Flying High in Dubai

Our day started early with a short flight from Bahrain to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A representative of our hotel, The Address, met us at the Dubai airport. He took our bags and loaded us up into a very nice Mercedes town car. What luxury! This trip was starting out to be very nice indeed.

ML especially liked the cool towel scented with lemon water the driver gave us. It was refreshing even after our short journey. 



Leaving from Bahrain - off on an adventure

Washing up after our flight.

The view of our hotel (left) and the Burj Khalifa as we drove up to the hotel.

The ride from the airport to the hotel in downtown Dubai took about 45 minutes. Along the way I was impressed by all the greenery and landscaping. The temperature is usually warmer in Dubai than in Bahrain so I assumed it was more baren and desert-like but I was mistaken.

All along the highway there was plush landscaping.

There were flowers and trees all along the highway.

Our room at the hotel was not ready for us so we had a nice breakfast and rested for a while in the Club Lounge. Both D and ML were on their phones checking email. I tried to take their picture but ML kept catching me.



They always looked up when I snapped a picture, but they were on their phones ALL the time!

The Club became our second home - complete with helpful staff, drinks and a huge selection of fantastic food.  ML loved the chocolate desserts that seemed to be available 24/7.

Very soon it was time for our driver to take us to the helipad and our air-born tour over Dubai. And, so the adventure began!

The helipad was very close to the Atlantis resort on the tip of the Palm Islands.

Atlantis and the helipad are at the top of this view.

We flew over "The World" islands, but they did not look like this.  Maybe from outer space they look this way?

The helicopter experience was fantastic.  D and ML were in the front seats and we all had the time of our lives. It was truly amazing.

The Burj Khalifa towers over all the other buildings. InDubai there are 41 buildings over 800 feet tall. 33 buildings have over 50 stories. They all look short compared to the Burj which is 2,717 feet tall with 163 floors.

Amazing view from the window of the helicopter.

Here is the sky view of Dubai Creek.  Wonder why it is called a creek?

Our view of "the world." 

This is "North America."

Just a small private island off the coast of the Palm Islands.

Palm Islands with the Sail (another famous hotel) and the Burj Khalifa in the background.

After this thrilling experience we returned to our hotel and moved into our room. D selected this hotel and I have to say, IT SURPASSED MY EXPECTATIONS.  The view from our balcony was absolutely stunning.

Caption - Engineer contemplating construction....

The fountain, located just in front of our hotel, gave us a spectacular performance several times each day. In Las Vegas, the Bellagio Hotel has a fountain created by the same company.  However the Dubai fountain has Bellagio beat, HANDS DOWN!

This evening we took a dinner cruise down the Dubai Creek on a fancy Dhow boat.  Nothing old about this ship. It was very pleasant and offered a much different view of the area.

After we returned to the hotel from the cruise, ML was tired and headed off to bed (I think she wanted to get online with her friends). D and I went up to the 63rd floor of the hotel and enjoyed the view from Neo's, the "highest bar in the world." Again, we were impressed.

We could not resist taking our photos on the balcony of our room.   

Tomorrow brings our desert safari. It is going to have to be pretty spectacular to beat our first day in Dubai.

Cheers,
Brenda

Sunset our first evening. I counted 21 active construction cranes visible from our balcony.

New Carpet and Adventure on the Road

Wednesday is ML’s 4th day in Bahrain and it started absolutely wonderful.  ML slept in just a bit – not too much but enough I thought maybe she would feel better. Last night she stayed up really late doing a physics assignment.

We went over to what I call “carpet alley” where there are a large number of carpet stores grouped together. My favorite is Oasis Carpets. Abdulla, the owner has helped me with several of my own carpets and I have taken many new expats to him for carpets.

The Oasis shop is a treat for the senses. 

Abdulla helped educate ML on carpets while his helpers pulled out a bunch of rugs. ML finally narrowed it down to 4 rugs and then only 2. It took a while but she finally picked her favorite.

ML learned about the regions where carpets are made.

She finally went with the one on the right because it has some navy in it to match her room in the honors dorm at college.

We visited a little antique shop next door for some souvenirs and then headed out to explore the island just a bit.  We made a tour of Awaji Island and then a trip to Lu Lu Hypermart.

We stopped in at Geant Market and picked up a few things and then headed towards the flat.

Picture was taken in 2007 and nothing much has changed.

