Arrived...

We arrived in Australia safe and sound albeit very very cold! It was a shock to the system to arrive on a freezing 14 degree stormy day and find ourselves greeted by hailstorms.
It has been a busy few days of weddings, baby showers and work but it will all hopefully slow down for the next couple of days before the weekend arrives again and with it a great big family wedding which we are sooo excited about! I promise to jump on here tomorrow and post up some new photo's. In the meantime below is my fave photo from our flight.
Piper sure is becoming a well travelled toddler..... within minutes she had opened her flight kit Emirates provided and pulled on the socks and eye mask ready for her flight, I am surprised she didn't hit the bell and request a wine!

On our way!!!!!!

Pool fun

Not sure who is the kid in this pool....

Here we come!

We have our tickets and itinerary confirmed........ see you in a week Australia!!!!!

A day of exploring old Dubai

I spent the latter half of last week flat on my back and in the worst pain imagineable. I have no idea how I put my back out so bad and to top it off I couldn't find an available reputable osteo. Finally on Friday after getting an osteopath appointment and lots of massages and love from my little family I was able to walk again, so we headed out on a family adventure to Bur Dubai. This is an area of the old Dubai situated on the creek. There is a myriad of souks (Arabic markets) on both sides of the creek surrounded by authentic arabic architecture and beautiful mosques. You cross the creek by traditional abra boats which is an experience in itself. Below are some of our happy snaps.

Our little dancing queen, happily dancing through the lanes entertaining the crowds

Spice Souk - amazing aroma's and very friendly people

Workers sifting shells for cooking ready to sell



On an Abra crossing the creek to the textile souks



Yes that is a bus driving up the creek! One of Dubai's many weird, wonderful and down right tacky features. This is some sort of amphibian bus which travels up the creek and then drives itself right on out of the water and down the road!



Passing an empty abra on the creek

Traditional Dhow boat, these are still used for trade of large items and food from other Arabic countries.

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Roof and arabic lanterns in the textile souk

Waiting for our fresh orange juice

Yummy!

Lunch break at the beautiful Bastakia Arts Cafe. One of my favourite places in Dubai, will be going back here regularly! It is set in a large courtyard and feels like an oasis.

On our stroll back to the creek we bumped into a crowd celebrating Indian Holy Day otherwise known as the festival of colour. There were hundreds having a war with coloures powder so Piper and I happily let one of the girls 'paint' us.

Dhow from another angle

 



It was a big day

Asleep within minutes of getting in the car after a big day exploring Bur Dubai! A little Australian girl with white blonde hair is so rare in the area we were today that Piper got paparazzied everywhere we walked by locals. She is getting used to this kind of attention now and happily poses when she feels like it and other times she is quick to tell them NO!

Tea Love

Today we explored Bur Dubai along the creek where all the traditional souks and trade still continue. We stopped for lunch in the most beautiful cafe - Bastikia Art Cafe and my ginger tea arrived in this gorgeous tea set!

Cheeky

Technology wizz

I use so many different apps and websites to store and share our photographs and bits and pieces that I get completely lost and overwhelmed all the time.
I have finally found a great website and app 'Posterous' which allows me to automatically upload instagram photo's from my iphone to this blog at the push of a button..... just a wee bit excited about this! I can now share our fun photo's here without having to log-in to my laptop and download the photo's everytime. See below for my first attempt direct from the iphone.
Keep your eyes open for more happy snaps coming your way! Piper is also a big fan of taking photo's with our iphones so maybe a Piper blog contribution in the future.

If you have anymore great apps or websites that can help me integrate everything please leave me a comment below xo

Old Town, Dubai! Our neighbourhood - fabulous mix of traditional architecture and modern high rise apartments

Busy Bee O'Briens

It has been very crazy in our house this week. Naz has been working in Abu Dhabi all week on the car launch event at Yas Island race track so Piper and I have barely seen him.
The upside for me was the ability to move a few things around and work from home for the first half of the week (thanks to great friends who stepped in and looked after Piper when I had client meetings) and the last two days I took leave and had fab girly days! I am exhausted but Piper and I have had a ball. Our girly days have consisted of a morning at Kidzania (kids play world, worthy of its own post), pancakes for breakfast, lots of baking cupcakes, shopping and a pedicure.

Think I have to mention the baking was inspired by my wedding anniversary present from Naz last week.... a butter yellow Kitchen Aid... I am in love!!

Last weekend we had a friends care for the weekend (they were off skiing in Lebanon for the weekend as you do) so we made the most of it. We found a secluded beach early in the morning and snuck Lily in for a swim, enjoyed breakfast at our favourite place in Jumeirah and went to Al Ain Zoo. Al Ain is another Emirate about one and a half hours drive from Dubai. I think this weekend will be a quiet on, a good chance to catch-up on some sleep and relaxation by the pool as winter is definitely over and its heating up fast this week.

Cheeky meerkat teasing Piper

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Amazing white lions

As I said it has been a big week! I was working on the dining table and turned around to find this.