Out and About in Dubai

 

The House Hash Harriers is an international running, drinking, and social club. Sometimes described as a “drinking club with a running problem,” there is a hash group in practically every major city in the world. Hashing began way back when in 1938 in Kuala Lumpur by a group of British expats.

The co-ed group in Dubai is called the Desert House Hash Harriers (dh3) and they meet every Sunday around sunset for their runs. There is also a male-only group in Dubai.

Basically, the group (aka the “pack”) meets at the appointed place and time (different every week) and then begins to follow a trail of arrows (marked by spray paint, chalk, flour, sometimes even toilet paper) set earlier that day by the “hares.”

Now the hares are tricky so they sometimes make false trails or trails that lead nowhere so one has to be smart enough to find the real trail. Or at least smart enough to follow the people who think they’ve found the real trail. In this way, while the pack leaders are off looking for the correct trail, the slower folk can catch up so that we all reach the end of the trail at the same time. Because the end of the trail is where the beer is and we don’t want the fast people getting there too early and drinking all the beer now - do we?

In Dubai, the cost is 50 dirhams and that gets you dinner, beer, soda, beer, water, and beer. Did I mention beer?

I have hashed a couple times in New York and this past weekend I did my second hash in Dubai. At this run, their was the usual beer, soda, and water but also GIN and TONIC! Mmm…and they were good gin and tonics - perfectly chilled too! Great fun as always!

I love these runs because you get a bit of exercise (3-5 miles), you get to see different parts of Dubai, and you also get to meet a lot of different people from all over the world. Hashers tend to be a traveling bunch so oftentimes you get visitors from other Hashes.
 

So, if you too have a running and drinking problem - join us! And if you don’t run, that’s okay as there are walkers too.

Tags: alcohol, exercise | 1 comment »

 

Last Friday, I partook yet again in free champagne night at Boudoir. I behaved so well the first time but this particular night did not end pretty at all. Forgetting that champagne is not water, I ended up praying to a couple of porcelain gods throughout the evening.

To top if off, I managed to lose my purse which had my house keys, money, credit cards, ID, and camera. Now that is something I haven’t done in a long, long, time.

Luckily, when I called the club the next day, they had found my purse and everything was still there - not a single dirham was missing.

Definitely a lesson learned - can’t have too much of a good thing.

Tags: alcohol | 2 comments »

In Dubai, alcohol is only served at hotels and private clubs (ie. golf) so people tend to hang out A LOT in hotels. Our favorite haunts are the JBH (Jumeirach Beach Hotel) and the Jumeirah Madinat for the obvious reason (email me if you don’t know) and also because it’s a quick 10-minute drive from our apartment. Although it can take up to 45 minutes during the PM rush-hour.

I’m not sure why I haven’t eaten yet at the Burj Al Arab as that is right by JBH and is also a Jumeirah but we have been to JET (Jumeirah Emirates Towers) twice to eat at Vu’s (delish! and great views) and Tokyo (so-so sushi but the fried oysters are a must!). However, to get to JET we have to brave the craziness that is SZR (Sheikh Zayed Road) and it’s a good 30 minutes away if there’s no traffic. We also frequent the Noodle House (also Jumeirah-owned) in our neighborhood and another one will be opening up soon in our complex, but alas, neither are located within any hotels so no alcohol for us there. Whoops, I digress.

Now to purchase alcohol in Dubai, you can either do so at the duty-free shops in the airport or you can obtain a liquor license by passing a drinking test. This involves visiting the local liquor outlet, slamming down 5 shots of tequila followed by singing a Garth Brooks song of your choosing. I thought about doing “Friends in Low Places” but DB had already picked that one so I decided on the more alcohol-appropriate “Two Pina Coladas” which goes something like this:

I was feelin‘ the blues,
I was watchin‘ the news
When this fella came on the TV
He said that I’m tellin‘ you,
That science has proven
That heartaches are healed by the sea
And that got me goin‘ without even knowin‘
And I packed right up and drove down
Now I’m on a roll, and I swear to my soul
Tonight I’m gonna paint this town

(chorus)
So Bring me Two Pina Coladas
I want one for each hand
Let’s set sail with Captain Morgan
Or we’ll never leave dry land
Any troubles I’ve forgotten
I’ve buried them in the sand.
So bring me two Pina Coladas
She said goodbye to her good timing man.

Maybe my a Capella singing didn’t wow the liquor authorities because they then demanded that I also give them a copy of my passport with UAE residence visa (just got that yesterday, woo-hoo!), a passport photo, and DB’s liquor licence. And then I was told to come back in 2 weeks to pick up my license. Perhaps I should have showcased myself better with “Beer Run”:

Twenty-five minutes past quitting time
Seven of us crammed into that truck of mine
Paying no attention to them highway signs
Doing ninety miles an hour toward the county line
Quick sack, twelve pack, back again
It’s a B Double E Double R-U-N.

My buddies and their babies letting down their hair
As long as we’re together it don’t matter where
Ain’t got a lot of money but we just don’t care
Knowing half the fun is in the getting there
Aztec, long necks, paychecks spent
Oh, it’s a B Double E Double R-U-N.

Tags: alcohol, red tape | 2 comments »