Dubai Birthday

Once a year this event comes around and this year was in Dubai. Having had a number of them I not sure if I want to remember them or just celebrate the event. This year a bit isolated 3,400 miles away (kilometres 5,500 ) from family and friends, however staff at the hotel where I am staying made a great effort to help me celebrate it. Housekeeping with towel sculptures & Food & Beverage with cake.

The day was spent lounging by the pool topping up the tan, reading the newspaper and listening to music. Dinner was in the sushi restaurant, brilliant starter, prawns in batter with wasabi sauce, really tasty, then rice, veg and spicy steak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and yes that is a bottle of wine top right in the picture and yes I did manage to drink it all. The waiters then came over to present me with a small birthday cake and sing happy birthday. A combination of Asian and Indian accents, tuneful but incomprehensible.

 

 

A great meal and staff attentiveness made up for being a lonely old git on his Birthday. Thank you.

 

 

 

Burj Al Arab

Decided to visit the only seven star hotel in the world, as I am in the industry I though it would be an experience having spent a number of years in five red star hotels as a senior HR guy. Visited the souk next door (indoor market) to have a look around.

was quiet and cool as the temperature outside was 47 degrees, a bit hot. The souk is located on a waterway with bars and restaurants and in sight of the only seven star hotel in the world.

I was able to find an interesting vending machine, one I have not seen anywhere else. Gold to Go!

Stopped a Costa Coffee, they were selling their hearts out, "what flavour would you like with the coffee", "no thanks", "would you lake a cake to go with that", "not at the moment", "how about a sandwich sir", "No thanks, just the coffee". "ok then take a seat and we will bring it to you". Like the barista, he never gave in. Next customer, same sales technique and yes she bought everything.

A bit of haggling on a couple of pashmina scarves and now ready for my visit to Burj Al Arab. it is next to the souk so I though I would walk round, couple of minutes and I am approaching the gate house.

"Hello, would it be possible for me to visit the hotel", in my best clipped English accent, "do you have an appointment"  was the reply. "no afraid not". "Do you have a room booking at the hotel" "no I don't". "well you cant come in then" " are you sure, just want to look around, it is a professional visit as I work in hospitality. he then said " are you a doctor" threw me a bit as it wasn't the response I was expecting. No hospitality, hospitality. no sorry no entry. so this is as close I have got to the only seven star hotel in the world, the end of the drive way. I do understand that their guests don't want to be gawked at by tourists, people like me, however I wonder if I returned in my dinner suit and black tie they might just let me in?



Shopping

Hit the shops over the week-end, (Friday & Saturday) went to the Dubai Mall to explore all corners, apart from shops there are some interesting art instillations such as waterfalls.

 

This is the fashion walk with all the expensive stores, such as Gucci and Ralph Loren etc, the hangings in the middle are individual butterflies that flutter, very calming. As you can see this was early morning before the crowds gathered.

Found a Starbucks and decided on a large latte for 16 dirhams (£2.87) the system is they ask for your name, so I said Wyatt, he said What, I said Wyatt, he said how do you spell it, W-Y-A-T-T, he said yes that's right What, OK who cares just give me my coffee, it was turning into a spelling B, Just hand it over so I can get my caffeine fix. Thank you.

Decided to look for a shirt, nothing special just a polo shirt. Saw a really nice one, red had Maserati polo team on it, how much, only 1000 dirham was the reply. very nice, quick calculation on the iphone, £180.00, cough, for a bloody shirt, must admit it was nice, but not in my price range. What about this blue one, this would suit you sir, that was only 900 dirham (£161) thank you very nice I said. I think I was in the wrong shop. Kept looking and found a shop called Springfield, they had a special on, any one with a blue tag was 85 dirham and get the next one half price he said. now this is my kind of shop. Well what do you think of my purchases for 127.50 dirham (£22.00). one black one white.

Now that is what I call a candy tree, sweet shop heaven. Any one who knows me will know I like a Jelly Bean, not just any Jelly Bean, has the be the Jelly Bean and look what I found a help yourself dispenser. I decided not to as I have some at the hotel, but oooooh I was soooo tempted.



This is Sheikh Zayed Road, one of the main arteries in the city and where the bus stop is to get back to the hotel. Here it come and we all pile on, the driver then says no not this bus, that one, pointing to a bus next to us. We all pile out and into that bus. Air condition had been running for while, so nice and cool. we are just about to set off and the driver is doing his checks and spots a crack in the screen glass, out he gets and quick close inspection, gets back in and into reverse, no out again and another inspection. Back in and on the phone, I assume it is Punjab or Urdu, but get the gist of the conversation "the screen is cracked and it wasn't me". Off we go on to the main road, into third gear and the phone rings. Driver answers and during his explanation a lot of hand gesturing, so who's steering the bus then, luckily we come to a set of traffic lights, no steering just breaking. I hate drivers on the phone, drives me nuts. Do I say something. Call ends and lights change and off we go, so no then. Looking at the other drivers on the journey home and I would say 1 in 3 are on the phone. Bit of a disturbing culture? I guess it is a bit hot for roadside checks at 40 degrees, but the driving style is a lot of lane changing, no signals and flat out to the next set of lights.

