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Published: October 22nd 2008
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Doobie Dubai!
So after managing to survive Thailand relatively unscathed (the only casualties being shoes, a camera and maybe our livers) we were on our way to Dubai to catch up with family and friends. Whilst I was hoping Etihad Airways to be of relative luxury, we unfortunately found out soon enough that we were being eaten to death by fleas and sitting next to an elderly, obvious chain-smoking gentleman whom we feared might not live through the flight. Luckily he did, and we arrived safely (albeit flea ridden) at Abu Dhabi where we were picked up by the lovely Emma and Gavin. What a relief not having to catch a bus, then another bus and then a ferry (you get my drift) and being treated to flushing toilets, air conditioning and comfy bed at Em and Gav’s place. Em and Gav also took us to a new Mosque (like a mega Mosque) in Abu Dhabi where we took our picture with the number 1 and tried to get inside to take a closer look. Unfortunately, we were approached by guards who told us that because we weren’t Muslim, we weren’t allowed inside. Honestly, I don’t see how they could
assume that just because we were blondes that we weren’t Muslim!
After calling all our Dubai friends that Saturday we were systematically told by each person that they were too hungover to come to the Beach BBQ. Apparently Friday night in Dubai is a massive night as the working week goes from Sunday to Thursday - so Saturday is like their Sunday. Don’t be deceived about grog being illegal there - all the ex-pats drink like gold fish! Do goldfish drink? Anyway that night we were taken to ‘Shell Beach’ for a beach BBQ and a couple of glasses of vino… absolute bliss especially since we had had our fill of Chang and Tiger beer in Thailand. After some laughs and a yummy BBQ, we called it a night.
The next day we decided to go to Atlantis Water Park for a day of tubing and slides. After stalking the residents at the pool section trying to scam some sunscreen for Lex’s nose, clearly the sun was getting the better of me as I seemed to get my coordination a little muddled much to my embarrassment and Lex’s amusement.
OK Lex here - now I need to
pull Mik’s email up here to fully explain what Mik meant by muddled coordination. So we had devised a great system of both paddling to get us quicker through the boring bits onto the next slide - sometimes we’d paddle forwards together, sometimes backwards together - genius! So at about 3pm I’m convinced Mik started showing signs of sunstroke because I turned around and I was paddling forwards as planned but Mik was paddling BACKWARDS. I asked why she was preventing us from moving forwards and Mik said “I am paddling forwards” I said “no you’re not, your paddling backwards” She repeated calmly “ I am paddling forwards” I then demonstrated how to paddle forwards and showed her she was doing the opposite to which Mik remarked “Oh that’s weird”. A bit further down the boring bit I hear Mik sigh contendedly and proudly say “Ah now I’ve got it” and to my bemusement she was paddling backwards again. I started laughing and could only stop long enough to gasp “you’re…gasp…still….gasp…paddling…gasp…backwards”. A little further I turn back around to check and with a peaceful slightly daisy look on her face Mik is again PADLLING BACKWARDS and on seeing me looking
Abu Dhabi Mosque
We were asked upon entry if we were Muslim then politely asked to leave. "Sure" we said as we took a shiteload of photos upon exiting she smiles bravely and says - “see got it now haven’t I” I laughed so hard I fell right through the tube but actually got a bit worried so took her soon after to get some water!
So back to Mik - We braved the Leap of Faith slide (Alexis a little more dignified than me) and after ogling the sharks in the massive indoor aquarium decided to call it a day. We had to go via The Mall of the Emirates just for a little look-see and ended up buying half the mall. It was bound to happen.
That night, we caught up with Lex’s cousin Brendan, Chevvy, Molly, Chevvy’s mum Annie and her husband Hank for a gourmet dinner at their place. Much hilarity ensued and my personal highlight was being shown the much talked about ‘Womb Sisters” pose between Alexis and Emma. Brendan’s aerial view shot is a keeper. Zoe unfortunately was too little to stay awake late enough for the party but no doubt heard some of it going on. It was such a great night and was so great for Lex to catch up with her hilarious cuz Brendan and the beautiful souled
Chevvy.
And then there was the desert safari where we went 4-wheel driving over the dunes, camel riding and sand-surfing all topped off by a beautifully authentic dinner and belly dancing. Our driver of course told us that it was his first day so when he started motoring over the dunes at hight speed we were more than a little trepidatious! Alexis couldn’t stop squealing and I was pissing myself laughing. We befriended a delightful Scottish family whom we ate dinner with (we were delighted to find out that they sold alcohol - woo hoo!) and then Lex and I tried our hand at belly dancing. Absolute pro’s we were!
The next day we took a tour of the Jemeira Mosque, which was really fascinating. Of course Alexis looked most dignified in her get-up whilst I looked like a serf. But, this was also the day where Alexis was proposed to not once but twice thank you very much. Once came from the Indian taxi driver on the way to the mosque and another later on that day by a spice souk who was trying to sell me half the dates in Dubai. After being annoyed by an
irritating tour group at the Dubai Museum, we headed to the Gold and Spice souks. After we headed back to Em & Gav’s, we got ready for a night out on the town where we went to the Matinat for dinner and to catch up with my friend Emma. Because of not having our pre-booked table ready on arrival, Emma gave an Oscar-winning performance where she almost had the Maitre’d at a loss. It was most impressive! Whilst Alexis and I thought that he offered us a complimentary drink because of the inconvenience, it was only when we received the bill that we realised that our ‘complimentary’ drink was actually not so complimentary. Again, Emma was phenomenal when she argued her way out of paying for the equivalent of a A$115 bottle of wine and later on that night where she negotiated our way on to a kind of ‘gondola ride’ which they wanted to charge us for but which Emma managed to get gratis… but of course. Go Em! After more drinks and laughs at a nearby bar, it was with much regret that we all headed back.
And the next day it was back to the airport
… and we managed to stay in Dubai for 4 days without getting arrested, which in itself is bloody legend!
At this point we’d like to say with all our hearts a MASSIVE thank you to Emma and Gavin for their incredible hospitality which extended for months before we left with the creation and adaptation of an itinerary to picking us up and dropping us off at the airport door to providing us with food, water, grog, stella info and amazing company the entire time. We love you guys.
OK, next instalment coming soon… love to you all back home and to those who have made our trip thus far so memorable.
Big love
Mik & Lex
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Paul
non-member comment
Not legendary...A bloody miracle
Lex and Miks - In Dubai for four days - Not Arrested for Public Drunkeness??? - Priceless!!