I met this friend when I first arrived in Dubai, when I would over-enthusiastically introduce 
myself to everyone I saw in my building, car park, lobby, coffee-shop, gym and beach-you name it. She used to live in the apartment opposite me, where my Belarusian friend now lives, and I remember thinking that maybe the lift wasn't the best place for my over-enthusiastic intros and that she must have thought 'who is this weirdo that has 
moved in opposite me and how am I going to avoid bumping into her all the time?' However I was wrong, she slipped a welcome note under my door, suggested a wine in the bar downstairs and the rest is history. So today she came to pick me up from her old building and she wanted to go do a drive-by past the new developme
nts on The Palm. Like I said, we live on the trunk but all the hotels, which are still being built, are on the outer crescent with the enormous Atlantis hotel at the very top and centre. We adventured around the crescent and got a view of Dubai from a perspective I'd never seen before. The marina skyline is just mental, and to think 3 years ago none of it was there. Every so often I'd look off into the Persian Gulf and give a wave to my Iranian neighbours. Reminded me again that Australia's quite a while away. Its quite a drive from one end of the crescent to the other- in fact it's about 5 kilometres, and long enough to discuss important, worldly topics such as pet cockatoos, religious icons (as heavy as the day's conversation got), whether cats and dogs born here eat pork, OH&S and yellow snow.
myself to everyone I saw in my building, car park, lobby, coffee-shop, gym and beach-you name it. She used to live in the apartment opposite me, where my Belarusian friend now lives, and I remember thinking that maybe the lift wasn't the best place for my over-enthusiastic intros and that she must have thought 'who is this weirdo that has moved in opposite me and how am I going to avoid bumping into her all the time?' However I was wrong, she slipped a welcome note under my door, suggested a wine in the bar downstairs and the rest is history. So today she came to pick me up from her old building and she wanted to go do a drive-by past the new developme
nts on The Palm. Like I said, we live on the trunk but all the hotels, which are still being built, are on the outer crescent with the enormous Atlantis hotel at the very top and centre. We adventured around the crescent and got a view of Dubai from a perspective I'd never seen before. The marina skyline is just mental, and to think 3 years ago none of it was there. Every so often I'd look off into the Persian Gulf and give a wave to my Iranian neighbours. Reminded me again that Australia's quite a while away. Its quite a drive from one end of the crescent to the other- in fact it's about 5 kilometres, and long enough to discuss important, worldly topics such as pet cockatoos, religious icons (as heavy as the day's conversation got), whether cats and dogs born here eat pork, OH&S and yellow snow.After our trip around The Palm, we then headed to downtown Jumeriah for the Magrundy's book sale. Books? I hear you all say. Does Terence of Arabia now read for pleasure? The answer is no. There 
are still too many things to think about and do when I pick up a book to read. It was a sale and I am my mother's daughter you know. I was more keen to pick up a range of Lonely Planet guides as they were all $1.50 as I think they look nice stacked together on a bookshelf. Unbelievably I actually found the book I've been wanting to read for ages "Where Do Underpants Come From?" and that was also $1.50, so it was really worth the trip. After "schlepping" around the sales, us weary ladies stopped off at Shakespeare's Cafe; a Laduree type cafe that has amazing sweets, does an all day breakfast and a killer eggs benedict. As I started to explain I'm not a very graceful eater, I had a rather awkward encounter with piece of lettuce. But I digress. It was so nice to spend the day in little suburban shopping centres (very Top-Ryde-esque) rather than the huge malls and it was amazing how my friend's Dubai was so different to mine.
are still too many things to think about and do when I pick up a book to read. It was a sale and I am my mother's daughter you know. I was more keen to pick up a range of Lonely Planet guides as they were all $1.50 as I think they look nice stacked together on a bookshelf. Unbelievably I actually found the book I've been wanting to read for ages "Where Do Underpants Come From?" and that was also $1.50, so it was really worth the trip. After "schlepping" around the sales, us weary ladies stopped off at Shakespeare's Cafe; a Laduree type cafe that has amazing sweets, does an all day breakfast and a killer eggs benedict. As I started to explain I'm not a very graceful eater, I had a rather awkward encounter with piece of lettuce. But I digress. It was so nice to spend the day in little suburban shopping centres (very Top-Ryde-esque) rather than the huge malls and it was amazing how my friend's Dubai was so different to mine.
I loved every second of this shopping adventure. Things I had never seen before like novelty teapots in the shape of caravans, tasters, golf clubs and beautiful boutiques with amazing decorations. Well, at least I thought that was a shop window decoration until I saw that each over sized bling-bling crown was on sale for about $1000. I would love to know what that will ever be used for.
Without a trip to Ikea or The Daiso, my day could not have gotten any better. Then we made a turn and ended up at the 'Park & Shop' supermarket. I don't think I need to explain the emotional intensity and sensory overload I experienced. I think we all know by now how much I love to grocery shop. It looks so 'Flemings' or 'Jewel' from the outside, yet a world of wonders within. I hate to be so Jerry Seinfeld about it all but why "Park & Shop"- what else do you think I'm going to do? What do other people do with their cars when they go to the supermarket? And to be quite frank, if the only parking is that which is 
infront of the shop. What happens if I don't get a park? We would have a serious case of brand not matching promise...The greatest finding by far today was a line extension to end all line extensions. The Burger King Onion Ring Crisps and Fries. That was it. I surrendered and I was now happy if the adventure had to end.
Oooohhhmygod Burger King in a packet?!? I've died and gone to hangover heaven! But wait, are they better or worse than burger rings? More like a tastey Toob perhaps?
ReplyDeleteBy the way I don't think I told you yet: I'm loving your blogs!
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