Tag Archives: travel

August 4, 2026 · 10:27

Saved by the news bell

That is the setting. You see I was about to go nuts regarding fake AI (in this case the screw ups of WordPress) but before I got really angry CBC saved me. You see (at https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/britannia-beach-surf-park-9.7293328) we are given ‘A surf park is coming to B.C. — and it’s making waves with the locals’ which is (beside the lovely wordplay) a setting I never saw coming. You see, surfing seems to be closely linked to Hawaii and California. I never went surfing (cannot keep my balance on a skateboard), and I wasn’t about to try this on a surfboard. I am happy with the balance I can keep on a pair of CCM EFLEX 6 Ice Hockey Goalkeeper Skates Senior. I don’t mind the word ‘senior’ at this point as I am 60+ but the setting of surfing is one I like and admire, but you are not likely to see me on such a board. That ice there is too fluidic, that is more a Summer McIntosh setting, I am of the mind that Brooke McIntosh has, although she is a figure skater and I really have no figure, I am all about the puck (as a goalie I prefer it to go towards the other goalie). 

So back to the story, as we are given that in 2029 British Columbia will have its first surf pool. So as the setting s in the United States are deteriorating, Canada has another safe space for tourists. And now the surfers have a new outlook on pretty sites (nature) and healthy settings toward surfing. As it is the first one in Canada, it might get swamped straight of the bat with Canadians too. As such tourists will get a first handle on Poutine, Tourtière and of course the local delicacy ice wine (which I have never tried). So as we see these things come into play, there is another reason to come to British Columbia and it is less than an hour north of Vancouver, as such there are a multitude of reasons, beside the setting that it is smack in the middle of the road between Vancouver and Whistler, as such there are a multitude of reasons to spend the summer of 2029 in British Columbia and as I see it, you could stay in either of the three places whilst going from one to the other. As there is a bias service between Vancouver and Whistler, there is every chance that they will now in addition stop at South Britannia surf and the bus ticket from Vancouver to Whistler is a mere $33, as such it will be cheaper to get to South Britannia surf and if you are not sure where to stay, you could hedge your bet and stay in South Britannia surf whilst either place is a mere hour away and visit the other two places. As I see it, British Columbia is becoming increasingly interesting for international tourists. So whilst we relish the Beach boys sound, this might be the time for the Beach boys to make yet another jab at additional fame by creating a new Surf rock song for British Columbia. To be honest I think that this might be the greatest setting we see, because for decades surfing was synonymous with Hawaii and California and now that the Us economy is taking a massive dip, Canada will be there to relieve the people of the dangers of going to America. I reckon that this setting could be placed in either Abu Dhabi, Dubai or Sharjah all places that could replace the touristy need of going to the United States. 

So when you are considering where to learn to surf, consider British Columbia in 2029, just be aware that bears in Canada are not heavy set Bikers, they are real furry 800 pound rascals that are not of the vegetarian kind. So take any local warning serious.

Beyond that, British Columbia is breathtakingly beautiful, so there are numerous reasons to go there in place of California. And all that is even before we compare the amazingly healthy water in BC compared to the water quality of polluted sport in California. I cannot vouch for the California water quality, but the water in British Columbia is considered one of the healthiest in North America and that is saying something. 

So whilst you consider and fantasize about becoming a surf king or queen in British Columbia, I will return to the waned anger I am facing considering WordPress and will I consider Typecho or go towards Google blogger? Well, I wish you all a fine day, have a good one.

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August 3, 2026 · 10:43

Valid questions

After the surge I felt when I was ‘valued’ at $150,000,000 I got all happy and dreamy on the subject (that would be me) and delusional thoughts of Sergey Brin offering me $50,000,000 but he needed one small favour of me. You guessed it, he wanted Gemini to get exclusive access to my articles and he had set the premise of moving me to Google Blogger to get that done (not the worst idea) but it was not merely delusions. My brain in the background was working out other things and the dopamine that the scenario was giving me seemed to push that carrot along (there were more dreamy thoughts and the carrot in that setting makes sense). So, as I was considering an additional life in Toronto, with a long weekend trip to Quebec and the Galeries de la Capitale, my mind went on a surge. Things in the aftermath of it all doesn’t make much sense but at that moment It did. I stopped at M. Souvlaki for a pita Gyro and it all started to make sense to me when I saw the visitors card (online at the website of Galeries de la Capitale). Where we learn that “Out-of-town and international visitors are entitled to our visitor’s card which provides access to exclusive discounts at select retailers. *Visitor’s address must be 40km from Quebec City. An ID with proof of residence is required validation to obtain the visitor’s card. Some restrictions may apply.” You see, I have never ever been to Quebec, but consider the setting international (and Toronto Eaton Centre), this visitor pass could be the ticket to drive commerce in specific places and tourists are the ones who really like discount offers. Sydney (Westfield), London (Covent Garden), Netherlands (Bijenkorf) and many other places could adopt that idea of a visitors pass. It is marketing that earns itself back almost instantly. 

