Field Trip to Dino Live!

K-12 organizes field trip every month for full time students - this month, we headed to Dino Live, indoor Dinosaur Exhibition.   The boys watched a short 3D movie, and learned about various dinosaurs(life size).  It is hard to imagine that these dinosaurs really lived on the Earth millions of years ago.

 :: Best buddies - Caleb, Luka, Max and Ben

K-12 Homeschool Group with teachers.

Tea time.....

Finally winter has arrived in Dubai! It has been chilly here in Dubai in low 60's - I mean really chilly!.  We must have adapted to a nice warm weather. :).  I have been wearing sweater and socks in the house and drinking lots of tea.  My toes are freezing on the tile floors here.   Oh how I miss heated floors in Korea....(엄마, 아빠 가시고 나서 날씨가 무지 추워진거 있지..아, 발시려워..)  

During our recess today, Ben and I had some tea together with toast/apple butter.  I made this tea especially for Ben.  He would not sit still for 5 minutes and constantly moves around like a little worm!!!  Oh boy!!!  did it help after he drank his "calm" tea?  I think I need to make it stronger next time! LOL

Backyard race track

When we moved into our villa, backyard was full of sand -the landlord didn't want to do anything.   We did put some gravels and plants around the house but left the backyard as it was.  First of all, we were renting this villa so we didn't want to put grass and spend money to maintain it especially in the hot summer.  Second, we kinda liked a desert like backyard well, we are living in the desert so why not!.  Third, the boys loved the sandy backyard! James even built a sandbag fort for them.   They have been enjoying it so much! they have the biggest sandbox!

Today, James and the boys made a racing track for their remote control truck they got for Christmas.

What a fun! they loved it! 

(아빠, 비디오 가운데 클릭하세요) 

 :: it was a windy day!

:: The boys have such a COOL Daddy who knows what they want by heart!

I am thankful for the last 21 days....

It is hard to believe that 21 days have been gone and my parents and two nieces are back to Korea already.  Our house seems so quiet without them-there were always plenty of activities, noises in the house .   We ate lots of Korean food (thanks to my Mom--she has a wonderful servant's heart - she always serves everyone).  The boys loved my Dad's back rub -every night they would ask my Dad to rub their back.:).  The girls said that they really enjoyed everything we did in Dubai especially shopping:).  We also enjoyed their visit so much..especially ME..:).

Saying good bye was hard at the airport but I am looking forward to our next visit to Korea whenever that will be..Thank you Mom and Dad for coming over to see us.  I wish we lived closer... We love you! and miss you already!

아빠, 엄마

두바이에서 21일이나 있었는데 너무 짧게 느껴지는거 있지..엄마 여기와서 편하기 쉬고 가시라고 오시라고 했는데..제대로 쉬지도 못하고 우리 해먹이느라 힘들었지..어깨도 아픈데..나도 애들땜에 짜증내서 미안...엄마 아빠 맘도 안편했지..어쨋든 엄마 아빠와서 너무 좋았어..더 있다가 갔음 좋았을텐데..이렇게 멀리 살아서 미안...엄마 아빠, 몸 건강하시고 다음에 우리가 한국에 갈때까지 맛있는 음식도 사 드시고 운동도 하고 그렇게 지내세요...그리고 내년 겨울에 또 두바이 오세요! 알았죠? 사랑해요 엄마 아빠...막내딸 현주..

At the top.....124th floor of Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world..

We took my parents and two nieces to Burj Khalifa, At the Top(124th floor observation deck) one of the greatest landmarks of UAE on their last night in Dubai.  We were able to see the city of Dubai in the daylight and after the sunset.

Bringing Burj Khalifa to life required a combination of visionary ideals and solid science. In the process, the project amassed an awe-inspiring number of facts, figures, and statistics.

