Dubai - Abu Dhabi Vacation

June and me in Abu Dhabi

The unplanned trip turned into a blast!       

UAE flag

If not because of a friend’s invitation to accompany her to go to Dubai this trip wouldn't have thought at all.  Everything was planned and set.  We will be together till she meet and joined her friends in Dubai, stay overnight with them.  I will leave in the morning to Abu Dhabi to meet my friends there and back in Dubai to meet Dax before our departure.  Our tickets were also arranged.  It will be Loida's first time to visit Dubai.

So here comes our flight schedule.  Standing at the check-in counter in Bahrain International Airport, the staff told her that she was not allowed to fly.   We were astounded and saddened.   She needed to secure first a visa to the UAE before departure.  Her visa title in Bahrain would not allow her to be issued a visa upon arrival in Dubai.  She works in a beauty salon.   The staff explained that even if he issued her ticket to fly, she would still be denied entry to Dubai and will be sent back to Bahrain.  That even if her visa title was supervisory, that would not be granted for a visa.  Only Managerial level can be issued visa on arrival.  She has to apply visa to Dubai thru online.  That was so sad.

I have no problem acquiring a visa on arrival, one of the advantages of being a flight attendant.  So now here I am on to Do It Yourself trip.      

I  met a new chat buddy while waiting for the gate to open for boarding.  Ali, that's her name, a Filipina.  She is going to visit her husband who works in Saudi while she is based in Dubai.

Ali

Onboard was cabin crew colleague, Mary who has been so helpful.   It was a Bahrain Air flight.    

Everything went as planned.  Met Loida's friend in Dubai. 

 My morning in Dubai started  out in the gym. 

 This Holy Ramadan is holding me on jumping into this pool

Meet Dennis. The day i met him was the same day his first child was born. 

I recall this now a man as a little boy from my province, a child who used to play “Chasing” “Hide and Seek” and “Tumbang Preso” in his grade school.  I met him in Dubai.  Now a media photographer.  

The Gang

I met the cousin and friends of Loida,   That night, we went to Mamzar Beach in Dubai and stayed till 12:00 midnight.  The entrance fee is just Dhs 5 and the water is so clear.   How I wish there is also a nice beach and with only Bd 0.500 entrance fee in Bahrain.

Mamzar Beach

Burying Sandy

Edlyn, Riza, Precious 'n Me

The Beach Boyz

Couture models are Bong, Robert, and Sandy

Abu Dhabi 

The next day I traveled to Abu Dhabi.   I came to visit my friend, Tracy.   We used to work together in an advertising firm in the Philippines. Advertising Associates Inc. We had our dinner at Rossina Bollina in Corniche, Abu Dhabi park.  Thank you weather for the awesome weather, it was not typically hot and humid.  We stayed up till midnight at the corniche catching up and taking photos.   

Corniche

@ The Corniche

Tracy's new passion, Photography

The following day was meeting June, a roommate at Rm 205 Green House Mansion, Kaohsiung Taiwan.  Ten long years before we see each other again.  Nothing’s changed,  except age.

 Tracy, June and me at the Marina Mall Abu Dhabi

Khalidiya Park in Abu Dhabi 

June Caumpay

Back in Dubai

It took two hours of land trip from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. Here I am set to meet another friend.

 Dax, while preparing pancit bihon :-)

 Therrie, Loi and Dax

Thanks to the following and God Bless you all:  

Lodia, Mary and Ali. 
 (Bahrain)
 

Sandy, Bong, Robert, Edlyn, Riza, Precious, Dennis and Dax and Loi.  
(Dubai)      

 Tracy, Ken, Rose, Mel and June.

(Abu Dhabi)

August 2010