Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Dubai Dhow Cruise

Bought a coupon from web site going for a Dhow Cruise for only AED 49.  Turns out it's an agency who either doesn't own a ship or their ship was not working.  On board venue changed 3 times and communicating with different cruise ships and different customers are no easy job, this is the lady who was calling everybody whole night.
 at the end she was totally exhausted of the chaos and I wonder if it's the same every night for her.

I arrived very early before sun set because I car pool with my colleague.  A typical cruise ship looks like this


This particular one is priced at AED 500 - almost exactly the same itinerary.  (but later I think the food, presentation, crowd level, coziness might be different: then again may be not, please share if you have experience going on non discounted dhow cruise)

Below is supposingly the cruise I got on to.  It looks old but still considered above average among the long stretch of docking ships.


Its early so I sat down drink juice enjoying sunset.  Freshly squeeze Kivi is AED 15

  

When night falls, beauty comes with all the lights ~

  

The purple color ship was my final boarding ship.  Much smaller and yurky.  And they didn't allow me to go on the deck !  What is the point of dhow cruise sitting inside an aircon room eating buffet ?

Walking down into the enclosed dinning hall through a smelly toilets.  As I was the very first passenger, they are still preparing - all the food was lay down the floor as you could see.

  

This is the view from within the cruise ~ nothing special really if you are within the enclosed hall.  A walk by the corniche would be much nicer ~


There was a person talking through the mic welcoming us to the cruise.  But he didn't introduce what the cruise was about, nor did he talk about the places we were passing by.  He sang instead.  Mostly Indian and English songs.  I may be bias on this part because I am more into Jazz.  The music is loud and unpleasant; so NOT appropriate for an evening cruise like this.  But he has good voice though.  Most passengers were fine and happy with him because most are Indians too, perhaps if I could understand the song I would feel differently.

People down in the enclosed air con dinning hall


People on the open air deck


This was my cruise path.  Not sure why it turns the 1st time.


At the end I did walk out to the back of the ship enjoying some fresh air but people are smoking there.  There weren't any proper place to relax and lay back.  The whole of upper deck was jam pack like sardine.

Some pictures taken at the back of the ship.  The later part of the cruise passing Hyatt is really quiet and dark.  A private cruise here would be really nice.

 

Then while on the way back, they started a dance presentation.  To me, it's very refreshing and this is the time I finally feel worth every penny of my AED 49. Ha Ha ~

At the end of the journey, the crews gathered and ate the remaining food, which were still quite a bundle.

 

So in short, I am glad I got a coupon for this.  It would be a regretting experience if I paid full price.  And I will most probably not try this again.  Perhaps paying more for a more private and cozy cruise would be more appropriate.  Then again, it might means 10 times more expensive for a 2 times better experience.  Sign off with a final view of the cruise ship I was on ~ the good side of the memory.



And this is the night view of the long stretch of all the cruise ships along Dubai Creek.  Easily about 80 ships there, but perhaps only 20-30 were cruising tonight.













Saturday, October 24, 2015

lorry RV

I have been researching about buying a RV, where I can commute and stay in at the same time.

But today I found out that a lot of mega delivery lorry also has a container like this, which contains food inside.  Once open the latch, it acts like a table and some can even cook a meal with gas.  water is supplied right next to it.

Some even has a fridge too!


There are tons of people living in the vehicle within the industrial zone.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

local burger lunch

Had a burger lunch here, the zinger burger I tried is marvelous and costed less than 15 dirhams, its half price of KFC/McD and bigger size and taste similar if not better.


25;46; 43.164120000001418 Latitude
25;46; 43.164120000001418Longitude


Wednesday, October 21, 2015

first movie in Al Hamra

@ Al Hamra mall, VOX cinema


Double the price, but same experience inside the theater.

Lucky we got buy one free one offer ;D

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

tea nation

It is very common at public service area to serve tea in a nicely decorated pot and glass.  Banks, offices and even post office serves water sometimes.


Thursday, October 15, 2015

Cycling to Ras Al Khaimah town

I didn't think it was possible but I did it.  Cycling within RAK town is actually very enjoyable.  There are many shops and sights, I totally forgot about tiredness and time when I am within RAK town.  But the highway is really death inviting.





Just about 10 minutes journey, I saw a lot of flowers greeting me to start journey



About half way through I stopped and had a water melon juice.  Its actually very fresh but a bit too sweet.  So I felt thirsty after the juice ...



 The dinning room has no table, here people sat down on the floor and eat


The first surprise is this beach, it is right there just entering RAK town from south. GPS 25.771919, 55.921503

There are actually many sections so I am not sure if it is public but anyone could reach here without any apparent permission needed.  A specific area actually has very nicely built sitting area - which I am not sure if that belongs to the restaurant.


There are a lot of mosque along the way.  This one has a lot of birds on top of the mosque head


After passed by the big roundabout turning to Julphar tower, I started entering the old town - which gets interesting.  I like this part of the town, it seems like each shop is worth exploring.

I saw some water holder, made from clay or ceramic, seems like local made.



I was quite impressed by Dubai fish market earlier, now that I found one in RAK too.  I should be coming here often when I have car in future.  Seafood is one of the few Fresh Food you can get here.


had a very down to earth local meal
 the rice is superb.  I seldom eat rice but I finished the plate.  
  Total 20 dirhams despite the menu says 25.  
I think its because the fish is small which I mentioned I want a small one

Huge ferry across the river


a car drove by but the pigeons already got used to that so I cycled over to greet them instead
video: this is along side

People having meals at many spots in the park despite its a hot afternoon.  As it is near sea, its quite windy throughout the day.  There are times its just one person, some are small family, then there are groups that all sit together, another group that has women sat at one side with the kids, another side are group of men.  One of the group leader even shouted inviting me to join them despite I didn't stop cycling by only.  I briefly smile back only.

This fort like structure is actually a restaurant within the park. 
I am thinking would come here to dine one day.


the tallest flag in RAK ?


 an interesting hotel next to bus station


looks like the most fine dine restaurant but actually just a pizza shop ?


When almost reach home, I was thinking to stop by buying some stuff but found that the road is blocked !!  Its interesting the road can be blocked without any warning and no sign of why doing so.


Upon reaching home, right behind Acacia hotel, a group of people are playing Cricket, another proof that desert emptiness can't stop people's determinism




Wednesday, October 14, 2015

taxi, rental or buy a car


  • it takes more than 2 years for car rental to be better than taking taxi 
  • it takes more than 3 years for buying car to be better than car rental 
  • it takes more than 5 years for buying car to be better than taking taxi

buying RV is twice more than buying a car

Sunday, October 4, 2015

work - work - work

today started work 6am, then only reach home 9pm ... haven't had a proper meal yet ~

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Trip to Dubai 1

The most economical way to get to Dubai from Ras Al Khaimah is through bus.  There are a few location you could wait for the bus but almost none of them has a proper bus stop.  So you will most probably wait under hot sun and if the bus is full when it passes by your location, it will NOT stop!  Which the bus's philosophy at the main station is wait until the bus is full then only it will depart ...

so unless you are already very familiar with the behavior, its best for you to take a taxi to the main bus terminal (ask any taxi driver about RAK main bus terminal), once get there just ask which bus is going to Dubai.  That's the best way to get on a bus to Dubai.

(during weekend, many people will go to Dubai, so the above may most probably happen, its best to go fetch a bus at the main terminal, on weekdays and none going to work hours, then its safe to just wait at a common location for the bus to Dubai)



The fee from RAK to Dubai is AED 25, but I am going on a Eid holiday, so it costed me 30.  Again, this kind of stuff doesn't come pre-alert nor any notice, you know it when you pay.



Usually the earliest and the latest few buses go direct so you reach Dubai within 1 hour, else it will stop by all the other places which could take up to 2 hours.  Its up to you if you want to look around or goes direct.


Above is one of the stops near Dubai Creek or river.  Its quite a view, imagine during winter I could spend a whole day here.


There is a creek restaurant by the river side but there isn't any view there really and the food menu seems like very typical western, so I tried the Shabu-Shabu near by instead.  Whether you miss chinese food or steamboat, this is one of the best choices.  I thought the lamb meat wasn't that fresh but according to the locals, its considered one of the freshest in the region.  Overall, I spent AED 80 for a very very full filling lunch, I took the 1 person package.


At night, people starts to come out and walk on the streets, this is the street where a lot of gold accessories are sold, right opposite the fish market.