HAPPY NEW YEAR!
With 2014 looming it was time to find some entertainment for the evening. So it was time for a few drinks at home before I met up with a group of friends for a quiet drink downtown before heading out.
Now, New Years eve here is different than home. When researching the best place to go, it transpired that everywhere had a cover charge. Even just to walk into a bar was going to cost you at least 100AED ($35 NZ). Some offered packages for the evening with dinner, drinks and entertainment. But we just wanted a quiet drink before the boys headed off to another venue and certainly didn’t want to pay two cover charges.
Our friends were already downtown at my ‘fav’ bar - Captains Arms in the beer garden at Le Meridian Hotel. But when we arrived the ‘security’ on the door wanted us to pay the cover charge even though it wasn’t supposed to start for another hour. Even though we explained that our friends were already there and hadn’t paid and that we’d leave before 8pm they wouldn’t budge. Give some people a uniform and the power goes to their heads! And these were unfriendly, unsmiling, unmoving, huge guys - you know the type - foreign! So we weren’t getting anywhere.
The boys wandered off around to the other door and after some deliberation we followed. The three kiwi boys had managed to talk themselves through so we two mothers tagged along. Only after much ID checking and then doing so again.
Finally we’re in for a drink and a bite to eat. Of course we linger longer than we should, buying a meal here and there to prolong the night.
Many family groups arrive for the evening and the tables are decorated with hats, whistles, and the works. None of us can understand what all the fuss was about the ID as kids of all ages arrive.
As the three kiwi boys are heading to another club for the evening we drop them off then have a few drinks at a friends before we three ladies decide to head to a Hotel without a cover charge.
No resolutions for me!
But I had managed to do something new during the week - as advised by one of my sisters.
A trip to Yas Waterworld saw six of us trying out the rides. Now, you’d never get me on some of these normally but with four young people and me the oldie of the group they lead me on a merry path. Or should that be a steep, upward, set of stairs? Once at the top there was only one way down! Needless to say my lungs got a good workout, my heart rate increased - both by the rides and the never-ending stairs to get to them, and the adrenaline flowed.
There are still two water slides there without my name on them and it’ll stay that way.
May 2014 bring you peace & prosperity. And whatever else you hope for.
With 2014 looming it was time to find some entertainment for the evening. So it was time for a few drinks at home before I met up with a group of friends for a quiet drink downtown before heading out.
Now, New Years eve here is different than home. When researching the best place to go, it transpired that everywhere had a cover charge. Even just to walk into a bar was going to cost you at least 100AED ($35 NZ). Some offered packages for the evening with dinner, drinks and entertainment. But we just wanted a quiet drink before the boys headed off to another venue and certainly didn’t want to pay two cover charges.
Our friends were already downtown at my ‘fav’ bar - Captains Arms in the beer garden at Le Meridian Hotel. But when we arrived the ‘security’ on the door wanted us to pay the cover charge even though it wasn’t supposed to start for another hour. Even though we explained that our friends were already there and hadn’t paid and that we’d leave before 8pm they wouldn’t budge. Give some people a uniform and the power goes to their heads! And these were unfriendly, unsmiling, unmoving, huge guys - you know the type - foreign! So we weren’t getting anywhere.
The boys wandered off around to the other door and after some deliberation we followed. The three kiwi boys had managed to talk themselves through so we two mothers tagged along. Only after much ID checking and then doing so again.
Kiwi boys warming up for New Year in Abu Dhabi
Finally we’re in for a drink and a bite to eat. Of course we linger longer than we should, buying a meal here and there to prolong the night.
Many family groups arrive for the evening and the tables are decorated with hats, whistles, and the works. None of us can understand what all the fuss was about the ID as kids of all ages arrive.
As the three kiwi boys are heading to another club for the evening we drop them off then have a few drinks at a friends before we three ladies decide to head to a Hotel without a cover charge.
Whetu, Gaylene & Maheen
Once again hats, whistles and even necklaces adorn the tables in this bar. A free glass of bubbly before midnight signifies it’s time to head downtown to view the fireworks. Many of you will know that Dubai was hosting an incredible display of fireworks to set, yet another, world record. We had all discussed going there but knew it would be mayhem. So, unsure what Abu Dhabi had in store we headed into town, our sober driver doing the honours. At midnight we’re still in traffic but manage to view some fireworks as we drove along. Then it was home to start another year.No resolutions for me!
But I had managed to do something new during the week - as advised by one of my sisters.
A trip to Yas Waterworld saw six of us trying out the rides. Now, you’d never get me on some of these normally but with four young people and me the oldie of the group they lead me on a merry path. Or should that be a steep, upward, set of stairs? Once at the top there was only one way down! Needless to say my lungs got a good workout, my heart rate increased - both by the rides and the never-ending stairs to get to them, and the adrenaline flowed.
There are still two water slides there without my name on them and it’ll stay that way.
May 2014 bring you peace & prosperity. And whatever else you hope for.
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