Post Thanskgiving and Pic's of Burj Arab

The Burj Arab probably one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. It is a 7 star hotel. We will go there next time Christine comes over.

A little closer view.

Yes that is a helicopter pad on the left. ( looks like the Jetson's doesn't it? ) On the right is the cocktail lounge. On the far side of the tower is the Jumariah Palms - the man made island to resemble a palm tree. It's a gated community so no sightseeing permitted. ( plus how would you know it was a palm unless you were in a plane)

Welcome to my villa - come on in, the dirt floor is fine ! Actually this is at the Heritage Village which shows the history of the UAE and this is a "typical" house 50 years ago. Yes only 50 years. Behind Christine ( who is taking the picture are examples of the Bedouin tents) Note the skyscrapers in the background.

What Knockers ! Why Thank You Herr Doktor ! ( If you haven't watched Young Frankenstein you wouldn't get this joke)

Hi all,
Sunday 29 Nov 2009
Well Thanksgiving is over and for me it was a non-event. Without all the media hype and consumer frenzy, you wouldn't have know it was "that" time of year. Plus when it's mid 80's and I'm swimming in an outdoor pool every morning, any thoughts of harvest time and frost on the pumpkin are far removed from my daily thoughts.
I have been on vacation since Thanksgiving Day as that was the start of Eid (there are two Eids per year- This is the "fun" one as described by a local) and on Dec 2 and 3 celebrates the UAE's 38th anniversary as a nation (our July 4). Well his Royal Highness decreed that the 3 days between Eid and UAE Nationality Days would be a national holiday as well - So who am I to complain about 10 days paid time off ? Mama didn't raise no fool !

I must tell you however that I had my tickets selected and the cursor on the accept payment - but then I came to my senses and canceled the flight back to the US. Figured 3 of the days would have been in transit and the money spent would be better spent when Alex comes a month from now doing fun things with him.
Well I had a first today, a fellow swimmer, Sid, is the general manager of the new Holiday Inn in Abu Dhabi, well stop thinking about the Holiday Inn's in the USA, the international ones are MUCH nicer. - REPEAT MUCH NICER. well the hotels' restaurant was having a soft opening and Sid invited me to dinner. Unfortunately I was alone but greatly enjoyed my meal of Cucumber gazpacho, Seafood Salad ,Veal Osso Bucco, Teramizu and 2 glasses of a fine Cab Sav and my meal was complete. - and all for no cost at all ! I was stunned. It was explained to me that all the people here that evening were guests of the management and we were there to critique and enjoy. My only critique - was that they should have charged me.

I did however take care of my server- Riosol - from Mexico. (Yes I know) The restaurant - The Lemon Tree - is Mediterranean themed and from what I had the food was excellent, on time, and for a guy like me - right portioned as well. Yeah for soft openings !
When Christine was here we went to the Dragon Mall ( I'd say at least 1000 importers - and yes 99% of them Chinese) There we bought some track lighting for my dinning area and I am installing it today.
Stopped across the street to see Suzanna after my swim this morning and invited them Suzanna and her mother Layla ( Chris is in London on business) to dinner - well I'll make dinner and take it there as it's much easier for me to make it here and take it there versus them having to pack up Taavi and bring him and all the baby stuff here. I'm making eggplant parmigiana, lemon basil carrots and a salad. Plus I'll take over a cheese plate for after dinner with a tawny Port. YUM
Tomorrow Dec. 1 is Alex's birthday - he will be 23. Wow where has the time gone.

Hanie is bringing their bird over for me to watch as they are going to Malaysia for a 5 day vacation so I'll have a feathered friend to care for. I think that is what so cool about this area- so many destinations are close at hand. Europe, Asia, Africa and India. such a dilemma on where to go - I know - HOME.

Well that's all for now.
Love to all,
Scott

Fujairah

Standing on the Beach at Fajairah and looking back toward the Hajar Mountains

Looking out from our veranda toward the pools.

These goats came right up beside the car - probably looking for food. Littering is prevalent in the Emirates (much to our consternation) so suppose these animals are just trying to survive. Note the lost horn on white goat - tough life in the desert.

This camel walked into the road in front of the car and casually strolled along side us for a bit.

Looking up our street in the morning. Scott was just leaving for work and we were both taken at how beautiful the moon appeared. Note how narrow the street is and people just park any where, so you serpentine your way thru the maze.


Fajairah was actually a part of Sharjah until 1952, making it the youngest of the seven emirates. It is the only emirate located entirely on the east coast. There is a modern port for containerized shipping, as well as, the tourism aspect of this area. The Hajar Mountains literally fall into the Indian Ocean! There is about 1/2 mile of land from base of the mountain to beaches; beautiful resort compounds are literally rising from this small strip of land. Our 4th floor hotel veranda had a gorgeous view of the compound and the beaches. We enjoyed sitting outside and watching the birds (green parakeets & parrots) fly right by and stop at our roof line. The apple core, purposely left on the table, was gone but the seeds by the next morning.

