The Middle-Eastern jewel they call Dubai

Wearing masks at Cirque de Soleil. I am the one on the left
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Dubai is a spectacular place.  I was supposed to be here for 6 days but have remained here since Oct 2006!!!!  Since I am still here, I'll sum up the interesting places I have been to, and things I have done:

1.  Desert safari - A must-do for anyone who comes here.  The way the drivers treat the 4x4s like toy cars is astonishing.  Our safari was so extreme that we very nearly flipped over!!!  We eventually had to get rescued!!!!

The longest 6 day trip EVER!!!

The 4 of us who went to Cirque
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2.  Skiing - Ski Dubai was a marvellous place, especially for someone like me who had never been skiing.  I took a lesson and could ski quite well by the end.  One of my next holidays HAS to be a skiing holiday!!!

3.  Wild Wadi water park - Intense waterpark fun - enough said.  Another must-do.

4.  Go-karting at the Dubai autodrome - Again, a first for me, thus explaining my poor performance.  Immense adrenalin rush....sooooo good!!

5.  Cable cart ride in Creek Park (not very common so very good for the off-the-beaten trackers)- The cable carts here take you on a ride around this massive park and around Dubai Creek.  The soaring heights they take you means that you can see the Dubai skyline in all its glory.  I did this at sunset, and it was one of the prettiest sights!!!!

Partying at Zinc with the Emirates Airline crew
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6.  Abra ride on Dubai Creek - Again an unheard of adventure.  It is possible to hire an abra (local water transport that usually transports people from one side of the creek to another) for as long as you want.  90 Dirhams got us the whole abra (exclusively) for an hour-and-a-half, during which the captain took us all round the creek.  Done at sunset, this, to is one of the prettiest sights in Dubai.  The great thing about this ride was that we could see how Dubai had changed over the years - it takes you from Old Dubai with it's marvellous mosques and narrow buzzing streets to New Dubai with all it's high rises and modern architecture.......it's almost like a ride through time!!!

Desert bliss....
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7.  Dubai Museum - Great displays, together with good explanations of the regions history makes this a very affordable and interesting place to visit.

8.  A day trip to Hatta - Hatta is on the border town at the Dubai-Oman border.  A day trip here will take you past mountains and valleys, not to forget the spectacular desert landscapes.  Lunch at the Hatta Fort Hotel is recommended.

9.  Partying - My favourite club is Trilogy at the Medinat Jumeirah.....especially the rooftop terrace.  Other good clubbing joints I've been to are The Apartment, Loft, Boudoir and Zinc.  Good bars are The Buddha Bar, The Agency (at the Emirates Towers) and 360 (and to a lesser extent, Irish Village).

Cars gathering on one of the desert dunes for sunset
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10.  Global Village - Dubai's exciting new tourism destination started off as a huge cultural entertainment center to cater to the need for a central meeting point where different countries could showcase the myriad cultures. Over the years it has grown into a star attraction among UAE nationals, resident expatriates from over 160 different countries and visitors from across the world. Today, this major crowd-puller has been transformed into a unique international destination for tourism, entertainment, leisure and culture. As a world-class tourism destination, the Global Village brings together diverse customs and cultures covering a broad spectrum of activities including music, dances, arts and handicrafts, theatre, costumes and cuisine of different countries.

When in Dubai wear what the Emiratis wear...
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11.  New years eve - This was spent at the most expensive party in town (don't ask me why I agreed to pay an extortionate price for the ticket, especially since I am unemployed!!). Having said that, the party, at the Dubai Marine Resort was a spectacular thing!!!  Live entertainment all night from a South African band and a Russian dance group, food from all corners of the world and an open bar all night made for an interesting night.  The water display (a water fountain that changes its shape - dancing woman, eagle, dancing couple, other animals) and fireworks display were magnificent, and most of all the company I had was good.  All in all, not worth the 1500 Dirhams but still a great night.

Creek Park
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12.  La Parilla Argentinian Steak House - Incredible service and great food, coupled with Tango dancing and live music, whilst overloking Dubai from this 25th floor restaurat makes for a fine dining experience.

13.  Cirque de Soleil (Quidam) - Needs to introduction.  Not your normal circus. Cirque du Soleil has become one of the biggest international act ever brought to the Middle East. Part of the Dubai Shopping Festival, the Canadian troupe is performing Quidam in Dubai until February 10. The show comprises 50 performers from 13 countries who tell the story of an anonymous world transformed into a place of hope and connection through tying themselves into knots, flipping through the air and much much wildly theatrical gesturing.  A must-do for anyone in Dubai before Feb 10th.

The cable cars
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OK people!!!  In other news, I have decided to remain in the U.A.E and have ended up securing employment here in Dubai.  I start on the 11th of Feb as a Purchasing Assistant, so wish me luck!!!!!

But don't worry!!  I will still be adding stuff to the blog!!