Being given the opportunity to travel to the Middle East for both business and pleasure comes but once in your lifetime. So when it does, you grab the bull by its horns and let it carry you to wherever it may be. Such was my experience when broached with the idea of travelling to Dubai and Abu Dhabi to attend an Educational Exhibit. While there, I would also be given the task to organize the alumni of PATTS in both cities. On the side of course, I would be given the chance to explore this wonderful region. And so it was set, I would be travelling with my boss MFV (who also happens to be my mom) and our Vice-President for Academic Affairs LNJr. (whom i fondly refer to as Naval).
To start the trip right, Naval was upgraded to the Business Class of our Emirates flight by virtue of the PATTS graduate on duty at the check-in counter. This was his first air travel and so you can just imagine the excitement on his face when he saw how spacious and comfy the left side of the plane was. It was also my first time on an Emirates flight -- business pa! What a treat!
As we landed in Dubai, we were immediately met by familiar faces. There were also PATTS graduates on-hand working at the airport. Galeng noh? We also were able to go through immigration and customs efficiently by virtue of the Fast Pass issued to the Emirates Airlines patrons. Sarap ng buhay. That was until we saw our hotel.
We booked the Ramee Guestline Deira hotel through one of our graduates based in Dubai working as a travel consultant. She chose that particular hotel because of its location and for the price of $200 a day, we would be getting a 2-bedroom apartment complete with a dining room, a living room, a full service kitchen, 2 1/2 baths and may washing machine pa. Ok naman. On paper, it's definitely something you grab at because it's really a steal. Kaya lang, it wasn't my idea of a hotel in Dubai. And because I'm the type of person who puts handgel every 5 minutes and who actually asks her mom/hubby (depends on who I'm travelling with) to clean the airplane bathroom before I enter, talagang it wasn't the hotel for me. We arrived at 11pm on a Saturday and as soon as we checked in, crappy mood na ako. My mom, forever the optomist, ordered me to get out of my funk so that we could enjoy a midnight snack at the coffee shop downstairs. Naku, the chinese resto turned buffet area with matching pizza parlor on the side did not make me feel any better. Inisip ko nalang, tulugan lang 'to. I can handle this. (Charisse, if you're reading this, PEACE! I loved every aspect of your well planned itinerary EXCEPT this. Sorry)
To make ourselves feel better, we planned our desert safari on our first full day here. Our driver Natheer (a Sri-Lankan) was very courteous up until his tour director asked him to pick up two additional passengers in the Burj Dubai area. Since he was not familiar with the area, we were going around in circles for 1 hour. In utter frustration, he referred to his tour director as BAKLA. Tawang tawa kami. We asked him where he learned that word, he then began a litany of bakla, tomboy, isa, dalawa, tatlo.....bwahahahahahaha!
The actual sand dunes were 45 minutes away from the city. When you get there, you are made to wait for maybe 9 other cars so that mayroon kayong ka-rally. It started out fine naman. Nung una, tawa tawa pa ako. After awhile though, I could feel my head spinning and then after a few minutes, I was grabbing my Mom's shopping bag and emptying its contents so that I could use it as a barf bag. Yes, it's true. Katrina, the alleged world class traveller, still gets dizzy on airplanes, cars, elevators, roller coasters and especially on desert safaris!!!! I felt so kawawa pero of course smile pa rin for the camera. Ito naman si Natheer, na-high ata sa aroma ng yucky suka ko, drove even more wildly which made me throw up a second time. Are you guys grossed out na? Sorry. Basta, I told myself, you can make me ride all the crazy rollercoasters around! But you can never make me go on another desert safari again!
At the end of the rally, we were treated to a feast of grilled chicken and lamb and to a night of all-out belly dancing! The audience was even asked to step in and wiggle! Mom and Naval were extremely game while their cross-eyed photographer was still trying to get her bearings back. Fun, fun activity - regardless! In fact, we still had the strentgth to have a drink with Budjing, my NFF in Dubai. He happens to be the brother of our buddy Weng in Manila. Budjing has been based in Dubai the past two years and even if we were not really close when he was still living here, he made it a point to meet up with us. He brought us to the Irish Village where we had Irish beer, finger foods and listened to a fantastic crooner. Kuwento lang kami ng kuwento while enjoying what little breeze Dubai had to offer. Budjing had the next day off so I convinced him to join us to make pasyal.
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