ML reminded me we were to make a stop at the “sin closet.”  This is what we call the pork room at a few of the grocery stores. Pork is forbidden in the Muslim faith so only a couple of grocery stores carry it and they only carry a little.  The “closet” where they hide it is always hard to find and small.

D likes ham sandwiches so I always try to keep some sliced ham in the refrigerator.  ML loves bacon, so we had to have bacon on hand while she is visiting.

We turned the car in the direction of the biggest Alosra store on the island down the Budaiya Highway.

Usually I avoid Budaiya Highway after 2PM because you never now when the local thugs might light tires on fire in the road.  “Thugs” is how the local newspaper refers to the young people who protest the government in Bahrain. Most of the expats don’t pay much attention to them. In fact, one young man told me he drove his SUV over the burning tires one time when they were on fire.

The police always come and arrest the thugs, but they seem to burn tires on the road all the time as a way of protesting something, I am just not sure what.

ML and I are driving down Budaiya Highway and I point out to her where the road is really rough and black. “Here is where they have burned some tires in the road.”

And, then she points ahead and says, “They are burning tires right there.”

Sure enough right in front of us on the other side of the 4 lane divided road there are 6 or 8 people dressed all in black throwing gasoline over the top of a row of tires laying across the road. We are actually driving right by them as they tossed more gasoline on the pile of tires.

NO!  I did not take these photos.  However, this is how it looked.  These photos came from images online.

I panicked and turned off at the very next road away from Budaiya Highway thinking I might be able to double back and just go home.  However the road eventually was blocked with construction and we could not find our way back to the Budaiya Highway.

Nervously, I finally turned the car around and headed back the way we came.

Back on Budaiya Highway the traffic was moving and I could not see any heavy smoke on the road. I drove on towards the grocery store and away from the tires.  ML got mad at me when I nervously laughed about the incident. I think she was stressed out.  Inside I was as well.

We purchased our pork and started back towards home on the Budaiya Highway. I had my fingers crossed the tires would be gone.

I think ML was getting tired of posing for me. So here is the ham section with a reluctant ML standing in front of it.

As we came back to the place in the road where the tires had been, I saw 3 large police vehicles over on the side of the road and fragments of rubber still smoldering on the center island and shoulder on the right side of the road. The fire was not completely out but traffic was moving at speed. We passed on by.

I think I will return to my policy of not going down Budaiya Highway after 2PM.

Tomorrow we leave for Dubai and our trip there to visit the Burj Kalif. We are all very excited.

I feel great relief to have avoided the tire burning. I don’t think ML will forget that experience.

Cheers,

Brenda

Never Before and probably never again...

I am adventurous person and I love doing things that can’t easily be done. However, it is still not very often I am able to do something that most of my friends can’t do.

Today I did just that.

I ordered breakfast from McDonald’s to be DELIVERED to our flat.

Right. You heard me.  Amazing, right?

When I first arrived on the island of Bahrain, my dear husband took me on a tour of the souq, the local shopping area filled with small stalls and lots and lots of vendors. It was amazing.  However the most shocking thing was seeing all the delivery scooters lined up in front of McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Burger King.

Our breakfast arrived HOT!  We were amazed.

One side of the bag was in English and . . . 

One side in Arabic.

They actually deliver all over the island and when it arrives it is hot. You can order online or by telephone. The name on the McDonald's call line is McDelivery.

You can’t have fast food delivered to your home in the United States (I am not aware of any).  So I have done something many of my friends and family can not do. I am sure they are jealous.

Just to be clear, this was done for ML.  She thought it would be awesome to have Mikey D deliver pancakes for breakfast.  And, I agree it was awesome - fun (and hot!).

Usually when I take a picture of food it is because it is beautiful or a wonderful new flavor experience.  Here, it was just amazing it was so hot.

After breakfast we headed over to the Manama Souq, Bab Al-Bahrain for a little shopping and site seeing. We both bought (among other fantastic items) a new abaya and hijab to get ready for our visit to Al-Fateh Mosque (also known as Al-Fateh Islamic Center & Al Fateh Grand Mosque).

Fabrics in the souq.

Riding in the elevator inside our favorite store, Asla Carpet and Antiques. 

Khan helped us select silk spreads (for tables or beds). They are beautiful. 

Finally we arrived at the Al-Fateh Mosque, one the largest mosques in the world. The tour was very interesting and the mosque was beautiful. I learned many new facts about the Muslim faith including the ablution and prayer rituals.  Ablution Ritual and Prayer Ritual.