We really enjoyed the poolside lounging and swim-up bar. Once again people very friendly. Spoke with a Russian gentleman, whose family was visiting for 2 weeks - just to soak up some sun. He told us that St. Petersburg is already snow covered! The Hermitage and a trip to St. Petersburg in now on "places we would like to visit" list while Scott lives overseas; this list just gets longer and longer.

Scott & I made it down to the beach on Sunday morning in time to watch the sun rise; absolutely gorgeous! Scott then did his laps in the Indian Ocean (Gulf of Oman), while I enjoyed walking the beach and shell seeking. Found a cowrie, a limpet and coral to add to my collection - unfortunately no sea glass. Also, unfortunately, I am no Cecil B. Demille. Translation: I screwed up the pictures from this part of the day. (Technologically impaired for certain)

After our breakfast and morning lounge by the pool, we prepared for our 4-hour drive back to Abu Dhabi. More animals in the middle of the road and if you hit them you are at fault. You have to reimburse the owner of said animal. Still preferred the austere beauty of the sand dunes (you can rent dune buggies) and watching camels to driving on the 8-lane highways back to Abu Dhabi. We came home rested, relaxed and planning more adventures in eastern areas of UAE.

That's it for now, love to all, Christine and Scott

Al Ain and Jebal Hafeet

The Fort in Al Ain

A "Typical" Palace at the base of Jebal Hafeet

A view from higher up the mountain.

About half way up.

Christine and I at the hotel's restaurant with nothing but Al Ain at our feet from Jebal Hafeet.

This photo looks like an ad for Ozzie Ltd - note the Kameleon ring and sunglasses. Interchangeable centers: perfect for traveling. Have been asked numerous times about the necklace - engraved on one side with our names and anniversary date, other side our sons names and their birth dates. When people ask what "my" store sells, I just start at the top and work my way down to switchflops. So, should I start the Abu Dhabi Ozzie Ltd franchise?

Okay, back to our travels. Al Ain is the home of first president of UAE and so gets preferential treatment: yes, that is exactly what you are thinking.... money pours into the city for improvements and tourist attractions. However, Al Ain is an oasis and has much to offer on its own. There are historical forts and museums and so much that is way older than most of us are used to. Scott and I will certainly return to Al Ain over the next few years of Scott's time here.

Al Ain is one of the places Scott plans to take Alex over the Christmas break from USNA - possibly one of Alex's last holidays before his graduation in May of 2010. As a History major (and Arabic minor) at school, we know that Alex will find this ancient area of the world so very interesting - as do we.

More pictures and more details of our time together to follow, Love , Christine and Scott

Coming up for air !

Hi from the pool in Al Ain

Morning coffee at the pool bar in Al Ain

One headed- two body - Ibex

Christine, Giraffe and look closely an Ostrich

Great Horns

Hi All,

Thursday, 12 Nov. 2009

Christine is still sleeping as it's 4:30am. I'm taking today off to extend my last weekend with her as she flies out early Sunday morning. We are going to drive up to Dubai today go to a few malls and then over to see the famous sail shaped building.

Christine's visit has been wonderful and allowed me to see more of this country, which is far more diverse than I had originally thought.

Let's begin at the beginning.

Hello from Abu Dhabi; Christine at the controls now and I'll give you my impressions of my visit and especially our holiday in the desert.

I arrived on a Thursday evening to wine & cheese in our villa and a very happy husband. We spent the next few days poolside, marketing and generally getting me accustomed once again to the diverse culture and crazy drivers in Abu Dhabi. Rest was exactly what I needed and Scott gave that to me aplenty, along with wonderful meals... Grilled Salmon a' la Gene, Chicken Marsala, Shrimp (the size of your thumb) Cocktail, Seafood Pasta, Lamb Burgers with "Rosenfeld Sauce" and much more (salmon, too!) Realize that is a lot of food description, but the foodies reading this will enjoy just thinking about Scott's wonderful skills in the kitchen. Once again, my job was clean up and cheerfully done.

Scott took off two days so we could enjoy a lovely 4-day holiday in the desert last weekend. We did a 2+ hour drive to Al Ain (said Elaine) and went right to the zoo. We have always enjoyed zoos and search time out when we travel. (Oddly enough, we have never gone to the Louisville Zoo). Al Ain was a smaller zoo with the vast majority of animals being from arid climates of Africa, Indian and of course, Arabian peninsula. So many types of gazelles and deer, not to mention rodents (gerbils and such) interesting snakes/reptiles. Birds flying around free and another separate exhibit of penguins. As we stood by the penguin tank, one swam right up beside the glass and we sort of "played" a back and forth game with the inquisitive fellow. Scott also did this in the reptile house with an iguana that was frilling out his neck and displaying his dominance. That was a sight to see!

