From our correspondent in Kabul.

Wednesday, 30th July.

Clauds: so, how is the situation now?
A: situation is perfect! it’s great! we got absolutely nothing going on… hey! did i tell you i’m at a gathering thrown by the UN? there’s an all-you-can-eat buffet, a nice bar… of course, i’m not drinking… you know!

nothing going on? well...

Friday, 18th July.

The wedding of Khetai. Afghanistan, a wedding party ends in tragedy.
Khetai is a small pashtun village in the Eastern province of Nangarhar, close to the Pakistani border. On Sunday morning 47 women and children have been killed by Nato warplanes during the wara, a traditional procession that accompanies the bride to the home of her future husband. The bride, Ruhmina, has never reached her bridegroom’s house: her corpse has been found by Lal Zareen, her future father-in-law when he arrived on the place of the slaughter after hearing the explosions. (source: http://www.peacereporter.net/)
Read the article in Italian here.

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Wednesday, 23rd July.

Afghanistan: Call for Karzai to resign.
More than 10,000 ethnic Hazaras protested in the Afghan capital yesterday, calling for President Hamid Karzai to resign over killings of their kin by rival Kuchi nomads.
The angry marchers sent police fleeing on the outskirts of Kabul, then chased them until hundreds of officers and soldiers blocked one of the main roads into the city, next to Kabul zoo. The marchers then sat down in the middle of the road until one of their leaders, parliamentarian Haji Mohammad Mahaqiq, addressed the crowd and persuaded them to peacefully disperse.
Trouble has been brewing between the two minority groups for around a year due a dispute over grazing rights. (source: 7Days)

A British soldier has been killed in an attack in Southern Afghanistan and two of his colleagues have been wounded. (source: http://kabul.splinder.com/)

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Saturday, 26th July.

Kabul: Nato’s International Security Assistance Force troops opened fire against a vehicle that had not respected a stop sign at a checkpoint in the Southern province of Helmand, killing 4 civilians and wounding 3 more who were traveling on the vehicle. (source: http://kabul.splinder.com/)

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Monday, 28th July.

Afghanistan: Gunships strike at insurgents.
Up to 70 insurgents were killed in Afghanistan early yesterday when helicopter gunships and ground fighting repulsed an attack by about 100 rebels near the Pakistan border, officials said.
It was the latest in a series of major battles as violence linked to a Taliban-led insurgency has picked up in recent weeks with several deadly extremist attacks and military operations under way against the rebels.
About 100 insurgents had tried to capture the Spera district centre, 15 kilometres from the border with Pakistan, opening fire on police at about 2 am with guns and rocket-propelled grenades, the Nato force said.
Police and soldiers from Nato’s International Security Assistance Force surrounded the attackers and called in a series of air strikes.
Some insurgents attempted to take cover in a nearby building that helicopters then struck with missiles.

The provincial governor of Khost, which includes Spera, put the attackers’ death toll at between 50 and 70. (source: 7Days)

A patrol of Nato soldiers opened fire against a car at a checkpoint in the South of Afghanistan. Two children traveling in the vehicle were killed, claims Isaf, clarifying that a man has been seriously wounded in the same event. The soldiers declared they had shot “against a car which was traveling in a menacing way and ignored the warnings”. The incident, which took place in Kandahar province, follows a similar episode. Last Saturday some British soldiers killed four civilians who were traveling on a vehicle in Sangin district, in Helmand province. Also in that case a checkpoint had not been respected. (source: http://kabul.splinder.com/)

A Chinese citizen who had been holding hostage in Afghanistan since one month has been released yesterday.
He had been kidnapped on 29th June in the area of Maydanshahr, in Wardak province. According to the Chinese Embassy, the released occurred under no conditions. (source: http://kabul.splinder.com/)

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Wednesday, 30th July.

An Isaf soldier died in Afghanistan following the injures suffered during an explosion in Helman province. The International Security Assistance Force led by Nato explained in a note that the attack to the military convoy occurred yesterday in Nahri Sarraj district, but it does not specify the nationality of the dead soldier, the second victim in the last three days among soldiers of the coalition. Last Monday a British soldier died in the Nad Ali district. (source: http://kabul.splinder.com/)

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Thursday, 31st July.

Herat: Bombing outside the Pakistani Consulate.
Afghan authorities said a policeman and a woman were wounded when a small bomb attached to a bicycle was remotely detonated near the Pakistani Consulate in the Western city of Herat. (source: Gulf News)

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Friday, 1st August.

A Nato soldier has been killed today by the explosion of a handmade device in Khost province, the command of the international force claims. Particulars of the soldiers are still unknown. 145 Nato soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since the beginning of 2008. Four more soldiers and a civilian were killed today, in Kunar province, in Eastern Afghanistan. The cause is again the explosion of a handmade device. (source: http://kabul.splinder.com/)

Armed men kidnapped the governor of Marawara district, Abdul Ghayas Haqmal, in the Eastern province of Kunar, located at the border with Pakistan’s tribal areas, where Talebans and Al Qaeda fighters are strengthening again. The governor recently offered resistance to a Taleban attack leading the Security Force. A Taleban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, claimed the kidnapping through the agency France Presse. (source: http://kabul.splinder.com/)

More Pak fighters in Afghanistan now: US.
Peace moves give rise to militancy: Nato.
Washington: A growing number of Pakistani militants who earlier operated only inside Pakistan and Kashmir are joining the intensifying insurgency against US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, US officials claim.
The fighters, who are taking part in increasingly sophisticated attacks on Western troops, include militants hardened by years of combat against Indian forces and others from outside the Taleban strongholds in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas, or FATA, the officials say.
Meanwhile, the Nato force said in Kabul pakistan’s talks with militants have resulted in a 40 per cent rise in militant activity in Afghanistan. (source: Reuters)

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Saturday, 2nd August.

Kandahar: A bomb exploded while a bus carrying guests to a wedding party was passing through, killing ten people in Kandahar, in the South of Afghanistan. According to the police, the newlyweds and some women and children were among the victims of the bombing, occurred in Spin Boldak district. Six people were wounded by the explosion. (source: http://kabul.splinder.com/)

Paris: Two French volunteers of the NGO “Action contre la Faim” (ACF) who had been kidnapped in Afghanistan have been released. The NGO claims the two volunteers “are apparently in good health conditions… and they will return to France as soon as possible.”
The two volunteers were seized in the night between 17 and 18 July in Dai Kundi province, in the central part of Afghanistan. (source: http://kabul.splinder.com/)

i made up my mind: i want to adopt an Afghan child... first thing i'll do when i'm back to italy.
wanna join? contact Dr. Najib Naimzada!

n.b.: the picture on the top is taken from the website Images of Afghanistan, which exhibit and sells old pictures of Afghanistan in the 1970s.

