The Color Run takes Dubai by storm

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I’ll admit that as I stood in line at Adventure HQ on Friday, queuing for my racepack, I had second thoughts: I had a fluey cold, I’ve been working too much and my friend who persuaded me to do a 5K race last year had gone on holiday.

DH was also leaving that night, which meant there’d be no one to force me out of bed and into my running shoes, to attend a race by myself.

Then he said those fateful words: “You won’t do it.”

Whether he just wanted to spur me into action, I don’t know. But it worked. “What makes you think that?” I retorted, replacing the negative thoughts with images of an athletic me (haha!) bounding round Dubai’s Autodrome on a sunny morning. “Of course I’m going to do it! [I said indignantly].

Turns out, I needn’t have worried. The Color Run, an American phenomenon that’s gaining worldwide popularity, isn’t a race at all. It wasn’t timed, most people walked, you could cut huge corners (shaving off at least half a kilometre), and, best of all, it actually lived up to its moniker as the happiest 5K on the planet.

As more than 8,500 people made their way round the racetrack at Motor City, the venue literally exploded into a puff of colour. Runners started in white t-shirts, and at each kilometre were caked in brightly coloured powders (made from natural food-grade corn starch) thrown by volunteers.

The 5K with a twist turned Dubai's Autodrome into a kaleidoscope of colour on Saturday morning

The 5K with a twist turned Dubai’s Autodrome into a kaleidoscope of colour on Saturday morning

The atmosphere was uplifting and, needless to say, the finish line was one big party, with music blaring, colour throws, dancing and entertainers. It was also remarkably well organised, even down to the plastic kagool included in the racepack so you could drive home without smudging powder all over the seat.

Before the big clean-up, I nipped into our local shop for some essentials and got chatting to the store manager. He eyed my splattered clothes and wild hair style straight out of the good old punk days, and – in a nod to the way the UAE respects all kinds of beliefs – asked: “Have you been celebrating something? Must have been quite a celebration!” he commended.

It was – of health, happiness and getting active. Well done Daman’s Activelife, for making 8,500 people smile from ear-to-ear while exercising and for bringing more colour to the desert than I’ve ever seen.

Colour throws at the finish line party

Colour throws at the finish line party

Flowers, cameras and whistles

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Last weekend my parents were with us, and as part of our entertainment schedule, I took them to Dubai’s Miracle Garden – a 72,000-square-metre riot of colour, growing on what was previously parched desert.

Sprouting just minutes from where we live, the Miracle Garden opened back in February, with 45 million flowers and topiary-style displays fashioned into hearts, pyramids, maypoles, igloos, birds and stars. It occurred to me when we first visited in March that the garden was really quite barmy – rather like walking round a giant hanging basket, or a set from Alice in Wonderland.

On our first visit, we found out what a giant breast implant made of petunias would look like; strolled under pergolas decorated with colourful garlands; and marvelled at the number of things they’d thought to do with the same flower.

"Mum, why has the car got grass growing out of it?"

“Mum, why has the car got grass growing out of it?”

But we’d had an enjoyable visit, so back we went last week, to see what they’d unveiled for the new season.

Well, what can I say? There’s a floral clock, an edible garden, displays made from Hannah Montana umbrellas, giant peacocks, vertical cars buried in flower beds (curiouser and curiouser) and houses covered in blooms.

A couple of different varieties of flower have even been added to the kaleidoscope of colour, as well as refreshment outlets serving ice cream, coffee, juices and the like.

Having paid the entry fee (Dhs 20 for everyone over the age of three), we stepped inside and realised immediately we’d chosen a busy day – the number of people, and cameras, meant the garden was quite literally crawling with life. But not only that, you quickly become aware that you’re being followed.

Your suspicions are confirmed when you step too close to the flowers, and the whistle-blowing starts. Woe-betide if you’ve come with a youngster who stops to smell the flowers. There’s a small army of over-enthusiastic, menacing guards, prowling round the garden, whistles at the ready, waiting to pounce on anyone who thinks this is just a park.

