MY TRAVELS....Sir Borhan

Dubai- The land of dreams

http://sir-borhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/dubai-land-of-dreams-ive-been-in-dubai.html

I've been in Dubai twice and I'm still discovering what this city is all about, however there are a few things that I have started to figure out!

First of all let me say. Dubai is definitively a great city to live in, no question asked. Yet... you know when you have such high expectations in a place after all the stuff you hear and then you come here and you're like okay. I was expecting a lot more. It is a nice, clean, organized, good quality of life city but there is nothing really special about it. It’s a typical city man made city!

Of course the construction here is beyond impressive, however it's all artificially and financially made! So yes, they have the tallest building in the world, the biggest fountain, the largest aquarium and probably a bunch of other Guiness World Records...but there is nothing really natural about the place! And after a while it hurts the eye to see 40 skyscrapers, each in it's own design lined up next to one another without any synchronization as if competing for the weirdest design award!

Once in Dubai, you might not think it is an Arab country. You might think that you are in India. In this modern day, Indians and Filipinos have left their influence in the emirate: Indian restaurants and Pakistani bakeshops are everywhere while Filipino supermarkets are on the rise. Next to them the Europeans (mostly British and French) and Sri Lankans, form the next largest communities. Chinese and Indonesian migrants are on the rise.

Immigrants in Dubai

A relatively new tourist destination, Dubai was gaining popularity in recent years until the global economic crash of 2009.Dubai is essentially a desert city with superb infrastructure, liberal policies (by regional standards) that became popular for its excellent tourist amenities.

 Dubai makes a great short break for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining, sporting events, and even a few sinful pleasures. It is a city of superlatives: for the fastest, biggest, tallest, largest and highest, Dubai is the destination. It has the largest immigrant population in the world.

I was amazed how a desert can be transformed in to a Miracle Garden. This is the new attraction in Dubai and when I visited the Miracle Garden it was not really done. Work is still going on to make it real miracle.

Dubai has now easy means to travel by Dubai Metro. Dubai has the first urban metro network to run in the Gulf's Arab states. Dubai Metro entered the Guinness World Records book as the longest driverless metro network in the world.

Yes, this times I was amazed to see more buildings trying to reach the sky and so does Burj Khalifa           known as Burj Dubai prior to its inauguration. This is the tallest man- made structure in the world. 

The distinctive sail-shaped silhouette of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is more than just a stunning hotel; it is a symbol of modern Dubai.  This seven star hotel is the most expensive hotel in the world.

View from my hotel.

Burj Al Arab from Jumeirah Beach.

It's me at Jumeirah Beach 

Another superlative the biggest shopping mall in the world is the Dubai Mall. It is a huge beautiful area with fountains and colour; The Mall has a large aquarium, which is worth visiting.

Well to see the real Dubai, you have to head to the souks. You have all sorts of souks, the textile souk, the spice souk, the gold souk and so on. These souks are really worth a trip as they display colour, sound and sights.

For women, this is the best place to do shopping for you will go crazy.Do not forget to drop in Atlantis- The Palm. This is a Dubai hotel resort located at the apex of the Palm Jumeirah.  It was the first resort to be built on the island and is themed on the myth of Atlantis. It has beautiful architecture and there are many shops and places of interest here. The five-star resort includes attractions for children and  adults. The main attraction is Aqua venture; a water park with twelve water slides and river ride with cascades, tidal waves and rapids. 

In Atlantis Dubai

There are two Mesopotamian-styled ziggurat  temples reaching over 30 m. into the sky and featuring water slides two of which catapult riders in clear tubes through a shark -filled lagoon. The Lost Chambers Aquarium is an aquarium exhibit with 65,000 fish and sea creatures including the Ambassador Lagoon, which is a marine habitat.

Across the Aqua venture water park is Dolphin Bay,  a dolphinarium. The resort has a stretch of beach facing the Dubai skyline.

ATLANTIS DUBAI

Dubai Creek is a must for visitors. Cutting through the heart of Dubai, the seawater Dubai Creek winds its way from the trading port on the Gulf to the Ras al Khor bird sanctuary on the desert edge of Dubai.
Old-fashioned boats called dhows crisscross the water from Bur Dubai on the left bank to Deira on the right. Catch a water taxi dhow, called an abra, to get from A to B, or sign up for a romantic sunset dhow cruise traveling further upstream.

A cruise reveals the glittering high-rise buildings lining the Creek, passing under several bridges to reach the Creek side gardens. Or take a stroll along the paved promenade lining the Creek on the Bur Dubai side of the waterway.

Going to Dubai and not experiencing the Desert Safari is like a journey not worth taken.  It is the most exciting thing you must have ever done in your life. An experience of a lifetime as one enjoys the roller coaster ride on the sand dunes.

The action packed desert safari takes you on a journey from a desert to a mountain in a 4-wheel drive to an isolated desert camp where lot of activities and entertainment awaits you. The safari can last from a couple of hours to whole day or night, depending on how much of an experience people want.

It makes the tourist feel as if they have been transported back to ancient times when for business or in search of oil people used to brave the never-ending sea of dunes with their caravans.There are many tour companies that organize trips into the desert with a wide variety of activities.

In the Desert

The vehicles will go through sand dunes, climbing Dune Mountains, driving across sand dunes in a 45-degree angle.To be honest it was little scary when the car was sliding on the dune slopes. I found it impossible to hold the camera as the whole car was shaking a lot.  My spectacles went flying into corner of the Van as it went like a roller coaster on the high sand dunes.

 After about 90 minutes drive in the desert all vehicles will be parked in a place to watch the sunset in the desert. It is an amazing experience. You should see this at least once in your lifetime.

Then the desert safari continues and all vehicles will come to a central camp in the middle of the desert. There are tents, tables and chairs in the camp for people to sit and relax.
You can also try camel riding

The Arabs are perfect host and within couple of hours they start the barbecue dinner under the starry skies. Variety of continental and Arabian dishes is included in the menu including vegetarian and non-vegetarian.

As you have your dinner you will be entertained by a traditional belly dancer in the centre stage. She will mesmerize you with her moves.

Once the dinner and belly dancing is finished, all vehicles start heading back to Dubai.

A desert safari is an experience that you will cherish for a lifetime and truly worth every single penny that you spend.

Well, I must say something about the food in Dubai. Food is not a problems there are many Indian, Pakistani and Arab Restaurants. The Briani I tasted in Dubai and not in India. But one food you must taste in Dubai is Mandi Rice.

Waiting for the food. Nice atmosphere.

Finished the wonderful dinner with mint tea.

I finished eating all..Left only bones.

I was there on New Year’s Eve to witness a historical event in Dubai. Dubai, in an unforgettable style, broke the world record for the largest ever fireworks display.

What a perfect ending to a wonderful holiday in Dubai. It was simply a trip, which will go into the books of my travel.

BYE BYE DUBAI