World Records

At over 828 metres (2,716.5 feet) and more than 160 stories, Burj Khalifa holds the following records:

•  Tallest building in the world

•  Tallest free-standing structure in the world

•  Highest number of stories in the world

•  Highest occupied floor in the world

•  Highest outdoor observation deck in the world

•  Elevator with the longest travel distance in the world

•  Tallest service elevator in the world 

Tallest of the Supertall

Not only is Burj Khalifa the world’s tallest building, it has also broken two other impressive records: tallest structure, previously held by the KVLY-TV mast in Blanchard, North Dakota, and tallest free-standing structure, previously held by Toronto’s CN Tower. The Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) has established 3 criteria to determine what makes a tall building tall. Burj Khalifa wins by far in all three categories.  

Height to architectural top

Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the architectural top of the building. This includes spires, but does not include antennae, signage, flagpoles or other functional-technical equipment. This measurement is the most widely used and is used to define the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat rankings of the Tallest Buildings in the World.

             

Highest occupied floor

Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the highest continually occupied floor within the building. Maintenance areas are not included.

           

Height to tip

Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the highest point of the building, irrespective of material or function of the highest element. This includes antennae, flagpoles, signage and other functional-technical equipment.

Dubai city view from the top

:: Dubai Mall fountain show from the top

::more floors to the top

Indoor Skydiving experience....

We went to the Skydiving Center, which is Dubai's Crown Prince Hamdan's private wind tunnel - this place is for Skydive Dubai staffs/instructors and by invitation only!. 

When James came to Dubai for his job in Sep 2010, he and his friend Randy visited Skydive Dubai, and met a guy named Nassir, a manager of Skydive Dubai.  While they were talking, someone showed up who seemed like VIP..Nassir introduced James to him and he was Crown Prince Hamdan. (He Owns Skydive Dubai).  Hamdan asked James and his friend if they want to come to his private wind tunnel with him and do indoor skydiving.So, they went there and had a great time!  

To make a long story short, last week, James was talking to Nassir, and he invited him to come to the private club and do indoor skydiving...so we all went there and had an awesome time!  Freddy, who did Tandem Skydiving with James on his birthday was there and he was a great help!  

:: This place was amazing!

:: Crown Prince Hamdan

:: We all are geared up and ready to fly!

:: Here I am floating in the air!! there is a huge propeller underneath of the wind tunnel 

and blowing air up(controlled by the staff)!

it was weird at first but it was amazing that I could actually float! lol

An instructor there helped us to balance and float around..

this is Ben! he did a great job!

:: here comes Caleb! as always, he loved it and he wanted to fly up high!! 

 Caleb did an awesome job!

 :: James is flying high!

:: Picture of Dubai Sheikh and Crown Prince

 ::Wind tunnel is open all the way to the top and it was about 35 feet high....we watched instructors practicing and they looked so natural!

 :: here comes my niece Ji Won! what a great memory for her!

:: Had a great time flying! ha...My Mom didn't want to try but she took all the pictures! nice job 엄마!

Around Dubai - Jumeirah Mosque tour

:: We went to the Jumeirah Mosque guided tour.

:: Inside of the Mosque..

:: My niece Ji Won...when non-muslims enter the mosque, females have to cover hair to show respect

:: Head and nose have to be touched the floor when they pray...they have to pray 5 times a day 

from the sunrise to sunset

We only had to wear head coverings but we wore both Abaya and hijab(head covering) for a fun!

Around Dubai - Dubai Creek Dhow

Dubai Creek 14km is a natural seawater inlet that divides the city of Dubai into two parts – Deira Dubai and Bur Dubai.  Creek is the historical part of Dubai where visitors can take an abra (small water taxi) and view the old trading port and the dhows from the water.

The Creek, a natural sea-water inlet which cuts through the centre of the city, is the historic focal point of life in Dubai.

An attractive way to view the Creek and the dhows is from an abra, one of the small water taxis which cross the Creek from the souks of Deira to those on the Bur Dubai side.

Dhow(Floating Restaurant) and Water Taxi (Abra)

 :: Sunset at the Dubai Creek Corniche 

 ::Night souq (market)'s beautiful lights

:: We had a nice relaxing evening on Dhow(2 hours on the boat plus dinner)

::Reflection..

:: Finished the night with Dubai Shopping Festival opening firework on the creek!