Missed Out Earlier...

Quite a few things happened between my birthday post and the previous one... Now it's time to briefly update this blog. I've been pretty irregular this last half year, I admit it! So here we go...

My parents came to visit us and see their grand-children in November 2009. This was their second visit. This time they were much more independent, knowing their surroundings and driving around. We had a nice raclette evening in the garden with friends at the same time. For us it was perfect weather, getting finally cool but for my parents it was hard to understand first since temperature was still high compared to Swiss average. :-)

This time we went together to the Atlantis and its aquarium, to Karama for some cheap shopping as well as on a desert safari with Alain. The rest, they did alone: Bur Dubai, Dubai Museum, the Creek, Ibn Battuta Mall, etc...

Here are some pictures of the various places we've been together:

Desert Safari with Alain:

Atlantis:

After my parents, Alain, Yuko and Mana paid us their first visit. They were not so lucky with the weather as we had quite some fog but they still welcomed the change compared to Switzerland... Since this was their first time, we did visit quite many places together.

We went for an excellent Indian dinner at Nina:

We also did a long and really nice tour of the wadis: Wadi Sidr, Wadi Asimha, Wadi Tahybah. The end was really painful, driving on big uneven rocks... 

We also went to the beach...

After all these visits, it was time for the annual visit of Sarah + Matheo. :-)

Since this was their 3rd visit (!) there was not much new we could do with them. Still we managed a few new things: 

A) A men only week-end camping & fishing for Matheo, myself and some friends and colleagues. 

We left at 5am Friday morning, picked up two guys and drove 3-4 hours northwards to Mussandam in Oman. There we met the rest of the team who had already spent one night camping (and had already finished their stock of alcohol...). Terrible dirt road, very steep to access the nice beach, on which there were already a few tents. Very quiet though there are lots of neighbours but they never disturb nor complain: this beach is right in front of a local graveyard! 

We spent 2 days there, trying to fish without any success, owning our survival only to some friendly local fishermen who gave us twice fishes and crabs! After the first day and night, we had nearly run out of food and drink, except for water... So we left after a light lunch: one fish shared amongst 6 of us!

B) A ladies at the turf or racing club event.

While the men were trying to survive in the wild world, the ladies gathered for a posh event: the Horse Races!! They had also loads of fun!

C) A few restaurants, the beach & the pool. 

Last but not least, we had to go again to Nina, the Indian restaurant since Sarah would have been very disappointed, hadn't we. :-) 

So not too bad I would say! Now I start already thinking for next year: what to do?? :-)

Now all our guests are gone, we can relax. Maybe that my parents will come some time in April and we may as well go for a few days in Egypt, only to Louxor with some friends in March. Nothing is confirmed though...