Country #29
This adventure brings us to United Arab Emirates. Starting in Dubai and then a day in Abu Dhabi.
This satellite view gives a great image of the massive man-made sites of Dubai. Left to right:
Palm Jebel Ali: Started in 2002, it was halted in 2008 after the worldwide economic collapse and construction has not resumed.
Palm Jumeirah: Started in 2001 and also impacted by the 2008 economy, this artificial archipelago has resorts, dining, shopping and 10,500 residences.
The World Islands: Yep, 2008. These 300 man-made islands only have a few developments.
Burj Al Arab Jumeirah: The luxury hotel on a man made island is designed to resemble the sail of a yacht.
Burj Khalifa: Tallest building in the world.
Tuesday, November 12
13 ½ hour flight on Emirates Airlines from Chicago to....
Wednesday, November 13
...Dubai. Arriving at night the drive down Sheikh Zayed Road was an introduction to the canyons of skyscrapers we’d soon see repeatedly.
Thursday, November 14
The morning run revealed another site seen repeatedly- clusters of skyscrapers as new developments spring up across the plain of the desert.
The drive northeast to Bur Dubai (Old Dubai).
Al Fahidi Fort was built in 1787 for a monarch at a strategic location at the Dubai Creek. In some countries that is ‘new’. Here it is the oldest building in UAE.
Dubai Museum was opened in 1971 to record the history of Old Dubai.
Strolling through Bur Dubai.
Market in Bur Dubai (Old Dubai) mirrors images seen across the middle east.
We took an abra, their traditional wooden boot, across Dubai Creek to Deira. Pretty sure their ancestors didn’t have the motors.
What awaited on on the other side of the waterway was the labyrinth of souks to delight in. We started with Spice and then Gold.
We kept walking the streets taking in the cacophony of sites. Never tire of this the world over. There is so much out there.
Textile Souk
Back in Spice Souk.
Camel ice cream. Just tasted like a mild ice cream.
Back to the wharfage to look at the skyline and Iranian boats.
We headed to new Dubai to see the Dubai Frame.
This unique structure was the result of a competition initiated by German elevator manufacturer Thyssenkrupp. View down; Aimee refused to walk over this.
It is supposed to frame New (left) and Old (right) Dubai.
Took a taxi to 2nd December Street to have Chicken Shawarma at the 40 year old Al Mallah. It wasn't good, but Aimee liked her Watermelon Juice.
Another taxi ride way southeast. Told you there is construction everywhere.
Dubai Miracle Garden
780,000 square feet of 150 million flowers and 250 million plants.
We marveled at the abundance of blossoms everywhere.
Imagine the amount of water and pruning this all takes.
Even these arches with countless baskets are an amazing accomplishment.
We’re actually touching in this one. A big no-no in UAE.
It is closed in summer due to 130 degree temps.
Even small fields of color are amazing.
Friday, November 15
Good morning Dubai.
Jumeira Beach
Designed to mimic a yachting sail, Burj Al Arab is a luxury hotel built on a man-made island 920 feet off of Jumeirah Beach. It is the fifth tallest hotel in the world and they say if it was booked for a hundred years, it still wouldn’t cover construction costs. But it was built by the government.
Jumeirah Palm, the artificial archipelago made of 3.2 billion cubic feet of ocean sand.
At the trunk, the massive mall is under construction.
A monorail brings guests from the mainland to the end of the palm tree.
A view from the monorail of Internet City and what will be the world’s largest Ferris wheel.
The fronds of Palm Jumeirah are home to villas.
The 3.4 mile monorail ends at Atlantis (a copy of The Bahamas) and gives views of their waterpark, Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab.
At the end of the trunk is The Pointe.
With views of the breakwater island arching the fronds with protection from Persian Sea erosion. On the left is the Atlantis Royale under construction.
> 
The drive to..
Burj Khalifa
2,722 feet
163 floors
Elevators whisk tourists to the the 124th floor in 60 seconds.
Views from the 125th floor.
To the southwest.
To the south.
To the east. In the lower right is Dubai Mall and lower center Souk Al Bahar.
To the north.
To the norhtwest looking towards Bur Dubai and Diera.
And finally, to the west.
The complex at the base of the Burj, this area is called Dubai City.
Lunch at Baker & Spice in Souk Al Bahar.
She had Spaghetti Bolognese and I Grilled Octopus and Grilled Broccoli as we watched the Dubai Fountain.
Dubai Mall has 1,200 shops, 120 restaurants, a 22 theatre multiplex, aquarium, zoo, two 5 star hotels, a theme park and ice rink.
