Price of a beer in Dubai Feb 2011

The Underground Pub at Habtoor Grand Hotel = AED 35 (pint of Fosters)
Le Royal Meridien Hotel = AED 44 (pint of Fosters)
Barasti at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Hotel = AED 32 (pint of Fosters)
Sofitel Hotel = AED 38 (pint of Kronenbourg)
Armani Prive Hotel/Club = AED 45 (bottle of Heineken)

This is basically saying GBP6+ a pint.

2009 vs 2011 Food prices in Dubai.

Before I checked out the food prices I went up the Burj Khalifa to the 124 floor. The lift moves at 10m/s so it takes no time at all. It was booked up for several days in advance so if you want to go in the morning then book online in advance if you are only here for a few days.

So Back in March 2009 (see post from Thursday March 12th 2009) I went to Spinneys in Dubai Marina.

Now I went back to check how the food prices have changed.

Covent Garden Leak & Potato soup = was AED 23.50 or GBP 4.70 at the time.

# Now not stocked.

John West Yellowfin tuna in a tin = AED 10.50 or GBP 2.10 at the time.

# Now not stocked.

6 pack of Coke = AED 5.25 or GBP 1.05 at the time.

# Now AED 9 or GBP 1.55

Waitrose 8 rashers of smoked bacon = AED 32.50 or GBP 6.50 at the time

# Now AED 34.50 or GBP 5.95

Waitrose sliced cheddar cheese = AED 23.50 or GBP 4.70

# Now AED 23.50 or GBP 4.05

For interest:

6 x Eggs = AED 20.75 or GBP 3.58

2Kg Tilda Basmati = AED 17.75 or GBP 3.06

0.295Kg of Wagyu beed = AED 84.10 or GBP 14.50

USA with a Tom Tom and an iPhone

So I used both a real Tom Tom One and an iPhone with Tom Tom US on it.

- The iPhone got really hot and the battery lasted just over an hour so it had to be plugged in.

I used a Griffin adaptor and the iPhone complained the device was not made for the iPhone and wanted to turn off the cellphone side to prevent interference.

If you said "yes" then it killed the GPS as well.

- Playing music through the iPhone while running the Tom Tom app was annoying as it dimmed the music for every direction. Maybe there is a dim setting somewhere but it was too slow a fade back up.

Navigation wise they both perform brilliantly.

But you can't beat the real TomTom if you have one!

Music up loud on the radio, voice up loud on the Tom Tom.

Miami Ultra 2010

Here is Tiesto on the Main Stage. Another great festival.

It was great to see David Guetta doing the BEP "I gotta feeling".

Kennedy Space Center 2010

So I am visiting Cape Canaveral before driving down to Miami for the Ultramusic Festival.



Above is the Apollo 14 re-entry capsule.

Space Shuttle STS-131 is due for launch next month; this year is the last year of the "Space Shuttle" or "Orbiter" as they like to call it here.
Below is the inside of the cargo bay on a space shuttle.

Goto http://www.flickr.com/photos/xelazone for more shots from Kennedy Space Center.

Lisbon times.

I have been working in Lisbon for a month and a half.

Great place and really cheap for food and drink.

Back on the subject of food prices as it fascinates me ;-) (like in previous posts):

Portugal

---------

Angel hair pasta 500g = EUR 0.95 or GBP 0.87

Pesto = EUR 1.24 or GBP 1.14

Coke 6 pack = EUR 2.49 or GBP 2.29

USA

-----

Angel hair pasta 500g = USD 3.59 or GBP 2.48

Pesto = USD 5.69 or GBP 3.92

Bacon 12 slices = USD 5.09 or GBP 3.51

Coke 6 pack = USD 2.45 or GBP 1.69

Dubai

------

Bacon 8 slices = AED 32.50 or GBP 6.50

Coke 6 pack = AED 5.25 or GBP 1.05

G20 protests stop my beer flowing.

