kjb’s rants and raves…

… ROLLER COASTER.  That’s right… just up the road from me there is "Ferrari World".  This amusement park is not the greatest… it has a lot of attractions that have so much more potential… it falls short in lots of ways.  However, it does have the roller coaster.  This thing launches you from the very start along a straight away where you go from 0km to 240km in under 5 seconds.  It is insane.  I have never experience speeds like this before… it is close to 5 g’s of force.  NUTS…. but so much fun.  I couldn’t stop laughing the whole time.  

Even though the park itself fell short… the people I went with did not (and not just because they are all taller than me).  I had a lot of fun with them - twas a good five hours spent. 

With the march 12th date fast approaching I decided it was time to fork out the large sum of cash to buy a new bike…. after all, they are an important thing to have for the bike portion of the race.  I went into Dubai yesterday and went to the only good bike store around (all high end stuff), and an hour later I walked out with "Zeke" in hand.  This is what I have named him since he is white with some black and grey… so I thought Zebra’s are white and black… Zebra… Ze… Zeke. :)

He is a Scott Speedster S20.  Weighs only 20 lbs… so nice and light.  I can’t wait to get out on him… I might try to head to the F1 track on Tuesday night to take him for his first ride.  

I spent my third winter vacation travelling to Den Haag to see my best friend and her two beautiful little girls (oh and Marius too.. haha).  It was much much faster to get there this year living in Abu Dhabi than the trek from China.  I arrived to smiling faces and rosy cheeks… and went straight to our usual coffee shop for coffee… (don’t forget the stop at the local bakery for some fresh chocolate croissants!).

I had an awesome time as usual - hanging out with Jill, cuddling/dancing/playing with Lennox and Davis, and just enjoying some relaxing.  Here are a few pictures from my two weeks there.

When all was said and done, three smiling girls walked off the podium with 2nd place trophies… it was a good day.

This was the first time this event had taken place, so although there were a few hiccups… it was quite well organized.  

I love the energy of a triathlon… everyone is so focused and ready to giv’er.  It is fun to be around… 

I did the 750m swim in 17 min.  Bianca did the 20km bike in about 40 min. Nancy the 5km run in 25 min.  :)  

Now to get ready for the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon on March 12th.  I plan on doing the whole thing this time! 

Lame name?  Perhaps…  Cool team? Heck yes. 

This weekend, myself and two friends (Nancy and Bianca - hence the team name) are doing a sprint triathlon as a team.  I am doing the swim portion, and although I have become a competent swimmer… I would much rather two either the bike or run… but that was not my fate this time around. 

I am looking forward to the atmosphere, the experience… something to do on the weekend.  What I am not looking forward to is swimming in the ocean… I do not like the salt water… and that it is "winter"… the water is chilly!

It is the first triathlon to be done on an F1 track… (although, as the swimmer, I will be in the marina) and it should be a fun weekend. 

If you have never watched this show, now is the time to start.  This is comedy at its best.  The writers of this show are amazing - so clever, sarcastic, and ridiculous.  It is a fantastic way to catch up on some of the politics in the world and not want to stab myself in the face while doing it.  It is laugh out loud funniness.  I recommend tuning in when you get a chance. 

For the past few years, Abu Dhabi has put on a little tennis tournament.  It is called the Mubadala Tennis Championships.  It only has 6 players come, but they are usually all top players.  This year Federer, Nadal, Tsonga and some other top 20 players were battling it out.  I found out about it pretty late, so didn’t get tickets to see the big guns… but still managed to make it to a game, as well as get within touching distance of Federer.  It was a fun day in the sun and I am going to get on the tickets earlier next year so that I can catch the final game.  

Many of the hotels put on brunches every weekend, so we went to one for brunch today.  It is about $50 for all you can eat and drink… things can get a little messy at times.  Haha.  Randomly enough, there was a clown there making balloon flowers… he was a SCARY looking clown… I am not a fan of masks… clowns are supposed to be happy.  This one did not look happy.

It was good food and good company.  

Had a low key night… just stayed in a watched a movie.

Tomorrow is Christmas breakfast across the hall at Meredith’s and then dinner will be a bbq on the beach… perhaps a little game of frisbee as well.

The SCARY Clown!!

