Day 3 & 4 - Dubai - Sun, Sand Dunes and Sheesha (plus a few Camels)

So this blog I have merged with yesterday as it was mostly spent hungover! Carine and I popped to Barasti which is essentially a club on the beach with some of her work friends to catch up on the previous nights events which I can say were rather entertaining :) 

I stuck to coke but one of the boys decided it required a hint of beer much to my annoyance. After eating our body weight in pizza and nibbles we headed back for a snooze. Some of the new arrivals at her work popped over to the apartment and then they headed out with Carine to party again. Did a bit of FaceTime and got myself some sleep.

I got up early to a rather weary looking Carine, made her coffee in bed then cooked her fried breakfast, because that is how I roll! Packed the beach bag and then we headed to get some rays, consequently her hungover state resulted in falling asleep. We left mid afternoon and headed back to the apartment where we were picked up by the safari man.

We shared our journey with two lovely Belgium ladies. The safari was AMAZING! We definitely had the most mental driver who thought it was funny every time we giggled or screamed and kept blaming it on the 'crazy car' in my element, vehicles and adrenaline rushes! 

After about an hours dune driving, watching the sun set and motorway racing between cars we settled in a remote camp. There was sheesha, henna, fancy dress, sand boarding and camel rides! Obviously I participated in all activities some more successfully than others. After some light entertainment including belly dancing we had a beautiful Arabic BBQ. We all regrouped and made the journey back home where I am writing this, so far there have been two accidents so to avoid the traffic we just went off road instead! Upon our return I will be uploading this to the web and sleeping! 

Night all x

Day 2 - Dubai - Sun Burn, Street corners and Alcohol

I was awoken at 7.30 by Carine off to work, then again at 9 by a rather confused cleaner! It was time to start the day and coffee was in order! I made one and went to the balcony to catch up on the world of FB and admire the amazing view, people bustling about taking children to school and on their way to work, I could have sat there for hours but the beach beaconed.

I got distracted by my feet, they were asking for a pedicure so I had one, it was lovely but it was not helping my mission to the beach! Now you would think of the 10000 taxis in the city flagging one down would be a doddle, incorrect. Eventually after practically throwing myself at one I arrived at the beach! Beautiful clear waters lapping at the white sand! Paradise. Opened the book and that was me for 4hrs. A rather handsome man asked if I wanted to go for a coffee of course I agreed so off we went to a roof coffee house 40 something floors above the marina! Now that was a totally memorizing view. After coffee I made my excuses and returned to the apartment to prepare for the evening, upon showering I realised maybe my lack of attention to the time had resulted in me cooking like a lobster, I was now a delightful shade of pink in really random pattern across my body! When will I learn, sun and fair skin DO NOT go together.

So now I have tried to correct my 'pattern' with makeup I head to hail taxi no.3 of today! Confidence normally comes easily to me but standing on a street corner dolled up to go out I just kept thinking I looked like a prostitute hailing a customer! It made me giggle (yes out loud so I may have also looked mental)

Anyways I got one eventually and headed to Oberoi Hotel in rush hour traffic, where most of today's updated was written! As you may have noticed it is now Day 3, it may have involved a fair bit of alcohol last night!


Sent from my iPhone

Day One - Dubai - Screaming Children & Dubai by night

After a somewhat emotional day of friends and family wishing me on my way, the adventure finally started, I cried through security and boarded the plane. The excitement was short lived when the child behind me started to kick the seat. Needless to say the next 6hrs and 45mins were painful! Watched Rush which was amazing but had limited sleep because of pre mentioned child.

Upon arrival to Dubai international I collected my 33kg backpack, strapped myself in (as it's bigger than me) and off we went to hail a taxi :) I arrived at Carines work (my host for the next week) to an empty office and a somewhat bemused receptionist. She was still on her way! Half an hour later after half the work force walked past the weary traveller looking confused she arrived, wrote her address down, gave me the key and sent me on my merry way!

Arrived at the apartment (I will upload the picture of the view when I work out how) dropped my rucksack, and fell into bed. I awoke at 2.30pm, utterly confused as to my location and slightly warm! It was time to get up shower and go in search of coffee and food, both of which I found just round the corner.

Carines housemate Laura arrived home before her so caught up on 'Dubai life'. Carine then came back and took me to the most beautiful restaurant on The Palm called Riva. We then went cruising in her ever so swanky Toyota Yaris. Hahahaha this place is everything I remembered from before, huge buildings that disappear into the sky, beautiful clear blue waters and superbly clean.

Day One is officially complete......sleepy time now ready for the exploring to begin tomorrow.