Remember when you were a kid, and you could barely see your Halloween costume because you were bundled up so tight in a coat and gloves? Well, we aren't having that problem here. It's finally gotten reasonable out in Dubai - no more 130 degrees! In fact, the pool still has the cold-water jacuzzi running at full blast:
True, there are no seasons in Dubai - only sand. Sand and lots and lots of construction. But once in a while - or November to March, more specifically - it's absolutely beautiful out!
True, there are no seasons in Dubai - only sand. Sand and lots and lots of construction. But once in a while - or November to March, more specifically - it's absolutely beautiful out!Which brings me to the point of this post: In light of the recent global economic downturn, I can't really afford to keep two sets of clothes anymore. Can someone loan me some jackets and sweaters in December?
Turns out we could pretend we were members through our concierge, and we were able to get them to give us a box each for some practice last weekend. That's when we found out where all of the ammo in the middle east was going: that UAE Olympic shooting guy. He was practicing next to us, and he's FAST. Despite destroying orange lay dinner plates at an alarming rate, he has a pickup truck FOR HIS AMMUNITION. Then he has something like 15 guns, and an entourage that follows him around. Why a shotgun expert needs a 7-ft tall Russian bodyguard is totally beyond me, but that guy could have taken all for of us without even getting off his cell phone. 
Unfortunately, that pesky sister-in-law, Lisa, calls at the end with a ton of drama. You're stuffed and relaxed, so it doesn't bother you that much. BUT, your fiance, Katie, has to go meet her out to clear things. She doesn't want to go, but since it's only on the other side of the resort, you don't mind. Soooo, you walk over.
........SURPRISE! It's a party room packed wall to wall with friends, champagne, and birthday decorations. But hey, it's your birthday TOMORROW! Sadly, Katie's calendar was broken - plus, I was totally unprepared this way. She got me good - but now I'm afraid of Katie because she figured out how to keep a secret! People changed plane flights to be there, lied to me about what they doing, and organized all sorts of logistics. Some people even went to the wrong hotel and were stranded for the night (you know who you are!). 
We partied the night away (into my actual birthday). Everyone enjoyed their fair share of spirits and wines, some impromptu greco-roman wrestling, a ton of "full extensions", and yes - more cake! But it didn't end there - more partying, more dancing, more spirits - all way too much fun. Once the club closed, we moved on to the apartment. In typical fashion, I decided to make fresh popcorn and fried chicken from scratch while we played Wii until the sun came up. Needless to say, I was pooped - exactly how Katie planned it. Which is why she scheduled massages for the afternoon - oh, what a weekend :) 
And here's a big, public thank you to the best girl a guy could ever have: I’m still in a surreal state of shock (and a twinge of dizziness) over the surprise last night. To be here halfway around the world, go into a hidden room behind a curtain, and find so many great friends in one place – I’m speechless. Thank you so much for making it all happen right under my nose - this was the best present, and best birthday. You're the greatest!
Emirates Woman, the magazine that I work for, was the official sponsor 
The following night, Katie and I attended another show and it was running "fashionably late" so we took the time to explore what Dubai Fashion Week had to offer. We tested new make-up at the 
What's not important to anyone in Dubai today are the water slides at Atlantis. What IS important is that they're not releasing Sammy, the whale shark that they "temporarily" rescued off the coast a month ago. Sorry to everyone about leaving this little tidbit out.
Winston Churchill once said "Americans will always do the right thing, but only after exhausting every other option first". The Atlantis resort is the latest gleaming example of bringing that Western culture to the Middle East.
Case in point: I'm on this water slide, 50 meters up, in my comfy plastic inner tube (you see where I'm going with this?). Then the water pressure stops JUST as I'm about to go over a hill on the slide. First I stop in mid-air, then fall and start sliding backwards. NOT GOOD. My first thought is "I hope Katie doesn't kick me in the back of the head as she comes flying around the corner". Then it's "Um, how am I going to get down from here?"
Update - apparently everybody wants to hop on the Atlantis bandwagon, including Terrorists and reporters from Atlanta:
The Caryatids statues.
The theater of Dionysus.
At Delphi, in front of the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, where the Oracle sat. 
The 5 1/2 hour ferry ride to 
Finally a enjoying a gyro on 
The Temple of Poseidon at Cape 
Don't slip!
Possibly the least thought-out (and most fun) aspect of the flight is the nightclub/bar on the second floor (or the dorsal fin of the guppy, if you still have that stuck in your head).
When you have a whole bunch of passengers from first and business stuck next to a full bar for 12 hours with no cell pones, hilarity ensues. It was like a Budweiser commercial - Know When to Say When. Unfortunately for the passengers sleeping on the other side of the curtain, nobody did. Flight attends yelling ssshhhhhhh every five minutes did nothing to turn the tide, and most people got off the plane looking pretty ragged. Imagine paying $6K a pop for your ticket, and having to sleep next to a bar. Can you say refund?