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Showing posts from April, 2017

A Day in the Desert

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Our last day in Abu Dhabi was Sunday 16th April. Our flight back home was at almost 2 am the Monday morning, which is why it doesn't quite make sense this was the day we planned to wake up the earliest we had all holiday to go on a desert safari. My younger brother and I were sharing a hotel room, we got up around 7.30 am and went downstairs to meet my step-dad for one last hotel breakfast. We felt my little brother and sister were a bit too young to deal with an outing in the desert, so my mum decided she would miss out and stay with them for one last day by the pool. Swimming was their favourite thing all holiday so they were totally fine with that, it was all they ever wanted to do. Our guide picked us up at 8.30 outside the hotel, in his 4 by 4, we were introduced to an Australian couple who would be joining us. They had already sat in the middle seats, leaving my step-dad to sit in the front seat and my brother and I in the back but that was alright, the back was prob

A Real Aladdin's Palace: Sheikh Zayed Mosque

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As I sit at my desk, wrapped up in my woollen cardigan and sipping a nice cup of tea, it seems crazy that 3 days ago I was in a 35 degree Abu Dhabi. Not that it isn't a beautiful sunny day here in London, it's just nowhere near as warm at 10 degrees. However, in less than two weeks we will be flying to Bangkok (OMG) so I really can't complain. Looking back on our holiday, one of my favourite places was definitely the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, better known as 'The Great Mosque'. It is considered the key site for worship in the UAE, not surprising considering it has a capacity of around 41,000 people. This place is absolutely HUGE and can be seen along the skyline. From our hotel window it looked very close by, even though it took about a 15 minute drive to get there. A trip to Abu Dhabi just would not be complete without a visit here, it is honestly one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen and I am very fortunate being able to say I have seen a lot of pl

A Week in Abu Dhabi

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On Monday 10th April, my family and I set off on a 7 something hour plane journey to Abu Dhabi for a week. This holiday had been planned for a while, but I honestly had NO idea what to expect. Before this trip, I had never travelled to the Middle East and all I knew of the area is that the previously desert land is now filled with very expensive buildings and the police have sports cars. Abu Dhabi is a beautiful city with plenty activities from water-parks and Ferrari world, to more cultured outings to see such as local Mosques. A little background into the city, all I did not know before going. Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. It sits on an island in the Persian Gulf, completely unaware of this I was not expecting a beach holiday. It WAS a beach holiday, which was an incredible surprise used to its full potential in the 38 degree heat we were experiencing. Many hotels are grouped together in an area called 'Qaryat Al Beri', which is where

Memoirs of a Pincushion: A Jab Story

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Forewarning: This post is not about a real pincushion, it is actually about my pincushion alter ego I have recently discovered. Yesterday was my first meeting with my local travel doctor. She was very helpful and cleared up anything I was unsure about in regards to which jabs I should be worrying about and whether or not Malaria medication is necessary for the areas I am visiting (it's not). Her relief I had done some of my own research was clear as she explained not many do before coming to her, however, she was concerned with how soon I leave (26 days omg) and what little time we had remaining to fit in appointments. It should be noted here: NOT ALL JABS ARE ON THE NHS! I was aware of this, however I didn't know I wouldn't be abled to get Rabies and Japanese Encephalitis vaccinations at my local Doctor's surgery. This means I shall have to try make more appointments at another travel clinic not so near to me for 5 more jabs, trying to fit them all in before I