WHOLE ROAST LAMB, FAMILY FUN AND MR BEAN LINER (Dubai)

Member Name: Aang

Product:	Dubai
Date:	01/11/01 (459 review reads)
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Ossie bin Laden was in hospital here in July, and was visited by his CIA friend. This is the place for top people!

Let's fondle your taste buds.

I'm not in Henry J Bean's or Planet Hollywood because I like real food. And I want to meet Ossie Bean Liner.

I've found a posh place called Bastakiya. Think of marble and fountains and fat tummies in expensive dark suits.

I start with tabbouleh which is chopped parsley, crushed wheat and mint. It's so chopped up that the taste buzzes up to one's nostrils. There is also hoummus, full of lovely chick peas and sesame seeds. And there's a lot of lemon juice and olive oil somewhere.

The main course is a whole roast lamb. Well, to be honest, it's a bit of a whole roast lamb, and it's served with masses of nuts and rice. The lamb is crumbly, tangy and sticky with taste.

I'd love some wine, but that's only available back at the hotel.

Pud is 'bread of the harem', which is as sweet and creamy as a young harem girl.

Wild Night Life? Forget it, unless you are some kind of insider. The hotel has a pianist. There are nightclubs with Arab singers but no alcohol. Sometimes there are fairly good Western entertainers in some of the big hotels.

WHAT TO SEE?

1. There are DHOWS in the creek which have possibly been to india or Africa. You can take a boat trip. But, nowadays, there are an awful lot of modern buildings! Too many skyscrapers!

2. There are OLD bits of Dubai. You can see Arab-style courtyard houses. SHEIKH SAEED's house is a must visit place. But, so much of the old bits of town are becoming touristy and fake. They knocked down too much of old Singapore, and they've done the same here.

But, there are souks, markets full of spices and hubble bubble.

You can buy incense, bangles, coffee pots, pantaloons, and all sorts of Arabian Nights stuff.

3. Mosq
ues - Most of these look very modern. Try the Jumeirah mosque, though, because it's built in the old Middle ages style and has super minarets and dome. The Grand Mosque has stained glass and was built in 1998.

4. KIDS - Magic Planet in the Deira City Centre shopping mall has electronic games, ten pin bowling and other fun things.

Wonderland is a park with water rides, a Caribbean cruise, and a host of children's attractions.

Encounter Zone in the Wafi Shopping Mall has a rollercoaster simulator, a maze and horror chamber.

So, lots of fun things for children!

5. Shopping centres - Of course.

HOSPITAL - Osama bin Laden stayed at the AMERICAN HOSPITAL, a marble and glass building between Garhoud Bridge and Al-Maktoum Bridge. According to Le Figaro newspaper 31/10/01 Ossie stayed there in July 2001, and was visited by his pal from the CIA. Ossie had kidney problems and his doctor was Terry Callaway.

So, if you get sick, pop into one of the VIP rooms at the hospital. You might be in the bed once occupied by the world's most wanted man.

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