Sand Everywhere!

So quite an adventure yesterday afternoon. After having lunch with Uncle Bob at possibly the nicest hotel I have ever seen ("The one and only Marriot" I think), Barb and I were off on another adventure. Nelson picked us up at the house in his Lexus SUV and we headed out to the desert. We stopped at this place on the side of the road, where I swear there were at least 50 SUVs, all white, mostly Land Rovers. Everybody was out for a ride in the dunes. Now Robin, I know what you think of mud-bogging, but I tell you, this was fantastic. So we were off to the big dunes, no small dunes for Nelson (well actually it was Barb that insisted on the big dunes. I was sure we were going to fall over the side of one of them, but Nelson was a fantastic driver. He was funny too, his daughter just graduated from Med school in the Philipines and you can tell he is one proud dad. Anyways, we stopped a few times for pictures and to watch some of the tour companies adventures (one guy got stuck). Then we pull up to the edge of another dune and Nelson announces we are going sand boarding. Well I tell you, this ski girl is terrified of the thought of any type of boarding, be it on snow, water or sand. I just can't do it. Well, we soon found out, I am actually quite good at sand boarding (key is you don't turn, just go straight down). So Barb and I both had a go at it. I fell on my first run, more out of fear then anything. Barb had a good bail at the very end of her first run. She had sand everywhere. The hike back up was horrific (every step you sink in and down), but I still went three times, although the last one, Nelson met us at the bottom with the truck. Then we were off to the camel farm. When we got there, people were everywhere, but because they were all with tour companies, they were on a much more strict time line. So Barb (who loves camels), and I were right in there.
Apparently camels are a lot like dogs, they really like having their ears scratched and under their chins. So that was great, then everybody left and Nelson talked to the guy who took care of the camels and he said we could go in the pens with them. Nelson apparently knows everyone and everyone really likes him. So in we went. There were baby camels (but we couldn't go very close to them). But the other camels were right up with us, fighting for our attention and ear scratches (just like Ginny and Peggy). So yes, it was fantastic. I tell you, camels are making their way up my favourite animals list. Then we were off again, but Nelson made Barb drive. I was a little nervous, but he had her on the small dunes and she was pretty good. Finally after one hell of an afternoon/evening we were back home and had burgers for dinner. A very good day indeed.
For those of you who are a little concerned that I kissed a camel, don't worry, it's an illusion, I was actually up near its ear and a couple inches away, ah the glory of photography!

A Mosque, A ton of Gold and A Whirling Dervish

Well it was a busy day yesterday. Barb and I had some running around to do. While Barb was at the dentist, I walk down to the Jumeirah Grand Mosque, very impressive. Anyways, after some more running around Barb and I went to see the Burj, you know the hotel Duabi is famous for? The one with tons of gold (real gold everywhere) and all that? It was very impressive. Don't worry Julie, we didn't have to pay the $50 to get in. We went up to the lounge where you could see all of Dubai. You could see the edge of the Palm leaves on the development that is shaped like a plam tree. It was very cool. The washrooms had Hermes hand lotion in them (wow). It was beautiful, but almost to the point of being gaudy. Anyways, when we got back to the house, we all got changed and headed out to this place called the Bab Al Shams, which is a very touisty, but very well done Arabian night. We entered what they had set up as a market (a huge buffet). We had great seats right at the front where there was a band playing Arabic music. We had an Arabian 'salad' which was really Lebanese dishes like fresh pita and all kinds of dips and veggies. Then this lady came out and sang with these 5 girls dancing (although they weren't very good). Then we went for the buffet. Well because goat is one of the staples here, I tried it, but I think I am done eating goat now for awhile. I just couldn't get the picture of a little goat out of my head (Beacon Hill park in the spring with all the baby goats). After eating Barb and I went and rode a camel (haha). It was great. I can't belive how high up you are. Them standing and getting back down was a little nerve racking though, it's quite a dip. I also got to hold a falcon. Falconning is still very popular here. Birds make me nervous, so I was a little shaky, but I did it. Then the whirling dervish came on stage. Very impressive. I would have been so dizzy. Then the most amazing belly dancer I have ever seen. She could issolate better then anybody I have ever seen dance before. I was very jealous as I have been trying to learn to shimmy (unsuccessfully) in African dance since January. So, it was an awesome night, very touristy, but still a lot of fun. Anyways, we are going sand duning later today, so that should be interesting (not recommended for those who get car sick). PS. Katie I hope you have that baby soon!

