I know you might not be quite as interested in this next section as you are in hearing about our everyday adventures, but I thought it would be good for me (and AI 😉) to give a little overview of the wonderful things that make Al Ain famous and why you might actually want to come visit.
AI Overview: Al Ain is famous as the UAE's "Garden City" or "Oasis City" due to its lush green oases, ancient falaj irrigation system, and being a UNESCO World Heritage site, offering rich cultural heritage, historical sites like Jebel Hafeet, and being a tranquil contrast to the coastal cities, showcasing traditional Emirati life.
Key Reasons for Fame: Al Ain Oasis: A massive, irrigated oasis with date palms and fruit trees, showcasing historical agriculture and offering peaceful walks. UNESCO World Heritage: Recognized for its cultural landscape, including the oases, historical forts, and traditional water systems. "Garden City" Nickname: A green, verdant environment with gardens and agricultural heritage, differing from other UAE cities. Jebel Hafeet: Abu Dhabi's second-tallest mountain, offering stunning views and nearby attractions like hot springs and ancient tombs. Rich History: One of the oldest settlements in the region, with archaeological sites and historical structures from ancient times (Iron Age).
Culture & Heritage: Provides an authentic glimpse into traditional Emirati life, with forts, museums, and a focus on natural beauty. Al Ain Zoo: Home to a vast collection of animals, including many endangered species, located at the foothills of Jebel Hafeet. In essence, Al Ain's fame comes from its unique blend of natural beauty (oases, mountains) and deep cultural history, serving as the green heart of the UAE.
**In the upper left hand corner you'll see a picture of a button with a chair on it; this is in our car and I was thrilled to learn that the passenger seat was a MASSAGE chair . . . but, unfortunately, it’s broken 😢. **Next to it is our Visa/ID Card photo example. It shows a picture of a beautiful woman looking great with sleek, pulled-back hair and no smile. This was how we were supposed to look for our pictures: no smile, no frown, forehead showing, ears showing. I did my best, held my breath, and somehow passed. Billy, however, had to take his 2 more times — apparently his relaxed face looked too much like a frown. Ironically, when we arrived, they needed a pic for our ID cards and Billy’s Visa photo worked but mine didn’t 😮. So I found a photographer in Al Ain, wiped the smirk off my face, and took a plain (slightly tragic) new photo 😐. It passed. **The picture underneath is one of the most scrumptious cakes I’ve ever tasted — a Kunafa chocolate cake. Our sweet little Indian friends brought us two slices to celebrate her birthday, and it was absolutely divine. Leena is from Calcutta, and Jakob is from Southern Africa. Theirs is a true marriage of love — they were able to choose each other, unlike her sister and many others in India. They are the cutest couple, and it is always such a joy to spend time with them. **The Perpetual Education Fund is helping some of our members here, and it is such an inspiration to see its impact. Years ago, President Hinckley had the vision to start this program to help those who lacked the financial means to pursue further education. What a blessing it continues to be. **The middle picture shows our ant problem. I don’t mind the big black ants; they’re easy to see and easy to smush. It’s the tiny red ants that are my sworn enemies. Those little stinkers are everywhere: the kitchen, living room, even upstairs by our bathroom. Their bites don’t just sting once; they linger all night. I’d rather have an open wound from scratching than that constant sting. We’ve used every spray and powder imaginable, even on my freshly cleaned rug. They may think they’ve taken up residency… but I’m determined to evict every last one of them. 😏 **I hope you don’t think I’m obsessed with the trees… but at this point, I might need to admit I have a problem. They just make me so happy that I can’t stop taking pictures of them. Don’t worry though, after the next two blogs, I’m pretty sure you and I will have officially documented every single tree in the area. Mission accomplished 🌳. **I keep looking for oil rigs and snapping pictures of anything that remotely resembles one; only to find out there are no active oil rigs or drills in Al Ain. So the picture under the scrumptious cake is something I thought was an oil rig 😂. **Below that is the beautiful campus of United Arab Emirates University, and the middle picture is downtown. The large building at the bottom is Remal Mall. In the summer, lots of people walk there to escape the heat ~ but otherwise, it’s practically empty. Most of the stores are closed, and no one new has moved in. It’s the craziest thing - this big, open mall that seems to exist solely for the walkers. **To the right of the mall is the Catholic Church. At one point, they mentioned we might possibly be able to use their basement but a lot would have to happen first (like our Area Presidency having a little chat with their head leaders 😉). **Above that is the card from our new friend Susan. She’s the Asst Director of the Evangelical Church located on the property of Kanad Hospital. And honestly, the story behind that hospital and church is one of the coolest I’ve heard. From Wikipedia: "Kanad Hospital is a private hospital for women and children in Al Ain, established in 1960 by American missionary doctor Pat Kennedy and his wife, Marian. It is the oldest hospital in Al Ain and the second oldest in the United Arab Emirates." In the early years, when infant mortality rates were very high, even among the ruling family, the compassionate care these Christian doctors provided made a lasting impact on the parents of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who was born there, on March 11, 1961. In gratitude, the Sheikh’s family donated a portion of land near the hospital for an Evangelical church. Today, that church rents space to other Christian denominations. We visited with Susan and heard this incredible history along with her own beautiful conversion story and how she tells of God leading her to exactly where she is today. So beautiful.
That was a lot of words for the last collage. I hope you made it through it but if not, I totally understand!
Gordon B. Hinckley put it beautifully when he said, “Life is full of joys and sorrows, of successes and failures, of brightness and darkness. But the Lord is ever near, and in His love we find peace.”