Impara l'arte...

leggo con dispiacere che il famoso cantante brasiliano Gilberto Gil, dal 2003 ministro della cultura del governo Lula, ha dato le dimissioni da ministro mercoledi' scorso per dedicare piu' tempo alla sua carriera artistica.

come direbbe lubrano, la domanda sorge spontanea: ma la carfagna, prendersi una pausa di riflessione da ministro per dedicarsi alla sua "carriera artistica" no?

Acquisto del giorno...

... anzi, della settimana!
arabesque - graphic designs from the arab world and persia: bellissimo!
e per la modica cifra di AED 210: 'sti c....!

Hooray!

i've read yesterday evening on Gulf News that the uae government decided to revoke its ban on more than 1,000 websites which are blocked here.

no more screens like the one in the picture below finally!

and, since i'm very happy for this small sign towards some more freedom, i quote the article so you will understand the situation better.

title: Web welcome. Access soon to blocked sites.

"Dubai - More than 1,000 web sites, which had been blocked in the UAE due to various reasons, will be accesible soon.

As part of the "Internet Access Management Policy" of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), directions have been given to Internet service providers, etisalat and du, to unblock these sites which had been barred for being "offensive". However, etisalat and du said they have not received any official circular regarding the sites to be unblocked.

These sites were blocked because they were found to be offensive. They included sites carrying pornographic material, giving tips to carry out crimes, and promoting terrorism. However, among them were social networking sites, like Orkut, which was a big letdown for thousands of people who used them to stay in touch with their friends."

pornographic material? promotion of terrorism? OMG! either they found out that me and Mr. K. have dirty talk on Skype (blocked) or now i understand how OBL keeps in touch with his comrades from his cave... do you think i can "add him as a friend"?

My favourite advertising campaign in the UAE...

... pity it's not us who designed it!

i don't know for what the campaign is, but it's g-e-n-i-a-l!

Rosicare? Io?

just a news for whom thinks that i live in the desert surrounded by beduins. ehi! that is true! ok, rewind... just a news to show you how megalomaniac they are in this place. and to eat our hearts out thinking that we'll be forever condemned to fly with alitalia (if it will still exist tomorrow... you never know...).

this post is dedicated to my great-aunt who, when i explained to her that i was going to work to dubai, told me: "please, don't go there! don't go among the niggers... you know that africa is full of diseases." i tried to explain that i was not going to africa, that also when i've been to africa i've had no problems with anyone and i've got no diseases, that you don't call people niggers and that by the way in the emirates they are arabs not africans... but nothing. it was like a broken record... you know, when it jams and repeats always the same stuff: "don'tgotoafrica!don'tgotoafdon'tgodon'tdondon" (ok, you got the idea!)
so, what happened is that, when my mother came to visit me end of april, she took many pictures of abu dhabi and dubai and she sent me an e-mail saying that she showed the photos she took to my great-aunt, who said: "wow! so, in africa they are not poor. they have money! look at the buildings, they are ahead of us!" (imagine this said with the trembling voice of an 85 years old lady and of course a very heavy italian accent... i swear i was laughing my ass off thinking about my mom who had to take an atlas and show her what the arabian peninsula is!).

so: zia giovannina, this is for you sis! peace!

Emirates Airline launches its new A380 superjumbos: the first commercial flight will be dubai - new york on friday. the emirates A380s will have 14 first class seats, 76 business class seat, 399 economy class seats and will be served by 24 cabin crew. till now, nothing really special...

so listen to this: the A380 is a double-decker aircraft and the top deck is reserved for first class passengers only, with 14 flat-bed, massage-equipped private suites. remote-controlled doors, a work desk and an electrically controlled mini-bar are among the amenities that wealthy flyers can use during the flight. BUT the first class feature the airline is most eager to show off is its onboard shower spa (so after having sex in the plane passengers can easily get rid of all the evidences of their acts - especially useful for the muslim ablutions...): these are "two fully equipped bathrooms" in its first class cabins complete with shower facilities. for the first class passengers, there is also a social area and a bar at the front of the upper deck!

in business class passengers will have to settle for an onboard lounge in their cabin "designed to make passengers feel like they are in their own executive club" with "a cleverly designed table that never gets in your way, a seat that slickly becomes a fully-flat bed and laptop stowage for when you want to switch from work to fun".

and those "miserables" in economy class? oh, they will have more leg room. plus an "advanced mood lighting system". and wider aisles. more generous seats. ah, and "gourmet chef-prepared meals"!

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, PLEASE buy alitalia, the italian national bus line!

oh yes, if i remember well, he was the one who said he would not buy alitalia because he only buys successful companies...

by the way, in a few days i have to book my ticket to go back to italy for my vacation... there are 57 new superjumbos on the way: bet not even one will fly to milan or rome. shit!

Musica maestro!

i hear that for the first time in 30 years, a western singer will play in iran: it's de burgh!

"Singer Chris De Burgh will stage a concert in Tehran with an Iranian band in late November, the first such concert in the country in nearly 30 years, an Iranian satellite news channel has reported.

De Burgh, who has a loyal following in Iran, visited the Country for the first time in May and said he hoped the authorities would give him permission to perform.

The singer will perform with Iranian band Arian. The concert will be the first time since the 1979 revolution that an Iranian pop band played alongside a Western singer inside Iran."

wow! such an historical occasion and they invite who? chris de burgh!

at least they could invite someone slightly more famous... like... mumble mumble... my cousin!

or, they could invite a big shot... mmmhhh... bruce springsteen for example!

i can already imagine the smoke machine and the fireworks while he sings "booorn in the usaaaa! boooooorn in the usaaaaaaa!" (or maybe he should sing "booorn in the big sataaaaan!" ???).

reading advices on iran:

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (originally in french, available in english and italian under the same title);

Lipstick Jihad by Azadeh Moaveni (originally in english, published in italian under the same title);

Chador by Lilli Gruber (original in italian - BUR 2005);

Salam, maman by Hamid Ziarati (warmly suggested! original in italian - Einaudi 2006).

i guess that Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi should be good too, but i've never read it... to put on the list, urgently!

p.s.: the grammatical errors in the article are kindly offered by 7Days' staff!

Habemus post!

ora, dato che:

1. in questi giorni lavoro come una pazza visto che la mia boss e' in vacanza (beata lei!) fino a ferragosto;

2. questa mattina ho fatto piu' del mio dovere quotidiano (nonostante sia arrivata, come al solito, in ritardo);

3. domani sara' festa (laylat al mir'aj) e di venerdi' non si lavora - e sabato ci sara' il consueto meeting con i capi + incontro con un potenziale "fornitore"

ho deciso di prendermi un pomeriggio sabbatico e scrivere qualcosa.

ma prima ringrazio Wil e contraccambio i saluti!

che il postaggio abbia inizio!

Au revoir!

i didn't know. i knew He was sick but i din't know he died. i didn't know He died on sunday. i've read it today in a newspaper and i want to share it.

stupid title by the way: egypt - funeral for film director (He was the most important director in the arab world and won prizes to all the most important film festivals in the world and they liquidate him with a brief column without mentioning even one of his great movies...).

