From Dubai to Khartoum...

We arrived at the airport around 11.30 am. We went straight to the storage area at the arrival hall to get the rest of our luggage. After that we went to the check-in counter, from 11 pieces from KL, I added only one piece of luggage (which is really not that bad considering...hehehe). A

The kids, while waiting for the wrapping service...

Our flight was at 2.40 pm, so we had time to relax at the Business Lounge. After lunch, we prayed and I left the kids with their father while I went shopping at the duty-free area. I just bought some chocolates and a few fridge magnets for the house.

I met Josephine and her family who was going back on the same flight as us. I was so happy to see her but was a bit shocked when she told me that masdiyana had a brain tumor and she had an operation on the day before in Malaysia. That was such shocking news. I wished that I knew about it much earlier as I could at least see her in Malaysia...sigh. I pray for her speedy recovery, insyaallah.

After shopping I came back to the lounge and I found them playing at the x-box provided. Later we played chess at the touch-screen table. It was cool...hehehe. There were a few single status Petronas staff on the same flight with us. I heard that Kak Maria and family were also on their way back from Khartoum from their holiday in South Africa.

Hadi...

Aliah...

The chess set...

I was a bit panicky when the last boarding call was announced. My husband was so relaxed that I wanted to kick him...hehehe. It's not that I really wanted to go back to Khartoum, but I really hate to be late for anything. On the flight, I watched Goal 3 while Amir was sleeping. 

Waiting to board the plane...

Amir, zonked out...

We arrived in Khartoum around 6.30 pm and alhamdulillah, even though our boxes were opened but they were released by custom. I finally met Kak Maria and Jo while waiting for our luggage...hehehe. I was a bit surprised when I discovered that there were two vans waiting for us...hehehe.

We arrived just before maghrib, to a dusty and tidy apartment. Though it was clean but it lacked 'character', in other words it lacked the mess...hehehe. I just cooked rice and fried some eggs and heat the instant Brahim for dinner. It was the first time that I cooked since I left in April. I kinda miss my own cooking and somehow, I kinda miss Khartoum too...

Dubai : Day 4

In the morning, the kids went swimming for the last time. I was busy packing all our things. Luckily everything fit into the bags...hehehe.

One thing I noticed about Dubai was the lack of a proper address. Just look at the pizza box below.

Funny address...hehehe

They normally used the big landmark around the area. In this case, it was the Mall of the Emirates. It was the same when we wanted to go to our hotel, we had to say that it was behind the Mall of the Emirates, then look for other landmarks. I would simply get lost if I'm alone, luckily my husband's a much better navigator than me...hehehe

On the way to the airport I took some pictures. But I bet that in a year, the landscape would change dramatically. Even around our hotel, there was a lot of constructions going on. I was just wondering if those workers were given proper food and rest, especially during the scorching work conditions. Even for us, walking in and out of air-conditioned places felt that our brains were melting... couldn't imagined what it was like for those contract workers.

The jutting out bit was the Ski Dubai...

Mall of the Emirates...

Dubai tower...

Dubai : Day 3 (Part 3)

The water show was supposed to start at 6.30 pm outside of the Dubai Mall. It'll be on at every half an hour interval. So around six, we walked towards the fountains but we were quite excited when we discovered that the West End show was about to begin as well. We stayed there for a little while because we wanted to catch the water show at 6.30 pm. 

The performers...

There were just too many people infront of us...

Amir and his father...

Unfortunately, we were told that there would be no water show that day due to some technical difficulties...sob,sob. But we did take a few photos outside. It was still quite hot at 6.30 pm though. From there we could go to the infamous gold souk and we could see burj al arab. 

Disappointed faces...

Still quite hot...

Burj al arab...

Dubai skyline...

A bridge to the gold souk...

When we went inside, the west end show was still going on. So, we watched that show instead. At first we watched from the side but after the brief break, we managed to secure a seat...yeay! The show was some sort of a compilation of songs from west end shows like Cats, Phantom of the Opera etc. It was very entertaining and very energetic. I truly enjoyed myself.

A view from the side...

The poster!

After the show, we rushed back to the apartment for maghrib. Around 8.30 pm, the kids went for a swim at the swimming pool. The night was spent packing all our luggages and boxes for the trip back to Khartoum the next day.

Aliah, in barbie haven...

