My Travel Map
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Dubai - day 3; Karama and the search for Sangeetha
We had one last day in Dubai to do some shopping if we wanted.
Though Guru wasn't enthusiastic, I wanted to go to Karama to buy some fake designer bags. We went to Meena Bazaar (the cloth markets) near our hotel, and on our way, we were invited into the alley to view some bags. After some bargaining and indulgence from Guru, I ended up buying a Gucci, a Chloe, and a Dolce & Gabbanna.
We walked and walked and finally found the restaurant Sangeetha that had been very highly recommended to us. Though most of the menu was closed for lunch, we still had some really good food and excellent Pomegranate juice (Sudha Parimala had fallen asleep, allowing us to eat lunch in peace).
We checked out of the hotel and hung around at the airport, wearing Sudha Parimala's patience thin. She refused to eat anything other than milk, and did NOT like being restrained in her carseat in the flight. Once the flight took off, though we had more Wiggles and she slowly drifted off to sleep in my arms.
Off to Madras!
Though Guru wasn't enthusiastic, I wanted to go to Karama to buy some fake designer bags. We went to Meena Bazaar (the cloth markets) near our hotel, and on our way, we were invited into the alley to view some bags. After some bargaining and indulgence from Guru, I ended up buying a Gucci, a Chloe, and a Dolce & Gabbanna.
We walked and walked and finally found the restaurant Sangeetha that had been very highly recommended to us. Though most of the menu was closed for lunch, we still had some really good food and excellent Pomegranate juice (Sudha Parimala had fallen asleep, allowing us to eat lunch in peace).
We checked out of the hotel and hung around at the airport, wearing Sudha Parimala's patience thin. She refused to eat anything other than milk, and did NOT like being restrained in her carseat in the flight. Once the flight took off, though we had more Wiggles and she slowly drifted off to sleep in my arms.
Off to Madras!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Dubai - day 2; The Vast Emptyness of the Desert
The first half of this day was for me!
We were going to the Gold Souk!
OMG! I wish I had taken pics of the Gold Souk! It was yellow yellow and yellow everywhere! We searched for quite a while for the type of chain Guru wanted, but ... So we went into to look at what I could get. Sudha Parimala wasn't too happy and hungry and sleepy. Surprisingly, I made a quick selection, all the while cursing the increasing cost of Gold. It then took forEVER to get the credit card payment processed and to get the sales associate move faster than the speed of a turtle!
End of expedition and all we wanted to do was eat something! Our cabbie took us to 'Sukh Sagar' in Karama where we enjoyed some really good food (excellent masala dosa!). Catching a cab back to the hotel from there was another exercise!
A short rest later, we were ready for .... the Desert Safari. We were picked up and driven outskirts for around 2 hrs to the desert. Sudha Parimala enjoyed every bit of the Safari - the tender coconut(her first, she would have lots more in India), the camel, the dune bashing (that she kept giggling all through when us grownups were trying to catch our breath), the evening entertainment, the belly dancing, everything!
The camel was her first animal encounter closeup (not including the zoo animals when she was younger). She alternated between squealing and rushing and talking to the camel.
We held her real tight for the dune bashing, but she was giggling wildly. And when the driver stopped for a breather, she squealed for more!
We stopped for 5 minutes to observe a most beautiful sunset and I took that time to reflect on the vast emptyness of the desert. I remembered "Laurence of Arabia" and took in a deep breath.
The dune bashing was followed with an evening of entertainment, rather a lot of food followed by dinner and belle dancing. The food was really good, and a surprising variety of vegetarian food. The belle dancing was the let-down, lasting only 1 hour, and with only 1 solo dancing at that. The rest was the crowd joining in. Sudha Parimala joined in too, dancing on our table.
We were going to the Gold Souk!
OMG! I wish I had taken pics of the Gold Souk! It was yellow yellow and yellow everywhere! We searched for quite a while for the type of chain Guru wanted, but ... So we went into to look at what I could get. Sudha Parimala wasn't too happy and hungry and sleepy. Surprisingly, I made a quick selection, all the while cursing the increasing cost of Gold. It then took forEVER to get the credit card payment processed and to get the sales associate move faster than the speed of a turtle!
End of expedition and all we wanted to do was eat something! Our cabbie took us to 'Sukh Sagar' in Karama where we enjoyed some really good food (excellent masala dosa!). Catching a cab back to the hotel from there was another exercise!
A short rest later, we were ready for .... the Desert Safari. We were picked up and driven outskirts for around 2 hrs to the desert. Sudha Parimala enjoyed every bit of the Safari - the tender coconut(her first, she would have lots more in India), the camel, the dune bashing (that she kept giggling all through when us grownups were trying to catch our breath), the evening entertainment, the belly dancing, everything!
The camel was her first animal encounter closeup (not including the zoo animals when she was younger). She alternated between squealing and rushing and talking to the camel.
We held her real tight for the dune bashing, but she was giggling wildly. And when the driver stopped for a breather, she squealed for more!
We stopped for 5 minutes to observe a most beautiful sunset and I took that time to reflect on the vast emptyness of the desert. I remembered "Laurence of Arabia" and took in a deep breath.
The dune bashing was followed with an evening of entertainment, rather a lot of food followed by dinner and belle dancing. The food was really good, and a surprising variety of vegetarian food. The belle dancing was the let-down, lasting only 1 hour, and with only 1 solo dancing at that. The rest was the crowd joining in. Sudha Parimala joined in too, dancing on our table.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Dubai - day 1; The Big Bus Tour
Arriving in Dubai at 2am, we slept through most of our first day and started out only after noon! We took the Big Bus tour, embarking from right outside the hotel. Going through the major sights of Dubai, we were disappointed at the architecture of the Burj-Al-Arab. Though sleek and very modernistic, it felt like blocks of steel and glass rising out on the ocean horizon.
We hopped off at the Mall of Emirates to catch a late lunch/early dinner. Having read a lot about it, and expecting a kids play area, etc , we were again disappointed at the huge mall. It was a huge mall, a shoppers paradise; but not really offering any deals better than what I'd find here. More designers for me to go ga-ga over, but not the cost effectiveness to make me loosen my purse. There was the famous indoor ski-slope, but Sudha Parimala was content to look at the kids playing through the glass.
We ended up having lunch in the food court and waiting for over 2 hours for a cab to get back to the hotel !
We hopped off at the Mall of Emirates to catch a late lunch/early dinner. Having read a lot about it, and expecting a kids play area, etc , we were again disappointed at the huge mall. It was a huge mall, a shoppers paradise; but not really offering any deals better than what I'd find here. More designers for me to go ga-ga over, but not the cost effectiveness to make me loosen my purse. There was the famous indoor ski-slope, but Sudha Parimala was content to look at the kids playing through the glass.
We ended up having lunch in the food court and waiting for over 2 hours for a cab to get back to the hotel !
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