A Zoo in the Desert

Two weeks back MrL took myself and the girls to Al Ain to visit the zoo. We'd heard only positive comments on the zoo and decided to see for ourselves.

Al Ain is situated to the east of Abu Dhabi, about 130 kilometers away. It is still in the Abu Dhabi Emirate and it is lovely! The road to Al Ain is lined with rolling sand dunes and wild camels. You know exactly where you are when you look out the car window. It is a long way from where I grew up, let me tell you.

The zoo was fabulous, but it was awfully hot. Too hot. And we got there at opening time (10am) only to stay for a couple of hours. We will venture back for a proper look come winter time.

We quite liked Al Ain. It had a nice large country town feel about it. It was 'green' (which is why it is known as an Oasis Town - I kept looking for the Gallagher brothers but didn't spot them *heehee*) and I am sure we will venture back for a visit once the weather cools down...in about six months time.

Close Your Eyes and Take A Deep Breath.

I have a love/hate relationship with Abu Dhabi. I do. I think the 'hate' comes from the driving point of view. If only everyone drove like me... =)

I believe that if you can drive here, you could probably drive anywhere. You have to remember that people all over the world come to live here, so there is a mish-mash of cultures, rules, driving abilities.

It is not at all unusual to see these (in reference to driving) in this city/country;

• Phone number scribbled on a piece of paper and popped onto the dash. Cars park anywhere and they don't care if they are blocking you in. Give them a call and they'll move their car. Hopefully.
• Parking on a roundabout. Pull over and have a conversation with your friend.
• Driving 120km in a 60 zone.
• No use what-so-ever, of your indicators. I know Exactly where you are going.
• Over pass (probably on the inside lane) on a supposedly one lane on/off ramp.
• Flash your head-lights if you are in the 'fast lane', at the car ahead of you so they move out of the way.
• Tail-gate at 140km/per hour.
• Over pass cars on the shoulder of the road. Doesn't matter.
• Let your children jump around the car, unaided, front, back, middle, whatever. Hell, even drive your car with your child on your lap!
• Have your newborn/baby sit on your lap. In the front seat.
• Booster seat? What's that?
• Barge in at the petrol station. No such thing as patience in this country.
• If you want something from a shop, just keep on beeping your car horn until an assistant comes out to serve you. You don't have to move your bum from the seat then, why should you when someone else can?
• Don't swear or give certain finger jesters if someone does something wrong in the car around you. You could find the police knocking on your door, or worse still, getting put in jail! (Happened to someone we know!)
• Go really, really, really fast, but then go at snail's pace over a speed bump.
• Put a trailer on a trailer on your car. Not one of your two trailers have stop or indicator lights. Doesn't matter!
• Cutting right in front of you at stop lights/roundabouts/turning lanes. If you are lucky they might just give you one centimeter to spare.
• Park where/when/how you want. Take up three car parks if need be. Park as close as you want to the front door of your destination. Park over a pedestrian crossing. It. Doesn't. Matter.

It. Doesn't. Matter. (in the grand scheme of things...)

Now, these are just a handful of issues I have...issues with! Understand why part of me Hates this place?

But if you can handle all of the above, take a deep breath, you can love this place. Well, I can anyway.

This Is For You...

...if it is your birthday today!

It takes a while to load, so you'll need a little patience... =)

(Please mind the baby grunts and my voice)

Some people I know,think that learning Arabic is a waste of students time. I don't. I think it is fabulous that MissM is learning such a language, and is getting very good at it too. Living in an Arabic speaking country, I think it is only right that they get taught at school. MrL speaks quite a few Arabic words and I try to speak Arabic words.

Inshallah.

Orange

Paw Paw.

Mango.
Carrot.
Sweet Potato.
Pumpkin.

Oh, and big Banana flavoured Rusk Biscuits.

Pretty In Buttercup Yellow

My baby is now 7 months old.

MissL is pretty adorable and at that yummy age where she'll happily sit on the floor and play for ages, happy with the world.

I'll give her a cuddle from you, shall I?

Fish'n'Shops

Fish'n'Shops.

Last week I took my two girls up to Dubai Mall for the day.

We visited the Aquarium first off. It had been the initial reason for our visit...

First we went through the 'claustrophobic' tunnel....

Saw some awesome fish in the Water Zoo upstairs from the Aquarium...

Said hello to all the little Nemo's swimming around...

Tried to explain just what Jelly Fish are...

...then we hit the shops.

MissM had taken some of her own dirham with her (it was great because I didn't have to buy her anything!) and she purchased a simple summer dress from H&M, a couple of books, a few 'sweeties' and choose and purchased a new pair of shoes, which she is very proud of.

MissM enjoyed the shopping experience with her own money. I asked her why? Her response was "because the ladies behind the counter give you money!".... I still smile at that. Little does she realise that she is getting less money than what she handed over.

So next time you need to justify to your partner over shopping for ones self, just tell them that. The shop assistance still give you money back. Half of the time anyway. =)

MissM and I are now looking forward to shopping again. Roll on Summer holidays!