You see, I have no idea how I knew about the visitors pass, but there must have been a notice I saw out of the corner of my eyes. It is the only thing that makes sense. So, 8 hours ago the Economist gave us ‘What will Kevin Warsh do if America’s economy breaks?’ Because as I have seen this for a few months, it is about to break and as I see it, the Chair of the Federal Reserve of the United States will openly have to defend the stupidity of this American administration and I think he won’t be able to, as such he will be dealt the ace of spades quite quickly and it will not include a serenade by Motorhead. So, as I see it, I saw opportunity in my view, but it quickly translates to a generic economic opportunity. I reckon that malls in Saudi Arabia and the UAE are contemplating similar settings. I don’t think that places like Harrods (London) and the Dubai Mall need them, but there are all kinds of malls all around these two places that might consider getting these few steps of visibility.

And as the Telegraph (UK) gives us ‘US and Japan take action to prop up yen’ I wonder why the United States wants to do this. Is it merely to score brownie points, or are they worried that the Yen and the US dollar can now no longer counter any serious act to own the dollar? The connected news from 24/7 Wall Street is ‘The $1.2 Trillion Reason Scott Bessent Just Bought Japanese Yen’ I get the connection, but not the reason. You see president Trump is all about MAGA and America First, which is a scuttled wreck to say the least and I will be the first to look at alternative reasons, but being a non-economist I have no real chance of finding it, but anyone who wants to really know that, I would advice them to call Prime Minister Mark Carney (at +1 613-992-4793), because he would likely know. 

So whilst we are given ‘As Trump cites progress on deal to end war, Iran and Israel remain on alert’ (source: Washington Post) we are also given ‘Iran war live: Tehran says Hormuz negotiations with Oman in ‘final stages’’ (source: Al Jazeera) which leads me to the conviction that there is no deal to end the war coming and Tehran is setting the stage of more disruptions. As such the only act that makes sense is that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (with optional help of the United States) put the pressure on the Houthi terrorists and make sure that the Bab-al-Mandab Strait remains open for business, because that will also impact Egypt and the Suez Canal. The complication is seen in Iraq as we are given ‘Yemen’s Houthis are attacking Saudi Arabia from Iraq, sources say’ (source: Reuter) and as I have given voice to better strategy from March 1st onwards (even creating new weapon systems to do so) I am left with a dangerous question. Is president Trump fueling destabilisation on the Arabian peninsula? That setting is getting more and more traction on a global level. As I have predicted (several times) the economy of the United States is done for, so the only option left is to minimize their losses and make sure others have a lot more to worry about. Is it a valid question to ask whether the United States is working from the premise “It is not enough that I succeed, all others must fail” a setting we have attributed to Genghis Khan (ca 1200) and Larry Ellison (1988) who was the head honcho at Oracle. So does my setting make sense? You only have to see the clusterfuck the Iranian war seemingly is and the effects of of spending 39 billion on trying to achieve on what I could have done with merely 1 billion and of course the ‘expedited’ dismantling of 10 refineries, closing harbours and stopping their railways. A simple setting I gave months ago and been now we see some kind of scenario, all whilst Iran is doubling down on gaining the ‘trust’ of Oman?

How weird is all that, so I fear for those who are in some kind of ‘entrusted’ setting with the American administration, because that will bite the trusted allies really quick and quite soon. As we see the BBC give us a few days ago ‘US economic growth sees surprise slowdown in second quarter’ makes me wonder as this was clearly in the cards, Is the BBC catering to another premise and need? Is that a valid question?

I leave it to you to see the numbers, the effects and the questions voiced, whilst the valid questions are not answered, not anywhere as far as I can tell (or at least not in sources that are supposed to be valid) but it might merely be me, which could be all kinds of valid, but I have been asking similar questions for months, so  don’t think its me and I handed my IP to sources that seemingly needed them, so I feel verified and sanctified (a weird setting) because it as not done out of greed, but out of the facts I see and Iran had to be stopped. And if I can clearly see that, why can’t the Pentagon see that? Unless they are facing a different war at present. I will leve that up to my readers to consider that setting.

Have a great day today.

