Emirati Camel Adventure

Al Ain is a beautiful oasis city 135 km from Abu Dhabi.  The city of Al Ain has the highest percentage of Emirati nationals in all of the UAE.  At the camel market, during our first trip to Al Ain, was where we met our Emirati friends Mohammed and Badr.  In the little english that they spoke they invited us to jump into their Land Cruiser and visit their camel farm with them.  After drinking tea during one wild drive reaching speeds of up to 180 km/h at times, we reached their farm.  Mohammed raises camels for racing.  It was amazing to see these beautiful camels up close and even get a chance to ride them! Sitting on a mat drinking arabic coffee and tea while watching the sun go down, we learned that some of Mohammed's camels are worth hundred's of thousands of dollars! Another experience not to be forgotten was watching the farm hands mate the camels.  It was quite the event and required a lot of effort on their behalf!  We really enjoyed our time with our new friends and are looking forward to hanging our with them again soon!

The Emirates Palace

The Emirates palace is a hotel like none other.  The Emirates palace contains  300 rooms, many five star restaurants, a beautiful theater and a 1.3 km private white sand beach.  The Royal Suite at the Emirates palace was voted the most luxurious royal suite in the world.  Last Valentines day the Emirates Palace hotel had a one million dollar Valentines day package which included a week in the Royal Suite and use of a private jet to go to other countries on demand.  Every little detail at the Emirates palace is taken care of.  Even going to the bathroom becomes an experience like no other!  There are many parts of the hotel that I have yet to explore.  Security guards down every hallway ensure the privacy of those who have enough cash to stay at the hotel.  The hotel is also a great place to check out nice cars.  Exotic cars are not a rare sight.  If you want to visit the hotel just make sure you are wearing pants.

Wild Wadi

After discovering that it is the defining life moment of many students in our classroom, we knew we had to experience this “Wild Wadi” waterpark.  Shortly after arriving at the park we could understand why Wild Wadi ranked so highly in our student’s lives. Not only is it outdoor, but it is situated at the base of the Burj Al Arab.  At Wild Wadi they turned all the annoying aspects of waterparks into fun.   With the exception of reaching the top of a water slide that drops you almost at a freefall out of a tower, there are no stairs to climb!  All the water slides are connected in what turns out to be a 2o minute ride.  You get on a tube at the bottom of the first slide and the water canons shoot you up to the top. Then when you are at the top you float over to the next slide in which you either shoot up again or begin to slide down You never have to leave your tube! When you finish the 11 slide sequence you float back to the beginning and wait in a short line to do it again!

Pictures to come! 

Night at the Burj Al Arab

It was a once in a lifetime experience;  an experience that our bank account would never allow us to do again.  It was dinner at the Burj Al Arab.  The Burj Al Arab has become one of the most recognized hotels in the world.  It is the only hotel that is said to be seven star.   It is also the only hotel that has been built on its own guarded, man made island in the ocean.  Connected to the mainland by a bridge the only way to enter the hotel is by booking a room or a dinner reservation.  Since we were not up to paying $3000 to book a room for the night we decided to make a dinner reservation. 

The first thing you notice when you approach the hotel after crossing the bridge are the cars parked out in front.  We saw a Roles Royce, 2 Bentley’s, 2 Ferrari’s, a Lamborghini, and an Audi R8 parked out in front.  It is no wonder the valet parkers hid our little Lancer in the back!   Entering the hotel takes your breath away.  Luxury is everywhere.  The carpets, chandeliers, golden elevators, aqariums, and fountains leave you in a trance. 

Our reservation was made at the Al Iwan restaurant.  It was the last day of the Ramadan and we had an Iftar buffet like no other.  Along with a selection of over 40 salads and traditional Arabic appetizers was the lobster, crab, calamari, quail, salmon, lamb, chicken and beef, to say a few! This was a buffet like none other.  Oh and how could I forget, your own personal sushi chef (my personal favorite!)  The meal and the service were exquisite.  Upon hearing that we were celebrating our birthdays they brought us a beautiful chocolate mouse birthday cake, covered in the finest fruits and chocolate.  But how could they let us eat it?!  We had a huge table of other unbelievable deserts to eat so they packed the cake up in a gold box and sent it home with us! 

When our dinner was over we requested to go up and relax at the sky view bar.  Normally there is a $90 cover charge to enter but the restaurant manager escorted us up himself to ensure that we found an empty table to sit at.  The bar was awesome and the view was incredible, but after a $25 glass of wine (the cheapest one!) and a $10 glass of Coke it was time to get out of there! There is nothing relaxing to me about staring at a bar menu that includes a $5500 shot of whiskey!

Guiness World Book of Dubai

Our birthdays this year were celebrated in luxury with a trip to Dubai.  Although Dubai is 135km from our house we are able to make it there in under an hour as the speed limit on the highway is 160km/h the whole way.  Everything about Dubai is luxurious.  Businesses in Dubai will do anything to attract tourists.   Only in Dubai can you stay at a 5 star hotel for $80 CAN a night!  Dubai is in the business of breaking records.  During our visit to Dubai we visited the worlds biggest mall that is situated underneath the world tallest building.

