Gastronomic Adventure

We slept like babies our first night in Dubai, thanks in part to the lovely down pillows and down duvet. It was great to be able to open the window. We were awakened at 5:30 Friday morning by the melodic intonations of the Muslim "Call to Prayer", broadcast from the minaret via loudspeakers. Our day started off with Dad not being able to find the room key(card). We searched upside down to no avail. As a last resort, he looked in the garbage can and there it was, deposited there no doubt by me. We went to a Pakastini restaurant for breakfast and spent most of the day exploring. Friday is a holy day so most shops are closed till 2:00 p.m. We spent most of the morning exploring and when shops opened up at 2:00 p.m., I purchased some much-needed necessities to get me through till my luggage arrives, and Dad bought a new unlocked travelling cell. It was hot during the day and absolutely perfect in the evening. Several times during the day we went back to the apartment to recharge our batteries. We had a late dinner at an Indian restaurant and then explored some more, getting back to the hotel shortly after midnight.

Saturday morning Dad was once again awakened by the "Call to Prayer" but I didn't hear a thing. Left the hotel for breakfast about 9:00 and then Dad went to local IP provider to get data package. We also headed over to Al Ghurair Mall where I bought a few more needed things. The top level of this mall is mainly children shops, dozens of them one afterr another, my head was in a whirl but I exercised control and I won't make decisions till nearer the end. Also today, we familiarized ourselves with the metro. It is ultra-modern. We purchased NOI cards which are good for the metro and the buses. We made our way to Deira City Mall on the metro and what a place that is! If my daughters-in-law were here, they would think they had died and gone to heaven. While here, Dad had to buy me a new camera to replace the one I had the misfortune to drop. Also, Dad was having trouble with his data package and although it worked in the phone, did not work in the laptop. Fortunately, the IP provider had an outlet at this mall and one of the techies was able to determine what the problem was and so made the necessary adjustments. So as of late today, we now have access to the internet.

We had another late supper, this time at an Iranian restaurant; it is fun to try the different cuinines. We called it a night about 10:30 p.m. as I was dead tired. Am hoping my suitcase arrives tomorrow - Sunday (which is a regular day here, unlike home).

Dubai is everything it is portrayed to be, and we've only seen the tip of the iceberg yet. In many ways, it reminds me of Hong Kong, except that it is more spread out and doesn't seem so crowded.