Sunday/Monday/Tuesday

Well, the holiday is just about over - at least the interesting bits. Pete is doing his 3 days work in the office here in Dubai & Abu Dhabi whilst Ingrid chills out, edits the video taken on our trip and catches up on the reading. It's a bit too windy to really do any sunbathing but pleasant enough. We will be on our way home tomorrow night (Tuesday) so home on Wednesday morning - just the packing to do!  Thanks for following us and we'll see you back in the UK shortly

Last Day of Holiday for Pete

One of Pete's former partners is a member at Yas Links, a course in Abu Dhabi.  Having fixed a date some time ago, the course was booked for a golf day this afternoon so a shotgun start was arranged for members and their guests.  A 7.30 tee off meant a 5.30 alarm call and a fast drive to Abu Dhabi.  The sandstorm of yesterday seemed to have abated as we we going along the motorway, although there was still a breeze.  By the time we started playing the breeze was a wind and, from about 3 holes in, it was a three club sand storm!  Having started at hole 4, we turned into the wind at the 7th and didn''t turn back until the 15th.  As the greens were slick (11 on the stimpmeter for the golfers amongst you), the course was, to say the least very challenging.  It was an occasion when Pete's glasses were a benefit as he got less sand blown into his eyes.  All in all it was a huge challenge and some of those that started gave up, whereas we continued and played out the full round.  By the end, we were very sandy and in need of a long shower.  Now we are into the few days of work that Pete has to do and Ingrid is hoping that the weather will allow her to go outside to

enjoy some sunshine

What is it about boat trips?

We awoke today looked out of the window and were greeted by the sight of date palms bending in the wind and a somewhat gloomy view across the road - we were in the midst of a sandstorm!  This meant having to consider a different approach to the day - what to do in Dubai when you cannot stay outside for long.  We consulted the concierge, whose initial suggestion of shopping was dismissed quickly;  we thought about a museum trip and found that there was a hop on hop off bus route that included the museum and a boat ride on the Creek.  We thought this might work as we could be out of the sand and, if it cleared, get off the bus.  In short, we did the bus tour - sniggering at every point that the commentary said to get you cameras ready as there was a great view of 'x' coming up - because there wasn't.  We did the visit to the Dubai Museum and curtailed it so that we could do the 5.30 boat trip.  We walked from the Museum to the departure point and loitered.  End position is that we failed on a second boat trip - this one was cancelled because of the weather.  A poor record for us on sightseeing boat trips!!  We rejoined the bus thinking we would get off at a stop nearer to our hotel and get something to eat.  As it was, the bus stopped at a mall  in the western end of the old city (we are to the east in the financial centre) and, it transpired, was going no further.  No choice for us, therefore, but to look into the mall and follow up with a taxi ride home.  Taxis here are plentiful and very cheap.  End result of the day is that there are bits of commentary that we know by heart, we know that you need your glasses or sunglasses in a sandstorm and we know that if you actually want to get out on the water on a boat, it is probably best not to arrange to go with us  

Long Day in Dubai

For once a flight arrived early - not necessarily what you need when the arrival time was about 0500 local time!   We collected our bags and made our way through immigration and customs all too efficiently.  As a result, we arrived at our hotel before 0630 and left most of our baggage with the meeters and greeters (as our room would not be available until later) whilst we negotiated that we could use the pool changing rooms to freshen up.  Having had a shower and changed, we decided to have a wander.  This is not always the best option in Dubai (a) because of the drivers and (b) because the footpaths may end abruptly as one comes across the next building site (of which there are many).  Not much was happening so we went back to the hotel and decided to decamp to Dubai Creek golf course where we were due to play later.  We managed to secure an earlier tee time (some 2 hours better) and, therefore, scurried about to get ready to play.  We played with a nice Japanese couple.  The course has been remodelled a bit in an attempt to get the Dubai Desert Classic back and was both enjoyable and a good test - especially the last two holes which have the creek down the left hand side and other hazards down the right.  We went back to our hotel, had a swim and another shower.  When we were considering dinner, the decision was for something straight-forward so we went out to one of the shopping areas and found a Rivington Grill (basically the same format as the one in Greenwich);  as the evening progressed, the tiredness set in and approaching 9 o'clock we had both had enough and we set off back to the hotel to get some sleep in the hope that a good night would get us over the long flight here.  And, yes, we had to get "that" photo at Dubai Creek

