Photo Dump

Last night the Canadian consulate here in Dubai was hosting thanksgiving and invited us all along, which was really sweet of them. I was pretty upset to have missed the thanksgiving dinner in Islamabad last Monday, so I am glad I got my fill of turkey before Christmas. And I can't tell you enough how delicious it was to finally have a proper Canadian home-cooked meal, none of this fast food or Pakistani food that I've been eating for the past couple of months.

Prior to that, I hadn't left the hotel since last Tuesday, except to go down for breakfast and into the mall food court that's attached to the hotel to grab something for dinner. I just didn't feel like doing anything, I've seen pretty much all there is that Dubai has to offer (at least the things that don't cost an arm and a leg) and I was engrossed in a new novel. The Fifty Shades of Grey, I'm sure you've all heard about it. Haha! I've had it on my ereader for quite some time, but never bothered to read it. And boy, after picking it up that first time, I couldn't put it down until I had finished reading the first book and staying up until 4am to do so. I haven't done that since the night before I moved to Holland, my mother had bought me the Twilight series and told me not to read it until I was on the plane. But I couldn't help myself! It feels good to be sucked into a book again. I was like that with the Harry Potter series, and the Hunger Games, also. However, I don't recall staying up until the wee hours of the morning reading The Hunger Games.

I've been doing so much shopping here in Dubai, I honestly don't know how I am going to fit it all into my suitcase. Hopefully I'll find a way, even if it means buying another suitcase.

Anyway, just a bunch of random photos I've taken throughout my time here.

 Both of these, top and bottom, were taken in Bastakiya, the oldest residential area in Dubai.

 While having dinner in the Dubai Marina

 Sunset on the Arabian Sea, which is the warmest water I've ever touched. It's like a bath - heaven!

 The top, and two below, were taken in the Madinat Souk, and that building is the Burj Al Arab, dubbed the only 7 star hotel in the world. Rooms start at a whopping $11,000 per night. Yikes! 

The most delicious beer I've ever had. (It was only Budweiser, but when you're in a Muslim country and alcohol is hard to come by, it tastes all that much better) $10 and worth every penny! 

Abu Dhabi

On Friday, October 5, a couple others and myself rented a car and drove to Abu Dhabi for the day. It was nice to get away from Dubai for a little bit, although Abu Dhabi was pretty much the same, but smaller, and not so flashy.

First off we visited the Emirates Palace Hotel. Apparently it's the most expensive hotel ever constructed, at a whopping $3 billion! The fixtures in some of the rooms are made of gold, there are swarovski chandeliers all over the place, and even a vending machine that dispenses pure gold, if you're willing to part with 7000AED, or about $2,000.

From there we went to the Heritage Village, the abandoned one, as well as the new one, right down the street. Unfortunately Friday is their Saturday (and also prayer day), so the shops and exhibits weren't open for another few hours. But we still got to wander around and take some photos.

This was the abandoned part

It was very hot, so we went to the mall nearby to take advantage of the air conditioning and grabbed an ice cream from Marble Slab. It's been a real treat to eat familiar things from home.

E had to meet an old school friend so from one mall, we drove to another. Unfortunately there was a Pull & Bear store there, they are all over the UAE and I first discovered it back in 2009 in Barcelona, but I don't think Canada has any. I've already purchased 2 cardigans and a hoody from there, and then I just had to check out this store as well. Perhaps that was a bad decision, because I ended up buying a gorgeous black peacoat for $100!!! that won't fit in my suitcase, so I'm just going to have to wear it on the plane when I leave here. But it's beautiful and I couldn't pass it up with that price.

S, Y and I induldged in some pinkberry while we waited for Ewa, and I was sufficiently full of ice creamy, yogurty goodness after that. Once Ewa finished up with her friend, we drove to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It's the 4th or 7th largest, depending on how you compare it, and home to the largest handmade carpet in the world. We got there just in time for a beautiful sunset and took an awful lot of photos. We also had to dress up in the traditional muslim outfit to enter, which was much too long for me, so I was tripping all over the place, sweating underneath it, it was blowing in the wind, and I was just an all around mess.

I'm really glad that I had the opportunity to visit Abu Dhabi, even just for a day.

26th Birthday at Dubai Fountain

My 26th birthday was yesterday, October 3. I wasn't sure how it would go, as I am away from my hubby, and all my friends and family back in Canada. But my new friends that I met in Islamabad, who I am now on vacation with in Dubai, made sure it was a memorable one, and for that I am truly grateful.

The morning started off a little rocky, as I was feeling a bit down. But I did a little retail therapy, and then S and V joined me on a trip to Jumeira Beach. I didn't have a chance to go swimming, but at least I can say that I stuck my feet in the Arabian Sea, and it was the warmest water ever.

Later that evening, we went to have dinner with the whole group, minus one, at Urbano, an expensive Italian restaurant with a fabulous view of the Dubai Fountain. Supposedly it is bigger than the Bellagio, however I wouldn't know. It also had a great view of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.

 

My birthday turned out to be pretty darn amazing, and one that I will never forget.

Dune Bashing

Yesterday was one of those days that I will never forget. Two Toyota Land Cruisers (the most popular SUV in this part of the world, at least as far as I can tell) came to pick us up at 3:30pm. We drove for about 30 minutes to the outskirts of Dubai to begin the dune bashing safari in the Arabian Desert. Thankfully it was only a 30-45 minute thing, because it was the scariest thing I've ever done! You're in this car, flying over these steep sand dunes, and it felt like we were going to roll the car at any minute. They were equipped with roll cages, but still, it was terrifying. Nobody in our car got sick, but Violette was violently ill in the other car. I don't blame her though, it's like the craziest rollercoaster ride you've ever been on, and I was very nauseous also, but managed to hold it in.

We then ended up at the Desert Safari Camp, where we had a traditional meal, followed by belly dancing and another male dancer. I got a henna tattoo, and rode a camel. Which was super fun actually, and if you ever get the chance, do it! After dinner, this guy came over and put a cake on our table. I just assumed that it was part of the dinner, until I looked and it said Happy Birthday Sylvie and Ashley. That was very sweet of the group to do and the cake was so tasty.