It’s not a park, they want us to know. It’s a work of art and while you’re free to enjoy the prettiness – and madness – of it all, you must.not.touch.

Looking around, I see a pregnant lady sitting on the grass, resting her weary feet, only to have a whistle blown at her by a guard clearly corrupted by all that power. Less than a minute later, I see another member of the visitor resistance jump out from behind the petunias to scare off a group of people looking too closely at the flowers.

A children’s play area and butterfly garden are promised, but we didn’t actually find them and ended up distracting our kids from the flowers by showing them the model elephants and giraffes over the fence, at the Dubai Properties office. The ice cream helped too.

If you go (joining the million people expected to visit this season), I have a few words of advice: pick a quiet day when the photo-taking petunia paparazzi aren’t out in force, and, above all, stick to the rules.

More information at: Miracle Garden Dubai

Our first visit: Dubai Miracle Garden

That competition called ‘Parenting’

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I long ago gave up comparing myself to other parents. There was just no point.

When the boys came along, I quickly had to develop the attitude: So what if Felicity’s mum is thin, has perfect hair, perfect arms, kicks ass in the PTA and can control her children in public? I learnt to thank my lucky stars that I’d had time to brush my teeth that morning.

Day 10: Spa day for elf

Day 10: Spa day for elf. What next?!

Experts say it’s human nature to compare ourselves – to size ourselves up against other mums who are prettier, fitter and better at juggling it all. Comparing can be a learned behaviour or a result of unrealistic expectations we see in the media – either way, it’s definitely not good for us.

As long as the kids are healthy, happy, safe and taken care of, you’re doing a great job as a parent and, anyway, who knows what Felicity’s mum’s life is really like.

My children, however, are unbelievably quick to go down the comparison rabbit hole. It’s something you’re never told about being a mum, that – day in, day out – you’ll get to hear why you’re such a mean mummy and what ‘everyone else’ is up to. Some examples from the past few days:

“But all the children on the bus have iPads!”

“Everyone else put their Christmas tree up weeks ago.”

“Drummond has Goldfish in his lunchbox.”

“Fritz is getting an Xbox for Christmas!”

“Will you come on the school trip? You’ve never been on a school trip Mum. Horace’s mum’s coming.”

“I want to wear a red shirt with a Christmas tree on for the sing-a-long. Everyone else has a tree on their top.”

Referring to a school project we did together, “Our volcano was boring Mum! All the other volcanoes actually exploded.” (Lord knows how)

And now it’s December, you can bet you’ll get to see exactly where everyone’s Elf on the Shelf is for the next couple of weeks – the mischievous little tinker!

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You might also like: ‘WHY?’ and other annoying phrases

A Christmas Parody – Spoilt (Brilliant remake! Follow link, and press ‘Click to play’ at the top if it doesn’t start automatically)

The stuff of dreams

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I was attempting to park the car today on the side road at school, which involves mounting a small slope, backwards, and manoeuvring into a slither of a space between shiny BMWs, when my five-year-old told me he’d had a funny dream last night.

“Mmm, really,” I said, not really paying much attention as I inched the car gingerly into the slot. (I swear my husband has an easier time parking the A380 at Dubai International airport than most mums in Dubai have when negotiating the drop off).

As I unloaded Son2 with his various bags and his lunch box, I remembered what he’d just said and asked him to tell me more.

I’m fascinated by what kids dream about. Apparently, they even dream in the womb, and anyone who’s watched a small baby’s expression as he sleeps will know that tiny infants have vivid, simplistic dreams too.

Sweet dreams Son 2, sweet electronic dreams

Sweet dreams Son2, sweet electronic dreams

Dreams can be like children’s drawings, telling us a lot about their emotions. They’re the adventures our kids live in their sleep – and, here in Dubai, where so many of the little ones are bi- or even tri-lingual, it fascinates me what language they dream in.

