The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque In Abu Dhabi
One of the must-see FREE sites to visit in Abu Dhabi is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I took the public bus to the Mosque. We got a bit lost, looking for the public entrance (grins), but the security guards stationed around the Mosque’s beautiful grounds were extremely helpful. As was everyone we encountered.
Mosque rules apply. Shoulders and knees and, for female-facing people, heads must be covered.
I always travel with a head scarf in Muslim countries. I also cover my shoulders. And I never wear anything shorter than below-knee-length capris.
That is, IMHO, respectful outside the Mosque also. The women seem to appreciate my efforts (they are friendlier and more likely to offer help) and the men tend to show me more respect.
There was an awesome and FREE English-language tour, which gave us access to parts of the Mosque other visitors didn’t have and our guide shared with us the history and the architecture of the Mosque.
Take your time, if you can, at the Mosque. The details are exquisite and everywhere you look. It is very much a work of art. And, if you can find a quiet, uninhabited part of the Mosque, you will likely FEEL the spiritual vibes emitting from it. I found it to be an emotionally powerful place.
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Muse Food – Pirate Ships In Cabo San Lucas And Other Adventures
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I were trekking along Playa Chileno, a beach near Cabo San Lucas, Mexico when we were delighted to see this faux pirate ship rounding the bend.
We weren’t the only travelers captivated by this unexpected appearance. Visitors from all over the world watched the pirate ship’s approach with glee and wonder.
And it reminded me WHY many people read our stories.
They are looking for adventure, for something different than their regular lives. This doesn’t have to be space battles to the death or daring rescues (though those are fun – grins). It merely has to be unusual and, perhaps, unexpected.
Give them adventure.
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Cats Rule Dubai
There were SO MANY feral cats in Dubai. And they appeared to be VERY well taken care of. We saw feed and water bowls everywhere and we chanced upon a man in a Santa hat cheerily filling some of those bowls.
There were also signs all over the place, including on the boardwalk, stating that no dogs were allowed in the area. You and I both know those were posted by cats.
(grins)
Oh and I wasn’t the only person taking photos of the feral cats. I bumped into cooing, adoring cat fans originating from all over the world.
Muse Food – Average Guy Angels And The Unexpected
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I spotted an average guy trying on a pair of angel wings in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
The average guy seemed to love doing this. (He was surprised by the weight of those wings.) And everyone around him was smiling and laughing.
Because we don’t usually picture an angel as an average guy. They are usually stunningly beautiful and super fit and not wearing white running shoes with black socks. (grins)
Give your story an ‘average guy angel’, something unexpected, something enchanting.
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Moon Landings And Other Awkward Conversations
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I were sitting in a restaurant on a cruise ship. One of the things cruise ship restaurant staff often do, upon request, is seat strangers at a table together.
The table next to us was in that situation.
And we were shamelessly eavesdropping.
(grins)
There was a male/female couple and a woman on her own. She told the couple that Kevin, her husband, would be joining them. He was running a bit late.
The male half of the already seated couple dominated the conversation. He complained about the state of the US, spewed off some rather racist comments (they were all white folks at the table).
And THEN he REALLY warmed to his theory that the moon landing was fake.
He chattered for about fifteen minutes about how it was all scripted, how the astronauts were actors, how the space program was truly a means of funneling money to the Libs, etc. etc.
Finally, his wife nudged him.
“Oh, I must be boring you,” he told the solitary woman.
“It’s okay.” Her eyes glittered. “I’m used to all the space talk by now.”
Her husband sits down.
“Kevin.” She pats his arm. “Worked for NASA for thirty years.”
Friends, the Dear Wonderful Hubby and I almost fell out of our chairs laughing.
The delivery was perfect.
The conspiracy theorist immediately had an ‘oh sh*t’ expression on his face.
His wife’s eyes widened.
Kevin’s wife had an almost gleeful smile on her beautiful face.
Kevin, the former NASA worker, was completely oblivious and started chatting about what he did at NASA and some of the projects he’d been involved in.
It. Was. AWESOME!
(laughs)
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Local Pricing In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I were watching a vendor operate near the Malecon in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He was selling slices of mango, watermelon, and pineapple in a bag.
The vendor charged two prices for the same bag.
The tourists paid 250 pesos and had extremely quick, efficient and quiet service.
The locals paid 100 pesos and they were expected to engage in a lot of chatter with the vendor. (smiles) He looked as though he was telling them long, elaborate and very humorous stories.
There was an option to put spice on the fruit.
If you ever buy from that specific vendor, DO NOT take the spice option unless you REALLY like spice.
It was too much for many of the locals. They spluttered and coughed. Their faces turned red. Their eyes watered.
Which made the vendor laugh some more.
(grins)
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Baobab Trees In Madagascar
The naturalist in Madagascar, along with the driver, took the Dear Wonderful Hubby and I to see some Baobab Trees.
Due to time restraints, we couldn’t see the HUGE ones. Those were located farther away.
But the Baobab Trees we did see were dang impressive.
The trees, when not chopped down by humans, live for centuries. They’re a source of water for people and animals and they support an entire ecosystem.
We had watched a gazillion documentaries about these amazing trees and it was a bit surreal to finally see them in person. I was grinning from ear to ear during the visit. (grins)
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Muse Food – Jellyfish Sculptures And Multipurpose Scenes
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I spotted these jellyfish sculptures by a bus stop in Dubai.
They serve at least two purposes. They’re beautiful works of art. AND they provide much needed shade for waiting transit users.
Our scenes should, ideally, be like these jellyfish sculptures. They should, at the minimum, serve two purposes.
Maybe the scene hints at a future event. Or it reveals a character’s motive. Or it shows how the character is changing. Or it transitions the reader from one place to another. Or…it could have a gazillion different purposes.
Challenge yourself to make your scenes work harder and do more!
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The Hornet And The Grasshopper In Madagascar
Trekking around Madagascar with the Naturalist was like living in a nature documentary. There was life all around us. We witnessed births, deaths, courting rituals and struggles for survival.
For example, we watched as this hornet dragged a stunned grasshopper across a patch of sandy soil.
The hornet, the naturalist explained, had laid its eggs inside the grasshopper.
The hornet then dug a hole and stuffed the grasshopper into the mini tunnel.
The grasshopper would serve as a food source for the hornet’s young.
That’s some circle of life sh*t right there. (grins) I LOVED it.
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Muse Food – Look Upward
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I spotted this vibrantly colored bird in Mazatlan, Mexico.
It is human nature to gaze around us at our eye level. That’s quick. That’s easy.
That’s…dangerous. Because threats can come from the sky. And they can come from below us.
As writers, we tend to describe the scene from our character’s eye level also.
And that can be…uninspired. Because there are likely interesting things happening above their heads and below their feet.
Look upward.
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