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| For our December trip this year, we decide on a last minute road trip with our good friend MikeD, to his former hometown - Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. Hmmmm, this should be interesting!
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Any good trip starts with a good breakfast...and why not Spaghetti Bolognese in Frankfurt at 7:00am after flying all night from Toronto? |
After that light meal we settle in for our next 8 hour flight, to Dubai. |
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| From the Lufthansa in flight video screens, our route from Frankfurt to Dubai - skirting between Iran and Iraq, passing above Kuwait, and over the Persian Gulf. | |
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| Welcome to Dubai! Upon arrival, just a bit of rush hour traffic to contend with... | And just a little bit more! | Until we finally arrive at MikeD's apartment in time to enjoy the view in the setting sun. |
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| The next day we explore our surroundings. Mike cleans up. | And then takes breakfast on the terrace. | While MikeD and Mark go for a swim in the complex's pool. |
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| Bathing beauty!?! | ||
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From there, we do an evening on the town... |
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We stop in Little India - who's sari now? |
A lovely felucca ride on the river. |
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| The local ferry terminal by night. | Apparently it has something to do with brotherhood...yeah, right! | |
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A late lunch at the Burj! Let's nosh at the world's only 6 star hotel... |
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| A spot of cardamom tea, perhaps? | ||
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| Hey, lemme try some of that dessert...I'll cut ya if you don't, I'll cut ya! | The view from the top! Downtown Dubai in the distance. | |
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| What a meal, that calls for a drink! | Sunset over the Persian Gulf | |
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What a day. We think we need a little lie down. |
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| ROAD TRIP!! We decide to drive across the country over to Fujairah and Dibba on the Indian Ocean for a bit of beach time! | ||
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| A healthy breakfast to start the day. | Then, we're on the road! | |
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| The tiny town of Sharjah. | ||
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| Let's stop at the roadside market for some fruit, veggies and toys made in China. |
Two men, two coconuts, one rainbow and a dead king. |
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Traffic jam...out country style! |
After that, it's back to clear sailing... |
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| Ahhh, the beach! | Overlooking the Straights of Hormuz and the never ending line of oil tankers | |
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Now that's what you'd call a case of the crabs! |
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| Reportedly the oldest mosque in the UAE. | ||
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| Instructions for enjoying a meal at the Al Aqah Beach Resort.... | ||
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| Step 1 - Be aware of all your entry points. MikeD is showing where his particular entrance usually is. | ||
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Step 2, wash your hands. Be sure you choose the correct washroom. To do this, check for the signs... |
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| Domineering Men. | Subservient women. | |
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| Step 3 - Order your meal and enjoy. Mike selects the diet blue plate special. | Step 4 - After the meal, retire to the pool for a smoke of your choice. After the smoke, get the munchies and repeat from Step 1. | |
| An afternoon at the Souk (market) in Dubai... | ||
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| And what's a trip to the Middle East, full of deserts, heat, sand and dryness, without a visit to the local.......water park?!? | |
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| Yes, a real, true water park... | Mark could feel her pain. |
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| Mike prepares for a night on the town... | |
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| Shave... | Massage... |
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And dress. |
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| Realizing that, perhaps, he was being a bit too formal, we all dress down and enjoy a night out in downtown Dubai's hotspots...in this case The Shanghai Club. | |
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| Just sitting on the beach... | ...watching all the pretty girls go by... ummm, no, I mean, men... ahhh, well, not so pretty either. Damn! Forget it...! |
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| A view of the skyline on this, our last day in Dubai! And, as life would have it, the only day of rain we had! | |
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| The tastefully understated Dubai Airport. | |
| Welcome to our 30 hour Frankfurt stopover. | |
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| Yeah? Who you callin' a mo? You talkin' to me? You must be talking to me, I don't see any other mos around! | Yes, from 32C to -6C in under 8 hours...we are SO happy! |
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| Ah, the Christmas Market is in full swing...streets full of little Christmas stalls. And what does one do in Frankfurt, in December, with all these stalls...? | |
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| Why, drink of course. | And drink. |
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| And drink. | And drink. |
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Until we finally stumble out into the street and off to home. Good night everybody! |
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