The Dubai Diet

Diet shmiet. There is no such thing here. In fact, it is safe to say that any diet goes the other way here...on, not off. Eating is the favourite pastime, and there is plenty to choose from.

On Friday, I went to 'brunch' at Al Qasr at the Madinat. It's a ritzy boutique hotel and you pay through the teeth. But it must be experienced. From 12.30 to 4.30pm, it's all you can eat and drink from three restaurants, serving every kind of food under the sun. We had a gathering of 5 Kiwis and 2 Brits to welcome Morrie (also from Wellies) and I to Dubai.

From the table centrepiece to the white choc fondue fountain, this place was amazing. Did I mention the anatomically correct life size golden horses on the lawn driving up. Where the valet parked the car. Rats, should have taken a photo!

I've got curtains! My room is almost complete. Drilling into concrete and steel is not a pleasant task, as Christine and I discovered, however we persevered and won!

And wah lah, the masterpiece! Still have to hang a painting and maybe do another one :) And my cargo has arrived with my paints so I can!

My abode

As promised, here are the first pics of our villa. It's so big that we're trying to get more furniture for it at the moment. And my bedroom furniture is still to arrive but I'm making do as you can see!

View of communal area from our balcony, back of villa, swimming pool, tennis court.

Kitchen, entrance, dining area, front of villa

Lounge 1 into lounge 2, lounge2, lounge 2, looking back out

Kiwi ingenuity! My bed (fold out couch & mattress), my current wardrobe! The room...

Furniture is arriving tomorrow (yay) so I'll finally feel normal again! Took me two hours to grocery shop today, half spent trying to find things, the other deciphering between english, arabic and asian labels!

Where am I again??

I know it's my first week and all in Dubai, so I'm sure in time I'll stop thinking "What the ...?" Next to where I'm staying is the Irish Village...yes that's right, IRISH!


And yes, that is a pyramid and sphinx in the last picture. My friend Anna and I went there and had Italian. I guess, after all, that it is hot here, and there's sand. You can understand some architect getting a wee bit confused about the location of Dubai.

Now, contrary to what people believe, there is some green in Dubai and I found it all. This is where I'm staying at the mo, the place with random Internet access and FANTASTIC (not) cultural music. I think I'm over Indian songs, "Thanks Mr Next Door Neighbour"!! The first photo is the Training Residence and the others are part of the village next door.

I'm being lulled into a false reality. Cause there's very little green at the villa. We need to get planter pots to put outside. I know you're all dying to see the photos and I'm moving out there tomorrow night so you'll soon get your wish.

Went to a mall last night and I so wish I'd taken my camera! Found a "Learn to speak Maori" CD kit. Funnily, the girl on the "Learn to speak Mexican" looked rather similar. But they had tried to distinguish the same photo by putting a Maori headband on the girl. She actually looked a little Russian but I couldn't see that CD to find out :)

Anyway, must go now, one because the Internet could crash again at any time, and two, because my YUMMY dinner of salted cummin crackers awaits (they were free in the room): "It's alright Dad, I AM looking after myself".

xxx