When Dubai feels like a vacation

One aspect I love about Dubai is its ability to feel like you're on holiday, even when you're not. Of course, being a housewife makes this easier than if I were working. Plus, Ryan's job often allows him extended days off between trips. This week really felt like a vacation. A very beachy vacation.
Saturday Ryan and I spent the afternoon at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. We weren't there long, but it was nice to get out in the sun and relax.




Sunday Ryan had a doctor's appointment, so I got up early and met our friends Dan, Amanda, and Jett at the beach by our house. Or, I should say, they picked me up in their boat at Jumeirah Beach. We spent the morning and a good portion of the afternoon just lounging on the boat and in the water. It was fabulous. The water was the perfect temperature and since it was a Sunday, which is the first day of the work week in Dubai, we had the water to ourselves.




Monday was spent at the Wild Wadi Water Park. It was our first time visiting the Jumeirah Beach Hotel's water park and we weren't disappointed. We made sure to get there early, which was a great move and we didn't have to wait in any lines. I unknowingly rode the Jumeirah Sceirah water slide, which is a slide so fast they actually drop the floor out from under you. It was thrilling, and something I'll do just once. My favorite part was the ride where you float along in an inner tube. It was a good combination of lazy and relaxing, with some fun slides mixed in. Another thing we did was get the fish pedicures. I've heard about them before, but since they are banned in the states, I never got to experience one. Let me say, it is WEIRD! Dozens of tiny fish sucking on your feet and legs, eating the dead skin. I'm glad I tried it and can scratch it off my bucket list, but I will not be doing that again. My favorite part was watching the expressions on the faces of the new people entering the tub.




I'm trying to make the most of being in Dubai as a housewife by making as many days possible feel like vacation. I've started looking for employment, which will change all of that. I've loved having time off, and am so grateful that I have been able to do so, but I'm just not cut out for the life of a "Jumeirah Jane." I need something to keep me busy and to feel like I'm contributing to my future and to our household. So, wish me luck on the job hunt!
-Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Dubai

Turning 30 and Vietnam

I recently turned 30 this month and to celebrate Ryan and I spent a week in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  It was my first time in Asia (Europe AND Asia before 30!  It's nice to surpass a goal) and I chose Vietnam because it came highly recommended and also would be a budget friendly holiday.
We stayed at the Movenpick, which is one of the hotels that Emirates uses for their crew.  It was a pretty nice hotel with a pool and a good selection of restaurants.  Each restaurant or bar had some sort of food or drink special each night, which was nice for times we just wanted to relax at the hotel and not venture out into the 95+ degree, 100% humidity weather.  (Maybe next time I'll do more weather research before booking a trip?)
A full week was probably more time than necessary to spend in one city, but it was super awesome to be there long enough that we didn't feel rushed and could spend time just relaxing at the hotel.
Here's some highlights from the trip:
-A day trip via speed boats to the Cu Chi Tunnels.  I can't believe how extensive the tunnel systems were.  They were also so tiny!  They made them larger for the tourists and I still had a mini panic attack trying to get through them.  The best part was when Ryan got stuck.  We used the Saigon River Express company and they were great.  Our tour guide was super friendly and knowledgeable.  Plus, they picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel.

Boat ride to the tunnels.

Ryan's stuck in the tunnel.

-The spa.  We were a little nervous about finding a good spa in the city.  We'd heard that services are extremely inexpensive and can be high quality.  We just wanted to find a place that was both clean and legit... if you know what I mean.  But we found a super fantastic place called My Spa.  Both Ryan and I had a 90 minute massage and pedicures.  I will warn you, though.  Those ladies are strong!  I had a few bruises the next day, but they did a great job.
-War Remnants Museum.  The museum is pretty much dedicated to the Vietnam War.  I found it somewhat awkward as an American because there was an obvious Anti-American sentiment in the air. There were also a lot of really gruesome photos and stories.  It was interesting, and I think important, to see how we were, and to some extent are, viewed by "the other side" of a war.
-Ben Thanh Market.  Most of the items for sale were massed produced junk, but we walked away with some decent stuff.  We each got pretty nice back packs for traveling and a t-shirt or two.  It was mostly just fun to walk around and see what everyone was selling and, of course, to haggle with the retailers.

Ben Thanh Market

-FOOD!  The banh mi was probably my favorite and definitely Ryan's.  The pho was delicious and we had some super amazing sushi.  Almost every meal was really great there, and as a bonus it was super cheap.

First meal.  Ryan ate a pepper that made him cry.

Banh Mi 

-And probably my number one highlight is the heavy metal cover band we saw at the Seventeen Saloon.  The bar itself was a total rip-off, as they put things on our bill that we didn't order or consume and then refused to take them off, but the band was fabulous.  They played a ton of really amazing songs and were just super talented.  It was the most fun at night we had in Vietnam by far.

Best cover band I've ever seen.

A dog on the back of a motorbike, just for good measure.

I actually turned 30 while on the Emirates flight home.  The crew was super nice and gave me a "Happy Birthday" plate of desserts.  All-in-all, not a bad way to leave my 20's.

Terrible photo, super fun flight.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi

A few weeks ago I went with some AWA ladies on the good ol' Zara bus to Abu Dhabi for a trip to the Sheikh Zayed* Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.  I won't go into the history or architectural facts of the place, since I did not take any notes (whoops,) but I will say it was so beautiful and I really enjoyed the tour.  The tours are free and if all of the guides are as sweet and knowledgeable as the woman we had, then you'll love it.  She was very informative and, most importantly, super patient and kind with all of our questions.

Here's some photos from the tour.  I really do have to be better about taking a real camera and a notebook.

They gave us hooded abayas to wear inside for modesty. 

Walking up to the entrance.  It's hard to see, but there was a beautiful pool/fountain. 

This large courtyard area sometimes is completely filled with overflow from the inside during special holiday prayers.  I think our tour guide said that 40,000 can fit?

Beautiful artworks/mosaic

The temperature difference between the white tile and the colored tile was crazy

It's name really does fit

*Have a really been spelling "Sheikh" wrong for almost a year?  Or is it another Arabic word that has many different spellings?  I mean, I've seen some crazy versions of Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah on road, restaurant, and other signs.  Oh well!

Mardi Gras

Happy Mardi Gras!  I've never really celebrated the holiday (it's always on a school night!) but this year I sort-of did by chairing the AWA Mardi Gras Gala.

It was a great learning experience and kept me busy for my first 8-9 months in Dubai.  I met tons of people and really learned my way around the city.  Plus, I had a ton of fun Friday night at the event. The set up that day was a mad rush (they always are) to get everything up and ready, but I had a great team working along side of me, and everything that evening went off without a hitch!  Cirque du Soleil even made a surprise visit.  They are in town performing, and I guess had a small show upstairs from our ballroom.  The hotel was kind enough to ask if they'd come down and do a quick 10 minute performance and they obliged!  It was very cool and the perfect kick-off to the evening.

I loved the centerpieces

All the decor was fabulous

Sponsor and auction chairs and me with the Consul General and his wife

Bad photo of the Cirque performance

PROM! ( Photo of a photo)

Next up, Ryan and I are planning some travel.  I turn 30 in April so we're celebrating with a trip to Vietnam.  

The Disappeared...

Between Christmas, the AWA Gala, and just general life, I've totally forgotten about this blog.  I'd like to keep it up so that I have something to look back on one day and remember all of my adventures.  I've really started to settle into living in Dubai, and therefore my life has become a little more "regular" and doesn't feel as exciting as it should be for a blog.  But I guess I shouldn't let that stop me from writing about my goings-on and, at the very least, posting pictures.  So my super late New Years Resolution will be to use this more!

I went to Al Karama today with some girl friends and I really should have taken more advantage by taking pictures.  We shopped for some quality knock-off handbags and ate some delicious Indian food.

Other than that, my life is consumed with the AWA Gala.  It's this Friday at the Ritz-Carlton DIFC.  (Shameless plug - go to www.awadubai.org if you want to attend or donate.  All proceeds go to the AWA Scholarship program and also worthy charities in the UAE.)  It will be a ton of fun and I can't wait to enjoy the evening after all of my hard work.  I have to say, I  give all of donors/volunteers I used to work with back at NMF credit - it takes some serious drive to be passionate about what sometimes feels like thankless volunteer work.  I guess maybe I was driven by a paycheck more than I'd like to admit!  It's been a great learning experience for me, though.  And it also made me realize that I do know my stuff when it comes to events, but also that maybe a career change could be in order.  All very exciting!

I promise to write all about the event after it's done.  And I have some travel plans in the works, so more blogs to follow!

Until then, here's a photo dump from the last few months.

Even though Ryan didn't get to come home for Christmas, I got to spend some time with the Schure family.  And see these two little dolls!

I spent a week in Chicago catching up with two of my best friends.

I spent two weeks with my family in Omaha and even got to meet my new little brother.  He was not happy that one of the first things I did was give him a bath.

I'm totally biased, but Renard is so dang cute. 

We had a low key NYE with dinner at home.  Then we rode our bikes to the beach and saw three firework shows at once.  All three were completely over the top and awesome.

We went camping one night with Dan, Amanda and Jett.  Renard came along too.

Ryan and I eat way too much at the Shangri La's Dunes cafe.  But they have a buffet with all you can eat macarons!

Rain, rain (don't) go away

I've been in Dubai now for a little over 6 months and it's raining for the first time!  We've had a few sprinkles here and there, but usually in the Marina area and I've never actually seen them.  But this morning I woke up and took Renard out for his walk the ground was wet!  There are even dark, grey clouds in the sky.  We made it home from our walk just in time because it started to POUR.  Then the thunder started.  Loud claps that scared poor Renard (and I may have even jumped a bit.)  I'm going to take advantage of this weather by watching movies on the couch in my PJ's and maybe even ordering a pizza for lunch.  Perfect rainy Friday afternoon!

It was raining pretty hard for quite a while

Dark clouds

Wet street

Election 2012

Smug Obama is awesome

Four years ago Ryan and I were lucky enough to get tickets to the Obama rally at Grant Park on election night.  We rode our bikes to the Regal Beagle (RIP) for a pre-election pizza and some beers and then continued onto Grant Park.  It was an unusually warm night for early November, which gave the evening an even more exciting buzz.  (It also turned out to be a great thing since I got a flat tire not even half way home and had to walk the rest of the way.)  It was an indescribable feeling when they announced that Barack Obama had won - so many people so happy and excited all in ONE PLACE.  I remember hearing him speak, but being so far away that I really had no idea where he was actually standing, but just being so proud and delighted to be there.

Proof!

Fast forward four years and I spent the morning (evening, of course, in the USA) on my phone, texting with my sister and family, streaming CNN on my computer, and obsessively checking Facebook.  It was obviously a very different election experience, but I somehow still felt SO connected, and it was great.  Ryan was getting ready for work for a portion of it and they announced the results just in time for me to call him with the wonderful news before he flew to Seattle.

It's not hard to guess who I supported in this election, and I'm obviously thrilled with the results.  But even more important, I'm just proud that I had the opportunity to vote even though I'm half way across the world.