Christmas Break

We are fortunate enough to have 3 weeks off for Winter Break!  This is awesome if you are travelling back home for Christmas.  However, we would have to save every single extra dirham in order to fly back home (and as such, receive no presents), so we're staying here.  It is mildly less awesome if you are staying here and have to find things to do for 3 weeks so you don't spend the three weeks crying because you're missing family Christmas.

Hili Archaeological Site Tombs

So, we've compiled a list of things to do over the break to entertain us.

1. Go play in the desert.

2. Go to Hili Archaeological site (it's a UNESCO World Heritage site that dates back to the Bronze Age), and is right next to #3.
3. Hili Fun City- an amusement park that someone gave us buy 1 get 1 coupons for.  Woohoo!

Al Ain Palace Museum

4. Al Ain Palace Museum- the founding father of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed (may he rest in peace), lived in Al Ain, and since his death in 1994, his Palace has become a public museum. It's in the middle of the town center, and has an oasis within the compound.

Global Village

5. Global Village- There is a world's fair- type place in Dubai that is open October through March that has trinkets and handmade items and food from all over the world.  We've heard that India's section is amazing.

Ski Dubai

6. SkiDubai- Indoor Ski slope.  We have no confidence that our children would go down a ski slope, but they do have a Snow park to play in with snow and a toboggan hill. buy 1 get 1 coupon woohoo!









7. Al Ain Oasis- The reason that this city has been inhabited for thousands of years.

8. Watch a list of Christmas movies repeatedly.  We've already watched Home Alone and The Santa Clause 1, 2, and 3 multiple times.  Still to go: Elf, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, White Christmas, Polar Express, and Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer.



9. Maybe drive to Dubai to watch fireworks from the Burj Khalifa on New Years Eve. Maybe. It sounds trafficky.

If you've ever wanted to see what it's like to live here, this magazine that shows a snapshot of life in Al Ain.  Oasis Living has good articles and lets you know about upcoming events.  This link is for the entirety of December's magazine.  Oasis Living Magazine December 2013

Merry Christmas!