Desert Team Building?!?

We had a MEP team building outing at the Desert. Dune bashing, camel rides, quad biking (for those who wanted), and an arabian dinner with a belly dancer.
A pretty fun outing with the team I would say.

We all had too much laughs. I'll let the pictures tell the story!

Sand Boarding - Guess how many fell over?

That was the mountain of food. Mostly for Liby because he's going back to India to get married!

Liby in the middle - the almost married man.

His indian tradition, they had to place an ad and go for interviews to find a bride. That's just a totally different culture. Interesting i would say.

Another day in Dubai

Fel, Sean and I decided to take a long afternoon break after lunch. Drove around Festival City

This place is suppose to be the largest private development currently. But as of course, everyone is trying to outbeat someone. You'll never be at the top for long.

Anyway, it's quite a nice little community with a really pretty golf course.

Took David and Sean down to Jumeirah open beach to take some stupid pictures after work. I only have a stupid picture of myself- but i made both of them do the same thing... haha.

Went to Ibn Battuta for a feed. Being in the MEP building services line... David was just hunting around for all his airconditioning stuff... it was so well hidden, I thought it was part of the facade. This is a picture IN the mall... feels like you're outdoors...

Happy National Day Singapore!

Marikita ra yat singapoura sa masa ma mernuju bahagiya, cita cita kita ya mu lia, berjaya singapura. (Haha, obviously that is my limited malay knowledge).

and Happy Birthday Dad!

Oman +++

Haven't been blogging in a while. Mum and Dad just left, so I've been really busy with just settling in by myself.

Yup... busy with work and buzzing around... Was just up in Musandem, Oman with some of the diving enthusiast. The boat brought us out to Limau rock.
Yes I have sea phobia... rather, diving phobia. It was certainly not a good day for diving. One nearly died - he ran out of oxygen, and another sat on a sea urchin. They shall remain anonymous. (that's why i'm not showing the face! - but it's pretty easy to guess the spiked butt)


Decided on a safer sport - snorkelling. Did see quite a few fishes closer to the rocks. Nice and pretty. I'm sure it must have been prettier further down. Plus kayaking - which was really fun too.

Baby sat Faith and Jedi whilst their mom and dad went diving. Ah... it was a great weekend.

Crap!

Mum put a Ecard.exe virus into my lap top. It died. Plus I didn't have the recovery disc!! It's all back in Melbourne. Anyway... on the bright side, I got a new Sony Vaio Laptop. Windows vista is crap. so slow! Manage to save part of my documents... sigh.

Anyway... Mum and Dad has just left Dubai... and for the first time, I'm in Dubai by myself. Before that, I was crashing in with Danny, David and Mona. Now, I've moved in to my apartment. Ahh... feels so different.

home... finally!

Finally, after almost 2 months in Dubai, I've moved into my new home. It's a small little 1 bedroom apartment @ the marina. After getting all my furniture (some of which are second hand), I had to figure a way to arrange them. I have this small tiny space, and in my excitement, I bought too many furniture. Sometimes I couldn't let a good deal slip by, so I had to get it (even though I didn't quite need it.

That's the living room. I like the coffee table. It's this 2 blobs - one red and one black. Can't explain, so here's the picture.

Couldn't really fit my 3+2+1 Sofa. So i put 3+2 in a row. Looks ugly, but it's the best I could do to squeeze it in! I like my carpet! Big red "E"!

Got a huge King Size bed. Still have not bought some sheets and pillows yet... Shopping for all the smaller items can be quite a headache. You don't realise what you need until you want to use it!

And my Kitchen... Nothing fancy. Still quite empty at the moment! All I needed was the basic essentials of a microwave, oven and stove! Food comes later!

The only mismatching colour to the whole house - the toilet. Everything else is red cream and brown. With a strong clash of Blue and purple. Who cares. It's my bathroom!

Anyone is of course most welcome to crash over!! No worries... I have sufficient sleeping area.

Happy Birthday Lawrence!

Wishing you a Happy Birthday!! When are you leaving for London? Catch you around hopefully, and whenever and wherever - Dubai, Singapore, Melbourne!

Best Wishes to my 2 friends...

Congrats to my 2 friends - Jeff & Shirlin - on your wedding day. Sorry I couldn't make it.

It's a good 07.07.07 day. Once in a century! God Bless... and may you 2 have little ones running around soon! Catch up soon!

Highly Stressful Week

This week has been a nightmare. Been goin to meeting at work, with clients threatening to fire you. Not like some small client, but one of our larger ones. Never in my life has anyone said something like that to me! It is so hard picking up from someone. Urgh..

