

The 2 workers with chicken pox..recovering....visited them yesterday.

Today, the site was under attack..relax..by the main contractor Samsung...our site supervisor was scolded for delay in schedule..I was in-between..let him finished and just told him..we noted his points and will expedite asap..he wanted to stop the whole work for our company..later he went off muttering to himself that we better show improvement.

 

 

The manpower situation is pure alibaba..many agents with registered companies claimed to have 500, 600 workers...all with proper documents..visa, labour card, passport..etc when they submit the documents of said 50 workers to you..if you dont check carefully..each of the worker is from different company! Not directly under the company u have a contract. Subsequently, when discovered by the client at the site..24 hrs dismissal! For me, I normally do my due diligence..so this is not an issue.

However, I had 20 workers from a particular agent who failed to turn up one day..just disappeared! I found out later, the stupid company failed to pay them for 4 mths..so they decided to walk off.

The weather is getting bearable..still at 40 degree..however, the cases of heat stroke has reduced.

On the other hand, there is a minor outbreak of chicken pox! We have two workers from our base camp who are infected. Immediately, I put them in an isolated room. Sent them to the clinic. The prescription for chicken pox is extremely expensive..about 200 dhm. Hope they have a good 10 days rest given by the doctor.

Will have a good break tomorrow...

IN Dubai, travelling by the several modes available:

1. Company's transport over the weekends normally stand by BUT several of us not so keen..have to match timing..so we rather explore and try the next one..

2. Public transport...bus ! one good thing about their system here..i should say two instead..there is a segment in front about 8 seats specially rerserved for ladies..and when u pay the bus driver your fare..they do change if u have big notes..down side..u have to fight to get up the bus..especially on the foreign workers, pay day...not unusual to have your legs, arms, face pressed against the door by a bangla from behind and an indian stuck in front of u..literally hard pressed sanwiched in-between..

3. Taxi..starting fare about 3.50dhm about one plus..most drivers are bangla, indians or syrians..expensive

4. or the above called the Abra..water taxis..only 20 cents to cross from side of bur dubai to deira..quite pleasant...

5. Last but not least..for the bold hearted...share with strangers to flag a on coming car..at a very cheap prize..destination must be the same..I tried once because the bus was late and i was standing under the hot sun..shared with 2 pakistani...only paid 5 dhm about S$2 each for a 25 mins journey..would have cost 30 dhm...next morning when i read the papers...a bangla guy was mugged and punched when he took on  this ride..he was driven to a desert area. Thank God for his protection. In fact, I was chatting thruout the whole journey with the 2 pakistani and the driver....actually i was a bit nervous so got to pretend I was game mah...hahahahah

This is the building Im working on..it's the Burj Dubai Tower..about 160 storeys high..will be the tallest by 2008. However, another building will beat the record by 2009..its the Pinnacle..and its stil in Dubai!

Thank God for protection lor! Today, my transport hit a car in front and was in turn hit by another car from the back..sanwiched in between! only damages to cars..but no injuries to anyone. Thank God!