Christmas on steroi_s 🧑‍🎄🎅🎄🦌🛷

[Seat0B]

And hopefully the elbow accidentally connected with the young miss.

Unfortunately it did connect quite firmly onto her upper arm. Sorry, not sorry as the Seat Kids say.

 

[Flyfrequently]

I’ve had this happen to me too - most recently in a supermarket where I was reaching up to get a product to put in my trolley and the Little Doll could not wait the 20 seconds it would have taken for me to complete the manoeuvre

Sounds like our 'hood here @Seat0B and @Pushka.
We don't venture out much in our beach town from "the 26th to the 26th' (Boxing Day to Australia Day) seems like they leave their manners at home and their rubbish at the beach

 

[Seat0B]

Sounds like our 'hood here @Seat0B and @Pushka.
We don't venture out much in our beach town from "the 26th to the 26th' (Boxing Day to Australia Day) seems like they leave their manners at home and their rubbish at the beach

I should clarify that the supermarket I was talking about was in Dubai, where @Pushka is currently.

And our family lives on the Gold Coast, so totally understand your comments about bad behaviour in beach towns….

 

[Flyfrequently]

I should clarify that the supermarket I was talking about was in Dubai, where @Pushka is currently.

And our family lives on the Gold Coast, so totally understand your comments about bad behaviour in beach town

We must've been fortunate in Dubai, didn't have any issues 2015-19, maybe the world has gone a tad loco since 2020.

And I promise, I will be on my best behaviour - well anywhere - but especially when we visit the Goldie in March for a family celebration !

 

[Pushka]

We must've been fortunate in Dubai, didn't have any issues 2015-19, maybe the world has gone a tad loco since 2020.

And I promise, I will be on my best behaviour - well anywhere - but especially when we visit the Goldie in March for a family celebration !

There’s been an influx around the world since the Ukraine War. Into those countries who will accept Russian migration. Egypt is another.

I’m more sensitive to it now having spent Christmas with the sons in laws who are hosting a refugee from Ukraine war and her young daughter. Her mother is still trapped over in Ukraine.

She explained that Ukrainians don’t speak Russian - I thought they did, and also this Christmas the majority celebrated Christmas on 25 December as opposed to the usual Orthodox Christmas date.

 

[Pushka]

This trip is one that keeps giving. The rather expensive NYE gala started around 8pm so around then we joined a long queue to be shown to the table. We’d watched staff endlessly checking table numbers and names. We’d already had a call during the arvo confirming our booking as it was a sell out and they asked us to pay on the spot which we did.

So there’s a bit of confusion at the main desk. They could see we’d paid and our room number. And led us to a table for 6 people and a baby seat. Hmmm. That’s not our table. But they said, there’s your name on the label. And it was.

Well, we were then asked to check the name on every table until we found our name. They had no further record. The guy that showed us to the large table simply disappeared. Didn’t want to know. . Eventually we spotted the Hotel Manager. We had no table. They created another table for us which actually was in a good location except in the smoking area which we’d asked not to be. As it turned out it wasn’t a problem.

Staff made it seem like it was our fault as the table for 6 plus baby seat remained empty. Like we’d booked multiple times or something. Then - the party of six with the same name as us, plus baby, arrived and suddenly there was a lot attention and apologies from staff. Not our fault at all.

The Manager came over and apologised. Who’d have thought guests would have the same name they all said. Our name isn’t exactly special.

Whatever, after the first few G&T we relaxed for the night.

 

[Pushka]

The dinner was a buffet. And it was certainly spectacular. Fish lover heaven.



Scampi? They were tiny things.



cold cuts



Salads



Magnificant carvery of beef, Turkey and lamb. No pork . I think the pastry was salmon filled. lots of gravy flavours



Sushi




Oysters. Boxes and boxes of oysters.

 

[Pushka]

Also Indian food. Big dishes of curries. I opened the one called Lamb Shank. Turned out to be loin chops, frenched. That's me done.





The lamb was very tender, had two serves. Didn't see the soup until too late.

I only had to tell one man to use the tongs. Can't help myself.

 

[Pushka]

The desserts. So many.





We managed to get through the time well They had a Polaroid Photo Booth which was well used and the DJ played music we new. Still a lot of rap and some of the language probably not suitable. People Danced when they played ABBA, Queen etc, and sat down for the rap. Why do they do this?

