Leap Year

It is a very special day today. It is 29th Feb!

Recently I discovered this book in Dubai called the Entertainer. It is a book filled with coupons. The coupons are all "buy one get one free" type . Most of the major restaurants, eateries, adventure parks and touristy events are featured in this book. Examples are Arabian Nights (for desert safari), the Big Bus Tour, Wild Wadi, Ski Dubai and almost all restaurants you can find in Dubai (the second cup, Barasti, Club Harvana) and even fast food! (Subway, Burger King, Santinos)

I highly recommend those who are staying in Dubai to get one. Anyone can get a copy at Spinneys for 250 Dhm. Very very worth it considering the coupon for Ski Dubai alone already saved me 190 Dhm.

Of course, my friend told me using coupons was not very nice in a situation when he tried to impress a lady he was going out with. He told me it felt like he was using a blardy food stamp when he flashed out the coupon. LOL.

Black Points Await Errant Drivers

The new "black point" system for traffic offenses is to be implemented across all the emirates starting March 1.

Here are what the article said,

"The lives of 1,056 people were lost in 2007 alone all over the country in traffic accidents. This number is what forced the ministry to come up with the changes," he said. The new law will save lives and create a safe environment for all road users.

The maximum number of black points a motorist can incur in a year is 24 at which point his licence is suspended. Once a person collects 24 black points, the licence will be suspended for three months. If a motorist collects 24 points for the second time, the license will be suspended for six months. If it happens for the third time, the licence will be taken away for one year and will not be returned until the driver passes a training course from an institute authorized by the traffic department.

If a motorist has collected, for example, 20 black points and feels that his licence could soon be taken away if he accumulates 24 points, he can take a training course at an authorized driving institute. Police will then remove 8 points. This option can be utilized only once a year.

Impounded
If a driver is below 21 years and collects 24 black points, then the licence will be impounded for six months. It will be returned after the driver passes a driving course. Also, if a driver gets 24 black points within six months of issuance of his licence the licence will be cancelled and the person cannot apply for a test only after one year following the date of cancellation.

If the driver of a heavy vehicle has caused an accident which results in the flipping over of vehicles, or he has jumped a red light or overtaken in places not allowed, the vehicle will be impounded for one month and licence will be suspended for one year.

New leaf: Cancelled every year

In case a person gets five black points in May 2008 and gets another five in October, the points incurred in May 2008 will be cancelled in May 2009 unless the motorist has incurred 24 points in the year when the licence will be suspended.

Similarly, the points incurred in October 2008 will be cancelled in the same month the following year.

Our Tour

My dear friend Angela visited Dubai in a 5 day trip. I planned for her itinerary and showed her around in Dubai.

Day 1 : Off Roading together with another friend to Falaj Al Moalla for the whole day, seafood buffet dinner in Hotel

Friend released air in tyres to reduce pressure to prepare for off roading in the sand.

Camels
Local houses
Friendly local offered us freshly squeezed camel milk. It tasted like normal milk from cow.
Angela enjoying her dinner
Day 2: Snow boarding in Ski Dubai, shopping in the Mall of the Emirates and Desert Safari
Me in Snowboarding gear
Angela with the snowboard.
Desert Safari
Beautiful Sunset
Day 3 : Checking out office in Dubai, shopping in Burjuman, visiting Dubai Museum, Gold Zouk, Textile Zouk, Spice Zouk and Perfume Zouk and more shopping in the Dubau Outlet Mall. Not taking the Ambra as Angela has motion sickness and had a hard time yesterday during sand dune bashing.
Office Business Tower - Burjuman

Dubai Museum
Traditional Wind Tower
Gold Zouk
Ambra across the Dubai Creek
Textile Zouk
Day 4 : Long drive to Abu Dhabi, Cultural Exhibition in Palace Hotel, lunch in Palace Hotel and shopping in Ibn Buttuda Mall
Abu Dhabi
Palace Hotel
Cafe in Palace Hotel
Ibn Buttuda MallDay 5 : Shopping in the Emirates Tower and walking around in Madinat Jumeirah.
Madinat Jumeirah

I hope I did a good job in showing my friend around in Dubai. :) Who wants to be my next guest?

My first friend's visit

My friend from Singapore visited me during the Chinese New Year. We had loads of fun travelling and touring together in Dubai. Will upload more photos later.

We had a great time eating, shopping, talking, travelling and sightseeing in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. I hope more friends will come and visit me in the future.

Ski Dubai 2

Went for my first ski-ing lesson in Ski Dubai. Took a picture with the mascot. He looked quite dirty because all the children were touching him with their dirty little hands. Here is my handbook. Hopefully I can master the art of ski-ing before I leave Dubai.

The love of my life

It has been pretty cold for the past few days in Dubai. My poor kitty is not used to the cold weather and has been hiding under the duvet all the time.

I just want to use this post and take this opportunity to thank her for always being there for me; those times include my A-levels, the odd summer part time jobs, Uni days, taking SEP in Bath, taking OIA in HKG, working 9 to 5 with part time studies from 6 to 9, and now in Dubai.

I could not imagine if she hasn't been there for me all the while. I know I couldn't have made through all these without her. She is and always will be the love of my life. Nothing you do will ever make me mad, sweetie.