The British Kabayan at Grosvenor House Hotel in Dubai , by Jeyboy
I am beginning to get fed up of "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" all over Facebook and the music from the Snowman! ( the only Christmas track on the Muzak system at IBIS Al Bashra which plays 48 times a day in the public areas)
However as my friends and I explore Dubai in the week before Christmas it is more Christmassy than I remember the UK looked back in 2009 when I left! Which is pretty weird as it's a country where the majority of people follow Islam! However , Dubai, and the UAE, is renowned for its religious tolerance. Earlier in the year I visited the Buddhist Temple here , and walked past the Hindu temple next to the Mosque.
This year I decided to do without the horribly commercial aspects of Christmas ( cards, calendars and presents) and focus on catching up with friends and eating some good food in convivial surroundings ( where I don't have to cook or wash up!)
Joshua waiting for our Phillipino lunch in Al Bashra
On 17th December I met up with my old friend Joshua , a Phillipino who lived and worked in Bahrain and is now a gym Manager in Dubai where he has been for 9 months. We met at his favourite restaurant, just down the road from my hotel and then walked to the park at 930 am. It was a lovely sunny day and there was a flea market and lots of families picnicking or attending Phillipino Christmas events. The air was filled with laughter and cute kids running about in Santa hats!
As my brother pointed out in his email it was 27 degrees and we walked all day ( 20,000 paces according to Joshua's fit bit ). The park was beautiful with Bougainvillea, birds, fountains and a boating lake ( they call it Al Barsha Pond Park) and it was free to go around.
After our long walk we were ready for Meryenda ( snack) so we headed to Starbucks which allowed us to catch up on our emails and messages. We the headed to a Phillipino restaurant for lunch where Christmas Karaoke was in full swing with everyone dressed up in festive costumes for the event.
After lunch we walked to Mall of the Emirates which, being Friday, was packed, We watched the kids skiing at Ski Dubai and visited the Christmas trees, Singing reindeer and more before adjourning to Cheesecake, where after a long wait we got a table for some healthy cheesecake! You can see more in my Vlog on my first day in Dubai with Joshua at Al Barsha Park and Mall of the Emirates by clicking the link below:
Al Barsha Park and Mall of the Emirates
After an early night I awoke to the sad news that the man behind Mall of Emirates, City Centre Mall in Bahrain, Mall of Oman and so on, Majid Al Futham had died yesterday. Fittingly he died on one of the busiest days of the year for his Malls and retail empire, I was fascinated to read that:
"With more than 34,000 employees in 28 shopping malls, 13 hotels and four city projects, Al Futtaim's business endeavours are a perfect example of how humble beginnings can develop into prolific success.
Source: Obituary: Majid Al Futtaim made his dream come true by creating moments for all (msn.com) ( accessed 18.12.21)
While we are on the sad news Typhoon Odette hit Palawan yesterday and Kit was unable to make our Christmas Party in Puerto Princessa due to fallen trees blocking the road and a collapsed bridge. This cut off Puerto and also all communications so for a week I have had no contact with the Microtel, Jhoanna, or TJ. I hope they are ok. Why do these tragedies happen so close to Christmas? The good news is that Kit and Grecil made it home safely and got in touch but the party never took place!
The best Kunafa in the Gulf at Awani Levant on JBR Beach
On 18th December I met up with long term friend Jeboy who I first met when he was working for Cheesecake in Kuwait in 2013. He came to stay in Bahrain and then I went to stay in Kuwait and then he moved to Dubai. I gave him my camera and he took loads of pictures and videos on our RTA day out.
Jeboy's Breakfast
One of the things I love about Dubai is you do not need a hire car of taxi as the Public Transport is so good. I walked to the metro where we met and caught the train to DMCC ( zero cost as I still had credit on my NOL card from July) , Then we caught the tram to Marina Mall where Jeboy had breakfast and I had hot chocolate with marshmallows and Nutella ( oh come on, it is Christmas!!)
Trying to make it look like we did more walking than eating!
Next stop was the Water taxi and we then walked across the bridge to JBR making a CR stop at the Grosvenor Hotel where Jeboy took the shot at the top of the Blog. We walked all down the walk which was packed and eventually found my favourite restaurant Awani Levant on JBR Beach. After spending two hours on the phone sorting out a domestic crisis Jeboy's phone battery went and he was able to talk to me briefly. From there we finally made it over the bridge to Al Ain and the big wheel. ( the tallest big wheel in the world to be precise, but this is Dubai where everything is taller and bigger!)
Ain Dubai, the newest tallest big wheel in the world
I have watched this wheel being transported to the man made island , built, tested and start operating in October 2021. My original plan was to take 9 friends for lunch on it on Christmas day . Their preopening advertising talked of your own chef serving a three course meal in a cabin during two rotations, When we went to the box office today it turned out to be PR talk rather than reality! So we decided to give it a miss and had a taxi back to the IBIS where Jeboy collected my washing , which he washed and Ironed for me and I collected on 22.12.21 after we had dinner together at the Cheesecake where he now works in Dubai Festival City.
On Christmas eve at 6 am we have a very special breakfast....
Now it's starting to look a lot like .......
Thanks to Joshua, Jeboy and Thang for three great days out. Chester is currently sewing all the bits of video together and we will share the four Dubai blogs with you later in the week
After 2 days of walking I had a morning in bed tomorrow, reading. I also booked a massage from a pretty young Phillipino lady I met on the street when I was looking for a laundry ( yes really, I could not believe it either!)
The blog will be back on Friday as usual with the story of our Christmas celebrations in 3 countries, Palawan Bahrain and UAE
Until then... Ingat Palagi, Kita kits and Maligiyang Pasko
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Hello, I am The British Kabayan! Feel free to read my stories.
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