Dubai Aquarium

Today we spend a leisurely morning going through the Dubai Aquarium situated at a new shopping mall, which has been abtly named "Dubai Mall"! The aquarium was nice, yes, just nice but the Cape Town aquarium is so much better! The one aspect which makes it great for the Dubains (not sure what we call ourselves here!) is the huge, and I mean huge glass wall of sea life swimming while you can shop.

The family gang (Vaughan, Nicky, Rowan, Fi, Ella-Rose and Madison) all meet at around 10h00, except the Glanvilles - well, we were late! We couldn't find the appropriate parking section and landed up on the otherside of the mall. It took us all of 20 mins to just park and walk otherwise I am sure we would have been on time. Anyway, not important! It took us about an hour to walk through the aquarium to see everything. We then went off to the food court (all that walking! not!) made us hungry so we went for a brunch. We are yet to find a nice place in Dubai (besides the hotels!) that sell a nice English breakfast (bacon - which is normally not on the menu and eggs are hard to come by!). So we ended up eating fast food instead!

Here are some of the pics I took (except obviously the one with all of us! :).

Oooh! What a good looking family! Love this picture of Bryce, the seal was posing so nicely for this pic too!

Until next time...

Well...life has been a tad bit busy!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOM! Also to all those Mother's celebrating I hope you got thoroughly spoilt!

Yep! Surprisingly enough it has all been go, go, go the last couple of days which makes life more interesting in Dubai! So, firstly the drivers license saga... I am pleased to announce I am now a legal driver in the UAE! Peter, the boys and myself drove through back to Abu Dhabi on Thursday (now a week ago!), I had a sense of de ja vu! I could not believe we had to do this trip again but after going through the process and now having the right documents it took about 2 hours to eventually have this id card in my hand! The proof...


On Friday (also a week ago now!) afternoon we went to a South African Freedom Day celebration at a hotel called the Le Meridian Mina Seyahi. What a blast! I was so homesick! We meet our one and only SA friends, Bruce and Celeste there and drank in true South African style! It was extremely hot and humid and the venue was running out of alcoholic drinks...I mean, really people, do you not know that South Africans have a reputation for drinking!!! There was a potjiekos competition, Johnny Clegg and the likes blaring out the speakers, over 2 000 expat South Africans mingled around, drinking, drinking and did I mention drinking! The afternoon also included a drumming session (Bryce also enjoyed a session!), lots of South African accents and a buffet including lots of salad and meat! Peter eventually dragged me away at 20h30! We were expecting my Aunt Gwen and Uncle Tommy from Glasgow on their way back to South Africa after visiting my cousin Cheryl in Edinburgh for almost 8 weeks. Aunty Gwen was lucky enough (and so was Cheryl) to meet Prince Charles on this trip! Anyway, we were expecting them to arrive at 00h30 in the morning so we eventually got to bed at 02h00! So a very long day (although we did nape between 21h30 and 00h00 before leaving for the airport - lucky for Peter's alarm on his cell phone because mine didn't go off otherwise my aunt and uncle will still be stranded at the airport!)




Peter went off to work on Saturday while I took my Aunt and Uncle to the "Mall of Emirates" - a huge shopping centre situated about 10 minutes from us and it also has Ski Dubai, the hugest indoor skiing slope in the world. Peter had Sunday off so we went to briefly have a look at the beach, do a bit more shopping and take pics of the Burj Al Arab. Monday morning I braved the Dubai traffic and drove my aunt and uncle back to the Airport - driving in Dubai is a real experience and you have to have eyes literally in the back of your head as there are some shocking drivers out there! Anyway, I got there and back safely which is what counts! It was so nice to have you here Aunty Gwen and Uncle Tommy - miss you already - see you July!

This picture at the Burj Al Arab with Peter, Logan, Aunty Gwen and Uncle Tommy.
I have also been creative the last few days, making cards but will add them to the blog shortly so you can see. On Friday I went to an Art & Crafts day, did my first cardmaking workshop for one person but I suppose it is was a start! Got a few leads so lets see where that will "lead" me.

Anyway, that is it from me for a while...until later...

Exploring Dubai...

We had visitors from South Africa! My brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Rowly and Janet with their 4 boys (yes 4 boys!) visited us for 4 nights on their way back from a holiday in the UK. We had a wonderful but very busy time with them doing all the sightseeing we could do in their full 3 days here! The "Glanville Villa" was stretched to the limit but everyone seemed comfortable when it was time for bed. Quite an interesting thing fitting 10 people into a villa that is meant for 4, maximum 6 people but I think we did really well.

So on the first day that our visitors were here we spent a wonderful day at Dreamland (again!). The boys (including the adult men - Peter and Rowland!) love it as there was so much to do there and they spend 6 hours having races on super tubes and relaxing next to the swimming pool. As you can see by these photos - Rowly and Janet catching up on some much needed sleep!


