Camels and dust storms

Today we woke up to a really horrible day, it was hotter than it has been in months and blowing a gale. We were meeting a friend at a cafe for brunch and afterwards decided to go for a drive into the desert a bit to get some photos of the sand blowing across the roads. The way the sand moves is really quite extraordinary. Bert is always keen for a trip to take photos with his new digital SLR camera. We came across this herd of camels with several babies by chance. Why do all baby animals, no matter how ugly their parents, look cute?

Is it any wonder I'm often confused?

Oops, we have been busy!

Sorry the blog has been so neglected. We have been busy getting life sorted out and life unpacked and making a very empty apartment look and feel like home. Here are some photos of where we live in Green Community

Well the one thing I would have done is made the bed before the photos were taken! That is a king size doona and it just barely covers the mattress the bed its so big.
Dining room looking into the kitchen, we just took these photos today without tidying up so what you are seeing is how it is.

The living room looking back towards the front door. The two carpets are silk, and beautiful, well they will be once they stop shedding fluff.

Our balcony, and bathmat! I did say these photos were unplanned.

The pool and view of the other apartments from our balcony. When we first moved here on December 1st there were hardly any other apartments occupied, now there are a lot more people around. It is still nice and quiet apart from kids playing in the playground after school.

The guest bedroom.

Sheikh Zayad Road Dubai

Sheikh Zayad Road Dubai part two

The photo above is the metro train, pulling into its very futuristic looking station. The metro runs along Sheikh Zayah road.

And just incase you forget who is running the show here in Dubai, we have portraits all over the place

Oops! Shame we don't know what it says

Al Iwan restaurant Burj Al Arab

Inside the actual Burj foyer is remarkably tacky, think Vegas 1960's decor. Its proof money doesn't come with good taste. The restaurant we ate at was Al Iwan an Arabic banquet. These three ladies were at the table beside us, and Bert offered to take a photo of them together. He asked them where they were from, and was very surprised when they answered Holland. We got talking to them and they wanted to go for a drive to the Jumeira Palm islands so we offered to take them for a drive, they were a lot of fun. Inside the foyer.

This guy was very pleased with his lamb in this tray, I didn't have the lamb, it looked a bit too much like a greyhound for me.

The buffet, seafood,

When I woke up this morning...

Bert and I often say this.

I went to bed one night in August 2008 and my biggest decision was that I needed to go grocery shopping the following day, and should I go to safeway or aldi? By the end of the following day I was in Germany after hearing the news that Berts younger brother had died and flying half way across the world for a funeral. Today was not anywhere near as dramatic as that but when I woke up this morning I never expected to do and see the things we did today.

Bert has been working insanely long hours, so the plan was for him to sleep in as late as possible. When he got up he wanted to go out somewhere for breakfast (even though it was lunchtime) I offered to make him bacon and eggs, or pancakes but no he wated go out. I also needed to go to the shops to get a few odds and ends but this is where we ended up



To get on to the bridge to get to the Burj you need a booking in the hotel at a restaurant. If you don't show up at the restaurant its a 300 dirham charge to your credit card, so there is no cancelling once you are in the gate.