Grand Continental Abu Dhabi

... any small spaces that may have been left in our bags we headed over to admire the fantastic sound and light show at Bur Dubai, the tallest building in the world (even though it's not quite complete yet). Then it was back to the Hubbard hotel for some last minute hot chocolate, chatting out on the patio, brainstorming garden ideas and of course packing. Somehow we managed to get it all in (thank goodness for those new carry on bags)

... and he didn't seem prepared to try "phone a friend". We waited again and flagged another, and this time after several attempts were able to get our destination across and arrive at the bus station right on time to catch a bus for the 2 & 1/2 hour trip to the capital. As we mentioned before it is doubly difficult in Dubai as we could point to the words in Arabic from our phrase book but 9 times out of 10 the drivers were Hindu speakers so even that did not ...

... before (though we now think she must have had sneaky lessons beforehand, or perhaps it was she had just turned a year older). Problem was though she did not know how too turn, so spent most of her time outside the wake pulling silly poses......very amusing. Next up was Maud who soon got back into her groove, but after a few face plants was back into the boat fairly quickly only to find out I hadn't been taking that many photos - sorry Maud. Ali and then Sal had a ...

... we made it to the ice cream place eventually. I was disappointed to see that it was housed in a big fat air conditioned mall. Al Wahdah I believe. Ah-ha - now it is beginning to feel a bit more like the Kuwait City I love to hate. Inside the Mall was space. Far too much space. Spotless shiny marble floors making an excellent squeak and slide play area for my unruly two. Inappropriately dressed brown white folk mingled with burkhas and immaculate Arabs ...

... I said thanks, but that's o.k.... He asked several times... I'm not sure what the motive was. He was in a traditional Arab robe. I don't see many women walking alone around here, so maybe he was just being kind. You never know, just a little strange. The other interesting thing about going to the Corniche was that I ran pass a guy fishing and on the way back he was in his car waiting for the line ...

... get it. It happens to me, worse each time. It's a reason not to become too nomadic, I guess.

My one excursion out was to book a taxi to the airport. After sorting it, I then went back later to try and get an earlier one, since I may as well wait at the airport in the dry. Annoyingly, I find they weren't running one at all due to rain. It was pretty heavy, but any flooding had receded and I found it very hard to believe there were no taxis on the main roads. Then it ...

... for instance, when it was dark outside, the ceiling changed colour to blue and it would have little starlights that lit up as well. Like a limo, gorgeous. Every seat has a touch sreen monitor in front of them along with a remote control that can be turned into a phone (on the back) and a video game controller. The entertainment program had a wide range of music (all the tracks to most recently released CD's like Justin Timberlake), movies ...

... away. After dinner they brought out a belly dancer and the Asians went nuts!!! It was hilarious. Eventually she tried to pull people to dance with her so of course I headed to the middle. Only problem was that it was me and 6 other women. Not that it's a problem but I have a wife now you know. Which by the way wouldn't join me but as soon as the two girls from our family went in after me she decided to go. I was one of 3 guys to go to the middle all night. They had me shaking my ...

... at speed. The photos probably give you the best indication of what it's like so I'll let the picture tell the 1000 words other than to say - SO MUCH FUN! On the way home ,we came back through Dubai and dropped in at the seven star Burj al-Arab hotel (sail shaped hotel on the beach) and the Skybar for a drink which demonstrates that money doesn't necessarily translate to style (check out the garish décor!).