More From Dubai-Lots of Photos

We are still here in Dubai. Kelly is still with us. We head to Abu Dhabi tomorrow, about an hour's drive away. Another Test starts for Daryl on Friday. Kel and I will return to Dubai Monday and then fly to Bangkok Tuesday. I fly home on Friday week, arriving in Sydney on the 27th, where Daryl should have already arrived from Dubai. Kelly will continue her travel from Bangkok and isn't expected home until Feb-March next year.
Here are a few of our recent photos.

Halloween in Dubai

Dubai Marina at night.

Sue and Ian with an abandoned car, near our apartment. These sandy cars are a common sight, apparently left by expats leaving Dubai in a hurry.

Julia Gillard eat your heart out!

Desert scene

Can you see the Hatta Mtns in the distance? Seen on our desert adventure.

Canal Walk at Festival City Mall. This lad jumped in while his Aussie expat mum took the photo for us.

Say that quickly!!!

View of Canal Walk

Thai dinner at Canal Walk

Raffles Dubai, next to Wafi City Mall

ceiling in Wafi Mall

helpful sign at the lifts

spot the Dubai influence

Large screen in Mall of the Emirates while we were eating lunch at Chili's

fabulous waterfall displays at Dubai Mall

burj khalifa as seen fromdinner while watching water diplays

Arabic restaurant we were taken to, with the Match Officials

This was put on our table...entree? decor? carrot sticks were good

bulging dinner table...startes in the small bowls

This tray was loaded with many variations of lamb and chicken, buried under arabic bread and fries. The flat bread had a very thin layer of meat in side and was delicious. We took doggy bags home!!!!

just to prove Daryl has done some work here

Dubai Sports Centre...note the snd around it

view from stadium...Dubai City in the distance

more views from stadium

abra wharf where Kel and I paid 1 dirham to ride across the creek to the souks

abra close up..sit on the raised box platforms

view from abra

wiew from abra

view from abra...mosques always evident

from abra

in the souk area...couldn't resist

gold anyone?

how about rings?

the real thing...no fashion jewellery here

How gorgeous are the shoes? Saks Fifth Avenue at Burjuman Mall. Only 9000 dirhams...about $A 3000

tasty salads at Paul, a favourite restaurant chain here

Dinner last night at hotel restaurant, Wox...found something mild D could eat

Weseem to attract small kids!!! These 2  Korean treasures jumped in when the waiter took this photo.

view inside hotel atrium, where we have breakfast, very lush and green with a small stream running through it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adventures in Dubai

Ian and Sue's first night in Dubai...Kosebasi Restaurant

Sue's new preferred transport!

We've been out and about a bit more, having Kelly, Sue and Ian here. We took them to the Mall of the Emirates where they were stunned by the  indoor Ski Dubai. That night we went to Happy Hour and then over to the Kosebasi for yummy Turkish style meal outdoors, followed by stroll around the markets. 

Our driver, Osman

 On Wed night we took part in a Desert trip with Arabian Adventures. D and I moved in to the Grand Hyatt, with the rest of the cricket officials and players. We were picked up at 3 by an Arabian Adventures car, Sue, Ian and Kel already on board, and headed off for the desert. After about 45 min we arrived at the edge of the desert conservation park where the tyres were let down and we waited for the other 39 vehicles to arrive. (Yes, 40 cars) We soon started an hour of hooning around the desert, up and down, sideways with lots of squealing. When I say hooning, it's controlled hooning and the cars are often quite close. We took lots of blurred photos, some of backs of heads, the roof, the windows covered in sand during a slide. Kel was the one who felt most queasy (I took a tablet before leaving) but survived. We think we had the craziest driver!!!!

Spotted at the Camel Race track on way to desert: camels training with their yellow robot riders which are controlled by owners in cars on other side of railing

up close and personal

desert adventurers after 30 minutes...time to calm the stomachs

desert sunset

The sunset was magnificent. This was followed by more rough riding and we arrived at the Bedouin camp at dusk, just in time for camel rides. More photos in my next update.

Dubai

A lot has happened since Cairo! Kelly arrived on the 26th and we met her at the airport at about 4.30am. John came out for a coffee with us before departing for London at about 7am. It's great having Kelly here. Daryl slipped over to New York for a night!!!!! Originally he was going to see the NY Yankees in the MBL final but they got put out. His backup was an NBA game at Madison Square Garden which he really enjoyed. He slept at a friend's home on Staten Island and was back in the car on the way to the airport at 8am the next morning. He arrived back in Dubai 48 hours after leaving!!

