Soph writing from Dubai

x-admin · 12-18-2007, 12:11 PM

Soph emailed me the story below and allowed me to post it here on myLPGA. Thank you Soph!

-------------------------------

Hi there folks,

Hope that you are are doing well and that the Christmas stress isn't killing you off.

I just got back to Sweden from my first visit to Dubai and I figured I was going to write something about it here. My plan was to write every day but there was not enough time to sit down at the computer and write.. too much good stuff to do.

Auds and myself met up in Atlanta and flew over to Dubai on Thursday before the tournament. Very unusual for me, I normally like to get there as late as I can. This time was a little different though. Neither Auds or me had ever been to Dubai and we wanted to have to time to see the sights. We are both very realistic knowing during the tournament week there are rarely time for any sightseeing.

Saturday was very cool. We went to the mall where they have indoor skiing. It's definitely something to see? They have this indoor slope that is 25 floors high and 400 meters long, it's even curved with a small little bar in the middle of the slope! They keep the temperature in there around 20 degrees. It's so weird going from 85 degrees outside to skiing inside. I can only imagine during the summer when it's 125 degrees outside.. The snow was real, wet and cold, it melted in my hand.

They have a great little thing going there. We bought 2 hours of skiing (which was just perfect) and you get all your gear except for mittens and hats. First hour wasn't cold but the second one started to become quite chilly. I think you need more than shorts and t-shirt under the snow suite they give you ;)

The resort they put us up at we called Arab Disney Land but it's really called Mina A'Salam. Fantastic place. Three hotels within one resort, 23 restaurants, shops, you name it, they had it. Looking out over the ocean to the right was Burj al Arab, the worlds only 7 star hotel! We went there one afternoon but was quickly turned down when we wanted to have a drink at the bar. Apparently it's not open before 7 pm.. I think they just wanted to keep us riffraff out ;)

I desperately wanted to know how much a suite (they only have suites there) costs but as Lisa Hall put it "If you have to ask you probably can't afford it". I never asked.

Sunday was a nice day too. We got our driver for the week, Ahmed, and he took us in to Old Dubai where we walked around for hours. Dubai is certainly a special place. New Dubai that is being built is just crazy, you would not believe how much is being built out there. Old Dubai just just as you can imagine, small shops and the local crowd. They had a gold souk there that was just amazing!!! I've never seen so much gold and diamonds in one place before.

Monday it was back to business in the morning so not much to report there, just golf, no one wants to hear about that J

In the afternoon, we went on what they called a desert Safari. A guy picked us up at the hotel in a Toyota 4 wheel drive SUV and we went out to the desert where we met up with some other LET players and family. We were around 7 cars that went driving up and down the sand dunes. The drivers are really good which is nice otherwise we could have ended up stuck (as one other tourist group did) or upside down? not nice. I got a little car sick but when we got the the camel farm that was all gone.
Further out in the desert they took up to their camp where we tried sand boarding (snow boarding on sand), camel riding, henna painting, belly dancing, smoking from those things with a hose coming out from them AND a fabulous barbecue. Well worth the trip right there!

After Monday night my tourist stuff was pretty much over and it was time to concentrate on what I came to Dubai to do.
I started the tournament out great, 3 under after 4 holes. I could have walked off the course right there cause that was my finishing score. Would have saved me walking 68 other holes!
I did manage to win the Money List in Europe which I was very happy to do. I have won twice before but it's so hard to do so every time you do it, it's really special.

Now I'm back in Sweden with my family. Going to celebrate Christmas and New Year here and go back to Florida in the beginning of next year. I do need some rest. I know I can get plenty of rest here cause there is nothing to do ;)

All the best to you and yours. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Soph

NTB · 12-18-2007, 01:11 PM

What a super , super lady to take this much time with us.
Hope she can send more pictures of her time in Dubai.
She is a true ambassador of Golf and both tours.
Tell Soph we said thanks from the bottom of our hearts.
NTB

Carol · 12-18-2007, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by notaxbill

What a super , super lady to take this much time with us.
Hope she can send more pictures of her time in Dubai.
She is a true ambassador of Golf and both tours.
Tell Soph we said thanks from the bottom of our hearts.
NTB

I agree with you.

