Only In Dubai.... Weekend in Cape Town!!!

Out of the many many many many many things I will miss about Life in Dubai, one thing is that it totally wasn't seen as anything unusual that I literally took a last minute weekend trip to Cape Town, South Africa. "Just" a 9-hour flight literally from Thursday morning arrival to Monday morning back to Dubai and back at work, piece of cake!

Long story short, had some friends doing this Cycle Argus tour, kinda a big thing in cycle worlds, think one of the largest organized bike 'events' in the world, not to mention one of the most beautiful! And got a FREE connection to a flight and with accommodations taken care of by the friends, basically had nearly a FREE trip to Cape Town! How could I say no???

Needless to say, when I was there, felt like I was truly on vacation and I had been there weeks. But then when I came back, felt like I never left as it literally was such a short trip. Was VERY action packed but also had some downtime. Cape Town is too too beautiful and although went in 2010 for actual sightseeing when I went for the World Cup, the last 2 trips there were focused on Two Oceans and spent most of the time prepping for that and was also in/out, so hadn't really done that much sightseeing. So it was such a nice change to go there purely... for fun!!!!!

Upon arrival in the morning, got settled into apartment and then went for beautiful hike up Lion's Peak. Hadn't done that before and weather was perfect and saw a bit of the sunset. Air sooo fresh and was just a perfect day to be outside.

Oopsy, as you can tell, when I have someone to take pictures, wasn't shy about having a personal photographer! Sorry they are all of me, me and meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! And also do need to move beyond my now 'normal' yoga poses, haha

The next day did early 12km gorgeous sunrise run just to shake up the 'ol legs,

and then did a day road trip and stopped along some beautiful quiet bay, literally NO ONE there on the beach (water cold!),

and then a not-so-quiet bay called Betty's Bay, known for the home of African penguins! Was too too cute and so nice to see. Who needs Antarctica? hahaha

Then it was a stop in Frenchoeck, a lovely little town that is best known for it's wineries, like Stallenbosch. Super super cute and as is in Cape Town, food delish!!! It was a super lovely 'road trip' day!

The "Malay" (Malaysian) district

Then it was another great meal near where we were staying, Green Point, then early bed because....

On Saturday met up with a super run group called Magic Bus, and this Magic Bus was doing their Long Slow Distance (LSD) of 50km! Route was - Waterfront past Lighthouse onto promenade past Clifton into Camps Bay past the 12 Apostles and Oude Kraal up to the top of Suiker Bossie and turn around just before Hout's Bay, phew!!! Was perfect for me and.... gosh, it is times like this one one feels ALIVE!!!!!!! Had such a spectacular run, can't even tell you! Loooved the scenery, looooved the group, looooooooooved seeing all the cyclists prepping for the Cycle Argus tour that next day, and just felt GREAT! Did not seem like did a 5 hour or so run, went by super quickly and was nice to chat to different people. They are super organized and had water/fueling/food stops every 4-7 km, which was just FAB!!!

Pics from Hassiem, my new BFF running buddy! (The one in the green Two Oceans t-shirt):

Was on such a runner's high after that, instead of a nap, went to the Cycle Expo to get some of my fave RaceFood. Then finally made it to the V&A Waterfront to walk around and did a spectacular sunset cruise followed by an even better meal than the previous ones, which keeps getting harder and harder to beat. Loved loved loved the day!!! And note to self, how many burgers can one eat, especially that up until the trip, have been semi Vegetarian, ha ha ha.

12 Apostles Above... funny that we ran by that just hours earlier! 

Sunday was the icing on the cake as the friends had the Cycle Argus and... I TOTALLY lied in bed and just..... lounged around! Was sooooooooooo soooooooooooooooooooooo fab, can't even say! Just to have some FREE time and DOWN TIME was too spectacular for words. And NOT setting an alarm for silly o clock in the morning. HURRRRRAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Body clock still up for sunrise... but then back to bed!

View from the room

Yes! Finally! R&R!!!

Bye Cape Town and Table Mountain! See you soon! 

Again was a gorgeous day and then the rest of the day and afternoon was spent at the Waterfront, again some good eats, and... then off to the airport!!!!

An overnight flight later, back in Dubai at 7:30am and then straight to work! 

Only in Dubai have opportunities like this! A 'short' 9-hour flight for a long weekend in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa! Love it!!!

Living in Dubai - A Full Circle

Life really does come full circle.

6 years ago I remember the process it was to get my 1st "real" apartment. What had happened as me commenting on this "nice building" when I was 'subletting' an apartment downtown, to me inquiring about it and being told it was a 'no go', to me just randomly having a patient that just happened to live there and who gave me a realtor contact that was apparently the only way 'in,' to me moving in. Literally with a few suitcases and bags. I remember clearly buying fridge and bed first, and then little by little adding... and adding... and adding. A BIG thanks went to my Dubai "mom," Kay for taking me to garage sales and buying things, Dubizzle (similar to Craigslist in the States, buying 2nd hand stuffs), to randomly getting things for free from people selling, moving, downsizing, etc etc. It took probably a full year before had all the right things to live and then another year + to get it decorated a bit. And as these things always go, next thing you know I have a 'full' apartment with somehow sets of 8-10 of dishware, a dozen or so towels, and... how did this happen? hahhaa

Well, thank GAWD that I was smart (for once!) and got everything 2nd hand so had NO attachment whatsoever to get rid of it. Then also THANK GAWD a few times a year went to garage sales to get rid of stuffs, AND being that I knew my apartment lease would end end of Feb, literally 6+ months ago started slowly yet surely getting rid of things. Wow, although am fully aware I can be a bit nazi with planning, although try not too, am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo glad I planned ahead for this because it was quite stressful these last few weeks.

But, da da dum, here it is!!!!!

(will post pics soon! esp before and after)

I think part of my demise at the marathon was this stress, the moving bit, but also where I would end up and as knew and others told me, everything will work out. After tough negotiations, found a airbnb type place through a friend, basically renting a room and bathroom from a couple that has a 2-bedroom... although more than I wanted to spend, the location is FAB and close to all my activities and most especially work! Also, was a blessing, a true blessing, that these other friends of mine just happen to go skiing and offered for me to stay at their gorgeous villa for the same week when I was transiting from my old place to my new place. So the triangle of bringing things back and forth between all of them was... quite busy and stressful. But again, blessing #3 - just happen to have a runner friend that lives literally the building next to my 'new' place that is EK crew, along with her sisters, and long story short, they are super kindly letting me park there during these next 3 months which is HUGE HUGE HUGE relief as that was another major stress.

So, as they say, everything will work out and what's meant to be is meant to be.

I also was stubborn as usual and did ALL of this by myself, and although got haphazard offers for help, it was actually easier on my own anyway.

Besides full-on work, this triangle of accommodations, also had full-on training going on and all these early wake-ups, and.... phew!!!!! Somehow made it and now that am finally 'settled' in my new place, thank gawd, now it 'hopefully' will be smooth sailing till the end!!!