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July 11, 2026 · 17:02

Reasons to see the Middle East

I was told in the Khaleej Times (at https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/gulf/saudi-arabia-tourist-package-visa-service-pilot-phase) that Saudi Arabia is adding a few options. With ‘Saudi Arabia launches new tourist visa service package for 7 countries’ we are given “Saudi Arabia has launched a new tourist visa package which will allow visitors to obtain a visa as part of a extensive travel bundle, reducing the hassle of planning and booking an entire trip. The service allows tourists to book packages that combine various elements of their trip, including airfare, accommodation at licensed tourist housing, and electronic visa processing, with the option to add experiences, activities, and events.” As I personally see it, the vacation to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, optionally with addition to Qatar could now include an additional long weekend in Riyadh (or Dammam/Jeddah) with options towards the Kingdom Tower, Riyadh City Boulevard and the Grand Mosque, there are plenty of places and they now come as an optional addition. Whilst some go to other places through the worry that Riyadh might not have the options for a long time. We see that Riyadh has plenty to do as an addition. As such that tourist visa package could be the suitor for Saudi Arabia to get tourist traction and it could use that in the big picture of tourism. So as we also see “It is issued electronically within a maximum of 48 hours after the travel package purchase is completed, eliminating the need to visit a Saudi embassy or submit a standalone visa application. By including visa arrangement services within the package, service providers will be offering clients a smoother experience and design more integrated and attractive tourism packages, encouraging visitors to extend their trips.” Beside that we are given “The pilot phase of the program will be subject to specific operational requirements. These include the readiness of digital platforms and the provision of 24/7 technical support and visitor communication services. The ‘Tourist package visa’ service reflects a broader transformation in the sector, which is based on facilitating travel, strengthening partnerships with the private sector, offering more integrated tourism experiences, and opening wider horizons for the world to discover the Kingdom and its diverse destinations. The new service is part of a series of programs and services launched by the country in recent years to facilitate tourist access and enhance their experience, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030.” I reckon that this pilot will start this summer and when it shows the benefits to the tourist traction, it should be implemented in a much wider way. As I see it, Saudi Arabia could use the tourism boost and as tourists are avoiding the United States, these people need to go somewhere. In addition 1 in 5 people are Muslim making Saudi Arabia an optional point of interest and not all are likely to see Saudi Arabia as a vacation Destination, they will see Saudi Arabia as an optional additional location to other places and the most likely location was the UAE, so as I see it, this new visa might be the solution for Saudi Arabia, especially for people who need an additional or alternative location. The fact that this visa could be done in 48 hours after application implies that some of these people can apply whilst they are on vacation. Personally I only see upsides to this setting. Especially for the tourism in Saudi Arabia. Considering that Canada and the UK already have almost 6 million muslims, add to that the 26 million muslims in Europe, there could be a decent uptake of this solution in 2027. I don’t think it is only for Muslims, especially Riyadh. But I think that this category of tourists would have a first interest in seeing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Coming to think of it (me being humorous) you could go to Dammam and see Iran on the other side of the Sea of Dammam (Iranians call it the Persian Gulf) and throw stones across the water to Iran. One can only hope that the Saudi population shares my sense of humour. Still as I see it, the addition to the visa package could be the start of a much larger intake of tourists for Saudi Arabia.

As I see it, the Arabian peninsula could be the hottest tourist ticket for 2027/2028, but what do I know. I am not a tourist operator. So you all have a great day, time for me to start making my pasta meal.

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July 4, 2026 · 21:53

That what becomes tomorrow

We have these settings. They are what they are and as I have seen it the United States is in massive problems. They did this to themselves and whilst they are in denial, whilst they are (what I consider) cooking the books and whilst they are presenting pieces of pictures, we do know that what we see is not really what is in play. You merely have to lookup the Florida economy and the California economy to see that there are serious issues in play. But I am not an United States citizen, so I basically do not care. I am a Commonwealthian, so I consider helping my Canadian brethren (sisters too). I also feel for the Emirates, as such I stand by them. How, you might ask? Well, I think things through and as such I have a few ideas how to aid Canadian and Emirati tourism. Because we can point at the issues, but that merely caresses our ego’s. What we can do is prepare for tomorrow, or in this case the summers of 2027 and 2028. You see, whatever the united States making claim of what is. Some people see what is going on and that is where I now am. As I see it, we can help to bolster tourism or we can ignore that this setting exists. I chose the first option. And in all this I am using my Dutch knowledge to aid this endeavor. 

So this is all for both nations, and using other knowledge to create new knowledge is the first step in becoming innovative. The Dutch have a place called Archeon. It is an open air museum, reconstructing various eras from Dutch history. The Bronze Age, the Romans and the Middle Ages. The idea was amazing and I loved seeing it. 

So in the new setting, it could hand Canadian a setting where people would see a fort (as authentic as first would be in the 1700s with an additional camp of the Huron (who also were in Ontario) people would see how life was in those days, How the Huron lived and we might also add an English camp, perhaps even a replica of Fort Anne. The people would see how these people lived, it would also give people a view of life of the Huron in those days. If it is don’t right, the First Nations could benefit from selling First Nation goods and optionally books and other things, which would bolster their economic footprint as well. The trade posts also have similar settings in all this, as does the fort. A view of what was and how Canada grew from this. 

In the case of the Emirati, the views of buildings on how they were in Rumailah, Al Thuqeibah and Muweilah would give a first look. Add to that the view of Beit al Shaar (houses of hair), constructed by Bedouin tribes using woven goat or camel wool and you get a nice view of life in the distant past. All these places would also sell food, how they basically were made (in modern out of sight kitchens) but I remember the food I had in the Roman camp (drinks too) the food was some sort of stew and tasted delicious. I very much loved the food in the abbey (middle ages) I still dream of the waffles with hot cherry sauce and whipped cream, even after 30 years. If that feeling can be transposed to the places in Canada and the UAE, they both have a winner. For the UAE I was thinking around the Emirates Park Zoo and Resort and Deerfields mall, there seems to be space in between that place and putting more places between Abu Dhabi and Dubai would create a larger dream of people, without the economic pressures of the land value. As for Canada, there is plenty of space around Toronto and this idea could go far (as I personally see it).

The second idea comes from the Dutch Madurodam. It is a a miniature park in the Hague and has been a tourist attraction. The entire park is set up in a 1:25 scale. It has all the historical and famous buildings, even a massive view on Amsterdam international airport. In the Netherlands it attracts 600K-700K visitors every year. It will take some time, but these are two ideas that spreads the interest in both Canada and the UAE and the UAE has plenty of places it could show off, consider the biggest ferris wheel in the world, now visible on a 1:25 scale. Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi have a serious amount of buildings it could show off. and the Ferris wheel is merely a first. You see, you can hope that all what there is will satisfy the need of the tourist, or you can venture to more and in ways that is not dependent on the greed of the United States. Making this setting malleable give both nations more options (without spending the bank on that chance) and even if not everything is done in a quarter, this summer will show the world more clearly how deep the abyss is that the United States has placed itself in. I for one prefer to focus on what helps Canada (the UAE too) and these are merely two idea that could help either country. There is a third one, but that that is for later and more applicable to Canada than it is to the UAE. 

So, as I see it, opportunity is where you find it and there is enough materials on both the Archeon and Madurodam to give these two nations where they could take this setting to.

So, you all have a great day and consider contemplating whether you want to keep staring at the mistakes of others or do you want to find an upside for you in that stage?

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July 2, 2026 · 03:52

Catching laurels

That is what I am seeing. The news (at https://blooloop.com/news/yas-waterworld-guinness-world-record) is giving us ‘Abu Dhabi’s Yas Waterworld sets Guinness World Record with 55 waterslides’ as I see it, that is quite the record. The waterpark in The Hague (specifically: Wassenaar) only had 4 slides and we had a ball for hours. Here in WaterWorld you could spend a day trying waterslides and never having to do the same slide twice. Ad there is still more to do there. So we see “During a celebratory ceremony held at the attraction, Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, group CEO of Miral, and Rayan Al Haddar, general manager of Yas Waterworld, received the Guinness World Records certificate from Hanane Spiers, official Guinness World Records adjudicator for the MENA region and Türkiye.” As such I say well done Miral and well done WaterWorld. As long as the Al Raha river still exists when I get there (date unknown) so I can float in the sun in Hufflepuff shorts and a Hufflepuff bucket hat I will be happy. To protect myself from the sun I will most likely be wearing a Hufflepuff t-shirt with long arms, so the sun does not get me  for the longest of times and I reckon that sunnies are also needed and a GoPro so that I can record just how awesome I think I look. Yet this is not the first record they set. In past events they also set:

Most water moved using a sponge in one minute: Achieved by George Massoud with 5,928.79 ml during a live event at the park.

As well as:

Most nationalities in a swimming pool: Set by 102 different nationalities gathering in the waterpark to celebrate the UAE’s Year of Tolerance.

As such WaterWorld proves itself yet again that Abu Dhabi is the place to be on your next vacation and it is only one of 4 parks to see (SeaWorld, Warner Brothers World and Ferrari world) then there is the Yas Mall with a few events and the Marina. Yes your package could be extended beyond what you expected, so whilst we wait for Harry Potter and Disney world to arrive, your vacation becomes a speed train of excitement. Talking about trains, the press to Dubai takes a little under an hour, so there is so much more to do, but as I see it, every other day cooling off in  WaterWorld is not a bad way to get through your vacation time. That being said, the Warner Brother Hotel includes a voucher every day you are there, with that voucher you can select one of these parks to enter for free. Not a bad deal, is it?

