Postcard from Dubai

Today baru balik dari spending a night at Hatta Fort which is about one and a half hour drive from Dubai. There was nothing much to do there unless you are into leisure kind of holiday doing nothing and just basking under the sun in the middle of the desert, which I must say not my forte. Prefer to spent a nite in a bedouin camp, sleep under the stars by a campfire, tapi apa nak buat it was my sister who planned that overnite trip and I kinda went along with it, she's paying anyway. Temperature on that day was the highest since I arrived in Dubai about 2 weeks ago which was about 44 degrees but bearable.

Other than the desert safari, shopping at the souks and experiencing the recklessness of the drivers in Dubai that my friends talked so much about before I came here, there is not much activities or places to see here or maybe I just missed them. It was never a well planned holiday anyway since the purpose was to clear my head after having the guts to end a relationship. Didn't think it was going anywhere anyway. So, I am not going to sit around and wait.

Dahlah stranded for over 5 hours in Oman when taking connecting flight to Dubai. For some reason, Gulf Air did not list my name with Oman Air and when I tried to check in the officer told me the flight was full. After much hassle and running here and there, they managed to put me on Swiss Air. I insisted that for the convenience and trouble they put me through, I should be allowed to use the business lounge to rest and sleep while waiting for the next available flight which they did. Phewww....dapatlah tidur selesa sikit and makan free. Memang starving pun...

Must say though that the desert safari adventure was fun. We all naik a 4 wheel drive and the driver/guide drove through the desert up and down the steep hills. I managed to gather enough courage to do sandboarding and rode on a small motorbike through the desert. Especially love the sceneries at the desert particularly at sunset. Had dinner at a camp and watched belly dancing performance. Stopped at a camel farm and was properly introduced to a couple of camel gigolos (claimed by our Iranian driver/guide). Reason being they were isolated and confined and supposedly to produce fine breeds at a high price. Just found out a camel could fetch up to DHS5000.

The rest of the days was filled with shopping at the souks and the malls. I didn't do much shopping except on home decor items at Al-Sharjah. Bought a handmade wall decor, table spread, cushion covers at less than DHS200. Stopped by the beach. Omigod, the sight was spectacular. How I wish KL is by the beach.

Sempat lagi buat Lasik surgery here and had to stay home for a couple of days. This procedure was never in my itinerary but it was kinda of spur of the moment thingy. Throughout the surgery, I could see the whole process but it was painless and finished in less than half an hour. In the first 4 hours after the surgery, there was a burning sensation in both my eyes but towards the evening the pain was gone and my vision immediately improved. This few days had to repeatedly remind myself that I do not have to take out my contact lenses before going to bed. Had to apply eye drops every 4 hours for the next 3 - 4 weeks and no swimming for 2 months. Doctor's orders. No big deal coz I can't swim anyway. Memang nak ambil swimming and snorkelling classes when I return to Malaysia but that will have to wait.

Sempat jugak spent 2 days watching the latest season of tv series '24' downloaded from the internet. Actually, I was not an avid follower of the series tapi dah my sis downloaded almost the entire season and pasang kat dvd, join tengok best pulak. I was already glued to the tv by then. Masa ka Hatta, boleh lagi bawak laptop sebab nak continue tengok. Can't wait for the last 3 episodes including the 2 hours finale.

I am returning back to Malaysia next Tuesday nite. Am looking forward to go to Kota Kinabalu to see my niece and nephew before going to Chiangmai with my friends and start my new job. Really miss their antics especially my 18 months old nephew when he dances like the teletubbies to Twinkle2 Little Star song. My mum misses the grandchildren anyway. But then again, my heart bleeds every time my 3 year old niece cries her lungs out whenever we had to return to Semenanjung.

Hope the Chiangmai trip will be like my Cambodia trip and a whole lot more exciting than Dubai.