Fun In The Sun

Yet another of our fabulous days in Dubai was spent at Wild Wadi water park. The kids were itching to get there and we all had an unreal day playing in the water and daring to be brave going down some hairy water slides. (yes even me)

Christmas In The Dubai Desert

Our Christmas Day was just getting started when we went to Ski Dubai. We thought we would finish the day with a complete contrast. Going out into the desert on a 4 wheel drive safari.

Now this isn't usually my cup of tea. Too much sand and not enough water. And the idea of driving up and down sand dunes in the desert, "I SEE DANGER" but heh its Christmas and we are in Dubai and this is something we will not get the chance to do anytime soon.

We should of known what was coming when the car picking us up was 1 hour late. The Arab driver (crazy guy) didn't speak any English so it was a pretty quiet ride out to the desert which was one hour out of town. Pretty quiet until he was driving at break neck speeds of 160km down the highway with the car shuddering due to the front right wheel needing an alignment. Mind you we were getting passed by other cars who would have been going 200km.

NOW I WAS REALLY SEEING DANGER

After stopping for fuel and to ask for directions (this is when I got worried) We finally met up with 2 other cars that had obviously been waiting for some time due to the "Not Happy" looks on their faces, we pulled over and the driver (crazy Arab) got out and let the tyre down and then we where off.

"DANGER DANGER"

Warning bells.

Oh SH**, Hang on kids..

All I could hear was 3 kids screaming with laughter in the back seat and Andrew chuckling behind me. Thank goodness for the "OH JESUS" handle because it got a work out. Along with the roll bar on the other side that I clung to for grim death.

Up and down we went, sliding down sideways and hooning around the dunes. The poor car screamed at 6000 RPM which was a good thing because it drowned out my squealing.

We stopped at a huge ridge to take some photo's and the wind was blowing a gale. I was worried we would loose a kid over the side. Then it was back in the car to be scared a lot more. The driver occasionally turning to ask us "ALL OK?" I think it must be part of the job to see how loud the car load screams as to how much faster he needed to go.

At least none of us lost our lunch like a poor girl in one of the other cars we where following. We ended up out in the middle of the desert to have dinner. A traditional Eastern meal, Kebabs, hummus and flat bread. Mac had fun playing in the sand and was thrilled when Santa arrived on the back of a Camel. We all enjoyed the belly dancing show and Eliza and I tried out a Henna tattoo ( which one week later we are still sporting)

What a day we had. Snow in the morning and the desert for the evening. We had a great day and I would recommend to anyone going to Dubai to do the Safari it really was a hoot. And we survived our first Christmas day away from our family and friends.

 

Our White Dubai Christmas.

Christmas Day in Dubai was sure to be a different day for the Purdy's. So we thought we should try to make it a very memorable one.

And it will be a day we will never forget.

The day started bright and early as you would expect, and the children where treated to a small sack of gifts from Santa. Certainly not the sack of spuds they may have been expecting after being threatened for weeks before if their behavior did not improve. Their behavior didn't improve that much but good old Santa never lets the team down. (wink)

Breakfast was a selection of Krispy Kreme Donut's.

Then we headed off to the most amazing place I have ever seen. SKI DUBAI.

Wow, when you see it on the TV it looks great, but here we were getting our snow gear on and entering -4 deg temp in the middle of the desert. Still can't get my head around it. The kids loved the snow and had a hoot on the toboggan run and the bobsled run. Sam's biggest thrill was throwing snowballs ant Andrew. That kid will never learn that his Dad usually ends up the winner. Mac love the snow and wasn't concerned about being scarred when going down the runs, he got lost twice or should I say "we" lost him. He just wanders around in his own little world making friends with all the staff who all think he is sooo cute. Eliza thought it was time to go after a couple of hours when her chin had gone numb. But she enjoyed being cold for a few hours after living in the heat of Chennai for the last 5 months.