MarinePaul · 12-18-2007, 02:28 PM

Thanks for posting this. Sophie's definitely a class lady. I appreciate her efforts, along with NTB and Carol.

gxer · 12-18-2007, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by notaxbill

What a super , super lady to take this much time with us.

The last time I heard the phrase "super lady" was in the movie, Fargo.
Do you remember the movie Fargo and the scene in which that phrase "super lady" was used?

LoJo · 12-18-2007, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by gxer

The last time I heard the phrase "super lady" was in the movie, Fargo.
Do you remember the movie Fargo and the scene in which that phrase "super lady" was used?

gxer....shuddup!! sheesh.

LoJo · 12-18-2007, 04:05 PM

Admin....thanks for posting Soph's 'blog' of her Dubai trip.

And, Soph...if you're reading this... THANK YOU too! Sounds like you had a great time. Enjoy your break.

Buzzer · 12-18-2007, 04:05 PM

Nice, informative and entertaining post, Soph.....thanx.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours!

Viva Soph

heddwyn · 12-18-2007, 05:14 PM

Thank you for writing so fully about the Dubai visit, Sophie. The skiing sounds like fun, and a good way to cool down from those high temperatures. Isn't the 'sail' hotel the coolest looking building, sorry you couldn't test out the bar.

Have a great Christmas and New Year with your family, and enjoy a successful 2008!

MarinePaul · 12-18-2007, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by LoJo

gxer....shuddup!! sheesh.

Amen.

12-18-2007, 12:11 PM	#1
x-admin Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 344	Soph writing from Dubai Soph emailed me the story below and allowed me to post it here on myLPGA. Thank you Soph! ------------------------------- Hi there folks, Hope that you are are doing well and that the Christmas stress isn't killing you off. I just got back to Sweden from my first visit to Dubai and I figured I was going to write something about it here. My plan was to write every day but there was not enough time to sit down at the computer and write.. too much good stuff to do. Auds and myself met up in Atlanta and flew over to Dubai on Thursday before the tournament. Very unusual for me, I normally like to get there as late as I can. This time was a little different though. Neither Auds or me had ever been to Dubai and we wanted to have to time to see the sights. We are both very realistic knowing during the tournament week there are rarely time for any sightseeing. Saturday was very cool. We went to the mall where they have indoor skiing. It's definitely something to see? They have this indoor slope that is 25 floors high and 400 meters long, it's even curved with a small little bar in the middle of the slope! They keep the temperature in there around 20 degrees. It's so weird going from 85 degrees outside to skiing inside. I can only imagine during the summer when it's 125 degrees outside.. The snow was real, wet and cold, it melted in my hand. They have a great little thing going there. We bought 2 hours of skiing (which was just perfect) and you get all your gear except for mittens and hats. First hour wasn't cold but the second one started to become quite chilly. I think you need more than shorts and t-shirt under the snow suite they give you ;) The resort they put us up at we called Arab Disney Land but it's really called Mina A'Salam. Fantastic place. Three hotels within one resort, 23 restaurants, shops, you name it, they had it. Looking out over the ocean to the right was Burj al Arab, the worlds only 7 star hotel! We went there one afternoon but was quickly turned down when we wanted to have a drink at the bar. Apparently it's not open before 7 pm.. I think they just wanted to keep us riffraff out ;) I desperately wanted to know how much a suite (they only have suites there) costs but as Lisa Hall put it "If you have to ask you probably can't afford it". I never asked. Sunday was a nice day too. We got our driver for the week, Ahmed, and he took us in to Old Dubai where we walked around for hours. Dubai is certainly a special place. New Dubai that is being built is just crazy, you would not believe how much is being built out there. Old Dubai just just as you can imagine, small shops and the local crowd. They had a gold souk there that was just amazing!!! I've never seen so much gold and diamonds in one place before. Monday it was back to business in the morning so not much to report there, just golf, no one wants to hear about that J In the afternoon, we went on what they called a desert Safari. A guy picked us up at the hotel in a Toyota 4 wheel drive SUV and we went out to the desert where we met up with some other LET players and family. We were around 7 cars that went driving up and down the sand dunes. The drivers are really good which is nice otherwise we could have ended up stuck (as one other tourist group did) or upside down? not nice. I got a little car sick but when we got the the camel farm that was all gone. Further out in the desert they took up to their camp where we tried sand boarding (snow boarding on sand), camel riding, henna painting, belly dancing, smoking from those things with a hose coming out from them AND a fabulous barbecue. Well worth the trip right there! After Monday night my tourist stuff was pretty much over and it was time to concentrate on what I came to Dubai to do. I started the tournament out great, 3 under after 4 holes. I could have walked off the course right there cause that was my finishing score. Would have saved me walking 68 other holes! I did manage to win the Money List in Europe which I was very happy to do. I have won twice before but it's so hard to do so every time you do it, it's really special. Now I'm back in Sweden with my family. Going to celebrate Christmas and New Year here and go back to Florida in the beginning of next year. I do need some rest. I know I can get plenty of rest here cause there is nothing to do ;) All the best to you and yours. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Soph

