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I rather be stripped naked and dragged across broken glass for miles and then smothered in honey and dropped into a pit filled with red fire ants than go to IKEA!!!!!

Hey Guys, My son's mid-term break is here, so I thought It'd be a good opportunity to do a road-trip to Oman and explore its Wadis and local culture. I was wondering is anyone wants to come along; it's always good to go in a group. For experts, @Rahimdad @Gaurav @Srikumar @Frederic, if you have any tips on thing to take along, places I should visit and things to watch-out for. Looking forward to it. Cheers, TJ

My life is simple. Office, home, groceries shopping, desert and family time at movies or going out for dinner.

Movies, board games, cards, listen to music, play guitar, cooking, cleaning, pray wifey isn’t going to make me go out and buy groceries or watch her try on 100 pairs of shoes. Anything that involves staying at home is good with me.

Hi TJ - how's Bali! Would love to join you, but like Frederic, the chances of getting time out from work during this period are slim to nothing. Everyone tells me that Oman is spectacular, so it's on the wish list. We have a great book of trails and routes. Let us know if you make it there.

Hey buddy, Oman is absolutely amazing. Have a look at the topic i posted last year which reviews the wadis and the trips itself. I would love to go back soon, but getting time off work is currently impossible unfortunately.

Yes we are camping on Friday night as driving back after the whole day drive will be very tiring. We will be camping closer to the road/track so anyone can leave after the drive as per their convenience.

Just renewed my 3.8 2016 and dropped RSA as they were the most expensive, found Qatar insurance company had cover for everything including rental car for about 1500Aed and when doing insurance market you get one number for roadside assistance and claims and that is nice.

4L Wrangler insured in November with RSA. Roadside and Oman AED 876.75 Was offered by three other companies, all above AED 1,100. BTW compared to EU insurance either is a massive decrease. I was paying the equivalent of AED 3170 per year third party for a 15 year old C200 in the Netherlands.

I renewed my 1999 Pajero last September and got the following quote: I added Roadside assistance and ended up at 1083 AED with RSA A few weeks back i renewed for my 2008 LWB Pajero, and went for AXA. Paid 1172 which included 24h roadside assistance and Oman coverage. Since arriving in the UAE i am getting the quotes done by insurancemarket.ae which saves me a lot of hassle of calling around. They provide 2-3 quotes based on your requirements and take care of the complete process. I am really happy with these guys.

We are now reaching the point where you can start your car with your phone https://www.macrumors.com/2020/02/06/apple-iphone-carkey/ With the latest keyless entry systems, cars are becoming so easy to steal. Any hillbilly with access to google and eBay can steal any car. The only way to really secure your car is going back to old school discloks and other physical anti theft devices. Is it one step forward and two steps back? Share your opinions!

Until I met Carnity (and the sand became my early morning mistress) Friday was gym, swim and anything but look at more screens. The great thing about Dubai is that there is always something on if you look for it. There's a festival, a concert, an opening. My bank has been great at inviting me to launches at Porsche and Ferrari and I thought, why not? Otherwise, the same as everyone else no? IKEA 😂

I have been at both ends of this I can concur on a few of the points aready raised. Here some insights that you do need to take into account with Linkedin. Recruiters use it to identify people who are unhappy in their job. When a job is posted and people apply, the poor agents go running to the company where the recruits come from = not a genuine job. Many jobs posted are already filled internally, but they go hunting for potential alternatives just in case. 99 times out of 100 the internal candidate gets the job because they are the internal candidate = not a 100% genuine job. Many jobs are posted speculatively by multiple agents someof whom have the instriction, some of whom hope that by brining in a candidate they might be able to get the instruction = potentially a genuine job, but not one that that agent has in its books Many agencies apply computer scanning to filter the CVs. If you CV does not have the key words they are loking for, even if you are the best possible candidate in the world, you will be excluded by the automatic system = genuine job, computer searches. People tend to employ people they know like and trust. Don't reply to the job application, network your way to teh job poster and get in touch direct. An internal referral is always better than being one of the many = genuine job, but network to get there. Is it possibly your CV that is not working? Are you preparing a new CV for EVERY SINGLE position. I kid you not, I drafted a new CV for every application. Small changes maybe, but someone opening the mail and seeing a xxxx CV, vs CV prepared for xxx company has much more impact = genuine job, make sure you do your homework before you apply. You are not right for every job, even if you think you are. All companies have a culture and some principles by which they operate. I have been excluded for being too old, too experienced, too qualified, too whatever ... in the end, tehy know what they are looking for = genuine job, but they are just not looking for you. There are sadly soem cruel, manupulative SOBs out there looking to earn a big amount of money from you. They post jobs, but what they really want to do is sell their CV writing services or some make it rich quick scheme. You don't know until you are too far down the line = no job, just misery and manipulation. LinkedIn is brilliant if used effectively. I pay for a premium account (especially when unemployed) because that investment means I get more information and can make my searches targeted and am assured that the poster is real. Applying through the normal portal is regrettably hopeless. Because of the situation just about every job gets 1000 applicants. You need to narrow your chances from 1/1000 to better odds. Never ever rely just on LinkedIn and boards for your job search. LinkedIn is about networking, so use it for that as well. Post interesting content that gets you noticed. Link with people that can advise you. And your question about favorite site ... anywhere but online. Get out into the world and make sure you network with people, at the gym, in the park, walking the dog, with your friends, old jobs. This network already knows you and can recommend you. Even on LinkedIn you're really just a stranger.