Medical and ID card

Went for my medical today, this comprised of a blood test and chest x-ray. On arriving the queue was out the door and around the car park. Luckily I had a VIP pass and a Medical Officer from the company to help me with the process. Our MO asked me to take a seat in the waiting room while she went to the front of the queue to get a ticket number. There are five counters where you can get your registration papers from, as you need this generated to get your blood test. Separate areas for male & female and this was the first time I had seen actively the female first culture. The security guard managing the waiting area was oiking men out of their seats so females could sit, as in "you up" all complied, no fuss. (he was good at it)

My name was called and the MO collected my papers and took me to room 10 for the blood test, again queuing, however a quick nod to the medical staff got me in straight away. If market and cattle come to mind then this was a good description. Then down to x-ray, another nod and in straight away. No nonsense get your shirt off and stand there, chin up, hands on hips, finished. "Next" was the cry and I was shown out the door. What an experience, the great unwashed, the good, the bad and the ugly passed through. Now off to get through the ID process across the street.

Well "chalk and cheese" couldn’t be more different, hello and how are you, is this your first time was the greeting, bit like a long lost friend, amazed. Very well thank you and yes it is my first time. Similar process, take a number and wait. Called within 5 mins, hello and welcome let’s take your finger prints. This was my first time; he was gentle with me, quick photo, "eyes wide open, chin up" flash flash. that’s it, we will send you a text when it is done to come and collect it. All over now and wait for the medical results, the last process to get my residency visa. Phew.

Another day

Busy day, three meetings around the city , Safa Park, The Airport and Baniyas Street. Meeting a number of managers and employees. Trying not to do the Prince Charles bit " and what do you do" the traffic was not to bad, most journeys taking 20 mins. Only 37 degrees and 25 degrees tonight.

Dinner was a burger and chips by the pool, very good, plus a quick look at the skyline of Dubai from the pool bar. not bad.

Well getting things done, a new UAE mobile number on the contacts page. Have been around districts of Dubai looking for houses. The springs looks nice? interesting ride along the 14 lane highway, yes 7 lanes each side



However before I left I visited the staff restaurant at the hotel, the food was at a very good quality, nice plates and cutlery. Not sure about the sweet though, it was an Indian dish, grated carrot and custard in a large tray. see photo. did try some, not the combination I am used to.

More photos on the about me page. (tallest Stained glass window in the world-in one of our hotels)

Getting a bit of a sun tan, that's all I seem to have completed on my to do list

Not been able to get any of the items "checked" on the to do list as have been too busy. Not left the office in the evening before sunset, however it sets early, around 7.15pm.


More meetings today, and new contacts. had staff lunch for the first time today, very impressed. will post a pic of tomorrows lunch. KCH take note (you know who you are).

have a trip out organised with the F&B Director to look for accommodation and a visit to the supermarket (he has a liquor license) so might buy a bottle of Red Wine.

First day at Work

 

Interesting First day, the usual, sort out laptop, meet other managers, get a brief of what's required. what was different was having dinner by the pool.

 

 

other managers have been very helpful, offering to help with finding a car and somewhere to live. will be attending a HR meeting in the city, and attending a cricket match? let you know what happened.

Flight out

The start of an adventure into the unknown. At heathrow T4 waiting to be called to the gate, last visit to Costa coffee for a while, medium lattie and a muffin, i always like a muffin.  I will wait until the last moment to board, hate queues, so hopefully straight on and seated. Just spotted reading glasses  for a £10, bought a pair as spares as i lost my glasses on my last trip to Dubai. A bit blind for a day on the return flight, no inflight mags to read. Had to sit far back in my seat to see the tv, it was easier to see the tv on the row in front. Flight not to busy, straight on and seated, yippee a isle seat so i can stretch my legs. Empty seat next me so have plenty of elbow room. Oh no a screaming kid, now set off another one. Lets hope this stereo of bawling is only for take off. Time for dinner, chicken something and rice with a bit of salad and chease and biscuits. And yes i would like to have some ice cream, look good, well packaged from lovingtons of the west country. Oh no its bloody chocolate, hate it, ah well. Just watched "jack reacher" great film, original story. Glad i download on to my Samsung. Drama, it has just been announced that we have a very sick passenger on board and we are diverting to anchorafor medical assistance. Not sure who or what, but this will add at least a couple of hours to this seven hour flight. Hope they are ok? A bit inconvenient but shit  happens.