A day in old Dubai and off to the other Emirates

Well, the past two days have been quite the experience. Now that my sleeping patterns are finally sorted, things have been really good. Yesterday, Uncle Bob and I went down to old Dubai to see the Dhows that ship stuff (everything from cars to plastic lawn furniture) everywhere, from India to East Africa. It was pretty cool. I have no idea how they keep it all sorted, but they do. Then we went into the market place. Now, since it was Friday (the Holy day), the market wasn't open until 4 (everything is usually open from 10-1, 4-8), but on Fridays it opens at 4. So most shops were just starting to open. We walked by the spice market (beautiful smells), past all kinds of carpet shops (tons of those here) and past the gold market (very sparkly). Now the really strange part for me, was the fact that I was the only woman on most of the streets. Rather strange for me. Anyways, it was quite an experience, very different from what most people think of as Dubai. Today we headed out to Raz Al Khaimah, one of the 7 Emirates. A new golf course open out there last week and Bob wanted to see it. I also got to see a lot more of the UAE then just Dubai. I quite enjoy the camels roaming around. Then we headed back towards Dubai and stopped in Al Sharjah (another Emirate). We stopped at the Central Souq (like a market). I'm on the look out for some carpets for Sandy back home, and we soon found out this was the place to be. We ended up in this one shop, where the owner offered us mint tea (and I drank it), we sat and he showed us tons of different carpets. Well, instead of buying one for Sandy (although we found a few for her too), I ended up with my first real 'piece' for my theoretical house. It is beautiful and something that I should have for a very long time. Anyways, now we are all back at the house relaxing after a long day of travelling and shopping, but it is all very worth it.

Dubai - A City of Construction

Hey everybody. So I made it to Dubai safe and sound and am trying my hardest to deal with the jet lag. I tell you, waking up at 4 in the morning and being wide awake is really frustrating. 10 hrs. difference really screws up the system. Anyways. I arrived two nights ago. Bob and Barb picked me up at the airport. It was 1:30 am and 31 degrees out. Yikes. Anyways, we got back to their house and Sam (the chocolate lab) greeted us at the door. I was sound asleep within a seconds of hitting the pillow. Yesterday. Barb and I went to the Mall of the Emirates to look around. We stopped to look at the indoor ski hill. There is something very strange about learning to snow plow inside. Although the tubing looked like a lot of fun. It was kinda crazy. Then we met Bob for lunch at the Madinat Jumeirah which is a really beautiful resort on the beach. After lunch we wandered around the canals a bit (you have to take little water taxis to get to some of the rooms) and went down to the beach. What a beautiful beach too. Views of the Burj Al Arab (the hotel that is supposed to look like a sail). Anyways, Bob then took me on a bit of a tour of Dubai. We went past the Knowledge center which has satelite campuses from tons of different unis (soon UofC). Then past the Dubai marina. I swear there must be more cranes here then anywhere else in the world. Construction is everywhere (although right now it is centered around the marina). Anyways, then we headed back to the house for a relaxing evening of reading and tv. It's funny, my mom's family is so similar to each other, no matter whose house you are at, you are sure to find the golf channel as being a favourite. Barb is in a golf tournament today (see they are all the same), but it is like 37 degrees outside (crazy to be golfing). So we'll see what uncle Bob and I get up to. Welcome to my trip!

Good-bye Canada

Ok, so my count down is finally coming to an end. I leave in a couple days for the next big adventure. I finished work yesterday which was pretty exciting. We went out for a really nice lunch and were only missing one person from the office (pretty impressive). I can't say I will miss the monkey jokes, but I will miss the people at Triumph. Last night was also tough cause I had to say goodbye to my second family. In a year you become pretty close to the people you live with. I'm definately going to miss my cousins, Brayden and Kevan, and my aunt and uncle, and even the neurotic cats, Marleau and Megs. And I am going to say Happy Birthday to Brayden now cause I don't know I will get the chance on Monday, so happy 10th birthday Brayden. Anyways, I will give a quick run down of the plans. 1st stop: 1 week in Dubai with Uncle Bob, then South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania (Mom will join me the second week of June after Kili), then Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and finally the UK. I will be back in Canada July 8 and then straight to Cold Lake for Amanda's wedding. Should be pretty exciting. Hopefully I can update this regularly, if not, sorry, but I will try. Anyways, talk to you all soon