The word for the day "AWESOME"

We finished the experience off with a nice lunch looking into the snow park. Needing to warm up a bit it was hot chocolates all round. Defiantly not our usual roast lunch, but the Cheese fondue was pretty good. Andrew was in Cheese heaven.

But the day was not over yet.......

Stay tunned.

I'm In Heaven

We have arrived in DUBAI safe and sound. Great flight with Emirates.

All I can say is WOW.

Of coarse the first thing we did was head straight to the "Mall of the Emirates" which is probably a 10 min walk away. I planned that well.

It is the most amazing place I have ever been to. We walked in the door and the first thing we saw was the Ski Dubai slope. It took a good half hour to pick our chins up off the floor, we were walking around with the biggest goofiest grins on our faces we must have looked like real dills.

Andrew arrives first thing tomorrow morning and we are all looking forward to seeing him. Can't wait to start exploring the rest of Dubai with him.

Growing Up And Moving On

Just think, that if we where home in Australia Eliza would have finished primary school today.

I cant believe that the last 12 years have flown by so fast.

I just received a email from my friend Clare and it really got me thinking about the different paths our lives are now headed in. She was commenting on her daughter Lucy's last day of primary school today and what a wonderful day it was. I am so happy for them, she is a great kid and her family should be so proud of her.
I am now feeling sad for Eliza that she didn't get to share in that with all her friends at St A's. When we make these decisions to accept a post in another country you try not to think of all the things you and your family will miss out on and try to focus on the new and exciting life that is ahead of you. Days like today and the first day of High School that she will now miss in sharing with all her friends at home are the hard day's. You can't ever get those day's back and it takes an experience like this to realise that. I hope our kids don't hate us for all these things they are missing and that they appreciate all the wonderful opportunity's that lay ahead. The world is now our oyster, this is so different from the life we had at home.

So to all of those Grade six kids back home who have now come to the end of one chapter in their lives and are now awaiting for the next chapter to begin at the end of January 09 Good luck and may life take you just where you want to go......

God Give Me Strength (please)

5 Days down

6 To go

Yes, Andrew is out of town and I am a single Mum.

So far, so good. No major catastrophes. No doctors visits. No staff issues. No sleepless nights. (yet)No sandwiches up noses. No broken ankles. No end of year school mass to attend (and have a cry) No last minute calls from Dad saying "What have you bought for your Mother?" No kids in huge trouble (yet) School only finished at 1pm today so lets see what tomorrow brings.

I'M BORED

I can't believe how much my life has changed. Living in a very foreign country with no husband for 3 weeks. Not working. Not even being able to make shortbread for Christmas on my own without it being taken over by Margaret. Flying around the world on my own with 3 kids.
What am I thinking, you might say. Getting on a plane to fly to Dubai will not come quick enough. This has been the longest week. I tried to start thinking about packing today and got told "Madame you don't leave till next week" please just give me something to fill my days.
I've made the shortbread(with help) made a flop of a Christmas cake, sent the Christmas cards, wrapped the presents and I even tried to sit down and watch a movie in the middle of the day to fill in time. Can't get my head around not being a crazy mad woman at this time of the year....
All is too calm.
Wait till tomorrow when the kids boredom sets in, then I will be a crazy woman.

NO SHOES ALLOWED

Deciding we needed a bit of Indian culture we headed off to this Hindu Temple in Mylapore, Chennai. We had seen it many times but had never gone in to have a look.

And now I know why..

It was shoes off.

AH SCREAM.

In India, in a public place no way! But that was the only way we were getting in.
So the shoes came off, and naturally it cost a few Rupee to have them stored for us while in the temple.

The kids where not happy and wanted to stay in the car with Victor, but it was about time they got up close and personal with India and it's finest.

It was a really hot day so we didn't last long. Especially after Sam stepped in Poo, probably left by these two calf's hiding under the cart (above). Taking photo's was frowned upon and I got told off a few times. Pity I can't read Hindi so I'd know not to take them. Our trip to the temple was not a good one, Mac was in his typical "I hate India mood" and the other two kids didn't appreciate the culture or the poo.