So here is one of my favourite views of the skyline, unfortunatley not quite captured in my photo.
Saturday 4 September 2010
A week to go!
Only a week left before I am back in Blighty!
So here is one of my favourite views of the skyline, unfortunatley not quite captured in my photo.
So here is one of my favourite views of the skyline, unfortunatley not quite captured in my photo.
Another largest!
Succumbed to visiting the Dubai aquarium & underwater zoo in the mall. Essentially an incredibly large suspended fish tank...with the world's single largest school of sharks and the world's largest viewing platform.
Aparently opening was almost delayed because the sharks were eating each other!
The glass bottomed boat ride
Aparently opening was almost delayed because the sharks were eating each other!
The glass bottomed boat ride
Sunday 15 August 2010
It's a hard life
Group of us hired a yacht for a cruise and some watersports...(well banana boat and doughnut)...now starting to feel the aches and pains of being thrown around on an inflatable.
Wednesday 11 August 2010
Ramadan Kareem
Eating and drinking in public is banned across the UAE during Ramadan, fortunately work has dedicated a room for those wishing to eat or drink
Saturday 7 August 2010
Some calm and colour
The Nile provides some calm to the endless honking of horns...especially on board a sailboat at night
Crammed and Scrambled
...it took me 4 days to realise that I had a view of the citadel from my balcony!
Pyramids of Giza
The pyramids are awesome
although there is no getting away from it being a tourist destination and part of a growing city
although there is no getting away from it being a tourist destination and part of a growing city
Introduction to Cairo
This is what my guidebook states on its introduction to Cairo about what you expect to experience of Egyptian people: "vitality, warmth and friendliness will help make your journey a pleasure"
People at work aside as there are very welcoming...what the guidebook should state is as soon as you step on the pavement people will befriend you to escort you to their picture gallery, pefumery, general nik-nak shop. They will continue on their stories of the love for London..."lovely jubbly"...and how they have some relative there or that they have just come back from London for their brothers or sons wedding and that you must join them (I have been invited to 2 weddings already) or perhaps that they are not trying to sell you anything and you shouldn't be so sceptical but come along for a cup of tea/coffee. They will not stop until you shout at them. Then there are the endless beeping of car horns from the taxis and my favourite the "ppssssssssssttttttttt" shouted as you walk by.
People at work aside as there are very welcoming...what the guidebook should state is as soon as you step on the pavement people will befriend you to escort you to their picture gallery, pefumery, general nik-nak shop. They will continue on their stories of the love for London..."lovely jubbly"...and how they have some relative there or that they have just come back from London for their brothers or sons wedding and that you must join them (I have been invited to 2 weddings already) or perhaps that they are not trying to sell you anything and you shouldn't be so sceptical but come along for a cup of tea/coffee. They will not stop until you shout at them. Then there are the endless beeping of car horns from the taxis and my favourite the "ppssssssssssttttttttt" shouted as you walk by.
Saturday 31 July 2010
You never know until you try !
Limited photos on this one..but almost every holiday (might extend to more than holidays!) when Kyrsty has a good idea, Shailen rolls his eyes...politely agrees to the idea and then 3 hours later when I am willing to admit that it may have not worked out as expected Shailen says "I should never let you arrange things" which is always followed by my comment that "You never know until you try!"
Not to disappoint we went to the creek...(so far so good)..although there were points when I thought the boat was going to breakdown..
...pursuaded Shailen to walk around the open air gold souk in 45degree heat...got unbelieveably and uncomfortably hot and sweaty...thought I'll fix this...so hopped into a taxi..still enthuased I instructed him to take us to a hotel bar which I had read had great views.
To be honest if the hideous outside & location like the back of Kings Cross Station wasn't a big enough give away the "Come on eileen" blazing out of the lobby bar should have been...but no on I proceed on my mission to the top floor bar. Walk in to a dingy bar all black and mirrored and carefully positioned in every other seat are ladies of the night with about three old men staring... waiting no doubt for the Viagra to take affect...but you never know it could have been the most happening bar in Dubai!
The odour of the taxi driver on the way home that was so bad it felt like it was burning my nose rounded up another successful Kyrsty idea.
Not to disappoint we went to the creek...(so far so good)..although there were points when I thought the boat was going to breakdown..
...pursuaded Shailen to walk around the open air gold souk in 45degree heat...got unbelieveably and uncomfortably hot and sweaty...thought I'll fix this...so hopped into a taxi..still enthuased I instructed him to take us to a hotel bar which I had read had great views.
To be honest if the hideous outside & location like the back of Kings Cross Station wasn't a big enough give away the "Come on eileen" blazing out of the lobby bar should have been...but no on I proceed on my mission to the top floor bar. Walk in to a dingy bar all black and mirrored and carefully positioned in every other seat are ladies of the night with about three old men staring... waiting no doubt for the Viagra to take affect...but you never know it could have been the most happening bar in Dubai!
The odour of the taxi driver on the way home that was so bad it felt like it was burning my nose rounded up another successful Kyrsty idea.
At the Top
124 floors up the worlds tallest building.
The photos do not give you a sense of how ridiculously tall this building is but at over 800m it is double the height of the empire state building and 3.5x higher than Canary Wharf
The photos do not give you a sense of how ridiculously tall this building is but at over 800m it is double the height of the empire state building and 3.5x higher than Canary Wharf
Brunch at Al Qasr
This is the best one I have been too...every possible food you can imagine and even had a pick-a-mix..meant for the kids but we're all big kids right?
Neos
The sky high bar on the 63rd floor with views of Burj downtown, the Burj Khalifa and fountain display.
Made it out of the city...
..although not strictly out of Dubai. We did cross two other Emriates on the way to Hatta though, so in my mind that counts!
Sand Dune Bashing
If you ask anyone what to do in Dubai without doubt they say you must go on a desert safari and sand-dune bashing. Going to a camp in a desert in >40degree heat did not overally appeal but I did succumb to the sand dune bashing, which I must admit was good fun.
Hajar Mountains
After about an hour or so of nothing but sand dunes the landscape changes to mountains..
this area is apparently famed for three things (according to the tourist guide!)
(1) Fresh water rock pools that you can swim in.
...can you see them ?!
...finally found them together with the lovely graffiti and rubbish!
(2) Heritage Village
"Explore the tranquil oasis, the narrow alleyways and discover traditional life in the mud and barasti houses"
..I am not convinced this wasn't built 10years ago like some sort of disney attraction although without the rides..thankfully they had put in air conditioning into the mud houses..
(3) Hatta Fort Hotel
"A perfect secluded mountain retreat"
No pictures of this but think it was modelled on Kellerman's Mountain Resort from Dirty Dancing
Sand Dune Bashing
If you ask anyone what to do in Dubai without doubt they say you must go on a desert safari and sand-dune bashing. Going to a camp in a desert in >40degree heat did not overally appeal but I did succumb to the sand dune bashing, which I must admit was good fun.
Hajar Mountains
After about an hour or so of nothing but sand dunes the landscape changes to mountains..
this area is apparently famed for three things (according to the tourist guide!)
(1) Fresh water rock pools that you can swim in.
...can you see them ?!
...finally found them together with the lovely graffiti and rubbish!
(2) Heritage Village
"Explore the tranquil oasis, the narrow alleyways and discover traditional life in the mud and barasti houses"
..I am not convinced this wasn't built 10years ago like some sort of disney attraction although without the rides..thankfully they had put in air conditioning into the mud houses..
(3) Hatta Fort Hotel
"A perfect secluded mountain retreat"
No pictures of this but think it was modelled on Kellerman's Mountain Resort from Dirty Dancing
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