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.

These days in which we live…..

^{Oman is an Arab country in southwest Asia on the coast of the Arabian Peninsula, bordered by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.}

^{Why, you might ask would we go there??? another country in the Middle East? for a weekend?  we actually asked ourselves that question…..especially being we were traveling during all the heat up of demonstrations seemingly caught on fire and spreading from one country to the next.} 

^{It began with Tunisia in December,  along with Algeria, Egypt  and Yemen were in the news January, and February we heard of the political unrest in Libya, Iraq, Oman, Bahrain, Morocco, and Jordan.} 

^{Kuwait had its mild protests, with demonstrations in Jahra…..just down the road a mile from where we live.  I heard commotion, and police sirens….but this happened during the week of the country’s big celebrations of its independence….so my take on the “noise” was early celebrators.  Thanks to my naivety I experienced no fear until reading of it in the paper the following morning.  A few days later, we left for Oman……with a stopover in Bahrain…and once again we are informed by the newspaper that there is some unrest in Bahrain.  Ahhhh…..lets get out of here to someplace quiet!}

^{We stayed in Oman for a long weekend….and heard the news as we were leaving to head “home” to Kuwait….that about 60 KM from where we were staying the people in Sohar demonstrated…did it seem it was following us?  ummmm yes.  I was pretty rattled on that trip last week and not too excited about returning “home”.} 

^{Today there is to be another demonstration/protest here in Kuwait. (read it in the newspaper)  The article is a warning from the Minister of Interior promising to “deal surely and swiftly with any protests by the population on Friday.”  Meanwhile, the front page also shows a picture of Shiite Muslims that have issued internet calls for a ‘Day of Rage’ for today.  And lets not forget the continuing struggles in Afghanistan, and Pakistan, …and the list goes on…..}

^{My heart races not out of fear but one of sadness, and then disgust, at the anger,turmoil, and oppression people live under that prompts such desperate and violent acts against leaders in government who protect their egos, their philosophies and religions with such disregard for human life.}

^{I know my blogging is usually  reporting  all the fun I am having….  Of which there is a lot of….and I do have fun and pictures to share of that trip to Oman….but it needed to be shared perhaps more for myself, in unloading some of my internal anxiety and to let you all know we are fine, we are safe, and we have become very diligent in listening for reports, and warnings.  No worries regarding  us personally , but there are people in the Middle East  in need of courage, wisdom, protection, safety…so many innocent men, women and children.}

 

 

 

 

Spring is in the air

It actually does get quite cool here….the cold at night killed off my peppers ….and the days now are in the 60’s range.  Tents have multiplied in the desert, and I can see that rare glint of greenery that will be around for a short bit before summer’s heat.  The dragon flies are back….they are everywhere and bigger than I remember dragon flies to be…there are lots of birds flying to and fro…and I often hear the cooing of pigeons….right on my window sill here in the desert!!!? 

I played golf at the make shift desert golf course near the site, for the first time.  It actually wasn't bad…on the hard sand my ball traveled much further than if it were on nice green grass….but I actually was keeping my eye out for the desert lizards….saw foot prints…and was ready to follow them instead of my errant golf ball.

On the way home, at almost the same instance, John and I spotted something actually growing along side the road.  So of course we stopped and this is what we found.

 

Melons……growing wild along the roadside…they look big here, but they are no bigger than a tennis ball.  I tried researching these babies…but found nothing to report to you….I cut one open and have to say….it may look like a melon as we know it…but all I did was touch my finger to it to taste……and it didn’t taste like what I expected….hmmm…maybe it needs to ripen????

The ship of the desert……

 

 

 

 

In olden days, Arabs famously used to refer to the camel as 'the ship of the desert.

 

Camel racing is a favored sport in the Persian Gulf nations, and it is no different in Kuwait. It is a tradition that is firmly rooted in the culture of these desert nations, where the camel in times past was esteemed as a valuable animal, providing transport, meat and milk.

 

Today amongst the material wealth of these nations, the camel is less important for these purposes, but camel racing is conducted in the present day with undiminished fervor.

Camel racing is in many ways somewhat different from horse racing, which is practiced throughout the world. Interestingly, racing camels are usually females as the males are considered to be ill-natured and difficult to handle.

 

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Camel racing is a fervently and enthusiastically followed sport, with breeders expending huge sums on breeding, and devotees of the sport following developments in camel racing with great zeal. Thousands cheer on their race favorites, while on some tracks breeders and other enthusiasts speed alongside in their motor vehicles.

The pictures are fun…..but you gotta be there to believe this….so here’s the next best thing