My 2002 Persian Gulf Deployment #1: Jebel Ali Hotel, Dubai, UAE

These videos are from my second deployment to the Persian Gulf, October 2001 - May 2002. A month after 9/11, Canada sent 6 warships to the Gulf and I was on one of them, the HMCS Vancouver. We were a part of a US battlegroup headed by the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier. They skipped over another Arabic linguist (who had never been deployed) to get to me. This is pretty much how I was treated my entire career. But I digress...

We had just spent 79 days at sea, working 12 hour days, no time off. No wonder people on the ship were getting a little testy. I hated every second on that ship to begin with, imagine how I was after 79 days of straight work. I booked three days at the Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Hotel for a little R&R (rest and relaxation).

A friend of mine, Tom, actually mailed me 12 bottles of Rickard's Red, my favourite beer. He wrapped each bottle in bubble wrap, then wrapped every 3 bottles, then wrapped all 12. They could have tossed that package out of the plane over Dubai and it would have been fine. Every bottle arrived safe and sound. So here I am at the hotel, cracking open what could possibly be the first Rickard's product ever opened in the United Arab Emirates. It was the best beer I ever tasted.

I attempted to post this on the Rickard's Facebook page and it was removed without explanation. I asked for one in a wall post, that too was removed. I love Rickard's beer but the person running their Facebook page is an idiot.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• HMCS Regina
• USS Stennis
• Persian Gulf
• Jebel Ali
• Dubai
• UAE
• dougfm
• Rickard's Red
• Rickard's Facebook

[DougFM1962]

And yes, I know my "bar fridge" math was off. 66 x 2 isn't 128, it's 132. I was told there would be no math at the hotel :)

[TommyLuptak]

I thought the various DISPLAYS of the care package was awesome! Presentation is everything! Well done and you are welcome! Good thing I didn't lose my job over that. LMAO! It's nice to receive cash for life. :) Cheers! I'm down in Georgia for my nephews graduation. Catch ya once I'm back! wooooooot! Mr "R" is everywhere! lol

[MrGuishte]

Nice hotel, great view and awesome beer.....