Feb 25, 2013 - Going home

Monday-Wednesday, 25th-27th February Our tour of India and Nepal with GAdventures is now over, as yesterday we left Kathmandu for Abu Dhabi. Kathmandu airport has to be the worst airport I've every been through! All it needs is a schoolboy with a couple of GCSEs to get the place organised and running smoothly! What a contrast to land at Abu Dhabi, with its bright lights, wide open spaces and smiling friendly staff. Amazing the difference a bit of oil can make! We are now in the Yas Viceroy hotel, overlooking the Grand Prix circuit, and...

Nov 28, 2012 - Leavin' on a Jet Plane - NOT!!

Leaving Abu Dhabi today bound for Istanbul. Well, almost anyway. Got to the airport in plenty of time to check in, have some breakfast, and browse the duty free shops, only to be told that our flight had been delayed by 4 hours. First, and hopefully the last glitch of the trip. At least we won't be in a rush.

Nov 27, 2012 - Desert Safari

Yesterday we decided to do the tourist thing and book a "Desert Safari" - including a bit of sand dune bashing, camel rides, belly dancing demonstration, and a barbecue meal at a desert oasis. Sounds cheesy I know, but should be fun. While were were waiting for the tour people to pick us up, we went down to one of the bigger shopping malls. I haven't seen so many high end shops under one roof. Everything from Armani to Prado to Gucci, and everything in between. It was so high end that the Timex shop was reduced to a stall in one of the...

Nov 25, 2012 - A Few Days in the Sun

Arrived in Abu Dhabi around midnight last night. Good news, no lost luggage this time. Both bags arrived safely. It's 1am by the time we arrived at the hotel, 2am by the time we finally got to bed. Totally exhausted. Started our first day in a leisurely fashion. Late rise, late breakfast. After a quick look at the tourist map, we decided to take a walk up to the Abu Dhabi Mall - supposed to be quite something. Not. Just another shopping mall. Nothing to indicate we were in an Arabic state. Chalk up another victory for American...

Apr 30, 2012 - Day Trip to Abu Dhabi

Wiki Info Emirates Palace Hotel Day Trip to Abu Dhabi After a short Metro ride to the main bus terminal, we boarded a bus which landed us 2 hours later in Abu Dhabi, the emerate which on a path to supercede Dubai in everything glitzy. It's transport system (lacking a Metro, it's just buses) is cheap (.25 US to go most everywhere) but needs refining and is slow to get around - Abu Dhabi is REALLY spread out to be serviced by buses. We had to wait an average of 20 min. for each trip we took - 4 in all in 105° F (45° C) little shade! First to...

Apr 30, 2012 - Abu Dhabi to Paris in style

After trying for weeks to wriggle into business class using my AMEX points, lo and behold, I find myself ensconced in it between Abu Dhabi and Paris. Bless Etihad Airways. I've already finished my second glass of mersault and am now progressing on to a bordeaux with my meal.  It all began when I presented my boarding pass at the gate and the attendant turned and said 'Mr Robert Baker'. I weakly agreed, sensing what might be about to happen. He then announced my business class seat and I waltzed on by as if to the manor born. (I'm...

Apr 29, 2012 - Abu Dhabi Airport

Well, 14 hours later and courtesy of free wifi at AD Airport, I'm making my first overseas post for this trip. Thanks to John I arrived at Melbourne Airport in one piece and without any trauma. Check-in was easy and my case was only .2 of a kilo over. My Etihad card would have allowed me an extra 5 kilos so I was well within the limit. The trip was uneventful even though the economy class seat was a bit cramped. Luckily for me the noise free headphones were pumping through Valery Gergiev's performance of Parsifal for the first part of the...

Jan 15, 2012 - Abu Dhabi!

Så er vi ankommet til Abu Dhabi! Eller dvs. det gjorde vi lokal tid, igår morges kl 6.30. Fra Billund fløj vi i "privatfly" til Manchester, hvilket virkede lettere ulogisk for os, da vi herfra fløj tilbage ind over Tyskland, på vores vej til Abu Dhabi. Flyveturen i sig selv, var forholdsvis komfortabel med god service og et halv tomt fly. Alligevel blev det dog ikke til megen søvn, hvorfor vi var små trætte da vi landede i Abu Dhabi, kl. 03.30 dansk tid. Udenfor lufthavnen kørte busserne udelukkende til Dubai, så vi måtte med en pirattaxa...

Jan 4, 2012 - Abu Dhabi Day 3

Last full day today so we decided to go to Ferrari World but in the evening as we thought it would be quieter which it was but I will come to that later. Drove down to the corniche and saw that the Volvo Ocean Race was due in today. They have set up Destination Village with bars and cafes and exhibits etc so we went there. It was great. There was a little souk as you walked in and then loads of freebies being given out. We got two rucksacks and a baseball cap from HSBC who are sponsering the golf tournament at the end of the month. We also...

Jan 3, 2012 - Abu Dhabi Day 2

Went to do a tour of the F1 circuit this morning but fully booked so got tickets for the afternoon and went to the mosque. It was awesome. Absolutely huge and beautiful as you can see from the photos. I loved wearing my black thing and didn't want to give it back. Going to take Sue and Dave here as well. Spent about an hour in there and then headed back to the hotel for Lunch. At 2pm, we went to the circuit and had a great guide from Goa. He had an amazing voice - could have listened to him for ages. Same script as the other circuits we...

Jan 2, 2012 - Abu Dhabi (again!)

Came to Abu Dhabi today and are staying at the Yas Viceroy Hotel on the Grand Prix Circuit. Our Christmas present to ourselves. Room is great but we had a bit of confusion. We booked the hotel as a treat after visiting it last time we were here and seeing people sitting outside on balconies overlooking the marina and F1 circuit so we thought it would be nice to sit out with a brew or a tipple but when we got to the room, the door to the balcony was locked and a label said it was closed because of health and safety!!!Rubbish!! Steve reckoned...

Dec 10, 2011 - Busy, busy, busy!!!

Hello...doing this journal was a lot easier in the USA when we weren't working!!! I can hardly say I am overworked but everything has come at once. Following National Day I have had to sort out my class assembly, coordinate house points throughout the school, plan for a lesson observation, write reports and do lots of book scrutinies as language coordinator!!! Still, after Tuesday it will be a lot more relaxed. Also in the evenings, we try and have a run out or do something as Steve has usually been inside all day and I, obviously have been...