The Dubai mall is the largest mall in the world and contains every store imaginable. There is a 3-story aquarium with an underwater zoo and people can scuba dive in there.  The mall is located at the base of the Burj Dubai, which is the tallest tower in the world. This is a truly remarkable experience to look up at this tower from the base.   The Burj Dubai tower stands almost twice as tall as the CN tower at an impressive 818m.  Just outside the mall are the world’s largest dancing water fountains (do you notice a theme here?) They were so fun to watch! There is really no other place in the world like Dubai.

Here is a picture taken from our hotel room window of the Burj Dubai tower and the Dubai Mall.

Quality Service

The service here in the UAE in incredible. The staff at the hotels are so gracious. Every server at restaurants are so accommodating and concerned for the patrons and they are never in a rush to shuffle you out. The retail store staff are so wonderful and happy to assist you, but never pushy. There is valet parking pretty much everywhere, even at the Starbucks that is the closest to our place. And there are salons all over where you can get the best pedicure (very sanitary and high quality) for $20 max.

Hittin the Beach

The beaches in the UAE are out of this world.  Endless white sand and ocean water the temperature of the bath tub, how much better could it get?  Unlike the some of the beautiful beaches in Hawaii there is no seaweed or coral to watch out for once you enter for a swim.  The ocean floor is lined with white sand for miles.

In Abu Dhabi there are public beaches and private beaches.  Some of the private beaches, mainly at the hotels, can cost you as much as $50 for a day pass.  After spending time at a public beach I would never waste my money at a private beach.  Although missing fancy umbrellas and chairs the beaches are nearly identical.  There are many rumors that you have to remain modest at the beaches in the UAE, and hence no skimpy bathing suits.  The Europeans have laid this rumor to rest.  Banana hamocks and string bikinis can be seen everywhere.  There is nothing quite like being on a public beach and seeing a woman covered head to toe in an abaya standing next to a girl in a string bikini! 

Surfing the Web

Depending on what you're looking for, surfing the web in the UAE can be quite the hassle.  If you are looking for boobs and butts than you are going to have a lot of problems.  With mass censorship comes unnecessary censorship.  Many times when you are innocently clicking a link you get the big rejection.  When this first happens you feel embarrassed, looking over your shoulder to make sure no one is watching. Is it really unlawful to share your photos on flickr.com?  The UAE has done a very thorough job on internet censorship. All proxy websites and websites explaining how to get past the UAE censorship have also been blocked.  Is a country without online gambling and offensive material a country that is heading in the right direction? Is there anyway that the governments control may be a good thing.  What do you think? Please Comment!

Start of Ramadan

Today marked the official beginning to Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar; the month of fasting.  This is the holiest period for the Islamic faith in which all Muslims fast and pray during daylight hours.  With over 90% of the country following the Islamic faith, Ramadan brings about large changes to everyday life.

1. During the Ramadan it is a punishable offense for anyone to eat, drink, or smoke in public.  Out of respect for the Islamic fast, all consumption of liquids and food must be done behind closed doors (this becomes very difficult when it is 45 degrees celsius outside!) Many of the popular expat hotels will draw curtains over their windows and serve non-Muslims during reduced business daytime hours.

People Caught Eatin During Ramadan Face Jail

2.  The UAE imposes restrictions on the hours of work during the day.  Federal government departments and institutions, which is almost everything in this country, will have a mandatory reduced work day of 9am-2pm.  For the whole month of the Ramadan our school day is over at 1:00pm so that the Muslim workers can be home for the 2:00 prayer.

At 7:00pm the bustling streets of downtown Abu Dhabi become like those found in a ghost town as everyone retreats inside and eats iftar, the evening meal when everyone breaks their fast.  After 7:00pm all the stores will open for those who need to shop and buy food for suhoor, the meal consumed early in the morning before fasting.

Driving

The UAE is a car lovers dream world.  Almost everyday we have seen exotic cars that are foreign to the crack filled roads of Alberta. 

 Here is a picture of a Lamborghini Murcielago that I took outside of Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi.  The UAE is a great place to drive a fast car.  On the highway from Dubai to Abu Dhabi you'll find everybody coasting or weaving in and out of traffic at 160km/h.  Speeds of up to 160km/h on this stretch of road are legal but anything above may result in a photo radar ticket arriving in the mail.

Accomodation?

Upon arrival in the UAE we were picked up by a driver who was suppose to take us to our new home in Abu Dhabi.  On our way to this new home we learned that it was still under constuction and we were going to be taken to a new hotel instead.  This was bad news to us until we saw the hotel.  The Cristal hotel is located in the heart of downtown Abu Dhabi.  The hotel is truly "brand new" as it has only been open for 3 months. This stylish hotel leads you to believe that you are living the high life.  Walking into a room with pastries, a bowl of fresh fruit, and two flat screen tv's made our jaws drop.  We will happily stay at the hotel as long as need be!

Our Arrival

12:30am.  Dubai international airport, arrivals terminal.  Everything is brand new.  The airport, only a few years old, is massive and beautiful.  There must not be a problem with theft here as unattended baggage is easily found sitting outside the washroom and duty free store.  The duty free store is a sight to see as well.  Jammed pack with expats loading up with liquor while it is cheap and readily available.

1:00am.  No hesitations what-so-ever in customs.  Passports scanned and we proceeded through.  Stepping outside was not like entering a sauna, it was like entering a steam room due to the extreme humidity.  38 degrees Celsius.  Skin visibly wet by the time we reached the car.  Who packed the Lubriderm anyway?!