“What was your dream about?” I prompted, hoping for a window into what’s on his mind.

“I dreamt about Minecraft,” Son2 replied.

“Oh.” [Not quite the insight I was hoping for.]

“Was it a bad dream?” I asked, wondering if the zombies were the modern-day equivalent of the wolves, witches and ogres of more traditional childhood dreams.

“No, I was in Minecraft,” he said proudly. “I was walking round the server, all night!” he told me, with a grin that suggested it was his best dream ever.

Hardly Hansel and Gretel, but at least he was all smiles after an entertaining sleep.

Travel post: The sultanate of Oman

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We’ve reached that glorious time of the year when travel around the GCC is a blissful mix of perfect temperatures and vibrant culture. Oman, with its mountain ranges, wadis and dramatic landscapes, is hard to beat. Right on the UAE’s doorstep, the sultanate is still infused with the spirit of deepest Arabia and welcomes tourists with a warm and genuine hospitality.

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Grand scenery: Oman’s Empty Quarter lives up to its name

Gold, frankincense and mirth in old Arabia

Once a sleepy backwater of the Arab world, Oman has been transformed over recent decades by the modernising zeal of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said.

When he rose to power in a palace coup in 1970, there were only 10 kilometres of paved roads, and the sultanate was suffering from rising poverty and illiteracy rates. Today, the picturesque country boasts an extensive network of highways, up-to-date facilities and a rapidly expanding service sector.

Yet, despite the modernisation drive, Oman still offers a refreshing reminder of a bygone age. A wonderfully exotic winter-sun destination, it is one of the best places in the Gulf to experience traditional Arabia, complemented by a natural beauty and a variety of climate and geography unrivalled in the region.

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Sandstone: The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque can host up to 20,000 worshipers

City tour
The capital Muscat is in fact three smaller towns that have grown together over time: Muscat, often referred to as the ‘walled city’ and the site of the royal palaces; Muttrah, originally a fishing village; and Ruwi, the commercial and diplomatic centre.

Swarovski crystal: The enormous chandelier in the grand mosque weighs 8.5 tonnes

Swarovski crystal: The enormous chandelier in the grand mosque weighs 8.5 tonnes

Don’t leave the capital without seeing the Royal Opera House Muscat (the first opera house in the Gulf, built from Omani desert rose stone and stucco wall coverings, and surrounded by landscaped gardens); the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque; the Portuguese forts in the Old Town; and the Bait Al Zubair Museum, containing a wealth of information and exhibits on the country’s culture, tradition and heritage.

Shopping in Muscat’s ancient Muttrah souk is an unmissable experience, with bargains to be had, especially sumptuous pashminas and gold jewellery. While in Muttrah, step into the fish market and stroll along the corniche, taking in the beautiful merchant houses.

Exploring the sultanate
While a city tour is fascinating in itself, and a dolphin-spotting cruise off Muscat’s coast is sure to delight the family, you’ll also want to venture further afield.

Varied: From the fort-dotted mountains of the interior to the beaches of the east coast and the monsoon-kissed greenery of Salalah, the sultanate offers an exhilarating mix of splendid scenery and cultural discovery

Varied: From the fort-dotted mountains of the interior to the pristine beaches of the east coast, the sultanate offers an exhilarating mix of untouched beauty and adventure

Head inland to Nizwa, the old capital, which is surrounded by mountains on every side, or for a classic desert encounter with towering dunes, make your way to the magnificent Wahiba Sands.

Jebel Akhdar, Oman’s Green Mountain, encompasses the great Saiq Plateau, at 2000m above sea level, along with a labyrinth of spectacular wadis and terraces. You’ll need a 4WD to explore this area, which isn’t green like the name suggests, but enjoys cooler mountain air (temperatures during December to March can drop to -5°C) and increased rainfall (including hailstones). Look out for prize pomegranates, apricots and other fruit.