Greetings all, if you don't want to read full post, *basically looking for absolute cheapest LR repair workshop someone can even just half recommend to repair/replace air suspension, anywhere in UAE okay*. I just bought my first LR (2009 LR3) three weeks ago. Unfortunately, the air suspension has just completely packed in, car flat as a pancake and 30kph limit etc etc. AAA suggest maybe all for 'cushions' also maybe compressor too. Obvs, the price they quoted for repair almost made me smile, it was more than I paid for the car. I know AAA do a good job, their forecourt is testiment, so definitely not dogging them in any way, but I can't justify it, specially as I was just really starting to see if I really 'liked' the car or not. So, anyone able to recommend a w/s might fix up suspension for 3-4k at this point, I don't really care if it's an A+ job or a C+ job, just want it done cheaply. Thanking in advance

It's time to renew my Pajero, before calling and searching thought of checking here, who recently got the cheapest car insurance? V6, 3.5 liter, with oman and road side. Please share your details with pricing. Thanks.

@andy_macdxb I would really not recommend Al Nakhala above in sharjah. I used to take my 1999 P38 RR to him and was tricked into paying more than required sometimes. I would highly recommend Al Ranan Garage in the same industrial area. The mechanic's name is Mubashir. He is well versed with Land Rovers. Have been using his service for years now. Al Ranan Auto Elect Workshop Sharjah https://maps.app.goo.gl/KwFxaexmhu3f2NDt7

Oman unlike UAE is a huge country. @tjsingh if you have a plan do share what points you'd like to touch and what would be the things you'd like to do. I plan on Salamat every year around August but have failed to make it happen year after year.

So you're sitting on the fence about that one then?

Anyone exiting on Friday? Got a meeting on saturday morning. 😔

Seems like RSA has increased the pricing lately, now 1180 with oman and roadside. That's why I'm checking for other insurances. It's always good to check with real folks before you buy. Of course EU and UK insurance rates and clauses are absurd.

VERY TRUE AND VERY WELL SAID

Yeah, I can see how this would work for habitual payment defaulters or people out on parole. However, I was thinking more along the lines of alcohol sensors being mandatory equipment on all new vehicles to keep the people off the roads who habitually drive while drunk but never get caught until they kill someone.

Trying to catch up with people/ playing backgammon (with real people)

I’m just using Tesla as an example. Maybe this is setting a precedent for buying newer second hand cars. https://www.techspot.com/news/83919-tesla-remotely-removes-autopilot-features-used-model-s.html Someone bought a second hand Tesla Model S. Tesla remotely disabled the Autopilot feature because it was determined the new owner didn’t pay for it. Are we coming to the time where car manufacturers will be able to control the price of second hand cars by remotely disabling features? Remember the good old days when you could stick a fancy exhaust and an extra carburettor on your car to make it go faster and sell it on for a bit of extra cash? Are these days gone? How long until someone hacks one of these modern cars to have maximum features and lock it so the manufacturer can’t chevernise it? Share your opinions!

Pajero breakdown. Battery drained. Possible alternator failure. Need to know any reliable garage nearby. Am stuck in abu corniche area. Next to Abu Dhbai Chamber building.

Maybe lot lower, depending on how and which option you take for parts: OEM vs first quality aftermarket. Also research on Arnott spring that come with lifetime warranty if they are available in UAE now. I researched briefly on Arnott for my older Range Rover but haven't got a chance to change EAS before I sold it.

Thanks! but not really helpful.. aware of musaffah area also the list above. However its a breakdown in the middle of the road, Was expecting some known reliable garage in musaffah area to take the car to quickly.. Surprising to see no response regarding Abu Dhabi garages here..

Had BMW with tyre sensor before and i know Mercedes work the same. when the sensor warns you you go check your pressure and make sure all corners are the same then you reset the pressure warning. It is just a change warning not a set value varning.

Thanks for coming back to break the suspense, please share the sticker which says 51 PSI, it's really weird. Does it show any other reading like 30 - 35 range under normal load....? Or just 51 at max load?

the quotes i got... and it was 1600....

Camping ?

Phones working as car keys? This is just stupid. Why don't they spend some time and money inventing and implementing useful stuff instead? Like for instance, sensors in cars that can both detect alcohol vapours, and disable the starting circuits for as long as it detects alcohol in the car. Now that would be something I'd be willing to pay something extra for in a new car.

Tesla will definitely become one of the most hackable items in the future, creating opportunities for tuners, eco warriors, or just Wizzkids doing it for the fun of it. Considering that they sell the drive trains to other companies already this basically means that it becomes a commodity item. The software that has been written by a young team of engineers will float in the cloud in a couple of years, allowing other coders to decode it and use the building blocks.

What do you expect from Tesla, they won't even sell you a single bolt or lightbulb to fix it yourself. You have to take it to Tesla or a Tesla approved workshop.

Over engineering and after few bad experience either they will fix it or keep letting you try for years like apple face recognition, which finally perfected now.

With hungry birds and tougher economic conditions to beat fierce competition, car companies have to try all route to stay afloat. No surprise, but I find it quiet cheap and shallow tbh. Same way few years back here in UAE Chevrolet gave 7 years warranty with a fine print that only for first owner, lolol. I was about to buy my friend Tahoe and slapped with no warranty for you bro. For hacking people will always find a way to jail break, break encryption, back door as far as there is good motivation for those hackers. So dont loose hope and buy a used tesla and will find a way sooner or later.

It is surprising what some people will do to get a job. I remember a while back I was hiring for a mechanic job. I had loads of females, teachers, nurses, etc track my phone number down online, sending me suggestive photos and asking me out on dates. People who would never make it as a mechanic. I like the tinder analogy.

Guys i want to be honest. Until now i haven't got over yet from the experience that Friday morning. Its like i found the missing piece in my whole 20 years life in UAE. Now i spent more time browsing Dubizzle and other sites for the 4X4 that i can afford. Hoping i can find the right one. I felt my Murano cannot handle my excitement in joining more adventures in the future. I am now a confessed addict and i need help. Indeed thankful to all of you and meeting new friends is such great experience. God bless and more power everyone. !

Yeah, it's quite effective. Lost 10 kgs in roughly 45 days.

Yeah I recently heard Keto from one of the offroader. Was it you @Tbone, right....?

@Rahimdad Rahimbhai Once more beautifully written and giving reminiscences of a drive I did not enjoy with you ... until now! Reading all the weekend's reports has been a massive pleasure as you add colour from your perspective as lead to the enthusiasm of the people in your convoy. See you soon in the sand

When I came to uae I was 65kg. I ended up getting to 105kg in a few months. Too much beer, rice and pizza. Carbs are my enemy. I used to drink 5-6 cans of beer every day, samosas and paratha for breakfast, biryani for lunch, rice and Filipino food for dinner. Sit down to watch movies and order large pizza out of boredom. Coke with every meal. Down to 85kg now. Lost 20kg in 4 months by cutting beer to once a week. One meal a day and only home cooked. No soda or fruit juices, only water. Fruit juice is all sugars and sugars make you fat. Avoid eating late at night too. When you eat late, your body won’t use the energy and store it as fat instead. I try to avoid snacking but if I can’t handle it, I’ll throw a handful of frozen prawns in a bowl and microwave them for a minute. Better to have a protein hit and feel full than eat empty carbs. If your body doesn’t need protein, you will poop it out again. Your body will always try to store carbs as fat. One of the best things I learned was that when you’re feeling hungry, you’re probably not hungry, you’re just dehydrated. A big glass of water can kill a lot of hunger. I don’t know if you eat meat, but look into keto. I know a lot of people who have had success with it.

I thought so too, but 17 inch size Im not sure comes in 3 ton pickup. 275/65 R17 seems like Cruiser and Patrol type of size, specifically. Diamond always gets the best riddles for us to test, lol.

What industry do you work in? What job are you looking for? Maybe someone here can help? Dont forget to look at indeed, bayt and dubizzle. The market is tough at the minute. I’ve been searching for a new job for the last 3 months and I’ve been getting offers but most of them have been stupid offers. Last offer I had was 4K per month to manage a garage. 2 years ago that would have been a 15k minimum job. There are so many new people coming to Dubai looking for jobs and offering to do the work for a quarter of the price, so the older more experienced people are getting pushed out. Racism is a big issue too. When you read the ads you see, European only, kabayan only, Indian only, Pakistani only. Illegal, but nothing is ever done about it. A lot of people get hired because of the colour of their skin, wether they can do the job or not. When I first came to UAE I had a hard time getting a job as a mechanic. People would always tell me white people cant be mechanics. Of course they can, I’m from a white country, all the mechanics are white, but here people looked at me like some sort of novelty because only brown people can be mechanics here. Then you’ve got wasta and nepotism. People will hire people they know, just because they know them. It doesn’t matter if they can do the job. You really need to do something to make yourself stand out from the crowd. Have something nobody else has and make yourself noticeable. I used to have people sending me CVs every day. Most of them went straight in the bin. But, a good CV will stand out and be noticed. Change your CV around and make it applicable to the job you are applying for. Don’t just make one generic CV and send it to everyone. Changing a few sentences here and there can make it seem like you’re really interested in that particular job and make you stand out. You need to sell yourself. It’s not the employers job to make you shine, it’s yours. I won’t lie to you and say the job market here is awesome, because it isn’t. Finding a job takes persistence and hard work. When you’re working you work 8 hours a day, maybe more. When you’re not working, that’s 8 hours a day you should be spending looking for work. The most important thing is don’t give up hope. Keep searching. If you try hard enough, you will get there in the end. It will take time but you will get there. Stay positive, keep applying. Print your CVs and go and visit companies in your industry. You can always sell yourself better personally than you can from an email. Good luck

This Lego Defender might sell more than actual defender.