How Do Two Australian Girls Cross the Street in the Middle East?

“Lets go exploring the Middle East Jess!”

Jess was less than impressed with that statement, but my persistence won and off we went to explore the Middle East.

First stop reception where the reception lady laughed when I said we were “very keen to explore the Middle East”. She said we would need a taxi and local currency, not walking and credit cards like my original plan suggested. Unfortunately the hotel did not have an ATM, but reception lady explained that the closest one was just across the road at the local hospital.

Win.

By this stage Jess had decided that perhaps exploring the Middle East was not a good idea, and was highlighting the merits of the swim up bar. I remained adamant, we would explore.

Corniche hospital was our destination and it was decided (by me) that we would leave immediately to source the ATM- a flawless plan until we actually left the safe confines of the hotel and started walking the streets.

When we reached the hospital, it was pretty obvious that we were not meant to be walking the streets, let alone walking the halls of a local hospital where NOTHING was in English. We entered through what looked like reception doors so I thought I’d ask what looked like a reception lady where the ATM was. She told Jess (who clearly needed a val by this stage) and myself that it was down the hall and to the right. So that’s where we went, down the hall and to the right. There was no ATM. Instead we found a line of Arabic women and their new born babies waiting to see what I presume was a doctor.

Language barrier fail.

Jess was keen to head back, I however was determined to find the ATM.  And we did, eventually, but then decided that neither of us wanted to withdraw cash so we went back to the hotel to exchange our AUD for AED.

After the exchange we hoped in a taxi towards the Abu Dhabi Souk, which is like a traditional Arabic market.

O

M

G

Amazing. It sold spices, fabrics, magic carpets and cool genie like lamps (with no genies, trust me I made sure I rubbed them ALL). It was incredible. So intense. If I had more room in my backpack I would have bought so much more, but instead I settled for this awesome kaftan and really cool pair of shoes. They cost me under $50AUD!!

After the shopping extravaganza we hoped back in a taxi and I took pictures of buildings. Here are my 3 favorites, they are now yours.

The rest of the arvo was spent relaxing by the Arabian Sea with Pina Coladas. Here is the sea.

Here is Jess and I flailing about in the Arabian Sea.

....and here we are drinking our Pina Colada's. Next stop, INDIA. I'm sure there aren't many Pina Coladas in India.......