We met 2 American men who were representative of the San Diego Zoo. We visited that zoo in 2004 and so discussed how much we liked it and they told us of the improvements The CEO & Director of the Al Ain Zoo was with them; it turns out the 2 zoos have an "arrangement" - how interesting. The director (a Brit) took over this zoo in the past year and admitted he had alot of work to do and urged us to come back next year.

We found our way to the Intercontinental Hotel (5 Star) just down the road in Al Ain proper and were thrilled with the beautiful accommodations. Changed into swim attire and cover ups (you had to walk thru the main lobby to get to the pool areas). Off to the pool and the "swim up" bar - not making this up. Spent time there that day and the next, which probably isn't much of a surprise to any of you reading this... Dinner was light and then off to bed. Next day up and read by the lap pool while Scott did his daily workout - he started talking the guy in next lane. This guy was from California and was a swimmer in HS and still plays water polo in Dubai - Scott said his "style" was good and that he was blowing Scott out of the water. Not that I noticed... really, girls I was too busy reading.

Our drive up to Jebel Hafeet for lunch was spectacular! Switch backs all the way up the mountain and you can see a very long distance from the top, back to Al Ain & into Oman. It was austerely beautiful and awe inspiring. The rock formations are dry & powdery from baking in the sun and being sandblasted by the wind. Beautiful hotel, where we savored a delicious buffet, fabulous desserts and just sitting together in such a beautiful setting. Took pictures on way back (passed a huge cement plant) and then on to the pool for relaxation and a cocktail at that wonderful swim-up bar. ( I say this about the cement plant as this is the way you are given directions here - it's not to so-and-so street, it's go to the cement factory and go around the roundabout and then straight till the lantern roundabout. - Very confusing for us street/address people.

Scott started talking to some women (imagine that - at the swim up bar)and it turns out one of them was from NY (an immigration attorney). Her husband, also from NY, is in construction in UAE. No big surprise - the entire country is literally under construction with cranes, bulldozers, cement trucks and various earth moving equipment both in the cities, along the roads and in the desert). Scott knew someone in this fellow's company and they got a laugh out of that. Apparently this company will be working on the new Mafraq Hospital - due to start construction right next door to current facility. Three young men (pilots for Etihad) - 2 from England and other New Zealand were talking to us. (People here are very friendly and will strike up a conversation quite easily - maybe because all ex pats are a wee bit homesick) ( or maybe she's a hot babe in a reveling swimsuit) Connection here as well, because a fellow at Mafraq Hospital is friends with one of the pilots. Told Scott I felt like singing "It's a small world after all."( I'd have had to have drowned her if she did)

The following day we were up early and out. A four hour drive to Fajarah thru the desert awaited us: we got lost and ran out of road (seriously, the road just stopped!), asked for directions several times, made numerous wrong turns and had camels and goats in our driving lane. (we ended up going down a dirt path - yes a dirt path - I was following someone else and we ended up back where we got lost doing a complete circle) It was an adventure and we were both happy to arrive at the Beach Rotana just north of Fajarah. (that last sentence is married speak for "we were both on each other's last nerve and needed to get out of the car and away from each other for a few minutes") Another 5 star hotel - Scott did a great job picking our accommodations! We swam in the Indian Ocean and then found the swim-up bar. Sat on a stool in the water and had a Stella Atois while Scott enjoyed Foster's. Dinner that night was at the 22-story Meridian hotel next door - wonderful Thai. Scott asked for hot sauce and wow, did he pay! Next morning we were down at the beach to watch the sunrise (gorgeous). Scott did laps in the ocean as it was nice and calm and I picked up some shells and coral. Breakfast was included in the stay and then back out at the pool until 11:00 when we had to prepare to leave. It was lovely and we plan to go back to Fajarah. ( a side note, Fajarah is on the mountainous east coast and the hotel is tucked between the mountains and the coast with less than a 1/2 mile between ocean and mountain- excellent views.

Recall I mentioned going thru Oman; however, Scott found out the roads aren't as good (you mean worse that just ending in the middle of the desert?). So, he decided to just stay in UAE, which was an adventure in itself. On ride back to Abu Dhabi we had experiences ranging from donkeys just walking into the middle of 4-lane highways to 8-lanes (each direction) as we skirted Dubai. Drivers are notoriously bad here and there is so much traffic that being alone in the desert isn't bad experience.

I continue to see and enjoy getting to know Liz, the gal from Scotland; she has taken me shopping several times. Saves Scott from having to go to the market and I get to have girl time during the day. Spent a few hours yesterday helping the couple across the street; they have 5-week old baby and lots of visitors (so I helped with a bit of bed changing and got to hold Taavi as my reward).

More later

Love Scott and Christine