A friend once told me “Whatever comes before the ‘but’ in a sentence is meaningless”.
Since then I have been vexed by doubt, every time I tee-up a sentence with the conjunction whose sole purpose is to change “direction”. Why not just go straight to the final clause and be done with the redundancy? Just wait. You’ll start doing it too.
More of the "but" later. In the meantime, I have just come back from four days in Lebanon where I chaperoned 13 British and one American tourist, all were visiting for the first time except one very glamorous woman in her 60s who had been a cabaret dancer at the Casino du Liban in its heyday and even she recognised very little, given what’s happened to the country in the intervening years.
All were affluent and, mostly, what the demographic people like to call, “empty nesters”, fitting the profile of the sort of western long-haul traveller Lebanon claims it has been trying to woo for the past 25 years. The Arab tourists may be loyal and free spending but they tend to stay within their comfort zones and not overly burdened by the need to seek out millennia-old structures, visit sites of religious importance or traipse around the mountains for a day’s hike to visit a remote bee keeper.
The Europeans, on the other hand, have a tradition of going the extra yard and their presence could bring a degree of economic sustenance to those in Lebanon’s cottage industries trying to make a living. My lot were mainly interested in being watered and fed for three days and on that score Lebanon didn’t disappoint. It ticks all the boxes. It’s a country with 300-plus days of sunshine populated by friendly, multi-lingual people and stuffed to the gills with living history while serving vast quantities of delicious, healthy food, all within one to two hour drive from the capital Beirut.
_______________
Read more:
Lebanon also suffering amid plight of Syria's dispossessed
Lebanon's arrest decision frames missed opportunities
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So here’s the “but”: there are aspects of Lebanon for which the westerner will not be prepared, things that if the country truly wants to punch above its weight, we really need to take on board. This trip offered me a valuable opportunity to see how people visiting for the first time react to those shortcomings to which we are all too often blind and which can negate all the plus points.
Driving is the obvious one. I really don’t think the Lebanese appreciate just what bad drivers they are. They may reassure the petrified foreigner by telling them the story of the Swiss traffic expert brought over to study our driving habits and who, after three days, left town in a state of severe agitation, advising us not to change anything or there would be mayhem. It’s a cute story containing, no doubt, more than a grain of truth but we have far exceeded a driving culture defined by quaint national temperament and reached a stage where natural selection on a Malthusian scale exists on our roads. Sadly, it will take a generation and draconian law enforcement to resolve it.
Unless, of course, we can invest in a modern system of public transport. Almost all the guests pointed out that a high proportion of cars during the rush hour had only one occupant. It is a sobering realisation, especially when you’re in a coach that can carry 20 passengers, just how much more space there would be if more people took the bus to work or carpooled.
Another huge, not to mention embarrassing, problem is the litter. Only the unthinking and the blinkered can claim that Lebanon is still a beautiful country. Driving from Beirut to the Bekaa Valley, I squirmed in my seat as I heard the regular “tsk tsk” of disappointment from the back of the coach as we passed piles upon piles of trash by the side of the road. I have said in these pages many times that the modern traveller has so many options, so why would they choose a country that takes no pride in its appearance. I told them it was an unfortunate hangover from the Ottoman Empire when the Lebanese swept all their waste into the street to annoy their Turkish rulers - but all that ended nearly 100 years ago. My next excuse was that Lebanon was more “a state of mind” than a visual delight. Not sure how that went down.
Lastly, and I’m sure most Lebanese don’t really stop to think about this, there are very few people walking the streets of Beirut and tourists, especially those from the West find it odd. The sidewalks, rather like the Dodo, have disappeared in some sort of Darwinian process that has seen them shrink or expropriated by parked cars, a situation that at one point forced many of my charges on to the road in the face of oncoming traffic.
This sense of emptiness was highlighted when I took them on a walking tour of the Beirut Central District, supposedly the beating heart of the Lebanese capital and where they presumably expected to experience a bit of bustle and where all they got were a few parking attendants, soldiers and concierges. It was only when we reached Martyr’s Square, the city centre, that there was any real sign of genuine urban life.
But – that word again – as one of the guests told me on the last night “this has been one of the best trips ever”, I guess it cuts both ways.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP
Group A
Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA
Group B
Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti
Group C
Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia
Group D
Brazil
Oman
Portugal
Nigeria
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Moonfall
Director: Rolan Emmerich
Stars: Patrick Wilson, Halle Berry
Rating: 3/5
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUndergraduate%20courses%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EInterior%20Design%3B%20Product%20Design%3B%20Visual%20Design%3B%20Fashion%20Design%20%26amp%3B%20Accessories%3B%20Fashion%20Styling%20%26amp%3B%20Creative%20Direction%3B%20Fashion%20Business%3B%20Foundation%20in%20Fashion%3B%20Foundation%20in%20Design%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EProfessional%20courses%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFashion%20e-Commerce%20%26amp%3B%20Digital%20Marketing%3B%20Fashion%20Entrepreneurship%3B%20Fashion%20Luxury%20Retail%20and%20Visual%20Merchandising%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EShort%20courses%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFashion%20design%3B%20Fashion%20Image%20%26amp%3B%20Styling%3B%20Fashion%20Trend%20Forecasting%3B%20Interior%20Design%3B%20Digital%20Art%20in%20Fashion%3Cbr%3EMore%20information%20is%20at%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.istitutomarangoni.com%2Fen%3Futm_source%3DLocal%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_campaign%3Dgmb%26utm_content%3Ddubai%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3Ewww.istitutomarangoni.com%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Who: France v Italy
When: Friday, 11pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
- Steve Baker
- Peter Bone
- Ben Bradley
- Andrew Bridgen
- Maria Caulfield
- Simon Clarke
- Philip Davies
- Nadine Dorries
- James Duddridge
- Mark Francois
- Chris Green
- Adam Holloway
- Andrea Jenkyns
- Anne-Marie Morris
- Sheryll Murray
- Jacob Rees-Mogg
- Laurence Robertson
- Lee Rowley
- Henry Smith
- Martin Vickers
- John Whittingdale
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
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The Lowdown
Kesari
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Anubhav Singh
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence