Life lately in happy snaps

Do you use Instagram? I love it and how easy it is to stay in touch and share photo's. You can follow me under the Instagram name carlyobrien.

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Below are a few pics from my iphone lately. I also got a little fancy schmancy and added an Instagram widget to my sidebar where you can see my latest pics.

Kite flying on a lazy afternoon (thanks for the kite Nana Liz)

Our afternoon was interrupted last week by a strong earthquake in nearby Iran that was felt here in the UAE. It was quite frightening and went for far longer than anything I have felt before. We evacuated our apartment for a short time. This pic was taken later in the afternoon, our energy and adrenalin spent tso his is how these two iPad addicts rested.

This is how Piper dresses herself to go to Sushi Train for dinner!
One always needs a tiara to eat Japanese right?

This is what 3 year old fairies do after too much sugar and fun at a kid's party!

In typical Dubai style we attended a children's birthday party at the 5 star Al Qasr hotel this weekend.
As you can see Piper made a classy departure!

Early morning road trip through the desert. Yesterday Naz and friends competed in a triathlon type event in the nearby Emirate of Al Ain ( blog post to come soon). I am also proud to say the early morning was worth it, Naz finished 14th!!

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Desert Camping Adventure - The Empty Quarter

Naz returned to Dubai last Wednesday and I don't think Piper and I have ever been happier to see him.

However, rather than take things slowly and relax, in true O'Brien style we planned a road trip and camping adventure for the weekend.

We ventured to The Empty Quarter, a unique desert area at the northern tip of the UAE bordered by UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen. It is a vast desert, home to some of the worlds largest sand dunes, approximately a three drive from Dubai (unless you have a toddler who needs to pee every half hour).

We travelled with friends, one of who had befriended a local man on a previous camping trip. We contacted Salem and he was only too happy to meet up with us crazy bunch of expat's and show us around. This kind man led us into the desert, took us to a friends camel farm, tested our 4WD driving skills before finally leading us off road into the dunes to the most secluded and beautiful camping spot.

It is quite rare to share such intimate time with local Emirate's. For the most part expatriates and locals lead very separate lives. But Salem was welcoming and engaging. While the boys set-up camp he took myself and two other friends in his car for a bash through the dunes, it was horrifying and exhilarating at the same time!

Not sure this desert has ever seen a little poodle from Australia before!

Fireside conversations

Sand boarding

My favourite pic - cars on the left, friends up on the dune and the boys sand boarding

Sri Lanka Again

While my parents were with us for the month of February we took a week off and flew to Sri Lanka for a family holiday.

It was just as perfect, relaxing and amazing as our first time. I highly recommend Sri Lanka for anybody looking for a Bali / Thailand type holiday minus all the commercialisation.

It can be a little hairy.... the lack of road infrastructure left my Dad gripping his seat on the 3 hour drive from Colombo to Bentota and some areas can be a little confronting, but this is a country only a few years out of civil war.

I won't bore you with repeat photographs from our last trip to Sri Lanka, you can find them here and here.

This weekend we are off on a camping trip with friends to the vast desert area known as The Empty Quarter. It is our last chance to spend a weekend outdoors before the heat takes over for the next 8 months.

Piper's snake addiction continues, we met this man on the beach and boy did he have surprises to show us!

As well as the python he had this monkey...

But when he opened the lid on this basket and revealed a cobra we bailed!

This elephant strolled along our hotel beach one day, he was part of a traditional wedding ceremony 100m up the beach

These boys were also part of the wedding celebration and kindly posed for me

Hectic streets of Bentota

Sandstorms, rain and the craziness of Dubai!

This weekend was like no other I have experienced in Dubai.

On Thursday local news reported sandstorm warnings for the weekend, not unusual for this time of year as the temperatures start climbing towards summer. The media was full of warnings to stay indoors and reminders of the effects on respiratory health.

Friday was pretty standard, lots of sand and dust in the air and the strange yellow haze that comes with it. But nothing extraordinary or alarming.

By Saturday morning however, the winds whipped up and heading outside the house was near impossible. Piper and I played indoors and cooked pancakes for lunch to pass the time, it was after cooking the pancakes I turned around and noticed just how bad the weather had turned.

View from our balcony early in the afternoon, on a clear day we can see the Burj Al Arab in the distance!

Taken from a friends apartment on Sheikh Zayed Road later in the afternoon (this was the only time we left the house, to briefly celebrate a birthday)

On the left is our usual view over Downtown and the Burj Khalifa from our living room. On the right is our view on Saturday afternoon.

That evening not long after putting Piper to bed the storm took a severe, turn. Although the windows and doors were all locked the wind was whistling through every crack and a layer of sand was settling on everything indoors. It was about this time out the corner of my eye I watched our large, balcony couch cushion base sail up into the air and over the balcony into the beyond. I then had to brave the winds and scramble to pull everything from the balconies inside (I had actually completed this the day before, and wrongly assumed I had removed anything that could fly away). On the upside I got a free sandblasted facial!

Everything not secured at the building site of the new mosque next door was bashing and crashing, visibility was non existent and cars on the road below were basically stopping and parking to wait out the storm.
Then the rain came, and with it all the drama when you combine water and Dubai (the once or twice a year that it actually happens).

Let's just say with Naz still in Australia I did not sleep a lot that night. The wind and rain eventually eased and so too the constant police sirens, honking horns and screeching car tyres navigating the wet roads around us.

I have to admit I was actually pretty freaked out on Saturday night, and I have been quite happy to read in the paper over the last few days that even hardened locals were concerned, while others have commented there hasn't been a storm like it in 20 years!

How was your weekend?

Pakistani Kushti Wrestling

This weekly ritual plays out in front of large crowds at dusk on Friday's in the older part of Dubai, in Deira near the Gold Souk and Fish Market area.

In late January we finally had the time to explore and find the wrestling site. We were not disappointed, it was a fabulous tradition to witness and although there were only a handful of expats amongst a sea of local labourers we were welcomed with open arms.

Introducing the wrestlers

The large crowd in a perfect circle - can you spot Naz and Piper in the crowd?

Triumphant winner

Christmas and Summer in Australia

Here we go, I am finally catching up on the last 4 months. 

It has been a hectic and crazy few months, including Christmas at home in Australia, Piper and Naz staying longer in Oz while I returned to work in Dubai, a visit from my parents in February which also included a family holiday to Sri Lanka, Naz left again in March back to Australia for work but I was then joined by my Grandparents for several weeks. 

On top of all that excitement we are still going about our weekly routine, between my work, Piper's  pre-school, entertaining our guests and battling the usual dramas that come with living in Dubai we are still managing to breathe and laugh. 

Below are some pics of our time home in Australia.

Fun on the farm

Making hay with Pop Pop

Our newest hero in the family - Finn at Nippers 

Beach fun with cousins

It's not Christmas without some basketball competition between the O'Brien boys

Naz and his Dad (Grandpa) battling on the court

 The Beautiful O'Hea Wedding

Of course the wedding day started with some basketball and betting

Flower girl Piper getting dressed

The beautiful couple - Matt and Ash

These two almost stole the show - Piper and Soloman

Facelift

I know, I know, this is not what you were asking for but the blog facelift you see is a sure sign this blog is about to return to life!

I have received all your messages and not so subtle hints and promise I will be back and posting regularly again soon.

There is a lot to catch-up on so bare with me while I sort out some photo's and more importantly find the quiet time to write a catch-up post.