Dragaonmart and Diera City Centre

Inside Dragonmart

Today we set off for Dragonmart. Su was after beads and looking for some different beads to add to her collection...it was surprising as I didn't expect to come away with anything however guess who came away with a few bags??? Yes me I could not resist the Canon 70-200 Thermos Flask nor the Canon camera and lens money box..(start saving for 1D X).a set of headphones  and a few other trinkets.

Dragonmart is an interesting place as it has a myriad of stallholders who sell handbags, homewares, lighting, bathroom fittings, hardware and jewellery oh and shoes.

Not at 1400 Dhs...sorry

I came across some fantastic pieces once again for photoshoots...some unreal necklaces and earings...but at around 1500 DHS or about $425.00 bit expensive for a one off shoot and I could not convince Su to buy one.

Deira City Centre

Marks and Spencers

In the afternoon we went off to Deira City Centre one of the older shopping centres in Dubai. First stop was Marks and Spencers...now interestingly the shop was decked out in Christmas  decreations...the stock once again was rather odd for  a hot country...I think they ship the winter stock for ex-pats to buy so when they arrive home they are in fashion...there cannot be any other reason as I am sure  it never gets cold enough in Dubai to wear half the stuff...

Drama Queen shoes..plenty of Bling Deira

Not to mention height...

Return to Dubai

My Favourite Camera Store

Firstly I must apologise for not keeping my blog more up to date....okay apology over lets get down to business. I thought I would restart my blog with my return travels to Dubai.  We flew out on Emirates Airlines early Sunday morning and I must say with  alot of anticipation. Sadly Emirates disappointed me with their service..their staff were very snooty and appeared to lack teamwork I was unable to work out who the leader was in the cabin but sadly felt that if we were to have an emergancy I doubt they could get their shit together.

Anyhow I digress we touched down in Dubai early afternoon we arrived at Katrina's and Costa's had a shower and set off for Mirdiff Shopping Centre. Katrina and Costa have moved but still a short stroll and now the weather is cooler no effort to walk there.

The shops are displaying winter clothing which is a bit unreal as their winter is very much like our Summer but Katrina assures me the girls dress in the long boots, scarfs and fur coats....

Those of you who know my wife know she loves bling and whilst checking out the homewares shop I had to hold her back from bring these two items back....

Actually the $2500 price tag held back...Phew...

Mind you in another shop I did wonder..am I too old for this bed?

Su managed to make a beeline for Forever 21 and buy an outfit for Christine ..infact I could go wild myself in this shop so many clothing options for photoshoots including accessories..Su is worried about me but you just dont see this stuff in OZ and the prices are so cheap. The shopping centre has a few empty spaces confirmation the GFC has made it to the UAE not that any one talks about it. Anyhow must sign off as we are off to Al Karama  to haggle with the local traders..Su just loves this.





Visit to the Mall of the Emirates

Okay last day in Dubai we fly out  tonight 9.20pm. We have nearly visited all the Malls in Dubai so today we went to the Mall of the Emirates...you will know it, it is the one with the Ski Slope. This mall has all the Designer label outlets including a Harvey Nichols store. What really strikes you in Dubai is most Malls offer valet parking and when you look at the vehicles, there are Porsche Cayenne 4WD's, BMW X6 and X5's, Ferraris...I have never seen so many Ferraris in my life.  In fact some makes and models are as common as Falcons and Commodores  in Australia. As Malls go, for some reason Su and I like this one better than the Dubai Mall at the base of the Burj Khalifa. Once you see one mall, you have seen them all but not all Malls have a Ski Slope. I was able to view the Slope from the 1st floor of the mall and whilst the Mercury was touching 39 outside, the Ski Slope was -4, the snow looked real and there were plenty of people rugged up playing in their, whether skiing or tobogganing. I let the girls wander off on their own whilst I sought out the electronic and Camera stores. Must admit having packed my bag there were things I could buy but talked myself out of any purchases. Surprisingly when I caught up with the girls Su had been very restrained and had not bought anything either. So off we headed home to freshen up before the long haul home.

High Tea at the Burj Al Arab

Okay I have watched that programme on National Geographic about the Building of thr Burj Al Arab so to actually finally see it and to go inside.....stunning. No visit to Dubai would be complete without gong to the Burj Ala Arab. The hotel is situatedon a man made island at Jumeirah, Dubai. Reputedly the worlds only 7 star hotel. Katrina organised before we arrived a high tea for us, so we could soak in the atmosphere. Let me tell you the 275 DHS about $70 Australian was well worth it. We had a 7 course high tea, which started with Sparkling Wine, followed by a selection of Sandwiches, then a cocktail, then scones jam and cream, followed by pastries with tea or coffee....I know only six courses but  I am sure I have missed something. Anyway we had reports that it was a small meal etc...for goodness sake this is a high tea a snack but let me tell you the girls were full and even though I had polished off all that was put in front of me I could not finish off what they had left. ( I did consider asking for a doggy bag but thought it would well and truly reveal my breeding).

Whilst we ate in luxurious surroundings a Quartet of piano, Cello and two Violins provided the background music. In between this was the delicate plop of water from the fantastic water feature that runs from our floor down to the Lobby. Both  esclators from the lobby to the first floor have aquariums along side them. The shops on this level are devine and if you need to ask the price then quite obviously you can't afford to buy. The view was back towards Jumeirah over looking the Jumeirah beach hotel which constantly changed colour. After dining we wandered around the hotel, we asked to go to the 27th floor bar and when we arrived via the lift we were unfortunately denied entry. Oh well such is life. We went to the lobby and waited for our car to be retrieved, meanwhile I snapped the three white Rolls Royce's waiting for me...and in the meantime a white Porsche Cayene Stretch Limo pulled up. out got two older gentlemen and I think their daughters as they took photos of them against the limo.You be the judge.

