Just thought this was a cool photo - the water balloon as it bounces back up! The kids were fascinated with the water balloons. But since these were just standard balloons and they didn't fill them up very much, they didn't really pop when they hit the ground.
This past weekend we went to Dubai to go shopping at Global Village! Global Village has shops with goods from all over the world! They divided them up into the countrys. We didn't hit all of them because of time. They didn't open up until 4 p.m. and by 10:15 we decided to head home! We were smart and had a babysitter - because Cole and shopping don't really mix. We went The Olivers and Ms. Charlotte! Got some good stuff too! We were going to wait and visit Global Village with our family, but it was scheduled to close on March 3rd. So we planned this past weekend to go. Then we found out that the Shiekh (I think the Sheikh of Dubai) extended the date until March 31st. So we'll still be able to go when we have visitors in March!
There is a really large sign I wanted to take a pic of - but couldn't get to the highway easily to take a pic! But this one will do!
You can hire a rickshaw to take you to the gate and back to your car with your goods!
This "snack" food was popular here - we didn't try it though. The girls at Jennifer's school bring these when there's a party or something. They put some honey like thing on it!
India - inside. This reminds me of Trader's Village.
The kids don't know it yet - but the Easter Bunny is bringing them these key chains that have their name on a grain of rice. It was cool watching him make them! I thought these photos came out great too!
KSA - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
TOO MUCH OUD!
Oud is the bark looking rock that you burn and they have fragrant oil soaked in them.
It was very strong - and when there are ten different scents - why bother.
Angry Birds! Didn't but it though.
This is the oud burning on a piece of charcol.
It's like a wanna-be San Antonio RiverWalk!
We did the dhow cruise in the canal. It just rides around and back.
Turkey - our FAVORITE place! Love the Turkish goods!
We got lots of stuff in India! They were ready to sell items!!!
So this guy kept watching us while we waiting for our dhow boat ride. Then he went to the loading area (I am pretty sure he works/owns/runs the company that did the boat rides) and helped us on. When we got back, he was not there anymore. BUT then when we got off and were going to shop more, he kept staring at us and finally walked up to show us his phone with some video of him on a boat and there were lots of fish I guess he caught. We never knew what the point was - but we did get a pic.
He was very friendly!
A traditional African dancer! And he charged to take a photo of him!
But I didn't mind paying.
These tea guys where all over this one area!
They were shouting and wanted to serve tea!
Love the grammar errors.
Fireworks at night too!
The guy writing on our Turkish plate.
I can't remember what country these dancers were from.
I think Jordan!
Not sure what he was thinking!
And she's adapting to the culture here with her "double peaces" and her fresh henna!
My favorite item! It was worth all the money we paid! Supposedly the Arabic writing above the name is VEROW in Arabic. Hopefully it really says that! It reminds me of those people who get the Chinese writing for a tattoo and it says something other than what they thought it said! This plate will be awesome hanging on a wall in our home back in Texas!
Turkish bowl. About 6 inches in diameter.
This actually might be my favorite purchase. We bought this in the Africa section.
Another turkish bowl set - we'll use it as a chip/dip thing.
A tapestry we bought - made in India.
Vietnam purchase! Along with some pajamas from some other region (again - from the Easter Bunny on April 8th!) - Caralyn got a pajama dress that is Angry Birds, and Cole got Ben Ten, of course!
So Jennifer is finally going to an Emirati wedding! She finds a dress at Global Village and needed some blinged out shoes! And she chooses these! Yikes! She might come home with an ankle problem! The wedding is on a Monday night! No pictures allowed so she'll have to type it all up! Not sure if I get to go. If I do go, I stay outside - and not just outside the room - outside the hotel - in the area where they have men. They hang out there and eat I guess. The women just hang out inside and eat and get perfumed out.
This is not really what we know as a wedding - it's just the reception. We're not really sure about the actual wedding nuptials part. We'll find out from someone!
The shoes!
Her dress!
Jennifer's Day today:
On Sunday I went with my grade one girls to the clinic to get their medical screening. I was told on Thursday that we would go on Sunday. This morning I asked Miss Fatima when we were going and she said she did not know. She said it was not nice out that we should not go. It was windy and sandy. Mind you we would be inside for the whole time. But we went anyway. Fine with me. Once we got there we were put into a room about the size of a child’s bedroom. It was 40 girls and 3 adults. We waited for about 15 minutes and then they called names to see who was there. Soon after they took about 20 girls and split them into two groups. The other two ladies went with them. I stayed with a group of about 12 girls. I brought the DVD player and they watched Barbie and Hello Kitty. Some girls colored. They came and got some more girls leaving me with 3. They continued to color and sit quietly. I got lucky and was stuck with better behaved girls. Eventually, 3 hours into it, some girls came back having completed their screening. They had their eyes, ears, and teeth checked out. They were screened for scoliosis and who knows what else. After 4 hours there all girls were finished. I was ready to go and then the other lady told me we were not leaving because Miss Fatima was seeing the doctor. What? I guess she decided that she would get checked out for I assume her allergies while we were there. Insane. Only in the UAE can you do this. We got back to school around 1 and the girls played until time to go at 1:30 since they had not had a break and had been cooped up all day long. Another one of those moments only in the UAE-a day at the clinic. Oh yeah, and three parents showed up. Really? How does that happen? One of my girls came later with her dad because mom had a baby that morning. Welcome Shaika to the UAE.
My Sunday was far less eventful than Jennifer's - except that my 6th graders went on a field trip to the mall. The mall - now that's an academic field trip! So I missed them for two periods today. I'm sure they missed me just as much!
We did have the sandstorms back! The wind was crazy and sand was everywhere! Even in all the classrooms! They even had to shut the front doors of my school to keep sand out! You could see it piled up all over the place!
Well we're counting the days until this weekend when we go and enjoy Atlantis in Dubai! CAN'T WAIT! Now that is a blog worth writing!
Stay Tuned...
