Al Diar Regency Abu Dhabi

... nice so we chatted away for a good 3 hours enjoying free booze (only me) and free food! I gave him Zeitgeist (9/11 documentary) so he could watch it and give me his feedback at some point. Always good to spread the word :-)

I arrived in Abu Dhabi, slightly merry I must say, at around 11.30 pm and the heat was overwhelming.

... dozed off three times for about 10 minutes each, and I had three plane crash dreams. So I ended up just sitting there for about 5 hours with my eyes shutting I was so tried but trying to keep them open, so I didn't have that dream, until the Nyquil wore off.

When I finally landed in Abu Dhabi it was noon the next day EST and I hadn't really slept since leaving for NY at 10 AM the previous day. We had to walk outside to get to the terminal ...

''Quietly I go insane, on this lonely aeroplane, everybody looks the same on this lonely aeroplane. And the in flight magazines, advertises washing machines... You're a million miles away, and I miss you so today.'' To be honest, and as I've said before, it really wasn't that bad at all. I actually enjoyed my first international flight to Abu Dhabi very much. We had nice seats, window and corridor, nice magazines advertising ...

... palace we saw what must be the largest flagpole in the world proudly displaying a huge UAE flag at about 150 metres up, maybe a sign of things to come here i.e. everything will be bigger and better. It would be interesting to see how things could be much bigger and better when you get the first views of the palace, a sprawling expanse of domes, fountains and palm trees the entire place being clad in a pinkish marble. We pulled into the parking area to spot the hotels ...

... as I pant in the shade of his awning he confirms that "it is very hot". I then have to take the long walk up the path to the hotel door. The hotel is spectacular. It was the most expensive hotel in the world to build, and is Abu Dhabi's answer to Dubai's more famous Burj Al Arab. The walls and the floor are marble, the skirting is marble of a contrasting colour. It is midday and a harpist in evening dress is playing in the lobby. I ...

... sleep from the night before, I'm pretty sure I'm exhausted, but I can't really tell. I still have another hour of waiting and another 3+ hrs of flight to Mumbai, India. I think this internet session is going to time out soon. Until next time...

... a bit, but I do have license to exaggerate - I am the author here. ;o) I finally took a couple pictures of the roosters that cock-a-doodle-do in the morning. They just roam around near the Corniche. Who knows if they belong to anyone. Reminds me of Key West... Yesterday we headed to a "local" souk. I guess that's what you'd call it. Apparently it's where all the locals shop. Very few westerners ...

... so caught up in make-up and finding a shower afterwards in the vastness of the hotel that we missed a top class buffet, and I also had to leave straight away for a stilt-walking and fire performance on the next evening in Wels, Austria. However, it somehow didn't matter at all as I was left with a great feeling after performing at such an fine event and classy location.

... would head straight into the valley but sometimes for style points we would go sideways down the dunes and trust me when I say "I" not Andrea; I thought we were going to roll over. I've done some insane turns and wicked spinouts in my car but this was way better!!! I loved every minute of it. Did I mention the dad next tom me almost had a heart attack, not to mention the mom. The father held firmly to the roof making sure it wasn't going anywhere. I myself got a bunch of good video ...

... Emirates Airlines) for drinks, dinner and then Sheesha. By the time all that was over it was 2:00 am and the two of us fell right to sleep only to find ourselves waking up at 2:00 pm in the afternoon. Once we woke up we quickly made our way to the Deira area of the city where the Gold Souq (market) is located. However, we also made sure to stop by the Mall of the Emirates, one of the world's most beautiful malls with every type of store ...