Yep. Duty calls. Family et al. Stopping off in Europe for a day on the way there and the plan is to stop off on the way back to the Khaleej. I keep telling myself that my time is up here, but you know, the Khaleej is such a safe place to live for middle-class, politically disaffected good-for-nothings like me.

I am however, very restless ... not sure what I will be doing for the upcoming Eid ... just really want a get away. Iran has always been on the tables, or maybe India.

The thing that I like about here is how, right now, I'm about to step out and get a shave at the barbers. Most barbers here are Bengali and I love their "o" affected Hindi. "Ghor me sob teek hai?" Love it - and I get a head massage and they pull out all the cracks in your fingers. For 15 Dhirhams. If you go to a Filipino joint, they use snake oils for the head massage. How about that?