40th Celebrations.

If you've been reading my blog, you would remember that the UAE turned 40 a couple of weeks back. For the three years we have been here, we have always seen the cars the locals 'dress up' to mark the nation's birthday but I have never taken any photographs of them. I didn't think I would get around to snapping any pics this year either, until....

On Friday December 2nd, my dad, MrL and I decided we'd go over to Yas Island for a pint or two and lunch whilst Grandma agreed to stay at home and look after the girls for us. We saw spotted around the island, near the Yas Marina track, signs about the 'parade of the Union of the Nation' and thought, nahh, won't get to see anything. We were wrong. After a couple of hours at a couple of bars and a couple *ahem* pints in us, the parade had started.

I have never seen anything quite like it before and was grateful I had chosen to take my camera with me in my bag. So *joyous* and so funny! The local Emirates, certainly know how to amuse this Australian gal.  Yep, the old 'let's hang out the car window and the sunroof!', the lack of seat belts, the constant car tooting, the noise, the 'lets spray each other with foam', the car decorations all in one place.  And we were at the right place at the right time.

Below is a quick selection of photos from the afternoon.

Yas Hotel

Last week I took my parents over to Yas Hotel, located in the center of the Yas Marina Formula One circuit. It is (another) one of those buildings that you have to see to believe. It is a beautiful hotel and takes less than 10 minutes from where we live to there. I see the building practically every day and *still* love it.

Up close it is an amazing hotel/building to look at.  Clean, rounded lines and lots of white.

The couches are even white...well until a certain 2 year old put her Smartie-laced fingers on a pillow or two.  ;P

My mother announced she could have stayed sitting on the lounges all day and said that it would be one of her favourite places in Abu Dhabi.  I know what she means.

Doesn't sound like a bad idea actually, lounging on a couch and being waited on, in this beautiful mild weather we are having.

Morning Beach Stroll

With the weather now very pleasant, especially comparing it to a month ago, even a fortnight ago, I thought it would be most appropriate to take the VIPs down to the Corniche for a stroll, even a short one, along the beach and boardwalk.  

At 10am it was lovely.  The whole place seemed rather inviting and the water was perfect temperature. 

Hey! Nice skirt lady!  (*smirk*)

The above shot shows to the far left the 'Etihad Towers' - a series of five towers, representing the Sheikhs.  Where you can just see cranes, is the Emirates Palace, the most expensive hotel in the world.  Where you can a series of white 'Sails' and a little tower, is Marina Mall and further along is the 'World's largest Flag pole' where the UAE flag flies proudly at full mast each day.

We had a cool milk shake at one of the cafes on the boardwalk which over looks the beach.  A cool refreshment was needed as I'm pretty sure it was a little warmer than the predicted 33 degrees.

With this week being Eid Mubarak and mid-term break for school, I think I might just take the girls back down there for a splash in the water, whilst the VIPs head UK bound.

Yas Links

Saturday saw MrL take a (very) rare afternoon off, so to make the most of him not being at his second home, we decided to go out for lunch. After last week's 'tantie' disaster, I decided Lily should take an earlier nap, which she did (*phew*) so there was no tantrum insight.

We found ourselves over at Yas Island, at the Links Golf Course, which sits directly opposite the Marina F1 Circuit and Ferrari World.  The F1 is on in two weeks time and the Club is getting ready for some action, with the labourers building some kind of platform...

Our lunch was actually quite nice, thought MrL wasn't too keen on his fish.  Kinda glad I didn't order it. (Sorry MrL.)

After a feed, we walked outside and thought perhaps we should have sat outside to eat.  It was really nice out there, with a view over to the Raha Beach development.

Can you spot the plane in the photo below?

Around the side of the club house lays a very inviting looking pool, with a view over towards Ferrari World.

The Yas Links golf house has a distinct Spanish feel to it.  Very nice indeed and not a thing out of place.

Pretty sure we'll be back again soon. Though next time, we'll stay clear of the fish. ;P

Out of the Car Window

It's funny these days with phone cameras - you can usually take photos of anything and everything you can see these days. Take me at the petrol station last week. I was waiting in line behind this car...

I know it gets hot out here in the desert but I think that having zero windows on the left hand side in your car is taking the 'wind in your hair' experience just a step further.  And check out the blue fan they had hooked up in the back seat.

You can probably tell by the next photo why the car above had hooked up such a gizmo when one does not have air conditioning...