So as we return to WaterWorld, we see “Yas Waterworld’s record comes after the launch of its recent expansion, which introduced 11 new rides, slides and attractions to the park, and brought Yas Waterworld’s total number of attractions to more than 70.” And you could be there all day long enjoying the events and tomorrow (today for me) that park will give you all the fun you can handle from 11:00 in the morning until 22:00 hours in the evening (that is 10PM), 11 hours of soaking, sliding and other activities. What a vacation setting that is. 

So, to the people of Miral I extent my congratulations. It is an honour well deserved and it gives additional appeal to visit Abu Dhabi. A happy day to all here in my blog today. Time to catch the snore mill and get ready for some serious DML today.

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June 29, 2026 · 15:44

Surprise from the left of the UAE

This is what we see and it shows. You see, I (silly old me) for the longest time saw the Tour de France as a European event, often ‘dominated’ by the Italians and the French. We saw the greats get the golden shirt, the green shirt and all the other shirts, but now, today, I got introduced to another player getting its non-oil hands on that tour. Non-oil because it is a setting using a muscular vehicle called a bicycle and this 2026, sponsored by Emirates and XRG we see that the UAE is contributing its team to this event. And (at https://www.tour-magazin.de/en/professional-cycling/tour-de-france/2026-tour-de-france-teams-uae-team-emirates-xrg/) we are given ‘UAE Team Emirates-XRG’ and the image there shows us 12 cyclers and a captain (likely cycling too) whilst we see “Top favourite with a top team: Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates are heading into the Tour de France brimming with confidence and self-belief.” With the added “With three riders leaving and four joining for 2026, UAE resembles the Tudor squad in this respect – albeit on a completely different level. Whilst all eyes are invariably on top star Tadej Pogačar, who has won almost every race he has entered this year; the 44 victories this season – achieved by the team leading the world rankings by the end of June”, the Tour de France 2026 will start on Saturday, July 4, 2026 until Sunday, July 26, 2026. This 113th edition of the race (it started some time before I was born) spans 21 stages, beginning with the Grand send off in Barcelona, Spain, and concluding on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, France. I would advice the team not to engage the senoritas in Barcelona and prepare for that race on the 4th of July. I just remembered, s there is something all people in Canada can tune into, to avoid seeing that 250 year event in Washington DC, they can watch the start of the Tour de France. What a nice coincidence. 😛

If you want to catch up on that official tour, (at https://www.letour.fr/en/overall-route) you can see the whole map and all the stages it contains. For me it was a sentimental journey. I personally saw parts of the 6th tour taking us to Gavarnie-Gèdre, I fell in love there with a French young lady called Solange (in 1982) seeing that map brought on a few silly feelings. The only thing that I am missing is, nothing. I saw that place, I have seen France in a few ways and I saw several places. Orleans, Lourdes and one other place (I forgot the name) are still on my mind. The tranquility and the blessed silence from enjoying a Spanish coffee (cafe-ole) which was my interpretation of Cafe au lait (I didn’t speak a word of French) in those days (I still don’t) and the baguette with Cheese or pate my mouth still remembers. Still, today after 44 years. They were that good. Still, the UAE team will take that monumental and titanic event. If you want to follow them you can do so at:

Website: https://www.uaeteamemirates.com
Instagram: uae_team_emirates

The only thing I question is that they also give us that “Training wheels Enve” Why would a tour team need training wheels?

My apologies for this little created giggle, but I just couldn’t resist. I wonder how they hold up against Nils Politt (Germany) and Adam Yates (UK) who both have done this 9 times, so they are up against some serious competition, there are a lot more teams, but you can read that in the article as well as the amount of times they have started, there is even an Australian team (which until now I did not know). So you all have a great day and consider what sport you want to embrace, I say when you are in the UAE or the KSA, biking might not be a great idea. The sun is ruthless there. You all have a great day today.

