Dining OUT!

Typical Iftar Appetizer
Dates, apricots and bread.

Olives are a huge part of the dining experience.
PS..... I HATE olives!

What you need to know about dining is that if you
finish your food, especially appetizers, they
will bring more and more.
So the rule is do not clean your plate!

The veggies seemed odd at first as the cucumber and
and tomato is self serve, cut what you want. 

Potatoes....these were a hot appetizer, common.
Yummmmm!

My friend ordered this - traditional lebanese dish.
Lamb with a sauce-gravy and vegetables...spicy!

This was a salad with tuna.....this was a lot of food!

One of the girls did the buffet and the desserts
were endless.  This was a chocolate tort with
cream filling and fresh raspberries. 

Shredded lamb, called shwarma.

This was mine....not what I thought I was getting.
Grilled veggies is what I ordered.  Came with white rice and
the log looking item is lamb mixed with veggies. Not a
real fan of that - this was too spicy for me. 

I was asked why I did not eat my "lamb stick"
and I said it was too spicy for me. Don't do this....
as it prompts conversation and more inquiries. Just
say you are full!  As a gift we were offered
Moroccan tea. It is hot and poured in small glasses,
like we would use for juice. As seen in this
picture he pours from very high and did not splash.

This is the glass for the tea. HOT!
Although, very delicious!  I may
try making this at home, but pour from
a safe level.

Three Words:  Trying New Foods.....

Show me more about Abu Dhabi!

Above find the link to this amazing time lapse of
the city Abu Dhabi.  Abu Dhabi is not only a city,
but one of the seven states that make up the
United Arab Emirates.




I have heard Abu Dhabi described by an Emirati
as a paradise with year round sunshine, pristine
beaches, spectacular sand dunes and a
pulsating cosmopolitan lifestyle.
                                                                                It is this and so much more!




Arab Emirates are a federation of seven individual
states. The states are ruled by emirs, a general or
commander, a prince.

Founded between the 7th and 8th centuries, the
Trucial States granted the United Kingdom control
of their defense and foreign affairs in treaties
 signed in the 19th century


In 1971, six of the states: Abu Zaby, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubai  and Umm al Qaywayn all merged to form the UAE.  The seventh Ra's al
Khaymahjoined the UAE in 1972.

The country is 39 years old December 2, and in the past three years there has
been an initiative, a reform with a goal date of 2030.  Growth in infrastructure,
education,green building, an very impressive region, an almost utopia of
commerce and family.

Where in the world is Abu Dhabi?   If you went to high school in my era, the map has changed a bit.  There is a red arrow pointing to the UAE.  Abu Dhabi is a tropical desert, palm trees the  gulf - beautiful caribbean color waters.

Excited to share all the riches of the area that we uncover!  Exciting events scheduled for this year...you'll be amazed!

Three Words:  You Should Visit!

The Safari....

A five hour excursion....picked up by our driver Yesof - we are brought to the Bedouin - the desert dunes.  Let the fun begin....Hoping I can add the video as well....

So much fun in my arabian pants....a definite must
do when you come to visit.  You have to look the
part to truly experience and appreciate the safari!

Yesef our driver....assures me he is skilled and no worries! Hoping
something was not lost in the translation like "Hi, I'm Yesef and I 'm
your driver and this is my third day"....

We were picked up at our hotel and brought to the dunes.  We
were in Toyota Land Cruisers and here they are removing air so
we can drive on the sand. 

Checking the engines....it sounded like a Formula One race....

I'm ready.....let's roll!

Drivers releasing the air and checking each others tires. 

It's a camel herd!  They came over to greet us!

So docile, not agressive at all.  Quite playful at times. 

All eating and drinking and if you look to the right of center you can
see the elder on the ground eating and drinking, not standing up. 

My new friend Adil....that is arabic for honest.   The hair on the
body is very coarse.  Around their neck it is smoother.  Their
eyes are beautiful. 

Engines revving and we're off!

A SUV after us coming down the dune!

And now they are doing side ways....very fast!

Yesef our driver stopped to show us what happens to  unruly passengers....
honestly, its the carcass of a camel.   But it made us laugh!

Well that slide down on the dune was too fast was too much for the right passenger tire....
Anyone know the number to AAA in Abu Dhabi?

If you look closely just beyond the bush you can see
the SUV tire rim. 

Gorgeous sunset.....and also the tire change is taking a little too long.

No AAA, just a friend with a kit.  The driver rushes up a
dune and wedges the vehicle up, like a natural
jack to fix the tire.  Two tries and they were in business. 

Or so we thought....now the battery is dead and the SUV is stuck. 

Yep, that's stuck!

Looks like it did when we started.  Seriously does anyone have a signal?
We may need help, just saying. 

Let's jump the car, move it and then fix tire.  

A lot of talk....so what is there to do?

You climb to the top of a dune and say "the sky is the limit!"

And you keep climbing.....

Well, the car got fixed and hopefully I can upload the video of the ride.
We arrived at camp and we had more time with camels and rode them too. 

Lots of fun...

Now you can't hear, but the sounds are like a baby cooing.  

It's getting windy....note to all contact wearers....don't!  The sand gets on
and in everything.  Don't rub eyes, it just gets worse. 

Base camp as the sun goes down....iftar (celebration feast) is about to be served. 

It is hot, cooling a bit.... iftar is about to start.  

Not the best picture....but we are coming in from our camel ride.
Not scary to ride....scariest part, seriously is the camel getting up
and down....it is abrupt and you hang onto the saddle for dear life....

Super exposed....but you can see me on the camel!  

Rice...YUM!  BBQ chicken and shish kabob were excellent.
Tabbouleh- a little like pico de gallo, tasty! 

There were a variety of tents....peeking in this one they had hookah's.
They had water and at the top is foil and they place coals that smelled fruity.
I was told that it was like strawberry.  I took their word for it.  :-)

The group is winding down and heading back to the SUV to return to AD. 

My favorite picture....this one, is my favorite!  

Description given above of what to expect....somehow we never envisioned this.....

Three Words:  Weeeeee!  Weeeeee!  Weeeeee!