Zighy Bay: Feel like you're in Thailand, without the flight

Zighy Bay: Like you’re in Thailand, without the flight

The far north of Oman, the Musandam Peninsula, is a mountainous exclave separated from the rest of the sultanate. Within easy driving reach of the UAE, the scenic strip of land treats visitors to a combination of hideaway resorts and rugged coastline. You could opt to pamper yourself at Zighy Bay (www.sixsenses.com) or go trekking and diving from the Golden Tulip Resort in Khasab (www.goldentulipkhasab.com).

Between June and October, Oman’s southernmost province of Dhofar is lightly touched by the monsoon winds that drench India each year. Life here is more traditional, and the coastline bordering the regional capital, Salalah, was once the site of the Frankincense Trail, considered in ancient times to be southern Arabia’s most important commercial route.

Monsoon-kissed: A Frankincense forest during the summer khareef rains

Monsoon-kissed: A Frankincense forest during the summer khareef rains

The beachside Hilton Salalah Resort is set in a wonderful location, or try the Salalah Marriott Resort at Mirbat. You can travel inland to see the trees from which the ancient perfume is harvested, and make sure you don’t miss the markets, or the 3,000-year-old lost city of Ubar, at one time the frankincense export capital of the world.

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Dubai wins the World Expo

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SUBTITLE: And the kids are off school, again!

So the city was successful in its bid to host the Expo 2020, making Dubai the toast of Paris (where voting was held on Wednesday night). And, it was really quite amazing how celebratory it all felt, especially given the fact that half the people out partying will probably have moved away long before 2020.

(And I do wonder how many actually knew what the Expo is – but that’s the Expo factor for you, and anything that causes a nation to erupt in joy is a good thing in my books.)

It was just before 8pm when the Expo spirit took hold of me. As I’ve mentioned before, we’ve been writing about it at work for months so I did have much more than a passing interest. But, all of a sudden, as the results of the second round of voting came in – and Dubai emerged as the clear leader – a plan started taking shape in my mind.

“Let’s go to the Burj,” I blurted out to DH. “C’mon, if we go now, we can do it.” He looked at me dubiously, as though I was totally bonkers. Not only would there be thousands of people, but the traffic was likely to be horrendous.

“I’ll just get ready,” I added.

“No,” he countered. “If you really want to do this, we have to go right now.”

With the radio on in the car, we made our way towards the Burj Khalifa, the centerpiece of the planned fireworks display. “What if we don’t win?” we wondered. “They’ll just put the fireworks away until New Year,” I shrugged.

But, to be honest, by now, it was in the bag and as the announcement neared, I realised there was no way we’d get to the Burj in time. We’d be in the Dubai Mall car park and miss everything, so I had my second bright idea of the night – to pull off the side of the road, onto the sand, and watch from there.

The view was great – breathtaking even. And as the spectacular fireworks cascaded up and down the Burj, and bursts of colour exploded into the starry sky, I did feel proud – for a few moments, until I realised dozens of other cars were careering off Al Khail road with the same idea as us, and I was standing in a rather precarious position, like a deer caught in the headlights and amid much celebratory beeping of horns.

But, still, I’ll always remember where I was when the Expo 2020 win was announced.

Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Expo Win! And Happy UAE National Day next week. There's a lot to celebrate. I did, however, fail to see the link between the Expo bid and education. The schools were closed, thanks to the jubilant mood of the powers -that-be, and with National Day coming up, the kids have two more days off after the weekend - lucky things!

Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Expo Win! And Happy UAE National Day next week. There’s a lot to celebrate. I did, however, fail to see the link between the Expo bid and education. The schools were closed, thanks to the jubilant mood of the powers-that-be, and with National Day coming up, the kids have two more days off after the weekend – lucky things!

