Geoff and Anna's Travels

27th October 2010 – Dubai
Life over the last 5 months seems to us like we have been stepping into film sets – the scenes keep changing!
We arrived at 8.00am in the morning after not sleeping at all on the plane so fortunately we had booked a 24hr hotel which meant we could check in straight away. We went straight to bed and slept until 2pm. We seemed to have a bit of jet lag today and really didn’t feel too good or doing too much however we decided to explore the area around the hotel.

First impressions of Dubai are the amazing buildings – all different, very modern and oddly shaped. Even the airport is very clean and minimalistic really – lots and lots of big wide open glossy places.

Just immediately around the hotel is a computer area and there are just shop after shop selling cameras, phones, computers etc. The other thing of note was there were virtually no women on the streets at all. However we walked further and found the river and the bazaar selling mostly textiles – a few more women around here but mostly tourists. My sewing friends would have a ball here – shops and shops of beautiful fabric. A couple of very cheap childrenswear shops also.

We found our way back to the hotel and decided we were very hungry and thirsty. It was quite hot outside but not so that is was unpleasant – actually after the cold of England I quite enjoyed warming up!

On the ground floor of the hotel is a restaurant that said it was Korean and Chinese so with our very pleasant memories of Chois in Howick we decided to have Korean. Actually it wasn’t too bad – the hot stone bowl of rice was definitely not as nice as Chois and no special sauce but it was very nice anyway.

So a reasonably early night tonight.

28th October 2010 – Dubai
A buffet breakfast this morning and we went back to a couple of shops we found last night – particularly as I needed to get my Ipod repaired. The insurance excess is more than the repair so I got that done. Then we caught a cab to a mall nearby. Dubai has a lot of shopping malls apparently – we are saving the Dubai Mall for night time to see the fountain – so we expected this mall to be quite small but it was huge. Had a nice Indian lunch in the food hall. Things like taxis, food etc are very very cheap in Dubai. We changed 100 pound into money here which would normally only last one and a half days in England but I think we will last for the three days we have here.

A cab back to the hotel and Geoff rushed out to pick up my Ipod which is perfect again and then the tour guide arrived to take us to our desert safari.

We went four wheel driving amongst the sand dunes – really cool. Then a ride on a camel, photos of the beautiful actually spectacular sunset that they have every night in the desert (it only rains 14 or 15 times a year here!!) an Arabic dance, disco, BBQ and then a belly dancing show. Really good afternoon and evening. Dubai is this very modern city in the middle of the desert it seems!

29th October - Dubai
We decided as we only had today to see the rest of Dubai that we would buy the very expensive hop on hop off bus tour and it was awesome. It really only served the purpose of showing us how much there is to see and do in Dubai - another place we would like to come back and spend a couple of weeks.

We first went on the beach tour (about 3 hours). We stopped off at the beach and I had a swim in the very tepid water. Probably not refreshing on a hot day but just lovely to get into! I had to get changed on the beach as no changing rooms - being Dubai I hoped not to get arrested!

We then did the city tour which went round the city and to mall after mall. Unbelievable - would love to spend heaps of time just walking the malls - Jane you would love it!! There is also a big ski/snow complex that operates all year round (in the middle of the desert!) You can also slide down some tunnel into shark infested lagoon??!!!?

Then we rushed to get the river cruise (all part of the same ticket) and once again very very pleasant cruising down the creek area of Dubai.

After we finished that we again wandered the Souks - shopping bazaar.

The people here are called to prayer five times a day - starting at 5am!! It is a very loud chant/call and can be heard most places. I nearly went into a ladies prayer place instead of the ladies toilet - they looked just the same and were opposite one another!

Headed back to hotel where Geoff did some more shopping at the Pierre Cardin shop just beside the hotel (open until midnight most nights). They have a 75% sale. Sonia I have counted that Geoff has bought himself about 10 or 11 shirts and 4 pairs of trousers - I think that out does the amount of handbags I have bought (and they were not all for me!). He has turned into a big shopaholic and I end up outside shops waiting, waiting for him.

30th October 2010
At the Dubai airport getting ready for the 14 hour flight to Brisbane. Very excited to be seeing the kids and grand daughter (of course!) soon!!!!!!

Dubai is amazing really - lots of people but it has a certain quietness about it. People just get on with things - they seem to have enough people doing everything so that it all runs very smoothly. Very clean place - after you use the toilet a little lady comes in to clean it or check it is clean anyway. There are big fines for littering therefore you don't see hardly any at all. Very nice place to visit - interesting, nice shops, great beaches and lots to do and see - highly recommended just need longer than we had!

Will post Dubai photos when we can otherwise this is the end of the blog - thanks for following it - hope you enjoyed our trip as much as we did!!!!