A trip over Dubai with Seawings

Yesterday I did something that I had seen on Trip Advisor, to take  a Cessna Seaplane ( Cessna Caravan)  and fly over Dubai taking in the local sights. I was orginally to go from Dubai Creek however the weather was realitivley gusty around the creek. This meant I had to get to Jebel Ali instead, lucky Katrina had decided to get me to the creek early and the company paid for a cab to take me to Jebel Ali. This was adventure in itself in that the cab driver spoke little english ( a bit like back home) and had no idea were he was going. I had no idea so some frantic mobile phone calls from the driver to Seawings I eventually made it being 5 minutes late for the 3pm takeoff. I was taken  by Golf Buggy to the.Jetty and along the way we collected our other passengers ( Family from the UK who have recently moved out here to work). A quick safety breifing, put our  seatbelts on and the plane taxied on the water to take off over a newly constructed Palm Island. We then flew over Jebel Ali and made our way over the Palm proper down to the World  Islands around the Burj Al Arab over parts of Dubai City out for a closer look at the Palm with the Alantis hotel then back towards Jebel Ali. It was a forty minute flight and with my two camera's and using a 17-85mm and the 70-200mm lenses, the cameras  mounted on R-Straps I was like a gun fighter rapidly shooting, I took over 300 photos and really happy with what I got.  Some will need photoshop to clean up etc as one thing here is a haze some of it heat but also the fine sand the wind picks up which makes looking into the distance difficult. Overall a really good experience and could not but highly recommend it. The slight inconvienece at the start was soon over shadowed by the experience. I was then taken back to Dubai Creek by the Seawings driver Barber, a Pakistani young man who has been here for six years, we had an interesting conversation about the recent events in the world. Unfortunately I had to get a cab back to Mirdif but I think I still had a big grin on my face when I arrived for Su to see.

Palm Island & Alantis Hotel

Burj Al Arab Hotel

Dubai City

Jebel Ali

Alantis The Palm Hotel up close

A Night in Sharjah

Everyday we have taken the trek Katrina makes twice a day to take Costa and Mia to and from work and school. Costa is a professor at Higher Colleges of Techology for Women. It is in an area in Sharjah known as University City that has a very impressive drive and many universities including the Americian University.  Across from this is Mia's school the Australian International School that follows the Queensland school cirriculum. We have already met up with another former workmate, Kustave who is teaching prep this year and moves up to  teaching year four in the new school year. I have taken a few photos as we have driven by in the car during the day but decided to take some night photos. Mia was having a star gazing evening at school so whilst we were waiting I took the opportunity to take some long exposure night shots. Have to say the granduer of the place is not conveyed through the photos but it has to be seen to believe. One of the few grassy areas of Dubai.

Kashew the Kat

Ah I wondered when I was going to get a chance to tell my story..ah laptop left unattended. Let me tell you something of myself. I am the boss of this house, I am an eleven year old persian cat and I was born in Australia, I am Costa's right hand man we lie around all day and get Katrina to run around after us. Two years ago I was shipped over to Dubai...you could say I am closer to home. I have my own bathroom which I share with the washing machine..I have always been an inside cat and quite frankly why would I go out? The odd time I venture outside when Katrina hangs the washing...oh it is so hot why spend time out there? Besides I have the run of an Air Conditioned house. Most times I laze around on the lounge, at night I sleep in my bed in the master bedroom, with my staff not even their Daughter Mia still does that. We got a couple of visitors at the moment. They are okay, he keeps shoving a camera in my face, but the old shelia keeps kissing and petting me and cutting out all my furballs....sorry have to someone is coming...

Haggling in Karama

Today after Coffee and a Pastry at the Mirdif centre Katrina took us to Karama. Karama is an area in which there are copy bags, watches, clothing as well as selling Dubai  souveniers. We were in search of a Prada wallet, black to be precise. Do you have Prada?..no Prada sorry...then 5 minutes later Boss Boss follow me. So here I was led upstairs having to duck my head go between walls over plumbing pipes then into a room behind a false wall to find a small area fully stocked with Prada,Hermes and Louis Vuitton copies of Bags and Wallets. The air conditioning  was switched on for me..after a little haggling I came away with a Prada Wallet. So for 245 DHS about $63.00 I was the lucky owner of a Prada copy ladies wallet. Hope the intended owner likes it. From there we went next door and again were lead upstairs up and around ducking our heads as we went,  they even served cold water here, once again a great array of copy/fake bags. Onto the next shop want bags, watch? Bling Bling watch? Cost nothing to look. I mistakenly took up the offer of looking at some watches. Once again I was lead upstairs a foldup table set up and a plastic chair provided..was I going to get out alive?...Next behind a false wall boxes of TAG Huer,Omega, Breitling and Rolex watches were presented. How much ? 350 DHS? A quick calculation on the iPhone currency calculator..$88 hmm no I not want watch...as I moved to go back down stairs the price had dropped to 200 DHS about $50. They were begging me to buy, please youn are fist customer I do special price, how about two watches for 300DHS..no I don't want a  watch as Su comes up the stairs looking for me. Anyhow we got away with some great stuff you see it when I come back I am sure you wont miss it. In the meantime one of the best days if not for the entertainment value...I might have to go back there.