Addis Ababa – Dubai
Food service included an extra cart coming along between the Hor Dourves and main course which presented a selection of Ethiopian food. When asked if I would like to try any I replied I would like to try the lot. The girl took me at my word and I was presented with a bewildering array of strange looking dishes. Needless to say I ploughed through them all and found nothing I disliked and a few that I’d like to take a few bucket full’s home. Unfortunately, I have no idea what any of it was called so the whole exercise to be a waste of time except in proving that I am a pig.
Needless to say it was a bit of a struggle to eat my fillet steak main course but I persevered!
On landing and after collecting luggage and clearing passport and customs facilities I was met outside by a chap who was not a driver as he appeared, but the chap I am coming to do the job for. He must have had a stressful day.
He took me back to the hotel; I showered and changed and he called and insisted he take me to dinner.
I tried my hardest to convince him I was stuffed but he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
It was only the fact that the food was so good in the Lebanese restaurant that we visited that I managed to eat my order.
After dinner we went window shopping around a couple of absolutely exquisite shopping malls. It is easy to see that Dubai is choc full of affluent people. Last time I saw shops and contents of this quality was when I last visited Hong Kong.
Anyway, it was a good opportunity to note the prices of the things that I want to buy before leaving here.
Of course I will not shop in these rich boy shops, I shall visit the souks where one can haggle over a cup of tea whilst sat crossed legged on a threadbare carpet.
I now have an idea of prices in Dubai which are certainly pretty good but I shall pitch my opening offers 20 – 25% below these shops.
If you pitch too high you lose money; and if you pitch too low below the real cost of an item, the Arab traders have no respect for you. In either case it is not so much fun because they will not bargain with an idiot.
All the shops seem to stay open till after midnight.
I am looking forward to going out in search of my Boyz Toyz.
Left Addis Abba and arrived Dubai at 1530.
Food not quite as good but there was an extra trolly. A selection of Ethiopian food. Tried them all.
First time I’ve really felt full up for ages.
Met Haji and drove to Hotel. 2 Star not very nice place. Located on edge of an old part of town that is full of little shops run by Indians or whatever immigrants are around.
