Dubai

Day 1 – The flight

Left home at 1030pm to drive to Brisbane to catch the 0230am flight to Dubai via Singapore. Luckily it was pretty empty and we managed to get 3 seats each.  We immediately took a sleeping pill and snuggled into the very uncomfortable seats.  Managed about 3 hours sleep and then it was breakfast and landing in Singapore for about 1hr layover.  No transit lounge so just wandered the airport.

Nasty surprise when we reboarded as they wouldn’t let us take the duty free Baileys back on board.  Eventually we compromised and packed it into the backpack and had that put into luggage.  Nobody told us that Singapore didn’t allow duty free in the airports! Anyway Baileys arrived unharmed. The flight from Singapore was just about fully booked so had to move back into my allocated seat – not too bad as we still had 3 seats between us.  Had one child scream for daddy for a solid hour, most frustrating as the mother had ear plugs in and was asleep, everyone on the plane was awake before her.  She showed total indifference to the poor child and shooed away all those trying to distract the hysterical kid.  Eventually all settled down and we just endured the 8 hours.

Landed in Dubai to a balmy 40 degrees! Finally got to hotel at 2pm local time (8pm Aust time).  Discovered that non smoking rooms in /Dubai means they have removed the ashtray from the room.  Us reformed smokers were nearly knocked over by the ciggie and beer smell.  Like walking into a really old pub.  We got our room upgraded to an Executive suite – think the only difference is that it’s a huge room, comfortable (except the pillows) and the leaky toilet – floods the floor every time you flush. 

Both exhausted so just showered, went to tour desk and booked the couple of things we wanted to do here and then had an early dinner in the English Pub in the hotel and now off to bed.  There are 3 nightclubs in hotel but hoping we will not hear them tonight.

Couldn’t stay awake past 8pm (2am our body clock) and crashed for a solid 6 hrs.  Woke to head bashing music from night club but it was very muted mainly a vibration which wasn’t enough to wake us and eventually drifted off for another few hours.

Day 2 –  New Dubai

Up bright and early for a big breakfast and off sightseeing.  What can you say about Dubai except OMG.  Unbelievable what can be achieved in the desert with oil money.  This place is very luxurious, green gardens (highest water consumption in the world) sprouting from the desert, new buildings, the roads are amazing (up to 8 lanes each way) and we quickly realized we will not be able to do everything in the few days we have here.  We brought tickets for the hop on hop off bus and decided to do the absolute must do’s first.  The city is very spread out and it takes time to get from one stop to the next.

The shopping centres are humongous the biggest being the Dubai Mall which has a total area of 12 million sq ft with 1,200 stores (most name brands).  There is no taxation in Dubai which keeps even the most expensive name brands at a reasonable price (still way above our budget).  Incredible to find ski slopes, skating rinks, aquariums etc as part of shopping centres - and we visited 3 like that today. Magic and when I win lotto I’m back here!!! 

The architecture is simple stunning with a range of uniquely designed buildings.  We also did a dhow cruise on the Dubai Creek (more like one of our bloody big rivers) which is the life blood of Arabian traders.  We went past the beaches and have earmarked that for Friday morning.

We visited the Palm Jumeirah – the   palm shaped islands.  Another massive reclaiming of land.  This is just one (and smallest) of the Palm Islands .  You can’t see the “World” islands being created from shore (they are 4kms out) and not likely to ever see them as they have been purchased by the super rich (cheapest and smallest at $10m) and the only access is by boat or helicopter! The next land reclaimation is underway and will be double the size of Hong Kong when finished.

Did all this in temps over 40 so quite exhausted and landed back at the hotel bar around 5pm for a quick drink and a shower and change of clothes before heading out for a dinner cruise.

