Siam, Siam, a true dreamdestination in so many ways...

Dear readers...

Finally an update from me, I apologize for my lazyness and for not keeping you updated.

I´ll promise (at least I´ll try my very best) to improve and write more for you...

So, what has happened since last post?

Probably too much to listen to, so I´ll cut out the best for you guys.

Firstly there has been a lot of working as usual. I´m still at KUA (the ward for clinical education here at Danderyd), but soon to be off to ward 56, which I consider "my home" (when we are talking about work...)

Secondly, I have been on my longed for holiday in Thailand.

Imagine 3 weeks, just doing what you want, no expectations or "must do´s", white pristine beaches, crystalclear water, friendly people and shopping that you will not find in many other places... Yes, that is what I had. Lovely, isn´t it?

Well, to be honest there are a few drawbacks as well, but they are quite few, and they are definately in the shadow of all the amazing things in lovely Siam...

Furthermore, I got myself an amazing tan, really my skin was glowing and if I can say it myself, my body was gorgeously chocolate/bronzebrown... Unfortunately the tan is fading away quickly, but I still have a little colour left:) Maybe I´ll pay a visit to the solarium this week.

Anyway, I´ll publish some pics for you, so you can see how lovely my holiday was.

Here we go!

Me, enjoying the salty Andaman sea.

Nightview from our Balcony at Tropical garden resort.

Fish in the crystalclear waters...

Rang Yai island, where the grow pearls on their pearlfarm.

Pristine beach on Koh Khai Nok

Longtails at Kata...

Guide to the corals at Koh Khai Nok

The most northern part of Kata beach

Lots of fish it is...

Dead corals on land at Koh Khai Nok

Paradise - Koh Khai Nok

Snorkeling equals bumping into a lot of fish!

Our speedboat at Khai Nok

Yes it is her!

Kata beach seen from the northern part of the beach.

My favourite place - Kata south...

Fish, fish, fish...


And more fish outside Koh Khai Nai with beautiful reefs and shallow waters (about 3-5 meters).

Flowerdecorations are typical Thai...


And more flowers...


Fried rice with vegetables, yummy!

Eveningview from balcony...

Arrivalday...

Kata south

Over and out! See ya soon!

Shop-o-mania like nowhere else!

So here comes the next post about the Dubai-trip...
And it is about one of the major activities in the city, can you guess what??
Shopping of course!

Ramadan-packages from Carrefour...


Lovely bedouin-tent inside Bur Juman mall...


Al Jaber gallery, shop for souvernirs here!


Inside Wafi mall...

Aladdin-lamps at Al-Jaber gallery, Deira City Center...

Promotions at electronic-store Plug-Ins...

This is the best book-store ever!

Galeries Lafayette selling abayas!

Real arabic perfumes... I found some favourites here...

Of course there is a Sephoa in Dubai-mall...

Inside Paris Gallery, luxiorious perfumestore...

A wonderful store for furniture, and the prices are a dream!

Dubai is not only the place where you can go bargaining for kilos of gold, or luxurios designerclothes, no this is a place where you can find shopping-treasures even if you don´t have the same amout of money as Mr. Trump och Sheikh Mohammed himself at your bankaccount.

Dubai is the city where you can go shopping in the huge and spacious malls, or if you prefer, why not go out to one of the crowded markets to haggle and bargain with the Indian immigrants and maybe get a good bargain to take home... That is, if you are stubborn enough to bargain and bargain, over and over again just to have some more dirhams off the price...

The malls are neverending, both when it comes to space and number...

Focus on seeing the ones that you think you will like the most, there is no chance too see all of them, or even the half of them. When you get inside the big malls, get yourself a map, it will help you to not get lost... Usually the malls are not only big, but also very fancy, but don´t be shy to pay a visit to the stores, even if your creditcard could not cover to buy even one of the cheapest things inside!

When you are finished in the airconditioned malls (if you ever will be), find a taxi to leave your things at the hotel and have a power-nap before heading out to one of the markets to find dozens and dozens of nice copies of the designerbrands that you have just seen in the malls...

And, once again, don´t forget to haggle the price!

So before finishing this off, here are some quick tips from a true shopoholic like me:

1. Be sure to bring enough money, better to bring too much than not having enough...

2. Don´t bring your husband/boyfriend (if he is not as into shopping as you are)...

3. Be sure to plan your time, when getting inside a big mall, get a map and try to figure how you will get to see the pieces and bits that you want the most...

4. Get some fuel every now and then, all of the malls have lovely food-courts, and you will find things that you will love no matter what your taste is like. And don´t forget to drink lots of water!

5. Don´t fall for the first offer you see, remember where the shop is located and that you can always come back if you don´t find a better bargain!

This is it for now... Take care and hope to see you soon!

/Bella

Best of Dubai, pictures say more than words...

Here comes a small collage of my pictures from the lovely city of Dubai..
As a picture can say more than 1000 words, my comments to this post will be short, let your imagination free!

Let´s go UAE!


Aireal view over Dubai, all the high buildings down there are the scyscrapers of Sheikh al Sayeed Road...


Dubai-creek traffic by night... An abra-station in Bur Dubai. The abras are the small boats crossing the creek for 1 dh each way, also possible to rent for about 50 dh/ hour to go up and down the Khor... Definately something I will do next time Inchallah.


And here is the Khor/Dubai creek at daytime. Here you can see the abras are working 24/7...


Jumeirah mosque - according to many Emiratis and tourists the most beautiful mosque in Dubai. Also the only mosque that is open to tourists and non-muslims in order to increase the understanding of Islam. About twice a week there is a course in this mosque called "Open doors - Open minds" a program conducted by the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU).


Once again an abra-station in Bur Dubai...

A glimpse into the Old Souk in Bur Dubai. If you ask me, not really a traditional arabic souk, but still seem to be very popular as it is highly recommended in all guide-books.

Panorama of Dubai highest buliding and Boulevard at Emirates tower, one of Dubai´s smallest but yet most exclusive malls.

As the biggest fan of the Arabian nights, I just had to take a photo of these lovely Aladdin-lamps in Al-Jaber Gallery, probably the best place to look for nice souvernirs and small presents in Dubai... This particular shop is located in Deira City Center, an old, but yet most popular malls in Dubai, really a nice place for shopping and dining.

Gold, gold and gold... Dubai is the city of GOLD!

All this gold should be for me as my gift for my future-wedding I think... hihi...

Prayer-time in a mosque in Bur Dubais Bastakiya-quartier...

Probably the most famous landmark of Dubai - The only 7-star hotel in the world, Burj Al Arab.

View over Dubai khor...

Panorama over Sheikh al Sayeed Road, a very long road considered to be Dubai´s businessdistrict #1!

Panorama from the airplane over the artificial-made islands called "The World".

Still under contruction. If you have good eyes you can see the Jumeriah palm close to the shore-line.

So, what do you think? Dubai is tempting you for a visit??

/ Mlle. Al Flilaoulila