"Egyptian screen stars were among around 1,500 mourners who gathered at a Cairo church yesterday to bid farewell to Arab cinema's most celebrated director, Youssef Chahine, who died on Sunday aged 82.

Hundreds of celebrities and officials were crammed into the Roman Catholic Church of the Resurrection, with hundreds more gathered outside as the controversial director's coffin was carried in, draped in the Egyptian flag.

His protege and colleague Khaled Youssef, who co-directed Chahine's latest film 'Chaos' in 2007, was among the pall bearers."

for whom doesn't know Chahine's work, i truly suggest you to watch "Iskandariyah Leh?" (en: "Alexandria Why?"): i love this movie - actually it is part of a trilogy but for me it's the best one - and i'm not the only one ;-)

(you know i'm talking to YOU!)

and a last thing: mubarak, eat your heart out! there will not be all this crowd of mourners at your funeral...

Fragments d’un discours amoureux

C.: "alors, ton fils va bien? il est beau, il te resemble beaucoup..."

M.: "oui, il est beau..."

C.: "j'ésperè qu’il est plus intelligent que toi..."

M.: "oui, il est intelligent. maintenant il commence à parler... il dit baba, arb3a et mama parfois"

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M.: "chaque fois que je vais à pigalle près de ta vieille maison j’ai le cœur qui fait boum boum boum!"
C.: "peut-être c’est parce-que il y a les putes là-bas!"
M.: "non, c’est parce-que je pense au temps qu’on a passé ensemble et tu me manques."

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M.: "t'es devenue très très belle. chaque jour je regarde tes photos sur le facebook, je ne peux pas arreter de le faire."

C.: "ah ah ah! tu veux dire que je n'étais pas belle avant?"

M.: "no, no! tu étais très belle, tu as toujours été belle, mais maintenant t’es très très très belle."

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M.: "je pense toujours aux jours qu'on a passé ensemble chez toi. vraiment c'étaient les jours les plus beaux de ma vie. pour la première fois j'avais senti qui j'étais bien et que je n'étais pas stressé!

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M.: "alors, est-ce qu'on peut se voire?"

C.: "no, je ne crois pas que ça sera possible. pour quoi tu veux me voire? on a rien à se dire..."

M.: "je ne sais pas, on dit qu'on regrette toujours ce qu'on ne peut pas avoir."

C.: "ouais, je crois que c'est ça."

M.: "si je pourrais retourner à decembre 2005 je t'amènerais directement au consulate pour tes cheveux..."

C.: "pour quoi tu dis ça?"

M.: "parce-que tu n'as pas voulu! tu te rappelles? maintenant je t'amènerais là-bas aussi si tu ne veux pas et je te marierais."

C.: "no, je ne me rappelle pas. ça ne s'est jamais passé. tu ne m'as jamais demander d'aller au consulate pour se marier."

M.: "ouais je l'ai fait, mais t'as refusé! maintenant je t'amènerais là-bas par la force."

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C.: "alors, tu n'as pas une copine maintenant?"

M.: "comment je peux avoir une copine? il n'y a personne qui me plait! je n'ai pas eu qu'une fille qui j'ai aimé dans ma vie et maintenant c'est difficile de trouver une copine. quand ton coeur est pris de quelqu'un c'est difficile d'aimer..."

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M.: "bah, alors ça va là-bas? tu aime bien?"

C.: "mmmmhhhh, ça fait chier!"

M.: "quoi?"

C.: "ça fait chier!!!"

M.: "qu'est-ce que ça veut dire?"

C.: "tu ne sais pas qu'est-ce que ça fait chier veut dire? t'as veçu quatre ans en france et tu ne connais pas cette expression?"

M.: "mmmhhh, no..."

C.: "c'est de la merde!"

p.s.: desolee pour les accent, mais c'etait deja difficile: j'ai le clavier anglais!

Pecche nu sem nu!

amici pescaresi, vi prego leggete il post "L'altra sponda" sul blog di Claudio Rossi Marcelli su Internazionale... e' bellissimo! oddio, forse proprio bellissimo non'e', ma e' la dura realta'!!! e soprattutto leggete l'ultimo commento (quello di "Assuntina di marialibberata"): e' una grande! devo invitarla a commentare su questo blog! in finto pescarese pero'!

Liberta' di espressione...

ma vi immaginate cosa sarebbe successo se un giornale italiano avesse pubblicato una caricatura di berlusconi tipo la copertina che il New Yorker ha dedicato a "Barak Osama"?

vabbe', magari non vestito da bin laden... direi piuttosto da toto' riina o qualcosa del genere.

beh, comunque, che putiferio si sarebbe scatenato? non voglio pensare a come avrebbe fatto la vittima (e ricordiamoci che Barak Obama e' in campagna elettorale, quindi uno scherzetto del genere potrebbe influire "l'opinione pubblica" enormemente)...

la chiamavano Liberta' d'Espressione (che espressione desueta!)

Tell it to Haroun Al Rashid!

all my friends know that when i gratuated from university, my thesis was about homosexuality in islamic societies (actually it included also a small chapter on transgendering and transvestitism) and it is a topic that really interests me, so today i've found this article on the main page of 7Days (free daily newspaper in english) and i want to share it.

no comment...

Respect Our Rules.

Transvestites arrested and deported, police vow to continue with campaign.

by Ali Al-Shouk

"A police campaign targeting transvestites has led to 40 arrests since the initiative was launched at the end of May in Dubai.

The cross-dressers, mostly men found wearing women's clothes, were all charged with public indecency and immediately deported, according to police officials.

The Deputy Director of CID at Dubai Police, Colonel Khaleel Ibraheem, said that the majority of the transvestites were visitors to the country.

"We caught about 40 transvestites and most of them are tourists and visitors and they were referred to the Public Prosecution who charged them with indecency and immediately deported them," he said.

Lieutenant Colonel Jasim Mirza, head of the Safety Awareness Department at Dubai Police, told 7DAYS that some of those arrested were women. "This is a strange thing for the UAE's society. We are not against personal freedom (noooooooo, ndr -pardon but i couldn't help it) but it shouldn't interfere with our traditions and beliefs," he said.

"It is starting to spread in the country because of globalisation and as we have become a very open country to other cultures (what?)."

Police said that their patrols have been identifuing the transvestites from the way they walk or spotting them putting on mak-up.

"Some of the men make their hair long just like women and act like a woman with their behaviour. It's just not acceptable here in this country," Mirza said.

"We welcome everybody but they should follow our rules and traditions and respect ours just like when we go to their countries and respect their traditions and beliefs," he added.

Meanwhile, the campaign launched by Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, head of Dubai Police, on May 25 under the banner 'Our social values are precious - let's protect them', is set to continue.

Dahi Khalfan said that transvestites have been arrested in various public places including shopping malls.

He said: "We will tackle this problem strictly and any man who dresses up and behaves like a woman in public or vice versa will be questioned and legal action will be taken against them in the courts." (it would not be better to question and arrest "real men" who rape women? there is plenty of this kind in the street you see...)

