Fragments:
If I were to honestly describe all of the moments I want to
blog about NYE…I wouldn’t be able to do anything else. That task would
absolutely consume me. There are so many memories not mentioned here, and
perhaps I’ll add them as time goes one. Terrible traffic (3.5 hour drive which
is usually 1 hour from Abu Dhabi to Dubai), a great dinner at the Dubai Noodle
House, amazing world-record breaking fireworks display, countless jokes about
being late for dinner and a show, a fantastic display of Cirque de Soleil
bringing out the works of the late Michael Jackson to life, and then heading home…a
nice drive from Dubai, to Al Ain, to Abu Dhabi. A few days that I will never,
ever forget. You know what the best part is? The friends here who we’ve got and
will be making more crazy blog-worthy memories together! Alhamdolilah.
#1: The car situation
So, we booked 2 rooms that the World Trade Center, Dubai…but
had 3 cars. One for their room, and 2 for ours…for the first night anyways. As
it was NYE, they did not allow 2 cars per room, only one. It would have been
nice had they told us ahead of time when we asked. So, I was instructed to move
one car to the paid parking garage attached to the hotel. We split the parking
job in the end…but I had a bit of a heart attack going back to the carpark
later on NY day as there was a warning for any car to be parked longer than 24
hours, that it may be impounded. YIKES. Being in Dubai to find that your car
has been taken? Yuck. Luckily, my car was still there without a ticket and mine
for the taking. As it was 10 dirhams an hour, and I've been there for over a
full day, “oops. I lost my token”. The fine for that was 150 dirhams. Very
lucky! I usually feel guilty about this sort of thing, but had we been honoured
our spot at the hotel as we were told, this shouldn't have happened to begin
with!
#2: “But you look drunk!”
Boy: “can I get you a drink?”
Me: “no thank you.”
Boy: “Please? I insist. It’s New Year’s!”
Me: “No, really. But thank you. I am fine.” I pull my water
bottle from my purse.
Boy: “Wait. You really are not drinking any alcohol
tonight?”
Me: “Nope.”
Boy: “But you look drunk! You have no alcohol but you act
this crazy? I love it!”
#3: “Um, this isn't a taxi.”
You know you’re in Dubai when…you have your hotel concierge
get you a taxi but it doesn't look like a taxi. In fact, they’re unmarked white
Lexuses (Lexi?). Not all taxis are unmarked, but a good number of them are like
this. They felt luxurious, and safer, as other cars on the road seemed to give
them less hassle as they got us to where we needed to be over the New Year
celebrations.
The celebrations on Barasti Beach are something that I won’t
soon forget. The traffic was brutal getting out there from hotel (we were just
west of the entrance onto Palm Island). In case you’ve been living under a
rock, Dubai was setting up to smash a world record for the longest consecutive
fireworks display around Palm Island and the World Islands. We were expecting
traffic on the way back to be even worse. We assumed people would straggle into
the celebrations, but like back home, all rush at once to get out once it was
all over.
It was strange to be up later than 5am. It was strange to
see alcohol served even longer! We left the party around 4-4:30, and it was
still going strong. It was a little tricky getting a taxi. Like I said, many
were unmarked. Luckily, a white minivan showed up along the side of the road
where we were walking. The great friends I was with have no shyness to flag it
down. He quoted us a steep amount, but agreed as there were 5 of us to pitch
in, and had we had to get 2 cabs as we did on the way there, it would have been
roughly the same anyways.
I couldn’t wait to sit down. Dancing all night is one thing…dancing
all night in the sand, that’s something else. Ahhh…so relaxing to just sit
after all that! He gave us a flat rate, so I wasn’t looking for the meter, but
my attention had me looking at the dash area anyways. No meter. No GPS Monitor.
No identification. Hmmm…NOT a taxi. I said to my friends in the back with me, “um,
I don’t think this is an actual taxi.” They replied, “Hey, he stopped, we’re
getting back to the hotel. That’s good enough for me!” At 5am? Me too. Any
traffic? Nope. I couldn’t wait to get to sleep.
#4: “Alhamdolilah(?)”
Boy meets girl, etc. etc. etc….maybe. I can’t say too much
more as it’s just sooo new and I’m not the one to be talking about successful starts
to a relationship. I can say that I had a great dancing partner for most of the
night. We met after midnight…and as the Jumeriah Beach Resort was a little late
starting the record breaking fireworks, we were able to see them together. What
a way to begin the new year!
The UAE as you know consists of the 7 Emirates. This was New
Years. Not only are you not likely to be in the same Emirate as someone you
just met, you might be countries apart! Even on that night I met people from
Texas, and out of all places, Richmond Hill, and Stoney Creek (near Toronto). Dubai
is so populated, and I knew quickly that he spoke Arabic, I assumed he was
there. “Do you live here in Dubai?”
He looked a little sad, and perhaps assumed that I lived in
Dubai. He replied, “No, I live in Abu Dhabi”. You might have guessed how I
replied.
With a big smile, he replies, “Alhamdolilah!” (giving praise
and thanks to God).
#5 “Cara? It’s for you.”
Our hotel room had 3 girls (including myself) staying in
there the first night. I was one of the 2 non-drinkers, and there was one of us
who drank on NYE. There were times where I wanted to move to check the time,
but my phone was plugged in across the room, and my body was just trapped in
stillness. Until…the phone rang. I am online friends with someone in Dubai.
They knew where I was staying, and kindly thought to call. I started to move as
I heard one of my friends answer the call.
“Cara? It’s for you.” I would love to tell you what was
said. All I remember is that it was quick and I was groggy. I looked over…230pm.
230pm!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Our roommate who had been drinking had already been up
for a few hours waiting for us to stir. The non-drinkers slept longer? We still
don’t get it.
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