30 years old in Dubai

I hit an important milestone this month with my 30th birthday and spent the weekend in Dubai celebrating being old. The trip started with Pete and Zan planning a holiday there with both sets of their parents and inviting me along for it. Our group grew to include Alan and Lizzie and by chance Rowan and Becky also ended up being in Dubai that same weekend.

Arriving in the Dubai airport I was quite excited by the prospect of not needing a visa anymore following an official announcement the week before that Canada and UAE had come to a truce over our long standing feud over landing rights (partly due to our williness to sell UAE uranium). My excitement was quickly subdued when all the border guards had no idea what I was talking about. I have since heard that May 1 we won't need visas so we'll have to wait and see. Regardless, the disappointment was quickly diminished by the duty free where we stocked up for the long weekend.

Thursday morning was the boys part of the trip with a tee time at the Emirates Golf Club. The club hosts both PGA and LPGA events so we were quite excited to see it and it did not disappoint. There was not a blade of grass out of place on the entire course and from the moment you arrived at the bag drop (being careful not to be run over by the Rolls Royces dropping off their bags) you were treated amazingly well by the staff. The course wasn't too challenging and served up amazing views of the Dubai marina and all the buildings there, the only course I've been on where the scenery is the city itself. We were thoroughly cooked by the sun in the end, finishing just before noon and in time to enjoy the club house and few cold drinks. The mens locker room even had signed pictures of all the past winners including Tiger twice and Rory.

We look the part

Alan and I continued our apres drinks with a late lunch at the Italian restaurant Frankie's which was in the base of our hotel. The restaurant is owned by Frankie Dettori and was empty aside from Alan and myself enjoying some pizza, red wine and some bromance (we didn't realize that until after the fact). After a well needed siesta our entire group including Rowan and Becky descended on Frankie's again for dinner, again great food and ambiance. Pete, Zan and their folks returned to the hotel  while the remainder headed for Barasti beach bar, situated in a prime spot on the beach right in the marina.

We learned that you need to show up as a couple to get in quickly (ahead of single men) and the result was one of the strangest bar lines I've seen with a big group of guys waiting to tag along with any "unaccompanied" woman. Lizzie tried to escort Alan and I in and we had a hard time convincing the bouncer that we were both with her but persistance paid off. The bar turned in to be a mix of restaurant type tables and a large beach area with big sun loungers, dance area and dj. We settled into one of these, ordered some sheesha and danced until close. A perfect start to my actual 30th, with whiskey and cigars to finish the night.

Dubai Marina highrises were a very nice backdrop to the bar

The following day we planned to check out the Wild Wadi waterpark, but it was a slow, very slow start to the day for us. I was surprised by everyone bringing some awesome gifts for me before we headed to the waterpark.

The Rainbow Nation jersey

Every cyclists dream

The park was a perfect pace and we keyed in on the slow moving floating tube rides as we all continued our recovery. We did try a few of the higher intensity rides with the highlight being the Jumeirah Sceirah, known as the tallest and fastest free-fall water slide outside North America (33m high, speeds of 80 kmph). The ride started you in a plexiglass tube, totally enclosed standing on a false floor that drops away and drops you into the crazy fast freefall.

Attacking tubes

Lizzie & Becky enjoying one of the lazy rides

Looking down at Alan from Jumeirah Sceirah

Lifejackets not meant to dive in, unless your Rowan (wearing 2 even)

Correct application of a lifejacket

 

View of park, Burj Al Arab to the left

Rowan and Becky had to return that night to Muscat but the remainder of the group went to Meat & Co. for dinner, satisfying my request for steak. Again I was more than surprised that Lizzie had arranged for the restaurant to make a birthday cake for me and had happy birthday sung for the second time that day, this time by the restaurant staff South African style complete with drums. Possibly the coolest rendition of happy birthday ever. The food was fantastic once again and our apres dinner drink spot turned into a new Belgium themed bar appropriately called the Belgian Beer Cafe where we enjoyed a few La Chouffes. There also might have been some more cigars and whiskey but I'm not sure...

Happy Birthday at Meat & Co.

Dubai turned into a hugely memorable and thoroughly enjoyable birthday and I have to thank my awesome friends here who all went out of their way for me to make it special. Without them it wouldn't have been nearly the trip it was nor would I have such amazing memories to take away. Thanks guys!!