The Beach down at The Corniche

When you think of Abu Dhabi, you probably don't think of beautiful public beaches, but maybe you should. The main public beach along The Corniche is gorgeous. I have walked along there a couple of times (and by a couple, I mean quite literally) but we've never set foot on the white sands, nor dipped my toe in the aquamarine waters. Not until today.

Abu Dhabi has big parking problems, which over the past 18 months since living here, are slowly being ironed out (by the introduction of parking fines, ticketing machines etc.,) but I know that to park anywhere near where you want to go, you get there early. (Like when I want to go to Marina Mall and park underground I need to get there before the main shops open!) I didn't want to risk driving round and round trying to find a car park for hours, nor did I want to find a car park I was unable to get out of (cars seem to park where ever they can, in little nooks, behind you, doesn't matter!) so we left home relatively early. I parked the car close to The Corniche and basically across the road from the actual beach. (I had warned MissM there could be a walk involved which didn't go too well but she was happy to see we only had to cross the road.)

Now yes, I said it was a public beach, but you do have to pay for the privilege to use it. For me it was 10 dirham (about $3.30aud), MissM was 5 dirham (about $1.75aud), MissL, she was free, and honestly, you don't mind paying that kind of money when you see how clean, safe and 'funky' the beach actually is. It is gorgeous.

Now another 25 dirham ($8aud) bought me a comfortable beach lounge (and umbrella) to use for the day. (Not that we were planning on staying all day - a couple of hours at most).

MissL enjoyed sitting on her little shade thingy for about 5 minutes when she decided the sand looked too good not to taste and then got all 'grumbly' and proceeded to nap in her pram for most of the time we were there.

MissM was overjoyed to be back on the beach.

Kinda reminds me of this pic taken before we left Trinity beach, 20 months ago...

...minus the more 'natural beauty', rather than the man-made type of beauty. But to a child, a beach is a beach.

We stayed for a couple of hours all up, which was my aim, and not an easy feat being alone with two young children. I kept MissM happy by the promise of a Baskin Robbins ice cream when we left. (The boardwalk at The Corniche now has a scattering of little shops selling everything from ice-cream...to souvenirs. Nice!)

It was a lovely morning out, arriving home not long after midday.

I only wish we have had done it sooner, so perhaps we will be doing this mini-mission a bit more often, however the Hot Season is quickly creeping up on us so soon it will be impossible to even contemplate the thought of going to the beach, let alone physically doing it.

An Easter To Forget. Hopefully.

This Easter has been an Easter to remember. Not that it was our 2nd in the desert, not that the Easter Bunny did find us, but for the fact that we all caught a bug. A nasty one at that.

MissM caught it first (lucky thing!) and ended up doing one M A S S I V E spew (OMG!), probably staining the lounge cushion in the process, early on Saturday evening, but then she slept it off basically all day Sunday. She did get enough energy and excitement up for about 30 minutes at 7:30am to see what goodies Mrs. Bunny brought her (Easter Bunny is female in this household apparently).

MrL and I felt fine all day on Sunday, but I woke after a very strange dream at 4:30am Monday morning and got to the toilet on time. Noice. MrL rang up work to say he wasn't coming in (remember we live in a country where Easter is not recognised), he had a baby and a 5 year old to look after, as I was stuck in bed. The other westerner he works with was too absent from work - he had the same bug! (Ends up a lot of our friends have the same bug too *urgh*) MrL quickly learnt what it entails looking after a baby with routine, bottles, naps, playtime etc.,! It wasn't long before he too ended up feeling shoddy, so after 2pm we swapped shifts. However, my proper shift didn't start until I did a M A S S I V E vomit too, but then I felt okay.

MissM was fabulous yesterday, with her mum and dad feeling crap, and MissL was her typical MissL-self. From MissM there was no whinging, no asking 'what's to eat/do?', just heaps of quiet playing, movie watching, cleaning up of her room!

I am definitely feeling so much better than yesterday, MrL has taken another day off work as he was still feeling a little under the weather. He should be right by this evening.

In the meanwhile, I have watched the following mini-video numerous times and it made my day seem a little better each time. Especially yesterday when I felt 'orrible.

MissM has this incredible knack to making her little sister laugh. I try doing the same things and I never get the same response from MissL!

I hope all you fellow readers had a more memorable Easter than we did in Abu Dhabi. It won't be forgotten in a hurry. =)

Big Sister, Little Sister

I've been spying a lot of this happening lately...

No, not TV gawking by the baby, but a lot of one on one, big sister, little sister time. It is lovely to see (& to spy upon!) MissM is constantly telling MissL how much she loves her (ahhh) and now since MissM is becoming quite the reader, sits and reads her books, which MissL loves nearly as much as I do. (Saves me a job!)

MissM has been giving her baby sister the odd bottle...

...the odd nappy change and loves to pick out what the youngest should wear.

MissL's face seriously lights up when she spies MissM. Every morning, after every nap, at school pick up. Must be nice to be so popular!

I had parent/teacher interviews with MissM's teacher yesterday, where I was told that our eldest daughter is intelligent and smart and a pleasure to teach (most of the time *wink wink*) MissL has big shoes to fill academically, but there will be no comparison between my girls, as I know what it was like to have a wiser and smarter bigger sister! *heehee* (Not that there was any comparison between my sister and myself by our parents!)

Are you an older or younger sibling?