My fingers keep slipping across the keys of my laptop. After 4 months in the UK & Ireland I thought I'd never sweat again, but now find myself in a Bikram Yoga-like state of perpetual lubrication. Aye, it's hot over 'ere in Dubai.
Tremendous flight across with Emirates - even better than our Iceland Express and EzyJet experiences... At the airport - which by the way is quite something to behold if you haven't been there - we were greeted by the wonderfully good natured and energetic Martha Wong (our host for this week). At 2am local time. Took half an hour to get through customs because the chap dressed entirely in white didn't trust the purity of my character. At least that's the impression I got as he quizzed and stared, stared and quizzed.
Woke up feeling intense jetlag. Bart tried to stir urgency in me but failed - something that's unusual for me given I'm usually the alarm clock of the trio. Had very little grasp of where I actually was when the eyes opened for a second time (this time Bart's tone sounding angrier than before). Realised I'm in Dubai.
Martha introduced us to her husband Bill, a lovely chap of kind disposition. We chatted over a fine breakfast prepared by their maid and before long had to duck off to golf. With our new friend Chris Turlik, who's basically jacked up our golf for the entire UAE leg. Champion among men. Of English descent but did himself a favour by marrying a Scottish girl. When it gets too hot over here they retreat to Perthshire for 10 weeks - while everyone else is doing the opposite and heading away!
Today he took us to Al Badia GC, which was a real treat. Stereotypical Dubai golf, I suppose, but very nicely done and What A Clubhouse. A real shock to the system playing cart golf after 4 months on UK links'...a pleasant shock at that in this case. Drank gallons and gallons of water but that still couldn't cure the 3 putting. Will blame jetlag for now.
Martha met us at the club and has shown us the most amazing hospitality since. We went on a drive around Dubai taking in sights such as Ski Dubai, The Mall of Emirates, the 7 star hotel shaped like a sail whose name escapes me (Burj Al Arab?), and Wadi Wild Water Park. A siesta deeper than the Mariana Trench followed. Then something quite phenomenal. Bill and Martha took us to Saffron at the Atlantis Hotel for The Most Amazing Buffet Dinner Ever. Which was so special that it deserves an entire blog post, which Bart or Michael will pen tomorrow.
For now I'm going to continue sweating and hope that by the morning I feel less fat than I do at this very moment. Must've eaten 6 plates of food. Is gluttony one of the deadly sins? I know 3 putting is for sure...
Night night folks
JP
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It's Brass Monkey weather here today..
Posted by Connor Shields, 10/11/2010 9:33am (3 years ago)
Chisholm Park
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