3rd Week in Dubai

So I finally found an apartment.  It’s a one bedroom unit in a brand new building near Panorama Hotel across Mankhool if you’re coming from Burjuman.  I had to meet my broker on Wednesday to pay the deposit so I took a cab from work.  I was trying to explain where it was and how to get there but somehow it was all either lost in translation or it could have been just because of the unusual lack of street addresses.  The driver was familiar enough with Panorama Hotel so I was telling him that the buliding was just right behind it.  I was trying to describe how to get there, that we’d have to take Bank Street (which isn’t the real name of the street, people just call it that because there’s a lot of banks) and turn right at Mankhool.  From Mankhool, we needed to take another right at the cemetery.  He looked at me dumbfounded by the instruction when he finally asked, "Cemetery, what is this cemetery?"  I replied, "When you die, they bury you there." "Ah," he goes.

It was mid-day and I hadn’t really had a chance to go around a select a specific unit.  I went around the first floor with the broker and selected room 112 which has a good view of the street in front and two intersecting streets on the left and right.  You can also see the cemetery.

The cost of renting is 90000AED annually (95000 if the broker isn’t able to convince the landlord), plus a few other things like 5000AED refundable security deposit, 4500AED commission for the broker, 1000AED refundable deposit for electricity and some other smaller items.  Of course I also have to purchase some appliances and the furniture.  The apartment does have a pool, gym, sauna and, I think, a jacuzzi, all of which I haven’t seen.  These are all pretty standard in most new apartments in Dubai and you shouldn’t really expect a lot anyway.  As long as you’re in a good, clean, and convenient location, you’re all good. I also get a parkin slot, but until I get a car, that’s pretty useless.  I do know that some people rent out these parking spaces to those other people who can afford to have more than one car.

The bulding constructions isn’t completed yet but my apartment is done.  I should be able to move in, hopefully, by the 2nd or 3rd week of May.  Otherwise, I will have to move in on the 2nd or 3rd week of June.

It was my nephew’s birthday yesterday and, to celebrate, my sister has arranged a party at her apartment today.  I was tasked to decorate the cupcakes they had baked.  Each was a masterpiece in its own right.

Cars is supposedly Darien’s favorite cartoon character and is the theme of his party.

Can you see the resemblance to the Mona Lisa? 

No I didn’t design or have anything to do with this cake.  But it’s a cool cake.

The UAE flag.

Creative juices were running low.

Really low. 

DEWA is the Dubai Electric and Water Authority.  The Slab is a way of segmenting consumers based on their average consumption, and is their campaign to make people more environmentally reponsible.  It’s a good methodology and I believe should be implemented by Meralco.

A little commemoration to our sponsors. Haha