Our Dubai Digs

In order to figure out WHY our gameboys and DS's were dead, you had to look at the spelling of our batteries! Look carefully! Normally, we buy the real deal, but here in Central Asia, they are very cunning in their theft! Our househelper, who isn't so astute in battery purchasing, was easily fooled into buying something that would power up your travel alarm clock for approximately 3 and a half seconds. Dubagels will now forever be on our 10 ten list of funniest family jokes!

So, let me start by giving you a few fun facts about our destination. Dubai is comprised of only about 15% native Arabs. The remaining 85% of the resident population is comprised of Pakistanis, Indians, Philipinos, and Europeans. Apparently, their oil reserves are expected to run OUT in about 10 years- so looking strategically to the future, the sheik (prince) has steered the economy towards foreign banking investments and tourism (mostly for shopping). The city of Dubai is actually only one city-state of several that make up the United Arab Emirates- the name of the country collectively.

Here is one feature prominent throughout the city of Dubai.

There are more cranes in operation in Dubai than anywhere else on earth! However, all the taxi drivers that we talked to said that the word financial crisis HAS affected Dubai, and that a lot of construction has come to a complete stand still. They do aid in building some of the most incredibly beautiful architection we have ever seen. I do have few pics. to show later.

Tired and dirty, we arrived at our guesthouse. It was beautiful! Most homes in Dubai are HUGE! We guessed that most are so large because most are Islamic and follow the custom of having more than one wife. These homes are obviously meant for a VERY large group of people with 10-12 bedrooms being quite common. Just a guess, though...

The first thing we did was go to the neighborhood mall. EVERY neighborhood as SEVERAL mosques and at least one mall. And every mall has a WESTERN FOOD COURT! WOO HOO! Everyone could choose whatever they wanted from McDonalds to KFC to Pizza Hut to local cuisine. The Water Guy and a couple of others chose Lebanese, while I and Macaroni and Pixie went for Burger King. A Whopper Jr. with cheese never tasted to good!!! My fried were cold though, which was a serious bummer! I was very, very sad.

Back at the guesthouse, after exchanging more money (this was certainly a common theme), and satiating our western taste buds, we settled into our lovely guesthouse. It was spacious, clean, and well stocked with every amenity to help a tired overseas worker relax.

We were fed very well during our stay, the first meal being a great dinner of Tikka chicken, rice made by our househelper who was from the Seychelles Islands, green salad (do you know how often we get to eat green salad?), and Arabic flat bread. Mmmm, so tasty! Oh yes, there was fresh hummus to smear all over every tastry morsel.

Our vacation really didn't start until the next day when we got to go feel the soft, imported sand on our toes-eys. (okay, how badly can someone butcher a word??!) Next up...

Desert Storm on the Beach- Or How Much Sand Can One Person Eat?