My Australian holiday - you asked for it !

[Snatcher]

After a 7.5 hr flight from Newcastle we arrived at Dubai where we were booked in for 3 nights.Stepping out of the plane was like being blasted in the face by a hairdryer - 39 degC was TOO hot!!

 

Well our hotel was a 5 star+ check out the marble floor

 

 

This was the view from our hotel balcony

 

 

It also had its own private beach and grounds

 

 

 

From the balcony we could also see the"palm" and famous "Yacht Hotel".On the down side the whole of Dubai was like one huge building site and there was a constant haze in the air.Also fogging of lenses was a problem as soon as you stepped out of the air conditioning!

 

Check out the building site next to our hotel,this is the view from our balcony

 

 

This is a close up - notice the pile drivers which operated virtually 24/7

 

[Snatcher]

The hotel had 7 theme restaurants within the grounds.We met up with two of Amandas friends(Mel and Dave) who work out in Dubai,at the Thai restaurant.The food really was the biz

 

 

In these two shots from our balcony you can see Dubai Marina with the "Palm" complex in the background and the "Yacht Hotel"

 

 

 

The hotel was that big did not manage to find the dartboard until our last night there

 

 

In Dubai it is assumed everyone owns at least one car and hence there are no pedestrian footpaths at all! It is impossible to just "cross the road" due to the heavy traffic and 5/6 line highways.It has to be a taxi everywhere.At least they were fairly cheap.We took one to the local souk(market)

 

 

The whole place was air conditioned,just as well because the heat was so intense and with it being Ramadan it was against the law to drink water in public during daylight.You were allowed to drink inside your own hotel through the day though. Check out this shop front.

 

[Snatcher]

I was informed that Dubai City did not exist 5/6 years ago and that it was then all desert.The markets have all beeen built with an "old look" intentionally

 

 

You could actuallt get a water taxi around the market we visited

 

 

Check out the honeymoon couple

 

 

Well I hope you enjoyed these few pictures and they gave you a little insight into present day Dubai.Basically it was all skyscrapers and beach with little else to see.If you are a sun worshipper and enjoy the beach/pool scene it is ideal for you. I am pleased I seen the place and did have a great time but will not be doing it again.

 

The next installment will be my oz adventures

[Hellbelly]

Wow, what an unusual place. Looks great for holiday makers. Lots of sun, sand, pools and drinks. Oh, I noticed a sun worshiper in the pic that you mentioned about your lens fogging up too . They're not short of a quid over there are they! Incredible place indeed.

 

Bring on the next installment.

 

Mick.

[MrWiggly]

A very nicely presented intro to your trip, with some excellent shots to illustrate your progress.

 

Not a place that I would stay in very long .... Can't stand heat of that magnitude !!

 

Eagery awaiting the next installment.

 

Well done Snatcher !!

[Clifftop]

I'm sorry but i think you're an imposter, the reason i say this is there's not a beer in sight.

 

 

Great pics mate hope you had a ball and got suitably sunburnt.

 

Cheers Fred

[Snatcher]

The next stage of our holiday involved a 14hr flight from Dubai to Sydney. I was dreading it to be honest but due to the excellent choice of in-house movies that Emirates provided the time passed relatively quickly.

 

The taxi took from the airport to the apartment in Pyrmont that Amanda had booked for us.I really was nice and overlooked the Anzac Bridge and a massive car distribution site.The logistics staggered me! (oops forgot to clone out the beer bottle)

 

 

 

Within minutes of our arrival these two cheeky chappies flew onto our balcony rail for a nosy

 

 

We also had cockatoos perched in trees below us

 

 

The apartment was situated a short stroll from Darling Harbour. Check out this luxury liner!!

 

 

And the maratime museum was just around the corner as well.

 

Edited November 26, 2008 by Snatcher

[Clifftop]

nice pics mate.

[Snatcher]

Next up was Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House

 

 

 

Amanda works in the city nearby so she arranged to pop down and see us during her lunch break

 

 

 

Next took a shot of the "bridge walkers". These guys go over in parties of 10 at about 15 minute intervals. The whole thing takes about 2 hours including the induction and a breathlyser and costs the psychos around £150 each. I felt ill just watching them because at times I do get a bit iffy with heights!!

 

 

Amanda joined us again after work and we had a few cool ones in the Opera House Bar. I have drunk in worse places

 

 

Next installment - the Botanic Gardens

[Hellbelly]

More great pics Snatcher. A fair bit going on in Sydney town hey. And that smile of Amanda's is beaut!