Mirza said that if his officers catch an Emirati transvestite, then he would be "rehabilitated".

"If the transvestite is a local then we rehabilitate them (yes, with a lot of hormones as they do for homosexuals) and educate them by the Islamic beliefs because we want to keep our country away from such things," he added."

Haroun Al Rashid would cry in dismay!

Rocco Siffredi for president!

L'ossessione di Luigi XIV e' il titolo (bellissimo) di un articolo del Prof. Alexander Stille apparso su La Repubblica del 14 luglio.

ecco a voi il testo: "Che peso dare all'ultima tornata di scandali, un turbine di intercettazioni, voci, pettegolezzi piccanti? Sarebbe facile liquidarli come giornalismo scandalistico, sensazionalismo o una questione di stile e buon gusto: Sabina Guzzanti ha esagerato con quell'appellativo riferito alla Carfagna? Per Berlusconi non è che gossip e spazzatura. Però spulciando con attenzione il caos di rivelazioni e frammenti di informazioni e intercettazioni, si scopre tutta una serie di problematiche fondamentali. Identificative dell'Italia di oggi, che riguardano lo stato di diritto, la responsabilità del potere. Ma anche gli infiniti conflitti di interesse creati dalla presenza di Berlusconi in politica, e il quadro della vita politica nazionale di un grande paese ridotta ad estensione del potere personale di un singolo individuo. In un editoriale stranamente rivelatore, Vittorio Feltri, direttore di Libero, ha scritto: «Silvio non aver paura, anche il duce ci dava con le donne, abbiamo bisogno di un premier, non di un frate». In realtà le troppo generose elargizioni in potere e in denaro alla famiglia di Claretta Petacci preoccuparono molti fascisti e non vennero rese pubbliche, esempio perfetto dell'arbitrarietà e della assenza di responsabilità vigenti sotto una dittatura personale. Tanto per cominciare le intercettazioni, comprese quelle "piccanti" di cui non si fa che parlare, nascono da un fatto di estrema gravità: i rapporti scorretti tra Agostino Saccà, responsabile di Rai Fiction e Berlusconi nel suo ruolo di proprietario di Mediaset, principale concorrente della Rai. Saccà è stato indagato sulla base di prove indicanti che sfruttava la sua posizione in Rai per creare una società di produzione indipendente, che sperava di promuovere garantendo favori a Berlusconi. In realtà Saccà corteggiava Mediaset sia come possibile investitore per la sua nuova società che come fonte di redditizi contratti cinematografici. Berlusconi, da parte sua sollecita a Saccà favori di ogni genere. In un caso Berlusconi chiede esplicitamente che Saccà ingaggi un'attrice in rapporti sentimentali con un senatore del centrosinistra per conquistarne l'appoggio e far cadere il governo Prodi. Il fatto che il governo Prodi sia poi caduto per altri motivi è ininfluente. Ringraziando Saccà per i numerosi piaceri, Berlusconi, stando a quanto riportato, ha detto: «Ti contraccambierò quando sarai libero imprenditore». Questo è l'esempio perfetto di quel conflitto di interesse che molti di noi paventarono nel momento in cui Berlusconi entrò in politica: l'uso del grande potere che gli deriva dalla ricchezza per distorcere la funzione di governo, per corrompere un funzionario pubblico affinché si presti ai suoi fini invece di fare il proprio dovere. L'ammissione da parte di Berlusconi che il fine era far cadere un governo con mezzi impropri basterebbe da sola, in un paese normale, a escludere Berlusconi dalle cariche pubbliche, ma gli italiani, sordi al problema del conflitto di interessi, ancora una volta si sono fidati, fiduciosi che avrebbe anteposto il progresso del paese agli interessi personali, fiducia che alla luce di una serie di leggi ad personam e dell'attuale pasticcio si è dimostrata per l'ennesima volta illusoria. Eppure l'incapacità di Berlusconi di distinguere il confine tra le sue aspirazioni personali e il bene del paese è elemento fondamentale della sua identità, il codice alla base del suo Dna politico. Torniamo un attimo alle origini della soap opera che ha per protagonista Mara Carfagna: Berlusconi in Tv dichiara esplicitamente il suo interesse sessuale per lei: «Se non fossi già sposato, la sposerei subito». In ultima analisi non è importante se Berlusconi sia riuscito nei suoi intenti, e se la Carfagna sia una delle donne delle intercettazioni. In una democrazia normale, ci si aspetta che l'incarico di parlamentare o di ministro sia assegnato a persone di grandi qualità (non direi le più qualificate, la politica è politica ovunque), ma è logico attendersi un altissimo livello di professionalità. Candidare al Parlamento e assegnare un ministero ad una trentaduenne ex pin-up la cui principale qualifica è chiaramente l'attrazione sessuale del premier nei suoi confronti significa farsi beffe del concetto di governo rappresentativo. Per la parlamentare accettare un ruolo di potere dopo esser stata corteggiata apertamente in televisione significa sacrificare ogni diritto alla privacy. Introdurre la propria vita sessuale nella sfera pubblica è una caratteristica saliente del politico Berlusconi. «Ho avuto una fidanzata turca», dice di fronte ad una delegazione turca. Fa battute sull'avvenente premier danese e la moglie Veronica. Si vanta con la stampa francese delle sue amanti d'oltralpe. Dice di essersi sacrificato a fare il dongiovanni con il primo ministro finlandese, una donna bruttina. Parla con gli investitori a Wall Street delle "belle segretarie". Nell'ultima campagna sbandierava la maggiore avvenenza delle donne del Popolo della Libertà rispetto a quelle del centrosinistra. E commentando la percentuale di donne presenti in lista nella sua coalizione non ha potuto evitare di sottolineare che «Portiamo in Parlamento il 30 per cento di donne e si scatena la corsa a dire che sono fidanzate mie e di Gianfranco. Siamo superman, ma certi traguardi sono impegnativi anche per noi». Intenzionalmente portava a pensare che sì, con qualcuna forse era andato a letto, ma non con tutte. Fa scalpore per un attimo che nel press kit della Casa Bianca, anche sotto l'amica amministrazione Bush, ci si riferisca a Berlusconi poco rispettosamente come a un "politico dilettante" in un "paese noto per la corruzione". Ma è segno della profonda mediocrità e del provincialismo dell'Italia di Berlusconi in cui grazie a una stampa ampiamente controllata e accomodante le gaffe del premier vengono minimizzate, o celate o non mostrate in Tv, che la maggior parte degli italiani vive nell'illusione che Berlusconi goda di vasto rispetto oltreoceano, quando invece è considerato pressoché universalmente un buffone. Non è semplicemente una questione di stile. Il profondo sessismo e la misoginia sono entrambi specchio di una società in cui le donne hanno pochissimo potere, e l'Italia è agli ultimi posti quanto a presenza delle donne in politica e nella forza lavoro. Il basso livello di partecipazione alla forza lavoro è considerato un fattore importante nella scarsa performance economica italiana degli ultimi anni, non si tratta quindi solo di equità, e lo squilibrio tra uomini e donne è stato posto in relazione con il bassissimo tasso di natalità in Italia, un tema teoricamente caro al centrodestra. Ma al di là del sessismo e della misoginia, sessualizzando e personalizzando la sfera politica Berlusconi procede nel cambiare la natura fondamentale della democrazia in Italia. Parlare delle 'mie fanciulle' e delle 'mie bambine' , rientra nello stile di governo patrimoniale di Berlusconi, in cui il Parlamento e il governo sono semplicemente un'estensione del suo potere personale e del suo impero finanziario. Berlusconi ha cambiato la legge elettorale italiana, contro la volontà degli italiani espressa in un referendum, per tornare ad un sistema proporzionale imponendo il potere quasi assoluto dei segretari di partito sui candidati al Parlamento. Non era solo la maniera perfetta per perpetuare il sistema delle "caste" in Italia, ma dava a Berlusconi la facoltà di mettere in Parlamento chi volesse, riducendo il ruolo del parlamentare a quello di un mero dipendente. Il risultato è una Deborah Bergamini, ex assistente personale di Berlusconi cacciata dalla Rai perché nell'esercizio delle sue funzioni pubbliche eseguiva gli ordini del suo ex capo. La punizione? Una liquidazione di più di 350.000 euro e un seggio in Parlamento. L' Italia è in teoria una democrazia parlamentare, ma sotto Berlusconi il Parlamento è stato svuotato di ogni reale significato. Non è che un timbro di gomma per avallare le decisioni del capo. In questo senso l'ultimo scandalo, quello delle 'bambine' , è pregnante. Prendiamo ad esempio un siparietto che ha ricevuto molta meno attenzione del dovuto. Durante una seduta del Parlamento Berlusconi ha inviato un "affettuoso" bigliettino a due giovani parlamentari, Gabriella Giammanco e Nunzia de Girolamo, due delle tante onorevoli la cui unica qualifica è un bel faccino e il fascino che esercitano su Berlusconi. Il biglietto diceva: «Gabri, Nunzia, state molto bene insieme! Grazie per restare qui, ma non è necessario. Se avete qualche invito galante per colazione, Vi autorizzo (sottolineato) ad andarvene! Molti baci a tutte e due!!! Il "Vostro" presidente». In realtà il riferimento all'aspetto fisico e all'"invito galante" etichettano le due donne come null'altro che oggetti sessuali che non devono curarsi dei lavori parlamentari, sono solo decorative. Questa totale confusione tra pubblico e privato rispecchia la visione berlusconiana dello "stato patrimoniale", come lo definì Giuliano Ferrara, in cui tutto e tutti appartengono a Berlusconi. Ai tempi di Luigi XIV, non c'era distinzione tra pubblico e privato. La corte assisteva nella stanza da letto del re alla vestizione e a molte funzioni corporali del sovrano. Ma il motto di Luigi XIV "L'etat c'est moi" era in realtà un passo avanti rispetto all'anarchia feudale e implicava pur sempre un concetto di Stato. Quello di Berlusconi è ancor più primitivo, più vicino alla frase "E' tutta roba mia". Ragione di più perché le intercettazioni siano pubblicate e analizzate in tutte le loro implicazioni. Chi decide quali nastri siano 'irrilevanti' e meramente personali quando il meramente personale e il politico sono inesorabilmente interconnessi? (Traduzione di Emilia Benghi)". volete piu' articoli del genere? bene, ce ne sono a bizzeffe sul sito http://italiadallestero.info/ !

