Weekend in RAK

Ras al-Khaimah, aka RAK, sits on the Trucial Sea about 150 miles from Abu Dhabi at almost the northernmost point of the UAE.  Fittingly its name means “Top of the Tent.”  Each Thursday afternoon, RAK is a favorite destination for my young Emirati eager to vacate school.   On a recent Thursday, Alison and I thought we would follow suit to see what all the fuss was about. 

Hilton Ras Al-Khaimah Resort & Spa

The trip north was what one might expect here:  weekend accidents, a bus on fire, stop-and-go traffic between Dubai and Sharjah.  Yes, careful reader, flames completely engulfed a worker bus, which resembled a giant marshmallow roasting on the edge of the road with billowing black smoke filling the late afternoon sky.  Looked like everyone got out alive, at least to us rubberneckers on the other side of the road.   Once in RAK, our KC-built Garmin directed us to a non-existent Hilton Spa and Resort, but Google came to the rescue.   (Thankfully my lovely wife travels with all available technology.) We finally arrived at the real spa as the sun was setting over the Trucial Sea.  Later we enjoyed a seafood meal with prawns and sand lobsters along with a host of Arabic mezzes at one of the resort restaurants. 

Alison outside our villa to take sunset pictures

Sunset over the Trucial Sea

Labyrinthine Pool at night

The Hilton sports a variety of pools: the requisite noisy kiddie pool with squirting fountains, a tranquil adult pool, and a labyrinthine pool with seawater from the gulf.  No pool, however, could compare to the beautiful beach.  Alison waded into the waters, enjoying the waves and collecting bottles and plastic to protect endangered, hawksbill sea turtles.  I held my Fitbit aloft in the water, and invoked the memories of Moses in battle.  Alternately we relaxed and read in comfy beach chairs, enjoying the sun and gentle breezes, which made the 110° F (43° C) heat tolerable.  In the afternoon, we imbibed next to scantily clad Germans (in Speedos and halters in pursuit of “braungebrant”) at an outside cantina.  Steve sampled a fruity mojito while Alison sipped a Planter’s Punch, worthy of her Southern roots.

Alison the environmentalist!

Relaxing and Reading

Cheers!

Seaside cantina

So worth the effort to get there!

After a full day at the resort, we decide to venture out Friday night to THE top restaurant featured in Trip Advisor (TA), an Indian diner begun by a five-star chef from Dubai (One of the surprises we have had here is a growing affinity for spicy Indian food).  Anyway, the dinner began inauspiciously:  we were moved into the “family” room; the oven was out of commission and so the tandoori touted in TA was unavailable.  Instead, we feasted on an Indian version of bruschetta and 2 curries -- prawns masala and chicken masala -- along with endless Indian flat bread.   After the entire meal plus waters and Mountain Dews, we were delighted to see the tab was for 66 dirhams, or about $18. 

With a late checkout and Ramadan not yet starting, we spent another leisurely morning at the beach on Saturday. The afternoon concluded with an uneventful return:  no flaming buses, just interesting desert terrain.  

Modesty even at the beach

Dates are almost ready.

Desert from RAK to Dubai

Holiday Season in the UAE

Sorry for the delay....

In America, the holiday season runs from Thanksgiving through New Year’s.  While neither Thanksgiving nor Christmas is officially celebrated in the Abu Dhabi, the sheer number of ex-patriots (non-residents account for a whopping 75% of the population) ensures that all the usual holiday accouterments are available.  Because our workweek is Sunday through Thursday, we decided to celebrate Thanksgiving on the Friday (An aside: due to Dubai winning the World Expo 2020, Sheikh Mohamed, our favorite sheikh, cancelled school on that Thursday – we found out on Wednesday night after 10:00 p.m.).  

Congrats to Dubai! - Make your reservations now

I planned a traditional dinner with turkey stuffed with sausage and cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin soup, carrots, green beans, a fresh herb and green salad with grilled shrimp, rolls, and homemade cranberry sauce.  Before dinner, appetizers consisted of cheeses, olives, mezzas, and really yummy shrimp roll-ups.  Apple pie, pumpkin pie, and dark chocolate brownies concluded the meal.  Shopping was interesting.  Our Abu Dhabi teacher Facebook pages were  on fire for weeks with people looking for this and that ingredient.  I was able to find fresh cranberries, fresh pumpkin chunks, and frozen sweet potato slices (not like we are used to in American, but still not bad).  I was disappointed at not finding Karo corn syrup.  I would have like to have made a pecan pie.  The best surprise was the fresh pumpkin chunks:  they made a great fresh pie and delicious soup. 

Fresh apple and pumpkin pie

Table set and ready for guest!

With a small kitchen, a lot of pre-prep was required.  Steve was a great help and I discovered that a convection oven is a great way to cook the turkey.  It took less time and the turkey was moist and delicious. 

Lots cooking on the stove!

Salads prepped!

Turkey with sausage cornbread stuffin'

We invited a couple of friends over to join in our celebration.  Philly Steve is an American and Ronell hails from South Africa.  We had a delightful time and even laughed that while the girls finished the cleaning the boys took the long overdue, traditional after-turkey nap.  

Girls Washing... Boys Nappiing!

With the use of technology both Steve and I were able to connect with our families back in Maryland and Kansas City.  Time differences make it challenging, but well worth the effort.

