I hate bureaucracy. I don't think i can emphasize how much I hate it with ALL of my heart. Yesterday was quite possibly the worst day of our lives. This god foresaken country is definitely lacking some organization. It all started with wanting to rent a car. Simple no? Just wait. Apparently our American drivers licences aren't enough, we need a local license ( because clearly the sophisticated traffic system which exists in the third world is far superior to that that of the states). Fine, we think we can just go get a local license and then off to Dubai for our Gitex conference. We go get all the paperwork organized that we need to apply and head to the Abu Dhabi office. We get to the office after about an hour of hassle, and much to our dismay, they wont issue us a license because we aren't residents. But- they give us hope- and send us off to Dubai who will apparently give a license to anyone for a temporary period. With this, we're off and running in our business suits for the hour ride to Dubai.

How quickly our excited hearts are crushed. After about an hour and a half of traffic, 30 minutes spenting trying to get from one side on the road to the other because of some confusing system of traffic lights, our driver drops us off at the department of licensing. There we go toting our little folders with our information. Thinking something is finally going to go our way, we go to ask what counter we need to go to for our paperwork. Lucky us, the guard informs us the department decided to close early today. Right as we walk up mind you. And the people behind the counter drive off in their porsches and other expensive cars I don't recognize. Must be nice to work for the government here- definitely will note that to self when looking for career opportunities. But alas, all hope is not lost, we can go to the mall and go to the booth there, those people don't have the option of leaving early.

So we call our taxi, who doesn't know where we are, and Shahin decides is a lost cause so we walk all the way out to the street in my heels when our driver calls and says he found it and is where we were originally and we have to walk back. That irritation aside, we head to the mall with all of our paperwork with some small thread of hope left. When we arrive at the counter, that thread is quickly smashed and ripped apart in front of our eyes. Because we entered through Abu Dhabi, and not Dubai, they cannot issue us a temp license. But again, another option presents itself, the lady suggests we drive 3 hours to Oman so we technically have exited the country, and reenter with a Dubai stamp. When we think about it now, it seems a bit of a hassle, but at the moment we were ready to jump in the cab. Im suprised we both didn't start sobbing at the counter, as it looked like we were going to.

Anyways, the day picked up a bit I guess. We went to Gitex and got official tech badges which boosted our spirits a bit...always nice to have someone take you seriously. Unfortunately our driver wouldnt return until 8:30 and we finished Gitex by 6 so Shahin decides we should just walk to a nearby hotel since the taxi situation is outrageous due to the amount of people Gitex has brought it. While this seems like a harmless idea, this was potentially the proverbial straw that broke the camels back. While walking in 100* weather in humidity on unpaved roads, with heels through the main street, I realized I hate Dubai. Lets just say next time we need to go, Shahin can fly solo on that trip. On a positive note, my disdain for Dubai made me appreciate Abu Dhabi a bit more... not sure whether thats a good thing or not.

The night ended with some decent chinese food, and a much needed lemonade with mint. Shahin snored the whole way back from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, haha the cab driver kept giving us weird looks.. I told him if he only knew what we'd been through, he wouldn't think twice.

Anyways, that about sums up our day. I'm considering changing the blog name to adventures in lala land. But we'll say how today goes before I abandon my cute french/pink themed name.

As always, for your viewing pleasure, pics of the day: