• 154 replies
    marye
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    Who are you? Where are you? What's up in your life? People who attended the Egypt shows are, of course, cordially invited to post their experiences as well!

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  • ikoiko
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    peace in the middle east
    hi all .. sorry it's been a while since i posted here, i got consumed in work and i wish i didn't, it's nothing but a headache to work in this part of the world and im suffering a work hangover.well, so far im the only deadhead in the middle east that posts anything here except for my friend Trificta who is actually in the far east but extends his kindness to come check every now and then, i wish there were others who are actually physically here as it gets quite lonely to keep hangin out with the "common" folks. actually i just realized that may be the reason why we have so much trouble here, there are'nt many or any deadheads! quite often i find myself educating ppl about the dead, actually in every encounter i make with new friends, and its funny that the education process differs from one person to another as there are individuals who require less or more input than others depending on my initial analysis of their mentality, spirituality, comprehension of the world, music and many other factors. what i noticed though is that everyone that i exposed to GD's music and the GD scene in general loved it and even love it more when they realize the meanings of the lyrics and know more about the deadhead society. today i want to pay a tribute to 2 brothers who are at the moment in central jail here because they got caught with a couple of J's of some brown, cheapshit weed. they got sentenced 4 yrs (min. sentence) in jail and they're only 24 yrs old, what a waste of youth and what injustice. my love goes to K-nash and Hessie, i love and miss them alot. pls say a prayer for them or think of them for a moment maybe the power of collective thought busts them out. it's so sad that they're only allowed 1 phone call a month and 1 visit by 1 person a week!! i hvn't been to see them, i'm afraid of doing so due to the sensitivity of the situation and i dont want to be put under suspicion for just visiting them!! so it's a bad situation all around. peace ..
  • 00
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    Iko
    i am here bro, but on other threads. Share your thoughts on other threads but i would suggest to stay away from the turn on channel 666. This space is getting hot!!!!
  • ikoiko
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    lonely dead
    so far it seems like i'm the only lonely deadhead in the middleast! but you're never lonely when you're constantly playing dead tunes :) come visit me all you deadheads!! there's the best sunshine daydreams here ... in addition to homos, taboula, kabobs, tikka, falafel and the list goes on .. :) peace
  • ikoiko
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    much love and respect
    Once again, thanks for contacting me Greg, I only regret we didn't have enough time to finish all the discussions we started, I really valued your diverse opinion and totaly have respect for your courage and wisdom which you gathered from venturing to the East and looking at things from a different view.There's a lot more to show you or anyone really next time you come around like sailing in the Gulf, desert safari and camping, the east coast on the Indian ocean, swimming, diving, the dates farms, organic farming, local people's heritage, many middle eastern restaurants and my home cooking :) This place is very peacful and diverse and everyone is very welcome to visit, there is no hatred here towards anyone, everyone is minding their own business and it is sort of an interantional get together place, yes very much like The return of the Jedi movies and all beings in 1 place, the only down side is the traffic is %$&%ing awful :) see'ya
  • 00
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    Marye, Yes Dubai is very cool and very diverse. Many people wearing their traditional clothes from all over the Arabian Peninsula, Eastern Africa, and Northern Africa. It truly feels like an international city and similar to one of the Return of the Jedi movies where there are beings from all over the galexy etc meeting and mingling etc. Iko is a very cool guy with many ideas and i consider him a good friend. I will be back in Dubai at the end of this year so we will hook up again. But he always has the invite to Shanghai where the bars etc are open 24 hours and it is a place you can really get into trouble in. (good trouble). Whenever someone askes me what is Shanghai like i always say its like being a 10 strip!!! Anyway we went out to a nice area were there was a bar and many people just sitting back drinking and having a good time. We ran into some pretty ladies from Uganda and had interesting discussions about the healthcare system in Uganda etc. My uncle actually started the first phycology institute/hospital in Kimpala, Uganda and he lived there for some time before imigrating to Australia because of Reagon. Anyway thats another story. As we are married men and can only have an interesting talk with other beutiful women (besides our wives of course) so we went back into the pub just he and i and talked about our love for the Grateful Dead and the experiences that we have had inside and outside the scean etc. Nadel thanks for the wonderful evening and i look forward to seeing you again. Iko is someone you want to know especially when you are far from home!!!! cheers
  • marye
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    really, too cool
    and in Dubai! Goes to show you don't ever know!
  • GratefulGigi
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    Hey Iko and Trifecta
    I think it is so cool that you two met up over there!! I have also met 3 people from the dead.net site at shows. It's always grate to meet new friends....Thanks for keeping us updated!! Have a grate day! Peace,Gigi
  • ikoiko
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    flea tibet
    will do bro .. anytime for coffee? why don't you catch a taxi and come to Shatown (sharjah) it'll take you 30 min to get here .. what time is your flight again?? why don't you saty another night :) ?
  • 00
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    News etc (channel Six)
    Iko i started a posting on Tibet which is something we discussed last night. Very interesting multi dimensional topic to say the least. Check it out and please jump in.
  • ikoiko
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    gratefun
    salaams Greg .. aside from the extemely loud speakers and the slow service :) i had a grate time! i can't thank you enough for contacting me. buzz me when you wake up i might be able to meet you for coffee and bring along some dates. we never finished any of the 1001 subjects we started, the Uganda conversation took over the whole scene and was fantastic even though i didn't have my fair share to contribute to it, i'm still grateful we had it .. :) iko
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Who are you? Where are you? What's up in your life? People who attended the Egypt shows are, of course, cordially invited to post their experiences as well!
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.Looking forward to the shows! I wonder if they'll do one in Mecca. Just kidding. Imagine that. Go Israel, stay safe! Peace to ALL MidEast Deadheads! absurd thought - God of the Universe says outlaw ALL dancing moving bodies to music must be seen as evil . All real freedom starts with freedom of speech. Without freedom of speech there can be no real freedom. .
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Any Deadheads in Istanbul, Turkey? I go every summer to visit my in-laws and it would be cool to hook up with a Deadhead there. On my last trip I was riding my bike in a fairly remote area and came upon a VW bus - I was praying for a GD sticker!!! No dice...
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Im getting ready to deploy to Iraq as a medic. I'd love to hook up with some deadheads and jam out over there. later, Doc
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safe travels to you. Feel free to tell us your adventures and let us know how you're doing. And bless you for your healing work.
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keep yer head down, bro.........from an old squid
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Hey Now, I'm in the UAE for most of Feb and maybe into March, I'm looking for someone to clue me in to some kind of Jam Band scene if it exists. Bike Week(end) was fun. JazzFest is good for a few days but I want a place to hang out. I'm tired of the Philipino cover bands, etc. There has to be some good music in this town if I poke around. Hophead
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are you in the Middle East?
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govern tomorrow, before the army fills a vacuum.
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sorry so long, in not getting into the group and discussion, I am a universality deadhead, became a Muslim in the states about 1996, after Jerry death, when in 96 i had an accident and was at brown university hospital and was told by the Doc. if i did not quit drinking, i would be "locked up or covered up" this is what i did in my search for Serenity exploring many of man kinds sciences and paths i choose Islam as the religion that appealed to my intellect, (in a philosophical tree climbing way) to channel the good freethinking vibes, to constructive use after years of tour and travel of the globe I took bible study coursed from various sources , went to the oldest synagogue in america, studied, and studied more , on tour I have been to Naroopa, boulder, an ashram out side goose creek Colorado, Lindisfarne, Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, in Marin, lived in Italy considered a heretic,(Masonic) i was not catholic but i took advantage of being near RoME, and studied art history, while there also, reading on the real history of the church, as depicted in paintings. I was raised an American in Naples Italy, (origin of the Funiculì, Funiculà) lived there three different times, total of 13 years, between our trips around the globe, (father was Navy) we lived in mare island Vallejo, California, my great great grandfather is buried in Mount Tamalpais cemetery. so i was more local to the area I was about 1982. then stopped a few other places in the USA, between 1980 to 1984, my family did many road trips across the Usa, what i always could remembering all the cool folks on the roadways of America. various tours; been to the 25 reunion of woodstock in Bethel, New York 94, stayed two weeks and got in on the clean up of that site , the freedom fest and camp arrow head. 94 world unity fest in south rim of grand canyon, black mountain in Arizona, subsequent rainbow gatherings, from 92-96. I was in palm springs, California area may to July 95 I greyhounded to Rhode island from California, stopped in Oklahoma city, two weeks before Jerry un timely death, I was in Newport, Rhode island, and was considering a road trip to NY for the annual gathering at woodstock, then catching the Newport folk fest, that years folk fest was; whew... Now being here in Kuwait for 9 years where gas is cheaper than water per liter. I have the only cars in Kuwait with dead head stickers. 2004 Pajero , with 4 inch dancing bears across the rear bumper, and a titanium syf sticker, as well as a STF sticker on a 2003 honda civic 4 door. ,and a 1982 Maserati quattroporte, If i can figure out how to post the photos here would be cool. I married a wonder full Kuwaiti Woman, with whom i met when she was visiting for seminars at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, in 2001, we met through one of her Kuwaiti relatives I knew from the local mosque in fairfax, Virginia.we have 4 little boys and they demand Jerry in the morning, while driving I have raised them on the dead and may of the few "streams" to get them to listen with me. i wear tie dyes on a regular basis, (you cannot show up at a mosque in a tie-dye) I been to the hajj in mecca in 2002. I have taken my other wise conservative Muslim wife to the haight ashbury street fair in 2007, every place between Vallejo and Monterrey, On 9/11, of which I was TWO KM as the crow flies from the pentagon, after all the interrogations from the secret service, I had a yacht repair business on the Potomac river, servicing the marinas, people threw all the work contracts out the window , because i did not keep it a secret that i was a Muslim long before 9/11, at my core i am an american, well I moved to Kuwait, and started supporting the US Army as a mechanic, body shop, As well as working my own angles with the boating and yachting industry in Kuwait. this is a very conservative society so the only way i introduce musicians here about the dead i let them listen to Garcia/Grisman "Arabia" for some reason the song stirs the Arabian soul ; i try to bring out some musical awareness, so most Arabs think we (deadheads) are christian a cult of the dead in america, this is from from a religious point of view, and first impressions, then if you know names of popular Arabian musician, then they get the idea, the deal is to learn the language, and the society in which you live, they are all different in the gulf region, what goes for one does not for the other. thanks for letting me introduce my self
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Hey now .. I hope you're all well and happy.Last time I posted here I was living in Dubai, but now I moved to Amman/ Jordan. I wanted to let everyone know that I have a cool & creative business center & Fine Art Gallery on the main rd. to the DEAD SEA (also the Amman airport rd.). I named it GD (Gallery Docart). If you happen to pass this way please come and visit me and as a member of the "clan" :) I'll make sure you have a good time and try and help with anything you need, beside, The Dead tunes are always playing in the background (i use gdradio). Coffee, Wi-Fi, laptop usage are on the house for Deadheads. In return, if you're coming from the states, please bring me a GD something! anything, a sticker for example ... that would be very kind of you. In addition, if you like to learn more about the place and investigate the potentials of trade for Tie Dye t's, tapestry, beads,..etc. drop me a line, maybe we can do something. You can find more details on Facebook: Smaik Design Center or Gallery Docart or even on my personal page: Nedal Smaik. I really look forward to see you!! THX.. Love+Peace+Happiness
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thanks for the info ikoiko. Last time I was in Amman was 1997... no GD hangout there then I am sure, but I have many happy memories of Jordan. I'll be sure to look you up if I get back there.
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long time no see! Nice to hear from you!
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It's good to hear from you too! and just incase you wondered why i disappeared, I was in jail in Dubai then Sharjah/united arab emirates for 13 straight months for smoking a cannabis joint!! originally sentenced for 4 years then got out with a pardon and deported, lost everything i built in 15 years including my business and my wife too! but now im back on my feet again, my wife is back too and i hve a nice business setup in Amman/ Jordan. I look forward to seeing any fellow deadheads visiting Jordan, you all know you have a a friend here. thx again.. Peace
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well, that's certainly a cautionary tale! glad things are better now! Ay-yi-yi!
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Hi Marye, I hope you're well. From your experience, do u think there is any chance that Further would consider coming to play here in Jordan or Egypt (again)? if "things" quite down in the region some time in the near future? and if guarantees and precautions on top levels concerning security are provided .. i personally think it would be magical! The Dead Sea, Petra, Pyramids .. we have a couple of fantastic (functional) and ancient amphitheaters. Jordan is a peaceful place that cherishes freedom and thrives for democracy. The whole experience for both sides would be .... historical! just a .. persisting .. thought. Peace
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about that! You might go over to Furthur.net and post, and see what kind of conversation came about!
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thx for the tip .. i'll do tht when i gather enough ... confidence or something!
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They used to have a Jazz Festival at Amman Amphitheatre in the Spring. Do they still do that? Or what about Jerash Amphitheatre? .I saw Fairuz there many years ago. That was quite something.
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thx cosmicbadger for corresponding .. Amman amphitheatres Jazz fest. is still on so as Jerash, wow Fairuz, lucky u :) .. I imagine Wadi rum, deadsea, aqaba, petra would be future potential venues, amazing but not expolited magical places -in my opinion-. com by n visit sometime pls. :) peace
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...considers the conflict in Afghanistan to be the "good war", and basically hasn't done anything different than "W" over there, including "murdering brown skinned people", will the "Deadheads for Obama" still vote for him in November?? ANSWER: Of Course They Will !!!!!!!!!
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Just moved to Abu Dhabi this year and it's a great place. But I haven't met a single head out here! Is there anybody around that wants to get together and play some tunes together or even just swap some music? There's only so much pop music a girl can take!
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I came over to help start the newly created special education department in a private non-profit school for local kids (mostly-- there are a few expats in the mix but not many) It's amazing and fulfilling work. The teachers are from all over the world and it's been incredible getting to know everyone. Still, it gets a bit lonely at times not having any heads around to talk to. More than ever I am realizing how much of a unique culture we deadheads have and how it shapes who we are and how we view the world. My friends and colleagues here are quite tolerant of my "crunchiness" in a place that is renown for decadent lifestyles and glamorous ways, but I don't feel that connection that I get when I'm at shows. Luckily, I will have my summers off and can go on tour!
