NYE Festivities
#32
Hit 16's
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: NYE Festivities
Dinner at the local (the Bahtat) with friends, then back to friends' house to see the new year in. Normally we have a fairly quiet night in with just a few friends, so going out will be quite different.
SWMBO was proposing a traditional Japanese New Year--very quite NYE with just the family, early to bed, up early to see the sunrise (slim chance), then proceed to devour pre-prepared Japanese delicacies and sake over the next few days. Was good when we did it in Japan, maybe next year...
SWMBO was proposing a traditional Japanese New Year--very quite NYE with just the family, early to bed, up early to see the sunrise (slim chance), then proceed to devour pre-prepared Japanese delicacies and sake over the next few days. Was good when we did it in Japan, maybe next year...
#33
Re: NYE Festivities
Dinner at the local (the Bahtat) with friends, then back to friends' house to see the new year in. Normally we have a fairly quiet night in with just a few friends, so going out will be quite different.
SWMBO was proposing a traditional Japanese New Year--very quite NYE with just the family, early to bed, up early to see the sunrise (slim chance), then proceed to devour pre-prepared Japanese delicacies and sake over the next few days. Was good when we did it in Japan, maybe next year...
SWMBO was proposing a traditional Japanese New Year--very quite NYE with just the family, early to bed, up early to see the sunrise (slim chance), then proceed to devour pre-prepared Japanese delicacies and sake over the next few days. Was good when we did it in Japan, maybe next year...
Up today, not a hangover in sight, off to the beach and also got tomorrow off so off to wild wadi with the missus.
Gerrin.
#34
Re: NYE Festivities
We stayed in in the end, I cooked herb crsuted rack of lamb, dauphonaise potatoes, brockley, carrots and asparagus and had a couple of beers then some champagne.
Up today, not a hangover in sight, off to the beach and also got tomorrow off so off to wild wadi with the missus.
Gerrin.
Up today, not a hangover in sight, off to the beach and also got tomorrow off so off to wild wadi with the missus.
Gerrin.
#35
Re: NYE Festivities
A bit like Kittycat I am no fan of NYE. I find it all a bit depressing and can't stand public events full of amateur partygoers under pressure to have a 'good time'. The last few years have been at house parties with friends, but as neither of us are feeling very well right now we stayed in for a change and had roast guinea fowl on lemon and mustard roast vegetables for dinner, followed by baked apricots on pannetone with clotted cream ice cream.
We could see both sets of Burj fireworks from our upstairs balconies.
We could see both sets of Burj fireworks from our upstairs balconies.
#36
Re: NYE Festivities
A bit like Kittycat I am no fan of NYE. I find it all a bit depressing and can't stand public events full of amateur partygoers under pressure to have a 'good time'. The last few years have been at house parties with friends, but as neither of us are feeling very well right now we stayed in for a change and had roast guinea fowl on lemon and mustard roast vegetables for dinner, followed by baked apricots on pannetone with clotted cream ice cream.
We could see both sets of Burj fireworks from our upstairs balconies.
We could see both sets of Burj fireworks from our upstairs balconies.
#39
Hit 16's
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: NYE Festivities
We stayed in in the end, I cooked herb crsuted rack of lamb, dauphonaise potatoes, brockley, carrots and asparagus and had a couple of beers then some champagne.
Up today, not a hangover in sight, off to the beach and also got tomorrow off so off to wild wadi with the missus.
Gerrin.
Up today, not a hangover in sight, off to the beach and also got tomorrow off so off to wild wadi with the missus.
Gerrin.
#40
Re: NYE Festivities
Happy New Year one and all(that's you of course BPB) and to the rest of the MEddlers,may 2011 be the year for youxxx.
#44
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Doha
Posts: 535
Re: NYE Festivities
Escaped rainy Jeddah for a long New Year's week-end in Dubai.
Agree with many of the posts above regarding overhyped NYE - but decided to venture out this year, which merely confirmed why it's best avoided.
Got the metro from Union Sqare to Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa at 9pm with a friend. Whizzed past the traffic stuck on Sh. Zayed. However, serious congestion at the Dubai Mall metro station - I'm head and shoulders above the mainly Indians/Filipinos but still avery uncomfortable experience as everyone jostled through the turnstiles - if for any trivial reason a stampede had started, it could have turned out very nasty. The platform was barely clearing before the next train arrived.
Stroll round the mall and a bit of food - not my sort of thing really, but with good company so no matter.
Then outside sat on the pavement to watch the 'display'. Very spectacular, but also very brief and lacking in colour variety. I suppose the extent of a display is indicative of a places financial status - Dublin probably had a fellah waving a second hand sparkler about for a couple of minutes.
Decided to go to the metro station one up from Dubai Mall to avoid the crush - not the only ones heading that way. Then saw a taxi, got in and set off, but he didn't seem keen on going to Deira, and looking at the SZR traffic had to agree. Ended up nearer the desired metro station and bailed out agreeing nothing to pay for the short ride.