Now back from the cruise from Hell.  This was the Most Exotic Marigold Hotel (MEMH) cruise.   Obviously run by our hotel tour organisers mothers brothers cousin uncle aunt next door neighbour very best deal ever person. The Dhow was belching diesel fumes, it was stinking hot, we were given a bottle of tepid water after an hours wait and when food finally arrived at 9.30 it was placed where there were no lights so you couldn’t see what you were putting on your plate, which was probably designed that way as the food was barely edible.  Didn’t get the entertainment advertised, the culture part seemed to be playing bollywood tunes and we really couldn’t get off fast enough.  As in the MEMH movie saying ‘everything is all right in the end, and if its not alright then its not the end’ we just hung in to the end!  Now completely exhausted and dreading the excursion our tour guide has booked for tomorrow…………

Day 3 – Old Dubai

Back on the hop on hop off bus to do all the old Dubai tourist spots.  First off was the Old Fort which now houses the museum, very enjoyable  as it was well set up with different displays from all walks of Dubai life.  Followed this with what we thought was a tour of the Sheik’s grandfathers restored house,  This turned out to be a lot of rooms with photos of Sheiks in them.  Very disappointing.  We attempted to do the diving village and camel houses but the heat (at 10am) was too much so we gave up and headed to the gold souk where I had decided to spend some serious money.  By this time a combination of jetlag and the heat became too much and I just couldn’t be bothered so the bank balance remains unharmed.  From here we got a taxi to find a shop to remedy the fact that Alan forgot to bring the cables to download his photos to the laptop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Eventually found a shop with a multi card reader and taxied back to the hotel.  Lay down and woke up a couple of hours later, had a quick shower and headed off to our next excursion .

Collected in a big landcruiser 4 wheel drive for our Desert Safari.  There were 7 passengers stuff into the car plus a 6mth baby (horrified that the parents would take a child that young and unrestrained on this trip).  Out to the desert and we drove past some serious realestate and the royal family ‘country retreats’ who have walled compounds the size of small countries.  Then we hit the dunes which nearly did my head in, don’t like cars tilted over and racing up the sides of large dunes and plunging down the other side.  Alan enjoyed it but I kept my eyes closed most of the time. I was very conscious of this tiny baby just being held by her dad next to me and terrified she would be flung thru the windscreen.

Arrived at the so called Bedouin camp.  Here we had the opportunity to go quadbiking, sand tobogganing and camel riding.  We had decided that we weren’t going to do any of these things but being the first car to arrive and the camels just sitting there Alan says just sit on the camel and I will take a photo.

Not keen but thought OK just hop on then off.  But oh no the camel bellowed and lurched to his feet with me tipping backwards and grabbing onto the saddle in front and legs in the air and screaming as loud as the camel.  I had visions of the blasted creature galloping thru the desert with me clinging for dear life on its back.  The handler came rushing and commanded the camel to sit, which it did by just collapsing its front legs so there I am again totally unprepared somersaulting head first over the camel, was caught by the handler and plonked in saddle with a very firm ‘sit and hold on’, no sobbs I, I want off and I want off now but not to be as the camel behind was a little fired up and decided he wanted to take my head off.  Here I am in my worst nightmare sitting on a bloody animal that wants to bolt with the other camels (Inti on steroids) head on my shoulder and bellowing  in my ear. Thank god for the muzzle as he probably would have bitten my head off or even worse spat on me. Eventually all animals and Di calmed down and I was allowed off the creature.  The whole time this was going on I could see Alan hysterical with laughter, tears streaming down his face and the crowd laughing just as loud as him.   No knight in shining armour there! I eventually limped off bruised and battered and no longer needing the bathroom.  Camels are now in the same category as Snakes and Cows for me. Nic look out when I see the alpacas next they will probably turn me into a blubbering mass of hysteria.

Footnote from Alan – I was laughing so hard I couldn’t take a photo for evidence!

We then sat in the blistering heat for a couple of hours (dried the knickers out) waiting for sunset and the BBQ (which was surprising good) and the entertainment of belly dancer and whirling dirvishes dancers. At least this venue had plenty of slightly cooled water and softdrink but Alan won out by drinking beer as that was really cold.  Sat with a lovely couple from the gold coast – ex Kenyan’s of Indian/English descent.  The drive back to the road was much calmer and we were pleased to get back to the hotel as we needed a shower  as we were filthy and gritty from being in sand.

Eventually climbed into bed after inspecting my multiple bruises and aches and pains and drifted off to sleep with Alan still laughing at me.

Day 3 – Dubai to Cairo

Both too tired for beach so will do blog and emails then flight to Cairo.  Internet down again will try airport.  Nope airport a no go so will wait till Cairo.