Thread: Dubai jail sentence upheld for UK kissing couple

Stuff like this is the reason I questioned the sanity in investing in Dubai: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A Dubai appeals court on Sunday upheld a one-month prison sentence for a British couple convicted of kissing in a restaurant. Dubai jail sentence upheld for UK kissing couple - Yahoo! News

Here is what the BBC had to say about it: BBC News - Jailed Dubai kissing pair lose appeal over conviction

"The Foreign Office advises Britons going to Dubai, which is part of the United Arab Emirates, to be wary of breaching local customs.
A statement on the its travel advice website reads: "Britons can find themselves facing charges relating to cultural differences, such as using bad language, rude gestures or public displays of affection."

No thanks, I would not want to even visit the place. That's great they have a tall building and a hotel that looks like a sail (we will have one soon in Panama) but the cultural difference for me kills my interest.

One of my favorite features of living in Panama is the SENSE of freedom and being able to do more or less what I feel like I doing.

Oh... and also one of my LEAST favorite features of living in Panama is that people more or less do whatever they feel like doing. : )

Matt

Quite the double-edged sword isn't it?

Yeah -- I certainly feel "sliced" when people almost kill me with B-grade Hollywood driving moves that would probably get them thrown in jail in most countries. LOL

Matt

I recently saw a pedestrian get "rubbed" by a taxi on Via Argentina. Quite literally knocked the bags from his hands.

I've got an excellent video we shot on the Autopista the last time we were in Panama that showcases typical driving in Panama. We were headed back to PC from the interior (about 3:00 PM) and we were shooting some video while driving. As we were passing the turnoff to the Bridge of the Americas near Arraijan (which is an exit on the right side of the road), a vehicle in the far LEFT lane puts on their brakes, comes to a dead stop, puts the vehicle in REVERSE and then attempts to back up in the left lane (not on the shoulder) to attempt to turn off the Autopista. Everyone was driving at least 60 MPH and how this buffoon managed to not cause an accident is beyond me. If I can figure out how to post the video, I'll try and post it when I get home this afternoon.

I really can't wait to move back to Panama!

I am with you on the Dubai issue-I have a buddy that went over there during the boom for work and the stories he tells about their "customs" makes me cringe.

Is there a good bit more freedom in Panama than in US- or should I say the sense of more freedom there?

Would you consider it to be dangerous or not at all in the interior?

What is your biggest concern about living in Panama?

I personally feel there is a lot of freedom in Panama. I have been living in the interior for over a year in a great little town, nice neighbors, etc. Do keep in mind things have happened in the interior to expats. Would I consider it "less safe" than a small town in the US, no. If you plan to live in the interior be very very choosy about area and relative location to things. I haven't had a problem at all living in the interior for a year now. An expat was recently killed and robbed in the Chiriqui provence. There was no forced entry so somebody had a key to the house. My biggest concern about living in Panama would be ever having to leave.

"My biggest concern about living in Panama would be ever having to leave."


I am afraid that is going to be the issue when I come for two weeks!! The more info I learn about Panama the more I really like it!

My biggest concern about living in Panama would be ever having to leave.

I am afraid that is going to be the issue when I come for two weeks!!

I hated leaving after the first time I visited. You will know if you belong here when you dread leaving. Keep in mind, moving to a new country as a foreign national is not easy and many people return. It's one thing to go on vacation, things are easy, and you know you are going home. Really and truly realize you will have to change as a person, be EXTREMELY tolerant to the new culture, and put on the biggest and happiest face you can muster. Then and only then you may have a chance of assimilating (like the Borg).

Now that I think about it, it would have been easier becoming a Borg.