Interview with Bakhit Thaloob (life in the desert)

SUMMARY

Life in the desert at UAE was very hard and didn’t provide physical comfort for most people. The houses at the past were built of palm trees and were naturally cooled. Additionally, mosques were cooled by six fans. Bakhit is a person who had experienced those days. He used to attend school in winter and work in summer as a writer who writes material requirements of construction sites. He lived in Naïf, Deira, which is called gold souq nowadays. In the past the people used to be awake at sunrise until mugharib and the women used to drink milk and eat dates at the afternoon together. Electricity was a way people gained comfort from but was not always available. There were two houses that had electricity and TV sets in port saeed and they welcomed people to watch the television. If people wanted to seek health treatment they should go to Al Maktoom Hospital because it was the only hospital available. Bakhit was retired as a army brigadier and he wishes and misses the old simple days and the community bond.