Mafraq Hotel Abu Dhabi

... on it later with the full knowledge that it had some one's **** germs on it. Note to self: overcome irrational fear of plane toilets.<br><br>Other than that, there's not much to say about the place except it's really hot outside, it's pretty funky looking (the good way) design wise and their prayer rooms are right next door to the toilets. And man do they sell some **** at the souvenir shops; you just know those plastic camel figurines were made ...

... high for Nepal today! Although by the time we get to the hostel I imagine we will collapse and sleep for 2 days! What's keeping is going at the moment is the thought of those majestic Himalayan peaks and the peace and detachment that comes with that environment...we're as ready as we will ever be, so Nepal and adventure here we come! More next time we have internet access...God knows when that will be!

... pampered in the lap of luxury in the brilliant sunshine. I had a chilled afternoon watching the Liverpool derby until the girls came back and the end of our visit here was coming to a close unfortunately. It had been a brilliant stay with our generous hosts Bellie and Stu - thanks so much again guys you made our visit one we won't forget. We had also learnt a lot about the religion and culture here and to be honest had found the locals a lot more receptive and friendlier ...

... times you get briefed on cultural sensitivities, it is impossible not to stare when you see a woman in one of these get-ups walking out of a Victoria's Secret Lingerie shop with naked mannequins in the window. It just doesn't add up. By far the most amusing thing about the Berkha is when it is used as a bathing suit. That's right, they go swimming in the full get up. I don't know what the drowning statistics are in the UAE but I'm tipping they are pretty high. Some of the ...

... was much the same as it was on Monday. Not much progress on the building work and bulldozers lay sleeping alongside more fat white people. Although a stunning slender brown person came and sat next to me. Me and my companion tried to work out whether she was trying to make herself "look good", or was she perhaps a lipstick lesbian or a pickpocket? Either way it was quite unexplainable why she would have chosen to stretch ...

... the horses are pure bread Arabian horses. The reason why you watch the start of the race at the golf club and not the finish from the grandstand is that no alcohol is available at the track and you can't put a bet on anyway. So the golf club is a good option as we get the best of both there good food a BBQ and lots of alcohol. Winter is coming - cooling down to a very pleasant 30 degrees so we are able to get out and about.

... talk amused me, with the part about inflating the lifejacket seemingly having the word "BDOINGG!" inserted into the sentence.<br><br>I still wasn't feeling great, but it wasn't too bad. I tried to get some sleep, making the most of the empty seat next to me, but couldn't. I got pretty grumpy at this stage. The sight of The Plough (Big Dipper) shining bright out of the window cheered me up immensely. It's my constant companion, though it moves around in the sky.<br><br>At ...

... for 4, a dining table and a kitchen. For free! Oddly enough it didn't have toothpaste, and I had counted on either getting some on the plane or in the hotel. Shoeshine, but no toothpaste. I didn't have my backpack, but still, I was hardly dressed right. I then made a complete idiot of myself by asking to change a tiny amount of money - as a souvenir, not because I needed to buy anything. Bonus - it's right across the street from a dentist! Dinner and breakfast were included ...

... were maybe 3 other women on board and the rest of the bus was packed with men. I myself had to push to stand next to Andrea and she was in the front row. We quickly realized how lucky we had been to get on the bus because this bus driver was quite peculiar. At the next stop he let another 5 men get on but only 5 which sent me to the middle of the bus, but at the next stop he let off one or two people but wouldn't let anyone on...Weird huh!!! Then the best part came at the next stop ...

... neck if I ever hear the song 'Pegasus' again...and I think The Hutches would agree). Within 30 seconds of dune-bashing Mandy had already popped a motion-sickness tablet. She must have seen what was coming cause we all felt a little queasy when we felt Jaffa take our 'dive' down a massive dune. At some points it felt like we were driving on only two wheels, ala Dukes of Hazzard style. Jaffa thought it was pretty funny that us white people were getting ...