Parks & greeneries in Dubai :-)
by 37SingleMaleInDubai1
Its true that Dubai is located in the middle of desert but still it has got many parks and green spots, the following are some of them :-)
Al Mumzar Beach Park
Location: In Deira, north of Al Hamriya Port in Al Mumzar Residential Area.
Telephone : 2966201
Timings: Fri/Tues 8 am -11 pm - Wed/Thur 08 am - 11:30 pm (Wednesday is for family only)
Features: Full beach facilities in addition to over 100 chalets rented out on a daily basis and swiming pool, large green area, swimming pool, in-park transport system, cafeteria etc.Fees/Dhs: 5 Per Person and by Car Dhs 30.Large chalet 200 Dhs,small chalet 150 Dhs
Email/Web: www.dm.gov.ae
Children's City
Location: Located in Bur Dubai, entrance from Creekside Park Gate No. 1
Telephone : 3340808
Timings: Sat/Thurs 9 am - 08:30pm, Fri 3 pm- 8:30 pm
Features: Throughout the buliding there are gift shops,cafes,first aid room, prayer room,28 touch screen, 121 computers, 220 exhibits and more.Fees Dhs: Fees/Dhs: 15 Per Adult & 10 Per child (Family:2adult / 2children :40 Dhs)
Email/Web: childcity@dm.gov.ae www.childrencity.ae
Creekside Park
Location: Located in Bur Dubai, between Al Maktoum and Al Gharoud Bridge
Telephone : 3367633
Timings: Fri/Tues 8 am -11 pm - Wed/Thurs 08 am - 11:30 pm.
Features: The park is designed in a modern style, combining both architectural and natural designs, recreational facilities, Cable Car, Ice World, Restaurants etc. Fees Dhs: 5 Per Adult/child
Email/Web: www.dm.gov.ae
Dubai Zoo
Location: Located in Bur Dubai, on Jumeirah Beach Road
Telephone : 3496444
Timings: 10 am - 5:00 pm except Tuesday
Features: It is a small zoo featuring a variety of birds, reptiles, and mammals including endemic Arabian species and exotic ones like the endangered royal Bengal tiger, and the beautiful axis deer and other animals.Fees Dhs:Fees: 2 Dhs for both Adult/child
Email/Web: makhan@dm.gov.ae Jumeirah Beach Park
Location: Located in Bur Dubai, on Jumeirah Beach Road
Telephone : 3492555
Timings: Fri/Tues 8am -11pm -Wed/Thurs 8am - 11:30pm (Monday For Ladies & Children only)
Features: Full beach facilities with round-the-clock lifeguard service, desert garden, children's playground, barbecue areas, Sports Facilities area, and a helipad.Fees Dhs: Entrance fee Dhs.20 per Car, 5 Dhs. per person.
Email/Web: www.dm.gov.ae
Jumeirah Open Beach Park
Location: Located on Jumeirah Beach on a one km. long area.
Telephone : 3443379
Timings: Sat/Fri -all the time
Features: Children Games,Volleyball Court,
Email/Web: www.dm.gov.ae
Mushrif Park
Location: Located in Deira, on Al Awir road, past the Dubai International Airport
Telephone : 2883624
Timings: Fri/Tues 8am -11pm - Wed/Thurs 8am - 11:30pm
Features: "World Village", Ladies/Men swimming pool, merry-go-round, miniature train.Fees Dhs 3 per person, Dhs.10 for cars, Swimming fee Dhs.10 for adults, 5 Dhs. for children
Email/Web: www.dm.gov.ae
Safa Park
Location: Located in Bur Dubai, Between the 2nd interchange on Shk. Zayed and Al Wasl Road
Telephone : 3492111
Timings: Fri/Tues 8am -11pm - Wed/Thurs 8am - 11:30pm
Features: A Mini-City complete with small scale roads, traffic lights and signs for the children. Also, a lake with fountain, waterfall and boating facilities.Fees/Dhs: 3 per person
Email/Web: www.dm.gov.ae
The Dubai MARATHON & Charity Run
by JessH
This is for those of you that are clearly masochistic. Now, I enjoy a bit of swimming, cycling, dancing... but running a marathon? You've got to be kidding! I'll be on the sidelines, observing...
This is an annual sporting event sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank, and its popularity has been growing steadily. In 2007 this event took place on Friday, 12th January.
The Marathon usually starts at 07:00am & stretches through the city over a distance of 42 km. It starts by the Dubai World Trade Centre, through Bur Dubai to Al Ittihad Flag (Union House), all along the Jumeirah Beach Road until Burj Al Arab. This is where the runners turn & head back to the finishing line by the Emirates Towers Hotel.
The route is a complete clockwise circuit of the city, encompassing many major landmarks. The southern suburbs section of the course is very flat & fast, with the only change in gradient being when crossing the Dubai Creek. Daytime temperatures in January rarely exceed 20 degrees Celsius, ensuring pleasant conditions for runners and spectators alike.
This is followed by the 10km road race (different route) setting-off 10min later, and the 3km Charity Run at 10:30am where professional runners, joggers, families, children on bicycles or skates can join just for fun & for a good cause. The supported charity is called "Seeing is Believing" and aims to restore the eyesight of people in the developing world. Since the end of 2006 they have raised US$ 1.4 Million. Recommended Viewing Areas for Spectators are:
> Start Line near Dubai World Trade Centre.
> 2nd Exit at Trade Centre Roundabout.
> Left turn onto Jumeirah Beach Road (at Al Ittihad Flag).