My shifting in date has been postponed from the 6th July to the 9th. Had to ring all the places to get my furniture deliver dates changed. Missed a couple, and had people screaming at me. What's wrong with this place!!!

This is just the beginning... life in a developed place with underdeveloped people.

I'm glad Mum and Dad are here. They just got in last night... At least I get some help with all the moving.

And yes... to you know who... happy birthday if you're reading this.

Celebrations

Was invited to Boon Huat's birthday dinner last weekend @ Prime Ribs at the Le Meridian in Dubai Marina. Boon Huat is Danny & Mona's schoolmate from younger days - so he's having his big 50th bash.

We were scratching our heads thinking of what to get him for his birthday. This guy has everything. So we thought a funny gift would suffice. Went to a little mall near Stephanie's place at the Meadows. Got him a mug that read "Brain Dead from Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm", and a big huge bean bag with a big "MACHO" word across. Good gift for a 50 year old.

Check the presents out!

Shooting

I fired a real gun with live rounds. Yeah yeah, I know it's cheap thrill for those who has been in the army... but yes I was really excited.

All started because I was stressed and needed to shoot to relief stress. Haha. Not really. I was about an hour early for my meeting at the shooting club - working on the infrastructure and building expansion... So I went to the range with Felipe. I shot with a .22!

Pretty pleased.... Check this out! - Not too bad for a first timer! *pat on the head*

Frustration

Dubai's first toll has been introduced and it kicked in today.
The hot topic on the radio, papers and in the office was the traffic diversion and chaos caused by the infamous SALIK tolls.

Being kiasu, and wanting to avoid the tolls, I became one of the suckers that added to the jam. It wasn't too bad in the morning. (of course - I left home at 6:15am). But it still took me a little longer. 45 mins, instead of 30 mins.

This afternoon, traffic was crazy. Maktoum bridge was so congested. Took me over an hour and a half to get home! This was at 3pm, not peak hour at 5pm. Can't imagine what it would have been like otherwise.

I attempted getting the SALIK card, but it was all sold out!!! So even if I wanted to pay and drive through, I couldn't!!! Stupid system. They are so unprepared. Introduce some stupid tolls without proper planning.

It's bad traffic for the next few weeks!

Skiing Season?!!?!?

Went Skiing today with Brendan & Paul - both from work.

Well, it's pretty cool going skiing during a 45 degree day.

This was the 3 of us before the skis, hoping that we wouldn't have to use any bit of company's insurance policy we had

It was freezing inside. Temperatures we hovering about -4 to -5 degrees. Well, we just had a thin layer inside, and a ski jacket on the outside. Normally, we'd survive that. But the 3 of us didn't have gloves - no we were not too cheap to get them, but we just forgot all about them till we got inside the slope.

3 runs in total. Surprisingly the black run was steeper than I expected it to be. Well, it's not all that steep as compared to the runs in Melbourne. But the snow was quite hard. It was not the soft fluffy type of snow you get at the ski mountains. (duh... it's man made).

We had a 2 hour pass for 150Dhs (about 50AUD) each - which was pretty good - included ski hires, lift pass, and clothing.

By the end of skiing we had frozen hands (and I had frozen feet too). Took a picture of my white numbed toes, but don't think i should post that picture up.

But of course, in the 45 degree day, we got ourselves thawed pretty quickly. Headed off to the Ibn Battuta to do some light shopping, before heading to the Madinat for a drink.

Had some dinner at some road side type stall - Karama (Indian) Style.

It was a fantastic day.

My new RAV4!!

Finally, I got my new RAV4!! White with tinted windows!

Sweet!! Words can't describe how excited I am! Here are some pictures!!

JT goes to Abu Dhabi to eat Roti Prata

Roti Prata was the highlight of the trip. It was probably the one factor that urge me to say "yes i'll take that 1.5 hour trip to AD". Took a drive with some other group of Singaporeans who've just arrived not too long ago too.

First stop at Abu Dhabi was the Emirates Palace Hotel. Really nice and majestic place. Unlike the Burj Al Arab, anyone can walk into the Emirates Palace Hotel. There was this grand feeling about the whole place.



There was this lady playing the harp at the lobby. It was my first time seeing someone play a harp live. She should have worn white wings and a halo.


Some private developers (maybe govt?) are planning to create a museum city. There was a museum of models in the hotel. It is planned for construction on the coast of Sadiyat (don't know if i spelt right) island - apparently AD has about 20+ islands, and Sadiyat is one of the largest island. A planned development of about 4/5 museum - one of which would be modelled after the Guggenheim Museum.
All the buildings looked really futuristic, all designed by reknown architects. Just can't explain what they look like. It's just amazing - almost like a final year not-feasable-to-build and go-crazy architectural student project.





