Now, a valid reason for the lack of posts... we went to Fujeirah this week on the eastern / Indian Ocean side of the UAE. It was the first time I had seen the Indian Ocean (its actually called the Gulf of Oman this far north, but it all flows into the Indian Ocean) and it was a really interesting trip.
Whilst we stayed at the lovely Fujeirah Rotana Resort, it was the drive in and the drive out that was really interesting. We took the scenic route in as we drove to Hatta (where we went about three weeks ago) and then pressed on to the coast over a small mountain pass road. The mountains in the UAE and heading down the Indian Ocean coast to Oman are massive bare rock outcrops that look very jagged and rough. The Blue Mountains of Sydney are really a big hill covered in gum trees in comparison as these were the biggest mountains I had seen (and yes, I have never been to New Zealand, the Rocky Mountains in the USA or the Swiss Alps).
The trip was also interesting because once again we got a glimpse of the older UAE and how the people outside of Dubai and Abu Dhabi are not that well off. The townships we travelled through were all pretty ramshackle with road side fruit shops and places to buy firewood, it was very old school. The roads were rougher as well and whilst there were plenty of flash resorts on the coast, the rest of the place was pretty bleak.
But that's what its all about - getting out and seeing the country side... and by the end of the three days, we had driven up all the way along the UAE East Coast from Kalba to Dibba.
The holiday itself was very relaxing with our friends and I spent two days by the pool working on my tan.
The drive out home we headed north and then back west through the main mountain pass road which is right on the border to Mussandam and the Omani territory north of the UAE. The roads were better but the views as the mountains came right to the sea were breathtaking.
All in all, a great trip away for our Eid break... and now we're on the down hill run to our trip home to Sydney for Xmas.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Blog Lag
Sorry for the lack of posts... simple explanation is that work has been really busy and really difficult I have been putting in a large number of hours of late.
But that should change as this week is the last week before a week off for Eid. I may have to work the Sunday, but other than that it will be Mon - Thurs off work next week and we will be heading to Fujeirah on the east coast of the UAE for a well deserved break for a couple of nights with the rest of the break spent in and around the pool. I am not sure about Sunday... its an official work day but its also the date of the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix, so many people will be away there and the day will be pretty dead. I may go in the morning and see how busy work is and then knock off to watch the race.
But to recap on the past couple of weeks, we didnt end up going on our trip to Mussandam as mentioned in my last post because of what is known as a "Dubai Stuff Up". Essentially our friend Marianne booked the trip, had a confirming email, and then the pick up didnt show. When we rang them, they had no record of our booking. No money was lost but its just one of those things that things dont happen as certain as you may hope. But all wasn't lost as we jumped in the cars and spent a day travelling to Hatta in the south east corner of the country and we still got to cross the Omani border to get there.
The weather at the moment is also brilliant with temps in the high 20's / low 30's (celcius) and the humidity non existant. Its been really nice and Oct / Nov is certainly the best time of year. We're still swimming albeit its a bit cooler when getting out and we had our first rain today for about 10 minutes.
On the other side of Eid, it will be a short wait before we're returning to Sydney for Xmas and so we need to start thinking about Xmas presents. Again, it will be a combo of buying stuff here and packing it in the suitcases and buying stuff there in Sydney.
In other news, we rent our maid quarters (yes, we have a maid quarters!) out to an Indian man called Victor who works at the local vets. I am sure I have blogged about this in the past, but to recap Victor was really lovely with our pets at the vet surgery and when he found himself looking for a new place we rented him our un-used maid room in exchange for a bit of rent and to look after the animals while we go on holidays. It has worked out really well and he is quiet, keeps to himself and does a great job with our dog Molly who he walks most days. Victor though must be very lonely and his wife and child are in India and he goes back once every 2 years. He simply works and hangs out at home and doesnt have a big social life. However he was very excited because his brother is coming to Dubai and he will bunk in with Victor soon. I put up the rent a bit but I think it will be good for him as the only people he talks to at home is our part time maid and her husband who come by on Friday's.
If you asked me before we left for Dubai would we sub-let our place to an Indian trainee vet, I would have thought you were nuts but he has helped out heaps with our travelling and keeping the pets safe and looked after.
Eid Mubarak!
But that should change as this week is the last week before a week off for Eid. I may have to work the Sunday, but other than that it will be Mon - Thurs off work next week and we will be heading to Fujeirah on the east coast of the UAE for a well deserved break for a couple of nights with the rest of the break spent in and around the pool. I am not sure about Sunday... its an official work day but its also the date of the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix, so many people will be away there and the day will be pretty dead. I may go in the morning and see how busy work is and then knock off to watch the race.
But to recap on the past couple of weeks, we didnt end up going on our trip to Mussandam as mentioned in my last post because of what is known as a "Dubai Stuff Up". Essentially our friend Marianne booked the trip, had a confirming email, and then the pick up didnt show. When we rang them, they had no record of our booking. No money was lost but its just one of those things that things dont happen as certain as you may hope. But all wasn't lost as we jumped in the cars and spent a day travelling to Hatta in the south east corner of the country and we still got to cross the Omani border to get there.
The weather at the moment is also brilliant with temps in the high 20's / low 30's (celcius) and the humidity non existant. Its been really nice and Oct / Nov is certainly the best time of year. We're still swimming albeit its a bit cooler when getting out and we had our first rain today for about 10 minutes.
On the other side of Eid, it will be a short wait before we're returning to Sydney for Xmas and so we need to start thinking about Xmas presents. Again, it will be a combo of buying stuff here and packing it in the suitcases and buying stuff there in Sydney.
In other news, we rent our maid quarters (yes, we have a maid quarters!) out to an Indian man called Victor who works at the local vets. I am sure I have blogged about this in the past, but to recap Victor was really lovely with our pets at the vet surgery and when he found himself looking for a new place we rented him our un-used maid room in exchange for a bit of rent and to look after the animals while we go on holidays. It has worked out really well and he is quiet, keeps to himself and does a great job with our dog Molly who he walks most days. Victor though must be very lonely and his wife and child are in India and he goes back once every 2 years. He simply works and hangs out at home and doesnt have a big social life. However he was very excited because his brother is coming to Dubai and he will bunk in with Victor soon. I put up the rent a bit but I think it will be good for him as the only people he talks to at home is our part time maid and her husband who come by on Friday's.
If you asked me before we left for Dubai would we sub-let our place to an Indian trainee vet, I would have thought you were nuts but he has helped out heaps with our travelling and keeping the pets safe and looked after.
Eid Mubarak!
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