PENGUIN ENCOUNTER - MY KIND OF DAY! B

There was a Cobone Deal recently in Dubai.  It was for a Penquin Up Close encounter at Ski Dubai in the Mall of the Emirates (MOE).  Five of us Marina ladies purchased the deal and met up at the MOE.

We jumped into our warm gear for the cold environment 

we were about to enter!  BRRRRRR!  (Ah, but it felt oh so good!)

 

The penguins, we were told, were flown to Dubai from Texas
this past January.  Sheikh Mohammed had them transported here in one of his aircraft....the top was filled with several of his horses; the bottom was filled with snow....and the penguins!

We got to meet "Pumpkin", who delighted in showing off for us!  She ran (waddled) up the ramp and then behind us, and landed on the rock right there in the middle of us!  She jumped off the rock when cued and did it again and again!  She also chased a plastic bowling pin, would pick it up with her beak, run back to the trainer and throw it to her!

 

We learned that "Pumpkin" had a mate named "Pie".   The male penguin presents a female penguin with his favorite stone.  If the female rejects the stone, the male can either look for another one to present to her, or he can present the same stone to another female.  "Pumpkin" accepted "Pie's" stone and therefore they became a couple!
 

We then met some larger penguins: "Mona Lisa", "Bubbles" and "Bob".  (I think his name was "Bob" -- sorry, but I really can't remember!)  It took " Bob" twenty times to get "Bubbles" to accept his stone.  But she finally did and they are now a couple!  

Because "Bob" would get jealous, the trainer didn't let us pet "Bubbles".  Lord only knows what would have happened if we didn't heed her advice!  But "Mona Lisa" LOVED to have her belly rubbed!

What an experience it was!  The penguins were well taken care of, to be sure!  We learned that they live about 15 years in the wild, with many other animals preying upon them.  In captivity, however, they can live an average of 30 years!  
Thanks, Dubai, for watching over these amazing creatures!
 

After our Penguins Up Close encounter came to a quick end, we all sat in the Ice Room for a moment or two, savoring the chill that was in the air!
 

What can be better than scuba diving in the morning and playing with the penguins in the afternoon?  Yes, it was
  
                MY KIND OF DAY!!!

WHY OH WHY?

We had these in the United States.

Yup, we had them close by in Indianapolis.....

 ....and we NEVER went.  Nope, not even once!

But when one recently opened in the Mall of the Emirates....

 

 ...we went on like the very day it opened!!!

WHY OH WHY?

Because John needed a good 'ol American 
pancake breakfast......

THAT'S WHY!!

DUBAI GARDEN CENTRE!

I have found one thing to be totally true since moving here to Dubai -- I learn something new every day!

Last week I learned that the Dubai Garden Centre has a Farmer's Market, that just started up again, every Saturday from 9-1:00.  So on Saturday, John and I were one of the first ones in the store to check it out!

And what did we find?  Not only was there an awesome farmer's market, but there was a used book store of sorts....AWESOME!  (Especially since my Kindle fried!)

And there were lots of vendors selling jewelry, pet treats, dips.....

...sauces, oils, breads, muffins, and turtles.....teeny, tiny baby TURTLES. OMG, do you know how tempted I was?  (Sorry, no pictures of the turtles.  I need to forget I saw them and that they were for sale!)

John was a very happy camper, indeed!  He purchased one of the vegetable boxes for 80 dirhams.  It is now our challenge to use all of the vegetables before they begin to wilt when we'll take them to feed  to the camels that live on the beach!  (Another tip I learned -- thanks Sue!)

Also inside the Dubai Garden Centre is the Raw Coffee Company-- (a little piece of heaven for java lovers) -- rumored to sell THE BEST COFFEE in Dubai!  We bought a bag because it smelled absolutely marvelous!  I can't wait to give it a go! 

And guess what we FINALLY purchased? A real live bougenvillea plant with hot pink flowers! We were standing in line to buy the plant and a bag of potting soil when John asked where I was planning to transplant it. Hmmmm.  No tools, no gloves, no garage, no driveway, no yard.....good question!