Dubai Metro Station

D an M in front of Burj Khalifa, tallest building in the world

Kelly at Dubai Mall, aquarium behind her

Check out those sweets! We resisted and took phots instead.

View from Cafe at Dubai Mall

Kelly's Arabic curls!

We have used the new Metro a lot. It's a 5 min walk away and very efficient and cheap. We've been to several Malls and dined at The Walk near the apartment several times. A turkish restaurant is a current favourite with the best houmous ever. We introduced our vistitors to Happy Hour at the local Yacht Club. They serve 2 for 1 but put both in one glass. The night markets on The Walk were good. We bought a few bits there.

This photo doesn't do justice to the beautifully decorated Ibn Battuta Mall

Kel had an interesting experience having her hair cut at Ibn Battuta Mall. She went into the salon and her escort asked, 'Who wants this one?' I might have left then! After the cut, her Syrian hairdresser asked how she wanted it blow dried. Kel said, 'Straight?' 'No!' was the reply and she got the gorgeous curls. Oh how I wish my hair would do that!

Well our adventures continued with a trip to the desert and to Atlantis Aqua Venture Park. That's for the next post. It's so great having extra company.

Cairo

We had a great 4 days in Cairo, staying near the Pyramids at Giza. This meant we could easily walk to the Pyramids in about 15 minutes. There we met the most aggressive touts ever!!! Just getting the camera out led to photos from 'best scenic point ma'am', camel (almost ) ride and photos, paying the guy for the (unasked for priveledge), very bad argument with gift giving lad, (beware lads bearing gifts), which we had read about on the internet. However we still got caught and Daryl had to give the guy a very bad send off. Apart from that, the Pyramids are an amazing site, The size of the stones moved by those early builders defies logic.

The Sphinx was nearby and even more stunning, despite being eroded.

By the way, I hate camels!!!!! I'm on this one by trickery!!!

We also went on a Nile Dinner Cruise. I was surprised at how wide the river is! The food was good-a buffet with lots of choices. The entertainment was great-belly dancer and a a male dancing dressed in traditional costume who swirle round and round with different layers of skirt above his head. Hard to describe but amazing!!!




The traffic in Cairo is crazy-often 7 lanes of  into 5-6 lanes. Lots of tooting. We did observe one rather awful road rage incident.

Morning From Dubai

We arrived in Dubai on Sunday morning after along flight ( in Economy...ok don't scoff!!! )
Daryl is working here so we shared his ticket. I survived quite well. The food was good! Sleeping sitting up is not good. We are here for six weeks. Daryl has cricket here for the first time, Pakistan v South Africa, both ODIs and Tests. We will also spend 2 weeks in Abu Dabi, a new experience for me.

We arrived at the apartment to this

beautiful sunrise view from the balcony. We slept for 8 hours during the day and still went to bed in the evening, so woke up reasonably refreshed Monday morning. 

On Monday we walked across the bridge to the seafront, The Walk, and checked out the Dubai Marina Mall. New shops are opening all the time and the Cinema is now open. On Tuesday we took the train from our stop, newly opened a few days ago, to Mall Of The Emirates. The train is electronically driven, (no driver). The entry is via a long walkway which goes up and over the many laned freeways to the station. Quite fast moving walkways help along the way. We have travel cards which make for easy entry and exit. The station and the trains are amazingly shiny and welcoming. The views from the train are stunning as it is elevated well above the traffic. When we first started coming here the first construction of 100s of concrete uprights had begun. This is the image from my camera on first opening it in the humid air!!! The lens fogged immediately.

Walkway to the train with moving walkways approaching.

View from walk to train, over the freeway.

See how shiny it is!

Spot the driverless train leaving the station.

Look who I found on the escalator!  :)

On arrival at the Mall station, we had another walk and escalator and found ourselves right inside the Mall!

We are flying to Cairo tomorrow for Daryl's birthday, staying for 4 nights. We're hoping to be stunned by the ancient pyramids and more. Kelly arrives next week for 3weeks, along with Sue and Ian Titley en route to home after a wonderful Eurpean holiday. We're really looking forward to the company. I have brought scrapbooking and cross stitch with me this trip as I will have lots of spare time. I added the Smile Box below toshow some layouts. That one has a few I did before I left home but I'll update regularly. 

Skype has not been working well here, causing frustration. It's usually been a great way to talk to people when away. I am still refreshing my blogging skills after not posting for a few months, so please excuse any confusion!

Blue Bazzar Bootcamp 2010

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