Wake up late today. Nearly missed breakfast. Hannah was that tired still that she put Savlon on her tooth brush, but realised before anything bad happened. We chilled out around the pool in the morning until about 3pm. Then went and got ready for our Desert Jeep Safari. Got picked up at 4pm and take off towards the desert. Our first stop was to grab a drink while our driver let some air out off our tyres, then we were off to the desert.
This is by far one of the best things I've ever done. Our driver had some skills and could throw our jeep up and over the sand dunes like he was driving down a straight normal road. We were flying up and over dunes sliding down sideways with sand flying over the bonnet and on to the wind screen of the jeep. We were the last jeep in a convey of 4 jeeps and got some fantastic video of the whole thing. We saw a few groups of camels walking around. I think we scared them a bit as some were running off leading the rest of them.
We then stopped at our camp out in the middle of the desert. It looks just like an old Arab camp with a stick fence around it with a square carpeted area in the middle with table and pillows around it. There was camel rides, chance to dress up as an Arab, a stall with local crafts and an area to smoke Sheesha, what ever that was (we didn't try Sheesha, but it did smell nice). Then we had a BBQ with free drinks and watch a local belly dancer performing for us in the enter of the camp. We then drove back through the desert at night to get home.
Thursday 31 May 2007
Dubai
Arrived in at 7am, Dubai time and it was already 32 degrees. The airport was huge we were walking for about 30minutes to baggage claim. Bags came through after we had waited ages. Went through to get a taxi. It was boiling outside and they tried to help with big fans circulating very warm hot air. The taxi had a little Tv in the back with adverts telling us about things to see in Dubai. The traffic is really bad in Dubai. The driver was saying the traffic is always bad, at whatever time your out in. When we were sat in traffic, he would just read his newspaper chilled out and relaxed. So we just relaxed too.
Got to our hotel at about 8:30am (The Lotus Hotel) very nice reception. When checking in the manager came out to say hello and asked us if we would like to go to another Lotus hotel in Dubai for one night, as our room would not be ready until 2pm. It was a new hotel (The Grand Lotus Hotel and Apartments) and we would be upgrading for one night to their Deluxe hotel and apartments. So we said yeah Ok, because we were very tired as we didn't sleep on the plane.
When we got there the apartment we were given was massive and very new one. That new that when we climbed into bed the sheets felt like cardboard. So we got the hotel towels placed them on the bed and pillows to give us something soft to sleep on. After about 4 hours sleep I had a shower and the towels were also very new, as in the white towels left white fluff all over me .In my hair, on my face, arms and legs. But at least we were the first to use everything.
We when to the beach by taxi, its so cheap. A 15 minute journey only cost about £5.........bargain!!
The beach we went to is in a national park called "Al Mazmar Park". It cost only 5Dirhams each which is about 75p. Once inside the beach is massive. We set up our towels and headed in to the sea. People have told me about going on holiday a saying the sea was like a bath but I've never felt a sea so warm. The water a really warm, even further out too. As we stepped into the water there were tiny baby crabs in the sand. Then I saw a couple of fish, didn't tell Hannah as she would a shoot out the sea faster than a bullet. But then I saw a jelly fish and we both got out the water. Not a big fan of jelly fish!
We sunbathed from about 4pm until around 6pm. The sun was still really warm and we walked along the beach for a while. Then went off to get a shower, a drink and a taxi back to the hotel. The showers are on the beach and the water is really hot and some of the locals after sun bathing were washing with shower gels and "Head N shoulders".
Now for everyone old enough....we got a can of 7up, but thats not it. The can had old style ring pulls. The ones that pull off the can. It was a major flash back to the past. On our way out of the park we also saw a little baby monkey sleeping!
Then waited for a taxi, learned not to be so nice and English. The taxi rank was a free for all and the locals just flagged them down and jumped in. So we did to ;-)
That night we went out to another local hotel food dinner as our hotel was that new the restaurant menu was fully up and running. We had too main courses for under £10. We also found out that our hotel has only been open a few days before we had arrived. Off to our original hotel tomorrow.
Got to our hotel at about 8:30am (The Lotus Hotel) very nice reception. When checking in the manager came out to say hello and asked us if we would like to go to another Lotus hotel in Dubai for one night, as our room would not be ready until 2pm. It was a new hotel (The Grand Lotus Hotel and Apartments) and we would be upgrading for one night to their Deluxe hotel and apartments. So we said yeah Ok, because we were very tired as we didn't sleep on the plane.
