sandCat in Dubai

Category: firsts

  • books, birds and a spot of rain

    One thing that I have really been missing since I left South Africa is bookclub, a monthly meeting of 10 or so like-minded ladies for gossip, wine, snacks, oh and of course swapping the odd book. Stu suggested I look at starting something along similar lines here, and so last week Wednesday we had our inaugural meeting at my place. Sadly only 4 of us were in attendance this time, but we have at least 11 in total that have expressed an interest so the next one should be up to full strength. However I think the 4 of us had fun nonetheless. I was on the tail end of my detox so couldn’t enjoy any wine or anything, I will be sure to make up for it next time round.

    Creek Park
    [Creek Park]

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  • our first visitor, and eid

    I am beginning to think that I should rename this blog to “Dubai dining” or “Desert foodies” or some such thing, it seems I am always telling you about the wonderful meals we eat here. I am not sure why food seems to be the main focus right now, and I do apologise if you are finding it duller than dishwater, but its really the most exciting part of the weekends for me at the moment. Maybe its because of Ramadan and the persistent summer heat which has left us somewhat limited in our activity choices, as a picnic in the park, nor a visit to the beach, is quite on the cards just yet. It may be partly due to those reasons but then I think Stu and I are unashamedly food lovers and the quality of the food we have been exposed to so far really IS worth sharing. I do promise to find some other things to write about too!

    This weekend we ticked three things off our DUDO list (DUbai DO list)! I just made that up aren’t I clever? Anyway, the three winners, in no particular order, are 1) we hosted our first foreign visitor, 2) we visited the restaurant of a celebrity chef and 3) we went on a dinner cruise on the creek. And no I can’t tell you what is left on the list, not because I don’t want to but because its a vague and fluid thing that exists only in my mind right now. I do promise to let you know when another box is checked.

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  • bracing for ramadan, the wafi mall & more food

    Friday, sorry I mean Thursday, was undeniably the hottest day I have experienced here so far. Stu picked me up to go for lunch, and the walk from the office to the car (probably only a couple hundred meters) was literally hell. I could feel the heat radiating off the paving and tar, and baking down on my head all at once. When I got into the car, happily very air-conditioned, the dash read 47!! Thats a record, well for me at least. We went to the Wafi Mall, which is part of Wafi City (an Egyptian themed complex) for a bite to eat at Wafi Gourmet. What an exquisite shop. Its a large deli-style restaurant laid out around a central counter laden with pre-prepared meals, cheeses and various meat dishes; and around the perimeter are baskets of fresh fruit and veg, olives, nuts, dates and other counters displaying sweets and pastries galore! Its a treasure trove.. Sadly I was not allowed to take a picture of the inside of the shop so you will just have to imagine the nicest deli you can and you will be close.

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  • first impressions

    Dubai City twinkled below the plane like a be-jewelled Persian carpet, clearly load shedding is not a problem here. The flight was good, but 8 hours is just not quite long enough for a good nights sleep (well the economy class seat is probably more of a factor here) and not short enough to stay conscious throughout. At least I did manage to watch “Elizabeth: the golden age” which I enjoyed, certainly showed an unexpected perspective of the Queen.

    Despite the masses of people who seem to converge on Dubai International Airport the journey through passport control was painless, this is probably more a function of a British passport than any unexpected efficiency of the airport itself, but it was nice to be greeted by a smiling immigration official for a change. 60 days stamped in my passport and I’m ready to go! Of course I loaded up with irish whiskey in duty free before collecting my bag. And that was pretty quick too, so happy days all round.

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