7th July
It was six and a half hours to Dubai so I managed to watch 2 films (Rabbit Hole and The Tourist). We transferred to Ibis Hotel in the centre of the city at about 1:30 am (local time) having lost 2 hrs in transit. Next door is the Novotel and as they are the same company we have access to their pool and gym along with all our facilities. Not sure we’ll have time to use much of it though as we really only have 2 full days here. So not many pics to share today unless you want to see us waiting in the hotel lobby, waiting at the airport, waiting on the plane.......In each of the countries we have travelled I could read my blog entries in English but all the tabs and links to log in or edit etc are in the local languages (Italian, French, Spanish). Up to this point I have been able to work it out but these Arabic tabs have got be tossed.
8th July
After breakfast in the hotel we ventured across the road to the City Centre Shopping Mall. As soon as we opened the lobby door we were accosted by the heat. By current averages today is cool at only 43 degrees, earlier in the week it was up to 50. There is a wind but it is hot and carrying dust from the surrounding desert and a blanket of haze hangs over the city so not the best for taking photos. Apparently this is typical for this time of the year, you only get clear days between Dec and May. We were really only shopping because it was in air-con comfort and came home with no new purchases. In the afternoon we went on the city sights tour that was part of our stop-over package. We were collected at 2:30 in a mini bus and delivered to the Burj Al Arib which is the world’s most expensive hotel with the most expensive cocktail. Not sure that is something I would be bragging about if I was managing it. We followed the coast past the beaches (very bleak looking) and the Jumeirah Beach Park which is free and open to everyone, except on Mondays when it is open exclusively for women. We visited Jumeirah Mosque then passed Union House where the agreement was signed between all the 7 Emirates to form a union. Next was the old quarter where the first permanent homes were built from coral cut from the banks of the river and the fort which these days houses a very interesting museum.
We took a water taxi across Dubai Creek and entered the spice and then gold souks. It is now 4 hours on tour and we are being plagued by Arab men who want us to follow them up to their apartments to sell us copy products labelled Armani, Rolex, Gucci, D&G ........... the list goes on but we manage to dismiss them all. At the last minute I found a pair of earrings I wanted and decided it was worth the haggle. We were happy with the final price.
Our guide has been terrific today, going out of his way to answer our questions and add a personal touch to the blurb which was otherwise tinged ever-so-slightly with very favourable comments about the Sheik and progress of Dubai. Not surprisingly, no mention of the current economic crisis and if you take a close look at all the construction sites there is no action taking place.
We took a taxi back to the hotel and discovered that there is more than one Ibis Hotel in Dubai. We will never know if we were ripped off or if it was an honest mistake but we did a lap of the city and retraced quite a bit of the afternoon’s tour to get back to our particular one. After a shower we try the taxis again to take us to Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building at 174 floors. Just as we arrived at Dubai Mall the fountain went into action which was an amazing show of coordinated water spouts, lights and music. This takes place every 30mins, there is a different production each time and they last for about 5 mins. We had a quick bite to eat in the Mall then took the lift to the observation deck on the 124th floor of the tower. The lift was so quiet and smooth the only way you knew for sure you were climbing was the pressure changes in your ear canals. The views were amazing, something out of fantasy land and then the next fountain sequence took place; was wonderful to watch from above. What a day full of amazing opulence and grandeur – it seems everything is done bigger and better in Dubai. Eric put it very nicely when he compared the Sheik of Dubai to Louis XIV – ‘this is a modern day Versailles’.
9th July
We had a lovely sleep in this morning, not really planned but apparently what we needed. Then we shopped in the mall across the road and took a joyride on the new metro which is fully computerised – no driver. Noted that the train is serviced by the Serco Company which reminded us of Adrian who also works with one of their branches. Very efficient and a good way to see the city from a local perspective.
We got off at Emirates Mall and took a look at the indoor ski slope! Quite amazing, complete with chairlifts for ski runs and luge or toboggan runs for the kids. Reminded us of Luke who is currently enjoying the snow in Victoria. Lots of very exclusive shopping here including Valentino, Gucci, Armani, De Beers, even Paspaley! Unlike at the souks no copies here, this is the real thing.
In the afternoon we joined the Sundowner Tour which took us by 4wd through the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, all the drivers must be certified cowboys I think by the way they tackle the dunes. Our driver was Noas, a local Dubai native. As I had the front seat I got to give him the full inquisition about living and working in Dubai. We took a break to watch the sunset and then arrived at the Bedouin camp where we were given the traditional Arabian welcome which includes coffee, dates and shisha pipes. Thankfully there is also a bar to quench our thirsts and even though this is a muslim country we were able to select beers and very satisfactory Italian wines. We were treated to a great 2 course meal and entertained by a belly dancer before spending a few minutes with all the lights extinguished to do some star gazing. Not the best time of year to do this from here, you wouldn’t bother in Aust if there was so much haze. By the time we got home it was already 10pm and time to pack in readiness for tomorrow’s early departure.
We have enjoyed the experience of Dubai, but you wouldn’t come back. It seems the sort of place where the surface is really new and shiny but false, and you don’t get a touch of the culture underneath. Tomorrow we will spend the whole day travelling so I’m going to sign off with this as the last post. In Singapore from our Chinese Hotel at Robertson Quay on the riverbank we are planning to relax, have a massage or two, enjoy the food, sights and sounds we feel so familiar with. (Can you keep a secret? We also have job interviews with Peter Scarrott, the Principal of Morris Allen English).
Looking forward to seeing you all soon.