Governor in debt scandal

questo era il titolo di un articolo che ho trovato a pagina 10 di 7Days (quotidiano gratuito in inglese) di martedi'.

riporto il testo:

"The governor of Italy's central Abruzzo region and several high-ranking officials were arrested yesterday in a multi-million dollar corruption scandal, prosecutors said.

Abruzzo Governor Ottaviano Del Turco, 63, a member of the centre-left Democratic Party, is accused of criminal association in the probe into a scheme involving the debt financing of the region's health care system, Abruzzo's public prosecutor said.

A total of 35 people are under investigation for corruption, fraud and money laundering in the scam involving more than $20 million, it said.

Del Turco, who was president of parliament's Antimafia Commission for more than three years in the late 1990s, was among ten people arrested or placed under house arrest yesterday.

Also arrested yesterday were regional health councillor Bernardo Mazzocca and the secretary general of the regional presidency, Lamberto Quarta."

ma ti pare che proprio ad abu dhabi devo venire a sapere 'ste cose! l'abruzzo e' talmente piccolo (ed io ho parenti sparsi in talmente tanti paesini) che devo cospargermi il capo di cenere e confessare che alcuni dei miei familiari (non strettissimi comunque) conoscono il caro "governatore" (ma non si chiamano piu' presidenti di regione?) ottaviano del turco (qui la scheda in italiano).

la vergogna per il fatto il nome della mia regione fosse stato infangato persino negli emirati (dove la gente non conosce l'italia, figuriamoci l'abruzzo... che effettivamente non e' molto conosciuto neanche in italia: "di dove sei?" "di pescara" "ah bella pescara! nelle marche, giusto?") mi ha spinto a cercare informazioni sulla vicenda e cosi' sono incappata nei commenti dei politici italiani (che si sono tutti detti sorpresi ribadendo le qualita' morali di quella brava persona di ottaviano del turco). ovviamente, tra tutti, spiccava il commento di berlusconi che si e' detto dispiaciuto, aggiungendo "non ha nessuna importanza per me che colpisca questo o quell'altro (inteso come schieramento, credo - ndr)". beh, per tutti quelli che si chiedono se berlusconi sia improvvisamente diventato di sinistra (e per gli smemorati), ci pensa il blog Verra' un giorno a ricordare qual'e' la vera storia della luna di miele tra berlusconi e del turco e come il governatore che abbiamo votato nel 2005 (anch'io, lo ammetto!) in quanto meno peggio tra le proposte, nonche' ex-sindacalista CGIL faccia davvero il bene del popolo: leggetelo qui!

caro del turco, spero che nel carcere di sulmona abbia almeno il tempo di seguire dei corsi serali e ottenere finalmente un diploma! a 60 anni suonati e con tutti i soldi rubati non ne avra' davvero bisogno, ma voi non eravate quelli della cultura della legalita'? visto che con la legalita' non e' andata proprio bene, almeno cominci dalla cultura!

La Felicita' non ha prezzo... con Mastercard!

