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!!!