Real Snow in Sandland

Heavy snowfall on Ras Al Khaimah's Jebel Jais mountain cluster
By Nasouh Nazzal, Staff Reporter
Published: January 24, 2009, 19:47

Ras Al Khaimah: Snow fell heavily on the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah on Friday night, leaving the Jebel Jais range covered in a thick white blanket of snow.

The extreme cold spell brought the temperature on top of the Jebel Jais mountain cluster, situated at a height of 5,700 feet, to as low as -3 degree Celsius on Friday night, as the snow blanketed an area extending over 5kms.



Major Saeed Rashid Al Yamahi, Manager of the Air Wing of RAK Police, who flew a helicopter to the top of the Jebel Jais mountain, said that the entire area was covered with 10 cm of snow.

"The sight up there this morning was totally unbelievable with the snow-capped mountain and the entire area covered with fresh, dazzling white snow. The snowfall started at 3pm on Friday afternoon and heavy snowfall began at 8 pm and continued till midnight, covering the entire area in a thick blanket of snow," he said.

The temperature on top of the mountain cluster remained extremely cold during the daytime on Saturday with the temperature rising to just 1 degree Celsius in the afternoon. "Much of the snow was still there even when we flew back from the mountain this afternoon. It is still freezing cold up there and there are chances that it might snow again on Saturday night," Major Al Yamahi added.



M. V. Varghese, Observer at the RAK Airport Meteorological Office, said that there were scattered rains in Ras Al Khaimah on Friday night which brought the temperature down. "The rain along with the cold easterly winds and low-lying clouds could have bought the temperatures further down on the mountains," he said.

Plans for mountain resort

Ras Al Khaimah had experienced heavy snowing on Jebel Jais mountains four years ago on December 28, 2004. "I had flown there in 2004 when it snowed, but this time it was much bigger and the snowing lasted longer as well," said Major Al Yamahi.

The Jebel Jais mountain cluster is situated around 25kms from Ras Al Khaimah City and normally has significantly lower temperatures even during the peak summer months.

Ras Al Khaimah has plans to capitalise on the attractive climate and spectacular scenery of Jebel Jais by building a mountain resort and ski slope on top of the mountains.

More Life in RAK

There is a law banning stray animals from residential areas. Unfortunately stray animals do not read the papers. Havoc in RAK as camel strays into residential area

By Nasouh Nazzal, Staff Reporter Published: November 01, 2008, 00:01

Ras Al Khaimah: An agitated stray camel created panic among residents of Rashid Public area in the northern part of Ras Al Khaimah. Nobody could handle the animal which was running around wildly, residents said, adding that it must have come from nearby barns. The residents explained that the legs of the camels in the nearby barns are tied with chains which slow down the animals' movement, but this animal was free from any shackles. People started shouting at the camel and throwing things at him which fuelled the its agitated state. The residents said that it was rare to see stray animals in the internal roads of the emirate's areas, as the camels in particular can be dangerous in such conditions. The residents stressed that camels do differ from the cows, sheep and goats when stuck to the residential areas. The surrounding camel barns have much stock which are trained for camel racing and competitions, but those barns lock their animals and do not let them go astray. Rude awakening The stray camel woke up many of the residents of the Rashid Public area, where people picked up their mobile phones and cameras to capture the moments of the agitated and lost animal. Residents of the area lodged a complaint with the emirate's Municipality on the incident, stating that stray camels would be a real danger if not fully controlled. A senior municipal official said that the emirate's Municipality has been fighting the phenomenon of the spread of the stray animals all over the emirate, but the owners of the barns have not been showing the necessary cooperation. The official added that the emirate's Municipality has recently imposed a law to eliminate the stray animals in a phased manner.

We Don"t Get The Same Headlines In RAK, as in Dubai

Cow forces car to swerve, crash

The car which rammed into the gate and front wall of a public kitchen when a cow strayed onto the street.By
Nasouh Nazzal, Staff Reporter
Published: October 10, 2008, 23:53

Ras Al Khaimah: An Emirati motorist skidded off the road when he tried to avoid a stray cow and demolished a wall of a public kitchen, police said.

He and his friend, another Emirati, were injured in the accident that occurred in Al Rams area on Wednesday.

The kitchen staff ran for their lives when they saw the car heading for them out of control.

A officer at the traffic department said the two Emiratis, identified as M.Q and N.M, were admitted to Al Rams Medical Centre for treatment.

The car and the public kitchen were badly damaged.

"The workers managed to escape," he said, adding that the car rammed into the kitchen and continued inside for several metres before it finally came to a halt.

The driver said he was completely taken aback to find a cow on the road. It had stepped out from behind the trees, he told police.

M.Q. hit the brakes hard but he lost control as the tyres skidded.

The windcreen shattered and fell on the driver and his passenger.

The public kitchen usually caters to large parties and conferences and specialises in local cuisine.

The staff said they were alerted by a big bang when the car first smashed into the gate. None of the staff were injured.

The officer said stray animals still remain a menace for motorists and residents and they are responsible for a large number of road accidents reported in this area.

Back Again

Travelling extensively for business and for pleasure the last month.
Logged over 35,000 km and zigzagged 25 time zones.

Celebrated my birthday.

Saw and held Damian for the first time.

Business in Newfoundland with Cathexis.

Saw my brother Stephen and his boys (Tim and Peter).

Saw Mark and Cindy and their brood (Melissa and Malcolm).

Saw Ruth and Becka.
http://bodysoulandspirit.blogspot.com/2008/07/family-stuff.html

http://the-becka.blogspot.com/

Visited my oldest friend Granville (pastor at Faith Sanctuary now).

(sorry didn't take a personal photo)

Finally an R&R day at our "crowded" beach in Ras Al Khaimah.

Then off to cover Sandland for work.

And another one ....

Seems that babies are falling from the sky.
First my cousin Rosy had a girl, Cassandra, in May.



Then my daughter Kira presented me with a grandson, Damian, in June.



Now my niece Damara in Mexico has made me a Great-Uncle on July 8.

Welcome to our world, Dasha Darlene.



No more in the pipeline for now it seems.

Swimming Pool

Having a swimming pool here seems like a good idea considering the brutally hot summer weather.
However, even the sea heats up to 36C by August.
So, the option is to shade and chill the pool, or follow the lead of Big Mike when you have a spare bedroom.



Ambient lighting



Pool toys



Fill with people and drinks





Instant pool party!

Grandad

Today I officially became a Grandad.
My daughter Kira gave birth to a son, Damian Michael Stewart.
Alex is now an uncle too (scary).

Damian arrived at a healthy 8lb 8oz's (3.86 kg), 21 inches long (53.34 cm).

A new step for all, parent, grandparents, aunts and uncles.
On my side of the family Damian has:

1 uncle (Alex)
4 great uncles (Tim, Philip, Mark, Stephen)
4 great aunts (Ruth, Cindy, Marcella, Lucy)
3 great grandparents (Eleanor, Elizabeth, David)
3 great great aunts (Lois, Ruth, Joan)
1 great great uncle (Harold)
Plus all the cascading cousins too numerous to mention.

Good luck in remembering all their names as you grow up.

Welcome to the world !!!!!!!!!!