12-18-2007, 01:11 PM	#2
NTB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: hot springs village arkansas Posts: 2,288 Images: 4	What a super , super lady to take this much time with us. Hope she can send more pictures of her time in Dubai. She is a true ambassador of Golf and both tours. Tell Soph we said thanks from the bottom of our hearts. NTB __________________ God Bless America \"Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants.\" - William Penn

12-18-2007, 01:41 PM	#3
Carol Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 485	Originally Posted by notaxbill What a super , super lady to take this much time with us. Hope she can send more pictures of her time in Dubai. She is a true ambassador of Golf and both tours. Tell Soph we said thanks from the bottom of our hearts. NTB I agree with you.

12-18-2007, 02:28 PM	#4
MarinePaul Moderator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Warren, Ohio Posts: 8,002	Thanks for posting this. Sophie's definitely a class lady. I appreciate her efforts, along with NTB and Carol. __________________ Happiness isn't getting what you want, it's wanting what you have.

12-18-2007, 02:48 PM	#5
gxer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 4,050	Originally Posted by notaxbill What a super , super lady to take this much time with us. The last time I heard the phrase "super lady" was in the movie, Fargo. Do you remember the movie Fargo and the scene in which that phrase "super lady" was used? __________________ *My "dream" girl: LPGA seasonal tour stats <=65.50 & >=270*

12-18-2007, 04:03 PM	#6
LoJo Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The Golf Course Posts: 2,217 Images: 1	Originally Posted by gxer The last time I heard the phrase "super lady" was in the movie, Fargo. Do you remember the movie Fargo and the scene in which that phrase "super lady" was used? gxer....shuddup!! sheesh.

12-18-2007, 04:05 PM	#7
LoJo Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The Golf Course Posts: 2,217 Images: 1	Admin....thanks for posting Soph's 'blog' of her Dubai trip. And, Soph...if you're reading this... THANK YOU too! Sounds like you had a great time. Enjoy your break.

12-18-2007, 04:05 PM	#8
Buzzer Moderator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hilton Head, SC Posts: 2,831 Images: 13	Nice, informative and entertaining post, Soph.....thanx. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours! Viva Soph

12-18-2007, 05:14 PM	#9
heddwyn Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,380	Thank you for writing so fully about the Dubai visit, Sophie. The skiing sounds like fun, and a good way to cool down from those high temperatures. Isn't the 'sail' hotel the coolest looking building, sorry you couldn't test out the bar. Have a great Christmas and New Year with your family, and enjoy a successful 2008!

12-18-2007, 05:38 PM	#10
MarinePaul Moderator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Warren, Ohio Posts: 8,002	Originally Posted by LoJo gxer....shuddup!! sheesh. Amen. __________________ Happiness isn't getting what you want, it's wanting what you have.

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