The Adventures of Amanda: My first few days in Dubai so far

Ok, I have left! I'm on holidays! Yay! I flew out on Friday night (20 April) at 8pm. The flight to Dubai was crap. I didn't sleep, I was squished in between 2 people. Anyway, I arrived in Dubai on Saturday at 6am. If ever you come here, make sure you get the Marhaba Service. Basically when I got off the plane, there was a lady in a bright yellow suit holding up a sign with my name on it (makes you feel like a celebrity / get the royal treatment). She escorted me through to customs where there were the most giant queues I had seen in my life (I would've had to wait hours to get through). Luckily the lady takes you straight to the front, you don't wait and get processed straight away. After that - there's a golf buggy waiting for us, and we zoom through the airport to collect my luggage. And then my cousin picked me up outside! Thank god for the Marhaba Service. Anyway, got back to my cousin's house which is really really nice. Had a giant long hot shower and boy - that night (Saturday night), I slept sooo well - I hadn't actually slept/been to bed since Thursday night in Australia.. Have to keep reminding myself where I am - the local women where all black, the men where white dresses and perve shamelessly on western women - but you get over it / used to it.

Anyhoo, have been taking it pretty easy so far. Have been shopping a couple of times for bags, sunnies etc etc. Bought a nice pair of Gucci sunglasses. And there's more shopping to come - I'll be going to the Mall of the Emirates which is apparently the biggest shopping centre in the Middle East, and get this - it has an indoor amusement park AND and indoor skiing place!!! I'm going for lessons and then I'll be going skiing later in the week - woohoo! So yesterday, Sunday - we went to the beach. I have to admit, the beaches at home are nicer - but I do like going to the beach. The beaches here are covered with garbage / litter that's either washed up or the locals just leave behind - it's terrible. The water however was lovely... Anyway, here's some photos so far - there will be lots more exciting ones to come when I go skiing etc. Enjoy!