Round the world · Chapter 3
Jumeirah sunset
Ah, what a lazy day.
Jumeirah sunset
Ah, what a lazy day. Went back to sleep this morning and set my phone’s alarm to wake me up at 1000. Unfortunately my phone is set to UK time, so it wasn’t going to go off until 1300 local. I woke up of my own volition around midday and decided to go sit by the pool for a bit before maybe doing a bus tour. Despite being sat in the shade and barely moving I still ended up sweating like a bastard when reading a book for an hour outside so I changed my shirt and moved to the lobby. Turned down the offer of some Arabic coffee, as did everyone else in the area. The poor guy serving it looked pretty hurt, he kept offering it to loads of people and I didn’t see a single person accept it.
Since then I’ve just been lazing the day away in my hotel room. The sun has been shining directly on my room’s balcony all afternoon which makes it way too hot to sit out there, but it’s setting now (almost 6pm here) and the view is spectacular. It’d be much nicer to sit there and take it in if there wasn’t a huge construction site (of course) between me and the beach, but still… actually maybe with the time getting on the temperature outside might be just about bearable. I might go for a walk on the beach, innit.
Sun on its way down
Construction worker buses
that sunset (again)
Wow, it doesn’t half set quickly around here. I decided to head out for a bit of a wander on the beach (and would have stayed out there except the hotel’s private beach area was about to shut) and saw the sun set. Two words: I saw it set. I watched it drop and drop and drop until I couldn’t see it any more, which took about 5 minutes in total. It was fantastic, and also meant I finally got familiar with a bit more of the hotel, ie the grounds and 2 more outdoor bars I’d only previously read about. I’m not a beach person so that’s about as much beach action as I’m interested in on a holiday, but it was bloody worth it.
Beach at sunset (rubbish panorama, that)
Beach timings for September 11th
Beach bar
View from the Hilton's private beach: bar in the foreground, Jumeirah Beach Residence at the back
Watching a bit of CNBC right now, Morning Call (cos the US markets have just opened). I’m addicted to this channel even though I barely understand a word of it. It’s just so hectic, with an on-screen clock that displays hundredths of a second, two different speed stock tickers at the bottom and non-stop guests being picture-in-pictured from all over the bloody place as they jump from industry to industry, trading floor to journalist to CEO/CFO to market analyst at lightning speed. It’s fucking ace. But I’m not sure I’m going to watch it much longer; I’ll either watch a couple of episodes of Renegade on DVD and get some room service goodness, or go to one of the restaurants/Studio One again. Oh - wait - CNBC just turned into a European station and I’ve found an episode of Simpsons to watch on a different channel. The Simpsons at 6pm, eh? It’s just like being at home. But, wait, shit – I’m trying to get away from being at home! GAH.
Dubai, Dubai, we’re leaving you Dubai
Right then. Busy day ahead today. It’s 8am right now and breakfast arrives in an hour, then I have to go to the hotel next door to get some money – unless reception will give me some on my room account, I hope so – before checking out and going on a few hours of open top bus tour goodness. Although, hmm, there’s a free bus to the Mall Of The Emirates at 1030 so I might get that instead. Whatever. What’s certain is that my Arabic breakfast comes first and I’ve not got a clue what any of the things in it are, I hope it’s nice. I also need to sort out the cab I’ve got booked to the airport this evening. Check-in opens 3.5 hours before the flight, and there’s a lounge, so I’ll probably ask to get there for about 2230 I guess.
Leaving that late gives me the chance to visit Studio One one last time. After the first night I was wary of bothering but it’s the only bar – not restaurant – here so I thought I’d give it another go last night. Within 60 seconds of arriving I was greeted with “Hi, a Heineken for you Sir?”, heh. Had 3 drinks – the last ordered just inside happy hour – and a Hilton Megabite burger which is THE GREATEST BURGER EVER. Oh. My. Gosh. It was phenomenal! First off I was a bit surprised at being asked how I wanted it cooked and chose well-done, but when it arrived I was taken aback even more: it was huge, and came with bacon, cheese, and egg. And when I took a bite I was in full-on junk food culinary heaven. It was so nice. I can’t imagine it was any good for me at all but I don’t care. I let it settle while watching sport on TV and listening to the fatcat oil baron pissed-up Americans who spoke very similar to the South Park residents in the “they took our jobs!” episode on the table next to me, then came back to my room for a couple of episodes of Renegade before crashing out.
Hoping that my travel agent can bring my Sydney flight forward a day today. She says expertflyer.com isn’t to be trusted 100%, but even if it’s remotely accurate then a bunch of seats that my ticket is valid for have become available on Sunday over the last couple of days. I asked her to look yesterday but forgot that it was a bank holiday in Gibraltar because Sunday was “National Day”, doh.
Right. Time to have a shower and pack up ready for the day. Next time I’m online will probably be from the UK tomorrow morning, hopefully after I’ve sampled the delights of the Molton Brown Spa in BA’s T4 arrivals lounge!