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Published: December 30th 2014
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Well, today was the first full day in the Middle East for this trip. It was nice and warm here...25C. Was in shorts and a tshirt all day.
Started the day with a stroll through the neighbourhood around the hotel and had a shawarma for breakfast. Much cheaper and waaaaay better here then at home. Then took an abra (for one Dinar...30 cents) across Dubai Creek and went to the old part of town called the Bastika. I got to the same restaurant I went to a few time seven years ago. A great little place to sit and write and have coffee. In the Bastika there is a coffee museum (among other museums) which was kinda cool to see. Then with lunch I had a Turkish Coffee....I know I like my coffee strong but that was really strong and there was a lot of sludge at the bottom. But it was oh so good.
After that I wandered around and found a metro station and took it to The Mall of the Emirates. Along the way I saw the Burj Khafka.....last time here it was a shell and not topped off. Today it is a glistening silver and
reflective spire into the sky. Tomorrow I hope to get to it perhaps to the viewing level and then to see the New Year's fireworks in the evening.
The mall was good, crowded but good. I looked at going indoor skiing again but it was up to around $75CAD for two hours. There are an awful lot of high end shops here. There must be more money then they know what to do with. The lowest end shops that I saw were the Columbia and North Face shops. In the entire mall there was only one Starbucks......poor planning on their part...lol. I went into one of the 'hyperstores' there. They are basically a Walmart on steroids.....yes there is a store larger then Walmart. Yikes!!! They had everything....I saw the same raspberries we buy at home from Mexico, they had apples from France, more seafood then you could shake a stick at and a lot of things we do not get at home. Though they are sure willing to pay for it all here.
After more aimless wandering I decided to head across the freeway and down the road to the Mandinat Jumeirah Souk. I remember the views towards
the Burj Dubai from here the last time I was here.....amazing. Still good. As well it was dusk and the lighting was great for pictures.
Then back to the hotel for an evening nap and off to the same Starbucks I was at last night. I got to the counter and the barrista almost had my drink bang on and he even remembered my name. Just after one visit 24 hours prior.....that's customer service.
Tomorrow could be a long day and there might be no update ater the fireworks as I leave to try and get to Mumbai at 9 am the next morning. We'll see.
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Happy New Year Ian!
I am loving your adventures so far! It's great because I get to see a lot of things that would appeal to me if I were there myself. Maybe the ATW4 will include me?? ;) Have an excellent New Year's Ian. Be safe! :)