Holiday Inn Sharjah

... it is really amazing. Right from the entry ramp - see photo - it's an awesome place, and inside it's even more fantastic. We were greeted with fresh dates when we arrived, there's an amazing dancing fountain in the foyer, we took the lift to the 27th floor restaurant to get a view, but we only could get a glimpse as it was booked out ...

... there, and now we are back at the Ritz Carlton - and because they messed up our booking, they are looking after us really well!!

We have been catching lots of taxis around the city and one of the many places we have visited so far was Wild Wadi Water Park. This place has lots of water slides and you can catch them and they will take you all around the park without having to walk anywhere or up any stairs - way cool. Also this place is right in ...

tausend und eine nacht.....nein, nur eine......
overnight in Dubai, hotel war gleich neben dem flughafen, 5 minuten shuttle.....
hatte leider, beim hin und her packen, um das gewicht optimal zu gestalten, total darauf vergessen, mein waschzeug und sachen zum wechseln einzupacken.....aber gott sei dank gibt es im hotel einen 24 stunden shop......haben alles ...

... emirates. Lots of water were consumed. Here we found a mirage of snow an yes it was real, The largest indoor ski slope in the world, We were to bugger so we got some supplies an headed home. Had a nap 10 pm byron wakes dan up to head out both were shagged but decided to head out. After much debaiting an consideration we decided that the easiest place to go would be the aussie legends bar. After 10 minutes of trying to explain to the driver where to go we headed off ...

... and a couple of cracked tiles (plus the patched up hole in the wall that I made!)....but besides all this I love it. Marina Diamond. The apartment is fitted out with fridge, stove, washer and ...

... TV, which is the most sorrowful way to loose your time. First week of work I was observing qnd thinking and adapting... I was planning to do that for a couple of weeks but after just one week I am starting to have fully booked days, starting at 7am and not finishing not before 6, more likely 8pm... not good, but I really tried to take it easy, and I just can't... Anyway ...

... on the bus. After parting ways with my new travel companions, in a taxi ride that cost me 12drm (about $5) I soon found a park that had the many sky scrapers as a back drop. Zaabeel Park is what I had come across and although it is not yet finished, and the promise of a mini golf course that, to my disappointment, had yet been built, it was a very nice and relaxing park. Surprisingly green actually, hard ...

... alcohol after 7pm but not in the Majilis tents. Working hours are reduced to 6 hours a day, and it is a month for charity, praying, fasting and thinking pure thoughts. At the end of the holy month, usually about 28-30 days after Ramadan starts, Eid beings for a festive 3 day break to signal the end of Ramadan.

... Muhammed somewhere in his name) he is Pakistani and incredibly nice, we talked for a couple hours from everything from Geo-Political Issues to Surfing in Karachi. He's a big Metallica and AC/DC fan and I told him I'd school him in the ways of Coheed and Cambria and other underground American artists. His family is from Karachi, one of the largest cities in the world, and his dad works in the steel industry. His family is definately loaded, he has taken two road trips ...

After last night's 'all you can eat' and 'all you can drink' sea food buffet, which offered almost any fish in the world (so yes, I think I ate about 15 oysters and lobsters ;) and the following outdoor beach side party ...