Blogs from United Arab Emirates, Middle East - page 29

So we rocked in this morning at 5.50am UAE time (1.50am NZ time) after flying for 18 hours. Thankfully Dubai is a stopover so their hotels pretty much all run on a 24hr basis, which meant we could check right in without having to wait. We decided to have breakfast first and then napped for a couple of hours before we headed out to the Gold Souk. The heat was so freaken intense and it hit us like a ton of bricks. We had to cross the 'creek' on a run down old boat for $50c NZ each. The river was surprisingly clean. We quickly found out that if a local tells you that your destination is 'just around the corner', or '50m down the road' they lie through their teeth! Karen and I lost 2kg ... read more

DUBAI AND THE UAE While living and working in Kuwait I have had the opportunity to travel to Dubai and the rest of the UAE on several occasions. I usually rent a Harley and ride thru the emirates. In fact if you go to YouTube and search (henry rides a Harley in Dubai.) you will see a very well made video of me riding that a friend of mine who owns a touring company made. I do have several videos that I did but not near as good as his. This blog will include stuff that I did while on all the trips to the UAE. The first trip to Dubai was specifically for a 2-day motorcycle ride. I got into Dubai late in the afternoon; I went straight to my hotel. I had asked several ... read more

There are a variety of elements which, when lumped together, collectively constitute a great city, and those separate elements are as varied as they are numerous. Abu Dhabi is a city which grew out of nothing but a simple but highly lucrative and expolitable oil discovery, and as such, the capital city of modern-day UAE is a dynamic and gleaming urban zone which possesses a few of those vital elements which make the city aspire to greatness. Size-wise, the city centre is high-rise yet compact, and strung together with an impressive crop of stores, eateries, hotels and other reference points of note which make for satisfying urban exploration. The Corniche is the prime stroller's terrain, and the Abu Dhabi skyline is an ever-evolving city feature which demonstrates the effects which wealth has had on the city. ... read more

After several months in Australia, I landed back in the UAE to a hazy and misty morning sky, the air a mixture of fog & sand... the sand pit that we call home stretching out beyond and all around us. Arriving in Abu Dhabi in the early morning, the sun was attempting to break through the haze providing a surreal sunrise. The drive to Dubai was all too familiar, yet so surreal after the lush greenery, gum trees, rugged coast and fresh air of Aus. My head was spinning, even though I had only been a away for a few months, what lay before me was so vastly different to what I had become used to again in Warrnambool, a coastal town in Victoria. Two very different worlds that I am now living between as I ... read more

Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 April A good start for the big trip: we got to the airport in plenty of time and breezed through check-in in 5 minutes. A bit of playtime for Zachary, Noah, and Jade until it was time to do the farewells and off we went. Very friendly lady at Customs and Immigration (she was very familiar too, I’m sure it will come to me) and we watched the planes and other airport goings-on for half an hour or so before heading to the gate. Onto the half-full plane and away on time. Sadly, Emirates’ service wasn’t what it should be. We waited nearly an hour before we saw anyone to offer drinks, and then when meal-time came we were told we had to pre-order a child’s meal for Zachary, and this ... read more