So I asked Abbas, the gentleman helping us, how much he would charge to repot it for us -- his reply, "Twenty dirhams Ma'am". That equates to less than $7.00.   Who could refuse?

So we drove home to pick up our pot (I decided to start with just one) and returned and gave it to Abbas. We ventured over to Crumbs for a delicious breakfast and came back and voila!!

When we first moved into our flat we went out and bought two pots at Ikea, one for each balcony.  I decided pretty quickly that I actually LOVED not having anything (except Teddy) to take care of.  So, each of our pots held only one thing.....

But a year later and I was ready for some responsibility.  Teddy, you'd better watch out!

Cuz I've fallen in love with the one and only bright pink bloom on my brand spanking new plant!

Oh, and Teddy, not only do you now have to share my love and my attention.....

...but you have to share your balcony too! 

Thanks Dubai Garden Centre!

DEEP SEA ADVENTURE

When you hear "Deep Sea Adventure" what do you think of?
Some fun way-out-on-the-water cruising in a fast hold-tightly-onto-the-sides kind of a boat adventure?  Me too.  And that's why I bought a Groupon for a "Deep Sea Adventure".

John and I were excited!  We had been on Captain Jack's Dhow ride through the Marina and out on the open water  several times -- we LOVED it, but would hardly call it a deep sea adventure.  It's a bit too calm for that!  We've been on a Musandam cruise as well -- we saw absolutely beautiful scenery, however, it was on a Dhow and it too was quite calm.  It was high time for an adventure out on the deep sea!

The Groupon read, "Head out to Sea for a 4-hour guided fishing & cruising trip including crew, instruction, and fishing equipment."  And it was called a "Deep Sea Adventure". 
A couple of weekends ago (before jumping head first into all the PADI learning and diving) I called to book our adventure.  It was a clear day with blue skies and we were both looking forward to being on the water.  They told me that the 4:00-8:00 cruise was available.   "Cruising during sunset and after dark would be an adventure," we thought!

We waited until 4:00 finally arrived.  We went down to the Marina area where boats are docked and where the Captain Jack Dhow cruise comes in and out. We walked around and didn't see any signs for "Deep Sea Adventures".  Luckily I had a phone number for the company and called them to find out where we should go.  We were told to meet in front of Spinneys.

We stood in front of the store for what seemed to be forever before John called again.  Ah ha, the guy was standing five feet away and didn't speak much English -- and he ended up being our "Captain" -- oh, and our "crew too"!  Off to the boat we went....

(No, no -- it's the one on the right!!)

We think our "Captain" said our "ship" was 33 feet long, however, let's just say it was dwarfed by the surrounding boats!  Nevertheless, we were excited to get out on the water!

Not only did we expect a big fishing boat, we also expected people and a crew!  Well, all we got was ourselves and our almost non-English speaking Captain!  Oh, and here he is and there he remained most of the trip -- on his cell phone!

Once we were heading out I asked our "Captain", "Are we going to catch a lot of fish?"  And his reply -- "HaHaHa" and he shook his head NO!  John and I were still pretty positive, thinking to ourselves that with the right bait and the right spot we'd have no problem bringing in dinner.

When we hit open water we were forced to sit down and hold on.  The waves were huge and the "ship" that we were on was crashing through them.  The entire ride out I kept thinking, "Oh my gosh, I'm gonna need a chiropractor for the first time in my life!"

After about an hour of salt water splashing all over us and our fingers cramping from holding on so tightly and cringing as we anticipated the next wave causing us to fall out of our seats......our "Captain" stopped the "ship" and started getting out the fishing "equipment".  While we rolled from side to side John and I both looked around for a spot where we could fish and be secure.  We had visualized seats that were meant to be fished from, but there wasn't one of those on this boat!

Finally our "Captain" handed us the smallest fishing poles I have ever seen!  There were three hooks on each pole with the tiniest little schrimp (bait) on each one.  John and I laughed as we dropped our lines -- so much for the "fishing instructions" as we used our "fishing equipment"!!  We knew how to use these babies!