In the evening we went to the Mall of Emirates. A huge upmarket shopping centre in Dubai where we had dinner. Not a good thing to go on a Friday night because it was extremely busy! One of the advantages about shopping in Dubai on the weekend is that all the malls stay open on a Thursday and Friday until midnight! We didn't stay that late but got home at least around 23h00 after a very long day out!

On Saturday we went around to my family so that Rowly and Janet could say hi and on our way there the adults decided to do an Arabian nights tour. What an absolute wonderful experience. My eldest nephew, Vincent was kind enough to babysit Bryce, Logan and his brothers! Well done, Vince, we really appreciated the break!

So the afternoon started where we got picked up by the tour company at 15h30. What more could we ask for to be chauffeur driven. Unfortunately, the airconditioning the car was not working too well so we did suffer a bit because it was hot! Our first stop was at a place called "The Big Red" a huge sand dune in the desert. This was the meeting point for all the cars and I think we counted around 25 landcruisers once everyone got there. Off we went, one car after the other through the sand dunes. The ride of our life! It is hard to explain but let me tell you, Janet and I were in the back seat and I think our eyes were closed most of the time and I know I screamed out a couple of times, fearing my life! It was like we were on roller coaster ride! Of course, Rowly and Peter were grining from ear to ear with all the antics that the driver was doing! A couple of times we were sliding on one side with sand spraying right over the car where you couldn't see anything and a lot more!

After about a 45 minute ride through the desert, with lovely views and sand dunes for miles! We stopped for a break so that the cars could cool down and we could take in the view. In Janet's case a desparate pee behind a sand dune! We headed off to our destination which was a reeded area with low tables, persian carpets and pillows. Before we sat down to a lovely dinner and a belly dancing show, myself, Janet and Rowland went on a camel ride. Also a very interesting experience with the camel getting up and back down to let us off. We eventually got home around 22h00 to the house still standing and most of the boys in bed. Vince you can come and babysit at anytime!

On Sunday we spent most of the day shopping at a mall called, Ibn Battuta while Peter went back to work. In the evening after supper and getting the boys to bed, myself, Rowly, Janet and Peter went on an evening, informal city tour of Dubai. We visited an area called Al Karama, which is a market but not in the sense of tables and wares but more like shops in an area of this suburb. A lot of "rip offs" of designer stuff ie, perfume, handbags, clothes, watches, etc. As we arrived so late we only had about an hour to shop before the shops started closing at around 22h30. We did some more sightseeing and got home at 00h30. Peter went straight off to bed, I watched Rowly and Janet pack and eventually got to bed at 01h30, Janet at 02h30 only to be woken at 04h45 to leave for the aiport so that they could catch their flight at 08h30! So I think we were all feeling exhausted on Monday, I know I was! I think I am still recovering!

Anyway, it was lovely to have the family around for a while. Missing you guys already! Not sure what I am going to do with myself now - anyone want to come and visit?

I am hoping my resident visa will be issued soon. I went for my blood test on Saturday last week, in amongst all the excursions so lts hope it is a step in the right direction! Holding thumbs it will be this week or sometime next week so that I can get my independency back and become more mobile!

Well thats about it for now but I'll be back!

We went fishing - well Peter went anyway!

On Monday afternoon Peter, the boys and myself went fishing at an area along the Dubai Marina. We drove along a construction site to get there (wherever you go in Dubai at the moment it is a construction sight no wonder there are so many jobs available here in that type of field!). Once we were there it really was a great place - right on the beach. Peter fished along the breakwater rocks and myself, Bryce and Logan decided to take a dip in the sea. Bryce tried to do a little fishing but got a bit bored after a while. It was actually so great to get into a sea where your toes haven't frozen in the first minute! The water was cool enough to swim and not like bath water. It apparently gets like that in the middle of summer. You can also clearly see the bottom as you walk out and it takes a while before it gets deeper and there are no huge waves crashing onto the beach so very safe for the boys to swim in. It might also be because we were there during low tide.

Although the fish were elusive we had a wonderful relaxing hour and a half just being out of the house (myself and Logan anyway!).

I still don't have my resident visa which means still no chance to drive our car but I am hoping the wheels are in motion and that it will be issued soon. One thing we are looking forward to this weekend is the arrival of my brother-in-law, Rowland and sister-in-law, Janet with their 4 boys. They are staying with us for 4 nights so it will be a chance to do more touristy things with them and at least have some more family around for a little while before they get back to SA on Monday.

Here are pics of our new car (a Hyundai -Santa Fe - which I have managed to drive around the block!), some scenery shots of the Dubai Marina along the beach we were at and the boys trying to fish! Logan watching the sun go down.