"Lifestyle" e' la parola piu' usata/abusata negli emirati (insieme con "Vision") ed ora finalmente anche abu dhabi si modernizza al livello di tutte le grandi citta' del mondo ed introduce... il trasporto pubblico!

mercoledi' ho provato questa nuova "grande invenzione emiratina" e, lasciatemelo dire, RIVOGLIO IL 38!!!!!!

innanzitutto la disorganizzazione e' pari (se non addirittura superiore) a quella della GTM (che e' gia' tutto dire...): vabbe' che sono autobus gratuiti (fino al 31 agosto) di prova, ma 4 linee che fanno praticamente lo stesso percorso mi sembra piuttosto, come dire, idiota! ci sono due percorsi alternativi: la circolare marina mall-abu dhabi mall-mina zayed (il porto praticamente)-marina mall via hamdan street (pero' l'autobus svolta a destra proprio al semaforo prima di casa mia, acc!) oppure le due linee marina mall-carrefour ed abu dhabi mall-carrefour che passano su murour road o airport road (ovvero le due arterie principali per andare a dubai, quindi strade super-intasate su cui gia' passano autobus extraurbani che si fermano vicino al carrefour). GENI!

ebbene, mercoledi' sera al ritorno da una serata di spese selvagge al carrefour (quello del marina mall pero'), da brava ex-militante legambientina, mi son detta: "perche' non provare l'autobus?". non l'avessi mai pensato! gli autobus (ovviamente) hanno la sezione riservata alle donne (minuscola, giustamente senza spazi per posare le buste della spesa o i passeggini che NESSUNA donna ad abu dhabi utilizza - ironico) e, dato che il caro autista pakistano mi ha assolutamente proibito di sedere nel settore posteriore riservato agli uomini (con sedili disposti molto piu' congenialmente al numero delle mie shopping bags), mi son fatta un'ora di viaggio all'impiedi nel limbo tra settore femminile e settore maschile (presto circondata di uomini che non trovavano posto a sedere). si', un'ora (quando di solito in taxi ci vogliono 20 minuti e 8 dirham - ovvero 1,5 euri circa), perche' il dipartimento del traffico di abu dhabi (o qualsiasi organismo di occupi di 'sti dannati autobus) ha ben pensato di convertire in fermata del bus ogni taxi stand lungo il percorso (che in pratica e' come dire una fermata del bus ogni lampione). e alla fine di tutto mi e' toccato pure farmi un mezzo chilometro a piedi con i 40 gradi e 80% di tasso di umidita' che ci sono ad abu dhabi nelle sere di luglio...

quindi ho deciso: vada al diavolo il mio passato ecologista e continuo a prendere il taxi!

questa e' l'ennesima prova che abu dhabi vuole copiare l'esempio di dubai per imporsi come capitale di livello internazionale, ma i suoi governanti sono troppo miopi. cioe' io son sicura che con tutti i soldi che son stati spesi per 'sti autobus del cavolo addirittura noi italiani saremmo stati capaci di far qualcosa di decente (a meno che i suddetti soldi non fossero stati intascati da qualche amministratore diversamente onesto...).

a dubai, infatti, ci sono 3 tipi di autobus (che, tra l'altro, coprono tutte le zone della citta', come avviene in tutto il mondo civilizzato): il primo, gratuito, senza aria condizionata (quindi per noi pescaresi va piu' che bene, ci siamo abituati all'aria condizionata non funzionante sull'auto in pieno agosto), il secondo, che costa 2 dirham (ovvero 0,35 euri), con aria condizionata ed il terzo (al costo di 5 dirham, ovvero poco meno di un euro) con aria condizionata, caricabatterie per il cellulare e rete wireless. certo, detto cosi' sembra un po' troppo sfarzoso, ma fidatevi che nell'ora di punta per andare da un capo all'altro di dubai ci si impiegano facilmente 3 ore...

ora, giusto per avere un'idea, vi do qualche esempio di prezzi di beni vari negli emirati:

un posto letto (ovvero materasso a terra senza letto) ad abu dhabi in una stanza con 8 persone: 420 AED (circa 75 euri);

una stanza grande con bagno incorporato ad abu dhabi: 2.500 - 3.500 AED (tra i 450 ed i 650 euri);

un appartamento di 2 stanze in affitto ad abu dhabi: non pervenuto (i prezzi oscillano peggio della mia cellulite quando corro);

una stanza doppia deluxe in un albergo 3 stelle ad abu dhabi: circa 500 AED a notte (circa 90 AED - prezzi 2007, tasse escluse);

una stanza doppia al beach rotana (5 stelle) di abu dhabi: circa 1,800 AED a notte (circa 320 euri, tasse escluse);

una notte in suite all'emirates palace ("7 stelle") di abu dhabi: 7,200 AED (poco piu' di 1,285 euri, tasse escluse);

una stanza doppia in un albergo a 2 stelle di dubai: 300 AED per notte (poco meno di 55 euri, tasse escluse);

una notte nella deluxe 2 bedroom suite del burj al arab di dubai: 18.200 AED (circa 3.250 euri, tasse escluse)... me l'aspetto per la luna di miele, capito Mr. K.?;

un telefono cellulare nokia con funzioni base: 120 AED (circa 21 euri);

un computer portatile vaio della sony ultimo design: 36,000 AED (poco meno di 6.500 euri);

un biglietto del bus abu dhabi-dubai: 16 AED (poco meno di 3 euri);

una corsa in taxi di circa 5 chilometri: 6 AED (poco piu' di un euro - ma qui si parla dei taxi vecchi, quelli che verranno presto sostituiti);

una porsche cayenne: circa 300.000 AED (un po' piu' di 53.500 euri - trattabili se il pagamento avviene in contanti!!!);

uno shawarma sandwich: tra i 3 ed i 4 AED (intorno a 0,60 euri);

un piatto di shawarma con patatine/insalata e bevanda: intorno ai 12 AED (poco piu' di 2 euri);

un cespo d'insalata di media grandezza: circa 1,50 AED (circa 0,25 euri);

un pacchetto da 250 gr. di salmone affumicato: circa 13 AED (intorno a 2,30 euri);

un pacchetto da 250 gr. di tortellini giovanni rana: 20 AED (circa 3,5 euri);

una pizza da pizzamore: circa 35 AED (circa 6,25 euri);

una pizza da riviera (ristorante italiano): circa 60 AED (intorno a 10,50 euri);

un american coffee (scordatevi l'espresso!): circa 10 AED (circa 1,80 euri);

una bottiglia d'acqua da 1,5 litri: 1,50 AED (circa 0,25 euri);

una lattina di pepsi: 0,90 AED (circa 0,15 euri);

una birra media: circa 20 AED (circa 3,50 euri);

un gallone di benzina: 5 AED (circa 0,90 euri - ovvero CIRCA 0,20 EURI AL LITRO!);

un quotidiano in inglese: 2 AED (circa 0,35 euri);

un CD musicale (originale!): intorno a 50 AED (circa 8,90 euri);

un biglietto del cinema: 30 AED (poco meno di 5,50 euri - ma i cinema qua hanno le poltrone allungabili e l'omino che ti porta le bibite ed i pop corn a richiesta!);

un'ora di collegamento ad internet: 10 AED (circa 1,80 euri);

un pacchetto di marlboro: 6 AED (poco piu' di un euro);

una shisha: circa 15 AED (poco piu' di 2,5 euri);

shampoo+taglio+piega dal parrucchiere: intorno a 250 AED (circa 45 euri);

ceretta gambe: circa 65 AED (poco meno di 12 euri);

manicure/pedicure: intorno a 50 AED (circa 8,90 euri);

una manicure con diamanti VERI da xiva jewels (tranquilli, non l'ho ancora mai fatta!): 140.000 AED (circa 25.000 euri)... ma dico io: risparmia un po' di soldi e comprati la porsche a 'sto punto!!!

