Dubai

THE MIDDLE EAST

We’re now in the Middle East. Wow ! what an adventure.  

We weren’t able to access the internet for the last two days of our stay in Bali and unable to update our blog. Hotel connection was down – which was frustrating. Since we’ve been in Dubai, Grant has been trying to understand how to connect us in the Middle East. Language is a major issue here but good news – we’ve done it and will manage the same way when we’re in Europe.

Helena in front of the huge aquarium in Atlantis Hotel

One of the Queensland Gropers

Pool at Atlantis

Had a great flight from Bali to Singapore and only ones in business class. Stayed in the Singapore Transit lounge for a couple of hours and then headed off for Doha. More joined us but amazing service etc.. and food was sensational. It was great to be able to lie down and snuggle up in our airline jammies and socks. We had a little problem with our luggage in Doha but managed to catch our flight to Dubai – not so good but only in the air for an hour.

It’s quite amazing here. Incredible perfection at the Atlantis Hotel where we stayed for our first night. Not one thing out of place – saw Aquarium, Wonderland, Lost Chamber and shopping mall. We’re not really spending but ambience was amazing. In Bali we noticed a lot of Chinese and Japanese guests over here there are a lot of Europeans, Expats and a couple of Aussies!! .  We only spent one night at the Atlantis and have now moved to the Sheridan / Dubai Creek and a great room which overlooks the Creek. Watching the boats and activity on the water is really something. Last night we walked along the waterfront and saw heaps of old, really old boats being loaded with freight for overnight ride down the river.

Dhow in Dubai Creek

You have to be careful over here – no making eye contact with the Arabs, not extending hand for shake unless they make the first step, not touching your partner out in public etc.... It certainly takes some kind of discipline to play by their rules. I pinched Grants bottom as he was leaning over a counter and almost expected to be arrested !!! Wouldn’t that be funny?  

Weather over here is quite lovely. Daily temp. Is about 25-26 degrees and not too humid. Apparently it is a good time to be in this area for that reason. In the summer temperatures get to about 52+ and really humid. I took a photo of an air-conditioned bus stop !! so that gives you some idea of what it must be like.

Air conditioned bus shelter

Day 2 - 22/3 

Today Helena to the Gold Souk. It was an amazing market – Gold and Silver arcades and streets and streets of fabrics.  She bought some beautiful material and some amazing beaded fabric which will be sent back to Australia from the UK. Feeling bolder, she caught a taxi from the hotel and just strolled the streets for a few hours.  Enjoyed it and felt quite safe.

Souk Market Dubai

Souk Market

In the afternoon we went on a Desert tour and loved it. It started with approx. 20 groups of people in a convoy of 4WD’s  sliding all over the sand dunes – toppling over the side with sand flying over the windscreens and then sliding sideways down the dunes – stopped at Camel farm, had opportunity to ride camels but neither of us did. Enjoyed an interesting finale to the trip with BBQ dinner – Middle Eastern Style, watched the sun set which was stunning with the night finishing with a Belly Dance. The performer was really good.  Additional options included sand boarding and trying out henna designs on hands or feet.

Back at the hotel, good night’s sleep with both of us feeling quite tired.

Landcruisers are King

Falcons are big in Dubai - hood to protect from camera flashes

Camels at sunset

Day 3 – 23/3

Early breakfast and ready to go.  

Today we headed off on a full day’s drive through the lush oasis of Al Dhaid which is renowned for its fruit and vegetable plantations. Then onto Masafi and the Hajar mountains before reaching the village of Dibba for a wander around the small port. Here we saw the process of cleaning fish and the fish markets which were incredibly clean.  Not much green foliage, incredibly stony and lacking any trees in most parts. We called into a market at Masafi which included all sorts of things and vendors who were equally keen to make a sale. We wandered thru the shores of the  Indian Ocean after we had lunch at Sandy Beach which was an amazing little place nestled between the fine groves by the water’s edge bordering the Indian Ocean and the rugged beauty of Hajer Mountains and valleys in the Emirate of Fujairah on the East Coast of the Gulf of Oman. It’s about 160km from Dubai. The beach was gorgeous and water ideal for deep diving and snorkelling. We visited Al Badiyah which is the oldest mosque in the Emirates.  In Fujairah we stopped at the renovated Fort and stopped at the oasis of Bithnah which protrudes out the top of numerous date palms and has two towers – one at each corner of its western face.

Pots representing the 7 Emirates

Friday Market Oman

Fort in Oman

There are also remains of dwellings associated with the fort.

We also visited the Fujairah Fort which is situated on the coastal plain and overlooks the old village. It has been renovated and looks quite stunning. Our tour guide explained a number of customs, including how separate the men and women are. The pray separately, they go to separate schools, they have separate areas to use on the Metro – with women generally accepting a more subservient way of living and the men free to have up to 4 wives. One leader has had 32 children!!!  with his older son taking over rein of the emirates regions. There are seven emirates who make up the UAE. The President is the leader of Abu Dhabi and his Vice President is the leader of Dubai which is the second largest area in this region. Basically 20% of the populations are considered ‘locals’ and receive significant benefits above the 190,000 workers who are made up by a number of nationalities – mainly Indian but several here from Asia, Europe and Australia. It’s not easy.  The criminal rate is virtually zero with harsh penalties including workers being returned to their birthplace and no extension to 2 year contracts.   There is no graffiti and everyone understands the rules.     

We’ve now been to Doha, Dubai and Oman.  

Day 4 – 24/3

  

We got up at 4am..... packed and got ready to leave Dubai for a Emirates flight to Doha.  Thinking we were going to make things easy for ourselves  for had our luggage ticketed to Doha so we could collect at the airport and without hassle check in with the Qatar Airways staff. Mistake. The response was similar on our first visit to this airport but this time easier because we were travelling business to the UK and the staff did all they could to minimise any inconvenience. We were taken to the other terminal and then settled into a lounge to wait for our flight. Flight good apart from some major turbulence above the Swiss Alps when Helena thought tearfully that she might not make it to the UK. Nasty and frightening with plane dropping altitude to a safer and smoother level at 38,000 feet.  Attendants were amazing, food sensational and arrival in the UK continued without any further dramas.  We worked our way thru Customs and then got on board the tube carrying about 19kilos on our backs and 10 or so in our carry packs which were secured to the front of our back packs. Quite a weight – but leaned against the side of our carriage and counted down the number of stops before we saw Traci again. Great night. We joined Traci and Tim at St Pancras champagne bar had a drink and then went home with them to Stoke Newington. London is such a great place but quite a lot cooler than Bali and Dubai. Helena was certainly looking forward to wearing her warm jacket.