Episode # 17- brunches, races, food fests, and surf

The last few weeks it feels like we've been trying to get the most out of our time here. Having a car has really increased our ability to get out and do things, and it seems like every opportunity we get we are heading out to see or do something new.. or for me.. go to the beach for surfing.

Last weekend we started off with a friday morning run, followed by a VERY nice brunch out on the Palm.  The Palm Jumeirah is essentially a man made palm shaped land mass that was created from nothing. They dredged the seafloor and formed this enormous thing that juts out into the ocean. When you drive out on the trunk of the palm it's easy to forget that it is man made. The massive Atlantis hotel sits at the top of the palm on the crescent. We were meant to go to a brunch a few weeks back but it conflicted with dad's visit, so jenn and I finished our run, got dolled up, and headed out there. The drinks, food, and hotel was incredible. Definately the nicest brunch we've been to. This was followed by a nice stroll around the grounds.  Given that each hotel takes up a portion of the palm, each hotel has seafront and beachfront, although i've heard rumors that the water does not circulate so well on the inside of the palm and it can get stinky in the summer. Although it's ecological nightmare to dredge up the seabottom and create land where land did not exist, it's actually pretty cool to see.

On Saturday, we did yet another run, followed by a day at the beach. The surf was really big so I had a few sessions interspersed with sitting on the beach with a bunch of DAA people.  Once again a really nice day to be in Dubai, beach, sun, surf and good friends. 

During this past week we went to a place called Global Village. It's a strange place but the best I can describe it is an international county fair that goes on for 4 months and hosts vendors from lots of different countries.  We sampled food in the Saudi Arabia area, looked at all the knick knacks in the Africa area (which were identical to all the ones Jenn and I have seen in Kenya), we took a ride on the ferris wheel to look at.... the parking lot... which is about the size of Rhode Island. I'm not sure what it is about this place but the locals LOVE it. They come out in droves as the sun goes down to wander around, eat dates, drink tea, and generally just walk around. It's one of the only places we've been in Dubai where you feel like there are more locals than expats.    Here's a few pictures from our little jaunt out to Global village:

Global village- the river in the desert

Atop the ferris wheel 

Jenn had to have her picture taken.

The saddest amusement ride ever. Office chairs welded on, and an Indian guy pushing you round in circles. 

On Friday March 16th we went to the "Taste of Dubai" food festival that was being held in the Media City area. Lots of restaurants had booths offering food, wine, and desserts. It has started to get a bit warmer here so we were ready for a cold cider with ice while eating pad thai, and lots of snacks at the different booths. We watched a celebrity chef "Artie" from food network and then did a wine tasting with a bunch of DAA teachers. We headed out early BEFORE the single malt whiskey tasting which I'm told was somewhat dangerous.   

And finally, this morning Jenn and I ran an 8km race which was hosted at the Jumeirah beach hotel right underneath the burj-al-Arab.  The track took us past the burj and through all the gardens and pools of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and the Madinat. We both ran a good race and both finished in the middle of the pack for the male and female groups.  This was followed by a very delicious lunch at the Lime Tree Cafe.  Now time to rest!  Here are some pictures from our race: 

uhhh.. i don't think it's real gold..  or are you REALLY hungry?

Jenn post race with the burj in the background

Ready to run

Robbie across the finish line.

Knackered - only half way!!

All done

Great View at the start line. 

That's all for now.  Next weekend we'll be taking the car on its first camping trip to the desert. The following weekend we'll be heading to Portugal for a week with the Jefferiss Clan for Spring Break! Can't wait.

Episode # 16 Our first Visitor!

It's always fun showing off your new home to a visitor- especially when it is your dad who is equally excited about exploring a new city.  D to the double J was visiting Bangalore India and decided to stop in Dubai on the way home for the weekend. Our first visitor also gave us an excuse to do some of the touristy things we haven't done yet. On Friday,  we went on a cruise of the Marina followed by the International Food Festival at DAA which was an awesome event with thousands visitors and food from every corner of the globe Sierra Leone to Pakistan, Argentina to Korea.  On Saturday we went to the Jumeira Mosque which presents an introduction to the muslim faith and explanation of customs and beliefs. This was followed by the Dubai Museum, a walk through the souks of Deira (the old part of Dubai) a trip up the tallest building in the world, finished off with an amazing thai dinner overlooking the fountains at the Dubai Mall.  phew.. what a weekend. 

Now that our first visitor has come, he can spread the word... and hopefully more visitors will join us soon!

Here are some pictures from our busy weekend: 

Burj Al Arab

A cruise along the marina

Twisty Building

On our private Dhow Ride

The Dhow with the Marina in the background

Before the Food Festival with Matt, Donna, Andy and Sandy

Food Festival in full swing. We only made it half way around. Great food!