la felicita': quella si' che non si puo' comprare. nemmeno con mastercard.

mi sa che la prossima volta devo fare la lista dei salari medi, cosi' vi fate un'idea. ma prima devo fare qualche ricerca, perche' non credo che i salari della ditta per cui lavoro io siano molto rappresentativi! :-P

A posteriori

a posteriori you read on the newspaper that the suicide bomber A. was talking about killed 41 people. a posteriori you hear experts saying that it was the deadliest attack in kabul since the so-called "fall of the taliban" in 2001.

a posteriori you are glad that A. had the guts to say the cynical truth, even using words that everyone would deprecate, because, a posteriori, after the 5 seconds of hypocritical emotion, life goes on.

otherwise, a posteriori, afghanistan would already be pacified.

C'est la vie!

this morning at 10.33 (abu dhabi time) i received a call from A., who's in kabul at the moment.

clauds: so, how are you?

A.: fine, fine. i tried to call you earlier. i didn't sleep so well last night...

clauds: yeah, i've seen your call.

A. (very natural): this morning there was a suicide bomber at the indian embassy, which is 5 minutes far from my home...

clauds (dumbstruck): oh!

A. (amused): yeah! a lot of people got killed today!

clauds (shocked): oh my god! you told me it was pretty safe now... and now you are just telling me there was a suicide bomber attack just 5 minutes away from you home.

A.: come on, we got nothing going on here now!

clauds (perplexed): what do you mean?

A.: i mean, with all the problems we have, why the ministry of interior should bother with the indian embassy?

clauds: ok, i guess you know the situation more then i do...

A.: yes, don't worry. take care.

clauds: YOU take care!

What's your flavour? Tell me what's your flavour... (Craig David, anyone?!)

and after all the talking about S.' curry, last night in co-operative society i've found...

... CURRY CHIPS!!!

not really bad, kinda spicy and, well, curry-ish!

oh, there are also vine leaves chips: i should try next time... i'll let you know!

Sacconi, il ministro speditore!

bellissimo video... guardatelo qui!

From the magnetic archive of Miss Clauds C.

i know. i know why.

i had an epiphany and i finally know what makes me think of Mr. K. all the time.

it is not the magic, as he calls it all the time. it is something deeper. it's a dream i've never fulfilled till now.

when i was 13 i read Jack Frusciante è uscito dal gruppo (translated in english as Jack Frusciante ha left the band) and it suddenly became one of my favourite books of the teenage period - then replaced by Cien Años de Soledad - for some reasons.

actually it was a kind of cult book for most of my generation and i discovered lately that it has been translated in so many languages that people from all around the world who crossed my way during all these years have read it and appreciated it.

it is a kind of modern fairy tale and the story is something that can be easily related to many people: the words, feelings, images coming to life from this novel are something that every youth can enjoy no matter the nationality and experiences in life.

so, he is the one who's letting me feel living this novel right now, 12 years after i've read the book and dreamt of a story like Alex and Heidi's.

he is the one quoting the fox in Le Petit Prince for me, taming me, making me want to kiss him and at the same time being afraid of doing it and ruin the perfect plot.

but 12 years after, teenage novels without kisses and sex don't work anymore. this is not what the audience expects now...

Da guardare!!!!!!!!

ecco qui cosa vi siete persi se non avete visto la puntata di Blob di sabato scorso... ma perche' dobbiamo sempre pensare che tutti siano disonesti come noi? se non si apre il link al sito della rai, ecco dove trovare il video della telecronaca di olanda-romania su youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ3fyD7oM-8&feature=email

L'Italia s'e' desta!

yes! yesss! yesssssss! i said i was confident... omg! happy for italy, but it was a nightmare finding a place to watch the match on tuesday. is it possible that every "sports bar" in abu dhabi has a band playing while football supporters are having a stroke because of penalties, red cards, injures and whatever else the god of football (and i'm not talking about maradona) plans to keep them entertained? ok, we were supposed to go to Hemingway's at Hilton, but the table they reserved for us was in the no-smoking area and, more important since we mentioned that we were going there to watch the match, the tv was out of sight... and it took something like 5 phone calls to find Hemingwat's, so we thought it really was the last chance. luckily that R. knew another place, so in the end we watched it at a coffee shop in Marina Mall. and it has been nice: a long table of lebanese, emiratis, egyptians and one lonely italian who made the other tables going nuts with our screams (during the break, someone told N.: i hope your team will lose! whaaaaat? ahahah in the end italy won and we were all happy - except A. who is for france - and completely sober - no alcohol allowed out of the big hotels... not even a non-alcoholic beer sigh! sigh!) ok, zuc the magician said it from the beginning: italians need to be in serious danger before they do anything. how true! p.s.: usually i don't like football, but being an expat let all the evil hidden inside you come out... i promise that after the euro cup i stop writing this kind of posts. oh, i have something to say about italian politics... but for the moment... fratelli d'italia l'italia s'e' desta!

Lacrime & Sangue

it will be a difficult match tonight...
and it will be difficult for Abu Dhabi Italian National Football Team Supporting Group as well.
Hemingway's (Hilton Hotel) 9.30 pm.
Insha'llah

Calcio in c**o!

vogliamo parlare di italia - romania (che non ho visto perche' ero sul pullman, di ritorno da sharjah)? e parliamo di italia - romania, allora!

non mi metto qui a fare analisi su una partita che non ho neanche visto (ed anche se l'avessi vista, le mie analisi sarebbero... come dire? fuffa!), e non mi metto a commentare tutto lo spazio che tutti i quotidiani nazionali hanno dato ad un titolo del Jurnalul National di bucarest che prima della partita di venerdi' titolava "Espelliamo i maccheroni" e poi nell'articolo riprendeva con un (cito): "È l'ora della rivincita: tutte le miserie buttate sulla testa dei romeni in Italia possono tornare stasera dieci volte tanto a coloro che le avevano lanciate" (e che ci aspettavamo dopo i raid ai campi rom ed il linciaggio mediatico contro i rumeni, il tappeto rosso ed i petali di rosa???)

voglio solo postare il link a questo articolo de il manifesto - quotidiano comunista che ha dato spazio (unico quotidiano nazionale!) ad un'iniziativa di radio popolare, che ha invitato 70 famiglie italiane nel campo rom di via triboniano a milano per vedere la partita.

comunque il cammino si fa sempre piu' arduo: il gruppo abudhabino di supporto alla nazionale italiana avra' ben di che trepidare martedi'!

