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!!

Feels Good

Feels so good to be hanging out with Cheryl and Yujun. We all sort of grew up together. It's been years since the last time we all had a meal. It's the sort of friendship whereby you don't catch up for years, and it only seemed like yesterday. We're all in 3 different field of work, in 3 different countries - the singapore banker, the australian engineer, the british doctor.

We used to train together since primary school... swimming trainings were the best time to hang out! We had fun doing really stupid things at every overseas competition, and now... we still do take stupid pictures! Was taking pictures at the Esplanade & Marina / Fullerton area. Felt like such a tourist... but I AM a tourist!

Videos

I've never posted a YouTube Video... There's always a first time.
Tim, you'll appreciate this! Cheers to the winner of the competition.

Lazy Bum

Been back for a week already. I've been such a bum... waking up at 10am, messing my room up (it a sign that I've been home), watching tv. With my friends all at work, there's no one to go out with me!! *whinge whinge*.

Still managed to get a few things done over the last week. - Cut my hair short (ok, short enough), got some golfing in (which resulted in me turning charcoal colour), started on some online accommodation hunting, packing etc.

Ah... the feeling of not having to work is soooo nice. I've been getting work from Dubai (even before starting!), but it's sitting in my bag.

Oh yes, I've set up a site for my Dubai adventures... so you can click here for more (there is nothing posted at the moment)! This blog would just be for my daily ramblings...

Lazy me will end this blog entry now!....

Sad

Hasn't really sunk in yet. I'm back in Singapore now... on transit to Dubai. Feeling a little sad and a little lost. I'm not going back for a while. I'm starting to miss everyone and everything, including my new house. =(

Last day @ work

My last day in the Melbourne office. Officially!!! Though I haven't exactly been in the office much over the last 6 months....
Felt really sad leaving. We had our monthly drinks up in the big meeting room.

I will miss everyone. Especially...

Rahul - between 7:30 to 8:00am... My breakfast buddy

Luba - my 10am morning coffee gossip session

Dinnesh, Lina, Ming, Rossy - hanging out in the tea room talking about HM

Crispin - my expert who can fix all my stupid drafting mistakes

and everone else who is full of crap. Just love it!

Packing up was quite hard today, and saying the good byes was sad. Some ning nongs didn't even come for drinks and say bye (you know who you are).