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June 17, 2026 · 14:43

Its not the news

That is a setting we often wonder about and I did when I saw ABC giving us ‘Australia downgrades travel warnings for Middle East but region remains volatile’ it gives us that “Australia has downgraded its Middle East travel advice for key Gulf hubs, easing warnings from “Do Not Travel” to “Reconsider your need to travel”.” It is true and it holds water (as the expression goes), but the absence of Iranian pushy and bully needs, together with the absolute setting of why the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar were targeted in the first place is seemingly absent from this discussion. As I stated, it was not up to the news, but they are so “driven” to give us the whole shawarma (enchilada applies to Mexican travels) I wonder why this is absent. So I get that it impartial news to some effect, but the stage where no one seems to hold Iran applicable, all whilst they are seemingly driven to unfreeze billions in Iranian funds. I am merely of the setting that the UAE is due tens on billions in travel damages and a few millions in actual damage done to the UAE. So there is the stage where I also want to know what the trigger is for the “Do Not Travel” setting, as I do not know what the reason is that this was ‘still’ in place as the stage for flights to and from Abu Dhabi gradually resumed in early March after precautionary airspace closures. Etihad Airways launched a limited commercial schedule on March 6, and UAE airspace officially reopened for normal air navigation in May. And we are now in mid June, so what gives that delay? So whilst we get the need for “Reconsider your need to travel”, it also sets my schedule t this need as I haven’t had a vacation since 2005, so my need is optionally high and Abu Dhabi is still on my bucket list (as is Toronto), but that is another story. So whilst we are given “Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said in a joint statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) had assessed the conditions in the specified countries and determined it appropriate to drop the level.” So, whilst I get that we are given “Australians are being told to closely monitor warnings, avoid crowds and prepare for emergency scenarios including military escalation. “If warned of an imminent attack, move to an enclosed hardened shelter,” Smartraveller advice states.” I can’t stop wondering whether this is done to siphon off some travel to the UAE towards the United States (a place much less appealing at present) So, I get that the average civil servant tends to be a pussy, the delays that are seemingly in place, do not make much sense. Unless there is a delay factor in place where others are seemingly really helped by the delays towards other destinations. So, I do get that people think of me as a ‘doom speaker’ or a ‘conspiracy individual’ but consider the setting we have seen on the last three months and consider what Iran has been pushing for, including bombing places that have nothing to do with the American-Iran Clambake (with special appearance of Israel). At what point was the UAE ever part of this and when is the media exposing that part of the essential finger pointing at Iran? So whilst we get that Google Gemini is now saying that “Abu Dhabi was officially back on the radar for Australian travelers on June 17, 2026. On this date, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) officially downgraded its travel advice to the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—including Abu Dhabi and Dubai—from a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” to a Level 3 “Reconsider your need to travel”” where my point of view is that this should have happened at least a month ago, as such we need to see what is in play at this setting and what are we not told? 

Yes, I do sound like a conspiracy theorist in all this, but consider what has taken place (like some president claiming 38 times that a truce is about to be signed) the fact that the global media is seemingly in the dark from the attacks on the UAE where we have been notified that from 9 April 2026, the UAE has intercepted and destroyed 537 ballistic missiles, 2,256 drone attacks and 26 cruise missiles fired from Iran and the only ‘setting’ that we are given that part of a plan Khamenei designed before his death, ordering that in the case of war with the United States and Israel, Iran will cause regional chaos across the Middle East, with the purpose of pushing their Gulf neighbors to pressure for a halt to the attacks, and as such there needs to be a clear warning towards Iran that this has to stop, I even gave the UAE and Saudi Arabia designed IP to scuttle whatever Iranian options there were to destroy its infrastructures, because that is what concerned citizens do to the enemies of what these citizens see as friends, we don’t bully or threaten, we just come to their aid with whatever we can and I gave them IP that would stop Iran, but that is neither here nor there. You see, it is about the media and the media has been playing a dangerous ‘hands off’ setting and now we see that the politicians were playing along, because as I personally see it, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite could have given that speech at least 2 to 3 weeks ago, so what was the delay? Was this the most they could delay that for? You might think I am a loon (actually, I am bat crazy), but consider the timelines. What attacks did Abu Dhabi airport endure? We know that at least three confirmed drone and missile attacks over the last decade. They were February 28th, 2026, January 17th, 2022 (by Iran backed Houthi terrorists) and July 26th, 2018 (also by Iran backed Houthi terrorists) so when you know of this, what was the lowering of travel advice not done sooner? I reckon that May 2026, when Etihad completely resumed its flight schedule would have been a good point lower the travel advisory, which was 5 weeks ago, but I get that (optional) pussies are bound to delay these settings. So we can say that the ABC news is a little overdue, but not due to their efforts. I think that several governments have to make amends to the UAE, but that might be merely me seeing this setting. 

So, you all have a great day and I (optionally affected by a little too much oxycodone) will do some dreaming of the Warner Brothers theme part whilst also floating on the Al Raha River a 300-meter peaceful lazy river located at Yas WaterWorld in Abu Dhabi. We dream what we can especially when we are in a winter setting in Sydney at 17 degrees, dreaming of 32 degrees sunny weather that is in Abu Dhabi. We do what we can.

