So we got into Dubai at 7:30am - quite a few hours after leaving Sydney. The first thing we noticed is the plane had parked at a Terminal that had yet to be built. So all the passengers were escorted onto the tarmac where a bus picked us up and transported us to the arrivals terminal (10 min bus ride).
Our hotel transfer was handy and took us into Bur Dubai where our hotel was - our first impression of the place was a bit of a culture shock - its seems Nova hotel could have been a top notch hotel - in the 80s - the area we were staying in was not where the usual tourists stay and so our expectations of a very western experience were a bit off. Not a problem though - by the end of the day we were feeling a bit more at home.
We were let into our rooms early and had a power nap - since it was still only 8:30am after lunch we did some exploring and managed to get bit lost thanks the warren of streets and alleys and lack of detailed maps - thankfully we ran into a American ex-pat who gave us a 5 min tour of some cool sights and showed us the way to the Abra station (water taxis) - the going rate is 1 AED - although someone did try and charge us 20!
After exploring the Gold and Spice Souks (that shops in arabic) we bought a Big Bus ticket which let us you jump on and off at all the main sites for 24 hours.
We visited one of the more popular malls - Diera City Centre- got some New Zealand apples from the supermarket.
That night we went on a Dhow cruise where dinner and a magic show were included. The guy shoved a nail up his nose - magic.
Wednesday saw us use our Big Bus ticket to head out to the beaches where all the construction was happening. Saw the Burj Al Dubai - a 7 star hotel - sticks out like a sore thumb. And saw the construction of the palms - islands that are being built in the shape of palm trees to house residential homes and hotels.
The Mall of Emirates is where the Ski Dubai is - that looked quite tempting but we didnt have the time to explore too much as we had to get back to our hotel for our desert safari.
The desert safari was pretty cool - jump in an SUV and tear up and down some sand dunes for 40 mins then stop and have dinner out in the desert - with some belly dancing to finish it off.
Definitely worth doing if you're in Dubai.
The last touristy thing we did was the Wild Wadi Water theme park. This place was a maze of hydro slides and swimming areas - the coolest thing was they had these jets of water to push you uphill so you never had to leave your inflatable tube.
I also had a go on the wave rider there - that was pretty fun - harder than it looks though.
So now we're going for a quick look around the museum before heading to the airport for our next leg of our journey - London. Looking forward to catching up with our friends there - not looking forward to turning on my phone and seeing how many messages the HR agents have left!
My boyfriend and I are going to Dubai for five nights. Since our time there is also short, is there anything you suggest we skip or spend more time doing while visiting? We'd like to do a mix of entertainment and cultural activities. Also, is there a particular neighborhood you suggest we stay in if we want convenience to the main attractions and want a more local experience?
ReplyDeleteI would definitely start with the Big Bus tour - helps to get your bearings and you learn a bit about the place.
ReplyDeleteThat costs 150 AED (40 USD). Includes free dhow cruise and tickets to the Duabi museum.
The desert safari and the water park (wild wadi) were pretty good value - and theres loads of shopping malls if you're keen on retail therapy.
5 nights is longer than we had so I'm sure you'll be able to cover loads of interesting things in that time.
Have fun.
Glitz, glamor and money, Dubai makes most cities around the world seem like they are stuck in the middle of a depression. Dubai is one of the richest cities in the world and it is currently exploding in every aspect. Its like New York/Miami meets the Arab world and it is probably the most culturally diverse city I have ever experienced. There are over 190 different nationalities in Dubai and the selection of restaurants and cafes are an example of its diversity. Only in Dubai you can go to a traditional souq and within minutes be side by side with limo Hummers and Beamers. In less than 200 years the city has transformed itself from a fishing village into one of the busiest and richest cities with its breathtaking Dubai property on the planet. Overwhelming, charming, exciting, expensive and exhausting at once, Dubai is the most high class city in the Arab World.
ReplyDelete