Two of our personal favorites……

other news in the ME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Random articles I’ve collected over the months……Arab Times…..

Dubai

Some of  you have heard me say already….that this place was, I think, the land where the rich and famous come to play….of which we are neither…but had fun pretending for a few days!!!

 

 

 

See that pretty arch….that’s the bathtub right there….

 

This is the The Palms Atlantis Dubai.

 

John attended a conference for work that was held at this hotel.  We were guest there for 5 days.  Now, John was pretty much busy most of the time…..but as you can see, there were places for me to walk and swim and enjoy the pina coladas on the beach.

 

            

 

.Look at the size of these guys in the indoor aquarium……whoa!!

The interior of this resort was like nothing we have ever seen.  The largest aquarium from floor to ceiling could be observed.  Besides this, there was also an aquarium adventure we had access to anytime to view the sea life.  And this is when we got excited, because we had seen some of these creatures in our last diving in Oman.

 

These are lion fish……we saw many of them in the sea……they are sooo cool!

And we saw many of these guys too……fascinating!

 

 

Jelly fish….could watch them forever…..but I think I am thankful I didn’t encounter them in the sea…..

While John was sitting in a conference all day….I went out to play.  These dolphins are awesome…I wished I could stay all day with them.

 

A special treat was meeting up with Jessica, one of Amy’s friends from high school days.  She is now living in Dubai.  What are the chances of seeing someone, after many years, from “home”,  in the Middle East….was rather surreal to both of us….and very delightful.  She showed me around some beautiful areas and hot spots to shop….we enjoyed lunch together and probably the most fun we had was wedding dress shopping.  She and Sam are engaged and to be married this spring.  That day filled a need I think we both had for family…..we even met our guys for dinner that evening. 

 

Dubai gave me the sense, almost of being in the States.  Many westerners living there…people were friendly, it was comfortable and I didn’t feel out of place.

Scuba diving in Oman

When thinking of a getaway, we now think…..where can we go scuba diving???

 

We got our certificates in scuba last November.  Then the weather turned a bit cool making the water temp a bit cool….and we had not yet gone out for our first adventure since the class.

 

We rented a car at the airport……and along the way…..

 

we not only saw the sign for camel…..but right up close to the road we stopped to talk to these curious friendly beasts!

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           I just love these guys!!!

We stayed at this really wonderful beach resort…just made for relaxation, slow, easy going days…nice walks along the beach, sipping on a glass of wine, letting the breeze calm and sooth us.

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Hours spent walking along the beach….my very most favorite do nothing past time searching for unique shells and stones.

 

Filling my pockets with my treasures

 

 

 

We spent a half a day and drove to the mountains…ha mountains in the desert…well  I didn’t believe it my self…not much  vegetation on these  here mountains….a few goats though

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We came into a town in the middle of the mountains that was an oasis….plenty of trees, greenery, we stopped to take a walk in a park like setting with old paths, leading to some very old buildings. 

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We have had plenty of photo opportunities…..this past year….each time I look at them to post, I feel awed by the unique shots John captures.  The pictures below were taken as we drove through town just before our beach hotel.  The young girls were just getting out of school.

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The tower on this mountain called out to John from the time we first spotted it….he had to climb it….because….it was there!!!

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The view ….. 

 

and friends he met along the way….

 

I didn’t join him on this little adventure…..not because I wasn’t interested…but in actuality….our scuba diving fun exhausted me.  Its probably a whole combination of sun, fresh air, excitement, anxiety, concentration (on breathing right) and more sun, fresh air, excitement…..etc. etc.  

This is the dive center right on the premises….we met the nicest German couple running it.   We told them we were newbies…and they were excited for us, and made sure the dive master going out was aware of it…..so very thankful for him.  We had a wonderful surprise as we headed out for the first dive.   A dolphin was spotted. Captain slowed the boat down….so we could all have a look and we didn’t just see one, but six swimming and playing and jumping for us around our boat.  They put on a show for us…..it was awesome.

 

Other divers were with us had underwater cameras….it was really exciting to come back aboard after the dive and talk of what we saw…..one couple took pictures of two sharks they had seen……..on the next dive…..we saw shark too.  We determined then we are getting an underwater camera before our next time diving.  It is absolutely unbelievable of the underwater life.  I always thought I would be too frightened….and you know…ewwww about being around fish, eel, ha and shark…..but instead, I find all those creatures fascinating and diving exhilarating.   My adrenaline is high and I am nervous and excited and expecting….I am hoping for more ease in my breathing and skills, but I hope that thrill will always continue.

 

So being we have no pictures of those fish we saw…..you can imagine how happy we were when we saw the “decor” of the hotel we stayed at the hotel in Dubai (4 days later)  …….next post.