School pick up time.  We leave here at 2:30pm each week day to collect Monet.  My car though, does sit in the midday sun so usually when I get in and get going, the temperature does drop to about 40 or so.  Winter is definitely on it's way.

Driving into town the other day I noticed my favourite car, a couple of cars from me.  My dream car.  And yes, I can have expensive tastes, especially when it is a 4-door Porsche Panamera.  They're very common in this little section of the world, but they don't stop me drooling (and dreaming).  That's it there, the white car in the middle.  There is an Emirati in this compound I live in who has one.  I'm tempted to one day, knock on his door and ask if I can have a seat inside.  Lol.

Oh the things you see out your car window.

A Sand Storm, A Butcher and The Three Sheikhs

We took a drive today to the Port section of Abu Dhabi. Of course the store we wanted was closed (we had a sneaky suspicion it would be, being a Friday (equivalent to a Sunday) and also it too being some public holiday (a Prophet?). But anyway, we drove down into the city through a mad sand storm. Disgusting. Not sure what the visibility was today, but surely it was close to no more than 50 metres. Yuck.

Down at the Port, we finally found the 'Butcher' section - yeah, not for the faint hearted I'd say, nor for vegetarians and probably not an ideal place for a woman with two daughters to be.  So I sent MrL in to find a particular South African butcher we had been told about.  And, once again, being a Friday, he was not open so MrL will visit him perhaps during the week.  (Apparently he sells Corned Silverside!)  Whilst we waited in the car, I was fortunate enough to see another butcher/helper/assistant picking his toe nails outside our car. *belch*  I'm actually pretty 100% sure he has nothing to do with the South African butchery so we're on the safe saide there. lol

Hey nice legs reflected in the window. ;P

There is a section of the Port called 'The Mina Center', which houses a few odd stores and a massive Co-Op supermarket, probably the cheapest supermarket in the whole of Abu Dhabi.  One thing I really like about the Center is the massive portraits of the Sheikhs that greet you when you walk into the 'old school' place.

I've been wanting to share with you those portraits for ages and now I have.  They are 'everywhere' in this emirate and I've told MrL that when our time comes to leave, I am buying all three portraits and they will be displayed in our abode back home.  ;-)

The guy on the left (Sheikh Khalifa) is the current ruler of the country and of the Abu Dhabi emirate, the middle guy is his father (Sheikh Zayed) who died quite a few years ago but they say he was the true founder of Abu Dhabi and had the vision of what the city is today, and the guy on the right is Sheikh Mohammed, the Crown Prince. It is really confusing who is who, who does what, who is whose son, who is in charge etc.,  I get confused who is the ruler of the Emirate and of the UAE but I do know I have the names right! lol

Another Friday. ;)

Abu Dhabi's Best Kept Secret...

I'm not sure how much longer it will be a secret though.

Saadiyat Island sits off Abu Dhabi Island and is linked by an awesome bridge and road that eventually does lead up to Yas Island (Marina Circuit) and then onwards up to Dubai.

Today, MrL suggested we try the restaurant that has not long been open at the Manarat Gallery on Saadiyat.  He had been there one day during the week for lunch with a work colleague and thought I would really like it.

He was right.  MrL knows me too well.

To begin with, it's like a casual cafe - a rarity in this neck of the woods.  Most nice eateries over here are ran by hotels and sometimes you feel a little like you don't 'fit in'.  Second thing, it is kidlet friendly.  Funky highchairs, good menu (no chicken nuggets for a change!) and a kid's play section.  Thirdly, it is bright, airy, modern and funky.  It makes you feel like you're not sitting in a restaurant in Abu Dhabi.  Fourthly, loads of natural light.  Bucket loads of the stuff.  And it is equally as good to eat inside as it is outside (but obviously you can't now, we've hit the heat over here).  And lastly, a great casual menu.  And a small, but impressive wine list and bottled beer at (very) reasonable prices.  

Guess what I ordered. 

(It's pretty rare to find James Boag over here, served in a restaurant, let alone bought in a Bottle Shop so a stubby of the stuff was a must!)

We will definitely be going back. Definitely.

When In Rome...

...do as the Romans do, or in our case, what the Arabs do.

The six year old can speak pretty fluent Arabic if given the chance too. (It is taught at school and she's now into her second year of speaking the language - she is now even learning to write in Arabic. It's a funny language as they don't really have an alphabet - it is based on sounds. Very clever really, but there is no way I can understand or even begin to learn how to read in Arabic. In'shallah.)