Aliah is a really typical girl. She loves pink and barbies. When we entered Hamley's, I showed her the Barbie section... and she was enthralled! She was truly delighted. In fact, they have a Barbie house. Just look at her pictures...hehehe

At the front door...

At the dressing table...

At the tv room...

Dubai : Day 3 (Part 2)

From Dubai aquarium, we went to check out the departmental stores. Dubai mall was really huge. Even without kids it would be quite a chore to cover all the fshops. After lunch, we discovered Hamley's, a famous toystore. The kids eyes were bulging out of their sockets...hehehe, not that we're going to buy anything because it was expensive and we did not have any luggage space anymore!

Going through the toystore was a pleasure. It's huge with so many choices of toys. Hadi and Amir had so many toys to play with (they had a few play areas) and kak long was busy looking at girls stuff. Even my husband was transfixed in the board game section. We spent quite a lot of time in Hamley's. We just forgot about the time...hehehe. We didn't buy anything though, alhamdulillah...

My husband...

The Lego section...

The boys busy in Transformer's section...

From Hamley's, I wanted to go into Lafayette. I didn't go to the one in Paris. While I window-shop, my husband brought the kids somewhere else to sit. I just didn't care where, I was obsessed about going into Lafayette...hehehe. So served me right when I couldn't find them afterwards (after I regained my sanity...hehehe). From the store I tried looking after them everywhere, up and downstairs. I felt like crying because seriously the place was so big and my handphone was out of battery. 

After about half an hour getting lost, I found them sitting at Starbucks. The boys were already sleeping. After ordering drinks, I brought Kak Long to other shops, if I remembered correctly, I was trying to find New Look. I managed to find the shop and several others...hehehe. We didn't buy anything, just wandering around and enjoying the hustle and bustle of shoppers. 

When we finally came back to Starbucks, all the three boys were sleeping...hehehe. 

One of the decor in the mall...

They're tired of walking...

Dead to the world...

Who's taking care of who?!!

Dubai : Day 3 (Part 1)

Before going to Dubai, I've done some researched about the attractions in Dubai, which were many. Too many for us to cover all. But the biggest shopping complex? It's a must see, obviously! hehehe. Even in one shopping complex, there were so many possible activities in Dubai Mall. I planned to visit the aquarium and also the water show in the evening.

With that in mind, we started our journey after zohor. The kids had already had their swimming session and a good breakfast. They were also excited to go to Dubai aquarium and underwater zoo. The tickets for adult was AED50 and AED30 for kids. The aquarium was a bit disappointing because I imagined it to be bigger and longer. It was just a short stretch, much smaller than the KL aquaria. But the underwater animals were numerous. 

Luckily Hadi didn't cry or anything. Maybe because he was prepared to be in an aquarium. But he was not that happy, either...hehehe. Kak long spotted a school of stingray and they were beautiful. The variety of sharks were also part of the attractions. I really wish that I had a better camera to do justice to what we've seen...sigh.

The beautiful fishes...

'Smiling' or 'frowning' stingray?!!

My family...

The tickets we paid for were also for the underwater zoo situated on the second floor. Though the aquarium was a bit small, the underwater zoo was more than made up for it. There were so many kinds of fish tanks among other things. When we reached the piranhas tank, I tried to put my hand in to the horror of my family. The kids screamed...hehehe

I loved the 'Finding Nemo' tank. It was so colourful. The spider crab were also awesome! Now I've why it was named as such. But for my husband and me, the whole trip itself was worth it because of the penguins! They're truly cute! To see so many penguins in one place was just worth the money paid for the tickets. 

We spent quite a lot of time in the zoo, especially when my husband insisted in reading all the signboards or information in every tank there were! Hadi was also quite happy because all the animals were in aquarium tanks to the left and right of him. Maybe he felt safer...hehehe. Just enjoy the pictures because they could describe better what we felt that day, pure happiness...

The entrance to the zoo...

The piranhas...

Arawapaima...

I've forgotten the name...

We could stand on top of the aquarium...a bit scary...

A lion fish...

My husband, inside the 'look out' space...

The 'Finding Nemo' tank...

Hadi, smiling happily...

The spider crabs...

Looking at the penguins...

They were really friendly...

Cute...

Beautiful, huh?!!

Aliah, the poser...

My daughter, Aliah loves to pose. I love her pictures because she would be making adorable faces...hehehe. These photos were taken in Dubai early in the month. I simply love them!

Outside the cinema...

As scrat...

As Sid...hehehe

As a muslimah barbie...