Steve's Girls in KC for Thanksgiving

Dan with a mustache for No-shave-ember

Rebecca and Kids at the table in Maryland

Family in Maryland 

Added into the holiday time is the celebration of the UAE National Day – December 2^nd.  The United Arab Emirates was formed in 1971 through the leadership of the far-sighted Sheikh Zayed.  Preparations for National Day Celebrations began weeks before with flags, lights, sign posts, pictures of leaders, etc., popping up all over the Emirates.  The people here are exceedingly patriotic.  School celebrations were planned with pageants, dancing, singing, and other displays of patriotism.  (This aspect was a little frustrating when trying to finish curriculum, but flexibility remains key.)  Steve’s school celebrated National Day early due to the fact his boys finished on November 17^th to prepare for exams.  My girls had to delay their celebrations until the Thursday after National Day due to the cancelation of school on the Thursday before (Dubai Expo Victory Holiday).  My students came dressed in traditional dresses and fancy dresses in red, green, white, and black (UAE colors).  The celebration was a very festive occasion.  Official National Day Celebrations took place on December 1^st and 2^nd.  Parades, fireworks, and concerts were held throughout the UAE.  The most interesting was the parade of decorated cars with the winner receiving the equivalent of $120,000.  Decorations went from simple flags to extensive models, pictures of the royal sheikhs, to whole cars covered in the UAE colors.  I bought a scarf displaying the colors and Steve wore his tasteful 42 National Day pin through the celebration time.

Large UAE flag

Decorated Car!

Ready for the car parade!

Ersatz Burji Khalia on top of the car!

From my time in Bahrain, I knew that some Christmas decorations could be found, but were understated and simple.  We figured that in the UAE it would be similar.  Boy, were we wrong!  In most grocery and other stores, you could purchase Christmas decorations right along side National Day decorations.  Christmas trees were in most malls.  The indoor amusement park Ferrari World had a huge winter wonderland, complete with an igloo and skating rink.  All hotels and assorted restaurants hosted extensive holiday meals and activities.  Christmas craft fairs and bazaars were held throughout the city of Abu Dhabi.  I bought the cutest camel ornament to represent our first Christmas in the UAE and as a married couple. 

Our 1st Christmas Ornament

Steve and I returned from our Turkish Adventure late on the 23^rd (see previous Turkey Adventure Blog Entry).  I returned ill with a wicked head and chest cold.  There was no way that I was up to grocery shopping and cooking for Christmas.  Steve heroically made reservations to have Christmas brunch at the Fairmont.  What a lovely experience!  We entered the hotel and had our picture taken in front of a beautiful Christmas tree, received welcome cocktails (sangria and holiday PIMS), and were seated outside in the gardens.  Picturesque:  the temperature was in the 70’s with a gentle breeze blowing.  British Christmas crackers decorated the table and the champagne flowed throughout the meal.  The hotel had a large variety of foods, including traditional turkey and prime rib.  We started our meal with a variety of fresh delicious seafood and salads.  Steve followed with traditional turkey while I enjoyed the prime rib and Yorkshire pudding.  We shared a plate of cheese, fruit, and small desserts to sample a little of everything. 

Fairmont Christmas Tree

Steve's First Cracker!

Merry Christmas to all of our family and friends

Even Santa and his elves made it to AD

Our Christmas gifts to each other consisted of two Turkish carpets.

Hall runner

Represents Noah's Ark

Boxing Day is also Steve’s Birthday – December 26^th.  Steve chose to spend the day at Ferrari World (FW) – a much touted amusement park in Abu Dhabi. 

Ferrari World

In addition to all of the Ferrari memorabilia, FW had decorated the park as a winter wonderland including fake (bubble) snow upon entering! 

Merry Christmas from Ferrari World

We opted not to buy the fast pass tickets and just go with the regular tickets (not recommended for the future).  We spent far more time waiting for rides than actually riding the rides. We rode a roller coaster that has been reported to be the fastest coaster in the world.  The workers insist you wear goggles for good reason – you shoot out of the station and accelerated to 150 mph in seconds (240km/h).  The g-forces are intensive.  It was definitely a “been there, done that” coaster. 

Like the car, the coaster was super fast!

Our favorite ride was a relaxing drive through the Italian countryside in a 1958 convertible Ferrari.  It was sweet and simple!  Steve remarked he felt like Mastroianni in La Dolce Vita.

Steve and I  in a 1958 mock Ferrari

This will have to do until our real trip to Italy.

The rest of the holiday season was spent quietly.  I made homemade chili and French onion soup for us to enjoy.  We caught up with our blogs, the English TV-series MI-5, and even a little schoolwork.  Neither of us are big New Year’s Eve people, so we had a quiet evening.  We were in bed by 10, but awoke to the sounds of fireworks and cheers.  While not Dubai, the fireworks that we saw in Abu Dhabi were lovely.  Dubai, on the other hand, had a spectacular display to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for most fireworks.   Check out the link.  They were amazing:  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gbarFvsHNI).

My cold lingered for an extended period of time so no additional adventures were had prior to returning to school on January 5th.  

With an eye toward my Louisiana heritage, my next holiday season is Mardi Gras beginning on January 6th.  Never did I imagine being able to host a Mardi Gras party complete with decorations in Abu Dhabi, BUT on one of our numerous trips to Al Wadha Mall we found Mardi Gras decorations.  Now with King's cake recipes supplied by friends, fresh seafood from Meena Port, and festive purple, gold and green decorations let the planning begin.

Happy Mardi Gras!