Getting ready to go inside the mosque in our new dresses.

The Al-Fateh Mosque

Inside the main rotunda.

ML could have passed for a native Arab. I just don't have the eyebrows for it - not to mention my blonde highlights. We are standing in front of the alcove where prayers are recited.

This is the alcove that faces Mecca. The acoustics are amazing throughout the room.

The dome is held up by four columns.

After we finished our tour, we traveled back to Seef Mall to a restaurant named Cafe Lilou’s for a light lunch.  Lilou’s menu was amazing and we ate much more than we intended.

We sat in the patio area at LiLou's and it was lovely.

When we arrived back at the flat, ML announced she was taking a nap.  It did not surprise me.  She had done so well and tried so hard to not let the 8 hour time difference get in the way of our adventure.  It was bound to happen she would need some rest.  

After D arrived home later that evening, we headed to our favorite local Thai restaurant, The Hash House in the Adliya district of Manama. It was great as usual and we had to opportunity to show ML the busy “dinner out” scene in Manama.  D and ML talked engineering all night. I LOVED IT!!!!

D and ML at The Hash House.

Our selfie in front of the iron tea pots at The Hash House.

It was another great day with some great fun!  Tomorrow is our last day in Manama and I plan a visit to the “sin closet” with ML. Oh La La…..

Cheers,

Brenda

Lost Again, with My Granddaughter

Getting lost in Bahrain on your granddaughter’s first day visiting is not something you plan.  But that is exactly what I did.

ML arrived on Sunday night after traveling all the way from Oklahoma, USA to Manama, Bahrain. YIPEE! She seemed to handle the 2 days of travel well.

I followed her flight all the way with my United app on my iPad. Sorry, this picture is upside down -- ugh I can't figure out how to rotate it.

ML leaving immigration and arriving in Bahrain.

A photo with the camel outside the airport is a must for all new visitors to Bahrain.

Of course, I have the next 3 days mapped out for some real fun together.  

The next morning ML surprised us both by getting up at 6:15AM to see D off to work.

BACON for breakfast!

After a hot breakfast that included her favorite dish of “BACON,” we were off to the American Women’s Association (AWA) monthly coffee in A’ali.

We stopped by La Chocolate bistro on the way to pick up a “sweet” to take to the coffee. The restaurant has a fantastic assortment of pastries. ML loved it, as I knew she would. I had this stop on her itinerary from the very beginning.

Oo la la!

Leaving La Chocolate is where the adventure begins.  

I have never gone to A’ali although I have driven by there several times on my way to the Royal Golf Club and the AWA clubhouse. I thought I would be able to find the villa where the coffee was being held.

I was wrong.  My GPS had the location (which turned out to be correct) but the road leading up to the area was blocked by some big barricades.

We tried going down a side road that did show it went through, but it did not.  At the end of the side road we encountered a large guard carrying a large gun.  He instructed us to turn around and go back which we did gladly.  ML nervously asked, “Did he have a gun?” Yep, and a big one.

So we started driving around side roads trying to find our way through.  Somewhere in the maze we ran into a car with 2 of my AWA friends who were also searching for the coffee. We decided to follow them.

T and L were also lost but seemed confident they could find the villa.

Although I had a feeling they were going in the wrong direction, I followed.  My thought was 2 cars were safer than one.

We wound around through some markets and a small village. We right next to several of the burial mounds that must fill the area. We had passed the large burial grounds on the highway but I never dreamed you might drive right up next to them on a road.

We drove right next to some of the burial mounds.

This is the view of the burial grounds from the highway.

It was very interesting until I saw black flags marking an area that was occupied by opponents of the Bahrain government. Opps!  We should not be here.

Quickly we passed the flagged buildings and in the distance I could see a major highway I recognized. We turned back the other direction and entered an area filled with big villas.  I had a feeling this was the right area and my GPS confirmed we were on the correct road.

I flashed my lights at T & L trying to let them know I had the location of the villa identified but they kept on going. I decided to take a turn off the road they were on and head out on my own toward the location on the GPS.  After only 2 turns I saw a line of parked SUV’s that looked like familiar AWA cars parked outside a villa.  We made it.

The neighborhood was filled with large villas just like this one.

The coffee was fun and ML got a kick out of meeting all the ladies. It was truly a global experience. And, there was chocolate cake!

