I love this stuff, nothing you can make yourself is quite as nice! When I lived in the marina I always used to get it from Choithrams but they didn't always have that flavour, when they did I would get 2 or 3 packs!
We moved to Al Furjan 3 weeks ago and have not found traffic to be an issue at all - in the morning we leave on the E77 which then links up with Sheikh Zayed Road - sometimes there can be a small queue due to the Abu Dhabi direction traffic blocking up the lane that goes in Dubai/Sharjah direction but it is 5 minute wait or less, sometimes no wait at all. Then in the evening we come back on Al Khail and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and then E77 - no queues whatsoever, it takes 20-25 mins from DIFC. There are some ways in and out that are very congested (Discovery Gardens) but we just don't go those ways and haven't had any problems at all, we were also worried about traffic before we moved as had heard all of the horror stories but I really don't see what everyone is talking about unless for someone reason your only option is via Discovery Gardens.
There is no pool, our agent told us that they are planning one but I am not assuming that there will be one. We haven't actually had a wander around so not sure about parks etc. - there are some play areas and we have one right at the back of our house, I have never seen anyone in it but I don't know if that is because the kids don't like them or because it is too hot at the moment. There is apparently a shop at Masakin al Furjan, the apartments, but other than that I don't think there is anything. There is a small Geant opening soon close by - too far away to walk though but a short drive. I have heard that you can join the pool and gym at the apartments and it isn't expensive but I don't know details.
Other residents complain of bad sewage like smells but we haven't noticed them (yet!) - we are right on the edge though so maybe we are escaping it, I don't know. There are also complaints about mosquitos but we have been bitten a lot at friends places in other villa areas so I don't know if Al Furjan is any worse than anywhere else for that.
Around the outside of the development there is just sand but within everything is landscaped which is nice. I think they are planning to build a lot more villas though so I am sure there will be quite a bit of construction coming up.
We haven't been there for long at all but really like it - we don't have kids though so not really the right people to advise on what it is like for facilities for children or for schools etc.
We have just moved out of 23 Marina Tower (due to landlord 'selling' not because we didn't like it) and would recommend it. There are 2 and 3 bedrooms, one side has construction noise but we were facing SZ Rd and golf course and there was only road noise which was fine.
Very nice apartments, the pool ends up in the shade in the afternoon and there is a half constructed building right next to it so not the prettiest view from the pool but we never really used the pool anyway.
But the best things are that all apartments have 2 parking spaces and it is right at the end of the marina (opposite media one hotel) so access in and out is very easy with no traffic.
Rent had gone nuts in there though - we were paying 140k for a 3 bed and they are now being advertised for 210k - so not sure what they are selling for and whether they would be in your budget.
Mine arrived on Wednesday which is exactly 8 weeks after it was delivered by DHL to Liverpool. I sent it on 7th April and it was delivered on 9th April.
