Justin, at
Oli-Oli, Dubai, half a month after his 11th birthday, Dec 2020
Justin’s finally becoming an adolescent. He turned 12, two months back. To all of us, he’s a kid, but try booking an air ticket or a hotel stay for him, and you’d find him grouped with the adults! COVID has just made us lose out 2 years of all the fun we could have travelling when he’s just a kid. Here’s a look back at his 12th year’s adventures (it’s only 2 months late, OK?). Like his 11th year, this was a complete year of being stuck in the UAE. UAE’s not bad actually (but just imagine the money we would’ve saved while travelling when Justin’s just a ‘kid’.)
A day at the zoo. Justin’s not really a fan of animals (unlike Jayden), but any outing’s better than none, Dubai Safari Park, Jan 2021
I can flyyyyyy! One of his favourite activities at home, especially when he’s thinking, or in between doing something, like practicing his guitar, or piano… He’s a restless boy, …when he’s not on his computer or tablet that is
At Wadi Shawka, Ras Al Khaimah (the southern part), Feb 2021 – The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah (or RAK for short) is divided into 2 parts which are not joined together. The capital (which is also named Ras Al Khaimah), international airport, ports, etc, are all in the north part of RAK. Southern RAK is an inland exclave consisting of hills, wadis and rural villages near the town of Hatta which belongs to Dubai. (Yup, it’s complicated. Just Google it, willya?)
An outing to a flower farm in the hill village of Asimah, Fujairah, Mar 2021
Another adventure, Wadi Ghub, Fujairah, Mar 2021 – This was our last hiking trip / picnic for the winter season of 2020-2021. From April onwards, the heat goes up and we’d have to wait for the end of the year to get out again!
Oh, stuck in the house again. Playing with his new instrument now, the piano! No, couldn’t find a teacher, so he just used YouTube tutorials, you know the ones where coloured bars fall onto the piano keys where you were supposed to play. He’s getting quite good at it actually. Who says it couldn’t work? – May 2021
The end of Year 6, yippee! Here’s an end-of-the-year outing with his Year 6 classmates at Bounce, Dubai, a trampoline park – June 2021. Some of his best friends are here: from the left, Matei (from Romania), Anton (from Vietnam) and Shaun Linz (from India)
Their first ice skating! At the Galleria Ice Rink, Hyatt Regency Dubai, Jul 2021. Not that difficult, said Justin. Actually, April, May, June and July were the ‘skating months’, where the kids spent almost every other weekend in the
Skate Park at Nshama Town Square, with Justin skateboarding and Jayden on roller skates, but somehow, I failed to save many of the photos of those few months into my hard disk. Many of them are gone now from Anu’s phone unfortunately…
After watching La Perle by Dragone, at Al Habtoor City, Dubai – Aug 2021. La Perle is a water-themed theatrical acrobatic show created by the renowned Belgian theatre director, Franco Dragone who was one of the key architects of the famed theatrical circus, the Cirque du Soleil. The La Perle show is staged in a custom made aquatic theatre with pools that can overflow and waterfalls and rain that suddenly appear… Nice!
A trip to Abu Dhabi! At Al Wathba Long Salt Lake – Sep 2021. Finally, a relaxation of the Abu Dhabi border pandemic controls, after more than a year. This is the family’s first trip into Abu Dhabi after ummm… 3 years maybe…
Dubai Expo 2020 opens! …In 2021. Ahhh, what the heck, at least it opened. And it’s fabulous, so many things to see, so many concerts and performances. Here’s Justin trying to 'lift' the Mobility Pavilion, Alif – Oct 2021
At the Kyrgyzstan Pavilion, Dubai Expo2020, Oct 2021
Happy Diwali! Nov 2021
‘A Diwali gift for me?!! Thanks Mommy!’
Justin’s 12th Birthday at home, with a few friends! Jamal (sitting, in red) is a classmate from Kyrgyzstan. The brothers Malik (left), Musab (centre) and Moaz (right) from Egypt stay in the same apartment block as us and go to the same school as Justin and Jayden (the school is just next door to our apartment and can be seen from our house). Moaz and Malik are in the same grade as Justin (although Moaz is a year older than Malik) and Moaz is Justin’s classmate. Musab is in the same grade as Jayden but in different classes
That’s it. And here’s wishing all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Chinese New Year to those who’re still celebrating!! !! !!