> Turn-around at Burj Al Arab Hotel.
> Left-turn onto last stretch (near Zabeel Stables).
> Finish Line behind Emirates Towers Hotel.
If you wish to join, registration usually closes about 2 months (December) before the event. International runners can register online - simply visit the website for details.
The winner in 2007 was from Kenya with a time of 2 hours and 9 min.
As Dubai is the city of prizes, raffles and give-aways he walked away with a brand new car & US$ 30,000... If a runner achieves a new world record he will be paid a whopping 1 Million Dirhams! (272,000 US$)
Souvenirs at the Dubai Souq
by Nemoa
You will find all sort of souvenirs here.
Just remember that many of them are quite tacky and made in India so... choose carefully. Babouches.
Daggers
Sheesha pipes. Depends on the item but always remember to bargain.
"Top o' the mornin' to ye!" all year round...
by JessH about THE IRISH VILLAGE
The Irish Village is a Dubai institution that is always busy with residents & tourists alike. Be it for lunch, a quite afternoon drink in the sun, or a lively evening with friends, it's an absolute must!
My friends and I head to the I.V. when we want to go out, but aren't in the mood for crowded, hot & deafeningly loud nightclubs.
It is set in its own mock village with traditional shop fronts & a large courtyard with shady trees, a pond with fountain & even its own ducks. Children are welcome during the day, but are usually asked to leave after 09:00pm due to laws & regulations.
They serve an assortment of draught beers, good Irish/British pub grub & a one-man-band entertains you with a mix of Irish folk songs & contemporary hits.
There is plenty of space inside to escape the summer's heat & humidity, but it's in winter that the Village really comes alive. Crowds flock to take advantage of the weather; sit on large wooden benches with plenty of waiters OK-service (mostly Irish) and another 2 outside bars making sure your glass is never empty.
There's even an Irish arts & crafts shop, where you can buy anything from fine ceramics to quirky Guinness-slippers & Leprechaun Hats.
Due to its popularity the I.V. is packed outside on weekends & basically on every evening from October to May. Without reservations, it may be harder to get a seat - this will always be one of Dubai's most-loved pubs & restaurants!
The restaurant accepts lunch & dinner reservations every day except Thursdays. (Try the grilled salmon on spinach & leeks (AED 65-)!) My friends loves the Bangers & Mash (AED 36-) & Bailey's Cheese Cake (AED 25-). Their Fish 'n' Chips are extremely good & plentyful as well! The only dish that's oily & bland is the Vegetable Lasagne; I don't recommend it.
FRIDAYS: Brunch Buffet from 12noon - 04:30pm, 70 Dhs per person.
Opening Hours: 11:00am-01:30am (all-day breakfast, lunch & dinner menu) Entrance: Free.
Casual, casual, casual.
(This may sound strange, but girls may want to bring along a small cushion for your "behind" if you plan to stay long. I've sat on those wooden benches for entire afternoons & evenings, and it got... well... uncomfortable... LOL!)
--> Don't miss the annual Irish Village ST PATRICK'S DAY PARTY (17th March) with live bands, buffet & special drinks offers!
An Irish Poem:
Some Guinness was spilt on the barroom floor
When the pub was shut for the night.
When out of his hole crept a wee brown mouse
And stood in the pale moonlight.
He lapped up the frothy foam from the floor
Then back on his haunches he sat.
And all night long, you could hear the mouse roar,
"Bring on the goddamn cat!"
(Did you know the correct response to "Top o' the mornin' to ye"? It's: "and the rest of the day to you.")
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Thai food; Philippino staff; Arabic Dubai
by xuessium about Bayt Al Wakeel Restaurant & Cafe
Truthfully, I was just looking for a restaurant that wasn't selling Indian or Arabic and I was dying for a caffeine fix. My very late lunch turned out to be a great first meal in Dubai.
The al fresco section of the restaurant faces the busy channels of the Dubai Creek. Abras were passing in front of me at warp speed frequencies....not that it was bothering me, for the faint chill in the air could not banish away the blue bright skies, pregnant with fluffy clouds of white.
I had no idea that the restaurant was occupying a much bigger place. Not till I left to use the washrooms on my way out, after finishing a satisfying meal (burp!) as I walked past the bar, up a floor and tumbled into a clean, orderly and sparkling washroom. I suddenly realised the tattered T-shirt and grubby jean of mine looked a tad (OK, a lot) out of place. Thank goodness it was 3pm in the afternoon! The menu is a mish-mash of Asian, Arabic and Western dishes. A quick glance through it quickly dug out Thai dishes, despite the restaurant's best effort to zing it up with weird names. The staff is mostly Philippinos and service was polite and friendly. The lady serving me was the first in 3 weeks to correctly identify me as a Singaporean. (Such a proud moment! It really takes one ASEAN neighbour to identify another) I was actually most hesitant to order Thai in Dubai....but my hunger persuaded me otherwise and I was rewarded for my bravery.
The Thai Shrimp Soup (Tom Yam Goong) [20AED] was refreshing and mercifully, spicy! The Bayt Al Wakeel Noodles, which was actually Pad Thai [35 AED], wonderfully stir-fried and not one strand out of flavour synchrony.
All washed down with freshly squeezed pomegranate juice [20AED] and thick robust Turkish Coffee [10AED].
Now can you blame me for the burp?
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WITH INDONESIAN CUTE BABY
Dubai skyscrapers
Friday lunch deal - Roast beef and Yorkshire Pud
Food at Le Notre
