Hello... me again. Going to catch you up on some Emirate fun!
Friday: Friday here is Holy Day and the first day of the weekend... so that meant rest day for us. We relaxed in the room and eventually made our way to the mall. Eid was coming up so there were all kinds of sales going on... sort of like our American Black Friday. We went ahead and bought a TV because it was on sale and also a clothing rack to dry clothes at the hotel.
Another EMT (English Medium Teacher... it's what we are called here) hosted a game night in her hotel room. We had a blast. We taught some people how to play Farkle and laughed the whole time. I then played Phase 10 with some others... there were three different games going on in the room. I met the famous Alona as well! (She makes all the Real Teachers of Abu Dubai videos on YouTube). The last game we played was a lyrics game with two teams. We were singing and yelling and dancing. My team won...oh yeah!!!
Saturday: I was exhausted Sat. morning so I slept in while Shawn went out and about. When he returned he had rented a car. Just a small Mazda 2, but it is nice to be able to get around the city and explore. We rented it for one month, and then plan on buying.
In the afternoon we headed to tour the Emirates Palace Hotel, an enormous luxury hotel. It is huge and beautiful!!! It is actually the hotel used as a model for the one in Sex and the City 2. We had a great time, especially since our friend Susanne wasn't afraid to open doors and explore. Here are a few pics:
After the tour we headed to the mall for dinner. I know it seems like we live at the mall, but right now it is the easiest and cheapest while trying to budget. Once we move and get paid, we will be able to explore more and try different foods. Right now it is all about budget. Speaking of which, we also bought some more groceries for the room. That helps a lot.
Sunday: We finally hit the beach at the hotel and it is beautiful. It is under construction as they are expanding and building new pools. Wish it was ready now, but still loved it. There are chairs under straw "hut" umbrellas and soft sand (although very HOT!). The water was warm, and I loved it. No initial shock when you get in the water. We spent a while in the water, and then went to lay on the chairs to dry off. That didn't last long before I was too hot. So we headed back in to get ready to explore.
We decided to drive around and explore the city... and I couldn't believe the amount of people everywhere. I guess because the fasting is over and it is the holiday Eid, everyone was back out and about. There were more people out on the streets then NYC. We were going to go to a souk (a market), but it looked like there was no room to stand. We decided to go another day. We finally ended up at a mall where we knew a festival was going on for Eid. They had dancing, music, and free henna. I was so excited to finally get some henna done, and it is beautiful.
We then ate at a "gourmet" Mexican restaurant with our friend Shon. The interesting thing about here is that almost all the workers at the mall are Asian. It made it a little humorous to order Mexican food in the UAE from an Asian man. Very cultural here! We then decided to get to bed early... because on Monday we were heading to Dubai!!!
Friday: Friday here is Holy Day and the first day of the weekend... so that meant rest day for us. We relaxed in the room and eventually made our way to the mall. Eid was coming up so there were all kinds of sales going on... sort of like our American Black Friday. We went ahead and bought a TV because it was on sale and also a clothing rack to dry clothes at the hotel.
Another EMT (English Medium Teacher... it's what we are called here) hosted a game night in her hotel room. We had a blast. We taught some people how to play Farkle and laughed the whole time. I then played Phase 10 with some others... there were three different games going on in the room. I met the famous Alona as well! (She makes all the Real Teachers of Abu Dubai videos on YouTube). The last game we played was a lyrics game with two teams. We were singing and yelling and dancing. My team won...oh yeah!!!
Saturday: I was exhausted Sat. morning so I slept in while Shawn went out and about. When he returned he had rented a car. Just a small Mazda 2, but it is nice to be able to get around the city and explore. We rented it for one month, and then plan on buying.
In the afternoon we headed to tour the Emirates Palace Hotel, an enormous luxury hotel. It is huge and beautiful!!! It is actually the hotel used as a model for the one in Sex and the City 2. We had a great time, especially since our friend Susanne wasn't afraid to open doors and explore. Here are a few pics:
Yes: a gold ATM that really disperses gold!
Fixing the gold ceiling... flakes of gold were falling to the ground. Unfortunately we were not allowed down there
Sneaking around... Shawn was very sleepy
Cartwheels in the secret theatre lobby
After the tour we headed to the mall for dinner. I know it seems like we live at the mall, but right now it is the easiest and cheapest while trying to budget. Once we move and get paid, we will be able to explore more and try different foods. Right now it is all about budget. Speaking of which, we also bought some more groceries for the room. That helps a lot.
Sunday: We finally hit the beach at the hotel and it is beautiful. It is under construction as they are expanding and building new pools. Wish it was ready now, but still loved it. There are chairs under straw "hut" umbrellas and soft sand (although very HOT!). The water was warm, and I loved it. No initial shock when you get in the water. We spent a while in the water, and then went to lay on the chairs to dry off. That didn't last long before I was too hot. So we headed back in to get ready to explore.
We decided to drive around and explore the city... and I couldn't believe the amount of people everywhere. I guess because the fasting is over and it is the holiday Eid, everyone was back out and about. There were more people out on the streets then NYC. We were going to go to a souk (a market), but it looked like there was no room to stand. We decided to go another day. We finally ended up at a mall where we knew a festival was going on for Eid. They had dancing, music, and free henna. I was so excited to finally get some henna done, and it is beautiful.
A falcon
My henna drying before it peeled
Shawn trying coffee
Oh and Shawn saw a car to drool over!
We then ate at a "gourmet" Mexican restaurant with our friend Shon. The interesting thing about here is that almost all the workers at the mall are Asian. It made it a little humorous to order Mexican food in the UAE from an Asian man. Very cultural here! We then decided to get to bed early... because on Monday we were heading to Dubai!!!
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