December 5th
We landed in Cairo, Egypt, with barely enough time to catch our connecting flight to Dubai. Secretly, Sam and I were hoping we’d miss the connection to sneak in a visit to the pyramids, but luck was on our parents’ side—we made the connection smoothly.
↑ pretty views from the plane in Ghana, Cairo, and Egypt
After a rough overnight flight, we arrived in Dubai at 4 a.m. and headed to the Moser-Davies home to reunite with Josh and Alyssa (our cousins), Carmen (our aunt), and Darin (our uncle).
At around 5:40 a.m., we quietly snuck into their house and waited for everyone to wake up. Their groggy but happy reactions made for a funny reunion! Since the cousins had school and we were exhausted from travelling, we spent the day resting, relaxing, and getting to know their adorable little cat Jiji who was great company.
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We sojourned in Dubai for over a month, so rather than go day by day, here are some highlights of my time there:
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Hot Air Balloon Sunrise (07.12.2024)
This unforgettable early morning was spent soaring above the desert as the sun rose over the golden dunes. It was breathtaking and unlike anything I’d experienced before.
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PADI Diving Lessons in Jumeirah (09/13.12.2024)
We began our diving journey with lessons in Dubai, learning the basics and getting comfortable under the water. Good tip Darin and thanks for organising!
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Open-Water Diving in Fujairah (15.12.2024)
We then headed to Fujairah, which is an emirate on the Gulf of Oman, so on the other side of the peninsula vis à vis Dubai. We finished our scuba diving course specifically in Al Aqah and got officially certified for open water diving.
Views early in the morning on our way to Fujairah.
Getting ready and in we go…
Mission accomplished! We had a great time thanks to the excellent instructors who made the experience very enjoyable.
We spent the rest of our time in Al Aqah, Fujairah, relaxing and enjoying the hotel before heading back home.
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Abu Dhabi Mosque + Pho (18.12.2024)
We visited the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, a true architectural marvel.
We ended the day with comforting bowls of pho. It’s become a bit of a family tradition at this point!
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Dad’s Driving Experience + Pho (20.12.2024)
Dad had the time of his life on a high-speed driving experience as his 50th birthday present from Carmen and Darin. Kofi was in heaven.
We cheered him on and followed it up with more pho.
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Christmas Carols (22.12.2024)
We got into the festive spirit with an evening of carols, a lovely way to start December. Thank you Carmen! The concert hall was at the former world expo site, which is so modern and grand.
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Then we celebrated Christmas Eve with family and friends at home and Christmas Day at Falguni and Indy’s house. Such coziness and tasty food all around! We are very grateful.
Musandam, Oman adventure (26/28.12.2024)
Darin organised for four families to explore Musandam in the Governate of Oman. We were joined by Alex and Nuria with their two boys (Alex and Carmen went to Hotel school together in Switzerland and all are now longterm residents of Dubai). Nuria’s sister Susanne and husband Jörg (who live in Germany) also joined with their three children.
First, we hiked up Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah (1,934 meters high), another emirate in the UAE. Then we moved on to Khasab in Musandam, Oman. The next day we all boarded a dhow and enjoyed the water around the stark stone fjords of Musandam.
Alex and his gang left us in the late afternoon, so we settled down to sleep over on the dhow.
After a peaceful sleep on the water we woke up to go diving.
Within these videos are snippets of our underwater adventure and some of the wildlife we encountered:
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Burj Khalifa New Years Fireworks (01.01.2025)
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Dubai Desert Adventure (04.01.2025)
We (three families) spent an afternoon in the desert, driving over sand dunes (and getting stuck), watching the sunset, grilling and soaking up the incredible scenery. It was such a unique and peaceful experience.
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It was so nice to spend time with family and family friends and explore Dubai and its surroundings during our time there. We had so much laughter, adventure, and an abundance of delicious food. Carmen, Darin, Joshua, Alyssa, Hilda, and last but not least Jiji made us feel super welcome and comfortable! Mille merci.
Extra bits:
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