At 11.40 we left to go to the front of the hotel where many of the hotel staff joined us for the best view of the fireworks. At the last minute we had the arrival of the women I spoke of earlier. They weren't guests of the hotel but just there for the dinner.

So what surprised us was that at midnight the fireworks started on the coast, Al Arab and Atlantis. Khalifa was at least a minute late? And only lasted 6 minutes? Even the fireworks at Port Broughton last for 20 minutes. And my photos are pretty rubbish.
















Wrong angle maybe?

 

[Pushka]

Meanwhile at the beach.

 

[love_the_life]

Pretty spectacular all the same

 

[Seat0B]

Khalifa was at least a minute late? And only lasted 6 minutes?

We have been consistently underwhelmed by the NYE fireworks on Burj Khalifa. NYE 2017, and probably straight after the fire at the Address, they didn’t even do fireworks, just a pathetic laser show. And the road closures were extreme, although as local resident Seat Son was able to gain access.

 

[Pushka]

We have been consistently underwhelmed by the NYE fireworks on Burj Khalifa. NYE 2017, and probably straight after the fire at the Address, they didn’t even do fireworks, just a pathetic laser show. And the road closures were extreme, although as local resident Seat Son was able to gain access.

View attachment 363135View attachment 363136View attachment 363137

I notice it didn’t even make it to one of the world’s places to see Fireworks. Interesting about the laser show. People experiment with it then give it up as simply boring. Our Adelaide City Council tried it last year and this year - excellent Fireworks.

 

[Pushka]

We have a 3am departure tonight. What was I thinking. On EK to Singapore then Qantas to Melbourne then on to Adelaide. Flight length is actually the same as direct to Melbourne but a 5 hour gap in Singapore.

So we are going to the fountain performance and laser light show at the Khalifa.

 

[Pushka]

We knew today was going to be a bit gruesome, well, tonight I mean as we depart Dubai at 3am Wednesday. So we needed a plan. Breakfast then a couple of hours at the beach, (full on construction next door today after yesterdays holiday), MrP to the gym while I packed, then he would pack. Then headed off on the 4pm shuttle into Dubai Mall, to see the light show and water fountain at night. We stopped off at The Cheescake Factory for dinner which was suoerb. We had three appetisers and how they get such freshness and flavour given the number of meals they serve is outstanding. We'd be happy at any restaurant with our meals. Then of course a piece of cheescake which we didn't get through. I've been here once before, also at SAN Francisco (twice), Boston, and Honolulu. The place was packed at 5pm and had to wait for a buzzer.

Strolled on over the fountains around 20 minutes before start and the promenade was packed. The first show starts at 6.30pm then every half hour until late. From 7.15 onwards it's also the Khalifa laser show. We just caught the 6.30pm show several people deep. It was Whitney Houston 'will always love you' and it was excellent. Crowds cheered when it finished.

The next show we had secured front row seats, and it started early catching everyone by surprise. Because of a call to Prayer at 7pm. This time it was a modern rock piece, not as good as Whitney but still excellent. I have some videos which I'll sort in next couple of days but here are the stills.













The water made loud cracking sounds like thunder and we did get wet.

 

[Pushka]

Then we waited for the laser show. Obviously this was the place to be on NYE as we saw nothing by laser from our position.

How they do this I have no idea. I have videos which I'll load up later.

 

[Pushka]

Currently on a flight back to Adelaide from Melbourne. Flew from Dubai to Singapore to Melbourne in the last few hours. Managed a five hour sleep from Dubai - even fell asleep as we waited for departure - it was 3.30 am by then. Staff were great again. Full J cabin. Then a five hour stopover in Qantas F lounge in Singapore where we had a meal. Not too busy at all. Excellent service there. Then Qantas j back to Melb. Crew were friendly but such a difference between the two cabins. Of course comparing 380 with Qantas plane has an impact. Just one toilet in J though? Watched Hotel Mumbai. Having been there in May it was chilling to watch again.

Will be good to get back home and have a home shower. Get the cat and so on. And hot weather maybe?

Sunrise this morning

 

[love_the_life]

Wow - home already - packed a lot into your time away.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Wow - home already - packed a lot into your time away.

Now the post trip depression sets in. Were we really there last week etc.

 

[henleybeach]

Welcome home to the humidity!