We are going to join the team as a new season starts in a few weeks. I did learn something, that I need to bring a spare shirt with me and a bucket of ice for all of the games!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Beach Volleyball
Last night we were invited to substitute on a beach volleyball team that plays games at the local beach bar. Yes you heard that right, best of both worlds, being able to drink while participating in a physical activity. Any feelings of guilt from not working out, can be thrown out the window during the volleyball game while you are enjoying a refreshing beer from the bar. The place is unique because it does not have a dress code (like other bars/clubs in the area) and its on a beach cmon! The thought of it being on a beach takes away from some of the pain from the conviently overpriced drinks at 8 dollars for bottled beer and 13 dollars for a mixed drink. Not to mention, one of the top figureheads of Dubai owns the bar, no wonder they are so rich...
We are going to join the team as a new season starts in a few weeks. I did learn something, that I need to bring a spare shirt with me and a bucket of ice for all of the games!
We are going to join the team as a new season starts in a few weeks. I did learn something, that I need to bring a spare shirt with me and a bucket of ice for all of the games!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
The pictures below were taken during a cab ride. The picture doesn't give the Burj Khalifa much justice, but it is unbelievable how tall the building is. There is nothing around it that even compares to it, which makes it deceiving. However the buildings around it are not small at all, but it is tough to compare to a structure that stands 160 stories high or to explain it better, over 2 times taller than the empire state building. The other picture is of the Burj Al Arab, which is the world's only "7 star hotel." Must be nice to stay there, since every room has a jacuzzi along with the fleet of Rolle's Royces's which accomodate the guests around the town. I definately plan to explore both sites in more detail sometime in the future, I am only getting myself into trouble if Kait sees the hotel, might need to upgrade the living situation to even compare to the hotel...
More about the cab ride and teh destination since that was an experience in itself...
I am still in process of obtaining my employment visa, which will allow us to be residents of Dubai during our stay. Newcomers only have 30 days in country, which leaves us only 7 more days to take care of this. Long story short, Dubai rules and restrictions stink!! Once the overwhelming paper work is completed, the passport is sent to the Dubai government, 7-10 days later, the employment visa is in process, 7-10 days later, the visa is returned, from here a medical examination is set up, 7-10 days later, the employment visa receives its final stamps only adding to the money scam involved with expats living in Dubai. Once this is completed, then we have to follow the same process for Kait with the marriage license, only difference is that her visa does not need to go through the lenghly time process that mine took. If I hear 7-10 days one more time throughout this process, I am going to pull my hair out! I forgot I don't have much hair after my summer hair cut:)
Once I arrived at the hospital, it was definately a culture shock since it was not what any American would expect. The hospital was in a beautiful neighborhood and blended in like any other house. Once the gates opened, a rush of visitors swarmed the front desk in order to get the medical exam required for the visa. I would describe it as a free for all of a walk in clinic mixed with the DMV...
The front desk receptionist informed me that I needed a copy of my employment visa, which I only had the original. I asked if she made copies and she said that she was not able to and I also asked where I could get this done and she responded with "I don't know, but not here." This put further doubts in my mind that I would ever be reciving my final visa. I ventured to another receptionist and asked for help with obtaining a copy. She replied that it was against hospital policy and she was unable to do it. It was at this time I had to put on my puppy dog face and beg for help. She agreed to help and from here it was a top secret process. Once she came out from behind the front desk, she took my visa and hid it under her dress like it was an illegal operation. A few minutes later, she returned with a copy and I parted ways back to the original reception desk. From here, I was able to receive the necessary blood test and x-ray examination which is needed for the visa processing.
Let's keep our fingers crossed that I receive the visa quickly so that we can move on to finalizing Kait's. If not it looks like we will be taking a weekend trip out of Dubai, any suggestions where to?
That leads me to another topic, there is a pizza eating contest this Saturday at a local Italian restautant. The winner receives two round trip tickets to Italy, is this not fate or what? I have had 25 years of pizza training experience and might need to give it a whirl...
~Kyle
More about the cab ride and teh destination since that was an experience in itself...