Everyday Heroes

yes, if you can survive sharjah you discover how beautiful life is...

don't misunderstand, i like indians, i only think that sometimes some deodorant and a shower help improving your public relations!

one of my heroes in the emirates is my colleague Sharif (he is the "kitchen manager" in my office), someone who, despite the difficulties of his daily life, always finds the time for joking and laughing (and the shower: he is one of the cleanest person i've known).

with his strange english (no tenses in his verbs, everything ends in -ing for him) and his earphones, Sharif is my helping angel in the emirates. i would like to write something about him one day, but i'm afraid that publishing his life online would offend him...

for the moment it's enough writing that if one day i will turn indian (or yellow) the reason will be the curry that he brings for me everyday 'cause he's afraid that i skip my lunch break (lentils curry, chicken curry, vegetable curry, potatoes curry, fish curry... yesterday even "hot dog masala", which has the same taste than curry, but when i asked he looked at me astonished that i didn't realize the difference: curry is a gravy, masala is dry!)

at least i'll learn how to cook indian food when i'll be back to italy...

Hidden Beauty

ok, on friday i went to sharjah to see the exhibition for Steve McCurry and, of course, as usual when i go to sharjah i had bad feelings.

let's start from the fact that, to see the 50 pictures on show, i had to undergo 2 and a half hours on the usually stinky bus kindly offered by emirates transport. i arrived at sharjah bus station and the usual smells of the city overwhelmed me in a moment: deep-fry something (there was a food stall just beside the bus stop with the sign "Eat Healthy! Food on the Go", but i wonder how healthy can be a bunch of something deep-fried in over-used canola oil... mmmmhhhh, my conception about food might be polluted by the fact that i'm italian... don't know really), rotten fish (the bus station is built on the site where the fish market is - with all the consequences arising from fish and seafood displayed on outdoor stands at 50C degrees), sweat, exhaust fumes, sweat, sweat and sweat again.

among all the 7 emirates, sharjah is my less favourite one. with all the bachelor immigrants from the indian sub-continent it looks like a kumbamela for men only (and it has almost the same smell of someone waiting one year to have a holy bath in the ganges river - sorry for my cynism, but these people could at least take a shower, they are not living in the streets of kolkatta anymore...).

i didn't want to take a taxi because of the traffic jams in the roads, so i took a deep breath and started to walk in aphnea through rolla, an area where every woman would feel uncomfortable (and, still, it's not the first time i go there, so i prepared myself wearing jeans and a long-sleeved shirt).

eyes. eyes. eyes everywhere. eyes staring at you. eyes staring at everything which looks like a femal-sexed human being. eyes which sticks on your face your skin your clothes. eyes like glue, you feel you cannot detach them from your body. (sometimes i used to take a long long shower just after passing through rolla, but even after the shower i would feel dirty.) so, head down, eyes on the pavement. you don't have the luxury of siteseeing in rolla, any eye contact is something to avoid like plague. it is the worst thing which could happen to you and it could lead to the most undesirable of situations, especially being a western woman alone in the street at evening (and this f*****g museum on friday is open only from 5 to 8 pm).

so, eye on the pavement i arrived to the heritage area and i can finally look ahead of me. no signboards for sharjah art museum. no road signs. nothing. i approached two indian woman very afraid of me and when i asked them where the museum was it turned out they didn't speak english and one of them just pointed the enclosure where the souq and other heritage buildings are and she ran away in a hurry (am i so scary???). i walked in the enclosure and started to check the buildings one by one: national theatre, theatrical society, bayt someone, bayt someone other, masjid, islamic museum... i saw a poster of "the afghan girl" picture hanging on the wall of bayt naboodah (i remembered this one...) and entered inside, where the two receptionists (a pakistani and an emirati) couldn't speak english so they just gave me a map of sharjah (that actually i already know par coeur) and some other brochures and started again to chitchat with each other.

from the map i realized that the museum was in another area not far, the so-called "arts area" (while i was in the "heritage area"), so i turned to the right on the corniche and walked again. it was so humid i was sweating already since i got off the bus, but at least my consolation was that i disguised in the surrounding smell...

finally i arrived to a building whose signage said "sharjah art galleries" so i entered the place and i found a big patio with wrecked garbages displayed on the four sides like they were avantgarde sculptures (no, they were just debris taken from sanaya area, where they sell car spare parts... sorry, but not everything can aim to the status of contemporary art. if something is shit, it is shit, it is not manzoni's "artist's shit") and a huge hole at the centre i guess due to refurbishment of that artistic space. i walked on the wobbly wooden planking placed on the hole tibetan bridge-style and exit from a side door opening on a square, where, in front of my unbelieving eyes, was finally standing (thanks god) the monumental "sharjah art museum".

the place is very big and, at the moment, it's hosting also another exhibition showcasing the thousands of postcards the museum received over the years from artist from all over the world (nothing interesting in my opinion).

i found the museum personnel very helpful and kind and i finally walked in the rooms reserved to the exhibition "Face of Asia". the silence was appeasing, too bad that an indian family came along with grandpa, grandma, dad, mum and three children ranging from 5 years to 6 months... three generations of indian talking, crying and running all around while i wanted to concentrate on the beauty and inner meaning of each picture. boeuf, c'est la vie!

the exhibition was really amazing. and interesting. i was a little disappointed that the section of Afghanistan was not very good despite the wide coverage that McCurry made on the country in almost 30 years, but in the end the whole exposition was an hymn to life: the streets of Jodhpur with the blue buildings and men in colorful dresses playing chess, the monsoon in India, some hindu festivals in Kerala and Varanasi, the dentist in Kabul, the monks in Angkor Wat and Tibetan and Nepali believers on their pilgrimage to Lhasa... sometimes asia is more beautiful on a picture than when you really trip over it in the streets of sharjah, but this is another story.

like another story are the 4 emirati girls arrived with their black abbayas and veils and designer handbags having their defile' while taking quick glances at every room from the corridor and exclaming "helwa!" for the picture of 12 years old Sharbat Gula (the afghan girl on National Geographic cover).

one of my favourite pictures was a photo taken during the monsoon in India: an old tailor caught in the waterflood upto his neck with his old sewing machine on his shoulder. he was smiling...

life is beautiful, even if sometimes we are too frustrated to notice it.

for me, my frustration, my anger and my dissatisfaction just left me when i exit the main door of the museum to allow myself to see the beauty of indian kids playing in the square adjacent the museum with their huge eyes wide-opened reflecting the moon.

sometimes i'm selfish.

but sometimes i'm sentimental.

this is another hidden beauty of human beings i think: swinging moods and destroying prejudices.

then i took the bus and got back to abu dhabi, but that's the end of the story...

30 cigarettes in one day...

... and it's not yet 6 pm.
i guess i should stop thinking about sex!