Another year has passed in Dubai

As we are getting ready to head out on vacation, it seems like a good time to reflect on the year that has just passed. So here is another top 5 list:

Highlights of the last year:
1. Vacation in Thailand
2. Vacation in Australia
3. Day trip to Oman
4. Discovering the cheap ironing service
5. Zoe winning 3 gold medals in the inter school track meet
6. Chase in Tee-ball
7. Getting a gas barbecue

Things that we still have not adjusted to:
1. The summer heat
2. No car seats and people not buckling up their children
3. Living in an apartment
4. Having a GPS and still getting lost
5. Restaurants not opening for lunch until after 1:00

Unexpected surprises we love about Dubai:
1. The cheap ironing service - and they deliver too!
2. The price of groceries - feta cheese $3.00 per kg, fresh baked bread - 60 cents a loaf, $1.50 for fresh pineapple - cored, peeled and packaged, can of Coke - 30 cents
3. Getting the car washed every week for $4.00 - where ever it is parked
4. Door-to-door service for the school bus
5. Going to a movie theatre at 1:00 on a weekend and being almost the only family there (Shrek 3D)
6. Never wearing socks

Things we have yet to try:
1. Getting McDonald's delivered
2. Going up the Burj Khalifa
3. Musundam boat cruise in Oman

Things we are most looking forward to when we go home:
1. Going for a family bike ride
2. Grass, trees and sidewalks
3. Ice caps and slurpees
4. pork bacon
5. opening the windows and breathing in the refreshing, fresh air


We leave for vacation tomorrow. This year we are heading to Malaysia, Borneo and Cambodia. Stay tuned for the stories and photos when we return in August.

Need I say more?