i have officially spent half a day
re-saving these photos from facebook
and them uploading them here.

half a day coz i only got up at 2pm today.
fiona didn't switch off the aircon
and i was freezing in the room
refusing to move coz i was just too cold.

and so it's my third visit to dubai, second to istanbul.
wonder where'd the photos the first time i went there are.

wanted to go visit the atlantis this time round.
but by the time the concierge got back to us
it was kinda too late

ended up going to the newly opened mall
but as i mentioned,
it was so super new that 70percent of the shops were only OPENING SOON.
what a spoiler.

but they did have an aquarium in the centre of it

we could also pay about 15bucks
to walk through a short tunnel.
but we didn't.
it was like only about 10m long.
wonder who were the silly people who'd do that.

got tired of walking after awhile.
and decided to head out to sit for abit.

everybody, meet my new friend pam.
=)

palm trees in the desert.


did sightseeing again in istanbul.
other than the very frequent and uncalled for attention.
it is otherwise an awesome place.

first night dinner with the crew at some eatery nearby.
barbequed meat galore.
came up to about 35bucks.
a little pricey but the food was good.
then down the walking street for some turkish delights.

spent the whole of the second day sightseeing.
was intending to accompany pam
but ended up quite a group of us met up


the budget-arian tour starts off by a walk through the park.
wished i'd caught a pic of the wind blowing through
and the leaves swirling around.

then caught a bus all the way to the grand bazaar.

got some knickknacks.
training belts for drey and ying.

stopped by at some random cafe for lunch.

candy shop for desserts.

walked to the blue mosque next.

the moral of this picture is
always and i mean ALWAYS
wear matching socks.

someone caught this turkish grasshopper

and some random photo of a cat

kebab place at the spice market.

slightly different idea tho.
their's was like a ham.
but with fats in the centre.
they'd cut out a portion and continue to grill it.
sinful.

some other mosque.
there were so many that we just couldn't be bothered.
ended up giving random colour names to all the mosques we saw.
yellow mosque.
grey mosque.
you get the idea.

fishing seems to be a pretty favourite past time here.

restaurants under the bridge.
gives a new meaning to waterfront dining doesn't it.

finally caught sunset in turkey.

have been wanting to catch it since i saw it the first time to turkey
and only saw it on the way to work in the transport.

got back to the hotel area
and had kfc for dinner.
got kinda sick of their kebab burgers.
don't get me wrong, it's great.
just that we kinda overdosed on it already.

headed down the walking street for desserts.
can't remember which was it
but it probably was the largest one there.
3 or 4 storeys high.

took a picture of a super sweet dessert.
with syrup dripping down.
see already dunnid to eat. full.

we decided on chocolate profiteroles.

vanilla custard.

apple chai.

and chai in their turkish glass.

really good service.
it was like a butler service.
seen but not heard.

and that marked the end of our turkish trip.
with on the of the best bunch of budget trippers.


touched down back in dubai in the evening.
both me and pam didn't make it for dinner with the group.

ended up calling three others
and we had dinner by the lounge at the rooftop pool.

and as always.
very good service by the staff there.

their version of tapas.

wild mushroom soup and a lentil soup.

seafood pasta and chicken breast.

our new style of poolside dining.

and so what we learn in geography is real.
desert in winter can get really cold at night.

had to move in to the shelter after awhile.
freezing down to our toes.

got up the next day to an overcast sky.
and it poured shortly afterwards.
whoever said it doesn't rain in desert is SO wrong.

luckily the sun came out past noon.

ordered a strawberry juice.
tried to get a tan.
but it was so windy that i only stayed an hour or so.

got "interviewed" by this other guest who happened to be there too.
like a hundred and one questions.


ko-ed when i got back to singapore.
and missed service.

grandma's bdae lunch on monday with the whole family.
dimsum buffet at habourfront.

then did shopping with godmas, cousin, fiok and grandad.

met up nygfs for dinner.
had korean food in fep.

ordered a set menu for two but it fed four.
wonder if our appetites had gotten smaller.
and despite kelvin's warning that food wasn't good.
it tasted pretty alright to us.

stopped by at canele for desserts
but wenxian had to leave earlier.

nougatine crepe which tasted really good.

and their matcha cake.

cancelled on timmy today yesterday coz i'm having cold sore again.
and the last time i had it was in jc.
urgh.

hopefully it gets better else i'd have to take mc.
then i can't meet yw in adelaide.

sushi with drey and terence tomorrow later tonight.
please let it recover miraculously overnight.

sudden craving for ravioli.
like the ones i had in milan.
hmm where and when shall i get them.