Monday, April 28, 2014

Dubai Part 2


On Tuesday during our trip
we went to the top of the
tallest building in the world!
The Burg Khalifa is 2,722 ft tall
and has 163 floors.
What an amazing view
of the city..
and beyond!


We could see out to the man made
World Islands






After visiting the Burg Khalifa,
we walked around the Dubai Mall..
the worlds largest shopping mall!
We had lunch and got lost
and went to the aquarium.
Griffin loved the "whale sharks"
(sting rays).


We sat at a coffee shop just outside
the indoor ice rink.
We all would have skated 
but we were not dressed properly!
It was fun to watch though.


Later that night we had 
dinner at P.F.Changs 
and watched the fabulous
fountain show.




On Wednesday we went 
out to the desert on a safari.
When we all sat around at breakfast
on our last morning in Dubai
and asked what was our favorite part of 
the trip..
we all agreed this was.


A LandRover picked us up
at our hotel in the afternoon..
we drove about an hour out to the desert
where we went "dune bashing"


I admit I was a little green by
the end of it..
but all the kids, 
including Griffin loved it!
He didn't want it to end!


There was camel riding



And dancing 
and BBQ for dinner..


The desert safari was our
favorite experience in Dubai!!


Thursday was beach day.
It was HOT!
And the water was loaded 
with jelly fish
but they didn't seem to
bother us.








On Friday we had planned
to Ski Dubai
inside the mall..
we even brought our own
hats/gloves!
But we decided to
go back to Atlantis
for another great day
at the water park!



Griffy loved it here.
We spent hours
riding in the tubes 
down the rapids.
A great way to spend 
a hot day in Dubai.


Our day pass
included access to 
the beach.




Saturday we flew home...

Here are a few pictures taken from
our hotel balcony.



We were obsessed with watching
these workers building this hotel
next to ours.


We watched them build 
an entire floor while we were there.
These guys work so hard
out there in the heat.

Dubai is still under so much 
construction.
I hope we can visit 
again someday.

It was an amazing 
holiday!
How blessed we are
to have these experiences
and to travel to such places 
in the world!
































Monday, April 21, 2014

Dubai Part 1


Our trip to Dubai was
amazing!
I'll be honest..
I didn't think I was going to like it.
The newness of it..
The racy cars..
the shiny skyscrapers..
the desert.
But, 
I did.
I truly loved it.
It was so very different than anywhere
I've ever traveled.
And boy was it HOT!


We stayed at the Marriott on the marina..
this was our view from our balcony.
We arrived late Saturday night..


after a 6 1/2 hour flight on Emirates!


Our view at night.


Sunday morning we walked
along the marina.


Dubai is one of the 7 emirates in the 
U.A.E. ..
the United Arab Emirates.
About 85% of it's population
are expats. 
Mainly Indian, Pakistani, Filipino and 
Bangladeshi.
We met so many interesting people.
And some of the friendliest!






The culture here revolves around
the Islamic religion and traditional 
Arab activities..
like shisha smoking.
This is a social activity..
similar to Westerners meeting
at a pub or cafe for a glass of wine or beer
as there is not alcohol served.
I loved the smell of the shisha!
It's nothing like cigar or cigarette smoke.
I tried it when we were on safari in 
the desert!
And five times a day,
Muslims are called to prayer.
We would hear the beautiful music
coming from the mosques.





This was a cool looking outdoor 
cafe..
at night filled with people smoking
shisha!



Sunday afternoon
we took the hotel shuttle 
to a Souk.
This was a touristy Souk..
filled with shops and places to eat.
(visiting the traditional Gold souk and the spice market
was one of the things we didn't get to do..
hopefully on another visit!)


We bought a shisha pipe
to bring home for decoration!




Sunday night Steve and I made
reservations at the SkyView Bar
at the Burg Al Arab!
(pictured above)


This was the coolest building
I've ever been in!



I took a picture of this from
the menu..
We did NOT order this
$4,000 drink.
Maybe next time
:)




Monday we drove out to Atlantis
on the Palm Island.
We spent the day at the water park.
Hannah swam with the dolphins!
Not many pictures to share
as we were in the water all day!


Monday night we went out 
for Middle Eastern food...


Delicious hummus,
grape leaves, tabbouleh, 
chicken tagine...
So good!


I will share the rest of the week
later..
Will and Griffin and I are off
to London for a few days
to see the Lion King!
Steve and Stephen flew to the States
yesterday to visit colleges
and Hannah is flying to 
Romania tomorrow with
her volunteer group!