Dubai

There is nothing like boarding a plane in sub-zero wintry weather and to emerge hours later in tropical heat.  (Although skinny dipping in Georgian Bay with the northern lights flickering in the night sky above is certainly close!)   

Dubai is exactly as we expected.  A friend of ours once described it as Las Vegas on steroids.  We agree - it's sort of like Las Vegas and Disneyland mixed together.   We decided to stay on the beach resort area and chose the Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort which was a fabulous.   It was outrageously expensive (lattes at the poolside were $10 each), but it's that way everywhere in Dubai, except maybe in the old part of town.  So you just have to sign your name and not look at the tally!

We managed to pack quite a lot into the 5 days we were there.  Obviously we spent time by the pool soaking up the sun.  We had one dip in the ocean just to be able to say we swam in the Persian Gulf, but kept mostly to the bath temperature pool.  There was a bit of a cold front coming from Russia which kept the temperatures a bit low, around 25 degrees.  Perfect for sunbathing and sight seeing. 

After our first day of poolside bathing and being very thankful we had left the cold temperatures behind,  we spent the next day touring the old part of Dubai called Bur.  Unfortunately, quite a few things were closed as the UAE was in mourning (the ruler of one the seven emirates died), but we still managed to fill our day.  We took a tour of a typical Dubai home with wind towers.  To me the most interesting architectural aspect were the gypsum decorative panels and of course the "barajeels" or windtowers which supplied some form of air conditioning at the time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We walked the waterfront, found some lunch (kebabs) at a riverside restaurant and watched the busy traffic of dhows carrying mostly human cargo.  We then explored the souk, but it was not nearly as impressive as the one in Marrakesh.  The textile souk was closed which was very disappointing for me but Marcus was ever thankful.  We then made it to an area called Bastakiya - this is a old trading village that has been totally renovated.  We explored down it's narrow alleys and came across a courtyard cafe that served.... you guessed it.... Starbucks lattes!!!!  It was the perfect afternoon break.

Of course a trip to Dubai would not be complete without 4x4 dune bashing in the dessert.  It was fun but I am glad it was only for about 20-25 minutes.   I got the impression that the area where dune bashing is allowed is quite controlled, so my conscience was somewhat appeased.  I have to say that the 40 minute drive to and from the event was the most nerve wracking.  Obviously our driver thought he was in a race car - nothing like going through a roundabout at 100km a hour trying to pass a truck.  We went to the dinner in a recreated Bedoin village and tried shisha (otherwise known as hookah).  We had to get a demonstration because we weren't sure if you were supposed to inhale.  Even though we smoked herbal fruits it still made me feel a little sick, but Marcus was happy to finish it off.  I was glad to try it - our old neighbourhood on the Danforth has a store that sells them.  They look so exotic, but really they are quite simple.   

One our fourth day we signed up for the "modern dubai" bus tour which took us to a few malls and some of the main hotels including the Burj Al Arab and the Atlantis.  We were quite enthralled with the aquarium in the new Dubai Mall (which was so big it felt like an airport).  

Dubai Mall Aquarium

 Ski Dubai in the Emirates Mall:

Burj Al Arab Hotel and the 164-storey Burj Dubai (which will be the tallest building in the world)

If you are thinking of going to Dubai, talk to me as I have a place to recommend where to stay - a place that is close to amenities and a Starbucks!  Next we go to Singapore.

For lots more pictures of Dubai:
http://picasaweb.google.com/kristine.d.morris/Dubai#