now, then habibi ...

Yikes! Best I get this done before the first month of the new year is over, right? ok, here goes ...

The in-laws came for a visit in October and they brought presents:

Spotted some Ghaf trees, thought they were pretty:

and then we spotted THIS fella:

Isn't he gorgeous?

We then took the people to ride the train, to show them the Aquarium and for a ride on the Palm Jumeirah.

They also get up very early:

Now for some scenes around town. Yes, that is the Burj Khalifa in the background:

and right next to it, is Dubai Mall, where the aquarium is:

The little boy was in excitement overdrive, watching all the "piekies" is just way cool, way cool, I tell ya! (Piekies being his way of saying vissies, which is "fish" in English) He would yell, at the TOP of his lungs, every time a shark or a stingray swam past. "Daar's 'n HAAI" (There's a SHARK) and so on and so forth. It amuses me no end, the absolute unawareness of other people, lol! so here then are some sharks and other piekies for your enjoyment:

 ok, so those photo's were on the outside, so to speak, you then get to walk through it!! it's really quite WOW:

and from the level just up:

Yes, it's basically a ginormous fish tank, in the shopping mall. They also offer diving with the sharks (in a cage) you're in the cage, not the shark.

The next day we went for a ride on the new metro. All ready to go:

Some random images:

Tower crane anyone?

Every station has a theme, this one was decorated with historic photo's:

the track:

how's this for a cool shot?

I do of course find it rather amusing that you can see the ad for the metro, while you're riding it:

The next day we went for a ride on the Palm Jumeirah and to Jumeirah beach, best view of the Burj al Arab from there:

a rare one of me and the little boy, thanks Grandpa!!

LOVE this one: