Blogs from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Middle East

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Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai September 26th 2023

NOTE: We are home, but still catching up on the blog. This morning I was awake before the alarm so decided I might as well be up getting organised for our journey home as lying in bed wide awake. It wasn’t ridiculously early, only about half an hour before the alarm was set for. Fortunately, with our flight not until early this afternoon we didn’t have to rush to be at the airport too early. We were able to have a leisurely breakfast and clean our teeth before packing our toothbrushes and closing our suitcases for the last time on this holiday. Bernie lugged our cases down to the car and we gathered together our last few carry-on items before saying our farewells to Kath and Albert. Once again they have been most hospitable hosts looking ... read more
Starting the long haul home
Heading for Dubai

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai August 21st 2023

We enjoyed our holiday in NSW so much that when we arrived home just over six weeks ago we (Bernie) booked tickets to fly to Lisbon, Portugal today. But … not until 9.15pm, which made for a long day of killing time until we were due to head out to the airport. Our good friend, Cathy, picked us up just after five and delivered us to the departures zone at Tullamarine before 6.00pm. We were so early we thought that check-in for our flight might not have opened yet. All OK though, we were able to tag onto the end of the, at this stage short, queue for Flight QF8407 (operated by Emirates) to Dubai. While waiting in the queue we saw a staff colleague from our volunteer roles in the queue. We had heard a ... read more

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai August 1st 2023

Here we go. Snuggled in, internet connection down, seats up, bags above and we are nearly off. Due to depart in 5 minutes and it appears we will. Strange how the few minutes seem important when the flight is scheduled for 14 hours! Good news is that if the wings fall off I’ll be the first to know as I’m almost directly above the port wing. Do you have port and starboard on planes? Boarding was seemless and easy but everything just takes time. We arrive and check in then we wait, we board then we wait but… The inflight info system has informed us that 2000 plus movies are part of the entertainment, that should mean 3 or 4 will be OK. Hope I find them. The safety details are currently displayed and have attracted ... read more
Us. We sat together on the plane, that’s enough.
The longer the trip, the sillier you get! Sort of anti-Darwinism!

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai July 25th 2023

One of the things I started when I first moved to Dubai in 2012 was to try to do one new thing every week (usually the weekend). It could be something simple, like seeing a new mall or eating at a new restaurant, or a bit more planned like a tourist activity or visiting another emirate. I tried to do the same when I came back in 2018, but with more international travel, I don't always see those weekly new things as write worthy. Every now and then I'll do a hiking post or the Expo or I did one where I discussed life during Covid. So, I thought I would catch up on some of the things I have done and seen over the last year or so. In particular, I did a lot of ... read more
Dubai Camel Racing Club
Dubai Solar Park
Etihad Museum

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai March 26th 2023

World Cruise 8 Publishing while in Dubai on 26th. Dubai today and tomorrow , then Muscat in Oman. Have got into some good book series, some good talks, and craft making, hence blog writing slow! ( Have you heard of the Cazolet series, Chis?) Will do some more after that as 9 or 10 sea days, through Suez Canal to the Med and Valletta in Malta. Friday 10th March Port of Laem Chabang for Bangkok. 27degrees C. 13N. 100E. A Glimpse of Bangkok Early start! Went out to buses a bit early so could check out most comfortable seat for foot space and knee space. It is 2 hours into Bangkok, a long way if you can’t bend knees or move feet… Seat at front not always most comfortable. Roger has fond memories from his trip ... read more

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai February 1st 2023

We take two days to sail to Abu Dhabi. We use the gym and I do chairasize to attempt to keep off the pounds from the lovely food we gorge on..The entertainment is very good. As we sail into Abu Dhabi we get the news that the rate of Covid infection in the ship is higher than the medical crew are happy with. So we are all “asked” to wear masks in public areas, wash hands etc and the crew will deep clean the vessel. Good luck with that, it is huge and with a myriad of surfaces. As long as we don’t become a plague ship refused entry to port after port we’ll manage. Anyway, next stop Abu Dhabi. It is the capital and second largest city in the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies ... read more

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai November 13th 2022

Tuesday 9 May 23 - Dubai Transfer from Venice City to Venice airport went smoothly. Picked up right on time and shared the water taxi with three other couples. bit crowded but it worked. Biggest surprise was at the airport - but keeping in mind it is about 9 years since we last flew out of Venice. Previously when we have flown out of Venice, there was an open air pier area and about 500 metres of walking on uncovered pathway to the Terminal. Now there is significant infrastructure with covered piers and an elevated, covered walkway all the way to the Terminal building. Very well done ! The Terminal area has also ben upgraded. Late afternoon flight from Venice to Dubai - departed Venice 3:35pm - arrived Dubai 11:25pm local time. Smooth flight. Loooong ... read more
Dubai 1 - View from our room at the Ramada
Dubai 2 - Mall of the Emirates Ski Slopes 1
Dubai 3 - Mall of the Emirates Ski Slopes 2

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai August 28th 2022

The one who knocks at the door gets the answer… ~ Emirati Proverb HE SAID... We touched down at Dubai International Airport around 5:30am and trundled into Terminal 3. I couldn’t believe how vast, clean, spacious and quiet the terminal was. It was almost unnaturally quiet. It was only after a few minutes that I noticed the signs that said it was a ‘Silent Terminal’, with no flight or passenger announcements. It was so incredibly peaceful. We literally breezed through customs. As we walked to the baggage carousel, we couldn’t believe what greeted us. Our packs were side-by-side, slowly making their way towards us. With all the hype about lost luggage over the past few months – especially on Qantas flights – we were expecting something to go wrong. We shouldn’t have worried. It was if ... read more
atlantis, the palm
atlantis, the palm
atlantis, the palm

Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai April 15th 2022

I typically don’t include travel to the Emirates as part of my travel blog. It has always been more of a visiting family destination than a holiday one. Despite its sunshine and heat, cleanliness and safety, good food and nice hotels; it’s not a place that I like to visit. Give me raw, rugged, real and Nature any week of the annual holiday season. That said, I can see why some people like it. And the week I visited my sister with my mum was a relaxing one. We ate, shopped, walked, relaxed on clean beaches with very overpriced umbrellas. My favourite meal had to be one at sunset on the beach, toes in sand, sipping cocktails as the sun went down. We don’t get to do things like that very often. I also enjoyed the ... read more
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Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai March 12th 2022

I know, when it comes to blogging, I'm only around two months late for the moment. But slowly we are getting there. After 5 weeks in Europe, and 5 other weeks in Russia, we board the direct plane from St Petersburg to Dubai. I've been fortunate enough to visit the Expo 1992 in Seville as well as multiple stops in 2010 for the Expo in Shanghai. These were so fun to visit that I couldn't not bring Tanya to Dubai. So this one is easy, it's just a 5 nights stop on our way back home in early March. Tanya has lived in Dubai and I've stopped to count how many time we visited, so the aim was solely about the Expo and having dinner with few friends. Ideal time to visit an Expo should be ... read more
My birthplace pavilion....
View from our crib....I have to admit, below average place, but we are used to be spoiled...
Ukraine one moved into a shrine to peace...




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