I am still in process of obtaining my employment visa, which will allow us to be residents of Dubai during our stay. Newcomers only have 30 days in country, which leaves us only 7 more days to take care of this. Long story short, Dubai rules and restrictions stink!! Once the overwhelming paper work is completed, the passport is sent to the Dubai government, 7-10 days later, the employment visa is in process, 7-10 days later, the visa is returned, from here a medical examination is set up, 7-10 days later, the employment visa receives its final stamps only adding to the money scam involved with expats living in Dubai. Once this is completed, then we have to follow the same process for Kait with the marriage license, only difference is that her visa does not need to go through the lenghly time process that mine took. If I hear 7-10 days one more time throughout this process, I am going to pull my hair out! I forgot I don't have much hair after my summer hair cut:)
Once I arrived at the hospital, it was definately a culture shock since it was not what any American would expect. The hospital was in a beautiful neighborhood and blended in like any other house. Once the gates opened, a rush of visitors swarmed the front desk in order to get the medical exam required for the visa. I would describe it as a free for all of a walk in clinic mixed with the DMV...
The front desk receptionist informed me that I needed a copy of my employment visa, which I only had the original. I asked if she made copies and she said that she was not able to and I also asked where I could get this done and she responded with "I don't know, but not here." This put further doubts in my mind that I would ever be reciving my final visa. I ventured to another receptionist and asked for help with obtaining a copy. She replied that it was against hospital policy and she was unable to do it. It was at this time I had to put on my puppy dog face and beg for help. She agreed to help and from here it was a top secret process. Once she came out from behind the front desk, she took my visa and hid it under her dress like it was an illegal operation. A few minutes later, she returned with a copy and I parted ways back to the original reception desk. From here, I was able to receive the necessary blood test and x-ray examination which is needed for the visa processing.
Let's keep our fingers crossed that I receive the visa quickly so that we can move on to finalizing Kait's. If not it looks like we will be taking a weekend trip out of Dubai, any suggestions where to?
That leads me to another topic, there is a pizza eating contest this Saturday at a local Italian restautant. The winner receives two round trip tickets to Italy, is this not fate or what? I have had 25 years of pizza training experience and might need to give it a whirl...
~Kyle
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| Burj Khalifa http://www.atmosphereburjkhalifa.com/ Maybe we will eat here at the World's Highest Restaurant! |
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| Burj Al Arab http://www.jumeirah.com/Hotels-and-Resorts/Reiseziele/Dubai/Burj-Al-Arab/ Most luxorious hotel in the world... |
Monday, May 21, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Things have been crazy up until now, we apologize for the delay in postings and pictures. Talk about a completely different way of life from the daily culture, food, work life, and people... It has been one never ending week as we landed in Dubai, stayed at a friends place for a week and a half and then moved into our own apartment. Not to mention we moved with our belongings, 4 suit cases and 2 carry-ons. It has been worth the stress and sweat as we have settled into a cozy apartment with breathtaking views of the manmade marina along with the Persian Gulf.
I guess to start with the most important subject, food. The food is excellent and never seems to let us down. We have been eating a lot of italian and asian cuisine, but hope to venture to unchartered territories soon.
I guess the next best thing will be the shopping. With malls and shops everywhere, this means an awesome shopping spree for any lady along with a dent in their fella's wallet. The Dubai mall can turn into a day trip in itself. The aquarium is very unique with a wide variety of fish, including sharks! Not to mention the ice rink and the endless amount of stores including the famous Gold Souk.
The weather has been awesome and I can't believe coming from upstate NY that I would ever complain about the heat, but its VERY hot. Once stepping outside, you feel the waves of heat and it is only getting worse and worse every day.
Please ask questions and we would be happy to answer them. Look forward to hearing from everyone!
Love,
Kyle and Kait
I guess to start with the most important subject, food. The food is excellent and never seems to let us down. We have been eating a lot of italian and asian cuisine, but hope to venture to unchartered territories soon.
I guess the next best thing will be the shopping. With malls and shops everywhere, this means an awesome shopping spree for any lady along with a dent in their fella's wallet. The Dubai mall can turn into a day trip in itself. The aquarium is very unique with a wide variety of fish, including sharks! Not to mention the ice rink and the endless amount of stores including the famous Gold Souk.
The weather has been awesome and I can't believe coming from upstate NY that I would ever complain about the heat, but its VERY hot. Once stepping outside, you feel the waves of heat and it is only getting worse and worse every day.
Please ask questions and we would be happy to answer them. Look forward to hearing from everyone!
Love,
Kyle and Kait
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