The AD Marina Mall was the next destination. Hung around there for just an hour and a bit to kill time before we headed off for dinner at Naluketta - the Roti Prata House. (It's at the Yatch Club next to the Abu Dhabi Mall - for those who need directions there, use your GPS!).

That's my ROTI PRATA

The Roti Prata was sooo good. I'm not quite a fan of indian food. But i really enjoyed this meal. It was just fantabulous! The Sambal Sotong (Squid) was soooo good.

3 weeks and not counting

I've been here in the hot desert for 3 weeks. Over this period of time, I've met so many faces, and I'm having so much problem matching names to face. Plus all the middle eastern faces look the same to me, and they have similiar names too... Fadi or Farhad. Haha. I am finding it hard to differentiate indian people too (no- this is not a racial comment).

This week, I lost my accommodation at Lamcy Plaza. I was looking forward to moving there end of July. The current tenants decided not to move. Too bad for them, I paid my deposit, and gave them a cheque for 1 years payment! But they rang me and pleaded with me. I felt so sorry for them... so I'm homeless.

Good news, I'm moving in with Huilin now!! So i'll be living now in Al Barsha (5 mins walk to mall of emirates - that's where the ski slopes are). Woo hoo!!! I'm paying much less (so i can go for more frequent holidays), and I get company.

Yesterday I had the worst traffic in my 7 years of driving histroy. We were stuck on Sheikh Zayed Road for more than 2.5 hours (when it would normally take me only less than 30 mins). 30km of start-stop drove me nuts. They say, you'll get used to it... but how can anyone get used to it! Thank goodness I'm always against the flow of traffic (except for yesterday when I had to go on site for a meeting).

Car hunting continues this weekend. - It's Friday. sigh

Night Drive

Worked late tonight and decided to take a nice relaxing drive back home via Jumeriah Road instead of the usual Sheikh Zayed Road where drivers go crazy at 200km/h. (no it's not a figure of speech, and yes literally that fast)

Drove past the Burj Al Arab, and the Madinat, and pulled in to grab some dinner and walk around. I was at the same spot last year with David & Tim last year. Weather was so much better and the "day" pictures turned out a little different from the night. (Click on the December post to see the difference)

Each time I get in the car, I pray that I'd arrive at my destination in one piece. Thankfully that has happened in the last 4 days of driving. I've survived traffic in Dubai and in Sharjah (the neighbouring state), and getting a little bit more adventurous in taking short cuts now! I hear it is so much worse in Cairo.

My temp Home

I've moved in with Danny, Mona and David @ the Marina. I'm still waiting for my apartment to come available @ Lamcy Plaza. Dubai Marina just like Port Melbourne. Will take more pictures another day, but for now... here's some pictures of the house. It's very home-y.

Night View from my Window

Rented a CRV today. I just had my first day of driving in Dubai. Left hand driving! I drove on the wrong side of the road so many times!! Still alive. Fortunately it was a Friday drive, and not too many maniacs around (everyone is praying at the mosque). Starting on a car hunt tomorrow! Fingers crossed, I can find one by the end of the week!

A Busy Week

My 2nd work week in Dubai has just passed. There are too many Melbourne faces around the office for me to feel like I'm in a foreign land.

Today, went to Jebel Ali. Surprise surprise. All australians! I didn't think that would be the case!

This week has been such a hectic week. We were under big pressure by the clients to deliver OR ELSE... get sacked. I think someone just got sacked (though it's been kept under wraps).

I finally got my driving license today and I'm car hunting this week. I'm looking at getting a Toyota Prado - the 2 door one. They don't have that model in Australia. OR maybe a Rav4. Cars here are so cheap!! Maybe I might get an A4... though I'm more inclined to a beast on the roads. (check the dubai drivers out - insanity)

I need a car soon. I'm moving to the Marina tomorrow. It's going to be a AED70 (AUD25) trip one way if I don't drive, and it's hard to get a cab during peak hour!!!

Dinner @ the BurjAlArab

My weekend just zoomed by in the flash of an eye. Yesterday, we spent half the day at the mall of emirates. I felt so much like skiing when i saw the little kids in their big pooofy jackets coming down the runs! I will go once day - when it gets warmer in summer!

After 5 hours of roaming around Mall of Emirates, we headed down to the Burj Al Arab. Security is so tight there. We were stopped by the gates, and they nearly couldn't find Damien's booking on the list.



