Well yesterday was definitely a day of contrasts. Early morning rise for balloon ride over desert. Definitely a tick off the bucket list with that one. A lot of sandy haze about but still, as the sun rose it cleared enough to see ok. Still we were both amazed at how built up the country is. Even out in the desert there are still tree farms, little homesteads & even power lines to them. And irrigation systems that are huge! I think I was imagining the Sahara o...

GOOD MORNING DOOOO-BAI! It is 3:20am as we sit in the Westin Hotel awaiting pick up for our balloon ride over the desert. Much excitement mixed with fatigue after busy day & late night yesterday. After our day of pure gluttony on Friday at "brunch" we did a little shopping in the souks then headed home to digest. Seriously I have never experience such indulgence in all my life. I had to suspend guilt to even enjoy it. And they do this in hotels all over Dub...

Morning! Well from all my Facebook gabble I imagine everyone has a pretty good idea of our day yesterday. It was just so amazing! Bron tells us we're driving to Abu Dhabi to see the Grand Mosque. Oh yeah we think, mosques are a dime a dozen over here. But grand does not even begin to describe this one! Made out of solid marble, silk carpets, in the photo all that inlay you can see on floors & walls is mother of pearl, jade, lapis etc. Bron & I had to ge...

Happy 20th wedding anniversary to us! Today we experienced all the different faces that Dubai has to offer. Took the Big Bus Tour around the city. Saw the vast array of shopping Malls that seem to breed in Dubai. You would need months to see them all. Then on the other side of the coin we visited the souks (markets) down by the Dubai Creek. Bought some lovely pashminas after being chased down the alleys! I discovered I am seriously bad at haggling as I am way t...

Arrived yesterday afternoon after the world's longest flight. Philip after one hour "I am never flying again!" Me "we still have 13 & a half hours to go!!!" Watched movies until couldn't see anymore, tried to sleep unsuccessfully & just generally pray for it to be over. Food was few and far between so note to self to remember to take food & drink on plane on way home! Met up with Pete & Bron with no problems. They have an awesome 24th floor apar...