 |
| Largest single pane window |
My October trip actually turned out better than expected. After planning
the Burma/Myanmar trip since April and then having all plans crumble 3
weeks before leaving, my impromptu trip to see the Confers was
wonderful.
I arrived just before miah and Dwain left for work
on Thursday morning
and spent the day with Harper, Flannery and Melanie the nanny. As
Thursdays are their Fridays, we went out into the desert with some of
their friends for some dinner, drinks and hookah.
Friday we went
the Dubai Mall to go to the aquarium. It's right inside the mall and
has the largest single piece of glass in the world. I can see why they
have a season pass for the kids love it. We then had lunch overlooking
the Burg Khalifa. That night Harper, Miah and I went the American
School Halloween "trick-or-treating" event.
 |
| Miah and Flannery |
Saturday we met Phaedra, Erik, and Atticus at the beach. We didn't stay long as the sun sure does get hot in the desert.
 |
| Harper, Atticus, Erik |
 |
| Confers |
Sunday
and Monday, while they worked I toured Dubai on the hop-on-and-off bus.
I saw all the major highlights, downtown, different souks (markets),
Dubai Museum, did a walking tour through the textile areas as well as
the spice and gold souks; Jumeria Mosque, went out on The Palm to see
the Atlantis Hotel and area. I also did a boat tour down the _________
 |
| Burj ____ - 7 star hotel |
One
night Miah and I went to this place called Global Village, it was
similar to a mini Epcot - it had pavilions from countries all over the
world. It had just opened so not all the stalls were set up but we
enjoyed some cultural food and bought some gifts. I bought the most
things there than I did in my visit to Dubai.
One day I met a colleague from CIS whom had lived in Dubai forn4 years and was also back visiting - Heidi Collyer.
Before meeting the Kuniks for dinner, I went up the Burj Khalifa
to the 124th floor which took less than 30 seconds to get up the
elevator. It was a perfect, clear night and I could see a long way.
Dinner was great- Argentinian; however it was the only day in the year
Dubai does not serve alcohol as it was the eve before the holiday of
Eid. Dwain was not pleased.
 |
| Burj Khalifa |
 |
| view from Burj Khalifa |
Fortunately, they unexpectedly got
my last day off for the holiday. So Miah and I did a Desert Safari in
the evening. We were picked up in a 4WD car. It was us and a family of 4
from holland. And we drove out to the red sand desert area where the
dunes or hills of forever to see sand rolled up and down. And we sped up
and down through the desert having a "gay ole time!!!" This then led
us to a Bedouin out in the desert, a traditional campsite of the desert
people. While waiting for dinner, I had a ride on a camel, got a henna
design on my hand and tried on a burka. We had dinner and
first watched a twirler dancer similar to a whirling dervish and then
watched a belly dancer and was then home by
10pm.
Today did the Wilderness Safari, (The 'Wilderness Safari' is a diverse adventure exploring spectacular 'World Heritage' wilderness within a National Park.) We were driven up north about 1.5 hours and saw a lot of the area used for major motion movies (Lord of the Rings, Hobbit and others), then had a walk through the woods. Then went jet-boating along the Dart River, really awesome. it is fed by a glacier. We went about 70 km/hr on the Dart River for a good hour as the mountain ranges towered above me - the mountain ranges were gorgeous. These boats can go in shallow waters and do 360 degree turns because there are not engines like we are used to, the water is sucked in the bottom and then pushed out the back. Www.dartriverjetsafaris.co.nz
In the forest we walked around an ancient forest where the guide told us how the Maori (natives) about the beech trees - 3 different types even though they really aren't beech trees at all but the Maori wrongly named the trees but they have stuck with it ever since. 