It was six and a half hours to Dubai so I managed to watch 2 films (Rabbit Hole and The Tourist). We transferred to Ibis Hotel in the centre of the city at about 1:30 am (local time) having lost 2 hrs in transit. Next door is the Novotel and as they are the same company we have access to their pool and gym along with all our facilities. Not sure we’ll have time to use much of it though as we really only have 2 full days here. So not many pics to share today unless you want to see us waiting in the hotel lobby, waiting at the airport, waiting on the plane.......In each of the countries we have travelled I could read my blog entries in English but all the tabs and links to log in or edit etc are in the local languages (Italian, French, Spanish). Up to this point I have been able to work it out but these Arabic tabs have got be tossed.
8th July
After breakfast in the hotel we ventured across the road to the City Centre Shopping Mall. As soon as we opened the lobby door we were accosted by the heat. By current averages today is cool at only 43 degrees, earlier in the week it was up to 50. There is a wind but it is hot and carrying dust from the surrounding desert and a blanket of haze hangs over the city so not the best for taking photos. Apparently this is typical for this time of the year, you only get clear days between Dec and May. We were really only shopping because it was in air-con comfort and came home with no new purchases. In the afternoon we went on the city sights tour that was part of our stop-over package. We were collected at 2:30 in a mini bus and delivered to the Burj Al Arib which is the world’s most expensive hotel with the most expensive cocktail. Not sure that is something I would be bragging about if I was managing it. We followed the coast past the beaches (very bleak looking) and the Jumeirah Beach Park which is free and open to everyone, except on Mondays when it is open exclusively for women. We visited Jumeirah Mosque then passed Union House where the agreement was signed between all the 7 Emirates to form a union. Next was the old quarter where the first permanent homes were built from coral cut from the banks of the river and the fort which these days houses a very interesting museum.
We took a water taxi across Dubai Creek and entered the spice and then gold souks. It is now 4 hours on tour and we are being plagued by Arab men who want us to follow them up to their apartments to sell us copy products labelled Armani, Rolex, Gucci, D&G ........... the list goes on but we manage to dismiss them all. At the last minute I found a pair of earrings I wanted and decided it was worth the haggle. We were happy with the final price.
Our guide has been terrific today, going out of his way to answer our questions and add a personal touch to the blurb which was otherwise tinged ever-so-slightly with very favourable comments about the Sheik and progress of Dubai. Not surprisingly, no mention of the current economic crisis and if you take a close look at all the construction sites there is no action taking place.
We took a taxi back to the hotel and discovered that there is more than one Ibis Hotel in Dubai. We will never know if we were ripped off or if it was an honest mistake but we did a lap of the city and retraced quite a bit of the afternoon’s tour to get back to our particular one. After a shower we try the taxis again to take us to Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building at 174 floors. Just as we arrived at Dubai Mall the fountain went into action which was an amazing show of coordinated water spouts, lights and music. This takes place every 30mins, there is a different production each time and they last for about 5 mins. We had a quick bite to eat in the Mall then took the lift to the observation deck on the 124th floor of the tower. The lift was so quiet and smooth the only way you knew for sure you were climbing was the pressure changes in your ear canals. The views were amazing, something out of fantasy land and then the next fountain sequence took place; was wonderful to watch from above. What a day full of amazing opulence and grandeur – it seems everything is done bigger and better in Dubai. Eric put it very nicely when he compared the Sheik of Dubai to Louis XIV – ‘this is a modern day Versailles’.
9th July
We had a lovely sleep in this morning, not really planned but apparently what we needed. Then we shopped in the mall across the road and took a joyride on the new metro which is fully computerised – no driver. Noted that the train is serviced by the Serco Company which reminded us of Adrian who also works with one of their branches. Very efficient and a good way to see the city from a local perspective.
We got off at Emirates Mall and took a look at the indoor ski slope! Quite amazing, complete with chairlifts for ski runs and luge or toboggan runs for the kids. Reminded us of Luke who is currently enjoying the snow in Victoria. Lots of very exclusive shopping here including Valentino, Gucci, Armani, De Beers, even Paspaley! Unlike at the souks no copies here, this is the real thing.
In the afternoon we joined the Sundowner Tour which took us by 4wd through the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, all the drivers must be certified cowboys I think by the way they tackle the dunes. Our driver was Noas, a local Dubai native. As I had the front seat I got to give him the full inquisition about living and working in Dubai. We took a break to watch the sunset and then arrived at the Bedouin camp where we were given the traditional Arabian welcome which includes coffee, dates and shisha pipes. Thankfully there is also a bar to quench our thirsts and even though this is a muslim country we were able to select beers and very satisfactory Italian wines. We were treated to a great 2 course meal and entertained by a belly dancer before spending a few minutes with all the lights extinguished to do some star gazing. Not the best time of year to do this from here, you wouldn’t bother in Aust if there was so much haze. By the time we got home it was already 10pm and time to pack in readiness for tomorrow’s early departure.
We have enjoyed the experience of Dubai, but you wouldn’t come back. It seems the sort of place where the surface is really new and shiny but false, and you don’t get a touch of the culture underneath. Tomorrow we will spend the whole day travelling so I’m going to sign off with this as the last post. In Singapore from our Chinese Hotel at Robertson Quay on the riverbank we are planning to relax, have a massage or two, enjoy the food, sights and sounds we feel so familiar with. (Can you keep a secret? We also have job interviews with Peter Scarrott, the Principal of Morris Allen English).
Looking forward to seeing you all soon.
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