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Are the Muslims in AD "Jack Muslims"? (Backsliders, for want of yet another term). I know they do ridiculous things in the desert like ski in climate controlled warehouse-like buildings. The disconnect from the rest of their culture must be massive.
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Hey now .. I left the UAE scene last year and i now reside in Amman/Jordan about 1 hr away from the Dead Sea. I still have few friends in Abu Dhabi, non are dead heads :). Enjoy your stay, look at the bright side of things while in this region (if any). If you get a chance pls stop by and visit, you have friends (and fellow deadhead) here. If you come across any trouble while in abu dhabi, pls let me know, I may be able to help. All the best .. Good loving vibes .. nedal smaik (nedal smaik on facebook) IKOIKO
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Nice to see you again.
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its always nice to see you too, thanks!
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hey now Anna, i hope ur well, safe and happy. lol re. "jack muslims" or backslider, i had to dig the meaning from the dictionary: To revert to sin or wrongdoing, especially in religious practice. not all of the muslims my fellow dead head are backsliders, but most of them, just like any other faiths that went astray, i'd say maybe half the population or even more! im a muslim by birth and geographical region .. but i also realize that i'm a child of the universe and all faiths and believes, i appreciate all "the others" and realize myself as any ordinary man, free from all the unnecessary burdens and lies of .. The Backsliders, being muslims or not.. if the "others" show the same sentiments and emit the same vibes as mine, i get along with any "other" ethnic or religious fellow humans, regardless of any discrimination of any type. my motives and beliefs is to see every human live in peace and harmony, no poverty, no wars and no pain for a mother, child or man. share the same goals and concerns, share the wealth that is given to all of us through out the history and the entire globe. we're all one and share the same fears, hopes and desires, we cry and laugh the same way, we love the same love, the one true and only love, but when we hate .. we hate in many ways that were planted by backsliders :) have a grateful day .. love and peace nedal
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It is quite true. Though I wouldn't agree with the sentiment that it is the backsliders that cause most of the conflict. In fact, it is the true believers who tend to be most intolerant. A cursory examination of all the world's religions would show this to be as true as a generalization can be. Looking at the conflicts in the world today, it seems to be the true believers among the Muslims who are causing a lot of conflict and problems for people on almost every continent. I do also fault the economic designs of industrialized countries for encroaching where they don't belong for some of the problem. Not to open a whole other can of worms here, but I am very close to the Nepali people and their culture. Many of them are servants in the homes of even ordinary people in most Middle Eastern countries and they are treated like dirt by a minority of the families because they are "non-believer" Buddhist and Hindu. Some of the abuses are egregious in the extreme - so graphic I can't go into detail here. I am not impugning your culture or religion in any way. The "True Believers" of every religion all over the world act in much the same way. Do have a grateful day, Nedal
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thnx so mch for ur comment and yes what u reflect is valid regarding "true believers" (but who are the true believers or think they are?!) and being the main cause of conflicts through the entire world. i wish we can discuss this further and exchange views and visions, perhaps some time soon.. kindest thoughts .. nedal
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i thought about that while writing my post
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Just wanted to say thanks for the good wishes. I am having a lovely time here (it helps that my job is amazing) I have been hoping to get out to Jordan next year, so I will certainly try to get in touch if and when I actually get that together ;-)
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its great to hear that ur having a lovely time and enjoying your job! travelling to Amman from AD is not costly (400-450Dhs) and there are no complications. Once here (if u come :) we'll visit dead sea (search for some scrolls :), petra and wadi rum, jerash and mt. nibo,..etc. pls keep n touch. :) kind thoughts and peace, nedal
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Hi deadheads im a 30years old male from Iran im new here Am i the only deadhead from Tehran here? I know many GD fans in Iran its surprising to see many young people listening to more earlier sound of GD here
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Hi, my name is Sandya and currently living in Dubai with my husband, David. I was curious to know if there were any other Deadheads here in Dubai or relatively close? We just received the Spring 1990 collection and were enjoying listening to the shows and got to thinking there has got to be other deadheads here.... please say there is. :)
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Hi guys! So I'm in the same country at least, here in abu dhabi. I have wanted to hear that Spring 90 collection as my husband and I did that tour together. Great memories!
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Looking for some good music here in the holly land. Just moved here recently and looking for some help from my deadhead brethren.Keep truckin
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11 years 3 months
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Hey I am an American living in Istanbul. The musıc scene is wonderful here but I wonder, are there any other Dead Heads here?!! SOS!
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I've never been there, though some friends' family is from there originally. It sure looks like an interesting place in the travel shows!