So after getting back in the morning I go out for a few pints around Liverpool Street not knowing 4 protest marches were coming into the area.

After a couple of pints the pub shuts on police orders! Damn... I had to relocate out of the area to get a drink served at only 7pm.

Right now I am commuting to work for 1.5 hours and it brings back all the memories of why I need to leave London and get a beach life full time.

London - journey's end

Iris scanned entry to the UK is so easy. I recommend it.

No queues at all where as the Immigration queue for UK/Europe passports was long.

Now for the long haul across London and home.

That was Miami South Beach.

I couldn't post anything over the last few days because my laptop broke, I left my Blackberry up in Fort Lauderdale and of course it was party party party!

Now at MIA airport waiting for the night flight home.

South Beach was always up in the high 70's and the sun was strong. As world beaches go the sand isn't the best on South Beach, where you need to go is to the pool bars in the posh hotels and party there. Once I get back to the UK I will upload some images to Flickr.

I stayed in a really nice apartment on Washington and 18th, the top end of South Beach. I had a dog to walk and that is the trick to getting the pretty girls to stop and chat to you rather than look through you!

Beach life is great

This is a commercial for the wonders of a Blackberry and emailing content straight to a blog as it happens, even if nothing is happening!

Always early to South Beach

I always like to arrive prepared and be on the front line before the battle starts.

So midnight we hit the Gansevoort South http://www.gansevoortsouth.com/ roof bar.

We were the last to leave as they shut at 3am... then onto the RokBar http://www.rokbarmiami.com/ until way too late for someone of my age.

Welcome to Miami South Beach, no rest for the wicked ;-)

Shopping in Publix supermarket

Seeing as I did it for Dubai earlier in the blog and food prices are interesting to me at least!
(Assume the exchange rate to the pound is 1.45).

Angel Hair pasta 500g USD 3.59 or GBP 2.48
Pesto 280g USD 5.69 or GBP 3.92

12 slices bacon USD 5.09 or GBP 3.51

Basmati rice 1kg USD 5.69 or GBP 3.92
Parmesan 0.5lb wedge USD 15.00 or GBP 10.34

New York strip steaks USD 10.14 or GBP 6.99

Coke 12 pack USD 4.89 or GBP 3.37

Duval Street, Key West

Keys photos on Flickr

There are some high resolution pictures on Flickr now http://www.flickr.com/photos/xelazone.

Key West and the Southernmost Hotel in USA

This is where we are staying.
It is just about 300m away from the southern most point in the continental USA!

Islamorada

MIA tree.

It is becoming a tradition to take a photo of the palm outside Miami Airport every time I arrive, this time in the dark!

LHR T3 again.

So note to self to avoid using Virgin on a Sunday morning. It took 50mins standing in line to drop off my bag, reminds me of British Airways checkin queues before they moved to the excellent T5.

Apparently there was a brief bit of rain in Miami yesterday... But now paradise is back online.

Inspite of filling in the online Visa waiver form you still have to fill in the I-94W green Visa waiver form in pen and of course the Customs CBP Form 6059B.

Bring on the Florida Keys...

Miami soon

On Sunday I need to catch a flight to Miami.

Once there it is straight from the airport to the Keys for a few days, then back to Miami for the Ultramusic festival http://www.ultramusicfestival.com/.

I have uploaded some high definition pictures to Flickr now http://www.flickr.com/photos/xelazone .

So only a few days left in London but luckily I am here for the finals of the 6 Nations Rugby with Ireland holding out for the Grand Slam!

Unfortunately my home in London doesn't have a private pool like I did in Dubai.

The Cross at the Burj Al Arab

So in 2001 all cars got a number plate with the Burj Al Arab on it.
The sail shape became iconic for Dubai.

If you see the Burj from the sea there is apparently the worlds largest cross.

This didn't go down too well once discovered so in 2004 all the number plates were changed and the Burj is not used as the Dubai icon anymore.