Dubai Adventures

Dubai is like Las Vegas...without the gambling and sex...but still full of the biggest, the best and the most over-the-top things you can think of!

L, Big C and I arrived within a few minutes of each other (but in different terminals...as a side note, the runway divides Terminal 1 & Terminal 2 so you have to take a taxi from one to the other...strange). We had to get retina scans to go with our visas, although I was sad to learn upon arrival that I actually didn't need a $310 visa. Apparently my Qatar work permit has a code on it (in Arabic) that is on a list of "reciprocal" professions in the GCC where an entry visa will be granted on arrival. Big C would have still needed one, which means that the UAE has priced themselves out of the vacation market. We went over and met up with L and then took a taxi to the apartment at Timeplace in Dubai Marina. The place was great, beautifully decorated and covered what we needed. A second shower might have helped but there were two toilets so that was good.

The landlady had kindly arranged for some breakfast food as well - which was much appreciated. We unpacked and crashed. Big C and I had the pullout, which was quite comfy! A few hours later, I woke up and went back to the airport to collect N. She arrived at 6:20 ish but by the time we made it back to the flat, it was 8:30 and so she decided to stay up. She and L amazed me - L only had 5 hours of sleep - but they both powered through to the end of the day (late!) and didn't look back. Take that jet lag!

The first day was the Big Bus Tour of Dubai. Big C forgot the camera (ha ha) at the apartment so we don't have too many pictures to show you! We were located right by a metro station which was really convienent and we made it to Mall of the Emirates to get a coffee and catch the tour in no time.

The audio tour was decent and we saw the sites...the horse racing track, Wafi (where there is an Iranian souq), Burj Khalifa (tallest building in the world), Emirates Towers, many other landmark buidings (like the World Trade Centre, Chamber of Commerce, Etisalat Telecom building). We also went by the gold souq (Dubai is famous for this), the beaches, the Mosque, the area called Madinat Jumeriah where the Burj Al Arab is (7 star hotel) along with a souq, many restaurants and gorgeous hotels. We wandered around Atlantis (hotel) on the man-made Palm Island.

We wandered the gold souq and ate a vegetarian Indian restaurant (total hole-in-the-wall but cheap and delicious).

We went to Carrefour and bought Arabic style appetizers and stirfry ingredients for the next night. We introduced N & L to labneh with zaatar and mutabel - along with a few old faves like humous and chick pea salad. We drank some wine (the UAE lets you buy and bring in at the airport) and then crashed.

The next we moved a bit slower and we did the bus tour again, along with a dhow cruise on Dubai creek. We also hit up the Heritage Village. We ate the stirfry and then we wandered the souq at Madinat Jumeirah before having some wine (the whole area is a "hotel" hence the liquor license).

We shopped Dubai Mall the next day and saw the massive aquarium inside. When I say we shopped, I mean a full day of shopping! Then we hit up the fun (but chilly - there was a fierce wind) Barasti Bar for dinner and entertainment) before coming back.

Sunday was the golf - and there will be a whole separate post on that! Then dinner at Nando's on Dubai Marina. Which is where we found Baskin Robbins and Spinney's. Spinney's is a grocery store...that sells a specific contraband meat (one that we had re-labelled and brought back with us!) We then went to Koubba Bar in the Al Qasr hotel.

Monday was more shopping at Mall of the Emirates where we checked out Ski Dubai (the indoor ski hill). It was even smaller than I thought it would be - but it was funny to see that they also have to rent winter jackets with the ski equipment!

Then we went to dinner at Dubai Mall and watched the fountain light show (think the Bellagio in Vegas) before N & L did "At The Top", where is where you go up the Burj Khalifa to the observation deck on the 124th floor!

Tuesday...it was breakfast, pack and then back to Doha...so we will pause the story here!