      

Signing off from NZ

As an addendum to yesterday's blog, mention must be made of our last dinner in New Zealand. Pete had had the forethought to book us in for dinner (in a very posh restaurant) as he thought that finding somewhere at short notice on Valentine's might prove troublesome! It only had 24 covers so everyone had some personal attention from the very good staff. It was a 10 course tasting menu (1 veggie, 2 fish (with an alternative for Pete of course), 4 meat and 3 puds). The range of tastes and the presentation were amazing and we both tried some things we wouldn't nornally go for. The quail dish was superb and the strawberry dish, to die for (and, with the exception of the Roquefort cheesecake which wasn't really to our taste, the other courses were pretty good too!)

All in all a fantastic end to our NZ trip (well almost) THANKS PETE for a lovely evening x x

(piccies showing the style of the food.....)



Today was a grey and miserable day in Auckland.  We went to the NZ Navy museum in Devonport, which was very interesting and well set up.  We then decided that a harbour tour would help fill the time - we had a leaflet for an operator running a tour at 2 p.m.  Having found some parking relatively nearby (after a few u-turns), we went to the advertised place, but there was nothing there.  We asked, were pointed to one of the quays where we went and waited.  At 2 we decided that this was not to be and so we aborted that plan, wandered around the marina for a little while and decided to visit One Tree Hill on the way to the airport.  We managed that bit and went to the top of the hill for some views of grey and wet Auckland - an unfortunately damp end to what has been a great holiday here.  We are now back using the airport wifi and waiting for the call for our flight.  Not looking forward to the 19 hours or so that it takes to get to Dubai (via Sydney)!  Love to all at home.

Gulf Harbour and Sightseeing

The forecast for today was for showers developing into possible afternoon thundery showers.  This did not bode well for our last game of golf in New Zealand as we did not want to be packing wet gear and clubs for our flight tomorrow.  As we drove across the Harbour Bridge northwards, the morning seemed bright.  When we eventually found the golf course (the sat nav suggested there were roads where there were not!) it was sunny and warm.  As the morning developed, it got warmer and more humid.  The course starts off relatively gently and then develops nicely into quite a challenge with the back 9 being both very picturesque and quite tough.



11th Gulf Harbour

There are two holes where one is driving over gorges with cliffs and the sea on the right hand side.  From the very back tees, the shot is quite daunting and requires a huge carry.  There is one par 5 of some 570 metres.  Altogether though, it was one of the best courses we have played during our visit.  After rehydrating in the clubhouse, we decided that, if it was still bright when we got back to Auckland, we would go up the Skytower.  This is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere and, they tell us, weighs the same as 6000 elephants (clearly an important piece of information!).  There was quite a queue to get in as there was a cruise ship in today, but the wait (when one got up the tower) was worth it (even though we had to pay full price today compared to yesterday when we were admitted as senior citizens!).  We were able to look out on where we had been over the past few days, watch some people 'walking the tower' and, indeed, one mad fool jumping off the tower (all roped up, we should add).  Not one for Rachel this as the lift has a clear door and there are windows on the way up and, when you get to the top, there are sections of plate glass floor to let one see straight down!  An opportunity for a few photos though.  Out for our last dinner in New Zealand tonight and, we reckon, a gentle day of sightseeing tomorrow before our flight.



Checking the video footage

 

To Auckland

Today we left the very wet Coramandel Peninsula to drive to Auckland.  It stopped raining as we got back to the main highway and brightened up as we neared Auckland.  We saw more cars on our drive today than we have in the whole of the remainder of our time here!  We went to the Auckland Museum to see the Maori Gallery and some of the other exhibits, we did this in two sessions sandwiching a trip to Takapuna (one of the suburbs) to meet up with Matt Lambert.  In trying to find Matt and then a parking space, we missed meeting Rochelle, his girlfriend, by 5 minutes, which was a pity.  We have checked in to our last B&B now; golf tomorrow and then some more sightseeing.