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June 8, 2026 · 18:20

Etihad to the ready

So here I was (as I am) and I got thrown an interesting article thrown my way from a source e named PYOK, which after some searching was an abbreviation called ‘paddle your own kanoo’ and weirdly enough, I giggled. I had never heard of this source and I do recall that expression from a very long time ago (I think I paddled a kanoo with a guy named David Crockett, a former member of the US Congress) but that was yesterday’s news. What matters is the article he placed. I cannot vouch for the accuracy, but it starts with the headline ‘Etihad Airways Plans to Expand Capacity Above Pre-Iran War Levels Despite Continuing Uncertainty in the Region’, its all signed with his name (Mateusz Maszczynski) and his site is filled with airline crew and airport articles, so I personally believe that this man is all on the up and up. 

The article makes sense, there is no goal in planning for long term uncertainty and planning for a larger presence makes perfect sense, especially as Iran is pissing of people faster than an army of cockroaches in an apartment building. So as we are given “Etihad Airways plans to increase capacity beyond its pre-Iran War levels within days and is finalizing a massive new order for wide-body aircraft, despite continuing uncertainty in the Middle East, its chief executive, Antonoaldo Neves, has confirmed. The Abu Dhabi-based airline is currently operating up to 78% of its pre-war schedule, but by June 15, Neves claims the carrier will have added around 8% more capacity than it was operating before February 28, when the U.S. and Israeli conflict with Iran began. Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport escaped relatively unscathed during Iran’s massive bombardment of ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones fired towards the UAE throughout March and April, although one civilian tragically died when debris from a low-altitude drone interception fell on the outskirts of the airport.” I tend to agree with this setting, at some point the hostilities are gone and those who hesitated will get eaten by worms, so being on top of this seems the way to go. And we are also given “Following years of shrinking back to profitability, Neves was brought in to accelerate the airline’s growth plans, with his ‘Journey 2030’ transformation program marking a “pivotal turning point in Etihad’s journey.” Journey 2030 will see Etihad Airways expand its route network to 125 global destinations and double its fleet size to 160 aircraft. Last May, the airline placed an order for 28 additional wide-body Boeing aircraft, including 787 Dreamliners and the yet-to-be-certified Boeing 777X. Speaking on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) annual general meeting in Brazil, Neves struck an optimistic tone despite the continuing security issues impacting travel demand through the Persian Gulf.” The entire setting makes sense, because there are a few other parts (not mentioned here, nor was it needed). You see, the United States paused of its allies to such an extent that the 70 million people they did have (due to Walt Disney World (featuring Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom), Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld) will get left outside looking for other places to go and here Abu Dhabi and Dubai will be the call for many. There is doubt that this will start in 2026 (because of Iran) but there is every indication that 2027 that it could receive the bulk of 20 million Canadians that are now shunning the United States. Then you get the Europeans, Asians and people form the Commonwealth, they have all had it with the United States, its bully tactics and considering major theme parks like Disney World and Universal, quick-service meals run $15-$25, and full-service dining can easily reach $50-$75+ per person. So, consider those expenses from a vendor that doesn’t seemingly even want you there, the choice is easy and the UAE is tactically sound, especially with Yas Island having most options right there, all in walking distance and the fast train will take you to Dubai and its world famous mall in 30 minutes. That is a steal at twice the price. As I see it the United States are done for as a tourist destination until deep into 2031. As I see it, Etihad is getting ready for some major tourist increases and so they should. Taking into account that Abu Dhabi already has most of the attractions in place (Disney is still building) there is little that Orlando can offer that the UAE isn’t, and for the car enthusiasts, Yas Island has a Ferrari world with the world’s fastest roller coaster—Formula Rossa—reaches a staggering top speed of 240 km/h (149.1 mph), this is something Orlando does not have. So if you were a gambling man, put your money on the UAE, if you are not, see what the UAE currently has to offer and see what you could be seeing at a much reduced rate and with the UAE being a zero tax place there might be more than one reason to look towards the UAE as a place of relaxation and as It seems (according to PYOK) Etihad is getting ready for the increased tourist pressure, that being said they have an airport that Zayed International Airport (AUH) has an ability to scale up to 80 million. The facility is built to handle up to 11,000 travelers per hour, which is a lot more than Orlando ever could and with their ‘diminished’ staff, nearly 1,600 Spirit employees in the Orlando area lost their jobs, marking one of the most significant aviation workforce contractions at the airport, as such they are not ready to see any increase of tourists in their area for some time to come. As such banking towards the UAE and Etihad is banking for gold and now PYOK has given me (and others) the confidence that the UAE is not taking chances and they are getting ready for a massive influx of tourists. I reckon that Yas Island will be getting a massive appeal for a lot of people, on a personal note I think ALBAIK needs to expand into the Yas Mall, there are plenty of good places already, but I so want to try their food in the Yas Mall when I get there. As I see it, their new slogan should become “Better than Macka’s, better than Burger kind and cheaper than both”, but that is merely me and I have been wrong on many things, but never about food and I have the (massive) size to match this statement up.