A small boat takes you across the Dubai Creek from the textile souk to the spice and gold souk

View from the Burj al Khalifa- looking down on sky scrapers

Episode # 15 - Beirut

A few months ago we were approached by our friends Ann and Jonathon about a trip to Beirut. At first, I was a bit apprehensive. Having a father who religiously watched the ABC news every evening, I could not help but think of all those images on television about violence and conflict in Beirut.  Lebanon is a nation that has seen civil war, occupation from outsiders, political assassinations, and was a launching point for fighting in the middle east. Despite all of this, the resiliency of the Lebanese people has prevailed and Beirut is now an incredible city to visit. The city is a wonderful mix of french colonial architecture, middle eastern culture, and a diverse mix of people from throughout the region. Standing on the waterfront in Beirut next to palm trees you can look across the bay and see glistening white mountains in the background. In three days we went from the sea to the mountains and back again.

We were hosted by Mo and Zeina who used to work at DAA but now live in Allepo Syria where they work at the UN sponsored school there. They were also on a 3-4 day weekend and brought several of their friends from Syria to Beirut for a change of scenery. We therefore got to spend time with several couples who have spent their careers at various international schools around the world.

After a day exploring the streets of Beirut, we loaded up the cars and made the 2 hour journey to the mountains where we rented gear and went skiing for 1.5 days.  The skiing was amazing. The entire mountain is above treeline so you have unobstructed views from the top of the mountain to the sea. It was pretty amazing to be standing on a snowboard and looking down on the Mediterranean.  I snowboarded with Scott, a teacher from Syria who was equally keen to explore the mountain. Although the snow was windblown, we found some powder spots.... didn't think I'd be riding powder in the middle east! 


We finished off the trip by heading to Harissa which is part way up a mountain overlooking the sea. Then off to Byblos, an ancient village that was originally settled by the Phoenicians in 6000 BC. Probably the oldest ruins either of us have ever been to.  We jumped in the car with our crabby old man taxi driver and set off for the airport arriving back in Dubai at 2:30am... squeezing the the long weekend for every last drop. 


Awesome trip! See pictures below: 

Two Ithaca Bombers in the Mountains of Lebanon.

The final stretch to the Lodge

Amazing Lebanese Dinner with Maurice, Ann, and Jonathon

View from Harissa overlooking the sea

Inside the ruins of Byblos

One of our final images of Lebanon  before heading to the airport. Fisherman in Byblos

The view from American University of Beirut

Along the Corniche in Beirut

The bay and the mountains in the background

The corniche. People were super friendly and curious about us being there.

Mosques and Churches in the same city block

Jonathon looks scared...what did I order?

View from the waterfront restaurant on the cliffs

Robbie.. and some chick from the movie "Hot Tub Time Machine" 

Cruising some bunny hill.. shreddin.

Episode #14 - Goodbye to a man who was truly "First Class"

In December, our family lost our dear Grandad. Grandad was 89 years old and lived a splendid life. We were delighted to have him at our wedding last summer where he met his great grandson. The guest of honor knew Jenn and I as a couple longer than anyone. When we lived in London we would take the friday train from Waterloo to Fratton Park station where we would spend the weekend drinking tea, gin and tonic, red wine, and watching multiple games of soccer on TV.

Grandad loved people, conversation, and hosting visitors at 135 Devonshire avenue, a house that he lived in for almost 60 years. He served in Her Majesty's Royal Air Force in World War 2, ran a business selling iron next to the dockyards of Portsmouth, and was a founding member of the Irish Club in Portsmouth- serving as their president in the late 80's.

I visited grandad on the way too and from many of my adventures and I always tried to send him a postcard. Amazingly, when going through his house, I found that he had kept every single one.

Grandad's memorial service on January 12th was attended by his friends and family. He had many friends who were not just casual acquaintances, but true friends who knew him well. He will be missed sorely by everyone.  His memorial was followed by lunch and drinks at the Irish club where Jenn and I met many of my relatives that I have never met before. The afternoon was a celebration of his life that was spent in exactly the way he would have liked it.... at the Irish Club, with a pint of Guinness in our hands. 

Going through his house and his belongings was like walking through time, limb by limb gazing at our family tree. Grandad's yellowish photos were kept from holidays in Cornwall on the beach. Old clippings of Treadgold's Iron Shop were kept in aluminum tins. Artifacts from soldiers of foreign wars from Africa and beyond were sitting on top of his piano in the sitting room.  The picture above the mantelpiece of Captain Treadgold was taken home by my brother, and will soon sit above his mantel piece in Alexandria Virginia. Captain Treadgold fought in the British Army in the late 1800's in Africa and the West Indies. You can't help but wonder what his life was like.

The upside of travelling to the UK was time spent with our cousins who live in Spain and Wales. And of course time spent with Winston!

Here are some pictures of Grandad from over the years and some pictures from our time in Portsmouth.

Me in front of Treadgolds

Four generations

Winston driving the double decker at the pier

Grumpy and Winston at the pub

On the seafront at Portsmouth