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 HornsHi 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.
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
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
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