Day 16- Time to do something!

Ok guys, like I promised, I have finally done something touristy. What could be more uniquely Dubai then snow Skiing in the Desert! Yep, I went to 'Ski Dubai' today and had an awesome time! I have never been skiing before but figured I would be fine without a lesson. So when the guy at the counter asked if I had skied before. I said yes. When he asked if I could stand I said yes. And of course, when he asked if I could stop, I said yes. So I paid for 2hours, got my pass and went to get my equipment. Everything was included in the price, suit, boots and ski's or snowboard. Everything except gloves. After getting dressed and heading up to the field, the adrenalin started kicking in and I started to question my own insanity after bypassing the skis and opting for a snowboard. With me i had a girl staying at the hotel, Britney from USA, and she had skied before but neglected to tell me she had never snowboarded. So now, you have to imagine, we walk through the doors, onto the snow, and put down the board to strap one foot on so we could make our way over to the lift. Neither of us could work out how to put it on! After 5-10min of trying all sorts of stuff and trying to get some idea from the skiers around us, we finally worked it out and moved over to the lift. Up we went and decided to get off half way. Since neither of us had snow boarded before we figured it would be the best start. How wrong we were! Right at the start of the second section was a steep drop. Well, it seemed steep at the time! Watching the other boarders around I got some idea of what to do and didn't do too bad. Ok, I probably went a total of 10meters at most, in any one time before falling over. I was pissing myself laughing each time and was immediately having a ball even though I wasn't really going anywhere. Finally made it to the bottom and jumped on the lift to go back. After 3 runs, I was going ok. Getting a little confident. Smashing into the snow when I lost control. To the amusement of other skiers at the bottom of course! By the 5th run, I had made it! All the way to the bottom without falling! Victory is mine! I must have looking like a looser for celebrating my little victory but it was an awesome feeling. After her 1st run, Britney had decided to ditch her board and opt for skies, which she had many years experience on and was flying past me ever run. After a few more victorious goes, it was time to go all the way to the top and have a real go. It was actually much easier up the top because it was more open and less people around, not that the place was busy anyway. It was a little steeper but it was so much fun. I even had to jump Britneys skis so i didnt wipe her out, as she stood in front of me to tak a pic, which to my utter amazement I landed successfully. Anyway, I slowly got better and better and was doing pretty good. A couple of 'controlled' falls (as I like to call them) before I lost control. Their was also some nice big face plants as well which I always covered me in Snow. Including down the front and back of my top, which I tried to empty when it was needed. After just about every run, my hands were freezing and I tried to get the circulation to them again each trip back to the top. Next time I go snowboarding, I'm getting gloves. The last few run before out time ran out were so much fun. Making it from the very top to bottom without falling. I had such a fun day and it will be something I will be doing again in Europe, even though I left bruised and battered after my falls. Not looking forward to being sore tomorrow!

From th bottom

After we left 'The Mall of the Emirates', the shopping centre home to Ski Dubai, we were very close to the Bur Al Arab, so we made our way down. Even though it was slowly hurting more and more to move. Finally, I got to see it. My second last full day hear and I got to see one of the most identifiable buildings in the world and something I had been keeping my eyes out for since I got here.

Half way looking down

Tomorrow will be a day of rest and recovery so the next time you hear from me, I will probably be in London. Despite having failed in getting work, and not really doing anything, it's a great place and I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking of coming. Their are a few little tricks to the place but if you want to know anything, I'll be more than happy to try give you some answers.

Speak to you all soon from the next Country in my Travels, The United Kingdom!

On the chair lift

The Very Top!

from the belcony of the cafe

Mexican singers in Dubai...

Burj Al Arab1

My brused ass!

Burj Al Arab2