Spotted!

Eurgh is all I'm saying..

Regular readers will know my on/off again love affair with bootcamp.  When it’s good (i.e you are going regularly) it’s really really good.  When it’s bad (i.e you haven’t been for months – hello!) it’s horrid.  It can also be a pain to get to – after a 10 or 12 hour day it can be hard to find the motivation to schlep your way across the city to their usual park or beach location.

So when we heard about a new Downtown bootcamp, our hearts leapt. We signed up faster than a rat up a palm tree.  And in the main, it’s good. Typical bootcamp fayre: running, circuits, boxing.  The one thing I hadn’t considered was how many of my friends live in Downtown.  Added to which my office is in Downtown.  Added to which Downtown is a very popular destination to visit even if you don’t live or work here.  This means HUGE potential for being spotted by someone that you know, whilst looking far from your best.

Last week the worst finally happened.  I had an email from an old friend that I haven’t seen in quite some time.  “I saw someone that looked quite a bit like you running through Downtown clutching what looked like a basketball.  Can you confirm or deny?!”

Sadly I had to admit that this was indeed me.  Thankfully the friend was either too far away or too kind to also describe the sweaty mess that was me in any more detail.  Is a disguise taking things too far in future?!

Blessed...

I was not born to iron...

I may have mentioned how blessed we are here in Dubai when it comes to having people to look after us. I have the loveliest cleaner in the world who is an old friend of a friend, who has now become part of the Downtown Family.  We have joked that Mohesh, the man from Dubai laundry, has been the most constant male presence in our lives over the last four years.

Last month, disaster struck: Mohesh went on his annual vacation.  As is customary in this part of the world, he took an entire month off.  His replacement, whilst lovely, didn’t understand which trousers had front pleats and which didn’t, and wasn’t entirely au fait with the term ‘dry cleaning’.

My hopes were raised that Mohesh was back when I saw the Dubai Laundry van flash past as I was throwing myself around Downtown during bootcamp (way too public).  And yesterday when my doorbell rang, it was confirmed: Mohesh is back!  We actually had a near-emotional reunion as we chatted about his holiday and what he’d been up to.

Thank you universe. We really are blessed.

Off the Beaten Track...

Al Hamra Eat Your Heart Out..

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of a five day public holiday.  In the past we’ve used this as an excuse to see far-flung places…Africa, Syria, Bali, Singapore…this year we decided to try somewhere closer to home.  Um Al Quwain is one of the smallest Emirates and is essentially a sleepy fishing village.  I’ve driven in and out when visiting the booze shop there and have even popped into the marine club to watch others wakeboarding (I like to keep this as a purely spectator activity).

So it was with a little trepidation that we set off on our long weekend break there.  We’d found a beach front hotel that looked more Fawlty Towers than Burj Al Arab, and whilst that was exactly what we wanted, I’m always slightly concerned about adapting to what could be a less glamorous than camping option.  How we were pleasantly surprised! Weekend highlights:

• Our own villa with lounge and fridge - stocked with soft drinks
• Fruit Bowl
• Terrace overlooking gardens
• Miles of clear uninterrupted beach
• Beer 10 dirhams (1.50 GBP)
• On-site booze shop
• Hilarious Philippino duet – think Carpenters with no talent
• Amazing untouched villages and streets to explore
• Rows of traditional shops with abayas and more National Day memorabilia than you can shake a stick at

In summary:  if you want a low-key, laid-back, stress-free weekend with more charm than glitz, head to Um Al Quwain. Just be prepared for some very creative renditions of your favourite songs from the band – I’ll never be able to listen to Jay Z’s Empire State of Mind in the same way….

Seeing the World...

Striking a Palestinian Pose..

I’m back from the most amazing, inspiring and thought-provoking trip to Palestine.  I can’t believe how lucky I am to have experienced it.  This got me casting my mind back over all the amazing trips I’ve had in the last three and a half years.  Some come to Dubai for a job, a tax free salary, the sunshine (hello!) but for me one of the biggest reasons was: to see the world.  And I think it’s safe to say I’ve certainly seen a lot of it whilst I’ve been here.  Drum roll:

• Sri Lanka
• India (twice) Kochin, Kerala, Allepey
• Africa – Nairobi and Kenya
• Jordan – Amman (twice) and Petra
• Nepal
• Singapore
• Bali
• Syria – Damascus
• Lebanon – Beirut (twice)
• Qatar (too many times)
• Oman (many many times)
• Egypt - Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh
• Palestine
• Canada
• USA
• Amsterdam (twice)
• Paris
• Barcelona

Of course I’ve spent lots of time in the other Emirates too: Al Ain, Fujeirah, Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi (way too much time here).

Due to the UAE labour laws which state that you can’t take any holiday in your first year of a job (no, really) I’ve packed a lot of this into a relatively short amount of time.  We’re blessed with a number of long bank holidays here so much of the travel has been squeezed into these.  There are so many reasons why I love living in Dubai and this list is the result of one of them.  The next trip?   I’ll have to consult the world map in the lounge and come back to you!