Megaprojects on YOUR doorstep

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If there’s one thing I’ve learnt about Dubai, it’s that nothing stays the same for very long. Yes, there was a lull, when tools were downed and the rapid pace of construction ground to a shuddering halt, but that’s all in the past now: Dubai is back, with some audacious megaprojects in the pipeline.

Right on our doorstep, it would seem.

“Look,” I exclaimed to DH the other day, as we drove into our compound. “How did I not notice that before?” I was referring to the rows of half-built houses, rising out of the desert like a mirage.

“Yep,” said DH. “That’s the end of the Cliffs of Despair and Devil’s Ditch,” he sighed, recalling the geographical features we’d named and rolled toy dump-trucks down while entertaining our boys in the vast patch of desert wasteland across the road from our compound.

When we first moved to our current villa, it all felt rather pioneering, with very little out here other than sand – miles and miles of the stuff, stretching into the far blue yonder and punctuated by wirey, heat-resistant shrubs. Now, we’re firmly in the Dubai ‘belt’, and developments are springing up all around us.

Not all that far from where we live is the site for the proposed Expo 2020. If you’re a resident of Dubai, you would had to have been living under a rock with the scorpions for the past year to not know about this – and with just TWO days to go until the decision is made, it’s fair to say that the anticipation has reached fever-pitch.

(If we don’t get it, I’m not sure I could bear the disappointment [crosses everything and wishes Dubai good luck!].)

The other candidate cities are Yekaterinburg in Russia, Izmir in Turkey and Sao Paulo in Brazil, and the word on the street is the emirate is a strong contender [C’mon Dubai!].

We’ve been writing about the Expo-factor at work for months now, as it’s undoubtedly triggering swathes of developers to descend like hawkes – but, the fact is, even without the Expo, Dubai is in the ascendant again. Here’s just a sample of some of the projects the emirate has up its sleeve – coming soon in your neighbourhood:

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Inspired by the London Eye, Dubai’s very own Ferris wheel will be the central attraction on a new island being constructed

• An opera house is planned for Downtown Dubai. Earmarked to be built next to the Burj Khalifa, it’ll form part of a new area called the Dubai Modern Art Museum and Opera House District.

• Five theme parks in the Jebel Ali area have been given the green light to go ahead, at a total cost of AED10bn. There will be parks based on both Hollywood and Bollywood, as well as a marine park, a children’s park and a night safari.

• An extension to the Dubai Mall is being developed, comprising a fashion avenue next to the existing mall.

• The Mohammed bin Rashid City megaproject will house the world’s largest shopping mall, more than 100 hotels and will also contain a Universal Studios theme park.

• An island project off the Jumeirah Beach Residence coastline was launched in February this year and will include the Dubai Eye, a 210-metre-high Ferris wheel (do I need to add that it’ll be the biggest in the world, or are we oblivious to superlatives now?). Bluewaters Island will also host retail, residential, hospitality and entertainment zones, and will be connected to the mainland by a monorail and cable car.

• A water canal project will connect Business Bay to the Gulf. In addition to crossing Sheikh Zayed Road, the waterway will cross Al-Wasl Road and Jumeira Beach Road before entering the sea.

Silent Sunday: Dubai quirks

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Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year in Dubai, due to the cooler weather and laid-back atmosphere. But, there’s no doubt, it can be a funny thing too. Where else would a festive family fair, with a highly coveted Santa’s grotto for the children, be postponed until the end of January?

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Another quirk I’ve noticed about living in Dubai is that they don’t make waterproof buildings. I guess it rains so infrequently, why bother? But, every now and then, this oversight results in torrents of water gushing down walls and across floors indoors. Check out the leaks that sprung at the new airport during a bout of rain last week – honestly, you have to watch this to believe it!

Spit-mageddon

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Since it rains so infrequently in Dubai, it feels fitting that the events of today’s spit-mageddon are recorded on the blog. Here goes:

6.15am: Wake with an uneasy feeling. There’s a strange darkness creeping round the curtains; I peer out the window and see ominous-looking clouds.

