That's All Folks

Leaving Sat for work on the day he flew back to the UK was horrible - in some ways worse then leaving the UK in the first place. We had such a good time together over the 10 days.

I don't know if you guessed it from my shorter blogs but I have also been rather busy since Sat left as well, partly to make the time go quicker. Apart from work I have been catching up on my blog, watching three films - The Producers, The Bee and Mrs Henderson Presents, buying stuff at both Ibn Battuta and the Mall of the Emirates, packing (I started days ago)....

This weekend I spent Friday afternoon by the pool and went for a skiing lesson in the evening. I'm now level 1 on my ski passport and I did enjoy it, but I really didn't feel I progressed as much as I could have done or indeed consolidated much on what I had already covered. Last time I was really lucky to have a brilliant instructor and just one other pupil. This time the lesson was fully booked - 10 people - the French instructor was sometimes a little difficult to understand and and 6 out of 10 people were really right at the beginning and should really have been in ski discovery rather than a beginners lesson. Oh well. It does mean though that when Sat and I go on a skiinh holiday I think we'll spend a bit extra and get lessons for just us two or at least a small group rather than a big one. Saturday was spent by the Beach at Oasis Beach Hotel.

Sunday (today) after work I went to the Madinat and ate at the noodle house - I really fancied their roast duck. Tomorrow is my final day at work and the I fly on Tuesday! Hooray!

This trip has been excellent and I have learnt a lot both professionally and personally, but I'm really looking forward to coming home. (Though with that said I could easily live in Dubai for a couple of years). One thing I continually learn each time I go abroad is how much I love the UK. Don't get me wrong, I have loved nay adored some countries I've been to and even Sat says I'm most alive when I'm travelling, but what I mean is that I get the chance to see the UK with fresh eyes as perhaps a traveller would. Two conversations stick in my mind. One is with a Malaysian who travelled the world - Dubai, Morocco, France, Guadalope, USA , UK etc but didn't really know or think much of Malaysia, and another a Kiwi who stated that the UK had some of the best countryside in the world and I would agree - I can't wait to see those downs......

 

 

Last Evening Together

For our last evening together we went to a Moroccan restaurant (fittingly names Tagine) at the Royal Mirage Hotel - a beatutiful hotel set in grounds so one can't even see it from the road and built in a traditional arabic sytle. After a delectable supper we had a sheesha outside in the Arabian Courtyard where this picture is taken. We were glad that there were no spaces left on the cushions as we were so stuffed we needed to sit up properly. 

Yes I did miss a bit with the suncream... but its ok now

 

Sat at sunset

 

  

Me at the beach!

 

Jumierah Beach Club and Resort

Instead of spending our beach day at the Oasis Beach Hotel as originally planned a colleague booked us into the Jumierah Beach Club & Resort as guests on his membership. Jumierah Beach Club is the poshest beach club in Dubai with a waiting list for membership. There are no skyscrapers let alone a building site behind the club so the view from the beach is really good. There were lush gardens and two pools but we spent are whole time at the beach with beach service, complimentary fresh fruit kebabs and scented cold flannels! 

Courtyard again

 

Heritage House

This is the coartyard of the Heritage House - a welthy merchant's house now made into a museum. 

The creek

 

Sat on an abra

 

The creek - view by abra

 

Sat by the creek

 

Friday

After a relaxing morning (I think the Mall of the Emirates was involved again - but it is only 5 minutes drive from the apartment), we went down town. The first stop was Dubai Museaum where this photo was taken. 

Supper was at a place called Shimmers, again by the beach but this time linked to a hotel in Souk Madinat. (Barasti was up nearer the Marina- though I'm sure this doesn't mean much unless you have seen a map!). 

Barasti Bar

The dhow in the background is actually a fish restaurant attached to the hotel. 

Barasti Bar

On Thursday night we went to a really cool bar in the gardens of a hotel facing the beach. Great capeirinas (not sure of the spelling) as well as palm hut bars, beanbags and live music. This photo was taken awayfrom the bar, down some steps to the beach. 

Back to Work

Four days of work were a little frustrating but it was great knowing that Sat would be home when I got back and some kind of sense of normality. I worked late on Monday so I didn't get back in time for us to go food shopping which is a shame as Sat wanted to cook for me and I would have loved that as I have really missed his cooking. Instead we went to the Mall of the Emirates and had a fish platter at an Indian restaurant followed be watching Mission Impossible 3. On Tuesday we were invited to my Director's house for dinner along with another colleague and here boyfriend. There villa was absolutely gorgeous! Wednesday we were really tired so we ate at Nando's - currently our only really local restaurant, though spaces in the centre down the road are filling up soon. I'll talk about Thursday night as part of the weekend :-).

Drive by desert shot

 

Driving back to Dubai

This is what Sat calls my serious 'oh no this road cuts through Oman and my rental car company only allows me to drive in the UAE' face. 

 

Hotel grounds

 

The Pool (in case you hadn't realised :-) )

 

Another view from our balcony

 

View from our balcony