Took a few pictures of both the BurjAlArab and the Jumeriah Beach Hotel. Quite a pretty sight!

The Burj Al Arab - By Day and by Night

Sunset at the Burj Al Arab

Jumeriah Beach Hotel

It looked very posh in the inside. But I think they over did it with the gold elevators. Too much gold everywhere. But the main lobby area was uniquely nice.



We had dinner at one of the restaurant on the ground floor. Lucky us, we got a very good seating spot, facing the main lounge area. Food was alright, not exactly all that fantastic. The oysters weren't all that fresh, and the prawns made me feel a little sick. Other than that, it was good!

Food, food and more food

We hung around chatting and listening to Damien's crap and stories about work. A very nice evening indeed.

Dune Bashing!

It's good to have visitors here in Dubai when you're new. So I also did get to do the tourist-y stuff! Damien and Alfie are here at the moment from the Melbourne office.

We went Dune Bashing today! This desert safari tour takes you on a short drive out of the city into the sand dunes. We stopped by a few stations (like at the desert mountain grocery - ?!?) before doing the real thing.

Fortunately, we had a driver with superb skills. He was just caning it. A few times, the 4 wheel drive felt like it was about to overturn - but of course it didn't! Some parts were fairly steep. It's not as obvious in the photos. Go try it!
There are stories of dunes having a 15m drop at the peak - but too bad i didn't see one.


Also included was a ride on the camel. Stupid camel was grunting and whinging. It just went "oooooo, ooooooooo". Maybe I was too fat and heavy.

We had a dinner and a belly dance show after at a village. It's not really a village. It' s just an area cornered off for all the tourist dune bashers. Dinner was really good. It was nice and yummy arabic sort of food - the kebabs and sorts. Post dinner entertainment was belly dancing - no i did NOT do a belly dance.

It is the beginning of my FUN 2 years in Dubai. More exciting post to come!

No Alcohol in Dubai?

I had dinner with Damien yesterday at Deira City Centre (on Melbourne's expense). He asked for the wine list... and the response he got was "sorry sir, we only have beer, non-alcholic beer" . Gee, see the look on his face. Haha.

We had our work function at the Novotel hotel today, then headed down to Le Meridian for some drinks. Yup. I had my first sip of alcohol in Dubai. Funnily, when I was leaving the pub, there was this guy all dressed in the traditional arabic dress (or whatever you call it), drinking a glass of wine. Maybe it's non-alcoholic wine.

Work has been good so far. I finally got myself a mobile number, and still hunting around for accommodation. May have to sleep in the dumps in 4 weeks if i don't find something quick!

First Dubai Post

Finally.. after doing the flying in and out of dubai for the last 6 months... i now officially based here as of today. Touch down in Dubai airport at 1:30am. Didn't have any airport dramas this time! Phewww!

Had lunch at this place called Noodle Bowl. It's the place to meet Singaporeans!??? Errr.....

The world has been really small since I got into Dubai. After meeting Danny & Mona (who are friends of my Aunt's boss), I found out that I know their daughter through school and swimming! At Noodle Bowl, I bumped into Davis & Dennis's uncle whom I met on the plane on the way to Dubai. Too many connections to comprehend.

It's been a good and long day. Work starting tomorrow. Sigh... I haven't worked in about 2 over weeks.

Off to Dubai

After spending 11 days in Singapore just not doing much, I'm so used to staying home. Ahh... is this what retirement is like? I am finally off to Dubai tonight and back to reality again.

This is by far one of the best trips back. After so many years, I've managed to catch up with my 2 closest friends since primary school swimming days. It's been years we were away... yet when we hang out, it just felt like yesterday that we last saw each other!

It was a good day out with Mave and Faye too... plus the 2 catching sessions with Liming.

Also, I'm so happy for the few that have big business ideas at yum.sg...

I'm glad I came back for so long. I couldn't have done all this in just 1 week. It's off to Dubai for now. So stay tuned for my next post!

Sentosa-ing

Spent more than half a day with Mavis & Faye. Faye went down to CHIJMES to get her wedding preparations sorted out. That took quite a while! And went to run more errands before meeting Mave for lunch.

Finally, we got to go to Sentosa. Destination was Sentosa Cove - Faye's aunt's 2nd home. This places looks so much like Dubai... with all the Palm trees... the Dubai Creek look alike.

Went swimming at Faye's house (yah, we went all the way to Sentosa to swim in the pool).
And as usual, I do take a lot of pictures!!