When we got there the apartment we were given was massive and very new one. That new that when we climbed into bed the sheets felt like cardboard. So we got the hotel towels placed them on the bed and pillows to give us something soft to sleep on. After about 4 hours sleep I had a shower and the towels were also very new, as in the white towels left white fluff all over me .In my hair, on my face, arms and legs. But at least we were the first to use everything.
We when to the beach by taxi, its so cheap. A 15 minute journey only cost about £5.........bargain!!
The beach we went to is in a national park called "Al Mazmar Park". It cost only 5Dirhams each which is about 75p. Once inside the beach is massive. We set up our towels and headed in to the sea. People have told me about going on holiday a saying the sea was like a bath but I've never felt a sea so warm. The water a really warm, even further out too. As we stepped into the water there were tiny baby crabs in the sand. Then I saw a couple of fish, didn't tell Hannah as she would a shoot out the sea faster than a bullet. But then I saw a jelly fish and we both got out the water. Not a big fan of jelly fish!
We sunbathed from about 4pm until around 6pm. The sun was still really warm and we walked along the beach for a while. Then went off to get a shower, a drink and a taxi back to the hotel. The showers are on the beach and the water is really hot and some of the locals after sun bathing were washing with shower gels and "Head N shoulders".
Now for everyone old enough....we got a can of 7up, but thats not it. The can had old style ring pulls. The ones that pull off the can. It was a major flash back to the past. On our way out of the park we also saw a little baby monkey sleeping!
Then waited for a taxi, learned not to be so nice and English. The taxi rank was a free for all and the locals just flagged them down and jumped in. So we did to ;-)
That night we went out to another local hotel food dinner as our hotel was that new the restaurant menu was fully up and running. We had too main courses for under £10. We also found out that our hotel has only been open a few days before we had arrived. Off to our original hotel tomorrow.
Flight to Dubai
Well after a good night out in Sheffield on Friday night, feeling a bit rough Saturday morning, both Hannah and I still had to pack and get to the airport for 6pm. Sue, Hannah's mum took us to the airport to see us off, where we were surprised by Cheryl, Tom and Sam, who came to wave us off at the airport. Or was it to make sure we got on the plane? A few tears from a lot of people today, happy and sad to see us going.
We nearly missed the flight due to shopping in duty free and we were the last on the plane. The flight was great we had a choice of over 500 channels; Films, TV and radio stations. The food was good, we had a choice of boring Salmon or Chicken Massala & rice!!! So I went for the curry Great food. Big seats. Tv screens in the back of every seat. Over all Emirates airlines were great.
Only bit Hannah didn't like was the big fat man snoring next to her and taking some of her seat. NO, not me, the other side.
We nearly missed the flight due to shopping in duty free and we were the last on the plane. The flight was great we had a choice of over 500 channels; Films, TV and radio stations. The food was good, we had a choice of boring Salmon or Chicken Massala & rice!!! So I went for the curry Great food. Big seats. Tv screens in the back of every seat. Over all Emirates airlines were great.
Only bit Hannah didn't like was the big fat man snoring next to her and taking some of her seat. NO, not me, the other side.
Friday 25 May 2007
Pre departure
So its the day before we are off to Oz, we are stopping in Dubai for 3 nights, that should be great. Got a 6 or 7 hours flight to Dubai, then off to Melbourne. I think that is another 15 ish hour flight. Staying in Melbourne for about 6 weeks as Hannah's brother is off back to the UK for a month. After he gets back at the moment we are planning to go up to Cairns. We will keep you informed of our where abouts over the next year. Leaving on the 26th may 2007 and should be back around the 24/25th May 2008.
I'm now sat in Mansfield is poring down with rain and I should be packing as I have not even started. Instead I've set up this blog, its the first time I've ever read what a blog is or does but I think everyone reading it will enjoy finding out what Hannah and I are up to. I'm planing to use this blog to tell all of you , how "Neil & Hannah's journey down Under" is going, what we've seen, what we've done and where we are going next. I'm also going to try and post pictures and video clips over the next year.
Well I better finish this and go start packing or otherwise I'm not going anywhere.
I'm now sat in Mansfield is poring down with rain and I should be packing as I have not even started. Instead I've set up this blog, its the first time I've ever read what a blog is or does but I think everyone reading it will enjoy finding out what Hannah and I are up to. I'm planing to use this blog to tell all of you , how "Neil & Hannah's journey down Under" is going, what we've seen, what we've done and where we are going next. I'm also going to try and post pictures and video clips over the next year.
Well I better finish this and go start packing or otherwise I'm not going anywhere.
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