home sweet home

we got home today from a fantastic, wonderful trip...it was truly a once in a lifetime experience..i've never been gone so long, been so far away from my home, never flown around the world...there is so much we saw and did in one short month...it really went by fast..plus, it was alot of fun! dubai was modern, clean, new, and basically unreal...they have built so much in such a short time..a very easy place to visit..india on the other hand wasn't so clean, new or modern..but it was unreal! from the bobble heads to the nodding heads of those people wanting to help you..the crazy, and i mean crazy traffic to the peace of the taj mahal...the crowds that are everywhere, the streets, the countryside, the markets...basically everywhere there are alot of people...it's just an amazing place..and then there is thailand...it's so different from india...alot of people, but well kept, beautiful green everywhere..the blues of the ocean and sky, the flowers and plants..the markets are fun, the temples are amazing..it has so much to offer....so, we saw different cultures, different ways of life..a fantastic time and you come home really appreciating the country we live in...

dubai--day 2

0n the boat
city
sheiks towers

burq al arab



in the restaurant

in the desert











can't believe we've only been here 2 days..we've done alot...i'll have to break it into 3 parts because we've done 3 separate activities today.....
this morning we got up and called to reserve a boat.so we went on a tour for about an hour...i've realized i really love water...it's always so pretty and calming...anyway..we went out in front of our hotel and saw the palm islands...they are really cool...much bigger than i thought it would be..they are building huge apt/condos there plus mega hotels on the outer branches..i think we need to come back in 10 years to tt/condo buildings...i don't know who is going to live in all of them...i think the sheik must think 'build it and the will come'....he sure is building..the marina is beautiful...some gorgeous buildings.

this afternoon we went to the burq al arab hotel...that is the sailboat hotel...it's amazing...over the top...you can only go to it (that means even go on the grounds) if you are staying there. or at one of the sheiks other hotels or if you have a lunch/dinner reservation...so we got one of those...plus there is a dress code! good thing russ brought some pants...you drive up to the hotel and see 4 or 5 rolls royces, ferraris...whatever fancy car there is...once you enter, it's amazing to see..they have a huge big lobby with this amazing waterfountain that puts on this great water show...everything is gold, purple, red..you ride up the escalator to the 2 story and then we went to the elevators..the restaurant is on the 27th floor...the restaurant itself as you enter actually looks like a space ship or star wars..it's all windows looking out on the ocean...you can see the 'world islands' that are being built...i guess they are done, just no buildings on them yet...we had a delicious and probably the most expensive lunch i've ever had...it was fun to look out at everything...then we went down the glass elevator with a great view...it was a fun time.

later this afternoon, we went on a desert safari...out in the arabian desert...it was really fun...we drove for about an hour in a tahoe (most cars seem to be american), then turned off the road into the desert..our driver took out some of the air in the tires, for better traction...then off we went, up, down, back and forth, up and back on the dunes...it was really fun...a little nervous...hoping we wouldn't tip over or spin out in the sand...we got out at a few points to see the scenery and the sun set...the sand is soooo soft..felt really good on my feet...we ended up at a compound where we ate dinner...we also went on a very small camel ride..more of a photo op...it was fun though..we ate dinner seated at low tables sitting on pillows...we were also able to get henna tatoos, so russ and i got some ink...you could also smoke the flavored tobacco out of the huukas...we didn't...after dinner we had a belly dancer..she moved in alot of different ways...so the end of a fun day...tomorrow off to india...

dubai

some little bowling pins dressed as women
russ outside our hotel
burq hotel
crossing the 'creek' actually more like a river
jameriah mosque
city scape
in the souk..the lady in the black veils had a package on her head


today we toured dubai...but, before our 2 pm trip...we decided to go to the pool...it's really nice..very peaceful...hotel is lovely...arabian..very cool...from the beach you can look at the palm islands..then, russ and i had massages..very relaxing..the girl put so much oil in my hair, it isn't out after 3 washings! we went on this tour of dubai...it was very interesting...the city is very new...it's been a village here for over a 100 years, but, nothing much until 1960's...the then sheik found oil and from then on! he came up with ideas for dubai...after he died he's son has carried on and come up with many fantastic ideas...the city is totally under construction..so many cool buildings, parks, islands, you name it, they are building it...new roads...it's unreal, they seem to have so much money for stuff...crazy...this place has so many different parts to it..the new is really nice, clean, beautiful buildings...the old side, is just sort of old and junky...we went to the sheiks palace..very huge...went to the most famous mosque..very pretty...went to the spice souk and gold souk...bazaars...they sucked...the one in turkey was waaaaaaay better.after the souk, russ and i left the tour..it was over, so we caught a cab...this guy was from egypt and very smooth..about 60..he took my hand and kissed it! and after when i was paying, he didn't give me change..guess he figured that he'd wooed me and wanted his payment! .i'm very impressed with this city..for one, it would be so easy to live here as an american...everything is either in english or arabic...everyone speaks english..it's very american i think...the roads are fabulous..like i said, everything is new..oh, an interesting note...went to the bathroom at the museum..there was toilet paper, thank goodness, but also a hose to rinse yourself off!!! weird...the other thing about this place...this sheik has figured out how muslims and everyone else can get along beautifully...he wants people to come to his city, so he can make money...he has alot! anyway...why can't the rest of the middle east do the same? it's a very safe city...it's really nice...tomorrow we're going to the sail hotel...and on a desert safari...

dubai

at the airport
we just arrived in dubai...and first impressions are: it's pretty cool...russ and i left sunday at 5 pm...we flew on emirates air..straight to dubai...no stops...the flight was 16 hours...they had about 500 movies to choose from, so you were kept entertained...not as bad as i thought it would be...we got off the plane and walked into this gorgeous brand new airport...it is all chrome, glass and mirrors, it's really nice and emirates is using it, so it was pretty empty...it took about 1 minute to get through customs...we then were picked up by the hotel and as we drove in, the driver showed us many different things...we'll be off tomorrow to see them...the hotel looks amazing..as we walked into the lobby a guy 'hit a gong' .....it's very arabian..which i guess, that's where we are...so tomorrow i'll have more to report...oh, an added note...when you sign into the blogs...it's in arabic, and everything goes from right to left..that's how they read...it's always fun to see the differences in a country...