Dubai Update 10/12: My 27th Birthday !

Birthday Surprise ~
 
     On December 7th, I started celebrating my upcoming 27th birthday week at the Seafire steakhouse in the Atlantis. We both enjoyed a wonderful meal, and indulged in their magnificent food. We of course both had our usuals - me a tenderloin. As a side note, Sergio Garcia was at the table next to ours since the Race to Dubai golf tournament was just starting.

       On December 8th, I was sleeping and thought nothing of it when he came to tell me he was home. As I stirred in bed and opened my eyes, I couldnt believe what I was seeing... My Mom and aunty Michelle were standing there in my bedroom - they had come from Ottawa to surprise me for my birthday & to bring Christmas spirit over to Dubai !!!

For the next 10 days, my Mom, Michelle & I were constantly on the move, enjoying our wonderful time together:
* We ended up going to the Race to Dubai to watch the pros of the European Tour on Sunday, the final day. Tickets were free! We watched from the tee-off boxes, fairway shots, and putting - and followed the #1 player on tour Luke Donald. It's always impressive seeing these guys live, just to see and appreciate their sheer talent. We then got home, and quickly got ready for my birthday dinner with friends at the Thai Bistro in the Dubai Marine. It was an all you can eat & drink thai buffet, but it wasn't that impressive. The food was ok, and it didnt live up to our Thai Wok experiences, but we had a great night with friends & family. Thanks to everyone who came and made it a great night :)

* I was absolutely spoiled for my birthday!!! Considering Mom and Michelle had come from Ottawa, I hadnt expected additional gifts. But, low and behold, my Mom showered me with presents - sandals, jean capris, two tops, a skirt, and a Hello Kitty bathrob. WOW! I can't wait to meet the dolphins and ride a horse :) THANK YOU !

* One day, the ladies and I rented a car and made our way to Abu Dhabi. I was worried that the ladies would have a hard time driving in the aggressive UAE manner, but they did really well and managed perfectly, without even getting lost once.
- We stopped at Yas Island's Ferrari World - the largest indoor theme park in the world, to experience their rollercoaster, which is of course the fastest rollercoaster in the world. We arrived at 11 am, and there was hardly anyone there, and so there was a very little wait for the coaster. We were all a bit tense waiting to ride it... to give you an idea, it goes from 0-240 km/hour is 4.9 seconds, with a G-force of 1.7 gs. This coaster is pretty impressive - riders must wear safety goggles, there is no overhead harness, there is a lapbar and seatbelt to keep you in, it is designed to replicate an F1 racetrack, and needless to say, it is FAST. I yelled my little heart out for the first half of the ride, then relaxed a bit... It is such a rush - so much so, that we got off and did it again immediately! For the rollercoaster fans, this is definitely a ride you must try at least once :)
- While the main attraction at Ferrari World is the Formula Rossa coaster, we also toured around the rest of the facilities and did their other coaster, where 2 tracks race side by side. It was also a great experience, and lots of fun.

- Next we headed over to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It is one of the largest mosque's in the world, and the largest in the UAE - it cost over $1 billion to build and it can accomodate 40,000 people for prayer. This mosque is absolutely beautiful, and a must-see if in the region. For those considering a visit, be warned - ladies you will be given an abaya and a headscarf to wear & men must wear long pants or they too are given a cover-up. It is free to tour the mosque, and there are several guided tours - we joined a tour for a bit, and the guides are quite informative. Unlike most tourist attractions, there are no souvernirs or gitchy things being sold. Nice. The artwork and sheer beauty was breathtaking - and while we were in a mosque, we didnt feel it was overly religious or awkward to tour.
- We finished off our Abu Dhabi day with a light Arabic dinner at the Fairmont. It's a beautiful hotel with great views of the mosque. Aaron was working at the Fairmont that night so we stayed and hung out with him before his event.

* The ladies wanted to go to the Gold & Spice souk so we spent an entire afternoon there one day. Again, this is a definite must-experience when in Dubai. We stocked up on spices, beautiful pashmina's and jewelry. The ladies did very well for themselves, and got amazing deals - when in the Souks, dont forget to negotiate the prices!

* Another day, we ventured to the top of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, and had lunch at the Atmosphere. This restaurant and lounge is on the 135th floor (I believe) just a few floors away from the observation deck, so why not enjoy your time at the top of the world with a delicious lunch. They have different lunch specials at decent prices, and I would also recommend this place... Great views of the city on a clear day, and nice food (call ahead for reservations though!).

* Friday afternoon brunches are famous in Dubai, and the ladies absolutely wanted to try one before leaving. We chose the Saffron brunch at the Atlantis so that they could see the hotel, the aquariums, and enjoy one of the best brunches in Dubai. It was my second time returning, and I must say I did quite well for myself the first time - great food & drinks, painting a picture. This time I didnt find the food as good, maybe the selection is too fast so it's hard to make a choice, but the drinks were just as delicious, and the ladies and I filled our boots. I was actually impressed with the shots Mom and Michelle were taking back haha - they were getting right into it. By the end, we were sitting at a drink filled table, paintings in hand, stuffed full of food, and thoroughly content :) Aaron joined us during his break...

All in all, I had one of the best birthday weeks ever...incredibly memorable and fun! It was so easy and such a pleasure to host these ladies; they are welcome back anytime :) Thank you Mom and Michelle for coming to Dubai and surprising me :) I think it's safe to say that 2011 has been the year of surprises. My 26th year was a good one, and Im looking forward to my 27th year on this planet - I dont feel older, only wiser ;)

Happy New Year !!! Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012 !!! Let's remember to be positive, caring and kind ... be the change!

xox <3 xox