Big crush again at the metro - only letting 20 or so at a time through the turnstiles and on to the platforms. At least they were staying open. Eventually made it into an uncrowded train, which interestingly did not stop at Dubai Mall station on the way east - someone was obviously managing the situation.
Bottom line - it was the company I was with that made the evening, and that could have just as well been achieved with a meal and a few drinks at home.
Agree with many of the posts above regarding overhyped NYE - but decided to venture out this year, which merely confirmed why it's best avoided.
Got the metro from Union Sqare to Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa at 9pm with a friend. Whizzed past the traffic stuck on Sh. Zayed. However, serious congestion at the Dubai Mall metro station - I'm head and shoulders above the mainly Indians/Filipinos but still avery uncomfortable experience as everyone jostled through the turnstiles - if for any trivial reason a stampede had started, it could have turned out very nasty. The platform was barely clearing before the next train arrived.
Stroll round the mall and a bit of food - not my sort of thing really, but with good company so no matter.
Then outside sat on the pavement to watch the 'display'. Very spectacular, but also very brief and lacking in colour variety. I suppose the extent of a display is indicative of a places financial status - Dublin probably had a fellah waving a second hand sparkler about for a couple of minutes.
Decided to go to the metro station one up from Dubai Mall to avoid the crush - not the only ones heading that way. Then saw a taxi, got in and set off, but he didn't seem keen on going to Deira, and looking at the SZR traffic had to agree. Ended up nearer the desired metro station and bailed out agreeing nothing to pay for the short ride.
Big crush again at the metro - only letting 20 or so at a time through the turnstiles and on to the platforms. At least they were staying open. Eventually made it into an uncrowded train, which interestingly did not stop at Dubai Mall station on the way east - someone was obviously managing the situation.
Bottom line - it was the company I was with that made the evening, and that could have just as well been achieved with a meal and a few drinks at home.
#45
Account Closed
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,028
Re: NYE Festivities
Escaped rainy Jeddah for a long New Year's week-end in Dubai.
Agree with many of the posts above regarding overhyped NYE - but decided to venture out this year, which merely confirmed why it's best avoided.
Got the metro from Union Sqare to Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa at 9pm with a friend. Whizzed past the traffic stuck on Sh. Zayed. However, serious congestion at the Dubai Mall metro station - I'm head and shoulders above the mainly Indians/Filipinos but still avery uncomfortable experience as everyone jostled through the turnstiles - if for any trivial reason a stampede had started, it could have turned out very nasty. The platform was barely clearing before the next train arrived.
Stroll round the mall and a bit of food - not my sort of thing really, but with good company so no matter.
Then outside sat on the pavement to watch the 'display'. Very spectacular, but also very brief and lacking in colour variety. I suppose the extent of a display is indicative of a places financial status - Dublin probably had a fellah waving a second hand sparkler about for a couple of minutes.
Decided to go to the metro station one up from Dubai Mall to avoid the crush - not the only ones heading that way. Then saw a taxi, got in and set off, but he didn't seem keen on going to Deira, and looking at the SZR traffic had to agree. Ended up nearer the desired metro station and bailed out agreeing nothing to pay for the short ride.
Big crush again at the metro - only letting 20 or so at a time through the turnstiles and on to the platforms. At least they were staying open. Eventually made it into an uncrowded train, which interestingly did not stop at Dubai Mall station on the way east - someone was obviously managing the situation.
Bottom line - it was the company I was with that made the evening, and that could have just as well been achieved with a meal and a few drinks at home.
Agree with many of the posts above regarding overhyped NYE - but decided to venture out this year, which merely confirmed why it's best avoided.
Got the metro from Union Sqare to Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa at 9pm with a friend. Whizzed past the traffic stuck on Sh. Zayed. However, serious congestion at the Dubai Mall metro station - I'm head and shoulders above the mainly Indians/Filipinos but still avery uncomfortable experience as everyone jostled through the turnstiles - if for any trivial reason a stampede had started, it could have turned out very nasty. The platform was barely clearing before the next train arrived.
Stroll round the mall and a bit of food - not my sort of thing really, but with good company so no matter.
Then outside sat on the pavement to watch the 'display'. Very spectacular, but also very brief and lacking in colour variety. I suppose the extent of a display is indicative of a places financial status - Dublin probably had a fellah waving a second hand sparkler about for a couple of minutes.
Decided to go to the metro station one up from Dubai Mall to avoid the crush - not the only ones heading that way. Then saw a taxi, got in and set off, but he didn't seem keen on going to Deira, and looking at the SZR traffic had to agree. Ended up nearer the desired metro station and bailed out agreeing nothing to pay for the short ride.
Big crush again at the metro - only letting 20 or so at a time through the turnstiles and on to the platforms. At least they were staying open. Eventually made it into an uncrowded train, which interestingly did not stop at Dubai Mall station on the way east - someone was obviously managing the situation.
Bottom line - it was the company I was with that made the evening, and that could have just as well been achieved with a meal and a few drinks at home.