ML comparing our box from La Chocolate to the color of the flowers at the door to the villa. They match beautifully

Our sweet from La Chocolate was very popular. We captured a piece to take home to D.

Here is our selfie with the President of AWA. ML is the cute one in the middle.

After the coffee we headed to Seef Mall to have our nails painted and to have ML’s hair done. We have started a tradition of nails and hair every time we get together.  It is a nice tradition we both enjoy.  Girl time!

ML asleep in the chair at the beauty shop. I think jet lag was catching up with her.

A little shopping and we were set!  Of course ML had to shop at Forever21 in the Seef Mall.  Forever21 is her favorite and shopping there while visiting the Middle East was a must. Whenever I am traveling abroad and I see a Forever21 store, I always send her pictures.

Seef Mall is just down the street from our flat.

ML bought the cutest dress for our dinner out in Dubai then we headed home. D was supposed to try to be home from Saudi by 7.  Of course that did not work out.  When we finally heard from him it was too late to go out to eat so ML and I drove to Jaffair and picked up sushi at a cute little sushi restaurant.

Back at the flat we spread the sushi out on our living room table and ate Asian style as ML told D all about her adventures during her first day in the Middle East with Mema - what an adventure!

It was a great day!  And, I am looking forward to tomorrow.  We have decided to really step out of our comfort zone and order MacDonald’s DELIVERY for breakfast.  What a HOOT!

Cheers,
Brenda (otherwise known as Mema)

The World’s Cutest Bad Pictures

These are the cutest bad pictures I have ever taken in my entire life.

Just got off a Skype call with BHB and LW.  He has grown so much it is just amazing.

I tried so hard to take some cute pictures but my hand was not steady enough to hold both the iPad and my cell phone.  Besides, I was really excited.

Not a very good selfie with LW on Skype, but I tried. I was so excited.

The last time we tried to Skype, LW was nursing so we did not get to see him.  BHB sent some pictures, but that is not the same as seeing the little guy live. It has been 2 weeks since I have seen him live.

This call was so much fun. REALLY! It was just a hoot.

He even gave me one of those one-eyebrow looks like his Opa does.  SOOOOO CUTE!!

The one-eyebrow look like his Opa does. Hasn't he grown? WOW!

He is reaching out and trying to grab stuff. BHB says he has grabbed her hair already.

He is reaching for his Oma. He wants me!!!!  xoxoxox He is so cute!

He weighs over 9 pounds so he is getting bigger.

Unfortunately D is still in his commute on the causeway from Saudi and he missed the call.  BHB says for us to call back when he gets home but it might be another hour.  I really hope they are able to take our call.

I just can’t wait to see little LW again!

Cheers,
Brenda

Shock Felt Round the Globe

PRESS RELEASE
March 6, 2015

Shock waves are reverberating around the globe at the news! After five years, Donna Hale, employee extraordinaire, is leaving Washington FAMILY Magazine.  Ms. Hale, a pillar of stability and hard work at WFM, will be missed by all.

Ms. Hale, shown on the right, made a significant contribution of time and effort helping publisher Hyde with her relocation to the Middle East.

Her influence has been felt in all aspects of the magazine. She is the reason advertisers are kept happy, payments are posted, mail goes out, invoices are kept on track, proofs are completed and the staff is at ease knowing they don’t ever have to worry about a project when Donna’s on it.

Donna joined WFM on February 19, 2010 and was a major force in the magazine’s success from the very beginning. Her family also contributed - stories of her children inspired and motivated everyone.  Her kids are both in college now and doing wonderfully.  A testament to the great parents Donna and her husband Rick have been and continue to be.

Past publisher, Brenda Hyde dried her eyes upon learning the news and shared her heartfelt thoughts about Donna’s contribution. “We all benefited from Donna’s exceptionally strong work ethic, excellent skills and wonderful friendship.” Hyde sniffled and continued, “To say she will be missed is an extreme understatement. Things will never be the same at Washington FAMILY Magazine. Realizing Donna will no longer be there saddens me beyond description.”

A major effort by Hale involved clearing out the basement at Hyde's home in Virginia.

From Washington, DC to the Middle East, words of praise for Ms. Hale are pouring in.  It is apparent her departure from WFM will be a very big shock to the entire world - one that will take strength and determination for us to overcome.

Ms. Hale is taking her impressive skillset to a landscaping company in the busy Washington DC region.  We wish her the best and are trying not to be envious of how great her yard will look this summer. She will always be a part of our FAMILY.