FIVE YEARS!!

The desert just after sunset.
View of the hotel hidden in the mountain.
Night view from our room. The city lights below the pool is the city/emirate of Al Ain.

Yep - it's been 5 years since Steve and I got married. Since we're starting to run a little low on vacation (lot's more trips planned for this year) so we decided to celebrate by taking a weekend trip in the region. One of Steve's co-workers recommended the Jebel Hafeet Resort in the mountains outside of Abu Dhabi. We enjoyed a relaxing weekend with a little Dom Perrignon (courtesy of the duty free shop) and I came home with a sunburn and a new diamond ring with matching tennis bracelet. I think we're off to good start for the next 5!

Fish

So I finally figured out how to fish in Qatar. After talking to all kinds of "experts" I finally figured out the right formula: put a hook on the line, troll at 6 knots, and make sure you have a full cooler of beer. The correct recipe is to not pay attention, I find that usually draws them in. We have now hooked into Queen Fish, Hammour (local name for grouper), and barracuda. The problem now is that it is really getting too hot to keep the beer cold, I am going to have to figure something else out.

Here's the first Hammour (aka Brown Spotted Grouper) that's been caught. Hammour is the favorite fish here in all the restaurants. Our friend David has been fishing many times before but never actually caught a fish until this day (he's from the UK so we think that must be the reason).