Have a great day today.

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June 7, 2026 · 21:46

Great idea from Canada

So here I was (this morning) watching a vlog by the famous Canadian vlogger Johny Strides. This time he was vlogging about the Do West Fest festival and he showed it on the camera, so 19 minutes into that walk I saw something I had not seen before. It might make for a good setting for Australia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia to name only three. I think this could be a massive hit with these three and I have no ever seen this. Not on any walkthrough. 

So consider the Formula one races in Abu Dhabi in December and Boulevard Riyadh City & Boulevard World in Riyadh. We can tell people to take of themselves, or we could set 2 of these trailers at the beginning and end of these locations. Each of these trailers have 10 bottle fillers (5 per side) and 10 taps for water (also 5 per side), the information can be found (at https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/water-environment/tap-water-in-toronto/request-an-hto-to-go-water-trailer/) where we see that these are managed by the city of Toronto, with the following settings:

  • stainless steel troughs on each side
  • 10 drinking water taps (five on each side)
  • 10 taps to fill water bottles (five on each side)
  • step stools and cups, if needed
  • water bowls for pets
  • information booth featuring Toronto Water programs and services

Now, not all these items might have appeared for the intended city council, but the idea is great and I think that both the UAE and Saudi Arabia could set this up making their tourism more and more appealing. The idea that a person could find a rehydration point that is free (I know that Dubai has many all over the city) but to add 1-2 of these trailers at events, might be the ticket for more tourists for them and it might take another turn for the businesses that might want to show their appeal, without having to go several rounds of drink stands. I have nothing against those stands, but to offer another setting is always good. So, Johnny Strides video was (at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoNajkErOgc) which should be a nice look at a festival in Toronto and his videos are always a good view on Toronto.

No matter how you slice it, Toronto (I am assuming it was their idea) has something more to offer the world and I reckon that several nations might be interested in this. 

Have a great day. I am off to see the F1 races in Monaco, I can already here the roar of the engines. Yay to YouTube for this.

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June 2, 2026 · 01:08

Where are the sport games?

So whilst people are upset that they will miss FIFA as it is (in part) in the United State, we still have 2 years before the next Olympics arrive (also alas in the United States) and as we just got past the Winter Olympics (Cortina, last February). For all those showing withdrawal symptoms of missing out on sport gigs. The United Arab Emirates has you covered. For Abu Dhabi has over 1000 athletes descent on them for ‘More than 1,000 athletes to take part in UAE Games 2026 in Abu Dhabi’ (at https://gulfnews.com/amp/story/uae/more-than-1000-athletes-to-take-part-in-uae-games-2026-in-abu-dhabi-1.500559614) where they will compete over the next week from June 6 to 10 and “The event will officially begin with artistic and rhythmic gymnastics competitions at Wellfit – Circle Mall in Dubai on June 3, before international delegations arrive in Abu Dhabi on June 5.” So basically it all starts tomorrow and whilst it starts with technical meetings we will see basketball, football, badminton, bowling, bocce and esports. For the non-informed bocce is closely related to English bowls and French pétanque, with a common ancestry from ancient games played in the Roman Empire. So we can say that it is a sport with history. In addition to all that we will see on “June 8th, the Games will also host the Fit 5 fitness program in collaboration with Active Abu Dhabi. The initiative is designed for athletes with lower physical abilities and will include workshops for more than 250 athletes.” As well as “For the first time, the Motor Activity Training Program (MATP) will also be included in the UAE Games. The program is designed for athletes with severe disabilities and will take place on June 9.” As we get that the Special Olympics UAE has announced the full program for the UAE Games 2026. Also coming to Yas Island are the NBA Abu Dhabi games 2026 in October (as far as it was revealed to me) so of you are in a downer because the United States is not the place to enjoy games and gaming, the UAE has you covered for pretty much the rest of the year. So, If you are Emirati and over 6 foot and 6 inches, shine your best sneakers because October is the time to get discovered by the NBA on Yas Island. 

So as we get ready for all kinds of sport games, and we acknowledge that “the UAE Games 2026 are supported by several major partners, including ADNOC and Aldar. Other supporting partners include AD Ports Group, Integrated Transport Centre, ADNEC Group and Zayed Sports City.

Special Olympics UAE said several cooperation agreements and partnerships supporting sports for people of determination will also be announced during the event.” For me there is no other reason than to inform you that these 24 hour cable sport solutions tend to leave things unsaid and I reckon that this might be one of these events that tends to fall into the creases of sport coverage. I wonder how busy it will be on Yas Island over the next week and I hope that there will be plenty of YouTubers showing this majestic setting to viewers all over the globe, especially those who cannot afford to go there at present. 

Have a great day today

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