It is the 2nd largest mall in the world by land area and 26th by square footage.
We walked for an hour and a half and saw a smidgen of it.
On the taxi ride to City Walk while trying to identify the rear end of the car in front of us, the driver explained it was a 1.2 million dirham highly customized Benz.
City Walk, free of tourists, is an outdoor mall canvassing several blocks.
We stopped for some mochi, she had Bubble Gum and I Lotus.
More of City Walk.
The view on our 0.8 mile walk to Boxpark.
A trend in several cities worldwide, this development re-purposes shipping containers used for freight ships.
As night fell, we headed to the southwest to Dubai Marina.
That’s right, more canyons of skyscrapers.
We boarded a dhow, a traditional sailing ship,, for a dinner cruise out of the Marina and into the Persian Gulf.
It was a beautiful evening of warm breezes and city views.
Saturday, November 16
Morning run.
Mall of the Emirates has 630 stores, 100 restaurants, a massive Carrefour (right) and a indoor family entertainment center.
34th year of skiing inaugurated...in the desert!
Ski Dubai has two slopes with 3 runs serviced by a low speed quad lift and two tow ropes. (For those who don’t ski, the joke there is the adjective before 'quad lift' is usually ‘high speed detachable’.)
This is at the bottom looking up. It then angles to the left.
This is midway looking down.
This is midway panning from top to bottom.
This is at the top.
It felt good to carve some turns
With little time, lunch was at the food court. Don't know what I ate or what the girl at the counter was saying, but it was yummy and healthy.
Driving out of Dubai.
In Nazwa, near the Oman border.
We were out in the desert to go sand dune bashing.
The sand dunes are just what you’d expect.
The bashing was a blast!
Thought it negated the massages we got the day before.
Stopped and took in the endless panorama of sand accentuated by the setting sun.
Aimee didn’t want to ride a camel. First from that video going around Facebook of the larger couple’s camel’s front legs buckling. Which was reinforced by seeing some non-cooperative camels for us.
On a camel taking a selfie with my new buddy and then both of us on a camel this reflects true feelings- fear and having a blast.
We participated in a large Bedouin Barbecue.
There was Roasted Corn, Awamat and Dates.
Aimee got a henna and I held a falcon.
The buffet was surprisingly large. Do Bedouins really eat like this?! During the meal there was entertainment.
Sunday, November 17
Yep, morning run.
Two hour drive southwest to Abu Dhabi.
In mosques women are only supposed to expose their face and hands. Care must be taken to cover ankles and wrists. Any clothing that is even moderately transparent or clingy is not allowed.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the largest in UAE covering 30 acres.
It was built from 1996 to 2007 by 3,000 workers.
80 marble domes, held up by 1,000 pillars.
Precious stones- lapis, lazuli, red agate, amethyst, abalone, jasper.
90,000 tons of white marble.
Entry to Prayer Hall. It's pretty much like my own home's foyer.
96 columns in the Prayer Hall are clad in marble with inlaid mother of pearl.
World’s largest loomed carpet; made from Iranian cotton and New Zealand wool. Made by 1,200 craftsmen.
3 chandeliers weighing 11 tons from Munich that have millions of Swarovski crystals.
Built in 1937, Zayed House was the palace of the UAE president until 1966.Today it houses the Zayed Heritage Center which is basically a flattering homage to UAE’s founder.
Off to Marina Mall.
Lunch was Chicken Shawarma.
Center: Etihad Towers compromise of 5 towers each having residential, a hotel and offices.
Right: Emirates Palace is a luxury hotel of the highest sense. 392 rooms, 114 domes, 140 elevators,, 2,000 staff, private beach, 1,002 crystal chandeliers. It cost $3 billion.
Corniche along the water.
Louvre Abu Dhabi is UAE’s foray into culture.
I thought that globe was way cool.
What the...
A maze to get out.
Back to Dubai via Yas Island.
Just on the outskirts of Dubai is Global Village.
It is purported that each country represented has its authentic wares and food.
We found that not be accurate, but got a kick out of all the visuals anyway.
I first had Kanafa deep in Old Jerusalem. But couldnt' say that here since they, unfortunately, have negative views of Israel. It's baked cheese and sugar.
Behind those facades are shopping. This is Turkey and Bosnia.
Japan and Jordan.
We ambled about taking it all in on a beautiful night.
There is a large amusement area.
It is a very popular attraction for locals and tourists. We saw mostly locals.
Monday, November 18
14 hour flight from Dubai to Chicago.
