Sand and Shopping

Today I took the opportunity to waste a few hours by wandering around an enormous shopping centre not actually needing anything nor even wanting anything (other than lunch) and to go to the beach on the way back.

I got a taxi over there because everyone said that it was a long way, and to be fair it was AED14 which must have meant it was a good distance, and I’ve got bloody sore feet from walking back……I suppose I should have worn trainers to go shopping and walking about 5 miles, not flip flops !

I did manage to utilise a couple of coffee shops to speak to home later in the day using their internet to get Skype running but I have to say that it doesn’t matter where I am in the Middle East the internet connections are utter rubbish !

Anyway, back to the shopping centre.  If Dubai are having an ice rink and an aquarium then we’ll have an ice rink and a ski slope !

They haven’t finished it yet but I’m sure that it’ll be lovely when they do !

The whole centre is out on a spit or an island and is much less garish than anything of the same size as Dubai, inside and out but I’m really not sure why they need a ski ramp in a shopping centre !

The view back towards Abu Dhabi is pretty special though……

by the way, that flag pole isn’t close by, it’s the tallest flagpole in the world, with the largest flag in the world (so I’m led to believe…….)  I’m sure somebody can google it and tell me if it’s right !

The other thing you can see from the shopping centre (called the Marina Mall in case you’re interested.) is the Emirates Palace – which is something else and wins the coveted photo of the day competition:



I’m off back to the Western Desert tomorrow so more pictures of camels to come I guess !  Night night all.

I’m not sure if it’s a palace or a hotel or both but I may try for a cup of tea there one way or another at some point !

The rest of the inventory isn’t very interesting though I’m afraid:

Cigars: 2

Alcohol: 0 (although I have bought 2 bottles of wine for a party I’m going to in Dubai next week)

Gym: A proper hour and a half beasting this morning.  Plus a five mile walk carrying a pack (in flip flops !)

Weather: Same old same old

Food: Nothing to write home about (I think I may drop the food thing cause it’s not very likely that I’m going to encounter anything out of the ordinary (as I did in Iraq).  I may just let it drift off slowly……..

Ad revenue: we had gone over £20 this morning when I looked but statistically we don’t have as many clicks as we have blog views so some people are not clicking and closing as they’re supposed to !  How on earth can we have a decent party if the rest of you won’t play your part – tusk, pull your socks up !