Progress?

Interesting where the Middle East is heading according to the following article:

Hardline Saudi clerics urge TV ban on women, music

I actually have a few students that would go right along with some of the conservative clerics mentioned in the article. While I have been playing some light jazz, blues and world music in a number of my studio classes since last semester, last week a male student asked me to "turn off music because my religion." This did not seem that unusual to me since right about the time he asked it was the afternoon call to prayer and I've had a number of students ask me in the past to not play any music (or even to lecture) during the call to prayer. I turned off the music for a few minutes and did not turn it back on until I asked a few other students if the call to prayer was over. But again the same student came to me and asked "turn off music because my religion." He was a young man dressed in traditional Arabic garb and looked rather earnest in his request. He had also skipped a few classes and because it was still early in the semester, especially considering the numerous religious and national holidays that we have had, I was not that familiar with him or his broken English. I simply turned the music down very low and placed it in the opposite corner of the room since other students had requested that we play music and no one objected when I asked if anyone else had a problem with playing music in class. Now this guy's friend, dressed in blue jeans and a funky T-shirt, with dyed blondish hair and plenty of jewelry, came up to me and said in perfect American English that although he personally did not have any problem with me playing music, his friend follows a more strict version of Islam and no music can be played in his presence!

So no more music in that class... although I find it rather strange that such a strict follower of Islam would even be in an art course since I've heard from a number of people that among more conservative Kuwaitis doing artwork is still thought of being Haram (Arabic for not lawful according to Islam; such as eating pork, drinking alcohol or having sex outside of marriage). I did not have a chance to ask this to him though as he skipped class again this week. He was also one of the students at the beginning of the semester who answered, when asked why they are taking the course, that he thought it should be an easy A and would boost his grade point average... NOT!

Hierapolis-Pamukkale...

The Ruins of Hierapolis and the Calcium Carbonate Travertines at Pamukkale were highlights of our trip. Calcite-laden waters, deriving from springs in a cliff almost 200 m high overlooking the plain, have created at Pamukkale (meaning Cotton Palace) an unreal landscape, made up of mineral forests, petrified waterfalls and a series of terraced basins. The Greeks thought this surreal landscape led to the entrance to Hades and many journeyed here at the end of their days. The spas of Hierapolis were set up in the 2nd c. BCE to help heal and soothe the suffering pilgrims. Even today, people believe the hot smelly waters have healing powers. The ruins of the baths, temples and other Greek monuments, especially mausoleums, can be seen at the site.

Ephesus...

The Council of Ephesus decreed in 431 that the Virgin Mary be proclaimed Theotokos, literal English translations include God-bearer and the one who gives birth to God. Less literal translations used by most Christians, especially Catholics, are Mother of God and Queen of Heaven (names often associated with ancient goddesses).

Is it just a coincidence that she was given these titles in the very city famed for the Temple of Artemis one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? The temple was destroyed in 401 CE by a mob led by St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, and an important Early Church Father. All that is left now is one huge pillar with a giant nest on top of it... some of the other temple pillars are said to have been taken to Constantinople and used in the reconstruction of the Hagia Sophia.

It also is a very strange coincidence that Ephesus is still a major religious pilgrimage site, but now for the so called House of the Virgin Mary.

I loved Ephesus... it was warm and welcoming after the freezing temperatures of northern Turkey. It was also full of life, from the orange trees along the avenues to abundant animal life... ducks played in the swampy water around the old site of the temple to the Lady Of The Beasts, a white horse roamed near by, and huge flocks of black birds screeched at night and swarmed from tree to tree as you walked down the streets...

Troy...

I can't believe we made it to Troy! You feel the history all around you despite the fake Trojan Horse that you can climb up... fun though... It was also a fun boat ride to get here... but it is mighty cold!!

Christmas at the Aya Sophia...

We spent the whole day at the Aya Sofia, better known in the West as the Hagia Sophia. If you have to be away from family on Christmas... I could think of no better way to spend the day... it is beyond words ( so I took 546 photos, haha!)...

skiing in the desert???

When I first heard of this I thought 'what a waste'... but for a once in a lifetime opportunity, why not? It was actually pretty fun, although I totally wiped out early on and thus spent most of the time just taking photos and filming Rob since he could really ski...

Ski Dubai has a pretty good website.

From Wikipedia:

Ski Dubai is an indoor ski resort with 22,500-square meters of indoor ski area. It is a part of the Mall of the Emirates, one of the largest shopping malls in the world, located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Opened in November 2005, the indoor resort features an 85-meter high indoor mountain with 5 slopes of varying steepness and difficulty, including a 400-meter-long run, the world's first indoor black run, and a 90-meter-long quarter pipe for snowboarders. A quad lift and a tow lift carry skiers and snowboarders up the mountain. Adjoining the slopes is a 3,000-square-meter Snow Park play area comprising sled and toboggan runs, an icy body slide, climbing towers, a snowball shooting gallery, an ice cave, and a 3D theater. Other attractions include a mirror maze and a snowman-making area. Winter clothing, ski and snowboard equipment are included in the price of admission.

An extremely efficient insulation system is the key to maintain the temperature of -1 degrees Celsius during the day and -6 degrees during the night when the snow is produced.

Ski Dubai was the location of a detour in the 10th leg of the reality game show The Amazing Race Asia on its 1st season.

old Dubai...

This trip to Dubai was a little different... Rob and I were trying to save money so we stayed in an older, more traditional and cheaper area right along the old Dubai Creek... it was fascinating with all of the African and South East Asian expats... pretty much everyone in our hotel was from Somalia... I believe we were the only white men in the hotel, eating at its restaurant, or even using its internet cafe... most of the internet cafe users were Somalia men who seemed to be there for one reason, to have a webcam chat with their woman back home... the whole area was full of old Souqs (Muslim traditional marketplaces)... we roamed the markets, took the old ferry across the creek many times, visited a Hindu and a Sikh temple (I believe the only ones in the Middle East) and had lots of great food, bought traditional crafts and souvenirs, and all traveling on a shoestring!