The Gremlins’ Dad turned 30-something last
month and as for the thanksgiving, we drove to Al Ain then a family lunch at Al Barari Farm.
I booked a hotel stay at Mercure Grand atop
Jebel Hafeet but we arrived only by 6pm on check-in day. We regretted being too
late because there were great kids facilities in the area and the Gremlins
missed to use them.
We are used to staying at hotels as our base
for our long drives (we wanted to catch the sunrise in Al Ain) rather than to
actually be in the hotel for the entire time and relax. We realized this
attitude should change now with two Gremlins in tow who should have activities
of their own.
Out by the balcony, we had a beautiful sweeping view of Al Ain’s lights with the mountains.
The alarm rang 6am but the horizon was hazy/
foggy and no chance for a good sunrise photo from the mountains. We left
the hotel for the main reason of the drive – a sunrise photo at Zakher Lake. It
was a foggy morning but photo enthusiasts were just everywhere from Jebel
Hafeet to Zakher Lake. The Al Ain Photographia Awards sure has got everyone
excited.
Back to the hotel, the Husband has to blow his birthday
candle. I was glad they had a café where I ordered the cake from.
By 1pm, we were driving down back to Zakher
Lake, again to the other end (we had the advantage of confidence to drive by
the sand dunes, :- ) ):
Little Girl has all the while been behaving in her
car seat. Although I let her play out, we had to leave for a 3pm booking in
Dubai.
The Husband’s birthday lunch is back in Dubai
at The Farm in Al Barari. From the entrance, it’s a long drive along tall,
thick, lush greens, which for a while transported us away from the thought that
we are actually in a sandpit. Reaching the restaurant itself, a really
beautiful place further greeted us:
Water lilies, flowing water, green lawns,
gardens, hammock,
Surrounded and enclosed in greens, we were mentally
transported awhile forgetting we are actually living in the desert.
As I asked the staff what could be a good
desert to put a birthday candle, he offered a complementary lemon cheese cake:
We stayed for the next three hours, that seemed so short for a great and relaxing place :- )
So Husband's desire granted on his birthday, another great family day.