Holy… time is flying by this year… I can’t believe it.  It sure doesn’t feel like Christmas here… 25 degree weather will do that.  I just came back from a nice little 7km Christmas Eve run… it feels nice to not have to hibernate in my heatless China apartment for a year.

I hope that all of my readers (the 10′ish) are enjoying your holiday time with friends and/or family around you.  This is my sixth Christmas away from home and where at first it didn’t really bother me… this is the first year I am feeling the tug to be back home for a year - I miss the snow, my mom’s hugs, and just being "home".  

I wish the very best to all of your this Christmas…. may the new year bring you lots of happiness. 

My friend, Michelle, came over the other night and helped me make my mom’s famous shortbread cookies.  The previous five year my mom has been able to send them to me in China… the cold weather kept them from going bad… but with the warm weather here and the fact that my packages seem to "come by camel" (or so my mom says)… I had to make them myself if I wanted to enjoy their deliciousness.  The good thing about making them myself is that I got to share them with my friends here.  It took us 4 hours… but 150 cookies later and and we were done :)  

Thanks, Michelle!!!

This picture was taken about a week ago… so yes.. it is December… and we are at a bbq on the beach… we thought it was weird too… haha… but we are not complaining AT ALL.

It has been too long since my last post… I know.  Apologies to my few readers… :)

Not much has happened since Thanksgiving… but I will catch you up with what has.

The UAE celebrated its 39th year… it was a little crazy.  Walked down to the Corniche and were swallowed by the throngs of people… almost all men.  So we felt a little out of place being A. Female… and B. White.  We didn’t stop long to take pictures… the one time I did I all of a sudden had about five cameras pointed at me from point blank range.  

They basically decorate their cars, spray stuff at each other, honk their horns incessantly and yell a lot.  I will be getting off the island for this day next year.

Here are some pics of our walk.

Yes, they are playing soccer on a wall that is standing upright… it was so strange…  

As I mentioned in my previous post… I celebrate American Thanksgiving this year.  My friend, Michelle and her husband hosted it at their place.  They have a roof top terrace type space that we decorated and had the spread there.  It was a beautiful night - the perfect temperature, ridiculously delicious food, and good company.  Here are a few pics from the night.

How very Middle East… pillows instead of chairs.  

My new addiction… I love these lanterns… will end up bringing a few home, I reckon. 

Heating up the coals for the Shesha…. and playing around with my camera. 

It is National Day on the 2nd… and all of the building are starting to decorate for the occasion.  I hear it is going to be a little nuts… That will be the next set of pictures. 

Had a week off for a holiday that I don’t really know about mid November… maybe I should learn more about the reasons for things in the country I am living in?!  

Anyway… I went to Versailles, France to visit a friend, Emilie.  I worked with her in China for a few years - she was one of the few "single" girls there and so we hung out quite a bit… but now she has a husband - Nico - and a beautiful little boy (4 1/2 months) - Sebastien.  I had yet to meet her little guy and was in need of a place to go on this break and so Versailles seemed like a good choice.  

It doesn’t get much better than hanging out with a good friend, getting lots of baby snuggles and eating too many pastries.

I had been to Paris last year for a few days and did all the touristy things, but wasn’t too impressed with the city - part of it could have been because it was beginning of February and the weather was pretty brutal.  Versailles has a much different vibe - it is very quaint… good for walking around - which we did a lot of.  Sebastien liked the fresh air.

There was some rain, some sunshine and blue skies, some fog, and a lot of crisp winter air.  A nice change from the heat for a bit…

We walked up to the "castle" on two different days… saw where Marie Antoinette once lived… and some amazing landscape.  Here are some pics of both the scenery and Sebastien.

The weather is the perfect temperature right now… averaging 30 degrees with a nice cool ocean breeze.  Had American Thanksgiving at a friends house last weekend and we ate outside….. end of November and still outside in a tshirt and jeans… that is just crazy.  It is amazing home much being in sunshine and warmth all year round does for your wellbeing… you just feel healthier.

I guess the whole countdown thing didn’t work out the way I had planned… kinda forgot about it… I am going to post some pics from my recent trip to Versailles… so the countdown is going to end… if you are interested in seeing the other 8… here is the site: http://www.thenatureanimals.com/2010/10/top-ten-most-remote-places-on-planet.html

There is a place in Canada on it :)

La Rinconada, Peru