OUR FIRST VISITORS IN DUBAI

This is what these 2 friends did in Dubai............................ Inside WAFI Mall. The entrance to Wafi mall. Clydene and I under the chandeliers.
Inside Madinat Souk. A very upmarket mall very close to the Burj Al Arab. Here you only look....Very expensive and exclusive.
T he side of Souk Madinat, These are all 5 and 7 star hotels linked to this Mall around these beautiful waterways, and facing the ocean.
Had to do the desert trip again.

Hannes and I with "Saartjie" again. Clydene and Ermanno having a Camel ride. Clydene was born to lead!!!!!!!!!!!
We now what this foto is about BUT you may think up your own caption. I will give you a clue...It has something to do with "farting"
Clydene and I after we had Henna done. Clydene on he feet and mine on one hand. Relaxing in the desert after dinner
Watching the sunset.......................................
Well I have had some very full days since I spoke to you last. On Monday I did all my housework (cleaning washing, ironing and grocery shopping as Ermanno and Clydene arrived on Monday night from Italy for a 3 day stop over n Dubai.

My groceries I went to Spinneys and guess what I saw in real life ? "WINDEX".

I remember the movie "My big fat Greek wedding" (I loved it) and the father believed in "windex" for a miracle cure for everything..... Well I saw windex on spinney's shelves. As soon as my window cleaner is finished I will buy one bottle of windex to remind me of the good feeling movie. I can't buy it now as I only have space for one bottle in the cupboard..........................

On Monday night Hannes and I took a taxi to go and meet the Maestrami's at the airport. This was also the first day of Ramadan (Muslim holy month) The airport was packed at the arrivals hall. It almost looked like Bombay!!!!!!!!! and this was 22h30.

They arrived and we went with them to their hotel. We invited them to stay with us but they decided to stay in a hotel as they thought we were not in our apartment long enough to have guests already.

On Tuesday I had some idea of what we will do, so I went to play tour guide with a plan for the day. Clydene was not feeling so good but we met a Souk Madinat. It is a beautiful mall very close to the Burj Al Arab (only 7 star hotel in the world.) We searched for a coffee shop (It is Ramadan and it is fasting from dusk to dawn ) We managed to find one which has curtains drawn as not to offend the Muslim faith by eating and drinking in Ramadan. We had some coffee and croissants and tried to go and stroll the mall and surrounds.... Clydene felt worse and we decided to go to Mall of Emirates. Hannes met us there and he needed lunch. Again search for curtained restaurant. Found one and ordered food. By this time Clydene was very sick. Feverish and nauseous. I brought her home and put her to bed. Hannes and Eramanno shopped and spent 3 hours in Mall of Emirates. I had given Clydene tablets and after 4 hours she seemed to be improving. Ermanno was very pleased with his shirts that he had bought. I prepared dinner................... what a fiasco....I had such fancy cooking pots that 2 hours later dinner was still not ready so all stoves plates were on full blast just to try and get the foo cooked............. I also am struggling with the gas stove as I do not know it well yet...... Ermanno now was also starting to feel queasy.... We stocked them with tablets and packed them in a taxi for home.....

Wednesday I fetched them again and I had such nice plans for the day like a Dow ride on the creek to see the old part of Dubai, Gold souk,Karama market and Minah bazaar. A Taxi driver told us all is closed until 16h00 because of Ramadan. So WE went another route to outlet mall.

All bands are sold there at cheaper prices. Also being Ramadan lots of stores have 70 to 80 % marked down sales.

I later found out that the taxi info was incorrect...................................... AGAIN Pakistani kaniverstani.......So we went to Karama market (very successful shopping) and WAFI mall later and met Hannes. Did some window shopping and went to dinner at a Lebanese restaurant. Both Maestrami's were still weak in the stomach area................

Today was a crazy rush as time was very limited. I had booked a desert safari for us which stated at 15hoo. We did the gold souk today and it was open....................... Ramadan and all...... Went to karama and rushed home for the desert safari.

Both Ermanno and Clydene loved the desert safari. Dune riding, camel riding and good food. Real Arabian atmosphere.

Came home at 22h30. Had coffee and Clydene and Ermanno got into a taxi at 23h00 and rushed to karama for last minute shopping.

They fly back tomorrow.

Ramadan is the Muslim holy month. This will be the whole month of September. From dusk till dawn the Muslim fast. being in a Muslim country Dubai adheres to this strictly. As a westerner you are expected to be respectful of this so on the street you refrain from eating and drinking. Restaurants and bars and coffee shops are closed. (Or hidden from view as not to offend.

You are also expected not to be noisy and rowdy and refrain from swearing of aggressive talking.

After sun set all the feasting starts. Plenty of "Iftar" (fist meal after sunset) specials. You are not expected to partake in Ramadan actively BUT respect the culture and religion.

We had a wonderful time and man laughs.

My sister Jinny had a hip relacement yesterday. Heard from her today and she seems fine.

Later tonight after we returned from the desert safari I got a message in my cellular phone. My dad has been diagnosed with lung cancer, and it seems the doctors are not going to do any active treatment.... Sad news. Will phone him tomorrow as he must be devastated...........

I had my good cry in the bathroom as it is difficult to hear and handle. I also have to go back to SA on Sunday and am dreading to go back. So much hassles to sort out in our life and now my Dd;s news too, and I am in SA alone. I will be a super strong lady soon..................

Ok all for now.