Lets just say there's a reason not much is open the end of May in Dubai. On return to the car the temperature read 49c and that was in the shade.
Miracle Gardens and Butterfly World are found off Umm Sequiem, take the road past the Mall of Emirates and head straight on crossing over the Al Khail Road, till you see a last minute sign post on the right for Miracle Gardens, Don't turn before the sign on the slip road, turn immediately after it, or, like me, you'll end up going the wrong way on a one way access road and having to 'off road' it like a prop up a steep sandy embankment. 4x4 mode fully engaged and still a wheel spin, but I made it.
We first visited Miracle Gardens in February it was fantastic, for the full pictures you must click
here to see it in all its glory. Entry to Miracle Gardens is AED 30 and Butterfly World is AED 50, tickets have to be bought separately and there is quite a walk between the two places, but golf carts were available to ride round on.
I was very disappointed with the gardens on this visit and I wasn't able to access them at all round by the domes, but it is Summer in Dubai, it is in the 40s everyday and very little shade available, even where there was, it provided no respite from the heat at all.
If anyone knows what these flowers are please let me know as they are doing very well in this heat and I'd like to look at growing some in my garden.
I didn't stop long in Miracle Gardens, just walked through to Butterfly World and upon entry had a coffee in the air conditioned cafe which also sold cakes and ice creams.
I'm not sure if I like these (dead) butterfly displays or not and there was no information that I could see about the types of butterflies, where they were from and how this particular lot had died.
After walking through the chains into the first of 3 domes, the noise of piped bird music and the smell from the rotten fruit was over bearing, despite requests on signage and staff members present, children were still running around, squealing as the butterflies flew near them and actually picking them up by their wings. I'm afraid to say the parents weren't doing anything to stop them so I asked one child not to pick the butterflies up as he'd kill it and he just ignored me, while the parent who had been speaking perfectly good english prior to this all of a sudden didn't understand a word I was saying.
The butterflies were all around me, landing on my camera and my arm and I had to be very careful with where I was stepping.
There were some beautifully scented flowers in the domes and such a variety of colours and there were a couple of areas with benches where you could sit down and enjoy the butterflies. The domes were also air conditioned and apart from the bird noise, smells and screaming kids it was actually quite pleasant.
Unfortunately my camera
overheated and I wasn't aware until I looked at the photos.
I am going to visit again, but not until December when the weather has cooled, the flowers aren't fighting so hard with the heat.
So how is everything going this week with Animal Tales, Time Traveller and HDYGG?
Animal Tales
Both hubby and I need to be in the UK at the same time for child 4 of 5 passing out parade in September. That mean we need to kennel the cat and dog. I've visited a couple of places this week within walking distance and I'm not impressed. The cat will spend her entire stay in a crate and the dog will be let out of his crate 3 times a day for a walk and that is that. Having joined a few face book groups I've had loads of responses with personal recommendations which I'll be checking out next week. i've also joined another group who meet every friday in the desert between 7am and 9am where the dogs run freely and socialise and of course I get to meet new people.
The cat is still struggling to find 'her spot' which I'll write about over the coming weeks, but in the meantime she has decided the hall is the best place to sleep after we finally persuaded her that the marble between the hall and the kitchen was not the best place to be.
Bob has been rather helpful this week and the poor thing is really craving a walk, so I've let him sleep on the bed with me while hubby is away, he keeps me company and is a great excuse to keep my legs elevated when I can't reach the pillow.
Time Traveller
With hubby away on Saturday for 2 weeks in the States and with my bad back I'll not be going far. Son 4 of 5 arrives here for 3 nights on a stop over from South Africa back to the UK. Again through face book I discovered couponer.ae and I've booked half price for a Dhow Cruise with dinner and a desert safari. With it being so hot and with Ramadan approaching there are some very good deals around in Dubai at the moment, I'm looking to book a brunch when hubby comes back for Father's day and my birthday as for both occasions I'll be in Canada.
I have started to sort things out for my trip despite having 3 weeks to go, I've packed my walking boots, a rain coat and 2 jumpers, I've a bag full of British, Emirate and South African goodies and gifts and my hand luggage toiletries and change of clothes after a 13 hour flight are ready.
HDYGG?
Well not very well at the moment and it's coming to an end for the time being. People have almost mocked my attempts and I feel many are just waiting for me to fail, but like I tell them, one doesn't expect flowers all year round in the UK when it's winter time, when it's too cold, so why would one expect the same here when it's too hot. I'm struggling with the watering and had to increase it to 3 times a day and be very careful not to water the leaves. I'm not sure I'm doing the plants much good with water at 42c out the ground, it's too hot to shower in or to drink, so it can't be doing the plants any good. The poor seedlings I'm afraid are doomed, with my back I can't bend to plant them out and almost 2 weeks after injuring my back, I slipped on the wet tiles and I'm afraid I'm in as much pain than I was before physio started.