Me, also watching the sun going down (not my best pose but that's what you look like after a dip in the sea and the salt sticks to you like glue!) Bryce took the picture - not bad for a 7-year old photographer!

Feel free to leave any comments - it will be nice to know that someone is reading my blog!

Until later...

We have arrived...

The boys on the flight

The back and front of the house. The park where the boys play.

I know, I know you have all been patiently waiting for me to give you some details about our move to Dubai, well here you go...

The boys and I heard that we would be flying from Cape Town to Dubai on 06 February 2008 after our visas were eventually issued. We had two days notice! So sorry to those people who wanted me to say goodbye but there really wasn't any time left. I was panicking slightly about the luggage because I had 3 big suitcases and 3 overnight bags which I would have as carry on luggage. Having, which I thought, was 20 kilograms each we might be in for a bit of a trying time to persuade the check-in counter person not to charge us. My Dad and I weighed the luggage before we left and the 3 big suitcases were 69 kilograms and that was just the check in luggage! Not, bad I thought considering we are moving to another country! Overweight a bit but was still feeling nervous about it we left for the airport. When we got there, nothing to feel nervous about at all, I found out we had 30 kilograms each and sighed a huge sigh of relief! I even managed to check one of the extra pieces of overnight bags through as well!

We flew from Cape Town to Johannesburg and had a lot of walking to do between the domestic and international departure halls to fly from Johannesburg to Dubai. Once you are through customs there is no trolley! So the boys had to walk all the way to the gate we were leaving from, with a lot of moaning going with it! It's too far, I am tired, etc.

We flew Emirates and what a lovely plane and airline to fly with! Very spacious and each seat had its own TV with a lot of video channels and games to keep the boys entertained! I eventually got them settled at around 22h30 only to wake them about 4 hours later so that we could get ready for the landing. I think I slept about a half an hour. So you can imagine how tired we all were when we arrived! Going through customs was also a experience with 2 very tired boys and not knowing the airport. Luckily Peter organised a company to meet us off the plane and they were fantastic! It took about an hour and a half to get through though even with their help!

Eventually waiting for us on the other side was Peter and my two brothers, Rowan and Vaughan (who now both live in Dubai as well, Rowan for the past 3 years and Vaughan arrived the middle of January). It so great arriving in a country where there is family waiting for you! We went to Rowan's house first as he lives in an area called Mirdiff which is near the Airport - he drives a Chryslar Voyager so we managed to get all our 6 pieces of luggage and 5 people in!

From Rowan's, after seeing my two sister-in-laws and my 1 year old niece, we then set off to our new home in The Springs area - we stay in The Springs 3. It is a lovely area with palm trees lining the streets. We stay in a 2 bedroomed villa with a very small study/3rd bedroom. Downstairs is the study with lounge and kitchen area and upstairs are the two bedrooms both with en-suite bathrooms. Although it sounds very luxurious the bathrooms are very small with showers above the baths. Our bedroom is quite large though. We have a very nice enclosed garden which is great for the boys but they are yet to play outside in it. They are mostly in the front riding their bicycles or going down to the park!

We have been so busy shopping our first two weeks for things for the house so I haven't done any sightseeing yet. So basically it has been starting from scratch. Things are reasonably priced here and prices compare quite a bit to SA. Clothes and chocolates are extremely cheap! Schooling is extremely expensive here as the schooling is mostly private.

Bryce has started in his new school and settled in nicely. He goes to school by bus in the morning and afternoon. Traffic in Dubai can be really bad! so thats why we decided to send him on a bus.

Lots and lots of development going on wherever the eye can see in Dubai with lots of desert pieces in between.

Logan is still home with me but we are looking at sending him to a nursery school as soon as we can find one in our area. The way of life is very different here. In South African you get used to the Pick 'n Pay down the road, Mr Price home stores for duffets, etc and a Post Office (there is apparently one about a 20 minutes drive away - in SA there are at least 3 to choose from that are near you). I am still waiting for a resident permit to be issued so I cannot drive at the moment unless it is a hired car. As soon as my recidency permit is through we are hoping to get a car so at least I will have more independency! Driving is on the opposite side to SA and I had to drive for the first time yesterday by myself to Bryce's sports day at school - an experience but I made it back to home without any incidents. Drivers in Dubai have a very bad reputation!

So that is it in a nutshell for now! I am putting my feelers out to see what the arts and crafts scene is like here in Dubai, so will keep you posted as to what I will be getting up to creatively. I cannot wait for my boxes to arrive from SA so that I can get going!

Until next time...

Simply Creative...on the move

Here I am! Madly trying to pack up, get the boys sorted, get the house moved, get the shop cleared and moved - oh, and have some sleep too.

Dubai or bust!