I resolved to spend the day clearing out my overflowing inbox, but all plans were scuppered by a request from a favourite client (TubatseDad) for accommodation in Abu Dhabi and some ideas on what to do in and around. This time, 4 years ago, I was admiring the incredible view from the beautiful Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Hotel, overlooking the Grand Canal and gorgeous Sheikh Zayed Mosque while on the Travel Counsellors Gold Weekend. What a place! It being spring, the temperature climbed to a semi-bearable 41 degrees before 8am every morning and the South African contingent spent a fair bit of time sitting in air-conditioned luxury watching the UK contingent roast themselves scarlet on the beach. But I digress.
TubatseDad wants to visit Yas Island, featuring Ferrari World and the Yas Waterworld. I recounted for him the 90 seconds of sheer terror I experienced on the World’s Fastest Rollercoaster and left out the bit where I had to basically leopard-crawl back to the taxi stop because my jellified knees refused to work for at least an hour afterwards. In hindsight, the whole Ferrari World experience was well worth the AED235 I paid for it, if only because it was a completely unique one. I was well aware, walking around the massive indoor theme park and marvelling at all things Red and Fast, that there were a half-dozen people of my acquaintance at home (DH and Ms Laing, this one’s for you..) who would have given their left arms to be where I was, and I felt a huge responsibility to them to absorb it all so that I could recount it properly when home.
I didn’t visit the Yas Waterworld, but the feedback from colleagues was that if you’re a fan of waterparks, then it’s a good one. And if you’re not…then it really isn’t for you. Their website details a themed all-day scavenger/treasure hunt that you can sign up for and my thoughts were of Uchenna and how much she would love that. I’m going to have to take her there while she’s still young enough to enjoy being a pirate.
Things To Do In Abu Dhabi:
- Get wet – very wet – at the Yas Waterworld Theme Park
- Visit Ferrari World and ride on the Fastest Roller Coaster in the World
- Take a city tour and visit Heritage Village – a quick insight into Bedouin culture in the desert
- Visit Saadiyat Island and the Manarat Al Saadiyat exhibition centre for a glimpse at the future of Abu Dhabi
- Play a round of golf at Yas Links Gold Club or, for something very different, at the all-sand Al Ghazal Golf Course
- Take a day-tour out to Al Ain Oasis and the Paradise Gardens
- Go for a spin around the incredible Abu Dhabi F1 track at Yas Marina
- Shop till you drop at one of the many Abu Dhabi shopping malls
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It’s a day for visas. The GunGuy contacted me for assistance with visas for Nigeria, which has me a little nervous as a) they’re not the easiest visas to get and b) we have a history that began with a late-night phonecall, a missing Norwegian visa and a lot of crying (on my part). Thankfully he doesn’t blame me for the previous fiasco, but I’m dreadfully aware of the need to get it 100% right this time. The Nigerians require, amongst other things, a R6000 ‘repatriation deposit’ which is refunded to you when you return to South Africa. They also insist on putting a visa sticker into your passport and Updateoften run out of stickers, sometimes for weeks at a time, which means they can’t issue visas. Only in Africa…. Thankfully they don’t require (at last check) a pre-issued ticket, so the risk is kept to a minimum.