8.15am: The children safely at school, I continue on to work. Suddenly, the sky is split in half by a bolt of lightening. Rain drops start falling.

8.15-8.18am: Spend several minutes trying to locate the windscreen wipers on the car.

9.30am: While the sky is still a pale-grey colour, and the sea looks glassy, the rain appears to have stopped.

10am: Rumours surface that the KHDA, the government body that oversees education, thinks there’s a cyclone coming, and is shutting down all schools, immediately.

10.30am: Rumours confirmed. Schools send text messages to all parents, telling us to pick up our children as soon as possible, by 11.30am at the latest in the case of Son1.

10.30-11am: The evacuation sends all the parents in the office into overdrive. Frantic phone calls are made to car pool buddies and housekeepers. “The children are coming home!”

11.10am: Mothers all over the UAE mobilise their resources and cancel their afternoon engagements. “I was planning on an 11am Ashtanga yoga class, followed by a gellish manicure and a triple berry smoothie at the Lime Tree Cafe,” I imagine inconvenienced yummy-mummies saying. “And the nanny insists on resting in the afternoon.”

11.15am: Manage to get Son1 and Son2 home from different schools, by hook or by crook, without leaving my desk.

11.20am: Yet, despite the dire weather warnings, the sky looks like this:

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Thanks for the photo B! Brightening up outside.

2pm: Texting DH who’s just landed in Melbourne, and three hours after the event, has received the SMS messages from school. “What’s happening?” he asks. “I can’t see anything like a cyclone on the wx map!”

3pm: Still no cyclone. Not even a downpour.

4pm: Will it, won’t it? The rain watch continues.

Rain watch at our office. Just *joking*. We were actually watching the Red Arrows aerobatic team performing loops and rolls above the Burj al-Arab

Raindrop-spotting at our office. Just *joking*. We were actually watching the Red Arrows aerobatic team performing loops and rolls above the Burj al-Arab

6pm: Drive home and hear all about how exciting it was when school closed.

Look at all this rain! Good job the kids were safe at home

Look at all this rain! Good job the kids were safe at home

A shake my head moment

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So I was flicking through our local newspaper, 7Days, and read that police in Abu Dhabi are clamping down on the size of containers on the back of pizza-delivery bikes.

From next month, pizza-delivery boxes must be no bigger than 40cm in length, width and height. Not only that, they must also have no sharp edges and not be made of metal.

The new rules are the result of a series of scrapes and bumps with the capital’s motorists, and will apparently be tightly regulated. New riders must even apply for approval (probably in triplicate, and with passport photos of their grandmother’s budgie) before they can fix a perfectly proportioned delivery box on their motorbike.

I was digesting this news, and imagining police in Lamborghini Aventadors with measuring tape, chasing down moped riders with oversized containers stuffed full of pizza, when another headline caught my eye.

Although just an idea at the moment, the head of Dubai Traffic Police has proposed a superhighway linking UAE cities on which drivers with flashy cars could travel at 200 KILOMETRES AN HOUR.

OMG! A study is even promised to see if such a road would be feasible. I mentally checked to see if it was April 1st, then decided they must have read the recent satirical story in the The Pan-Arabia Enquirer – on a gold-class lane between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, cordoned off with a red velvet rope – and thought, “What a splendid idea; that’ll make sure all those dusty Lancers, Corollas and pizza-delivery bikes don’t hold anyone up.”

Somehow, I don’t think the UAE is ready for an Autobahn just yet.

Do you?

"Awesome idea," said 24-year-old petrolhead Marcus McGrath, a salesman who owns an Audi R8 sports car. "I speed anyway. This would mean I could do it in a safer way." UGHHHHH!

“Awesome idea,” said 24-year-old petrolhead Marcus McGrath, a salesman who owns an Audi R8 sports car. “I speed anyway. This would mean I could do it in a safer way.” UGHHHHH, am speechless! PHOTO from 7DAYS