From the moment we hit open water and all through the fishing extravaganza, it was impossible for me to take a single picture!  We were rocking violently and the salt water was spraying constantly on us, so I chose to put my camera in the
safety of the berth beneath us.  I literally tied it to the bedpost!

We rocked in one spot for well over an hour.  We didn't get a nibble.  Our three shrimp-that-were-bait weren't touched.  Okay, so this was a deep sea adventure, eh?  Our "Captain" got a call on his cell phone.  When he hung up he told us (we think this is what he told us) that the people in the other boat that was out hadn't had a bite either.  He said it with.a.smile!  Oh, and they were all seasick. Poor, poor people!

Finally we decided that this exciting (NOT) fishing excursion could end -- at least the fishing part!  Our "Captain" agreed to turn back and cruise along the JBR beach and through the marina.

We braced ourselves as he started the boat and turned us around to head back.  Oddly enough, it was a relatively calm ride!   So I unwrapped my camera bag from the bedpost and sat back down (in wet shorts) on the seats with puddles of sea water on them! 

These pictures tell the rest of this story!

(The Shoreline Apartments along the trunk of Palm Jumeirah.)

(Beautiful sunset over the water!)

(Moonlight over the JBR beach!)

(Lots of people still on the beach!)

(Activity in the marina!)

(Back to the dock!)

(Back on the ground at the Marina Walk Fountain!)

It was far from what we expected.  However, it certainly ended on a high note!  The slow cruise along the beach and through the marina was awesome! 

If you ever book a Deep Sea Adventure where fishing is involved, John and I have one bit of advice.  BEFORE you head out, ask the Captain, "Are the fish biting?"

MOE'S SHAKE SHACK!

There's something new (relatively) at the Mall of the Emirates (MOE) here in Dubai.  I'd heard all about it by some AWA women at a coffee several weeks ago.  But I had to see it and try it for myself......

So, if you ever come to Dubai (please come, please come!).......

and are in the mood for a really good American hamburger (say you're in the mood, say you're in the mood!)......

I'll take you to the MOE so you can try this......

I had been told it was terrific, and it was!  MOE's newest temptation: THE SHAKE SHACK!!  Thank you New York!

DUKE IN DUBAI!!

Who even knew that Dubai does basketball?  John and I sure didn't.  So we were surprised when we learned that Duke was coming here to play an exhibition game against the UAE National Basketball Team.

The game was held on Thursday at the Al Wasl Club.  We arrived well before the start of the game, sat back, and took in the sights.

In the United States it is customary to see NCAA Championship flags hanging from the walls.  However, the only flag that was visible was the flag of the UAE (in dire need of some good 'ol ironing!).

Jerseys of star players may be hanging from the walls and rafters as well in America. At the Al Wasl Club, however, the only things hanging from the walls were the pictures of our beloved sheikhs!

Duke fans started gathering, sporting their bright blue apparel! 

The UAE fans were gathering as well, and it certainly wasn't hard to spot them!

Finally things started to get rolling as the Duke players came out and huddled...

And the UAE team came out as well and followed suit!

The UAE players took to the floor.....

As did the Blue Devils....

It was exciting to see Coach K and his staff.  I'm not even sure of the name of the UAE Coach, but it was great seeing him and his staff as well.  The Star Spangled Banner was played in honor of Duke.....

And the UAE song (?) was played as well!

And then it was time to play ball!  It didn't take long to see that there was a huge difference in the average height of the teams!  Duke players easily had a foot to a foot and a half on the players representing the UAE!!

Basketball is basketball no matter where it is played.  And the same held true at this game as well.  There were standout fans, a crazy announcer, guys beating on drums, referees, and a shooter that sent t shirts flying into the stands!

And although the game itself was played the same, some things just plain looked different!

It was exciting to be a UAE fan (c'mon now, we currently ARE residents of the UAE), watching some good basketball being played.  Although Duke was the better team (and much, much taller I might add), the UAE players were quick and played their hearts out!

Although we lost the game, we certainly didn't lose face!  It could have been a whole lot worse! 

Duke in Dubai?  A memorable night, to be sure!